Toy soldiers off to war

[Lexias]

"Okay Max. I'll see you soon!" Bart was gone before Max could respond. He was too excited. They were in New York and he was going to Toys 'R Us. With a slight hop in his step, he shuffled through the crowd, searing eagerly for his destination. Not soon enough, he found the toy store. He forced open the door and was immediately entranced by the 60 foot Ferris wheel. He slowly walked in, dragging his hand across the door.

Bart smiled. He started running through the store, checking out the toys. His search brought him to the action figures. He sneered when he noticed how badly Impulse figures outnumbered Flash figures. He grabbed a figure of each and made them race. It started out close, until the Impulse figure darted out forward, clearly the faster of the two. Bart laughed at Wally's failure to beat him and put them back, Flash figure upside down.

[Gizmo]

Without the rest of HIVE around, it was pretty awkward to be honest and he actually missed them in the only way a smarty pants technological brat such as himself could. Even though Mammoth had a tendency to pick on him like a big brother would and do some...not so bright things, it felt like there was a huge gap where the big guy should be. Not to mention that little gap that probably wouldn't be filled again since a particular girl with ashy skin and pretty pink locks went goody two shoes. That stupid speedster took her away from hi-...the HIVE FIVE! Kinda weird how they just kinda broke apart and all that crazy stuff after managing to survive somehow from being a literal rogue gallery! With one foot going in front of the other over and over again bringing him into a medium paced walk, he had to admit that this stuff was all little kid stuff, the typical little kids that were snot nosed brats. Er...kids who weren't as smart as he was anyway!

Allowing a grunt to pass his lips, watching all the little kids running about and having fun like this was a playground. Well with the set up they had here, it was like a kid's paradise in a way. Toys and a huge Ferris wheel? Yeah...he should of picked another store! Even though he had to admit...this place was much cooler than a typical video game store or just ordering online. Besides, all the stuff around him was kinda entertaining even though there were a whole bunch of idiots all around him and kids giggling over lots of stupid things like stuffed animals. The only good stuffed animals were the ones he modified or were secretly robotic!

Regular stuffed animals were stupid to him...and he was constantly reminded of that when he saw people here and there in the crowd with plushies of all sorts. Pffff, he made better stuff for traps! Like the first time he, Jinx, and Mammoth encountered the Teen Titans. Now THAT was an awesome teddy bear! Smirking to himself for a moment, he then paused when he saw some couple, only for a short while before he quickly turned away wanting to vomit from all the fluff going on. Kinda reminded hi of when Jinx betrayed them, pouting angrily with a huff to match, he wandered off in some other direction. Cruuuud! He was supposed to go to the electronics and find the games he wanted but NOOOOO he got distracted and lost in the process!

Narrowing his pitch white hues as he began to grind his teeth, he WAS contemplating on asking for help but the impatient, short tempered boy knew how that went most of the time. Like when he went grocery shopping! The short boy in a green and silver tech suit could of just about destroyed that lard fart face! Clenching his hands into fists, he looked as though he was just stomping on along getting more and more tempted to hack the robotic T-Rex to ride throughout the store and find it while punting anyone who seemed...well...puntable! As he passed by some teen who was playing with action figures, heh! He looked pretty stupid doing that, but then he didn't have time to even smirk! Nope, in fact he could feel his face warm up a bit as a light blush of frustration as he took in the sight of none other than two action figures close to each other.

One was an all too familiar speedster he hated with a burning passion and the other was the girl he left behind he wanted to be there for him one day!a particular girl with bright pink catlike eyes and hair decorated with a black ribbon. Someone just HAD TO have them not only at his eye level but even out of their boxes with their arms linked together! Oooooh if only he could beat up the brat who did that! Tugging the action figure of his once was team mate away from that STUPID PIT SNIFFING FART MUNCHER of a speedster like he saved her from a horrible shipping, the tech'd out boy looked around and soon found where the HIVE trio action figures were. Pfff there! Now you're away from that pit sniffing fart muncher! ....CRUD! This place is driving me crazy! I KNEW I should of ordered online!" Frustratedly grumbling out those words beneath his breath as his slight blush went away, the short stack genius couldn't help but think that maybe he should just get his game AND the heck outta this place! Better to grab at least one thing before splitting this tourist attraction!

