32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"A Slippery Slope"
Chapter One
HIVE Tower: Main Room
Krystal sighed as she stared out the window. It was winter…not that you'd be able to tell. In Jump City, it rarely ever snowed. Snow…how she would have LOVED to see snow right now. Day in, day out, one of three kinds of weather all the time. Sunny, cloudy, or rain. Frankly she was sick of it. In fact, Krystal was sick of a lot of things. She was bored, tried of training, and sick of the same stupid city all the time. A girl needs a change of pace now and then! Finally she could take no more. Smacking her palm against the glass, she stood up and strode out of the room with purpose. She passed by Mammoth, making her pause. If she was to get something…it helped to have back up. In her usual style, she ran up behind him and leapt onto his back.
Krystal: HI!
Reasonably startled, Mammoth grabbed her and pulled her off. Dangling in his grasp, she smiled widely and waved. The gesture was answered with a scowl.
Mammoth: What do you want?
Krystal: Money, power, and mountains of caramel filled chocolate bites, but we can't always get what we want, eh?
Since her smile rarely disappeared, it was difficult to tell whether or not Krystal was joking. In fact, it could be argued that she was the best liar on the team because no matter what she said, she smiled (unless it was REALLY serious). Mammoth had to study her eyes to make sure she wasn't being serious. Krystal had been known to say disturbing things and mean them with all sincerity. In any case, he finally decided that she was joking.
Mammoth: Seriously, what do you want?
Krystal: Put me down?
Sighing, Mammoth placed her feet back on the floor. She dusted herself off and grinned up at him again.
Krystal: Okay, my tall hairy amigo…I need your help convincing Jinx something.
Mammoth: Oh god, what now? She said we're not getting a spider monkey four times already.
Pouting, Krystal kicked the floor. Yeah, that was a shame. Krystal really wanted a pet monkey. She'd love him, and pet him, and call him Horatio because George was too common. Shrugging it off, she smiled again.
Krystal: Nah! This time I want to go on vacation! Somewhere where there's snow. I mean, when was the last time we did…snow related things?
Mammoth: Uh…
Krystal: Exactly my point! So let's go get this problem rectified.
Mammoth stared at her for a moment.
Mammoth: …you want to change the weather?
Krystal: Heh…well, isn't that just…NO!
Blinking, Mammoth wiggled a finger in his ear, hoping the ringing in it would go away. Krystal leaned back and sighed.
Krystal: I want to go on vacation! Somewhere snowy…with mountains, and ski slopes, and…and…and…snow! Yeah!
Mammoth shook his head. If she thought they were going on vacation, Krystal was SADLY mistaken. A thought occurred to him.
Mammoth: I thought you hated the cold.
Krystal: I do.
Mammoth: …but you want to go into the snow…which is cold?
Krystal: Yep.
The girl was a walking headache. She waved her hand dismissively.
Krystal: I've got coats and stuff! I'll be fine! Just go with me on this.
Mammoth: You know what Jinx will say.
Jinx's Room
Jinx leaned against her door frame, staring at the pair with a dull look on her face.
Jinx: (slowly) Absolutely…not.
Jumping up and down, Krystal pointed at Jinx. Her friends wondered if she was having a fit or something. Finally she spoke.
Krystal: You said "yes" first!
Jinx: What? I did not!
Krystal: Yes huh! You said "absolutely"!
Jinx: And then I said "not"! It's a single phrase!
Krystal: No, it took too long in between! It was a single worded answer to my question.
Jinx: No it…wait. I'm not having this argument.
Krystal: Yes you are.
Jinx: No, I'm…STOP IT!
Giggling at her own antics, Krystal shrugged.
Krystal: Fine, fine. So I'll just go pack then?
Jinx: Right you…damn it, Krystal!
Mammoth: We COULD use a vacation, Jinx.
Jinx snorted and crossed her arms. She couldn't believe she was even being asked such a ridiculous request.
Jinx: Oh, sure. Let's just leave town while the Titans are still loose. That way when we come back, we can find the whole city on fire.
Red X: …we could call for a temp team.
Everyone jumped. Nobody heard Red X walking down the hallway, stealthy thing that she is. Krystal pumped her fist.
Krystal: HA! Now you've got no argument, Jinx!
Jinx: (ignoring Krystal) And who would we have on this "temp team"?
Red X: Well…Psimon…uh...Billy Numerous…
Krystal: Whose a team in himself…
Red X: Kid Wycked…and there's that Rorek wizard we saved from Raven when she tried to drain his powers.
Jinx: He's made of paper!
Red X: He's a wizard. He can handle being made of paper. Atlas can be the strong arm…
Jinx: Atlas?!
