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by Paul Hahn Originally presented at DC/Marvel: The Merging as Young Justice #14-16 and Young Justice: Robin/Spoiler |
"This stinks."
"No duh."
"It really stinks."
"None of us like it . . . we're all under house arrest while Robin's still out on the loose, and Cissie and Cassie can go home . . . but for the rest of us, this place is our only real home . . . plus, there's some kinda crisis going on, and we should be out there helping!"
"Oh . . . well, that's bad too."
"Wait . . . what were you talking about?"
"My Dreamcast overheated . . . "
Kon-El slapped his head at the comment of his teammate and friend, Bart. As members of Young Justice, they were Superboy and Impulse. Founding members, they were both sidelined, as Superboy had complained, along with most of the team, following the negative public response about their recent battle with the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle.
They had fought to save one of their former teammates, Linda Danvers, a.k.a. Firebird, who had been telepathically coerced into becoming a member of the aforementioned secret cabal. Though they did save her, the team had been seen by many news stations, apparently trashing a very old, private, and rich club. It was with the advise of Captain America of the Avengers League that the Red Tornado, YJ's mentor, put them under house arrest. It had been just over a week, and every last one of them was getting sick of it.
"What am I gonna do now?" Impulse asked sadly.
"Umm . . . see how fast you could twiddle your thumbs?"
"Hey! That'll work!" Impulse grinned stupidly as he began to twiddle his thumbs at incredibly speeds, creating a miniature vacuum.
Superboy shook his head and walked out of the room. As he began a walk down a darkened hallway, he noticed a dim blue light appear suddenly at the end of the hall. Another second and it was gone, but his teammate Illyana Rasputin replaced it.
"Magik?" Kon asked. "You weren't violating House Arrest were you?"
"I'm not in the mood for you," she replied, turning to walk away.
"Hey now!" Kon called. "That's uncalled for. It's not like I'd report you to Reddy . . . I hate this whole thing as much as everyone else. I was just curious . . . "
"Curiosity can kill more than just felines," she answered. "Keep your questions and comments to yourself."
Another blue light dazzled Superboy as Magik made her exit.
"What is up with her?"
Jennifer-Lynn Haden rested comfortably on a floating, green chair, one made by her own powers, suited to herself, allowing for maximum comfortability. She could create almost anything with her force of will and maintain it for as long as she concentrated. A new trick she had begun experimenting with were a set of green wings. But with her being under house arrest, the regular training as a member of Young Justice had been eased up.
Swimming laps in the pool with her was Samuel Guthrie, also known as Cannonball. He was the leader of the New Mutants before they disbanded and he went to YJ. He, like Magik, was a mutant, not a super-powered human. And, once being a leader, he pushed himself far more than the others on the team. That's why he was swimming laps instead of relaxing with his pseudo-girlfriend.
"I can't believe someone used the term pseudo-dating," Jen frowned, not moving from her relaxing position and hoping Sam would hear. "I guess it's kinda hard to actually date or something, being super-heroes and all . . . but really, pseudo-dating? That's not exactly a romantic term . . . "
"Would ya prefer bizzaro-dating?" Sam asked with a half-smile as he swam by her.
"I'd prefer we were two normal teens, dating like normal kids do," she frowned again. "But I guess with my green skin, that'd be out of the question anyway. I wonder if She-Hulk ever went through this . . . "
"Well, both our lives've never been what most folks'd consider normal. Pseudo-dating fits the trend. Can't beat consistency, right?"
"Eh," she shrugged.
"Ah'm sorry," Sam said as he pulled his elbows up onto her chair.
"For what?" she asked, puzzled.
"For two things, really," he explained. "I'm mainly sorry that the situation can't be how you want it."
She smiled. "I may long for a real life, but believe me, there's nothing about this I'd change. You're a sweet, caring guy, and a total gentlemen, and I really like spending time with you. But . . . what's the other thing you're sorry for?"
He grinned. "This."
With a push, he toppled the chair over, sending Jen into the water.
"Samuel J. Guthrie!" she yelled, wiping the wet hair from her eyes after getting her head out of the water. "Sweet, caring my foot!"
Normally this room was used to work out new tactical scenarios and to build teamwork skills. But for the moment, it was being used as a research center. Inside the control room sat the team's leader, Robin, and the team's mentor, Red Tornado. Inside the training room stood Firebird, the team's recently returned member.
"Just . . . power up?" she asked.
"Whenever you're ready," Robin answered over a comm.
Linda Danvers shrugged. In another instant, giant wings of fire burst from her back and she began to hover into the center of the room.
"Did you see the power spikes when she did that?" Robin asked the Tornado, pointing at one of the various monitors.
"Indeed," the Tornado replied. "Far stronger than we expected."
Robin turned to the mic. "Now, a holographic target is going to appear. See it? I want you to start hitting it . . . start off with as little power as you can hit it with, and then begin hitting it with more. We're going to try and test your limits here."
"Alright," Firebird replied. "Here goes!"
Robin and the Tornado watched nervously.
"Alright . . . that's good news," Robin commented. "Though her power levels do seem to have increased greatly, she still can maintain the same lows she used to have. I was worried that her lows may have jumped, and that even her powers on minimal use could be severely powerful."
"She has maintained a great degree of control," the Tornado nodded.
