Ultimate Hawkman #8 "H.I.V.E" Pt.2

[superecwfan1]

Editor - Buck
Writer - Superecwfan1

proudly present....

HAWKMAN

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The Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia

The old man had just seen the Queen of the H.I.V.E for the first time in his life. With a frenzied sense of urgency, he ran across the ground to the compound next door; where two guards stood. It was the largest compound there and best built of the buildings.

"The Queen....asked me to tell Palmer to make more of the cocktail for her headset." the man said catching his breath.

"Ok we'll tell him then." said one guard as he nodded letting the old man walk off.

He started in as the other stopped him quick. The other guard looked around and whispered , "You...haven't ever been inside and met Palmer have you ?"

"No, I haven't . Whats the big deal, Brian?" he asked.

"OK , well.... Palmer is... odd. He's really fucking odd. Just...don't say a damn word. Not a fucking word. Let's just do this as quick as possible, Tom." he replied back while walking ahead.

Brian lead the way being buzzed in by other guards at each station. Finally, after the third row of doors they walked into a beautiful room. The room was beautiful and spotless. There in a corner was a man wearing glasses studying a computer screen.

"Doctor Palmer ?' Brian asked walking up.

"Huh... noooo! not the floor. Your walking on the damn floor with your shoes aren't you ? Jean , they are walking on the floor with their shoes !" Palmer yelled as his glasses went flying off.

Jean Loring ran over and tried to calm Ray Palmer down as the guards stared stunned. She patted his chest "Its alright, Ray, the floor is okay They will scrub the floor. They will ...won't you guys ?"

"Y-yes Miss Loring , yes we will. " the one older guard said nudging the other. Soon both were on the ground wiping the already spotless floor.

"See Ray? The floor is fine ." Jean said.

"Theres a spot over there. " Palmer said pointing to another spot as the two men cleaned it.

Finally, finished the two men stood back up as Palmer fidgeted nervously. His attention constantly shifted from the guards to Jean and back to his computer screen. The awkwardness was palpable.

"So what brings you boys by?" Jean asked, gracefully breaking the silence.

"The Queen desires more of the special cocktail from Dr. Palmer." he answered.

"He will have more ready for her by tonight. " she said.

"Y-yeah I'll have more ready. But...I can't work when people are staring at me!" Palmer growled angrily.

"Ray, they aren't staring at you." Jean snapped back quick.

"Yes they are. Have them look away from me , Jean. Have them look away." he said .

A frustrated Jean Loring looked at the men who turned their backs to finish talking. She looked back at Ray Palmer who nodded his approval.

"Like I said he'll have more formula for her by the end of the night."

The two men made a hasty retreat. Once away outside , the one guard turned to his friend stunned. "What the hell was that Brian?"

"Palmer is a brilliant chemist and scientist. He just....well...he has OCD issues. Those issues grew worse the more stress he was under and Jean Loring is more like his nurse who keeps him medicated and relaxed." Brian answered.

"Thats so...sad. Guy can't control himself ?" he asked.

"No , his mind when focused on a task is brilliant. But once stressed he...loses it quick." the other answered.


**********************************************
Back inside


"Honey , why did you act like that?" Jean asked hugging him.

"I-I can't help it. My brain is at war with distractions. I'm so close. OCD is outta control due to this...stress . I-I'm looking for the Queen's treatment , I...I may find a solution with the alien bacteria from that white dwarf star she is using for her cocktail." Palmer stammered as he continued working.

Damn it Ray, you're brilliant, but it seems like your mind is deteriorating more and more each day. It's like you're losing yourself . I hate seeing you like this.


"Thats dangerous Ray. The treatment has done something to her. Can't you tell how she moves and acts differently now." she said.

"Jean, I'm sure she is busy being a Queen and all." he said working.

"No , Ray ...she is getting more violent! Did you not notice the extra push in the recent bombings. And men are disappearing from camp too !" Jean yelled.

She stormed out as Ray sat at the computer . A very rattled Ray Palmer took a napkin and wiped the little sweat at his face good.

I am so close. Once I get a cure for this , I can be the man Jean needs. I won't be needing her to worry about me. Once I complete this serum I'll be good. I'll finally be a complete man and I can do everything I've been telling Jean I'd do for years.


