Chapter 12:
Third Person:
There were a few things that Danny found that weren't easy, it was asking for a favor, saying sorry, or asking for help. None of it was easy to say or do and he didn't like saying or doing any of it either. Yet he had to do all of it as he pleaded with the team to let him go along to deal with the ghost.
"Oh come on," Danny whined, "I'm an ex-thief now, I think I can deal."
"You have no idea how this team works," Kaldur gently explained, causing the Poltergeist to pout, "We are weary of you as well and you could easily betray us in the field of battle."
The Poltergeist continued to frown as he mused different things in his head. Kid Flash was getting impatient and wanted to just dash off towards the fight so he was viciously pacing around the room, causing a small breeze that annoyed Artemis. Poltergeist snapped his fingers and gave them a smug grin,
"But you don't know how to deal with ghosts."
Poltergeist floated a few feet off the ground with his arms crossed over his chest smugly. Kaldur briefly looked over to the rest of the team with a hopeless expression. Robin shrugged, not caring either way since he was the one that had to stay with Poltergeist anyway, Artemis just wanted to get to the action- as did Superboy, M'gann was a bit happy since she wanted to see how Poltergeist would do in the field, and Kid Flash was upset.
"Oh no," Kid Flash protested, "He can't! Didn't Batman say no field work for him yet!?"
"Didn't Bats also say unless he was needed," Robin pointed out, "Sorry KF."
The Poltergeist cheered,
"Woo-hoo! Let's go! I mean, I would have snuck on anyway but this way is a lot more easier! Let's kick some ectoplasmic butt!"
He zipped off to the ship, M'gann following closely behind him and Superboy followed her. The rest of the team shrugged before running towards the ship as well. The Poltergeist, of course, just floated sitting criss-cross mid-air during the flight, occasionally making a comment about the technology involved with the ship or making a smartass comment to Kid Flash, who was annoyed. It didn't take long for the ship to land at the scene of the crime.
Explosions were going off from an unknown attacker. Kaldur motioned for the team to move forward.
"We must see who the attacker is," Kaldur said through the link.
The Poltergeist's eyes widened.
"Dude I can hear you in my head. That is so weird, awesome, but weird… Why can I hear you in my head?"
"We can all hear him," Kid Flash pointed out irritated.
"I have a mental link established between members so we don't have to talk during battle or a mission," M'gann explained.
"Awesome," Poltergeist whistled.
The team neared the scene to find the ghost- his green hair was flaming and he seemed to be in a metal suit.
"Poltergeist," Kaldur questioned, "Do you recongize the ghost?"
"Yep. That's Skulker. Claims to be the best hunter in all the Ghost Zone. He's not."
"I demand to see the whelp," Skulker roared, "I will have his pelt put on my wall!"
The Poltergeist visibly shivered, as did most of team aside from Kaldur and Robin (who have seen and heard worse).
"Who is the whelp," Kid Flash questioned out loud.
Skulker's head turned towards the team, a sneer on his face.
"The halfa! I know he is here and I will see him!"
Kaldur turned to Poltergeist to question him if he knew what a 'halfa' was or who the 'halfa' was, however Poltergeist was gone. He furrowed his brows, doing his best to not show that the Poltergeist's disappearance put a dent in his plan to fight the ghost or that a part of him had hoped the Poltergeist was truthful about wanting to be a hero.
"Poltergeist," Kaldur questioned.
"I am here," Poltergeist answered, "Just hoping to catch him off guard. Don't worry I am right behind you guys."
Kaldur gave a firm nod, thankful the Poltergeist stayed- even if he left it wouldn't really matter with the tracker Batman put on him (or rather in his water). Artemis, at Kaldur's order, started to fire at the ghost- who laughed as he dodged each arrow and sent his own arsenal at her. Superboy caught the small missiles and threw them back at the ghost, knocking him backwards as Kid Flash ran behind him to trip him. The ghost, however, just took to the air.
"Is that all you whelps have to offer? I'm disappointed."
"Hey metalbutt," Poltergeist called out as he appeared behind Skulker, "Did you miss me?"
Skulker turned and narrowed his eyes. At first, he didn't recognize the figure in the cloak until the hood fell down to reveal Danny's face. There was no mistaking the green eyes and white hair.
"Halfa," Skulker growled, "I will have your head!"
"Actually no you won't, I'm kind of fond of it."
He gave a cheeky grin to the hunter, who was still annoyed. Missiles headed towards the Poltergeist, but he dodged them all as he sent an ectoblast towards Skulker. As Danny fought Skulker, the rest of the team helped in any way they could- Superboy caught any missiles and tossed them back to Skulker which aided the Poltergeist, M'gann used her attacks, Artemis used her arrows (thanks to help from the Poltergeist, the arrows occasionally hit Skulker), and Kaldur helped as well as gave orders or advice. Robin, however, helped but he also observed. He watched the Poltergeist's fighting style- it was untrained, self-learned and most of it was simple street fighting which meant he never got official training. He watched as the Poltergeist never seemed to falter, but the white aura around him got brighter as he protected the team from stray missiles when Superboy could not. He even thought of different plans he could use for anti-ghost weapons so the team wouldn't be defenseless or in case the Poltergeist did turn on them. Most of all, however, he listened to the banter between Skulker and the Poltergeist and he learned more about his mysterious new temporary teammate.
"You cannot defeat me whelp," Skulker growled, "I'm the Ghost Zone's Greatest Hunter!"
Poltergeist scoffed.
"More like worst hunter, you've been after me for the past what, two years, and I have beaten you ever single time."
Poltergeist made one last move- flying through the air with his feet first, kicking Skulker's head at full fist. Artemis and M'gann got momentarily sick as Skulker's head came off with a 'pop'. Kaldur kept his fighting stance, ready to attack Poltergeist if he had to- after all, their new temporary teammate just beheaded someone, ghost or otherwise that was not something a hero did. Then Poltergeist moved closer to the body where faint cursing could be heard. He reached in, despite the disgusted noises coming from Kid Flash, Artemis and M'gann, and pulled out a small green blob that resembled a talking frog.
"I am Skulker," the small ghost's voice squeaked, "And I will destroy you."
"Yeah, yeah," Poltergeist waved the threat off as he sucked the ghost into the thermos.
He turned to the team. Kaldur visibly relaxed- as did Superboy and Robin. Kid Flash and Artemis looked paler than usual while M'gann still looked a bit greener than usual. Danny laughed,
"What? You guys didn't really thing I beheaded him, did you? Cause that leaves a lot bigger mess and tough stains."
The team tensed and when no one laughed, the Poltergeist let out a sigh,
"That was a joke…"