First off, yes, I have gotten permission from Moss Royal to continue this story in his absence, so don't worry. Second, I've made no alterations, except maybe some spell-checking and a change to the very end of Chapter Two.
Thirdly, thanks to Sandersonsgirl411 and robtitan for reviewing my "Life's A Box and Then You Die!" fiction. It came out pretty well for an 'off-the-top-of-my-head' idea.
Disclaimer: Danny Phantom and all related characters and gimmicks belong to Mr. Hartman; the villain at this chapter's end was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino.
And the adventure continues…
"I will always attempt to do the right thing, even if it means killing every man, woman and child in this here town...twice over."
-Jonah Hex from DC Comics
"You never learn, do you Technus?"
"Laugh while you can, whelp! I'll be back! I'll always be back!" the tech specter warned just before he vanished into the Fenton Thermos in a brilliant flash of blue light.
"He does never learn," Danny muttered, his earlier question answered indirectly. He flew down to an alley along the street and prepared to change back to human when a thundering, shrill noise rang through the air. At first he thought it might be his parents in the GAV with some new Ghost Detection Device, but a few seconds later he doused that theory as he realized that it was a bank alarm.
"A robbery?" he questioned aloud. He went invisible and poked his head around the alley corner to find another of his questions revealed without answer.
Two masked men with full bags in their one hand (It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were filled with.) and what appeared to be ecto-guns in their others were making a break for their car and getting ready to drive off.
"Get the damn thing goin'; we gotta get outta here!" the one in the passenger seat ordered.
"Oh, shut up! I know that!" the driver warned, and half a second later the engine was roaring and they were tearing across the blacktop. Danny could hear police sirens already heading for them, and he decided his change to human would have to wait.
"Lancer's gonna eat me alive," he mumbled, not wanting to know how late for school he'd be, and took to the air after the pursuit.
The crook driver obviously didn't care much for driver's etiquette, having almost run over a fire hydrant and an old lady with her small dog in under thirty seconds. Danny picked up speed, went invisible and caught up with the car.
"Normally, I leave the human bad guys to the human police, but in this case, I'll make an exception," he declared; making himself intangible, he phased into the car and overshadowed the other robber in the passenger seat.
"Take a left here," he ordered.
"Got it," the driver obeyed, leaving Danny grateful that not only had the driver not noticed the change in his partner's voice, but also that he'd overshadowed the leader instead of the flunky.
"Hey, what's the deal!" the driver yelled, bringing Danny out of his thoughts. "This street's a dead end! Nice going!" The driver raised his hand to strike him over the head, but Danny stopped it in midair. He couldn't help but smile as the crook's look of anger turned into surprise and confusion.
But fear became his main emotion as the driver observed his partner's eyes were glowing green. Danny phased out of the passenger crook, and, still intangible, brought himself and the driver out of the car and into the street before the quickly approaching police cars.
"Actually, I think it was very nice goin'," Danny agreed contently, holding the criminal still. "Now I just have to deal with-" His triumph faded as he looked to the car and saw that the robber he'd overshadowed was gone, along with one of the two sacks of cash.
"I'm sorry. You were saying?" the driver asked smugly, a smirk visible even through his mask.
"Oh, shut up..."
"I'm not crazy, boss! I saw it right in front o' me! It was a friggin' ghost! It grabbed Rob and handed him over to the cops!" the other robber explained hysterically over his cellphone.
"I never said you were crazy, Mr. Ferguson. In fact, I believe you," his boss responded in a calm, British accent.
"Yeah, I know, but- Wait. You believe me?"
"Certainly. I'd heard tell of this Ghost Boy before, and your experience definitely acknowledges his existence, correct?" the boss asked.
"Uh, right," Ferguson answered, wishing his boss wouldn't use such big words. "Is that why you gave us these weird guns?"
"Exactly, my good man. Just in case. Now tell me exactly what happened."
"Well, like I said before, most of it was a blur. Rob was drivin'; tryin' to get away from the cops. Then everything goes black, and next thing I know, there's this green-eyed, white-haired kid in black floatin' in front o' me! He grabbed Rob, just went through the car and handed 'im over."
"And you escaped while the child dealt with Robert, I presume?" finished the boss.
"Yeah, pretty much. I couldn't grab all the money, or I'da gotten caught. But I did grab one sack o' the cash," Ferguson said, hoping it would make up for the capture of his partner.
