As Jinx trudged up the rocky hill she again found herself wishing she didn't have to go on this trip. Part of her had wanted to stay at the palace and hear the whole story of how Marlena had gone from being a Joe to becoming a queen. They had agreed however that the tale would have to wait till later. For one thing they had more important matters to attend to, and secondly Marlena knew that the rest of the Joes ,as well as the Eternian forces, would want to hear as well. So it would be more convenient to wait till she could tell all of them at once.

Another part of Jinx longed to go to Castle Grayskull. After all she had heard one couldn't blame her for wanting to see it in person. Man-At-Arms had assured her though that there would be plenty of time for her to meet The Sorceress and get the grand tour later. Right now what Jinx was needed for was contacting the G.I. Joe forces and convincing them to come to Eternia's aid.

So now she along with Orko, Dree Elle, Rockon; a heroic warrior with a body of stone, Snout Spout; a bizarre fireman with a cybernetic elephant head, and (much to everyone's dismay) Yuckers were headed up the rough terrain towards the community of Thenur. Yuckers had been trying to brighten everyone's mood with his jokes along the way, but had succeeded in doing just the opposite. Jinx found herself beginning to seriously dislike the young Trollan, but kept silent so as not to offend Dree Elle whom she was growing fond of. What she didn't realize was Dree Elle had just about had enough of her brother as well.

"Guys I don't mean to complain, but is it much further?" Jinx said finally.

"Not too far. But we can afford to take a short rest," Rockon said getting the message and sitting down next to a pool of water. Orko pulled some goblets out of his hat, filled them at the pool and passed them around to everyone. Jinx couldn't help but chuckle to herself as Snout Spout sucked up his drink with his trunk like nose.

"Say Jinx," Rockon said to her, "don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure you can convince your team to come here?"

"Positive," she nodded. "G.I. Joe's mission is to defend freedom from Cobra no matter where they strike. Besides," she added with a grin, "I've got friends in high ranking positions. So don't worry about it."

"Well no matter what I'm grateful for your help," Yuckers said, finally stating something that wasn't annoying. "If it weren't for you coming after Vypra we'd be totally unprepared. You must really hate her guts."

Jinx's smile faded and everyone could tell Yuckers had hit upon a tender subject. "She's a vicious murderer," Jinx seethed. "She's the type that gives us ninjas a bad name. You're right though, it's more than that. A couple years ago she killed a close friend of mine. A very close friend. Since then I've been trying to finish her and I've come close, so very close, but each time she's narrowly evaded my grasp only to kill again. You all watch your backs. I have a bad feeling that she'll claim another life before this is all over."

"At the moment G.I. Joe," came a low voice, "Vypra is the least of your worries!" The heroes spun around to find themselves suddenly surrounded by a group of darkly clad ninja warriors. No one could tell where they had appeared from. Somehow they had managed to sneak up on the group undetected. Even the three Trollans had not heard a sound.

"Who are these guys?" Yuckers shouted.

"Night Creepers!" Jinx replied as she glanced quickly from one to another, not wanting to take her eyes off any of them. "They're Cobra ninjas. Deadly as they come. We probably won't survive this."

"Thanks for staying optimistic," Yuckers groaned.

The Night Creepers, sensing the fear in their prey, moved in slowly. Taking their time so as to thoroughly enjoy the impending slaughter.

"You've fought these guys before though right?" Snout Spout asked nervously.

"Yes, but I usually have the whole Joe ninja team backing me up," Jinx sighed. "If I only had a sword we'd stand a better chance."

Glancing around quickly Dree Elle spotted a small dead tree by the water's edge. Breaking off a thin branch she held it up and shouted, "Metalify!" Instantly the old rotten wood turned to sharp steel. Dree Elle tossed the weapon to Jinx.

"Will that work?"

"It'll do." Jinx grinned, and before anyone on either side knew what happened she had leaped right into the midst of the Night Creepers. Up to this point none of the Eternians had seen Jinx in action so all of them were amazed at how incredible her martial arts were. Only when the remaining Cobra ninjas attacked them did they snap to attention and began defending themselves. All except Dree Elle who was completely spellbound by Jinx's skill.

