32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"Reality: You Break it You Buy It"

Chapter Two

Blackfire's Room

Blackfire shot straight up in bed, gasping. She wiped the cold sweat from her brow and looked around. It was her room…sort of. Something seemed…off. A soft grumble next to her clued her in. Lighting a blackbolt, Blackfire could plainly see Krystal lying next to her…but something was wrong. Krystal was…older. Mid-twenties at least. She was about to wake her up when Krystal shot up in bed as well with a shout.

Krystal: Evil bunny rabbits!

Blackfire: Let me guess. You dreamt that Raven got shot and let loose a horde of demonic creatures on the earth in a final act of revenge, despite having her memory wiped clean.

Krystal: Yeah, how'd…

Krystal stared at her. Blackfire tilted her head.

Blackfire: What?

Krystal: Uh…Blackie?

Blackfire: …yes?

Krystal: There's a kid standing next to you…

Blackfire turned her head and found herself staring at the face of a young boy, no older then six years old. Blackfire let out a shout of surprise.

Blackfire: JEEZ! Damien, don't DO that!

Blackfire blinked. Oh no. Not again. Yes, she had conflicting memories again. Half of her knew who this boy was.

Damien: You and Mom were scared so I came to see why.

Krystal: That's sweet of you, baby, but your father and I are okay. See?

Krystal teleported and scooped the boy up. He bit back a smile but eventually his childish nature won out and he giggled. Blackfire scowled. Why was SHE the father? Oh right, she wanted to be. She got a better look at the boy when she turned on the light. He had short white hair that was in contrast to his purple eyes. He had one cute little fang in his mouth and he was terribly pale. Obviously the boy wasn't biologically theirs. Blackfire's face fell. It was Shade and Raven's. They had the baby, but afterward got caught. Krystal got custody of the child as the only living relative. They were going to tell him the truth, but the way he called them "Mommy" and "Daddy" made them change their minds. The other let him stay in the tower.

Krystal: Okay, kiddo. Back to bed. Your dad and I got superhero stuff to talk about.

Damien: I could be a superhero.

Krystal: Not until you're older, kiddo. Much older.

Krystal carried the boy off. Blackfire groaned and held her head. Oh well. It was better then being torn apart by demons.

Sonic and Jinx's Room

Jinx had never been more embarrassed then she was right now. So she got a bit…carried away when she realized Sonic was alive again. And the whole "we're married" argument had some sway. So they were getting…intimate when they heard a thumping sound. A white skinned girl with brown hair and eyes with cat like pupils wearing pink pajamas with some anime character on the front stood at the edge of their bed. She was hitting the bed with her little hands, an annoyed look on her face. Around her mouth was some sort of muffler. Jinx was suddenly filled with memories. It was their little girl, Nadina Trevor. Five years old. If Sonic hadn't been there, the hospital would have been destroyed. Nadina's voice had a terrible effect, causing things to break. It was a disastrous combination of Sonic and Jinx's power. The sound of her voice itself was a curse. Because of that, Gizmo designed a muffler to place over her mouth until she was old enough to understand that she couldn't talk under any circumstances…or until she learned to control what she was cursing.

Sonic: Uh…Nadina, could you wait outside for a minute? We'll be right there.

Nadina gave them a dirty look and stomped out of the room. Nadina was learning sign language, but at five it was difficult. The muffle was locked in place, so Nadina couldn't remove it even if she tried. So saying, it was frustrating to the poor girl when she couldn't get people to understand what she wanted.

Jinx: I can't believe we have a child…

Sonic: I can. I can't believe we don't have the presence of mind to lock the damn door.

Jinx: Ugh. Thank god she didn't turn on the light.

The pair got dressed and went outside. Nadina was kicking the wall in frustration. Jinx sighed and knelt down, brushing the brown hair out of the little one's face.

Jinx: Shh…shh…we're here now. We're watching. What's wrong?

Nadina made sloppy hand signs. She had to repeat herself twice. Finally Sonic snapped his fingers.

Sonic: Her nightlight blew out!

Nadina nodded. The way her face shifted, it was obvious she was smiling. Jinx picked Nadina up.

Jinx: Here, Dad. Take her to get a light bulb. She likes you best anyway.

Sonic shrugged and put the little girl on his back.

Sonic: Hang on tight, Naddy.

Nadina kicked with her feet like a cowboy spurring on a horse. Jinx rolled her eyes. Nadina loved playing cowgirl. She winced. She couldn't think like that. Reality still wasn't what it should be.

Krystal: Ahoy there, Jinxy.

Jinx: Hey, Krystal.

