"Young Justice fought the DEO task force and escaped capture. That is, except for team member Magik and team mentor Red Tornado. They have, however, apparently been released since their help during the recent crisis we've faced.* Magik, being a mutant, was released to the Muir Island Genetic Research and Rehabilitation center.** The Tornado will be dispatched to the Avengers League's watch.

*(see the Return of the Gods collection, Chapter Ten)
**(For more on Magik, keep an eye out for X-Force #1! - Paul)

"As for the others? They apparently went into hiding, though soon clashed with New York City's Super-Unit Police. They managed to escape, only to cause even more damage to the city during a battle with the terrorist organization the Point Men.* The Point Men, it appears, lost that fight, and both teams went into hiding again.

*(Last issue, YJ tussled with the Point Men. And, of course you all read YJ: Moonstar, right? - Paul

"Where are they now? Officials are looking high and low to find these renegade heroes. If you see or know of anything that may be of use, please call the Justice Watch emergency hotline number now on your screen. We'll keep you posted as news develops. Back to you, Jim."

"Thank you, Gayle," the news anchor continued. "In another news, museum officials are still baffled to the disappearance of the Pharaoh's sarcophagus that was recently shipped to the city . . . "

There are hundreds of docks and harbors in the island city. Most are in use, but there are portions that are pretty well abandoned. And that is where we find our heroes . . .

Jennifer-Lynn Haden; Jade, able to create and maintain anything by her own force of will: "This bites."

Cissie King-Jones; Arrowette, whose marksmanship is paralleled by few, surpassed by even fewer: "Wonderful observation."

Sam Guthrie; Cannonball, mutant with the ability to rocket into the air like his namesake while being protected by an invulnerable blast field: "It's not that bad . . . "

Hallie Takahama; Jolt, whose reflexes have been hyped dramatically, and who packs an electric whollup into her punches: "He's right . . . I've lived in worse places . . . "

Kon-El; Superboy, whose tactile telekinesis allows him flight, super strength and invulnerability: "You just spent your last few months in a prison cell. Your opinion doesn't count."

Linda Danvers; Firebird, super strong, invulnerable, telekinetic, flyer, and more and more, she's showing large, fiery, bird-like wings that attack with a psionic nature: "Don't be mean to her, Kon . . . "

Bart Allen; Impulse, able to move at incredible speeds: "Yeah. Besides, this could be fun . . . it's like camping!"

Cassie Sandsmark; Wonder Girl, whose ionic powers allow her flight, invulnerability and super strength: "Except for the fact that we're on the run from the law . . . "

Chuck Barnes; Robin, trained by the World's Greatest Detective, he's got a keen mind and incredible fighting prowess: "We'll find a way out of this mess."

"Better hope so," Superboy frowned.

"Hey, you got us into this mess!" Cissie yelled.

"Hey now," Linda frowned.

"Not again, guys," Sam sighed. "We can't keep arguing amongst ourselves. We gotta stick together."

"He's right," Jade nodded.

"Of course we expect you to say that," Superboy said. "You're his girlfriend . . . you'll go along with whatever he says."

"Hey now," Hallie frowned. "I'm not his girlfriend, but I agree with Sam. Everyone probably does. Arguing won't get us anywhere. Now we've gotta bury the hatchet and come up with a plan to get us out of this mess."

Bury the hatchet? Superboy thought, grinning. By the time I'm through with these guys, they'll all want to kill each other! And what's best, is should the 'other' me ever return . . . they'll all hate him as well!*

*(That's right . . . 'other me'! You did read YJ #18, right? - Paul, who has one-too-many one-shots!
And if you haven't read YJ #18, why are you reading this? - Chip, who has to edit one-too-many one-shots! ;))

"Okay," Cassie nodded. "Anyone got a plan?"

"I'm working on it," Robin replied.

"Come up with anything so far?" Jade asked.

Robin shook his head. "There's no way that battle in the castle would have gotten us that much attention. There are other forces at work here . . . I feel like someone's pulling everyone else's strings, like someone's trying to get us out of their way."

"Or maybe it's Revenge?" Sam asked.

Robin nodded. "Shaw."

"You think the Hellfire Club is involved?" Linda asked.

"Definitely," Robin nodded again. "We beat them like no one else ever has . . . and now they're angry. I'm betting Shaw's pulling out all the stops just to see us put down."

"It's all because of me," Linda shook her head.

"No, it isn't," Sam said. "He hated the New Mutants, and that's me an' 'Yana . . . but he's prolly bruised because we beat him and his group up. If Wyngarde were still around, then Ah'd bet it was 'cause o' you . . . but right now, you're just one part of the big picture."

"Speaking of Linda," Jade asked, "shouldn't we try and see what that whole 'Phoenix' thing was about*?"

*(Linda went into a trance and called herself Phoenix just before launching a major telepathic assault on the Point Men. Afterwards, however, she had no recollection of it happening. - Me again)

"We don't have the time or the resources," Robin replied. "Hopefully I'll be able to slip away sometime today and investigate our HQ . . . see if it's still usable."

And he's gonna try and contact the Spoiler . . . Cissie thought. Which means somehow I'm going to have to sneak out after him and change into that costume. God, this triple-identity thing is getting out of hand . . .

"It'll also be good if one of us could find out what happened to Illyana or Reddy," Cassie said. "We didn't want anything to happen to them . . . "

"But Superboy decked the Red Tornado," Jade frowned.

Bart shook his head. "I can't take all this arguing . . . I'm gonna go look around, see if there's anyone maybe watching us . . . "

Impulse sped off. The others looked at where he was recently standing in shock.

