32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Night of the Ravager"
Chapter Three
Carnival
Sonic had passed out. Terra sighed in boredom and kicked his head.
Terra: Wake up. This is dull unless you're awake!
Aqualad: Looks like phase one is a success.
Terra: Phase one? What, there's a phase two? I didn't hear about a phase two.
Aqualad held up his arms. A high pressure water jet slammed into Terra. She held her ground, burying her feet slightly to help her.
Terra: (sputtering) Double crossing sissy-boy dressing…
Terra cried out in pain as the cracked parts of her skin began to flake off. She was going to bleed to death at this rate.
Terra: Stop! I said…STOP!
Terra triggered an earthquake, bring the carnival down around them. Aqualad had to move out of the way as several rides started to fall apart. Terra panted as the water went away. Then she noticed the large shadow over head…and it was getting larger.
Terra: Is that the Ferris Whe…
CRASH!
Aqualad: (into communicator) She's a little banged up, but no worse then the hero.
Ravager: Good. My men will bring them back.
Aqualad: And my payment?
Ravager: When all services are rendered. You're not finished. Not yet.
Aqualad shut the communicator down.
Bridge
Mammoth hit the bridge railing and Changeling began to apply pressure to his spinal cord. Suddenly he was hit from behind. Mammoth almost toppled over, but Panthra grabbed him. Unfortunately, it was by his injured leg. She lifted him back up and slammed his head onto the ground.
Changeling: What the
hell are you doing?
Panthra: My job, green one.
Changeling: Say what?
Panthra pulled her fist back and clobbered the stunned Changeling.
Panthra: (communicator) Job finished.
Mall
Krystal stood, swaying. The cuts on her back combined with the arrow in her shoulder made for a decent amount of blood loss. Besides, she couldn't be sure, but she could swear the arrow was tipped with something. Shade cocked his aching head.
Krystal: (spaced out, singing) When the merry-go-round broke…
She fell over. She uttered one last word before passing out.
Krystal: …down.
Speedy: Weirdo.
Shade wasn't sure what to do now. Part of him wanted to help his little sister. The other part wanted to simply kill Speedy for the sake of killing. The two parts decided that both things were pretty much the same, so he leapt at Speedy. Speedy blocked his attack with his bow.
Speedy: Damn freak…
Shade bit Speedy's hand. Speedy grabbed an arrow and jammed it into Shade's side. He bit harder, pain meaning little to him. Speedy jammed it again. The drugs on the tip began to take effect and Shade's vision began to swim. He passed out, his teeth still in Speedy's hand.
Speedy: (communicator) Hurry up and get your men down here. I can't get my hand out of the freaking thing's mouth!
Park
Starfire sat on the bench, waiting to hear from her friends. She sighed as she noticed Jericho looking at his/her endowments, fascinated.
Starfire: Please go do that somewhere else. You Earth males are so easily distracted.
Jericho: You're just jealous.
Starfire's face twitched. Jericho had struck a nerve.
Starfire: Jealous? Me? I most certainly am not. Why would I be?
Jericho: Your sister is obviously better looking then you.
Starfire was sorely tempted to kill the boy right now. Maybe she'd just squeeze that bandaged bullet wound until he cried. Yeah, that would work too.
Starfire: Nonsense! We are practically twins, save for our hair and eyes.
Jericho: But she's in much better shape. You got a little bit of a gut there…
Starfire grabbed Jericho by his/her head. She had no such thing!
Starfire: Listen you…oh no…
Jericho left Blackfire's body, knocking her out as he left and entered Starfire's.
Jericho: (communicator) This is Jericho. This was a piece of cake. She didn't see it coming.
Theater
Gizmo backed up to the wall. He pulled his goggles down.
Gizmo: You wouldn't
hit a guy with glasses on, would you?
Cyborg: Oh, you know I…
Kilowatt zapped Cyborg. His systems overloaded and he shut down.
Gizmo: Uh…okay. I don't suppose this means you had a change of…
ZAP.
Book Store
Jinx struggled to get the shelf off her, but it was no use. She had no leverage. If she could just move her hand…she might be able to jinx the shelf and get it off that way.
