“Be quiet T-Bob!”
“I-I-I am b-being quiet!”
Scott sighed and continued creeping down the hallway with T-Bob - his ever present companion - squealing along behind him. I really need to oil his parts, Scott thought as he edged closer to his father’s office, pushing aside the slight guilt he felt at trying to eavesdrop on the conversation in the room. Scott and his father had been about to leave for Autobot City when the tone came and, as usual, the boy was intensely curious about what his father was up to.
“...Stewart began just a few minutes ago, Matt.” The voice belonged to General Hawk, leader of the G.I. Joe force. “Most of the Joes and Autobots are fighting enemy forces in Kalingaland and what’s left are trying to help out with the fires in California right now. We’re spread too thin!”
“We’ll take care of it, General,” Matt Trakker assured the older man. “I’ll put together a team and we’ll be in Georgia soon. Let the command at the fort know the cavalry’s on the way.”
“Will do, Capt. Trakker. Hawk out.”
The silence after the communication ended seemed to drag until Matt spoke again. “Okay, Scott. Come in here. Now.”
Scott started guiltily and slowly pushed open the door and walked into his father’s office. “I’m sorry, Dad. I know I shouldn’t have eavesdropped like that; I just wanted to know what you were talking about.” The boy’s eyes brightened suddenly. “You’re going to Georgia?! What’s going on? Can I go?!
Matt placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “You know better than that, son. You and T-Bob are going to have to stay here where it’s safe.” The blond-haired man’s eyes hardened. “No buts, Scott. This is serious.”
The boy nodded glumly. “Okay, Dad. I understand.”
“Good. Now, go to your room. I have to put a team together.” Scott nodded again and turned to leave. Matt watched him for a moment before turning back to the large computer at his side. “Computer, select M.A.S.K. agents best suited for this mission.”
The computer immediately began working, sounds and lights echoing from the machine as it spoke: Working. Personnel selected:
Bruce Sato. Mechanical engineer and design specialist.
Vehicle code name: Rhino
Alex Sector. Computer and communications expert.
Rhino systems commander.
Dusty Hayes. Auto and Marine Stunt Driver.
Vehicle code name: Gator
Gloria Baker. Champion Race Driver. Black Belt in Kung Fu.
Co-Pilot: Gator
“Assemble Mobile Armored Strike Command!”
*****
Matt entered the room and took his seat at the table. His gaze took in those around him and he spoke crisply. “I’ll make this brief. Members of V.E.N.O.M. have led several squads of BATs and Crimson Guardsmen in an attack on Fort Stewart, Georgia. Gen. Hawk’s called us to put Mayhem and his cronies in their place.”
“Well, shoot,” Dusty drawled. “I thought it was going to be something important, Matt. I left that pizza cooling for nothing.” The others around the table chuckled as Dusty smirked.
“I’ll buy you a slice,” Matt responded good-naturedly. “We’ll go to New York after we’re done if you want.”
“Chicago’s better,” Gloria piped in. She ran her fingers through her hair. “Seriously, though. Just the five of us against all that?”
“You’re the equal of any five Guardsmen Gloria,” Matt told her. “And together we can all take on V.E.N.O.M. and those BATs.” He placed his hand on the table’s surface. “All right then. Let’s go. The transport’s been prepped for us.”
With that, Matt pressed a button on the table and it rose upward into the area holding the MED - the Mask Energizing Device. A moment later, the ceiling opened up, revealing a machine with several arms, each holding a Mask.
Again, Matt pressed a button and the group watched as the device activated each Mask. Slowly, the arms lowered and each member of the team took their Mask and placed them on their heads. There was a brief glint from inside the helmets and an odd, almost subliminal, buzz. The M.A.S.K. team rose from their seats and made their way toward their vehicles.
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