Author Notes: First off, a huge apology for the long lapse in time in between chapter 6 and 7. I hope I made up for it. This chapter is rather long, but it is mostly action and that takes a lot of room. Secondly, because of the battle, there is a lot of switching back and forth from team to team. I have had several people read it for the flow and ease of reading. Thanks Scarlett Phoenix and Medic Me for your support and being my guinea pigs. You guys are the greatest.
Disclaimer: I do not own GI Joe or the characters. Hasbro/Sunbow/Marvel/Devil's Due comics created GI Joe. I make no money from this fic.
Continued thanks to DesertFox for her beta-reading services and words of encouragement. Also thanks to those of you who have sent me a review or email letting me know that you are enjoying and/or are reading this fic and want an update.
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Title: An Old FlameAuthor: Scarlett Storm O
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Lots and lots of Joes engaged in a battle with Cobra in an attempt to rescue Scarlett. But of course, nothing is easy. Who else gets captured and do they escape? Feedback: The 3 R's please (Read, Review, Repeat)
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Chapter 7 – Getting Away----
-(approximately 2200 hours)-As soon as Breaker alerted the base, Duke snapped out of his trance and quickly called the communications officer. "Breaker, where are the night patrols? Who is out? Where are Flint and the others?"
Breaker quickly flipped through the logs. "Okay, Flint dispatched some tanks, VAMPs, and RAMs before he left to go visit Blackwater Prison. The teams split up to cover every road heading away from base. Flint and his team are now on their way back from Blackwater. Why? What's up?" He asked, breathless from the quick rundown and worried about the sound of urgency in Duke's voice.
"The sneaky ninja got in and kidnapped Scarlett," Duke replied as Snake Eyes and Grunt skidded to a stop at Scarlett's quarters.
Snake Eyes started to pace before he hastily signed, "I will take care of Tommy once and for all." The silent man then did an about-face and retreated.
"Go after him," Duke ordered Tripwire, Short Fuse, and Grunt before turning his attention back to the phone and Breaker. "Notify the patrols and tell them to be on the look out for any vehicles leaving from our direction. Tell them to take extreme caution and radio base immediately if they see anything unusual," Duke huffed.
"I'm on it, Top," Breaker confirmed, then he radioed the teams. "Be on the look out for a vehicle carrying Scarlett and the ninja, Storm Shadow. Be very careful. Keep in constant contact."
Rock 'N Roll responded, "We got the west covered, Breaker. Ain't no one getting by us. Cover Girl's on the job," he teased.
"I heard that, Rock," Cover Girl smirked, checking her gauges and monitors inside the Wolverine.
As the Wolverine and two VAMPs held their stationary position, a single vehicle approached them. "Incoming, guys," Cover Girl radioed Rock 'N Roll and Flash in the VAMPs. "Coming straight at us, single unit."
"Got 'em in my sights. I'll go meet 'em. Back me up, Cov," Rock 'N Roll requested, pulling his VAMP ahead of the Wolverine. "Let's say hello."
The approaching humvee slowed as they saw the tank and VAMP coming towards them. "Uh oh, what did we do?" One occupant asked the driver of the humvee.
"Beats me, man," the driver shrugged, pulling over as the VAMP came towards the driver's door.
"Crap, Cover Girl. It's Army Desert Ops," Rock 'N Roll told her as he pulled up along side the humvee.
"They must be on some kind of desert recon," Cover Girl replied, stopping her Wolverine and continuing to watch her gauges.
Flash quickly radioed Cover Girl in a private conversation. "Court, keep that humvee on target. It could be a decoy or set up."
"Roger. I've got a lock down," Cover Girl replied, zeroing in on the humvee.
"Hey buddies, what are you doing out here?" Rock 'N Roll asked the humvee occupants.
"Desert operations, man," the driver said as the passenger handed Rock 'N Roll a copy of their orders. Both occupants were unnerved by the new position of the tank's barrel. It was focused right at them.
Rock 'N Roll glanced over the orders and studied the names of the desert ops men and authenticity of the document before handing them back. Assured that they were legitimate, he said, "Sorry for the inconvenience boys. You may go about your business."
