Chapter 7: Fear Part ll
One week later
Danny glanced up and down at the fully covered board in front of him. Pictures of different ghosts lay tacked onto it, different strings attached here and there. Everything from what ghosts might try to attack next to who might actually be in the Order.
Gazing at the information, a yawn escaped his lips. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head, trying to clear his mind from the exhaustion that licked away at his strength, not that the rest of him fared that much better. His hair was matted and messy, well...messier than usual. His clothes were rumpled and his eyelids dropped.
He snapped out of the daze and growled at his own tiredness. Walking into the bathroom that adjoined with his room, he twisted the handles. water rushing out of the faucet. Cupping his hands together, Danny let the cold water pool into his palms and splashed it against his face, the icy feel of the liquid refreshing him as he washed away most of his drowsiness.
Walking back into the room, he heard a knock on his door and groaned, straightening his hair and shirt as he walked over. Opening his door a crack, he could make out the concerned face of a masked teen. "What is it, Robin?" He asked, none of his usual cheeriness evident in his voice, which concerned Robin greatly.
"Hey, D. Just checking to see how you were doing. We haven't seen you come out of your room for a while."
"That's because I haven't left." Danny replied in a way not unlike Raven's usual voice, which unnerved Robin even more than before.
"Well, have you at least eaten anything?"
Danny narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for this, Robin." He growled as he was about to shut the door, only to have Robin block the way as the boy narrowed his eyes and got closer. "Tough. Make some time, then. We need to talk." His frustration finally getting the best of him. Danny had been getting more and more reclusive every fight they would encounter, not to mention angrier and more aggressive.
It was like he wasn't himself
But before the boys could say anything they would later regret, a blaring filled the tower for the third time that week, no doubt ghost-related once more, just like all the others.
Danny sniffed. "Looks like we have no more time. Guess this will have to wait." He growled as he transformed into Phantom and flew down the hallway. Robin clenched his fists, knowing he would have to have serious talk with the stubborn boy once they got back.
Downtown J.C.
Danny narrowed his eyes as he scanned the area, trying to locate where the trouble was, only to have confusion appear on his face as he flew back down to join the others. "I don't understand. This is where the distress signal came from, right?" He asked curtly to the others, who nodded.
Suddenly a chill traveled down Danny's spine as a light blue wisp escaped past his lips. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists as the ghost appeared. He had green skin, large black eyes that mimicked the look of glasses, and a grey coat over top a long black suit.
"Technus." Danny growled as he charged up his fists.
Technus laughed. "Yes, it is I! Technus! Master of all things technological and electrical! Come here to..." He paused and glanced at his hand, which from afar, Danny could make out a few scribbled words written on them as if the ghost had rehearsed what he was shouting to the heavens. "AHA! Come here to seek out and capture...you two!" He grinned, pointing straight at Robin and Danny.
Danny harrowed his eyes as he charged his fists.
Technus tilted his head in confusion. "No witty comebacks, Ghost Child. That is unlike you." The ghost sneered.
"Not in the mood." Danny growled as he rushed forward, ramming into the man, sending him flying backwards and into a line of parked cars.. Rearing back, Danny fired a barrage of ecto-blasts at the grounded ghost, the bolts hitting the ghost as well as the ground and cars around him.
"I think you got him!" Robin shouted from the ground. Danny paused after realizing just how long he had been firing and slowly flew back down to the ground. Finally, Robin was able to take a good look at the boy. He looked...tired. As if he hadn't slept in a while. His skin was paler than usual, but his eyes still glowed with their same fiery intensity. But as Robin got a closer look, he could see that they were burning brighter than usual. And there was something deeper behind the anger in them. Fear.
"Is he down? Did we get him?" Beastboy asked as they stared at the smoke arising, a deep rumbling beginning to sound behind it.
"Nope." Danny growled as he charged his fists once more.
As the rumbling continued, the Titans began to notice that more and more things were beginning to travel towards the smoke, disappearing within it. Computers, tablets, phones, TVs, stereos, etc. As more and more objects banded together, the Titans realized that something was growing from behind the smoke's veil, getting larger and larger with every new item until a large three-story electrical robot stood before them, many faces appearing on the TV screens implanted in it.
"Come and get me, Ghost Child!" Technus screamed as the robot reared back a fist and smashed the pavement where the Titans had stood moments before.
"Titans, GO!" Robin shouted as they leapt forward.
Danny and Starfire flew up towards the robots head and fired blast after blast at the monster as it kept it entertained, the robot not even noticing Raven as she raised up four large cars and hurled them at the robot, the impacts knocking it backwards. Letting out a roar of rage, the machine raised it's fists as it released handfuls of large sharp discs, shooting straight for the three teens.