"You know it's bad when Bart's taking initiative," Cissie said.

"You guys should probably try and get more sleep," Robin said. "All this has happened so fast . . . we've barely had any chance to catch our breath."

"You should, too," Cissie frowned. "Boy Wonder or not, you're still human. In fact, moreso than the rest of us."

Robin nodded. "I'll find the time."

"Hey guys!" Impulse had returned.

"What?" Sam asked.

"I found something!" Bart grinned. "You better come see!"

The team had just snuck in through the door to the large warehouse on the harbor. It was truly amazing. Gold was everywhere. The entire warehouse had been turned into an Egyptian treasure room.

"This is amazing . . . !" Hallie's eyes were wide.

"It looks authentic," Robin said, shocked as everyone else.

"We may've just busted some major crime ring," Sam spoke.

"No, not a crime ring," Robin said. "This is all Egyptian. Ancient, even. No crime ring would do this kinda business and keep it all here . . . "

"Kind of like something you'd expect from a super-villain or something," Jade nodded.

"The last thing we need right now is another super-villain," Cissie frowned. "Maybe we should just tip off the Avengers League and keep on hiding until Robin can come up with a plan."

"We can't do that," Cassie replied. "We're heroes, even if we are misunderstood at the moment. We've just gotta prove to everyone that we are heroes."

"And besides," Impulse said, "I don't think those guys are gonna just let us go."

"Huh?" Superboy asked as he and the rest of the team turned.

Eight men stood at the entrance to the warehouse, dressed in ancient Egyptian garb and carrying spears, swords, and scythes.

"You have entered the chamber of the Living Pharaoh," one man spoke. "You shall never leave again."

"We'll see about that!" Superboy yelled. He charged forward.

"Not again," Robin said, smacking his head.

Superboy punched the head man as hard as he could, a blow that would kill a mortal man. This man, however, burst into sand.

"What?" Kon asked.

"First off, you hit him with enough force to kill him!" Cissie yelled, pulling an arrow. "Secondly, you got lucky they're not normal people . . . I think they're made of sand!"

A pair of arrows impacted another Sandman, hurting him, but not defeating him.

"If they're made of sand, then they'll be easy to take down!" Wonder Girl said, following Superboy's lead.

The sand on the ground began to reform into another two Sandmen.

"Uh-oh," Sam frowned. "Looks like they won't be goin' that easy . . . "

"If they are sand," Robin plotted, "then intense heat would be the best way to stop them! Linda, Sam, that's your department. Or, if we can smash some of them to sand, Jade can capture them, try and keep them from reforming."

"Whatever," Jolt said, shocking a sandman with her jolt-punch.

"I wonder who their boss is," Sam said, rocketing into and tackling one. "Don't seem to recall ever hearin' about any sandmen. The Sandman, yeah . . . but no insane followers or anything."

Linda concentrated and used her telekinesis to grab four of them. She then mentally pulled their bodies apart, and scattered their sand out of the warehouse and spread across the Atlantic.

"That'll work," Jade said, using a giant green mallet to pound on one.

"I'm betting their boss is some kinda Egyptian guy," Impulse said, whipping up a fury of punches against one.

"Great observation there," Superboy rolled his eyes. "I hope he hurries up and shows his face so we can throw it into the dirt."

"The man you seek is here."

The team turned in their assault to see another man standing by the entrance. He wore short, baggy black pants and a white tunic. Atop his head was an interesting headpiece, centered with a small red jewel.

"And you are?" Robin asked.

"I am the Living Monolith," he said. And as he spoke, the team's eyes continued to grow wide, for he began to grow, his body turning to stone. He soon burst through the roof of the two-story warehouse, causing half of it to fall apart. He exposed the team to the open air. "And I am here to make the world pay!"

His voice rumbled, and as he spoke, dozens of more sandmen burst up from the ground. Some from the ocean waters, some from the battle scene. All were armed, and all were surrounding the team.

"What's that line from Jaws?" Jolt asked.

Cissie swallowed hard. "We're gonna need a bigger boat."

"Lifeform in range. Analyzing . . . " the voice was cold and empty. It was artificial, coming from a robotic mouth. The robot was tall, large . . . almost bulky. Its legs and arms were a greenish silver metal. Its chest and head seemed to wear yellow armor. It had two glowing red eyes and multiple wires and cables leading from its face to neck. In summation: It was frightening.

Maria Muradyan came to the this peaceful park to add memories to her so-far perfect honeymoon. She was twenty-three and in the prime of her life. Yet this was a memory she would never forget.

" . . . Humanoid . . . " the robot scanned. "Family - Homo sapien superior. Latent mutant. Prepare for processing."

"M-Mutant?" Maria asked, dumb-struck with fear. "Omigod . . . Ged? Ged, Help!"

If not for this random stop on a trail of San Francisco's famous sights, Maria would never have learned that she is gifted with genes that could, in her children, produce mutation. As the robot lurched forward towards her, she feared that she would never have the chance to become a mother, or a wife.

"Second lifeform in range," the robot said as Maria ran to her new husband. "Analyzing . . . "

"Oh no," Ged gasped. "It wants me too!"

"What is it?" Maria asked.

"Run!" Ged yelled, grabbing her, "Run!"

In some other life, Maria might have been discovered by Professor Charles Xavier via his mutant-detecting computer, Cerebro, been given a chance to understand her nature, to be prepared for those who would harm her because of it . . . and to make a contribution to the future of humanity.

"Second lifeform: Homo sapien. Resume processing of first," the robot said as its outstretched right arm began to glow blue.

But in this reality, Maria has lived a normal life. She knows nothing of her potential . . . or how she can possibly save herself.

