From the ashes of the past there grow the fires of the future! AUGUST 2003 #1

Second Genesis by Paul Hahn Based upon a story by Todd Dezago

"This is gonna be great," the Looter grinned to himself. His blue-gloved hand was rubbing the meteorite that was bulging out of the gun he created to harness its power. He claims that he found the meteorite in the center of what was once a corn field in Kansas. He claimed that it came from another planet, that it held great powers. In actuality, it fell from the sky during a meteor shower and punched a hole through the roof of his trailer.

The Looter was inside a bank, after hours, planning a little heist that was sure to get him loaded with cash. Or at least, that was the plan.

"I'm tellin' you, baby," he continued, speaking to his rock, "once we finish this gig, things're gonna be different. We're moving up in the world. We're gonna be living large."

"If by large you mean inside a prison cell . . . ?"

"Who's there?" Looter asked, spinning quickly to meet the voice.

In the doorway stood a woman dressed in a skintight, black leather suit. Her white hair stood out against the dark of night, as did her white gloves and her green eyes.

"I am," she replied. "I'm the Black Cat."

"Never heard of you," the Looter frowned. He aimed his gun. He claimed that the meteorite powered the gun, allowing it to fire awesome blasts of energy. In actuality, it pretty much didn't do anything.

"Well, I believe you know my team," the Cat continued. "We're Young Justice."

[[Confused, dear reader? Don't worry! All will be made clear . . . - Paul]]

"Young Justice?" the Looter asked. "Those're the guys that put me away last time . . . you guys suck. But, uh . . . I only see you, kitty cat. You sure you even have a team?"

"Care to find out?" Black Cat grinned.

"Uh . . . " the Looter pondered, " . . . no. Bye!"

He turned tail and ran towards the back exit, deciding it was better to not take any chances. The Black Cat just stood in the doorway and watched him. Her catlike vision allowed her to see clearly even at night.

"He's heading your way," she spoke into her wrist.

"Acknowledged."

The Looter burst from the back door, entering a dark alley. He claimed he was an experienced criminal. In actuality, he wasn't an experienced criminal. He wasn't an experienced anything.

"Sure is dark in here," a voice called.

"Please don't let it be Superboy . . . " the Looter whined.

"Not Superboy," the voice replied. "They call me Ray. And how's about a little light?"

Ray's body quickly let loose a powerful light blast that easily blinded the Looter, and would have blinded anyone else who was looking at it as well.

"Ahh!" the Looter screamed. He bumped into a wall in the alley, then knocked over a few trash cans, before continuing out into the street. He was struggling hard to readjust his eyes to night, but was fairly blind. He somehow stumbled across the street into another alley.

Something hit his leg.

"Ahh!" he yelled, waving his gun.

Then something hit his arm. And then his back.

"Stop it!" the Looter yelled.

"Why?" a voice called back. "It's funny."

"Impulse?"

"Ricochet," the guy replied. "See, I throw these little discs . . . they bounce off of stuff . . . and then they hit you. Then they bounce some more and come back to me. Then I throw 'em again. It's fun."

"Leave me alone!" Looter yelled. He ran back out into the street, slammed into something hard, then fell on his butt. His eyes were still adjusting, but he saw what appeared to be a man standing in front of him. "Uh . . . this one's Superboy . . . "

"Close," the guy replied. "I'm Marvel Boy."

The hero picked the villain up with his left arm and held him in the air.

"I . . . I haven't heard of any of you guys," Looter said. "Who are you supposed to be . . . really?"

"I think the lady in black leather already told you," Marvel Boy replied. "We're Young Justice. And you're unconscious."

Marvel Boy punched the Looter once, and the man fell limp.

"You didn't let me get a turn, bro," a girl said, floating down from the sky.

"Sorry, Marvel Girl," Marvel Boy replied. They both had similar costumes of blue jumpsuits with a white lighting bolt going across their chests. "Sometimes I just can't help myself."

"We done here?" Ricochet asked, walking out of the alley. "I'm bored. And I kinda want some pizza . . . "

"We're done," the Ray said. "As soon as XS dumps him off at the local police station."

The four felt a quick, strong breeze, and when it was gone, so was the Looter.

"Done and done," XS called through their wrist communicators.

"Good," Ray said. He and the Marvel siblings took to the air, heading back home. Black Cat fired a rope from a launcher in her wrist gauntlets, taking her swinging across rooftops, and Ricochet did his best to chase after them.

