DISCLAIMER: I do not own GI JOE, if I did Ripcord would have never been kissed by Scarlett and Baroness wouldn't have played Hard-To-Get with Destro. Also, Storm Shadow wouldn't have been dumped in the ocean. No money is being made from this so don't bother suing me, you won't get anything. I own nothing except the plot of this story and the word processor it was typed on.

SUMMERY: They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Brothers separated by a lie, a lover struggles for her man's freedom and two soldiers search for answers before it's too late.

A/N: Ok, so I goofed when I listed Zolpidem as a med to help Snake sleep/ act as a pain killer. It's actually used to treat insomnia and I apologize for the error. Just goes to show that I need to spend a bit more time researching these things. I'm not going to bother changing it because I'm not sure how to fix the chapters yet.

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Slimy. That was the only word that really fit how Tommy felt when he opened his eyes. After a few seconds he took note that the pain from the hypothermia and the injuries from his duel with Snake Eyes were gone, as was the almost perpetual migraines that had been plaguing him for as long as he could remember. Running a hand through his dark hair, he felt more the the slime-like liquid covering it as well as the rest of his body.

"Master Storm Shadow, you have awakened." A synthetic female voice chirped from beside the door.

He looked up to see one of the E.R.M.A units looking at him expectantly. A vaguely female shaped android, with bright green optics and sleek silver body plating. This one for some odd reason was wearing a doctor's lab coat and a pair of horn rimmed glasses, a stethoscope draped around its spindly neck. In 'her' hands she held a neatly folded pair of white slacks and a dark blue button up shirt. "I have repaired all of the damage to your systems and you should now find yourself to be at full operating capacity." She set the pile of clothes on the table beside him. "The steam showers on this level are still operating so please feel free to wash yourself."

The white ninja stared at her for a moment, "What is your designation?" He asked, this machine was acting very strangely for one of Destro's creations. Either it had an exceptional AI system or it's programming was much broader than any of the other drones he himself had worked with.

The android looked at him in an almost, puzzled manner. "I am Emergency Response Medical Android unit EVI-8419. I am the personal medical android of the Lady Baroness." The unit stared at him almost hopefully. "Master Storm Shadow, do you know where my Lady has gone to?"

"No I don't." Tommy snapped, grabbing the clothes and heading for the shower. "Now tel me what the hell is going on here."

"Would you like a full report of our current status?" The android asked, following him like some kind of strange robotic dog.

"Fine."

"All enemy troops have been withdrawn from our territory though this facility has suffered much damage and many casualties. This facility is currently operating at 23% of it's optimum potential. 38% of this base has suffered flooding and cannot be salvaged. 39% is currently undergoing maintenance by the automated emergency systems."

"Are any of the launch bays still intact? Can I leave?" Tommy demanded.

"Not at this current time. The elevators through the ice shelf are still being repaired. The estimated time it will take for their completion is 15 hours. However, it appears that there are two Skystrikers intact in the ice cave above this facility. However I am uncertain if they remain in working order." The android looked at the ninja expectantly.

"What?" Tommy finally demanded, the damned thing was creepy.

"Sir, I was wondering what you would like to have done about the remains of the virus in your internal systems?"

Tommy stared. "What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"During my scans, I discovered a virus in your systems. I have deactivated it, however the individual units remain in your bloodstream."

"Wait, what do you mean, 'individual units?" The white ninja asked. "Do you mean I have some kind of computer virus in my blood?"

"That is correct. However I was able to deactivate the virus in the unit's programming, however they will require new programming to they will not degrade and cause you further health problems."

"Further?"

"These units appear to have originated from your brain stem, and have altered the neural relays in your brain. Though the long term damage caused by the units appears to be minimum. Most likely resulting in severe head aches." The android's eyes glowed brighter and her voice seemed almost pleased, "The M.A.R.S medical facilities here have allowed me to repair nearly all of this damage however and you should suffer no lasting effects from the virus."

As he dressed, the Arashikage heir ignored the android, his mind focused on the information she'd just handed him. How in all the hells could a computer virus get into hiss bloodstream? It wasn't possible, hell he'd nearly failed the computer classes his uncles had insisted that he attend, but there was no way a digital virus could infect a human, even with the amount of technology that Destro may have had at his disposal.

"You said it would take fifteen hours for the elevators to be functioning again?" Tommy asked.

"Yes."

"Very well. Find any information about this 'virus' you were talking about and start packing anything that you might need in order to do your job." He glared at the machine who looked expectantly at him. "But it must be able to fit on one of the Skystrikers so only what you figure might be the most important."

"Of course Master Storm Shadow. Everything shall be prepared."

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In the large JOE training area, Ripcord was burning through reps on one of the heavy automated sets of equipment. It had some of the same tech as those Delta6 suits, so the damn thing actually would actually compensate when the operator started to tire, effectively eliminating the need for a spotter. Which was pretty sweet since he really didn't want to deal with anyone else right now. He frowned to himself, thinking back to the exchange that had happened the other day in Scarlett's quarters. He knew that he was a good pilot, hell he was one of the best, so far the only one he'd found who could out fly him in this unit was a guy the JOEs had recruited from Australia, named Ace. Nice guy but that accent was thick as hell.

