Law of the Jungle, Part Two
Disclaimer: Same as before…
Panamanian Jungle
22 k.m. West of Sherman Annex
Todd "Toad" Tolansky
09 March 2002, 1855
Groggy, Todd opened his eyes as he saw the small sliver of moonlight filtering down through the canopy. He blinked after yawning. 'Thanks to my mutation I can see well in the dark, the moonlight and starlight are magnified better than the best night vision goggles and I can see in color.'
He took a deep breath as a thought resolved itself into a mission statement. 'I have to get Roadblock back.'
He dropped to all fours and hopped deeper into the jungle, trying to retrace his steps to reacquire the trail of the Cobras.
As Todd hopped away a pair of serpent-like eyes watched him from the undergrowth…
Toad and Roadblock's Campsite
20 km West of Sherman Annex
Conrad, Kate, and Flint
09 March 2002, 2056
"Sent some recon patrols out to continue the search." Leatherneck said to Flint, who nodded in reply before turning to Conrad and Kate, "You guys might as well get some sleep."
Kate yawned, putting her hand to her mouth. She turned to see Conrad setting his pack down and sliding his sleeping bag out of it, laying it on the ground. Then she saw him pull off his camouflage top and t-shirt as he reached into his pack, pulling out a dry t-shirt and then donning it.
"I never thought it could get cold in the jungle." Kate shivered.
"Well, mademoiselle, the sun is down and we're both soaking wet from the sweating we've been doing and the rain earlier." Conrad replied.
"S-still…" Kate chattered.
Conrad turned to face her, eyebrows furrowing. "Mademoiselle?"
"I-I'm alright C-Conrad…" Kate replied, hugging her arms close.
"You clearly aren't," Conrad countered, gently ushering her towards the sleeping bag, "Here you go."
"I-I'm not l-l-letting you get cold," Kate protested.
"Nor do I intend to." Conrad replied, "Get out of those wet clothes, you'll only make it worse."
"Conrad!" Kate's eyes widened.
"A sleeping bag is like a thermos. If you're cold getting into it you'll be cold. No use being cold and wet." Conrad countered.
"P-point made…" Kate replied as she managed to remove her boots and her top, leaving her in her t-shirt and pants, and as she unhitched her belt she asked, "H-how d-do I get warm?"
"Zip the bag up and do a few crunches or something to generate body heat." Conrad looked the other way, though he did see Kate, her back to him, sliding her pants off out of the corner of one eye. 'Yet another sight I'm not likely to forget.'
Kate complied, "I f-feel a little better, but where will you sleep?"
"Plenty of jungle floor," Conrad replied.
"No! I'm not turning you out of your own sleeping bag. I'm sure we can share it!" Kate replied.
Conrad turned around, eyes widening. Kate brought a hand to her mouth as she gasped. "I-I didn't mean like that."
Conrad smirked. "I imagined as much."
'Though if you meant it the other way I certainly wouldn't mind.' Conrad thought to himself as he walked back towards the sleeping bag before removing his boots and socks and setting them beside Kate's boots.
He eased himself into the sleeping bag before zipping it closed. He felt Kate move closer to him and felt her lips peck against his cheek before hearing her voice in his ear, "Thank you."
'There's no way I'm sleeping tonight.' Conrad thought as he felt his body stiffen at the contact, though he shut his eyes.
"You're welcome, mademoiselle," Conrad replied.
For her part Kate felt her heartbeat quicken. 'Why did I do that? I shouldn't have done that. That's like cheating on Tim. But then again, Conrad might've saved me from freezing…'
Kate rested her head on Conrad's shoulder. She felt the man's rhythmic breathing as she huddled closer. 'It's just to stay warm.'
Conrad, as the warmth of Kate's body pressed against his side, valiantly tried to keep his eyes closed. 'Could anything be more awkward? Given what I feel about this woman. Must try to stay asleep. Was this what they meant when they said Legionnaires go mad after their service?'
He felt Kate adjust her position again, so her cheek rested slightly below his collarbone. Instinctively he wrapped his arm around her waist. Kate stirred slightly and Conrad felt her arm slide across his chest.
'Merde. Things just got even more complicated.' Conrad thought to himself as he drifted off to sleep…
Cobra Basecamp
29 km SW of Sherman Annex
Roadblock and Major Bludd
09 March 2002, 2134
Major Sebastian Bludd, an Australian national serving as officer in Cobra, stepped out of the sleeping hut into the jungle night. He let his single eye adjust to the darkness of the compound. He glanced upward, seeing the waning crescent of the moon peeking through the jungle canopy.
