Thank you, bugsymutt, guest, cheryl, whiteknightredcross, and Thunderstrike16 for your reviews and kind words. Sorry guest, if I've implied that anyone has said anything negative to me directly. No one's come out and said I suck but you have some incredible writers on this site and some people mention that they hate poor grammar/punctuation. I've tried to edit to the best of my ability but, you know, mistakes happen. Also my ideas may not be as well-developed or as interesting as other writers who have created some amazing stories. Anyway, enough wallowing in self-doubt and on with the story, which…

I do not own any of the characters or even this ship.

Cover Girl wasn't sure what the beeping sound was. But it was annoying her. She tried to lift her hand up to stop it. She realized that there was something restricting her. Opening her eyes she noticed the white walls, bright lights, tube sticking out of her arm...

Crap! She almost bolted up except when she tried to get up, an intense pain shot through her chest.

Her head turned frantically trying to see if anyone was around. The oxygen tube in her nose hindered her movement. She yanked them out. A small alarm went off and Lifeline appeared in the doorway.

"Cover Girl? Thank goodness, you're finally awake." He said with relief.

"How long have I been out?" She croaked.

"Just about half a day." He came to check her vital signs.

"That's not too bad." She responded.

"Well, it was touch and go during surgery. You're heart stopped once..." He admitted.

Cover Girl swore softly.

"But you're a fighter." He smiled.

"Where's Beach Head?" Her piercing eyes looked at the medic.

Lifeline paused. "You need your rest. You really gave us a scare."

Cover Girl narrowed her eyes. Lifeline was a terrible liar. She knew when he was keeping something from her.

"Where's Beach Head, Lifeline? Her voice had a hard edge to it."

Lifeline gave a weary sigh.

"Well? You going to tell me or do I have to raise hell?"

"We... We don't know. After we got you, he disappeared. He's in a lot of hot water with the top brass."

Cover Girl closed her eyes and sank into the pillow. That idiot! Did he go off chasing Zarana? Why didn't he get help? Tell someone? The answer came to her. He didn't know who to trust. In order for Zarana to get onto base like that meant she had help... from the inside. Flint's face floated in front of her closed eyes. Her eyes snapped open. She had to make a decision. If she just started accusing people without proof she was sure to get in trouble.

Looking at Lifeline she decided she had to trust someone.

"Lifeline, you have to help me."

Lifeline raised an eyebrow.

0o0

General Hawk sat in his office tapping his pen impatiently on his desk. In less than 24 hours one of his soldiers was shot and another went AWOL. It did not escape his notice that it was the two that he had assigned the mission to. He even left Duke out of the loop when he decided to give the assignment out. He had only been giving his commanders piecemeal information not knowing who to trust. He threw his pen across his desk in frustration. His phone rang.

"Yes?" He asked curtly. He listened to the person on the other end. His expression hardened. "I see. Very well. Do so." He hung up. Lacing his fingers together he leaned back in his chair lost in thought. Then pushing himself up, he pressed the intercom. "Call for a meeting, now." He ordered.

A few minutes later, Duke, Flint, Stalker, and Hawk sat around the table.

"I won't mince words. I've been informed by Lifeline that that Cover Girl is awake." Hawk looked around the room. He saw relief on the faces of his commanders. "And she is ready to tell us who the mole is."

"That's great. Did she give any indication who it might be?" Duke frowned.

"Not yet. She was too weak when she woke up. Lifeline ordered that she has at least a few more hours of rest before she is strong enough for any interrogation." Hawk said.

"What about Beach Head?" Flint asked.

"What about him?" Hawk growled.

"Shouldn't we send someone out to look for him? I mean he did leave unauthorized…" Flint elaborated.

"I know what the procedures are. Let me worry about him." Hawk snapped. "I'll keep you informed as to Cover Girl's condition and revelation. Meeting adjourned.

The commanders filed out. Hawk sat back. Nothing to do but to wait.

0o0

Lifeline sat at a computer terminal at the medical bay. As he looked at the screen, his eyes started drooping. A few minutes later his head hit the screen. He woke up and shook his head. Rubbing his eyes, he checked his coffee cup. Empty. Stretching, he got up with his mug. As he walked to the backroom, a shadow streaked past him.

The shadow appeared in the doorway of Cover Girl's room. The shadow walked to the bed where Cover Girl laid sleeping. A pillow hovered over her head. The figure paused a second before lowering the pillow. Cover Girl's eyes snapped opened. Her legs kicked out, throwing the figure across the room. Clutching her chest she sat up. Lights flooded the room as Dusty, Lifeline, and Shipwreck rushed in. Dusty, who was first in, tackled the figure as it tried to get up.

"Now, let's see who you are." Dusty pulled back the hood. He gasped as his hand dropped to his side. "Flint?"

Flint, face contorted with rage, shoved the surprised Joe off him. He got up and tried to reach the door. But Hawk, holding his pistol, blocked his way.

"I wished it wasn't true." He said sadly but firmly. "Why, Flint?"

"You don't know anything." Flint smirked. Then rushing backwards he crashed through the window.

"Flint, no!" Cover Girl screamed. They were on the 5th floor. There was no way he could survive that fall.

"He's still running!" Dusty called from the window.

"What? That's impossible." Shipwreck pushed him over to look. "Not a scratch on that filthy bilge rat!"

"That's impossible." Lifeline muttered. "At this height there should at least be a fracture of the tibia…"

"All units. Stop Flint! Shoot on sight!" Hawk ordered into his communicator.

Cover Girl stared at her CO. "What?" She whispered.

"No man can survive that jump. It's not Flint." He said grimly. "You three, stay here and watch Cover Girl." With that Hawk disappeared.

"Not Flint?" Cover Girl pondered the implications. "Then where's the real Flint?"

0o0

Beach Head's face rose from the swampy water of a bayou. Looking around he spotted an innocuous cabin. Approaching carefully, he reached the edge of its pier. Then he emerged like a creature from a horror flick. Grabbing the side of the pier he hauled himself up. Crouched low he moved stealthily toward the front door. Kicking open the door, he pointed his rifle into the room. It was empty except for a man bound and gagged on the floor.

"Flint?" He lowered his gun.

"Mmmmph, mmph!" Flint struggled against his bonds.

"Take it easy. I'll have you out…" Beach Head never finished his sentence.

A moment later he was on the floor. Zartan stood in his place with a club in his hand, an evil grin plastered on his face.

"Night, night, little ranger." He cackled over the body.

On a side note, let's have a moment of respectful silence to those who serve and who have given their lives in service to this country. We are grateful for their sacrifice. Freedom isn't free. And from someone whose parents come from a country that doesn't have what we have, I am grateful everyday that I was born here. Don't take it for granted.

On another side note, I mentioned Dusty just for you cheryl. And sorry for another cliffhanger. I know I'm evil.