32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"Love in the Fast Lane"

Chapter One

HIVE Tower: Main Room

Red X sighed as she leaned against the wall. She was watching Jinx and Sonic on the couch. Jinx had gotten Sonic to watch some mushy movie with her. A real "chick flick", though Red X couldn't see why they called it that. She wasn't at all enjoying it, which was why her attention had turned to her friends and teammates. The plot was fairly simplistic, if a bit unreasonable. Something about a guy trying to make his snooty girlfriend jealous by going out with this quote unquote "nerd girl". Along the way, he seems to actually fall for her and see that the relationship he had before was…weak, at best. Unfortunately his plan worked and now the snooty girl wants him back. Red couldn't see it happening. Who couldn't see through that boy's terrible acting in the first place? No girl would believe the swill he was tossing toward that innocent "nerd". Terrible. She doubted the two knew she had been watching it with them, which was probably why they were so close together. As she watched them she felt a pang of loneliness in her chest. Jinx had her head on his shoulder and he was gently running his fingers through her long pink hair. She couldn't see from where she was, but they were probably holding hands too. She couldn't take anymore. She slipped out of the room and into the halls. She sniffled softly, ashamed of herself. She was stronger then that. She shouldn't be crying. Despite telling herself that, she couldn't stop the flow of tears making her mask wet.

Krystal: …Red…what's wrong?

Red X jumped slightly. She wasn't used to be snuck up on. She must have been more distracted then she realized.

Red X: Nothing…

Krystal: Nothing? You don't sniffle for no reason.

Red X: Allergies.

Krystal put a hand on her shoulder, but she swatted it away. This caught Krystal by surprise. She had never seen Red X upset about anything before. The hurt look on her face made Red X pause.

Red X: …I'm sorry…I…should go.

Red X left, leaving a very confused Krystal behind. Shrugging she entered the main room. Seeing what was going on, she grinned and snuck up on the cuddling pair.

Krystal: (childishly) What'cha doing?

Jinx and Sonic jumped and scooted away from each other.

Sonic: Nothing!
Jinx: Not a thing!

Krystal laughed and hopped between them, much to their disappointment. She put her arms around them and held them close.

Krystal: (serious for once) Hey…you guys know what's bothering Red? She was out in the hall and I could swear she was crying.

Sonic groaned mentally. Jinx was going to go into "helpful friend" mode and he wasn't going to be getting anywhere for the rest of the night. Jinx hated it when her team was unhappy. She said it made her feel like she wasn't doing her job right. So saying, if she could help out, she would. This meant trouble for him. Well…Red X was a nice girl. It sucked if she was depressed…but did she have to be depressed on the night he had planned to get to second base?

Sonic: (muttering) She's probably depressed 'cause she doesn't have a boyfriend…

The girls stared at him for a minute, making him think he had said the wrong thing. He was getting ready to stand up and go to the training room when Jinx snapped her fingers.

Jinx: That's it!

Krystal: I think you're right!

Sonic: I am? I mean, of course I am.

Jinx: Sonic, I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short. Get the others, but don't tell Red X. We're having a little meeting.

: CUE THEME :

Main Room

Jinx: Okay…I'm not going to beat around the bush. I called this meeting for one reason. We're going to get Red X a boyfriend.

Blackfire: No fooling! Match-maker time!

Gizmo: …you've got to be kidding me.

Mammoth: No way. I ain't getting involved in that sort of thing.

Jinx: Why the hell not!

Mammoth: It ain't right to be messing in other people's love lives, Jinx.

Jinx: But she's so shy. She'll never do anything about her loneliness unless we give her a push.

Mammoth: You do what you want. Me? I'm outta here.

Gizmo: I'm with him. This is stupid.

The pair left. Jinx growled.

Jinx: Fine! Be that way!

Blackfire: We don't need them anyway.

Sonic: Uh…

Jinx: Oh come on, Sonic! Please?

Sonic: Mammoth has a point. If she really wants somebody she should try actually LOOKING.

Jinx: Please! C'mon Sonic! I'm asking nicely!

Sonic: (sigh) …just don't ask me to do too much.

Jinx smiled and pecked him on the cheek.

Jinx: You spoil me.

Sonic: I know. So what's the plan?

Krystal: Have some patience! We haven't thought of it yet. Go do something else while we think.

Sonic: Fine, whatever. I'm gonna watch TV.

Sonic turned on the TV as the girls gathered in a huddle and began to whisper amongst themselves. He shook his head. He'll never understand women…so he just tried to fake it. It seemed to work. It got him a pink haired cutie anyway.

