Across The Valley

Cassie sped toward the blooms of red, disappearing into a clearing below. Intent on making sure they were still alive, and taking back the elements. A smirk prying itself free as the anticipation of battle grew. The men below rapidly freed themselves before three of them turned their sights on the incoming Amazon. Unloading round after round to slow her down. Cassie paused in her descent. Countering as quickly as she could with her bracers. Igniting sparks from her deflections along with dull pings. She never saw the fourth man heft a m320 grenade launcher and fire a shot. Which exploded mere feet from her position. Sending her crashing into the forest and rocks below, along the edge of the clear. She didn't hear so much as feel a large snap and crack as she crashed to earth. Smoke trailing her fall.

The men wasted no time. Knowing that they'd be better off without a tail, they converged on her landing site. Whispering quick callouts and surrounding the barely conscious Amazon. Cassie fought to stay awake. Groaning with the effort to lean back against the rock behind her. Right hand lashing out in an effort to draw her lasso. The only weapon she had to defend herself against these men. She came back to full consciousness as the bravest of the men pressed his boot against her left leg. Sending a wave of pain through Cassie, who screamed out at the pain. The man ignored this an instead leveled his rifle at her head. Watching as Cassie came back down and began breathing extremely heavily. Her shoulders rising and falling as tears worked their way down her scowl.

"Afraid you'll miss?" She all but snarled. Determined to go out like an Amazon.

"Afraid you have a thick head." The man coldly responded. Finger falling to the trigger.

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Two Minutes earlier

Jason jogged down the natural path in front of him. Muscles loose and flexible as he mantled over a fallen tree. The dull green and browns of the surrounding forest being broken up by the occasional glimpse of snow-covered mountain tops. He couldn't help but idly think how this valley would make a great vacation spot. All it was missing was a lake. He shook those thoughts away as he approached the clearing. Hearing the rattle of gunfire, before watching as the men on the ground unloaded on a floating Wonder Girl. Shots pinging off in a multitude of directions and impacting below her.

Jason began to move toward the fight before a large explosion shook the earth. He watched as smoke trailed from the spot Wonder Girl once occupied to the edge of clearing. Blonde hair and pale limbs breaking the darkness of the trail as she fell. The men then took off after her. Jason shadowing them as he spirited along the clearing. Eyes occupied with tracking the threats in front of him. He came to a stop about twenty five meters away from the group. Inching his way right, so he could get a view of Wonder Girl and the man approaching her.

She looked about how he expected. A multitude of cuts and bruises covering her body, her left leg bending unnaturally at the mid calf. An obvious break. Her red top and blue jeans slightly torn here and there. A miracle to Jason, until he remembered that they were probably as armored as some of Tim's lighter suits. Jason continued his slow march, until he had a clear route toward the approaching man. Who had just pressed his weight against her leg while leveling his rifle. The scream echoing around them. Jason pulled a grenade from his belt, and passed it to his left hand. Taking a second to focus his breathing and hype his adrenaline up. Before erupting from the forest like a vengeful wraith.

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All Cassie heard was a feral roar as a black blur impacted with the man in front of her. Sending his shots wide and drawing grunt of pain. The armored figure tackling him to the ground as something flew out from his left hand. Before said item exploded in mid air. Sending the other men to the ground as the figure pulled himself up into a crouch and leveled a right jab to the attacker's exposed jaw. Causing the man to see stars as he clutched and reached for his pistol. Drawing it and centering on the figure. Only to have his world explode in pain as the agent broke his arm over their left knee. Bending it at the elbow unnaturally.

It was then that a shot rang out. Flying past the agent with a crack and causing him to snap toward the other men. One of which looked torn to shreds by the grenade and the other two trying to hobble to their feet. Aiming their rifles in his general area. The agent pushed himself back to his feet and rushed forward. Cassie watching with wide eyes as the man approached the first man and grabbed his out stretched right arm as he slid. Pulling the man over top of him as he turned and threw the soldier to the ground. Stunning the man as the agent extended his right blade halfway and drove it forward into the ear and brain of the man. Killing him instantly.

He pulled back and flinched with the impact of rounds hitting his right side. The third man finally finding his aim again. The agent pushed back to his feet and ran left. Away from the man as shots trailed behind him, before pivoting hard and charging. The move throwing off the man's aim as the agent crashed into him in a shoulder charge. Sending the man flying as the agent straightened. Drawing his right pistol and unloading as the man rolled to the ground. Shots drawing small plumes of red as they impacted.

