It was dark in the hotel room. They kept the lights down so they wouldn't expose themselves. The smell of stale beer cans from night before put him in a foul mood. They were on a mission, and not only did the squad leader let the others drink on mission. The squad leader joined them in their drinking. They were supposed to be the best of the best. It's why he chose this path. To walk with the elite, shoulder to shoulder with biggest and baddest. The lack of discipline in the squad made him miss his army days. Rangers knew when to play and when to work. This squad was full of clowns. He just shook his head hearing them argue in the next room over their card game. He checked the pistol he had on his ankle under his civies, the knife in the small of his back and the other knife on his other ankle. His gear was in his duffle bag like the others. They were to keep quiet till the contact showed, and their contact was late. But then again Dreadnoks were always late. They were no better then a merc squad to him, loyal to the money. His alley viper echo squad was there and on time as always. It was a cold night, no cloud cover just smog, moon and stars.

They rented 2 rooms with conjoining doors each had two double beds. It was a cheap motel, made motel 6 look like the Hilton. The beds were hard as rock, and small water heaters. He was in the quieter of the two rooms. They were in the other. Card games normally ended badly when played with other cobra agents. It was in the Alley Viper's code to cheat and win by any means necessary. So the others sit at a table surrounded by cash, cards and cheaters. It was a recipe for a fight. He just stared out the window. There are six of them in echo squad. He was One Eight Eight, his birth name was Noah DeCainne. He "died" in prison after his court marshal from the army. He rubbed his brown hair and realized he hadn't showered yet today. The squad leader was an ex gang banger turned cobra viper. In his youth the guy was a nasty piece. His number was One One Five. His name is Benjamin "Benny" Alvarez, oldest on the team. One Eight Eight was the squad leaders right hand. Both had survived the cobra civil war. The rest had joined after. Back then One One Five was early in his alley viper career and One Eight Eight was only a viper. Till one mission changed that and he proved his allegiance to the commander.

As One Eight Eight looked out over the streets he could see the team's youngest member. She made alley viper early. She was disciplined unlike the others. She too was ex army. The others tried to haze her till One Eight Eight put his foot down. Took her in like a younger sister. He took crap from higher up. But he had protection up top to a degree. He earned that in the civil war. The team's youngest member was dressed like a hooker walking the corner waiting for their contact. She was born Julie Santiago, now she was known as Two Four One. He kept an eye from the window; he hated sending in a squad member alone, old ranger habits die hard. Nine Nine was playing cards with One Four Six and one two zero. Nine Nine was losing, older then One Eight Eight but still couldn't bluff to save his life. One of the better street fighters to ever join Cobra, he was one of the worst card players. The squad's tech expert was cleaning house, One Four Six had been counting cards the whole game. And the last at the table is one two zero, she still hasn't picked up the card counting. She had her own way to cheat.

One Eight Eight shook his head again, they were arguing again but that was it. His squad leader nudged him,
"so playa how's our girl?" No sign of emotion from One Eight Eight he was still angry the team was ordered to leave their shields at the safe house, "She's holding her own. She crippled a pimp earlier who got in her face about who owns that corner. Dr Knox should have left the full OP to us." The older alley viper smirked and patted his younger ally, "Just relax. I'd rather if some one got pinched it was the Dreadnoks not us. I'm going on food run. Anything?" One Eight Eight just shook his head. His squad leader smirked and headed for the door, "yo viper spawn I'm doing a food run. Army in charge till I get back." The door closed behind the squad leader. Curses and groans heard from the other room. A smile crossed One Eight Eight's face.

He could hear a wrestling match break out in the next room. "See! The witch has been pulling cards from her boot!" One Four Six shouts. One two Zero snapped back, "don't hate the player baby, you just wish you were this good." That's when the table flipped and he could hear blows exchanged. Between the grunts and cries of pain he couldn't make out the winner. He heard the engine of motor cycles and saw 2 bikes and a heavy jeep. In the passenger seat of the Jeep he could see the pink hair of an all too well known Dreadnok. They stopped and picked up Two Four One and drove off. He moved from the window, "GEAR UP VIPERS WE ARE A GO!" panic in the next room as the three scramble and get geared up. He slips on his Kevlar vest and grabs his duffle with his helmet and rifle inside. Throws a heavy jacket on over as he slides an ear piece in his ear and leaned against the wall to wait for the others. He bends over and picks up the squad leader's gear bag and the younger viper's bag. The others finally lined up and they vacate the room. Soft stepping with gear they reach the elevator to find the squad leader coming off the elevator with nachos and a beer. He saw them and cussed under his breath and threw his food in the trash. Retrieving his gear from his second command they all entered the elevator and selected parking garage. As they where going down Two Four One radioed in, "This is Two Four One. Successful contact made. They have the item." Then she relayed the address. The team entered the garage and headed towards the two black vans they brought. They were equipped with armored sides and bullet proof windows. They split up, the squad leader took Nine Nine and one two zero. That sat with good with One Eight Eight. He preferred the techie to the others, as One Four Six climbed in the van he was smirking, "My my...mmmmmmmm I love money. I told you they couldn't handle my black butt at cards."

