Titans: Elemental

Chapter 6: Final Exam

We see a screen full of static, which resolves into a school crest.

The field is hexagonal, black-and-white checkered within a gold border. A large H is superimposed on it in gold script; across the

bottom is a white banner bearing the letters, "H.A.E.Y.P." Behind the crest, a square corridor can be seen, with yellow walls, ceiling, and floor marked in a honeycomb pattern.

"The H.I.V.E. Academy for Extraordinary Young People is proud to introduce…"

A platform rises into view in front of the crest, carrying three young individuals on it to block the crest. One is a very short, bald boy in a jumpsuit; a pair of goggles is propped on his forehead, and assorted controls are mounted at chest and waist level. Behind him is a very tall, beefy fellow with collar-length brown hair and a small beard. His sleeveless shirt and pants are black, and studded gold bands cross his chest and run around his shoulders. Off to the right of these two, is a slim girl in an off-the-shoulder black dress trimmed with blue ruffles, black-and-blue striped stockings, and black platform boots with blue soles. Her lavender hair is bound into two large horn-like tufts that stick up above her ears, her catlike eyes are the same color, and her skin is an odd shade of bluish-pink. A small pendant hangs from a black ribbon that encircles her throat.

"… This year's top graduates."

They leap from the platform; the big one and the girl drop out of the frame, and the camera zooms in on the runt. The big one's motion reveals studded gold wristbands.

"Gizmo, the boy genius whose intellect can conquer any problem with an inventive solution."

Gizmo presses a button, and a pair of large metal wings sprouts from his back. He takes hold of the device at his waist, and the wings respond and carry him into the air. Lasers pop out from the wall panels and open fire against him, but he easily avoids all the shots and goes for another button. Now a small missile launcher comes up between the wings and unleashes a salvo that destroys all the guns with remarkable efficiency.

Gizmo lands on the platform he and his classmates originally stood on, then glides away as two large robots step in from portals that open up in the walls. The girl takes his place.

"Jinx, the enchanting sorceress whose powerful hexes mean bad luck for her enemies."

Jinx extends her arms to both sides and does a 360-degree twirl, throwing off a wave of energy that causes a couple of wall panels to fall away. She leaps high off the platform, and the panels crash down on the robots' heads. Two others have moved in during this sequence and meet the same fate. She backflips down the corridor a short distance.

Three large laser cannons emerge from recessed panels in the floor, but the giant drops into view and bends the barrel of one of them as if it were a piece of taffy.

"And Mammoth, the genetically enhanced giant whose unstoppable strength speaks for itself."

Mammoth tears the cannon from its moorings and does an Olympic-style hammer throw to sling it away. It skids across the floor and wrecks the other two. He looks very pleased with himself; a robot looms up behind the strongman and catches him in its huge hands.

Gizmo jumps onto its back and attaches a small unit. This sends up a small puff of smoke. Gizmo jumps free and sparks start to fly from the head; he has hot-wired the thing to put it out of action.

"Well-organized, highly trained, and combat-equipped…."

Mammoth throws off the robot, which collapses, and Gizmo lands in a crouch before running off again. Jinx runs to Mammoth and springs up just before reaching him; he catches one foot and boosts her into a series of flips that carries her down the corridor.

"… These new H.I.V.E. agents are the perfect fighting force."

Batteries of lasers emerge from behind the walls and cut loose against Jinx, who continues her gymnastic advance. Not one shot hits her, but the positioning of the turrets on opposite walls results in their blowing each other to bits by the time she has reached the end of the gauntlet. She lands with her back to the camera filming the team, surveying her triumph, then turns to face front.

"And for the right price…."

Gizmo and Mammoth slide up on either side of Jinx.

"… This ideal team can be yours."

The image gives way to static, which resolves into the H.I.V.E. Academy's crest against a dark field.

….

This has been a sort of highlight reel and sales pitch that was displayed on the monitor.

A gray-haired woman steps into view; severe dark outfit with a hexagonal gold patch on one sleeve. This is the school's headmistress.

The Headmistress asked, "well, Mr. Slade?"

We see the same man from before.

He says, "it's Wilson. Slade Wilson."

But now we have a name for him. Slade Wilson.

Slade's shadowy form stands behind a railing on a slightly elevated platform across the area-the same industrial machine room seen before. Wisps of steam rise from the floor.

The Headmistress said, "sorry. What do you think, Mr. Wilson?"

Slade said, "impressive. Truly. However, robots and obstacle courses only prove so much."

The monitor is one of several in a row, and the platform on which the headmistress stands stops short of them in an overhang. Slade's vantage point is at the other end. He leads her away from the screen and deeper into the machinery.

Slade said, "my plans demand operatives who can function in the real world", they step onto a catwalk, "if your students are going to serve me…."

They reach a darkened area with two spotlights shining down from above. One pool of light is occupied by the three graduates; the headmistress steps into the other while he sits in the blackness.

Slade said, "… They'll have to pass one final exam. Destroy the Titans, and then we'll talk."

The light on the trio goes out, and the headmistress bows before hers is extinguished as well. Only the outline of Slade's figure and his eye are visible now. The remaining light source is switched off, leaving the area in darkness.

….

Back at Titans Tower….

Vic groaned, "aw, man, come on!"

