32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"Trigon's Arrival"

Chapter Two

Library

By Robin's calculations, they had one hour before the eclipse began. The library was now cleared…if littered with corpses is considered clear. Sometimes they wondered why there were still people in Jump City at all.

Starfire: Now all we must do is wait, yes?

Raven: No…this isn't the right spot…something's wrong.

Changeling: What do you mean, this isn't the right spot! This is exactly where you told us to go.

Raven let out a shout of frustration.

Raven: I know, I know! I don't know what's going on, all I know is that we're not in the right spot!

The ceiling exploded with a blackbolt and the HIVE poured in.

Jinx: Raven, stop this! I know you think your father will love you if you do this, but he won't!

Raven: Wh…what! How do you know about my…?

Raven clenched her fists.

Raven: Arella! That nosy bitch! She thinks she can stop me! Stop US!

Raven was furious. How dare her mother interfere with her destiny?

Raven: Kill them! Kill them NOW!

Cyborg: But what about…?

Raven: We'll find it later! Shade, DO IT!

The mark of Scath glowed brightly. Shade leapt forward and attacked, his hands blazing with unnatural fire.

Robin: Titans, GO!

Jinx: Damn it all… HIVE, Together!

Shade's new power made him nearly impossible to beat. His bones popped back into place and he felt no pain. The HIVE were losing. Blackfire saw her chance. She took to the air and flew at Raven, hard and fast. Raven gasped and put up a shield just in time. She was slammed into the ground and forced through it. Her birthmarks started glowing brighter then ever. She looked around and realized that there was something UNDER the library.

Raven: This is it! Thank you, Blackfire. You've done me a great service.

Raven whistled and Shade leapt down after her, attack Blackfire. With all foes distracted, Raven approached the portal location. She smiled evilly as the markings on her body floated off and formed the doorway.

Raven: Yes! Father, this world is yours!

The Titans and HIVE arrived just in time to see Trigon the Terrible enter into the world of mortals.

Changeling: …holy shit.

Mammoth: Ditto.

Trigon raised his arms and bellowed. A blinding light encompassed them all.

Streets: Who Knows How Long Later

Jinx groaned, her head throbbing. She sat up, brushing the dirt and grime off her body. She had no idea how long she had been out…or how she got outside. She looked at her hand. The ring was glowing. She staggered to her feet, trying to fight against the spinning the world seemed to insist on doing. She stumbled into a statue. It was a weird place for it. Who'd put a statue in the middle of the road? Maybe it had gotten…wait…the statue was familiar. She backed away, her hands over her mouth.

Jinx: M…Mammoth?

Mammoth was stone. His face twisted into an expression of horror and shock. Jinx looked at the ring on her hand.

Jinx: What was I thinking? I should have given this to you…

Krystal: Nnngh…somebody stop the world, I wanna get off.

Jinx turned and started digging through the rubble. Krystal groaned as she lifted the last piece.

Jinx: Krystal? Krystal, are you okay?

Krystal: My head hurts.

Jinx: Mine too.

Krystal shook it off when she noticed Mammoth.

Krystal: Oh my god…

Jinx: I know.

Krystal: Somebody built Mammoth a statue! Why don't I get a statue! I'm hip! I'm with it!

Jinx: Krystal, that IS Mammoth.

Krystal: Oh…that's even wor…

Krystal's eyes widened.

Krystal: Blackfire! Where's Blackfire!

Krystal ran off, calling for Blackfire. Jinx swore and went after her. She grabbed Krystal by the arm.

Jinx: I'm worried too, but you can't…

Jinx trailed off as she saw all the stone people that lined the streets.

Jinx: Oh my god…the whole world…

Red X: Terrible.

Red X stepped out from behind a group of stone people.

Red X: I found Gizmo. He's just like them.

Krystal: And Blackfire?

Red X: Sorry.

Krystal: Dammit…if she's dead, they'll pay for this. I swear it.

Mainland Across from HIVE Tower

Terra shed a tear as she saw all the stone people around her. This was horrible. Killing them was one thing, but she knew what it was like to be turned to stone.

Terra: (whisper) We've gone too far.

Cyborg: Shh! He might hear you.

The "he" in question was Trigon. He was using the tower as a chair, the H shape being perfect for it. Raven stood by his leg. She was the only one allowed to be there.

Robin: She's right. I didn't want this.

Starfire: Truly. I thought we were going to take over the world.

Shade huffed. The mark of Scath had been removed from him and his new powers were gone. Oh well. Easy come easy go. He had to agree with his companions. All those stone people…staring blankly. It was enough to freak out even him. Then again, he had a fear of lawn gnomes.

Changeling: Well, it's too late now. He's here and there's nothing we can do.

Robin: …maybe. Maybe not.

Starfire: Have you a plan, Robin?

Robin shook his head.

Robin: Not yet, I…wait a second…

Robin noticed movement from a pile of rubble.

Cyborg: Yo…somebody's alive?

Blackfire stood, wobbling. Blood trickled from a wound on her forehead. Starfire growled.

Starfire: You! Even in the apocalypse you continue to pester me!

Robin stopped Starfire from attacking.

