Recoiled

Part 4

Dreamline Trilogy

Part 3 of 3

Who Am I?

By Nick Maro

Lifting the helmet off her head, Pizzazz shook her matted hair free. She set the virtual reality helmet down and stood up from the cushioned chair. Her whole body ached from barely moving. She checked to see how long she had been logged into the system. Ten hours. Feels like I was in there for ten days, she thought to herself.

On her way to the washroom the doorbell rang. Pizzazz quickly checked out the window to see who it was. It was her half sister Stormer. She turned on the intercom. "Come on in. I'll be there in a minute." She quickly went into the washroom and changed her clothes. Stormer entered the house with her key and waited in the hallway for Pizzazz. "Sorry. I had to relieve myself and freshen up a bit. So what's up Stormer?"

"So that's where you've been, jacked into virtual reality again. My name is Mary, Phyllis. It's not Stormer and yours isn't Pizzazz. Roxy and Sheila were worried when you didn't show up for work today." Mary led Phyllis outside to her car. "I'm worried that you're becoming addicted to virtual reality. You're starting confuse reality with that fantasy shit, again." Mary got into the car and started the engine. "Just how long were you in there?"

Phyllis in annoyance watched out the window not answering right away when Mary asked her again. "Ten hours," she said quietly and then looked at Mary. "I couldn't sleep last night so I logged in. I must've forgotten to set the alarm."

Mary rolled her eyes as she drove. "Again? I guess I shouldn't sound too surprised. This is the third time this month after all." She pulled into the parking lot of an old diner. "Roxy and Sheila should be here already." Mary got out of her car and made her way inside.

Getting out of the car slowly Phyllis looked around. Buildings of glass and steel went up into the sky for what looked to be miles. Roadways were suspended in the air crisscrossing over and under each other. Bits of information and memory came back to her in a rush. It was the year 2048 and she was in the megacity of Los Vegas. The survivors of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco came to Las Vegas after most of the California coast fell into the Pacific in the early part of the new millennium. The earthquake that scientists predicted what would happen never did. Some kids had made a low yield nuclear device. It accidentally went off on the San Andreas Fault Line half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco after the government had confiscated it.

Las Vegas benefited heavily from the tragedy. The city expanded all the way to Reno, Nevada. Engineers and architects from all over the world had new jobs and new opportunities to show off their skills. Phyllis was brought out of her daydreaming by Roxy's yelling. "Come on, Gabor! I'm not going to be late to this dinner meeting because you're daydreaming again. Get your ass in here, flake!"

"Don't call me that, Roxy. I just woke up."

"Whatever. Just get your ass in here. Eric is growing impatient for the Wonder Girl."

Phyllis glared at Roxy's back as she entered the small diner. "Bitch," she growled when Roxy was inside. Phyllis took one last look around and entered the diner. Once inside she found the rest of her group at a corner booth. Sheila smiled and moved aside for her. "Sorry I was late. I forgot to set my alarm."

"You have to stop jacking in so much, Phyllis. You've been losing your sense of responsibility ever since David was killed." Eric Raymond set his menu aside. "Thankfully our client is running late as well."

"I prefer the term fashionably late." A young woman in her early twenties approached the table. She brushed a stray lock of red hair out of her face and held a hand out for Eric. "Kimber Benton. I'm here because Jerrica has a few other meetings today and couldn't make it. So as a good younger sister I'm filling in."

Eric shook the young woman's hand with enthusiasm. "It's great to meet you, Ms. Benton. I'm so glad you chose Techrat Computer Consulting and Security. I must apologize that Techrat couldn't join us. He's designing the new security grid for Los Vegas so I guess you're stuck with me and The Misfits here." He quickly placed his order with the waitress.

Kimber looked at the group of women around her. "That's understandable. So, why are you called The Misfits?"

Sheila laughed at the question. "That's because our personalities are ones that would never match up outside of our jobs. But we get the job done and work like a well oiled machine. It's uncanny really."

"I wish we weren't called that. Makes us sound like we don't get along with other people."

Roxy sneered at Phyllis. "Aw, are the Wonder Girl's feelings hurt? Maybe she can just run back to her fake world where everything is okay."

Phyllis reached across the table and grabbed Roxy by the throat. She leaned in close to the white haired woman's face. "I have had just about enough of your shit. If you want to settle this outside, then we can settle it. I'm not going to take your teasing and patronizing any longer. Now sit back, keep your fucking mouth shut and let Eric make this deal." Phyllis let go of Roxy's throat and lightly shoved her back. Roxy limply sat back rubbing her throat. Phyllis turned to Eric and Kimber. "Sorry, lost my temper."

