Scarlett walks slowly through a luminous haze. The songs of birds filter
through the white mist of the forest. At the edge of the forest there
stands a man. He is a silhouette against the light, a tall and sturdy
fixture among the branches and leaves.
Almost as if by some magic spell, a breeze picks up the leaves and sends them floating upward, drifting up and around the man in an upward spiral. The man extends a hand.
"Scarlett," the man says.
Scarlett smiles at the sound of his voice. It is the voice of Snake Eyes. She has never heard his voice before and has no idea what it truly sounds like, but the voice is sweet music to her ears.
"I love you," Snake Eyes says, his voice soft, gentle, and inviting.
"I have always loved you. Everything about you inspires me to love you. You are sweet and kind and beautiful. I see your heart locked deep in a silver chest in your soul, and if you would only open your heart to me, if you would just take my hand, I would show you a world of wonderful things."
Scarlett smiles as she puts her hand in his outstretched one. Their hands join as one. His hand is warm and soft. It tells her what a thousand laboriously composed words cannot… the depth of his love for her.
"Let us always be together," Snake Eyes says.
Then Scarlett realizes that Snake Eyes is not speaking at all. He is not speaking out of his mouth, but through his mind. She is deep within him now, so deep she can hear his very thoughts. Their minds have melded into one. Every thought, hope, and dream lies open before her, and she knows that Snake Eyes can see into her soul as well.
So this is what true intimacy feels like.
How can I have allowed myself to be so lonely all my life?
Scarlett thinks these thoughts as she and Snake Eyes run together. Beyond the forest lies an open meadow in spring. The sun shines peacefully down upon them as they romp through the lush, green fields and take in the warm hues of the wild flowers.
She has never known such intimacy before, nor has she known how much she wanted and needed it. All this time, Snake Eyes loved her in ways that she had never been aware of. Every gesture he had made spoke volumes of the nights he lay in bed alone, dreaming of experiencing this moment in time with her. He longed to share his dreams with her.
Suddenly, Scarlett feels Snake Eyes' hands lighten.
"Snake Eyes," she calls out in alarm, but the form of her newfound soul mate dissolves slowly and agonizingly. He fades away into the fields as she reaches out in vain to hold onto him…
"Snake Eyes, don't leave me," Scarlett begs in earnest.
* * *
"Snake Eyes…" Scarlett said deliriously.
"Scarlett, can you hear me?" Lifeline said as he sat at Scarlett's bedside.
Blinking in confusion, Scarlett awoke from her dream. She saw Lifeline looking at her with concern. Behind Lifeline, Mainframe stood and watched expectantly.
"Lifeline," Scarlett said. "Mainframe. What happened to me? I'm not in heaven, am I?"
"No, Scarlett," Mainframe said with a congenial smile, "far from it, actually."
"Were you just dreaming about Snake Eyes?" Mainframe asked.
"Why?" Scarlett said.
"You were calling out his name. Snake Eyes! Snake Eyes!" Mainframe said suggestively, imitating Scarlett's voice.
Scarlett turned red.
"Maybe I was," Scarlett said, not eager to continue this line of conversation.
"You're very lucky to be alive," Lifeline said.
"How long have I been out?"
"A week," Lifeline said.
"Where's the rest of our teammates?" Scarlett wanted to know.
"They've all been brainwashed," Mainframe informed her. "Cobra brainwashed G.I. JOE while we were all hanging around headquarters. Everyone got up and started walking someplace."
"Where?"
"We're not sure. They all looked like they were going someplace to watch TV, all at the same time. No one talked. They all looked like they were sleepwalking. It was too bizarre. Lifeline and I were the only ones who seemed normal. We got out of there as fast as we could. It wasn't long before Cobra came in and took over the base. But I knew that you, Snake Eyes, Lady Jaye, Falcon, and Stalker were due back from Arlington. I waited and staked out the base that night."
"You saw Snake Eyes and me come back," Scarlett said to Mainframe.
"What happened to Snake Eyes?" Lifeline asked.
"He was captured. They said he would be re-educated. I was tortured."
"Why?" Lifeline said.
"They wanted me to go on international television and tell the world that G.I. JOE killed all those people in Florida."
"They're covering it up," Mainframe said.
"How can they? People in this country won't allow that—"
"Most people in this country are brainwashed, and those that are not affected are being hunted down as we speak," Mainframe said.
"Just look at this," Mainframe said. "It's pitiful."
Mainframe flicked on the TV and inserted a tape.
