Chapter 11

It was two weeks later that Snake Eyes was allowed out of the bed, but not even aloud to train, or do anything. The only thing bright that seemed in his eyes was Haywire, but then again, she just hurt his head as well. Halle avoided him even more than usual, something happened, if only he could remember what happened!

Snake Eyes stood up, and walked toward Haywire's room. There, there was music coming out from under the door, and a screw driver embedded in the wall with a strange ooze coming out. He tentatively opened the door to dodge a spring that bounced. There, Haywire was battling a machine, trying to shut it down, and Snake Eyes walked in. He tapped her on the shoulder before quickly killing the spazzing machine.
"Your handy to have around, what are you doing here?"

Snake Eyes pointed at her before signaling, *I need you to build a machine that will make me remember what happened with Halle*

Haywire did a quick jump and said, "Thank you ninja! I was trying to create something that would enhance peoples' abilities without being that armor that you guys wear." Snake Eyes nodded and asked, *so you'll do it?*

"Well duh! That's my job here, now what I'll need is…" Haywire started to mutter ideas and equipment while Snake Eyes started to take in her lab. There were so many things that were looking like a success around the giant lab, and his eyes fell upon a tank. It was incredible, and Haywire saw where he was looking.

"Isn't it great? It lined with a hardened rubberlike outside, and the inside is a liquid mental, it's hardened and Cobra can't get inside with their pesky nano-mites."

Snake Eyes started to walk toward it, when Haywire said, "No, my baby is off limits! I haven't even finished making the seal in the canon! Now skit, I need to finish my stocked up out the wazoos weapons list!" Snake Eyes chuckled to himself and left the genius to do her work.

Snake Eyes sat in his room, and Halle's voice floated through his memory again, like a wisp of smoke. "No, I won't do that."

What was going on! Snake Eyes cried out in his head, something, or someone, had forced Halle into something, but what? And who? Red Tooth, unlikely, but there were others. And what was Halle always disappearing to? No, Halle is a Joe, she saved my life, and I expect her to make her own choices.

Snake Eyes tried to focus on his mind, not the world whirling around him. He started to delve into his own mind, when Timber trotted in. He nudged Snake Eyes before whining, and heading out the door. Snake Eyes cocked an eye, of course Timber decided to disturb his state of mind, it was what he did to get attention.

"Snake Eyes, your door is open," Halle informed him as she stood by the doorway. He looked at her, and Halle glared at him. "What is your problem?" She demanded.

*I'm not the one glaring am I?* Snake Eyes asked her and Halle laughed, "I always know your expressions otouto," Halle taunted him, and Snake Eyes wondered how she could read him so easily. His face was hidden, and he never used rough movement, despite sometimes when he wished he could.

"It's the way you sign, and you straighten when I insult you. That's why Storm Shadow always gets into your head." Halle answered him after she laughed softly.

*Better?* Snake Eyes asked, and Halle shook her head. "No, I can tell your trying, make it expressionless, and empty yourself of feeling." Snake Eyes closed his eyes and focused on clearing his mind, a basic skill that most had mastered at an early age. Of course, he never had that advantage, and he was not the master's daughter.

"I can still see you trying too hard, and then of course Storm Shadow has always stressed you out, even when alive. Let go of all that."

Snake Eyes felt frustration flow through him, but he kept it contained. "Good, even though I can tell that you're frustrated, I could hardly tell. Oh, and Snakes- I read you like an open book," Halle laughed as she walked out, and Snake Eyes rolled his eyes before shutting the door.

She does read me better than anybody else; how, and why…

…

Halle looked at the game console when she got in her room, and she had to admit, Haywire was the best engineer she had ever seen. Not to mention the design around the case- a sort of hunter green webbing with a grey base, and when she simply thought of it, it glowed, turning white and a slit opened for the disk. In fact, there was no plug!

