Much to the dismay of an cargo ship captain, an old tanker plunges head on into the side of his ship. On the attacking ship, a wall is cut down by the lasers of Cobra troops so that they can board the cargo ship and steal barrels labeled Dylcon 98. Tomax and Xamot are ordered by Cobra Commander to seal the perimeter, so they take to the sky in Cobra Trubble Bubbles, however, the Joes attack.

As a Mauler rolls out of a warehouse, Duke tells Dusty that they now get to find out if the new armor can withstand Cobra's attacks. Bombs from a Cobra Rattler strike Duke and Dusty's Mauler and Cobra Commander laughs and boasts about the superiority of Cobra's firepower. But the Mauler survives, and it rolls forward with Gung Ho in an Armadillo and another Mauler to push back Cobra's forces.

Cobra Commander climbs down a ladder and escapes from the old tanker via a Cobra Hydrofoil. Xamot lands his Trubble Bubble on the Hydrofoil after Tomax lets go of his feet and walks out of the way. Pounding the controls of his Hydrofoil, Cobra Commander demands to know how the Joes were able to deflect Cobra's laser. Tomax and Xamot can only assume that the Joes have concocted an armor treatment, and Cobra leader's orders the Crimson Guard Commanders to obtain the formula "at any or all cost."

As Grunt and Roadblock help lead the Cobra prisoners away, Duke tells Dusty that only the paperwork is left. In order to go home and help take care of his mother, Dusty then asks Duke for some time off, but before Dusty can finish his request, Duke cuts him off and asks, "Why didn't you tell me that, kid?" Placing a hand on Dusty's shoulder, Duke adds, "Go home and take care of her. That's an order. And take as much time as you need." Dusty thanks Duke and drives up to his mother's home.

Entering the house, Dusty greets his mother, hugs her, and asks how she is doing. She coughs several times and says her asthma is bothering her only slightly. A housekeeper enters the room and she tells Dusty that his mother makes her keep a scrapbook of all of his adventures. Dusty happily says hello to Ms. Vasquez, who also tells that he is quite a hero. The ever-humble Dusty explains that he is simply a part of a team that works together.

There is knock at the door and Dusty opens the door to find Mr. Smiler, a creditor who fussily tells Dusty that since he heard that Dusty was back in town, he has come to remind him that he still owes money for the medication and therapy. Ms. Vasquez tries to calm Dusty's mom, Gladys, but as Dusty asks Mr. Smiler to give his mother more time, she stands up and tells Mr. Smiler that she is on her feet. However, she faints and Dusty quickly carries his mother to a bed and then marches out, grabs Mr. Smiler by the shirt, cocks a fist back and asks the creditor why he shouldn't "clean his clock."

Raising his hands in defense, Mr. Smiler tells Dusty that he can help him. Two admirers of the Joes entered his office and offered to help him out. Dusty tosses the creditor back and visits the rendezvous point mentioned by Mr. Smiler, the Stumble Inn. As Dusty waits for the Joe admirers to enter the bar, a waitress asks if he would like anything to drink. Dusty stumbles out that he is just waiting for someone, and the waitress winks at Dusty and tells him, "Well, if she doesn't show up, let me know, handsome."

Suddenly, Tomax and Xamot, wearing business suits, approach Dusty and say hello. Dusty recognizes them and states that they are with Extensive Enterprises.
Tomax: "No, we are -"
Xamot: "- Extensive Enterprises."
Dusty: "Look, I don't talk to creeps who do business with Cobra. Take your - "
Xamot (jabbing into Dusty's ribs a gun held under the table): "Don't you think your mother -"
Tomax: " - has enough medical bills?"
Xamot: "Why burden her - "
Tomax: "- with funeral expenses as well? Yours!"

Tomax and Xamot then offer Dusty a proposition in which Extensive Enterprises will pay for all of the medical bills for Dusty's mother in exchange for information of the new armor treatment. After slipping a business card into his pocket, Tomax and his brother Xamot are kicked out of the way as soon as Dusty knocks over a table, exclaiming that he will never be a traitor.

A bar fight erupts and Xamot kicks an angry pool player and leaves with Tomax while Dusty continues to defend himself. Dusty returns home with a black eye, which alarms Ms. Vazquez, who explains that his mother is better but still needs medication and therapy. Dusty laments and promises to find the money somehow.

He returns to headquarters and learns from Duke and Flint that the computer has analyzed the recent Cobra attacks and concluded that Cobra is trying to create a mind control gas and the Dylcon 98 in the Texas City chemical plant was the last component. Breaker, Rock 'n' Roll, Stalker, Cover Girl, Ripcord, Wild Bill, Grunt, Gung Ho listen to Duke and Flint also add that they have located the next target on Cobra's shopping list and that the information is top secret. Shipwreck jabs Dusty in the arm and jokes that he was simply going to walk over and offer the information to Cobra. But Dusty ignores his friend and thumbs the Extensive Enterprises card in his hand.