Krystal leaned her head on Jinx's shoulder.

Krystal: Married, huh? Bet that makes you all warm and tingly.

Jinx: …yes, it does actually. And that worries me.

Krystal: So what happened? Why did reality go all woogily on us?

Jinx paced as she pondered the question.

Jinx: I can only make a guess…but reality may be unstable. If this is the case, then Raven's last act could have put too much of a strain and it had to try it again. Like a reset button in case of emergencies.

Krystal: Good grief...so how do we get home?

Jinx: …I don't know…I just don't know.

Krystal huffed and crossed her arms.

Krystal: You don't know…or you don't WANT to know?

Jinx: …

Krystal: I know how you feel, Jinx. My heart ached as I was taking Damien to his room, knowing that this shouldn't be, but we can't ignore the fact that reality is going loopy on us. At the VERY least we have to find a way to stabilize it.

Jinx: …you sound different.

Krystal: I think I've gone and matured. It's freaking me out. At least I've finally bloomed a bit…not as much as you, but at least I don't have the body of a twelve year old…

Main Room: That Morning

Gizmo grumbled as he sipped his coffee. Despite having no hair on his head or even eyebrows, Gizmo now had a full redish brown beard, making him look even more like a dwarf. Stupid reality…oh well. At least you couldn't mistake him for a child anymore. The two mini-HIVE members were a pain in his backside, mostly because it was his job to build the things they could play with. In Nadina's case, it was his job to make her life easier. Currently he was working on something to wrap around her throat that would produce an electronic voice when she attempted to speak. With luck her powers wouldn't activate. Unfortunately, Sonic was extremely picky about it. He wouldn't stand for anything that didn't sound like a child's voice. Mammoth watched TV. It wasn't something he wanted to watch, but Nadina was perched on his shoulders and she'd throw a fit if he changed the channel. Like some people treat a mountain, the kids climbed on him just because he was there. Fortunately, Damien was still groggy and preferred to just sit on the couch. Red X entered the room next.

Red X: Please tell me there's coffee.

Gizmo: (pointing) When did we become caffeine addicts?

Red X: Twenty two for me. It would seem that we started our careers about a decade earlier in this reality, just like we were born a decade earlier.

Gizmo: Yeah, I know. I remember.

Red X: Hmm.

Red X got her coffee mug (they each had their own) and filled it up. Frankly, Red X wasn't sure what to think about this reality. Could it be considered a vision of their future? Or was it just a possible future? She shook her head. The ramifications were giving her a headache this early in the morning. Jinx joined them finally.

Red X: Jinx. What happened? You used to be such an early bird.

Jinx: …Sonic was still asleep and he wakes up if I try to leave.

Red X: You never used to be that considerate toward his sleeping habits either.

Jinx: Ah, shut up. I'm surprised you're here at all and not at Todd's place.

Red X spat her coffee out in surprise as the secondary memories flooded her. Oh dear god, that's right! She was dating Todd Albertson, AKA Knife-play! What was she THINKING?! …well, he was kind of cute…and he could be funny when he wasn't being annoying…

Red X: (muttering) That tears it. This isn't our future; it's just another alternate reality.

Jinx: (whisper) Shh! Nadina will hear you.

Nadina turned her head slightly at the sound of her name. She did have acute hearing, another side effect of having Sonic as a father. Turning, she made hand signs to Damien. Damien had known Nadina since she was an infant and could practically read her mind (though telepathy wasn't one of his abilities), so he had no problem understanding her at all. Damien turned on the couch to face his friend's mother.

Damien: Nadina wants to know what you two were doing last night when she came to see you.

Jinx grumbled to herself. Sometimes it seemed like that boy got the same perverse pleasure out of causing people distress that his mother did. Fortunately salvation came in the form of Blackfire and Krystal.

Krystal: Okay, kiddies! As promised, Blackfire and I are going to take you to the amusement park! Who wants to go?

Nadina raised her hand and waved it around frantically. She wanted to go. Damien, however, just sighed.

Damien: I suppose I will…

Krystal leaned over the couch until she was nearly nose to nose with the boy, staring at him. He bit his lip before he started laughing.

Damien: Stop it, Mom!

Krystal: Sorry, can't help it. The doctor said I needed to take a dose of your laughter three times daily.

Blackfire shook her head. Krystal seemed to be a natural at raising that boy. Blackfire on the other hand couldn't help but remember who gave birth to the thing she called her son. Not that she blamed or even disliked him…no, that wasn't it at all. Blackfire had been near that child since before he could talk. It just wasn't possible for her to hate him. She turned to Jinx.

