Dr. Johnathan Crane:
"Please follow the light," I say, grabbing a small flashlight from the pocket of my doctor coat. Clicking it on, I shine the light in the Atlantean's eye. He, or she, follows the light as I move it around.
"Okay. Pupils are dilating. Please give me a minute."
Putting the flashlight away, I reach over and grab a nearby book and a hammer with a rubber end. The Atlantean flinches when he or she sees me with the hammer, but I put up my hands.
"Don't worry. This is harmless. See."
I hit myself on the arm with the hammer before smiling.
"Now, please hold still."
Lightly hitting the Atlantean on the knee, the leg doesn't jump. The Atlantean looks at me. I try hitting the knee again, but nothing happens.
"Uhhh, okay."
I put the hammer away and recheck The Man's note on Atlanteans' physiology.
"Right, right, dense skin. Okay."
I nod and close the book. Checking the other instruments, I note the Atlantean's temperature, reflexes, and overall movement. Once I have everything written down, I return to Ms. Iris.
"Ms. Iris," I start, finding her kneeling by another Atlantean. "How are you doing?"
Ms. Iris pushes herself up before showing me her notebook. "I did tests on four other Atlanteans. Three still have a slightly high fever, but can move a little. The fourth one...didn't make it."
Seeing Ms. Irisi lower her head, I step close and pull her into a hug.
"Hey, hey," I start, patting Ms. Iris on her back. "There, there. We're doing the best we can, and sometimes, that's all we can do."
Looking down, I see Ms. Iris smile back at me. She hugs me back and pats my back.
"Thanks, Dr. Crane."
"It's Dr. Crane, not Scare—Oh, wait. Uhh, never mind."
Hearing a loud crashing sound and then an unfamiliar voice, Ms. Iris and I let go and turn.
"Have at thee," someone shouts.
"Who was that?" Ms. Iris asks.
"I don't know."
Turning toward the Junker sub, we see what I can only describe as a floating white suit with a top hat, a monocle, and a cane fighting a floating black-and-red jumpsuit with a hovering black mask.
"What the--" Ms. Iris says before the floating white suit aims its cane. The skull at the end opens its mouth and fires two purple fireballs. Grabbing and pushing Ms. Iris down, we dodge the fireballs. Flying right over us, they hit the glass walls and explode, causing cracks to appear. Looking back, I realize that I'm lying directly on top of Ms. Iris.
"Uhhh...," I say, clearing my throat. "Are you--Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Ms. Iris says. "Thank you for saving me."
"Don't mention it."
Getting up as fast as I can, I grab Ms. Iris's hand and pull her up.
"Who are those two?" Ms. Iris asks, kneeling down.
"That's Gentleman Ghost," Mr. Oliver Queen yells from across the dock, kneeling beside Dinah. "He's an enemy, but the ghost in the black and red suit isn't! He helped me and The Man retrieved the orichalcum."
"Ghosts? Mr. Queen, did you say "ghosts!"
Mr. Queen ducks his head again when the one named Gentleman Ghost fires another purple fireball.
"Yes! Crane! I said ghost! So what?"
"Ghosts?"
Instantly, my last conversation with The Man replays in my head.
"Here," he said, slamming the brown papers into my hand.
"What are these?" I asked.
"Talismans. Be careful not to smudge the ink. Otherwise, they won't be as powerful."
"Powerful? What are these for?"
"Ghosts."
Turning my pockets inside out, I find the talismans The Man gave me.
"Oh, thank you," I sigh, seeing the ink not smudge. Looking back, I see Mr. Slade Wilson, Mr. Leonard Snart, and even Ms. Selina Kyle trying to attack Gentleman Ghost. However, each of their attacks goes right through his body. The only person who comes close is Firestorm.
Mr. Jason Rusch and Mr. Martin Stein clap their hands together and fuse into Firestorm. Jumping and flying into the air, they hover behind Gentleman Ghost. The other ghost sees them and jumps out of the way. Once clear, Firestorm shoots beams of fire from his hands. The beams go right through Gentleman Ghost. They hit the floor instead, setting it on fire, but the heat still hits him.
"Aahhh! Blasted!"
