"Duke! You cannot be serious!" stated Flint as he walked into Duke's office. "How could you leave today? Of all days!"
Duke chuckled, "Sorry Flint, but I rather be at Hawk's meeting in Washington then stay here."
"Chicken.." Flint mumbled under his breath.
"I do not want to live a repeat of last year's Annual Day. I still am getting rid of those headaches, not to mention the smell coming from the 3rd drawer." said Duke with a frown. " You know how they get on this day, and I do not blaim them. They have to celebrate somehow on the day G.I. Joe was formed."
Duke turned and looked out at the window. Already he saw some of the members in small groups near the Motor Pool. "I wonder how they will start the festivities this year? What was that song that came on the intocom last year?"
Flint joined his friend at the window. "Something from the King and I or was it from West Side Story? I keep mixing those two musicals up."
"Well, hopefully they will mostly behave this year and not trash the cafeteria" said Duke, "Beach Head is lucky he is on a mission, at least he is not going to get locked up in the closet again."
"Yeah, lucky dog. I rather face Cobra then stay here today." said Flint.
Duke gave another grin, "Well, you can always count on Lady Jaye and the girls. At least they can help some control over the rest of the men. I think last year they escaped to the spa."
"I do not think that will be possible Duke." said Flint in a small voice.
"What? Why?" Duke asked perplexed.
"Cause they just initiated the beginning of the festivities!" answered the warrant officer.
"Huh? What do you mean?" asked again Duke as he looked towards Flint.
"Cause they just raised our boxers up the flag pole!" came the reply as Flint pointed out the window.
Duke turned towards the spot Flint's finger directed. His face turned ashly white as he watched Lady Jaye, Scarlett and Cover Girl pulling the rope of the Flag's pole as three pairs of boxer shorts swayed in the air.
"Looks like the girls just crossed over to the dark side." mumbled Duke
"Help me! Master Sergeant, you are my only hope!" begged Flint.
"Sorry, but I got a nice long meeting with Hawk." said Duke. "I wonder who is the owner of those happy smily face boxers? Yours?"
"I thought they were yours!" said Flint.
They looked at each other as they both stated, "Beach Heads'!"
Moving across the room, Duke grabbed his briefcase and started out the door, " Well, enjoy the day Flint!"
"You owe me big time!" came the reply
Flint watched Duke turn the corner of the hallway, as he ducked an incoming water balloon. "This is going to be one of those days." he sighed as he walked out of the room.
---------------------
"Ambush! Take cover!" Scarlett yelled towards Lady Jaye and Cover Girl as small round objects fell at her feet.
"This way!" bellowed Lady Jaye ducking before two more round objects hit the pavement exploding into water puddles.
"Hurry you two, before you both get soaked!" cried out Cover Girl behind a jeep. "Ack! They got me" as water dripped down her features. "You going to pay for that Shipwreck!"
Lady Jaye and Scarlett ducked behind the jeep seconds before another attack of water balloons hit the vehicle. Peeping from under the vehicle, Lady Jaye noticed six pairs of legs. "Looks like six of them, Ace, Shipwreck, Mutt, Footloose, Dusty and Ripcord. Ready with the ammunitions?"
"Ready." whispered both Scarlett and Cover Girl as they held three buckets of water balloons.
From the other side of the jeep, the six Joes stood ready to "fire" their water balloons.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are!" cried out Shipwreck.
"Please, do not tell us you are playing the poor Damsils in Distress card!" said Ace.
"Show yourselves ladies! There is no place to go." spoke Dusty.
"Like, yeah man.. I mean woman.. We are not going to get you wet, much." came from Footloose as the men all snickered.
"Are you sure, they are somewhere near by?" asked Ripcord.
"Positive, my nose knows!" answered Mutt.
"Yeah, I saw them near the Flag pole before." Ace stated as he looked up ansd saw the high ranked officers underwear flapping in the breeze.
A redheaded figure shot up from behind the jeep as she yelled, "FIRE!"
"Duck and cover! They are counterattacking!" cried out Ace as three water balloons hit him on the chest.
Lady Jaye and Cover Girl had already emerged from their hiding spot as they threw countless water balloons towards their comrads.
"Take that you sailor!" yelled Cover Girl as she succeeded on hitting her target.
"Ahhh! I am melting! Melting!" cried out Shipwreck, as he lowered himself towards the ground pretending. "My world.. My beautiful Joe world!"
