The three men were abrasively shoved ahead. Shipwreck could hear the doctor being chided by his former employees.
Then he heard a multitude of feet shuffling about. The gangly hands that held him promptly released their grip. He listened as the sound of fighting and yelling occurred. Their Cobra attackers were being attacked! Suddenly his blindfold was ripped off and his hands unbounded. Trying to focus his eyes, he saw Lifeline and Englevart to his left. Straight in front of him, he saw dark-skinned men in tattered clothes. Some with weapons. They had formed an arc around the men. Fierce eyes weighed heavily on them. The sailor gathered that from only half the Cobra troops lying unconscious, that the remaining had escaped.
“No! Oh, no!” Shipwreck eyed the doctor as the man grumbled out. One man began to approach the Joes.
The bearded Joe stepped forward. “Uh, hi ya,” he comically said. Lifeline put his hand on Shipwreck’s shoulder and leaned in.
“I think these are the Indians Dusty mentioned–the Tarahumara.”
“Yes, and they’re after me!” Dr. Englevart screamed. “They want revenge for what I’ve done!”
He broke down before he could finish. “I never wanted to hurt an-y-one.”
“Hey, look,” Shipwreck started but was interrupted.
“You will come with us,” the Indian spoke that had come to the forefront. His left hand resting on the neck on his rifle.
“No, no, no……no, no!” The doctor’s pleadings were becoming high pitched.
“Someone shut him up–he's flippin’ out here," Shipwreck said. Glancing back at the Joe medic, he added, “I guess anyone who bumps heads with Cobra can’t be all that bad.” Lifeline followed, holding on to the doctor, as Shipwreck grudgingly walked after the Indians.
………. ……….. ………..
“The Baroness-and Cobra-know we’re here-if they didn’t already,” he explained. “They may try to uproot everything and vanish. We’ve got to get the word out,somehow.First,we find out for sure Shipwreck and Lifeline are in the village and see if they have any information. If so, we take action.”
He held a compass in his upright hand. “If we can’t find them, one of us will stay here and keep an eye on Cobra’s movement. The others hike out in the direction we came in and hope we can run into someone who might have seen the warehouse blaze. I’ll stay here.”
“I don’t like the thought of leavin’ you here, Duke,” Dusty spoke out. “We don’t even know that Lifeine and Shipwreck are with the Tarahumara.”
“I don’t like it either,” Duke said, “but as team leader, it’s the best plan, and I get the duty.”
Dusty tried to speak up but was cut off. “We are here.” The lead Indian gestured to the Joes.
Duke, Gung-Ho, and Dusty entered the home of the Indians. “Time’s slipping away from us. We’ll get you guys prepped and……”
“Duke!” A voice rang out.
The three Joes met up with their long lost medic. “Man,” Gung-Ho laughed, “are you a sight for sore eyes!”
After the comrades had an emotional reunion, Duke asked Lifeline, “Uh, Shipwreck. Did he….”
A commotion turned their attention towards another part of the large adobe-like room.
“Eh, you don’t have to worry about nuttin’ because I’m in charge,” the sailor’s voice boomed with confidence. Shipwreck had entered with his arms around two attractive Tarahumara women. They seemed to be impressed by the seaman. Both had smiles on their face.
“Ya’ see,” Shipwreck continued to story tell. “My men have to answer to me. Yep, I’m the Captain here and……”
Shipwreck quickly choked on his words after seeing his sergeant. “Duke!” He lifted his arms over the women and came up to the group. “Man, is it great to see you guys! We thought you’d bought the farm.”
Duke grinned. “Not quite.”
“Uh, hey,” Shipwreck said, pointing behind him with his free hand, “that stuff I just said, uh, you know back there, I was just foolin’ around.”
Duke put a little extra on his handshake with the sailor. “I’m sure it was,” he said, cracking a smile. “ Let’s just hope you have the same spunk for what’s next.”
……… ……… ………
The Commander donned his combat helmet.
“I don’t think it’s a wise decision…..” Tamox warned.
“…..to put yourself in the line of fire,” Xamot said.
Cobra Commander turned to face the brothers. “Shut up! If it weren’t for your incompetence early on, this wouldn’t be happening! Now our location and project will have to be scraped.”
“Not necessarily, Commander,” Dr. Mindbender spoke. “We still have all our information to proceed elsewhere.”
“With what?" Cobra Commander yelled. “You’ve wasted far too many test subjects and you still can’t control these creations!”
“In due time, Commander. We are just scratching the surface with these magnificent creations.”
“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” I’m taking control before anything else goes wrong.” He ordered some troops to follow him towards the Cobra Fight Pods a.k.a. Trouble Bubbles.
“Commander, we don’t believe you should put yourself in harm’s way,” Xamot started to say.
The silver platted mask turned back. “Your quite right. I will put you in harm’s way. Because you two will lead the attack!”
The Crimson twins reluctantly moved.
Facing Dr. Mindbender, he said, “Our little project has gone rather sour, but not all is lost. No one will know about any of our planning with the doctor dead. Except for the Joes, and that problem I am taking care of as we speak! HAHAHAHAHHA!!
………. ……….. ……….
“That’s when we ran into Englevart. He’s in pretty bad shape,” Lifeline reported. The five Joes now knew where the Cobra base was located –thanks to Dr. Englevart. The team had boldly decided to infiltrate the base long enough to pinpoint their exact location. They also took this time to fill each other in on their respective adventures.
“Apparently, Cobra got wind of Englevart’s rendezvous with us. That’s why the bar was full of Cobras. He then slipped a piece of paper to Shipwreck before he got caught by Cobra.”
Duke, keeping his voice down to a minimum, picked up where the rescue trooper left off. “The formulas were DNA arrangements for the creatures and the numbers are one of the many codes for the entrance.”
“Right,” Lifeline whispered back. “They can’t change a code for 24 hours.”
Duke looked at his watch. “Which doesn’t give us much time.”
Shipwreck was sharing point with Gung-Ho.
“All this number talk and DNA jive is gettin’ me tired,” Shipwreck huffed out loud. “Why all this cloak and dagger junk? Let’s just pop the code and blast some Cobras. Heck, me and Gung-Ho can take on the whole lot of landlubbers.”
Duke wiped his brow, cringing at the loud-mouthed sailor. “You soon will get that chance if you don’t keep quiet.”
He stopped them in their tracks. After a long break, Shipwreck impatiently asked, “What are we waiting for?”
The first sergeant listened attentively. “That.” He pointed up in the sky. Through the treetops the five Joes could see Cobra aircraft passing by.
“After crashing the Baroness’ party, I knew Cobra would try to clear out. Our odds are cut in half.” He looked at the soldiers. “It’s our best shot.”
The soldiers plunged through the damp and muddy ground. The weeks down pour had kept the area like a swamp. They came to a clearing. Few trees aligned the scenery. Something seemed awkward about the unleveled ground.
“Let’s keep within a 10 foot radius of the tree line,” Duke called out. “ Back this way, and watch your footing.”
The five Joe members kicked and upturned mud, grass and water as they pressed forward. With Duke at point and Shipwreck and Dusty right behind, spread wide, they hoped to make themselves harder targets.
“What about we’re too late?” Shipwreck whined, as they trotted along. “What if Cobra’s got rid of everything? The old man already said that half his men were either experimented on or dead.”
Duke moved some hanging vines away. “If we made the trek back to Bernie, Cobra for sure would be long gone.” He paused to catch a breath. “Besides, the Indians only encountered ten or less creatures to this point. Which means the rest of the villagers must be held captive. That’s enough reason in itself.”
Lifeline didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news but he reminded the others. “According to the formula that Englevart gave Shipwreck and the notes found at the shack, there was only a one in ten chance of the DNA responding.” He looked up ahead at Duke, Dusty and Shipwreck. “In other words,” Lifeline said dejectedly. “It’s a strong possibility that the other natives didn’t live through the tests and were discarded.”
