So I've been really on top of this story for the past few days and I'm not really sure why. I guess maybe it's because I'm putting more and more original content. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and I'll go over some of the bigger things at the bottom. This covers the episode 'True Colors' but most is new.=^-^=
Ch. 11 - Reconnaissance
Taos – April 7
Danny sighed as he sat in an empty hall of Star Labs research center. While most labs really didn't bother him, this one did, if only because of what he'd planned to do here. The teens who had been taken by the Reach were being held here for testing after Black Canary and Nightwing had gone over their deductions about the meta-gene. A few of them had already showed signs of abilities on their first day back; Sam being one of them. "I can't believe it…" He mumbled to himself as he rubbed his temple with one hand. He'd thought it might have been over and Sam could get out of the spotlight, but that idea went out the window and there wasn't much he could do to stop it.
"Phantom?"
He lifted his head to see one of the scientists addressing him. "Uh yes, that's me."
He waved him over. "You have 30 minutes. She's waiting for you in here." He didn't seem too happy about the interruption Danny was causing but it was over his head.
Danny stood up and headed over to the door with a bag in his hand. "Thanks, I appreciate this."
"Uh-huh…" The man grumbled as he strolled away.
Danny took a breath before opening the door to the small conference room. Sam was sitting on the far side of the table in one of the Star Labs jump suits much like the other teens wore; needless to say, she wasn't happy about it. "Hey Sam….." He greeted with failed enthusiasm as he closed the door behind himself. She didn't respond, but she did turn his way. Aside from her anger, there was something else about her he picked up right away. He wasn't sure if it was because of the lighting or maybe it was because he hadn't spent much time with her recently, but he could swear her eyes were…. Darker?
"What?" She asked in irritation towards the confused expression Danny was giving her. "Did you expect me to be happy to see you?"
Danny shook his head as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Of course not….. I was just….."
"Would you spit it out already? I think I've been plenty patient with you." She commanded as she crossed her arms. "I hear nothing from you for about a year, and then suddenly you're right here in front of me. What did you want to say?" She was surprisingly calm as she spoke despite her anger, but Danny's hesitance was still prevalent.
He lifted the bag towards her. "Uh… I brought you a tofu patty melt from that take out place you used to like. It wasn't the same store since it's kinda… rubble… but it's part of the same chain." He explained much to her annoyance.
She let out a sigh as she sat up in her chair and gestured for the bag. Danny brought it over and set it on the table. "Just sit down." She said as more of a request this time. She was more than relieved for the token despite her frustrations for Danny since the scientists weren't very sympathetic towards her vegetarian needs. "Look Danny, Tucker told me most of what was going on since the…. Incident. I just want to hear it from you. What happened? Why won't you talk to me?"
Danny furrowed his brow in frustration as he leaned on his hands. "I…. I wasn't there." He finally let out. "I wasn't there, and then I was so…. Ashamed, I couldn't…. I avoided you." Sam wasn't surprised at all by what he was saying. Tucker had relayed as much when they talked. She already knew Danny was like this even before becoming Phantom. When things happened, he always felt bad especially if he wasn't around to help. He and Tucker were her saving grace in middle school. "And then you were kidnapped….." He let out a sigh. "I'm such an idiot!"
"Yup." She agreed quickly as she took a bite of her favorite take out. Danny felt a small smile tug at his lips when he heard that. That was Sam's way of telling him he finally figured out what he'd done wrong; not to say she wasn't still mad. "So what now?" She asked next. Danny remained quiet as he thought it over. 'What exactly should he do next?' He'd been dreading this conversation for awhile now, but…. "Come on Danny, it's not that hard. What are you going to do with yourself now?"
He lifted his head and raised a brow at her. "Wait…. That's what you meant?"
Sam shook her head with a smirk. "What did you think I was asking?" The transition of several emotions on his face after the question was her proof that he wasn't really sure himself.
He then sat up and let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. "I guess I'm staying on with the team for now." There was something big going on and he'd already made the commitment. There was no way he could just pick up and leave at this point, especially since he still couldn't get back to Amity Park. "I'm sure Tucker told you how I ended up with them, and I kind of enjoy being on their team too." He admitted rather openly. "I never thought I would."