We see the kitchen. The sink and counter are piled high with dirty dishes, and the floor is strewn with garbage.

Jack cringed as he tried to clean up.

Vic groaned, "it's gotta be around here someplace!"

BB, as a bloodhound, sniffs at some of the trash as a frustrated groan is heard from Vic's direction.

Vic groaned, "I don't believe this!"

The entire area is in total disarray. BB keeps nosing around on the floor while Vic hoists the couch and shakes it in search of whatever has been lost. Raven is reading a book at the kitchen table while Jack pours some food into Percy's bowl.

Vic groaned, "how could you lose the remote?"

BB returns to human form.

BB asked, "what makes you so sure I lost it?"

They lean into each other's faces.

Vic retorted, "uh…. 'Cause you're you."

BB growled, "hey! Just because I lost that video game-"

Vic said, "-and the toothpaste, and my football, and the waffle iron-"

Jack added, "-and Percy's mouse toy!"

BB said, "things disappear. How am I supposed to know where they go?"

Raven lowers her book to give Jack a good look at the annoyance in her eyes. A vein starts to throb in her temple.

Jack thinks, 'oh no….'

Vic asked, "well, how am I supposed to watch TV without a remote?"

Raven slams her book shut and stands up.

Raven said, "simple. You just get up and change the channel."

The two squabbling Titans give her and each other a very long and puzzled look.

Vic said, "don't even joke like that."

Raven said, "I wasn't joking."

Vic exclaimed, "good, 'cause it wasn't funny! Now either help us look for the remote, or go back to your nasty old book and-"

Raven said, "this is a pointless argument over a useless device."

Jack asked, "so an average argument for Beast Boy and Victor?"

A big drop of sweat appears in Raven's temple briefly.

Raven said, "you are wasting your energy and disrupting my concentration."

The side door behind her opens to show Dick, Blackfire and Starfire.

BB said, "I'm telling you, I didn't lose it! You were the one watching TV last!"

Starfire said, "-and that is the secret to traveling faster than light."

Blackfire said, "it took us forever to learn it."

BB said, "so if you want to blame someone, look in the mirror, buddy!"

Dick said, "whoa! Take it easy, Titans! Combat practice is this afternoon!"

Jack said, "I said that ten minutes ago…."

Starfire said, "we must mend your dispute by the sharing of unhealthy junk foods. I shall fetch them."

Vic said, "I don't need food, what I need is a time machine, I didn't-"

BB said, "back me up here, Dick! Have I ever lost any-?"

Dick said, "okay! Okay!"

Vic said, "-to stop him from taking the REMOTE!"

Dick said, "hey! Come on! Settle down! ENOUGH!"

Blackfire said, "I can't even follow what they're saying."

Jack said, "you and me both, sistah'."

Starfire looks into the refrigerator. There is a jumble of half-eaten leftovers, all covered with a thick layer of blue mold; this thing has not been cleaned out in who knows how long.

The growth on a wheel of cheese starts to move and screech.

Starfire shrieks in alarm and throws a starbolt, blowing up everything inside and splattering blue crud throughout the living room. The six Titans have just had the living daylights scared out of them, not to mention a healthy dose of the mold dripped on their heads.

Dick suggested, "maybe we should just go out for pizza?"

Blackfire said, "good idea."

….

Later at a pizza joint in the heart of Jump City. It is built at the intersection of two streets at an acute angle, with a second-story patio that takes advantage of this detail. The floor's coloring and the placement of tables makes this entire affair look like a huge slice of pepperoni.

There is arguing from the Titans. BB squats on his stool instead of sitting. When the dispute over toppings finally stops, Raven speaks up; she is the only one who did not take part in it.

Raven asked, "can we please just order something?"

BB said, "as long as it's vegetarian."

Vic asked, "come on, man, how can you deny me the all-meat experience?"

BB said, "dude, I've been most of those animals!"

Jack said, "yeah, that would be like if a pig ate a plate of bacon. It's wrong on SO many levels."

Blackfire cringed at the comparison.

Starfire said, "I suggest a large pizza with pickles, bananas, and mint frosting."

She beams at her suggestion, but BB is visibly repulsed by the combination, and Vic and Raven think just as little of it.

Jack asked, "do all Tamaranians have weird taste buds?"

Blackfire said, "sadly, no. My sister just has strange tastes."

Dick leans over to her.

Dick said, "uh, Starfire? Not everything on the menu is a pizza topping."

Starfire said, "oh!"

She blushes over the gaffe she has made.

….

Meanwhile, someone is watching the Titans through green lenses.

Vic said, "double pepperoni!"

BB yelled, "I'm not eating meat!"

Vic said, "there's no meat in pepperoni!"

Jack asked, "where the heck did you hear that?"

The argument begins anew as crosshairs appear on each Titan's head. At the bottom of the view, the words "INITIATE MISSION" flash red. Gizmo's voice is heard, as he is the one, spying on the group.

Gizmo said, "Gizmo to Jinx."

Jinx is standing next to a parked bus and with a hand cupped to her ear; she is receiving his transmission on a hidden radio.

Gizmo said, "begin Phase One."

She looks around for any bystanders and tosses a spell at the bus, causing it to start rolling downhill.

….

