July 13th, 1960
Children had no names in the Pits of Cobra. The actual location of the headquarters was Cambodia but few knew the ancient structures which had once been refuges of those seeking religious enlightenment were now home to a brutal trade in slaves, weapons, and mercenaries to raise money for the master of the organization whose face was always covered in a black shroud. It would be twelve more years until the hideous brutality of the terrorists would become a threat to the leaders of the nation and it's neighbors in Vietnam and Korea where it had also done extensive business, and they would be driven away. Such thoughts were not for the nameless child that dwelled here however, only survival mattered. The other children shied away from the boy for his strange features and the warnings from the other slaves that he was somehow touched by the not quite-human creature that ruled here.
"Mama, am I not a person?" the boy asked leaning against his mother. Already his strange golden hair and slightly greenish tinged skin in certain spots marked him as an outsider.
"Hush my child. Do not think such things. You are my child and tinged with love and care to your very bones." The lady whose name he would later discover to be Maryna, patted his head even as the soldiers arrived in the hole, which was their home in the ruins and the tunnels dug underneath. Though he had no name according to the rulers of the pit, she in private called him Saru.
"There's the little brat." A man of flaxen hair dressed in camouflaged clothing that was deliberately meant to appear similar to American G.I. forces save for the red cobra stitched on the sleeve, walked in followed by several other men of mixed nationalities. Each however was holding a heavy machine gun and it was obvious they were coming for him.
"Get away girl." The man said as another one of the beasts pulled the boy from his mother's arms and he screamed. He struggled against them like he had always struggled when they came to take her away but this time he stopped because of the sound of thunder that roared through the hole and his mother's body falling limp stunned him.
"Eh, what the hell did you do that for?" one of the other men said as the boy stared at the body.
"There. The boss said to do her in and get the brat, you lunkhead. Apparently he's got plans for the little runt. Freaking loony bastard that he is." The flaxen haired leader said as he was carried by his shoulders down darkened hallways into the higher levels of the compound for perhaps the first time in his life.
July 13th, 2001
The new Cobra Commander woke in a cold sweat from the dream that was burned in his mind. Getting up from his bed in the heart of Cobra Station, he walked forward to the bathroom and stared into the mirror. Years had passed, many battles had been fought, and still the stings of the days early in his life span were born into his brain. The cold black eyes that had been genetic replacements for the one's lost to a G.I. Joe sniper rifle during his time as a Crimson Guard told him he grown up strong of will, courage, and form but his mind told him there was something fundamentally wrong with the situation he lived in. Since the day he had been removed from his mother's arms he had been taught respect for one's superiors and the honorable way of Cobra.
"This is your punishment. You are singled out from all the domestic and wild animals of the whole Earth and cursed. You shall grovel in the dust as long as you live, crawling along your belly. From now on you and the woman shall be enemies, as will all your offspring and hers. And I will put the fear of you in the heart of you into the woman and between your offspring and hers. He shall strike you on the head and you will strike at his heel." The commander repeated the line into the mirror that had appealed to him regarding Cobra's mission on the Earth, to recover the paradise that a snake in that particular creation story had removed from mankind. It had also helped explain to his young mind why Cobra was so feared and hated even when intellectually he knew his father had been conducting a war without regard for what was precious to mankind and that was why his organization bore the brunt of an evil omen.
"What are you saying?" a voice called from his bed and he looked backed to Anya, his Crimson guardswoman, Fallen Angel. She had awoken from her slumber and he looked at her with a softened glare. She was a woman of great wrongs committed against her thanks to the Communists of her land and she had joined him out of respect to his speeches, enamored of them and ultimately him. Though he cared for her and she for him, he knew that her heart rested with a young man killed long ago and his for a very alive woman who had loved a man that might have never been.
"Nothing, My Lady. You should get your rest. We are preparing for the attack on Cobra Island this afternoon and I had best get dressed for the final war-councils that must be held today." The Cobra Commander known as Saru, Johnathan, and a host of other names throughout his life walked to his wardrobe and set out his suit.
"Then I must prepare as well my Commander. I like not you entering that pit of vipers with only those treacherous greedy fools to serve as your compass." Fallen Angel murmured as she herself stirred. She realized she had miss-spoke by the raising of her companion's eyebrow.
"Never forget that it is snakes that we must emanate. Distasteful as I find Snake's organization I must acknowledge that it is the root of where I come from and the tree that we are grown from is only as good as they." The Commander smiled at that particular analogy and once again reaffirmed all the life work that his father had done was worthwhile if he succeeded where he had failed and the others below him had disgraced the Cobra hood repeatedly.
"Then we had best avoid giving bitter fruit." Fallen Angel replied and the Commander nodded. "We had best shower and prepare for the worst, My Love. I have a duty to protect you." She smiled but the Lord of Cobra did not return it.
'Love.' It was an almost alien concept to the cold-hearted leader, almost.
***
Lady Jaye's javelin sailed towards the cardboard HISS Viper and it's front exploded at just the point it would if the javelin had hit a real one. Smiling to herself Lady Jaye blew on her fingers.
"Still got it." She said proudly.
The deck of the United States Aircraft Carrier Patriot was full of chatter as it was quite obvious that the standard naval crew was not happy having it's hold full up with a bunch of varying military branches grunts with unusual personality quirks. She missed the old Joe carrier but Cobra had pretty much guaranteed that puppy would be out of commission forever. The Navy also had quite a few other troops running on other ships as well, this would probably be the biggest operation she'd go on, at least given the fact she was a civilian who'd managed to win a temporary repost.
'At least I made Major.' She smirked to herself.
"Hey!" LJ heard then her husbands voice behind her and she let her triumphant smile shine. Flint, the ever-dashing Colonel, was looking quite well and it was obvious the meeting had gone well.
"So how is your dear sister managing to handle three bouncing beautiful babies?" Lady Jaye smirked as Flint frowned. The Colonel, as he hated to be called, loved his daughters, Marissa, Rebecca, and Shana, but it hurt his all too sensitive pride to call even the four year old a baby.
