The Jungle Chapter 9
By Cadet Deming
I don't own the rights to GIJOE, Marvel, Devil's Due, Sunbow, and Hasbro do, so please don't sue. Rated PG-13. Adult language. Thanks to the people that are enjoying it. Reviews very welcome.
Epilogue:
Lady Jaye and Flint were changing out of the Crimson Guard uniforms they had stolen earlier and into regulation U.S. military attire in the back of a GIJOE Tomahawk helicopter.
"I hate the way he finds just the right button to push," said Flint.
Jaye stopped unbuttoning the uniform guiltily for a moment. "He..oh you mean MINDBENDER. Yeah, Mindbender. Well that's his codename for a reason. But cutting a deal with him was the best you could do under the circumstances," she said.
"I hate to agree with that conniving, slimy bastard, but he was right. This whole trip we really were the bad guys," said Flint.
"Well, we didn't know they were saving lives instead of threatening them, for a change. It's like Scarlett said. Sometimes when we're fighting for a good cause, we have to do things we're not proud of," said Lady Jaye. As she started to pull the Siegie uniform top over her head, she could smell the unmistakable scent of Xamot's cologne from when she had gotten so close to him earlier. From when she had let him.....
"I didn't get any pleasure out of what I did to Xamot," said Flint.
"What," she asked as guilty memories flooded back.
"When I interrogated him, it was just business, nothing personal. Sometimes when we fight an enemy, we start to take on some of their traits. That whole philosophy of HE WHO FIGHTS MONSTERS, MUST TAKE CARE NOT TO BECOME ONE," said Flint.
Jaye was frozen, wrapped in a sense of déjà vu. "Monsters...Dragons," she muttered to herself.
"Do you need help with that uniform," asked Flint.
"No thanks, not at all," she said as she broke her trance and went back to changing.
"Anyways, like I was saying, sometimes when you fight a ruthless enemy, you become a little ruthless yourself. But so long as you don't get too close to the edge of "the abyss", if you don't enjoy it or cross a line you can't come back from, there's nothing to worry about. After all is said and done, Snake-Eyes is the one that's responsible for the damage. It won't be on my conscience," said Flint, although he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else listening.
"And the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves," whispered Lady Jaye,
"What," asked Flint.
"Oh, nothing. Do you want to just pretend this whole trip never happened," asked Jaye.
Flint stared at her for a moment and replied, "This trip never happened."
Meanwhile, back at the remains of the Cobra base:
Tomax and Xamot hurriedly packed their bags in their chambers. They were trying to get ready to evacuate. Xamot was moving slower though, as he was still injured twice.
"Another Cobra investment gone bankrupt," said Tomax.
"Must you reduce everything," said Xamot.
"To a business analogy," finished Tomax.
"I can't say it was a total deficit," said Xamot.
"And how is that," asked his twin.
"I got felt up by Lady Jaye twice!" said Xamot brightly.
"Dear brother, we really need to get out more," sighed Tomax.
"I'm not desperate," frowned Xamot.
"Honestly, ever since Frederica left us," said Tomax.
"She didn't just LEAVE us, she flat out BETRAYED us," said his brother.
"She tried to turn herself into the authorities," said Tomax.
"And was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic," said Xamot.
"Who got put in an institution for the criminally insane," said his twin.
"Because no one believed her story about a group of men with Crimson uniforms in their closets," said Xamot.
"Posing as normal people and authority figures plotting to overthrow the U.S. government," said Tomax.
The brothers both chimed, "It's the stuff of Greek tragedy."
"But the point is, we offered her everything," said Xamot.
"And she left us anyway, is that what's so upsetting to you," asked Tomax gently.
"If we're both so wonderful, why do women always wind up resisting or leaving us," said Xamot plaintively.
"Is that what this is about Xamot, you feel rejected so you start," said Tomax.
"Chasing after one of our mortal enemies," said Xamot.
"Because that would be the biggest ego trip of all, seducing the enemy," finished Tomax.
"It's.....more than that," said Xamot.
Tomax sighed, "It's not like we need to find soul mates. I'm already your soul mate," said Tomax.
"I used to think that would be enough, but," said Xamot.
"It's not anymore," both twins conceded as they finished packing.
They left their room carrying their bags and walked to Mindbender's chambers. Although the door was closed, the unmistakable sound of him weeping inconsolably reverberated through the door.
Tomax went to knock, and then paused.
"Should we disturb him?" the brothers asked each other.
Suddenly, they heard Dr. Mindbender shuffle, and he abruptly jerked the door open.
"What!?" he shouted. His eyes were rimmed red and he was sniffling, but he was obviously trying to cover up the fact that he'd been crying.
"The Mambas are ready to evacuate us," the twins said.