*****************************************
Office of Doctor Gardner Fox.

Dr. Fox's patience was wearing thin. It had been hours since Carter Hall showed up at his office. This time with the usual , nearly impossible request for him. Another trip into his past with regression therapy. Now using it to hunt past lives. The two had failed to have any major breakthrough.

"My heads hurting. Feels like I have a massive migraine doctor." Carter growled in pain.

"Like I told you Carter. Its not an exact science. So far we have been all over the map. An artist in the 16th century. A monk in the 17th , and a solider during World War 1." Fox said rubbing his tired eyes.

"That doesn't explain why my head is hurting , Doc." he said .

"It could be any combination of things. The sedatives I'm using with you to draw you into regression. Or perhaps its your brain hurting from more added memories pushing back , forcing you to handle more of your previous lives." he explained.

"Yeah , I'd stop for now. But we can't Doctor. Not while they are out there somewhere. Let's give it one more shot for the day. One more and we quit ." Carter said .

"This goes against my better judgment, but I know you won't let me leave till I do this. Alright Carter, lay back once more and sip this." Doctor Fox said while making him take another sedative to regress easy with.

"Carter , ...we need to go to the 1960's OK. The 20th century...when I count back , your gonna be in the 20th century and be that person....5.....4.....3.....2.....1..." he said softly.

********************************************
St. Roche Museum

Shiera Saunders sit working on paperwork at her small desk when her father walked by. He was looking around and looked a bit irked at not seeing Carter Hall there. She watched him walk up the halls , seconds later back down.

"Do you- " he started as Shiera finished the sentence "Know where Carter is? No, I don't dad and I don't care."

"Honey, are you still mad at me for giving him the director job? I thought we understood why I did that." her father said .

"Yes dad, he's one of the best archaeologists alive today. He has been on a few digs and learned from his famous father, but I am better and after years of work here deserved it." she answered a bit angry.

"Look I'm gonna go call around for him. There were some explosions due to some bombings yesterday and he may have been in one. If he calls tell him I'm looking for him, Shiera ?" he asked.

Shiera bit her lip and nodded , "Yes dad. I guess I'll have to try and do his work today till he comes in."

Her dad walked off as she sit and looked through some papers . She stopped once she saw a picture of a drawing depicting an Egyptian woman dressed as a princess. Her mind started to slip to some images as she shook it off.

Shiera get a hold of yourself here or you're gonna end up like poor Carter Hall. Seeing a therapist for issues. Speaking of him , where is he? It has been nearly two days since he left for his lunch break and not a word.

Great , now I am worrying about him. Need to try and concentrate on work. He's likely with one of his airhead girlfriends he brings by here.

End of part 1.

[superecwfan1]

Elsewhere ...in Carter's past.

The pain was more intense to Carter's head. He felt the sedatives trying to work as images screamed by. Words were jumbled as were people. It looked like a movie being played at high speed as he tried to sort things out.

He seemed to steady on an office, somewhere in a government building. One man in a suit and tie seemed to be discussing "Operation H.I.V.E" as his words started to catch up with what Carter could understand.

"This spot here will be the center location. It's a fairly remote location; which means little chance of someone stumbling upon and endangering the operation. Appalachian Mountains of West Virgina, here. This does not leave this room ." he said .

Carter studied the map and more images blinked by. He could see some of the buildings built in the woods. More people and faces blurred as did words . He could hear Doctor Fox wanting him back as he slowly started to wake.

***************************************8
Back in the present - Doctor Fox's office.


A hurting Carter Hall held his sore head and sit up on the couch. Doctor Fox watched worried as Carter shook off yet another hard regression trip. The effects were evident on him.

"That's it, Carter . No more. You're in obvious pain and I can't condone this anymore. I am a doctor." he said.

"I...I got it . Got what I needed. I know where the H.I.V.E is Fox." he stammered.

Carter got up and put on his helmet as Fox watched and followed. His concern was still there, "Then rest or report it. You're not ready for this Carter."

"No, what do I tell the police. My mind regression therapy helped me remember the location of a top secret terrorist cell?" he asked joking.

"You have a good point there. But you need rest after so many regression trips. Go home and lay down for awhile." Fox said.

"No time. They could be plotting more bombings to kill more innocent people. I'm gonna go smash them Doctor and end this!" he growled .

