The mood was somber and quiet at the Possible home. Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable, along with Monique, Felix, Tara, and Josh were there. Dr. Director was as well. Jim, Tim, the Doctors Possible, Kim, Ron and Rufus finished the roster. Wade watched on a computer set up just for that purpose.
Some snacks and drinks had been set out for the guests, but nobody really felt like having any, even Rufus. They were all too upset.
About six o'clock they all assembled in the back yard. It was nearly time.
Starfire was wearing her Tamaranian armor, and her backpack was on the ground beside her. Nobody was really talking to her, and while this upset her, she understood. She stood patiently waiting for friend Jinx to come out of the house.
Just then Dr. Director came over to her, and gave her a large manila envelope. "This is a copy of Agent Jinx's records of her activities since she arrived here. I'd like you to give it to the appropriate person. I hope it will help."
"I will do so, thank you so much," replied Starfire, nodding and taking the envelope. She slipped it into a side pocket in the backpack, and zipped it up carefully.
Just then Jenny came out of the house. She was carrying nothing, and to the surprise of all was wearing the prison uniform and sneakers she had arrived in. Her cotton-candy-pink hair was loose, her pink eyes showing evidence of crying, and her gray skin was even more pale than normal. She was looking down, as though afraid to meet anyone's eyes.
Kim and Ron immediately went to her, followed closely by Dr. Director.
"Jenny, why are you wearing that?" asked Kim, putting an arm around her.
Jenny didn't look at her not-sister. "I came here with nothing, I will leave with nothing."
She broke Kim's hug, and headed for Starfire. Suddenly a hand came down on her shoulder, stopping her in mid-step.
"No, I will not have it," said Dr. Director, "You are an agent of Global Justice, and you will act like one."
She turned Jenny around, and followed her back into the house. Ten minutes later, she came back out, wearing her GJ uniform. Her hair was neatly combed, and tied into a pony tail. She was followed by Dr. Director. This time, Jenny was carrying a small canvas bag. The prison uniform and sneakers were in it.
Mrs. Possible took Jenny into a hug. "Come back to us, daughter," she murmured into Jen's ear. Jenny felt tears against her cheek.
She let go, and immediately Mr. Possible took her in his arms. "Good luck, Jenny. Come home soon." He gave a squeeze and let go.
Jim and Tim hugged her together. "Don't go," they said.
"I wish I could stay, but I have a debt to pay off first," she answered.
"Yeah, but it stinks," said Jim.
"Like last week's cabbage," said Tim.
She squatted down and whispered to them, "Am I still your girlfriend?"
"Always," they answered together, "Even if we marry someone else."
"Well, don't wait for me. If you find the right ones, go for it," she said.
The boys nodded, and reluctantly let go.
Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable were next. They each hugged her, and whispered advice in her ear. Jenny nodded, and gave a small smile.
She went over to Felix, who held up a hand as though to shake hers. She took it with both of hers for a moment, then sat in his lap and kissed him. "Too bad it didn't work out for us," she said, "But we're still friends, and I'm gonna miss you."
"Yeah, me too," Felix replied. "Don't take it the wrong way, but with this going on, maybe it was for the best. I don't think I could stand the thought of the woman I love being in prison in a different universe. I'm going to miss you a lot, though."
Jenny grinned and kissed him again. Then she got up, holding his hand as he supported her until she got her balance.
Monique was crying as Jenny went to her and gave her a tight hug. "Mon, you've been my friend since Day One, and I'll never forget you. Your support has meant so much to me."
"Yeah, girl, I'm glad (sniff) I know you too," said Monique. "Do me a favor, will you?"
Jenny looked at her, curiosity and confusion playing across her face. "Um... sure. What is it?"
"When you come back, bring me the latest fashion magazines. I want to know what's hot in another universe," she answered.
Jenny couldn't help but laugh. "I'll do that. Promise." She hugged Monique again, and let go.
She did shake Josh's hand. "I'm sorry we won't be doing art lessons for a while. You've been a good teacher."
"Thanks. You've been a good student. Practice when you can. I expect you to be better by the time you get back," he said with a smile.
"A worthy goal indeed, given from Master to Student," said Jenny putting on a lot of her dignity, and she and Josh chuckled.