Just as the passenger was going to say something, the radio in the VAMP crackled to life. Cover Girl's voice echoed through the speakers. "Incoming. Multiple bogies. Breaker, we are sitting ducks."
From the control room back at base, Breaker replied hastily, "I see them too, little lady. I'm dispatching Ace and the SkyStrikers, and Steeler and his grounds unit are mobile. I'll send them your way. I will alert Flint and his team to your coordinates as well. Sit tight."
Rock 'N Roll spun around as the Wolverine changed directions. Grabbing his radio, he asked, "ETA, Cov?"
Cover Girl replied, "Too damn quick, Rock."
"You boys better head for cover," Rock 'N Roll told the desert ops men, jumping into the VAMP.
"No way, dude. We can back you until your team gets here. We are fully armed," the driver explained as the passenger climbed out of the cab and up top to the firing controls. 'There was no possible way a tank and two VAMPs were going to be able to hold off the approaching enemy', the Specialist thought.
Cover Girl had shot a look back over her shoulder when she noticed Rock 'N Roll and the humvee following her. "What is going on?" she inquired, witnessing the strangers' actions.
"Rock 'N Roll?" Flash questioned with a sense of urgency in his voice.
Queuing his radio, Rock 'N Roll informed the tank jockey and laser trooper, "They're clean. They are gonna help since we will need all the help we can get. Our bogies are here."
"Tell the dudette to chill, man," the driver said.
"I'll let you tell her that after this is said and done. I'm not gonna tell her to do anything but fire," Rock 'N Roll exclaimed, veering off and getting ready for Cobra. He motioned for the humvee to follow him.
"Cobra!" Major Bludd cried out as his mobilized team approached Cover Girl, Flash, and Rock 'N Roll's vehicles. "Attack!"
Multiple gunfire erupted between the small band of Joes and larger group of Cobra. "Where is my backup?" Rock 'N Roll screamed into his radio. "Cover Girl, we have Rattlers bearing down on us."
"I see 'em," she acknowledged, firing a missile at Major Bludd's HISS then zeroing in on a Rattler.
The humvee did well until a HISS got a good shot. The guys bailed out quickly as Rock 'N Roll pulled up beside them. "Get in," he quickly told the two desert ops.
A loud roar could be heard as SkyStrikers approached. "Air support is here," Cover Girl exclaimed, glancing up with relief as Ace and the boys begin to handle the Rattlers and FANGs. She and the two VAMPs continued to try and hold off the advances of Bludd and the cobra guardsmen.
Rock 'N Roll handed the controls over to the humvee driver, "Here, take over. You," he pointed to the Specialist, "help Flash in the other VAMP. This is all we have boys until the rest of our team gets here."
The driver slid in behind the wheel. "Dude, the name is Footloose. This is Dusty," Footloose introduced himself and his partner.
"Rock 'N Roll's the name, blowing up Cobra is my game. The tank driver is Cover Girl, the VAMP driver is Flash, and we are in a world of shit," he fussed as a missile barely missed his VAMP.
Footloose swerved around the destroyed humvee and headed for the other VAMP. As he approached it, Dusty jumped off one VAMP and onto the other. "Hitching a ride, my friend," Dusty told Flash.
"Just hang on," Flash responded.
"Rock 'N Roll and Cover Girl need ground back up now, guys," Ace shouted over his radio. He and the SkyStrikers had their hands full with the Rattlers, FANGs, and Trubble Bubbles. The hotshot pilot was able to take out a few Cobra HISS and Stingers, but the Rattlers and FANGs were overpowering him and his boys.
Ace glanced down at his monitors in time to see a Rattler engage on Ripcord's aircraft and fire. Watching as Ripcord ejected and cleared the explosion, Ace decided to play 'chicken' with the lucky Rattler. "Now you see me, now you don't," the pilot quipped, pulling his aircraft into a vertical climb and circling around behind the Rattler. "Bye, bye, snake breath."
"Ace, stop playing and start shooting," Airborne grumbled.
"It is under control, pal," Ace replied, grinning as the Rattler burst into flames.
Ripcord had miraculously landed behind Cover Girl's Wolverine and hitched a ride, firing his pistol. "Hope you don't mind, Cov," he said.
