OCT 2002 - #45

In Harm's Way by Paul Hahn

Yesterday, the team of heroes named Young Justice had another thrilling victory when they took down the Revengers, a team of second-tier super-villains out for, well . . . revenge.

They went home to have a relaxing day . . . well, relatively relaxing, since everyone was mostly focused on assessing the damage their mansion resort temporary home had suffered. The Imperial Forces of America blew up half of it in an attempt to recapture Jolt.

And after the day's work, everyone retreated to their rooms for another nights sleep. In case you're new, or just curious, here's a quick roster run-down:

Chuck Barnes is Nightwing, a normal human with a sharp intellect and incredible skill as a fighter.

Kon-El is Superboy, and his tactile telekinesis gives him super strength, invulnerability, and the ability of flight.

Bart Allen is Impulse, who can move at incredible speeds.

Cissie King-Jones is Arrowette, a highly skilled archer.

Linda Danvers is Phoenix, whose powers continue to develop and grow more and more powerful. She can fly, an appears to have developed very strong telepathic and telekinetic abilities.

Hallie Takahama is Jolt. She's got super-fast reflexes, and electric shock 'jolt' punches, hence the name.

Anita Fight is Empress. She's a skilled fighter who can also teleport.

The last member goes only by Rebel. She can't speak, but she is an incredible fighter.

But anyways. The team all went to sleep . . . or at least, tried. But again that night, as had been happening for the past few nights, each teammate suffered from horrible nightmares.

Jolt was terrorized by Arnim Zola and the Imperial Forces of America. Rebel was confronted by a mysterious man from her past. Superboy was tormented by his clone, Match, tortured with the knowledge that, with each passing day, his powers were growing weaker and weaker. Phoenix kept seeing Jason Wyngarde, the man who turned her against the team last year. She also saw terrible things that she couldn't describe, calling out to her. Impulse suffered from seeing all those around him as dead, all blaming him for not being smart enough to save them. Empress is constantly attacked by Arrowette, and haunted by the Spoiler persona. She always sees her dad, a SHIELD agent, looking down on her. Arrowette is shaken by a mistake she keeps making while thwarting crime: she keeps using her arrows . . . and killing. Nightwing suffers from the fact that, under his command, three members of Young Justice have died.

Needless to say, they weren't sleeping well. But so far, everyone had kept the information to themselves. None were willing to reveal they were having nightmares about their own failures . . .

Chuck Barnes let out a long sigh as he continued scanning his eyes over a computer. He took a long sip of his coffee.

"I didn't think you drank coffee," Cissie said as she entered the room.

"I don't, usually," he replied, his eyes not lifting from the screen. "But I've just been having such trouble sleeping."

"Really?" she asked.

"Yeah," he frowned. "Bad dreams."

"About what?"

"Uh . . . just, stuff, y'know?" he answered, avoiding the topic.

"Actually, I do," she frowned. "I've been having nightmares, too. And don't even bother asking about what."

He nodded, looking up at her. "It's probably stress. I mean, we buried two of our own . . . and then we had so much activity so recently, between the Imperials, the Hellfire Club, now those . . . Revengers."

"Yeah," she sighed. "Stress. Anyway, what're you up to?"

"I'm looking for anything on a Rembrandt," he explained. "All we know is that's the name of the guy who put the Revengers together. I'd like to find out who he is, why he's got it in for us, and how we can stop him."

"You can find someone . . . based off of a name?"

"Well . . . it's possible. And then see if that guy had recently come in contact with, say, Tora, or any of the other Revengers, and hopefully find a suspect. I put in a call to Batman, as a favor, and asked him to see if he could find anything."

"You and Batman are on good terms, then?"

"I think so," he shrugged. "I feel kind of stupid going to him for help, especially after that whole 'breaking off on my own' thing when I became Nightwing . . . but I think he's being understanding. I also think he's glad that I can recognize when I need help."

