Sins
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, Teen Titans, or anything DC-related. If I did then it wouldn't be as popular as it is.
The story was written & developed by Nightmares Around Winter. The story is based on 'The Forgotten Hero' by TheWhiteTitan.
Beta read by Leaf Ranger
Author's Note: Hello! Bet you didn't surprised to see a chapter so soon! After...um...three full months...look it's a lot better then half a year. I'm trying DAMN IT lol. I really wanted to get this chapter out before the new year, so I apologize in advance for any misspellings and so forth. I am gonna try to respond to reviews more often as well as try to update reguarly...though admittedly the former is a lot user for me to do then the latter. Regardless, I hope you all had a wonderful holidays and that '25 is a happy and prosperous year for us all! Catch y'all next time. PEACE!
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Demonic/other-worldly voices or thoughts"
(Author's Note/Translation)
Chapter 24: I Don't Want to Remember Me, but I Will Make Sure You Will Never Forget Me
Valerie stared at the red-hooded ghost glaring back at her as it floated back and forth like an impatient animal. Pacing. Valerie had been studying the ghost for the past couple of days; his attire and weaponry seemed to fit the trend of a man of noble lineage during the medieval era but looking through various archives and historical records didn't help her pin a potential human identity down. It could be that the spirit was lost to history, or it could be that he was a native of the Ghost Zone itself. Despite taking away his bow, he still seemed to be able to summon arrows on a whim. All of them proved ineffective in breaking through the reinforced glass and energy field surrounding him, thankfully.
Valerie's train of thought was broken when the sound of footsteps came from behind the door. "Okay," a young woman wearing a lab coat said as she walked into the room with a small tray of coffee and a box of doughnuts. "I got your mocha latte with extra cream," she said with a smile.
"Thanks, Star." Valerie greeted as she took the cup, bringing it to her nose and inhaling the warm scent wafting from the light brown surface before blowing on it and taking a small sip.
Star set the doughnut box on a nearby desk, fishing herself out a pink frosted one and taking her cup. Turning to the ghost that was now glaring at her as he hovered back and forth, she tilted her head a bit inquisitively. "So learned anything new about Arrow Boy here?" She asked before taking a bite out of the pastry.
Valerie shook her head. "Nope," she said before taking another sip. "I tried to look for historical records but nothing that stands out. Nothing about him helps pinpoint a name, and he's been quiet. I think he may be mute." Valerie said as she spotted a pencil nearby her, giving her an idea. "Star, can you hand me a notepad please?" She asked.
Star put the doughnut in her mouth as she searched for one, handing it over to Valerie, seeming to realize what she was planning, "You sure you want to hand him that? It's a secure cell, the only way to hand it over to him is to go inside."
"I know, that's why I want you to keep a close hand on the ghost shield controls," Valerie stated before she approached the ghost. She pressed the notepad to the glass, causing the Archer to look at it curiously before turning to Valerie with narrowing eyes. "Can you write?" She asked. After a moment the archer nodded; she allowed herself a small smile finally feeling like she was getting somewhere. "Okay then," she said as she held up the pencil and tapped the glass with it, "you are going to use this to write on this," she said pointing to the notepad, "to answer any questions I have. If you cooperate, I can see about sending you back to the Ghost Zone." She stated, with the archer's interest piqued instantly. "However," she said as she gestured to the gun on her hip. "If you try to escape or attack me when I open this door, I will put a hole in you the size of a fist and I will keep you in there and my friend there," she said as she gestured to Star, "will triple the strength and lower the shield's size, meaning you will be lucky to move a finger let alone your entire body. Got it?"
The Archer narrowed his eyes further, clearly contemplating the offer. After a few moments, a distinct nod was made. "Good," Valerie said, "now go to the corner of the cell with your hands raised, and wait there till I leave. Understand?" The archer nodded again and flew to the corner. Valerie turned to Star and gave her a nod to her old friend, who was still unsure about this. Valerie put the code for the door, making a loud hiss as the tight metal door slowly came open. Valerie with her hand on her blaster walked into the cell, watching the ghost archer hovering in the cell with his hands raised. She placed the notepad and pencil on the floor, keeping the ghost dead in her sight as she left the cell and locked the door again. She went back to the glass, giving the ghost a nod as the Archer picked up the materials.
"Alright...let's start with how did you end up in our world and why are you here?" She asked. The archer wrote down his answer on the paper, pressing it against the glass for her to read. "'Forced through a portal, not my desire to be here.'" Valerie repeated. "So you didn't want to be here but someone forced you. Who?"
The archer wrote more on the paper. 'I don't know who. A trespasser came to the castle, I was ordered to shoot them on sight and the intruder used some mysticism to send me here.' After letting Valerie read it, the archer wrote more. 'I need to return home, Prince Aragon could be in danger.'
"Prince Aragon? Who is that?" Valerie asked.
The archer wrote down, 'Prince Aragon of House Malchior.'
Valerie turned to Star. "Can you do a search for Prince Aragon Malchior?"
Star typed on the keyboard but after a few minutes, she bit her lip lightly as she scanned for anything to stand out. "I'm not getting anything for an 'Aragon' but apparently there was a House Malchior."
"Go on." Valerie encouraged.
"Uh...says here they were one of the more prestigious family dynasties in Europe, with several descendants eventually becoming rulers of major kingdoms. But over time the family eventually tore itself apart due to greed and inheritance disputes that it gradually died down and was taken over by less divided lineages. It also says that the last remains of the family were accused of witchcraft and an army led by some neighboring kingdoms came to take them to trial but the castle and its people just...vanished."
Valerie pondered over the information for a bit, before she turned to the Archer who seemed busy again. "What you are doing?" She asked. The archer held up a finger, telling her to wait before going back to scribbling on the paper. After some time the archer presented to her a rough sketch of a figure with a black cloak with a missing eye and arm. "Is this the man that sent you to Star City?" The archer nodded. Valerie leaned in close to look at the sketch; despite the roughness there was an eye for detail. She even admitted that there was something familiar about the figure. "Where have I seen this before…?" She asked herself as she stroked her chin and narrowed her eyes. Eventually, her eyes shot wide. "Wait a minute!" She shouted as she looked closer at the sketch.
"What is it?" Star asked curiously.
Valerie rushed over to her. "Can pull out that camera footage of that attack in Jump City?!"
"...yeah give me a second," Star answered. After a few moments, a clip appeared on the computer of a figure floating over Titan's Tower before blasting it with ice, causing the building to freeze and break apart. The camera zoomed in on the figure, the ghost identified as 'Fenrir', a man wearing a black cloak with a metal arm and an eye replacing his missing parts. She plugged a cable from her suit into the computer, copying the file into her system before returning to the ghost archer. She projected the image to the Archer. "Is this him? Is this the man that sent you to our world?" The archer leaned into the image, it didn't take long for the archer to nod and point at the figure. "This person calls himself Fenrir, King of All Ghosts...does that mean anything to you?"
The archer wrote again, pressing it against the glass. 'Yes. A messenger came to our kingdom some time ago, announcing that a new King had come. One who defeated Pariah Dark and took his throne. Prince Aragon was skeptical of the rumor but a few of us were concerned.' Valerie read the note out loud.
"So this Fenrir guy came to their castle to...what?" Star asked. "Butt heads with some random prince?"
"No...quelling any potential threats to his throne," Valerie answered. The archer stared at her expectingly, she looked up at him and gave him a slight nod. "As promised, I will see about finding a way to send you home. Thank you for your cooperation."
The Archer merely skulked back into the corner and sat down, waiting to be freed.
Meanwhile
In the tallest chamber in the tower of the new ghost king, Desiree stroked Danny's head comfortingly. His tears have stopped but the heavy-hearted, gloom on his face remained. Desiree kept gently running her hands through his long white hair; while she may not have known what brought him such anguish she felt compelled to help him alleviate it.
It didn't matter now as she let him rest his head on her shoulder and allowed her to run her fingers through his hair. After some time the initial awkwardness was gone and they sat in comfort. "I...I'm sorry." He finally spoke.
Desiree glanced at him. "Why are you apologizing?"
"You must be disappointed...to see me like this. Whimpering, crying. I must look so pathetic."
Desiree stopped stroking his hair, her hands on his shoulders but the ghost king refused to look her in the eye, his cheeks flushed with what she guessed was shame. "No. I wouldn't say pathetic." She replied. "I must admit it was...odd seeing you vulnerable like this." Desiree went on, "but I wouldn't say you were being pathetic."
