New orders, new Joes, new bad guys...all the more butts to kick. Enjoy the read my friends, see you on the other side.
Orders came through from Hawk. Duke and I were called to duty. "You sure it's alright?" I asked, looking to Faith who was nuzzling her puppies lovingly, every inch the proud mother.
"Of course, I'll take good care of them all." Ana assured me then hugged me tightly. "I owe it to you."
"Me? What do you mean Ana?" I asked in confusion as she pulled back and smiled.
"Without you Joes I'd still be that crazy bitch working for Cobra. So for that, I'll forever be grateful." She smiled softly, her honey toned hair lightening her features beautifully. Returning her smile I hugged her again then whispered into her ear.
"I'll bring him home. No matter what it takes. I'll get him back in time to stand at that altar to watch you sail down that isle in your beautiful white dress." She stiffened, breathing in deeply then nodded.
"I'd appreciate it if you could. You know how boneheaded he is."
"Stubborn to the core." I agreed then picked up my pack. "Faith? You stay here with Ana, alright? You keep her safe." I gave her the whistles, translating them to commands as I saw her get up to come with me. She sank back down and barked quietly at me. "I know girl. I love you to. I'll be back for you and Ghost."
"Ghost?" I grinned.
"My albino puppy. Think it suits her?" Ana laughed and nodded.
"Oh yes. Duke wanted to call our boy Captain but I put my foot down." After a pause she grinned even further. "So we settled on Tank."
"Oh hell yeah, I like that." I looked down. So there we have it. Tank, Lilium and Ghost. Scarlet had decided on the name of the middle puppy since Ripcord had been totally serious in calling her Kentucky.
Leaving my beloved companion and her babies behind I joined Duke outside and said my last goodbyes. "You look after my boy." Ripcord told me as he hugged me tightly. "And yourself."
"I will." I promised him then smiled at Scarlet. I touched her stomach and she glowed brightly before hugging me too. "We'll back in a few weeks ready for the wedding."
"Unless I accidentally get myself lost on the way home." Duke mused and Ana punched him in the shoulder.
"Don't say that you total jerk!" She giggled then kissed him lovingly, a long lingering kiss that made me turn away and smile.
"So, we're off. Don't let these girls trample you too much Rip. Oh and don't go crashing anymore planes okay?"
"Hey, that was one time and it was your fault because you spilled coffee on the controls!"
"Hey!" I answered back. "You said you wanted a coffee so I brought you coffee! I landed us pretty much intact. Mostly." That had been a terrifying experience. Since the controls were fried I had had to manually land the plane, however I wasn't able to slow down the fall much because it was so heavy so we landed in a deep pit in snow. Hawk hadn't been too happy about that until I had salvaged the cargo.
We watched our friends disappear from the back window before turning around with soft sighs. Duke shot me a look then smirked. "Rip says you and Snake are pretty tight." He mused. I groaned.
"Oh please, not this again!" I reached out to stroke Faith's head then remembered I'd left her behind. This was the first time since getting back from polar icecap that she wasn't going to be on a mission with me. It felt completely alien.
"She'll be fine." Duke said, sensing my worry. "I wanna talk about you and that ninja."
"What about us? There's nothing going on between us if that's what you're thinking. There's no way in hell Snake Eyes would ever want to be with me anyway."
"What makes you say that?" Duke demanded, his eyes full of surprise. "He loves you."
"He loves all of us." I shrugged. "He just looks out for me because I'm the newest member and a girl."
"Hell no, you know that's not true. I know you're smart but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say." I arched an eyebrow at him. "Okay one of the dumbest things you've ever said." He amended so I nodded with approval.
"Snake Eyes is…a master of martial arts. He's tough, smart, the best of the best at what he does. I'm barely able to keep up with him. He just views me as a student so he feels responsible for me." I tried to explain. "I mean sure, I like him a lot. He's kind, caring, strong, gentle and the one of the sweetest and most genuine guys I've ever met. He can say a thousand words with one touch without needing to speak at all and he's taught me practically everything I now about martial arts. He's been with me through the thick and thin of everything and sometimes I just can't stand being near him because it hurts too much but…but…" I shook my head, clenching my jaw and looked away from Duke as he continued to look at me.
"But what?" Sucking in a deep breath I answered without being able to look at him.
"He's not the only one." Duke shifted, turning to face me properly.
"Go on?" With a sigh I looked down into my hands in my lap then swallowed.
