His best student

Chapter 4 "The great escape"

Storm shadow and the twins were sent off in different subs hours' later, nano mite soldiers had arrived shortly after the three were given their assignments. The twins were to go to Australia, the last place the two had known Firefly had been seen. Storm Shadow was to go to India, than cross into Pakistan. He was to impersonate his former friend, brother, Snake Eyes. Crossing through India to Pakistan was to attract more attention on the silent Joe that Storm was impersonating. Zarana knew that he was to assassinate the leader of Pakistan. She snorted, all she wished for the man that was to lose his life was a quick death. Her former master was no brute, but he was a lethal man and depending on his mood-storm shadows target could suffer immensely or feel nothing at all with just a simple angle of those blades he carried. Zarana knew it first hand from when they trained together all those years ago, and from when they went on missions together.

"Let's go" Zandar shouted over the loudness of the subs, Zarana followed him and jumped into the sub. Not looking back not once. If she had, she would have noticed a pair of almond shaped eyes staring in her direction…she might have noticed the sadness in them.

"She is…so different now." He whispered aloud. Knowing that no one was paying attention to him but to the stocking of the submersibles. Storm shadow closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, when she-Zarana- had first come to him she was very much a child, scared but eager to learn, eager to impress. Now she was rude she always had been but now; she was ruthless, harsh and selfish, seven years ago should would not have been able to fire a gun, but now... he was sure that this was on the outside that was the cover she was just giving the world. Storm knew better, he knew her, the real her.

Storm Shadow watched her sub closely as he boarded his own, he wondered….exactly how much he had changed her. If he was to blame for the way she was now? He shook his head as he sat down. He knew he had some responsibility in who she was now. But he was not entirely to blame. Not entirely. This what he told himself anyway. But in his heart he knew he was no better than his own mentor.

The wolf in sheep's clothing…Storm shadow wondered if he had become him.

.

Zarana and Zandar were deployed first, it took two hours to get to Australia. It took them little time to find Firefly; only one week. It was almost pathetic how easy it was to find him, at a bar in Sydney drinking the finest whiskey known to man. Firefly made no effort to hide himself, what point was there? He was a demolition expert, formidable in hand to hand combat, who the hell was going to go up to him and say 'hey mate your coming with me?' He had enough money from his work as a mercenary to bribe even the most honest policemen in the country. He was a dangerous man with his "fire flies" little flying grenades only at his control, arrogant and strong, there was no point in hiding, not for Firefly.

"You need me uh?" Was his hot headed response, as he downed a shot of whiskey letting out almost a growl after emptying the glass "What for? And most importantly, how much is the bastard paying me?"

Never was there a man easily recruited than Firefly.

On the way back to transport the explosives specialist had the nerve to grab Zarana's rear while Zandar was off securing their route. Firefly laughed when the smaller woman turned around and slugged him right in the jaw, she was not as strong as her counterparts but she could still defend herself. Firefly rubbed at his jawline with his left hand.

"Not bad, not bad woman. I see why they need you, shame we can't have a little fun along the way." Firefly said roughly.

"I don't mix business with pleasure." Zarana replied shortly.

"Not what I h'eard" he said with a grin, Zarana's eyes widened angrily without hesitation she pushed him. He barely moved an inch, firefly laughed.

"It was training! I did nothing with him" she growled.

"Than if it wasn't you shagging that ninja must have been the other one then." Firefly laughed and boarded their transport, a sophisticated air craft, undectable by regular radar. Zarana froze, she stood dead in her tracks as she let Firefly's comment sink in. He…he could not have! Right? That bitch Ana was with McCullen, no way Storm Shadow would have had a thing with her! Zarana herself had lived in the cabin for at least a year and 6 months with him. Nothing had happened. The baroness was there for far less…no way something happened. McCullen would have executed Storm Shadow if anything had happened between Storm and the Baroness!

But then…than again…Zarana lost it in that second.

