Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from GI Joe.
*Author's note: This chapter is still set back at the GI Joe base. I don't know exactly if this would be the appropriate way to disband a team, but in my world, this is what took place. Feedback, comments, and reviews welcomed.
The Closing Ceremony - Chapter 9
**(The final day of GI Joe)**
Word had gotten out around base that Beach Head and Scarlett had already received their transfer orders and departed base. Most of the team was sadden that they didn't get to say goodbye to the feisty redhead. Everyone respected Scarlett, even the more anti-female military men. The people that Scarlett was the closest too were affected the most. Ace and Wild Bill asked Jaye where she went, and how to get a hold of her a couple of different times already this morning. Each time, she gave them the same "I don't know" answer. The entire base was in a solemn mood today, and to have two of their teammates already gone was not refreshing to anyone. Even though most of the team would never admit it, they would miss Beach Head too. Maybe not his PT courses and his heartless attitude, but he had been a savior to everyone here at one time or another.
Hawk had finally gotten in touch with Colonel Sharp. The Colonel had informed Hawk that Scarlett and Beach Head were en route to their new assignment, and he had no knowledge whatsoever of their location. Hawk asked the Colonel for General Richardson's phone number then, to which Colonel Sharp responded with a number that would connect Hawk to the General's voice mail. Hawk had hung up with Colonel Sharp, feeling very frustrated and powerless. He had gotten the run around, and of course, when he dialed the number for General Richardson, he received the standard, "I'm not available, leave a message" phrase. Hawk left a message but never expected a return call.
Flint had informed Lady Jaye last night that Beach Head had been transferred along with Scarlett, but it was unknown if they were transferred together or just by the same General. He told her that Duke was sulking but discouraged her from going to see him. "Let him work some things out by himself."
Duke spent most of the night packing, and it was in the wee hours of the morning before he lay down to sleep for a few hours. His sleep was restless and not regenerating. Why had he even bothered with trying to sleep? He knew that he would not fall asleep. He kept thinking of Scarlett.
Most of the Joes were staying in the military. Ace and Airborne were returning to Andrews Air Force base, and Wild Bill was returning to Fort Bliss Army base in Texas. Deep Six, Torpedo, and Wet Suit were returning to the Naval base in Hawaii. Shipwreck was retiring from the military, claiming he was too old for the Navy ways. Flint, Lady Jaye, Stalker, and Rip Cord were returning to Fort Bragg Army base in North Carolina, while various others were going to Army bases around the country. Leatherneck, Lift Ticket, Gung-Ho, and Mainframe were headed down south to a Marine base. Dusty was retiring and returning to the Las Vegas desert, and Cover Girl was going back to show business in the Vegas area. Falcon was returning to the Green Berets with Jinx in tow. Jinx wasn't real sure of what she wanted to do now that the Joes were disbanding. She was going to keep her options open. Snow Job, Iceberg, and Frostbite were headed up to the deep freeze of the Artic. Snake Eyes was going into seclusion in the mountains somewhere. No one knew exactly where.
Lady Jaye had asked Snake Eyes if he knew of this General Richardson that had summoned Scarlett. He had shook his head and told her that he didn't know anything of her military life before the Joes.
Low-Light had a Special Forces offer but would not elaborate on from whom, or what he would be doing. As the Joes expert sniper, he was well sought after. A few of the guys were joining the FBI and CIA. Dial Tone was thinking about an offer extended to him by Interpol. Hawk was going to be doing paperwork at the Pentagon. And everyone already knew that Duke was joining Black Ops. It was a good thing that Scarlett was already gone, because she would have found out by someone other than Duke, and that would have spelled trouble.
The busiest men on base were Doc and Lifeline. Most of the Joes wanted their medical papers sent to various locations. Lifeline had been going nuts trying to get everyone's new addresses entered into the computer. Doc was still trying to find Scarlett. He had left Lifeline to the sea of Joes making final changes on their files and went to go find Hawk.
Doc knocked on Hawk's door. "Enter."
Doc entered and saluted Hawk. "Doc, how's it going down in your neck of the woods?"