“That’s a lot of people to have crammed all in a small Cobra base,” Dusty said. He recalled what the Cobra defector had told them about the Cobra compound before they dispatched.
Lifeline slipped and almost tumbled. “Watch it, Lifeline,” Gung-Ho smiled, covering the rear. “We don’t want……AAAHHHHH!!”
Lifeline and his teammates turned and just glimpsed the marine sink below the ground.
“What the…” Shipwreck blurted out, standing still in shock.
“There must be a hidden trap! Move it!” Duke commanded as they retraced their steps.
Lifeline and Shipwreck were on their knees. “It’s a lake, but it’s been covered,” Lifeline informed them.
Air bubbles were released as the marine continued to plunge down to the bottom of the murky water. He struggled with vines that had formed a pretzel around him. He moved his vest sides out of view and unlatched the case from his left foot to remove his survivor knife.
THUD!
He landed on his back at the bottom, not more than 15-ft from the surface. Sand and mud surrounded him as he hit. Finding a large rock at the bottom, he pushed himself up. Swimming upward, he yanked at the last vine around his shoulder. Bringing it around his chest, something white came with it. A human arm!
A rush of panic overcame the Joe. He twisted his body. A human skeleton was half meshed in the lake floor. One, two, three, he counted. Also to his left. Now he knew……
“I going in!” Duke hollered.
“Same here!” Dusty exclaimed.
As they tossed their weapons down, the marine came up out of the water.
“I got him, I got him!” Shipwreck yelled. He grabbed the choking marine by his arm and began to pull him in. The others helped.
“C’mon, big guy,” Duke said, lifting him up. “Didn’t you know unauthorized swimming is off limits?”
Shipwreck and Duke had him by the arms. He tried to communicate but Duke held him back. “Hold on. Catch your breath.”
On his knees, with his hands on his hips, he said, “I…I found...them. Lifeline’s…right.”
Duke put his hand on the shaken up Joe. “Found who? Lifeline’s right about what?” Lifeline adjusted his new glasses as Duke spoke to Gung-Ho.
“The captured Indians,” Gung-Ho said, his face flushed and drenched in water. A stern look was plastered on the Joe as he finished. “ I found them. All of them.”
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
Gasping for breath the big man heaved the air in and out of his lungs. He looked at his fellow Joes.
“Gung Ho what are you talking about?” Duke said as the medic and the sailor pulled the man out.
“I found them all, they are dead! In the bottom of the lake” Gung Ho said regaining his breath.
“That cannot be, maybe it is a burial site that was flooded by all the rain” Dusty said.
“it could be either, I mean the DNA…” Lifeline said as he was cut off by the first sergeant.
“We know Lifeline…”
“Ok we cannot be sure…”Dusty said again standing up. Lifeline slowly stood up steadying the big Marine.
“Either way “ the big marine let his sentence die.
“OK lets get moving, try to be a little more careful” Duke said.
They had reached a dry patch of ground with trees in the forest. All of them covered in mud .
They looked around.
“It should be here somewhere” Duke said looking about.
“Maybe it is not here Duke“ Shipwreck said.
“No, it is here. They gave me precise directions.” WE just have to find it.” Duke said.
The group looked to the rocks ahead of them. If cobra had someplace it sure did not look like here. The sun was above them
The joes Walked along the wall for the umpteenth time. Still no luck.
“I do not like it Duke” gung Ho said.
“This is giving me the creeps and we are open season for Cobra, I can feel them watching” the marine continued
“They might be but we have to take the chance.” Duke said
“Why could that doctor not just give us the front door instead?” Shipwreck said
“Well we might have had it had you not started the barfight”Dusty said.
“How was I to know???” Shipwreck said."You know you guys keep on..."
“Ok Enough!’ Duke said.
“Well either way we have to find a way in , so keep looking”Duke stated.
“You smell that?” Shipwreck said.
“Are you out of you mind” the marine said.
Lifeline kept quiet watching from afar.
“What does it smell like” Lifeline asked
“Food,” Shipwreck said
“Now I know you are crazy” lifeline said.
“No” gung Ho said” Now that you mention it, I smell it too”
“Where is it coming from?” Duke said
“It has to be from around here” Dusty replied.
The joes started to follow their noses. Looking everywhere.
Scratching in the dirt and feeling the wall.
Just then.
“I found it” Dusty yelled.
He started to brush the dirt away as the others ran over. Right before then in the wall of rock was a slit
“it is a vent” Duke said”If that is there we know there is a way in with that.”
Messing with the dirt over coating, concealed under a stone was a keypad for the maintance man.
“Well here we go” Duke said” Keep your fingers crossed”
He punched in the numbers, the vent opened to a maintained shaft.
“Come on, lets get some cobras!” the marine said being the first to go in. Shipwreck shrugged and the others followed him into the maintained tunnel.
Cobra security….
A small blip on the screen.
A guard walked over to his computer.
“Hey what is up with this?” One asked the other.
“I do not know.” the other said”Maintance?’
“No I do not know of a work ticket on anything.”
Looking closer he saw four figures.
Then across his screen
ALERT ALERT INTRUDERS IN THE BUILDING!
ACCESS VECTOR 12.
ALERT!!!!
Both looked at each other
“The Joes!’ The guard closest picked up the handset to get word to Cobra Commander.
In the Maintance shaft…….
The joes looked up as the alarms went off….Red lights flashing
“I think they know we are here boys” Shipwreck said.
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
The ragged man watched as the aircrafts flew overhead.
“Their too late. Your rescuers are too late.” The man was fidgeting with his hands inside his labcoat.
“Cobra will destroy any remaining evidence – including us!”
The doctor just got cold stares in return.
“Not that it matters, anyhow,” the scientist rambled on, just on the verge of a complete breakdown. “The creatures are still out, and they’ll kill us-all of us. There’s just no hope left.”
He turned to face his makeshift guardians. They appeared to be oblivious to the Cobra defector’s ranting and raving.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Englevart approached the Indian tribesmen. “Your sitting here so....so....pathetic-like. Don’t you know that we’re all going to die!” His voice rose with a blend of anger and frustration.
“We can’t just sit here and wait for your so-called Joe heroes. They’ll never make it. We got to try to escape!”
The Tarahumara just gazed back with passive expressions.
The doctor grabbed the shirt of the closest Indian and shook him. “Are you all so stupid? You have no understanding of what’s coming into shape here, do you?”
The Indian returned the doctor’s stare. The doctor roughly released his grip on the man’s shirt. As he turned away, he said, “ Poverty-stricken imbeciles! I’m in my last hours stuck with an uneducated group of morons! This is a nightmare…..” Dr.Englevart began to break down. His hands covered his face in self-pity.
“No, doctor. We comprehend more than you may think,” Sahuaripa spoke, coming from out of nowhere. “It is you who have failed to understand the dire consequences of your actions.”
The wise man leisurely strolled up to face the ex-Cobra.
“Kill me then, that’s what you want to do!” Englevart spat. “You want it and I deserve it! So do it!”
Years of wisdom seemed to permeate out of the aged face of the Tarahumara.
“Sudden death would be quite effortless on your part, doctor,” Sahuaripa said.
The old man began to walk away. As he spoke, he turned his head toward the worn-down doctor. “ No. I am afraid the nightmare you refer to is just beginning………….”
………….. ………….. ……………
The pilot was barely audible above the twin propellers of the Tomahawk.
“Second time out – and nothin’,” the southern cowboy drawled. “I shoulda’ disobeyed orders and stayed with ‘em.”
Wild Bill manned the cockpit giving the area one more inspection. “I reckon that......would ya’ lookie there!” The Joe adjusted his shades. Just over the horizon, a plume of Cobra planes shot out.
“So there’s where they’ve been a hidin’,” Wild Bill gathered. “You boys ready back there? One more time around and I’d have to shake the sleepies from my eyes.”