The tape showed Lieutenant Falcon, Lady Jaye, and Cover Girl. The three Joes were behaving themselves very unprofessionally. Lady Jaye and Cover Girl stood on each side of Falcon, rubbing his arm affectionately.
"So tell us, what does it mean to you to be a member of the G.I. JOE anti- terrorist task force?" a voice prompted Falcon. The voice sounded like it belonged to the Baroness.
"Let me tell you," Falcon said, "Being a Joe is better than anything in the whole world. It's the best thing since sliced bread. Our mission is to defend human freedom, or some (expletive) like that. We go places where no other pansy ass (expletive) dares to tread. We're the best of the best. We go in and kill bitches."
Falcon made a gun with his fingers and pretended to shoot.
"Pow! Pow! Pow!" he said.
"Wow, that was so sexy, I love it when you do that macho posturing," Cover Girl said lovingly.
"Yeah, do it again sweet thing," Lady Jaye purred, rubbing Falcon's arm.
"What the hell is this?" Scarlett said as she watched the tape in shock.
"Wham, bam! We (expletive) you up until you can't see out of your own (expletive) hole. Isn't that right? Don't we love opening a can of whoop ass on terrorist faggots?"
Lady Jaye and Cover Girl nodded approvingly.
"But I gotta say this," Falcon said breezily, pulling the two women closer to him, "the best part of being in G.I. JOE is the women. I mean, check out these two babes! You got Lady Jaye, covert operations here, and Cover Girl, tank driver, here. Damn, they are such fine hotties! They can covertly drive my tank any day! When all is said and done, it's nice to get the job done and all that, but to me, being in G.I. JOE is all about getting some (expletive). Damn, I'm all horny now! Let's get it on, yeah!"
Falcon turned to Cover Girl and began to French kiss her.
"G.I. JOE," the voice behind the camera said with malicious irony, "a real American hero."
The tape was finished.
"Please tell me they were brainwashed," Scarlett said, her mind numbed.
"Of course they were," Lifeline said, "Cobra didn't get you to claim responsibility for killing 200 people, but they still found a way to humiliate G.I. JOE. That's what they're doing. Humiliating us. This tape went out all over the world. They're destroying G.I. JOE."
"And it's working," Mainframe said, "the federal government is under Cobra's control now. The President himself has ordered that G.I. JOE be disbanded. Our teammates have been scattered around the country."
"We can't sit here and let it happen! We have to fight back. We have to resist!" Scarlett said.
At that, Scarlett winced in pain. Her hand went to her tender chest.
"Take it easy, Scarlett, you're in no condition to fight anyone," Lifeline said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"You need to rest and recover from your injuries," Mainframe said. "Even if it takes two months, we wait for now."
Scarlett looked down. Her purpose was clear. She had to get well again. Cobra had to be defeated.
Most of all, she had to find Snake Eyes.
* * *
Every day, Mainframe and Lifeline went to work, while Scarlett gradually recovered from her wounds. Mainframe worked in a Cobra computer factory, while Lifeline toiled in the emergency room of Cobra General Hospital, both of which were located in Staten Island. They did it to fit in. Both men knew that if any of the Cobra personnel or anyone in the general population suspected that they were not brainwashed, or that they were secretly harboring Scarlett, it would be the end. The Cobra police would sweep in, arrest them, and send them off to the re-education centers where they would be brainwashed for good.
The people who were brainwashed betrayed those who were not. Sons informed against their fathers, wives informed against their own husbands. No friendship or family bond was sacred. Everyone lived in an atmosphere of fear and distrust. Outwardly, the daily business of the people of the United States proceeded as it had before, but inwardly, the United States was a conquered country. Ordinary people went about their daily lives, and the leaders in government went to work every day at Capitol Hill, making the laws of the land. However, through the brainwashing, Cobra controlled and dominated every aspect of American life.
Every week, the people of the United States, as if by some automatic program, sat in front of their home television for hours at a time, receiving their instructions for that week. Using the orbiting satellite, Cobra broadcast all over the country seemingly innocuous fare, which contained subliminal messages buried within the images and themes of the film being shown. Everyone had to be home when these broadcasts were made. Anyone out in the streets during this time immediately fell under suspicion and was arrested. Mainframe and Lifeline made sure not to violate this curfew.
"The point is," Michael Douglas said on the television, "that greed, for lack of a better word, works. Greed is good."
"This has got to be one of their favorite movies," Mainframe remarked as he, Lifeline, and Scarlett shared dinner one evening.
