The roaring of the planes above her head started to stir her awake from the dark depths of her mind. A groan escaped her mouth, while her body fought to wake. Wake! Her mind demanded like a commanding officer. The vibrating earth quaked from underneath her motionless body and she fought to gain consciousness.
From somewhere close by, a loud explosion came to her ears, shaking once again the ground from right beneath her, it too trying to wake her from the darkness. Her blue eyes slowly opened with another moan escaping from her vocal chords. Her hand reached for her head, touching it. She slowly shook it, becoming fully conscious.
"Guard the stone! That's a direct order!" Duke's strong authoritative words resurfaced in her head, vibrating it from their strength.
The stone! Her hand jumped down from her aching head to the necklace around her neck, her fingers slowly trailing downwards towards her chest, and she released a long breath of relief, finding the stone still there, in one piece. Another deafening sound came from near her position, causing her to shut her eyes tight from the avalanche of dust that fell from all around her.
Major Bludd! Baroness! her mind reminded her, demanding now to bring her back on her feet and in fighting stance. She opened her eyes, blinking back the tears from the dust that floated everywhere. A cough this time escaped and she knew she had to move. It was now or never. They hadn't found her, not yet, anyway. They were after the stone and she knew it. She had to race to safety. Her own life and the life of others depended on keeping the stone safe.
Scarlett rose slowly, trying to steady herself upright, her legs still shaky from the blast. But was it a blast? A good shot from the Baroness' weapon? She glanced down, trying to find any indication of blood on her uniform, or any wounds, but found none. Her uniform was unscathed, just dusty and dirty. Another roar of planes came above her head, and she glanced upwards, spotting them, nearing her position. Had they spotted her?
The yellow planes crossed over with no indication of shooting at her whatsoever. She blinked, twice, and finally from the dust's cloudy disappearance, she realized why the planes had not attacked her. She glanced all around her, discovering that she had been shielded by a small batch of shrubbery, near the obstacle course. Taking a step forward to leave her protective shelter, knowing that at any given time another row of planes could easily spot her, and this time they would not miss, she lost her footing, and leaned against the only tree that stood to her right. She noted that the bunker that she had been heading towards before her attack was right in front of her, only a few feet away. One swift move and she would be safe, and so would be the stone.
The sound of metal clashing to metal came from her left, and Scarlett's eyes widened, spotting a group of B. A. T. S. heading her way. Quickly, she ducked down, behind the shrubs. Parting some branches carefully so as not to give her position away, her blue eyes became fully wide with surprise, watching the tin soldiers walk close to her position. She could feel perspiration forming on her on the back of her neck, and her heart almost stopped when one of B. A. Ts halted right in front of her hiding spot.
Her hand flew to the stone, covering it, making sure it still rested around her neck. Her eyes observed the metal robotic soldier, studying it carefully. It was a B.A.T.? Wasn't it? It had to be! Only it was different, enhanced, upgraded. The B.A.T. that stood only inches from her position could be easily described as one of the enemy's battle android troopers, only it wasn't black. This mechanical humanoid had been transformed from a dull, cheaply made collection of metal parts, to an extraordinary piece of higher weaponry. Its outer shell glimmered with yellow, almost the color of pure gold, and its eyes glowed with bright red colored beams of light. The weapon, which it held in both hands, stood out from any weapon Scarlett had ever seen made by Cobra. It was long, silver, and thin. Another B.A.T. used the weapon to shoot a white laser beam of light that hit straight onto an upcoming, G. I. Joe jeep, leaving only dust behind. Cobra had finally developed a new weapon. These new Super B.A.T.s could be G. I. Joe's downfall.
Her heart went out to those who perished trying to protect the base from the Cobra invasion. That was what it was, hearing another row of planes above her head, she glanced upwards, spotting the yellow aircraft, closing in, and for the first time, noticed the COBRA insignia on each side of the plane.
From no where, two G. I. Joe Sky Strikers came into view, right behind the golden colored Cobra airplanes, shooting at them with full force. She glanced back towards the B.A.T., and her heart skipped a beat, finding it gone. She carefully glanced around her surroundings, getting ready to strike if the metal creature came at her by any means. It didn't. The Super B.A.T. had gone, just like its friends. Now was her chance. She had a break, and she was going to take it.
