Gi Joe Down Time Reloaded (Closed)

[Kohana_Xavior19]

"I'm not lying! You're in denial! You were chased right into Zartan's arms!!!" I yelled just before the gun fire started. Looking at the window, I turned back to Storm Shadow. "Storm Shadow, please! You don't have to fight him!!" I tried to plead with him. But he pushed me out of the way and I stumbled back from the force. However, at that moment, smoke grenades were thrown into the room through a blasted open door. Yelping, I moved behind the couch to avoid the smoke and covered my mouth and nose. It's only when some roof debris comes crashing down do I look up to a very welcoming sight. "Snake!!!"

 

[guyloveshotstories]

The two ninjas locked eyes, though Snake could hear Sam. He motioned for her to make a run for it as Scarlett called out, "Clear right". I replied, "Clear left" looking at the crumbled bodies in the snow. The door to the cabin was open and there was a great hole in the roof where the fire glowed through. "Snake's in there" Scarlett said, "Duke, hold your position."

I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Why were we waiting? Why didn't we go in there, together, and just gun this guy down? Five of us against one in our favor, but Rip beat me to the punch and said what I was thinking.

"Remember what happened last time?" Duke said, "He sliced your weapon in half and nearly you before Snake got him. Let 'em fight their own battle. Let's get Sam"

The swords clashed, retracted and came down again. Their muscles strained as they swung and dodged each other moving through the room going towards the fire place.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

I was worried and didn't want to leave them to this senseless fighting. But there was nothing I could do...And this wasn't my fight. "Stay alive..." I said before hurrying out of the door as their fight started. The wind had picked up a bit and I was left blind in the blizzard. "Scarlett!! Duke!!" I called out. Standing still where I was as I looked around. Trying to adjust my eyes to the lack of light around me. "Guys!"
"SAM!!"
"Sam!!" I turned to their voices and felt an overwhelming sense of relief and exhaustion. I couldn't wait to curl up somewhere safe and sleep.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Scarlett began waving above her head to get Sam's attention. The weather was turning foul with a harsh, biting wind sweeping through the trees. Storm Shadow continued to hack away at Snake, flipping over the table and kicking it at Snake who sliced right through it. "Now it's just you and me," Storm Shadow said, "You wouldn't come for me otherwise, brother," meaning that Snake wouldn't come to fight unless he had taken Sam. "Duke, we have Sam" Scarlett reported.

"Yo, man, this mission is done" Rip announced with joy, but Duke wasn't so sure and shook his head.

"Too easy. Twelve Vipers and not a single shot from them. This is too damn easy, even for Cobra. We're missing something here."

"What's there to miss?" Rip bawked as he looked around, "Ain't nothing here but the snow and the bones..." then a single shot cracked.

"What was that?" I called out.

"Incoming fire!" Scarlett shouted then we heard on the horn, "Rip's down!"

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Seeing Scarlett's weave, I trudged my way through the snow to her and was eagerly embraced by Scarlett and Lennox. "Duke, we have Sam." Scarlett reported. I couldn't help but smile. Of course Duke would be here.
"Yo, man, this mission is done!" Came Rip's joyful cry over the ear piece. It made me laugh.
"Too easy. Twelve Vipers and not a single shot from them. This is too damn easy, even for Cobra. We're missing something here."
"Sam, anything helpful you can tell us?"
"You walked right into a-" Then a single shot cracked.
"What was that?!" Lennox cried into the comm. piece.
"Incoming fire!" Scarlett shouted.
"Rip's down!"
"We're not leaving here without Snake!!" I shouted over the fire as Scarlett and Lennox got us out of the line of fire.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Hearing the cries of 'Rip's down!' changed the gears of the mission. Snake locked eyes with Storm Shadow and then threw a gas pellet into his face. Coughing and disoriented for a moment the white ninja lost track of his target who growled, "You're not getting away that easy!" and ran after him. In the snow behind the cabin Duke had dragged Rip behind a fallen log and was dressing his wound.

