32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Failed Second Chance"
Chapter One
HIVE Tower: Roof
Jinx sat on the roof, looking at the rising sun. She was thinking about…stuff. Lots of stuff. You know, the kind of stuff young heroes think about. Suddenly a penny landed next to her. She turned and saw Blackfire looking down at her, arms crossed and a friendly smile on her face.
Blackfire: Do I really need to say it?
She sat down next to her friend and leader.
Jinx: I was thinking…about Terra.
Blackfire raised one of her tiny Tamaranian eyebrows. Damn those things are just freakishly small, aren't they?
Blackfire: Terra? Why?
Jinx: …I know she was twisted…but did she really deserve what happened?
Blackfire: She brought it on herself.
Jinx shrugged.
Jinx: I know that…but…what if she's still aware? The thought just struck me one day.
Blackfire: You mean…what if she's actually aware that she's frozen in place? Of the passing time?
Jinx: Yeah.
Blackfire thought about that for a minute.
Blackfire: …that would be horrible.
Jinx: My thoughts exactly.
Blackfire brought her legs up, tucking her knees under her chin.
Blackfire: …so now you want to set her free?
Jinx: I was thinking about it, yes.
Blackfire: How?
Jinx: No idea.
Silence.
Blackfire: Sounds like a plan. Let's go for it.
:CUE THEME:
HIVE Tower: Gizmo's Room
Gizmo: No. Uh uh. No way. Not happening.
Blackfire: We haven't even told you what we wanted.
Gizmo: I know, but I'm not in a good mood today.
And so Jinx and Blackfire explained their plan (not really a plan so much as a basic idea) to Gizmo. Gizmo sat back in his chair and nodded, sagely.
Gizmo: …no. Uh uh. No way. Not happening.
Jinx: Why not?
Gizmo: Because I can't.
Gizmo spun in his chair to face his computer and started typing.
Gizmo: The purpose of the device we installed was to block Terra's meta-human powers in case she went nuts.
A graphics program started, showing a basic outline of Terra in the "apprentice" outfit (the uniform she received when she joined HIVE and subsequently the Titans). The two things on her head began to glow.
Gizmo: That's all they did. As a side effect, if she continued to try and use her powers, it would cause pain. To stop it, all she had to do was not try.
The body glowed red to indicate pain.
Gizmo: But as you know, she didn't stop.
Jinx: …she was determined not to be contained, I guess.
Gizmo: I say she was just crazy. As you know somehow her powers overloaded the suit, but rather then allow her to use her ability, it petrified her instead, suit and all.
Blackfire moved her hair from in front of her face and sighed.
Blackfire: Is there a point to this?
Gizmo: Yeah. If the suit has been turned to stone…HOW CAN I FIX IT!
Silence.
Blackfire: …good point.
Gizmo: So, there's nothing I can do. Wouldn't know how to make a de-stone machine. It's not scientifically feasible.
Blackfire and Jinx left the room.
Blackfire: So much for that idea…
Jinx: It's not over yet.
Blackfire looked confused.
Blackfire: But he said…
Jinx: Not scientifically feasible. But I'm a sorceress. I do the unfeasible.
Blackfire tilted her head.
Blackfire: But I thought you just made bad luck.
Jinx: It's a curse spell. It's so easy to me, it might as well be my power. The other stuff is harder.
Blackfire: Can you do it?
Jinx shrugged.
Jinx: People have used stone curses before. The counter-curse may work just as well. I'll find something. See ya later. This might take some time.
Jinx walked off, leaving Blackfire confused.
Blackfire: …she's a sorceress?
