Chapter 7 Its a promise!
Shimmer felt her feet touch the ground and steadied herself. "That's quite a rush." She laughed out nervously.
Mammoth shook his head, "You should have been here for the last one."
"You got that right doormat." said Gizmo. He scanned the door quickly and waved for Shimmer to move next to him. Shimmer looked at both Mammoth and Gizmo uncertainly but they nodded and she raised her glowing hands. The solid metals doors glowed for a moment before collapsing into a pool of water. Jinx waved for them to hold back a space while they scouted. After thirty seconds Mammoth led the remaining three into the H.I.V.E. base.
"The power is on but looks like no ones here." grumbled Mammoth.
"You think baby blood got scared and ran?"
Shimmer shivered at their bantering. Shimmer, as the newest freed mind, was not comfortable facing Brother Blood but followed on heedlessly. Mammoth motioned that the three should move to the left and flank the first three.
After ten minutes of searching they six gathered in the empty gymnasium. Jinx swore. "It looks like they left. Crap! I have no clue where the next site is located."
"Everyone move!" Shouted Raven.
Everyone scattered to the edges of the room. The ceiling caved in. The ceiling caved way to fast and with too much force to have happened naturally. Psimon stood on the ceiling debris. He looked around and smiled at Shimmer who shivered slightly and but stood her ground. She was still unsure who she was afraid of more, Psimon and his power that is supposed to be weakened in his present state, or Brother Blood who is able to control him.
"We have the place to our selves right now. Brother blood is here somewhere but I am not saying where. You will have to play with me first." Raven thrust her palm outward towards him and produced a solid beam of black light. Psimon just stood there as the beam hit in front and moved around him. He smiled easily and said, "Nice one Raven. Show me more."
The ground around Psimon moved and shrapnel flew in six directions. Cyborg disintegrated his and aimed for Psimon before being knocked back by a single wave of Psimons hand. Mammoth nimbly dodged the piece of flat metal and ran into Gizmo who's pack was sideswiped by the one aimed at him. Raven split her piece in half before looking to see how the others were doing. Shimmer pointed her hand at the flailing metal and it turned into harmless dust. Shimmer pointed at Psimon and the ground beneath him turned into quick sand.Psimon dropped into the sand and only started to slowly swallow himat shoulder height. Jinx swept away the attack and joined Raven who charged at Psimon. Raven's glowing eyes reflected the building energy that she was about to release. She launched her attack when Jinx did a quick spin, waving her hands deliberately at Psimon producing three blades of violet energy.
Psimon took the hits with full force but simply smiled. He flexed his seemingly frail arms and the sand enveloping him vaporized. He raised his hand towards Shimmer but was knocked a step from Gizmo and Cyborgs combined plasma cannons.
"Get out of my way you trash!" Psimon's eyes glowed red. The lone enemy pressed a wave of energy knocking everyone off their feet even as they recovered from their previous attack. Psimon pointed his hand finger extended at Cyborg. Jinx saw the same movement before and threw her hand out of desperation as he said. "DIE!" Cyborg dropped to his knees.
Jinx's waved extended the entire height of the room and sped towards Psimon's hand. He screamed in pain as he let go of Cyborgs mind. Jinx ran up to Cybrog.
Psimon looked at his hand. The smile on his face left him. A deep scar crossed the back of his hand. "Enough playing." Psimon blocked another attack from Gizmo and moved his hand. Gizmo, twenty feet away was smashed into the ground. Raven and Jinx followed Cybrog as he led another attack.
Jinx ran to Cyborg who had not moved since he fell over. "Stone please be alright." Cyborg moved his head slightly and felt himself suddenly able to breath. He looked unsteadily at Jinx before she sobbed on him. "I thought you were..." He understood immediately. He looked at Raven who nodded and continued her assault. Psimon pulled away towards the secondary gymnasium . Everyone followed leaving Cybrog an Jinx behind. Cyborg was a little shaken with the knowledge of what it felt like to die. He pulled Jinx to her feet. "I am ok. Is that what he tried to do to you?" He said quietly while pulling her to the side of the room. He heard Mammoth grunt as he hit the floor, but did not look back. Jinx nodded. Cyborg hugged her tightly then said, "We can talk about this later. Our friends are in trouble can you still fight?"
Jinx felt her legs weaken but she said, "Yes. Lets finish this. I want to get this over with."
"That's my girl." Cybrog kissed her head and ran out ahead of her.
Shimmer was trying desperately to soften Mammoths impact as he hit the ground from another attack. The best she could do was turn the ground into sand. Mammoth laid there unmoving. "Shaggy is down, bird brain." Shouted Gizmo hovering along side Raven.
Raven launched several blocks of concrete from the wall at Psimon saying calmly even as she was being pushed. "If you have time to waste your breath with insults Gizmo, then you better try harder to put this guy down." She emphasized the last it with a pillar from one of the supporting columns crushed the spot where Psimon stood. Psimon appeared behind them.