"I'm so confused. I know I should hate him for what he's done but somehow I just can't stop thinking about him. Ever since he died, his face has just been there every time I close my eyes."
"Who? Who are you talking about Kaze?" With a guilty little shrug I replied honestly.
"Storm Shadow." This struck him speechless and my fears were confirmed. "You're disgusted with me."
"No, just a little surprised. What makes you so…attracted to him?" Again I shrugged.
"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it but I feel wedged between the two of them and I don't know what to do." I looked to Duke. "What should I do?"
"You're asking me?" He blinked then cleared his through. "Well uh…" He looked into my pleading eyes then sighed. "Honestly, I wouldn't know. I felt just like you did only, it was with the same woman with two personalities. I was in love with the old Ana, when we were happy together and engaged but when I saw her again when she was with Cobra, I couldn't help but love her again, even though I knew she wasn't the same. That's the closest I can get to your situation. But you don't need to worry, Storm Shadow is dead so you can just love Snakes." I shook my head.
"Storm Shadow isn't dead. I can feel it. Call it gut instinct but I just know that he's out there somewhere. Living and breathing still."
"Okay…if you say so." Duke looked a little worried now.
"Just forget about it. I'll figure it out." I sighed. "Guess living alone on a mountain for eight years seriously did not prepare me for this."
"Nothing ever can, trust me. When I fell for Ana, I fell hard. Flat on my face, in fact, I tripped over right in front of her. That's how we met." I smiled, looking up at him, waiting for him to continue. "I was late to report to my commanding officer so when I tried to run through a thick crowd, someone tripped me up and I fell down to stare at a pair of heels and boots. Looking up, I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen looking down at me." Duke continued to tell them everything about his relationship with Ana and I found it a brilliant distraction from the conflict in my heart and mind.
When we got to our temporary Joe base camp I jumped out the truck, slapping the side as I threw my pack onto my shoulder. "Roadblock!" Duke yelled. "Good to see you buddy." I joined Duke as he gave a great man hug to a massively built guy. My eyes travelled from his boots all the way to his eyes as they watched me carefully.
"Like what you see?" He asked with a little cheeky grin. I pursed my lips as if in thought.
"Well, I've seen worse." I shrugged then grinned. "Kaze, I've heard a lot about you from Duke here. It's good to finally meet you."
"Likewise. Although Duke missed out several details, like the fact you're seriously hot." He grabbed Duke's head and rubbed his knuckles into it as Duke growled.
"Hey! Get off!" He shoved away then punched Roadblock in the gut but only succeeded in hurting his hand.
"I also understand you're married. With two beautiful little girls." I cocked an eyebrow at him and he shrugged.
"I'm only messing with you. Besides, I know you're spoken for." He winked as he turned around, Duke leaving with him as I stood there, dumbstruck.
"Huh?" I followed after them.
"Alright Joes listen up. This is Duke, you'll be reporting to him now." Roadblock yelled, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Yo Joes, you all know why you're here. We're here to kick some ass and save the world. Anyone got a problem with that?" Everyone yelled in approval as Duke grinned. "Carry on." He ordered and everyone moved off to continue with their duties.
"Hey, where was my big introduction?" I asked, carefully punching Roadblock in the arm as I tossed my pack onto a table and began to suit up.
"Everyone knows who you are. You're a legend among the Joes." Block tod me, faltering slightly as I yanked off my tank top so I stood there in the heat with only my sports bra on. "Is it true you can actually manipulate the air?" I shot him a little mysterious smirk.
"Maybe." I pulled on my black suit, checking that the armour plates weren't damaged or anything before searching for my bracers. "We'll keep that little surprise for when we're in the action. Shall we?"
"My girls want to meet you by the way. Duke let slip once about how this woman saved your life and they began hassling him until he told them all about you." Block shot Duke a look as he sorted out his stuff too. He spread his hands, his face dropping.
"What? They live to terrorise me." He defended and I laughed.
"What did you say?"
"I just said I worked with some really awesome guys and girls and they began asking questions so you know, I bent the truth a little. They think you and Scarlet are war heroes from our time in the army together." He shrugged. "Then they started to ask if we were together so…that was a little awkward to explain about Ana. Especially since they didn't believe me."
"Duke, grow a backbone." I grinned at him then looked to Roadblock. "I'd love to meet your girls someday Block."
