After that slow day, Diana had slept a little too well, it seemed. She stretched as she headed down the stairs to grab breakfast on the way out the door. Her dad was intent on the news, he looked like something had him worried, and mom was nowhere to be seen. This was not good. Diana approached her dad. "Dad? You okay?" He looked at her, distracted. "Huh? Oh, yes, I'm fine. It's fine. Don't worry about it, sweetie."
"Where's mom?" she asked.
"Something came up for a family friend. She had to leave early, so I figured I'd stick around here a little bit to make sure you were okay this morning."
She tilted her head. "Why wouldn't I be…?"
"I… it's complicated, honey. Just… do me a favor, stick with someone all the way to and from school. Someone you trust. It's a dangerous world out there."
"O….kayyy?" She replied, confused and a little worried as she headed toward the kitchen, grabbing a bagel and a single serve milk bottle from the fridge. She would have to figure out what was going on. She ran, managing to eventually catch up with her friends closer to the school. She panted as she eventually caught up to them, realizing as she checked the time that she'd missed a text by Aunt Dani.
No training or patrol today. Long story. Keep safe.
"Did you see the news this morning?" Catalina asked, "There's another one of the ghost boy's enemies on the loose!" She showed Diana a screenshot of her phone of what appeared to be… Freakshow? It was security footage, and it was fuzzy, but the clothes were a match, and the staff was a match, and the goons with him definitely looked like ghosts helping…
"That makes no sense," Diana commented, staring at the photo. "Freakshow was captured. And he didn't look like that anymore. Phantom put him away in safekeeping deep in the Zone after he became a ghost."
"What do you think it is, then, Diana?" Luna asked.
"I don't know, but it definitely explains why Dad's on edge, and Aunt Dani cancelled patrols. Freakshow's thing is he controls ghosts; he controlled Dad. If he is real- or even if he isn't and that-" she pointed to the staff- "is, he's a huge danger to the family."
Catalina nodded thoughtfully, as they walked. "So you're gonna lay low?" she asked, curious.
"Are you kidding? Who's gonna fight this guy if not one of us?" Diana asked, with a little grin. "And that means I'm going to need a solid cover story for not going home. So I'll need one of you guys to cover that I'm at your house all afternoon."
Luna got a bit awkward as eyes turned to her.
"Why's it gotta be me?" she asked, plaintively.
"Because," Catalina replied, "I'm a terrible liar. I can fool Mami and Mama, but that's because they're soft on it, they're family."
Luna sighed.
"Right. Fine. I'll figure something out."
Diana smiled, "You're a lifesaver, Lu."
Luna flushed a bit, "Hey, you're just saying that because I'm the one of us that can lie sincerely."
"Maybe, maybe not," she teased, as they arrived at school. "But if this is really out there… It can't wait til the afternoon."
"Whoa, whoa, you're cutting class?" Catalina asked.
Diana nodded.
"To go looking for trouble with a guy who could control your mind?"
Diana nodded again.
"You're not doing that alone," Catalina replied, "Luna, you won't be the one lying. Diana and I are gonna have a cut day together."
Luna looked just a bit nervous. "Be safe, you two..." she called as the pair headed off.
For the first time in years, the hoversled of the Red Huntress cut across the Amity Park skies. Valerie Grey-Fenton was on the prowl and it made her feel important. In all the family, she was the one they could trust to handle this. If the videos were true, if that was the real Freakshow- or even if he wasn't real, but the staff was- she was the only one that would be immune. The tech was old but still worked like a charm, and seeing the onlookers react was always a bit of a treat- she'd primarily operated at night before, so even then the look on peoples' faces was rarely a detail she saw clearly. But she kept eyes on the prize, and right now, she saw a fairly powerful ecto-signature ahead.
Diana froze as she saw the skies weren't as empty as she thought. "Looks like Throwback Thursday came early- is that the Red Huntress?" she spoke, pointing to the distance.