"Shipwreck! Get up and help me throw at them more of these babies!" Dusty called out, but before he could throw one of his balloons, four balloons hit him on the side.
"Gotcha!" said Scarlett with pleasure in her face, but instantly ducked from Dusty's counterattack. "Missed me!"
Lady Jaye appeared from the backside of the Jeep, and threw several balloons towards her targets.
"Footloose! Look out!" cried out Ripcord, but it was too late as both as he and Footloose became a soggy mess.
"Two birds with one stone!" said Lady Jaye, but in that moment got hit with three balloons from Mutt.
"He he.. Got you Lady!" stated a proud Mutt.
"Lady Jaye!" cried out Cover Girl, "We got enough ammo for one good hit." as she ducked from Shipwreck's balloons exploding near her.
"Ok, on my mark, we are taking down the canine leader!" said Lady Jaye. She got ready to give the order when she heard a small shriek coming from Scarlett's direction.
"Aghh…" cried out Scarlett as water dripped down from her hair to the pavement. "This means payback!" she grunted towards Mutt.
"Ready! Aim! FIRE!" Lady Jaye bellowed as all three Joe women threw the rest ammunitions at Mutt.
Mutt stood there with his mouth open until reality set in. But before he could stand back from the incoming balloons, a large mass smashed into him sending him sideways across the ground. Mutt opened his eyes to peak on the heavy object standing on his chest.
"Junk!" Good Boy! Saving your Master, two steaks for you tonight." he said patting the dog.
"Ace, we are out of Ammo!" cried out Shipwreck.
"Right, ok.. Then…. Joes retreat!" cried out Ace and he and the rest ran back towards the Motor Pool.
Lady Jaye stepped on top of the vechile as she yelled towards them "I'll get you Mutt! You and your little dog too!" shaking her fist in the air as a giggle escaped her throat.
------------------------
Flint slowly opened the office door, he was ready for anything. He recalled how last year, Duke was welcomed with a pie smashed in his face. He carefully peaked inside moving his head left and right, roaming his eyes around the space. Satisfied there was noone in his office, he quickly stepped inside and locked the door. "Phew! Safe for the time being." he muttered to himself.
Moving behind the desk, he noticed that the mail had arrived early. Sitting down, he flipped through the envelops on his desk. One was from Duke.
Flint,
Take two of these and call me in the morning.
Attached to the message were two aspirins. "Haha!" he said outloud.
The second envelope indicated it came from Lady Jaye.
Do not forget to meet me at the Sky Strikers at 4.
Jaye.
He chuckled at the note, guess she still wants to show me the new moves Ace taught the team he thought.
The third envelope was more buggly, opening it he discovered a CD. The small CD had one title written on it, The Nutcracker Suite. He groaned as he threw the CD in the garbage next to him.
Opening the last envelope he found a small note.
Was in your office before but you were not home. Left you a present.
Cobra Commander.
"Cobra Commander? What?" said Flint speaking outloud. "This must be a joke." How could the Cobra Commander sneak on the base and in his office? Impossible! A noise made him jump as the phone rang. He picked up the receiver and said into the piece. "Flint here." there was some static in the background as he heard….
" Thissssss is Cobra Commander. I forgot my ssssssstapler in your office Flint. Care to ssssssssend it back?"
"Shipwreck!" he bellowed in the receiver. "You do one loosey impression on the Commander!" There was laughter on the other end followed by a dead tone. He closed his eyes for a moment. "This is going to be a long day and it is only 1000 hrs!" he thought. A bumping sound caught his attention, it sounded coming from inside his closet.
Getting up from behind his desk, he moved towards the bumping sound. He heard a thud, as something in there fell over. His face was full of confussion. Carefully he opened the closet door and his eyes immediately grew wide identifying the bumping sounds. "No!" he called out but alas it was too late as the occupant in the closet turned around, raised its tail and extreaded a most fowl odor Flint ever imagined.
"Blast!" Flint said as the skunk turned around getting set for another attack. Flint's eyes wided as he charged out of the room. "I am going to have Shipwreck take extra PT for a year for this!" He stormed down the hall and exited the building. "But first a change of clothes and a long tomato shower."
Flint walked out of the building just as a few Greenshirts sniffed the air, did an about turn and ran. He sighed, "Oh, this is just dandy!" The sound of the upcoming vechile caught his attention. Looking up he saw the Joe women drive up to him.
"Flint!" cried out Lady Jaye from the drivers seat "How is your da….." she stopped in mid sentence as she sniffed the air.
