H.I.V.E., Part Five:
“Quest”
“I’ve got a question,” Lance Scarapelli asked his father. ”What?” Anthony replied. He was updating his files. He was currently putting away a Xerox of the Harper kid’s driver’s license. Sure, the license was fake, but the kid had gotten a good fake. Scarapelli could always claim later that he’d believed it was real if necessary. “That new kid,” Lance said. “I can’t get him out of my head.” Anthony slid the drawer shut and swiveled around to face his son. “What do you want?” he asked. “He’s a druggie, right?” A sly smile slowly spread across Lance’s features. “Can you make up one of your special cocktails for him?” Scarapelli smiled back. “Our subscribers have been wanting to see more of him, but he won’t do anything but solo stuff. Sure. I think we can arrange that.” “So what do we know?” Loren Jupiter asked. He and Mr. Smith were seated in his office, discussing strategy. “I have continued my examination of the apartment Tula was being held in,” Smith reported. “There was precious little evidence left behind.” ”So we’re dealing with professionals and we have nothing,” Jupiter said. ”I did not say that,” Smith said. “I have been able to formulate a theory.” “Let’s hear it,” Jupiter said. “I believe we are dealing with the HIVE,” Smith said. “Also known as –“ “The Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination,” Jupiter finished. “I’m familiar with the files.” He took a moment to study the Metropolis skyline from the window behind his desk. “But why would they be interested in these kids?” Smith shifted in his chair. “Tula said that her abductors studied her extensively, taking a great many scientific readings. It appears as if they have some sort of interest in her Atlantean physiology.” “And the question of why remains.” Jupiter thought a moment. “We need to locate them.” ”Agreed,” Smith said. “I have my top people searching for them now. We should have a location shortly.” ”Good,” Jupiter said. “I want us ready to move when they’re found.” The robot clanked as it moved into position. Wonder Girl stood before it, her fists clenched. Behind his army of robots, Dr. Roboto was gloating about his victory. “Prepare to perish!” he yelled. “My malevolent mechanical minions will make mincemeat of you!” “Save the alliteration,” Wonder Girl said. “I’m having a real bad day.” She punched a hole through a robot’s chest and it fell to the ground. “Number C47!” Roboto yelled. “Destroy that dastardly damsel!” ”Bring it on,” Wonder Girl replied. Forty seven seconds later, the robot army lay in pieces and Dr. Roboto was gaping at the destruction. “Now it’s your turn,” Wonder Girl said as she slowly advanced. “No!” Roboto yelled as he turned to run. Wonder Girl grabbed a cable from a ruined robot and quickly tied him up. “End program,” she ordered. The scene faded out. “Good job,” Mal’s voice said. “I think that’s a record.” ”Thanks,” Donna replied. “I’m through here.” ”Sure thing,” Mal replied. Roy tugged at the costume Scarapelli had provided him with. It was a wrestling singlet, about two sizes too small. He walked out of his small dressing room to find Scarapelli standing there with Lance. Lance was dressed in a similar singlet. “I wanted to see if you’d consider something different for this shoot,” Scarapelli began. “No way,” Roy said. “I’ll do these by myself, but I’m not up for anything with him.” “You don’t understand,” Scarapelli said. “All I want is to have you both in the shot together, but you don’t have to touch each other or anything.” Roy thought a moment. “Okay. But no touching. I don’t want to do anything gay or anything.” Scarapelli laughed on the inside. What do you think you’ve been doing, you little idiot? he thought. “Here,” he said out loud, handing Roy a needle. “It’s a little something to help calm you down for the shoot.” Roy quickly injected the contents into his arm and handed the needle back to Scarapelli. Scarapelli pointed at a set that looked like a rough replica of a gym, complete with wrestling mats on the floor. “Go ahead and take a seat,” he said. “I’ll get the lights and everything set and we’ll start.” Roy watched as Scarapelli began fumbling with the lights. Then he was pulled into another world. Scarapelli smiled at Lance and gave him a thumbs-up. “The kid should be under.” He quickly switched on the camera and aimed it at them. Roy didn’t know any of this. He couldn’t see the lights. He couldn’t even feel as Lance slid his hand under the shoulder strap of his singlet and started sliding it down… Dick applauded as Wally splashed into the pool. “How was that?” Wally