Blackfire: You coming? Nadina would probably like it if her parents came with.

Krystal: Is that true, Nadina? Would you like your mommy and daddy to come with us?

Nadina nodded and climbed off Mammoth, running to her mother's side. She tugged on her robes, a look of desperation in her eyes. Jinx sighed. She had wanted to work on finding out if reality was still damaged…but…

Jinx: …Gizmo, I need you to find out if there's anything…weird in the air these days. You should know what I'm talking about.

Gizmo: Uh huh. Gotcha.

Jinx smiled and knelt down.

Jinx: Let Mommy change into her civvies and we'll go, okay, honey?

Nadina hugged her mother tightly. Gizmo rolled his eyes.

Gizmo: (muttering) Glad I don't have kids…

Amusement Park

Damien huffed as his car was bumped by Nadina again. Weren't amusement parks supposed to be…amusing? Not that there weren't exciting things around him. It was just that he was too small to ride them. Krystal watched from outside the "arena" and shook her head. Sonic grinned.

Sonic: I know. He's doing really crappy, isn't he?

Krystal: Aw, shush up, dead boy.

Jinx: Krystal…

Sonic: Seriously, you said I was dead? Are you sure you weren't dreaming that one?

Blackfire: Like we're dreaming THIS one?

Sonic sighed and watched his daughter some more.

Sonic: …not sure that this isn't a dream. It's kind of what I always wanted. You know, wife and kids…kid…whatever.

Krystal snickered, earning a glare from Sonic.

Sonic: What's so funny?

Krystal: A player like you?

Blackfire: I thought it was pronounced "playa".

Krystal: Oh you kids and your new-fangled lingo.

Sonic: I'm serious here. This is what I want when I grow up. For us to still be a team…for Jinx and I to be married…for us to have kids…this is perfect.

Wild Guess: How sad that perfection is fleeting, Michael.

Jinx: Oh god no…

The tents ripped themselves from the ground and the booths collapsed. Raven and Shade walked toward them, destruction in their wake. Kids ran to their parents for protection. Damien and Nadina, however, knew better. They needed to get out of the way so their parents could work.

Jinx: When did you…

Raven: Escape? This morning. I'll spare you the details, suffice to say that it will take some time before the asylum is rebuilt.

Shade growled and Raven placed her hand on his head.

Raven: I'll make this simple. We've come for what's ours. Surrender my baby to me and we'll leave in peace, no lives lost. Refuse and we'll kill everyone here and then take my son.

Shade cleared his throat. Raven rolled her eyes.

Raven: Excuse me. OUR son.

Raven lowered her hood and knelt down.

Raven: Come to me, Damien.

Raven studied the face of her son. Fear…incomprehension… Raven clenched her teeth in rage.

Raven: You…you didn't tell him, did you?

Damien: Tell me what? Who are you?

Raven stood tall and bowed.

Raven: My name is Raven Roth. I am your mother.

Damien looked back at Krystal and Blackfire. They didn't met his gaze. How could they?

Damien: You…you can't be my mother…

Raven: Why not? Look at me, Damien…look at my face. Can't you see it in me? Or him?

Raven pointed toward Shade.

Raven: This is your father, Shade. Look at his hair. It's just like yours. We are your parents.

Damien: Mom…Dad…she's lying, right? You're my…

Raven released a burst of power as rage shot through her. It was more of a scare tactic then anything else, and one that worked.

Raven: Don't you dare ask it! Two women can't be your parents! This is a basic fact! All human life stems from a man and a woman!

Krystal: Well, technically there are ways to…

Raven: SHUT UP! You stole him from me! Filled his head with lies! Turned him against me!

Raven heard a sniffle and her power faded. Damien was crying. Raven bit her lip. She didn't want to do that. In fact, it was the opposite of what she wanted.

Raven: (softly) No…no, baby don't cry…don't… (shouting again) Now look what you've done! You made me upset him!

Jinx: Still blaming others for your own problems, I see.

Raven: I'm justified! You took him from me! Separated us! My own flesh and blood fears me! It…it hurts me to see his face like that.

Shade hissed. Raven nodded and wiped her eyes before lifting up her hood.

Raven: I agree. For this trespass against the sacred bond of parenthood, Jinx…Sonic…we condemn your child to death.

The HIVE members stood between them and the children, powers charged and at the ready.

Jinx: (growling) Touch my daughter and I'll kill you.

Raven chuckled before bursting out into laughter.

Raven: You?! Kill me?! My dear Jinx, that would make it all worth while. It would be wonderful if it were YOU the one incarcerated…though due to your lack of insanity, they'd have to place you in prison rather then an asylum. It just wouldn't be the same.

