A Soldier First

In the makeshift base of the R.O.C.C. the members of Sigma six are kicking back and enjoying some a cool off period. With their recent victory of obtaining the Power Stone from Cobra they deserve some down time.

“Good job all of you.” Duke says again. “Catastrophe averted. With this-”

“Let me see that.” Hi Tech snatches their recent acquisition abruptly. “These readings are amazing…” He says analyzing the stone with a pocket scanner. “I’ll be back.” He scurries off to his lab.

“You’re right there. I could’ve lost a hand!” Duke admits. Everyone has a laugh at his expense. After it quiets down he addresses them again. “Where’s the resident ninja?”

“Well, someone ring him up and tell him to get in here. I want to lock this place up tight. No more security mishaps.” Duke says looking at all of them in turn. “Like earlier when Storm Shadow surprised Hi Tech.”

“I’ll go check on him.” Scarlet volunteers into the sudden awkward silence.

“Good. I’m coming up with new security protocols as soon as Snake Eyes returns so check back.” Duke says as she leaves the room.

“…figure out the elemental composition or wavelength of this energy…what kind of containment does this type of radiation need? If I reverse and up the-”

“You bet!” Hi Tech replies eagerly. “I’ve never seen anything like it! It’s emitting so much power but I can’t figure out what reaction is causing it because it certainly doesn’t seem to be breaking down or degrading…I’m stumped.”

“I’ve been running every scan I can think of and nothing. I’m still not quite done yet. With you here I can get done a bit faster. Try bombarding it with low spectrum stuff, radio and radar waves, and things like that.”

“It’d better do something; it’s giving me a monster headache trying to figure it out.”

“Hang on.” She sits down at the console and begins running calculations since she’s also able with a computer. “Hey Tech, come look at this.”

“What do you have there?” Hi Tech reads the screen. “That’s impossible!”

“If that’s true then we wouldn’t be able to be in a mile radius; it’d be a fall-out zone!”

“Something isn’t reading right…” She gets up and walks over to the Power Stone with a small chisel, opening the containment field.

“I’m just as safe doing this as sitting where I was right?” A small chip falls in the observation chamber. She picks it up and places it in a second observation chamber adjacent.

“Exactly. Your machine ran too wide a scan. It covered the whole stone which isn’t putting out cosmic radiation but really densely packed radio waves. Otherwise I’d be a blob of irradiated jelly.”

“We all would without three feet of radiation shielding if that was the case. Good call…but don’t scare me like that!”

“Since you were kind enough to chip off a piece of potentially hazardous material I’ll get to work analyzing it closer.

“Nope, I’m a robot. Don’t need to take a break.” He’s already glued back to the screen with new calculations in mind.

“You’re back. Good.” Duke says. “Don’t leave; we’re locking this place down.” The ninja says nothing and regards them all silently, scrutinizing each of them in turn and pausing at the open door.

“As I was saying, we’ve got new security protocols in place. We’ve got some serious work to do. Long Range, first things first is security system check through and through.”

“Tunnel Rat, I need you to find out where Storm Shadow found his way in or any place he could’ve infiltrated our base.”

“Our last engagement we got into a skirmish, Heavy Duty if you find any holes leading in then plug em.”

“And Scarlet, you keep tabs on Hi Tech and the Power Stone down in the lab. Watch his back.” She nods. “We’re all on high alert so stay frosty alright? Cobra’s not one to let things like that go without a fight so be ready.”

“Under the lens it looks like something you’d create in a lab…” The technology expert murmurs. “It’s got well over two hundred protons making it an element of it’s own definitely but those don’t exist too long even under ideal conditions and this isn’t degrading at all…to harness it would mean I’d have to…”

“Go take a look at the data I got from the stone and tell me what you think.”

“I was thinking these readings looked compatible with our reactor’s with a few modifications. We could possibly use it as an energy source.”

“That would make it a valuable energy source, which would explain why Cobra wanted it…”

“But it can’t just imitate a nuclear reactor without the radiation. It’s impossible, it’s too stable!”

“I don’t know what to tell you there, your argument’s with the rock not me.”

“No, that’s all for ingenuity. I plan on recharging the shields and security system to full while running this whole place off this thing.”

“Have it done by tomorrow!” Scarlet demands in her best Duke impression. “We need this ASAP!”

“Yes sir!” Hi Tech replies with a crisp salute. “Later Scarlet.”

“I don’t care if he is your brother!” The boss yells. “I don’t tolerate failure!”

“Like what? Getting thrashed for our prize?” Cobra Commander yells. “We should have the second powerstone by now!”

Storm Shadow moves to speak again but remains silent. “It’s best he not know what transpired.” He thinks to himself remembering how Snake Eyes saved his life and he not only spared his benefactor but left him the powerstone as repayment.

