Over half of the resort was recently destroyed in an attack by the Imperial Forces of America. The team didn't have a chance to rebuild before the White Queen drafted them on a mission to Montreal to find the missing Sebastian Shaw.

With the mission complete, the team returned home. They were tired. They were sore. Some were hungry. But none of them wanted to deal with rebuilding.

"We'll start sorting through everything tomorrow," Nightwing sighed. "I suggest we all turn in early. Everyone's tired. It's been a long day."

"It's only been a day?" Superboy asked.

"Yeah," Nightwing sighed. "In the world of superheroes, comic books, and fanfiction, we never get a break."

"I'll say," Superboy sighed. "I am so going to sleep."

"G'night everyone," Arrowette said.

The rest of the team mumbled good nights to each other before heading off to their rooms. Except for Jolt, her room had been destroyed. She went to a different one. But the team all laid down for a nice, relaxing sleep . . .

"Noooo!!"

Hallie nearly jumped out of bed. Her heart was beating incredibly fast. Her electric energy was almost pouring out of her. She tried to control her breathing.

"Dream . . . " she panted. "Just a dream . . . just a dream . . . just a dream . . . "

"Living somewhere with my family, having a normal, quiet life," she answered. "I hate you."

"Good," Cain said. "Go with that . . . use your hate . . . attack me!"

"It'll take a lot more than that to get a rise out of me."

"I see. Well, I suppose I could always tell you that if I hadn't taken you, you wouldn't have been left with a happy family . . . since I killed your mother."

Rebel's eyes went wide. She moved so quickly that a normal man wouldn't have seen her. But Cain blocked her kick with ease. He then punched her in the stomach and kicked her in the chin, knocking her down.

"Wh . . . what?" she asked. "I can't . . . can't predict your moves . . . "

"That's because I taught you everything you know. You can't beat me. You can't beat anyone . . . and you'll never get revenge against me . . . for killing your mother."

"Idiot," Match said. He punched the shield, knocking Superboy back into the brick wall of the bank. "I took the name Match . . . because I'm more than a match for you. Even with your powers you couldn't stop me. And now . . . I'm going to kill you."

Superboy woke up in a cold sweat. He, of all the members of Young Justice, had the biggest ego and pride. And no one knew that he was slowly losing all his powers . . . and what little power he did have, was a gift from a mysterious man named Graviton.

And then, all of a sudden . . . she could feel it. Everything was wrong. She turned quickly and looked behind her. He was floating there, in space . . . Jason Wyngarde.

"You . . . " her eyes narrowed, her face suddenly extremely serious.

"Me," he smiled. "The man who's psyche you scattered amongst the stars. The man who made you what you are today. Your former lover . . . "

"We weren't lovers," she replied. "You turned me into your mindless slave . . . violated me . . . "

"Tough subject still, huh?" he asked. "Maybe you don't like to think about it? Maybe you just lock that unhappy memory away in some little box in a dark corner of your mind? Hmmm . . . I think you've got more than one little box. You've got hundreds of little boxes . . . thousands! Every unhappy memory . . . unpleasant thought . . . terrible deed . . . instead of dealing with it, you lock it away, never to be bothered by it again. How interesting . . . "

"What's more interesting is that you're here," Linda said. "You said it yourself . . . I scattered your mind across the galaxy . . . "

"I'm inside you, my dear," he replied. "I'm always with you. I'm in one of those little boxes . . . actually, I'm in a lot of them. And I'm coming out. Slowly but surely . . . taking it one day at a time . . . but I'll be out. Your days are numbered, Linda Danvers. I'm coming for you . . . "

"Bring it on," she replied. "You don't scare me . . . "

"You're not scared yet. But you will be . . . you will be."

He then looked around. The world was suddenly a dark and scary place, like something out of a fairy tale nightmare.

"What's going on? Cissie?" he asked.

"Bart," Cissie replied. She was lying in the mud . . . her body was bruised and beaten.

"Cissie?" he exclaimed. "What happened?"

"You did this . . . you were careless . . . you never think . . . you're too stupid, Bart . . . stupid and useless and careless. And because of it . . . you killed us all!"

"Oh my god!" someone exclaimed. "This man . . . he's dead!"

"What?" Arrowette asked, turning. It was a man, standing over the body of the last robber. "That's impossible . . . "

"You hit him with a real arrow in the chest!" the man exclaimed. "You killed him! You maniac!"

"N-no . . . I . . . I didn't mean . . . ! I couldn't, I . . . no . . . No!"

"We trusted you to lead us," Wonder Girl said. "We trusted you, and you got us killed! You left us to die!"

"No!" Chuck exclaimed. "It wasn't like that!"

"You didn't even care enough to find our bodies!" Jade exclaimed. "But that's just how it goes, isn't it? Everyone who gets close to you gets hurt . . . they die."

"We trusted you," Wonder Girl said. "And you killed us."

"No . . . "

And as the dream began to fade away, Chuck Barnes heard something else. Something from behind him. It was a laugh . . . it sounded so familiar . . .

. . . and then . . .

He woke up. His eyes searched the room. Nothing. It was just a dream . . . just a nightmare. He took a deep breath. It was just a dream.

Right?

What else could it have possibly been . . . ?

Over half the mansion resort was recently destroyed by the Imperial Forces of America. The team battled them, then came home. Then they went with Emma Frost, White Queen of the Hellfire Club, to Montreal, where they foiled a plot by Sebastian Shaw, and then once again returned home.

All members were very tired. They had gathered quite a bit of information, but hadn't had the time to go over it. And the mansion had suffered quite a bit of damage, but they hadn't had the time to even think about rebuilding it. So, they just decided to take at least one night . . . and sleep.