Darting out of her hiding spot, she dashed towards the bunker, and once again she stopped short, catching a glimpse of three Cobra Vipers right near the bunker, coming around its corner. She would be spotted, too late to duck back into the bushes.
"There's a Joe!" one of the Vipers called out, pointing towards where she stood, only she was no longer standing, but running, at top speed.
"Get her!" the Viper commanded to his troops.
Scarlett didn't dare look behind her, knowing that the Vipers were close, on her tail. She raced towards the main building, taking in everything that was happening all around her, the true chaos that had engulfed the entire base. Smoke rose from all ends, and numerous Greenshirts lay motionless on the ground. Her heart pounded in her chest, making the stone slightly glow from her pulse. A bullet passed her right shoulder, missing it by several inches.
"Stop Joe!" the cry came from behind her, filled with loathing and evilness.
She dived next to a Greenshirt, taking hold of his weapon, and used his dead body as a shield, while she took aim and fired at her pursuers. She did not miss, watching all three of the enemies fall to the ground, lifeless. She didn't waste another minute. She had to get somewhere safe. She was the target and they all knew it.
Glancing about her, she couldn't find any of the Joes, not even Duke. She hoped they were all safe, even him. Another row of explosions came from all around her, sending her to the ground. But this time, they didn't come from enemy fighters. She spotted two Dragon Fly choppers heading her way, passing over her position, but she was not sure if they had spotted her from the countless dead Greenshirts that surrounding her. They headed towards several Cobra yellow planes. The two Joe craft did not have a chance as Cobra fired and did not miss. They were losing this battle, that was for sure. She vowed not to go down without fighting.
A Sky Striker came to view, flying over her, and headed towards the enemy. More Sky Strikers followed the first. Duke! It had to be Duke leading the squadron. Maybe hope was still alive for this battle.
She jumped to her feet, starting to head once more towards the main building with its signature cannon, but the sound of exploding metal made her stop and stare in disbelief.
What were the Sky Strikers doing? She watched the planes fly around the enemies in a choppy pattern. Whoever those pilots were inside the Joe craft were nothing but amateurs. Who was ordering the pilots to attack in this manner? Her heart jumped to her throat, watching one of the Joe aircraft fly dangerously close to the enemy's, which the golden uniformed pilot almost shot it out of the sky.
"Look out!" her trapped voice finally cried out, warning the Joe pilot, but knowing that he could never hear her, and would never hear the commanding officer's lecture on flying. She spotted the missile from the Cobra plane flying towards the Striker, and creating a large red ball of fire from its impact.
Scarlett stood motionless watching the metal fall to the ground. Her eyes stared at the pieces of the remains of the Sky Striker, which its metal parts continuously burned with orange flames, creating an image of a funeral's lit candle for the fallen soldier.
What was going on here? Her mind tugged at the question. She did not have time to answer it, for she only knew that she had to help. Inserting the stone underneath her Joe uniform, keeping it safe and close to her, she raced towards the building. Duke's orders or no Duke's orders, they needed her!
Two Super B.A.T.s came out of no where, right in front of her path, and she had no other choice but to throw two throwing stars right in their red glowing eyes. The robots quickly found themselves confused and disoriented, unable to spot the enemy. Scarlett wasted no time, but aimed at their chests and fired with the Greenshirt's gun. She took them out completely before entering the building, but not before spotting several dozen Greenshirts fighting more of the golden colored mechanical soldiers.
Taking the stairs to the second floor two by two, and passing by more Greenshirts who looked more confused and lost than knowing how to fight, she reached the command center. Her first priority was to give the ancient gem to one of the others, whoever was close by, make sure it was completely safe, and then go into battle herself. She would face Duke afterwards. He would understand, right? It didn't look good and she knew he knew it. She spotted only two Joes in the control room, their communications officer and medical officer.
Another explosion occurring close to the building, rocking it from its power, sent everyone off balance. Scarlett balanced herself against the doorframe to the room.