"Well, that's definitely an admirable trait," Cissie smiled. "Most guys can never admit to needing help. Take Superboy, for example. He could be dealing with the biggest, most life-threatening dilemma ever, and he wouldn't ask for help no matter how overwhelmed he was."

"Oh, I think you're too harsh on the Kid. He may have a big ego and talk a big game, but I think that, when push comes to shove, he'll do the right thing, or at least what's necessary to succeeding."

"If you say so."

Two United States jet-fighters were traveling at a fast pace. They were scouts, looking for something strange.

"I just noticed it briefly on a long range radar scan," one of the pilots said to his wingman. "Just . . . came outta nowhere."

"But I'm not getting anything," the other pilot replied. "Radar shows clear skies."

"So did mine," he replied. "But for a split second, I saw it. It was huge . . . massive! Then it sorta flickered in and out, then finally just . . . disappeared."

"You sure it's not your radar malfunctioning?"

"No, I'm not sure. But I'm fairly sure. And besides, it's better to investigate while I have a clear idea of where it was, then to hope that it was just a malfunction. I mean, if there really is something that big in the air . . . "

"Right," the other pilot said. "Hey . . . I think I see something."

"Radar's still blank."

"Look up, man . . . use your eyes."

The first pilot looked ahead. His eyes went wide. Before him was a giant land mass, the size of a city . . . floating high above the ocean.

"What in the world . . . ?"

Suddenly, both pilots felt their jets shake.

"I'm losing control!"

"Initiating emergency procedures!"

"That won't be necessary," a voice came into their headsets.

"Who is this?" one of the pilots asked. "What's going on?"

"My name is Graviton," the voice continued. "You have entered the airspace of my home, Sky Island. I have seized control of your ships using my mastery over gravity. You will not be harmed. But I'm not yet ready for your superiors to be aware of my existence here. So, consider this an honor . . . you two are my first prisoners."

"I'm serious, Linda!" Kon exclaimed. "I saw her!"

"You saw Wonder Girl," Linda frowned.

"Yes, I did! She's alive . . . she's here! She's trying to contact me!"

"Sounds like somebody's just having nightmares."

"Don't read my mind without my permission," Kon said, a little angry and a little disappointed.

"I . . . I didn't read your mind . . . " she replied.

"Then how'd you know . . . I've been having nightmares?"

"I dunno . . . I just threw it out there. Mostly because I've been having nightmares."

"Huh," Superboy said. "I wonder if . . . wait! You hear that?"

"Sounds like . . . fighting?"

"Whoa!" Jolt said as she was kicked halfway across the room.

Empress appeared in a puff of smoke and caught her. "What's going on?"

"This guy just busted in here and attacked me!" Jolt exclaimed.

"Who is he?" Empress asked.

"His name is Harm," Superboy frowned as he and Phoenix entered.

"Ah, Superboy," the villain known only as Harm grinned. He stood tall, and had his sword in it's sheath on his back. "Long time no see."

"I wondered what happened to you," he frowned. "After our encounter with you, you disappeared."

"I was dead," Harm replied.

"Dead?" Jolt asked.

"Yup," Harm grinned. "But then, awhile back, the gates of Hell opened up . . . and I got out."

[[YJ Annual #2, during the Return of the Gods story - Paul]]

"We'll just have to put you back," Superboy said. As he did, Impulse sped in, followed soon after by Rebel, Arrowette and Nightwing.

"What, does everyone know where we live these days?" Nightwing asked.

"Well, when I can peer into your dreams, it's easy enough to see where you're sleeping," Harm grinned.

"You . . . what?" Arrowette asked.

"He's been messing with our dreams," Phoenix frowned. "I take it Kon and I weren't the only ones with nightmares."

"I do my best work in the inner workings of the dreaming mind, I suppose," Harm grinned. He drew his sword. "Now . . . let's finish what I started."

Nightwing's eyes went wide. "He's messing with our REM sleep . . . R-E-M . . . Rembrandt! You're Rembrandt! You put together the Revengers!"

