It's Like Having Been Born Again. Pt 10
Author chick's notes: Ah, what can I say but Thank You so very much Mickey! *Of course I could also start singing but I look like crap in a cheerleader outfit and she's a New Yorker and I'm not…aka I'd be deader then a door nail in two seconds flat ;) * Anyway, I am thanking Mick profusely before hand for the gear head talk. Yep! Sharky don't jack all about cars but give her a surfboard and stand by for action! She was also nice enough to proof this before I sent it in, because if there's one peeve I have about fanfics, is people putting stuff in they didn't bother to research! Homework! Won't kill ya folks. ^^ Oh yeah by the way, Imani demanded a little screen time too. Disclaimers in Pt 1.
It's Like Having Been Born Again. Pt 10
It was mid afternoon in the Baroness' bunker. Several of the Joes were in the Library with Imani discussing plans and familiarizing the Arabian woman with how they operated. Rock-n-Roll had come up with the idea of having someone being able to get around quickly and getting information on troop movements. Cover Girl grinned at the suggestion and said she had just the thing.
"Why don't I go get old Betsy?" She smiled evilly.
"Is 'Betsy' what I think it is?" Deep Six asked. At Cover Girl's slow nod he groaned. "Jesus get diapers for those two while you're at it." He added jerking his thumb at Steeler and Clutch.
Cover Girl ignored the two when they asked her for more details telling them that'll find out soon enough. She then turned to Dusty, her evil grin still firmly in place. "Dust? Sweetie?" He gulped at her tone but said nothing as she continued. "Can I borrow Imani for this?" She asked pointing to his wife who was seated near him.
"Uh why?" He asked, not knowing what Cover Girl had in mind.
"Well seeing as how I have to get into this place, none of you would fit, I barely fit. Imani is tiny compared to me so she'll be the perfect for the job." Cover Girl replied. Imani looked up at Dusty then to Cover Girl.
"I don't mind helping." She offered, knowing full well her husband wouldn't suddenly tell her no, and liking the idea of getting to know his former comrade better.
Cover Girl clapped her hands together and began rubbing them. "Perfect! We need to make you look a little bit more inconspicuous though." She added. Imani looked down at her traditional outfit and realized that she would stand out in the desert hued clothing.
Deep Six remembering what she'd done to Grunt suddenly piped up. "Run kid! Flee!" He teased, gesturing wildly as he said it. Everyone laughed but Cover Girl, who poked her tongue out at the diver and flipped him off.
"Anyway! Do you mind Imani?" She asked knowing that what she had in mind might seem a little uncomfortable for the girl.
Imani rose and bowed dramatically, smirking as she did so. "I am yours to do with as you please." She said. Winking at Dusty on the side.
"Yer screwed desert rat." Steeler piped up from where he was leaning on the couch.
Cover Girl took Imani by the hand and led her away, both women giddy with the idea of playing 'make-over'. "Yer REALLY screwed Dusty!" Thunder laughed as he watched them leave.
Dusty shook his head and rose to follow them, if anything to be supportive of Imani as she got her crash course in western culture and fashion. He rolled his eyes as he heard someone chant a funeral dirge in his wake and left after the two women.
Imani had no qualms with changing in front of the other woman, much to Cover Girl's relief. When Imani removed her shawl though, she began wondering if she had made the right decision. Cover Girl's jaw dropped when Imani's hair, which had been neatly tucked away under the shawl, came tumbling down her shoulders all the way to her narrow waist. "Oh my god." Cover Girl breathed.
"Is something wrong?" Imani asked, confused by her reaction.
"You have the most beautiful head of hair I have ever seen!" Cover Girl exclaimed, praising the wavy mahogany locks that cascaded down the girl's back.
Imani blushed at the compliment and thanked her for it. It took a moment for Cover Girl to remember that the petite woman before her was still very young, only twenty years old. Cover Girl understood what had happened and she knew enough of Imani's culture to know that it was perfectly acceptable for someone her age to be married to a considerably older man. Though Dusty only had twelve years on her at most.
