"Kilo Lima Foxtrot, Oscar Mike Romero, you mean to tell me that a kid, a fourteen year old kid who was human for over ninety percent of his life and with less years of combat experience than a North Korean officer fresh from indoctrination, has been laying waste to a few million taxpayer dollars worth of equipment and dozens of our agents? ... I need a freaking drink. Go get the White Italian out of the cellar, you can join me. We all need a long drink."
- Guys in White Director-in-Chief Alfred Vance, to operatives Kevin Lucifer Ferris and Oliver Michael Reznov (respectively by code name), after the discovery that Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom were one and the same.
Chapter 2
Fenton Works, Amity Park
"Oh come on!" Danny shouted angrily as Tucker blasted his character off the edge of the cliff and left him to fall off the map.
"Sorry dude," Tucker retorted with a grin as he hit the L2 trigger on his controller to reload the rocket launcher, "but Friar Tuck has a reputation to keep. And that means at least one person flies off the map, if such can be done."
Gritting his teeth as the game finally registered that he fell beyond the ability to recover and his in-game character spontaneously died, Danny hit the X button to acknowledge he was ready to respawn, down to his last life, and smirked at where he found his character, and unloaded the pistol's full clip into one of the back of one of the AI characters, taking it down and leaving the grenade launcher for him to grab…
…only for his character to explode as soon as he stepped through the doorway to reach it and the game showed that Sam had wasted him with a trip mine. "You walked into that one," Sam pointed out, "literally."
"Yeah, I know." Danny answered in embarrassment as both Sam and Tucker were now dueling each other in the courtyard, Tucker slow with the rocket launcher while Sam was too fast to be hit but without a lot of return fire. Danny had nothing to do but watch. Several of the AI characters tried to get involved, but they were wasted in the crossfire until the timer ran out. Sam and Tucker had tied, with Danny right behind them. Guess the early streak with the shotgun paid off, until Sam wasted that streak with a well placed noob tube. He shook his head, "Alright. Another game?"
"Yeah. Though, to be fair, we've played this at home for a bit, so we know the maps." Sam pointed out with a shrug as she reached for one of the veggie crackers that she had brought with her.
"Really?" Danny asked with mock surprise and a slight smirk, "I never would of guessed."
"So," Tucker asked as the game loaded another multiplayer match and they started choosing their selections of stat focus, "How's the family taking the revelation?"
"Well, my parents have managed to get away from the 'what kind of experiments we can get' phase." Danny explained with a shrug, "Though, the ones they wanted to pull off were pretty mild compared to their normal fare, and some of them are probably going to help me in the long run. They've gotten some of my Phantom side DNA so they can update the house's defense systems to not try and waste me when I go ghost. Mom's side grandparents are kind of flipping out that their kid is essentially half spawn of Hell. Not that the Ghost Zone is Hell, but it's synonymous as far as they care."
Sam sighed, "I'm glad my grandmother's of the loving type who doesn't crusade. I love the desire to do what's right by the grandkids. Don't dig the specifics on 'what's right' sometimes, though. Dad's side?"
"Well, Granddad Fenton is pestering my dad about trying some of his gadgets… none of them are safe to even try on me."
"Didn't the Guys in White try to recruit him?" Tucker asked with a frown.
"Yeah, he told them that there needed to be government independent hunters out there to do the things the government won't or some ultra right wing nonsense. Other than that, not a lot and the next family reunion isn't for a few years."
"Speaking of family, any word on Danielle?" Sam asked, "I would think that she would have input on revealing the identity."
Danny shrugged. "She just told me to keep her quiet after we finished phasing the planet and everyone went off to get drinks to celebrate before flying off. Apparently she's exploring the world and used some of Vlad's old assets to sustain herself. Safe houses set up for emergencies with a lot of canned food and bottled water, that sort of thing. She's been pretty good about avoiding theft to survive as far as I can tell." He heard someone coming up the stairs and changed the subject. The only people in Amity Park who knew about Danielle in detail was him, Sam, Tucker, and Valerie. Like Jazz had respected his secret, he was going to respect Danielle's, so Jazz would be in the dark until it was necessary to tell her about his 'cousin'. "Hey, Friar Tuck, grenade off your port side."
