Thanks for reading and following along.
As always: I don't own G.I. Joe or affiliates, nor do I make any profit off of them.
"Where do we even begin?" Scarlett asked with a sigh. Files lay scattered across the table: latest reports, new government declarations, more lies about the Joes. "We can't very well fight civilians." Scarlett reminded Flint as she took a sip of her water.
"No, but we can fight those who told the lies. Especially, those who started the rumors." Flint said.
"Are you thinking large scale?"
"Of course." He smirked. "We wouldn't be Joes, otherwise."
Scarlett's mouth twitched. This was the Flint she knew well.
"It's not going to be easy." She chewed her lip thoughtfully. "We're doing better on numbers, but we could use more Joe leaders."
Flint nodded. "I was hoping you'd say that." He grinned. "Because I think I just might know where we can find some..."
A matching grin spread slowly across Scarlett's face. "And I think I like where this is going," she said.
A knock was heard on the door. Without waiting for permission, Lady Jaye entered the small room that had been hastily designated for officer's meetings. It was her first time there. Two long couches faced one another in the middle of the room. A plain, walnut coffee table divided them. Files and yellow notepads had been spread across the table, along with two opened laptops. Scarlett and Flint were seated across from each other. In one corner of the room, Lady Jaye noticed a small fridge, a coffee maker, and a tray of packaged snacks: peanuts, cookies, chips, and Lindt chocolates.
She smiled to herself. No doubt the chocolates had been placed there at Flint's request, knowing they were her favorites. She'd have to thank him later.
"Lady Jaye." Flint looked up, and running his eyes over her, smiled. Lady Jaye had changed into her uniform and—thanks to Scarlett's help—her hair had been dyed back to its natural color. "We just started," he said, handing her a water.
She took it gratefully.
"Sorry I'm late," she apologized. "Doc's exam took longer than I expected. But he's given me a clean bill of health." She couldn't hold back her smile. "I have been officially cleared for all duty." She took the seat next to Flint and leaned forward eagerly. "Now, catch me up to speed."
Scarlett ran over their plans while Lady Jaye flipped through the files, listening and nodding. From time to time, she interrupted with questions.
"What are our current numbers?"
"About forty Joes."
"Positions?"
"Mechanics, pilots—both fixed wing and helicopter—heavy arms, environmental specialists—"
"Who?"
"Dusty and Snow Job."
"Rangers and trackers?"
"Stalker's still in prison. But we've got Recondo and Spirit."
"Ok." Lady Jaye tapped her lips with a finger. "Who are we still waiting for?"
Scarlett's forehead wrinkled. Looking at Flint to make sure she didn't forget anyone, she began to count the Joes off on her fingers. "Cover Girl, Shipwreck, Wet-Suit, Iceberg, Lifeline, Blow Torch, and Beach Head have all been in touch recently. They're making their way here."
Flint gave her a small nod.
"Anyone still unaccounted?"
"Deep Six, Low-light, and Quick Kick."
Lady Jaye pressed her lips together, thoughtfully. "From what you said, it sounds like we're rounding out well. It's just the top that's thin." She looked at Scarlett and Flint as if measuring them. "We're only three. We could use a few more leaders." She admitted.
Scarlett and Flint nodded. "That's pretty much our conclusion, too."
"So, ideas?"
"A few," Flint said with a smile.
Scarlett, Flint, and Lady Jaye discussed various scenarios, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each. Each had different merits. Lighthouse would provide the point of operation. The Joes could be sent out from here. But first, they needed to release the Joes in prison—and that required a more delicate approach.
An hour later, Scarlett pushed back her chair, stood, and stretched. "Sorry to cut this short, boys and girls, but I have our first hand-to-hand in ten minutes." She grinned wickedly. "Gotta keep the troops in shape."
Lady Jaye raised an eyebrow. "Watch out, Red. With statements like that, you're beginning to sound like Beach Head."
"Who, me?" Scarlett smiled innocently. "Nah. Beach Head is one of a kind. By the way, Jaye, now that you've been released for full duty, you're due for a refresher—and it so happens that my afternoon's open. I'll see you at the gym at 15:00."
Lady Jaye stuck out her tongue. "I hate you; you know."
