Jake shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed softly. They'd been waiting for twenty minutes for the conference to start and he was starting to get impatient. Spud was entertaining himself by playing with a handful of grass he ripped out of a crack in the pavement. Jake wasn't sure what the teen was doing but it was occupying him so the American dragon wasn't too worried. Artemis and Kid Flash had made it clear to Spud that they were a couple by now, Artemis having misinterpreted Spud's interest and set him straight. Jake had also learned that Miss Martian and Superboy were in a relationship.
The chatter throughout the crowd dimmed down as the conference's scheduled time approached. Two o'clock came and Mayor Tucker Foley emerged from the Town Hall alone, garbed in a neat suit. Flashing lights signalled the press photographers taking pictures. Tucker reached the microphone within a minute and cleared his throat loudly, silencing any remaining conversations.
"Good afternoon Amity Park and visiting journalists. Eleven days ago, my best friend and world hero Danny Phantom was kidnapped during an investigation into an abandoned Guys in White base. However today, the search is over. Danny Phantom is home and safe. He's here and he will be talking to you soon, but I have two representatives from the rescue team here to talk first and explain the situation first. I give you Aqualad and Robin," Tucker declared. The crowd erupted into shouted questions but Tucker ignored them and turned to the Town Hall as Aqualad and Robin walked out on to the stage, backs straight and faces set into serious expressions.
Aqualad took point and stood at the podium, Robin to his left, ready to jump in and help if necessary, and Tucker stepped back but remained on the stage. Aqualad held up his arms for silence and swept his calm gaze over the crowd. Despite being a covert team, they were still well acquainted with dealing with the press. Especially Aqualad due to his position in Atlantis as their king's apprentice and right hand man.
"Danny Phantom helped an investigation last year that we believe is connected to these recent events. As fellow heroes and personal friends, we joined the search as soon as we were informed of the situation. Yesterday evening, we had a break in the case and discovered a distress signal that was provided by James Isaac Neutron. James was kidnapped three days ago from his home by hired mercenaries in order to work on a technical issue Danny's kidnappers ran into during his captivity. Now Danny nor do we want to share what technical issues as this is an ongoing investigation. Also certain things learned during Danny's captivity could endanger himself or other ghosts further. Any questions?" Aqualad began.
Hands shot up throughout the crowd. Aqualad nodded to a reporter near the front.
"Who was on this team?" the man shouted to the hero.
"A number of individuals were involved, most personal contacts of Danny and his friends and family. I am not at liberty to name all involved," Aqualad replied.
"What did you do to search for Danny Phantom and James Neutron?" another reported called.
"During James's kidnapping, he issued a distress signal. Unfortunately we were too late to respond to it in time. However Robin set up a programme to monitor the airwaves for that distress signal or a similar one. We also searched for any clues at both kidnapping sites and followed up on them to the best of our ability," Aqualad answered, motioning to Robin beside him.
"What did the kidnappers want with Danny Phantom?" a female journalist questioned.
"We believe they wanted to kidnap Danny in order to instigate a war with the Ghost Zone, however we cannot be sure until our investigation is completed," Aqualad lied.
After a few more questions, Tucker stepped forward and asked for Jimmy to come out and issue a statement.
"Hi, I'm James Neutron. Er, I'm fine. And thanks to these guys for finding me and Danny," Jimmy started uncertainly.
"How did you send out a distress signal during your captivity?" a reporter inquired.
"The kidnappers wanted me to fix a technical issue and while I was working I had access to a number of tools and equipment. I was able to construct a machine to emit a distress signal then," Jimmy answered.
"Were you in contact with Danny Phantom at all during your kidnapping?" a journalist wondered.
"Yes. We were kept in the same cell," Jimmy admitted. A number of reporters shouted questions but Tucker interjected.
"Thank you James. If you could stand beside Robin and Aqualad now. We'll get you back home as soon as possible. Now Danny Phantom," Tucker announced, he could see that Jimmy was getting overwhelmed. Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief and stood beside Robin.
Danny stepped out, in his ghost form, and took the podium.
"Thanks for setting this up Tucker. I don't think I need to make a statement. So any questions?" Danny remarked. Danny rolled his eyes as journalists clamoured for his attention.
"One at a time please," he called.
"Mr Phantom, can you elaborate on the investigation you were involved with prior to your kidnapping?" a reporter asked.
"Since I learned of the Guys in White organisation's illegal activities last September, I have been leading the investigation into finding bases, clearing out any captured ghosts and shutting down any remaining activity. Last week, I was in an abandoned base looking for clues of their activities when I accidentally activated a trap by touching a pressure pad in a cupboard. The trap was specially designed to prevent me escaping. Sam and my sister Danielle were with me at the time but were unable to prevent me being taken. There is nothing more to say. I was taken through an unknown back entrance and forced into a car, my powers suppressed by my kidnappers," Danny answered calmly.
