Chapter 14
Cobra Commander had finally finished his project. He called it the Particle Compressor of Antimatter. There were ten of these compressors; all of them have the energy to give out a ratio of one compressor to one-fifth of the United States of America. It was possible the destruction could increase in the amount of size. It made sense since each compressor was five meters long filled with death-trapping glowing antimatter. It was an incredibly excellent feeling that Cobra Commander had a remote device to somehow deactivate all compressors at once before the explosions.
He had each weapon stored hidden in the target city. When he detonates them… who knows what mayhem could outcome?
I sat on the mattress of my room; my mind contained negative feelings of frustration, betrayal, guilt, apprehension, and pain. My hands covered my face as I laid my head down on my knees. Was not I supposed to be proud for what Cobra has yet accomplished in a few minutes? There were too many emotions for me to bear. From what I have learnt, the commander was about to use them to threaten innocent people for world domination. This was evidently going against all principles of humanity and Master's teachings. Those people out there did not violate nature's laws or hurt Cobra besides G.I. Joe. They were harmless in intention.
For a moment, I hate myself. I never hate until now. The pressure forced that hate to spread and poison my mind. My head felt heavy with anger. I helped bring harm to civilization by stealing the materials needed for the weapons. I was associated with a terrorist group known as the Cobra organization. I cannot make up the wrong doings I have made. My guilt would be even greater once the compressors were about to strike the major capital cities in a few minutes. What is there not to hate?
With a knock on the metal door, a Cobra signaled that it was time. Master, please forgive me. Forgive Storm Shadow and I for the terrible acts we are about to let happen.
I reluctantly went to the command center with my daos for protection and kept silent the whole time. On the level, each Cobra was busy doing something and seemed to not take notice of the event that will start in two minutes. A huge hologram of the world on top of the main projector showed ten flashing red lights everywhere. The weapons were active; all they need to fulfill their purpose is to be detonated by just a single button of the remote on the commander's forearm.
"Something troubles you, White Oleander?" Looking in the direction where the voice came from, I saw an unfamiliar person sitting on a chair with his legs up on the control panels, hands behind his head. But, I felt the same danger lurking in that body when I met the "president".
"Zartan?"
"Yes, I am Zartan, the great Master of Disguise. You, dear, don't look up to it today. Are you anxious about what's going to happen in a minute? Don't worry. All recruits are like that whenever they go for their first kill."
"Ah. Good. Everyone's here to witness this historical moment." Cobra Commander clapped his hands once as he said this. Everyone? Across from Zartan stood Destro. His silver metal face gleamed in the light making it easily distracting. My eyes slightly widened as Storm Shadow in his uniform suddenly appeared on my left facing intently at Cobra Commander. My head turned back to the commander to hear what he has to say.
"This is the moment where we hold the world hostage, when the Joes are helpless, and when we have ultimate power in our grasp. Cobras, I give you the Particle Compressors of Antimatter. These weapons would be our jumpstart to a very successful future." He turned back to a Cobra who was calculating the time sequence of the compressors. "Start the countdown."
"Yes, sir." The Cobra tilted his neck up to the screen of the world map. "Five…"
No, not yet. It must not happen like this. It will create an imbalance between good and evil.
"Four…"
There has to be a way to stop this. There has to be!
"Three…"
I must find some way to end this insanity – the insanity of greed. So, this is how much people can do when greed overcomes them.
"Two…"
Cobra Commander's arm! He has the device to halt the weapons. There was not enough time.
"One…"
The moment the Cobra said "one" was the moment I lunged forward to press that red rectangular button on the commander's arm. Instantly, the compressors displayed yellow lights shown on the holographic map. A wave of relief washed over me.
I felt cold eyes glaring at me. Rage, disappointment, and other negative energies flowed everywhere. Cobra Commander stared at me clearly furious of my act. "What have you done?!"
I was afraid of him and did not reply.
The commander sighed heavily. "Congratulations, White Oleander. You saved the entire world from massive destruction. What's next? Taking down this base filled with some hundred thousand Cobras – all lethal and armed – under my command? Specifically, on your own?"
Again, I did not answer.
"Very well. Silence you choose. Destro, Zartan, Storm Shadow, you'll all come with me. The rest of you, finish her."
Automatically, my hands reached and drew out my daos. Some Cobras held guns while others had their own combat skills. This was going to be extremely hard. I loathe the situation I am in right now.
"Let her go." I turned directly to where Cobra Commander should have gone. My eyes widened as Storm Shadow had his katanas around his employer's neck. "I said let her go."
Storm Shadow made a pathway to the exit while he choked the commander with his swords. The ninja walked backwards slowly gesturing me to follow. I saw Zartan ready and armed to shoot us. Destro stood there apparently feeling a bit amused and entertained.
"Why, Storm Shadow? She's not worth it. She's a girl for crying out loud," the master of disguise smirked.
"Because this girl here is my promise, and I have to keep that promise."
Once we reached the exit, Storm Shadow swiftly sheathed his katanas back to their covers and ran. I followed. We both sprinted as fast as we could while knocking down any Cobras in our way. Our lives depended on it. Two loud gunshots were heard. The two of us dodged the first one. Unfortunately, I was the victim of the second. Fearing it would slow Storm Shadow and I down, I did not bother and pretended like it did not hit me at all.
Red alarms above were blaring repetitively. We have been running for minutes. My wound felt too painful for me to bear. That spot gradually grew numb and number for the cause of blood loss. I knew running would worsen it, but I had no choice. It is either death by bullet or death by Cobra. I would not want to think about what Cobra would do to their prisoners.
Exhaustion then poured into me. Not now. Storm Shadow and I are on the brink of escape. The public announcer urgently said that the G.I. Joe infiltrated the Cobra base and that all members be prepared and armed.
Storm Shadow and I nearly entered the docking space until two Joes blocked the doors. It was Snake Eyes and the Baroness. They were probably here to capture us. The wound was bleeding too profusely for my taste. We have to escape now!
"Storm Shadow."
"Baroness."
"It's been a long time. Isn't that right?"
"Yes. It has been."
Snake Eyes stared at me. He knew something was wrong with me; he cannot place a finger at it though. He clenched onto his katanas instead.
My legs stood weak at the knees. The wound burned with such ferocity and cold, bitter numbness. Was my body even this heavy before? Before I noticed, I almost fell to the ground. Storm Shadow turned back and caught me. I have a truly difficult time breathing; his hand was around my back touching the wound. When Storm Shadow pulled back his hand, he was astonished by the amount of blood he found. "No, no, no. Girl, hold on. Hold on, and you'll stay alive. Just hold on."
My eyes were too heavy for me to keep open. Two warm arms wrapped around my body; I was being carried… bridal style. The room suddenly turned freezing. Indistinctive words I heard, but I could make out some.
"Do you really want to do this, Baroness? If not, I suggest you put down your gun and make way for us." Through my blurred vision, two figures in black stood in the front of me. One figure held something in her hand. The other stood idly; his head was tilted as if observing this scene.
The Baroness lowered her arms and signaled Snake Eyes to lower his guard. "You owe me big time, Storm Shadow."
As my carrier exited with me in his responsibility, I thought there was tension between him and Snake Eyes. Perhaps they stared each other down as an unfriendly farewell. But a farewell it was.
My guardian ran to the nearest pod, thus causing my wound to create more pain. A quarter of my backside soaked warm and wet. The guardian carried and gently laid me in a metal backseat. "Hold on," he said. "Hold on."
I needed sleep. And, sleep slipped into me. Those words "hold on" constantly rang in my dreams. The voice that said them sounds so familiar, but I do not know who that person was.