32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team Humor/Drama StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Matters of the Heart"
Chapter One
Terra's Resting Place
Changeling knelt in front of Terra. He stared at her defiant petrified expression, his face emotionless.
Changeling: Terra…I'd like to think you can hear me. It's me again.
Changeling stood up and sat down on the pedestal.
Changeling: I miss you a lot. I know I say that every time I come here, but it's true. Things just aren't the same, you know? The blood and guts just isn't as fun anymore. To be honest, they're times when I've thought of quitting. I don't think Raven is even looking for a way to help you anymore. Cyborg does only 'cause I'm there to make him, but Raven doesn't let anyone in her room. Well, Shade's allowed. I still think they're going at it like rabbits in there. I don't care what she says.
Changeling could almost hear her soft laugh. He sighed and leaned his head against her.
Changeling: There's gotta be a way. I won't stop looking until I find it. You didn't deserve this. You were just getting back at the world, like we are. They started it, not the other way around.
He stood up and climbed onto the pedestal.
Changeling: I gotta go, but I'll be back soon.
He kissed the stone cheek.
Changeling: I love you. Happy Valentines Day.
He jumped down and placed a card and a flower in front of her. He looked at her one more time before he walked away, missing the tear that ran down Terra's cheek.
: CUE THEME :
HIVE Tower: Training Room
Slade watched the team battle the training robots. It was time for their review. He was especially watchful of Krystal. This was her first review and he hadn't seen her in action. They were doing well and soon defeated them all.
Sonic: Ta da! Piece of cake.
Mammoth: …I'm hungry.
Gizmo: You're always hungry.
The three were suddenly taken down by Slade himself. They looked up at him, confused.
Gizmo: What was that for?
Slade: You can't assume the threat is completely gone just because you don't see it.
Krystal: Wow, are you sure you're crippled?
Jinx elbowed her. Krystal grinned and rubbed the back of her head.
Krystal: It was an honest question.
Blackfire: Rather inappropriate.
Slade didn't know what to make of Krystal. She seemed child-like in her innocence. Still, the other members of the team haven't complained. In fact, they commended her. In battle, she seemed very skilled and very focused. That was good. The door opened and a white haired girl entered.
Girl: Is the test over, Father?
Slade: Yes it is. You remember Rose, don't you?
Krystal: (raising her hand) I don't.
Gizmo: That's because you just got here two months ago!
Krystal: …oh yeah. HI! I'm Krystal! …and you are?
Rose was taken aback by the girl who suddenly had her face two inches away from her own.
Rose: Uh…Rose…
Krystal: Pleased to meet you, Uh-Rose!
Rose: It's just Rose.
Krystal snickered and put her arm around Rose.
Krystal: I know. I'm just messing with you. Seriously…
She held out her hand. Rose took it and Krystal shook it.
Krystal: Nice to meet you.
Rose: It's been…interesting.
Krystal: I AM interesting, aren't I?
Krystal rejoined her embarrassed friends, making sure to rub Gizmo's head.
Slade: Yes…well…I'll be going now. Have a pleasant Valentines Day.
Slade left with Rose. Sonic raised his eyebrow.
Sonic: Valentines Day? Whoa, I completely forgot! How unlike me.
Jinx started to inch toward the door.
Sonic: Hey, Jinx!
Jinx: (muttering) Damn.
Sonic: You wanna do something today? See a movie? Get something to eat? Both?
Jinx sighed.
Jinx: If I refuse, you'll hound me the entire day, won't you?
Krystal: I'll go!
Gizmo glared at Sonic. Oh he better not. Blackfire tapped Krystal on the shoulder.
Blackfire: I don't think you understand.
Krystal: Free food and a movie? What's not to understand?
She paused.
Krystal: You ARE paying, right?
Jinx: Hey, I never gave a response!
Jinx's eyes widened and she cleared her throat. She hadn't meant to sound so angry.
Sonic: (surprised) You
want to go?
Jinx: …I guess so. …just don't expect me to
dress to fancy…and only to dinner. There aren't any movies I want
to see.
Sonic: That's good…I don't own anything fancy.
Jinx sighed and rolled her eyes.
Jinx: You're not wearing your costume are you?
Sonic's costume was a white suit with blue swirling lines. It was an optical illusion that made them look like they actually moved. It was supposed to look like sound waves, or the general impression people get when they think of them. He scratched his head.
Sonic: What's wrong with my costume?
Mammoth: You look like a sissy.
Sonic: WHAT! I do not.
Gizmo: Do too.
