"The Jungle"
By: "Cadet Deming"
I don't own the rights to GIJOE, Hasbro, Devil's Due, and Marvel do, so please don't sue.
This story is told more in the manner of a Sunbow cartoon episode. It does contain references and characters from my work, "There's No Place Like Springfield Part 3" (For those of you who want to know what happened to Frederica after all) but it still can stand on its own, and the narrative point of view has shifted. PG-13 rated. Contains violence, adult language, and situations. (I'm not making fun of handicapped people; I'm making fun of Snake-Eyes). Reviews welcome.
Flint picked up a copy of the glossy, "Variety Magazine" from his girlfriend's pine coffee table.
"Miramax Grabs Griffin Laffer for 5 Million", he read. "Honestly, Lady Jaye, I don't know why you read this Hollywood garbage," he said, with a combination of exasperation and affection.
"Well I am technically an actress you know. I need to keep track of the Hollywood scene," she said with a smirk.
"You're one of the world's greatest military intelligence operatives, you're not some ditzy starlet," he said.
"Just because I'm a member of America's foremost anti-terrorist strike force doesn't mean I can't kick back with something fun every once in awhile. Besides, don't you ever wonder where you'd be if you never joined GIJOE or the Army?" she asked, taking the magazine back from him.
"HHMMMMMM. If I wasn't a Rhodes Scholar with a degree in English Lit turned Green Beret?" Flint seemed to ponder thoughtfully. "I guess I would be a college professor back in Kansas. Of course, since I'm such a stunningly handsome guy, a lot of my female students would get crushes on me. I'd have to turn them down of course, and one girl would go psycho and falsely accuse me of coming on to her to get back at me for rejecting her. Then I'd wind up getting fired from my position and..on second thought, I'll take the hazards of fighting Cobra over the hazards of Academia any day," he said dryly.
"Modest as ever. Although our own "Warrant Officer Man" with "Enlisted Woman" dating situation isn't exactly a good career move for either of us," said Lady Jaye.
"I wouldn't worry about it. So long as we both do our jobs, the top brass will look the other way on the anti-fraternization laws," he said.
"I hope you continue to be right about that, Flint," said Lady Jaye.
"Aren't I always right about everything?" he grinned.
"Do I have to answer that question?" asked Lady Jaye playfully.
Suddenly, an authoritative voice boomed over the loudspeaker: "Attention! All Intelligence Personnel are to report to General Hawk's office in 0200 hours. Attendance is mandatory!"
"So much for our rest and relaxation. I guess I won't be able to escape to Hollywood after all," sighed Lady Jaye.
"We had an Intel briefing scheduled for next week. For General Hawk to call a meeting so soon.something big is going on." He frowned.
Two hours later....
Flint and Lady Jaye walked into General Hawk's office. Mahogany panels lined the walls, along with pictures and newspaper clippings of the GIJOE's exploits. General Hawk adorned the place with memorabilia, not just of himself, but of the entire "JOE team." The room itself was relatively small for a general of Hawk's stature, as he wasn't the kind of man to grandstand or put on airs.
Lady Jaye and Flint settled into some black chairs along with the rest of the GIJOE Intelligence Team. Across a table from them sat Snake-Eyes and Scarlett. Snake-Eyes was the team's commando. He was mute and badly burned from a battle accident. He was "speaking" in sign-language to Scarlett.
Scarlett was the team's Counterintelligence expert. She slightly outranked Lady Jaye in position and experience, and was most notable for her fiery red hair. She greeted Lady Jaye and Flint cordially, and then returned to her "conversation" with Snake-Eyes.
"I call this meeting to attention," said General Hawk. Everyone immediately straightened up.
"As you well know, Duke has stepped away from the GI JOE Field Commander position and been serving in Black Ops. He has returned with some news of great importance." If the Joes hadn't have been so professional a murmur would have gone through the room at the mention of Duke's name. He had mysteriously left the team 1 year ago to work with a shadowy CIA-style government agency and had barely been heard from since.
General Hawk pressed a button, and a side door opened. Duke walked in. Instead of the combat fatigues he had worn for so many years, he sported a crisp "Men In Black" style tailored suit. His blonde hair was still in the same short crewcut that Lady Jaye remembered, but his previously youthful All-American good-looks were replaced by deep lines across his brow, and his formerly cheerful blue eyes seemed sharper and darker, hinting at things best left unseen or unsaid.
"Greetings" and "Welcome Backs" were exchanged around the table.
Duke smiled grimly. "I wish I could meet you all under better circumstances, but unfortunately I'm here on serious business. Who here is familiar with the situation in Burugundi?" he asked.
Snake-Eyes began to gesticulate wildly.
"MMMMMMM. No offense Snake-eyes, but who here that can speak English is familiar with it?" said Duke.
