This fanfiction was written by me one year ago in german, but i wanted to translate it into english as well. There might be some writing mistakes though. Anyway, i hope you gonna like the story. Took me three years to write it as good as possible. :D Have fun!
Eight years ago, in the outer districts of Jump City
The outer districts of Jump City: Various kinds of wealth are split here. The lower town, where the more or less poor people of Jump City live, and the upper town, where the rich and wealthy families of Jump City live. While the upper town is located in the hills of Jump City and embodies the attractions of the city, the lower town is the complete opposite. From the upper town you have a great sight on the city itself... and at the horizon you can see the island where in a few years the Titans Tower will stand. At one of the highest hills of the city is a little villa, where you can see the industrial district of the City. Amidst the industrial district is a tall building, around 45 metres big. It is the headquarter of ACE Chemicals. From the little villa on the hill, a car drives away. It is a white SUV which drives down to the city.
Murakami Primary School
In a class room with 20 boys and girls is math class. A teacher asks a girl with black, long hair:
"What is 7 multiplicated with 4?"
"I... think it's 28. Is that right?" the girl asks.
"Yes, that's correct. Good."
The bell rings.
"Alright, class is over. That was faster than i thought. Well, no homework today. You worked really good. Have a nice day!" the teacher says.
The boys and girls of the class are happy and leave the class room. The girl with the black hair talks with another girl. The other girl has yellow hair.
"Finally, school is over! A few minutes more and i would fell asleep. *giggle* You too?"
"Yep. I just don't like math."
"Me too, but at least it's easy."
The girls walk through the halls of the school. The mood here in the school is pretty good.
"Also, just don't mind the boys in the class. They make fun of everyone."
"Im trying. They're just stupid and think it's funny to annoy everyone."
"Boys will be boys... do you have time for next week?"
"Of course. The last time we met after school is a pretty long time. I think a month."
"A month and four days to be exact." said the girl with the yellow hair and grins.
"You always want to be exact, huh?" *giggle*
"You know me!" *wink*
The girls leave the school and go to the parking lot where they wait till a red car arrives. The girl with the yellow hair waves with her hands to the red car.
"There's my mom. Alright, Ashley, see you next monday!"
"See you, Amelia!"
The girl with the yellow hair enters the car. A few minutes later the white car from the villa appears. It's the mother of Ashley. Ashley enters the car and puts the bag to the seat on her right side.
"Hey honey."
"Hi mom."
"How was school today?"
"Pretty good! I've got my maths test back! It's an A!"
"Super!" the mother says happily.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Is it right that we have to go to dads work tomorrow?"
"Yes, we have to. You are a big girl already, but i don't want to leave you alone in the villa, hence why you have to go with me."
"That's so boring!"
"I know, Ashley. But when we are done, we'll buy us a looooot of ice cream!"
"Really?! Can i have strawberry?!"
"Of course!"
"Cool!"
The mother drives back to the villa. The streets of Jump City are full of cars. The mother and Ashley hear radio.
"And now to the "News of the Week!": A masked man in a bat costume prevented a bank robbery in Gotham City. Who could it be and why is he doing this...?"
"That's crazy." the mother says.
"I think it's cool. I'd like to help other people too. But of course not in a bat costume."
"Im pretty sure you will!"
A few minutes later the car arrives at the villa. Both of them leave the car. The villa has a lot of modern furniture, but the style of the villa itself is rather simple.
"When will dad come back?"
"Dad has a lot of work to do. He won't come today, but we'll see him tomorrow."
"Hm, okay." says the girl hopefully. She sits down at the table and waits for lunch.
At the evening...
Ashley lies in her bed. Her mother walk into the room and give her daughter a kiss.
"Good night, honey."
"Good night, mom."
"Sweet dreams." the mother wishes her daughter.
"You too." Ashley says and giggles. The mother smiles. When she approaches the door, she sees a drawing at the table.
"Wow, that's a cool picture. When did you do that?" the mother asks.
"I did that at noon."
"Who is that?"
"Well... i saw her once in a book with a lot of pictures. She's cool and i like her. Especially her hair.
"Indeed, she is really pretty. That's a great picture." says the mother impressed.
"You can keep it!" Ashley offers and smiles.
"Aww... thank you, i'll take it to my room. But now it's time to sleep. Good night!" says the mother and leaves the room. Ashley starts sleeping.
The next day
The mother and Ashley are awake and ready to visit the father. Little Ashley wears a black pullover and violet tights. While she tie up her shoes, she asks her mother something.
"Mom? As what is dad working?"
"Oh, dad got a work which takes a lot of time and attention, you know? He is the boss of a big company. Didn't we tell you that once?"
"Yes, but i meant... what is he doing? What is this company?"
"The company is called ACE Chemicals. As their boss he has to do a lot for his employees. This is why he is often away. *sigh*"
"Ohh... okay."
Both of them enter the car and the mother starts driving.
"How long does it take till we arrive?" asks Ashley.
"Not long. Ten minutes."
"Okay. And we really eat an ice after that?"
"Hehe, of course!"
"Cool!"
