It was a good few hours before they landed. Halfway through the trip they made a stop at an Air Force base, where the transport plane was swapped for a small, innocuous private jet supplied by the CIA. When they finally landed on Chinese soil, gear was shouldered, ninja were (gingerly) woken, Snake Eyes appropriated the bathroom to apply his lifelike rubber mask, and several minutes were spent attempting to get several hundred pounds of equipment and weaponry into the rental van. (Two bags each for Snake and Storm; the ninja both considered 'packing light' to be something that didn't apply to weapons on missions of indeterminate length.)

Once people and equipment were packed into the vehicle (the ninja ability to fit oneself into an area that really shouldn't fit a grown human helped here) Storm proceeded to direct Clutch to what he claimed was "suitable motel".

Half an hour later, Clutch was glaring at the ninja, out at the sleek tower of steel and glass across the street, and back at Storm. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"Five fifty five Shanghai street? This is it." Storm looked incredibly pleased with himself.

Flint was scowling. "Storm, this is the damned Langham Place hotel. This is a five star tourist destination. Hawk is not going to okay what this would cost."

"Oh ye of little faith." Storm was still grinning. "We're supposed to be posing as rich tourists, right? We might as well play the part to the hilt. Besides…real feather mattresses. And don't worry about the cost. Just trust me, okay? Contacts, remember?"

Flint looked skeptical. Jaye was eyeing the hotel with a certain amount of anticipation. "Dash, I will pay for the whole thing if I have to if it means not ending up in a cockroach trap like the last place we were stuck in."

Snake Eyes was just shaking his head. Scarlett was also eyeing the building with a hint of longing. She looked at Flint. "I say we follow his lead on this one. We can always make him pay for it."

Flint perked up. "True."

Twenty minutes later, they were following the ninja across the lobby. Stalker glanced around and whistled. "I am bringing my wife back here sometime."

Clutch eyed the center of the lobby. "Is that a solid marble fountain?"

Storm suddenly gestured to Snake Eyes, who moved over to his sword brother. There was a moment of soft, rapid Japanese, and Snake followed Tommy to the counter. The other Joes drifted along behind and listened with interest.

Tommy, smile set on 'blinding' leaned against the counter. The clerk smiled up. "Welcome. What can I do for you?"

"You can call your manager and ask him about Ji Ji."

The clerk blinked, but did as she was asked. The rest of the team blinked in astonishment as a well-groomed man in an expensive suit materialized within seconds. He bowed deeply to the ninja and spoke in rapid Chinese.

Tommy replied in the same, and then, much to everyone's surprise, rolled up his sleeve. Snake Eyes copied the motion.

The sight of the red lines and bars on the arms of the two men caused an immediate reaction. The man bowed even more deeply, and then turned and said something to the clerk, who went white and also bowed deeply to the two ninja.

Flint blinked and looked at Jaye. "What did they say?"

Jaye's eyebrows were making a break for her hairline. "As far as I can figure, Storm somehow knows the owner."

Stalker blinked. "Really? I'm going to have him get me and my wife a deal."

Storm, looking just incredibly smug, sauntered back with room keys just then. "What did I tell you?"

Snake Eyes was shaking his head, apparently impressed. *He got us in for free. The entire stay is on the house. Tommy?*

Employees suddenly materialized out of thin air, bowing profusely and relieving them of their bags. Tommy, still grinning, shook his head. "I'll tell you once they leave us alone."

Ten minutes later, and the Joes were attempting to scrape their jaws off of the floor as they eyed their 'rooms'.

Storm, smirking, tossed keys to the others. "We've got four suites. Jaye, Flint, you've got one. Snake, Red, you've got another…and all four of you are welcome, by the way…Bill, Clutch, 'Lonzo, you've got another. I get my own."

Flint, eyeing the truly palatal suite they were standing in, for once didn't argue. "Jesus. This is…wow."

Scarlett crossed her arms. "Okay, Storm. We're all duly impressed. Now, how?"

Storm folded himself onto the couch, which was upholstered in what looked like silk brocade. "Twenty years ago, the man who owns this place refused to pay 'protection' to the local mob. His young son was kidnapped in retaliation. He paid the ransom, but they refused to give his son back…claimed that the slight had been too great, and could only be erased with blood. He contacted the Arashikage. My father took the contract. He got the kid back to his father safely, and suitably punished those responsible."

The ninja grinned. "The owner was so grateful that he ordered that anyone who bore the mark of my clan would be accommodated free for as long as his family owned the place. The employees think that my family is a close friend of the owner, and know that we're to be treated as if we were the owner himself. I told you…contacts."

Scarlett perked up. "So you could get us in free here anytime, Snake?"

"He could." Tommy nodded.

"Nice." Scarlett glanced at Snake. "Next time we get leave, we're coming here."

*Fine by me.* Snake Eyes was eying his sword brother. *Any other places where I can get VIP treatment around here?*

"Not as nice as this."

Flint whistled softly. Clutch was examining the rooms enthusiastically. They heard the driver's excited voice. "Hey, Storm…is the minibar on the house too?"

"Yes." Storm said smugly. "This suite is mine, though. Go trash your own."

"We're on a mission, Clutch." Flint snapped. "Break into the Johnny Walker and you will be BeachHead's personal bitch for a week after we get back."

"Jeez…I was just going for the OJ." Clutch appeared with a bottle of juice in one hand. "I think you need to get into the minibar, Flint."

Jaye snapped her fingers. "Or, we could get to work. Clutch, Flint, Storm…I'd like to check in with some of the CIA contacts, and Storm can go and see what he can dig up from his other 'contacts'. Which, if they're all as productive as this one, should be a goldmine."

Clutch looked vaguely disappointed, but nodded.

"Who wants to take first shift on electronics watch?" Flint, now that they were talking mission, seemed happier. "We can set up the gear in here, since Storm seems to think he needs this whole suite all to himself."

Storm raised an eyebrow. "Who got you a private suite with your girlfriend?"

Flint went slightly red. "Still…it's the most efficient use of space."

Storm sighed. "Fair enough."

Stalker raised a hand. "I'll take first shift on the electronics."

Wild Bill shrugged. "Hell, I ain't tired yet…I'll give ya a hand."

Scarlett took Snake Eyes by the elbow. "Then we'll just head on over to our suite and catch forty winks…call us if you need us."

Tommy raised an eyebrow at Snake. "You're welcome, brother." He said in Japanese.

*I owe you one.* Snake signed fervently.

"Damn straight you do."

Fifteen minutes later, Snake Eyes and Scarlett were in their private rooms. Snake Eyes took the opportunity to remove his prosthetic mask, while Scarlett poked through the rest of the suite.

He was just finishing when he heard his girlfriend's voice. "Hey, Snake, c'mere."

Snake, knowing what that tone of voice meant, rapidly tracked her down. She was standing in the doorway of a small room about the size of the bathroom…but this one… His eyebrows rose.

*Is that a hot tub?*

"I believe it is." Scarlett was grinning. "You know, Tommy might be an annoying jerk sometimes, but once in awhile…damn. I believe that I owe him one."

Snake Eyes nodded. *Yes, yes I think we do.*

Scarlett looked slyly at him. "You know, we aren't on duty for hours, yet…the nap could probably wait until we break in the hot tub." She casually started tugging her shirt off over her head. "Want to?"

Snake Eyes privately thanked each and every deity he'd ever heard of, even in passing. *Absolutely.*