"Yuck.. What is that smell?" asked a wrinkled nose Cover Girl from the backseat. It took a few seconds to realize that the smell centered around the Warrant Officer.
"Looks.. I mean smells like you just met Spirits' friend Flint." said Scarlett in the passenger seat covering her nose.
"Spirit has a pet skunk?" Flint asked her.
"No, it is wild. She just hangs around the base once in a while." she replied.
Flint then noticed that all of the Joe women were soaked. "What happened to you three?" he asked.
"Let's just say injuries in the battlefield." answered Scarlett.
"Oh.. Well then..I am off for a long shower. Can you keep an eye on things?" he asked her again.
"Sure. But I am not skunk sitting." Scarlett replied with a grin.
"Funny..very funny!" Flint groaned as he turned and started walking towards the men's quarters.
"Hey Pepe!" called out Lady Jaye behind him, "Do not forget 4 o'clock!"
He waved behind his back making the girls snicker.
"Now what?" said Lady Jaye. "You think we will get in trouble?"
"Well, Flint did tell me to keep an eye on things." Scarlett smiled at Lady Jaye.
"Well, in that case!" said Cover Girl "On to the Motor Pool! Miss Jaye! We do not want to miss the action."
Hitting the gas, the vechile set off for the Motor Pool.
------------------------
A large crash sounded inside the Motor Pool as some grayish dust rose from its aftermath.
"Hey this one works great Clutch!" stated Gung Ho as he put a jeep on reverse and drove on the other side of the Motor pool. "Think we got enough?"
Clutch walked towards near another jeep as he rolled a tire. "Good. Now help me tie these last tires on this jeep."
Gung Ho got out of the jeep and assisted Clutch with the last tires. "This is going to be fun."
"Yes, just as long Flint does not find out and spoil the fun." said Clutch.
A shadow walked towards the doorway of the Motor Pool. Both Clutch and Gung Ho held their breaths, thinking it was the second in command. But as the shadow came closer they breathed a sign of relief as Shipwrecked entered.
"Ok, I think we are ready outside." he said as pointed out towards the field, where a circle made of haystacks had been built. "All set with the last of the jeeps?"
"All set." replied Clutch. "Just be careful will you, I do not want Duke or Flint on my toes for wrecking ten G.I. Joe vehicles."
"No problem!" Shipwreck said with a wink. "Come on, the others are waiting."
Clutch and Gung Ho got into the jeeps and drove them out. A loud cheer enveloped them as the neared the haystack ring. Most of the Joes had arrived. Getting out of the Jeeps, the two Joes spotted the other Jeeps all set for the battle. Each jeep had a ring of tires around their frames.
"Ok! Joes!" said Gung Ho. "Who is ready for some fun!" as the crowed roared. "We got ten drivers and ten passengers. Clutch with Blowtorch, Footloose with Dusty, Mutt with Snake Eyes, Alpine and Bazooka, Shipwreck with Ace, Quick Kick with Wild Bill, Ripcord and Sparks, Wetsuit with Leatherneck, Airtight and Barbeque. And of course yours truly with Lifeline. Clutch care to continue on the rules?"
Clutch nodded, "Rules are simple, Do NOT ruin the vehicles, or Duke will have our hides. The object of the game is to retrieve as many red flags from the Joes holding them on the outside. Each red flag is 10 points, if you spot a black flag and retrieve it, that will add an additional 100 points. Now remember, the object of the game is for your opponents not to retrieve the flags. So pretty much you will bump them out of the way. If a tire falls off your vehicle for any reason, your team is out of the game. Said that. Teams get into your positions!"
Suddenly the sound of an approaching vehicle captured the group's attention.
"If that is Flint, we are dead meat." said a nervous Shipwreck as the jeep drove closer.
"Wait.. That is not Flint! It's Lady Jaye, Cover Girl and Scarlett!" said Gung Ho.
The Joe jeep halted near the groups as the driver and passengers stepped out.
"Glad you made it ladies!" said Clutch.
"Oh Good, we thought we missed the start." said Cover Girl. "We had a run in with Flint."
"FLINT!" spoke loudly Gung Ho, "Is he on to us?"
"No," answered Lady Jaye. "But he will not be around for awhile, he had a run in with Spirit's friend." This statement resulted into the groups' outburst laughter. "But we do have one tiny problem."
"What's that?" asked Ace.
"Flint put Scarlett here to keep an eye out." Lady Jaye answered as she pointed to the counterintelligence agent.