Ten minutes later
The car arrives the industrial district. The big ACE Chemicals headquarter stands out in the district. There are factories everywhere, from simple can factories to big car workshops and big company buildings. The streets are full of workers and transport cars, and there are only a few people who drive with their personal cars through the streets of the industrial district. The car with Ashley and the mother arrives at the ACE Chemicals headquarter. In front of the building is a big forecourt with a stage, and there are a lot of people. Worker, manager and civilists wait for the presentation to start. The mother parks the car on the other side of the street and then walks with Ashley to the forecourt. They hold their hands so the mother won't lose Ashley in the middle of all the people. Even in the near buildings are people who watch the presentation. The mother and Ashley see the father who is behind the stage and talks with a few people. He sees both of them and smiles, while Ashley waves her hand to him. Ashley and her mother wait until the presentation starts. On the stage is a microphone and a table with a metal box. The father takes the microphone and starts talking.
"Good day, ladies and gentlemen! Im very glad that a lot of people decided to visit our presentation about the probably biggest revolution in chemistry humanity has ever seen. So, let's get started."
The boss walks to the metal box.
"We from ACE Chemicals want to announce that we are the first concern who managed to decipher and change the dangerous Element 184, or to be more simple, Xenothium."
The people clap their hands.
"So, just to refresh your knowledge about Element 184: Xenothium is a liquid and dangerous concentrate which is mainly used as fuel for experimental projects. We use it to find out the effect of various elements if we cross them, like with Lithium. A few days ago our scientists found out that it is possible to change Xenothium and make it for example totally harmless.
The boss opens the box. There are two phioles with red, fluid Xenothium. He takes one of the phioles and shows it to the people.
"This phiole contains 100 millilitre of clean Xenothium..."
He takes the other phiole.
"... and this is a phiole with 100 millitre of deciphered Xenothium."
A worker appears and brings a Erlenmeyer flask filled with Lithium. Then he puts the flask on the table.
The Erlenmeyer flask is filled with Lithium. Clean Xenothium would cause an explosion."
The boss opens the phiole and empty it into the flask. Blue smoke rises up, but it seems like it's not dangerous.
"The deciphered Xenothium however... won't cause an explosion."
The people clap.
Suddenly, the buildings to the left and to the right of the forecourt explode. The people get scared and panic, while the buildings collapse. Ashley and her mother start running.
"Mom! What about dad!?" the little girl asks scared.
"I'll have to get you somewhere safe befo..."
The stage explodes and everyone on it gets killed or badly wounded. The father gets hit by a shatter part of an building, which makes him fall and unable walk since a big metal pole lies on his legs. The mother turns her head around and can't see Ashleys dad anymore. The people run away, while Ashley and her mother try to reach their car. More shatter parts fly in the air. The parts hit more people and smoke rises from all the destruction. Fire is everywhere. In the distance are sirens to hear. Ashley and her mother can't reach the car due to an collapsed building, which makes them search for another way. Suddenly a part of a building to their left explodes and both of them are hit...
Minutes pass away like hours. People are screaming. There is fire. There is smoke...
The sirens get closer and closer.
Half an hour later...
Firefighter and medics have arrived at the area. Rescue teams search the area for survivors. They find the little girl, which surprisingly isn't severly wounded. A few member of the team bring her back to an ambulance. Then she get's stabilized and after a few minutes she wakes up, totally scared. She looks around and sees the chaos. There are shatter parts everywhere. The stage burns and another rescue team is searching for survivors. Policemen closed the area. The girl tries to stand up, but a medic prevents her from doing that. She gets a blanket on her shoulders.
"Where's my mom?" she asks scared.
"We'll find your mom, don't worry."
"I want to my mom!"
"We're going to find her. Everything is going to be okay."
The girl looks around and searches after he mother, but she can't find her, though she can see in the distance at the entrance of the ACE Chemicals building a big man with a hood and a robe. He talks with a few manager of ACE chemicals. After a short time he turns around his head and looks to the ambulance. He can see Ashley. It seems like he sighs. Then he goes away. An ACE-Chemicals worker arrives and saw Ashley watching the man.
"Who was that... and why did he looked at me?" the girl whispers to herself. However, the worker can hear Ashley.
"The man at the entrance with the robe?"
"Hmm?! Oh, erm... yes."
"You are the daughter of Mr. Mayweather, is that right?"
"Erm... yes?"
"That's a very important businessman and friend of your father. He was behind the stage and watched the presentation as well. Im pretty sure your father is okay, he always was a pretty tough man." the worker says, trying to calm her down. Ashley sighs and cuddles with the blanket.
Another hour later
The rescue teams stop their search. Ashley is still scared. Two police officers and a man from the rescue team talk to her.
"Hey, little girl..."
"Did... did you find my mom? Or my dad?"
The policemen and the rescue team member make a sad face.
*sighs* "It... we weren't able to find your parents." the man from the rescue team says slowly, looking down with his head.
"What?"
"It seems like... you know... we are sorry..."
The girl starts to cry. The three men feel guilty for making a little girl cry...
One week later, in a children's home in the lower town
Ashley sits in her room and draws something. At the entrance of the children's home a man appears. The exact same man with the hood and the robe from ACE-Chemicals. He talks to the receptionist in a very calm voice.
"Good day."
"Good day. What can i do for you?"
"A friend gave me a message. His name is Mr. Mayweather. You might know him as the former CEO of ACE-Chemicals." the man says and gives the message to the receptionist. She reads the message. Then she answers the man.
"In case of death you are responsible for the child... and there are no relatives. I understand... in that case everything i need is your name, the street you live and how i can reach you.
"Well... about that... im very... discrete."
