Disclaimers: GI Joe and COBRA are the property of Marvel and Sunbow. I'm just borrowing them for some fun and promise to put them back. Omar, Samir, Samina, Habidi, and Valide are mine.
Feedback is always appreciated! Please read and review but more importantly...Enjoy!
"Your Highness, your mother wishes to see you." The captain bowed his head to Samir as he entered his study. He noticed piles of papers and books strewn across Samir's desk and side table in a haphazard fashion. Samir himself was leaning back in his leather chair with his feet propped up on the dark mahogany desk, chewing on the end of a pen while he turned the pages of a file he held tightly. The tension in his hands told the captain all wasn't well.
"Your Highness," the captain repeated, clearing his throat with a slight cough.
"What is it now, Omar?" Samir groaned, raking one hand through his jet-black hair. He kicked himself back from his desk, lowering his feet to the floor. Tossing the file down in front of him, he turned his full attention to his captain and childhood friend.
"Your mother wishes to see you." Omar approached, standing in front of him with his hands resting to his sides.
"Tell her I'm busy." He returned to his folders, dismissing Omar with a wave of his hand. "I'm expecting Destro here this evening and I want answers as to why were delayed AGAIN," he growled angrily. "They were supposed to deliver the cannon weeks ago." He drummed his fingers on his planner, pausing as he read a cryptic note he had jotted on tomorrow's date. "Did you run checks on the arms dealer that arrived yesterday?"
"Sheik Akbar al Haq appears to be what he claims. My sources couldn't find anything out of the ordinary with his papers. The younger son of a prominent businessman. He's traveling with his wives." Omar paused at Samir's raised brow.
"His wives?"
"Two of them though no one's seen their faces. He appears to be strict with them. One of my men saw him in the bazaar and commented he knows how to keep them in line," he snorted, crossing him arms. "His papers state that he's here on a pleasure trip.
"So, he's mixing business with pleasure." Samir cast a mock brow. "No need to worry about that...I know how to deal with this one. He's no different then 'my' people," Samir scoffed, relaxing in his chair. "Perhaps its time I met with the Sheik," he mused, folding his hands behind his head.
"He's small compared to what COBRA has to offer us." Omar frowned, wondering if this was another game for Samir.
"Small but if COBRA can't come up with my cannon then I need to find another supplier...send for the Sheik tonight." Samir shrugged, once more leaning back in his leather chair. He stared out the window, watching his falconers training his prized falcon. He watched the bird of prey soar high, responding to a high-pitched whistle for its return. Standing from his chair, he walked to the window, resting his hands on the sill. The bird gracefully returned to the falconers protected grip, accepting a sliver of raw meat for its obedience. "What did my mother want this time?"
"One of the women we brought in caught her attention, she wants you to see this one."
"What is it about this one that's caught her 'attention' this time?" He groaned, pushing himself up from the window.
"She's English," Omar replied, flatly.
"English? How? Where did she come from?" Samir spun on his heel to face him. "No one saw her enter the country? I thought you said we had all the troublemakers secured and taken care of..."
"We did. The women that were causing the uprisings in the village were taken care of. I saw to it personally."
"How?"
"A few are working in the palace. A few were sent aboard for a price which you seemed pleased with and you know the others are unseen..."
"In the women's room," Samir concluded with a satisfied grin, spreading across his face.
"Shall I handle this one?"
"No, my mother sent for me...far be it for me to spoil her day. What does this one look like?" Samir grinned, clasping a hand over Omar's shoulder.
"I can't say." Omar shook his head. "Your mother ordered her escorted to the women's room."
"She didn't say anything?"
"Green eyes...big hands...big feet..." Omar shrugged, pausing in front of the door.
"Then why am I being sent for?" Samir blocked the handle.
"Cause she's English?"
"That and my mother enjoys flaunting her control of the women's room." Samir scratched his neck, waiting for Omar to open the door. Once outside, the two went back to ruler and servant in front of the others.