"Shoot!" Breaker cursed, while trying to keep the monitors on, hitting and pushing buttons, his hands never stopping.
Static came from the communications radio, and a voice came on, "Breaker, we being mangled out here!"
"Cover Girl, what's your status?" Breaker asked, his eyes only concentrating on the small screen, getting a glimpse of Cover Girl who looked like she needed medical support from the size of the laceration on the side of her forehead.
"Cobra Rattlers, coming in fast!" Cover Girl answered, trying to take action.
"Watch it, C.G!" Shipwreck's voice came on. "You almost crashed into the cannon!"
Scarlett listened carefully. Cover Girl sounded like she was in the air, and not on the ground, driving. Who had ordered Cover Girl to fly a Striker! Duke must have lost one of his marbles! The woman could fly, but not the way she could drive! She was one of the few that could literally run a Wolverine like a child's toy and ram it through a Cobra base, coming out unscathed!
"Breaker! We got B.A.T.s up to our necks!" Law's voice came on.
"Status, Law," Breaker immediately asked.
"By the Motor Pool," came the answer. "Hurry. Chuckles and Big Lob are both down. Tunnel---" only static sounded from the radio and the remainder of the message never came through.
"Cover Girl, take your squadron, and head them off!" Breaker ordered.
Scarlett's eyes widened. "What the devil is going on?" she said to herself, not knowing it had escaped, making both Joes in the room whirl their chairs around, facing her with a surprised expression.
"SCARLETT!" they both shouted with their eyes wide, and mouths dropped.
"What are you doing here?" Lifeline asked, glancing from the redheaded Joe to the communications officer and back to the counterintelligence agent.
"Aren't you supposed to be—" Breaker started asking, but was cut off by the redhead.
"Never mind that right now." Scarlett walked towards them. Her hand rested on the top of an empty chair. "Whatever Cobra has done to their equipment, it's costing us," she said, then added, "dearly."
She glanced at the monitors, catching on one of the screens, a small glimpse through the rising gray smoke that had dominated the base, Tunnel Rat and Law with his dog, Order, trying to fight off a dozen gold B.A.T.s. She reached and pushed the communications button, "Law, aim for their eyes," she said into the radio, her heart beating quickly, hoping it would work, just like before.
They continued to watch the monitor, all holding their breath, seeing Law hearing her message, taking aim and firing. The B.A.T.S. started walking around with no controlled direction whatsoever, confused and disorderly.
"Take them out!" Scarlett ordered to the two Joes, her eyes never leaving the screen, watching Law wasting no time waiting for another command. He started shooting at the machines, destroying them one at a time. She glanced from screen to screen, spotting Greenshirts starting to use the same method, and making the B.A.T infestation decrease.
From next to her, she heard Breaker exhale a sigh of relief and saw Lifeline close his eyes. She needed to get up in the air. She leaned forward and pushed the red button. He was going to be livid, but she would be ready for his lecture.
"Duke, this is Scarlett, come in."
Breaker and Lifeline looked towards the redhead in bewilderment then exchanged worried looks to one another.
The radio remained in silence, with no answer returning for the counterintelligence agent.
"Duke, come in, please," Scarlett once again tried, hoping he wouldn't be disappointed with her for not following orders. But then again, from her point of view, she wasn't. She was protecting the red stone, at all costs.
No answer came from the other end again, and her eyes went downcast, hoping his had not met his end during battle. Her heart pulsed madly in her chest, waiting for his response, his voice, even if he was extremely angry. She wanted to make sure he was all right.
"Scarlett?" Breaker's gentle tone broke her thoughts, and she turned to him.
Static finally came on from the communication system, and she felt her heart jump to her throat, waiting, anticipating for his voice.
"Scarlett?"
Her shoulders slightly slugged downwards. It wasn't his voice. The voice that came over the link, wasn't Duke's.
"Yes, Cover Girl?" Scarlett answered, feeling her heart grow heavy from receiving an answer but not from who she expected it from. Where was he? Her heart hammered in her chest, beating so loudly, it came to her ears, beating like a drum, and her hand flew to the stone, which she could feel from under her uniform.
