DANGEROUS LIES
BY: KIM FITZSIMMONS

Part One
Caught In A Web

    A shadowy figure moved silently through the night. Totally at home in the darkness, the figure moved towards the fortress that housed his enemies. The Joe commando known as Snake Eyes crouched deep in the shadows, his silver eyes surveying his location.

    He was close to one of the many small service entrances, guarded only by two Cobra Vipers. From the way the guards were lounging against the wall and yawning in boredom he knew they would give him no trouble. Once inside his job was to find some files that had been reported stolen from the Pentagon. The report had come in from an anonymous source but had been taken very seriously.

    Hawk had sent him to retrieve the files, knowing that Snake Eyes could penetrate the Cobra fortress, steal back the files and sneak out with no one the wiser until he was long gone. Snake Eyes moved so quickly the two lax guards never knew what hit them.

    As he made his way through the hallways, he encountered very little resistance, making him uneasy. It was too easy. With a shake of his head he decided he was being paranoid and continued to move through the halls.

    When he caught one of the few Vipers about he questioned him. Being mute, Snake Eyes showed his captive a disk, and after some incoherent babbling the Viper had finally given him directions to where he could find the stolen disk. Snake Eyes found the room and began to search for the stolen files. He noticed that there was a disk loaded into one of the computers and hit the eject button.

    That's when all Hell broke loose. Snake Eyes wasn't ready for the huge electrical shock shooting out of the booby trapped computer and up his arm. The jolt knocked the wind out of him and knocked him flat on his back.

    At the same time the doors opened and streams of Cobra soldiers poured into the room and began to kick and punch him, intent on keeping him down and vulnerable. He was trying to struggle to his feet when he felt the sharp jab of a hypodermic needle in the back of his neck. The drug worked quickly, starting to blur his vision and then the room began to spin.

    As Snake Eyes fell to his knees he heard a smug voice snickering, "Ah, the dreaded Snake Eyes, how easily you fell into my trap!" Cobra Commander's voice grated into him, before his world went black.

* * * * * * * *

    A short time later Cobra Commander watched as an unconscious Snake Eyes was strapped to a table. "Now Dr. Mindbender, as you can see I have gone to considerable trouble to find you a suitable guinea pig. So why don't you fill me in on this wonder drug you've developed."

    Dr.Mindbender grinned evilly as he filled a syringe with the drug. "Well, Commander, as you know Snake Eyes is one of G.I.Joe's most effective weapons against us. So I began to think, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em or in this case, make 'em join you."
    
    "What are you babbling about? Why in the world would Snake Eyes join us?" Cobra Commander asked, confused.

    "It's quite simple, Commander. This drug I have developed will allow us to target certain memories, we can manipulate and erase many of his memories. Those memories that prove too difficult to erase we can simply make very difficult to recall."

    Intrigued, Cobra Commander asked, "And how will that help us?"

    "Well, if we erase Snake Eyes' memory of just who he is fighting for, instead of being G.I.Joe's deadliest weapon..."

    Dr.Mindbender trailed off as Cobra Commander's eyes widened and he finished the statement. "He'll be our deadliest weapon! Brilliant!"

    Dr.Mindbender preened under the compliment, "Thank you, Commander. The drug will take a little time to work, then once his memories are gone we can tell him what we want him to hear. Then we can send Snake Eyes to destroy his own teammates!" Then Dr.Mindbender injected the drug that would remove the memories of Snake Eyes' life.

* * * * * * * *

    At that precise moment, far away, a beautiful woman stopped mid motion while writing and lifted her head, a distraught look on her lovely face. Scarlett was sitting at a table in the Pitt, helping Stalker write out some reports when a sickening wave of dread tore through her, robbing her of breath.

    Stalker quickly noticed the change in Scarlett. Her facial expression was one of intense fear, and her skin had gone so pale it was nearly translucent. "Scarlett, what's wrong?" He asked very concerned.

    It took Scarlett a few moments before she managed to whisper, "I just had a terrible feeling... It's Snake Eyes, he's in trouble... I have to help him!" Even as she said this she was standing up, then running out of the room, heading for the airfield.

    Stalker ran after her, thoroughly bewildered. By the time he caught up with her, she was halfway into the cockpit of a Dragonfly. "Scarlett, what the Hell are you doing?!" Stalker yelled, certain she'd lost her mind.

    "Snake Eyes is in trouble, Stalker, he needs me." Scarlett replied, not even looking at him.

    "How can you know that?" Stalker asked, trying to snap her back to reality.

