Teen Titans #48: "The HIVE War" Pt. 1

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Issue #48: “The HIVE War, part one”
Written by: Jay McIntyre
Cover by: Jamie Rimmer
Edited by: Brian Burchette[/center]

A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon. ~Napoleon

The most persistent sound which reverberates through men's history is the beating of war drums. ~Arthur Koestler

This story takes place after the events of Secret Society of Super Villains #6



Deathstroke, The Terminator was not having a good day.

His last battle against the Titans had not gone well. He had lost Rose and failed to kill even a single one of them. He must be getting soft. Then there was the business with the Ten, and the Society.

He sighed.

He wanted to get back to the business of killing the Titans. He was busy with about a half dozen things, these days; but that was the core essential for him, the one job he'd never finished. Both the original reason he'd been involved, and the later HIVE employment were now annulled.

He quietly sipped hot tea in a darkened room, one of his safe houses, and turned his mind to his strategy for taking them down. His most successful efforts so far had been taking them down one by one; he would return to that paradigm. Yes. But this time, he was thinking about poison--

THUD.

He did not freeze, not even for a moment; he could not afford to. He went into a snap-roll along the floor, hot tea flying and staining the carpet, something he barely noticed.

Were the Titans attacking him? Or one of the Society's enemies. Either was a possibility...

THUD.

No. Dull mechanical rote attack, by machinery no doubt. He had a fairly good idea who this was. A sickening sensation settled into his gut.

THUD.

He safehouse hadn't lost power, or at least not yet; he turned on one computer.

THUD.

The scanners quickly confirmed who it was. Of course, now that they had scanned him, they'd know he was here.

THUD.

They had probably sent strike forces to each of his safe houses they knew of. A simultaneous attack on each one, so if they missed the first time he would have had no advance warning; he had to give them credit, they were learning.

THUD.

Two armored units and about fifteen soldiers. As recently as six months ago, he might have considered such a relatively small force an insult to his pride; now he was just grimly determined.

CRASH!!

They were in. The HIVE did not forgive betrayal or failure, and they had come for him.



The Titans were all on top of the roof except for Troia, who was putting the final touches on Beast Boy's new costume. Gar himself was in civvies; but since he had no secret identity to speak of, this was allowed to him.

Their newest member, Scarlet Wing, sat staring at the New York skyline. She had internalized a lot of her grief, but was still somewhat quiet and depressed.

It wasn't every person who had destroyed their own universe. Oh, it had been the right thing to do to save the true reality and all that, but quite understandably the girl was taking it hard. She was still skittish around Troia, who had been a pyrokinetic sociopath in her world, and it would probably take her a while to get past that, too.

But she listened as attentively as the others to Nightwing.

"...it has been a while since Deathstroke came for us," he was saying, "And we've heard rumors of his activities elsewhere, but it's a good bet he'll be coming for us again, soon."

"Don't forget the HIVE," Starfire murmured. "Just because he failed them doesn't mean they're going to give up."

"No indeed," Nightwing agreed. "They've been keeping a low profile; from what we gathered about them they preferred to be a clandestine operation. But in light of their failures with Deathstroke, they may try something more proactive.

"Terra," came Troia's voice over the intercom, "Bring your boyfriend down here, his costume is ready."

Scarlet Wing frowned, watching them go. "Don't they take it seriously?"

"Take what seriously?" Cyborg asked.

"Our mission."

There was some laughter at that, which died down quickly.

"Each of them takes it serious," Kid Flash said from where he was sitting with Raven. "They just hide it; Beast Boy with humor, Terra with sarcasm."

"I don't mean to criticize," the winged girl said, folding her arms and looking away. "After all, you've all been so kind to me. It just seems...improper, somehow."

"Rest assured," Nightwing said to her, "That anyone who doesn't take this seriously could end up dead."



Deathstroke could have met the HIVE head on, charging into them swinging his sword. He could have blasted away at them with his guns, or hurled a grenade.

He did none of these things.

The HIVE soldiers came tromping in, guns and energy staves at the ready. No cowled and robed operatives had shown themselves, at least not yet.

