Thanks for reading! Yo Joe!
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"We attack small," Flint addressed the Joes in front of him. "Two teams of three each. Here—" He pointed to a map of the prison on the screen. "And here. I'll lead team Alpha, and Shipwreck will lead team Beta. Lady Jaye has already infiltrated the prison as a low-level worker. She's been there several days. As soon as she gives the signal, we'll make our move. Wild Bill will be in charge of the getaway."
Murmurs were heard around the room.
"Another thing—" Flint continued. "We won't be wearing our usual BDU's but will go in street clothes. Think simplified disguise. We don't need the feds identifying us—at least not individually. They'll already know we're Joes, but let's not make it too easy for them to know which Joes." His eyes darkened.
Heads nodded.
The ranks were continuing to fill out as more Joes made their way to the Lighthouse. But even the greenest of them had noticed that they were bottom heavy. It only served to emphasize the importance of this mission.
"Also, know that for anyone participating in this break-out—whether successful or not—there's a very real possibility that we'll be court martialed and tried for treason for what we are about to do. So, if you want out, this is your last chance. Say so, now. I won't hold it against you." He paused and swept his gaze over the motley crew before him.
"No way are we backing out now. We're with you Flint, old buddy," Shipwreck nodded, grinning.
"All the way." Gung Ho slapped him on the back.
"Good to know you've got my six." Flint smiled. "Scarlett will stay here at the Lighthouse with the rest of you—just in case. If we fail, the next steps will be up to you. Scarlett knows the plan. Follow her lead."
Everyone nodded.
"We'll get them out, Flint," Wild Bill said.
Flint nodded grimly. "Let's do this, then—for Cross Country, Bazooka, Torpedo, Barbecue and Cutter!" Flint shouted.
"Yo Joe!" They cried, holding up fists.
Lady Jaye stared into the mirror visualizing another person. Her hair, several shades lighter than its natural color, looked faded—like the colors had been bled out of it. The natural waves had been rendered nearly straight; she hadn't washed it in three days. Carefully, she began applying her makeup, blending different shades into her skin to create a pasty color. She applied darker colors under her eyes to create shadows. Then, she finished up with a pink lipstick entirely unsuited for her. When she finished, she looked like a soft, middle-aged woman who had seen too many hard days. Perfect. Smiling grimly, she slipped into the steel blue prison worker clothes she had been given and clipped on her badge.
"It's show time," she whispered to herself.
Lady Jaye's shoulders slouched as she walked, and her footsteps slapped heavily against the pavement. She entered the prison through the employees' side door, flashed her badge, and headed for the kitchen.
Today, she was the meal deliverer.
In the kitchen, she pulled a crisp white apron over her head and tied it behind her. Then, she slipped a hairnet over her dirty blond hair and tugged on a pair of clear plastic gloves. She dragged the cart out from the closet where it had been stored and wheeled it to a location just out of view of the cameras. She wiped it down with the antibacterial spray provided, taking just a moment to check the underside where she had put her javelins the night before. They had been placed strategically to look like part of the cart's design. She wasn't overly concerned about their being discovered—yet—as no one was paying attention to her, and she wasn't giving reason for suspicion. That would undoubtedly come later.
When she entered the main preparation area, the cooks were already stacking the meal trays on the counter. Lady Jaye nodded a greeting and then began loading the trays onto her cart one by one, making slight adjustments to some of them as she worked. She wrinkled her nose with disgust at the smells emanating from them. The trays of what she assumed to be chicken fried steaks, watery mashed potatoes, and canned green beans looked like "TV dinners" that had been warmed up in a microwave—and they probably were. She decided that if this was a typical sample of prison chow, she'd take military over it, anytime.
When she finished loading the trays, she pushed the metal cart out of the kitchen and down the hall to the first set of locked doors.
"Chow time," she called to the guards on duty. "Meal trays for prisoners. Cell Block A."
One of the guards came over and inspected her badge. Then, lifting the lids, he visually inspected several of the trays. Without giving Lady Jaye a second look, he signaled to the second guard who punched open the doors to let her pass through. Two more inspections and two sets of locked doors later, Lady Jaye wheeled up to the metal detector. This was the high security ward.
She forced herself to breathe normally as she waited. Only years of training kept her face neutral. Mentally, she went over each step of the plan. The powders, looking like packets of salt and pepper had already been placed onto each tray when she was loading them. Mixed together with water, they created a highly corrosive acid that would eat through metal within minutes.
