Going Ghost! (Young Justice)

Chapter 209 209: Cloning Exposition

[Third Person Pov]

Date: May 8th

Time: 2: 23

Location: Foley Residence

Danny and Tucker were sitting on the floor in front of the couch playing video games, leaning forward with intense focus. Their fingers moved quickly across the controllers, each button press sharp and deliberate as they tried to outdo each other. Both of them had that same look of concentration, their tongues slightly sticking out from the corners of their mouths without them even noticing.

Sam was stretched out across the couch behind them, holding a book above her face as she read. Every now and then her eyes would flick away from the page toward the TV, quietly observing the match before returning to her book like she wasn't particularly invested.

"Booyah!" Tucker suddenly shouted, throwing his controller up in the air in celebration as the screen flashed with 'Player 1 wins!'

Danny leaned back with an annoyed look, letting out a small groan. "Don't get too excited, you only won because I'm rusty. Give me a chance to shake it off and then we'll see who's actually winning."

Tucker didn't even bother acknowledging that, already caught up in his own victory. "Oh yeah! Who's awesome? That's right! I am! Whoop! Whoop!" he said, doing a small celebration dance as he stood up.

Danny rolled his eyes at that, but before he could respond, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He paused, reaching down to pull it out and glance at the screen. His expression shifted slightly for just a second before he let out a quiet sigh and slipped it back into his pocket.

Sam noticed immediately, lowering her book just enough to look at him. "What's wrong, need to leave already?"

Danny shook his head, standing up as he brushed his hands off on his jeans. "Nah, I just gotta use the bathroom, real quick," he said casually before heading off.

The bathroom door shut behind him, and for a brief moment everything was quiet again aside from the faint noise of the game menu looping. Then a sudden flash of light slipped out from the gap beneath the door. A minute later, the sound of the toilet flushing echoed, followed by the sink running for a few seconds.

When Danny came back out, he walked over and dropped down beside Tucker again, a small smirk on his face like nothing had happened. "I demand a rematch."

Tucker picked up his controller and settled back in next to him. "Sure, but you're only going to lose again."

Sam lowered her book a bit more this time, giving Danny a pointed look. "Did you wash your hands?"

"Yes, mom," Danny replied immediately, leaning back with a teasing grin. "I even made sure to wash under my nails to be extra squeaky clean—"

He didn't get to finish before Sam smacked him over the head with her book. Tucker burst out laughing at that, tilting away and even holding his stomach.

Meanwhile, outside the Foley residence, Danny Phantom was flying through the air, moving quickly across the skyline as he made his way toward Wayne Manor. He slowed down as he approached, phasing through the structure before descending into where Dick was already waiting for him.

"Sorry, I know it's supposed to be your day off, but it seems important," Dick said as he started walking, motioning for Danny to follow him into another room.

"It's alright," Danny replied with a small shrug as he fell into step beside him. "As Batman would say, 'Crime never sleeps so neither would I!'"

Dick let out a small snort. "Batman doesn't say that."

Danny shrugged again, not bothered. "Sounds like something he would say. Besides, I'm not too upset about it. Part of me is still with Tucker and Sam enjoying himself, so I don't mind."

Dick glanced over at him with a frown. "Part of you? You mean a clone? You sure that was a good idea? Sounds a bit messed up if you ask me, making your friends think they're hanging out with you when it's not even really you."

Danny looked over at him, clearly amused by that reaction. "What exactly do you think my clones are?" he asked. "They're not just fake copies I make and send out. It's more like I'm a cell going through mitosis, I split and become more than one version of myself. If you've ever paid attention, they don't just appear out of nowhere, they come out of me. Same thing when they merge back, they don't just disappear either into thin air."

"Wait, wow, that's kind of broken. Doesn't that mean you can't technically die as long as one of your clones is still out there?" Dick asked as they stepped into the room with the grandfather clock.

"Yes and no," Danny replied, not missing a beat. "This version of me you're talking to is just as real as the one hanging out with Tucker and Sam, or the one with Frostbite learning how to manipulate ice. If I were to, quote unquote, die, then yeah, as long as at least one of those versions of me is still around, I should be fine."

Dick reached out and opened the hidden entrance behind the clock, revealing the way down to the Batcave. As they started descending the stairs, he glanced back at Danny. "Alright, I'm guessing that was the yes part. What's the no part?"

Danny followed behind him, hands in his pockets. "We're all connected by my metaphysical core. That's what makes every version of me… well, me, instead of just mindless copies. If something or someone were to shatter that core, then I'm done. Completely. No coming back from that. Goodbye afterlife, hello oblivion."

They reached the bottom of the steps where Batman was already waiting for them.

"So what's the haps, bat?" Danny said, trying to sound cool.

That immediately earned him a strange look from both Robin and Batman.

Danny glanced over at Robin and did a quick double take. "Seriously, how the hell are you able to change so fast?"

"Focus, Danny. We have a serious matter at hand," Batman said, already turning and walking toward the Batcomputer.

Danny straightened slightly and followed along as Batman began explaining.

"Yesterday, we picked up a reading from our satellite showing a sudden spike in ectoplasmic energy in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 5:28 PM. Since ocean-related incidents typically fall under Aquaman's jurisdiction, I allowed him to handle the investigation. However, based on Arthur's report, the situation escalated. Mera has been kidnapped."

"Hmm, I see," Danny said, pausing as he had already pulled out his autograph book prematurely upon hearing Aquaman's name. After a second, he casually put it away again, deciding to save it for later. "I'm guessing that means we're going to Atlantis."

"It does," Batman confirmed. "So prepare accordingly. Make sure all of your ghost-hunting equipment is waterproof."

Danny gave a quick salute. "Aye aye, boss."

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