They had all gathered in the Blue Beetle hideout where Rudy had vacated the seat in front of all the computers again. There were multiple images displayed on every screen, it seemed that Rudy had been able to find a lot of information regarding the Scarab.

They all undoubtedly wanted to go back to their normal lives. But that would only happened when they removed the Scarab from Jaime and destroyed it. It was the only way that Victoria Kord would stop going after him.

"Okay. I've gone through the files. So... Ted had a professor, this guy named Dan Garrett. The Scarab chose this Garrett guy before it chose you, Jaime." Rudy explained clearly excited about the information that he was sharing as he began to pulling up some files to display own the computer screens. "And pinche Ted, ran tests on him to map out how the Scarab would react to the human body. So, once this Scarab goes up someone's ass..."

Jaime turned to meet Gemma eyes, the panic and embarrassment clear in his. "It didn't go up my ass."

Gemma only offered him a simply nod before turning her attention back to the screens. It didn't really matter how it had gotten inside of him, what mattered was how they were going to get it out.

"Okay. Well, it connects to the brain and that's what it's trying to do to you, Jaime, connect to your brain. It's trying to become one with you."

"Why?"

"I think you should ask it yourself. I mean, this thing has its own will."

"It's sentient. That's why it chooses a host." Jenny continued thoughtfully her eyes never leaving the screens in front of them. "That's why sometimes, it does what you want, and sometimes, it doesn't."

Jaime nodded slowly and although he was trying to process what he was being told, Gemma suspected that he really didn't understand what they were telling him. "Okay, well, who made it? Can they help us?"

Rudy chuckled to himself shaking his head. "This wasn't made on Earth, cabezon."

"No way."

"Si whey."

"What happened to the professor?" Gemma questioned knowing that if they were really going to get the Scarab out of Jaime they had to do it now. There was no knowing how much of its control had already spread. When she had taken the scans what now felt like forever ago, then Scarab had entirely spread through his spine it was only a matter of time before it fused itself with his brain and all the other cells in his body. "How did he get it out?"

"You might want to sit down." Rudy stated as eh soon his hair around causing the rest of them to also look around the room for a choir. Unfortunately for them there wasn't another chair in sight, which shouldn't have been much of a surprise considering that Ted Kord spent all his time alone. "Or not. All right..."

"Rudy, please. Focus." Jaime practically pleaded, clearly eager to get this all over with. And if he allowed it Rudy would continue to go of topic and go on a rant about something not even related to the Scarab.

"I got good news and I got bad news. The good news is, I figured out how to get it out." Rudy said pausing for a moment, and initially Gemma thought that he was doing it for dramatic effect or to building up tension. But from the way that he was tapping him finger again the desk Gemma realized that he was stalling for time. "And the bad news is that you have to be dead."

"What?" Jaime questioned not sure if her had heard his uncle correctly.

Gemma wanted to believe that she hadn't heard Rudy correctly either but when she looked to Jenny and saw how she had gone pale, there was no doubt that they had all heard Rudy correctly.

"Dead." Rudy repeated slowly.

"What do you mean 'dead'?"

"Okay, right now, Jaime, look. It's fusing itself to every cell in your body. It's completely coiled around your brain. And there's nothing on earth that could remove it." Rudy explained what they had discovered when they had run the scans in her lab, but she had hoped there would be a way to reverse it. "It's designed to protect its host. To keep it alive."

"So you're saying that this thing's in me forever?"

Rudy sighed as he turned his chair to face Jaime who was still pacing across the platform. "No, it's not forever. I mean, it's just until you... until you die. I think it's kinda cool. No, I mean, basically, you are a superhero, cabron."

Gemma couldn't help but be surprise that Rudy was trying to find a positive in all of this. As much good as all the superheroes did, she could never imagine that it was any kind of life that was worth living. She simply couldn't find any positive to have a sentient alien being living inside of you.

"I'm so sorry." Jenny said softly. "I had no way of knowing..."

"Oh, you had no idea." "So then what are my options now?So, option one is to become an android for the rest of my life. Or option two is to hand myself over to a murderous billionaire psychopath?"

"I'm so sorry." Jenny said looking absolutely horrified. They had come all the way over her in hopes that Ted Kord had a solution. Knowing that they were about to leave without any real answers was devastating, Gemma couldn't even imagine how Jaime felt about all of this.

"All I wanted was a job."

"Maybe there's a..."

"Maybe what, Rudy? It's all bad news. Okay, this shit just doesn't get any better for us. I don't understand why you can't... God." Jaime snapped and this time Gemma couldn't blame him for being this upset and yelling. Not when Rudy had confirmed that there was no hope for them to get the Scarab out of him. "Whatever. I'm gonna... I'm gonna go for a walk."

"Jaime, just..." Gemma began not even sure what she was going to say, but it didn't really matter considering that Jaime began to walk out of the hideout.

"Let me go talk to him. I think I know where he's going." Rudy said as he ran after Jaime. "Cabezon, wait up."