Scarlett chimed in, "I haven't visited it myself, but I've read the reports. Burugundi is a Sub-Saharan African nation. It's been ripped apart by Civil War for 30 years. A new prime minister warlord seems to come into power every few months, only to be overthrown by a new faction. Although it is perennially on the Top 10 List...of Amnesty International's greatest human rights violators".
Lady Jaye added," I haven't visited it myself either...U.S. State Department warnings against American citizens traveling there and all...but I've seen a lot of articles on how it has the highest rate of AIDS and lowest GDP in the world."
"Well, these facts have been informative yet depressing, but how does this affect GIJOE?" asked Flint.
Duke pressed a button and a slide show started. A picture of a press release in a foreign language appeared.
"Does anyone here read or speak Burugundi," asked Duke.
"I think I missed it at the Monterey Language School" said Lady Jaye.
Duke aimed a laser pointer at the phrase "EXTENSIVE ENTERPRISES" in the clip.
"Need I say anything in Burugundi anymore?" Duke deadpanned.
"Extensive Enterprises. Cobra's front corporation. So do we have evidence that Cobra is backing any sides in the never-ending civil war?" asked Flint.
"Well, an awfully large amount of the artillery and tanks on all of the sides are provided by Destro's MARS corporation. Of course, Destro supplies a lot of the artillery and tanks in any unlawful skirmish, so that's nothing to set off immediate alarm. But in the past few months, we've seen an increase in Cobra activity, including visits from Cobra's High Command. There isn't an army there. Yet. but from what little we've been able to pinpoint, Cobra has something big planned.
"So, why don't we just go in and blast the snakes with our non-MARS artillery and tanks?" asked Flint.
General Hawk interjected: "Unfortunately, we can't. The present prime minister of Burugundi is hostile to the U.S., and friendly to Extensive Enterprise's "investment" in the area. We can't send a group in force, and I can't get NATO or UN backing on this until we have more proof of an international threat."
"My proposal is we send a small mission of reconnaissance and jungle specialists to find out what Cobra is up to. If we get more evidence, then we can get clearance to send in the cavalry" said Duke.
"Flint, I want you to take Lady Jaye, Roadblock, and Recondo, with you. You ship out tomorrow. Yo Joe!" said General Hawk.
A chorus of "Yo Joes" was exchanged.
Lady Jaye and the others walked towards the door. She noticed an antique map of the world was opened on a table. The African continent dominated the middle of the parchment it was painted on. Across the place where modern- day Burugundi was located, were scrawled the words :"HERE THERE BE DRAGONS".
By: "Cadet Deming"
I don't own the rights to GIJOE, Hasbro, Devil's Due, and Marvel do, so please don't sue.
This story is told more in the manner of a Sunbow cartoon episode. It does contain references and characters from my work, "There's No Place Like Springfield Part 3" (For those of you who want to know what happened to Frederica after all) but it still can stand on its own, and the narrative point of view has shifted. PG-13 rated. Contains violence, adult language, and situations. (I'm not making fun of handicapped people; I'm making fun of Snake-Eyes). Reviews welcome.
Flint picked up a copy of the glossy, "Variety Magazine" from his girlfriend's pine coffee table.
"Miramax Grabs Griffin Laffer for 5 Million", he read. "Honestly, Lady Jaye, I don't know why you read this Hollywood garbage," he said, with a combination of exasperation and affection.
"Well I am technically an actress you know. I need to keep track of the Hollywood scene," she said with a smirk.
"You're one of the world's greatest military intelligence operatives, you're not some ditzy starlet," he said.
"Just because I'm a member of America's foremost anti-terrorist strike force doesn't mean I can't kick back with something fun every once in awhile. Besides, don't you ever wonder where you'd be if you never joined GIJOE or the Army?" she asked, taking the magazine back from him.
"HHMMMMMM. If I wasn't a Rhodes Scholar with a degree in English Lit turned Green Beret?" Flint seemed to ponder thoughtfully. "I guess I would be a college professor back in Kansas. Of course, since I'm such a stunningly handsome guy, a lot of my female students would get crushes on me. I'd have to turn them down of course, and one girl would go psycho and falsely accuse me of coming on to her to get back at me for rejecting her. Then I'd wind up getting fired from my position and..on second thought, I'll take the hazards of fighting Cobra over the hazards of Academia any day," he said dryly.
"Modest as ever. Although our own "Warrant Officer Man" with "Enlisted Woman" dating situation isn't exactly a good career move for either of us," said Lady Jaye.
"I wouldn't worry about it. So long as we both do our jobs, the top brass will look the other way on the anti-fraternization laws," he said.
"I hope you continue to be right about that, Flint," said Lady Jaye.
"Aren't I always right about everything?" he grinned.
"Do I have to answer that question?" asked Lady Jaye playfully.
Suddenly, an authoritative voice boomed over the loudspeaker: "Attention! All Intelligence Personnel are to report to General Hawk's office in 0200 hours. Attendance is mandatory!"
