Chapter Text
Were there clues I didn't see?
And isn't it just so pretty to think
All along there was some
Invisible string
Tying you to me?
Shana "Scarlett" O'Hara
I needed to be quick.
I looked from side to side, ducking under a table for shelter, looking for signs of more snake soldiers.Confrontation was not an option here, I was in the minority, it would be stupid. And, to make matters worse, so far no Snake Eyes.
He went ahead, entered the base incognito, which was underground and out of sight of everyone, while I entered shortly after and went to the control room to steal the important data about the snake plans. And what happened when I got there? There was nothing! The computer was simply empty, zero files.
In our defense, it wasn't that obvious that it was a trap, but Snake Eyes could have noticed it long before I did, as he made sure to go in first and was soon out of sight.
Obviously he wouldn't leave him alone there with the enemy, even though he knew that conflict would be inevitable. Only God knew what they were doing to my long-term friend and trusted ninja. I hear footsteps approaching.
— At least we managed to catch the ninja. — a male voice sounds from behind, so I change position, cowering even more under the table.
— Commander Cobra will be happy to have a ninja like him on his front line. — Snake Eyes working for Cobra? Never! Not in my wildest dreams... unless...
— I hope that Dr Mindbender is efficient, when he fails the commander becomes furious and the furious commander always has someone left. And that someone is usually one of us. — their voices fade as they cross the empty room.
I knew that being emotional wasn't much use in these situations, I had enough self-control not to despair. It was obvious what they wanted to do with Snake Eyes. Mind control.
It wasn't the first time actually, but they were never successful. I had full confidence in the abilities of the Arashikage clan ninja, but he was human although many seemed to forget that.
Okay, time for plan B. I get up and go back to the same computer I tried to extract information from. Now I needed to access the security cameras and I knew how to do it, thankfully I was still in the control room.
I quickly go through the camera images, there were many places and cameras, some obviously no longer worked, after all, that's how Snake Eyes and I got in. A few more cameras later I found Dr Mindbender and in front of him I could see two legs dressed in black and I knew who it was. He was torturing him and I needed to save him quickly before he managed to brainwash him.
I hold my crossbow and walk out of the room. I look up and see that the ducts would be the best option to stay incognito. The base was still asleep, there was no alarm or any sign that they knew we were here, but I knew they knew. It was their plan all along. What they didn't know was that Snake Eyes wasn't alone.
Inside the duct, I took some paths that lead nowhere and other paths I had to turn back and take another route. When I hear the Mindbender's voice echoing, I follow it, using it to guide me. Still in the ventilation I look down and there I see Snake Eyes with his head hanging to the side as if he was passed out.
My heart pounds hard in my chest. I needed to control my emotions even more, as I always did when it came to him. I was used to not letting on how I felt, even though I thought I was failing because of the comments other Joes made.
I shake my head, thinking about our ambiguous relationship, according to some of the Joes, later.
I notice that there were only the two of them in the room and I decide to attack. I just needed to knock Mindbender unconscious.
I quickly open the ventilation and when he passes under where I am, I jump and use all my skill to hit him in the head and knock him down. He falls to the ground hard and unconscious as I roll to the ground to avoid the impact.
I look up and see that Snake Eyes was now awake again. The noise I made must have woken him up and made him alert.
—Snake eyes! — I call quietly and he tilts his head in doubt. I knew how to read him well, but this time he seemed confused when he saw me. I get closer and he shakes his head from side to side trying to push me away, although he doesn't seem so sure what he's doing. I ignore him and pull him out of the grip of the torture chair holding him.
He finishes untying himself slowly and looks at me as if he doesn't recognize me or has doubts about who I am. It wouldn't be possible, or would it?
— Snake eyes, do you remember me? — I ask slowly and he shrugs as if he doesn't know what to answer. He looks at the unconscious Mindbender and seems to ponder him. The brainwashing doesn't seem to have been complete, but I think they managed to do some damage to him.
We didn't have time now, we needed to get out of here and soon. Wild Bill would soon be here. At least he's not attacking me, so we can get out of here and get help at the Joes' base.
— Snake eyes, let's get out of here. When we get to base you WILL see Doc and we will sort out whatever they did to you. — I approached him, who was now standing. When I touch his arm he shudders and moves away.
I try to avoid it, but my heart sinks at his reaction. He was always distant, but now he was cold. And that hurts even more.