"Discrete?"
"Take this business card."
The receptionist takes the card. She looks at it. There is just one sentence.
"The HIVE of Humanity... hmm... whatever... take the door to your right, then open the second room from the left."
"Thanks." says the man and goes through the door. The children's home feels cold, abandoned and the walls are old and damaged. It is very quiet here. The man arrives at the room and knocks on the door. Then he opens the door slowly.
Ashley looks at the man.
"Who are you?"
"Hello. I am a friend. Your father asked me to take care of you if something happens to him."
"Where are my parents?!"
"Your parents... they're not here anymore. Your father said i should bring you to me."
"Okay? And... but i don't even know who you are."
The man smiles a little. He sits down on a chair and takes down his hood.
"My name is Brother Blood. And what is your name?"
"Erm... Ashley. My name is Ashley."
"Ashley. A cool name. We don't have a lot of time, so we should pack your items and then we go."
"Where?"
"A safe place. Where you can live and learn. And there are a lot of other kids."
"What kind of place?"
"A place for special kids, like you. Your father sometimes said to me that you always wanted to be a heroine. Maybe you're going to be one in the future."
"Okay... but i don't know you."
"Of course you don't. But i always was a good friend of your father, and he gave me the task to take care of you. He's counting on me. Don't worry, when we arrive at the place, everything is okay again."
*sigh*
A few minutes later...
Brother Blood holds a few items of Ashley, like her folder with drawings. He puts them in the trunk and then enters the car. It's a black car with four doors and it is even armored. The weather is rainy and cold, and there is even fog. Brother Blood starts driving. A few minutes later, the car leaves the city. Nothing happens during their journey. Hours later the car arrives at the mountains a few hundred kilometres from Jump City away.
"So... which grade are you?"
"Third grade."
"Oh... good. Where i live are a lot of classes, and of course some third grade classes. Their school year starts this week. I think we can put you in that class. Im sure you can make some friends there since no one knows each other, they're as new as you."
"Will i see my friends again?"
"Of course you will. But not now. I promise you that you will get the opportunity to talk with them again."
"Okay." she says and smiles a little bit.
Fifteen minutes later...
There are two big mountains and several little ones, and while the little ones are full of trees, the tops of the big mountains even have snow. Both of the mountains are around 5000 meters high. Suddenly, the street ends in a forest, but Brother Blood continues to drive. Ashley is confused, but when Brother Blood stops right in front of the mountain, she gets an answer.
"We have arrived. Wait here." he says. Brother Blood puts out a little device and presses a button. Suddenly, the wall in front of the car opens and frees a path. Ashley is wondering what just happened.
"What... how? How did you do that!?"
"Magic."
Brother Blood puts the device away and continues driving. He drives through a long tunnel, and in the distance you can see more and more lights which are formed like a hexagon. Brother Blood parks near the big hexagon which seems to be a door.
"There we are. Get out of the car." he says and takes Ashleys items with him. Ashley and Brother Blood go to the hexagon. Then Brother Blood presses a button at the door. The door opens. Behind the door is a elevator with windows. They enter the elevator. Brother Blood puts out his little device again.
"I'm back. Activate the elevator." Brother Blood says into his device. It seems like it's an communicator.
The elevator starts slowly. A few seconds later, Ashley can't believe what she sees.
There is a big hall with hexagon walls. Some of them are doors as well and lead to other halls, and people are everywhere. Green little mans, robots, flying students and soldiers with yellow armor and weapons. Additionall elevator at the walls, stairs and above the hall is the room of Brother Blood, where you can look down to all the students. Ashley is overwhelmed, while Brother Blood smiles.
"Welcome... to your new home. Welcome... to the HIVE-Academy."
"The... HIVE?"
"Yes... think of it as an school and a big home. It seems you like it here."
"I really do. It looks so wonderful." she says overwhelmed.
The elevator reaches the bottom of the hall and opens. Several soldiers salute Brother Blood and then go on patrol again, and when he and Ashley walk through the big hall, the students greet him friendly. Brother Blood and Ashley walk up the stairs till they arrive at the room of Brother Blood. Two soldiers who stand guard salute him and open the doors to his room. In front of Brother Bloods room is another room with a sign: Council. When Ashley walks into the room, she looks around. There is a big table in the middle of the room, and it seems like it can even be used as a holographic projector. Six chairs are around the table, and at the other side of the table is Brother Bloods desk. Behind the desk is the window which grants a look down to the hall. Several shelfs with folders, which contains information about every student in the Academy. The room looks very invitable overall for a office. Brother Blood walks to his desk and sits down.
"You can take a seat." he says to Ashley. She goes to the desk, and in front of the desk is an additional chair. She sits down. Brother Blood puts out an empty folder under his desk. Then he searches for another folder, and after a few seconds he find him. On the folder is something written.
"Student apartments..." she reads.
Brother Blood opens the folder and searches for an apartment with a free room.
"Hmm... no... *next page* ... nope... *next page* ... ah.. no... *next page* ah, here we go..."
Ashley seems inpatient.
"Mikron O'Genius, Codename Gizmo... and Baran Flinders, Codename Mammoth... we got a winner, i guess." Brother Blood says and moves the folder to Ashley. Then he goes to her.
"First of all you need a nice apartment to live in. This apartment got a free room, which is big enough for you. You share the apartment with two other boys, but from what i heard from the teachers, they are friendly, so don't worry. Of course, if you doesn't like it, just tell me."