Krystal: I like his costume! It's almost hypnotic…oooo…
Everyone sweatdropped. Krystal stopped "ooo"ing.
Krystal: What? Honestly if you guys don't get used to my outbursts, we're never going to get along.
Sonic: I'll swing by your room at five, is that cool?
Jinx: Fine, whatever. Just don't let this go to your head, okay?
Sonic grinned and wagged a finger in front of her face.
Sonic: Wouldn't dream of it, Jinxy.
Jinx: …don't call me that.
Jinx turned and walked out of the room. As soon as she was gone, Sonic pumped his fist in victory.
Mammoth: Wow. You really didn't think she'd say yes, did you?
Sonic: Nope. I must be wearing her down.
Krystal leaned against Mammoth, smugly. He looked down at her, confused.
Mammoth: What are you doing?
Krystal: The wall is all the way over there. I'd look stupid to walk all that way and lean against the wall when I've got a wall of a guy like you right here.
Mammoth had question marks over his head. Gizmo grumbled.
Krystal: Now, as I was about to smugly say, she totally likes you. I can see it.
Sonic: You think so?
Krystal: I'm good at reading girls, seeing as how I is one.
Blackfire: …am one.
Krystal: No, is one. It sounds funnier.
Blackfire sighed and rubbed her temples.
Blackfire: You really do take getting use to.
Krystal: I know. I'm a little bit crazy. Takes some time.
Sonic was quiet.
Sonic: You're not messing around are you? You really think she likes me.
Krystal: Absolutely! You saw how she reacted when I offered to go instead. That was the whole point. I may act like an idiot, but I get ideas now and again.
Sonic: Huh…if you hadn't of done that, she would have refused. Thanks, Krystal.
Krystal: Meh. Little Miss Match-maker, that's me. One thing though…what's Valentine's Day?
Blackfire: I was going to ask that.
Krystal jumped onto Blackfire's back, much to her annoyance.
Krystal: Now we'll find out together. Somebody enlighten us!
Blackfire: Would you get off!
Krystal hopped down, her head hanging.
Krystal: Sorry. I get carried away.
Blackfire: Well it's annoying! Try to exercise a little control!
Gizmo: You don't have to yell at her!
Krystal smiled and kissed Gizmo on his head.
Krystal: Thanks, Giz-anator.
Gizmo: Heh…no problem.
Sonic: I gotta go. I want to be ready by five.
Mammoth: (confused) You've got three hours!
Sonic: Got to be perfect.
Sonic ran off.
Blackfire: I don't have to be a good judge of character to know he likes her bad.
Krystal: Yeah, that's great and all…BUT NOBODY'S TOLD ME WHAT VALENTINE'S DAY IS!
Mammoth: It's a holiday where you give cards, candy, flowers, that sort of stuff to someone you love.
Krystal: Oh…that's sweet! …why?
Gizmo and Mammoth sweatdropped.
Gizmo: …some guy got his head cut off for courting some royal guy's daughter.
Krystal: …makes sense to me.
They fell over.
Titan H.Q.: Main Room
Shade was hunched over a piece of paper, a pencil in his hand. Starfire floated over and tried to see what he was doing. He growled and covered it with his body.
Starfire: What is it you are doing?
Shade snorted and pointed to the calendar on the refrigerator. Starfire looked at it and noticed that today's date had a little caption.
Starfire: "St. Valentine's Day" …what is that?
Shade didn't respond. She huffed.
Starfire: Why do I ask you these things?
He shrugged.
Starfire: That question was rhetorical.
Starfire grabbed the calendar and went to find someone who could explain. Shade had already gotten an explanation from Changeling, whom he had caught before he left to visit Terra. He was making something for Raven. He hoped she liked it.
Garage
Cyborg adjusted the bolt on last time. It was finished. Robin would FINALLY be off his back about fixing his stupid bike. How he managed to crash it was beyond him. Robin said he didn't want to talk about it. It must have been funny. Now he could get back to work on his own project. He called it the T-car. It was going to be awesome. The weapons on that thing would be able to level buildings with ease…and have this sweet stereo system. The door opened and Starfire entered.
Cyborg: No, Star. I'm not going to design a battle cruiser. I told you, I don't even know what one looks like!
Starfire: No, it is not that…this time. Could you perhaps inform me as to the meaning of this?
Starfire held up the calendar.
Cyborg: It's a calendar. We use it to keep track of the date.
Starfire smacked him with it.
Starfire: (Tamaranian) Damn fool. (English) I know that! I meant the caption on this date!