Frowning, Tucker turned back to the game screen which had loaded in time to see Danny throw a spiked grenade into Tucker's character, blasting him off of the roof and into the courtyard for a lethal fall. Tucker's loud and beautiful reaction satisfied Jazz as she glanced in briefly before continuing on to her room, and Danny exhaled in relief. Now, if only Danielle left me a way to contact her. He glanced at the drawer where he had hidden the Infi-Map and realized that he should return it to Frostbite, though also realized that it could theoretically lead him to where Danielle was. He shrugged as he returned to the gaming. I can decide on that later. For now, raging against the machine...
XXXX
XXXX
Guys in White Headquarters, [CLASSIFIED]
Director-in-Chief Vance nodded slowly as Operatives Kilo and Oscar (the first letter of their first name in NATO military alphabet) reported on the Ghost Control Network status. "In conclusion, Director, the Ghost Control Network has too many unknowns, but given its focus on ecto-technology it is quite possible that it could be used as the generator for a global ghost restrainer. Think of it as a giant ghost shield, except constantly pulsing out and repelling ghosts. It would be unavailable for other duties, but it would make Earth completely ghost free." Kilo concluded. The African American GIW operative and his Caucasian partner were reporting their findings on the GCN after initial scientific analysis.
Vance nodded. "Good job, you two. We might have had difficulty dealing with the ghost boy, but we can deal with this. There is enough controversy surrounding the existence of ghosts that we should be able to convince at least some powers to let us experiment with the GCN to begin such a plan. If possible, we can end all ecto intrusion into reality. What about Plasmius? Any report on him?"
"Negative," Oscar answered. "No word on him, though deep space scans did detect his ecto-signature near the Disasteroid on its outbound course before there was a brief spike and it vanished. Where it means he was destroyed on impact or if something saved him is unknown, however."
Kilo opened a second white vanilla colored folder and began pulling out other reports. "We did discover some important files and equipment going through the remains of Masters' mansion and other hideouts, however. It turns out that he has been rather deep in cutting edge technology and has a wide array of surveillance bots. Operatives are going through their recordings now for all useful information. We also picked up the Masters' Blasters as freelancers for situations where we cannot be involved."
"Good, good." Vance said as he picked up one file in particular, "Interesting. We can use the Masters' Blasters as suggested. What about this Skeleton Key?"
"Secured in White Falcon base, so that should keep a lot of things locked up tight."
"Very well. Our next goal then is to gain jurisdiction over the GCN, over the American nodes and sites if nothing else since most other countries will be wary of our presence. You two are to keep tabs on Phantom and his friends. We might be blocked by executive order from going after him while Congress fights itself fixing the Anti-Ecto Control Act in light of the existence of half-ghost hybrids, but any ghostly friends of his are still free to hunt. Move a platoon to the Amity Park GCN site as well; Amity Park Police have taken jurisdiction for the moment but they really want to put their SWAT manpower back to the majority of the city, so make them an offer. Threaten to audit the city's budget if you have to, since Masters abused it from preliminary reports and that would be enough to break the city if needed." Vance sat back in his chair and nodded to the two. "Leave the reports. Dismissed."
The two agents left and he began looking through the various reports, interested in how much had been hidden. Experiments on duplicating a half-ghost... yes, Vlad Masters is certainly one crazed up fruit loop. Interesting, another one is still out there but whereabouts unknown. Schematics for Fenton's ecto-skeleton... pretty much useless now. Ah, ghosts as a power source, courtesy of Fenton mad science. There's another option for dealing with those specters. Hmmm, Valerie Gray. Possible recruit, unless her friendship with Phantom proves to be too much to turn her. He had many options available to him, but his first objective now had to be getting jurisdiction of the GCN. He glanced at the clock and nodded to himself; time to go. He had a meeting to attend to in order to sell that idea and counteract the idea of an international security force.
XXXX
XXXX
Axion Labs, Amity Park
"Interesting find, Mister Gray," the elderly director of Axion Labs said with folded arms as the contents of the Fenton Thermos were dumped onto the lab floor and the ghostly cybernetic armor clattered onto the ground. "Not many can get their hands on ghost origin technology for our study."
"Thank you, sir," Damon Gray answered, "but it was my daughter who found it and brought it to me. You are aware..."