- Let's go! — I point my head towards the exit. I don't give him time to respond and I leave the room with the gun in hand. We need to use the same way we entered so I look for the nearby ventilation with my eyes and point to it. I don't need to look back to know that he was following me, we had known each other for a long time, to the point where we recognized when we were close to each other. And this led to many malicious comments, especially from his brother, Storm Shadow.
I knew there was something wrong with him by the way he followed me, as if he didn't know what he was doing. I rip off the ventilation grill and jump inside. My thoughts turn to the tight space we now share, we were walking behind each other and I was much more familiar with these narrow alleys so I guide him back to the room I was in before rescuing him.
Arriving back at the control room, the path to the exit was much closer, and before I could breathe a sigh of relief, the blaring alarm began to ring. Now we needed to be even faster. And since we've been discovered, it's time to stop hiding.
— Come on Snake! — I run in front of him and he follows me with his swords drawn. Now we'll get out the front door one way or another.
The soldiers who responded the fastest were obviously no match for me and Snake Eyes, but more soldiers would soon come and then we wouldn't be able to escape.
—Stop! Stop them! — Mindbender's voice comes from somewhere, perhaps from the base's speakers, but now we were jumping over the obstacles and quickly getting into the elevator that would take us back to freedom.
I sigh in relief as the doors close and the elevator begins to rise. Snake Eyes puts away his swords and I stop to watch him quickly. He soon notices and looks back at me again with his head tilted as if asking what I was doing.
Unfortunately I blush and look away. I could still feel his eyes on me and I was grateful when the elevator finally stopped and opened the doors to freedom.
— Well now, finally — Wild Bill was outside the helicopter and looked at us curiously. The sound of gunfire makes him quickly jump back in and then we climb into the helicopter. When the elevator opens again and half a dozen soldiers in uniform with the Cobra symbol appear, we were too far away for even the shots to be able to hit us.
I drop my body on the seat in relief and Snake Eyes, who usually sat next to me, sits on the other side although he is in front of me. I didn't know exactly what had happened but he wasn't the same Snake Eyes as before.
-
— Brainwashing — Doc repeats what I had just said. I quickly look around the infirmary and see through the half-open door that Snake Eyes was there against his will. I had to drag him to the infirmary, but that wasn't unusual, in fact I feel relieved to see that he's still the same at least in that way.
If he were to see a doctor of his own free will, I would be in real despair.
Doc motions for me to follow him and we enter the room where Snake Eyes is with his arms crossed, and probably sulking beneath his mask, waiting for us sitting on the bed.
— Did you say he looks strange? — Doc looks back at Snake Eyes who pretends not to hear him. The doctor looks at me as if to say “and was he ever normal?”
— Yes, it's a feeling. — he just nods and turns to Snake Eyes.
— Okay, Snake Eyes, do you recognize me? — He makes a plus or minus sign with his hand. I furrow my eyebrows and Doc gives me a quick look before turning his eyes to Snake Eyes again.
— And do you remember her? — He points straight at me and I hold my breath tensely. Snake Eyes takes a while to respond, seems to think for a while, but then slowly shakes his head from side to side. Negative.
All my hopes sink along with my heart.
— Scarlett, you better wait outside — Doc continues. — I'll be here for a while.
I nod and give one last worried look to Snake Eyes who doesn't look back in my direction.
I leave the room with my head down and decide to wait in the infirmary.
We were friends, close friends perhaps? Did I want something more? Yes, he knew? I believe not, after all we never talk about it, although the people around us do. But I knew he didn't see me that way, the great Arashikage ninja wouldn't see me that way. I was just the friend who cared about him, who he helped and rescued and I did the same for him. And of course I wouldn't force him.
That's why I kept this feeling trapped here, I didn't want to end what we had, because it would definitely move away and I'd rather die than let that happen.
I had resigned myself to just being his friend, I wanted to be close to him, and he seemed to like the same. We went out to places where he could hide his face, although it wasn't easy for him to agree at first, but he seemed to want to come out of his shell more and more. I was taking him out of his loneliness, although I didn't know much about his life, but I knew some things through Storm Shadow. He was a mystery and I wanted to unravel him, but as always something happened that made him close himself more and more to me.
And now he didn't even know who I was.
Snake Eyes
Who was she?
When I woke up, I was tied to a chair, and then I came face to face with a red-haired goddess looking at me as if I were the most important thing in the world. And I knew it wasn't... at least I thought so. I had to protect something, or someone, but now I no longer remembered. I only got it for her.
My master, or at least I thought he was, was unconscious but I didn't care, or rather I didn't care when I looked at her.