"This must be the fifth time in the last month that I've seen them show this movie."
"What's the big deal? It's only WALL STREET," Scarlett said, not understanding.
"Every once in a while, you see a flash on the screen," Lifeline pointed out.
"So what?"
"That flash contains hidden instructions designed to activate your subconscious programming. Assuming you were brainwashed and are susceptible," Lifeline said.
"We can just sit here and laugh at it," Mainframe said, smiling.
"But not too loudly," Lifeline said in a low voice, "the neighbors might hear us."
* * *
Weeks passed, and Scarlett's broken bones had gradually healed. No longer requiring the bandages around her chest or the sling for her broken left arm, Scarlett was able to move about freely, although she had not yet recovered her full strength. She was thankful that Lifeline had been there to take care of her. She remembered what a mess she was on the day she had been tortured.
"Thank God I didn't kill myself that day," Scarlett said, thinking of the night when desperation had moved her to slit her throat. She knew she had survived for a reason. Somewhere out there was Snake Eyes. She wondered what cruel torment Cobra was forcing upon him. She imagined him being made to work like a slave in a factory, or being forced to march for days at a time, or being strapped to a table while the enemy burned, cut, and scalded him.
No, the thoughts were too horrible to bear.
"Now here's something interesting," a voice said on the television.
Scarlett turned to see what was on. It was the David Letterman Show. Mainframe and Lifeline had gone to sleep, and were in the next room.
"President Bush," Letterman said, "has signed into law a series of new bills. The new tax bill authorizes Congress to divert 90% of all federal income taxes to Cobra."
David Letterman pondered that bit of news and looked into the camera.
"I sure hope Serpentor uses some of that money to buy himself a new outfit. I mean, come on, isn't that snake cowl thing just ugly as hell?"
The audience laughed automatically, like a bunch of robots.
"Am I right, or what? Come on!" Letterman added.
Scarlett watched the television in disgust. Cobra made its control of the U.S. seem like a joke, when Scarlett knew that it was no joke.
"Another law orders the transfer of all armed forces to the personal command of Serpentor. A third law, just signed today by the president, provides for an entirely new curriculum for our nation's schools. All children will be instructed in the philosophy, methodology, and history of Cobra. A pledge of allegiance to Serpentor will replace the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
"You know, thank God someone is finally stepping in and getting things done over there. Cobra is all about action, huh?"
The audience cheered and applauded.
"Personally, I thought that pledge of allegiance to the flag business was kinda dorky, anyway. I really hated doing it as a kid. Screw the flag. Hail Serpentor!"
"HAIL SERPENTOR! HAIL COBRA!" the studio audience chanted.
"Today, we have a very special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a very special woman, the lovely Baroness!"
The audience cheered and whistled loudly as the Baroness, accompanied by a squad of Crimson Guards, walked onto the stage. The Baroness smiled and shook hands with Letterman.
"What first drew you to Cobra?"
"Well, Dave," the Baroness said with her thick European accent, "I joined Cobra because I was looking for a career that would allow me to terrorize and exploit as many people as possible."
"How very interesting," Letterman said. "Go on."
"As I was consulting with my high school guidance counselor one day, I thought, gee, you know, do I want to be an accountant, a politician, a music critic? I decided that, no, I wanted to become a Cobra operative. I wanted to bring down the system and change the world. Make it a better place. For you and for me, and the entire human race."
"I see… Now, Baroness, what's it like working for a guy like Serpentor? What kind of guy is he, really?"
"Serpentor is a great man," the Baroness said forcefully, "without him there is no Cobra!"
"What's his ultimate goal in life?"
"Well," the Baroness said, "Serpentor in some ways is a lot like you and me. Money, power? Sure, he loves all that, just like we do. But deep down, he just wants to be loved."
"Tell me more," Letterman said.
"For example," the Baroness continued, "the other night, His Highness was watching SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE with Dr. Mindbender, Destro, and me. And Serpentor said, 'I really like that woman, Meg Ryan. She's really cute.' And I said, 'would you like to meet her?' Serpentor said, 'Bring her to me as soon as possible. This, I command!'"
"Wow, it must be great being the emperor of Cobra. You can have any woman you want," Letterman said with obvious jealousy.
"We're going to take a commercial break," Letterman said, "but when we come back, we have our top ten list. Top ten reasons why Cobra is great and G.I. JOE sucks! Don't go away—"
Scarlett turned off the TV, unable to stand watching another minute of it.
