The helicopter cut through the night air.
"Pilot, where's the General Lee?" asked Victoria staring out the helicopter window.
"Still heading east," came from her headset.
"Place us in front of her."
"Ma'am, she already went through the Justice League."
"Co pilot, are you a rookie?"
"He got assigned this morning. Miss Price."
"Pilot, the question wasn't directed towards you," remarked Victoria, "Now co pilot, are you a rookie?"
"Just got assigned this morning, ma'am."
"Two rules to remember, co pilot. First, you better be wearing a parachute. Second address me, Miss Price. If you ever call me ma'am again, you better refer back to the first rule. Got it?"
"Yes, Miss Price."
"Now that there's an understanding, pilot land us in the path of that orange car."
"On, two, three," enter guitar, "Turn it up," tapping her hand against the driver side door.
"Big wheels keep on turning
Gearing me home to my kin
Singing songs of the south land
Miss my family once again.
What a sin?
Hear about Mr. Young singing about us
Heard oh Neal put us down
Hope Neal young remember
A southern man doesn't need him around."
Before she could get to, "Sweet Home Alabama. Where the skies are so blue," her ears detected the sounds of helicopter rotor blades. She watched it land several miles ahead of her.
"Must got a death wish," she thought, "Lets scare them," increasing her speed.
Getting closer, she noticed a white hair figure standing between her and the helicopter. Realizing who this white hair figure was, she slammed on the brakes causing the Lee to turn 180 degrees and slid towards Victoria. The Lee stopped inches from hitting Victoria.
Sticking her head out the car widow, "Hi, Vickie."
"Miss Van Delk."
"Oh, being formal are we?" sliding out of the car through the open window, "Miss Price," staring into Victoria's pink eyes.
Puffing on her cigarette, "Causing trouble again?"
"And getting out of it."
"By blowing up a motel with your observer still in the room?"
"Hey, that pervert Turner had a gun on me and tried to take advantage of me," noticing Victoria's skeptical look, "Ok, ok maybe I lead him along, but I did warn the bomb squad."
"Leading to a police chase and taking out four of the top Justice League's members."
"They know better then messing with me," leaning against the Lee with her arms crossed.
Shifting her head to look over Jess's shoulder, "Speaking of which here they come," flicking her spent cigarette butt away.
The Batmobile pulled up and stopped. The canopy slid open and Batman and Superman stepped out.
"Clark doesn't look well," remarked Jess.
"Keep you're mouth close for once Jessica," said Victoria, "Hello, Clark and Bruce."
"You can't save her this time, Victoria," said Superman.
"Why so you can get me alone in bed to show me your man of steel," said Jess.
"Better keep you're mouth closed, Miss Van Delk," said Superman.
"So I can blow you."
"Easy, Clark," placing his hand on Clark's shoulder, "Miss Price, should warn you that the council can't save Miss Van Delk this time."
"Actually they can," said Victoria.
"No, they can't," said Superman.
"Yes, they can," repeated Victoria.
"No, they can't."
"Yes, they can."
"No, they can't."
Pulling a piece of paper out of her suit pocket, "This will end this unnecessary trip," handing it out.
Bruce took it. Unfolding the paper, he read it.
"It seems Miss Price is right," refolding the paper, "The warrants have been removed and Miss Van Delk has been pardoned," handing the paper back to Miss Price.
"But Bruceā¦"
"But nothing Clark," walking back to the Batmobile, "We can't arrest Miss Van Delk, yet."
"She did it to me again plus I'm surprise that her partner isn't here to add to this mayhem."
"Why so he can give you another love tap?"
Stepping in front of Superman, "Your business is done here, Kal-El," stated Victoria.
Still weaken from the kryptonite gas, he had to join Bruce in the Batmobile.
"Until next time Miss Van Delk," said Bruce sitting down.
The canopy closed. The Batmobile spun around and drove off.
"Jess, you're going to Area 53."
"Why?"
"To keep you out of the way until things settle down," walking back to her helicopter,
"More thing Jess, return the General Lee."
"I sure will," entering the General Lee, "After a real proper shake down," she thought watching Victoria's helicopter take off.
Turning up the radio volume, "Like a mirage riding on the desert sand
Like a vision floating with the desert winds
You are the keeper of the mystery in your hands," came from the General Lee's speakers.
"Rath's theme song," thought Jess, "on my CD," shrugging her shoulders, "Oh well, proves that jack ass has some taste," gunning the gas.
Report on Jake Spiegel's funeral.
It had been a week since Jake's death. All the other hunters left except for Otomo. He remained behind to keep his promise to Jake. How noble of him.
Raven cried every night, even though she didn't admit it and the annoying voice inside her head kept telling her to move on. The other Titans were coping as best as they could.
Nightwing refused to return to playing Robin destroying three punching bags since he blamed himself for Jake's death. And even though Terra and Jinx were still recovering from their time with Blood and Slade, both who managed to still get away, tried to comfort Starfire, who cried almost nonstop.
