32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"The Chaos Theory"
Chapter One
Costume Shop
Carl Stevenson, the owner of the costume shop was having a considerably bad day. First he couldn't find his keys. Then he spilt hot coffee all over his pants. There was the shipment that never arrived due to a misprint on the receiving address. Yet, it was arguably the fact that he was currently tied up after hours as a disheveled woman in the garb of an asylum inmate went through the costumes, talking to herself.
Woman: No, no, no. An "Alice" costume won't work. It's too plain. A business suit? What am I, an accountant? Hmm…doctor's outfit, huh? That's not bad. I kind of like that. Huh? What do you mean? Oh, whatever. Still, it's a bit too ordinary…ah! Of course!
The woman grinned and giggled as she pulled numerous costumes off the shelf. She grabbed a doctor costume, a clown costume, a serial killer costume, a solider costume, and a vampire costume. Turning to Carl, she knelt down in front of him and patted his head.
Woman: I'm gonna try these on, 'kay? Be right back.
Whistling to herself, the woman took her handful of costumes and went into the back room. He could hear her babbling again.
Woman: Let's see…this…and this…oh and we have to have a cape. Because it looks cool! Duh. Hmm…yeah, you're right plastic is useless. Hey, here we go. I know what it is! Don't insult me. Hey! Hey, Mr. Store Guy! Is there a mirror around here?
Of course, Carl couldn't respond. He had a sock in his mouth held on with tape. The woman sighed.
Woman: Never mind, I'll use the bathroom's.
He saw a flash of white, black, and red, as the woman bolted into the bathroom. Some time later she stepped back out and returned to the back room.
Woman: Not getting much use from this clown costume, are we? Yeah, but it smells funny. Sure, that sounds good. So do I. Maybe we should go back and steal some. Good point. Okay! Mr. Store Owner man! Prepare for a dazzling feast for the eyes!
The woman stepped out of the backroom and posed. Simply put, she looked ridiculous. She wore the doctor's coat and gloves, the serial killer's jump suit, the soldier's boots, the clowns make up, and the vampire's cape. Well, it wasn't all of the clown's make up. It was a patch work of the soldier's camouflage paint and the clown's pasty white stuff.
Woman: Not bad, eh? Total nonsense. You're confused, I can tell. That's what we're going for.
The woman flung her cape back and sat down. She clicked her feet together like a bored child.
Woman: This is a nice place. None of those cheapo costumes here. Bet this stuff would cost a pretty penny…if I had any intention of paying. Now…the question becomes, what do I do with you? It has to be something…unexpected.
The woman looked up at thin air, listening intently. She sighed and shook her head.
Woman: Boring. What about you?
Turning her head, she looked in the other direction.
Woman: Let him go? …well, that WOULD be unexp…
The woman shot forward, running a box cutter across Carl's throat. He slumped over, gurgling. Blood flowed rapidly. Maybe he shouldn't have ordered those really sharp box cutters after all.
Woman: Didn't see that coming did you?
…yep. This wasn't Carl's day at all.
: CUE THEME :
HIVE Tower: Gizmo's Room
Gizmo woke up slowly, yawning. He rolled over and found himself face to face with a wide grin.
Krystal: Morning, Honey-pie. Was it good for you?
Gizmo let out a startled shout. Krystal snickered and stood up. She was completely dressed, naturally. When she came in and saw Gizmo asleep, her mind devised a quick little joke. There was just enough room for her to lie on the bed next to the sleeping Gizmo. Gizmo scowled at her, obviously not finding it as funny as she did.
Gizmo: What the hell are you doing! You don't come into other people's rooms like that!
Krystal shrugged, rocking back and forth on her feet.
Krystal: I knocked, but you wouldn't wake up. Sorry, Gizzito.
It didn't help that he still had a slight crush on the odd girl. Thank god he was the type who wore pajamas to bed. Oh, that could have been VERY embarrassing otherwise. If Krystal picked up on his discomfort, she didn't show it. It was hard to tell. She had days were her "silly" antics were somewhat cruel. Maybe she was deliberately taunting him.
Gizmo: What did you WANT anyway?
Krystal: The Great Jinxini wants you to reconfigure the training robots programming. She says it's important or something. I dunno.
Gizmo: Fine, fine. Whatever. Get out, would you?
Krystal stuck out her tongue and left.
Training Room
Jinx paced back and forth, waiting for Gizmo. She should have gone herself. Krystal probably got distracted by something. Finally Gizmo entered the room, rubbing his eyes.
Gizmo: This better be worth waking up with Krystal grinning in my face.
Jinx: The training exercises have been too easy lately. You need to increase the difficulty. I want these things to have a rudimentary idea of what we're capable of.
