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Sam could understand why Technus was having a hard time processing Skulker's request. It was so unbelievably ludacris that even a ghost like Technus couldn't comprehend it. The Tech-ghost paced back and forth across the floor of Skulekr's den as he tried to figure out exactly what to do here. Sam sat on the the couch, curled up as she tried to avoid touching any of the animal skin throws or rugs. Skulker was back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the arm impatiently.
"Let me get this straight," Technus finally said, stopping his pacing and turning to Skulker, "This girl is your illegitamate child that you just found out you had, and rather than keep her here where she wont be found untill you sort this out, you're going to send her back to the human world and create a phony aliby where I play her friend from out of town that she went to stay with?"
Skulker just nods.
Technus' hands shook but his over all demeanor remained calm, "Are you mad? Do you know what would happen should the ghost boy find out it's me? He'll waste us both!"
"Well then, don't let him find out." Skulker said simply, "I was under the impression you were the master of technology. You cant even use your skills to fool a child?"
Technus looked taken back at the insinuation and looked downright offended, "Of course I can! I just dont think that this is a very sound plan. And how am I supposed to pretend to get along with this little... delinquent?"
Sam crossed her arms and glared up at the much taller ghost, "The feeling is mutual."
"Well then you two will just have to get to know eachother better before the girl needs to go back," Skulker told them both, "You have tomarrow. The day after she returns to amity park."
"And why should I be the one to go with her?" The Master of Technology asked, crossing his arms over his chest, "Couldn't you send Ember or yourself?"
"Because you are the only one capable of creating a device to compeltely hide your ecto-signature from the whelp." The cybernetic ghost told him, "Besides, I do plenty of favors for you. You owe me."
Sam looked between the two, mildly intrigued by the odd friendship they had. It was clear that they were buddies but they seemed to also have a professional relationship as well. It was so strange to see two ghosts she only ever thought of as evil interacting with eachother and actually seeming... human!
Technus ran his hands through his long ponytail and sighed, "Fine... But only for a few days. And I better get something out of this!"
Skulker smiled, "You'll be able to try and get info out of the ghost boy in person without him knowing it's you."
The ghost in question hummed throughtfully, "That is a good point.. While the girl is working the lie I can do some digging of my own."
Sam cleared her throat lodly making both of them turn to her.
"The girl has a name, you know." She told them sternly, "I'd appreciate that you at least use it!"
Technus smirked, "Okay, Samantha."
The goth cringed at the use of her full name. It was clear that Technus had done plenty of digging to know that she hated being called that. It was better than any of the other names she'd been called though.
Technus let out a log breath and unfolded his arms, letting them slap against his legs. He frowned and looked Sam over slowly from top to bottom. He made a displeased grown and walked toward her. Sam scooted over as far as she could as he sat on the couch beside her. The goth squirmed slightly as he looked over at her.
"So..." He started slowly, "You got any favorite movies?"
Sam blinked at him in disbelief. Was he really doing what she thought he was doing? Was he really making an effort to know her better for Skulker? Wow, those two really were best friends!
"Uh... Well.." Sam rubbed the back of her kneck awkwardly, "I kinda like the Cyber Zombie Commando movies."
The ghost smirked, "Really? And which one do you like best?"
Sam scoffed, "Well the first one obviously. They streatched it way too thin in the last two and they weren't nearly gorey enough."
"That's exactly what I thought! Skulker told me I was nuts!" Technus exclaimed, motioning toward the mentioned hunter, "He likes the third one the best."
Sam found herself laughing as Skulker huffed and walked from the room proclaiming "I have work to do". She turned back to technus who she found herself later in a debate over what was better, the traditional fake blod of corn syrup and dye or CGI blood. Sam got so enveloped in the conversation that being surrounded by dead animals wasn't nearly as unnerving.
The two moved on to talk about thier other favorite movies and games. Sam told him about the cheats in Doomed that she knew, but not how to use them, that helped her and her friends beat him. He in return, bragged about his powers and how he didn't need cheat codes. In retort, Sam pointed out how much good his powers did him in the game and how long he had been trapped in level zero.
The situation was almost sureal. Here Sam thought Technus had no life outside of trying to kill Danny, when really he actually went out and had fun like everyone else.
Eventually Technus did have to go home though. Ember came back and apparently her and Technus had had some issues of some kind. Sam hadn't actually been told this but their body language and the way Ember glared at the man told her so. Technus just siled down at her as he walked around to the door.
But he did leave without an argument and Sam quickly got up off of the couch. She started toward her room and Ember cut her off before she reached the hallway.
"Hey, kid." The popstar started, "I just thought I'd warn you now."
Sam frowned at her, "Warn me about what?"