"Okay... and where do i find that apartment?" she asks.
"Im going to show you the way. Also, they're going to be your class mates as well. Shall we go?"
"Yes."
Brother Blood nods and puts the folder away. Then they leave the room. Ashley looks at the room with the Council Sign.
"What is that Council?"
"Oh... it's something like a teachers office. We're discussing very important things there."
"Ohh, okay."
A few minutes later...
Brother Blood and Ashley walk through a long floor. The walls and halls in the Academy were built like hexagons, and everywhere is light. On the other side of the hall is a wonderful tree with green leaves. A few students pass by and greet both of them. When they arrive, Ashley sees more than just a tree. It's like an Arboretum with apartments in it. The great Arboretum is built like an hexagon, and inmidst of it is the tree, and grass. Around the tree are stairs which lead to the apartments.
"Wow... what is this?"
"This is one of our many Arboretums. Students live there. Your apartment is in this Arboretum, so you should remember this path. Follow me." he says and walks up the stairs. He approaches the first door on his right and looks at it.
"This is your apartment." he says and knocks two times at the door. A boy, two heads bigger than Ashley, opens the door.
"Hello Mammoth."
"Oh... erm, good day, Brother Blood!"
"I know this is very surprising, but i want to introduce you to Ashley. She joined the Academy today. I gave her the free room in your apartment. Ashley is also one of your class mates. I would be very grateful if you would show her the whole Academy."
"Oh, of course, no problem!"
"Thanks. That's it already. I'll leave you two alone then. Be nice to her."
"Yes, Brother Blood!" he says. Brother Blood leaves both of them. Ashley seems shy.
"Hey! My name is Mammoth, as you already noticed, hehe."
"Em... hey."
"Come in." he says friendly. Ashley approaches the door and finds herself in a little hall.
"Alright, so, em...my room is the next door right. The door on your left leads to your room, and the next door leads to Gizmo's room. The bathroom is in front of his room. When you go through the little hall you find our little living room and kitchen. We got some movies, a few games, books and a LOOOOOOOOOOOOT of ice! *cough* Apricot is mine! *cough*"
Ashley giggles. She walks through the little hall and follows Mammoth to the living room. Ashley feels safe and comfortable in the room even though it is a little bit untidy. There is also a timetable on the wall, and a clock.
"Oh, one thing, your room already got every book you need for class, so there is no need to ask after them in Brother Bloods office."
"Good to know... but..."
Mammoth turns his head to Ashley.
"...where is that other student, Gizmo? Isn't he here right now?"
"He's always working at some weird electronic devices. I think right now he's pretty concentrated, so we'll better be quiet, hehe. I'll show you your room." Mammoth says and walks to Ashleys room. He opens the door, but interestingly, there is nothing in it besides a shelf with the books and a bed. But there are some yellow shining spots in the air.
"What are these spots?" she asks.
"Oh, that's the cool thing about getting a new room. These spots are some sort of furniture. And here's the trick: Go to one of the spots, look at them and then think of something you really need in your room and see what happens." he says. Ashley approaches a spot in front of her bed and then she looks at it. After a few seconds, a desk with pens and a lot of paper is materialized.
"Woah... what was that?! I only saw this in movies!"
"I know, it's really cool. You think of something and it gets mater... materi... *sigh* you know what i mean. Play a little bit around and fill your room with furnitures, we'll show you the HIVE later." Mammoth says and leaves the room. Ashley fills her room with the things she need: The desk with the pen and paper, a table with a mirror, a closet with cloth and a shelf with fantasy books. A few of the books have a unicorn as symbol...
Five minutes later...
Ashley is drawing a unicorn, when suddenly a loud and high voice is to hear. She leaves her room and looks into the hall. Gizmo's door suddenly opens and a little man without any hair and a green suit appears. There is also loud music in Mammoths room to hear.
"God damnit, Mammoth! Didn't i already told you like, THOUSAND times that you shouldn't do so much noise?!" Gizmo screams. Gizmo turns his head around and sees Ashley.
"And who are you!?"
"Erm... hey. My name is Ashley. You are Gizmo, right?"
"The one and only! Anyway. Mammoth!" he screams again. Mammoth turns down the volume of his music and walks out of his room. Mammoth smiles.
"Yes?"
"Oh... you think thats funny, right?"
"Pretty much, yep." he smiles.
"Just turn down your music, it's bad anyway. If you ever turn the volume up to 80 again, i'll use my cool new device to deactivate your radio!"
"That was 50."
"... That was 50?"
"Yes."
"Oh... don't turn the volume up to 50 again!" Gizmo says and then walks back into his room again. He closes the door. Mammoth giggles, while Ashley smiles.
"You know... sometimes you just have to tease Gizmo, it's just too much fun." he says.
"I heard that!" Gizmo screams, while Mammoth laughs and Ashley giggles.
Mammoth walks into his room again, but Ashley asks him before he can close the door.
"You know... i've never seen people like you."
"What do you mean?"
"When Brother Blood brought me to the HIVE, there were so much people i never imagined they would exist. Green little mans, like aliens, big robots... you seem pretty sporty and strong and Gizmo looks like one of the workers of my father."
"Oh, well..."
"Where am i anyway? I mean, it's cool here, but..."
Suddenly, Gizmo's door opens again. He answers Ashley.
