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Unsung Heroes: Mission One	By : RavenLadies Category: +G through L > G.I. Joe Views: 1213 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the cartoon(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter Seven

Sitting in his office in The Pit, his tall muscular frame erect in the padded swivel chair, Duke was signing off on the various reports, memos and requisitions that kept the G.I. Joe team up and running, theblonde having opted to skip the dining hall in favor of catching up on paperwork. Knowing that Duke was swamped with work, Scarlett had brought up a tray for the blue-eyed man, staying for a bit while he ate, the two of them talking about various things having to do with the team, until the red-head had taken her leave and left Duke to finish his work. He was just starting on a stack of supply requisitions when his phone began to ring. “Duke, here.” The blonde said as he answered, his blue eyes going to the clock on the wall across from him, noting the late hour.

"Good evening, Duke," said a voice, the gender of which was indistinguishable. "It's so nice to finally get to speak with you. I heard you had quite the scare a few weeks ago."

The page in Duke’s hand fell to the desktop. “Who is this?” He demanded.

"Merely a...concerned third party."

“Look, whoever you are,” the blonde said. “This line is for official military business.”

"And this will very quickly become official military business, I assure you. You have a time bomb in your midst, Duke."

“Do you know what the penalty is for making bomb threats against a military installation?” An angry tone was creeping into Duke's voice. “This call can be traced.”

There was a pause, almost as if the caller was considering that, before they went on. "I think you take me too literally, Duke. This isn't your typical time bomb. I would keep a close eye on Lieutenant Coen, if I were you."

‘Coen?’ “Who is this? What is this all about?”

"I've told you all I dare, Sir, and I've really been on the phone far too long. Good day." And with that, the line went dead.

“Hello? Hello?” With a frustrated sound, Duke all but slammed the handset back down on the phone. Muttering a few choice words under his breath, the big man switched on his wrist communicator. “Dial Tone? This is Duke, come in. Dial Tone?”

After a few minutes, Duke’s call was answered. “Dial Tone here.” The communications specialist’s voice crackled over the link. “What can I do you for?”

“I need you to see if you can trace a call that just came in on the land line in my office.”

“Sure thing,” Dial Tone replied. “I’ll get right on it.”

Without any further comment, Duke flicked off his communicator and leaned back in his chair a bit. ‘Coen . . . a time bomb . . .’ The blonde’s brows crooked together in a deep frown as he sat silently for several long minutes before rising to his feet. Moving over towards a bank of locked file drawers, Duke pulled a ring of small keys from his pocket. Going immediately to the cabinet that he wanted, he slipped the key into the lock and opened the drawer. It only took him a few moments to locate the file and after closing and relocking the cabinet he took it back to his desk. As he sat down, he looked at the thick manila folder, Billy Coen’s name typed neatly on the label covering the tab.

His duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his med kit strapped to his back, Lifeline disembarked from the Skyhawk, jumping down to the hard ground with practiced ease. After adjusting the duffel a bit, the medic headed over to one of the waiting Jeeps to catch a ride to the main building of the sprawling Joe complex.
His driver was a Green Shirt, a young corporal who didn’t look a day over twenty if that. ‘God, they look younger every day,’ Edwin thought to himself as the young man put the vehicle in gear and fed it some gas. ‘Then again, maybe it’s just because I’m getting older.’ Sighing wearily, Lifeline let his mind drift during the short journey -- a jumble of images from the past two weeks, as well as the last time that he had seen Billy Coen. The medic was pulled from his musings by the Jeep’s halt in front of the main building. Shaking himself out of his thoughts he thanked the driver before slipping out of the vehicle and heading inside.

As he stepped into the building, he found Marcel Hancock, the medic of Billy's unit, heading his way. The young man was still in a sling, having been released to light duty, but his expression as he approached Edwin was grave. “Corporal,” Lifeline smiled at the younger man. “Finally out and about, huh?”

"Yes, Sir," Hancock replied, hesitating when he realized he couldn't salute with his arm in the sling. "Er...you'll excuse me if I don't salute, Sir."

“That’s quite alright, Corporal.” Edwin’s smile widened a bit despite the weariness that he felt. “How are you feeling?”

"I'm all right, Sir...a little worried about the Lieutenant, though..."

The smile slid from Lifeline’s face, his look becoming more concerned. “Lieutenant Co . . . er, Devil Dog?”

Hancock nodded. "Yes, Sir. I'm worried about him."

Edwin glanced around for a moment, frowning slightly. “Why don’t we go down to my office, and you can tell me,” he offered up.

The younger medic nodded, his shoulders sagging in relief. "Yes, Sir."