"I could have told you that." Sam stated rather plainly before taking another bite. "You always had this bad tendency to take everything on yourself when things got tough." She paused a moment and gave him a stern look. "I really hope you're working on that."
Danny took the reprimand as it was and gave a nod. "Yeah…." They spent the next fifteen minutes talking about recent events with the team and the Reach. "Then there's that giant porcupine ghost thing….. I don't know what they did, but if they have more? That's going to be annoying." Danny grumbled as he rubbed his arm while remembering the quills.
Sam gave a nod as she remembered that particular creature. She didn't see much of it since Bat Girl had herded her into the ship with the rest, but she saw what it did to Danny. "How did they even make a monster like that?"
Danny had several ideas of how, but none of them gave too many details. 'How exactly did they get enough information about ghosts for that?' Of course with connections to the GIW, that could help. "I called Tuck for some specialized back up. Nightwing called me in for back up on a mission tomorrow."
Sam then shoved the empty take out box back into the bag. "Speaking of later, I'd rather you get me out of here sooner rather than later. I don't want to spend another second being treated like a lab test subject."
"They're just trying to help Sam." Danny tried to reason.
"Don't even go there with me!" Sam snapped back rather suddenly. "I spent weeks with aliens, and now I'm stuck in a science lab under the watchful eye of soulless government scientists!" Danny let out a sigh. He knew she was justified, but he couldn't just break her out of the lab. Sam saw the confliction on his face and grew even angrier. "I can't believe you!"
Danny tried to calm her down. "I'm sorry Sam it's just-"
"No! You of all people should know how I feel!"
"No, this is different Sam-"
"How!?" She demanded as she stood up from her chair. Both of them turned towards the window when they heard the cracking noise. She took a moment to let out a breath before sitting down again.
"I'm sorry Sam." The halfa lamented calmly. "Besides, the GIW wanted to dissect me." He grumbled out under his breath, but Sam could hear all the same. A short silence fell between them after that which Danny was eventually able to break. "Why did you run away?"
Sam sat back in her chair and crossed her arms while tugging at the sleeves. "I had to get out of my house….."
Danny furrowed his brow. "You were barely home a month Sam. Your parents are worried sick about you."
"They aren't my parents." She corrected while turning away.
Danny was bewildered by the statement. "What are you talking about Sam?" He then seemed a bit angry as leaned on the table. "Just because they make you mad doesn't mean-"
"They are not my parents Danny." She finally turned to him with a serious expression. "They are my aunt and uncle." She then let out a sigh and turned away again when Danny's anger faded back to confusion. "They told me when I got out of the hospital. Apparently my grandma never wanted them to tell me, but I…"
"What happened?" Danny implored when she stopped.
Sam gripped her shoulders tightly. "It started out like most of our usual arguments. They found something wrong with what I was wearing, and then my attitude; it wasn't bright enough…. Peppy enough." She enunciated in annoyance. "But grandma wasn't here to diffuse the situation like she normally was….." A depressing tension fell on the room.
"Right she….. with mom and dad right?" Danny asked halfheartedly while already knowing the answer.
She nodded in response before continuing. "It spiraled out of control until she started mentioning some cult. That's when she dropped her sister's name….. or my real mom's name. Her name was Angela, and she left me with grandma right after I was born. She never said who my dad was…." She shook her head and seemed to give him a weak smile. "I always wondered why I had nothing in common with my parents… now it makes sense. All these years they just didn't want me to turn out like my mom." Despite her smile she looked more like she was about to cry.
"Come on Sam, they were just worried."
Sam only laughed at that. "Sam wasn't even supposed to be my name-"
"Sam!" Danny shouted as he cut her off. "Stop it! Your name is Sam. What it was supposed to be doesn't matter. Who your real parents are doesn't matter! Your parents raised you, love you, and they're still alive!"
When she finally looked him in the eye, she felt a wave of regret; not only for her parents, but for his. Her conflictions tightened in knots in her mind as she turned away again. "I'm sorry Danny….. but you don't understand."
"I don't think I want too." He responded in a solemn tone. The knock that came to the door signaled the end of their talk time as Danny stood up from the table again. "I'm gonna call Tuck later. He wanted me to keep him posted."