"Oh my gosh, it totally looks like it is!" Catalina confirmed from the ground.
"Looks like she's coming in hot," Diana replied as she realized the Huntress had a gun. She raised her hands up.
"Oh- it's you," the huntress replied as she showed up.
"...Do I know you?" Diana asked, a bit confused.
Valerie winced inside the mask, glad it obscured her face enough to not be seen.
"No. But Phantom briefed me. He said Dani gave word she'd tell you to keep off the streets til this blew over."
Di gave a little laugh. "From what Dani told me, you didn't listen to anyone when you were my age either. I have family that not acting could put in danger. I'm not going home."
She folded her arms, leaning back in the air.
Valerie laughed. "Well. If you do find him, you're going to be a liability I have to fight anyway. Maybe the Red Huntress will fight a Phantom again today."
She leveled her blaster. The girl fought with Dani, she could take a warning shot. Or three.
Diana took a different posture at that, ready.
"What, you wanna go? When we could be fixing this?" Diana questioned
"You couldn't be. I could," Valerie shot back.
Diana was taken by a quick blast, knocked back a bit. She caught herself in the air.
"We're really doing this," Diana deadpanned, sending a blast back to Valerie.
"I'd rather do this now than have it surprise me later," Valerie replied, rushing in for a second quick shot. Diana dodged, landing a jab at Valerie's torso.
"I don't want to fight you," Diana called.
"Then go home!" Valerie shot back, swinging back at her.
"I can't do that!" Diana insisted, trying to get her arms around Valerie. She fed ecto-energy into the armor to try and use her imbue powers on it- only to get a strong shock. She fell back a bit.
"Looks about like we're evenly matched, Huntress."
Valerie stood her ground and stared her down a moment. "...It looks like."
"How's this sound- If I think I've found something, I'll stay back and call you- your armor is on a frequency with the Fenton Phones, right?"
Valerie hummed. "I guess that works."
Diana extended a hand. "You got me good there, Huntress. It's an honor to be working with someone Aunt Dani holds in regard like you."
Valerie shook hands. Aunt Dani? Hmm.
"I have eyes on the ground, I might stick closer to the ground, and let you take the aerial view?"
Valerie nodded. "Sounds good, ghost girl. Just make sure those eyes have either a good escape or a good way to fight if things get rough."
Diana smiled. "Oh, she's a spitfire, she'll manage." She headed down, ducking into an alley to change back into Diana Fenton to continue her investigation on foot. Catalina would be waiting.
"I heard you talking up there… is it me or did the Huntress sound familiar?"
"..I was a little too busy throwing punches up there to think about it," she commented as they walked the streets, "But you're right… did. Did that sound like my mom to you?"
"Now we know which of your folks you take after," Catalina teased.
Diana laughed, "I guess we do. Anyway, I told her I'd keep down here, so, let's look for anything out of the ordinary?"
Catalina nodded, leading the way back toward the downtown where the robberies had been centered.
As they approached the green area of park space in front of the city hall, they'd notice a sparse audience gathered at the small amphitheater in the park. A sign put up read The Amazing Mezmo- Hypnotist and Illusionist, Mystifier of Minds.
"I'd say this looks like something," Catalina commented.
"Could be coincidence. I think we should take a look before we buzz Mom in on it. Don't want to sic an angry mama ghost hunter only to find out it's just some dude, right?"
Diana and Cat made their way toward the seats. From the sound of it they had managed to arrive right as the show was starting.
They sat in a middle row. The promised Mezmo strode out to the stage- a light blue skinned beanpole, who barely looked older than Diana, in an antique purple suit with tails and a top hat, with a shock of orange-red hair, and spats over black shoes.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," he greeted, "Welcome one and all to an amaze designed to shock and mystify you! Today I will guide a lucky volunteer into the mysterious state of hypnotic trance, where they will become my assistant in displays to amuse and amaze you all!"