"They're hardly bouncing…" Flint began as LJ kissed him on the lips, fraternization laws be damned.
"I know. I know." Lady Jaye smirked and sighed "So how far are we until snake central?"
"We're still in international waters but we're only three hours away from Cobra Island. Wild Bill is going to go in with a team of air-strikers to take out their communications network first." Flint said and looked toward the horizon. "He should be back any time now…." The subtle understatement was one she'd not heard in a long time. He'd always used it whenever he wasn't on field missions on the Joe team as if he was the guaranteed factor that would make sure everything turned out alright.
"You wonder if he's a General yet?" LJ poked Flint in the chest as he looked down at her with a frown.
"The day Wild Bill commands a large portion of the air-force is the day I start investing heavily in anti-aircraft regiments." Flint smiled as he squinted. Already the sun was beginning to set.
"So(,) Flint(,) do you think we're still up to snuff?" Lady Jaye asked a very personal question as she bit the side of her cheek. If anyone else had asked her that question or her husband, she would have pounded them into the ground. She was very proud of her physical ability and how she'd maintained it over the years. It had been one of the reasons she'd joined the army, to see how good she really was. Still it had been more than a decade since than either of them had fought Cobra's creatures. Lady Jaye didn't like to admit it to Flint but sometimes she still had nightmares about those things. Friends lost, people killed, and wave after wave of masked warriors and BATS. If Flint ever did, the Colonel hid them well.
Dashiel stopped for a moment and looked at his wife, Alison, before he answered. "I think whatever Cobra has we're ready for it. I'm more worried about the new recruits personally."
Alison Hart-Burnett blinked and wrapped him in a tight hug. Lady Jaye had left the military because she wanted to have children and while Duke was polite enough to ignore, quietly, Flint's relationship with her while they worked fine together, she knew pregnancy would be a little harder to cover up. She wasn't afraid of being widowed or leaving her children without parents, mainly because the average Cobra Viper couldn't hit a billboard at a pace, but she knew Flint was thinking about it. It was one of the traits she loved in him, he always was thinking of everyone else first before himself.
"Glad to hear it." Lady Jaye smirked "Dashiel. Now I'm ready to see if armor has gotten any better in my lucky number of years."
She twirled a javelin in her hands as Flint scowled again.
"Please, Alison, how many times do I have to ask. Don't call me that."
***
Serpentor was most displeased by the current turn of events. To think it had been nearly driving him insane that these same events were year after year were repeating themselves. In the heart of Cobra Island's palace where his throne rested, he rose from it and lifted his fist high into the air.
"WHO IS IT WHO HAS DONE THIS? WHICH OF YOU IS THE TRAITOR! I COMMAND YOU TO STEP FORWARD!" the genetically engineered warlord's grip could have crushed a diamond it was so tight but none of the lackeys that Tomax and Xamot had gathered around his noble throne had any answer for him. Serpentor pulled one of the serpents from around his neck and thought about slaying one of the fawning toadies but merely sat down and placed his hand to his forehead, a serving-slave placing a cup of wine to his lips.
'It was not supposed to end like this.' Serpentor shook his head as the red juice slide down his throat and he mustered the energy to swallow. He could remember ruling England, Rome, France at its' height, barbarian hordes and disciplined armies, but with a combined life of more than a thousand years of war and murder there was nothing but a small island and a gang of criminals that he was lord over. He felt it was most like Napoleon on the prison of Saint Helena and had even considered commissioning a biography of himself to add further to the irony.
"It's these twins, I know it. They are plotting against me. More wine!" Serpentor said. He was genetically designed to never lose his fighting trim and once he had deduced this he had spared himself no lavish to distract him from the terrible reality that upon the destruction of Cobra-la he had become nothing more than a figurehead for a movement that had no goals but enrichment. After all this time the Cobra name though had begun to fade from the public's mind for the fear it engineered and Xamot and Tomax were considering killing him to shed the Cobra mantle entirely he was sure yet now there was no place on Earth that Cobra was not spoken with a terrified whisper anew.
"AND I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!" Serpentor cried slamming the cup-bearer down twenty steps from his throne and onto the ground. The female cracked her skull on the ground and was bleeding but the Emperor of Cobra cared not for such weak creatures. There was undeniable reality that someone was using his destiny and army's name without him and even in his despair could he see that they had no intention of including him in on such profits as they would incur.
"You! Assassins! SPIES! INFORMANTS! I offer you great wealth if you will find for me who is behind this! Your weight in gems!" Serpentor called and he was disgusted to discover only a few of them seemed truly to believe him before they began to depart. His mockery of a court had lost all respect for him in his occasional "tantrums" that resulted in the death of one of two of them. Worse he had lost even the powerful ally of greed, which would have helped him persuade them even more for they all knew now that the moneylenders of the same womb ruled all that he could give them.
"I pray to you whatever gods of war exist that you send me a battle this day so I may prove I am still the greatest commander the world has ever known and all that will be written for Serpentor will not be a tomb inscription!" the Emperor of Cobra cried to the heavens even as alarms blared all about him. Cobra-la, which should have been his destiny, was destroyed and all chance of him ruling beside Pythonia of a race of new superior humans under the gentle beloved Golobulus were smashed but it appeared destiny still recognized his rulership over it.
"The Communications station…." Tomax said rushing into his throne room.
"Has been destroyed!" Xamot said coming in from a different entrance.
"BY JOES!" They repeated together as they looked at each other across the great chamber.
'Gods of darkness and night save me from such fools.' Serpentor felt his head before descending down the staircase. "It appears that the force that my enemies arrayed against me so long ago has returned to finish me off, despite your statements they could not do so, sniveling fools." Serpentor sighed at the twins. "Begin gathering your mercenaries, thieves, and dealers in exotic pleasures with the weaponry you have wasted far too less against. Under my fangs I will forge the rabble into an army that the world has never seen before and we will crush G.I. Joe once and for all."