When the guards waved her through, she was ready.
Lady Jaye glanced from side to side as she walked. Moving cameras had been mounted above each cell door. Between the cells, she knew, was a narrow 2.3 second blind spot. Timing it just right, Lady Jaye picked up the next tray to deliver and slipped a note onto it before sliding the entire tray through the food door. She repeated the movements for ten cells. The notes gave instructions in Joe Code for making and applying the acid to the hinges of the cell doors. When an explosion was heard outside in the hallway, the Joes were to kick their way out. Further instructions informed them to use their napkins as a filter when they entered the hallway holding it to their noses.
Lady Jaye only began to breathe naturally again after she had delivered the last Joe tray. Then, she continued down the hall in her slow, tired pace, delivering kitchen meals to the rest of the prisoners in the cell block. When she reached the end of the hall, she had reached her next target—the outer wall. Lady Jaye counted two armed guards posted at the T-section. She nodded to them and then casually reached under the cart. Before they realized what was happening, she had pulled out a javelin and was throwing it at their feet. A strong knockout gas filled the air, causing the guards to drop like stones. Lady Jaye pressed a napkin filter to her nose and dragged the unconscious guards out of harm's way. Then, she reached under the cart and pulled out the second javelin. She threw it at the wall and ducked out of the way. The javelin hit the wall and exploded, opening a man-sized hole through the thick cement blocks and mortar.
Immediately, alarms sounded.
Behind her, in the hallway, Joes burst out of their cells, holding napkins to their noses. Lady Jaye felt a flood of emotions as she recognized Hawk, Duke, and Snake Eyes emerging through the smoke and dust. More Joes crowded in behind them.
"That way," Hawk shouted, leading the group toward the waving Lady Jaye.
"Hurry." She pointed the hole in the outer wall. "Through there."
One by one, they dove through.
As soon as the last Joe had escaped, she made a final check on the guards. Noticing they were beginning to stir, she smiled and hurried out through the opening. Minus a headache, they'd be fine.
Flint and Shipwreck's teams had rushed through the outer prison gates past guards and armed patrols at the sound of Lady Jaye's explosion. They fired knock-out gas into the guard posts, and tear gas at the patrols.
"Think of this as a kiddies show," Flint had said. "No causalities. These soldiers are on our side. Our purpose is to get Hawk and the rest out. No more. We are using stuns and gas only."
"We got it, boss man."
"In and out, as quickly as possible. No one gets hurt."
Flint's team took cover and fired stuns at the guards to aid the escaping Joes. As soon as the Joe prisoners had scrambled through the hole and outside, Shipwreck's team took over.
"This way!" Shipwreck shouted. "Follow me."
They fired cover shots as they led the freed Joes to an open space between buildings. Flint and his team brought up the rear, with Lady Jaye sprinting to catch up behind them.
As he ran, Flint pulled out a small device and pressed it. An unmarked, black transport helicopter appeared above them within seconds.
"That's our ticket out of here," Flint shouted as it began to lower. "No time for a proper landing. Everyone, pile in. Hurry."
They scrambled inside as soon as the helicopter came within reach.
"Get us out of here, Wild Bill," Flint shouted toward the cockpit. He stood holding onto the frame watching the lone figure running toward them as the helicopter reversed direction and began to rise again.
"Jump, Jaye!"
Lady Jaye made a running leap and Flint, catching her by the wrist, hauled her inside. She tumbled to the floor.
"I thought you were going to leave me behind," she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
"Not a chance," he gave her a lopsided grin.
The rising helicopter blew dust and loose asphalt in all directions. The prison guards covered their faces protectively with their arms and fired up at them blindly, peppering the frame. Flint and Shipwreck's teams quickly took position around the openings, dropping smoke bombs and canisters of tear gas.
The helicopter was soon safely out of range.
"Whoo-wee! That was a might too close." Wild Bill wiped his brow before easing the nose south. He pushed the throttle and the helicopter accelerated. "Let's skedaddle, folks. Yee Haw!"
He flew for about twenty minutes before bringing the helicopter down near an abandoned farm with a tilted, tin-roofed barn. Seventeen Joes—the freed prisoners, teams alpha and beta, and Lady Jaye—jumped out. Immediately, Wild Bill, now solo, lifted and flew off in a different direction.
