32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"A Tragic Loss"
Chapter Three
HIVE Tower: Outside
Kid Flash poured on the speed. He'd need a lot to create a sonic boom large enough to destroy the tower. He ran in circles around the island, going faster and faster. It wouldn't be long now. The water under his feet was already starting to form a whirlpool. Sonic came outside. It didn't take a genius to figure out Kid Flash's plan. He had seen from the main room window. That's when he had to make a choice. He could leave through the garage. That would take him to the main land without any problems…or, he could go outside and stop Kid Flash from destroying his home...their home. All their technology…the memories…everything. Sonic decided on the latter.
Sonic: Okay…all I have to do is absorb the sonic boom. No problem…I can do that.
Suddenly the splashing of water went dead silent. Sonic braced himself…and took it. He sucked it all in, his body actually growing in size. Kid Flash stopped on the rocks, stunned.
Kid Flash: Wait a sec…there wasn't supposed to be anyone here…guess this explains why I couldn't find you in the city to beat you up, huh?
Sonic didn't respond, still trying to contain the boom. It hurt…it hurt so bad. This was more then he expected. His body…he couldn't see. He couldn't hear. The pain faded to nothing at all. Everything was just…gone. Kid Flash's jaw dropped as Sonic just…exploded. He held out his hand, catching one of the tiny blue lights that rained down. It was all that was left…well, that and Sonic's clothes, torn from his bulging body.
Kid Flash: …uh oh.
Despite his attitude, Kid Flash had never successfully taken a life before. He used to think it was just another crime, but somehow…he felt kind of queasy.
Kid Flash: I better get outta here…
Kid Flash took off running. As he did he pulled out the communicator doohickie Flamebird handed him and tossed it behind him into the ocean. Forget it. He was done with that girl. Nutbag. Krystal arrived with Jinx. Flamebird and most of her team had been caught. Only Argent escaped (well, and Kid Flash, but that was a given). Jinx had called Krystal after securing Flamebird. To their relief, the tower was still standing. Jinx let out a sigh of relief.
Jinx: She was only bluffing.
Krystal sniffed the air.
Krystal: Something's…wrong.
Jinx turned to ask what she meant when her foot nudged something. It was Sonic's communicator. She saw the scraps of clothes on the ground.
Jinx: Sonic…
Krystal: Where is he?
Jinx: I…I don't know…
They searched the place from top to bottom, but could find no trace of the sick boy. The others arrived home to find it empty. Jinx had gone to ask Flamebird a few questions.
Maximum Security Prison
Bette was delighted to be there. And why shouldn't she be? It was proof. It was proof that she was dangerous. It was proof that she was more then some little wanna-be with a dangerous obsession. It surprised her, however, when the guards came and retrieved her. It was far too early for a trial…and she didn't expect her lawyer to be here so soon. She still had enough money to buy a damn good one. They'd get her off on an insanity plead for sure. The guard brought her into a room where Jinx was waiting…and she did not look happy. Jinx nodded to the guard and he left. Bette smiled politely, knowing it would make Jinx angry.
Bette: Jinx…what an unexpected surprise. I'd shake your hand, but, alas…
Bette held up her manacled hands. They were trapped completely, making lock picking impossible.
Bette: It seems sociable greetings aren't allowed here.
Jinx: Where is he?
Bette: To whom are you referring?
Jinx: Sonic…what did you tell them to do with Sonic?
Bette blinked in confusion.
Bette: Well, to kill him, of course.
To her shock, Jinx backhanded her across her face. To Jinx's disappointment, all this did was make Bette chuckle.
Bette: Hmm. I don't hear the guard coming. Is this one of your perks, or did you pay him to ignore what goes on in here?
Jinx: I won't ask again…
Bette: I don't know what to tell you, Jinx. I simply told someone to destroy your tower. If Sonic was there, all the better.
Jinx: The tower is fine.
Bette: But…
Bette's eyes widened and she smiled.
Bette: I see!
Jinx: You see what?
Bette: I tried to destroy your tower with a sonic boom, Jinx. If Sonic WAS in the tower, he probably tried to absorb the energy. Unfortunately…well…
Bette made a popping sound with her mouth. Her eyes widening with horror, Jinx quickly became enraged and grabbed Bette by her prison uniform (it was judged that she couldn't remain in costume due to its dangerous nature, so they gave her a uniform, even though she wasn't found guilty and sentenced yet).
Jinx: You lying bitch! You just want me to think he's dead so your pals can do what they want with him!
Bette: What pals? Didn't you catch everybody?
Jinx: Argent escaped, and Panthra said that you hired Kid Flash and we never even saw him!
Bette: Well, if they escaped, how could I tell them anything? Face it, Jinx…I've done it. I've surpassed any of the Titans. I've hurt you in a way no one else has.