"How much?"
"Uh, 'bout thirty thousand, give or take."
"Hmm, a tad less than I'd hoped, but it'll do. Good work, get back here quickly before someone sees you."
"Right, thanks boss. Oh, but, uh-" Ferguson stammered as a thought came to his mind.
"What, Ferguson?" the accented voice sounded.
"What about Rob? He's not exactly dependable; if it gets bad, he may blow the whistle on both of us."
"Oh, please don't insult me, Mr. Ferguson," the boss answered, slightly amused. "You don't think that I wouldn't have thought of that, did you?"
"Uh, no, just bein' safe is all."
"Good; don't worry about Robert, he's going to be very tight-lipped very soon," the boss chuckled.
"Oh, that's good," Ferguson stated, relieved and rather creeped out. "What are you gonna do?"
"My dear Mr. Ferguson, I've already done it..."
"Welcome to class, Mr. Fenton. Dare I ask what the excuse is this time?" Mr. Lancer asked.
"No excuse, Mr. Lancer. I was just...disorganized," Danny said, keeping as close to the truth as possible.
"Disorganization rarely leads to being twenty minutes late for class, Mr. Fenton. Maybe detention after school will help you realize that," explained the English teacher.
"Yes, sir," Danny complied, trying to ignore Dash and the other jocks' snickers from the back of the room as he took a seat next to Tucker and Sam. They turned to him quietly as Lancer continued talking.
"Rough morning?" asked Tucker. Danny just glared at him. "Sorry; standard question. Who was it? Ember? Skulker? Technus?"
"It started off as Technus before it turned into a police chase."
"Police chase?" asked Sam, fearing that perhaps the guys in blue had been after him, again.
"After I beat Technus, two masked goons with ecto-guns robbed the bank and drove off."
"You're kidding?" interrogated Tucker, aghast. "A bank robbery? In this town?"
"Yeah, the biggest human crime around here lately was Freakshow," Sam pointed out, "and even that had to do with ghosts."
"Don't remind me." Danny shivered, having several memories of the Goth clown shaking up his mind like a snow globe.
"Mr. Foley, Ms. Manson," shouted Lancer, "unless you wish to join Mr. Fenton after school, I suggest you be quiet and pay attention to me, not to him."
The three all complied and faced forward, ignoring the further snickers from Dash. But Danny gave his friends a nod that said he'd fill them in later.
"I still can't believe it," said Tucker as they entered the Fenton abode. "An honest-to-God bank heist with no ghosts or anything!"
"But they did have ecto-guns," Sam pointed out, laying her books and backpack on the floor next to the couch.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean anything. They probably knew about our ghost problem and just wanted some insurance," stated Danny.
"Maybe," agreed Sam, "but where did they get them? Ghost fighting equipment isn't exactly sold at your local hardware store."
Before any of them could expand on the idea, Jazz came running in, looking both worried and excited.
"Danny, quick!" she yelled, and then more quietly, so their parents wouldn't hear her. "You're on TV." The four rushed to the kitchen where the television was held, and Jack and Maddie Fenton were both watching intently.
"Danny!" boomed Jack. "You're just in time! There's some news here on the Ghost Kid!"
"Ssh!" scolded both Maddie and Jazz, wanting a decent listen.
"This is Tiffany Snow. Amity Park has usually been rocked more by the scarier ghost threats than actual,living crime, but today that changed as two masked gunmen stood up and robbed Amity Bank and drove off. They were stopped by the Ghost Boy, Danny Phantom, who managed to capture the driver, but failed to apprehend the other robber who made off with nearly thirty thousand dollars."
"Leave it to a ghost to botch an arrest," muttered Jack, unaware of the four young glares he got in return.
"The driver is in custody and has been identified as Robert Hanson, previously wanted for several counts of breaking and entering and robbery. Lance Thunder has more. Lance?"
"Tiffany," the blond weatherman (and temporary reporter) appeared on screen, "I'm here with Officer Perry who was in charge of Mr. Hanson's interrogation for the location of his partner. Can I ask what happened, Officer?"
"It was the strangest thing I'd ever seen. We were breakin' him down; he was willin' to tell us where the other robber would be and even the mastermind behind the crime, when we heard this little beep."
"Excuse me, 'a beep'?" Lance clarified.
