They sat in the Starfire quietly. Duke was a little more than just angry. This time he genuinely thought he was going to get Ana to come back, but the Commander obviously had other plans for her. Edge sat next Snake Eyes, his hand resting gently on her shoulder, hiding it under her long brown hair. She had never come to think of Snake Eyes as more than her master, but after everything she'd been through, she knew now how much he really meant to her. She looked around the hold of the plane that she was sitting in, everyone looked a little better. Ripcord and Scarlett were sitting quietly to one side; Ripcord was over exaggerating on something again. Storm Shadow, even though not happy about being cuffed, looked content enough to be out of COBRA. Her eyes fell on Duke, sitting across from her in the corner. She had to say something to him, to make him see a little more hope than what he was thinking of right now. She slid out from under Snake Eyes' protective hand, letting it fall to his side. She went up to Duke and sat next to him. His face greeted hers, his broken faith showing clearly.

"You gotta keep trying Duke. Don't give up on her so easily." Edge tried to sound as sincere as she could be.

Duke sighed and turned his gaze half away from her.

"I saw her, when we were in that hell hole. She was so lost Duke. So lost and trapped at the same time. No one deserves that, not even after all the things she's done."

Duke looked back at her, a small smile on his face.

"You and me…?" He didn't finish that sentence, but she knew what he meant.

"A little bit of a mistake." She smiled, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"But seen as though you're on the team now, I probably shouldn't let you die or anything." She joked, and he knew immediately what she was talking about.

"Yeah, you probably shouldn't." He smiled a half-hearted smile back, but it was enough for her at that moment.

"We're going to take down COBRA, I don't when or how, but when we do, we'll fix Ana, and she'll be your Ana again."

He nodded once and leant back against the cold metal at his back, turning his head again to face her.

"I really thought this time…she'd just trust me and go with me." Duke closed in eyes in frustration.

"What happened there, at the end, that wasn't Ana at all. The Commander has made new nanomites…needless to say; I think she was the first test subject." Edge did her best to console him.

"I know. I could see that too." He shook his head once or twice, trying to forget that sight forever.

"Don't give up Duke, that's all I'm asking."

Duke opened his eyes once again, looking at Edge. She really meant it; she wanted Ana out of that mess as much as he did. That was of some condolence to him.

"Listen; about you and me, I think Snake Eyes kind of knows something. He's been looking like he wants to kill me for the past six months." Duke spoke softly enough that no one else could hear.

Edge looked from Duke to Snake Eyes, seeing what he meant. Snake Eyes sat unmoving, his eyes set on Duke. She smiled a little and turned back to Duke

"He's always been a little…over-zealous and too observant. Don't worry, I'll tell him what happened, and that it was a mistake. After that, I can't guarantee anything."

Duke frowned, but smiled nonetheless.

"That barely makes me feel any better, but thanks."

Edge reached up and squeezed his shoulder again. She smiled a little before getting up and heading over to Snake Eyes. As she sat down, his arm slid up her back and back to its previous hideaway on her shoulder. She leaned her head over slightly touch his hand with her head. He smiled slightly at her touch, responding by gently running his finger across her shoulder.

"I can't believe you spoke, even after you saw Storm Shadow." Edge tried to ignore his hand as best she could, but he persisted.

"I'm willing to make exceptions, after all, it's not everyday I can say I saved the one I love." He whispered to her, brushing her ear with his warm breath.

Edge's face flushed red; she tried to hide it beneath her hair from Duke sitting across from her. Duke saw her face flush red and looked the other way, allowing her and Snake Eyes some privacy. She turned her face to Snake Eyes, eyeing him down even with her flushed face.

"What…do you mean?" She stuttered.

"You know what I mean." He whispered back to her, brushing her hair away from her neck.

Duke knew that they would get Ana back. When or how, or how whole she would be at that time, he didn't know, but he knew what Edge said was true. He couldn't give up yet, he knew he still loved her, and that was more than enough to fight for.