The last thing she could remember was fighting alongside the Avengers in a deserted factory. They had cornered the strange Crystal that was responsible for destroying the Avengers Mansion, killing Sargon and the Black Tiger in the process. (Editor's Note: as seen in Avengers #10-11)
Looking around, Helena found herself on a bed in what appeared to be a hospital ward. She was still mostly in costume. Her gadget belt, crossbow and quarrels had been removed and placed on a side table.
"At least this is a lot nicer than the last strange place I woke up in." Helena remembered waking up after her first night as the Huntress as the captive of VIPER. Not a pleasant experience.
In the bed to her right was a woman Helena recognized as Nightingale. The Psionic Avenger was sound asleep. The bed on the left appeared to have been in use, the covers thrown back, but its occupant was long gone.
Helena sat up and immediately felt a pain in her abdomen. "Now I remember... That walking tin can cut me up pretty good."
Peeling the wrapping back, she was greeted by the sight of a long cut on her belly. It had been sown shut with dozens of stitches. The skin was discolored and unpleasing to the eye. Gently, she rewrapped the wound with a clean bandage and sighed. "Just great. This is going to be annoying for a while."
Throwing the covers back, Helena stepped off the bed gingerly trying to ignore the pain in her belly. A medical chart was located easily enough. Thankfully the report revealed that no serious damage had been done. "Forty-three stitches? Well, I never did do anything halfway..."
Out of curiosity, she reviewed Nightingale's chart. "Fractured ribs. Last night was not a good one for the good guys. Both of us were given sedatives... probably morning by now. Judging by the other bed, someone else was hurt as well. No doubt this is the Med Lab at the Avengers Mansion. I have better things to do than just lay around here all day."
Helena began to collect her belongings when the door suddenly opened and Black Diamond entered. "Just where do you think you're going?" Black Diamond tried to give the Huntress a stern look, but failed.
"Linda!" The sight of Black Diamond was about the last thing Helena was expecting to see. It was Artemis's attack on Black Diamond that had set recent events into motion. Helena came to the Avengers Mansion to offer assistance in finding Artemis, instead it was the Crystal that they located. Helena gingerly gave Linda a hug. "When did you get back?"
"Just last night. I came with Dr. Marin after learning that she had been requested at the Avenger's Mansion," Black Diamond explained. "I had to find out what was going on with my team. That's quite a nasty cut you've got there."
The Huntress gave the bandage across her abdomen a light tap. "Tell me about it. I won't be wearing a bikini this summer. My social life is really going to suffer."
"Muskateer told me how helpful you had been to him. I just wanted to say thanks for everything. I really do appreciate it." Linda regarded Helena for a moment. "Your father would have been very proud."
"Thanks, that means a lot to me. So what did I miss?"
"Not much from what I heard," Linda explained. "After the Dreadknight struck you, Muskateer attacked it. Put a good sized hole in it, so I hear.
"Really? He did that for me?"
"He's not a bad guy."
"I guess not," the Huntress responded. Reading people was a skill that Helena had practiced since her childhood. Muskateer seemed to defy this talent, making him an unknown quantity to the heroine. "What happened after that?"
"The Crystal and its allies disappeared moments later."
"That's too bad. I wish I had been of more help. Threw just about my whole arsenal at that walking trash can. I didn't even make a dent in it. I felt pretty worthless."
"Sometimes it happens," Black Diamond said, trying to console her young friend. "You'll get better with time."
"Next time, I'll know better: switch opponents if I run into someone beyond my ability to deal with."
"You're learning already."
After a pause, the Huntress said, "Can I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course you can, Helena", Black Diamond responded, giving an almost motherly smile. "My door is always open."
"Would it be possible for me to store Hunter's car in the motor pool? Driving it back and forth to Westchester Hills is getting very tiresome. If I can keep it here, then it's just on the other side of Central Park."
