Author Note: Consider yourselves lucky. I could have split this up into two (maybe even three) chapters.
~CWA

Chapter 21:

Third Person:

"No," Poltergeist growled at the League, his eyes glowing red, "This is my fight."

He shot an ectoblast at the League, causing them to back away.

"So stay out of this!"

Before they could say anything, he turned back to fight Vlad.

Batman assessed the situation. Poltergeist appeared to be back to his more 'menacing' appearance. Whether it was because of his emotions or due to his 'ghost' heritage, the appearance change may be some sort of natural defense to appear more threatening. Either way, he was sure it wasn't good- Quam Tu sent them that message for a reason, was it because she noticed the change in Poltergeist? Then there was the matter of the little girl, who insisted that it was 'Dani with an I' not Danielle. She appeared like the image of Danny Fenton- a splitting image. Yet there was no mention of any younger siblings. A clone perhaps? A mixture of him and his older sister? Or him and some other girl? More of a child then a clone. Superboy was standing a good distance away from Superman, who was still ignoring the clone, while M'gann comforted him. Kaldur was desperately trying to convince Danielle (rather Dani with an I) that she could not fight no matter how much she helped and Superman was still annoyed that Batman was making them all wait to see if Danny could handle himself.

When he brought his attention back to the fight, Poltergeist just got knocked into another set of forestry. Danielle broke out of Kaldur's grasp and ran towards the fallen ghost.

"Danielle," Kaldur called out, the others calling out her name as well.

"It's Dani with an I," Danielle called out.

Superman was about to run after her, but wanting to test a small theory, Batman put his hand out as a sign to stop.

"We have to see how they handle themselves on their own. The second this steps out of line- whether it be Vlad or even Poltergeist going over the line, we end this."

Superman gave a firm nod, but Kid Flash continued to complain to Robin and the other team mates.

"This is stupid," Kid Flash muttered, "Why aren't we helping?"

"Not really our fight," Robin shrugged, "And we are taking down the duplicates which is a big help because Poltergeist looks like he's getting his butt kicked. We'll step in soon- I think."

"You think?"

"Batman doesn't tell me everything, I usually know stuff because I hack into it," Robin shrugged again.

Despite the small disbelief they had, the team turned to where Danielle and the Poltergeist were. Poltergeist had jumped up to hold Danielle as he pushed them both away from one of Vlad's ecto-blasts.

"Danielle," Poltergeist, or rather Danny, shouted at her, "Stay out of this fight! I will not let him hurt you! Not again!"

"Dude, this is my fight too," Danielle argued, "And I will help!"

She charged up an ectoblast to prove her point, causing the team to be taken back. They didn't think she was a ghost (or even a mutant) with the way Danny protected her. She shot the blast at Vlad, who put up a shield. She got into a fighting stance as Vlad came closer and everyone was momentarily blinded by a small light that went over her body, transforming her. When the light disappeared, the resemblance between Danny and her were uncanny- the white hair, glowing green eyes and even the black and white color scheme. Though Danny's eyes were slowly turning back to green, but his white hair was dancing around his head in flames.

Batman felt a bit of pride in knowing his theory was correct- Danielle was a ghost. And now he knew how they changed their appearance. Still, Danielle seemed to be a good fighter- she was prepared to fight along side Danny. Though Vlad shot one large ecto-blast at her, knocking her backwards and into the team, ramming into Kaldur. Danny's head whipped to Vlad.

"I SAID DON'T YOU DARE HURT HEERRRR!"

'Her' was stretched out as he screamed. He screamed loudly, inhumanly noises formed from his vocal chords, reassembly more of a ghostly wail as green ectowaves erupted from his mouth towards Vlad. Vlad had no chance to react as the wail hit his body, throwing him backwards and causing him to cry out in pain. The waves destroyed nearby trees and anything in its path, going back farther than Black Canary's cry and proving to be more powerful than her cry as well.

Superboy and Superman both quickly covered their ears in pain, the others did so as well- except Batman and Robin with their specially made bat-earplugs in.

"Make him stop," Superboy growled.

Danielle got back up slowly and struggled to get closer to Danny, her left ear erupted in pain from bursting as soon as she reached him.

