Chapter 3

Batman was furious, back at the Watchtower he typed with a deranged fever using every satellite and camera at his disposal to find the lost pupils. The other mentors were ganging up on the GiW's Chief Andrew Mathews, "How could they have disappeared at the most ghost proof facility in the world?" Andrew turned his head towards them and scoffed, "I'm sorry, was I not ordered to turn over every equipment that I owned at my facility? Did I not inform you that ghost are pure evil, they do not fear, they twist any mind they can get to, and now your sidekicks have taken everything we had that could have gotten them back." The Flash stormed forward and grabbed Andrew by the lapel of his pristine white suit and slammed him into the wall, "Do you think that we don't know that we made a mistake? That this isn't our fault? We are responsible for whatever happens to them, but I promise you that if anything happens to them just because you were being a snide bastard; just remember that you are surrounded superheroes who will all be very willing to help me pummel you out of existence."

Andrew gulped nervously, "Okay, okay, I may know some people."

Batman sat tensely as he flew the jet in the direction of Amity Park, Ohio with Superman, and the Flash glaring at Andrew in the back. Superman looked over at his friend with worry, he had barely spoken since the team disappeared and Superman was sure that it was beginning to affect him. Walking over he placed a hand on Batman's shoulder, "We're going to find them, you know that right?" Batman nodded, "I just can't pierce together why Phantom took them. He was in the clear and free, but still he had them taken after they investigated. Why?" Superman shook his head, "I don't know." Andrew twitched nervously under the intense glare of the Flash. He was about to speak when the Flash cut him off, "SO we all know that the Guys in White played dirty to get their way, so who did you have dirt on in Amity Park?" Andrew sighed, " They are a couple of scientist called the Fenton's, and twelve years ago they ripped a hole into the fabric of space into the ghost zone." Batman slammed his fist onto the autopilot button and growled, "What? How has no one heard of this until now?"

Andrew sighed again," That was because they were believed to be crackpot scientist... and the government made sure of that. We had tried ever way to confiscate their materials, but Phantom had made us look like fools and the citizens were all for believing he was their true hero. Then we found that Phantom knew and was helped by their son and his two friends. After we told them that we wouldn't press any charges against him if they would give us everything they had on ghosts. They gave us all their weapons and shut down the portal, but refused to give us the blueprints. We had gotten what we wanted though, and released their son and his friends. That night we were able to capture Phantom, who apparently had come to reclaim his friends parents weapons."

Now it was Superman's turn to glare, "So, you caught Phantom because he was trying to regain the items you stole. For some reason it's becoming harder to even withstand your presence." "Well we won't for much longer, we have arrived at the Fenton's." Batman pitched in and ending the argument that was bound to happen. The Flash peered out the window, and gapped at the UFO looking thing that sat upon a two story brick building with a flashing arrow that said Fenton on it. Andrew stepped forward to knock, but a growl stopped him. "What the hell are you doing here?" A lady around twenty years old stepped out of the alley beside the building. She wore a leather jacket that was covered with chains in random places, grey ripped skinny jeans, black steel toed boots, and a purple tank that matched her violet eyes. Andrew tensed, "Samantha Manson, what a surprise seeing you here?" Her hands balled into fists and she began to stalk forward when a second person stepped into view and pulled her back. "Whoa, whoa, whoa Sam! We do not need three superheroes see you decking some low life." The man was African American wearing a red beret over his head, a yellow shirt with a grey vest, some grey cargo pants, red vans, and some silver head phones around his neck. "Also you don't want him pressing charges, you can't afford another misdemeanor."

