Abuja, Nigeria
On a hot and sunny day, Nadir Zamundi is parading in a jeep through the streets of the capital of the Western Africa country. Accompanied by other cars and other guerrilla fighters, he gets compliments of the population that is celebrating. A rain of chopped papers falls from the buildings. The dictator Ngungo government soldiers march handcuffed and guarded by armed rebels. On top of one of the buildings, Marvin Hinton, codename Roadblock, watches the victory of his people against the tyrant who ruled his birth country. Beside him, crouched, Recondo with his safari hat with the flaps folded, operates a communication device connected to a portable pizza type antenna. In the mini computer screen a message is sent. From: Recondo, To: G.I. Joe Command. Subject: Intelligence about Jugglers.
Greenland, Exact Location: Classified.
Strong winds and snow punish the island of continental proportions when the twin-rotor helicopter of G.I. Joe, the Tomahawk, lands in an open area in the middle of an icy plain. The rear door of the aircraft opens and Baroness, handcuffed and blindfolded, wearing a heavy winter clothing is escorted off the aircraft by Spirit and Snow Job, who are also wearing arctic combat uniforms.
- You are lucky your reserve parachute opened automatically that day, Baroness. Otherwise you would be food for the fish in the Thames River. - taunts Snow Job.
- You are the ones that are unlucky that I didn't die there. You will see when I escape this prison. - replies Anastasia.
- Let's see about that - finishes Harlan Moore, the arctic specialist.
Waiting for them is a soldier wearing a heavy winter coat and a white helmet with the "MP" sayings. He is accompanied by a light brown German Shepherd dog. The hound is impassive and observes the newcomer prisoner.
- A package for you, Law. - Snow Job speaks as he faces the military police officer.
- Welcome to the Coffin, Baroness. - Greets Law.
He presses a button in his suit and a door that was camouflaged as if it were part of the icy terrain opens. This door reveals a big staircase to an underground facility.
He grabs the terrorist by her arm and, accompanied by his dog and the two other Joes, goes down the stairs. Soon after, the door closes and the Tomahawk takes off.
Washington DC, USA.
A CNN journalist speaks in front of the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense.
- In a surprising revelation, US Army General Joseph Malthus is accused of corruption and carrying out clandestine operations with the recently deposed dictator of Nigeria Okenwa Ngungo. He will be arrested by military authorities and will be taken to court martial.
In one of the halls of the Pentagon, General Malthus is led away in handcuffs by a pair of military police soldiers and an officer in charge. Colonel Clayton "Hawk" Abernathy observes, from a distance, the arrest of the corrupt military man.
The CNN journalist continues her speech:
- In another related news, the businessman, arms dealer mogul, C.E.O. of M.A.R.S. industries, James McCullen XXIV was exposed as the person behind the international terrorist known as Destro.
A photo of James McCullen appears on the TV screen.
- The company's stock plummeted on the international market.
A graph of the last month M.A.R.S. share prices appear on the screen, showing a sharp drop in the right part of the chart.
- There are rumors of a takeover by a little known company unknown called Extensive Enterprises.
The logo of the company that is taking control of M.A.R.S. appears on the TV screen.
Arlington County, Virginia, USA.
In the late afternoon of a sunny day with the sky already with an orange color, Lt. Conrad Hauser is wearing his formal military uniform, dark green jacket, light green tie, green beret of his squad of Special Forces and all his medals, including the purple heart, an honor given to a military who died or were injured in fighting against US enemies. He walks by the sea of headstones arranged in diagonal rows of the military cemetery of Arlington. He is in front of a tombstone. It is written: A star icon: 1975, A cross icon: 2008, Carl "Doc" Greer. Duke's father, wearing a black suit with white shirt and black tie, also approaches the tombstone.
- He was your friend, son?
- Yes. He was my best friend. He died in combat. He saved many lives that day.
Hauser takes the Purple Heart medal from his chest and puts it on the friend's tombstone.
- I know you won one of those, buddy, but you deserve mine as well.
The American Army Lieutenant makes a salute for the friend who died in combat, and then lower his arm to attention position. Conrad's father puts his hand on his son's shoulder, trying to comfort him.
- Can I ask you something, son?
- Yes, you can.
- You had the gift. That's for sure. Hell I'm jealous... You would've been better than me. S.C.A.D offered you a full scholarship. You could have developed your talent, become an amazing artist. Why, why'd you choose the army instead? Why'd you choose the path that could only lead to violence? It was because of your mother, wasn't it? The way she died, the cancer...
Duke clenches his fists and lower his head.
- No, father, it wasn't. It was because it always felt right to me. I don't expect you to understand it. I used to fight for my country. Now it's different. I'm fighting for something more.
Conrad turns to his father.
- Do you remember how she called me?
- Yeah, she said you were strong, like me. "A regular John Wayne" she used to say. She called you her own little "Duke".
- What I do for the military is ultra classified. Top Secret stuff, so I can't tell you anything. But I will disclosure this for you: That's my codename. "Duke". Do you think she would have been proud of me, Dad?
