TW: Graphic Depictions/Violence/Blood/Mentions of Death
Chpt 3
Mount Justice
May 10 19:47 EDT
The teen took a deep breath as he tried to calm his nerves as he stood in the center of the Mission Room.
'Come on Fenton, this isn't hard. Just answer a few questions and use the scroll as your guide. Easy as pie…Is pie easy to make? I think Jazz told me once that it was-Focus Fenton!'
Eight members of the Team, and nine members of the Justice League stood around him in a scattered semi-circle. He had already met Superman and Batman, as well as six of the eight Team members. However, there were new Leaguers and members that he did not recognize.
There were two women, one blonde and one with black hair. The blonde one had a black leotard, while the other had a red unitard with gold accents and wore a gold diadem on her forehead.
The men were a different story.
The first one he noticed was the green skinned one, much like Miss Martian or M'Gann's complexion. His costume was primarily black with red accents. Another Leaguer that had caught his immediate attention was the one glowing like a green glowstick.
The two others were just as oddly dressed as the other supposed 'heroes' in the room.
One was tall and had short blond hair and a blond beard with an orange and green costume on. Another was wearing all red with gold accents in the shape of lightning bolts. And for some reason there was also a red robot?
'Seriously though, what is with all the green and red?'
As for the Team members, Nightwing, Aqualad, Superboy, Artemis, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian were there, along with two others.
Both were female; one had long black hair and wore a blazer and a bow tie, while the other had red short hair and wore a skintight light-yellow tanktop with aquamarine accents.
Danny turned his attention to Batman who in turn nodded his head and stepped forwards.
"Now that everyone is here, we may begin."
The feeling of the scroll in his pocket caught his attention.
He sent a glance to Batman before he took the scroll out of his pocket. He carefully unrolled it and read the next part to himself.
Once at the meeting, you are to check to see how many people have arrived. You are well aware of my teachings, and I would hope you will advise and do what you must. You should then answer any questions they have about your origins; your role in Amity Park, what took place after the Disasteroid incident, and the Infinite Realms.
Your mission will be revealed after these steps have been taken.
En neniu kazo vi devas malkaŝi vian statuson en la Fantoma Zono ĝis nova avizo.
-C.W.
He made sure to steal his expression as he reread the last line.
'In no case should you disclose your status in the Ghost Zone until further notice.'
He nodded to himself before rerolling the scroll and tucking it back into his pocket.
He did a head count and frowned.
"Who all is here?" he hesitantly asked, his guard up yet again.
"Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash, Red Tornado, and myself," Batman answered.
'Four, five… nine… So the original seven and Black Canary and Red Tornado…'
"And the others?" He gestured towards the Team.
Aqualad stepped up and announced with inquisitive eyes, "Myself, Nightwing, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, Artemis, Zatanna, and Aquagirl."
Danny's eyebrows furrowed, "There's too many people here. Who on the Team isn't of the original seven?"
The room went still. Several people shifted their weight and shared glances.
"Does it matter-?"
"Yes, it does, now who isn't supposed to be here?" He interjected crossing his arms.
The Leaguer now identified as Aquaman crossed his arms too. "Why would that have any importance?"
The teen narrowed his eyes, "Because that is going against what my overseer requested."
"And if there's an extra person?"
"It's not about-" Danny took a calming breath as he uncrossed his arms and pinched the bridge of his nose. "My overseer has his reasons. If we do not follow his instructions, there could be serious consequences."
Several Leaguers looked like they wanted to interject when the heroine, Aquagirl, stepped forwards.
"I am not of the original seven members," she admitted. "I apologize as I happened to arrive here with Aquaman when he was asked to come here from Atlantis."
The raven-haired teen sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Aquagirl. Would you mind stepping out of the room please?"
She sent him a gentle smile and nodded, but before she could leave, Flash seemed to appear next to her in a blue of red as he put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from leaving.
"Whatever you have to say to us, you can say it in front of her too," He challenged with a glare.
Danny sent his own glare back.
'I'm guessing that was superspeed, given his name. Why do hu-' his eyes widened a little before he pursed his lips. 'Why do people not like to listen?'
"I'm just doing what my overseer told me. Now can you please stop arguing with me and just do as I ask?" He sneered.
Batman narrowed his eyes.
"She stays," he announced with finality.
