Thanks again for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it. This chapter is a short one; momentum is building and the Joes are getting ready to take the next steps.
Usual disclaimers apply: I do not own nor profit by anything G.I. Joe or affiliated.
Scarlett stepped into the training room. About twenty Joes stood waiting. Some, such as Spirit and Shipwreck, had arrived as recently as the night before.
"Nice look, Red. Going for the 'Courtney'?" Shipwreck grinned, pointing at her short hair.
Scarlett was in front of him, jabbing a finger into his chest before he had time to blink. "Don't. Even. Start." She growled, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Ow!" He cried, putting his hands up protectively. "I didn't mean to upset you, Red. Honest."
"Welcome back, Shipwreck." Ripcord laughed.
"Always first for putting your foot in your mouth—" Gung Ho guffawed.
"And riling up the girls." Breaker added with glee.
Chuckles came from various parts of the room.
All of Scarlett's attention was focused on Shipwreck. "Didn't mean to upset me!?" She jabbed him again, so hard he winced and took a step backwards. "Do you even have a brain in that skull of yours, Shipwreck?"
"Uh…hehe…?" He rubbed his chest and frowned.
"You have no idea what Lady Jaye and I went through to get here." She glared.
Guys mumbled, and suddenly embarrassed, looked away. Most had heard about Lady Jaye collapsing on arrival and knew she had been taken to the infirmary. But it was only after she showed up to the mess in sweatpants and T-shirt and with her arm in a sling that they learned she had been shot and nearly died.
"You will not mention my hair, again. Do you understand?" Her voice was deadly. She turned toward the others with icy blue eyes. "And that goes for the rest of you."
Guys scuffed the mat with their feet and looked away. No one dared to meet those eyes.
"Do you understand?" Her voice rose.
"Yes, Scarlett. Got it." They mumbled. "No problem at all."
"Good. Because I really don't want to have to repeat myself," she said with a look that meant business.
"No, of course not," they muttered uncomfortably.
Scarlett took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then, rolling her shoulders, she walked to the middle of the mat. Her eyes swept over the motley crew in front of her.
"All right, fellas. I know it's been a while. So, no weapons this time. Pair up and spread out on the mat. We'll go two sets of ten. First one to pin the other to the mat twice will be declared the winner. Ties will go an extra round."
"What do we get if we, like, win?" Footloose asked.
She leveled her gaze at him, and he gulped audibly.
A few nervous chuckles were heard around the room.
"Consider yourself lucky, Footloose," she said with a tight smile. "Winners get KP. Losers clean the latrines."
"Seriously? That's it?" Footloose groaned. "Man, that reeks."
"No, it's the latrines that reek." Clutch snorted loudly, slapping Breaker on the back.
"Are you sure it's not you?" Breaker gave him a small shove.
"Hey, look who's talking: mister 'I can't find my deodorant'." Clutch shoved him back.
Shipwreck looked at Gung Ho who had already selected him as a sparring partner. He smiled nervously. The big man was staring at him with a little too much enthusiasm. "Uh, Red—" He waved a hand frantically.
She rolled her eyes and sighed. "What is it, now, Shipwreck?"
"Since this sailor butt is about to get kicked anyway, can I volunteer? I'd be more than happy to clean the women's latrine."
"I think Lady Jaye and I can handle it," Scarlett said dryly.
"You sure?"
"Very sure."
Shipwreck sighed loudly.
Cleaning the latrines was the least favorite job of everyone. KP ran a close second. But with Lighthouse heavily locked down and with no extra personnel or hired staff, duties such as cleaning and cooking were being shared by the Joes.
No one got special treatment.
"Suck it up, Wreck. It won't hurt you to get in a little practice."
"I'll be lucky if all my bones stay in place," he mumbled as Gung Ho, grinning ear to ear, cracked his knuckles and then began limbering up.
Scarlett put her hands on her hips and, looking around, glared. "This is how it is, boys, and I don't want to hear any more complaints," she said. Her blue eyes narrowed as they came to rest on Shipwreck. "Especially from you, Shipwreck."
"Who me?" He said in mock surprise. "You wound me, Red. Besides—" He grinned suddenly. "I already told you I'd be more than happy to clean the women's latrine."
"Zip it, Shipwreck. I don't have time for your shenanigans." She turned and addressed them all. A seriousness came over her, a command that demanded respect. "We have a real battle ahead of us, and we need to be ready for it when it comes."
"Right, Red."
"Sorry, Red."
"We'll be ready."
Guys nodded and began pairing up. They spread out over the mat.
Scarlett was about to start the timer when she paused, her hand hovering just over the button. Looking up she fixed the guys with her gaze.
"Oh, and just in case you haven't heard yet—" She grinned wickedly. "Beach Head should be arriving this afternoon. He's already making plans about getting PT up and running again."
Loud groans were heard from all over the training room.
Laughing, Scarlett brushed some stray strands of hair out of her face. "All right, boys. Let's get to work!"
She slammed the timer with the palm of her hand.
I had to pick on Shipwreck here. He's just too much fun. :) As I wrote this one, I kept thinking about the Sunbow episodes, "The Wrong Stuff," and "Twenty Questions".