Disclaimer: I don't own G.I . Joe nor do I know the producers or animators.
Summary: The Dreadnoks get new allies who aren't what they seem. One of them is Thrasher's sister and secrets are revealed.
AN: After seeing as how there were some unusual characters in the G.I. Joe stories over the years I wanted to do something even more unusual and different. That's where Trinity/Lilith and The Outlanders came in. Sorry if any of the characters are out of sorts. I hope you enjoy the story anyway.
Please don't use Lilith or The Outlanders without my permission.
Trinity Elizabeth LaCrosse born to a middle class family. She was a spoiled, undisciplined, high strung free spirited individual. Her baby brother Bruno was born when she was five years old. Naturally he started looking up to his big sister and followed in her footsteps. As time went on the parents were away from home more and more leaving Trinity with responsibilities she shouldn't have had piled on her.
At age thirteen the parents were now paying for Trinity's tattoos, piercings, clothing and CDs. She was reading porno, drinking, smoking, dressing slutty and hanging out with other wild teens. These same people taught Trinity how to pick locks and hot wire vehicles. Because her parents were away so much and the age difference at times Bruno was a thorn in her side. But Trinity loved him so she did what she could to accommodate both of them. One day Trinity wanted to go to the mall and there wasn't enough food for next few days. So Trinity hot wired a car their father was working on, piled the dog Titus and Bruno in the car and left. Because Trinity wasn't legal age yet, she left the car parked off the side of the back road. She was going to leave Titus and Bruno at their grandmother's house so she could feed and watch them. Suddenly Titus had taken off. Trinity grabbed Bruno and chased the dog far into the woods until she became lost. Titus stopped running, stood cold and stared at a compound.
When the exhausted siblings caught up to the golden retriever, strange sensation of fear and fascination filled Trinity. It wasn't the same for Bruno. Curiosity got the best of Trinity so she stood on the gate and looked around. Inside was an array of grassy land, trees, a couple of barns, orchards, gardens, shacks and huts enclosed by a brick wall, with barbed wire, and armed guards inside a metal gate. The people were dressed in primitive attire. Adults and teens were doing some kind of agricultural work while the younger children played or helped the adults. A strange fascination filled the young teen even more with a magnetism of the inexplainable kind that kept her planted. A scared Bruno tugged Trinity's shorts and hollered at her to get moving to grandmother's. She had to force herself to get off the gate, but vowed she would return.
After a day at the mall it was getting dark. Trinity returned to the spot to get another look into the place drawing her into it's warm yet scary embrace. There was more activity inside the compound than there was earlier. Suddenly the clan elders named Athena and Oden came out of no where. Oden was a tall handsome and muscular man with short wavy brown hair. Athena was a pretty lady with long blond waves and stood average height. Both wore brown togas with woven belts and half moon crowns made of leaves. They smiled at the teenager and invited her into their compound. Trinity heard of these people through gossip but never believed the rumors. She stayed for an hour socializing with the adults and other teens. Before she left Athena gave Trinity three bagfuls of fruit, vegetables and legumes from the gardens along with some homemade breads, honey and jam. A Native American man named Crow drove Trinity back to the car. From then on the strange lure of the place had Trinity coming back every time her parents were away. Now Trinity and Bruno's parents didn't starve their kids, they were just so wrapped up in their work that sometimes more important matters were neglected. With Grandmother Ann LaCrosse being up in age she couldn't always watch let alone feed them for more than two days. One time when Mister and Mrs LaCrosse wouldn't be back for three days Trinity stayed for two of them with her new friends. Another time she stayed for the entire week they were away and brought bagfuls of food for grandmother and Bruno. With the constant bags of food they provided the siblings with, Trinity stopped stealing. She had always managed to formulate an excuse for her inability to watch Bruno.
