"A battery?" Danny raised a brow.
Batman nodded, having informed them to reason he was there and how he had crashed. They needed a distraction from the current situation, and from what he saw, they were well informed on the subject he needed answers for.
"That's what was classified? Are you sure it was using ectoplasm?" Jazz asked as she stood far from Danny, but still in the vicinity of the shield. She was dangling a stick out of arms length, ready to spray a tiny bit of the ghost repellent at the end of the stick.
They only needed a small sample. No need in making Danny miserable. He should recover from it quickly if they couldn't find a solution.
"Substance of the matter is unknown by our database, but after what information I had gathered from here, that it is indeed one in the same." Batman explained, "Power levels matching the levels in this area."
Danny furrowed his brows, as he leaned his back against the log, sitting on the ground next to where Batman sat on the log. "Hmm. That's odd. Our parents don't sell converters or batteries, since they haven't fixed the whole food coming back to life thing."
The what ? Batman quickly shoved that thought aside.
"Yeah. We would know to, because Dad wouldn't shut up about it." Jazz started spritzing the stick trying her best not to get any on her. She didn't want another trip into the lake.
"And we would have known if one got stolen." Between Danny's hero work, Jazz's cataloging of inventions, and their parents ridiculous security system, it be hard to steal from them too.
Danny pulled his legs to his chest hugging them, resting his cheek on his knees. "So that leaves us with Axion Labs or the GiW?"
He didn't like the idea of that. Danny didn't need everyone getting their hands on ghost tech. Let alone Gotham. He could only imagine how many ghosts would form or feed from there, if it had an increase of ectoplasmic energy.
Danny shivered.
Batman squinted his eyes, both were unfamiliar to him. Axion Labs briefly came up in his research, but it was label as an organic material replacement research facility. Though, now that he thought about it, there was little to any information on what Axion Labs specifically made or researched about. He should of looked more into it. That was a lapse in his judgment.
Now the GiW, he never heard of them at all. "GiW?"
"Oh um, they're a secret government organization that deals with ghosts. We call them the guys in white, mostly because they're always dressed in white suits." Danny explained motion with his hands.
"We think their official title might be called the Ghost Investigation Ward, but we're not sure." Jazz chimed in.
"I never heard of that agency." Batman frowned into his hand, deeply. He had on file every government funded organization, fraction, and office. How did an entire organization slipped past the cracks.
"Not surprising. We didn't either until they started showing up in Amity Park." Danny grumbled into his knees.
That's odd. Batman felt the wheels turning, he have to look into them more. He guessed by how Danny reacted to mentioning GiW, that they had a negative affect on their lives.
"Honestly, they're always causing more harm than good. The GiW loves to flaunt their new devices, but they don't take security lightly. And Axion Labs was bought out by VladCo, who also doesn't take security lightly. Though to be honest, he needs to update his password." It had been something related to Maddie since Danny and Tuck started hacking into his systems.
"Vlad Masters?" Bruce knew the man. He always avoided business with him. There were a lot of rumors circulating through the elite about the man, but even with his detective work, he found nothing amiss. Business deals just too conveniently going his way.
Danny hesitated on answering as he realized he might be revealing too much. What if Batman drew the connection between Vlad and Plasmius.
"Yeah. Vlad was a college friend of our parents." Jazz walking closer to the two, the ghost repellent left on the ground from where she had sprayed the stick. Trying to keep Danny's distance from it. "Ok, the sticks ready."
"I'm not going to do a control." Danny glaring at the stick. He could smell it a bit from here.
Batman nodded, as he pulled a small gas mask from his belt. He only had one for himself, as he hadn't planned on needing more than one. At least not on hand.
"Why do you have a-"
Batman raised a brow at Danny. Danny just chuckled awkwardly in response, realizing how dumb that question is.
"Many of my rogues use specialized chemical gas as weapons." Batman decided to explain anyways as he handed Danny the mask.
It was a little too big for Danny, but it would do for the test. Jazz waited for the 'ok' from her brother, before wagging the stick in his face.
"You look like you're having too much fun with that stick, Jazz." Danny huffed as he held the mask in place.
"The sisterly urge to poke you with a stick is still strong, brother. And I have doubt it shall ever die."
"Well, it still stinks, but I think that's because the smell been burnt into my nostrils." Danny sniffed.