"Look, Buster, I said HANDS OFF!" Lady Jaye clenched her fist tightly, slamming it back and down into the groin of the guard holding her. She broke free the second the man crumpled to the floor, clutching himself in agonizing pain. The other women were in shock as she ran past them at full speed headed for the heavy door that separated the opulent selamlik, greeting room, from the rest of the palace. She struggled with the weight of the huge doors, prying them open.
"GUARDS...STOP HER!" Samir's mother shrieked, stepping past the fallen man.
"What the hell?" Samir grabbed Omar's shoulder. "Get your men. I'm going to see what she's screaming about now." He shoved Omar away, rushing forward at the sounds of his mother's shouts. "She hasn't screamed the palace down since the last time she and Nancy got into it," he thought, watching the doors slowly open. He heard Omar running up to him with a few men and raised his hand, warding them off.
She braced her back against the door, opening it enough for her to slip out into the hall. "Christ," she sighed heavily, emerging into the hall with her back to Samir.
"Going somewhere?" A deep voice questioned as a hand seized her shoulder. Without a second thought, her hand flew to her assailant's wrist. Delivering a swift bump of the hip, she pivoted, sending him over her shoulder, crashing to the floor.
"Anywhere but..." Her humorous smirk waned into shock as she saw who her assailant was and that they weren't alone. Omar and ten men had seen her throw Samir. "Ah..." she stammered, watching Samir rock back, springing to his feet in one fluid motion. He seized her wrist with his hand, gripping it painfully back. She grimaced, feeling the sting of her strained tendons stretched as he hauled her back through the doors roaring, "EVERYONE OUT!" The women scrambled out of sight, hiding to observe the punishment of the new woman. "I SAID OUT!" He stormed past them, dragging her inside of the women's room where no other men aside from family members were allowed.
Throwing her down to a chaise just inside the room, he towered over her. "Who are you?"
"She's English." His mother harrumphed as she entered the room through a side door, placing a possessive hand on his shoulder.
"I thought I said for everyone to leave," he admonished, removing his mother's hand from his shoulder. With her uncertainty of him simmering beneath the surface, Lady Jaye held her tongue watching the two of them interact. The way he dealt with his mother would be a clear indication of how he'd deal with her...she hoped.
"Look at her." His mother tugged on his sleeve as she nodded in Lady Jaye's direction.
"How can I not...the hellcat threw me like a rag doll out there," he grumbled, locking eyes with Lady Jaye. "Leave us alone." He wrenched free of his mother's hand.
"But..."
"Leave...you stay RIGHT there." He glared at Lady Jaye while propping the main door open for his mother. Keeping one eye on Lady Jaye, he noticed Omar waiting in the greeting room with his men. "Omar, send the men back to their posts. No one is to mention what he saw here," he growled through the door.
"Yes, your Highness." Omar bowed his head. He ordered the men back to their posts before escorting Samir's mother to the observation area above the women's room.
"Who are you?" Samir lunged towards her, causing her to scramble back.
"A tourist," she gulped. "I was in the market when the other women came along...I got caught up with them when your men arrived."
"And you just happened to throw me like nothing?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Self defense 101?" She flinched, taking on the timid mouse character she had portrayed earlier.
"What's your name?" He grabbed her shoulders roughly, lifting her from the chaise, closing the gap between them. She felt his breath hot against her face, his face mere inches from hers. He noticed the light playing in her eyes...the vibrant emerald orbs bore into his black eyes, penetrating his soul. He released her as suddenly as he had grabbed her.
"Why did you kidnap me?" She bit back.
"I asked your name." He recovered, studying her from the corner of his eye. He noticed her hair fell softly to her shoulders in warm waves of brown, traced with red highlights; her skin was lightly tanned. Combined with her emerald eyes, she was in a word, beautiful.
"Jane Cartwright," she supplied off the cuff, interrupting his observations.
"Well, Jane, it looks as though you'll be our guest for a while so I suggest you make yourself comfortable." He slowly stepped away from her, leaving her lying on the chaise. "Cause any problems and it will not go well for you, am I making myself clear?"
"Crystal," she mumbled, fixing her eyes on him.
