AN: Well here it is. My christmas present to all my wonderful readers. (Cheap bastard aint i?) It took a lot longer than originally planned but as you might have been able to tell I've being getting my ass kicked by writers block.

AN2: Ok to all my readers, I've recently reread my story posted here in a desperate attempt at inspiration. While doing so I noticed that while at the time some of the earlier chapters were ok in my eyes now they fall short of the "standards" I have before posting. I'm taking a poll here and anyone may vote, do you think they need a rewrite of should they stay as is. I could go either way on the matter so i'll let you guys decide. If the are rewritten then nothing plot wise will be changed and the finer details.

Aliensvspredator5: Glad you like. And I've been waiting to introduce the two. Somehow though I imagine the meeting between her father and Jake will be more interesting though. Tanks for review and enjoy.

whisper dark rose- Aye its been a while since I've heard from you as well. And before we go claiming me as yours i think theres someone that would contest ownership of the idiot. Also I'm glad to hear i kept him in character, thought I'm pretty sure his hair is really THAT long. But thats coming from someone who's hair is kept at military standards at all times. Now believe it or not i've actually read the source and the titans before. Haven't seen it in a while though. Lastly song of the week has to settle on "Pulsar" by Celldweller. Damn good song. Imaginary is pretty badass to but evanescence hasn't been on my playlist this week. The I-pod knows all the I-pod decides all. Obey the I-pod Obey!

HERE GOES… SOMETHING

The unusual trio continued on with their march and it was only with every ounce of self control Jake possessed to keep from singing about the yellow brick road. "If only we had a scarecrow and Cyborg." He thought to himself, laughing at the mental image of them all arm in arm, skipping down the road.

Rorix looked at Jake as he walked beside him, 'he's either deep in thought or he just has a naturally stupid expression etched on his face.' He thought inwardly. Quietly as he could he whispered to Arella so as not to disturb the daydreaming Jake, "How do you think this is going to end? Realistically?"

Arella sighed, she was hoping that such topics would be left to gather dust. Talking of them served no purpose other than to discourage one with how the odds were stacked against them. "Realistically? He has a snowball's chance in hell of pulling this off. Is that what you wanted to hear?" She snapped.

Jake was mentally kicked inside his thoughts by Arella's outburst. Though aware enough to hear he wasn't quite there enough to understand, and so the only words to make it through was 'snow and hell.' That sent his deranged train of thought down an entirely different track. Somewhere along the lines of a white christmas in hell, and eight foot tall demon dressed as Santa. Reindeer like the three headed hounds of hell and sleigh painted red with the blood of those unfortunate enough to have once stood in front of it. He continued pondering for a few seconds longer before what remained of his sanity bitch slapped him back to reality. With him back in the real world he quickly remembered what it was that got his attention and sought answers from Arella. "What was that?"

Arella internally cursed for alerting Jake but as luck would have it she needed not worry about what to tell him. Ahead of them was their destination, at first glance it would have appeared to be nothing more than a fissure in the earth. Just another hole in the ground but if one were to get closer and actually bother to look within. Well lets just say the demons of this realm would be the least of their worries.

And then of course the reason for her distress, lining the edge of the abyss were no less than fifty of the guardians. Each and every one ready to put a premature stop to their journey. This time though she gave voice to her thoughts, "Shit."

Jake, looking at her for an explanation, missed the legion waiting for them and therefore was slightly confused when she merely muttered the vague curse. Following her gaze he was soon enlightened, he to gave a voice to his internal musings. "Well. Ain't that a bitch and a half."

Rorix was the last to offer input though his slightly differed from the others. "Finally, some fun." The stares received went completely unnoticed as he started counting the beings and forming something resembling a plan. The "plan" was simple enough, he would kill anything that looked at him wrong and if it called for it Jake and Arella would join in.

Jake followed Rorix's lead as he set off to deal with the hoard, Arella not a step behind. The faint hum of energy gathering in her hands let him know she was ready for a fight and he to prepared himself. All the while the silence around them intensified to the point where it was almost painful.

As they neared the guardians it struck Jake that they had yet to attack. He picked up the pace to walk beside Rorix and what he saw astounded him. Where once fifty stood a good half mile away now they now stood much closer. That however was to be expected whist walking toward them. No what astounded him was how their numbers had grown. Now their numbers would put a Roman legion to shame and they covered an area almost two football fields side by side.

As they neared the figurative sea of creatures parted allowing passage. Rorix looked back at Jake and Arella behind him, asking without words what should be done.

"Take it slow and stay alert, stay together." Jake said almost falling back into his squad leader mode, a role he'd not played in ages it seemed. It looked as if no one had a problem letting him take up the reins and soon he found himself leading the tightly packed group through the ever watching hoard.

Much to Jake's dismay they swelled back around behind them, cutting off their escape should something happen. But other than that they took no direct action against them. With nowhere to go but forward the group pressed on all the while watching for even the slightest twitch in their direction.

The "path" eventually lead them into an enclosure of sorts. Witch basically consisted of a ring of creatures standing in a fairly large circle. Reluctantly they entered the enclosure, each ever alert for any change in the crowd around them. They needed not to have bothered, as the reached center one demon shifted away from the rest.

Its gaze settled on none other than Jake and as it stepped forward it was made perfectly clear why.

Rorix looked a the thing and laughed a bit, laughing in the face of death may not be the smartest thing to do but he couldn't help it this time. "Looks like your good buddy has returned Jake."