Black Diamond considered for a moment. "I don't foresee any problems with that. You've certainly earned it at the very least. I'll get you an ID card as well."
"Thanks, Linda. Anyway, I should get going. If you need a hand, you know where to find me."
"Take it easy," Linda said, standing aside as the Huntress passed. "You've got a lot of stitches there."
"Okay, mom. Talk to you later."
Helena made her way through the quiet Mansion. It was still early in the morning and none of the other Avengers seemed to be about. As she neared the kitchen, the inviting aroma of food reached her senses. Jeeves was busy making the morning meal.
"That smells real good."
Jeeves looked up from the stove at the heroine. "Good morning, Madame. Please, take a seat. Juice, coffee or tea?"
"That's alright, Jeeves. I would be imposing."
"Nonsense! Knowing Mr. Grimm's appetite, I always make extra. I would be lax in my duties if I did not attend to the needs of the Avengers' guests."
Helena certainly couldn't argue that point. There was certainly more than enough food. The growl in her stomach and the mouth-watering aroma became more than she could withstand. "Orange juice, please." As Jeeves poured the juice, Helena took a seat at the table. "This certainly beats the stuffing out of those nutrition bars I've been eating."
"I should sincerely hope so, Madame. Proper nutrition can only be a benefit." Jeeves placed a plate of eggs, ham, and hash browns before the heroine. Since becoming the Huntress, Helena's eating habits had been rather poor. The chance to have some honest to goodness food was more than she could pass up.
"This is delicious, Jeeves."
"You are most welcome, Madame. I must say that I was most concerned when the Enchantress brought you to the Med Lab. A very nasty looking wound, but it cleaned up well enough."
"You cleaned it out?", Helena asked between hearty bites.
"That is correct. This position requires a multitude of skills."
"I can see how it would."
"Sprout! Yer up an' about." Benjamin J. Grimm, better known to the world as the Thing, stood in the doorway. The pleasant aroma had roused the Avenger from his quarters.
"Good morning, Uncle Ben. I'm alright. It's just a scratch."
Jeeves sat to work on preparing the Thing's plate, or rather plates. "Good day, Mr. Grimm. Beverage this morning?"
"Coffee, black." The hero took a seat and chatted with Helena. "Ya had me worried for a while there, kid. You're skin isn't stone, like mine."
"I'll keep that in mind the next time someone comes at me with a battle axe." Jeeves sat down a separate plate for each item he prepared this morning. Helena was more than used to Benjamin's exaggerated eating habits. "I was on my way home when Jeeves offered breakfast. It was hard to refuse."
"Leavin' already?"
"Yeah, I've got things to take care of. Having another identity can be bothersome at times."
The Thing devoured his plate of ham in the time it took the Huntress to eat a few bites. "If ya got things to do, Sprout, ya got things to do. Should ya need a hand, give a holler."
The Huntress finished up her breakfast and thanked Jeeves. "Actually, there is something you can do for me, Uncle Ben. Provided you've got some time to kill?"
A moment later, the Huntress walked out into the rear courtyard. The Corvette was parked in the rear courtyard. No doubt, Muskateer drove it back last night. Helena drove the vehicle into one of the open bays in the motor pool. Next, she removed a bag from the trunk that contained her street clothes and placed it in a nearby van. While waiting for the Thing to come out, Helena changed out of her costume.
"Ya need anything else, kid, jes let me know." The van was stopped outside Kirby Manor up in the Westchester Hills area, Ben Grimm at the wheel.
"Thanks for the lift. I'll see you later. Probably Monday, I have that computer upgrade to finish."
"Okay, Sprout. Take care o' yerself." The vehicle was put into gear and sped off down the street. Helena shouldered the bag containing her costume and proceeded up the walk to the main house.
Helena's stay at the estate was short. She grabbed new supplies and checked out a few new gadgets as well, before returning to the city.
