Okay...apologies in advance for this chapter. It's short and fairly predictable, and it feels a little bit rushed to me - it was going to be longer, but it seemed better ending it where I did.
...And I kinda just wanted to get onto the next chapter...
Reviews are awesome. Thanks heaps for 'em!
Oh, and I'd just like to point out that I haven't been skydiving before, so I have no idea what it's like and I made it up as I went. I'm going later this year :D
"Hey, Heckle, at least you've got the camouflage part right."
Nomad raised an eyebrow at Clutch, then glanced across the stealth-equipped plane at the first of the two probationary Joes.
"Oh? What's that s'posed to mean, exactly?" Heckle retorted.
Clutch smirked. "Well, put those goggles on an' stand still, an' the enemy'll mistake you for a stick insect."
Heckle glared. Beside her, Jeckle sniggered, then stopped before she drew attention to herself. Heckle elbowed her anyway, then scowled at Clutch. "You're real funny, smartass."
"I am, aren't I?"
Nomad grinned at the mechanic, realising what he was up to. Heckle and Jeckle had both been on missions in their greenshirt regiment, but this was different. They'd passed the gruelling training program just last week - this was their big test. They were understandably - and obviously - nervous. Clutch was just trying to make them feel better. In his own way.
Nomad didn't think it was working.
After Nomad's undercover mission at 'Robac and Co.' three weeks ago, things had gone fairly quiet on the Cobra front. She'd been on two short, straightforward missions since then. One was a simple trip with a few other Joes to help maintain security and keep the peace at some fancy conference - disguised, of course, as regular army soldiers; the other was to conduct surveillance on a bar suspected to be a Cobra front. She and Shipwreck had spent four nights drinking in that seedy little place, but nothing had come of it, apart from the sailor getting into a brawl. Nomad had tried to break it up until somebody threatened her with a broken bottle. Then, of course, she'd had to…well, she'd used the term 'defend herself' in her report.
She and Shipwreck had both joined Heckle and Jeckle in the kitchen for the next few days. The two - still greenies at the time - had entirely too much fun bossing Shipwreck around. He enjoyed the attention, particularly when it came from Jeckle…and a lot of it had come from Jeckle.
They'd never found out who leaked Nomad's name to Destro and the Baroness. Mainframe and Breaker hadn't been able to find anything on the computers to signify any of the Joe files had been hacked, and none of Nomad's phone calls or texts to Chuckles had been intercepted. Whoever had blown her cover, they'd left no trace at all. Hawk found that troubling, but he admitted that there wasn't much they could do about it unless they could find something…which didn't look likely to happen.
Nomad glanced over at the general. He was up front, talking to Lift Ticket. Just twenty minutes ago he'd called the Joes to a meeting in the briefing room. The Pentagon had received an urgent call from a high-security lab; they were under attack from an unknown force and needed assistance ASAP.
"So what's in this lab, anyway?" Jeckle wondered. The rifle resting across her knees looked too big for her, but she was a crack shot with it.
Flint shook his head. "No idea," he admitted. "It doesn't matter, anyway. All we need to worry about is stopping whoever's trying to get in."
"Simple as that?"
"Simple as that," he repeated. "You'll get used to it; you get given your orders, you follow your orders and don't ask stupid questions."
"Yes, sir."
Clutch sniggered. "I say we send Jeckle in first, Flint. The enemy won't be looking below their knees."
Jeckle flipped him off. Nomad chuckled; she'd learned quickly.
"ETA to drop zone, two minutes," Lift Ticket advised them.
Hawk joined the Joes in the back. "You all know the plan," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "There's a team of armed guards inside the lab; they know we're on our way. There are civilians in there, too, so pick your targets carefully. Make it quick and clean."
"Yes, sir!" the Joes chorused.
"One minute, Hawk."
They all stood and prepared themselves. Nomad pulled the single earphone out of her ear, then yanked the other one out of Clutch's ear and wound the cord around her iPod, setting it on her seat. She checked her assault rifle and clips - then jerked backwards as Flint checked her harness. "Hey," she protested.
"You're set. Check Clutch."
Grinning, Nomad yanked on Clutch's straps. The mechanic groaned. "Careful, Nomad, I'm carryin' gear you ain't, you know."
"Oh, I know. You're good to go, by the way."
Clutch checked Beachhead's harness and gave him the okay, then glanced over his shoulder at her. "Like it rough, huh?"
"Wouldn't you love to know?"
"You bet I -"
Hawk strode past, clearing his throat.
"Sorry, sir," Nomad and Clutch said together.
"Green light!" Ripcord called. "Time to hit the silk!"
At the head of the line, Gung Ho let out a whoop, then leaped out of the plane into the darkness. One by one, the rest of them followed.
Heckle and Jeckle went before Beach.
