The removal of the hood allowed Susan's eyes adjust to the sudden change of light. She was tied to a chair. In front of her was Kenaz heating a spoon with the flame of a Bunsen burner.
"Where is he?" asked Kenaz.
"You can't do this to me! What will the council think when they hear how you tortured an observer?"
"True. What do you think, Mr. Williams?"
A thin balding man appeared.
"Mr. Williams happens to be my observer. What are your two cents worth?"
"What torture?"
Smiling, "See. Back to my question, where is he?"
"He's coming to kill you and even the HDC can't save you."
"Really," walking towards her with the spoon in his hand, "Too bad," clasping her jaw, "you won't be able to see it," shoving the hot glowing tip of the spoon into her right eye socket.
Stepping inside, he waited for all the questions, and the looks everyone was sure to have. They were standing around talking about him.
"I guess I've got some explaining to do," he said walking into the circle.
Starfire and Beast Boy inched away from him.
He told them about the enhancement program, the first time I raged, and what had set him off now. Finishing, the hunters understood where he was coming from. They were a little glad he managed to control his rage on his own for so long.
Where the Titans were concerned instead of fear in their eyes, there was understanding and compassion in their eyes.
"I know how you feel. During a fight with a punk named Adonis, we became bathed in something that changed our DNA," said Beast Boy, "With me, it unleashed something primal. Well, the same happened to Adonis, and we both turned into man beast things. It went to the tower, looking for me, and ended up attacking Raven."
The mention of Raven being hurt rose Jake's anger. He remained silent with the thoughts of wanting to hunt down the bastard and make him pay for hurting her.
"We ended up fighting after the others thought I had hurt Raven. Afterwards, Raven spoke to me. She told me 'we all have that beast inside us, and its when we let it out that decides whether we are man or beast."
"When I first got my prosthetic limps," said Cyborg, "I had to learn how to walk, even had to learn how to hold a cup without crushing it."
"I once had to fight my sister," commented Stafire, "because she tried to take over Tameran."
Looking at Jake, "My parents died in an accident while I was in the circus," said Nightwing, "We all have our stories Jake, and your past doesn't matter to me, or the rest of us for that matter. You proven yourself in a fight and as a friend. We are not going to force you out cause of what you've done."
A slight smile hid the fact inside he was shocked. They accepted him even after witnessing what he did and now knowing his past, they still wanted him around.
Turning to the hunters, "Hunters, you guy have been quiet, what do you think?"
They didn't speak for a moment, each with their own thoughts.
Stepping forward, "Even though you have been enhanced, you are still considered a hunter," replied Otomo, "Even with your past, I say that I trust you enough to follow the orders you give."
Stepping up beside him, "Same goes for me," said Etana
Next Hazara stepped up. Unable to speak because of her bridle, she nodded.
Speaking up from the back, "Well someone is going to have to heal you guys when you get hurt," remarked Altair, "so I'm in to."
"Hey now, you guys aren't leaving me behind," said Daria, "I want in of this fight to."
Smiling, "Alright everyone," Jake said looking around the room. "You got your orders, gear up and get ready to move out."
Going over to his bag, he opened it. Pulling out a MP5, Jake felt a tapping on his shoulder.
Turning to face Beast Boy who seemed of unsure of something, "Problem BB?" asked Jake.
"I thought you should know," said Beast Boy, "The entire first week after you left, whenever I passed Raven's room on our way to bed, I heard her crying and arguing with herself."
"Arguing with herself?"
"Something like 'You can find a better replacement.' She would cry back 'No, I can't.'
'Yes, you can. You forgot about Jake's replacement.' She was crying for you."
Taking in this information, he didn't know she cared so much.
Looking at Beast Boy with a small smile on his face, "Thanks BB, it takes a lot off my mind. We will get her back, I have no doubt."
He nodded and left. Now Jake wondered who was Raven arguing with. Maybe Trigon. Again, who's the replacement. Everyone got someone. He'll worry about it after rescuing her. Returning to his weapons, his mind went back to Raven. She did care for him, even though he hadn't done anything for her. He'll get her out.
He removed the shirt the Emily tossed down the other day. Followed by putting on his SWAT gear. Slipping on a bulletproof vest, he slid three spare MP5 magazines and five spare handgun magazines into the holders. Taking off one of his pistol holsters, he didn't need them both. He replaced it with a special periscope that would allow him to see around corners without tipping off his position. The last was a radio. Placing an earpiece into his left ear, and a choker he would press to use the radio freeing his hands up. Finally, he strapped a submachine gun onto his back. Using his pistol with a silencer, and the MP5 as his backup in case things went to south for them.
Finished with his gear, he saw the other hunters cleaning their blades and stretching in case they enter into a bad fight. Nightwing and Cyborg were discussing the distraction. Jake didn't ask what they were planning since they knew what they were going to do. As long as it worked, Jake didn't care.
"Everyone set!" called out Jake bringing their attention onto him.