"I--" Cover Girl went to answer her when another's voice erupted through the radio.
"Rattlers! Twelve o'clock! Coming in fast!" Shipwreck bellowed from his Sky Striker.
Scarlett's heart now raced. She had to help them, but how? She glanced at the monitors. The B.A.T.S were being taken care of, but what about the golden colored Cobra Rattlers?
"Red? Got any ideas?" Cover Girl's voice sounded nervous from the other end.
Scarlett glanced over to Breaker and Lifeline who nodded with approval, and then concentrated on the situation. They were outnumbered and Cobra already knew. Her thoughts whirled in her head. What would she do? But more importantly what would Duke do? She closed her eyes for a moment and pictured his face and his voice, "The team sticks together."
"What?" Breaker and Lifeline asked, standing up and staring at her, waiting for an answer.
Scarlett opened her eyes. "Us, the Joes, we got to stick together, no matter what. We need to keep punching," she said to both the Joes in the command center and the Joes in the battlefield. "Joes, I want everyone to fall back, and wait on my signal. Cover Girl, take your squadron, head East, Shipwreck, head West."
"I'm not going to be the Wicked Witch of the West you know," Shipwreck joked, giving a great imitation of the Wicked Witch.
"Shipwreck!" Cover Girl scolded over the radio, and they could all picture her with a disapproving look on her face. "Let's go!"
"I'm going, I'm going," Shipwreck mumbled, then ordered his squadron to follow him. "Let's go, Toto!"
"SHIPWRECK!"
"Hey, if I'm really going, at least let me go with a big joke!" Shipwreck stated, but his tone showed no amusement.
The Cobra rattlers were closing in, and the three Joes in the command center intensely watched the planes on the monitors. They counted at least three groups of enemy fighters, around thirty planes in total. Scarlett found herself wondering if they would survive this, and hoped that her plan worked. She glanced at the other two Joes and also wondered how many casualties they had from this battle. Her heart did not want to know that particular answer. It pounded madly in her chest, anticipating the attack, which held their fate. If Cobra won this battle, it could mean the end of G. I. Joe.
"Scarlett, they're almost upon us!" Breaker stated, pointing to the monitors, spotting the planes coming in, only a several hundred feet away.
"Wait," Scarlett ordered the team, waiting herself, her eyes now glued to the golden planes and the Cobra image drawn on the front of the craft's nose.
"Wait," she requested again, her pulse quickening with each passing second, watching the enemy aircraft head straight right at them, and she instantly knew they were targeting the building itself. That was their plan, destroying Joe Headquarters once and for all. Her features turned serious. "Not today, Cobra," she murmured before she signaled, "NOW!"
The whole scene became a blur while she watched the Cobra Rattlers just passing through the perimeter. She could picture their little snake-like eyes changing into pure victory, and then turning to horror when the G. I. Joe Sky Strikers came from both ends, surrounding the Cobra Rattlers, firing them at them from all sides. The sky transformed into a sea of aircraft whirling, twirling, and dancing, before some of them disappeared from view, permanently. Sky Strikers as well as Cobra Rattlers lost their battle and found themselves crashing to the ground, while their pilots ejected, and continued to fight for their own lives.
"Ground troops, fire!" Scarlett found herself ordering into the radio and in seconds whatever had remained of the Joe ground units, started firing at the enemy.
Slowly, the Cobras began to retreat, starting with the cowards who would rather live another day and earn another Cobra dollar. Time stood still for Scarlett, Breaker and Lifeline, watching the battle from the control room. They had to win. They had to!
Then the words that she wanted to hear came over the radio, "The Cobra's are retreating, YO JOE!" The voice of Shipwreck imitating the wicked witch sounded like beautiful music to everyone's ears.
"YO JOE!" came the thunderous reply of those who survived the battle.
Scarlett exhaled, letting the air that had filled her lungs be released, realizing from all the anxiety, she had been holding her breath. She glanced down at the control panel, her eyes turning soft and a tear escaped from the aftermath of the battle. The tear trailed down her cheek, and dropped on the red switch that had connected her to battle. She glanced up back at the monitors, watching the enemy run, their tails under their afterburners, and their own Joe planes, starting to land, while Greenshirts mechanics rushed to start repairs.