Danny looked up her in the eye before a small smile formed. "Thank you." He said as got up from the floor. He offered a hand to Desiree to help her up; the genie ghost smiled as she took it and rose from the ground and shifting her legs back into her normal ghostly tail. "Sincerely...thank you for calming me down. It must have been hard for you to tolerate being touched by a man."
Desiree felt her face grow warm as she realized that this was the first time she willingly let a man touch her in who knows how many centuries. "In truth, I liked it." Her eyes went wide as she realized what she confessed.
Danny turned to her, his eyes wide as a faint red crept into his face again. "You did?" He asked. Desiree felt unnaturally shy at his question, as she just kept looking back at him as if trying to form words. Somehow, she did not even find the power to deny what she said and try to move on from this embarrassing moment. Danny opened his mouth as if he was going to say something only for a series of loud knocks cut him off. "Who is it?" He asked.
"Technus!" The voice called out before the door swung open, the royal Head Researcher floating in with a large toothy grin as he carried a small object in his hands. "I'VE GOT IT!" He cried out, only for his smile to disappear as he saw the vizier and the king together, Desiree looking away as she hovered away while he spotted Danny giving the Genie a glance before looking back at Technus. "Oh yeah, I was interrupting something," Technus stated,
"No." Danny snapped. "N-No you weren't." He reassured.
Technus arched an eyebrow. "Riiiiiight...well anyway, more important!" He said excitedly as he presented the device in his hand. "BEHOLD! My super-hip, ecto-transmitter! Designed by yours truly."
"So it's ready? This will help me hack into the Watchtower?" Danny asked as he inspected the small device.
"You got it!" Technus answered obviously pleased with himself. "The device converts part of the signal into an ectoplasma-based frequency, making it able to hack into anything without it being traceable." He said proudly...before chuckling uneasily. "But it does have one small problem."
"And that would be?" Danny asked as he looked over the small transmitter.
"I effectively gave up efficiency for stealth. Depending on the device the transmitter attaches to and converts its signal, something like the Watchtower could take hours." Technus stated as he adjusted his glasses.
"I see..." Danny sighed as he pondered over the device. "Thank you Technus, this will do nicely." He stated.
Technus frowned. "Wait that's it?"
"I will ensure you are rewarded...after it does its job," Danny stated.
Technus glared at him. "You have the ghost of technology, right here, and you aren't going to let me hack into the system?"
"I told you before, this is something I must do." As he created a portal, Danny continued, "After everything is said and done, I will make sure you are rewarded and anything you want is yours...within reason." Danny ensured before turning to Desiree. "And...you..."
Desiree looked at him, a faint smile forming on her face. "Yes, my king?"
Danny's face was faintly red as he looked shyly to the side. "Thank you again...for...you know."
Desiree smiled a bit more, the exchange between the vizier and the ghost king making Technus frown deeper as he felt a wave of annoyance wash over him. "Oh great, now this is happening." He snorted making the pair glare at him. "Well excuse me if all this flirtation is grinding my gears, I will be doing something of actual use. Like making your new arm, or sticking my head down a hole." Technus waved off as he left the room.
Desiree looked at Danny one more time. "If you are going away, then I should go and perform my duties," she said as she started to hover out of the room. "But um, Fenrir." She said before turning to him. "If you need to...confide in me again, then just tell me. It was pleasant to know that the touch of some men won't cause me to be revolted." She said as she left.
Danny made a small smirk at her remark before going through the portal.
At that Time
Starfire remained huddled in the corner of her cell, hugging her legs as she sat on her cot. She just sat and waited to see Danny again, hoping he would come and see her. When she heard the door open, her gaze turned to it with hope beaming in her bright green eyes. She didn't know why her excitement hadn't been tempered yet, most of the time it was a guard here to deliver food for her through the slot in the door or to check in on her needs. Yet imagine her surprise when instead of a guard or Danny, the person who walked into the room was none other than her older sister.
"Blackfire?!" She said her eyes wide as her sister gave her a small smirk.
"Surprise, sister!" Blackfire said with a large grin and her arms wide open. "It's been some time, hasn't it?"
Starfire glared at her. "Yes, the last time I saw you, you tried to use me as payment for a jewel!"
"And you beat me, and then banished me," Blackfire chided back. "But let's forget about the past for a moment and focus on the present." She said as she made a large smile. "I trust your current accommodations are to your liking?" Starfire said nothing back as she looked away and sat on her cot again. Blackfire made a disappointed click of her tongue, seeing her rival sister choosing to disengage with her. "I do have a reason for being here you know." She stated.
Starfire didn't say a thing as she just looked at the wall.
Blackfire merely crossed her arms and turned around, setting her back against the glass chamber. "Danny...still cares for you." She said in a soft tone that made Starfire flinch. Blackfire looked down at the ground, "If that wasn't already obvious...considering he spared you."
"I don't understand why he did." Starfire spoke. "While I may not have been directly involved with his betrayal, I still felt as if I had a hand in it."
"I knew you never did." Blackfire answered. "You were always too...good-natured for such a thing. And that good nature was part of why I thought you were easy to manipulate." She scoffed to herself before she made a somber frown. "How do you do it sister?"
"Do what?" Starfire asked as she glanced towards her sister.
Blackfire stopped leaning against the glass and turned to her younger sister. "How do you get so much love? Without even trying?" She asked. "I worked, trained, and honed my natural talents and yet dispute my best efforts, 'love' just gravitated towards you like satellites around a star. Despite me being the firstborn, the one that showed the most potential, other people just seemed to be drawn to you. Mother, father, our brother, our people always cherished you."
"You were never unloved sister," Starfire commented, surprised by her sister's words.
"Perhaps, Koriand'r," Blackfire stated, "but at the end of the day, between the two of us you were the most favored..." The silence was palpable between the two sisters. Starfire is not sure how to answer her older sister. "I used to think that...maybe if I got rid of you, I would be happy," Blackfie said. "I...somehow thought that...if you just disappeared, I would be the one to fill that gap and be loved by our people. I was proven wrong." Blackfire pulled out a small keycard, "Do you see this? It is the key to your freedom."
Starfire's eyes went wide. "You're...planning to free me?" She asked as she tilted her head to the side.
Blackfire smirked. "Not exactly," she stated. "I am offering something you would want, sister: a place by his side again."
Starfire was stunned by her words. "And he sent you with this offer?"
Blackfire chuckled. "Well not exactly, this was my idea."
"Your idea?" Starfire snapped back. "After everything you've done, you now wish to help me?!"
Blackfire's confident smirk shifted to a somber frown. "No sister. I am not doing this to help'YOU'," Her tone, soft and cool, made Starfire even more confused. "I am doing this...to help him."
"Him? You mean Danny?" Starfire asked, trying to understand what her sister was trying to imply.
Blackfire nodded. "Yes...sister...he has been hurt in ways you couldn't even begin to understand." She said, her soft tone made Starfire more intrigued. "He has suffered so much that even he doesn't fully understand the mark it has on him. In his mind and soul especially." Blackfire sighed deeply as worry crept into her face, something that even Starfire looked stunned by. "...He has nightmares sometimes...talks in his sleep. Begs for them to stop. And in the end, I don't even think he knows about it most of the time."
Starfire considered her sister's words, but as she did a burning question came to mind. "How...do you know how he sleeps?"
The comment made a small, knowing smile form on Blackfire's face. A smile that made Starfire's heart sink into the bottom of her belly as a coldness crept into her body. "Y-You...and him have..." She looked as if she had been stabbed. Only to swallow it down and regain herself. "...how long?"
"Does that matter?" Blackfire asked. "At the end, I was here. You were not. He needed warmth, I had it and I was more than happy to give in to him." Her tone was direct but simple. She wasn't being condescending, or arrogant, or boastful. She was telling a simple fact and that made Starfire's pain more prominent.
"And if he has you, why does he even need me?" Starfire asked.
"Because that man still loves you, even if he doesn't want to admit it." Blackfire answered. "But now more than ever, he should know that he still has you as much as he has me." Starfire remained silent in thought. "I may never have been the best sister, that may never change," Blackfire went on, "But...maybe this is a chance for something new?"
"If we couldn't work as sisters by blood, then maybe as sisters by bonds. Is that what you are implying?" Starfire asked. "How can I trust that?"
"Well...I will admit even you're not that big of a fool to trust me after everything I tried to do in the past." Blackfire confessed. "But maybe you can trust in my love for him?"