The mountain climber stepped forward. Some greenshirts filled the back. “Well, it’s no fun riding in a helicopter when the pilot’s sleeping,” Alpine quipped.
With that, Alpine and the rest prepared to bring in the back up.
The Joes exchanged worrisome glances at the sound of the alarms. Soon every Cobra within the compound would merge in.
“We ain’t gonna make it without a fight,” Gung-Ho replied, checking his weapon.
Duke feverishly surveyed the tight corridor. The others followed.
Shipwreck looked in both directions. “There!” The sailor was pointing at a ventilation shaft above. It appeared wide enough for an average-sized man.
“Gung-Ho!” The marine cupped his hands at the first sergeant’s words. The sound of scuffling feet and agitated voices neared.
“We're not all gonna make it,” Gung-Ho pushed his opinion. Shipwreck was lifted up by the husky Joe and began to unscrew the casing.
Duke, Dusty, Lifeline and Gung-Ho watched up ahead. Any minute they would be surrounded.
“Got it!” The sailor was crouched in the shaft.
Duke called an audible. “Shipwreck, get in and find a communications set-up and see if there are any captive natives left. Dusty, you follow him.”
Dusty turned back. “What about the rest of you?”
“We don’t have time for all of us to get up,” Duke hurried. “We’ll take the bait. Now move!”
Dusty placed the casing back on the vent opening. Just in time, as a dozen Cobra Vipers rounded the bend. “Drop your weapons! You’re out numbered!”
Gung-Ho bent low and placed his gun on the concrete as the lead Viper barked out the command. Each enemy gave off the impression that they had very itchy trigger fingers. The three Joes raised their hands above their heads. Gung-Ho and Lifeline looked questioningly at Duke – who looked all out of answers……
Head moderator
Posts: 131
(10/16/03 8:32 pm) Reply
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
Duke, Gung Ho and Lifeline put their hands up above their heads. The leader of the group walked up to them as the others kept their weapons trained on the menThe cobra sergeant patted the men down looking for any other weapons. He found the medics knife and took it.
“ I do not want you getting any ideas and trying to be a hero” the cobra trooper said as he put it in his pocket.
“Now follow me!” he said as he let the three men with him down the hall and closed the door behind him. The wall outside looked once again like the part of the desert wall to the untrained eye.
Dusty and Shipwreck looked through the grate as all unfolded below. Dusty put a finger to his lips to keep the sailor quiet as they listened to what was being said. The watched the group leave with the cobra troopers.
Dusty and Shipwreck started to follow the ventilation system to see where it went, they hoped in the right direction.
Cobra Commander smiled behind the silver mask. He rubbed his hand together. He had finally caught the Joes. He knew what he would do after humiliating them he would hand them over to Mindbender . He walked over and sat down on the throne.
The Joes arrived. He saw it was Duke, the crazy marine and the pacifist medic.
“So this is the team the US sent to stop me? I cannot believe it.” I mean Duke do you really think you would have gotten the info from the good doctor in time?” cobra commander hissed.
“WE let him live, but he did escape before we could try his experiment on him. But he found out. What a pity, they will get him in the end either way.” Cobra Commander continued.
“But you could not control them yourself Cobra Commander, we hear of what they did to a squad of yours” Duke said.
“Well, that may be true but you see we sent that group out as a example. The Doctor got lucky that is all” Cobra Commander sneered” You will not be that lucky”
“I hope you like the accommodations Joes”
With that the men were shoved. They left the throne room. The walked down another corridor. They reached a door it was opened to the men’s horror there were rows and rows of cells. Some had the missing Indians in them. They looked normal and were alive.
Lifeline looked at Gung Ho with a sigh of relief.
“He was shoved into a cell, the door slammed behind him as was the same with Duke and Gung Ho. The guards left.
After they left in the halls the three men could hear the whisperings of a language they could not understand.
“You think they would understand us if we asked” the big Marine asked Duke in the next cell.
“Maybe, maybe not” Duke said looking about
Then they heard it, “You we can hear you. We also understand. Maybe we can help each other” the voice said quietly.
“Who are you?” the first sergeant asked.
“I am one of the surviving, there are not many of us left as some have been changed and some have died. “ the voice continued. “We cannot escape, we have tried”
“Help is on the way, just give them time” Duke said.
“Have all of you had experiments done on you” Lifeline asked
“No, but they will in time”
A door opened a familiar figure walked in.
Dr. Mindbender.
“Ah the joes, they will do even better. They are strong, and will most likely survive too or maybe not. You are next in the morning” he said smiling and left.
“Duke we do not have much time” the big Marine said.
“I know” the first sergeant said, as he looked at his watch.
Dusty and Shipwreck met a T in the shaft.
“left or Right?” Dusty asked
“I say Right” Shipwreck replied.
“Then we go Left” Dusty said as he started to crawl. The sailor gave a puzzled look and followed. The kept going till the got to another grate. They looked down, it looked like Dr. Mindbenders lab……………………..
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
“C-o-b-r-a A-t-t-a-c-k!”
The blue clad leader, now donning his battle helmet, was calling the shots for the assault. Now that he had personally seen the capture of the Joes, the only witnesses to the Cobra genetic program were those that had ‘un’voluntarily been included – the Tarahumara.
With the containment of the Joes, eradication of these minor pests was all that was left unfinished.
KABOOM!
Xamot and Tomax’s squadron were showering the natives’ land with cluster bombs - planting the canisters to create kill zones for those Indians not annihilated.
“Leader squadron,” the high pitched, snake-like voice spoke, “once you finish off the Tarahumara, dispose of the experiments.”
“What of….” Xamot squawked.
“….Dr. Mindbender?” Tomax said.
A patronizing rip came over the radio. “He doesn’t pay you and I am in charge, you idiots!”
Cobra Commander followed up his statement. “I’ve lead you in this crucial mission while the ‘fearless’ doctor is playing babysitter to the Joes.”
Tomax and Xamot looked at each other. “I feel safer already,” they quipped simultaneously.
Down below, the Indians were watching the Cobra planes overhead –and their fate play out. Sahuaripa, his arms around a child, looked up apprehensively.
In his native tongue, he ushered the little boy. “Go. Tell the others we must leave.”
Englevart strolled up, his hands in his labcoat. “And what plans do you have up your sleeve now, old man?”
Without even a reflex, the wise elder replied softly, “We have places that are a haven for safety.” The Indian hurried off.
The doctor, out of hope and on his last leg, followed, nervously looking up at each passing Cobra jet. He knew exactly why they were here.
SWISH! BOOM!
More and more explosions were wiping out any remnants of the native’s habitat. Men, women and children were scurrying about. Women huddled and covered their children. The men leading the way to sanctuary were praying for time.
The ex-Cobra watched in horror as the scene unfolded around him. A bomb exploded only a few feet from him. He covered his head, expecting the shards of metal at ballistic speeds to cut right through him. He removed his hands from his head. He heard wailing in a different language. To his left, afar off, he saw a Tarahumara woman kneeling over a motionless man. Her face was immersed in tears.
The doctor immediately grabbed at his pocket of his overcoat. He scrunched at the picture of his wife that he kept with him at all times. It was a sullen reminder of what he had to do. A feeling of remorse fell over him as he took a step in the woman’s direction. Just as soon as it came - it left. With a look of hatred, he hurriedly ran in the opposite way, following the panicked Indians in retreat to their’ hideaways. He knew he must leave now to find his ticket out of death.
........... ............ ............
The scientist threw open the door and drug in a dark-skinned man. The look in the Indian’s face was one of sheer terror. The face of the Cobra scientist was etched in wrath.
At first, the two Joes couldn’t make out the rambling and mumbling until the caped – figure moved under the grate covering.
“Cobra Commander is making a mockery of my experiments,” Dr. Mindbender said infuriated. “I am so close to a solution that I can taste it!”
He slung the young man against a stationary-like board. One like a magician would use to throw knives at an unwilling victim. Something came off the Indian’s body - something bright and shiny.