Back to the pizza joint; as the vehicle's horn blares from down the street, the Titans stand up from the table. The sound of a baby crying from ground level elicits a shocked gasp from BB. Their is a carriage on the crosswalk, and the bus is on a collision course with it!

Dick exclaimed, "Titans! Go!"

They immediately spring into action while the bus keeps bearing down on the crosswalk.

Starfire pushes the carriage out of the way, and Vic, Blackfire, Jack and Raven plant themselves in the vehicle's path. When the bus reaches Vic and Blackfire, they push back against the front fender to slow it down, their feet grinding against the pavement.

Raven casts a spell on the bus' gear shift lever. It is in neutral, but under her influence it slides into park.

Jack starts freezing the tires in order to stop the bus.

The tires go into a tearing skid. Vic and Blackfire have finally brought the thing to a stop with only a foot or two to spare between them, Jack and Raven. The doors have come open, revealing an empty driver's seat.

Vic said, "um…. Don't buses normally have drivers?"

Jack said, "the last time I checked, yes."

BB and Starfire look on, while Dick is peering into the carriage.

Dick asked, "and don't baby carriages normally have babies?"

The two Titans near him look in as well. Dick is holding a teddy bear that had been taking the place of the typical occupant. Its eyes are green, the same color as the lenses of Gizmo's goggles, and his voice is heard next. This was the source of the crying as well.

Gizmo said, "are you pit-sniffers normally this stupid?"

Jack asked, "pit-sniffers? Seriously?"

The bear's head swivels slightly toward them, and the eyes suddenly glow and fire laser beams.

Dick, BB, and Starfire are projected screaming through the air as a result of the hit, with smoke trailing behind them. Jack, Blackfire, Raven and Vic are still standing in front of the bus, which suddenly seems to tilt back onto its rear wheels of its own volition. They look up, completely flabbergasted as the shadow falls over them. They then see the reason for the spontaneous wheelie. Mammoth has seized the rear bumper and levered the mode of mass transit into the air, and he brings it down on top of them. As the dust clears, he walks forward and brushes dust from his hands, and Gizmo's nasty laughter is heard. He and Jinx step into view.

Gizmo said, "that was too easy. What a buncha cludge-heads. You guys want to get pizza?"

Dick, BB, and Starfire, have ended up in an alley. BB is in a trash can, with a banana peel on his head.

Dick said, "this isn't over!"

He dusts himself off a bit. Back to Mammoth and the bus, which, without warning, gets blasted to one side. Vic's sonic cannon, protruding from a hole in the ground, is revealed as the driving force.

Vic said, "we're just getting started!"

Jack pokes out of the hole and says, "cludge-heads? Seriously? Who writes this guy's insults?!"

A bird-shaped shadow looms up behind him. It resolves into Raven as she brings her arms back in and wraps her cloak around herself.

Blackfire emerges from out of the hole with Vic and Jack.

BB asked, "who are these guys? And what's a cludge-head?"

Jack said, "the million dollar questions, Beast Boy."

Gizmo said, "we are the H.I.V.E.!"

Mammoth said, "your worst nightmare!"

Jinx said, "and this is Attack Pattern Alpha!"

She and Mammoth scramble, and a jetpack on Gizmo's back carries him into the air. He fires a volley of laser shots at the alley, chipping loose large hunks of masonry so that they fall on the three Titans.

Jack, Raven and Jinx are in close quarters spell-to-spell combat, while Vic and Mammoth grapple with Blackfire trying to get a clear shot at Mammoth. The H.I.V.E. Alumnus is pushed back down the street as Dick and company emerge from the rockslide Gizmo set off.

Mammoth asked, "what do you call an idiot with a rocket on his back?"

Gizmo zooms over and sticks one between Vic's shoulder blades.

Vic asked, "huh?"

Gizmo said, "doomed!"

Blackfire tries to blast Gizmo, but he dodges as he gets clear and touches a control; igniting the rocket and sending Vic veering crazily over the buildings. Dick, BB, and Starfire watch from the alley as his yells of panic drift down to them.

Starfire yelled, "Cyborg!"

She takes off to catch up with him with Blackfire close behind, but a sudden change in direction throws them off. Jinx comes at Raven with a jumping spin kick, but she ducks away and gets behind the sorceress. Dodging two more strikes, Raven counters with a backhand. Jinx manages to block it.

Jinx said, "you fight like a boy."

Jack tries to hit her with his staff, but she manages to grab it in her other hand.

Jinx said, "you fight worse than her!"

Gizmo is overhead, now balanced on four tall spider-like legs.

Gizmo said, "and you're gonna croak like frogs!"

The contraption fires a blast that hurls Raven down the street and squarely into the charging Dick. Jack is tossed away, only managing to balance himself with his staff. BB passes Dick and Raven.

BB said, "hah!"

He turns into an elephant and continues his rush, but stops short suddenly at the sound of grunting from Mammoth. The big lummox has lifted him clean off his feet; his fellow graduates are watching.

Mammoth said, "Mammoth's gonna make you extinct!"

Jack runs to Dick and Raven, on the ground.

Dick gets up and charges at them, "Beast Boy! Hang on!"

Mammoth throws the green elephant straight up into the air and hits it with a jumping punch on the way down. Dick suddenly finds himself directly in the path of his teammate, who changes back to human form just before slamming into him. They skid to a stop near Raven and Jack.

