Thanks everyone. Life's been rough but I'm sure you don't want to hear me whine. So on with the story.
I do not own.
After Lifeline had left Cover Girl with Beach Head, he went to exam the results of his tests on Beach Head. As he looked into the microscope, he frowned. Something was not right. The sample he was looking at was definitely not normal. As he studied some more, a shadow approached him. So deep in study that he did not notice until it was too late. His body hit the floor with a dull thud. The figure grabbed his feet and dragged him away.
Cover Girl had dozed off in the hard chair next to Beach Head's bed. Something startled her and she jerked awake. Looking around in confusion, she realized where she was. When her gaze fell on the bed, Beach Head's eyes were open.
She smiled. "Hey, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
"What kinda durn fool question is that? I got tubes coming outta me." The man answered curtly.
Cover Girl's smile widened. "Yeah, you're fine." She checked the time. "I'd better get Lifeline. I'm sure he'd want to ask you some questions… oh, and Hawk, wants to talk to you about…"
"Wait, why don't you stay a bit?" Beach Head grabbed her hand. Cover Girl paused. She suddenly felt giddy.
"Uh, sure, Beach." She pulled her chair closer and sat down. He didn't let go of her hand.
"I had some time to think." He began, staring at the ceiling. "I guess… I guess I'm sorry for not giving us a chance. If you're still willing, I'd like to try."
Cover Girl's brain froze. Beach Head was saying everything she wanted to hear but something was not right. There was a funny feeling that she couldn't shake.
"Well, uh, that's um, that's… sudden." Cover Girl could feel her cheeks heat up.
"Sometimes facing death can do that…" Beach Head replied finally turning his head to look at her.
Cover Girl gulped. She gently pulled her hand from his. "Listen, it's been a long night… and actually, it's morning now. I haven't gotten any sleep yet so I'll just be going back to my room. You rest and um, I'll see you later." She pushed her chair back and started walking backwards toward the door.
Beach Head looked at her blankly as she disappeared through the door. She practically slammed the door shut and stood with her back against it.
"What's wrong with you?" She chided herself silently. "This is what you wanted wasn't it?" It was but...
She decided to go look for Lifeline. She knew she could talk to him. Besides that he'd want to know that his patient was up. She walked to his desk but he was not there. She searched the other rooms as well. That was odd. Lifeline was not the type to shirk off his duties. She hesitated for a second before calling for Doc. If Doc was annoyed at being awakened before his time, he didn't show it.
"Something wrong Cover Girl?" He asked stifling a yawn.
"Beach Head's up but I can't find Lifeline, anywhere." She fretted.
Doc frowned. "Not like him to leave his post." He walked to Lifeline's office. Cover Girl followed him and watched as he examined his space.
"Hmm," Doc hummed.
"What? What's wrong?" Cover Girl asked nervously.
"I see labels for Beach Head's blood samples but I don't see the samples themselves. Lifeline is very meticulous. If there are labels then there should be samples." Doc explained as he shuffled objects around looking for answers.
"Do you think something's wrong?" Cover Girl looked at Doc.
"I'm not sure." Doc said thoughtfully. "But my gut tells me something is off… and my gut is rarely wrong."
"Maybe it's the synthoid Flint?" Cover Girl suggested.
"Possible." Doc rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But until there's real hard evidence, I can't go to Hawk with suspicions. They haven't been able to find the fake but they are relatively sure that he's not on the base anymore."
Cover Girl sighed before straightening up. "But you can tell him that Lifeline has gone missing."
"That I can." Doc walked to the door. "I thought you were supposed to be confined to your room."
"Well…" Cover Girl started sheepishly.
"Don't have to say another word. I never saw you." Doc walked out.
Cover Girl smiled. She had great friends.
0o0
Flint and Beach Head readied themselves. The Cobra soldier ambled close to their hiding spot. He used the tip of his rifle to push aside the heavy brush. Walking a few steps closer he repeated his action. Then just as he reached where Flint was crouched, rustling came from behind him. All the soldiers' attention was drawn to the noise. They crowded around with their rifles pointed at the moving grass. A marsh rabbit jumped out. It's nose twitching as it stared at the men before hopping back through the grass. The soldiers all relaxed. Then Beach Head flew out of his hiding place at the nearest Cobra. With his elbow to the back of the neck he felled the enemy. He grabbed his rifle and smashed the butt into the face of another who had turned around. The other soldiers slowly realized they were being attacked.
"Yo Joe!" Flint dashed out and tackled another one before anyone had time to react. Pulling the rifle out of the soldier's hand he shot the guns from the others' hands. He then waved his weapon to indicate that they should raise their hands. They did.
"Tie them up Beach." Flint said.
"What do you think I'm going to do? Invite them to tea?" Beach snapped sarcastically.
Flint shook his head slightly before straightening up with the gun. "Don't even think about it." He growled at one of the soldiers who raised his hands higher.
Soon the soldiers were tied with their own belts and pants. Flint got on one Ferret while Beach Head got on another. They both had Cobra's rifles slung on their backs.
"Cheap second rate crap." Beach Head muttered as he revved his bike several times before it started.
"Well, let's hope this holds up until we get out of here." Flint said.
They took off into the swamp.
0o0
"What do you mean missing?" Hawk narrowed his eyes at his chief medic.
