PART IV
Donna and Starfire have been following the moves for the last two weeks of a couple of wildlife smugglers that were passing through South America to New York by truck. One of Donna's informants has told her about the location in which they were delivering the animals, such as wildcats, endangered birds and snakes, and a bear. They have also gathered information about the people involved in the purchase and the fake documentation of the illegal goods, which included a few wealthy individuals and politicians, apart from the smugglers and members of the mafia who allow them to work in the state.
Donna and Starfire have made photographs of the people involved during their meetings, and had proof of their intervention, that was obtained by stealing some documentation one of their accountants have kept at his office that showed the money has been already paid. Now, they only needed to make photographs of them at the warehouse with the delivery and notify the police to get them arrested.
The location was a normal old warehouse between North Avenue and Locust Boulevard, in the outskirts of the city, and they got there two hours before the estimated arrival time to watch over, check for exits and locate a few cameras. Surprisingly the truck arrived on time, and Donna and Starfire were hiding taken photographs of it. Donna has taught Starfire how to do it for the last six weeks and it was working smoothly at the warehouse to take pictures of the animals as the smugglers were unloading the cages with the animals. Soon a couple of cars and vans arrived to the place, with the buyers getting off them. They all have already been identified.
Once they got enough evidence, Donna notified her contact at the police. An old friend who has helped her get some bad guys that he could not go after due to bureaucracy procedures. He had been informed about this case, and was ready to arrest them, awaiting with his partner on a civilian car a few blocks away. Another couple of police officers working with them were also waiting in the other direction. As soon as the first read the messages, he gave an alert to the others and drove slowly on the direction of the warehouse. Once they arrived, they took their batches out and pointed their guns at the buyers and smugglers.
The criminals looked surprised for an instant, but immediately took guns out of their pockets and started shooting at the officers. Three of them managed to avoid the bullets and hide but another police officer was about to receive one when Donna ran in front of her and stopped the bullet with her bracelets. The rest continued shooting at her and the other police officers who were hiding and shooting back too. Starfire also intervened and managed to melt one assault rifle one of the smugglers was using, and whom she accomplished to knock down.
At first, Donna and the police officers weren't surprised that the delinquents resisted the arrest, but the high caliber weapons the smugglers took out of their truck left them astonished. Starfire was slowly getting to them but using her starbolts, but it was a hard task to complete without causing a fatal damage. She needed hand-to- hand combat with them, but their bullets made it impossible.
Donna and the rest police officers have already taken control of the buyers and were removing the many cages with the animals to avoid hurting them, when two vans appeared behind them and starting attacking them with their guns. These eight men were soon counter-attacked by a couple of flash bombs that came out of nowhere and were struck by the ammunition discs. A figure could be seen fighting them hand-to-hand, and some smoke pellets blind the smugglers with the large guns, allowing Starfire to know them down.
Once the smoke was gone, they could see that clearly that Robin was the one fighting the new group of criminals, and Donna ran to knock them down once Robin has used a few more ammunition discs against them. One man ran towards the van trying to escape, but Robin stopped him with his grapple. Soon, the last man standing, was on the falling on to the floor. The police officers went ahead and handcuffed them all.
–What are you doing here? —broke Donna the silence while recovering her breath. Starfire was also helping the police officers to put all the guns left away from the criminals as well as restraining them, before they could handcuff them. Robin walked close to Donna.
–I have been following them since they crossed the border. Didn't you know they had more guys with them? They got off the truck in Philadelphia to get those vans. —Answered Robin also recovering his breath. — Those over there are immigrants hired to help them.
–You followed them all the way here, almost 3,000 miles until here? Wasn't better just a call and let me know? —reprimanded Donna, who found Robin's intervention suspicious. Starfire had also came closer to them.
–Well, he helped out. —Shouted Donna's friend. — We got this. You guys can go. Thanks Donna, I'll wait for those photographs.
–I'll send them to you. See you. —she answered and headed to the exit. Robin and Starfire followed her. They could hear the sirens of police cars that the officers had called for backup to pick all the other guys, since they couldn't take them all in two cars.
–We need to get out of here. —Commented Donna. — Did you come here with your bike? Because we came flying.
–Yes. —answered Robin, pointing a few meters away from the vans.
–Wanna' have dinner, grab a beer or something? —Donna asked him indifferently.
–Amm... yes. —answered Robin hesitantly.
–Good. —Replied Donna with a smile. — See you at our place.
–See you. —said Starfire and smirked, then grabbed Donna's hand and flew away towards their apartment in the city.
After fifteen minutes flying over the clouds, Starfire starting going down until they could see their building block, then she started descended floating slowly next to it at the alley. She flew closer to the ground and carefully unhanded Donna when she saw she was able to reach the floor. Starfire soon step firmly on the ground as well. They walked through it until the street where the entrance to their building was.