BB groaned, "is it me, or are we getting our butts kicked?"

The others stand up.

Dick and Raven said, "it's just you."

Jack said, "that's debatable right now."

Dick said, "listen up, team. I have a plan."

Two of Gizmo's shots flash into view and send Raven, Jack and BB flying. Dick manages to get out of the way; they end up almost a block away.

Gizmo said, "gee, scrum-buffer. Sure hope your fancy plan includes getting fried!"

Jack groaned, "ugh, 'scrum-buffer?' Who writes your insults? Fire them as soon as you can!"

The weapon that fired those shots is poking over his shoulder. It levels itself at Dick, who stands his ground.

Dick growled, "you'll just have to find out the hard way."

He takes up a fighting stance, holding one hand out with its back to the trio, and flicks the fingers toward himself.

It clearly means, "bring it on."

The shoulder-mounted laser zeroes in and fires a shot. A long crack opens in the asphalt ahead of the strike; Jinx leaps backward into view, landing on her knees, and throws a spell that breaks the fissure wider. Mammoth leaps in with a mighty yell and brings all his weight down on the fault line. The net effect of this three-way combo has been to open a very wide chasm, which runs straight down the middle of the road toward Dick. Dick tumbles screaming into the darkness beneath Jump City and is lost to any eyes around! Just beneath the road surface, looking out past the edge of the massive fracture zone. Jack, Raven and BB arrive at the scene, the surface of the murky tide that flows down here. The Titans' leader is nowhere to be seen in the murky tide.

BB yelled, "Nightwing!"

...

Later, back at the Tower….

The main entrance opens. Jack, Raven and BB rush in. BB is limping somewhat and leaning against his friends for support.

BB said, "that didn't just happen", they help him into a chair; he rubs his leg, "tell me that didn't just happen."

Raven said, "it did happen. We cannot change the truth, no matter how much we dislike it."

Jack said, "amen to that."

She holds her hands near the injured leg; a brief glow of healing energy envelops them.

BB asked, "who knew we had a doctor in the house? Thanks."

Raven said, "no problem."

Jack said, "I hope the others are alright."

The doors open again, and Blackfire, Vic and Starfire walk in with ear-to-ear smiles. Vic no longer has Gizmo's rocket stuck to his back. The door closes on as he speaks.

Vic said, "maybe y'all should call me Flyborg. I was halfway to Gotham City before Star and Blackfire zapped that thing off my back. So what'd I miss?"

Raven cannot meet his eyes; neither can BB or Jack.

Vic said, "tell me how we kicked their butts. Come on, I gotta have the play-by-play."

Starfire asked, "where is Richard?"

BB asked, "um, Star? We're not sure."

Starfire asked, "not sure? Why are you not-?"

Raven said, "we searched everywhere. And all we found was this."

She produces his utility belt from beneath her cloak. Starfire gasps in horror; Vic groans and claps both hands to his forehead.

Blackfire looks worried and asks, "what happened?"

Jack said, "those guys created a huge chasm or whatever. Dick fell in. And we have no idea where he is."

Vic said, "I shoulda been there. I let that kid sneak up on me and, what was I-? It was a trap, and I- I shoulda known."

Starfire said, "I do not understand. How could you not find him? People do not just vanish! He has to be someplace, so go there and look!"

BB puts himself between the two girls to keep things from getting ugly.

BB said, "easy, Star. Come on. This is Dick we're talking about. I'm sure he's fine. He'll probably turn up any second."

Jack said, "yeah, if he didn't, then we'd have to answer to Batman. And we all know that ain't gonna happen."

Suddenly, the door mechanism kicks into gear once more.

BB said, "awesome timing."

Jack said, "too awesome…."

Starfire exclaimed, "Richard!"

She flies toward the door. She lands and walks toward the threshold to see who has arrived. A moment later, the whole entrance disappears in a mighty crash that throws her backward. The dust clears to show the H.I.V.E. team walking in; Gizmo is back up on his mechanical spider legs.

BB said, "oh, no."

Mammoth cracks his knuckles.

Jinx said, "oh, yes!"

The six Titans get ready to fight.

Vic said, "you guys got lucky last time, but you're in our house now!"

The trio advances.

Gizmo said, "yeah, nice place. We'll take it!"

Raven starts levitating chairs and sending them in the H.I.V.E.'s direction, while Starfire and Blackfire toss off some starbolts from overhead. Jack is shooting shards of ice at their attackers. BB tumbles into view and clambers away to make room for Vic as he backs up again, firing his cannon.

Vic yelled, "split up!"

….

Raven flies to a landing on the stairs and, after Starfire passes her, projects a couple of nearby fire extinguishers toward Mammoth at the bottom. He merely swats them away and charges.

….

In the hall, where BB and Jack run from around a corner and dodge the collapse of several wall panels. Emerging from the dust and debris as a bobcat, BB runs with Jack jumping over the debris. Jinx steps unhurriedly after them.

Jinx said, "here, kitty, kitties. What's the matter…", more panels blow out, "… afraid of a little bad luck?"

….

Inside of the gym, Raven and Starfire burst through the closed doors and slam them shut again. A starbolt is fired against the frame and traced along the doors' outer edges to weld them closed. The two girls then back up a bit and trade a very nervous look, wondering whether the barricade will hold. It proves to be a moot point when the wall behind them blows out, throwing them to the floor. They look back toward it and find Mammoth's head protruding from a fresh hole.

