Alone in the gymnasium, Scarlett and Jinx sparred together. Jinx had just
recently joined the G.I. JOE team, and Scarlett had been intrigued with the
woman upon first meeting her…
Snake Eyes approached Scarlett with Jinx at his side. He affectionately put an arm around her shoulders, and Scarlett raised her eyebrows. She had never seen this young, slender, Japanese woman before. What was going on here?
Snake Eyes signed to Scarlett, "I want you to meet the new team member. This is Jinx. She was part of the same ninja clan that I trained with, years ago. In fact, she's a cousin of Tommy."
When Jinx was eight years old, Snake Eyes had come to Japan to take up Tommy Arashikage's offer to have him join the "family business." Now, more than ten years later, Jinx had decided to join Snake Eyes in G.I. JOE. Jinx's mother extracted a promise from Snake Eyes that he would watch over her. She was like a sister to him.
Scarlett smiled, knowing that she had no cause for jealousy. She knew at that moment that she and Jinx would get along famously.
Now, they practiced their kicks and blocks on one another, wearing their pads.
"So what's this I've been hearing about Lady Jaye and Flint?" Jinx asked. She had not been in G.I. JOE long enough to get to know all the juicy gossip floating around headquarters. This Flint / Lady Jaye thing was still relatively new to Jinx.
"Are they together, or not?"
"Well," Scarlett said, "it's pretty clear that they like each other, but won't admit it…"
"What do you think about it, Scarlett?"
"Personally, I think it's a match made in heaven. They're so alike. They're both so vain and cocky."
"You and Lady Jaye don't get along much, do you?"
"Not yet, at least," said Scarlett with a grin. It was a pity, especially considering there were only four active female members on the team. "But I'm sure I can think of something to win her over. She's my 'project.'"
* * *
Some months later, all of the on-duty Joes crowded around a television as it broadcast the latest in world news.
"In the eastern European country of Borovia," the news anchor announced, "three American commandos have been arrested by the authorities…"
The faces of Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick appeared on the screen, and everyone fell silent, disturbed by the news. No one was more shaken by the news than Snake Eyes as he sat, glued to his seat, watching the TV. Scarlett sat behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder. She knew how much Stalker meant to Snake Eyes. They had been buddies long ago in Vietnam. It was Stalker who had helped Hawk recruit Snake Eyes to the G.I. JOE team. Now, Stalker was about to spend the rest of his life languishing in a Borovian gulag with Snow Job and Quick Kick.
"Hey Hawk," Roadblock said as the general walked into the room. "When we gonna go in and break out Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick?"
"I just got off the phone with the Department of Defense," Hawk said grimly, "there is to be no rescue operation. The three Joes have been disavowed. Anyone who attempts to defy orders will be disavowed as well."
* * *
"Listen," Flint said to Lady Jaye as they shared their lunch together in the mess hall, "I've got something I want to talk to you about."
"Oh really?" Lady Jaye said. She wondered what this could be. Was Flint going to try to get fresh with her again? She found his persistent advances annoying, yet endearing in a way. He did have his good qualities, she had to admit. Lady Jaye still had not made up her mind whether she loved him or not. She decided it wouldn't hurt anyway to keep him hanging and frustrated, since he obviously wasn't going anywhere.
At a nearby table, Clutch found Cover Girl eating alone.
"Hey," Clutch said, sitting down next to her, "what's happening, babe?"
Cover Girl rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Hi, Clutch," she said, as if reluctant to acknowledge his presence.
"Hey, why the long face? You really ought to smile more often," Clutch said.
"Oh, I smile plenty," Cover Girl said dryly. "I just save my frowns for you."
Cover Girl smiled at Clutch ironically. Clutch grinned, unfazed. "At least you're saving SOMETHING for me," he remarked.
Lady Jaye smiled as she watched the two from the corner of her eye. In a way, Clutch and Cover Girl almost reminded her of herself and Flint. They were constantly at war with each other, but Lady Jaye had a persistent feeling that those two, Clutch and Cover Girl, were drawn to each other in some strange, subtle way that she did not understand. They would never admit having feelings for each other. But Clutch, in particular—well, if Lady Jaye didn't know better, she would have bet money that Clutch actually, deep down, liked Cover Girl. She wouldn't be surprised if those two ended up together someday. They sure made a cute pair… opposites attract…
"Hello, earth to Lady Jaye?" Flint said, waving his hands in front of Lady Jaye's eyes, as if looking for a sign of life. Lady Jaye was brought out of her reverie.
