Split Focus Part 2

[Note: I am a collector of G.I. Joe action figures, and have loved
them and their mythos for many years, since I was a kid and even more
so now as an adult. I was introduced to online text-based RPG playing
by a friend, and took part in a few G.I. Joe-themed ones. The
opportunity to create new stories with these characters we'd read
about in comics and played with as toys, and create our own characters
to interact with the established ones, was a fun experience. So,
inspired by those days of yore, I want to write a few of my own
adventures, solo, just for fun, and as an release for frustrations.
Here is the second part of, hopefully, a series of adventures with my
favourite Joe: Cooper G. MacBride, aka Low-Light. Also featured,
Wallace A. Weems, aka Rip Cord (note 2: this is the original Rip Cord,
not the idiot version they had in the abortive G.I. Joe live-action
film, portrayed by Marlon Wayans). Without further elaboration.]

The excitement started in his knees. As the time drew nearer he'd need
to stand and do squats to stop from going crazy. He took his mind off
it by thinking of something else.

His thoughts drifted back to mornings at home when he was a teenager,
the smell of breakfast waking him early on weekends. The sounds coming
from the kitchen drew him out of bed, and he all but leapt down the
stairs, enjoying the momentary giddy feeling in his stomach before he
landed on the bottom step.

"You're gonna need all the energy you can get to get through the day,"
his mother would say.

"Don't listen to your mother: full stomach or not, it's all down to
skill and training that'll see you safely on the ground again," his
father retorted, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

The jumpmaster indicated get ready, and Rip Cord was drawn out
of his memories and back into the airplane. He turned toward the rear
of the airplane and did a final check of his equipment; most
importantly he made sure his weapons case was securely strapped to his
right leg. His oxygen mask was in place and he was breathing his
internal air supply.

A green indicator light started to blink and the rear of the airplane
opened up; the jumpmaster indicated prepare to land. Rip Cord
moved to the edge of the opening. It felt like he was going to vomit
his heart into the mask it was beating so hard; his heart beat loud in
his ears, almost drowning out the roar of wind in the cabin.

The light turned from green to red and the jumpmaster gave him the
land signal. Before he'd fully registered the signal Rip Cord
was out of the airplane, and flying. It was the best feeling he ever
had. The mission after was just his way of paying the United States
government back for allowing him to jump out of aircraft for a living.
For now, there was just him, and the wind, and he didn't need anything
else....