Nodding, they were ready for the invading and fighting coming their way.
"Alright teams," ordered Jake, "MOVE OUT!"
They moved at the same time. Getting outside, Nightwing and Cyborg headed towards downtown while the rest moved towards the water's edge. Starfire took Daria and Hazara while Otomo, Etana, and Jake rode on the back of Beast Boy as a dragon.
Leaning against a container, Rath stared at the warehouse on pier B-fifty two. He didn't see any patrols. He didn't like it however he had to finish this. Leaving the shadows, he moved towards the warehouse door
.
Staying on left side of the door way, he turned the door knob which was unlocked. He pushed it opened. No bullets were flying. Holding his hat in the door way, no bullets torn through it. Placing his hat back on his head, he entered the warehouse.
His right foot crossed his left foot then his left went forward with his back against the cargo boxes. He followed path between the boxes. Another path would show up. He would peer around to found nothing and continued on.
Finally, he came to a body laying on its side in the center of light. He crept towards the body. Kneeling beside the body, he rolled the body onto its back. It was Susan.
Streaks of dried blood went from the corner of her mouth and eyes towards her jaw. A dark red mark went across her throat.
"Like most women, she couldn't shut up especially after I scooped her eyes out," made Rath to look up and see Kenaz and HDC soldiers emerging from the shadows.
Red lasers points from their guns appeared over his body.
"Her screaming and cussing while I tortured her," continued Kenaz, "just got on my nerves so I cut her tongue out, but when I did that she was useless so I slit her throat. Mad? No. What if I told you I killed George, your teacher?"
Rath noticed a thin balding man beside Kenaz.
"Hurry up and kill him, Kenaz," remarked the balding man.
"Not until he produces some tears for the dead, Williams."
Standing up, Rath's fingers removed some thin throwing knives from his left wrist gauntlet.
Staring at Kenaz, "Save the tears for yourself," then threw one of the blades into the light bulb overhead.
It went dark allowing Rath used his bo staff to pole vault over the heads of the soldiers and sailed behind a stack of cargo boxes.
"Find him!" ordered Kenaz, "Shot him! And bring him back so I can behead him!"
Saluting, "Yes, sir," responded the squad leader.
They split into several groups following different paths along the cargo boxs . Their helmet visors went to night vision. Out of the corner of their visor's left lens was the sonar. It was a white line grid with a pulsing sound followed with white light appearing with each pulse. The green dots were the members of the squad, any red dots that was their prey. A red dot appeared. Pulsing sound got louder as they got closer to the dot.
"Closing in," said the team leader.
Turning a corner, they found a dead end. Turning around, the squad leader found his men were missing. A soft thud was detected behind him. Turning his head, the end of bo staff rammed into his helmet.
Returning his bo staff to his coat pocket, Rath headed back to Susan's body. Walking past an opening between stacks of cargo boxes, he ducked as a sword blade barely missed his head. His fist slammed into Kenaz's stomach causing Kenaz to stagger backwards. Rath tackled him causing Kenaz to lose his sword.
Kenaz's back slammed into a cargo box. Rath's forearm pounded Kenaz's face. Placing his hands between him and Rath, his palms began to glow. Energy shot from his palms and slammed into Rath sending him up through the thin metal warehouse wall. His momentum carried him into the neighboring warehouse. crashing through the warehouse roof, he hit the concrete floor and slid across it until he rolled onto his feet.
The warehouse wall exploded away. Walking from the smoke was Kenaz holding his hands up. An energy disc appeared over his open palms. Kenaz moved his index finger sending the energy disc towards Rath.
Rath rolled out of the way. The disc sliced through the concrete floor, traveled underground to slice through concrete floor again to be above the floor. It hovered as Rath jumped and landed on top of a crate pyramid.
Seeing the disc coming after him again, Rath ran up the stairs of crates. as he ran along the a straight line of crates, the disc sliced through the crates under Rath's feet. Jumping, his hands caught a rafter support. Pulling himself onto a rafter beam, he continued running as the disc sliced through the rafter's metal cables.
Dropping onto a crate, he ran towards Kenaz. Dropping, he slid past Kenaz whose head followed him. Kenaz turned around. Getting up, Rath stared at Kenaz then motioned for Kenaz to turn around which he did. His energy disc sliced through his neck.
Kenaz's life force struck Rath and couple gas tanks engulfing several warehouses in an explosion.
Reaching the island, they landed.
"Ok, dudes," complained Beast Boy, "I'm not moving three people back."
Noticing they were glaring at him, even Starfire, then remembering about keep quiet, he mouthed a sorry. He and Starfire moved to a spot to hide in. The rest moved forward with Jake and Hazara taking point.
Grabbing Jake's arm, "I managed to sneak into Raven's room. If it's open, we can go through that"
Motioning for her to lead, they came to a tree which was conveniently leading up to Raven's room. Reaching the window, and she pointed inside. Looking inside, he saw the door and no movement.