With that Danny left through the door and was quickly replaced by an irritated scientist. "Alright now Samantha, it's time to continue our exercises."
Bludhaven – April 8
A few members of the team had already started to gather in the warehouse that functioned as the temporary HQ since the Hall of Justice was destroyed. Jaime and Impulse had just arrived which queued Danny to come down from the loft. Jaime looked up to him with a wave. "So what is it you wanted to talk about?"
Danny held up the metal ring which was his finished portal. "I heard about your problems trying to get the Scarab off. Considering how everything else didn't seem to work, I may have an idea."
Jaime's eyes widened with hope. "Whatever it is I'll do it ese! Anything to get this Scarab off!"
Danny gave a nod and turned to Nightwing. "As long as it doesn't mess up the mission, now would be a good time and it probably won't take long if it works."
The leader took a moment to think about it before agreeing with a nod. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
Danny took a moment to stand up the portal before responding. "Well in most cases, I could separate two things like you and the Scarab with my intangibility, but considering how bonded it is to you, I don't plan on trying." He stepped out of the way as the portal expanded. "That being said, I do know a ghost who specializes in technology and he might be able to force the Scarab to release Jaime."
Impulse couldn't help but find the prospect somewhat familiar as he raised a brow. "A technology ghost?"
"Technus!?" Blu blurted out impulsively. Danny let out a sigh and nodded. "But he's crazy!"
Danny once again nodded. "Yeah, he's also eccentric, lacking most common sense, and bent on becoming master of all forms of technology. That being said though, he could help. You'll find that ghosts do things for reasons, though it may not always make sense." Blu seemed apprehensive about getting help from one of Phantom's biggest enemies, but if Phantom wants to try it… he would know right?
Impulse jumped to Phantom's side and pat him on the back. "If Phantom thinks it's a good idea, I say it's worth a shot."
"Alright ese, I'm in."
Danny nodded as he activated the portal. As it charged up several lights on the side of the ring lit up. "Alright, while he's here try not to mention Thomas Edison, or anything involving the light bulb. He's got issues about that." While the four other heroes contemplated that request, Danny watched over the portal as a green burst of energy expanded in the middle and stretched to the rim.
After only a few seconds a green gloved hand reached out to grab the rim. "Well it's about time!" As he pulled himself through he made it a point to look irritated for Danny. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting?" The male ghost had green skin and wore a black lab coat with a white cape over it.
Danny simply rolled his eyes at the complaint. "I told you it would be awhile. It's not my fault you have nothing better to do."
The insulted ghost crossed his arms in annoyance. "So, do you have what you promised?"
Danny raised a brow as he whisked out a long metal rod which had a metal ball at the end. "Look familiar?" Technus made a grab for it but Danny pulled it away. "First things first Technus."
With a grunt of frustration he relented to the halfa's request. "Fine. Where exactly is this strange technology you mentioned?"
Danny made a gesture to Jaime who stepped forwards. "Here." He presented by pulling off his sweat shirt to reveal the Scarab latched to his upper back.
"You have to get it off, without hurting Jaime. Think you can do that?"
Technus scrutinized the small device while holding his chin. "That will depend. I have never seen anything quite like this before." After taking a good look for himself, he raised his left hand and touched the Scarab. On contact it appeared as if his fingers melted into the blue metal of the Scarab.
"Whoa…." Jaime stuttered out as he turned to look over his shoulder.
"What's wrong Jaime?" Nightwing questioned as he stepped a bit closer.
"I don't really know it just…. It feels weird."
"Hmm? It would seem this device is bonded with you on a level I didn't expect." Technus admitted as he reached up his other hand to interface with the alien tech. "Perhaps if I-" He cut of as his form was absorbed into the Scarab all together.
Both Jaime and Impulse seemed distraught by the action. "Whoa! Where'd he go!?"
Nightwing seemed just as riled, but when he back glanced to Phantom, he calmed down. "This is supposed to happen?"
Danny nodded. "Yeah, he's not one for over shadowing people, but technology." He then raised a hand to his chin in thought. "Actually, he's never over shadowed a person before as far as I can remember."