Red X shrugged. Atlas was a robot that was designed by STAR labs to retrieve Cyborg. Unfortunately, Cyborg overpowered it, despite being designed to be superior in strength and weaponry. It turns out that its weapons had to be manually switched, while Cyborg's body simply shifted or compartments opened. Whoever built him was stupid…seriously. Anyway, they reprogrammed him out of boredom and set him out to destroy things. The HIVE defeated him and tossed him into the basement with the rest of the evidence.
Jinx: Atlas is JUNK!
Red X: Gizmo fixed him. He just never turned him back on.
Jinx: …why…did…he…do that?
Red X: Boredom I think.
Krystal danced around Jinx, talking in a sing-song voice.
Krystal: You're losing the argument. You're losing the argument. Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah…
Suddenly Krystal tripped and fell over. This could have to do with her wild dancing…or because Jinx had stuck her foot out. One of the two. Pouting, she looked up at Jinx, her lower lip sticking out.
Krystal: Jinx…that was mean. I'm gonna tell Blackie and she'll give you a Tamaranian noogie.
Jinx: What's a Tamaranian noogie?
Krystal whispered into Jinx's ear. The sorceress's eyes widened and she looked at Krystal in disgust and disbelief.
Jinx: How is that even considered a NOOGIE?!
Red X: Jester…
Jinx shook her head.
Jinx: No. No way. She's crazy.
Krystal: …so am I.
Jinx: Krystal, you are not crazy. You're hyperactive.
Jester was just as she sounded…a jester (for those who guessed it, yes, she's basically Joker's Daughter…which is a stupid name). The strangest non-superpowered person the HIVE team knew, she wore a clown mask over her face rather then paint it. Made of thick reinforced material and held on with straps like a hockey mask (also reinforced), it was rather typical of a clown. Bright red nose, red lips, rosy pink cheeks and tiny black triangles on the top and bottom of each eye. However, she carried three of them at all times. One was smiling, one was frowning, and the other was crying. She wore the cap, but no bells. If she wore bells, that would give her away when she was sneaking around, something she did a lot of. Unlike most clowns, however, her costume was black and gray for stealth…which really didn't make much sense given the colors on her masks. The extra ones dangled from her belt. Said belt held a lot of her gadgets, all of which were disguised as props (man that's so unoriginal). She punished ALL crimes, though jaywalkers and people who park illegally usually just got bopped on the head with her staff and scolded. Sometimes she stepped on their toes too. Nobody was sure WHY she did what she did. In fact, few people understood anything about Jester at all. She was capable…just…scary.
Red X: And I think I can get Knife-play here.
Krystal: Knife-play? I thought you hated him.
Clearing her throat, Red X put her arms behind her head.
Red X: I wouldn't say "HATE". Maybe…"dislike"...
Mammoth: Him and Jester would get along like a house on fire.
They stared at Mammoth for a second.
Mammoth: What?
Jinx: "Like a house on fire"?
Mammoth: I saw it in a movie.
Krystal: That's seven! We're totally covered for a quick vacation.
Jinx: Grr…no. No, no, no, no, no! I'm the leader here and I say we are NOT going on vacation!
The others looked at each other for a moment. Krystal grinned in what could only be described as a put on show of innocence. It made Jinx nervous.
Krystal: We'll be right back.
Main Room: One Scuffle Later
Jinx growled from her spot on the couch, bound up and a gag in her mouth. The girl was far too stressed out. If she didn't relax, she was bound to snap. That decided, the team jumped her and bound her up tight. Her eyes were current boring holes into Sonic's head. He gulped. Her expression suggested that she'd rather be using a power drill right now.
Sonic: Guys, maybe this is a bad idea. I mean…well…
Blackfire held up some rope. Gizmo smirked.
Gizmo: We gotta tie you up too?
Sonic: …Jinx, this is for your own good. You'll thank us later.
Jinx made some muffled noises. Krystal patted her on the head.
Krystal: She's so cute when she wants to rip out our insides.
With a muffled sigh, Jinx hung her head. She gave up. There was no way around it, they had her and she wasn't getting away. …at least that's what she wanted them to think. She dug around between the couch cushions, hoping to find something sharp enough the cut through the ropes. Gizmo pulled out his communicator and started dialing.
Psimon: Yes?
Gizmo: Hey, Psimon. You mind…
Psimon: No, I don't. I'll be right there.
The communicator hung up. Gizmo stared at it before scowling.
Gizmo: I hate mind readers…
He kept dialing up more people. Jinx finally found something in the cushions. A metal nail file…perfect. She started working on the ropes when it was snatched from her.
Blackfire: Hey, I was looking for this. Thanks, Jinx.
…now it was hopeless.