However, it wasn't going to be that easy. Everyone in the team suffered terrible nightmares. Personal demons that were haunting them. Of course, it had to be an isolated incident, they all assumed. Nightmares happen to everyone . . . right?

Superboy let out a long sigh as he pulled a fresh, clean, white T-shirt on after finishing his shower. He hated nightmares. Especially ones that hit so close to home.

I don't know why I don't just come clean . . . he thought to himself. They're my teammates, my friends . . . they'd support me. Heck, they'd probably help me track down Match so that I could get my powers back. But then do I tell them about Graviton? I wouldn't know where to start. He was so weird . . .

He sighed again.

And besides, he told me that, in order to get my powers back completely, I would have to . . . kill Match. I've never killed anyone. And as heroes, it's sorta understood that we don't kill. So if I even find the guy . . . what will I do?

He took a towel off the rack in the bathroom and wiped the glass mirror in front of him, clearing of condensation and getting a clear view of himself. His eyes went wide. He spun around quickly, just off the ground.

Nothing.

Impossible . . . I saw . . . I swear . . . I mean, it looked just like . . . it had to be . . .

"Cassie . . . ?"

Chuck Barnes let out a deep breath. "This is gonna be a lot of work."

"Rebuilding?" Cissie King Jones asked.

"Yup," he nodded. The two were standing over blueprint layouts of the mansion resort. They didn't own the place. They were borrowing it since it had been closed down due to financial problems. And now it was wrecked.

"Maybe we don't need to rebuild like it shows?" she asked. "Maybe customize it to fit our needs?"

"We can't," Chuck replied. "We don't own the place. This base was only supposed to be temporary, anyway. I mean, after our old base was blown up in Happy Harbor, and the Avengers League released us from house arrest, we needed a place to stay . . . so I got us here. Then the Massacre happened, and this place turned into a hospital and a morgue . . . after that, we took some time off to relax, rest and recover . . . and just as we were back on our feet, the Imperial Forces blows the place up."

"Speaking of the Imperial Forces," Cissie said, "did you think about what Zola said? That his creations can't die?"

"I can safely say that's been on my mind a lot," he nodded. "If it's true, that means Wonder Girl's still alive . . . somewhere."

"I think, today, we should head into the tunnels . . . go looking."

"I doubt it's as simple as that. Most of what was in the Morlock tunnels was incinerated by one of the Marauders. However, if Zola's referring to the fact that Cassie's body seemed to be almost entirely composed of ionic energy, well . . . energy can neither be created, nor destroyed . . . just transferred. She could be alive and well . . . but just . . . not quite together."

"Then it's plausible?" Cissie asked. "Cassie could be alive?!"

"Careful," Chuck frowned. "You don't want to get your hopes up. Keep in mind, Zola's a bad guy . . . he could just as easily be playing with our heads."

Cissie nodded. "Right."

"But just the same, I'm thinking maybe I should toss Red Tornado a line. He's got Avengers League connections, and they'd probably know more about this than me."

"Well, anyways," Cissie started, "Bart and Linda started to clear debris. Bart's movin' stuff away as fast as he can, while Linda's telekinetically lifting it away. It won't take long at all for the two of them to clear it all."

"Well, that's good. But I don't know about rebuilding . . . I'm weary about bringing in contractors . . . this resort is shut down, after all."

"I think we could do it ourselves," Cissie said. "Just get me a good night's sleep . . . "

"You have trouble sleeping?" Chuck asked.

"Nah," Cissie shrugged. "Just sayin'."

Chuck shrugged, then went back to looking over his work. Cissie flipped on the news.

"Uh oh," she said.

"What?" Chuck asked.

"Awhile back we . . . fought . . . this lame-o villain, called himself the Grand Master of Messiness . . . he just makes messes. And he's makin' one again, downtown. We should probably go whack him upside the head really fast."

"Need the team?"

"We can handle it fine . . . come on."

And as the two left the room, they both failed to hear a weak voice calling to them . . .

" . . . help . . . me . . . "

"Hey, Bart!" Jolt exclaimed.

"Huh?" he asked, stopping quickly from his work of removing debris.

"There's a bank robbery in progress, I saw it on the news," she said. "Wanna go take care of it real fast?"

Bart shrugged. "Okay."

He grabbed her and sped away.

Anita appeared in Superboy's room in a puff of smoke, in her Empress costume.

"Hey Kon," she started, "Rebel and I just caught some flame shooting guy on the news." She flipped on the television. "We're gonna go see what his problem is. Interested?"

"No thanks," Superboy said from the bathroom, where he had been looking around for awhile now. "Have fun."

"Okay," she shrugged, and disappeared in another puff of smoke.

"Cassie?" he asked. "No, that's the news . . . "

He walked over and looked at the TV.

"Hey, she said flame guy . . . that's a picture of some ice guy causing trouble," Kon frowned. "Two separate attacks, maybe? Guess I'll take care of this one . . . "

"Done and done," Linda said, quite pleased with herself. In a matter of moments, she used her greatly increased telekinesis to clear away all the remaining debris. "Now to see if there's any work to be done . . . huh. Strange. A quick telepathic scan shows that everyone's left. A mission, maybe?"

Linda Danvers concentrated, looking for any kind of trouble. She found it. "Some guy's causing people to go insane over in Manhattan? Guess I'll meet the team there!"

Here, there was once a castle that the evil genius Doctor Victor von Doom had used as a base of operations. However, other duties led him to abandon it for some time. The Imperial Forces of America moved in then, and turned it into a lab for their twisted scientist, Arnim Zola, the Bio-Fanatic.