The head honcho of the evil syndicate turns to his tactician. “What’s this?”

“A contingency plan my lord. Duke and his band are a resourceful bunch so one should keep a few steps ahead.”

“It’s quite simple since they are so determined yet predictable.” With this statement Destro outlines his plan to his superior and elicits trademark bad guy cackling.

“If the readings on this are compatible then if I polarize this slot like this and place the stone here…” The lights all around brighten a bit. “Alright! We’ll be charged up in no time!”

“Perfect timing, take a look at this! I’ve got everything running off this rock! It’s phenomenal the energy it’s putting out!”

“Everything huh?” Scarlet sounds surprised and steps closer. “Seems hard to believe…”

“Believe it! Everything from the shield battery to the toaster’s hooked to this thing!”

“Watch it, there’s serious juice going through that! Wouldn’t suggest you touch it.”

“You’re right, should disconnect it first.” She whips out a small cutting laser.

“What are you doing?” Hi Tech demands dismayed. “It took me all morning to make that relay!”

“Taking it of course.” Scarlet replies as though it’s obvious. “Seems like a real nice thing to have.”

“That’s not me, Hi Tech!” A voice calls from the door. An infuriated intelligence officer stands in the threshold of the lab. “You’ve been duped!”

“Didn’t think you’d get loose that soon, lass. I guess you found me out.” The imposter says in his normal Australian accent. You blokes are a wily lot, I’ll give you that.” The image inducer drops the illusion.

“Zartan!” Hi Tech hisses. “Sound-” He drops to the floor with a thud, his feet knocked from under him.

“Hi Tech!” Scarlet cries. She reaches for the wall to hit the alarm system but a quick shot from her own bow blaster fries the interface.

“Interesting weapon you got here.” The imitator extraordinaire says giving it a leisurely spin. “I have to say I prefer real arrows myself though.” Thoroughly incensed Scarlet charges him angrily. “How nice of you to give me a hand!” Zartan says with a nimble sidestep. He grabs her wrist and guides her hand to the item of the day completing the circuit between it and the reactor. “Right nice o ya to assist…” He laughs as she loses consciousness.

“I should’ve known!” Hi Tech says sounding troubled. “I should’ve caught the switch immediately!”

“None of us were ready to be infiltrated so soon.” Duke counters. “He was already in when we locked down!”

“When she couldn’t read the computer screen I should’ve put two and two together, plus she sounded weird…”

“That’s not important now!” Heavy Duty interjects. “Cobra got that rock now and no telling what they gonna do with it!”

“We’re going to have to approach it calmly if we want to get something done.” Duke says trying to maintain restore order. “We’ll need a plan.”

“Nice to have you back with us!” Tunnel Rat says a tad loud. “Had us a bit worried there!”

“Zartan got you to know the powerstone loose and you took a pretty nasty shock.” Hi Tech explains. “How are you feeling?”

“Got out playing dress up.” Tunnel Rat states. “Walked right out the front door!”

“I’m alright, I just need some air.” She replies standing wobbly. Snake Eyes offers assistance but she shakes her head. “I’ll be fine. Thanks though.”

“Okay, you take five. When you get back in you’ll help us come up with a plan.” Duke decides.

“Well done Zartan!” Commander says expansively. “Destro, your plan went well!”

“I thought it would.” Destro replies. “They wouldn’t expect a sneak attack so soon. It was simple for you was it not?” He asks turning to the disguise master.

“Ah, but that is what we like to hear, yes?” The Baroness says in her soft east European accent. “All plans should go so smoothly don’t you think?”

“I’m sure we can think of a way to spice things up with this!” Commander declares looking at his prize.

“I look forward to the advantage it can bring us.” Destro admits. “I hope it was worth our time and effort.”

“I am certain we’ll be able to make some use of it. The question is should the end of our enemies be swift or slow? What is your pleasure, Commander?”

“To wipe Duke from the face of the earth and with this that can be arranged!”

Outside of base Scarlet is having a walk to clear her head. She’s still more than a little bothered at having spent the night bound and gagged in a closet.

“I should’ve been able to take him down!” Scarlet berates herself. “We were on alert, I should’ve caught him!” She slows her pace a bit. “But his hand to hand skills eclipse mine and he’s good at what he does. It wasn’t all my fault but it was up to me…I just wish I could’ve stopped him.” She stops and looks up at the sky, then around the area. She’s maybe a mile from base.

“I’m a machine and tech expert, not a front liner and he’s the best Cobra’s got…” She trails off. “I don’t see why I’m obsessing, things happen. The best of us slip up sometimes and there’s nothing I can do about it now, that’s for sure. What’s important is that we stop Cobra, bottom line. Can’t lose sight of that. I’d better get back, we’ve got work to d-” She stumbles and falls to one knee.