Setting the duffel bag down on the floor next to his desk, Lifeline invited Hancock to sit down before shrugging off his field med kit and leaving it next the bag. Sitting down in the chair in front of his desk, he removed his helmet and set it down on the desktop. “Why are you worried about the Lieutenant?”
Hancock settled on the edge of the chair, hesitating for a few moments as he gathered his thoughts. "...Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

Edwin nodded his dark head. “Of course Corporal, whatever is on your mind.”

"Sir, he's been acting really weird lately. I don't think he's well at all. He's been aggressive, agitated...he got into a fight with Leatherneck the other day, and he's even been snapping at Gung Ho. He's also been isolating himself. I'm worried about him, and so is the rest of our unit. It's almost like he's having some kinda breakdown or something..."

As the younger man spoke, the look on Lifeline’s face changed from a slight frown to one of deep concern. “When did all this start?” He asked.

Hancock frowned at that. "The first signs of it were about two weeks ago."

“Have any of you tried talking to him?”

"Strong did. He about took her head off verbally."

“I see.” Edwin fell silent for a few moments. “I appreciate you coming to me and telling me about this.” Hancock nodded, but said nothing more. “I – I’m really not sure what I can do. I don’t have any authority to override how Devil Dog runs his unit, and there isn't much I can do about any disciplinary problems that have come up.” The medic fell silent once more, thinking. “You said you thought he was ill?”

Once again, the young medic nodded. "It's kinda hard to tell, but he looks like he's lost a little color."

Edwin thought for a few moments, trying to remember if Billy had complained of anything specific since before he left. The only thing that Lifeline could think of was the mysterious bruising on the Marine’s back, and that hardly seemed like it could be the cause of the type of behavior that Hancock had described. “Like I said, I’m not sure what I can do. Why did you come to me with this?”

"...Because I'm not sure how to approach him with it, and I thought I'd come to you for advice..." Hancock offered a small smile. "You seem to have a... way with the Lieutenant. Since you guys are such close friends and all."

Before Edwin could reply, however, there was a sudden sharp knock at the door, and Kenya Strong's powerful voice came through the door, only slightly muffled. "Open up, you guys, this is important!"

Lifeline frowned as he turned towards the door, not immediately recognizing the voice. Rising from his seat, the medic opened the door.

“Kenya?" Hancock looked startled to see the woman. "What's going--"

She didn't even wait for him to finish, giving Edwin a hasty salute as she said, "Something's happened to the big guy." She turned away, obviously expecting the other two to follow her as she headed out the door, Hancock already on her heels. “Hutch sent me to find you.”

‘Billy!’ With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Edwin followed the Corporal out the door, pausing only for a few seconds to turn back and grab his med kit before doing so.

"What's going on?" Hancock asked, walking briskly to keep up with his teammate. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know what's wrong!" Kenya snapped back. "You're the damn medic."

"Last I checked, I wasn't psychic. Give me a clue?"

Kenya shook her head. "I'm not sure I can explain it. He was going over some stuff with Hutch and Dale...and he just froze up."

“Froze up?” Lifeline asked, the medic’s long legs easily keeping pace with Strong. “What do you mean? Froze up how?”

"Just froze up suddenly," Strong said, snapping her fingers. "Just like that. It was like somebody flipped a switch or something."

“Did he lose consciousness?” Edwin asked worriedly as he picked up his pace a bit.

Strong shook her head again. "No...well, I don't think so. His eyes were wide open."

“Where is he?” Lifeline asked, his hand gripping his med kit a bit tighter.

"They're down at the practice range," Strong said, turning a corner as she spoke; Hancock was still right on her heels.

Without another word, the medic stepped past the two soldiers as he started to jog down the hallway, his booted feet echoing on the pale tiled floor.

It didn't take long for the three of them to make it to the practice range. It was mostly deserted on this particular day, and that made it even easier to see the two women standing near Billy. Once she caught sight of them, Strong hastened her steps toward them. Billy was on his knees, eyes cast downward, trembling with his arms crossed across his chest. He was wearing full fatigues in spite of the heat, his hands clenching at the sleeves of his jacket with a white-knuckled grip. Beside him, Hutchinson was kneeling, while Dale seemed to be on lookout for whoever might be coming to help.
Edwin felt something clench in his chest as he caught sight of the Marine; and he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out Billy’s name as he rushed forward, only steps behind Kenya Strong. Dropping to one knee on the side opposite of Hutchinson, Lifeline set his med kit down next to him and flipped it open. “Devil Dog?” The medic’s voice was soft as he spoke to Billy.