One Eight Eight laughed a bit, "Yes you did. They finally catch you counting cards?" "Nah brotha too slick for that. We caught Miss Thang sneaking cards from her boot. She flashed some skin, distract and pull from boot." One Eight Eight just shook his head, "Give me a street cam look of the address Two Four One radioed in. Something doesn't feel right." The techie got serious tone, "Been wit ya long enough to know to trust that gut of yours. Saved my bacon a couple times." Besides the squad leader One Four Six knew One Eight Eight the longest. They went through viper basic training together. One Eight Eight convinced him to go alley viper with him instead of Tele viper. They kept with traffic as they drove. One Eight Eight asked, "Any cops at all?" "Nah Noah not one cop. Why?" One Eight Eight answered, "Cause Carter I haven't seen one all day. Find it odd for a down town city section not to have even one cop." The techie alley viper scratched his chin, "I'm contacting an old friend in the Tele Vipers see if they picked up any chatter." One Eight Eight nodded as he drove. When it was just him and One Four Six they used first names. They reached their destination and parked outside. He looked back at One Four Six and the Alley Viper shrugged. They got out with there gear bags in hand. The building was an old empty office building up for lease. It was four stories tall. The outside needed a new paint job bad. Some windows were broken and not being in the best part of town. It was easy to guess why no one had leased it in a while. One Eight Eight noticed some tagging on the surrounding buildings. But he didn't see any gang members loitering, but it wasn't the first time the Dreadnoks have cleared an area for their use. They reunited with the other alley vipers and walked toward the doors that had two Dreadnoks in jeans and vests outside the door watching the Jeep and bikes. One of the Dreadnoks step forward, "They all are inside getting all friendly like." The Dreadnok's hair was red and white and nappy up in a pony tail. He smelled of cheap box wine. The others teeth revealed how long he had chewed in his life. His grin left a lot to be desired. It was very obvious that some Dreadnoks never use the Cobra dental plan.

The squad leader motioned "Nine Nine and One Two Four keep these knuckle draggers company while we conduct our business" the squad leader got a dirty look from the Dreadnoks. One Eight Eight made eye contact with One Four Six again. Another shrug meant no info from the terror dome yet. He nodded and went inside with the others. As they entered they could hear the heavy metal music from some broken speakers on an old radio. One Dreadnok was air guitaring while the other two sat with their alley viper. Two Four Ones eye lit up she saw her squad. She immediately stood up to catch the duffle bag with a loud thud. Nodded thanks and began to change into gear. One Eight Eight saw the three Dreadnoks in the room and recognized them immediately. Zarana, the sister of Zartan. This makes the green haired rebel Zanya, Zartan's daughter. The third was thrasher the Dreadnok main wheel man who was known for a bad temper. One Eight Eight's curiosity almost got the better of himself. He now wondered what they were going to transport. He shrugged it off. Two Four One nudged him from the side, "I owe you for my gear. That hooker outfit was not comfortable at all, missed my Kevlar." One Eight Eight gave her a wink and a nod then turned to the squad leader conversation with Zarana. "Take the blimey thing and shove off." Screeched the pink haired Dreadnok. Zarana chewing snuff looked more annoyed every time she spit. The Alley Viper squad leader nodded, "Fine by me, but I have to check it to make sure it's secure." Zarana threw her arms up and rolled her eyes. Zayna took pleasure in her aunt's distaste. She then slapped thrasher upside the drivers head, "get the blasted thing out for the Alley Vipers. The way that one keeps checking the exits it's makin' me paranoid." She pointed at One Eight Eight. The squad leader snickered, "That's our army boy, playa's always like that. He has trust issues since the civil war." Zarana started shaking her finger, "I know I know yer bloody face. Don't tell me it'll come. Old viper detail right." One Eight Eight nodded and was hoping she let it go; he didn't need reminded about of the past. As the squad leader finish checking the package, thrasher began to fiddle with his phone "stupid piece of crap, more worthless then tits on a bull". The package was a large metal cylinder with a viewing glass. Inside a bright pink thick goop, not one label though. But Dr. Knox convinced cobra high command to get it.