"Good, now, my mother is in charge of the women's room. You will follow her instructions to the letter. Is that clear?" He growled down at her.
She nodded her compliance as meekly as Jane Cartwright should.
"Good, then, I'll leave you."
"You're leaving?" She narrowed her eyes on his back, holding a pent breath.
"For now but I'll be watching," he warned, exiting the room.
She sighed heavily, falling back to the chaise as the door closed. "Too close for comfort," she thought, scanning the room. She noticed the floors laden in marble, partitions throughout the room appeared as woven marble, accented with gold leaf to the eye. Standing from the chaise, she walked around, drinking in the luxurious furnishings the room provided. Deep plush carpets were laid out near the chaise. She noted several more sofas piled with pillows; some spilling onto the floor. Mosaics decorated the walls containing rich lapis, jade, and other gemstones accented in gold. Marveling at the elaborate panels, she allowed her eyes to wander upwards. She noticed Samir's mother watching her from above and redirected her attention to the room surrounding her. Reality had intruded upon her once more with the presence of watchful eyes. She walked to the balcony off to the side, drawing the sheer drapes to the side to observe the courtyard below. More guards...she noted armed men standing at various points around the walls. From her vantage point, she could see them but they could not see her. The brutal heat of the sun was blaring down from above her, obscuring her presence from their view.
"Step away from the windows," she heard the woman call down to her. Suppressing a chill that crept along her spine, she mentally noted that eyes were everywhere. She'd have to be careful if she was going to spring Flint and the others. The woman's voice continued to drone in her ears as she looked up to the balcony above her. "You will not be seen uncovered," the woman scolded, walking towards a carved set of stairs.
"They can't see me...the sun is directly above us." Lady Jaye smirked, defiantly lifting her chin.
"I can see you have much to learn about life here," the older woman huffed, stepping down from the last step with Omar right behind. "Omar, you may return to your duties. I don't believe she will cause any further outbursts. Will you?" She narrowed her eyes on Lady Jaye.
"No." Lady Jaye lowered her gaze, willing herself to keep her tongue in check.
"Excellent." The older woman held her head high, leading Lady Jaye towards another set of doors behind a heavy panel. "I have a dinner to arrange tonight. You will make yourself useful assisting the others." She led her past several women lounging in another room. Their eyes followed Lady Jaye as she past them entering a large sunroom where several women sat feverishly mending various items of clothing.
"What...they have a free ticket or something?" Lady Jaye nodded back towards the lounging women. Several of them were giggling and pointing towards her.
"You would do well to curb that tongue of yours."
"Really and how am I to address you?" She baited the older woman.
"Samina," the woman bellowed, dismissing her while she summoned a petite woman to her.
"Yes, Valide Sultan," the young woman answered with her head bowed respectfully.
"Oh great...I've been kidnapped into the Ottoman Empire," Lady Jaye groaned, recalling her history lessons. She watched the older woman inhale a sharp breath, narrowing her eyes on her.
"Take her and find something for her to do. She must learn our ways," Valide snapped, leaving Lady Jaye standing with Samina.
"Now wait a minute," Lady Jaye protested, stepping towards Valide.
"Come along, it's not that bad." Samina smiled, reassuringly as she gently grabbed Lady Jaye's shoulder.
"Not that bad?"
"It could always be worse." Samina shrugged, leading her to other women sewing. "Do you know how to mend?" Her reply was a crooked eyebrow. "Can you cook?" Silence. Samina stood biting her lower lip. "Do you know anything about household chores?"
"Aside from cleaning up after myself? No." Lady Jaye heaved an agitated sigh.
"Come with me. You can always help out in the nursery with the little prince." Samina grabbed her hand, dragging her after her.
"Look... I wouldn't know where to begin with a ..."
"Would you rather sit here with that cackle of females?"
"No, I guess not," Lady Jaye glanced between the conspiring women and the young girl dragging her from the room towards a dark corridor.
"Where are we going?"
"The Queen and her son are kept at the opposite end of the women's rooms...far away from Valide," the girl whispered in hushed tones.