"Any physical reactions?"
"No, not really." Besides the normal discomfort of smelling anything rotten, Danny didn't feel ill like he had instantly when their parents sprayed it. "Definitely not feeling sick like before- Oh shi-shoot!" Danny clumsily dropped the mask.
Jazz quickly tossed the stick far behind her in panic, hearing the stick snap against a tree.
"Sorry," Danny picked up the mask, making sure it was ok. He brushed off any dirt then he handed it back to Batman.
"Its fine. We'll adjust it." He fiddled with the straps. "As long as it work."
"Yeah, wish I had thought of that."
"Danny, it wouldn't have worked. Mom and Dad sprayed EVERYTHING remember? I had to double check the food didn't get spritzed!" Jazz groaned, she was the one who had to scrub everything clean for the week. It had been very stressful vacation for her.
Batman kept his stare on the mask. Why would their parents keep using a product that obviously gave their child discomfort? Unless... "Do your parents know?"
Danny froze, face paling. His eyes searching his sister for help, she was just as paralyzed with panic. "Uh, a-about what?"
Batman frowned, "About your contamination?"
"Oh! That-" Danny felt a bit of relief, trying to hide the deep breath he let out. Jazz did the same, with her hand over her heart. Danny cursed, maybe they gotten too comfortable.
"Uh.. they do... just uh.." Danny wasn't sure how to word this, eyes pleading with his sister again for help. This time she was able to respond.
"They don't know how badly contaminated he is. They know their devices malfunction around him, but not sure why. Its kind of hard to tell them anything about ectoplasm or ghosts."
"How come? They are experts in this field, correct?"
"Tch, yeah. They get proven one thing right and now everything they ever said or theorized about ghosts is also true." Danny huffed, then flinched as Jazz bumped her foot into Danny's leg. A signal to watch what he said.
Right, they were with Batman. World's greatest detective.
That thought just now settled into his brain. They were with the world's greatest detective, who was investigating an ectoplasmic battery that lead him to ghosts, knew Jazz and Danny can fight ghosts as well as had extensive knowledge of them, and he was going to help them fight Plasmius.
He was going to find out. They were going to turn on him. Danny didn't want to be chased by heroes! It was bad enough he got gunned down by his parents and the government daily.
"Mom and Dad have a large bias against ghosts and are a bit... extreme with the subject. So its hard to tell them anything without it either being blown out of proportion ooooorrr... dismissed with "logical reasoning". If they don't start talking non-stop at the word ghost first. T-they don't mean to but uh.. yeah." Jazz knew her parents on paper were textbook definition of neglectful.
Their absent mindedness and hyper fixation on ghosts caused the majority of the Fenton children's problems. They were constantly endangering their children's lives despite all their safety lectures and protocols. Danny was a living example of it, or not living example.
However, Danny and Jazz still loved them. They were goofy and loving, they just loved their work and hated ghosts more. Even if they both denied it. Even though they would fight to end of the earth for their kids, they would always return straight back to work with a tool in their hand. It was something Jazz and Danny accepted.
Batman nodded, gripping the strap tight in his hand. He was liking it less and less about the Fenton situation. Even more so to know it had been going on for a while. He never even knew.
Once back home, he'll have to double check his systems files one by one to make sure they were accurate and up to date. That there wasn't any missing or false information. Though he swore to clean up Gotham, this was something that should have came to the league's attention.
Batman side glance towards the boy who seemed to curl up into himself. It hurt, having just seen the boy relaxed by his side a moment ago. Batman looked back up at Jazz. She was standing firmly in place, strictly in protective mode. No doubt because of her brother. Jazz was trying to decipher Batman's reaction.
"Hmm. I see." Batman choosing his words carefully. The kids were on the defensive. "I'm sorry that they don't listen."
He had to learn that lesson. More than once. Bruce couldn't recall all the times Dick or Alfred had to pull him out of his head. Though he could recall some of his fondest moments were when he sat down and just listened to his children talk. Their one on ones. Like when Tim was questioning his place as a Robin, or Jason back when he was a Robin telling him about his life before Bruce.
Even just mundane talks like when Dick calls just to say hi and tell him about a new restaurant, show, or about the weather, as his way to have a small break from family and vigilante life. Stephanie sitting him down to teach him current slang or about a viral meme. Damian talking about injustice of not allowing pets in school, or swords.