"Uh, um, sorry, what were you saying?" Lady Jaye put on a sweet smile for Flint.
"I was saying, I'd like to stop by your quarters after we get off duty and talk to you about something. I can't talk about it here."
Flint looked around the room, implying to Lady Jaye that he did not want the others to hear what he had to say.
Oh, so this was how it was, Lady Jaye thought to herself. Flint wanted to be alone with her! In her own room! This was kind of exciting.
"Why, sure, Flint," Lady Jaye said. "I'll see you after we get off work. Stop by around 18:00 hours."
* * *
Later that evening, Scarlett found herself walking down toward Lady Jaye's quarters. She had never visited Lady Jaye at her quarters, a point that she regretted a little.
Scarlett actually found herself regretting that she had not made more of an effort to befriend and get to know Lady Jaye. Sure, they had gotten off to a rough start, with Lady Jaye calling her "tawdry" to her face. Scarlett had gotten her revenge a week later, when she had sparred in hand to hand combat with Lady Jaye in the gymnasium, with half a dozen Joe team members watching, and had defeated her rather easily. The fact was that, with the exception of Snake Eyes, Scarlett was simply the best. All her life, Lady Jaye had grown up accustomed to being an overachiever. Lady Jaye was smarter and tougher than the girls she had grown up with, and she had reached a point in her life where she could no longer settle for being anything less than excellent. She was used to being the best of her peers, and to tell the truth, she had become more than a little proud of herself. But when Lady Jaye lay on the mat, soundly trounced by Scarlett in front of her teammates, it was almost more than she could bear. She was not used to being outdone, and her pride was injured. It was all she could do to stop herself from bursting into tears. She quite detested this outspoken redhead who acted like she ran the outfit, and who was so popular and well liked among the team. What the hell did this Scarlett have that she didn't have? Good looks? Check. Brains? Check. Talent? Yup. Everything that Scarlett had, Lady Jaye had too. So what the hell was the deal with Scarlett, anyway?
"Had enough?" Scarlett said, reaching a hand to help Lady Jaye to her feet. "Or are you hungry for more?"
"You got lucky, honey," Lady Jaye said with a determined scowl. "You're going DOWN."
Within minutes, Lady Jaye had been bested again in hand to hand combat, and as she lay dazed on the mat, she considered the list of attributes that she was using to compare herself with Scarlett.
She's got better martial arts skills, Lady Jaye thought resentfully to herself. Damn.
Now, Scarlett found herself standing outside of Lady Jaye's quarters. She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but she heard voices from within. Scarlett paused. It sounded like Flint, talking with Lady Jaye. I guess this must be a bad time, Scarlett thought to herself. She briefly considered staying to eavesdrop on their conversation. After all, she loved gossip as much as the next person. She herself had been the subject of gossip when she and Snake Eyes had gotten together. Now it was her turn to gather, collect, and distribute the gossip.
As she was standing there outside, debating whether or not to knock and ask Lady Jaye if she wanted to hang out sometime, maybe get a drink and talk, Scarlett's ears pricked up at the sound of her own name.
"…look at Scarlett and Snake Eyes," Flint said to Lady Jaye, inside Lady Jaye's quarters. "Even they're not doing anything, and they're two of the most hardcore people on the team. Look at Roadblock, Gung-Ho, Leatherneck, Clutch, Breaker, Duke. All these guys. None of them are lifting a finger to stop what's going on. We can do this, Lady Jaye."
Lady Jaye was annoyed. All afternoon, she thought Flint wanted to have a talk about their relationship, but as it turned out, what he really wanted to talk about was Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick. Sure, it sucked that these three guys were going to rot in jail, but the way she saw it, there wasn't much she could do about it. But Flint didn't see it that way.
"You and I can be the ones to go in and get our buddies out of there. We're G.I. JOE, Lady Jaye. We're the best of the best. No one screws with us. We've got the skills for it too. You're the expert at covert operations. You know a whole ton of languages, you're an expert at disguise, tracking, and evasion."
"And you?" Lady Jaye prompted.
"Me?" Flint said. "I'm an expert at kicking commie ass."
