32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"A Slippery Slope"
Chapter Three
Ski Lodge: Following Morning
Krystal slumped on Mammoth, falling asleep again. He shook her awake, causing her to snap her head up and look around. Blackfire frowned.
Blackfire: What's with you? I've never seen you so subdued…
Krystal: Huh? Uh…I dunno…too much starch…
Jinx winced. It would seem that her plan had a serious flaw. Krystal seemed to be having trouble snapping out of the medicine's affects. Sonic took off his glove and put his hand on her forehead.
Sonic: Doesn't feel warm…you feeling alright, kiddo?
Krystal: Nngh…I dunno…kind of sleepy…
Sighing, Blackfire laid her girlfriend on the nearest couch.
Blackfire: Get some sleep, baby. Hopefully you'll be up and about before we're ready to go home.
Krystal: Thanks…
Blackfire picked up Gizmo and put him next to her.
Blackfire: Watch her. You didn't want to ski anyway and you know it.
Gizmo: Yeah, but I don't want to sit here and watch her sleep either.
Blackfire: Gizmo…I'm asking nicely here.
Sighing, Gizmo nodded and sat down on the chair next to Krystal who had already passed out. Jinx bit her lip, not sure if she should say anything. Blackfire was fairly even tempered until Krystal was put at risk. If she found that Jinx had given Krystal a dosage of medication, without knowing what affect it would have on her alien body…oooh, she'd be in trouble. It wasn't her fault, though! Jinx was trying to sleep!
Red X: We'll meet back here in two hours, give or take. If somebody doesn't show in three, the rest go looking. Hang on to your communicators so we can track the signals, okay?
Mammoth: Uh…I kinda need lessons.
Sonic: I don't ski, I shred, baby!
Sonic held up his snowboard, grinning. Jinx rolled her eyes.
Jinx: You've never snowboarded in your life.
Sonic: Pfft. I have too.
Gizmo: Arcade games don't count, genius.
Sonic: I'll prove it! You'll see. I'll see you on the slopes, SUCKAS!
Sonic ran off with his snowboard. Jinx shook her head and leaned over to one of the medics.
Jinx: You might want to watch that one.
HIVE Tower: Training Room
Double bit her finger, nervously. It had started innocently enough. She had attempted to start a conversation with Jester during breakfast. She had half heartedly mentioned that it was amazing how many rooms the tower had. Despite the extra seven now living in the tower, they still didn't need to use any of the other rooms. In fact, they STILL had some guest rooms left. Suddenly Jester wheeled on her, switching to her angry mask and screamed how she hated being talked at that early in the morning. She demanded that Double spar with her in order to relieve her sudden stress. When the boys heard…well, let's say that a few of them were less then tactful. Billy mentioned something about girls "wraslin'" Knife-play basically just hooted and hollered. Kid Wycked pumped his fist in victory. The only two who showed restrained were Psimon and Rorek…not that they didn't watch as well. Double shifted around as Jester twirled her staff, her frown mask still on.
Jester: Are you ready to get a whooping, Ms. I-can't-just-shut-up-and-eat?
Double: Pl…please…I beg you…don't do this.
Jester switched to her sad face.
Jester: …oh, I can't do it! I'll tell the truth. I wanted to see what you're capable of when pushed. I dunno, you just seem so…pushover-ish. So…just consider this a sparring match, okay? Nothing serious.
Double chewed on her bottom lip a moment. Finally she nodded and gripped the bottom of her sweater. Everybody stared in shock as she pulled it over her head.
Rorek: What are you doing, Lady Double?!
Double: I…I have to! I don't want to mess up my clothes.
Under her sweater was a small shirt of unknown material. She took off her pants next, revealing a pair of short shorts of the small design. They were green with red rims around it. She pulled her shoes off, revealing that her socks were the same as the rest. Lastly she took off her glasses and placed them on a nearby bench.
Double: I…I may say some things that aren't nice…but it's not my fault. I apologize in advance.
Double's body began growing. She grew from her shrimpy 5 foot 3 to six foot five. Her brown hair went from stringy to full of volume. Basically she went from a tiny mouse to a giant lioness…metaphorically speaking as far as the animal aspect is concerned. She popped her neck and grinned widely. Her voice no longer had that nervous whisper. It was a voice that was full of confidence and matched her new body perfectly.
Double: Much better. Now then, shrimp…any time you're ready.
Jester switched to her happy mask and twirled her staff.
Jester: Okie dokie, Smokey!
Billy: (whisper) She's smoking alright…
Rorek: If that means "attractive" then I must agree…
Double winked at the boys, making them grin stupidly. The change in personality was astonishing. Jester ran forward and leapt up, smacking Double across the face with her staff. Double moved her head with the blow, but only so she wouldn't break the staff. Jester went wild, beating her with it fiercely. Finally Double grabbed her arm.
