Chapter 78

The sound of applause at a Circus echoed when a large man with white hair, slightly balding, walked out on the stage. Jack Haly, the owner of Haly's Traveling Circus, appeared on the stage, to much excitement and ballyhoo.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all agents, Haly's International Traveling Circus is proud to present you, an act of death defying, Acrobatics, the likes of which had not been seen in years. This sibling team of acrobatics will perform stunts your eyes won't believe and stunts of which will blow your mind. And they will do it, without the aid of a net."

The spotlight came on and a group of five.

"Let me present, the Daphne Danger."

Daphne Danger, a brunette woman, appeared at the top and did a high flying, acrobatic move to pause. In reality, and in disguise, she was Rebecca Grayson, better known as Nightwing of the Teen Titans.

"Della Danger."

Della Danger, with her short blonde hair, arrived on the scene. To commit to the role, Thea Queen cut her hair and dyed it, because being a heiress who had traveled internationally, she had been too well known.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to announce, Diane Danger."

Artemis, or Diane, hair whipped out of her face. She joined "Della" and "Daphne" in their acrobatic moves, flipping through the air through general applause.

"Dawn Danger!"

Dawn, or M'gann, appeared. She had taken on her human form, only with her eyes blue instead of their normal green. She flipped out into the stage.

"And the dashing Danny Danger!"

Dan Danger, who of course was Harry incognito, appeared at the top. He smiled, although on the inside, he had several frustrations in his mind. Nevertheless, he joined the acrobatics, catching Artemis as she flipped off and then feeding her off to Thea, who did a flip with Artemis and spun her around the bars.

'Dan?' Harry thought.

'Hey, you look like the guy who plays Timmy Hunter in those bad movies based off of a series of fantasy novels,' Rebecca thought through Megan's communication in. 'Daniel...something or other.'

'I'm much taller than him and his eyes are blue, not green,' Harry thought. 'And I look more like the fictional character, than the actual actor. He didn't really age too well.'

'I always thought that he would get together with the best friend, Harmony, wasn't her name?' Megan thought.

'Funny enough, I thought that he would get together with….' Thea started.

'Oh please, don't start a shipping debate in my head while we're doing this,' Artemis thought. 'I swear, people over analyzing the romance in that series ruined it. Along with the last two books.'

Rebecca closed her eyes and flipped over. Her grip almost slipped. Harry caught her, and the people applauded thinking it was part of the act. From their perspective, Daphne and Danny had made their way back to the top platform, with the rest of their "siblings" joining them.

'You alright?' Harry thought.'

'Yeah, just caught a bit of a bug,' Rebecca thought. 'It's nothing….really, it's nothing.'

The fans applauded and Haly's International Traveling Circus had it's most successful and lucrative act in years on this tour. The onlookers applauded loudly and they soaked in the cheers.

From the crowd, Harry could have sworn he caught a glimpse of a familiar face. But he filed it back into his mind for later and returned to performing the rest of the act.

Jack Haly moved to his office to go through the receipts from the night's events. His business manager, Ms. Raya Vestri, stepped through the doorway. An attractive red haired woman, in glasses, and dressed professionally, she walked towards him.

"Profits are up for the first time in years," Raya said. "Thanks to the Dangers joining the tour."

"Which is a relief because we might be able to inject some fresh life,' Haly said.

"Morale among the other acts are at an all time low," Raya said. "They think that the Dangers are stepping all over their hard work, stealing the spotlight, and stealing the show. By this new act that might be gone by the end of the tour."

"I miss the good old days," Haly said. "Back in the day, the marks used to be out in the stands, and not behind the curtain. Do they know that if this Circus doesn't make money, they're out of a job? The Dangers make money, they are our highest drawing card. They are a box office hit."

"We both know that sir, but it's an ego thing," Raya said.

Haly sighed. He felt as if this game passed him by. The Circus had flatlined since the Graysons and he had been just cutting corners ever since. The Dangers fell into his lap and Haly was going to put them into the spotlight as long as they put asses in the seats and money in the bank.

A knock on his door caused Jack to sigh. He really hoped it was not one of his acts, complaining about losing out on the spotlight to the Dangers.

The door opened up and it was not any of his acts, rather a very attractive blonde woman, dressed in black, wearing a pair of sunglasses. She held a very official badge in her hand.

"Agent Cameron Chase," the woman announced. "I'm with Interpol, and I'm here to investigate a series of thefts that happened...in the towns where your circus just happened to be traveling through."

Jack Haly looked positively aghast at this statement and Raya stood up straight.

