Part 5:

"With The Hope Of Salvation"

From the lab, Snake Eyes ran down the corridor to the elevators. And with Interrogator predisposed, there was no one to alert the Crimson Twins that he had escaped yet, so he had the element of surprise. And he couldn't let the opportunity pass, devising a plan.

The situation reminded him of those times while he was in the military, how he had to quickly think on his feet to get the jump on his enemy. It was a trying time both physically and mentally. And thankfully he had some help from those who would later become his fellow Joe's, and unfortunately mortal enemies, but he was alone at the moment, so it was his own gameplay.

Tomax and Xomat were never ones to let down their guard, and especially with a member of GIJOE on the premises, so he had to travel incognito and inconspicuously. So, he quickly went back to the lab. The Brainwave Scanner had finished its programme and Interrogator lay unconscious on the table. How he would "feel" when he awoke, Snake Eyes didn't know, nor did he care. He quickly dressed in one of the dead Crimson Guard's uniforms.

The Interrogator let out a soft moan, so Snake Eyes left quickly, returning to the elevator with helmet and a rifle in hand. He fit the helmet over his head, it was nothing like the mask he normally wore with his black uniform, and it was more breathable. He often thought about changing his uniform up slightly so he could breath more easily, but that would come later.

He looked at an elevator, but the elevator itself wasn't what he was thinking of, it was the shaft it resided in. Like before, he could climb up the cable and make his way to the top floor of the building and no one would know he was there, unless someone used the elevator. But as they were all temporarily shut down, that wouldn't be a problem.

He inserted his fingers into the gap between the doors and pulled them back to reveal the empty shaft. He looked down and saw that the car was grounded. He shouldered the rifle with its strap and then leapt into the shaft and grabbed the thick cable that held the elevator car and started to climb upwards. The gloves from the uniform made his hands slip, so he took them off and pocketed them, climbing free-hand.

Just then, bad luck struck.

He heard power return to the elevator and suddenly the car below started to move upwards.

Remaining calm, he hung onto the cable tightly and allowed its momentum to propel him upwards. But it was moving dangerously fast. He suddenly saw the gear box at the top of the shaft, leapt, hung on, and waited under the elevator was at a safe distance to jump down onto its roof. Then he kicked at the trapdoor. He managed to brake the lock on the third kick and slipped inside before the car reached the top. Luckily, no one was inside. He figured it was being called up, but to which floor he had no idea.

He quickly dressed back into the Crimson Guard fully.

And when the doors opened on the floor, two Crimson Guards stood on the other side carrying a body bag with what looked like the corpse of one of their comrades killed by the blast that blew up the twins office. They weren't shocked to see him since he looked like one of them.

"Hey you," said one of them, "vacant the elevator at once!"

"Oh man, the smell of this is making me sick," the second one remarked.

"Have come empathy, you idiot," said the first.

"Yeah, yeah," replied the second.

Snake Eyes cocked his head, shrugged his shoulders, and then stepped aside, allowing the ranting CG to enter the elevator carrying the body bag. Without incident, the doors closed. Snake Eyes smiled behind his helmet. They had no idea they had just let the man who virtually caused all this chaos to infiltrate back to within their midsts.

But he couldn't allow his so-called invincibly to go to his head. This was in a very dangerous den of vipers and the Crimson Twins were no doubt ticked off by events. He had embarrassed them in their own headquarters and he knew they would not let that slide. Right now, Interrogator was supposed to be brainwashing him and soon someone will check up on the Interrogator's progress. Then the jig would be up. He had to work fast to free Scarlet and escape.

He entered the office and saw the carnage left he had caused, but most of the debris had been removed except for a few sticks of furniture and the blood stains on the carpet. But his priority was to find Scarlet, not to gawk. He looked around, but she was no where to be seen.

Whom he did see were those insufferable twins standing together near the large window in the back that overlooked the urban landscape of Enterprise City, looking down at a computer tablet. Tomax, the brother without the scar, was saying something to Xamot, but through the activity and hustle, Snake Eyes couldn't hear what they were saying.

But Snake Eyes could read his lips. It was yet another one of his hidden skills that had come in handy over the years. The twins weren't talking about the carnage of the office, but about a new upcoming COBRA operation—generating some sort of "crises" to elevate stock values.

But he'd bother about that another time.

Tomax suddenly looked up. "You!" he pointed, speaking loudly. This created a buzz in the room that drew all eyes on Snake Eyes. And for a second, he thought he had been found out. Xamot looked over, as well. Snake Eyes pointed to himself. "Yes, you! Come here."

Snake eyes obeyed. Dressed as one of the Crimson Guard he had little recourse. He approached and stood at attention in front of the Crimson Twins. He saluted just to add flare.

"Secure the prisoner," Tomax ordered, pointing to a closed door. Snake Eyes looked. When he was in the office before, he did notice a door situated near the rear of the office, but he didn't have time to investigate. No wonder he didn't see Scarlet when he first entered. Was it a hidden room? He wasn't fully aware of the semantics of the building. "And take her down to the labs. She can join Snake Eyes under the influence of the Brainwave Scanner with our colleague."

