"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!"
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!"
