May 13

I took out several metal balls from my utility belt. I morphed them together into a disc and had them step on.

When we arrived at Star Taos all seemed normal. "Um, doesn't look like an evil robot's attacking," Virgil stated.

"Oh, just wait," I said as I as I heard the chaos hidden inside the building. Seconds later the ground shook knocking the others to the ground and caused me to stumble. I looked up at the structure created out of molten rock and watched as it exploded. Seconds later I watch Blue Beetle fall in the sky and land on the concrete. Volcano stepped out of the building and with a clap of his fingers watched as cracks formed in the ground around Blue. I took off running and launching myself on to an metal disc I formed. But before I could attack Volcano made the ground Blue was on lower into the ground. With another move he covered the ground, trapping Blue. He should be fine though, hopefully, that suit of his has been indestructible to everything thing so far, I'd hate for his demise to be caused by concrete of a parking lot.

I launched several large chunks of the parking lot at Volcano, only causing him to look my way without a single scratch. "All of you meat bags are such an annoyance."

"Oh, too bad. I don't care that you are annoyed," I called to him. I threw pieces of rubble and threw them at him. He deflected each one and threw pieces of molten rock at my form which I was thankfully able to deflect as well.

"If I remember correctly, Meat bag, you almost died in our last encounter," his animatronic voice rang through the nighttime air. "Maybe I should find a permeant solution."

"Hmm, I was just thinking the same thing about you," I said but angrily. I attempted to throw one of the bigger boulders at him but was caught off guard to one of his own. The android sent my flying directly into the Star Labs sign. I pushed the boulder away from me and focused on the sign and slowed its descent. It crashed to the ground and sent fiber glass everywhere including a large shard that landed in my side. I grabbed it and yanked it out of my body. I looked up to see the sight of Tye in his large yellow astral form toss Volcano into the air to be shot by Blue Beetle with one of his cannons. Unfortunately it wasn't effective because after the smoke cleared, Volcano was still there. They began to fight more with Blue using his sonic cannon, as he upped the decuples the range got longer and began to hit the main building of Star Labs. I watched as Virgil made his way over to inform Blue of what he was causing but Virgil was ignored. I raced over to the building and placed my hands on the building spreading my power as far as I could to stabilize the building. I called the runaways over. "Virgil, you guys go inside and get all the civilians out of the buildings. Tell them to go as far away as possible I don't think I can hold this off for long."

"What's the matter with Jamie?" Tye asked.

I pursed my lips, "I don't know, but we don't have time to tell him he's shit at listening. GO!"

One by one they got people out and placed them at a safe distance. The fight had moved literally through the building and made its way to the other side. I formed a metal disc and made my way through a hole that went straight through the building to find Blue and Volcano at another stand off this time volcano had leverage as he head the runaways trapped in giant hands made from rock.

"Time to sacrifice your victory and save the meat bags like a good hero," Volcano said arrogantly.

Blue surprised me with his response. "You shouldn't stereotype."

As the fight moved away from the scene, the runaways one by one got themselves out of their traps. Eduardo stormed over to Tye, "Your friend was about to sacrifice us."

"He had faith in you guys," I told them trying to be convincing, "He knew you'd be able to get out on your own." As we watched the fight continue for not even a minute longer, Blue Beetle winning in the end I could see silent looks of communication between the four of them.

"Done!" blue Beetle said as he landed in front of us. "Now we need to get you to Green Beetle."

"Jaime, I'm not sure—" Tye started.

"Tye, this is not up for debate," Blue said cutting him off with a sort of impatience in his voice. As anger took purchase on his face he said, "We need to go, NOW!"

Before I or any of the others could say anything news crews rushed over to us and shoved their microphones into Blue's face and then mine when they say I was there. I waved them off and began ushering the four young teens away. I expected Blue to do the same but after a stuttering first response he introduced himself and became eager to answer the reporter's questions with a huge smile on his face. I narrowed my eyes and made a notes to discuss Blue's change in behavior to Nightwing.

"You guys come with me," I told them.

"But what about Jamie?" Tye asked.

"He providing a distraction," I lied, "Now let's go."

"We are still going to stay with Green Beetle?" Virgil asked.

I shook my head, "No, I bringing you somewhere safe where no one has to force you to use your powers."

"Who is to say you aren't brining us to another Star Labs?" Eduardo said suspiciously.