The teen had to take a calming breath as he shot a worried glance at the female Atlantean.
"Look… I know I'm not supposed to say too much, but my overseer is an onlooker of time. If we don't follow his instructions, there could be extremely bad consequences in the future."
"You're from the future?" Green Lantern asked sharing a glance with Superman.
Batman glared, "How would you know for sure?"
"I had someone very close to me die because I didn't adhere to his warnings."
The room went quiet.
"Please…" Danny made eye contact with Batman. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Batman narrowed his eyes but nodded his head.
Aquagirl nodded and quickly dismissed herself.
Batman nodded his head as soon as the door closed and officially started the meeting. "Your overseer had asked that you reveal your origins to the original seven of the Justice League and the original seven of the Team. We did as they asked and as such we expect answers."
Superman put a hand on Batman's shoulder. "But, we all agreed, that it would only be fair if you asked any questions that you may have about the League. The only thing off limits is our identities."
Danny tilted his head as he contemplated what they had said. "Sounds fair to me," he replied as he crossed his arms.
Batman continued to glare at Danny. "What is your full name?"
Danny rolled his eyes at the glare but answered anyways. "Daniel James Fenton."
He noticed that most of the tension that was once in the room was now almost completely gone. Even tall, dark, and gloomy looked a bit more relaxed.
'Jeez, you'd think people who have secret identities wouldn't care too much about a teenager's name.'
"Why don't you start us off, Daniel? It was your overseer who requested this meeting," Superman encouraged with a smile.
The teen winced and politely corrected the hero, "I prefer Danny."
The scroll's warmth in his pocket helped calm his nerves a little. "Before I continue I must ask three questions. First, what's the date?"
"May 10, 2013," Red Tornado responded.
He frowned before continuing. "Okay next, what major events have happened in the last 7 years? You can just say headlines if you want."
Superman stepped forwards and relayed a short summary of any major events in the last 7 years.
Danny nodded. "Thank you, and lastly, has the League had any supernatural encounters?"
A few eyebrows were raised but he still received a few affirmations.
"Why did you need to ask those questions first?" Wonder Woman asked with an inquiring look.
"To figure out where I am. I needed to play elimination game between parallel universe, time travel, alternate timeline, or different dimension."
Several hushed whispers were heard throughout the room.
"And your conclusion?" Superman asked.
Danny glanced around the room before letting out a defeated sigh. "Different dimension..."
Hushed whispers turned into gasps and full out conversations before Batman raised a hand and the room quieted down.
"Continue."
The teen nodded and cleared his throat, "In my previous dimension, I was known as a protector of a small city in Illinois called Amity Park. My two best friends and my sister made up a small team that would protect the city pretty much 24/7. My parents were well known inventors and scientists that worked in the field of spectrology."
"Oh, so that's how you started ghost hunting," Beast Boy commented.
The adults had various reactions, most more confused than others.
"Ghost hunting? I do not follow," Martian Manhunter stated gently.
Danny sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. 'This might take a bit…'
"If I may?"
Everyone turned to M'Gann who floated closer to Danny.
"If you would like, I could relay all the information you told us earlier to the League. That way you won't have to repeat yourself."
Danny blinked.
"That actually could help speed things up if everyone is okay with it, thanks Miss Martian". he replied, deciding to play it safe when using her name.
Once everyone gave their consent, Miss Martian's eyes turned green. Danny watched curiously as they remained completely still for a few seconds before several of them blinked or held their head.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Yes, thank you M'Gann. The information was received," The older Martian lightly smiled.
She nodded and floated back next to Artemis.
Several leaguers seemed skeptical, while others looked concerned or confused.
Superman cleared his throat.
"So… ghosts?" he asked uncertainly.
Danny smiled faintly as his advanced hearing picked up Conner cough to cover up a laugh.
'Guess he gets it now,' he chuckled to himself mentally.
He smiled apologetically at the red and blue hero. "Yes, ghosts. Amity Park was considered one of the most haunted cities in America, if not the world."
"Then why are you here now? If these 'ghosts' are as dangerous as you said, shouldn't you be helping protect your city?"
He winced as he thought about his words carefully. "I've recently been assigned a mission by my overseer not just for his own reasons, but also due to the state of my current health, and needing to leave for a period of time. I was reassured that the town would be under the supervision of another ghost hunter known as, Red Huntress, while I was gone."