"Are you......finished packing," asked Tomax.
"Yes of course I am! I can't wait to leave this Godforsaken hellhole!" he said, as he grabbed his own baggage and left locking the door behind him. The three men started walking down the hall.
"I could have had a Nobel Prize. I was this close," the Doctor muttered.
"With all due respect Dear Doctor," said Tomax.
"If you want to win a Nobel Prize," said Xamot.
"Why did you become a terrorist?" the brothers chimed.
"It's the principal of the thing!" said Mindbender.
"Since when did you," asked Tomax.
"Have principals?" finished Xamot.
"Dr. Mindbender flashed them an "if looks could kill" stare.
"Sorry," the twins said.
"So, what are you going to tell Serpentor?" asked Tomax.
"ME? Do you think I want to be the one that gets my spine ripped out," said Mindbender.
"Apparently, it's missing already," said Xamot.
"Beside, Serpentor LIKES you," said Tomax.
"You're the Second in Command," said Xamot.
"REMEMBER," Tomax and Xamot chimed in unison.
"And as Second in Command, I say YOU should be the bearers of bad tidings!" said the Doctor.
"Oh come now, pulling rank," said Tomax.
"Is simply unfair," said Xamot.
"So how are we supposed to settle this," asked Dr. Mindbender.
"The old-fashioned way," said Tomax.
"Count of 3," said Xamot.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors," said the twins, as the three men motioned to start the old playground game.
Meanwhile, back at the Joe base:
General Hawk sat with Duke, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, Flint, Lady Jaye, Recondo, and Roadblock.
"In reviewing the facts of this case, I find it in our best interest to make all matters classified, never to be released outside of the highest echelons of government...and did Snake-Eyes really destroy every hope we had for a cure for AIDS?" asked Duke.
Everyone turned and looked at Snake-eyes, who shrunk sheepishly in his seat.
"I call this meeting to adjournment. As far as we are concerned, this mission never happened," said General Hawk sadly.
The Joes all started to get up and leave.
"Hey Duke, wait up. I've been thinking, you and I don't spend enough time together," said Scarlett, putting her arm around Duke's shoulder. Snake-Eyes hung back, looking forlorn through his mask.
Lady Jaye walked past the table with the opened map of Africa containing the "HERE THERE BE DRAGONS" inscription. She then looked past it to a mirror hanging on the wall, and saw her own reflection.
THE END
By Cadet Deming
I don't own the rights to GIJOE, Marvel, Devil's Due, Sunbow, and Hasbro do, so please don't sue. Rated PG-13. Adult language. Thanks to the people that are enjoying it. Reviews very welcome.
Epilogue:
Lady Jaye and Flint were changing out of the Crimson Guard uniforms they had stolen earlier and into regulation U.S. military attire in the back of a GIJOE Tomahawk helicopter.
"I hate the way he finds just the right button to push," said Flint.
Jaye stopped unbuttoning the uniform guiltily for a moment. "He..oh you mean MINDBENDER. Yeah, Mindbender. Well that's his codename for a reason. But cutting a deal with him was the best you could do under the circumstances," she said.
"I hate to agree with that conniving, slimy bastard, but he was right. This whole trip we really were the bad guys," said Flint.
"Well, we didn't know they were saving lives instead of threatening them, for a change. It's like Scarlett said. Sometimes when we're fighting for a good cause, we have to do things we're not proud of," said Lady Jaye. As she started to pull the Siegie uniform top over her head, she could smell the unmistakable scent of Xamot's cologne from when she had gotten so close to him earlier. From when she had let him.....
"I didn't get any pleasure out of what I did to Xamot," said Flint.
"What," she asked as guilty memories flooded back.
"When I interrogated him, it was just business, nothing personal. Sometimes when we fight an enemy, we start to take on some of their traits. That whole philosophy of HE WHO FIGHTS MONSTERS, MUST TAKE CARE NOT TO BECOME ONE," said Flint.
Jaye was frozen, wrapped in a sense of déjà vu. "Monsters...Dragons," she muttered to herself.
"Do you need help with that uniform," asked Flint.
"No thanks, not at all," she said as she broke her trance and went back to changing.
"Anyways, like I was saying, sometimes when you fight a ruthless enemy, you become a little ruthless yourself. But so long as you don't get too close to the edge of "the abyss", if you don't enjoy it or cross a line you can't come back from, there's nothing to worry about. After all is said and done, Snake-Eyes is the one that's responsible for the damage. It won't be on my conscience," said Flint, although he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else listening.
"And the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves," whispered Lady Jaye,
"What," asked Flint.
"Oh, nothing. Do you want to just pretend this whole trip never happened," asked Jaye.
Flint stared at her for a moment and replied, "This trip never happened."