The usual pile of mail and calls on her answering machine awaited back at her apartment. Setting the shoulder bags down that she had brought with her from the Estate, Helena began to wade through the mail and messages. Four messages from the office alone, two others from Gary Simmons. "I should be nicer to that man," she mentally concluded.
A solution came to her in the stack of mail nearby. In it was an invitation to a costume ball that the wealthy socialite Karrie Madigan was holding for charity the following week. "Hmmm... now this just might be fun."
Picking up the phone, she quickly called Gary. "Hello? Gary? Yeah, it's me, Helena. Sorry I haven't been around much lately, but I just got some invitations and I was wondering if you would like to be my escort? Next Saturday. You would? Great! Pick me up at six. Okay. I'll see you then. Bye."
Setting the phone back down, Helena thought, "There. That'll keep Mister Simmons out of my hair for a while." Patting her bandage, she added, "And now, what am I going to do with you?"
The next day and half passed quietly. Helena studied more of the Hunter's archives and kept an eye on her wound. She cleaned it out several times and could see the skin starting to bond together again. "Thank goodness that I heal quickly," was her thought on the matter. The damage done to her costume was repaired as well.
On Sunday afternoon, Helena received a phone call from Black Diamond. "Hello, Linda. What's on your mind?"
"We think we've located DEMON's hideout," the voice on the phone replied. "Interested in lending a hand in cleaning it out?"
"You bet! I'll be right over."
"Hold on, Helena..."
"Yes? Is there something else?", Helena asked.
"We're assembling all the assistance we can muster. Can you get a hold of Night Owl?"
"Uhm, yeah, no problem. I'll contact Night Owl and be over."
"Great. Thanks, Helena. Bye."
A quick call to Lydia followed. The phone rang nearly a dozen times before being answered. Groggily, Lydia said, "Hello...?"
"Lydia? It's Helena."
"What do you want? You got any idea what time it is?"
"Sorry," Helena said apologetically. The fact that Night Owl tended to stay up all night and sleep in the day had slipped her mind. No doubt Lydia had been sound asleep. "You up for some action?"
That seemed to wake Lydia up. "You know it! What's going down?" Helena recapped the call she had received from Black Diamond moments earlier. "Sounds like fun. Can you pick me up? No car."
"Will do. I'll be over as soon as I can."
That task complete, Helena wondered how to proceed next. The car was now much closer, but just how was she going to get from her apartment to the Avengers Mansion? Sneaking out of her apartment as the Huntress wasn't a problem. She could simply go out the skylight and use her climbing lines to reach the street.
No, the problem was reaching the Mansion itself. Crossing Central Park in costume didn't seem all that practical. Publicity was one thing that she consciously tried to avoid. Why give her potential foes any helpful information? She settled on leaving the apartment as Helena and changing into the Huntress before arriving at the Avengers Mansion. It was times like these when she really wished she could fly.
Almost an hour later, the Huntress pulled the Corvette into the Avenger's motor pool and got out with Night Owl. "So this is the Avenger's Mansion," Night Owl said, eyeing the structure. "Not bad."
The Huntress led the way to the Meeting Room in the lower levels of the building. Black Diamond, Firestar, and the Thing were all present, and members of the Freedom League had arrived while Helena had picked up Night Owl.
Black Diamond coordinated the activities and currently wore a portable headset. Muskateer and the Enchantress were scouting the alleged location of the DEMON Base. (Editor's Note: As seen in Muskateer #10)
Two of the large viewing screens held images being transmitted from a tiny robotic scout that Hunter had constructed, but never got the chance to try out. The small device was being sent in to scope out the offices of Angel Communications out on Long Island.
Firestar sat at the meeting table, watching the view screens. She waved cheerfully as the girls entered and smiled, before returning her attention to the screens.
Four members of the Freedom League had joined the party. Microwave was busy working at one of the computer stations. The heroine was dressed in her standard magenta and white body suit with navy blue trim. A man in a golden yellow and blue costume worked at another station, his hands moving over the keys at incredible speed. He wasn't called the Speedster for nothing!
