Ultimate Hawkman #7 "H.I.V.E" pt.1

[superecwfan1]

Writer - Superecwfan
Editor - Buck


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The mountains of West Virginia.

As the day dawned, the stillness was only shattered by the chirps of lonely crickets. The quiet mountain hollow was pierced by the eruption of the bell . At the sound of the bell, men in army fatigues rushed out. Their faces covered except for weird mechanical head sets that went over their eyes.

The female leader was dressed in different fatigues as the men around her. She watched the people grab their arms and run to the square. They all cheered on the successful drill as usual while the female leader took to the podium.

"You may all stand at ease my followers of the H.I.V.E." she began , "For this is a glorious day !"

"H.I.V.E....H.I.V.E...H.I.V.E." they chanted.

"As the 7th Queen of the H.I.V.E I stand by what my forebearers forecast . If there is to be a peace in this world , we must use our force to make sure it happens. We must use our wills to make it happen !" the queen yelled.

Her own mechanical headset and eyes glowed red at times. Her people cheered this speech.

"Today at St.Roche , we will usher in a new era of the H.I.V.E. Today is the day ...H.I.V.E wages war on this country !" the queen yelled .

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St. Roche Internation Airport - 2:00 pm.


The airport was crammed full with people hurrying to make connections. A family of three hurried along with the father pulling his son . The boy's feet dragging along the ground. The rush to catch the mid afternoon flight to Gotham had even a well intentioned father agravated.

"Come on David , we gotta get to Gotham for this meeting. I'll buy you a truck as soon as we land." the father said while pulling his three year old son along.

"Don't wanna go ! Don't wanna .." the young boy yelled loudly.

The people around them stared as the mother rubbed her sons face softly , "It will be ok David , you get two trucks if ya get on the plane."

"Jesus Susan , can we not spoil him enough already. Look the plane is on the damn runway as we speak !" he yelled.

The two stopped to look . Seconds later a colossal explosion from the plane sent glass and burning shards of metal inside ! The father , mother and son all were on the ground. Bleeding from wounds caused by the debris stunned as screams echoed all around them.

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St. Roche public Park - 2:00 pm.

The young black couple walked through the park hand in hand. He held her hand as they seemed to glide. People were running with kites , eating hot dogs, and kids were at play. It was seemingly , a perfect day.

"Come on Lisa , you should move in with me." the young man said hugging her.

"Jerome , you just want me in bed next to you. And you know daddy will never let me move in with a man without no ring." she said walking.

The young man felt in his pocket for the ring. He knew it was a big step as he slowly worked up his courage, "Now that you mention it , I was wonder-"

Before he could ask the question; a massive explosion knocked him and Lisa into the lake. Screams of pain and anguish fluttered through the park as Jerome held his dying girlfriend as he pleaded for help.

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St. Roche Mall -2pm

Over the buildings Carter Hall soared. This was a beautiful day and so far he felt that nothing could ruin it. The sun's rays felt warm on his skin, and seemed to make Carter feel even more powerful in his wings and weird metal he wore.

Today is so beautiful. Its days like this I am glad . Trying to be a hero. Stopping car jackings , robberies and all. Nothing could ruin this day for me .

Carter Hall's moment of happiness was short lived as a loud explosion echoed thru the city. He saw the building on fire and flew down quick. Landing as he saw people screaming and running.

"Calm down , what's the situation ?" Carter asked a bleeding mall security guard.

"Bomb ...s-some kind of bomb a floor above. Went off..." he stammered.

"Your in shock. Call and request medical units ." Carter ordered.

With that said he flew quickly to the second floor. People were laying bleeding and coughing. Smoke filled the hall as he heard sirens in the distance. He moved quickly checking for survivors among the dead.

"M-My daughter ...in the theater...maybe...trapped. Names Julie. " a father said lying nearly motionless on the ground.

"She'll be ok. I will get her out ...be calm. Help is on the way." he said .

The theater entrance is blocked. Too much rubble from the blast. Gonna have to improvise . Smash my way thru a wall.

Carter picked up a metal food cart and picked the best spot where he could come in at. After two tosses the wall cracked and with a powerful drive , he smashed through the wall with his body .

People coughed and slowly walked to the light , "This way. This way..to the light. Looking for a little girl named Julie." he yelled.

He finally found the little girl laying there. Bleeding as he picked her up with ease and slowly carried her out. By this point St.Roche's finest had arrived and all were standing there staring at the masked winged man.

"Ok , masked guy lets slowly put the girl down ok." one of the officers said . The others had their guns drawn.

"She needs help . Stand aside." Carter growled.

A female EMT saw the situation and walked over and touched his shoulder , "Hey , she does need help. We can take her. You did your job ok. Let me take her."

Carter nodded and slowly handed the limp girl over as she rubbed his feathers gently. He nodded and flashed her a rare smile as he walked slowly away.

The officers slowly followed , guns on him as he walked. Not paying them attention as Lt. Hardrow arrived. A quick gesture to holster the weapons happened as the masked wing man looked back and took off.

End of part 1.

[superecwfan1]

St. Roche Medical Center.


Lt. Hardrow took more statements down from witnesses . He never noticed a flying winged man land and walk up in the parking lot . But the gasps of those around him made him look up and adjust his reading glasses.

"I got some witness statements here. Seems you ..smashed thru a wall to free people trapped. " he said staring at Carter.

Seconds passed as Carter stared at the ER section. Hardrow realized the winged hero couldn't walk into the ER and realized what he wanted to know.

"The girl was hurt pretty badly. Internal injuries...she...didn't make it." Hardrow said biting his lip.

"Who...did this ?" Carter asked.

"Look , you did all you could. She would have died sooner without treatment and her family around her." he said touching his arm.

