Calling the Overlord

Inside a hidden Cobra outpost deep in the Amazon basin, the cerebro-shell inserted into Ripcord’s brain has not gone unnoticed. A Tele-viper relays his findings to the base’s sub-commander.

 

Tele-viper: I’m certain of it. A cerebro-shell implanted into Tucaro number 378 has been replanted into a member of the GI Joe team. Unless the feedback is somehow faulty through means undetectable by Decepticon technology, the Joe implanted is Ripcord, a HALO specialist… that can’t be right… This guy is black…

 

Cyberviper: Are you sure the system is running correctly?

 

Tele-viper: I’ve run diagnostics twice and everything checks out. I can’t explain why Ripcord seems to be black at times in his mind’s eye but I can tell you that he’s on a mission with Duke, Outback, Recondo, some old guy named Dataframe, Barbecue and Scarlett. It appears he really has something for Scarlett… Ha! Look at this!

 

He points to a display screen displaying Ripcord’s subconscious affection for Scarlett. Cyberviper completely ignores it.

 

Cyberviper: We can’t have Joes interrupting our work here! We’ve had too many visitors as it is! Put the base on full alert. I’ll inform Firestrike. He’ll want to talk to the Overlord so get him on the line, priority clearance venom. I want updates every ten minutes. You got all that?

 

Tele-viper: Yes sir!

 

The Tele-viper gets to work. Soon the Cyberviper is back with Firestrike.

 

Cyberviper: Any news on his movements?

 

Tele-viper: He’s headed this way… except the Joes have him blindfolded and tied up. The man has no idea what’s going on so I have no further information aside from his location.

 

Firestrike: Hmmmm, the Joes must know exactly what they are doing… Send some Tucaro’s to intercept. Ensure that no harm comes to this Joe. If Ripcord is killed then we’ll know even less than we do now and Joes don’t sacrifice their own. They can’t be too far away from him…

 

Cyberviper: Have you reached the Overlord?

 

Tele-viper: Yes. He awaits a status report.

 

Firestrike: On screen.

 

Soon the Overlord is staring at them.

 

Overlord: You have a positive ID on Joes in the area?

 

Firestrike: Yes, Overlord.

 

Overlord: It seems there’s damn Joes all over this continent… it was always just a matter of time, but they are too late!

 

Firestrike: I assure you that no harm will come to our project. We are so close now…

 

Overlord: It had better not. If you wish to supplant Firefly as our chief weapons designer, you’d better not let the Joes interfere. They’ve already derailed Firefly’s latest project so now is your chance to step up and make a name for yourself.

 

Firestrike: It’s not the Joes I’m worried about. We had a visitor earlier today. He’s still here…

 

Overlord: Who?

 

Firestrike: Storm Shadow… At least he had all the credentials to be Storm Shadow. I thought all the Cobra clones were killed but he had official clearance. We had to let him in but what his business is, he’s not saying.

 

Overlord: Clearance? Hmmmm, that must be the Storm Shadow that’s been associating with the Joker…

 

Firestrike: I was under the impression that the Joker was no longer a problem.

 

Overlord: He’s not. He’s still safely locked up and the Decepticons have removed his cerebro-shell and any influence he was somehow able to gain over it… However, he may still have ties to this ‘Storm Shadow’ we don’t know about. With the Joker, you can never be too careful. Watch him closely, but beware! He is still highly dangerous! I don’t want him getting near project ‘Deviant’. I’m transmitting orders right now that will command Storm Shadow to assist you with the defense of the base. If he doesn’t comply, treat him like he’s an enemy. You have my authorization to use whatever means necessary to make him comply. This project must not be compromised!

 

Firestrike: I have the utmost faith in our defense stratagem.

 

Overlord: Good. Do not fail me. Overlord out…

 

Done