"What's going on Jaime?" Impulse asked as he saw the confused expression on the young teen's face. "They're…. arguing. Technus and the Scarab."
"That sounds….. creepy." The silent, until now, Robin said with a raised brow. "To have two guys arguing in your head like that."
"I can only imagine." Nigtwing commented with his own brow raised.
"Hey-" Jaime called out as his armor was activated without his consent. He quickly looked himself over once it had completed its deployment.
"Are they still arguing?" Danny inquired as he held the metal device over his shoulder.
"No ese….. the Scarab is silent…." Jaime informed with an almost relieved expression. He then looked up to the halfa with hope. "Did he do it?" Danny looked skeptical at best, but didn't have much a chance to think about it before the armor started acting up again. Several pieces of the armor started moving out of place, but quickly going back before the teen froze up all together.
"Jaime?" Impulse called as he waved his hand in front of the teen.
"Stop that child." He ordered as he grabbed the speedster's wrist. "It's very annoying." Though it was Jaime's voice to speak, the mannerisms and accent were obviously Technus.
"What are you doing inside Jaime Technus? You're supposed to be inside the Scarab!" Danny reprimanded in an angry tone.
"But that is exactly where I am. As if I would demean myself by jumping into a human." He raised up both of the teen's hands like his own in inquiry. "Though it seems that's what appears to be happening to you. This Scarab seems to be directly linked to this humans nervous system. When I took over its central processor I took over all of its functions, this being one of them."
"So the Scarab really can take over Jaime whenever it wants." Impulse commented with worry evident in his voice.
"So it would seem." Nightwing added in. "But why hasn't it done anything if it could? It's had plenty of chances."
The possessed Jaime gave a nod. "Yes, but according to its data log, its only priority is the preservation of its host. It holds a subordinate function to the human."
"Why would it be that way if the Reach intended to use it to control Jaime?" Danny asked aloud as he turned to Nightwing.
"Not sure…. Maybe that has something to do with why they grabbed Blue Beetle in the first place." He elaborated. "Remember when Blu told us they wanted to get the Scarab back on mode when he was with the Reach?"
Danny nodded. "But they couldn't… at least not without removing it first."
"That would make sense then." Technus started. "This Scarab is not receiving any sort of outside signal. Given its programing to be subordinate, it would seem that it has redirected that role to the one you call Jaime, its host. As things stand now, this Scarab has no choice or intention to assert control of the human unless the human gives permission or is at risk."
The news seemed to relieve Impulse, but it didn't make his worry go away completely. "Then how does it get back on mode?"
"Technus, can you remove the Scarab, yes or no." Danny reiterated sternly.
Technus paused a moment as the armor seemed to activate several weapons before deactivating them. Once the weapons stopped his wings formed followed by a few other minor transformations before Technus finally spoke again. "Yes I can."
That was surprising to everyone though Danny quickly became skeptical. "So? Aren't you going to do it?"
"No." He stated rather bluntly.
"I knew it! You're still an evil ghost just like in the comics!" Impulse accused as he pointed a finger at the possessed armored teen.
Technus seemed annoyed and slightly confused by the declaration. "I do not know of these comics you speak of, but I am doing exactly what I was asked. Phantom told me to remove the Scarab without hurting the human yes? If I were to force the Scarab to release this human as it is now, the separation will no doubt kill this human. Should he somehow survive the shock, he would not remain that way for long." Bart's anger faded to join the rest of the team in solemn silence. After spending a few minutes in it, Technus grew impatient and turned to Danny. "So as I have told you, I cannot remove it without causing harm to this child. If that is all you wanted I would like to take my leave, with my lightning rod of course."
Danny held it out to him. "I did promise so here."
Technus phased out of the Scarab and quickly floated over to claim his lost weapon. "Finally!" He shouted in joy as the ball at the end formed skies which then crackled with electricity. His delight was halted when he heard a certain halfa clear his throat and turned to see him step out of the way of the portal. "Oh right, no meddling with the humans. That was part of the agreement wasn't it?" He then chuckled as he dove through the portal without pause.
Danny quickly turned it off with a motion of his hand on the rim and it shrank down to its standard size. "I guess that was a bust after all."