So anyway, he considered himself a brave guy who was capable of taking pretty much anything on. Although those waitresses in that seedy San Sebastiao restaurant had been..... unexpected. He was happy to admit to himself, that Scarlett was a good looking woman and he was more than happy to chase after her, after all it would be a pleasure to get his tailpipe kicked by such a fine lady. But that guy... The Zen master was the odd little extra that she couldn't be sure about. He could never tell quite what was going on between him and Scarlett, oh it was easy to tell that they were close, but beyond that it was all gray. Rip wasn't going to chase after anyone else's girl no way, his momma raised him better than that, But the thing with folks who were trained in covert ops, it was real hard to tell who was doing what, or dating who.

He sighed and slid the weight bar back into its space overhead. And the other thing that nagged at him, was what he'd seen of Snake Eyes face. Looked like the poor bastard was on the wrong side of a shrapnel explosion. He'd seen a lot of the same back in Iraq, but never that bad, or across such a vulnerable spot. Those scars made it pretty obvious why the ninja wore a mask all the time, and Rip was positive that if it hadn't been for his own lame timing the other night, he'd have never found out at all.

Rip sighed and got to his feet with a soft groan. For now, he'd carry on business as usual, no reason to change anything about his routine. Sooner or later he figured Scarlett would drop all the subtlety crap and tell him straight out what was what, either that or someone else would. His own brand of information gathering. It worked well for him back in South America and no doubt would work really good here too. Just a matter of time.

The pilot sighed and wiped his face with a towel lying on the table nearby. Of course, patience wasn't exactly what he was well known for.

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The GI JOEs resident ninja commando splashed water into his face and watched it swirl down the drain. It would have been nice, he thought, if the bad dreams and overwhelming sense of wrongness would vanish down the drain with the water. The stitches across his back itched and burned slightly and he glared at his scarred reflection in the mirror. The med's Doc had given him to help him sleep had done something to his balance, and it was almost impossible to stand up straight. He prodded the row of black stitches across his abdomen and winced. Damn, those are going to make PT a bitch, he thought as he taped a clean dressing over the stitches. Grabbing the pile of clothes from hook on the back of the door. Underwear, gray camouflage cargo pants, sock and boots which thankfully had velcro instead of laces, Snake very much doubted that he could manage the dexterity required to tie them right now. A long sleeved black shirt, gloves, wrist comm and his soft training mask all in place and he was ready to go ahead and face the day.

His first stop after leaving his and Shana's shared quarters was the small room which was supposed to be his quarters but he hadn't used as such in almost four years. Pushing open the door, the ninja moved across the drab carpeting silently, and turned on the desk lamp, illuminating the small framed photograph and the set of carefully cleaned dog-tags hung off of the frame. Snake Eyes bowed in front of the memorial once and carefully lit one of the small cones of incense that sat on a plate in front of the photograph.

Stepping back, he began to sign, [Hello brother. I am still trying to convince Soft Master to have your name written on your family grave, but he will not listen to me. Hell, he's never listened to me so I guess I should not be so surprised by it.] He paused for a moment, unsure of what he wanted to say next, [I know you probably won't forgive me for what I did to you, I can't forgive myself. But I am still trying to understand why you did what you did, why you left us like that. And... some of the things that you told me before you died, they are confusing. You spoke of things that never happened to you, to us.] Snake sighed and dropped his hands, before bowing to the small memorial again.

I am going to find out what happened to you Tommy, He thought fiercely, I swear it, my brother.

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Later, down in the section of the JOE training area which had become affectionately referred to as the Dojo, Snake Eyes was carefully moving through one of his more basic katas. This one was considerably slower than the normal set he practiced, but anything much more strenuous would probably tear his stitches resulting in Doc's ire. Not a thing any sane man wanted.

He finished the kata a bit more off balanced than he would have liked, and felt someone staring at him from across the room. Turning, the commando spotted Beach Head glaring at him from underneath the gray balaclava he favored. The taller man wasn't saying anything, but his disapproval of Snake being in the training area was incredibly obvious. The master sergeant would of course know who Doc had and hadn't cleared to train due to injuries. Snake Eyes did appreciate that Beach was going to let him do what he wanted, for now anyway.

Beach nodded at him once before turning to yell at one of the Rawhides who'd fallen off the top of one of the obstacles Beach was pushing them through. "Hey! You idiots' git you're asses in gear! You think that kinda crap is gonna slide out in the field?! If it gets you killed that's yer own damn problem, but if it gets yer team killed, that makes it my problem! Now get up, and do it again, FROM THE START!!"

Snake shook his head in amusement, Beach Head was going to run those Rawhides into the ground. He hissed and doubled over as a sudden burst of burning pain shot across his back from the sword wound. What the hell? He thought, pressing a hand carefully against the gash across his shoulder, gritting his teeth against the pain. The training area was suddenly too hot, and sweat poured down his face under his mask. The room spun crazily and he reached out a hand to steady himself against the wall. Before he could fall flat on his face, a pair of strong arms grabbed him and held him steady.

