Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and they have manipulated themselves so that they can be worked into the story.

Author's Note: Lady Jaye is the code name of a MI-6 agent assigned to work with an international group based in the United States called GI Joe. Personnel of this top secret military organization were hand selected from the world's finest military and government workers. While most of the organization is American on the base, it employs agents based all over the world. The mission of GI Joe is to thwart terrorism and its attacks on countries that are members of the United Nations, to which it reports.

Prologue:

"I can't believe you have the gall to stand here and tell me this is something that you chose to do!" a female voice hissed. "Why are you dragging our family's company, with its solid reputation over hundreds of years, its history….why are you dragging it down to this level?"

"I have no choice," a deep male voice answered wearily. "You don't understand what it's like. You've been away, leading your own life. Times are different."

"I just can't believe you aligned with a terrorist organization! What are you thinking?" she demanded.

"They are just one client among many. We are foremost a business that needs to make a profit. You need to remember that as you drive around in your fancy car with your designer clothes," he said with contempt.

Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Don't try to play this back on me. You made your decision. Don't expect me to support you." With that, she turned and walked away, ashamed for her uncle and angry at the circumstances.

Two Weeks Later…

"So, do you want to grab a bite to eat after we finish here?" Lady Jaye whispered to her partner, trying to stifle a yawn.

He glanced over at her and smirked. "You'd better stay awake. I know it's babysitting, but still, it's a royal and we have to do what we have to do."

She rolled her shoulders and glanced around. "I can't believe they sent us to cover this. Seriously, they couldn't find a couple low level agents to handle it?"

He chuckled. "Now Jaye, don't get your knickers in a knot. There was a threat and we have to assess and make sure it doesn't follow through. Tell you what. I'll treat you to some fish and chips after this, all right?"

She lightly punched his shoulder. "Yeah, don't go for broke on me, fish and chips will do. We really need to work on your people skills," she teased.

A movement had her focus back on her target. Who was that man who was moving closer to the latest royal they had to guard? She glanced at her partner and saw that he had already noticed the movement and his body was tense. They worked together so well that all they needed to do to communicate were a few nonverbal signals, like they were exchanging now. Jaye moved up to confront the man from the front and her partner covered her from the back.

"Oh, pardon me!" apologized Jaye as she "accidentally" bumped into the man, knocking her arm against his hand. The suspect, surprised, dropped what he was holding in his hand and it fell the floor with a loud "clink." Eyes on the suspect, Jaye gently reached down, still playing the innocent, and said, "So sorry, think you dropped this."

She motioned with her hand and the next thing the suspect knew, his hands were handcuffed behind his back. Jaye looked at the object in her hand, turning it over, examining it. It was some sort of gadget with a symbol of a snake stamped in red on it. Frowning, she turned and looked for the hidden MARS mark. Finding it, her frown deepened. She pulled what looked like a cell phone from her pocket and scanned the item.

By this time, the Royal Guards had noticed something was going on and had made their way over. She left them to interrogate the suspect, looking once again at the object in her hand, sighing.

"What is it?" her partner asked gently.

"Some sort of incendiary device," she reported, turning the object over in her hand. "I suspect they'll find a remote on him. Not sure if it was to hurt or to detract attention from a kidnapping. Either way," she shrugged and pulled a metal box from her bag and placed the object in it, "it's neutralized now. Guess we need to follow up with the guards and make our report," she sighed, looking over where the royal was still making his speech. "Rain check on the fish and chips?"

He chuckled. "Maybe we'll have time for at least a drink. You tend to be too negative, you know that?" he teased, pulling her into a mock headlock. "Let's go do our thing."