Thanks for all the reviews guys! Hope you like this next one
The next morning Rip was still complaining. "I was going easy on her!"
"Sure Rip." Duke sighed.
"I mean, I had to be a gentleman, didn't I?"
"Sure Rip."
"It wouldn't be fair if I didn't let her win. What sort of chivalry would it be for me to win without giving her a fair chance?"
"Sure. Rip?"
"Yeah?" Duke pointed to his class.
"I'm a little busy and you're supposed to be helping." Rip looked down bashfully. I grinned then rolled my eyes, watching from a distance. I had found his rant very amusing but now, I had to run to get to the dojo before Storm Shadow. If I ever got there after him, even if I was on time, he'd get hissy about it.
I had literally just ran through the door and stopped to catch my breath when he strode in. "Good, you're ready."
"Actually, can I just have…" I quickly caught the staff out of pure reflex action after he had launched it at me.
"Begin." With a soft sigh I realised that two minutes to catch my breath was out of the question. We worked at one another, Storm sometimes putting in a few new moves which I didn't know and had to block with superfast reflexes unless I wanted a colourful array of bruises by the time we were finished. Storm Shadow didn't make me feel uncomfortable anymore, in fact I'm pretty sure I disliked him a lot. Hated even. He was arrogant and rough with me, who was still only a beginner in most ways, always picking on the tiniest of mistakes until I felt like I could choke on his reprimands.
It was better than being afraid of him, I guess. Anyway, I didn't really hate him. Kind of like a brother sister sibling sort of relationship. Love hate. Snake Eyes came in about an hour later and watched us. My fingers now limber and used to the movement I twirled my staff through them, changing grip to make a hit on Storm's left side but he moved and parried with a blow to my legs.
Before I knew it I was on the ground and groaning. "Ouch." I threw at him darkly then got up again. Storm pushed the butt of his staff into my shoulder to keep me pinned.
"You must be faster." I could feel the wood digging into my shoulder joint, making me flinch as it began to twinge. Snake stood up a little, hesitating to come over but Storm had already pulled back. "Again." So we were back to square one. Thankfully after the staffs I was back with Scarlet and Heavy for more weapons training, only with guns and other cool gadgets.
Heavy taught me how to drive things like tanks, the basic crash course which I absorbed like a dry sponge in water. Scarlet, being the best markswoman in the entire G.I Joe force, helped me with all kinds of guns, from handheld to snipers. I had a knack for it, it seemed.
So one more day of training over I collapsed in the rec room and I either passed out or went to sleep for a few minutes before everyone else came in. Ripcord looked down at me then spoke in a really irritating yet sweet tone. "Ah look at her. All tuckered out."
"Don't wake her Rip. Rip? No don't take a photo." Duke tried to wrestle the camera out of Rip's hands. I opened my eyes then stretched, yawning with a hand over my mouth before sitting up.
"You woke her up! She looked so cute sleeping like that, I was just gonna take one photo." Rip pouted at Duke who laughed. It was then that a messenger entered the rec room, saluting before looking to Duke.
"Hawk wants to see you in his office." With that he turned and hurried away.
"What have you done now, Duke?" Ripcord asked Duke who gulped.
"You're the one always getting into trouble." Duke hissed back, punching Ripcord in the shoulder before heading off to find out what Hawk wanted. With half an hour to spare before dinner time I took to reading, trying to relax but with Rip panicking just a few feet away, it was a little difficult.
"What if he's thrown off the team?"
"Rip, come on. You're overreacting. Unless you've got something you're trying to hide?" I suggested, not looking up from my book. Rip looked like he was trying to hold something in but all at once, it came tumble out in a bundle of jumbled words.
"I framed Duke for setting the lockers on fire by setting a pair of underwear alight and stuffing them into Block's lock up with the matches in Duke's!" With that he sighed with relief then continued to pace. Now I was frowning.
"You did that?"
"Uh huh."
"Wow. Nice one." I said sarcastically before turning the page over. "I'd head over to Hawk's office and confess if I were you. Wouldn't want Duke to get the blame." Rip paused before racing out the room whilst shouting.
"I'm coming Duke!" Now I looked up and met Scarlet's eyes.
"Remind me why you're dating him again?" She laughed.
"Believe me, I have trouble remembering myself from time to time." I had really found a true friend in Scarlet. She was kind and caring and always looked out for me, helping me with whatever it was I needed and in return, I tried to be the greatest friend she deserved.
I had the morning off the next day to rest and chill out so I went to the beach. Roadblock was going home soon for a few days and had asked me to go with him for a little vacation. I was excited to go and I wanted to bring something back for the girls.
Walking along the beach I picked up the prettiest shells I could find before returning them to my room. After that I suited up into my scuba gear then dived into the ocean with Heavy Duty. He made sure I was within sights at all times but the beautiful coral reef completely enthralled me. I spent ages just gazing at all the bright colours and fish until I was giddy with excitement.
We swam a little further out, checking our oxygen from time to time before I saw something moving in the water. I had hastened over to Heavy and pointed the shape out, making him look. It was swimming closer, rippling its body until the word exploded into my mind. Dolphins!
An entire pod of them came over to us curiously, swimming around whilst making soft clicking noises. I reached out to one and the dolphin allowed me to hold its flipper, making me grin widely as I began to play with them. We played chase, occasionally I would catch one but only when they let me.