Danny grabbed both girls' hands and turned them intangible as the discs flew right threw them. As they became tangible again, Technus curled his mechanical hands into fists and slammed them down on the teens, sending them crashing to the ground.
Beastboy charged forward, transforming into a T-Rex as he did so, slamming into the robot's chest as he drove it backwards. Technus growled and grabbed the dinosaur's tail, swinging it over his head and releasing, sending the creature slamming into the surrounding buildings, where he promptly reverted back into human form.
Robin narrowed his eyes as he ran towards the creature, Cyborg besides him as the two tried to take out the robot's legs. Robin jumped up and planted a handful of explosives on one of the robot's legs, the devices beeping rapidly before exploding, taking a chunk of the robot with it. Cyborg blasted away at the remaining leg, shooting it off piece by piece.
Technus snarled and reached down, grabbing Robin in one hand while flicking Cyborg away with the other. Glaring down at the human in his hands, Technus smirked as he recognized him. "Ahh...you're one of those boys they want. Excellent. Now that I have you in my grasp, attaining the other will guarantee that I, Technus will earn admittance into the Order of-" Before he could finish his long-winded plan, Danny flew forward as he charged up a large ecto-blast in his hands, shooting it forward angrily, blasting the robot backwards, who immediately dropped Robin.
The Boy Wonder let out a started yelp as he began to plummet to the ground, only to have Danny latch onto his shoulders and place him back down on the ground. Flying back up, Danny faced the robot angrily. "So you do know what it is. So tell me, Master of Plan Shouting, just what exactly is the Order of Apparitions?!" He shouted, flying forward as he planted a roundhouse kick to the robot's head.
Technus growled and reared back, large fist smashing into the boy, sending him hurtling backwards, crashing into many windows along the road. "Only a group of some of the most powerful ghosts in the Ghost Zone. And once I obtain you and that little friend of yours, admittance will be in my grasp!" He shouted as he advanced towards Robin once more, fists crackling with energy as he pointed them at the boy as he helped Raven up.
Danny's eyes glowed violently as his fists shook. "Leave him alone!" He snarled as he raced forward once more and smashed into the robot, tearing at the different electronics and machinery. Finally, he phased straight into the machine, reappearing with the real Technus in his grasp.
The Titans watched as the large machine swayed before the TV screens went black and the machines fell apart into a large pile. They stared at each other in confusion, then whipped around at the sound of Danny.
"Where are they? Who are they? I know you know something, Technus! So spill!" He shouted, green eyes flaring. The Titans gazed at each other worriedly, none of them wanting to get in between Danny and the ghost at the moment.
Technus chuckled. "As if I would ever tell you anything, child!"
Danny's eyes burned violently, illuminating the air around him with the same eerie green. "Than you're worthless. Even more than usual" He growled, gripping the thermos tightly as he sucked in a screaming Technus.
Robin narrowed his eyes at the boy's stiff posture, the others gathering around behind him. Walking forward, Robin placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hey, Danny...are you-"
"DON'T SAY IT!" Danny shouted, fists clenched.
Robin jumped back in surprise at the boy's sudden aggression, the other Titans doing the same. Danny narrowed his eyes as he glanced at them, letting out a sigh. "Why are we still here? We're doing nothing but wasting time. Every moment we stall, the Order gets another step ahead of us!" He growled as he flew back towards the tower, leaving behind a very confused group of Titans.
Cyborg glanced at the others as they walked over to Robin. "Okay, I think it's official. Danny's gone nuts"
Starfire nodded. "I must agree. He has been...angry lately." She sighed, confused as to why the boy she considered as one of her best friends was acting so...so reclusive.
Raven hovered over. "Something's definitely wrong, Robin. And I'm pretty sure you're the only one who can get close enough to really figure it out." She explained.
Beastboy chuckled. "Yeah man, he's acting exactly like-"
"Like when I was obsessed with Slade." Robin finished with a grim expression. "Meaning I have to do something now."
Titans Tower
Danny groaned in frustration as the search came to a dead end once more. He narrowed his eyes and turned to the large board in front of him once more, putting up another pin, connecting it to another part of string.
Turning back, he shuffled some of the files away, most of them scattered around his room, and focused on the main ones he had pinpointed. He grit his teeth and turned back to the board once more, scribbling something down on a sticky-note before placing it up on the board.
Time passed around him as he continued to work. Minutes, hours, he didn't care. All he wanted to do was find out everything about this Order, and put a stop to it. Just as he was about to connect another piece of string to a pin, a loud knock on his door disrupted him from his thoughts.
He narrowed his eyes, his train of thought lost as he continued to work. He barely even noticed his door slide open and someone walk in. Hmm..I thought I locked that. He mumbled to himself as he continued to stare at the board, the newcomer barely registering to him.