The robot released a blast of energy, sending a small disc riding it. It impacted Maria's back, stuck on, and began glowing blue itself.

"What did you do to her?" Ged asked. "What are you?"

"Designate: Cerebro," it answered.

"Just what we wanted to hear," the White Queen spoke. She and the Hellions were gathered just a few yards away on a small hill. "Stand down, robot . . . or be destroyed."

The pilots were trained guards from the New York branch of the Hellfire Club. There was a San Francisco branch of the same club, but Sebastian Shaw, Black King of the New York branch's Inner Circle didn't trust them.

Emma Frost was in charge. She was the White Queen, and was a telepath of immense power. Roberta DaCosta was the solar-battery Sunspot, complete with flight, enhanced strength, and the ability to fire blast of heat energy. Martinique Wyngarde was the illusions specialist, Mastermind. And with them were the Hellions.

Bedlam was the leader. He could disrupt the function of a person's mind. Magma could control the movement of the earth's tectonic plates, releasing lava from the ground. Bevatron could generate bio-electric blasts from his hands. Firestar could generate microwave energy and shoot fire from her hands. Empath's telepathic abilities allowed him to subjugate others to his will. Tarot's cards could cause great harm to those she directed their magiks to. Thunderbird's strength was paralleled by few. Roulette had a habit of making those around her have some really bad luck.

"The success of this mission is imperative," Frost continued the debriefing. "We acquired a device called Cerebro from the late Professor Charles Francis Xavier. It is a powerful tool, one that can locate any mutant on the surface of the planet. A terrible power if it fell into the wrong hands . . . and an amazing weapon in our hands."

The late Professor Xavier she says . . . Roberta DaCosta's thoughts drifted. Killed by Magneto, no doubt. His arch-foe. Even when I was a member of the New Mutants, I knew how much to fear Magnus. Looks like he's finally won. No X-Men, no New Mutants . . . and it doesn't seem like Young Justice will be around much longer. All the followers of Xavier's dream are pretty much gone.

He made a glance to Magma, then Thunderbird. Magma had been a member of the New Mutants for a time. Thunderbird, he was an associate of the team for a short while as well. Professor Xavier had sought to recruit him, but the team disbanded before he could join.

Magma stared back, cold and hard. Was there anything left of the peaceful, happy girl he used to know? And what was it about Thunderbird? Ever since the showdown with Young Justice, he'd gone quieter than before . . . like he knew something.

"We took the device and began to implement new technologies into it," Frost continued. "Getting to the point, we made it sentient. It was to be the ultimate mutant tracking device."

"You created a sentinel?" the words leapt from Bobby's mouth before he knew he had said them. The tone was one of both surprise and horror.

"Not a sentinel," Frost frowned. "Sentinels have been around for years. The current models are either very large engines of destruction, or human sized Prime Sentinels that are apparently born out of human flesh. Cerebro was to be far more than a sentinel."

Martinique's eyes glanced quickly over those of the Hellions. She noted their reactions to the word sentinel. Some were afraid. They were smart. So were brave. They were stupid. Others showed indifference. They, too, were stupid. Sentinels were near unstoppable killing machines. And she knew the secrets that Shaw and Frost had . . . she knew the truth about their involvement in Project: Wideawake.

"But none of that really matters at the moment," Frost continued. "What matters is that it escaped and we must retrieve it."

"We've got a possible bead on it," the co-pilot said.

"Possible?" Frost asked.

"We can't tell for sure," the co-pilot responded. "It could just be an anomaly on our sensors, or it could be trying to cloak itself."

"ETA?"

"Three minutes."

"Hellions," Frost said, "get ready."

It's a small Balkan nation, one ruled with an iron fist by the villainous Doctor Doom. Though his origins remained mostly unknown, that did not stop his name of 'face' from being recognized . . . and feared.

Yet one woman approached the castle gate without hesitating, without fear. She was known only as the Lady Tessa, Black Queen of the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle. She was an extremely acute telepath, possessing a mind that made her as calculating and effective as a computer, with one-hundred times the memory.

"Halt," a robot guard stopped her before the gate. It was strange they had let her get this far. "Who goes here?"

"Tessa," she answered coolly. "I come with a message from his associate, the Black King."

The robot paused a moment, receiving instruction from inside the castle. The doors slowly opened. "Enter."

Well, that was easy . . . Tessa thought as she entered the castle. It had a dark, ominous interior. He probably doesn't entertain guests often.

Another robot approached. "I will escort you to his conference chamber."

Tessa nodded, allowing the robot to lead the way.

"Stand down, robot . . . or be destroyed."

Cerebro's metal body turned to look upon the White Queen and her Hellions. "Analyzing . . . Homo sapien superior - mutants. Begin processing . . . "

"Don't give him the chance!" Frost yelled. "Take him down, but do not destroy him!"

Bevatron quickly fired a bio-electric blast, hoping to fry the robot's systems. He did minor damage, but Cerebro shrugged it off. Firestar added to the assault, but she, too, did little damage.

"This was foolish," Bedlam frowned to his Queen. "You, me, Empath and Martinique are useless against him! Our powers require living minds!"

"Then you had best hope that your other teammates are well prepared," Frost frowned.

Cerebro lunged forward, punching Thunderbird hard and knocking him back. He fired an energy blast at Firestar, temporarily disorienting her.

This is no good . . . Sunspot thought. We're too disorganized . . .

"Roulette!" Bobby called. "Stay out of the fray, keep hitting is with good luck discs! Tarot, use your magiks to make our chances better, too! Magma, Bevatron, Firestar . . . the four of us'll hit him with everything we have! Thunderbird, follow us up with the strongest punch you can muster!"

