Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from GI Joe. See prior disclaimers.
Author's note: First off, I would like to thank everyone who has continued to keep me on track with this story. I have not forgotten it, just been unable to write for a while. I also thank those of you who have recently read and reviewed it. I promise I will finish this. There are 2 more chapters. They are written and I hope to post them soon.
Just a reminder since I know it has been a long time for those of you who were regular readers - the only Joes here are Scarlett (Blaze) and Beach Head (Rebel). Everyone else, I made up.
SAR search and rescue and HQ headquarters
This chapter is happening at the end of what was chapter 9.
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Home - Chapter 11
The car pulled up to a huge mansion-style house where Scarlett had spent a couple of years prior to the formation of GI Joe. Angel stopped her as she attempted to exit the car and asked her to walk with him. As they proceeded into the gardens, Angel explained the two different teams to her. "This is the Alpha's HQ now. Another location and similar arrangement serves as Omega's HQ. Normally, the two teams work separately, but because of the blow we suffered on this latest mission, everyone is staying here. You will be on the Alpha team. You work best with Bear and Vee, and I know you will get along with Hardtop, Hotshot, and Vox. The Omega team is a little more distant than the Alpha team. You can tell from Rebel's attitude that things are different on the Omega team. Even though Omega lost two people, that team has the staff for what it does. For what Alpha does, the more Intel we have, the better off we are."
Scarlett had been listening to Angel and disliked the mention that she would be staying with the team, even though she knew that by accepting Angel's phone call the other day, rejoining the team was a given. She supposed that she should be grateful to be placed on the Alpha team with Bear and Vee. She got along with Livewire, but there was too much tension between him and her. At the mention of the differences between the two teams, she interjected, "I'm confused Sir. I thought both teams worked towards the same goals. What does Omega do differently than Alpha?"
"Oh, both teams do have the same goals, it's just that Omega is more, shall we say, rogue than Alpha. You know how hotheaded Livewire can be. Well, with his leadership skills, I did not feel the need to supervise him as closely as I should have. I was more involved with molding Bear to take over the leadership of Alpha that Livewire went a little wild on me and took his team in a little bit different direction. Nevertheless, the team has not faltered, and they get the job done. Don't misunderstand me though. I support both teams financially, but Livewire calls the shots for his team with very little interference from me. He knows his boundaries and is careful not to overstep them."
Scarlett nodded her understanding. The two of them had circled around to the back of the house and were approaching the patio doors to enter into the spacious conservatory. Scarlett remembered this house fondly. She had some good times in this house before she had left. Unfortunately, her departure cast a dark shadow on her memories here.
As they advanced to the ground level, Hotshot raced up to her and informed her that her room would be on the third floor and her bags were already there; it was her old room. She glanced over at Beach Head, who just shook his head and rolled his eyes. She strongly believed that Hotshot was a high-strung individual, and someone ought to have taken the caffeine away from him.
The team headed down to the working level of the house, located in what would be the basement area. Beach Head snagged Scarlett's arm as they headed down the stairs and in a low tone said, "Don't let Hotshot get to you. He is hyperactive but harmless."
She gave him a questioning look.
"He dances to a different drummer. They both do," Beach said as he nodded towards Hotshot and Hardtop.
A hint of ease crossed her face as she processed the information that Beach had divulged to her. She wasn't sure what her new teammates were expecting from her, but whatever she had been thinking was now forgotten. Hotshot's actions had put her on edge, but he was just being overly friendly. "Thanks for the heads up."
Inside the meeting room, Scarlett met the remainder of the team, Olive and Dante. The two were cordial towards her, and they exchanged pleasantries. Beach Head and Hardtop got the large topographically map out and began to research rescue plans and list weapons needed. Olive and Dante started laying out their communication equipment, and Scarlett, Silver, and Hotshot finalized their computer research and facts.
Hours had passed, and the team had a good blueprint of what to expect tonight when they tried to free their friends. Scarlett had gotten extremely tired from jetlag and wasn't feeling one hundred percent so she had excused herself to go lie down and take a nap. Beach Head had that same glassy-eyed look too and decided that a nap would do him good. The two ex-Joes made their way to ground level.
"So what do you think? Do we have the right spot?" Beach Head asked the tired Intel operative.
"I'm certain. All of the data points in that direction." She stifled a yawn but seemed confident that their mission tonight would be successful.
"Good, then I accomplished my first assignment." Beach Head seemed to gloat.
Astonished at his response, she asked, "What do you mean? Your assignment has just started."
"No, I mean about getting you back to the team so that we could assist in locating our teammates. Angel told me that I could not return to the team without you."
"And what if I would not have shown up? What if I would not have come back here with you? Then what?" She challenged him.
"Well, I was prepared for that. Angel informed me that the person I was to wait for should not cause me any trouble, but there was that possibility. When I saw you come in the garage, I thought I would have to go to Plan B."
"And what was Plan B?"
"Knock you out and drag you to the plane," he said with extreme confidence.
"You wouldn't have dared," she snarled back at him.
"I was coming back to the team with my Intel operative in tow, one way or the other. Don't you ever think that I couldn't take you?"
