Part 6
At the mayor's mansion, things had finally calmed down from the onslaught of press that had been calling since yesterday. After Tucker's mayor aids had finished up and gone home, Tucker sat at his big desk finishing the final calls. He sat back in his chair with his hat slouched over his head, nearly exhausted from the lack of sleep. His last call was from a familiar voice calling about his recent policies on the education in Amity Park.
"Mr. Lancer, I assure you and your teacher's association that there is no danger of online learning courses replacing the traditional school facility," he said. "This is purely an experimental program on a trial basis and there is no chance that any teachers will lose their jobs…until I can get state approval at the next committee meeting." As he slammed the phone on the dial, Tucker swore he could hear a faint cry of anguish as if someone had just witnessed the end of the world. "Okay, now let's get back to business."
Tucker turned his chair to the big screen window still frozen behind the mysterious virus that had infected his network. He watched his screen read error, not even able to get beyond the log in screen. To help in this dilemma he hired man of tremendous experience in security/surveillance.
"So, what's the verdict Mr. Gray?"
It was Damon Gray who had created this surveillance grid, since Tucker commission Axion Labs to work for the city. Mr. Gray was busy rewiring and rerouting every wire which way he could. Yet, the veteran security technician was just as stump as the computer whiz.
"I may have designed the system, but this bug is beating me out of it," said Mr. Gray. "Whoever installed this must have paid top dollar, it's definitely a no access pass."
"Great, so what's the good news?"
"The virus is set on a timer, that means it will eventually uninstall itself," he said.
"Wow, I was joking, but that's great news," he leaped out of his chair. "So how long do we have?"
"From what I can tell…in about 2 weeks," said Mr. Gray.
"2 weeks! But I've already scheduled so much publicity," Tucker flopped down in his chair again. "This would set us back for months if Danny can't make the press conferences, committee meetings, charity events, and those kids at the zoo are going to eat me alive. How will I make Danny Phantom a household name without Danny?"
"Sounds like you need a hand or two," said a voice in the shadows.
Tucker turned around and saw strange curly haired figure standing menacingly at the entrance of his door. She stepped out of shadows and revealed her face behind the long hair. Tucker recognized the daughter of his security technician.
"Valeria?" he was shocked.
"Val, I thought I told you to wait outside for me," said Mr. Gray.
"So, I got bored and wanted to take a tour, the security guards didn't mind," she boasted.
"That it, I'm getting a new staff," said Tucker.
"I can't help with the help, but I can help you find your lost ghost friend."
"Valerie Gray, you promised me no more ghost hunting young lady," scolded her father.
"Now daddy, if the mayor really needs my help then can he at least here me out?" she pleaded like a saint.
"So…what did you have in mind," Tucker asked knowing he'd been burned before.
"I'll be blunt, so as not to overload the busy brain of yours," she said on the corner of his desk to speak. "I just happen to be one of the few competent ghost hunters in Amity Park. I was tracking Danny long before you system was in place and I've had to work with less on many occasions. So what I'm prosing is a partnership; I find Danny and everything's A-OK. I'm sure you can grant me permission in the best of interest of your community as well as your next campaign?"
"Wait, how do you expect to find Danny when all of your ghost hunting gear was destroyed in the meteor incident?" he asked.
"I'm sure I can fix up something, which is if you could give access to some adequate facilities like say…Fen-Tuck Inc?"
"Give 'you' the keys to Fen-Tuck?" he fell back in his chair. "I may be desperate, but I'm not stupid? You've been after Danny for years, how do I know you don't want to finish that job?"
"That's all in the past I assure you," she shrugged it off. "Of course if you want I could always tell the kids that there will be no Danny Phantom as the mayor promised."
"Whoa, now, maybe we can work something out here."
From the corner of her eye she knew her sale was final. Thus, Tucker added another silent partner to his community service program.
***
It didn't' take long for Tucker to arrange a new combat suit for Valerie. It was just like her original suit, but on her shoulder was the new Fen-Tuck logo. Without her mask, she let the hair breeze through the wind as she hovered across her new flying surfboard. She stopped only for a minute to recheck her coordinates on her multipurpose wristwatch. When she saw where she was, she knew she was on the right trail. She turned to her back and called out in the distance.
"We're getting closer, this way," she waved.
Valerie was leading the Specter Speeder closely following her every instruction. Inside, they watched her very carefully making sure that she wasn't leading them down a wild goose chase. The crew consisted of Tucker in the front seat with Jazz at the wheel and Mr. Gray riding in back.
"I can't believe you let a loose canon like Val in on this operation," said Jazz.
"That's my daughter you're talking about," said Mr. Gray.
"Oh, well, you know what I mean, I don't mean. You know," she bashfully withdrew her comment.
"Unfortunately I do and that is why I'm accompanying you on this little expedition," said Mr. Gray.
"You have to admit she's a good tracker," said Tucker. "I don't know why Danny and Sam would be doing all the way out here?"
"I do," said Jazz. "If she's leading us to where I think she is, then it makes perfect sense." She sighed for a second when she realized the truth of there actions. "You know this running away for Danny and Sam has made me think that maybe we went to far?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I mean, merchandising is one thing, but I've seen Danny's schedule and it doesn't look like you've given him any consideration for being himself."
"Hey, you and your parents agree it's all in Danny's best interests."
"Yeah, but maybe should have bothered to tell Danny about this first."