"Time to sleep," she said wearily as she lay down on her bed and turned out the light.
* * *
Peering through the binoculars, Mainframe said, "There it is."
Lying flat on her stomach on the grassy hill at the side of the long, empty road, Scarlett took the binoculars from Mainframe and took a look.
In the darkness, a pair of headlights appeared in the distance and gradually grew in intensity as the rumbling truck came toward them.
Mainframe had learned that Cobra would be receiving a truckload of weapons and explosives. Now that Scarlett was healthy and combat ready again, she, Mainframe, and Lifeline would be carrying out their first mission: intercept the delivery and steal as many munitions and explosives as they could carry off.
"Just like clockwork," Scarlett said, pleased. She turned to Lifeline.
"Lifeline, you hang back here in case anything goes wrong." She handed him a pistol.
"Scarlett," Lifeline protested, "you know I haven't fired one of these since basic training…"
"That's good enough," Scarlett assured him. "Mainframe and I will handle this, no problems."
Grabbing their rifles, Scarlett and Mainframe walked onto the road as the truck drew near. They both pulled up their guns and motioned for the truck to stop.
The truck lumbered to a stop. Inside, Scarlett could see two nervous looking Vipers.
"Out of the truck!" Scarlett shouted.
The Vipers hesitated, and Scarlett fired a round into the windshield, missing the driver's head by inches.
"NOW!" she ordered.
With their hands up, the Vipers got out of the truck, and Scarlett and Mainframe led them toward the back.
"Open it," Scarlett said to the driver, gesturing to the trailer.
The driver opened the trailer and turned to Scarlett. The trailer was filled with wooden crates, which apparently contained enough handguns, rifles, ammunition, plastic explosives, and time bombs to arm an entire company.
"Get in there and start handing us the small charges," Scarlett ordered the driver.
The driver nodded and climbed onto the trailer on Mainframe's side. Before Scarlett or Mainframe could react, the driver grabbed hold of a grenade launcher lying near one of the crates, turned, and swung it at Mainframe, striking him in the face. Mainframe grunted in pain and surprise and went down. The other Viper turned and threw himself on Scarlett.
Scarlett cried out as she wrestled with the Viper. She managed to get the upper hand, pinned him onto the ground, and stabbed him in the heart with a switchblade. She barely had enough time to turn to face the other Viper when she felt herself tackled and pinned to the ground. The Viper sat squarely on her back. With one hand, he grasped her hair and yanked her head backward, while attempting to cut her throat with a combat knife in the other hand. With her one free hand, Scarlett struggled to hold the knife hand in check, but she was in an awkward position and felt herself weakening rapidly.
"Fucking whore," the Viper screamed.
"Aarrghh! Mainframe! Help me!"
But Mainframe was knocked out cold. He lay motionless, a few feet in front of her.
"You son of a bitch!" Scarlett cried.
"I'm gonna cut you a new nostril!" the Viper taunted.
The knife was nearly at her throat. Suddenly, Scarlett heard a single gunshot, and the Viper's hands went limp. Grunting, Scarlett jerked an elbow upward and the Viper rolled lifelessly off her body.
Scarlett turned her head backward and saw Lifeline standing a few feet away, holding a smoking handgun. He was trembling. The gun dropped from his hand and he dropped to his knees. Scarlett picked herself off the asphalt, dusted herself off, and walked toward him.
"I killed a man," Lifeline said in disbelief.
"You saved our lives," Scarlett said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Lifeline's face grew taut and grim.
"Even a pacifist must take up arms in times such as these," he said sadly.
Lifeline got up and walked toward Mainframe to check if he was all right. Mainframe groaned.
"Anyone get the license plate of that grenade launcher?" he said, dazed.
"Come on, let's grab some of these weapons," Scarlett told her friends.
The three of them took a handful of guns, ammunition, and explosives. The rest would be destroyed. Scarlett placed a bomb under the trailer and set it to go off on remote detonation. When they were all a safe distance away from the truck, Scarlett detonated the bomb, and the truck blew up in a gigantic flare.
"We're going to have to relocate," Lifeline observed.
"They're going to come after us for sure," Mainframe said.
"We go underground," Scarlett said. "We won't stay anyplace for too long. We move at night, under cover of darkness. We'll look for others like us to join us. We'll hit them where it hurts and show no mercy."
"And?" Mainframe said, wanting to hear more of Scarlett's plan.
"And we find out how Cobra is controlling this country. We'll break it all down."
"Well," Lifeline said. "You're the commander. We'll follow you anywhere."