"Okay, Linda," Robin spoke into the mic, "turn it up!"
"I would like to thank you for coming, Robin," the Tornado spoke. "I knew I needed help with this . . . and the team could really use you. I fear their morale is rather low."
"I'll say hi to everyone."
"I understand you've been quite busy."
"I suppose," Robin shrugged.
"Have you talked to Cassie or Cissie?"
"Nope . . . they're off-limits, you said," Robin replied. But . . . Cissie . . . maybe I should stop in to see her. I don't know what was starting between us . . . I knew for awhile that she liked me, but I don't know . . . it seemed like we were close to starting something. But now? I've spent this past week cleaning up the city alongside the Spoiler . . .
[[The Spoiler debuted in YJ: Manhunter Madness, and the two of them have been working together ever since! As for what they've been doing, keep an eye out for the upcoming Robin/Spoiler one-shot! And, just another important tidbit . . . Robin doesn't know that Cissie, his teammate Arrowette, is actually the Spoiler! - Paul]]
And I don't know what it is. There's something there, more than anything I was ever getting with Cissie. Even when we're fighting alongside together, there's just this vibe I get . . . I hope I'll see her again tonight, because I--
"Robin!" the Tornado pointed at the main power monitor.
"Holy birds of fire, Reddy!" Robin exclaimed.
[[Uhh . . . yeah. He said that. -Me again ;)]]
"She's putting out enough energy to power New Jersey for a week! The system can't hold much more, and her levels are increasing!"
Rob grabbed the mic. "Stop, Linda! Abort the test!"
Down below, Linda's body glowed, surrounded by the flames and the raw energy she was putting out. Her eyes burned with fury.
"Linda?" Robin called. "Linda, abort already!"
"Huh?" she asked, suddenly realizing what was going on. In another few seconds, she had stopped her assault and cut off her power. "Done so soon? I feel like I could've kept that up for hours . . . "
"That's what we're afraid of," Robin said. "You've got such immense power . . . it's dangerous. We've got to find your limits in a safer place, and then decide what to do about it."
"What do you mean, do about it?" she asked. "I like having this much power . . . so long as I'm in control of it, there's nothing you need to 'decide to do about it'."
"We'll talk later, I--" Robin paused, reaching at his ear piece. "Oracle? I read you, yeah . . . what?! Alright, thanks . . . Robin out."
"What is it?" the Tornado asked.
"Looks like the team might have reason to break house arrest."
"Why?"
"There's been a massive explosion at Cassie's house!"
An entire suburban block was on fire, and firemen were working as fast and as hard as they could. Houses towards the inside of the block weren't even visible.
The Super Cycle hovered in the air above the fire. Robin, Superboy and Impulse sat onboard.
"Wow, that's bad," Impulse commented.
"No kidding," Robin replied. "I really wish I could've persuaded Red to let me get more than just the two of you . . . this might take awhile."
"Then let's stop sitting around and do something!" Superboy exclaimed.
"Alright," Robin nodded. "Kon, your tactile telekinesis renders you invulnerable, even from fire. I need you to fly in there and search for Cassie or survivors."
"Right," Superboy replied, flying off.
"I'll create a vacuum around the fire and put it out!" Impulse exclaimed, proud of himself for making a plan.
"No!" Robin stopped him. "If you do that you'll suck all the oxygen from the area . . . if there are any survivors, they'll be killed!"
"Oh . . . gee. So what do I do?"
"Land the Super Cycle somewhere out of the way and then ask the Firemen if there's anything you can do to help. I'm gonna go in after Kon."
"Er . . . okay," Bart shrugged. Robin leapt from the cycle and Bart went to park it.
"Anything?" Robin spoke into his comm unit as he landed just outside the fire.
"Nothing!" Superboy yelled back. "This heat is intense, and the fire is crazy . . . I don't think anyone not invulnerable could've survived the explosion!"
"Keep looking," Robin replied. "Search every house!"
"Need a hand?"
Robin turned around quickly, just in time to spot the Spoiler leaping off of another house's roof and down to his side.
"I don't think there's much you can do," he replied. "That fire's too hot. And this is Young Justice business."
"I thought you were sidelined?" she asked. She knew why it was Young Justice business, though. She was Arrowette. And one of the houses that was on fire was the place where her best friend and teammate Cassie Sandsmark lived.
"It's personal," he replied.
"Still," she said, "I'm willing to help."
Impulse sped over. "Rob?"
"Hold on," Robin said. "Kon? Anything?"
"I can't find any survivors," he replied. "Not even Cassie . . . "
"We can't wait any longer," Robin sighed. "This fire's about to get out of control. Impulse, put it out!"
Bart sped off, circling the block at incredible speeds, creating the vacuum needed to draw all the oxygen away from the area, effectively putting out the fire. The firemen and anyone watching was quite surprised.
"Alright," Robin said. "Go again, all four of us . . . we need to look for survivors . . . I want Wonder Girl found!"
The four sped forward, mostly heading towards Cassie's house. It was the one with the most damage.
"Oh, man . . . " Superboy said as he got his first real view of her house.
"This is where the fire started, where the explosion came from," Robin shook his head. "You can tell . . . the whole front of the house has been blow outward."