Raven muttered, "I bet Zivel would say; 'he just delivered the mother of all headbutts.'"

Mammoth said, "hello, ladies."

….

At the stairs again. Vic and Blackfire retreat upward as one of Gizmo's long metal legs swings into view. The runt's spidery shadow advances into view against the far wall, followed by the runt himself.

He turns and approaches a door, which opens to admit him. Vic and Blackfire peek out from a corner across the hall. They step in boldly. Except for the light spilling from the hall, the place is completely dark. The blackness becomes total when the door slides shut without warning.

Vic said, "hey!"

Blackfire said, "krible nibbits!"

A wall of TV screens comes to life, every one showing a close-up of Gizmo's grinning visage.

Gizmo said, "so, Tin Man, Alien Chick, you got hearts under all that outdated crud-ware and that slinky outfit?"

They turn away, but a single giant screen, also showing Gizmo, comes on next to them.

Gizmo said, "not telling? Guess I'll have to take you apart and find out! Dissection on an alien AND a cyborg!"

The whiz kid's spider legs carry him into the light from those screens and lower him steadily toward Vic, who can only stare in complete shock.

….

BB, back in human form, and Jack, race around the corner and into view. Seeing no one behind them, they stop to catch their breath.

BB said, "lost her."

He is, of course, referring to Jinx, and he has spoken too soon. A couple of her spells pass just over their heads. A panel swings loose and cracks BB dead in the face. His head rattles on his neck for a moment before he collapses.

Jack said, "you had to jinx it. No pun intended."

Jinx walks up behind them.

Jinx said, "this just isn't your lucky day."

BB sits rubbing his head for a second before transforming into a tyrannosaurus rex and roaring with enough force to shake the entire

building. Jack starts shooting balls of ice as well. Jinx does a few backflips to get out of range, then stops and fixes a glowing stare on them. Around the green reptile, a ring of pink fire flares up briefly and floats toward his head before disappearing. There is a loud crackling

from the floor, followed by the collapse of the section on which BB is standing due to her hex; he drops from sight. Jack jumps away, but in doing so, he hits his head and gets knocked out. Jinx walks up to the hole and smiles.

She then sees Jack and says, "well, well, well…."

….

Now we see a storage area of the Tower, with a large circular hatchway in the back wall. This is smashed off its hinges by Vic, who emerges into this place unscathed, with Blackfire close behind. They are not alone; however; Gizmo comes out of the dust clouds and moves in on them. Vic steadily backs up before the advance; one of the metal legs swings at him, but he catches the end in both hands.

Vic said, "gotcha!"

Gizmo just grins and swings another leg. Vic shifts his grip to free up one hand and catch this one as well. A good strong wrenching motion throws the little jerk off balance and sends him to the floor; when he hits, sparks fly from the central unit on his back. He is quickly yanked free of the legs and held aloft by the chuckling Titan. The unit is still on his back, but it is soon pulled off.

Gizmo said, "let me go, you scuzz-munching zit!"

Blackfire said, "Zivel is right, where do you get those insults?"

Vic puts him down so he can run away and then crushes the device.

The big guy tosses the remains aside like a candy wrapper. Gizmo runs off among the crates and boxes; now Vic walks after him at a leisurely pace.

Vic said, "how you gonna fight me without your tech?"

Blackfire said, "answer us that?"

A small, shadowy figure passes in front of him, and he goes after it. Gizmo peeks out from behind a panel; he gasps as it is lifted away.

Vic suddenly looks down with surprise at the sound of a crunch.

Vic said in confusion, "huh?"

His foot has come down on a flashlight-like unit and damaged it somewhat. Looking up again, he sees Gizmo's image grin and then flicker out; it was merely a hologram projected by that unit.

Blackfire yelled, "it was a trap!"

Vic backs cautiously away; the real Gizmo is perched on a piece of equipment behind him, and he jumps down onto the back and pulls out a tool. Sparks fly.

Vic yelled, "yo, what are you-?"

The gadget genius pops open a panel and goes to work on the circuitry.

Vic yelled, "get out of my systems! Nobody hacks my systems!"

Blackfire chases after them, but Vic is too fast!

Vic runs back and forth, clearly against his will due to the hotwiring, then stops as his limbs start to flail randomly. His right arm is raised.

Gizmo said, "ooh, ejector arm. Cool!"

He makes it pop off-hand, forearm, and half the upper arm. It rolls uselessly away across the floor.

Vic yelled, "my arm!"

….

We see the exterior of the Tower, which shakes and bends as the fight inside continues. It is now later in the day.

Vic yelled, "get off! Get off me! Stop!"

Blackfire yelled, "get off of him! Hey! Don't you point that thing at me!"

Vic and blackfire fly screaming off the roof as if shot from a cannon, and they come down in the middle of Jump City Bay. Another set of yells and three more splashes mark the forcible eviction of BB, Raven, and Starfire.

The H.I.V.E. team can be seen looking out from the top-floor window of the living room, with a tied up Jack being held by Mammoth.

Gizmo shouted, "have a nice afterlife, you snot-eating losers!"