Living on Trolla she hadn't witnessed many battles and those she had were among wizards and magicians of the land. Never had she seen such ability in a fighter. Even He-Man, though mighty in skill and clearly much stronger, was not as swift and agile as Jinx now showed herself to be.

As Jinx drew her makeshift sword out of another Creeper's flesh something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Turning swiftly she saw several of Skeletor's black armored troops headed towards them.

"Looks like we've become more important than I thought." Jinx sighed.

"You have no idea."

Before she could turn Jinx felt the barrel of a laser pistol pressed into her back.

"Please, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be Jinx."

"Saurod!" Jinx hissed, recognizing the voice, "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry," Saurod whispered, "but Skeletor ordered me to go after you. If I don't, everything I've been planning will be ruined. I have no choice."

"There's always a choice," Jinx growled through clenched teeth.

"Look, just come along with me," Saurod sighed. "If you do I can keep you alive, but if the troops or Night Creepers get their hands on you you're dead. You've warned the Eternians. Your job is done."

Jinx was so shocked by this comment that she actually turned to face Saurod, despite the fact that his gun had not wavered. "You expect me to just abandon them?" she gasped. "Besides, all my warnings will be in vain if we don't bring the Joes here to help."

Saurod's gun lowered slightly but stayed trained on her as he considered this. "You may have a point. If you can think of a way out of this I'm open for suggestions."

"It's a pretty rocky terrain," Jinx said, thinking quickly. "I could make a break for it. You give chase but loose me..."

"That will never work," Saurod interrupted. "And even if it did help you, Skeletor would never let me live after that. No, we need something that would benefit both of us." Before Jinx could speak again two Night Creepers appeared behind Saurod.

"Excellent work reptile man," the first Creeper said then turned to Jinx. "Your skills are quite impressive G.I. Joe. You could have made a fine Night Creeper yourself, but I'm afraid you've become too much of a nuisance." With that he placed his blade against her neck. "At least you have the pleasure of dying honorably."

"No!" Saurod shouted causing the Creeper to turn in surprise. "Sheath your sword. I want her alive!"

"Impossible," the Night Creeper said. "My orders are too eliminate her now!"

"I'm in charge here earthling," Saurod growled. "and I'm taking her in alive!"

"You may control those imbeciles over there," the second Creeper said gesturing to the "crack" troops who were getting slaughtered by the Eternian heroes, "but we take our orders from Cobra Commander alone!"

The argument closed the first Creeper drew back his sword to deliver the finishing blow to Jinx. Then before anyone, including Saurod himself, knew what had happened the evil ninja lay dead. Saurod's gun had blown a gaping, smoking hole through his torso.

It took a few seconds for reality to set in. When it did the second Night Creeper had knocked the gun from Saurod's hand and slashed his arm shouting, "Traitor!"

The Creeper went into a furry of slashes at Saurod. Although the reptilian mercenary's armor provided some protection, the Cobra ninja had been taught to find the faults in any armor and managed to draw blood repeatedly. Finally Saurod collapsed and the Creeper stood poised over him his sword raised to strike.

"No one betrays the noble order of the Night Creep..."

The ninja got no further before his chest burst in a spray of blood as the cold steel blade ran him through. With his last ounce of strength the Night Creeper managed to turn his head to see Jinx clutching the sword that had ended his life.

"Are you okay?" Jinx said to Saurod.

He nodded. "Yes. Don't worry about my wounds. I'm a fast healer."

"So now what happens?" Jinx asked. "Between you and me I mean."

Saurod looked down at the dead ninjas. "Nothing. It would seem these two have provided us with just the excuse we needed."

"I don't understand," Jinx said slowly.

"You have just saved my life," Saurod said looking up at her again. "It would be against my code of honor to wrong you now. Go help the Eternians. And good luck."

Picking up his gun Saurod turned and hurried off. Jinx smiled and called after him.

"Thank you, my friend."