"Maybe not." Nightwing corrected just as Mal, Superboy and La'gann entered the hanger.
"Hope you didn't start without us." Mal teased as he saw his teammates debating something.
"I was just about to start actually." Nightwing responded back as everyone fell in for the briefing. He then started the news broadcast from GBS where Godfree was talking about the partnership between the Reach and Lex corp. "Obviously any partnership between the Reach and Lex Luthor is bad news." He began after pausing the feed. "So "Alpha Squad is going undercover to recon Lex Corp. Farms. Robin, you'll be running Alpha."
The young boy wonder was surprised by the choice and voiced it. "Me? Run Alpha?... uh.. right, who's on the squad?"
"Blue Beetle-" He started before being cut off.
"Whoa, hold on. I should not be sent out on a mission. What if the Scarab goes all Reach Apocalypse on us?" Nightwing placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Your Scarab has had multiple opportunities to betray us. It hasn't. If what that ghost told us was true, it doesn't seem to have any communications to the Reach either. Given that, you might be our best shot at trying to figure out what they're up to."
"There Jaime Reyas, listen to the Nightwing, his logic is flawless." The Scarab agreed in his standard tone of cold logic. Though it didn't dismiss his doubts, it did make him feel a bit better about his situation.
"Then if he's goin, I'm goin." Impulse cut in with enthusiasm.
"I thought as much." Nightwing revealed with a smirk before turning to a darkened corner of the room. "And last but not least Arsenal, but you'll have to travel lighter for your first mission. Nothing that won't fit under civilian clothes. Any questions?"
Arsenal seemed agitated as he crossed his arms. "Just one, why are we meeting in this dump?"
Nightwing didn't seem too happy with his attitude as he responded. "With the Hall of Justice destroyed, and the Cave still requiring some repairs, we don't have too many options."
"Except the Watch Tower. It's national news now, you can't pretend it doesn't exist" Arsenal countered.
"Only Justice Leaguers and senior members of the team are authorized for the Watch Tower. You don't qualify." Nightwing shot back.
"Good to know where we stand." Arsenal grumbled back as he stood with the other members of Team Alpha.
Nightwing couldn't help shaking his head at the hostile air of their latest member before turning to Danny. "You will be serving as back up for Alpha. If things go wrong, you get them out. Are you ready?"
Phantom wore a confident expression as he placed a thermos on his back. "No problems here." He then heard a bark from behind as Cujo scampered to his feet.
"You bringing him along ese?" Blu wondered as he bent down to pet the dog.
"No actually, I have a little something different in mind if it comes down to it."
Blu raised a brow in curiosity, but shrugged it off. "Whatever I guess." Arsenal looked at the exchange with agitation. He didn't know anything about Phantom, but as long as he didn't get in the way he didn't see any harm. That didn't mean he trusted him though.
Lex Corp. Farms – April 8
Alpha squad just broke through an opening in the corn field as they tried to get away from the cruelly persistent Black Beetle. "Where's Phantom? Isn't he supposed to back us up now?" Impulse wondered as he looked around frantically with the rest.
"We don't need him." Arsenal argued with no one taking his comment into account. He was the one who got them into this mess in the first place by blowing up the lab.
"We'll double back, maybe lose him." Robin ordered.
"That doesn't seem likely." Black Beetle countered as he landed just in front of them. When the team tried to back up they were met with a growl and quickly found themselves cornered.
"Aw crud….. the hunter is back.." Impulse whined out reflexively.
"Dude…. What exactly is a hunter?" Blue Beetle asked just before another mystery fighter made themselves known.
The team now found themselves surround by two beetles and the ghost animal. "How many colors do these guys come in anyway?" Impulse wondered as the team tightened into a defensive circle. To the surprise of all the heroes, this new Green Beetle brandished his blade against Black Beetle with a charge.
Quick to aid his master the ghost beast jumped to Black's aid and slammed down the new Beetle with both arms held together. "Good boy Spike." Black Beetle praised with a chuckle. "Now attack!" He commanded as he pointed towards Green Beetle. Spike obeyed and charged at the armored alien once he regained his ground. "Warrior! You dare attack me!? You Scarab rejects are coming out of the wood work tonight!"