Making his way over to a certain someone who just so happened to race Flash action figures earlier, he tilted his head up a bit with his eyes narrowed, clearly expressing through his tone that he wasn't a happy camper and needed more than a happy meal to cheer him up as he said, "Hey you! Where the crud do I find the video games in this junk heap?!" Pointing up at him as he barked out those words, completely lacking basic manners, anyone could tell the boy was probably far from being in a good mood almost like some angry German kid....almost but not fully there.

[Lexias]

Bart stared at the little face of his action figure with a small smile on his face. It was cool, and he could always have more Impulse figures. Max wouldn't appreciate it, especially after his world tour after their first release. Max spent the next two hours after that sitting on a chair in the dark without speaking. He did that a lot, actually, but the longest he ever did that was their first Halloween together. That's when Max decided to limit him to the immediate neighborhood for trick or treating. Bart chuckled at that memory. Irish candy is good!

"Hey you! Where the crud do I find the video games in this junk heap?!" The comment ripped Bart from his trance. He stepped back quickly and turned to the assailant of his daydreams. His smile returned when he noticed the little bald dude in a green suit, but it quickly shifted into a flustered frown. He had no idea where the video games were. He had just got here himself. Plus, he'd hate sending him on some wild goose chase. That's something Con would do. That is something Con did. To Bart. A lot. At least Cassie made sure he didn't get away with it. Stupid Con.

"Actually, I dunno. But I'll help you look."

[Gizmo]

MEGA CRUD was this guy in some kind of trance or what?! Right at the moment he was about to spout off a whole bunch of pseudo profanities like it was the best thing he could do, it seemed like the guy who was playing with action figures earlier FINALLY decided to pay attention. TOOK HIM LONG ENOUGH! Oh goody, at least SOMEONE was in a good mood! ...well except for him, he was really irritated at how he couldn't seem to find his prized games he'd been meaning to get. Really though, between the doing stuff that drives people, namely the law, crazy and just keeping himself busy to have his thoughts stray away from the `good ol days` so he wouldn't get even more bummed...it wasn't easy to just hop away in the middle of a project. Or..whatever he was doing that involved inevitable chaos of some sort at a point in time or another...that's just how his life worked.

But that smile transitioned into a flustered frown that made him only think of the possibilities: he didn't know, he was confused, he knew BUT was confused, he didn't know and was confused, or was going to have his brain kidnapped by super monkeys. Narrowing his eyes a bit at the pause, almost on the verge of barking out something not very nice...before he could stop grinding his teeth and snarling like an angry tea cup chihuahua, the much-taller-than-him boy actually had something to say! Whether it was useful or not, he was still going to be rude since he didn't feel like being nice at this moment. Hearing his response caused his lips to wiggle across his lips as he narrowed his eyes to a squint glare of sorts. Grunting out incoherent grumbles, he weighed his options out for a moment as he lowered his hand down to his side. Seriously, he didn't have many and it seems like employees just get him MORE annoyed and this person was right here willing to help, not just stand there and be a goo brained IDIOT going `Uuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh uuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrr dddduuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrr` for five or so minutes! Flailing his arms up and down while gritting his teeth, he snapped out in an almost furious tone, "MEGA CRUD! Those fart sniffing scuzz buffer SNOT FOR BRAINS!"

Calming himself down a couple of notches, it's like he needed to snap out and vent to feel better before he could at least be somewhat civil at the moment. Now resting his hands at his sides, he just frowned in a way that looked like he was about to hack something to oblivion for some sort of revenge or throw another little tantrum. Speaking up in just a slightly annoyed tone, like usual when things weren't going right, his eyes were no longer in that `glare` setting as he continued speaking, "Fine, we'll look for the video games in this junk heap and I can get the hairball out of here! I'll follow you since you look like you hang out around cruddy brat infested places like these more than I do...," as soon as the guy who offered to help him look around would start walking he would too. What a shame it was out of all the awesome tech he had, one of them wasn't some kind of `Find anything I wantinator` that would do as the name implied. Then he could MAYBE enjoy looking around this place a bit after finding what he wanted, POSSIBLY cause a bit of chaos for cheap entertainment, ACTUALLY pay for his stuff, then just be on his merry way to play his game back at the ol' hideout where he and his team mates used to be.