Turning around, Gentleman Ghost pulls out an old 18th- or 19th-century pistol and fires. Hitting Firestorm, he knocks them out of the air. As Firestorm falls and crashes down, they split apart, back into Mr. Jason Rusch and Mr. Martin Stein. Firing his ancient pistol again, Mr. Ivy jumps in front of them. She throws seeds from her suit onto the ground and quickly grows a wall of roots to protect them. Gentleman Ghost laughs as he keeps shooting the wall, each bullet burning away more and more of the wall. The others keep shooting, but just like before, their attack goes right through him.
"Oh boy," I say, looking at the talisman. My throat begins to close, and I have trouble breathing. My sweaty hands begin shaking. I almost curse at myself when they begin crushing the talismans.
"No, no, no!"
Stretching them out, I straighten them as best as I can.
"Dr. Crane," Ms. Iris says. "What are those?"
"Talismans. The Man gave them to me. He said they're useful against ghosts."
"Useful against ghosts? Then, what are you waiting for? Use them now."
"I--I can't!"
My whole body becomes stone. I can't move. Lowering my head, I shut my eyes.
"I can't do it! I can't do it!"
"Hey, hey, hey," Ms. Iris says, grabbing my head. "It's okay. It's okay. Calm down, and breathe."
Breathing in and out through my narrowed throat, I look up.
"Give me those."
"What?"
"Give me the talismans," Ms. Iris repeats.
"No! I can't give them to you."
"The others need help."
"Do you even know how to use them?" I ask.
"Do you?"
"The Man didn't tell me."
"Well, I have an idea. I just need you to give them to me."
"No!"
"Dr. Crane, you need to give those to me. Please!"
I look at Ms. Iris as she stares straight back at me. In her eyes, I see nothing but pure determination. Looking further down, I also see her still, non-shaking hand.
"Please," she says again.
Biting my tongue, I use all my strength to throw my stone arms forward.
"Go," I choke out.
"Thank you," Ms. Iris says, taking the paper talisman. "I think I might know how to use these. Wish me luck."
Pushing herself up, she runs toward Gentleman Ghost. Still focused on destroying Ms. Ivy's plant wall, he doesn't see Ms. Iris running toward him until she slaps a talisman on his back.
Screaming and turning, Gentleman Ghost aims his pistol at Ms. Iris, but before he can shoot, Blue Beetle fires an energy blast. This time, instead of going through him, it hits Gentleman Ghost.
"Yes," Mr. Jaime Reyes cheers, "¡El fantasma ya es sólido! Everyone, fire!"
Seizing the opportunity, everyone reloads and fires again. Mr. Slade, Mr. Todd, and even Ms. Harleen fire countless bullets at Gentleman Ghost. He crosses his arms and screams as every bullet hits him. Shooting his hand out, Gentleman Ghost tries to fire, but Ms. Selina grabs his hand with her whip and stops him. Rushing in from the side, Ms. Cheetah swings her claws and scratches Gentleman Ghost. Three deep, bold claw marks appear in Gentleman Ghost's suit.
"Nnoooo! You cursed feline!"
Switching out his pistol for his cane, Gentleman Ghost grabs the skull tip and pulls, revealing a sword. Slicing the whip, Gentleman Ghost then grabs the paper talisman and rips it off, but Ms. Iris runs past him again, slapping another talisman on his chest.
"Hey, 'Fancy-Pants'," Mr. Queen yells. "For the record, monocles are dumb!"
Firing two arrows, the first arrow bursts into a net. It wraps around Gentleman Ghost, stopping him before he can tear the talisman off again. Knocking him to the floor, Gentleman Ghost slides along it. The second arrow, still flying, hits the trapped ghost and explodes. It knocks him further back until Gentleman Ghost falls right off the dock and into the water.
Watching the water, waiting for Gentleman Ghost to reappear, Mr. Leonard Snart makes the first move. With his cold gun fully charged and aimed outward, Mr. Leonard Snart approaches the dock. He looks over it.
Mr. Barry runs up to the side and also looks at the water.
"Do you see anything?" Mr. Barry asks.
"No. Fancy-Pants is gone, but there's the net."
"Cut open. He cut himself free and escaped. Damn."
Out of nowhere, Mr. Leonard slaps Mr. Barry on the back of his head.
"Ouch!"
"The Man's rule. Don't swear."
"Uhhh, hey," Ms. Harleen yells, grabbing everyone's attention. "Does anyone know sign language? Friendly ghost is trying to tell me something, but I can't understand."