Author's Note: This is a work of fiction and takes place in a fictional country known as Trasikavya and includes a culture known as "Travelers" that is very loosely based on the actual culture. No offense is meant for anyone. The usual disclaimers apply for GI Joe and its characters.
Prologue:
She was just a low level worker making a few copies. Why they had to locate it in the dark basement, she had no clue. Sighing, she was ready to end this assignment. What she had in her hands now should hurry that along, she thought. The evidence they needed – that Cobra was indeed helping the military stage a coup of the current government – was already on her flash drive - a backup in case the file she sent earlier to headquarters had been compromised. However, she didn't want to arouse suspicion by leaving in the middle of her shift, so here she was, making copies.
She sighed and was just turning around when the rumbling started. She automatically spread her legs, bracing for the impact. Earthquakes weren't uncommon in this region, but there hadn't been any of the warning flags that usually accompanied it.
The shaking wouldn't stop. This wasn't an earthquake, she realized – these were a series of explosions! Suicide bombers came to mind, but that was more a middle-eastern trait. Had someone set explosives in the government building?
She looked around and realized she was trapped. Technically, she was on a sub-level. The elevator that brought her here was obviously out of the question. The strobe light that signaled a fire began to flash, blinding her in the dimly lit room. Her mind quickly ran through her options, the few that there were.
Seeing no other way, she headed towards the stairwell. The doorknob was already warm to the touch, but what choice did she have? She'd rather head into the disaster than stay here and become a crispy critter! She cautiously opened the door. Smoky air greeted her and she stayed as low as possible. If she could only get to a level above ground! The rumbling started again, and she froze, not wanting to be crushed by falling debris.
The intense heat was already reflected by the sweat beading on her forehead. It was only going to get worse, she thought, as she heard rather than saw the crackling sound a fire makes. The dog tags hidden under her blouse felt as if they were burning into her flesh. Wincing, she managed to take them off and stuff them in her pocket.
Finally, she saw the Level 1 fire exit. Crawling low to the floor, she tried the door, but pulled back quickly, the metal burning her hand. The heat was so intense, it was hard to breathe. She had to do something, or become another statistic.
Ripping the bottom of her blouse, she used it to cover her nose, already feeling weak from the lack of oxygen, even at the lowest level. If she didn't move quickly, the whole building could come down on her!
Determined, knowing she was facing life or death, she ripped another strip and used it to cover her hands. Using all the strength she had left, she threw open the door, hoping there weren't guns pointing at her from the other side.
Chapter 1:
Hawk scowled at the soldier who timidly peeked into the room. This had better be good, he thought, irritated that he had to stop the classified briefing so the man could hand him a message.
The soldier stood there, trying not to fidget under Hawk's scowl. He could tell the CO was pissed, but he was told the information had to be delivered personally into the General's hands.
He looked up from reading the brief message and nodded at the soldier. "Thank you," he said curtly, dismissing the man, who hurried out of the room all too aware that all eyes were on him.
"Gentlemen, and lady," Hawk said gruffly, with a nod at the lone female in the room, "I need to deal with this. We'll meet back here in an hour."
With that being said, he strode out of the room, leaving those assembled to look curiously at one another.
The female was the first to speak, although she used her hands to sign to her companion.
"What was that all about?"
Her companion merely shrugged.
"Well," began another, getting up and stretching, "I've got better things to do than wait in here for an hour." He followed his CO's lead and left the room.
The other two in the room, both male, began to talk in low voices to one another.
"So where's your girl this time? I figured she'd be in on the briefing."
"Not sure this time, somewhere in Eastern Europe, maybe? By the time I got back from the last assignment, she was already gone," the other sighed, regretting that their recent schedules had kept them apart lately. "At some point, it would be nice to actually coordinate being on the same continent at the same time."
The blonde-haired soldier gave him a sympathetic smile. "Maybe Hawk will cut you two a break and grant you both leave at the same time. Can't hurt to ask," he shrugged. He got up and looked pointedly at his friend. "Beach Head had the right idea – I'd rather not wait around in here for an hour. I've got a pile of paperwork in my office that's been calling my name."
"Sounds like a plan," his friend smiled, following his lead.
The other two in the room looked up and nodded as their teammates left. She got up and closed the door behind them, returning to her seat.
"I'm worried," she admitted aloud to her companion. "Lady Jaye has missed her last two check-ins. I didn't want to mention it in front of Flint – who knows how he'd react! We received the file she sent and should have heard from her by now for extraction." The redhead twisted her hands as she spoke.
Her companion placed his hands gently on hers and gave a gentle squeeze.
"I know," she sighed. Getting up, she began to pace. "Things were getting pretty heated in her area. Maybe I should check on what's happening. Better than just sitting here."