He and Mainframe smiled at Scarlett as the three soldiers vanished into the night.
Almost as if by some magic spell, a breeze picks up the leaves and sends them floating upward, drifting up and around the man in an upward spiral. The man extends a hand.
"Scarlett," the man says.
Scarlett smiles at the sound of his voice. It is the voice of Snake Eyes. She has never heard his voice before and has no idea what it truly sounds like, but the voice is sweet music to her ears.
"I love you," Snake Eyes says, his voice soft, gentle, and inviting.
"I have always loved you. Everything about you inspires me to love you. You are sweet and kind and beautiful. I see your heart locked deep in a silver chest in your soul, and if you would only open your heart to me, if you would just take my hand, I would show you a world of wonderful things."
Scarlett smiles as she puts her hand in his outstretched one. Their hands join as one. His hand is warm and soft. It tells her what a thousand laboriously composed words cannot… the depth of his love for her.
"Let us always be together," Snake Eyes says.
Then Scarlett realizes that Snake Eyes is not speaking at all. He is not speaking out of his mouth, but through his mind. She is deep within him now, so deep she can hear his very thoughts. Their minds have melded into one. Every thought, hope, and dream lies open before her, and she knows that Snake Eyes can see into her soul as well.
So this is what true intimacy feels like.
How can I have allowed myself to be so lonely all my life?
Scarlett thinks these thoughts as she and Snake Eyes run together. Beyond the forest lies an open meadow in spring. The sun shines peacefully down upon them as they romp through the lush, green fields and take in the warm hues of the wild flowers.
She has never known such intimacy before, nor has she known how much she wanted and needed it. All this time, Snake Eyes loved her in ways that she had never been aware of. Every gesture he had made spoke volumes of the nights he lay in bed alone, dreaming of experiencing this moment in time with her. He longed to share his dreams with her.
Suddenly, Scarlett feels Snake Eyes' hands lighten.
"Snake Eyes," she calls out in alarm, but the form of her newfound soul mate dissolves slowly and agonizingly. He fades away into the fields as she reaches out in vain to hold onto him…
"Snake Eyes, don't leave me," Scarlett begs in earnest.
* * *
"Snake Eyes…" Scarlett said deliriously.
"Scarlett, can you hear me?" Lifeline said as he sat at Scarlett's bedside.
Blinking in confusion, Scarlett awoke from her dream. She saw Lifeline looking at her with concern. Behind Lifeline, Mainframe stood and watched expectantly.
"Lifeline," Scarlett said. "Mainframe. What happened to me? I'm not in heaven, am I?"
"No, Scarlett," Mainframe said with a congenial smile, "far from it, actually."
"Were you just dreaming about Snake Eyes?" Mainframe asked.
"Why?" Scarlett said.
"You were calling out his name. Snake Eyes! Snake Eyes!" Mainframe said suggestively, imitating Scarlett's voice.
Scarlett turned red.
"Maybe I was," Scarlett said, not eager to continue this line of conversation.
"You're very lucky to be alive," Lifeline said.
"How long have I been out?"
"A week," Lifeline said.
"Where's the rest of our teammates?" Scarlett wanted to know.
"They've all been brainwashed," Mainframe informed her. "Cobra brainwashed G.I. JOE while we were all hanging around headquarters. Everyone got up and started walking someplace."
"Where?"
"We're not sure. They all looked like they were going someplace to watch TV, all at the same time. No one talked. They all looked like they were sleepwalking. It was too bizarre. Lifeline and I were the only ones who seemed normal. We got out of there as fast as we could. It wasn't long before Cobra came in and took over the base. But I knew that you, Snake Eyes, Lady Jaye, Falcon, and Stalker were due back from Arlington. I waited and staked out the base that night."
"You saw Snake Eyes and me come back," Scarlett said to Mainframe.
"What happened to Snake Eyes?" Lifeline asked.
"He was captured. They said he would be re-educated. I was tortured."
"Why?" Lifeline said.
"They wanted me to go on international television and tell the world that G.I. JOE killed all those people in Florida."
"They're covering it up," Mainframe said.
"How can they? People in this country won't allow that—"
"Most people in this country are brainwashed, and those that are not affected are being hunted down as we speak," Mainframe said.
"Just look at this," Mainframe said. "It's pitiful."
Mainframe flicked on the TV and inserted a tape.