"We need a car, man," he said with a sigh. "Or I need to fly."

The man they call the Hornet was in the training room, taking some time for target practice. He wore a suit of armor that allowed him to fly, gave him enhanced strength, and even limited targeting sensors for the weapons in his gauntlets. At the moment, he had two, although he planned to get more. One was a lesser version of the repulser rays used by Iron Man. A much lesser version. The other was sedative stingers that he could fire rapidly to take out targets without causing real harm. He was taking shots at several dart boards placed throughout the room, with his stingers, all aimed for bullseyes. He wasn't doing half bad, either.

"See," Buckeye said with a grin, watching Hornet go, "I told you you'd get the hang of it."

"Right," Hornet said. He felt the energy coursing through his right arm and clenched the armored fingers into a fist. "It's still just . . . so weird. To use this arm . . . "

"Your condition no longer applies in that suit, my friend," Buckeye continued. "That arm is as good as new so long as you're wearing that suit."

"I know," he said. "I mean, I did create the thing. The laser, well, that was your idea . . . but still. I can't help thinking that maybe I should be giving this technology to the medical community . . . all the disabled people I could be helping . . . "

"Eddie, I know you want to help people," Buckeye said, "but giving up your technology won't do it. Science and research companies will take it, they'll tear it apart, and it will probably become military technology. Maybe one day, you can make the gauntlets smaller and useable in the medical realm, but for right now, it'll do a lot more good as the arm of Hornet."

"I guess you're right," Eddie McDonough nodded.

A burst of wind and light suddenly whipped at the two, then died down just as fast. The Ray had arrived.

"Gentlemen," he said with a grin, removing his gold helmet and running a hand through his light brown hair.

"I take it tonight's patrol went well?" Buckeye asked. As the team's mentor, it was his job to keep things together.

"Yeah, we caught Looter," XS said, appearing next to the Ray, accompanied by another blast of wind. "Kind of overkill for the whole group of us, y'know."

"Teamwork is teamwork," Buckeye answered.

"So how come Hornet and Virago didn't come?" Ray asked.

"Hornet and I had to work out some kinks in his gauntlets. Virago had a special detail. Recon and whatnot. She should be back soon."

A few minutes later, the rest of the team filled in, with Ricochet coming in last.

"Where's the Young Justice Mobile?" he asked, pulling off his face mask. "I keep having to run after you guys like that, and all a bad guy'll have to do is push me over."

"We're working on transportation, Johnny," Buckeye said.

"Better be," Johnny sighed before walking off. "I need a shower."

"So where's Sarah?" Freddy, a.k.a. Marvel Boy, asked. "She's noticeably absent."

"Why, because things aren't freaky-weird?" Mary, a.k.a. Marvel Girl, a.k.a. Freddy's sister, replied sarcastically.

Buckeye frowned. "Our state of the art scanners, courtesy of Stark International, detected some strange energy readings a suburb or two west of here. Strange as in mystical, almost. I decided to send Virago out to investigate. I figured the whole team might be overkill, especially since there's all kinds of crazy super-people around New York City. It was so much duller in Harrisburg, I tell ya."

Sarah Raimes was not a happy kid. Her father walked out on her mother when she was four. Her mother did her best, but Sarah never thought it was enough. And on top of that, she had a hard time making friends. She was . . . different. It could've been the fact that she was born with completely white hair. Or just that she was weird. She knew she was different. Special, maybe.

And she wanted to prove it. She spent most of her time, from junior high on, excersizing. She wanted to be strong; and a good fighter, too. She was gonna prove that she was different in a good way. She was gonna be a hero.

However, she soon learned that being different also made you a bit of an outcast. High school was not a good time. But she dealt. She was determined to lead her own life. And once the visions started, well, she made herself a costume and got out there. But fighting crime just made her feel more lonely. So when Buckeye invited her to join Young Justice, it was a dream come true.

At this very moment, though, she was a bit confused. Buckeye had sent her on a reconnaissance mission to some west suburbs. Magically energies had been detected, and she traced them to a house . . . a bedroom, specifically. It was empty then, but she could feel the resent presence of magic.

Sliding open a window, the green-clad Virago slipped inside and took a look around.

Gotta be a boy's room, she thought, noting the mess, plus the posters of sports figures and comic books on the walls. Can't be more than fourteen years old . . . and I say that like that's so young. I'm only sixteen.