Letting her in, he followed. In two minutes, rest of the team was inside.
Motioning everyone into a circle, "Ok, Etana and Daria, can you cut the power within five minutes," whispered Jake, "Ok, when the power gets cut, the doors will open automatically, so get the girls and get back here and get out," watching everyone nodding, "Alright, go."
Moving first, Jake stepped out, sweeping the halls. Noticing its clear, he motioned the all clear signal. Otomo taking position on the other side as the girls run down the other way of the wall.
Raven's room was on the same floor as Terra's holding cell. They reached the hallway next to the holding cell. Using his periscope to check, Jake saw two Slade bots on either side of the door.
"Got any throwing knives or something ranged?" Jake whispered to Otomo causing him pull out a pair of throwing knives, "Two bots, go for the close one, I'll shot the farther one."
Counting down, 3,2,1. Otomo sprung around the corner throwing and striking his target with the knife as Jake spun around the corner and fired three rounds with the silencer making a whisper of the gunshot. Both bots dropped before they got a chance to turn and face them. Rushing down the hallway just in case more bots dropped by. Nothing.
A minute left to sit and wait. Thirty second. Ten seconds. Jake moved towards the door as Otomo guarded outside. 5,4,3,2,1. The power dies and the door open. Moving into the room, Jake heard a soft whimper.
"Terra, its Jake, I'm here to get you out," whispered Jake.
"Jake?"
"You trusted me before," seeing no movement, "trust me now," whispered Jake.
Large weight slammed into Jake allowing him to put his arm around Terra. Supporting her, Jake helped her out. The emergency lights are on allowing them better vision.
"Terra, this is Otomo, a friend, he's going to help you out while I cover you and the others, ok."
Nodding as Otomo carefully picked her up and headed towards Raven's room. Holstering His pistol, he pulled out the MP5. Bringing it up to bear, he heard and felt things coming.
Making it back to Raven's room, "Get her to the extraction point and cover it till we all get there."
Nodding, Otomo helped Terra out the window then followed suit. Taking up point in the middle of the hall, Jake listened and waited Something on the ground catches his eye. Picking it up, they're his dog tags. A demon must have thought it was shiny and took it for its own, then dropped it when Hazara first came through and forgot about it.
Detecting a noise, he put the tags in his pocket. A noise came from the far end of the hall causing Jake's eye to line up with the target sight. Running around the corner was Etana and Daria being chased by a half dozen demons and bots. Seeing Jake aiming with the MP5, they dropped as Jake rained submachine gun fire onto their pursuers. Emptying the entire magazine until it dropped killed all the enemies chasing the two females. Getting up, they rushed towards Jake. He noticed Etana was favoring her left leg and Daria was bleeding from a cut on her right arm.
"Get to the extraction point and give Otomo a hand," he said reloading his weapon.
Nodding and they headed for the window.
Waiting and listening. Detecting more shouts as the final trio round the corner, it was. Jinx and Altair supporting each other as Hazara fought back demons. One got past her making a leap for the other two. Taking aim, letting a single round fly, it penetrated the killing it.
Targeting the demons chasing the group, he moved to one side so the girls can continue running without being in his field of fire. Flipping to three round bursts to slow the demons down allowing Jinx and Altair to enter the room while Hazara waited at the door, Jake moved into the room reloading his last magazine.
Pulling out a flash and EMP grenade, "GO!" he shouted pulling the pins then, threw them out the door.
Hazara exited through the window. Jake followed as grenades went off. Landing shoulder, his right shoulder popped of joint. It didn't hurt that much. Nothing Jack Daniels can't cure.
"Get to the extraction point!" looking around, in case demons and bots were appearing from different directions, "Go!"
Demons jump out of the windows and run towards them. Running behind Hazara, Jkae took pot shots at the demons. They managed to get to the extraction point finding Starfire and Otomo waiting and hiding.
"Beast Boy took the others back," stated Otomo, "even though he was complaining."
"Star, can you carry all three of us?" asked Jake.
Shaking her head, "I'm afraid not friend, slinger," she said.
"Then take Otomo and Hazara, then come back for me."
They wanted to disagree, but a glare from Jake convinced them to do as he said. Gripping Hazara and Otomo's hands, Starfire took off. Turning to watch demons and bots running towards him, he brought up the MP5 taking single shots till the bullet ranout then switched to his pistol. They were quickly overrunning him. about to engage in close quarters combat, when something grabbed him.
His body surrounded by a black aura. Looking at the top of the Tower Jake saw Raven standing with her hands out. Reaching into his pants pocket, he grabbed his dog tags. Pulling them out as he was lifted off the ground, he was flung backwards as he threw them upwards. A second aura caught them as his inertia carried him over the Titans and into a storm wall behind them. They checked on him. Standing up, Jake staggered to the waters edge.
Staring at the Tower, "You're next Raven," thought Jake, "I will save you."