"Well, in that case…" Gung Ho walked towards Scarlett. "We just going to have to put Scarlett somewhere where she can 'see' everything."
"Gung Ho, what are you…" Scarlett never finished her sentence as Gung Ho grabbed her from the waist and threw her over his shoulders. "Need your assistance, Ace!" he called out.
"Hey!" yelled Scarlett "Put me down…"
"In a minute, Red." came the reply. Gung Ho walked towards his jeep and settled Scarlett in the passenger seat. Ace came from the side with a rope.
"Ace! What are you doing with that?" said a now wide eyed Scarlett.
"Just making sure we all do not get into trouble." Ace replied as he started to tie Scarlett in the seat. It took a few minutes for him to tie the ropes around her and the seat. "Ok, she strapped in." he said to Gung Ho. Ace then turned to the red head and winked. "Now we do not want you to fly out of this jeep, now do we?"
"Hey! Untie me at once!" ordered Scarlett but nobody heard her command because her voice was covered from the roaring engines of the vehicles starting up. She glanced to the side as she saw Cover Girl and Lady Jaye with amused faces. "Funny" she mouthed to them with an annoyed look. Her body jerked back as Gung Ho put the jeep in gear and drove into the ring.
"Lifeline, can you still get the flags from the backseat?" asked Gung Ho.
"Sure G.H." answered Lifeline. "I just hope Scarlett doesn't get car sick." He gulped as the red head gave him an icy stare.
"Nah.. I wouldn't worry. If she flew into space in a sky striker, this is a piece of…" he was interrupted as they all jerked forward as another car bumped against them.
"Beep Beep!" cried out Shipwreck as he banged into them again.
"Shipwreck go to the left!" Ace called out. "Flag at 1 o'clock!" But before they could go collect the flag, they were side reared by Footloose's jeep.
Gung Ho steered to the right from preventing a bumper-to-bumper crash with Wetsuit's vehicle. "Be careful how you drive Wetsuit! There is no diving here." he chuckled.
"Eat our dust then G.H.!" said Leatherneck as he grabbed a red flag from a Greenshirt.
"Gung Ho! Look out!" warned Scarlett
Gung Ho swirled to the left as Mutt's jeep bumped to their side. "Oompph" he heard both Scarlett and Lifeline exhale. He shifted then to reverse to avoid another collision with Clutch's vehicle.
"Hang on Red!" he called out as he drove near the sidelines avoiding two jeeps coming in at full speed. "Lifeline! 3 o'clock!"
"Got it!" said Lifeline, as he grabbed a red flag from Lady Jaye.
A loud crash sounded off to their right as they saw several tires roll to the sidelines. Quick Kick's and Ripcord's teams were out of the game.
"Lifeline, 7 o'clock!" Gung Ho hollered. He was answered with another "Got it!"
Suddenly they all jolted as three jeeps had rammed into theirs from all sides. "Everyone alright?" he asked, both Scarlett and Lifeline slowly nodded.
"Beep Beep!" came again from Shipwreck as he drove passed with a black flag.
Again they heard another thunderous sound as Wetsuit's and Airtight's cars smashed into the haystack wall. Two more teams were out of the game.
"Time to get serious. Hang on you two!" said Gung Ho. He shifted the car towards the right. "Lifeline, Black flag straight ahead!"
"Drat! Missed it!" called Lifeline from the backseat.
"No, problem!" Gung Ho stated as he did a swift "U" turn, missing the haystack wall by several inches. Scarlett gave a small yelp as he drove faster towards the target. He turned towards her to see her face had turned to a ghostly white.
"Got it!" screamed a triumphant Lifeline.
"G.H.! Bare to the left, NOW!" came Scarlett's warning. She braced herself for the collision, but none came for Gung Ho steered the car to the left, as Shipwreck's missed theirs but crashed into Alpine's causing more tires to explode from the impact. Only four teams remained in the game.
"I think I left my stomach back there.." said a shaky Lifeline.
"Great, we can go back and pick it up along with my sanity." replied Scarlett.
"INCOMING!" bellowed Gung Ho as Clutch's vehicle hammered into theirs. "Ummphh.. That was a big one. All tires still in place?" He asked watching another tire roll away from the jeeps.
"Affirmative, G.H." came Lifeline's reply.
Mutt's team drove by as they waved another black flag. "Whoohoo!" they heard him holler.
Suddenly a loud voice interrupted the game.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!"
Gung Ho stopped the car short causing Footloose's vehicle to collide with theirs. He heard painful moans coming from the passenger seat and the backseat.
