GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra

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Chapter Forty-Two
Two Weeks Later

Hawk took a seat at the large circular table and set down a small stack of folders. His khaki dress shirt was rumpled, as if he had slept in it, and the sleeves were rolled up. Around him, the rest of the team was already assembled. Duke, Stalker, Breaker, Clutch, Scarlett, Short Fuse, and Shipwreck were seated at the table, while Gung-Ho, Heavy Duty, and Snake Eyes remained standing. Gung-Ho stood with his arms crossed, overlooking the team like a proud father standing guard over his family.

“How do you feel, Lonzo?” Hawk asked.

Stalker relaxed in his seat, having been given a clean bill of health the day before. “I feel pretty good, but there's still a bit of tightness, like an itch I can't scratch. All things considered, I guess I can live with that.”

He regretted missing out on all the action in Springfield, but now that he was healthy again, he intended to make up for lost time. Stalker looked up at Snake Eyes, who stood in the corner, and Snake Eyes gave him a supportive nod. For once, Snake Eyes was not dressed for combat; he wore plain black cargo pants and a long-sleeved black shirt, as well as his regular black mask and goggles.

Shipwreck sat beside Stalker, his arm not fully healed up yet. It was scarred and lined with stitches, but he joked that as long as the wounds did not interfere with his tattoos, he was okay with it. He no longer wore bandages, and in another few days he would get the stitches removed.

The only member of the team still recovering from injuries was Scarlett, who had been on limited duty since her stay in the hospital. Doctors there had removed the bullet in her back and made sure there were no internal injuries, but she was still sore and moved very carefully. She sat at the head of the table, Gung-Ho looming over her, with her hands in her lap and her hair in a ponytail, dressed in jeans and a blue shirt with a leather jacket. Hawk gave her a smile as well as he spread out the folders on the table.

“I know I haven't been around much the last few days,” he said, “but I've been busy working. I have some news regarding the mission in Springfield, and some news about the future of our little team.”

He smiled to himself, enjoying the moment as the team waited anxiously for what they hoped was good news. He flipped open one of the folders.

“As most of you probably expected, we did not find any sign of Cobra's leadership in the wreckage of their base. We did find much more evidence of their brainwashing program as well as details about their training and financial plans. But we didn't find the people in charge, only more unfortunate soldiers.”

“How did they get away?” Duke asked.

“Believe it or not, they had their own escape tunnel,” Hawk explained. “We found a completed subway track that led into the woods outside of town. It ended about two miles away from Springfield. There were vehicle tracks leading away from the entrance to the tunnel, but once they reached a paved road we lost their trail. We think there were at least five different trucks.”

“So a lot of people made it out of there,” Stalker said.

“Yes,” Hawk said. “According to those recordings the brainwashed men were listening to, their leader calls himself Cobra Commander. He may or may not be David Ekans, the man who founded Arbco Marketing, but whoever he is, he got away clean for now. None of the Cobra members we arrested could give us much information about him. Apparently, he never used his real name with his own men, and he also wore a mask to hide his face. So we have very little information to work with.”

Hawk continued, “We also found no trace of the ninja who infiltrated the Pit. As you all know by now, we do know his identity though. His name is Thomas Arashikage, and he served in the Army with Stalker and Snake Eyes several years ago. After he was discharged, he apparently broke off ties with his family in Japan and went underground. How he got involved with Cobra is anybody's guess.”

“I hate to ask this,” Clutch said uncomfortably, looking at Stalker, “but if he knew you, then does that mean he let you live on purpose?”

“Seems that way,” Stalker admitted. “If he had wanted to kill me, he certainly could have. I would have never suspected Tommy of joining a group like Cobra. When he was in my squad, he was a good guy, I trusted him.”

“Was he brainwashed like the others?” Duke asked.

Hawk looked up at Snake Eyes and said, “Care to answer that?”

Snake Eyes shook his head and signed, “No, he works with Cobra of his own free will.” Scarlett translated for the rest of the team.

“This guy knows where to find us,” Clutch said. “He broke in here once before, how do we know he won't try it again?”

“We've already improved our security,” Hawk said. “We have motion sensor cameras outside, twice as many security cameras inside, and now there are electronic codes to enter the outside buildings. He might try to come back and finish what he started, but he'll find it a lot harder to break in this time.”

“Okay then,” Duke said, moving on. “What about the missing Doctor Bogdanovich?”

“We found no sign of him either,” Hawk said. “He never returned to work at his institute either, so we have to conclude that he was definitely working for Cobra.”

He closed the folder and turned to another one. “Also of interest is the group that attacked Springfield before we got there. Thanks to the work Snake Eyes and Scarlett did, we have evidence that M.A.R.S., the weapons manufacturer, is somehow involved in all of this, but so far any investigation has turned up nothing.”

“What about the woman?” Gung-Ho asked. “She was working for M.A.R.S. too, wasn't she? Have they tracked her down yet?”

“She is nowhere to be found. But I strongly believe that within the next few weeks, M.A.R.S. will be under serious investigation. Hopefully, that will help shine some light on the situation.”