I felt like something was missing, but I didn't remember what it was, and that only happened when I looked at her. She continued talking to me and freed me from the chair. I could swear her touch burned even through the fabric that separated us.
She misinterpreted my actions, of course. As always, I felt like this had already happened in some way. She never understood, she didn't see.
So I followed her.
And now I was here with these people who were greeting me as if I knew them, just like the doctor who is peppering me with questions I don't know the answers to. Some answers come to mind quickly, but some I can't remember. I didn't know where she came from, nor my name, other than the name Snake Eyes.
The doctor sighs whenever I don't answer him, and I just want to know what happened to her.
— Scarlett, are you still here? — he calls loudly and the redhead, Scarlett, appears again. Her face was listless and my chest felt like it was being torn apart as she realized I was the reason for this. This isn't the first time you've done this to her...
Did I always do this…? What?
— This time they changed their modus operandi and decided to try another type of brainwashing. They erased it, or rather, they made Snake Eyes think he had no memory. Some kind of hypnosis. The idea seems to have worked, maybe if they had had time to train him more, we wouldn't have been able to bring him back. And not you.
The redhead, Scarlett, nods slowly.
— I don't think it will be difficult to make him remember, after all he came here with you even though he thought the Mindbender was his master. — the doctor seemed lost in thought as he held a clipboard profusely writing down my situation. My skin feels itchy, being here was uncomfortable. I didn't like it when they analyzed me like a scientific experiment.
I looked from side to side trying to understand them, demystify them.
— Do you have any idea why? - she asks. Her voice was more fragile, and she seemed to realize this right away, clearing her throat trying to hide it. She was upset about my situation and that was what bothered me most at that moment.
- I have an idea. — he says, seeming to have something more to say and looks from her to me as if there is something deep down that no one has the courage to say. — Physically he is fine, but I recommend that he stays at the base until his memories return. Oh, and I think it's a good idea to call Storm Shadow. I think he can help.
She nods once more and takes one last look at me before leaving the room. Now, somehow, I knew she wouldn't be outside waiting.
— She'll come back, she always comes back when you're here. — he says when he notices that I'm staring at the closed door.
I face him knowing that no one would know how to interpret me since the mask wouldn't let me, but despite that, somehow she knew. Scarlett knew something was supposedly different about me as soon as she jumped out of that vent and looked at me, without even looking at my face.
Once again I found myself wondering who this mysterious woman was.
-
- How are you brother? — I get up from the bed when I hear the voice. Unfortunately, I would need to stay here for at least 24 hours to be sure and only then could I go to my accommodations. Wherever my accommodations are on this base…
Hours seemed to have passed and the doctor had left me here with some clothes that I imagine were mine.
I look at a young Japanese man who looks at me with curious eyes.
"Who are you?" I ask using my hands. After making the signs I realize that I did them instinctively. I knew sign language somehow in the same way I knew I couldn't speak. No more.
— Oh, so it's true? My brother really lost his memories. — he makes a noise with his mouth.
"What do you want?" he was quickly irritating me and he seemed well aware and comfortable with it.
- I came to see you. But it looks like I'll have to remember some of the clan's techniques to help you.
— So can you help? — the red-haired goddess opens the door with clear hope on her face. She was wearing cargo pants and a t-shirt and still looked like a divine vision. I shake my head, why was I so mesmerized by her? I wasn't like that, but something about her...
- Clear. I make no guarantees, but I can try. — He crosses his arms in front of his chest and looks at me. When he noticed where I was looking, he smiled a not so discreet smile. — If he lost his memory... then does that mean he doesn't remember you, red? Interesting.
He turns to me with an even bigger smile.
— Don't you remember your own girlfriend, brother? They don't like that at all...
— We are not lovers! — Scarlett responds quickly and with great emphasis. I feel strangely… disappointed. For the emphasis on clarifying that there was no way there would be anything between us, like the disappointment that we really didn't have anything, even if I didn't remember anything.
- Whatever. — he shrugs. — Better then get to work. — He turns to Scarlett and she immediately understands his insinuation.
- Right. I'll come back later to see you, Snake Eyes—she seems purposely avoiding me now. Her face still looked haggard every time she looked at me and I couldn't take it anymore, I wanted her not to look like this because of me, but I didn't know what to do.
I nodded at her and could see a small smile appear before she turned and left the room.
For a few seconds I looked at the door slowly closing, imagining it coming back to me and obviously the other ninja didn't fail to notice.
— And you still say they're not lovers...
