Virtual Insanity!

To RogueFanKC: Hey there, Rogue! Nice to hear from you again! Dude! If you know the answer, don't spoil the surprise, huh? Have Thunderbird tar and feather Virus, and then tie him to the 6:15? I like that idea? I like that idea, man! I'll see what I can do with that. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait to read more from you!

To Chiomon: Hey there, Chiomon! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Heck, I'm glad you liked the story! I didn't think you read any of my other work! Don't worry, Thunderbird will take it to that arrogant little snot-nosed dork Virus. Virus is one of my favorite creations. If you ever want to use him in your fics, go ahead. Yeah, your idea rocked. Enjoy the new chapter!

To todd fan: Hey there, todd fan! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "Random Tales of the Magic Roundabout", "Little Shop of Mutants", and "X-Men: Evolution, The Musical"!

To Sparky Genocide: Hey there Sparky Genocide! Nice to hear from you again! Hmm, Virus dropping a copy of "The Great Gatsby" in front of Thunderbird and it causes him to go nuts and go all out on Virus's butt…Interesting…I like that idea. I'll see if I can do anything with that. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Red Witch: Hey there, Red Witch! Yeah, you bet that this is going to be wild! Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait to read more from you, especially new chapters of "Valor, Venom, and Other Stuff!"

To Metal Dragoon: Hey there Metal! I read the new chapter of "Take The Long Way Home", and I loved it! You portrayed Kid Razor really well. His character was very true. And hooray, the Hellions are beaten, and Jon and Sharon are joining the Brotherhood. That is so going to get under Scott's skin. That'll get under Scott's skin real bad. It's alright you didn't review the last chapter. My e-mail acts wonky sometimes, so I know how you feel. Yeah, Virus has a great plan this time. I agree. Virus's arrogance has always been one of the biggest chinks in Virus's armor. No doubt the man is smart and capable, but his ever-getting-worse mental illness and his arrogance are his biggest weaknesses. But then again, arrogance seems to spell the end for a lot of villains. I'll see if I can feature your virus friends somewhere. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "Take The Long Way Home"!

Disclaimer: "Don't! Treat! Women! Like! That!" - Nicholas Cage as Cameron Poe, Con Air

Chapter 7: Round-Up at the GI Joe Corral!

The virtual saloon

"Goodbye, John "Thunderbird" Proudstar." Virus smiled evilly. "I'll be sure to notify your family…after I turn their pathetic organic bodies into axel grease." Virus fired the cannon arm. However, Virus seemed to have conveniently forgotten that John had more than just his powers. He was also trained by GI Joe. John managed to dodge the energy blasts from Virus.

"Energy-based weaponry? Hey Virus, hasn't anyone ever told you that they used bullets in the Wild West?" John snapped as he overturned a table and ducked down behind it.

"I never liked Westerns. I never saw the appeal." Virus shrugged. "I was always more of a sci-fi freak. Besides, John Wayne is nothing but a drunken chain-smoking redneck."

"Oh yeah? Well, Mr. Spock is a pointy-eared Vulcan dork!" John smirked. Nothing angers nerds more than making fun of Mr. Spock. Virus screamed.

"DON'T! MAKE! FUN! OF! MISTER! SPOCK!" Virus roared, his gun arm firing faster than ever. "He's me only friend!" John barely managed to duck down in time.

"Smooth move, Proudstar." John grumbled to himself. "Real smooth. If I had that freakin' tomahawk, I could use my powers." John eyed the beer mugs all over the place. He also eyed a nearby glass shard. The apache mutant grinned evilly to himself. Perfect…I may not have my powers, but that does not mean that I still cannot prove I am worthy of being a warrior in the eyes of my people. He picked up the shard. "Hey Virus!" John pitched the glass shard. It hit the virtual Virus in the shoulder. While the Virus screamed in pain, John quickly leapt up and grabbed the beer mug. He pitched it, and it smashed upside Virus's head, distracting the mad mutant or a few more seconds. John then reached into Virus's jacket and pulled out the tomahawk. "Oh yeah…" John grinned as his body glowed a bright blue. The Apache could feel his powers returning. "Hey Virus! Hail to the Chief!" John nailed Virus with one huge punch.

"NYYYYYEEEEEEEAAAAAGH!" Virus screamed as he flew across town. He landed on top of a conveniently-placed barrel full of tar in front of a building wall. The shock caused an also-conveniently-placed bucket full of feathers to fall off a shelf and land on his head. "GET THIS BLOODY THING OFF ME!" John grabbed the mutant lunatic and dragged him to the nearest train tracks, grapping some rope on the way. John noticed there was a cowboy hat with the rope. With a shrug, the Apache mutant put the hat on. Thunderbird tied Virus to the tracks and checked his watch. He heard a train's whistle.

"On time for once." John snickered. He walked away as the train bared down on the screaming and cursing Virus. The train passed by, crushing the insane inventor into pixels. "Yeah!" The words "YOU WON" appeared in the sky above his head. A blue portal appeared in front of the Apache mutant, and words appeared above it saying "Enter here". John shrugged and ran through the portal.

Cyberopolis

"NO!" Virus screamed at the screen. "How is that bloody possible! That level should've murdered that bloody Cherokee!"

"A) John is an Apache, not Cherokee. There's a difference. John hates it when people call him a Cherokee. B) I haven't finished that level yet." Hi-Tech grinned. "I was planning on crazed cowboys and Native Americans."

"Oh look." Firestorm snickered. "I think the little Virus is going to have another nervous breakdown." Virus quickly turned and pointed at the red-haired pyromaniac Joe.

"YOU SHUT UP! YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Virus screeched.

"What're you gonna do, huh? Hit me, Virus? Hit me? COME ON!" Firestorm teased.

"Knock it off, Firestorm. You're going to make the little twerp even more unraveled than he already is." Quick-Kick snickered.

"The bloody things I have to bloody put up with to bloody destroy the lot of you." Virus grumbled under his breath. "At least I'll get to use this on that bloody Toad."

"I doubt it." Dial-Up smirked. "If the Pit finds out about the sudden tragedy with us Malibu Joes and the West Coast Misfits, they will investigate."

"Let 'em come!" Virus grinned madly. "I'll destroy them all, mate!"

"Aww, he's so cute. He thinks he's a world dominator, awwwww…" Jester teased.

"YOU SHUT UP HUMAN!" Virus yelled.

"Hey man, let's not mess with him anymore. He's a very frayed mess of wires right now." Firestorm said sternly. Jester pouted, and the red-headed EOD expert smirked. "He's got no more wires left to fray." The two Joes burst out laughing. Virus yelled in exasperation.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Virus screeched. Blast Radius screeched happily and shot the insane English Dreadnok a rude gesture. "Okay, that's it! When that bloody hour is up…I'm gonna kill the monkey first."

"You touch the monkey, you will die, Virus." Firestorm said with a growl.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Virus jeered in a sing-song voice.

"The plot sickens." Dial-Up rolled her eyes.

"I'm goona get Althea back, I'm gonna get Althea back…" Virus sang happily.

Well, well, well! Looks like the Virus has lost it…well, lost more than usual! What insanity will happen next? Will our heroes escape? What other video adventures await? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!