This rest of this story really took on a life on its own and got more complex than I originally intended! I was most interested in bringing full circle Snake Eyes' journey after the mind control, which provided a cool way to explore vulnerabilities of the generally in control, seemingly stoic Snake Eyes.
Both Stalker and Kamakura wished they were on their way to do battle with Cobra, Decepticons, zombies, hell, pretty much anything was better than their current destination: Snake Eye's cabin. Neither could think of a good way to break the news to him.
The helicopter landed in a clearing not far from the cabin. Snake Eyes was waiting for them, having perceived the helicopter's approach long before it came into sight. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, face wrapped with a black cloth. Stalker noticed the tense set of Snake's shoulders as he stepped down from the chopper. Of course, Snake knew something was up. They didn't come to have tea.
Kamakura came right out with it. "Silent Master, we have come to tell you that Scarlett has been taken." Stalker saw Snake Eyes' hands flex into a fist, then he signed for them to wait while he grabbed some things from the cabin.
"One more thing you should know," Stalker said. "Colton is calling us all back, but not necessarily because of Scarlett." Snake turned around and headed back to the cabin.
Snake Eyes knew upon hearing the first whir of the chopper blades that it wasn't going to be good news. Scarlett was supposed to join him in a few days, but she always preferred to four wheel it up here. So he was wary as the chopper approached. His first thought was that he was being called on a mission and had been trying to figure out how to get out of it. This was their first break in a while and he was anticipating with great relish spending the time alone with Scarlett in the Sierras. He reflected back on his farewell to Scarlett in the airport as she departed to Atlanta and he headed here. He kept finding excuses to touch her…her shoulders…her hair...feeling greedy. Their reconciliation at the Rock seemed to have torn down some emotional levees he had built up after the mind control. He wanted to talk to her about the future, even retiring from GI Joe. Maybe the mind control had some positive effects he had not considered, freeing him to prioritize his needs for once. And his greatest need was to be with Scarlett. But now she was gone.
As he stepped out of the cabin with his gear, his vision blurred and he stumbled, very un-Ninja like, very un-Snake Eyes like, to the ground. A familiar fog began to cloud his mind. Ugh, he grabbed his head. Fear overwhelmed him at the thought of losing Scarlett. A cry of anguish came out as a croak and blackness creeped into his vision from the corners of his eyes. All the pain and loss he has suffered in his life poked at him like tiny needles, and he began to fall into a maelstrom of self-doubt and panic. Is this my retribution for her suffering when I was taken by the Red Ninja Clan? Do I deserve to be happy? As the blackness threatened to take over his mind, a cold sensation on his cheek jarred him. He focused his vision to see Dojo licking his cheek. The wolf whimpered and looked at him with sorrowful eyes. Snake Eyes took in a deep breath. I can't dwell on what hasn't happened yet. She is alive, he demanded, and I will find her. His resolve helped push away the blackness. He knew he could maintain control as long as he focused on that thought…like a lifeline. He quickly stroked the wolf's head and got to his feet. Dojo followed him as he made his way back to the chopper and howled a farewell as the chopper lifted off carrying Snake Eyes and his teammates back to the Rock.
In the chopper, Kamakura gave Snake Eyes the details they knew about Scarlett's disappearance. Scarlett went hiking with her brother Pat, and when they didn't return from the hike, her other brothers went searching for them on the trail. They found Pat beat up and unconscious, but no Scarlett. On the way to the hospital, Pat kept drifting in and out of consciousness, repeating three words…ninjas…red...Scarlett. Those words generated a sharp pain in Snake akin to being stabbed in the stomach, but he was not yet willing to ponder the implications of what Kamakura just told him.