Episode 1 , Recruiting . Part 4 , Danny Phantom .
• Colorado:
Danny sat in his comfy chair, looking around his room. He was still getting used to the idea that this was 'his'. His parents died a few months ago, and the boy ended up moving in with his 'arch nemesis'.
Danny had been the godson, of the man who worked so hard on making his life hell, these past two years. Yet since moving into his mansion, things had been disturbingly normal... Vlad was still grieving to. So he wasn't his usual fruit loop self.
Vlad may have hated Danny's father, but he loved his mother, and her death had hit the man hard... it was strangely reassuring knowing someone else missed her.
Vlad had been teaching Danny a lot about not only his powers, but just how ghost work. Much of it Danny had figured out on his own, but Vlad explained it in greater detail.
Regardless what his parents thought, Ghost weren't inherently evil. Well it was true they had a different sense of morality, then the living, and felt a greater pull at their darker impulses. They themselves were usually good people.
Even a ghost, that occasionally did attack humans, could still be a good person.
All ghost have what is called an 'obsession' but unlike what humans would consider as such, this went far deeper. A Ghostly Obsession is a powerful biological need that they have to do.
It was the very essence of their being, what still shackled them to the mortal world. Now this obsession could actually be a good thing. For example Danny's obsession involved being a superhero. He flew around helping people and ghost alike. The times he tried not to, and just be normal, it ate away at him to the point it physically hurt, and he was only half ghost (get into that later).
All ghost had an obsession, but how they went about it was completely up to them. Of course that was a lot to expect of a person, and sometimes they let their obsession get the better of them.
Not really their fault but Danny would have to go in to try to calm them down, usually resulting in a fight, before bringing them back to a pocket dimension in the realm between life and death (The 'Ghost Zone' as the pocket dimension).
Sometimes though an obsession could become twisted. This happened if the ghost went through a great deal of trauma. Completely losing themselves to their darker impulses, as a defense mechanism. These ghost could be considered 'evil' but Danny had learned more to pity them then hate them.
Ghost like that had been through the worst kind of hell, and were filled with an enormous amount of pain as a result. However, this didn't change the fact they were dangerous, and needed someone to stop them. That's where Danny came in.
Danny was 14 when he died... or rather 'mostly' died. His parents had built a portal into the Ghost Zone, but it didn't exactly work... so being the bright teenage boy that he was, Danny climbed inside, and wouldn't ya know it, it switched on.
He was filled with pain, being electrocuted to death can do that to you, but instead of fully dying, ectoplasm bound to his body. That trapped his soul inside, but at the same time let his mortal body do the same things a ghost could do.
He could walk through walls, disappear, and fly, as well as over shadow people (which was like possession), shoot ecto blast out of his hands and eyes, duplicate his body (Although he was still getting the hang of that, and could only make one duplicate so far), shoot ice blast, teleport, open temporary portals to the Ghost Zone, and produce a powerful sonic scream that could level cities if he wasn't careful.
Admittedly not all ghost could do even half of that, as he was one of the more powerful, but every ghost had some unique power... at least his kind of ghost.
They were exposed to so much ectoplasm, in the Ghost Zone, that they regained a solid body made of it, and were far more powerful then the traditional floating spirits, that had trouble even being seen by the living.
A really bad side effect of dying at 14 meant he would be a kid forever. It had been two years since he gained ghost powers but he still hadn't... entered... puberty. His parents had called him a 'late bloomer' but this was ridiculous.
What really worried Danny is, that the only other half ghost he knew, hadn't aged a day in twenty years. People didn't notice, because he had completely white hair, in his human form, which made him look older. But if you looked at just his face, you would think he was still in his early 20s, maybe even his late teens.
Danny had always looked very young for his age. So it was becoming more and more obvious that he wasn't aging.
Vlad had explained, that the eternal child's human side, would never age. However, the boy's ghostly persona would change, and evolve as he saw himself maturing... but the boy still didn't know how to do that.
Apparently not even his clothes were real, in his ghost form, and they were just part of the mental projection he had of himself. Which did make a bit of sense, seeing his Superhero outfit just appeared out of nowhere, and somehow regenerated from any damage inflicted onto it.
What actually happened, Vlad said, was the ectoplasm in his body came out to the surface and coated his skin. As well as whatever he was wearing. It even coated his organs. Which was why he could form holes in his body and reshape himself.
The Ectoplasm temporarily took over his body, but since he hadn't been dead for that long, and didn't have much exposure to the ghost zone, that's why he couldn't stay in that form indefinitely. As the Ectoplasm had to go back inside his cells to rest and recover. Vlad was filled with useful things like that, and actually had become a good mentor.
Although, admittedly, Danny was a little ticked to know that Vlad had long ago, before Vlad had even cemented himself as Danny's arch nemesis, warned the other ghost that they could retaliate for any of Danny's "transgressions" but they could never "permanently" injure him.