Green Beetle parried the ghost's charge but was pushed back all the same. He jumped out of the way of the ghost and shouted back at Black. "Better to be a reject then a slave!"
Spike growled up at the Beetle who was now out of his reach. "If you want some attention, I'll give it to you!" The Ghost was tackled out of nowhere by Danny who now stood between Black Beetle and Alpha squad. "Sorry guys, I got held up. This guy is pretty good at disappearing." He then turned to look up at the new Beetle. "By the way, who's your new friend?"
Impulse shook his head. "Don't know. This guy's not in the history books."
Danny raised a brow. "Well regardless, the enemy of my enemy right?"
Robin took a better look as the two Beetle's fought. "Maybe….. Density shifting, shapeshifting….. This guy has all the powers of a Martian except-" He was cut off all of a sudden though Danny didn't have time to wonder why as the ghost beast stood back up to fight again.
Danny wasted no time in forming ice around his arms before attacking. "Time for a rematch Spike."
The ghost accepted with a toothy grin. "Accepted." Though he was a bit surprised by the revelation that the beast could speak he didn't let that stop himself from blocking the creature's charge.
As he was pushed back he built up more ice up his arms to better guard against the quills as he counter attacked. He ducked under the ghost's head and tackled him back before punching him with an ecto ice enhanced fist. "Wulf! Get in there now! Back up the others! I've got this one!" With that order a dark shadow moved through the field behind their fight and straight towards Black Beetle. As the other members of Alpha jumped into action after Green got knocked back, Black quickly found their antics more than annoying. No matter how much the team did, however, Black still got back on his feet and his armor repaired itself. He couldn't help but laugh at their futile attempts to stop him as he continued his approach. "Try me!" Wolf growled out as he jumped out of the corn field and pounced onto Black Beetle's armor. He jumped back and then proceeded to slash through it rather effectively with his claws.
"No way ese! Is that who I think it is!?"
Impulse pumped his fist. "No worries hermano cause I know that's who I think it is!"
"Mind sharing with the class?" Arsenal asked in irritation.
"That's Wulf ese, he's one of Phantom's ghost allies."
Robin then stepped forward. "Then we should give him a hand don't you think?"
Back with Danny and Spike, both seemed to be circling for another attack. "Smarter than I thought you were." Danny commented as he winced from a few spines the other ghost had put in his back. "But I'm not losing to you again." He spread out both hands to freeze the ground but Spike jumped up to dodge. Phantom then looked up and fired ice from his eyes. Spike covered with his tail which was rendered into an ice block upon landing.
He looked back at it and growled in anger. "Payback!" He shouted in a roar before charging again.
Phantom grabbed him by the horns and swung him around in the air. It didn't take him long to figure out this ghost had a short temper so baiting him was his best plan. He released him to go flying over towards the other battle. "Opps….." He flew over to join them as both Beetles began firing their sonic canons at Black Beetle.
He was beginning to fall from the strain just before Spike adjusted his trajectory in order to slam into Green Beetle. The attack was cut off much to Black's pleasure as he regained his composure and his armor repaired itself. "I'm really starting to like this pet thing." Spike fell to the ground at his master's side, ready for attack again.
"Sorry… that was my bad guys." Danny apologized as he flew to the side of his allies. "But it's still seven against two right?" Wulf agreed as he raised his claws for attack again.
"That's what you think." Black countered as a chorus of howls echoed through the field.
Danny's ghost sense started up like crazy as the howls grew closer and he couldn't stop himself from face palming. "Damn it!"
The new ghosts quickly over ran the group in the form of a blue smoke. They only gained a form when they attacked and Robin quickly recanted their last appearance. "It's those things from that break in at DALV co.!"
Danny and Wulf seemed to be the only effective attackers as the others passed through them like they were mist. "Alright guys, it's time to fall back! Me and Wulf will hold them here."
"No way Phantom, we're a team!" Robin said in refusal but Phantom turned to him with a stern glare.
"A team on a mission! I'll be right behind you! I have a plan, but if you guys stick around, you'll only get caught up in it!" He then turned to Wulf. "Push them back for me!" Wulf nodded and turned to the young heroes. "You must go now!" He growled before jumping towards the misty pack.