"What did your kidnappers do to you during your captivity?" a reporter wondered.
"Honestly, not much and what they did do is confidential for my and other ghosts or halfas' safety. But as you can see I am uninjured," Danny replied evasively. A number of questions followed, ranging from where he was kept to how he was rescued, most answers were vague or lies in order to hide what truly happened. He was also asked who was on the rescue team and search team but Danny merely replied that he wasn't going to name names without consent from those people first. While he was talking, the dark teenager in the crowd was muttering under his breath and had taken out a crystal ball filled with pulsing green and blue energy.
"Before I go, I'd like to mention one thing. While I was gone, I have been made aware of how much the general public hounded my family. People rang the house with false sightings of me in order to get a cash reward. The last week and a half has been difficult for my family and I'm furious and sickened that people tried to rob from us, because that was what you were doing. You were conning my family out of money we do not have. Unfortunately I have no numbers, addresses or names in order to personally visit those people and give them a piece of my mind. But you should all be ashamed of yourselves. And as for the reporters and journalists that rang my family constantly, you were just as bad. You both potentially interfered with the investigation and search for me and caused my family excessive stress and hardship. I understand that many people were concerned about me, and I'm touched. I am. But I am also disappointed and upset that so many people caused my family difficulties and unnecessary hardships," Danny concluded, giving the crowd stern scowl.
Tucker stepped forward and took the microphone again and Danny stepped back to stand beside Jimmy, folding his arms, an annoyed, slightly angered scowl on his face.
"Any further questions?" Tucker asked. There were a few raised hands. The dark teen in the crowd finished his soft chanting and grinned as the energy in the crystal ball turned black and on the stage Danny winced and put a hand to his temple.
"Danny, you alright?" Robin whispered worriedly.
"Ye-yeah. I think so. Just got a really bad headache. I'll be fine," Danny muttered. Robin nodded slowly, accepting the answer but kept a worried eye on the halfa.
Jake and Zatanna gasped simultaneously at the same time as Danny winced, feeling a rush of power sweep through the square. They turned to each other, eyes wide with shock. They both felt it.
"Did you pin down what caused that?" Zatanna whispered. Jake shook his head.
"No. It was too sudden and widespread. You?" Jake muttered back. She shook her head.
"What's up?" Sam asked, noticing that Jake and Zatanna looked worried about something.
"We felt a disturbance in the air. Definitely magical and it was powerful," Zatanna answered softly.
"Is that bad?" Sam pressed worriedly.
"We don't know. But we don't know where it came from or what it did. That kind of power had to have done something," Jake muttered. Zatanna nodded in agreement.
"Would you be able to track down what happened?" Sam suggested hopefully. Zatanna and Jake turned to each other.
"I bet Fu could but by the time he got here, the trail would be gone," Jake admitted. Zatanna took a deep breath and shut her eyes in concentration, mumbled backwards words under her breath. Sam and Jake waited, ignoring Tucker's finishing comments on the stage. Zatanna opened her eyes and frowned.
"It's weird. It feels powerful but I can't pin it down exactly. I'll need some time," Zatanna reported. Sam and Jake nodded, disappointed but they understood that the magician was trying her best.
They looked up as applause echoed around the square as the crowd clapped for the Young Justice representatives, and by extension, everyone that helped to find Danny. Then the five people on the stage walked back into the Town Hall. The group walked inside the building a few minutes later as the crowd dissipated, Spud stumbled over his shoelaces. Shoving his grass creation into his pocket, he knelt down to tie the laces. He blinked when he heard a cat meow close to him. Spud looked up to see a unique orange cat staring at him. Spud smiled at the cat.
"Hey. I'm not usually into cats but you look pretty cool. I'm Spud," Spud greeted the cat with a smirk, standing up having tied his laces. The cat blinked uncaringly at him.
"Spud! Come on!" Jake shouted over his shoulder. Spud glanced at his friend before turning back to the cat.
"Er, gotta go. See you around," Spud muttered and ran after the others.
The cat watched the boy go before strolling to a nearby alleyway where he joined a dark teenager holding a crystal ball filled with swirling black energy.
"Well that is interesting eh Teekl. The American dragon and those baby heroes. Seems Phantom has some powerful friends. Good thing we have this right?" the teenager sniggered, gesturing to the crystal ball before opening a swirling red portal that both boy and cat disappeared into.
Any guesses who that mystery teen is? What about the crystal ball?
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far. Any theories on what's going to happen?
I've added a new page to my website - requests. Check it out! There's a link in my bio.
Until the next chapter.