Beast Boy had beaten all of Cyborg's high scores, some almost by double, but he didn't celebrate. The moment he was done with one game, he would change games and go back to playing, trying to keep his mind occupied so he wouldn't have to think about Jake.
And Cyborg almost never left the garage, and smashing sounds could be heard. Though no one asked, he had destroyed his own baby twice and rebuilt it, for the same reason that BB had.
Jake's funeral was nice, but there were too many people there. No alcohol or New Orleans's jazz band. Amateurs. The Justice League minus Batman arrived removing the disband on the Titans and giving an official and personal apology.
And even the President of the United States came to pay his respects. He told the hunters and Titans that he had been threatened by Marcus to put out arrest warrants at least that's was what he was allowed to remember. Remember to revote for him.
Members of Jake's old SWAT unit showed up. Telling stories of Jake as a rookie. The ladies he dated. Yes, Raven bit her lip. Jake had worked with them a couple of times including defending the President from a purple ninja before he meet up with the Titans. He was one of the best ever on their team except for the Hot Rod that legend chewed bubblegum and kicked ass.
Jake was buried on a hill top looking over the Tower and the bay, so he could continue watching over the Titans from pits of Hell or Detroit. His beloved pistols weren't buried with him. They were holstered and was now hanging in Raven's room, to remind her of how he would protect her, anyway possible bothered to train her how to fight.
They all paid respects and left except for Raven and Otomo. She didn't mind him. He rarely spoke and still considerate enough to give her the space she needed.
Going to her knees, she held the tags that hung around her neck. Her eyes read the plaque on Jake's tombstone.
Here lies the gunslinger,
the one who lost his soul
to protect something more
Here lies, Jake Spiegel.
A copy was placed in Tomb of Fallen Titans.
Raven spoke softly, "I want to thank you for everything. I guess you would say you never did much, but you did. You gave me a life with my emotions, you gave me your love. You gave your life so that I could live. I know you will still protect me in the afterlife. I will always keep you close to me, Jake."
With that, she stood up and began to walk away, feeling too drain to teleport back to the tower. She would always love him, even in his death. This girl needs to move on.
End of Report.
Sitting on a metal folding chair, pepper haired man watched the red head trying to keep her balance on an identical folding chair.
With his arms folded, "Is he still out there, Jess?"
Still balancing on a chair, she turned her head and stared out the second story window.
"Yes, George."
"He's stubborn like his father."
Getting up, he walked outside followed the stairs down and headed towards the young man standing on his right foot holding two buckets of water on a pole. Four days pasted since George told the young man this was only way he would be trained.
Stopping at the pole, he looked up.
"You thinking standing there will change my mind. Bad enough that the red headed vampire slayer getting trained, now you. Your father was bad enough. Go away," shaking his head, "Must be getting old. Fine just remember you asked for it," walking towards the garage door.
It slid opened. George entered with the young man still on the pole.
Standing inside the garage, "Why are you still there?"
"You didn't tell me to come down."
"I'm the teacher, you the student. I'm teaching you not the other way around. Now get your ass in here."
A sudden jolt caused Rath's eyes to open. Trying to move his hands and feet were out of the question. Shackles held his hands over his head and his bare feet to the floor. He could disturb the magnetic locks, but he would have to contend with the eight soldiers with their gun sights on him besides his coat, satchel bag, hat and shoes were taken plus his curiosity needed to be satisfied. His wrist gauntlets were biometrically sealed only death could remove them.
The lights went out. Shaking stopped. A red light came on. When a green light came on, a door slid open.
Two metal clicks came from Rath's shackles allowing him to bring his hands down.
Motioning with his rifle, "Move," ordered a soldier whose name read "Grimm".
Following the platform outside, the three by two formation led him across a wet, cold concrete courtyard. Guard posts lined a gray wall.
Through two red metal doors, they stopped in front of a reception desk.
"Keep hands to side," said the receptionist.
The floor started descending. Passing series of walk ways, it stopped. Turning in 45 degrees, it stopped and they walked towards a door marked Section D.
Entering, he was left standing on a white circle of a bull's eye. It went bright and his hands shot into the air. Still struck to the floor, four armatures of lasers slid rose from the ground. They spun around him scanning his features.
His arms lowered allowing a laser to etch "770219" onto his right shoulder. A tube slid around him. The floor moved and he was vacuumed to a cell.
Falling from the ceiling, he landed on the floor. Rolling onto his back, lasers appeared over him.
"Wouldn't move if I was you," caused Rath to tilt his head back.
Staring at the brown hair young man, "Why?"
"It would hurt. Would like to say hello, but not here."
"Where is here, Mr.?"
"O'Hara. Miguel O'Hara. Simple Mr.?"
"Call me, Ishmael Nemo."
"This place is hell, Mr. Nemo."