Gizmo: Wait, we didn't give Knife-play a communicator.
Red X: Doesn't matter. I know his cell number.
Mammoth: …how?
Red X paused.
Red X: …I felt it was prudent at the time to get it. Just shut up.
Gizmo: Heh…Red X has a boyfriend. Red X has a boyfri…
A solid punch to the top of his bald head made Gizmo's taunting stop. Red X growled and rubbed her hand. She turned to the others.
Red X: Anyone else have a wise ass comment to make?
Everyone shook their heads. Sighing, Red X dialed the number on her communicator.
Knife-play: Moshi-moshi.
Red X: What?
Knife-play: It's how you answer the phone in Japan.
Red X: Uh huh…are you busy?
Knife-play: Uh…is open heart surgery "busy"?
Sighing, Red X shook her head.
Red X: You're not doing open heart surgery.
Knife-play: No, but I'm watching it on TV. So what's up, Red? You finally taking me up on that movie offer?
Red X: NO! I need a favor.
Knife-play: You want a favor and you won't even go to a movie with me? I'm inclined to refuse…
Krystal stuck out her lip and whined softly. Red X clenched her fists and shook with rage.
Red X: D…do this favor and I'll…I'll…go with you.
Knife-play: You got yourself a deal, babe.
Red X: Call me "babe" again and you'll be taking in nutrients with a tube in your arm.
Knife-play: Okay, okay. No need to show me your wrath…of which Hell can't compare to upon scorning…
Red X: Just get your ass over here, Knife-play! Damn it…
Knife-play: Sure.
Red X clamped the communicator shut.
Red X: It's done. Once they get here we can leave. Better start pa…
Krystal: DONE!
Krystal had a suitcase next to her, obviously full to bursting. She was dressed in a pink parka and white mittens. Bundled up as she was, it was making her friends sweat just looking at her.
Krystal: What are you all staring at?! GET YOUR STUFF! GO, GO, GO!
Everybody ran off, panicking. Jinx made muffled noises from the couch. Krystal leaned over the edge and poked her head.
Krystal: What's that, Jinx? You want help packing since you're all tied up? No problemo! I'll pack for you!
Why did Jinx suddenly have the feeling she'd be wearing mismatched clothes for the next few days?
Tower Hanger
The H-ship was just about packed. The replacement team was there to send them off. Unfortunately, Atlas broke down after being restarted, so they had to call in somebody else. Her name was Double. Normally a quiet, mousy, and conservative girl, she transformed into a super strong bombshell at will. Unfortunately, the bombshell had a different personality all together. Loud, abrasive, and seductive, she was everything her normal self was not. Her normal self wore glasses and a big sweater. Her pants were baggy as well. It served to make her appear to have NO figure at all. Whether or not that was true, nobody could say. It probably was. Standing there quietly, she seemed to try to blend into her background. They had finally untied Jinx and she had decided to just go along with it, lest she be bound again. Jester danced around the room, her smiling mask on her face.
Jester: Dare me! Alone in this dreadful tower with all these boys! Whatever am I to do?
Double: (softly) But…but I'm a…
The boys looked at each other. Double simply trailed off, noticing that nobody was listening anyway.
Rorek: My lady, if I may, you truly needn't worry about that.
Jester paused in her dance and switched to her frown mask. She moved like lightning, allowing only a very brief glimpse at the skin underneath her mask. To their surprise, the girl seemed to be African American. Somehow, they figured the crazy clown girl would be white. After all, aren't most lunatics actually white? Dahmer, Bundy, Gacey, Gein…all of them white (hope I didn't misspell their names). I think it's our constant strain to be politically correct that drives us mad. Already I'm worried I'm going to offend somebody…which in itself may be offensive. MAKE IT STOP! …sorry. Anyway, she stormed over to the paper wizard.
Jester: What's that supposed to mean, paper boy? Are you saying I'm not enticing? Look at this costume! Skin. Tight.
Rorek: Well…I…
He turned to the others.
Rorek: (whisper) Help me…
Jinx sighed.
Jinx: This is a good sign…
Krystal: Shuddap and get in!
Mammoth: Uh…where are we going?
Gizmo: A couple of cabins in Vermont.
Mammoth: …oh.
They took off, leaving the new team behind. Jester switched masks to her crying one.
Jester: Bye! Don't forget to write!
Billy: Psst. Billy. That there girl is nuttier then a fruit cake.
Billy: I hear you, Billy. She's plum crazy.
Knife-play: …Billy, it helps if you actually WHISPER that part.
