It had taken almost all of the bats and the Fenton siblings to corral Bullwinkle into leaving the building, while distracting the parents. Then they could finally make their way-The stairs were destroyed.
Dick and Jason glanced at each other, recognizing it must have happened when they fought Plasmius, but neither recalled the stairs falling. The remaining staircase wasn't sturdy enough to grapple too either, as it shook if too many stood on it.
"Elevator?" Cass suggested.
"We need to restore power or get it stuck on another floor."
"Hey B-"
"On it."
-uwu-
Batman had already taken a look around while the others were floors above. Catfish refusing to leave, followed at Batman's heels, swimming in the floor. He was in the lab, the one Dick, Danny, and Jason had first found. Interested in one thing, since Dick already grabbed the information. Well two things, he wanted to look at the portal himself.
But first-Looking upon the shards of glass from broken capsules, not a drop left of ectoplasm. Danny must have absorbed ectoplasm from here. Glancing around the machinery, he found the dead clone.
Danny must have carried it here too, by the way it was posed. It almost appeared to be sleeping. Reaching out to touch the clone, he tried to search for vitals. But it was as Dick said, the clone was dead. It was starting to stiffen, from being out of the ectoplasm.
It felt wrong to leave the body be. Especially with how closely it resembled Danny, and in extension his other kids if they were younger. Perhaps he can give it a proper burial later. He found a tarp and properly covered it.
He moved towards the secret part of the lab, seeing most of it smashed. The portal was broken. He remembered the vultures telling him that earlier when he "inquired" their help, still he wanted to check it out for himself.
There was colored ectoplasm spilled everywhere and a sweet scent was still fairly strong in here.
Batman walked carefully over the broken glass, trying not to step into the ectoplasm. The smashed portal no longer had a frame and seemed to have collapsed completely onto itself. Yet, it was still enough for Batman to get a vague idea. This type of portal was potentially the same as the one Danny was...
It was also supplying the ecto-batteries. Hopefully this meant production had stopped long enough for the Justice League to get a handle of things.
And for Bruce to find some evidence to convict Vlad Masters of anything. Tonight was far too many close calls.
Hearing their dilemma on the comms, Batman swiftly walked out of the room. There was nothing left to examine. He walked back, making his way to pick up the clone on his way out-only to find it missing. No trace. Batman didn't like that, glancing back to see if the Catfish ghost was still on his heels. They were gone too.
Bruce picked up the pace to find the breaker room, he had a bad feeling.
-ewe-
It wasn't hard to find the elevator on this floor, especially since Danny was in well enough shape to read the writing on the walls. Though he became very sour that there was an ecto-spa on one of the floors.
"No, had to get sprayed in the sink instead."
Jason snickered at the memory, as he worked on prying the elevator doors open with Dick, to check the shaft.
"Danny, do you really trust Vlad's judgment in spa-"
"Yes! Have you seen his skin?"
"...He does have nice skin, doesn't he?" Jazz pondered on this revelation, she figured it made sense. Vlad did suffer from ecto-acne, so of course he be very strict about his skincare.
"Well if ectoplasm is anything similar to the Lazarus pit, it seems very likely it could keep skin youthful." Tim theorizing.
"Daw, that's why my baby brother still has baby-" Jazz pinching Danny's cheeks who smacked her hands away.
"I do not!"
"Do too." Jason grinned.
Danny huffed, crossing arms. Puffing out those baby cheeks.
Damian turning from everyone to pat his own cheeks, wondering if they too were baby like. That would be most unfortunate. Cass poking his cheek with a chuckle, making Damian huff with a glare.
Dick peered into the open shaft, the elevator still stuck in place where they left it. He hopped down, on top of the elevator, checking to make sure the cables were fine. Jason had just jumped down after, when all the halls lit up red. Sirens blaring through the building.
Everyone looked around startled. The bats recognizing it as a-
"Self-destruct sequence initiated, Sweetums. Countdown commencing. Please evacuate the building within ten minutes or risk becoming a ghost." Maddie's voice called out through the speakers.
"Uh-oh."
Danny banged his head on the nearby wall, eye twitching. This was all because Vlad escaped. All frustration from earlier returning.
"No time to be dramatic, Danny." Jazz pulling her brother off the wall.
"Ten minutes is plenty of-" Danny blinked as he shoved down the elevator shaft by his sister. He was caught by Jason, still a bit stunned that his sister just shoved him down a shaft.
"I'll go get Mom and Dad." Jazz said as she turned, calling for her parents. Cass following her leaving the boys at the entrance to the elevator.
Jason put Danny down with a rough ruffle of his hair and went to open the trap door at the top of the elevator so they could all climb inside.
-owo-
Bruce had reached the power room. Everything was tossed around, generators smashed. Not from a fight, but a tantrum. Batman could tell by how the damage surrounded mostly in one area.