Meanwhile, back at the remains of the Cobra base:
Tomax and Xamot hurriedly packed their bags in their chambers. They were trying to get ready to evacuate. Xamot was moving slower though, as he was still injured twice.
"Another Cobra investment gone bankrupt," said Tomax.
"Must you reduce everything," said Xamot.
"To a business analogy," finished Tomax.
"I can't say it was a total deficit," said Xamot.
"And how is that," asked his twin.
"I got felt up by Lady Jaye twice!" said Xamot brightly.
"Dear brother, we really need to get out more," sighed Tomax.
"I'm not desperate," frowned Xamot.
"Honestly, ever since Frederica left us," said Tomax.
"She didn't just LEAVE us, she flat out BETRAYED us," said his brother.
"She tried to turn herself into the authorities," said Tomax.
"And was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic," said Xamot.
"Who got put in an institution for the criminally insane," said his twin.
"Because no one believed her story about a group of men with Crimson uniforms in their closets," said Xamot.
"Posing as normal people and authority figures plotting to overthrow the U.S. government," said Tomax.
The brothers both chimed, "It's the stuff of Greek tragedy."
"But the point is, we offered her everything," said Xamot.
"And she left us anyway, is that what's so upsetting to you," asked Tomax gently.
"If we're both so wonderful, why do women always wind up resisting or leaving us," said Xamot plaintively.
"Is that what this is about Xamot, you feel rejected so you start," said Tomax.
"Chasing after one of our mortal enemies," said Xamot.
"Because that would be the biggest ego trip of all, seducing the enemy," finished Tomax.
"It's.....more than that," said Xamot.
Tomax sighed, "It's not like we need to find soul mates. I'm already your soul mate," said Tomax.
"I used to think that would be enough, but," said Xamot.
"It's not anymore," both twins conceded as they finished packing.
They left their room carrying their bags and walked to Mindbender's chambers. Although the door was closed, the unmistakable sound of him weeping inconsolably reverberated through the door.
Tomax went to knock, and then paused.
"Should we disturb him?" the brothers asked each other.
Suddenly, they heard Dr. Mindbender shuffle, and he abruptly jerked the door open.
"What!?" he shouted. His eyes were rimmed red and he was sniffling, but he was obviously trying to cover up the fact that he'd been crying.
"The Mambas are ready to evacuate us," the twins said.
"Are you......finished packing," asked Tomax.
"Yes of course I am! I can't wait to leave this Godforsaken hellhole!" he said, as he grabbed his own baggage and left locking the door behind him. The three men started walking down the hall.
"I could have had a Nobel Prize. I was this close," the Doctor muttered.
"With all due respect Dear Doctor," said Tomax.
"If you want to win a Nobel Prize," said Xamot.
"Why did you become a terrorist?" the brothers chimed.
"It's the principal of the thing!" said Mindbender.
"Since when did you," asked Tomax.
"Have principals?" finished Xamot.
"Dr. Mindbender flashed them an "if looks could kill" stare.
"Sorry," the twins said.
"So, what are you going to tell Serpentor?" asked Tomax.
"ME? Do you think I want to be the one that gets my spine ripped out," said Mindbender.
"Apparently, it's missing already," said Xamot.
"Beside, Serpentor LIKES you," said Tomax.
"You're the Second in Command," said Xamot.
"REMEMBER," Tomax and Xamot chimed in unison.
"And as Second in Command, I say YOU should be the bearers of bad tidings!" said the Doctor.
"Oh come now, pulling rank," said Tomax.
"Is simply unfair," said Xamot.
"So how are we supposed to settle this," asked Dr. Mindbender.
"The old-fashioned way," said Tomax.
"Count of 3," said Xamot.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors," said the twins, as the three men motioned to start the old playground game.
Meanwhile, back at the Joe base:
General Hawk sat with Duke, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, Flint, Lady Jaye, Recondo, and Roadblock.
"In reviewing the facts of this case, I find it in our best interest to make all matters classified, never to be released outside of the highest echelons of government...and did Snake-Eyes really destroy every hope we had for a cure for AIDS?" asked Duke.
Everyone turned and looked at Snake-eyes, who shrunk sheepishly in his seat.
"I call this meeting to adjournment. As far as we are concerned, this mission never happened," said General Hawk sadly.
The Joes all started to get up and leave.
"Hey Duke, wait up. I've been thinking, you and I don't spend enough time together," said Scarlett, putting her arm around Duke's shoulder. Snake-Eyes hung back, looking forlorn through his mask.
Lady Jaye walked past the table with the opened map of Africa containing the "HERE THERE BE DRAGONS" inscription. She then looked past it to a mirror hanging on the wall, and saw her own reflection.
THE END
