Because I think that G.I Joe is awesome, I've written another story for it! I own nothing except for the characters of my own creation. This doesn't follow the movies but takes place after Retaliation.
The streets were bare and empty save for the lamplight overhead and the occasional passing car. I noticed how the roads seemed to glow with a metallic rustiness under the light and how little people seemed to see as they huddled in their shelters. I couldn't take my eyes from lights, whether they were streetlights or lights beaming through the windows. I just loved light. Probably because light was often associated with warmth.
With a trembling sigh which left vapour trails before me I turned and returned to my little corner where I huddled into my blanket then pulled my scarf tighter around my neck. Thankfully winter was quickly fading into spring, which would mean warmer nights for us homeless people.
Now I know what you might be thinking. Homeless people, drug addicts, alcoholics and beggars. Let's just get one thing straight and clear, I'm none of those things. I just had a little bad luck in life which left me without a home and no job. I was looking for one, even if it meant working ridiculous hours for wages hardly worth the effort I would do it.
A fire had taken my home and my mother's life one night and there was no one else to look after me. I was ignored by the government, pushed aside by any kind of agency to help me because I wasn't worth their time. Sure I had it bad but I knew plenty people who had it worse, so I'm not going to complain. The only thing I would curse the sky for was the fire killing my mom. She was everything to me. My rock and pillar. Now she was gone, I had no one.
There were a few people keeping me company, our little band. There was Young Jimmy over by the dumpster holding his hands over the fire he had managed to make. He used to be in the military, fought for our country and lost a leg for it. Now he was reduced to a squatter begging for money to get his next meal. Next to him was Old Jimmy, who happened to be a war hero too because he fought in the Second World War. He had carried his comrade out of battle under heavy fire and to the medics who had saved his life. Both of them deserved much more. Old Jimmy kept his medal for Valour, it was pinned to the lapel of his jacket and refused to ever sell it. I had high respect for both of them.
Thirdly there was a woman around my age called Sabrina. Now her story always makes me cry. She once had a husband but he had turned to drink and abused her. She had run away but didn't have any family to protect her so after a few mistakes, she ended up here, selling her body for cash. Her life was filled with regret. Sabrina told me every day she wished she had had the courage to go to the police, then she wouldn't here now.
Fourth and fifth were two brothers, both addicted to cocaine and spent whatever money they could get on the stuff. They did have family they could go to for help but they chose to stay out here where they didn't have to work. I wasn't so sympathetic with them. I tried all the time to encourage them to sort out their lives but they never listened.
Finally there was an elderly lady who had lost all of her family in the war. Petunia used to have a daughter but she had given her up for adoption as she was an unmarried woman at the time. You could see the pain in her eyes as she thought about that sweet child every moment of her life.
So you see, I'm not one to complain about hardships. If the others could float in the same boat as I then I would too. We were a little family, the only thing we had was each other so we stuck together as one although, sometimes it came down to every man for himself. Glancing up at the sky I could see the moon just peeking out from behind a building, gradually rising higher in the sky.
"You know. I think it's getting warmer." Old Jimmy murmured, his gaunt features hollowed further by the light of the fire.
"You have a fire at your feet. Of course it's warmer." One of the drug addicts snapped, scratching his arm continuously.
"Don't snap, Max, it's too late to start an argument." I sighed softly, shifting a little closer to the fire. "What has everyone eaten today?"
"Nothing." The brothers both chorused.
"I found half a burrito." Sabrina sighed, shifting a little closer to me for more warmth.
"What I wouldn't give for a cup of tea and a good slice of Victoria sponge." Petunia murmured dreamily, smacking her lips as she closed her wrinkled eyes and imagined the delicacy. "With fresh cream and homemade strawberry jam."
"I would go for a juicy steak and kidney pie, with crusty pastry and moist meat on the inside." Young Jimmy replied with a smile. "I remember my mom used to make the best pies in the entire county, every time there was a fair, people crowded around for her pies. Blueberry, beef, chicken, the entire works."
"Who wants cake when you can have a massive bacon butty?" Old Jimmy chuckled as he took off his beanie hat, shook out some leaves then smoothed back his long, wispy hair before sliding the faded red hat back on. "With warm, buttered bread and ketchup."
"Chocolate cake!" Sabrina giggled, licking her lips dreamily with closed eyes.
"Stop it guys, you're making me even hungrier." I smiled at them, thinking to myself. "Hmm…if I could have anything in the world, I'd go for the biggest steak there was, with a large portion of chips and fresh garden peas. That's' my kind of meal."
"Good on you, Robyn. I've always said it's not healthy for girls to live off salad." Old Jimmy nodded to me with approval. "If only we had the means to get it for you."