Scarlett looked up towards the haystacks to see a very angry looking Flint staring down at the group. She noticed that the Greeenshirts ran for their lives as the second in command had arrived. Her eyes traveled to the sidelines staring at the horrified faces of the rest of the team.
"I repeat! What is going on here?" yelled a fuming Flint. None answered him. Flint glanced around as he analyzed the situation. His jaw dropped when he caught sight of the tires tied around the jeeps.
"BUMPER CARS!" he bellowed at the top of his lungs. "I can't believe you used the Joe Jeeps as Bumper Cars! Well, now I know where Beach's missing tires went! As of now this game is cancelled! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir!" they all said at once.
"And where is Scarlett? I do not see her." asked an annoyed Flint. He was now getting concerned as she may have suffered a similar fate like Beach Head did last year.
A voice came from Gung Ho's vehicle. "Here, Flint."
Flint blinked twice as he saw her seating in the passenger seat. "Ok, out of the car, we need to talk."
"Can't" was her reply.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Tied."
"WHAT!" his eyes grew wide seeing her for the first time with the rope around her and the seat. "Well, at least they did not shove her in a closet somewhere" he thought.
"Well, you did say for her to keep an eye on things." came from Gung Ho. "Trust me, she saw everything Flint." patting Scarlett on the shoulder.
"OK, Gung Ho, release Scarlett, the rest of you to the mess hall!" Flint ordered. "And if I see any disaster in there, you are all going to be on KP duty for a month!"
"Yes Sir!" came the joined reply again.
He shook his head and started to walk towards his office. "I think I am going to take those aspirins Duke left for me." And the day was not even over yet.
---------------------
In the Mess Hall, Gung Ho walked with his tray towards Lady Jaye's table and took a seat next to her. Turning his head towards Lady Jaye he asked, "Where's Red?"
Lady Jaye swallowed her food before answering him, "Still in Flint's office..well technically Duke's because of the nice odor that still inhabits Flint office."
"Yeah, feel bad for the skunk having to smell Flint's boots." said Gung Ho with a smile. "Hope she is not too much in trouble, you think?
"Who? Scarlett or the Skunk?" said Cover Girl with a grin. She was sitting opposite from Lady Jaye.
"Both."
"I doubt it, I think he only wanted to learn details of the game." answered Lady Jaye.
"I think we are almost ready for the big battle this afternoon, I spoke to Breaker an hour ago and he claims that everything is almost ready." Gung Ho announced. "All set for your part of the plan, Jaye?"
She nodded, "Yes, the magic hour is at 1600 hrs!"
"You know, he is going to go bonkers with what we have planned." said Cover Girl.
"Yeah, but it will be worth the look on his face!" came the voice of Shipwreck's from the next table.
"What worries me is if Duke returns early." said Lady Jaye. "He will probably have some sort of stroke."
"Naw.. Maybe his face will blow like a volcano, but other than that… nothing major." replied Gung Ho. He looked up to see a tired looking Scarlett enter the mess hall. "Hey Red! Over here!"
Scarlett gave them a reassured smile as she walked at the counter, grabbed a sandwich and came to the table.
"So what happened?" asked Cover Girl. "Did he chew you? Are we all going to be punished?"
"Did he still smell?" came the question from Shipwreck whose head got thumped by a flying bread roll.
Gung Ho looked carefully at Scarlett, "You look like you just got hit by ten Cobra B.A.T.S."
"No, I look like I got hit by ten G.I. Joe Bumper Cars." she replied as everyone snickered at the table. Scarlett then turned to them, "He was not angry, which was surprising. He only wanted the details of what happened." A sigh of relief from the others followed the explanation.
Lady Jaye then asked, "Where is he? I thought he was coming for lunch."
Scarlett answered her, "Well.. Flint decided to eat in the office." looking at Shipwreck, she continued. "He thought it was best, as the new perfume on him had not fully vaporized" causing the sailor to fall off his chair from the laughter.
"Well, at least he is out of our hair for another hour or so, plenty of time to get ready for the next event." Gung Ho said with an evil smile on his face.
Cover Girl gave a sudden gasp, and the others turned towards her. "I think we got company." she said in small voice staring at the doorway.
"Company?" asked Lady Jaye turning her head towards Cover Girls' direction. Her eyes then became huge. "I think we got a visitor."
"Who?" asked Scarlett as she looked towards the doorway. Scanning she watched a small black object waddled into the room. "Oh oh!"