Apparently most of his ghost battles weren't as life threatening as he thought... well except his fights against Technis, and the Ghost King, as they didn't care what Vlad said.
Danny had flipped, when he found out Vlad had actually been coddling him all this time. Even worse now that Danny was living with him, Vlad forbid the other ghost from fighting against Danny at all. He only allowed it before, because he was trying to convince Danny how much the boy needed him.
Vlad and Danny had gotten in a huge fight, after Danny found out. They were still new to the situation, and Danny didn't want Vlad treating him like he couldn't take care of himself...
Vlad had been looking after him for months now, ever since the boy's parents died... it was his fault... he cheated on a test and his teacher called his parents to talk to them about it...
Mr. Lancer was a good man. He met with Danny's family after school, at a local fast food place. He was always doing things like that. Little touches Danny didn't appreciate or understand.
One time the man caught Danny playing at an arcade, when he was supposed to be studying for another unrelated test. The man actually stopped whatever it was he had been doing, to take Danny home, and explain things too his parents.
Danny had gotten in so much trouble because his grades were slipping as it was, due to the hero gig (which they didn't know about). He had focused more on the unfairness of it instead of realizing what a dedicated teacher Mr. Lancer was.
When Mr. Lancer said he knew Danny could do better, if he just applied himself, he actually tried to help Danny apply himself, even if it meant that he had to spend his off hours driving an ungrateful child home to study...
Mr. Lancer didn't deserve to die either. He most likely chose the Nasty Burger restaurant to speak with Danny's parents, in a more comfortable setting after work. So they could both be there, and they would have plenty of time to talk.
Danny's sister, Jasmine or 'Jazz' for short, had been there to. Everyone pretended they didn't notice Danny's friends, Sam (Samantha but no one dared call her that) and Tucker, sitting nearby and eavesdropping to make sure their friend was okay...
Mr. Lancer wasn't even going to tell the school Danny cheated. The man was going to make Danny take a make-up test, with all the kids who were absent, and serve a horrifying number of detentions... but he wouldn't tell the school.
He said... he said he knew Danny was better then that. He was worried about Danny because, until a couple years ago, the boy was a model student, got good grades, was respectful to teachers, never ditched class, and rarely got in trouble.
Now... the man was talking with Danny and his parents in what was obviously an intervention. He knew something must have happened to Danny, and wanted to know what it was... being interrogated, and shamed for what he had done, the boy nearly cracked, and was about to confess to his parents about the whole "their son is half dead thing" but...
there was an accident, a gas leak, or some kind of problem with the furnace, or something like that... everyone in the restaurant died.
Danny had been badly hurt but the high levels of ectoplasm in his body kept him alive... in one moment everyone Danny loved was gone... because of some stupid test he was too lazy to study for...
The worst part is, Danny knew it would happen. He dreamed of some horrible future that would unravel, because he cheated. Where everyone he loved died. He shrugged it off, because he figured it was just him feeling guilty for what he was about to do.
The things that happened in the dream were just so over the top, even for his adventures. Everyone dying? Being forced to move in with his arch nemesis, the only other half ghost in existence, Vlad Masters?
Turning into a psycho evil killing machine, because his obsession became twisted from grief? The scary thing was two out of three of those things happened.
Danny was trying his best not to let the third occur... he never had his Ghostly Wail before the dream either. He could do it after he woke up, but he never had that power before. He learned of it from the dream... It wasn't a dream. Everything that happened, had happened.
After Danny had woken up in the hospital and learned everyone had died, just as they had in the dream, he began to fear it was something more, possibly even a new power.
He test it, when he finally got out of the hospital, and Vlad took him to his home, by going in the backyard of Vlad's castle. He tried to use the ability he had used in the dream. He shrieked out some kind of sonic blast, that destroyed a good chunk of the forest behind Vlad's castle.
Vlad had looked impressed, thinking this was a new power triggered by heightened emotional stress, which was supported as he saw Danny slump to the ground and start crying again.
Danny knew however, it was the last bit of proof he needed to know the dream was a vision of the future... and he could have stopped it. He had known something was wrong but he ignored it... and it came true... they all died because of him... it was his fault...
"Whelp," there was no knock on the door, it just opened, revealing Skulker.
He was one of Vlad's ghostly employees, ironically one of Danny's more common opponents before Vlad adopted the boy "Vlad wants to see you downstairs, something about a recruitment guy from the superhero girl scouts."
Danny blinked, confused. Before heading for the lounge well Skulker went off to do his own thing. As Danny got closer, he overheard Vlad talking to someone. The boy couldn't help but stop to eavesdrop.
Danny turned invisible and floated into the lounge. His heart nearly exploded in his chest, as he saw Aqualad sitting in front of Vlad. While a few other teenagers, all in costume, sat around the room as well. All of them were eating the tea and cookies Vlad had no doubt provided.
Captain Marvle, the only apparent adult present, grinned as he munched down on the snacks. "I got to say you're the best super villain ever! Not even Luther gives me cookies when we talk."