"We need to start cleaning up," she murmured, giving a side-glance towards the other two members in the room.
Breaker nodded, but Lifeline was all ready on it, from the way he jumped out of his chair and raced out, ready to help with the casualties. It didn't occur to her until that particular moment to wonder why the medic had been in the command center all this time, and not in the battle, rescuing, and helping the injured. She knew that their numbers had dwindled and judging from the man's features, he had seen death one time too many. It didn't faze him any longer.
"Scarlett?" Breaker once again broke into her thoughts.
She turned and looked into his brown eyes, which showed relief and confusion
"What are you doing here?" Breaker bravely asked, standing up and taking a step towards her.
Scarlett was taken aback from his question for a split second. "I know I'll be getting court martialled for disobeying orders, but I hope he will understand." Her heart once again pounded, wanting nothing more to see his face, entering the control room and barking at her until his voice left him from his yells. An image of Ying Ty and Hawk also came in her head, and her eyes widened. They had to be safe. The stone was safe, for the moment. Without Ying Ty, the Joes had no idea what would become of the gem.
The control room's doors slid opened, and Roadblock walked inside with a Rottweiler. The heavy gunner had a large grin on his face that reached his eyes. The dog looked smaller than Junkyard; thinner and more tame, not even pulling on the leash, which he held in his hand.
Scarlett arched one of her eyebrows and sent Roadblock a curious glance. She would ask about the dog later. Right at that moment, the stone was more important. She turned towards the communications officer, who still stared at her with a slightly puzzled expression on his features. "Breaker, do you know—"
The Joe who loved to play chef while not on active duty cut off her words, "I don't have to see, to know whose voice that may be!" Roadblock greeted her with a smile. "Scarlett!"
Scarlett started to reply but the strong embrace of the heavy gunner's swallowed her words. "Nice to see you too, Roadblock," she managed to say to finally say, still in the man's strong embrace, knowing that he may not have known of her return. If Duke had walked in at that particular moment, who knew what would happen.
Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, Roadblock released her from his hug, but his smile still remained on his face. His eyes were glass-like and had a yellow tone to them. Scarlett wondered if he was wearing contacts. Her own eyes blinked, watching his, which remained still and frozen, like a solid crystal glass. Her hand slowly reached to cover her mouth, and glanced at Breaker, then back at the heavy gunner. "Roadblock," she whispered his code name.
"Scarlett?" Roadblock's smile faded from the sound of her voice, which betrayed her knowledge. "Hey, don't you fret, just don't get all upset!"
Her hand reached towards his soft skin on his face. "How? When?" her questions flew out of her mouth, shocked and dazed. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Breaker.
"Cobra La," Breaker answered her question.
Scarlett glanced from one Joe to another. Her head whirled while her blue eyes hit dead center of her teammate's yellow ones, finding them lifeless.
"I maybe blind, but I still have my mind," the heavy gunner told her, his smile returning to his face.
"Roadblock I didn't mean—" she started to apologize.
"It's all right, Red," Roadblock assured her, patting the Rottweiler next to him. "Sock and I, are the best team yet!"
Scarlett wrapped her arms around her long time friend and held him close. "I bet!" she glanced up at his features, knowing how much he loved to rhyme. She remembered how Flint's rescue unit had found Roadblock in the snow; mostly blind from one of the Cobra La spores. But the last time she had seen Roadblock, he still had his eyesight. All 20/20 of it! Her hand flew to her head again; shaking off the slight nausea that came upon her.
"Red, you okay?" Roadblock asked, now becoming concerned for a teammate and a friend.
Scarlett went to reply, when once again the control room's door slid open. Her heart skipped a beat, hoping it was Duke entering or even Hawk, but it wasn't. Cover Girl and Shipwreck strode in; both with the same dusty look, mimicking her own uniform.
"Scarlett!" Cover Girl wrapped her arms around her friend, giving her a hug.