The agent paused, surveying the field once more. Only seeing a series of bodies, one man crying as he worked to pry his pistol from his broken arm, and the Amazon who was sporting a look of surprise and horror. But most importantly not seeing the case. He stomped toward the crying man. His voice pierced the air and caused Cassie to flinch.

"Where is the case?!" Standing over the man, he grabbed the front shoulder straps of his gear and hulled him up. Holding him in the air as the man struggled to find his footing, despite being a good four inches from the ground.

"CCCCC….Cle….. Clearing." He gasped out. His one good arm trying to pry the grip from his front. The agent nodded as he threw the man to the ground. Walking up and tossing the man's now useless pistol away, before dragging the man away by the back of his gear. The man kicking and thrashing in an attempt to free himself.

Cassie watched on. Still too stunned and in partial shock as the figure walked off. Her mind clearing enough to yell out a desperate, "Wait!". The figure not even acknowledging her.

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Jason dropped the man as he made his way to the bundles of bags and parachutes in the clearing. Ignoring the man's pleas and cries as he stalked forward toward his duffle bag. Quickly unzipping it and confirming the case within was still in one piece. A few small dents peppering its side, but otherwise unbroken. He then re-zipped the bag and hung it over his shoulder, before turning back to the man. Drawing his knife as he approached.

"Ok, let's play twenty questions. I'll go first. Who are you working for?!" He asked as he spun the knife in his hand. The man's eyes tracking it as he juggled it. The man appeared to grit and grumble, his jaw working back and forth. Before Jason lashed out. Pulling the balaclava down as foam erupted from the man's mouth. The pill already taking effect.

"Damn it!" Jason yelled frustrated as he threw the dying man down. Not even glancing back as he stalked off a few feet.

Radioing Waller, "Agent Knight to Red Crown. Package secure, awaiting extraction." A faint buzzing could be heard before Waller broke through.

"Confirmed Agent Knight. Be advised, Markovia has already threatened to declare war if any other assets enter their country. Eagle-1 has ordered us to stand down." Waller informed, voice completely monotone and indicating her displeasure. Jason just sighed. Already knowing he was probably going to have to walk out of this country on his own.

"Confirmed Red Crown. How's Agent Wolf taking that, and can I get imagery or a basic map to figure my way out of here?"

"Uploading both satellite imagery and a map. Agent Wolf has voiced her displeasure, however I believe she has let it be known that you require a new psych eval." Waller said and Jason could just hear the smirk.

"I believe my last eval put me squarely in the "still mostly sane" category. Mild sociopathic tendencies not included. I'll see you before Christmas. Agent Knight out." Jason said as he cut the radio off.

He eyed the upload bar on his HUD as he began to take stock of himself. He still had his knife and both pistols. Six throwing knives still sat comfortably on his waist, as he felt around for his clips. Finding two remaining. He outright discarded the remaining rifle magazines. The rifle still in the plane and among the wounded and dead. His suit was scuffed and scratched but the damage was all cosmetic. The metal living up to its name and function. Eventually the map and satellite grind appeared on his HUD. His eyes manipulated it as he worked to find the nearest base. Which was a lot farther than he was willing to go. Being clear on the opposite side of the country. It was then that a thought struck him. His mind working out the distance between here and Nanda Parbat. Finding it to be only about four hundred miles to his east. Would Talia be upset….. Maybe. But he could zeta back to the states without issue. All bases outside the US lacking the zeta technology. He hummed before deciding that was probably his best bet.

He took three steps in that direction before freezing.

"Don't go back. She'll be fine, Timbers keeps his team on a tight leash. Plus she'll slow you down. There's no reason to go back." He argued with himself. Hands clenching and unclenching.

"You're not that man anymore. You have a new family and responsibilities." Jason continued. Trying desperately to convince himself. A tiny portion pointing out he was better than that. Which steadily grew.

"FUCK!" He yelled as he stomped back toward Wonder Girl.

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Cassie was trying to crawl towards a nearby tree. Thinking she could maybe fashion some sort of splint for her leg. She had tried to comm her team, but quickly found it was gone. Probably destroyed in the explosion. Which left her in the middle of a country that claimed it would hunt metas for sport if they entered, and which threatens nuclear action should any JLA associate be seen breaking their borders. In short, she was alone. Combined with her broken leg and inability to fly because of it, it wasn't looking all that great. She grunted and pressed. Working her way along the cold ground. She just barely heard the rustling of cloth behind her. She quickly forced herself to her back. Spotting the figure from earlier dig through the dead men's gear. Pulling clips and a rifle, which he slung under his left arm.