Gung Ho was the first to react, "SKUNK!" as he jumped out of his chair.
"Everyone SCATTER!" Shipwreck bellowed as numerous chairs were pushed back and team members scrambled out the door to escape. The mess hall was deserted within minutes leaving Spirits' friend to munch on the leftovers in peace.
-----------------------
A small mass of greenish goop fell on the computer room's floor.
"Mainframe!" said Breaker, "Be more careful will you?"
"Sorry Breaker," replied Mainframe. "How many of these things are we making?" as he held a toy weapon.
"Enough for everyone I think." answered Breaker.
"What is this stuff?" asked Mainframe, "It's smells like my sock drawer."
"Yuck, not the information I wanted to hear.." smiled Breaker. "It is my new invention. Let's just say it resembles green jello and slime combined."
"Oh…" said a still confused Mainframe as he loaded another weapon.
"I only hope Duke does not show up before the battle." said Breaker as he padded one of the weapons ready for action.
"Yes, but I just hope Flint does not kill us first." retorted Mainframe. "I think he is still a little upset at Spirits' friend loose in his office. Not to mention the Bumper car game."
"Well, let's not worry on Flint right now, the worst he can do is give us all extra PT or KP." responded Breaker. "Hurry, we still got twenty of these things to arm."
The two Joes silently worked on the weapons as the clock on the wall said 1500hrs.
---------------------------
Flint stepped out from Duke's office as silence greeted him. "This all too quiet." he thought. He took a peek in several offices but found no occupants inside. Walking down the hall he found a deserted rec room. He grunted his teeth as he realized that something was amiss. Passing several rooms and hallways, his only companion was air. No Joes, no Greenshirts, not even an animal in sight.
"Something is going down." he said outloud. Strolling towards the Mess Hall, a clacking noise came from the rear of the room. Flint halted in his tracks. The sound indicated it had come from a plate falling on the floor. Someone was in there! If those Joes had created another disaster zone repeating last year's fiasco, heads would roll. Flint frowned as he stepping into the room. "Ok, Buddy! Come on out." he froze at the sight before him.
"Oh no! Not again!" he said in a soft voice as Spirits' friend greated him inches away from his face. With a petrified face he bolted out of the room.
-------------------
At the airstrip Lady Jaye paced nervously. She hoped that Flint had not unmasked the secret plan. There was still no sign of him; he should have been here by now. Checking her watch it read 1605 hrs. Well, he was only five minutes late. No need to worry. Right?
"Any sign of him Jaye?" asked Ace from behind a Sky Striker's wheels near by where she stood.
She shook her head. "Nothing yet."
From behind another Sky Striker's tires Gung Ho spoke. "Breaker just radioed in." as he lifted the walkie-talkie in his hand. "Flint's on his way," and with a chuckle he added. "He also said that Flint had another run in with Spirits' friend."
A few soft laughs were heard from behind one of the bunkers. Suddenly a figure appeared from exiting the main building.
"Everyone quiet!" sneered Lady Jaye as she spotted Flint heading her way. She watched him stop in front of the flagpole looking up and shaking his head, then continued walking towards her. A smile spread on her face as she glanced at the flapping boxer shorts.
"Get your ammo ready people!" Ace ordered through the walkie-talkie as Flint inched closer.
Flint stopped in front of Lady Jaye. "Hi."
"Hi, there yourself." she went to embrace him but tore away backwards. "Ommphh. Guess you are stil wearing the perfume huh?"
Flint's cheeks changed to a light rose color. "Well. I am wearing the new afternoon scent. The morning scent is so fashionably over!"
Lady Jaye let out a giggle.
"So, any idea where the devil is everyone?" asked Flint. "This place is starting to identify with a COBRA abandoned base."
"Hmm?" answered Lady Jaye.
"Ok, play the "I don't know where my friends are as they are up to mischief" card." said Flint. "So why the scecret meeting here?"
"Oh, this meeting is not secret." she replied.
"Oh?" Flint asked puzzled. "Well, who else knows?"
"Oh.. Just everyone." she said softly, but her next word was shouted. "NOW!"
Flint stood still as he was quickly surrounded by the whole entire team weapons armed and ready to strike. "I am not going to like this." he thought.
"Emmm.. Hi guys." he said in a pleasant voice.
"Hi yourself." came the voice of Ace behind him. Flint turned to see Ace, Scarlett and Gung Ho with armed weapons that had attached canisters. Then he faced Lady Jaye.
