Recent events had thrust the young members of Generation Next into the media spotlight. The hot topic on the news was young heroes, specifically, Young Justice. The DEO had been sent to bring the rogue heroes in. After conventional forces failed, they sent their meta-human teens.

The conflict didn't go as expected.

After a brief tussle, the two teams found that neither side were bad guys. But before they could sort things out, the teams were ambushed by Sentinels, giant robots that were supposed to be used only for mutant hunting. After surviving that battle, the two teams found themselves facing one of the Gen Nexters: Golden Eagle, who revealed himself to actually be a Prime Sentinel, a human-sized robot in disguise.

Though they were victorious, and found peace between the two teams, both were unsure of what had just happened. While Young Justice continued to be on the run, the members of Generation Next returned to their home for a debriefing.

Later . . .

"I can't help but feel like we've been lied to," Thomas Palmer frowned. As Valor, he's super strong, invulnerable, can fly, has heat vision and a wide array of different talents. He's also the unofficial team leader for Gen Next.

"Now why would you say that?" Jonothan Palmer asked sarcastically. He was Tom's brother, a mutant code-named Chamber. When his powers manifested, he blew off the lower half of his face. He's constantly spewing psychokinetic, biochemical energy and must speak telepathically.

Tom led Jono away from the other members of the team. They had just finished their debriefing.

"Bones and Shelley are hiding something," Tom said. "They said they had no idea that Eagle was a sentinel . . . but I don't believe 'em."

"Neither of us trust the DEO," Jono shrugged. "Especially not with how they detain Suzy every night . . . "

"No kidding," Tom frowned. "Things just aren't right here. And I think we deserve some answers. Let's talk to dad."

Ray Palmer was once the Atom. He currently serves as a teacher and trainer for Generation Next. He was sitting in a La-Z-Boy reading the paper when his sons walked in.

"We need to talk," Jono said.

"Alright," Ray answered, putting down the paper. "What about?"

"Did you know about Golden Eagle?" Tom asked.

"About him being a sentinel?" Ray asked back. "Not at all. If I had, I would've stopped it."

"So you admit that Bones or Shelley were involved?" Tom continued.

"I didn't say that," their father answered. "I honestly don't know. I hope they weren't. But I wouldn't be surprised."

"Okay," Jono nodded. "Then maybe it's time we found out?"

"Now boys," Ray stood, "don't think about doing something stupid. I suggest you both stay in tonight and rest. I'll talk to the Director tonight, and we can all talk in the morning."

"Alright, dad," Tom shrugged. "We're probably better off doing things your way."

"Now that's what I like to hear," Ray grinned. He sat back down in his chair.

"Come on," Tom said, motioning to his brother. The two left the room.

"We're actually gonna drop this?" Jono asked.

"Not a chance," Tom answered. "We're gonna find out the truth. But we're going to need a little help . . . "

"This could be one of the stupider things I've done."

"If stupider was a word."

Cassie Sandsmark, a.k.a. the ionically powered Wonder Girl was flying through the air. She was the one who replied to the man she was carrying, Chuck Barnes, better known as Robin, the boy wonder. Both were members of the currently outlaw team of heroes, Young Justice.

"Even I'm allowed to speak improperly sometimes," Robin said.

"Sure," Cassie answered. "But I do agree."

"Eh?"

"This is a pretty stupid idea."

Robin smiled despite himself. A little less than an hour ago, another of their teammates, Cannonball, received a brief message from his sister, Husk, a member of Generation Next. In it was a request for some help from Robin regarding the DEO and Generation Next.

"I hope we can trust them," Cassie continued.

"Me too," he replied. "I was a bit wary, of course. I mean, we did just meet them . . . but I have no reason to believe they'd try and lure us into a trap."

"What if she was put up to it? Or worse yet, was a Prime Sentinel, just like that other guy?"

"That's why I've brought you along."

"Huh?" Cassie asked.

"I figured, if I was walking into a trap, it'd be a lot better to have some extra muscle with me."

"Great. But still . . . why me?"

"Well . . . Superboy and I haven't exactly been getting along lately. And Linda, well . . . while I'm glad she's back, we haven't exactly had much of a chance to do a full run-down of her abilities. With that whole 'Phoenix' thing, I'd rather not take her on a mission like this."

"But not too long ago, my powers went through some crazy change. Now I've got ions bursting from my body every time I power up."

"I know. But even though we don't know the full extent of your changes, you're still the better choice."

"Thanks . . . I guess."

" . . . "

" . . . Hey," Cassie pondered.

"What?"

"If this is on the up and up . . . how do we know the regular DEO forces won't still be out to get us?" she asked. "Maybe the Gen Nexters need our help, but DEO still has its standing orders."

"Husk said she'd be able to disable their scanning equipment for a few minutes, letting us slip in," Robin shrugged. "If it works, good. If not, well . . . then at least we know it wasn't a trap."

"Great . . . "

"They should be coming within range soon," Tom said.

Paige Guthrie, a.k.a. Husk, nodded. Her hands grazed a keyboard and began typing away. "I should be able to shut down all scanning systems across the board for at least a minute or two before the back-up generators kick in."

"Will that be enough time?" Jono asked.

Tom sighed. "Only one way to find out. Do it."

"Done and done."

Silence . . .

"Is everyone's fingers crossed?" Paige asked.

"And toes," Jono replied.

"I hope Robin brings Sam with," Paige said. "I miss my big brother."

"Will Suzy be able to receive?" Tom asked.

"Well, we bought her a few minutes of freedom," Jono shrugged. "All we can do is hope she uses 'em . . . "

"We're probably within their scanning range by now," Robin said. "But they haven't done anything. Keep on ahead . . . we're approaching the coordinates they gave us."