“I didn’t say anything” I sign with my hands looking back at him. I was sitting on the bed now, I had changed out of my uniform for cargo pants and a t-shirt but with a balaclava still hiding my face. I had a pair of sunglasses next to me and for some reason when they brought me those objects, I knew that I had a habit of wearing those whenever I was off duty. Or here.
— He said, although his actions say otherwise. — He leans against the wall, watching me intently.
“Did we… were we anything?” I ask at once.
— The entire base says yes, but you said no. In fact, she seems to have a crush on you, but you seem like a difficult type. — it took me a few seconds too long to digest everything that was said to me.
In what world would a woman like that look at me? I looked in the mirror earlier, I didn't know what had happened to my face, but I knew she would never look at me, not like that.
I shook my head, making it clear that I didn't believe what he was saying. The white ninja sighs as if this is the kind of conversation we've had a thousand times and the result has been the same.
— You're hopeless. At least let's try to fix your memory. And then I try to put a little notion into your head. — he approaches where I am and I nod my head, giving him a thumbs up to continue.
The faster I remembered everything the better.
Shana “Scarlett” O’hara
— What's up, red? — Ace materializes in front of me, distracting me from my thoughts about Snake Eyes. I had barely left the infirmary and they were already coming towards me. Just with one look at his face I already knew why he came to talk to me as soon as he saw me. The news really spread…
— How is our ninja?
I let out a sigh, which is answer enough, but he still seems to want a complete answer.
— Without the memories. He seems to remember little things, but his memory is still shaky. — Ace makes a noise with his mouth, seeming to reflect deeply.
— Doesn't he remember anyone? Not even Storm Shadow?
— Apparently not either.
— And not even from you? — I turn to face him, probably with anger in my eyes that I can't help but.
— No, he doesn't remember me.
— So it's worse than they said... — To his credit, he really seemed upset about the situation. Yes, news here travels too fast.
Ace says goodbye quickly and I hope he doesn't open any betting pools on this sensitive subject. But it wouldn't be the first time he did this kind of thing either. And it didn't end well, for him, of course.
I start walking towards my room again, but when I get to the hallway I see Lady Jaye and Covergirl waiting for me, so I let out a tired sigh. It would be a long night…
-
The next morning my first thought was to go to the infirmary, but unfortunately when I got there they told me that Snake Eyes had already been released and had gone to the cafeteria.
I change my route and go straight to the cafeteria and when I get there I see a huge group of Joes and in the middle of them, Snake Eyes in full black clothing. The chatter was loud and they seemed curious about the ninja's mental situation.
As I got closer, without intending to be sneaky, I realized that they weren't paying attention to me, which unfortunately didn't signal to them that they should be quiet as was the case before.
—Snake! So you and the redhead ran away from Cobra, but what about your memory? What happened? — Stalker was by his side helping to translate sign language for the Joes who didn't understand much.
— You didn't remember Scarlett, but you still came with her? — a low laugh sounds from somewhere as Snake Eyes shrugs at the question.
— Ah, a beautiful woman calls you to follow her, and you go. So what if you don't remember her memory? I would have done the same. — Snake Eyes looks at him a little as if he doesn't know how to react to that. The former Snake Eyes didn't like the jokes that some men, with an obviously sexist bias, played with female Joes.
— As if any woman would even think about doing that to you — Lady Jaye counters from somewhere. They hadn't noticed my presence yet, but I think she may have already noticed that I was there.
— Poor Scarlett, her boyfriend doesn’t remember her…
Snake Eyes starts signaling with his hands again and Stalker rushes to translate.
— We already know this Snake eyes speech, seriously. — this time I hear Mainframe's voice.
— We just have eyes. — Someone responds and before Stalker continues with the translations, I approach where Snake Eyes is and I can see some Joes further away from the circle trying to escape in fear.
— And I have eyes AND EARS. — A silence immediately ensues. Lady Jaye seems to want to laugh, Stalker doesn't even hide his smile while Clutch and others seem to want to hide.
Assholes.
The circle around the ninja quickly dissolves. I look at Snake Eyes and then at Stalker waiting for some explanations.
— They cornered us. — Stalker shrugs as if that were explanation enough. I cross my arms and wait. Snake Eyes takes the opportunity to go to the food and I stay with Stalker as I watch him calmly move away from us.
—Did he say anything? I ask. Would he have remembered Stalker and not me?
— Except he doesn't remember anything. Not even from me. Storm Shadow's treatment failed. — I look around the cafeteria in search of him, but he was nowhere in sight. I needed to ask him some questions. I was counting on him.
— Do you know where he is?
