Gi Joe Down Time Reloaded (Closed)

[guyloveshotstories]

Corporal Charles Lennox
Age 20
Height 5'11"
Physical appearance: http://cdn02.cdn.socialitelife.com/...2/10/14/male-model-kyle-wicks-10142012-60.jpg

"Welcome to the PIT, maggot" a harsh voice announced as the blind was removed from me eyes and we began a slow decent on a large, open lift that brought us down from the desert surface. Here it was cool from powerful AC units compared to the arid above, but then the voice slapped me back, "eyes front!" And they snapped as ordered.

This man was a beast, towering over me well over six feet and his head covered by a green balaclava that masked his features except piercing dark eyes and a boisterous voice that commanded respect. "Grab you duffel!" Everything from him was a command as the lift touched the bottom and before me lay an entire world under the surface that was crawling with people and vehicles with bright fluorescent lights suspended above that was as bright as day.

"Follow me!" He commanded stepping off and fumbling with my duffel on my back I followed with my eyes wide in wonder at this place.

I was just a twenty year old, volunteered for the Army and went into basic at 18 to do four years and that would be it, but halfway through my enlistment I was summoned to my battalion commander's office where another man, a Lt. General was there with him. After a half hour of questions about my life and choices the man gave me two choices; go to Afghanistan for a year to fifteen months or go to Nevada for "special training". I did not know what he meant by it at first because air assault and airborne school were not in Nevada and really nothing else except Area 51 and Nellis Air Force Base, oh, and Vegas, so I jumped for the 'special training'. I figured being in the desert in the states was better than being shot at in the mountains so I joined up and here I was now under the desert and being pulled by an invisible leash by this man as he took me deeper into the facility and show me to where my first stop was.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Samantha "Sam" Brady

In the rec room, or more formally known as the Recreational Room, Scarlett and I stepped off the treadmills a little breathless. She took a sip of her water while I dabbed the sweat off my face and chest a bit. I watched as my red headed friend grabbed her book while I finished wrapping the cord of my head phones around my Ipod. "Ready for the showers?" I asked her. Strands of her messy red hair stuck to her neck. Not that my long black hair was any different. When we worked out, Scarlett had hers up in a ponytail. I kept mine in a bun.
"Ready."

Scarlett and I would walk out of the gym and head for the showers. Both of us in sports bras for tops but she had on camo pants while I had on a pair of shorts. Both of us were in great shape and had smoking bodies.

The two of us were talking with the towels draped over our shoulders when we had to come to a halt to keep out of the way of Sgt. Stone and some new guy. My blue eyes trailed after them and Scarlett nudged my sides. Making me snap my attention back to her. "Eying the new meat, huh?"
"What? You're crazy. Come on. I don't like feeling sweaty for very long." I said. Brushing off her statement as we continued on our way. It was no secret that I liked someone on base, though I wouldn't say who. But I will say this. I work very close to him and most of the tech he does have, is thanks to me.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

I was pulled along until I was put inside a very small room with just enough room for a cot, a night stand, and a footlocker. "Deposit your gear here and follow me," the man roared. I did as told and followed him down the corridor. There were people eyeing us as we went, guys gently nudging the others. I was the new guy, so I expected that there was going to be some sort of hazing or some form of 'harsh welcoming' for me. It the same when I first arrived at my duty station at Fort Riley, but here....I was actually afraid.

"C'mon, maggot! No lounging!" he barked as we entered a large, open bay where many vehicles were being worked on. He took me to across the bay towards a small pit that had a floor or ripped up tires. It was a solid surface to stand on, but soft when falling. "Get in there!" he ordered. I went out there and stood waiting for the next order but the man stood there and carefully folded his arms. In a few moments there came a tall, thin man, well built with crew cut blonde hair and squared jaw. In his hands were large pugle sticks. Stepping into the pit the man threw one to me. I didn't like where this was going, but in a moment there were more men gathering around to watch what was about to happen. He was big and powerful, but taking the puggle stick and holding it tightly with both hands I readied.