"Stop moving and I'll get to it in a minute." His gruff voice echoed. Flipping a body and rifling through the bag on its back. She made a move to protest, but a flash of pain cut off any retort she could muster

The man just continued to search. Pulling a few things out before replacing them in the bag. His searching then abruptly stopped. Pulling a small box from the backpack and marching toward her. Before dropping the box beside her and continuing to the forest. Her eyes tracked him before turning to the box. It was tan brown with a red cross labeled on the front. A medkit if she ever saw one. The agent returned a few minutes later. Carrying a series of small, thick sticks. Which he dropped next to her leg before crouching. He then opened the box and looked up at her.

"I'm going to have to cut away the jeans, splint the leg, and wrap it. But first I'm going to inject you with a dose of morphine." The agent spoke as he pulled a small tube from the bag. Revealing a small needle. Cassie looked at him with wide eyes before nodding. Her normal cheerful mood was absent as the man injected her.

He then unsheathed his knife and clutched her leg above the knee. A terse "Don't move." being said as he started cutting along the leg. Being careful not to cut her as well. Eventually he had the leg free. A clean break at mid calf meeting his gaze. Which he turned to the eyes of his patient. Waiting to see her relax and or eyes go glassy as the drugs kicked in.

"How you holding up there kid?" He asked.

Cassie jolted slightly. Before answering, "Been better. I think this is the first time I've ever broken that leg." she said. Watching as the man nodded absently. Then quickly set the break. Drawing a litany of curses from the woman.

"I believe Amazons are supposed to be more proper than that." Jason admonished.

"How many Amazons do you know?! The ones I do curse like drunken sailors when hurt!" Cassie yelled. Jason could only think back to the last spar he had with Donna before the Titan's mission. Her whispered swears every time she took a hit making him more competitive at the time, and surprisingly Artemis always maintained her discipline, but would occasionally bark out a string of profanity that he was sure Biz picked up. Diana was a saint, no question in Jason's mind.

"To be fair. You all are a bit grumpy when you get hurt." Jason conceded. Lining up the sticks and pulling the medical tape from the bag. Cassie nodding in satisfaction as he worked.

"Good, now what do I call you? Shadow? Wraith? Darkness?" Cassie rattled off sarcastically. Gaining a snort in return.

"Agent Knight. This should hold you till your team gets you." Jason said as he stood. Hoping that his assumption was wrong and Tim would be crashing out of the sky in a few seconds. His team following quickly behind. But the girl's eyes and body language quickly shifted. An obvious show of wrestling whether or not she should tell him she's stuck.

He signed again before asking, "They don't know where you are and can't come get you. Can they?" A small nod being his answer. He clenched and unclenched his hands again. Willing the anger away.

"Ok….. Ok. I'm going to have to carry you out of here. We'll try to… find a car and hospital along the way. But we can't slow down and I'm not pulling my punches" He listed. Her eyes flicked to the corpses before going back to him. "Are we going to have any problems?"

Cassie could only stare. Her mind working to think of a better option. She didn't kill. Hell, Young Justice and the JLA were formed to stop people killing or being killed. But right now she was alone in a country that hated her, unable to use her abilities until she got a boot or something, and the only friendly face didn't have a face. Plus, he killed like it was a job. No flashy moves, just precise strikes and death. Her Amazon side also pointed out that she was from a land of warriors. Who had no issues taking lives when needed. She could handle this for a few days. They may not even have to fight anyone.

Her decision made and mind settled. She answered, "No, we won't have a problem." Agent Knight nodded as he made his way back over.

"Great! Now I'm going to carry you. We have a long way to go and I'm not missing this Christmas because some asshole couldn't stay quiet." He said as he hefted her to his shoulders.

"What about food and water? Didn't they have any?" Cassie pointed out as she waved a hand at the carnage.

"Here? No. I'm betting they had some at the landing site though. We'll find what we can before heading out." Agent Knight answered. Already making his way back into the clearing.

Then Cassie asked the question he was trying to figure out himself. "Why did you come back?"

Jason shifted slightly. Disguising it as him repositioning her on his back.

"Because I'm better than what he made me out to be."