32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Love in the Fast Lane"
Chapter Three
Bridge
Lightening: We tire of you, HIVE!
Thunder: Yes, why do you insist on ruining our fun?
Thunder shot a blast of energy at Mammoth. Sonic jumped in front of it and absorbed the brunt of it. Thunder was sound after all.
Sonic: (grinning) You get your kicks one way, this is how we get ours.
He fired a blast back, knocking Thunder across the bridge and into a truck. He flipped back as Lighting tried to strike him.
Lightening: Hold still, blast you!
Sonic: Why do you villains always say stuff like that? When was the last time somebody actually listened to you?
There was a loud crash as Thunder's shockwave hit a car, sending it toward Sonic. He swore and ducked under it. Doing so put him right in Lighting's sights and he got hit. He writhed in pain as Lighting raised his arms for another shot. Suddenly he was blinded by a flash of light and hit…HARD.
Krystal: It's funny. A guy named Lightening getting blinded by bright lights.
Mammoth: Kinda ironic.
Mammoth didn't have time to say much else as Thunder attacked, grabbing Mammoth in a bear hug. Suddenly he got a blow to the back of his head. He let Mammoth go and got slammed by his former captive.
Red X: Sorry I'm late.
Mammoth: Hey, better late then never.
The pair were interrupted by Lightening, who seemed to have recovered. The fight continued in this manner for a while when suddenly Red X felt a little strange. Her mind seemed to be wandering. This wasn't like her. Suddenly she realized she was being shoved. It happened so fast she was barely aware of it. Sonic had shoved her aside and got himself hit by another lightening bolt. This one was even bigger then the last one. Jinx freaked and fired a curse at Lightening. A hole formed in the bridge, spilling him into the water below. He shorted out. Gizmo sealed Thunder in a force bubble. Jinx ran to Sonic's side. He was sizzling slightly, but he was alive. Red X approached, not knowing what to say.
Red X: I…Jinx, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened.
Jinx: …you weren't paying attention again, weren't you?
Red X: No, I…well…I don't…
Jinx: Damn you, Red! Get yourself hurt was bad enough…but this…! That does it! You are NOT to see Kid Flash until you get your damn act together!
Red X: …I understand. This is my fault. …I need to see him one more time to tell him.
Jinx: Fine, whatever. Blackfire, get Sonic home, now!
Red X watched Blackfire carefully pick up Sonic and fly toward the tower. She sighed. She really screwed up. She didn't understand it. How could she…? Suddenly a thought jumped into her head. What if…? No, that wasn't possible…was it? Her head still felt strange.
Red X: Jinx…I…I think something's wrong with me…
Jinx: You're damn right something's wrong with you!
Red X: No…I mean…I think…I've been...I need to get to med lab, quickly.
Jinx didn't know where she was going with this, but the strange spaced out tone Red X was talking in was enough to worry her.
Jinx: Send the bike home and get in the car.
Med-lab
Gizmo frowned at the test results print out in his hand. Red X wanted her blood tested for foreign substances. Krystal peered over his shoulder (she was crouching down).
Krystal: What'cha got?
Gizmo: GAH! I told you not to do that, dammit!
Krystal: Sorry.
Gizmo: She's been drugged. Some form of speed from the looks of it. That's why she's having trouble talking. Her brain is moving too fast for her mouth to follow.
Red X: I thought so.
They turned and found Red X standing in the doorway.
Red X: That's why I couldn't concentrate during combat. I wasn't distracted by Kid Flash.
Krystal: I wouldn't be so sure.
Red X: What are you talking about?
Krystal: How'd this stuff get in your system?
Red X: I don't know.
Gizmo: You feel any sharp pricks? Something like a bug bite maybe?
Red X: No.
Krystal: Did you eat anything you didn't see prepared?
Red X: Just some…
Red X stopped in mid-sentence.
Red X: (suspicious) …what are you getting at?
Krystal: (sigh) Isn't it possible that Kid Flash slipped something into your…
Red X: No, it isn't! He wouldn't do that to me!
Krystal: You don't…
Red X: He wouldn't!