In a moment of pure anger, the very heated Zarana did something that surprised even her own twin, Zarana took a running start and launched herself into the aircraft landing right on top of Firefly, and the man was bigger, stronger and far more brutish. But even he could be caught off guard. Zarana swung at him again this time smashing him in the nose, she heard it crack and saw the blood, she threw multiple punches at his head, and his chest anywhere she could leave damage. Her adrenaline was at an all-time high for she felt not even the slightest sting as she hit Firefly, and he was well built.

The assault came to an end when she felt a familiar pair of arms come up behind her and pull her up, she knew it was Zandar, but still she kicked and screeched, she felt her face burn red with anger. She wanted to kill Firefly! Right here and now! She did not care if the commander needed him, she wanted him dead in this very moment.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Zarana heard a strong throaty laugh emanate from the floor, she knew it was Fire fly and it only fueled her anger "I like em feisty, gotta admit you fight pretty good. But not good enough for me girl." Firefly stood up and wiped at the blood on his face he took a seat and continued to laugh, he did not seem fazed by her attack. Not one bit.

That insulted her.

"Calm your ass down sis! Kill him some other time we need him! We have orders now sit your ass down and get this all over with so you and I can get paid and get on with our lives!" Zandar said to her in a hushed tone. Zarana was seething but she said nothing.

"If I don't get to kill him I hope someone gets him brutally." Zarana hissed.

"Oh, trust me girl. If someone actually does get me, it's going to be bloody magnificent!" laughed Firefly. He had heard her. But by then she and Zandar had taken seats away from him and were on their way, leaving Australia behind. The flight was bound for Germany. Exactly why they did not know until all three on board were given tablets.

The Twins saw a video of their brother disguised as the president announce that G.I Joe, the enemy, well their enemy anyway. The American special-forces unit had been decimated by the new special ops team known as Cobra for betraying the very Country that they fought for. Firefly laughed all through the news cast, but Zarana and Zandar did not. Both were quite surprised at how much control their organization had acquired in such a short amount of time. And to destroy G.I Joe as well? Holy hell!

"You don't think they really got em all do you?" Zarana said in bewilderment "they are a stubborn lot, some must have made it."

"I'm sure they did, we better be ready for them." Zandar replied darkly.

"Even if there are a few, we got the upper hand here. Don't you forget that, couple of pessimists you are! Just like that damn brother of yours" Firefly shouted at them.

The final thing that that came up on the news feed was that Snake eyes, A Joe, the mute. Had murdered the leader of Pakistan and was currently under arrest. Zarana bit down on her lip. So Storm Shadow had succeeded. Not that she ever doubted he could complete his mission. But what now? Cobra Commanders instructions followed after the news feed.

"Snake eyes" had been taken to special prison, one that had been built hundreds of miles underground, there in that prison held a very dangerous inmate. Zarana scowled when she heard her name.

Anna Lewis, Aka the Baroness.

Once they had reached their destination, the trio was met with Cobra operatives, arming all three with top of the line armor, artillery, and night vision goggles. Zandar and Zarana were not to use their skills here, only to assist Fire fly escape with Storm Shadow and Baroness. Fire Fly was armed to the in neck special explosives along with his "fire Flies" and given a motorcycle that would self-destruct and help blow a hole into the main gate.

"Well, Good to see the doctor still gives me the finest gadgets!" proclaimed Fire fly "Shall I say…commander now? I love the bastard already!" Zandar ignored him as he and Zarana boarded a chopper that he would operate, he had learned how years ago when they had started working for McCullen. Zarana was dreading the rescue mission, but was eager to give the baroness a piece of her mind.

This was to go fast, this mission was to be swift. They had an arms meeting to attend too, Zartan as president had called for union meeting regarding nuclear weapons. That was bound to be interesting. If not frightening.

.

.

.

She was enclosed in a glass tubing, filled with cold, cold water. She wore a body suit that kept her alive, she was sedated and could see everything that went on around her. She could not make out everything that her captors said. But she found it surprisingly soothing, being enclosed here. For she knew she would escape soon, her brother would see to it.