"Last time, I checked there are no Star Labs near Palo Alto, California," I said, "Now are you coming or what?" One by one they all looked at each other before turning to look at me expectantly. I nodded in confirmation, "Then let's go, before we are seen."

When we got out of the city limits, I had stopped into a 24 hour supercenter to buy new clothes minus the mask and covered in Eduardo's hoodie of course. Once I was in civilian mode I called a taxi and had them drive us to an airport.

"Blue Raven, how are we going to get on a plane without the Justice League finding us?" Virgil asked.

"I know a guy who owes me a favor, and my name's Carter, Virgil, use that since we are incognito," I said as I tipped the taxi driver, who thankfully only spoke Spanish, and made our way through the back entrance to a private air strip. There waiting with a private charter plane was Danny, a man who used to work for Oliver at Queen Industries. Then he won the lottery, bought a plane, and now works as a contractor pilot for businessmen. He owed me favor because I befriended his daughter and allowed her to meet some famous teen music group.

"Ms. Callahan, so good to see you again," Danny said putting out his hand.

"Likewise, how is Penelope?"

"Young and beautiful as always, she is about to graduate college," he said with a wide simile.

"That's wonderful," I said as he escorted us to his plane.

"You were in luck that I was even able to pick up my phone," he began, "I woke up early today to charter a couple and wanted to get the plane cleaned."

"I'm glad luck was on our side then," I said with a smile. "Now this stays off the books, correct?"

"Hmm, it seems I am in a mood to make a morning trip to California," he said nonchalantly before throwing me a smile.

"Thank you, Danny."

We got to Palo Alto a little before nine in the morning. We took another taxi and made our way to an apartment complex less than five miles away from my house. We made our way to the sixth floor and I pulled out a set of keys. "Okay here's the deal this is a secondary meet up place me and my family use incase anything arises. That shouldn't happen, hopefully, so you guys are welcome to stay here. I had food stocked and the place cleaned this morning, just don't be too loud and don't trash the place." I opened the door and let them in. I gave them a tour of the five bedroom apartment we used for public emergencies. I walked up to a drawer in a kitchen and grabbed a cheap prepaid phone. "This is a burner phone it doesn't trace back to me and is un-trackable you can use it to call your families and let them know you are safe. But right after you need to turn it off and only turn it on for emergencies. My number is programed in there under my name. I'll stay away for the next few days but after I feel its okay I'll come visit you however often as you need, and help you train with your powers if you want too. It's entirely up to you, I won't force you to use them."

"What if we want to train when you aren't here?" Virgil asked.

I thought about it for a moment, "I wouldn't unless you are confident. If you do, it has to be small tasks that are containable, last thing we need is you taking out the electricity for the entire pacific coast and attract attention."

He looked sheepishly and nodded in response, "Got it."

"Good, now I think it is time for you all to go to bed, it has been a long night," I said ushering them to their rooms. "I'll come check on you guys tonight."

As soon as I got to my house I got in my room locked the door and went to sleep. All the while Nightwing and my mother were calling my phone trying to figure out where we had mysteriously disappeared. I got up at about seven that next morning to find Nightwing in my kitchen. "You know, Dick, there are these things called boundaries. You should look them up to find out what they mean."

"Where are the Runaways?" he asked annoyed.

"I don't know, Blue and I were caught up in the reporters swarm, I'm short I couldn't exactly see where they went," I said sarcastically.

"It is safer for them if they went back to Star Labs," he argued.

"Oh yeah, that place was like Fort Knox last night," I snapped at him. "I'm sure where ever they are, they are safe from the Reach, the Light, and from you."

"We are trying to help them," he yelled.

"By forcing them to be heroes?" I shouted back at him. "Holding them against their will, training them for hours on end to test their abilities, keeping them out of contact with their families? Seems very helpful!"

"It was for their own good," he said in a quieter voice.

"Really? Because being forced to risk your life for selfish spiteful human beings doesn't seem like an excellent quality option," I sneered, "Now I'm going to politely ask you to get out of my home so I can cook my breakfast and eat in peace."

"You know you talked about how Kaldur has changed in the past year, you have too," Dick said, "and not for the better."

"Yeah, well maybe next time you should keep your mouth shut about your oh-so brilliant plans," I said angrily, "Now get the fuck out of my house."