I had hoped to be able to trust that my team would open Donna in with open arms and willingness to come together. Though perhaps I had expected too much, especially with our one woman welcoming squad was MIA. I had remembered how effective Starfire was at recruiting honorary Titans when we needed support against the Brotherhood of Evil. How much of a role she played in keeping conversations from being stunted was not something I immediately registered in my own team. She always had an off the wall question or story time when an awkward silence would fall over us. Starfire could whip up pep talks in every language she spoke and made an effort to include everyone in the conversation. She had experience in getting even Raven to come out of her shell.
I probably should have had Kid Flash stay behind to help ease the transition, but he was needed home. He had already sacrificed enough time to be there with me for the past two weeks.
Gotham did not necessarily have a healing presence, but Alfred's food and shoulder squeezes were comforting in childhood and now. Bruce had obviously not known what was the best way to approach me so all he had done is clear his throat and hand me files of information. I knew he was trying and bad at emotions. I could probably hug him and he would not put up resistance. Though I doubted it would truly make either of us feel better.
He understood what I really needed was closure. If that closure was finding Starfire and stopping Mankind, that would be preferred. If that closure was just stopping Mankind and avenging her and every other extraterrestrial I could not save in time, that would be enough.
Though I needed a break from Jump to have my head on right to accomplish those goals. Panic phone calls from the team were counterproductive to that goal. All four members had tried calling me at the same time so I had requested that they tell me whatever happened all together. Wally sent me a text he had 'handled it' without any other context.
Whatever had happened had to be bad and I pulled up the news feed in Jump to get a visual on what the situation was from a third person perspective. The newsfeed was a tank flipped skyward and police vehicles dented with divots that resembled golf balls. Jump City Bank was in obvious distress though what really brought the damage into perspective was no arrests. Titans were able to damage buildings and structures as long arrests were made. I just hoped that they would not be blamed or well that they were not responsible.
I let out a long deep breath before taking a deep sip of Alfred's hot chocolate. The news feed shifted to a view of the ceiling where the Hive Five apparently had busted through. I sent the news to a secondary monitor and turned on closed captions so I would be able to watch it and take the coming call from the Tower.
"I'm sorry." Donna said as soon as the screen created a picture of the team. Well that was not what I was hoping to have as an opener. "You put your trust in me and I failed." I knew that weight and pressure. I had felt it so strongly my first year as leader of the team. Every mistake we made was mine and I was so afraid of making more that I barely enjoyed what a team of peers actually could be.
"Wonder Girl it's going to be okay, I figured this would take some adjustment. Just keep working on teamwork. Guys this is the HIVE Five, we know these guys more than anyone else, what happened?" I asked since from the sling on Beast Boy, the bandage around Raven's forehead, and Cyborgs downcast gaze.
"We need a new name for them since there was way more than 5 this time dude! We were super outnumbered! Plus they have this new scary chick." Beast Boy said and winced when he tried to use his hands to illustrate his point, but was forced to settle for just one hand.
"They have a new member?" My hand moved automatically to take notes as I glanced back at the news footage where a replay of the attack was set after the commercial break.
"Yeah they had 7 members at the bank according to who we spotted when we got there." Cyborg responded and showed the wanted posters of who was the primary targets on the screen making a border. Though only 6 posters were available.
"Did the 7th really throw you that much for a loop or…" My throat closed as I was going to ask if missing Starfire was that detrimental. Of course she was. "Everyone is still adjusting to the new dynamic, what went wrong this time? Take note so the next time you are ready for them."
"I don't know exactly what their abilities are, but they caught me by surprise with her strength." Her fist slammed down on the panel luckily missing the buttons. She was obviously annoyed that she had been surprised.
"The main damage was caused by her with the police force getting pelted by pennies to prevent the SWAT teams. No one was killed, but a large number of people were bruised." Raven recalled in her monotone, but her hand was fiddling with her cape like she was uncomfortable.
"Pennies?" I asked since that was an unconventional weapon even coming from Arkham asylum standards.
"She picked up a bag of pennies from the vault. Though I have to assume she may have some weapon training with how effective her aim was." Donna responded and I noticed that Beast Boy did have some strangely circular bruises.
"Can we name her 'Penny Dreadful' Ooooh that might be the best one I've come up with all year." Beast Boy said and moved his face closer to the camera so I could see the imprint one of the pennies had left behind. That did not bode well for the city.