If Billy heard Edwin, he gave no sign, and now that the medic was closer, it was easier to see the sheen of sweat on the man's skin. Billy was pale, even under his tan, and it made the soft pants that were his breathing seem all the more unnatural. Silently motioning the others to move back from Billy a bit, Lifeline tried once again. “Devil Dog? Billy?”

The others looked questioningly at Hutchinson, who nodded in agreement with Lifeline's unspoken order. Dale, Strong, and the others backed up obediently, looking at their commanding officer with obvious concern. "Any idea what's wrong with him?" Strong hissed at Hancock.

The younger medic shook his head and whispered back. "I've never seen anything quite like this."

Billy parted his lips, as if to speak, when his eyes widened in surprise and pain. A gasp escaped him, and he doubled over, his eyes still staring unseeingly at the ground. Edwin leaned in a bit closer to the Marine. Raising his hand, he lightly laid it on Billy’s shoulder. “C’mon, Coen, come back to us. You can do it.”

Billy turned his head toward Edwin, even that slight motion seeming to cause him pain as his eyes rested on the medic's face. “It’s okay. Let it go . . . we’re right here.” Lifeline kept his tone gentle as he tried to coax Billy back from wherever he had gone to inside his mind. The medic couldn’t help be reminded of a similar episode that had happened not too long after he had met the Marine.

"...I'm...sorry..." the Marine whispered softly, the words kept at a tone none but Edwin could hear.

“I know . . . “ Lifeline whispered back, only vaguely aware of the others in the room, their eyes locked on the two kneeling men. “It’s okay.”

That drew a faint smile to Billy's lips, before he gasped again and grit his teeth hard. "...Something's...happening..." he hissed out.

Edwin frowned, his dark eyes on his lover, taking in the physical distress that the Marine seemed to be under. Sliding his hand away from the other brunette’s shoulder, Lifeline flipped on his wrist communicator. “Infirmary? Lifeline here.” He waited a few beats for his hail to be answered. “C’mon people, wake up down there.”

After a few moments, his call was answered. “Lieutenant Sorenson here, Sir.”

“I’m at the practice range. I need a gurney, stat.”

“Yes Sir, right away.” The tone of Sorenson’s voice was all business and Edwin could faintly hear her barking out orders to someone else over the comm link. “What’s the nature of the emergency?” She asked after a minute or so.

“Unknown,” Lifeline replied, his dark gaze on the man next to him. “Have one of the exam rooms ready when we get there.”

“Yes, Sir.” Came the prompt reply. “The gurney is on its way. We’ll be ready and waiting. Sorenson, out.”

Hancock ventured closer and looked at Lifeline. "Is there anything I can do to help, Sir?" He asked.

“You’ve helped a great deal already, Corporal.” Edwin said as he looked up at the younger man, favoring Hancock with a small smile.

Hancock nodded, and fell back beside Strong again as they waited anxiously for the gurney to arrive. Billy, oblivious to their conversation, closed his eyes and was praying softly. The pain was becoming a more constant thing now, stretching seconds into painful eternities. His gaze went wordlessly to Edwin's face again, blue eyes glazed with pain. Lifeline looked at the Marine, a furrow of concern and worry marring his brow. Reaching out to Billy once again, he placed his fingers on the side of the other man’s neck, finding the pulse to be strong, yet unusually rapid. His fingers slipping away, he lightly touched Billy’s face – his cheeks, and then his forehead – the Marine’s pale skin cool and clammy to the touch. “Where does it hurt?”

"E-Everywhere..." Billy groaned out, his eyes closing a bit at the touch.

Before Edwin had a chance to investigate any further, the gurney arrived, accompanied by a pair of white-clad orderlies. Waving the men over, Edwin rose to his feet. Without any instruction, the orderlies moved to either side of Billy and lifted him up, carrying him to the waiting gurney and laying him down on it. After the Marine was settled, Edwin bent down to close and retrieve his med kit. “Let’s get him back to the infirmary.”

Hancock stepped forward as they started rushing the gurney off. "I'll give you a report later, Hutch," he said, before hurrying after the gurney.

Once they had Billy down in the Infirmary, his BDU jacket and shirt were removed, giving Edwin his first unobscured view of the Marine's torso. What had begun as a few bruises on his back had spread to wide stripes of swollen, discolored flesh along his back and chest as well as his upper arms.
“Jesus Christ,” Lifeline murmured under his breath as the marks were revealed, his dark eyes going from Billy’s chest to the Marine’s face. “What happened?”

"Woke...up with 'em..." Billy murmured in response.