Double: You're messing up my ha…ACK!
The head of the staff opened its mouth and sprayed gas in her face. Coughing, Double released the girl, falling to one knee. Giggling, Jester began dancing around Double.
Double: (coughing) You…cheating little…
Jester: BLEH! You're just mad 'cause I outsmarted you.
Double staggered to her feet, annoyed and feeling woozy. Seeing this made Jester stop dancing and bite her finger in concern.
Jester: Er…that was knock out gas…which means you should be knocked out…
Double: I'm…not some…little weakling…
Double grabbed Jester by her cap, dangling her. Kicking, the masked girl tried to escape frantically, not liking the look in Double's eyes.
Psimon: Double, calm down.
Double: …say I win. Say it and I'll let you go.
Jester: 'kay. I win.
Double: …don't make me throw you. You'll go very far, trust me. I…
Double pitched forward. Unable to remove the fingers around her cap, Jester remove it instead, revealing very short hair.
Knife-play: Kind of a man-ish hair cut, Jess.
Jester: I LIKE my hair short, thank you. I was thinking of bleaching it pure white so it would go totally against my skin. What do you think?
Billy: I think…you're crazy.
Billy: Heh…heh…good one, Billy.
Knife-play drew a knife and jumped on one of them.
Knife-play: That's it! Enough with that! It's not funny!
Psimon used his mental powers to lift Knife-play off of Billy.
Psimon: I'm afraid he's right, Billy. That's really annoying.
Billy: Tsk. Fine.
The other Billy disappeared and he stood up.
Billy: Got to say, that was plum disappointing.
Rorek: Uh…Lady Jester?
Jester: Wh…ACK!
Double lifted Jester off the ground, breathing hard through her mouth.
Double: My system works foreign substances out real fast, including a weak knockout gas like that. You'd need something much more potent to keep me down for more then a minute.
Jester: EEP! Okay, okay! You win! You totally win!
As soon as Double let her go, Jester ran behind Rorek and hid.
Rorek: What are you…?
Jester: Shh! Don't say anything! Pretend I'm not here and all will be well…
Double popped her neck and cracked her knuckles.
Double: Who's next? I'll take any of you on.
Billy: Yeah?
Billy multiplied over and over until he was an army.
Billys: How about ya'll take on the Great Billy Numerous!
Smiling, Double gestured toward him, inviting him to "bring it on" as they say.
Lodge
Gizmo grumbled, wishing he brought his (insert handheld video game device of choice here). He was oh so very bored. Krystal laid on her back, sleeping with her mouth open, making a sound very similar to a circular saw. Okay, he was both bored and very embarrassed. He was surprised to hear a familiar voice behind him. It was familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. The accent was strange. Almost Jersey…maybe Boston…but a definite hint of something else altogether.
Girl: Hey there, kiddo. Is that yer sister or somethin'? 'cause if it is, would you mind if I jammed my sock into her mouth to get that noise to stop?
Even the girl looked a little familiar, but he couldn't place her. She had curly blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a heavy blue coat with a hat and gloves stuffed into the pockets. She popped her gum in a way that was both obnoxious and yet kind of attractive…if you were into that tomboy sort of thing. Gizmo recovered and scowled. Again with the "kid" remarks…
Gizmo: I'm not a kid, damn it.
Girl: …oh. Oh, damn, I'm sorry. My mistake. Guess the bald head should have clued me. Aw, crap, you're not sensitive about that too are you?
The look Gizmo gave her spoke volumes. Sighing, she sat down next to him.
Girl: I'm really sorry. Sometimes I talk without thinkin'. So…what's yer name?
That was a good question. He had never stopped to ask if they were using their real names or not. The thought just never occurred to him. Since Jinx never mentioned it, it must never have occurred to her either.
Gizmo: Mikron…but my friends call me Gizmo.
The girl's grin was kind of lopsided. Almost a smirk, but the other half of her mouth moved as well, just not as much.
Girl: Mikron? Are you serious?
Mikron: It's Irish…I think.
She shook her head, but apparently was satisfied with his answer. His last name was Irish, so it was safe to assume his first name was as well.
Girl: So…Gizmo, huh? Like that fuzzy little guy from the movie?
Gizmo: No! Because I'm good with tools. So what's your name?
Girl: Pam Roberts. I'm here with my family on a bit of a vaca.
She cracked her gum again, putting her hands behind her head.
Pam: So…how old are you?
Gizmo: Sixteen.
Pam: About my age. …so is that yer sister or not?
Gizmo: Uh…no.