“Shouldn’t have walked so far, I feel a bit woozy. I guess Duke may have a point. I should take it easy a little...” She shakes her head vigorously. “Damn vertigo…” She blinks several times in succession. “Now I must be seeing things…” She rubs her eyes and looks again. “Hi Tech do you read?” She says calmly activating her communicator.

“Yeah Scarlet, I read you. Are you alright?” The computer guru sounds concerned.

“I have a question, could you bring me up on visual? I’m not sure where I am…”

“That’s strange; I’m getting a really strong signal from you not too far from here. Just head southwest and you can’t miss us. Heck, you should be able to see us from where you are.”

“Could you just bring me up on screen, I need you to check something for me.” Scarlet insists.

“Alright, just because you asked nicely.” Hi Tech fiddles with some controls. “Strange, I’m getting a signal but no picture…” He sounds puzzled.

“Yeah, all I’ve got is a black screen, is something obstructing the camera?”

“What’s up with the signal?” Hi Tech sounds annoyed now. “Now I can see sunlight? What gives? I’m beginning to wonder where you are myself…I’ll widen the zoom…whoa!”

On screen is a familiar figure wrapped in a black body sleeve of his creation. The only problem is the magnification is still too close and it doesn’t zoom further out. He can only see her from the waist up, standing there arms akimbo impatiently and it doesn’t make sense.

He just watches her lips move listening to her words. It helps solidify the experience as his always working mind processes the information while his mouth drops open. “I have you on screen but my camera must be malfunctioning. The perspectives are all off…” He trails off. “You’re not that tall…” He adds as an afterthought.

“I’m afraid not.” She replies unsteadily. “The view’s pretty weird here too…”

“But that would make you…” Hi Tech crunches some numbers. “Zoom out… with distance into account…just over a hundred feet tall!”

He watches as she speaks and realizes that the bugs flying next to her head have feathers and the light breeze stirring her hair would likely cause an aircraft serious turbulence. All of this combined with the surreal feel of the situation leaves him with little to say with logic failing him at the moment. He could only sigh as this realization leads to the only conclusion that Duke and the others would be asking him what happened. “You just hang tight, Scarlet. I’ll think of something…”

“I may not be a tech head but why is it that every time I punch in the GI Joe’s base coordinates all I can see is that girl I tricked?” He’s puzzled.

“Can’t tell ya, as much as I want to.” Zartan replies. “I can’t seem to work this thing…”

“What?” Destro walks over. “Do you have some sort of obsession over this woman?”

“Why is the magnification so high from a satellite?” The tactician wonders. “He zooms out. “It wasn’t that close so why is she still on the screen? Are we being hacked?”

“Let’s pull up another angle, this camera’s been compromised.” The Cobra second-in-command pulls up another image. “There’s the base…” He says looking over the screen. “Doesn’t look like there’s any activity to report…”

“Hey, why is there a shadow over the whole thing?” Zartan asks. “It’s should be daytime; isn’t it still morning?”

“Let’s see shall we?” Destro swivels the camera. “They weren’t in the shade of a cliff before so-” The camera focuses on Scarlet from behind looming over enemy headquarters.

“Yes, but this is no hacker’s ruse. This is a serious matter. Look at their base in comparison.”

“If properly handled it will only change our plans in a minor fashion.” Destro says already coming up with a ploy. “Notify Cobra Commander.”

“That is not important. He can judge for himself. We need to keep him informed so our plans can flow smoothly. More impossible things have happened.”

It’s apparent that Zartan thinks otherwise on that last point but he puts it aside. “What kind of plan do you have for that?” He asks gesturing at the screen.

“Your vital signs check out normal according to your suit’s read out and I don’t see anything wrong aside from the obvious…”

“Can’t you scan her or somethin’?” Heavy Duty asks. “It don’t seem like it happened out of nowhere…”

“Well you’ve got to try something.” Duke concludes. “Right now we’ve got to watch Cobra and keep our eyes peeled for their next scheme so we can’t stay out here all day.”

“Roger!” They all reply then file back into the base. Hi Tech looks around sheepishly.

“Are alright down there?” Scarlet says carefully modulating her voice. “I’m not scaring you too bad am I?”

“No, no, no!” Hi Tech says suddenly. “It’s just I need to run a scan on your molecules and you’re pretty tall now…”

“No kidding.” Scarlet giggles. “You don’t need a ladder; I’ll give you a hand if that’s what you need.”

“Oh. Well I can sit down if that helps…” She says taking a seat. “Is this alright?”

She sighs then looks around. “How about this?” She leans back and lies down on her back.

“I’m doing the best I can, unless you want me in a hole.” She sounds slightly irritated.