The Hellions quickly fell in line. Roulette dished out her discs, and Tarot played her cards. Bevatron started firing first, then Firestar. Sunspot and Magma unleashed their fury, tearing at the robot.

"They better not do too much damage . . . " Frost said to herself.

Thunderbird charged forward and slammed his first into the robot's head. Cerebro went flying back, landing hard on the grass around them.

"Did we do it?" Roulette asked.

A blast of energy emerged from Cerebro, knocking them all onto their butts.

"Systems . . . damage," the robot said, standing. "Initiating . . . escape protocols."

Energy burst from Cerebro's feet as he took off into the air. By the time the Hellions had regrouped, he was out of their sites.

"Damn," Frost frowned.

"Not many are brave enough to enter my castle," Doom frowned at Tessa from across his conference room.

"I go wherever my Lord sends me," she answered.

"Your Lord . . . yes," Doom spoke, watching her closely.

"He tells me that your presence is required in New York," the Lady continued. "He will not take no for an answer. Either you accompany me back, or your membership is revoked."

"Membership was never important to me," Doom frowned. "I sought merely to bend you fools to my own will . . . play you in my game of world domination. But then I found that there was already too much playing going on."

Tessa gave him a confused look. "I'm afraid I don't - "

"You should be afraid," Doom frowned. "Shaw and Frost are against each other. DaCosta is a plant. Wyngarde is a traitor. And you, my dear . . . are another plant."

Tessa's muscles tensed.

"I discovered all about your mission," he frowned. "How one called Xavier planted you in the Hellfire Club long ago to keep tabs on their machinations. How he later placed Sunspot in as well so that, if any plant was suspected, it would be him. The fool has even planted a man in the London branch. He feared those clubs. What a waste of time."

"What do you plan to do with your . . . information?" Tessa asked.

"I'm sending Shaw a message . . . that Doom is leaving his foolish boys club. And with that message, the truth about you and the others. I will not harm you. Doom sees no need. But, if you return to your home . . . chances are, you will be killed . . . alongside DaCosta and Wyngarde."

"Why?" Tessa asked. "Why expose us?"

"Doom needs not explain his reasons!" he bellowed. "Now go . . . before Doom changes his mind."

"We'll return to the mansion and begin searching once more," Frost frowned. "When next we find him, we shall be more prepared."

Sunspot sat in the back of the jet. Martinique sat beside him.

"You must leave," she said quietly.

"Excuse me?" Bobby asked.

"I have . . . sources," she continued. "Shaw knows the truth behind you. He will not act immediately . . . but he will. And so, you must leave."

Bobby gave her a confused look. He knows? Is she bluffing? I . . . I can't take that chance. I'll have to leave . . . soon.

"You failed," Shaw frowned.

"It escaped," Frost replied. She didn't need to be a telepath to detect his anger . . . it was more than just Cerebro. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing you need concern yourself with," he continued frowning. "The Sentinels will soon be unleashed upon the world. That is enough. There will be time later . . . to rebuild."

Tarot and Thunderbird sat together in the mansion's garden. He was James Proudstar, she was Marie-Ange Colbert. They were friends. Close enough friends that Jimmy knew when something was bothering her.

"What is it, Marie?" he asked. "I know you're not upset about the mission . . . you couldn't care less about it."

"You are right," she nodded. "It is not the mission."

"Then what?"

"It's the cards, James," she continued. "The cards . . . our future . . . is filled with nothing but death!"

"Are you sure?" James asked.

"Positive," she frowned. "In the near future . . . every member of the Hellions will die!"

Young Justice stood inside a harbor warehouse filled with golden treasures from ancient Egypt. Unfortunately, half the warehouse had been torn open and apart by a giant stone man calling himself the Living Monolith. The red jewel in the center of his white head piece gleamed in the sunlight as he glared down upon them.

A small army of men dressed in Egyptian garb surrounded them. Unfortunately, they weren't ordinary men. They were made out of sand. If one of them was torn apart, he would merely reform a few moments later.

The team had recently stumbled upon a whole sack of trouble. The biggest of which, of course, was the fact that they were on the run from the law. And because of that, two of their members, the Red Tornado and Magik, were captured. Egos and tempers were flaring. No one was really getting along too well. This wasn't going to help.

Kon-El; Superboy, or at least a reasonable facsimile, whose tactile telekinesis made him super strong, invulnerable, and capable of flight: "He's just stone . . . I'll bust him to pieces!"

Bart Allen; Impulse, the fastest teen alive: "All you ever wanna do is hit things . . . "

Cassie Sandsmark; Wonder Girl, whose ionic powers make her super strong, invulnerable, and capable of flight: "Do you have a better idea?"

Cissie King-Jones; Arrowette, master of the bow-and-arrow: "We could always run . . . "

Sam Guthrie; Cannonball, able to fly at incredible speeds while being protected by an invulnerable blast field: "Running is not an option."

Hallie Takahama; Jolt, whose body absorbed any ambient energy and gave her super-fast reflexes and armed her with a 'jolt' shock-punch: "We need a plan . . . "

Jennifer-Lynn Haden; Jade, who could create and maintain objects with her own force of will: "Maybe if we could get Linda to do her whole Phoenix thing again . . . "

Linda Danvers; Firebird, super-strong, invulnerable, telekinetic, capable of flight, and armed with fire-like wings of a psionic nature: "I told you, I don't know how that happened . . . I don't even remember it happening . . . I can't just do it again . . . "

Chuck Barnes; Robin, trained by the World's Greatest Detective, armed with a keen mind and incredible fighting skills: "Well, I'd say, at least for the moment . . . scatter!"