Gizmo groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Gizmo: THIS is what couldn't wait for me to wake up on my own!
Jinx: Look, Gizmo, this is important. Do you think the Titans are just sitting back, stuffing there faces? No, they're getting stronger, learning new techniques, inventing new things, and planning new strategies. If we don't keep up, they'll kill us and the city will be theirs. Do you WANT that?
Gizmo rolled her eyes. Jinx did this every so often. Usually after the Titans got away…again. Jinx stuck her finger in his face, the tip crackling with pink energy.
Jinx: Don't roll your eyes at me, Mikron!
Gizmo: Hey, don't call me that! …hate my name.
Jinx: Be thankful you HAVE a real name. Now hurry up.
Gizmo: What's the hurry?
Jinx sighed and knelt down to his height.
Jinx: Don't tell Krystal…but the asylum called. Doctor Denise Steiner escaped. She knocked out one of the orderlies by slamming his head against the cleaning cart. They said they had to stitch the wound closed.
Gizmo: Since when was she that strong?
Jinx shrugged.
Jinx: The demons of madness lend great strength, Gizmo.
Gizmo: …that's deep.
Jinx: Just get to work.
Jinx walked off, leaving Gizmo to grumble his complaints to the robots.
Titan H.Q.: Main Room
Terra whistled as she dug through the refrigerator for breakfast.
Terra: Let's see…chocolate syrup…chocolate syrup…ah!
Terra pulled out the bottle of chocolate syrup and went for the cabinets. Grabbing a bowl, a bag of pretzels, and a cup, she got to work. Healthy? Terra doesn't DO healthy. She poured the chocolate syrup into the cup, filled the bowl with pretzels, and went to sit down on the couch and watch whatever she could find on TV. In her excitement, she almost sat on Shade. Terra clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Terra: In trouble again?
Shade stared up at her, his only reply was to huff. Not that this was any surprise. Terra sat next to him and dipped a pretzel into the chocolate syrup. Yum.
Terra: Honestly, can't she just let it go? What are you DOING that's so bad?
Shade just yawned, his tongue rolling like a cat's. He didn't sleep well these days. The couch was lumpy and smelled like all the food crumbs that got stuck between the cushions. Old and rotten. Besides, it just wasn't the same.
Terra: Come on, draw me a picture, Shade. What is pissing her off so much? Wait…is it…oh, I get it. THAT time, eh? …must be a real bitch for a demon girl. Me?
Terra popped another chocolaty pretzel into her mouth. She looked around before wiping the syrup on her fingers onto the couch.
Terra: Haven't had one in the LONGEST time. Few benefits to being made of stone, Shade, my friend. That's at the top of the list…right next to being able to flip a car and take a bullet without flinching. Anyway, buck up pal. It's only for a few days.
Shade rolled his eyes. That wasn't the problem at all. In fact, he wasn't sure WHAT the problem was. He thought she had forgiven him for attacking her that one time…she had let him back into the room and everything. Now he was being kicked out again. He knew better then to ask why. When Raven was in a bad mood, Shade knew not to question. Terra held out a pretzel.
Terra: Hungry?
Shade just stared at her.
Terra: …oh, right. You only eat stuff that was alive at one time…or still alive.
He nodded. Terra sighed and scratched him behind the ear. Shade moved away from her, making her laugh.
Terra: Only Raven gets to pet you, huh? Fine. Gar's more pet-able then you anyway.
Finishing the last pretzel, Terra put her stuff in the sink and turned to leave.
Terra: Tell you what, Shade. I'll talk to Raven and see what's up since you can't tell me.
Shade didn't care. It was her funeral.
HIVE Tower: Main Room
Sonic whistled as he entered the main room, hands in his pockets. Mammoth was sitting at the computer, nearly breaking the chair. Sonic came up behind him.
Sonic: What's going on, Mammoth?
With a startled shout, Mammoth stood up, blocking the computer screen with his massive body.
Mammoth: (quickly) Nothing. Nothing's going on. Why would something be going on? You're paranoid.
Now Sonic was heavily intrigued. The question was, how do you move somebody THAT big? He decided to stall while he thought of an answer to this conundrum.
Sonic: If you say so. We need a better chair though. It's just not…
Sonic pretended to notice something outside.
Sonic: What the…? Is that a boat full of moldy bread on the rocks bellow?
Mammoth's eyes widened and he dashed to the window.
Mammoth: Where! Where! …wait a minute…boats don't carry moldy bread!
Sonic: Garbage boats would.
Mammoth: Well, yeah, but…
Mammoth winced as he realized he had been had. Curse his lack of smartitiude. Sonic snickered. Then burst out laughing.