Tara had been standing a little aside from everyone else, crying freely the entire time. Others sought to comfort her, but she refused to accept it. When Jenny approached her, she grabbed the bad luck charm and gave her the tightest hug she could.
"Oh, God, Jenny, I wish this wasn't happening," she sobbed.
"Me too, Tara. I'm going to miss my best friend," she answered, and Tara broke down again. "Hey, don't worry. It may be a while, but we WILL see each other again. I promise." She let go, and opened the bag she was carrying. Taking something out, she put it in Tara's hand. It was a lock of her pink hair. "Something to remember me by."
That was the final straw. The gentle blue-eyed blonde turned and ran for the house, tears flowing down her cheeks and clutching the bundle of hair tightly. She went inside, and the door slammed behind her.
Jenny turned to the monitor and camera sitting on the picnic table and addressed Wade. "Guess I won't get to meet you in person this time, but next time it'll happen. Thanks for everything, and keep an eye on Kim and Ron for me," she said.
"Will do. I'm going to miss you, Jenny. You've been great to know and work with. Come home soon."
Nobody knew it, but Wade had sensors of every type he could think of and create to gather data on the interdimensional portal that was about to appear. He had decided that, if it was at all possible, he would find a way to that other universe and at the very least keep an eye on Jenny.
Kim and Ron hugged her together. They didn't say anything because they had been saying goodbye since Jenny made her decision known. Rufus hopped on her shoulder and hugged her as well as he could with his tiny mole rat forelegs.
"Miss you," he squeaked.
"You too, Rufus," said Jenny, patting him. Then she handed him back to Ron.
"Here," said Kim, and handed her a picture. It was of all her friends and family (except Josh) and had been taken during a Possible-Stoppable family picnic a month earlier.
Jenny looked at it, tears forming in her eyes. "Thanks, Kim, Ron, Rufus." She looked at them for a long moment, as though memorizing their features, then said, "See you." She put the picture in the bag she was holding, then turned and walked over to stand beside Starfire.
"Agent Jinx," said Dr. Director in a loud voice. Jenny looked at her. "Remember always that you are an agent of Global Justice, and I expect you to comport yourself with the dignity that infers. Good luck, and I hope to see you again very soon." Dr. Director saluted, and Jenny touched her forehead with two fingers in response. They had said their goodbyes in the house.
Starfire looked at Jenny's friends and not-family standing and watching. She made up her mind about something she had been debating. She spoke in a loud voice:
"I swear, with X'hal as my witness, and as I am Koriand'r of the Royal House of Tamaran, that when it is permitted I will do everything in my power to return friend Jinx to you. Do not worry. I will look after her." She looked at the people around her, then put her hands on Jenny's shoulders. "She is my friend too." She gave a light squeeze, and Jenny reached up and touched Starfire's hand in response.
After a moment, Mrs. Possible said, "Thank you. I find that very reassuring."
Starfire opened her Titans Communicator, and tapped a code into the keypad. After a few seconds, a yellow spot appeared about three feet in the air. Slowly it grew until it was a good six feet in diameter, and a white, well-lit room on the other side could be clearly seen.
"Are you ready, friend?" she asked, looking at Jenny. She had put on her backpack.
"Yeah, let's do this," she replied, and leapt into the circle. Starfire followed closely.
They watched as Jenny and Starfire got their balance, then turned and waved. Just then two uniformed policemen appeared. Jenny dropped the bag, and turned away, offering her wrists behind her back. Cuffs were snapped on, and one officer led her away, the other picking up the bag and following. Just before she passed out of sight, Jenny stopped walking,turned and looked back through the portal. The tears in her eyes were plain to see. Then she was gone, followed by Starfire.
Kim took one step forward, and was stopped by Ron's hand on her shoulder. Tears flooded down her face. She glanced at Ron through the tears, and saw he was in the same shape. She turned into his arms, and he held her tightly.
Another person appeared at the portal. They were wearing a long, dark blue cloak with the hood up, and nothing could be told about them. The gleam of eyes could be seen within the darkness of the hood, looking back across universes.
The eyes examined each person in turn, catching and holding their attention for several seconds, with Ron and Kim held a bit longer than anyone else.
The examination finished, the person turned and moved away from the portal.
A few seconds later, the portal wavered and collapsed in on itself and vanished, as though it had never been.