Detachments
Disclaimer: Same as before…I also don't own Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego. I happen to be a Coverwreck (Cover Girl and Shipwreck) fan because I've seen several fanfics where they've at least flirted with each other.
"OW! OW! YEOW! OUCH!" the screaming drifted through the back window as Elizabeth Turner held her cooing two month old son, Alex, in her arms (1).
"What's going on?" Elizabeth asked, concerned.
"Jack made an error of some kind apparently." Will replied, "He forgot it was he and Anamaria's anniversary and went out to get drunk with Shipwreck and the other pirates."
Will reached his hand out, allowing his little boy to grab his finger. He smiled at the baby, who was now cooing softly.
"YEOW!" Jack shouted.
"Has Anamaria calmed down yet?" Will asked.
"Not quite. She's been at this for quite a while." Elizabeth began, "Which reminds me…"
"I've everything ready for next week. Including a babysitter." Will replied.
"Who did you find?" Elizabeth asked.
"Jack." Will replied.
"Couldn't you find any other alternatives?" Elizabeth asked.
"Jack is our son's godfather, and with Anamaria's help they could be…" Will replied.
"I only ask you to look for other alternatives…" Elizabeth asked.
"SHIPWRECK! WHERE'S MY BRA? YOU ARE SO DEAD! YOU HEAR ME DEAD!" Cover Girl shouted.
"Spirit! Blind Master! This is no time for drunken knife fighting demonstrations!" Roadblock said, "Sometimes I swear is safer at the border between two warring nations."
"Die Pietro! Die!" The shout echoed from the back yard.
"Nyah! Nyah! You can't catch me!" Pietro shouted, "NO HEXING! NOT FAIR! YEOW! OW! OW! THORNS! THORNS! THORNS!"
Running outside the window behind Elizabeth's head were several rosebushes glowing blue. They were whacking Pietro with their thorny branches and he howled like a swatted child.
"Considering the other inhabitants of this house, Jack and Anamaria are the most logical choice." Will replied.
"I still think you should look harder." Elizabeth replied.
"Elizabeth, I've been through this before. Who would you want me to ask? Sands? No, he probably would accidentally bathe the baby in the toilet. Ted? He's busy enough as is, being the new guy on the team and balancing a new romance. Emily? God knows, she's off with the intelligence guys on the Pit. Shipwreck? That's out of the question!" Will replied.
"Shipwreck might not be a bad idea." Elizabeth said firmly, "He did manage to quiet Alex with the Taco Grande song…"
Alex cooed softly.
"Shipwreck, a babysitter? No. Absolutely not…I might as well bring Captain Barbossa back from the dead and ask him to babysit!" Will replied.
"I think Jack and Anamaria are a bit preoccupied." Elizabeth replied.
"They're the most logical choice." Will replied.
"I notice logic is always in short supply around these people." Elizabeth replied.
"Let me get this straight, Mountaineer." Hawk began, several hours later as the Misfit handlers and the most senior mutants were clustered around a circular table, "You conceived a plan very similar to the 1972 Operation Wrath of God, following the Munich massacre that same year."
"Exactly." Ted replied, "Sir."
"Let me be clear with you, Mountaineer. This isn't Israel. And these aren't secret assassination missions for the Shin Bet." Hawk replied.
"I disagree, sir. The Friends of Humanity are a clear and present threat to mutants in the San Francisco Area of Operations. And also a clear threat to G.I. Joe, given some possible COBRA connections." Ted replied.
"You don't have any hard proof of this do you?" Hawk asked.
"No sir." Ted replied.
"But there is some evidence of a COBRA connection." Roadblock added, "We did fight Zartan a few weeks ago."
"But you don't have hard evidence of a COBRA conspiracy with the FOH." Hawk said, "However, I know COBRA isn't above this sort of thing. The question is what the relationship is exactly. We won't be able to get that information from corpses."
"I disagree, sir." Ted replied, "If we sever the head of the snake, the body will die. The FOH will be less of a thorn in our side. They're a borderline terrorist group according to the FBI…"
"Assassination was not a mission I created the Misfits for." Hawk replied, "Sands, how reliable are these sources of yours."