The leader was better armed and armored, though. "No sign of him yet, but scans confirm; he's here."

"He's hiding?" one of his followers protested. "Never thought him that much of a coward."

At first Deathstroke wondered if even a HIVE brat so could be so stupid as to believe that, then he smiled in the darkness, realizing it was a ploy to draw him out.

"Well he did fail against the Titans," the leader responded. "Perhaps he's lost his nerve." They waited a second more, then when it was clear he wouldn't take the bait, said; "Stay together, don't get separated. That's just what he wants. In fact...yes, contingency four, I think."

There was a dull whump as gas canisters landed on the floor. Their hissing penetrated the rooms. Again, Deathstroke approved. Their own armor and helmets protected them from the gas; that was the reason why none of the hooded leader types was present. He had his own gas masks of course, but at least they were using their brains. They were learning.

His approval went up another notch when, upon realizing their gas was having no effect, their leader shouted "Fire!" and the room erupted in the thunder of weaponry.



"Tad-ah!" Beast Boy proclaimed as he came out onto the roof, wearing his new costume. It was mostly silver, with a much narrower band of black. "So, what do you think?"

"Very post modern and minimalist," Kid Flash said.

"Why, Garfield," Raven put in, "Are you trying to become a straight-up hero on us?"

Cyborg frowned and put on a mock serious tone. "I knew Terra was a bad influence on him."

"Hmph!" Terra crossed her arms. "I'll have ya know that I suggested something symmetrical in red and white. This was all his idea."

Scarlet Wing cocked her head. "How strange..."

"You're one to talk, miss striped stockings!" Terra called back, but even Scarlet Wing could see she meant it as an amiable jape.

Her eyes flicked instead to Troia, standing behind the silly pair. The protege of Wonder Woman looked back, understanding her gaze. "I'm not her," she said quietly.

"I know," Scarlet Wing said, looking down. "It's just--"

The proximity alarms went off and the whole tower shook.

Starfire shot off the roof without having to be told. Scarlet Wing recovered from the shock and, with a snap of her wings, was just behind her. Beast Boy and Troia followed.

Four armored units, over twenty soldiers armed and in armor and helmets, and one hooded HIVE overlord were waiting for them.

"You idiots," Starfire said with real venom.

"Yes, you would think so," The HIVE leader said. "But it will be one of your last thoughts. No more games; no more hiding; it is time for you to die."

He lifted his power staff and fired, but Starfire fired right back. The two kinds of energy met and formed a shockwave of power that caused the HIVE leader to stagger and blew Starfire and Scarlet Wing back, but they recovered quickly.

Beast Boy shot past them in a form of a bat, and reached down to grab the leader by his hood and yank him painfully into the sky.

Starfire and Scarlet Wing had recovered by now; Starfire blasted soldiers with starbolts, and Scarlet Wing threw three egg-splosives at the lead armored unit.

Troia was coming down behind them now, and Raven had teleported in; Nightwing was swinging down from the roof, and Terra and Dagon had come bursting through the front door. Kid Flash was already wreaking havoc at super-speed.

But now the HIVE was firing back.



Deathstroke dropped and rolled as the bullets tore through his safe house. Three or four of them buzzed over him, and one even ricocheted off his space age polymer chain mail armor.

Yet still he did not strike back.

Instead, he rolled right and stabbed hidden panels on the floor in quick succession. Another three bullets bounced off his armor as he did so, and a plasma bolt flashed overhead.

At his touches, a small channel opened in the floor and he dropped into it, landing painfully in the enclosed space below. Another frantic stab and the panel slid shut once more.

He was buying time, waiting for them to get exhausted and frustrated. But he had to give them credit; they were more disciplined and determined than they had been during the debacle at their base.

Forcing down the frustration of that reminder he drew his left hand pistol and his smaller, right hand rimfire gun.

And waited.