"Yeah? And when did you start to feel love for him? Hmm?" Starfire asked.
Blackfire gazed at the corner of the cell. "I suppose, I noticed he was special from our first meeting." She started. "While I quickly swayed over the others, he still kept you in mind. In my attempts to get him around my finger, all he would do was talk about you. Especially when you got more and more depressed." Blackfire placed a hand on her cheek. "Of course, at that point, he was more like a... trophy, a thing for me to steal from you. Something that you wanted and ergo something that would hurt you if taken."
Starfire glared at her sister's words. "And then what changed?"
Blackfire's grin turned from smug to more longingly, "When you came to our home-world, answering my call. When it was first revealed that you had to marry that disgusting sack of slime and mucus, he came to me. He begged me to change my mind and beseeched me to rethink my order. Appealing to whatever love I had for you. At that time, I just thought of him as another fool you had transfixed but I respected his tenacity." Blackfire eyes lowered affectionately as she recalled more. "In the end, you defeated me. My plan was exposed, humiliated by you once again...do you remember afterward?"
Starfire nodded. "Yes, I was forced to banish you but the Schlurch demanded a queen; if it wasn't going to be me then it was going to have to be you. Or else Tamaran would be invaded."
"And who stepped in?" Blackfire asked. "None other than Danny," she said dreamily. "He came between me and Glgrdsklechhh, looked him in the eye and said 'No'." She chuckled. "Said that no one is going to be forced to marry anyone when that pathetic excuse of a king tried to threaten our world with an invasion. Danny just flew into the sky and faced them down by himself, and when he floated down how could I not be in awe of that? A force capable of threatening an entire planet scared off by one boy? A boy who did all of that just so someone like me, who had done nothing but terrible things to the person he cares about, wouldn't get forced to be some consort to a hideous blob. Hard not for a person to fall for a man like that." Blackfire stated.
"I suppose I can understand that." Starfire responded. "But, do you think he would accept me? Love me like he used to?"
"Oh, sister. Please. Don't be so naive for once," Blackfire chided. "He still loves you, but don't you dare think it can just go back to the way things were. Too much has changed, for you and especially for him to just go back to the way things were. Especially since it isn't just you or me who will be with him."
"There are others?" Starfire asked, concern but curiosity clear on her face.
"Oh yes. And I doubt you will be the last." Blackfire answered. "Remember, I am going as far as to extend this offer, trying to play a good sister for his sake. Not YOURS." She answered. "So you should set aside the jealousy and learn to embrace your new role underneath me." She said as she tapped the card key against the glass. "I'll let you sit and think it over, but don't forget sister...the longer you delay, the more woman will get my blessing. And the more love he receives the more that hole in his heart and soul will be filled. So filled to the point that what space you have left in there will be so small and tiny that it might as well be gone." Her sister warned.
Starfire took in his sister's words. "I..please give me time."
Blackfire loomed over her sister, her gaze softened for but a moment. "Fine." She said as she started to walk away, "but if you really cared for him, you would accept my offer." She pressured once more before leaving the cells.
With Valerie
Valerie was in her morning exercise, doing her push-ups. Her brow slightly sweating as she lifted herself with one arm. Ghost Hunters had to be in great physical form, so these morning rituals were regular. Especially after a stressful night, more questions than answers regarding this elusive 'Fenrir' ghost. She stops when she hears knocking on her apartment door. She sighed as she looked at a clock, seeing it was too early to be a mail person. "Great..." she sighed in light annoyance as she slowly got up and wiped her sweaty body down with a cloth. She patted herself down as she looked out the peephole. Her eyes went wide as she recognized a pair of baby blue eyes and black hair at the door. She backs away from the door, catching herself. "Who is it?" She called out, as if confirming her sight.
"Valerie...it's me...Danny." The voice answered back, making her freeze in place. "I know it's early, sorry I um...I wanted to message you to say I was going to be doing some business nearby but then I realized that you and I hadn't exchanged contact information." Danny explained through the door. "And...I need your help with something. Something important to me."
Valerie's eyes went wider again as she pressed her back against the door. The shock of seeing him at her door started to subside. "Just a second." She called out as she opened the door. "Danny? How did you find my apartment?"
"I um...I looked up Axion Lab. I saw that your father was serving as the current President of Axion Labs for VladCo. Saw some of the photos you had with him, and saw this street a lot of those times. So I just...made an educated guess from there." Danny confessed as if asking forgiveness for using underhanded ways to track her down. "It wasn't too hard, compared with tracking down Static, I at least had a better idea of where to look for you." He went on. "Look I am sorry, but I need your help."
Valerie's stared at him wide-eyed. "Danny, what is it? What do you need my help with?" Valerie stated. He held up a disc for her. "What is it?" Valerie asked curiously.
"There are logs and recordings from an experiment performed by the GIW on a ghost...Valerie, it's the ghost boy."
"They experimented on the ghost boy?" Valerie repeated in a soft tone. as if his word's implication didn't settle. Valerie looked around the hallway, before opening her door more and letting Danny in. "Okay, first tell me how you got it and how long have you had this?"
Danny sat down on the couch. "I got it a few days ago." He lied. "It was in the mailbox of my new home in Dakota City, no address. Nothing. It didn't even have my name on it. Just a note telling me to stop the recording at a specific point. Valerie..." Danny said looking into her green eyes with unease, "they did it."
"I-I don't understand... "
"The explosion at Fenton Works, it wasn't an accident. It was sabotage." He answered. "The GIW rigged the ghost portal to explode. They broke in and stole my parents' blueprints and then they rigged the place to go off to cover their tracks." He went on. "My parents weren't careless or forgetful, they did everything they could to keep it safe. It was all a cover-up." Danny answered.
Valerie looked at the disk, an ugly feeling growing in her stomach. "Someone must have sent this to you, edited this together for you."
Danny nodded. "Yeah, they gave it to me for a reason...and I think they know what they want me to do. I need to use the Cybertron Mega Computer."
Her eyes went wide. "Why?" Valerie asked before looking at the disk again. "Wait, you can't mean..."
Danny closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes...look I need to use the Mega Computer to hack into the Watchtower and broadcast it. I know...your people have been looking for any leads on his whereabouts. I can fill in the gaps with what happened to him in this. And I will get the truth out about my parents and the explosion."
"Danny, I...I want to help you. But what you're asking for is...is just too much." Valerie said, trying to be gentle with the desperate man.
"I know, and I will offer anything for you to help me. Money, favors...I will even help you with any anti-ghost weaponry you would need." He pleaded. "I will do anything you want and I can make it so that once the data has been sent, it will be traced directly to me, leaving you and Axion Labs unbothered. If it does somehow lead to you, you can tell the police, the Justice League, all of them that I attacked you, and forced you to help me do it. You can say that I threatened you or your father. I will take all the blame for it but I need this information out."
Valerie looked at him, his eyes pleading with her in silence. "I..." She inhaled sharply, before making a choice that made her want to kick herself. "Okay, Danny. I will help you, but after I scan it for viruses or spyware or anything. Understood?"
"I just want the truth to be out, and once the league learns of the ghost kid, please, let them know I meant it as a sign of good faith, that the league can trust Daniel Luthor."
"And you will be fine with helping me design more ghost weapons?" Valerie repeated.
Danny nods. "I spent the past six years pretending I wasn't 'Danny Fenton'. I still am...but if there is a ghost threat, my parents would have wanted me to try and stop it. And in truth...I would be happier making weapons for you. Since I know I can trust you."
Valerie listened to his words, his eyes unflinching from her face. Eagerly waiting for an answer. Those baby blue eyes bewitching her making her turn away for a moment. "Yeah...okay." Valerie stated.
"Thank you, I promise I will make it up to you in any way." He said thankfully as she took her hands with his own. The contact made her heartbeat rocket as his soft hands graced her own.
"Danny," Valerie started, she said trying to steel herself. "I just...hope you understand that I am risking their trust, letting you do this. So when it's over, I do expect you to make it up to me."
"Of course," Danny said gratefully, as he sat back down and waited. As Valerie walked to her bedroom, she stopped to give him a small smile. He smiled back, trying to stop the guilt that was forming in his stomach for using her like this. In truth, he doubted letting the public learn the truth of the GIW involvement in his family's demise would do anything. The agency had long been destroyed by his own hands. But it was time to finally let the Justice League and everyone else who dared look up to his traitorous teammates know the truth.
