Bruised

Chapter Fourteen

Repeat Offenders

Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.

Sun Tzu

"Well, I got far more out of this than I thought," the president said looking over what exactly Phantom proposed.

"So did I," Phantom smiled for once glad he was able to work something out. Once the president stopped listening to the 'experts' it became clear that both parties could work side by side.

"I know many in my ranks don't want to rely on the Justice League or foreign entities. However, this agreement actually provides far more than I thought it could," Horne said looking over the medical sciences from the Zone itself amazing. The research that Phantom would be willing to share if they stopped hunting ghosts and threatening them with experimentation.

"I'll have my people look it over as well, but I don't see them having too many issues with this. We can benefit each other, and maybe even stop the need for hunters at all," Phantom smiled. Horne nodded as he looked at the teenager who could weld more power than he had originally thought.

Phantom gave him a quick overview of his powers, and the president thought that even Superman may even have a run for his money when it came to Phantom.

Which, while it was nice to know they had someone on their side, it worried him as well.

Phantom said he'd keep his word. That he wanted to try a new beginning, and Horne honestly wanted that as well.

He'd be put down in the history books for this. For bringing peace to two worlds. For being the one in charge of preventing an interdimensional war.

He'd be a hero.

His phone rang which made him blink from the daydreaming.

"This is Horne," he said as Phantom tilted his head. "Yes, I'm meeting with him right now…no…Waller, I didn't know if I should…very well…do a background check on the Fentons. GIW is no longer part of the government effective immediately. You're good at termination, do that. I'll continue this…I'm fine, he's actually being fair…I know…all he wants is for us to stop trying to kill them…very well, Amanda, talk to you soon."

Phantom raised his eyebrows as the president hung up.

"We need a team of humans to be part of the liaisons. I mentioned the Fentons earlier," Horne said as he stood up and stretched. Phantom twisted in his chair and hung his feet off the arm and looked at the ceiling.

Teenagers.

"They would be good choices provided they stop hunting and actually respect our culture. Unfortunately, most of the people I trust are underage," Phantom sighed. "Within two years we'd be good, but for now…"

"Well, if you can think of anything else…"

There was a sudden explosion from outside that cut the president off. He gripped his desk as Phantom shot into the air.

Horne was taken back for a moment at the sudden display of power before another explosion rocked the building.

"Sir. We need to get you somewhere safe," one the of the secret service agents said as he came around grabbed Horne's arm. Phantom looked at them.

"Phantom is my guest. He comes with," Horne stated making the agents nod. Phantom followed them through the hall and to the President's panic room.

Phantom flinched slightly making one of the agents stare at him.

"Someone just launched a ghost shield around us," Phantom informed as he watched them pull up security cameras.

Phantom was right. There was a green shield surrounding the White House.

"We never approved of ghost shields on the premises," Horne growled out. He watched as white suited agents appeared around the shield. Phantom glared.

"They're not just funded by the federal government," Phantom said making the president turn to him.

"How do you know that?" He asked with narrowed eyes. Phantom turned to him before looking over the computer screens before pointing out where the Fentons and Superman were.

"Why isn't Superman doing anything?" Phantom asked distracting the president for a moment.

It was a valid question.

Superman was just standing there talking to the Fentons.

It was on a loop. Phantom glared even harder at the screen.

"Ghosts do nothing but lie and manipulate humans, we never should have left," Maddie said as she glared at the door where they were locked in.

"Look, it's nothing we can't handle," Superman tried to be calm, but he wasn't feeling all too great about this either.

He didn't trust Phantom, and he wasn't sure why.

Batman trusted Phantom, which made it even harder for Superman to.

Batman didn't trust easily. Or quickly like he seemed to with the teenager, and Superman knew that Bats always had a soft spot for kids.

"Look, while I can't do anything about this…deal, maybe you can tell me how to beat a ghost that's manipulated a friend," Superman asked. "Batman is the one who set this all up. And…he trusted the ghost almost immediately. I don't like it."

"Well, we were working on a way to separate the two worlds," Maddie said as she tapped her chin. "Phantom confirmed that hybrids existed. All we really need to do is find one…"

"He is one," Superman said making Maddie blanch.

Phantom was a hybrid.

He said he was there to keep the balance.

"Well…we…we can't go after him, not after this," Jack whispered, but something was bothering him now.

Why would Phantom hide that?

Why wouldn't Phantom tell them that hybrids existed to avoid getting captured?

Suddenly an explosion from outside distracted them as Superman watched a green gooey tapeworm like thing laugh and take off across the lawn.

"That's a ghost!" Jack shouted as he stood up ready to go into battle before realizing that he and Maddie didn't have any ghost weapons. That the president didn't want them to bring any into his house.

"Wait here," Superman ordered as a green shield appeared around the White House.

He'd find Phantom and beat him into the next afterlife for this.

"Is that a ghost?" The president asked confused making Phantom tilt his head.

"A type of ghost. But that one is one of the GIW's decoy ghosts to lure out other ones. Mainly me," Phantom explained as Horne decided he hated them even more. "It's fairly weak and easy to track, but from my understanding, they have complete control of the thing. Not sure how or where it came from though."

