32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Black Cats and Goblins"
Chapter Three
Halloween Store
The worst idea ever was to make a store for only Halloween. How much of a profit could they possibly make? Unless they have other businesses on the side, they're bound to go bankrupt. Rose sighed and checked the list. Being rich had its benefits…though that should be obvious. It wasn't often Rose got a chance to go out without her mask. Of course, out of costume she wasn't exactly entitled to the HIVE budget. Fortunately, she had plenty of funds of her own. She sighed. Given the large list she was given, she'd have to make several trips. Once she bought what she could carry, she'd have outside, load the H-car (man she hoped Sonic wouldn't notice she bored it without asking) then come back and buy more stuff. She looked at the list of costumes, each one labeled with their sizes…Gizmo's just says "children's".
Rose: Some of these choices costumes are terrible…or just obvious. Jinx as a witch. Ooo, big shocker there. Sonic as a 80's rock star. How sad. And it comes with temporary tattoos. Mammoth as a zombie…well, he's got the brains for it. …that was mean. Bad thought. Bad. Gizmo as a gnome. …he didn't pick that himself. No WAY did he pick that himself. …better get him a spare costume so he doesn't have to wear it if it's a prank after all. …better remove the size tag. Krystal as a…mad scientist? …huh. That's a little odd. Blackfire as the assistant. Seems kind of backwards. Cripes, where am I going to find one in THIS size?! At least Mammoth was mostly make-up! …speaking of, I better buy two so we have enough. There's no way I can find an assistant costume with these dimensions. I'll buy the biggest and she'll have to improvise. As for me…ah.
Rose took a Batgirl costume off the wall. Perfect. She had a huge admiration for Gotham City's heroes. It was what inspired her to take up crime fighting. It was also why she had such a dislike for Robin. He had betrayed what the Batman and the like stood for. She quickly banished the thoughts from her mind. Now was not the time to be angry. Unbeknownst to her (but beknownst to us…yes, I'm quoting "Spaceballs") the very person she was currently fuming over was in the same store, going through the costumes himself.
Dick: Stupid Raven and her stupid costume ideas. How am I going to explain to the pet store owner how I need a collar that would fit around a human's neck?
Dick sighed. Sometimes Raven was a bit TOO weird. It was bad enough that Shade didn't get to pick his own costume, but to make him wear a leash and collar? Well, at least it wasn't a choker collar. Starfire's costume…heh… He grinned. Oh that was going to look fi-i-i-ine on her. Terra wanted an old Greek female toga type of a thing. It would make her look like a statue of one of them Greek Gods. Cyborg was going to build his own costume in his garage. Changeling wanted to go as some anime character or another. Dick forgot the name. He'd just pick one and hope he was right. As for himself, he'd just go a Zorro. He already had the mask, right?
Rose: Um…excuse me?
Dick looked up. There was a girl whose hair had obviously been dyed wearing a black sleeveless T-shirt and jeans carrying a bunch of costumes in her hands.
Rose: I don't mean to trouble you, but could you get that mad scientist costume from there? I can't quite reach it.
Dick sighed inwardly. He'd do it of course. The girl wasn't exactly bad looking and he DID have to keep up appearances. No one would suspect HIM of being Robin if he's helping people in need, right? He smiled pleasantly.
Dick: Sure. This one here?
He just barely was able to reach it. Rose wasn't that much shorter. He handed it to her.
Rose: Thanks a million. You're a big help.
Dick: No problem.
And the two separated, giving the encounter no further thought. Oh how they'll kick themselves if they ever learn each others' identities.
HIVE Tower: Main Room, Halloween Night
The little party was underway by this point, all the HIVE members in costume. Krystal pouted over the fact that nobody wanted to try her punch. Now this could have been because it was bubbling, yet still ice cold. It could also be because she had been seen earlier pouring all sorts of things from salt to corn syrup into the mix, cackling and wringing her hands together like the mad scientist she was dressed as. Blackfire sighed and shook her head.
Blackfire: If you just followed instructions…
Krystal: You're getting out of character again, Igor-fire.
Groaning in annoyance, Blackfire hunched over.
Blackfire: (nasally voice) Is this better?