"Oh, I hate this," Heckle muttered. "This is not normal. What sane person willingly jumps out of a plane?"
Jeckle slapped her on the back and moved around her, a broad smile across her face. "What sane person joins G.I Joe?" she pointed out with a laugh. "Yo Joe, or something to that effect!" Turning, she saluted and stepped backwards out the door, letting out a 'yeehaw' that Wild Bill would have been proud of.
Clutch nudged Nomad. "She's almost as gung ho as Gung Ho."
"Scary, isn't it?"
Heckle - holding tightly to the closest fixed object - took a deep breath. She stepped forward, as if she was going to jump…then Nomad saw her eyes flick downwards. She froze. "Ooooh, god…"
Ripcord gestured for her to move aside. "You can go last," he said. "I'll jump with you."
She moaned, but nodded.
Beachhead squeezed past Heckle. "Outta mah way, matchstick, or ah'll push ya out."
Heckle moved before the drill sergeant made good on his threat. Ripcord opened his mouth; Beach waved him off. "Ah know, ah know, no one gets pushed out 'less it's you doin' the pushin'." The sergeant major flung himself from the plane without hesitation, a wild glint in his eyes.
"First name?" Clutch asked, looking sideways at Nomad.
"Not before a jump."
"You're never gonna tell me, are you?"
She grinned and shook her head.
He sighed as he looked out the door. "Well, here goes." He smirked. "You want me to catch you?"
She took a swing at him - he stepped backwards to avoid her fist. "Whoooa!"
That left just her, Ripcord, Heckle and Hawk - and Lift Ticket, of course - in the plane. "You're up next, Cutie," Ripcord said.
She glanced down at the open parachutes drifting toward the ground - as she watched, Clutch's opened up. "About time, Sweetheart."
Unless he was being serious - which was rarely - Ripcord never called her by her codename. After Dusty had told Ripcord how he'd greeted her in the infirmary, it had always been 'Cutie'. Nomad felt it only fair she call him 'Sweetheart' in return. If Lowlight was around, and heard her, he'd shoot her quick look that she couldn't read.
Lowlight was like that - she could never tell what he was thinking, and if she stared at him too long, trying to work him out, he'd either gaze back intensely and she'd have to look away, or he'd give her that sweet, crooked grin of his that she couldn't help smiling back at.
Whenever the sniper looked at her like that, it gave her a buzz.
Kind of like the one she felt now. She backed up to the wall of the plane, then ran and leaped out into the air as far as she could, flinging her arms wide as she plummeted toward the ground. The wind rushed in her ears and tugged at her uniform. Every couple of seconds she glanced at the altimeter strapped around her wrist, beside her watch.
When the time came, she deployed her 'chute, feeling the reassuring jolt on her body as the silk opened, her legs swung down - she spared a thought for the guys at that point - and her fall slowed. For a moment she just relaxed in her harness, watching the ground below and peering into the distance at the stars. This was the best part of skydiving, even in the army - those few moments just after freefall, when all you had to do was wait and watch the ground as you floated down to meet it.
Of course, once you got within firing range, you had to be careful. She automatically adjusted the strap of her rifle so the trigger was within easy reach, then raised her arms and began to guide herself toward the landing zone.
She mistimed and landed hard. "Son of a bitch."
"Well, I did offer to catch you," Clutch said. He began to gather up her parachute while she slipped out of the harness.
She took the bundle from his arms and stashed it in the trees where he pointed, then returned and waited alongside the other Joes. The first half of the team had already headed off; Gung Ho, Steeler, Short Fuse, Grunt - he had possibly the best codename ever - Breaker and Outback were to secure the perimeter. The rest of them - Hawk, Flint, Clutch, Roadblock, Heckle and Jeckle, Nomad, Beachhead and Ripcord would join them and launch the offensive.
"That was awesome!" Jeckle exclaimed excitedly, waving up at Flint. "I love skydiving!"
"Keep it down," Beachhead growled. "Ain't you hearda noise discipline?"
"Sorry, sergeant major, sir."
"Ah ain't no sir."
"Yes si - sergeant major. Sorry, just slipped out."
Nomad sniggered. "So you can stand up to Roadblock, but not Beachhead?" She glanced over at the enormous gourmet chef. He was wielding his heavy machine gun, as usual.
"Aw, everyone knows Roadblock's just a big softie."
Well, that was the description least likely to be used for Roadblock, but Nomad knew it was true. Roadblock would rather be cooking than fighting.
The heavy gunner looked up. "I heard that," he said, but he didn't appear to be concerned for his reputation. A man Roadblock's size didn't have to be concerned about much at all.
"And Beach?" she pressed, looking back down at Jeckle.
"Sergeant Major Beachhead scares the shit out of me," the probationary Joe admitted without hesitation.
"Good," Beach grumbled.