From up above, the sailor looked down in the corner at the object that had landed there. It looked to be a small blue band. A bracelet?
“Hey, what’s creepy gonna do to that guy?” Shipwreck whispered. Dusty put a finger to his lips.
“Everything I worked for has been destroyed!” Mindbender exploded. He grabbed the young man’s jaw as he spoke. “But, I have one last shot at redemption before this base – and project -are terminated!”
………… ………… ………….
The swarm of the enemies’ planes drove the inhabitants towards safety. Two Indians argued in their own language, obviously of the dire consequences of not moving swiftly enough. Other tribe members were fleeing all around them. One Indian had his hands pulling the other man by his wrists. The man was yelling back, holding his ground.
“My wife! I have to wait for my wife!”
“You must hurry! There is only room left for two in the cave. You may not have time to get to another cave.”
After repeating the warning, the second man ran off. The other returned to find his wife. Even though the Tarahumara are also known as the Raramuri (ones that run) from chasing a deer unto the deer drops from exhaustion, no one can out run a bomb.
“Ophelia! Ophelia!” The Indian man hurled out the words at the top of his lungs. He saw her approaching through dense brush. The two clasped hands and made tracks.
BLAM!
They were lifted off the ground and in the air.
From a distance, a man with a contorted look of evil on his features,watched as the returning Indian from the cave hideout went out to his tribe member.
The defector brushed his hands through his grimy hair and watched as the two Indians fought. Once again the second Tarahumara tried to persuade his comrade to enter the cave. The first man was yelling for his wife again.
The doctor didn’t understand much of the native’s tongue, but he could tell by their gestures that the second Indian was telling his friend that the bomb must have killed his beloved.
“We must go now!” We have to close off the cave.” The Indian man pulled at his friend as the man looked back in pain at where he left his wife. “We only have room for two left. We must go!”
As Englvart began to follow after the two men, he saw a battered figure pick herself off the ground. Coughing and bleeding, she continued running. Her wide skirt and loose blouse barely clung to her. She hollered out her husband’s name.
As she began to call out once more, two scrawny hands wrapped around her neck. She tried to pull them off, wondering why the ‘gringo’ was trying to kill her. Her eyes looked pleadingly at her attacker as she began to lose consciousness. Her lifeless body fell to the ground as her killer walked over her.
“Ophelia! Oph…..” The Indian stopped and ran out as he saw a figure appear. Much to his dismay, it was not his wife.
A limp and fatigued man approached. One cave dweller came to take the injured man in. “We have room for one more. Come quickly!” the man hurried.
“I’m sorry,” a voice said without much sorrow. “Your wife didn’t make it.”
With that said, a sardonic Englevart entered the cave as it shut only inches behind his smiling face.
Head moderator
Posts: 133
(12/6/03 10:58 pm) Reply
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
The clatter of the bracelet caught the the men’s ears.
It seems that mindbender did not hear it.
Duke looked at the others in the cage.”I think I know who that is”
“That can’t be Duke, who was that other thing we aw with the bracelet then” Gung Ho said.
“Either way we have to do something” Lifeline replied watching the sadistic Doctor get ready for another experiment.
The young man eyed the doctor. He tried to look defiant.
“You will now bow to cobra and do as we wish”tMindbender said with a laugh. He pulled a clean syringe out of a packet and placed it on the stainless steel tray.
Lifeline growing frustrated, generally the quiet one of the group Yelled to the doctor” He did nothing to you, leave him be.”
The doctor turned around and laughed .”That is exactly why I can use him, you see he will not fight back”
”You can’t do this”Lifeline yelled and Duke and Gung Ho both held the medic from trying to reach through the gapes in the cell bars.”The first rule is DO NO HARM!” Lifeline pleaded.
“I went to a different medical school” Mindbender laughed.
Meanwhile Dusty and Shipwreck was still hiding in the venting. Dusty had his finger to his lips to keep the sailor quiet.
Then it happened., Dusty saw it coming. The sailor tried with all his might but he could not stop it.
He held his breath Dusty went to cever the sailors mouth.
He was too late.
“ACHOO!!!!”the next thing he knew his weight went through the grate they were looking down below and both crashed on the table below.
Both fell with a crash on the table. Duke and the others watched as Mindbender looked in utter shock.
Two more joes had come through his ceiling. .
Before he could hit the emergency button on the wall the two Joes were up. Dusty ran for the Doctor and Shipwreck was right behind the desert trooper. Soon the tribes people started cheering hoping this was their moment of freedom they had waited so long for.
Mindbender started to fight with the men, but he slid on the floor where the vile of stuff had spilt. All three landed in a pile. He fought and hollered.
“Get him” Dusty yelled being thrown
“He is a slippery snake” the sailor said.
Mindbender got free and ran down the hall to the door it opened with the two chasing him. He closed it.
Shipwreck kicked the door.”Blast”
The alarms went off………………..
The two Joes ran back to their comrades cell.
"Get out of here!" Duke yelled.
"Duke we have to get you outa here"Shipwreck said.
"You can't help us if you are captured " the leader of the group informed the sailor.
Dusty agreed with him"We'll be back guys."
With that they ran to the door and out and ran to the opisate direction just in time as several troopers ran in the lab.
The troopers looked up, he saw the vent.
"They have to be here some where in the building." the trooper said.
"That doctor is crazy but not that crazy" he said as he walked the leingth of the cells and found nothing.
Out of breath the two joes hid in the janitors closet.
"Well what now" shipwreck said
Dusty had a idea............He thought of his first job as a cobra tratior............He handed the sailor a outfit in the closet.
"Here put this on"
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
The two Joes stared at one another in complete silence. Now dressed as Cobra custodians, they halted as they overheard the voices pronounce their worst fear.
“Cobra sent out planes to kill the Tarahumara!” Dusty harshly whispered. His cap was pulled down low.
“What do we do?” Shipwreck pressed, with the musty mop still in his hand.
Dusty turned the door handle. “We go back after Duke and the rest.”
As soon as the two men, incognito, attempted to return to the cell, a Cobra patrol headed in their direction. Dusty pulled at his hat and Shipwreck followed him, doing an about face.
“Hey you two!”
The sailor and desert soldier stopped.
“We’re in Code 3,” the first guard barked. “Your not supposed to be cleanin’ nothin’.”
Both blue officers approached the janitors. “I’m talkin’ to you,” the first trooper growled. “What are you here for?”
The Joes swung around. “To clean up your act!” Dusty popped off. Shipwreck smacked the guard in the mouth with the ragged mop. OOMPH!
Dusty snapped his wet towel at the face of the second Cobra. Shipwreck came from behind and placed the mop bucket over the head of the guard. WHACK!
Dusty cringed at the navy man’s crude baseball swing of mop handle to bucket.
“Batted .548 in college softball,” Shipwreck countered. Striping off the uniforms, the two made tracks to the lab.
Duke and Gung-Ho stood up. Most of the captured Indians arose too at the sound of heavy-laden footsteps.
“Dusty! Shipwreck! What are you doing back?” Duke said in disbelief.
Shipwreck tugged at his waistband behind him. “It’s a long story,” Dusty hurried. “Cobra’s about to wipe out the Tarahumara and their homeland. They’re sending Rattlers as we speak!”
The native’s began to murmur at the news in an increased volume.
“Stand back,” Dusty warned. Shipwreck fired and blasted the unwrought lock. He moved down the line removing the locks with the ‘borrowed’ Cobra AK-47 rifle.
Duke held his hands up as the restless natives began to exercise their freedom. “Everyone stick together. If we run rampage out there, we’ll be easy targets for Cobra to pick off.” The sergeant’s verbal message was slow, allowing those Indians, who needed, to understand through their interpreters. “Okay, let’s move!”
Leading back into the woods, Duke and crew barely hit the exit first before the anxious Indians. Apparently the plan for ‘fold and evacuate’ by the Cobra Command had commenced because there was not much of a fight reaching the entrance. Duke looked overhead. He silently counted the number of enemy jets.
