Helena Kirby wearily inspected what was left of her Central Park West penthouse apartment. Little remained that could remind Helena of what had once been her home. The fire caused by Roxy had done its job all too well. Black scorched timbers littered the floor, merging with other now mostly unrecognizable debris.
"I'm sorry, Helena," Assistant District Attorney Gary Simmons offered sympathetically. "I don't know what else to say. This is truly tragic."
It was now Sunday afternoon and the full light of day only made the devastation all the more apparent. Helena wandered the remains in an almost zombie-like state. Every few moments, she would shift a pile of wreckage in a vain attempt to find anything intact. She was still dressed in her stage magician's outfit worn at the costume ball the night before. Or rather what remained of the torn and tattered garment.
The last day had been among the most trying of Helena's young life. She had uncovered the identity of her father's killer and fought her in a vicious battle to the death. That's not to say that Helena had originally intended to kill Roxy. She had been forced into that corner by her foe. Having been bested in a face to face battle, Roxy donned the Artemis armor to renew the conflict. The only weapon that the Huntress had which could potentially penetrate the armor were the thermite pellets. Unfortunately, they worked too well triggering a fuel explosion that blew the villainess to pieces.
Roxy had been right in one aspect. "I think you could kill if you had to," the villainess had taunted Helena. When it came down to kill or be killed, she had taken Roxy's life. Not that she liked it or had taken any great pleasure in the deed. It became the only way out of a no-win situation. That fact somehow didn't make Helena feel any better.
Jaime, the Scarlet Sabre's cybernetic alter ego had brought Helena back to New York City from the Saietta's Catskills retreat. Helena then wandered back to the apartment and was met by the police. She quickly made up a story about hitting her head when the fire went off and spending the night aimlessly wandering Central Park. The police questioned Helena for a time, but had no reason to suspect her as being responsible for setting the fire. There was nothing Helena could have gained from the torching her own place, as the building was not even hers. They let her go once Assistant DA Simmons arrived on the scene.
"Perhaps we should get going?" Gary suggested. "Staying here is not good for you."
Helena sighed and looked about. This place had been home for the last few years. Now it was all gone. "You might be right." Gingerly, Helena made her way to Gary's side. He took her hand and guided her out of the apartment. Helena stopped and took one last look around.
"It's going to be difficult to replace everything," Gary noted.
"It's just--." Helena paused, trying to find the right word but ultimately failing. "--Stuff. I can always get more. I'm just happy that no one was hurt in the fire. Items can be replaced, people cannot." However, Helena didn't sound very convincing.
Gary just nodded his understanding as the two entered the hallway. The elevators were still non-operational, so the pair descended via the stairs. They walked in silence, Gary not being sure just what to say to comfort Helena. He was crazy about Helena, but she always seemed to keep him at arm's length. Never letting him get really close. Perhaps this incident would serve to crumble her defenses.
"What do you want to do next, Helena?"
"Next?" Helena hadn't really thought about what to do next. She was consumed with so many conflicting emotions that it was overwhelming at times. The joy of having avenged her father's death. The horror of having killed Roxy. The stinging pain from losing her apartment. "I think I'll go out to the estate, take a nice hot bath and get some sleep. It's been one very long day."
"I can give you a lift," Gary offered with a hopeful smile.
"Thanks. I'd really appreciate it." Helena's own car was still safely in the private garage of the apartment building. Unfortunately, her keys had been lost in the fire. She'd have to wait until she could contact the dealer and have a new set delivered.
The drive out to Westchester Hills was quiet. Helena sat back in her seat, her eyes closed for most of the trip. Gary respected her silence and didn't say much during the drive.
As they drove along, Helena was lost in thought. "This pretty much solves several issues that I've been wrestling with. The decision on whether to live in the apartment or at the estate has been made for me. I could always convert some of the unused rooms into a training facility. I'd have a lot more privacy this way as well." The more she thought about that idea, the more Helena liked it. "That may be the way to go."
"And I can use this incident as an excuse to edge myself out of the office. Go on a nice, long sabbatical and fully concentrate on being the Huntress. I guess the saying is true: 'With every cloud there is a silver lining...'"
