Titans West

Dakota Jamison smiled as she walked out of Director Bones's office. The meeting had gone exactly as she expected. Now she just had to pack and board a private jet to take her to the DEO's California headquarters.

Gar Logan climbed out of the pool and turned just in time to see Tara Markov dive off the diving board. He smiled as she swam over and climbed out. He pulled her close and gave her a kiss. "Good one," he said.

"Thanks," Tara said, taking a step back. "So, are we on for the movies tonight?"

"Definitely," Gar replied. "It's been too long since we've gotten to do anything together. I may even be able to scare up a table for us at the Blue Note."

"Now that sounds like a nice evening," Tara said. She glanced down and saw the puddle that had formed underneath them. "I think we'd better dry off and get changed."

"Good plan," Gar said. With another kiss, the two parted and headed for the separate changing rooms.

Cody Driscoll flipped through channels on the television, not finding anything worth watching. He stifled a yawn as he started trying to decide between three programs. "Man, nothing on but America's Funniest Home Videos, Diving for Drachmas, and the New All-New Returning New New Re- Newlywed show." He grinned. "I wonder if Vibe could tell if Chuck Woolery looks any different than he used to." Cody scowled at the game show. "Actually, this is kinda stupid." He changed back to Diving for Drachmas, where Akbar was going for the big money. He glanced up as the TV flipped off and a basketball slammed into his chest.

"You. Me. Let's go." Leonid, smiling for the first time in a long time, was standing in the door. Cody jumped up and the two ran for the ball court.

Paco Ramone stared at his television screen. "Man, Chuck Woolery's still alive?" he asked. "Isn't he like a hundred now?" Paco snapped off the TV and walked over to his desk where his computer sat unused. Paco picked up a pen and resumed writing a letter home to his family.

Mal Duncan walked out of STAR Labs smiling. The requisition order had gone through! He smiled wider as he imagined Karen's surprise with what was coming. He started whistling as he crossed the street.

Dakota Jamison stepped off her plane at the LA International Airport and was hurried into a limousine.

"Is everything ready?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," her lieutenant replied. "We're ready to go once you give us the final orders."

Jamison smiled her thin smile. "Excellent."

In his room at the base, Jason Parker tossed and turned. In his mind, he stood in the monitor room of the headquarters. Feeling he wasn't alone, he whirled around and saw Charley standing there.

"Charley?" he asked.

Charley nodded. "Yeah. Listen, bro, we don't have much time. There's big trouble coming. Get Sarah out of here!"

Jason shot awake and jumped out of bed. He immediately started pulling on his armor, then launched toward Questcorp headquarters.

Karen Beecher was finishing up a report on the lab computer when the intercom buzzed. She picked it up.

"Dr. Beecher, this is Linda," the lobby receptionist whispered. "A DEO agent just got here looking for you. She's got some pretty heavy backup. She-" The phone dropped and a different voice started speaking.

"Dr. Beecher, this is Dakota Jamison of the DEO. Remain where you are. We have a warrant for your arrest for harboring a fugitive, namely one Cody Driscoll. Surrender peacefully."

By this time, the lab was empty.

Karen sprinted down the hall to her office. She heard an elevator coming up and knew she didn't have much time. Seconds before the door opened, she ran into her office and closed and locked the door. "Ma'am?" her secretary asked. Karen didn't even speak as she ran into her inner office and locked those doors as well.

Dakota Jamison and three DEO agents in full body armor stepped out of the elevator and headed toward the lab. When she saw it was empty, Jamison started running down the corridor toward Karen's office.

The next stop was her bookcase. Karen pulled the secret book and the case slid aside, revealing her Bumblebee costume.

Jamison tried to open the outer door and found it locked. With a powerful kick, she broke the doors open.

Karen heard the doors splinter as she pulled her cowl into place. "I am so glad I never got rid of you," she whispered as she raised her arm. Her honey gun fired, filling the door locks with thick, viscous honey.

"Can I help -" the secretary started to say until Jamison cut her off.

"Is she in there?" Jamison demanded, pointing toward the inner office. "Is she in there?"

"Y-yes," the secretary stuttered.

There goes your raise, Patti, Karen thought as she started struggling to open the window.

"Open it!" Jamison ordered as the secretary came forward, keys in hand.

Karen heard the scrape as the key slid into the lock and knew she didn't have much time. She stepped back from the window and raised her arm again. She targeted the window with her stingers and fired.

Jamison threw the secretary aside as she heard breaking glass from inside. "FIRE!" she ordered. One of the agents stepped forward and fired, blowing the doors off their hinges. Jamison ran to the window just in time to see Bumblebee flying away. Jamison cursed.

"Where now, ma'am?" an agent asked.

"Questcorp!" Angrily, Jamison hurried out of the office, followed by the DEO troops.

"That's all I know," Karen said into her cowl's microphone.

"And this is because of Cody?" Mal asked from Titans headquarters.

"That's what she said. Something about harboring a fugitive! But we were given custody!"

"I'll let Gar know. Hang on. He may need to ask you some things. Where are you at now?"

"Winging it back to base. Doesn't look like I'm being followed, and I'm staying low enough to be under radar. God bless LA gridlock. They can't follow me on the ground."

"Check. I'm going for Gar now, hon." Bumblebee's lips tightened as she flew over the city.