"I did," Harm grinned. "I messed with your dreams, I put together a team of your old enemies . . . all to soften you up for the ultimate revenge . . . mine! Which means . . . your deaths!"

"Bring it," Superboy exclaimed.

He flew forward at Harm. The villain grabbed Kon's arm and flung him into a half formed wall with ease. Harm then planted a kick into Jolt, who had leapt back into the fray. It landed square in her stomach, knocking her on her back, as well as taking the wind out of her.

Harm threw a rope with two weighted balls at Impulse's legs. The weapon wrapped around Bart quickly, and when he tried to run, he tripped on himself and fell flat on the floor. Harm quickly fired an energy bolt from his sword that, catching Phoenix off guard, knocked her back into a far wall.

Arrowette ripped off a pair of arrows, but Harm dodged one and caught the other in mid-air. He threw it into Nightwing, where it then exploded into gas upon impact. Nightwing slipped a hand over his mouth and rolled forward. He extended his bo-staff and swung at Harm. The villain blocked it with his sword. He unleashed another energy bolt from the sword, flooring Nightwing.

Arrowette tried another arrow, this time at Harm's feet, which exploded upon impact and knocked the villain back a few steps. Empress teleported behind him and kicked him hard. The villain spun around quickly and caught her second kick. He threw her straight into Arrowette.

"That was easy so far," Harm grinned, turning to see Rebel. "What've you got?"

Rebel moved far faster than Harm expected, planting two punches, a kick and a jab before he knew what was happening. The assault probably would have continued if harm wouldn't have quickly unleashed a flash-orb. It was a small bomb that let off a blinding burst of light. It disoriented Rebel, and allowed Harm to get in a strong punch to her chest, followed by a kick to the head.

"You weren't a match for me before, you aren't a match for me now," Harm grinned. "Anything you think you can throw at me, I'm ready for. I'll be able to counter it, and hit you far harder than you can hit me. I guarantee it."

"You're wrong," Phoenix said. "We're not the same team you faced last. We've grown. We've matured. We've changed. I'd even say . . . we've evolved."

Phoenix's flame bird appeared around her, as it often did when she powered up.

"Huh," Harm said. "You certainly have. Got a lot more than wings now. I'd reckon, if we were in the land of the dead, just the sight of that bird would be enough to wipe out a whole horde o' demons. Good thing this isn't the land of the dead. You Earth-Born Angel types . . . always trying to show off."

"Earth-Born Angel," she frowned. "That's not the first time I've been referred to as that. What does it mean . . . ?"

"It means . . . I'm gonna kill ya!" Harm fired off another blast from his sword, but Phoenix was ready this time. A telekinetic shield absorbed the energy of the attack. She then redirected it, with her own added energies, right back at him.

The blast was intense. When it was over, Harm was gone. All that remained was a burnt mark on the floor.

"You . . . killed him?" Empress asked.

"He was already dead," Phoenix said, her eyes glossed over with energy. Her tone of voice had changed . . . become more stern, as it often did when she showed off her enormous power. "I merely sent him back from where he came."

"Uh . . . okay," Empress shrugged.

"Everyone alright?" Nightwing asked.

"The only thing bruised is my ego," Jolt frowned. "How'd he get the best of us so easily?"

"That fight was far from over," Nightwing replied. "His opening attacks caught us by surprise. We would've pulled it together."

"Still . . . " Jolt frowned.

"I know," Nightwing said. "But considering the circumstances we've been under lately . . . I'd say we did just fine. Thanks for the save, Linda."

"No problem," she replied, lowering to the ground and powering down.

"Well, that wraps up that deal," Arrowette said.

"Yup," Nightwing nodded. "I bet we'll all be able to sleep better tonight."

And the team left the room once again. And as they did, they didn't see the blue and red sparks of energy come together. For a moment, the energy held form . . . that of a girl. She spoke:

"Kon . . . Cissie . . . help me!"