Yeah what a shocker, he didn't always steal things! It's not like he stole from banks to collect money, it was to buy stuff he felt was actually WORTH spending it on! Er...well...at least back where he kept the money...y'know the old HIVE FIVE hideout, at least it wasn't a dump, he kept it clean because he was a bit OCD with organization. Kinda strange how he was better about cleaning that the `heroes`...pfffff he was ALMOST a better example...almost!

[Lexias]

Bart watched the little guy as a blank stare cam across his face. He looked a bit lost, like he couldn't remember where Wally put the cookies. He started to move his hand to wave in front of his face, but then he remembered that Uncle Max said that was rude , and he dropped his hand before it even reached his belt line.

When the bald kid (could he not grow his hair?) finally broke from his spell screaming about scuzz buckets, Bart couldn't help but laugh. He made a mental note not to get on the bad side of bald midgits, and started walking, the boy in a green jump suit behind him.

Bart walked down an aisle, looking for some idea of where to go. He climbed up some stairs that was meant only for employees. He couldn't see the games from his position, (the place was huge!), but what he did see gave him an idea. Towering over them aisles was a Ferris wheel. With a smile and a quick laugh, he jumped off the stairs and started running toward the ride, gesturing and calling for the kid to follow him. he would definitely find them from the heights of the wheel.

[Gizmo]

Following after the guy with an angry pout upon his face, it looked like he just about lost something called `the game`while letting his eye twitch ever so slightly. Did he actually LAUGH at him earlier?! He wasn't trying to be funny or anything like that and definitely not trying to be anyone's free form of amusement! One little slip up and the cranky, green and tech clad short stack of a boy promised himself that he would let all hell break loose. Er...well....just about as hellish as a genius with a tech pack and a pissed off attitude could be anyway. They should even consider the saying `hell hath no fury like an angry gamer!` seeing how useful being a gamer ACTUALLY is! If it wasn't for his ability to hit buttons in the right combination then he'd have a horrible time with his tech pack. Besides, it kept him a little more sane and pleasant like gradually working on a robot army.

Maybe he'd unleash it on this place or on all the stores that managed to piss him off! The thoughts of him sicking an obedient army of robots on every single annoying store worker who got under his skin began playing through his mind with each step. Ah how his thought induced self was laughing so hard that he had to hold his sides! Figuring the guy who couldn't help but laugh at his words earlier would blurt something out when they got to the video games he continued day dreaming while his legs felt as though they were on auto pilot. Yes...he was going to make them rue the day they didn't tell him where those Flaminglobster drinks were! ...THE COLD ONES! Not those lukewarm cans that needed to be chilled! Ooo he hated that extra step so much when he wanted to guzzle one of those energy drinks right away!

Snapping out of it when he noticed they were no longer in an average toy aisle full of toys he wasn't interested in at all, it was a sign's word's that decided to intrude on his daydreams. Huh? DO NOT ENTER EMPLOYEES ONLY...? Either the fellow he was following didn't care, didn't see, or both. Quite frankly, he himself didn't care! If this was going to get him to the video games then those fart face scuzz buffers could deal with a rule being broken! Looking around the stairs for just a moment, it didn't seem like they were gonna be there for very long. Kinda sucked being short, he couldn't see a whole lot and he could only assume the brown haired fellow who seemed to still actually play with action figures probably didn't see anything either.

Plus he kinda had to assume the teen paid enough attention for them to really not have any video games in sight. Errrr at least he had just enough height to see the biiiig Ferris wheel...ok well when he was looking up at it caused part of his brain was going `oooooooooOOOOOooooo!` and the other going `I've made bigger crud than that!`. The size of this place was almost that of ridiculous proportions! Then again, the video game...or electronics section was probably pretty impressive and part of him really hoped to see it sooner than later. Maybe it was his childish side that actually kept him here looking while the cranky, impatient side of him wanted to get out of here. Snapping out of the wonder of the large ride, that's when he noticed that the guy who was helping him seemed to get an idea. HOLY HAIR BALL WAIT A SECOND!