"Maybe she's . . . maybe she's alright?" the Spoiler asked. This is too much . . . I know I want to keep this identity a secret from the team, but . . . but that's my best friend's house! And she was probably inside! Is she . . . oh God, please let her be alive . . .
Superboy had flown down into the basement of the house, where it seemed the explosion had originated. "I see something!"
"You do?" Impulse asked.
"He does?" Spoiler asked as well.
"What is it?" Robin questioned.
"I . . . I can't explain it," Superboy answered. "But we're coming up . . . "
"We . . . ?" Robin asked.
Superboy hovered up carrying a glowing blue body. One which Robin almost immediately recognized, despite the changes.
"It's . . . it's Cassie," Superboy replied. "Wonder Girl . . . she started the fire . . . when she exploded!"
Robin's eyes were wide with disbelief. "Oh my . . . "
Minutes later, in Queens.
"Many of our viewers might remember the startling footage of the battle in Central Park captured mere weeks ago. A battle between Young Justice and, as far as anyone knew, their teammate Firebird. It was a battle the young heroes lost, and one which left much of Central Park scarred and burned.
"Not long after, in upstate New York, Young Justice supposedly went up against a terrorist organization called the Point Men, fighting on the grounds of a government military research base."
The camera cut to a short, bald man. Random people had been interviewed. "Fightin' against 'em?" he exclaimed. "More like workin' with 'em! I bet them Young Justices are all a buncha' stinkin' muties!"
"They were just trying to make themselves look good." Now it was a woman. "They staged the fight to get more public support, when it's obvious that they're just a bunch of confused teenagers who don't have any business being heroes."
"It hadda be real!" another man said. "I mean, cameras caught this one guy get gutted! He got killed tryin' to stop them terrorists!"
"But was it real?" Rogers continued. "Later, the member rumored to be Cannonball, also the one mentioned as being killed, was seen with the team in apparently perfect health. So what really happened?
"And who can forget when the Mutant Liberation Front held the World Trade Center hostage? Young Justice was right in the middle of that one, too. The building suffered heavy damage. And once again, people didn't hesitate to say the team was in league with the MLF, sighting that they probably were mutants. But does being a mutant automatically make you an outlaw?"
Another man-on-the-street p.o.v.: "Mutants are freaks of nature! They don't deserve to breathe the same air we normal people do! They should all be gathered up and taken out of the country!"
"Then there was the Hellfire Club," Rogers went on, a picture of the damaged and partially destroyed mansion taking over the TV screen. "Without any apparent reason, Young Justice attacked this venerable mansion, one which has always been home to the rich, the famous, and the politically powerful. Current owner of the club, Sebastian Shaw, has always been a powerful leader in pushing for mutant registration, a bill currently in congress. Emma Frost of Frost Enterprises is another member of this club."
"It was an outrage," the interview of Frost began. "We were attacked without provocation. They made no demands, but their purpose was clear. They were trying to send a message to Mr. Shaw so that he would stop supporting the mutant registration act. Young Justice is a team of criminals masquerading as heroes for God knows why. They should all be arrested."
"And then, after all that activity, another huge event struck. Power was cut all throughout New York City. All super heroes in the area swung into action, fighting back looters, rioters, and the general mass chaos that ensued. But Young Justice was mysteriously missing. Were they perhaps behind this? Were they showing their true colors?
"However, the urban legend called Robin was rumored to have been seen with a new costumed hero, rumored to be called the Spoiler. Are they connected to Young Justice? No one knows for sure . . . but we do know of one member, called Wonder Girl.
"Just yesterday Wonder Girl was at the heart of an incredible fire that covered an entire city block. Rumored members of Young Justice were there as well, possibly fighting the fire . . . but more obviously looking for their teammate. Did Wonder Girl start the fire? Was it an accident? Or is there something bigger at hand? The public wants to know . . . and this reporter means to find out."
[[That covers most of YJ 1-12, as well as the Manhunter Madness special - Paul]]
Cassie Sandsmark was floating in a high-tech energy containment field. Her powers as Wonder Girl had gone out of control.
"What's the word?" Robin asked cautiously. He, Superboy and Impulse were the ones who found her after the fire was put out.*
*(YJ #14)
"Her body, on a subatomic level, is bursting with ionic energy," the Red Tornado explained. He was the team's mentor, their guiding hand, and the robot who grounded the team. "She is completely composed of the substance."
"What?" Cissie asked. As a member of Young Justice, she was Arrowette. As Cissie King-Jones, she was Cassie's best friend. "She got her powers from a Norse God, Odin! Why would a God use ions?"
"Maybe it wasn't a God," Robin theorized. "Batman's been around awhile . . . and he hasn't seen any actions of any different pantheons of different gods. Wonder Woman is the only person he knows with any possible connection to a God."
"Wonder Woman, Wonder Man, Wonder Girl," Superboy frowned. "It gets confusing."
"Y'know, I think there's a Superman," Cissie commented. "But really . . . that begs the question . . . did Odin really give her her powers? And, no matter what . . . is she gonna be okay?"
"Only time will tell," the Tornado said finally. "I will continue to stay with her and run tests on her, to try and discover more of this situation."
"Alright," Robin nodded. "But I've got to go back out. While YJ's still grounded, I've gotta pick up the slack."
"Havin' a hard time?" Superboy asked with a smirk.