"We can use that for now, any other defining features?" I asked as I desperately awaited for the news to return.
"She spoke French and something else I did not recognize when I tried to use the lasso." Donna added and I wrote that down. French was indicative of a certain female that had taken me out.
"It was not Madam Rouge." Raven said as if hearing my thoughts.
"Yeah she was much stronger, didn't have the same stature." Cyborg said backing up Raven.
"Could it be some sort of disciple or daughter?" I asked and I saw Donna open up a tablet of her own to supposedly look up Madam Rouge.
"No way, Rougie can't stand kids." Beast Boy said with a cruel laugh that obviously caused him a little pain. He had history with her, bad history so I trusted his opinion.
"Any other features of note?" I asked since I was trying to find other connections. It was odd when a new villain especially one like that pop out of nowhere.
"She wore a mask from the movie Scream so we didn't get a look at her face. Kinda strange for a member of HIVE Five to have full face coverage." Beast Boy added with some thought.
"So that's where the dreadful comes in." Cyborg supported the name.
"She had a fresh pedicure." Donna noted which caused everyone to give her a look. "I was dodging her feet I kinda had to look." She justified.
"I did not see anything distinct, but she seemed more protective of Jinx than Gizmo or Mammoth. She came to rescue her and not them. Maybe she has a connection or friendship there. Bee might have an idea of a former HIVE classmate." Raven said and I saw her wince in pain. A head injury was more dangerous for her since so much of her control was mentally based.
"Good idea to check, I'll give her a call when she's awake." Cyborg said and took note on his arm. "I don't remember anyone like her while I was there."
"The newsfeed is coming back to the footage I'll watch it and see if there is anything else I can pick up. Don't beat yourselves up, the HIVE Five is formidable when they have themselves put together." I said hoping to offer some support. "Why doesn't everyone get some sleep and I can catch up with Wonder Girl." The team nodded and dispersed hopefully to the
The video did not fill me with overwhelming confidence. Penny Dreadful (as I was going to let her file be named for now) showed quickly she was a heavy weight strength type with a finesse that Mammoth lacked. It was good that Donna would be on the team to help balance. She was lobbing pennies like sowing seeds, though her pennies hit with a force that was obviously damaging as I watched the dents and divots multiple on police car hoods. Then she rushed a tank. The image was not great, but she had the strength and speed to incapacitate it before the camera angle could keep up.
It skipped to Donna and her fight. Donna was the only one who had audio. She was asking the basic questions of 'who are you' and 'what do you want' though the audio was muffled and there were no lips to read. Penny had held onto the lasso and acting like she was struggling, but suddenly she leaped forward knocking Donna off balance from her based stance. Then she whipped Donna her way and threw her inside the bank. There were sounds of struggle from the bank, but the next image of her was carrying Mammoth and Jinx flying away. The feed cut out with Kid Flash coming into the bank later.
"What happened inside?" I asked trying to figure out the missing piece. They had made strides if Jinx and Mammoth were unconscious.
"It is like she is made of steel. She used my lasso against me and then used me against Cyborg. Beast Boy tried to crush her, but she tossed him with enough force at Raven she has a concussion. I don't know what I was expecting, but I obviously am not well enough prepared." I knew that tone and taken guilt.
"I couldn't of done better, Donna. Especially right now. Don't beat yourself up, we have enough foes who want to do that. Just take what you can to learn." I said trying to find the words I needed to hear from Bruce all those years ago when I started.
"Easier said than done, I was used as a flail." Ouch I had been there. "How are you doing back home?"
"It is hard to beat the resources here, but I would have appreciated some action. I'm okay, I just wish I had more of a lead than this stupid countdown clock." The clock had a few days left, but I had no concrete leads on where they would strike next.
"Diana thinks it will be a direct attack on Superman. Though he is hesitant to hide out in the fortress of solitude." Donna updated me.
"Batman thinks the same since he is the model figure for Earth. I just wish we had a leak or someone on this inside." I voiced.
"If anyone can figure this out its you. Though feel free to pop back in. I like everyone here enough, but I think things are still a little tense from… everything."
"I'm sorry I should of probably introduced you better and given Cyborg a clearer co-captain talk."
"We will work it out, I think what we just need is to get some redemption against this Penny Dreadful." Donna said some of her fighting spirits returning.
"A win goes a long way, I need one too."