That teen boy smiled before letting out a laugh as though he just got a spark of brilliance and jumped on down the stairs before he started running to the biiiiiig Ferris wheel! Oh boy....was this and ADD moment or actually TRYING to find what he was looking for? Thankfully, being part of H.I.V.E helped him train for scenarios just like this one! Seeing the signal and being called out to, he managed to jump off the stairs and land in a slight crouch before rushing on after him. Normally he'd just use his jet pack for the boost but in a store like this he didn't feel like having kids fawn over him and freak out over his awesome gadgets. About the time he caught up to the boy with more of an inner child than him...or...rather...a lot more upbeat than him. Sure he could be happy!

It...just wasn't super common. "What the hairball...?! This pit sniffing stop better not be for your A.D.D!" Those words came out with a bit of frustration before making his way through the line barking out, "MOVE IT, BARF BRAINS! OUTTA THE WAAAY! COMING THROUGH, FART FACE!" How that worked was beyond him because people were looking at him and moving out of the way.

Maybe they noticed him from some random event where he was causing a lot of devastation to the city? Ooor they just thought he was some grumpy scary child? When he finally got through with some of the whiny children and annoyed parents, he hopped on into the seat of the ride just waiting for his new helper buddy person. Seeing the guy try to close the door without the guy helping him out the first time, he just let out a grunt growl and flicked the worker's hand and glared at him with one of the nastiest, meanest looks his face could display mumbling out a bunch of incoherent grumbles. "C'MOOOON! Get in here already you A.D.D pit sniffer!" How nice that short tempered tone of his was! Ok maybe that wasn't the way to treat someone helping him but he couldn't help it! Crowds and brats annoyed him lots and lots!

A little kid seemed to think he was talking to him cause he was conveniently trying to sniff his own armpits earlier...yuck...! Shoving the literal example of a pit sniffer out of the cart he was in by leaning over a bit since there was a bit of a step aaand placing his palm on the kiddos face to throw him off balance. Grinning for a moment, the kid's sniffling ALMOST made him laugh but no, just a grin for now! Waiting and waiting there just got plain old annoying! What'd this kid have, A.D.H.D on a sugar high?! Lifting himself up from the seat, he jumped out of the ride and just went on his journey leaving the store. Maybe he'd visit this place when he got a map or something, but for now his mood was far too crummy in terms of wanting to stick around.

Talk about MEGA CRUD! He'd just order what he wanted off of the internet and be done with it! Of course it'd take LONGER but this place was full of annoying snot bucket brats he couldn't stand! However...just as he was leaving he took the controller off of his chest having a grumble fest muttering childish equivalents of cuss words and input a command to drop a bomb riiight at the door. Nice going away gift, huh? The little genius of sorts couldn't help but think so too as a devious smirk made its way across his lips while letting out and evil little chuckle as her blurted out in a cruel yet snappy tone, "Much better!" Oooh yes...then came the full blown laughter!

Soon the place would be ablaze! Lifting his hand up to pull down his goggles over his eyes, her put his hand right back on the controller and entered the commands to make his metallic wings and jet pack activate moments before flying off. YEP! MUUUUUUUUUUCH BETTER!

{GIZMO HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!}

[Lexias]

Bart unsuccessfully looked for the bald boy for a while. By the time he had gotten over to the Ferris wheel, the kid had already left. Bart was saddened. The boy was funny, and he had failed to help him. Those thoughts were quickly interrupted however, by the boy's parting gift.

The bomb exploded on the door step, knocking several people off their feet. The fire was almost instantaneous, the confusion and chaos directly behind. Bart quickly went to the bathroom, and Impulse came out in his place. The speedster quickly sprang into action, vibrating person after person through the back walls. After safely evacuating everyone, he went back towards the fires. He quickly rotated his arms in circles, creating two whirlwinds to blow away the flames. By the firefighters reached the toy store, the flames were mostly under control.

Impulse exited the building, allowing the firefighters to finish the job. He saw the bomb drop. He knew someone was behind the fire. He examined the sky, looking for a plane or helicopter he knew was long gone and sighed. There were no answers waiting for him here.