As it turned out the heroes- Saurod had been generic when referring to them as Eternians because actually all of them were from other planets- didn't actually need Jinx's help. At least not since she had already taken out most of the Night Creepers. Skeletor's grunt troops they knew how to deal with. Jinx rejoined her new friends with a smile. They were going to get through this alive after all.

Then it happened.

Jinx had tried to explain it to the other Joes many times without much success. Sci-Fi told her she'd been reading too many comic books but he was, well, an idiot. It was a bizarre experience that could best be described as a sort of sixth sense. A nagging sensation at the base of her skull. It was not so much a feeling of fear as it was simple straightforward alarm- a warning not hindered by any other emotion. It usually meant danger so Jinx had learned not to take any chances. Such senses were actually not uncommon among ninjas. Her cousin Storm Shadow too had exhibited such a gift, but nowhere near as powerful.

Jinx paused and concentrated. With the right amount of effort she was able to use this ability like a compass to locate the danger. Nothing to the north. East and west all quiet, but to the south... Jinx dropped and rolled away just in time to avoid the knife that had been thrown at her neck.

How does she do that? Vypra thought as she drew her sword and jumped down from her sky sled. She began a wild flurry of strikes and slashes intended to turn Jinx into cold cuts. The young G.I. Joe was forced to continually roll and somersault to avoid the deadly barrage. She hadn't been hit yet, but Vypra wasn't giving her a chance to get to her feet either. It was only a matter of time before she would be worn out.

Seeing Jinx in danger Dree Elle zipped to the rescue. She flew in circles around Vypra while trying to think up a good spell to incapacitate her. Vypra was forced to abandon her assault on Jinx and waved her arms frantically, trying to drive Dree Elle away as if she were a swarm of flies. Because she still was holding her sword in one hand she achieved the desired affect.

Once Dree Elle was forced to back off in order to avoid Vypra's sword, which was flailing about randomly, Vypra made the Trollan her target. A new series of slashes came her way this time focused and precise. Several times the blade came within a hair's with of her flesh. Beads of sweat began to form on Dree Elle's forehead as she realized attacking Vypra may have been a very fatal error.

Gripping her katana with both hands, Vypra swung with all her fury. Dree Elle ceased levitating and dropped to the ground just in the nick of time.

That was too close, she thought. Suddenly she noticed a few blonde strands of hair floating down from where she had been a moment earlier. Her hair.

"Way too close!" she said aloud.

"Get away from her Vypra!" Jinx shouted. "Your fight is with me!"

Vypra spun around to find Jinx on her feet in battle pose. Her sword was held before her in a classic ninja style. Her eyes burned with fiery rage and everyone could tell that she was fully prepared to battle to the death.

"Really Jinx, must we go through this old dance once more?" Vypra moaned.

"As many times as it takes," Jinx said swinging a blow that was easily deflected. The two ninjas were instantly locked in deadly combat. Their sword slashes became intermixed with punches and roundhouse kicks. The others could only stare in amazement. At times the combatants seamed to be moving too fast for their eyes to follow.

Although she tried hard not to let on, Jinx was actually not fighting to her full potential. This was not through any decision of her own, but rather an indecisiveness rattling her brain. Normally she was prepared to fight Vypra to the finish, even if it meant giving her own life. However, now she realized that she needed to stay alive. The odds of the Eternians being able to get the Joes without her help were extremely slim.

One would think this would cause Jinx to fight harder, but the truth was her survival instincts were taking control of her mind. Right now she was concentrating more on keeping herself and her friends alive rather than defeating Vypra.

Even if she escapes me, if I can just keep her from killing anyone, I'll consider it a victory, Jinx thought.

Unfortunately, this one lapse in concentration was all Vypra needed to gain the upper hand. She swung a mighty two-handed blow that took all of Jinx's strength to hold back. Then, somehow keeping her sword firmly in place, Vypra delivered a devastating kick to Jinx's chest knocking her backward into the pond.