But then, in a battle with Young Justice, the Imperial Forces blew it up.*

*(issues #16-17)

Far below the castle, however, was a sort of . . . prison, you might say. Superboy spent some time there after the castle blew, mostly to recover. But it was there that he met someone else . . .

Graviton.

Little is known about the man. But he seems to control gravity to some extent. He would sit in his large prison room in a chair he forced out of rock and think. He had done a lot of thinking over the years. And then . . .

He grinned. "M'Reel?"

A strange figure in a red hood approached. "You called, oh First One?"

"Yes . . . I did," he grinned. "I have made up my mind. Prepare for our departure."

"Departure, sir?"

"Yes," he continued his grinning. "I've decided that I've been waiting too long. It's time for me to seek revenge upon the world . . . "

Impulse and Jolt arrived in seconds, phasing through the entrance.

"Who're you?" Impulse asked the woman standing in the center of the room.

"My name is Tora," she replied, brandishing her bullwhip. "You are members of Young Justice?"

"Yeah," Jolt said. "And you picked the wrong day to rob a bank!"

"Sure, sure," Tora said. "Fancy lines. You gonna back it up?"

She moved quicker than expected, dropping a trio of smoke bombs that quickly filled the room.

"I got it," Bart said. He ran around in a circle quickly, creating a vortex that gathered the smoke to a small point in the room.

"She's gone!" Jolt exclaimed.

"She can't run from me!" Bart exclaimed. "I'm fast!"

Jolt grinned. "Let's go!"

"Hey!" Empress exclaimed. "Knock it off!"

"Young Justice," the man grinned. "My name's Pyro . . . an' I've got some unfinished business with you!"

"Whatever you want, mon," Empress said, drawing her staff.

"Hee hee hee!" he giggled as he skidded around on an ice-slide.

"Stop it," Superboy said as he floated down.

"Stop it?" the Ice Master asked. "That was your big line? Don't they send you super-heroes away to super hero school to learn those big, fancy, super hero sayings?"

"What loony bin did you break out of?" Kon asked.

Ice Master suddenly fired two large columns of ice at Kon, knocking him against a wall. "Hee hee hee . . . "

At the center of it all stood one man, dressed like a hippy, laughing.

"What's your deal?" she asked as she lowered herself to the ground.

"Damn, baby," the man said. "You are hot! How'd you like to come back an' hang with Angar the Screamer?"

"Your name is Angar?" she asked. "That's a dumb name."

"Angar the Screamer is a name that instills fear into the hearts of men!" he exclaimed. "I can make anyone go insane, seeing things that aren't there. I can do the same to you."

"I'm a telepath," Phoenix said. "Your powers aren't gonna work on me."

Angar grinned. "That's what they all say . . . "

"Why is it always Central Park?" Nightwing asked. "I mean, it's nice and all . . . but I'd like some variety."

"We were just in Canada," Arrowette replied.

"I'm talking like, a battle at the Statue of Liberty, or a fight over the Brooklyn Bridge . . . something special."

"Be careful what you wish for," Arrowette frowned.

"I know, I know . . . is that him up ahead?"

"Yeah," she replied. "He sorta kicks up the wind like he's doing now, and just . . . makes a mess of things. He draws garbage to an area."

"I bet he's the arch-enemy of garbage men everywhere."

"Hey!" Arrowette yelled. "Stupid and ugly! What are you doing?"

"Do you mock me, woman?" the Grand Master asked.

"No, I just flat out insulted you," she replied.

"What's your goal here?" Nightwing asked.

"If you must know, it's just part of a plan," he replied.

"To . . . cause mass pollution?" Arrowette asked.

"No," the Master replied. "I'm just another part of the assault on Young Justice."

"Assault on Young Justice?" Nightwing questioned.

"Yes," he answered. "I, the Grand Master of Messiness, along with Angar the Screamer, Pyro, Tora, and the Ice Master, are launching a multi-pronged battle against you, just as our mysterious benefactor plotted!"

"Mysterious benefactor?" Arrowette asked. "Multi-pronged battle?"

"Together, we five form a new team of terror!" he continued. "We are the Revengers! And your days are numbered!"

All at the same time, the members of the super-hero team Young Justice were involved in a number of different battles against five different foes.

Chuck Barnes, a.k.a. Nightwing, and Cissie King-Jones, a.k.a. Arrowette, were battling the Grand Master of Messiness. Kon-El, or Superboy, was mixing it up with the Ice Master. Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse, and Hallie Takahama, or Jolt, were taking on Tora. Anita Fite, a.k.a. Empress, and the mystery girl Rebel, were dealing with Pyro. And Linda Danvers, also known as the Phoenix, was engaging Angar the Screamer.

All five villains were engaged separately by the different teammates, one at a time. No one knew that others were involved in battles. They were all unaware of the plot that was before them . . .

"The Revengers?" Nightwing asked, his bo-staff extended and at the ready. "Pardon?"

"Some detective," the Grand Master grinned. He, Chuck and Cissie stood in Central Park. "I battled Arrowette and other female members of Young Justice, and was defeated. Pyro was part of the Mutant Liberation Front that you stopped during the takeover of one of the towers of the World Trade Center. You also thwarted Angar's attempt at taking over Springfield, Illinois. The Ice Master was defeated by Robin and the Spoiler during the whole black-out business. And Tora was stopped by Nightwing, Arrowette and the Empress. The five of us were banded together by a man calling himself Rembrandt. He sought to give us a chance to stop you once and for all! To symbolize our goals, we were named . . . the Revengers!"

