I do not own anything thing. Except my OC Naomi Hunt. Sorry for the late updates. Exams are going on and I can only work on in school when we have free time. I have to transfer my chapters to my other computer at home sorry about it,
Chapter 2
By the time we reached the Pit I was fast asleep. A hand had awoken me from my peaceful slumber. Out of instinct I attacked what had a hold on me. My concealed hidden dagger slipped out of place and I placed it on my attacker's throat.
"Naomi" said a voice. My eyes adjusted and I realized that my attacker was Snake Eyes. I stepped back and placed my dagger away. My head was spinning too fast that I felt my knees buckle. As I waited for my body to hit the ground it never came. Instead two arms caught me in time. My gaze lifted from the floor to Snake. I've only been this close to him before his brother came to get me my lessons. Snake had been so close. Soon Snake and Storm Shadow were fighting. But I stepped in at tried to stop but ended getting hurt. Yay me, I thought in my head. Storm and Snake then apologized to me and we never spoke about that day again.
"Sorry." I said quietly, and then stood back away. He gave my shoulder a light squeeze then led me outside of the plain. I looked around. The pit looked different from what it had been eight years ago. As I exited the plain I was greeted by General Hawk.
"Welcome back to the Pit Naomi. Sleep Well?" he asked in a soft tone.
"More or less. At least I got to sleep at all." I replied. Hawk smiled at me and led us to a lift. As we descended down under the hanger and past their aquatic gear, we came to their training ground. We saw men and women training together. Over in one corner we saw a women put on a mask and disappear from the two men she had been training from.
"What's that?" Ripcord asked.
"Camouflage." Heavy Duty answered.
Just as Scarlet was about to answer I answered for her; "it photographs everything behind you and puts it front of you. It's mostly used for sneak missions and assassinations." Everyone turned their gaze to me like I knew what equipment they had. I couldn't help but smile at the attention. I glanced to my left to see snake's gaze on me. He doesn't know does he? Well he is taking his sweet time figuring it out. It's been a long time.
As we entered the control room one of the women working told Hawk that Mr. McCullen was waiting on the other line.
"Patch him through." He said. At an instant we saw Mr. McCullen. It was a hologram but it looked so real. ", founder and developer of these war heads."
"Most men I've encountered overpromise and underdeliver. General clearly you should've been the option I had chosen." He said in a smirking voice. Duke was getting pissed. Like me we share the same feelings. Too bad I have a short temper. And you really don't want to get me pissed.
"Hey!" I shouted to his attention was on me, "my men died protecting your war heads! Now they lay in unmarked graves because it looked like someone sold us out to me. If not, then at least have respect for them when they were clearly out gunned to even defend themselves!" God did it feel good to yell at him! But I relaxed and the general started to talk with McCullen. I sat on the edge of the simulator trying to calm me pulsing head.
"Thank you." I looked up to see Duke and Ripcord standing in front of me, "I know they weren't your team but thank you for standing for them. We know you tried your best for them. From what I've seen you got more heart to yell at him than us."
"Men are not toys in war. I've seen too many of my own brothers fall. Every life is precious to me. That's why I go ahead and take out the enemies for you guys. So no one dies. Now it looks like I won't need this mask anymore seeing though I'll be leaving shortly." I said and unzipped my mask. I let my rich hazel hair fall past my shoulders and land on my lower back. Sleepily I opened my tired blue and green eyes that have a tint of sliver in them.
"Wow!" they both said in sync. I guess they think I'm pretty but I think I'm average. I was about to speak but a sudden clash of metal against metal startled us. I turn to see Snake pick up his sword that he was fiddling with. I couldn't help but giggle. He was always klutz when I was around him. To think I even had beaten him at a few sparing matches. Always so nervous like was going to break if handled wrong. Still the same I see.
"Now….. So the dumb bastards who attacked you can't find you again, you need to disable the tracking beacon in the case." Said McCullen. For some reason I really didn't trust that guy.