Danny and Valerie eventually arrived at Axion Labs, where Valerie scanned her ID card causing the lab's door to open. "Is this where you operate out of?" He asked.
Valerie gave him a glace over. "After my dad became the President of Axion Labs, he granted me one of the unused Sub-basements to run tests on my suit. Trying to better understand the tech. Mixed results sadly." Valerie asked. "Star helps me out with it."
"Star helps you?" Danny asked curiously, remembering the blond cheerleader. Paulina's former satellite had more going for her than just a pretty face surprised him. "I didn't think she was much of a scientist, let alone the kind of science you seemed to be working with, Ghost Hunter."
"I will admit, I may have twisted her arm to get her to work with me. Better pay than most assistants. Especially since she and Kwan are a bit low on cash. Apparently being a Gym teacher doesn't pay for everything."
"Kwan is a teacher?" Danny asked concernedly.
"Well, teacher's aid. He's working on a teaching license. Believe it or not, Kwan is actually good with kids, especially since he and Dash don't hang out as much after high school and Kwan is able to think for himself without Dash telling him what to do."
"I see, whatever happened to Dash?" Danny asked, curious about his former bully's fate.
"Dash actually got a scholarship to Michigan playing ball. But then failing grades and a torn ACL made him drop out. He works with the police now."
Valerie's words made Danny's spine shudder as a sense of dread washed over him. Slowly turning his head over to Valerie, "Dash...is a cop?" Saying the words slowly, as if trying to let the terror of such an idea sink into the words.
"More like a meter maid," Valerie reassured him.
Danny let out his breath in a loud sigh. "Oh thank god." He said in a relaxed manner. "And whatever happened to Paulina?"
Valerie did a sharp inhale of air. "Paulina? Yeah, that one is a bit more complicated. Sometime after the explosion, Paulina fell into a state of depression."
"Really? Did she lose someone in the explosion?"
"In a way. I don't know all the details but Star said that Paulina had a huge crush on the Ghost Boy." She stated.
Danny suddenly remembered the girl's locker shrine, one adorned with photos of him, whom he recalled seeing the Latina kiss more than he would admit. "I heard the rumors, " he responded. "But why does that matter?"
"After the portal was destroyed, the general ghost sightings became next to zero, and it was easily anything I could handle by myself. So, with no ghosts attacking the city, no Ghost Boy to come save the day," Valerie went on. "So she became depressed after not seeing him."
"I mean I guess not seeing a crush again for a while could bum a person out but a full-on depression? It wasn't like they were a thing or anything right?"
"Well tell that to someone who was single-minded like Paulina. Regardless, Paulina's parents pulled her out of school here and enrolled her in some high league private school in Metropolis." Valerie answered. "Star even said she got a modeling contract with some fashion magazine and was getting over the ghost Kid. Yet one day she just ditched," Valerie said. "Left a note saying she's off to find her happiness, and Star swore she last found a bill for a flight from Metropolis to Jump City. Right around the time that footage of Phantom in Jump City was getting more national attention."
"So she left everything she had going in Metropolis to go chase after the ghost boy in Jump City?" He summarized, shocked by the story. Trying to picture Paulina going to such lengths to chase after him, only to never once see her. Not once has she tried to approach him, no strange letters, zero calls out on social media. There seemed to be something missing there. "And this is what Star told you?"
"Long and short of it." Valerie answered back. "Paulina may not be the smartest girl in the world but if I had to give her credit for one thing, when she develops an interest in something, she has a hard time letting go."
"I see." He said as he entered the chamber of the Cybertron Computer. As soon as he spotted it, he began to realize Tucker's fascination with the device. The most advanced computer, right there. Just waiting to be used for anything. The processor may be high in orbit, but ready for any command. And he was going to use it to show everyone the misery he was subjected to for the better part of 4 years." He felt guilty to lie to Valerie to such an extent, but seeing his friends and his parents stuck in pain as that beast drove him to such an extreme.
Valerie looked at him with a slight frown. "You ready for this?" She asked.
Danny looked up to her, and gave her a nod. Valerie input the access command into the console, granting Danny full access to the computer's full power. He attached Technus's device to the control panel. Valerie typed in the password to the firewall and other security measures. Once a link had been established with the orbiting processor unit, he inserted the disk and attempted to hack into the Watchtower.
Meanwhile
Argent was led into the Tower of the Titans East tower. She admitted that the group had done well for themselves. "We're still shocked by what we saw on the TV," Bumblebee stated. The leader of Titan's East eagerly showed Argent to her room. "You and the others are more than welcome to stay here. I can't imagine what it would be like, first to lose Danny and then have Starfire get taken in front of you all like that."
Argent smiled at the taller girl, her black hair made up in her usual twin buns and wearing a more armored take on her previous uniform. Still keeping the distinct black and yellow colors as her insectoid wings fluttered on her back. "I actually never met Danny. I joined up with the Jump City crew after Danny left."
"Oh that's right, you never got a chance to meet him." Bumblebee reminded herself. "Shame, he was an interesting guy."
"That's what I've been hearing, were you good friends with him?" Argent asked curiously.
"Oh I wouldn't say I was good friends with him, he helped us out when we were setting things up here. Interesting guy." Bumblebee stated only for a loud 'swoosh' and the wind to kick up, making Argent cling onto her skirt to keep it from fluttering.
"¡Sí, pensaste que era un tipo realmente interesante!" One of two twins wearing matching white uniforms with a plus symbol.
"Qué interesante que te desanimaste cuando te enteraste de que él y Starfire eran una cosa." the one with the minus symbol said.
Bumblebee glared at the duo. "Well at least I took it better then you did, you actually cried when you learned about Starfire. Now if you please." She said like an annoyed older sister before the twins smirked and speed off. "Mas y Menos, good guys but they like to mess around." Bumblebee explained.
"It's alright, but what did they say? And what did it have to do with Starfire?"
Bumblebee waved her off. "Nothing, just some light teasing." She assured her before stopping at the door. "Here is your place for now." She said. "Don't be afraid to ask me for any help. You can also feel free to ask Pantha, me, or Killowat." She said just as an alarm went off. Bumblebee and Argent stopped what they were doing before rushing to the center room. They found Killowat typing onto the computer. "What is it? Emergency?" Bumblebee asked.
Killowat shook his head. "I don't know, we are getting a signal coming from the Watchtower, some sort of urgent message but not being put out though an emergency single."
Jinx watched as they pulled more out of the tower out of the Jump City bay. She watched as Atom Smasher drudge the compartments out of the water and placed it nearby, where she would use her bad luck powers to override the door. After this they retrieved most of what was lost, a lot of Raven's books which were deemed a priority. Most of Cyborg's gadgets. And then their personal effects. She been waiting for the past few days, waiting for Fenrir to return like how she thought he would but no luck..or ironically good fortune depending on your point of view.
Raven hovered close by, also using her powers to retrieve some of the remains of their old home. Jinx couldn't help but notice the heavy dark rings around her eyes, as if she hadn't been sleeping properly since the attack. Beast Boy also helped out, using his transformation powers to turn into certain creatures, like his massive yeti form to try and pry some of the doors open. A large frown carved into his face, both from the state of his home, his friend Cyborg still out of commission being repaired at STAR labs. And possibly depressed over the loss of Starfire.
She merely did her work, surprised to see her boyfriend and his team hadn't arrived to help just yet. But his latest message made it seem like they were sent on an important mission somewhere. So she wouldn't be fair for holding it against him. She sent another bolt into a dredged-up compartment, this time leading into the main living room and kitchen. She heard her communication device turn on by itself.
Soon the other Titans heard their communicators turn on and began to check. "What the?" Jinx said as she turned to Raven. "Do you have any idea what's going on, Raven?" She asked.
Raven remained still as she looked up towards the sky, "I don't know, but something tells me that it's not going to be good."
Up on the Watchtower, several personnel along with some of the more computer-skilled League members were trying to do something about the signal hacking into their communications. It wasn't long till Batman made it onto the communications board. "Do we have a lock on the signal?" He demanded as he rushed to a console, doing his best to maintain a calm manner.
"None sir! The signal is using some sort of signature, not one we recognize in any of the records." One personal member stated.
Batman tried his best to isolate the signal, trying to get a bead on it to hopefully crack whatever encryption it was using to defend the signal while it hacked into their system. Batman's eyes went wide as he managed to narrow the signal down. "The signal is being hidden by some frequency, something our instruments couldn't pick up on and yet it's somehow able to affect our equipment," he said to himself.