Several hands went up as the ghost surveyed the crowd. Surprisingly, rather than anyone volunteering eagerly- including Catalina- he pointed out squarely to Diana. All eyes were on her. Diana was taken by complete surprise, but under the scrutiny of the audience she stood.
"That's right, miss. Come on down," he called with a grin, as Diana made her way to the stage, which he helped her up onto. "Now, you know my name, may I have yours?"
She was a bit nervous on stage, but tried to keep her cool. "It's Diana."
"Beautiful name, Diana. Now. Have you ever seen me before?"
"Can't say that I have," she replied.
"And you have never been hypnotized before in your life, that's correct?"
"That's right. This would be my first time, if it works."
He chuckled, "I see. I bet you're expecting me to pull out a pocketwatch, or tell you to look into my eyes." His eyes glowed a light purple, catching her off guard a moment.
"But there are many more ways to catch someone in hypnosis than that, you know. I'd like you to extend your arm, like you were reaching to shake my hand, please."
Diana raised a brow, but complied.
Mezmo reached out to take her hand, but spoke firmly- "Sleep!" and jerked her forward, disorienting Diana as he caught her head on his shoulder, a hand firm on the back of her head and rolling her head on her neck. "And sinking now easily and gently into a state of trance for me, that's right. Your conscious mind is fast asleep, fast asleep and dreaming. Your subconscious mind is perfectly awake, perfectly listening, perfectly following my words."
Disoriented as she was, the confidence of her words and the complete throwing off of her sense of balance was enough for him to bypass her conscious mind and take her down into trance. It wasn't the complete mindless experience she might have expected from a movie, she simply felt focused, and a bit weak. She nodded slowly as he eased her back into a standing posture.
"Alright, Diana, that's fine. You can open your eyes now and let your mind remain fast asleep for me," he spoke, and she found her eyes opening almost automatically, though as fully relaxed as she felt, they hung lidded.
" Now that you're under, I'm going to help figure out how deep you've gone for me," he spoke, "I'd like you to imagine for me, that you're tied to an imaginary balloon filled with helium, Diana. But this one is strong, large enough you can feel it tugging upward on you."
She did feel it. It was tugging on her, taking her effort to stay grounded.
"That's right. Feel it pulling you up, up, up-"
A gasp went up through the audience. Diana was hovering a good 6 inches off the ground. Mezmo confidently strode closer and put a hand on her shoulder. "I knew I was good," he remarked to the amazed audience, "But I didn't think I was that good. Down you go, Diana. Down, down, down, deeper into this wonderful state for me."
She followed the guide of the pressure on her shoulder and sank back to the floor of the stage. For the moment, Diana wasn't even cognizant of what had almost happened, how she'd almost outed herself.
"And that should mean that you are deep enough for my signature display. He knelt down, offering a hand a few inches off the ground. "Step forward onto it, please, and keep walking."
Diana complied, unable to process the serious questions of what he asked, and he met her other foot with his other hand, slowly increasing heights until his hands were meeting her at a height above his head, matching her gait effortlessly in a stunning display of mental and physical acuity. It was only once he was in the groove of it he addressed the audience directly again. "In this state," he spoke, "she is having what we call a selective awareness. Diana is entirely aware of what she's doing. But focused as she is, she's incapable of questioning it, incapable of doubt. This is key, if she were not so focused, her gait would be uneven, and the entire physicality of this display would be undermined."
True to his word, Diana just kept walking as he led her with his hands in lazy circles, to the astonishment of the small gathered audience. After a good moment, he let her down to the ground. "So, what do you think of the show she helped provide, everyone?"
There was a healthy round of applause. "Go on, take a bow, you earned it."
He led her in taking a bow.
"And now Diana close those eyes and feel your subconscious mind sleep once more as I wake your conscious mind. Coming back to full wakefulness in 3… 2…. 1."
