32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"Night of the Ravager"

Chapter One

Jump City Docks: Dead of Night

Changeling: Anyone else think this is a waste of time? Anyone?

Raven: I'm starting to agree with you…which shows how bad the situation is.

The Titanss were waiting for someone. They had been contacted by someone who had promised them a way to get back at and maybe even get rid of, the HIVE. They were skeptical…until it occurred to them that they had been found out and if they didn't go along they might find their secret base not-so secret anymore.

Raven: We've been waiting here for almost an hour now. This reeks of a trap.

Robin: Relax. Maybe they want to be "fashionably late".

Starfire: I never understood that term.

: It means to be noticeably late, yet not irritating anyone.

The Titans gasped.

: Of course, I've been here for almost forty-five minutes now. I just wanted to watch you all for a while. See who was level headed and what have you.

Robin: Who are you?

Ravager: My name is the Ravager.

Thunder clap. Lightening flash.

Terra: Ooo…nice effect.

Ravager: Quite.

Robin: You said you had a plan.

Ravager: I did.

Silence. Shade began growling. Raven placed her hand on his head and he stopped.

Raven: My friend here is running out of patience. What is your plan and why should we care?

Ravager: My plan is simple. I've arrange for you to get some help.

Robin: Help?

Ravager: Just listen and I'll explain everything.

:CUE THEME:

HIVE Tower

Mammoth stomped down the halls, furious. Those that saw him past had to hold back their laughter for fear of being pummeled. He found who he was looking for, leaning against the wall, looking rather smug.

Mammoth: You…

Gizmo: What's the matter? Don't you like your new 'do?

Mammoth: I ain't got a new 'do! I ain't got a 'do at all!

Mammoth was bald. Completely and utterly bald. He didn't even have eyebrows. Gizmo grinned wickedly.

Gizmo: See what happens when you mess with the best?

Mammoth: I'll get you back for this, gnome.

Gizmo: And I'll get you back with something worse, ya hairless ape. You can't win against me. You come up with some crude little prank and I'll throw something worse at you.

Mammoth gritted his teeth. All he did was sneak into Gizmo's room and polish his head. Maybe he shouldn't have used that much turtle wax. Still, it was funny, what with his head being so shiny and all. Couldn't the little midget take a joke!

Gizmo: Don't get your panties in a bunch. It'll grow back…in a couple of days.

Mammoth: …I hate you.

Gizmo stuck his tongue out at him and walked away. Mammoth sighed. Gizmo was right. No matter what he came up with, Gizmo's prank would be more high-tech and possibly permanent. Maybe he should try someone else. Hmm…

Jinx's Room

Jinx took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

Jinx: I don't know about this.

Krystal: Hey, I do this all the time with Blackfire. It's no big, I promise.

Jinx: But…I like my hair the way it is.

Krystal: Jinxy, Jinxy, Jinxy…that pony tail look is going out of style! You gotta diversify!

Jinx sighed and looked in the mirror. She really did like her hair the way it was…but maybe Krystal was right. Maybe she was being boring. Maybe…just maybe…there was a hair style that she'd like even more.

Jinx: Let's do it.

Krystal squealed happily and set a basket of hair supplies next to Jinx's mirror/dresser. She placed a stool down in front of it and patted it. Jinx reluctantly sat down and Krystal got to work. Jinx winced as her pony tailed hair was undone from it's near perpetual…ponytail.

Krystal: So…how's life treating you?

Jinx: Krystal, we…ow, not so hard! We live in the same tower.

Krystal: Yeah, I know. This is the sort of thing hairdressers talk about. I've been to beauty salons you know. Haven't you?

Jinx: No. I don't have time for that sort of thing.

Krystal clicked her tongue.

Krystal: Shame on you! A girl needs to know how to relax. No wonder you're so stressed.

Jinx: I'm the leader of a superhero team. I've no time to be pampered.

Krystal: And you wonder why Sonionionic flirts with other girls…

Jinx winced, both from the comment and the fact that Krystal had tugged too hard again.

Jinx: What's that supposed to mean?

Krystal: It means that some guys like to treat their girls once and a while.

Jinx: How would YOU know?

Krystal: I read books.

Jinx: …why?

Krystal: Don't you ever read books about gay people? Don't you wonder how it works and feels?

Jinx: …I have you for that. You two practically put on a show for us.

Krystal: Touché. The point is, if you don't learn to relax…you might lose him. Sonikku, a flirter he may be, has shown a lot of loyalty to you. You should reward him for that.

Jinx: Re…jeez, is that enough gel? Reward him how?

Krystal: Hell, I don't know. What ever it is you straight girls do. Strip tease, lap dance, SOMETHING. The poor guy is probably ready to explode from tension.

Krystal had a point, now that she thought about it. Sonic had been very loyal. The guy was a natural at getting girls. He had looks and a certain charm that seemed to get the attention of the ladies. She had little doubt that some girls with morals less then her own (like Raven) had made moves on him before yet he never did anything (she slipped locator on him to be sure) with them. Not that he wasn't aware of the locator. He thought it was "team regulation". Poor sap.