"I wonder how Interrogator is acquiescing in his efforts to brainwash that insufferable ninja?" Xamot wondered. "He certainly has had enough time to accomplish the goal."

"We need not have to worry, brother," Tomax said. "The man is very capable. And with the capture of these Joe's, we managed to avoid a different kind of crises. And further infiltration."

"If the Joe's discovered what Extensive Enterprises is truly up to, manipulating stocks to generate capital for Cobra, we could be investigated for insider trading," Xamot said. "And it would absolutely destroy us and our corporate firm."

Tomax appeared to smirk. "Our lawyers would have a field day with the Trades Commission if they tried to ensnare us. There's laws against Entrapment, you know."

Xamot nodded.

Snake Eyes didn't know much about the laws they were speaking of, but it was interesting information to take back to his fellow Joe's to pass on. Legal Eagles can deal with it.

Snake Eyes appeared to stay too long, because he evoked the ire of the twins.

"Well, don't just stand there!" Tomax said, and the pointed vehemently at the door.

Xamot momentarily cocked his head at Snake Eyes with a look of curiosity. Snake Eyes saw the look, but he figured the twin was merely looking at him out of a moment of distraction. Snake Eyes wore the exactly same red uniform as every other guard that was coming and going.

Snake Eyes saluted and then proceeded to the secret room, but when he reached for the handle, suddenly one of the twins demanded he halt. He turned. Xamot pointed and then approached him. "State your designation number, Crimson Guard," he demanded.

Tomax came over. "What is it, brother?"

"A feeling, brother Tomax," Xamot acknowledged, unholstering a gun from a leg holder. He pointed it at Snake Eyes. This seemed to draw the attention of everyone in the room.

Snake Eyes gulped. He had underestimated the intuitiveness of the twins.

Tomax gave pause, then acquiesced to Xamot's "feeling". "Remove your helmet," he demanded. "Show us your face, guard, and answer the call to state your designation number."

Snake Eyes remained still, he had only moments to think of a way out of this. Was there a way? He was completely surrounded by the enemy.

Just then, Scarface burst into the office in his traditional uniform. The "V-Shaped" scar on his face was prominent when he became agitated and seemed to glower red. However, despite his "normal" Cobra Officer appearance with red mask, he was a very prominent individual. Some thought he was dead, but he managed to survive a cruel fate.

Scarface moved past a pair of Crimson Guard, forcefully pushing one aside, in what looked like in an angry, swift manner, looking like a man with a relevant purpose.

Snake Eyes, and the Crimson Twins, looked at him.

"I'm back, and I want that damn blonde bimbo. Give him to me!" Scarface demanded, momentarily feeling his jaw. "The man has a nice right hook, but I'm not so easily beaten."

"You were laying in a heap on the floor before the blast to the office," Tomax said.

"Badly beaten, if I do recall," Xamot further added.

Scarface looked annoyed and grumbled. "Luckily I woke up just before it happened, too, or I'd be barbecue. It's not the first time I survived a near-death experience. Now, where is he?"

"He was escorted away so Interrogator can work on him in the lower labs," Tomax spoke. "Cobra Commander wants him to be brainwashed to become a new super soldier."

"That said, we have an issue that needs to be addressed here," Xomat said, turning back.

Scarface sneered behind his mask. "Don't ignore me, you poor excuse for a carbon copy!"

Xamot turned back to Scarface with a slow menacing stare. Snake Eyes knew an insult like that was enough to tick Xamot off because of the scar on his cheek. He was Tomax's twin brother, identical in every possible way, but having that imperfection thrust back at him was something the man could, psychologically, not ignore. It was instinctive.

Snake Eyes empathized with Xamot in this degree having to deal with the problems with his own scars, having to wear a mask so he didn't scare small children or suffer with the indignity of complete strangers staring at him with shock.

And it set Xamot off.

Xamot shoved Scarface back with both hands. Scarface staggered backward and almost collapsed off his feet. Tomax held his brother back forcefully, gripping Xamot's arm when he raised it with a tightly closed fist about to strike Scarface for the remark.

"Enough, brother," Tomax said, struggling against Xamot's strength. "He's ill-mannered and couth, and he's not worth the trouble. He doesn't know the story."

Xamot's teeth clenched. "I will not be insulted by a lowly, insignificant maggot." He pointed. "Snake Eyes is with the Interrogator and he will be converted to serve Cobra, but I might just send him at you as his first target and have you sliced and diced into tiny pieces."

Snake Eyes watched the whole exchange. At least the pressure was taken off him.

Scarface clenched his fists at his side. He pointed at Xamot. "The fallacy in Snake Eyes being brainwashed to serve Cobra is just as plain as the scar on your face, Xamot."

Xomat went to pounce Scarface, his arms out-stretched, but Tomax quickly grabbed and held his brother back underneath Xamot's armpits. Scarface backed off a few steps, but he was obviously enjoying himself, teasing Xamot.

Snake Eyes had no idea that Xamot felt so strongly about the scar on his face and that it could trigger such a reaction that he would loose his composure. It almost seemed out of character. Still, even Snake Eyes knew, some scars ran deeply than the physical ones, and he found himself curious how Xamot actually got his scar.