"So much for our rest and relaxation. I guess I won't be able to escape to Hollywood after all," sighed Lady Jaye.
"We had an Intel briefing scheduled for next week. For General Hawk to call a meeting so soon.something big is going on." He frowned.
Two hours later....
Flint and Lady Jaye walked into General Hawk's office. Mahogany panels lined the walls, along with pictures and newspaper clippings of the GIJOE's exploits. General Hawk adorned the place with memorabilia, not just of himself, but of the entire "JOE team." The room itself was relatively small for a general of Hawk's stature, as he wasn't the kind of man to grandstand or put on airs.
Lady Jaye and Flint settled into some black chairs along with the rest of the GIJOE Intelligence Team. Across a table from them sat Snake-Eyes and Scarlett. Snake-Eyes was the team's commando. He was mute and badly burned from a battle accident. He was "speaking" in sign-language to Scarlett.
Scarlett was the team's Counterintelligence expert. She slightly outranked Lady Jaye in position and experience, and was most notable for her fiery red hair. She greeted Lady Jaye and Flint cordially, and then returned to her "conversation" with Snake-Eyes.
"I call this meeting to attention," said General Hawk. Everyone immediately straightened up.
"As you well know, Duke has stepped away from the GI JOE Field Commander position and been serving in Black Ops. He has returned with some news of great importance." If the Joes hadn't have been so professional a murmur would have gone through the room at the mention of Duke's name. He had mysteriously left the team 1 year ago to work with a shadowy CIA-style government agency and had barely been heard from since.
General Hawk pressed a button, and a side door opened. Duke walked in. Instead of the combat fatigues he had worn for so many years, he sported a crisp "Men In Black" style tailored suit. His blonde hair was still in the same short crewcut that Lady Jaye remembered, but his previously youthful All-American good-looks were replaced by deep lines across his brow, and his formerly cheerful blue eyes seemed sharper and darker, hinting at things best left unseen or unsaid.
"Greetings" and "Welcome Backs" were exchanged around the table.
Duke smiled grimly. "I wish I could meet you all under better circumstances, but unfortunately I'm here on serious business. Who here is familiar with the situation in Burugundi?" he asked.
Snake-Eyes began to gesticulate wildly.
"MMMMMMM. No offense Snake-eyes, but who here that can speak English is familiar with it?" said Duke.
Scarlett chimed in, "I haven't visited it myself, but I've read the reports. Burugundi is a Sub-Saharan African nation. It's been ripped apart by Civil War for 30 years. A new prime minister warlord seems to come into power every few months, only to be overthrown by a new faction. Although it is perennially on the Top 10 List...of Amnesty International's greatest human rights violators".
Lady Jaye added," I haven't visited it myself either...U.S. State Department warnings against American citizens traveling there and all...but I've seen a lot of articles on how it has the highest rate of AIDS and lowest GDP in the world."
"Well, these facts have been informative yet depressing, but how does this affect GIJOE?" asked Flint.
Duke pressed a button and a slide show started. A picture of a press release in a foreign language appeared.
"Does anyone here read or speak Burugundi," asked Duke.
"I think I missed it at the Monterey Language School" said Lady Jaye.
Duke aimed a laser pointer at the phrase "EXTENSIVE ENTERPRISES" in the clip.
"Need I say anything in Burugundi anymore?" Duke deadpanned.
"Extensive Enterprises. Cobra's front corporation. So do we have evidence that Cobra is backing any sides in the never-ending civil war?" asked Flint.
"Well, an awfully large amount of the artillery and tanks on all of the sides are provided by Destro's MARS corporation. Of course, Destro supplies a lot of the artillery and tanks in any unlawful skirmish, so that's nothing to set off immediate alarm. But in the past few months, we've seen an increase in Cobra activity, including visits from Cobra's High Command. There isn't an army there. Yet. but from what little we've been able to pinpoint, Cobra has something big planned.
"So, why don't we just go in and blast the snakes with our non-MARS artillery and tanks?" asked Flint.
General Hawk interjected: "Unfortunately, we can't. The present prime minister of Burugundi is hostile to the U.S., and friendly to Extensive Enterprise's "investment" in the area. We can't send a group in force, and I can't get NATO or UN backing on this until we have more proof of an international threat."
"My proposal is we send a small mission of reconnaissance and jungle specialists to find out what Cobra is up to. If we get more evidence, then we can get clearance to send in the cavalry" said Duke.
"Flint, I want you to take Lady Jaye, Roadblock, and Recondo, with you. You ship out tomorrow. Yo Joe!" said General Hawk.
A chorus of "Yo Joes" was exchanged.
Lady Jaye and the others walked towards the door. She noticed an antique map of the world was opened on a table. The African continent dominated the middle of the parchment it was painted on. Across the place where modern- day Burugundi was located, were scrawled the words :"HERE THERE BE DRAGONS".
