* * * * * * * *

    A short time later, the rest of the Joes conferred with the security personnel in the hall, after they had checked to see if all guests were accounted for. Stalker shook his head in a combination of awe and disgust, " There's twenty guests that are no longer in the hall. If they did leave they didn't do so in their limos, none of their drivers saw them come out. From what we can piece together, it looks like the guests that were taken were singled out by someone on the inside. They were people that wouldn't be missed immediately, no spouses, no large entourages."

    Breaker shook his head as well, " So the threats against an all out terrorist assault against the President...?"

    Stalker replied, "Were phony. It was a set up to throw us off. While we and the rest of security were watching for this huge assault they snuck in right under our noses and went shopping for hostages. Son of a bitch!"

    Hawk spoke up, " The inside man watched the guests and when he chose one relayed the info to the outside man who would wait until the opportunity arose and then knock the hostage out and remove them quietly. The outside guy had to be someone with a great deal of skill to defeat Scarlett so quickly and quietly. Scarlett is a very skilled fighter, quick and agile. It would take someone with a level of skill equal to Snake Eyes to take her with so little struggle."

    Clutch went a little pale at that thought, "Oh man, if the Cobras got someone like Snake Eyes working for 'em that is BAD news."

    Hawk took charge, "All right people, we have to find out where the hostages are and how to get them out alive. We are going to start by interviewing the guests. Find out if anyone saw anything, overlook nothing."

    As the group spread out to their tasks Cover Girl mused to no one in particular, "I sure hope she's okay."

* * * * * * * *

    Far away, the object of Cover Girl's concern was waking up. Scarlett's blue eyes fluttered open slowly. She was still feeling woozy, and her mouth felt like it was stuffed full of cotton. Her muddled thoughts became clear as she remembered what had happened.

    The balcony and the figure in white. Who was that? He had overpowered her so quickly, his speed and strength incredible. Strangely it reminded her a bit of Snake Eyes, agility and power that defied the laws of physics. Her eyes became accustomed to the darkness and she gazed at her surroundings. Caged like an animal. Not like she expected anything else.

    Just then her 'host' entered the room with someone following. The figure in white was a ninja. Now she understood the similarity to Snake Eyes. Cobra Commander strutted in front of Scarlett's cell and she could feel his cold eyes raking her from head to toe, and her skin crawled.

    He then spoke in an arrogant tone, "I must say it was a great pleasure to find you were one of my guests, my dear Scarlett. I am very pleased with my staff, particularly my new personal body guard, Storm Shadow." At this Cobra Commander indicated the ninja in white.

    Scarlett's blue eyes locked with Storm Shadow's black ones and she replied simply, "We've met." Scarlett was standing tall with her arms folded and her chin was raised in a gesture of defiance and her eyes sparked with fire.

    Cobra Commander laughed, "Ah, so spirited and defiant! You will bring me a great deal of enjoyment. But, alas, that will have to wait until after I deal with the time consuming job of ransom demands. Until then, my dear." He gave her a mock bow and left the room, chuckling softly.

    Storm Shadow stayed behind and looked at Scarlett again. She stared straight back at him, raising her chin another notch. After a moment, Storm Shadow gave her a single nod and left the room.

    After he was gone Scarlett let out the breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. This was bad. Until the others found out where she was she was on her own. She had to find a way out of this place, as well as freeing the hostages and getting them out safely. As if that weren't enough, she knew that accomplishing all this with Storm Shadow around would be next to impossible.

    He didn't look like the typical Cobra soldier, who would underestimate her abilities because she was a woman. This wouldn't be easy, but she wasn't going to meekly take whatever perverse torture Cobra Commander had in mind. And Hell would freeze over before he heard her beg for mercy.

    Whether it was her thoughts or the real chill of the room, she wasn't sure, but a chill went through her. She rubbed her hands over her upper arms in an attempt to warm them, not hearing anyone enter the room until she heard something soft land on the ground behind her.

    As she spun around, immediately defensive, the last thing she expected to see was a blanket. She looked from it to Storm Shadow, who'd been the one to toss it in. He didn't speak, just gave her an odd look, one that could almost be called pity, before he turned and left again.

______________________________________________________

Continued in Part Three!
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