"Pretty reliable. I can get them to penetrate certain cells of FOH operation in San Francisco and ferret out the leaders." Sands replied, "And possibly even the leaders
"Perfect for what I had proposed." Ted replied.
Hawk hefted a manila envelop, "Let's get one thing straight, Mountaineer. You are no longer under the authority of the Shin Bet, or the MAGAV or any Israeli command structures. You take orders from me and I do not condone going into the homes of these FOH leaders and killing them outright. We can't get intelligence from corpses."
"Sir, I disagree. We should interrogate them first…" Ted began.
"Mountaineer! Stand down, soldier!" Hawk said, raising his voice, "I am not willing to condone interrogation and execution…"
"Even of human scum that wouldn't think once of killing innocent children." Ted replied, his own voice rising, "I will be personally damned if I see another child killed by these vile creatures…"
"Sergeant," Hawk said, "Stand down. You are getting far out of line. As reprehensible as the Friends of Humanity's actions have been, we are not stooping to their level. End if discussion."
"Yes sir." Ted replied.
"However, Mountaineer's plan could work with some modification." Spirit interjected, "I've been doing some thinking of my own."
"And that would be what?" Hawk asked.
"Sir, if we modify Mountaineer's plan. Capture, detain, and interrogate the Friends of Humanity leaders…" Spirit began, and glancing at Ted, "Without killing them."
"Agreed." Ted replied.
"We are not murdering FOH cadre for any reason." Roadblock said, "That doesn't mean we won't use force, but we will capture and interrogate the FOH Cadre. The Israeli solution will not be used."
"Very few pest problems can't be solved with a little tactical intelligence, a GPS beacon and a Hellfire missile from an Apache gunship." Ted replied.
"As previously stated, Mountaineer, this isn't the West Bank. We're not an Israeli unit. And we do not simply assassinate people like Reverend Stryker and call it justice." Hawk said, with barely concealed anger, "One more remark or outburst from you and consider yourself on report…"
"I heard Mountaineer was planning to assassinate the FOH leaders." Sunspot began.
"What do you mean?" Multiple asked.
"He means just going up to them and shooting them in the street where they stand." Bobby said.
"Well good. It's about time somebody showed Stryker some force." Rogue replied.
"But are you sure such tactics are ethical?" Kurt asked, "I mean we are sinking to their level if we try those tactics."
"But I see the logic in Mountaineer's idea." Gambit replied, "If we kill the leaders then the thugs will become disorganized and easy prey."
"Remy, I knew you have a background in crime, but I never thought of you as an assassin…" Kurt replied.
"I didn't say I agreed with it." Gambit replied, "I just can see the logic in it."
"What logic?" Kurt said, "It's murder, plain and simple."
"Logically speaking." Gambit replied, "Kill the leaders, frighten the followers, they'll be less of a threat."
"It's just so disturbing. I mean we're the good guys, right?" Kitty asked, "We don't assassinate people. That's what bad guys do."
"They wouldn't hesitate to do that to us, thought." Rogue replied.
"That doesn't make it right." Kitty snapped back, "I mean, we're heroes, we're the good guys, we're not murderers…"
Helen Parr stretched herself, remembering not to make herself extend several feet the way her powers made her capable of doing. She sat at the bench outside the YMCA racquetball court waiting for her partner.
Helen looked up and saw a woman in her late twenties, with clear blue eyes, her brown hair done up in a simple ponytail.
"Marian(2), what's up?" Helen asked.
"I've heard reports of vigilante activity." Marian replied, with a slight Scottish accent, "Involving a family sized group in red costumes. Please tell me these 'rumors' are just that, rumors…"
"Not really." Helen replied, "We have been…"
"For God's sake, Helen." Marian replied, "Why make my job harder than it needs to be? I know it's frustrating being stuck here while your world is ravaged by Syndrome, but try to be less conspicuous."
"We've been low key with our 'activities'." Helen protested.
"The Bay Mirror article regarding 'Masked Strangers Beat Up Friends of Humanity Members' says different." Marian replied.