"I already did sir." Said Breaker, he tried really hard not to roll his eyes.
"Good man. But let me check to see if anything has been damaged." Said McCullen in his Scotland ascent
"My scans tell me everything is in tacked." Breaker said.
"General?" McCullen began.
"What's the code?" Hawk asked.
"529440" McCullen said giving the general a look then smiled, once opened he scanned the war heads for any damage components, "keep me informed of your progress general." Then faded out into the system.
"What's wrong Breaker?" Scarlet asked.
"Well in my voice analyzer, his pattern was going up, down, sideways. Looks like he didn't want anyone to know where he is." He said. That didn't seem right. A weapon developer, not wanting to be found to deliver the weapons back, that was odd even for me.
Later that day General Hawk was place custodian of the war heads. Duke to our amazement knew something about the woman who attacked us. Her name was Ana Lewis. Both Duke and Ripcord said they both wanted payback and wanted to join the Joes.
"You don't ask to be apart of G.I. You get asked." Said Hawk, he was tired and I could tell he wasn't going to take anyone's crap.
"General?" I spoke up. They turn their gaze to me. I was sitting on the simulator with my head on Snakes shoulder. Like Hawk I am too tired.
"Yes Naomi?" asked the general.
"They should join. They've given us Intel and I've seen them in battle. They have quiet proven themselves. And impressing me is hard. I've seen guys make complete fools of them self's to impress me." I felt Snakes gaze and I wouldn't hold back a smile, "Duke shows courage and strength. But he thinks every battle is winnable and that's what going to cost much. He needs to learn that with every battle there are risks to take. With training he could be one heck of a Joe." I spoke. Rip chuckled as Duke blushed," But he's not as bad as Rip. Cocky, sloppy, big headed. He thinks that he's cool and charms will get him out of trouble" I said. Scarlet let out a laugh, "….but on the other hand he is every good at fighting back. He never gives up on missions and team members. His heart is built for flying, not on the ground. That's way I recommended them as Joes." Both Ripcord and Duke were shocked. And all I could do was smile. Hawk thought. He knew me. Knew where I came from and where I stand. The smile on his face got bigger and bigger.
"Well boys you owe Naomi a huge thank you." He said. Duke and Ripcord smiled two big grins and high five each other. Scarlet rolled her eyes. Breaker and Heavy laughed, "But that doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you. You see when Naomi thinks she's been impressed, in truth it means she want to see you in action. So tomorrow at 6 o'clock sharp you are to report to her. She is your new trainer to be a Joe. Scarlet, Heavy you two are assisting Naomi with them." Hawk said and turned towards Duke and Rip," You do what she says when she says it. Don't give her back talk and a word of warning." Hawk paused, "what ever you do. Don't get her pissed off."
Duke and Ripcord faces grew pale. Their eyes went to me. All I did was smile and laugh to make them piss their pants. But I'm too nice for that.
X X X X X X X X X X X X
After that Scarlet showed me to my room. It was right across for Snake Eyes. But the room however was beautiful. White walls, black carpet, white and black bed spread, even the bathroom was beautiful! Clayton really out did himself.
"The General has been expecting you. He always figured that you would come and visit again. He had this room made up for you. Before, it looked like a little kid's room but the General ordered some people to redecorate it. When I saw the color theme I thought he was crazy. But I guess you don't have a thing for colors?" Scarlet said.
"If you've seen the things I've seen and the places I've been, you wouldn't care much for color anymore." I said. I thought back to the room were I was kept. Cold, lined with every color except white. There were many of us. Too many of us. But not all of us made it. Only 83 did, out of 150. That was a lot to lose. A sharp pain grew in my stomach. Guilt, "Hey Scarlet I'm going to get some rest. It's been a long night."