- I don't know what you've been doing, son. But knowing you the way I do, I know is nothing less than saving the World, so I think your mom would have been proud of you for sure.
- And what about you?
- I've always been proud of you, my son.
Father and son hug each other in a very strong way, in a gesture filled with emotion.
High Sierras, California, USA
In a traditional sunny and cloudless winter day, Mount Whitney and the pine forest below are completely white, covered with snow.
The cold winter messes with the blond hair from the back of the head of Snake-Eyes, who is wearing an Oriental kimono, black colors, sitting in lotus position, without his classic balaclava, meditating in a snow-covered rock. He feels a strange presence and turns quickly, getting into fighting position.
The visitor, accompanied by his pet, the wolf called Timber, is one of his former masters: The Soft Master. The Japanese who was one of Arashikage clan leaders is wearing an appropriate common climbing clothing for the cold season.
- Very well, Snake-Eyes. Very well indeed. This is your name now, isn't it? I almost could approach you without being detected, but you caught me at the last second. Congratulations. - Soft Master praises with an English with strong Japanese accent.
The Hard Master brother crouches down and pats the head of Timber.
- Nice friend you got here. He is really very special. We got along right away.
The Japanese teacher gets up and returns to stare at his former pupil.
- I came here personally to tell you that I am very proud of you. You really excelled. Life brought much suffering to you. Much more even after you left our clan. But you did not let yourself down. You turned over, and conciliated your Western origin with your Eastern knowledge. You've become a true Master. A Silent Master. It is an honor to know that Arashikage clan will continue through your deeds. Hard Master would have been proud.
Soft Master bows, greeting the former pupil, now master. Snake-Eyes does the same in respect to his former master.
- Now go to your cabin. There is a visit to you. Let me excuse myself. I'm sure you'll want a moment alone. - plays Soft Master, outlining a large and generous smile.
Snake-Eyes, now with his balaclava and glass visor covering his face, goes into his hut by the back door and finds Scarlett waiting for him. She is sitting in a chair, wearing a heavy winter coat. She grins and says:
- You know, I took care of that damned Dreadnok with the flamethrower. Now we're even.
Shana O'Hara gets up and approaches the masked Joe.
- The nuclear weapon authorization code has already been used. There is no more need for you to keep your identity classified.
Snake-Eyes makes a series of hand movements, using sign language.
- OK, I understand. You're not that man anymore. You are Snake-Eyes now.
Scarlett approaches the former Ranger with blond hair, and put her body next to his. She tries to remove his mask, but he feels uncomfortable and put away the hand of the red hair Joe. She looks at his visor, as if she was seeing his eyes through the glass.
- I know that you feel uncomfortable with your scars. Don't worry. In fact, I accept them with my heart and soul. They are a major aspect of what you are. An integral part of you. I love you completely, with yours scars and all.
Scarlett, slowly, takes the Snake-Eyes visor and then his black balaclava. The blond hair Ranger expects a disgust reaction from Shana O'Hara, but she smiled with affection and care. They hug and kiss each other passionately.
The former Ranger with blond hair is lying on his bed, covered by a thick wool blanket. A hand covered with a kevlar like material glove taps on his back. He wakes up. It's late at night.
- Come up, soldier. We have a mission - Informs Scarlett, already dressed in her black sneaking suit uniform, with webgears, and other combat gadgets.
She bends down and opens a large metal case on the ground.
- I did the equipment you asked me. It's here.
Snake-Eyes begins to dress for the mission. He puts over a wood table a MP7, a German manufacture submachine gun, with suppressor, Red dot sight and without stock beside some flashbang grenades. On the side of the modern military weapons, a group of shurikens, metal ninja throwing stars, and a pair of nunchakus. He puts on the sheath that is stuck on his back, a Katana. The Arashikage clan symbol on the blade is swallowed by the sheath, as the sword is put in its place. Snake-Eyes wears a black boot with split toe, very characteristic of ninja uniforms. Finally, he puts a hi-tech visor, with an angular design, resembling at the same time a futuristic headgear and a middle age helmet visor. Scarlett and Snake-Eyes are now fully dressed in their hi-tech black sneaking combat suit with all gear on, ready for mission.
Hawk is sitting in the cockpit of an aircraft. He speaks to the radio for the couple on the ground:
- Scarlett and Snake-Eyes. We're approaching your position. No time for a full briefing. We're leaving for a facility in Alaska. It is an abandoned factory of M.A.R.S. Industries. Intelligence says there is something strange in this place. Something to do with a code name called COBRA.
Snake-Eyes and Scarlett are outside the cabin. The helicopter of the Joes, the Tomahawk approaches and flies over them. A cable is released by the aircraft to pick up the Joes couple. Shortly before they were extracted, Snake-Eyes makes some movements using sign language. Shana O'Hara nods. As the cable reaches them and both are raised in the air at high speed, Scarlett shouts:
- Yo Joe!