"Yes," the director said with a slight smile, "We are aware of her ghost hunting activities. In fact, we have an offer that might help you get back onto your feet after the incident that seems to have lead to her career starting." He nodded to one of his assistants and the assistance pulled out a folder that Damon recognized as a contract. "Now, she is only newly fifteen but we believe that she would be well suited for field testing some of our newer anti-ghost equipment."
"The government contract?"
"The government contract. They want a whole new array of anti-ecto weapons, and so will other organizations. While our normal recipient is happy to work out kinks themselves, others will not be. We also believe she is experienced enough to be able to handle problems, but we will respect your position as her father." The assistant handed the folder and contract to Damon and he nodded as he took it.
"I'll read it and show Valerie, but I cannot and will not promise anything."
He nodded. "Very well, that is all we can legally ask. We've already pushed the edge of the envelope offering this because of the hazards of the work."
That's what I'm afraid of, Damon silently added before coughing in his hand. "Is there anything else, sir? I need to return to the security center and make sure the new kid isn't playing video games on the job."
"Recommend a good book to him if he is, Gray, and tell your daughter that we appreciate the find."
"I will, sir." He nodded briefly and headed off, opening the folder and glancing over the contract. It was remarkably simple, likely because it was meant to be read by a fifteen year old girl. He noted the usual roulette of 'Axion Labs is not responsible' clauses, but as the lab preferred it did cover expenses incurred for injuries on official lab business. It was also generous on account of her school activities, though he suspected some of the generosity might be related to an upcoming grant to Casper High the lab was planning to hopefully be able to get some more employees of the type they needed. It even offered to help make sure she was legally certified for the weaponry and would cover the expenses for said certification, not that the current gun laws covered ecto guns. All in all, except for the fact that it involved Valerie leaping head first into dangerous situations regularly, it was a good deal and would finally let them leave the poor side of town apartment behind.
But as he opened the door to the security center and put the contract away, he started wondering just how much she wanted to actually do it and how much was that Masters guy manipulating her and taking advantage of Phantom's early day failure. She always was determined once something came up. I wonder if she's determined to hunt ghosts down, or at least the threatening ones if her offhand comment about seeing other sides was referring those spooks. He glanced at the new guard, a low grade graduate from Casper High, and found him reading a book and glancing up regularly at each monitor.
"No video games this time?" Damon asked with a smirk.
"Nah. Decided that it wasn't worth the hassle even if we can play 'em during break. Besides, maybe some studying will let me get into a decent college if I can get a good CAT score or two."
"Don't be so sure. Quite a few good, skilled people failed the CAT exams. In all honesty, I'll trust an SAT score over a CAT one any day. The CAT is just way too early to determine anything."
"Not a lot of local colleges see it that way. They think the CAT determines your destiny or something."
"Not going to be able to go beyond local, I take it?"
"Nope. And it wasn't for a lack of trying."
"Who knows, maybe you enjoy this job, and Axion Labs is pretty reasonable most of the time." Damon grabbed the cup of coffee he had left in there, still warm, and took a sip as bitter memories of an outside context problem came back. "Unless you fail horribly."
"Yeah." He glanced at the clock, "Speaking of which, what's your opinion on this whole GCN business? I mean, you worked on it so you know more about it than I do."
"I mostly ran security for the Antarctic Hub and manned a console, but I think we need to get rid of a lot of it, most of it was haphazardly thrown together. We would of never been able to build it if we were designing it to be permanent or with more than one or two good engineering principles. If we want to keep it, it is going to take a lot of redesign work." Damon frowned as he looked at the news, which was covering a construction accident (or rather, deconstruction) in Israel while removing part of the GCN that had been placed through the center of Jerusalem. "Accidents like that are going to be common, but we had to do a job that was only good enough or we would of ran out of time. On top of that, how would we protect it? Something of that scale is not something we can leave to any one nation. Even the armies of all NATO member countries combined would have difficulty guarding the whole thing."
The young guard shrugged, "Well, at least it's pulled the focus to something else instead of the latest soap-opera-in-real-life tabloid stuff. And kept Phantom from going to full out with a fandom."
"I've been told he's rather annoyed about it, actually. Having such a large fandom, that is." Damon said with amusement as he recalled several of the incidents in Amity Park where the fans rushed him. "I suppose that's what you get when you save the world at fourteen, almost fifteen. Now, let's go over security protocols again and see how well you've memorized them..."