Lady Jaye threw up her hands. "Well, then, I guess there should be no problem. Between my covert operations skills and your talent for being a macho, macho man, we'll sneak into Borovia, rescue our friends, and come back before anyone realizes we're even gone."
"Exacto-mundo," Flint said. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
"You crazy son of a bitch!" Lady Jaye cried, moving in closer to Flint and shoving a finger in his face. "What you're talking about is a violation of international law. Even if we manage, by some miracle, not to get ourselves killed, we'll still be in a world of shit. Have you ever thought about that, smart guy?"
"Yes I have!" Flint said, raising his voice. "I've thought about it, and I've decided that the need outweighs the risk. These are our friends. You never leave your buddies behind. Never! Don't you care about these people?"
"Well yeah, sure I care," Lady Jaye said.
"Then I think it's fair to say," Flint said, "that if you care enough about someone, you'll move heaven and earth for them. You'll do anything for them, even if it means your life or your career."
Lady Jaye looked Flint in the eye. It was clear he was talking about more than just Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick. Somehow, in his weird way, Flint was showing Lady Jaye that he cared about others. He was demonstrating his devotion and passion.
"All these things I have said, I could be saying to you," Flint seemed to be saying to her. "It would be more than mere words. I would move heaven and earth for you, if you would let me."
Flint was bent on doing something crazy. Well, Lady Jaye thought, I might as well make sure he doesn't get himself killed.
"What have you got in mind?" Lady Jaye asked.
"We can slip away while we're on leave…"
Outside the door, Scarlett mentally figured out whether or not hers and Snake Eyes' leaves overlapped with Flint's and Lady Jaye's. They did. And as she considered the situation which now confronted her, Scarlett smiled. She knew what to do.
Scarlett knocked on the door. Within seconds, the door opened, and Lady Jaye peered out. She looked at Scarlett with surprise.
"Scarlett!" Lady Jaye said. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Lady Jaye," Scarlett said with a shy smile, "I know you and I haven't exactly hit it off these last couple of years. I just hope we can be friends."
Lady Jaye was a little stunned. It wasn't every day that she found Scarlett at her doorstep, professing a wish for friendship with her. She was quite taken back and did not know how to respond at first.
"Well," Lady Jaye fumbled around, "I appreciate that, Scarlett."
The two of them shook hands.
"I came here to ask you something," Scarlett said.
"What?"
"Well, I noticed our leaves are all covering similar dates. Snake Eyes and I are planning to spend a weekend in Grenada. Would you like to come?"
Lady Jaye and Flint exchanged a look.
"Wow, Scarlett," Lady Jaye said, "It sounds wonderful—"
"Come on, hang out in the Caribbean with us," Scarlett said, "it'll be fun. Sun and surf."
Lady Jaye glanced sheepishly at Flint. Scarlett seemed so interested in spending time with her that she didn't want to disappoint her. Lady Jaye felt almost obliged to meet Scarlett halfway.
"You know what," Lady Jaye said, "We'd love to go."
Lady Jaye turned to Flint. "Right?"
"Of course," Flint said, a little reluctantly.
* * *
While Snake Eyes and Scarlett lounged on the beach, soaking up the sun, Lady Jaye and Flint played in the waters of the Grenada beach.
"Woo hoo!" Lady Jaye whooped, emerging from a long dive underwater. "Isn't this great?"
Flint scowled. He was in a bad mood, especially since Scarlett had gotten in the way of his daring plan, and Lady Jaye had allowed it to happen.
"Come on, lighten up, will you?"
Lady Jaye splashed water on Flint, drenching him as he stood in waist high water. Flint shook his head for a moment and wiped the salty seawater from his eyes. It wasn't long before he began fighting back, and soon, the two of them were having an enormous water fight.
"They seem to be having a good time," Scarlett said as she watched them from the beach, wearing a bathing suit. She looked over to Snake Eyes, whose attention was engaged by his portable television. He was watching the news from Borovia.
"Come on, Snake Eyes," Scarlett whispered as Lady Jaye and Flint approached, "we're supposed to be on leave, remember?"
But as she and Snake Eyes both knew, this was no mere vacation. Soon, they would leave the beach, and their plan would be set into motion…
"Take it easy, Snake Eyes," Flint said, "there's nothing you can do for them. They knew the risks when they went in, and now they're paying the consequences."