“We’ve got to lend aid as quickly as possible,” Duke yelled out, trying not to display his doubts of being a factor for the villagers under attack. Glancing at his teammates, he said, “Getting there faster than foot is the problem.”
The throng of people looked around as the ground slightly began to tremor.
“Duke, look!” Lifeline screamed over the sound of propellers. He had been treating the injured Tarahumara as quickly and responsively as possible, considering the lack of resources.
As the wind blew through his hair, the blond leader covered his eyes and watched as a tan, camouflaged helicopter landed.
The Joes approached it. “At your service,” the smiling man with mountain climbing gear quoted as he swept his hand forward. “Tried to find a prettier chauffeur,” Alpine grinned, pointing at the cowboy in the cockpit, “but this is as cheap as you’ll get.”
Duke beamed back. The Joes exchanged congratulatory handshakes.
“How’d ya’ find us?” Shipwreck blurted out. “Man are we glad to see you.”
Alpine answered as he ushered some of the group into the Tomahawk. “Well, the thought of an over-sized Gung-Ho crawling around on his stomach got us into action real quick. By the way, what the heck are those creepy crawly things anyway?”
Duke shrugged of the answer. “Later. A team of Tarahumara will lead Gung-Ho and Shipwreck to the closest hideaways on foot. Wild Bill, you’ll drop the rest of us off near Sahuaripa’s resting ground.”
The man in the shades spoke from the front. “The Calvary is on its way, Duke. You’ll be gettin’ back-up ASAP!”
Dusty looked grimly at his sergeant. “What about our other problem?”
Duke and a greenshirt helped one of the last captives aboard. “Englevart. We didn’t come all this way to lose him. Cobra or ex-Cobra, we’re bringing him back.”
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(12/14/03 8:13 pm) Reply
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
The team arrived high above the ground in the chopper , around them devastation. Everything was leveled to the ground. Nothing was left standing. There were dead Tarahumara where they had fallen below them.
Some of the men in the chopper had expressions of loss and sadness. Some recognized loved ones down below.
Some started to stand up
“Hold on guys” Duke said” Let us land , we do not want to off center this thing” The first sergeant said looking at the expressions and knowing what they had felt.
LLifeline’s heart sank as he looked at what he saw below him. Cobra will always be the same, never minding the pain it causes so many others for its own gain he thought to himself. He knew he had made the right choice joining the team when ever he saw this weither his family understood or not.
“Here ya go partners , ”Wildbill said as he started to land
The chopper landed. Group exited somberly to look around. Cobra was long gone.
The men started to run over to those they knew who was killed in the attack.
Duke Lifeline and Dusty looked around and a man from the group ran up.
‘We are know as the ones who run away” the man said somber” we will have to be known as those who make a stand now” He said looking around.
Others started walking toward the young man. Duke looked at the young man before him , that is when he noticed the bracelet.
“Where did you get that?” the sergeant asked him
“My twin and I have one, as I am now next in line” the man said quietly” I picked it up in the commotion off the ground, it is from my father I do not see them so I hope h e is alive and hiding with the others”
“I know where they are” the man said ”those that are left should be safe”
Just then Gung Ho and Shipwreck walked up with the others
“those dirty snakes” Shipwreck sputtered in anger. “these people did nothing to them”
“the rest of the Joes will be here soon” gung ho said.
Duke looked at Wild Bill and Alpine” You two need to go and watch out for more rattlers. I do not feel like being taken to pieces.”
“let me know what you see and hear” Duke said getting a radio from the pilot.
He watched as the men got back in the chopper and prepared to take off.
He looked at his team and at the Indians round him” We still have a job to do”
Lifeline walked past the group to a woman
“Duke come here “he said leaning over her.
Her hair had been blown over her face and neck, he gently pulled it aside. He was kneeling something had caught his attention. She had marks on her neck and he looked at her eyes, the veins were broken. He realized she had been murdered.
He yelled again” Duke come here”
“What is it Lifeline?” Duke said. He looked at Gung Ho and Shipwreck “Keep them here with you while I go to Lifeline”
“The group started to follow Duke.
“Um Hey we need to formulate a plan” Shipwreck said to the group.
They stopped and walked back over. The leader said” I have a idea” He started to tell the two men of it.
Meanwhile Duke walked over along with Dusty.
“Duke bent down on his knees Dusty stood.
“Duke something is wrong”
the medic said quietly
“What” the first sergeant said
“”Her body is different then the others, she did not die of the blast” Lifeline said.
“Really”, Duke said shocked.
Lifeline gently moved the woman’s hair, he pointed to on her throat there was the markings of fingers. He gently turned her head to the men could see” her eye are bloodshot”
Lifeline swallowed” Duke she was murdered”
“By who” Dusty said.
“I wish I knew” Lifeline said” But whoever it is cannot be trusted”
“We need to watch our backs then, if whoever will murder a defenseless woman no telling what they will do” Duke said. They all stood up and looked over.
“No one says a word, you got it? Not yet” Duke said.
They started to walk back to the group that way when they heard it. It sounded like a little animal. Lifeline walked over to the bush and peeked in. It was a small child about a year old.
HE picked up the child and look the the boy over.
“He seems ok”Lifeline said. “What are we going to do with him” Dusty said
Just then Gung Ho walked over. “Duke they have a plan, what is up?”
“Nothing needing to be know right now” Duke said as the medic held the boy.” I guess he comes with”
The men of the tribe rejoiced out of so much death there was still life.
The child clung to the medic and would not let go.
“Shipwreck laughed,” Suits you well Lifeline. “
Lifeline did not say a thing he cradled the child as he listened to the plan of what was to come.
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
Black-gloved fingertips marched to an out of beat tune on the outside of the helicopter. Impatient eyes swung again at the man in red.
“This had better work,” the bearded man said, rubbing at his tattoo. The medic in red answered back. “Have a little faith, huh, Shipwreck? Hard to resist the last ride out of town.”
The sailor looked at his synchronized watchpiece. “I’m gonna check in.” He wormed his way back inside to the cockpit. Lifeline hoped the plan the team had would lure the defector out of his hideout and to the transport ‘copter. Cobra had begun to retreat at the sign of the Joes’ in force. With the help of the Tarahumara and with Lifeline’s theory about the murdered Indian lady, all had figured Englevart had to be in the near vicinity. Surely the doctor couldn’t resist a way out of Dodge with only a two-man sentry guarding the way.
Something in the distance got his attention. Even with his new glasses he knew he’d seen a figure.
“Shipwreck. Shipwreck.” Lifeline moved in the direction slowly.
“Let’s move. It’s him!”
Shipwreck glanced up. “Life’s pinned him!” He spoke into the receiver and slammed it home almost in one same move.
Shipwreck could see his partner on the run. Shipwreck slapped at the overhead branches that cut at his face. CRUNCH! He went sprawling as his hat flew off.
Placing his hat back on as he jumped up, he searched for the two men. “Drats, which way did they go?”
Simultaneously, the Joe medic asked himself the same question as he lost sight of the scientist. His reply was a shadow beside him. Lifeline’s reflexes responded with a defense stance. He swung around to meet his attacker. Lifeline decided to use brainpower instead of physical means.
“Dr. Englevart, you’re tired and delusional right now,” he spoke softly. “Let us take you back. We can help put away Cobra and you can start over again.”
A cynical laugh reverberated from the defector. “Don’t patronize me, little man! I know exactly how I’ll start over again. In prison!”
Lifeline attempted to calm him, hoping that either Shipwreck or Duke and crew would intervene. Fighting was not his forte. “You’ll be given a fair…”
Englevart interrupted. “Fair? Do you…do you call this…this fair…!” He slapped at what looked like a crumpled picture of a lady. The ex-Cobra looked up with bloodshot eyes. He moved forward…..
