It's been almost a week since I've updated. I'm going to blame computer problems. The tower got unplugged and the chord was gone since I got home from the school last time I updated. Don't worry, I'm still working on my other stories, but I couldn't ignore this one any longer, the quality of the chapters was bugging me.

Disclaimer: I don't own DP characters, or quotes.

Proto Disaster

"Just think about it, Maddie, we could be the first ones to prove that ghosts exist, just me, you, and Vladdie. We'll have this special moment to share together." Jack figured, closing in on the completion of the proto-portal.

"Yes, perfect," Vlad said, emotionless. "Especially one in the present company. I just hope that a certain pretty girl and I can share our lives together."

"Jack, Vlad, cut it out. We came here to work on the portal, not to flirt." Maddie scolded. "If it goes well, maybe we dissect a ghost."

Vlad leaned over to examine the portal. "Don't get your hopes up, my sweet," he sighed. "Although, I must admit, it has turned out better than I expected."

Jack was frantically working on the finishing touches. "And it's done!" he hollered. "All we need to do now is set it and turn it on! The calculations are all right there!" Jack was pointing to a paper on a clipboard. Maddie scanned through it. While she was reading, he was programming the portal.

"Jack," Maddie warned. "I don't think these calculations are quite correct."

Unfortunately, Jack had so much adrenaline rushing through him that he couldn't hear anything anyone else said. "Let her rip!" he cried. He yanked hard on the switch to turn the contraption on. Nothing happened, at first. But then a giant green ball formed in the center of the portal. Vlad's eyes went wide, and he ducked, leaving the ectoplasm to bounce around the room. It hit and beaker, which fell off the counter it was on and started rolling. The ectoplasm continued ricocheting off the walls.

The blast headed toward Maddie, who started to move aside. The course of the plasma did not go unnoticed by the boys. "Maddie!" they shouted. Vlad sprinted toward Maddie, as did Jack. Jack crashed into Vlad's back, sending them both toppling to the floor. Vlad was squashed under Jack's bulk. Maddie slowed down a bit to roll her eyes at them. She wasn't out of danger; the plasma made contact with her arm.

The ectoplasm spread throughout Maddie's body, knocking her to the unswept tile floor. She shut her eyes tight and clamped her jaw closed to keep from screaming. Her insides burned intensely, and her face itched ferociously. Something was building up inside her, and she was fighting it. Her intuition told her that whatever it was inside her would be dangerous, should it surface. She forced herself to let her breath out and the feeling subsided a little, leaving her aching instead of in total agony.

Maddie opened her eyes and caught her reflection in a glass beaker. Seeing that in the last few seconds she had gained a severe case of acne, she mentally groaned. This limited her chances of starting a family.

Vlad squirmed his way out from under Jack and crawled over to her. "Maddie," he whispered. "Are you okay, my sweet?"

Maddie refused to show him her face. "No," she whispered.

By this point, something had clicked inside Jack and told him something was wrong. She winced, the pain was increasing. Again, she fought it, but it won the battle. Two rings appeared around her and glided over her body. Vlad gasped. His perfect woman was no longer perfect! Her hair had maintained its color, but her lab suit was black, her skin was blue, and she was glowing. He cleared his throat. "Well, it seems that this affair is concluded."

Vlad stood up, dusting his lab suit with his hands. His disguise was so poorly constructed that even Jack could see through it. Underneath his composed exterior, he was trembling with fear. Vlad walked to the door, closing it quietly behind him.