"Yeah, like a microwave or a computer. Just one little beep. Next thing we know, he clutches his head, screamin' in pain for whatever it is to stop. Then, just like that, he goes dead silent and stares off into space."
"And this hasn't changed, I take it?"
"Not a bit. We've tried splashin' water in his face; bringin' him food; even blowin' an airhorn in his ear, but he just sits there, still as a log, like he's brain-dead."
"Strange. So you don't think this is just an act?" asked Lance.
"In my professional opinion: no. I checked this guy's record, and he doesn't strike me as a guy who'd be that smart or that good an actor. We've called in a doctor, see if we can find a way to help him."
"If, in fact, he's actually hurt?" said Lance.
"Right." agreed the officer.
"Thank you, Officer Perry. This is Lance Thunder. Tiffany?"
The rest of the news just became background noise as the Fenton family and friends spoke up.
"Talk about weird," muttered Jazz.
"Yeah," Danny said under his breath. "It's like someone didn't want him to talk."
"Well, whatever his problem is, it's nothing the Fenton Cattle Prod can't fix!" yelled Jack, jumping up from his chair. "Come on, Maddie! Grab the Prod and we'll get down to that police station!"
"Uh, Dad?" interrupted Danny. "Not that I care, but why would you want with the driver? It's not like he's a ghost."
"No, sweetie, but he might have something to do with that Phantom boy," Maddie explained, entering the room with Prod.
"Why else would he suddenly start handling human criminals?" Jack questioned.
"I have no idea," mumbled Danny truthfully.
"All right, let's shake a tailfeather, mama!" Jack grabbed the Prod from Maddie and hurried to the GAV.
"Oh, and kids," Maddie said, running after Jack, "there are some leftover hot dogs in the fridge; feel free to help yourselves!"
"Great," Jazz said sarcastically, once their parents had left, "another encounter with the Frankenfurters."
"We have more important things to worry about Jazz. Like finding the brains behind that robbery," said Danny.
"Why? The police can handle it."
"Jazz, nothing against the police, but if I hadn't stepped in when I did, somebody would be street pizza right now. And if this guy's partner and boss is still out there, that means they're gonna strike again."
Jazz, Sam and Tucker just stared at him.
"What?" he asked. "A guy can't fight evil every other day and figure out howthey think?"
"Well, no," agreed Tucker, "but we didn't expect that guy to be you."
"Thanks, real confidence builder."
Two days later
"So not one thing's changed with this Hanson guy?" asked Sam, as the quad made their way to school. (Since the robbery, Jazz had considered it best if she followed Danny for a while.)
"Nope. Nothing. My parents have tried everything from the Fenton Cattle Prod to the Fenton Bear Trap and nothing seems to snap him out of whatever he's in."
"So either he's really patient and resistant to injury or he's lost it," Jazz deduced.
Before Danny could reply, they heard a gigantic blast from a few blocks down. Sam, Tucker and Jazz all looked to Danny.
"No Ghost Sense going off," he observed.
"And that means-" continued Sam.
"Oh no, you've gotta be kidding me. Another one..again?"
"But the bank's back over there," said Jazz, pointing behind them.
"Bank or not..I'm goin' ghost!" he screamed; two white halos surrounded his waist and spread towards his head and feet, until Danny Fenton was replaced by Danny Phantom. "You guys get to school; I can handle this!"
"What about Lancer?" questioned Tucker.
"Lie!" And with that, Danny flew off, leaving them to salvage what could have been a relatively normal day.
"This isn't right," whispered Sam.
"Yeah, I know, now we're gonna have Lancer breathing down our necks!" complained Tucker.
"I don't think that's what she meant," informed Jazz.
"I meant that Danny has enough trouble dealing with ghosts and schoolwork..."
"-and housework," added Jazz.
"He shouldn't have to deal with human criminals; that's not his responsibility," Sam concluded.
"Try tellin' him that," remarked Tucker.
As much as the girls hated to admit it, Tucker had a point.
Whoever they were, they were hitting the 24K Jewelry store. The entire front of the building was in flames and terrified 'patrons' were running away as fast as they could.
"You blasted idiot!" an Australian sounding voice insulted from inside. "I told you, never touch my 'rangs! You don't know how to use 'em!"
Danny went intangible and entered the barely stable establishment, eavesdropping on the conversation as he got steadily closer.