At last, the bullets and plasma fire died down (though one shot had punched through the floor and ricocheted off his leg, leaving a bone bruise that caused him to grit his teeth in pain). Now, at last, they began to spread through the safe house’s four full rooms and bathroom, searching for him. But they were still wary, believing him at best wounded, not killed. Yes, they were learning.

"Stay alert," the leader said. "I don't like it that he didn't shoot back even once. We know he's here, and we know he's not dead yet."

"Waste no time, we have to find him," said another. "Word from high command; units eight and nine have begun the attack on the Tower as well. As expected, the brats are putting up stiff resistance. Units four through seven are en route to back them up. Units one, three and five are on their way here."

Slade was stunned. They were attacking the Titans as well? At the same time as himself? As bold as it was, it was also foolish. They should have focused all their resources on him first, or on the Titans first. On the other hand....now would be the perfect time for him to go after the Titans himself...once he dealt with this situation.

Now, at last, as he paid close attention to the creaking sounds of them tromping overhead, now when one of them made the mistake of stepping directly over his hiding place....

Now Deathstroke finally struck back.



Troia absorbed three plasma bolts at point blank range. She did not bother to use her bracelets to deflect the energy weapons; Diana had taught her that lesson long ago, before she even joined the Titans. And in any case she could take a lot of physical punishment.

Which is no to say it didn't hurt. It just made her angry.

She grabbed the front end of one of the armored units and, almost casually, flipped it over.

Beast Boy carried the leader over the Lower Bay, dodging his plasma bolts and taunting him all the way.

"Thank you for flying punslinger airlines," he quipped. "We hope you enjoy your fishing expedition."

"My what?? You little--!"

Beast Boy let go. "Au revoir," he called.

To his credit, the leader was determined; he let fly three shots on his way down to the cold water. Beast Boy's bat form had to shy sideways to avoid the last two of them.

A HIVE soldier was doing his best to pry Dagon's helmet off and expose him to the daylight. Dagon responded by slamming him hard into the pavement.

Kid Flash was back in action at full power at last, reveling in it. He almost casually knocked a couple HIVE soldiers aside, then began pummeling an armored unit. The vibrations caused the crew inside to become almost physically ill.

Raven wrapped her soul-self around a HIVE soldier and forced him to confront his own worst nightmare.

Terra wreaked havoc, knocking soldiers aside like ninepins with her rocks.

Nightwing was having the least luck. It was all he could do to avoid enemy bullets and plasma bolts.

"Concentrate all your fire on the weakest of them!" a sergeant inside one of the armored units shouted. "Finish them quickly and efficiently! No more games!"

Nightwing still managed to duck and dive and avoid, but as the others moved to protect him, some of them finally began to get hit significantly.

A stray plasma bolt slammed into Dagon's ankle. He screamed and went down.

A bullet grazed the top of Raven's left shoulder.

Troia was surviving the attacks just fine, but the collective impact of four plasma bolts at once knocked her over.

Scarlet Wing howled as a plasma bolt punched through her right wing. Her wings were part of her, complete with nervous system, and she dropped to her knees, clenching her teeth and shuddering.



The HIVE had a new base.

While several of the old bases still existed and were maintained, the new one was not buried underground or in the mountains. Rather the new command post for North American operations was in a Portland skyscraper in the Pacific Northwest.

The HIVE had always prided itself as being advocates of high technology, and the new base was no different in that sense. What had changed was that they were seamlessly interfacing with the modern world. Instead of hiding underground, they hid in plain sight.

Three ranking members sat, watching operations through various monitors. Deathstroke was finally fighting back; it was good they had sent reinforcements.

Ever since the Eclipso event, they had been relatively low-profile. Even during that occasion they had tried to stay out of the public eye.

And certainly they still wanted to keep their bases and headquarters secret; even more so than before, if such was possible. But as far as their actual existence and operations and goals, their previous clashes with the Titans had taught them: Enough.

Enough was enough.

They had to confront the Titans directly, and take them out. And Deathstroke too, for failing them. No more games, no more waiting. No more acting through intermediaries, unless such wanted to join the organization outright, and support its goals. The soldiers believed in their technocratic vision. Their scientists worked hard to make that future. And not just in combat; slowly they were infiltrating the media, the political parties, the business, and above all, the ordinary citizen's life.

