"I can't believe those rotten Twins got away,…Again!," Gung Ho slammed his fist down in disgust.
"It wouldn't have happened if Mindbender hadn't arrived," Scarlett tried to soothe him.
"We had them trapped on the roof! There was nowhere else to go," Gung Ho was adamant.
"No where except over the side," Flint said duly, "They are the Twins."
I can't believe they actually jumped," Gung Ho spat disgustedly.
"Or that Dr. Mindbender arrived just in time to catch them," Lady Jaye sighed.
"We finally had 'em and they slipped right through our fingers," Gung Ho shook his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered.
"Hey, look at the bright side. At least we got the Crimson Guards," Flint reminded him. They had already been turned over to the local police for prosecuting.
"Awww…, that's nothing new. We always get the Crimson Guards."
"We closed down their company," Duke sat down, joining the conversation, "And permanently, too. It's already been confiscated by the Japanese government."
"That, I'm glad to hear, Duke," Lady Jaye nodded her approval.
Duke gave her a small smile and then continued, "And Hawk says without the money flow in and out of Heidana, the Cobra activity in the Japan Sea has all but disappeared. No more Snakes around North Korea or Hokkaido."
"Oh, that's wonderful news," Scarlett's eyes brightened.
"And here's the best part," Duke was eager to spill, "Hawk was extremely pleased with the preliminary report I sent him. So…, he's granting us all leave when we get stateside."
"Hey, that's terrific."
"Alright!"
"Duke, I think that's the best news I've heard so far," Gung Ho's face split into a wide grin.
"I thought you'd all like that," he chuckled. "By the way, "That flash drive of your's, Scarlett, is proving to be a wealth of information."
"Really?"
"It's part of the reason why Hawk was so pleased. Breaker and Mainframe have been analysing the data. According Hawk, not only does it include the formula for the chemical compound, but also a detailed plan for how Cobra intended to use it. It seems we intercepted a Cobra plot already in motion."
Lady Jaye's mind put two and two together and suddenly her eyes flashed angrily. "We strive to make our employees happy," The company motto came out with a harsh edge to her voice.
"What was that, Jaye?" Duke cast her a worried glance.
"Wha…? Oh, nothing," she downplayed her disgust, "Just something that was repeated every morning over the loudspeaker," she grimaced slightly. "Company propaganda."
"I see," his concerned gaze held her a moment longer.
"So what was their plan, Duke?" Scarlett asked with genuine interest.
He turned to Scarlett with a slight smile, "Well, it looks like they were planning to sell laced products to mega companies like Apple and Toyota, all over the world. Their products would have the appearance of making everyone happy, when what they really wanted to do was turn everyone into Cobra supporters,"
"You mean to tell me Cobra's plot to rule the world was to secretly drug everyone? It'd never work…,"
"Oh, but Gung Ho, don't you see? That's the really frightening part…It would have worked," Scarlett corrected him.
"How?"
"Think about it. You sell your chemically laced products to high profile companies. They like it, they buy more. They begin to support Cobra…finances pour into Cobra, lobbyists support Cobra, the governments support Cobra, even your average family man and woman supports Cobra. It's a win win situation for them. And the worst part is that everyone's happy."
"…Or just thinks they're happy. It's chemically induced…I'd imagine you might feel it, but it would never reach the heart," Flint said darkly.
"You know..., you're right, Flint. They would appear happy on the outside, but inside, they would be miserable…I should know," Lady Jaye confessed quietly. Being the only one to have been under the influence, she'd had first hand experience with it. It was an uncomfortably vulnerable feeling, having her emotions played like that.
Scarlett gave her arm a comforting squeeze. "Well, I'm just glad it's over and we have you back safely," she gave a warm smile.
"I'll second that," Flint smiled.
"Thanks for coming to my rescue," she grinned.
"Just don't make a habit of it," Scarlett teased, ruffling her hair lightly as she rose to follow Duke.
The Joes began to spread throughout the cabin, trying to get comfortable for the long flight home.
Soon, Lady Jaye and Flint were left to themselves, the need for sleep heavy on them both.
"You know, Flint," Lady Jaye turned him and flashed an adorably sleepy, yet wicked, grin, "You never did take me out for sushi."
He grimaced and turned slightly green, "No, I ….Uh…, maybe next time?"
Lady Jaye just chuckled softly as she gave in to the waves of sleepiness washing over her. She had reached her limit a while ago.
The area around her eyes was tight with pain and fatigue. The abuse and strain she had put on her body was quickly catching up with her, her bruises and muscles sore, her head aching again.
She sighed. She knew she'd be checking in with Doc when she got back to the pit for the head injury. Duke had ordered it, Flint had insisted, and Scarlett had threatened. She shook her head gently. She didn't think she was that bad about doctors, or was she?
She'd had a concussion she was certain, but to what degree, she didn't know. At least she was no longer nauseous. She just hoped she'd be able to enjoy her leave. She leaned into Flint sleepily and he draped his arm around her. Her eyes closed of their own accord. Almost immediately she sank into a deep, relaxed sleep.
Scarlett and Duke sat in the far corner engaged in animated conversation.
Snake Eyes was carefully and methodically removing each of his weapons to be cleaned and polished. Already quite an impressive pile had formed in front of him.
Gung Ho had move to the cockpit with Ace, the two of them laughing raucously over some lewd joke Ace had told.
Conversations buzzed and lulled around them, but Flint wasn't listening. His attention was completely captivated by the woman asleep beside him. He watched her slow breathing, the regular rise and fall of her chest. From her face, the lines of fatigue and worry and pain, softened and faded. He smiled softly and then gently brushed a loose strand from her cheek. Since they had moved past friendship, this women was quickly becoming more to him than he was willing to admit.
She stirred and smiled in her sleep, a pleasant dream flitted across her brow. He pulled her closer and then leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, his lips lingering against her warm, smooth skin.
Against this vibrant woman, with her fiery temper and intelligent wit, all the other women he had ever known faded into the background. He knew had fallen deeply for her. As much as he hated to admit it, his heart was now wrapped up in hers.
He marvelled at the perfect fit as he laced his strong fingers through her smaller ones. In her, he had found his perfect match, she who completed him, she who made him whole.
Forever and always.
Perhaps Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it best, he thought. His words rose unbidden to Flint's lips and tumbled out in a soft whisper, revealing his heart.
"I have you fast in my fortress,
and I will not let you depart,
But put you down in the dungeon
in the round tower of my heart.
Yes, she had found her way into his heart, and there he would keep her…forever and always.
A glint appeared in his eye as his lips curved into a slow smile. For this woman, he might even try sushi.
Maybe.