The tape showed Lieutenant Falcon, Lady Jaye, and Cover Girl. The three Joes were behaving themselves very unprofessionally. Lady Jaye and Cover Girl stood on each side of Falcon, rubbing his arm affectionately.
"So tell us, what does it mean to you to be a member of the G.I. JOE anti- terrorist task force?" a voice prompted Falcon. The voice sounded like it belonged to the Baroness.
"Let me tell you," Falcon said, "Being a Joe is better than anything in the whole world. It's the best thing since sliced bread. Our mission is to defend human freedom, or some (expletive) like that. We go places where no other pansy ass (expletive) dares to tread. We're the best of the best. We go in and kill bitches."
Falcon made a gun with his fingers and pretended to shoot.
"Pow! Pow! Pow!" he said.
"Wow, that was so sexy, I love it when you do that macho posturing," Cover Girl said lovingly.
"Yeah, do it again sweet thing," Lady Jaye purred, rubbing Falcon's arm.
"What the hell is this?" Scarlett said as she watched the tape in shock.
"Wham, bam! We (expletive) you up until you can't see out of your own (expletive) hole. Isn't that right? Don't we love opening a can of whoop ass on terrorist faggots?"
Lady Jaye and Cover Girl nodded approvingly.
"But I gotta say this," Falcon said breezily, pulling the two women closer to him, "the best part of being in G.I. JOE is the women. I mean, check out these two babes! You got Lady Jaye, covert operations here, and Cover Girl, tank driver, here. Damn, they are such fine hotties! They can covertly drive my tank any day! When all is said and done, it's nice to get the job done and all that, but to me, being in G.I. JOE is all about getting some (expletive). Damn, I'm all horny now! Let's get it on, yeah!"
Falcon turned to Cover Girl and began to French kiss her.
"G.I. JOE," the voice behind the camera said with malicious irony, "a real American hero."
The tape was finished.
"Please tell me they were brainwashed," Scarlett said, her mind numbed.
"Of course they were," Lifeline said, "Cobra didn't get you to claim responsibility for killing 200 people, but they still found a way to humiliate G.I. JOE. That's what they're doing. Humiliating us. This tape went out all over the world. They're destroying G.I. JOE."
"And it's working," Mainframe said, "the federal government is under Cobra's control now. The President himself has ordered that G.I. JOE be disbanded. Our teammates have been scattered around the country."
"We can't sit here and let it happen! We have to fight back. We have to resist!" Scarlett said.
At that, Scarlett winced in pain. Her hand went to her tender chest.
"Take it easy, Scarlett, you're in no condition to fight anyone," Lifeline said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"You need to rest and recover from your injuries," Mainframe said. "Even if it takes two months, we wait for now."
Scarlett looked down. Her purpose was clear. She had to get well again. Cobra had to be defeated.
Most of all, she had to find Snake Eyes.
* * *
Every day, Mainframe and Lifeline went to work, while Scarlett gradually recovered from her wounds. Mainframe worked in a Cobra computer factory, while Lifeline toiled in the emergency room of Cobra General Hospital, both of which were located in Staten Island. They did it to fit in. Both men knew that if any of the Cobra personnel or anyone in the general population suspected that they were not brainwashed, or that they were secretly harboring Scarlett, it would be the end. The Cobra police would sweep in, arrest them, and send them off to the re-education centers where they would be brainwashed for good.
The people who were brainwashed betrayed those who were not. Sons informed against their fathers, wives informed against their own husbands. No friendship or family bond was sacred. Everyone lived in an atmosphere of fear and distrust. Outwardly, the daily business of the people of the United States proceeded as it had before, but inwardly, the United States was a conquered country. Ordinary people went about their daily lives, and the leaders in government went to work every day at Capitol Hill, making the laws of the land. However, through the brainwashing, Cobra controlled and dominated every aspect of American life.
Every week, the people of the United States, as if by some automatic program, sat in front of their home television for hours at a time, receiving their instructions for that week. Using the orbiting satellite, Cobra broadcast all over the country seemingly innocuous fare, which contained subliminal messages buried within the images and themes of the film being shown. Everyone had to be home when these broadcasts were made. Anyone out in the streets during this time immediately fell under suspicion and was arrested. Mainframe and Lifeline made sure not to violate this curfew.
"The point is," Michael Douglas said on the television, "that greed, for lack of a better word, works. Greed is good."
"This has got to be one of their favorite movies," Mainframe remarked as he, Lifeline, and Scarlett shared dinner one evening.
"This must be the fifth time in the last month that I've seen them show this movie."