Jack growled, "God those insults are awful!"

Gizmo hissed, "shaddup already!"

Jinx casts a spell that makes the water level radiate over the island.

The hex stirs up a huge tidal wave that leaves the fivesome too scared to move as its shadow falls over them. Down comes the wall of water, and the H.I.V.E. operatives, who smile smugly and walk away, with Jack growling in anger.

….

BB, "that didn't just happen. Tell me that didn't just happen."

Vic, "get out of my systems. Get off me."

Starfire, "Richard. Where is Richard? I do not understand."

BB, "gotta go out for the others."

Raven, "we searched everywhere."

We see the Titans coming up on the shore.

Starfire, "how could you not find him?

Raven, "all we found was this."

Vic makes his way up the slope.

Starfire, "people do not just vanish.

BB, "oh, no.

Vic, "I shoulda been there. I shoulda known."

All five Titans are slumped along the shore.

BB said, "so, uh…. Who else never wants to go surfing again?"

Vic said, "not now, man."

BB said, "hey, I was just trying to-"

Raven puts a hand on his shoulder to cut him off. Vic extends a small acetylene torch from his left forefinger. The panel on his thigh opens, revealing a plethora of sparks and short circuits. Starfire approaches as he bends down to the self-repair work.

Starfire asked, "perhaps I could be of some assistance?"

Vic said, "I got it."

Starfire said, "but you are so damaged and-"

Vic growled out, "I got it!"

BB yelled, "hey! She only wanted to help! What is your problem?"

Vic yelled, "what do you think?! We got kicked out of our house, Jack has been captured, a pint-size Poindexter took me for a joyride, and in case you haven't noticed, I just became left-handed!"

Blackfire yelled, "that doesn't give you the right to yell at my sister!"

Raven yelled, "enough! We need to control our emotions."

Vic yelled, "or what?! Our bad vibes will keep you from meditating?!"

Starfire said, "I wish Richard were here."

Vic growled loudly, "well, he's not! Don't you guys get it?! They won, we lost! IT'S OVER!"

The five heroes stand slumped in defeat.

BB said, "then…. The Titans are finished?"

"Not yet."

The voice draws five very surprised glances over five assorted pairs of shoulders. They see Dick in front of some bushes; arms crossed, confident smile. Except for his missing belt, everything is in proper order.

Dick said, "not if I can help it."

….

We see the Tower that night. The new occupants have started extensive renovations to the place, as follows. One, the vertical bar of the T has been extended. Two, the lights in one half of the crossbar top floor have been put out. Three, a second vertical portion has been built to join with the half that is still lit; it reaches the same height as the central extension. The entire effect is to make the lighted Tower portions and new construction look like a giant H for H.I.V.E., and the honeycomb pattern has been applied to the add-ons.

….

Inside, Jack is glaring at Jinx as she looks at Ravens cloaks.

Jinx has donned Dick's belt, which sits askew on her hips similar to the way Raven wears hers, and has one of the latter's spare cloaks

over her arm.

Jack is handcuffed, his staff leaning on the wall.

Jinx said, "very nice. These might go great with the belt."

Jack said, "put those down."

Jinx asked, "why? Are you afraid your girlfriend is gonna get jealous?"

Jack said, "excuse me for being so ticked off. I'm just mad that our home was taken by you scum-bags."

Jinx gave a strange look, and then looked outside of the room, checking if the coast was clear. After that, Jinx quickly locked the door, and started undoing Jack's handcuffs!

Jack tried to say, "what the-?"

Jinx said, "shh! Quiet or they'll hear you."

Jack asked, "what are you doing?"

Jinx said, "I'm not really a villain. Not entirely."

Jack asked, "what do you mean?"

Jinx said, "I've been going undercover at H.I.V.E for awhile, trying to figure out their plans. I've gotta keep up appearances, hence me attacking you. Sorry."

Jack asked, "so, what, you're an undercover hero?"

Jinx said, "pretty much. In fact, the reason I was hoping to fight you guys, was so I could help you guys."

Jack asked, "… You wanna be our spy?"

Jinx nodded.

Jack said, "… You better not be lying."

Jinx said, "I'm not. Now, take that staff of yours and get to the roof. I have a feeling your friends are gonna need to know about this."

Jack nodded, slightly unsure, before getting his staff and running up to the roof quietly.

Jinx picked up the cloaks and said, "now to keep up appearances with the others."

Gizmo is framing a patch of blank wall. Two small robots whiz into view, carrying Vic's detached arm-mounted as if it were a stuffed fish, between them, and follow his instructions as they hang it up.

Gizmo said, "higher…. A little to the left…. A little more…. And…. Perfect!"

The arm is mounted high on the wall.

Gizmo said, "Slade's gonna have kittens when he hears we whipped the Titans and took their stinking Tower!"

Mammoth looks in the fridge, while Jinx comes down the stairs.

Jinx said, "not to mention Nightwing's favorite fashion statement. But that's the only thing fashionable around here."

Mammoth said, "tell me about it", he pulls a moldy hamburger from the fridge, "hmph. All their food is way out of date."

This does not stop him from downing the burger in one gulp.

Mammoth said, "eh, where's that wizard guy you captured?"

Jinx said, "he's locked in his room handcuffed. His staff ain't in there, so there's no way he'll be able to get out."