"Danny?" Robin called as he walked over. He narrowed his eyes as the boy seemed to be deep in thought. Turning to glance at where the boy was staring, Robin gasped at what he saw. A large bulletin board filled with pictures, papers and files hung over Danny's computer. Pins were stuck into everything, different colored strings tied to the ends of them then hung up all over the board, each and every one leading to the same picture in the middle of the board.
Vlad Plasmius.
Robin whipped his head back to Danny, who was writing something down onto another piece of paper. Looking him over, Robin could now see the boy even better, now that they weren't in the heat of battle.
He definitely looked tired, just like before. But now Robin could see the bags under his eyes and the dull color of his normally bright irises. His clothes were ruffled and unkempt and Robin was sure he could here the boy's stomach rumbling every couple minutes, but Danny didn't even seem to hear it.
Narrowed his eyes, Robin walked forward and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Danny, I really think you need to take a break." He said firmly.
Danny let out a groan, as if he had barely even heard the boy.
Robin took one more look at the large board and Danny's scraggly appearance and took a deep breath, knowing exactly what road Danny was about to embark one. One that once you were on, it was nearly impossible to get off. Furrowing his brow, Robin reached out and firmly grabbed Danny's wrist, the boy letting out a yelp of shock as he was roughly dragged into the hallway, past the other doors and pushed out onto the roof.
The smell of salt water greeted Danny as he was roughly shoved onto the roof, but it did little to calm his nerves...or his anger. "Robin, what the heck was that all about?!" He growled, glowering at the masked boy. Robin crossed his arms. "You and I need to talk, Danny. NOW." He said firmly.
Danny glared for a moment longer before rolling his eyes. "I told you I don't have time for this." He growled as he glanced towards the ground, about to turn intangible and phase back down into his room, when he saw out of the corner of his eye that Robin had now pulled something small and round out of his belt and had thrown it on the ground under Danny's feet.
Before Danny could even blink, he was encased in a bright transparent bubble, a soft green glow shining off of it. His face contorted into confusion, then into anger as he grit his teeth. "What the...On no. You did not just BUBBLE ME!" He snarled, his eyes glowing a violent green.
"Funny, cause it looks like I just did." Robin snapped back, a small button on his belt glowing, signifying the device Cyborg had built for him was currently working. Danny practically had steam coming out of his ears. "I swear, once I get out of here I am gonna kick your ass all the way across the bay!" He snarled.
Robin narrowed his eyes. "The only way you're getting out of there is if you tell me what's going on with you." He explained firmly.
Danny huffed and crossed his arms, tilting his head downwards. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing is wrong. Well, yes. Something actually is wrong. MY PSYCHOTIC BROTHER TRAPPED ME IN A BUBBLE!" He exclaimed in frustration.
Robin shrugged his shoulders. "Scream all you want, Danny. I have all night. But you aren't getting out of there until you talk to me." He said once more.
Danny narrowed his eyes and sat down in the bubble. Robin sighed and walked closer. "Come on, Danny. Just talk to me. It's never been hard for you before." He pleaded softly.
Danny shut his eyes tightly as he hugged his knees. "It wasn't like this before." he mumbled quietly, just loud enough for Robin to hear. The Boy Wonder advanced closer, Danny sighing as he did so. "I've never been so confused before, Rob." He finally confessed. "I've never even heard of the Order of Apparitions! I have no clue who they are, what they do, I didn't even know they existed two weeks ago!" He shouted.
"But now that Skulker turned out correct. Now that all these ghosts keep coming after us over and over again I...I..." He stopped and placed a hand to his head. "I'm tired, Robin. I'm so tired."
"I'm tired and...and I'm scared." The boy confessed. "Everything is being thrown at me so fast, I can barely keep up with it! First the Order, then all the ghosts keep coming back over and over and to make it worse, they're targeting you." He sighed.
Robin shook his head slightly. "They're targeting you too." He said softly.
Danny scoffed. "Please. At least I've dealt with...something like this before. I would get attacked by ghost every day in Amity. But...but now it's so worse. Cause now I don't just have Sam, Tucker and Jazz to worry about. Now I have the Titans and you to worry about. And that makes it so much harder because...because..." He faltered, his voice cracking. "What if something happens to you guys? To you?" He choked out, his hands shaking.
Robin furrowed his brow in concern and reached down to his belt, pressing the small bright light, the bubble encircling Danny dissipating, the boy falling to the ground. But he didn't even seem to realize. "I never should have brought you guys into this. It's bad enough the ghosts are after you, but we still know Vlad is out there somewhere and something in my gut is telling me he has something to do with this." Danny growled.
"Robin...Vlad's my Slade." He explained. "And you know what happened the last time we faced off against the other's enemy. We both almost died. Now just imagine Slade with ghost powers and extremely powerful ghostly accomplices!" He shouted.