“I know it’s strange but you’ve got to work with me. You’re the only one who can tell us what’s going on. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Right.” Hi Tech takes a deep breath. “I need to see your hands first. Which one got fried?”

My right.” She replies rolling onto her side. “Is this good?” She asks as she places her hands side by side on the ground.

“…” Hi Tech is still on the amazement trip trying to work out the physical equation of the female wall before him moving so easily against all known laws. He snaps back as she asks her question. “Yeah, that’s good.” He gives both of her hands the once over with the scanning device and looks puzzled at the results.

“You’re the powerstone, or so it seems. It reads like your composition has changed into that. There’s no difference between your hands either by the way. My best guess is you read like that all over, though I should check.”

Hi Tech gives it some thought. “It’d take too long to walk around her and even longer if I had to climb up and scan her that way…” Out loud he gives his assent. “Yeah, if you help it won’t take all day.”

Scarlet reaches for Hi Tech raising herself to a sitting position. “Climb on.” She says opening her hand. He does as directed. “I’d sit if I were you and definitely not look down.” She says offhandedly as she raises her hand up rather swiftly.

“If I’m getting this kind of G-force and she’s just moving her hands her locomotion must trigger at least twice that response and…” He thinks science never leaving his mind. “That must mean…”

Once again lost in the wonderful world of the scientific process Hi Tech returns. “Yeah. Just let me scan close by you and check the readings…” He starts as she brings him closer to her face. “Can you see alright, have you had any sensory change?” He asks abruptly.

“I’m having that right now…” Hi Tech thinks to himself as he surveys the rest of her body. “But it won’t be for much longer.” Soon he stops noticing it and is beleaguered by computations again before long. “All in proportion…height in account…and…” All too soon she sets him back on the ground. He’s almost sad. He was getting a kick out of staring but is all too happy to have his feet back on solid ground again.

“Umm…let’s see…where to start? You read like the powerstone all over. You’re okay otherwise-”

“-Aside from the obvious but I can’t find anything else wrong.” He shrugs. “I’d need to know more about it to tell you anything else…”

“We’ve got something on radar!” Duke comes over the comm. link. “Hi Tech, are you at the controls?”

“Frontal assault. Full load of bats and tanks with heavy artillery on the second line.”

“I need the options first! How are our defenses? Did you manage to get them recharged?”

“No. The system’s been fried since this morning. Primary power source relay’s blown courtesy of Zartan.”

“Both the shields and the defense laser system were hooked into the powerstone. When he broke the connection using Scarlet the backlash scorched the alpha energy conduit for them both. We’ve got nothing but reserve power for each.”

“That makes us sitting ducks!” Duke yells. “Long Range, is this thing ready to move?”

“It wouldn’t outrun something like that,” He replies. “Not for too long.”

“There ain’t nowhere to go anyway.” Heavy Duty says. “Ain’t no cover for miles!”

The tech expert looks from one screen to another, pausing at each. “We’ve got on…” He replies at length giving one display more attention than the others.

In Cobra Headquarters the sovereign leader of the organization is double checking the work of his underlings.

“Destro!” The commander barks. “Is Phase 1 of your newest ploy underway?”

“Going exactly according to plan my liege.” Destro replies. “With the help of the powerstone Phase 2 will be ready momentarily. As for Phase 3, Overkill is hard at work researching.”

“Foundering like rats in a trap.” She replies with an evil smile. “Their end shall be swift.”

“We enter the endgame and I’m afraid Duke is just one move away from checkmate.”

“What a pity, I almost hoped the game could last a bit longer…” The commander cackles at the thought.

At the GI Joe headquarters in the R.O.C.C. they’ve got their own plan to put into action.

“Alright, is everybody ready?” Duke calls out to his team. Various affirmatives come back to him. “Remember, watch Scarlet’s back!”

Outside Scarlet nods and braces against the R.O.C.C. Then with a deep breath starts pushing. “I never thought I’d end up doing anything like this when I signed up…” She thinks to herself. “It’s lighter than I thought by a long shot even for me. It’s almost fun…”

Inside Hi Tech is watching their course while Heavy Duty and Tunnel Rat lie in wait in the Rhino and the chopper. He’s still double checking his calculations as is his habit.

“I have to time this right…” Hi Tech murmurs to himself. “If we move far enough adjacent to them fast enough we can broadside the whole force. This way Scarlet will have a window of opportunity before the tanks and mechs fire since they’ll have to right themselves. At least I think so…” He looks at the screen again. “They could start trying to get wise to us any second so I guess it’s now or never.” He gives Duke the signal.

“We’re ready to go!” Duke says loud into the comm. “Heavy Duty, Tunnel Rat you know what to do, Scarlet it’s go time!”