The team broke from their formation as one of the Monolith's giant stone fists came crashing down. All he did was smash up more of the warehouse.

"Take this fight outside, my Sandmen," the Monolith commanded. "It would be a pity to lose my treasure."

"Are we fighting a pirate here?" Wonder Girl asked as she flew by the Monolith, her body bursting with blue and red ionic energies.

"Arr," Impulse said, dodging a punch from a sandman.

Arrowette fired a pair of her flame arrows at a Sandman, hoping the heat would be able to turn him to glass. It wasn't hot enough.

"If he doesn't want to lose this treasure . . . " Superboy pondered, "Then maybe we should see to it that he does!"

Supes charged up into the air and then straight back down into the ground, smashing the floor of the warehouse, causing all the gold and items to fall into the water below.

"Oh jeez," Jolt said as she made a leap for it. "Superboy! You forgot that not all of us can fly here!"

Cannonball flew by and caught her, taking her outside the warehouse to more stable floor.

The Monolith yelled in anger. He pulled back a fist and punched, knocking Superboy miles out towards the Atlantic.

"Whoa," Jade said. "If he can do that to Superboy . . . "

"The Sandmen aren't the real threat here," Robin called. "I'm betting if we take down the Monolith, these guys'll follow!"

"We just need a way to take him down," Arrowette called back, her voice rising over the sounds of fighting.

"Hunh!" Wonder Girl let out a grunt as she slammed both of her fists down onto the Monolith's foot. It dented slightly and cracked a little, but there wasn't major damage. "Jeez . . . "

Jade created a green sword and began cutting a path across the Sandmen. "Any ideas, Boy Wonder?"

"That jewel on his headpiece," Robin pointed, ducking a Sandman's punch. "It could be nothing but a fancy costume, or it could be something more . . . someone grab it!"

"I'll distract him!" Sam yelled. He rocketed forward at top speed and smashed through the Monolith's chest. The large stone man yelled in pain, but slowly, his chest began to reform.

"That didn't last long enough," Robin frowned.

"Who needs him distracted?" Impulse asked. He sped up Monolith's leg and stole the jewel from atop his head with ease. It hadn't grown with the man's body, really, and was only about the size of Bart's palm.

"Noo!" the Living Monolith yelled. He slammed a fist into Bart, who threw the jewel away upon impact. Jolt caught it, but found another fist coming after her. She jumped, dodging, but barely.

"Over here!" Wonder Girl yelled from the air. Jolt threw it, Cassie caught it.

"Look!" Firebird yelled. "He's getting smaller!"

"Looks like you were right," Arrowette said to Robin.

"Yup," Rob said. He leapt out of the fray and over to the wood harbor. The Monolith glared at Wonder Girl and slammed her into the ground. She tossed the jewel out again, but the Monolith unleashed a blast of energy that floored and sunk everyone in the fight.

Everyone except Robin, who caught the jewel. He looked on, noticing that everything had fallen into the water. That's when the now human-sized Living Monolith popped back up, growling at him.

"That's my cue to run!"

Superboy sat in an uncomfortable stone chair, the same chair he had been spending most of his time recently. Since he got buried, of course.

Graviton sat opposite him, watching him closely.

"I've told you everything I know," Superboy frowned.

"You have not told me more about yourself," Graviton frowned. "Or this . . . Young Justice."

"There's not much to tell," Superboy shrugged. "My own past is mainly a mystery to me . . . and I don't really know the histories of my teammates . . . we just banded together and stayed that way."

"Do not lie to me, boy," Graviton showed his anger. "I have treated you kindly while you've been imprisoned here . . . and only I can get you out of this place. It is a prison which neither of our powers would help us escape from . . . it is magical. But so long as you tell me what I want to know, you shall be free."

Yeah, but then what? Kon-El pondered. This guy controls gravity . . . that'd make him pretty powerful. If he decides to use this information against other heroes? Then I'll be responsible. Of course, he says he can escape any time. My safest option is to cooperate . . . then, when he lets me out, I could maybe warn others about him . . . we could prepare to deal with him . . . or something. I dunno . . . I'll tell Robin and he'll come up with a plan. I just miss Linda . . . and I hope the rest of 'em are okay . . .

Roberto DaCosta sat quietly in his room. He was paranoid and nervous . . . but with good reason. Martinique Wyngarde told him that Shaw knew . . . Sebastian Shaw knew that he was a plant.

Bobby shook his head. Professor Xavier planted him inside the Hellfire Club just after the disbanding of the New Mutants. It seemed like Xavier had a plan for everyone.

Sam was sent to keep being a hero in Young Justice. Magik was sent with him, because Xavier knew the darkness within her. He hoped that Sam could keep her straight. Bobby had ties to the Hellfire Club through his father, and was sent to infiltrate them. Dani was sent to follow Feral, in order to easier infiltrate the Point Men and take them down. He knew Feral was losing it . . . and he let her go. He just made sure Moonstar would take her down.

Magma and Thunderbird . . . they drifted to the Hellfire Club and the Hellions on their own . . . what was their reason? And Tempest . . . well, he was dead.

Or is he? Bobby pondered. Garth's death was what caused Xavier to disband the team . . . but then he launched all these other little plots. Did Garth fake his death in order for Xavier to pull off these schemes? Now we'll never know, since he's dead. My only hope is to escape to Muir Island, his secondary base. With any luck, someone there knows of my mission . . .

There came a knocking at the door. Bobby tensed. He pushed back the urge to flame on, and slowly approached. "Yes?" he asked.

"It's James," the answer came.

