Ch17jinx Xamot accepted her invitation and entered. Even though they had tenacious friendship he still felt nervous. Almost as if they expected to stat fighting. He decided to explain what was happening since she was obviously confused. "We've decided to oppose her" "oppose who?" asked jay for a moment lost. "Trinity, the new cobra leader". "This means what exactly?" "We need help more precisely were out manned," he answered.

So you're asking for my help?" "We were hoping you could persuade some of your Joe comrades to help as well" Jaye perused her lips tall order, her she could guarantee but the others. How would they react to helping cobra."Whaty about the hostages?" "We've got a plan to rescue them" "ok I'll see what I can do but I'm not promising anything" "great you can find us at Zartan's old cabin" Jaye nodded she remembered the place. "Ah Xamot?" "Yes" "if Flint comes back you won't mention us will you" "as long as you don't mention it to my brother" he smiled at her. "Agreed" she said smiling back, for a moment Xamot wished they had never been enemies. He said his goodbyes and went back to the car.

This went better than planned, just hope she can convince them to join us. He sighed and drove back to zartan's wondering how he was going to deal with these emotions. He knew in his heart it would never work, but still part of him hoped. Too bad she was still hung up on Flint.

Jaye started making phone calls as soon as he left. Calling everyone she knew and having him or her call the ones she didn't. The first person she called, Scarlet, in turn called Duke. In all after they were done they managed to assemble a small group. Duke called Tripwire, and Gung Ho. Quick kick called Spirit and Bazooka. In all they had Duke, Tripwire, and Flint, quick Kick Gung ho. As well as Spirit Bazooka, Mutt Shipwreck, Wild bill and Lifeline. They weren't many but they would have to do.

Duke managed to squeeze some paper past requisition to get their weapons back. While Flint unofficially checked out some vehicles. After they were all armed and loaded up they headed for Zartan's base. Now they were all sitting outside while Jay knocked on the door.

Luckily for her Xamot answered because he hadn't mentioned that their allies were the Joes. Zartan turned in surprise when he heard Jays voice a puzzled expression on his face. He looked at Xamot a question in his eyes, Xamot only smiled. Zartan looked out the door at the waiting Joes and then back to Xamot. Jay smiled Zartan shocked was a funny sight. Then Ripper stated the obvious "hey guys the bloody Joes are here" which broke the tension by sending both sides into fits of laughter. "Tell your friends to come in," said Zartan to Jay still not believing that he just invited the Joes into his home. He shook his head in disbelief, times were sure getting strange.

Zandar still would not talk to her, Trinity sighed feeling depressed. She actually missed him; even though she had Tomax to fill her bed it just wasn't the same. She sighed probably cause Tomax doesn't love me and Zandar did.

"The first group goes in here, and releases the prisoners," said Zartan explaining the mission. Duke had let Zartan do the leading on this one because most of the people were either Dreadnoks or Cobra's. Even though some of his people were with each group. Duke had a now grudging admiration for Zartan's tactics; he had to admit the man was brilliant. "Are we ready?" Zartan asked. "Yeah came the group reply.

They were heading for the island in the old cargo plane Wild bill had borrowed. They were flying very low so they could make the drop site. Both Joes and Cobra's were in the back checking their chutes. They were over the island now, the tank crews climbed into the two old tanks they had borrowed and waited. The back doors opened and the tanks slid out their chutes deploying as they dropped.

The cobra guards on the ground were too busy playing cards and making out with female cobra soldiers to notice the blips filling their screen. The allies had no problem entering the base, the Dreadnoks made short work of the gates. There were only some minor skirmishes, most of the cobra soldiers opted for surrender. Some even joined the resistance. While a small group of soldiers fought off the resistance fighters outside Zartan snuck into the Palace.

The Joes and the others were already freeing the hostages downstairs. That however was not Zartan's goal right now, his goal was Trinity. Zandar was on his way to the throne room when he first heard the sounds of fighting. He hid quickly wondering who was attacking the base. He saw his brother go past. He wanted to say something to him but couldn't. So instead he quietly followed. Trinity was lounged on the throne her legs draped over the arm of the chair. She could hear the sounds of fighting outside it sounded like it was getting closer. Trinity opened a hidden compart ment on the chair and pulled a gun out tucking it down next to her in the chair.

Zandar decided to go in though the door behind the throne so as not to be seen. Zartan shot the two guards at the door that foolishly tried to stop him from entering. Trinity lazily looked up at him when he entered. He strode towards her revenge on his mind. "That's close enough," said Zandar coming out from behind the throne. Trinity smiled when she saw her beloved defending her. Zartan looked disgustly at his brother "put the gun on the floor " Zandar ordered "Zandar why are you still defending this woman?" Zartan asked aghast. "You wouldn't understand," he answered still keeping his gun trained on his brother. "Try me!" Zandar shrugged "I love her" Trinity smiled giddily her stomach doing butterflies. He loves me she thought "then I'm sorry because I have to kill her" said Zartan "I cant let you do that" said Zandar stepping between Trinity and his brother "you'll have to shoot me to stop me, are you prepared to do that brother?" Zandar swallowed no he didn't want to do that but he also didn't want to loose her either. His emotions were playing tug of war with his heart. To the point he thought he would shatter.

Trinity watched the exchange for a few minutes. When she relised Zandar was wavering she went for her own gun. Zandar was far enough to the side that she wouldn't hit him. She would just shoot Zartan herself, Zandar would understand. She pulled her gun and aimed it at Zartan.

Blam, Blam two shots were fired their discharges echoing in the small chamber. Zartan fell clutching his leg. Trinity stumbled forward her head filled with blinding pain. She turned to look at Zandar who was holding a smoking gun. He whispered "I'm sorry Trinity, please forgive me" Then he pulled the trigger twice more before she went down. Zandar walked slowly over to her fallen form. In a daze, he dropped the pistol in the pool of blood forming at his feet; it landed with a faint splash. He fell to his knees tears blinding him. His chest hurt so bad he could barely take a breath. He lifted her head into his lap and cradled her corpse in his arms before breaking down into sobs. The world around him going black, his soul empty now of all but grief.