“Shipwreck!” The sailor jerked his head in the direction of the yell. He high-tailed deeper into the woods.
“I’m about fifty yards northeast of the ‘copter,” Shipwreck huffed into his radio.
“We almost got you in sight,” Duke stated back.
He broke into a clearing. He looked in horror at his comrade. He was lying face down, his red jumpsuit disheveled.
“I’m alright,” the medic said, his voice raspy, trying to rise up. “Don’t worry about me. I think Englevart must have passed out from running. Over there behind the brush.”
Shipwreck looked to his left. He searched the brush. “I don’t see nuthin’. Where is he?” Shipwreck saw Lifeline approach from behind. His messed-up uniform looked out of place. “I don’t see him….”
Too late. As two sinewy arms wrapped around his throat, he realized he’d been duped. The sailor countered with an elbow. He turned around and gave a thrust to the face of Englevart, connecting with his right fist. The older man stammered, trying to regain his balance. Shipwreck grabbed at the collar of the red shirt he took from Lifeline.
ZAP!
Shipwreck flew violently to the ground. He knew he’d been stunned. Shipwreck’s eyes began to roll back into his head. He fought the urge to blackout.
The shabby doctor tore off the Joe medic uniform and hastily slung it to the ground.Englevart pocketed the Taser gun and scampered off.
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
Meanwhile, directly above the ground events, Duke and the Joes were on the scene. Duke, with headset, was monitoring the Joes. Now the screen solemnly displayed only one bleep - Englevart’s.
“Shipwreck, do you read?” Duke called as his hand pressed the earpiece in tight.
“I got zapped,” Shipwreck crackled over. “I’m back on.”
Duke arched his arm to the men aboard the helicopter. “I’m deploying some help. We got to lead the doctor into Gung-Ho’s squad or we might miss the only opportunity we got.”
“Dusty,” Duke readied. “What’s the update?”
“Cobra must be headed back to clean up homebase,” the trooper with the brown camo-streaked face replied. “Sahuaripa says there’s one more of those snake creatures down below us.”
The Tomakawk landed, letting off passengers. There was a strange camaraderie between the Joe greenshirts and the brave Indians who gave chase. An essence of history's past encountering the present. These men would not give up home without a fight.
“That’s not where we want him,” Duke declared, ever vigilant to Englevart’s renewed location.
Duke was jarred away from his thoughts. “He’s heading away from the transport,” a Joe greenshirt interrupted. “Heading north into the canyon ridge. Sector 3.”
Duke squeezed in closer to the monitor. “Who do we have near there?”
The greenshirt replied. “The back-up squad.”
Dusty got the call and acted. “Sahuaripa, my squad’s going out. Sit tight.”
Agitated voices circled the adobe hideout. Dusty could tell the other tribe members wanted to break protocol.
“We cannot continue to wait,” the wizened leader explained. “There is still one creature left. Numbers are needed for its extermination.”
Dusty scratched his chin. “Alright, let’s go,” he relented. “Duke ain’t gonna like it though.
……. …….. ……..
The helicopter flew in haste overhead as Gung-Ho and his teammates looked up. “There they go,” the tattooed marine said.
Duke gave the thumbs up to Gung-Ho as they flew by. The back-up squad pinpointed the defector. Duke hoped to wrap up this traumatic mission soon.
Atop the canyon, Dusty, Sahuaripa and the combined teams watched diligently, waiting for Englevart to surface. The close canyons were connected to a small man-made bridge that had become separated over time. Two tree shaped poles held up the now disconnected bridge parts from underneath. The two huge rock formations connected in a circle, sloping at the straightways. About 16 feet below were ledges that interspersed. The top part of the canyon resembled an indoor parking-car garage.
Sahuaripa gazed intently ahead. His mind was rewinding all of the previous events when he heard Dusty reporting the doctor’s location.
“Englevart’s about to cross over. It’s now or never.” Dusty waited for a reply.
No! You must lead him away! The bridge is unstable,” Sahuaripa warned. “The hole in the bridge is too wide to jump!”
Sahuaripa didn’t wait for Duke’s response. He hunkered and scurried off. Dusty scrambled his message to the first sergeant.
“No, stay here,” a dark-skinned Indian said, holding Dusty’s wrist. “He knows the only alternative route. You will only impede him.”
The desert trooper felt a wave of fear overcome him as he picked up his radio.
“It is a dead end, my friend,” a voice only a few feet from him spoke, surprising the scientist.
Englevart looked behind him and at the tattered bridge before him. “Friends? Ha! I have no friends. I should have realized long before now that Cobra and G.I.Joe would do me in. Besides, old man, I have a few….”
Both watched as a syringe fell from the doctor’s labcoat. At this, Englevart ran forward and jumped.
“No!” Sahuaripa shouted. The doctor's lunge was short. Sahuaripa, with years of skill, tight-roped over the bridge to the other side. Dangling in midair, Englevart clung to the rock edge with his left arm. Below him was a cliff edge within landing range. He looked down. With a little swing he could jump down on the grass-covered ledge.
“Give me your hand!” Sahuaripa yelled, a confidant rise to his voice. Now! Give me your hand.” The elder Tarahumara watched as the petrified doctor looked up at him and back down at the ledge.
“I don’t trust anyone,” Englevart whimpered. “I can still make it. I can still make it.”
The Indian stretched over as far as humanly possibly. “The rock ledge is weak, it will not support your weight. Grab my hand!”
Hesitation momentarily passed the fear-frozen features of the defector. He began to slip.
Dusty and his men moved ever so closely towards the scene. Would the transport get there in time?
“Ah, Cobra Commander has no use for me,” the doctor struggled to speak. “I’ll rot in jail since the Joes know my secrets.”
Sahuaripa retaliated. “Come on, doctor man. For once make the right choice!”
Dr. Englevart seemed to respond. He reached with his other hand for the Indian.
As the doctor looked down again, an evil smirk appeared on his face. “Trust is a word I don’t take lightly, old man!”
Englevart released his grip and pushed off. With a pendulum like swing he dropped down through the air toward the eroded ledge. The other Joes that had now caught up began to move in.
With one grotesque thud, the doctor landed. The fragile rock gave way, sending the doctor to a fatal destination.
Sahuaripa looked down in sorrow. “A brilliant mind misguided by the inner battle between good and evil. Adio'siba'* "
*goodbye in the Tarahumara language
Edited by: VampII at: 12/21/03 4:04 pm
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Posts: 135
(12/23/03 2:22 am) Reply
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
The wizened chief stood at the edge of the canyon looking down. Dusty and the group walked up from the distance seeing everything.
Sahuaripa was still looking down when Dusty reached the other side. The chief looked up with a nod of his head Dusty knew the job was done and that the doctor was dead. He looked down below, there laying broken was the doctor. Or at least he hoped since the canyon was too deep for anyone to check the body. He figured there was no way one could survive a fall like that he thought to himself. He hoped now that this man was at peace.
“Let us help you over Sahuaripa”Dusty said.
“I will be ok” the man said as he started to cross the bridge with ease. He Walked up to Dusty and spoke in his language and two men walked up. “Cut the ropes” he said to the two young men” It is dangerous and we do not need anyone else hurt”
The two men obeyed the elder and all watched as the bridge fell holding on by one strand on the other side of the canyon.
Dusty caught something in the grass. It was a syringe. He picked it up, he then bent the needle on a rock so he would not get stuck and took out some heavy cloth to wrap it in and put it in his pocket for further reference.
“He used that before he jumped” the older man said
“I wonder what it was for?” Dusty questioned.
I do not know” the other man replied.
“The other one is dead also, it is now over” Sahuarpia said with a sigh.
“Not yet” Dusty said” We have one more job to do”
He said as they walked off looking for Duke.
Meanwhile……
Shipwreck heard over the radio from dusty to Duke what had happened to the doctor.” All this way and nothing” he spat.
He picked up the red jumpsuit. Where was Lifeline?