Bobby hesitantly opened the door, and it was indeed James Proudstar. "Umm . . . come on in."

"I have disturbing news," James frowned. "Tarot said . . . she said that her cards told her that we're all going to die soon. The Hellions . . . we're going to be massacred . . . "

"How sure is she?" Bobby asked.

"Very sure," James frowned.

"Why come to me?"

"Because . . . well, I don't know. You were one of Xavier's. I guess I trust you a little more than I trust any of Frost's flunkies."

He seems genuine. What if Tarot's right? Then I should get out of here. But I can't just leave Jimmy . . . should I tell him? Can I?

The Monolith was in hot pursuit.

Okay . . . think, Robin, think! He's chasing you across the harbor and the pier . . . he wants the jewel in your possession . . . and it appears as though this somehow gives him his powers . . . the ability to grow to enormous heights and become made of stone.

"Raaa!" the Monolith yelled, firing a blast of energy which Robin dodged.

But apparently not all of his powers, such as his energy blasts and his stunning vocabulary . . . okay . . . what would Batman do? Well, he'd turn and fight . . . and be really vicious and scary and somehow win. I don't want to do that. Heck, I don't want to be Batman . . . can't think about that now! More pressing matters are at hand . . .

Robin then noticed that the Monolith had been herding him. He was fast approaching the end of a docking strip. The only escape was into the murky water.

Not as dumb as he looks, this one . . . alright . . . time for plan 'B'.

Robin came to an abrupt stop at the end of the pier. He held the jewel high in the air in his right hand. "Stop!"

The Monolith responded quickly, halting several steps in front of the Boy Wonder.

"You want this back?" Robin asked. "Well, take one more step . . . and I'll drop it in the water!"

"Bah!" his foe bellowed. "Then I'll merely kill you and retrieve it from the water!"

"Hmm . . . good point," Robin grinned. "Then maybe I should just smash it?"

"You wouldn't dare . . . "

"Why not? It means nothing to me."

"I promise you a quick, painless death if you hand it over to me . . . "

"Wow, what an offer," Robin grinned. "You're a swell guy."

The Monolith watched, his muscles tensed. He was poised to intervene.

"Oh well," Robin shrugged. He quickly brought the jewel between his hands and squeezed. The Monolith roared and leapt forward. The jewel smashed in Robin's hands. He quickly fell towards his back and caught the leaping Monolith on his legs. He rolled, sending the Egyptian villain into the water behind him. Continuing his roll, Robin stood on his feet at the edge of the pier. He looked down into the water . . . no sign of the Living Monolith. He brushed his hands free of the red crumbs left over by the jewel. "Well, that was easy."

The rest of the team came up to the pier. They were all still dripping wet. Except Superboy, who had just flown back.

"Hey gang," Robin grinned. "Have a nice swim?"

"Robin," Jade frowned, "a sense of humor does not suit you."

"We should dump you in there!" Wonder Girl exclaimed.

"You could," Robin answered. "But I was still planning on visiting our HQ, remember?"

Sam nodded. "Right."

"So, I'll alert the authorities to this," Robin said. "Anonymously, of course. You guys find a harbor warehouse somewhere away from the fight scene . . . and rest. I'm gonna go do a little recon . . . "

"Sure you don't need any help?" Firebird asked.

"I'll get some outside help," Robin said. "Don't want to bring too many YJ members . . . especially if we're being expected, right?"

Outside help . . . Cissie pondered. The Spoiler. I'll have to slip out and follow him . . .

"Be careful, okay?" Sam said. "Ah don't plan on becomin' team leader permanently."

"No worries," Robin grinned. "I'll wait for nightfall and play it safe. See you all in the morning."

New York is a beautiful sight after nightfall. The skyline lights up the star-filled sky. And, at least in Manhattan, you just might catch a super-hero bursting across the sky.

However, our story today doesn't involve heroes of that kind. Read on . . .

Robin sat carefully on a ledge, looking over the city. Not my city . . . he thought to himself. No matter how long I've been here, it'll never be my city. Not even as one of its champions and heroes. Of course, at the moment, I'm not a champion nor a hero . . . at least, not in the public eye. To them, if I even exist, I'm just another member of those "outlaws," Young Justice.

He sighed. Outlaws. Well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, isn't it? All we were doing was lending a hand . . . helping out . . . doing our part. And what have we gotten for it? Even before this whole mess started, when YJ first appeared on the scene, we were met with mixed feelings. Some people welcomed more heroes, others questioned our age. I'm older than the rest of the team, but there isn't a one of us that isn't old enough to want to defend our cities, our country, our world. And still others, wary of teenagers in general, felt we couldn't be trusted. And since all the bad stuff that's gone down, no one trusts us.

There was the battle in central park where we lost Firebird . . . the battle with the Hellfire Club when we got her back . . . the battles with the Point Men and the MLF in between, the Phalanx in Chicago, Angar in Springfield, and those two SHIELD agents, too. Then there's Zola's castle that he blew up after we beat him and the Imperial Forces of America. Then the DEO came to arrest us, and we fled . . . after Superboy attacked. Then there was the Super-Unit Police . . . and just earlier, the Living Monolith. Everyone's against us now . . .

*(That's YJ 1-21 and all the one-shots and specials in between. Well, it's a very short version, anyway ;) – Paul)

Everyone, hopefully, except one. I've contacted a . . . 'friend' . . . hopefully, she can help. I'll need some back-up for this next plan. And I can't go to Batman with every problem I have. And I've got to leave Batwoman out of my messes . . . I've gotten her into too much trouble before.