Titan H.Q.: Training Session
The Titans didn't waste time with training dummies or even robots. They just fought each other. Robin never fought Starfire, however. Not because they were afraid they'd hurt each other, but because they knew they'd never be able to fight to the best of their ability. Starfire slammed her fist downward, just missing Cyborg. He grabbed her arm and slammed her down. Before he could let go, she grabbed his arm and held him as she pulled her other fist back. She grinned. Meanwhile Shade slid back along the floor as Changeling swiped at him in the form of a demon-bear. He was hit by Robin's bo-staff, but he tossed Robin into Changeling. He always did have a hard head. After dealing with Cyborg, Starfire turned to Raven. She flung starbolts at her, but Raven's shield held strong. Raven grinned and slowly began to close her hand. Starfire found herself in the grasp of a giant raven's talon. Raven cried out as a birdarang imbedded itself just under her shoulder. Her concentration ruined, Starfire burst free. Raven clenched her teeth in rage then grinned. She stuck her index finger and pinky into her mouth and whistled sharply. She pointed toward Robin. Robin looked confused until Shade leapt at him, viciously clawing at him.
Robin: Hey! Whoa, he's not playing!
Raven: Oops. So sorry. Shade, don't kill him, only maim him.
To everyone's surprise, Changeling rammed them both. As they hit the wall, he shifted from rhino-thing to wolf-beast.
Cyborg: Yo, man! Chill! You beat them.
Changeling shifted back to normal.
Changeling: …whatever. Training's over anyway.
It was true. The timer had run out. Raven hissed and tried to reach the birdarang in her shoulder.
Raven: Somebody give me a hand with this. I can't reach it.
Raven sweatdropped as Cyborg's hand fell at her feet.
Raven: …that's great. Very humorous. Now someone get this fing blade out of my shoulder!
Starfire landed next to her and pulled it out. Raven yelped and sighed. She could feel the warmth of blood seeping from the wound.
Raven: When Robin wakes up, tell him that was a nice shot. I'll be remembering it when we train again.
Starfire picked Robin up gently. She looked him over for grievous wounds. She glanced at Changeling.
Starfire: (still checking Robin) Your behavior has been increasingly violent of late, Changeling. While I do find it to be most refreshing on the field, it disturbs me to see you perform so brutally on your friends.
Changeling: …I haven't been feeling like myself lately.
Cyborg: I noticed. You've been eating vegetables. What's up with that?
Changeling shrugged.
Changeling: Just depressed I guess.
Raven walked over and nudged Shade with her foot. He woke up slowly and stood, bloody trickling from a cut on his forehead.
Raven: It's Terra again, isn't it?
Changeling sighed. Raven shook her head.
Raven: I thought so. I'll tell you a secret, Garfield. …when she first turned to stone, I DID look through my spells on a way to change her back. I'm sorry to say there is none in my books.
Changeling: …didn't think you liked her.
Raven shrugged.
Raven: She had a certain flare for her work. There's still hope though. Jinx might have books I don't.
Starfire: Jinx! Are you suggesting that we go to THEM for assistance!
Raven snorted.
Raven: Of course not. We don't need to. I've been working on Jinx for a while, slowly manipulating her guilt level. She'll free Terra on her own, or at least try. Until then…we simply need to wait.
HIVE Tower: Jinx's Room
It was getting late and Jinx was tired. She had been going through her books all day. She rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake. There was a knock on her door. She was surprised. She didn't think anyone else was still awake.
Jinx: Come in.
Sonic entered. What made his visit even better was what was in his hand. If she wasn't mistaken…
Jinx: Is that coffee?
Sonic: Two sugars, just the way you like it.
Jinx: I love you so much right now.
Sonic handed her the coffee, which she sipped, eager to get the caffeine into her system. He sat down next to her.
Sonic: I see how it is. You're using me for my coffee making skills. Oh, the cruelty of it all!
Jinx laughed and lightly hit his arm.
Sonic: And now the abuse starts.
Jinx: You're nuts.
Sonic shrugged.
Sonic: Guilty as charged, I guess. So…find anything?
Jinx's smile faded and she became serious.
Jinx: Yeah, but I'm going to keep looking. I want to know every possible cure. That way, when we get there, I can just go through them all. If they don't work, then…
Jinx shrugged.
Jinx: …she's out of luck.
Sonic: …was that another one of your puns?
Jinx thought for a second.
Jinx: Oh wow, I didn't even mean that. No, no pun intended. …you should go to bed. You must be tired.
Sonic: You shouldn't have to stay up all by yourself.