Jenny and Gemma remained quiet for what felt like forever as they still tried to process everything that was happening. Getting the Scarab out of Jaime was their only solution to getting rid of Victoria Kord, now Jenny's aunt would continue to go after Jaime.

"So you and Jaime?" Jenny questioned suddenly snapping Gemma out of her thoughts.

Gemma couldn't help but immediately blush, it was something that she was definitely not ready to talk about. She still hadn't had time to even process what had happened or what could have happened had Rudy not interrupted. Though she did know that it was for the best that he had. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"So what were you two going to do head butt?" Jenny questioned clearly amused, and although normally she would have entertained her and talked about what had happened it simply wasn't the time for it. Jenny knew it too but she would rather tease her about it than think about her father or how Jaime was now going to live with alien technology inside of him.

"I don't know what that was. And I would rather just not think about it." Gemma replied honestly, because there were so many other things that they needed to worry about. The last thing she wanted was to lose focus by spending time trying to sort out her feelings.

"Can we go outside?" Jenny said with a sigh knowing better than continuing to press the conversation. They were all struggling with there own problems that seemed to have no real solution. "I don't think I can be in here anymore."

Gemma simply nodded as she followed Jenny up the stairs there wasn't much for either of them to say considering that everything that they could talk about were things that they had no interest in really discussing. It was all so confusing and complicated that it was beginning to give Gemma a headache. They had all come here with the hope that they would be able to end it all tonight only to find out that it was all far from over.

"I feel awful about Jaime." Jenny said once they were standing in the living room of the Kord mansion. Although the mansion was showing clear signs of deterioration from being left abandoned for so long, it was still possible to see how vibrant and full of life the mansion once was.

"You didn't know that this would happen." Gemma replied knowing that although she was the one that had given Jaime the Scarab she had no way of knowing that it would choose him. Not after it hadn't chosen a host for years. "I'm sure Jaime doesn't blame you, he just needs to process it all."

Suddenly a loud thrumming sound practically shook the building, like if an aircraft was flying over them. But it was like no other aircraft that Gemma had ever heard, but when she looked over at Jenny it was clear that she had recognized the noise. Her face had gone pale and Jenny didn't say a word as she rushed to the staircase and practically ran up all of the steps.

Gemma followed after her until they stepped onto the rooftop. The air was bitter cold and Jaime and Rudy were also standing on the roof looking up at the sky.

The helicopter was now a couple of feet away from them. From the look on Jenny's face it wasn't too default to piece together who that aircraft belonged to.

"What is that?" Jaime asked as they all looked up at the aircraft flying towards the city.

"That's Victoria." Jenny said slowly the guilt consuming her once again, even though she was not responsible for her aunt's actions. Just like Gemma wasn't responsible for her father's crime either. But she understood how difficult it was to not feel responsible in some way. 

"Where are they going?" Rudy questioned.

"Home." Jaime said softly realizing that his family was now in danger. The problem was that the Reyes home was at the other side of the city, a fact that Jaime knew as he stepped onto the ledge of the building. It would be impossible for them to arrive in time if they drove there.

"Jaime what are you doing?" Gemma questioned though she could guess exactly what he was planning. It was crazy to even think about testing it when there was no guarantee that it would work. The Scarab was too unpredictable to assume that it would come out now.

"I'm gonna fly. I'm gonna fly." Jaime repeated to himself, almost like the more he repeated it the more likely it was to work. "Let's do this."

"Yeah, no chance." Rudy said softly under his breath not wanting Jaime to hear him. "You gotta force it to come out."

"What do you..." Jaime began as his eyes widen. There was no knowing what was going through his mind now but Gemma sense that it couldn't be good as he stepped off the ledge of the building and began walking  backwards toward the other end of the roof. "You're a genius."

Rudy couldn't seem more confused as he looked at Jaime who had suddenly gained confidence in the idea of flying. "I know. What'd I say?"

"You said this thing's gonna protect me, right? It's not gonna let me die?"

"No, no. I mean, when you die..."

"All right, let's see if it works." Jaime continued choosing to disregard what Rudy was going to tell him.

"I wouldn't test it."

"No, no, no, Jaime!" The three of them all yelled together in a panic as Jaime began across the roof. Rudy even attempted to reach for Jaime, but he was too fast.

One second Jaime was running and the next he had already jumped off the roof. Gemma couldn't help cover her mouth as she gasped. They all seemed to hold their breath for a moment completely horrified and unwilling to check the edge of the roof to see what had happened to Jaime.

Just as Rudy was about to take a step forward Jaime shot up in the air covered in the Scarab's blue armor once again. With no hesitation he flew after the aircraft and disappearing into the night.

They stood in there in silence both relieved and shocked that it had actually worked. If Gemma was being entirely honest she didn't believe that it would considering how unpredictable the Scarab seemed to be. Though it had protected Jaime when Carapax had attacked them the other night.

Gemma didn't think that seeing Jaime transform was ever going to be something that she could get used to. It just didn't feel real. 