Suddenly, a swirl of smoke and mist exploded into the air from out of nowhere, appearing in a burst of silence. It was another Gen Nexter, the Secret.

"Hey, Robin," she said. "I don't have much time before they realize I'm out of my containment cell . . . so this'll have to be quick. Try and stay calm."

"All right . . . "

The smoke swirled about the two members of Young Justice. They soon found themselves in a world of black. It gave them both chills. A few seconds later, the blackness returned to smoke, and Robin and Wonder Girl were standing inside the DEO facility.

"Whoa," he said.

"Nice to see you again . . . bye!" Secret said before imploding and teleporting away.

"That was weird," Cassie said.

"Hey," Valor said. "This way."

He motioned the two over to a computer where Chamber and Husk stood.

"What's the situation?" Robin asked.

"Jono and I were trying to find out the truth about the DEO's involvement with the Golden Eagle thing. Husk was working the computer angle, but she's met with too many blocks that she can't get past."

"You were hoping I could help?" Robin asked.

"Yup. After all, you are being trained by the World's Greatest Detective, are you not?"

Robin sighed. "I'll give it a try. No promises, though."

"Hey, Wonder Girl," Husk grinned, stepping aside and letting Robin try his hand at the computers. "I'd just like to say that you are an inspiration to the young, female, aspiring super-heroes of this country."

"Me?" Cassie asked. "An inspiration? Like, whoa . . . "

"Yeah," she grinned. "I'm sorry that our first meeting didn't go so well."

"Don't worry about it," Cassie shrugged. "It seems to me that any time super teams meet, there's always a misunderstanding that leads to a fight. It's par for the course."

"Any luck?" Chamber asked.

"Not as of yet," Robin replied, his hands busily working across the keyboard. "Why'd Secret have to run off so quickly?"

"The DEO keeps a tight leash on her," Chamber frowned. "They won't tell us why. But I managed to sneak her out briefly to help us."

Robin nodded. "She's interesting. Her powers are quite mysterious. I guess that's why she's called the Secret."

"I guess," Chamber answered. A frown could be seen in his eyes. He didn't like the interest Robin had been showing in his girlfriend. "Can we just keep to the task at hand?"

"Whatever," Robin shrugged. "Here we go . . . "

"What is it?" Valor asked. He, Husk and Wonder Girl gathered around the computer.

"I've gotten through a few layers of blocks and done a search," Rob explained. "I've found a few files on Young Justice. D'you mind if I download 'em for future reference?"

"Those are top secret," Chamber frowned.

"It's alright," Tom answered. "So long as you can find out something about Golden Eagle . . . "

"Thanks," Rob said. He quickly popped in a disc and downloaded. "They're encrypted, but I'm sure Batman would be able to help. Here we go . . . I found something on the Eagle."

"What is it?" Paige asked.

"It says that Golden Eagle was recruited before you guys," Robin summed up as he read. "He was seriously injured in a training exercise, nearly fatal. He was bed ridden . . . presumably forever."

"How is that possible?" Valor asked.

"It says that DEO head Mitchell Shelley recommended him for a special treatment called Sentinel: Prime."

"That means that Shelley knew," Jono said. "He sent the Eagle to become a Prime Sentinel . . . "

"That doesn't mean he was directly responsible," Robin said. "He could have done it because the procedure gave him back a life."

"But at what cost?" Paige asked.

"Well, at least it answers our main question," Tom sighed. "Shelley knew that the Golden Eagle was a Prime Sentinel. Whether or not he knew that the Eagle would activate, we don't know. But he was aware. And he lied to us when he denied knowledge about it."

"The DEO doesn't sound very trustworthy," Cassie said.

"It isn't," Chamber frowned.

"Is there anything else?" Tom asked.

"Lemme see . . . " Robin said as he continued typing. "Uh-oh."

"What?" Paige asked.

"Random security checks . . . the system's protected," Robin said. "They know I'm in illegally!"

The building's security alarms went off on cue.

"They'll trace us here in no time," Paige said.

"Then we better go," Robin said. He ejected the disc he had downloaded the YJ files onto and put it in his belt. "Got a speedy way out of here?"

"Yeah," Valor said. His eyes glew red and he blasted a hole through the ceiling, exposing the night sky. "Wonder Girl, pick up Robin and start flying. The DEO won't attack you if I'm in pursuit."

"Got it," Cassie said. She grabbed Robin and took off, her body glowing a light blue as its ionic powers exposed themselves. Valor took off after them.

He fired energy blasts from his eyes now and then, missing the YJers. He grabbed his communicator. "This is Valor to DEO . . . do not interfere. I'll capture the intruders."

"I think it's working," Wonder Girl said.

"Good," Robin answered. "Keep going the direction we came in."

"Wonder Girl!" Valor called.

"What?" she answered.

"I need you to sucker-punch me and then get out of here quickly," he said.

"I don't wanna hurt you!" she said.

"Don't worry . . . you won't."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine."

She stopped, turned to him, and hit her with a hard punch. Valor, not really injured, played along and flew himself into the ground below. Wonder Girl then turned and sped away into the sky back to where she came from.

Tom walked down the hall to Jono's room. He knocked and was let in.

"How'd it go?" Jono asked.

"I got yelled at for letting myself get beaten so easily . . . but they accepted that I tried. How'd it go with you guys?"

"Paige was able to delete the download records," Jono answered. "They think that Robin was trying to get into some files, but never succeeded."

"Good," Tom nodded. "That's one less problem to worry about."

"Yeah. Now we've only gotta deal with the other five million . . . "