Jinx: That's really sweet of you, but if something comes up, I need my team well rested, okay? Go on.
Sonic sighed and nodded.
Sonic: Aye, aye captain.
Jinx smiled as he left. He really was a sweet guy. A little perverted sometimes, but a sweet guy.
Terra's Resting Place
The HIVE watched as Jinx went through her list of spells. Nothing was happening. Jinx sighed.
Jinx: Damn…the counter curses don't work.
Krystal: You still got a spell left.
Jinx looked at the spell in her notebook.
Jinx: …I didn't want to use this one. …but I guess I have no choice.
Jinx spoke the spell and gestured. A pink bolt hit Terra and she collapsed to the ground, panting. The thing was, she was still made of stone.
Mammoth: Whoa…what the hell?
Terra: Free…I'm finally free! Jinx, thank you so much! I couldn't move, I couldn't talk but at last I'm…
Terra's words faded as she looked at her self. Her suit had returned to normal a few spells back, but she was still stone. She pulled the gloves off her hands and stared at them in horror.
Terra: What…what have you done to me!
Jinx: I'm sorry, Terra. It was the only thing that worked.
Gizmo: I don't get it…how can she be alive?
Jinx: The spell is used to bring statues to life, like a golem.
Terra clenched her fists, tears trickling down her face.
Terra: And to think…I was ready to go to therapy…to give myself up and try to cope with my homicidal tendencies! You'll all pay for this!
Jinx shook her head sadly.
Jinx: I'm sorry you feel that way, Terra…but you must realize you can't beat us all.
Robin: Who says she has to?
The Titans appeared, courtesy of a combination of Raven and Shade's power. Terra squealed happily and embraced Changeling tightly. Changeling gasped in pain. Terra released him, startled.
Terra: Whoa…my strength…it's increased. I'm sorry, Gar.
Changeling: (wheezing) 'sokay.
He coughed.
Changeling: (normal) I'm just glad you're back.
He kissed her. Terra sighed happily then frowned. She kissed him back more passionately, then broke off, her eyes wild with rage.
Terra: I can't feel! My body is numb! I…I can't even enjoy a kiss.
Jinx looked guilty. She hadn't known about that part.
Terra: You…you all ruined my life!
Blackfire: Hey, we could have left you a statue!
Terra: I wish you had! I'll kill you all for this!
Starfire: That sounds like a most delightful plan.
The HIVE prepared for battle and the Titans leapt at them. The HIVE, however, were now outnumbered. Things were going bad until Jinx released a curse. At the same moment, Raven released her soul-self to attack them. The bolt hit her soul-self and she screamed. Her soul-self retreated back into her body and she fell to the ground, twitching and foam spilling from her mouth. She gurgled and went still. Shade was at her side in seconds.
Robin: Grab her and let's go!
Terra: But…
Robin: DO IT!
Shade grabbed Raven and the Titans left. The HIVE sighed in relief.
Gizmo: Well, this is just great. Now they outnumber us.
Jinx: I'm sorry…I just…I couldn't leave her like that.
Mammoth: Why not! We'd have been killed if you hadn't done…whatever you did.
Jinx's eyes widened.
Jinx: Oh my god…I might have killed her!
Gizmo: Great. Just great. Let's go home now before they come back.
Jinx sighed and hung her head. She had screwed up badly.
Titan HQ: Med-lab
Raven was strapped into all sorts of machines. Shade was by her side whimpering softly. Cyborg went over the results and sighed. Shade tilted his head.
Cyborg: I don't get it. She should be fine.
Shade snorted. She wasn't fine by any stretch of the imagination.
Cyborg: Heart's normal, brain waves, everything is fine.
Shade's eyes widened as he remembered something. He disappeared, leaving Cyborg confused. Cyborg thought he would never leave Raven in her current state. He reappeared in Raven's room and began to go through her things. He found what he was looking for. A small hand mirror…she had told him that it was a portal to her mind and that he was to NEVER look into it. He hoped she would forgive him. He looked inside the mirror and was pulled in by a bird's talon.
END PART ONE