Sarah's eyes found themselves glancing down at some broken glass on the carpet. Also, two golden pieces, carved. They looked old. Very old. She bent down and touched one of the gold pieces, shaped like a handle, almost.

"Argh!" she screamed, falling back. The pain rushed inside her quickly, her head pounding as the images flashed across her eyes. "Boy . . . Matthew . . . it was a . . . a . . . aaaaahhh, a gift! Gift, ancient, old, smashed it! Unleashed . . . unleashed . . . my God . . . "

The image before her went a dark purple as a massive figure stood before her. She could feel the darkness radiating from him. He smirked at her. And suddenly, she's drowning in the dark purple energy, immersed in the thick, liquid light, assaulted with a rush of ancient images, scenes from prehistory, visions of a time that time had forgotten! A mad sorcerer, conjuring before an earth-well, summoning to himself a power only alluded to in crumbling tomes, only whispered of in the darkest shadows, a power that feeds on dreams and wishes, the power to reshape the world - the power of a God! But while the power is near infinite, the vessel is still but a man. His evil campaign is challenged by another sorcerer - his brother! The mad one's treachery and hatred blinds him and limits his imagination. This allows his sibling to purge the energies from the dark mage and into a tiny crystal chamber. There it is imprisoned and kept secreted from the memory of man for all time!

That is, until . . . now.

"Help!" Virago yelled as she stumbled into the lobby.

In an instant, Ray and XS were there, followed seconds later by the others.

"What is it?" Ray asked.

"Bedlam," she gasped.

"Bedlam?" Buckeye asked. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know, I . . . I investigated, I found something, something strange, it was smashed, broken . . . I . . . I touched it, and I had a vision. I saw something . . . powerful. A genie, or a God, I don't know . . . he was big and purple and he . . . he took control of a boy . . . Matthew. He's evil. Matthew's in danger . . . the whole world's in danger . . . we have to do something!"

"Those visions of yours are handy-dandy," Ricochet smirked. "You gotta try and touch a lotto ticket sometime."

"Where are they now?" Ray asked. "We can't help Matthew if we can't find him."

"I'll go check the scanners for that signature again," XS said, and was gone in a flash. She returned two seconds later. "Found it! It's in a place called Happy Harbor, in Rhode Island."

"Happy Harbor?" Hornet asked. "That name sounds really familiar."

"No kidding," Buckeye said. "But now's not the time. You need to get there and help that boy!"

"We need wheels, man," Ricochet said.

"No we don't," Ray said. "Marvel Girl, carry Black Cat, Marvel Boy, grab Virago, Hornet, carry Ricochet. XS and I are fast enough. Let's go, team!"

"I win," Ray said happily.

"I won," XS frowned back at him.

"Face it, Jenni, I'm just faster," Ray shrugged.

"Not a chance," Jenni retorted.

"Ray, you're supposed to be the leader-type," Black Cat said as Marvel Girl lowered her to the ground. "Stop arguing and lead."

"Right," Ray said. "Let's find this boy, exorcise a demon and kick its ass."

"Uhhh, boss?" Marvel Boy said. "That may be harder said than done . . . "

The entire harbor was twisted around, reshaping itself every minute, constantly changing, building to . . . perfection?

"Any idea where to head, Sarah?" Ray asked.

"Not a clue," she answered.

"I'm picking something up on my radar," Hornet said, his eyes scanning over the images running through the visor on his helmet. Life signs. One human . . . a young boy. Probably our man. Er . . . kid."

"Lead the way," Ray said. "Everyone stay sharp."

They moved slowly for a few minutes, looking about as the harbor continued to constantly reshape itself, even as they moved through it.

"He's scared," Virago said.

"Scared?" Black Cat asked. "How do you know?"

"I don't know," Virago shrugged. "I just do. But, I mean, look around. A fourteen year old boy just merged with one of the most ancient evils the world has ever known . . . and forgotten about. It's gotta be an intense merger. He has infinite power at his fingertips . . . but he may not be able to use it just yet. He's probably scared and confused . . . maybe in a little pain."

"Well, if he's doing all this wackiness when he's scared and confused," Felicia started, "then I'm kinda worried what would happen if he gained . . . con . . . trol?"

Suddenly, the team found themselves pinned between a small army of giant monsters formed from the bricks of buildings around them. They stood tall, and they stood angry.

