32 Productions Presents…
A HIVE Team StoryThe HIVE Team In…
"Is it Right?"
Chapter Three
Jewelry Store
It had to happen eventually. Trouble had come to town in the form of Doctor Light (evil in any dimension, I guess) and he was attempting to acquire diamonds. With them in his suit, it would double…maybe even triple the power output. Jinx decided that now was as good a time as any and included Raven with them. Besides, with Krystal around the doctor was barely a threat. To put it simply, anything he could do, Krystal could do better. Raven had her hood over her head to hide her face. Not that it mattered. If a pair of glasses on Superman can keep Batman fooled for any period of time (and it did), then there's no way the average shmoe is going to realize that the pale girl in white used to be the pale girl in red. They stopped him as he was trying to leave the store.
Jinx: Okay, Doctor. You know you don't stand a chance against us, so why don't you just come along quietly?
Doctor Light: Not this time! This time I came prepared!
Twisting the dial on his wrist, his whip went from yellow the purplish black. Krystal had time to register surprise before she was struck by the whip. It burned and made her weak to boot. She was sent into the wall where she bashed her head. She sank to the floor with a groan. Jinx growled. What a pain. This was going to be harder then she thought.
Jinx: HIVE, together!
With Krystal down so quickly, it was obvious this wasn't going to go well. Somebody must have slipped the good doctor some info, because it wasn't well known that Krystal couldn't stand black light. There was no time to worry about that, however. The doctor pressed a button his belt that was never there before (modified suit) and several copies of him seem to generate from nowhere. Sonic snorted.
Sonic: You think making a few images of your ugly mug is going to save you? I can still tell which one is you.
Sonic charged at the original Doctor Light. To his great surprise, one of the others tackled him. A second one helped as Sonic began to get a beating.
Doctor Light: Fool. I can manipulate light into solid objects, remember?
Mammoth picked one of the "images" off of Sonic and threw him aside. Blackfire flew at Doctor Light hard and fast, fist pulled back. Several "images" jumped on to her, but she ignored them. Doctor Light held out his arms and Blackfire's fist struck a burning hot force field. Now covered with annoying "images" of Doctor Light that flailed on her with less then impressive strength (come on, he's a cream puff) Blackfire tried using her blackbolts. They knocked the doctor away, but did little else. Sonic blasted the other image off him and stood up.
Sonic: Okay…he's really given that suit an overhaul.
Raven: STOP IT!
Raven floated up, eyes glowing white. Doctor Light blasted at her with a beam of intense light. It struck a shield harmlessly.
Raven: (clenched teeth) Stop hurting my friends!
The gauntlets on Doctor Light's suit glowed black before being ripped from it, sparking.
Doctor Light: Are you crazy?! You could blow us all to Gotham City if you're not careful!
Gizmo: He's not kidding, Raven. There's a lot of power in that suit.
Doctor Light: Raven…? The Teen Titan, Raven? What are you doing with them?
Raven: I don't know what you're talking about…
Raven teleported behind him and put her hand over his head.
Raven: …but you're still going to pay for hurting my friends. Jinx says I can mess with people's emotions…making them sad…happy…or…
Doctor Light's eyes widened. Suddenly the severity of his situation had slammed home. He was facing a bunch of super powered people and all he had to protect him was that lousy suit! They've beaten him before! They could do it again…and he's hurt them…they're angry… He was so distracted, he didn't noticed Mammoth until he had already drawn his fist back. A soft blow (well, to Mammoth) was all it took to knock the panicking villain out cold.
Raven: …scared.
Red X: Very well done, Raven.
Raven grinned and rubbed the back of her head.
Raven: Nah, all I did was spook him a bit. Mammoth did all the work.
Mammoth: You took out his suit too.
Sonic: Seriously, he was totally schooling us.
Jinx had to admit…Raven did well. She turned to Krystal and checked her over.
Jinx: Raven, think you can heal Krystal without erratic hair growth this time?
Raven: I can try…but…what's a "Teen Titan"?
There was no reason to lie about anything. Raven could never remember now anyway.