He heard the rhythmic humming of the generator hidden beneath a camouflage net and the overhang of a nearby copse of trees. 'The Jungle Vipers did one hell of a job concealing this camp. Too bad they didn't do nearly as good a job with holding the mutant nor attempting to capture the other one.'
"Sir," a Jungle Viper approached him, whispering, "The patrol pursuing the other Joes ran into their reinforcements."
"Casualties?" Bludd asked, noticing a large splotch of blood on the man's left shoulder.
"At least fifteen dead, another seven wounded. I barely escaped with my life." The Viper replied.
"Those Yanks from Sherman Annex responded a lot faster than I would've guessed." Bludd nodded thoughtfully.
"Not just Americans," the Viper replied, "There were a number of French Foreign Legion with them."
"Let me guess, your patrol ran afoul of them."
"Yes sir. We'd just closed the net on those other four Joes only to be flanked by the Legionnaires. I estimate at least a reinforced platoon hit us."
"Get the wounded sorted out, the rest of you refit and rearm. Your lot is on guard detail." Bludd ordered.
"Yes sir." The Jungle Viper trudged back across the compound.
'At least I know what happened to the 1st Platoon.' Bludd thought to himself. 'And I've got the one Joe prisoner here to interrogate. I'll keep the patrols searching for the mutant, and seeing if we can't recapture the escapee from the lab. Then when that's done, we'll get the hell out of here.'
Bludd continued his solitary walk in the dim light of the crescent moon towards the hut where the G.I. Joe prisoner was being held. 'The one called Roadblock. The only reason he is even alive is because he can help us get to the mutant.'
He paused again, fingering about in his pocket for a lighter and a cigarette. His questing fingers found the item in question and he smiled slightly. 'Best not light it outside, though. That's the fastest way to become a sniper target.'
Bludd grinned to himself as he opened the door to the small sheet metal shed concealed under branches and camouflage netting. He took care to close the door slowly when he stepped inside. 'Noise carries far at night and that door hinge does creak a bit.'
Bludd smirked as he walked deeper into the shed as he lit his cigarette and then clinched it between his teeth. He stepped in front of a man tied rather securely to a chair before crouching down in front of him and blowing a cloud of smoke into his face, "Well you put up a bit of a fight."
Roadblock looked up at Bludd in quiet defiance, one eye swollen shut thanks to the impact of a rifle butt. He coughed at the foul stench of the cigarette smoke.
"I have to admit, I am impressed. Wounded as you were, you took on my vipers and dispatched five of them. Good thing I sent eight after you." Bludd puffed on his cigarette once more and blew another cloud into Roadblock's face.
Roadblock said nothing, glaring at Bludd through his right eye. 'The blow from the rifle butt swelled my left eye shut.' He gritted his teeth. 'There's no way I'm showing this asshole just how hurt I am.'
Flexing his fingers, despite his hands being cuffed behind his back, he took stock of his injuries. 'Ribs bruised, possibly broken. Then there's that bullet in my leg…'
"What are you doing out here, snake breath?" Roadblock asked, with a grimace, "Looking for some other poisonous vipers to date?"
"Think of this as a supply run," Bludd replied, before taking another drag on his cigarette and blowing another cloud of smoke into Roadblock's face.
Roadblock coughed and Bludd snickered before he continued, "Some of Mindbender's little pets got loose a while ago. Fortunately we terminated them. Well, the ones that could cause us any real trouble anyway. One or two are probably still running about. The point is that the good doctor is bored now that his experiments are all gone. I think your pet toad will amuse the good doctor, at least for a day or two."
"There's no way you'll catch him!" Roadblock spat, managing to grin, "The kid's miles away from here by now."
Bludd backhanded Roadblock and then smirked. "Fool! I know you Joes. The boy will have picked up that weakness of actually caring about a teammate. He will return for you in a misguided attempt at rescue...and that's when we'll strike."
Cobra Listening Post
25 km SW of Sherman Annex
Todd Tolansky
10 March 2002, 0052
Crawling and hopping among the upper branches of the jungle canopy Todd crept closer to a small Cobra listening post. 'Now or never.' The boy thought grimly to himself as he clung to the branch of a tree, concealed by its leaves.