Imani finished undressing and stood there waiting for Cover Girl to do her thing. "Okay, let's see what we have to work with here?" Cover Girl gave Imani the once over. "Well that's out." She said tossing a bra she had chosen to the side. "You're to small for it and still youthful enough to go without." Cover Girl explained. Instead she picked up a camisole and handed to Imani to put on.
Imani squirmed a little as she got used to the unfamiliar undergarments Cover Girl had given her to wear. The silky fabric was a new experience though and Imani was glad that she would be keeping the items afterwards. She loved how they felt against her firm skin. "Okay…" Cover Girl began as she sized Imani up again. She looked down at several pairs of black jeans she had laid out on the bed before picking up the smallest pair. "Here try these?" She said handing them to Imani.
Imani looked at the full-length mirror next to her and her eyes flew open in shock. The jeans were the most figure-revealing article of clothing she had ever worn, and contrary to how she had been brought up, she did like the look and fit of them. Imani smiled, this was more fun then she'd thought it would be. Cover Girl heaved a sigh of relief and explained to Imani how she had worried the girl would not like the idea and change her mind about the whole thing. "Oh no! I'm enjoying this." She enthused. "What's next?"
Cover Girl grinned. "Good girl." She smirked as she handed over a matching black sweater. The sweater was an angora blend and cropped, though on her tiny figure it would come down to the waistband of the jeans. Imani slid it on over her head and tried to adjust the cowl style collar on it. Cover Girl arranged it for her and stepped back. "Okay, your boots will go great with this." She said as Imani sat down on the edge of the bed to put them on. "Um, would you be uncomfortable without your shawl?" She asked as Imani finished lacing up her boots.
Imani thought about it for a moment before deciding that she could go without it. She wasn't in her homeland at the moment and she wanted to blend in as best she could for the mission she had agreed to take on with Cover Girl. "No I don't mind." She smiled up at Cover Girl.
"Great. Okay now god willing, we won't be seen by anyone but just in case, we need to make you look like a regular young woman." Cover Girl explained as she began pulling Imani's hair back to weave into a tight braid. Cover Girl then applied a little make-up to make Imani look like the twenty year old she was, not too much, just enough to accentuate her delicate exotic features. "Well? What do you think?" She asked as she stepped back so Imani could see herself in the mirror."
Imani studied her reflection and stared in awe. "I do not look like a child anymore." She said, a faint hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
"That's the idea Hon, you're a grown woman, you should look like it.' Cover Girl winked. "Ready to go knock the socks off that big goof you married?" She asked, jerking a thumb at the door. Imani smirked and gestured 'after you' as she thought of what Dusty would think when he saw her.
Dusty meanwhile had been strictly forbidden from entering the 'man free' zone, as Cover Girl had called it. So he made himself some lunch and sat in the living room waiting for the glamour session to be over with. He heard the bedroom door open and looked up to see Cover Girl grinning almost maniacally as she stepped aside to reveal Imani. He was glad he was seated as he put his lunch aside to take in the vision that was his wife.
Imani turned a full circle so he could see the whole picture before looking at him expectedly. His mouth moved several times but nothing came out. Instead he held his hand out to her and she went over to him and hopped down next to him on her knees so she was eye level with him, on the couch. "So?" she asked, folding her hands on his shoulder and resting her chin on them.
"You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He breathed. He ran a hand down her cheek before leaning forward to gently kiss her. Cover Girl allowed the two a moment before speaking up.
"God I miss when I was her size." She laughed. "I was four eleven and eighty-five pounds at age fourteen." She added wryly as she remembered her days as a famous model.
Imani looked over at the end table and frowned. "What is that?" She asked, pointing to his forgotten lunch.
