Trust and News

<Tell no one.> Orphan wrote on the magnetic eraser board with various princesses from Disney. After erasing that with a swipe, she wrote,

<The others are in pursuit.>

She erased it again because the board was too small. Next she tried to use symbols, or emoji's I guess, to save room,

<*Batman symbol* thinks *Pighead* has help.>

She erased it again and wrote big,

<TALENTED HELP.>

"What if there's more traps that incapacitate Batman and the others?" I asked, trying not to get worked up into a frenzy.

<It's likely they already bit off more than they can chew.>

"What does that mean?!"

Starfire put her hand on my shoulder, "Look, I think I know what she's getting to. Have faith in the others, Kevin. Think about it, Megan can phase through walls. Raven can implode the entire planet if she lost control. Beast Boy can turn into a Try-try ugh what is it? Try-anno -saurus Rex. Yeah Tyrannosaurus Rex. Do you seriously think that mere walls and cuffs can hold them?"

<You need to trust your team.> Swipe. <We're the best.>

She gave me a wink and thumbs up since I couldn't see the smile behind her ninja-like mask. Then she leaned as if peering over my shoulder and pointed before writing,

<What's that *TV symbol* say? My dyslexia is acting up.>

I turned and squinted my eyes at the images and recognized the Russian tearing out a cloaked Dollotron from a driver's seat and throwing them into a parked truck. Looks like a news chopper was catching the scene. Immediately looking around, Orphan already was pointing at the chopper in the air.

Looking back at the screen I smiled to see everyone climbing out of the vehicle. Dazed but otherwise fine. Starfire was right, I had been letting my emotions get the best of me and I needed to trust the team more. That was harder said than done with memories of death and defeat so close to mind.

Now a news person was talking to Terra and Oracle somewhere affected by the carnage.

"So Batgirl and Terra are on the scene at the moment. Can you give us an update on the mastermind behind this chaos in broad daylight? Will he, she, or they be captured?"

"We have reason to believe that the culprit has an accomplice of some sort helping them."

She had dodged the question. The reporter noticed as well but let it slide. It's likely Pyg "kidnapped" everyone, who had trackers on them, to lead us away as he tactically retreated.

"That's not good, we can't pan the camera right now due to several bodies in frame for children at home but some of these on the scene beg the question… what are they?"

Oracle smiled diplomatically and replied, "We have been on the tail of this Mr. Pyg-case for a while now. The MO is usually kidnapping people and turning them into what we call AniMen. Above that were Pyg's "perfected" what he called: Dollotrons."

"Can you give us an idea of what those are?"

"It's hard to stay air friendly but basically lobotmized Nazi-like experiments. That's the most vague and accurate way to frame it."

"What about the bigger sensation surrounding Kevin Grant?"

My brain, heart and lungs plunged into my stomach.

"What about it?"

The reporter scowled for a split second before recomposing herself, most people wouldn't have noticed, "Black Adam had wrote some message attributed to him on the US flag taken from the Kahndaqi Embassy. I mean, there's quite some controversy swirling around about him."

"Kevin Grant stopped former Titan Osiris from going on a rampage and turning this city into the world's largest mirror. He also saved my life and the lives of my team. Anyone trying to get to him would have to go through the might of the Titans to do it."

Seeing that Oracle was a lost cause the reporter tried to prey on Terra, "And you ma'am? What do you think of Kevin Grant? You do know that it was he who also impaled poor Carol Skaldy on a machete in an accident right?"

Oracle boiled red in rage but stayed composed while Terra fumbled, "Is that-is that even air safe?!"

She noticed the accent and smiled, "Oh are you Markovian by chance? Are you here on diplomatic errands?"

"I'm here for the Crown of Markovia, yes. As for the question, even if it was improper of you, Kevin Grant is passionate about the team. Zealous about his work. While I do not know him, I trust in the Titan's judgment."

"Thank you Titan, my final question is this. Do either of you know when Kevin Grant will get interviewed about the events that lead Black Adam to do this?"

"We do not." Oracle spat, "And there will be no more comments."