G.I. Joe: Doomsday Protocol

Chapter 10: The B.A.T. From Hell

The B.A.T. slung the wrist knife back and flipped the wrist-mounted gun into place. As soon as Hank dropped to the floor, the room was lit up with muzzle flashes. Vipers began falling one by one as the Battle Android picked them off with ease.

There was nothing to use for cover as Chuckles pulled Kyle low to the floor and rushed him toward the stairs. Ana threw her helmet back on as she followed. The only light was the muzzle-flashes, making it hard to navigate around their panicked fellow Vipers without the use of the Viper helmet's night vision.

The Cobra loyalists were unable to coordinated return gunfire as the B.A.T. cherry-picked Viper after Viper without a single moment of resistance. Vipers were trying to get their helmets back on, unsure which direction to run. Several opted for their rifle over their helmets and regretted the decision before they could fire off a round. The B.A.T. was prioritizing targets, taking down those showing more aggression before those that were just panicked.

Chuckles yelled through his helmet mic for everyone to make it to the stairwell, only speaking on channel three for his men to hear. He fell to the ground as soon as he reached the stairwell, nearly pulling Kyle on top of him.

"I dropped my helmet, sir! I can't see!" Kyle yelled out, scared.

"I know!" Chuckles replied. "Stay close to me! I'll get you out of here!" As soon as he finished, Ana, Larry, and Steve joined them in the stairwell. They were still fumbling with their rifles, unable to get a clear shot to return fire.

Eight remaining Vipers, led by the lone Tele-Viper, also made it to the stairwell - the tail-end Viper getting shot in the back and killed. Those that made it had slipped their helmets back on.

"Move! Up! Up!" Chuckles led the charge up the stairs, Kyle still in tow, stumbling over half the steps but staying on his feet. The rest of Chuckle's men fought their way up the stairs behind him, struggling with the remainder of the Vipers for space in the narrow stairwell. There was no organization or brothers-in-arms at this point, just survival.

Chuckles glanced back to make sure Ana was still with him. She had slowed a few feet behind but was holding her own, elbowing one Viper in the throat when he got too aggressive with his shoving and pulling. Larry and Steve were with her, watching her back. They were working as a unit, their heads level and clear of thought. He was sure they would each have a thought-out, strategized plan organized in their heads by the time they exited the stairwell and reached sunlight.

All of the Vipers stopped once they reached the ground level entrance, all fanning out, rifles aimed at the stairway opening that they had all just ran up. They heard nothing for some time.

"Everyone to channel one," Chuckles ordered, taking command. All of the remaining Vipers immediately did so. Then things got quiet again. They all watched. "Grenade launchers," Chuckles ordered. They all loaded a grenade round, adjusting their choke on their rifle, and aiming straight down the stairwell..

The B.A.T.'s footsteps could be heard slamming against the concrete steps, making its way up toward them.

Chuckles called out, "Fire!"

Grenades filled the air, hitting the stairwell and causing several concussive explosions. The amount of pressure created was disorienting.

"Did we get it?" asked Kyle, still unable to see.

"I don't know," Chuckles whispered.

A bullet flew from the smoke, hitting a Viper in the stomach. The impact knocked the Viper onto his back.

Chuckles grabbed Kyle again, and they started running toward the daylight, getting out of the confinements of the Terror Drome. The rest of the Vipers, all with the same thoughtless, reactionary plan, were surrounding them. Chuckles could hear the B.A.T. moving again but not pursuing them. It was continuing up the stairs to the higher levels... but why?