It's Like Having Been Born Again. Pt 5
Author chick's notes: Aloha, Talofa, Ohayo, G'day…pick one.^^ Now that they know a little bit more about what's going on…well almost ;) The boys are going to set about rebuilding the team…but uh first Steeler has a little story to tell the other two. A little goofiness and then eh, the serious stuff begins again. Any more burble from me and I'll give the chapter away so here goes! Enjoy. PG for some swearing, and a few cracks which you'll see in a bit.
It's Like Having Been Born Again. Pt 5
It was morning. The previous day had been long and arduous for all involved and this day didn't look like it was going to be any easier. Steeler had told the Baroness earlier that he wanted to debrief Clutch and Grunt before joining in on the war session with her. The Baroness agreed, saying it would give her a chance to coordinate things with Cover Girl and be prepared by the time he was done with his debriefing. After meeting up in the main control room of the bunker, the two groups split up. The Baroness, Cover Girl, and Leila heading towards an office to discuss their plans, and the men making their way back to the library that had become their own private war room of sorts.
"Okay we need to talk." Steeler said, looking at Clutch as he did so. Clutch mistook his commander's words and spoke up.
"Oh whoa wait a second here! I was all set to go sleep out on the couch last night…" Clutch started in his defense. Grunt tried to cover up his laughter with a hand as Steeler gave him an odd look. He had no idea what Clutch was thinking he'd meant by needing to talk and he wasn't exactly thrilled either to learn what he suspected.
"You scuz! Ya could have least said 'no' before she had the chance to take her cloths off!" Steeler started in on the mechanic. Steeler glared at Grunt who was still struggling to keep his laughter under control. "Shut up, yer next." He added, knowing full well from Grunt's mood that Clutch wasn't the only one who had tangled in the sheets the night before.
"Uh Steeler? She weren't wearing anything to begin with." Clutch grinned, remembering how the previous night had unfolded. The other two stared at him as he continued. "…I also got a chance to see her tags this morning…they read 'Steinburg, C'." He added sadly. Remembering how he found them on the bathroom counter earlier that morning.
"Oh god. Poor Cov." Steeler wasn't sure how to take the news. "At least that explains why she was so happy when she saw you yesterday." Remembering the kiss the two had shared in the library.
"Yeah it does." Grunt added thinking the same thing as Steeler.
Clutch muttered a small 'yeah', before Steeler looked at Grunt. "And yer excuse?" He said.
"Uh." Grunt stammered. "One thing led to another…tickle fight and uh, you get the idea" He mumbled.
Steeler thought things over for a moment before continuing. "I don't believe you two! We haven't even been here a week and already the crap starts! Whatever. It's done." Glancing at Clutch, Steeler jumped to defend his own honor. "And before you even start smart ass, no I haven't! Yes we've slept together, as in gone to bed, at least partially dressed to sleep! Nothing more." Grunt smothered another round of laughter as the other two glared at each other.
"Anyway, that's not what we need to talk about." Steeler said, changing the subject. "I found out about Tripwire last night." This got the men's attention, wondering what the big story was that Cover Girl had mentioned the day prior.
"Was he hurt?"
"He ain't defected has he?"
Steeler shook his head no and told them the story he'd learned the night before.
"He's WHAT?" Clutch bellowed, not believing what he'd just heard.
"You heard me. Tripwire and his boyfriend run a set-up similar to the one Destro has on our side." Steeler went on to explain what the Baroness had said of how invaluable the couple's services had become to the Resistance.
"Trip's …wow. Wow." Grunt was fully taken by surprise as was Clutch. The only difference being that Clutch was livid.
"I don't care if he wins this single handed, that still don't excuse…"
Steeler cut Clutch off before he could continue his tirade. "Shut it!" Clutch shut his mouth and glared. Steeler took a deep breath to calm himself before going on. "Look, ask Cov to explain it to you. She obviously knows more then we do. Okay?" Clutch muttered a few choice words under his breath but agreed to do as asked. Grunt who had remained quiet, looked cautiously between the two fuming men.
Nothing was said for a moment and the tension in the room grew thick, before Steeler went on to explain that no one had any idea of what was going on in the streets of DC. "That's what the girls are talking about right now."
"So what do we do?" Grunt asked.
Steeler let out a breath he'd been holding. "We keep an eye out for any info on what those two are doing." Referring to Destro and Cobra Commander. "In the meantime, we start rebuilding the team…both teams." He added, remembering that the October Guard was as much a part of the resistance movement as the Joe team of this world.
"Yeah but how?" Clutch snapped, anger still raging inside him.
"Well. Cov knows how to get a hold of that one chick." He started. "Diana." Remembering her name after a moment. "I'm assuming that either she, or someone else they know, knows how to contact and wrangle up the rest of the Guard, not to mention the Joes." Grunt and Clutch nodded. "I'm pretty safe in assuming that the 'friendly' fued between us and the Guard is a thing of the past." Steeler added, thinking of how both teams would snap at each other in his world. "I mean shit, they both have one hell of a common goal now." He sighed.
"So, that's it? That's what's on today's agenda?" Grunt asked.