"Rip took a through and through to the shoulder. I'm dressing it now, but he needs immediate evac," Duke said into his radio. "Got a sniper out there and he's got us dialed in."

On the roof Snake crouched down seeing Duke and Rip behind the log then his head jerked back towards the hole and emerged Storm Shadow. "Fight me!" Storm roared. A gust of wind entered through the holes and fanned the flames of the fire and embers began to fall around quickly igniting the place.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

They had walked right into a trap. Rip was injured and pinned down with Duke by a sniper. Lennox, Scarlett, and I were no different. Taking Scarlett's binoculars, I could make out Snake and Storm Shadow on the roof of the cabin as the blizzard was lit up with the lights of explosions and gunfire. We had to get out of here but we couldn't bring in the helicopter and get Duty and Breaker killed with us. "We have no way out of this...Snake has to make Storm call them off!" I called over all the noise to Scarlett and Lennox. My best friend nodded her head and put a hand to her ears.
"Get him to call off the heat, Snake! We're pinned down!"

 

[guyloveshotstories]

It was a tall order but as the fire continued around them and below them Snake reluctantly sheathed his blade. Down below Duke had stopped the flow of blood but the fire didn't let up. Bullets pinged all around us, kicking up snow and whistling past our heads. Holding up his hands to his chest Snake tries to get Storm to stop, but the white ninja refuses to relent. Holding his sword out in front of him Storm said, "This is going to be the end of it, Snake. I want you, not your friends."

Using his signs Snake related, "Then let them go. This is between you and me. If anything happens to any of them, then it will never end."

It was the truth. This whole thing was for Storm to get his revenge. "Zartan," Storm hissed, "Cease fire."

A drawl was heard on the end, "Aww, and I had the buggers in my sights. That pretty little redhead would add a nice bit of color to the scenery."

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

"Breaker! Duty! Bring down the chopper!"
"Roger that."
"Lennox, go help Duke with Rip." She said. Carefully pulling me to my feet and starting to lead me away from the battle scene.
"What about Snake?! We can't leave him!!"
"He's going to be fine, Sam. You know that. Our original plan was to head back to the PIT and regroup. But Snake wouldn't have it. He went right to the pilots and gave them your location. He knew right where to find you." I fell silent as she lead me through the blizzard until we heard the familiar sounds of the Helicopter. Breaker and Scarlett helped me on and we waited for Duke and Lennox to arrive behind us with Rip. All I could do now...was hope Snake made it out alive.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

The flames continued to eat up the cabin. I hustled around the flames and found Duke and Rip still behind the log. Hefting the big guy up Duke shouted, "Help me!" taking him by the waist we hustled out of there out of fear that more bullets were coming. Rendezvous with Scarlett and Sam we looked back to see the cabin almost entire consumed with flames as Snake and Storm were still up there, the latter holding his swords towards Snake, "They are going to go, but you will stay."

"They're getting away" Zartan hissed. "I got them all lined up in my sights."

"Let them go" Storm warned.

"Bloody hell. There's all of them. Five of 'em all bundled up like ducks in a row," Zartan smiled as he watched us beat a retreat.

"I have what I want" Storm said.

"And I have what I want," Zartan replied, "Cobra Commander would pay six times what you offered for their heads."

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Horrified, I watched as the flames are away at the cabin. "SNAKE!!" I scream. Wanting him to just take this one blow to pride and run! To get out of there before the building collapsed on them. "SNAKE, COME ON!!"
"Let's go, Sam!"
"No, I am not leaving him!"
"I said let's go!"
"NO!" I struggled against Scarlett's hold as Lennox and Duke got Rip on board. And as they did....the flames swelled up into the night sky as dark ugly smoke that blinded us to anything more. I knew I was crying when I felt something wet hit my cheek. And I lost all control. I started screaming for Snake Eyes. Trying to get off the helicopter as my friends held me back. I didn't even register what they were saying around me but I'm sure I heard something about Zartan and how we had to go.

