Author notes:
1)English is my second language. Forgive me for any mistake.
2)I don't own Danny Phantom.
3)Thanks a lot Truephan, Invader Johnny, Pii and KelseyAlicia for your reviews.
Danny and Almo jumped a bit at the force of the blow on the door when the male voice impatiently repeated. "Hey, time to go!"
Almo got up and answered the door. It was Johnny 13. He was wearing the same standard uniform that the other guards always wore and he was one of the few ghosts that Daniel became a friend of, though he didn't know about his human half.
"Hey, Almo. Our fearsome leader has come with Wulf for the mass invasion against the Guys-in-White's base. I didn't hear the details, but it looks like we're going there to put an end on their doings and free our kin from their headquarters…Well, if there's someone who's still 'alive' in there."
Then the older ghost saw Danny sitting on the bed and he continued: "So it's true what they were saying, huh? You do have a twin brother who was being kept in their base. Man, it must have been really hard for you. But don't worry. We'll beat the crap out of them! By the way, what's your name?"
Before Danny could answer, Almo answered for him: "His name is Phantom." Johnny was really surprised because he didn't let his 'brother' answer for himself, but he decided to not dwell much into that because he thought he could be traumatized or something like that.
Johnny 13 soon left them after saying to them: "We have to go to the meeting room. See you guys there."
Almo smiled a bit in satisfaction. He couldn't deny that he was somewhat glad that they were finally going to make them pay for everything they had done against their kin. Against him. He wanted to make sure that they received the fitting punishment for poisoning his family's minds and because what they had done to Skulker.
Danny was confused and he asked a bit annoyed: "Why is my name 'Phantom'? If I'm going to be called by my ghost persona, why didn't you say my full name, Danny Phantom?"
Almo turned to him raising an eyebrow: "To begin with, remember that my name is also Daniel. Wouldn't you think that it would be plain weird for twin brothers to have the exact same name? I'm known as Almo in the police force, but some do know my first name. Besides, how come that no one in your timeline figured out your true identity by the pun with you nickname and your real surname? You really should just call yourself Phantom."
Danny shrugged. He couldn't deny that he was really lucky that everyone in his universe was so busy trying to destroy him that they didn't notice how similar his ghost and human names were.
"Come on, we have to go now or else we'll be scolded. This must be a big thing if Walker is here as well." Almo told him.
Danny got up and followed his other self as he was guided through the secret base. Daniel left their room and led them until they reached the end of a hallway which had a big open door.
Many ghosts were also going there. Danny felt a bit uneasy to be near so many spectral beings. If they were from his timeline, they would probably just try to have his head served on a silver plate. But there, they seemed quite friendly.
When they got into the meeting room, they spotted Walker, Bullet, Wulf and Technus on a raised platform on the opposing side of the room and behind them there was a white wall. All ghosts were standing ready to hear what their leader had to say.
The ghost of technology was wearing a grey lab coat, sunglasses and black clothing. He also had long white hair.
When all the ghosts assembled there, the huge room got crowded and they were surprisingly quiet. Danny was going to comment to his other self that Wulf was a good guy in his dimension, but he was soon cut off by Almo who made a 'shh' sound to make Danny realize that it wasn't time for talking.
They heard the warden addressing the ghost of technology: "Technus, if you may…"
Technus raised his hand to a device attached to the ceiling which made a projection of GIW headquarters' plant on the wall next to the ghosts on the platform turn on. That device also turned off the lights of the room so everyone could see better the projection.
It showed that the GIW base was cylindrical and had several floors underground.
"Listen soldiers, as you already know, The Guys-in-White, with the help of Jack and Maddie Fenton, had created several weapons against us and started to hunt us down. We learned that they're capturing our kin to something called 'HHP'. Whatever that is, it must stop! We're not going to sit down and let those bastards get away with such atrocities anymore. They're even building a ghost portal to enter into our realm in the floor B7, while our kin was being held in the floor B5…"
"I shall divide the teams. Most of you will be on the team which will attack the top floors to cause chaos and confusion. Due to the large amounts of ghosts attacking them, those filthy humans will have to send all their fighting forces to attack us, which will leave the lower floors with next to nothing for defense."