This would have been an opportune time to follow through with a finishing blow but, for whatever reason, Vypra instead turned and ran towards her sky sled. Up to this point the others had stayed back, respecting Jinx's desire to battle Vypra herself, but now they knew she would want them to stop her from escaping.

Rockon transformed into his boulder state and rolled quickly at Vypra, knocking her off her feet and sprawling her on her back. Returning to his humanoid form he stood triumphantly over her blocking her path.

"Out of my way you freak," Vypra snarled and dove at him, her blade ahead of her in a downward thrust. Rockon simply raised his arm and took the blow. Surprised, Vypra jumped back giving Rockon a moment to check how bad he'd been wounded. His stony hide was more than a match for the sword. There was a small chip cut away but it was not serious. Basically the equivalent of a shaving cut. He noticed with some dismay however that Vypra's sword seemed no worse for wear though.

"That's good steel," Rockon grinned. "You're liable to hurt someone with that."

Vypra screamed in fury and raised her sword, obviously intending to do just that. She never got the opportunity however. Snout Spout quickly stretched out his prehensile hose nose, wrapped it around the blade, and yanked it right from her grasp. She turned to run back the way she had come only to see Jinx approaching dripping wet, very angry, and still armed, which Vypra was now not.

It was time for an escape, but the evil ninja soon found that was going to be difficult. Every way she turned there was another hero blocking her path and slowly closing in on her. Soon she was completely surrounded.

"It's over Vypra," Jinx said with a satisfied grin. "There's no escape this time."

Suddenly, catching everyone off guard, Vypra fell to her knees and held out her arms as if ready to be bound.

"You're right Jinx," she said. "I surrender. At least now I can leave this freakish world."

"I assume that means you think I have to take you back to Earth to stand trial," Jinx seethed. "Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but there's not going to be any trial!"

Jinx ran her finger down the blade of her sword and the meaning of her words became perfectly clear. Dree Elle gasped in shock.

"No, Jinx you can't! She's surrendered! You can't just kill her in cold blood!"

"I'm sorry Dree Elle," Jinx sighed, "but it's the only way to assure she doesn't escape and kill again."

"No it's not," Yuckers said pulling out a pair of handcuffs from his robe, "My magic trick shackles will hold her. No one can escape from them." With that he flew towards Vypra ready to bind her arms.

"Yuckers, no!" Jinx shouted.

Her warning came too late. This was just the opportunity Vypra had been waiting for. Like her namesake, the viper, she struck out with lightning speed, and grabbed Yuckers by the throat in an unbreakable choke hold.

"Drop your weapons or the imp dies!"

Jinx instantly let her sword fall and took a step back. The others were slightly hesitant.

"Don't be foolish," Vypra growled. "There's no need for bloodshed. I only want to leave."

"Do what she says guys," Jinx ordered, her voice trembling at the thought of Vypra claiming another life right in front of her.

"We outnumber her," Rockon said. "Let's just..."

"No!" Jinx shouted. "I know Vypra. If she says she'll kill she means it. It's not worth the risk."

Vypra backed up slowly towards her sky sled, keeping her hands firmly gripped on Yuckers' throat the whole time. Jinx- not daring to move- could only stand and stare, fists clenched. Finally Vypra boarded the sled and levitated over their heads.

"All right Vypra," Jinx snarled, "you got what you wanted now release him."

Vypra laughed and Jinx knew instantly she'd made a mistake.

"Fools!" Vypra cackled. "The five of you could have overpowered me with the loss of but one. You above all Jinx should have known better than to let me escape, no matter the cost. Your nobility will prove to be your undoing. As surly as it was his!"

With that she gave her arms a sharp twist. There was a sickening crack and she let Yuckers fall from her grasp. Before the Trollan's body even hit the ground Vypra had jetted away, her demented laugh piercing the sky.

The heroes rushed to the side of their fallen comrade. Dree Elle kept whispering, "He's all right. He'll be all right!" Jinx, however, knew better.

One look told the whole story. There was no need to check for a pulse, but she did anyway.

Nothing.

Eternia's war against Cobra had suffered its first victim.