XXXXX
XXXXX
Three Hours Later
Walker's Prison, the Ghost Zone
"Nicolai Technus. Genius technological mad scientist in life, still the same as a ghost." Sheriff Walker said as he paced in his interrogation room, watching the chained and power drained technophile struggle against the chains. "So many rules violations, so little time. Possession of non Ghost Zone contraband, constant integration with non-ghost electronics, repeated breakouts, disobedience of authority, and while not a rule violation, colossal arrogance that would make ol' Uncle Sam wince in shame?" Walker slapped his rulebook shut. "And I never believed that we would get past the billion year and sextuple afterlife sentence, but you, Nicolai Technus, have finally done it."
"I AM TECHNUS!" the technological ghost shouted, "YOU CANNOT CHAIN... YEAOW!"
Walker shook his head as one of his riot guards poked Technus with a hot iron, native to the Ghost Zone of course. "Come on, Technus, we both know that I have finally perfected that special prison cell for you. No technology, completely blocks your powers... it's finally over for you."
Suddenly, the alarm siren blared and Walker growled, pointed at a guard at the door. "Find out what's going on, trooper!"
"Yes sir!" the riot guard said before hurrying out the door. Walker turned to Technus and grabbed him by the prison uniform, "Now, let's get you secured so I can waste the fool who is trying to challenge me..."
He paused as he heard a thud and the guard he had sent out came flying back inside, crashing into the guard with the hot iron. Walker turned to see Skulker in his unauthorized high tech outfit he had briefly used against the ghost kid in a hunt that turned into micromanagement for everyone involved. The suit was clearly damaged, though the majority of the damage looked old. "And no, I'm not sorry to barge in," Skulker said as he decked the other riot guard in the face and knocked him away before pulling out a scepter for a high tech king out from behind him and tossing it to Technus, who caught it before Walker could intercept as Skulker paired the toss with a net blast. Walker dodged, but it was too late to stop Technus from getting his Lightning Rod, and the entire room filled with electricity as Technus blew his restraints off.
"Thank you, Skulker. I'll consider this a down payment for your next suit." Technus charged the lightning rod and shot a bolt of energy at Skulker, repairing some of the newer damage to the armor. "That's on the house, so we can LEAVE this place!"
"Good, now let's get you to the factory." Skulker said as Walker pushed himself up and charged. Technus turned and shocked him with electricity, stunning him and blasting him into the wall again. "Later, Sheriff."
Walker growled as the two fled the prison. "Okay Skulker, let's see how well you realize that breaking into prison is the easy part. Breaking out..." he grinned, "well, that's the catch."
XXXX
"What about the guards?" Technus asked as they approached the courtyard. "Walker will have them all over, and he installed new ghost seeking Prison-to-Air Missile batteries."
"You take out the missiles, I sprung a few more prisoners to get a riot going on my way in and can keep the guards off your back. We blast our way out in the confusion." The armored ghost looked towards the courtyard and grinned as he saw the chaos of battle ahead as the guards fought to maintain control of the prison. "Yes, it's working. Now let's go!"
The two sprang into the courtyard, shocking, blasting, and bludgeoning their way through the guards. Skulker allowed the bloodlust to take him over, enjoying his work as he knifed and blasted his way through the guards as Technus overloaded the nearest PAM battery, the triple-tubed missile launcher exploding in electric energy. A guard tried to rush him, but Skulker fired a missile at his riot shield, knocking the guard back before another prisoner leapt onto him and ripped the shield out of the guard's hands to start using against other guards. Technus had come back and the two made good their escape in the confusion, flying away as the smoke could be seen for quite a distance.
"Well, that went well." Technus said with a grin as they flew away, watching one of Walker's paddy wagons flying towards the scene sirens blaring from wherever it had been stationed before. "I always enjoy tweaking that white freak's nose, especially since he can't keep his hands to his own area and Earth."
"Yes..." Skulker responded when he suddenly felt heavy and dipped. "Speaking of tweaking, the jets in my armor are failing."
Technus nodded and put a hand on the jetpack, and Skulker felt a jolt of electricity as power levels raised again. "That'll keep until we get to the Factory of Freak."
