Chapter 41: Renegades:
Duke's POV:
As it turns out, our respective groups have found the shards of the Infinity Sword. So now Roadblock and I are going to meet with the rest of the Joes to get their piece.
"So, ya think the Society would learn it too," asks Roadblock.
"I have a feeling that's what our luck would lead to," I said.
Cobra Commander's POV:
I have arrived at the prison where my old friends are being held. I killed each guard I came across. Then I finally came across their cells. Baroness, Dr. Mindbender, Major Bludd, Tomax and Xamot, and Zartan. It's a pity Destro can't be a part of this reunion. I opened all their cells, and we all went outside.
. . .
"My friends," I said, "I need you all to help me with a... favor."
"And whoy should we haelp yah," asks Bludd, "yaw nawthin naow!"
"The Majorrr has a point," says Baroness, "You lost everrrything."
"Is that a fact," I asked.
"We never worked for you," says Xamot.
"And we don't plan to start," says Tomax.
"You better come up with a good reason," says Mindbender.
Serpentor then appears and was... very convincing.
"I should let you know, Serpentor just lost his mate, so he's... very cranky. So, any more questions?"
They all looked at each other.
"Whaht should we do," asks Zartan.
Duke's POV:
Roadblock and I met with the others.
"So, you guys have a shard," asks Roadblock.
"Yep," says Tunnel Rat.
"But we don't have it with us," says Ripcord.
"It's at Snake Eyes' dojo," says Scarlet.
"Then let's get there," I said.
We got in the Coyote and headed on our way.
. . .
We arrived at the dojo. Snake Eyes has a group of students now. He showed us where he hid the shard. It was in a statue of a dragon. He opened the dragon and we saw the shard.
"I touched dat ting and it made me a real rat," says Tunnel Rat.
"Yeah, they're unstable," I said, "you touch one and who knows what could happen?"
I got out a container and we put the shard in it. Then Stormshadow entered. I was ready.
"He's on our side now," says Roadblock.
"Guess it's easy to forget he tried to kill Snake Eyes," I said.
"We have a problem," says Stormshadow.
"What is it," asks Scarlet.
"This."
He used knock out gas on us and revealed himself to be Zartan.
. . .
I woke up and found myself tied by some weird plant. I then saw Cobra Commander looking at me. He was sitting on Serpentor. He also had a little snake on his shoulder.
"I see you're awake. Welcome to Cobra-La. What do you think?"
"It looks like something from an 80's animated movie."
"Everyone's a critic."
"What do you want, Cobra Commander?"
"I have what I want. The shard of the Infinity Sword. But I should also make sure you don't interfere. So, here's my game. "You're going to go save your friends or risk the plants eating them. "A plant eats a squirrel. "My friends will hunt you down like an animal. If you fail, your Joes will be dead. Au revoir, Duke." Cobra Commander then rides Serpentor away.
"I really don't like that slimy, venomous snake. And I'm not too fond of Serpentor, either."
. . .
I managed to untie myself. I had to look for my friends. I smelled something. It was Tunnel Rat. I can recognize that scent anywhere. No, I don't really have a nose like a bloodhound, it's just that... he's Tunnel Rat. I went to his location and saw him acting strange.
"Tunnel Rat, what are you doing?"
"Hi Duke. I'm just fixin' tea fawh my masters."
"Masters? Oh no."
I then saw them sitting on plants made into chairs. It was Tomax and Xamot, and they used their mind control powers to make Tunnel Rat their butler.
"Hurry up," says Tomax. Or maybe he was Xamot. I could never tell them apart.
"You two better release him!"
"Or what?"
"Brother, why don't we make this more interesting. Tunnel Rat, attack Duke!"
Tunnel Rat then did just that. I was forced to fight him.
"Tunnel Rat, you have to fight it! Remember who you are! You were once in a team with Snow Job and Frostbite!" Tunnel Rat continued to attack me. "You have a family! Remember when you and Teddy had to save a friend from a sewer viper?"
Tunnel Rat then stops, and he punches Tomax, which effects Xamot. Or did he punch Xamot... Those two need nametags.
"Tunnel Rat?"
"Let's go find de others."
. . .
We searched and saw Dr. Mindbender doing experiments on Ripcord.
"When I'm done, I'll remove your human side."
"I don't think so," I said.
Mindbender turns around and sees us.
"You can't stop me." Mindbender then begins.
"Ripcord, don't let him do this. Remember when we thought you were dead? Then we found you at the hospital. Despite knowing that you're part bio-viper, we still accepted you! You're not just a viper, you are a human being!"
Ripcord then goes into viper mode and breaks free and knocks out Mindbender.
"You're gettin' good at de whole speech ting," says Tunnel Rat.
. . .
We continued moving and saw Snake Eyes, but for some reason, he was on the ground. We then saw someone who looked like the Hard Master. It had to be Zartan.
"You are a disgrace! You have failed me! If it weren't for you, Storm Shadow never would have killed me! It should've been you!"
"That's not true," I said, "you showed the Hard Master the path of honor! You showed Storm Shadow and Jinx that path! The Hard Master would not be disappointed in you, he would be proud!"
Snake Eyes then gets up and knocks down Zartan, turning him to his usual ugly face. Snake Eyes then bows to me.
"You're welcome."
. . .
We continued until we saw Major Bludd's about to kill Roadblock.
"End of the loine, Mate."
"Roadblock's tougher than you think," I said, "just ask his cousin, Heavy Duty."
"Yah bettah..."
Roadblock then gets up and knocks out Bludd.
"So, Scarlet's next, right," asks Roadblock.
. . .
We were on our way, and we saw the Baroness had Scarlet.
"The twins wanted to use mind kontrrrol, Mindbenderrr, science, Zarrrtan, psychologikal, me, I prrreferrr Bludd's way."
Scarlet was tied the same way I was. She looked like she had been poisoned. It's probably that new baby snake.
"Scarlet..."
"Holds a grrrudge against kobrrra kommanderrr forrr eliminating herrr Fatherrr," says Baroness, "yes, I know."
"Actually, I was gonna say alot tougher than you."
Scarlet manages to escape and, despite the venom, knocks the Baroness out. Scarlet then started to fall, but Snake Eyes caught her.
"Now, we have to find Cobra Commander," I said.
We also saw a snake-themed chopper. I climbed a tree and jumped on it.
"You can't stop me, Duke."
I got in and wrestled with Cobra Commander. Our fight caused the chopper to crash.
. . .
I managed to survive the crash, but Cobra Commander disappeared. I then saw a large snake trail.
The others ran up to me.
"You okay," asks Tunnel Rat.
"Yeah," I said, "I have the shard. There is one thing I've been wondering. Where has Breaker been this whole time?"
"He's on a date," says Ripcord.
"Oh, okay."
I looked at the trail and knew it wasn't over.
In the next chapter, Dr. Robertson will be working with the Flex Fighters to keep a shard from Strech Monster.