Scarlett knew Flint was trying to get a rise out of Snake Eyes, who had been very quiet ever since news came of Stalker's capture in Borovia.
Wearing his latex mask, Snake Eyes frowned at Flint.
"Funny how that mask gets all expressive…" Flint said.
"I think you should let Snake Eyes sort this out for himself," Scarlett said. "He and Stalker go back a long way."
Lady Jaye and Flint stood around uncomfortably, as Snake Eyes resumed watching the televsion.
* * *
"Excuse me," a portly black man with a mustache and wearing sunglasses said to the four Joes as they returned to their hotel.
"Yes?" Scarlett said, knowing that this was the Blind Master, the man they had been waiting for.
"I'm blind," the Blind Master said, "and I'm lost. I need to get to the airfield. Can you help show me the way?"
"I'll show you the way, sir," Flint said, moving up to the Blind Master and offering his arm.
But the Blind Master paid Flint no heed, instead hooking arms with Snake Eyes. Scarlett moved to the other side of the Blind Master. She looked back at Flint and Lady Jaye.
"Go on, we'll meet you back at the hotel," Scarlett said.
"Let's take a shortcut through this grassy field," the Blind Master suggested, as Snake Eyes and Scarlett led him away.
Flint and Lady Jaye walked for a few moments in silence, both of them wondering what to make of this strange blind man. Suddenly Flint froze.
"They're walking through a mine field!" Flint realized, turning his head in the direction of Snake Eyes, Scarlett, and the Blind Master.
At that moment, an explosion barely fifty yards away knocked them both off their feet. Lady Jaye got up and began running toward the field, but Flint tackled her before she could reach the area where Snake Eyes and Scarlett had last been seen.
"We don't know how many more of those are out there…"
* * *
Flint and Lady Jaye sat down to dinner that night in the hotel restaurant. Flint was in an especially dour mood. There could be no thought of rescuing Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick now. Not with Snake Eyes and Scarlett both dead.
"If only I'd remembered sooner," Flint said. "It's my fault they're gone."
"You can't blame yourself," Lady Jaye said in a soothing voice. "We both know it was an accident."
They ate their meals in silence, both of them wondering what they were going to tell Hawk and the others.
But as Flint and Lady Jaye both found out, Snake Eyes and Scarlett had not been killed by that mine blast in Grenada. They had faked their deaths, and with the help of the Blind Master, they had escaped from Grenada, slipped into Borovia, and rescued Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick with the help of Storm Shadow. Once again, all was right in G.I. JOE. The Joes' long lost buddies were returning, safe and sound.
Flint and Lady Jaye stood face to face with Scarlett and Snake Eyes, no one saying a word. Flint was scowling. Scarlett smiled sheepishly, while Lady Jaye couldn't help grinning as she considered the trouble Scarlett and Snake Eyes had gone through for their sake.
"You could have let us in on it, you know!" Flint finally burst out as they made their way back to the Pit. "You didn't have to make fools of us by pretending to get blown up by a land mine!"
Lady Jaye saved Scarlett the trouble of responding by punching Flint in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Ah, shit," Flint said, rubbing his sore cheekbone.
"Can't you see they did this so you and I wouldn't be implicated? You talk about caring about others. Don't you realize that they care about us as much as—as—"
"You do?" Flint said, finishing Lady Jaye's sentence for her.
Lady Jaye smiled, and she and Flint embraced. Scarlett smiled as she led Snake Eyes away.
"Come on, pal, let's let them have their moment alone," Scarlett said to Snake Eyes, who seemed a little baffled by what had just transpired. One moment Flint was pissed off at him, and the next, he was hugging Lady Jaye?
"What would I do without you," Flint said to Lady Jaye as he held her close.
"I don't know, you tell me," Lady Jaye said.
"I love you," Flint said, surprising himself with the conviction in his voice.
Lady Jaye responded by tightening her embrace. "I love you," she whispered.
By now, they were the only ones who had not yet returned to the depths of the G.I. JOE base.
"How are we going to make this work?" Lady Jaye wondered.
"What do you mean," Flint said.
"You and me, together. Isn't that sort of against the rules?"
"What Hawk and Duke don't know can't hurt us," Flint said. "Anyway, didn't you say your specialty was 'covert operations?'"
They both shared a chuckle as they walked back into the Pit. Flint draped an arm around Lady Jaye's shoulders as they went back in.