Sonic: Internet dating! Oh my god, you are soooo gullible.
Mammoth picked him up and moved him from the screen. It was too late, obviously, but he might not have read EVERYTHING they've typed yet.
Mammoth: What do you mean by that?
Sonic leaned on the couch, smirking.
Sonic: Everybody knows, my insanely massive amigo, that whenever you try internet dating, you inevitably wind up chatting with some middle aged man sitting in his disgusting house wearing only underwear. It's like…internet law or something.
Mammoth: Is not.
Sonic: Is too. …wait, I'm not getting into this. I know I'm right. That's not a woman, it's a man, baby.
Mammoth: …I'm not your "baby".
Sonic waved his hand dismissively.
Sonic: Feh, you and your pop culture ignorance astound me.
Sonic left, now bored again. Mammoth sighed and went back to typing. …she was TOO a girl. She had sent him webcam stuff. Shoulder length black hair, blue eyes, petite…definitely a girl if her outfit revealed enough. Man, she was going to in for a disappointment (bad self-esteem, eh?). He just wondered what BBh8r2 meant. It was her screen name. It wasn't as easy to understand as his Woolyboy43.
BBh8r2: Heeelllo? Oh no, did I scare another one off?
Woolyboy43: Sorry, a roommate was messing around.
BBh8r2: Ah, I see. Well, I showed you a picture of me. If you can't send me one of you, then tell me what you look like. Fair's fair. I'm going to take a wild stab at it…you're hairy?
Mammoth thought for a moment. He didn't want to lie in case some how they actually got around to meeting…but…
BBh8r2: I don't mind if you are. Men are supposed to be, aren't they? Besides…there's always waxing!
This comment was followed by a big grin smiley face, which Mammoth HOPED meant she was joking about the wax. Either that or she was a sadist and was really going to enjoy it.
Woolyboy43: Well…I'm tall…red hair…muscular…
BBh8r2: You're putting me on. You sure you're not some fat middle aged guy sitting in some filthy apartment in your underwear?
Woolyboy43: Why would you be talking to me if you thought I was?
BBh8r2: I've got reasons. Maybe I'll tell you them someday.
Now there was a winking smiley. This could be the start of something interesting indeed…
Abandoned Carnival
The woman, obviously Dr. Steiner or rather Dr. Chaos as she had stated to her hallucinations back in her cell, sat in a tilt-o-whirl chair. She was deep in thought, trying to decide what to do with her new found freedom and identity next. The costume was perfect, killing the store owner had been an amusing tidbit, but she needed something more…chaotic. Her two hallucinations stood next to her. There was her old self, Doctor Denise Steiner, looking prim and proper and the disheveled giggling self that the Titans had managed to turn her into and given the name Dennie.
Denise: Well, now you've done it. Not only have you broken out of your cell where you COULD have been cured of this insane delusion of yours, but you've broken into a store, stolen merchandise, murdered the owner in cold blood…
Dennie: Silly. People have warm blood. Unless he was a lizard man! Oooo! Lizard man!
Denise chose to ignore the giggling child-like figure on Dr. Chaos's left. Dennie sat on the dirty metal surface and tucked her knees under her chin, still giggling.
Denise: …THEN you hacked into dozens of different accounts and drained their funds…and you SWORE you'd never try hacking again after what happened when you were thirteen…now you've broken into this place…and for WHAT! Rancid hot dogs and broken down roller coasters?
Dr. Chaos: …shut up. I'm thinking.
Denise: And I'm giving you something to think about! Listen to me. You're sick. You need help.
Dr. Chaos: …help…yes…yes, I think you're right.
Dennie stopped sucking her thumb and looked up in shock. Nearly weeping with joy, Denise smiled. At last she had gotten through to her! There was hope! It was probably too late to salvage their old job, but they could move away…start a new career!
Dr. Chaos: After all, supplies aren't easy to come by…and my mechanical skills are limited. Yes, I'm going to need some serious help indeed!
Denise groaned and held her head. She should have known it was too good to be true. Dennie stood up, raising her hand and waving it back and forth.
Dennie: Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!
Dr. Chaos snickered and pointed to the frantic hallucination.
Dennie: I know something you don't know! I know something you don't know!
Dr. Chaos: …how can you possibly know things I don't?
Dennie just grinned. In truth, neither of the hallucinations knew how it was possible. The fact was, when Raven helped create them by manipulating her emotions constantly for days at a time, she accidentally imparted some of her knowledge to them. This information was kept away from the real Dr. Steiner and supplied only to her secondary personalities.
Dennie: You wanna know or not?
Dr. Chaos: I wanna, I wanna!
END PART ONE