"The Queen...Nancy," Lady Jaye thought, recalling their orders to secure the royal family if at all possible. "The Queen but I thought Valide," she feigned her ignorance at the situation.
"Valide is powerful but she is not the Queen." Samina pulled her to the side before they entered the passage leading to Nancy quarters. "Be careful, here, the walls have as many ears as the market has flies."
"Flies?"
"An old saying of my father." Samina smiled sadly.
"Habidi is wise, isn't he?" Lady Jaye gently squeezed her shoulder.
"You've met him...where?" Samina's face lit up.
"Only briefly...tell me do you know your way around the palace?" Lady Jaye lowered her voice to a whisper, barely audible even to Samina.
She nodded.
"Good...I'm going to need some help springing a few friends," Lady Jaye smiled, rolling her eyes heavenward.
"The men in the dungeons...you can't be serious. It's im...possible," Samina stammered. "There's no way a woman can succeed."
"Failure is not an option at this juncture." Lady Jaye narrowed her eyes on the young woman. "Your father said you opposed Samir."
"He's not the King."
"No, he's not and unless I can free those men, Jabal and the others will be his prisoners," she choked as the image of Flint's battered face flashed in her mind.
"Flint, the guard's coming back." Dusty slipped from the door, settling himself down to keep watch.
"How many this time?"
"Just the one from before so we should get some work done." He slid down along the wall, drawing a leg across the doorway with his head bowed down. The guard returned to his post with an odd grin on his face.
"Flint...something ain't right with him," Dusty whispered, watching the guard walk off.
"He's not staying?" Flint glanced up from where he toiled with the slab.
"Naw...he's watching but looks like he's got a couple of buddies comin' we better wait 'til he leaves or falls asleep."
"What's he up to?" Flint brushed his hands over his knees, raising his forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. The dirt and grime from the floor colored his face.
"Flint...if they see ya like that, they'll figure we're up ta no good," Dusty speculated, reaching for a bandana inside his pocket.
"Thanks," the warrant officer said, pouring a small amount of water into the bandana to scrub the dust from his face. "What are they jabbering about?"
"I dunno...I can't figure out the lingo." Dusty frowned, folding his arms across his chest as he scrutinized the three men together. The guard appeared to be weaving a tale for the men, gesturing wildly with his hands. The two newcomers looked at one another and turned, walking away with the guard following, forcefully turning the smaller of the two men to face him.
"Jabal...what are they talking about?" Flint hissed a strained whisper, drawing the King away from his resting spot.
"Jabal?" Dusty shook his shoulder lightly as he listened, gathering a low chuckle from him. "What's going on?"
"Our attentive guard is trying to redeem himself in the eyes of his friends." Jabal smirked. "It seems the woman he had problems with earlier made a unique impression on Samir." Flint and Dusty stared at each other for a moment before turning to Jabal with questioning looks. "He's telling them that he saw Samir thrown by a woman."
"Thrown?" Flint repeated. The sound of Omar's voice boomed in the hall. "Get back in your places." Flint shoved the men from the door, sliding over to his pallet. He rested on his arm, feigning sleep as Omar stalked forward, seizing the guard by the collar.
"Return to your posts ...ALL OF YOU!" He commanded, hauling the guard out of sight.
"Maybe not so unbelievable after all," Jabal commented, hearing the guard pleading his innocence. "In any case, we should not concern ourselves with Samir right now my friends. Come we must hurry." He urged before silently creeping back to the slab, motioning for the others to join him.
"Dusty, watch the door." Flint shifted his gaze to the corridor. "We'll trade off in a while...two...of...us..." He strained, tugging the edges of the door. "Working in pairs will get us out faster than one."
"Good point." Dusty grinned. "Jaye's gonna be mighty happy ta see ya, Flint." He glanced at the two men huddled together over the exposed edge of the trap door.
"Jaye?" Jabal raised a brow. "The lady Dusty mentioned earlier?"
"My girl." Flint paused solemnly, wondering what she was doing right now.