Training Room

Red X stopped hitting the punching bag and tilted her head.

Red X: Strange…I suddenly have a very deep sense of foreboding.

She shrugged and hit the punching bag again. It was probably just her imagination. Krystal was the one with the amazing danger instincts. It wasn't like her friends were plotting against her or anything. Right? Right?

Three Days Later…Main Room

Jinx sighed and smacked her head on the table.

Jinx: Anything?

Blackfire and Krystal were in the same position.

Blackfire: Nothing.

Krystal: Nada. You?

Jinx: Zilch. This is staring to look hopeless.

Sonic: Maybe you're trying to hard. Stop looking for a super hero and try someone ordinary.

Jinx tilted her head so that one of her eyes could see him.

Jinx: Who would we ask? Who do we know that's "ordinary", Sonic?

Sonic: Uh…okay. Maybe you should try a super hero then.

Krystal: Like WHO? Single male super heroes don't just fall out of the sky.

Krystal looked up but nothing happened.

Blackfire: What are you doing?

Krystal: I was hoping reality would try and prove me wrong.

Jinx: Reality bites. I've got such a headache.

The alarm went off. Jinx groaned.

Jinx: And that's not helping.

The door opened and the others came in.

Gizmo: Hey, come on! Don't you hear that thing? We've got trouble!

Jinx: There's gonna be more trouble if you don't keep your voice down!

Gizmo shrank back, not used to seeing Jinx's temper. Sonic rolled his eyes, having seen Jinx's temper plenty of times. He typed at the computer for a moment then sighed.

Sonic: It's Argent. She's breaking into the bank again.

Mammoth: Ain't that like, the ONLY thing she ever does?

Sonic: At least she's consistent.

Krystal: Maybe she's read too many comic books.

Firstly the Second National Bank

Argent kicked the security guard in the ribs. It was his own fault he was dead. She didn't want to kill anyone. Stealing was one thing, but murder? No. That wasn't her style. It was his fault. Shooting at her, despite the obvious shield in front of her.

Argent: Bloody git…

She turned back to the tellers.

Argent: Okay, let's try this again.

She raised her hands, creating numerous knives. She held each of them up to a teller's throat.

Argent: This is a robbery. Stay down and you don't die. Pretty simple, eh, mates?

With the people down, she turned her attention to the vault door. She cracked her knuckles and formed two large hands, grabbing the door. She strained as attempted to remove the vault door right off its hinges. Finally, it came loose. Before she could move, she was hit from behind by an object she couldn't see. She groaned and stood up.

Argent: Alright, who's the wanker who thought they could…!

Before her stood a boy in red…with a bit of yellow. Easy enough to describe. Think of him as a sort of Reverse Kid Flash, a Professor Zoom Jr. if you will.

Argent: Who the bloody hell are you?

Kid Flash: Name's Kid Flash. Fastest boy alive. No autographs, please.

Argent: Oh? Here to stop me like a good boy, eh?

The HIVE arrived in time to see Kid Flash smirked and pose heroically..

Kid Flash: That's right! That's exactly why I'm here. You give up yet?

Argent: Question. What good is being the fastest boy alive…?

An orb of light enclosed around Kid Flash.

Argent: …if your feet don't touch the ground?

Kid Flash: Glad you asked. You see, being the fastest isn't just about running. You've got to be all about speed. Me?

Kid Flash began to vibrate.

Kid Flash: I'm ALL about the speed.

He passed through the orb, much to Argent's surprise.

Kid Flash: But it looks like I'm the least of your worries.

Argent: What do you…?

She turned and saw the HIVE standing at the door, watching curiously.

Argent: …oh bugger.

Kid Flash: You want this one?

Jinx: Well, we…

Red X: Go right ahead. It's your Jump City debut after all.

The others looked at her. She was nervously wringing her hands. The girls took notice and smirked at each other.

Kid Flash: You're too kind, pretty lady.

Argent: Oh screw it. You know what? I do this time and time again and every time I do, I get caught by these bleeding idjits. There's no way I'm going to beat the HIVE plus one. I give up.

Everyone looked stunned.

Mammoth: Really?

Argent: Pfft, no!

Argent formed two clenched fists and brought them down on Kid Flash. He zipped out of the way.

Kid Flash: C'mon, you can do better then that, can't you?

Argent clenched her fists and raised her hands again. She created numerous blades and swiped at him. He dodged each one, but it was getting close. He was fast, but it took a millisecond for him to start up. Finally he began to tire.