Snake Eyes approached Scarlett with Jinx at his side. He affectionately put an arm around her shoulders, and Scarlett raised her eyebrows. She had never seen this young, slender, Japanese woman before. What was going on here?
Snake Eyes signed to Scarlett, "I want you to meet the new team member. This is Jinx. She was part of the same ninja clan that I trained with, years ago. In fact, she's a cousin of Tommy."
When Jinx was eight years old, Snake Eyes had come to Japan to take up Tommy Arashikage's offer to have him join the "family business." Now, more than ten years later, Jinx had decided to join Snake Eyes in G.I. JOE. Jinx's mother extracted a promise from Snake Eyes that he would watch over her. She was like a sister to him.
Scarlett smiled, knowing that she had no cause for jealousy. She knew at that moment that she and Jinx would get along famously.
Now, they practiced their kicks and blocks on one another, wearing their pads.
"So what's this I've been hearing about Lady Jaye and Flint?" Jinx asked. She had not been in G.I. JOE long enough to get to know all the juicy gossip floating around headquarters. This Flint / Lady Jaye thing was still relatively new to Jinx.
"Are they together, or not?"
"Well," Scarlett said, "it's pretty clear that they like each other, but won't admit it…"
"What do you think about it, Scarlett?"
"Personally, I think it's a match made in heaven. They're so alike. They're both so vain and cocky."
"You and Lady Jaye don't get along much, do you?"
"Not yet, at least," said Scarlett with a grin. It was a pity, especially considering there were only four active female members on the team. "But I'm sure I can think of something to win her over. She's my 'project.'"
* * *
Some months later, all of the on-duty Joes crowded around a television as it broadcast the latest in world news.
"In the eastern European country of Borovia," the news anchor announced, "three American commandos have been arrested by the authorities…"
The faces of Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick appeared on the screen, and everyone fell silent, disturbed by the news. No one was more shaken by the news than Snake Eyes as he sat, glued to his seat, watching the TV. Scarlett sat behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder. She knew how much Stalker meant to Snake Eyes. They had been buddies long ago in Vietnam. It was Stalker who had helped Hawk recruit Snake Eyes to the G.I. JOE team. Now, Stalker was about to spend the rest of his life languishing in a Borovian gulag with Snow Job and Quick Kick.
"Hey Hawk," Roadblock said as the general walked into the room. "When we gonna go in and break out Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick?"
"I just got off the phone with the Department of Defense," Hawk said grimly, "there is to be no rescue operation. The three Joes have been disavowed. Anyone who attempts to defy orders will be disavowed as well."
* * *
"Listen," Flint said to Lady Jaye as they shared their lunch together in the mess hall, "I've got something I want to talk to you about."
"Oh really?" Lady Jaye said. She wondered what this could be. Was Flint going to try to get fresh with her again? She found his persistent advances annoying, yet endearing in a way. He did have his good qualities, she had to admit. Lady Jaye still had not made up her mind whether she loved him or not. She decided it wouldn't hurt anyway to keep him hanging and frustrated, since he obviously wasn't going anywhere.
At a nearby table, Clutch found Cover Girl eating alone.
"Hey," Clutch said, sitting down next to her, "what's happening, babe?"
Cover Girl rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Hi, Clutch," she said, as if reluctant to acknowledge his presence.
"Hey, why the long face? You really ought to smile more often," Clutch said.
"Oh, I smile plenty," Cover Girl said dryly. "I just save my frowns for you."
Cover Girl smiled at Clutch ironically. Clutch grinned, unfazed. "At least you're saving SOMETHING for me," he remarked.
Lady Jaye smiled as she watched the two from the corner of her eye. In a way, Clutch and Cover Girl almost reminded her of herself and Flint. They were constantly at war with each other, but Lady Jaye had a persistent feeling that those two, Clutch and Cover Girl, were drawn to each other in some strange, subtle way that she did not understand. They would never admit having feelings for each other. But Clutch, in particular—well, if Lady Jaye didn't know better, she would have bet money that Clutch actually, deep down, liked Cover Girl. She wouldn't be surprised if those two ended up together someday. They sure made a cute pair… opposites attract…
"Hello, earth to Lady Jaye?" Flint said, waving his hands in front of Lady Jaye's eyes, as if looking for a sign of life. Lady Jaye was brought out of her reverie.