"Phantom knows what he's doing Robin, let's get out of here!" Blu called out as he grabbed Impulse off the ground.
Green Beetle seemed to agree as he grabbed Arsenal and Robin before they could give consent. "Your friend seems to be capable. Have confidence that he shall succeed." The two of them quickly flew them out of range before an earsplitting wail was heard from behind.
They stopped mid-flight as all, who could, covered their ears while Blu almost dropped impulse trying. "Oh man! What is that noise!?" The wail only lasted about a minute and afterwards the team released their ears in relief.
Once they got a look at the area of the fight, however, they were speechless at the destruction. Regardless of their distance, the barren spot in the cornfield was an eye sore and much larger than they had left it only minutes before. "What did Phantom do?" Robin asked, but never expected an answer since the others seemed just as curious a he was.
Once a worn out Phantom had finally rejoined the group, they all made their way towards a secondary meet up spot at the Kent's farm. It was nearby and they had a non-team member with them so it made a good temporary choice in Nighwing's opinion. He thanked Mr. Kent for the help before turning to the team and their new ally. "So what exactly happened? You look beat." He commented as he looked at the tired Phantom who took to sitting on a hay bale.
"I feel beat….." He let out as he leaned forward. "But, it could've been a lot worse I guess." He then gestured to the thermos on his back. "I caught this crazy pack of ghosts you might recognize. The other one got away from me though."
"I apologize my friend, but he has escaped me as well." Wulf apologized as he phased into the barn rather suddenly.
"It's alright Wulf, he's really good at that it seems." Wulf trotted over and took a spot next to Danny as he licked a scratch on his paw.
"And this is?" Nightwing asked with a brow raised.
"Oh uh, this is Wulf. He's a friend of mine, and only speaks Esperanto." He then turned to Wulf. "This is Nightwing, an ally like the others." Danny conveyed as he pointed to everyone else.
Wulf nodded in understanding as he stood up to leave. "It is good to meet you then. I must leave now my friend. Tucker wished for me to give this to you though." He stated as he pulled a folded up flier out of his pocket. "He said it was important." He then dashed off through the barn wall as he came.
Danny simply socked it away, saving it for later. "Sorry, he's not really the social type." He elaborated as he turned towards the new Beetle. "But I don't know him."
"Right, I didn't think so." Nightwing responded as he approached the Martian Beetle. After Green Beetle explained how he got his Scarab and how he came to Earth, Nightwing turned to Robin, Alpha leader, for the full break down of the mission. Meanwhile, Danny watched the new Beetle with curiosity. Something about this Green Beetle unnerved him. He couldn't really say what and didn't really think much of it since Miss Martian gave him the same vibe most of the time. It could very well be just the fact that they are Martians, and it's not like he knows many of those. Still though, this one gave him a bad feeling with how he looked at Blu.
So another chapter and more interesting questions no?
First of all, I'll go over a bit with Sam. Yes, I am crossing her with Raven for this fic. This idea was actually already done by another person, TheWhiteTitan, who wrote a pretty good DPXYJ crossover themselves. Its one of the few I liked anyway. I then remembered this bit after someone commented about have Raven in the story. This led to lots and lots of contemplating until I came up with the scenario above. Several cannon facts helped me think this over:
1 - Sam doesn't really look or have anything in common with her parents.
2 - She does resemble her grandmother when she was young
3 - Her likes and attitude usually cause her parents distress. (This is pretty common though...)
I think it was a pretty clever way of overlaying the characters since Raven's origins tend to vary from one DC universe to another. I don't think I'll go deep for this one and keep it vague, but the powers will be what you would see Raven use. (The standard ones.) I'm sorry if it bothers anyone, but that's what I've decided on. I would appreciate thoughts and opinions though.=^-^=
Second, I couldn't resist having Technus look at the Scarab. It seemed like such an obvious scenario since he literally takes over technology. Also, if you didn't get the joke, its a common thought that Technus is actually the ghost of Nikola Tesla. This can be further backed by the fact that his first initial is N as seen in Teacher of the year. (It was on his chest)=^-^=
That's the end of that and I appreciate any comments or impressions! Questions too if you have them.=^-^=