Sam lips formed an angry scowl before pulling out a black cigarette case and a lighter. Her friend groaned, "I thought you were going to quit?" Sam lit a cigarette and took a long drag, "Yeah, well the circumstances changed Tucker." Andrew looked at the two, "Tucker Foley, how have you been doing?" Tucker's concerned look turned to one of complete and utter spite at the man, "Better knowing that your shit bag of an agency was disbanded by the government." Batman stepped in, "Sorry to break up this reunion, but we have business to finish." Sam stepped forward blowing a plume of smoke into the Dark Knights face, "If you think that the Fenton's will even talk to you with this douchebag by your side, you are sorely mistaken. Even your superhero status won't help you." The stoic face of Batman shifted into a scowl, so before things could get out of hand Superman stepped in, "Look, we really don't have time for this. Lives could be at stake here, and the Fenton's are the only chance we have to save them." Sam took another deep drag and shared a look with Tucker. She sighed and threw her butt to the ground and stepped on it to put it out. She walked up the steps and buzzed the intercom, "Hey Mrs. Fenton, it's Sam and I'm outside with some of the Justice League. They say that they need your help." She turned back towards the group, "HE stays out here, he caused enough damage."

The door open to show a lady in a teal blue robe with shoulder length red hair that was graying with age. She squinted her eyes at the bright light, but smiled sadly at Sam, "Hello Sam sweetie, how's your grandmother doing? Tucker, your looking great today! Please come in, but my husband and I may not be that much help." The group moved towards the house, but Batman pulled the Flash back, "I need you to stay back with Mathews." He groaned, "Okay, but I want all the details when your done." Batman nodded and walked inside the house. The window were blocked by dark draped that blocked all sun light from coming in, but what could be seen was a love seat couch that held a large burly man that stared absent mindedly at the screen of a TV set. Maddie sat gently by the man and grasped his large hand with her dainty one, "Jack dear, men from the Justice League are here to speak to us." Jacks unfocused eyes didn't move, "Have they found Danny?" Maddie looked at the group, but there wasn't any sign of hope in them; she had given up a long time ago. Batman shook his head and Maddie nodded, "No honey, they haven't. No one has been able to for a long time, but they need our help." Jack nodded with his eyes still glued to the TV.

Batman stepped forward with a tablet, "Four days ago the last GiW facility was broken into and released a ghost that was held at the facility. The only name that we could find for it was Phantom." The change that happened in the stature in all of the civilians was so drastic that it took the Hero's by surprise. Sam and Tucker's face changed into one of absolute glee and the Fenton's attention was completely on Batman. Jack stood up so quickly that he almost fell over if it weren't for Maddie," Did you just say Phantom, as in the ghost menace that disappeared ten years ago?" Sam backed up with Tucker in to what appeared to be a kitchen. While Batman continued to explain what the circumstances of Phantom's escape, Superman zeroed in on the two younger adults conversation.

"Tucker, Danny escaped! He's finally safe."

"Yeah, and it has been ten years in a facility that has tested on him and tortured him... What are the chances that they found out his secret?"

A sigh, "Very likely, I'm just glad he's safe."

Superman returned to his own thoughts, 'So those two were close enough to Phantom's secrets. I must inform Bat when I've got the chance to speak to him alone.' He glanced towards Batman who was in deep conversation with the Fenton's over the prospect of their apprentices. "If your team was investigating why Phantom was there, it explains why the ghosts would chance the kidnapping of the teens. Phantoms whole existence is stated in each file, his strengths and weakness'. He's one of the most powerful beings that has been found in the ghost zone, so the fact your team now knows everything about him could in fact destroy him." Jack nodded in agreement, "They can survive for a while in the ghost zone as long as the ghosts bring them food and water from the human world, but even then the ectoplasm radiation starts to affect the body after a week. How long has the team been missing?" Batman sucked in a breath, "eight hours and thirty five minuets." Both the Fenton's let out relieved sighs, and Maddie spoke, "Okay, we have plenty of time ton find them since you found us... but how did you find us?" Superman glanced at Batman as his friends stance tensed up, and the Fenton's began to study them with critical eyes. Maddie eyes narrowed into a glare, "The GiW had wiped us from all documents as ghost hunters. Our names weren't on any documents that went through government proceedings, the only way you could have possibly known about us is if... if you had someone that worked with the GiW."