The dinner meeting continued and finished without any further trouble from the group. Kimber Benton made a deal for The Misfits to install the new computer and security systems for Starlight Industries. Phyllis was named to be in charge for her uncanny mechanical skills and understanding of computer languages. Her mind was already coming up with security measures and computer code.

Eric had called the meeting a close when everyone had finished eating. Roxy avoided looking or even talking to Phyllis on the way out. Sheila and Roxy left in their car together and Eric drove off in his Porsche. Mary stopped by her car and looked at Phyllis. "So, uh, give you a lift home?"

"No, I'm going to get something to drink then take a cab home. I'm not going to be out too late. I have some ideas I want to write down. Hell, I'm not even going to be playing in the VR unit. I'll call you tomorrow, Mary." Phyllis waved as Mary pulled out of the parking lot and drove off down the highway.

Phyllis began walking down the sidewalk when a car pulled up next to her and started pacing her. She bent down to see that Kimber was driving while smiling at her. The passenger side window came down and Kimber leaned closer, but kept an eye on the road. "I saw what happened back there in the diner, just wondering if you needed someone to talk to."

Kimber stopped the car when Phyllis stopped walking, she opened the passenger door. Phyllis hesitated a moment before getting inside. She shut the door and relaxed. "Thank you, Ms. Benton. I really appreciate this. Again I apologize that you had to see what happened back there."

"Don't worry about it, Phyllis. By the way, drop the Ms. Benton stuff. Call me Kimber. No offense but I'm probably younger than you. So what's the trouble between you two?" Kimber turned onto a highway and just drove to nowhere in particular.

Phyllis watched the buildings go past in a blur. "It dates back to when my brother David was killed. He was my twin brother. Mary is our half sister. Anyway, we were working on installing some heavy security for a prison compound and David was in charge. We had just finished the installation and were getting ready to do a dry test. That means none of the lethal security measures were active. He volunteered to be the victim. Roxy gave David a kiss for luck, they had just started dating. I pressed the button and the metal arms grabbed David, restraining him. That's when the malfunction happened.

"David was struggling to get free and calling for us to press the cutoff switch. Mary was pressing the button like her life depended on it. Sheila was trying to get the fuse box cover off so she could kill the circuit that way. Roxy was trying to get the door open. I just stood in horror as I watched my brother get crushed to death. We all knew it was over when we heard his neck snap. The arms let his body fall to the ground with a wet smack. Roxy immediately blamed me for this malfunction since I designed the metal arms. The others don't blame me at all, but Roxy's hatred against me has been growing ever since. I now spend most of my free time in a virtual reality world. Only place I'm truly happy now." Phyllis wiped the tears from her eyes as Kimber just smiled sweetly at her. "Thanks for listening. Could you drop me at home? I have some designs to draw up."

"Not a problem and I'm sure everything will work out. Accidents happen all the time. I'm sure your brother would never blame you." Kimber followed the directions Phyllis had given her. She thanked Kimber and went into her small home to start work on the new designs.

The buzzing alarm brought Phyllis awake. "Shut up!" she yelled at the clock making it shut itself off after recognizing the voice frequency it used as a shut off trigger. She dry scrubbed her face and got out of bed slowly. Sleepily, she staggered towards the bathroom and grabbed her jeans that were thrown over the back of a chair as she passed them.

The lights came on in the bathroom as she entered, making her wince a little and close her eyes. "Dim by twenty-five percent." The lights dimmed a bit and she opened her eyes more fully. She turned on the shower and got undressed. She was out of the shower in ten minutes almost fully awake and alert. She put on a fresh shirt and pair of jeans. She made her way to the kitchen and made herself a mug of coffee. She turned the timer off of the machine.

Phyllis sat at her table and looked over her design ideas again. The knock at the door brought her out of her thoughts. She walked to the front door and opened it. Standing at the door was a man wearing a trenchcoat and a hat that shadowed his face. Frowning a bit, she addressed the mysterious man. "May I help you?"

The man looked up slightly but all that showed was his mouth. "Phyllis Gabor, I have something to show you. Something that will help everything make more sense in your life. I will wait for you to get ready to leave."

Not knowing what to say Phyllis nodded and went to put her shoes on. She came back to the door to join this mysterious man. She didn't know who he was, but she trusted him for some reason. "First tell me where we're going?"

The man looked at her with a slight turn of his head. "To the truth." He started walking north into the city. They walked in silence for a few blocks until he broke the uncomfortable tension. "After I show you this you must help make the others believe. I cannot help them. Only you can do that."