"I've had . . . a little help," Robin shrugged. "But I should get going . . . keep me updated."
Cissie watched as Robin left. A little help? she thought. The Spoiler's been fighting alongside you long enough to deserve some recognition. Oh well . . . maybe it's better this way. But I think I should go back home and change . . . and meet the little Boy Wonder in one of our usual stomping grounds.
Sometimes he's referred to as the Boy Wonder. Sometimes it's noted that he's been trained by the World's Greatest Detective. To some, he's nothing more than an urban legend used to scare little kids. To others, he's the effective leader of Young Justice. To himself, he's a hero. And to someone else . . . he might become more.
"Hiya, stranger," the Spoiler grinned as she leapt down onto a rooftop alongside Robin.
"Hey," he answered, not moving his gaze from the city below him.
"Nice to see you, too," Spoiler replied. Robin was unaware that Spoiler was the same person as Arrowette, the same person as Cissie King-Jones. His teammate and the girl he thought he might have been falling for . . . until Spoiler debuted.
"Sorry," he shrugged. "I've just been doing a lot of thinking lately."
"I guess, since your little team's sorta disbanded, you've had the time," Cissie shrugged. She was thankful for the mask that not only covered her face, but changed her voice slightly. Still, he's one of the best detectives in the world . . . how long will this charade really last? "Penny for your thoughts?"
"Ahh," Robin shook his head. "Batman stuff. You wouldn't be interested."
"No, I am," she replied. "Go ahead!"
"It's just, well . . . to see the man in action, it's breathtaking. He's gotta be the best there is at what he does. And one of these days, I'm supposed to replace him. Sure, it's probably a long ways off . . . but it could be tomorrow morning. And . . . I don't want that. I like Batman, and I appreciate everything he's done for me . . . but I don't want to be him."
"So . . . what? You want to give up the excitement of being Batman's sidekick? If you could just be normal, would you quit the super hero game?"
"In a heartbeat."
"No way!"
"If I were no longer Robin . . . that would mean that no more innocent people were being threatened. No more criminals were going around breaking the law. No one was living in fear of their lives. No more crime or wrongdoing. It would mean that mankind had entered utopia, and I'd be happy for humanity. Because that would be the only circumstance under which I'd quit the game."
"Whoa . . . that's deep."
"How about you, Spoiler?" he turned to her. "You haven't given me your reasons for entering the game . . . and are you planning on staying? Is this going to become your full time job?"
"I . . . " Cissie started. Tread carefully . . . "Someone once told me . . . that this isn't a job. It's a war. Thousands have died . . . millions . . . but we can't fight for vengeance, can't fight just to even the score. We have to fight for justice. For those living; for those who'll suffer and die next, if power hungry madmen and psychopathic criminals aren't stopped. And once you started down that path, it never ends. Take down one madman, and there'll be another. Another battle to be fought, another injustice to be redressed. Pick up this burden and it'll never let you go. I was told that there were three choices. Fight for vengeance and let it twist me into something as harsh as what I fight against. Walk away, while I still could. Or recognize that it's a war, and it'll never end."
"That's deep, too," Robin nodded. "But what did you decide?"
"I haven't yet," she frowned beneath her mask. "Sometimes vengeance seems like the best way to work . . . other times this hero business scares me so much that I want to give it up and run away. But a part of me . . . a part of me knows that what I'm doing . . . that I'm fighting for justice . . . is right."
Robin smiled. "You've the makings of a true hero. Actually, you remind of someone I know . . . "
"Oh?" Cissie asked. "Is she a . . . friend?"
"I . . . I don't know," he frowned. "We were friends . . . but there was something there, maybe for a little while . . . but, well . . . you've entered my life, and . . . things haven't exactly been the same."
Oh my god, Cissie thought to herself. I've actually created a love triangle . . . between two people! But now I don't know whether to be mad at Rob for liking this fake me more than the real me, falling for him because he actually likes me, or mad at myself for getting in this stupid position in the first place!
"Spoiler?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh, sorry . . . lost in thought. You were talking about . . . me?"
"Yeah," Rob smiled. "I was. But I was hoping the conversation might head more towards a topic like . . . us . . . "
"I . . . " Cissie stopped. What would she say? How could she play this? "I . . . look!"
Robin's head jerked quickly, following the direction Spoiler was pointing at. Two men with guns and bags were running out of a bank, obvious robbers.
Robin turned to her. "To be continued . . . "
He leapt off the rooftop and pulled a solid wire line from his utility belt, catching it on a lamp post and swinging down to the street, kicking one man in the stomach and knocking him back. Following the kick, he released his grip on the cord, using a double back-flip to land smoothly. In one fluid motion he grabbed a trip rope from his belt and flung it, lead balls on opposite ends of the rope swinging. They caught the second man's feet and caused him to fall face first into the pavement of the street.
The first guy got up, picked up his gun and aimed it at Robin. Spoiler landed on top of his back, tackling him from above and both disarming him, and rendering him unconscious.
The second guy managed to roll over, gun in hand, and fired several shots at the two. They both scattered, Robin grabbing a woman and her little girl and getting them out of the line of fire. A Robinwing went flying, hitting the guy in the head and knocking him out as well.
"That was easy enough," Spoiler shrugged.
"Knowing my luck, someone will say it was some mutant scheme," Robin frowned, recalling a news report he had seen earlier.
