NOV 2002 - #47

Endgame II: Things Fall Apart by Paul Hahn

A villain named Graviton had appeared as self-proclaimed ruler of a large, floating island. His first order of business? Using his mastery over gravity, locate and capture every single known super hero in the world.

The team watched as news cameras caught glimpses of the mass amount of heroes all left floating in the air above the island, unconscious and unable to resist.

"How . . . ?" Hallie Takahama, a.k.a. Jolt, asked. "How is it possible . . . ?"

"How could he do something like that?" Cissie King-Jones, Arrowette, continued. "Locate and subdue all superheroes?"

"He didn't get all superheroes," Linda Danvers, the Phoenix, replied. "We're still here."

Superboy kept quiet, towards the back of the room. He knew how Graviton did what he had done. Superboy told him about all the super-heroes he knew of . . . except Young Justice. And he did it in exchange for his freedom, when he was buried under the remains of Arnim Zola's castle.*

*(Back during Young Injustice! - Paul)

"Are you suggestin' we go after him?" Anita Fite, the Empress, asked.

"What other option is there?" Linda asked back. "If we're the only super heroes left, then it's our duty to stop him and save the others."

"But he wiped out the Justice League," Cissie frowned. "Talk about a way to make us feel inadequate."

"Well, since we're not captured, he obviously doesn't know about us," Linda explained.

"That's hard to believe," Hallie said. "Unless he was living under a rock for the past five years."

Superboy shook his head.

"We'll have the element of surprise," Linda continued. "Impulse and Empress could start freeing the heroes and getting them to safety . . . Superboy and I could take him on, head first . . . "

"While the rest of us duck and cover?" Arrowette asked.

"We can't just sit here," Linda frowned.

"Chuck would know what to do," Hallie said.

"Nightwing isn't here," Linda answered. "That makes Kon the senior member. What do you say? Kon . . . ?"

Superboy stood still, contemplating. If we go into battle against Graviton, chances are, he'll reveal my secret to the team. They'll learn this is all my fault. And then, he'll probably wipe the floor with us . . .

"Kon?" Linda asked again.

"We can't," Superboy frowned.

"What?" Linda asked, startled.

"We don't stand a chance against him," Superboy continued quietly. "He'll beat us, or worse . . . "

"So you're saying we give up?" Hallie asked. "Captain America, your idol, is trapped there! Are you gonna let some two-bit floozy kill him?"

"Does Graviton look like a two-bit floozy?" Superboy asked back. "We can't take him. . . . Maybe . . . if we took some time, developed a plan . . . "

"There's no time to waste," Phoenix said. "We can't afford it. We can plan on the way there . . . after all, it's not the shortest trip from New York to Germany. I'm taking charge here. Team, suit up and get to the Super Cycle. We've got a mad despot to stop."

One by one, the team all followed Phoenix out. Superboy hesitated the longest. But what choice did he have? He had to go with his team . . .

Chuck Barnes parked his motorcycle, the Redbird, and dismounted carefully. He initiated the lock-down procedure which would prevent anyone from being able to ride off, or walk off, with his bike.

He crouched down behind some bushes and pulled out some binoculars. He raised them to his eyes and looked ahead. Adjusting the focus, he saw his target:

"Ultimatum," he whispered to himself. Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind. A terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of all symbols of nationality . . . the elimination of borders and petty differences that they create. They fight for the creation of one worldwide government. Peace through war . . . that is their goal.

Their leader is known only as Flag Smasher. But to Chuck Barnes, a.k.a. Nightwing, he is so much more.

The images flashed through his mind once more. One day, just over six years to the past, Chuck had been part of a happy family with his mom and dad, both of which were importing and successful members of the international Food Equals Peace organization. The family, along with many others, attended an event at the United Nations building in New York, and none of them knew the danger that awaited them. The building, and everyone inside, were taken hostage by Flag Smasher and Ultimatum.

Batman and Captain America teamed up to take down the villain, and the building soon turned into a battle ground. It was Chuck's first taste of super-heroes. During the fight, he heroically snuck hostages out of the building. He had every faith in the super-heroes. He was scared, but optimistic. It wouldn't last.

As the heroes got closer to shutting Ultimatum's operation down, Flag Smasher took a gun and aimed it at hostages. He wanted the heroes to stand down. And he also wanted to prove his ferocity, his willingness to destroy all nations.

He fired at two of the hostages. They were Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. Chuck Barnes' parents. They were dead.

Batman and Captain America eventually succeeded in taking the villain down, and he did indeed go to jail . . . but the man escaped, with help from his organization. Just was not served. The man did not pay for the innocent lives he had taken away.

Now, justice would take on a new form.

No, Chuck thought, not justice. Vengeance.

Nightwing lowered the binoculars with a heavy sigh. He had dreamt about this moment for years. Now was his chance to make things right . . .

He moved slowly and quietly towards the Ultimatum camp. His dark colors helped him hide in the bushes of the area. He was lucky it was a woodland area. Plenty of cover, which was something he might need.

Keep breathing . . . keep breathing. We're after Flag Smasher . . .

Chuck could feel it building up inside. The rage. The anger. The hate. It was those feelings him normally didn't allow himself to feel. Those feelings were the ones that a hero couldn't afford to have. But he couldn't help it.

He could feel his chest about to burst. His heart was pounding, his breathing was heavy. There was a fire in him, a rage that couldn't be satiated. His eyes narrowed. There was only one option for all this rage:

Release.