–Let's get Vietnamese. —suggested Donna for which Starfire nodded excited. Her favourite dish was a chicken mango salat and a pho beef soup from the Vietnamese place around the corner. This time they got a bigger menu, since they had a guest tonight, and once they had paid, they headed out towards their apartment. The small street was full of restaurants that offered different types of cuisine. It was also pretty busy, but they could see Robin awaiting for them in the porch of their building wearing different clothes than his previous uniform.
–Hi. —he said.
–Hi. —Donna answered puzzled. She then just walked towards the door, put out the key out of her pocket and opened. The others were behind her, going upstairs.
Their apartment was located on the sixth floor, and it was a small three room rental that Donna had kept for the past few years. Starfire had joined her as her roommate for the last six weeks since they came from Jump City. And as they all went in, Donna placed the food bags over the table and went to the kitchen to put out plates.
–So how is New York? —asked Robin to Starfire while they were standing next to the dining table.
–Good. It's pretty interesting. —replied Starfire happily.
–Yeah. —Replied Robin and smirked, then continued after a few seconds. — And Earth in general? Do you like it?
He was struggling finding the right words to ask.
–Yes. It's really pleasant. —answered Starfire cheerfully and sat to the table. Donna brought plates and beers for everyone, then sat to the table, close to Starfire. Robin sat on the other side. They all grabbed food for themselves and started eating.
–For the guys we kicked off today! —Donna exclaimed while raising her beer up. The others did the same, smiled and hit each others bottles.
–Have you learned something new? —asked Robin looking at Starfire.
–A lot. Specially about photography. Donna has taught me many things. —answered Starfire.
–She learns pretty fast and has also taught me a lot too. —Smirked Donna and took a bite. — How long are you planning to stay in New York?
–Not a lot, actually. I just came here for the smugglers since they caused a little bit of a mess in Jump City too. —answered Robin.
–I see. I thought you guys could have everything under control down there then. — commented Donna.
–Well, they didn't exactly had their customers than down there, only here in New York. —said Robin.
–And how are things going there? —asked Donna.
–Good, actually. —Robin hesitated for a moment. — We're a team now, working on that ship to work from there.
–I hope it's being useful. —commented Starfire.
–It looks nothing like before. It'll be ready in like less than two months. —Said Robin sipping his beer and glanced at Starfire. — We were actually wondering if you guys would like to join the Titans...We could use some help finishing it too.
–Titans? —Asked Donna, who found the name funny and smiled hesitantly. — Huh.
–Yeah. —answered Robin and looked away. Donna thought that there was something weird about Robin's posture. —We hang out a lot.
–I would like to join you. —said Starfire firmly after a few seconds.
–Good. —said Robin after an instant, looking at Starfire. Then he was about to drink from the beer bottle when he almost dropped it on the table, but grabbed it before it happened. Was he being dorky? He definitely looked uncomfortable, Donna noticed.
–I totally think you should go. —Said Donna after a moment. — You have already seen how normal people live on Earth and it's quite boring. You should go there to kick ass.
–What about you? Don't you want to come? —asked Starfire puzzled.
–Oh, fighting with a custom is not for me anymore. I also want to do other stuff here. —Donna answered. — But I definitely thing that you fit with them perfectly. You guys can be a good team.
–I see. —Starfire said smiling. — I understand.
–So when are you leaving? —asked Donna to Robin.
–Uh… I was thinking about tonight, in fact. —He answered unsurely. — I have to be there by Tuesday, and I also have the bike so...
–I can also leave tonight. —Commented Starfire.— Is it okay if I go with you?
–Sure. —answered Robin. Soon Donna got up, and Starfire and Robin did the same. They all started picking up the dishes and left overs.
–Do you want me to help you find a place to stay? —suggested Donna to Starfire.
–Actually soon there will be some rooms ready in the tower...the ship. —Said Robin and cleared his throat. — You can stay at my place until they are ready in a few weeks.
–Oh, I do not wish to disturb you again. —Answered Starfire. — I…
–I think it's a good idea, Star. You guys can train together. —Commented Donna. — Didn't you see how rusty he was? You can teach him something too.
–Are you sure about this? —Starfire asked him hesitantly.
–Absolutely. — Robin answered certainly.
–Okay. —Starfire smirked. Donna left the living room quickly and came back with a digital camera.
–Here. It's for you. This time you can make pictures of everything else but criminals. —commented Donna and gave her the camera.
–Thank you. —Answered Starfire smiling at her. — For everything… I'll go to take my things.
She left the living room and grabbed her belongings, who she put in her sports bag. She mostly had clothes, a couple of books and some old tickets for events and museums that she and Donna had been to.
–Keep in touch. —Commented Donna when Starfire joined them at the living room and hugged her tightly. Donna was the only woman on Earth that could handle her strength, she thought.
–See you my friend. —Said Starfire with a wide smile, opened the door and headed out. Donna smiled her back.
–Thanks. See you. —said Robin and went out behind Starfire.
Donna closed the door and was left with a warmth feeling on her chest, her old friend wasn't going to be lonely anymore.