"Well, we can find that reporter and give her a stern talking to sometime," Spoiler grinned.
Robin grinned back. "It's a date. Come on . . . let's go."
"But shouldn't we wait for the police?"
"Nah. Besides, those two aren't going anywhere. And there's plenty more guys to kick around."
"Probably," Cissie grinned under her mask. "The night is young . . . "
She sits inside her cell. She's nervous. Afraid. All day, all night, the only thing she really hears are the screams. They're screams of children. She knows it. She's only fifteen . . . she shouldn't be here. Bad things aren't supposed to happen to good girls, right? Then why is she here? At random times, she experiences the reasons for the screaming. When cruel monsters come for her, drag her to her cell, and take her to some lab. A lab where she's experimented on. And the experiments . . . they don't stop. Will she ever be let go? Will it ever end? Will she ever see her mom and dad, her boyfriend, her dog, ever again?
It's those thoughts and more that constantly run through the head of Hallie Takahama. She only hopes that, somehow, sometime . . . someone will come to rescue her.
Impulse sped back and forth, playing Ping-Pong by himself. He was bored. Just like most of the team.
"Take that! Oh yeah, right back at ya! Umph! Ha! Hey, careful! Keep it down! D'oh!" Impulse ranted off. "I lost. But hey, I won, too . . . "
Superboy smacked his head after seeing that display. "This is driving me crazy . . . I need some action. Either that, or I need to be like Wonder Girl and have nothing else to do but recover from his crazy injury."
"Results are conclusive," the Red Tornado nodded. "My theory was true. Wonder Girl's powers are completely ionic in origin. The radiation she absorbed from her battle with Firestar must have destabilized her ionic cohesion, causing the disruption of her powers that caused the explosion and fire."
"Is she a danger to herself or others?" Robin asked cautiously.
"I am not certain," the Tornado answered. "Her body has slowly begun to draw the ions back into herself, but I do not know how well they will stay contained if she uses her powers. We will not know if she is safe, really, unless she is thoroughly tested in battle."
"Then if you'd un-ground us," Arrowette frowned.
"It is a necessary precaution, Arrowette," the Tornado frowned. "I will lift the house arrest when I feel sufficient time has passed. Young Justice is still figuring predominately in the media, and many question whether or not you truly are heroes."
"Well, what about the origin of her powers that she told us?" Robin asked. "She told us that, after demonstrating her courage, the Norse God Odin gave her her powers, and she took the name Wonder Girl as an homage to Wonder Man, her favorite super-hero."
"Strangely, Wonder Man's powers are supposed to be ionic as well," the Tornado pondered. "There is definitely more going on here than we know."
"So . . . how do we find it out?" Cissie asked.
"I've got an idea," Robin snapped his fingers. "Sure, it's a long shot . . . but Oracle, when she alerted me to Cassie's situation with the fire, it was because of the unique readings she got when the ionic energies overloaded. Chances are, whatever or whoever gave her these powers would be emanating the same energy readings."
"That is one heckuva long shot," Cissie frowned. "Cassie got her powers in January of '99. Maybe a few days after she got her powers . . . assuming it actually wasn't from Odin . . . "
"Well, maybe whoever did it is still in the same business?" Robin asked. "Either way, it's worth a try. I'll get Oracle on it right away."
As Robin left, Cissie pondered. Last night I had so much fun . . . as the Spoiler, Robin and I have no problems hanging out together, and we've become tight . . . as tight as two people with secret identities can get. I know it's wrong, and I should be mad . . . but I did kinda set him up for it. And he still doesn't know she's me.
"Cissie?" Cassie asked from her bed.
"Yeah, Cass?" she asked.
"What's the verdict?" Cassie asked again. Her strength was mostly recovered.
"We don't know yet," Cissie frowned. "But we'll find out soon."
Inside were Jennifer-Lynn Haden, a.k.a. Jade, and Sam Guthrie, a.k.a. Cannonball. The two were a couple. (Yeah, they admit it now.) And as such, they were spending a lot of their forced vacation together.
A knock came on the door. "Sam? Can I come in?"
It was Superboy, and before being given permission, Kon-El walked in. "Oh, sorry . . . didn't know you had company."
Sam slid the emerald green beauty off of his lap, blushing slightly. "No prob, Kon . . . what can Ah do fer ya?"
"Well, it's about . . . " he started, then looked over his shoulder. "It's about Illyana."
"What about her?" Sam asked, a frown growing on his face. Jade sat silent, as she found herself doing often.
"Well, ever since that whole Limbo thing, she's been, well . . . different," he answered. "She's closed herself off even more to the rest of us . . . and I think she's been ditching out on House Arrest. And, well . . . I'm worried."
Sam nodded. "Ah'm worried, too. But there's nothin' we can do. She'll get like that sometimes . . . she usually works it out. Just gotta give her some time is all. And some trust."
"Alright," Superboy shrugged. "Just thought I'd express my concern."
Sam nodded as Kon started to work out. "Kon? Just outta curiosity, why exactly did you come to me for this?"
"Well," Kon replied, rubbing the back of his head, "you've known her longer than anyone, I guess. And you're both mutants, maybe that's a sort of bond, I dunno. And I guess, next to Robin, you're probably the guy in charge."