She blinked, and stared at him as she processed everything that had happened. She'd nearly exposed herself- and without asking or knowing anything, this ghost had covered for her. She had thought this might be a lead but- after a display like that, she couldn't quite think he was malicious. Her emotions must have shown in her face, because he gave a little grin and leaned in. "I think you might be something very interesting… meet me in my tent one of these nights to talk?"
She flushed, a bit surprised at the sudden offer, "Maybe one of these nights."
"I'm here all week," he replies gamely, as he let her off into the audience. He turned his attention to the group, "Now that I've shown you all it works, might I have a volunteer?"
Diana headed to her seat. Catalina turned to her.
"I, uh, think we should sniff out other leads," Diana suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Catalina replied, as the pair left the amphitheater to further search the downtown.
No sign of anyone suspicious, but as they saw more of the downtown, Diana did notice a surprising number of real estate signs about- a number of them belonging to the same agency. It was certainly unusual- strange enough to be worth noting. Diana and Cat stopped after a couple hours longer for lunch at a deli downtown. At a table far in the corner of the restaurant, Catalina gave Diana a small grin. "So, someone was really susceptible, hm?"
Diana flushed sheepishly. "I guess so. You think he's our threat?"
"I mean, he's a suspicious guy who specializes in mind games, and apparently just got here, and he picked you out of a crowd of people." Catalina leaned in, grinning widely as she spoke.
Diana nodded, "...but he covered for me, without anything to gain."
"So that wasn't part of the show?" Catalina asked.
"No, that was all me," Diana admitted, "and he covered it pretty well, didn't he?"
Catalina nodded, "Yeah, I wasn't sure myself and I knew that was something you could do, so I'm pretty certain everyone else thought it was fake too. But that makes it more suspicious. That he didn't seem surprised. That would point to him picking you out on purpose."
Diana looked thoughtful, "Would you believe he asked if I could come by his tent?"
"Interesante. Are you going to?" Catalina asked, curious.
"He's here all week. I think I'll hit him up some night if he's not what you think."
"Sounds reasonable. So what's your next thought on this?"
"We've done about what we can while the sun's out and people are about. I think this is when you and I call it and let me pick up with Mom tonight."
Catalina nods. "Back to school?"
"Eh, it's lunch already. We did good this morning. We can play a little hooky til it's time to head home."
A few hours at the mall did Diana some good, honestly. Things had been pretty hectic the last few weeks. Even if she didn't really have the cash to buy anything, it was relaxing and a nice capper to the day. They'd meet back up with Luna on the walk home from school to pick up some notes on what was done in school today.
"Hey!" Luna was happy to see the both of them alright, "How did that go today, girls?"
Diana wiggled a hand. "We have some thoughts. Had to stop because Dad's expecting me straight home and he was pretty, uh….. nervous is one word for it, this morning. I'm pretty sure he'd go nuclear on me if I didn't show up. Dani's scared for me too, I don't blame them considering what we think is out there."
Luna nodded. "Honestly, I'm scared too. Isn't this the guy who nearly kidnapped your dad in his prime?"
Diana nodded, "Well, if it's the real deal, yes. I don't think it is. I don't know what it is, but the real Freakshow's long handled. We have a maybe lead on this, but it's still not as dangerous I don't think."
Luna frowned but sighed. "Just be careful when you go back out there. I don't wanna see a strong part of my support network disappear into the night."
Diana laughed, "I'll be careful, Lu. And I'll be going tonight with someone I trust to handle me if the worst happened."
"Oh yeah," Cat replied with a little grin, "your mom is pretty tough, huh?"
"Your mom?" Luna asked, confused.
"Yeah, we uh, found out my mom was the Red Huntress, because she's out trying to figure this out too," Diana explained.
They reached Diana's home, and Diana waved her friends off as she headed in. She was surprised to be greeted by her father waiting for her, and hugging her a bit tightly.
"H-hey, Dad," she replied a bit awkwardly.
He seemed to pick up on it, letting go. "Just glad you got home safe, baby."