“And the guy in the silver mask?” Breaker asked. “That was the woman's partner in Russia, is that correct?”

Hawk sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “We haven't verified that yet, but it does seem like he is the same man we saw in those Russian security videos. We don't know who he is either, if he works for her, or the other way around.”

“Polite guy though,” Gung-Ho said sarcastically. “He waved to me, all friendly and everything.”

“Although at the moment,” Hawk said, “those two are secondary concerns. After all, their men did not engage us in Springfield. Whatever reason they had for attacking Cobra, they stopped short of attacking us. It's worth pointing out that they were fighting against Cobra, not with them.”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend?” Gung-Ho suggested.

“I wouldn't go that far,” Hawk corrected. “How about: the enemy of my enemy isn't necessarily my enemy as well.”

“We can't underestimate them,” Duke said. “Whoever they were, they were far better equipped and better trained than Cobra was. They weren't just another group of fanatics, they were trained soldiers with high-tech weaponry. They are a force to be reckoned with.”

“Definitely,” Hawk agreed, closing the other folder.

“And what about us?” Scarlett asked quietly, a hopeful smile on her face. “You said you had news about the team?”

“I certainly do,” Hawk said. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. “I've talked with the Joint Chiefs and our men in Washington, and they have approved of a significant budget increase. That means more equipment, better intel, and most importantly, it means that we'll be seeing some new faces around here pretty soon. We will have some new members joining us very shortly.”

The team broke out in cheers and congratulations, led by Gung-Ho, who clapped loudly and slapped Duke on the back. Clutch laughed and gave Scarlett a high five. Heavy Duty, his deep voice rumbling with energetic laughter, leaned over Breaker and Short Fuse and grabbed their shoulders in a friendly grasp. Duke and Stalker merely nodded in appreciation and smiled proudly.

Snake Eyes remained in the corner, his arms crossed over his chest, apparently unmoved by the announcement. But no one was surprised by that.

“You already have some people picked out?” Stalker asked Hawk once the noise had died down.

“I have a few names I'd like to go over with you and Duke. We have lots of candidates but only a few open positions. I'm leaning toward five new people right now, and maybe more in the future if things continue to go well.”

“I think they will,” Stalker said confidently.

Hawk gathered up the folders and tapped them together, then set them back down and spread his hands. “Well, that's all I have for you guys right now. So unless you have any other questions for me ...” He looked at his watch. “Unless I'm mistaken, it is now five-thirty on a Friday night. So that means you guys are free for the weekend.”

“Now that is great news,” Clutch said.

“Does that mean we're dismissed?” Heavy Duty asked.

Duke pushed his chair back and got up. “You certainly are. And I think a celebration is in order. What do you guys think?”

“Now that is an order I will gladly follow,” Short Fuse said.

Gung-Ho spoke up, “Hey, I know a great sports bar about twenty minutes from here, they got like a dozen big screens. Got some fantastic hot wings. Real nice place.”

“Count me in,” Heavy Duty said, and pretty soon everyone else was agreeing to come along as well.

As the meeting broke up, everyone got up from the table and headed for the main elevator. Gung-Ho went on about the bar, while Heavy Duty, Shipwreck, Breaker, and Clutch went with him. Short Fuse and Duke followed.

“You coming along, Hauser?” Short Fuse asked.

“Wouldn't miss it for the world, Eric,” Duke said, and both of them laughed.

Scarlett sighed and shook her head. “Sorry, guys. I think I'm gonna have to sit this one out. I'm not in the mood for going to a bar right now.”

“Aw, come on,” Clutch urged. “It will be fun, I promise.”

“No, I think I'd rather go home and curl up with a movie or something. You have fun though, you can tell me all about it tomorrow.”

“What about you, Stalker?” Duke asked.

Stalker smiled and waved them on. “No, I'm gonna stay here for a little while and go over those files with Hawk. Maybe I'll catch up with you guys later.”

“Have fun,” Hawk called out. “But don't have too much fun. I expect you all back here bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at six o'clock tomorrow morning.”

“Sure thing,” Gung-Ho called back as they entered the elevator.

Snake Eyes walked out after the others, arms casually at his sides. Scarlett was waiting for him in the lobby. She smiled warmly and brushed some loose strands of hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ear.

“What about you?” she asked. “Not going out with the guys?”

Snake Eyes merely shook his head. “I'm not a big fan of bars,” he signed. “I get too many strange looks.”

“Maybe if you just opened up a bit,” Scarlett suggested. “You could go out without your mask on, for example. You'd probably fit right in.”

“Perhaps. Maybe I'll try that sometime.”

“I hope so. I'd like to see your face one of these days.”

They walked to the elevator and when it opened up, they got inside. As the doors closed, Scarlett smiled to herself and gave Snake Eyes a playful nudge. “How about you walk me to my car then?”

“I would be happy to,” Snake Eyes signed. Although Scarlett couldn't be sure, she got the feeling that Snake Eyes was smiling behind his mask.

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