This is going to turn ugly if I don't stop it now. Thought Shimmer. Shimmer shouted to Cyborg as he came in. "I got an idea. Stone or what ever, give me a hole where I can reach the earth." Jinx came in and distracted Psimon along with Raven and Gizmo.
Cyborg's cannon returned to being a hand. Cybrog tuned and stepped back shouting "Done."
The ten foot hole was four feet deep. Shimmer ran around towards Psimon who was being distracted still by the two witches. Shimmer screamed in effort as the metal floor turned into earth next to him and fissured. Hundreds of pounds of super heated air blew Psimon towards the hole of dirt. Psimon landed hard and laid there stunned for a few precious moments. "Raven! Jinx! I need debris!" Shouted Shimmer her eyes wide and her heart blocking out all other noise. Raven and Jinx raised their hands over the spot where Psimon began to stand. The debris landed on him. Now before he can blow it away! Shimmer screamed a battle cry. The debris and earth began to wrap and mold itself around Psimons body. Psimon screamed from the motion of being crushed. The debris and earth finally stopped moving and chipped away to find Psimon encased in diamond. "Do it now girls! While he can't move!" Raven and Jinx understood and landed in front of the diamond imprisoned Psimon and began to swipe through his mind destroying the mental collar on him.
Jinx and Raven floated over Psimon. Shimmer was hit with a wave of nausea thinking of what Psimon had said if he ever got free of Brother Blood. "God I hope this doesn't come back and bite us in the ass." said Shimmer uncertainly. Mammoth was able to hobble next to her still sore from his impact with the sand.
"Should I even ask?"
"No you don't." Shimmer collapsed, drained from doing something she had never done before. Mammoth caught her and smiled. She grimaced saying. "Don't read too much into you big lummox." Mammoth laughed softly.
Raven was going through Psimons mind looking for answers as fast as she can. She felt him rebelling her intrusion even as he knew she was helping him. Jinx grunted as she finally finished burning away Brother Bloods influence. Raven felt her self leaving Psimon's mind still not satisfied with the answers she found there.
Raven found he self back inside her body and looked to Jinx who smiled. They both backed away uncertain if Psimon would still fight them when he broke out of the diamond prison.
"Did we do it?" asked Gizmo uncertainly.
"No not yet, Brother Blood is still loose."
The room shook. "I think he knows he lost another follower." said Gizmo sarcastically.
"What do we do now?" asked Shimmer. She stood but felt like she would fall over with out warning.
"We get out of here."
"I think not child." Brother Blood appeared infront of them. "It is time I put away this annoying resistance." He sighed sadly. "I had such high hopes for all of you. Its a pity that I have to kill you now."
Mammoth stood in front of the weak Shimmer murmuring to himself. "Crap he's pissed."
Cyborg stood forward. "Attack pattern Gamma!" all the ex H.I.V.E. agents attacked in unison. Raven gave cover fire with her energy beams. Brother Blood raised his hand and blocked the energy attacks and smiled in satisfaction as the attackers stopped in mid step. "Children, let me show you how to apply my lessons in active combat." Brother Bloods' hand did not move but everyone was knocked back twenty feet. Cyborg stood weakly along with Raven and Jinx. "This isn't good we used up most of our energy just fighting Psimon." murmured Raven.
Cyborg suddenly looked at the case of diamond. "Psimon!" He aimed his arm cannon just at the top of the diamond. It shatter the upper half. Psimons' eyes began to glow red, not the red of Brother Bloods mind control. Raven recognized the influence Trigon.
Psimon cracked the diamond until it shattered and stood and looked around at the situation. Like a new born babe, Psimon moved his arms and hands to make sure they worked. He looked to Brother Blood who paled. Psimon hissed out. "You ignorant fool. Did you really think you cold contain the power of Trigon?" Brother Blood waved his hand and began to disappear in retreat. "No! I won't let you!" Psimon launched a beam of light at Brother Blood knocking him against the ceiling. before falling back down to the ground. Brother Blood stood up and glared at Psimon. Brother blood said while looking at Psimon. "Idiot." brother Blood gripped his hand before releasing a beam of energy as large as he was tall. Psimon raise his own hand and threw both of his hands forward giving a shout. Psimon released his own attack towards the on coming beam. Both stopped when they made contact. A suddenly thud of explosion shook the room. Brother blood and Psimon were moving fast. Brother blood raised an arm and a shield protected him form Psimons latest attack. Blood countered with the power lines in the ceiling breaking through the concrete and attacked Psimon. He dodged and began to float in mid air. He circled Brother Blood for another attack.
"What do we do? They are moving to fast to do much damage to either of them." Gizmo whined.
"We watch and wait. Guys recover while they are attacking each other. If we see an opening we attack Brother Blood. Do not attack Psimon, we don't need both of them attacking us at the same time." ordered Cybrog.
Psiomn began throwing small compressed beams of energy at Brother Blood forcing him to move into a corner. Psimon laughed as he caught brother blood with his mind. Brother Blood was suddenly on the ground and unable to move. "You foolish little mortal, I would be angrier with you had I not had this chance meeting with Raven."