"All things considered, if given the choice of sacrificing my apartment for nabbing dad's killer, I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
Gary's BMW pulled up to the front gate of the Kirby Estate. Helena wearily stepped out and moved around to the driver's side.
"Are you sure that you don't want me to stay for a while?"
"It's not necessary. I'll be all right," Helena answered. "Besides, I just plan on cleaning up and getting some sleep anyway."
"How will you get in?"
"There's a spare door key hidden in the garden in case of emergencies. Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. Thanks for the lift." Helena turned and moved towards the security keypad near the gate. She punched the code in, causing the gates to open.
Gary sighed in frustration. She was doing it again. "Why do you keep pushing me away, Helena? You must know how I feel about you."
Helena stopped dead in her tracks. She looked down for a moment, before turning and looking back towards Gary. "I know. You've never exactly made it a big secret."
"Then why--?"
"Because I don't share those feelings, Gary. That's why." Helena was tired from her ordeal and not really in the mood for this confrontation. She decided to be brutally blunt.
Gary looked as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on him. The blood drained from his face. "But we're so perfect together... So right..."
"Gary, I treasure you as a friend, but I'm not in love with you. I don't know how I can make it any clearer. Thank you for the ride, but I'm beat." Turning away once more, Helena moved through the open gate.
Finally regaining his composure, Gary leaned out the window and shouted, "It's another man! You've been seeing someone else! All those nights you said you were busy, you were out with some other guy!"
Helena pressed the close button for the main gate. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was he really this obsessed with her? "I'm not seeing anyone, Gary. You have to deal with the reality that we simply don't have a serious relationship." Not wishing to continue this disagreement, Helena made her way up the driveway, leaving Gary behind.
"I'll win back your love, Helena!", Gary shouted as she walked away. "Mark my words!"
"You never had it, you nincompoop," Helena thought to herself. She could hear Gary put his car into gear and pull slowly away. At the last moment, Helena turned and caught a glimpse of the BMW before it faded from view. "Well, that was suitably unpleasant. What a way to top a 'perfect' day..."
Before entering the house, Helena walked through the garden and towards the family mausoleum. She came to a stop before the structure. Several generations of Kirbys were laid to rest here: her grandfather, the original Hunter for the 30's and 40's and his wife Maria; Helena's father, the second Hunter.
"It's over, dad," she said in a voice barely above a whisper. "You've been avenged." That somehow made her feel better. She dearly hoped that her predecessors would approve of her actions as the Huntress. After a few minutes, Helena returned to the garden.
The emergency key was right where it had been left, hidden underneath the base of a birdbath. Wearily, Helena entered the estate via the kitchen entrance and set the key on the counter. After re-setting the security system, she made her way upstairs and into the Master Suite.
The rooms that her father used to live in were just as he left them. With his unexpected death and Helena becoming the Huntress, she never had the time to clean up his personal effects. "Looks like I've got my work cut out for me getting this place into shape." It was her estate now, and moving into the Master Suite was certainly her prerogative. She was going to have to clean the place up regardless of what she did.
Entering the Master Bath, Helena picked up a box of Epsom salts and departed. "Now I know why dad used to buy this stuff by the case..." She had been using the bath in her own suite of rooms as she wasn't comfortable with using the main bath yet.
After a nice soak, Helena cleaned off and vainly searched her old closets for something to wear. "Looks like I have to do some shopping as well. All my good clothing was at the apartment. Everything here is either too old, or now too small." Donning stretchable exercise sweats, Helena plopped into her old bed for a nap.
It was early evening when Helena got up. The rumbling in her stomach told her that eating was going to be a top priority. Making her way down to the kitchen, Helena inspected the shelves, only to find them mostly bare. Hunter spent the majority of his time at the Avenger's Mansion, and thus ate most of his meals there. The leftovers from the wake were long gone by now.
"This will not do... Not do at all. Looks like I'll have to go grocery shopping too. Again."
With a sigh, Helena sat down near the phone. Picking the receiver up, she dialed the number to the Avengers Mansion. It rang a few times before being answered by Jeeves, the team's butler.