There were even moments that they didn't need to talk to be listened to. Duke just needing comfort of someone standing beside him. Or when Cass sneak into his office, pulling up a chair to sit on and rest her head on his shoulder as he worked.
They just needed to know they were there and welcomed.
And they were some of Bruce's favorite moments.
Jazz was stunned, furrowing her brows as if she didn't hear that right. She shuffled in her spot after a moment to regain composure. Her shoulders were visibly more relaxed with a soft smile growing on her face. "Thank you."
Danny never lifted his head up from his arms, but he was confused. What did Batman have to be sorry for? Not his fault their parents on/off switch was ghosts. That's just how they were.
"What are your views on ghosts?" Batman asked. These kids didn't agree with their parents bias about ghosts. Whether he knew what the bias was or not didn't matter. Though it would appear negative. And so far, he trusted these kids more about the subject than these unknown parents of theirs.
He definitely would like to have a word or two with them by the end of this.
Danny raised his head shocked, glancing at Jazz who just smiled happily. Her eyes glistening. Danny rubbed the back of his neck looking away from either of them, feeling awkwardness creep up. Had, nobody really asked them that? Huh. Weird.
"Uhhh, They're just.. like anyone else. Some ghosts were people or animals with a cruddy end in a place with high ectoplasmic levels. Most just want to live their life... afterlife? doing what they never was able to before. Sometimes they cause trouble but uh.. most just stick to themselves." Danny blew out some air. He never really put to words how he thought about ghosts. Kind of weird seeing as he was one. Half of one, to think of them as just ghosts.
At least ever since Jazz's intervention, when she saw Danny having a crisis in the middle of the night, worrying (Crying) that he was a monster because his eyes were constantly glowing outside of ghost form and he was growing fangs.
That was, one heck of a week... month. All about accepting that he was still Danny and not Dan, nor a monster because he didn't see other ghosts as monsters either. Something about how their parents bias rubbed off on him, blah blah.
"Majority of them don't even leave the ghost zone." Danny continued.
"Ghost... zone?"
"Dimension ghosts and ectoplasm come from, its connected to our world. There are pockets all over the world that can open up any time any place. " Jazz sat down on the log, on Danny's other side. Her hand going to mess with their brother's hair, mostly just to fiddle with something in her hand. Danny frowning but making no effort to make her stop.
Batman just hummed in response. So much new information. He would like to dive in deeper, but they had to focus more on what was relevant. "And what about the ones that don't stay in the ghost zone?"
"They want to have fun, at least that's how Ember puts it- sh-"
"Ember is a rock star ghost who manipulates people with her music. She's usually pretty chill when she isn't trying to indulge in her obsession. Obsessions are what gives a ghost purpose." Jazz explained before Batman could ask.
Danny giving her a weird look, but Jazz just gave a reassuring smile at him. Batman must have passed some invisible test for her.
"Uh.. yeah. Its because of their obsessions, or boredom they tend to sneak out of the Ghost Zone to cause some mayhem. Pain in the butt. There only a handful we met that want to cause harm or death on people." Danny still giving a strange look at his sister, trying to figure out what made Jazz soo calm?
"Plasmius is one of those?"
Danny glancing back at Batman, biting his lip. "...kind of.. yeah. Though his is.. or was more personal. He's kind of a strange topic."
"Strange or uncomfortable?"
Danny blinked, "Uh.. b-both?"
Batman handed back the mask once the straps were adjusted for Danny to try again. Jazz helping from where she sat, adjusting it a bit more to see how it fit. They would test it again against the repellent, seeing how much the mask can filter out before Danny felt ill. None of them really speaking, but the silence was comfortable.
Bruce reached up to turn his comm back on. He needed to hear them again, besides once they reach the coordinates they won't be able to communicate again until they landed.
Dick was at the helm of the plane, humming to himself as he flew. Damian was curled up in his seat, already having stolen some of the snacks from Alfred's basket, examining each one out of boredom. He was trying not to look interested in the game Jason and Tim were playing.
Jason sat leaned back in his seat, legs spread and an arm hanging off the back of his chair. Tim sat semi crossed legged, leaning over as he debated his next move. They both held cards in their hands and a crate was shoved between them to use as a table. They were chatting with Steph over the comm.
