A/N: My newest beta reader is helping me with this story. She's making sure that I stay true to Shimmer's powers. Also, on Shimmer's costume, the spiked collar and wristbands are like those that dogs wear to make them look tough. I don't own Teen Titans; bummer. Oh well. Enjoy!
Return of the H.I.V.E
In the city of Paris, all was silent. The silhouette of a mysterious figure seemed to be the only thing that existed in the abandoned streets. This person crept through the darkness of night with the moon and stars above as the only source of light. With the moonlight cast down upon the city, the silhouette appeared to be that of a young woman. The individual came to a large building surrounded by guards. However, the stranger didn't perceive the guards as a threat. The sound of her footsteps alerted the guards to her presence. They held their ground and raised their rifles ready to fire.
"Halt! Who goes there?" the leading guard questioned. The figure smirked.
"None of your business," the mysterious woman replied.
The stranger raised her hand as a pink light surrounded it. Within minutes, the iron door melted into water. As the water melted around the guards' feet, it turned back into iron. The guards struggled to move as the figure walked right passed them. They did their best to fire at her, but the stranger caused the rifles to dissolve into water as well. Inside the building, she dismembered all of the security systems until she came to a door where four guards stood ready to fight. This room was the most important to protect. In this room, a significant battle had taken place. With the light from the ceiling lights above, the guards could see her as clear as day. This woman looked about nineteen years old, with short red hair, ocean blue eyes with heavy black mascara, and black lipstick. Her outfit consisted of black fish-net that covered her arms and neck; from the chest down she was in a black leotard. On her neck and wrists were black leather bands with slicks. She also wore black calf-length high-heeled boots.
As the guards fired, she evaded every bullet and knocked the rifles out of their hands. Once the guards were out cold, she burned through the lock and opened the door. She walked into the room with a serious look on her face. Along the walls were literally hundreds of super villains –each one frozen. She examined each one and scoffed at how the villains could have ever called themselves villains at all. Then she came to one criminal and leapt onto the platform. The villain was large and muscular. This was Mammoth, one of the H.I.V.E students.
She scoffed, "I always did have to get you out of trouble, didn't I?" She melted the ice into water. The villain fell on his knees the minute he was free and gasped for breath. He looked up at the person who had freed him, and stared with disbelief.
"Sh… Sh… Shimmer?!" the enormous teenager exclaimed. Shimmer smirked.
"Hey, big bro. Miss me?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow.
The large villain got to his feet and hugged her. However, his hug wasn't bone-crushing like it was meant for an enemy; his hug was gentle.
"I… I thought I would never see you again," he spoke in his usual gruff tone.
"Well, once I heard what had happened to you, I knew I couldn't just leave you," Shimmer replied.
Mammoth hugged her again, this time a little tighter. "I've missed you, Selinda," he whispered.
"I've missed you too, Baran," she answered.
"So, why are you here?" asked Mammoth.
"I came to free you, you big goof-ball," Shimmer smirked as she playfully punched his arm. "I also wanted to get my hands on those Teen Titans," she growled with hate. "If almost every villain in the world couldn't stop them, then I guess it's up to me." She looked around her and saw See-More, Billy Numerous, Gizmo, and all the other H.I.V.E students, but noticed that two were missing. "What happened to Jinx and Bumble Bee?" she asked. Her brother frowned with a grave look on his face.
"Bumble Bee turned out to be a spy, and Jinx betrayed us. They're with the Titans now," he told her. Shimmer snarled.
"Those little traitors," she fumed. She looked ready to strangle the ex-villains.
Shimmer had once been a student at H.I.V.E Academy. She had been on Jinx, Gizmo, and Mammoth's team. Shimmer had been an excellent student, but dropped out because she felt that the H.I.V.E was holding her back. So she left Jinx and Gizmo in charge of watching over her brother, and struck out on her own. Now she wanted revenge on the Titans, and her former teammate/classmate.
"Hey, Shimmer! I've got an idea," Mammoth exclaimed.
"What is it?" she asked. She knew her brother wasn't very bright, but she would at least listen to whatever he had to say.
"Why don't we free the rest of the H.I.V.E so we can take down those wimpy Titans, Bumble Bee, and that no-good-for-nothing traitor?" he asked as he punched his fist with an evil grin on his face upon mentioning the traitor.
Shimmer looked extremely impressed. "That's a great idea, Mammoth," she said kindly. "But we have to hurry. I don't know when those guards are going to be coming back with reinforcements." Mammoth nodded and within minutes, the other H.I.V.E students were free.
Once Gizmo was free, he stared at Shimmer like he had just seen a ghost. "Shimmer?! What the crud are you doing here?"
"Saving your butts, now come on!" Shimmer exclaimed and within minutes, the H.I.V.E students were all out of the building.
They found a safe place to hide in a dark alley. The others were anxious to know what Shimmer had planned. With Brother Blood gone, she proclaimed herself the new leader.
"Alright, Shimmer," snapped Gizmo. "What's the big idea of showing up all of a sudden? And who made you leader anyway?" Mammoth hovered over him with a fist in his palm.
"I did," he said in a grave voice. Gizmo said nothing.
Shimmer cleared her throat. Everyone became silent as she spoke. Her face became full of anger. "As you all know, Jinx and Bumble Bee have betrayed us to the Titans. And the Titans…"
"Yeah, and it's that goody-two-shoes Kid Flash's fault!" exclaimed Gizmo. Nobody saw See-More's saddened expression. Shimmer shut her eyes and scowled as she shoved Gizmo, who was next to her, to the ground. She hated being interrupted.
"As I was saying," she continued. "Jinx and Bumble Bee have betrayed us, and the Titans are the ones responsible for freezing all of you. I have revived you all for one purpose: to help me teach the traitors a lesson. I say we make them pay! We'll show Jinx and Bumble Bee what happens when you turn your back on the H.I.V.E!" The others cheered. See-More said nothing.
To be continued…
Special thanks to Tech-Man, Comixfan1224 and Green Gallant for beta reading it. Also, special thanks to Comixfan1224 for helping me understand Shimmer's powers.