Shade grunted, rubbing against Raven. Raven chuckled and patted his head.

Raven: Quite right. They haven't seen what we can do. What we've been practicing…despite being so far apart…

Sonic: You're bluffing.

Krystal: Besides, do you think we've been slacking off?

Raven: …now you admit you've been neglecting my baby for TRAINING?! You will suffer dearly for this!

Blackfire: Is it just me or is Raven even crazier now then she was before?

Raven's soul self emerged from her body, shrieking in full bird form.

Krystal: Seen it. Beaten it.

Raven: This is but phase one, bitch. Now, Shade.

Shadows flowed up to the soul self, merging and mixing.

Raven: While we were being put through pointless therapy sessions, Shade and I learned to improve upon our bond. Consider it a form of…marriage.

Sonic: I'm not seeing a ring.

Raven: Wretched man…you limit your view of marriage to the "traditional marriage". Our bond goes far beyond death. Even when our bodies expire, we will be together…I wonder…will the same be said…

The merging complete, the soul self transformed into a two headed creature. Its shape was similar to a griffin, though rather then the body of a lion, it was a body of a wolf with bird wings. It shrieked with its bird head and howled with its wolf head.

Raven: …for any of YOU!

The creature flew toward them, heads lowered like battering rams. Blackfire and Krystal formed a shield out of their energies.

Krystal: Ha! You thought you were the only ones who learned how to comb…

Krystal's gloating was interrupted as the shield shattered like glass. They were hit hard. The creature pinned them all down. Raven held her head in her hands and was nearly shrieking with laughter.

Raven: This is too good to be true! Our power is unrivaled! It's more then I ever dreamed!

The creature reared back with its other legs, ready to finish the job when…

Damien: Wait…

Raven turned her head and looked at the boy. He stood in front of them, blank faced.

Damien: Let them go…and I'll come with you without a struggle.

Raven: …Damien…I…you don't understand. You don't see what they've done.
Damien: They took care of me. Protected me from harm. Yes, they were wrong for not telling me about you, but they DID raise me. You should be thankful for that.

Raven wavered. The look in her child's eyes was…Raven smiled and chuckled.

Raven: That's my son…attempting to manipulate my emotions. Unfortunately, you are an amateur, Damien. I felt your clumsy attempts in my mind. This only proves further that they must die for what they have done.

Damien: NO!

Raven and Shade were bowled over by the rush of power that escaped him. Shadows and dark energy whipped around Damien. Raven held Shade's hand, a look of joy on her face.

Raven: Look at it, Shade…the combination of our powers in a single body. He's stronger then either of us.

A bolt shot from the soul self, striking Damien in the back of his head. He pitched forward.

Raven: Unfortunately for him, he's also very inexperienced. Let's kill them and go home. The devices we took from the asylum should help us discipline him until we teach him who to love.

Nadina tugged and tugged at the muffling device. It had to come off. She just HAD to get it off before it was too late. Raven noticed and grinned.

Raven: What's this? A muzzle?

Raven raised her hand and Nadina found herself pulled toward Raven until she dangled right in front of her. Raven touched the device over the child's mouth.

Raven: And why do you wear this, I wonder?

The device beeped, much to everyone's surprise.

Device: Print recognized. Subject: Raven Roth. Classified: Dangerous. Freeing locks.

The muffle fell to the ground. Jinx and Sonic were shocked. Gizmo had installed a failsafe without telling them.

Nadina: (raspy) Let my parents GO!

Raven shrieked and covered her ears.

Raven: That voice! By Trigon, that voice! It…it…AAAGH!

The soul self beast let out a terrible noise before retreating and both Shade and Raven collapsed. Nadina picked up the muffler and put it over her mouth. It beeped and clicked back into place. She turned to her parents as they slowly stood up and gave them a thumbs up.

Sonic: Jinx…?

Jinx: Yes, Sonic?

Sonic: She's getting a pony.

Jinx: Definitely worth a pony.

Blackfire and Krystal were looking in the other direction.

Krystal: I really don't think that's happening.

Sonic: Why not?

Sonic and Jinx turned and saw what Blackfire and Krystal were staring at. There was a big white hole in the sky…and it was getting bigger fast. Things started disappearing into it.

Jinx: Reality…is collapsing.

Sonic: …is it going to fix itself again?

Jinx: I don't know…

Jinx picked Nadina up.

Jinx: Nadina…I want you to know…your father and I love you very much.

The white overwhelmed them.

END PART TWO