Scarlett laughed and hastily disputed his allegations. "After all of these years working with me on the Joe team, you still think you have a chance at beating me?"
"Oh, and what's that supposed to mean?" He stated with more abruptness than he intended.
"Nothing.""You think you can take me Red? Never in a million years!"
"Yeah, tough guy, I think I could take you. And I think I'd win," she said with pride.
"In your dreams, woman," he growled.
"Pig! You better watch that mouth of yours," she hissed.
Silence
"What? Cat got your tongue?"
"No, I'm just trying to figure out if I just got 'blazed' or not?"
Scarlett rolled her eyes and headed up the stairs to the third floor. Beach Head snickered, thinking to himself that he won that battle. He was worried about her when they left the Joe base yesterday, but he concluded that she would be alright. Just have to roll with the punches.
Scarlett opened the door to her old room. It was pretty much the same as she had left it. She tossed her bags off the bed, slid off her shoes, and ran a brush through her hair. She climbed into bed and fell asleep almost immediately. It had been a long, long day, and the night would be even longer.
(Later that day)
Scarlett woke up refreshed and glad to have gotten a few hours of sleep. She could not believe how tired she was, but she did just travel through numerous time zones. She had a tough time realizing that she was back here with this team. So much had happened within the last 48 hours that she was reeling from the outcome. She opened her closet to find her selection of black clothing just like she had left it six years ago. It was a wardrobe worthy of any nighttime SAR.
She dressed in her night gear and wandered down to below ground level to see what the rest of the team was up to. She knew that they would have taken a break to relax and rest before their night mission. She was surprised that her clearance codes still worked when she entered the work area of the basement. Dante and Silver were in the training room connected to the work area. She could definitely see Beach Head's training techniques in their fighting movements.
Hardtop came up behind her, nearly scaring Scarlett to death, and almost received an elbow to the stomach. He diverted her incoming elbow and said, "Sorry, Blaze, didn't mean to scare you. Would you care to do some sparring before the team meets for our final briefing?"
Scarlett accepted his offer and apologized for her reaction. It was time to see what kind of moves her new teammate had. Would she be able to count on him? She had thought that the dangerous missions and battle tactics that she went through at GI Joe were treacherous, but dealing with these outlaws, mercenaries, and drug lords was just plain hazardous to one's health. Normally these cold-blooded killers wanted no prisoners, which made Scarlett wonder why Tamar had taken Bear and Vee captive. The only conclusions that she had come up with had chilled her to the bone: experiments or information.
They entered the training room and grabbed some protective gear and some sparring staffs. "Okay, the rules are best two out of three, if it goes that far." Hardtop warned with a hint of arrogance.
Scarlett scoffed at his rules. Apparently, he had no idea who he was dealing with, but then how would he? They no more had started when Scarlett had Hardtop pinned to the ground. "One for me," she gloated.
"No fair, I think you cheated. I was going easy on you." He tried to cover for his quick defeat.
"Life's not fair, and don't hold back. I can take care of myself." If there was nothing more that irritated her, it was the fact that her male teammates underestimated her abilities.
The second round lasted longer, and they both fought without holding back, but it just took a matter of time before Scarlett brought him down. "That's two, I win," she smiled triumphantly. She offered her hand to help him up. She liked his fighting style and felt comfortable being paired with him.
Hardtop shook his head in dismay that the notorious Blaze had beaten him. For a split second, he had glanced over at his teammates, who had stopped their sparring match to watch them. In that moment, he went from an upright position to lying flat on his back. He was pleased to find that she was as good as the team claimed she was. He, like Beach Head, had heard stories of her from when she was with the team earlier. He never would have thought he would have the chance to actually work with her. She had a reputation for being the best.
They replaced their gear and headed into the briefing room. Beach Head, Olive, and Hotshot were making final notes for the mission. Beach Head looked up at them and said, "Got your ass kicked didn't you Hardtop. I told you she was tough...but she'll never take me."
Scarlett retorted, "Don't be so sure of yourself."
"We all lose sometimes." Hardtop, obviously humbled by his defeat, warned Beach Head, who instinctively furrowed his brow in a familiar scowl. Scarlett stifled a smile. She was glad Hardtop was being a good sport about his loss, and it looked like the entire team had the right combative attitude.
Angel entered the room and gave everyone their final instructions. He detailed the area and the mission once again, and everyone grabbed their assigned weapons and equipment. Angel motioned Scarlett to follow him. "I've got your gear still here, if you want it."
"Yes, I do," she said with wide eyes. She headed to the closet that housed the team's equipment. Inside was her long black cloak, laced with several deadly weapons. A crossbow, like the one she had left back at GI Joe, hung on a hook.
"We made sure that everything was updated and cleaned for you," Angel explained as he observed her appreciative glance.
"Thank you. Thank you very much."
Scarlett took her cloak out of the closet and slipped it on. She slung her crossbow and quiver over her shoulder and turned to face the team. Repeating the words that Livewire used to say to mobilize everyone, she said, "Let's head 'em up and move 'em out."
The team cheered, and they all left, ready for whatever the night may hold.
To Be Continued