Flash's eyebrows furrowed, "What were the causes? And how badly did it affect you to have to leave?"
Danny sighed. "Too many to count, but one of those many reasons is because that the people of the city no longer saw me as a hero. By the time I left, more than half the city pretty much saw me as nothing more than a nuisance and…' He trailed off for a second as loathing violet eyes and red hair flashed in the back of his mind. "-and 'an odd and evil manifestation of ectoplasmic energy and post-human consciousness'."
The teen noticed that Black Canary's eyes had softened and seemed genuinely concerned. "Who said that to you?"
"Doesn't matter," Danny answered with a shrug as he avoided eye contact.
Martian Manhunter asked the next question, "Why would the citizens think of you as non-heroic?"
The raven-haired teen grimaced as memories came flooding back.
"Because after stopping an asteroid from destroying my Earth, people finally had begun to see me as a hero. But about a month after the incident, things started going downhill... People began to doubt my ability to protect the city due to an- unforeseen- outcome of a fight. They claimed that I was 'reverting back to my old ways' and that because of what I was, I wouldn't, no, couldn't, possibly understand what they were going through, because I was considered 'inhuman' by the law."
"You're considered inhuman? You look pretty human to me," Green Lantern pointed out.
"What do you mean by the law?" Nightwing inquired.
There was a faint pressure in his shoulder from when one the agents shot him before he left.
"The United States government had passed a law that basically made anything that produced ectoplasm, the stuff ghosts are made of, illegal. They were allowed to confiscate, experiment, and otherwise exterminate ectoplasm or a producer of ectoplasm."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "Your blood."
Danny hoped his silence was the only answer they needed.
"That's oddly specific, what caused a law like that to be passed?" Aquaman raised an eyebrow.
"It shouldn't have been, but a government organization that specialized in detaining and exterminating ghosts managed to slip it past a lot of people's noses."
"Okay, wait, but Bats just mentioned something about your blood," Flash reminded him.
"I had analyzed a small sample of his blood and the computer couldn't determine what it was made of. 72% human, 28% unknown," The clad-in-black hero explained.
There was a brief silence before Flash asked accusingly. "But how did you get like that? Was it too much exposure to your parent's research?"
Danny opened his mouth before closing it as he doubled back in slight shock. "That would've made things so much easier, why didn't I think of something like that?" He reprimanded quietly to himself.
Black Canary broke his stupor with another question, "What of your parents? Did they not object to you coming here?"
The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees, causing some of the teens to shiver and some of the Leaguers to become on edge.
"I left a note saying that I was going to meet with my overseer and that I might not be back for a while. So, I'm not too worried about them," Danny explained as he took a newfound interest in the floor.
"They're your parents, aren't they? Wouldn't they at least be worried?" Miss Martian asked.
"I wouldn't know, we don't really talk much these days," Danny mumbled.
"Why not?" Nightwing inquired with an eyebrow raised.
The scroll warmed in his pocket again, only this time it irritated the teenager instead of calming him. Danny sighed heavily as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"During the asteroid incident, Maddie and Dad found out about- my exposure. They were fine with it at first. It was a month or so after, that they had asked me if they could start running tests in order to better understand my physiology and what my normal readings were, since I'm different than normal humans. But… it was starting to become excessive and more invasive. Eventually, it wasn't about my health but about what they could learn from me and others like me. I started going down to the lab less and less, until eventually, I just stopped going unless I absolutely needed to."
"So you do have powers," Batman concluded.
Danny reluctantly nodded and the temperature slowly went back to normal.
"What? But I thought you used equipment?"
"I didn't lie about that. I did and still do use my parent's equipment frequently while fighting ghosts."
"So the shield? Was it a malfunction, or was it you?"
The teen grimaced and looked towards the Team apologetically. "It was me, but I didn't mean to do that."
"Wait, you didn't mean to create a fifteen-foot-tall glowing dome?"
"Wait, wait, wait. What shield?" Flash interrupted.
"Oh sorry, my fault, let me upload the video," Nightwing announced before typing away on his wrist.
Danny let out a tired sigh and groaned in protest, "You got a video of it?"
Before anyone could say anything else a hologram appeared in the middle of the room and began to play the soundless video.