"Haly didn't have anything to do with it, I was with him…."

"I will be the judge of that," Agent Chase said. "And I will be interviewing anyone...including your new headlining act."

Haly really hoped his new headliners were not thieves. Because, that would just be their luck after the fall of the Graysons. Having his top act die killed the Circus in America. Haly had been able to tour internationally and keep it alive for some time, until the economy took a dive around the world, and until the Dangers, he had been treading water.

But, perhaps he should let the woman do her job.

"Talk to anyone that you want," Haly said. "Innocent until proven guilty."

The Dangers recovered from their performance. Rebecca's illness appeared to be overtaking her and she just needed to lie down. Harry sat with Megan, Artemis, and Thea as Rebecca took a brief nap.

"Did you see the woman in the crowd?" Harry asked.

"You mean the one that looked like Ms. Rushman?" Megan asked. "Oh, you believe me, I saw her."

"Wait, Rushman?" Thea asked. "Natalie Rushman? As in your teacher at school?"

"Yes, her," Harry said.

"Mmm, that's interesting," Thea said.

"Well, maybe it's just a coincidence," Megan said. "Or maybe…."

The sounds of someone coming around the corner, brought Rebecca out of her flu induced slumber. Someone else was coming around the corner and that someone was an extremely attractive blonde woman, who had a stone cold serious look on her face.

"The Dangers?" Cameron asked.

"Yes," Harry said. "I'm Dan, this is Della, this is Daphne, this is Dawn, and this is Diana. Who are you?"

"My name is Cameron Chase, I am an agent for Interpol, and I have reason to believe that someone at this circus is responsible for a series of high profile and very dangerous thefts all over Europe," Cameron told him.

"That's impossible," Rebecca managed with a cough. "No one in that Circus has…."

"You just showed up when the thefts started," Cameron said.

"And we always stuck with the tour," Harry said.

"Why did you join Haly's Traveling Circus?" Cameron asked.

Harry knew that the real reason would not do, and it would raise another cloud of suspicion. Rebecca found out about the thefts, and they had been happening with the Circus, so she recruited Harry, Artemis, Megan, and Thea to infiltrate the Circus as a brand new act.

"It has been our dream to join this Circus," Rebecca said. "To be in the spotlight, to hear the cheers of the crowd. It's not about the money, but it's about the rush."

"Yeah, we've lived meagerly through our entire life," Thea said. "It's never been about the money...why would we rob people blind?"

Harry pulled a file folder out and handed it to Cameron. She raised an eyebrow.

"Our entire history is in this file," Harry said. "We had to present documentation, medical records, and everything to Jack Haly before joining the Circus. And that includes criminal records, which we have none."

"I'll be the judge of that," Cameron said. "While you look on the level, I will be keeping a close on you and at the Circus….don't think you're off the hook."

"Well, there's nothing out of the ordinary here," Harry said.

"Unless you count the orgies," Thea said.

Cameron raised her eyebrow at this casual statement "Della".

"I thought you were siblings," Cameron said.

"Yes, and so?" Artemis asked.

"Stick around long enough, and you'll see how close we can be," Harry said.

Cameron tried to keep her eyes off of those of Dan Danger. She could not be caught up in his charm, not when she had a job to do. The Interpol Agent moved off to question the rest of the Circus.

"Tour's about ready to head off to the next step," Rebecca said. "We better go."

Megan, Artemis, Thea, Rebecca, and Harry all walked off. Cameron still walked around the circus, and she was keeping her eyes firmly on Harry.

'She needs to get laid,' Megan thought.

'M'gann!' Artemis thought in surprise.

'Don't you agree with me?' M'gann asked.

'Yes, I agree with you. But still?'

Megan moved over to help one of the stagehands with a case. Raya moved over and brushed up against her.

"I'll take that," Raya said. "You all did great, good show. Best we've had in years."

That earned the Dangers more than a share of dirty looks. M'gann had been watching her, with a frown and then turned around to face Rebecca, who leaned on Thea a little bit to stand.

"I'm fine," Rebecca said.

'Raya's one of the good ones...we were friends...before it happened.'

Rebecca moved past a trailer and saw a vintage poster of the Flying Graysons. The high point of Haly's Traveling Circus. Rebecca closed her eyes. A monster named Tony Zucco caused her parents to fall, all because Haly refused to cave into blackmail.

While Zucco rotted in the ground, having been died in the crossfire of another tiff between the Gotham City mob factions, something was hollow about his death. Her parents never achieving true justice.

'Don't you think she might be a blindspot for you, because you were friends?' Thea asked.