[[The battles took place in YJ 32, YJ 9-11, YJ: Screams of Angar, YJ: Manhunter Madness and YJ 36, respectively - Paul]]

"This is pointless," Arrowette frowned. "We've stopped each one of you before with ease. You think by dividing us into smaller numbers, you'll actually win? Ice Master and Tora were defeated by two or three people with ease. Pyro didn't meet the full team, and even you went down with ease. The only one who gave us a decent fight was Angar, and since we have fought him once, we know his tricks, and he'll be an easy fight this time."

"Wrong!" The Master said. "Phoenix has never encountered Angar, but she does now. Just as Impulse and Jolt don't know Tora . . . nor do Rebel and Empress know Pyro, or Superboy know Ice Master. Nightwing doesn't know me. You, Arrowette, were the only one who battled us all!"

"How did you know that?" Nightwing asked calmly.

"Know what?"

"That Arrowette fought all of them?" he continued. "Arrowette was in costume when she fought Angar . . . and though she didn't directly fight Pyro, she was there during the MLF battle . . . and yes, for Tora, too. But against the Ice Master, she was in the identity of the Spoiler. And against you, she was in her civilian identity."

"Yeah!" Arrowette exclaimed. "See, he is a good detective."

"Ah," the Master nodded. "All information was provided by Rembrandt, our mysterious benefactor."

"Mysterious benefactor, again," Arrowette frowned. "No one talks like that."

"The Grand Master of Messiness does!" the villain exclaimed. "And now will feel my full wrath!"

"Hold on a second," Nightwing said. "What do you hope to gain here? I mean, just revenge? Someone organized all this so that you could just attack us? What kind of sense does that make?"

"It makes perfect sense!" he exclaimed. A sudden ringing came from his belt. "Oop, hold on . . . call!" He grabbed a cell phone off his belt buckle and lifted it to his ear. "Hello?"

Arrowette and Nightwing looked at each other briefly. She made a 'cuckoo' motion. He shrugged.

"Oh . . . right, right," the Master continued his conversation on the phone. "Makes sense . . . okay! You tell the others? Okay . . . later!"

He hung up the phone.

"It appears this will have to wait for another day," he frowned. "Change of plans! See ya later!"

The Grand Master of Messiness summoned a quick wind, and flew off into the air.

"What is going on?" Nightwing asked.

"Beats me," Arrowette said.

"I'll put out a call to the others . . . we'll meet back at base, see if we can figure out what's going on."

The team reassembled after a few minutes.

"I was fighting this ice guy, and then he just . . . took off," Superboy frowned. "Then I got Chuck's call . . . "

"Bart and I were chasing Tora when we got called," Jolt said.

"Tora?" Empress asked.

"Okay, everyone," Nightwing started, "I think it's time we put the pieces together. Apparently, five of our former foes have gathered together to strike at us, calling themselves the Revengers. They've got someone else pulling the strings for them, whom was referred to as Rembrandt. That mean anything to anyone?"

There was a general answer of 'no'.

"Okay," Nightwing sighed. "Let's go over the villains quickly, so that when next we encounter them it'll be a quick fight. Ice Master?"

"Heat," Phoenix shrugged. "Melt him away. Tora?"

"Just power," Superboy shrugged. "She's a normal human. Some strong telekinetics from afar would take her out. Pyro?"

"Cut off his flame throwers," Empress said. "Without fire to control, he's powerless. The Grand Master of Messiness?"

"He's a push-over," Arrowette said. "Speed would deal with him easiest. Just have Impulse strike him faster than he can see, and no problems. Angar?"

"He's the only one who could be a problem," Nightwing said. "But if we can plug our ears, his powers shouldn't affect us. After that, he's just a normal guy in decent shape. Superboy or Phoenix could overwhelm him easily."

Kon nodded.

"Now that that's settled," Chuck continued, "why don't we all just monitor the news? They're going to strike again soon . . . I say rest up, keep and eye out. I'll look into this Rembrandt fellow."

They all nodded and dispersed.

Eventually night came . . . and the team shrugged and went to bed. They could wait for the Revengers.

Unfortunately, sleep was not to be the sweet reward they all expected. Another night was filled with nightmares, making sleep difficult. Uncomfortable at best, impossible at worst, the team was all suffering. None of them thought to say anything to each other, however. The nightmares were their own inner demons coming out. None would admit to such things.

But it was definitely starting to take a toll on the young heroes . . .

"It is . . . a desert," M'Reel said as he stood next to Graviton, who floated slightly off the ground.

"Yes, it is," Graviton replied.

"Why have we come here, oh first one?"

"Almost the entirety of the Australian populace is on the continent's coast. Most of the outback is un-colonized. It's an easy place to obtain a large mass of land."

"Obtain . . . ?" M'Reel asked. "But . . . this land . . . appears to be worthless."

"Hardly," Graviton replied. "There is water all throughout this land . . . you just need to dig deep enough. And believe me . . . we'll be digging plenty deep."

"I do not understand . . . "

Graviton smiled. "I've told you many times, my boy . . . many times. Vision is key."

He closed his eyes and concentrated. He raised an arm. The ground began to shake all around them. In a matter of moments, approximately forty-eight square miles of desert ground began to rise out of the Australian continent.

"Oh my . . . " M'Reel said.

Graviton grinned as his work continued. "I have my vision, my loyal servant. And it begins now . . . as I create for us a new home . . . as I begin to build . . . Sky Island!"

"Everybody, up an' at 'em," Nightwing said as the team gathered in the kitchen, late morning.

"What?" Superboy asked, obviously tired. "Find anything out?"

