Just minutes ago a man had fallen down an elevator shaft. But he wasn't any man. He was bigger and denser than the elevators inside the shaft!

Chuck Barnes--Robin. Cissie King-Jones--Arrowette. Two members of Young Justice who narrowly avoided death from above while inside the shaft. They began their descent down to the basement to see who it was that attacked them.

"He knocked out the lights," Arrowette said as she squinted against the darkness.

"And he got up," Robin replied.

"What?" Arrowette asked. "He fell at least 60 floors! How on earth could he walk away from that?"

"I'm not sure," Robin replied. "Hey, your eye sight is supposed to be way better than a normal person's...how are you functioning in the dark?"

"Sorry, Rob, I'm no cat," she replied. "Yeah, I can see a lot farther a lot better than most people, but I'm just as hurt by the dark as everyone else."

"Well, he's gotta be around here somewhere," Robin replied. He grabbed a pair of flare sticks from his belt and cracked them open. He handed one to Arrowette. "Stay close...but look around."

"I can handle myself, y'know," Arrowette replied. "Me an' my bows an' arrows handled ourselves just fine before Young Justice."

"I didn't say you couldn't," Robin replied. "I'm just saying we're dealing with an unknown situation..."

"Then maybe you should call the others," she replied.

"Don't want to break radio silence," Robin shrugged. "If they have been captured, calling them will just let their captors know there's more of us."

"Er...okay," Arrowette shrugged. "Come on, where is this guy? It's dark, and this place is filled with narrow hallways...where could he have gone?"

"Right in front of ya, babe," the man grinned.

Cissie jumped as her flare caught a view of the man. He was huge...huge and fat.

"'Names' Fred Dukes...but you can call me...the Blob!"

Sam Guthrie--Cannonball. Jennifer-Lynn Haden--Jade. Cassie Sandsmark--Wonder Girl. Along with the unconscious Superboy and Impulse, they made up the rest of Young Justice inside the Trade Center.

In front of them? Avalanche, Post, and the unconscious Pyro, who, along with the unconscious Mimic behind them, made up the rest of the Mutant Liberation Front. Avalanche, who controlled the earth, called upon rock to completely seal the building off from those trying to get both in and out. Post just happened to be the muscle.

"Umm...maybe we could talk this out?" Sam asked.

"Maybe," Post replied. He grabbed Sam by the collar. "Maybe not."

Before Post could finish his move, Sam kicked his rocket into high gear and blasted himself out of his hands.

"Focus on Avalanche!" Sam yelled. "Take him out and he just might drop his wall!"

"You'll have to get through Post, first," Avalanche said, hiding behind his large teammate. "And if Superboy couldn't do it...what hope do you have?"

"Oh sure, feed his ego," Wonder Girl said, punching Post in the face. "Lucky thing he's unconscious."

"You can join him," Post replied, grabbed for Wonder Girls' fists.

"No she can't, pal!" Jade replied. Three green spiked balls flew at the blue villain. "I think I've got the will power I need to take you down!"

"Think again," Post replied, firing shots from his cannon.

"Don't waste time," Sam said. "Jade, encase him in a nice, solid prison of your energy! And all ya gotta do is hold him while we take out Avalanche!"

"Done!" Jade replied.

Avalanche turn and began to run.

"Oh no ya don't!" Wonder Girl grabbed him.

"Good girl," Sam replied. "Okay Avalanche...talk...what's all this for, anyway?"

"Like I'm going to tell you," he replied.

"You sure?" Sam asked.

"Positive," Avalanche frowned.

"Okay," Sam shrugged. One rocket powered punch later and Avalanche was unconscious.

"The wall's still there," Wonder Girl frowned.

"Well...at least he can't seal any holes we make now," Sam shrugged.

"Umm...guys?" Jade said.

"Eh?" the two turned.

Jade was struggling. "He's about to break through!"

A boys club for the rich and famous, it also houses a deadly secret with it's Inner Circle and it's team of young mutants, the Hellions.

Roberto DaCosta watched as the Hellions trained in their secret underground 'Danger Room'. Once, as the New Mutant Sunspot, the Hellions were one of his biggest worries. They were more than just school rivals...they were a threat on his very life. Yet recently he had found himself living with his enemies, and even becoming a part of them. His reasons were unknown to everyone...possibly even himself.

But I know it won't last. You know it too, don't you Sam? After the New Mutants broke up, I wasn't sure what you'd do...I thought maybe you'd become a full fledged X-Man...but now you're running with Young Justice? And what's worse, the Hellfire Club has made them their enemies. A confrontation is brewing...I can feel it...I just hope it happens soon. Because if Sam and the others don't get in here first...Wyngarde and Shaw are gonna tear this place apart.