"Brother Blood brought you to the HIVE Academy because he thought you are pretty powerful."
"Powerful?"
"Yep... well, every student here is a specialist in a certain area. Some of us can fly, other people, like Mammoth, are pretty damn strong and other can even use magic. Well, and im just pretty clever and good at building useful devices." Gizmo explains.
"By the way, what is your special ability?" Mammoth asks curious.
"Erm... im pretty good in language, maths and..."
"Not that. I mean superpowers. Something really really useful, like the abilities the superheroes in movies have."
"Oh... i don't have any. At least i don't know any."
Both of them look puzzled.
"What?" both of them ask simultaneous.
"I don't have any."
"Then how did you got here?" asks Mammoth.
"Brother Blood brought me out of the children home in Jump City. He wants to protect me. He also meant he was a friend of my father."
"Okay... interesting. Anyway, im sure you'll get something special sooner or later." Mammoth says. Gizmo walks back into his room, and Mammoth does the same. Ashley also walks back into her room again.
"That was weird..."
Two weeks passes by...
Class room of Dark Way Prep 3C
The seating plan of the class rooms is similar to a university. That means, the tables and chairs stand like a semi circle with stairs in the mid. Down at the bottom of the class room is Brother Blood who writes down a few math tasks. Ashley, Mammoth and Gizmo are neighbours. Suddenly, the ring bells.
"What... we're already done? Good... you can leave the class now, students. Have a nice day." Brother Blood says to the whole class. The students leave the class room.
"So this is lunch break now, right?"
"Yes. Oh yeah, you never ate something here, right? It's like an cafeteria. Just watch what we do and do the same." Gizmo says to Ashley.
The three friends walk through the halls of the HIVE-Academy. Some of the halls have additional paths to other rooms so everything is connected. Again, the walls here have a hexagon shape and shine. Ashley, Mammoth and Gizmo arrive the stairs and go down to the cafeteria. Even though there are a lot of students eating in the cafeteria, a few tables are empty. Gizmo and Mammoth walk to the tabletts and take one, including fork and knife. Ashley makes exactly what they do and follows them.
"So, Ashley. The cafeteria is always open and there are 4 menus you can choose from. Menu 1 and 2 is usually stuff like sausage, some vegetables, potatoes, you know what i mean. Menu 3 is vegetarian and menu 4 is salad which you can make yourself. Pretty decent if you ask me. You can see at the wall what the cafeteria is cooking today. And... meh, just lame stuff. I'll go for salad." Gizmo says and goes to the salad menu. Mammoth follows him, while Ashley takes a look at the vegetarian menu.
"Hmm... i always wanted to try spring rolls and rice. Well, can't hurt to try it." she thinks and goes to the vegetarian menu. She puts her tablet on the food distribution. A HIVE soldier - who wears a cooking apron and a cook hat - cooks her lunch. After a minute it's done. The lunch - twelve rolls, and a good amount of rice with some sweet sour sauce - smells and look nice and fresh. She walks to Gizmo and Mammoth which already sit at a table. They wait for her. Then Ashley sits down.
"Oh... spring rolls are good as well." Gizmo says when he sees Ashleys lunch.
"Well, i always wanted to try them." Ashley says and smiles.
The three start eating. After a few minutes, a group of six rather big and unfriendly looking people appear. Gizmo notices the group. His eyes are getting bigger, and it seems like his mood is getting worse.
"Grr..."
"What's wrong, Gizmo?" Ashley asks.
"That's Skully and his group of retarded primates."
Ashley and Mammoth watch the group.
"Who are they?" she asks.
"These idiots think they're like the kings of the Academy. They're arrogant, asocial and insult everyone who is not like them. A lot of people are scared by these guys, but Brother Blood cant do anything apparently. They probably search a new victim. That's probably gonna be you."
"Me?! But i didn't do anything!" she says scared.
"Yeah, but it's enough for them to know that you are the only one in the Academy who doesn't have any kind of powers."
Suddenly, the group notices Ashley, Gizmo and Mammoth. They get closer.
"Oh well... now we've got a problem."
"Who's Skully?"
"Skully is the biggest one of them. He's the one with that long blue hair and that weird black uniform. He can punch almost as hard as Mammoth."
The other five boys of the group have colorful, sometimes long and sometimes short hair and wear long robes and black boots. Skully talks to them in a very disturbing dark voice.
"Who do we have here, boys. Giz, lil Mammoth and... oh, i remember you, you're that girl Brother Blood brought us. Is it true that you are pretty much useless to the Academy?"
"Dude, leave her alone." Mammoth says and stands up.
"Why? I just want to talk with her."
"It's okay, Mammoth. Calm down." Ashley says.
"Yeah, Mammoth. Calm down." Skully says.
"Em... so, you are Skully, right?"
"Indeed, that's who i am. You know, i was wondering why people like you even get a chance to visit the HIVE Academy."
"I guess i was lucky..."
Skully and his group starts laughing.
"Lucky?! C'mon... lil girl, you better leave this Academy, because if not this is going to be your greatest hell. I don't like people who aren't like me. But i hate people who think they can enter the Academy without showing some effort AND sit on my damn chair!"
One of the boys draws Gizmo away and throws his food on his suit. Mammoth helps Gizmo. Skully takes a water bottle from another student, opens it and then let it run out on Ashleys hair. Then he laughs. Ashley is scared and walks to Gizmo. Ashley, Gizmo and Mammoth walk out of the Cafeteria...