"I know." Scarlett hurried down the hall, laughing. "Mwahahaha."
"That woman is pure evil." Lady Jaye shook her head, smiling.
"That's why I like her." Flint smiled back.
"You just like her outfit." Lady Jaye chuckled as she snuggled against Flint. She idly fingered a thread hanging from his shirt sleeve.
With Lady Jaye's infirmary stay, and Flint's getting Lighthouse up and running, it had been rare for the two of them to have a moment alone. Even now, Flint had one of the laptops open, scanning through cameras to monitor base security.
"What's your story, Flint? How did you come to Lighthouse?"
Lady Jaye felt him tense against her and looked up in concern. It was a sensitive subject, she knew, but one she had been wondering about for a while. Flint was now clicking through screens so rapidly she knew he was no longer seeing them. Lady Jaye watched him thoughtfully for a few minutes.
"Was it that bad?" she asked quietly.
His finger paused mid-air. He stared at the frozen screen. "It was."
"Tell me." She coaxed, trailing a finger down his arm.
"Jaye—" He growled. Capturing her hand, he held it gently.
"Please," she whispered.
He sighed. "It's just—it all happened so fast."
She stared up at him, waiting. When he turned to meet her gaze, she saw a deep sadness in his eyes. And a deeper anger.
Flint took a breath and released it slowly. "We were betrayed, Jaye. Pure and simple. The Pitt was overrun by US military. Our own."
She gasped. "How?"
"Troops, tanks, jeeps, weapons—they poured into the base through the cargo bay. We'd been told they were there for a demonstration. It was already too late when we realized the truth."
"So, what'd you do?" she asked, horrified.
"Nothing." He scowled. "I was about to grab my weapons. To fight. But Hawk stopped me. He spoke one word to me, Jaye: Lighthouse. By then, the alarms were sounding all over the base. Joes were yelling. Soldiers were yelling. Both were pointing weapons at each other." Flint closed his eyes as if trying to shut out the memory. "We are supposed to be on the same side."
Lady Jaye squeezed his hand, urging him to continue.
He opened his eyes wearily. "We're Joes, Lady Jaye. Even outnumbered, we're the better fighters. It's what we're trained to do.
"Roadblock was taking on half a dozen men single-handedly and not even breaking a sweat. Duke was rolling on the ground, wrestling with what looked like a 270lb soldier. Snake-Eyes had already pinned a general to the ground. At least four soldiers were out cold beside him.
"But Hawk was already shouting: 'Snake-Eyes, let him go. All of you, let them go. Stand down, Joes. Stand down.' That's when he saw me in the shadows, behind one of the maulers—"
Lady Jaye felt the tension in Flint growing and she wrapped her arms around him. When Flint looked down at her, she smiled encouragingly.
His voice quavered. "I saw the desperation, the hurt of betrayal in Hawk's eyes, Lady Jaye. I have never seen Hawk like that. It tore me up inside.
"All around us were the sounds of weapons being dropped in surrender. Then, there was more yelling, and a scrambling of troops.
"'Go Flint,' Hawk whispered. 'Hurry, son.'
"By then, Joes were being rounded up all over the base and arrested. Soldiers were everywhere. And what did I do?" He clenched a fist. "I turned tail and ran. Just like a coward. I slipped out through one of the hidden exits and came straight here, to Lighthouse." His face darkened.
It was like a poison he needed to get out. Lady Jaye gave him a squeeze and nodded. "And—?"
"And, I was the first," he said quietly. "Other Joes began to arrive shortly after."
They both fell silent.
Lady Jaye's head was against his chest, her ear pressed to his heart. She could hear the steady beating: Thump, thump. Thump, thump. All she could think of was how strong a heartbeat it was.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
Flint exuded strength. It was one of the things Lady Jaye loved best about him. In all the time she had known him, she had never seen Flint back down from anything—not even when the base had been overrun by Eels and he had taken them on single-handedly.
So, she knew how much this one had hurt.
She took Flint's hand and laced her fingers through his. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "So very sorry."
Ok, ok. I know I said this was a Sunbow story and the Eels attacking the base happened in the ARAH comic run. Let's just say that it's mostly Sunbow and leave it at that.