Outsider: Haunting Shadows

Thanks Asterisk78 for reveiwing!

So on with the story!

The baroness, sat on the red leather chair staring at the crackling fire in the fire place. This room was the perfect place for relaxing, but today it felt empty and possibly even cruel. The fire's shadows seemed to swallow the whole room, nothing not even the book shelves could hide from it's darkness. She sighed looking down at her glass of wine, the raspberry liquid swished from side to side.

"Baroness.", Her eyes didn't move from the glass.

"I found the Joes", Storm Shadow walked out from the shadows, staring at the back of the chair, "Baroness?"

"Yes, I heard you." the European accent was defined.

"What are your orders?"

She tightened her grasp on the glass and threw it into the fire, causing the flames to swell. "What are my orders? To annihilate them, ofcourse! Foolish ninja, you should know by now"

Storm Shadow's eyes narrowed. He pulled his sword, throwing it directly at the chair. He pulled back his arm and walked to the front of the chair, his eyes turned to every corner of the room. The leather chair was empty.

"Watch it Baroness! At any moment you could have a 'tragic' accident", he reached for the blade, when Baroness jumped from a nearby shelf. She landed on his back, and began pounding fists into him.

"Never, threaten me again, ninja." she whispered in his ear. He reached back, pulling on her cobra 'hood' and then throwing her aside. He grabbed his sword, put away and left.

The baroness smirked, "The ninja will never go rouge" she pulled a GPS tracker from her pocket. It showed a green dot traveling fast to the east of the estate.

Scarlett leaned on the side of the Coyote, everyone else was still asleep even Jinx. She brought the coffee to her lips and took a sip. She looked at the small forest that lay north of her. The sun was just barely rising, and a soft breeze accompanied it beautifully. Her green eyes fell slightly, when her mind went back to Snake eyes, he seemed upset after hearing what Jinx said in her sleep.

She was hurt when Jinx called her a 'poison', but what she really wanted to know was Snake eyes in love with her? Because in all the time they spent together, she felt closer to him, like she was actually a part of Snake eyes in some way. Her cheeks lightly reddened, knowing that she did think that Snake eyes was handsome, even cute at times. Then she looked back to her cup, hoping that somehow, she got an answer from it.

"Hey Red!" her eyes traveled right, to see Roadblock's head sticking out of the window.

"We're getting ready to roll, so I was thinking you might actually want to get on!", he yelled.

Her brow twitched, she hated when the guys ordered her around, or even joked about bossing her around. That may also be a reason she liked Snake eyes better, he DIDN'T talk!

"Comin'!", she called throwing her useless coffee cup away.

When she boarded the Coyote, all the guys were sitting Tunnel Rat was moping about something, Duke was yelling on the phone, again and Roadblock drove.

"Hey where's-"

"The ninja went to the back with Ripcord to check on his 'little convict'", Tunnel rat sighed out.

Scarlett smirked at his use of words, "Thanks." He just waved dismissively, and started to bang his head on the seat's rim.

"Now wounder he has brain damage." Roadblock joked from the front.

Scarlett quickly went to the back, opening the door and entered. She was surprised to see Ripcord sitting across Jinx and playing cards with her, while Snake eyes leaned on the wall, watching. Then they all turned to her.

"..."

"Yo, Red! Nice of you to join the party!" Ripcord said followed by a Boo ya, for beating Jinx with a full house.

She eyed Snake eyes, asking him telepathically, 'Should I ask?' He shook his head in response.

"This game is stupid!" Jinx declared, throwing the cards at Ripcord, "And I'm positive your cheating!"

"No, I never cheat, maybe it's your inexperience that's makin' you lose.", he countered and snapped his fingers in her face, "That's how we do it black style."

"...", Scarlett and Snake eyes stared dumbfounded.

Scarlett saw Jinx crawling menacingly towards Ripcord, and Snake eyes brace himself, probably to stop Jinx or to let Ripcord get beat up, THEN pry Jinx off. Ripcord surprisingly sat there, watching Jinx approach him. Snake eyes too, stepped closer, but to Jinx not Ripcord

"I am not inne-" she was cut off when she starting to violently shake, almost like when you shake a coke and open it. Then she fell on her side. Ripcord turned to them and smirked.

"Duke got your little apprentice a shock collar, Snakes." Snake eyes quickly kneeled by Jinx's side, he pushed some hair away revealing a thin black collar.