"You mean, you don't consider yourself the second leader?" Jade finally spoke up.
"I used to," Superboy shrugged. "But Sam's better at it. But anyways . . . I'm gonna go now. 'Kay?"
Superboy walked out, leaving the two alone.
"Got it," Robin spoke aloud. "You're positive? Alright, thanks Oracle."
"So what's the news?" Arrowette asked, standing in the doorway. On the main viewer was a large map of New York State, and one little part was highlighted.
"I've found a place emitting an almost identical energy signature as the one Cassie released," he answered. "There's tons of other energy signatures there, though, too, so I'm not too positive."
"When do we leave?" Cissie asked.
"We don't," he answered. "I'm going to check it out. You're still under house arrest."
"But this is YJ business," Cissie frowned. "We should all go."
"Sorry," Robin replied. "That's the way the game is played. Besides, we do need more time for the media to calm down about us. Anyways, I'll call back if I find anything."
With that Robin headed out to the Super Cycle, knowing it would get him where he wanted to go quickly. But he left the location up on the monitor. Cassie eyed the information carefully before heading towards Sam's quarters . . .
The group nodded.
"The 'Cycles' gone, so we'll fly it out," Cannonball answered. "Now let's--"
"Going without me?" Magik asked.
"Where were you?" Superboy asked. "Impulse looked all over . . . "
"I was . . . elsewhere," she shrugged. "But I'm ready to go on this mission. If Wonder Girl can go, certainly I can."
"Alright," Sam nodded. He gave Magik the coordinates of where they were headed. "Think you can 'port us?"
"Not a problem," she smiled. Even as she spoke, the blue light of her teleportation disc rose from the ground and covered the team.
Teleportation, however, is not instantaneous. She always has to make a stop in Limbo. Sometimes she stays for longer. But not this particular time. However, if she would have stayed a little longer, she may have noticed something different. The almost . . . metallic feel the certain areas. She might have noticed a spreading techno-organic virus . . .
[[Techno-Organic? How could something techno-organic be in Limbo? Well, maybe if you look real carefully in YJ #4 & 5 . . . -Paul ;)]]
"This is the place," Arrowette replied. "And here he comes . . . "
Arrowette's keen eyesight had let her spot Robin's approach and decent on the Super Cycle. He landed quickly right before the team.
"You've got to be kidding me," Robin frowned. "You're not really here, are you?"
"We are," Sam answered. "This is YJ business. And we're tired o' bein' sidelined."
"If there's something here that has to do with my powers, I want to know about it," Wonder Girl replied.
"Come on, Rob," Superboy grinned. "We're already here. Might as well let us help out."
Robin sighed. "The Tornado's gonna have my head . . . "
"So far, so good," Cannonball said, looking around.
"Maybe Impulse should scout ahead?" Superboy asked.
Robin nodded. "But be careful and cautious."
Impulse was already gone before the words had left Robin's mouth. He sighed.
"You okay, Cassie?" Linda asked.
"No," she answered. "But I'll manage long enough to get to the bottom of this."
Cissie and Jenn frowned. Their best friends, Cassie and Linda, respectively, had both recently undergone traumatic experiences. Yet there they were, swinging back into action so quickly.
A gush of wind signaled Impulse's return.
"Find anything?" Sam asked.
"Oh yeah," Impulse nodded. "And it's not pretty."
"Lead the way!" Superboy exclaimed.
"Okay," Impulse replied. He vibrated his body at an incredible speed, becoming intangible, and sped through the wall on the team's left.
Robin sighed again. "Follow him!"
Superboy, Cannonball, Wonder Girl, Jade and Firebird all smashed through the wall, completely demolishing it.
"Sure, don't save any for me," Cissie frowned.
"Oh my Lord . . . " Magik's jaw dropped. Behind the wall were dozens of monsters, screaming at them. Was it fear? Hatred? Pain?
"Someone is here," Wonder Girl gaped. "And whoever it is is sick and twisted!"
"YJ, hit 'em!" Robin ordered. "But don't kill 'em! I have a hunch that these monsters may be innocent victims!"
"Victims?" Superboy asked as he flew into a crowd of monsters, punching. "How'd'ya figure?"
"What if they're experiments?" Robin asked. "What if they're all failed experiments? And Cassie's the one that worked?"
"That's so sick . . . so twisted!" Arrowette replied, firing a pair of gas arrows.
Jade created a solid green barrier to trap four monsters and keep them from entering the fight. She created a pair or large wrecking balls and, with a thought, flung them at more monsters.
"Who's behind this?" Wonder Girl asked. "I demand to know!"
Firebird sent an energy blast into a pair of monsters. It was stronger than intended, however, and sent them flying into a far wall, smashing it and bringing it down.
"Great googly moogly!" Impulse yelled.
The destroyed wall revealed another room, and the . . . man(?) . . . behind it all?
"Who?" Sam asked.
"I am Arnim Zola . . . the Bio-Fanatic!" the man yelled. It was hardly a man. He had a robotic body, and a big TV screen of a far on its chest.
"Who?" Sam asked again.
"I know of him," Robin replied. "He's an old war criminal from World War II, one of Hitler's greatest scientists. The original Captain America and Bucky went up against him several times. I didn't know he was still alive."