Off on the side of the room the Freedom League's muscle man, the Brute, chatted with Ben Grimm. Helena wasn't quite sure just what Brute was. The Freedom Leaguer stood nine feet tall and appeared more reptilian than mammal. His skin was dark gray in color, pocked with black spots, and scaly. Brute even had a tail.
The last guest was the enigmatic FIST. He stood well over six feet tall in his silver and green armor. Just exactly what the code name 'FIST' stood for was unknown to Helena. There was a mean look about him that screamed 'don't bother me'. FIST was off to one side of the room all by himself.
"Glad to have you on board," Black Diamond said noting the girls' arrival.
"Thanks!", Night Owl replied cheerfully. "Looks like you've got quite a party going here."
"There's more on the way, Night Owl. There will be plenty of action to go around. For now just relax." Night Owl nodded and took a seat near Firestar. The two teenagers quickly began to chat.
"What can I do to help?" the Huntress asked of Black Diamond.
After a pause to consider, Black Diamond answered, "Why don't you see what you can dig up on Angel Communications finances? Microwave is checking out the utilities and Speedster is locating construction records."
The Huntress nodded and took a seat at an open computer terminal and quickly began to work.
Some twenty minutes later, Jeeves entered the Meeting Room with a quartet of costumed people behind them. He walked up to Black Diamond. "Madame, the Circle has arrived."
"Very good, Jeeves." Black Diamond turned to greet the new guests. This was her first chance to meet the members of the Circle in person. "Welcome to the Avengers Mansion."
One of the men stepped forward and took Black Diamond's hand and gently kissed it. The man looked like something right out of Robin Hood. He wore a dark blue and gold archer costume. A quiver of arrows rested on his back, but no bow was in sight. "The pleasure is all mine, fair maiden. It is my deep honor and privilege to come to your aid in your time of need. Fear not, fair one, for I, Kor Hunter, shall assist you!"
Black Diamond was visibly taken aback by this and very nearly blushed. She was actually at a loss for words.
"Down, Kor," one of the arriving women said. She was an attractive woman with short blonde hair. She wore a dark red top that left her middrift bare with a matching high cut skirt. An elegant design embroidered in gold graced the edges. The woman wore a dark blue, full-length cape with a high collar that framed her head and dark red high boots that matched the top and skirt. "This is serious," she said to her amorous companion, "not an excuse to go wenching."
Turning back to Black Diamond, she explained, "I am Willow Witch, Black Diamond. Kor you've already met. This is Black Fire, and last is Aureole."
Willow Witch pointed first to a black man in a purple body suit with black boots, gloves, and trunks. He waved in greeting and looked around the impressive command center. The Circle had nothing like this!
Aureole was a woman with shoulder length auburn hair. Her costume was a green body suit with flared sleeves. Blue boots that came to just below her knees, a belt with a sunburst pattern on it, and a domino mask rounded out her outfit.
"What would you have of us?", the woman called Willow Witch asked.
"Right now, we sit and wait. The Enchantress and Muskateer are out scouting right now. As soon as we get a definite location, we'll move out. In the meantime, relax. Jeeves will serve refreshments." Black Diamond paused, listening to something on her headset. "Excuse me, something is happening out in the field."
The new arrivals made their way around the room. Curious looks were exchanged by all. Kor Hunter immediately made his way to where Night Owl and Firestar were sitting and kissed the hand of each. "Ah, fair maidens, I am Kor. It pleases me to no end to see that the flower of womanhood is fully in bloom in this endeavor."
Firestar blushed noticeably, but Night Owl seemed quite pleased. "I like him!", was her response.
Willow Witch joined the trio. "Better watch out, gals. Kor is a nobleman from another dimension and he is looking for a mate."
"A nobleman?" Night Owl seemed very impressed by that. "I think I like him even more now!" Queen Lydia had a nice ring to it.