Shayera came flying into the room along with Green Lantern. "How did it get pass our firewalls?" John Stewart demanded.
"The signal is coming from a high-powered source. Not too mention the signal it's feeding into our system isn't something we prepared for...it's beyond anything alien." Mr. Terrific called out. "If we can't track it down and isolate it, then I'll try running the signal into one of his T-sphere trying to scan it. "Wait...something is coming on screen."
Everyone in the room turned to the screen; the image was blurry at first. Yet as the signal got stronger, the image become more clear. Enough so that Hawkgirl gasped in shock as she nearly dropped her mace as she stared at the monitor. Green Lantern joined her side as he was wide-eyed gawking at the screen. Even Batman, the more stoic of the group could only watch the screen, completely stunned by what he was seeing.
"Danny?" Shayera gasped as the image showed a still image of Danny Phantom, looking as she did when he disappeared over four years ago. Locked away in white cell.
Supergirl watched the screens in a different part of the Watchtower, her eyes wide as she remembered the ghost boy. "What is going on?" She asked herself. Phantom lying on the floor of an eerily clean white cell from the camera footage. Several members of the Justice League watched the screens as the footage was loaded directly into the station's communication system. Channeling it to all Justice League branches and teams.
Jasmine could only stare at the screen as a boy wearing a black and white jumpsuit and glowing green eyes was in a white cell. The more she stared at the figure the more her head hurt. She was trying to breath in a calm manner trying to calm her aching head. Yet as she did, she couldn't shake off the flashes of consciousness. A boy with black hair and blue eyes, a sense of concern, worry and care shot into her as her head flared in a sharp pain along with seeing the ghost boy.
Even despite her headache, she tried her best to try and track the signal but it was somehow untraceable on her side. Using some strange masking technology to make the signal practically invisible. As she tried her best to signal Bruce or anyone, she find herself frozen, staring at the boy. His green eyes and snowy hair made her head ached as if her mind was trying to recall something. After closing her eyes and clenching her teeth as she ran her hands through her orange hair till eventually, like someone flipping a light switch, something clicked in her mind. The same boy on the screen changing back into a boy with black hair and bright blue eyes, a name escaping her mouth. "...D...Danny?"
Danny rapidly typed into the console. Technus's transmitter was doing what it was promised, his signal being untraceable and unstoppable. He was able to breach into the Watchtower's system. Valerie monitored the League's messages. "Danny, they can't seem to find the signal, they can't seem to track it."
Danny remained focus as he typed away; their Watchtower's encryption was becoming more and more clear, his cybernetic eye sending more information to his brain faster. Allowing him to keep up with the space stations attempts to prevent his hacking attempts. He looked up to see the upload was getting more and more complete. Determination making him focused. Any chance there was a gap in their defenses, Danny struck as swiftly as he could, until eventually everything on his board was green. The upload as complete. Danny typed the command into the computer, and with a press of a button, the truth...behind Danny Phantom's disappearance become common knowledge across all of the Justice League. Danny closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply, he waited for a sense of relief to wash over him. Yet it never came...he slowly opened his eyes, on the screen was information flying at him rapidly, all of the station was at his finger tips. Yet his plan...his goal was already achieved yet he felt nothing.
His upload complete, he pulled the disc out and deactivated Technus's transmitter. Valerie saw him do so and can only frown, seeing his eyes grow dim with indifference. "Danny?" She called out to him. "Danny?" He didn't respond as he could only drag his feet out of the room. "Danny?!" She called out following him out of the room. She ran up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, the contact making him flinch.
His bright blue eyes stared at her, uncertainty...confusion clear on his face. "Valerie...I...I'm sorry." He responded. "I-I can't stay here. Somethings not right. I-I don't-."
"Danny...stay...please." Valerie asked him gently.
Danny stared at Valerie, the feeling of unfulfillment started to give away to a warmer feeling. His eyes scanned her beautiful face framed by her long black hair, her dark green eyes filling him with a sense of comfort. Before Danny realized what he was doing, his body moving out of his own need, he embraced her. His arms going around her her body and holding her tightly.
Valerie eyes went wide at his touch, she was unsure about the sudden embrace but she returned it. Hugging Danny like she did when she first saw him back in Dakota City. In a moment, be it nostalgia or genuine fulfillment, everything seemed right for Danny. Valerie couldn't help but moan lightly as Danny's arms held her tighter, Danny pulled his face back so he can look at her face again.
Valerie's face grew red seeing his face so close to her own, his bright baby blue eyes looking at her with a warmth, happy to see that dimness go away but now she felt somewhat unfulfilled. Her mouth went to his lips and as she got close to them, only for Danny to pull away. "Valerie..." He called out.
Valerie eyes went wide as she realized what she tried to do. "I-I'm sorry I just-." Valerie stuttered as she looked away. Her hurt over being rejected only second to her embarrassment for trying to kiss him.
"Not...Not here." Danny responded making the ghost hunter blush even deeper as she looked at his small handsome smile. "I expect it will be awhile before the League will come for me. If you wouldn't mind, especially after all this...could I stay at your place for the night?"
Valerie looked at him and gave him a small smile. "Yeah, of course Danny." She said as she took his hand and led him back to her home.
At That Time
(Warning for Violence and Disturbing Imagery)
The video played, a recording from a security camera. Danny Phantom laying on the ground, eyes glazed over and slow breathing. The date and time of the footage in the right corner of the screen. "This was taken from four years ago..." Shayera said as she watched the screen as if transfixed, a feeling of worry and dread festering in her gut as she watched the boy she was searching for the past four years on the ground. John Stewart noticed the Thanagarian woman's concern and placed a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. Batman can only watch, a stern frown forming on his face.
"This is Agent India, Head Researcher of base Helix. Here to log on Subject 0-1-9. Alias, Danny Phantom." A clinical, dry voice came over the recording. "Acquired...on December 25th of this year. Captured in Jump City." The voice went on. "Subject is confirmed to be the Ghost Boy of Amity Park." The voice went on. "Initial tests indicated that the subject is more then just an exceptionally human-looking ghost, the subject is in fact a hybrid of ghost and human DNA. Resulting in the subject having a more human anatomy."
Supergirl watched on the screen as the voice spoke about Danny, a crowd of other Justice League members starting to form around the screen. She clenched her fist over the cold way they were talking about him, commenting about him like a thing and not even a person. Kara jumped when she felt a hand touch her shoulder, she looked up to see her cousin, an understanding nod from him made the younger kryptonation relax her fist as she went back to watching the video.
Jinx could only stare in shock as the video played, she glanced over to Beast Boy and Raven to see their reaction. Raven's eyes were the size of dinner plates as she watched, a mortified look was clear on her face even as she remained floating in place like a statue on a series of wires. Beast Boy looked as if someone just walked over his grave, shivering as he watched.
Jinx turned to her screen, curiosity getting the best of her. Despite the clinical tone making her stomach ache like she just felt a lump of coal get dropped into her belly.
The Titans East team could only stare at the screen in silence. Argent looking at the boy with a sort of reverence, after all the mystery and secrets over this boy and she was finally seeing him in person. But the feeling was almost dead on arrival as she can't help but shake as a wave of foreboding start to run down her back. "S-Should we be watching this?" She asked the others. Getting no response as they kept watching.
Superboy and Miss Martian along with Kid Flash and Aqualad watched their screen as the footage started, "Wally." Superboy called out, the speedster walked up to him. "Where's Nightwing?" He asked.
"He should be in the workout room." The speedster answered.
"Distract him. Make sure he doesn't see any screens." Superboy asked him. Wally nodded and quickly bolted out of the room.
"Connor...do you think the League was right about him?" Aqualad asked.
Connor remained silent for a moment. "It might be. But the last thing we want is for him to start running before we know."
"Acquisition of the specimen was made possible with the Nth energy waves we've designed based on the leftover technology from the Thanagarian Occupation of earth several years back. Apparently the energy disruption abilities of the metal counters the ectoplasmic energy that make up a ghost. More tests will be performed using subject 0-1-9. I have also received permission from the High Command that we have permission to undergo the Ego Death experiment as part of the the 'Sweet Emotions' experiments."
"Ego Death?" John asked aloud. "What does that mean?" The others could only watch on, the question remained unanswered.
"I petitioned to High Command that we should keep an eye on Phantom's previous contacts, they may come looking for him after too long. Just because they reached out to us for help imprisoning the specimen, it doesn't mean that they won't decide to have him back eventually."