Krystal: Much. Now fetch me the brain! …and you forgot to call me "master" again.
Blackfire stood back up.
Blackfire: That's it, I'm done.
Krystal: But Blackie…!
Blackfire: No. No. This whole idea was stupid. I should be in that costume and you should be MY assistant.
Krystal: (whining) But why?
Blackfire sighed.
Blackfire: First off, I'm more apt at science then you are in the first place. Secondly, I'd actually FIT in that costume.
Krystal's lab coat was incredibly baggy on her. She looked down at it and back up to her.
Krystal: …and your point is?
Blackfire tugged at her hair and walked off.
Krystal: Alright, alright! We'll trade! Come back, Blackie!
Krystal ran after the retreating Blackfire. Gizmo sat on the couch, arms crossed. If he didn't want to be a freaking gnome, how was a dwarf any better?! …at least the dwarf had a beard and battle axe though. That was nice…even if the beard smelled like a goat. He groaned and smacked Mammoth away for the sixth time.
Gizmo: Stop chewing on my head, dumbass!
Mammoth: Brains…
Gizmo hit him with the plastic axe.
Gizmo: As soon as yours starts working, let me know.
Jinx grumbled from her spot leaning against the wall. This wasn't what she had in mind at all. She had wanted to be a sorceress, not a witch. She poked the fake plastic nose and sighed. This was just degrading. Sonic leaned next to her. Great. He had been talking in an annoying Billy Idol-ish accent since he put on the costume. Red X had totally screwed it up. …and all they got to see of her face was her now exposed chin in the Batgirl costume. Oh well. Everyone else seemed happy enough…well, not Gizmo but he was almost never happy.
Sonic: What's the matter, love?
Jinx: For pity's sake, Sonic, stop talking like that!
Sonic: (normal) …for pity's sake? Who says that anymore?
Jinx: …this is a disgrace to my practice.
Sonic: The party?
Jinx: No, the costume. I look like a hag.
Sonic looked her over. She had on a gray wig, a fake nose, a false wart, and the pointed black hat. Sonic shrugged.
Sonic: A hag with a gorgeous figure.
Jinx: Shut up.
Sonic: I can fix it.
Jinx: …how?
Sonic pulled the wig, the nose, and the wart off. The wart felt like getting a bandage pulled off. Jinx rubbed the spot, giving him a dirty look.
Sonic: Er…right…well, now you look much better.
Jinx: I could have thought of that!
Sonic: …then why didn't you?
Jinx was silent for a moment.
Jinx: …just shut up and go away.
Sonic: No can do, Jinxy. Not until I see a smile grace those beautiful features.
Jinx smiled an overly exaggerated smile. Sonic shook his head.
Sonic: A GENUINE smile.
Jinx: I'm not in the mood, Sonic.
Sonic: And I'm wondering why that is. What's up with you these days?
Jinx sighed. Truth be told, she wasn't sure. She hated Halloween, we've been over that part already. Yet this Halloween gave her a deeper feeling of dread. Somehow this one would be the worst, but she wasn't sure why she felt that way. She glanced at the clock. It was a quarter past seven. Just a few more hours and it would be over.
Titan H.Q.: Main Room
Starfire frowned. That Raven was soooo smug. Just because she had somehow divided herself, she thought she was going to win the drinking contest. Raven leaned back in her chair. The booze hadn't affected her yet, at least not visibly. The only difficulty she had was drinking with the fangs in her mouth. Changeling smacked his head against the table. His forehead protector stopped it from hurting. Why…WHY did he bet AGAINST Raven, believe it?! Even Robin bet against Starfire…which upset her at first. Now that she was wasted, she probably forgot.
Raven: What's wrong, Star? You've been staring at me for a while now. Do you want to keep going or have you realized that demons don't get drunk on something as weak as beer?
Starfire pointed her finger at one of the three Ravens in front of her.
Starfire: (slurred) Y…you shut up! You think you are sho shmart! But you know what? Y…you know what?
Raven smiled. Well, now she knew what kind of drunk Starfire was. Angry with a hint of cockiness.
Raven: No, what?
Starfire slammed her fist down.