"It's a zoo." He paused. "I heard a rumor that Scarlett had already transferred out. Do you know where she went?"
Hawk noticed that Doc seemed a little concerned. "No. I have contacted Colonel Sharp to get some information on her and Beach Head, but all he gave me was this General Richardson's phone number. Of course, General Richardson is not in his office so I left him a message to contact me, not that I expect a return call. I'll take the number with me though. Some day I'm bound to get a hold of him. Why do you ask? Is something wrong with Scarlett?"
Careful not to overstep the 'doctor-patient confidentiality' boundary lines, Doc told Hawk of her messed up test results from the other day. He had gotten the results back from the lab at St. John's Hospital and wanted to explain them to her. There was no bad news, but she trusted him. He was her physician, and she deserved to know the results.
"I guess take her medical files with you back to Fort Meade, and when she needs them, you can talk to her. I'm sure someone will hear from her. I have already informed Duke, Flint, and Lady Jaye that if they speak to her to try to get her location or some way to contact her." Hawk paused, "Have you tried her father yet? She may have contacted him."
Doc shook his head but decided to put her father's number in his Palm Pilot to remind him to contact Mr. O'Hara in a few weeks to see if he has heard from her. He thanked Hawk for his information and headed back to the 'zoo'.
(Noon)
The ceremony concluded at noon with the last cannon ball being fired. The final cannon boom echoed in everybody's ears for a few minutes. Hawk had been presented with an American flag that had flown over the Pit every day for the last six years as appreciation for his years of service on the battlefield, in the office, and in Washington. Without Hawk's constant calls to DC, a lot of what the Joes were able to request would not have happened.
The team was silent for a few minutes remembering the Joes that had fallen to COBRA over the years, and the three Joes that had stayed in the alternate universe to help that Joe team try to defeat COBRA. No one had ever heard from Clutch, Grunt, and Steeler after they stayed behind to help in the world ran by COBRA. The final chimes tolled, and the GI Joe team was dismissed for the final time.
Some of the team members headed back to their quarters to finish last minute packing, while some others headed to the garage to claim their personal vehicles and head out to their new jobs or assignments. Duke had hastily retreated to his quarters. Lady Jaye had tried to talk to him, but he blew her off. Snake Eyes had told Lady Jaye to tell him that he was sorry for Scarlett's transfer, and he knew that she loved him with her whole heart. Duke and Snake Eyes had a rocky start at GI Joe once it was revealed that Snake Eyes and Scarlett had a relationship at one time, but over time it was made perfectly clear to both gentlemen that the only man Scarlett loved was Duke.
(Later that day)
Duke finished throwing his duffel bags in a jeep. The Army would pick the jeep up from the airport in a few days. He was taking gear for the next few weeks as the moving vans would have several places to deliver, and who knew how long it would take for his stuff to actually arrive at his new home. Flint and Lady Jaye cornered Duke in the garage.
"You weren't going to leave with out saying goodbye, were you?" Lady Jaye asked.
Duke mustered a smile and said, "No ma'am, just throwing these in to get ready to leave. My flight is at 1900 hours."
"Liar," she retorted. She closed the distance between them and gave him a hug. "Don't be a stranger. You're not the only one who loved her. If you talk to her, tell her we love her and miss her."
"Will do."
Flint shook his best buddy's hand. "Be careful out there. If you ever need help on a job, you've got plenty of friends who are capable of helping you out."
Jaye eyed Flint suspiciously but decided to ignore that comment.
Duke thanked them both for their concern and well wishes. He promised to relay any message to Scarlett from them if her heard from her. Flint and Lady Jaye waved to him as he drove off base for the last time. They decided that they needed to clear out too.
General Hawk watched all of his men go their separate ways. He was the last to leave. As he watched the MP close and lock the gates for the final time, he got a tear in his eye. The Joes were the best of the best, an elite fighting team, and he was proud to have been their leader. He drove off feeling empty and saddened.
^^^
As the GI Joe team members were each going their separate ways, Scarlett and Beach Head were being briefed by General Richardson. Scarlett had located a possible location of where their captured teammates might be imprisoned, and the small team was about to attempt the impossible.