“Here goes nothing…” She thinks charging in on the side of the enemy militia.

Scarlet hits them quickly moving heavy tanks aside and knocking them into each other. Kicking the mechanized units into the enemy lines decimates the formation as though a storm touched down in their midst. The battle is over before it even began. By the time they turn on the whirlwind that’s wreaking such havoc it’s too late. More shots hit friendly units than their enormous assailant who is paying them no mind. Her shielding is more than enough to brush off the hits with ease. The backup in her corner marvels at the feat of destruction at a safe distance.

“I’m fine where I am!” Tunnel Rat decides. “If she needs help she knows where to find it!”

“This was easy!” Scarlet thinks sweeping an arm into a platoon of bats and scraping them all. “Was this the best they could do?” She wonders idly stepping on the remnants of the aggressors.

“That worked well, too well…” Hi Tech says with an eyebrow raised. “It can’t be a secret Scarlet’s the way she is on our side…they have to have a reason…what the- I recognize that energy signature!” He hits Duke on the radio. “Duke, we’ve got a major problem!”

“Already on it.” Hi Tech reads the screen. “It’s not from too far away which means we don’t have any time!”

“Under sixty seconds! This rig doesn’t have half the shielding the base did…we’re toast!”

“Scarlet, you’ve got to get clear!” Duke yells into his communicator. “They’ve fired that plasma cannon again, there isn’t much time!”

“Sorry, I’m a soldier first. I can’t leave you behind.” She turns toward the particle deflector. “Let’s knock it down!” She cocks her arm back and launches the tank at the beam reflector with her best fastball.

The pitch was on point but belated. Only ten feet from the target the projectile is obliterated in mid flight. The high heat matter stream continues unabated.

“Hold on everybody!” All people on board brace for impact. It’s a big surprise when the base isn’t rocked by a cataclysmic blast of ionized particles. “What the-”

“AAAHHH!” The sound of Scarlet screaming is audible outside the comm. link through the vibrating walls of the base as she blocks the oncoming shot.

“Sigma six shielding can’t take that!” Hi Tech yells. “You can’t stand in for us!” He gets no response. “She can’t hear me, what to- Ah Ha!”

“Destabilizing her suit’s shielding like before when we came against this cannon.”

“It’s her only chance!” Hi Tech yells back. “If I don’t try then we’re all cooked! If this works I’ll be able to knock out that reflector with some of its own power!” He enters a final code at max typing speed. “Here goes!”

Outside, though it’s no less blinding, Scarlet’s cries of anguish subside as the beam stops striking her. She falls to her hands and knees breathing heavily.

“She looks better than the landscape,” Heavy Duty replies. “That weapon tore a big groove in it so she got off easy!”

“It’s a miracle you weren’t vaporized on contact so consider yourself lucky.” Hi Tech says. “Though I wouldn’t suggest doing that again.”

“Overkill isn’t done with it yet, he needs more time-” The Baroness reminds them.

“All he does is float in that tube all day, how much more time does he need?!”

“You have displeased me Destro.” The Commander’s eyes narrow. “I had your assurances that this version of Thor’s Hammer would not fail.”

“The technology they used is still not understood, I couldn’t have anticipated that with its increased power supply that it would fail. There was no way-”

“No more excuses! The cannon you wasted valuable time building is up and running fully charged thanks to this powerstone but is completely worthless! We can’t even get off another shot! You are wasting my time and resources with a plan that’s falling apart!”

“For your sake I hope so.” He turns to the Baroness. “Keep an eye on Overkill and make sure that jar of brine does as ordered.”

At GI Joe headquarters it’s time for a quick breather. Everyone is outside with Scarlet who is lying down on her stomach to better see them.

“Okay, I’ve run every test under the sun I can with the equipment I’ve got and you’re fine.” Hi Tech says. “Aside from the obvious,” This gets a giggle from the aviation expert. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

“Your atoms should be destabilizing at the molecular level since you were hit with that plasma beam but since you weren’t blasted to subatomic dust you’re okay.”

“Well, I’ve got a couple of theories.” Hi Tech rubs his chin. “You’re giving off protons like mad so I thought you were disintegrating but it’s clear your elemental makeup being similar to the powerstone is causing that because it behaved the same way. Between that and when the suit got shocked with you its built-in memory and shielding created a zone of dupl-”

“Can we get the guide for dummies?” Tunnel Rat asks interrupting rudely. “The SHORT version?”

“You should try it sometime, amigo.” Long Range chides him. “It goes over better.”

“Uh…okay. It’s like this. Scarlet’s atoms were duplicated by the powerstone when she got shocked. The electrons-” He can see he’s losing his audience already. “It happened thanks to the suit. If not for that instead of being like this she’d be in sick bay. The effect was confined to the suit’s area.”