Carters anger grew into rage as he tossed his mace into a parked car . He then grabbed Hardrow and pulled him up close , "I asked you.... who did this !"

"O-ok , calm down. I can tell your angry and so am I. How much do you know about... The H.I.V.E ?" Hardrow asked .

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Later ...at Hardrows office.

Hardrow walked in and opened the window for his flying companion to sneak through. Once inside with him , the older man went to a filing cabinet and started tossing file after file onto the desk.

"The H.I.V.E , how much do you know Hawkman ?" Hardrow asked .

"Well I know that the H.I.V.E began as a 60's flower child movement and was supposed to stand for Humanity Is Very Equal. I know they shifted their views from peace and love to a more voilent nature by the 1970's." Carter answered.

"You know part of the story. The H.I.V.E is basically America's dirty little secret we want to forget. But their actions today show us , they aren't going away." Hardrow began.

"The roots of the H.I.V.E began in that 60's movement in a way. But the group was basically an off shoot military excercise by the CIA to test followers with massive drugs and all. They trained them for warfare and the drugs they used and sold helped them lure more to the cause."

"By the late 1960's after Bobby Kennedy's assassination and the Altamont situation in 1969 , the CIA decided to end the program."

Carter flipped thru the pictures flashing thru the changes the members of the H.I.V.E seemed to have.

"But the leader ...or female leader of the H.I.V.E took control. Claiming that to get peace and government , they must destroy things. So after it the H.I.V.E in the 1970's became a milita in a sense."

"A milita ? Led by a woman ?" Carter interjected.

"Yes a woman. The group has had various women lead it over the years. The FBI believes the number is between 6-10. But there is a Queen Bee type. She leads them. Groomed from the start to do this."

"They have never been to St.Roche though. They have blown up oil wells , government buildings and other things. Over the years they have....gotten more dangerous and the death toll has rose more and more due to them."

"So why don't the government shut them down ? It's a group they can stop I'm sure." Carter again interjected.

"Not so simple. All the members are off the grid and radar for them to be found. No one leaves the H.I.V.E on their own free will. Once you join , its for life." Hardrow finished.

"So what do we do Hardrow ? Let these monsters go ? Let them continue to do this ? Blow more things up and innocents suffer ?" Carter asked.

"Look , there isn't any leads on them. I wish there was , but no witnesses saw anything from the mall , park or airport where they struck. I know you wanna do the hero thing but til we get a lead , were stuck." Hardrow explained.

"Let me take these files." Carter said as he stared at a picture. His mind making sense of it.

I've seen that place before. I have seen it. A past life possibly ? Could I have been a member of the H.I.V.E ?

"Your not a cop . I could get in trouble for handing you personal files like this. " Hardrow said .

"Then maybe we can have an agreement . You seem to like what I do here in St.Roche. We seem to be developing a working relationship." he replied.

Hardrow rubbed his face . He knew this was more trouble than he needed as he asked , "Just tell me , are you for real ? An honest to god hero like the JSA was ?"

Carter waited a few seconds and walked to the window. Holding the files.

"I'm gonna try and do what I can Hardrow. Call me a hero if you want. I'll be touch...." he said , and with that was gone.

I hope I know what I'm getting involved with here. The whole JSA situation in the 1980's make working with a super hero , not really legal anymore. Have to keep this a secret and try to not let anyone find out.

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H.I.V.E Compound.

Inside the compound the Queen of the H.I.V.E was in her special armed cabin of sorts. The guards outside saluted the one man who wasn't wearing a mechanical headset . The old man was allowed entry inside.

"My Queen....I have...news of St.Roche." he said waiting on her.

"Tell me , as one of my moles to this outside world. Tell me how it went." she said in her room.

The Queen removed her fatigues as you could see the outline of her legs and body. The old man tried to get a look, but decided to not risk death if she had caught him.

"The mission went off with success. All 3 targets were hit." he said .

With that the Queen walked out. He gasped some in horror at what he saw of this woman. Never before had he seen her without her mechanical head set that covered over the eyes.

He fought the powerful urge to just scream. Her eyes were bee shaped with tons of lenses. Her head was oddly shaped with 3 holes for the syringes from the headset. It was like a horrible sci-fi movie.

"Good , very good. The H.I.V.E grows stronger. Tell Ray Palmer I will need more of the special cocktail for my head piece." she said coldly.

"Y...Yes my queen..." the old man said with a quick bow before running out.

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The office of Gardner Fox

After a long stressful day , Doctor Gardner Fox was closing his office. He started to walk out and heard a loud tap at his window. He shook his head and knew exactly who it was waiting as he opened the window.

"Carter , what do you need now ? I am closing my office." he said .

"Doctor , I need your help. Its urgent...you heard about the 3 bombings today in St.Roche." Carter said while entering.

"Yes , yes I did. I saw on the news. I saw a clip of you flying from the scene." Fox said.

Carter laid the files down and threw down the picture he had. The one he felt a connection to.

"I want you to put me under. I think I know where this place is. I may have been there in a past life. I need to find this or if there is any other place the H.I.V.E maybe at." Carter said.

"Its not an exact science Carter. Putting you under and pulling out things isn't easy. It may take a few attempts to even get you to this particular memory . And that's even If you were born and had a life there." Fox answered .

"We have to. The police don't have any leads on where these people are and neither does the FBI. I have to find them Doctor. And stop them...once and for all." he said .

"Then lets get to work. I feel its gonna be a long night." Dr. Fox said throwing his coat off.


End

 

Next Issue Box :

Ultimate Hawkman #8  "H.I.V.E" Pt 2. What type of past did Hawkman have with the H.I.V.E and can it possibly help him find them today. Also what is Ray Palmer doing with the H.I.V.E ? And will he be meeting with Carter Hall soon ?