Four passenger cars had been hidden in the large barn. The Joes divided themselves between the cars as Flint, Lady Jaye, Gung Ho, and Shipwreck took the drivers' seats. Then, each car sped off in a different direction. They didn't want to make it easy for anyone who might be following them. Several turns and vehicle changes later, the separate groups began to make their way toward Lighthouse. In the final stage, the vehicles were abandoned—hidden in sheds or leaning garages—and the passengers traveled by foot under the cover of darkness.
The four groups arrived at staggered times throughout the night. Lady Jaye's group, which included the general, was the last.
"General Hawk, sir." Scarlett saluted as the weary group stepped through the doors and, blinking, entered Lighthouse.
Scarlett's eyes searched the faces of the Joes with him eagerly. The groups who had arrived earlier stood around her. More Joes crowded in from behind. They all stood at attention and saluted.
Hawk swept his gaze over them, resting longer on Flint and Lady Jaye before settling on Scarlett. "At ease, men," he said slowly. "It's certainly been the night of surprises."
"That's a bit of an understatement, sir." Duke stepped out from the shadows to stand next to the general. His blue eyes locked on Scarlett's.
"It's been a night of surprises for everyone," she said, her cheeks heating. An awkward pause followed. Then, breaking the gaze, she spoke hurriedly. "In addition to all of you, a few of our missing lambs decided to show up tonight, too." She stepped to the side revealing a small group of grinning and shuffling Joes.
"Crank-Case, Quick-Kick, Zap, and Leatherneck." Lady Jaye's admonishment broke the tension. "It's about time!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"General Hawk, sir." Flint greeted him with a grin.
"Flint." He smiled back.
Scarlett practically flung herself into Duke's arms. "I've missed you, Duke."
"You, too, Red," he laughed.
Joes all over were high-fiving, fist bumping, and slapping one another on the back.
"Stalker, my man."
"Snake Eyes, dude."
"Hey, there. Don't forget about me." A blonde Cover Girl came limping toward the group, smiling. Cover Girl was already a beautiful woman; with the blonde hair, she was absolutely stunning. Doc was walking beside her protectively.
The Joes goggled.
Scarlett, with a smirk, reached over and shut Shipwreck's mouth with a snap; it had fallen open.
"Cover Girl!" Lady Jaye grabbed her into a fierce hug. "We were so worried about you. What happened? We were expecting you days ago."
"We—uh—ran into a few problems." She glanced at Quick-Kick and Zap who shuffled their feet uncomfortably. Leatherneck and Crank-Case were staring at the floor.
Lady Jaye fingered her friend's blonde hair and lifted an eyebrow. "A few?" She glanced at the guys and then back to Cover Girl.
Cover girl shrugged. "It's a long story. Not worth telling."
Lady Jaye had once found an old photo of Cover Girl with long blonde hair. When she asked Cover Girl about it, Cover Girl had admitted that she'd been blonde when she first joined the Joes. But with the codename "Cover Girl" and looking like her old magazine spreads, she had found it nearly impossible to get any of the other Joes to take her seriously—especially those in the motor pool. Cover Girl knew she couldn't do anything about her codename, but she could alter her appearance. She cut her hair short and lost the blonde, opting for her more natural auburn. She'd never gone back.
Lady Jaye looked thoughtfully at Cover Girl, seeing more than was there. "Are you sure you're ok?" she asked softly, unconsciously rubbing her shoulder.
"Sure…It's just a sprain. Doc taped it up," Cover Girl said easily, nodding toward Doc.
Lady Jaye gave her a slow nod.
Scarlett had joined Jaye and stood by her side.
"I suggested she use crutches, but she refused," Doc said, his mouth twitching. "Stubborn as usual," he muttered happily.
"So, what's new?" Lady Jaye quipped, her lips curving.
Scarlett laughed. Lady Jaye calling Cover Girl 'stubborn' was like the kettle calling the pot black.
She turned, still chuckling, and addressed the rest of Joes. "Welcome to Lighthouse, everyone!" she said. "Dial-Tone, Footloose. Let's get these newcomers assigned to quarters and then we'll give everyone the tour. Cover Girl, you're with us. Lady Jaye and I will show you where the women's quarters are."
"And while you're all doing that, someone point me to the kitchen cause I'm in the mood for a mess of food." Roadblock exclaimed. "This calls for celebration."
The Joes cheered.
I always wondered why Cover Girl was blonde in the first RAH miniseries (Worms of death, episode 3) but by the second miniseries had gone auburn. Did anyone else? Surely, I wasn't the only one.