"I'm sorry, boss-"
"Captain, you idiot, Captain!" the Australian corrected.
"Sorry, Captain, but that old dude behind the counter was ready to shoot! If I hadn't used it, we'd all be dead or arrested by now!"
"Fine! Just grab what 'cha can and get to the van!"
"I don't think so!" Danny cried, appearing before them, now able to see clearly. And he was pretty surprised at what he saw.
For starters, he'd expected more than just three guys to be there, but the real head-scratcher was the bizarre dress code of who he assumed was the boss. He wore a blue trenchcoat that covered a dark blue shirt and black leather pants. His hands were protected by black, fingerless gloves; his torso encircled by a black sash; a thin, white scarf around his neck and a small, blue military hat that barely hid his medium brown hair. The arms, the sash and the front of his hat were lined with small, white boomerangs.
"G'day, mate! Been lookin' forward to meetin' you!" the 'Captain' exclaimed.
"Uh, Captain, I don't think this is the time for-" one henchmen advised.
"Shut up and get the van outta here! I'll take care o' this pup!"
"But sir, you can't handle-"
"What'd I just say, punk? I said bugger off!" the Captain ordered.
"Yes, sir." And he and the other lacky, who'd been smart enough to keep his mouth shut, rushed to the back exit with whatever they could carry.
"Uh, you do realize I can't let them leave," Danny said, ready to pursue the pair.
"Oh, don't worry about those idgits; you got more important things to worry about!" the Captain warned, as he unlatched a boomerang from his left sleeve, and threw it towards Danny. Danny smiled and became intangible.
"Uh, dude, don't know if you knew this, but I'm a ghost, I can just phase through-Aaagghhh!" Danny's speech was cut short as the boomerang came in contact with where his body had just been and exploded, somehow blasting him and knocking him to the ground.
"How did you--w-what was that!" Danny yelled, his body aching where he'd been blasted.
"Like it? Apparently when one o' you spooks go all feel-through, ya leave a unique energy signal behind. And my l'il boomers lock right onto that and blow right through ya! Solid or not! I call 'em my 'Boo-Boom Boomerangs'."
"Kinda redundant name, isn't it?" posed Danny as he regained his stance.
"Meh, gets the job done though. Not only did I get you nice, but it gave the perfect distraction for my wingnuts to get outta here," he said, pointing behind him, where the exit door lay ajar.
Danny frowned, mentally kicking himself. "All right, I gotta admit you're a lot smarter than you look."
"Thanks, l'il Dan, though I thought you'd be a better challenge."
"Oh, don't worry. My first impressions are usually that way." He blasted a ghost ray at the Captain, who immediately dislodged another boomerang and tossed it at the ray. Both collided and cancelled each other out, but knocked both hero and villain back from the force. As Danny regained himself, he noticed that the ceiling above them was starting to give way. Ash and bits of wood were starting to fall from the ceiling.
"Listen!" Danny called to the Captain. "This whole place is going down! I can get us both outta here if you surrender!"
"Sorry, l'il Dan! Never on a first date!" he quipped, throwing another boomerang right for him.
"Okay, you forced me to do this!" Danny went intangible and phased through the floor so the flying explosive just met with the floor. He traveled behind the Captain, and flew into his body, gaining control of him. That is, until he heard laughter...coming from inside the Captain's head.
"Sorry, mate. But this l'il hat o' mine's more than a fashion accessory!" With only that as a warning, Danny was suddenly shocked from within the Captain, causing him to lose his control and ghost back out of the Captain's body in a daze.
The Captain stood over him and smirked. "By the way, name's Captain Boomerang. See ya around, l'il Dan, or not!" And with that 'charming' introduction, he kicked Danny square in the face and escaped though the smoke and flames.
"This is really not my day," Danny groaned. But his pains took a backseat when the last of the building's stability went and the ceiling began to collapse. Going intangible just in time, he ghosted though the descending building and took to the air. He looked down over the store. The shop was in ruins; the thieves got away; he was battered in a million different places and the fumes and flames just kept roaring on up to the sky.
"Great. Now the brain-dead bank robber is the least of my worries..."
And there's Chapter One, with just a few stitches here and there for me to add my homey GJP touches. Chapter Two should be up soon since I'll just have to edit a few things, but Chapter Three will be the first 'totally-me' chapter, so it should be a tad longer.