Danny's slight embarrassment turned into intrigue as he watched the team slowly close in on him and the green dome appeared. His eyebrows furrowed as he watched as the shield was only up for a few seconds before it glitched and fell apart.
'There's no way a regular adrenaline rush could've caused that… But then again… The universe has been known to prove me wrong on numerous occasions.'
"Fascinating…" Red Tornado commented, breaking his train of thought.
The hologram turned off and all eyes were back on a now blushing Danny.
The raven-haired teen coughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "My powers respond to my emotions and sometimes react instinctively. If you watch the video back, you can see that it took me by surprise as much as you guys, if not more. I was running on low energy and couldn't even bring myself to try and make a run for it."
"That was low?!"
Danny didn't feel the need to make a comment.
Someone cleared their throat and attention turned to Green Lantern.
"Which brings us back to my previous question...What exactly are you? What would cause an entire population of people to deem you a threat that they'd debate over whether you're a hero or not? Or be so feared that the government would have an entire law and division dedicated to your capture?"
The teen couldn't help but shift his weight as he felt everyone's eyes on him and desperately wished he could just go invisible.
'How am I supposed to explain this?" The scroll grew warm again and gave him an idea.
Danny looked around at the curious and suspicious expressions.
"Do any of you know about the Infinite Realms?"
Both Team and League members alike blinked. Most of the room's occupants tilted their heads (both literally and figuratively), while others seemed surprised or suspicious.
'Well, there's that answer… now for those that do know about it, how do they feel about it?'
Wonder Woman was the first to step up, "I know of the Infinite Realms."
Aqualad and Aquaman also stepped forwards. "As do we," the oldest Atlantean announced.
Zatanna stepped forwards as well. "I've heard the name and know the basic concept of it."
"Okay wait. Time out for a sec. What is this 'Infinite Realms' and what on Earth does it have to do with you telling us what you are?" Flash demanded, crossing his arms.
Danny rolled his eyes as he mumbled, "A lot actually."
Ignoring the teen's comment, Wonder Woman began to explain.
"The Infinite Realms is an alternate dimension that is like that of a crossroads. It can lead you anywhere from a different continent to an alternate dimension or even an alternate timeline. Those that know of it either wish to avoid it or some would wish to travel through it. If they knew which door to pass through that is."
Superman decided to speak up this time, "Door?"
"It is said that the Infinite Realms does not have actual roads or pathways of travel. It has been described as a form of space but one in which you can breathe in. Within the Realms, instead of gateways or pathways, there is said to be floating doors, and each door would lead you to different destinations," Aquaman explained.
"So is it like a legend or something? You guys keep talking about it like it hasn't been confirmed to be real," Kid Flash interjected.
Zatanna sighed in defeat. "Honestly its existence hasn't been proven. The only records of it are in scrolls, stone tablets, and books dating back millennia, and even those aren't always reliable sources."
"I had attended a festival deep within the Infinite Realms when I was but a child. It is as real as me or you," Wonder Woman added with a wary look.
As everyone allowed this information to settle in, Artemis spoke up. "Okay? So if this place does somehow exist, how does that explain what you are?"
Danny took a deep breath as he began his explanation, "Back on my Earth, we called it the 'Ghost Zone'."
"Where you sent the captured ghosts?"
He nodded at the youngest green hero. "In the Infinite Realms, there are actual beings that live there. These are the ghosts I mentioned earlier. While some ghosts are born naturally, like humans, others are impressions of people that were once alive. Only reason they look the way they do and are more powerful than your average Halloween decoration is because of the natural atmospheric ectoplasm that keeps them 'alive' so to speak."
"And you're one of these so called, 'ghosts'?" Red Tornado asked skeptically.
Danny frowned. "Not exactly…"
Batman narrowed his eyes, "What's that supposed to mean? It's a yes or no question."
Danny rolled his eyes, "You saw my blood, was that really a yes or no question?"
Batman continued to glare, but made no comment.
The raven-haired teen mentally waved him off as he continued. "To be completely honest, there's not really a specific species or scientific word for what I am."
"Well, then what word can you use?" Black Canary gently encouraged.
He frowned. "The only word I can use is a slur used by the other ghosts, they call me the 'halfa'."
Black Canary's eyebrows furrowed, and glanced towards Batman.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Flash asked.
"It means exactly what it implies; I'm half-human, half-ghost."