Tomax and Xamot, true to their nature of allowing considerable distance between them and being the main target of their foes bowed their heads toward Serpentor and surrendered control over Cobra Island's defenses to the creature of Dr. Mindbender. Oddly the oncoming rush of battle did not fill him with a sense of invigorating power and soon to be victory but a subtle sense that the final page was being written in the sordid tale of his existence.
'That is a taste I enjoy indeed.' Serpentor said as he bit tongue just to taste the blood that poured forth.
***
"So we're not going to be in combat you said." Icicle murmured amidst the spray of the ocean as the Liberator Duck Mark 12 headed from alongside the U.S.S Patriot towards the waters of Cobra Island. Inside the very same platform were members of the original G.I. Joe team whom Kessily had always admired. The Alaskan had grown up watching their exploits and though they were classified, one couldn't help but watch some of their missions against Cobra.
"Okay so I made a bloody mistake. Sod off." Playboy said with a murmur of British profanity while carrying a very large heavy repeating laser cannon. Icicle had heard the man's father had been from England or something.
"If you'll kindly both pipe down I'm going to keep driving us. You know I was only supposed to be a consultant on th…incoming!" Shipwreck yelled, moving the boat to the left even as beside them some of Cobra Island's defense beams began blasting the ocean as fountains of stinging boiling water and steam struck them. "A fine time for one of our damn drivers to get sick. Who the hell has ever heard of a consultant driving a troop-ferry?"
"Shipwreck, please." Scarlet said beside him even as she mounted up the side of the small Joe aquatic assault vehicle's cannon. It was called a "Liberator" Duck Type 12 but Scarlet was more of the mind that the speedy thing just be called their ticket onto the island's shores, if Shipwreck could pay attention to the attacking fire. Nearly a hundred other Liberators were sailing forward to Cobra Island beside her and a number of them were under pretty heavy fire too.
'Let's see if I can fix that.' Scarlet took aim with the cannon and launched a powerful energy blast that exploded towards the island and was pleased to see an explosion. Unfortunately there were numerous other emplacements elsewhere and it was sobering that one of the Liberators beside her detonated with all aboard killed.
"Alright everyone I want those emplacements taken out as soon as you hit the beach. They're angled mostly for taking out air force attacks and oncoming large vehicles but they're sure to be a whole lot of snakes on the ground when we hit as well. It's only going to get worse as we make a break for Serpentor's citadel and the capital of New Eden. We're going to drop in some armor but expect to face a lot more than they can take out one on one until we are in full command of the shores." Colonel Falcon said into his speaker to the team that had been assigned him. Flint was leading the second group and Duke was coordinating from the Patriot. Some British guy was commanding a third group of international soldiers but Falcon didn't expect much from them. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe not.
"Get ready for Hell." Creed said, lifting up his own gun as Kessily back up to the helicopters carrying the G.I. Joe Eradicator tanks that would be led by Demolition Derby in this assault.
"Is any one else concerned about the fact that we're going to be expected to take out a group of tanks on foot…cause I know I am." Playboy lifted a hand up with a wave as everyone looked at him like he had said something stupid. "I kind of knew that was going to be the response I was going to get."
The Liberator Duck jerked again, this time to the right, as the explosive results came only within a half a foot of passing through Punch card. The young communications expert didn't seem to notice however. "Colonel Falcon, I have a line on Cobra's battle plan and I've decrypted they're transmissions. I should be able to give you a real time display of what the Cobras are doing."
"Good work, PC. See if you can figure out a way to send the troops on a few wild good chases away from the South, East, and West we're attacking from. The less we have to face entrenched the better." Falcon murmured even as he picked up his laser rifle and stared onto the beach, which was already filling up with Cobra Viper Gliders, F.A.N.G's, and flight pods above and H.I.S.S tanks and S.N.A.K.E. battle armor below.
"Scarlet, be a doll and blow those things on the beach to Hell before I crash into them." Shipwreck said as he pulled out his pistol even as they came into rifle range and blue energy bolts sailed across the side and front of the Liberator Duck 12.
Fiery rockets and explosions illuminated the sky above them as Wild Bill and the rest of the air-force backup dueled in the new Skyblaster jets XO's. The Cobra force was badly outmatched in skill and technology but it was obvious that even if they were going to win it would be a tough fight with plenty of causalities. "Everyone get your rockets and rifles ready we're going ashore." Falcon commanded lifting a grenade in one hand and his personal pistol in the next before they struck shore, the defense force having already been blasted into so much ash around them by Scarlet's good shooting.
"YO JOE!" Falcon cried entering the fray that was the war beginning on Cobra Island.
***
The new Cobra Commander petted the diamond on the back of his father Snake's head even as the serpent watched with hungry eyes the approaching image of Cobra-Island. The cloaked floating vessel contained within it the most advanced army in the world and it was prepared to strike down its' foes once the initial squeamishness of the other leaders was overwhelmed.
"You cannot be serious! You actually intend to attack an island already under attack? Look down! The transmissions show that G.I. Joe is already going to destroy it for you! What more do you want?" The Baroness DeCobray's objection to the continued moving ahead of the attack plan was quite thorough.
"My thirteen yearssssss of imprisonment in the form of a Sssssssssnake Baroness hassss hardened me. Perhapssss a similar time for you imprisssoned in the form of a human hassss made you ssoft." Snakes turned its' head toward the woman and spoke with sinister eloquence.
"The Baroness is right. Let our enemies destroy one another and we can finish off whoever is the victor." Destro spoke with pragmatic sense as always. "I have just returned from the darkness to a position of power, I do not wish to waste those I can use to make up for the years I have spent planning."