The only person Trinity couldn't deceive was their grandmother. She and Bruno may have been spoiled hot tempered brats around everyone else, but not when it came to Grandmother LaCrosse When Bruno had started to stay at Grandmother Ann's more often Trinity said that she had an after school job. In addition to the story, Trinity mentioned the same job allowed her to get a discount on the bags of groceries. Finally Trinity said it was best Bruno and Titus stay with Ann as much as they did so she wasn't too distracted from school or work. Although Ann had noticed Trinity was starting to change for the better. Ann became suspicious of her behavior. Ann phoned a trusted neighbor to follow her after she dropped Bruno off for the rest of the night. When she learned where Trinity had been going she immediately phoned her son. The people Trinity had befriended were called "The Outlanders." They had a good influence on her, but because of their reputation immediate family intervention was taken.
It was bad enough being spoiled, but Trinity was an obnoxious and stubborn girl. She was going to do whatever she wanted as long as she could get away with it. Trinity continued to sneak out and visit The Outlanders. She was amazed that they were always prepared to answer her questions, meet her every need and continued to make arrangements to meet her discretely. They couldn't tell Trinity of the fate that awaited her a year later. Grandmother Ann had passed three months after Trinity's fourteenth birthday. Like always the parents had left Bruno in Trinity's care. Since no one was around to watch him, Trinity was stuck taking him with her to the Outlander's compound. Bruno begged and pleaded to not go, but since no one seemed to care about her grief she went anyway.
A day guard and Crow helped the siblings carry their things and set Titus loose to run and play with the children. Bruno was now enticed like Trinity was the first time. She went inside Oden and Athena's hut and found a note that told her supper was in the refrigerator and two spare rooms were made up for her and Bruno. With extra clothing placed in the drawers and some other clues it was obvious they were expecting both siblings to be staying until their parents returned. Bruno didn't understand why there was so few people about. Trinity explained to him because they had night jobs. She couldn't let him find out the true reason. A few of the adults helped Trinity by making sure Bruno wasn't around to see a night time ritual the tribe was familiar with. Because of the centuries old stories society had pounded into his young mind it would frighten him.
The night before the siblings left the compound, Bruno couldn't sleep. Something had him restless so he wondered into a neighboring hut. There he saw Athena leave a tribal mark on the back of Trinity's neck. The frightened boy ran to rescue his sister when Oden caught a hold of him. He explained to Bruno it was an innocent mark symbolizing that Trinity was now an entrusted friend to the tribe. Athena pretended to remove the fake teeth already in her hand. Once Bruno was convinced it was all pretend, Oden took him back to bed and lovingly tucked him in. When both siblings were sleeping Oden and Athena hated pretending the mark wasn't from fake teeth, but Bruno was just a boy. The couple hated even more of not being able to tell the siblings the sad fate awaiting them.
Unknown the LaCrosse siblings their parents came home two days early, but disappeared when they heard of Trinity's stunt. Trinity saw Bruno off to school then went herself; meanwhile, their parents made it seem like the usual routine. That same night they pretended to return from work, Trinity's mother quietly sneaked into her bedroom with a mini flashlight. Right under her jet black hair was one of the tribal mark everyone was familiar with. Mrs. LaCrosse told her husband about it. Although it wasn't the mark symbolizing permanent change. The LaCrosses were convinced Trinity already was.
The LaCrosses took a couple of days off work to make secret arrangements. While Trinity was in school Mrs. Lacrosse packed a couple of suitcases then delivered them to The Outlander's doorstep. After school Trinity found a note from her mother telling her she and Mister LaCrosse were called away on business for a week. So Trinity prepared to take Bruno and Titus to spend the night with their friends. When they showed up Athena was about to tell Trinity they found some of her stuff on their doorstep, but Oden stopped her. When they were alone they agreed it was best she discovered for herself.
Friday afternoon Trinity went straight from school and waited at the bus stop for Bruno. When he didn't get off the bus she called his school from her cell phone. When she found out their father picked him up she went into the house. The traumatized teen looked through the empty house wide eyed and shocked. The only stuff her parents left was the car they figured she had been driving along with boxes and suitcases of her stuff piled in her room. Since Titus had adopted her, they left him running around in the closed in yard. Trinity sat on one of the big suitcases and tried to call each of her parent's cell phones. She only received messages saying the numbers were out of service. The same thing happened with a few other relatives. The only people she could call was a few of her closest friends, but fearing they may also know about The Outlanders. The lone teen packed what she could in the car trunk. Before she was ready to pack Titus in the back seat Crow arrived with a van. Happy to see him, but devastated that her family could abandon her, she ran into his arms and cried hysterically.