One Eight Eight felt a tug on his gun belt he turned to see Two Four One looking at him and leans in to whisper, "Can we talk down the hall just us?" One Eight Eight looked at the out of character request, her eyes meant urgent. Then as the puzzle pieces began to fit One Four Six came running in the room full gear, "NOAH JUD-" One Eight Eight felt his gear straps pulled from behind to the floor as sniper fire erupted through the windows putting a bullet through the squad leaders leg and killing one two zero. Bullets ripped through her kevlar vest spraying blood behind her. One Four Six hit the ground heading for cover. A few explosions outside told them the exit was compromised. Zarana dove under a desk gripping her revolver from her leg, and let off some shots blind through the window. Zayna grabbed Thrasher's AK47 and returned fire. Thrasher ran for the door like a bat out a hell. His fellow Dreadnok's cursed his cowardice. One Eight Eight opened his bag, pulled mask out then helmet and finished gearing up. He noticed communication unit down now, no jammed he told himself remembering the Dreadnok's phone. Bullet ripped through the table he was behind. "SNIPER HAS A THERMO SCOPE" he shouted as he looked for a meatier object to hide behind. Shot gun sounds from the door across the room. One shot then a second as the door hinge shook. He raised his sub machine gun and put holes through the thin office door. He pulled the trigger three times, each unleashing burst of three rounds. He could hear shouts of pain. As the door kicked open he saw the green uniform of G.I. Joe. He continued to fire at the door dropping two more green shirts before another sniper round went through the table into his vest. The table broke the round enough it didn't pierce his vest. It was enough though for the breach team to gain unhindered access. Behind the green shirts he saw the black beret of the G.I. Joe Warrant Officer Flint. He could hear his bark orders, "HIT HARD JOES! THAT ALLEY VIPER IS MINE" Behind him was Lady Jaye and Air Tight. One Eight Eight sent up a silent thank you that the damn ninja Snake Eyes wasn't there. He had to think quickly. He was exposed, and the Dreadnoks already were bugging out. One Four Six popped smoke grenades and One Eight Eight hit his helmets thermal sensor as he looked for Two Four One. Before he could turn a hand grabbed his shoulder he turned with a knife drawn and saw One Four Six's visor. With a quick hand motion the two moved to crouched position back to back. One Eight Eight kept looking but couldn't see Two Four One. They began to move and went for the door they originally came in but as they made it to the door they found themselves face to face with Flint in the smoke.

One Eight Eight quickly hit the shotgun out of his hands when Flint's foot came up and snap kicked out One Eight Eight's knee putting him back to the ground. His alley viper companion turned to shoot but took a shot from the sniper. One Eight Eight pulled his knife and came up after Flint and took a fist to his helmet. But the knife went deep into Flint's thigh, the Joe screamed in pain as One Eight Eight twisted the knife. The Alley Viper was happy for the smoke keeping his knife hidden long enough to strike. Flint returned with another strike across the helmet of One Eight Eight. The Alley Viper returned his punch and jumped up using his helmet to head butt Flint breaking his nose. And then realizing that his opponent was disoriented he grabbed One Four Six's vest and dragged him for the hall way. If he stayed to finish that sniper would intervene again. They got to the hall way and slammed the door behind them, then braced it with debris nearby. He turned to see Two Four One catching her breath. One Four Six checked his wound and gave a thumbs up. One Eight Eight motioned Two Four One to fall in line and they moved in tactical formation room to room making sure no more surprises. One Eight Eight knew there was a traitor but that came after survival. The squad leader and he had a fall back plan to a cobra safe house if all hell broke loose. On a side office One Eight Eight hooked up his grapple gear and the others followed suit no words. Still hearing gun fire in the room they came from they jumped for the windows and began to repel down one story and kicked in the windows. Unhooked the gear and landed in the same motion.

