"Zaltana is a serious threat," Hawk says thoughtfully as he watches the screen, Joe and Duke next to him. They watch everything going in the camera hidden on Lowlight. "We can't let her continue to do this. She's ruthless now, even going to be like that damn Cobra Commander."
"She doesn't remember," Joe says, sighing heavily and scratching his head. He saw the look on Zaltana's face when Flint said she wasn't the same. He knows she's honest. He knows she isn't that great of an actress. "That means we're in a tight spot, Hawk."
"I'm not going to kill her, General." Duke looks both of them in the eye as he says this. "She's saved not only my life, but the lives of a few close friends. If she really can't remember, then she doesn't know what she's doing. She'll feel like shit when she realizes what she's done."
Joes nods his head in agreement. "She's not going to be happy with herself for sure. Zaltana is... Aron, what are you doing?"
The blonde boy comes out from his hiding spot. "I want to see my mom. I can only see my mom when I sneak around, so that's what I'll do if I have to." Aron crosses his arms, adamant on where he stands about seeing his mother. The three share a glance before Storm Shadow shows himself too. "Besides, it was Storm's idea. Well, technically Snake's, but Storm gave me permission to do it."
Duke sighs. "Storm Shadow, you can't let him do things like that. Zaltana would kill you, first. Second-"
"Zaltana isn't here to tell me what I can and can't do with her son." Storm Shadow smirks slightly, his lips tugging up. "Besides, she'd be the one to join her son and blame it on him."
Joe suppresses a smile, knowing it to be very true. "Regardless, he doesn't need to see this."
Storm Shadow opens the door, his silent command making it to Aron with ease. He's about to leave also when he stops. "It wasn't just for him. I needed to see if she was still there."
"Is she?"
He doesn't hesitate. "Yes."
A week passes, every test leaving her in the top ten. In hand-to-hand, she's number three, under Mina, who's under Sara. In the shooting test, Zaltana falls under Thomas, which is quite predictable. As far as the intelligence went, Zaltana falls as nine. In her defense, there's a lot of intelligent people and she sucks at history of any sort. As far as her medical skills go, she is barely on that top ten list.
Zaltana doesn't feel threatened. Xaria is backing off after that night a week ago, even going as far to be docile compared to what she was. Fiona doesn't question her anymore, but Zaltana has the sinking feeling that if it came to it, she'd abandon her in a time of need. Not that it's hard to imagine Fiona leaving her to die no matter what she's doing. Even sewing is easy to imagine, though how'd she die is a good question.
She hasn't talked to the three prisoners since that night a week ago. She's playing cards when a loud alarm wails through the place, curses outside and shooting just minutes later. Zaltana is unconcerned, all of the Prototypes in the same room as she. Her emerald eyes barely flick up as the door bursts open, the three obviously looking for the exit. She stands up, looking at them easily. "Nice to see you again."
"I told you we should have turned that corner," Roadblock says to Flint, who turns and glares at him to shut up. Roadblock shrugs, completely unfazed. "I told you so."
"And I told you to do what I tell you," Zaltana says, Hibiki, Mina, and Thomas coming close. "Did I tell you to attempt escape?"
Just then the doors open and Joes file in, guns trained on the Prototypes. Jamie turns to her, wanting a plan. "Attack Pattern A." The two ninjas fall in. "Shit. Fuck attack patterns. Everyone needs to partner up to get as many out as possible. Mina!" Zaltana doesn't wait much longer than a second before the pinkette is right next to her, katana blade drawn. "Jamie, make sure everyone gets out. We need to preserve the project as much as possible."
"Yes, ma'am," Jamie says before Zaltana grabs her arm.
"If it comes to it, leave me behind."
The order is taken in stride, almost happily. Zaltana has no problem issuing it to her, because she knows Jamie well enough and has gained her respect. If she says so, Jamie will get it done. Zaltana glances back to the Joes, taking in the group in charge. "Mina, we need to make a big enough of a disturbance to get the others out. You take down as many as possible, and I'll take the ninjas for a while."
Zaltana is true to her word, going immediately for the ninjas with the weapons she has. Commander informed her earlier that a surprise would come and to keep her weapons. She's happy she listened for once. Her pistol has two extra clips, other than the one already in, and her rifle slung over her shoulder has four clips total. Her scimitar is across her back, and she grabs it quickly, readying herself before charging at them both.
The ninjas fend off her every attack easily, Mina picking off the Joes one by one without killing them as Jamie gets everyone out. Hibiki tries to stay, but Quemar carries him away. Zaltana is temporarily distracted by this, before the one in black hits her with his fist hard enough to make her see black. Zaltana falls back, knowing her lip to be split as she wipes away the blood.
The one in white steps forward, probably thinking her done for. Zaltana lashes out as Mina comes next to her, kicking towards the black one. "Hey, blondie." Mina's sword clangs with Snake Eyes's own carbon fiber blade. Zaltana looks at the one in white, breathing hard from her flurry of attacks and blocks. She takes the scimitar and stabs it toward him, a vicious look on her face. He grabs her wrist, and she twists her body around him.
From behind, Zaltana kicks out his knee, making him kneel. She takes the blade back, rolling away from him. Zarana is seen shouting orders for her to leave, but Zaltana deliberately ignores them. She goes to attack him again, but Storm Shadow appears in front of her. Zaltana is disoriented, not knowing anyone to move so fast. Something sticks deep into her neck, injecting some type of fluid.
As she blacks out, Zaltana briefly notes Mina asleep not too far away.