Robin rubbed the back of his neck. "I kind of don't have to imagine. That pretty much sums up exactly what happened this summer." He said.
"Exactly! And to think we might have to do it all again?! I...I can't ! I can't do that again, Robin! I...I-"
"Hey." Robin cut in. "Nobody's expecting you do have to do that again." Robin said, crouching down on the ground along with Danny, who shook his head. "You don't understand, Robin. Even if there's a slight chance of something like that happening again, I have to do everything I can to stop it."
Robin tilted his head. "But we can hel-"
"NO! Don't you understand, Robin! What if you guys get involved and something happens? And you all get hurt or worse?" He shut his eyes tightly, speaking again in a much quieter voice. "Dick...I'm scared. I'm so scared. I'm scared of losing you guys. Of losing you. And every day the Order is out there, that possibility grows and grows and I can't stand it." He cried, tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes as his hands began to shake.
Robin placed a hand on his shoulder as he placed his mask on the ground next to to his knees. "Is that why you've been acting so..." He trailed off.
Danny lowered his gaze. "I thought that if I could find them, if I could focus all my energy on figuring out the mystery behind them, then I could keep you guys safe. That I would be able to fix everything." He narrowed his eyes. "But now I see what an idiot I am. The...the ghosts were right."
Dick lifted his head.
"There really is nothing I can do. Nothing I can say or do to stop this from happening."
Dick shook his head. "Danny, no-" He started, only to get cut off as Danny stood up. "NO, Dick. Don't you understand? It's...it's happening all over again!" He shouted, frantically running his fingers through his hair. "THis is exactly what I feared before during the Identity Crisis. This is exactly why I didn't want my friends near me. Because I knew that I would be putting them in danger." He explained.
"And now it's happening again. Only this time...it's you. You and the rest of the team. The Order must have been watching us. Watching me. They must have seen how close I am with all of you and now they're using it against us! They're making my worst nightmare a reality and I can't wake up, Dick!" He screamed as he fell to his knees, his eyes glazing over in fear. Fear Dick hadn't seen on the boy's face since the GIW had disbanded.
"I can't let them hurt you guys. I just can't. I can't. I can't. I-"
"Danny." Dick soothed, wiping away a stray tear as it rolled across his cheek, the boy finally stopping as he gazed back. "I need you to listen to me. Can you do that?" He asked.
Danny blinked a few times, then slowly nodded his head.
Dick sighed. "I wish I could say I knew how you felt. And trust me, I do know a little about this. Being leader of a team that really feels more like family can make you feel overprotective of them more times than not, especially when it comes to villains like Slade, but I honestly can't tell you that I've ever felt what you're feeling right now."
"But I do know one thing, Danny. It's that it doesn't matter what villains we face. No matter how many numbers they have, or what the chances are. It doesn't matter because we're family, Danny. And we'll always be family."
Danny lowered his gaze as Dick continued. "Whatever happens next, Danny, we'll face it together. I don't care if the next attack happens now or two years from now. We'll always be watching. But you can't do it alone. You just can't. Trust me. I know exactly what's happening here because I've done it too."
Danny lifted his head as Dick continued. "Yeah. WHen Slade first appeared, I was as paranoid as paranoid can get. I even went as far as to making a hologram of myself to trick the rest of the team."
"Wow." Danny said, the first word he had said yet, but Dick took the underlying sarcasm behind it as a good sign that his brother was beginning to return to normal piece by piece.
"uh huh. But I guess something good did come out of it. I learned that by trying to protect your team, by trying to figure something as big as this out on your own, you actually put the ones you're trying to protect in even more danger." He explained.
"Which is why we need to do this together. Because that's how we will always handle problems. Together." He said, gently shaking Danny's shoulder slightly, the boy giving a small smile. "Now stop being such a big jerk. Remember, that's my name." Dick joked, Danny laughing for the first time in weeks.
Dick sighed, then faced Danny once more. "Danny, I promise you we'll figure this out. We will find the Order of Apparitions and take them down."
Danny lifted his gaze and smiled. "Together."
The two boys smiled as they gazed up at the starry sky, the brisk wind sending goosebumps across their skin, but they didn't really care at the moment, that is until a loud growling filled the air.
A laugh escaped Dick's lips as he glanced at Danny. "Something tells me we need to feed that stomach of yours." He joked, Danny shrugging his shoulders. "A good night's sleep sounds good too."
They laughed as Dick placed his mask back on and the two boys walked back into the tower. Neither of them noticing the shadow that watched them from afar. She smirked as she watched the two boys disappear as the door to the roof closed. But it didn't matter. She had all the information she needed. SHe let out a laugh as she disappeared into the night sky, leaving no trace she had even been there in the first place.