"Look, Marian, I mean your organization, the SFPD and everyone else hasn't really been doing much about the fact that the FOH have been beating up on mutants at will." Helen replied, "What is your agency going to do about it?"
"That isn't my concern." Marian replied. Like hell it isn't. A lot of them are innocent kids, despite the weird appearances of some of them. How the hell aren't we involved…
"I repeat. What is ACME going to do about the FOH menace?" Helen replied. After a heartbeat's silence, "Nothing. We have to stop these bigots."
Marian sighed tiredly, "Try to be less conspicuous next time. After all, the whole idea of relocation is to send you to a safer world while we try and get to the root of the Heartless problem in Metroville."
"Some 'safer world'." Helen replied, "Bigots, insane pirates, hyperactive mutant teenagers and terrorists."
Cover Girl finished work early, and stepped out of the motor pool, wiping the sweat from her forehead after fixing up yet another tank. Shipwreck, you sure pick the worse times to go joyriding on tanks.
She walked out into the cool desert evening and wondered. This is the second time I've thought about Shipwreck? Why did I do that? It's probably because he trashed this tank and made more work for me…
She heard the sound of metal being hit with a hammer below her feet, and she glanced down at the vertical rock face that she stood at the edge of. She saw Mountaineer and Alpine racing each other up the rock face.
"Come on slowpoke!" Alpine shouted, as the two were lead climbing up the rocks, "I thought Israeli Spec Ops guys were climbing and rappelling buffs."
"That we are." Ted replied, "That's why I conserve my strength for the next…JUMP!"
Ted practically jumped a body length and a half to a nearby handhold and gripped it with the tips of his fingers. He was thankful for the dynamic rope that was tied tightly around his harness and connected to the pins in the rock face at intervals of a few feet. Had he slipped without the rope, Paige would suddenly find herself single again.
"Mountaineer, you are officially insane!" Alpine shouted as both of them climbed to the top of the rock face.
"Can't you two find somewhere else to climb!" Cover Girl snapped, "I'm trying to find some peace of mind."
"Sorry Cover Girl," Ted replied, as he set his rope up onto a solid anchor, a large rock, and getting his harness set up for rappelling down the cliff face, "This cliff face has been calling my name to lead climb it for over a week."
"Can't it wait another few hours?" Cover Girl replied.
Ted recognized the irritated expression and said, "We were just leaving. Could you do us a favor and toss down our climbing ropes?"
"Yeah." Alpine replied, as both men rappelled down the cliff face, racing each other as to who would make it down first.
Cover Girl undid their anchors when she saw they were safely on the ground and wondered. I wonder, why think of Shipwreck at the dumbest times?
She decided that her secret spot overlooking the canyon just behind the motor pool wasn't the place she wanted to go to do some thinking. She walked through a small stand of mesquite trees until she bumped right into someone.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you and…" Cover Girl began.
"It's OK." Low Light replied.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Cover Girl asked, knowing Low Light often wandered off on his own at night for a little while, for some measure of inner peace. What a perfect opportunity to get a little closer to him.
"Courtney." Low Light began, "Do you mind?"
"No, I don't. Do I mind what?" Cover Girl replied.
"I'd like to be alone for a little bit." Low Light replied.
"Oh, OK." Cover Girl replied, and headed away from the trees.
We all know Shipwreck doesn't have the most sense in the world. A voice said in Cover Girl's head.
But you always know how he feels about things. Another equally compelling voice commented in return.
He wears his heart on his sleeve. The other voice countered.
But at least its an open and caring heart. You remember how he soothed Alex, what a wonderful Dad he is, despite his nutty nature…Cover Girl thought.
He's crude. The first voice countered.
He's generous. The second voice replied.
He's arrogant and foolhardy. The first voice brought in.
But he's giving and a good heart. The second voice countered.
Cover Girl sat down on a rock in the midst of the woods, doing some thinking, but making little headway against the conflicted mess inside her mind.
Her pager went off just then and she glanced at the number. Great. Time for some shots at the Infirmary.
Cover Girl headed for the Infirmary and saw Lina Chakram, the insect-Misfit, talking to Lifeline and Doc.
