G.I. Joe: Agent Blue Jaye and the Beasts of Lakeside

Chapter 21

Lakeside morgue was a small sterile room with metal walls and long rows of fluorescent lights running across the ceiling. Two large steel medical tables stood in the middle of the room, each accompanied by a mobile lamp and rolling computer tray. The body of the dead mountain lion laid across one table, while photos and maps of Lakeside were strewn across the other.

Spirit and Flint stood at the ends of both tables, staring at the body of the lion contemplating what to do next. The lion was massive, about eight feet long and an easy 220 pounds. Flint looked at the piece of the B.A.T. technology surgically implanted in the back of the lion's skull.

The tip of Spirit's arrow was still lodged in the tech. Flint looked at the lion, impressed at its size and thought about the student who he helped airlift to Lakeside Hospital right after landing in Riverbury. Landing on the girl with its full weight could have been fatal.

"How is the girl?" Flint asked looking over to Spirit with concern. Spirit pursed his lips, staring at the lion.

"Not good. A broken rib, collapsed lung, and a broken vertebra. Doctors don't think she'll walk again." Spirit said and continued to stare at the lion. Flint sighed as he thought about her condition. At least she would live he thought to himself.

"What about her friend?" Flint asked.

"The Sheriff is questioning her now." Spirit said, lowering his gaze to the floor. Flint stared at his old teammate, wondering what he was thinking.

"How did you know to track them?" Flint questioned. Spirit looked up, his eyes meeting Flint's.

"The Sheriff said they were reporters for the school paper and were planning on writing a story that a mountain lion was responsible for the killings. After the first attack, the kids went back to their apartment and took those photos." Spirit motioned to the manila envelope lying on the other table. Flint picked up the envelope and took out the pictures.

"Knowing they were on to something, I decided to follow them. Based on the girl Jessie's recent statement, she said she ran background checks on the victims through the public records database and found each had a grandfather with military connections." Spirit said.

"Mindbender and the Techno Viper." Flint interjected.

"Correct. Pretty slick investigating skills if you ask me. Both girls were also at the Boathouse for the third attack covering the Global Alliance reception for the school paper. The girl said Deborah mentioned in her speech that her grandfather was also in the military. Making that connection, and knowing Captain Minh was still alive, they decided to head north to talk to him." Spirit said. Flint looked impressed.

"Like I said, they're good reporters." Spirit repeated. "I had spoken with them earlier at the University. The Sheriff asked if I could help persuade them from writing their story as he thought it would cause a panic. He didn't believe a mountain lion was responsible for the killings."

"Neither did I." Flint replied.

"Neither did anyone except those kids." Spirit added. "And because of them, we now have what lies before us." Spirit gestured toward the lion.

"There's still one more lion out there though...and Raptor." Flint said looking again at the B.A.T. tech in the back of the lion's head.

"Right. Raptor. So, you think Mindbender brought Raptor back to life?" Spirit asked Flint.

"Yes, that's what everything is pointing to. When Deborah Minh was attacked, Breaker was able to connect Captain Minh, Mindbender, and the Techno Viper, to a single operation on Cobra Island in early 1990 which resulted in Raptor's death. Mindbender's Techno Viper retrieved Raptor's body and we believe Mindbender brought him back to life, possibly integrating B.A.T. technology and enhancing his abilities to control animals." Flint stated walking over to the Catamount.