Anna Lewis That was the person she used to be. Back when she was just a mild mannered woman, sister to Rex Lewis. Girlfriend-than fiancé to her beloved Duke. She was not Anna Lewis anymore, she was the Baroness! She had married nobility! This is who she wanted to be called. Upon her "rescue" with ex-fiancé Duke at the cobra base back in Antarctica. Anna had played along, that she was really under mind control. Hoping that it would help her escape prison, she was wrong of course.

Duke had no authority over her captors, he could not persuade anyone that she was just sick with nano-mites. During one of his visits she had realized this, that he was never going to get her out and she grabbed a pen and sliced him on the forehead. Anna called herself the baroness and swore allegiance to her brother rex, that she had been feeding them false cobra Intel.

Duke was heart-broken, but unwilling to believe that Anna was beyond saving. He would not let her go, he kept speaking on her behalf but after the Baroness had killed three guard's brutally she had been sent away…to this camp. Camp hell.

Truth in it, she had been forced to take the nano-mites in the beginning. Yes that was the truth. But she had regained control upon realizing who the Doctor really was. She had even embraced him when he had removed his mask for her.

Rex of course had sworn Anna to secrecy, that one day he would be the Commander. And they would have full control of this operation called Cobra. She missed her brother, she missed being called the Baroness. Hell she even missed Storm Shadow, her teacher, she smiled to herself, not that the staff in the underground prison could see it. McCullen had really thought she loved him, the no touching rule was something of a game she enjoyed, when storm shadow had told her that McCullen had given him orders to kill anyone that touched her, to kill them. She felt delirious with pleasure.

Surely Storm Shadow enjoyed spying on her, he had enjoyed training her, speaking with her, and surely the ninja had an eye for her as she did for him? He was flirtatious at times. Maybe his 'just following orders' bit wasn't close to the truth at all. While in her confinement she thought of him daily. Surely he had escaped the arctic. If anyone could have I would have been him, since he also was injected with nano mites but to a lesser degree.

Call it fate or whatever, but as her thoughts had turned to Storm Shadow. Anna Lewis noticed the thick doors open that enclosed her glass cell. There the egotistical warden was leading in a man dressed in black, she knew this guy: snake eyes. Ha! What was that guy doing here? In hand cuffs? Wasn't he a Joe? The most trusted soldiers of the United States president. Was he to be put in a cell next to her? How interesting. The baroness would have laughed if she could have. She could not hear too well due to the glass cell and water. The baroness could vaguely hear the warden speak of fantasy team.

The baroness closed her eyes, waiting for the idiot to shut up and remove the Joe's mask. She was curious to see the man behind the mask, Storm Shadow-her teacher- had mentioned Snake eyes in passing from time to time. The baroness did not know much but that the two had a relation of some sort. Still she was curious to see the ninja's face, see the man that had meant something to Storm Shadow. What a surprise she was in for.

When the warden finally unmasked him, it was none other than Storm Shadow! The Baroness would have laughed in pleasure, had her former teacher done something to purposely send himself here? Using his brother's alias? Then it hit her. Rex, her own brother must have had something to do with this! He must have sent storm shadow to rescue her from this cell. This prison. The baroness eyed the ninja, he did not look her way, but she knew he had something in mind. She could hardly wait for the escape plan to fully come to fruition. She knew it would be fun to watch.

She was sure that it was going to take a few hours, hours at the most, The baroness knew that she was going to get out of here soon and with the Ninja. She would be reunited with Rex, Cobra would reign now. She was sure of it.

..

..

"How are things coming along?" said Zandar as he radioed fire fly, they were about to bust into the prison Anna Lewis aka The baroness and Storm shadow were locked in. he heard static but an immediate response as he flew the chopper far but close enough to the prison to drop in and make their escape. The commander had moved to a base not so far off from here. There they would rendevues once this rescue was complete.

"Ready to blow this place apar't" spoke Fire fly through the radio, he sounded giddy. "Get your asses ready, I'm going to make this quick."