Scarlett's mind whirled. What was happening? She glanced around the faces, which all stared at her the same as she stared at them. A jigsaw puzzle, that was how it felt. They were all in the same puzzle but not connecting from one piece to another. "Wh-where's Duke?"
Cover Girl dropped her arms faster then she had found herself hugging one of those golden battle android troopers. "Duke?"
"Yes, Duke," Scarlett insisted, crossing her arms in the front. "You know, six foot two, eyes of blue? Poster boy to this unit?"
Silence enveloped the control room, and all sent her a worried expression. Her heart pounded profusely in her chest. Now she was certain something had happened while she was unconscious, but what? What were they keeping from her? Had something happened that they wanted her not to know? What?
"Where's Duke?" she asked once again, this time with a voice filled with authority. No answer came again, and her blood began to boil slightly. "Fine, where's Hawk?"
Cover Girl, Breaker and Shipwreck glanced at each other, then to her.
"H-he's not here," Shipwreck finally spoke for the three.
Scarlett turned for a second around, and then pivoted back to them. "I don't know what is going on, but I want some answers and the first one is, where is Duke?"
This time, they did not meet her gaze, except for one. Roadblock. "I'll take you to Duke," he offered, raising his arm to escort her to the field commander.
Scarlett gently took it, remaining quiet, while he gave a command to the dog, "Forward." and led her out of the control room, down the corridors and out into the dark night sky. She glanced around her, feeling the chills down her spine, but knowing that it was a warm summer's evening. She spotted several medics bending over the lifeless Greenshirts, and her own eyes closed for a moment, letting Roadblock lead her.
She didn't know where they were heading, figuring it was towards the main hangar where Duke was probably barking orders, as usual. But their path turned away from the main hangar, and past it, the barracks, and then the small bunker buildings at the far end of the base. Where was he taking her? She didn't ask, remaining in her silent state.
Roadblock patted her hand with his, and walked through a wall of wild thicket, and came to a halt. "We're here," he said in a low tone.
Scarlett glanced around her, trying to see through the darkness, finally seeing Roadblock's world through her eyes. "Duke?" she called out, turning her head left and right, trying to locate him. But again, no answer greeted her, nothing, only the sound of a cricket chirping in the summer night. "Roadblock, I-I think we took a wrong turn," she pointed out, hoping she didn't hurt the man's feelings.
Roadblock did not answer Scarlett, but gently took her hand with his and led it across the wild brush, reaching until it touched something solid.
Scarlett's eyes widened with fear, touching the marble with her fingers, starting to let them feel around, letting them find the indications of letters on the stone tablet. She let go of Roadblock's arm, and took a slow stride, her heart rushing to her throat which already held a lump, pressing each other, wanting both to escape. Her blue eyes turned soft, filling with sorrow, while her hand continued to search, finding that the stone was long and wide. No! Her heart now slammed against her chest, realizing what it was. "Duke," her heart spoke his code name, tearfully, letting her eyes find his grave mark.
"His body maybe in Arlington, but his spirit is here," Roadblock's voice spoke the truth that she did not want to hear.
"Duke," she whispered his name once again, letting it fly out of her mouth, from her heart and into the night sky, letting it fly to him. She swallowed the larger lump that came to her throat, and squinted her eyes to read aloud the inscription on the memorial, "A Hero, A Friend, A Mentor, A Teammate. The one who looks out for us all the time, from Headquarters to the battlefields, and now from the stars from above."
Scarlett never felt so alone than that exact second when she knew that she would never see his blue eyes again. She closed hers for a moment, trying to keep her composure, her military mask was fully on, but it started to crack. She traced her fingers over the words she had just read, finding herself not believing. She had just talked to him a few hours ago! This couldn't have happened? No! Her mind shouted. This is not real! I don't believe it! And then her heart almost stopped beating when she found the date of his death on the stone. The same day that Cobra attacked Joe Headquarters and stole the BET. The same day that Duke had been hit with one of Serpentor's poisoned snakes. The same day that he went into a coma, right in her arms, and the same day that she had known with all her heart that she loved him. "Where am I?" she asked the unknown and no answer came, none.