He saw a Cobra Jungle Viper walking along a trail and as he watched Todd thought to himself. 'Three...two...one...now!'
Todd leaped down from the branch, landing hard with both feet on the Viper knocking the man unconscious. 'He's out like a light. Perfect!' Todd thought to himself. 'Should I finish him off? No, not right now. I just need to steal their radio and get the cavalry over here…'
As Todd thought to himself he didn't realize that a second viper was sneaking up on him until he heard the crack of bones breaking behind him just over his left shoulder. He spun around just in time to see the Cobra viper fall to the ground. Crouched over the body was a humanoid covered in green scales, wearing only a pair of grey ragged trousers. It turned to face him, staring at Todd with a pair of yellow eyes with vertical slit-like pupils in red. The breeze ran through its dirty blonde and matted hair.
"You're not one of them," it declared as it approached Todd.
'Who or what is that?' Todd thought to himself, heart pounding in his chest. As it approached him Todd could see the yellow patterning around the creature's eyes. 'It's like this weird hybrid of reptile and person.'
"No," Todd replied with an audible gulp, "They have my friend…"
It nodded, and as it stood up Todd could see it stood half a head taller than him. Todd thought to himself, 'It looks like it's about my age.'
"I thought they were hunting me," the creature said.
"Where did you come from?" Todd asked.
The creature pointed at the dead Jungle Viper and spat on the ground. Todd nodded in understanding. 'They hurt you too…'
"I need to rescue my friend," Todd replied, "He's hurt."
"They will hurt him more," the creature replied.
'Cold and soft at the same time.' Todd thought to himself, regarding the strange creature's voice and declaration. 'I can't let them hurt Roadblock...but I'm just one guy, what can I do…'
"I need to find their radio! I've got to contact my other friends," Todd replied, "Do you know where I can find it?"
"Yes," the creature replied, "A small listening post like this will have a radio."
They looked at each other, nodding as they rooted through the two Vipers' equipment, finding the radio.
"Do you know how to use it?" Todd asked, looking at the unfamiliar communications device.
The creature nodded, pressing various keys and turning a dial as Todd mentioned a radio frequency to it. It passed the handset to Todd who took it with a grateful nod.
"Toad to Sherman Annex! Come in, Sherman Annex!" Todd called out over the radio.
"This is Delta Six Eight," an Australian voice echoed over the handset, "Toad, what's going on."
'Oh my God! Thank you, someone heard me!' Todd thought, recognizing Delta Six Eight as the patrol that Agents Todd and Hart were with. Then he replied, "Roadblock just got captured by Cobras!"
"Right, what's your position?" Sedgwick asked.
Toad called out the coordinates twice before he shouted, "Roadblock got captured by COBRAS!"
"Toad stay where you are, we'll get an asset to you and…" The voice replied.
'Oh my God thank you…' Todd thought just as a round cracked by him.
The creature grabbed Todd's arm and pulled hard. With a nod Todd followed the being into the jungle, trailed by the sound of more gunfire, and the airblast of a grenade.
Toad and Roadblock's Campsite
20 km West of Sherman Annex
Conrad and Kate
10 March 2002, 0112
Kate's eyes fluttered open as she felt Conrad moving by her side before she heard the sound of the sleeping bag's zipper open. By the time she blinked her eyes and sat up Conrad was already sliding his trousers on and sliding his feet into his boots.
"Mhm," Kate groaned, "What's going on?"
"Mademoiselle, it looks like we've made radio contact with Toad." Conrad replied, reaching into the sleeping bag and pulling his AMD-65 out of it.
Kate's eyelids flew open as she sat up. She grabbed her pants which were hanging from a nearby tree limb and slid them on, feeling goosebumps rippling along her legs since they were still wet, cold, and clammy.
Kate stumbled a bit as she pulled her own pants on before clumsily sliding on her boots and heading over to where Sedgwick slumped over the radio.
"Toad? This is Delta Six-Eight, any more word? Hullo Toad?" Sedgwick said.
"Well?" Leatherneck said.
"He got the coordinates out before the buggers responded," Sedgwick replied just as the sounds of gunfire echoed over the radio's speakers, "Holck and his boys are already enroute."
Conrad glanced at Kate before heading over to where they'd been sleeping earlier, reaching over to a tree branch and sliding his camouflage jacket over his t-shirt. Kate grabbed her own shirt to throw on, shivering again from the cold, clammy feeling due to the wet shirt.