'I'm sure,' Rebecca thought. 'Raya and Haly aren't involved.'

Thea appreciated Rebecca's faith in her old friend. But, she was still suspicions, especially when Raya left the Circus Grounds. From behind her, Megan and Harry followed her.

"You know, with Chase stalking you, you would think that you wouldn't want to risk it," Thea said.

"Figured you could use some backup," Harry said.

"I'm fine," Thea said. "You should go back. I appreciate the help, but I can handle some business manager."

And she got closer, just in time to see Raya do some acrobatic flip over a fence and rush towards a facility down on the field. Thea adjusted the sensors in her hood and noticed Raya navigating the security to the facility with the most nimble of ease.

"A business manager who had some sweet moves,' Thea said. "Looks like she should be up there on the high wire without a net…."

It hit Thea suddenly, something very off about this.

Rebecca's sweet moves, just after Rebecca got sick.

"So, we just have to"

M'gann stopped talking and collapsed to the ground. She breathed heavily, and glew all cold and clammy. Harry yanked M'gann up to a standing position and tried to hold her up.

"Megan, Megan, talk to me," Harry said.

"Oh, why do I feel so weak?" Megan asked.

Thea had a hunch, but she was not about ready to say so without any proof.

"Stay with her, I'll head off Raya," Thea said.

Thea ascended the fence and rushed towards Raya, who had the back latch of the building almost opened. Knowing that she might have a second of reaction time, Thea took the shout.

Raya spun around, blocked Thea's arrow coming at her. Raya just broke out into a knowing smile.

"I knew she tasted like Martian," Raya said.

Thea fired several arrows at the woman. The woman blocked them and fired them back at Thea, forcing her to dodge them. The arrow almost came inches away from piercing the back of her neck.

Raya slipped off into the distance. The trail had gone cold, and Thea turned around where a shell shocked Harry waited, along with Megan who was about ready to collapse.

Thea and Harry slipped back into the Circus and back to the cabin where the Danger were riding. Rebecca sat up.

"I'm better and she's not," Rebecca said.

"Oh, I don't…I don't know what happened to me," Megan said. "I've never felt this sick, not even around fire, not ever"

"Well, mine lasted about six hours," Rebecca said.

"Your friend is the one behind the robberies," Thea said.

"Raya, wouldn't do anything like that!"

Thea and Rebecca stared each other down. Artemis had a look on her face which plainly read "oh boy" before she slipped over and helped Harry tuck Megan into bed, to hopefully sweat the illness out of her.

"Maybe she wouldn't do that," Harry said. "But...I have to ask you a question. Did you touch Raya any time before the performance?"

"Raya shook hands with me and wished me luck," Rebecca said. "But that's not odd."

"Only if M'gann didn't get sick after Raya brushed up against her when getting the case," Harry said.

"What, do you think she's Typhoid Mary or something?" Artemis asked.

Harry put his head outside of the hallway, to listen. Raya had been moving out and she left Jack Haly's office. Harry looked over his shoulder, and Thea, Artemis, and Rebecca followed her. Along with Megan dragging herself out of the bed behind her.

"Megan, you should rest," Harry said.

"I want to help," Megan said.

"You can barely stand," Artemis told her.

Megan hung onto the wall for support. She was better, really, much better. Sweat poured down Megan's face while she coughed.

"She blocked my arrows with some kind of Martian telekinesis or something," Thea said.

"Okay, I know you saw Raya, but it might not have been Raya," Rebecca said. "There's some kind of logical explanation that…."

Harry cleared his throat and he heard muffled screams coming from the end of the car. He broke through the barricaded door and hurled several trunks out of the way. Including a large board which pressed up against the locked door. Whoever locked this door, obviously did not want it to be found.

He pulled open the door, and the group of five came across a bound and secured Raya, gagged and mumbling. Rebecca bent down and untied her.

"Oh, Thank God," Raya said. "That nutcase jumped me just before the tour started. She needed the information and my face whatever that meant…"

"Who was she?" Rebecca asked.

"I don't know," Raya said. "Some kind of crazy woman...touch me one time, and then it was lights out."

Harry frowned, as it all clicked in his mind. They had a problem, and they needed to find the other Raya, now. The Team, even with Megan dragging her feet behind her, moved out.

"Raya" moved out of the train, after it had been refueled. Artemis, Harry, Rebecca, Thea, and Megan, although a bit shakily, moved out from her.

"The game's up," Harry said. "We know you attacked Raya and stole her memories. And you kept her alive in case you needed more information."