After that...there's a sting to my arm and I'm quickly swallowed by darkness as we head home.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

The ride back to the PIT was quiet. We all knew what had happened but didn't want to say it. Sam took it the hardest as I tended to Rip's wound. Breaker sent the signal back to the PIT that we had Sam but lost Snake. He was alive, but now a prisoner. Didn't seem like a good trade to get one and lose one, but Hawk acknowledged this bitterly and told us that we would be debriefed when we got back. Lying on a bench Rip was fading in and out from the loss of blood. When he saw the redhead he couldn't help but smile and try to say something witty but Duke held him down, "Easy, lovebird". It was my first combat and I was a bit shaken up by this, but I was unharmed despite all of this and took down four Vipers. In a way, I felt that I was a winner but looking over at the tearful Sam it came as a huge defeat.

The cabin was now consumed by the flames. His blades and weapons gone Snake now had his hands bound behind his back. His weapons taken away Storm and Snake waited as from the dark forest Zartan appeared with a beaming smile behind his blackened face and behind him was his Dreadnoks that cackled at the sight of the consumed cabin and then at the black ninja.

"What say we taken he mask off and show his face to the world" Buzzer said with a smile as he approached Snake.

But before he could pull off the mask Storm sliced down with his blade within inches of Buzzer as a dire warning. "He's mine."

"A'right, boss, no need for hostility here," Buzzer smiled.

Storm had his katana blades forged by the Arashikage clan, a metal that could never break, as Zartan took the other goodies that he called 'fancy toys'. Led through the snow Storm, Zartan and his Dreadnoks, and their new prisoner mounted their vehicles and moved out.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

When I finally came too, I was in the med lab hooked up to an IV, heart rate monitor, and my arm cast changed and in a new sling. I still felt numb because all I could see and think of was the cabin in flames and Snake gone. Whispered voices were outside my door and I blankly stared at it. It sounded like the voices belonged to Doc and someone else. Maybe Hawk? It didn't sound like Duke. It missed his accent. Closing my eyes again, I turned my head so my hair blocked the light from my face and tried to block out the world. Again. I wasn't in the mood to care what was being said to me and I wasn't going to talk unless I have too. I just wanted to be left alone. I just.....wanted Snake back.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Those of us left standing were ushered in a briefing room where Hawk was upset with everything. The security of the base had been compromised and now Snake, his trusted soldier, was captured. Having Sam back wouldn't fill the hole he was feeling. "You say that Storm Shadow has him?" the General said.

"Yes, sir," Duke replied as he stood before him at attention. "He was working with Zartan. Apparently it was their ploy the entire time, to get Snake."

None of them fully understood why and Hawk turned away and shook his head. "We'll get him back. We will. Right now we have to try and track their movements and we're struggling with getting our computers back online. The nerds that run them are having trouble with that. Dial Tone is in the hospital." Se was the best of the nerds.

"What are we going to do?" Scarlett enquired.

"We're going to keep going," Hawk said to us, "We're going to get things rolling again. We may have to move our base, though. Our position has been compromised."

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

In the debriefing room, the gathered Joes stood before Hawk at attention. "You say that Storm Shadow has him?" General Hawk asked.
"Yes, sir," Duke replied as he stood before him at attention. "He was working with Zartan. Apparently it was their ploy the entire time, to get Snake."
"Sam kept trying to tell us it was a trap. My guess is that she was taken because Storm Shadow knew Snake would..."
"Would go for her, sir." None of them fully understood why and Hawk turned away. Shaking his head.
"We'll get him back. We will. Right now we have to try and track their movements and we're struggling with getting our computers back online. The nerds that run them are having trouble with that. Dial Tone is in the hospital."
"Not to mention Sam."
"What are we going to do?" Scarlett enquired.
"We're going to keep going," Hawk said. "We're going to get things rolling again. We may have to move our base, though. Our position has been compromised."
"Sir, is it safe to be moving Sam so soon after what she has been through?" Scarlett asked. Concerned for her best friend.
"Sir...Sam isn't...she's not..."
"In her best of best conditions. She was a wreck when Snake was taken."
"I had to sedate her."

