Unfortunately, Danny had been right. Kid Flash had tried to run after the three ghosts but had nearly crashed into moving traffic in the attempt. So the team resorted to trying to follow the blurs of colour as Vlad and Danny chased after Cujo. Miss Martian had to push her Bioship to the fastest possible and even then the entire team had to keep their eyes open or they'd lose the trail. After an hour, they reached an isolated building.
Miss Martian landed the Bioship in a sheltered area nearby and they found Danny, struggling to tie some glowing string around Cujo's collar, and Vlad, who was watching with annoyance.
"I don't see why you don't just let the mutt go Daniel," Vlad remarked. Danny scowled at Vlad.
"Right. And let him charge right into a bunch of ghost hunters. Not gonna happen Vlad," Danny retorted.
"It would be a suitable distraction," Vlad pointed out. Cujo growled at the older halfa.
"Cujo, it's alright. Vlad's joking. Right?!" Danny assured the dog, glaring at Vlad. Vlad rolled his eyes.
"Geez, do you guys ever stop arguing?" Kid Flash called to them. Danny glanced at the speedster.
"Only when people are watching," Danny answered, with a smirk.
"Very funny Daniel," Vlad drawled.
"How did you guys meet? I mean one minute you're trying to kill each other and then the next you're acting like friends," Artemis inquired, with a disbelieving shake of her head. Danny turned to Vlad, having tied the string to Cujo's collar.
"It's a long story which we don't have time for and I don't wish to have to explain," Vlad answered. Danny nodded.
"Let's just say, he beat me up before he learned what I was and then I blackmailed him when I figured out what he was," Danny offered to satisfy their curiosity. The team blinked in surprise and pushed back their next questions.
"So, this is where your family and friends are?" Robin inquired, changing the subject. Danny bit his lip.
"Well, Cujo's pretty sure that Jazz is here and I don't see why Luthor or whoever is behind this would split them up. So, yeah," Danny answered. Vlad scanned the surroundings.
"Well, I've done my part," Vlad decided.
"Wait, what?" Zatanna exclaimed. Vlad turned to her before scowling in dislike.
"I'm not going to risk getting caught for Daniel's sake. He knows what I think he should do," Vlad elaborated before he floated off the ground.
"Vlad! Don't do this! You coward!" Danny shouted after the older halfa as he left. Danny clenched his fists and growled in Vlad's direction. The team turned to Danny.
"Er… what now?" Rocket asked awkwardly.
Danny glared at Vlad's retreating form until it disappeared as the halfa turned invisible or teleported away. He turned to the building. It was a Guys in White base. That much he could tell from the amount of white and the number of suited agents. He scanned the base for any sign of weakness before realising that Vlad was right. He had to go along with what Luthor wanted. These guards would let him pass because this was a trap or an arranged meeting. Danny wasn't sure what it was exactly meant to be. He glanced down at Cujo before sighing.
"As much as I hate it, Vlad's right. I have to go along with what Luthor wants. I have to walk in there," Danny informed the others.
"No way! That's suicide!" Zatanna exclaimed. Danny nodded.
"Maybe. Or maybe I can be the distraction for you guys to get in there and save my family, friends and Icon and Plastic Man," Danny interjected.
"But Danny, what if Cujo's wrong? What if your family isn't even here?" Aqualad asked. Danny sighed.
"I have to be sure. I don't like this anymore than you guys, but I can't see another way. Vlad is the best I've ever seen at manipulating people. And he told me the only option I have is to agree to whatever Luthor offers," Danny informed them with a helpless shrug.
The team didn't look happy with that plan.
"What if he asks you to go back to the Guys in White? Or to work for him? Or to hurt someone?" Artemis interjected. Danny shook his head.
"I don't know. But, I can stall until you guys come in and back me up. The Guys in White know I'm a powerful and dangerous ghost. They'll want to focus on me more than another unlikely threat. And I can bring Cujo with me to help. He used to be a guard dog," Danny offered. Aqualad glanced at Robin.
"Danny, I don't want to push you. What if you react badly and we lose contact with you?" Aqualad inquired, referencing the halfa's break down after Danielle's rescue and his overwhelming fear during the rescue. Danny shook his head.
"I'm not scared Kaldur. Concerned for my family and friends and worried about walking into that place, especially with Cujo. But I'm not scared. I was the last time, but I'm not the same person now," Danny assured the Atlantean.
Aqualad frowned sceptically at the halfa. Danny smiled reassuringly.
"Do you guys want to know what I was doing last night when I stayed outside?" Danny asked. The team blinked in surprise and nodded tentatively.
"I was going for a flight. The first one since you guys saved me," Danny told them simply.
"I've seen you flying," Kid Flash interjected with a frown. Danny nodded.
"True, but I wasn't thinking about what I was doing. I was concentrating on reaching Dani. But last night, I was just being myself. I went for a flight and then I checked how my powers are. You know, any uncertainties or difficulties. My only problem is my wail. And I only ever use that power in extreme cases," Danny explained. The team shared uncertain looks. Danny smirked.
"Trust me. You guys have never seen me in my element. This is as close as I've been in a long time. I'll be fine," Danny assured them.
Aqualad still didn't look happy.
"Do you trust Vlad's plan?" Robin asked. Danny bit his lip and sighed.
"Let me put it this way. It's in Vlad's interest to help me right now. He doesn't want my family to get killed, well mostly. Vlad isn't going to give me bad advice right now. And Vlad… he's been a halfa for more than twenty years and as I understand it, I'm the first person to have ever learned about him. He knows how to work the system. He's not the nicest person or the most moral, but he knows how to manipulate people. So if he thinks my only option is to agree with Luthor, then that is my only option. Believe me, if I had a better plan, I'd use it. But I've always been better at thinking on my feet. Vlad's the one that loves chess and applies it to everyday life and scheming," Danny explained.
"Then we trust your judgement Danny," Aqualad decided after sharing a look with Robin.
Well, it's not really surprising that Vlad left before any fighting could start, is it?
But Danny is going to walk into a Guys in White building to hopefully find or allow the team to find his loved ones.
Will it work? Will a rescue mission actually go off without a hitch this time?
Until the next chapter.