"Avengers Mansion, how may I assist you?"
"Hi, Jeeves, it's the Huntress. Any news about the others?"
"Good evening, Huntress. Black Diamond contacted me earlier this afternoon," Jeeves reported in his slight English accent. "She and the rest of the Avengers are doing well. Most of the team will be back tomorrow."
"Most of the team? They're not all coming back?"
"According to Black Diamond, several Avengers are remaining in Los Angeles for a few days for a variety of reasons. Apparently, Master Muskateer was injured along with many others. He's remaining to convalesce. I am told that Firestar and the Enchantress are staying as well."
"Wow, must have been something really big to need all those heroes and to cause that many injuries," Helena noted. "I'm going to love hearing about this one!"
"And how are you fairing, Madame? Have you located a place to stay?" While unaware of the Huntress' true identity, Jeeves was aware of the fate of Helena's apartment. Jaime had brought the Huntress back to the Avengers Mansion from the Catskills. Stowing her gear there, Helena had changed back into her magician's costume before reappearing at the apartment building.
"Me? Oh, I'm doin' all right, Jeeves. Thanks for asking. I've got a roof over my head, but I'm afraid that the 'fridge is empty."
"A problem easily rectified. I can have dinner ready shortly."
Helena smiled widely. "I was hoping you'd say that, Jeeves. I'll be there within the hour."
"It will be waiting for you, Madame."
"See you then. Bye."
"Jolly good, Madame."
"That man was a find," Helena thought to herself. The hiring of Jeeves was probably about the best thing the NSC had ever done for the Avengers. "I needed to go to the Mansion anyway, so this'll kill two birds with one stone."
Finding out the truth, and her father's version of what happened to the Saietta family, was Helena's top priority. "Roxy had to have been mistaken. The Avengers would never have simply killed them all out of hand. No, there's more to the story than what she told me. It would take too long to round up all the files on the computer down in the Hunter's Lair, but since we've restructured the Avenger's network, I'll get my answers there."
"I just need to figure out how to get there..." Helena's car was still in her apartment building's lot and the Hunter's car was already at the Avengers Mansion. There were unique automobiles in her father's personal collection, but none of which she wanted to be seen in going into the Avenger's Mansion. "Let's see what else is down in the secret garage."
Making her way into the basement, Helena tripped the hidden switch that revealed stairs going down to a concealed sub-basement: the Hunter's Lair. The main chamber held a HE-3000 computer that Hunter had tweaked to his own needs and several workbenches. Several smaller labs were off the main room, along with storage areas. A tunnel led off to an underground garage where Hunter stored the Corvette he used to travel about New York City.
The garage was now mostly empty as the car was already at the Avengers Mansion. But, there was a tarp covering a good sized object in the back of the garage. Pulling the tarp away, Helena discovered a sleek black and silver motorcycle. "Now this could be fun...", Helena thought to herself with a smile.
A quick inspection revealed the bike to be in working order. It appeared to be a standard model Kawasaki Ninja but had actually been modified by Hunter. It could reach even faster speeds and was far more structurally sound. "Not quite as practical as the Corvette and all its gear, but this little darlin' will do the job. Now to find something to wear..."
Returning to the upstairs, Helena returned to her closet to find suitable attire. She located a few things she could salvage, but didn't find anything appropriate to her current situation. "Maybe dad has something..."
Pausing to make sure the house security system was active, Helena retreated to the Hunter's Lair, closing the doors as she passed. In one of the storage areas off the main lair was a large closet where Hunter stored clothing and costumes he used for disguise purposes. Helena scanned the racks looking for just the right outfit. As she had hoped, one presented itself.
"This one will be perfect! A biker's outfit!"
Unfortunately, everything was a bit too large even in spite of Helena being a big girl. The black leather pants were several sizes too wide, but a belt took care of that. The long legs were simply rolled into cuffs. The biker boots were too big, so she stuffed the feet with socks to make up the difference. Likewise, the biker jacket fit loosely, its sleeves rolled back.