"What's the big deal? It's only WALL STREET," Scarlett said, not understanding.
"Every once in a while, you see a flash on the screen," Lifeline pointed out.
"So what?"
"That flash contains hidden instructions designed to activate your subconscious programming. Assuming you were brainwashed and are susceptible," Lifeline said.
"We can just sit here and laugh at it," Mainframe said, smiling.
"But not too loudly," Lifeline said in a low voice, "the neighbors might hear us."
* * *
Weeks passed, and Scarlett's broken bones had gradually healed. No longer requiring the bandages around her chest or the sling for her broken left arm, Scarlett was able to move about freely, although she had not yet recovered her full strength. She was thankful that Lifeline had been there to take care of her. She remembered what a mess she was on the day she had been tortured.
"Thank God I didn't kill myself that day," Scarlett said, thinking of the night when desperation had moved her to slit her throat. She knew she had survived for a reason. Somewhere out there was Snake Eyes. She wondered what cruel torment Cobra was forcing upon him. She imagined him being made to work like a slave in a factory, or being forced to march for days at a time, or being strapped to a table while the enemy burned, cut, and scalded him.
No, the thoughts were too horrible to bear.
"Now here's something interesting," a voice said on the television.
Scarlett turned to see what was on. It was the David Letterman Show. Mainframe and Lifeline had gone to sleep, and were in the next room.
"President Bush," Letterman said, "has signed into law a series of new bills. The new tax bill authorizes Congress to divert 90% of all federal income taxes to Cobra."
David Letterman pondered that bit of news and looked into the camera.
"I sure hope Serpentor uses some of that money to buy himself a new outfit. I mean, come on, isn't that snake cowl thing just ugly as hell?"
The audience laughed automatically, like a bunch of robots.
"Am I right, or what? Come on!" Letterman added.
Scarlett watched the television in disgust. Cobra made its control of the U.S. seem like a joke, when Scarlett knew that it was no joke.
"Another law orders the transfer of all armed forces to the personal command of Serpentor. A third law, just signed today by the president, provides for an entirely new curriculum for our nation's schools. All children will be instructed in the philosophy, methodology, and history of Cobra. A pledge of allegiance to Serpentor will replace the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
"You know, thank God someone is finally stepping in and getting things done over there. Cobra is all about action, huh?"
The audience cheered and applauded.
"Personally, I thought that pledge of allegiance to the flag business was kinda dorky, anyway. I really hated doing it as a kid. Screw the flag. Hail Serpentor!"
"HAIL SERPENTOR! HAIL COBRA!" the studio audience chanted.
"Today, we have a very special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a very special woman, the lovely Baroness!"
The audience cheered and whistled loudly as the Baroness, accompanied by a squad of Crimson Guards, walked onto the stage. The Baroness smiled and shook hands with Letterman.
"What first drew you to Cobra?"
"Well, Dave," the Baroness said with her thick European accent, "I joined Cobra because I was looking for a career that would allow me to terrorize and exploit as many people as possible."
"How very interesting," Letterman said. "Go on."
"As I was consulting with my high school guidance counselor one day, I thought, gee, you know, do I want to be an accountant, a politician, a music critic? I decided that, no, I wanted to become a Cobra operative. I wanted to bring down the system and change the world. Make it a better place. For you and for me, and the entire human race."
"I see… Now, Baroness, what's it like working for a guy like Serpentor? What kind of guy is he, really?"
"Serpentor is a great man," the Baroness said forcefully, "without him there is no Cobra!"
"What's his ultimate goal in life?"
"Well," the Baroness said, "Serpentor in some ways is a lot like you and me. Money, power? Sure, he loves all that, just like we do. But deep down, he just wants to be loved."
"Tell me more," Letterman said.
"For example," the Baroness continued, "the other night, His Highness was watching SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE with Dr. Mindbender, Destro, and me. And Serpentor said, 'I really like that woman, Meg Ryan. She's really cute.' And I said, 'would you like to meet her?' Serpentor said, 'Bring her to me as soon as possible. This, I command!'"
"Wow, it must be great being the emperor of Cobra. You can have any woman you want," Letterman said with obvious jealousy.
"We're going to take a commercial break," Letterman said, "but when we come back, we have our top ten list. Top ten reasons why Cobra is great and G.I. JOE sucks! Don't go away—"
Scarlett turned off the TV, unable to stand watching another minute of it.
"Time to sleep," she said wearily as she lay down on her bed and turned out the light.
* * *
Peering through the binoculars, Mainframe said, "There it is."