*(Like in Batman #16! – Paul)

He tensed slightly as he heard someone approaching from behind. He moved swiftly, drawing his bo-staff and leaping over whomever was behind him. The figure turned quickly, ready for a battle.

"Nice to see you, too," the Spoiler frowned. She wore a black mask and a purple cloak.

"One can never be too careful," Robin said, putting his staff away. "Especially when one's in my position."

"No kidding," Spoiler said. "I've been watching the news. Young Justice is in over their heads, huh?"

"That's an understatement," Robin sighed. "You know its all bogus, right?"

"Of course!" the Spoiler replied quickly. "I'd like to feel I can trust and believe you."

"Good," Rob smiled. "But now, I need a favor."

"A favor?"

"I'm asking you for some help. I'm heading back to YJ's headquarters. Its possible that the DEO may have uncovered it. They might even be setting a trap for the team. Its also possible that they don't know of it, and the team could still use it."

Spoiler nodded. "Why ask me for help? Why not another teammate?"

"Because if it is a trap, I don't want more of the team going down."

"Gee, thanks."

"That's not what I meant," Robin shook his head. "I just need your help without getting even more bad press for the team."

She sighed. "Y'know, you used to be more fun to go out with."

Robin grinned. "I'll show you a good time . . . I promise."

"Well, in that case . . . " she grinned back, "lead on!"

Robin leapt off the rooftop, launching a rope from one of his handy devices in his tool belt. The Spoiler leapt after him, using her own rope launcher.

That's right, Cissie . . . keep playing along. He doesn't know that his longtime teammate and fellow YJ-er, Arrowette, is really the costumed heroine behind the Spoiler mask. This is gonna be one interesting evening . . .

For the past several months, the small mountain and hidden cave had been home to Young Justice. Under the guidance of the Red Tornado, they were to be the next generation of heroes. Not any more, though.

"So . . . that's it, huh?"

Robin nodded to the Spoiler. "It was originally a back-up base for the Avengers League . . . but after they broke up, we made it our base. They didn't seem to have any use for it."

"Looks empty," the Spoiler said, observing the area around it.

"Looks can be deceiving," Robin answered. "But you are right. I wonder if the security system is operating . . . "

"Well, you can shut it down, right?"

"Nope. The controls were on the Super Cycle. Which we left behind when we fled the DEO . . . meaning it's probably in their custody, with Magik and the Red Tornado. And if it is on . . . and there's anyone in there . . . it'll only give our approach away. But if it's off . . . that means someone turned it off . . . "

"What if it's on and no one's in there?"

"Then, well . . . that's a good thing. I really should have programmed it to recognize me and not fire."

"Is there a way around it?"

" . . . Possibly," Robin paused, thinking. He grabbed his rope launcher and in a swift motion, launched it. It grabbed hold of a side of the mountain and Robin leapt off the ledge the two sat on, swinging over the area before the entrance. As soon as he released his grip and landed, he began running. He ducked, rolled, jumped and dove, expecting a barrage of an assault. Eventually, he realized there was no attack.

Cissie couldn't help but laugh to herself after Rob had looked like a total dork. But she leapt down after him and walked over to him.

"It's off," Robin answered.

"Really?" Cissie asked, grinning beneath her mask.

"That means it was turned off," Robin frowned.

"Maybe the Red Tornado forgot to turn it on when he left?"

" . . . " Robin paused again. "Maybe. But doubtful. Come on . . . we'll take one of the secret entrances."

Robin lead the way with the Spoiler following closely behind him.

This is weird . . . she thought. And it'll only get weirder. I'm about to sneak into my HQ . . . only it's not really my HQ . . . it's Arrowette's! Argh, I've got to find a way out of this . . . and soon.

Soon, the Boy Wonder had led her to a small air vent. He pulled off the grate and squatted down. He pulled out a flashlight and took a look around.

"This is your secret entrance?"

"Well, would you think to guard it?" Robin asked. "I had been meaning to, but never got around to it. You've gotta go on your hands and knees, but it should get us inside undetected."

The Spoiler shook her head. "Whatever you say."

He led the way, crawling forward. She followed closely behind.

"Y'know," she started, "you really need to work on picking better places to go on dates. If not for my patience and my curiosity, as well as the nice view of your butt, I might not still be here."

"Well, I do appreciate your help," Robin said. "And a guy always appreciates nice comments on his butt."

"So, are you ever gonna tell me your real name?" she asked.

"I dunno," Robin replied. "Are you ever gonna tell me yours?"

"Touche," she answered.

"Wait," Robin paused. "Listen . . . voices."

I don't hear anything . . . Cissie frowned to herself.

Robin moved quietly to another air vent and looked down below. He saw two men standing there wearing familiar uniforms . . .

He gritted his teeth. "Hellfire . . . "

Without a moment to think, he burst the vent gate down and leapt onto of one of the guards, tackling him beneath his feet. The other turned to respond, but a swing of Robin's bo-staff and the guard was KO'd.

The Spoiler landed next to him. "Guess your base isn't safe, huh?"

"This confirms my suspicions," Robin frowned. "Shaw's out to get revenge . . . he's probably responsible for the whole media circus that's treating us like criminals. And now he's even infiltrated our base!"

"So . . . what'd'we do?"

"There's too much valuable information in the computer systems here," Robin frowned. "If he could break the codes I've got on there . . . it'd be trouble."

"So . . . ?"

"So . . . " Robin turned away from her. "We're going to blow it up."

"Are you sure this is the only way?" Spoiler asked as the two sat on a beam a few feet below the ceiling. Below them was a group of Hellfire Club guards working on their computer systems.