Black Fire walked around the room and exchanged pleasantries with those working at the computers. He advanced on FIST, but a menacing glare caused the hero to back off.
Aureole quietly took at seat at the table, away from the Firestar, Night Owl, Willow Witch, and Kor Hunter gathering. She rested her hands on the table and seemed content to wait.
Black Diamond removed her headset and put the remote unit on the loud speakers. "We have a winner," Muskateer said over the intercom. "You getting all this back there, Di?"
A hush fell over the Meeting Room as everyone listened.
"Loud and clear." Black Diamond walked over to where Microwave was operating her computer terminal. She put her hand on the heroine's shoulder and peered at the smaller screen. "The results of our research are coming in now."
Speaking out loudly, Microwave reported, "According to the sewer records and building plans, the Demon Base can't be co-located with Angel Communications. " She had found reports dating back within the last few months that repair work had done there recently.
"In all likelihood, the operation is just a front," the Speedster reasoned. "It would give them the ability to move around and operate unnoticed and unhindered."
"That makes perfect sense," the Huntress agreed. "The financial records seem to be in order, except that there's a disturbing trend involving their 'customers'. I have yet to locate a single name that actually resides anywhere in the state!"
"If that's the case," Muskateer said over the loudspeakers, "then we're gonna try and find out where the real base is."
"How do you propose to do that?", Black Diamond asked.
"Well, I figure I'll knock on the front door and ask politely. If that doesn't work, then I'll punch their lights out." Night Owl giggled at the remark. Muskateer knew she was here and that she was fond of that particular quote, as he had used it around her before. (Editor's Note: Way back in Muskateer #3.)
Black Diamond considered for a moment. "Muskateer, I have only one thing to say: keep out of trouble."
Turning to the assembled heroes, Black Diamond said, "All we can do now is wait."
After a pause, the Huntress added, "Does anyone have any information about DEMON to share? The database is sadly lacking in this area."
"How about it, Willow Witch?" Black Diamond regarded the shorter woman with the question. She seemed to be the spokesperson for the Circle.
"That's Black Fire's department," the young sorceress responded simply.
All eyes focused on Black Fire. "Well, there's not a whole lot to tell. I had a contact in their organization, but haven't heard from him in a couple of months."
An odd, booming voice spoke out. "How are they organized?" Everyone turned to see that the Brute had asked the query.
"You dummy," Helena thought to herself. "The Freedom League is composed of scientists. Just because he looks like a monster that doesn't make him stupid."
"DEMON works on a tier system. Operatives in the lowest tier, the Morbanes in the highest."
"What sort of operatives are you talking about?" Microwave added her voice to the discussion.
"There are three types of operatives," Black Fire explained. "Demonwarriors are the foot soldiers. Demonspawn are Demonwarriors in Armor. We've identified at least three different types of Demonspawn, but do not know if there are separate designations for them. The last group is called the Demonflux. They are infiltrators, undercover operatives."
Speedster asked the next question. "How are the Morbanes organized?"
"There are two types of Morbanes; High and Low. Low Morbanes are subservient to the higher Morbanes. A High Morbane has the title Lady or Lord. They are the commanders, the Lower Morbanes their lieutenants. The current head of DEMON is a Morbane by the name of Lord Thorne."
"That's a great deal more than we knew before," Black Diamond commented.
"I stored it in a file," the Huntress added. Black Diamond nodded her thanks. "That covers the organization itself, what of their bases? I for one would like to know what we're getting ourselves into."
"DEMON is obsessed with circles, they consider them to be the ultimate symbol of power. The typical DEMON lair is underground and has circular rooms connected by curving passageways that are deliberately designed to confuse intruders."
"Sounds like this is going to be a lot of fun." Night Owl was pleased that the action was going to take place underground where her great strength would be at its peak.
"I wouldn't be so quick to think this is going to be easy," Willow Witch stated. "Fun and DEMON are not something you usually use in the same sentence."