Brother Bloods' eyes were wild as he tried to move but felt his body pressed against the ground by an invisible force. Psimon looked up to Raven and met her eye for eye. "Raven I am please to meet you so soon in your development. Grow strong, Trigon will only allow the strong to live. You will be strong... and so will the next generation." Psimon cackled. Brother Blood felt the force holding him weaken and used his chance to disappear. Psimon's glee was cut short at Brother Bloods disappearance.
"Heh, no matter. I will find him. Farewell Raven, I do hope to see you again... In a few years."
Psimon bowed and vanished. The group looked at each other uncertainly then to Raven. Raven felt everyone look at her. "What? I don't know what he means either." She had been glaring at Psimon but suddenly felt deflated when she said aloud to their looks. "Can we get out of here now?"
"Is that it? Is he gone now for good?" Shimmer breathed heavily, more relieved for not needing to fight Brother Blood for very long.
"I think so." started Cyborg. "If Psimon doesn't find him. His days as the headmaster of the H.I.V.E. is done for. Those contracts start in two days. The H.I.V.E. can't possibly fulfill those contracts. All those crime lords will start hunting Brother Blood down themselves for the money they want back. The H.I.V.E. is done. No one will want to continue an organization that has fallen twice within one year." Cyborg looked around at them all and felt a weight off his chest.
The group made a slow precession out of the complex to the subway. Neither Raven nor Jinx had the energy to teleport them all out of the hive home.
After a lot of arguing the group decided to head for Titans Tower. Raven recovered enough to take all of them to the entrance. Robin had been outside training when he saw the whole procession stop at the front door. "Cyborg! Raven! You alright?" Robin had run up to them and looked at the four behind his Titans.
"We're fine Robin, But I think these guys need a place to shack up for the night." Robin nodded. Everyone walked into the tower Cybrog leading. Robin followed the group eyeing them carefully.
Beast boy and Starfire watched the group walk into the living room and sat on the couches. "So what's going on Cy?" Asked Beast Boy.
"I think it better if Jinx explains." Jinx looked up suddenly. She turned deep red not sure how the other Titans would react to Cyborgs and Jinx's feelings. Cyborg smiled and sat next to her and placed his arm around her. Robin and Beast Boy dropped their jaws and Starfire shouted, "What wonderful news! I will make a dinner for this wonderful union!"
Jinx and Cyborgs eyes went wide and turned deep red. He turned and shouted, "We are not getting married Starfire! Geez!" The Ex-H.I.V.E. members laughed and Raven smiled.
After the lengthy explanation and the weird dinner that Mammoth and Shimmer liked the Teen Titans and the now freed H.I.V.E. enjoyed the night following Jinx and Cyborgs example that they can all be friends. Titans Towers' lights went out very late that night.
The morning came fast and Mammoth Shimmer and Gizmo stood outside facing the Titans. "I think its time we head off, Brother Blood is on the run but he still has the other students somewhere. We have to find them and free them." Mammoth waved for the three to move when Robin stopped them.
"If you guys need any help use these." Robin pulled out three Teen Titan communicators. "Your honorary members of the Titans."
Mammoth played with his and shimmer put hers in her pocket. Gizmo looked surprised and almost touched. "I can keep it this time?" Robin, Beast Boy and Cybrog laughed. Gizmo turned on Cyborg, "Oh don't think i forgiven you for that yet Stone!" He stuck his tongue out at Cybrog and everyone laughed. The group then moved out.
Raven looked to Jinx who was standing with Cyborg. Cyborg felt Raven get his attention and she nodded her head to Jinx. "You going to be alright Jinx?" Jinx had planned to find a place to live in town and look for a job now being a retired mercenary.
She nodded uncertainly look at her departing friends backs. "I think so its just that..." Raven motioned for everyone to go inside she headed up the rear allowing Jinx and Cyborg time alone.
"I know, you want to try and find the rest of the students right?" Cybrog remembered his promised and realized that he had not kept his promise. "Lets go together we can still catch up with them."
Jinx shook her head sadly. "You are needed here. I'll go." Cybrog gave her his communicator. She pulled it to her heart saying. "I'll call you whenever I can. I promise." SHe kissed him and ran after her friends on one last mission.
Cyborg felt he had something he needed to say. Before he realized that he had said it he shouted behind her. "I love you!"
She turned back tears flowing from her eyes. "I love you too!"
After the group were out of sight Cyborg dragged his feet into the tower. Raven stood there next to the door. She smiled at him. He weakly returned the gesture. "Cyborg I know you could not go with them, but you can still help."
"How?" he said suddenly.
"We still don't know anything about Brother Blood and Psimon. Lets start there, maybe we can find them some leads." Cybrog perked up at that.
Cyborg and Raven went into the crime lab and started doing research for the mercenaries. Raven saw him sit in front of the computer with a determined look on his face. She smiled and left him to his thoughts. I know I couldn't keep my promise Jinx, But I won't just stop trying until you come back to me.
The end.