Raven: Poor little girl. How will you get out of this one?
Jinx: Give me a second and I'll show you.
Raven laughed and, once again, Jinx couldn't stop the shudder from going down her spine.
Raven: Such brave words.
The Herald blew his horn and Raven suddenly found herself being pulled in.
Raven: Wha…! Damn you…! I should have predicted this…
Raven removed the shelf from Jinx just as she was sucked inside. Jinx stood up.
Herald: So she let you go. I'll just take care of you the same way.
Herald put the horn to his lips and Jinx sent a curse toward it just as he blew. The vortex opened behind him and sucked him in. The vortex closed when he was gone and the horn fell to the ground. Jinx picked it up, curious.
Jinx: This guy needs to empty his spit tube.
Jinx adjusted her hair and something snapped. She pulled out the broken hair….holding…thing…and threw it to the ground, annoyed.
Jinx: My patience is reaching its end.
Museum
Red X tried to catch Kid Flash in her goop again, but he wasn't falling for it.
Kid Flash: Gotta say though…you really screwed things up when you killed Robin.
Red X: Shut up!
Kid Flash: I was supposed to bring you both back. Now what the hell am I going to do?
Red X: SHUT UP!
Kid Flash zipped past her, punching her repeatedly. She was getting frustrated. Without a plan of action, all she could do was fire projectiles at him. It was hopeless. A final barrage of punches to her face and head rendered her unconscious. Kid Flash picked her up and ran off. Why bother Ravager if he could deliver her himself? Robin crawled out of the wreckage and dusted himself off. He KNEW this would happen! That's what the escape hatch in the floor he painstakingly installed was for (and it wasn't easy to do without anyone noticing, believe me). He took out his communicator and activated the locator function. All signals (save for Raven's) were moving toward one spot. Raven was already there. His friends were caught. Then he pulled out Red X's communicator. He had swiped it during the fight, just as he had placed a tracking device on her, just in case his friends lost their communicators. Fiddling around with it, he managed to activate its tracking systems. He got the same result…with on difference. One wasn't moving toward the spot. It was moving toward him. Uh oh. The door creaked open and Jinx entered.
Robin: Well, well. Look who's left.
Jinx: What! That's…
Robin: Red X's communicator. I know. I was there when I swiped it.
Jinx: Where is she?
Robin shrugged and leaned against the wreckage behind him.
Robin: Haven't a clue. Same place Raven went I imagine.
Jinx: What's going on here? Why were you working with those guys? You've always been against working with others.
Robin: The greedy money grubbing types don't sit well with us. We were promised, however, that you would be taken down. It would seem that, for the most part, we've gotten that. Unfortunately it seems the partners we've been assigned had orders to turn on us when we finished with you. Doesn't that figure? Nice hair, by the way.
Jinx's hair was down completely…and rather messy. Lots of frizz. That wasn't the point. Jinx folded her arms.
Jinx: You should have expected something like this.
Robin: I did. That's why I let Red X think she killed me. I must admit, she came closer then I thought she would. She's developing major anger issues. You might want to get that looked at.
Jinx turned to leave, much to Robin's surprise.
Robin: Where you going?
Jinx: To save my team.
Robin: Not alone you're not. I'm coming with you.
Jinx: Why?
Robin: Let's see…he has MY team…my friends…my girlfriend (or the girl I sleep with a lot at least) and I don't trust you not to send my friends up the river when you spring them.
Jinx: You're sharp as a tack.
Robin: You want help or not?
Jinx: Yours? I'd rather not.
Robin: I see. And how will you get to them?
Jinx paused.
Jinx: Sonic has the keys to the car…I knew I should have gotten him to make spares.
Robin: I rest my case. The T-ship could get us there.
Jinx: You expect me to trust you to FLY me someplace? For all I know, you're working with THEM!
Robin: What choice do you have?
Jinx glowered at him.
Ravager's Lair
Ravager's lair was located on an island in the middle of the Atlantic. Ravager stood in front of the tubes he held his captives in. The injured had been patched up. The purpose of which was unknown to them. The tubes seemed to nullify their powers. In fact, they couldn't even move anything below their necks.