Hi Tech shrugs. “I don’t know…could be a lot of factors I’m not aware of. I’m just guessing right now.” He admits. “I’ll need that stone back to even try fixing or figuring out how it happened.”

“I would be too if I went head to head with that many ionized particles.” Hi Tech agrees. “But she’s okay.”

“I was thinking we could all pay Cobra a visit and see how they treat surprise guests, what do you say?”

In Cobra laboratory Overkill is trying everything he can think of to do as ordered.

“It doesn’t make any sense!” He complains analyzing readouts of the stone. “They had it for one day and already figured out how to use this powerstone for something like that? Every calculation I’ve run has failed so far…”

“The Commander is not very pleased with your progress.” The Baroness reminds him.

“It will mean absolutely nothing when I discover the secret they must have stumbled upon!”

“Ah, but you don’t know where to begin?” The Baroness smiles a malevolent smile. “Such a shame…”

Overkill gives some thought to what she just said. “If I want to replicate their experiment and success…” He looks at the Baroness. “Perhaps the answer has been right in front of me this whole time…”

“Alright! Here’s the plan one more time.” Duke says as the R.O.C.C. moves into position. “Tunnel Rat you take the Rhino Chopper and disable all the roof mounted defenses, Heavy Duty you take the tank and do the ground mounted ones. I want the both of you watching Scarlet’s back.”

“Snake Eyes and I are gonna sneak in during all the commotion and go rock hunting.” The ninja says nothing. “We’re borrowing your cycles Hi Tech.”

Scarlet rushes in paying no heed to the defenses of Cobra and isn’t having too much trouble. First thing she does is tear off the massive cannon and wield it like a golf club to cut a swath through the security forces. Behind her are salvos of missiles hitting stationary turrets at shoulder level and bursts of tank fire taking care of the ones at ankle level. Duke and Snake Eyes shoot through the opening with next to no resistance.

“Hey, Scarlet! Knock on the front door for us!” Duke yells into the comm. link. She gives the main entrance a kick. “Thanks!” They disappear into the base.

“Okay, they’re in.” He says watching Duke and Snake Eyes gain entry. “The stone’s on the top level according to my scan, you guys.”

“Let me pull up your location…” He pulls up a schematic of Cobra’s base layout. “It’s back on level 1! They’re moving it! You’ll have to intercept!”

“Whew!” Hi Tech exhales. “All this action is making my head spin! Finally it’s quieting dow-”

“Hi Tech!” Heavy Duty yells causing the computer genius to sigh. “I’ve got something on radar; I’m not sure what it is…”

“I’m on it.” He pulls up his radar and perimeter scanners on yet another screen. “Whoa! You guys are looking at serious company out there!”

“So this is what it is like to be on top of the world…” Comes an amplified voice.

Inside Cobra Duke and Snake Eyes are biking through a hallway slashing and shooting bats by the dozen.

“H T, I’m nearly to the first floor.” Duke says. “When we get there, which way?”

“So we’ll go out and have a little scavenger hunt? Sounds like fun.” Team leader says sarcastically.

“I’m on- we’ve got company!” He exclaims taking evasive action and narrowly avoiding Storm Shadow’s pounce. The white ninja whizzes past him to attack his wingman Snake Eyes who is not surprised at all. With a clang of steel they are both aerial and the cycle swerves, bumping into a wall with no rider.

“Good of you to come, luv!” Comes an annoying British accent. “We’ve been waiting for ya!”

“And the rest of you showed up too…” The leader of GI Joe sneers firing off some shots at the remainder of the Dreadnaughts and interminable bats.

“Of course.” Zartan says coolly. “Wouldn’t miss this for the world…” He activates his cloaking device.

“Hey, I’ve got a situation here!” Duke yells into his radio while avoiding cutter laser, blaster fire and actual fire. “I need an escape, pronto!” He pitches forward as a fist hits him in the back of the head and the whole ensemble tumbles shortly after when the building is rocked by a heavy impact.

Duke staggers to his feet and does a leg sweep hitting two bats, a dreadnaught, and an invisible person. Suddenly he is nearly hit with a katana but just as swiftly comes the clang of steel as a friendly blade blocks it and the shadow warriors continue to engage in their battle. “Step on it!” With blasters blazing he clears a perimeter as their adversaries back up a bit. “Kinda tough, eh?” He calls to Snake Eyes.

His teammate doesn’t respond. He’s got both swords out and is guarding from Storm Shadow with one and deflecting shots with the other. He back flips nimbly into the circle alongside Duke regarding their enemy warily.

“Any time now…” Duke says voice level noting the fact that they’re surrounded.