Pam: No? Cousin?
Gizmo: Nah, I'm not related to her.
Pam blew a bubble and smirked after it popped.
Pam: So what, you babysittin'?
Gizmo: She's older then she looks.
Pam: Why she got so many coats on?
Gizmo: She's cold.
Rolling her eyes, Pam reached into her mouth and stretched the gum out, snapping at it with her teeth until it was all back where it belonged (it kind of annoys me when people do that).
Pam: She a lizard or somethin'?
Gizmo: (shrugging) Some people get colder then others.
Pam: Uh huh. …wanna do somethin' fun?
Gizmo: …like…?
Pam: Hell, I dunno. Whatever we fancy doin'.
Gizmo: …"fancy"?
Pam: …did I say "fancy"? That happens sometimes. I say things I don't normally say. Just pops out, you know?
Gizmo: Eh…I don't know…I'm supposed to be watching her.
Pam: C'mon. What could possibly happen? We'll check on her now and then, no sweat.
Gizmo: …ah, you're right. What the hell? She can take care of herself, after all.
Pam: Yeah! Now yer talkin'! Let's go spit from the roof and see if it freezes before it hits the ground.
Gizmo stared at the girl as she ran off. That was the oddest thing he had ever heard. …and yet the concept fascinated him. He followed. Krystal rolled over and fell off the couch, making her bolt upright.
Krystal: Lettuce!
She promptly went back to sleep.
Ski Slopes
Jinx bit her lips as she peered down the slope. It was the beginners run (Mount Wussy was the name on the sign) so it wasn't that steep…but to her it might as well been a straight vertical plunge. Turning her head, she glared at the faint sight of Red X as she went down her slope, which was for more experienced skiers then her…of course that would be anyone who has skied once in their lives…but apparently Red X was rather talented. Sonic had taken Mammoth off to video tape his descent down the mountain to prove that he could snowboard. Blackfire, however, had done the smart thing and signed up for lessons. This, in turn, caused many males to sign up for lessons as well. That annoyed Jinx almost as much as Red X being able to ski so well. Sure, she had a boyfriend, but as long as they aren't pigs about it, a girl does like to know guys are interested. So far, nobody had even given her a second glance. Oh, but Blackfire was getting ALL the attention. Suddenly Blackfire called over to her.
Blackfire: Hey, Jinx! Shouldn't you take a lesson first? I mean, this isn't easy stuff!
Now, normally Jinx was NOT competitive with Blackfire…or anyone else really. In many regards, she had no chance competing with her anyway. She certainly wouldn't win in an arm wrestling match, but she could whip her in chess. This, however, was not a normal situation. Jinx was cold, her nose was running and she had to keep sniffling, her fingers were getting numb in her gloves, her legs were shaking both from the cold and the current place she was in…right now, sensibility was not residing in her head.
Jinx: I think I can manage, Blackfire! I'm a fast learner and this hill is child's play.
Blackfire: But…
Jinx: I said I can handle it!
And with that, Jinx pushed herself off the hill. Blackfire bit her finger.
Blackfire: …but that's the wrong side of the slope…
Jinx: (down the hill) CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!
Sighing, Blackfire took off her skis. Floating upward, she turned back to the crowd that had been around her.
Blackfire: I'll be right back. Don't start the lesson without me.
That said, she went to rescue her friend before she went off a cliff or something.
At a Different Slope
Red X almost fell over as she heard the loud shout from nearby. Didn't people know you could cause an avalanche that way? She turned to the side, forcing herself into a stop. This proved to be a mistake as Sonic sped past her, kicking up snow as he went. She wiped the snow off her goggles.
Red X: Stupid son of a…
Shaking it off, Red X continued down the slope, skidding to a stop at the bottom. Sonic was leaning against a tree, board in hand and that sort of smug look on his face that made you want to hit the owner of said look really hard. Naturally, Red X was tempted to hit him…really hard. He turned to Mammoth, who was standing there with the camera.
Sonic: You get all that, big guy?
Mammoth: …uh…how do you turn this thing on again?
Sonic smacked himself in the forehead.
Sonic: I TOLD you! You press the red button and wait for the menu to come up. Then you switch it over three times until you get to the movie camera icon. Then you press the green button, hold the yellow button and wait until the screen has a green border. When that happens, release the yellow button and it will start filming.
Red X: Let me do it, Sonic. That's MY camera. I know how to use it.
Sonic grinned. That was a good idea, after all. Mammoth handed her the camera.