Another day, Snake Eyes thought.

Scarface laughed. But then his smile faded when he was suddenly surrounded by Crimson Guards, except for Snake Eyes. Scarface looked around and all humour left the situation.

Xamot wiggled out from his brother's grip, and then went for Scarface again, but this time, he didn't hit the scarred villain. Instead, Xamot grabbed the man's shirt and balled it into his fists. He locked eyes with Scarface, and Snake Eyes wondered if this was the best time to make a strategic withdraw, hopeful that his disappearance would not be noticed with the action.

"Someday, I will kill you, you sick bastard," Xamot threatened. "Don't think for one minute second you'll be safe from me or the Crimson Guard. They are everywhere, in every town, and in every city, they are politicians, police officers, hidden in plain sight. Welcome to our world, and when we are finished, there won't be place without us—The Crimson Guard—controlling it."

Scarface's eyes narrowed and he appeared to smile beneath his mask. "I doubt very highly that Cobra Commander will want to share the world with a pair of twin do-do's like you. Once he's finished using you, he'll discard you like a pair of stray dogs to an Iranian butchery."

Xamot smiled perversely back. "That's why we have certain assurances, in case he does attempt to betray us, and the Interrogator is committing them to memory as we speak," he said.

Scarface cocked his head. "Ah, I see now," he said relevantly. "How clever to implore a double agent, so once Cobra Commander is finished with Snake Eyes, and you are finished with Cobra Commander, you can implement your own sick assorted agenda. I applaud your plan, kudos."

Tomax suddenly intervened, slapping Xamot's hands off Scarface. Xamot looked shocked.

Tomax held Xamot back forcefully with a hand to his chest, gave him a hard stare, then turned to Scarface. "Assumptions are for fools," he said cogently. "Snake Eyes will be utilized for what is best for Cobra. Best you remember that."

Scarface looked around, put up his hands to appear resigned to the situation, gave a small throaty chuckle, and then said, "Very well, we are allies. Let us ally with similar goals. But in order to truly get to Snake Eyes, you need to strike at his heart, and Scarlet is the key. The Interrogator will have a rough time converting Snake Eyes with all his mental training. He belongs to that powerful ninja clan that Zartan tangled with years ago," Scarface stated. "And he loves Scarlet. Where is that hot-headed, red-head, anyway?"

"She is in the other room, secured," Tomax said, thumbing back.

"I want her, now!" Scarface demanded, and pushed passed the twins.

Snake Eyes had been memorized by the action taking place, but now that all eyes were focused back in his direction, it was time to make a move.

When Scarface came near, Snake Eyes grabbed the villain by his shirt, and with wide-eye unexpectedness, Snake Eyes tossed him into the Crimson Twins like a set of bowling pins. The trio felt backwards to the floor.

Snake Eyes shouldered the door open and then slammed it behind him, using his own body keep it closed. Then he used the laser in a thigh holster and melted the lock, securing it. But it he knew it wouldn't stop them for long.

He found Scarlet tied to a chair, her hands bound to the armrests and her legs tied to the base.

Beholden to his eyes, he found himself in a large rectangular conference room with a dark stained oak table with eight chairs. On the walls illuminated by dim overhead lamps were famous paintings that he had seen in his life, but hadn't paid much attention to, other than their value. They each belonged in a museum. One thing that was missing in the room were windows, it was a completely enclosed room.

He took off the helmet, and with a knife, he released Scarlet, as the sounds of those behind the other side of the door were heard, about to break it down.

"Get this damn door open, now!" shouted Scarface. And what sounded like a kick was heard.

"Thanks for the rescue," Scarlet said, looking him over with some bemusement, "and I bet there's an interesting story behind the uniform." Snake Eyes nodded. "Maybe some other time, because right now we have to escape before the townspeople linch us."

Snake Eyes agreed and gave her a mild smile. And he knew to trust his instincts. In places like this, there were always secret doors or passage ways. The Crimson Twins would never allow themselves to be trapped anywhere without a way out especially in their own building. And knowing them, this room was probably a secret meeting place for anonymous others.

Snake Eyes quickly tested the walls. And found a secret elevator being a wall panel. The double doors opened just as the door to the conference room door was broken down.

Scarlet fired on them using the rifle Snake Eyes took from the dead Crimson Guard he also borrowed the uniform from and in typical fiery red-headed passion, she kept the enemy at bay. Her targets cowered behind the safety of the reinforced steel wall that had protected this place from the outside blast and kept the missed laser blasts from penetrating through the wall itself.

Scarlet backed off as she fired. Scarface braved the volley and fired back, but missed.

When Scarlet got close enough, Snake Eyes grabbed her arm and hauled her into the elevator, pressing the button for it to close. Laser fire sounds pinged off the outer doors, but didn't penetrate, obviously constructed from the same reinforced steel as the conference room walls.

"Where do you think this leads?" Scarlet wondered.

Snake Eyes shrugged, then pointed up, pressing a button, and with the hope of salvation.

To be continued...