    " I just do, Stalker. I know."

    Stalker tried once more to bring her to her senses, "He's not alone! Flint, Lowlight and Storm Shadow will back him up if he's in trouble!"

    Scarlett shook her head, "They won't be enough. He needs me." Then she started the chopper and it lifted off and flew away, leaving Stalker alone in the airfield, shocked and confused.

* * * * * * * *

    "What the Hell am I doing?" Scarlett muttered as she piloted the Dragonfly. Even as she said this she felt that same sickening wave of fear and knew she could do no other than go to Snake Eyes as quickly as she could. She didn't know how she knew Snake Eyes was in danger, but she couldn't question the feeling.

    The bond between her and Snake Eyes had grown incredibly strong over the years, so much so that at times they truly seemed to know what the other was thinking or feeling. That sense of knowing the other was in need had saved them both on more than one occasion. She just prayed that this time she wasn't too late.

* * * * * * * *

    Flint and Lowlight followed Storm Shadow through the ventilation system of the Cobra fortress, looking for their team member. "This is a bad idea," Flint whispered to Storm Shadow, "we should be waiting at the extraction site for Snake Eyes to meet us there."

    Storm Shadow replied without looking back at him, "Something's gone wrong, Snake Eyes has been gone too long. He should have gotten the disc and gotten out long before now. He needs help."

    Flint looked back at Lowlight, who merely shrugged. They both knew Storm Shadow spoke the truth. When they reached a junction of ductwork they spread out to search for Snake Eyes.

* * * * * * * *

    About ten minutes later, Flint stopped above a vent and looked into a room where Snake Eyes was strapped to a table. He listened in horror as Dr.Mindbender spoke, "The process is nearly complete Commander. In a few minutes, Snake Eyes will have no memory of fighting for G.I.Joe. He will be basically a blank slate, vulnerable to whatever we tell him."

    Cobra Commander grinned, "Excellent, I will enjoy his re-education immensely! My mind is aflutter with all the delicious lies I can fill his head with! We can make him hate all the people he's fought with for years. We can make him kill his own friends!!"

    As Cobra Commander gloated, above him in the ventilation duct Flint started to make his way back to meet with Storm Shadow and Lowlight. As he moved along he murmured to himself, "Oh man, this is bad, VERY bad."

* * * * * * * *

    A few minutes later, Flint met up with Storm Shadow and Lowlight. They could tell by the look on Flint's face that what he'd found wasn't good. After relaying what he'd seen, Flint watched as his two teammates realized what Snake Eyes switching sides could mean. As they sat there in silence Flint felt his e-mail receiving cell phone buzz against his leg. He looked at the message and muttered, "Oh boy, this just keeps getting better and better."

    "What is it?" Storm Shadow asked.

    Flint answered, "It's from Stalker, he says Scarlett is on her way here."

    "What?!" Tommy and Lowlight said in unison.

    Flint went on, "He says she was working at HQ and all of the sudden she starts babbling about Snake Eyes needing her, jumps in a chopper and heads this way."

    Storm Shadow broke the stunned silence, "She'll be walking right into a trap."

* * * * * * * *

    Cobra Commander was heading to start 're-educating' Snake Eyes when a Tele-Viper called to him. "Commander! We have a report that the Joe known as Scarlett has landed nearby and is heading for the fortress."

    CC clapped his hands together in delight, "This couldn't be more perfect! The perfect test of loyalty for my new ally! If I can convince Snake Eyes that the woman he loves is evil he'll do anything I say." CC turned to the Tele-Viper, "Wait outside this room for a few minutes, then come in and give me that report again."

    "As you wish, Commander." Said the rather confused Viper.

* * * * * * * *

    Snake Eyes sat in a daze, his mind a complete fog. He couldn't remember much of anything. He knew his name, he knew he was a soldier, but beyond that...nothing. He looked at the other man in the room. He was bald, he had a moustache and rather odd taste in clothes. He seemed familiar, but like everything else an insubstantial shadow in his mind.

    The more he tried to remember, the more shards of glass seemed to pierce his skull, the pain enough to squeeze his eyes tightly shut to try to block the pain. He opened his eyes as another man entered the room. He was dressed in a fancy blue uniform, with a blue cloth mask draped over his face. A faint mist of memory stirred, he knew this man, but how?

    The figure in blue spoke in a gushing tone, "Snake Eyes, dear boy, thank goodness you're all right. We thought we'd lost you. Do you remember what happened?"