"Don't worry, kid, you'll do just fine." Doc said, "Just make sure you get the muscle, that's all."
"Ah, Cover Girl, you're just in time to be the first victim…" Doc said, "I mean patient."
"Great." Cover Girl groaned, as Lina held up the large needle with the latest vaccine.
"Just like we practiced." Lifeline said.
"But dummies don't say 'OW'." Lina protested.
"I won't either." Cover Girl replied. I hate needles.
Cover Girl rolled up her sleeve and Dragonfly stuck the needle in. She turned away and winced a little as the vaccine was injected. You can face down COBRAs but you can't stand needles?
"See you tomorrow, Dragonfly." Lifeline said, after the shot had been administered, "I'll drive you back."
"Don't worry about it, Lifeline." Cover Girl replied, "I'm on my way back anyway."
"Thanks, Cover Girl." Dragonfly replied.
"Don't mention it, kid." Cover Girl replied.
As they walked back to Cover Girl's jeep, parked in the motor pool parking lot, across the road from the Infirmary, Lina asked a question.
"Cover Girl," Lina asked, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, anything." Cover Girl replied as she opened the door of the jeep and stepped inside, and Lina slid into the passenger seat.
"How do you attract a guy?" Lina asked.
Caught slightly off balance, Cover Girl almost dropped her keys before gently turning to face Lina. She smiled slyly at Lina saying, "Is it any guy in particular?"
"N-No, not really." Lina said.
"OK." Cover Girl replied, "Well, there are a lot of ways to attract guys. First of all there's looks…"
"Oh," Lina replied, soberly, "I guess I'm kinda lacking in that department."
"Hey." Cover Girl replied, "You're beautiful the way you are. And besides, looks aren't everything. I knew some models who were so beautiful but were dumb as rocks, had personality problems, or were just plain bitches. Excuse my language."
"I've heard worse." Lina replied, sadly, "Especially from my parents. And living around Shipwreck."
At the mention of Shipwreck, Cover Girl thought. He's not a bad guy, when he's not acting brash or drunk, which is almost all the time…
"Well, living around Shipwreck can quickly make a mess of virgin ears." Cover Girl replied, "Anyway, it's not just looks. Guys can fall for personalities too. And you, little lady, have plenty of personality. You have a giving heart, a kind disposition..."
"But I look like a freak." Lina replied.
"We've been over this." Cover Girl replied, "You're not a freak, not in the least."
"I know. It's just that, I'm not the best in the looks department. I mean other girls this guy's been attracted to look normal, even if they haven't exactly treated him right." Lina replied.
"So you think this mystery guy thinks you're a freak? Or that you're unattractive?" Cover Girl replied, making a mental note to talk to the Misfit boys about judging appearances.
"No, at least I don't think so. He's got a big heart, he's a nice guy, but I don't know if he feels the same way about me." Lina replied.
"If he's such a nice guy, and a good friend, you have nothing to fear." Cover Girl replied.
"But if I tell him I like him as more than a friend, I'm afraid I'll lose the friendship." Lina replied.
"Lina, if you two do wind up dating, you will lose the friendship." Cover Girl replied, "You can't go back from dating to friends. And even if he doesn't feel the same way, at least you'll have it off your chest."
"Thanks Cover Girl, I think." Lina replied.
"Remember, you don't need a guy to feel complete." Cover Girl said, as she parked the jeep and the two walked back into the house. I wonder who the lucky guy is? Cover Girl thought.
"Taco…" Shipwreck said, as he pointed at Low Light.
"Grande." Shipwreck added as he flexed. Baby Alex cooed softly, and Claudius and Barney clapped their hands.
He really is one hell of a dad. Cover Girl thought to herself. Where the hell did that come from?
"Shipwreck! I am NOT a taco!" Low Light shouted.
"Taco! Taco!" Claudius clapped his hands and pointed at Low Light.
"Grande!" Shipwreck replied, and flexed.
"DIE!" Low Light shouted.
Cover Girl headed into the kitchen to break up another fight as Lina thought. Cover Girl is so lucky, she's got two great guys. Shipwreck isn't a bad guy. And if Low Light would only open his eyes, he'd have her in a heartbeat or less...