One Eight Eight's landing off by flint's kick to his knee. Two Four One helped him stand as they ran through the hallways for the stairs. Once on the stairs they found two green shirts holding Zarana at gun point. Zayna was out cold on the stairs. Zarana had a decent trail of blood from her leg where she was shot and Zayna's face was purple from being struck. One Eight Eight instinctively pulled the trigger shooting both Joe's in the back. Zarana sighed, "I'll owe you? Get us the bloody hell out of here. That yank Joe caught Zayna with her rifle and that yellow suit got my leg." One Eight Eight paused to weigh the outcome. He motioned, "Two Four One grabs Zayna. And you help Zarana; don't bleed out before we can patch you up." One Four Six went to protest but One Eight Eight cut him short, "you said you wanted to pick up girls." The glare he got back would kill if he could see it through the visor. "Now you get a sense of humor." They moved as fast as they could One Eight Eight up front with gun raised. He was missing his shield right now badly, but he shakes it off. It's at the safe house he keeps telling himself. They reached the ground floor and One Eight Eight peaked out the stair well door. Then closed it quietly and in a whisper, "Never leaving the shield behind again. There's five plus tactical targets, swat or FBI." Zarana shook her head and spoke softly, "Not enough time to think of a plan. Not with the Joe's behind us." One Eight Eight nodded in agreement, he scanned the group one last time and saw Zayna was awake, "Grab your aunt and Alley Vipers do what you do best." Zayna rolled her eyes as she went to follow the Alley Viper's orders. Zarana wasn't much pleased either. One Eight Eight grabbed a flash bang, opened the door and rolled it into the room.

The blast from it rattled the door. Then One Eight Eight's shoulder hit it and he slides low on his knee pads. Firing off three rounds bursts one at the agents. One Four Six went with three round burst as well, every shot hurt from his sniper wound. Two Four One went single shot, picking her targets. The fire fight was short lived. Between the flash bang and three sub machine guns the Vipers made Swiss cheese out of the agents. As they entered the lobby they found a couple of agents alive on the floor. Quick shots from the SMG's finished the work. "Move it! Move it! That was not quiet. The Joe's will know, plus that sniper most likely moving to reposition him self." They exited and saw two dead Dreadnoks and the dead Alley Viper. One Eight Eight stopped to quickly strip the Viper of his gun and helmet. Then a car came through squealing to a stop, a larger old four door sedan. "GET IN GET IN! Yelled Thrasher. Zarana and Zayna slid in the back with One Four Six. One Eight Eight punched Thrasher and pushed him over taking the wheel as Two Four One went around and got shotgun. Thrasher came up to swing till he felt Two Four One's gun in his hip and she shook her head.

One Eight Eight punched the gas as two sniper bullets ripped through the car roof. One nicked One Eight Eight's arm and the other cleared Zayna's shoulder and buried in her leg. She screamed out curses as she went to stop the bleeding. One Eight Eight kept his mind on driving anything else might get them killed or caught. As the car sped off and rounded the corner they saw Lady Jaye and Air Tight exit the front door with two more green shirts. Jaye in anger shot blindly at them as they escaped. First parking garage they came across they ducked in and went car shopping. One Eight Eight pulled up next to a large suburban. Zarana spoke fast, "only if yer Viper butt wanna get caught. That's the first thing the Joe's will look for. It big, full of metal and can handle all of us. We should go for speed split to two cars. Ov'r there that BMW and that Porsche." One Eight Eight thought fast then agreed to the suggestion, the Nok's would know about stealing cars. Two Four One shook her head and walked up behind One Eight Eight and put a hand on his back, "No we are injured and need to stick together." No one saw the mule kick coming from One Eight Eight, his foot caught Two Four One in the gut and send her sprawling to the floor.

Her rifle slide away as the others gasped in shock, One Eight Eight drew his side arm and took aim, "HOW LONG!" One Four Six stepped back waiting to see it play out. He motioned Zarana and Zayna back. "Noah don't do this. Don't. I tried to save you. I still can." Two Four One pleaded. One Eight Eight shook his head staying very stoic, "how long have you been a Joe spy? Don't answer that I don't care." Zayna coughs, "The hooker was a spy. Damn-" she got a shhh from Zarana while she checked her niece's wounds and patched her up. Two Four One looked up, she quieted. She had seen the cold stare in One Eight Eight before. She tried one more time, "Noah, you looked after me, you took care of me in the unit. That's not a Cobra thing, it's an Army thing. You are not Cobra at heart." One Four Six stood weighing the out come. He knew One Eight Eight took care of the girl like a sister. One Eight Eight lowered the gun, and she sighed relief until he spoke, "Feel that moment of trust, stupid girl. I trusted you, which was my mistake. See Cobra is my family, it's all I have. Now those dead Vipers back there may have been idiots but they were my idiots. Hail Cobra!" He lifts the gun again and pulls the trigger, bullet through the head.