Ember pressed her lips in a flat line a for a moment to think before speaking, "Techus is... Well... A pervert."
Sam blinked at her, "Huh?"
"Oh don't worry!" Ember added quickly, "You're only 14 so you're okay, but if you hang around with him too much you might hear something you dont like. He tends to... not control what comes out of his mouth."
Sam furrowed her brow, "Uh... Okay then... Thanks?"
Why would Ember tell her that? She had just had a nice conversation with the guy now she was going to be paranoid! And Technus was going to be spending time in the human world with her! The world of miniskirts and no shame.
"Oh, and I got you some things." Ember said as she reached inside a bag Sam hadnt noticed her carrying.
Sam craved herneck out to try and see what was inside. Ember dug around for a second before she pulled out a paper bag with the well known Nasty Burger logo on the side. She held it out for Sam to take and the girl took it without question.
"Tofu soy melts." Ember told her with a smile, "I figured I'd pick you up some food rather than hear skulker complain all night that I'm cooking imitation meet in his kitchen."
Sam opened the bag and looked in. There were plenty of sandwhiches to last her for dinner and possibly breakfast and lunch the following day. she wrapped the top of the bag up and smiled at the blue haired girl.
"Thanks!" She said gratefully.
"No problem, baby pop." Ember waved it off, "I'm just glad to have some female company in this place for a change. Skulky tends to get bored with girl stuff after a while."
Sam giggled at the use of the very out of character nick name, "Well I can't make any promises that I'll enjoy "girl stuff" a whole lot either."
Ember patted her on the shoulder, "As long as you're female, it's an improvement."
Sam laughed lightly. Her smile faded slightly at the thought that Ember was dating her father. Did Ember know? Had Skulker told her and was that why she had come in asking such odd questions the night before?
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Sam asked hesitantly, looking up into the ghost's face. Ember nodded so she continued, "Did Skulker tell you... about me?"
The pop star frowned and her face fell a bit. She sighed and ran her hand over her hair, pulling her bangs back over her hair.
"I guess you found out then..." Ember said in almost a whisper.
Sam nodded slowly.
The older girl sighed yet again, "Oh boy... As if thinsg weren't tense enough... Look, Sam. Don't let it get to you too much. Yeah, Skulkers not exactly the paternal type and he's tried to kill your boyfriend-"
"Not my boyfriend."
"-several times." Ember continued without a hitch, "But when you really get to kno whim he can be a pretty decent guy. I know it doesnt look like it to you, but we're actually pretty happy together right now."
Sam found that hard to believe.
"I don't know if I'll believe that untill I see it." The goth told Ember quietly, "I'm gonna go put these in the fridge."
Ember nodded and stepped aside for Sam to pass her. Sam walked down the barren hall, past her bedroom door and toward the kitchen. She passed another door and stopped when she noticed light coming from it. She turned back and saw it partially open, and decided to have a look inside.
Skulker was laying on a gigantic bed, staring at the cieling, his hands over his face, mumbling to himself. Sam couldn't hear him but he sounded frustrated.
"I know you're over there." He said suddenly making Sam jump.
The goth smiled sheepishly and pushed the door open a bi further so she could actually be seen by the hunter as he sat up.
"What do you want?" He asked with annoued, half closed eyes.
"Nothing." Sam told him innocently, "I just didn't know what this room was... Do you talk to yourself often?"
"No." Skulker answered curtly, "Do you have a habit of walking in on people?"
"No." Sam answered back in the same fashion. She bit her lower lip for a moment before continuing, "Why are you keeping me here if you hate me?"
Skulekr stared at her blankly. There was no sound in the room and only the smell of tofu to preoccupy the sences. Skulker groaned and mumbled something with his head down. Sam could barely hear it but didnt understand what he said.
"What was that?" Sam asked curiously.
"I don't hate you." Skulker repeated with a more bothered tone, "There are you happy?"
"You don't?" Sam raised a brow at him, "Then why are you treating me like this?"
"Because you're an accomplis of the ghost brat and if I'm nice to you then you'll tell him and he'll never take me seriously again!" Skulker snapped at her.
"So you want to be nice to me." Sam smirked, growing fond of annoying Skulker.
"I never said that," He denied.
Sam smirked wider, "Okay then... But for the record, Danny doesnt take you seriously already."
She walked from the room and grabbed the door handle to shut it. Just before she did she stuck her head back inside and proclaiming-
"Cyber Zombie Commando 3 sucks!"
-then shut the door.
she then went to the kitchen, holding her breath to prevent second hand meat ingestion, put the sandwhiches in the fridge and went back to her room to take the fur off of her bed and lay down for a well deserved nap.