With that he dove out the window and flew off. Doctor Fox watched the young man fly off into the sun . Till he disappeared.


***********************************************

Back at H.I.V.E

A nervous Ray Palmer took the sample in the tube and held it up. Inside was the new version of the very cocktail he had developed for the Queen of the H.I.V.E . But his plans on this version was going to a different use.

It has taken me months of hard work. But with proper mixes of enzymes and other drugs to mesh, I believe I have the answer to my crippling OCD. This is dangerous and Jean is right about the Queen.

When the dwarf star first landed miles from here, the Queen demanded I mix the bacteria in with little tests with her usual LCD drugs. I noticed changes right off as she moved quicker and her violence grew.

Jean needs someone she doesn't have to doctor herself. This is a risk. But I am a scientist and we risk ourselves daily. So...gotta do this before my fears take over my mind.

Palmer took the vial and loaded it into the injector. He held it to his neck and closed his eyes. He then injected himself with it as he collapsed in pain. His insides screamed in agony as he tried to stabilize himself.

Jean walked in as Palmer was screaming and thrashing around . She ran over to get him . To hold him and see what was wrong . Her eyes saw the injector on the ground as she picked it up.

"R-Ray what did you do ?" she said .

"My whole body is on fire. Head is swimming...." he said sitting up. He seemed calm.

"W-Whats wrong Jean ? You look scared ?" he said smiling.

"Ray ...you're....you're shrinking down." she stammered grabbing a mirror to show him.

He stared and blinked as the shrinking stopped. His clothes were already too big for him and with thought he regrew himself back to his size. Which made him laugh in amazement.

"Its like...an ability I have now Jean. Watch..." he said while shrinking down to inches as his clothes were a clump .

"Ray , Ray where did you go ?" she asked while she heard little laughter.

He enlarged naked behind her as she gasped shocked. There was something a lot different about this Ray Palmer beyond his new abilities he was showing.

"You injected yourself Ray. With the same chemicals that made the Queen crazy. Why risk yourself like this?" Jean demanded angry.

"For you. For years Jean my condition has gotten worse. But for the first time , whatever the chemicals I worked on , has me...calm. I feel like a whole new man. I can be the man you need and not have to be a patient." he started.

"Jean, its wonderful. I can see the sub organic atoms when I shrink so far down. I saw ants walking. Its great." he finished hugging her.

She started to chuckle at this naked Ray Palmer hugging her , "So what about your clothes big shot. Your clothes can't shrink down with you ? Gonna look awful funny walking around naked."

"Well thats gonna take some practice dear. A lot of practice . Let me see if I can shrink something else down with me..." he said moving to a mirror.

She watched him concentrate and suddenly the mirror shrank down with him. It was stunning to see the mirror shrink and enlarge as well when he finished.

"Now try the clothes ." she said .

Ray dressed quick and did the same trick. The clothes went down and back up with him. Jean clapped as she watched him do this.

"Maybe I can take someone with me this time..." he winked while he grabbed Jean.

She shrank down and lost her clothes as she yelled angry. Then seconds later a nice little moan echoed through the nearly empty lab area.

*******************************************
Outside the H.I.V.E Compound.


Carter had flew low over as he had searched through the mountains for a few hours. Once a cluster of buildings caught his eye; he found a nice viewing point and pulled out the binoculars hidden away in the pouches off his fatigues.

This is it. Nice compound of ten buildings. The trees are good cover from above. The generators and all keep them off the grid. I will have to fight my way through and find the Queen. This should be easy, don't see many guards.

He had moved in and quickly took out two of the patrols from the small road. Knocking them out. Carter was moving swiftly , using his army training to stay low and not be seen. However, as he moved to duck behind more trees, he failed to see the trip wire laid out.

The explosion rocked the compound as the siren went off. Carter moved as he bull rushed some charging guards and used his mace to lay a few out. Punching and kicking them. Catching them by surprise with the sheer ferocity of his blows.

He looked up and saw himself surrounded by an army of H.I.V.E . His hands gripped the mace. It looked like this fight was just starting.

The End.


Next Issue Box Ultimate Hawkman #9:  "H.I.V.E" pt.3 . The Battle is on for Hawkman . Also we get the 1st meeting of the Atom and Hawkman !