Psimon groaned and massaged his brain dome in the vain hope it would do any good. It wouldn't of course. You can't massage glass after all…or whatever his brain dome was made of. He COULD make them think their mouths had sown shut…but that wouldn't be right. Besides, Knife-play would probably try to cut it back open again. As usual Kid Wycked watched in silence. Beyond curious, Psimon decided to read his mind.
Kid Wycked: …
…yeah, that figured. No, wait, that was impossible. Even if he wasn't thinking of anything in particular, there would still be SOME activity in his brain. There should, at the very least, be the stray "I wanna jelly donut" or something to that effect in there somewhere. Maybe he had some sort of ability to block mental scans?
Knife-play: Welp, time to go raid their rooms and find out all their embarrassing secrets.
Rorek: Are you suggesting we…invade the privacy of the ladies of this dwelling?!
Knife-play looked the wizard over for a while. Made nervous by the sudden scrutiny, Rorek cleared his throat.
Rorek: What are you doing?
Knife-play: Trying to figure out what gender you are.
Rorek: WHAT?! Are you mad or just blind?
Kid Wycked, Billy Numerous, and Jester joined Knife-play in his examination. Double didn't bother, too nervous to approach the others. Psimon already knew what gender the wizard was. Only an idiot would doubt it…then again…no. No, he wasn't going to entertain such thoughts. Jester poked Rorek a few times.
Jester: Hmm…I don't feel anything…
Billy: That don't mean nothing.
Billy: She might just be flat-chested.
Rorek: I'm not a woman! How can you even believe that?
Knife-play: The eyes.
Rorek: What about my eyes?
Knife-play: Those are soooo chick eyes.
The others nodded in agreement. Jester reached into her belt and pulled out a playing card.
Knife-play: …razor edged?
Jester: How'ja know?
Knife-play: You are such a copy cat.
Jester: You are such a copy cat.
Knife-play scowled at her from under his mask. Jester stared back in the exact same pose.
Billy: Would ya'll get on with whatever ya'll was going to do?
Jester: …fine, fine. Hold still. I'm going to cut through the paper and check.
Rorek jumped back.
Rorek: The paper IS my skin!
Jester: Ooooh…I thought you were wearing a paper suit. Oh well. Live and learn.
Of course she didn't REALLY believe that. Unbeknownst to most of her temporary housemates, she was actually a genius. Her I.Q. was far ahead of the average teenager. However, she was a firm believer in the saying "the fool who knows himself no fool has an advantage over the fool who believes him one"…or in this case "her". Besides, the term "fool" just fit so well with her costume. She slipped the card back.
Jester: Anyhoo…I'm with the knife guy. Let's go poke around like we've never poked before! To the poke mobile, old chum! VROOOM!
Jester ran off, holding her staff like a steering wheel and making car noises. They watched her go, confused. Kid Wycked put his finger next to his head and twirled it around in the universal "coo-coo" sign.
Psimon: …I completely agree.
Billy: Well, I'm going to fetch me some grub.
Billy: Heh! Wait for me, Billy!
After the Billys left, the remaining team members looked at each other.
Rorek: Do you think he'll be doing that the entire time?
Knife-play: I hope not. I'll gut one of them, I swear I will.
Knife-play turned to Double and looked her over. She blushed and looked away.
Knife-play: Are you sure you're a superhero? Not…I dunno…an intern?
Double: I…yes, I'm…it's just…I don't like to show off my power. It makes me act…unwholesome.
Knife-play: Is that anything like whole wheat?
Psimon: She means unethical.
Knife-play: I see…so…what do you do?
Double mumbled something, nervously wringing her hands. Knife-play put a hand to his ear. Kid Wycked scowled and pulled his hand away from Knife-play's grasp.
Knife-play: Speak up.
Double: I transform into…a…well, I turn into a…I become super human. Strength, speed, invulnerability, everything.
Knife-play: Faster then a speeding bullet?
Double: Well, I don't…
Knife-play: More powerful then a locomotive?
Double: I've never tried to…
Knife-play: Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound?
Double: Yes, I can do that one.
Psimon groaned.
Psimon: Are you going anywhere with this?
Knife-play: Read my mind and find out.
Psimon was frustrated further when he realized he COULDN'T read Knife-play's mind. Oh, he heard thoughts…but they were moving so fast he couldn't wrap his mind around what they were about before the next topic sprang up. Knife-play turned back to Double.
Knife-play: Anyway, I'm sure we'll get to see what you can do at some point. It's imperative that we train before we do much else. We need to properly figure out how best to mesh our skills together.
Double nodded, as did Kid Wycked. Psimon sighed.
Psimon: I suppose that would be wise.
Knife-play: Groovy. Now…TO GIZMO'S ROOM! There are thingies to mess with!
Psimon and Kid Wycked tried to stop him from getting there and blowing up the tower.
END PART ONE