Thrasher peeks his head out of the car, "Is it over? Cause we still on the run." One Four Six looked around and nodded, "It's over, never doubted my boy. Let's get the wheels and jet." One Eight Eight walked over and stripped the Alley Viper armor of the dead corpse. Zarana looked to her Dreadnoks, "Get those cars open and running, I'll ride with army boy in one and you two with the other viper." Thrasher ran for the Porsche and shook his head, "No good on this one. It's got low jack, that Audi over there." He ran over and popped the door no issue. He had it purring instantly. Zayna gave lip to Zarana, "Give the orders while you can old lady." Zarana gave her a death stare, "Keep it up princess see how soon before I bloody bend ya over my damn knee and give you the whooping my brother won't." Two four six checked on One Eight Eight, "The life of Alley Vipers eh?" One Eight Eight nodded, "Damn straight. Let's get to the safe house. It's the one off harbor and 28th. We'll go north you guys go south that way we can cause more confusion. Any luck One One Five is already there." His fellow Alley Viper nodded, "I heard dat stay safe brotha" One Eight Eight fist bumped him and then took the gear and put it in the Audi. Thrasher saw him coming and slipped over to the other car. Zarana slid in the car on the shot gun seat. One Eight Eight took off his armor and helmet through them in the trunk. He kept his weapons up front. They waited for One Four Six to follow suit but he took the passenger seat while Zanya slide in back and stretched out in the back seat of the BMW. Thrasher peeled out and headed south as per One Four Six's direction while One Eight Eight drove out heading for the north route.

He kept checking behind them as he drove, One Eight Eight was keeping quiet. Zarana nudged him, "blimey you're quiet. But you did me and my blood a solid. I owe ya and Zarana don't owe many people." She was trying to get him to smile to lighten the mood. He just nodded to her words. The Audi felt weird to him, it felt light. He hadn't driven anything this light in a long time. Zarana reach for the radio to turn it on and found a classic rock station with Kansas playing. She turned it up and rolled the window down. One Eight Eight sighed "the tinted windows hide us better." She snapped back, "This damn car is Closter phobic I need some bloody fresh air." After a couple minutes she cooled off, "I figured out why I remember you. During the civil war you saved ol' commander and my brother from an assassination attempt. You killed your whole squad as they sided with Sepentor. Figured it was best not to say it out loud earlier. People get bloody weird when you bring the past stories like that one. Zartan requested your squad as our contact." He nodded, "Zartan normally does, better then working with firefly. That prick always gets people killed. Plus he's BAT happy. I hate BATs." Zarana nodded in agreement, "Damn bastard robots. Last time one near took ma' head clear off." One Eight Eight laughed, "Two rounds in the back once. If it wasn't for my Kevlar I'd be dead."

He made a turn and rolled down his window. Zarana gave a triumph smile as she pulled his rifle from the back. She began to check out the sub machine gun. Found the MARS logo on it. "Blimey they stock you snakes with toys. Give me an AK and I'd kick half yer heads in with out breaking a sweat." He shook his head, "I'll give your Dreadnok's their due on anarchist and militia tactics but when it comes to G.I. Joe, Viper's have the highest kill count. But you can keep the MARS tech just leave me my 1911." Zarana scoffs, "Horse hockey! Killing 4 Joe's pinned under a tank doesn't count." He raised a hand to interject, "Commander counted it, through a huge party." Zarana' quick wit slipped before she could stop herself, "we'll he's a bloody fool" One Eight Eight's hand went for his pistol then he caught himself and set it on the shifter. Not before Zarana saw his move. She looked over, "bugger your a loyal one. What made you this loyal to cobra?" One Eight Eight took a deep breath and made another turn. "I was a ranger in the Army till my CO got me locked up on false charges. Then after I'm in Leavenworth I find out my wife is divorcing me and now engaged to my CO, all that in the first six months of my twenty eight year sentence, I got to a dark place. Betrayed by all you loved kinda changes how you look at things. Met a guy in prison who led me to Cobra, Cobra became my future, my family."