The evening...
Gizmo and Mammoth are in the living room and watch TV. Ashley is in her room and draws.
"Mammoth?"
Mammoth turns his head to Gizmo.
"It's not like i don't like Ashley, but she doesn't fit in the Academy."
Mammoth sighs.
"She can't use magic, she doesn't know how to develop some devices... she's just a normal girl. I really wonder how she got in here. Look at us. You've got into the Academy because you are overwhelmingly strong and i got here because i was something like a rebel and just loved to build dangerous devices. But Ashley..."
"Yeah... but she's friendly. And she's pretty good in class, so we can always ask her for the homework."
"Homework? Really? It's not about homework. It's about us, a group which is pretty weak because of her third member. *sigh* I don't want to imagine tenth grade. The tenth graders always talk about a final exam where you have to prove that you are a useful team member."
"Man... that's seven years, don't worry. Maybe someone can teach her to use weapons."
"Hopefully. It looks like she's just shy that brought more fear than bravery into the academy."
Mammoth nods.
"Anyway, i'll gotta sleep. Good night." Gizmo says and stands up. He walks into his room. Mammoth sighs and is about to enter his room, when he noticed that the door of Ashleys room is a little bit open. He looks through the room and can see how Ashley is drawing. He knocks at the door. Ashley turns her head around.
"Hey Mammoth. Come in."
"Hi. I just wanted to say good night. What are you drawing?"
"Oh... well, take a look."
Ashley shows Mammoth her drawing. It's a women with a black robe with red stripes and red horn shaped hair. She seems to be a witch.
"She looks cool."
"Thanks. I watched cartoons when i came back from home, and i always loved it when she appeared. I think she looks cool. This is why i like to draw her."
Mammoth looks at the other drawings.
"I could never draw as good as you." he says and laughs.
*giggles* "I bet you could. Your hands might be a little bit too big but practice makes the master."
"I guess, hehe. You feel okay?"
"I think so."
"Don't worry about Skully. He's an Idiot, but we're here for you."
"Thanks, Mammoth."
"Good night, Ashley."
"Good night."
Mammoth leaves the room, while Ashley draws a few minutes more. The TV turns off. She looks at the clock. It's 9:30 PM. She decides to go to bed...
Days and weeks, months and years passes by in the Academy. Ashley, Gizmo and Mammoth settle down more and more in the Academy. They write dozens of exams, develop posters and other things for the class and learn for the life. And of course, they also learn how to fight, more about psychology and everything you can use against enemies in a fight. During that time, the Academy changes. A very big area was built, the experimental area, which is forbidden for students. No one really knows what happens there...
Five years later, chemistry class
The three little students grown up. While Gizmo and Mammoth almost look like in the present time, Ashley still has black, long hair. She wears a violet jacket and a blue jeans. Brother Blood is teaching the class and writes down a formula. The chemistry class has several shelfs with tools for experiments. Erlenmeyer flasks, tripods, elements like Caesium, Iod or Neon can be found here. There are four rows with tables. Ashley, Gizmo and Mammoth sit in the last row. Brother Blood finishes the formula and then talks to the students.
"Now that we completed the theoretical part, we can finally start the first experiment of the new school year. Finally, if you ask me." he says. Brother Blood walks through the rows slowly.
"Everyone of you possesses a certain gene. That gen gives you your abilities, or at least grants you a major advantage. One of you might be very intelligent... another one could be very strong, or able to fly... and that all because of one single gene. No one knows that. Besides the HIVE. The gene is, to be exact, a connection of various elements. We'll take me as an example. As you already know, i am able to control the mind of a certain person if i wish to. The gene that makes that able lies in my brain. It is connected by the elements lead, Iod, Yttrium and Molybdenum. While we know that these genes exist, we still don't know why. And here is the interesting part now: Everyone of you is going to find out which elements your gene is connected with. Before class started i've prepared a few vitrines with all elements. Yes, even Uranium. The material you need is written on the blackboard, as well as a guide. Get some safety goggles and then the materials. If you want to ask me something, go ahead. Write down, what elements your gene is connected with. Im sure it's going to be very interesting."
The students go to the vitrines and take materials and elements. Mammoth and Gizmo are curious, only Ashley stays cold and bored, since she doesn't have any powers.
"Man... finally something interesting!" Gizmo says excited. Mammoth nods. All three get the materials and bring them to their table. Then they remove everything unnecessary so there is enough place for the material. A few minutes pass by. Then they place an Erlenmeyer flask on the table. To find out what elements they have, they use a drop of their own blood.
"Pretty macabre." Ashley comments.
"Kinda. But it's not like we have to amputate something." Mammoth says.
"True." says Ashley
"So, who likes to start?" asks Gizmo
"Me." says Ashley cold
A few minutes passes by. All of them are concentrated and write down what they see. Brother Blood starts talking.
"Now that you prepared every elements, you just need one last thing. Take a little bit of Brom from the vitrine and fill it in your Erlenmeyer flask. After that the elements will form into a little lump. Then you can decipher them with the Xenothium which is already in the flask. Ashley, can you please come over here, i have to talk with you." he says. Ashley walks to Brother Blood.
"Mammoth?"
"Hm?"