"Defend yourself!" the man in the balaclava shouted.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

After watching the new kid go by, Scarlett and I hit the showers. Once we were clean and smelled good, Scarlett dressed in her usual get up of camo pants and tank top with the standard boots. Myself? Well I took to wearing camo shorts, our standard combat boots, a white cami, and a black tank top with a sleeveless camo best over it. I left it unbuttoned though. Scarlett wore her hair down and I wore mine up in a ponytail. I wasn't on duty so I didn't worry about my hair being informal. Not that, that I or other girls had to really ever worry.

As we walked through the building, we stopped to over looking the proving grounds. The new guy was down there facing off against someone. Nudging Scarlett, we stood overhead in the catwalk to watch them. Both of us betting on who would win and would come out bruised and sore.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"Best two out of three. Winner takes on Snake Eyes!" the man in the balaclava announced and there was an instant 'ooooh' that rippled through the crowd. My challenger walked in the pit rather casually and stood ten paces away from me and clutched his puggle stick with both hands then took a fighting stance, feet shoulder width apart with his left foot slightly forward and bent forward slightly at the waist. He was right footed, that's what I drew from his stance. His right foot was his powerful foot. This was one hell of a welcoming. We didn't even have head gear and these things, though stuffed with foam, were going to hurt.

"Begin!"

My challenger charged right towards me, leaping off his right foot. Last time I did this was back in basic, but I remembered how to fight and wasn't going to whimp out. They were doing this to find out what I was made out of and I was going to fight as hard as I could. Maybe i'd go down, but I was going to at least make sure this guy had a few bruises on his face to remind him of me. He came charging and everyone was waiting for a collision of our bodies, but at the last minute I swung my body to the right and he missed me completely and couldn't stop himself in time. When he did I was right behind him and slammed one end of my stick into his back.

"You're dead!" the man in balaclava laughed. "He got you, Duke!" And the audience 'oooh'd' in response. The man, Duke, turned and glared at me. I couldn't believe my luck at getting the first strike, but I had to be ready for the next one.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Scarlett and I were speechless, though we were also trying to not laugh. We could practically already hear Ripcord teasing him come chow time. It would be endless for a while until Duke was smart enough to knock sense into Ripcord. And by that, I mean Duke usually beat him up in boxing in the rec room. Anyways. While we were speechless and trying to not laugh at the teasing that was destined to come, my head already focused it's attention on a certain ninja clad head to toe in leather or spandex or a mix of both black suit and visor.

Snake-Eyes. I couldn't help the grin that came. Nor the blush that lightened my cheeks. "Yo, Snake!" I called out. Leaning over the railing enough to make Scarlett panic and grab me. "Give him hell!" I grinned. And I knew Snake would. I was a girl and Snake still kicked my ass. Though I guess a part of him did go easy, seeing as how I didn't get left with bruises that night. At least not from him. Wish I could have said the same for Duke and Ripcoord. Ah well.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

The audience were now enticed watching as Duke straightened himself out and assumed the same position as before. The man shouted, "Fight!" this time Duke did not move. He was waiting for me to make the first move. After just a couple of seconds the man behind me shouted, "Fight!" Duke wasn't going to move so I decided to go in and wielded my club one end high above my head, Duke saw this and blocked it and threw his weight into me and pushed me back. Staggering a few feet he came lunging for me swinging his weapon. It was going to be a hard hit, but I ducked my head and he missed, just barely and I followed it up with swinging my club but Duke was fast and jumped back, but what I didn't expect was a hard right hook by his fist that connected with my face sending me spiraling to the ground.

"Foul!" the man shouted. "Duke, you know the rules; puggle sticks only!"

