The following week:
"It's nice to meet you, Lady Jaye," the blonde commander said, shaking her hand. He motioned towards her arm and said in a light voice, "but I didn't realize they were sending us damaged goods."
She smiled, as she knew was expected. "Sorry, it happened on my last mission with MI-6. I promise you it won't interfere with my duties as a GI Joe."
He chuckled. "I didn't think so. You have quite an impressive record, Lady Jaye. We are lucky that you decided to join us," continued the blonde, whose codename was Duke. "I was disappointed your MI-6 partner decided not to join us, but understand this is a big step."
"Yes, well," she stumbled, still upset about that last night they had together, when he announced he was working for Cobra, "he had another option he decided to go with, sir."
He clapped her on the back. "I'm going to let Cover Girl show you to the female barracks. I'm sorry to say that right now, we only have three females on the team. Cover Girl is a mechanic in the motor pool and pretty much can fix and drive anything. Scarlett, our other agent, is one of our intelligence officers, so you will be working closely with her. I'll leave you to get settled," he said, dismissing her from his office.
"Yes, sir," replied Lady Jaye, looking at the woman who entered the office at Duke's gesture. She was a pretty blonde with a face that looked like it graced magazines. Jaye gave her a polite smile. The blonde, Cover Girl, gave her a big grin which lit up her face. "Finally! It's nice to have another female here among all the testosterone! Welcome, Lady Jaye!"
She chattered on as Jaye followed her down the corridors to the female barracks. Apparently Cover Girl was an appropriate choice for her as she had been a former model. However, she was more at home in a garage with her arms buried up to their elbows in grease, she joked. Jaye couldn't help but like this bubbly American girl and soon found herself telling her a little of her own background. She had decided that she would abbreviate her history so that she was a former actress turned MI-6 operative. No need to mention the extravagant lifestyle of her childhood or her ties with the Cobra organization, however distant they were. She was still reeling with shock about her family's company's relationship with Cobra and with her former partner defecting to them as well…..her decision to go to GI Joe had been made for her. She couldn't stay with MI-6 and stand the looks she was given, nor answer any questions about her former partner. It had been her only escape route.
They finally reached the female barracks and both girls nodded at the MPs at the entrance. "Since it's just us 3, we pretty much have run of the place," Cover Girl giggled. "We each have our own bedroom with a main living area we share, along with a kitchen. Scarlett and I have been trying to make it a little less homely and drab. Hopefully you'll approve!"
"Where is Scarlett?" asked Jaye as she entered the apartment knowing immediately it was empty.
"Oh, she's on a mission. You'll meet her when she gets back. She's a red head with a hot temper, but it blows over pretty easily. I hope we'll all get along! I'm pretty laid back and Scarlett's a bit of a slob….hope you aren't a neat freak!" she giggled again.
Jaye sighed. While not a "neat freak," she did like to keep her living quarters neat and organized. She noticed her boxes stacked in a corner of the living area and decided to start working on making at least her bedroom her own. While the other two girls had added touches here and there, it still felt very spartan. Jaye figured a shopping trip into town was in order at some point. Maybe she'd wait until the woman, Scarlett, came back. No use getting off on the wrong foot with someone you have to live with for god knows how long!
"I'll leave you to get settled, then," said Cover Girl, uncomfortable in the silence. She wasn't sure what to think of the latest recruit. Some of the foreign agents that had joined GI Joe had been a little strange. She hoped that this female wouldn't be one of them. "I need to head back to the motor pool."
Jaye gave her what she hoped was a friendly smile and nodded. Right now, her throat felt so tight, she was afraid she'd start to cry if she said anything. Snap together, she told herself sternly. You made your choice, he made his. While it broke her heart to know they were now on opposite sides, she hoped they would never meet in battle. What would her new allies think if they knew how closely she was related to their biggest enemy? Would they shun her? Haze her? She had no clue, but didn't want to find out. She had used her influence at MI-6 to make sure her file said nothing about her connection with MARS nor about her former partner's defection. It was better that way, she reasoned, but still felt guilty for the lie.