Gizmo: Bunch of psychos. Guess he thought you were one of them.
Raven: Oh…why would he think that?
Red X: …look at him. He's an idiot.
Raven giggled and shrugged. She went to help Krystal as Red X bound the doctor for the police to take away.
HIVE Tower: Mammoth's Room
It was getting late now and Mammoth was getting ready for bed. There was a knock on his door. When he answered, he found Raven shifting from foot to foot outside.
Raven: …hey, Mammoth. Can I…can I come in a sec?
Mammoth shrugged and let her in. She took a deep breath.
Raven: Do…do you really think I did a good job today?
Mammoth: Well, yeah. Why, don't you?
She was quiet for a moment.
Raven: …I…I felt something when I was messing with his brain. I…I don't know what it was. It scared me. I…I think I liked doing it.
It was well known to the HIVE that the old Raven enjoyed messing with people's emotions. It thrilled her. It stood to reason that just because she couldn't remember didn't mean she wouldn't like it all the same.
Raven: What if something's wrong with me? What if I start doing it just because I like doing it?
Mammoth put a large hand on her shoulder.
Mammoth: I think you know right from wrong enough not to. You're a good person, Raven.
Raven: …thank you…there's…there's something else. Something I don't understand.
Mammoth: What?
Raven looked up into his eyes.
Raven: Whenever I'm with you I get this funny feeling. I…I don't know what it is. It's kinda like feeling queasy, but at the same time it doesn't feel bad.
Mammoth gulped. That sounded like…oh boy.
Mammoth: Uh…well…
Raven: Does…does this mean I…like you? I mean…LIKE you like you?
Mammoth: I…I couldn't tell you…
Raven: …do you…do you think I'm pretty?
Truth be told she was kind of pretty…no, more then that. Raven was very pretty.
Mammoth: …yeah. You're very pretty.
Raven: So…do you…do you like me? …I mean…LIKE me like me?
He thought about it. He had been getting kind of close to Raven over the last few days. He hadn't spoken to BB8r2 since she woke up at the tower. …maybe…well, it was possible. …what the hell, why not?
Mammoth: …yeah.
Raven smiled for a moment then bit her lip.
Raven: …and when…and when two people like…LIKE like each other…don't they…you know…kiss?
Jeez, this girl was moving fast. Still, what kind of idiot doesn't take an offer like that?
Mammoth: Yeah…
Raven: Then…kiss me.
A brief alarm went off in his head, but he ignored it. Their lips met…and darkness consumed him.
Main Room?
Mammoth entered the main room, but found it very different from the one he knew. All furniture had been removed save for a large chair…almost a throne in the center. Raven was lounging on it, legs crossed. She smiled when he came in.
Raven: Ah, Mammoth. Don't just stand in the doorway staring, it's rude. Come on in.
Confused, Mammoth did as she said.
Mammoth: Raven, where are we?
Raven: Here, there, everywhere and nowhere. Does it really matter? All you need to know is that here…I…am…GOD.
Her voice boomed. Mammoth winced at the sheer volume of it. A look of wistful thought crossed her face.
Raven: No, I guess it would be more of a goddess, wouldn't it?
Mammoth: How'd we get here?
Raven: I brought us here. You see, Mammoth…
Raven stood up on the throne and grabbed her cloak. She pulled it off and threw it aside. Under it was…her old red cloak and costume. Her eyes color went from purple to red again.
Raven: …I'm back.
She threw her head back and cackled. Mammoth shook his head.
Mammoth: That's…that's not possible. Jinx took your memory away.
Raven stopped laughing and made a sharp movement with her hand. Mammoth flew back into the wall, hitting it hard. The more movements she made with her hand, the more he flew around. After battering him a bit, she brought him up to her level (it was a very big throne), bound tightly in her power.
Raven: She attempted to, yes. But you see, the spell only banishes FORGOTTEN memories. For example, if you cast it on somebody who had a word on the tip of their tongue, so to speak, it would vanish from their minds completely…definition and all. Rather useless, unless the person you cast it on was…oh, I don't know…amnesic?