Rudy sighed as he turned towards Gemma and Jenny with a shrug. "Well, back to the Tacoma, I guess."

Rudy had been determined to get back to the Reyes house as soon as possible, and it was a miracle that they hadn't come across any police or they would have undoubtedly gotten pulled over. And although they had good luck in being able to arrive at the Reyes house in thirty minutes, when they had arrived it was clear that all their luck seemed to have run out.

It was almost impossible to make out what had happened. But the sight of the Reyes home in flames had them all frozen in shock and horror inside of the truck. Rudy was the first to act as he opened stepped out of the truck. Gemma couldn't help but feel hesitant as she also stepped outside along with Jenny.

Jaime was fighting what seemed like an army of Victoria's men, although it was clear that he was ridiculously outnumbered Jaime was holding his own against the men. At this point Gemma knew that the Scarab had taken control of the fight.

If Gemma had felt overwhelmed before it was nothing compared to the fear that she felt now. There was something frustrating about knowing that there was nothing that she could do to help. She didn't think she would be able to do anything if she had the ability. Gemma felt so paralyzed by the fear and she knew that she could never do what Jaime was doing. She knew that she didn't belong in this crazy world, she was much more comfortable in her lab or a hospital. 

"No, no, no! Dad!" Milagros yelled, her sob snapping Gemma out of the shock she felt.

Across the lawn Milagros was on her knees, from the smoke and the sound of gunshots Gemma still felt overstimulated by it all. But her instincts took charge then as she ran across the street and the lawn hoping that she wouldn't be hit by a stray bullet. 

"I think he's having another heart attack." Milagros practically yelled, her panic completely setting in the moment that Gemma fell on her knew beside her. 

"Hold on." Gemma said softly as she began chest compressions, she just couldn't accept the fact that Alberto Reyes was dying. She had done chest compressions dozens of times before and she had never felt this nervous or scared. But she was determined to save his life and make sure that he would be able to speak many more years with his family. 

But her focus was broken when she felt two sets of hands wrapping around her arms and pulling her up violently.  Instinctively Gemma tried to fight against their hold but she simply lacked the strength to make any kind of difference as they continued to carry her away as if she weighed nothing. 

Meeting Milagros desperate eyes Gemma knew that it was over. That t here was nothing else to do. 

Gemma had seen death plenty of times. She had operated and treated patients who she couldn't save and it always hurt, but this was different. She hadn't known Alberto Reyes for very long but she admired the father that he was and what he did to support his family. It just wasn't fair.

"Wait!" Gemma said as she continued to struggle against the firm hold that the men had on her. They were pulling her away from Milagros and Mr. Reyes and the farther away the pulled her the more the desperation grew. "Please just let me help him!"

She couldn't accept it. She refused and it wasn't until she heard someone yell her name that Gemma realized that the gunshots had stopped. It was almost like everything had gone entirely silent and the only sound echoing through the neighborhood was the sound of the helicopter across the street,

"Gemma!" She heard Javier yell and when she looked across the street she could see him running towards her. Not that it would have made much of a difference because the second that she was thrown into the helicopter it was already going up in the air.

She landed next to Jaime who was crying on the ground, Gemma hadn't seen when they had captured Jaime. And it made the situation all the more tragic knowing that there was nothing that she could say or do to comfort him. 

The knowledge that if maybe she could have gotten to him a couple seconds earlier and kept him alive haunted her as the helicopter flew higher into the air. All her surrounding felt as if they were spinning, Gemma couldn't entirely make sense of what was happening. 

"I'm gonna come... I'm gonna come get you." Jaime said weakly as he continued to struggle against the electric chains that held him. Gemma wanted to reach out to him or say something that could maybe ease him, but it was pointless. She was practically a stranger to him and the loss he was going through was too much for him to process considering the situation that they were in. 

"Why am I here?" Gemma questioned as she finally looked up to meet Victoria Kord's eyes. 

It surprised her how Victoria Kord looked some pleased with herself and not at all affected by what she had just done. By all the destruction and pain that she had left behind. Gemma couldn't help but think of her father then, of when he had warned her that Victoria Kord was worse than him. Looking into the woman's eyes she couldn't help but agree with her father. Victoria Kord was entirely motivated by greed and ambition, she felt no remorse.

"That brain of yours has to be good for something." Victoria Kord said before looking over at Carapax who had his full attention in Jaime who was still crying on the ground. Gemma knew that there was nothing that she could say or do to make him feel any better. Jaime was devastated "Carapax."

Before Gemma could react a needle pierced her skin at the base of her next. Whatever it was that he had injected her with it acted quickly as her vision became blurry almost instantly. And as her consciousness slipped away from her so did her hope that they would be able to get out of this situation. 

A/N: Like I mentioned before I struggle with scenes involving action which is why this chapter took a little longer. This chapter also ended up being really long. Considering that the next chapter is all action it might be a little while before I am able to finish that one too.