"Gee, I never thought about…"
"Hey Mr. Mayor, you better check out the horizon!" Valerie pointed out.
In the short distance of the horizon they spotted a small glimpse of smoke fuming from the only house within several miles. They saw the signal that there might have been a struggle or perhaps something much wore.
"Oh no, Danny!" cried the Jazz.
"Full speed ahead Jazz," said Tucker. "We have to make sure that Danny's okay…oh, and Sam too."
***
Where once was a plot of land which a house stood proud and true, now there was a house without a roof to hold. The attic had been blown to bits and Danny and Sam had spent the rest of the morning picking up the pieces that remained. They gathered them all in big pile near the house, trying to remember what they found. Yet, something Sam noticed had been running through her mind over and over again.
"Those Guys in White were definitely searching for something, but what could it be?" said Sam.
"Seeing as how there's no way to salvage this day, I guess we'll have to find out sooner or later," Danny finally agreed. "I don't see what those Guys would want with a bunch of memorabilia since before I was born."
"I have an idea about what they were after, but I can't be certain," said Sam. "They left here in a hurry, so either we scared them off or more likely they found what they came for."
"There, that's the last of it," said Grandpa Newton. He through the last knickknack on top of the pile and then wiped the sweat from his brow. "A few things must have scattered farther, but on the bright side it will give me something to do on my weekends."
"I'm sorry about your house Grandpa," apologized Danny.
"Relax Danny boy, it's not like you had something to do with those high tech hooligans." He patted him on the shoulder. "Besides, the important thing is that we're okay and about half my knick knacks survived. On the other hand, it looks like the old homestead is going to need some major repairs. Good thing your grandma isn't coming back for awhile."
"Oh no," said Sam. "It looks like the Guys are back for more."
Sure enough, the saw a glistening imagine the distant that could have been the Guys returning. Everyone expected the worse, ready to fight again if need be. Danny looked a little closer and saw a familiar face speeding fast.
"Val?" Sam and Danny called!
She appeared in a dust storm that blazed across the field. The force turned over the pile of goods and scattered them on the ground again. Grandpa Newton was furious.
"Hey, what's the big deal young lady?" he asked.
"Sorry Pops, but this board doesn't stop on a dime," she said.
"Val, what are you doing here?" asked Danny.
"You're not here for trouble, are you?" asked Sam.
"No, I just brought trouble to you." She pointed her thumb backwards as the Specter Speeder was coming in for a landing. The people insider emerged much to Danny's surprise. No one was more enthusiastic for seeing Danny then Tucker he came jumping for joy.
"Danny!" he opened his arms and gave him a big hug! "You're alive and intact." Everyone was deeply surprise especially Danny for this touching, but still rather awkward display of emotion.
"Uh, Tucker, nice to see you too," he struggled to say.
"Okay, that's enough hugging for one lifetime." Sam separated the two with a great push.
"Sorry Danny, I was overcome."
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Danny.
"Grandpa Newton," called Jazz.
"Jazzie girl, it's good to see you so grown up." They hugged for a moment like long lost acquaintances. "What brings you all the way out?"
"We came for Danny, but…" Jazz noticed the house right behind Grandpa. She was dumbfounded to find that roof had been blown up. "What happened here?"
"A little problem with some well dressed ruffians, but nothing that can't be rebuilt."
"Danny?" Jazz looked to her brother for answers or perhaps the cause of this.
"This could take a while to explain."
"We'll talk later, but Grandpa what about your house?" she asked.
"Oh, it will be an adjustment, but I don't mind roughing it for a few months out in the desert air," he happily exclaimed.
"I won't here of it," she took his hand. "I know a place where you can hang your hat, until you can fix your house as good as new."
Danny looked at Sam at the mere suggestion, but she knew exactly where this was going.
***
Meanwhile, at an undisclosed facility in the mountains, the 2 agents and 1 intern had arrived with the object in hand. They had parked their mechanical suits at the foot of the largest mountain. While the intern held the prize the two agents were at the lead looking for any sign of life in the area.
"Are you sure this is the right place," asked the ivory agent?
"Positive, these are the right coordinates," said the ebon agent.
"I don't see any sign of great-uncle-Spang," said the intern.
"I've told you many times before to never call me that." They turned their eyes toward the sky as a shadow emerged from the light. Floating down from the sky was a craft that looked like a car sized flying saucer. Riding the center amongst a console of controls was Commander Spangle. He landed right beside them with his a menacing gaze that sent a chill down everyone's spines seeing him live and in person.
"Sir, we didn't expect to see you here…I mean," said the ebon agent.
"Dispense with the formalities, did you complete the mission? Did you find the object?" he asked.
"Yes, Sir Commander Spangle, we found it right for you," said the ivory agent.
"You know it was really me that found it," said the intern.
"And it was really you who fired his guns at us," said the ebon agent.
"I told you, that girl overpowered my systems," he shrugged it off.
"I don't want to here it," shouted Commander Spangle. "Just show me the object, I have to see it, I have to feel it." The old man held out his hand and the intern gave it to his great uncle. He looked into its round shiny exterior shining in the reflection of the moonlight. An eerie smile formed over his ancient face as he held the object with a covetous nature.
"Do you know how long I've waited to find this?" said Commander Spangle. "At long last it is mine again; I finally have…The Phantom Sphere."
