Chapter 10

The unexpected phone call surprised him. After the anger Daniel displayed during the previous call, Vlad didn't think the young half ghost would come to him for help. he told his secretary to reschedule his meetings for another day. Then he left work to head back to his castle. All his work on ghost related inventions was kept at his home where he could work on private projects without drawing an eye of suspicion.

Upon entering his secret laboratory, Vlad retrieved a pair of Specter Deflector belts that he tweaked a little from Jack's original design. He hated having to admit when the man actually invented something decent. Then he opened his Ghost Portal and flew into the Ghost Zone. If he exited through the Fenton Portal, he ran the risk of being discovered by Jack and Maddie. They worked relentlessly on new inventions, and Vlad never could be certain if his presence might set of some new ghost detection device that they created.

To eliminate that problem, he built a second Plasmius Portal in a secret laboratory under Axion Labs. He didn't worry about his employees there finding it because it was surrounded by several feet of steel and lacked any entry point for a normal human. Any ghost could easily reach the Plasmius Portal there, but he hardly worried about that.

When he passed through his other Portal, Vlad flew off immediately for Amity General Hospital. Daniel didn't sound hurt, or at least not dying, when he called, but Vlad felt worried that something happened to him. Skulker already reported one attack by the Guys in White. Did the organization make another attack on Daniel? Anger twisted inside him at the thought that the Guys in White may have hurt Daniel.

After finding a safe place, Vlad transformed back into a human. He strolled into the hospital to begin his search for the young half ghost. Daniel said he would be there shortly, and Vlad hoped that didn't mean the man was there due to some terrible injury to himself.

"Vlad!" Daniel came up to him before Vlad could reach the front desk. He sported bandages over his nose, but otherwise, the half ghost looked fine. "Let's head to the cafeteria to talk." Daniel led the way toward the elevators. "I'm starving. I want to grab something to eat before anything else can happen."

"Care to start explaining what happened?" Vlad narrowed his eyes at Daniel as the elevator doors slid shut.

Daniel sighed, rubbing tiredly at his forehead. Then he launched into the whole tale of what happened after he woke in Kwan's apartment, leaving out what exactly he was doing there in the first place. "So this ghost attacked them twice and really hurt Kwan," Danny finished as the doors opened on a different floor. The pair of men exited the elevator and headed toward the cafeteria. "It seems really determined to hurt them."

Vlad didn't miss the hesitation in Daniel's voice. The young half ghost didn't want to say out loud that the ghost's intention may be to kill the two men.

"The ghost isn't very strong yet, but I can't be there to constantly watch over them." Daniel ran a hand through his dark hair. "That's why I want them to have the Specter Deflector belts. The ghost wouldn't be able to touch them while they're wearing the belts."

"Well, I can certainly understand your concern," Vlad said once Daniel fell silent. The fact that the Guys in White showed up shortly after Daniel stopped the ghost's first attack worried him. How did they locate Daniel so quickly? Even if they ran patrols for Danny Phantom, they couldn't have found him that fast. "I'll take the belts to them."

Daniel frowned, clearly torn between finally getting the chance to eat and accompanying Vlad to speak with the two men. Hunger won. "They're on the fourth floor, third door on the right." He started toward the cafeteria then paused. "Thanks, Vlad."

"You can always call me for help, Daniel." Vlad smiled as Daniel turned and walked toward the cafeteria. Even if you don't want my help.

When he arrived on the fourth floor, Vlad walked down the hall until he found the room that Danny told him. He stood in the doorway, watching the pair of men inside the room. The dark haired man rested in the hospital bed, and from Daniel's story, Vlad determined that one was named Kwan. The man was pale and looked oddly frail despite his size, most likely a result of blood loss from the stab wound. For the moment, he slept peacefully. The blond man - Dash - sat beside the bed with his head in his hands. The two men were best friends, and Vlad could only imagine how difficult this was for Dash, even though the wound, according to Daniel, managed to miss anything vital. In a week or so, Kwan would be on his feet again.

Vlad coughed to gain the attention of Dash. When the blond man lifted his head, Vlad caught the bruising on his face. None of the three men escaped the fight without injury. He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "My name is Vlad Masters."

"No duh." Dash stared flatly, no in the least bit impressed. "I think everyone knows who you are."

An eyebrow twitched upward, but Vlad let the rudeness slide. He wanted to hold this conversation before Daniel decided to make an appearance. "I've already heard Daniel's explanation of the events that happened."

Dash's brow drew together as he frowned at the man. "Why exactly are you here?"