Abruptly the floor beneath them bucks again and sends everyone thudding into the wall. An even greater force shakes the foundation of the building when a familiar hand closed into a fist slams into the wall of the hallway not too far away and leaving a gaping hole in the structure.

“Let’s move out!” Duke yells leaping astride his bike and riding out of the brand-new exit. His covert comrade is not far behind and they take the cycles full throttle through the air.

Outside it’s a dicey situation. Scarlet and the Baroness are locked in combat as the flying riders arc through the area. The limits of the machines are tested as they twist to avoid flailing arms and stomping feet.

“I see a friend of ours went through a change today!” Duke yells as he steers through all the dust the ladies are kicking up.

“Yeah, did you check her jewelry?” Hi Tech asks. “Scanners say the powerstone is in the device around her neck.”

“We’ll have to take that off her quick! Tunnel Rat, can you hit it from there?”

“No, I’d have to get close and I’d get swatted down!” The pilot of the chopper protests.

“Maybe Scarlet’ll just pound it off her….” Heavy Duty says as an afterthought. “Cause she’s taking to the Baroness, hard!”

“That’s Scarlet for you, they don’t come any tougher!” Maneuvering is getting more risky as the Baroness shoves Scarlet off her and hits the GI Joe with a middle kick that staggers her causing a near tumble on Scarlet’s part. “Give it all-” His last statement is left unfinished as one swerve too many at high speeds leaves the bike flipping sideways flinging him further into the air while the cycle hits the ground to be crushed underfoot. It is at this point that he regrets taking such a swift exit.

“Those metal hands of hers are starting to hurt…” She thinks to herself. Something crunches underfoot and she pays it no mind. It’s been happening all day. “Got to get her down…”

“What’s wrong?” The Baroness taunts. “Are you tiring out?” She smiles fiendishly landing another kick to Scarlet’s midsection. “That is really too bad!” She lands a killer left cross to the redhead’s jaw making her fall, sliding a bit.

“Oww…” She thinks to herself, skidding. “Head spinning- what?” She sees Duke suddenly floating between her and the enemy operative as the agent attempts a tackle to pin her down. “No way!” She says leaning up and grabbing the Cobra member by the shirt and giving her a kick in the solar plexus along with a basic Judo throw. Her superior lands on her chest and in spite of the gravity of the situation she can’t suppress her smile.

“Sure thing!” She replies grabbing Duke with one hand and using the other to spring to her feet.

It appears she underestimated her opponent though for the Baroness was not down long and is advancing again. “It will take more than that to defeat me.” Scarlet raises her guard up again. “Careful!” The Baroness admonishes closing in on her.

She immediately remembers the guest in her hand. “She’s right; I can’t put Duke in danger!” She thinks to herself. This conclusion leaves her at a loss as her persistent enemy begins to attack again. “I can’t do anything!”

“Allow me!” Tunnel Rat yells firing off a salvo from the Rhino Chopper into the enemy’s face. The Baroness staggers at the sudden burst of light and newfound debris in her eyes.

“Need a hand?” Heavy Duty asks as he rams the Rhino into her foot pushing it forward slightly and helping her slip on the remains of so many bats.

The German royalty falls and Scarlet walks off a few paces and sets Duke down where he’s picked up by Snake Eyes then charges back in, trying to keep space between her and the R.O.C.C.

“Scarlet!” Hi Tech comes over the radio. “Get her necklace off! It’s how she’s maintaining her current state!” She nodes and advances on her opponent again who looks amused.

“Is there no end to your antics?” The Baroness asks as though talking to a young child.

“Don’t you realize what kind of power this is? What you could accomplish with it?”

The red-eyed soldier pays the remark no mind and goes to swing a hook for the face of her adversary. The Baroness steps back, giving ground more and more to the aggressive attacker. Backed against the battered building her cohorts call a base she lashes out in desperation smacking Scarlet in the face open-handed. Though it is a light blow she is staggered by the impact.

“Did that hurt?” The Baroness asks in a sarcastically sweet voice. “Poor you…” She gives Scarlet another slap. “I guess my fingers may sting a little…” She has a haughty laugh at her opponent’s expense.

“Ow…” The GI Joe thinks to herself. “Got to get that necklace off…” She grabs for it as the Baroness goes in for another palm strike.

“You’ll have to do better than that…” Another scornful snicker as her hand is caught in the steel grip of the opponent and she is given a gut punch for her trouble.

“You sure you can do this, Long Range?” Duke asks. “We don’t have any more room for mess ups.”

“I never miss.” The professional marksman replies. “Just give me a chance.” He says beginning to assemble his sniper rifle.

“Whatever you guys are doing, you’d better hurry!” Hi Tech says from the control room. “Scarlet can’t take much more!”