Robin nodded. "Scorched earth policy. Something Batman taught me. Can't let the crime fighting materials fall into the hands of the criminals. Everyone else will accept it . . . with time, at least."

"Don't you wanna get their stuff out of their rooms?"

"Too risky. And it would waste too much time. We don't have any choice. Cover me?"

Robin leapt from the small beam, launching another rope and swinging down into a group of Hellfire guards. The Spoiler leapt down after him, tackling a guard and kicking another.

Rob ran to the main computer system and quickly grazed his hands over the keys. He worked with lightening speed as the Spoiler kept guards off his back.

This is bad . . . Cissie thought. I'm still not too good at hand-to-hand fighting . . . I'm an archer! I take on my foes from a distance . . . I don't know how long I can keep this up!

"I could use some help," the Spoiler said to Robin as she punched a Hellfire goon across the face.

"Just need another few seconds," Robin replied, fast at work.

"Great," Cissie replied, kicking, then ducking.

"There," Robin said. He grabbed hold of the Spoiler's arm. "Time to go."

He lifted his rope launcher into the air and fired. The rope grabbed one of the beams and pulled both of them up. Robin kicked open another air vent and led the way out.

"How much time do we have?" Cissie asked.

"Not enough for them to stop the self-destruct," Robin replied. "The whole place is wired . . . even if they shut down the main one, the other self destructs'll take the place."

"You were totally prepared for this eventuality, weren't you?"

"I was taught to prepare for everything."

Robin and the Spoiler stood at a safe distance away from their base and watched it blow up in a huff of smoke and fire.

"You know, with my luck," Robin said to himself, "this'll be seen as another YJ assault, this time against the Avengers League."

"You know, if they catch up to YJ . . . your team'll be in a whole load of trouble."

"I know. I'm just hoping it won't come to that."

"I better go," Cissie said. I need to be back with YJ when Rob shows up . . .

Robin nodded. "Listen, I don't know when I'll see you next . . . but I have a feeling I will see you again."

Cissie nodded. "Take care of yourself."

"You, too."

Robin launched a rope and swung away. Cissie stayed a moment, watching her former home burn away, hearing the sirens closing in. Finally, she launched a rope of her own and left her memories behind.

Mitchell Shelley, Mr. Bones, Ray Palmer, and Sarah Starsmore sat at the end of a long table in a dark room. Jonathan Palmer, Thomas Palmer, Suzy, Grant Emerson, Paige Guthrie, Angelo Espinoza, and Toni Monetti sat at the opposite end. As agents of the government program Generation Next, they were called Chamber, Valor, Secret, Damage, Husk, Skin, and Argent. They had been called in order to be briefed on their next mission.

"As you're probably aware," Shelley began, "the supposed super-hero team Young Justice has gone rogue. We sent a DEO task force to take them down . . . but only managed to bring in two of them. The rest of these young 'heroes' are on the loose. You will find them and take them down."

Skin was paying the closest attention to all the happenings. He had been with the DEO for the longest. Damage, who was next to him, was only half paying attention as he kept looking over at Argent who was blowing bubbles with her gum. The newest members Chamber and Secret held hands as they listened. And Valor sat there wondering what Young Justice had done that was so bad.

"They were last seen operating in downtown New York City. We've already gotten clearance through the Mayor's office so that you will be allowed to operate fully in the restricted zone*."

*(Vigilantism is illegal in New York - Paul)

"Let's introduce you to their roster," Bones took over. He pressed a button on a small control panel on his chair, and a holographic projector appeared in the table's center. An image of Superboy popped up. "This is Superboy. He's got super strength, flight, and he's supposedly invulnerable. It's suggested that you outsmart him rather than outfight him. Impulse is incredibly fast. But he, too, isn't supposed too be bright. Wonder Girl has the same powers as Superboy, only she's more intelligent. She'll be tricky. Most likely, you'll just need lots of force. Arrowette has no real powers besides her archery. Take away her bow and she's just an average human. Jade can create objects with her mind. They are as strong as her force of will. If you make her fear, make her doubt . . . she will go down. Cannonball is a mutant. He - "

"Is extremely deadly," Shelley cut in. "He must be taken down with extreme force right away. He will kill you without a second thought . . . Continue . . . "

"He flies," Bones continued. "Just take him out of the sky, again, with force."

"We have rumors of their being three more members," Sarah started. "One is Firebird. Her powers aren't really known to their full extent. She can fly, and has fire-like wings of some sort. Since we don't know the full extent of her powers, take her down quickly. There is a young Asian girl, last seen with the team, who seems to have enhanced reflexes. Just pinpoint her next move and nail her. The last is Robin. Many believe he's an urban legend, just like the Batman. But if he does exist, use extreme caution. He's probably very dangerous."

"And they are all deadly," Shelley continued. "They will kill you if given the chance. But, as government agents, you are permitted to use as much force as necessary. You must bring them in alive, though. We want zero casualties on this mission.

"If they're so strong," Valor frowned, "why is only half the team being brought in for this?"

"Because we have faith in you," Shelley continued. "And you will have one more addition to provide support."

"Who?" Skin asked.

"His name is Charles Edmond Parker," Shelley answered, as the man stepped through the door. He wore a strange gold chest plate and helmet which covered his eyes and head. He had large, golden wings that seemed folded up onto his back. "We call him the Golden Eagle. His costume allows him enhanced durability, flight, and is well armored. His gauntlets have razor sharp talons. The red lenses on his helmet give him enhanced vision. He will be the added edge we need to win."

Chamber and Valor looked over at their father, Ray Palmer. The three exchanged uneasy glances.

"You're dismissed," Shelly frowned. "Tomorrow, you go on your mission."