"Don't you think we should let her do the final step for the experiment. She doesn't have any powers after all, and she also doesn't seem to be happy right now. And you know that she loves chemistry."
"That's true. Yeah, okay." Mammoth says. While Mammoth writes something down on his sheet of paper, Gizmo gets the last element they need. Ashley and Gizmo come back at the same time.
"Hey. We decided that you should fill the Brom into the flask. Mammoth should normally do that, but you always loved to make the final step in experiments, just to see what happens."
Ashley smiles a little bit.
"Ah, well. If you say so." she says and smiles.
Ashley takes the bottle and moves it slowly to the Erlenmeyer flask. Then she empties the bottle, but interestingly, there is nothing liquid coming out of the bottle, and Brom is liquid. Instead, a red gas comes out of the bottle.
"Hm.. there is something wrong. Is that really Brom, Gizmo?" Ashley wonders.
"Erm..."
Ashley turns the bottle around and searches for a name. Mammoth notices that there is a lump, but somehow it moves and gets bigger.
"Guys..." Mammoth says worried. Gizmo takes three steps back from the flask. Ashley turns her head around and notices that the lump is getting on fire.
"What the... wait... this isn't Brom..." she realizes. She turns the bottle around and finally finds a element name: Neon.
"Wait?! THAT'S NEON?! GET AWAY FROM TH...!?" she screams. Suddenly, the Erlenmeyer flask explodes, causing the fire alarm to go on. Smoke rises up in the room and the students panic. Mammoth flies into the table behind him because of the explosion, Gizmo get's a splinter at his shoulder. Brother Blood takes cover as the explosion happens. A female scream is to hear. The table of Ashley, Gizmo and Mammoth is completly destroyed, and when the smoke vanishes, Ashley lies on the ground, with several splinters in her entire body. Her face and parts of her body were burned away, and blood is everywhere. Everyone in the room feels the pain when Ashley screams. Brother Blood sees her heavily wounded student and calls the medics. Then he goes to Ashley. After a minute, a team of medics arrives and take the bleeding Ashley with them. Brother Blood goes with them and leaves the room with the medics. You can still hear her screams. Almost every student in the class is shocked...
Fifteen Minutes later...
Gizmo and Mammoth are still shocked and don't speak a single word. They're in the big hall but just stare on the ground guilty. Two HIVE soldiers approach and speak with them.
"Are you Gizmo and Mammoth?" one of the soldiers ask.
"Y...yes."
"Follow us."
Both students follow the soldiers. The soldiers walk up the stairs. Gizmo and Mammoth realize that they go to the office of Brother Blood, who is already staring at them from the window in his room. Brother Blood looks cold. When they arrive, the guards open the doors. Brother Blood sits on his chair and looks at them. They're afraid, but eventually walk into his office.
"Sit down." he says.
Gizmo and Mammoth take a seat.
"How... do... i... start..."
Gizmo and Mammoth look at the table and try not to get any eye contact with Brother Blood.
"Who of you made that giant mistake?"
No answer.
"Wasn't the task clear enough? Did someone thought that was funny?"
Still, no answer.
"Who. Was. It?"
It's absolutely quiet in the room. After a few seconds, Gizmo raises his hand without saying a word. Brother Blood shakes his head while looking at Gizmo.
"I have to admit... while the accident destroyed a good part of the room, i can't say it is really horrible what happened. Seems like Ashley wasn't lucky... or was she?" he says. Gizmo and Mammoth are confused.
"Not horrible?! Are you joking?! I've killed her! I never heard ANYTHING of her after that!" Gizmo says guilty.
"She isn't dead."
"She... is not?" Gizmo asks.
"No." Brother Blood answers. He stands up, walks to the big table with the holographic projector and presses a button. Suddenly, in the middle of the table a hologram appears. Then Brother Blood presses a few other buttons Gizmo and Mammoth can't see. A projection of a tank with a female person is visible. It seems to be Ashley, but her wounds almost vanished.
"What is this?" Mammoth asks.
"This is a part of the experimental area. Ashley was going to die if we wouldn't brought her into the tank. The tank contains several regenerating liquids. We found out that she was contained with Neon, but interestingly, the Neon didn't killed her when we put her into the tank. It even helped regenerating her wounds, hence why we've put in Neon into the tank. This is also why the liquids in the tank are violet, and i think we know why."
"What's happening in there?" Gizmo asks and takes a closer look at the projection.
"Oh, don't worry. She is going to be the same girl she always was... at least if we talk about the character."
"Wait, what?" Mammoth asks and looks at Brother Blood confused. Gizmo looks at the tank and sees how Ashley sometimes move her hand a tiny bit."
"You can visit her in two weeks at the hospital station. You get your punishment later. Dismissed." Brother Blood says and deactivates the projection. Two soldiers walk into the room. They bring the students out of the room.
"Wait. What did he meant with "the character?" Mammoth asks.
"I don't know. I just hope she's okay." Gizmo says to him. Both of them walk down the stairs.
"Stay cool, man... we can't do anything but wait till the two weeks are over..." Mammoth says to him. Gizmo sighs.
The next weeks passes by very calm, and nothing happens in the Arboretum. The halls of the Arboretum they live in still get terrorized by Skully and his group...
Two weeks later...
After class, Gizmo and Mammoth walk to the hospital station. When they arrive they see a few HIVE soldiers guarding the hospital.
"What brings you to the hospital station, students?"