"Not bad," Helena remarked as she studied herself in a dressing mirror. "Never knew I looked so good in black leather. I'm going to have to get some that actually fits me."
A short time later, Helena returned to the garage and hopped on the modified Ninja. A motorcycle helmet would conceal Helena's features. No one would recognize her when she pulled into the Avengers Mansion in this. The helmet had also been improved upon by Hunter. There were two face shields in the helmet. One was a sun screen used for day driving, the other was made of special night sight glass, which made nighttime driving easier. Helena flicked this latter one into position.
With a push of the starter, the bike's engine flared to life. Helena experimentally revved the engine, feeling its power build underneath her. "Oh yeah... This is going to be good!"
Activating the secret exit, Helena gunned the bike out and into the night. A short tunnel led from the garage and emerged in the back of a storage barn out on the estate. This connected to an infrequently used road that ran behind the estate. From there, the road quickly tied into the main arteries of the Westchester Hills area. Tires squealing, Helena quickly sped off on the powerful machine.
The ride into New York City passed all too quickly for Helena. She loved the power of the bike. When able, Helena pushed the motorcycle to its limits, weaving through traffic like it was standing still. The trip was exhilarating. Helena's adrenaline was pumping, her heart was pounding and she was loving every minute of it. All the problems in Helena's life seemed to simply melt away.
Hunter had fitted the Ninja with an opener for the rear gateway of the Avengers Mansion. Helena activated the control and shot between the opening gates. A second press of the button closed the gates behind her. "I'm beginning to understand dad's fascination with fast vehicles. It's a rush!"
Maneuvering the bike into the garage, Helena stored it in an open area. Removing the helmet, she placed it on the seat and made her way to the main house.
The back door opened as she approached and Jeeves could be seen inside. "Is that you, Madame?" Obviously, he wasn't expecting the Huntress to show up dressed like this.
Helena climbed the short steps up to the back door. Jeeves stood aside as she approached. "Yes, Jeeves. Just had to put something else on since I left my costume here this morning."
"Very good, Madame. If you care to freshen up, dinner will be served momentarily."
"Sounds good."
The Mansion was oddly quiet with all of the team out in California. Helena made her way to the guestroom where she had stored her gear this morning. Removing the biker's outfit, she changed back into her Huntress costume, and returned to the dining room.
True to his word, Jeeves had prepared a rolled roast with all the trimmings. Helena eagerly ate the delicious meal. It was the first real food that she had in almost a day. "Outstanding, Jeeves. Your culinary skills are quite impressive."
"You are most kind, Madame," Jeeves answered as he cleared away empty plates. "Oh yes, you had a message earlier today from a 'Night Owl'." Fishing through his pockets, Jeeves produced the message on a scrap of paper. "She left you a number where she could be reached."
Accepting the paper, Helena glanced at the phone number on it. "Thanks, Jeeves. I'll be in the computer lab if you need me." Finishing off the last gulp of her milk, the Huntress took the elevator into the sub-levels of the Avengers Mansion.
Once in the computer lab, she located a phone and dialed the number on the paper. It rang a few times before being picked up. "It's yer dime," was the response from the other end of the phone.
"Lydia?"
"That's me. That you, Helena?"
"In the flesh," the Huntress answered. "I got your message. What's up?"
"What's up?", Night Owl asked in a surprised tone. "I saw on the news that your apartment gets torched and you're asking me what's up?"
Helena let out a small laugh. Lydia, a.k.a. Night Owl, was checking up to see if she was all right. "I'm fine. But I appreciate your concern."
"So what happened? Was it an accident or what?"
From there Helena launched into a full explanation of what had happened.
"That's pretty wild," Lydia stated upon hearing the full story. "This Roxy sounds like a real nutcase."
"Yeah, tell me about it. But it's all over now. So, what have you been doing lately? And how did your date with Kor Hunter turn out?" (Editor's Note: Back in Avengers #13)
"I think I'm in love!", Night Owl answered with a laugh. "Not only is he a nobleman from another dimension, but he really knows how to party! We've been having a blast together."
"He's from another dimension?"
"Yeah. Isn't it far out?!"