The Commander sighed and put his leather snake-skinned gloves together as he gazed down toward the imagery of the island and the impending G.I. Joe attack, his introspective frown gradually turned into a contemptuous smile. "You speak of necessity and logistics, destruction and survival, if such were the case alone I would not be attacking Serpentor and the hovel he has built for himself. The man is a disgrace to himself and his troops who lie in pits of decadent squalor and indulge themselves in pleasures to forget who they once were. The glories of Cobra demand that this stain on our honor, MY HONOR, be expunged, not by the hands of our mortal enemies but myself. This is a message to the world, Destro, as much as it is repayment for the horror that was done unto my father by that hell-spawned freak which lives below on piles of gold that should belong to us. The message is quite clearly not only has Cobra returned but it is in a new form that can crush its' foes beneath it's coils with no effort whatsoever."
"Inform the troopssss my sssson that they will be attacking not only the traitorsss of Cobra but alsssso the United States military and their lackeyssss." Snakes murmured as the Commander gestured to make it so.
"Very well, if you will not call off this fool's errand I insist that you give me a laser pistol, a flight pod or whatever you have and let me attack!" The Baroness said to one of the few times the Commander, Destro, and Snakes actually were shocked. The Baroness gave a self-satisfied smile "I have wasted behind bars for more nights than I could possibly count because of those fools down below and I intend to take my vengeance if it is the last and only thing I do with my freedom."
"Baroness, you can't possibly…" Destro began as the figure who had once again wore a mask of pure-gold looked on in shock towards the woman who was the love of his life. The arms dealer had been trying for some time to restore himself in her affections but a wall had formed in a decade and it was obvious it could only be worn down by blood.
"Silence! You have no idea how long I have prayed, seething in the darkness, for a chance to take one moment of my life from this point on to inflict unforgettable suffering on Xamot, Tomax, or that insufferable serpent…no offense intended Snakes." The Baroness let the last part deliberately trail down to the transformed man below her.
"Allow the Baroness access to one of my private squadrons of Cobra Commandoes. Protect her at the cost to your own lives and lead her to her vengeance. I will follow shortly." The Cobra Commander said as one of his Crimson guards behind him nodded, proceeding to gather the troops. "BEGIN THE DECLOAKING PROCEDURE!" the Commander shouted before heading toward rocket armor lockers, the warrior in charge of Cobra always led from the front, no matter how suicidal, and was last to retreat.
"Your son, 'Snakes', is a fool." Destro sneered "He's going to get himself and my beloved killed and all because he has some antiquated notions of honor."
"Such notionsssss have proven mosssst useful Desssstro in rebuilding my shattered empire. In any cassse if he falls killing Ssssserpentor then we will have a valuable martyr to our cause. The ssssame for the Baronesss." Snakes hissed to the gold plated figure beside him.
Destro looked down at the giant cobra and gave a short cruel laugh "It's comforting to know that some things never change no matter how much time passes. You are still a venal creature of no soul."
Snakes looked up at Destro with a look that reflected the one emotion left in his body, hate "I have indeed changed much Desstro but I cannot lead Cobra like thissss. I require a mouthpiece, whether it isssss my all too foolish idealistic offsssspring or you. Do not bite the hand that feedssss you either. My ssson already believes you are a traitor and not much convincing will be needed to persuade him your death is warranted or that he can forgive hisssss dear dear father that you never wake up from nine bites that would each kill a man when you go to bed some night and find me waiting."
Destro shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably and gave acknowledgement to the serpent.
The Cobra Commander returned then dressed in a battle armor that resembled a cross between a Crimson guard's uniform, a Viper troopers', and special modifications that looked straight from the laboratory. The Cobra Hood was prominently displayed holding the regal blue cape behind him. A rocket pack had been mounted on his back and in his hands was a strange double-edged spear of some sort with a laser on both ends. Destro noted beside him was a man who had lost all of his head and had half his face, his arm, and a leg replaced by what looked to be computers, metal, and electronics. Destro vaguely recalled the man's code-name to be Shareware and the man was a mental invalid Cobra had modified to genius level intelligence.
"Shields are holding, Commander, and the troops are beginning their deployment, Sire." Shareware murmured before sitting down at a nearby console and small metal tentacles moved from his body into the communications grid. "What should I tell the hailing forces?"
"Tell them that they have no chance to survive against us and to make their peace with God." The Cobra Commander said dryly.
"What about 'All you base are belong to us'?" Shareware asked, the cyborg having a peculiar sense of humor born from being effectively logged onto the net twenty four hours a day, even to his superiors.
"Pardon?" the Commander replied to the demented programmer.
"Nothing, Sir. I'm relaying your message." Shareware replied as the Commander bashed his fist against his metal covered palm and gave his last pronouncement before igniting his jetpack and sailing through the front of the Reaper platform.
"Then let the games begin."
***
Brigadier General Duke watched the battle screens light up with the presence of a Cobra hover cruiser that had suddenly just come out of the sky and started shooting forth ships of designs he'd never seen in his life.
"WHAT IN BLAZES IS GOING ON OUT THERE?" Duke shouted as Dial-tone and several younger communications officers operate the channels about the U.S.S. Patriot. "Shoot that thing down!"
"I'm trying Duke but that things got stuff from Star Trek on it! AHHHHH!" Duke heard the reply of Ace moments before static interrupted and Duke saw the man's fighter jet explode in a hail of fire from the strange vessel.
'I hope he bailed out.' Duke thought.
"Duke this is weird but the Cobra reinforcements aren't landing in any of the parts of the island that are being attacked but the North….and they're hitting Cobra Island's defenses too!" Dial-tone said in shock as Duke looked at the man for a moment and witnessed the new Cobra rocketeers and attack helicopters blasting at Joe and Cobra Island forces alike.
"What the…." Duke said watching large boxes with rockets sailing from the cruiser down onto the island. "Whoever they are, they aren't friendly and I'm pretty sure they're responsible for whatever the hell has been going on for the past week and a half. Get the Colonels online and tell them they can expect company!"
"You got it, Duke." Dial-tone relayed the message as Duke backed up and stared. Numerous thoughts were running through his head, but not the least of which was the idea they'd gone into this blind and were about to get hammered for it. He briefly thought about his wife, Angela, and wondered what she and the kids would do if he was killed before shoving the thought out of his mind, a Joe only thought about victory.