"Two other teams are going to go investigate the floors B5 and B7. The mission of those who'll go to B5 will be to release all imprisoned ghosts there and access their data to discover what 'HHP' means. This team will be composed of: Wulf, who must provide a quick escape for our kin; Technus, who'll hack their data; and then, Almo and…Phantom are going to be the backup in case you find more resistance than we expect."
The ghosts didn't know who Phantom was and started to ask each other if they knew him. Walker didn't like to introduce a newbie in such a dangerous mission. Bullet had told him that Phantom was Almo's twin brother and that was imperative that he participated as well, because he should be equally as talented as his brother. But Bullet didn't mention where Almo's brother had come from and that annoyed Walker.
"As I was saying…" the Warden said in a menacing tone which made everyone to become quiet again. He continued after being sure that he had everyone's attention: "The last team, which will go to the B7 to destroy the ghost portal and if possible also capture the couple Jack and Maddie Fenton, will be made of the Box Ghost, Johnny 13, Ember and Sunburn. Remember to capture the Fenton couple alive. If you decide to kill them, they might come out as ghosts and they would just become more dangerous."
When Almo heard the name of his fire teacher's name, he looked around trying to find him. He got happy and confused at the same time. He wasn't the only one surprised by it, because many ghosts started to murmur about him. Daniel was happy because his presence would mean that they wouldn't encounter much difficulty in their task, however he always declared that the Magma Centaurs would never join Walker's police force. The halfa had to wonder what could have possibly made him change his mind. He gave up on finding him when he noticed that Walker was ordering the ghosts to be quiet and let him continue.
Also, at the mention of the name of his family, Almo tensed afterwards. He didn't notice that Danny tensed as well. At least both teens were glad that Walker had decide to spare their lives. For now.
Walker continued pointing to the projection on the wall: "You must enter a few minutes after the mass invasion starts, so you won't be spotted so easily. Be also warned about the peculiar pattern of the stairs in this facility. Keep in mind that everything there is ghost-proof, so we can't phase through the floor nor or the walls. In order to reach B4, you all are obligated to go through floors B1 to B3, because the stairs to the following floor are on the other side of those rooms. After these floors, the stairs become a spiral leading to the doors for each floor. That way you can completely ignore floors B4 and B6."
After he explained, that he turned to his soldiers and continued: "If we manage to completely control the situation in the upper floors, we must immediately go to the lower ones to check on the other two teams. Understood, soldiers?"
Everyone, but Danny answered out loud: "YES, SIR!"
"The attack will happen in one hour. When the hour comes, both teams members I've chosen responsible for floors B5 and B7 must come here for more detail on your mission. You all are dismissed." Walker said.
Both halfas left the meeting room together and headed towards Daniel's bedroom. While they were walking, Almo felt someone placing a hand on his right shoulder. He looked back and found it was his teacher, Sunburn.
Almo was going to greet him, but he was suddenly cut off by him: "We need to talk. Let's go to your room."
Daniel frowned, but he complied. Phantom had never seen such a ghost before and wondered how he and his other self met each other. He couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable because the mere presence of that ghost made him sweat a little.
After they got back to Almo's room and closed the door, the centaur smiled and told his apprentice: "I'm glad you're back safe and sound, my boy. I remember that you said that Clockwork required your assistance with something. If I know the Time Master as well as I think I do, then this job of yours should have taken longer."
Then he gave Danny a glare and continued: "Let me guess, your job isn't done yet?"
"You have no idea…" Almo said to himself. But then he spoke a little louder so the other two could hear as well: "Sunburn, this is Danny, he's a halfa just like me, but please call him Phantom while we're here. He's my other self from a different timeline. Clockwork asked me to help him out, but…let's just say things didn't go as well as I originally intended." He quickly added his last phrase mentally cringing. He knew his teacher could sense his nervousness. He didn't want to admit to him that he let his temper get the best of him and that he dragged his other self to his problems.