"I guess that explains it. Here I thought he was just odd."
"Not once you get to know him. Seems that in his world, magic instead of technology became dominant. From what he tells me, it seems something like out of Dungeons and Dragons. But anyway, how about we get together? It's been a while."
Helena didn't need long to consider. "Sure! Sounds like fun." Spending some time with Lydia could only be a good thing. Lydia was the 'lighthearted, living life to the fullest' type. Very much unlike Helena who had been so determined to avenge her father these last few months, that it began to dominate her life. It was going to be very therapeutic. "In fact, I'm going to have to replace everything lost in the fire. That means a whole new wardrobe as well."
"A shopping spree, huh? That could be fun. You got a place to stay?"
"I'm moving back out to the estate."
"You've got a real, honest to goodness, row after row of trimmed hedges, estate?"
"It's been in the family for years, but yes," Helena answered.
"And you didn't tell me? That's got to be so cool! You got servants and gardeners and butlers?"
"Sorry, Lydia. It's just me right now."
Oh. Well, it's still gotta be cool. I've always dreamed about living in a mansion."
"I grew up there," Helena explained. "It's nothing special. It's just home."
"Spoken like someone who grew up a rich brat," Lydia responded with a laugh. "Still, why don't you come and pick me up in that oh-so fine car of yours and let's see how much trouble we can get into."
"I think I'd like that. I've got some things to take care of first. Say in about an hour?"
"Works for me. Later."
Upon replacing the phone, the Huntress turned her attention to the computer. While she had been speaking to Night Owl, Helena had brought up Hunter's files on the Saietta crime family and loaded the last entry. "This is it," she mused to herself. "Hopefully the answers to all my questions and doubts." With the press of a button, the report appeared on the monitor.
In all my years of fighting evil, in battling crime, never have I encountered a more decadent, more despicable group of people than the Saietta family. To the casual onlooker, they appear to be nothing more than another wealthy family. But they were secretly one of the five major Mafia families in the New York/New Jersey area.
This is just a clever ruse. In truth, the majority of the Saietta's possess superhuman abilities, primarily psionic in nature. From what I've been able to learn, the family has had these powers for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. A study of their impact on human history would be interesting to read.
Saietta's do not appear to possess 'nice' powers. Many can directly control the minds of others, while some can manipulate and even gain sustenance from the emotions of others. There is some talk of a demonic taint in their bloodline. This cannot be proven conclusively, but the family does seem to possess several inhuman traits. The most prominent trait is cannibalism, meaning they prefer to dine on humans instead of regular fare. Indeed, they seem to give normal humans the same regard that we do to cattle. Incest is rampant in the family as they see it as 'disgusting' to fornicate with one's food. Probably their bizarre way to keep the family bloodline 'clean'."
Subject: Saietta crime family/organization - Final Entry
Date: November 30th, 1985
"Roxy wasn't kidding when she said her family was sick and disgusting," Helena thought to herself. Recalling that Roxy found Helena's blood to be 'tasty' made her skin crawl.
And now they are no more.
The case began several weeks ago. I picked up word on the streets of people being picked up out of homeless shelters. Several men in custom suits would come in and offer huge sums of money and free meals for any who would go with them. Such offers were eagerly accepted and, all told, several hundred people were taken away. None of those taken had been seen since.
On the night before Thanksgiving I witnessed just such a pick up. I followed the limousines back to the Saietta estate. The only logical conclusion I could reach was that these poor people were being rounded up for their holiday meal. Fattened up and slaughtered just like a turkey.
I didn't dare infiltrate the estate on my own. Given their psionic abilities, they would be aware of my presence long before I was aware of theirs. Judging by the number of cars and vehicles present, it appeared as if the entire Saietta clan was inside the estate. It was going to be a massive blood bath unless I did something.
I called in the Avengers. This would have to be a team effort if we were to succeed. I reconnoitered the best I could, keeping what I thought was a safe distance, while waiting for the Avengers to arrive. Unfortunately, my fears were realized and I was discovered. Overwhelmed by a mental assault, I blacked out.