He hurried through the cables and broken pieces to see if there was anything that could be done. He walked up to a control board, one smashed, the other had glitchy text, and the third was in good condition. He used a nearby map that laid out all the floors that was plaster to the wall as a guide to figure out where power was coming and going to.
Even though everything was written in ghost, Batman was familiar enough with machinery such as this to figure out roughly what was going on. Even if it relied on a different power source. Pulling a switch, all the lights in the room went off, the alarm still ringing in the distance.
Batman turned on his flashlight and worked on redirecting the power to the the center of the building, more so focusing it on the elevator and loading dock area. Though he had hacked into the tunnel to keep it permanently open, he didn't want to risk it closing.
-w-
Danny had climbed inside the elevator. Damian jumped in after. Tim stayed up to look out for the Fentons. Dick climbing back up to wait with. Jason staying on top of the elevator.
"Its appears as if something died in here." Damian staring at the mess of slime that dried and stained the walls and a corner of the elevator.
"Yeah, me. That's when I was melting into goop." Danny stated with a grin. "And yes. It felt as gross as it looks."
Damian scrunched his face up, raising a brow at Danny. It was hard to imagine the teen now as a mess of slime.
"Jazz, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton this way." Tim spoke seeing the Fentons and Cass running down the hall, ushering them towards the elevator.
Jazz was the first into the shaft, reaching out to cling to the cables. Only to scream as she slid down faster than she like. Jason there to catch her if she fell.
"That could have gone better." Jazz chuckled, embarrassed. She climbed down into the elevator cheeks pink, Danny chuckling at her. Who she shoved plafully.
Next was Tim and Cass, each jumping into the elevator. Maddie and Jack climbed down, Dick jumping after. Jack looked at the opening of the elevator, frowning as he could tell he wouldn't fit easily. Maddie suggesting Jack to go ahead in case they need to push.
Reluctantly Jack tried to squeeze in, getting stuck halfway. The five in the elevator pulled on Jack's legs as the three above pushed. They stopped for a moment to get a breather, as they barely managed to budge him.
"We got roughly 6 and a half minutes left."
Danny frowned grabbing onto his father's boot again. "Ok, help me pull again."
All of them grabbed onto Jack giving another pull/push. Danny using his powers to turn his father temporarily intangible. Causing the man to fall right on top of them all. Maddie, Jason, and Dick blinking down surprised how easily Jack popped out.
"Whew. Talk about a tight squeeze. Thank you kids." Jack picked up Tim, Dami, and Cass in one arm and Danny and Jazz with the other, putting them back on their feet.
Danny looked like he was going to throw up, but just gave a grin to mask it. Cass reached out to rub his back, to see if it helped with the sickness. The other three jumped in after, just as the lights flickered and the elevator stuttered to life.
Just in time. Jason lightly punched the ground floor button. They let the elevator take them down, taking the mini breather they had as the alarms kept blaring.
"5 minutes remaining until self-destruct sequence commences."
"I really need to sue for likeness." Maddie put her hands on her hips, frowning at the voice as she stood near her kids and husband.
Batman greeted them at the elevator, as the doors opened, ushering them to the dock. His hand on his side, hidden under his cloak. Cassandra rushing to Batman's side, providing little support she could.
"To the GAV, I'll get us all out of here in no time." Jack stated.
"Unless you have the keys, it be faster to run." Jazz remembering how awful it was to wait on the scanner.
The GAV horn honked and lights flashed as a sign of being unlocked. The sound of keys dangling. Damian held them out in his hand then reluctantly tossed them to Jack.
"They dropped to the floor after you kicked the ghost's groin." Damian explained choosing words wisely.
"That's my girl!" Jack pulled Jazz into a side hug as they ran, half-way carrying her.
"Daaad." Jazz whined, though blushed at the praise. Then her eyes shot wide open, glancing at Damian and then back to Danny and Jason. She mouthed her concerns 'spray'.
It took them a moment to understand what Jazz was saying. Then all the bats looked back at Jason and Danny, looking concerned. Would they be ok? It had been about two hours since it sprayed.
Jack had revved up the GAV, Maddie sitting in the passenger seat. The bats clamored inside except for Jason and Danny. They were more caution getting into the armored vehicle. Danny getting into a coughing fit as soon as he breathed in the air, covering his lower face with his hands as he moved as far back into the GAV as he could. Jason doing the same.
"One minute remaining."
"Everyone buckle up! Its going to be a rough ride!" Jack bellowed.
"There isn't enough seatbel-" Jazz screeched as Jack floored the gas swerving the GAV around. She clung tightly to the bodies next to her which happened to be Damian and Tim, mushing them closely together in her arms.
Cass and Batman kept close to the ground, Cass doing her best to keep them still. Dick had his arms spread out, as if he could protect the others if they crashed. Danny and Jason were up against the back doors, Jason having one hand over his mouth and the other tightly gripped the back of Danny's shirt to keep him from flying.