It had taken several minutes, but when Crow had Trinity calmed, he helped her pack the rest of her stuff onto the van. They then packed up Titus and his things and rode to the compound. When they arrived Oden and Athena were waiting for her in their hut. Trinity ran straight to them asked them if they could get Bruno away from their treacherous parents. They looked at her with deep sorrow and embraced her between the two of them.
"It won't do any good your parents have abandoned you." Athena said sadly. "You no longer exist to them. No it's neither your fault or ours. You know we're not the monsters the world has made us out to be. Your parents feel they failed because they could no longer stifle you with material things. They're jealous because we've given you something they didn't. Touched you in a way they should have."
"We can give you what you want, but you know there are limitations. Some things have to be earned." Oden added. "Your brother hasn't abandoned you. I'm sorry my Little Lilith, but for us to go and kidnap him would spell disaster for us. You may keep in touch with him, we'll make sure he knows you didn't disown him."
Trinity's eyes welled up again. "You're telling me my family doesn't want me? How could they? And there's nothing I can do for my own brother?"
Athena pulled Trinity close and wiped her tears. "You can continue to be a big sister, but you'll have to do it in an informal way. You can't receive "The Gift" until you're fully grown, but only if by then you still want it. Until then we'll be your parents let that tribal mark remind you."
Athena and Oden pulled their newly adopted daughter in a tight embrace and kissed her.
The night the LaCrosses had dissed Trinity, Bruno ran after the ball he was playing with into the sewing room. He heard the adults talking through a vent. He curiously put his ear against it to ease drop on the private family meeting. After listening to the entire conversation he learned his parents had lied to him about Trinity running away from home. Now there was another child who was devastated by a devious act. Poor Bruno went into the bedroom and sat on his bed. Now that he knew the truth that his parents had abandoned his sister, confusion filled his head. All he could think of was why and how his parents could throw Trinity out like a piece of garbage? In addition he feared they eventually might do the same to himself.
Over the years big sister kept her promise and kept in touch in various discreet ways so Mister and Mrs LaCrosse would never know. Except for her brother Trinity no longer referred to her former family members by their title. She referred to them as "Bruno's mom, dad, etc. by their title and surname or first names. Along with that legal papers were delivered to the Outlander's doorstep granting Oden and Athena guardianship. Trinity legally changed her name to Lilith after the legendary female warrior. Although portrayed as succubus who seduced men in their sleep and killed them. Trinity/Lilith didn't choose the name for same reason. Before she was given "The Gift1" she hated the daytime and saw getting tanned as unhealthy. Anytime she went out during the daytime she piled on the strongest sunscreen, wore dark shades and covered up as much as possible. Lilith also wanted a permanent "Forever Proud Goth" look. Oden and Athena as her new parents had to say not until she was finished growing. Until then she finished her education via home schooling. She also learned various self defense techniques, to use a variety of weapons, agriculture, medicine, survival and especially to control her temper. Something Bruno never learned to do.
Eventually the LaCrosses moved far away naive to Lilith's spying on them. All Bruno had to do was call to Oden and Athena in his mind because until Lilith had "The Gift," she didn't have the ability to hear him. Lilith couldn't visit in person during the day because their/Bruno's father called the police and even shot at her when she tried. After that Lilith had someone come with her and visited Bruno secretly at night only.
Over the years Bruno learned the full truth about The Outlanders and was always reminded to never tell anyone about them. Because of his years of support, protection, friendship, trust and loyalty. For his sweet sixteenth, Lilith gave Bruno a cell phone. Oden gave him The Entrusted Tribal Friend mark. Bruno vowed to protect them since they were Lilith's family and not the savages portrayed through out history. Lilith was now twenty one and since Bruno didn't have a date for his junior prom she wasn't about to let anything keep him from his special night. The Outlander women helped Lilith with a full proof disguise. Bruno's high school friends were convinced the stranger he brought to the dance was his date from another school. When he left everyone was convinced Bruno was carrying out the after prom tradition of getting some.