Starfire: Release me, Robin!

Robin: Calm down.

Robin approached Blackfire. Blackfire formed blackbolts in her hands.

Robin: Whoa, calm down. I'm not here to fight you.

Starfire: What!

Cyborg: Shh!

Blackfire clenched her teeth.

Blackfire: Yeah right. Why should I believe you?

Robin: You don't have a choice. You can either believe me, or piss that guy over there off.

Robin gestured toward Trigon. Blackfire's eyes widened.

Blackfire: Our home…

Terra: Screw your home! Look around you. Look at these people.

Blackfire took notice of all the stone people.

Blackfire: What have you done!

Terra: Please. If I had known THIS would happen I wouldn't have helped. I know what it's like.

Changeling: We screwed up, okay? We admit it.

Robin: …how are you still alive?

Blackfire: …the ring. It protects me.

Starfire: Then we shall have to crush it and…

Robin: No, Starfire. We need her.

Starfire: Pardon?

Robin: …how many of those do you have?

Blackfire: …others have them.

Robin: Interesting…including Jinx?

Blackfire didn't know why she was telling them this. They really didn't stand much to gain from attacking her now though.

Blackfire: Yes.

Robin: …then maybe we can send this guy back where he came from and undo this mess.

Back on the island Trigon opened his eyes.

Trigon: DAUGHTER.

Raven turned and knelt toward her father.

Raven: Yes, Lord Trigon?

Trigon: IT WOULD SEEM YOUR TRUST IN THOSE MORTALS WAS MISPLACED. THEY WISH TO TURN AGAINST US.

Raven was stunned.

Raven: But…why?

Trigon: IT SEEMS THEY DON'T AGREE WITH MY METHODS. A PITY. IT MEANS THEY MUST BE ELIMINATED.

Raven: Father, please…maybe I can talk some sense into…

Trigon: NO. THEY'VE MADE THEIR CHOICE. THEY MUST BE DEALT WITH.

Raven winced.

Trigon: …SO DEAL WITH THEM. ALL OF THEM.

Raven: …yes…Lord Trigon.

Raven turned and flew toward the mainland, her heart heavy. This was the last thing she wanted to do. The other HIVE members found Blackfire and the Titans. Jinx had been stunned into silence by the sight of the petrified Sonic. Krystal happily hugged Blackfire upon seeing her.

Robin: If the reunion is over…?

Jinx: …I don't know how to send him back…but Raven would.

Starfire: It seems unlikely that she would betray her father.

Raven: Quite right, Starfire. I wouldn't.

The Titans and HIVE turned to see Raven looking down at them sadly.

Raven: …I can't believe you would turn against us. I had such high hopes for you. We could have ruled over creation.

Changeling: Over what? There's nothing left!

Terra: You didn't say they'd be turned to stone! I'd never have helped you if I had known that!

Robin: Raven…we're putting a stop to this.

Raven: No, you're not. …kill them.

Lava creatures rose from the ground.

Raven: …be quick about it. Shade…I'm disappointed in you most of all. I thought you would stick by me, no matter what.

The combined power of the HIVE and Titans was an impressive force indeed, but Raven just kept summoning more.

Krystal: You guys deal with Trigon. I've got these things.

Starfire: She has gone mad.

Krystal: Have not. I have a high tolerance for heat…besides…

Krystal snapped her fingers and beings of light appeared next to the lava creatures, created by the light their own bodies put off, and attacked them.

Krystal: I'm an army of one.

They turned to leave but Raven moved to stop them. Before she could do anything, Shade tackled her. He made a motion toward Trigon.

Red X: …I think he wants us to continue.

Robin: Whatever. Terra, get us over there. You three, stand in front of us. The rings will block his power, making you perfect shields.

Jinx: …do as he says. His logic is sound.

Back with Shade and Raven, Raven kicked him off her.

Raven: Damnation, Shade! Why! Why did you betray me! You of all people! I'll kill you for this!

Shade sighed.

Raven: You think I won't!

Shade: (in her head) Maybe you will, maybe you won't. I won't fight you.

Raven frowned but started floating upward. If he wouldn't fight, she'd deal with the others. A shadow wrapped around her leg and pulled her back down.

Shade: I said I wouldn't fight…but I also won't let you leave.

Raven hissed.

Raven: Fool!

She made a motion with her hand and a stop sign uprooted itself. It flew at Shade. She expected him to go into his shadow form, but instead he let it hit him, the pole piercing his shoulder. He ripped it out, holding the bleeding wound. Raven's eyes widened for a moment before she tried to leave again. This time a wall blocked her.

Raven: You moron. Don't you see that I'll kill you!

Shade: …I'm not letting you pass.

Raven snarled in frustration and confusion. Why was he doing this? Why wouldn't he fight? Back over at the island the attack began. Starfire and Blackfire put their hands together and formed a massive blast to get things started. Trigon snarled and fired his eye blasts. The HIVE members got in front of the others and took the blast. Their rings fell apart, but otherwise they were fine.

Red X: …it looks like that was it.

Robin: Oh whatever. Changeling, diversionary tactic.

Changeling: Aw, man…I hate being the diversion.

END PART TWO