Swimming with dolphins was one of the things I had always wanted to do as a kid, I remembered that and now here I was. Heavy returned to the surface and pretty soon Scarlet and the others were down with me. Breaker took notes on his waterproof tablet thing about the dolphins. That guy was always learning. I was busy playing catch with an oyster. Oyster? I caught it after a large male dolphin had nuzzled it over to me and I looked at it closely before rattling it.
Something clicked inside. I placed the treasure into my bag then felt something nudge me between the legs. A beautiful, sleek female with a long scar up her left side was sliding underneath me, clicking softly as if to tell me to hang on. Once I was gripping on the beautiful dolphin sleekly shot forwards, pulling me gracefully thought the water faster than I could ever swim. I laughed inwardly, grinning as she cut through the water with me on her back.
We leaped out of the water and back in again, however my entry was far less elegant than hers. I rode on her back, gripping onto her dorsal fin as she brought me down to the reef. She nuzzled more oysters and I began to collect them, knowing exactly what I was going to make for Roadblock's family. I took only a few, around five in total then stroked the female dolphin's face in thanks.
The dolphins then swam away for a hunt though the left me feeling giddy and happy with the new memory I knew I would always treasure. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I couldn't quite make out who it was. That was when I noticed the change in currents. The water was getting more insistent, pulling me further away without me even noticing.
I grabbed onto the extended hand and together we swam with all of our might up to the surface. When we broke free, I stared in shock. The world was changed. The waters were grey and choppy, building higher and higher as lightning flashed with rumbling thunder growling seconds after.
Wind tore against my face, making me squint against the sudden change of weather patterns. Instantly we both swam over to the boat where the others were climbing in. "Come on! Let's get a move on!" Heavy Duty was yelling, reaching over the side to grip my arm. I was pulled in and instantly I tore off my mask and dropped my scuba gear, securing myself to the boat as Heavy helped the last one into the boat. It was Snake.
Swallowing nervously I looked around, gripping my bag of oysters tightly as the waves began to slam into the boat, pushing us further away from the island. The moment Snake was inside Heavy kicked started the engine and we tore around, pushing to get back to safety. The waves cut into the boat, pushing it off the surface before we all slammed back with a violent jolt.
A crack of lightning split the sky and I turned my head to count everyone, frowning against the harsh spit of rain. The second I turned to count Snake, a violent wave threw us high off the ocean's crust and everyone was shaken loose. When I looked up, Snake was gone.
"Snake!" I screamed over the thunder, lurching forwards. Heavy yanked the boat around in a tight circle and we all searched the waves.
"Over there!" Duke bellowed, pointing towards where Snake was struggling to keep up against the waves as they beat him down.
"We can't reach him, the current's too strong, she'll tip over!" Heavy yelled as he struggled to keep the boat upright. "And none of us are strong enough to compete with those waves!"
"Hang on Snake!" Scarlet screamed, desperately looking around. Strong swimmers? I looked down at my hands then up to Snake Eyes who was frantically treading against the waves, trying to flow with them so that he could keep his masked face above water. Strong.
All at once I stood up, dropping my bag of oysters then leaped off the side of the boat, diving into the water. "Robyn! Come back! Robyn what are you going?" I ignored Scarlet's frantic cries as I began to swim towards Snake. Okay brain, I know you think we're still weak, but we're not. We're strong now. We have a new body. We're strong. We can fight these waves! COME ON!
With glowing determination I cut through the waves, my streamline body aided by the wetsuit I wore. Suddenly I felt stronger, like something disconnected in my mind had just clicked into place and everything was just flowing through my body flawlessly, like a purified river.
Snake was dragged down and I peeled my eyes to keep track of him, each stroke getting me closer and closer to him. He resurfaced, went under then stayed down. With a gulp of air I dived down below. It was difficult to see and the salt stung my eyes but I kept them open, hoping to find Snake Eyes. I wish I had echolocation. That would really be useful right now.
When I saw a large shadow not too far from me, I dived for it, racing to catch up as it sunk further under the ripping waves and snatching current. The moment I had Snake in my arms I kicked for the surface. We exploded into the open air and I sucked down a breath, jostling Snake to wake him up.
His head snapped up and instantly he gripped me to him, a hand curling around my head to keep me to his chest as he gasped for air. I shifted beneath him, placing an arm around his waist then began to swim for the boat where everyone was screaming and waving. It was a little more difficult to swim with Snake as he was weak and hardly able to move from being thrown around by the stormy ocean but somehow my body didn't even feel drained. I still had the energy to keep going.
Roadblock tossed out a line and I grabbed it, wrapping it around us both then hugged Snake to me, refusing to let go as I closed my eyes. I thrashed with my powerful legs, helping the others reel us in like half drowned fish until they pulled us safely into the boat. The moment we were in, Heavy powered the boat forwards.
Lifting my head I looked to Snake who was heaving for air, his shoulders shaking slightly as he crouched low, still trying to recover his breath. "Snake?" I said quietly and he looked at me. "Are you okay?" He continued to look at me for a moment before nodding. He reached out to me and my normal reaction was to flinch, so he paused but then touched my shoulder, squeezing it gently in thanks. I offered him a small smile as Scarlet lifted me up and placed her arms around me, hugging me tightly.
"You could have drowned!" She yelled over the storm, her hair plastered to her face. "That was incredibly stupid Robyn!"
"I know! I'm sorry!" I answered, raising my voice a little to be heard. "But I knew I could do it." Scarlet sighed then smiled at me, hugging me again.
"Thanks for saving him."
"Hey, we're more than a team. We're a family." I answered with a smile, curling into Scarlet as I hugged her tightly back.