Jinx threw her aside. That grinning face…taunting her. It wasn't true. Sonic couldn't be…he just COULDN'T be dead! She should have been there! It wasn't supposed to…he was supposed to… Jinx couldn't take it. She had to get out of there before a tear ran down her face. Bette watched her go with a smile.
Bette: Come back any time, Jinx!
HIVE Tower: Main Room
The team waited for Jinx nervously. They were all worried about Sonic, as was expected. No one was more worried (well, in that room anyway) then Krystal. Krystal always had an instinct about problems. When they met Kid Flash, she had a bad feeling about him, but it was ignored. She regretted ignoring it. Now the feeling was back, and worse then before. That feeling was horribly confirmed when Jinx stumbled into the room. Her face was blank, her body slumping, like all energy had just left her.
Gizmo: Jinx…?
Jinx: …he's dead. Sonic…protected the tower and now he's…
It was too much. Jinx broke down into tears, sinking to the floor. Mammoth, not knowing what else to do, helped her to her feet again. She latched onto him, crying. Krystal sniffled, wiping her eyes. Another friend lost…was this the life she had chosen? To see her friends bumped off? It wasn't fair…he was sick and everything…
Red X: Who? Who did it, Jinx?
Jinx: I…I don't know…Kid Flash, I think. Flamebird said she wanted to blow the tower up with a powerful sonic boom. Oh god, this is my fault…why did I leave him alone?!
Red X saw that nobody else was in a condition to help Jinx right now, though she herself felt like crying. Even Blackfire, whom she had thought was used to death was crying. Then again, Blackfire was Tamaranian. The embracing of emotions was their way. She'd miss his attitude…the compliments that would have gotten him hurt if he was anyone other then a friend…it wasn't fair. Shaking it off, Red X spoke.
Red X: Jinx, there were two ways out of this place. Sonic knew that. He chose to come out to save the tower rather then go through the garage. It was his choice…and a brave one. The only one at fault is the bastard who caused it. Now, we're going to find Kid Flash…maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday we'll find him and so help me, we'll break his legs so he never can do something like that again.
Jinx: I don't…I can't…I'm sorry…Red…until…until I get over this…I'm deferring leadership to you.
Red X's eyes widened. Jinx sniffled and pushed away from Mammoth, thanking him for his attempt at comforting her. Nobody else seemed to want to argue with Jinx. Red X grabbed her arm as she headed for the door to the hallways.
Red X: Hold on…Jinx, think about what you're saying. Do you really trust me that much? I'm the girl with the mask, remember?
Jinx: I trust you, Red. I trust you and I know the others do too. You're smart, skilled, and probably more level headed then I ever was. …I…I need time to…I need…I need to…
Jinx choked before getting it out.
Jinx: …contact Sonic's f…father.
Red X watched her go, not knowing what else to say.
Red X's Room: That Night
Slade: I see…that's…unfortunate.
Anyone who didn't know her father would assume he was being cold. Rose, however, knew what her father sounded like when something struck a cord and he didn't want to show it. It was distressing to think that if he hadn't called Sonic in, he'd still be alive. Then again…it was his choice.
Rose: …Jinx is too broken up to lead. So by her decision, I'm taking temporary command of the HIVE.
Slade: Do you think you can handle that, Rose?
Rose nodded.
Rose: Yes, I do. I'm going to start looking for…
Rose gulped down the rising emotion in her throat. It felt so wrong to say it.
Rose: …a replacement for Sonic as soon as possible.
Slade: Very good. I'm counting on you.
The transmission cut. Rose hung her head and held it in her hands.
Rose: I know, Dad…everyone is.
Los Angeles: Abandoned Warehouse
Argent sighed as she went into the building. It occurred to her that she may be able to gain her payment yet, so she returned to the warehouse they had originally met at. As soon as she did, a voice rang out, startling her.
Kid Flash: Hey, hey. Look who made it back.
Argent: Oi, it's you. Just what I need. The jerk who got me arrested.
Kid Flash: Hey, that was business. I'm sorry, really.
Argent huffed. Kid Flash was leaning on a nearby banister from the second floor. He was probably thinking about spitting on her…that seems like his style…if he had any. Heh…that was a good one. Argent would have to remember that. Creating a lift, Argent brought herself up to his level and hopped down next to him.
Argent: Blow up the tower?
Kid Flash paled a little and shook his head. Odd. Wonder what was eating him…oh well.
Argent: Eh, I bailed too. Wasn't worth it, you know?
Kid Flash: Y…yeah.
Kid Flash shook off his guilt. It was okay…no big deal. He was going to kill that other guy…the fake Shade from that other world. Why not succeed for once?
Kid Flash: So, guess you came by to see if she left anything worthwhile behind.
Argent: Yeah.
Kid Flash: Then whoever finds, it gets it!