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Sam would be out of action for a while, even if her arm heals there would be a lot of other things that had to be worked out. "I don't know either way," Hawk said, "we may have to move her. There's no telling how long we have until Cobra decides to launch another assault. We'll be moving to Site 4," that place was a good forty miles away buried into a mountain. "I'm having the rest of our equipment and personnel moved there in a couple of hours. They're packing now," then he points a finger at each of us, "You are to pack as well. Scarlett, you're Sam's friend, you'll pack for her. Duke, you'll pack for Rip. You did a damn good job getting her back. Don't let it fall over you about what happened. There will be a next time. Get to it."

As I stepped out of the room I didn't feel like a hero and couldn't look at the others as they stepped out of the room. Rip was down as well we were losing people left and right. It wouldn't surprise me if soon it would be just me, Scarlett, and Duke. Going back to my room there wasn't much to do as my gear was still in its rucksack and duffle.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

"I don't know either way," Hawk said. "We may have to move her. There's no telling how long we have until Cobra decides to launch another assault. We'll be moving to Site 4." Site 4 was a good forty miles away and buried into a mountain. "I'm having the rest of our equipment and personnel moved there in a couple of hours. They're packing now." He would turn and point a finger at each of them. "You are to pack as well. Scarlett, you're Sam's friend, you'll pack for her."
"Yes, sir."
"Duke, you'll pack for Rip."
"Yes, sir."
"You did a damn good job getting her back. Don't let it fall over you about what happened. There will be a next time. Get to it."
"YES, SIR!" They all responded. Scarlett watched Lennox go with his head down and looking like they lost rather than succeeded in their main objective.
"Kid better find a tougher skin. We'll see a lot worse after this..."
"Sam has a tough skin and she still fell apart. We're human Duke. It's okay for us to show some emotions every once in a while. You should try it." She patted his shoulder then headed back for the girls bunks to pack for her and Sam.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

In their room Duke was gathering up Rip's gear. He pulled down several of their pictures they took together in better times where they practiced their small arms and during their partying then there was the one they took after he proposed. It was...a better time. He found it hard to picture the wise cracking Rip now laid up in the aid station, it was something that he could have prevented.

After gathering up my gear I went out into the hall waiting for the next thing to do when I saw Duke coming with his arms full of bags. He looked at me and said, "You're all packed?"

"Yes" I replied with a firm nod.

"Okay. Good," with a low voice, "Come with me" and we went into the motorpool where others were throwing their gear onto the back of several five-tons.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

When Scarlett had finished packing her bag and Sam's, she takes a moment to do a double sweep. Making sure she had grabbed all their belongings that couldn't be spared to be left behind. Satisfied with her sweeps, she heads out to meet up with Duke and Lennox to deposit their bags before going to pay Rip and Sam a visit in the med bay. They needed to be made aware of their possible move.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

When Rip was being prepped to move he said the redhead grace him with her presence to tell them of our move but he was high on pain killers that he was numb but still managed to smile and say, "Heeeey" but that was all he could say.

In the motorpool Duke and I were standing next to one another in a rather mute fashion. There wasn't much we could say to each other. But I finally forced myself to ask, "Have you ever been to the new site?"

"No" Duke said shaking his head, "Some damn place in the mountain. I don't even know how big it is" shrugging his shoulders. He was still simmering mad about Rip. He wanted to kill Storm Shadow and Zartan for what happened but he didnt know how to find them. "If we get Dial Tone back..." he went on "then we will be able to track those awards."