*To Be Continued
*Author's note: This chapter is still set back at the GI Joe base. I don't know exactly if this would be the appropriate way to disband a team, but in my world, this is what took place. Feedback, comments, and reviews welcomed.
The Closing Ceremony - Chapter 9
**(The final day of GI Joe)**
Word had gotten out around base that Beach Head and Scarlett had already received their transfer orders and departed base. Most of the team was sadden that they didn't get to say goodbye to the feisty redhead. Everyone respected Scarlett, even the more anti-female military men. The people that Scarlett was the closest too were affected the most. Ace and Wild Bill asked Jaye where she went, and how to get a hold of her a couple of different times already this morning. Each time, she gave them the same "I don't know" answer. The entire base was in a solemn mood today, and to have two of their teammates already gone was not refreshing to anyone. Even though most of the team would never admit it, they would miss Beach Head too. Maybe not his PT courses and his heartless attitude, but he had been a savior to everyone here at one time or another.
Hawk had finally gotten in touch with Colonel Sharp. The Colonel had informed Hawk that Scarlett and Beach Head were en route to their new assignment, and he had no knowledge whatsoever of their location. Hawk asked the Colonel for General Richardson's phone number then, to which Colonel Sharp responded with a number that would connect Hawk to the General's voice mail. Hawk had hung up with Colonel Sharp, feeling very frustrated and powerless. He had gotten the run around, and of course, when he dialed the number for General Richardson, he received the standard, "I'm not available, leave a message" phrase. Hawk left a message but never expected a return call.
Flint had informed Lady Jaye last night that Beach Head had been transferred along with Scarlett, but it was unknown if they were transferred together or just by the same General. He told her that Duke was sulking but discouraged her from going to see him. "Let him work some things out by himself."
Duke spent most of the night packing, and it was in the wee hours of the morning before he lay down to sleep for a few hours. His sleep was restless and not regenerating. Why had he even bothered with trying to sleep? He knew that he would not fall asleep. He kept thinking of Scarlett.
Most of the Joes were staying in the military. Ace and Airborne were returning to Andrews Air Force base, and Wild Bill was returning to Fort Bliss Army base in Texas. Deep Six, Torpedo, and Wet Suit were returning to the Naval base in Hawaii. Shipwreck was retiring from the military, claiming he was too old for the Navy ways. Flint, Lady Jaye, Stalker, and Rip Cord were returning to Fort Bragg Army base in North Carolina, while various others were going to Army bases around the country. Leatherneck, Lift Ticket, Gung-Ho, and Mainframe were headed down south to a Marine base. Dusty was retiring and returning to the Las Vegas desert, and Cover Girl was going back to show business in the Vegas area. Falcon was returning to the Green Berets with Jinx in tow. Jinx wasn't real sure of what she wanted to do now that the Joes were disbanding. She was going to keep her options open. Snow Job, Iceberg, and Frostbite were headed up to the deep freeze of the Artic. Snake Eyes was going into seclusion in the mountains somewhere. No one knew exactly where.
Lady Jaye had asked Snake Eyes if he knew of this General Richardson that had summoned Scarlett. He had shook his head and told her that he didn't know anything of her military life before the Joes.
Low-Light had a Special Forces offer but would not elaborate on from whom, or what he would be doing. As the Joes expert sniper, he was well sought after. A few of the guys were joining the FBI and CIA. Dial Tone was thinking about an offer extended to him by Interpol. Hawk was going to be doing paperwork at the Pentagon. And everyone already knew that Duke was joining Black Ops. It was a good thing that Scarlett was already gone, because she would have found out by someone other than Duke, and that would have spelled trouble.
The busiest men on base were Doc and Lifeline. Most of the Joes wanted their medical papers sent to various locations. Lifeline had been going nuts trying to get everyone's new addresses entered into the computer. Doc was still trying to find Scarlett. He had left Lifeline to the sea of Joes making final changes on their files and went to go find Hawk.
Doc knocked on Hawk's door. "Enter."
Doc entered and saluted Hawk. "Doc, how's it going down in your neck of the woods?"