"Not at all. Just watch my launcher," she replied, firing a missile and taking out two Stingers.
Steeler queued his radio. "We are almost there, guys. Hang in there."
"I see you, but you all better hurry," Cover Girl replied, just as a heat-seeking missile locked on her.
"Take out the tank!" Bludd bellowed, watching with glee as the Wolverine became their next target.
"Oops," Cover Girl muttered, seeing the missile barrel down on her. "Bail, Rip," she instructed, quickly exiting the cockpit.
The two Joes were hurtled away from the blast. Picking themselves up, they each ran towards a VAMP. Cursing loudly, Cover Girl grabbed her shoulder then approached Flash. "Scoot," she commanded, "I drive. You fire."
Flash nodded in agreement and slid across to the passenger seat, joining Dusty firing missiles and lasers.
Ripcord grabbed a ride with Rock 'N Roll and Footloose. "Here," Rock 'N Roll said, handing Ripcord an M16.
"You okay, Cover Girl?" Steeler radioed, seeing her Wolverine explode.
Grabbing the radio, she sneered, "Sure, I just lost my baby. How do you think I am?" she growled.
"Easy girl," Clutch replied over his communicator, "I got the snake who took you out in my sights. Just give me a clear shot and my baby will avenge yours."
"Pay attention, grease monkey," Steeler shouted at Clutch as a barrage of shelling showered down around Clutch's VAMP MARK II and Steeler's MOBAT.
"Give 'em support, fellas," Flint ordered from the Dragonfly that had just arrived with Wild Bill, Gung-Ho, and Stalker.
"Yo Joe," the Joes in the Dragonfly yelled, joining in the battle.
"Wait, that black streak," Stalker screamed from the Dragonfly hovering above the battle. "Watch the black car, E."
Gung-Ho trained the spot light on the black car as it sail around the Joes fighting and into the middle of Cobra. "Bill, get closer. I lost it. Black as midnight," the Cajun lamented.
Flint worked artillery and immediately radioed, "That was an Extensive Enterprises car. I saw the plates."
"And that means that could be our car," Duke interrupted, finishing Flint's thought. Duke, Doc, Snake Eyes, Grunt, Tripwire, and Short Fuse had arrived in some jeeps.
"I'm afraid this whole battle is a decoy, Top," Ace radioed from high above, blasting another Rattler. "They just keep coming."
Cover Girl and Rock 'N Roll were the closest to the heart of the battle. "You know what we have to do, Rock," she told the other VAMP.
"Man, what is she talking about?" Footloose asked.
"We follow her in. Don't lose her," Rock 'N Roll answered, fighting off two approaching Stingers while Flash cleared the way by destroying a HISS.
"Whoa, deep, man," Footloose mumbled, picking up the communicator. "Dudette, we're following you in. I hope you know what you are doing."
"Who in the hell is that?" An astonished Cover Girl queried, speaking to no one in particular as she dodged two approaching Stingers. "Hang on guys." She swerved around some Cobras.
Flash glanced at the desert trooper. "You better hang on tighter than that or you'll go flying," he warned.
Dusty gripped the top of the VAMP as Cover Girl dodged the Stingers that Rock 'N Roll was battling with. After they cleared the enemy, a white knuckled Dusty answered Cover Girl's rhetorical question, "Ma'am, that is Footloose, my partner. I'm Dusty, and thanks for the warning. That was some fine driving if not a little wicked."
Flash chuckled as Cover Girl replied, "Thanks, I think, but we are not in the clear yet." Several HISS and Stingers materialized in front of her. Aware that they just ran out of luck, she slammed on the brakes and hollered, "Bail out!"
As the VAMP exploded, Flash remarked, "Well, you are two for two today." He received an evil glare from the downed tank jockey as Cobra surrounded them. Cover Girl, Flash, and Dusty surrendered.
Rock 'N Roll, Ripcord, and Footloose witnessed their teammate's capture and shortly after encountered the same fate, yielding to Cobra.
--
"Well, well," Tomax began.
"well, look what we," Xamot continued.
"have here," they both uttered in unison, as the twins approached the six Joes being pushed into a large Cobra transporter. The black car was parked inside, and a white-clad ninja stood by the back of the car.