I didn't know Dial Tone but didn't want to ask as we had lost so many already but I looked around at all of the gathering faces and wonders where Scarlett was.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

Scarlett would knock on Sam's door to her room. "Come in..." Opening the door, Scarlett would smile and come into the room.
"Hey. How are you feeling?" Sam doesn't answer. "Look, I know you're upset over Snake, but we're going to get him back. Right now though, we need to change our location. The PIT isn't safe."
"We can't go to the mountains....Snake won't know where to find us if he gets free..." Sam said blankly. Scarlett sighed and sat down beside on the bed.
"Sam. You have to come back to us. Snap out of your delusional and pain numbing world. Snake wouldn't want you like this. You know that." Sam looked at her with a bit of anger. How dare she saw speak like she knew how Snake would want her to act?! That wasn't fair of anyone! She didn't know Snake the way Sam did! "I packed your things. Be ready to move to site 4 with us. You and Rip will be moved together." She would hug Sam and kiss her forehead before leaving the room.

 

[guyloveshotstories]

In the motor pool we were still waiting as people began boarding trucks as well as helicopters. To my surprise I found Beachhead there with a clipboard directing people to their places, still wearing his balaclava prompting me to whisper with a quick point of the finger to the man, "Does he ever take off his mask?"

"Mostly not" Duke replied.

"Why does he wear it?"

"Everyone has their theories. Some say that he's scared others think it's like a war mask, but no one knows for sure. He's been wearing it as long as I've been here," Duke replied.

The line continued to dwindle until it was our turn and Beachhead lifted up his eyes at Duke, "Hey, Duke" rather friendly like, "You're on this one" pointing with a thumb over his shoulder to the truck behind him, but when he saw me, his demeanor changed, "You're with him, Maggot." Even know I haven't earned the respect needed to shed 'maggot' into a real call sign like 'Duke'. Boarding the truck Beachhead lifted up and pinned the tail gate into place saying that the others would be on the next truck.

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

When Rip and I arrived to the trucks, we were loaded onto a truck that didn't have Duke, Lennox, Scarlett, or any of them on it. That didn't mean we didn't know some of the Joe's we were with. For instance, we had Dial Tone. I was so happy to see her alive. She had her arm in a sling to keep any further damage done to the through and through of her shoulder wound. There was nothing to do but wait out the ride. Laying down on the seat with my head on Dial Tone's lap, I fell into an uneasy sleep. Dreaming of Snake and the horrible things that must have been happening to him. Because of me...

 

[guyloveshotstories]

Storm Shadow arrived at their destination. Snake was taken inside a large, underground bunker with a hood over his head. Flanked by Dreadnoks, Vipers, the white ninja, and Zartan Snake didn't like his odds, but he knew that he was going in for a lot of pain. The group rode an elevator down and when the doors opened it revealed a large, open bay room of polished concrete.

"I'm taking Snake to his holding cell" Storm Shadow said.

"Why con't we take 'im?" Chopper asked, "We's can 'undle im"

"He'll easily kill all of you" Storm Shadow replied, "Normally I would enjoy watching him, but I want him for the Dr. Mindbender's brain-wave scanner."

"You're not going to kill him?" Zartan asked. "That was the original plan"

"It was" Storm Shadow said, "But, if we wipe his mind and turn him into my loyal subject, he'll lead us to where Gi Joe is. They're moving to another base and he knows where it is."

Climbing on board our truck and moving out I sat next to Duke and asked, "How do you guys get your call signs?"

"Mostly it's earned" he replied having to raise his voice over the engine, "You do something or have a habit that the others pick up on," putting his own thumb to his chest, "I got Duke as a joke from Ripcord. He called me thought it was 'cute' to name me Duke."

"But why Duke?" I asked.

"We watched John Wayne movies and when we were in the field, Rip said the way I carried myself reminded him of John Wayne."

"Could be worse" I said, "He could have named you after the dog"

 

[Kohana_Xavior19]

The whole trip there, Dial Tone watched over her friend diligently. Soothing her whenever Sam whimpered in her sleep and muttered out Snake's name. There were a few times she woke up screaming, and only one time where nothing seemed to settle her or keep her from thrashing around. Sam had to be sedated then. Dial Tone was worried for her friend. With Snake gone, it was like something inside of Sam was broken. "...What are we going to do with you, Sam?" She muttered to herself. Running her fingers through her friends matted and messy hair.