Zarana nodded and stayed quiet, unsure why she was being nice and unsure what to say. She went digging through the glove box and found a pack of smokes. They were Capri slims, she offered One Eight Eight but he just shook his head. Then spoke as she lit up, "so are you in or out?" Zarana looked confused, "What!?" One Eight Eight rephrased, "You know Cobra Commander won't pay if the canister is not delivered. And I'm not going to fail my mission. I'm going after it in Joe custody." She cursed, "Bloody hell he is that cheap. Yeah I'm in. We'll send the princess home, she's too banged up plus we'll need reinforcements." One Eight Eight nods, "Agreed, we'll restock and plan." They pulled up to a small mom and pops deli called 'Momma Arbco's deli'. Zarana scoffed, "you guys are still using Arbco to hide under?" One Eight Eight nodded, "Let's go." He checked through the window to check for customers inside before he walked in, he saw none. "Morning Fred, how's the snake farm?" The blonde waiter answered, "Snake farms good got one injured, acquired him today." One Eight Eight nodded, "Got three more coming Fred be kind to leave the light on." His manners too polite. The one known as Fred nods back. One Eight Eight leads Zarana through the back freezer the back room and opens the hidden door to the safe house. They go down the stairs and find their squad leader passed out. All patched up and a bottle of rum in his hand. One Eight Eight just shook his head and walked by the man and dropped his gear on the center table. He then walked over to a clean table and began to wash his arm where he got nicked. After it was cleaned he pulled down the med kit and pulled out some needle and thread. Walked over and took two swigs of the rum and began to stitch up his own arm. Zarana saw him doing it and walked over jumping up onto the table. She grabs the hole in her pants and ripped it more to get to her leg and began to clean. She swigged the rum too and began to dig the bullet out. She yelped and cussed through it but she dug it out and cleaned up. She found another sterilized needle in the med kit and began her own sew job.

As she finished One Four Six came in with the other two Dreanoks, "Brotha how you going to do a brotha like that. Next time we switch." One Eight Eight grinned, "Okay, you can ride with the queen of Dreadnoks." One Four Six paused, Zarana's reputation was earned. He couldn't tell if his fellow alley viper was setting him up or not. One Eight Eight motioned him to the table, "Get patched up we're moving soon." The squad leader came out of his drunken sleep. "The hell you are playa. We don't have the man power. I'm too injured and half our teams dead. Mission fail, we go home. Where's the young one? She was with you right?" One Eight Eight stood stoic, "I kill all traitors, and she was a spy. I'm going to complete this mission with or with out you. If try to stop me, I'll shoot you." The squad leader was taken back, open disobedience wasn't army boys style. He saw One Four Six, "So where do you stand, with army or me?" One Four Six motioned to One Eight Eight, "with army, I say I'm sorry but I'm not. I'll follow my boy on point over you any day." One One Five shook his head and scowled, "Just so you know Carter. DeCainne there killed his entire squad to follow orders. It's all he knows. He's just a good dog. Instead of the army holding his leash, its Cobra's high command. A little history on your boy." One Four Six looked at One Eight Eight, "You're some kind of stupid boss man if you think I didn't hack all your files before I went on mission with you all. A brotha gotta know who has his back. So yeah I know about Noah in the civil war. I also know about his contact in cobra high command that came from it. Cobra rewards complete loyalty, this will get me put on the radar with Cobra high command."

Losing the argument the squad leader ripped off his echo squad patch and threw it, "It's yours, kill her or drown her, the squads yours. I'm going back to base, and give my report and recommendation on what to do with you." He got dressed and stormed out of the safe house. One Eight Eight picked up the patch, "One Four Six, get patched up and then get a hold of your Tele viper contact. I need details on how much was compromised and any information on that Joe team that hit us. Zarana pick your weapons." Zarana nodded looking at the walls covered in MARS industry hardware. "Finally a shopping store in my style. Zayna return to your father and explain what happened. You get shot again he'll have my bloody head. Tell him we need reinforcements. Thrasher you take her, take the BMW and sell it." Zayna gritted through a nod, she hurt too much to argue. She went to pull the bullet out of her leg but Zarana had to help her finish, the pain was too much. Zayna looked up in a whisper, "You sure you'll be okay with that viper. My father would kill me if I left you to die with them." Zarana smirked, "Yeah we have an understanding." Zayna nodded and hopped down, "Let's go tool. We need to get to my father ASAP." Thrasher gave a hard stare at One Eight Eight. He got punched one too many times for his liking, but he'd rather not pick the fight with the itchy trigger finger in viper armor.