"Let me guess, you are going to execute me. Right?" he uttered.
"No, that is scheduled for next week's events." answered Lady Jaye as a few laughed at her joke. "I only got one thing to say to you Flint."
Flint gulped, "And would that be?"
"HAPPY ANNUAL DAY!" Lady Jaye yelled loudly. "FIRE!"
And with those words said, Flint caught his breath as a mass of green goop covered his entire body. "uhh. Yuck!" he said as more of the green slimy substance trailed from his head down to his legs.
"You look like the character from Nightmare Before Christmas, Flint!" Lady Jaye laughed.
Flint did not utter another sound. The Joes exchanged worried looks. Was he going to blow his top? Seconds seemed like hours as Flint turned to Ace and said in a controlled tone, "Give me your weapon Ace." Ace turned pale but handed the weapon to the W.O.
Taking the weapon in his hands, he turned once again to Lady Jaye. "Well, this just simply takes the cake!" a hush had fallen over the base. Noone dared to talk at that particular moment.
"Lady Jaye?" asked Flint looking staright in her face and weapon in his clutches. "You know what they say? Right?"
Lady Jaye stared at the green gooped Flint, "What do they say Flint?"
Flint's face changed from serious to an illusive expression. "If you cannot beat them, then join them!" covering Lady Jaye with a large mass of green goop. "Yo JOE!"
Flint turned around and said, "What are you all waiting for?" as he started firing at Ace, Scarlett and Gung Ho.
"Duck!" Ace yelled as the green goop missed him by a few inches. Gung Ho was not so lucky.
Choas exploded as the Joes ran around shooting the green substance at each other.
"Take that Mutt!" called out Lady Jaye as covered the Canine officer with enough goop for five victims. "That was from this morning!"
"Get back here, Jaye!" called back Mutt as he shot but hit Shipwreck instead.
Ace, Ripcord and Gung Ho had cornered Cover Girl next to a Sky Striker. "It's payback time." said Ace with a smirk on his face. Cover Girl's face was ready for battle, she was not going down without a good fight.
"Ready Boys?" Ace ordered. "FIRE!" as three huge round masses flew towards Cover Girl, with a swift move she jumped out of their way as the green substance hit the Sky Striker.
"ACE!" Scarlett yelled towards the three men, "You just shot my Striker!"
"Oh oh, Red's mad!" Gung Ho stated as he ducked one of her shots. "Run for it!" Ace and Ripcord need no further warning, they followed Gung Ho under the other aircrafts with Scarlett at their heels.
"Na na na! You cannot catch me!" cried out Shipwreck as he hit Cover Girl and Lifeline.
"You are so dead Sailor!" replied Cover Girl chasing him.
"Take cover!" yelled out Flint as more green round masses fell next to him hitting another airplane. "Oh great." as he realized it was his own craft.
"What cover?" replied Lady Jaye watching more of the planes change from gray to green exteriors. "Scarlett! Look out!" she warned as she watched Scarlett now getting chased by Ace, Gung Ho, Ricord, Wild Bill and Mutt. "She is doomed."
A maniacal laugh came from the left as Shipwreck bore down on her and Flint.
"Take that!" Flint said covering Shipwreck with the goop.
Someone then yelled, "Skunk! Twelve oclock!" Flint turned towards the voice with a "What!" but was covered with more of the green substance.
"Got you Flint!" came the voice of Lady Jaye as she ran from him.
"You are not getting too far!" she heard Flint holler behind her just as masses of the green mess spluttered near her feet.
Footloose and Dusty ducked several globs of the green substance as they smashed into another Sky Stiker. " Oh Oh man!" said Footloose, "I think that was Duke's!"
"Keep running Footloose! Keep running!" retorted Dusty as he tried to counterattck at Wet Suit and Leatherneck.
"Blow the man down!" came a yell from Shipwreck as he ambushed Wetsuit and Leatherneck. But then gave a squeal as Mutt and Wild Bill ambushed him.
From behind a bunker a shadow steadily walked towards the battle.
"Lady Jaye!" called out Cover Girl from under a Sky Striker. "Over here!"
Lady Jaye crawled under the massive aircraft towards Cover Girl.
"Seen Scarlett?" she asked.
Cover Girl shook her head, "The last time I saw her she was being chased by…" she never finished her sentence as they both got a massive hit from Flint, Shipwreck and Gung Ho. "Agh! This green mess better wash off from my hair!" as she turned the tables on the men.