"All I'm saying, he looks way to weak! There's no way." Steph said over the comm, staring at the picture of the Fenton family that popped up on the screen. She had been bragging about being right since it appeared.
"And who be loosing money if that was the case, me not you! I still bet 50 bucks and a burger he's a heck of a fighter. You don't need to be strong if you have a weapon. Little demon spawn proof of that." Jason tossing a card down.
"I can end you with my bare hands."
"Yeah, yeah, in five years maybe."
"Don't start fighting. We got to at least get there in one piece." Dick sparing a glance between Jason and Damian.
Tim stated as he laid down a card. "Uno."
"No! Bullshit. You just had five cards."
"Yeah, so I reversed, skipped, reverse, skipped, and had to draw. Got a wild card, so now its green."
"Fuck this game. Hey, demon brat come play. You been eyeballing us for last 10 minutes. Game better with more people." Jason having to pick up five cards before he got a green.
"It has not been 10 minutes." Damian huffed.
Tim laying down his last card with a 'whoop!'. "Also, I think Danny's probably a vigilante."
"Your opinion is only valid if you bet on it." Steph huffed.
"You already got 30 bucks off of me, Steph!"
"Gotta put a penny to your thoughts for them to be heard, red bird. Preferably not a penny though, because that's lame and we are going through inflation."
"Fine, another 30 he's a vigilante." Tim shook his head as he watched Jason stomp off to find some "real" cards.
"50- he's self taught." Cass popped out behind Tim, who dropped all the cards he was attempted to put up.
"Gah! Cass!"
The other 3 birds jumping at her voice, letting out a screech of their own.
"Cass? When did you-"
"She has been with you since you left the bat cave. Also we might need to try contacting Bat's soon. I found some information about the Fenton family and that there is a town in Illinois, called Amity Park but... I only get a few sentences and articles in before I'm kicked out or the information corrupts." Barbara stated with concern.
"Its kind of creepy. The files go all VHS filter on ya, then deletes it stuff. Almost like watching a horror flick to be honest."
"I might hold off on getting anymore information, until B can look at it, or someone can go to see the town in person. I'm running system for viruses now."
"Someone doesn't want anyone to know about the town." Dick stated the obvious with a frown.
"So these kids... have bigger troubles, huh?" Jason huffed, hands in his pockets.
"What did you find out about the Fentons, besides that Danny has black hair and blue eyes?" Tim asked.
"Jack and Madeline Fenton, are self-employed scientist and inventors with a degree in the paranormal. They are considered mad by the scientific community, but experts with in their own field of study."
"Get this! Says that they're ghost hunters and have been hunting ghosts for 20 years. Crazy right?"
"Yea, the dead coming back to life? Insane." Jason snorted.
"Er... I guess you have a point. B-but ghosts aren't the same... right?"
Damian frowned, "Grandfather... never said anything about ghosts."
"What else Babs?" Dick pressing to try and see if Batman was online yet.
"Well, only other thing I was able to cook up is medical records. Apparently Daniel Fenton was taken to the hospital shortly before his freshman year. About two years ago. He showed signs of electrical burns and hypothermia. Doesn't say what caused it."
"Fuck." They all grimaced.
"Why did Duke decide to power nap now? Just when we found out Danny's probably a meta!"
"Looks like he won't be the only one in the manor. I doubt Father is going to ignore that." Damian sighed.
"We don't know the specifics.. but.. that's not looking good. We'll let B know, try to rest up when you can. We'll keep you updated."
"Affirmative. Be careful. We don't have a third plane up and ready."
"Will keep that in mind." Dick weakly chuckled.
Everyone grew silent. Jason had returned to his seat, kicking his feet up on the crate, arms crossed. Tim resting his chin in his hand in thought. Cass leaning against controls, with a grimace still showing on her face. Damian had pulled his legs up to his chest, pouting. This was going to be more than a simple rescue mission.
"Soooo Abba?"
"NO DICK!"
Dick already was reaching to play some music, all of them scrambling to take it away from him. Then they heard a click. Batman was back on. Dick reaching hand up to his ear.
"How far away are you?"
Before Dick could reply, Jason and Damian were already blowing up Bat's comm.