Dusty grinned as he picked the bowl up and began eating again. "This is one of my all time favorite good old American junk food delicacies!" He praised as he shoved another forkful into his mouth.
"Yeah and knowing him drowned in enough salt and pepper to re-sink the Titanic twice over." Cover Girl teased.
Imani still frowned as she looked at the little round shapes covered in some yellow sauce. "Well alright, but what is it?" She asked again.
"Mac and Cheese!" Dusty said, handing her a forkful to try for herself. "And man have I missed it." He sighed enjoying the feast for the first time in over four years.
Cover Girl fought back her laughter as she watched the myriad of faces Imani made as she slowly chewed the bite she just had taken. Imani forcefully swallowed before turning her gaze back to the bowl and wrinkling her nose. "I will stick to what I know." She offered Dusty a disgusted look, not at all impressed with her husband's idea of gourmet cuisine.
Dusty wasn't the least bit phased by Imani's lack of enthusiasm towards his meal. "Goody. Means it's all mine!" He laughed as he finished inhaling his lunch.
Imani made another face as she rose from her spot next to him and went back over to Cover Girl "We leave at dusk right?" She asked. Cover Girl nodded and said she needed to get changed too and Imani gladly followed her to see what the older woman would wear and how she went about doing it.
Dusty gave the front door a last look before muttering how he was looking forward to helping Imani out of her American style cloths. "Dirty old man." He chided himself as the fantasies began unfolding in his mind.
Later in the main hanger several of the Joes were gathered around the two women, as they got ready to set off on their adventure. Sci-Fi raised both eyebrows as he took in Imani's new look and then turned to Dusty. "You lucky bastard." He teased. Dusty just snorted a laugh as he watched his wife pack weapons into the HISS they'd be taking to get into Washington.
"At least she didn't go for the glitter, glam, and 'enough hairspray to wipe out a city block', look Court had in 'Frisky." Sci-Fi teased, remembering the daring ensemble Cover Girl had put together for herself when she helped play bartender at the club.
Tripwire laughed at the joke and winked to Cover Girl. The wink suggesting to her that he'd take care of his sarcastic paramour later. Cover Girl mouthed 'I want video' to him, which had him roaring in laughter. Sci-Fi turned to look at the two. "What?" Knowing they were sharing a private joke.
"You'll see later." Tripwire said as he took his glasses off so he could wipe tears from his eyes. Sci-Fi just pouted, knowing he was in for it when the couple was alone later.
Dusty had told Imani all about his former comrades when they had first met, so she just looked between the two and shrugged. "All ready." She said as she loaded the last of their gear into the tank.
"Okay then boys, we'll see you in a bit." Cover Girl chimed in, rapping her knuckles on a near by table just in case. Imani and Dusty shared a quick hug before the tiny woman climbed into the HISS and hid herself from view. "Behave!" Cover Girl chided Clutch as she climbed in after Imani and did the same.
Tripwire hopped down from the top of the HISS where he had been placing a tracking device and moved over to join the rest of his teammates, who were wishing the two good luck. The HISS started up and soon they were gone.
The idea was that the HISS would pose as a patrol ordered to enforce the local curfew. At a location Cover Girl had specified, it would stop long enough for her and Imani to get out and go after their objective. Soon the two made their way to a boarded up building along a dark alley. "How do we get in?" Imani asked ignoring the large door she knew could only be opened from the inside. Cover Girl had briefed Imani on her secret little hide-away so she knew basically what she was doing.
"Around the back." Cover Girl whispered and Imani followed as the two snuck around the building towards the backside of it. There was a scattering of scrap metal and other junk in the lot and Cover Girl pulled out a small remote. Imani watched as a small door, hidden in the wall appeared. They would have to climb up onto one of the discarded car bodies lying nearby to access the opening. Imani hopped up first, carrying a rope with her as she wriggled into the access hole easily. Once safely inside she turned and began pulling up the two backpacks attached to the rope.
