Cobra Island
Serpentor called to the Vipers standing guard. "Summon Mindbender at once! This, I command!"
He sat in a high-backed chair in his sanctuary, or at least what passed for a sanctuary at this time. His headpiece and gauntlets rested on an antique desk.
The Cobra Emperor scanned the room, reflecting on the items around him. Items that held meaning to those whose essence were all parts of his being. Ancient texts in various languages lined the exquisite bookshelf. The shelf was flanked by a golden statue of Genghis Khan and a weapon rack adorned with assorted medieval armaments. These were not his only possessions; other safe houses around the world held a variety of treasured pieces. He hoped they were still hidden from the prying eyes of the G.I. Joe team and their meddlesome government.
He had learned his lesson when they had destroyed not only a treasured battle ax but had also caused the death of an ancient reptile that he considered to be his pet. An island lost to the ages, a civilization almost forgotten. Yet, the Joes had followed him, invaded one of his hidden places, and brought destruction to his doorstep. His one consolation on that day was that at least the bloodline lived on in the form of the young serpent he had left on the island.
Now, however, he was faced with losing something precious to him again.
Someone the Joe forces tried to take from him.
His thoughts were interrupted by the mad scientist entering. "My emperor, you have summoned me?"
"Yes, Mindbender, I have," Serpentor said, his voice even, but it began to rise as he started again. "It has not escaped my attention that you have been avoiding me for the last week. You will give me an update on Pythona's status - now!"
Dr. Mindbender stammered, "I… I have done no such thing on purpose Serpentor." He watched as the snakes resting on Serpentor's shoulders flexed and writhed, almost sensing the fear in his voice. "Pythona is stable."
"Stable. Stable? She has been stable for months, according to every single update you give me! How long until she is awake?"
Dr. Mindbender lowered his head. "That, I cannot say, my lord. I believe I have done all I can. The biological alterations we made to allow us to treat her have not worsened her condition, but I fear further genetic tampering could cause mutations that would lead to nothing but suffering or catastrophe."
Serpentor closed his eyes but said nothing. Quicker than Mindbender realized possible, the Cobra Emperor shot to his feet and upended the antique desk. The desk soared through the air, crashed into the wall, and exploded into a shower of kindling. Serpentor's gauntlets and headpiece clattered against the floor as he stormed toward the doorway, his creator directly in his path.
"Get out of my way," Serpentor forced through clenched teeth as he pushed past Mindbender and stalked down the hall.
The laboratory was silent aside from the random hums and beeps from the monitors that the filtered the data from the medical pod and life support systems.
Serpentor entered the room and with a simple, wordless gesture dismissed the Vipers who had been stationed inside the door. He placed his bare hand on the cold glass pod and regarded the form suspended within.
Pythona still floated peacefully, her chest rising and falling slowly. Overhead lights in the pod illuminated her features as if she were a luminous being on a mission from above, but that was not close to accurate in any way.
In this room, soldiers had rotated watch day in and day out for almost six months. None of them uttered a single word in her presence, but she was never left alone, as per Serpentor's order; the lab was beginning to feel less like a place of science and more the feeling of a tomb.
The silence was only broken by Dr. Mindbender and Destro as they sporadically argued about what was to come. Serpentor had seen the verbal escalations. Cameras were everywhere and his loyal Tele-Vipers kept nothing of note from him.
Mindbender seemed to put up a fight. There was more spirit in the mad scientist than Serpentor had given him credit for; on the other side, his feelings about Destro were proving correct. A valuable ally, but when the situation started to look precarious, the Scottish laird had no qualms with cutting his losses to slink off to the next big pay day.
The Cobra Emperor knew he would stand by his queen's side no matter how long it took. He would see her awaken or he would see her slip from this mortal coil.
Either outcome would spell disaster for those who dared to oppose him.