"Of course I'm still alive," Zola answered. "I did not merely study genetics . . . I mastered them! I control evolution! I am God!"
"Ah've been praisin' God mah whole life, an Ah'll be damned if you're Him," Cannonball replied, rocketing past Zola and knocking him back.
"Spill it, Zola," Robin demanded. "We want answers!"
"Why, all you had to do was ask," Zola replied as his monsters continued the losing battle. "I was commissioned to create a new army of super powered beings. What you are fighting are my failures. "It's a pity I've only had twelve successes. Cassie Sandsmark was my first."
"No!" Wonder Girl yelled, her body beginning to glow blue and red with ionic energy. "I was given my powers by a Norse God!"
"Sadly, no," Zola answered. "You, I had created before being commissioned, and I had sought to use you as an agent to go out into the world. So I created the false memory of how you gained your powers . . . but then there were a few kinks, and you weren't loyal to me like I had wanted. So I figured I'd retrieve you, but then I got a little busy."
"Well, we're here to take you down," Cannonball replied. "And down you'll go!"
"Not quite," another voice commanded from behind the team.
"Eh?" Robin turned. Behind them was several dozen men in green and yellow armor carrying large guns. There were nine more monster like creatures, but these all stood at attention. And then there was one older man standing amongst them.
"My name is William Taurey," the man said. His voice was both booming and commanding. "Zola told you he had been commissioned. I commissioned him . . . for work in the Imperial Forces of America!"
The members of Young Justice stood ready to act. They had just broke house-arrest to investigate the changes in Wonder Girl's powers. They were unprepared for this.
Taurey stood amongst a group of nine monsters and a troop of heavily armed green-and-gold covered soldiers. They were in front of the team. Behind them was Arnim Zola, the Bio Fanatic and several more monsters.
"Caught between a rock and a hard place . . . " Robin said to himself. He stood with his bo-staff ready, his body tensed. He wasn't expecting this. Wonder Girl's powers had recently mutated, revealing themselves to be ionic in nature, which was not what she believed. It appeared she had been given the powers by Zola as part of a twisted experiment to create a super-human army for the Imperial Forces.
Robin: The sidekick to the Dark Knight, Batman, he has no super-powers. Instead, he's been trained by the world's greatest detective and is near the peak of physical perfection!
Superboy: His origin unknown, he controlled tactile telekinesis which gave him flight, super strength and invulnerability!
Impulse: Bart could move at incredible speeds and even become intangible! But, unfortunately, often times his body moved too fast for his brain.
Arrowette: Cissie-King Jones had an uncanny eye, and was quite possibly one of the best archers alive.
Jade: Jennifer Lynn-Haden had green skin and hair, but also the ability to create and control objects with her own force of will!
Wonder Girl: Cassie Sandsmark can fly, is invulnerable and has super strength. But now that her powers are ionic, is there more to it?
Cannonball: Sam Guthrie is a mutant who can blast off at incredible speeds, flying while protected by an invulnerable blast field. Recently, he died. Then he got better. It's situations like these, with manipulator like Arnim Zola, that really make him wonder . . .
Magik: Illyana Rasputin was a mystery to everyone, even herself. The adopted daughter of a hellish realm called Limbo, she controlled stepping discs which allowed her to teleport, as well as the ability to call upon a weapon called the SoulSword. Every time she summoned it, however, more and more mystical armor appeared on her. What would happen when it finally encased her completely?
Firebird: Linda Danvers was a founding member of the team who had only recently returned. Her powers had recently gone through an amazing boost, the limits of which had not been tested.
"You have two choices," Taurey continued. "You can surrender. Turn the ionic girl over to us, where she rightly belongs . . . and we shall let you live."
"Fat chance," Arrowette answered.
"Very well . . . choice two," he smiled. "Elite Troops! Brute Force! Destroy them all!"
"YJ! By the numbers!" Robin called. "There's easily three to four of them on one of us . . . use their numbers against 'em!"
"Assuming you live long enough," said Watchfire, a monster bursting with flame. He hurled a fireball at Robin.
"Back off," Firebird said, using her telekinesis to redirect the attack. "If you're gonna use flame, you should know that I'm the Flamebird!"
"This isn't so hard," Superboy said, pounding into the floor and releasing a telekinetic shockwave that took down three armed guards.
"Not against those weaklings," Charcoal said. He, and Fieldstone both stood tall, black and rocky. They leapt at Kon and began pounding.
Cannonball blasted off, but soon found himself trapped in a strange substance he couldn't blast out of. "W-what?"
"I see you've met Loblolly," Hoarfrost grinned. "She'll crush you to death. Me, I'll just freeze dry one of your companions!"
"I'd like to see ice survive next to intense heat," Jade said. She created a cocoon around Hoarfrost quickly. "Now to make this work . . . "
Watchfire took aim once more at Robin, but Jade quickly used her force of will to send the cocoon in front of him. The heat was magnified inside the green bubble enough to take Hoarfrost out of the game.
"I'm on top of things, ain't I?" she smiled to herself.
"No, you're not," the small Fizgig spoke. She had flown quickly to Jade's side and gave her an intense electric shock.
"Stand still!" Hoopsnake yelled as he chased after Impulse. "Just let me get my hands on yoop--!"
