Chapter Eleven: Into the HIVE:


Nightwing hated to leave someone behind. The fate of Cassandra Cain lingered in the air, and this could not do. He might not have been the World's Greatest Detective, but he wanted to solve this entire mystery.

He made his way to the exit to the League complex. He almost made it to the front door when Artemis walked up behind him. She stopped almost at his back. Nightwing whipped around to catch her before he fell over. Time passed between the two of them when he held her up.

"I'd like to thank you for saving me," Artemis said. "You didn't have to, but you did."

"Just returning the favor….well you remember what happened years ago," Nightwing said.

"Yes, but it's ancient history now," Artemis said as she rubbed the back of her head. It could be a rather nasty habit of hers when things weren't going her way. "I just wish I could tell you more about my time at HIVE."

"It might be for the best," Nightwing said.

"I could have killed you, and I could have killed Rose," Artemis said.

"Rose is durable, she'll be a little bit sore," Nightwing said. He paused and almost laughed. "She'll be even sorer about the fact she missed out on an orgy."

Artemis almost cracked a smile. It had been a long time since she truly smiled. She almost forgot how the actual act of smiling works.

"Rose would be more pissed about missing the orgy, than the actual killing thing," Artemis said. "Well, near killing anyway. You know she's wanted to get in your pants for a while now."

Nightwing laughed at the blunt way Artemis said what she said. He had to keep some humor in his life. A long time ago Dick made a vow never to take things as serious as Batman. There was a time and a place for being serious, but there were lines which shouldn't be crossed. He needed to be extremely careful how much he toed certain lines.

'The World's Greatest Detective could be pretty obsessive sometimes.'

He smiled when he looked at her.

"I might have noticed it," Dick said. "The question is, was it as long as you have?"

"No, not nearly as long," Artemis said. "You really came through to me…I don't have an urge to point an arrow through your head."

"Thankfully, I'm glad," Dick said. "You're much better when you're not brain washed and crazy."

Artemis cracked a smile.

"The brain washed part, I'm thankful for. I wouldn't be too sure about the crazy part."

The archer stepped closer towards him and pressed her soft lips upon his. The two of them exchanged a fairly intense kiss with each other. She backed off from him, nibbling on his lips in the process.

"But, then again, aren't we all crazy?" Artemis asked. "We have to be crazy to suit up and fight nutcases who are going to kill us."

"I won't argue with you," Dick said.

"So, are you going to do it?" Artemis asked. "You're going back to the HIVE….even though it nearly got you killed last time."

"He isn't. At least he won't be alone."

Barbara turned up next to him. She dressed in tactical gear which was favored by Talia's elite guard. The skin tight suit fit rather well against her. Barbara pulled the hood down so her face could be visible when she approached the two of them. Her smile widened.

"We'll speak of this costume change to no one," Barbara said.

"Barbara?" Dick asked.

"Last time I checked," Barbara said. "I somehow knew I would be back into the middle of the field soon, although I didn't think it would be this soon."

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Dick asked.

Barbara paused for a long moment to consider exactly how she wanted to answer this.

"You know something, I have to go out there sometime, and get back into the thick of things," Barbara said. "Am I terrified? Yes, Dick, I admit it, I'll scared to death even though I have my legs back, I won't be as good as I once was."

Barbara leaned closer towards him.

"But you know something, my father is one of the most honest cops in this city, and he's pissed off a lot of dangerous people," Barbara said. "By not playing their sick little game of corruption. I was always in danger of being killed even before I decided to put on the Batgirl costume. And I'll be in danger of being killed even if I don't step back into the field."

Dick smiled.

"You're more ready than I thought."

"Damn right, I am," Barbara said, wrapping her arms around him and giving him an intense kiss.

"I'm coming," Artemis said.

"Are you sure?" Barbara asked. "Are you ready?"

Artemis raised her eyebrow.

"If I keep sitting around waiting to be ready, I never will be ready," Artemis said. "Best to do it right now, when the iron is hot than to sit around and wait for something which is to come."

Talia joined the three of them. She pulled on her gear, making sure her blade was ready.

"Darhk intended to infect me and enslave me," Talia said. "I take this as a personal declaration of war."

"Remember, Cassandra is our number one priority," Barbara said.

"Yes, I know, but I'm sure Lady Shiva has found her way inside by now," Talia said. "I'm concerned by what Ms. Wilson found inside the temple. The markings….."

"There's no question what the markings mean, and it's not good," Nightwing said. "They indicate someone who is a follower of Trigon."