"You ready for this Zarana?" asked Zandar as he side glanced his twin. She huffed.

"Let's just get this shit over with. The sooner were through with that bitch and Storm the better, maybe I'll go impersonate a secret service agent for Zartan. Maybe that way I can be away from this crap." She said out loud, Zandar was shocked.

"Did you just admit that to me?" Zarana was blunt but she still kept many things to herself, at least when it came to her feelings, Zandar laughed "Maybe I'll go join the secret service too, could be fun." He said to lighten the mood. At that Zarana grinned.

Her twin was always loyal to her. Cobra and even Zartan were always second to her. Well at least there was one man she could always count on. Zarana was glad for it. The twins watched from the air as marvelous explosives shook the night, and a wondrous blaze erupted in the distance. Almost beautiful in a haunting way. Zarana kept her eyes on the fire, she knew that the jerk Fire Fly had made it in. She could only wonder what was going on on the inside. Zarana sighed, she knew Storm Shadow was dealing some serious damage in the prison too. All for the Baroness. She scowled.

"Keep making ugly faces like that and you're going to stay that way, remember what mama used to say?" Zandar remarked satirically.

"Mama wouldn't care now, not anymore anyway." Was her reply, Zandar said nothing. He kept his eyes on the fire and waited for the call back.

..

..

Inside the prison block.

Storm shadow had been secured in his glass tube which was to serve as his prison. He was fully prepared to keep an ear out for the explosions that he had been told were to occur. That was to be the signal for him to begin the escape plan. Storm Shadow had great senses, he could feel the slightest shake in the ground, hear the smallest leaf break off a tree stem. Even through this suit he had been fitted into and the noise of the roaring water, he could hear and feel still. But he had something better, security cameras. Conveniently placed near his and the Baroness's cells. How unbelievably idiotic he found this, yet Storm shadow was going to use this to his advantage. He watched the cameras as he noticed small little remote creatures near the gate. Little lights, fire flies. In that instant, Storm Shadow closed his eyes. The man called fire fly was on his way.

Which meant that Zarana and her twin were nearby as well, with the Baroness soon to be on their team again soon. Storm Shadow knew things were not going to go well. He had to escape, his own years mission was too end soon. Right after this one, it would end. Zarana she was a part of it. Storm Shadow began to relax his breathing, even though his thoughts were racing. His heart was not. The surrounding stuff heard the loud blip of a slipping pulse and then a flat line. Storm shadow had stopped his own pulse, an old technique used by many before him. Stopping one's own pulse was not impossible, it was used by torture victims in years past to trick captures.

Something he had learned years ago while in his old temple. Storm Shadow's body was quickly rushed too by the staff, desperate to resuscitate him. The poor man that reached for him was to face a rude awakening. Storm shadow opened his eyes sharply, reached up and grabbed his would be savior. The man struggled as he was pulled underneath the water, thrashing frantically against the ninja, Storm shadow easily pushed the poor man's head into the glass, it cracked.

Gun shots. The glass broke. Storm shadow was quick, even though he had been sedated. The Nano-mites were far stronger, and kept him lucid. He was on his feet in no time, quickly over taking his attackers.

The warden had come in with a gun, only to be horrified by how easily Storm shadow had taken down the officers who had come to subdue the ninja. Storm shadow had connected his blades together, he was quicker than the gunman, how stupid of them to have left the deadly swords so close to his cell! But then no one had ever broken free before. Storm shadow stabbed his final opponent and looked in the warden's direction. Storm shadow's breathing was heavy.

"Welcome to hell" Storm Shadow said throatily. He heard explosions in the background. Fire fly was on his way, Storm shadow momentarily distracted by this thought felt an excruciating pain. The warden had reached for shock paddles and had charged one and thrown it onto the wet floor, effecting Storm shadow and his blades. Storm Shadow was stunned he let out a shout of pain. Slowly falling down to one knee, he breathed in slowly. Storm shadow felt the blood him flow faster, the nano mites still worked, he fell to the floor allowing them to heal him. He had felt this similar sensation back in Antarctica, when Snake eyes had run him through. Storm shadow gritted his teeth. The memory.