"Oi Stone! Call Doc, git him up here pronto!" Beach Head yelled. He turned to his teammate and even through the cloth of his mask, Snake could feel how cool Beach's hand was. "Damn it Snakes yer burning up. What the hell were you thinking coming down here?" Beach demanded. He pulled one of the ninja's arms up over his shoulder to help him stumble towards the elevator down to the infirmary. "Outta mah way Rawhides! Got a sick man coming through." Beach shoved past Duke and Ripcord. Snake tilted his head as he watched the pair of them stare at Beach Head. He looked over at the taller man and blinked. Why is Beach Head pink? He wondered idly, a second later he realized that he must be hallucinating because Beach Head would never wear pink, or bunny ears. He shook his head hard, yep definitely hallucinating.

"Hey Doc," Beach Head called as he pushed open the door to the infirmary and helped his teammate sit on one of the empty beds. Snake had pulled off his mask and was staring up at the white ceiling with an odd expression on his face. "Thought you cleared Snake to be out of the infirmary? Cause he's burnin' up something fierce, and his back injury was acting up right before he almost passed out on the mats."

Doc sighed and snapped on a pair of surgical gloves, "He wasn't supposed to be in the training rooms at all. Probably ripped out a few stitches, help me get his shirt off would you?" Between the pair of them they had Snake stripped to the waist and staring at the sword wound in shock.

"Hey Doc, I ain't a medical guy, but that doesn't look right." Beach said quietly.

Doc looked equally shocked. "Yes Beach Head, that isn't right at all." He carefully prodded at the injury and frowned. Thin spidery black lines ran underneath the ninja's skin, spreading out from the sword wound which was swollen and a dark angry red color. Doc took a pair of thin sharp scissors and carefully sniped out a few of the stitches to reopen the injury. "Beach Han me that empty syringe over there wound you? And hold him still, this is probably going to hurt like hell." It only took a moment to slid the needle into the wound and fill the syringe with the thick black substance, but Snake's shoulder's shook hard even with Beach holding him in place, and a strangled cry came from his ruined throat.

Doc set the filled syringe on the tray and picked up the scissors again to finish cutting out the stitches. "Alright I'm going to cut these out now and clean the wound again Snake. Beach, go get the General for me, he's going to want to see this I think."

"You got it Doc."

Doc turned his full attention to the patient in front of him, and carefully filled another syringe with a local anesthetic and carefully injected it into the inflamed tissue around the wound. "I know you hate pain killers Snake, but if I don't numb you up a bit you won't be able to hold still long enough for me to work." The medical officer gave the medication a minute to take effect, before picking up a scalpel and beginning to lance the swollen area.

When Hawk arrived, he almost gagged on the heavy metallic scent that filled the infirmary. "Doc, what the hell's going on? I don't have time for this, we have three escaped prisoners if you didn't know already."

"I heard about it General." Doc said wryly, carefully dabbing blood and more of the black substance out of the cuts. "But this is serious, I cleaned these wounds when he was brought in two days ago," Doc set down his scalpel and picked up a small petri dish which held what looked to be some sort of black spiderweb. "I pulled these out of his back just now. I checked them under a microscope and they look like tiny filaments of some kind. They aren't organic that's for sure, if I was to guess I'd say that they're relate to those nanites that M.A.R.S developed on NATOs dime." Doc turned back to his work and carefully stripped away another layer of the black webs with his forceps, dropping it into the petri dish Hawk still held. "I'm gonna have them sent down to Breaker for him to analyze as soon as I'm done."

"Alright get to it as soon as you can." Hawk said, dropping the dish onto the medical tray carefully.

Doc frowned as he felt Snake Eyes wince as he tugged on another set of the filaments. "Snake, is that anesthetic wearing off?" The ninja nodded and Doc injected him again. "I wish you'd just take a damn painkiller, if your careful you shouldn't have a problem." Snake Eyes shook his head again and signed for Doc to continue.

[I won't touch that stuff Doc, you know why.]

"I do, and a lot of other people would say you're a masochist." Doc replied. He frowned as he realized that his patient was shaking with silent laughter at the statement. "Alright, quit moving or I'll cut something you'd rather I didn't."

Snake Eyes struggled to contain his hilarity, but whatever Doc was dosing him with was making it very difficult.

"Alright," Doc said finally, having finished sewing up the sword wound. "I've pulled out as much of these things as I can, but I want you to stay out of the gym and if you think anything, anything could be wrong you get your ass back up here right away." Snake moved to put his shirt back on as Doc continued, "I'm going to take a few x-rays while you're still here too, and you're to come back every five hours for another set just to keep an eye on what these things are doing."

Snake sighed audibly but agreed and Doc beamed at him, "Great, now lets get started on that then, shall we?"

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A/N: Ok everyone, time to review for me. Reviews feed this author's soul, and this author's soul is very very hungry.