"Your right, I'll wake you up when its time to train the guys. There are already clothes in the dressers. If you need anything let me know." She said and walked out the door. For once I didn't worry of locking the door. For once I was safe. I went to the dresser and took out a shirt and a pair of sweat pants and quickly changed. I unpacked my other things and decided to take a nap before I was to report to the boys for training.
The bed felt soft. Clayton remembered I had a thing for feathers. Good thing too. I looked over at the clock on the wall. It read 4:57 in bold red numbers. My body ached with restless. It wanted to keep moving, always moving. But the bed was so soft and warm, I wanted to sleep. My eyes drifted close. My body began to loose its weight. My breathing slowed to a steady pace. It wasn't long before the tiredness of sleep took hold of me.
X X X X X X X X X X X X
"Wake up! Naomi you got to wake up!" said a voice. It was faint, really faint. My eyes wanted to remain closed and never open. But something was nudging me to wake up. Like I needed to wake up, as if my life depended on it.
I slowly started to wake up. My eyes shot awake as the sound of gun fire was herd. Once away, pain shot through my entire body. I looked around. Kids every where. Some were crying and some were lying on the floor. The walls….were covered in blood. Shades of yellow, purple, blue, and green lined the faces and body parts of the kids. Pain, Pain was everywhere.
"Naomi! Naomi!" the voice called. I looked over to a girl no more than ten. Her brown hair was caked in blood and other things. Her eyes were blood shot from not sleeping. Her skin seems to hang from her bones. She looked like a ragged skeleton.
"What? What's wrong?" I asked.
"She's coming! Naomi she's coming again! After she returned with you she said that she'll be back!" she said. Tears streamed down her face. I looked around. They were crying. Most faces were turned towards me. Questioning faces.
"Everyone line up! Get the ones on the floor on their feet. Help them stand. What ever happens let me take care of it." I said getting to my feet. My body seemed so light. Like I could float into the sky if I wasn't tied down, "and remember, what ever happens you must hold on! Repeat the plain in your head over and over. Don't speak unless spoken to and what ever she does, it will happen to her ten times as bad! Don't let the others lives be in vain! We must keep strong!" I shouted. Everyone got to their feet. The ones on the floor where helped to their feet. I stand in the middle like I always do. Tears were subsided and coughs were silenced. I looked at the door. The door that was a way to our freedom and yet a door way to hell.
Footsteps where herd.
"Clank, Clank, Clank." Went the sound of shoes on the steel floor. The handle of the door creaked and stepped inside was Satin himself but in a woman's body. Her hair tied tightly in a bun, in the back of her head. Her eyes scanned the room. Cold, icy eyes. Her lab coat was splattered with the blood of our sisters and brothers. A clip board was held in her hands.
Dr. Michelle Naji. Ruthless doctor and scientist. Banned from doctor offices everywhere and observatories. I can't believe my father actually hired her as our doctor, "Good evening little ones. How are you all today?" she asked with a hiss in her voice. She stopped in front of us. Her eyes scanned the room, "well?"
"We're doing fine Dr. Naji. Nothing to worry your pretty little head over." I spoke up. Her wide sly smile disappeared and she shot me evil glares.
"Well it looks like the big mouth speaks again. I bet you didn't learn your last lesion well. Do you need to visit Lora again?" she asked. My eyes widen in horror. Lora was the one girl that was still alive from being injected by 's toxin. Her eyes grew black and her nails turned razor sharp. She wasn't Lora anymore.
She was…something else. Something…non-human.
"I'm not afraid. I'm still alive. Last time I visit her it was her that was badly injured. Or have you forgotten?" I asked. Her stepped forward and placed a hand around my neck. I grabbed her wrist and threw her across the room, "NOW!" I shouted and everyone started to attack the guards. Kidna bended the metal to wrap around them, like a boa constrictor with its pray. Sara lit one of the guards on fire. I walked up to and bent down to her eye level.
"We're not weak. When you pit us against each other we practice our abilities." I spoke
"Enabling us to control them." Said another kid.
