Titans Go!

Scene 23: Assault on the H.I.V.E.

With word spreading of the imminent attack on their base, all of the H.I.V.E. was on full alert. At order from Lex Luthor, enforced by Red Hood, every sector was now covered by a small squad. A guard had been placed on the elevator leading to the control room, and the entrance to weapons cache where the power amplifier was had been heavily fortified.

"Those kids are going to be dumb to try and attack us here," Sportsmaster eventually commented.

Red Hood shook his head. "Don't get overconfident, Sportsmaster. If we should have learned anything, it's that Nightwing is very resourceful. He'll know where his team will need to hit, and now he has Kid Flash and Wonder Girl on his side. Their chances of overcoming us are more favorable than they were before."

"You sound sure like we're going to lose," Cheshire commented.

Red Hood shook his head again. "No, I don't think that. I am just not one to underestimate my enemy, something you and you father seem to have a knack for."

That was when Lex radioed in. "Red Hood, is everyone in position?"

"Affirmative," replied Red Hood. "Every entrance is covered, and we got Shimmer guarding the power amplifier for you. How much longer until you have all the power you need?"

"Only one more hour," Luthor informed them. "However, that could still be more than enough time for the heroes to breach our perimeter and put a stop to this country's purification."

"I know," said Red Hood. "It's a mistake no one else will be making."

"And Terra?"

"She has been given her orders," Red Hood assured her. "In the event the weapons cache or the control tower becomes endangered."

Suddenly, another transmission came up. "Sir, we got incoming!"

Red Hood had just received the warning and had just enough time to shout, "Get ready!" before the front door was blasted apart.

***

Raven opening the portal to the front of the H.I.V.E. base had been the easy part. Unfortunately, after that, the only easy part came when Starfire blasted the door open, giving them an entrance and the opportunity for Nightwing to throw several smoke bombs through the hole.

"Go!" Nightwing shouted.

"Get behind me!" Raven ordered. "I can shield us until we can get inside."

The others moved behind her without question. Concentrating, Raven created a shield of black energy. As she moved forward, so did the shield, and the others followed.

Once they had entered the base, the smoke was still swirling around. But now, the sound of gunfire could be heard, deafening them all. Raven's shield lowered and they charged forward.

To her right, Raven sensed Nightwing, pulling Starfire along. She knew at once where they were going, and she knew they couldn't be followed.

"AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!"

All of a sudden, the smoke changed direction and shot forward into the ranks of the H.I.V.E. agents. The ones closest to the smoke were so taken off guard, they were forced backward and fell over. This was more than enough cover for Beast Boy, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl, who surged into the ranks of their enemies.

There were several loud flashes. As Kid Flash zoomed to take the weapons of the disoriented agents, Beast Boy came down on them, changing into animals at random. He became a gorilla, a rhino, a tiger, a hippo. He continued to ram them, throwing them in all directions.

The two of them would have been in danger of being shot by the H.I.V.E. agents in the back of the ranks. Fortunately for them, Wonder Girl had spotted the danger. Their attention was now her the moment she threw aside the H.I.V.E. agent nearest to her.