"About Rembrandt?" he asked back. "No. But the Ice Master's attacking again, causing havoc in Manhattan. Suit up, and we'll go get him."

"What about his buddies?" Anita asked.

"They're not in sight," Nightwing answered, "but I'd be willing to bet they're nearby."

"Alright," Jolt said. "We'll be ready to go in no time!"

The Super Cycle closed in on the Ice Master's location. The area around him was cold, as he was randomly encasing things in ice and giggling to himself.

"That guy's a loon," Superboy said.

"I know," Arrowette replied. "Let's make this fast and . . . whoa!"

Suddenly, the cycle shook due to intense wind. Streams of garbage and waste whirled around them.

"We're under attack!" Jolt exclaimed.

"No kidding," Superboy said. He grabbed Arrowette and flew away from the cycle. Phoenix grabbed Rebel and Jolt with her telekinesis. Empress teleported herself, Impulse and Nightwing to the ground. The cycle went on auto-pilot and landed safely, although a bit harshly.

The Grand Master of Messiness grinned as Young Justice formed on the ground. He called out, "Revengers . . . Assemble!"

Tora, Pyro and Angar all formed on him, with Ice Master quickly following.

"There will be no surrender, Young Justice," the Grand Master said. "You will suffer!"

"Let's do this already, okay?" Superboy said.

"Your wish," The Master said. "Angar!"

At that command, Angar the Screamer opened his mouth and screamed. "Your worst fears are now . . . manifest!"

"We've all got ear-plugs, stupid," Jolt said.

Angar frowned. "Oh."

Tora lashed out with her bullwhip, grabbing Jolt by the arm and throwing her into a nearby building. Pyro created a giant fire dragon that lunged for Arrowette, who leapt aside. The Ice Master hurled ice-spears at Empress and Rebel. Anita teleported away, as Rebel dodged. The Grand Master called upon a wave of trash to attack the young heroes.

"Wow," Empress said as she teleported next to Pyro. She pulled out her staff and pulled it into its two halves, which had sharp blades. She sliced off one of the access points to his flame thrower. She teleported to the other and did the same. "I didn't think a group of super-villains this lame has ever existed before."

"You may have cut me off from creating more fire," Pyro said, "but I won't need to create more! Not with this dragon to do my bidding!"

"You claim to know fire?" Phoenix asked, taking to the air. "You know nothing."

Her firebird burst out from around her and let out a telepathic scream. It enveloped the fire dragon, dispersing the flame and incorporating some of it into itself. Then the bird went back to normal, hovering about Linda's body.

"Ulp," Pyro said.

Empress punched him in the face, and he dropped.

Rebel leapt at Tora, and the two began to fight.

"You're fast," Tora said.

Rebel replied with a quick nerve pinch to Tora's arm, and a second to her neck. She dropped as well.

Angar opened his mouth to attempt a louder scream. Arrowette fired a gas arrow straight into his mouth. He fell to the floor, choking on sleeping gas.

Nightwing dodged some random garbage and Superboy knocked both fists into the Ice Master.

"You're not so strong," the Ice Master said.

"Strength isn't everything," Superboy said, "when you've got friends."

Kon knocked him back into Jolt, who gave the villain a pair of electro-shock punches, knocking him out.

"Ice is still water, and water and electricity don't mix," she grinned.

Impulse sped around the Grand Master of Messiness at a fast pace, giving quick punches here and there, but mainly keeping him disoriented and dizzy. When he finally broke off his attack, Nightwing was ready with his bo-staff. One strong blow to the head was all it took.

"Well . . . that was easy," Impulse said.

"Yeah," Superboy grinned. "So much for the Revengers!"

"Except for that Rembrandt guy," Arrowette frowned.

"I wonder who he is," Anita said.

"Yeah . . . " Nightwing pondered. "Me too . . . "

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!"

"So, it was Harm all along," Nightwing finished his explanation. He was using a small monitor that they had Jerry-rigged together to communicate with the Batman.

"I see," Batman replied in his usual voice. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to help . . . but glad, also, that you were able to figure it out on your own."

"I'm glad, too," Nightwing smiled. "Hate to think I'm losing my touch. Well, anyways, I appreciate--"

"Hold on," Batman said. "There was a girl . . . a new addition to Young Justice that I saw around your current home after the whole Morlock deal. I think I later heard you mention her . . . "

"Jolt?" he asked. "Or Empress? Or, maybe Rebel?"

"Rebel," Batman nodded.

"What about her?"

"Well, something about her worried me."

"Worried you?"

"Her lack of speech, yet how she seems to be able to understand you all," Batman explained.

"She's probably just mute," Chuck replied. "Or . . . well, no, she has said a few things . . . but not much. Why does that worry you?"

"She's about, what? Sixteen? Seventeen?"

"I'd say so."

Batman let out a deep breath. "I know of an assassin . . . one I've fought a few times, named Cain. He had some interesting ideas about language . . . he thought that a person could be trained to read body language as its own form of expression. So that, theoretically, someone could be trained to read a person's movements and posture to know what that person was going to do before they did it."

"What're you getting at?"

"Cain trained children, Nightwing. He would somehow obtain children at an incredibly young age . . . lock them away from the world, and teach them in silence. Teach them his language, of body movements. Train them to be the ultimate assassins."

"You're saying . . . ?" Chuck started.

"Well, I was concerned," Batman frowned. "So I took the liberty of looking into it. I found something, the other day. A video that I think you should see. Let me pull it up."

The screen changed, becoming black and white. There was a lot of visual distortion. The video was of a very low quality. There was a man, bald, wearing a suit, sitting behind a desk. On either side of him were two large men in black suits. One was smoking.