"We're not afraid of Lora. She's no match against us." Spoke Sara. We stood around her. Her eyes filled with fear. Never had she seen someone to oppose her. Someone with so much power held in their hands.
"We're leaving and there's nothing you can do about it." I bent down and took her keys from her lab pocket, "come on. We're leaving!" I shouted. They nodded and followed me out the door.
As we neared the door to our freedom the alarms sounded off.
"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" sounded the alarms. I looked around. Everyone was getting worried. Now was not the time to panic. We had to get free.
I've come too far to let them slip again. Never again." Come on we're almost there! Stick together!" I shouted over the noise. Turning corners and down hall I lead then to the metal doors that we came in three years ago.
"How do we open it?" Sara shouted. I looked around for a switch. None.
"We blast it open that's what. Earth and air benders up front now!" I shouted. They took positions, "NOW!" they bended to hit the doors. One by one the door took more hits. Each one leaving a dent in its face. Few more hits…..
"Naomi!" Kenta shouted. Behind us we soldiers. They were coming with extreme speed. Guns in their hands. Intent to kill….
"Kenta! Sara! Keep pushing till the door breaks. When it does run into the forest and hide. If you are able get help. Make sure everyone stays together. What ever you do don't split up. Stay together!" I said. I looked at the wall and pulled two pipes from it.
"What are you going to do?" Sara asked. I looked at her," no! That's suicide!"
"If someone doesn't you guys a chance then there's no point in escaping. This was my plain and I intend to save everyone that can be saved. Now don't be stupid and follow orders!" I got up and started to run towards the soldiers. One by one I knocked them down. Each one landing with a thud. I tried my hardest to give them time to escape. I had to stay strong.
"Never give up. You must stay strong. For us. For yourself. Protect everyone you can. You were given this gift for a reason. Use it to help. Good luck Naomi. No matter where you are, we will be watching." Tears sprang to my eyes as her voice filled my head. For her I will stand. For them, for myself. More soldiers fell.
"NAOMI!" shouted a voice, "NAOMI!" then a bang…
X X X X X X X X X X X X
"Naomi..."
"Naomi…"
"Naomi it's time to wake up." I opened my eyes slowly. There was no light except for one that was far away. However someone was staring at me.
"Scarlet what time is it?" I asked. My voice sounded rough.
"It's one in the afternoon. And it's the next day may I add. The general decided to let you sleep in. He thought you could use the rest. Looks like you really needed it." She said. I rubbed my face. I looked at the clock. It read one in the afternoon. I must've slept for ten hours. Great in slept in. I threw back the covers and got up, "take a shower. You must be hungry. Do you remember where the café is?"
"Yes I do." I said. She nodded and headed for the door, "Scarlet?" I called.
"Yah?" she asked looking over her shoulder.
"Thanks." I said. She looked shocked then her face broke into a sweet smile I had seen before. But she's gone now….
"You're welcome Naomi." And she walked out. I returned to grabbing clothes. I grabbed a black short sleeved shirt and winter cameo pants. I rushed into the bathroom and looked myself in the mirror. My eyes didn't the dark circles anymore. Thank God. A few cuts lined my face from the night before. I brought my hand over then and brushed them away. All that was left was a faint scar. I went to the shower and turned it on.
After I took my shower I changed and went to the café. It hasn't changed a bit. It still looked the same 10 years ago. The chairs and tables haven't changed. I got in line and grabbed a try. An apple, cereal, and a juice will have to do for breakfast today. Tomorrow I'll get the things I will need to cook my own breakfast. After I grabbed my food I scanned the tabled for a place to sit. My eyes landed to a girl with dark hair sitting in the back corner.
"Excuse me can I sit here?" I asked. She turned her head to see me.
"Why would you want to sit here? Wouldn't you like to sit with the others? They'll welcome you into their table hands down." She said.
"I'm new and I really don't know everyone yet. And you seemed to be alone so I thought you could use someone to talk to." I said putting on my best smile for her. She turned her gaze away for a minute then looked back at me.