"Thanks," Skulker said, moderately embarrassed from needing help. Bah, Technus is a friend. Okay, we're both happy to backstab each other, but we're friends in many ways. Mutual usage of technology, our hatred for the ghost boy... He blinked, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
"So," Technus asked as they passed by the River of Revulsion, "Normal suit?"
"Yes, standard design. We also need a new Purpleback Guerilla type override."
Technus cursed in Russian. "Chyort, that technogeek is good. That suit had absolutely no wireless connection, he shouldn't have been able to TOUCH IT! Next thing you know he'll be able to hack a stupid STONE AGE AXE OR SOMETHING!"
"You want to take care of him?" Skulker asked as they took a left. "I think we both agree that getting rid of one of the ghost boy's little human helpers would be a good thing for all of us."
"Yeah, until those human emotions send him ripping through the Ghost Zone like an overgrown bandicoot spinning like a maniac." Technus shrugged. "Though, I will keep tabs on him. The potential to leave a legacy is there... one atypical of most inventors and only possible by modern technology and circumstance."
The cybertronic armored ghost raised an eyebrow, "Funny. You almost sound like you admire him."
"As a potential technomancer, yes. I wonder what he would look like in the Ghost Zone. And I don't mean coming through the portal."
Skulker shrugged. "All I know is that my form was rather inadequate for my favored activities. I know little of the transition period, but I know that there is usually some sort of similarity, an echo."
Technus nodded as they were nearing an industrialized part of the Ghost Zone. "Yes, tech obsessed remains tech obsessed, so forth, assuming it isn't a creature forming out of the ectoplasmic muck. So it would be interesting to see, or it could be very painful for all involved. Anyways, let's get you a new suit so you can get back to hunting."
XXXXX
11:12 AM, The Next Day
Casper High
"So where's Danny?" Nathan Lester asked quietly to Tucker as they were sitting in History class, listening to the archaic teacher go on about Sherman's march through Georgia. "I really, really need to go to the bathroom."
Tucker glanced up and saw Danny in ghost form shooting past the board, intangible but not invisible, followed by a rather large blob ghost. No one reacted, most of them bored to near death by the tone of the teacher as she began to start what seemed like preaching and ghosts were basically background noise in town at this point unless they threatened someone. The two landed outside as Danny shook his head and pulled out a Fenton Thermos, capturing the ghost before capping it and switching back to human form and hurrying back inside. Half a minute later, he came in holding the pass and signing back in as the history teacher continued to drone on. Nathan quickly hurried off as Danny took his seat and visibly grit his teeth. "What'd I miss?"
"Just the start of preaching," Tucker said. "Going on about Sherman being a killer and all."
His hybrid friend sighed. "Again? Right. Wake me if I fall asleep."
"Will do..." Tucker said as he suppressed a yawn, vaguely wishing that Sam had been in the same class as them. Idly, he sat his PDA on his lap and started zipping through the news bits idly. Among the top items was a trade dispute in Scandinavia, a brief urban land war in Asia that ended badly for all the gangs involved, and a UN resolution on the network...
Wait, Tucker thought as he saw the last one, UN resolution on the GCN? Backed by the General Assembly and the Security Council? He tapped the news article and read through, suppressing a whistle. Wow. They actually managed to get countries to unify their GCN protection... still controlled by the native countries, but working under a common command structure to streamline communications. He paused as he read through a list of considered candidates... No way... Danny?! Tucker glanced both ways to make sure no one was looking and tapped Danny on the shoulder, whispering "Hey dude, check this."
Danny took the PDA and frowned. "Me?" he asked just a little too loud.
"FENTON!" the teacher shouted, "What're you babbling about?"
"Uh, sorry." Danny said quickly as he turned the PDA invisible under the desk. Tucker was glad the lights were out, because it was probably a reflex. "I was just surprised at the..." Tucker saw Danny glancing towards the current slide in the power point, "cruelty of the Union soldiers we keep upholding as brave loyalists..."
The history teacher nodded despite the fact that there was almost no sincerity in Danny's voice. "Indeed, other history teachers keep holding up the Union as the utter heroes of the whole affair, ending slavery..." she returned to her preaching as Danny gave Tucker a meaningful glance, and he realized what it meant. Lunch, we're talking about this.