"DANNY," she screamed, "STOP! YOU'LL KILL HIM! I AM OKAY!"

That sentence snapped Danny back to reality. His hair instantly went back to being normal and his eyes blinked back to green. His breathing had increased heavily and his body, along with his throat, felt a bit sore. None of that mattered though because Danielle was okay. He quickly hugged her tightly.

"I didn't want to lose you too," he muttered.

"As touching as this," Superman interrupted, "We do have some things we need to discuss."

Batman didn't bother to add his part as he walked straight over to Vladimir, who reverted back to human form. He was badly beaten and weak. He looked up at Batman and desperately tried to turn back into Plasmius- to get away like he did so many times before. There was a small light, but then there was nothing. Batman snapped on the anti-ghost cuffs around Vlad's wrists.

"Our discussion," Batman said as he turned to Danny, Dani, and the team, "Can wait until after we get him into the anti-ghost cell."

"You created a- an anti-ghost c-cell," Danny asked out of breath.

"Your friend sent me blueprints for anti-ghost weaponry. It wasn't hard to alter designs to create one."

Danny slowly nodded as he stood up, wobbling slightly.

"Hey Supes?"

Superman and Superboy both turned to the ghost. Realizing that he meant Superboy, Superman quickly looked away. Superboy walked towards his friend, confusion clear on his face.

"What?"

"The attack… Took a lot out of me… I'll explain when I wake up… If I wake up…. Can you catch me?"

Superboy didn't have a chance to reply as Danny passed out. Superboy was quick to catch the unconscious ghost, watching a bit in awe as two white-blue rings of light blinded him slightly only to disappear to reveal someone else. Danny. His friend Danny. M'gann let out a small gasp seeing her school friend.

"That's Danny Jefferson! From school! He's the Poltergeist!"

"Getting harder to stay whelmed," Kid Flash chimed in.

"Hey whelm is my thing," Robin complained.

"Team," Batman snapped the order, "Get him to the mountain to the infirmary… Now."

Back at the mountain, the team sat around the infirmary bed that held their unconscious friend- a few of them taking a good look at what the Poltergeist really looked like. His raven hair was messy and knotted from the fight and when he was awake he had pure blue eyes. He looked worse for wear- the hospital gown showing just how beaten up he was. Bruises and various wounds ranging from small scrapes to large cuts covered his body. His breathing was slightly irregular, suggesting some chest pain.

Though there was nothing that they could do to help him. None of them, even Danielle, was sure how to treat ghosts- how much medicine to give, how much of a temperature difference there was, and what counted as a fever (at the moment his temperature was just above seventy). Danielle desperately wished she could help, but she wasn't sure. She had no idea about the biology behind herself or her 'brother'. She didn't know that stuff. The only one who knew was Danny himself and-

"I'm late!'

A girl rushed into the room. The team got ready to attack the intruder, but only Danielle didn't seem tense. The girl in question was slightly older- being at the latest twenty-two or eighteen at the youngest. Her purple hair startled them slightly since it wasn't common (and obviously dyed since there was some hints of orange/ginger hair roots), though Robin was more interested in the tech she wore on her wrist and waist, and why her left hand was bandaged. She gave a chipper two-finger salute at the heroes,

"Hello, yeah, I come in peace and all that shit, but I have work to do so if you will kindly get out of my way."

She wasted no time gently pushing her way through the heroes, or at least trying to.

"Who are you," Robin demanded.

"Just someone smarter than you," her eyes twinkled, "You know who I am birdie, please let me help my friend."

Robin's lips tightened but he did back away to let her go through.

"Quam Tu," he informed the team through the link, "She's Quam Tu."

The team had a brief moment of shock before they snapped back to attention and watched the girl suspiciously.

"Is she trust-worthy," Kaldur asked, "I care not if she is a criminal if she is trustworthy and will help our friend."

As soon as Danielle spotted her through the heroes at Danny's bed, she hopped off her own infirmary bed and ran to the girl. She hugged Gear tightly,

"Gear!"