***
Children had no names in the Pits of Cobra. The actual location of the headquarters was Cambodia but few knew the ancient structures which had once been refuges of those seeking religious enlightenment were now home to a brutal trade in slaves, weapons, and mercenaries to raise money for the master of the organization whose face was always covered in a black shroud. It would be twelve more years until the hideous brutality of the terrorists would become a threat to the leaders of the nation and it's neighbors in Vietnam and Korea where it had also done extensive business, and they would be driven away. Such thoughts were not for the nameless child that dwelled here however, only survival mattered. The other children shied away from the boy for his strange features and the warnings from the other slaves that he was somehow touched by the not quite-human creature that ruled here.
"Mama, am I not a person?" the boy asked leaning against his mother. Already his strange golden hair and slightly greenish tinged skin in certain spots marked him as an outsider.
"Hush my child. Do not think such things. You are my child and tinged with love and care to your very bones." The lady whose name he would later discover to be Maryna, patted his head even as the soldiers arrived in the hole, which was their home in the ruins and the tunnels dug underneath. Though he had no name according to the rulers of the pit, she in private called him Saru.
"There's the little brat." A man of flaxen hair dressed in camouflaged clothing that was deliberately meant to appear similar to American G.I. forces save for the red cobra stitched on the sleeve, walked in followed by several other men of mixed nationalities. Each however was holding a heavy machine gun and it was obvious they were coming for him.
"Get away girl." The man said as another one of the beasts pulled the boy from his mother's arms and he screamed. He struggled against them like he had always struggled when they came to take her away but this time he stopped because of the sound of thunder that roared through the hole and his mother's body falling limp stunned him.
"Eh, what the hell did you do that for?" one of the other men said as the boy stared at the body.
"There. The boss said to do her in and get the brat, you lunkhead. Apparently he's got plans for the little runt. Freaking loony bastard that he is." The flaxen haired leader said as he was carried by his shoulders down darkened hallways into the higher levels of the compound for perhaps the first time in his life.
July 13th, 2001
The new Cobra Commander woke in a cold sweat from the dream that was burned in his mind. Getting up from his bed in the heart of Cobra Station, he walked forward to the bathroom and stared into the mirror. Years had passed, many battles had been fought, and still the stings of the days early in his life span were born into his brain. The cold black eyes that had been genetic replacements for the one's lost to a G.I. Joe sniper rifle during his time as a Crimson Guard told him he grown up strong of will, courage, and form but his mind told him there was something fundamentally wrong with the situation he lived in. Since the day he had been removed from his mother's arms he had been taught respect for one's superiors and the honorable way of Cobra.
"This is your punishment. You are singled out from all the domestic and wild animals of the whole Earth and cursed. You shall grovel in the dust as long as you live, crawling along your belly. From now on you and the woman shall be enemies, as will all your offspring and hers. And I will put the fear of you in the heart of you into the woman and between your offspring and hers. He shall strike you on the head and you will strike at his heel." The commander repeated the line into the mirror that had appealed to him regarding Cobra's mission on the Earth, to recover the paradise that a snake in that particular creation story had removed from mankind. It had also helped explain to his young mind why Cobra was so feared and hated even when intellectually he knew his father had been conducting a war without regard for what was precious to mankind and that was why his organization bore the brunt of an evil omen.
"What are you saying?" a voice called from his bed and he looked backed to Anya, his Crimson guardswoman, Fallen Angel. She had awoken from her slumber and he looked at her with a softened glare. She was a woman of great wrongs committed against her thanks to the Communists of her land and she had joined him out of respect to his speeches, enamored of them and ultimately him. Though he cared for her and she for him, he knew that her heart rested with a young man killed long ago and his for a very alive woman who had loved a man that might have never been.
"Nothing, My Lady. You should get your rest. We are preparing for the attack on Cobra Island this afternoon and I had best get dressed for the final war-councils that must be held today." The Cobra Commander known as Saru, Johnathan, and a host of other names throughout his life walked to his wardrobe and set out his suit.
"Then I must prepare as well my Commander. I like not you entering that pit of vipers with only those treacherous greedy fools to serve as your compass." Fallen Angel murmured as she herself stirred. She realized she had miss-spoke by the raising of her companion's eyebrow.
"Never forget that it is snakes that we must emanate. Distasteful as I find Snake's organization I must acknowledge that it is the root of where I come from and the tree that we are grown from is only as good as they." The Commander smiled at that particular analogy and once again reaffirmed all the life work that his father had done was worthwhile if he succeeded where he had failed and the others below him had disgraced the Cobra hood repeatedly.
"Then we had best avoid giving bitter fruit." Fallen Angel replied and the Commander nodded. "We had best shower and prepare for the worst, My Love. I have a duty to protect you." She smiled but the Lord of Cobra did not return it.
'Love.' It was an almost alien concept to the cold-hearted leader, almost.
***
Lady Jaye's javelin sailed towards the cardboard HISS Viper and it's front exploded at just the point it would if the javelin had hit a real one. Smiling to herself Lady Jaye blew on her fingers.
"Still got it." She said proudly.
The deck of the United States Aircraft Carrier Patriot was full of chatter as it was quite obvious that the standard naval crew was not happy having it's hold full up with a bunch of varying military branches grunts with unusual personality quirks. She missed the old Joe carrier but Cobra had pretty much guaranteed that puppy would be out of commission forever. The Navy also had quite a few other troops running on other ships as well, this would probably be the biggest operation she'd go on, at least given the fact she was a civilian who'd managed to win a temporary repost.
'At least I made Major.' She smirked to herself.
"Hey!" LJ heard then her husbands voice behind her and she let her triumphant smile shine. Flint, the ever-dashing Colonel, was looking quite well and it was obvious the meeting had gone well.
"So how is your dear sister managing to handle three bouncing beautiful babies?" Lady Jaye smirked as Flint frowned. The Colonel, as he hated to be called, loved his daughters, Marissa, Rebecca, and Shana, but it hurt his all too sensitive pride to call even the four year old a baby.