Jake turned to see what Rorix was talking about and in doing so found himself face to face with his arch nemesis. "Oh you've got to be kidding?" He shouted at the gods that were certainly laughing their asses off at this oh to perfect irony.

Standing just feet away was the only one armed demon in all the realm. And if the glaring eyes were anything to go by it was pissed with a capital off.

Jake looked eyes with the thing and it seemed to understand him as it let loose an ear shattering screech that no living being should be able to produce. Just as the scream died away four creatures leapt into existence on either side of his companions with only a faint shimmer of the black portal energy in their wake. Just as fast as they appeared they vanished once more taking more with them that they came with, and leaving Jake alone with the one armed devil.

The demon took a step forward and Jake followed suit. Another step from the creature and another from Jake. Soon Jake found himself face to chest with the demon. Craning his head of to look at its face he said the only thing that came to mind. "You are hereby dubbed Tiny.

Its only response was a low growl.

"Challenge accepted." Jake tossed back with a cheeky grin. The words barely clearing his lips before he was jumping backward, dodging the talon aimed for his face. As he recovered he crouched and swept his leg out aimed at the giant's legs.

Unsurprisingly the creature had little trouble dodging the attack. Leaping an impossible distance into the air it defied any and all laws of gravity as it gracefully sailed overhead. Looking more bird of prey than devil it turned and dived straight and true right for Jake's crouched form. The attack was swift and and well executed as it flew headlong into Jake in a full fledged football tackle.

The force of the impact threw them several feet where they landed in a tumbling fury of blind jabs from Jake and attempts to grapple the writhing human by Tiny. Using its superior strength it finally pinned Jake beneath its feet and stood victorious over its prey. It let loose a gut wrenching howl before it lifted its talon over its head and drove the blade downward for the finishing blow. Only to be stopped inches from its target.

Jake, with foot on his chest and legs pinned did the only thing he could have in the situation. As the blade was driven down in an attempt to impale his neck he brought both hands forward to grab the blade. A sharp pain lanced up his arm as the blade had little trouble slicing through his unprotected palms. He clenched his jaw and gripped tighter around the cold metal, trying all the while to push it away.

But it wasn't enough, slowly the blade started to move once more. The strength of the demon was too much and the blood pouring from deep wounds in his hands was doing nothing to help his grip.

In his mind death seemed a very real possibility at the moment. And that was unacceptable. Somewhere deep inside, hidden in the most primal regions of the brain what was before just a smoldering ember ignited into a roaring tempest of fiery fury. Three voices burned into memory joined together and called out, 'Your not dead yet Jake. So stop fucking acting like it!' Words once spoken by Alex now held all three of their voices, and Jake would be dammed if he'd let them down again.

His eyes narrowed as the blade met the skin of his throat, with strength he didn't know he possessed he pushed back while wrenching his body sideways as much as he could. The demon wasn't expecting the sudden movement and stumbled slightly as it lost its footing. Taking the momentary loss of balance from the surprised demon he jerked one of his legs free and brought it to his chest.

Jake shoved the blade to the right of his head and let it drop. Once more the talon was safely sheathed in the dirt. Not expecting Jake to release the blade, Tiny had put more weight onto the arm to try and overpower Jake. As it was suddenly freed it found itself falling forward, and just as it did so Jake launched his foot straight toward its chest.

The kick landed on the right half of its chest with the force of a sledgehammer. Several loud snaps sounded from the point of impact as it flew backward to land about a foot away. The creature laid almost motionless on its back, midnight black blood oozed from its mouth. Jake picked himself up and strolled over to the dying devil.

Its eyes still held the burning hatred its mind still wanted rip him limb from limb, but its body was unable to continue. As he neared it lifted its talon and in one final gesture of defiance brought it down into the center of its chest, killing it instantly.

Off in the distance the sounds of a intense battle drew ever closer and Jake had a good idea who was fighting.

Sure enough half a mile off Rorix was busy slamming some poor demon's head into the ground hard enough to splatter grey matter over his boots. Another coming up behind him was engulfed in a brilliant white energy and crushed like a tin can.

Jake looked at the circle of demons staring at him, like they were waiting for something. 'If your not going to kill me then be useful and bring Arella and Rorix back. At least they had a clue what was going on here.' He thought to himself.

But as soon as the thoughts were born in his mind four demons vanished in a plume of dark energy only to reappear seconds later beside him with his friends in tow. "Ok, that was weird." He said aloud.

Rorix and Arella, still astonished they were still breathing, were severely confused that Jake was still here and unharmed. And even more so when he started talking to the demons of this realm. "Are we to be granted passage?" He asked the hoard.

When they simply sidestepped to form another corridor to the edge of the fissure Jake smirked in triumph, and his companions looked at him like he was the late Azar reborn. Both thinking 'Seriously who the hell is this guy?'

Jake however was thinking more along the lines of, 'My own personal army. This could be fun.'

But then as with all things fun it came to an end. Another voice entered his mind, feeling much more like Raven's subtle method of telepathy than Blood's. 'They are not your army, they are my servants. I've heard many things of you Lieutenant, and I think its past time we meet. Face to face.

The only thing able to be formed in Jake's state was a single sentence witch was spoken aloud for all to hear. "Aw shit."

AN: so the plan is for Jake to return in the next chapter. Now I KNOW some of you are worried Jake will become just another overpowered OC capable of taking on the world. I assure you that won't happen. I've made it this far haven't I? Stick around a while longer, you just might enjoy the story.