"Yeah, okay." Phyllis followed the mystery man for another half hour. He led her into the old section of the city the part once known as the Strip. The buildings were old and crumbling. She heard stories of how this area was once bright and alive, now it was dark and slowly decaying. The man stopped in front of an old building that she recognized as a gas station. She looked at the man suspiciously. "What do you have to show me that could possibly be in an old shamble like this?"

"Remember Phyllis don't believe everything you see. Now follow me and you'll be safe." He entered through a broken door. Phyllis waited a moment then caught up when she heard a noise behind her. The man walked through what once was the store and into the garage. He pulled a cloth off of an old chalk board. "Now watch."

Phyllis watched the grimy surface ripple. The picture cleared and before her was four young women seated in large silver chairs with some kind of helmet on their heads. She took a step back in disbelief and confusion. "Wh-what's going on here? Wh-who are you?" She was getting more frightened by the minute.

"The world you see here is reality. The one that's around you now is the fabrication. It's a false world. It is up to you Phyllis to tell the others and free them of their mind control." The man removed the hat and lowered his collar. Phyllis smiled and looked as if she had just woken from a nightmare. "Now there is something else I must give you." He put his hands on both sides of Phyllis' head as light emanated from his eyes and flowed into hers.

Phyllis rushed into the office building of Techrat Computer Consulting and Security. She rushed past the receptionist into an elevator that was just beginning to close. The ride was short and the doors opened to her floor. She bolted out and entered the engineering room. The three other women were still there. Mary looked up at Phyllis. "You're late, VR simulator again?"

"You could say that," Phyllis chuckled as she caught her breath. "Drop whatever you're doing. There's something very important that I must show you, something that can't wait until later."

The other women just stared blankly at her. "Phyllis, we have an important account here. If you didn't start on your designs just tell us. We don't have time for your games today, luv." Sheila told her before going back to work.

Phyllis picked up each of the other women's work and ripped them in half. Roxy got to her feet and made a fist. "Dammit, Gabor! I worked all fucking morning on that! I don't care what your game is anymore. It's time I kicked your ass once and for all."

Mary stopped Roxy from completing her punch. "Roxy, stop it! Both of you just cool it. Phyllis, if it's so important that you show us this, fine. Just no more fighting. We're a team here. We're not in the fourth grade anymore. Just show us what you need to show us."

"You've always been one of the cooler heads, Stormer." Phyllis smiled and left the room.

"She's flipped. She's bloody flipped," Sheila said quietly following her out of the room. Roxy and Mary followed closely behind Sheila.

The three women stood before the dirty chalkboard. "This is what you wanted to show us? A chalkboard? What's the game you're playin' at, Gabor?"

Phyllis stood before the chalkboard speechless. "I don't understand, Jetta. I saw into another world. I swear I did. The world we're in now is false." She looked at the others. "I don't understand! I saw the four of us laying in chairs staring into virtual reality helmets. We're captives being bound by living our lives here. It's not fair. I know it's true!" She fell to her knees staring at the chalkboard in disbelief and confusion.

"Phyllis, listen, we'll get you help. You're not well. We want to help you kick this VR addiction you've acquired." Roxy helped her friend to her feet. "I'm sorry for blaming everything on you. Just say you'll let us help you. We're your friends. We love you."

"Roxy is right, Phyllis. We love you. We want to help you. Come on, we'll go grab a pizza and work on the Benton account." Mary joined Roxy by Phyllis' side.

Sheila joined her friends as they left the garage. They were walking away when the chalkboard began to cast an eerie light that flooded the entire room. The four women turned and saw the chalkboard beginning to ripple and reveal what Phyllis had described. "Cor! She was right," Sheila said quietly.

Slowly the four women approached the image on the chalkboard. Phyllis looked at her friends and moved closer. "Well, I was told what we should do. Do you believe me now that we're in a false world?" The other women nodded as Phyllis' smile grew larger. "Well it's about damn time. Now we need to touch our counterpart in the image. That will bring us out of this simulation. Is everyone ready?" Again her friends nodded. "Okay, I'll go last. There's something I still have to do."

"I'll go first." Roxy stepped forward and touched her double. Her body shimmered for a moment then vanished. Mary and Sheila looked at Phyllis for a brief second then touched their doubles. The same effect happened with them.

Phyllis stood alone in the old garage. Behind her the sound of footsteps approached. She didn't turn around she knew who it was. "Thank you for helping us escape I won't forget this at all. We're in your debt."

"Just remember what I told you. Everything depends on that information. Be careful." The man watched Phyllis disappear into the image then vanishing himself.

