Chapter 5:
After going over the specs, the women decided to brief Hawk on what they had learned. Scarlett was grateful for Lady Jaye's talent, not to mention it was just nice to talk to another woman again, even if it was shop talk.
Hawk called a team together in his office to go over the mission details. Assembled were Lady Jaye, Flint, Scarlett, Ace, and Road Block. Apparently, it was time for Lady Jaye to get her feet wet, so to speak, as a Joe.
"Should be familiar territory," he told Lady Jaye. "We have intell that Cobra forces have been spotted in Corsica, possibly to recruit. This is simply a recon, nothing fancy. Don't engage unless you are forced to. Lady Jaye and Flint will pose as a couple attending the Corsican musical festival." He handed them a pair of tickets. Allie was surprised to see that it was for a well known opera. She glanced at Flint to see his reaction, but his face could've been made from stone, as much expression he was showing.
Road Block and Ace were to be backup, if needed, but would pose as two guys on vacation, hanging out and having a good time. Scarlett would be their contact back at base.
Ace immediately started flirting on the flight to where they would pick up the yacht to sail to Corsica. The four would travel in style, disguised as rich tourists, to the island. Allie packed accordingly and had directed the others on what type of clothes to pack. The Mediterranean a familiar vacation spot to her, she refrained from letting the guys know that speedos were often in style with the Italian men in the region. She mentally winced as a picture flashed in her head of her teammates in the constricting bathing suit. No, they would pose as American tourists, even though Allie was fluent in the language of the area. Better to keep the cover of the rest of the team. Also, it would help Allie overhear any conversations spoken in front of her since all Europeans had the attitude that Americans only spoke and understand English.
Bored with Ace's constant flirting, Allie moved from the cockpit to the back, where she took the empty seat next to Flint.
She wasn't sure what to say to him. So far, the man had hardly spoken two words to her. The others on the team, she had gotten to know during training. This man distanced himself and she thought about what Shana had said about him. From what Allie had learned about observing others in her line of work, there usually was a reason someone kept themselves distant from others. She wondered what had happened in his past to make him this way.
"So," she began, "do you like opera?" She knew it was a lame attempt at small talk, but if they were going to pose as a couple, they needed to be able to communicate in a natural manner.
"I've seen a few," was his brief reply, his attention going back to the book he was reading. She had known a lot of relaxation techniques before a mission (her personal one was mediation, so she could get into character), but reading for a military guy was a little unusual. Most, like Ace, she had observed, would talk, play cards, or do whatever needed to be done to relax themselves, to keep their mind off the danger ahead.
"Look," she said, putting her hand on his book, which she saw raised his ire. She didn't care, she needed to get her point across. "I don't mean to be rude, seeing how I hardly know you, but if we're going to pose as a couple, well, most couples talk," she stressed. "And not painfully so, but in a natural, flowing tone."
He sighed and closed the book. She was grateful for fast reflexes, or her hand would've been shut up inside it. He faced her, frowning.
"I get your point. We need to get a few things straight, though. The way you introduced yourself to the Joes? I didn't like it. I still don't. No one likes to feel humiliated, and you managed to do that to the entire team."
Allie's temper began to rise. "Look," she said, echoing his tone, her eyes narrowed, "obviously Hawk was concerned enough he called me in, even though you don't think I'm qualified to do the job. You seem to be the only one harboring these feelings and I'm sorry if you felt humiliated. That was not my intention nor Hawk's. I think you need to get off your high horse and give me a chance, or are you one of those assholes who think women should be kept at home while the big bad man goes out and chases the bad guy?"
Ugh! She was supposed to pose as this guy's girlfriend? Seriously? She'd have to call on every acting cell in her body to display affection towards this arrogant jerk!
Flint was surprised by her temper, seeming to come out of nowhere. He hadn't liked how she had been so easily accepted by the rest of the Joes after her little trick. He also didn't like the physical attraction or admiration he was starting to feel towards her, either. It didn't have its place in GI Joe and especially with someone as flippant as this woman! She seemed to flout rules and had guys like Ace distracted by her appearance, when his mind should be on the mission. He had seen her, up in the cockpit for most of the flight, flirting with him. No, women had no place on the team, he thought. Scarlett, now she was different. A consummate professional. No, you didn't see her flirting and joking around with the men. She was all business. Not like this one, who seemed to be everyone's friend and who everyone was talking about with glowing praise.
However, she was right. For the mission, they would have to convince people they were a couple and had some positive feelings towards one another, he supposed. He sighed, and realized he would have to try harder on the yacht trip to the island.
Lady Jaye was fuming. She sat down next to Road Block, hoping his peaceful presence might help soothe her.
"What's up?" he questioned, noticing her frown. He looked over to Flint and saw he was wearing a matching expression and realization dawned.
"Don't let him get to you," he told her, patting her shoulder. "He always gets tense before a mission."
"Yeah, as tense as a small nun at a penguin shoot," Allie muttered, which made Road Block roar with laughter, drawing the others attention.
He lowered his voice, leaning close to her. "Between you and me, I think he's ticked off you were made leader and he wasn't. He's not used to that."
"Well, it's something he needs to get over," she frowned. "Obviously this is supposed to be a practice in something that I have the most experience in. It's only natural that Hawk asked me to lead it."