Mammoth: But…
Raven: Let me show you.
The TV reappeared and a "movie" started to play. It showed the image of a frightened eight year old Raven walking through the darkness. Nothing could be seen but her.
Lil Raven: Hello? Is…is anybody here?
Rasping voice: Raven…
Fear shot through the little girl like lightening. That voice was both terrifying and familiar.
Lil Raven: Who's there?!
Rasping voice: You forgot me? That hurts. It really does.
A figure she couldn't place appeared…but was distinctly familiar. His white hair…the jacket…yes, she knew this boy…but from where?
Lil Raven: Who are you?
Shade: Shh…don't be afraid.
Suddenly Raven wasn't afraid. She had no reason to be. This boy…he wouldn't hurt her.
Lil Raven: I…I know you…
Shade: You've forgotten so much…here. I'll help you remember.
He extended his hand to her. Gingerly, she took it. Shadows shot from his sleeves, slithering up her arms. She tried to pull away, but Shade held fast. The shadows plunged into her ears and suddenly she was bombarded with memories. The darkness shifted and changed into the familiar dark landscape of Raven's mind as all that was lost was restored. Raven sank to her knees, holding her body in pain. In a burst of dark power, the little Raven exploded and was replaced by the older one. She brushed a strand of hair from her face and smiled.
Raven: Thank you, Shade. I had almost forgotten.
Raven then turned and struck him across his face.
Raven: But I told you not to step foot into my brain again!
With her mind completely restored, Shade lost his ability to speak again and merely whimpered in response. The image shut off and Raven turned back to the ensnared Mammoth. She wiped a fake tear from her eyes.
Raven: Isn't that a beautiful story?
Mammoth: What WAS that?
Raven: Last night Shade, in what could only be considered a suicide attempt, went into a trinket that serves as a portal into my mind. Since I was supposedly dead, that should have killed him. Instead, he found me alive and well…but my memory completely subdued. He came to me in a dream and unlocked the memories inside me. I've known everything since this morning, Mammoth. Did you like my acting? I thought I deserved an award.
Raven put on a cutesy innocent face.
Raven: "Whenever I'm with you I get this funny feeling. I…I don't know what it is. It's kinda like feeling queasy, but at the same time it doesn't feel bad."
She laughed wickedly.
Raven: The only queasy feeling I had then was from the knowledge that I had to kiss an ugly creature like YOU in order to get you here.
Okay, that hurt.
Mammoth: Why? Why didn't you just attack us and leave?
Raven's face softened.
Raven: …I…I wanted to give it a chance. I thought…maybe I was wrong. Wrong about humanity…wrong to do all the terrible things I had done. Maybe humanity was more then selfishness and violence. You were all so kind to me. Me...the horrible person who tortured you all so much. If you could forgive me…maybe there was hope for mankind after all. I would have convinced Shade to come with me…to join us. He'd listen.
Raven's eyes blazed with anger and she raised her hand. Tightening it into a fist slowly increased the pressure Mammoth's bindings put on him.
Raven: But then that bitch Jinx tried to wipe my mind out of existence! In that instant all the hope and faith I had in human kind were once again DASHED! You bastards think only of yourselves, and then whine about others being inhumane when somebody starts smacking YOU around! You're all the same! Liars, deceivers, backstabbers!
With each name she shouted, Raven backhanded Mammoth across his face. Normally Raven would be too weak to hurt the likes of him, but wherever they were, she had the necessary strength to inflict pain. Blood trickled from his lip. Raven paused and cleared her throat, smoothing her cloak.
Raven: Excuse me. I got carried away. In any case, I'm going home…home to the people that care about me for who I am…not what they WANT me to be. Of course…before I do…
Raven grinned and put her face right in front of Mammoth's.
Raven: I'm going to play with you a while…but don't worry…out of respect for the feelings that I truly did have for you when I was without my memory…I won't kill you. …you really were very sweet.
Raven kissed his cheek tenderly…and then viciously bit his ear.