"Brother Blood told us we could visit one of our students and friends today."
"Ah, you mean the one from the experimental area. Brother Blood told us you would come. Gizmo and Mammoth, right?"
Both nod.
"Room 4. Please don't make any loud noises, there are a few other students who want to sleep."
Gizmo and Mammoth walk through the halls of the hospital station and arrive at Room 4.
Room 4 looks like a normal patient room. Bed, mirror, a little room with toilet, shower and sink, a table and two stairs, a TV and a shelf with a few books and a window with a projected, blue river on the other side.
Suddenly, Ashley wakes up and breathes really fast. She calms down fast and looks around.
"Where... where am i? Am i dead? Mom? Dad?" she thinks. She tries to stand up, but everything hurts, and so she decides to lay down again.
"What is this room?"
The room is quiet. It's like she is in a picture and can't move. She slowly turns her around to the side where she can see a mirror and the door. Headaches. She tries to look in the mirror but fail because the mirror is too high. Suddenly, the sink in the other room opens.
"What was that?"
The door opens slowly. Gizmo takes a look and sees Ashley. Gizmo and Mammoth walks into the room and are shocked when they see Ashley.
"Gizmo? Mammoth? Where am i and what happened?" she asks confused.
"W... what the hell happened to you!?" Gizmo asks shocked.
"What do you mean? Am i dreaming or is it really over? Is this a hospital?"
"Yeah... you live, but you... erm, you look pretty weird." Mammoth answers.
"Oh really? I was hit by an explosion, what do you think?" she asks sarcastic.
"That's not what i meant. You don't have any wounds, as if nothing happened. But... you just look different."
"What?"
"Well... you... Mammoth, get the mirror. Your eyes... your hair, even your damn skin... as if you are someone completely else."
Mammoth takes the mirror from the wall and shows him to Ashley. She takes a look into the mirror, and is afraid. The eyes are pink and cat like, the skin is completely pale and the black hair turned pink. She doesn't know what to say. She just looks into her own eyes.
"Man... this is heavy stuff." Mammoth says. Ashley gets angry and looks away. Suddenly, the mirror breaks and a few little violet particle rise up.
"What the hell?! How did that happen?!" Gizmo asks.
Brother Blood walks into the room.
"Neon-Xenothiumparticles, Gizmo."
"Neon-Xenothium?"
Brother Blood takes a seat at the table.
"Could you let us alone for two or three minutes. I have to talk with her. Privatly. You can talk with her when im done."
Gizmo and Mammoth leave the room. Ashley watches Brother Blood with a suspecting look.
"So... it happened something very... fascinating, as you might saw."
"Fascinating?!"
"Two weeks ago, Gizmo used the wrong ingredient to finish our experiment. And you've got almost killed by the explosion. Interestingly, the elements you've used - Magnesium, Gallium, clean and unstable Xenothium and Neon - causes a reaction in your body when we put you into a tank with several liquids. You would be dead if we wouldn't used you as a test subject.
"A testsubject?"
"Yes. That was the only way to save you. We've built that very tank in the experimental area. It should normally be used to regenerate wounds of HIVE soldiers while hoping they would get stronger. But since we only had you, we've put you into that tank. It was more complicated than we thought. Your body didn't react at first with the liquids. This is why we've put Neon into the tank. Surprisingly the tanks liquids turned violet. Both of your friends saw you in that tank."
"But why am i pale? What happened to me?!"
*sigh* "Unfortunately, these are side effects. We examined what happened. You changed physically."
"What do you mean?"
"Besides the obvious changes like your pale skin, the major changes occured in your body. Your bones got stronger, flexible, especially in the legs and your arms."
"So what does that mean?"
"That means you can hit harder in a fist fight, or run faster and you are more athletic than ever. But that's not everything. A few parts in your body changed. For example, your lungs work better. But also things like not being able to get kids anymore..."
Ashley sighs.
"But there is something very interesting. We've found several Neon particle inside your body which were connected with other elements. It seems like a gene mutated. While you slept the things in the room sometimes broke. We were curious and watched that, so we've put a few little items like a pen at the table. Every time you moved your hands or your head, one of the items broke. It seems like you mutated a gene which gives you the ability to manipulate chances of possible events in your near. We call that "Probability Manipulation." Or, to make it simple, if you want to destroy or change something, just think of what you want to do with that very item. Or person."
"I... can manipulate what i want just with my mind?"
"Kind of. Let's pretend i want to throw a coin into the air. Head is luck, number is bad luck. Every normal person would think, that's a fifty fity chance. You dont. If you want Head, think of it, and you get head. You are the one who decides what happens next. And there is even more. This night you broke the table because you moved your hand too fast. There was a violet... lightning, which came out of your hand and destroyed it."
"Oof..."
"Don't worry. You'll get used to it. We all did when we got our powers. Normally we don't let students walk into the gym outside of class, but i've told the soldiers to let you in. They know who you are, so if you want to practice, visit the gym."
Brother Blood walks to the door.
"Oh, one last thing. I've heard that your class mate Skully almost killed one of my students. I've already sentenced him to work in the kitchen, but it looks like he doesn't like to do that. I know you two don't like each other. If he should ever annoys you... the guards won't attack you. I would be very thankful if you would try your powers on him. Have a nice day and get well soon..."
"Luck... and bad luck... luck... and bad luck..." she whispers to herself...
