The Return of Serpentor

Disclaimer: Same as before except The Jantori Mountains. I made that up as just a place for them to meet.

A/N: Here's chapter 7, please read and review!


Chapter 7: Preparing and unexpected feelings

"Duke, we've just received a message from Cobra. They've agreed to meet us!" Mainframe exclaimed, swiveling around in his chair to face him.

"What's it say?" He asked as he came up beside the computer specialist.

Mainframe pressed a series of buttons, bringing the entire message up on the monitor. "Here it is," he told him.

Duke read the message aloud. "To Duke and the Joe team: We have received your message and will comply with it. We will meet in precisely four hours in the field outside the abandoned army base in the Jantori Mountains. However, we do have a few questions for you once we meet face-to-face before the hostages are exchanged. But be warned, if there's any funny stuff and you will never see your comrades again! Signed, The Cobra Commander."

Duke was silent for several moments after he finished reading the message, pondering all that it said. "Well, it seems like they took the bait," he remarked.

"It would seem so," Mainframe replied. "But what do you suppose they mean by that they have questions?"

"It means that they are at least a little skeptical about it or that they're up to something and are fishing for information," Duke told him.

"Which means we'll have to be very careful of what we tell them," Mainframe said.

"Exactly," Duke agreed. "Now, we need to gather the group that was here when we sent the message plus Gen. Hawk and Sgt. Slaughter, who have just returned to base." General Hawk and Sgt. Slaughter had been at the Pentagon in meetings with some of the top brass of the military as well as certain congressmen. The other Joes in the group that sent the message had gone to the cafeteria to eat as well as showering and freshening up.

"Right," Mainframe said. Let's get to it!"

As Duke left the room and headed for the cafeteria, his mind was on Scarlett. Hang on, honey, we're coming for you. And you'll be back in my arms where you belong, he thought. And then I'm never letting you go! And he wouldn't either. He loved her with all his heart and every fiber of his being and he never wanted them to be apart from each other again.

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Serpentor paced back and forth in front of Cobra Commander's throne in his throne room as he waited for Major Bludd to return with the two prisoners. Cobra Commander was sitting on his throne, with Tomax and Xamot standing on one side and Destro on the other. Crimson Guardsmen flanked them as well as both doors in the room. The Throne itself was ostentatious with a Cobra snake head rising ten feet in the air from the back of it. The mouth was open, revealing large fangs. Behind it, painted on the wall, was a large red Cobra logo. The throne was perched on a raised dais four steps above the floor of the room. On either side of the throne, set back slightly was a torch. These were in the shape of cobra heads as well with the fire spouting out of the upturned mouths. Leading from the main door up to the throne was a fancy red carpet.

It had been almost forty-five minutes since the assembly broke up and those in the room had come straight here from the auditorium and had been here since.

Serpentor finally stopped his pacing and faced the Commander. "How much longer until they get here?" He asked.

"It shouldn't be any more than forty to sixty minutes," Cobra Commander replied.

"I wish they'd hurry up," Serpentor muttered.

"Don't worry, great Serpentor," Tomax told him. "Everything's ready to go when they get here."

"Zartan and Zarana are going to pose as Flint and Scarlett and go back with the Joes, while the real Flint and Scarlett will be taken to the basement where the prison cells are located," Xamot broke in.

"And before long we will have all the Joe's secrets," Tomax chimed in.

"And we will be one step closer to total victory," Xamot finished.

Serpentor nodded. "And how sweet it will be," he replied. "I just wish they'd get here!" He was eager to get things started.

"They will, Serpentor," Cobra Commander spoke up. "In the meantime, let's get Zartan and Zarana in here and go over the plan once more. Everything must be perfect when we put it in motion!"

"Yes, because we have to get the Baroness back!" Destro said in a voice filled with emotion. He longed to hold her in his arms and tell her that he loved her and kiss her senseless.

"We will, Destro," Serpentor assured him. "Now let's contact Zartan and Zarana and get started."

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"This sounds to me like Cobra's trying to stall," Gen. Hawk commented, indicating the message on Mainframe's monitor that he had just read aloud. He and the others had just arrived in the communications room and taken seats.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time," Sgt. Slaughter told him.

"And it sure won't be the last," Dusty added.

"Unless we wipe the floor with them this time," Bazooka put in.

"Yeah, they would make good mops!" Shipwreck cracked, causing several of them to laugh.

"Cut the comedy Shipwreck," Hawk said.

"Aw, you're no fun!" Shipwreck whined, pretending to be hurt.

Alpine knocked him upside the head. "Can it, you turkey!" He said.

""Enough of this!" Duke cut in sternly. "This situation doesn't warrant goofing off or cracking jokes."

