Scooping the bloody remains of Blood into an urn, "Silly hunters, that's not how you kill an immortal," said the female rogue demon knight named Darla.
Half a minute after Blood's death, the SEAL team had shown up, battered, bruised, but alive and kicking. They help everyone out of the sewers and led them to the main camp's medical tent.
"I'm afraid, she's dead," said the doctor.
And Jinx wasn't lucky enough.
"The ice that had plunged through her ripped through her spinal cord and her liver. And as the ice melted, the blood flow out of her body increased," explained the doctor placing his hand on Cyborg's his shoulder, "I'm sorry for your loss, but there was nothing for us to do."
Nodding, Cyborg looked like he was ready to have a break down. Raven sat beside Jake his arm around her shoulders. In Nightwing's arms was Starfire crying into his chest. Terra looked like she lost her best friend and Beast Boy didn't look much different. Titans East were here too, though they all showed mix reactions about it. Cray was off to the side away from the others with a stony look on his face hiding his emotions. Mammoth and Gizmo were also there, and they looked pretty much like Cyborg.
The doctor left giving them a moment alone. There was silence for the longest time. No one bothered to learn the violin plus get the hankies out.
"She's dead, because of me," said Cyborg, "I, I should have done something, I could have saved her."
"No, Cy, its my fault," remarked Jake, "You had been ripped apart, I just got knocked away. My healing factor could have picked me right back up, but I stayed down. I could have shielded her with my body, I could have saved her."
Yes, it's Jake's fault.
"Nether of you are to blame," said Nightwing, "I knew that Blood would have set us up, I knew that he would have attacked us in the way he did. If I didn't split us like I did, we could have put up a better fight. And Jinx wouldn't have been in danger then."
"But you made the choice you thought best, so no one can blame you, I could have used my powers to protect her, next to Star, she was my best friend," said Terra, as tears began to fall from her face.
Beast Boy comforted her, as someone else try to take the blame.
This time it was Speedy.
"I could have used a shock arrow and fired that old man, rather then ice that he could have used against us."
This is how it went. People blaming themselves for her death wishing something could have been done differently.
Jake's eyes went over to the tent's entrance to look away from the others and collect his thoughts. Two people entered, one he didn't know, the other he did know. The one he knew was Nigel Powers. One of the higher ups in the hunter organization. If fact, he was the only higher up anyone liked, because he worked a lot with the other hunters to get things done right and help the hunters the most. He was an Englishman in his late forties with his light brown hair turning gray on the sides. He wore glasses and had on a gray suit.
Next to him, dressed in a red and white kimono with a strange sword on his side, was one Jake didn't know.
"Ah, Mr. Spiegel, it is good to see you once more," said Nigel Powers, "and to think, you defeated Blood."
"Well, I wasn't alone," Jake replied motioning towards Cray.
"Ah, yes, forgive me, I didn't see you there Sir Blood," said Powers.
Staring at Cray, "Sir Blood?"
"Was knighted by the Queen of England almost five years ago," sighed Cray rubbing his head, "Trust me, long story."
Nodding, Jake returned his attention to Nigel to say something, only for Nigel to prove he was already a head of Jake.
"I also understand that someone has died today."
"Yea, my girlfriend is dead, not that it matters to you."
"Mr. Stone, the reason we are here is just for that reason," turning to the man with him, "May I introduce the healer and life giver, Gojiro Kiryu."
Bowing, "Can I see the young lady's body?" asked Gojiro.
Entering the operation room, they stared at the sheet covered body of Jinx.
Noticing Gojiro grabbing the sheet, "Those who can't hold their lunch down better turn away," remarked Jake.
Gojiro pulled the sheet away.
Jinx's upper body was fine along with her legs, but her stomach area was ripped to shreds and lying in her own dried blood.
Hearing vomiting behind him, Jake noticed Bumblebee and Terra were missing yet could still hear them throwing up just outside operating room. Gojiro examined her wounds.
"She's dead, I don't even know what you're doing," said Cyborg.
Couldn't blame him, Jake wouldn't want anyone to violate Raven, or himself when they died. Beware of gay necromancer.
