Brother Blood stood before the entire student body of HIVE Academy. He had found that keeping the Academy similar to a normal school was comforting to many of the students. This meant hosting dances, assemblies, having guest speakers, etc. So he had decided to have Zeta and Stone's attempt to join the HIVE Alpha Team as a public event. It would be good for morale and educational at the same time.

"These two students believe they are worthy of joining our elites," began Brother Blood "They believe they can hold their own against everyone who stands against us. And they have the knowledge needed to succeed. The question is: do they have the physical capability? That is what we shall see. Today Zeta and Stone shall prove their worth in the field of battle!"

With that Blood stepped down from the podium and John, the leader of the team stepped up. His eyes glowed pure gold, the rest of his face hidden by the cowl and hood of the cloak. His armor gleamed. It was impossible to tell that just yesterday he had been in the midst of a mental breakdown.

John stepped to the podium.

"We are here to test the worth of two warriors today" he said, his voice echoing in the silent auditorium. "The test before them will have two portions. Working together, Zeta and Stone shall battle Jinx, Mammoth, and Gizmo. After that battle they shall face me."

Murmuring filled the auditorium as bets were taken and placed on the contestants.

"Let the battle begin" said John

Zeta and Stone lunged forward against the best HIVE had to offer. The two heroes, despite being undercover and not knowing the other was a hero, worked well together. Zeta had modified her outfit, so as not to be associated with Olympians. She had instead chosen black combat boots, with a black body suit with silver-grey body armor. Her Aegis shield was still on her wrist disguised as a silver bracelet, and her spear was disguised as a mace canister on her silver utility belt, which contained a few flash bombs, smoke grenades, and two collapsible silvery batons, one that she drew. Using her spear and shield would be a dead giveaway, so she had used these batons to aid in the control of lightning. Her hair was cut short, framing her face, her brilliant blue eyes filled with determination as her stone covered partner leapt forward.

Mammoth charged forward, his roar filling the auditorium. His muscled arms met Stone's as they grappled with, each trying to shove the other backwards. Jinx used Mammoth's broad back to leap higher into the air as she soared like a bird, pink hexes ruining Stone's balance and causing him to be hurled across the room by Mammoth.

Gizmo blasted through the air, missiles hurtling towards Zeta. Zeta sidestepped one, leaping over a second, the third hit her in the chest sending her flying backwards. She rolled absorbing momentum. Another missile soared towards her but Stone leapt forward and grabbed the missile's fins and spun hurling it at a charging Mammoth hurling him across the room. The crowd roared with shock, approval, some choosing to boo, a wild unreadable mixture of sound. Now it was Gizmo's turn to begin dodging, flying in wild, unpredictable patterns as lightning hurled up from Zeta's baton. Mammoth was attempting to stand, but a missile to the face was enough for him to see double and throw off his balance. Mammoth stumbled leaning against the wall, until the Grey Warrior led him to the sidelines.

Stone fought like his namesake, shrugging off most of Jinx's blows. Jinx, however, was like a lightning bolt. Her blows rained down, and she, untouchable laughed in a slightly crazy manner, pink energy crackling around her.

John smiled slightly. While most would find the sight terrifying, he found it stunning and even beautiful. She fought with wild passion, nothing held back. He signaled Blood with a simple nod. Blood smirked and sounded the HIVE alarm. Silence reigned as everything stopped.

Slowly John stepped down into the makeshift arena.

"Round one is over" said John "After a 10 minute intervention, round 2 will begin"
His team gathered around him.

"Any tips?" asked John

"Stone's agile for his size. Zeta too." Said Jinx

"Her lightning hurts" muttered Gizmo

"They're tough boss" said Mammoth

John nodded, grinning slightly. The fact that the team was willing to acknowledge that Stone and Zeta were tough foes meant that the two could probably rival any of the Teen Titans one on one and they had put up a significant fight against his team. He felt his heart rate increase as adrenalin entered the blood stream. He nearly laughed out loud. This would be a fun fight.

John stood, his energy gathering on his fists. Electricity crackled around Zeta. Stone crouched.

"Let the match begin" yelled Blood

The crowd roared its approval as a lightning bolt soared across the room. John launched his own energy blasts, canceling out the lightning bolt, by then Stone slammed his fist down. John sidestepped the powerful, floor cracking blow and blasted Stone backwards. Zeta's hands crackled with electricity as she charged baton in hand. John leaned back the baton missing his chin by inches, but an electric covered punch hit him in chest, staggering him. Stone picked him up and hurled him, through the air. John slammed down, and rolled, Zeta's newest lightning bolt blinding him. He heard Stone's footsteps thundering towards him, and he launched 3 blasts towards him. Stone dodged the blasts, but now it was John's turn to take the offensive. John charged forwards, magic glowing golden on his fists as he leaped into the air and kicked off Stone's broad chest, launching a powerful blast. Zeta's lightning hurtled at him, but he twisted and the blast missed by inches. He hurled half a dozen energy blasts, knocking Zeta backwards.

Zeta was gasping for breath. The two fights left her drained. This Grey Warrior character was skilled to say the least. She stood and charged. She was not going to be able to manage another lightning bolt, so the only option was close combat.

Stone felt his muscles groan in protest. The first fight had been tough, and the second fight was tough as well. Stone roared as his fists swung back and forth, his target dodging easily. He missed Titan's Tower and being able to use his cannon and gadgets in combat. His power level for his mechanical parts didn't lower nearly as fast when he wasn't using his gadgets so that helped in his impersonation of Stone, but the battles would be much easier if he could use them.

John smirked slightly as he leaped away with a backflip. Zeta was charging, but Stone was in the front. John's eyes narrowed in concentration as Stone weaved slightly. Then he launched a powerful energy blast, throwing Stone backwards into Zeta and hurling them both back into the wall. As the two struggled to their feet he chose to speak.

"Enough!" roared the Grey Warrior as the crowd instantly hushed

"These two warriors have fought in battle," shouted the Grey Warrior "They have tried to prove their worth."

Zeta and Stone stood proudly before him.

Stone turned to his team which had assembled behind them.

"Have they been proven worthy?" asked John, his voice quieter

"Yeah, they're worthy" said Gizmo

"Yes" said Jinx "they are worthy"

"Yes" said Mammoth

"I agree" said the Grey Warrior as he pulled two HIVE communicators from under his cloak.

"They are worthy" said John, throwing Zeta and Stone a communicator "welcome to HIVE Alpha Team."

The crowd roared its approval as the original HIVE Alpha Team greeted its new members. Little did anyone among the assembled know that the membership of Zeta and Stone spelled the next phase in the end of HIVE Academy.

Stone smiled slightly as he began to glance down the hall. Not seeing anyone he called into Robin.

"What news Cyborg?" asked Robin

"I just made the HIVE main Team!" said Cyborg "Booya"

"That's great" said Robin

"Blood's planning something big too" said Stone "The entire school has rumors going around about a class project"

"So that's actually legit?" said a familiar female voice from behind him

"Zeta?" said Cyborg worriedly

"Relax" said Thalia "I want HIVE taken down too."

"You do?" said Cyborg

"Well that's what I just said" said Thalia "if the group I am with works with your group then we will have a much better chance of succeeding"

"What group do you work with?" asked Robin

"The one that attacked you trying to get Grey" said Thalia "But we really don't want to fight! Honest. That was just a misunderstanding."

"Well what do you propose?" asked Cyborg

"Here's my plan" began Thalia, smirking slightly