Scarlett looked back at Ripcord, "You think this is funny?"

"Yes, yes I do." he answered, then Snake eyes stood up unsheathing his sword.

Jinx sat up, the Coyote had stopped moving.

"Ow." she groaned as her hands reached to soothe her head. Her eyes opened slowly and she saw silver chains dangling off her wrists. She pulled her wrists down, and saw the cuffs again.

"What the-" The back door opened letting in sunlight. She cupped hands over her eyes, shielding them from the bright light.

"Sorry, we have to take precautions." the voice belonged to Duke. "Here" he reached a hand to her.

She took it, and he helped her out of the Coyote. Her eyes blinked repeatedly still adjusting to the sunlight. When her vision cleared she saw land that stretched for miles as well as some buildings off in the distance, 'Some sort of back woods city?'. Both short and tall grasses swayed back and fourth, this place somewhat reminded her of the Arashikage's land, except for the tall city buildings.

"Where are we?"

"Missouri", she blinked still confused.

"We're here on a mission." he clarified.

"Oh. Then why are you letting me out? Aren't I a threat or something." she said dryly.

"Yeah, you still are, but consider this for 'good behavior'." Jinx knew he was trying to sugar coat things, but went along anyways. She blushed when he took her hands.

"This is strictly professional, so don't make that stupid face.", he mumbled as he took her cuffs off.

She shut her mouth, not wanting to piss him off, and flexed her fingers when the heavy cuffs fell to the ground.

"Com'on the others are waiting." she rolled her eyes, not caring what he said, only focusing on her freedom.

He led her to an abandoned warehouse, where all the Joes waited outside, including her sensei. Then she hit something, as she walked. It was Duke's arm; he shot her a look saying, 'Don't do ANYTHING stupid. Are we clear' She sighed and turned away, only to have him forcibly turn her to face him, "Are we clear?'

"Yes." she nodded

"Good." and he continued walking. "Com'on!" he called over his shoulder. She grunted and followed the pompous ass.

When they reached the warehouse itself Snake eyes approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He raised a hand at back handed her across the face. There were a few gasps from the others, but she swallowed and turned her head back to face him.

"I know, I deserved that, sensei" her voice was low enough for only him to hear. He put his hand on her head, gripped either side, and turned her to face Scarlett.

She twisted out of his grasp, "But Sensei-". He pointed at Scarlett and she grumbled, "She doesn't deserve, my apology" Everyone stared as she made her way to the red head. When she stood face to face with her, her eyes narrowed.

"My apologies, for attacking both sensei and you." Jinx bit her lip, stopping herself from insulting Scarlett.

Then she heard snickering coming from Red, "What's so funny?"

"That's not why he sent you over here." she plainly said. "He sent you over here, because we're gonna be working or own mission."

"What! Who the hell said I wanted to work with you!" Jinx couldn't restrain her anger, and if Red said one thing to piss her off, it was over.

"Everyone, including Snake eyes agreed that we should work together" she leaned in "If you argue anymore, I'll request that we keep you in cuffs and not allow you on these missions. You got it?"

Jinx relaxed, when the anger slowly flowed out and nodded.

Scarlett threw a hand in the air, and cleared "We good here!"

She turned back to Jinx, "Let's go."

Scarlett walked ahead of Jinx, scouting to make sure there weren't any 'obstacles' in the way. She knew she was taking a risk, letting Jinx join her but it was the only way they could tie loose, violent ties.

"Jinx, we're not that much different." she called to the apprentice, who remained silent. "When I was younger, I lost my father to cancer."

She quickly pushed Jinx and herself against a wall, a bioviper was roaming the halls, 'Damn.' When it turned the corner she ran behind it and jumped on it's back. She shoved a fist into it's face to stop it from calling it's friends, and locked her arm crease around its neck. It thrashed around furiously, throwing itself on the wall to make her fall off, and twisting this way and that. Scarlett tightened her grip, but her body was weakened from the repeated blows, and she began to loosen and slide down. It caught her by the ankle and threw her against a wall.

Scarlett arched her back when she hit the wall, some blood escaped from her lips and she fell flat on her face. She lifted her head meekly and saw the bioviper heading towards her.