"Sweet, you can bunk with us when we go back on short term leave. Give my lady someone sane to talk to." I grinned then pulled back the string of my bow. "Wow!" He yelled as I pointed the arrow at him distantly, not paying attention. "Watch where you point that thing!"
"What this? Nah, it's harmless!" I grinned, throwing an arrow up into the air. Suddenly it exploded and we all ducked for cover as one of the tents caught fire. "Oops?" I flinched as someone raced to put it out. "Wrong arrows."
"You kidding?" Block glared at me then burst out laughing. "Welcome back to the Joes."
"Good to be back." I nodded, reaching out on the ground to bump my fist against his.
Under the thick cover of darkness we snuck up to the fence, my bow taut and ready to fly the arrow knocked into place. I wore a black balaclava over my face since Snake Eyes had graded me up the ranks and decided I was ready to take the ninja attire.
My eyes slipped left and right as I listened to the air currents, listening for any sound of enemies close by before nodding to Duke. "Alright, move up." He whispered then led the way, me close on his tail with Block on his other side.
"Hustle up guys, you've gotta get that defector then get out of there. No delays." A woman's voice spoke quietly through my earpiece as we reached the fence. Duke, Lady Jaye, Flint and myself covered Roadblock as he fired up his high tech gloves to melt through the wire fence.
"Hey Mouse, you ready with that eighteen year old aim?" Block asked as he waited for his pads to heat up.
"I'm on it sir." The young Joe assured him as he kept his sniper trained on the guards at the watchtower.
"Inbound nine o clock, two minutes." I whispered aloud. "Single target. Want me to take them down?"
"Negative, sit tight." Duke ordered so I remained perfectly still, continuing to listen to the wind as it draw the sounds of moving guards to me, their whispers and boots slapping on the ground. Roadblock pressed his hands against the wire and melted right through them quietly, spreading his hands out in a circle before kicking it down. "Move." He stepped back.
"Let's go." We moved forwards, keeping low to the ground and silent like shadows. We found a new spot to stay stationary as Duke shifted, picking up a red low light. "Alright, where's this guy at?" He murmured to himself, flashing the light before hiding it again. After a moment a mirrored red light flashed back at us and Duke sighed. "Alright Mouse. Give us that diversion." I smiled softly. Mouse, that was a really cute codename. Especially for a guy. I watched and waited until the shrill whistle sounded, jolting my heart into a steady drumming rhythm as anticipation and excitement took me.
"Alright let's go. Flint, stay put." Duke commanded and I could tell Flint was not happy about this. I'll explain later that he was there to watch our backs, which was just as important as covering the front. Keeping close to the guys we made our way forwards as the distraction pulled the guards away.
Racing through some parked vehicles I swung my bow as I pulled the arrow out of the string, whacking a guard up the chin with it then spun around in one, flowing movement to finish him off with another firm strike. Duke had flipped his opponent over his back and knocked him out whilst Roadblock had savagely punched the guy straight out. Duke and I stared at him.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you fight ugly?" He asked.
"Not from their backs they don't." He replied in complete seriousness.
"That's just…that's just…" Duke shook his head as he led the way onwards. Roadblock touched my back as I went second, a comforting gesture which assured me that he had my back. "Flint let's go. Flint?" We looked back to see the boy climbing into the main spotting unit.
"You've gotta be kidding me." I sighed. "Kids these days."
"Tell me about it." Roadblock answered. "Private Games if you see Flint shoot him."
"With pleasure." He answered. I liked our sniper team, they sounded like good lads. Moving onwards we opened up the back of a truck and a muttering, panicked man stumbled out, his head stuffed into a bag. "Defector in hand. En route to pick up." Roadblock reported as Duke grabbed the guy's jacket and held him in place, looking out.
"Scope?"
"Clear." I answered then nodded to the guys.
"Go!" Duke called quietly and we all darted for our exit point.
"Flint get your ass back to your team, we're on the move." Lady Jaye sounded pissed off and I was too, I'd give that kid a hell of a butt kicking when I got my hands on his neck.
"Uuh, you ain't going to believe this Roadblock." Private Games said over the link and the two of us stopped to look up and around. When we saw the black flag with the golden eagle head fluttering in the breeze Roadblock began to swear.
"Mother…"
"Ahem." I coughed. "Let's just get out of here. All units time to evac. Rendezvous at checkpoint, match, pull and go." When I found Flint, I punched him in the face. Hard.
Whoops, Kaze's fist just paid respect to Flint's face. Oh well, I'm sure he'll be fine. Maybe?