Recovering, I found myself in what appeared to be a medieval torture chamber locked in chains. Before me was Montoni Saietta, the don of the family. To my surprise he addressed me by my true name. We exchanged witty remarks for a time. Standard hero/villain stuff. Apparently they decided that I was to be the desert for the little feast they were planning. Montoni then departed to make the final preparations while I was left to contemplate my fate.
Even without my gadget bag, I was free in less than thirty seconds. I could hear sounds of combat off in the distance. The Avengers were here! Following the noise, I came across the team as they were busy freeing the homeless people. Saietta thugs tried to slow the Avengers down, but they were quickly overmatched.
Suddenly, a tremendous explosion shook the estate. They were followed in quick succession by numerous other blasts that brought down walls and ceilings. In seconds, the estate became a deathtrap. We rescued as many people as we could, before falling back ourselves. It didn't appear as if any of the Saiettas survived.
None of the Avengers have powers that could have triggered these explosions. Given the pattern and progression of the blasts, it was obviously a deliberate act planned by a demolition expert. Someone wanted the Saiettas out of the way. Badly.
I examined the rubble the next day and found many ignition devices. The entire estate had been lined with explosives designed to collapse the structure, entombing its victims inside.
I shook down my regular informants. Word had it that several other crime families had regularly been on the short end of many Saietta dealings. They could no longer tolerate this treatment. Learning that the entire family would be on hand for Thanksgiving, the other families mined the house several weeks earlier while security was more relaxed. All they had to do was wait until everyone was inside and then activate the explosions.
A crude plan with tragic results. In some ways, a fitting end for one of the more despicable groups of people I have ever encountered. The world is a better place with their passing.
The Saietta's have a hand in virtually every type of criminal activity. I have yet to find an area that they refuse to deal with. Typically, one family member will control one particular endeavor. Sometimes their business would overlap another family member causing considerable tension. While there might be infighting in the family, they would always band together against their common foes. The Saietta's revel in inciting terror, inflicting pain, and causing suffering.
"Wow," Helena thought to herself. "This is one instance where I'm glad dad didn't share his cases with me. Talk about creepy. I don't think I'll ever look at Thanksgiving the same way again."
"Still it doesn't completely explain why Roxy blamed the Avengers. Surely, she could have reached the same conclusions that Hunter did? Maybe she just couldn't accept the fact that normal men wiped out her family. That there had to be something more powerful at work. I guess I'll never know for sure."
The Huntress shut down the applications she was running and departed the computer lab. After informing Jeeves that she would be departing, Helena returned to the garage, but this time took the Corvette. It was dark out as she guided the machine out into traffic. "Lydia's favorite time of day," Helena mused as she drove through the city. Night Owl's powers were at their peak during the night or while in the dark.
Reaching Lydia's apartment building, the Huntress parked the car and hit the horn. The front door opened and Lydia, wearing a trench coat, came out. Night Owl reached the car, opened the door, and climbed inside.
"As soon as I make enough money, I'm getting myself a hot car!" Lydia removed her trench coat and tossed it behind her seat. Underneath she wore her Night Owl costume; a black body suit and mask with short turquoise gloves, waist-length cape and ankle boots. On her chest was the pattern of an owl also in turquoise with yellow eyes. "You've got all the cool stuff!"
The Huntress simply shrugged. "Just things that I inherited." She moved back out into traffic.
"All I ever got from my dad was a green thumb."
"I could always use a gardener out at the estate."
Night Owl turned towards the Huntress. "You really are in a good mood tonight. You made a funny!"
"I'm feeling pretty good. Better than I have in a long time. It's like a tremendous weight has been lifted from me. My life has changed so much in the last few days that I can't help but feel that I've passed a turning point. Things are now going in the right direction. And that things are only going to get better."
Lydia lightly hit the Huntress on her shoulder. "Well good for you! Depressing people just bring me down. Now what say we find some bad guys to beat up?"
Flashing a smile, the Huntress shot Night Owl a glance. "Girlfriend, you know it! We're going to have some fun tonight!" Mashing the accelerator, the Corvette sped off into the night.