"Ah, Old Jim, you know I'd much rather buy you that turkey roast dinner you always dream about." I said to him simply, reaching behind me into my bag. "I can't deliver on that for now but I do have this." I drew my hand back and revealed the chocolate biscuits I had managed to steal from someone passing by.
Petunia gasped and stared at them longingly so I passed them to her, Sabrina following the food whilst licking her lips. Going back into my bag I pulled out all I had managed to get that day. Some tinned peaches, a packet of pasta, some dried apricots and beef jerky.
"Oh sweetie! How do you do it?" Petunia asked as she bit into the biscuit, her face drifting into a world of relief at the source of tastiness. It made me chuckle. We all shared out the biscuits evenly until the packet was empty. I stabbed my small pocket knife into the tinned peaches, opening the tin then used the cleanest part of my shirt to clean off a fork before handing it to Old Jimmy, who took one bite then passed it on.
"I've never seen someone as light fingered as you are. I swear you could steal the Eiffel Tower and no one would notice." Young Jimmy said to me through his mouthful of peach and biscuit.
"It's just practice. People can do without these things. I only steal from people who look rich." I gave a little shrug. "So in a way, an eye for an eye. It's fair." Everyone grinned at me.
"Aye, aye Robyn Hood." I laughed, shaking my head. It was the nickname everyone on the streets gave me. I stole from the rich to feed the poor. The legend still exists. No one ever complained about my methods, so long as I gave out the food I had stolen, they didn't rat on me to the cops. The brothers, Max and Mike, squabbled over the peaches as Max tried to take two bites but Young Jim sorted them both out pretty quickly.
"How are we going to cook the pasta?" Sabrina asked quietly as she held it in her hands, keeping a tight grip on it.
"We have a saucepan, I'll go fill it with some water then we'll try cooking it on the fire." I said, standing up. I looked to Old Jim who sat further forwards, reaching into his army backpack then held out the small pot for me. I took it and the pasta before carefully stepping around everyone, looking out into the street before slipping away.
There was an outside tap just around the corner on a block of flats, which I intended to use to fill the pan up with. I knew it was unlikely the small fire would cook the pasta but half-baked was better than nothing. Only then did I get an idea.
What if I snuck in somewhere and used a stove to cook it? I'd be in and out in around ten minutes. Glancing to the apartments I looked around before sneaking around the back. I knew there was a restaurant around here, the block was filled with pubs, places to eat and greasy spoons so I selected on that was still open. The pub was alive and full of life however I read on the door that the kitchen was closed. Smirking ever so slightly I slipped inside, keeping my head down as I avoided eye contact with anyone.
I was very good at avoiding people or not being seen, it had come with the years of practice running away from cops. Everyone was so intent on their drinks or their conversations that no one saw me slip through the side door and into the kitchen. It was dark and I didn't want to alert anyone by turning on the lights so I waited a moment for my eyes to adjust, the light from streets just filtering through the window, allowing me to feel my way around.
Glancing around I reached into my backpack, unzipping it and groping around until I had found my flashlight. The batteries were nearly dead so I slapped it a few times before getting a dim beam to help find the gas dials. I switched one on then filled my pan with water, letting it simmer and boil on the hob. Looking around my fingers began to tingle the way they did when I was near something of value. I knew there was food in here. So much food.
The bar owner was a moron for not locking up the kitchen. Glancing around I sucked in a breath then dived forwards. I gently opened the drawers, rummaging around for items that might be useful. I selected a few forks, spoons and knives before hunting through other drawers. I found new batteries which I hastily stuffed into my bag before turning to the cupboards and fridge. There were teabags so I boiled the kettle, pulled out my flask and made some tea for Petunia to help warm her old bones.
Continuing I found some fresh fruit as well as bread, jam, honey, cheese, cold cooked meats and various other items, including some wrapped cake waiting for tomorrow's orders. I cut some off then wrapped it up as the pasta began to boil through, fully cooked. My bag now full to the brim I sent a silent apology to the nice man who owned this place before seeing to the pasta.
I turned off the hob, poured away the water then clutched the pan by the handle as I made my way to the door. I pushed on it. It didn't budge. My heart dropped to the floor as I tried to push a little harder but it was firmly shut. "No! Please don't say you locked it!" I whimpered then tried again however it was most definitely locked. Cursing I turned and tried to find another way out.
Only the window seemed a possible exit. Racing over I fiddled with the latch, flipping it up before pushing it open as far as it would go. I slid the pan through first, having to twist it on its side so I lost a bit of the pasta but I didn't care at this point, I needed to get out of there before I was caught. Once the pan and my bag was safely through I lifted myself up and began to squeeze through the gap barely big enough to fit my head out of.