“LIFELINE! WHERE ARE YOU?” he yelled He clicked the radio” Duke I am still looking for lifeline the doctor did a bait and switch on us.”
“WE are heading your way shipwreck” Duke said.
Shipwreck was starting to get concerned about the medic. He knew he would not fight back unless otherwise no other choice, but even that was rare. He had to be taken by surprise.
The Joe continued to look. He heard a moan in the distance.
He clicked the radio” I think I found him Duke” Shipwreck.
He moved some forest foliage. There was lifeline. Bound and gagged. In his BVDs.
‘”Oh my Gosh!” the sailor said as he ran up to the medic” Hold on a minute I will untie you”
He ungagged the medic.
“Hey thanks Shipwreck” Lifeline said” wow I did not see that coming. Where is the doctor?”
Lifeline asked as he was untied. He rubbed his wrists where they had been bound.
“Dr. Engle smart is dead lifeline” the sailor said
“here put this on he tossed the jumpsuit to the medic and it landed in his lap. He put it on.
Much better the trooper said to himself.
“So what happened” the sailor asked.
“I tried to talk him out of it and it did not work as you could see” lifeline said flatly” next thing I know . ZAP I was out and well like you found me”
"All this way for nothing"Shipwreck told his friend.
"Maybe maybe not Shipwreck. We still have these." the medic said pulling out the pieces of paper"doc should be able to make headway on it and it gives us the advantage of knowing what Cobra is trying"
"Still, I mean your right in a way but."Shipwreck said"Aw forget it, lets find the others"
“Do not feel bad buddy I got it too, “the sailor said of the tazer ”Oh almost forgot!”
He clicked the radio” Duke I found him”
“Is he ok,” the leader said asking about the missing medic.
“Sure is” he said” We are just waiting on you
The group reached the two men soon.
All were happy there were no more losses then before.
Duke walked up to the group from the opisate direction.
Looking at the elder” Thank you for you help”
Sahuaripa said” It is us who should be thanking you. For you have shown us something. We have been shown that we are no longer the people that hide in the woods and the people who run. We have become the ones who fight back again. We have not been that for a long time. We thank you for that”
Just then in the distance everyone heard something. It was voices, many voices off on the tree line. Soon a few of the men began to chatter amongst themselves. It became louder more excited.
“What is going on?” Duke asked just then he realized. He saw it, the lost tribe members that had been locked below the mountain.
Soon they started to run to each other Families that had lost so much with cobra we once again joyful at the though some of their loved ones survived.
Then Sahuaripa head it ”FATHER! FATHER!” it was his son. He realized that one had survived after all. The last creature held the bracelet and one of his men brought it to him after it was dead.
The man ran up to the elder.
“You are alive.” the man said hugging his son he had feared lost.
“Yes, “The younger man looked around” Where is my brother?”
With a tear in his eye the elder held the bracelet out.
“He is with our people” as the young man took the bracelet” He will always be with you, you and he are one now” Sahuarpia said as the man put the same bracelet on. his wrist as his twin wore.
“We have to bury those we lost now, “his son said sadly
“Yes, but because of them we live” the father said knowing that his son understood that he had meant it in more then one way.
Duke walked over to them.
“I am sorry.”
“We are too, but things must happen to make things happen” the elder said.
He Dusty Gung ho and Shipwreck over., ”We have one more thing to do men in order to prevent this again here.” Duke said.
“We have to blow it up”
Lifeline was checking on the remaining group and all checked out ok.
Dusty walked over to the medic.
“Here I found this from the doctor” he said handing the syringe over to the medic” I do not know what it had in it but it might be helpful.”
“Lifeline looked and put it away.
“Saddle up guys and lets go” Duke said.
AS they walked out of sight the people waved their goodbyes to them.
“think we will see them again?” dusty asked Duke as the group went toward the COBRA hideaway.
“I do not know but chances are better now we might>“ Duke said
They had reached the base in the mountain. The hanger was open as it was left.
“I guess no one is home” Shipwreck said” not even a note”
“Better that way, ok gang start setting the C4” the leader yelled to them as they started to place it.
Lifeline went down the hall to where they had been held, empty everything was gone. Mindbender cleaned up and took everything.
“They took it all” dusty said as he saw the medic open a file cabinet drawer that was empty.
“I know, I figured they did when they left” he said sadly.
“Hey guys you find anything?” Gung Ho said over the radio
“No as empty as my piggybank after taxes are due” Dusty said grinning.
“then get out of there, they guys are done” Gung Ho said
Lifeline and Dusty ran up the hall and out of the hanger in the distance with the others.
“Ah the sound of defeat” Shipwreck said as Duke got ready
“Three, Two, One” he counted down,
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
There was dust everywhere and when it cleared ruble covered the hole.
“Well gang now what” Dusty said looking at the three men.
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
“I have my sights on the leader. Preparing to lock-in and fire again,” the Joe pilot announced. Static broke over the air. “Negate that, Pursuer one, we got a condition red back at the canyon.”
The co-pilot swapped confused looks with his partner. “You gotta’ be kidding! We got the big fish and we’re gonna’ let them go?”
The pilot shrugged in return to his co-pilot's indirect question. He answered back in his radio. “Roger that. What do we have?”
A stern cadence in the speaker’s voice filtered back from the other end. “We got another snake creature.”
The two greenshirts were baffled. “We did a heat scan and the works,” the co-pilot said. “No way there’s another one.”
“Get us out of here!” Cobra Commander screeched. The enemy had been surprised by the sudden onslaught of Joe planes. They knew the first shot was a warning.
Ridding the Sierra Madre of Cobra existence had cost them time. Instead of surreptitiously leaving the compound, as usual, the Cobra leader was forced to ‘hitch a ride’ with his underlings.
The head of Cobra, wearing his combat attire, was seething. “Agghh! The Joes have ruined everything!” the Commander shrieked. “No, this is all your fault, Mindbender!”
The twin pilots leaned back in their seats, as Dr. Mindbender and the Baroness looked on.
“I thought this whole folly…” Tomax spoke in a satirical monotone.
“…was our fault,” Xamot agreed.
Cobra Commander stopped short at the start of another tirade. He turned and pointed.
“I don’t pay you to talk! Fly this plane….”
KABOOM!
The Cobra jet was hit.
Dr. Mindbender and the Baroness were jostled about. The Commander was thrown to the ground. “Get us out here! I order you!”
As Dr. Mindbender was helping the Commander up, he noticed the Joe plane drop away.
“They stopped following,” the bald man said, confused.
“Who cares,” Cobra Commander grumbled. “As long as….”
He was interrupted in mid-sentence.
“This must be why,” The Baroness guessed, leaning over a map and a blinking console.
The doctor dropped the Commander and scuttled over. FLOP.
“It can’t be,” Dr. Mindbender gasped. “It can’t be!” Cobra Commander dusted himself off and went over to meet them. “What is it?”
“My monitor shows one more creature left,” Dr. Mindbender solemnly spoke without looking up.
“Impossible! The Joes destroyed all the rest and you said you personally disposed of all the failed specimens,” Cobra Commander suspiciously asked.
The mustachioed man finally looked up. “I did.” He paused, his finger to his lips. “There must be something else. Something I missed…….”
8 hrs. later
The pair of Raramuri sauntered through the canyon floor. Father and son had been reunited. The days of trial had brought an already close association of people to an even greater level of union-ship. Maybe evil did have its purpose in life. The two surveyed the remnants of their habitat. With lots of work, and the promise of their newfound Joe’ friends, the Tarahumara would regain some semblance of home.
“Look, father.” Up ahead was a huge crater. In the center was a worm-like fossil.
A little smiling boy, with his hands up, wanted the older man to pick him up.
“Come now. Up you go.” Sahuaripa couldn’t help but beam as he held the child. One less casualty and one more reason to be thankful. The elder grinned at the thought of the Joe in red getting a many matretas* from the grateful tribe for the rescue.