asked as he popped up out of the water and paddled over to the side. “Not bad,” Dick said. “You know, if Mr. Jupiter had a diving team, I think you’d be the star.” ”Really?” Wally asked as he jumped up out of the water. “Yeah,” Dick said. He tossed Wally a towel. “I’m going to have to stay on my toes to stay ahead of you.” Wally grinned. “That sounds like a challenge.” ”Maybe,” Dick said. “But you’re forgetting something.” Dick jumped up onto the rings. “I’ve taught you everything you know. Not everything I know.” Dick swung out over the pool and performed a dazzling dive into the pool. Great, Dick thought as he went underwater with barely a splash. Now he’s going to keep working till he gets that. How am I going to top this? “Got it!” Mal yelled, thumping his console. He picked up his phone and pressed a button. “Mr. Smith!” he yelled. “I’ve got them!” ”On my way,” came the cool reply. Moments later, Smith strode purposefully into the computer lab. “What do you have?” he asked. “Right here,” Mal said, pulling up a map on his monitor. ”The Colorado Rockies,” Smith murmured. “Interesting.” He turned to leave. “I will notify Mr. Jupiter. Sound the alarm for the Titans.” ”You got it,” Mal said, hitting the button on his console. “Roy?” Roy Harper opened his eyes and saw Lance Scarapelli bending over him. “What happened?” Roy asked as he sat up. He realized that he was fully dressed and on a bed. ”You said you weren’t feeling well after we finished the shoot, so you came in here to lie down,” Lance explained. “I came in to check on you when you started beeping.” Roy reached down and saw the recall orders on his beeper. “Great. I’ve got to go.” He stood and walked out. Once he was gone, Lance let a lustful smile cross his lips. “Bye, sweetie,” he murmured. “What’s going on?” Roy asked as he ran into the briefing room after a quick stop in his room to get into his costume. Jupiter frowned at the interruption. “We will discuss your tardiness later, Mr. Harper,” he said. “Right now, Mr. Duncan has located the HIVE. They are the group who abducted Ms. Tula.” “I’m going with them,” Tula said, continuing the argument that had been interrupted by Roy’s entry. ”I agree,” Smith said. “Provided you agree to follow your field leader’s orders, whether it be Mr. Grayson or myself.” ”All right,” Tula said. “I just want a chance to get at them.” ”You’ve got your chance,” Jupiter said. “Report to the jet. You leave immediately.” The team quickly filed out. “I’d say that’s it,” Robin said as he scanned a golden building hidden amongst the mountains. It was covered with a honeycomb pattern. ”What’s the plan?” Aqualad asked. Robin frowned. “We don’t have any intelligence about the interior of that building, and we’ve got no way to get any.” He turned to Mr. Smith. “I say we go in through the roof and take care of what we come across.” “I do not like the idea, but I see no way around it,” Smith said. “We proceed as you suggest. I will remain with the jet. If you run into trouble, contact me immediately.” ”Understood,” Robin said. Lines unspooled from the jet and the Titans (except Wonder Girl, who flew) began sliding down. “They have come,” Number 5 said. “I have completed the indoctrination,” Number 7 said. “The girl is ready to join our defenders.” “Can you control her?” Number 4 asked. “I would not care to be on the receiving end of one of her starbolts.” ”She is as easily controlled as the others,” Number 7 assured them. “Proceed,” Number 1 said. “They will breach the hull in area 47-J. Clear the area and have our defenders assemble there.” ”As you command,” Number 3 said before he began relaying orders. The hard roof of the HIVE was no match for Wonder Girl’s strength. She easily tore through the metal and the Titans dropped into an empty hallway. “Where is everybody?” Aqualad asked. ”Bathroom?” Kid Flash replied. ”I don’t like this at all,” Robin said. He pulled out a communicator and tuned it to the proper frequency. ”What’s wrong?” Wonder Girl asked, seeing the look on his face. “Nothing but static,” Robin said. “They knew we were coming. They’re jamming us.” ”Now what?” Aqualad asked. “Now you’re ours,” a voice said. The Titans turned to see the HIVE’s defenders. Flamebird. Beast Boy. Red Star. Golden Eagle. Crystal. And circling above them was their newest member. A beautiful girl with long brown hair and large green eyes. Starfire. Next Issue: The Teen Titans versus Titans West! What else is there to say? The concluding chapter of the HIVE storyline, that launches at full speed into the next story arc! Previous Issue | Next Issue |