Cover Girl stood nearby on lookout panning her rifle around as she scanned for anyone who might see their activity. She heard the low whistle that imitated some night dwelling creature from Imani and turned to make her way into the building. Imani kept lookout as Cover Girl got in beside her and crawled forward a bit. With both of them safely inside, Cover Girl hit the switch on her remote that would close the hole back up again. "C'mon, this way." She said to Imani as she began crawling through a short passage in the ductwork. Cover Girl cautiously peered out the opening to the duct and scanned the massive room before her. No sign of life, so Cover Girl hit another switch that provided enough ambient light for the two to see their way around in the dark makeshift garage.
Cover Girl grinned as she hopped down to the floor and turned to get the two backpacks Imani lowered to her. Imani then jumped effortlessly to the floor and landed with the grace and elegance of a cat. Imani looked around as Cover Girl went over to an object shrouded in the corner. "Hi baby, mommy missed you yes she did." Cover Girl cooed as she pulled the worn cover off of her pride and joy.
Imani rolled her eyes at the display of affection for the piece of machinery before asking if this was their goal.
"Yep. Don't look like much, but Betsy's got it where it counts." She said as she ran a hand lovingly along the ebony black hood of the car. "1970 Chevelle, customized by yours truly." Cover Girl went on to explain. "Can smoke anything those snakes have that's for sure. I can get this baby to do an eight second quarter mile and she clocks in at over one fifty!" She bragged as she loaded their bags into the car.
Imani just shook her head as she climbed into the passenger seat and buckled herself in. She pulled her legs up so her chin could rest on her knees as Cover Girl turned the ignition over. The car purred to life and Cover Girl leaned back into her seat. "God! The best vibrator a girl could ever want!" She moaned as she stepped on the gas a few times to warm up the engine. Imani had no idea what Cover Girl was talking about, so she just shrugged her shoulders and sat back.
"Ready Sweetie?" Cover Girl asked as she hit another switch on her little remote. Imani nodded and watched as the massive door to the front of the building groaned to life and began creeping open. "Hold onto your seat then!" Cover Girl said, gunning the engine and racing out of garage. Imani whooped loudly as Cover Girl slapped down on the gearshift and pumped the gas pedal.
It was fairly late and the streets were empty as Cover Girl drove towards the bunker. Imani was grinning as Cover Girl occasionally revved the engine and pushed the car to its limits. "Uh oh, company." Cover Girl said as something in the rear view mirror caught her eye.
Before Imani could ask what, they heard Ripper's voice blaring over a police car siren. "Pull over immediately and get out of the car!" He shouted into the PA system.
Cover Girl just snorted and gunned the engine instead. "C'mon boys! How's a little game of 'Bumper Humping' grab ya?" She asked as she sped forward into the night.
"What the bloody hell is that thing?" Torch asked from the shotgun seat.
"Dunno. It's to bleeding dark to make out." Ripper replied as he sped up to try and catch the black shadow that was beginning to pull away from them.
"Hold on!" Cover Girl blurted to Imani as she took a corner way to fast to pass as 'safe'. Imani grabbed the edge of her seat as the G-forces pulled at her. The tires screamed as Cover Girl rounded the corner and gunned the engine again. "Fun huh?" Cover Girl glanced over at Imani. Imani just laughed and grinned as Cover Girl continued toying with the Dredknocks that were chasing them.
"Bloody Hell!" Ripper exclaimed as he nearly missed the side of a building taking the sharp turn. "Right that's it!" He growled as he sped up to gain on the two women.
Cover Girl glanced in the rear view again and smirked as she slowed down long enough for the two on her tail to close the gap a little. Imani looked at her in worry then craned her neck around to see out the back window. She could see the red and blue lights as they gained on them and turned back to Cover Girl. "They'll catch us!" She said, nervousness creeping into her voice.