Nightwing grabbed his bo-staff and extended it to full length. He grabbed a trio of explosive batarangs and let them fly, sending the Ultimatum camp into chaos. He leapt into the fray, using his bo-staff with extreme skill, cutting down soldiers with ease.

Where normally he would hold back, do only enough to subdue a villain, now he was cutting loose. Breaking noses, jaws, ribs and more, in the blink of an eye he had made his way deep into the camp.

The numbers were on his side. With so many Ultimatum soldiers, if they chose to fire, they were far more likely to hit one of their own. More batarangs were thrown, other explosives and weapons were used as Chuck continued to cut a path through the camp and towards his goal.

"Flag Smasher!" he yelled.

The villain, as if on cue, stood before him.

"You have caused quite a ruckus," Flag Smasher frowned. "But I'm afraid it's over."

"I'm afraid not," Nightwing raged. "This ends with one outcome. Only one of us is going to walk out of here."

Flag Smasher's face was grim and determined. "Very well. It's your funeral."

The Super Cycle was going at top speed in a desperate attempt to get to Sky Island before Graviton could do any damage to anyone or anything.

Onboard was Young Justice: Phoenix, Superboy, Impulse, Arrowette, Jolt, Rebel, and Empress.

"The United Nations is scrambling to put together a military task force to stop him," Phoenix said, looking at the news monitor on the Cycle. "But they're obviously scared stiff. I mean . . . with good reason."

Superboy remained unusually quiet.

"So . . . plan?" Empress asked.

"Superboy and I are the strongest," Phoenix said. "We've got to be the brunt of the assault. I want Impulse to go in first, catch him off-guard with his speed. Have Empress 'port in behind him, maybe do some quick damage, then get out. Kon and I will charge in, with Arrowette taking shots from a distance."

"What about me and Rebel?" Jolt asked.

"Take a shot if you get an opening," Phoenix shrugged. "Kon and I will try to keep the focus on us . . . the rest of you need to get in your shots where you can. Work together. It might also be a good idea to try and free some of the heroes . . . if possible."

"I'm gonna set the Super Cycle on attack mode," Arrowette said. "It'll give us some extra fire power."

"We're coming up on it," Linda said.

"I see it," Bart nodded.

"Get ready," Phoenix said. "As soon as we're close enough, I want to start this attack."

"Do you have a positive fix on the guy?" Arrowette asked. "We need to know where he is if we're gonna attack him."

"The cycle's scanning for energy readings," Linda answered. "It's found a massive energy source, and I believe it's him."

"Massive?" Jolt asked.

"Have faith, gang," Linda said. "Doubts will only hurt us. We can beat him. We have to beat him. We will beat him."

"We're passing over the island now," Arrowette said.

"Alright, team . . . I'd say it's time to--!"

The Super-Cycle was suddenly ripped apart by an unseen, invisible force. The heroes were sent flying, crashing into the ground below. The Cycle was destroyed.

"Just had that thing fixed . . . " Arrowette frowned as she stood back up.

"I'd say the plan's already fallen apart," Jolt said.

"You really believed you could sneak up on me?" Graviton's voice was booming as he floated down towards them. He was tall, with a streak of white going through his otherwise black hair. He wore a strangely colored suit with a flowing cape. "I am the master of the fundamental force. I could feel your ship approaching from miles away. There is no way to sneak up on me."

"We're here to put you down," Phoenix said, her energies flaring up around her.

"Oh really?" Graviton asked, grinning. "And who might you be?"

"We're Young Justice!" Arrowette exclaimed, an arrow at the ready.

"Young Justice?" Graviton's grin grew wider. "How pleasant . . . does that mean Superboy's here with you?"

The team turned to look at Kon, who was standing towards the back, head down.

"He knows you?" Linda asked.

"You mean, you never told them about me?" Graviton asked. "For shame . . . lying to your teammates."

"What is he talking about?" Linda pressed.

Superboy just kept looking down. "I . . . "

"Story time," Graviton said. "Years ago, I was defeated by Thor and locked away in an underground prison. When Thor disappeared, the mystical seal that locked me away faded, and I was able to escape . . . if I wanted. I chose to remain, with a faithful servant I had, and to grow in the development of my powers. I also sought vision, which eventually came to me. But fairly recently, Superboy found himself in my prison. As I learned, your team had been fighting a battle above, and he had been put down there after an explosion . . . and after he had been cloned. I told him that his clone, which I was not responsible for, mind you, was draining his power away, which was why he felt so weak. I told him he must destroy the clone in order to get his powers back. I told him, I would give him a power boost and help him escape from my prison, in exchange for one thing: Information. He told me all about the world and it's super heroes . . . although he left out much about Young Justice. When I was satisfied with the knowledge he gave me, I helped him escape."

Arrowette frowned. "I don't get it . . . "

"All that I have done here?" Graviton asked. "Captured all these super heroes with ease? All thanks to Superboy's sharing. None of this would have been possible if not for his help. And for that, I thank him."

"Kon?" Linda asked.

"I am also the reason he has any powers at all," Graviton said. "Come, boy. You are my servant, willing and able. Stand with me."

"I . . . " he started.

"You have no choice," Graviton said. He exerted his control over gravity, and Superboy's current powers, to force Kon to stand beside him. "Now, Young Justice, as the last super heroes on earth, I give you the choice . . . surrender . . . or die."