Pizzazz lifted the virtual reality helmet off her head, she unruffled her hair, unmatting it and looked around. The three other Misfits were coming awake as well. She smiled at them. "Once again The Misfits pull their asses out of the pan and into the fire. Come on we have no time to waste. We have about a half hour before someone checks on us. There should be some spare Cobra trooper uniforms on that bench. We'll disguise ourselves as Cobra agents and try to get out of here. How's that for a plan?"

"Uhh, okay. That works for me," Jetta said starting to put on the uniform. She stopped halfway and looked at Pizzazz. "How did you know that there would be four uniforms waiting for us? In fact, how did you know we were in a virtual world that wasn't our own?"

"Let's just say not everything that we see is the truth. I can't tell you anything more. I'm sorry. You're just going to have to trust me on everything from now on." Pizzazz finished putting on the uniform top.

After everyone had changed and were ready, Pizzazz walked through the door confidently with the others following closely. She led them down a winding path through the base. Pizzazz stopped at an intersection and held a hand up. "No one say a word. Let me do all the talking." She flicked her hand and walked with head held high to a Viper standing guard at a door. "Attention, Viper! We have orders from Cobra Commander. The Commander wants us four to boost exterior guard duty. Let us out."

The Viper looked at each woman carefully. "I can't let you out. I'll need written orders from your commanding officer."

Pizzazz took a step forward while squinting her eyes at him. "Are you questioning the orders of our leader? Is that treason I'm hearing from you? Are you saying that Cobra Commander, our Glorious Leader, needs to answer to a lowly commanding officer?"

Taking a step back, the Viper looked shaken. "N-no, I wasn't questioning the Commander's orders. I-I was just saying that if a, uh, commanding officer was, ah, giving the order, I'd, uh, need it in, uh, writing. But since this, uh, comes directly from our most glorious and triumphant leader, then, uh, it's good. It's all good." He pressed a button that triggered a pair of doors that's silently slid open. "Ha-have a good shift, soldiers."

The four women started walking into the darkness outside. Pizzazz stopped before the Viper and smiled behind her cloth mask. "Thank you, Viper. I'll make sure the Commander hears how cooperative you were." The Viper nodded nervously as she joined her friends outside of the base as the doors closed behind her. She lowered her voice and waved the other Misfits to the right. "This way, our way off this island is over here."

Pizzazz led The Misfits along the side of the Terrordrome. They had walked for fifteen minutes dodging patrols and search lights when Pizzazz started searching some bushes. She pulled a tarp off of a small raft. She waved them to get into the inflated boat. "Hurry!" she whispered. "Get in. We don't have much time left!" The three Misfits sprinted to the raft and climbed in. Pizzazz pushed them off shore and hopped in. Jetta helped her row the raft out to open sea. They were about a thousand feet out when they heard alarms and saw searchlights sweeping the shoreline. Pizzazz stopped rowing for a moment and rested her chin on her hands. "Well, they know we're gone now. Roxy, start up the motor and let's get the hell out of here."

After Roxy had started the motor, Pizzazz took control of the raft. Roxy took her helmet off with Jetta and Stormer following her lead. She sat next to Pizzazz. "Where are going, Pizzazz? Do you have any idea?"

"We're going to G.I. Joe headquarters. I have information they need. I just hope we're not too late. After that I'm going to take care of my brother." Pizzazz steered the raft into the darkness.

"What do you mean they've escaped?!" Cobra Commander screamed at both David and Yukio. "How could they have possibly escaped from their cells? We had them trapped in a virtual reality simulation that would have made it impossible! I want answers!"

David stepped forward and bowed his head slightly. "Commander, Yukio and I believe there may be a sympathizer within our ranks, someone who knows that technology and can access it. We're putting a list of suspects together now. We will—"

"I have my own suspicions," Yukio said cutting David off. "I think David helped his sister and isn't as loyal as he says he is to Cobra. As you know my lord, the Matsuura Clan is eternally loyal to you and your cause. Say the word and I'll dispose of David as a traitor."

"You dare question my loyalty? I manipulated both G.I. Joe and my sister into thinking I was being held hostage. I shot and killed Dr. Mindbender at the signal of our glorious Commander. And you have the gall, the audacity, to question my loyalty?" David drew the katana at his side and pointed the tip at Yukio. "I challenge you to a duel to the death."

Cobra Commander chuckled and glanced at Destro and the Baroness. "My, my, looks like we're going to have some entertainment after all."

Yukio drew her katana. "I accept your challenge, Ikari. To the death and to the honor." She swiped her blade along her arm as David did to his. Yukio held her sword at mid torso and stared deeply into David's eyes.

At the same time David and Yukio swung their swords. The blades rang out as they clashed together. The two opponents pushed their blades against the other. They broke the attack off and attacked again. David swung low as Yukio countered the attack. Sparks flew from the blades.