"Dude, I know how you must feel, but trust me on this."
Staring at Jake for a moment, then nodded, then he gave Gojiro a look of death.
Drawing his sword, Gojiro lifted it above his head. Screaming something in Japanese, he brought the sword down into Jinx's heart.
Shifting into attack mood, Cyborg stopped when Jinx's eyes snapped open and a blood hurtling scream erupted from her lips. Holding onto his sword, Gojiro concentrated while his sword began to glow. Jinx continued to scream.
Studying the wide eyed Cyborg, "Cyborg, go over there and make her focus on you," said Jake, "get her to use you as her strength."
He didn't need to be told twice.
Standing beside her, "Jinx, I'm here, Jinx, look at me."
Focusing her eyes on him, "Cyborg, Victor, oh god, it hurts," crying from the pain, begging for it to stop.
Cyborg trusted Jake, and if he said to trust this guy, then trust him he would.
"Jinx, look at me," begged Cyborg, "keep your focus on me." .
It continued on as the rest watched.
The energy that Gojiro was pushing through his sword was healing Jinx's body. Dry blood slowly remoisten, and oozed back into her body, as her stomach wounds resealed up. Five minutes, she screamed. Finally, the power from the sword faded and Gojiro removed it. Not even the entry wound from Gojiro's sword was seen. Jinx closed her eyes again.
Cyborg looked like he was close to panicking when Jake checked for a pulse. It was strong and fast. Jinx returned from the grave. Gojiro sheathed his sword, and left without a single word.
Putting his hand on Cyborg's shoulder, "She will live Cyborg," said Jake.
And he never seemed happier.
"The macasa dell latoa had been dealt with and has been removed from this world. Blood's threat is over," said Powers looking at Cray and Jake, "I can't tell you what a relief it is to know that he has finally sent to the hell he belongs in."
"Lets hope he stays there," remarked Jake. Always ready to be proved wrong.
Nodding, "I agree, and to let you two know, I am putting forth to the rest of the people in charge that the two of you earn Medals of Honor."
Putting up his hand, "Hold on now Nigel, you know I'm not a medal's kind of guy."
"I know that Mr. Spiegel, but I'm doing it anyway. I know your not a fan of them, but you deserve it, same goes for Sir Blood," nodding in Cray direction, "Now," staring at Cray, "what is it that you'll do now?"
"I have a ton of cases I need to work on," said Cray, "so can expect to remain as a hunter for quite a while, sir."
Staring at Jake, "And I take it you will still remain here, Mr. Spiegel."
Nodding, "Its a shame," sighed Jake, "after Burn's and Hank's death, I became the best you had, I know. But I'm staying and that's final, Powers." Talk about delusion of grandeur.
"Very well, though I have talk with the Justice League, and along with a few extra hunters that aren't busy, we are working on cleaning up the city and looking for survivors."
"Can you do me a favor when looking for the survivors, I made a promise to find two boys," handing Nigel a piece of paper with the two names, "for a friend."
Thinking for a moment, "I believe I've seen their names somewhere, I'll look into it personally, Jake. And I'll see that they get back to their father."
"Good to see you again Powers, but the Titans are headed back to the Tower to get some rest, and I know I need it."
Shaking his hand as well as Cray's, and left to meet up with the chopper heading to the Tower.
Watching the chopper leave, "She's going to has a reasonable argument against Wheeler," said Gojiro.
"That is why I am going to support her reasonable solutions in preventing future demon invasions," replied Nigel.
Landing on the Tower's roof, Jake helped Cyborg carry Jinx's stretcher down to the Med ward in the Tower. After that, the East Titans crashed in the living room for the night before heading back to Steel City tomorrow. To their surprise, Nigel had gotten full pardons for Mammoth and Gizmo, and Nightwing had no problem with them being in the Tower, as long as they followed the same rules that Jinx had to follow when she first joined.
"Hey guys, I need to go crash," replied Jake, "I've been up for to long."
Looking concerned, "What do you mean?" said Raven, "How long have you been up?"