"This was filmed in Macau, about ten years ago," Batman said. "See the little girl on the right? Watch her."

There was indeed a little girl in the right corner. She was wearing a small, summer dress. She had long black hair in pigtails.

"Wrong room, kid," the man on the right said, almost laughing. "Unless you're Marado's new Bag-Man."

"Ha!" the man sitting down said. "Tell me girl, what can I do--"

Without warning, the little girl leapt onto the man's desk and plunged her hand into his throat. The screen went blurry, but the sounds of guns being fired could be heard just as the video was cut off abruptly.

"Whoa," Chuck said. "That girl ripped the guy's throat out?"

"Looks that way," Batman said. "The girl. I believe it's Rebel."

"No way," Chuck frowned. "I mean, okay . . . there's a resemblance, but . . . it couldn't be. Rebel appeared outta nowhere, sure, but she's been a valuable member to the team, fighting the good fight, taking villains down but never killing . . . "

"I'm just telling you what I found," Batman replied. "I was concerned, after all. I believe your teammate was trained by Cain to be an assassin, to anticipate someone's moves before they were made, and to kill swiftly and brutally."

"I don't . . . it's just . . . "

"You can look for yourself, if you're unsure," Batman said. "But I suggest you find Cain. Batman out."

Chuck was hard at work, searching for anything about someone named Cain. He wasn't having much luck.

"Hey, Chuck!" Jolt said as she and Impulse walked into the room. "How's it goin'? Bart and I were wondering--"

"It's actually not going too well," Chuck frowned.

"What's wrong?" Bart asked.

"I've been searching for information on this old Batman villain by the name of Cain, and I can't find anything."

"I can help," Impulse said. "Hold on."

He was gone, and then back, in the space of about two seconds. He was holding a disc in his hand. "Try this!"

Chuck slid it into his computer, and he instantly found a whole database of villains, as well as other heroes, aliens and technology.

"Bart, this is phenomenal!" Chuck exclaimed. "Where did you get this and why have you been hiding it?"

"I haven't been hiding it," Bart shrugged. "I just kinda forgot. But I got it from the Avengers League."

"You mean Flash gave you this?"

"No, I took it," Bart shrugged. "When we were under house arrest after our big fight with them, and we were getting ready to leave, Hallie helped me download a bunch of their files onto that disc so that we could have it."

[[In YJ #26 - Paul]]

"What?!" Chuck exclaimed. "You stole this from the Avengers League?!"

"Stole's such a mean word . . . " Hallie said.

"And you helped?!" he asked, looking at Hallie. "Are you two out of your minds?"

"No," Bart said. "I really thought about it . . . and I figured, what good had the Avengers League been doing for us? Locking us up when all we were trying to do is help people! And, hey, I figured we could help people more easily if we had access to their files. They're all high and mighty, but we can look out for the little guy, 'cause we're little guys! And I just thought that those files would help . . . "

Chuck sighed and shook his head. "Your heart was in the right place, at least. But you're a hero . . . you've got to know stealing's wrong."

"Sometimes heroes need to bend the rules," Hallie frowned.

Chuck sighed. "As much as I'd like to believe or say otherwise, I know it's true. On the plus side, this thing has a file on Cain . . . including his last known whereabouts. Whatever you two had planned, go for it. I'm gonna be out for a little while . . . got a trip planned for Mexico."

"Huh," Superboy said, looking at the news. "You see this?"

"What?" Linda asked.

"Australian officials are reporting a large chunk of land that's just disappeared," he said, recapping the story. "Like, a chunk the size of a small city."

"That's weird."

"It gets weirder," Kon continued. "There've been some reports from Japan, Australia, some smaller pacific ocean islands, China, Russia . . . of buildings going missing."

"Buildings?"

"Yup . . . buildings just up an' vanish in the night. Gone."

"That is odd," Linda frowned. "You think they're connected?"

"I dunno. But two US navy pilots have been officially filed as missing. They were on routine scout duty over the pacific from a naval base in Japan. They just didn't come back. No sign of their planes or the pilots has been seen."

"I wonder . . . "

"Hey, has anyone seen Chuck?" Arrowette asked, walking in.

"Nope," Kon said.

"I think Bart said he was going to Mexico?" Linda replied.

"Mexico?" Cissie asked again. "Just like that?"

"I would've inquired further, but Hallie was dragging him out of the resort for a night out."

"Poor Bart," Cissie frowned.

Nightwing exited slowly, at the ready. He paused and listened. The area was a fairly un-populated portion of Mexico very near the equator. It was hot, moist . . . tropical. His eyes scanned a large house in the distance.

He approached with caution. He found it surprisingly easy to get inside. He snuck about, sticking to shadows. Despite it being late afternoon, the house was very dark. He found his way to what appeared to be, perhaps, a study. At one end of the dark room was an older man with white hair, sitting on a chair. Next to him was a small table, with a bottle of liquor and a single shot-glass, empty.

"Cain," Nightwing said from the shadows. "You're a hard man to find."

"One step closer and I'll have to go for my gun," Cain said, almost sarcastically.

"I'm here about the video."

"The video?" Cain asked. "I've made hundreds of videos in my life, boy. Who are you, anyway?"

"The name's Nightwing," Chuck frowned, stepping a bit closer.

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?"

"I'm here about the video," he repeated. "I was sent by Batman."

"Old Bats?" he laughed. "Been awhile since he an' I tussled. If he decided to send some punk kid, he must either really not want to see me or think I'm too far below him in my older age."

"He sent me because the video in question pertains to someone I know," Chuck frowned. "Someone who can only speak a handful of words . . . but who seems to be able to predict what someone's gonna do in a fight before they do it. And in the video, there's this little girl . . . and I think they're the same. And the little girl rips a man's throat out."