Ripcord and Cover Girl could see Scarlett lying inside. A small moan escaped from the red-haired counterintelligence operative. "What did you scum do to her?" Cover Girl sneered.
Storm Shadow approached her fearlessly. Stroking her face, he quietly and flatly answered, "Nothing but a little sleeping pill for the lovely yet deadly Black Widow."
Cover Girl flinched away as he touched her. Rock 'N Roll growled, "Leave her alone, you overgrown, sword wielding..."
Storm Shadow swiftly and nimbly moved in front of him, sword drawn and pressed against his throat. "Yes? You were saying?"
"Easy, Rock," Flash warned.
Storm Shadow looked over the small band of Joes assembled before him. "I only wanted one, and now I have seven Joes. Cobra Commander will be pleased."
Cover Girl and Rock 'N Roll exchanged a look. Multiple Cobra guardsmen surrounded the six Joes and unconscious Scarlett, including Storm Shadow, the twins, Zartan, and the Dreadnoks.
"Bind their wrists," Storm Shadow ordered, carefully watching his prisoners. "Driver, move it." The driver of the large transporter immediately shifted the vehicle into gear as a few of the remaining Cobra guardsmen and the Dreadnoks roughly pulled the Joes arms behind them and tied their wrists together, forcing them to sit against the wall of the carrier. Several other guards jumped out of the transporter after the Joes were secured and immobile.
Ripcord tried to struggle but was rewarded by Storm Shadow looming over him, pointing his sword at Ripcord's neck.
The twins cackled as the transporter slowly began to move:
"Let us hope that..."
"your teammates realize..."
"you are in here. Otherwise..."
"it may be a rough ride..."
"for all of you." The twins laughed in unison and then back-flipped out of the moving vehicle. They swiped a Ferret and joined in the battle once again.
"Fools," Storm Shadow impassively commented. "Watch the prisoners," he ordered the guardsmen, sheathing his sword. He stepped to the back of the transporter and exited, agilely landing on the ground below. A Stinger, playing escort to the transporter, picked him up. Storm Shadow was very eager to see if Snake Eyes would show; he badly wanted a rematch.
"Come on, money-less fools. We get paid by the number of Joes we eliminate. Now move it," Zartan growled.
"But Zartan, we just rescued you from that prison. Can't we rest?" Torch whined.
"Shut up, you dope," Buzzer smacked Torch in the back of the head while Ripper laughed.
Zartan and the three Dreadnoks climbed onto four ATVs and raced out of the transporter.
Two guards pulled the doors shut and securely latched them.
Meanwhile, as the imprisoned Joes were being restrained inside the transporter, the land and air battle raged on. "Where did Cover Girl, Rock 'N Roll, and the others disappear too?" Clutch asked, witnessing the wreckage of the two VAMPs and firing at a Stinger.
"Damn," Steeler cursed. "Duke, Cobra has more prisoners. Cover Girl, Rock 'N Roll, Ripcord, Flash, and two desert ops men have disappeared. Suspected Cobra entrapment."
"Look, that large transport is moving," Stalker pointed out from the Dragonfly, hovering above the ground.
"Derail it, Bill. Don't blow it up. For all we know, our teammates are inside it," Flint ordered, hearing that several teammates were missing now.
Inside the transporter, Ripcord spoke quietly, "We have to get loose. If anything happens to this ride, we would be dead meat."
"Man, what kind of whacked out mission is this?" Footloose asked.
"You guys ever hear of Cobra? This is them," Rock 'N Roll explained, watching the four Cobras on the other side of the car. He shook his head and toyed with the ropes binding his wrists.
While Rock 'N Roll spoke of Cobra, Dusty was forming a plan. Leaning over, he whispered into Cover Girl's ear, "Ma'am, would you be so kind and give a desert boy a hand?"
Cover Girl had tuned out the chatter of her teammates, contemplating a way out when she felt Dusty's breath in her ear. "What did you have in mind?" She countered in a barely audible voice.
Grinning, Dusty moved his leg, revealing his hidden boot knife. The tank jockey smiled, knowing that if she could retrieve that knife, they could put her escape plan into action.