Sonic: Huh, hey…masked dude? Going to let us in on your plan of world domination any time soon?
Changeling: Who cares about that! SOMEBODY SCRATCH MY NOSE!
Ravager sighed. They hadn't shut up since they had woken up. Most likely it was some sort of way to get back at him for catching them. Some people were sore losers.
Krystal: I have to use the bathroom!
Ravager: Hold it in. As to your question, Michael…
Raven: (hood down) Your name is Michael? How…normal.
Sonic: Was that a compliment? How…backhanded.
Ravager: You're going to be my servants.
Starfire: The princess of Tamaran is no one's servant!
Terra: We don't obey anyone!
Ravager: You won't have a choice. If not to save your own lives…then to save the ones of those you care about. For example…
Ravager pressed a button and Changeling was electrocuted. Terra clenched her teeth in rage.
Terra: Stop…
Ravager: Why?
Terra: Because I told you to!
Ravager: You need a better reason then that.
Terra's eyes shot back to Changeling who was still twitching.
Terra: …I'll do whatever you ask if you do!
Ravager pressed the button again and Changeling stopped twitching.
Terra: But you better not slip up…one mistake and it'll be your last.
Ravager: I'll keep that in mind. Know that at all times, most of you will be in these tubes.
Mammoth: Damn you…
Robin and Jinx watched this in the ventilation shaft.
Robin: This is bad.
Jinx: We have to get them out of there…first and foremost. If we don't they'll be used against us.
Robin: Can you jinx it?
Jinx: I think so. Unless he's got it protected somehow.
Robin: …I have an idea. You free them. This won't be pleasant. Trust me.
Jinx: Trust you? I was afraid you say something like that.
Robin undid the grate and landed behind Ravager. He spun and ducked just under Robin's kicking foot.
Robin: Let them go…or at least let my team go. Screw the others.
Blackfire: You're all heart, Robin.
Ravager: I don't think so. Stand back…or I'll kill them.
Robin: Go ahead.
Robin pulled out his staff.
Robin: Give me an excuse to shove this up your ass.
Ravager: Do you really want their deaths on your conscience?
Robin: Not really. I'll take my distress out on you though.
Jinx crept behind the tubes and sent a jinx wave. Each tube began to crack. The cracks nullified the…nullification effect the tubes had on their captives. They broke free. Terra ripped a chunk of the floor up and hopped on to it.
Terra: Remember how I warned you about slipping up? Guess what, chump? You just did.
Ravager snapped his fingers and his hired goons arrived, backed up by several dozen nameless henchmen.
Ravager: …where's the Herald?
Jinx: Floating in another dimension without his horn.
Raven: Nice.
Ravager: Take them.
Aqualad: Aaaaa….no.
Ravager: What?
Speedy: Are you nuts? They outnumber us and half of them are demented.
Krystal: Hey!
Speedy: Not your half!
Krystal: Oh…oh, right.
Blackfire: Oi…
With that, the villains for hire left.
Changeling: Can we just crush them now?
Robin: Of course. Titans, G…
Jinx snapped her fingers and the Titans collapsed.
Robin: Wha…what the hell!
Jinx: Added effect and a little something I used on you on the way over. I'm tired of this, Robin. We fight and you run. It's the same thing every time. This time you're going to jail.
Starfire: …most diabolical of you. We are rubbing off upon you, Jinx. Best beware.
Jinx turned to Ravager.
Jinx: And you're coming too.
Ravager: I don't think so.
Jinx: HIVE, together!
It didn't take long for the nameless henchmen to form a nice neat pile in the center of the room. That taken care of, they turned their attention to the fleeing Ravager. Red X launched an X-arang at his leg, knocking him over. Gizmo fired his stun gun, but Ravager rolled out of the way and stood back up.
Ravager: I didn't want to use this…but I have no choice.
Ravager turned a dial on his gauntlet. There was a hiss from within his costume. They're eyes widened as Ravager began to grow larger before their eyes.
Gizmo: What the hell!