The statement was like a bolt of lightning to those closest to Danny or any of the Titans. Shayera eyes went wide, "They...they gave him over to them..." She snarled.
"Oh my God..." John Stewart, his eyes wide as he turned to Batman. "Did you know about this?!" He demanded.
Batman naturally stoic face turned to a somber frown, "I..." He opened his mouth to speak but the lack of an answer made Hawkgirl clench her mace, making it radiate with power.
"Bruce...I need an answer...NOW." She spoke softly, but anger clear in her piercing gaze.
The silence was louder then anything but the recording. "I had my suspicions, but I couldn't find any evidence to prove it." He confessed, "I am...sorry Shayera." The woman's lips quivered in anger. As if she wanted to say so much but couldn't find the energy. Instead choosing to watch the screen.
The reveal sent shock waves throughout the Watchtower. Groups of heroes and vigilantes voicing their disgust for the Titan's betrayal. Supergirl eyes went wide. "They knew...they KNEW?!" She snapped her eyes glowing red in wrath. Superman quickly pulled Kara away from the screen, bringing her back to the moment.
"Kara, we will see to them later." Clark spoke in a stern parental tone. "But for now we need...we need to see it in full. It's obvious that someone sent us this for a reason, maybe it's supposed to be a way to find him." He reassured her.
Kara wanted to argue with him but the idea of finally finding Danny made her only nod and turn back to the screen.
Argent could only frown, and shook her head. Having already been told of the betrayal from Starfire, the revelation didn't shock her. Especially when compared to the others. Bumblebee's hands were over her mouth in disbelief. Pantha looked as if she was just trying to process the news. The Spanish-speaking twins were already bickering to themselves, as if trying to argue about what the voice meant...almost as if they didn't want to accept the obvious meaning. Killowatt could only cross his arms and watch the screen.
Jinx gasped at the news, surprised to see the secret she and Argent were planning to reveal themselves get treated like a last minute comment. She turned over to the others, Beast Boy looked even greener like he was about to vomit whatever he ate. Looking frantically around and locking eyes with Jinx. "You two knew...huh?!" She shouted at them. Beast Boy eyes frantically shifted between her and Raven, who remained hovering in place still watching the screen.
"W-We had our reasons." Beast Boy started. "Honest!"
"What reasons where that?!" Jinx shouted at him.
Beast Boy's mouth opened as if readying to defend himself but the words vanishing in his throat before they can be said.
"So the Titans were behind Phantom's disappearance." Miss Martian stated.
"All the more reason to keep an eye on Nightwing. As soon as he starts to suspect something, restrain him and keep an eye on him till communications are back up and we'll see what they want us to do with him." Aqualad stated.
Connor remained watching the screen.
Jasmine teeth dug into her lower lip, biting it down hard as her headache seemed like it was cracking her skull open. Yet to her the pain was worth it, for more and more memories were coming back to her. Danny Fenton, her brother, is Danny Phantom...he was alive...he made it from the explosion, she wasn't the only one that survived. But for now her brother, the last traces of her family was laying on the floor of some cold lab...betrayed by his teammates...one of whom was like a friend to her.
Every time he came by, expressing concern for her. Expressing his desire to help her. Poisoned...tainted by this reveal. He wore that smile on his face so naturally and yet, knowingly or not, stabbed her baby brother in the back. She wanted to call him up, she wanted to demanded answers from him. To scream and yell at him, calling him every vile, hate filled world she can muster. Yet with all communications being hijacked so this video can play, she can only watch. Praying against all odds that this video has a hopeful ending.
There was a glitch in the stream as the next scene was taken a couple weeks later. And the image already made it's viewers groan in disbelief as they watched Danny being bombarded with Nth energy as a machine in the center of the room powered on. The footage being recorded from behind a window, Danny convulsing violently as he was experiencing a seizure. Vomiting on himself as green glowing ectoplasm streamed from his noise. The machine was shut off, leaving Danny on the floor. Breathing heavily as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
"January 9th. Subject 0-1-9 has been subjected to the Nth energy waves over the course of the weeks. The results have been interesting." The comment angering Hawkgirl as she clenched her mace. "Due to the subject's unique physiology and anatomy, the effects of the Nth energy can be studied and compared with a more medical understanding." The analytical voice went on, "So far, we find Nth metal negates a ghosts natural abilities by disrupting the ectoplasmic energy that make up their being. However, the more intense energies have had an interesting effect on subject 0-1-9. The lowest state we can provide prevents him from using his basic abilities but still retain his enhanced physical abilities. At the highest, the subjects body undergoes severe seizures, brain hemorrhaging and black outs. Luckily these sessions won't leave any lasting neurological or brain damage as once he is no longer exposed to the high levels, his healing factor starts to heal the damage. This will...sadly conclude our Nth Metal research. High Command insists that the subject's life is too valuable to risk accidentally ending. Especially since we will still need him for Project Ego Death."
Batman groaned in disgust as he looked away from the screen for a moment. He can't escape the shame he was feeling, struggling to find any reason or logic in why his ward, the boy he raised practically as a son, would hand anyone over to such horrible men. He taught him to be better then this...didn't he? Where did he go wrong?
He glanced over at Shayera and John, Shayera looked as if she was trying to hold on a strong front but to Bruce's keen eye, he can see the slight tremble in her hand. Clearly being a wreak underneath that warrior's stare. He wanted to say something, but he knew any word he would say would just spark more anger. Anger that, for right now, would only cause division.
Clark watched the screen go on, trying his best to keep his cousin from breaking down. He comfortingly placed a hand on her back as Kara's eyes were starting to tear up. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Diana along with Black Canary and Flash entering, staring at the screens. A look of cold wrath clear on her face as she readies her lasso and heads towards the Zeta-Tubes. Wonder Woman catches Superman's stare, the Kryptonian can see what her intentions are in a heartbeat. Superman can only give them a slight nod, encouraging them.
Wonder Woman returned the nod before gesturing to Flash and Canary, going towards the Zeta-Tube as more and more people stared together at the screens to see the fate of Danny Phantom.
Jasmine was crying, her hand pressed against her monitor as if trying to reach out and try and save her brother from the footage. Leaving her only to whimper in her wheelchair. "Oh Danny..." She sobbed as she watched her brother getting dragged off by the Guys in White.
Beast Boy felt like he was gonna puke over the side and into the bay. He was sweating bullets as he felt like needles were pricking into him. Seeing Danny convulsing on the ground like a fish dying in the sun made his skin crawl. He was practically clenching his ears as if he can already hear the screams of accusations that will be hurled his way. He glanced over to Raven, who only seemed to be absorbed into the small screen of her device. Her eyes fixed...on Danny...the idea made an ugly hotness boil in his stomach. When he was getting ready to call out to the hooded sorceress only to feel a strong hand grab onto his shoulder that he swear his shoulder was being bruised.
He snapped his head around to see Wonder Woman was behind him. A deadly glare was pouring into his making him gulp loudly. "You're coming with us, and you will answer for what your did." The Amazon stated.
Beast Boy looked over to Jinx who was already been approached by Black Canary with her arms crossed. Jinx merely holding her hands up, a calm look on her face. Followed by the Flash coming over to the hovering Raven. "So...are you gonna cooperate? Or are we gonna have to drag you to the Watchtower?" He asked. The Scarlet Speedster having no patience for any of them.
Raven finally looked up from the screen, her violet eyes looking down at the Flash. She hovered down to the ground, her eyes never leaving the ground.
The image cut off again. This time the recording wasn't taken from a security feed but instead a web camera. Danny sat on the other end of the table, tired...drained...but his neon green eyes still held a flare of life in them as they glared back at the man behind the camera.
"Subject 0-1-9...how are you feeling?"
"Go to hell..." Danny snapped back, only for the loud whirring ring as electricity shot into him making him scream out in pain as he convulsed in his chair. His wrists and ankles tied down.
"Still see you are combative." The voice stated. "Good, a strong-willed subject is what we need for our project." Danny panted steam from his body drifted up into the air, even as he could only chuckle. "Do you find something amusing, Subject 0-1-9?"
Danny looked up at him, "You think I am gonna be here for long? People will start looking for me...and when they find me, you're gonna have a lot to answer for." He stated simply, confident.
