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While the Joes are celebrating being once more able to rot their brains without Cobra's interference, Duke is in Dr. Rich's office explaining about what they've just been through. "As I've said before, it's normal for anyone in a command position to feel guilt about sending others into danger so often." Rich tells him.
Duke sighs and shakes his head. "It's not that i let them go, Ken. My problem is that..."
"Yes; go on?"
"I passed astronaut training before, so why fail this time; did i intentionally give up because of what happened last time i went?" Duke wonders aloud while looking at the floor, thinking about how powerless he had been during the global blackout Cobra caused, and trying not to think of how close he was to surrendering.
Rich heads to a filing cabinet and pulls a sheet out. "You mean when Cobra took over the Delta station with those... fat-" He starts to say before Duke covered his ears and groaned.
"I do not want to hear those two words again; took me, Breaker, Dusty, and Steeler... uh, the old Steeler; a month to stop avoiding Timber and the other guard dogs because of those whip snapping hairballs."
"Fair enough. I was stuck with six people in a cable car while the pyramid was in use; but would that mean Scarlett and Mutt feel the same way?" Rich asked, but Duke only shrugged.
At the same time, Zandar is in a bar in Sumatra when hears a voice behind him. "Still gahn solo, are yer?" He turns to see a mostly orange haired young woman.
"Sister Zarana?" He asks her. "When did you get out?"
"About... nine 'ours ago." She replies after checking to see if her watch shows the same time as the clock. "It were bloomin' crazy. This big fireball came out o' nowhere crashin' into the bloody prison wall, me and a few uvvers made a break for it, and 'ere i am." She explains, then sits down. "Zartan and his blokes still workin' for that wastoid wiv the shiny mask?"
Zandar shrugs. "They are; met him a year ago after running into some of those Joes in Africa. He gave me an offer to join, but i turned it down."
She nods before the bartender walks over, and she orders some Tuak. "'eard about them; they a tough lot?"
"Being the only one of a five man group to survive; i should say so." He tells her.
"Hah, righteous!" She replied while flexing an arm.
Chapter eleven.