"They're hardly bouncing…" Flint began as LJ kissed him on the lips, fraternization laws be damned.
"I know. I know." Lady Jaye smirked and sighed "So how far are we until snake central?"
"We're still in international waters but we're only three hours away from Cobra Island. Wild Bill is going to go in with a team of air-strikers to take out their communications network first." Flint said and looked toward the horizon. "He should be back any time now…." The subtle understatement was one she'd not heard in a long time. He'd always used it whenever he wasn't on field missions on the Joe team as if he was the guaranteed factor that would make sure everything turned out alright.
"You wonder if he's a General yet?" LJ poked Flint in the chest as he looked down at her with a frown.
"The day Wild Bill commands a large portion of the air-force is the day I start investing heavily in anti-aircraft regiments." Flint smiled as he squinted. Already the sun was beginning to set.
"So(,) Flint(,) do you think we're still up to snuff?" Lady Jaye asked a very personal question as she bit the side of her cheek. If anyone else had asked her that question or her husband, she would have pounded them into the ground. She was very proud of her physical ability and how she'd maintained it over the years. It had been one of the reasons she'd joined the army, to see how good she really was. Still it had been more than a decade since than either of them had fought Cobra's creatures. Lady Jaye didn't like to admit it to Flint but sometimes she still had nightmares about those things. Friends lost, people killed, and wave after wave of masked warriors and BATS. If Flint ever did, the Colonel hid them well.
Dashiel stopped for a moment and looked at his wife, Alison, before he answered. "I think whatever Cobra has we're ready for it. I'm more worried about the new recruits personally."
Alison Hart-Burnett blinked and wrapped him in a tight hug. Lady Jaye had left the military because she wanted to have children and while Duke was polite enough to ignore, quietly, Flint's relationship with her while they worked fine together, she knew pregnancy would be a little harder to cover up. She wasn't afraid of being widowed or leaving her children without parents, mainly because the average Cobra Viper couldn't hit a billboard at a pace, but she knew Flint was thinking about it. It was one of the traits she loved in him, he always was thinking of everyone else first before himself.
"Glad to hear it." Lady Jaye smirked "Dashiel. Now I'm ready to see if armor has gotten any better in my lucky number of years."
She twirled a javelin in her hands as Flint scowled again.
"Please, Alison, how many times do I have to ask. Don't call me that."
***
Serpentor was most displeased by the current turn of events. To think it had been nearly driving him insane that these same events were year after year were repeating themselves. In the heart of Cobra Island's palace where his throne rested, he rose from it and lifted his fist high into the air.
"WHO IS IT WHO HAS DONE THIS? WHICH OF YOU IS THE TRAITOR! I COMMAND YOU TO STEP FORWARD!" the genetically engineered warlord's grip could have crushed a diamond it was so tight but none of the lackeys that Tomax and Xamot had gathered around his noble throne had any answer for him. Serpentor pulled one of the serpents from around his neck and thought about slaying one of the fawning toadies but merely sat down and placed his hand to his forehead, a serving-slave placing a cup of wine to his lips.
'It was not supposed to end like this.' Serpentor shook his head as the red juice slide down his throat and he mustered the energy to swallow. He could remember ruling England, Rome, France at its' height, barbarian hordes and disciplined armies, but with a combined life of more than a thousand years of war and murder there was nothing but a small island and a gang of criminals that he was lord over. He felt it was most like Napoleon on the prison of Saint Helena and had even considered commissioning a biography of himself to add further to the irony.
"It's these twins, I know it. They are plotting against me. More wine!" Serpentor said. He was genetically designed to never lose his fighting trim and once he had deduced this he had spared himself no lavish to distract him from the terrible reality that upon the destruction of Cobra-la he had become nothing more than a figurehead for a movement that had no goals but enrichment. After all this time the Cobra name though had begun to fade from the public's mind for the fear it engineered and Xamot and Tomax were considering killing him to shed the Cobra mantle entirely he was sure yet now there was no place on Earth that Cobra was not spoken with a terrified whisper anew.
"AND I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!" Serpentor cried slamming the cup-bearer down twenty steps from his throne and onto the ground. The female cracked her skull on the ground and was bleeding but the Emperor of Cobra cared not for such weak creatures. There was undeniable reality that someone was using his destiny and army's name without him and even in his despair could he see that they had no intention of including him in on such profits as they would incur.
"You! Assassins! SPIES! INFORMANTS! I offer you great wealth if you will find for me who is behind this! Your weight in gems!" Serpentor called and he was disgusted to discover only a few of them seemed truly to believe him before they began to depart. His mockery of a court had lost all respect for him in his occasional "tantrums" that resulted in the death of one of two of them. Worse he had lost even the powerful ally of greed, which would have helped him persuade them even more for they all knew now that the moneylenders of the same womb ruled all that he could give them.
"I pray to you whatever gods of war exist that you send me a battle this day so I may prove I am still the greatest commander the world has ever known and all that will be written for Serpentor will not be a tomb inscription!" the Emperor of Cobra cried to the heavens even as alarms blared all about him. Cobra-la, which should have been his destiny, was destroyed and all chance of him ruling beside Pythonia of a race of new superior humans under the gentle beloved Golobulus were smashed but it appeared destiny still recognized his rulership over it.
"The Communications station…." Tomax said rushing into his throne room.
"Has been destroyed!" Xamot said coming in from a different entrance.
"BY JOES!" They repeated together as they looked at each other across the great chamber.
'Gods of darkness and night save me from such fools.' Serpentor felt his head before descending down the staircase. "It appears that the force that my enemies arrayed against me so long ago has returned to finish me off, despite your statements they could not do so, sniveling fools." Serpentor sighed at the twins. "Begin gathering your mercenaries, thieves, and dealers in exotic pleasures with the weaponry you have wasted far too less against. Under my fangs I will forge the rabble into an army that the world has never seen before and we will crush G.I. Joe once and for all."