"Well, you're very clever," Raya said. "The girl who tasted like Martian, she gave me the ability to read all of your minds. And I knew you were coming...the powers might be fading, but I'll just have to get another taste.

The disguised "Raya" jumped up onto the top of the train, just as it started moving. The rest of the team followed her.

"Who knew the Bat's first brat was a former Flying Grayson," she said. "And now she was a Danger…."

"The jig is up," Harry said.

Harry flew towards "Raya" to restrain her. She grabbed Harry and laid a very aggressive kiss on him. The flow of energy sucked from Harry into her body right before she almost shoved Harry off of the side of a moving train.

"That really hit the spot," she said. "I love the smell of Kryptonian in the morning...and with a touch of magic...delightful...a two in one."

Suddenly, "Raya" shifted to a female form of Harry, only with violet eyes instead of Green.

"Alexandra Alliston," Harry groaned.

"They call me a different name now, Superboy," Alexandra said. "They call me the Parasite. I am invincible."

Alexandra, the Parasite, jumped up in the air and moved in, preparing to crash the train. Harry popped back up and knocked her off to stop her from doing so.

Despite the fact that Harry sank to one knee, he was a lot better off than Megan and Rebecca were in a similar situation.

"You know her?" Artemis asked. "Because seriously, she has jilted ex-girlfriend written all over her."

"She was at Cadmus when I was," Harry said. "She worked there and obsessed with me to the point where Caitlin had to go to Desmond to prevent her from coming down there and disrupting my training."

"Crazy stalker type?" Rebecca asked.

"That's one way of putting it," Harry said. "But, we have to catch her. Because she has my powers."

After they made sure all of the passengers on the train, the team regrouped.

"Well, I've been trying to find out how everything Alexandra's trying to steal connects, and it's not good," Rebecca said.

"Just tell us," Harry said.

"Well, she's trying to get everything she needs to create a blackhole," Rebecca said.

Everyone answered with rough sighs. Sadly, they figured it might be something like that.

"And the next target on her list is Geneva," Rebecca said. "Which is the location of a Particle Accelerator large enough to create a singularity which could cities in a matter of seconds."

"What's her end game?" Artemis wondered.

"I don't know," Harry said. "But, Alex...she wasn't too bright. Not the mastermind type. Someone's got to be pulling her strings."

The entire group nodded. Thea, Artemis, and Rebecca headed out. Suddenly, Thea stopped short and turned around.

"You might want to stay behind," Thea said. "No offense, but you two could be a liability. And we won't want her to risk getting more powerful."

"If she gets a handle on my magic, you need someone who can counteract her," Harry said. "No offense...but I don't think either of you three could handle me without any restrictions."

"I should be offended, but you have a point," Thea said. "Alright...but we got to try and keep her away from you and siphoning off more power."

That was something that all five could agree with. They needed to move quickly, to reach their destination with enough time to spare. The longer they left Alexandra out in the wind with those powers, the more problems there was going to be.

A figure observed the Team from the shadows and kept a close watch on them.

The Parasite could taste the victory. A little work with Intergang, and she would have what she wanted. Resources to finally cure herself of this hunger. Although, to be honest, there was a small, rapidly growing part of her brain who began to like it. The taste of Superman's powers in particular caused her to become all hot and bothered.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the team. Out of the Daring Danger attire, and into their usual attire. The Parasite turned around.

"Back up already?" Parasite asked. "I always thought you would have great stamina. I should keep you locked up and drain you every night...the fun way."

"We're going to have you locked up," Artemis said. "And it won't be in the fun way either."

The Parasite laughed in very thinly disguised amusement.

"You can't think you have a hope in stopping me," The Parasite said. "Magic...Kryptonite Strength….Martian Abilities...and I've got a handle on these powers much longer. Not to mention all of the skills of one of the most acrobatic women on the planet and I'm pretty flexible as well."

She landed on the edge of the gate, bending over the bar leading to the Particle Accelerator. All it would take was turn it on to blow a blackhole over Geneva and destroy them.

"Are you going to shoot arrows at me?" The Parasite taunted.

"Something like that," Thea replied.

Artemis reared back her arrow along with Thea. A Kryptonite laced arrow, followed by an incendiary arrow had been fired across the room. The blasts of the arrows tagged both of Parasite's weaknesses and caused her to howl in absolute agony.

For a brief second, it appeared that the Parasite had been taken down. Until a wave of energy blasted the entire group against the walls and pinned them against said wall with a force of a freight train.

"I love magic!" The Parasite howled.

"I really hate magic," Thea grumbled.

"I'm with you right now," Harry said.