"Ahem…" came a voice from the background. But none of the Joes responded.
"Lifeline! Look out!" came a warning from Clutch. But it was too late as he watched his friend become a Grinch look-a-like.
"Hey Clutch!" called out Cover Girl, "Payback!" as she blasted him with more of the green jello.
Ace turned towards one of the Sky Strikers noticing two familiar feet. "Found you, Red!" he called out running towards his target. He got his weapon ready to blast as Scarlett jumped out from behind the aircraft.
Scarlett eluded Ace's shot. Pivoting to the left, she targeted the pilot.
"You were saying?"
With a swift manuveur Ace dodged the green mass seconds before it traveled by him and smacked into something yellow.
Cover Girl and Lady Jaye ran passed Ace and Scarlett as Flint, Gung Ho, Shipwreck, Wild Bill, Mutt, and Dusty pursued.
"EHEM.." said a voice as Footloose and Clutch slipped on the goop and landed with a thud.
"Take cover!" called out Scarlett as she ran towards Lady Jaye and Cover Girl. She turned to see Ace chasing after her.
"This way!" said Lady Jaye, as all three Joe women crawled under the last remaining unscathed Sky Striker.
"Blast! They have us cornered!" stated Cover Girl.
"Umm.. Jaye, you know who's Striker this is?" asked Scarlett.
"Hawks'!" they all said in unison.
Lady Jaye's eyes wided as their pursuers had located their hiding spot. "Oh oh! We got trouble at 12 oclock!"
"Sorry ladies, but this is too good to pass up." said Ace. "Ready…Aim…."
Suddenly a loud yell flew through the air.
"WHAT THE BLOODY BLUE BLAZES IS GOING ON HERE!"
Weapons fell to the ground as all the Joes froze into place. They all turned slowly towards the voice. Stunned silence followed as Duke walked in the middle of the group.
"Duke.. Your back! So how the meeting…." asked a shaky Shipwreck but immediately closed his mouth by Duke's livid glare.
Duke gave a hard stare at each of the Joes.
"I leave for a few hours and return to find the base it utter chaos! The mess hall smells like a skunk moved in, the Jeeps are a disaster, and this." shaking his head as he his eyes wondered from the green gooped Joes, to the dripping green substance from the Sky Strikers and lastly to the green stain on his own shirt.
Flint stepped forward. "Sorry Duke, I guess we got carried away."
"Glad to know that Flint." Duke replied taking Flint's weapon. "But first I want some answers! One- Who let Scruffy in the building? Two- Who's idea was the BumperCars? Three- Who is responsible for this green mess? And lastly, Four- Who shot me?"
"But I think I already know those answers. Let me see if I can get them right." Duke continued.
The team stood silent as Duke answered his own questions, which they already knew the answers to the first three, but not the last. Who had gooped Duke? "One- Shipwreck. Two- Clutch. Three- Breaker and Mainframe, who are at this minute de-odorizing the Mess. Four- It was Miss Scarlett, in the airstrip, with the gun."
All eyes turned toward a wide-eyed, opened mouthed, frozen still Scarlett.
"RUN Scarlett!" yelled out Lady Jaye and Cover Girl as they already watched their friend bolt.
"Ahem.." Duke cleared his throat again. "Everyone is going to clean this mess on the double! Is that clear?"
"Yes Sir!"
"Flint, I am leaving you in charge of the clean up." Duke ordered. "Exuse me as I go red head hunting." as he raised the weapon and aimed.
---------------------------
"My hands are killing me!" said a tired Lady Jaye a few hours later. The entire team had scrubbed every green colored goop they could locate.
"Now whose idea was this?" asked a wrinkled hand Ace as he scrubbed Duke's Sky Striker.
"Not mine, but why are you complaining?" asked Clutch from scrubbing the one next to it. "I still got ten G.I. Joe Jeeps to untie tires from their frames, not to mention washing and waxing them."
"Well, here is something positive." said Shipwreck while mopping the green goop from the airstrip.
"And what is that sailor?" asked Cover Girl as she passed by with two water buckets.
"We can start planning for next Annual Day!" Shipwreck said with a grin.
"NEXT Annual Day?" Flint yelled.
Everyone stopped as they all turned towards Shipwreck and flung their sponges at him.
"Well at least one good thing came out from all of this." said Lady Jaye.
"Oh? And what is that?" asked Flint.
Lady Jaye put her hand on Flint's shoulder as she answered, "Welcome to the Dark side Flint."