"OK. But I don't see why you want to sit with me. By the way my name is Hack. Well that's my codename anyway." She said. As I sat down I realized that her eyes were a strange color. They were white but her hair was pitch black.
"Hack? Why do they call you that?" I asked while picking at my food.
"I'm the only one besides Breaker who can hack into a computer system and remove and plant files. I also can implant viruses that can crash a computer system for a long time." She said, a playing smirk spread across her face.
"Impressive. You must've have been a natural when you were little." I said taking a bit of my apple.
"You bet I was! I even…" she broke for her sentence. Her gaze fell to the door. I turned to see a tall blonde with deep blue eyes walk in, "oh no. Not her." Hack groaned.
"Why? What's wrong with her?" I asked. The blonde must've heard us because she started to walk over to us. She gave me one of those million dollar smiles as she walked towards us.
"That's Ivy. She's one of General Hawk's informative personal. She knows everybody and I mean everybody." Hack said looking down at the table. Just then Ivy came over. She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and leaned on the table.
"So you're the new ninja we were expecting. You don't look like much?" Ivy said coming closer to my face.
"Two words for you. Tick Tack." I said and waved my hand in front of my nose. Ivy shot back covering her mouth with her hand. Her face gave to look of I'm-going-to-kill-you look.
"You know I looked up your file and there's a lot on those sheets of paper. I can't believe you did those things!"Ivy said putting on a shocked face.
"You mean your file? If you were talking about mine you must've gone back in time because I destroyed them before I joined the army. Every last thing." I shot back at her. Hack grinned big at me and so did I. Before Ivy could say anything, Snake Eyes stepped in between us.
"Naomi it's time to test Duke and Ripcord. They're waiting for you in the training room." Snake Eyes said. I looked at Ivy who had her eyes glued on Snake. She really likes Snake Eyes. I closed my eye and reopened them but this time they were different. Instead of blue and green they were white. I took a look inside her mind…Oh my God! I would see past experiences and horrors.Ivy grew up on a farm and lived with her grandparents. There she worked her way up. Sleeping with high ranking officials and military men. She knows how to seduce any man and get information at the same time. Disgusting but impressive. After I was done looking through her mind I returned back into my head. Hack was looking at me with curiosity and question. I glanced over her and gave her a wink.
"I'm on my way Snake. Also can I talk to you later?" I asked giving him a childish look.
"Of course. But now we have to go. It's nice you see you again Hack. Ivy" Snake nodded to the two before dragging me along. I waved Hack good-bye while Ivy stood there with her mouth open.
X X X X X X X X X X X X
The training went very well. First I placed Duke and Ripcord in Hogan's Alley that requires dexterity. Duke began with an excellent beginning but Rip was lacking. I called duke over and sent him and Heavy to a different part. Then I placed Rip with Scarlet in the shooting alley. I went to switching between the two. Rip's scores were excellent. He got nineteen out of twenty. Most impressive. When I went to check on Duke, he was facing Snake Eyes. He had on the training armor and a shock baton. I laughed. He got his ass kicked a few times but near the end he was able to pin Snake to the ground! Now that's what I call a Joe. After they began to spar again…
"Duke toss it here!" I called as I ran up. Duke smiled and tossed the baton in the air. I jumped and grabbed it. I slammed it down on Snakes. He stumbled. That gave me an advantage. I swung at his side but he blocked. Then swung at his other. Stilled he blocked it. Under that mask I knew he was smiling. And I was about to kick that smile off his face. I swung at his legs. While he blocked I brought my leg up and wrapped hit around him. I twisted and pushed him down, straddling him. I held the baton over his head, "Checkmate." I said and got off him. Snake remained on the floor stunned. Looks like I beat you this time Snake. I walked away. Everyone that was around had their jaws to the floor.
"Naomi." Said a voice. I turned to see General Hawk, "follow me please." I nodded and followed him to his office.