"Subject 0-1-9, who do you think is going to come looking for you?" The researcher asked condescendingly. "Did you forget what happened?" The question made the smile on his face fade, leaving only a dull grimace. "Your partners...your friends...they came to us. They all reached out to us, and asked for our help to contain you." Agent India went on. Danny glare harden, "Do you know why they did? Subject 0-1-9?"
"My...name...is Danny."
"No, names are for the living...Subject 0-1-9." The voice went on. "Answer the question...do you know why they did?" Danny gave no response only for the whirring sound to ready up and then another, even more painful shock was delivered to him. Making him scream and howl in pain.
Shayera was clenched her fist so hard that her nails were cutting into her palm, drawing blood. Green Lantern, could only watch on, a part of him wanted to be proud for the boy still maintaining his will even after this much. But he can't shake the feeling that it was all going to get so much worse for the ghost boy. Batman felt rage growing in his stomach, Phantom's treatment reminded him of the worst of the sadistic scum he had faced over the years. Joker, Grodd, Toyman, all of them horrible people that he worked so hard to stop. Trained Dick to stand up against them in hopes that one day he would take his place...yet in the end he betrayed those ideals and was witnessing the outcome first handed.
Kara covered her ears as Danny's painful screams were getting too much for her. Clark hugged her as he could only watch the ghost boy suffer. Seeing this cruelty was starting to tear into the Man of Steel, every day he tried to help people. Yet someone so close to his family was being experimented on so harshly, so inhumanly...and he just let it happened. For all his powers, he some how missed this person who needed help so badly. He failed him...him and the Justice League, failed Danny in more ways then they could ever known. And they were seeing the results of that.
Jasmine ripped her headphones off as if she were a coyote stuck in a snare before tossing them aside. Hearing her brother screaming in torment was too much for her as she hung her head in her hands and cried. She wanted it all to stop, she wanted it to cut off, tears were striking her keyboard as she hung her head low between her arms. She knew she had to steel herself soon, this was sent to them for a reason right? Something behind just subjecting the Justice League to unrestrained sadism? Right? She looked up at the screen, desperately trying to see if she can track the signal again.
Miss Martian watched the scene in horror while Connor looked pale. Aqualad saw the looks on their faces. "They never told us how brave he is." He said loudly. "All we were told was...he disappeared under mysterious circumstances, but they never seemed to mention much about him as a person."
Connor nodded. "When we find him, we should make sure he gets a welcome worthy of him."
Miss Martian remained fixed to the screen. Unable to tear herself away from it. "Aside from us and Wally...do you think the rest of the team would know by now?"
"Cassie was called back to Themyscira. So it's doubtful that she would see this." Aqualad answered, "Artemis is currently away on some mission from Green Arrow. So doubtful she would be free to see this."
Argent could only stare at the screen, sickened by what she saw. A sentiment shared by Pantha as she shook her head in repulsion while Bumblebee was staring at the screen in shock. As if still trying to understand what is going on. The younger speedster twins could only do what sounded like a prayer.
"They turned on you...because you scare them...Subject 0-1-9." The researcher spoke. Still keeping his cold, distant condescending tone. "You're something that simply shouldn't exist in this world. It would have been one thing if you were just a ghost, but we see that you are something more...something not right."
"I have others...people who know me." Danny spat. "They will come looking for me, they'll find me."
"Subject 0-"
"MY NAME. IS-!" Another current of electricity was shot through him, this one more painful and prolonged. So much so that his skin started to blacken from the burns as he was limp and unresponsive.
"Subject. 0...1...9...I know you can hear me still. Your healing factor will heal whatever brain damage that you have sustained in your defiance." Agent India started, his sickening tone earning the ire of the viewers from across the league. "No one...is coming for you. How long do you think you have been in here? Days? Weeks? No...it has been two months you have been here with us. We've tested our Nth Metal technology on you for awhile, so I wouldn't be surprised that either your captivity or your repeat seizures have dulled your sense of time. But regardless, one thing hasn't changed. You are here. With us. And no one has come looking for you. No one...cares to look for you. Your place is right here with us. So I suggest you associate this place with 'home' and start accepting your designation...0-1-9, because you aren't leaving this facility any time soon. We have spared you from any tests for the past couple of weeks for a reason. Congratulations, Subject 0-1-9...because you will be the primer for a radical experiment. Let's see how long you can keep that hope up."
"Are they talking about this Project Ego death?" Shayera asked aloud.
"It's possible, but what does does that even mean? 'Ego Death'?" Green Lantern asked.
"Ego Death is when a person looses all subjective sense of self." Batman answered, "the disappearance of oneself as they know it."
Superman continued watching the screens with his cousin, Kara trying to keep from breaking down. He spotted Wonder Woman, Flash and Black Canary taking the three Titans to the holding cells. Trying not to draw a crowd as they snuck around back. Beast Boy looked down at the ground in shame, Jinx merely kept her eyes forward and unresponsive knowing full well she wouldn't be locked up for long. Yet Raven...Raven kept watching the screen, even when Black Canary would push her along to get her moving. Her tired eyes unflinching away from Danny's image.
Superman could only wonder what was possible running through her head at that moment.
Jasmine's misery had seemed to come full circle, leaving her with a numbness that chilled her soul. Upon seeing the smoking, limp form of her brother just sitting in that chair. And that new pit in her stomach grew even deeper when she realized that there was at least four more years of this left for her brother. Making her eyes well up and making her whimper at what sort of suffering he had gone through and not this edited, hacked together version she was watching.
The footage switched back to the security footage, Danny was strapped down bare as they strung him up by his hands and wrists. He struggled feebly, his form tired, and drained...more sickly then he was in the last footage. The date reading a full three months after the interview. "The subject remains confident that rescue will come for him." Agent India's voice over came on. "So far our tests to see if we can weaken a ghost through physical and emotional torment has proven to have results. Normally a ghosts physicals state can remain unaltered for it's entire existence, but Project Ego Death has been showing some...interesting results."
As the voice over ended a green laser shot at Danny's wrist, cutting a thin line around it making him scream. Trying his hardest to break the hold but the Nth Energy waves kept him from using his full power or allowing his wound to heal. Some of the viewers gasped, but most couldn't stand to watch as instruments were shoved into the wound and began to peel the skin off his arm, taking off in one clean piece like a long sleeve from a shirt. Danny's eyes wide in fear and shock as he can only looked at his stripped flesh only for the laser do the same on his other arm.
"Subject 0-1-9 has been able to heal from the injuries we've afflicted once we send him to his cell under lesser Nth Energy fields. While his body is human in form, he does have a lot of aspects of a ghost. From the 'tests' we've subjected him too over the past few months we learned that the subject doesn't need food or water to survive, however he does feel the symptoms of both hunger and dehydration. So we have decided to forgo all food and water for the subject. We have also learned that he can survive in a vacuum. So Oxygen is of no concern." The agent explained as the footage show more and more of his skin being peeled away. His arms, his legs, almost every ounce of skin that could be sliced off and ripped was gone leaving him a fleshy mess of green ectoplasm and red bloody muscle.
Hawkgirl could only stare at the screen, her mace slipping from her hands and onto the floor with a loud clunk. Green Lantern could only think of placing his arms around her from behind, trying to comfort her without words. Batman kept watching, taking in as much as he can...still looking for anything that can tip the Dark Knight to the bases location so he can give these people a firsthand experience why even the most harden psychopath fears the very sight of his silhouette.
"Fascinatingly enough, when it comes to emotional stimuli. The explosion of Amity Park is a topic that promotes a vivid reaction in Subject 0-19. Apparently he experiences some form of guilt over the occurrence. However, High Command has informed me that that subject matter is one a very strict need-to-know authority. No one can know of our involvement in that incident. So I have been commanded to refrain from using the subject's trauma to that event. Shame."
Jasmine was puking into a nearby trashcan, the sight of her brother's mutilated form was too much for her as her head spun as she felt her stomach twist again forcing her to puke again. She wanted it all to end, she wanted to stop watching, she begged for any higher power to grant her that one wish. But the nagging thought scrapped at the back of her head that she needed to see it though to the end. There must be something here that can lead her to him again somehow.
Kaldur, M'gann and Connor couldn't bare to see the scene any more. The sound of loud grunts coming from the different room was a much welcomed distraction as they see Kid Flash dragging a bound and gagged Nightwing behind him. "Sorry guys," The speedster apologized. "But he was getting paranoid, so I had to hog tie him down before he tried anything."
Kaldur looked down at the struggling traitor who was looking up at them in in anger and confusion. The Atlantean pulled down the makeshift gagged, "What the hell is going on?!" Nightwing shouted. "What's the meaning of this?!"