The voice of the Enchantress came over the speaker system once more. "Enchantress to Avenger's Mansion. Do you read me?"
"Go ahead, Enchantress," Black Diamond answered. "What have you uncovered?"
"I have acquired the information we need. The DEMON base is located underneath a portion of Central Park. There are two main entrances, one off a subway station, the other is located at the bottom of a parking ramp. The second one leads to a small vehicle hanger. Both entrances lead into the base and both arrive at a security station. Beyond that the tunnels are mined. I was unable to get any further details."
"Very good," the Avengers leader responded. "The trick will be getting past the security guards and the mines."
"It seems to me that a stealthy entrance may be in order," Microwave said, looking up from the keyboard.
"Or go in disguised?", the Huntress offered.
"Disguised as what?" FIST finally spoke. "Where are we gonna get DEMON outfits and equipment?"
"That's not a bad idea," Night Owl spoke up. "The Trojan Horse bit, ya know?" A few of the assembled heroes looked at the novice heroine disdainfully. Night Owl started to look embarrassed. "Anybody got a better idea?", she added sheepishly.
"Tactically, it makes sense", came Muskateer's voice over the speaker.
"How conspicuous can 15 people disguised as DEMON agents actually be?", the Speedster asked.
"Certainly we would not attack en masse," Kor Hunter interjected. That would be defeating the grand purpose of a sneak attack. 'Putting all your chickens in one basket', as you Earthlings are wont to say." Night Owl and Firestar started to giggle at his faux pas.
"I think you mean 'eggs'," Willow Witch corrected Kor.
"Ah yes, I apologize." Night Owl elbowed Firestar and whispered something to her that no one else heard. Firestar's eyes grew wide, her face turned bright red, and she started to giggle again.
"If we could get back to the matter at hand..." Black Diamond directed an authoritative glare at the two and they quickly piped down.
"Yeah, I mean, how 'r me and the big guy here," Ben said, pointing to Brute, "gonna fit inna DEMON suit anyways."
"My suggestion," Muskateer's voice added, "would be to have two or three groups at least. More striking power split up and we would have less chance of getting bogged down."
"I would concur," the Huntress concluded. "We'll have to plan this attack very carefully."
"I like the idea of having a group try and sneak in," Black Diamond stated. "Muskateer, is there anything inside the Angel Communications complex that we could use to disguise ourselves adequately."
The speaker was quiet for a moment, as everyone anticipated the response. "Sorry, Di. I don't really see anything." Muskateer paused for a moment for effect, then continued. "Well, unless you count these six suits of Demonspawn armor and a buncha' laser rifles."
"That man...," Black Diamond muttered under her breath.
Later that evening, an Angel Communications van drove across 112th Street and turned in to a parking garage. It paused for a moment once inside. A translucent navy and magenta form slipped through the bottom of the van and into the ground below. The van lurched forward again and headed for the bottom level of the garage. Inside four people dressed in Demonspawn armor lurked behind the tinted windows of the vehicle.
"You know these suits obviously weren't designed with the female anatomy in mind," Night Owl was heard to complain over the suits' intercom. She had been fidgeting inside the heavy armor for most of the trip. "It's pinching me in all the wrong places."
"I would have to agree with you," the Huntress empathized. The armor was too snug in some places and too loose in others. To make matters worse, they had to wear their costumes underneath as well. Helena tried to figure out the controls to this suit as best she could in the small time she had before entering the DEMON base. The gauntlets of the armor seemed capable of launching a variety of attacks. With her wound, using the armor to do battle seemed a viable option.
"I'll make sure I look for the DEMON suggestion box, once we get inside," Muskateer quipped. "Now, if everyone's ready..." His thumb depressed a button on the dashboard of the van and a portion of the wall slid open. The van rolled forward and the secret entrance slammed shut behind them....
In Avengers #12