Argent: I got you now!

Kid Flash: (panting) Wouldn't…bet…on…it…

He spun around. The force of it pulled Argent in, allowing him to royally kick her ass. She fell down with a groan. The cops came and took her away.

Krystal: WOW! That was some moves you got there!

Gizmo: How would you know? You couldn't see them!

Krystal blinked then shrugged.

Krystal: I'm trying to be nice. Name's Krystal. The little guy with the big mouth is Gizmo.

Gizmo: Thrilled.

Kid Flash: No wait, wait. I know this one.

He pointed at each one.

Kid Flash: Jinx, Sonic, Mammoth, Blackfire…and…huh…Red X?

Red X nodded. Her heart was pounding. There was something about this boy…something she REALLY liked. Kid Flash scratched his head.

Kid Flash: I didn't know you were a girl.

Red X: Uh huh…

Red X mentally kicked herself. "Uh huh"! What the hell was wrong with her!

Jinx: Hey, surprised us too.

Kid Flash: No way! You didn't know?

Sonic: Hey, she had a different costume then.

Kid Flash: I mean, I understand the whole "secret identity" thing, but don't you think that's a little much?

Red X: Well…uh…

The girls weren't liking this. She was bombing…badly. They needed a plan.

Blackfire: So…uh…where you staying?

Kid Flash: Oh I don't know. I was thinking of running back home. Not that far to me you know?
Jinx: You can stay with us if you want.

Kid Flash: Ahh…I don't know.

Red X was blushing furiously under her mask. What were her friends DOING! They can't invite HIM over! She'd go crazy! Her heart was pounding, her breath was shallow, and her palms were sweating. There was no doubt about it. She was more scared then she had ever been in her life. Staring down the barrel of a gun would be more tolerable then this. Krystal's eye was twitching. Kid Flash was staring at Blackfire's cleavage. At this rate he'd never notice Red X. Worse of all, THAT WAS HER GIRLFRIEND HE WAS OGLING! No, she had to be calm. She HAD to be calm.

Jinx: Well, it's not that late...hey, Red X. Show him around, would you?

Red X: M…me?

Mammoth: You okay? Your voice is all squeaky.

Red X: I'm okay…uh…

Red X leaned toward Jinx.

Red X: Where do I go first?

Jinx: Okay, first off, you should be WHISPERING this part.

Red X gulped and looked back at the sweatdropping Kid Flash. Sonic sighed and leaned forward. He whispered something in her ear. Red X seemed to jump at the suggestion.

Red X: Hey, are you hungry? We can get something to eat if you want.

Kid Flash: Uh…damn…I wish I could, but I'm broke…

Red X: (quickly) I'll pay.

Kid Flash: No, I couldn't ask you to…

Gizmo: Just take the offer! Jeez, it's not like she's really paying. We have our own account!

Kid Flash: Uh…well…okay.

Red X: Great! The pizza place is closest, is that okay?

Kid Flash: Pizza's great! Shall we?

He held out his arm. She gulped nervously and hooked hers with his and they left.

Jinx: That was easy.

Krystal: A little too easy…something's not right.

Sonic: Ah, you're just saying that because he was staring at Blackfire's boobs.

Jinx: Sonic!

Sonic: What? It's true.

Blackfire folded her arms in front of her and huffed.

Blackfire: He's right. I was so tempted to punch him out. Still…he seemed nice enough. He didn't make a pass at me, so that's good. Maybe he was just surprised that I have them on display like this.

When Blackfire first joined the HIVE her costume was a full-body suit sort of a thing. After she began to develop, she found her costume was uncomfortable so she "adjusted" it by cutting the top and replacing the front with a stretching material that would cover her growing assets without constricting them. This left her cleavage exposed.

Gizmo: …why DO you have them on display like that?

Krystal: 'cuz to hide them would be a crime.

Krystal wrapped her arms around her waist and squeezed. Blackfire laughed.

Blackfire: C'mon, stop it.

She turned back to Gizmo.

Blackfire: It's difficult to explain. Let's just say that it's for the best and leave it at that.

Mammoth: I ain't gonna argue.

Jinx: You guys are so embarrassing. Let's go home.

Krystal: …shouldn't someone go with Red X? I mean…what if she gets in trouble?

Blackfire: Then she'll call us. Relax.

They started to leave, but despite her friends' reassurances, Krystal couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something was VERY wrong indeed.

END PART ONE