Zarana prepared herself, forgoing all her instincts as a Dreadnok. She knew she was taking a chance interrupting Serpentor's vigil, but fortune favored the bold and perhaps this would prove to him how serious she was. This course of action called for formalities that were normally lost on the majority of her usual associates. The lab doors opened, and she began speaking before the person inside had a chance to acknowledge her. "My lord, please let me have the honor," the mercenary asked as she knelt before her superior.
Serpentor turned from the readouts that sped by on the computer monitor. "Such meaningless gestures are lost on me at this time, mercenary." He walked purposefully over to the pink haired woman. "You have interrupted me in something very important, but your assertiveness is something not often seen in the light of day. Look me in the eyes and tell me what it is you want from me."
Zarana stood and spoke in a hushed tone, wary of prying ears. "I have heard rumors that you wish to strike at our former leader."
The Emperor let his face betray nothing, but Zarana felt as if she were being closely scrutinized. "Go on," Serpentor replied.
"I want to be the one to go in. I want to help you take him out."
"You?" Serpentor laughed, insultingly. "I should trust you of all people?" He turned and walked back to the chair he had been sitting in. "Take your older brother, for example! He'd sell out his own family to the highest bidder. What do you say to that, mercenary?"
Disgust slowly found its way onto the woman's face. "I'm well aware of wha' my brother's greed is capable of. That same greed o' his has also cost me a few times. I want this chance to put Zartan in his place and carve out a place o' my own. Wha' better way than to kill the man to whom he's sworn his allegiance."
Serpentor tilted his head slightly, regarding the woman's words carefully. He steepled his fingers before his face and leaned forward, elbows firmly on the arm rests. "So, the sides are being drawn as we speak. That Zartan has chosen a side is news to me, although it comes as no great surprise. For risking that information, however, you have shown your loyalty and perhaps earned a place at my side in this upcoming battle. I am pleased it was not a mistake to allow you refuge here."
Zarana nodded slowly, "I am grateful for that, but about the Commander?"
Serpentor rose. "You may be on the correct side in the coming war but know this one thing: you will not kill Cobra Commander. The honor of taking his last breath will be mine alone." He sighed heavily. "Capturing him, though, may be something I will allow for others. Know that I will make fair use of your talents in the coming battle. Now leave me and my queen alone. I will send for you when the time draws near."
The troubled leader turned his back to the pink haired woman without a second and focused his attention to the form floating in the pod in the corner of the room.
"Has there been any progress?" The sharp, feminine voice with a thick European accent asked from behind him.
Always with the questions and never once with a suggestion! Mindbender shook his head. "Nothing worth reporting at this time."
Standing in a long black coat, Baroness gripped Destro's arm as she rolled her eyes, her tone incredulous. "So, it has come down to this. We are simply waiting for her revival?"
Destro stood silently, his mask hiding the exasperation that was mounting with each passing day. His breathing was slow and measured.
To any casual observer this may appear normal, but due to her familiarity with Destro, Baroness could tell he was close to snapping.
Mindbender knew this as well. He was also aware that she was in agreement with Destro about a major point. Something needed to happen, and it needed to happen soon.
Mindbender paced aimlessly around his research lab, collecting his thoughts. "Actually, I am exploring possibilities." He pulled a binder from a high shelf and placed it on the table before the pair. "Look at this. My most recent analysis shows that her cell structure is now almost human. Do you understand what that means?"
Baroness leaned over the rows of data. "This is nothing more than gibberish!"
"It is science! Conventional treatments may actually start to work! With this new development, I may be able to awaken her soon. Perhaps then, we would have our leader back as well."
Finally, the larger man broke his silence. "Do it. Whatever it takes. I am sick of this waiting! I have business to attend elsewhere." He spoke into his wrist-mounted communicator. "Prepare my jet. Immediately." He paused. "Yes, home. Come, my dear Baroness. Let us go somewhere where we can accomplish something that matters." With that, the pair left Dr Mindbender and headed to the underground hangar.
As the door slammed closed, Mindbender walked to his cluttered work area and began shuffling through the toppled stacks of papers. I can't believe they actually bought that! He knew an answer had to be hidden somewhere before him. He just wasn't exactly sure where or if he would find it in time.