The League and the Team were bewildered by this proclamation.
Kid snorted. "Yeah right, there's no way that's true."
Danny glared at the speedster. "And yet here I am."
"If that were true, and both of your parents are 100% human, then how did you die?"
The temperature dropped drastically, and a few lightbulbs exploded above the two groups as a sharp cold pain went through his chest while he stared through the speedster.
"KID/WALLY!" Aquaman, Black Canary, Flash and Wonder Woman scolded/glared.
Black Canary turned towards Danny with a concerned and apologetic expression. "You don't have to answer that question, Danny."
The teen grimaced as he pulled himself out of darker thoughts. He cleared his throat before making eye contact with Kid Flash briefly. "For future reference, and this goes for everyone here, never ask a ghost how they died, that is extremely personal and unless the ghost decides to tell you, it is considered very rude and an invasion of privacy."
The temperature slowly returned to normal, and the light bulbs only mildly sparked.
"Now, since this is under special circumstances, I'll let it slide. But please, never do that again, because I am a lot more forgiving and can control my instinctive tendencies a little better than other ghosts. We might feel comfortable talking about each other, but our personal deaths are another matter."
The atmosphere was thick with weariness and discomfort. But the heroes seemed to understand the hidden warning and gave various quiet affirmations.
"I guess to explain how I- died- I first have to remind you that my parents are both scientists and inventors that study ghosts. Back in their college days, my parents had built a prototype of an interdimensional portal to the Ghost Zone. But something went wrong, and the prototype failed. Fast forward a good twenty years later, and they had finally finished building the official 'Fenton Ghost Portal'.
My dad wanted me, my sister Jazz, and my two friends to see the portal get turned on for the first time. But when he and my mom plugged it in, it didn't work. My parents were distraught and went upstairs, Jazz going with them to try to comfort them. My friends and I stayed downstairs because I wanted to try and fix it for them.
So, with the extra encouragement from my friends, I put on a suit and went inside. When I went in, it was extremely dark and I could barely see anything, so of course, clumsy me, tripped over some wires and cables. I had reached my hand out to steady myself, but I ended up hitting the backup generator 'ON' switch. I heard the machine turn on, saw a bright light, and next thing I knew, I was picking myself up off the floor with Tucker and Sam saying something about how they had killed me."
The room was silent as both the Team and the Justice League looked at the teen in horror and shock. While the halfa himself was trying (and luckily succeeding) in hiding his own discomfort with a nonchalant attitude.
Black Canary luckily came to the rescue as she stepped forwards.
"May I ask personal question?"
"With all due respect, asking about my death is about as personal as it can get."
A brief grimace crossed her lips. "Why tell us all this? From what you've told us about your world and the way they treated you, why risk telling us?"
Danny hesitated. He looked between the Team and the Leaguers, both groups had curious, if not at least a little uncomfortable, expressions as they awaited his answer.
The halfa locked eyes back with the blonde heroine. "Because I believe Clockwork wanted me to meet you guys for a reason, and if Clockwork trusts you… then I guess I have to too."
Superman's eyebrows furrowed. "What makes you think that?"
Danny crossed his arms. "Doesn't it seem convenient, that the first location Clockwork chose for me, I injured myself on the first night, and the bag he provided me with just so happened to not have a first aid kit? Or maybe a group of superpowered heroes happened to be close by? And don't even get me started on the odd instruction to not reveal my powers until he said so."
"Okay I get the first two, but the third one? Why is that odd? Wouldn't you want to keep your powers a secret?" Artemis asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That's the point; I've never revealed my powers on any mission prior to this one. So why imply that I would eventually have to?"
"Should we be worried that you're here?" Green Lantern asked cautiously.
Danny sighed in defeat, "I honestly don't know, and I think that's what worries me."
Batman held up a hand for silence as the other hand reached up to where Danny guessed his ear was.
A few seconds went by before Batman visibly frowned. "Captain calm down, what's going on?"
There was a beat of silence.
"I see- how many? Three? Understood. I'll send back up."
He turned back towards the rest of the heroes.
"This meeting is going to have to be post-poned, we have a situation. Captain Marvel was on his way here when three creatures attacked him. He described them as vulture-like with a green discoloration and glow-"
"Were they all wearing a red fez with a skull on them?"
All eyes turned to Danny.