Near the back of the crowd there was the black man in question able to watch the show with keen interest, but it was impossible to tell as his face was completely covered. His head slowly canted up to the walkway high above to see a woman waving and he politely waved with his right hand in return.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

I blushed when Snake waved at me. Scarlett rolled her eyes and pointed my attention back to Duke and the new guy. It wasn't a surprise that Duke hadn't given up, so when Heavy Duty called foul, none of us seemed surprised. Duke had wanted his bragging rights. Badly. Maybe Ripcord was pushing things lately in the bunks or rec room? Hmmm. "So it's Snake, huh?" Scarlett said. Nudging me with a playful grin. Making me blush even more as I turned away from the commotion below.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I want a closer look!"
"Closer look at Snake or at the fight?" She teased. I groaned and walked away. Making my way down below as she laughed and jogged after me. I didn't tease her this much when she was eyeing Ripcord.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

My left eye was sore and I couldn't see out of it. Fucker hits hard. I was going to have a shiner the next morning and if an officer saw it, then I would have to lie about how I got it.

"Redo on the match. Duke, if you do that again, then you're done. A good, clean fight" the man admonished.

"We don't fight clean when we're going up against Cobra," Duke snarled back.

"Yeah," the man nodded, "But we're not fighting Cobra here. We're only competing against one another. Play fair."

"Fine" Duke growled.

We stepped back ten paces from one another. My eye was swelling shut and tears flowing down that cheek. My vision was off without that eye. Clutching our sticks tightly, we waited for the word to go.

Behind me, in the crowd, the next challenger, Snake Eyes was waiting. Because of all the excitement, no one noticed the black ninja as he observed the fight. He didn't show any emotion on the outside except his jujitsu, behind that mask was a man of mystery and wonder.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Once we were down below, I mingled well enough into the crowd to loose Scarlett and her teasing, but I knew a certain pair of eyes were trained on me and the fight. Snake Eyes. Looking to where he stood, I hurried over to him and stood by side him. Duke was getting frustrated. And I could only grin. His frustration was going to cost him. And I couldn't wait to see Snake in action. "How badly are you gonna bruise him?" I asked Snake. Glancing over to him to see if he responded.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Holding out his hand at about waist level, Snake Eyes tilted the palm left and right signifying, only a little bit. He didn't speak. No one was exactly sure why because he spent most of his down time either training with his mask or meditating inside his room in the shadow. That sort of mystery made many men ponder about him and many women curious, but Snake only allowed Scarlett and Sam get close to him.

With my eye swollen shut I couldn't gauge distance well. Duke swung, I saw it measuring his shoulders and ducked to avoid it and the tip grazed the hairs on my head. It was damn close and I followed it up by swinging low and hard, catching Duke right in the rib cage. Enraged by his cheap shot I wanted to get him back in a way that was legal but still leave a mark and his ribs were a good way to do it. Let out a roar I slammed the tip into his side and all of the air in his lungs quickly escaped out his mouth in one large 'OOF!'

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

I couldn't help but laugh at Snake's reply. To this day I always did wonder why it felt like he had gone easy on me. But everyone seemed to agree on it being the fact I was a girl and his foreign upbringing playing a possible part in the 'dont lay a harmful hand against a lady' idea. Which was kind of fine by me. But I was still curious. Together we watched as he managed to knock the air from Duke's lungs, but I was eyeing the shiner he was gaining as a trophy from this fight. I felt sorry for the maggot. Shaking my head, I fold my arms over my chest and continue to watch the fight. "Man...if the rookie beats Duke, we will never hear the end of it come chow time in the mess hall." I muttered.

While Ripcord teasing Duke over stupid stuff like this was always funny and amusing at first, it quickly grew annoying and that's when I usually fled to the rec room and sometimes the Hologram room. Which was also our debriefing room during official hours. Other times it was used for our more private needs. And while I have shamelessly used it for such needs once or twice, I mostly escape there to have some quiet. And because being in a dark room has helped with my headaches.

I know from the few times I would get one and somehow wind up drinking herbal tea, that I swear was a medicinal tea, in Snake's room with him keeping close by as if something terrible would happen.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Duke coughed and collapsed to one knee and I followed it up by placing the tip of one end on his back. He was dead. One hand clutching his injury and a seething rage and around him there were men and women whooping and hallooing, some money was passed and there was a lot of mocking aimed towards Duke that he would be easily defeated by the 'maggot' but it came at a cost. My now my eye was writhing in pain. Still holding my stick I was told that because I was the 'winner' it meant that I would have to take on Snake Eyes. Didn't know who that was, but when Snake heard that it was his turn, he gently patted Sam on her shoulder and walked through the crowd, people easily stepping out of his way as he went to the ring.

