Thank you to all the reviewers and readers. I appreciate the feedback. Same disclaimers, blah blah, no ownership rights responsibilities.

CHAPTER 2

Beachhead struggled again as his body obeyed the new intelligence. Somehow he was reduced to a passenger in his own mind and watched helplessly as this Nukpana took over and began walking along the fence. He buried the relief that the unfamiliar weapon was left lying where his numbed hands had dropped it. His body had enough lethal capabilities without handing a semi-automatic rifle filled with ammunition to the thing. As Nukpana continued along the fence, peering into the night and looking for the first opportunity to cause mayhem in this newer modern world, Beach realized the Other didn't have access to his thoughts as long as he wasn't blatantly throwing them out at him.

Suddenly the searchlights of the guardhouse came into view and Nukpana sped up, walking quickly towards the oblivious greenshirt on duty. Beach felt panic at the thoughts of bloody murder rushing through the spirit's mind. His greenshirt would only see the trusted Sergeant major, not a threat and the plans about to be put into play would only end in screaming tortuous death. His mind raced as he tried to think of some way to warn him, or to assert control over his body or to stop this at all.

Greenshirt Miller turned and lifted his rifle slightly to an attentive pose, showing himself as alert to the approaching Ranger. "Sergeant major! All clear here." He gave a nod, confident in the knowledge he was doing his duty correctly and thus had no reason to worry that Beachhead would raise any sort of fuss.

Nukpana let one hand slide onto the handle of the large well-made combat knife and smiled at the oblivious guard on duty. He would never know what was happening until a death blow was being dealt. This... this would be his first victim. He pictured how the first stab would drive into the solar plexis, cutting up into the lung, the gasping screams of pain... he relished the pain he would inflict.

Deep inside the shared mind, Beach thought loudly. *Kill him, yes. As soon as he is down, the alarm will sound... the rest of my friends will know... yes, it will be over quickly as long as Nukpana kills this one...* He repeated the thoughts desperately. He didn't dare think of saving the life of his head greenshirt, only that killing him would be a formula guaranteed to stop Nukpana.

Nukpana paused, looking outwardly at the calm unwary soldier standing within striking distance. He wouldn't fall for this heavy-handed attempt to fool him. If he killed this outer sentry, the alert would destroy his ability to continue a satisfying rampage. In fact... he followed the thought... if he left this underground fort of soldiers behind him, they would know. The body he dwelt in would be searched for and when they discovered his whereabouts, they would stop him from enjoying his new life.

He nodded quietly at the greenshirt. "Carry on." He turned his steps towards the buildings that hid the entrance to the base. First, he would enter the base... yes. This was much better. The stupid original inhabitant of this fit able body was foolish to allow him to see how to best proceed with his plans.

Beach didn't dare breathe easier. Instead he tried to project dismay as his body headed for the entrance to the Pitt. The Joe team could stop this demon... they were his only hope. He had to steer Nukpana into alerting the Joes that Beachhead wasn't really Beachhead. As they approached one of the mechanics working on night shift repairing a Mauler tread, he suddenly felt panic wondering if Courtney would be there. His panic made the suspicious ghost pause and Beachhead rapidly forced his thoughts towards the door that hid the lift into the Pitt.

*Don't see the lift... don't see the lift...* he repeated over and over while projecting the image of the door as intently as possible. Shoving aside any worry over his girlfriend, he focused on the doorway instead.

Nukpana smiled as he headed for the lift doors, bypassing the mechanic bobbing his head to the music blaring into his ears from the strange headpiece he wore. A single man was of no consequence... he needed to be down in the belly of this fortress. He entered the door, only to find himself in a tiny room. For a moment, he was concerned there was some trick. A row of brightly glowing numbers appeared on the wall and he ran his fingers over one of them. When a loud ding sounded and the room began to shift, he braced himself against the wall.

"If this is some trap..." Nukpana felt the tiny human soul inside him begin to intensely agree that it was a trick and he shouldn't go down any further levels, they should go up to the empty empty desert and leave immediately. The evil spirit straightened up and thought to the trapped soul. "Oh you'd like that... but no, I shall go and find these comrades of yours."

Beach continued to try to project dismay while he surreptitiously tried to reassert control without the spirit noticing. There was no way that some outsider should be able to control his own body and push him aside this way. He pried at the ironclad barrier blocking him from his own responses futilely.

There was an evil chuckle at his expense. Nukpana spoke to him. "I have much experience in taking any body that pleases me. You pathetic humans cannot withstand me." Almost casually, he struck back the feeble human mind, sending it reeling back into it's little corner. "You may sit quietly and be honored to be the previous owner of my chosen body, or I can crush you like a bug under my heel. The choice is no matter to me."

Another loud ding sounded as the moving room stopped. Nukpana smiled to himself as the door opened by itself. Powerful magics existed in this time and place. Soon he would master all of it. He strode down a hall, peering into darkened rooms with glittering eyes. Where were his victims? He reached for the human's thoughts and turned to the left, feeling smug at how easy it was to outmaneuver the idiotic human. This 'Beachhead' continued to try to trick him into leaving and he could easily read his true motives.

Suddenly his attention was caught by another human approaching them in the narrow hallway. It was another adult man, this one wearing a smaller hat perched on top of his head. The unconcerned face looked up and saw them walking towards him and a smirk appeared on his face.

"Beach... aren't you supposed to be patrolling? What's wrong? Forget your warm woolies?" The smirk changed to a complete blank when Nukpana swiveled into a powerful kick that slammed into the side of the human's head. The man dropped to the floor unconscious and Nukpana laughed softly. He'd never even suspected an attack from his comrade in arms.

Beachhead was just a tiny bit torn. His first teammate had been struck down easily by Nukpana... but then... Flint was lying on the floor with a particularly stupid look on his unconscious face. He couldn't help but be just the tiniest bit amused, even as he was also properly horrified at the violence done to his warrant officer. Beach did feel quite annoyed that he'd gone down so easily though. Even if it WAS Beachhead walking down the hallway, Flint could have at least been a little on guard. He hadn't even managed to try to get a block up in time. He grumbled to himself at the ineptness of it all. Cobra HAD a shapechanger as an ally. Hell, a ninja could probably pretend to be the masked Ranger in a pinch. His attention was snatched back as Nukpana slid his combat knife out of the sheath.

*Oh no no...* He squashed that thought quickly as Nukpana twitched and paused. *Yes.. kill him so the alarm sounds when they find him and then Nukpana will be stopped quickly... kill him kill him kill him...* He pushed aside the guilty feeling that came with the thoughts. Perhaps he could get the angry ghost to kick Flint... just a little bit maybe. Thinking of non-lethal minor damage helped him continue the urging of murder. Nukpana mulled it over. The evil thing really did want to start murdering people and was beginning to feel more frustration than caution.

"No one will find this body in time..." Evil almost oozed from Nukpana as he reached down to take hold of one arm. The knife dipped down towards the unguarded throat.

End Chapter

I hope this continues to entertain and inspires a little spine tingles. This won't be a epic length fic, I think 4 chapters. Enjoy reading and I love reviews!