Red X: Venom…
Blackfire: Who what who what?
Jinx: Venom is a powerful steroid-like drug. It causes massive muscle growth at the cost of brain power. It also makes them extremely…
Ravager ran forward and swung at them. They were all knocked away.
Jinx: (dazed) …violent.
Krystal: Ya don't say…
Ravager came at them again, bringing his fist down toward Jinx. Mammoth caught his fist as it came down.
Jinx: Mammoth, don't! Your leg!
Mammoth: I was tryin' not to think about that…
Gizmo fired his stun gun again, but the souped up Ravager didn't even notice it. Not good. Blackfire flew forward, hitting him like a battering ram. Ravager grabbed Blackfire by the leg and slammed her into the wall. Before he could do it again he was hit by a sonic blast. Ravager charged at Sonic. He jumped over him with ease and Ravager was hit with a blinding light. He went head first into a wall, but was still up and about. Jinx used a curse on the floor he was standing on, causing the metal bend violently. He was sent sprawling. Red X jumped up and kicked him across the face. He grabbed at her, but she ducked underneath him, jumped up, and kicked the back of his head. He spun around and caught her by the throat.
Ravager: Back! All of you or I'll snap her neck like a twig!
The others stayed back, as one would expect.
Ravager: (whisper) You…you're the reason I attack the HIVE in the first place, Red X…or should I say, Rose Wilson?
Red X: How…how…?
Ravager: Before I kill you and your friends, there's something you should know.
He brought her close.
Ravager: I'm the one who hired Kid Flash to seduce you. Frankly I was hoping he'd go further then…
Red X screamed in fury and grabbed the knob on his wrist. Before he could do anything she twisted it and ripped it off. He threw her aside and tried desperately to stop the flow of venom into his brain. He couldn't. He had made sure the tubes were not in plain sight so that they couldn't be severed. He could feel his brain start to fry. Thought became difficult. Soon he was drooling.
Jinx: …what did you do?
Red X: He's probably strong enough to make Superman feel his punches…but dumber then a sack of bricks. Once the effect of the venom fades, he'll be completely harmless…permanently brain damaged. Let's get the Titans to jail.
Red X walked off, her fists tightly clenched.
Gizmo: Mammoth, make a note. We're not gonna tease Red X about guys…ever.
Mammoth: Gotcha.
Blackfire helped Mammoth to the T-ship…which would soon be the H-ship. Suckers. You snooze, you lose. They others followed when Sonic suddenly stopped.
Sonic: Hey, Jinx.
Jinx: (stopping) Yeah?
Sonic: I like your hair like that. I didn't think it was possible for you to look more beautiful, but you proved me wrong.
Jinx: But…my hair's a mess…
Sonic: Yeah, but it's not in that ponytail anymore. Don't get me wrong, you looked good before…but in my opinion you look better with your hair down. Hmm…maybe if you cut it a little shorter…
Jinx: Forget it.
Sonic shrugged.
Sonic: Just a suggestion.
Jinx: …uh…Sonic?
Sonic: Yeah?
Jinx: This is probably gonna sound kinda forward…but I've never done anything like this before so…uh…when we get back…you wanna make out?
Sonic groaned.
Sonic: The one day…THE ONE DAY ask me that, and I've got bruised ribs…oh the hell with it. Just don't squeeze too tight.
Sonic kissed her on the cheek and took her hand. She smiled and they walked to the ship together.
Raven: Make out? That's it? Chicken-bitch! You can do better then that!
Jinx: Not every girl is a slut like you. We'll be back for you later. Your curse will last until I cancel it.
Raven: Oooh…you say that to my face! Come back here! When I regain the ability to move, I'll break out of jail then rearrange that pretty face of yours!
Shade growled.
Raven: Now, now…no need to get upset, Shade. …after all…
Raven muttered to herself and stood up, popping her neck. The HIVE had already left.
Raven: I'm a sorceress myself. Foolish little girl…to think she could out magic the likes of me! I, who defeated Tri…
Changeling: Stop gloating and free us! My nose still itches!
Raven: Huh? Oh, right. Of course.
THE END