Tomax and Xamot, true to their nature of allowing considerable distance between them and being the main target of their foes bowed their heads toward Serpentor and surrendered control over Cobra Island's defenses to the creature of Dr. Mindbender. Oddly the oncoming rush of battle did not fill him with a sense of invigorating power and soon to be victory but a subtle sense that the final page was being written in the sordid tale of his existence.
'That is a taste I enjoy indeed.' Serpentor said as he bit tongue just to taste the blood that poured forth.
***
"So we're not going to be in combat you said." Icicle murmured amidst the spray of the ocean as the Liberator Duck Mark 12 headed from alongside the U.S.S Patriot towards the waters of Cobra Island. Inside the very same platform were members of the original G.I. Joe team whom Kessily had always admired. The Alaskan had grown up watching their exploits and though they were classified, one couldn't help but watch some of their missions against Cobra.
"Okay so I made a bloody mistake. Sod off." Playboy said with a murmur of British profanity while carrying a very large heavy repeating laser cannon. Icicle had heard the man's father had been from England or something.
"If you'll kindly both pipe down I'm going to keep driving us. You know I was only supposed to be a consultant on th…incoming!" Shipwreck yelled, moving the boat to the left even as beside them some of Cobra Island's defense beams began blasting the ocean as fountains of stinging boiling water and steam struck them. "A fine time for one of our damn drivers to get sick. Who the hell has ever heard of a consultant driving a troop-ferry?"
"Shipwreck, please." Scarlet said beside him even as she mounted up the side of the small Joe aquatic assault vehicle's cannon. It was called a "Liberator" Duck Type 12 but Scarlet was more of the mind that the speedy thing just be called their ticket onto the island's shores, if Shipwreck could pay attention to the attacking fire. Nearly a hundred other Liberators were sailing forward to Cobra Island beside her and a number of them were under pretty heavy fire too.
'Let's see if I can fix that.' Scarlet took aim with the cannon and launched a powerful energy blast that exploded towards the island and was pleased to see an explosion. Unfortunately there were numerous other emplacements elsewhere and it was sobering that one of the Liberators beside her detonated with all aboard killed.
"Alright everyone I want those emplacements taken out as soon as you hit the beach. They're angled mostly for taking out air force attacks and oncoming large vehicles but they're sure to be a whole lot of snakes on the ground when we hit as well. It's only going to get worse as we make a break for Serpentor's citadel and the capital of New Eden. We're going to drop in some armor but expect to face a lot more than they can take out one on one until we are in full command of the shores." Colonel Falcon said into his speaker to the team that had been assigned him. Flint was leading the second group and Duke was coordinating from the Patriot. Some British guy was commanding a third group of international soldiers but Falcon didn't expect much from them. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe not.
"Get ready for Hell." Creed said, lifting up his own gun as Kessily back up to the helicopters carrying the G.I. Joe Eradicator tanks that would be led by Demolition Derby in this assault.
"Is any one else concerned about the fact that we're going to be expected to take out a group of tanks on foot…cause I know I am." Playboy lifted a hand up with a wave as everyone looked at him like he had said something stupid. "I kind of knew that was going to be the response I was going to get."
The Liberator Duck jerked again, this time to the right, as the explosive results came only within a half a foot of passing through Punch card. The young communications expert didn't seem to notice however. "Colonel Falcon, I have a line on Cobra's battle plan and I've decrypted they're transmissions. I should be able to give you a real time display of what the Cobras are doing."
"Good work, PC. See if you can figure out a way to send the troops on a few wild good chases away from the South, East, and West we're attacking from. The less we have to face entrenched the better." Falcon murmured even as he picked up his laser rifle and stared onto the beach, which was already filling up with Cobra Viper Gliders, F.A.N.G's, and flight pods above and H.I.S.S tanks and S.N.A.K.E. battle armor below.
"Scarlet, be a doll and blow those things on the beach to Hell before I crash into them." Shipwreck said as he pulled out his pistol even as they came into rifle range and blue energy bolts sailed across the side and front of the Liberator Duck 12.
Fiery rockets and explosions illuminated the sky above them as Wild Bill and the rest of the air-force backup dueled in the new Skyblaster jets XO's. The Cobra force was badly outmatched in skill and technology but it was obvious that even if they were going to win it would be a tough fight with plenty of causalities. "Everyone get your rockets and rifles ready we're going ashore." Falcon commanded lifting a grenade in one hand and his personal pistol in the next before they struck shore, the defense force having already been blasted into so much ash around them by Scarlet's good shooting.
"YO JOE!" Falcon cried entering the fray that was the war beginning on Cobra Island.
***
The new Cobra Commander petted the diamond on the back of his father Snake's head even as the serpent watched with hungry eyes the approaching image of Cobra-Island. The cloaked floating vessel contained within it the most advanced army in the world and it was prepared to strike down its' foes once the initial squeamishness of the other leaders was overwhelmed.
"You cannot be serious! You actually intend to attack an island already under attack? Look down! The transmissions show that G.I. Joe is already going to destroy it for you! What more do you want?" The Baroness DeCobray's objection to the continued moving ahead of the attack plan was quite thorough.
"My thirteen yearssssss of imprisonment in the form of a Sssssssssnake Baroness hassss hardened me. Perhapssss a similar time for you imprisssoned in the form of a human hassss made you ssoft." Snakes turned its' head toward the woman and spoke with sinister eloquence.
"The Baroness is right. Let our enemies destroy one another and we can finish off whoever is the victor." Destro spoke with pragmatic sense as always. "I have just returned from the darkness to a position of power, I do not wish to waste those I can use to make up for the years I have spent planning."