Connor glared down at him while M'gann was eyed him like filth. Kaldur simple grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the screen before picking him up, to face the sight of Danny's mutilated body. "Look familiar?" He asked coldly before dropping Dick on his knees before the screen.
Nightwing can only stare at the screen and Danny's breathing carcass, eyes wide in shock and pain as his flesh was on display in the recording. "W-What is this?!" He cried out.
"You don't recognize him?" Kaldur asked again, anger creeping into his normally calm voice. "Danny Phantom...YOUR...Danny Phantom, the one that you claimed just ran off and never showed up again."
"I-I just-."
"What? You just handed him over to some butchers and just conveniently forgot?" Kaldur interrupted. "Save it. We know what you and the others did. The Watchtower knows...and chances are by tomorrow everyone in the entire Justice League will know. So you are gonna watch this with us until something jogs your memory and you start sharing some facts."
The footage went on for what seemed like hours.
Each cut-off showing a more depraved form of torture that the ghost boy was subjected to. From the physical torments like breaking his bones and leaving him as a broken mess on the floor, to emotional like constantly reminding of his total abandonment, to even more mental torment like subjecting him to intense psychoactive drugs. Each glimpse of the hell Danny was subjected to only gave an insight the events that happened during all those fours years.
"0-1-9 has been...a disappointment over these few years," Agent India's voice came into the security footage, not a voice over this time but speaking directly into a mic for the ghost boy to hear as his eyes darted over. The voice that most of the Justice League had long since grown tired or hated by this point. Danny strapped to a table, his husk of a body wheezed and struggled to breath as his eyes darted around in full awareness. Looking up at a large full body mirror hovering over him. "We had hoped that there would be more physicals changes to the subject during the years of tests. Our goal was to see if a ghost's existence is tied to their emotional state. So far our tests have been inconclusive on that front. But there is some silver lining in all this; It seems that exposure to Nth Energy waves makes subjects like 0-1-9 open to the affects of chemicals and drugs that normally wouldn't have an affect on. Such as," Agent India said as he injected a needle into Danny's neck. "Synthetic Adrenaline, and Tetrodotoxin. Along with the fact that his healing factor has become defective. He will no longer heal from any injury we inflict on it. So...High Command order for the dismissal of our Project, labeling as it...moderate success." Agent India said as other researchers came closer to the Ghost Boy.
Quickly spotting several surgical tools in the mirror making the ghost boy eyes go wide as he scanned around the room. Agent India looking down at him and tilting his head. "However, as one final experiment and in according to High Command's request. The subject shall be vivisected." Danny's eyes went wide as he remained helplessly paralyzed.
Hawkgirl gasped at the word, John tried to pull her away, "You don't need to see this!" He said out to her only for the winged heroine to escape his hold.
"Let me go!" She cried out, desperate to see the final moments of her boy. Hoping against hope that something would happened and that would allow Danny to be freed, to escape at the last second. Refusing to believe that no one wouldn't be there to stop this grotesque act from going through.
The sound of a rotary saw sang through the recording. "Subject 0-1-9, please keep an eye above." Agent India requested in his usual condescending tone. As he gestured to the mirror. "I am curious to see if they're may be any last changes in your organs before we store them away." The saw was pressed into his sternum, the cracking of bone and the wet gush of blood and viscera echoing through the recording. Danny's eyes were wide in horror as he felt everything, every slice and cut as the blade went slowly down his chest. Tears running down his eyes as he waited to pass out, bot no luck there as the adrenaline the doctor injected him with won't allow him to pass out or go into shock. His bright neon green fluids became a dark blood, almost black from all the dehydration he suffered through over the years.
Most of the viewers couldn't stomach the sounds and sites. "NOO!" Shayera made a long pained screeched as she watched the vile act go on, John quickly grabbed her and held her close letting her cry into his shoulder. Biting his lip in disgust as she tried to focus on Shayera and comforting her and less on the horrible sounds of the procedure. Batman slammed his fists on a console in rage. He glowered at the broken equipment, his frustration evident. Cursing himself for letting himself be blinded by the attachment of his ward to overlook any signs of foul play before it was too late.
Jasmine couldn't bare to watch the act any more before she sent her fist through the monitor. Her hand was cut up, bleeding. Her hand was in pain but it was still nothing compared to the feeling of loss that was enveloping her soul at that moment. In one moment, she remembered her brother...she remembered the hero he was. She even began to remember the family she once had. Her mother and father, imperfect as they may be but they were still hers and she wouldn't have traded it for anything. All gone...gone for good. Even her brother, her brother...was right here. In Jump City...under Dick's nose...she could have seen him...she could have spoken to him. But no...between her damn memory loss and this...this horrible act of treachery.
She was now...completely alone.
Kara couldn't stand any more, she dropped to her knees. Her blue eyes wide in horror as the blade sliced him open and the doctors cracked his ribs open, displaying his pulsing guts for all the world to see. Danny still alive and wide eyed, he couldn't speak. He couldn't scream. The pain must have been...she couldn't fathom it. She is Supergirl. Bullets bounced off her like foam darts, knives can't even scratch her. She can't even begin to imagine what Danny must have been going through during all of this.
Clark was just as equally mortified. Seeing the doctors rip the young man open and they pull out his organs, surgically, with all the manner of a man taking apart a broken clock and sorting the pieces of it. As Superman, he always wanted to try and inspire people to be the best that they can be. To help humanity embody the virtues that Ma and Pa Kent raised him to have. Yet...after this, he wondered if this was truly the worst humanity had to offer...or was it just the lowest depth so far.
Wonder Woman closed her eyes and made a prayer to the gods. She prayed for this tormented young man to finally have the rest he deserves in Elysium. After the heroics Danny has performed as Titan of Jump City, and this horrified end. He deserved a proper hero's rest. She glanced over at Supergirl who was wallowing in her despair. She couldn't help but feel pity for the girl. She, herself, never experienced a loss this tremendous and in such a horrific way.
Back in Mount Justice, the Team kept watching but even they couldn't stomach what was going on. Wally vomited into a nearby waste bin, M'gann left the room unable to watch it any more. Connor remained staring at the screen as he clenched his fists. No person should have to die this way...especially after years of torment. Kaldur was sickened by it and had to look away, only for his anger to come out when he caught sight of Nightwing watching the final moments with tears running down his eyes. "Why are you crying?" He said coldly. "This" He said gesturing to the screen, "only happened...because of you."
"I..I just-." Dick opened his mouth earning him a punch across the face from Kaldur.
"No...you don't get to make excuses with me. You can spout your bullshit before the League." The Atlantean scowled at him in disgust.
The stream went on, Danny's eyes had no more tears to shed as the look in his eyes was the embodiment of despair. No hope. No desire but for oblivion. Forced to watch his innards be cut open and forced to feel everything as it was collected from him. "High Command has already made a list of organs to keep for further research." Agent India said to one of his assistants. "Dispose of the rest. Since his healing factor is gone, we don't have to worry about them regenerating on their own."
"Understood sir." The assistant said. "Um...sir, what are we supposed to with the head?"
Agent India looked over at the remains of his favorite test subject of over the past few years."Yes, the head. High Command still thinks there is value in his brain...fetch me the bonesaw."
The footage skipped again till another feed came out. Camera footage once again, taking in the dismembered organs of the ghost boy on full display. Soaking in preservatives.
"They wouldn't even let him die..." Batman said in disbelief.
Hawkgirl looked away, her eyes red from her tears as she wished she can take back the pass few hours. John could only stare at the screen somberly as the footage turned to a brain in the same liquid but with several wires running from it to a large device. "Subject 0-1-9, can you respond?"
After a few minutes, a digital mockery of a voice belted out. "Please...kill...me...let...die...please..." The pleading broke Shayera more as she shuddered. Easily hearing Danny's voice pleading for an end. "I...want...die...please...please...please...please..." the footage cut-off leaving a black screen. Yet for a brief flash something came up on the screen.
"Wait, go back ten seconds and play it back going at 1/10th speed." Batman called out. Mr. Terrific did as Batman asked. And for a brief moment. "Stop!" Batman called out. Green Lantern and Hawkgirl turned to the screen to see a series of numbers. Batman studied the numbers. "They're coordinates." He deduced quickly as he entered the numbers into a global map.
Hawkgirl approached him. "Where does it lead to?"
Batman waited for the result. "Dakota City."
END