— I haven't seen him yet. — Stalker watches me closely and I can see the concern in his eyes. - And you? How are you?
- I'm fine, why? — I look away from his and that was enough of an answer for him to realize it was a lie.
— It must be difficult to see the person we love not remembering us...
— Me and Snake Eyes don't-
- And I know it. But I see the way he looked-looked at you. — I shake my head, not letting him continue.
— He's always seen me as a friend and I'm okay with that. — there was no point lying to Stalker anymore and I knew it.
He refuses to continue talking, but the way he looks at me makes it clear he doesn't believe any of it. And even worse, he felt sorry for me.
I turn my back and choose a table ignoring the pang in my chest when I see Snake Eyes returning to where Stalker was and avoiding looking at the table I was at and sitting with Stalker somewhere else. Away from me.
I felt a lot of eyes on me that morning and I was tired of it. After they went to another table, the pitying looks got worse. I leave the cafeteria focused on finding Storm Shadow. He owed me some answers.
Snake Eyes
I notice Stalker, my possible best friend along with Storm Shadow, looking across the cafeteria. I follow his gaze and see Scarlett leaving the cafeteria with long, steady steps.
— She was upset. — he comments as he turns to look at me. I had eaten quickly enough to put the mask back in place, covering my mouth again. I didn't take it off in front of others and they seemed used to it.
"I know." I sign for him. We were alone at the table but I felt curious eyes on me, the same ones that were also on Scarlett.
— And rightly so. You completely ignored her.
“I just don't know how to act around her” I sigh deeply and I know he was able to hear.
- Why? — he seemed to genuinely not understand my anguish.
"I do not know exactly."
—Try to explain. — he said quietly, taking care that onlookers wouldn't hear and from where I was they couldn't see the signs I was making clearly. And many there didn't understand most of them anyway.
"I feel bad. I wanted to console her in some way, but I don't know how. I don't know what to say, I don't even know what we were. But when I woke up I knew I had to follow her wherever she went.”
Stalker whistles low and I raise my eyebrow even though he can't see.
— I always knew you had feelings for her. It was clear. — I hold myself back from interrupting him. I was curious to know about my old self. — you never said anything to anyone, and avoided questions from others, but there are certain things that not even a talented ninja like you could hide.
"Why? Do you think she knew?”
— You're just friends, but it was totally because of her. You were always a little distant, but she was determined, still is.
I analyze his words for a while thinking about everything he said to me. I didn't think it was possible that she had any interest in me, but Stalker seemed sure that my old self had feelings for her. And I knew it was true, I tried to deny it at first, but that explained why every time I looked at her it felt like I was seeing the Sun for the first time in my life.
A slightly distant voice catches my attention and then I hear some random conversations.
- Did you see? he didn't sit with her! They always stayed together.
— I'm thinking about starting a bet. How long will it take for him to recover his memories?
— I'll give it a week!
— Maybe now is my chance, the ninja out of the picture, maybe it's my time to try.
— you should be ashamed to think about that.
— Is dreaming wrong?
— In that case, yes.
— What if he didn't lose his memories? Maybe he didn't know how to break up with the redhead.
— He's a ninja! What will you be afraid of?
— Scarlett scares anyone when she's angry, even a ninja.
— It was just a chance with a redhead…
— If I were her, I would also prefer the ninja.
— He's ignoring her. Strange.
— Actually, I'm not used to seeing them like this. I felt sad for Shana.
—Snake eyes? — Stalker calls me and I divert my attention from the side conversations. They don't seem to know that I have good hearing to hear them from here.
“Everyone is talking about us” I tell him.
- This is normal. You should talk to her and stop ignoring her, maybe that way you can recover some memories. — Stalker still ate his food as if he was in no hurry.
Maybe he was right. Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to try
-
Stalker shows me my room and upon entering it a feeling of belonging comes over me. I knew that this really was my place, the meticulous arrangement, the knives stored, and then I noticed the photos stored. There were some of the Arashikage, the Joes and another photo that looked worn out, possibly because of how much I carry it around, and it was a photo of me and Scarlett. My face was covered by the hat, but it was definitely me and I was smiling.
I take the photo and focus on his serene, happy face. I was also happy and smiling, and I didn't remember feeling that way with anyone else or at any other time in my life. I didn't really like photos, I remember that now and then I realize that little by little I was really remembering things, some silly things but they were something.
I would get my memories back, I was sure and I was relieved. Only then do I realize that a large part of my memory that came back was because of the emotions attached...
I think I just discovered ways to speed up my recovery.