As time for the transformation approached, Bruno begged Lilith to not go to an extreme change. Her mind was made up for Lilith felt it was her calling. Bruno sat with the rest of the tribe as Lilith's transformation ritual took place. He watched with mixed emotions as Lilith's former life was drained. Several minutes later when there was barely any life left in her, Oden wiped Lilith off and held her head in place. Athena held her wrist to Lilith's mouth. Within a few minutes Lilith stood up completely transformed with a euphoric feeling like never before. The dog Titus was also transformed so he was young again and her forever guardian. In The Gathering Field a party was held in celebration of Lilith's and Titus's transformation along with Bruno's step into young adulthood.
After graduation Bruno left home and joined The Watchers2. Now that he didn't have to keep his and Lilith's communication under wraps instead during the night he could go visit with her on a normal basis.
The first time Lilith visited her brother's new apartment, Bruno nearly had a heart attack. He expected her skin color to change with the transformation, but with her eye lids, under eyes and lips tattooed as black as her hair and Gothic attire Lilith's alabaster skin appeared ghostly white. Along with her new look Lilith also did away with her English accent. She now sounded like a North American. Her excuse was... "people respond better when you speak from the front of your throat and mouth." All Bruno could think to himself was how the transformation changed the sister he knew before into an opposite.
The Outlanders were known by many as a tribe of people who had chosen to live a semi primitive life style with very little to do with the outside world. Bruno and The Watchers protected the tribe, kept everyone up to date, educated the youngsters, went into public to get supplies just to name a few. A couple of years later the tribe was forced from their home when the state took over the land. Fearing their identity would be discovered, Bruno found the tribe a place in Naples Florida. It was plenty isolated, but close enough to town for the day villagers. An hour and a half away Bruno took up his own residence, worked in mechanics and interacted with the bikers in the area.
Because of his past and inability to maintain a job, Bruno took up mercenary work and eventually worked for the terrorist organization the world knew as "Cobra." It would be sometime before the Dreadnok Leader "Zartan" would be looking for new recruits. Until then Bruno made his own changes. He chose the code name "Thrasher," had white streaks put in his hair, changed from sweat pants and T-Shirts to simple biker attire, built Lilith's motorcycle along with the Thunder Machine. Lilith was unable to attend his initiation into The Dreadnoks. Instead she sent a raven in her place. With their minds connected she was able to watch and listen through the bird from her resting place. Later that night she got revenge on his new comrades for bad mouthing him and tossing him into a puddle.
For all the time he was with the Dreads, Thrasher spoke of Lilith even insisted she was Dreadnok material. Since he only visited her after sunset no one had ever seen her. Everyone Zartan and his siblings had spoken to Lilith on the phone when she called Thrash. Any time someone asked the siblings if Lilith was Dreadnok material why she didn't bother to pay a visit so everyone namely Zartan could see. Neither would answer the question or intentionally change the subject. At first everyone they thought Lilith didn't like them, but considering no one met. The subject was dismissed and people figured it must be a secret best kept in the family.
Everyone had seen the few pictures Thrasher had of Lilith up until she was fourteen. Thrasher had told his comrades everything except for the fact that Lilith was an Outlander, that theirs---- his parents had abandoned her and the biggest secret of all. Now the Dreads knew they had It was clear a trusted outsider especially considering they knew she knew what her brother was up to and hadn't ratted anyone out over the years.
Several times Lilith used her abilities to shape shift and/or disguise herself, appear out of nowhere in order to join her brother in kicking G.I. Joe butt and to save his comrade's lives. Thrasher loved it that he had a sibling like himself with other capabilities and hated pretending he didn't know her when she was in disguise. Face it though everyone knows that eventually secrets come out!
1: The Gift: Immortality
2: Watchers: A secret group of mortals who protect and watch over the immortals and everyone associated with them.