The Phantom

Rating: T [Hints of abuse and experimentation]

Pairings: None

Ages: [After YJ Season 2 Finale] Danny: 15

Summary: He always gets into these messes. He's always bad with his timing and he always seems to be on the wrong side of the law even though he'd not really. Can't he just catch one break?


"So what do you think?" Luthor asked with a calm and pleasant smile on his face. "He's small, but he is something to behold."

Superman, Batman, Black Canary and a few members of the Team were in a secret underground facility, one that obviously was controlled and operated by Luthor. Aqualad grit his teeth and Nightwing simply narrowed his eyes after taking one last look at the figure Luthor was bragging about.

The boy couldn't be over fifteen. He was suspended by large metal cables, stretching out his arms and legs so he had no slack. There was also a strange chest piece and neck piece on him. The chest piece seemed to be simply a bit of armor made from Nth metal for whatever reason, matching the cables, and the neck piece looked a bit more like an inhibitor collar. Around the boy's mouth and nose was some strange muzzle, possibly allowing air flow but making sure no vocalizations could come out.

Nightwing could see something yellow in his peripheral shift and for a moment he was tempted to give Wally a quick wordless look, only to painfully remind himself that was Bart, not Wally in that yellow suit.

Their attention was drawn again to Luthor's voice. Typically it was wise to let a villain talk as long as they were willing; usually Luthor knew better. Something was really up.

"He doesn't require oxygen in this form and his heart rarely beats. He can turn truly invisible, with no light refraction and completely intangible with no fear of molecular interference. His healing factor is nearly regenerative and though he's no speedster, he can reach speeds of mach twenty-two while flying…" Luthor trailed off and gave the heroes a smile again. "I could go on and on about all of the strange and wondrous things he can do, but I think I'd rather show you." Luthor pressed a button on a nearby keyboard and the massive cables loosened, dropping the being to the ground like a limp doll. The chest piece cracked off and all that was left on him was the collar and muzzle; they all now had a clear view of the strange insignia on his chest. "I'm feeling generous so I'll keep his muzzle on. You'd simply die hearing him scream… I want you to suffer first."

Everyone tensed when the boy cracked open his softly glowing green eyes. Slowly he pulled himself up, looking around as though confused. The heroes' stomachs' dropped; the boy didn't really know what was happening. He might even be completely innocent. Their fears were confirmed when he grasped at the muzzle on his face and tried valiantly to pull it off or budge it. His eyes widened to the size of saucers when he finally noticed them.

"Done?" Luthor asked coldly. The boy whipped around and faced the villain in surprise before he was forced to his knees from red crackling energy coming from the collar. "Attack and start with the Superman!" The boy slowly turned showing them all red eyes that had replaced the soft green they'd seen moments before.

We can't fight him. We need to figure out a way to free him. M'gann's voice echoed through their minds.

I wonder if I could make his collar malfunction? Static offered.

Negative. It might only cause him more pain and do nothing to the collar. I believe I can see what Luthor's using to control him. Batman expressed.

You need a distraction? Superman asked calmly.

Yes. Kid Flash, you're with me. Batman added.

You got it! Bart snapped, ready.

They didn't have much time after their short talk before the boy had rocketed towards them, eyes glowing completely red. What they weren't expecting was for the boy to turn intangible and fly into Superman. Why would he? To try and mess with his organs or-

The truth was more of an immediate problem it seemed. Superman's eyes turned red and then a beam of his heat ray soared right past where Static used to be, barely missing the newest member of the Team.

"He's taken over Superman's body." Black Canary stated, almost unnecessarily.

"What good is a ghost if they can't possess someone? But the best part is that he's also corporal so I can physically control his body. The best of both worlds, of life and death." Luthor explained. "After so long… Destroy them. All of them."

They all tensed, before something strange started to happen. Superman was suddenly free again and the white and black specter was grasping at his chest.

"No! What do you think you're doing!?" Luthor roared, completely loosing his cool when the boy had slipped out of Superman's back.

M'gann flinched when she suddenly felt a wave of emotion strike her. Then she got angry, angry at whatever had caused this torrent of emotion. She whipped around and quick as a flash, telekinetically froze Luthor in place. Nightwing was at the villain's side, along with Bart, as quick as possible, looking for something to free the boy.

"Got it!" Bart shouted gleefully and passed it to Nightwing. "Good going, Kid." After looking the mechanism over, Nightwing figured out the right button to use and pressed it. The heroes watched as the red left the boy's eyes and he dropped from his floating to his feet, blinking at his hands and then trying again to grab at the muzzle.

Black Canary moved over slowly and softly held the boy's hands to keep him from scratching his face anymore. His large green eyes blinked at her. "Don't worry. We'll take it off soon." She then watched as Superman moved behind and delicately fingered the metal that was locked behind the child's head and neck, keeping the muzzle firmly in place. It seemed so cruel. After a few moments of trying to figure out exactly how much force to use, Superman finally broke the surprisingly durable metal, making the muzzle fall to the ground.

The boy took in a deeper breath and then coughed. "Thanks."

Black Canary smiled. "It's what we do. What's your name?"