"D-Duk", she tried to send a distress call, but the viper grasped her neck and began to squeeze. She tried to pry its hand off, but it was no use. Her vision began to blur from the lack of oxygen and she swore she could hear neck bones breaking as the viper kept squeezing. Then an agonizing scream escaped the viper, it and loosened it's grip on her. Her body hit the ground hard, and pain began to pump through her. She saw the bioviper on the ground, too, and then she looked up to see Jinx in the distance with a plasma gun.

"J-Jinx", she called weakly. Jinx walked to her and stared down at her with disgust. "A-are you alright?", a bloody cough escaped her. Her eyes widened when Jinx pointed the gun between her eyes, and loaded the trigger, then rested her finger on the trigger. Scarlett didn't want to believe that Jinx would kill her, but she knew it was in her nature to.

"You, the Arashikage heir, do not know where to cross the line, like Snake eyes and your father..." then she pulled the trigger.

"Scarlett! Scarlett do you copy?", Duke yelled into his communicator. "Damn, she ain't answering!"

"Maybe she's on her period or somin." Tunnel Rat said as he shot the bioviper's face. When he turned everyone was glaring at him, "What? If I didn't say it Ripcord would've"

"Hey man, even I ain't that stupid." Ripcord grabbed a viper's hand and threw it over his shoulder.

"Snake eyes go look for Scarlett!" Duke called to the ninja who sliced a Viper in half, and sheathed his sword. He nodded and leaped on one of the Warehouse's pillars. Then a bioviper's screech filled the room and all eyes turned to the front, vipers were swarming out of the door.

"What the-"

Mindbender walked in, several vipers around him, all completely still. "Finally, the Joe's demise! And it's all cause MY doing!" he began to laugh hysterically.

"We're gonna take out your 'creations' before you get promoted to giant dick doctor." Duke fired at Mindbender who cowered behind a viper.

"Oh, I wouldn't have done that if I were you, Joe." he snapped his fingers and all the Vipers began charging at them.

"Oh, shit! Boss-man you got us screwed!" Roadblock yelled when a viper jumped him, and started clawing at him.

Ripcord backed up as three vipers swarmed around him, then he hit something. "Tunnel Rat please tell me that's you."

"Yep.", the shorter guy said.

"How man on your end?" Ripcord swallowed.

"6, how many on yours?"

"3, 5, 9 no 10!"

"Team up?" Tunnel rat suggested.

"Hell ya!" Ripcord and Tunnel Rat loaded their guns and began firing at the vipers. They ran fast in a circle with their backs still touching.

"AHHHHHH, take that Mother F-" a viper's caught him by the face and pulled him away from Tunnel Rat.

"Ripcord? Ripcord!" Tunnel Rat turned and saw Ripcord's body dangling in the viper's hand.

Duke fired and loaded frequently as he shot at the vipers but they were still swarming. He tried to look for his teammates, but all he saw was a sea of blue viper skin. He fell when a viper caught his ankle and began dragging him. His plasma gun was pointed at it and he fired over and over but it always missed.

"Damn!" he yelled, but then he saw a weakened pillar on the roof. Instead of firing at the swarming biovipers, he pointed his gun at the roof and fired. He watched painfully in slow motion, as the plasma shot cut through the air and the pillar, 'Yes!'

"Everyone, fire at the roof pillars!" he ordered.

"What? Are you nuts? That'll kill us." Tunnel Rat's voice reasoned over the communicator.

"Just do it!" Duke hated it when Tunnel Rat argued with him, but he smirked when he saw plasma blasts heading to the pillars. The ceiling began to collapse, and some of the pillars fell on several vipers.

"Everyone, get out now!" Everyone began to overpower the vipers and head towards the door.

Mindbender saw Ripcord running towards the door, "Don't let that Joes escape!" A viper ran and tackled him. "Bring him to me." The viper locked Ripcord's arms together and took him to Mindbender, "Patient X, how've you been?"

"This place is about to collapse! Don't you wanna get your doctor ass out of here?" Ripcord tried to get out of the viper's grasp.

"No, I am getting out, but sadly not you, Joes." Ripcord kicked him in the face, and let the bubble like fluid begin to swallow him. He threw his arm at the viper and then pushed him out of the way.

Attention! Attention! This Facility is in danger of explosion! Attention! Attention!

"What!" Duke looked for the bomb. "Shit!" he saw it in the far right corner.

He remembered a certain ninja, and spoke into his communictor "Snake eyes, find Scarlett and Jin and get out!"