Jinx: …but…what if something happens?

Krystal: What, you don't think we can handle ourselves?

Jinx: No, of course I think you can handle yourselves…but you're my responsibility as team leader. If something unexpected pops up…if a trap or something caught one of you…

Krystal: That doesn't make it your fault. You give us commands in battle, but we have our own common sense. If we can't sense a trap…maybe we shouldn't be on the team in the first place.

Jinx: No way. You guys are the best.

Krystal: Aw, you're making me blush. Okay, how about this?

Jinx tilted her head.

Jinx: I don't know. I look like some big eared cat with my hair like that.

Krystal: That's the idea. With your bad luck powers, looking like a cat would work fine.

Jinx's hair looked like it does in the cartoon. She studied her reflection a bit more.

Jinx: No…no, I'm sorry, but it's just not me. Looks kind of…evil.

Krystal shrugged and poured something into her hair to dissolve the massive amount of gel. After waiting for a moment for it to work, she started again.

Jinx: Anyway…back to Sonic…do you really think he'll leave me?

Krystal's face took on a thoughtful expression.

Krystal: Hard to say. He's been pretty patient with you so far and all. I can't say I know how the male mind works…half the time I don't think it works at all.

Jinx chuckled softly. Maybe Krystal was right. It did feel good to relax for once. Even when she was with Sonic, she was often thinking about something else. Right now, however, her mind was only on her hair, her boyfriend, and the conversation. So this was what it felt like to not worry about imminent destruction. Nice.

Krystal: But if I was him, I'd be getting a little annoyed. You seem so…unmotivated when you're kissing him.

Jinx: You're watching that closely!

Krystal: You got a cute mouth.

Jinx looked uncomfortable. Krystal laughed.

Krystal: Kidding. I told you before, I'm very observant, remember? Don't try and do stuff just because you think you should, do it because you want to. You DO like him don't you?

Jinx: Of course. He's…funny…smart…considerate...

Jinx hesitated to go on. Krystal nudged her.

Krystal: Think of this as therapy. What you say never leaves this room unless it sounds like you're going to hurt others or yourself.

Jinx: …he's got a tight ass.

Krystal laughed.

Krystal: I knew you had it in you! What else?

Jinx: Well, he's not exactly hard on the eyes.

Krystal: I think he needs a goatee. Just my opinion. There.

Jinx stared in the mirror. She glanced up at her "stylist" and spoke with a threatening growl in her voice.

Jinx: You better be kidding, Krystal.

Krystal grinned nervously. She thought the pigtails were a nice touch. Oh well.

Krystal: Sorry, sorry. Let's try again.

Jinx: So what about you? How's things with Blackfire been?

Krystal: …actually…I'm kind of worried.

Jinx: About what?

Krystal: Well…I don't know if you noticed…but I'm kinda childish sometimes.

Jinx sweatdropped.

Jinx: Really? You?

Krystal: So I'm told. …I think I annoy her when I do that…but I'm just being me. If I have to stop being me to keep her as my lover, then it must be wrong, right?

Jinx: …right. Have you tried being…someone else?

Krystal: …been thinking about it.

Jinx: Try it and give it time. If she doesn't ask you what's wrong…and I mean seriously, none of that joking around crap, then you know it wasn't meant to be.

Krystal: You're right. Wow, you're really smart, Jinxitity.

Jinx: Eh.

Titan HQ: Main Room

The Titans were preparing to carry out Ravager's plan, though not all of them liked it. Shade made some sound like a cross between a snort and a snarl. Raven clicked her tongue and waved a finger at him.

Raven: Now Shade, don't be like that.

Changeling: What's his problem?

Raven: He doesn't like the whole, "splitting up" thing.

Robin: Neither do I.

Starfire: Robin, we have been through this. Together they are powerful, but individually we have a chance. We have tried to separate them by playing them against each other, but that has not succeeded. Thus, a new plan of action is required.
Cyborg: Yeah, we'll be fine. You'll see.

Robin: Hmph…

Terra: Besides, we won't be alone. Right?

Robin: Yeah, but…

Raven: But nothing. You're concerned over nothing.

Robin hoped his friends were right.

HIVE Tower: Main Room

Blackfire and Red X were going over make-up tips as Sonic and Gizmo played a video game when the alarm went off.

Gizmo: Crud. Just when I was about to make my come back.

Sonic: Dream on, puny-man.

The others came in, Jinx's hair back in its usual ponytail. She started typing at the computer.

Sonic: Uh…baby, why does your hair smell like a chemical plant?

Jinx: Not now, Sonic. …besides, I'd rather not talk about…oh crap.

Mammoth: Wass'a matter?

Jinx: Trouble…all over the city. The Titans have split up and are trashing seven different locations.

Red X: We have to stop them as quickly as we can. We'll need to split up.

Jinx: That's probably what they want!

Blackfire: (solemn) Maybe so…but with all those lives at stake we can't just try and take them down one at a time. We have no choice.

Jinx clenched her fists.

Jinx: You're right. Just…be careful, okay?

END PART ONE