Chapter 4

A deadly showdown…

Shipwreck's ears were ringing from the blast of the explosion and he had to steady himself on the bed to get up. He looked towards Gambit who was visibly shaken and yelled. " Can you move man?"

Gambit lifted himself off the mattress and stood for the first time, it felt like his insides would give in but he was able to walk to the small armoire and reach for his clothing. " I think I can make it." he stated.

Quick blasts of gunshots and loud screams could be heard coming from other parts of the building, as Gambit dressed himself as quickly as possible. Another loud explosion erupted and the foundation rocked again. Shipwreck who had already drawn his pistol was now veering down the hall trying to construct an exit strategy. He was stunned to see two heavily armed Cobra troopers advancing towards there room.

Shipwreck fired at the first trooper and caught him in the neck, blood spurted from the wound and he dropped to his knees. Just as Gambit came out from behind Shipwreck and sent a playing card flying down the hallway and severed the mans head. As fast as lightning he sent three more cards sailing into the second trooper taking off his right arm on impact and the other two exploding into his chest. The trooper was dead before he hit the ground.

" I don't think we will have more trouble with them" Gambit said as he looked towards a visually stunned Shipwreck. " What do you say we get the hell out of here mon ami?" Shipwreck shook his head in agreement and they both exited the room.

They headed down the hall towards the reception area. Gunshots could still be heard going off through the building and when they reached the front they found the pretty brunette had been shot multiple times in the chest and had been blown clear through a plate glass window. Her lifeless body lay on the floor in the adjoining examination room. Shipwreck couldn't help but feel sorry for the lovely nurse as she stared at him through lifeless eyes.

Out of no where a Cobra F.A.N.G. helicopter swooped down and began firing through the glass doors and windows of the waiting area sending glass and debris flying in all directions. Both Gambit and Shipwreck dove for cover into the examination room. Two missiles blew through the top portion of the building and ripped part of the ceiling off. Two more Cobra STINGER vehicles pulled up out side the main entrance (which was now in ruins) and three heavily armed Cobra Troopers exited the vehicles along with a man Shipwreck new very well. His name, Major Sebastian Bludd, A ruthless Australian mercenary who leads Cobra infantry forces.

"Come on out of there Shipwreck and bring that mutant with you and no one else has to get hurt" Major Bludd called into the collapsing structure.

"Ok, looks like we're gonna have to find another way out of here." Shipwreck said to Gambit

"I'm not sure there is another way" Gambit proclaimed. "I may be able to take out those men but that helicopter that's another story."

"Hold this" Shipwreck said to Gambit while he handed him his pistol. " I'm going to try to kick in that door in the back it should lead us out into the hallway on the other side."

Shipwreck charged the rear door of the room sending him hurling out into the hallway. Gambit followed close behind and reached down to stable the sailor so he wouldn't fall. More shots could be heard in the outer reception area, as the Cobra troopers began converging on the complex the two men ran down the corridor.

Neither man was really sure if there was an exit to the building but figured there had to be at least another way out. The building was constructed as a simple single story unit with roughly 15 rooms for patients and 4 offices for the Dr's and staff. Both men began peering into the rooms looking for an exit as they made there way down the long corridor.

Gambit was beginning to feel the pain in his stomach and wished none of this was happening, he longed to be anywhere other than trapped in this burnt out hospital. As they neared the corridor were they had there altercation with the troopers a voice called out " Chief, Gambit this way!"

Doc was positioned behind a door way with the door slightly ajar and beckoning the two to follow him. They quickly started towards the door as a bullet cut into shipwreck's shoulder from behind. The Troopers with Major Blood in tow were headed towards them.

Gambit turned to see the one of the troopers raising his MP40 to fire at him, and sent another missile card flying, exploding into the mans chest , making him drop his rifle and flinging his body against the outer wall. Major Blood yelled. "No you idiot, the mutant is not to be harmed!" but it was too late Gambit sent five cards in quick succession aimed towards the remaining men, they all hit there marks and the impact of the explosion actually sent two troopers through the outer wall.

Gambit and Shipwreck (who was only grazed by the troopers bullet) reached the room were Doc had called from and ducked inside. It appeared to be his office, the man had overturned his desk and shelves and was motioning them to get behind it for cover. There was a large cabinet full of rifles and ammunition along the far wall hanging open. "We're gonna have to hold them off as best we can until reinforcements can reach us. Unfortunately this base is not heavily guarded, it seems they just blew there way in here. You know how I hate violence Ship, but at a time like this there isn't much left to be done, grab one of those assault rifles and ammo from that display case and lets get hunkered down."

Shipwreck reached for a HK417-12 and Gambit grabbed an AK- 47 Kalashnikov and two other foreign made machine guns, looked at Doc and asked. " I thought you said you hated violence? This is quite a collection of weapons you have here?"

"Well, just because I don't like violence doesn't mean I hate guns! I happen to be an avid collector, I only buy foreign made machineguns though ,good thing too because we're gonna need the firepower!"

With that Doc raised an ARX-160 Beretta and laid down suppressive fire towards the hallway. More Cobra men who where now advancing towards the office all ducked for cover in the room across the hall knocking over filing cabinets and tables as they desperately tried to shield themselves from the blasts. Bullets flew and ricocheted all through both rooms as each side continued firing on one another.

And then there was a brief pause and major Bludd yelled "Gambit, come out of there now don't make us kill these people! If you come with us we'll let the rest of them live!"

