"MacDestro" Chapter 6

By: Cadet Deming

I don't own the rights to GI Joe (or Shakespeare), so please don't

sue. This is Shakespeare's play Macbeth, retooled for Cobra's High

Command. I'm going more along with the plot twists and scene

structure of the play than with the language of it. Some scenes

condensed for brevity, others fleshed out more. Based on a blending

of cartoon and comic canon. Rated PG-13 for violence, murder, adult

language and situations. Thanks to the people who are enjoying it,

and reviews are very welcome.

Setting: Scotland

Starring:

Destro................Macbeth

The Baroness...........Lady Macbeth

Serpentor............. King Duncan

Storm-Shadow..............Banquo

Billy..................Fleance

Major Bludd...........Thane of Cawdor

Zartan................MacDuff

Dr. Mindbender..............Donalbain

Torch, Buzzer, Ripper.......The Weird Sisters

Scrap-Iron (when applicable).....The Weird Sisters

Tomax/Xamot ................Lennox

Cobra Commander.............Malcolm

"The Freds".............Various soldiers

Destro returned to his chambers, locking the door behind him.

The Baroness ran towards him and asked excitedly: "Is the deed done?
Is Serpentor finally out of our hair?"

"Yes my dear. The tranquilizers you gave the guards knocked

them out dead cold. Although I doubt I'll be sleeping as soundly from
now."

"I wouldn't let it trouble you, darling Destro." She reached

around and hugged him, grinning wildly. And then her grin turned to a
frown as her hands wrapped around the bulge of Destro's right-hand
holster.

"The gun! You didn't plant it on the soldiers?"

"I'm sorry Anastasia, I'm not as used to back-stabbing and

treason as you are. Besides, it makes little difference, the guards
will be held responsible automatically."

"Because, bullets can be traced back to the gun they were

fired from with forensics. Don't you watch CSI Miami? Look, I'll go
plant it myself," she said, taking the gun in her gloved hand as she
left the room.

Destro sat in a chair with his masked face in his hands as he

awaited his wife's return. As the adrenaline wore off, the magnitude
of the night's events began to haunt his mind. The rain came to a
stop, making the second guesses and guilt echo even louder in his
head.

"There's blood on my hands, yes Anastasia," he sighed.

Finally the Baroness returned, a predatory smirk curled on

her lips. "I'm finished. The sedatives I gave the guards should be
wearing off any moment now. We just need to sit back..and let Cobra
history unfold."

A loud doorbell rang in the bedroom.

"Zartan and the Crimson Guard Commanders must be arriving,"

said Destro.

"Let your Iron Grenadier Soldiers greet and stall them for a

little while. We need to establish our `fast asleep' alibis."

Meanwhile, down by Destro's castle gate..

A group of Cobra STUN tanks pulled up to the gate of the

castle. The soldiers parked them on the muddy ground and walked

towards the entrance.

Three men strode purposefully towards it, ahead of the rest.

Two were clearly identical twins. The third remained covered with a
brown hood.

A mangy-looking dog chained nearby started barking at them,

straining against its leash.

"Dogs. I bloody hate dogs. They always go insane around me

because of my chameleon DNA," said the third man, pulling back the
hood to reveal his Goth-makeup stained face.

"What do you expect us to do Zartan," asked one of the twins.

"Shoot the poor beast," said his brother.

"A rather rude re-payment of Destro's hospitality," they both

finished.

"Screw Destro's `hospitality' Tomax and Xamot. I'd rather be

jailed by the Joes than spend any more time than I have to with this
uppity, holier-than-thou bloke."

The dog continued, barking in frenzy.

Zartan stared at it, and then growled in a voice that sounded

like a rabid Rottweiler, as opposed to a human mimicking an animal.

"YELP YELP ARP ARP ARP," squealed the dog, running away with

its tail between its legs.

Zartan flashed a haughty sneer at the twins as he lit up a

cigar.

Tomax and Xamot exchanged a look with each other and then

followed Zartan as he rang the doorbell.

Several minutes later, some of Destro's Iron Grenadiers

opened it and ushered them inside the foyer.

"Where sorry, Destro really should be here soon," said one.

"Don't let him hurry, REALLY," said Zartan as he sat in an

expensive looking stuffed tapestry covered chair. He draped his leg
insolently over the armrest as he puffed on his cigar.

The twins made small talk with the IG's until Destro finally

appeared coming down the staircase, clad in a gaudy silk bathrobe

that hung open in the front.

"Ah Tomax and Xamot, welcome. It's so good to see you. We

really must catch up on that Northern Irish arms deal," he said,

yawning and stretching melodramatically.

Zartan cast a disdainful eye on Destro's attire. "Hello pimp-

daddy Destro. Nice castle you've got here. You must have worked

really hard to get yanked out of the right crotch to inherit this

place," he said, taking another drag on his cigar.

"Yes, Zartan, but after housing everyone else, I'm afraid all

of the bedrooms are taken. But there's room for you to sleep in the
stables. They're far more suitable accommodations for you."

"All 150 bedrooms?"

"One-hundred and forty-seven to be exact. The Baroness had 3

converted to shoe closets for her Manolo Blahniks. And, there's no
smoking here," he said, locking his steely gaze on Zartan's face.

Zartan inhaled another drag on the cigar as the two men

glared at each other.

"Fine," he said, putting the cigar out on the antique chair's

upholstery. The stench of burning fabric fermented the room.

"That is the last straw you insolent." Destro bellowed as he

started towards Zartan.

"Wait gentleman, please," said Tomax and Xamot as they

stepped between the two belligerent men.

"We're all Cobras here, we should.," said Tomax.

"..Try to get along," said Xamot.

"On second thought.,"

"Cobra's never get along,"

"Forget we said anything," chimed both brothers.

"..but we do have a lot of," said Tomax.

"Business to discuss with Destro," said Xamot.

"And Zartan don't you..."

"..have a paycheck to"

".collect from Serpentor," finished both twins.

At the word `paycheck', Zartan's eyes lit up and he

said: "That's right. Where is he?"

"In the 23rd bedroom at the end of the hall. The sooner you

get out of my sight, the better," said Destro.

Zartan crept up the stairs as Destro and the twins discussed

business matters.

"EEEGGGAAAWWWWDDDD," a shout rang out.

Zartan appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Serpentor's been shot! The emperor is dead!"