She turned her back inconspicuously so that her bound hands could reach for the knife. Her shoulder was screaming out its protests since it had been badly bruised when she had to quickly bail out of the Wolverine earlier. Her hasty exit from the VAMP moments ago had not helped any either. Gritting her teeth, she finally clasped the knife and pulled it free.
Dusty whispered, "Good girl." Knowing that she could not see the knife, he gave her precise instructions. "Rotate it 180 degrees so that the serrated edges face down. I am going to turn around so you can cut my ropes."
Cover Girl twisted the knife over and waited for Dusty to line his hands and ropes up with her hands and the knife. "If I cut you, just remember, this was your idea," she quipped softly.
"I trust you, Jameel. If I scream or jerk away from you, just stop moving the knife," he retorted quietly, suppressing an evil grin.
"Wise guy," she muttered, slowly dragging the knife back and forth over the rope. She put as much force into the movements as she felt she could but didn't want to risk slipping or cutting the desert trooper.
Feeling the rope finally weaken, Dusty snapped the thin pieces of rope remaining. "See, nary a scratch on me," he commented reassuringly as he took the knife from Cover Girl and cut her ropes.
Cover Girl started to reply when a Cobra guard walked around the back of the car and spotted them. "Hey, what are you Joes doing?" he angrily hissed just as Cover Girl pulled her arms free.
"Simmer down, good fellow," Dusty calmly stated before he threw his knife at the Cobra, lodging it in the guard's neck. Another startled guard attempted to attack Dusty but was met with a quick punch to the gut then chin.
The other two guards raced around the front of the car and approached Cover Girl. "Be a sweetheart and stay where you are," one guard scoffed.
Smirking, she promptly threw a right-hook at one guard and shoved him over to Rock 'N Roll, who wrapped his legs around the guard tightly. The other guard sneered at Cover Girl, "Bitch!"
"Been called worse," she flatly stated, fighting him off and onto the hood of the black car. Trying to keep her pain concealed, she grabbed his weapon and pressed it to his temple.
Dusty had knocked out his guard and restrained the guard that Rock 'N Roll had trapped. He retrieved his knife from the first guard's throat and cut the ropes of the other Joes and Footloose.
Rock 'N Roll immediately jumped up and took over watching the guard for Cover Girl. She hurried around to the back seat and climbed in to check on Scarlett.
"How is she?" Flash asked, getting in on the other side of the car. Ripcord ran around to the side of the car where Cover Girl was.
"Doesn't look hurt," Cover Girl replied, checking her for new wounds. "I think she is fine, but we need to get out of here." Her brown eyes looked up and met Flash's eyes. Flash read a look of uncertainty in the tank jockey's normally confident eyes.
"Have you got a plan, Cov?" Ripcord asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah. I just hope I don't kill us trying it," Cover Girl commented apprehensively, flinching from the pressure on her injured shoulder. "Stay with Red," she told Ripcord as she climbed out of the backseat.
Flash got out of his side of the car and popped the trunk. "Load the three prisoners in the trunk."
Footloose grabbed one guard while Rock 'N Roll pushed his captive back to the trunk. Dusty retrieved the unconscious Cobra and dragged him to the back of the vehicle. The four guys loaded the Cobra guards in the trunk. "You'll never get away with this," the guard Rock 'N Roll had restrained, retorted smartly.
"Wanna bet?" Flash countered, pushing the guard inside and slamming the trunk lid down.
"Okay Court, any luck?" Rock 'N Roll asked, witnessing the tank jockey in the driver's seat trying to hotwire the car.
"Almost, I suggest...," she began then stopped momentarily, wincing in pain.
"What's wrong?" Rock 'N Roll asked, seeing the pained-looked on her face.
"Getting out of a Wolverine before it blows up isn't the easiest thing to do," she remarked, rotating her shoulder and rubbing it. Taking a deep breath and getting back to business, she explained, "Like I was saying, I would suggest everyone get in and buckle up securely. Ripcord, Rock, and Flash, make sure you hang onto Scarlett. Dusty and Footloose, you get to ride up front with me."
The two desert ops men looked at each other and then at Rock 'N Roll. "Is she thinking what I think she's thinking?" Dusty asked.
Rock 'N Roll nodded and watched the two men's surprised facial expressions. He hid a chuckle.