Jack drove the GAV as if it was a race car. Which was almost impressive, if they weren't in the vehicle as well. Maddie pulled out a tiny capsule, popping it open to inflate a boat behind her.
"Since you kids can't buckle up. That should reduce any impact." Maddie smiled, seeming unbothered, by the reckless driving.
"Thanks Mom." Now they were all comically squished together.
"30 seconds remaining."
Jack sped through the tunnel as fast as he could, only slowing down when nearing the lift so they wouldn't crash. Maddie pulled out her ecto-blaster, sticking her upper body out of the window. She aimed at the lift's button, waiting until they were close to fire at it.
"10. 9. 8..."
The GAV made a hop as it hit against the ledge of the lift, as it rose. Jack swerved the GAV into a circle until came to a jarring stop.
"5. 4.."
Jack relaxed back into his seat, glancing at his review mirror, adjusting it to see over the inflatable boat back at the kids and bats. Jazz had a death grip on Damian and Tim, both pressed to her chest. In protective mode. Dick felt stiff from trying to keep from moving, arms still covering them.
Danny was curled up into a ball, trying to keep nausea down. Jason no longer had a grip on Danny's shirt, but now had an arm around to keep him still. Cass had white knuckle grip on Batman's cape and the other on his arm.
"1...Self-destruct commence. Note if this results in an untimely death, we are not liable for any compensation. Thank you."
With that the underwater castle erupted in a series of explosions, soon filling the tunnel behind them. Causing air to pressure under the lift, sending the platform up into the air before they had time to drive off of it.
Screams came from the GAV as it tumbled in the air, then rolled on the ground, landing on its wheels.
Everyone was in a tangle of bodies. The boat had protected them for the most part, but now they had to crawl out from underneath each other. Dick who laid upside down, shifted back to his feet.
"I think its safe to let them go now," Dick half-smiled amused as he pointed to Jazz's frozen grip on his brothers.
Damian and Tim were both close to passing out from her strong hold. Jazz let go, with a jolt.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you ok?!" Jazz checking them over, feeling terrible for clinging onto them so tightly.
Tim wobbled, then shook it off, "Its.. fine."
Damian was taking in deep gasps of air, glaring. "Don't touch me."
"Fair. Sorry." Jazz looking at them with a pleading look to forgive her as she twiddled her fingers.
Batman holding his chest tighter, letting out a heavy breath. Cassandra was under his other arm with his cape draped over her. He had covered her when they went flying, in an attempt to protect her. Cass flopped out of his cape and arm, shaking off the dizziness.
Jack and Maddie readjusted in their seats. Jack kept a stressed smile, hands gripped tightly at the wheel. Maddie had a hand over her chest as she released a breath. "Is everyone alright?"
Everyone let out a groan in response. That's when they noticed they were missing two. Jason and Danny. Scrambling to open the back door of the GAV to search, they got clear view of Danny puking near a rock, as Jason patted his back.
"ughhhhh.. I hate puking." Danny spit, wiping his mouth on his arm as he stood.
"I be mildly concerned if you enjoyed it."
"Just mildly?"
"I think there are larger concerns when it comes to you." Jason was staring at a pair of them now, as Jack and Maddie stepped out of the GAV. Jason then glanced over at his family, stumbling out of the back as if they were drunk. He smirked as Bruce was not spared from that fate either.
"Ouch thanks for the honesty."
"Anytime." Jason crossing his arms as the Fenton parents rushed over. Taking a step back.
"Danny!" Danny was pulled into his mother's arms, being held tightly. Maddie rubbed her cheek against Danny's hair. "My baby."
Danny blushed, adjusting his mother's arms so he rested comfortable against her. He forgotten how nice her hugs were. Melting into it. "Not a baby."
"Still my baby." Maddie smothering her son in kisses.
"How did you two get out of the GAV?" Jack ask scratching his head.
"Weeee fell out?" Danny replied. Which wasn't a lie.
"He phased us out." Jason whispered to Dick, after he walked back towards bats. Though the others overheard the whisper. They all nodded at the answer, as it explained why Danny was sick.
Jazz walking over to her family, joining in hugging Danny, letting out a breath of relief. Jack wrapped his arms, gently this time, around his family. As it sunk in that the situation was finally over, both of the siblings sniffed away tears.
"Aw. Kids." Maddie tightened her grip around both her kids, letting them bury their heads into her shoulder as they melted into her embrace. If they cried, none of the bats could see.
Though what would normally feel like a heart warming moment, left the bats feeling bittersweet. Almost could be fooled that they were a normal family, but the truth stood ugly and proud at the fore front of their minds. However they let the family have their moment.
Dick and Cass ushered Batman over to the jet that was sitting near the edge of the lake. They needed to look at his injury again. Tim stretched then decided to get a better look at the GAV. Damian decided to go to the edge of the lake, watching the island burn in the middle.
Jason leaned on the side of the GAV, watching the family with his arms crossed. Things couldn't be simple, could they?