After snapping on a pair of latex gloves, Edwin bent over the Marine to get a better look at the marks and to prod lightly at a few of them. “How long ago?” He asked.

Billy hissed and tried to twist away from even the gentle prodding. "Day or two ago...I figured it was a training accident...we've been...drilling a lot."

“Are these only on your upper body?” Lifeline asked as he straightened, his eyes going back to Billy’s face.

Billy nodded. “I think so.”

“Lieutenant Sorenson,” Edwin’s gaze shifted to the blonde woman waiting just inside the entrance of the exam room. “Pull Devil Dog’s file. I want to see the results from his last physical.”

“Yes, Sir,” Sorenson replied before turning smartly on her heel and disappearing.

Billy fell silent once Edwin's attention was turned away from him, closing his eyes and trying to will the pain away. Quite conscious of where they were, Lifeline still couldn’t help reaching over to lightly touch the back of the Marine’s hand. The touch brought a faint smile to Billy's lips, an expression that was quickly washed away by a fresh wave of pain, this one sharper than the others. Rolling onto his side, he curled up nearly into a fetal position, his teeth grinding together to keep him from crying out. “Billy!” Impulsively, the medic reached out for the other man. The gaze that met Edwin's was terrified and yet again, Edwin felt something clench in his chest as he looked at Billy. “You're going to be all right,” the medic said softly, his voice choked with emotions that he tried to suppress. “Just hold on, okay?”

A few moments later, Sorenson returned, a dark gray folder in her hands. “Here's the file, Sir,” the blonde said as she handed the sheaf over to Lifeline.

Taking a few steps away from Billy, Edwin flipped the file open and scanned the first few pages. “The results from quarantine blood test are missing,” he said, looking up at Sorenson.

“They weren’t completed, Sir.”

The look that Lifeline gave the woman was one of puzzlement. “Once the quarantine was lifted . . . well the remaining samples were kind of put on the back burner, if you will – the Lieutenant’s unit among them. The only work that was really done with them was updating Hutchinson's blood type. The sample we drew from her didn't match her file,” Sorenson said, looking just slightly uncomfortable. Edwin’s features tightened. “B-but we do still have them, Sir. I can get them for you, if you wish.” The young woman offered up.

“You do that, Lieutenant,” came the slightly curt reply. With a slight nod of her head, Sorenson disappeared once again.

“Your report?” The Baroness’ accented voice cracked over the comm link, the tone one of authority.
Hidden within a supply closet in one of the lesser used sub levels of Joe Headquarters, a shadowed figure raised a similar comm link to it’s mouth as it whispered a reply. “Activation was successful.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes ma’am. I have visual confirmation.” Came the whispered reply.

“Excellent.” The figure could hear the smile in the Baroness’ tone. “Just one more step, and your contract is finished.”

The figure nodded, unseen to the woman on the end of the link. “Just make sure there’s some transportation when I signal for a pick up,” it instructed.

“All taken care of,” the Baroness replied smoothly. “And the rest of your fee will be wired from my private account once you return, just as we agreed.”

“Pleasure doing business with you.” Switching the comm off, the figure couldn’t help but laugh.

Billy's pain didn't subside, even a little, eventually requiring pain killers to even allow the Marine to rest. He was sleeping now, occasionally twitching in his sleep, evidence that the pain hadn't totally subsided. Seated at a work counter several feet away from sleeping Marine, Edwin’s dark brows crooked together as he frowned, once again adjusting the magnification on the microscope he was currently looking through. While he had waited for Sorenson to return, the medic had given his lover a thorough once over, double checking Billy’s vitals and temperature, finding them both higher than normal, but not alarmingly so.
Physically, Lifeline could find nothing wrong with the Marine other than the swollen stripes of bruised flesh; and while they were very sensitive and painful to the touch, it didn’t appear as if they were the cause of the racking pain that seemed to be plaguing Billy. Edwin knew that the pain had to be intense to the point of being unbearable if Billy had willingly allowed Edwin to give him something to help numb it down.

Peering at the sample once again, the frown marring Edwin’s face deepened. Pulling away from the microscope, the medic reached for a folder lying nearby, this one a dark red color, the word “Umbrella” written in his own handwriting on the tab. Flipping it open, he shifted through some of the papers until he found what he was looking for, several sets of photographs – microscopic images of blood and tissue samples taken from three of the four bodies that the Joes had retrieved – the bodies that had shown mutations similar to those caused by the T-Virus that Cobra had been experimenting with. As he looked at the photos, and looked into the microscope again, Lifeline shook his dark head, not wanting to accept what he was seeing. ‘God please . . . it can’t be . . . ‘
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Unsung Heroes: Mission One