The Commander sighed and put his leather snake-skinned gloves together as he gazed down toward the imagery of the island and the impending G.I. Joe attack, his introspective frown gradually turned into a contemptuous smile. "You speak of necessity and logistics, destruction and survival, if such were the case alone I would not be attacking Serpentor and the hovel he has built for himself. The man is a disgrace to himself and his troops who lie in pits of decadent squalor and indulge themselves in pleasures to forget who they once were. The glories of Cobra demand that this stain on our honor, MY HONOR, be expunged, not by the hands of our mortal enemies but myself. This is a message to the world, Destro, as much as it is repayment for the horror that was done unto my father by that hell-spawned freak which lives below on piles of gold that should belong to us. The message is quite clearly not only has Cobra returned but it is in a new form that can crush its' foes beneath it's coils with no effort whatsoever."
"Inform the troopssss my sssson that they will be attacking not only the traitorsss of Cobra but alsssso the United States military and their lackeyssss." Snakes murmured as the Commander gestured to make it so.
"Very well, if you will not call off this fool's errand I insist that you give me a laser pistol, a flight pod or whatever you have and let me attack!" The Baroness said to one of the few times the Commander, Destro, and Snakes actually were shocked. The Baroness gave a self-satisfied smile "I have wasted behind bars for more nights than I could possibly count because of those fools down below and I intend to take my vengeance if it is the last and only thing I do with my freedom."
"Baroness, you can't possibly…" Destro began as the figure who had once again wore a mask of pure-gold looked on in shock towards the woman who was the love of his life. The arms dealer had been trying for some time to restore himself in her affections but a wall had formed in a decade and it was obvious it could only be worn down by blood.
"Silence! You have no idea how long I have prayed, seething in the darkness, for a chance to take one moment of my life from this point on to inflict unforgettable suffering on Xamot, Tomax, or that insufferable serpent…no offense intended Snakes." The Baroness let the last part deliberately trail down to the transformed man below her.
"Allow the Baroness access to one of my private squadrons of Cobra Commandoes. Protect her at the cost to your own lives and lead her to her vengeance. I will follow shortly." The Cobra Commander said as one of his Crimson guards behind him nodded, proceeding to gather the troops. "BEGIN THE DECLOAKING PROCEDURE!" the Commander shouted before heading toward rocket armor lockers, the warrior in charge of Cobra always led from the front, no matter how suicidal, and was last to retreat.
"Your son, 'Snakes', is a fool." Destro sneered "He's going to get himself and my beloved killed and all because he has some antiquated notions of honor."
"Such notionsssss have proven mosssst useful Desssstro in rebuilding my shattered empire. In any cassse if he falls killing Ssssserpentor then we will have a valuable martyr to our cause. The ssssame for the Baronesss." Snakes hissed to the gold plated figure beside him.
Destro looked down at the giant cobra and gave a short cruel laugh "It's comforting to know that some things never change no matter how much time passes. You are still a venal creature of no soul."
Snakes looked up at Destro with a look that reflected the one emotion left in his body, hate "I have indeed changed much Desstro but I cannot lead Cobra like thissss. I require a mouthpiece, whether it isssss my all too foolish idealistic offsssspring or you. Do not bite the hand that feedssss you either. My ssson already believes you are a traitor and not much convincing will be needed to persuade him your death is warranted or that he can forgive hisssss dear dear father that you never wake up from nine bites that would each kill a man when you go to bed some night and find me waiting."
Destro shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably and gave acknowledgement to the serpent.
The Cobra Commander returned then dressed in a battle armor that resembled a cross between a Crimson guard's uniform, a Viper troopers', and special modifications that looked straight from the laboratory. The Cobra Hood was prominently displayed holding the regal blue cape behind him. A rocket pack had been mounted on his back and in his hands was a strange double-edged spear of some sort with a laser on both ends. Destro noted beside him was a man who had lost all of his head and had half his face, his arm, and a leg replaced by what looked to be computers, metal, and electronics. Destro vaguely recalled the man's code-name to be Shareware and the man was a mental invalid Cobra had modified to genius level intelligence.
"Shields are holding, Commander, and the troops are beginning their deployment, Sire." Shareware murmured before sitting down at a nearby console and small metal tentacles moved from his body into the communications grid. "What should I tell the hailing forces?"
"Tell them that they have no chance to survive against us and to make their peace with God." The Cobra Commander said dryly.
"What about 'All you base are belong to us'?" Shareware asked, the cyborg having a peculiar sense of humor born from being effectively logged onto the net twenty four hours a day, even to his superiors.
"Pardon?" the Commander replied to the demented programmer.
"Nothing, Sir. I'm relaying your message." Shareware replied as the Commander bashed his fist against his metal covered palm and gave his last pronouncement before igniting his jetpack and sailing through the front of the Reaper platform.
"Then let the games begin."
***
Brigadier General Duke watched the battle screens light up with the presence of a Cobra hover cruiser that had suddenly just come out of the sky and started shooting forth ships of designs he'd never seen in his life.
"WHAT IN BLAZES IS GOING ON OUT THERE?" Duke shouted as Dial-tone and several younger communications officers operate the channels about the U.S.S. Patriot. "Shoot that thing down!"
"I'm trying Duke but that things got stuff from Star Trek on it! AHHHHH!" Duke heard the reply of Ace moments before static interrupted and Duke saw the man's fighter jet explode in a hail of fire from the strange vessel.
'I hope he bailed out.' Duke thought.
"Duke this is weird but the Cobra reinforcements aren't landing in any of the parts of the island that are being attacked but the North….and they're hitting Cobra Island's defenses too!" Dial-tone said in shock as Duke looked at the man for a moment and witnessed the new Cobra rocketeers and attack helicopters blasting at Joe and Cobra Island forces alike.
"What the…." Duke said watching large boxes with rockets sailing from the cruiser down onto the island. "Whoever they are, they aren't friendly and I'm pretty sure they're responsible for whatever the hell has been going on for the past week and a half. Get the Colonels online and tell them they can expect company!"
"You got it, Duke." Dial-tone relayed the message as Duke backed up and stared. Numerous thoughts were running through his head, but not the least of which was the idea they'd gone into this blind and were about to get hammered for it. He briefly thought about his wife, Angela, and wondered what she and the kids would do if he was killed before shoving the thought out of his mind, a Joe only thought about victory.
***