Gizmo said, "good. Hey, Mammoth, you think that stuff's rotten? Wait 'til you see their music. Crud…. Snot…."

He begins tossing the CD's

Gizmo said, "…. Mega-crud…. Snot…."

The fingertip of Vic's arm pulls loose of the hand, remaining connected to it by two thin jointed armatures. It swivels to point its tiny camera lens inside of it.

It zooms in on Jinx, who has put on Raven's cloak.

Jinx asked, "does she have anything that's not blue?"

Mammoth is now gorging himself on the spoiled food in the fridge. Gizmo is still at the CD rack. The ones he hated are strewn about the floor behind him. The tiny camera roves on, stopping at one of the computer consoles.

Jinx is inspecting herself with a hand mirror as the arm scuttles into view, walking on its fingers with the camera still active, and turns here and there to scope out the place. Finally, it begins moving.

Mammoth eagerly lifts a moldy chicken drumstick to his mouth and licks it. The arm makes its way along a ledge on the far side of the kitchen while he eats the meat off the bone.

Back to Gizmo, who has yet another CD in hand.

Gizmo said, "ugh. Crud…. Snot…."

Jinx said, "you know, the magic guy, Zivel I think is his name, was right, you gotta work on your insults."

Gizmo said, "whatever."

The arm moves along the ledge behind him and is not noticed. It stops near one of the consoles and points its camera around the area before jumping down into the seat. Thin tentacles fly out from the joint where the limb connected to the stump of Vic's natural arm.

They press several keys and go to work. The screen lights up with a schematic of the Tower. Piece by piece, the diagram goes red. When it has all turned this color, the screen winks out and alarms and buzzers start to sound, accompanied by red flashing lights throughout the operations center. The security systems have been triggered.

Jinx gasps and puts the cloak aside, and Mammoth stands up from the fridge. All the cabinet doors in the kitchen start opening and closing at random. Next, Gizmo stands up from the CD rack; without warning, one disc after another is ejected past him at high speed.

Gizmo said, "hey!"

This is the only intelligible word he gets out before trailing off into surprised yells and losing his balance to tumble on the floor. He slides backward as the rack continues its impression of a skeet-shooting target launcher.

Gizmo yelled, "what the hairball?"

The chair of the nearest console swivels to give him a good look at the arm occupying it; he cries out in surprise and fear. The tentacles have retracted, but now, they shoot forth again and wrap around his arms and legs. The bionic limb jumps down and speeds across the floor, dragging one very surprised pipsqueak, and pops a couple of small jet thrusters out from the forearm. These ignite and carry it into the air; the hand balls into a fist as the thing aims itself toward the ceiling and carries Gizmo up with it!

The arm closes in on a vent and punches through. It soon races along and takes Gizmo for one very wild ride and out of sight around a bend. Back in the kitchen, a large shadowy hand reaches down behind Jinx and seizes her, albeit more gently for some reason. She has time for one startled cry before it recedes into the ceiling and takes her with it. The big lug is left standing by himself; the side door opens on its own, and a green starbolt and a purple starbolt rocket into view from the left side to knock him through it. The door closes.

….

On the roof level of the tower. A large black raven emerges from the surface and rises, leaving Jinx there to drop to her knees.

She manages to hear Raven whisper, "play along so your teammates don't get any ideas."

Jinx nods as behind her, Vic's arm bursts out of a vent pipe and carries the screaming Gizmo higher and higher before veering back toward his classmate. She gasps in shock and her eyes widen-just before they are both knocked halfway across the roof. Having released Gizmo, the arm flies away, and the closed door of the stairs or elevator leading up here slides open. A green and purple flash of two starbolts play across the roof, and Mammoth is blasted out onto it. He ends up next to the other two H.I.V.E. agents.

We see Dick grabbing his belt and putting it on as he says, "sorry to interrupt the victory celebration. But like I said…. This isn't over."

Vic is there, reattaching his arm, and the other five Titans soon arrive.

Vic growled, "It's just getting started."

The trio stand up, and Jinx is able to catch a wink from Jack, subtly telling her to keep up her act.

Jinx exclaimed, "Attack Pattern Alpha!"

Gizmo and Mammoth scatter while she shouts and throws a spell.

The Titans scramble to avoid it; when it hits the rooftop, a panel swells and explodes. BB comes down from his jump only to find Mammoth coming straight at him. He jumps away again and turns into a falcon as the giant slams his fist down on the roof and sends a shock wave toward Vic. Jinx lands behind the latter and vaults high over his shoulders, hurling a spell down at him as she sails through the air. It knocks out the base of a water tank and causes the whole thing to topple toward Vic, who gets out of the way just in time before a second tank collapses nearby.

Starfire and Blackfire are in midair, throwing a few Tamaranean fastballs at Jinx as she nimbly dodges them and ducks out of sight behind part of the new construction. Blackfire and Starfire fly in after her. Vic, meanwhile, looks around himself a bit. All clear, but that changes in an instant when Gizmo jumps down from the fallen water tanks and lands on his back.

Gizmo said, "hey, Robo-Wimp. Feel like getting hacked?"

Vic said, "nope. How 'bout you? Nightwing! Now!"