"So, we have a rogue agency with funding from a source you know about," Horne said bringing that back Phantom nodded.

"I can give you a name, but it can't come back to me on how you got that information," Phantom said looking at him. "I can lead you where to look so it doesn't look like I know about this. It's the only way to protect myself right now."

Horne narrowed his eyes seeing the panic on the young ghost.

"You're a hybrid," he said realizing that was why he was so happy when he said that hybrids were protected under the Metahuman Acts. Phantom blinked before giving a slight nod.

"If this man is threatening you or your family we can help," Horne said making Phantom smile slightly at him.

"That means a lot, like you don't even know, but it's insanely complicated," Phantom said as he looked over the monitors. "May I?" The tech that was there looked at the president who nodded. Phantom hopped on the computer and started typing.

"Where are you…" Phantom mumbled as he hacked out of the network they were on before anyone could stop him.

"CHILD, HOW ON EARTH DID YOU MANAGE THAT! Also, how'd you get into the White House?"

"I learned a new trick," Phantom laughed. "I need these cameras out of the loop they're on."

"Copy that, King Phantom. For I, Technus, shall be of service and help you…are you in trouble?"

"Not yet. I have the president with me, and he gave me permission more or less to see what's going on. We're blind down here," Phantom said as the cameras flickered once before what was actually going on came up.

"Someone who knows about this place hacked them," a tech said as she turned from her seat to address the president. "The sign in used was Agent Z."

"I want an arrest warrant for him for hacking a government database and threatening national security," the president ordered making another tech jump on to do just that.

Phantom was looking through the White House trying to see if anyone else was really in danger. Superman was fighting the ghost decoy as his parents watched.

"Did the Fentons not bring their weapons?" Phantom asked looking at the president.

"I didn't want any in my house. Not with their reputation. I barely allow the GIW to bring in theirs when they come to visit," the president explained making Phantom nod in understanding. "And that's mostly because the first time they were here they managed to shoot up one of the rooms cause their sensors went off."

"Alright, Technus, get me a comm link set up," Phantom ordered as he slipped a little earpiece into his ear. "We need to get civilians out first and away from the fight."

"The president takes priority," Agent Secret Service said. Phantom looked at him for a moment.

"Honestly, the safest place is outside that shield, and I can't get out, so the second option is for you to stay here with him. I doubt the…" Phantom trailed off as he noticed white suits storm the Oval Office.

"Uh, are they headed our way?" Horne asked as realization dawned on him.

They were coming after him and were likely to blame Phantom for all of this.

"Mr. President, do you have anyone on the outside we can get a hold of?" Phantom asked as he typed into the computer and upped the locks to the panic room.

No one could get in or out right now. Unless they knew how to hack into Ghost Speak.

Which is what Phantom was relying heavily on. He doubted that the GIW knew how to hack it properly.

"It appears as though those agents are hunting you, Phantom. Your best bet is to get out."

"I'm not leaving," Phantom said. "I'm not letting this chance for peace go."

"The rest of the Justice League is here," the female tech called out pointing to monitor. Phantom turned and looked for Batman but couldn't see him.

"Technus, get me a line to Bats. I think I have an idea," Phantom said as he looked over it all again.

Why weren't the other Leaguers coming into the shield?

Batman growled out as he heard the news of an attack on the White House. It was reported that ghosts were attacking. He pulled up the feed to watch Superman fight some weird tapeworm.

"This is Vicky Vale reporting live from DC. It appears as though negotiations with the Ghost King has taken a turn for the worst…"

A call came over his screen and he growled answering it.

"What?"

"Geez, Bats, chill." Phantom laughed put making Batman grip the jet steering harder.

"What's going on?"

"GIW attacked. President locked in panic room. I was going to go out there, but I have a better plan."

"Which is?" Batman growled out knowing that Phantom was more than likely caught in the crossfire.

"GIW are in the White House. They hacked into the mainframe, but I got Technus guarding it for now. So I need some outside help in ensuring they don't spin the story too badly."

"Too late."

Phantom sighed on the other side before Batman heard another voice that sounded like the president speaking.

"Batman? This is President John Horne. I'm needing a way out of here. Phantom's right. We have to do this right so his status doesn't get too blow to bits. Can you run media interference?"

"I'll see what I can do. Are you alright?" Batman asked getting static before Phantom chuckled something.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's the GIW attacking…according to Phantom the ghost belongs to them."

"Is there proof?"

"Is there proof? HA! I'll see what I can do," Phantom said before cutting the connection. The ghost was annoyed and Batman could understand that.

Phantom probably didn't have proof.

Which left Batman to do the only thing the president asked.

Run media interference.

Oh joy.

I am currently working on twenty, and per how I work, I post every time I get to a new chapter...
I may have added three more chapters as I come up on the ending, but don't freak too much, it's not set in stone, I just know that I will more than twenty.
PS: if my Batman turns out weird, I'm sorry, I thought it was a good idea to write while watching the Lego Batman Movie...oops (Why do they have to say pew pew?!)
(I like to fight around...XD)
I kinda feel bad for Joker...why am I watching this...I need to finish this edit...XD
Batman seems so happy, but then he sad...I want to hug him