Duke rose and staggered out of the ring and quickly disappeared. Taking up his discarded puggle stick and quickly looking it over then looked towards me. He was a towering fellow, over six feet at least, and covered in his black uniform, but there were no weapons on his body. Couldn't tell what he was feeling or saying, but he nodded towards me and took up his fighting stance, drawing back his left foot and holding his stick low. I was tired, weary, and dazed but there were many chanting around us to fight that I couldn't back down even though the odds were completely against me.

"Begin!"

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

I smiled and said, "Good luck," as he left me. Once he had stepped up, I walked over to Scarlett and have playful dreamy sigh as I leaned against her. She laughed and shoved me playfully as I rolled my eyes.
"Dont drool too much."
"Shut up." I laughed. Blushing a little as Stone called out to begin with Heavy Duty still watching the fight as well. "Kid is lucky. He is only going to get bruised a little, according to Snake."
"He spoke?" She asked. Sounding shocked. I shook my head with a pout.
"No. Just made a so-so motion with his hand for maybe."
"Oh...."

 

[guyloveshotstories]

When the fight began, I knew I was a 'dead man' because I could barely see straight. This man in black was very good, so good that he flicked his stick one way and came at me from another. It was so fast that I didn't see it and was laying out on the shreds of tires with a red face and a lot of laughter. That was it. I couldn't stand up much less fight, but the audience was cheering for me to give it another go.

We assumed our fighting stances, my body was weary and I was now seeing two of this man. "Fuck" I said to myself, "I can...barely...see straight".

"Begin!"

I don't remember what happened next. All I remember was seeing black and then a hard hit to the back of the head. Guess I fell down on my back and then my eyes slowly fluttered open to the bright lights above and then came the whoop and hallors of those around me. He had won easily. I was in such a daze that when the man in black stood before me it took a moment for me to register that it was the same guy before he bent down and held out a hand for me to accept, which I did, and hoisted me back up and he gave me a clap on the shoulder. At this guy didn't cheat in beating me.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

I watched and flinched as the guy took a beating. We kept cheering him cause this was about the only entertainment we ever got. But when he finally went down for the count, it was nice to see Snake being a good sport and helping him back up. Snake looked at me for a moment and gave a quick nod before walking off to do whatever he did on days off. Shaking my head, I clapped Scarlett's shoulder and went over to the new guy. Draping his arm over my shoulder. "Come on. The sooner Doc checks ya out, the faster you can go get some rest." I said with a laugh.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

I didnt know what happened next except that I sobered up was being carried through the halls towards the aid station by two laughing women. I thought at first that they were laughing at me because of the easy knock out, but as we made it to the aid station there was a black man there dressed in socks with glasses over his eyes. When he turned in his seat to see two women carrying a man inside he put down his papers and asked, "What happened to him?" and knowing that admitting to fighting would mean a court martial the red head, I remember was named Scarlett, she said "He got roughed up in a hand to hand training practice with Snake Eyes" neglecting the fact that it was that other man Duke who did most of the damage. "Lay him on the table and I'll take a look at him" Doc replied as he opened up a drawer and removed a pair of latex gloves, washed his hands, and put them on.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Scarlett and I laughed and talked as we walked along with him to Doc. We weren't laughing at him. Far from it. We were laughing at Duke's wounded pride and other things. When we got to Doc's office we have him a smile and calmed our girly giggling. "What happened to him?" Doc asked as he set his papers down. Knowing that admitting to fighting would mean a court martial, Scarlett and I graciously didn't mention Duke.
"He got roughed up in a hand to hand training practice with Snake Eyes"
"Lay him on the table and I'll take a look at him." Doc replied as he opened up a drawer and removed a pair of latex gloves, washed his hands, and put them on. Shaking my head, I left the room quickly. Doc's office was not my favorite place to be. I had this strange fear of doctors offices and I strongly feared needles. I was never good with getting shots. So I often got sick a lot. That made it worse.