Cain almost seemed to grin. "Ah, Cassandra . . . "

"Cassandra?"

"The girl," he continued. "She was my ultimate success. I trained her . . . oh, how I trained her. She couldn't speak, no . . . but she could indeed read a person's body language. She was perfection."

"She's a hero," Chuck frowned.

Cain frowned right back. "She ran away from me that night . . . the one on the video. I suppose I could see her becoming a hero. Putting on a costume of some sort, risking her life for strangers. Probably in an attempt to redeem herself. Or, more likely, out of guilt. Guilt can drive someone like that. When she plunged her little fingers into his neck . . . the look on her face . . . first kill's . . . never easy, but . . . she just . . . fell apart. Too young. Too soon. My fault."

"You're twisted," Chuck said.

"Believe what you will," Cain said. "She was perfect. Not good, not better than expected . . . perfect. If I were to be involved in a hit, normally I would survey a room before charging into it. She wouldn't have to. Her training enables her to read opponents. Body language is a real language for her. Her only language. With one glance, she would already know what they'd just started to think about doing. A fight would be over before she set foot in the room. She was perfect . . . she would have made the ultimate assassin. But I rushed things."

"Too bad for you," Nightwing frowned. "You said her name was Cassandra?"

"Yes," Cain continued. "Cassandra Cain."

"She was your daughter?" Chuck asked, shocked.

"Don't be so surprised," he frowned. "I took other children and trained them . . . but when I finally had one of my own, I figured, who better? So training began younger than on any of the others . . . and it was more intense. I think, perhaps, that's where she succeeded while so many others failed."

"You're sick," Nightwing frowned. "And I'm leaving."

"That's it?" Cain asked. "You came here to confirm something about a friend, and now you're leaving? No vendettas? No bringing me to justice?"

"I've got no vendetta against you," Nightwing frowned. "And no hard evidence that you've been doing anything illegal here. But I'll tell you this . . . if you ever so much as try to communicate with Reb--with Cassandra, I will hurt you."

"There's no need for threats, my boy," Cain smiled. "Especially ones you couldn't back up."

"Okay," Chuck frowned. "Sorry for calling this meeting so late."

Everyone was gathered, except . . .

"Where's Rebel?" Anita asked.

"I didn't invite her," Chuck frowned. "This meeting is about her."

"About her?" Linda asked.

"I came across something this morning," Chuck began. "And then I followed up on it. Basically, I uncovered the history that Rebel is unable to tell us."

"I don't get it," Cissie frowned.

"Okay . . . here goes. Her real name is Cassandra Cain. She is the daughter of David Cain, a highly skilled assassin whom Batman has had several encounters with. She has been trained, almost since birth, in numerous types of fighting styles and disciplines. David Cain had a theory, that someone could learn to read body language as its own language. With Cassandra, he achieved that. She knows what moves a person will make before he makes them. She's probably one of the most highly skilled fighters alive. But . . . she was trained by an assassin. Trained to kill. I have a video . . . " he paused. "I have a video, or at least a copy, where, Cassandra, maybe six or seven years old, commits her first murder."

"What?" Kon asked.

"She ripped a man's throat out," Chuck frowned, continuing. "He was a low-life scum . . . no one missed him. But she killed the man, nonetheless. However, she left Cain that same night. She had killed once . . . and it was too much for her. From what I can tell, she fled and probably spent about the next ten years wandering, drifting about. She's never told us how long she was with the Morlocks . . . but it seems to have been at least a little while. I think, after having done what she's done . . . she's become a hero to atone for it. To make up for it, because she knows of her guilt."

"That's . . . that's crazy," Anita said.

"It's the truth," Chuck sighed.

"So . . . now what?" Cissie asked.

"That's another part of why I've gathered us together," he continued. "We've got to decide what to do with her. Heroes don't kill. We may bend some rules now and then . . . but murder is crossing a line that cannot be crossed."

"You want to kick her out?" Bart asked.

"No way," Kon said. "She was six when she killed the guy, right? She didn't know what she was doing! And after it was done, she was so disgusted that she fled!"

"But . . . murder . . . " Cissie frowned.

"She wasn't a hero when she committed the murder," Anita said. "I'm sure we've all made mistakes before donning our costumes . . . "

"We don't kill," Chuck frowned.

"So, what then?" Kon asked. "We kick her out, onto the street? We turn her into the cops?"

"I don't know . . . it's just . . . oh no."

Everyone turned to see Rebel standing in the doorway. She had an odd look on her face. It showed that she understood what they were talking about. And it also seemed to show how horribly saddened she was.

"Cassandra . . . " Chuck started.

But in a moment, she was gone.

"Rebel?" Linda asked.

"She sure bolted fast," Hallie said.

"Bart, find her," Chuck frowned.

Impulse sped away, and was back in a few seconds. "She's not anywhere on the grounds!"

"That's impossible," Cissie said.

"No . . . there's an entrance to the Morlock tunnels under here," Chuck frowned. "She used to live down there . . . she'd know those tunnels better than any of us."

"Way t'go, Chuck," Kon frowned.

"Hey, don't blame me," Chuck frowned. "I didn't expect her to overhear . . . "

"Don't argue," Phoenix said. "Let's find her. I'll go into the tunnels and search telepathically. The rest of you should head into Manhattan, where the tunnels lead to. Just . . . try to find her."

The young girl named Cassandra Cain sat on a rooftop. She was trying hard not to cry.