Vlad smiled, "I'm happy to hear my efforts as host are appreciated, although I don't really see how you could consider me a 'Super Villain.'"
"Well you did try to conquer the world a few times" The Captain innocently said, much to Danny's shock. These guys knew who Vlad was!
"Really?" Vlad smiled nonchalantly, before looking over at the invisible Danny, just to tell him he knew he was there, then back at the boy. "You have proof of this? Strange I have no recollection of these acts," he lied.
Aqualad interrupted, "Making such accusations is not our purpose here."
Vlad smiled, "Yes you're interested in something much more fascinating. Please go over again, just what you want with my Daniel."
Aqualad raised an eyebrow but then clarified, "The Justice League is sponsoring a teen heroes program, mostly meant for training and supervising the activities of young heroes-"
"Yes yes," Vlad waved off. "But why? Many people have had issue with the League taking on such young apprentices, and now it seems they are hoping to train a small army of child soldiers."
"That is not the League's intent. Many of us, myself included, would be doing this no matter what. We all had our own motivations to become heroes. Through various personal reasons, and we all have the means to do so. The Justice League merely desires to offer us guidance. Their training, and supervised missions, insure we have the skills to do this right, in a relatively safe environment."
"Well as safe as such activities can be made," Vlad commented.
"I can assure you, there is a member of the League on standby for each of our operations who, if needed, will pull us out."
"How often does that happen?" Vlad asked.
"... in the year I have been with Young Justice, it has only happened once," Aqualad informed. "The League allows us to make our own mistakes, and only interferes if the situation is dire."
"And what qualifies as 'dire', a broken bone? gun shots? a hacked off limb?"
"On occasion members of our team have received broken bones, but I can assure you those are the worst of our injuries, which Daniel will not be affected by as I understand it."
"He still has bones to break, but yes I've taught him how to repair such damage instantaneously. Through concentrating his ectoplasm. However, that uses up a good deal of his energy. Although even if he doesn't, his injuries will heal faster then a mortal... I'm curious though. I can easily do everything you're suggesting myself.
"With the boy's ghostly obsession, I'll need to allow him to play hero. Otherwise he'd go insane, Arkham levels of insanity. So why should I permit my newly claimed son to play with you?"
All the kids seemed equally offended. "I can assure you sir, we are not playing, and I doubt Daniel is either."
"Hmmm, regardless, what can you provide him that I can't? Besides the obvious social interaction at your clubhouse?" Vlad was obviously trying to get under their skin, as only Vlad can.
Aqualad sighed. "... Honestly, not much. I am well aware, you are the only person on the planet, capable of teaching Daniel how to use his abilities. Still that does not change the fact that we need him.
"I believe he would be ideal for assisting us, for his experience in dealing with supernatural threats, as my team has been designated to handle such. It is equally clear that Daniel could use a team of his own. Under my leadership I believe he would thrive."
"You're leadership? You couldn't be older then 17 yourself. What qualifies you to lead a being capable of destroying cities in seconds? That's the real reason your interested in him is it not?
"The Justice League has known of my abilities for decades, after all it was a SHIELD hospital I was trapped in after my accident. Now they learn of a boy, potentially even more powerful then myself, and what do they do? Try to steal him from me, of course, my only remaining link."
"We are not trying to steal Danny from you," Aqualad assured.
The marvel boy spoke up, "Although it is all kinds of creepy how you talk about a kid." Danny smiled at him, while Vlad rolled his eyes.
Then Vlad said something he didn't expect, something honest. Danny knew he was saying it to him, even though he was looking at Aqualad. "I realized a long time ago I wasn't aging, that I would watch all the people I love die, as I remain in my prime. I stopped trying to form personal relations as a result.
"Most of the people I associate with have been dead for centuries. Danny is the only other person, literally the only person in all of time and space, that is like me. We are in ourselves a species of our own. Can you blame me for not wanting to lose that single tie to my existence?"
All the teenagers looked insanely uncomfortable.
"I am not a good man, nor will I claim to be, but I have always had Danny's best interest at heart. He is the next generation of my species, by all rights my son. You are a pack of kids, who want to exploit him as SHIELD tried to do with me."
"I can assure you that is not our goal," said Aqualad. "However much you might care for Danny, there is one thing you cannot provide."
"Really? And what would that be?"
"We might look like children but our childhoods ended long ago. We have all been through tragedy. We have all experienced grief, and from that we all decided to bring something good from it. What makes us different from the rest of the world is not our motivations, but our means.
"We have the power to do something, and so can't ignore our obligations. True this life may have began as a game for some of us, but it is well beyond that now.
"I, not the league, am offering Danny a place to be with people who understand his motives, perhaps even better then you. A place he can be free to be himself without fear of persecution. A place where he doesn't have to hide who he is, from the people he cares about"
Danny faded back into existence, becoming visible once again, and said only two words to the teenagers. "I'm in."