Hawk's Holiday.
Chapter 8: Kidnapped.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the GI Joe characters.
The next day 0835 hrs.
The six friends had gotten up early to enjoy a day of cross-country skiing. The hotel's pro shop had an ample supply of skis and other equipment for their trip, and they were soon on their way.
After a brief lecture about staying on the assigned trails, and warnings about avalanche dangers and encounters with local wildlife they set off.
It was a beautiful day to enjoy the Rocky Mountains in all their glory. The sun was shining, the air, was crisp and clean, with only a mild chill (about –6 degrees Celsius).
It took awhile for most of them to get used to using skis, some, like Hawk and Chuckles, hadn't skied in years. Kamakura hadn't skied since childhood and found it difficult at first, but he quickly got the hang of it. Daina, Paige Adams, and Cathy took several pictures of everyone, especially when they fell on their collective Asses.
Three hours of trekking through the forest trails later, they came to a quiet rest area. Cathy brought out a large Thermos flask of hot tea, Kamakura appeared to be meditating, Paige was taking pictures with a digital camera, Daina was quietly sketching a bit in a notebook, and Hawk and Chuckles just sat there and took in the view.
The view was spectacular. The mountains gleamed like polished silver in the late morning sunlight. Everything was just perfection, and everybody was at peace.
"Daina, I didn't know you could draw." Hawk remarked.
"It is something I don't get to do often." Daina replied. "But I have been sketching and painting since childhood."
"Wow, I'd love to see some of your work sometime." Paige Adams stated.
"You have. That painting of the Ural Mountains in my quarters you were admiring? That is my work." Daina smiled.
"That was your work?" Paige exclaimed. "Whoa, that is a beautiful painting."
"If you like it, it is yours." Daina stated simply.
"Wow, thanks. But maybe we should hang it up in the rec room where everyone can see it. With your permission of course Hawk." Paige said, glancing at Hawk.
"I've seen it. I would be glad to hang your work up in the rec room. It would really brighten the place up a bit." Hawk replied.
"Thank you General." Daina was moved by all the support she was getting for her work.
"I'd love to come by your headquarters and see some more of your work sometime. In fact seeing as I haven't seen some of the other Joes in years, I'd love to just drop in and say hello." Cathy remarked.
"We'd love to have you. I think a tour can be arranged. One of the little perks of being the boss I guess." Hawk said. Everyone laughed a bit.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I think we are being observed." Kamakura interrupted, his eyes snapping open.
"Are you sure, Kamakura?" Chuckles asked, looking around. "I can't see anyone."
"Someone is out there, and I don't think it's the local wildlife." Kamakura stated simply.
"Ok, then. Kamakura, Daina, and Chuckles. I want you to fan out and take a look around. It's probably another group of hikers. Sgt. Adams, you stay with Cathy and me." Hawk ordered. "But just to be on the safe side, are you all armed?"
All four Joes pulled out compact auto pistols. Chuckles had a Glock 30 .45 pistol, while Daina, Paige Adams, and Kamakura each had Glock 26 9mm pistols. Hawk pulled out his H&K P7M13. Cathy sighed. "I'm not going to ask where you got those."
"Old habits die hard." Hawk remarked.
"That's true." Cathy said, as she pulled out a Finnish made Lathi 9mm pistol that resembled an old W.W. II German Luger. Hawk looked at her with raised eyebrows. "You never know when the guests will get really rowdy."
"I guess not." Paige Adams stated simply.
"Stay sharp." Hawk ordered the search party. They nodded and moved into the forest.
Kamakura, Chuckles, and Daina stayed about 2 meters apart as they moved in. They used and signals to communicate. Daina, who was on point, gave the signal to halt, then the signal for 'enemy suspected'. They all crouched down and waited.
A short stocky man in a Cobra Viper uniform stepped into view from behind a tree almost 30 feet from Daina. He saw them, raised his M4 carbine and opened fire. The Viper emptied a full magazine of copper jacketed 5.56 NATO slugs at the Joes who barely managed to dive for cover. Daina recovered first. She came up in a crouch and opened fire. Six 9mm Hydra Shock rounds slammed into the Viper. Four rounds impacted with his armoured chest, knocking him down. The other two rounds tore through his left bicep. Three Siegies and another Viper stepped into view and opened fire, causing the Joes to fall back. The second Viper grabbed the first and dragged him away.
Hawk and the others heard the weapons fire. Sgt. Adams started to move but Hawk held her back. The three of them saw several figures moving around in the forest. Suddenly, a Crimson Guardsman with an FN P90 SMG stepped into view. The Siegie tried to raise his weapon but Hawk, Cathy, and Sgt. Adams raised theirs first and opened fire. Over a dozen rounds slammed into the Siegie, four of them to the head. He died instantly.
Several more Cobras opened fire. The three friends dove behind a large pile of logs. "This isn't going to hold for long." Sgt. Adams yelled over the gunfire.
"They could have killed us without breaking a sweat. They must want us alive." Cathy shouted.
"They want me probably." Hawk growled. "How much ammo do you have?"
"Not a lot, sir. 4 rounds left in this clip, and one more clip of 10 besides." Sgt. Adams said.
"I have 8 rounds left." Cathy stated.
"And I have 7." Hawk said grimly. He looked over at the fallen Siegies body. His SMG, grenades, and ammo seemed so close, but so far away. Any attempt to try and get them would be suicidal, given the amount of fire coming their way. He had to try anyway.
Cathy looked at Hawk and guessed at his intentions. "Don't try it Clay, you'll never make it. Besides, you never could run very quickly."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence." Hawk said dryly. "It would beat sitting here and being shot."
"I can make it sir." Sgt. Adams said as she passed her pistol and ammo to Hawk and took off her jacket.
"Are you sure Sergeant?" Hawk asked.
"Yeah, just as long as you two cover me." Sgt. Adams replied.
"Good luck Paige." Cathy reached over and clutched Paige's hand.
"Thanks Cathy. I'm going to need it. On three then."
"One. Two. Three! Yo Joe!" Hawk shouted as he and Cathy came up firing. Paige started to sprint in a zigzag pattern towards the fallen Siegies weapon.
Suddenly, Scrap-Iron stepped into view with a big smile on his face and a 37mm Multi-round projectile launcher in his hands. He sent one round to land in front of Paige Adams and two more landed behind Hawk and Cathy.
The round in front of Paige exploded in a bright flash of light and sound. Adams screamed as she was knocked down.
"Paige!" Cathy screamed as the two rounds landed behind her and Hawk. The rounds began emitting a thick green smoke. Hawk and Cathy instantly doubled up in fits of gagging, coughing, and vomiting uncontrollably. Regurgitant gas! Hawk realized as he was overcome.
The last thing he saw was several figures moving in and grabbing Cathy before something hit him in the back of the head. Hawk heard Cathy screaming out his name before everything went black.