"Uh, um, sorry, what were you saying?" Lady Jaye put on a sweet smile for Flint.
"I was saying, I'd like to stop by your quarters after we get off duty and talk to you about something. I can't talk about it here."
Flint looked around the room, implying to Lady Jaye that he did not want the others to hear what he had to say.
Oh, so this was how it was, Lady Jaye thought to herself. Flint wanted to be alone with her! In her own room! This was kind of exciting.
"Why, sure, Flint," Lady Jaye said. "I'll see you after we get off work. Stop by around 18:00 hours."
* * *
Later that evening, Scarlett found herself walking down toward Lady Jaye's quarters. She had never visited Lady Jaye at her quarters, a point that she regretted a little.
Scarlett actually found herself regretting that she had not made more of an effort to befriend and get to know Lady Jaye. Sure, they had gotten off to a rough start, with Lady Jaye calling her "tawdry" to her face. Scarlett had gotten her revenge a week later, when she had sparred in hand to hand combat with Lady Jaye in the gymnasium, with half a dozen Joe team members watching, and had defeated her rather easily. The fact was that, with the exception of Snake Eyes, Scarlett was simply the best. All her life, Lady Jaye had grown up accustomed to being an overachiever. Lady Jaye was smarter and tougher than the girls she had grown up with, and she had reached a point in her life where she could no longer settle for being anything less than excellent. She was used to being the best of her peers, and to tell the truth, she had become more than a little proud of herself. But when Lady Jaye lay on the mat, soundly trounced by Scarlett in front of her teammates, it was almost more than she could bear. She was not used to being outdone, and her pride was injured. It was all she could do to stop herself from bursting into tears. She quite detested this outspoken redhead who acted like she ran the outfit, and who was so popular and well liked among the team. What the hell did this Scarlett have that she didn't have? Good looks? Check. Brains? Check. Talent? Yup. Everything that Scarlett had, Lady Jaye had too. So what the hell was the deal with Scarlett, anyway?
"Had enough?" Scarlett said, reaching a hand to help Lady Jaye to her feet. "Or are you hungry for more?"
"You got lucky, honey," Lady Jaye said with a determined scowl. "You're going DOWN."
Within minutes, Lady Jaye had been bested again in hand to hand combat, and as she lay dazed on the mat, she considered the list of attributes that she was using to compare herself with Scarlett.
She's got better martial arts skills, Lady Jaye thought resentfully to herself. Damn.
Now, Scarlett found herself standing outside of Lady Jaye's quarters. She lifted her hand to knock on the door, but she heard voices from within. Scarlett paused. It sounded like Flint, talking with Lady Jaye. I guess this must be a bad time, Scarlett thought to herself. She briefly considered staying to eavesdrop on their conversation. After all, she loved gossip as much as the next person. She herself had been the subject of gossip when she and Snake Eyes had gotten together. Now it was her turn to gather, collect, and distribute the gossip.
As she was standing there outside, debating whether or not to knock and ask Lady Jaye if she wanted to hang out sometime, maybe get a drink and talk, Scarlett's ears pricked up at the sound of her own name.
"…look at Scarlett and Snake Eyes," Flint said to Lady Jaye, inside Lady Jaye's quarters. "Even they're not doing anything, and they're two of the most hardcore people on the team. Look at Roadblock, Gung-Ho, Leatherneck, Clutch, Breaker, Duke. All these guys. None of them are lifting a finger to stop what's going on. We can do this, Lady Jaye."
Lady Jaye was annoyed. All afternoon, she thought Flint wanted to have a talk about their relationship, but as it turned out, what he really wanted to talk about was Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick. Sure, it sucked that these three guys were going to rot in jail, but the way she saw it, there wasn't much she could do about it. But Flint didn't see it that way.
"You and I can be the ones to go in and get our buddies out of there. We're G.I. JOE, Lady Jaye. We're the best of the best. No one screws with us. We've got the skills for it too. You're the expert at covert operations. You know a whole ton of languages, you're an expert at disguise, tracking, and evasion."
"And you?" Lady Jaye prompted.
"Me?" Flint said. "I'm an expert at kicking commie ass."
Lady Jaye threw up her hands. "Well, then, I guess there should be no problem. Between my covert operations skills and your talent for being a macho, macho man, we'll sneak into Borovia, rescue our friends, and come back before anyone realizes we're even gone."