They approached the spot. The old man let the inquisitive boy down. He grabbed at the dirt and rock. Sahuaripa’s son smiled and patted the child on the head.
“Father, should the Evil man return….”
“No” the gray-haired man spoke. “He will not come back. Other places await his torment.”
His son did not seem to share in his father’s confidence.
“What of the doctor,” his son asked. “Could he still be alive?”
Sahuaripa knelt down on the ground. Watching the little boy dance around, he knew the G.I.Joe team had not recovered Englevart’s body. Still, no could survive that fall…..right?
He got up and walked a distance ahead. His son watched in curiosity. The chief bent down and picked up something.
“Father?” his son questioned.
He looked back at his son. “No. He is dead. I am sure of that now.” He grabbed for the little boy’s hand and headed back. “Come, let us go. We have work to do.”
As the three natives walked away, a photograph gently blew across the sand floor where the elder Tarahumara had returned it. A crumpled picture of a pretty woman - in happier times…….
Re: Things that go HISS in the Night
(what happened after the story ended)
The four Joes had left the Tarahumara and called for some APCs.
The green shirts climbed in.
Duke grabbed a extra fuel can before they left.
“Well this should take care of our little problem.” Duke said smiling.
The three Joes followed.
“Well we may not get it back to her clean but we will return it” Duke said as they approached the jeep. That the waitress had let them borrow.
“Well at least it is still here” Dusty said. Starting to pull brush away.
“Just be careful as it is still dangerous and there are still snakes.” the leader reminded them.
“I still do not like the Madre” Gung Ho stated
“Well some of the mysteries are solved now” lifeline said.
“Well just before they are solved does not mean we have to tell them” the desert trooper said smiling.
The sergeant put the cap on the gas tank., Dusty tossed him the keys.
“Ok guys climb in” Duke said starting the jeep up to life again.
All the guys climbed in as before at the start of the mission.
This time they were grateful to no rain.
“Hey Duke we need to make a stop before we go into town” the medic said as they started back, now taking a old dusty road out of the area.
“Hey I know this place” Shipwreck said.
“You should, we only ate and were welcomed in there” Lifeline said as they pulled up.
An older man walked out onto the porch of the home.
Duke turned the jeep off and climbed out.
“Dr. Eckert?” Duke asked
“”Yes, sir” the good doctor said.
Duke walked up and shook the man's hand and his two sons walked out.
“Thanks so much for all you have done for us” he said ”we would not have been able to finish the mission with out your help”
“It was nothing really” Dr. Eckert said “I see you still have them“ Dr Eckert said looking at the medic smiling.
“yes sir and they worked out great” Lifeline said.
“Yea otherwise I would still be leading him around” Shipwreck replied.
Before another fight could break out the leader decided it was time to go.
“Sir well then thank you again and if you need something here is my card” Duke said as he handed him his business card.
“Thanks” Dr Eckert said
The joes once again climbed into the mud covered jeep. Duke started it up and all waved good bye.
Leaving a trail of dust in their wake the joes each were thinking of their own adventures on the trip.
The saw the sign
BERNIE 4 miles.
“Wow it looks so much more different” Gung Ho said.
“How is that, it is still small, vacant and poor” shipwreck said frowning.
“Hey I was trying to be positive Shipwreck
“ Gung Ho said.
The same two farmers were sitting on their porch watching the chickens pluck the ground as the first day they drove past.
“SEE! I told you” Shipwreck said.
“”It is just as hot too, but you do not see us saying anything” lifeline said.
They pulled up to the bar, several of the windows had been boarded over while they were being replaced
There was a large sign hung out.
WE ARE STILL OPEN
Hung outside.
The men got out, walked up the stairs.
“I bet she thought she would never see her jeep again” Shipwreck said ”Much less us”
The sailor laughed
“I think she hoped never to see us again” Lifeline said thinking about his blazer at that moment.
They opened the door to the bar, they saw he sheriff and deputy was sitting at the bar each eating a sandwich.
“Well look who came back” Earl said standing up
Sid looked around with caution fearing for what was the rest of his bar.
Ruth the red haired waitress set her tray down and ran over.
She was beaming drom ear to ear. The town had not stopped talking of the strangers.
Duke handed her the keys, Ruth took them.
“thank you!” she said” I knew you would bring it back. “ She in her mind had been redeemed. Cobra had taken them over and she was a willing participant instead of fighting them. With them gone they could live again. They may be a poor town but they were free of cobra.
“Sid I am taking the rest of the day off” she said as she took off her apron ”I’m going for a drive”
“Um ya know we didn’t wash it” Shipwreck said.
“No need, I am going to take it out” Ruth said walking toward the door. Feeling a freedom she had not felt in a long time.
Sid flung his hands up and walked to go pick up the tray and walked over to the table. One cowboy was there and recognized the medic standing there and got up.
“Mister I want to thank you for helping me like you did, because of you I have changed my ways.” he said talking to the medic ”We used to have nothing to do but now, since cobra is gone I know better things rare to come”
“It was nothing” the medic said recalling the firefight.
“Maybe to you but to me it meant everything” the cowboy said as he walked back over to the table where he was eating a sandwich .Duke walked over to the pay phone and pulled out his card.
“yea, yea yea, uh huh. Ok” was what the men heard.
“Our transport will be here in about 30 minutes.” Duke said” It is just outside of town”
Gung ho went and sat on the chair he had occupied easier that week.
The medic and sailor sat on the steps.
“Well it is getting hot again” Shipwreck said wiping the sweat from his brow.
“He looked and saw a plume of dust coming down the road..
“Look there it is” Lifeline said standing up. The APC parked in front of the bar.
The green shirt rolled the window down” You guys ready”
“Cannot come any sooner” Shipwreck said climbing in the back
The rest of the gang climbed in. They started back to the GI Joe headquarters.
MEANWHILE
Ruth had taken a drive and enjoyed her freedom, but stayed away from the Madre. It still had things that that were not understood.
She drove back to town and went to the local diner. Ruth walked in and sat down the whole diner started to talk of the day the strangers came to town.
Bernie would be a buzz of this for weeks to come.
6 hours later at the GI Joe headquarters.
The group went back and got cleaned up and went to the chow hall to get something to eat before each had to sit down and make a report of their findings..
Sitting there the medic was thinking of his vehicle and the thought of buying another did not a peal to him.
Dusty stood up as Clutch and Cover girl walked in.
“Hey guys you know it is nice of you to return” Clutch said
Cover girl produced a piece of cloth.
“Yea well we had to just to keep you in line” Shipwreck said laughing.
Cover girl walked over and took the medics glasses off and put the blindfold on” We have something for you Lifeline”
Duke, Dusty and Gung Ho knew what was coming. All had been told except for the sailor whose big mouth might have given it away.
The medic stood up being led by his peers.
“You know Cover Girl you can blindfold me anytime” Shipwreck said.
In the dark of the blindfold Lifeline hear the reply” I don’t think so Shipwreck”
He heard a door open.
Cover girl led him to a spot.
They all stopped, all was quiet.
“OK Lifeline take it off” Duke said
Lifeline undid the blindfold and let it fall to the floor.
In front of him was his Blazer. The whole motor pool had pitched in to repair her.
Clutch handed him the keys.
Smiling Lifeline took them.
“Well go start her up” Clutch said.
He looked they had done a good job, you could tell slightly but what were a few battle scars anyway he thought.
He got in and turned the key, ……….She started.
The motor pool went crazy, clapping and cheering.
“Lifeline turned it off” Thanks Gang” he said to all
“hey lifeline”
Shipwreck said
“Yea” the medic replied
“Can I get a ride?” Shipwreck said
“I do not think so not this time” Lifeline said
Lifeline walked over and got back in , the medic started it up and drove off thinking of all the people who put in time and effort on account of him He waved to the group as he drove past..
The rest of the gang congratulated each other on the job well done.
They started to trade stories of what happened waiting for their next assignment.
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