    Snake Eyes shook his head no and Cobra Commander patted his shoulder reassuringly, "You poor boy. It's probably best you don't remember what those horrible people did to you."

    When Snake Eyes just looked confused, CC continued, "You were on a reconnaissance mission to keep tabs on the terrorist organization G.I.Joe. You were captured and beaten. You were in pretty bad shape when we rescued you. We were so sure those vicious monsters would kill you, especially that woman, Scarlett."

    Snake Eyes' head shot up, instantly alert, he knew that name, it was important to him. Cobra Commander jumped on that reaction, feeding it, "Oh yes, I don't see how you could ever forget HER."

    CC handed Snake Eyes a small mirror and told him to take his mask off. As Snake Eyes stared in horror at the reflection of his horribly scarred face Cobra Commander laid out his story. "She's the one who did this to you. She captured you once and interrogated you for information on our defense systems. When you wouldn't betray us she intentionally burned your face and destroyed your vocal chords, then left you for dead."

    CC suppressed the urge to squeal with glee as he saw black rage sweep over Snake Eyes' scarred face and his silver eyes begin to glitter with menace. the Tele-Viper chose that moment to enter and give his report to Cobra Commander again. CC gasped in shock, "Scarlett is coming here!? She must be after you Snake Eyes! Come we must get you away from that devil woman."

    Snake Eyes rose to his feet, but instead of leaving he put his mask back on and picked up the uzi that had conveniently appeared beside him. His actions bespoke his intentions clearly and CC acted surprised, "You want to face her? Very well, but be cautious, she is a great deceiver. She will try to claim she is your friend, even more, don't believe a word of it. Take your revenge."

    Snake Eyes removed the safety on his uzi with an ominous click and then left the room.

    Above, Lowlight had seen the whole thing from his hiding place and he moved back to meet the others and tell them what he saw. They were in serious trouble. The first thing they had to do was find Scarlett...before Snake Eyes did.

* * * * * * * *

    Scarlett walked quietly through the Cobra Fortress, growing increasingly uneasy. She couldn't shake off the feeling she was walking into a lion's den. She didn't see a door open behind her until she felt a strong arm around her waist and a hand clamp over her mouth. She began to struggle wildly as the figure pulled her into the darkness of a supply closet until she heard a familiar voice hiss in her ear, "Scarlett, settle down! It's me!"

    The arms let her go and she whirled to face Tommy with Flint and Lowlight standing behind him. She signaled her relief at seeing familiar faces by punching Storm Shadow in the arm and saying in a hissed whisper, "Tommy, you jerk ! You scared the Hell out of me! What is going on? Where's Snake Eyes?"

    Flint explained "They've brainwashed him, Scarlett. They wiped his memory of fighting with us clean and convinced him that we're the bad guys. They even..." At this point Flint seemed unable to meet her eyes, "They told him that you were the one that disfigured him...deliberately."

    Scarlett looked like she'd be physically ill, "Oh God, where is he?"

    Lowlight spoke up, "Right now, looking for you."

    Storm Shadow spoke next, "We've got to get you out of here, now."

    When he moved to take hold of her upper arm she jerked away from him, "I am not leaving here without him!"

    Storm Shadow met Scarlett's defiant blue gaze with his own determined onyx gaze. "Scarlett, listen to me, if Snake Eyes finds you in his present state of mind he'll kill you. We will get him back, but I can't allow you to get hurt."

    Scarlett stared at him as if he'd just sprouted horns, "I can't believe I'm hearing this! I am not leaving here without him! And if you won't help me, I'll do it myself!"

    She turned her back on the three Joes and was reaching for the doorknob when she barely heard Storm Shadow say, "I'm afraid I'll have to insist."

    Before she could respond, something hard, namely the hilt of Tommy's sword, hit her in the back of the head and she lost consciousness. Tommy scooped her into his arms as Flint shook his head, sighing, "You're a braver man than I am. She's not going to be too happy with you when she wakes up."

    Storm Shadow gave him a wry smile under his mask, "Unhappy, but alive. Snake Eyes would want me to keep her safe, even if it had to be from him."

    They left their hiding place to find their way out of the fortress. As they rounded a corner, the Joes stopped dead in their tracks. At the end of the hallway stood Snake Eyes, poised to attack. His silver eyes were cold, yet burning with rage, and that rage filled glare was fastened squarely on the unconscious figure in Storm Shadow's arms.

    Flint broke the intense silence with a quietly murmured, "This is VERY, VERY bad!"

______________________________________________________

Continued in Part Two!
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