Diana gave a bit of a laugh, "right. Good to be home, Dad." She headed upstairs to work at her schoolwork she missed until the evening.
Diana snuck out once she was sure her dad thought she was asleep. As she took to the skies, she turned on the Fenton phones under her mask. "Huntress, I have a hunch for tonight. Meet me at 8th and Bleecker."
Valerie was waiting when Diana showed up. "So, ghost girl. You found something?"
"More than one something," Diana replied, "I noticed a pattern and I have a suspicion to who, too."
"Go on," Valerie replied, "I'm listening."
"All the targets I saw were in spots where buildings nearby had recently sold," she replied, pointing to the signs on some of the buildings down the street.
"And from what Danny told Danielle about his enemies," Diana continued, "Freakshow's power was in his staff, and it worked even through a recording. But Danny's seen the news, and Dani's seen the news, and I've seen the news, replaying the security camera footage, and we got nothing. So I'm pretty certain this is someone faking being Freakshow."
"Alright, that answers your patterns. What about your suspicion?" Valerie asked.
"We saw a ghost today, performing in the park," Diana replies, "I don't want to jump to conclusions, but he was an illusionist and hypnotist, he picked me out of a crowd for a demonstration. All very awfully convenient. I don't have a motive, because I didn't really get to get a feel for him offstage, but I have to consider that he could be our fake Freakshow."
Valerie looked thoughtful. "Yeah, that sounds… pretty bad, but it doesn't fit with the motive- what does a ghost want with real estate?"
Their discussion was interrupted by the sound of broken windows.
"Sounds like we're about to find out, Huntress."
The woman didn't lose sight of her battle tactics one bit. " I think you should stick behind me just in case you're wrong, ghost girl."
"If I'm wrong and I'm behind you I can shoot you in the back, if I'm wrong and you're behind me you can shoot me in the back. I think I should go in first."
Valerie thought it over a moment, before nodding. "Okay. You go in first."
Diana floated into the storefront, glowing hand extended- and was surprised what she saw.
In blurry security footage, the costumes were good enough. In person, she could see the LEDs in the staff, and the drips in the day-glo green spray on the two 'ghosts'.
The ringleader was surprised to see them. But not fast enough to raise the alarm. Diana knew that your average human could take one echo-blast and be out cold. She raised her hand and let one off toward the man, and the first 'ghost.' Valerie was in after her and took the third, pinning him to the wall between the prongs of her hoversled.
"Looks like the hunch was right, ghost girl," Valerie replied, "No ghosts here."
"Just a bunch of greedy humans. I wonder who's under that makeup," Diana commented as she looked down at the fake Freakshow. Together the two handled restraining the team of thieves. "You have a phone in that fancy suit of yours, Huntress?" Diana asked.
Valerie chuckled. "I kinda figured the teenager might have a cell phone."
Diana got a laugh at that. "You're right, I just thought I'd let the older generation feel like they did something."
"Oh-hohoho, you're going there, huh? Harsh," Valerie replied.
Diana pulled out her cell phone, dialing 911. "Hey. Di Phantom here. Your 'Freakshow' wasn't as Freakshow as you might have thought. Him and his gang of cheap ghost costumed hoods are tied up and waiting for you guys at their latest target."
She gave their address, hanging up before turning to Valerie. "It's been great working with you, Huntress."
She offered her hand, and they shook hands.
"I'll see you around, Di Phantom. And you can call me Valerie."
Valerie left, taking off first in a direction away from home, to allow Diana to start and get there ahead of her. She'd let the girl think it was still a secret. No need to out her if she's holding her own.
Author's Note: As a hobbyist, I feel it relevant to note that the hypnotic induction technique used by Mezmo here is in fact a REAL rapid induction technique. I will continue to offer notes when I use facts that may not be evident to the everyman, because as a hobbyist of the craft, I feel it important to delineate hypnosis fact from hypnosis myth. :)