Anyways, with Scarlett waiting on the new guy, I was free to wonder around looking for Snake before checking his room. As I always did.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Doc took a small pen light and flashed it at my bruised eye and then had me open my mouth and checked my nose. "Looks like you're going to have one good looking shiner in the morning. You got this in practice with Snake? Didn't you use helmets and safety gear?"

Before I could answer Scarlett stepped in, "He did use gear, but afterwards the new guy here agreed to be used as a demonstration of a take down and he hit the ground" then she turned and looked at me with bright green eyes.

"Is that what happened, son?" Doc asked me.

"Yes" I nodded.

Doc smirked and then laughed, "Right. Well. No brain damage. No broken bones. No missing teeth. Just a black eye. Count yourself lucky. Last time Snake fought one our own, he broke his arm in three places." I was surprised. Doc went to a small fridge and came back with an ice pack. "Put this on your eye" then he wrote up a doctor's note and gave it to me.

At the same time that Sam was wandering about for Snake he had already returned to his room, shut the door and basked in the darkness. He lived a Spartan lifestyle, only the bare necessities for him, a foot table and a throw rug where he did his meditation, and a matt where he slept and a foot locker where he stored what little else he had. His katanas were put on the wall behind his table. He put his blades away and then carefuly took off his mask and black top showing that he was a very scared man from hand to shoulders and down the back.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Doc took a small pen light and flashed it at his bruised eye and then had him open his mouth and checked his nose. "Looks like you're going to have one good looking shiner in the morning. You got this in practice with Snake? Didn't you use helmets and safety gear?" Before he could answer, Scarlett stepped in.
"He did use gear, but afterwards the new guy here agreed to be used as a demonstration of a take down and he hit the ground." Then she turned and looked at him.with bright green eyes.
"Is that what happened, son?" Doc asked him.
"Yes." Doc smirked and then laughed.
"Right. Well. No brain damage. No broken bones. No missing teeth. Just a black eye. Count yourself lucky. Last time Snake fought one our own, he broke his arm in three places."
"Yeah. The only one known to walk away from a practice fight with Snake unharmed, was Sam. Even then I swear he made her come see Doc." Scarlett shrugged. Doc went to a small fridge and came back with an ice pack.
"Put this on your eye." Then he wrote up a doctor's note and gave it to Lennox.

When I couldn't find Snake anywhere else, I went to his room. That's when I heard the brief sound of shuffled movement in the room. Biting my bottom, I sighed and shook my head. No. I should let him rest. Was my thought as I turned to leave.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Scarlett decided to take me back to my room. I could move on my own, but with one guy gone I had trouble with depth perception. I was given a day of rest, what a way to start off my reception here. I wasn't bitter but I was slightly embarrassed because I was sucker punched and then taken down by a ninja, it seems. As we were walking back to my room I was with the redhead Scarlett and I asked, "Who were those two guys?"

"The first one was Duke," she said, "He's one of our NCOs. He's a bit sore at the moment. A lot of personal issues. The other, in black, was Snake Eyes. He's our martial arts and hand to hand combat instructor."

"I can tell" I replied.