"Daniel was worried." Vlad glanced at the man in the bed. "I'm inclined to believe he's right." He found a second chair in the room and dragged it over to sit in front of Dash. "The Guys in White aren't exactly known for attacking humans. Their main priority is still the capture of-"

"Danny Phantom," Dash cut in with annoyance in his grating voice. "Yeah, I kind of figured that out when he started demanding we hand over Danny Phantom."

Vlad pursed his lips and tried very hard not to glare at the man for interrupting him. "We think a ghost possessed the agent of the Guys in White to attack the two of you."

"Danny Phantom would never do that!" Dash argued as he shot out of his chair. His eyes burned fiercely as they narrowed in a glare. "We helped him escape-" He clammed up, realizing his error. He clearly meant to keep that fact secret.

The corners of his mouth twitched. Vlad wondered how the man would react if he learned how Daniel used his powers to get pay back on the former jock and bully during high school. "I actually meant that there seems to be a random ghost out there that seems to have it out for the two of you," Vlad explained smoothly as Dash slowly returned to his seat. "Daniel wanted me to give these to you." He pulled out the Specter Deflector belts to show Dash. "While wearing these, a ghost won't be able to touch you."

Dash eyed the belts with a certain amount of skepticism. "Why would Fenton call you? Why not get his parents?"

Vlad held back a snort. "Would you want his parents staking out everywhere you go because of the mere mention of a possible ghost attacking you?"

Dash frowned at that all too likely scenario. "Point taken." With a sigh, he shook his head. "It certainly wouldn't help with my job." He leaned back in his chair as he folded his arms. "Was that all you wanted? To give us some silly belt thing?"

"Actually," Vlad laid the belts across his lap, "I wanted to go back to the topic of Danny Phantom. You're awfully quick to defend him, protect him even."

Dash's eyes narrowed such a small fraction that an unobservant person might miss it. Vlad could almost see the internal debate raging in those dark blue eyes. Dash tried to figure out how to respond, wondering about Vlad's motive. "He's a hero to this town, even if other people don't agree. I'll protect him a hundred more times from assholes who would seek to hurt him if I have to."

Vlad grinned. "I was hoping that would be your answer. I wish to protect him too, and as you might have noticed, the Guys in White are relentless in their pursuit of him. Which is why I have a proposition for you."

The uncertainty remained in Dash's eyes. "What's this proposition?" he asked warily.

"As you have guessed, I'm in possession of many ghost hunting devices." Vlad spread his arms to indicate the belts. "I wish to provide you with some of these inventions." He raised a hand to silence Dash when it looked like the man wanted to argue about something. "Think of this as killing two birds with one stone. Daniel may think these belts offer enough protection, but it's merely defensive. I imagine you're more the type to take the offensive."

Dash frowned, chewing on what Vlad said. "If by that you mean I want to kick the ass of that other ghost, the one that stabbed my best friend, then yes, I am."

"With my equipment, you'll be able to fight back against the ghost that seems to be targeting you." Vlad smirked. This man seemed like he would be as easy to manipulate into monitoring Daniel as it was to make that Gray woman work for him as a ghost hunter.

"And the second bird?"

"You'll be better suited to help protect Danny Phantom from the threat the Guys in White pose." Vlad watched the play of thoughts passing over Dash's face. Excitement flickered by when he thought of being able to help his hero. Vlad knew that would be a strong lure for the man after seeing how strongly he reacted to the mention of Daniel's ghost half.

"If he doesn't agree, he's an idiot," Kwan mumbled in a tired voice. Green eyes opened part way as the man glanced their way. "I'll help too." He winced as he shifted in the bed. "When the threat of reopening this wound is gone."

Dash released a soft chuckle as he shook his head. "If Kwan thinks it's a good idea, then I guess I'm in." He frowned and stared for a while at Vlad. "But what's your interest in helping Danny Phantom?"

"There are rogue ghosts causing problems for the living." Vlad glanced at Kwan. "As you've experienced. Danny Phantom is one of the few ghosts fighting to protect us all from those ghosts. As much as he would like to think he's capable of doing it all on his own, even he needs help at times. He needs someone there to watch his back. And who better to ask to help him them someone who believes so strongly in him?"

Dash watched the man, and after some time, he shrugged. "I'll trust you then."

"Excellent! I can have suits made for both of you within a week." Vlad passed the belts to Dash as he stood. "I'll contact you when it's ready." He bid the two men farewell as he left the room. The attack was quite unfortunate, could have resulted in a terrible end, but it provided him the proper motivation to gain the association of the two young men and ally them to his cause. He worried for Daniel's safety, and the young half ghost kept him at a distance. Vlad left the hospital, already making plans for how to best equip the two men.