A heavy sigh as One Eight Eight found his shield. He remembered when alley vipers where orange and blue. He preferred the new black and red. The yellow and black didn't appeal to him either, the red and black was perfect. He checked his night stick under the shield. He had ordered a swivel handle titanium one. The normal steel one was fine but this one really sang as it struck. He then moved to his vest, pulled his patches and knives off. With one last look at the bullets in it he threw it in the corner. Reached over and pulled a new one from the safe house's armor locker and signed the log. He got all his patches on it and knives. Next he replenished all empty magazines and the grabbed fresh supplies. Grabbed water from the fridge and began to strip his rifle to clean it. Zarana sat down next to him and set her revolvers on the table. They sat quiet together cleaning guns. Then One Four Six came walking in shaking his head, "Well she was a spy, but she wasn't G.I. Joe. Our little girl was FBI. She bugged our main comm to base. Plus they thought an unknown FBI agent would stand a better chance then a Joe we know. They called in the Joe's when we got the mission. But now the Joe's have taken custody of the package. Now it's just the three plus their green shirts. FBI wants the package so they are arguing over custody. Plus that Joe you stabbed, medical air lifted. Seems your knife did its job. He'll live but he won't walk for a while."

One Eight Eight nodded, "I was aiming for the artery." Zarana nudged him giving an approving nod, "Now we just have to watch out for his psycho girl friend." The vipers both looked puzzled and Zarana rolled her eyes, "Lady Jake er what's her bloody name? Jaye, yeah that's it." One Four Six grinned, "That honey with the short hair and low cut army top. Mmmmm. I call dibs." Zarana nodded, "All yours, she's a peach." Sarcasm dripping as she spoke. One Four Six got back on topic, "We also have a problem, mad doctor mind bender heard about our 'set back' and got permission to send Firefly in." That left the room quiet except for a "bugger" from Zarana. One Eight Eight knew Firefly meant bombs and collateral damage, which is how vipers usually ended up with the saboteur. One Eight Eight stood to walk and began to pace. "Three of us, Firefly, Joe's and feds. All want the package. It'll be a free for all." Zarana rolled here eyes and went for the fridge, "I need a drink. You two want one?" One Four Six jumped up, "Hell yes!" And headed over. One Eight Eight made a wave motion with his hand to pass and went to the computer to research. Zarana spoke in a hushed tone as she opened her beer on her belt buckle, "what's his mood?" One Four Six smirked, "He's on mission. No drinking on mission. My boys a stickler to his own little code. Don't mind him." One Eight Eight stood and nodded, "Our main comm. channel is still bugged right?" One Four Six got a chill, "What's your crazy mind thinking. Last time this ended us damn near taking a short cut through Chernobyl. I swore no more stealing Russian tech for Mindbender." One Eight Eight almost laughed, "We tell the Joe's that Firefly is inbound with a deployment of BATs. They will be expecting an assault. We sneak past the large net that they will cast against an assault." The other two look dumbfounded for a moment till Zarana shrugs, "This is going to end bloody brilliant or very bloody."

That night Zarana went on a food run while One Four Six got the blue prints of the FBI where house in the city where the package was at. One Eight Eight finished prepping the gear, after he sent the fake communication. He fell asleep cleaning his side arm. One Four Six noticed and used the time to escape up stairs for a smoke break and a bite. He was talking to Fred when Zarana returned. She walked past the two to the safe house entrance. Found the lights out and One Eight Eight passed out. She found a blanket covered him, the she yawned realizing how long it had been since she slept. Letting sleep win she found one of the rooms with a bed and fell asleep. One Four Six made his way down and stumbled through the dark. Found a vacant room and fell on the bed. The cheap mattress felt good. His shoulder still sore from the wound but alley vipers don't cry. The thought made him laugh. He quickly fell asleep. About two in the morning a sound woke One Eight Eight, he shifted slightly and came up with a dismantled gun and groggy. Before his eyes could focus he realized his gun was too light and in pieces. He reached for the spare on his ankle knowing full well he should be dead if the intruder wanted him dead. He moved to the kitchen and the light came on blinding him for a second then heard the Aussie accent, "Bloody hell DeCainne put the gun down." He caught Zarana sneaking a late night snack. He looked at her in a long shirt and no pants then shook his head making sure he saw what he saw. He told himself 'mission, think mission'. "I'm going to find the pieces to my gun then go back to sleep" more annoyed about the missing pieces to find then her startling him.