With Snake Eyes he had this acute sensory around him. It was as if he could hear a persons' heart beat because once Sam was at his door and then decided to leave and took a few steps because his door slid open and his head appeared. For this brief appearance he had put back on his black mask to hide his scared face from the outside world and seeing Sam there he immediately beckoned her inside his room.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Hearing his door open, I stopped walking and turned to face him a little surprised. "Hey. Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." I said, blushing. I wished I could tell what he was thinking or even see his face. But he must not have been angry about since he rather quickly beckoned me into the room. Without any hesitation, I hurried into the room and closed the door behind me. His room never ceased to amaze me. One moment you would feel like you were in the underground bunk and then the next it was like walking into someone's room in Japan. A banzai tree was on the table where a pillow sat on each side of the table. A teapot and two tea cups were in the room with a burner. And his bed was a futon on the floor propped up some kind of wooden frame. It was ordinary and nothing covered the walls. But I still loved it all the same and often wondered why his floor was done in tatami mats. "Between you and Duke, the new guy really took a beating. Scarlett and I had to bring him to Doc, but once we were there I kinda....took off. I don't really like doctor offices. Never have ever since I was kid. Don't even remember now what scared me." I rambled on before realizing that I was doing so and blushed even brighter with embarrassment. "Oh! Gosh! Sorry. I'm rambling!"
__________________________

"Who were those two guys?" Lennox had asked once they were clear of Doc's office.
"The first one was Duke," said Scarlett as she turned her head to look at him. "He's one of our NCOs. He's a bit sore at the moment. A lot of personal issues. The other, in black, was Snake Eyes. He's our martial arts and hand to hand combat instructor."
"I can tell..." Lennox replied with a mumble.
"Hey, you got lucky. I've seen rookies come out in worse shape than you after a day with Sgt. Stone and Snake Eyes." She said with a slight laugh. "I'm Scarlett, by the way. The other girl from before is Samantha, but she goes by Sam. Do not ever call her Samantha or Sammie. She gets sensitive."

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Snake held out a hand and then cast it aside, a sign of 'don't worry' then beckoned her over to his simple table with the bonzai tree. It was still growing and he had taken a pair of sharpened scissors to them to prune earlier in the day. Inside the tea pot there was a fine brew of green tea. Snake sat down on one rug and waved for her join him on the other side of the table for a cup of tree. He used his hands to sign to her, 'green tea is therapeutic for the body. it helps to relax. I take this before i meditate." He normally didn't have guests, but made a special exception for Sam. When he sat down he took off his mask and placed it beside him, but with the shadows of the dimly lit room Sam could only see his firm jaw and thin lips, but everything above that was in the shadows.

"Right" I nodded towards Scarlett, "I'm Lennox. Just don't call me 'Lennie' " when we reached my room I went to the bed and sat on the edge and continued placing the ice pack to the eye. "If this is the welcoming, I hate to see what your training regime is like" I cracked towards her.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

I smiled at Snake and bowed my head as I took the tea from him. "Thank you. I appreciate it, Snake." I said. Taking a sip of the tea, I nearly choke as he removed his mask. I had never seen him without it. Sadly the shadows of the room kept me from seeing anything but an outline of his face. Pouting behind the cup as I blushed, I coughed a bit and cleared my throat. "I get the vow of silence thing, Snake....but why don't I ever get to see your face?"

"Of all the things to be worrying about and you worry over the training regime? I'd be more worried about what the Vets of this place is gonna do for your initiation tonight." She chuckled. The girls tended to do the more harmless of things. Stay a night in this room, take a shot of this, use the Hologram room with this person as your 'toy'. But the guys...not so much. Or so she had heard.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

"What do you mean?" I asked Scarlett? "I can take that this was an initiation of sorts that got out of hand, but what do the women do to the newcomers? Or, is that only for other women?" I sat there rather curious to know and to keep her around as I needed someone to talk to. I was new and on my own and this welcoming probably alienated me from many others especially from the likes of Duke.

At the same time Snake answered Sam's question by holding up a slender finger and drawing it across his throat from left to right. It was hard to see in the low light, but it was there. There were many deep cuts across his throat, stuff he wanted to keep hidden. Using his hands he signed, "A long time ago, Scarlett and I were on a mission to rescue a man in the desert. Our helicopter began to lose power from sand in the engines then the fuel lines caught fire. The order was given to bail out, but Scarlett was trapped when the sliding hatch slid shut on her chute. I cut her free, but the helicopter slammed into the ground," he used a clenched fist falling into his open palm to simulate a hard crash. "The explosion tore apart my face and cut my vocal cords but I carried her out of the flames."