I twisted and grunted, puffing from the effort of trying to wriggle through before finally, I fell forwards. A little yelp left me which I instantly cut off by clapping my hand to my mouth. I looked around, grabbed my bag and the pan before racing out of sight.
Once I was safely around the corner I stopped to catch my breath. I grinned to myself, shaking my head before looking at my full bag of food. At least we had something to keep us going a little longer. Looking up I shrank back into the shadows, pressing my back to the wall as I saw a mysterious truck pull up.
It was black with no markings or identification, signalling instantly to me that something was wrong and it was best to just keep out of sight. Several men jumped out from the back and from the front, all looking rather mean and serious, dressed in black overalls.
They all spilled out into the streets without ever making a sound, shining flashlights down alleys where other homeless people lurked. One was coming my way so I pressed my hands into the wall then quickly pulled myself up, leaving the pan of pasta on the ground as I kept my backpack securely strapped over my shoulders.
Climbing up like a spider I tensed my arms and legs, pushing into the narrow alley to keep myself above the average height, leveraged over the stranger who now shone the flashlight into my hiding place. He slowly ran the light over the ground, just barely missing my pan of pasta as he searched. When he found it was empty, he turned and walked away.
Letting out a small breath of relief I began to slowly slide down, trying to make as little noise as possible before jumping down, bending down low to absorb the sound. I watched as many of the street dwellers were brought out from where they squatted and climbed into the back of the truck. They went freely and I could hear some of them whispering but couldn't make out what they were saying.
I kept in my place in the shadows as the last of the homeless people were loaded before the truck started up. It rolled away with an initial jerk, sliding through the streets before the ghastly roar was no longer within earshot.
Glancing both ways before stepping out into the open I hurried back to where the others were waiting. "There you are! We were beginning to worry." Old Jimmy said as I hurried in, tiptoeing over everyone's belongings before sitting down in my spot. "You missed the excitement. Some boys came knocking on our door. Asked us to go with them." I looked around, noticing that Max and Mike were gone.
"I assume they went with them?" I questioned, pulling out the shiny new forks and handing out one for everyone.
"Robyn, where did you get these?" Sabrina asked in shock, looking at her new fork with a slight expression of surprise.
"Well, I figured we'd take forever cooking past on that little fire so I snuck into a pub kitchen and cooked them. Then I figured that since I was there, I might as well make a meal out of it." I said then flipped open the flap to my bag and everyone instantly leaned forwards, staring inside. "I only took a little, they'd hardly notice." I assured them then picked up the cheese. "Who wants cheese with their pasta?" Instantly everyone began to call out, wriggling in their places with anticipation.
Old Jimmy flipped open his handy knife set, pulling a slim grater which I used to grate the cheese onto the pasta, which was beginning to go cold. "Sorry it's not hot but I have something to warm your throats. Petunia, I made you some tea." Petunia began to get emotional, knowing that tea only came to her on very rare occasions but if I can perfect my kitchen sneaking skills, I might be able to make it more often. We all had pasta, some tea and had a little piece of the cake I had cut off for us. A lemon sponge with lemon icing on top. Absolutely divine.
After that we all shared the segments of one orange before we felt satisfied. I put the rest of the food away, storing it for tomorrow where we'd be just as hungry all over again. "What did those men want?" I asked the others curiously as we began to make our beds ready to settle down.
"They said if we went with them, they'd give us warm beds and plenty of food." Young Jimmy said as he shifted awkwardly until he was wrapped up in his sleeping bag. I blinked in surprise.
"Whatever for?"
"Said they needed test subjects. Moment they said that I sat back down again. I never trust any of those medical maniacs. Poking and prodding you with needles, it's not right. Probably going to turn them into human guinea pigs and treat them like filth because they think we don't have no rights." Old Jimmy muttered under his breath as he tucked his arm under his head.
"What sort of testing?" I pressed, curious to know what they were doing here.
"No idea but when people come recruiting us street urchins, you know whatever it is they're doing isn't legal." The old man answered then yawned, turning to huddle closer into his blanket. I sat up a little longer, pondering on what I had seen. They had just come and gone in the space of a few minutes, taking Max and Mike with them. I hoped they would be alright.
Pushing it aside I lowered my head onto the newspaper I used to keep my head clean from the floor. For a long time I just lay there with my eyes open, staring into the pretty little flames before slowly my eyes slid shut and I was asleep.
Thanks for reading, I'll post another chapter up once there are a few reviews. So, you know what to do!