"Conrad, do you think…"
"Mademoiselle, we don't know anything right now," Conrad said gently as he began to roll up his sleeping bag, "Hope for the best but expect the worst."
Kate gulped audibly. 'Todd, please get out of there alive. God please ensure he does so.'
Conrad lightly squeezed Kate's hand and he felt Kate lean against him in response…
Cobra Basecamp
29 km SW of Sherman Annex
Major Bludd and Roadblock
10 March 2002, 0134
Major Sebastian Bludd turned as the door to the hutt opened. He saw a single Jungle Viper come into the one room hut, "Outpost 1 reported in, one dead, equipment destroyed…"
"Are you telling me that an entire outpost was trashed by that little runt!?" Major Bludd shouted at the Cobra Jungle Viper that had entered the hut with the news in question.
"Yes sir!" The man replied.
"Any more bad news?" Bludd shouted.
"A patrol forward of Outpost 1 ran into an enemy patrol," the man reported, "Looks like they backed off, but they at least have a general idea of where our camp."
"Seems like my 'little pet' Toad's been giving your boys a little trouble," Roadblock grinned, despite his injuries.
"Hmph," Bludd snarled in reply, "No matter, he'll try again, and when he does we'll be ready for him...won't we, Mr. Roadblock?"
Roadblock spat a mixture of blood and spittle onto the hut's dirt floor in response. Bludd silently stalked off with the subordinate Viper in tow. 'Todd, I hope you're smart enough to run...I won't let them take you...even if I have to die. You'll never be experimented on again.'
Cobra Listening Post
25 km SW of Sherman Annex
Sergent Holck
10 March 2002, 0142
"Aux Armes!" The Legion lead scout shouted, throwing himself to the jungle floor, snapping several rounds from his FAMAS rifle at a Cobra Jungle viper.
Holck threw himself flat as well, behind a rock as a trio of rounds zipped over his head. He returned fire with his own weapon, shouting a command to his men.
Glancing over one shoulder he could see half the patrol fanning out towards the right as he and the lead element returned fire on the Cobra patrol they'd run as they rushed to the coordinates from Todd's radio call.
'Clearly Cobra had the same idea,' Holck thought to himself as he dropped his mostly empty magazine from his weapon, reloading a fresh one in. Then he heard his lead element's FN Minimi light machine gun tuning up.
"That's it! Let the bastards have it!" Holck shouted, nearly hoarse, before he stood up, charging forward before diving behind a tree trunk to resume firing.
Then the other Minimi from the patrol opened up from his right. 'If Marcel and Hans got a move on, they should be putting some fire on the enemy patrol's flanks.'
He heard more footsteps as part of his lead element advanced while his group provided covering fire. 'Let the bastards have it!' Holck thought as he stood back up, running forward.
"Coming through!" he shouted, "Coming through!"
He glanced to his left to see another teammate advancing, just slightly behind him before he dropped to the ground firing steadily.
Holck rushed forward again before dropping behind another tree trunk, firing steadily.
"Gunner!" He shouted over one shoulder.
A nearby gunner carrying an FN Minimi light machine gun ran forward and Holck gestured towards a cluster of Jungle Vipers attempting to cross a stream. The legionnaire dropped to one knee and began firing at the retreating Jungle Vipers in short bursts.
The Legionnaires consolidated their position while Holck made his contact report.
He glanced up to see a section of his platoon searching the outpost. After that he jogged over to the section.
"Sergent Holck!" a call came out.
Holck ran towards the voice. A legionnaire pointed at some footprints in the bare ground beneath some camouflage netting, with a flashlight he pointed at some footprints…
Cobra Listening Post
25 km SW of Sherman Annex
Conrad Hart and Kate Todd
10 March 2002, 0457
Conrad wiped sweat away from his eyebrows as he pointed to the end results of a grenade explosion. "Looks like Toad let the fuckers have it."
Kate pointed to a dead Jungle Viper nearby, the Cobra soldier's head hung at a weird angle. "This one's neck got broken."
"Those three toed tracks aren't Toad's…" Leatherneck pointed a flashlight down.
Kate's eyes went wide. "But then who…or what could've left those tracks?"
Conrad's eyes narrowed. "I don't know, mademoiselle, but whoever or whatever left those tracks is the only hope Toad has at the moment."
TBC