Halle uneasily picked it up, and it was lighter than a pound. She smiled, that Haywire was something- a bit crazy, sure, but a genius. She walked back into the rec. room and placed it down. Halle had to admit, Haywire was the best engineer she had ever seen. Not to mention the design around the case- a sort of hunter green webbing with a grey base, and when she simply thought of it, it glowed, turning white and a slit opened for the disk. In fact, there was no plug!
Halle uneasily picked it up, and it was lighter than a pound. She smiled, that Haywire was something- a bit crazy, sure, but a genius. She walked back into the rec. room and placed it down. Halle heard booms coming faintly from the training, and slapped her forehead.
"Crap!" She nearly yelled and ran to her room. She changed quickly, putting on her tan cargo pants and usual white tank top. Lacing up her boots, Halle started to run toward the training room, and nearly hit her head by an opening door. She stumbled backwards, and hands grabbed her wrists, steadying her. Halle slipped her hands out from under the stranger and looked up at Snake Eyes.
"Snake Eyes- um sorry," Halle said before running toward training. She felt Snake Eyes' gaze burn into her but she sighed when she rounded the corner and came up by Duke's side.
"So what'd I miss?" Halle asked and Duke jumped. "Can you give a warning next time?"
"Sorry," Halle apologized and Duke whispered, "We've just started-,"
"Hauser! Is there something you would like to add?" Heavy Duty asked, and Duke turned a shade of red. "No sir," He said meekly and Halle spoke up. "It was my fault, I came late."
"Halle?" Heavy Duty asked, and she smiled, "That's my name."
"You aren't allowed to train, doctors orders. Sorry love, but am-scram."
"What am I supposed to do?" Halle asked and Heavy Duty sighed, "Go help Haywire, or better yet, check up on Snake Eyes."
"I'll go help Haywire," Halle said immediately even though frustrated but decided to go on good behavior. She had a deal she had to complete, and that meant following it to the letter, even if it was with Storm Shadow. The Joes stared at Halle in surprise, she had been there for a week or two, and she was always known to argue her point.
"What?" Halle asked as she walked out and rounded the corner. Meanwhile, she thought about her past weeks and froze when she heard a moan from down the hall.
Creeping silently, Halle opened the door tentatively, and then a cleared throat behind Halle made her whirl around before she got a good look at the thing. General Hawk stood with his arms folded and a raised eyebrow.
"Corporal Jackabae?"
"General Hawk," Halle said evenly, forcing her voice not to shake. That moan made shivers run a marathon along her spine.
"That is a classified area."
"A broom closet?" Halle asked and Hawk rolled his eyes. "It's a hologram, that is a twelve level security base, and Haywire at the moment is improving it."
"Alone? What the heck is in there?"
"She's not alone; she has fifteen guards in there with her. Come with me to my office Corporal."
"Sure sir," Halle said, giving him her rare polite manor.
"Halle, do you know who that thing is that attacked you?" Hawk asked her and Halle sighed. "I'm not getting off the hook for this am I?"
"I looked up your school record, something, in every school you went to- torched it. I'm guessing that those are not coincidences."
"No... I have, I guess I have a... how would some phrase it? Problem. I have a problem, and that's why I enrolled in military. If anybody can survive explosions, fire, or even swords, it'll be soldiers. It's hard to explain, but I guess I better tell you part of my past."
"Please do," Hawk said, and Halle nodded. "The night before my father- died, he told me of an arrangement since before I was born. I was betrothed to Dead Claw, a guy that has no personality, manners, and wants me to be in a kitchen and not learning martial arts. Pretty much, I have a psycho killer stalker that is convinced that I am his property. He has a lot to learn, now excuse me sir, I want to go check on Haywire."
"Fine and we will double Dead Claw's guard."
"Thank you sir," Halle said politely before disappearing. Halle knew that her already messed up life became even more messed up.

so pretty much, a break in action, and a bit of revelations. Halle has a very messed up life, and that's why we love her. So I wanted a calm before a storm, consider it just a warm breeze coming with a warning of a hurricane of NINJAS! Sorry, i went a little obsessive, but just hit that review bar, and please review. Thank you for your business, now just call 1-800-_ to review. VALE!