Ted lay awake for a long while after Paige had drifted off into a deep slumber. He watched her sleep, lying on her side, her head and bare shoulders above the covers being illuminated by the street lights and the star and moonlight outside her window.
He held her closely, with his right arm around her waist while tucking her in, pulling the blanket up to the underside of her chin, and being rewarded with a sleepy smile. He kissed her forehead gently, watching her sleep.
What are you going to tell her? When are you going to tell her? Ted thought. Walking up to a man and simply killing him in the street doesn't just go away.
Gaza, 2001: Ted pulled back the slide of the Jericho 941F handgun, checking to see that there was a 9mm cartridge in the chamber. He slowed his breathing underneath the head scarf that obscured all but his eyes. He glanced at Imhotep(3) also similarly attired in jeans, collared shirt and head scarf, and Avi who was dressed from head to toe in the traditional robes of an Arab woman. Underneath his robes, Avi concealed a 9mm Micro Uzi.
Their target was a slighty potbellied, bearded Palestinian named Abu Rahim, a person responsible for orchestrating numerous anti-Israeli riots, and lately an attack on a kibbutz(4) during a wedding that killed the bride, the father of the bride, the groom's mother, and the bride's grandmother.
Ted remembered the aftermath of the attack all to well. The Arabs had gone in, disguised as hired help on the kibbutz, with AK-47s hidden in their tool bags. They had cached the weapons away in a hidden area of a tool shed until the wedding. At the opportune moment, when the bride said her vows, they opened fire.
He remembered the scene at the funeral home. The sobbing survivors, the cold, accusing stares that asked him: 'Where were Israel's soldiers?'
He remembered staring at one face in one particular coffin. Her short, dark hair had been combed wrong, her hands crossed on her chest. Her eyes were closed, the grey eyes never to twinkle merrily with mirth. She was supposed to get married three days ago, and was to enjoy a honeymoon on the coast near Haifa, but that was now not to be.
His childhood friend was no more. His unrequited love of many years was no more. And those bastard Palestinians were responsible. The mother of the now deceased bride glanced at him, seeing Ted's eyes burn with pure hatred.
'This is for you, Caitlyn.' Ted thought to himself as he checked the Jericho one last time, calling his mind back to the present. The grief was but two weeks old, but the hatred burned white hot within.
Ted stepped out of the vehicle, as he, Avi, and Imhotep melted into the crowd. Abu Rahim was just ahead of them. He was smiling as he picked a small boy up and talked to another Arab standing in front of him.
"It is good to see you, brother." Abu Rahim said, "And you, Mahmud, my little mustard seed…"
Abu Rahim put the boy down, as he was about to enter the mosque he noticed three strangers heading his way.
"Salaam Aleyekum(5), Abu Rahim." Ted began, with false sincerity.
"Way a Salaam." Abu replied.
At that moment Ted pulled the Jericho 9mm from under his shirt tail, pointed it and squeezed the trigger. At exactly that same moment, Imhotep and Avi drew their weapons. All three Israeli commandoes emptied their weapons, sixty-two rounds in all, into the man, blood spraying from multiple wounds onto his older brother and his nephew.
'Rot in hell, bastard!' Ted thought as he fired bullet after bullet into Abu Rahim's midsection, torso and head. The Jericho clicked empty and Ted ejected the clip, shoved the empty into his pocket and stuck a second clip inside as five more YAMAS operatives rushed to the scene, controlling the crowd with their CAR-15 rifles, as the three assassins escaped into a waiting van.
Ted sat up violently in bed, sweat pouring down his face. He looked around and saw that he was still in Paige's bedroom, and that it was just after one-thirty in the morning.
"Ted?" Paige asked, as she sat up, pulling the blanket across her bare chest, "What's wrong?"
Ted didn't answer; barely registering that Paige was awake until several seconds had passed. "For soldiers fighting the Palestinians in Israel the war is always personal." Ted replied, "There is barely a family who hasn't lost someone, or knows someone who was killed or wounded by the terrorists."