Cyborg: Oh, Valentines Day. It's a day you give a gift to the one you love.
Starfire frowned.
Starfire: Ah. That explains Changeling's most depressing attitude.
Cyborg: Yeah…he took Terra's "death" pretty hard.
Starfire generally deemed everyone beneath her. Even Robin, though he was a close second. How this happened is beyond everyone, including her. She knew she thought she was pretty big, but this feeling of superiority seemed sudden to her. It didn't matter. To her it was the truth. Still…to her surprise she felt sorry for Changeling. Seeing the usually cheerful morphing teenage human so distraught was terrible. She shook her head. No. She wouldn't think of him. His feelings didn't matter.
Starfire: Explain this further…what sort of "gifts"?
Changeling's Room
Changeling stared at the picture of Terra and himself in his hand. They had a corpse propped up between them and they were pretending he was another friend in the shot. They even had their arms around it. He sighed sadly. Sure she was a spy. He knew that. They all did. That's why it was so fun to corrupt her. Once she was like them, however, he found himself drawn to her. After her first kill, the dam broke in her mind. It turns out she was as sick as him, doing things to the corpses afterward just because it looked funny. He smiled faintly as he remember the time she put a guy's hands on this girl's breasts…his arms weren't attached anymore, but it was still funny. He frowned as he thought back to how it all happened.
Flashback: Mountains
Terra held the HIVE. Some of them were pinned under rocks. The strong ones, Mammoth and Blackfire, were held by giant stone hands.
Robin: Now this is funny, isn't it? You send her to help you defeat us and instead she actually kills all of you.
Jinx: Terra, don't do this!
Terra snorted and brushed her hair back behind her ear.
Terra: Shut up. All my life I've been hated, chased down, and beaten. I've been on the run for as long as I can remember. Every time I tried to be a hero I made a mistake. Every time I tried to be normal, something went wrong. It wasn't my fault, but I was treated like shit anyway! I see now that I was an idiot to even try.
Terra began to apply pressure to her trapped foes.
Terra: Why should I have to please them? Why should I even care what they think? Compared to me, they're ants. Tell me something. When you squish a bug by accident, do you mourn its death?
Krystal: I do!
Mammoth: That's different!
Terra: I don't see how. Enough of this shit. Time to end it.
Gizmo: Got that right, ya bimbo.
Gizmo pressed a button that came out of his pack. Terra screamed and clutched her head. The parts of her suit on her head were sending waves of agony throughout her skull. Her brain was on fire. The rocks crumbled and the HIVE was free.
Changeling: Hey! What the hell did you do to her!
Terra: Gar…it hurts…
Changeling knelt next to her. She shook her head, as if she could dislodge the pain.
Jinx: We knew about her past. It was always possible that she'd crack.
Krystal: So when we gave her the suit, we installed insurance. Just a blocker for her meta-human powers. It only hurts because she's still trying to use them.
Terra relaxed and the pain faded. She clenched her teeth.
Terra: NO! I will NOT be reduced to a bug by you!
The pain returned but Terra didn't care. She screamed in rage and agony. The ground began to shake. She climbed to her feet and raised her arms.
Cyborg: Yo, Changeling! Get out of there!
Changeling: But…!
Terra: Go! Something bad is about to happen, Gar! Something's got to give and I'll be damned if it's me!
She smiled through the pain.
Terra: Gar…you were the best friend…maybe the only REAL friend I ever had. Now go.
Changeling backed away, not taking his eyes off her.
Sonic: Terra, stop it! You'll kill yourself!
Terra: If I do, I'll take you with me! I'll…!
Terra suddenly felt a stiffening feeling in her legs. She looked down and saw the petrifaction process beginning.
Gizmo: Her powers are turning on her!
Blackfire: You've got to stop!
Terra: GO TO HELL!
Terra sneered defiantly as she felt the stiffening reach her neck. Within seconds she was entirely stone.
Changeling: TERRA!
Raven: We should go. Her attempts have made the ground very unstable.
Changeling: I'm not leaving without her!
Raven: Don't worry. They'll save her. They're foolish like that.
Robin: We're leaving, Titans.
They escaped as the ground began to collapse. Raven was right. They did save her body. They even put her on a pedestal in the mountains. They had put up a plaque, but Changeling chucked it without even reading it. Who cares what they thought?
End Flashback
Changeling wiped his eyes. He'd make the HIVE pay for what they did. It was their fault she was stone and he'd make sure they realized what a mistake it was before they died.
END PART ONE