That said, Kid Flash began to zip around the building. Argent opened her mouth to protest, but he wasn't even in sight. It was so unfair! That son of a… Suddenly he zipped back up, a suitcase in hand.
Kid Flash: Found it!
He opened it and it beeped.
Recording: Ah, ah, ah…didn't your mother ever teach you not to steal from someone smarter then you?
There was a massive explosion, destroying the whole warehouse. Kid Flash blinked in surprise as he realized that he had been protected by a red barrier.
Argent: You alright, mate?
Kid Flash: Y…yeah. Why'd you save me?
Argent: Ain't the killing type. I just steal.
Sirens sounded. Argent muttered a swear. She'd never get away in time. At least, that's what she thought until she was picked up by Kid Flash and he ran with her.
Argent: What are you doing?
Kid Flash: I've been thinking. Maybe we should work together. I steal, you steal, we might as well try stealing together, right?
Argent: …well…tsk…why not? But you do anything wrong, I'll kick your arse into the sun.
Kid Flash: I could just drop you.
Argent: …I ever mention how much I like boys with red hair?
Argent hung on tighter. She couldn't afford to get caught again…well, she could, she just didn't want to. Besides, she had to admit, moving this fast was rather thrilling…not to mention the fact that if he dropped her, she'd be bouncing along the ground at a few hundred miles per hour.
HIVE Tower: Sonic's Abandoned Room, several days later
Jinx's heart was heavy as she looked around. She refused to cry anymore. Not even at Sonic's funeral, which had only been…was it yesterday or the day before? Jinx was no longer sure. It hadn't been a very good one. Aside from burying her boyfriend…well, technically just his costume and a decorative HIVE emblem they had whipped up…Jinx also had to hear it from Sonic's father. Apparently the soft spoken thing was just shock when they had spoken over the phone. At the funeral, he was anything but. The list of names he had called her was too long to count, too foul to list. Jinx had no idea Sonic's father was so…sexist. In retrospect, Sonic turned out to be a real gentleman in comparison, not the pervert she accused him of being. They had mailed much of Sonic's things over to his father. All that remained were a few photographs, a few presents given to him by the team during his time here (Christmas and what not), and another one of his costumes. They would be brought to the Memorial Hall…once his statue was finished. …a statue. Jinx shook her head. Sonic probably always wanted a statue. It fit his personality. She wondered how long Red X would wait until finding a new member. The very thought ate at her like a virus. Of course, this was why she had deferred leadership to Red X. As it was, Jinx was in no shape to lead and thankfully she was still in the right mind enough to realize it. But still…it hurt. She checked the time. Another hour…then she had to leave.
Cemetery: One Hour Later
Jinx placed a single flower on Sonic's grave and hung her head. She wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. She should say something…but her brain didn't seem to want to work right. Scowling, she tried to figure out why that was. The pills weren't supposed to do that…were they? Oh well. It didn't matter. Thinking wasn't necessary now. Just mourning. Finally words started coming out.
Jinx: Your dad…he…uh… He doesn't like me much. I guess that makes sense. I mean…I was supposed to be the leader. S…some leader I turned out to be, huh?
Jinx wiped her eyes again. Guess she was wrong about having no more tears to shed.
Jinx: Damn it, why didn't you just listen to me! We could have gotten a new tower! New things! Was it really so important? It was just a sonic boom! It's not like the tower would have disintegrated into powder!
That was enough. Jinx couldn't take it anymore. These feelings of loss…of regret. How did Mammoth handle the death of his sister so well!? …well…
HIVE Tower: Jinx's Room
…unlike Mammoth, Jinx had magic on her side. Digging through her books, she found a formula for a potion that would allow her to combat a traumatic experience. Using the various tools in her room, Jinx whipped the potion up. It smelled foul in the small vial she put it in and it seemed to be swirling constantly, stopping only to go the other way. Hesitating for only a moment, Jinx downed the concoction. It tasted better then it smelled…but then again, it would be hard for anything to taste THAT bad. Jinx sat still a moment, waiting for something…anything…to happen. Nothing. Shrugging, she decided that it may take time for it to work. She'd just have to wait it out.
Main Room
Jinx entered the room. Once again, Krystal tried her usual tactic of making Jinx feel better. She put an arm around her.
Krystal: Hey. How you doing?
Jinx: …fine.
Krystal: Good. That's good. Can I get you anything? Ice cream? A soda?
Jinx: Do you have to do this every time we see each other?
Krystal: …a root beer float?
Jinx was about to reply when she began to feel extremely drowsy. She stumbled and fell, passing out on the floor. Gizmo and Mammoth, who were playing video games, looked up at Krystal who backed away from the fallen Jinx.
Krystal: I didn't do it! I wanted to give her ice cream!
Gizmo: Damn it…get her to the med-lab.
END PART THREE