"Today, tomorrow and so on until things change, or the teams are rebuilt and we can attack." Steeler said, rising to make his way to the door. "C'mon, the girls are probably done and all we're doing is wasting time. Let's go."
The trio made their way back to the main control where they found the women. Cover Girl was at a terminal working on her first contact and Clutch went over to her. Leila was also busy at a terminal printing up a list of information the Baroness had requested. Steeler made his way to the Baroness and waited until she was done talking to whoever was on the other end of line.
"So you told them?" She asked, hanging up the phone in the process.
Steeler glanced to where Cover Girl and Clutch were as he answered. "Yeah. Cov's probably gonna have to knock some sense into his thick skull, but yeah they know." At her inquisitive look he spoke again. "It's gonna take a while but yeah I guess I can be cool with it too." He said.
She smiled wryly not entirely believing him but left it at that. "While you were having your debriefing, we decided to get a start on recall efforts." The Baroness started. "I'm assuming that is what Courtney is doing now." She added pointing to the other side of the room where Cover Girl was just finishing up. Steeler remembered what both women had said about the one rule of never discussing who knew whom and remained quiet. The Baroness sensed this and smiled again. "Because of the nature of our present situation, we broke our little rule and divulged the knowledge of who each of us can contact. Just not how to." She added.
"Yeah I guess in these close quarters something's gonna slip…or be figured out." He winked. She laughed as he said it. "Leila has a list of things I want to go over." She started again. "Would you mind helping me?" She asked.
"Sure thing." Steeler smiled, making his way over to Leila to retrieve the data she'd just finished printing up. With the help of Grunt and Leila, they began breaking down the information they had into a more understandable order.
Cover Girl looked up as Clutch approached. "Hey sweetie." She smiled.
Clutch looked at her for a moment then decided he may as well ask. "You knew the thing about Tripwire wouldn't go over to well didn't ya?" He asked. She sighed as he continued. "Steeler told us. I guess the Baroness had told him last night." Clutch answered her unasked question. "Look, let's talk about it later okay?" He said wanting to change the subject.
Cover Girl offered an understanding look before a beep from her monitor got her attention. "Hold that thought." She said as she set about decoding the incoming message. After reading it she turned the screen off and rose up. "C'mon, Anya will want to know I got successful for a change." She winked.
"Hey?" Cover Girl greeted as her and Clutch joined the four hunched over a large desk. "I got two confirms. I'm still waiting for the rest." She said. "Dusty's having a field day in Saudi making life hell for the COBRA troops stationed there."
"Excellent." The Baroness purred. The Middle East had proven to be a hard task for COBRA to conquer, knowing that the Joe's desert expert was helping the place stay that way was most satisfying.
"Figures he'd be somewhere hot and miserable, and loving every second of it." Grunt smirked.
Cover Girl slapped his shoulder for the crack. "Anyway!" She said, shooting Grunt a look. "For number two I need to go to 'Frisco, to help wrap things up before ehh…" She stammered, remembering what Clutch had just said.
Grunt figured out her hesitation. "Let me guess, arms dealing?" He grinned. Cover Girl nodded and he went on. "If you need a hand I'll go." Before anyone spoke up in protest he spoke again. "You two would probably be counter productive and knock his block off. I'll go…if uh ya need a hand that is." Grunt offered, shooting Steeler and Clutch a look.
"Perfect!" Cover Girl smiled, elbowing Clutch in the side when she saw he was
about to say something. "We leave first
thing tomorrow then." She added.
"Tripwire's in San Fran? Figures." Steeler commented.
Cover Girl rolled her eyes and muttered 'whatever'. Then she told them that she had filled both contacts in on the situation involving the three stranded Joes. "They know the basics, so they're prepared if you guys seem out of it." She added. "Dusty's going to stay where he is for the moment. Apparently there's an attack in the works that he can't abandon right now." Cover Girl explained.
"Okay, makes sense. Any idea when he can join us?" Steeler asked.
"Probably as soon as a week, maybe longer. At least that's the general estimate he gave me." Cover Girl replied. "Trip and Sea have a huge shipment of weapons they swiped and are trying to get into Resistance hands. If they're gonna join us they'll need help clearing it out fast." She added, referring to her reasons for heading west.
The group made plans for the remainder of the morning. When everything was settled, they got underway with their assigned tasks. Cover Girl would help get Grunt set up with false identification and a disguise. Steeler and The Baroness would watch out for any sign of the current COBRA battle ending in the capitol, while trying to gather what they could in the way of information regarding who had the upper hand. Clutch would begin working in the hanger familiarizing himself with COBRA equipment and Leila would go between each group and help where she could.
"Okay. I have my handheld set up to receive any more responses I get from my summons." Cover Girl started. "I'll let you know ASAP who calls back and what their situations are, when I find out." She added. Cover Girl then turned to Grunt with an evil look in her eye. "So soldier boy, how's punk sound?" She asked as she took him by the arm to change his appearance and get him ready for their trip the following day. Steeler snickered when he heard Grunt gulp as he was led away for his make over.
To Be Continued…