It was time for the HIVE to step out into the open.

It was time for the HIVE to stand on its own.



Deathstroke's first five shots killed their targets, then it was time to move.

He dropped his guns and rammed his sword up through the foot of another trooper, then at last came bursting out of the hiding place in the floor, sword swinging. But even so he stayed as low as he could, trying to both avoid enemy fire and cut as many of them off at the knee as he could. It was neither kindness nor mercy; most would bleed to death, or he would finish them off later. But for the moment, he needed to take them down as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Four of them actually had the opportunity to track him and fire. Two bullets intersected at the same point on his ribs; their momentum forced the polymer chain mail into his flesh. He gritted his teeth and swung his blade; the two shooters responsible would never get up again.

That left the leader and one other soldier. He tried to run the leader through with his blade whilst kicking the other man away. The kick was successful; the sword thrust was not. The leader parried with his power staff.

Normally Slade would be amused by a duel. If he were facing the Titans, perhaps he would have. Now he had no time for it. Two hard strikes was all it took to knock the man's staff away, and then the fatal follow through cut him down.

This gave the last soldier time, however, to recover, pick up his own machine pistol, and begin firing.

Deathstroke snap-rolled to the right, his armor taking a few hits, and one bullet zipping dangerously close to his head. As he rolled, he dropped his sword and pulled two shiruken from his belt. He threw one; it caught the man in the shoulder, but he kept firing. A bullet slammed into Slade's left wrist. Grimacing in pain, he threw his other shiruken for the man's face, but to his credit, he ducked.

Which allowed Deathstroke to lunge directly at him like a battering ram. He slammed his head into the enemy's armored abdomen, knocking him back into, then through, what was left of the wall into the kitchen. Still somewhat dazed from the collision, Deathstroke nevertheless got his hands around the man's throat.

The man punched and kicked desperately, but Deathstroke just held on, fingers like a vice, until there was a harsh rattle and the man expired. He could have just snapped the man's neck, but he was not feeling merciful towards his former employers.

He crouched there, breathing heavily for a moment, waiting for his accelerated healing to kick in. When it did, he stood up slowly and carefully.

He moved to the door, knowing what he would see there.

The two armored units tracked their weapons to him. Just as they opened fire, he back flipped. Heavy artillery seared past him on both sides, and for a moment he was surprised that neither had hit him.

But even before he came out of the somersault, he realized that was not their intention.

The both shots detonated behind him, knocking him forward, even as what was left of the safe house came down on his head.




Troia stood up and began pounding an armored unit into submission.

Terra screamed in rage and grabbed three of the HIVE soldiers in stone fists.

Cyborg punched and kicked and used his white noise cannon.

Beast Boy returned, saw the situation, shifted to Elephant form, and trod on one of the armored units treads and bent it's guns with his trunk.

Teeth grit and eyes watering, Scarlet Wing pulled a special device Cyborg had made for her from her belt, and tossed it on top of the last armored unit. Electric energy sparked all over it, shorting its power out.

Nightwing was finally able to stop dodging enemy attacks, and actually took a couple troopers down with surgically precise kicks. The blurring speed of Kid Flash and Starfire's starbolts took down the rest.

Raven began healing herself and the others. Her powers worked on Dagon, but more slowly. He would rather have limped back into the tower and drank a refrigerated blood pack, but he didn't think there was time, and he spoke aloud the reason why: "That was too easy."

"You call that easy?" Scarlet Wing said wonderingly, as Raven's power healed her injured wing. "They seem tougher than the Allegiance soldiers i remember."

"We've clashed with the HIVE many times before," said Nightwing. "After all we've been through against them; I doubt they'd give up this easily.

"It was most likely just the opening salvo," Starfire agreed.

Sure enough, they heard the clanking, whirring noise of more armored units, and the screams as the citizens of New York scrambled to get out of their way.

The next wave of HIVE soldiers was almost upon them.