Red X stormed out of the room, shoving her way past Mammoth. She headed for the garage. She put her helmet on and got on her bike, but…
Jinx: Where the hell do you think you're going?
Red X: I was drugged! He had nothing to do with it so I'm going out to find him.
Jinx: How the hell were you drugged!
Red X: I don't know! Just…just leave me alone!
Red X opened the doors and sped out before Jinx could close them again.
Jinx: Dammit…
Carnival
Red X hopped the gate and entered. It was closed now. She headed back to where they had eaten. As she had suspected, the place had been cleaned up. She sighed. It was worth a try. She tried looking around the lemonade stand, and found a small flask. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened. She sighed and dropped it.
Red X: …Kid Flash…why?
Kid Flash: Nothing personal, babe. How'd you know I was here?
Red X: I didn't. I was kind of talking to myself. You know, for dramatic effect.
Kid Flash: Oh…eh, it was bound to come out some point.
Red X: It still doesn't answer my question! Why? I thought you loved me…or at least LIKED me a lot.
Kid Flash stepped out of the shadows and shrugged.
Kid Flash: You're nice and all…but you're just not my type. Too…I don't know…good guyish…or good girlish as the case maybe. Like I said, nothing personal. Just a way to earn a few bucks.
Red X: Somebody paid you to toy with my heart! What kind of sick shit would do that!
Kid Flash: Damned if I know. Never actually met the guy…assuming it WAS a guy. The point is, I was getting major cash for it. If I wasn't, then trust me, I wouldn't have done something like this.
Red X clenched her fists.
Red X: Is that supposed to make me feel better!
Kid Flash: Not really, but then again, what do I care?
Red X: You…you bastard!
Red X launched X's at him. He easily zipped out of the way.
Kid Flash: Too slow.
With an angry shout she launched herself at him. He dodged all of her blows with ease. Kid Flash grabbed both her hands and brought his face just in front of hers.
Kid Flash: C'mon, give it up, Red. You know I'm way too…OW!
Red X slammed her head against his again. He backed away, dazed and clutching his nose.
Kid Flash: You…how could you move…
Red X: You may run faster then me, but I've still got better reflexes!
Before his vision could clear she fired goop Xs at his feet. He tried to run, but the stuff held fast.
Red X: You're going to jail, Kid Flash…but not right away. First…
Red X slammed her fist into his stomach. He gasped and hunched over.
Red X: First, I'm going to hurt you a little. I trusted you. I stuck up for you! I was willing to quit the team for you if need be. Haven't you ever heard the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"!
Kid Flash: Oh, that's it.
Kid Flash began to vibrate, trying to jar himself loose of the adhesive.
Red X: That won't work. That stuff was designed with speedsters in mind. It matches your vibrations.
Faster and faster, his body shook with effort.
Red X: It's useless, I told you! You're wasting your time.
He continued to ignore her. His body was starting to glow blue.
Red X: Hey…I really don't think you're supposed to glow like that…
Finally Kid Flash stopped, but the glow didn't fade.
Kid Flash: (voice warbling) Uh…I think maybe I overdid…
He exploded. Well, not real exploded, but there really wasn't a better term for it. His body just…burst like a firecracker, complete with pretty blue lights. Red X stared in shock and horror.
Red X: Kid Flash? Kid Flash!
HIVE Tower: Main Room, Next Day
Sonic was still a little crispy, but other then that he was fine. He sat on the couch, watching Mammoth and Gizmo play.
Gizmo: Is Red still in her room?
Mammoth: Yeah. She won't say what's wrong though.
Sonic: Eh, probably just feels guilty about getting me fried. She'll get over it.
Gizmo: Yeah. Besides, she doesn't seem to listen to anything we say to her, so waiting for her to get over it is the only option we got. Hey, that's cheating! Stop using the same move over and over!
Mammoth: It's the only one I know!
Red X's Room
Rose wiped her eyes and looked at the photo strip in her hand. It was taken at the carnival. She wasn't sure what hurt more. Was it the fact he was only toying with her, or that she might just have killed him? Of course one thing still bothered her. Who in their right minds would send someone out…PAY THEM IN FACT, just to break somebody's heart? If she ever found them…she'd make them pay…dearly.
THE END