Hoopsnake found himself tied in knots, due to his chasing Impulse, and Bart's maneuvering. Impulse charged forward and delivered a super-speed assault of punches to his face.
"Like to see how good you do without those guns!" Arrowette yelled, firing a volley of arrows at the Elite Troops, smashing their guns.
Ingot leapt into the fray, counting on her metallic body to protect her against Magik's sword. She had no idea of it's mystical energies, however, and was soon disposed of.
Robin tossed a robinwing here, swung his bo-staff there, and basically leapt to and from the Elite Guards, doing his best to trip them up and keep them on the defensive. Neither side has a real lead yet . . . it's a good thing the team's been itching for some action since they got grounded . . . or else I don't think we could keep this up!
"Let him GO!" Wonder Girl yelled, slamming a powerful ionic fist into Fieldstone, partially shattering his chest and sending him flying from his attack position.
"Thanks, Wondy," Superboy replied, using the moment's hesitation to do the same to Charcoal.
"Raaa!" Scarum yelled, leaping onto the floor. He smashed it beneath him, causing Arrowette and Jade to fall to the next level with him. "Scarum KILL!"
"Hardly!" Arrowette yelled, firing a gas arrow at his mouth.
Jade acted quickly, creating a bubble around his head to keep the gas in. "Looks like the tide is turning our way. We might pull this off yet!"
"Like there was any doubt," Arrowette grinned as Jade created a platform beneath them to lift them both back into the fray. But as they left, they failed to notice a pair of glowing eyes watch them go.
"You think yourself unbeatably, Loblolly?" Magik asked. "You shall release Sam Guthrie, and spend the rest of your misbegotten existence in my own personal Hell!"
A wave of her SoulSword, and Loblolly was teleported away to Limbo. Sam remained, virtually unharmed. "Thanks, 'Yana . . . "
"This is bad," Watchfire said, watching Robin, Superboy and Impulse tear through the last few Elite Guards. He had seen Charcoal go down earlier . . . and not get up. He flared up even more, pouring flames down on his foes. "They won't get me!"
"Zola!" William Taurey demanded. "Do something!"
"My monsters have been defeated as well!" the Bio-Fanatic spoke. "Super hero types always meddle in my affairs. But this time I am prepared!"
Wonder Girl flew through Watchfire's flame attack, eventually decking him with all her might and taking him out of the fight.
"Fizgig!" Zola ordered. "Now!"
Robin turned to the tiny, sparking woman. "Eh?"
She spoke. "Fizgig . . . detonate!"
The creature exploded, releasing an enormous amount of electric energy. While it took her out of the fight, it took down the members of Young Justice as well.
"Quickly, Zola!" Taurey yelled. "Kill them now, while they're weakened!"
"No!" a voice called out. A young Asian girl leapt from the hole in the floor caused by Scarum. "No more death!"
"Who?" Zola asked. "It's the girl! The latest working experiment!"
"You call that a jolt?" Hallie Takahama asked. Her eyes began to burst with electric energy. "This . . . this is a jolt!"
She sent an intense burst of voltage into the floor, shocking Taurey and Zola big time. "That . . . Superboy was the first up, being mostly protected from the assault. "Wow . . . that was smooth, girl."
"I . . . I . . . " she panted.
"I'm Superboy," Kon replied, holding out his hand.
"Hallie . . . " she answered, nervously accepting his hand and slightly shocking him.
"Some power you've got," he said. "Were you another one of Zola's . . . experiments?"
Hallie nodded her head, on the verge of crying. "Y-yeah . . . but when you guys showed up . . . and the fighting started . . . I thought . . . maybe . . . just maybe . . . I had a chance."
The rest of Young Justice had regrouped themselves.
"You'll be all right now, miss," Robin said. "We'll get you out of here . . . find you some help."
"But . . . but," Cassie frowned. "I'm still confused. How did Zola do this to me? How could my mom not know it had happened?"
"I dunno," Superboy shrugged. "Let's ask Zola--Hey! He's gone!"
"Him and Taurey," Arrowette frowned. "Those rats."
"And didn't he say he had twelve successes?" Robin asked. "There were nine in the Brute Force . . . You two make eleven . . . who's number twelve?"
"A mystery for another day, Ah reckon," Sam said, rubbing the back of his head. "But we should probably get goin', too. Reddy might have noticed we're gone, and this place might be booby trapped."
"Uhh . . . anyone hear ticking?" Impulse asked.
"Ticking?" Jade asked.
"Yeah!" Bart replied. "Over there!"
He sped off and then returned, quickly, with something in his hands. "What is it?"
"Bart!" Robin yelled. "It's a bomb--!"
* * KABOOM! * *
Will the team survive? Find out in Young Injustice Volume One!
Author's Note: Hey, this issue really kicked it up a notch . . . sound effects and everything!
Originally published as Young Justice #14-16 and Young Justice: Robin/Spoilerat DC/Marvel: The Merging, and may not be reused or
republished in any way without the permission of the author.
DC/Marvel: The Merging is a fanfiction site, and is not affiliated with nor
endorsed by DC Comics or Marvel Comics, nor any company that owns these
characters. All of the stories here are written for fun, and the authors are not
making any profit from them, and do not intend any harm to the original
creation. This site is for entertainment purposes only. DC/Marvel: The Merging
concept created by Chip Caroon, developed with other writers.