Talia didn't say anything, but she did understand the bad news Nightwing gave her. The legend of Trigon and the terror he could bring was known even of the League of Assassins. It showed how desperate Darhk and his HIVE were when they tapped into powers not even Ra's Al Ghul would touch.

"There's one person who would know about what Trigon might be up to," Nightwing said.

"You don't mean….."

"Yes, I do mean," Nightwing said. "She left on her journey and hasn't been back."

"Maybe she doesn't want to come back," Artemis said.

"Or maybe she can't," Nightwing said.

'One problem at a time, Nightwing,' he thought. 'Worry about liberating Cassandra, and then you can worry about the demon who might be stopping by for another visit.'

The last time Trigon came to town resulted in some trouble for the Teen Titans. The world came closer to ending than people would realize. Trigon underestimated his enemies and more importantly his daughter.

Nightwing knew it wouldn't happen again.


Cassandra Cain never ran for too long. She stopped short of going down a tunnel.

'Maze, no point. Wait for him to come to me.'

Did she really want to wait for this enemy to come to her? It beat sitting back and running around in circles. The teenage assassin sat herself on the ground with her legs folded and arms folded as well. Her eyes screwed shut for the longest of moments.

'Wait for me to come to you. Don't lose your cool. Remain calm.'

Cassandra relaxed and never heard fear. The sounds of footsteps approached her. The water dripped from around her. It allowed Cassandra to get a better sense of her surroundings.

'Must be underneath the river…somewhere, or nearby.'

"You've decided to stop running. You understand why you can't escape from your destiny. You can't stop being what you truly are."

Cassandra didn't say a word. She waited for the footsteps to draw closer.

"I almost forgot. You're not much for conversation are you? Trust me when I say I don't mind. Actions will always speak louder than words as far as I'm concerned."

Cassandra could see a figure make his way down the tunnel to approach her. He shifted into smoke, which would be rather hard for her to grab onto him.

"You can do this the easy way or the hard way. Rest assure either way you will join us. It's a brand new world, Miss Cain, don't you want to live in it?"

Cassandra stared forward with her eyes widened. Her lips curled into a frown. She turned her head around to shake it.

"So be it," the figure said, approaching Cassandra. "Don't say I didn't warn you. You've chosen the hardway."

Cassandra tried not to allow him to feed off of any fears. All emotions shut down. The fighting spirit within her bubbled to the surface.

The figure dove towards Cassandra. The moment of truth approached her as this twisted mist came close to engulfing her.

Cassandra bounced up and aimed her hand to strike the figure hard on the chest. She tried to use her own will-power to somehow hurt her captive towards this form of mist. The grunting sound made Cassandra's lips curl into a slight smile.

'I did it…did I?'

"Your effort is admirable."

Several large hands grabbed Cassandra. Cassandra broke free from their grip. She noticed one of them had a needle in his hand.

Cassandra's body tensed up. She had been drugged and conditioned during her childhood. She refused to do so again.

"But it's misplaced."

Cassandra propelled herself up into the air. The young assassin clung onto the wall and scrambled up it. It was hard for her to gain a footing on the wall.

She shifted herself and brought her foot down across the back of the neck of her enemy. The sound of bones crashing signified her enemy was out of it.

Cassandra dove at her enemy, grabbing him around the head. She flipped him over and sent him crashing against the wall.

'Two down, where's the third?'

Cassandra evaded a dart being sent into her shoulder. The large bulky man raised a hand. She could see the hand flicker to life and try to bombard her with an attack. Cassandra evaded the energy blast from the man's hand in a matter of seconds.

The dark haired assassin peered over her shoulder. The piece of rubble on the ground allowed her a weapon to be used. She curled her fist around the weapon and put it through the chest of her enemy. The jagged piece of concrete and metal ripped into him.

"You're not leaving yet, are you?"

Cassandra noticed the doorway opened thanks to the man blasting through it. Hope sprung through her mind. Dare she hope it would be her escape from this base.

'Can't risk anyone risking their lives for me.'

Cassandra made her way to the exit. Heavy gas started to fill the tunnels.

"Your effort was commendable, Cassandra. But I'm afraid you were mistaken about the fact you would get out of the tunnel."

She almost slumped down to the ground. Cassandra rolled her neck back and hung onto the wall.

"Succumb, let those demons go away."

The word demon triggered something in Cassandra's mind. She grabbed onto the vent and tugged it, trying to find a way out of there.

Cassandra slumped down onto the ground. She squirmed and tried to keep away. Her mind had been rendered completely and utterly fuzzy.

"No," Cassandra said.

"She has fight in her, impressive. Remove it."

A needle pierced the side of her neck causing Cassandra's body to thrash. The drugs injected in her body caused her to become more docile.

