This story is inspired by stories from the comics stylized American paramilitary fantasy-adventure franchise G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (Hasbro).
It is the culmination of a great deal of personal research I've done on folklore/storytelling surround war and terrorism. I've drawn ideas from A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens), War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy), G.I. Joe (films and comics), and the rapture-fantasy Sam Raimi film Army of Darkness.
====
Dr. Mindbender had achieved the impossible. He had created a genetically-engineered super-emperor from the DNA of tyrants and warlords across human history --- Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Adolf Hitler, and Genghis Khan. He named this vile beast Serpentor who would serve as new militant leader of the diabolical terrorist organization Cobra. Mindbender was ready to stage a coup and use Serpentor's help to overthrow the throne of Cobra Commander and also seek the loyalty of Destro and the Baroness, two Cobra viziers who for years had been dissatisfied with Cobra's failures.
At the fortress of the patriotic G.I. Joes (a special force of the American army), commander Duke was busy studying the past patterns of Cobra terrorist activity. Duke was concerned that Mindbender was planning something to stage a new terrible Cobra initiative, and he was worried that the Joes would be rendered powerless. Flint, Duke's trusted first knight and Green Beret specialist entered Duke's office and asked him why he seemed troubled, and Duke told him of his worries about Mindbender's new schemes. Flint suggested that the Joes send Snake Eyes to infiltrate Cobra's base and assassinate Dr. Mindbender, and Duke agreed.
Destro, Baroness, and Serpentor were leading a rally at the Cobra base. Cobra Commander was deposed formally and was relegated to the position of 'special-consultant.' Dr. Mindbender relayed his plan to have Serpentor lead a terrorist raid on Washington, D.C. on his laser-enhanced glider device and armed with venom-darts, with hundreds of Cobra drones following on foot and with rifles and lasers of their own. Baroness remarked that this would be Cobra's finest hour, even if they failed. Suddenly, there was a crash in the glass ceiling above. It was the G.I. Joe special assassin Snake Eyes who soared down and swooped up Dr. Mindbender with a rope and then flew away from the Cobra base on his hang-glider. Serpentor ordered that Cobra carry out Mindbender's plan the next day.
At the G.I. Joe fortress, Dr. Mindbender submitted and reported to Duke Cobra's plan to storm Washington D.C. under the leadership of their new genetically-engineered super-emperor Serpentor. Duke seized the moment and suggested to Flint that Cobra would strike Washington the next day since Mindbender was now prisoner. Duke also told Flint to capture Cobra Commander during the strike and the Joes' response and motivate him to defect and help the Joes defeat Cobra.
Serpentor and hundreds of Cobra agents stormed into Washington the next morning. The Joes were there ready and waiting and armed to the teeth. Snake Eyes took down the evil Cobra ninja Storm Shadow, and Flint wrestled Cobra Commander to the ground and suggested he help the Joes defeat Cobra now that he was deposed and would be expendable very soon. Cobra Commander conceded and agreed and with Flint's help, killed Serpentor. The Joes quelled the terrible Cobra strike and Destro and Baroness were captured too and imprisoned. Cobra Commander was being held temporarily in a security cell at the G.I. Joe base next to the cell of the Baroness who asked the deposed Cobra leader why he betrayed Serpentor.
Cobra Commander coolly told the demoralized Baroness, "Cobra will be better honored as terrorism's martyrs."
Secretly, Cobra Commander wondered what the legacy of Cobra would be now that Serpentor was dead. He thought to himself that betraying Cobra would gain pity for the hundreds of captured Cobra agents and drones, but that Cobra would need strong legal support to be granted asylum as criminally insane terrorists. For the first time, Cobra Commander contemplated the practicality of suicide but considered the wisdom of further political work with the Joe commander Duke. Duke was in his office smoking a cigar and drinking tea.
====
Log in to comment