Cover Girl just smiled and reassured the girl. "Not in this life time." She purred, slapping the car into fourth, letting out the clutch as she slammed her foot down on the gas pedal. "This has been fun boys but I'm bored!" She chirped at the reflection of the police vehicle behind her. "And you guys suck!" She bragged as she redlined the engine and left the Dredknocks far in her wake. Imani laughed as she craned her head around again to watch as the police car fell far back behind them, before loosing sight of it altogether.
Back in the main hanger Clutch looked up as the hanger doors began to open and a black streak screamed into the hanger. Cover Girl slammed on the brakes and slid the car into a perfect park as she turned the engine off. The two women got out of the car, both of them laughing at the game they'd played with the Dredknocks. "Thelma and Louise? Eat yer heart out!" Cover Girl laughed as Imani got out and ran over to Dusty.
Still high on the adrenaline rush she'd gotten from her ride, Imani leaped up into his arms and kissed him deeply. She wriggled out of his hug and went behind him, leaping up onto his back instead and hugged him tightly from her perch as he held her there, piggyback style. "Had fun I take it?" He laughed at his tiny bride. She grinned and shook her head yes as she looked back to where Cover Girl was with the car.
"We'd have been here sooner, but we ran into some cops." Cover Girl explained, maniacal grin firmly in place. Clutch and Steeler both approached the car and began inspecting it.
"Where the hell did ya swipe a 1970 Chevelle from?" Steeler asked admiring the black Chevelle with the silver 'Outlaw Cowl' hood.
"I shit you not!" Cover Girl began, holding her hands up at him as he admired the car. "I found the basic Chevelle, just abandoned and decided that I'd give it the love it deserves!" She went on to explain how she had found the car and had restored it to the condition it was in now. "…I jacked the back and added Mickey Slicks and then had a ball playing with the engine." She went on to explain.
Clutch narrowed his eyes at the car that had cooled down a little while Cover Girl explained how she had come across it. Steeler gave the car just as much scrutiny before speaking up again. "Okay gorgeous, it looks great and all but pop the hood…that's where it counts." He said rapping his knuckles on the roof and she gladly did so. "Steel body…" He praised when he heard the distinct sound emitting from the car where he had knocked on it. "Very nice."
"The GMZ502 was a bitch to nab but I found one on a raid once and swiped it." Cover Girl stated as the two men began inspecting the heart of the car.
"Is that a Demon?" Clutch asked as he inspected the carburetor.
"Twelve ninety Cee Ef Em." She grinned.
"Jesus. I've only ever seen one of these in this condition at Manney's." Clutch said as he admired the car and it's working parts. "I remember when it pulled in, I thought I was gonna cream my shorts." He added recalling the memory from his first job as a teenager working on muscle cars in his beloved New Jersey home.
"I'd have added nitrous but that's such a bitch to come by these days I decided to just do the basics." Cover Girl said.
"Basics my ass!" Steeler said as he leaned in for a better look.
Deep Six was entering just then and saw the two fawning over the car. "I though I told you to get diapers for those two." He said to Cover Girl as he smirked at the two tank jockeys.
Steeler flipped the diver off before looking at Cover Girl again. "Okay…how much do I have to twist yer arm to take this baby for a spin?" He asked grinning wildly.
"Ha!" She snorted. "How's it feel to want?" She replied sarcastically. "No one drives my baby but me!" She said kissing her fingertips and then touching them to the roof of the car. "Okay back up back up, you're going to ruin the engine by drooling all over it." She said as she shooed the men away and lowered the hood again.
"Very nice." Steeler said. "And they say chicks can't appreciate fine cars." He added with a smirk.
Clutch grinned and jerked a thumb towards Cover Girl. "She ain't like most chicks." He teased. "Ow!" He exclaimed after she slapped his shoulder for the crack.
"Screw you bud."
"I plan too later." Clutch said as he took a final look at the sleek black car parked in the hanger. She laughed as she linked her arm through his and headed towards their quarters.
To Be Continued…