She was in costume. She always was. It was a fairly simple outfit. She wore small, black boots, slick black pants, a black, long-sleeved shirt and black gloves. She recently added a sort of tool-belt, that she wore more like a sash from her right shoulder down to her left hip and back up again. She had designed it herself, after Nightwing's, finding that some added weapons could always be useful.

She didn't understand the feelings that were washing through her. She didn't know the names for them, really, or what they were. But what she was feeling was a mixture of things that confused her. She was sad, upset, depressed . . . betrayed?

But there were no words going through her head. No thoughts. Her mind didn't work like anyone else's. It was an existence that must have been terribly lonely. With Young Justice, she had perhaps found something to end the loneliness at long last. But now?

Now, they knew. They knew the memory she had long since buried. Her kill.

The image flashed through her mind once more. It was one she thought was long gone.

She had wandered for years, from Macau to the United States, eventually seeking a home in the tunnels alongside some Morlocks. Unable to communicate, she was afraid that she would be perceived as an enemy . . . so she hid. But she helped them, now and then . . . scaring off explorers or possible threats. She watched the blue skinned Mutant, Maggot . . . and when he led the Marauders into the tunnels, it was she who got Young Justice.

Her eyes suddenly went wide. She saw a woman, walking slowly down a street below. The woman wore a two-toned purple suit, Asian in design, with a jacket that had a long, flowing back. Cassandra Cain recognized the woman.

Shiva.

Lady Shiva Woosan was a highly skilled assassin. Her hobby was hunting down the best fighters in the world and then beating them to death with her bare hands. She's also the closest thing Cassandra had to a mother.

Cain was her father. He taught her much of what she knew about fighting and killing. The rest, she learned from Shiva. If she was actually related, she didn't know. Yet Cassandra, by appearance, seemed at least half Asian. Cain is not Asian. And Shiva played a role in her upbringing . . .

Either way, the fact that Lady Shiva was in town was not a good sign. She had to have had a target in mind. Cassandra . . . Rebel . . . couldn't allow her to murder someone.

Rebel hopped from the rooftop she was on to another lower one. She sprinted quickly to the fire escape along the far wall, and scrambled down with ease. She peeked around the corner and saw Shiva continuing on her way. She waited until Shiva turned a corner. Rebel then made a bolt across the street, again into an alley and into darkness. She ran the length of the alley and hopped over a small fence between that block and the next. She cut right, heading towards the street Shiva turned on.

The alleyway was still covered in darkness. She was lucky. She let her back against the far wall and looked to see if Shiva was still approaching.

No . . . she must have already passed.

Rebel turned in a one-eighty, and looked the other way.

No Shiva there, either. Had she moved on that quickly?

No . . . she was waiting for her.

Rebel looked up just in time to see the Lady Shiva Woosan leaping down from the rooftop above her, her foot extended and ready for a kick. Rebel barely managed to dodge out of the way before Shiva landed.

Rebel took up an offensive stance. She read Shiva's intentions with ease. She was able to dodge the first kick, block the first punch, as well as the second kick.

However, Shiva easily ducked away from Rebel's two punches. Shiva caught the third punch and, while holding on to Rebel's hand, slammed her foot upside Rebel's head, knocking her back.

"Cassandra," Shiva grinned. "When I learned you were in New York . . . I made it a goal to find you. It has been long. I assumed you would make a worthy challenge."

Rebel didn't pay attention to the words. But she understood what was being said through body language.

"I think, if we were the same age, it would be a fairly even fight, between you and me," she continued. "We both have the ability to read our opponents moves. I think the only reason I'll win is experience."

Rebel threw a kick to her chest that was easily blocked. However, she pulled off a punch to Shiva's head that connected, catching her off guard. Shiva had managed to move away, however, making the blow not too effective. Shiva countered with a round-a-bout double kick, which Rebel blocked, but was knocked down from. She quickly did a back flip to get back on her feet.

Rebel leapt at Shiva, attempting a fast jump-kick. Shiva caught the kick, though it did connect to her chest. However, with Rebel's leg firmly in her grasp, she had no trouble throwing the young girl into a brick wall, knocking most of the fight out of her.

"Stand down," Nightwing's voice suddenly burst onto the scene. He stood on a rooftop, then jumped down to the fight scene below.

"What is it to you, boy?" Shiva asked.

"She's part of my team," Chuck frowned. "Part of Young Justice. And we look after our own."

"Young Justice?" Shiva asked. "Really?" She turned back to look at Cassandra. "I didn't know she was the heroic type . . . "

Without even really looking back, Shiva cracked a high kick up against Nightwing's head, knocking him down.

"No," Rebel said. She stood up, charging, and tackled Shiva away from Nightwing. With the momentum gained, Rebel was able to slam Shiva, head first, into a brick wall herself. The added force of Rebel's body against her back was a bonus, but to be sure, Rebel quickly cracked a hard punch to the back of her head. Shiva fell unconscious.

"Oomph," Nightwing said as he sat up, holding his head. "You saved my life."

"You . . . said . . . teammate," she replied.

"I did," Nightwing nodded. "Because that's what you are. We all have shady pasts. But you've helped us many times. And it's not like you were hiding anything from us . . . you couldn't tell us, and we never asked. You're a part of Young Justice . . . if you still want to be."

Rebel nodded quickly, despite the pain her various injuries were causing her.

"Good," Nightwing smiled. "Now . . . what do we do with her?"

Rebel shrugged.

"Leave her?" Nightwing asked. "Aren't you worried she'll come after you?"

Rebel shrugged again.

Nightwing shrugged back. "Fine by me. No paperwork to deal with. Come on . . . let's get you back home."

Rebel grinned, and the two began to head back home.