He looked up at her and nodded. "Danny. My name's Danny Phantom."

Black Canary nodded. "And where are you from?"

"Amity Park."

"Wait as in like the most haunted place in America, Amity?" Static asked.

Danny smiled a bit hollowly. "Yeah. Only it's more of a ghost town now, even for the ghosts…" The more seasoned heroes noticed the haunted look come to Danny's eyes and didn't push for answers about that. He sighed. "I'm sorry I attacked you and I'm really sorry I almost took over your body completely, Superman."

Superman nodded. "It's alright. You weren't in control, at least not fully, though it seems your will is powerful."

Danny flushed a bit. "Thanks… I made sure not to pry. Sometimes I can see another's memories and such if I really meld with them, but I didn't do that."

"I appreciate it."

"Come on. Let's get out of here and make sure you're healthy," Canary offered, placing a hand on Danny's shoulder.

Danny flinched and looked at them. "You really don't want to do that…"

"Why not?" Batman asked, suspicious as always.

"The Guys in White will put you on their criminals list. It's illegal to harbor a ghost, even a half ghost like me. I need ectoplasm to live and that makes me a ghost by the law." Danny glanced at the ground. "They'll slander your names. Ghosts are evil, ghosts are liars, ghosts can't do good things… and maybe they're right… It doesn't seem like I can doing anything right…"

"Danny, there's no need to say that. You tried your hardest not to hurt us or fight us. That's pretty good in my book," Canary expressed.

"Amity would still be okay if I was an adequate hero… and they…" Danny trailed off.

"Well, a government agency can't outlaw you for existing. If there are truly good spirits wandering around, then they have a right to linger if they don't cause harm," Superman spoke up.

Danny smiled at him. "That would be nice. Good luck convincing those bigoted agents though… We're scum to them. Ectoplasmic slime to be wiped off the bottom of boots."

"We'll see if the Justice League can't change their mind." Aqualad nodded and Danny got nods from the rest of the heroes there.

"I just have one question," Batman started.

"Sure."

"How did you end up in Luthor's lab?"

Danny felt his face heat up in shame and he stared at the floor, making sure not to look anyone there in the eyes. "The Guys in White… They were scheduled to-" Danny swallowed. "End me. They'd finished their experiments and tests. They were ready to de-atomize my structure, but Luthor… The GiW is kinda suffering in the funds department, so they sold me."

Everyone immediately tensed in anger. Canary squeezed his shoulder. "It wasn't something you could control. You shouldn't let yourself feel ashamed." Danny relaxed a bit under her hand at first she thought it was because he'd heard her but then she saw he seemed faint. "Danny?"

"Tired…"

"When was the last time you slept?"

"Maybe a week? That's when they caught me… Wouldn't let… turn back…" Danny's legs then buckled and Canary caught him before he could crumple to the ground. A bright ring of light blinded them before changing the ghost in front of them into his human form. The damage the last week had wrought was now in view. A few bruises trailed up from his throat to the side of his face and a nice shinier occupied that side's eye. Bruises around his wrists also stood out. Superman walked closer with a hard look on his face.

"He has a couple broken ribs and several…" Superman forced himself to pause as he looked at the damage with his x-ray vision. "Several scars that indicate they might have opened his body up."

"Whoa wait a second, you mean like a frog in biology or something?" Bart exclaimed in what had to be pure shock. "He must've been feeling the mode." He whispered in a strangely solemn manner for the speedster.

Superman silently leaned down and cradled the young boy in his arms.

"We've got to do something…" Static murmured. He'd hated being in STAR Labs before he was on the Team, but this was a whole new level of inhumane.

"Oh we will." Batman stated darkly before turning to lead everyone out.

Aqualad noticed M'gann staring after Danny as Superman carried him gently. "Are you alright, M'gann?" she had just finished knocking Luthor unconscious and Nightwing and Canary were restraining the villain. It was nice to finally have enough evidence to arrest him publicly.

"I think. It's just… he radiates emotion and I can feel his feelings even without trying to enter his mind. He's so lonely and feels so useless and rejected, Kaldur…"

Aqualad nodded. "I can only imagine how he must feel, but we will help him. That is what we do after all."

"Right."

They finally turned and exited the lab, being the last two to leave the dark and ominous place. No one seemed to notice Danny shiver and let a small breath of whitish-blue vapor flee his throat. Nor did anyone notice the dark shadow that lingered in the lab, the head of the shadow forming two sharp horns and the places where eyes would be glowing red.


In case you were wondering about Danny flying at mach 22, there was a case where in Reality Trip, Danny outpaced a space ship, which can reach speeds of 17, 500 mph. It's also been roughly estimated that he can lift somewhere between 10-30 tons. I've been doing too much research on Danny's stats. He's kinda overpowered if you aren't prepared, especially if he gets better at duplication, teleportation, and learns the powers Dan Phantom had learned from the future. And like Luthor said, completely invisible (could theoretically chance his temp so that he didn't show up on thermals too) and intangible. And even skilled enough to pluck a spork from his stomach without damaging anything. Lol. :)