"Just what it sounds like. I can't find him anywhere." Doc had been in his job long enough not to be intimidated by anyone, not even a general.
Hawk sat back in his seat. He closed his eyes briefly before snapping them open. "Most available Joes are out looking for the synthoid. We still don't know where that blasted thing has gotten to. I don't know who we can spare to look for Lifeline."
"Why don't you send Mutt and Junkyard or Law and Order?" Doc suggested.
"No, they're the only ones we have for sniffing out the synthoid." Hawk gave a wry smile. "Pun intended."
Doc gave a small chuckle. He looked at Hawk from behind his tinted glasses. "What about Timber? He's a dog… sort of. I'm sure Snake Eyes would lend you him in a heartbeat."
"Timber's not trained as a tracker." Hawk mused.
Doc waved his hand dismissively. "He's a wolf. He's hard wired to track."
"You know what I mean." Hawk growled. "But you do have a point. Get Snake Eyes and Timber on this. Is Beach Head up?"
"I believe he is." Doc said.
"Then I need to speak to him." Hawk got up.
Doc knew when he was being dismissed. "Yes, sir." He saluted and left to find Snake Eyes.
Hawk walked over to the infirmary. Walking in, he had an eerie feeling that he was being watched. He glanced around but there was nothing. He proceeded to Beach Head's room. As his hand reached for the doorknob, he saw a figure reflected on the shiny surface of the handle. Immediately, he his elbow flew back knocking the figure back. He spun around in a fighting stance.
"Flint." Hawk glared. "I don't know how you escaped our dragnet but you're not going to escape me. He pulled out his revolver.
Flint had his hands on his throat which is where Hawk had landed his hit. He glowered at the general. "I'm not so easily gotten, sir." He said the last part sarcastically. Hawk fired but Flint moved out of the way. He threw something at Hawk. A syringe sank into his gun hand causing him to drop his firearm. Hawk yanked out the needle. He staggered a little.
"That's a little propophol." Flint smirked. "I think you'll find yourself a bit sleepy."
"Not before I take you out." Hawk swung but missed. Flint sidestepped him and punched Hawk in the ribs winding him. Hawk stumbled and hit a medical bed that was in the room.
"Tut, tut, general. A man in your condition should not be exerting himself." He taunted. Hawk supported himself on the side of the bed. His other hand was holding his chest. The room was starting to spin. The synthoid held up Hawk's dropped gun.
"Good-bye, sir." Flint aimed the gun.
The door behind Flint suddenly flung open knocking the gun off kilter. The bullet barely missed Hawk.
Flint looked angrily at the person. His expression turned to surprise when Beach Head smacked him with a bedpan. As his head flew back Beach Head wrested the gun from his hand. Then in front of Hawk he opened fire into the synthoid. The synthoid began smoking and writhing before it melted into a gray puddle. Beach Head turned his attention to Hawk.
"Sir, are you all right?" He asked helping the general on his feet.
Hawk steadied himself on Beach Head's shoulder. "Just winded and groggy. Thank you." He said gratefully.
Doc rushed into the room with Snake Eyes and Timber in tow.
"What happened?" He looked at the gray puddle suspiciously.
"Beach Head saved me from the synthoid." Hawk said. Doc bent over and poked the goo on the floor with a tongue depressor.
"I'll need a sample to study." Doc muttered as he straightened up. "But first, I need to check both of you out. You don't look so good, general. And you Beach Head need to get back to bed."
"I'm fine." Beach growled. "I just took down a Cobra, didn't I?"
"Perhaps." Doc agreed amicably. "But better safe then sorry." He gently pushed the soldier back into the room. With his other hand he helped Hawk into the room.
Hawk turned to Snake Eyes. "See if you can find any trace of Life Line."
Snake Eyes saluted and turned to his pet. Leading him into Lifeline's office, Snake Eyes found some of his personal belongings. Timber sniffed the items and started searching.
0o0
"Look, I need to use the facilities and I can dang well do it by myself." Beach Head snapped as he got out of his bed.
"Don't overdo it. I can't seem to find where Lifeline put your charts and information so I'm not even sure what's wrong with you." Doc admonished. "I'm going to have to do another physical."
"Dang if I let you." Beach scowled. "I've been poked and prodded enough by one doctor. I don't need another round. Not my fault that you lost my information. And I can tell ya, I'm fine!"
"Maybe but I'd feel better if…"
"No! I ain't going through another exam! Now I've got to go." Beach hobbled towards the restroom.
Doc shook his head. "Stubborn SOB."
Beach Head closed the door on the single bathroom, making sure it was locked.
He opened the window and Polly flew onto the sill.
"Awk, boss wants to know why you eliminated the synthoid." Polly chirped.
"Shh, not so loud." Beach Head hushed the bird. "Synthoid Flint's position has been compromised. By killing him, I have now shown my loyalty and worth to the top and took care of loose ends."
"Awk, but they now have the material." Polly squawked.
"Don't worry about that. I took care of one doctor, I can take care of the other." Beach Head assured the bird.
"What about the girl?" Polly asked.
"She's of no consequence. Tell the boss that everything is under control and by tomorrow night, he will have what he wants."
Polly hopped outside. "It better be." Polly unfurled his wings and dove off the side. Beach Head watched as he sailed away before closing the window.