"Exacto-mundo," Flint said. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
"You crazy son of a bitch!" Lady Jaye cried, moving in closer to Flint and shoving a finger in his face. "What you're talking about is a violation of international law. Even if we manage, by some miracle, not to get ourselves killed, we'll still be in a world of shit. Have you ever thought about that, smart guy?"
"Yes I have!" Flint said, raising his voice. "I've thought about it, and I've decided that the need outweighs the risk. These are our friends. You never leave your buddies behind. Never! Don't you care about these people?"
"Well yeah, sure I care," Lady Jaye said.
"Then I think it's fair to say," Flint said, "that if you care enough about someone, you'll move heaven and earth for them. You'll do anything for them, even if it means your life or your career."
Lady Jaye looked Flint in the eye. It was clear he was talking about more than just Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick. Somehow, in his weird way, Flint was showing Lady Jaye that he cared about others. He was demonstrating his devotion and passion.
"All these things I have said, I could be saying to you," Flint seemed to be saying to her. "It would be more than mere words. I would move heaven and earth for you, if you would let me."
Flint was bent on doing something crazy. Well, Lady Jaye thought, I might as well make sure he doesn't get himself killed.
"What have you got in mind?" Lady Jaye asked.
"We can slip away while we're on leave…"
Outside the door, Scarlett mentally figured out whether or not hers and Snake Eyes' leaves overlapped with Flint's and Lady Jaye's. They did. And as she considered the situation which now confronted her, Scarlett smiled. She knew what to do.
Scarlett knocked on the door. Within seconds, the door opened, and Lady Jaye peered out. She looked at Scarlett with surprise.
"Scarlett!" Lady Jaye said. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi, Lady Jaye," Scarlett said with a shy smile, "I know you and I haven't exactly hit it off these last couple of years. I just hope we can be friends."
Lady Jaye was a little stunned. It wasn't every day that she found Scarlett at her doorstep, professing a wish for friendship with her. She was quite taken back and did not know how to respond at first.
"Well," Lady Jaye fumbled around, "I appreciate that, Scarlett."
The two of them shook hands.
"I came here to ask you something," Scarlett said.
"What?"
"Well, I noticed our leaves are all covering similar dates. Snake Eyes and I are planning to spend a weekend in Grenada. Would you like to come?"
Lady Jaye and Flint exchanged a look.
"Wow, Scarlett," Lady Jaye said, "It sounds wonderful—"
"Come on, hang out in the Caribbean with us," Scarlett said, "it'll be fun. Sun and surf."
Lady Jaye glanced sheepishly at Flint. Scarlett seemed so interested in spending time with her that she didn't want to disappoint her. Lady Jaye felt almost obliged to meet Scarlett halfway.
"You know what," Lady Jaye said, "We'd love to go."
Lady Jaye turned to Flint. "Right?"
"Of course," Flint said, a little reluctantly.
* * *
While Snake Eyes and Scarlett lounged on the beach, soaking up the sun, Lady Jaye and Flint played in the waters of the Grenada beach.
"Woo hoo!" Lady Jaye whooped, emerging from a long dive underwater. "Isn't this great?"
Flint scowled. He was in a bad mood, especially since Scarlett had gotten in the way of his daring plan, and Lady Jaye had allowed it to happen.
"Come on, lighten up, will you?"
Lady Jaye splashed water on Flint, drenching him as he stood in waist high water. Flint shook his head for a moment and wiped the salty seawater from his eyes. It wasn't long before he began fighting back, and soon, the two of them were having an enormous water fight.
"They seem to be having a good time," Scarlett said as she watched them from the beach, wearing a bathing suit. She looked over to Snake Eyes, whose attention was engaged by his portable television. He was watching the news from Borovia.
"Come on, Snake Eyes," Scarlett whispered as Lady Jaye and Flint approached, "we're supposed to be on leave, remember?"
But as she and Snake Eyes both knew, this was no mere vacation. Soon, they would leave the beach, and their plan would be set into motion…
"Take it easy, Snake Eyes," Flint said, "there's nothing you can do for them. They knew the risks when they went in, and now they're paying the consequences."
Scarlett knew Flint was trying to get a rise out of Snake Eyes, who had been very quiet ever since news came of Stalker's capture in Borovia.