Ripcord and Heckle landed. Poor Heckle looked extremely pale, and Hawk himself had touched ground before she could stand without leaning on Ripcord's shoulder.
Flint looked at her sternly. "No more 'chutes for you."
Rather than look offended, Heckle looked grateful. "Th-thanks, Flint. Urp." She bolted for the trees.
Beachhead sighed and shook his head impatiently as they heard her retching, but didn't say anything when she came back. Ripcord gave her a reassuring smile. "It happens. It's okay. At least you didn't hurl on the way down. I've seen that before; it ain't pretty."
Heckle hiccuped weakly.
"Hawk, this is Breaker. Do you copy?"
Hawk keyed his radio. "Go ahead, Breaker."
"Perimeter's secured, sir. The guards seem to have held up pretty well, but they won't last much longer - the guys on the outside are dug in good. Don't make it more'n twenty or thirty of 'em - looks like they're just gonna wait it out til the guards run outta ammo."
"Copy that. We're on our way." Hawk looked around at them all. "Move out. Maintain noise discipline -"
Jeckle shifted guiltily and gave a small grin as Beach glared pointedly at her.
"- and keep your eyes open. Beachhead, take point. Flint, you're on drag. The rest of you, spread out."
They moved quickly, but soundlessly. The lab was a short distance away; it was built on a large, private estate, with a long driveway leading up to it. They'd dropped in behind the property to avoid being noticed - even though the plane was equipped with just about every stealth device available, it'd still be seen if it flew directly overhead. Most of the team would circle around to the front of the property, where the enemy assault was focused. Breaker, Steeler and Grunt would sneak in around the back and work their way around, picking off any strays who thought they might get lucky and find a back door open. Most of the Joes were carrying wire cutters; the tall fences surrounding the place wouldn't be a problem.
Unless they were electrified, in which case Short Fuse could fry first.
That wasn't very nice. No, if the fence was electric, Short Fuse would've already…well, shorted it out.
…Though it would be kind of funny if he'd got zapped. Not seriously…just a little bit…
The trees ended abruptly at the fence line. Nomad slipped easily from trunk to trunk as she followed the others.
"How come you're so quiet?" Outback whispered, giving a small start as she snuck by him.
"Ten months stuck in the Amazon," she replied, grinning at the survival expert. "I practiced sneaking up on birds."
"Nice."
She thought she heard a certain amount of respect in Outback's voice. "Why's such a big, fancy lab stuck out in the middle of nowhere?"
"Security," Outback answered. He pointed. "Notice the cameras all over the place? Unless the power was cut, I reckon even Snakes and Stormy would have trouble sneakin' up on this place."
"Really?"
"Well…maybe if they didn't have all them pointy things to help 'em."
Hawk signalled for everyone to stop. They spread out in a line just under the trees. From here, they could see the muzzle flashes of both the good guys' and the bad guys' guns.
The lab was three storeys, widely spread, definitely not built with defence in mind despite all the security measures. The face of the main building was open and had already taken a lot of damage. There was another building off to the right, connected by a covered walkway. There was a courtyard between the two, and a car park on the left.
"There's plenty of cover," Flint said, pointing to the courtyard. "Looks like -"
Even Hawk jumped and swore as a blast shook the ground and the entrance of the lab turned to dust. A wave of dark figures hurried into the building.
"They're inside," the general said. "Let's go. Flint, Nomad, secure the entrance. Gung Ho, Short Fuse, aimed cover fire."
Those with wire cutters started snipping as Hawk spoke into the radio. "Breaker, you, Steeler and Grunt get in there and help those guards. We're coming."
"Already on our way, sir!"
Jeckle was through first, slipping through the hole Roadblock made before he was even half-finished, then Heckle crawled through.
Nomad quickly made her own hole and dumped the wire cutters in favour of her rifle, then sprinted for the entrance alongside Flint. Glass shattered not far away - she heard the whine of bullets, a burst of fire from behind her, and then a short scream from the window.
Flint got to the entrance before her and disappeared inside, heading left. Nomad switched her rifle to short-burst fire on the run, then leaped over the rubble, squinting through the still-falling dust. She skidded on the loose debris and went down painfully on one knee, but still managed to get a shot off at the blue-clad guy turning to look at her, eyes narrowed. He dropped and didn't get back up.
"Cobra," Flint said coldly, rolling a dead one over with his foot. "Shoulda known."
One look at his face told her how he'd got his name. "What would they want here?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Dunno. Looks like they took out most of the guards in the blast."
Nomad glanced around, noticing for the first time the number of bodies on the floor. Three of them wore blue; the rest wore a nondescript uniform of white shirt and black pants. A couple of them were burning.