"My eye, coo-yon!" Gambit hollered." I've made my alliance! Way I see it you got blood on your mind anyways seems I come with you and you kill my friends either way, so no go!" With that Gambit unloaded a barrage of rifle fire into the next room and caught one of the Cobra troopers as he raised himself out of cover to shoot. The bullet shot through the mans eye and exited the back of his head killing him instantly.

"Nice shot." Shipwreck stated. "Now were starting to even the odds a little, I'm just afraid we might be stuck I mean our ammo can only last so long, and who knows when, or if reinforcements are arriving."

Doc turned towards the window and looked outside. He could see a small gathering of Cobra Troopers near the entrance of the building, they seemed to be milling around waiting on orders. About two hundred yards to the left however Doc spotted Shipwrecks old jeep. He turned back to Shipwreck and said. "If ,we can break these windows out and get outside, we may be able to make a run for your jeep! The Cobra troops don't seem to be surrounding the building just yet, and if were quiet enough we might just make it."

More gunfire came from the opposite room and Major Bludd could be heard shouting into a com device " I want all forces to converge on the building were gonna smoke these guys out!"

With that the Troopers who were outside began filing into the hospital.

"This is our chance!" Shipwreck declared as he knocked out the glass with the butt of his rifle. " Doc help Gambit get to the jeep. I will continue firing on the other room, here's the keys pull the jeep up and I will jump in and we'll make our way out of here!"

Doc shook his head and reached for the keys and began helping Gambit through the window then climbed through himself, once outside the two men crept towards the jeep. All the while heavy fire could be heard coming from the hospital as Shipwreck and Cobra continued firing on one another.

They reached the old jeep and Doc slid behind the wheel and cranked its ancient engine to life. Gambit sat shotgun and kept a wary eye out for any troops who may have spotted them so far the coast was clear. Doc spun the jeep around and positioned it directly under the window. " Shipwreck, now!" he yelled

Shipwreck dove through the window and landed in the back of the jeep just as the office erupted into a large explosion. One of the Troopers who fired an RPG into the room was now advancing with Major Blud and two others in tow. Before the smoke cleared Doc gunned the jeep towards the rear exit of the base. The Troopers made it to the window and began shooting at the jeep.

"There getting away you morons!" Bludd announced and began radioing to the choppers "F.A.N.G. 1 come in, over."

"This is F.A.N.G. 1, over " Came the reply

"Two G.I. Joes are escaping with the target, hold them off until we can reach you! Over." Major Bludd called to the chopper. " The rest of you get to the STINGER'S and catch them!"

The troopers exited the building and filed into the STINGER'S and headed off in pursuit of the Joes. Doc was flying around corners and maneuvering as fast as he could. They were still about a quarter of a mile from the exit when the first F.A.N.G. fired a missile towards them exploding into a dark sedan to there left. The chopper was having a hard time targeting the jeep because Doc kept weaving back and fourth down the road. The STINGER'S now in hot pursuit fired there own missile which detonated a sentry post directly in front of them, as the jeep reached the exit.

Shipwreck turned towards the advancing STINGER'S and was stunned to see the closest one erupt in a ball of fire, and then the other exploded as well as another air to ground missile hit it's target. Shipwreck snapped his head in the direction of the firepower and was finally relieved to see two Tomahawk's just coming into view. The calvary had at last arrived.

When Major Bludd saw the two STINGER'S go down and the Tomahawks advancing he decided to make a hasty retreat. He had lost quite a few men and his firepower was now limited as well, so he called for a full withdrawal immediately, Cobra Commander would not like it but Blud wasn't about to die out here trying to recruit some mutant who seemed hell bent on helping the Joes. As he dove into the last remaining STINGER and the driver took off he wondered why this Gambit was so important to the Commander and when their paths would cross again.

Doc drove towards the helos, stopped and the three men exited the jeep, as the choppers hovered 5 feet off the ground. To there surprise Heavy Duty and Lifeline greeted them as they with drew from one of the chopper's.

"Hey, Doc" Lifeline called out. " You guys made it and it looks like Cobra is retreating, are there wounded on the base?"

I believe so Life line can you help with that? We will have to evac the most serious, the small hospital here is in ruins!"

"Not a problem" Life Line responded.

"Doc, Shipwreck, good to see you two alive and kicking, and your friend here." Heavy Duty said "Listen Ship, you and Gambit are to take off with Lift Ticket and report to operations. General Hawk doesn't want another run in with Cobra now that we know there after these targets, we have to get you both to safety. The rest of us are going to be staying here and helping with the injured.

"Aye, Aye, Heavy" Shipwreck answered. "After being attacked twice in as many days I'm ready for some safety. We best get going Gambit. Take care of your self Doc, thanks for all the help.

With that the two men strapped themselves in the Tomahawk and Lift Ticket began raising the chopper into flight. Shipwreck let out a sigh of relief and Gambit closed his eyes. He wondered to himself what was next for him and his new friends. As the Helicopter took off into the sky and flew over the ruined military installation he leaned over to Shipwreck and asked " Man I can't believe this! Look at it down there, all this, all those lives lost ,for what, just to get to me?"

"I'm afraid so my friend, Cobra doesn't care how many have to die to meet there ends." Shipwreck replied. "Believe you me Gambit, were gonna get those bastards! For now try and get some rest as best you can there's no telling what we are in store for over the next few weeks!"