Wearing his latex mask, Snake Eyes frowned at Flint.
"Funny how that mask gets all expressive…" Flint said.
"I think you should let Snake Eyes sort this out for himself," Scarlett said. "He and Stalker go back a long way."
Lady Jaye and Flint stood around uncomfortably, as Snake Eyes resumed watching the televsion.
* * *
"Excuse me," a portly black man with a mustache and wearing sunglasses said to the four Joes as they returned to their hotel.
"Yes?" Scarlett said, knowing that this was the Blind Master, the man they had been waiting for.
"I'm blind," the Blind Master said, "and I'm lost. I need to get to the airfield. Can you help show me the way?"
"I'll show you the way, sir," Flint said, moving up to the Blind Master and offering his arm.
But the Blind Master paid Flint no heed, instead hooking arms with Snake Eyes. Scarlett moved to the other side of the Blind Master. She looked back at Flint and Lady Jaye.
"Go on, we'll meet you back at the hotel," Scarlett said.
"Let's take a shortcut through this grassy field," the Blind Master suggested, as Snake Eyes and Scarlett led him away.
Flint and Lady Jaye walked for a few moments in silence, both of them wondering what to make of this strange blind man. Suddenly Flint froze.
"They're walking through a mine field!" Flint realized, turning his head in the direction of Snake Eyes, Scarlett, and the Blind Master.
At that moment, an explosion barely fifty yards away knocked them both off their feet. Lady Jaye got up and began running toward the field, but Flint tackled her before she could reach the area where Snake Eyes and Scarlett had last been seen.
"We don't know how many more of those are out there…"
* * *
Flint and Lady Jaye sat down to dinner that night in the hotel restaurant. Flint was in an especially dour mood. There could be no thought of rescuing Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick now. Not with Snake Eyes and Scarlett both dead.
"If only I'd remembered sooner," Flint said. "It's my fault they're gone."
"You can't blame yourself," Lady Jaye said in a soothing voice. "We both know it was an accident."
They ate their meals in silence, both of them wondering what they were going to tell Hawk and the others.
But as Flint and Lady Jaye both found out, Snake Eyes and Scarlett had not been killed by that mine blast in Grenada. They had faked their deaths, and with the help of the Blind Master, they had escaped from Grenada, slipped into Borovia, and rescued Stalker, Snow Job, and Quick Kick with the help of Storm Shadow. Once again, all was right in G.I. JOE. The Joes' long lost buddies were returning, safe and sound.
Flint and Lady Jaye stood face to face with Scarlett and Snake Eyes, no one saying a word. Flint was scowling. Scarlett smiled sheepishly, while Lady Jaye couldn't help grinning as she considered the trouble Scarlett and Snake Eyes had gone through for their sake.
"You could have let us in on it, you know!" Flint finally burst out as they made their way back to the Pit. "You didn't have to make fools of us by pretending to get blown up by a land mine!"
Lady Jaye saved Scarlett the trouble of responding by punching Flint in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Ah, shit," Flint said, rubbing his sore cheekbone.
"Can't you see they did this so you and I wouldn't be implicated? You talk about caring about others. Don't you realize that they care about us as much as—as—"
"You do?" Flint said, finishing Lady Jaye's sentence for her.
Lady Jaye smiled, and she and Flint embraced. Scarlett smiled as she led Snake Eyes away.
"Come on, pal, let's let them have their moment alone," Scarlett said to Snake Eyes, who seemed a little baffled by what had just transpired. One moment Flint was pissed off at him, and the next, he was hugging Lady Jaye?
"What would I do without you," Flint said to Lady Jaye as he held her close.
"I don't know, you tell me," Lady Jaye said.
"I love you," Flint said, surprising himself with the conviction in his voice.
Lady Jaye responded by tightening her embrace. "I love you," she whispered.
By now, they were the only ones who had not yet returned to the depths of the G.I. JOE base.
"How are we going to make this work?" Lady Jaye wondered.
"What do you mean," Flint said.
"You and me, together. Isn't that sort of against the rules?"
"What Hawk and Duke don't know can't hurt us," Flint said. "Anyway, didn't you say your specialty was 'covert operations?'"
They both shared a chuckle as they walked back into the Pit. Flint draped an arm around Lady Jaye's shoulders as they went back in.