Chapter Two-Chula Vista, California

It was another great morning at the Pit and Duke was not sleeping in this time. He was working his butt off trying to get all sorts of paper work done before the excitement of the day began. They had already demolished the Cobra base they had found in Brady, Texas.

Duke had a lot of paper work on that one.

Breaker walked into his office and said, "Duke, we got a problem."

Duke looked up from his work and walked out of his office with boots and shirt in hand. He hadn't even put them on yet. He walked sock footed to the command center, where some others were.

They looked at him funny and he said, "Don't ask. Now what's the problem?"

Duke started to put his shirt on and Breaker said, "Well we have found another Cobra base."

Duke literally threw his boots in the air and walked out of the room. They all watched him leave. Scarlett and Flint left to go find him. They found him in his office finishing up his paper work.

Flint started to clap and said, "Bravo of making such a big deal about a Cobra base, Duke."

Duke said, "I did not make a big deal."

Scarlett said, "Yeah you were just the biggest drama queen in the world. There is a bad part of the whole thing though."

Duke looked up and asked, "What is that?"

She said, "Shipwreck's wife of two weeks is being held hostage."

Duke said, "You guys don't need me to help you get her back."

Scarlett said, "Duke, Shipwreck has gone AWOL."

He left as soon as he found out that his wife was being held.

Meanwhile, Shipwreck or Hector Delgado was sneaking into the Cobra base in Chula Vista, California. His old hometown, he thought they had betrayed him by letting Cobra take over the city.

He got a call on his com link and answered it, "Hello?"

he heard a none to happy Duke say, "And what do you think you're doing going AWOL?"

He said, "Sorry but I have to save Mara."

He hung up but they got his coordinates so they left to go get him. They got there just in time to catch him before he did anything stupid.

They pinned him down and Duke had a word with him. Shipwreck crossed the line no Joe would ever like to cross, he yelled at Duke and went AWOL all on the same day.

Duke said, "You disobeyed orders Shipwreck, you went AWOL!"

Shipwreck said, "Well you didn't want to go and save an unarmed civilian! She did nothing and Cobra took her!"

Duke said, "Don't yell at your superior officer."

Shipwreck said, "I will yell all I like."

The other Joes just stood there and watched them fight it out. It continued for 2 hours.

Shipwreck crossed it even more, he said, " Look how about you and Scarlett just resign so you can have more time with Scarlett every Joe knows what you two do after hours. That's why you have so much paper work cause your staying with her in her quarters!"

Duke said, "THAT'S ENOUGH! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR OR SEE NO HIDE NOR HAIR OF YOU UNTIL WE GET BACK TO BASE! I should court martial you but since we are on a mission I'll wait!"

Shipwreck gave him an evil look and walked off but told him one thing that made everyone mad.

He said, "I hope Cobra shoots you badly if they don't I will."

The others were fuming mad but not as mad as Duke, sure he wasn't a red head like Scarlett and Cover Girl but his temper could be worse than a red head's if they get him mad enough. The Joes snuck into the Cobra base and Duke told Lady Jaye, Flint, Shipwreck, Beach Head, Cover Girl, and Scarlett to go find the woman missing.

Scarlett said, "Where will you go and with who?"

Duke said, "I'll be by myself, Wild Bill's doing air support. I'll be fine."

He left and the others left to find the woman named Mara.

They found her in a cell. Lady Jaye told Mara, "Back up so we can get you out."

She did and Scarlett shot her cross bow at the lock but once she did they all heard shooting.

They said, "Duke!"

They ran up and saw Cobra Commander shooting at Duke. They saw Duke being pinned down right in front of them but they didn't expect this. They knew that Cobra Commander was a bad shot but he actually hit Duke. Duke tried to run to another shelter but just as he moved he was shot in the arm but it grazed his side.

Cobra Commander walked straight up to him and shot him in the knee. Duke screamed out in pain but the other Joes didn't know what to do now that they see that Duke isn't made of stone. They let Cobra get away and as soon as they did they ran to Duke. Scarlett propped his head up they could see he was in a lot of pain. Wild Bill landed and got the first aid kit out of the helicopter. He ran over to them and Flint started to patch up Duke.

Duke looked at Shipwreck and said, "Looks like you got your wish, Shipwreck."

He stuttered, "I…I…I didn't mean it Duke."

They got Duke back to base and he stayed cooped up in either his office or his quarters. Shipwreck never got a court martial but he did get very bad punishment. He had to clean the latrines, wash and wax all the vehicles, jets and helicopters, and go through all military style boot camp with Beach Head. That was pure torture. A few months later Duke was back on his feet with the help of a knee brace for his bad knee.