The intense look of disgust was evident in both of their eyes, but Batman refused to buckle under the pressure. Sam and Tucker had returned back to the main room, and Superman could see them forming a plan with just glances. "That because they have Andrew Mathews waiting outside with the Flash. I'm sorry Mrs. Fenton, I only let them in because I thought they knew something about Danny." Sam said sadly as she placed a comforting hand on Maddie's shoulders, but there was a glint of something in her eyes that betrayed the sadness. Maddie looked at Jack who was trembling, not with sadness but with anger at the mere mention of the name of the man who ruined his family's life. "Get. Out. GET OUT! I don't have a single shred of remorse for anyone who would work with that spineless monster. My SON disappeared after being questioned by him. I knew that my son had given the ghost boy the thermos, and he knew I would have forgiven him because he was my son. So why didn't he ever return home? That government scum had something to do with it, but no one believes me. HE HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME!" Jack yelled with tears streaming down his face, before turning and walking towards a closed door.

Superman stepped forward, "Sir, there are children missing!"

Jack paused with his hand on the door, "Didn't you just hear me... So is my son." He yanked the door open, entered, and slammed the door shut.

There was a tense pause before Maddie decided to speak, "I must agree with my husband, please leave." Batman's hands curled into fists, "Why? Doesn't this speak at all to your maternal instincts?" Maddie tensed before looking at Batman with can only be described a absolutely void, "They went missing with my son. Besides we are not allowed to provide you any help pertaining anything to do with ghost. That order was given to us by the law. Now I will not ask again, please leave."
Batman's whole body shook with anger, he had the overwhelming urged to punch something and that only grew when Andrew spoke. "I take it things didn't go to well." If looks could kill, Andrew wouldn't even have a body left when Batman glared at him. "You knew that they would refuse to help us." It wasn't a question at all, and Andrew knew it. "Truthfully? No, but they weren't the only ones I wanted you to meet. We have to keep an eye on those two." Andrew said as he pointed to the two fading figures that were Sam Manson and Tucker Foley. "They have been family friends since they knew Daniel Fenton, the son who went missing. They were the three students that were found to have befriended the weapon." Superman now glared at Andrew; just because the government didn't see ghosts as humans or living with a conscious doesn't mean that they could be used like meaningless tools. "He is correct, I overheard them speaking in the kitchen about Phantom having a secret. It would be a safe guess that they will try to contact him. They were quite pleased that he was safe." Batman nodded, "We'll stake out each of their homes, and follow them when they leave."
Sam and Tucker never went home, they had walked around town before heading back to the alleyway they had hidden in before when nightfall came. Andrew smiled smugly that shouted 'I told you so.' It was around one in the morning when the two entered the Fenton residence. Batman reacted quickly, throwing a batarang that jammed the door open. "Okay, Flash you are going to take Mathews back to the jet. Superman and I are following Sam and Tucker." Flash groaned but did asked, and the other two stalked silently in.

At first the house looked void of life, besides the snoring that came from the main bedroom. Entering the kitchen, double doors were open and leading downwards. A soft green light floated from the bottom of the stairwell along with a soft whirring sound. Batman blended into the shadows not making a sound with Superman following his example. Sam and Tucker were seen busily working on computers and a floating device that reminded the heroes of a shuttle, but what really caught their attention what the large octagonal swirling green portal that was in the wall. Superman gapped in awe, "Could that be a portal to the ghost world?" His question was soft, but not soft enough as Sam and Tucker stopped working. Batman glared at his friend before stepping into the light to be seen. Sam quickly pooled out a gun along with Tucker, and Batman raised his hands in a surrender gesture. Tucker was sputtering for words, "How did- did you follow- what is happening?" Sam mouth was forming a pressed line, "They have been following us since we left the Fenton's. Andrew must of tipped them off." She let out a depressed sigh, before dropping her gun, "Put down your gun Tuck, we're not nearly trained enough to take down two superheroes." He did as asked but let out a quite question, "Two?!" Superman realized that there was no point in bidding anymore and stepped into the light by friend.

Batman did a once over on Sam, she was quite observant. Sam took the moment to cut off any discussion, "I know your looking for your sidekicks, but we have to ensure that our friend is safe. We know how to navigate the Ghost Zone and how to work the Fenton's equipment, so lets make a deal." Batman shared a glance with Superman who merely shrugged his shoulders, so he nodded for Sam to continue.

Sam smirked, "Good."