"Okay then," Dusty calmly stated as Footloose shrugged his shoulders and headed to the front seat.
Rock 'N Roll lifted Scarlett and waited for Ripcord and Flash to take a seat and buckle up. He then laid Scarlett across their laps and climbed in. Quickly jury-rigging a makeshift harness for Scarlett, Rock 'N Roll secured her then fastened his safety belt. Dusty helped make sure the backseat passengers were ready then waited by the passenger door until Footloose and Cover Girl had the car running.
"Need some help, man," Footloose asked, sliding in next to her.
"No thanks, I think I have it." Cover Girl sparked the wires together and the engine fired. "Get in," she told Dusty as she pulled her belt across her shoulder. She waited for Footloose and Dusty to fasten their belts. Looking to the backseat, she checked to be sure everyone was belted in somehow.
Rock 'N Roll met Cover Girl's eyes briefly. Seeing the worry there, he remarked, "Court, we all trust you. Just get us out of here."
Giving the guys a tiny smile, she nodded. "I'm gonna apologize now if anyone gets hurt," she said, already feeling a guilty conscience weighing upon her. "This is gonna hurt, guys. I am sorry, but this is all I can think of," she muttered, bracing herself for the sudden drop once she got the car out of the transporter.
"It's a helluva lot better than what I had in mind," Flash stated.
Cover Girl glanced in her rearview mirror at Flash then asked, "Everyone ready?"
"Yo Joe!" Rock 'N Roll, Ripcord, and Flash exclaimed as the desert ops guys joined in.
Crossing her fingers, Cover Girl popped the car into reverse, closed her eyes for a moment, and then floored the black car. It lurched backwards, breaking the back doors open. Suddenly, it was airborne...
--
Wild Bill was almost ready to fire at the transporter when the black car barreled out. "Yee Haw, the car is moving again."
Stalker and Gung-Ho gaped at the car as it landed roughly on the ground. "God help whoever is in there," Flint prayed.
As soon as the car found the ground, the occupants were flung back in their seats. Cover Girl immediately braked, launching everyone fiercely forward; their seatbelts and restraints were the only things stopping them from flying out of their seats. She threw the car into drive and then floored it out of enemy territory. Everyone was lurched backwards again.
Rock 'N Roll saw the Dragonfly and SkyStrikers. "Cov, get us out of this pit of Cobras, so our boys can level this here assault."
"I'm trying. Let's just hope our guys know it is us and not someone else," she quipped. She also hoped that Cobra was confused by the switch long enough for her to get them out of the line of fire.
Storm Shadow fumed in anger from his vantage point as he watched the car weave away from him. "Bludd, blow the car up." 'If I can't have Ms. O'Hara, no one can,' he vowed in anger.
Bludd growled and set his missiles on the receding car. Just as he was about to fire, Wild Bill locked a missile on the HISS tank. Bludd bailed out as his HISS exploded, cursing, "Bloody hell!" He ran to a Stinger, shouting, "Retreat! Cobra, retreat!"
Storm Shadow's retreat was thwarted when a missile from Steeler halted their escape. The ninja caught sight of Snake Eyes approaching him. "Now, brother," the white-clad ninja seethed, "you will pay the ultimate price."
The two raced towards each other, swords clashing. Snake Eyes was not close to being healed from his battle the other day, but he deflected Storm Shadow's lunges. The firefight between the Joes and Cobra was coming to a halt. Bludd was still screaming for a retreat, and Storm Shadow did not wish to be a captive of the Joes again. The ninja hitched a ride with Tomax. "Another time, my brother," he swore.
Snake Eyes watched his sword brother depart. A hand on his shoulder brought him back to reality. "You did good, Snakes," Duke complimented him. "Are you okay?"
Snake Eyes nodded his head, signing, "Another time, I will make him pay. How is Shana?"
"Doc is catching up to the runaway car," Duke answered, as the two men walked back to an awaiting jeep. "Since Storm Shadow, the twins, and the Dreadnoks have been seen recently high-tailing it out of here, we are under the assumption that the car is being driven by one of ours."
Cover Girl pulled the car to a stop after she was out of danger of being shot at. Cobra was retreating and an emergency jeep was approaching. She turned around, looking at Scarlett and the other guys. "Everyone okay?"