A figure reached from behind in the tunnel and grabbed the man who injected Cassandra. She grabbed onto his throat and squeezed. A blood vessel popped in his neck bringing the man down to his knees. He shifted to the side.

"We have an intruder."

"And I'm in the presence of a walking corpse," Lady Shiva said, showing herself. "But, don't worry, I'll correct the mistake, Darhk."

"The League is beneath my interest," Darhk said. "You have no idea the powers which I answer to."

"I know enough to know you're foolish to think you have the upper hand."

Cassandra's eyes opened. Shiva stepped back and looked towards her daughter. The lack of recognition filled Cassandra's eyes.

"Hug your mother, Cassandra."

Cassandra dove at Shiva with her hands outstretched. The deadliest woman in the world stepped back and engaged her daughter in a hand to hand. Shiva found all of her well placed strikes blocked and turned against her.

A huge kick almost caved in Shiva's skull. Cassandra's foot cracked against the wall and left a mark there.

Shiva saw it in her eyes, she was attacking what she still thought was HIVE drones. Darhk managed to flip the script in her mind.

'Time to give her some tough love to bring her back.'

Lady Shiva stepped back and slammed her fist into Cassandra's midsection which doubled her over. The breath had been knocked from Cassandra's body. She dropped to one knee and Shiva backed off.

Cassandra popped up, removing Shiva's dagger from her belt. Shiva blocked the dagger and shoved her daughter back.

She slipped down the tunnel, and Lady Shiva arched her neck back. Her daughter used the shadow cover around her, which could be extremely bad news.


A pale skinned girl with purple hair dressed in white robes walked in the garden outside of a large library. Her long legs were her most defining attribute even though they were hidden beneath her robes. She kept walking around in circles.

Ever since she had been unchained, Rachel Roth, better known as Raven of the Teen Titans, could fully understand what the world was like. She went away for a very long time because of her Emphatic abilities caused her some amount of distress.

Rachel stayed away at the library because it was much easier to face the darkness within her and the darkness outside in the world. She did check up on her old friends every now and again, although the visits were becoming less the more she found herself submerged in her work.

"Raven, there you are!"

Rachel's eyes widened and the shock caused her to almost drop the book she kept in her hands. Her shaky hands managed to avoid sending the book straight onto her feet. Good for her, at least she thought it was good for her.

'How did they find me?

Donna and Kori made their way up of the pathway. Her two friends in the Teen Titans approached her.

"We thought you'd be somewhere around this area," Kori said. "Well, Donna thought you might be but…"

"Stop," Rachel said, holding up her hands with a red gem in her hand. She scanned the two of them for a moment. "You've encountered an Incubus."

"A what?" Kori asked.

"A demon which feeds off of sexual energy," Rachel said, running the gem over Kori's body. The alien princess's nipples stuck out from behind her costume which caused her to step back. "And you're still feeling the effects of it…."

"Oh, I think you're confused," Donna said.

Rachel checked the scanning. Maybe she was confused because these readings she received where nothing like she ever saw before.

"Nightwing was bitten by a vampire…."

"What?" Rachel asked. Alarm filled the body of the half-demon. Had she not been so disturbed by what she heard, she would have questioned how nonchalant Kori and Donna were being. "Where is he? Is he okay? Has he gone out on the sun?"

Kori and Donna responded with a knowing smile with each other. Rachel managed to stop herself from losing her mind.

"It's not a real vampire, not in the traditional sense anyway," Donna said. "This must be what your incubus sensor thing is picking up."

"Nightwing has…." Rachel said.

"He's made us into two of his queens," Kori said. "Maybe you can be one of his queens as well, he needs twelve of them or the darkness will overwhelm him and he will turn into a hideous monster."

Rachel didn't know what to make of it.

"He was bitten by a vampire…only not really," Rachel said.

"It's really hard to explain," Kori admitted. "It's like nothing any of us have ever seen before."

"You'd be surprised with what I've seen," Rachel said.

Rachel didn't travel through countless dimensions, picking up every bit of knowledge on the dark and the arcane without picking up a few things.

"Well maybe if you wish to examine him up close, you can find out exactly what he is," Donna said. "Don't worry, he's still the same Nightwing."

"Yeah, he won't bite," Kori said, leaning towards Rachel with a smile on her face. "Unless you really want him to, and then I'm sure he'll bite you."

Rachel closed her eyes. The sexual energy radiating off of these two women were nearly off putting. Her emotions almost drove her to the brink of insanity. She touched her hands to the back of her head and mentally started counting to ten so she didn't lose her mind.

'Damn it, why do they have to be….so…ugh.'