Duke and Long Range glance at the battle. It’s hard to decipher a winning party with all the guarded blows and failed grab attempts but they can see from where they are that Scarlet’s chest is heaving from lack of wind and is more than a little flushed in the face. The Baroness grabs up the barrel of Thor’s Hammer v.2 that Scarlet was using as a weapon earlier and begins to attack the crimson haired one with it. Now the GI Joe operative is on the losing side of the altercation.

“I only need one chance.” Long Range says locking a charge into the weapon. “And I’ve got two here.”

“Scarlet! Can you get her to hold still? Long Range wants a clear shot at the pendant to end this.”

His right hand doesn’t respond. Upon her enemy’s next attack she grabs the bludgeon and pulls her assailant close swinging her around and immobilizing her from behind. With one arm wrapped around her foe’s midsection and the other immobilizing her forearms behind her back Scarlet has the Baroness immobile. “I don’t know how long I can hold her like this!” She says worriedly.

The shot is dead-on, amazing everyone but doesn’t do its intended task. The precision laser burst bounces off thing air doing no damage. Everyone is mystified, Long Range most of all.

“Scarlet’s too close!” Hi Tech explains. “At her size the Sigma Six laser shield covers too much area and is too powerful for even a shot of that caliber to come close!”

“Have her turn the lady loose.” The sniper suggests sliding his spare charge in the rifle. “I’ll take it from there.”

“It’s okay, just let go.” Duke replies. “We’ve got one more chance.”

Unceremoniously Scarlet pushes the Baroness away. The woman takes this time to lash out with the pole at Scarlet and this is when Long Range takes his shot. His jaw drops to the floor as he only grazes the pendant since it was bouncing and swinging to and fro.

Now Scarlet is in a bind. The Baroness is trying to bash her head in and she’s too tired to defend herself properly. Her half-hearted attempts are only partially helping her escape injury.

“This is the best that you could do?” The Baroness sounds disgusted. “That’s pathetic!” Scarlet tumbles into a sitting position so tired is she. “I expected more from the ever present thorn in our side. Such a shame…” She raises the club to strike a finishing blow to Scarlet’s head. “Farewell…” She is just about to smite Duke’s second-in-command when something won’t leave her alone. It’s the Rhino Chopper which buzzes around her head like a crazed fly. She swats at it with one hand becoming thoroughly annoyed with it quickly.

In the chopper Tunnel Rat is having a hard time keeping it in the air. “Fine, I just want you to have a parting gift!” He says gaily hitting the fire button to the missiles. “All out?” He fumbles around in his pack. “Then have some of these!” He yells steering the chopper with one hand and lobbing a set of charges out the hatch with the other.

Freshly blinded again with her shades cracked now the Baroness is furious, flailing her hands around in her anger. One metallic finger nicks a propeller and forces Tunnel Rat to make an emergency landing. “You I shall destroy first for not knowing your place.” She says as her vision clears.

“Fool, these toys cannot stop me…” She rolls over his tank with a toe. “You shall be next for your impudence.” She turns back to Tunnel Rat. “But you first for being so very annoying…”

“Oh man…” The explosives expert moans as her foot hovers over his vehicle. “I-”

“YO JOE!” Scarlet cries leaping into action and tackling the Baroness backward away from her comrades. Stunned by the ferocity of the sudden attack she is caught off guard, dropping her weapon as she is taken to the ground. Before she can formulate a counter attack she is slugged in the side of the head with enough force to leave her woozy.

“I hate to admit it but I have reached the end of my rope…” The Baroness concedes writhing in Scarlet’s grasp. “Perhaps another time then…”

“What?” Then there is a flash of light and she recoils back as everyone in the vicinity is blinded. When the flash dims Scarlet only has the necklace in her hand while the Baroness is gone, hanging from a rope ladder on a getaway ship.

“It looks like out hosts are making an ungracious exit.” He mentions noting a ship flying away. “We’ll have to catch them later, looks like we’re all out of steam for today.”

“You got that right!” Heavy Duty yells. “I’m upside down in here!” He complains in his overturned tank. Scarlet puts it back right absently. “That’s better!”

“I bet Scarlet’s the one who needs a rest.” Hi Tech says. “She did the most today between battling Cobra and saving all our hides.”

“Scarlet you went above and beyond the call of duty many times today. Something like that deserves a commendation it doesn’t seem like enough since we all owe you our lives…but you have it and my heartfelt thanks.”

“It’s alright, you don’t owe me anything. After all I’m a soldier first and I know you’d do the same for me.”

“No need.” The commander rubs his chin. “Today was a learning experience. Very interesting things can be done with these powerstones, now can’t they?”

“Yet powerful all the same. It may make for a nasty surprise in the future don’t you think?” He says contemplatively looking at a powerstone.