"Little D," Gear greeted cheerfully, ruffling Dani's hair, "How's my favorite little girl? Glad to see you're in good shape, kid, better stay that way… But even tech geniuses need to breathe…"

Danielle let go with a big smile on her face. Gear was there. Everything would turn out alright. While she did look up to Danny, she looked up to Gear too. Gear was a female, kickass person who was independent like her. Danielle related to Gear even if she was a clone and technically half ghost (and Gear was a 'wanted criminal').

"Gear," Robin questioned.

"Double D," Kid Flash muttered.

"Well I am Quam Tu, though Danny calls me Quammy and Tutu, occasionally, to my annoyance. My friends call me Gear. I call him Danny Dude- hence Double D. Dani is littler so she is Little D. Though I secretly hope she will grow to be taller than Danny just to mess with him. Now, what medicines have you given him, if any?"

"Basic pain relievers," Robin answered instantly.

Gear gave a small nod as she looked deep in thought. She finally went to Danny's side completely and carefully (and professionally) stopped the IVs he was being given and opened the bag that was hooked up to it. Danielle stopped the team from interfering as Gear emptied the bags into a nearby trash can. She reached into a compartment on her belt and pulled out a small vial of glowing substances- it glowed vivid green like Danny's eyes in ghost form- and she grabbed another vial of what looked like blood. She poured the two vials into the now empty IV bag and turned it back on so the liquids were soon filling his veins. She then turned to the team and pointed to the IV bag,

"He'll wake up in about five to ten minutes, when that bag is halfway one. When he does wake up, don't let him rip the IV out. He lost blood and ectoplasm and needs to gain it back soon so he can heal properly."

Before she could continue, Batman entered the room. His eyes were narrowed into slits. He looked directly at Gear, who gave a cheeky smile.

"You," Batman demanded, "Come with me- now."

"Well you could buy me diner first."

Seeing he wasn't amused, Gear made a face. She gave Danielle an order to watch over Danny and 'stay good' before she finally left with Batman- making a point to wave at the team before she did so.

Batman led her straight to the interrogation room, after cuffing her with his cuffs. She took a seat across from him at the table, giving a smile and wave to the heroes she knew were watching from the other side (Martian Manhunter, Superman, Green Arrow and Black Canary). Batman continued to glare at her, but she didn't seem that bothered by his 'bat-glare' which made Green Arrow whistle.

"You're Quam Tu," Batman said firmly.

"Yep," Gear said, popping the 'p', "No use hiding it now. I mean, yeah I am all for secret identities, but I needed to get to Danny dude and I know if I broke into here you'd know it was me so…."

She shrugged and continued to look around the room, noting the cameras and vents.

"You're also Vivian Jefferson, Alice White, Lillian Whitley, Irene Collard, Gywneth Gia, Jay Crooker, and that is not even all the names that came up with facial recognition. Your prints from when you hacked into the computer in the main room, however, came up unknown."

"Ah," Gear said as she sat a bit straighter, "I hack, yes, but I also invent and one of my greatest inventions is a specially made glove. It's skin-tight and resembles human skin. It covers my fingerprints and my whole hand- hence no finger prints are given. Can't get them off either unless you have the spray to be able to do so, which you don't and… I sort of lost mine so I actually need to make new spray…"

She shrugged,

"By the way, finger prints would have done you no good. Each fingerprint on records for each of my alias, well except my real records- the one under my real name, are made using these specially made gloves too, but a different pair. A pair that have finger prints on them made from combining many other fingerprints. Because I made about twenty of those types of gloves, each with a new set of prints, I am good to go for while and I can always made more. Since you don't know what my real name is and because you don't have my prints, you don't know who I really am so I'm all good."

"We are not all good," Batman growled, "Despite the help you have given and your… good intentions… you do have a criminal record. You have hacked into various governments, sold private information, sold on the black market, bought on the black market…"

Knew buying those livers would catch up to me, Gear thought bitterly- thinking about how she used the organs to do some early research two years ago. She fiddled with the cuffs under the table. Batman continued,

"And that's not even scraping the surface since those aren't even half the things you have done under Quam Tu. Each of your alias have other offenses, minor ones, underage drinking, illegal use of substances, underage stripping, theft of property, damage of property, the list goes on…"

"Okay, hold up," Gear said, raising her now-uncuffed hands, "I did a lot of bad shit, yeah… I never said I was perfect. I am entirely made of flaws, stitched together with good intentions and alcohol. Shouldn't the fact that I am trying to be good here count for something?"