Rachel shook her head to clear her thoughts. She could see the two of them smiling.

"I suppose I should invite the two of you inside," Rachel said.

"Well, you wouldn't want to be rude," Donna said.

Rachel led the two of them inside the inner chambers of their library. She had to admit the two of them were good at tracking her down.

'I wonder if they had any help.'

"We actually had another reason to come here to see you," Kori said.

The feeling of overwhelming dread filled Rachel's body. It was the worst of any single emotion she had ever felt in her life.

"What?"

"Remember the HIVE?" Donna asked.

"Yes, I remember then, they were a pain in the ass," Rachel said.

"Well, there's more to the HIVE than the ones we fought, they're really just a super-secret organization who are into the occult," Donna said.

Rachel's hand started to shake. She could feel the sense of dread Donna and Kori shared along with them not telling anything. Her agitation grew to a stormy level.

"Tell me!" Rachel yelled.

"Oh, I forgot how scary she can get when she does the thing with the red eyes," Kori said, slumping in the chair at Rachel's look.

Rachel held onto the side of her head and started breathing in and out. She had not lost control like she did in years.

"Sorry, it's just, I don't like….."

"They're trying to bring Trigon back!" Donna blurted out.

In an instant, Rachel bounced to her feet. The strange vibes she felt over the past few weeks, it was all coming back to her. Even though she blocked the portal and returned him back into his realm, she still felt a connection to Trigon being his daughter.

Rachel started to move towards the nearest exit point. Kori and Donna struggled to keep up with her.

"The end is coming," Rachel said.

She ripped open time and space and allowed them an exit portal. Kori and Donna followed each other through the portal.

'You know, following an angry half-demon through a tear she made in space in time might not be my best idea,' Donna thought.

Kori slumped her shoulders in guilt after ruining Rachel's life. She seemed so at peace with herself, and now she just opened old wounds.


Nightwing, Oracle, Tigress, and Talia made their way through one of the tunnels.

"This has to be the place," Oracle said.

Talia leaned her neck down the tunnel, putting herself a good distance in front of the others. If anyone was going to take a trip to the unknown, it would have to be her.

"There's something unsettling about the air around here," Nightwing said.

"You mean more so than usual?" Oracle asked, stopping short. She turned around to look at Tigress who almost froze up when standing at the end of the tunnel. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm….just thinking," Tigress said.

She recalled hints of these tunnels before. It was a twisted maze where there didn't really seem to be anyway around. Her head held up high and her heart beat steady.

'Don't be afraid, you're free.'

"I'll go first if you want me to," Nightwing said.

Tigress smiled, but shook her head never the same.

"I understand you want to make me feel better, but I should go after Talia."

'Prove to yourself you won't be defeated by this. Prove to yourself you won't have no fear.'

Artemis Crock froze for a second. Talia stopped short right in front of her for the same reasons. Two figures fighting in the distance showed them the dangers of traveling down these tunnels.

"Be careful."

The two words Talia said looked to be more loaded than anything else she could have said. The pitter patter of more HIVE drones came from the other side.

Artemis whipped out her bow in a few seconds and fired a pair of arrows. The arrows struck a pipe and caused sewage to spill from the pipes. The sewage splashed on the HYRDRA drones, causing them to start slipping and sliding.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your touch."

Oracle punctuated those words by rushing over to nail one of the drones with a full on kick to the chest. One of the goons slumped over when he hit the wall. One of the drones armed himself with a miniature blaster in his forearm.

Nightwing jumped high from the ceiling and drove the HYDRA goon down with both of his feet ramming against the back of his head.

Lady Shiva flipped out of the tunnel and landed on her feet. Three daggers flung at her. She twisted in the air and caught them like an old pro. She turned to face Nightwing.

"I could have sworn I told you I would be handling this on my own."

Nightwing raised his eyebrow and laughed. The humor had left him, along with the cutting remark which passed him.

Cassandra stalked them from the tunnel, a blade in her hand. Nightwing avoided the attack from the deadly assassin. He fired a series of punches towards her, all of them blocked in an instant.

"I hope none of you intended to leave here alive, because you won't."

"We find him, we end this," Nightwing said.

Nightwing avoided Cassandra's shot. Oracle rushed over to block her shot.

"Cassandra, snap out of it!"

Cassandra was there, but no one was home. This fact proved to be problematic, even more so when Oracle had been launched off of the ground.

"LEAVE!" Cassandra yelled, rubbing the side of her head. A shrill siren impacted the side of her head and caused her to lash out.

Cassandra rushed towards Barbara with a blade in her hand and murderous intentions in mind.


To Be Continued.