"Yeah, Court. Good job," Rock 'N Roll replied, unbuckling his belt. He wasn't sure how they made it. That sudden jerk from the transporter to the ground was bone jarring. The three men held onto Scarlett with all their strength; their seatbelts dug into their shoulders and hips. Rock 'N Roll removed the makeshift belt from Scarlett's shoulders and mid-section.
The other occupants all nodded and began to unbuckle their belts. Footloose commented to Cover Girl, "Fancy driving, man...uh ma'am."
Cover Girl nodded appreciatively, wiping her forehead and temple, which had blood running from it. She unbelted her seatbelt and got out of the car. As Rock 'N Roll and Ripcord removed Scarlett from the car, Flash slid out and approached Cover Girl. He grabbed a hold of her arm and helped her sit down. "Here, easy. You must have hit your head on the steering wheel, but you did good."
"Thanks, Flash," Cover Girl said, as Doc's jeep pulled up and stopped.
"Cover Girl, are you okay?" Doc asked worriedly, racing up to the car.
"Yeah, check on Scarlett first," she replied, waving him off.
Doc handed Flash some clean dressing for Cover Girl's bleeding forehead then ran around to the other side of the car. Dusty and Footloose crawled out of the front seat. "Man, that was a rush," Footloose told Dusty.
"Sure was, 'Loose," Dusty answered, watching the approaching Joes.
Duke and Snake Eyes ran over to Scarlett as Steeler and Clutch checked on Cover Girl. Ripcord cradled Scarlett's head and nodded to the First Sergeant as Doc checked her vitals. Realizing that everyone was more or less okay, Duke smiled and looked around at his team.
Rock 'N Roll noticed Duke glance at the two desert ops guys. "Top, this is Footloose and Dusty. They helped us when Cobra first attacked until backup came. We couldn't have done it without them."
"Nice to meet you two," Duke said, shaking each of their hands. "Ever thought of becoming a Joe? We could always use men with your fighting caliber."
Footloose and Dusty looked at each other. Nodding, Dusty said, "Sure thing. If you can clear it with our CO, that sounds like an offer we cannot refuse."
Duke grinned but cast a worried glance over at Scarlett. Snake Eyes approached the trunk of the car and heard voices. "Oh yeah," Rock 'N Roll explained, "we have some presents for you, Top. We thought you might like a few guards to interrogate." He snickered to himself, realizing that the guards just had one hell of a ride.
"Take them into custody. Make sure they aren't severely injured. How are the rest of you?" Duke asked, looking around at the four guys near him. He could not see Cover Girl or Flash.
"We are all fine, I think," Rock 'N Roll answered.
A small moan escaped from Scarlett soon after Doc injected her with a counter drug to thwart of the affects of the sleeping pill administered by Storm Shadow. "Easy, Red. You'll be okay," he assured her as she blinked her eyes open.
Duke walked over to Scarlett and smiled as she focused her blue eyes on him. "Hey, Shana. You are going to be just fine."
"Where am I?" Scarlett asked, confused by her surroundings.
"Right now, you are about ten miles from base. Tommy got you again, but Rock, Flash, and Cov stopped them with some help from a few others. Just relax. You'll be fine," Duke repeated.
Snake Eyes silently walked up. He touched Scarlett's arm and nodded to her when she looked at him. He then turned and walked over to where Grunt and Ripcord were unloading the captured Cobra guardsmen. The guardsmen appeared to be okay since they didn't have much room in the trunk with three men tightly squeezed inside.
Doc squeezed her shoulder. "I'll be right back, Red. I need to check on Cover Girl." The doctor grabbed his medical bag and scurried over to the other side of the car.
He pushed Steeler and Clutch away, allowing Flash to stay beside the tank jockey. Checking over the laceration on her forehead, Doc gently used some antiseptic to clean it. Cover Girl flinched away from him. "Sorry, Courtney. I'm going to need to stitch this gash once we get back to base. You'll have a nasty headache come morning," he informed her, placing a butterfly bandage on her temple to temporarily stop some of the bleeding.
"I already do," she grumbled quietly.