Raven: But I'll get over it. Now let's see…what inside that head of yours would cause you the most misery to have to experience again? …ah…here we are. Heh…well…ain't that a kick in the bum?
Thus began a torture session that seemed to last for hours. After making him watch his sister die all over again, Raven decided to mix it up by creating false, but equally painful scenarios. Shimmer being brutally beaten, stabbed, and even raped was shown to him. Finally Raven stopped. Mammoth was on the ground now. He had started crying a while back. You can't watch that sort of thing repeatedly and not break down, at least from frustration. Raven glared down at him.
Raven: Don't hate me because I did this. Hate Jinx for forcing me to retaliate. Sadly, you were the easiest to ensnare. I could only bring you here by kissing you. I doubt Jinx would have let me. I must admit though…
Mammoth's Room
Mammoth awoke in his room. The images were vivid in his mind. Any doubt in what just happened being real was dispelled by Raven's faint whisper in his ear.
Raven: …she did exactly what I would have done. In that regard, she did me proud. Tell the others. Tell them I won't forgive them for treating me so kindly then letting me down so utterly. ...and get up for breakfast.
Raven had kept Mammoth…wherever he was all night. The sun was already up. The door slid open and Jinx stepped in.
Jinx: Mammoth, get up. We can't find…
Mammoth: You…you really screwed everything up, didn't you?
Jinx was taken aback by Mammoth seemingly unprovoked anger. After all, why should he be mad?
Jinx: What are you talking ab…wow…are you okay? You look terrible.
Mammoth climbed to his feet slowly and stood right in front of Jinx, towering over her.
Mammoth: Your spell didn't work. She remembered everything and spent all night torturing me in some weird dimension or something.
Jinx: That's impossible. I KNOW my spell worked.
Mammoth: She remembered everything before you cast the spell! She was willing to give us a chance because we didn't turn her in or treat her badly for what she had done.
Jinx: I…I didn't…
Jinx shook off her surprise.
Jinx: Did she say that? You can't believe a word Raven says.
Mammoth: Yeah, you just tell yourself that. By the way, she says though she despises you for giving her hope and taking it away, she's proud that you acted just like her.
Jinx's eyes narrowed and her hands glowed pink.
Jinx: Take that back! I didn't…
Mammoth: Yeah you did. And you know it.
Jinx lowered her hands. Her voice came out soft and full of regret.
Jinx: …I just wanted to do the right thing.
Mammoth: You wanted to get back at them.
Jinx: …
Jinx turned and left the room. She had a lot of thinking to do.
Titan H.Q.: Main Room
The Titans were shocked when Raven appeared above the couch. She flung her cloak back in a semi-dramatic fashion and smirked.
Raven: Miss me? Be hone…
Raven's words were cut off as Shade tackled her to the ground. She cried out and shoved him off.
Raven: Would you settle down?! I missed you too, but that doesn't mean I want you humping my leg, damn it!
The others crowded around her.
Robin: Raven?! But…we saw you die!
Raven: Feh. You saw me get caught in an explosion. I survived and the fools took me back to their tower to recuperate. I suffered from amnesia for a while but thanks to a certain someone who is going to be SEVERELY PUNISHED FOR ENTERING MY BRAIN AGAIN…
Shade winced and backed away.
Raven: …my memories were returned before that bitch Jinx could wipe them from my mind forever, turning me into one of…them. With no childhood trauma to cause my epiphany, I would no doubt be one of them now.
Raven sighed.
Raven: Damn it, I suppose I have to let your transgression slide this time, Shade. I DO owe you my continued existence.
Cyborg: Learn anything interesting?
Raven rubbed her chin, thinking.
Raven: My recollection of my time there is hazy…like a dream. It's obvious that our continued assaults on them is affecting Jinx. For her to even consider wiping my memory, in effect killing the person I am today, she must be pretty close to the breaking point. Oh…
Raven grinned.
Raven: And let me tell you about a girl named Selinda Flinders. I think we might be able to get some use out of this one, even if she IS dead.
THE END