"Even you?" Paige asked. When Ted didn't respond, she added, "Ted, I love you, whatever it is, you can tell me."
If she knew what you did while fighting in Israel, you'll lose her for sure. Ted thought.
"Paige," Ted replied, taking one of her hands in both of his own, "I spent much of my childhood in Israel, and we befriended a lot of the people there, when my parents were on archaeological digs in the Holy Land. Some of them died at the hands of Palestinian terrorists."
"I'm so sorry." Paige replied, throwing her arms around him.
"I'm sorry to bring my issues into it." Ted replied.
"Don't be. That's part of what girlfriends are for, helping deal with them." Paige replied, and suspecting there was something more she added, "What happened to you over there?"
"Paige, look," Ted replied, "I'm not ready to tell you everything. But I promise I'll tell you one day…"
"Whenever you're ready." Paige said, with an understanding tone, "But for right now, come back to bed…"
Ted lay back down beside her, and watched Paige as she fell asleep. Great. Just what is Paige going to think when she hears about a lot of the black ops you pulled for the Shin Bet(6)…Ted thought.
"Congressman Kenneth Shore (7) will be speaking at the first Mutant Rights Rally in Orlando, Florida next month." General Hawk began. Sitting in his office was General Eddington, flanked by an aid, a dark haired female Air Force captain.
"I'm aware of that." Eddington replied.
"I request permission to send a detachment of my men to provide security." Hawk replied.
"I'm sorry, Hawk, but that can't be done." Eddington replied.
"Why not, sir?" Hawk asked.
"I'm afraid that Florida law enforcement will have to suffice." Eddington replied.
"Sir, my Misfits are mutants themselves, and their handlers experienced in working with mutants. Who better to provide security for such an obvious target of FOH aggression?" Hawk replied.
"I'm afraid that won't be feasible, Hawk." Eddington replied, "The Pentagon is adamant that the Misfits be kept away from events in Orlando, because we fear that anti-mutant hostility might be incited by their presence."
"I can send a detachment of Joes to provide security." Hawk replied.
"The Pentagon was adamant about no federal troops are to be present in Orlando during Congressman Shore's speech." Eddington replied.
"I'll send an advisory detachment to help the Orlando Police Department with security arrangements." Hawk replied, with a half-smile, "The orders from the Pentagon didn't cover that."
"They didn't." Eddington replied, with a half-smile of his own, "But, my aide, Captain Atkins, will accompany the group you send to Orlando."
Eddington indicated the dark haired officer that had accompanied him to Hawk's office as he spoke. Hawk replied, "Very well."
Eddington and Atkins saw themselves out and Hawk picked up a telephone on his desk, "Flint. As soon as possible, get a detachment ready to travel to Orlando to advice the OPD on the security of Congressman Shore. Be sure it leaves immediately and quietly and include any specialists on police tactics you can find."
Flint replied, "I'll send Law, with Order, and Shockwave down, and I'll get others on the effort as well."
"Come to my office and we'll discuss more of this in an hour." Hawk replied.
"Yes sir." Flint replied.
TBC: Up next, as the Misfits go after the FOH, the X-men meet the Incredibles. And Psychiatrist Fred puts in a guest appearance when trying to counsel Sands and another surprise guest…Not to mention Elder Gideon and the Elders get annoyed by the Coyotes backed by a chorus line of Shipwreck clones.
Piper: The surprise guest had better NOT be me, Theodore Hawkwood!
Sands: Yeah, the idea of therapy with you turns my stomach!
1 In Coming of the Foe, Elizabeth Swann, of Pirates of the Caribbean married Will Turner and had a baby son named Alex Weatherby Turner
2 Marian is an ACME case officer in the story Relocated.
3 A nickname for a bald, stocky, tan skinned fellow in Ted's unit, not to be confused with Imhotep from my Charmed/Kingdom Hearts/Mummy crossover fanfic Forever May Not Be Long Enough.
4 A Jewish settlement in the Territories.
5 An Arabic greeting meaning, 'Peace of God unto you.'
6 Israeli Internal Security Service.
7 See Red Witch's 'Hey I'm On TV' fic.