The commander's quick operation on him earlier had fixed what nano mites were still in him. He healed in no time, Storm Shadow slowly reached over to a fallen officer and took the dead man's gun. His blades still stuck to the floor. Storm shadow loaded the gun and pointed it in the baroness's direction, he held up the gun just above her shoulder. He fired. The glass shattered. The baroness was on the floor, she too had nano mites in her, and she was on her feet in seconds breathing slowly. Seductively, her hair was wet from the submersion, she flung her head back and her hair slung with it. The baroness looked at him and smiled.

"It is good to see you again Storm Shadow." The baroness got up walked up to him slowly, her smile was wide and welcoming. Storm shadow looked her straight in the eyes and then looked away, she was always using her feminine wiles that in Storm's opinion were her most dangerous traits. Men were often mesmerized by the woman in front of him.

"You are well, Baroness?" Storm shadow said quietly, the baroness chuckled she was holding up a hand for him, perhaps to touch him. Storm Shadow grabbed his blades in that instant. "We must hurry, our transport will be arriving soon.

"Of course, I've learned from the best. We must always be quick." The baroness said in a husky tone. The doors in front of them opened, there was a man waiting for them. Storm shadow knew who it was. It was Fire fly of course. The baroness raised her eyebrows "You? They sent you?" she said disbelievingly. Fire Fly chuckled.

"Only the best, the commander knows I am the best. I am damn good at what I do lady, so you remember that." Fire Fly held his ground as he eyed her. All this trouble for this woman Fire fly thought. And why?

"The Commander" The Baroness repeated slowly, she sounded amused "I must go to him, let us hurry then."

The three proceeded towards the exit, when all three cobra associates heard it, the sound of movement. The warden had picked up a gun and was aiming at them, Both the Baroness and Fire fly had rushed off as fast as they could, when they heard an explosion behind them. This one not caused by fire fly. Storm shadow had taken the brunt of the hit, the warden in a last ditch effort to keep the criminals from escaping had fired at a gas meter behind the three. Storm shadow was behind Fire fly and the Baroness as the flames raced towards them. Storm shadow felt the searing pain of the fire, he felt his skin melt and his muscles scorch.

The nano mites, they would not be able to fix this. Neither would the Commander, The commander had warned Storm shadow that the nano mites in him were reaching their limit, another massive blow, internal hit, and there would be no more increased healing. The Commander had no more Nano-mites to inject in him now. What was in him would keep him alive, but Storm Shadow would not be able to heal.

"Storm Shadow!" The Baroness shouted in alarm, the ninja fell. Fire Fly went to him and grabbed the fallen ninja and pulled him up, supporting him. Fire fly radioed in.

"Hurry the hell up you two! The ninja is injured." Fire fly said calmly.

Seconds later the helicopter came down. Zarana and Zandar both on board. Zandar was the pilot he needed to stay in the pit. Zarana jumped out. Immediately the mistress of disguise made eye contact with her long hated rival. The Baroness was not too thrilled to see her either, both women locked eyes. Both keeping a cold expression on their faces. Zarana did not know what the hell she was thinking, but she reached out to Storm shadow as Fire fly brought him to the helicopter, she supported him along with fire fly and helped the ninja into the vehicle.

Zarana caught Storm Shadows eyes, he looked at her and she could tell that he was in excruciating pain. She wanted to relish this, but she could not. Zarana shook her head.

"Let's get out of here!" Zarana shouted "We gotta get him help." Zandar at the helm was surprised and amused by the alert tone in his twin's voice and snickered. Once all were boarded they took off, Zandar piloted in the direction of their Commanders hide out.

"Zarana…."Storm Shadow said in hushed tone, all in the chopper were all ears, The Baroness narrowed her eyes and up at Zarana. Zarana bit down on her lip. Storm shadow was strapped in safely, though he was on his stomach as to avoid injury. He did not move his hands, he stayed still. Zarana's face flushed red.