"Perhaps," Batman narrowed his eyes yet again, "But the League doesn't associate with criminals or condone the fact that you are obviously still eighteen, legal, but not drinking legal, as well as done drugs and to our knowledge, may still be doing them. Even if we do over look your many other illegal activities as Quam Tu, there is still that fact to address."

"A beer now and then doesn't hurt," Gear argued slightly, "Geesh…"

Black Canary entered the room and muttered something to Batman. He gave a small glare before standing in the back of the room to make room for Canary. Gear raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Black Canary gave a warm smile,

"Batman spoke to us about you, Miss Tu."

"-Friends call me Gear," she interjected.

"-Gear," Black Canary repeated, "He planned on, in the best case scenario, turning you in as your youngest alias- Gywneth Gia for underage drinking, stripping, theft of property, and use of illegal substances."

"I'll pay bail," Gear shrugged.

"-At the worst case, he planned on taking Quam Tu down entirely, which since you are in our custody at the moment wouldn't be hard to do. You would be no help to anyone, but no harm either."

"I don't harm people," Gear argued, "I never did. I always check sources and I always do the best I can to make sure no one will be hurt, which my best is pretty damn good. Yeah when I first started out, I made mistakes about selling stuff to the wrong people, but I got better. I did a lot of stuff, but you forgave Danny-"

"-We forgave Danny because he gave us a reason to trust him," Black Canary chimed in, "He wanted to commit to a better life and he has no stolen anything since or done anything else. You, on the other hand, we have no reason to believe that you will keep whatever word you give us."

Black Canary sighed as she continued her rant, her heart sinking to think that someone as young as eighteen (legal adult or not) managed to do so many things without seeing the consequences.

"You do harm people, Miss… Gear… If not for your activities as Quam Tu, then as your activities as Gear. Danny clearly sees you as an older sister, and I am sure that young Danielle sees you like that as well, they look up to you, perhaps you all even live in the same house, but you drink, bet, and do drugs… You may not think you are hurting people, but you are."

Gear shifted uncomfortably as she thought about her choices. She could do a lot of things. She could just let Batman take her away, destroy her life as Quam Tu or turn her in as Gwyneth Gia (her real name). Perhaps, she thought, they could compromise... Honestly the only reason I briefly wanted to be taken away is because her way of thinking and ranting reminds me of Jazz.

"Okay," Gear finally said, "First thing's first, I don't do drugs. I did them in Denver back when I was sixteen, but that was two years ago. I did a lot of shit in Denver, actually, but that's another story… A fun story actually, but others would say otherwise. But I never did drugs again. I do drink and I have been since I was like fifteen. But I have a reason, sort of. My brain is too… crowded. I get very overwhelmed by the info in my noggin so I drink to numb everything in it. I guess over the years, it kind of changed from 'just slowing my mind down' to an actual problem since there are a lot of nights that I can't remember now. So how about this? I'll sign up for one of those what, alcoholic anonymous or something? I'll sign up and I'll get better. Won't drink, swearsies."

Batman seemed skeptic and Gear continued,

"And… I will tell you my real name so you can keep an eye on me if it means that you will let me do my thing and I can watch over my family."

Batman considered her offer. In the end, it was the best option to go with. He could gain Quam Tu as an ally and keep an eye on the infamous 'criminal' as well. He also would keep the trust of Daniel and therefore, keep Daniel on the team and on the side of the good.

"You'll also do a monthly session with Canary," Batman finally said, "And report to the mountain at least one a week to meet with me and limit your activity as Quam Tu."

Gear almost protested before she realized that for Batman the offer was generous.

"Fine," Gear resented, "Fine… My real name is Gywneth Silvia Gia. I am really eighteen years old and I accept these conditions. Now, can I go?"

She scowled. Danny dude better appreciate this. I can also do another alias- a new one- if I have to and create a facial mask to avoid facial recognition but I really liked going places as myself every once in a while… Still he said to limit my activity as Quam Tu, but there' still plenty I can do, plus nothing is stop me from working on my tech and using all that money I have saved up…