"Raaaaaa!!" one of them yelled before swinging a giant brick fist at the Cat. She jumped quickly, dodging the blow.

"Finally, something to hit!" Marvel Boy exclaimed. He flew at the nearest one and punched it in the chest. The bricks crumbled and the monster fell apart. "Oh, come on? One hit and it's dead? What a waste of my strength."

"You'd rather we had a harder fight?" Ricochet asked, sending a few discs free. They bounced off of the ground and connected to a brick monster, but just bounced off. Johnny scowled. "Stupid brick monster."

Hornet fired off a pair of repulser blasts, cutting down another one. The Ray and Marvel Girl smashed another pair. XS, moving at super-speed, took one apart brick-by-brick.

"This is a delaying tactic," Virago said. "It's gotta be!"

"Then perhaps speed is required," XS said.

"Hornet, lead the way!" Ray yelled. The Hornet's jet pack kicked in, and the armored teen began flying off towards the boy's signature. Ray and XS followed quickly, the rest running after them.

Freddy stayed behind a bit, smashing more brick monsters. "Smashy-smashy . . . "

The team quickly found themselves heading into a basement area that looked like it had been through a major explosion. At the end of a hallway, in the remains of a large, round room, a boy was lying on the ground in a fetal position.

"Matthew," Virago nodded.

"He's hurting," Black Cat said. "We've got to get this thing out of him, and fast. Who knows what'll happen if it asserts full control?"

"You . . . you can't," Matthew began stuttering. "Can't take it away . . . won't let you!"

The boy's eyes snapped open, glowing brightly with purple energies. The ground began to rumble and shift, threatening to devour the team at any second.

"Suggestions?" Marvel Girl asked.

"I got one," Hornet replied. He aimed with his gauntlets and fired a pair of sedative stingers into the boy's neck and arm. The assault stopped, and Matthew slumped over in a matter of seconds.

"You didn't . . . ?" Ray asked.

"No," Hornet frowned. "Sedatives. It was enough to knock out a very large adult man. He'll be under control for now."

"It won't last," Virago said. "We need a more permanent situation."

"YJ, do you read?" Buckeye's voice came in over everyone's headsets.

"Loud and clear," Ray said.

"Situation?"

"Under control. The boy's unconscious, but we need--"

"Don't worry," Buckeye said. "I've contacted the Department of Extranormal Operations. They're on their way, they'll deal with the boy from here."

"The DEO?" Black Cat asked. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"It's for the best," Buckeye answered. "They're better equipped to handle something like this."

"I suppose," Black Cat sighed.

"Hey, think of it this way, Cat," Ricochet said. "We got another mission over and done with, which gives us plenty of time to spend alone together!"

"The team?"

"No way . . . you and me!"

She rolled her eyes. "Dream on, bounce-boy."

"And that's everything," Ray said, finishing his debriefing of the mission. He was in Buckeye's room, giving the team's mentor all the info.

Buckeye nodded. "Thank you, Ray. I appreciate your detailed account. I like to know everything that went on, so that I can better help the team."

"You could always come with," Ray shrugged.

"I may now and then . . . but I don't want to crowd you guys. You're the leader out in the field, Raymond . . . not me. And I need you to feel confident in that regard."

"It'll just take some time," Ray shrugged.

Buckeye nodded. "I have every confidence in you, Ray. Now have a good night."

"You too," Ray said, walking towards the door. "And, uh . . . thanks."

Buckeye nodded as Ray closed the door. Alexander P. Herald let out a sigh. He walked over to his laptop and logged on. A few moments later, the connection was established.

"Another day, another mile," Alex said into the screen.

"We received the report just fine," a man replied via the computer screen. It was a direct video-feed. "You have their trust. Excellent."

"What of the boy? Matthew?"

"We've got him under constant surveillance. We're sure to learn much from him."

"Uh-huh."

"Relax, Mister Herald. You just keep doing what we tell you, and soon you and your wife will have that happy reunion you've been waiting for."

" . . . "

The man on the other end smiled. "Things continue to move quickly. Your time will be over soon, provided there are no more . . . complications."

"Complications?" Alex asked. "Anything I should be aware of?"

"No . . . nothing that concerns your end. Just keep in contact. And remember the deal . . . "

Alex rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Remember the deal . . . how can I forget? You have my wife . . . and complete and utter control of my life . . . "

The man on the other end grinned. "I do indeed. But as I said, Mister Herald . . . it will all be over soon."