The Lady Tessa watched Sunspot closely. She was Sebastian Shaw's attendant, that was for sure. Her position as the White Rook all but tipped the balance of power in the circle. It was her goal to keep Wyngarde and the white side from gaining too much power, just as Linda Danver's job was to do the same to the Black. But Sunspot...he was the wild card. As a telepath, she knew things. And one thing she knew for certain was that the true loyalties of Roberto DaCosta would play themselves out soon...

"What is it?" Robin asked, leaping over to Arrowette. "..."

The Blob was a fat and disgusting man. He was truly immovable, possibly even immovable by his own force of will. And he had meant to crush them flat by falling on them. He missed...and wound up down here.

"What now?" Cissie asked.

"That depends," Robin shrugged. "Depends on whether or not this guy still plans on fighting."

"I'm not in the position to do much fightin'," the Blob replied. "The fall was supposed to eliminate the need fer a fight. But now I gotta take a little time and get my act together before I pull another stunt like that."

"So you're surrendering?" Arrowette asked.

"Then talk," Robin ordered. "What did the MLF hope to gain by holding the World Trade Center hostage?"

"Money," he answered easily. "Mostly money. A little attention...fame...power...recognition. Pyro was all into 'mutant power' an' whatnot. He said it was time humans realized that they were as doom as the dinosaurs...that mutants were the next step in evolution...and the sooner you humans realized that and stepped down from power, the better off we'd all be by knowin' our place."

"That's a load of bull," Cissie frowned.

"I didn't say I bought that," the Blob continued. "Hey, if mutants can get on top, more power to 'em...I'll take the spoils, but I won't bust my hump gettin' there. I just want a ton of money so I can buy my own island and fill it with beautiful naked women."

Robin smacked his head. "How many more people are in the MLF?"

"There's Pyro...he runs the gig. Avalanche...Mimic...oh, and Post. He's a weird one...but tough."

"Thanks for the info," Robin replied. "Come on."

"We're just gonna leave him here?" Arrowette asked.

"What? It's not like we can move him. Let's go help the team."

Post swung a fist and slammed Jade into the far wall. A blast from his laser cannon knocked Wonder Girl away. By crashing his foot into the floor, he tore up the ground and knocked Sam off his feet.

"This operation has exceeded acceptable parameters," Post stated. "Scorched Earth program is to be initiated."

"Only if we give you the chance," a voice called.

Sam looked up to see Magik appear out of one of her portals. A swipe of her Soulsword across Post's midsection left his psyche totally rattled. He dropped to the floor, unconscious.

"Talk about in the nick-of-time," Jade said.

"'Yana!" Sam exclaimed. "Where've you been, girl?"

"Home," she replied. "Thinking."

"And?" Sam asked.

"We'll talk...later," she shrugged.

"Ah don't think later's a good idea," Sam pressed the issue. "We talk now."

"Sam?" Robin asked as he and Cissie walked in, stepping over Avalanche.

"Rob...you missed all the fun," Wonder Girl said.

"Uh...sure," Robin replied. "Are we finished with the bad guys?"

"Yup," Magik replied.

"Then let's help evacuate this place and get out of here," Robin said. "It's been a long day."

"The Mutant Liberation Front was indeed responsible. Known felons Avalanche and Mimic were apprehended alongside an unknown figure with blue skin. Our own cameras at CNN caught the young hero team Young Justice escaping the seen. While to most it would seem obvious that they were the heroes of this day, some question their true heroism. Two of their members are believed to be mutants, possible members of the rumored terrorist group the X-Men. And even if they aren't mutants, we do know for sure that they are young teenagers who are living with powers that can cause great amounts of damage. This reporter has to wonder if these kids understand that with great power must come great responsibility. Because if they don't, this city might have a much larger situation on its hands very soon. Trish Tilby, CNN."

"Do you believe that?" Superboy asked as he turned off the TV. "We put our lives on the line and get dumped on by some ditsy reporter!"

"Welcome to mah world," Sam replied. "The New Mutants and X-Men always got blamed for everything, no matter how many lives we'd save. Just 'cause we're mutants."

"It's unfair," Robin replied. "But the world is generally unfair. We've just got to get by and keep doing what we're doing, and hope that we can make enough of a difference."

"Robin?" the Tornado asked. "I have a message for you...perhaps you should see it in private."

Robin stood up and walked over to the Tornado. "What is it?"

"A message from a Ms. Wyngarde. She says there will be trouble soon...and that you must act quickly or not at all."

Robin nodded. "Alright. Tell the team to get some rest. Tomorrow's gonna be a busy day."

"What do you have planned?"

"Oh, a little fight with the Hellions...the Inner Circle...and a rematch with the woman who wiped the floor with us: Linda Danvers. After tomorrow, either the Hellfire Club will be taken down...or Young Justice will have it's final defeat."