Chapter 3: Lessons

"Okay Class." Jack said as Maddie pulled each student one at a time to the back to get fitted for their lab outfits. "First lesson. What is a ghost? Well, it depends on the type of ghost. Some are just balls of ectoplasm with no purpose and others are the lost souls of people who have died. If the latter, then the reason is either due to fear of death, unfinished business, or an obsession of some sorts. Yes Tucker?"

Tucker had raised his hand

"Like how the Box ghost is obsessed with boxes, Technus with Technology, Skulker with hunting, and Desiree with granting wishes?"

"Very good examples" Jack said before seeing another hand raised. "Yes son?"

"So, if a ghost was out for revenge because the guy who caused the 'death,' even though it was the ghosts' own fault for sticking his head in the device that killed him, was still alive and married to the ghosts'…love interest…would that be considered unfinished business or a very, very, very, very, VERY unhealthy obsession?" Danny asked

Maddie looked up at her son. The ghost's description sounded a bit TOO much like the Wisconsin Ghost. Not to mention the fact that his son's first ever best friend knew the obsession of at LEAST four ghosts.

"Don't know where you're getting your examples from Danny, but I'd go with the obsession. Typically, especially with murder cases, a ghost's obsession would be vengeance."

"Even if the 'death' was ONLY an accident?" Danny asked a little too knowingly for Maddie's liking

"Yes. As long as the ghost places the blame on the other person, vengeance will be the obsession" Jack said before turning to the board and drawing a diagram to illustrate the different types of ghosts.

Danny felt a note slip into his hand from Jazz's direction. He looked and saw his sister handing him a note. He took it and read it under the desk

I thought I was the psychologist of the family. What are you doing? Psychoanalyzing the Froot-Loop?

Danny turned to her with a smirk and nodded before writing the answer

I figured I might as well use Mom and Dad's knowledge of ghosts to give me an edge in my fights.

He handed her the note which she read and smiled proudly at her little brother

"Now," Jack continued. "There IS a new type of ghost recently discovered. These breeds are called 'halfas'. They were discovered when we overheard a ghost call the Ghost Boy a 'halfa'. There is at least ONE known to mankind and that is Danny Phantom. But until we can catch him, there is nothing known of this new type."

Jazz smirked at her brother and held up two fingers as if correcting her father. Danny returned the smirk and held up three earning a confused glance. In response, he wrote a note

The Froot-Loop cloned D.P.

Jazz read the note and rolled her eyes before writing the response

Isn't one of you bad enough?

"Mr. Fenton?" Valerie asked "If Danny Phantom's a 'halfa' what do YOU think his obsession is?"

"It could be anything" Jack said. "But Maddie and I narrowed it down to a ghost was the cause of his death, or authority figures."

"But if Authority figures were the cause of his death, then you can't really blame him for not trusting them" Tucker pointed out

"I see your point Tucker, but chances are it was just an accident" Jack explained

Jazz held in a laugh at the wince Danny gave at sort of being compared to Vlad.

0000

The Next Day at school,

"Okay students" Maddie said "Yesterday, you learned about what a ghost was. Today, you will learn how professional categorize them"

Needless to say she was impressed when Danny, Jazz, Sam, and Tucker leaned forward as if to give her their undivided attention as they prepared to take notes.

After all, knowing how to categorize the ghosts will help with their ghost files.

"There are 5 different classes." She said writing on the blackboard with chalk. "Classes A, B, C, D, and E. Class A Ghosts are your typical ecto-blobs. They're typically malevolent, but can EASILY be dealt with. They typically have a power level of 0.5-1.

"Class B Ghosts are as easy to deal with as Class A, but they take on a more distinct form" Maddie continued with the lecture. "Their power levels range from 1-3"

"The reason their power levels are a bit higher than Class A is because they need some of the power to keep up their complex shape."

Danny wrote down something else in his notes and showed it to his friends who struggled to keep from laughing

Class A: ecto-blobs. Power level 0.5-1. Example: Ecto-pusses

Class B: complex form, but easy. Power level 1-3. Example: BOX GHOST!

"Now, the Class C ghosts are the ghosts that are the more complex ghosts that were mentioned yesterday. About 90% of them have an obsession and are the ones that generally attack the City. But there are a few that don't make the first moves and just want some fun. They just have a really sick definition of fun. Their power levels can range anywhere from 4-8"

Each member of team Phantom wrote down their own example of a Class C. Jazz wrote 'Johnny', Danny wrote 'Skulker', Sam did 'Desiree' and Tucker wrote 'Technus'

"Class D Ghosts are the ghosts that are super powerful and should only be fought by professionals or even other ghosts." Maddie continued. "They have a power level of 9-10 and the best example I can give you is that Ghost King that held our town hostage when we learned that Invisobill's real name is Danny Phantom"

"Best way to remember," Jack added. "Think of D for Dangerous"

Paulina raised her hand

"Yes Paulina?" Maddie asked

"Would Danny Phantom be a Class C or D?" Paulina asked

"Actually, Phantom would go in Class E. It's the class that was set up for Halfa's: Ghosts that have more human characteristics than most other ghosts. As we haven't been able to test out Phantom's power yet, we don't know just how powerful they can be. Another characteristic of Class E Ghosts are that their power level can change. While most ghosts stay at a certain level, we HAVE noticed that Phantom gets stronger with each fight which makes us theorize that his power level is increasing"

Sam raised her hand

"Yes Sam?" Jack asked

"Is there a way to test to see how powerful a ghost is?" Sam asked

"There are many ways." Maddie answered. "The easiest is to guess by the strength of their strongest attacks and see just how much damage they can do. MY guess is that Phantom is at a power level of 7-8. About the same as the Wisconsin ghost"

Team Phantom looked at each other nervously. After all, the Fentons haven't seen the Ghostly Wail yet.