For the next five minutes the two martial artists fought. Yukio lunged at David with her sword aiming for his stomach. He spun out of the way and hit her hand with the pommel of the katana. Yukio dropped her sword from the shock of the hit. David grabbed her hair and pulled the young Japanese woman to his torso.

David set the katana blade to her throat and he looked up at Cobra Commander. The Commander stood and leaned on the rail of the balcony. "What are you waiting for, David. Kill her. She would no doubt do the same to you."

"I do not wish to slay a warrior as good as she. Instead I offer her the option of serving me as my servant. What do you say, Yukio? Death or enslavement?" David asked in her ear.

"[I'm already a slave to one cruel master. What's another?]" Yukio said quietly in Japanese.

"Her life is mine, Commander. I choose that she lives as my servant. The duel is over." David let Yukio's hair go and sheathed his katana. He handed Yukio her sword. "[Your life may be mine but your blade isn't. You fought well until the end then you threw the fight. I'll want to know why later.]"

Cobra Commander threw a goblet from his balcony area. "What is the meaning of this? You said it was to the death. I command that she dies!" The Commander leaned on the railing and waited for David's next action.

David looked up at him with his arms out to his sides. "She has pledged her life as mine. In my eyes and hers she is dead, Commander. It would be waste to kill a good of a fighter as she is. She is still worthwhile to Cobra's cause. But if you wish that I kill her I will do so." He drew his katana again and placed it at her throat.

Thinking about David's words for a moment Cobra Commander straightened up. "You're right, David. No use in throwing away the life of one who is capable of fighting. Killing her where she stands is something Serpentor would have done. David, Yukio you're both in charge of finding out who let The Misfits escape. Now go."

After sheathing his blade again and letting her go, Yukio and David both bowed deeply and left the room silently. The Baroness looked at Destro and the Commander. "Is it wise to trust the two of them with such an important task?"

"David I trust, Baroness. It's that neophyte ninja Yukio that I don't trust. She was thrust into the roll of Clan Master due to Daisuke Matsuura's death. She says that she's loyal to Cobra, but she was more loyal to Daisuke than anything else. David will keep an eye on her for us." The Commander's attention was diverted by a Tele-Viper who had just entered the room. The Tele-Viper whispered in the Commander's ear and then stood at attention waiting for his orders. Cobra Commander began to laugh. "Yes! Five more states have seceded from the United States to join Cobra. What a joyous day this is. Destro, come with me. I want you to help oversee the securing our new states."

Destro nodded. "Of course Commander, I want to make sure the new shipment from my M.A.R.S. facility in Scotland is up to our standards." He turned and looked at the dark haired beauty of the Baroness. "I'll meet you for dinner tonight." Destro followed Cobra Commander out of the command room.

Pizzazz took a deep breath and exhaled. "Okay, last check point and we're back in the United States. Or what's left of it. Once we reach Joe headquarters I'll tell you everything that's what's going on. I promise."

"Phyllis," Jetta smiled, "we trust you. That should be clear by now." Her smile widened. "Now, go work your magic on that guard." The Misfits were sitting in a Cobra Jeep that was waiting for them where the mysterious man had said it would be. They'd spent the past couple of days traveling north and listening to the news reports while hiding from Cobra patrols. They hid during the day and travelled only at night. Patrols were constant during both night and day that made progress difficult. According to reports almost half of the United States was under Cobra's control.

"Thank you, Sheila. All I ask is your trust. Now this will be the most difficult checkpoint. Here goes everything." Pizzazz pulled her cloth mask up and put on her helmet. The rest did the same. Pizzazz started the Jeep's engine and drove up to the checkpoint. A Viper stepped out of the guardhouse with his hand out. Pizzazz stopped two feet in front of him.

The Viper walked to Pizzazz's door. "Sorry, special clearance only here. Turn around and go back the way you came." Pizzazz pulled some papers out of the glove box. The Viper looked them over. "Wait here. I need to get these authorized."

"We're fucked. Oh my God, we're so fucked," Stormer mumbled under her breath. "Phyllis, this isn't going to work. You have to do something!"

"Mary, relax! Everything is going to be fine. Just relax," Pizzazz said a little nervously as she watched the Viper in the guardhouse as he stared at a computer monitor.

The Viper finally came back out with three other Vipers. "Out of the vehicle. You're under arrest for the forgery of Cobra Commander's signature and seal. You have ten seconds to exit or we will open fire." The four Vipers pointed their weapons at the vehicle. "Ten…nine…eight…"

TO BE CONCLUDED IN "FINAL VICTORY"

PART 5 OF RECOILED