XX
Thirty Minutes Later
"So," Sam said as she read the article over at an outside table, "They want you to act as the commander for the GCN guard force, or at least that's what the rumor mill says."
"Yeah." Danny answered with a frown, "It's probably the rumor mill, but what if it's true? I mean, they're still arguing over the Federal Anti-Ecto Control Act in Congress, some wanting to use me as a superpowered attack dog and others are saying I should just be put down as an aberration. Then there's the reasonable ones trying to argue for human decency. Most of them would just drop the arguments for something like this if it wins brownie points with the voters or makes them look good."
"I think you'll be fine for now," Sam said. "They can't really go after you for just trying to return to normal living now that the threat of an apocalyptic asteroid is over."
"Really?" Tucker asked with a frown. "How do you make that out? I thought we were all really lucky that they weren't passing anti-ghost laws and hunting Danny down just because he's a threat. I mean, I'm pretty sure he's the most powerful person on the planet as far as raw power goes. It isn't like politicians and leaders to just let him free like this."
"He is powerful physically," Sam explained, "and you're right, it's surprising the politicians are letting it slide, but it probably has to do with the fact that people are looking at him as the guy who saved the world. As soon as things go back to status quo, though, I would be ready for anything."
"Or when the Guys in White convince Congress that half ghosts should be open season," Danny pointed out as his hand closed into a fist. "Even your parents are happy for GIW tech lighting me up like a Christmas Tree or Menorah if it keeps you safe from and 'malignant energy' or 'ghoulish auras' or whatever they think I'm made of. Trust me, if we have people in this country whining about God hating America over not persecuting homosexuals or people who seriously think that we should completely remove the Second Amendment, a half-ghost like me is going to be a popular target."
A dirty look from Sam towards a gaggle of the normal roulette of what she occasionally called 'plastics', reminded Danny that he was a target in more way than one. She shook her head before answering, "Yeah. It's going to be some fun years ahead. I think they're really just holding off because you're a big star. Knowing how long popular memory lasts, once you're ditched in publicity for something else, they'll make a move. And that's assuming nothing nasty happens that makes you look bad and gives your opponents an excuse to go after you for what is piped off as good reasons."
Danny glanced down at the pudding on his lunch tray and started wondering again if he had made the right choice. Everything had worked out so far, but what if it was just a calm before the storm? What if he had, by returning to Fenton form in front of the whole world, pulled the pin from a thermonuclear grenade? What if he had rolled the dice with longer odds than the odds of him surviving the accident that made it possible for him to take such a risk? The idea that he might have set off a long conflict over him did not sit well with him. Gambling with my life is one thing. Gambling with Sam, Tucker, Jazz... I hate doing that in a fight, but we all knew the risks and they gamble just as often with my own life in those fights as I do with theirs. But gambling with the lives of people I'll never even meet, never have the decency to tell them why because I would never see them? The thought did not sit well with him.
"Well, I think that I'll be turning down the offer with the GCN either way." Danny finally said to try and steer the topic back. "I don't think I'm qualified anyways even if it is just a reassurance move or something. I'll let the professionals lead and lend a hand whenever they need it."
"You sure, dude?" Tucker asked. "I get where you're coming from, but what if the Guys in White get jurisdiction?"
"What's the worst they can do, dismantle it for being built with ecto-technology? It's essentially steel cables with a conductor for ecto-energy, and that was modified from a generic power cable. Honestly, the GIW dismantling it just means that there isn't an already built root for something like it in the future. Besides, I don't think anyone outside the US wants the Jerks in White running around their turf, so it's not like them having one of theirs as head of a security team will do anything but keep me at arm's length." Danny shrugged. "And besides, I'm not qualified. I'm not even a 3.0 student!"
"To be fair..." Sam began when the bell cut her off.
"Yeah." Danny nodded as the three pushed themselves up. "Busy fighting ghosts all the time." He reached towards Sam and grabbed her hand with a smile, "Ca'mon, let's get to class." He was sure he caught sight of Tucker giving a half exasperated look in his peripheral vision and wondered if Tucker was starting to get wielded out by the two being together. He shoved the thought aside; he had known that both of them had feelings for each other a lot longer than either of them realized, and if Tucker really was disturbed he could always speak up. Besides, it's not really anything close...