The others joined them. "Two teams," Hawk ordered quickly, noticing the blue uniforms. "Roadblock, Beachhead, Nomad, Heckle, Jeckle and I will stay here. The rest of you, go in and flush them out. Be careful - we have civilians and three of our boys in there."
They darted quickly back to the barricades the Cobra troops had abandoned - three picnic tables, tipped onto their sides, and a few cars rolled over from the car park. Roadblock and Beachhead squatted behind one of the cars. Nomad leaned against the underside of the picnic table, Hawk on one side, Heckle and Jeckle on the other.
There wasn't much else they could do except wait. "What's in there, Hawk?" Roadblock asked suddenly.
The general shook his head. "I know as much as you do," he admitted.
Nomad frowned. "So you don't know?"
"I'm not told everything, either," Hawk interrupted, giving her a look.
"Sorry, sir. I just thought…never mind."
Gunfire broke out in the building in front of them. Nomad turned and ducked her head around the edge of the table, just in time to see a body in a white coat fell from it. "Shit. Civilian just bought it."
"Nothing we can do about it," the general said. It sounded harsh, but he was right - their job was to wait for the Cobra troops to come running out.
Nomad sneakily looked at the general. This was the first time she'd gone into a mission beside him - and to be honest, he was a little bit scary. Not scary like Beachhead could be, but…intense, scary. Hawk was somebody whose bad side Nomad would not like to be on.
The gunshots ceased, and Breaker's voice crackled over the radio. "We got 'em, sir. There's only a few of 'em left; they've surrendered."
"Good work, all of you. Bring 'em out."
Nomad relaxed, then glanced at Heckle and Jeckle. Both looked relieved.
They stood and emerged from their cover. A minute or so later, the Cobra troops filed from the lab, flanked by the other Joes and followed by a group of white-coated scientists. There were three armed guards left among them.
"Hmph," Beachhead grunted. "Maybe now we can find out what this's all 'bout."
Hawk glanced across at the body that had fallen from the window and nodded to Heckle and Jeckle. "Go check," he said. "They might not be dead, just hurt."
"Yes, sir," they chorused, and hurried over.
Flint strode to meet Hawk. "I couldn't find anything on any of them," he advised. "Looks like they couldn't find what they were -"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
Nomad spun. She knew that voice.
"All o' ya, drop your weapons," Zarana ordered, shrugging out of her lab coat, "or the geek gets it." She had a gun to a civilian's head - he was whimpering.
Hawk didn't hesitate, placing both his rifle and his .45 handgun on the ground. The other Joes reluctantly followed his lead.
Zarana scanned them, then stopped as her eyes landed on Nomad. She moved forward, dragging the scientist with her.
Nomad wondered if she could get Zarana to point the gun at her rather than the scientist, but Hawk caught her eye and shook his head at her. She kept her mouth shut.
"I should -" Zarana started.
Several shots interrupted her. Immediately, the Joes hit the dirt to grab their weapons. The scientists scattered back into the relative safety of the building.
"Aimed fire! Take them out!" Hawk shouted.
Lying on her belly, Nomad dropped one, shooting him in the back as he ran. Where had those other shots come from?
That could wait. What mattered was Zarana; where had she gone? And what had she stolen?
Nomad rolled onto her back and sat up, only to see Zarana and a second, larger figure running into the darkness. She emptied an entire clip at their retreating backs, but they were out of range already; still, she would have slammed in another clip and kept firing if Gung Ho hadn't put a hand on her arm and shook his head. "Don't bother. Can't shoot 'em if they ain't in range."
Hawk climbed to his feet, taking stock of the situation. "Everyone alright?"
According to the assorted moans and grunts, everyone was in one piece.
"Ripcord, check on the scientists. Flint, Grunt, go back inside and see if you can't figure out what Cobra were doing here." Hawk's sharp eyes flicked around at them all, and he paused. "Where are Heckle and -" He turned. "Goddamn it!"
Gung Ho hauled Nomad to her feet - and as she glanced around, her heart sank.
Jeckle was slumped against the side of the building, hands pressed to her left side, just under her ribs. Next to her, Heckle was sprawled on the ground, a big, dark stain spread across her chest.
The only sign of the body they'd been checking was a white coat - that had to be who the second person was.
Hawk skidded to a stop and leaned over Heckle. Roadblock was right behind him, kneeling beside Jeckle.
"Oh, no," Clutch breathed, coming to stand beside Nomad.
Hawk turned. "Breaker, we -"
"Already on it, Hawk!" Breaker answered. "Wild Bill, we need a medivac, pronto!"
"Be there in a jiff, folks. Just hold on, we'll get y'all home."
Breaker looked up at Hawk. The general looked back, and shook his head slowly.
Nomad cursed angrily. Clutch let out a long breath. Beachhead violently kicked at the already trampled flowers in the garden.
Breaker closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head. "Not this time, Bill. Not all of us."