Starfire: I am getting to it! Give me a moment! You know what? YOU ARE NOT!
Raven: …so you quit?
Starfire groaned and hung her head. She didn't feel so good.
Starfire: Yes, I consheed.
Starfire grabbed Changeling's hand suddenly, causing him to jump.
Starfire: I…I am SHOOO shorry Changingling. I failed you! I am shuch a losher!
She put her head down on the table and sobbed. Raven sweatdropped.
Raven: Jeez, I can't tell what kind of a drunk she is.
Terra: Mood swing drunk.
Raven: Ah. Of course. Shade…you okay?
Shade groaned and held his stomach. He sent Raven a single message. Too much candy corn. Raven sighed.
Raven: I warned you that stuff was crap. …it is not delicious. You're crazy. There must be something wrong with your taste buds.
Starfire giggled. Raven tilted her head.
Raven: What's so funny?
Starfire: You are having a convershation…with a dog! Bwhahahahahaha!
Raven: He's a werewolf!
Starfire just kept laughing.
Changeling: Uh…maybe we should move on to something else now, believe it.
Cyborg: Stop saying that!
Robin: Changeling's right. What should we do now?
Shade huffed. Raven tapped her chin in thought.
Raven: Hmm…Shade suggests telling scary stories…but I fail to see how anything could be scarier then me. So I guess that's a flop.
Everyone rolled their eyes. Raven had the strange idea that she was the scariest thing in the world now that her father was dead. Then again, in theory she could terrify anyone by altering their emotions so it could be true. Suddenly Raven's head shot up.
Terra: What's wrong?
Raven: I'm not sure…I suddenly felt a burst of emotions coming from…
Raven's Room
Among the sick trophies, the torn meat, and magical artifacts sat the bottle filled with souls. The mist was starting to swirl around faster and faster. Cracks began to form along the bottle as the speed increased. Raven appeared, curious to as the source of the emotional barrage. She arrived just in time to see the bottle shatter and the mist expand into a grinning skull.
Raven: Uh oh…
The mist flew at her and forced its way into her nose and mouth. Voices filled her mind as the souls tried to wrestle control away from her. Fortunately for her, possession was out of the question. Her soul self burst from her body with a shriek, driving the mist back out. With a deep bellow of rage, it slipped under the door of Raven's room. Swearing, Raven teleported back to her friends in the main room. Her hair and costume was a mess now.
Cyborg: What happened to you?
Changeling: Yeah, Shade is still right here, believe it.
Cyborg grabbed Changeling and picked him up, his Tin man costume rattling. It wasn't attached very well.
Cyborg: If you tell me to believe it one more time…just one more…
Raven slapped them both.
Raven: Stop it! We're in serious danger!
Terra: Huh? Why?
The mist flowed through the door and entered the room. Terra's jaw dropped.
Terra: Oh…I see.
Robin: What the hell is that?!
Raven: …I've kind of been collecting the souls of those we've killed to consume…as soon as I learned how. Somehow they've broken free of the bottle.
The skull of mist looked around the room and selected the best person to possess. It moved toward Shade but stopped short, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. Instead, they dove into the inebriated Starfire. Starfire floated upward and took a deep breath. When her eyes opened, they were glowing red.
Starfire: Ah…we breathe again.
Robin: Starfire?!
Terra: Not with that voice…
It was actually a collection of voices talking at once. Starfire pointed an accusing finger at Raven.
Starfire: You! You planned to devour US?
Raven: Get out of that body!
Starfire: Silence! She'll pay for those of us she killed as well! You will witness the death of each of your friends before we kill you! That was the deal with him!
Terra: "Him"? Him who?
Starfire: Trigon the Terrible.
Raven's eyes widened. Of course…her father could easily bend the rules of the afterlife and give these souls the extra power they needed to free themselves of the bottle, especially since he himself was dead. Starfire held up her hands and red starbolts formed. Fluid dripped from them, hitting the floor with a hiss.
Starfire: Now die…
Starfire held up her hand and threw an orb.
Cemetery
Hordes of the dead clamored around aimlessly as the HIVE arrived. They were in such a hurry that they didn't have time to change. Red X had a small supply of X-arangs in her costume belt, but they weren't enough for this many foes.