XXX
Three Hours Later
Danny smiled as the bell rang, ready to dodge out of school and from fans. He, Sam, and Tucker were planning on hitting the Nasty Burger for some post-test food to celebrate surviving another brutal biology test. As Danny turned out the door, he nearly ran headlong into Mister Lancer.
"Whoa, sorry. Mister Lancer?"
"Ah, Daniel." Lancer said, passing a letter to him. "This just arrived for you. Apparently its of high importance." The bald teacher raised a knowing eyebrow, "You better hurry. Feel free to become ghostly or whatever you do, it's after school hours."
"Uh, thanks." Danny said as he took the letter and hurriedly opened it as Sam and Tucker were waiting for him at the end of the hall. It took only a few moments for him to feel the pit form in his stomach.
"What is it?" Tucker asked, "That looks official and I wasn't told about it."
"Its summons to the GCN site in Amity Park; apparently they intend to get my answer there. Signed by the Chief of Police himself." Danny explained as he handed the letter to them, "And I think they want Phantom, not Fenton."
"Wait," Sam said as she finished reading, "There's an offhand mention of the Guys in White. I could of sworn I saw one of their tanks driving by earlier."
"You did?" Tucker asked in surprise as he took it.
"I thought I was just seeing things... Danny, you have to be careful. It could be a trap."
Danny blinked as his ghost sense fired off and Tucker reached for his PDA. He raised an eyebrow at the technogeek who shrugged. "Technus?"
"Maybe..." Sam asked as she glanced around. "You better get going. We'll get the Thermos."
"Got it." Danny answered as he ran towards the window, "Going ghost." A flash of white later, he was in ghost form and phasing through the window. Floating above the school, he looked around. "Now, where is that ghost..."
A shot of electricity answered him as he turned with a quick scream as the jolts fired through his ectoplasmic body. Recovering quickly (and with his hair on end from the shock), he turned and saw the technology obsessed ghost floating there. "Well well, Danny Phantom the GCN founder, all summoned up to see your work."
"Hey, I didn't build it," Danny pointed out as he ran his hand through his hair to straighten it, "I had a lot of help. Government, family, Tucker made the designs... I just provided the PR to get it rolling."
"Well then, let's go see how they use your handiwork, huh?" Technus shot off, entering the power lines and speeding towards the GCN hub in Amity Park. Danny felt his insides tighten as the many scenarios played out in his head and shot after Technus full throttle. He had to stop him from reaching the GCN site and using the technology for taking over the world or some other insane scheme. Now why in all reality did I even say that to him months ago, he bitterly asked himself as he approached the site and saw a squadron of GIW White Bengal Tiger Tanks and various infantry deployed, along with two very familiar agents.
"There's the ghost boy!" one of the GIW infantrymen shouted.
"Stand down, he's not a free target!" one of the regular agents Danny had faced angrily; the Caucasian one.
"Wow," he muttered to himself as he hurried towards the center of the local hub, "I have to get their names at some point." He landed as Technus came out of the hub, laughing manically.
"It's over, child!" Technus taunted, "I have control of this node now! Today, Amity Park, tomorrow, THE WORLD!"
A large blue blast of energy interrupted him as one of the tanks fired an anti-ghost round at the technopathic ghost. Danny glanced around and shouted towards the Guys in White, "Hey, thanks for shooting at the actually evil ghost for once!" With the point made, he turned towards Technus and collided into him, blasting him with a punch charged with energy and sending Technus into the air as he flew after him, firing more ghost rays at him to blast him away. However, his opponent had recovered and raised a shield of his own, deflecting the rays back down and forcing the GIW troops to take cover instead of trying to get enough angle in their weapons to fire at them. Technus laughed and dived down, colliding with Danny and knocking him into the GCN hub building.
"Now," Technus said with a toothy smile, "I believe I have a network to enter..."
"NO!" Danny shouted as he grabbed Technus as the ghost entered the mainframe in a data-shaped form, a ghastly mix of ones and zeroes. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation as he turned intangible and was yanked into the GCN itself with a scream and suddenly found himself shot as if he had gone into lightspeed.
He was not even sure if his ghost form was still intact as he sped inside.
XXX
End Chapter