"Duke's right," Hawk said. "Now, if Cobra is trying to stall, we have to figure out why."

"They're up to something and need to hold us there until they implement it," Mainframe spoke up.

"Mainframe's right. And we need to figure out exactly they're up to," Duke said.

"I don't think it is having snipers take us out or stun us to capture us," Alpine mused thoughtfully. "They've tried that before so they know we'll expect it and defend against it."

"Maybe they want to place a homing beacon on one of us, so they'll be able to track him or her," Bazooka suggested.

"That would make sense. That would take a little time to do it without us knowing so they would use questions to stall us so that can happen," Shipwreck agreed.

"There's just one problem with that theory," Duke told them. They already know where our headquarters are and everything so why would they need a homing beacon at all?"

They all realized that he was right and proceeded to discuss a bunch of other possibilities. But not one of them seemed plausible enough to be what Cobra was actually up to.

Finally, Hawk held up his hands. "Okay, people, listen up. "The best to do is to just go with our plan and when we meet them, to watch and listen to Cobra very carefully for any signs of what they're up to." Everybody nodded and he told them to get ready and prepare very carefully and that they would leave in an hour to head to the meeting place. Everyone agreed and went to get ready for what could turn out to be the most important meeting of their lives.

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In the Commander's throne room, they were all going over the plan for the third time when Cobra Commander's com went off. He pulled it off his belt and listen for several seconds. Then he faced the others. "Major Bludd has just arrived with the prisoners," He informed them.

"Excellent, Have him bring them here before he takes them to their cells," Serpentor said.

"You want to reveal yourself to them?" Destro asked.

Serpentor nodded. "Yes, seeing me will scare the hell out of them and let them know just what they're up against," he replied. He knew that was true but he also knew it would do so much more. They would be filled with a sense of shock and disbelief that would overwhelm them with all they were up against. He also knew that it might inspire them to try harder to escape, but he make sure that didn't happen. He would place more guards around them and have video cameras on them at all times.

Cobra Commander spoke into his com, and then listened for a couple of seconds. "He's coming. They'll be here momentarily," he told Serpentor.

Serpentor nodded and a few moments later, the door opened and Major Bludd entered, leading the two prisoners behind him. They were followed by four guards who brought up the rear. Both Flint and Scarlett appeared haggard and worn. Their uniforms and hair was dirty and messy and both were sporting several bruises in places from resisting the guards as well as Major Bludd. But there was a fire in their eyes that showed that they had plenty of fight left in them.

"Welcome, Flint and Scarlett!" Serpentor boomed as Major Bludd stepped aside. "It is a pleasure to see you two once again!"

Their reaction was priceless. They gasped and their faces filled with identical expressions of shock and horror. "You were killed, Serpentor, how is this possible?" Flint stammered.

Serpentor smiled. "The first thing that you need to realize is that all things are possible. The second is that if you behave yourselves, I just may answer that someday," he replied smugly.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes. "I don't know what kind of game Cobra is playing, but I do you that you won't get away with it!" She snapped angrily.

Serpentor walked right up to her. "It is always good to see such fighting spirit, Scarlett," he told her. "Maybe someday you'll come to your senses and put it too good use, fighting alongside me."

Destro gasped inwardly as hearing this. Was Serpentor actually flirting with her? He looked to Major Bludd and Tomax and Xamot and saw on their faces the same surprise he was feeling at what he had just heard.

"Dream on, Serpentor!" Scarlett scoffed. "The day I join you is the day hell freezes over!"

Serpentor didn't miss a beat. "Well, maybe I just have to make sure that happens very soon," he replied. "Because together, we would be unstoppable!" He was surprise by how much he actually meant it. Could he really be attracted to her? Sure she was strong, beautiful, tough as nails, and an amazing fighter, but she was also the enemy.

Scarlett was about to bite back a reply when she noticed a softness in Serpentor's eyes that she had never seen before. That made her wonder. Could he really be serious about this? A moment later she realized that he couldn't be. The only thing Serpentor was serious about was personal power. "I'll believe that when I see it!" She retorted.

Serpentor just gazed at her for a few seconds, and then turned to Major Bludd. "Take then to their cells," he ordered. "She needs time to think about my offer."

"I don't need any time to think about your offer, scum!" She snapped as she and Flint were led back out of the room.

When they were gone, Serpentor turned to Cobra Commander. Run through the plan once more and then meet me at the airfield in thirty minutes. We'll leave for the meeting as soon as everyone is there," he said. "I have a couple of things to take care of before you guys leave." With that, he turned and swept out of the room.


A/N: What do you think? Is Serpentor falling for Scarlett? Will she ever love him back? What will happen at the meeting? Stay tuned to find out and don't forget to leave a review before you leave! Remember: Reviews=faster updates!