Jinx: …I hate Halloween.
Krystal: I don't want my brain munched!
Jinx: That's a movie myth. The living dead don't really eat flesh. They just kill every living thing they see out of a jealous rage.
A group of the undead started toward them, hands outstretched and fingers clasping as if they hoped to be able to grab them from the distance they were at. Krystal whimpered and bit her lip.
Krystal: That doesn't make me feel any better!
Jinx: …we can't let them out of the graveyard. The fences are high enough to keep them from climbing out. We just need to guard the entrances.
Gizmo: How many are there?
Red X: Just two. This one and one in the back. There's another problem though.
Blackfire floated up and squinted.
Blackfire: …there's a church over there.
Red X: An occupied one. There could just be a handful of people, or a full house, so to speak. Either way…
Mammoth: We can't let them get killed.
Jinx pinched the bridge of her nose. This was turning into a real bad day.
Jinx: Krystal, Blackfire, go guard the church. Get inside and barricade the doors. Protect the people until you get called by us. Red X, take Mammoth and Gizmo and head to the other entrance. Sonic and I will hold them here.
Red X nodded and the three headed for the other entrance as fast as they could. Krystal and Blackfire flew to the church, firing blasts down on the hordes of the dead as they did so. It did little good. Even with their heads destroyed, they kept moving. Sonic sighed and pulled the poofy haired wig off his head.
Sonic: Any ideas on how to stop them?
Jinx: Not a clue.
Sonic: …I'm going to die in tight spandex pants. This is more embarrassing then I could have ever imagined.
Church
That's right. A regular generic church. No specified religion. Just a church. Blackfire attempted to barricade the entrances while Krystal explained why they just busted in and were attempting to barricade the entrances.
Krystal: Okay…you know they'll never believe anything about the walking dead unless they see them and that would be stupid to do because it puts them at risk. Be clever. Make something up. …uh…it's a dare you see. Yeah. We're playing truth or dare and we've been dared to barricade this church until we get a call on this here doo-dad.
Krystal held up her communicator. Blackfire sighed.
Blackfire: It's HIVE business. There are some dangerous things out there and it's our job to make sure you don't get hurt.
Krystal: …wow, that's a lot better then what I was going with. Next time I'll barricade the doors and YOU explain it.
Outside: Back Entrance
Red X kicked the dead creature's grasping form away. This was hopeless. Without her suit, there wasn't much she could do against these beings. Her X-arangs had no effect at all. Gizmo's weapons managed to cut them down, but they just kept crawling toward them. Mammoth was in deep trouble as they climbed on all over him, beating on him with their rotting hands. As strong as he was, enough of them was going to cause some pain.
Gizmo: How many people are buried here?!
Red X: Four hundred and fifty seven!
Gizmo: …oh…
Front Entrance
Jinx was at the end of her rope. She was creating barriers using what few spells she actually had memorized but they were breaking through somehow. It was like their fists were cutting into the magic she was using.
Jinx: This is bad…
Shimmer: Looks it.
Jinx gasped. Shimmer watched, concerned.
Jinx: I told you not to leave the tower!
Shimmer: Screw that! I'm not about to leave my mates to get munched!
Sonic was busy blasting them back, so he paid no mind to his rambling girlfriend. Jinx thought for a moment.
Jinx: …you might just be able to help…
Shimmer: Really?! How?
Jinx: You have to go to the realm of the dead and find out what's causing this. Halloween causes trouble, but not this much.
Shimmer: How am I supposed to do that? There's not exactly a bloody taxi service for that!
Jinx: Figure it out like you did everything else. The door to the Nether realm is everywhere.
Jinx got back into the fight, leaving Shimmer alone and confused. The door was everywhere? What was that supposed to mean?
Shimmer: Yeah, like I can just reach out and pull…it…open?
Hmm…worth a try, right? She reached out, hoping against hope. Her hand grasped an invisible doorknob and she pulled it open. As soon as she entered she was caught up in a fierce stream of souls. It was like being caught in a raging river. She began forcing her way through, ignoring the pain it brought. Her friends and brother needed her.
END PART THREE