"Check her shoulder, dude. Uh, I mean, Doc," Footloose stammered as he and Dusty peeked around from the front of the car.
"What happened to your shoulder?" Doc asked, running his hands over her shoulders until she pulled back as he touched the tender left shoulder.
"Hurried exit out of my Wolverine," she answered, her voice catching as she thought of her destroyed tank.
"I'm glad you are okay, but I want some X-rays back at the infirmary. You can plan on staying for overnight observation. Can you get up?" Doc asked.
Cover Girl glowered at Doc but took Steeler's outstretched hand. "How's Shana?" She asked, grimacing as Steeler and Flash helped her stand.
"She will be just fine. The guys held her pretty good. I hear you thought this car had wings," Doc joked.
"I wish it would have. That was an awful jump. I think we all will be sore come morning," she groaned as she felt her body already tensing up.
"Just take it easy and move slow. Ralph, help her to the jeep and head on back to base," Doc instructed.
Steeler assisted Cover Girl to the jeep as Doc walked back towards Scarlett. As Steeler helped her sit in the backseat, Cover Girl asked, "How is everyone else?" She hoped that she caught the worst end of that suicide jump.
"I think everyone is fine. One of the strangers is limping, but otherwise, everyone is fine," he reassured her.
Doc witnessed Footloose limping out of the way, heading towards a jeep. "Settle down, son. Did you hit your knee on the dashboard?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, man, uh, Doc," Footloose corrected himself as Dusty walked up beside him.
"I want an X-ray of that too. You all hit the ground at a very high rate of speed. It is a good thing you didn't roll," Doc stated out of earshot from Cover Girl. Looking at Dusty, he asked, "Do you feel okay? You were in the front seat also?"
Dusty nodded. "I braced myself with my arms. 'Loose was in the middle. Is Cover Girl going to be okay?"
Doc nodded as Clutch interjected, "Court's one of the best. She knew what she was doing. You were in good hands. By the way, thanks for backing them up."
"No trouble at all," Dusty replied. "Come on, 'Loose have a seat in this jeep."
Steeler, Snake Eyes, Ripcord, and Cover Girl started back to base. Snake Eyes sat beside Cover Girl in the back seat. He looked over and placed a hand on her arm to get her attention, before he signed, "Thank you for what you did."
Cover Girl leaned her head back against the seat and smiled. "Anytime, Snakes. I would ask what you did to the ninja guy, but it is probably none of my business."
Snake Eyes nodded. "It was a long time ago, and a vendetta that he thinks exists that doesn't."
She nodded and closed her eyes, mumbling, "Next time you two meet, make one of those sword thrusts for me, will ya?" Snake Eyes nodded and moved closer to her, gingerly placing his arm across her shoulders, holding her as the jeep traveled back to base.
Doc and Duke helped an unsteady Scarlett into a jeep. "Is Courtney going to be okay?" Scarlett asked, seeing Steeler's jeep take off.
"She'll be just fine. It seems she banged her shoulder pretty hard as well as her head. You ladies have to stop damaging your shoulders, that's just all there is to it," Doc lightheartedly joked as he climbed into the front seat.
Scarlett hastily refuted, "Hey, mine is healing. Plus, we know we have the greatest doc in the world." She winked at Duke, who was sitting beside her, and gently laid her head on his shoulder. She felt him slide his arm across her shoulders.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, my dear," Doc replied as Rock 'N Roll put the jeep in gear and followed Clutch and Grunt's vehicles, which were carrying the prisoners, Flash, Footloose, and Dusty.
Chuckling at Doc's statement, she asked Duke quietly, "Is Snake Eyes okay? Did he fight Tommy again?"
"He is fine. They battled a little bit but not long enough. Our friend, Tommy, seemed to be a little more interested in keeping his freedom then beating Snakes," Duke answered, pulling her a little bit closer to him.
Since Cobra was retreating and the injured and prisoners were heading back to headquarters, Flint called off the remaining Joes. "Let's head back home, guys."
-Final chapter coming soon!
-Additional ending notes: Jameel is Arabic for Beautiful. As mentioned in past chapters, Black Widow was Scarlett's previous name when she first met Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. And, this is fiction, and in fiction, all cars survive big jumps and other actions that may or may not happen in actuality.