"Well, I've been up for four days straight, plus you have to add in the stress of a building falling on top of me, swimming off the island where that building was, dealing with three armed robbers in a side road dinner, and then the major beat down thanks to both Blood and his ex-students," noticing they're looking at him, "healing factor, remember, increases my stamina."
Shaking his head, "You've been through a lot, Jake," commented Nightwing, "go ahead and go get some sleep we'll take care of anything."
Reaching his room, Jake plopped face first onto his bed. Sleep finally claimed him. Truthfully, sleep would've claimed him earlier, however no one wanted to make Jake mad. Don't worry those who can put Jake in his place are heading into a collision course with him.
"We're cruising at 20,000ft," came from the ship's speakers.
Wearing her Robotech Defense Force's Officer's uniform, Altair lifted her eyes from her copy of Starship Troopers. It was one of few things she kept from her home. Staring out the port window, she saw the miles of red sand covered wasteland.
Switching her attention onto her traveling companion in her light blue coveralls, Daria didn't serve in Robotech Defense Force or was a citizen of Macross City. She had to wear something simple.
Swiping through Altair's Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, another book from Altair's military service, "Humans 'Mostly Harmless'," from Daria caused Altari to chuckle.
Due to opaque layer of clouds which are formed from carbon dioxide, they must wear bracelets to monitor their oxygen levels making sure they don't get the bends. Orbs filter sunlight onto the planet. Heat, humidity filter into Macross City. Technology advancement so simple that Neil DeGrasse Tyson doesn't believe it works then again he doesn't get invented to improbability parties.
"Preparing to land port C," from the speaker.
They had to travel this way cause any unauthorized portals into the city brought instant death. From there, they traveled by minicraft to the Guld Bowman Proving Grounds.
"What was it like?" asked Daria, "Spending most of your life on Super Dimensional Fortress One."
"Most fun a kid could have especially hiding and seeking."
"Why did you join the organization?"
Every hunter had a reason. Altair knew Daria's reason. How to talk about the Shadow War?
The minicraft landed. Exiting, they stared at the hangers. Whirring of those engines, scent of jet fuel, to some this was better then sex. Then again killing demons was better then sex.
"Can I help you, ma'am?" asked a v-tech mechanic.
"We're looking for Lieutenant Scott Bernard."
"Nice planes," remarked Daria produced a shock look on Altair's face.
"Miss, have you ever flown a v-tech before?"
"A plane is a plane," by Daria caused Altair to groan.
Chuckling, "This should prove to be interesting."
The alarm on Jake's door woke up him. Looking at his clock, it was one in the morning. Cussing as he dragged himself out of bed, slipping on a pair of sweats, opening the door ready to punch what asshole's waking him up at this hour. It's only Raven giving him a hug worthy of Starfire.
"Jake," was all she said.
Having woken up now, he returned the embrace.
Seeing the dried tears down her cheeks, "Raven," he said, "what's wrong?"
Silent for a moment, "Can we talk?"
Still with her arms wrapped around him, he directed her towards his bed. Together they sat on his bed.
Pulling away enough to look into his eyes, "I was afraid," she said, "I was afraid that like last time, I was going to lose you. I couldn't go through that again," on the verge of crying again.
"Hey," bringing her beautiful purple eyes back onto him, "I love you and I'm not going to lie down and die. I'm not going to leave you again. I fight the demons in every level of hell, but I will always come back to you," kissing her forehead, "You won't lose me Angel, I promise."
This seemed to calm her down. Yet, she seemed happy being in his arms.
"Can I stay here?" she asked, "Can I stay here with you? I don't want to be alone right now. I want to be with you."
"Sure, though don't blame me if we get a lecture from Nightwing about this," he remarked.
She gave a small laugh. Together, they climbed onto his bed. Wrapping his arms around her to protect her from the rest of the world. So far he's failed that. Her arms wrapped around him trying to draw him closer into her.
Listening to her breathing, he slipped off into sleep. He planned on remember this as the best nights sleep he would ever had. Cuddly? Jake thinks cuddly equals to being the best night of his life. Cuddly becomes an option when sex isn't an option.