Vernon Questor and Sarah Simms looked up from the desk as Golden Eagle ran into the office and locked the doors.

"May I help you, Mr. Parker?" Questor asked as Jason pulled off his helmet and ran toward Sarah.

"We've got big problems, Mr. Questor," Jason said. "The DEO's after us. All of us. I just got word over my radio that they've already hit STAR looking for Karen. She just barely got away."

"I see," Questor said as he sat back down behind his desk. His eyes widened as he saw a lobby security camera. "It appears that they're already here," he said.

"What?" Jason ran around the desk and bent over the camera Questor was pointing to. "Oh, no," he whispered. "What now?"

"Simple," Questor said. "I believe that we can concoct an escape scenario, but first I need to ensure that these doors are locked." As Questor walked to his office doors, Jason grabbed Sarah's arms.

"Come with us," Jason pleaded. "I don't know where we'll go, but come with us."

"I can't," Sarah said, brushing Jason's hair back off his forehead. "I'll be able to do more good here with Mr. Questor. I'm sorry." She fell into his arms. Jason just held her for a long moment.

"What's your plan?" Jason asked without releasing Sarah.

Questor stepped up to his desk. "Simple. Ms. Simms, you'll need to step into my bathroom and lock the door. Mr. Parker, all you will need to do is punch me and break the window for your escape."

Sarah gently stepped back. "I love you, Jason."

"I love you, too," Jason whispered. They kissed until Questor let out a discreet cough.

"The DEO is arriving on this floor," Questor said. With a long last look Sarah walked toward the bathroom. "Don't forget to scream when you hear the glass break," Questor reminded. Sarah nodded once and silently closed and locked the door as Jason pulled his helmet back on.

"It looks like its time," Jason said, drawing back his arm. "I'm sorry."

"One moment," Questor said. "Could you remove your gauntlet? I'm willing to handle the punch, just not the slashing that goes with those."

"Sure," Jason said. He pulled the gauntlet off and punched Questor, who let out a cry. He then pulled the gauntlet back on, shattered the window, and flew out.

As Questor pulled himself up from the ground, the doors to his office exploded inward and Jamison ran in. "Dammit!" she yelled. "Too late!"

"May I help you?" Questor asked as he pulled himself up. He sat behind his desk, gently touching the swelling under his eye.

"What happened?" Jamison asked.

"Ma'am, there's someone in here," an agent said. He raised his arm cannon, preparing to fire at the bathroom.

"Don't!" Questor said. "That's my secretary."

Sarah emerged, trembling. "Is it safe, sir?" she asked. Questor nodded.

"What happened here?" Jamison repeated. "We tracked Golden Eagle here."

"Indeed, he was here," Questor said. "However, at the thought of surrendering to your Gestapo, he panicked and broke the window to escape."

"Uh-huh," Jamison said, unconvinced. "So how'd you get the shiner?"

Questor gently touched his eye. "I was attempting to persuade him not to break the window. He drew his arm back and his elbow caught me in the eye."

"Right." Jamison looked around, disgusted. "I must advise neither of you to leave the city."

"But, I live out in the county..." Sarah whispered.

"That's all right, Ms. Simms," Questor said. "Questcorp will be pleased to put you up in a very nice hotel. I have no doubt that the government will reimburse us when this matter is settled."

With a scowl, Jamison walked out, followed by the agents.

In Titans headquarters, the team was frantically packing. Gar had decided that they needed to evacuate. Karen ran into the monitor room.

"You've got to get out of here!" she told Mal.

Mal smiled. "Don't worry, Hon. I spent plenty of time running from police when I was younger, and I haven't lost my touch." He pushed a button on the console labeled ‘Purge’. The computer flashed as it deleted its databanks.

"What's going to happen to you?" she asked.

"I'll be okay," he said. "I've got ways to get to the old base. I've also heard from Questor. I'm going to help him and Sarah fight for you guys back here." The two embraced. "Keep safe, hon" he whispered. Their heads jerked up as an alarm started sounding. Mal released Karen and looked at a still-working monitor. He slapped the intercom button. "Gar, they're here!" he yelled.

"Got it!" Gar replied. "Attention everyone, report to the jet immediately! We've got to get out of here!"

Mal closed the channel and turned back to Karen. With one final kiss, Mal opened a secret panel that led to a subway access tunnel. Karen's eyes filled with tears as she watched the panel close behind him. Once it was shut, she ran toward the hangar.

The hangar was chaos. The team struggled to board the jet. Gar already had the engines warming up as Karen picked up the Atari Vibe was fighting to pick up and they entered the ship.

Dakota Jamison smiled as her DEO tank swiveled toward the base. "Let's invite ourselves in," she said with a smirk. "Fire."

The walls of the empty gym exploded inward, admitting a horde of DEO troopers.

In the hangar, Karen sat in the nearest empty seat and strapped herself in. "Everybody belted in?" Gar yelled back. "Here we go!" The jet sped out the hangar and escaped into the sky.

Jamison's heart sank as she saw the jet dwindle to a silver speck in the sky. She thumped the turret of the tank she was on before joining the troops in searching the base.

Next Issue: The team's on the run, with the DEO and the US government after them! Where to go for refuge? What about Vibe's hometown? Next stop: Detroit!

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