Dick leaps up and throws a small device over to Vic and Gizmo. It attaches itself to the machinery on the latter's back, and sparks fly as he yells in pain and frustration.

Gizmo runs around, trying to pull the thing off, "cut it out! It's gonna crash my whole system", he rips off his shoulder-mounted laser, "get it off me! Get it off me!"

Dick's device triggers the jet pack, carrying him off the roof. Jinx runs like mad to avoid getting fried by Starfire's bombardment.

Starfire said, "Beast Boy! Zivel! Go!"

BB is back in human form and crouching on an overhead girder to watch Jinx. Flipping Starfire a hand sign to acknowledge, he dives from his perch and transforms into a monkey to come down squarely on the face of the fleeing girl. She has made her way into a framework of pipes. Unable to see, she fires spells in all directions in an attempt to get him off. Jack starts using the wind to spin her around and around, further disorienting her. Finally, she gets all ten fingers into the game, yanks him away, and throws him across the roof. He reverts to human form before touching down.

BB said, "your luck just ran out!"

Jack whispers, "sorry. Gotta make this look convincing."

Getting a running start, BB again becomes a falcon and flies into the open sky.

Jinx said, "huh?"

Creaks and groans from the pipework draw her attention. One after another, the joints start to pop, having been hit by the spells she was casting every which way. We see one pipe burst and start spewing water and steam. The sound of a nervous little shudder is she can manage as more lines rupture and collapse around her.

Mammoth is running like sixty, advancing on Raven. He aims a colossal punch at her, but she flies up to avoid it and comes down behind him. When he turns to charge again, Vic rams a shoulder into him. It takes some time for him to touch down on the roof and stop skidding; when he does, BB, as a T-rex, is waiting for him. One snarl is all it takes to make the overgrown villain completely freak out and run for his life. Blackfire and Starfire gather all their strength for a combined starbolt and let it go, hitting Mammoth dead center in the gut. The hit leaves him spinning in the air as Dick dashes over. One mighty flying kick drives him back into Gizmo, although Jinx is a few feet away from the other two as all three are in a weary, groaning pile. Gizmo has a transmitter in hand.

Gizmo growled, "cram it. I'm calling Slade."

Dick yanks him up to eye level as he switches it on.

Dick asked, "who is Slade?"

Gizmo snarked, "wouldn't you like to know, barf-brain?"

Jack said, "again with the crappy insults?"

….

Back in Slade's lair.

The Headmistress said, "I assure you, such failures are not tolerated within the H.I.V.E. Once the agents have been retrieved from the authorities, they will be disciplined. Strictly disciplined."

Slade steps out from among the pipes.

Slade said, "actually, your agents served my plans quite well. I never expected them to succeed. They were merely messengers. And the message has been received…"

He has a transmitter in his raised left hand, a counterpart of the one Gizmo carried. He activates it, and on the monitor behind the headmistress, an image of Dick appears; caught on film by Gizmo and asking, "Who is Slade?"

It plays over and over on an entire row of screens. That three-word question is repeated countless times by all of them.

If Slade's intent was to bring his name to the Titans' attention, the H.I.V.E. crew did indeed meet his expectations.

…

We see the H.I.V.E crew being loaded into police cars.

Mammoth has tons of chains around him, Gizmo is wrapped in a tiny straight jacket, while Jinx is the only one in handcuffs, due to the Titans explaining that she was a double agent for them now, and if she escaped with her colleagues, the Titans would take care of things.

….

Later, we see the Tower restored.

BB groaned, "NOOOO! This is the worst thing that could ever happen!"

He is in human form, with hands to head and ready to pull his green hair out.

BB groaned, "my tunes! They've been…. Alphabetized."

He tosses CDs around the room as Vic looks high and low, much as he did earlier. Dick stands behind the couch and watches the two.

BB groaned, "how am I ever gonna find anything?"

Raven comes downstairs, carrying the cloak Jinx borrowed.

Raven growled, "they went into my room. No one should ever go into my room."

Jack said, "I'll make sure our agent apologizes for that the next time we see her."

Jack found out that Percy had been hiding in his room ever since their new foes attacked.

Starfire gasps and pops up from under the kitchen counter.

Starfire said, "someone has disposed of all our blue furry food!"

Blackfire said, "I'm pretty sure that's a good thing, sister."

Vic lifts the couch and says, "you gotta be kidding me! The whole place gets cleaned and I still can't find the-"

A whistle stops him short; cut to Dick, who points down toward the couch. On the coffee table, the missing remote is lying on it in plain sight.

Vic exclaimed, "ha!"

Jack and the others all face-palm.

Vic drops the couch and sits down on it with Dick, who has started to flip channels.

Vic said, "I guess we really oughta be training for battles, tracking down clues, and trying to figure out who Slade is, huh?"

Dick said, "we will. But right now, I'm just happy to be part of the team."

The others smile as they sit with their fearless leader, watching some TV.

…

Meanwhile…

We once again see the girl with white hair in the city. She was sitting in an alley, eating what looked like stale chips to keep herself fed.

She muttered, "once I meet them, I hope that's the end of my scavenging…"

….

Reviews:

Canadude2029: thanks!

Bailey Radcliff: thanks so much. And you're welcome. But…. I don't think it's possible to put a protection policy on fanfictions on this site.

SuperSentai199: I'm glad you thought so.

….