Lodge: One Hazardous Adventure Later…
Jinx sneezed as she shivered in front of the fire. Her journey down the hill ended when she plowed into a snow bank. Stuck inside, she had to wait until Blackfire figured out where she was. By then her clothes were soaked and she was freezing cold. Even her hat was dripping. Thankfully, it seemed all she had gotten from her misadventure was a cold, something that no doubt had been brewing inside her for a while. The time in the cold only served to slow her immune system temporarily, allowing the virus to take hold. Blackfire raced around the lodge, trying to locate Gizmo to give him a piece of her mind. They had found Krystal on the floor, still asleep and Gizmo nowhere to be found. It was about that time that Mammoth returned. Krystal, still groggy, rubbed her eyes and looked up at him.
Krystal: Weren't you, like…with people?
Mammoth: Uh…yeah…um…Sonic kind of broke his leg or something. Red X went with him to the medical station.
Jinx bolted to her feet, grabbed Mammoth by his coat.
Jinx: (congested) What did you say? How did he break his leg?!
Mammoth: He kind of fell off his snowboard.
Jinx: That IDIOT! I knew he couldn't snowboard! I knew it!
Mammoth: Well…actually…
FLASHBACK: Top of Slope
Sonic stood ready to go down the mountain again, this time with Red X video taping at the bottom. Mammoth was at the top, watching from there. Sonic sighed and adjusted his gloves.
Sonic: Okay…wish me luck, Mammoth.
Mammoth: Good luck, man.
Mammoth slapped his back and…well, you can guess what happened next. Go on. Imagine it.
END FLASHBACK
We rejoin reality as Jinx jumped on Mammoth's back and started choking him with her arms.
Jinx: You pushed Sonic off a mountain?! Are you insane?!
Mammoth: GAAAK!
Which is really all you can say when you're being choked. Blackfire came back, carrying Gizmo by his ear. Being dragged by the ear hurts…being lifted by it hurts twice as much. Pam followed, trying to defend Gizmo's actions.
Pam: C'mon! This is a little on the extreme side, don'tcha think?
Blackfire: No.
Pam: But he was only…nnngh!
She stopped in mid-step and held her head. Gizmo squirmed out of Blackfire's grasp as Pam fell to one knee.
Gizmo: Hey! Hey, Pam, you okay?
Pam: Dammit…I get chronic headaches. God, this one is really bad. Like a hammer poundin' against my brain…
Gizmo: Do you take anything for them?
Nodding, Pam lifted her coat up, revealing a zipped pouch on her hip. Pulling the zipper open, she pulled out a medicine bottle. Her fingers fumbled with the cap as her headache worsen. Gizmo took it from her and opened it. Muttering her thanks, she popped two pills into her mouth and swallowed. Panting, she rubbed her temples for a few minutes. Not sure what else to do, the HIVE stood there, watching to make sure she was okay. Finally she let out a long sigh and stood back up, a sheepish grin on her face.
Pam: Sorry about the scare. Where was I? Oh yeah. He was only tryin' have some fun since you guys dumped him here with a babysittin' job.
Mammoth stared at the girl. There was something distinctly familiar about her. In fact, he could swear she had locked eyes with him the instant her head began to hurt so badly. Then again, maybe it was his imagination. After all, he didn't know anyone named Pam. Blackfire, seeing Pam's distress was over, went back to being angry.
Blackfire: What if something happened to her?! She was alone in a strange place!
Krystal: Or strange in a lonely place…one of the two.
Blackfire: Not now, Krystal.
Gizmo: Oh come on! She can take care of herself! She left tooth marks in the spoons for crying out loud!
Krystal: I said I was sorry.
Blackfire: Be that as it may, you said you'd stay and you didn't. …and just who the hell are you?
Pam wiped her hand on her pants before sticking it out for Blackfire to take.
Pam: Name's Pamela Rose. Call me Pam or I'll slug ya.
Scowling, Blackfire took her hand and shook it roughly. Pam winced.
Pam: Strong little thing, ain't ya?
Jinx finally climbed back off of Mammoth and sniffled.
Jinx: Hey, Blackfire, get me over to the medical center. Sonic needs my attention.
Blackfire: Attention maybe, but not your germs. No dice, Jinx.
Jinx: But…
Blackfire: He's got a broken bone and you want to give him a cold on top of it? No way. Tell you what. I'll check on him, send you his regards and…whatever. Okay?
Krystal: Nah, let me! I'm faster!
Gizmo: …she's got a
point.
Mammoth: We put in his real name, so you'll need to ask
to see Mike.
Blackfire: Tsk. Fine, whatever.
Krystal stuck her finger into her mouth and made a popping sound just as she disappeared. Pam covered her eyes, swearing.
Pam: Son of a…! What the hell was that?! I'm seein' spots!
Mammoth: Uh…she likes to make an exit.
Pam: Damn it…I'm gonna need glasses just from that…
END PART THREE