"Just think, you will be the first person to see the end," Parasite said. "The last thing you would see is the inside of a blackhole."

Harry made the mental calculations and he figured they would not be good. She could open up a blackhole to destroy half of Europe if she reached the system.

But, two problems, while the Parasite's will was pretty stronger, Harry's was stronger. And unlike most magical users, her source of powers are finite. Harry ripped a hand out of the wall and sent Parasite flying back into the wall.

"Oh, you think that you're all powerful!" Harry called. "Come on then!"

"I'll show you!" Parasite yelled. "You think you're something special. It's your fault that I'm like this!"

Parasite shot beams of light out of her hand. Harry blocked it with the shield. He adopted a more defensive approach. The unhinged woman kept blasting at him, and burned through all of the abilities that she had.

Suddenly, another arrow came in and this time, the blast of fire surrounded her. The Parasite had enough Martian ability left in her to stagger around. It took a second for her to recover.

Before the Team could close in and defeat her, a wave of bio-energy exploded through the Parasite. Too much power burned the woman out and caused her to drop down to the ground, shocking Alexandra practically into coma.

Rebecca stepped over and detached the device from the Particle Accelerator, thus stopping the Black Hole from being ripped open. She could breath a little easier.

"So, did either of you send that arrow?" Harry asked.

Thea and Artemis both shook their heads in negative. Harry thought not, but he had to be for sure. The sense that someone was following them hit Harry hard. He peered at the catwalk and caught a glimpse of her.

A woman dressed in a tight black bodysuit, with red hair, locked eyes with Harry for the briefest assessment. She disappeared into the shadows.

Right as Cameron Chase appeared and rushed in with her agents. One of them slapped a collar on the Parasite which prevented her from her powers. Cameron turned her attention towards the five and a smile crossed over her face.

"Now I understand," Cameron said. "Good work, you five."

They just responded with nods and watched as they hauled Parasite away. Cameron bent down on the ground and picked up the energy bolt and frowned.

"Of course, they would be involved," Cameron said. "Carter makes things so much harder."

Harry raised an eyebrow. Something really interesting was going on right now and Harry was beginning to put it all together. For her crimes, Alexandra had been lead, chained and cuffed.

"We better go back when we're missed," Rebecca said.

The entire team agreed and they prepared to return back to the train. Despite the fact they solved the crime, they still had to stay goodbye.

The Team, back under the Guise of the Dangers, made their way back onto the Train. Raya had been watching them very carefully and she cleared her throat to get their attention.

"Daphne, isn't it?" Raya asked. "I would like a word with you."

Rebecca frowned and responded with a nod. She moved alongside her, with Raya slapping her on the shoulder.

"You really think that I wouldn't recognize my former friend?" Raya asked. "I thought you forgot about us all...when you moved onto the big time."

"Sorry about that, I had a lot on my mind," Rebecca said.

"Yes, I swear you did," Raya said. "I know, and Haly does as well...you can't hide who you were, not up there."

"Wait, Haly…."

"Yes," Raya said. "But, if it wasn't for you, I might have been dumped out on the country somewhere by that nutcase woman when she was does."

Actually, it was more than Raya being dumped out in the middle of the country.

"I was undercover," Rebecca said. "I…."

"Your secret is safe with me," Raya said with a smile.

She moved out and Jack Haly came around the corner. He gave Rebecca a knowing smile.

"Good work out there," Haly said. "You haven't lost your touch."

The Graysons have made in their business to get his ass out of trouble for years, and this was just the latest. With the criminal apprehended, Haly's International traveling Circus was back in business.

"One more night?" Haly asked. "Before you leave."

"Well, the show must go on," Rebecca said.

The roar of the crowd echoed when the Daring Dangers finished up their final performance. Megan and Harry, under the guise of Dawn and Dan, finished their last round. A flip sent Megan through the air and caused her to land.

'A part of me is going to miss this,' Harry thought.

'I know,'' Megan said. 'But, we have to head back. Now that the mystery has been solved.'

And yet more mysteries began to unravel. Such was the life of Harry Potter. The spectacular show finished and everyone applauded. Haly appeared at the bottom of the stage and applauded the loudest of all.

"Give it up for the Daring Dangers."

Everyone clapped, with Raya clapping the loudest at all. She waved Harry over and put a note into his hand.

"You appear to have an admirer," Raya said.

Harry raised an eyebrow and peered at the note. He recognized the handwriting and had been very curious.

The Team soaked in the final applause of their final night on the tour, before moving off. Harry admitted that the spotlight brightly amused him as a novelty.