"W-what's going on, Duke?", Roadblock groggily said. Duke didn't say anything, and trudged forward, holding on to Roadblock.

"Tunnel Rat", he whispered "Make sure you cover us."

"Yea, don't worry I got ya'll covered." Tunnel Rat chirped, pointing his gun to the ceiling.

All three of them ran to the doors, killing several vipers along the way. They all made it out of the warehouse,

"Hey where's Ripcord?" Duke stared back at the door, hoping to se the Joe running out. "Here, Tunnel Rat take Roadblock and run far away from here!" He dropped Roadblock into Tunnel Rat's arms and pointed far north.

"But, boss-" Tunnel Rat began

"Go now!" Duke pushed him, and ran back into the warehouse.

He pushed through the doors and quickly looked for Ripcord, 'Where is he?' Since Ripcord could transform into a viper it was hard to tell him apart from the others, but he spotted him strangling Mindbender. Duke ran as fast as he could, while trying to avoid the vipers.

"Ripcord! No, don't do it!"

Ripcord quickly turned to him, "Why? He wants to recapture me, and do more experiments!" He turned back to Mindbender and squeezed his neck harder, "I should've finished you off in Brooklyn." He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Duke, "Stop, you're not gonna change my mind."

"I know." Duke slammed his fist into Ripcord's jaw, and caught him before he fell. He put Ripcord's limp arm around his neck and stretched his own arm across Ripcord's back and ran to the doors.

Attention! Attention! This facility will explode in 10, 9, 8, 7,-

Duke tuned out, 'Only a few more steps.'

"Vipers, block their escape!" Mindbender ordered.

Duke stopped when three vipers stood in his path.

"You're not leaving with Patient X." Mindbender said behind them.

"So you're not letting us go, right?" Duke said still facing the door.

"Yea, that's right Joe." Mindbender smirked, 'They're at my fingertips'

Duke turned to face Mindbender with his gun pointed at him, fully loaded.

Mindbender, wasn't falling for the threat, "You're bluffing."

"Am I?" Duke loaded the barrel and put his finger on the trigger, his eyes blazing with fury. "I think my finger's slipping, Mindbender."

Attention! Attention! 7, 5, 4

Mindbender put his hands up in surrender, but Duke pointed the gun to the bomb, "Goodbye, Mindbender." He fired and the bomb exploded into flames, quickly engulfing the whole warehouse. He ran with Ripcord as dead weight, through the Vipers, not caring about the blue slime that stained him and his clothes. He looked over his shoulder when another explosion was heard; he threw Ripcord and himself onto the grassy ditch for cover. The warehouse was completely totaled, and debris flew everywhere.

He panted and rolled onto his back, they had made it! They survived a second explosion, 'Hell ya!' He was gonna go to the liquor store, and buy the biggest bottle of Tequila he could find.

"Duke..." Ripcord wheezed.

Duke crawled to him "Yeah?" A fist pounded into his face and fell back.

"That was for the punch you gave me inside." Ripcord smirked, as he tried to sit up.

"Duke, Ripcord! Ya'll still alive!" Roadblock bellowed, still somewhat groggily from before.

Duke grabbed both sides of his face and cracked his neck muscles. Then he stood up and looked over his team "Where's Scarlett and Jinx?"

Everyone tensed, "We thought you got them, 'cause Snakes couldn't find them." Tunnel Rat's eyes widened.

"Scarlett, Jinx!" They all yelled in unison, then Snake eyes took off running to the Warehouse.

"Snake eyes!" Duke yelled, knowing it was too late to save them, the whole place was destroyed, nothing alive would be found. He grit his teeth, he thought that they had all survived, he dropped his head, he failed them all.

Snake eyes returned, but not with the women or their bodies, and he turned away. Roadblock, Ripcord, Tunnel Rat, and Duke all bowed their heads in silent prayer. As if it wasn't bad enough, it began to rain. The water pelted all of them, but it was cold and cruel rain, not soothing or comforting. Duke walked up to Snake eyes and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

Then he turned around, completely alert.

"Snakes what is it?", Roadblock asked.

All of them faced the same direction, Snake eyes faced and all their hearts skipped a beat:

There was Jinx walking through the pounding rain, with Scarlett's hand over her neck, helping her, saving her, rescuing her...

End of Chapter!

Hopefully it made more sense:) And the grammer and spelling got better!

Review!