Lying flat on her stomach on the grassy hill at the side of the long, empty road, Scarlett took the binoculars from Mainframe and took a look.
In the darkness, a pair of headlights appeared in the distance and gradually grew in intensity as the rumbling truck came toward them.
Mainframe had learned that Cobra would be receiving a truckload of weapons and explosives. Now that Scarlett was healthy and combat ready again, she, Mainframe, and Lifeline would be carrying out their first mission: intercept the delivery and steal as many munitions and explosives as they could carry off.
"Just like clockwork," Scarlett said, pleased. She turned to Lifeline.
"Lifeline, you hang back here in case anything goes wrong." She handed him a pistol.
"Scarlett," Lifeline protested, "you know I haven't fired one of these since basic training…"
"That's good enough," Scarlett assured him. "Mainframe and I will handle this, no problems."
Grabbing their rifles, Scarlett and Mainframe walked onto the road as the truck drew near. They both pulled up their guns and motioned for the truck to stop.
The truck lumbered to a stop. Inside, Scarlett could see two nervous looking Vipers.
"Out of the truck!" Scarlett shouted.
The Vipers hesitated, and Scarlett fired a round into the windshield, missing the driver's head by inches.
"NOW!" she ordered.
With their hands up, the Vipers got out of the truck, and Scarlett and Mainframe led them toward the back.
"Open it," Scarlett said to the driver, gesturing to the trailer.
The driver opened the trailer and turned to Scarlett. The trailer was filled with wooden crates, which apparently contained enough handguns, rifles, ammunition, plastic explosives, and time bombs to arm an entire company.
"Get in there and start handing us the small charges," Scarlett ordered the driver.
The driver nodded and climbed onto the trailer on Mainframe's side. Before Scarlett or Mainframe could react, the driver grabbed hold of a grenade launcher lying near one of the crates, turned, and swung it at Mainframe, striking him in the face. Mainframe grunted in pain and surprise and went down. The other Viper turned and threw himself on Scarlett.
Scarlett cried out as she wrestled with the Viper. She managed to get the upper hand, pinned him onto the ground, and stabbed him in the heart with a switchblade. She barely had enough time to turn to face the other Viper when she felt herself tackled and pinned to the ground. The Viper sat squarely on her back. With one hand, he grasped her hair and yanked her head backward, while attempting to cut her throat with a combat knife in the other hand. With her one free hand, Scarlett struggled to hold the knife hand in check, but she was in an awkward position and felt herself weakening rapidly.
"Fucking whore," the Viper screamed.
"Aarrghh! Mainframe! Help me!"
But Mainframe was knocked out cold. He lay motionless, a few feet in front of her.
"You son of a bitch!" Scarlett cried.
"I'm gonna cut you a new nostril!" the Viper taunted.
The knife was nearly at her throat. Suddenly, Scarlett heard a single gunshot, and the Viper's hands went limp. Grunting, Scarlett jerked an elbow upward and the Viper rolled lifelessly off her body.
Scarlett turned her head backward and saw Lifeline standing a few feet away, holding a smoking handgun. He was trembling. The gun dropped from his hand and he dropped to his knees. Scarlett picked herself off the asphalt, dusted herself off, and walked toward him.
"I killed a man," Lifeline said in disbelief.
"You saved our lives," Scarlett said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Lifeline's face grew taut and grim.
"Even a pacifist must take up arms in times such as these," he said sadly.
Lifeline got up and walked toward Mainframe to check if he was all right. Mainframe groaned.
"Anyone get the license plate of that grenade launcher?" he said, dazed.
"Come on, let's grab some of these weapons," Scarlett told her friends.
The three of them took a handful of guns, ammunition, and explosives. The rest would be destroyed. Scarlett placed a bomb under the trailer and set it to go off on remote detonation. When they were all a safe distance away from the truck, Scarlett detonated the bomb, and the truck blew up in a gigantic flare.
"We're going to have to relocate," Lifeline observed.
"They're going to come after us for sure," Mainframe said.
"We go underground," Scarlett said. "We won't stay anyplace for too long. We move at night, under cover of darkness. We'll look for others like us to join us. We'll hit them where it hurts and show no mercy."
"And?" Mainframe said, wanting to hear more of Scarlett's plan.
"And we find out how Cobra is controlling this country. We'll break it all down."
"Well," Lifeline said. "You're the commander. We'll follow you anywhere."
He and Mainframe smiled at Scarlett as the three soldiers vanished into the night.