He turned the light on in the main room and began looking. Zarana looked at him as she ate peanut butter from the jar, "Be easier to strip the pieces from another gun." He looked at her and sighed, "This has been with me since I first joined Cobra, first 1911 I bought myself." She set down the peanut butter and grabbed his arm. With a smile began to drag him towards the bedroom till he forcefully stopped. He looked odd at the table, "Where's the blue prints?" One Eight Eight then heard a laugh at the door. The he looked as a hand gun was cocked and saw Firefly. He knew better then to reach for his gun. Zarana tensed up behind him. They couldn't see firefly's face under his mask but One Eight Eight assumed he was grinning. Finally firefly spoke, "Funny thing I heard over a comm channel today. You two tipped off G.I. Joe to me coming. Big mistake, so in turn I tipped off the Joe's to y-" three shots erupted from One Four Six's room to spook Firefly into ducking back out of the door way. One Eight Eight and Zarana both dove for cover both scrambling for weapons. After a few seconds One Four Six came out shield up and submachine gun aimed. One Eight Eight made eye contact and stood with his revolver from his ankle, Zarana found a couple knives. One Four Six looked around, "is that bastard gone?" One Eight Eight shrugged, "either way it's not safe. The Joe's know we are here." And One Four Six began to move through the living room he felt his leg catch something. In slow motion he looked down in enough time to see his leg trip the wire set to a charge and the pin get pull. The explosion blasted One Four Six up and back into a wall. The shield took in the mass of the blast. The force of the blast was enough to send parts of couches and shrapnel in a 360 direction. One Eight Eight was disoriented from the blast trying making his way over to his fellow alley viper. He found him alive but his right leg below the knee was blown off. Immediately One Eight Eight scrambles for a belt and tightened around the pressure point near the groin to slow the bleeding. A quick glance up and Firefly was gone.

They could here voices outside begin to come down the entrance, Zarana found one of the submachine guns not destroyed by the blast. She surveyed what was left, "Slimy bastard stole our plans and set us up. Here catch." She threw his shield to him. One Eight Eight caught it and checked One Four Six again. Still unconscious and the bleeding was slowed but not enough. He took his shirt off and tried to hold it to the massive wound. He heard the voices almost upon them. One ran for the hall to keep them in the narrow space. He hid just out of view as the first rushed in the room. The alley viper shield blindside the green shirt. The second one raised his rifle to have One Eight Eight's night stick strike it down then swivel up. The ring of metal as it hit, it left his ears ringing longer then normal. Or it was the explosion still ringing. He couldn't tell. Eventually the Joe's starting shooting down the hall which was returned by Zarana with the Alley Viper sub machine gun. One Eight Eight shook his head, "Wish to hell it had a back door." A few more rushed down. Between the shield and the night stick bloody a few unconscious Joe's lined the hall.

Zarana's magazine emptied and the click sound brought the sound of a dog coming hard. A German Sheppard lunged at One Eight Eight. He was able to deflect it with his shield and raised his night stick to put the dog down when he was tackled by a Joe in a blue vest, "I'll be damned if you hit my dog with that snake breath." As the two wrestled on the floor the Joe was able to disarm the night stick, but One Eight Eight's shield came up against the Joe's face stunning him. The dog was back in the fight and now firmly on One Eight Eight's leg and boot. As the Joe reached for the shield, One Eight Eight reached for the gun on the Joe's belt and pulled the trigger firing two rounds into the Joe's leg. Then pulled it from the holster and cracked it against the Joe's face putting him out cold. He gave the dog a solid kick and then a shot from the shield knocking the dog hard enough to disorient it. He looked over and saw Zarana in a fist match with Lady Jaye. As he sighted Lady Jaye with the Joe's gun a knife struck his hand and he looked over in time to see the image every cobra agent feared. Snake eyes. He lost consciousness shortly after the ninja him. Last thing remember was swearing to kill firefly.