"It's a zoo." He paused. "I heard a rumor that Scarlett had already transferred out. Do you know where she went?"
Hawk noticed that Doc seemed a little concerned. "No. I have contacted Colonel Sharp to get some information on her and Beach Head, but all he gave me was this General Richardson's phone number. Of course, General Richardson is not in his office so I left him a message to contact me, not that I expect a return call. I'll take the number with me though. Some day I'm bound to get a hold of him. Why do you ask? Is something wrong with Scarlett?"
Careful not to overstep the 'doctor-patient confidentiality' boundary lines, Doc told Hawk of her messed up test results from the other day. He had gotten the results back from the lab at St. John's Hospital and wanted to explain them to her. There was no bad news, but she trusted him. He was her physician, and she deserved to know the results.
"I guess take her medical files with you back to Fort Meade, and when she needs them, you can talk to her. I'm sure someone will hear from her. I have already informed Duke, Flint, and Lady Jaye that if they speak to her to try to get her location or some way to contact her." Hawk paused, "Have you tried her father yet? She may have contacted him."
Doc shook his head but decided to put her father's number in his Palm Pilot to remind him to contact Mr. O'Hara in a few weeks to see if he has heard from her. He thanked Hawk for his information and headed back to the 'zoo'.
(Noon)
The ceremony concluded at noon with the last cannon ball being fired. The final cannon boom echoed in everybody's ears for a few minutes. Hawk had been presented with an American flag that had flown over the Pit every day for the last six years as appreciation for his years of service on the battlefield, in the office, and in Washington. Without Hawk's constant calls to DC, a lot of what the Joes were able to request would not have happened.
The team was silent for a few minutes remembering the Joes that had fallen to COBRA over the years, and the three Joes that had stayed in the alternate universe to help that Joe team try to defeat COBRA. No one had ever heard from Clutch, Grunt, and Steeler after they stayed behind to help in the world ran by COBRA. The final chimes tolled, and the GI Joe team was dismissed for the final time.
Some of the team members headed back to their quarters to finish last minute packing, while some others headed to the garage to claim their personal vehicles and head out to their new jobs or assignments. Duke had hastily retreated to his quarters. Lady Jaye had tried to talk to him, but he blew her off. Snake Eyes had told Lady Jaye to tell him that he was sorry for Scarlett's transfer, and he knew that she loved him with her whole heart. Duke and Snake Eyes had a rocky start at GI Joe once it was revealed that Snake Eyes and Scarlett had a relationship at one time, but over time it was made perfectly clear to both gentlemen that the only man Scarlett loved was Duke.
(Later that day)
Duke finished throwing his duffel bags in a jeep. The Army would pick the jeep up from the airport in a few days. He was taking gear for the next few weeks as the moving vans would have several places to deliver, and who knew how long it would take for his stuff to actually arrive at his new home. Flint and Lady Jaye cornered Duke in the garage.
"You weren't going to leave with out saying goodbye, were you?" Lady Jaye asked.
Duke mustered a smile and said, "No ma'am, just throwing these in to get ready to leave. My flight is at 1900 hours."
"Liar," she retorted. She closed the distance between them and gave him a hug. "Don't be a stranger. You're not the only one who loved her. If you talk to her, tell her we love her and miss her."
"Will do."
Flint shook his best buddy's hand. "Be careful out there. If you ever need help on a job, you've got plenty of friends who are capable of helping you out."
Jaye eyed Flint suspiciously but decided to ignore that comment.
Duke thanked them both for their concern and well wishes. He promised to relay any message to Scarlett from them if her heard from her. Flint and Lady Jaye waved to him as he drove off base for the last time. They decided that they needed to clear out too.
General Hawk watched all of his men go their separate ways. He was the last to leave. As he watched the MP close and lock the gates for the final time, he got a tear in his eye. The Joes were the best of the best, an elite fighting team, and he was proud to have been their leader. He drove off feeling empty and saddened.
^^^
As the GI Joe team members were each going their separate ways, Scarlett and Beach Head were being briefed by General Richardson. Scarlett had located a possible location of where their captured teammates might be imprisoned, and the small team was about to attempt the impossible.
*To Be Continued