A/n: This has been floating around my computer ever since the third episode of Renegades was aired. Me, being my neurotic self, decided that Ripcord had somehow managed to survive, and this was formed. So, them finding Ripcord in the hospital doesn't happen in this AU, so the Anaconda Strain episode didn't happen either. Let's see if I can pull of a serious mulit-chapter fanfiction... Either way, enjoy, and review. Constructive criticism is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own G. I. Joe, nor any trademark names in this story. I do own any OCs that may appear, unless stated otherwise.

"You damn bastard!" A fist flew through the air, landing solidly against flesh. The sound of the safeties of many guns echoed through the abandoned warehouse, and Scarlett hissed, placing a hand on Duke's shoulder and pulling him back.

"Duke. Control your temper," the southern queen hissed in his ear, her nails digging into his shoulder. Duke growled and ripped his eyes away from the man he had just punched, to glare at Scarlett.

"You see him! He betrayed us!" he growled, rage dripping from his voice like blood from a wound. He grabbed her wrist, and pried her hand from his shoulder, meeting her glare. "Why do you defend him! He out right betrayed us!"

"Well well well. I never really expected you to care that much about which side I'm on, Duke. We didn't know each other that long," sneered Ripcord, eyeing up Duke, with a smug look on his face. He calmly reached for his gun and brought it up to aim it at Duke's head. "I wouldn't expect you to care so much. I guess your just an average joe. Not everyone is your friend y'know." Duke growled deep in his throat looking down at the ground. Guilt soared through his body, mixing with the rage, dulling it.

His body relaxed, slightly, despair pouring over him.

"If you didn't care so much, you wouldn't be in this situation."

"Don't listen to him, Duke!" He heard Tunnel Rat yell from somewhere else in the warehouse. "You didn't know!" Duke glanced up at Scarlett, who's angry expression had turned into one of sympathy as she met Duke's gaze.

"He's right..."

Duke turned to stare back at the ground. Their words barely comforted him, for he knew there would be no escape, he knew it was his own stupidity that had lead them into this predicament. There was no hope of escaping, they were doomed to die. If he had just given up on Ripcord, then this would have never happened. The blonde should have known that finding Ripcord alive had been too good to be true.

"Aw, poor lil' Duke. Lead his comrades to their deaths." Ripcord smirked, before kicking Duke's legs out from underneath him. Scarlett jumped at the man, but was held back by three Cobra infantrymen. She squirmed, fighting their grip, trying to get free. Duke made to get up, but felt the barrel of the handgun being pressed to the back of his head. His eyes widened as he heard the safety was switched off.

"Be a good boy, or I'll have to bring your corpse back to Cobra. The Commander wouldn't like that much."

Duke closed his eyes, exhaling shakily. Everyone was caught, Snake Eyes possibly dead. He remembered seeing the ninja take the bullet for Scarlett, completely unarmed, no weapon to block the bullet. The dull thud as his body hit the dirt... Something in the red head had just broke, and instead of the rage Duke had expected, she just went numb. It was in the heat of battle that the numbness had worn off, and she started acting like nothing had happened.

Tunnel Rat, Duke had no idea what had happened to him exactly. The small male was alive, but Duke swore the field medic had taken a bullet to the leg. And Road Block had been knocked out just a few seconds before the brief battle ended. Why now did Lady Luck seem to turn her head on them?

Handcuffs secured his hands behind his back, and he was forced up into a standing position. The barrel of the gun was placed between his shoulder blades now. Chancing a glance around the room, he located Tunnel Rat. Blood was smeared down one side of his face, and he was definitely favouring one leg over the other. Hopefully, the bullet had only grazed him. To his right, Scarlett was standing beside him. Her eyes were dim, missing the spark they had once held. Was it all settling in on her know on what had happened to Snake? Even a ninja couldn't always dodge a bullet, though he had at times appeared invincible.

"Move it!" Road Block was being dragged across the ground to an awaiting helicopter, and Scarlett and himself were herded towards it. Tunnel Rat was limping his way to the 'copter, several guns aimed at him. Duke frowned to himself. What about Snake Eyes' body? No, he shouldn't be thinking of the ninja dead... He had to be alive.

They were treated with as much carefulness as some foul vermin, shoved into seats, and securely locked in place. Scarlett was seated next to him, and Tunnel Rat and Road Block behind him. Duke stared towards the front of the helicopter, looking at the warehouse where they had been ambushed. Where they had finally lost.

The pilot switched on the engine, and the roar of blades whipping through the air filled Duke's ears, blocking out any other noise. The aircraft ascended, and the soldier closed his eyes. Was this the end for them all?

Timothy J. Osweld whistled to himself as he patrolled the dungeon where the newly caught prisoners were kept. Casually, he swung his set of keys on his left index finger. All was quiet, just as he enjoyed it. His brown eyes looked into one of the cells, switching on his flashlight, and shinning it into the enclosed space. There was a hiss as a man who looked of Asian decent covered his eyes. Timothy snickered in amusement, before shinning the light into the cell next to the first.

The blonde haired inhabitant was on his side, either asleep, or feigning it. Conrad was the man's name, according to all the wanted posters that were flooding America. Timothy frowned, walking over to the cage, and banging his flashlight against its bars.

"'Ey! You! Get up! Ya ain't ta be sleepin'!" Timothy said, glaring at the man. "Cobra ain't no hotel!"

The blonde man rolled over to look at the guard, his blue eyes blank. Timothy had to suppress a shiver at the haunted look in Conrad's blue eyes. It was as if the very life had been sucked out of his body.

Duke continued to stare at the guard, until he moved on to check the next cell. After the beam of light was gone, he rolled back over onto his side to return his gaze back to the wall.

Now that Cobra had them, what were they going to do with them? They could merely execute them, but after all the trouble the Joes had caused, that would be too swift and merciful a death. Maybe allow them to rot in this dungeon? Let them die of starvation or dehydration. It didn't seem like something out of the question. Cobra would seek to give them the most painful deaths possible. Nothing less.

He had long since lost track of time. How long had they been here? A few minutes? An hour? A day? It was impossible to tell. The dungeon was void of all light, no windows, and no light came from the door that lead into the dark abyss. Heavily guarded, no escape. The odds were against them.

"This is all my fault."