Danny had already forgiven him, after all he also had his share in the blame. "So…we just wait?" Phantom asked not, really sure of what to say, but his question reminded the centaur why he was there.
"Listen, Almo, I know I had said that I would never join in any activity of Walker's police force before. However, when Bullet came to me to talk about this mission, I had to accept. Not because I wanted to help them with this suicidal attack, but because he had mentioned that I would be joining them to kill your parents. I joined them to prevent this from happening. I had to impose the condition to capture them alive to join this task. I promise you I'll do everything in my power to keep them safe and sound. I know you still care about them." the centaur explained, calmly crossing his arms over his chest.
Daniel didn't know what to say, so he let his actions speak for him. He launched himself at the centaur and gave him a hug. This caught Sunburn off guard. The teen was really thankful for what his teacher doing for him.
Danny just watched the scene with a smile. But it faded when he remembered about his loved ones back in his dimension. He had hurt them, but he had made a resolve to settle everything with his parents and apologize for worrying them so much.
Sunburn gently patted Almo's back and told him: "Come on, kiddo. You better not start crying. I know you had to endure a lot, but it'll soon be all over. I'll make sure that your family listens to you. They need to accept that even if you were a full fledged—or half-- ghost, that doesn't mean you had changed from inside."
Almo released the grip from his teacher and smiled warmly at him. He was really thankful for having such a great friend.
"Well, we still have some time to spare. So could you tell me what happened while you were under that mission for the Time Master, Daniel?" Sunburn asked
Danny looked at his other self and couldn't help but to ask: "How many people know about your 'job' for Clockwork?"
Almo shrugged and replied: "Just Wulf and Sunburn. They're the only ghosts whom I have contact with who know about my human half. I don't like keeping stuff from them. Wulf took care of me after…Skulker died." Almo swallowed dryly. It was never easy to mention his name, but he continued shoving the incoming sadness away and continued: "And Sunburn here was the one who taught me how to control my fire powers."
"Wow!" Danny said. He didn't know if he was more shocked by the fact that the same person, who tries to skin him alive on a daily basis, got killed or by the fact that he was actually a good guy in this timeline.
Phantom then remembered what he wanted to say to him earlier during the meeting and added: "Wulf is also a good friend of mine in my universe too. And, as you already saw, I have ice powers. Frostbite, who's a yeti-like ghost, taught me everything I know about my cryogenic skills. By the way, does he exist here?"
Sunburn instantly frowned at the mention of the name of the yeti and he told them: "Yes, Frostbite does exist here as well. But him and the people from the Far Frozen won't exist for much longer…They're very sick. No one in the Ghost World knows what kind of illness they have. No medicine had any effect on them. Unfortunately, I fear they're going to die soon…" It hurt the leader of the Magma Centaurs that Frostbite and his kin were going to disappear. The ghost yeti was one of his best friends and was also a noble creature.
Danny's expression saddened. Even though Frostbite from this dimension wasn't the same as his, he couldn't just accept that he and all the folk from Far Frozen were facing such a gruesome death. He immediately thought about going to ask for Clockwork's help. He had a feeling that the Time Master would point to him, in a very subtle way to the right path to find a cure for them, like when he did for Danny's friends and Vlad.
Remembering his initial question and trying to avoid thinking about what his friend was going through, the centaur asked it again: "Could you tell me about your little adventure in his timeline or is it a secret of state?" He chuckled at the end of his question.
Almo decided to tell him everything that happened when he was sent to Danny's timeline. The other hybrid couldn't help but smile warmly as he heard his other self telling his mentor how protective his friends and sister were. Because of that, he felt even more like an idiot for worrying them.
After Daniel finished, he waited for his teacher to scold him for letting his anger speak louder, but all what Sunburn was sigh. "You really should have been more careful, my boy. Because of that, you dragged him into a big mess. But I can't exactly blame you for losing your temper…" he finished, giving Danny a disproving look.
Getting tense, Danny quickly said: "I know now that I shouldn't have told said those things. I didn't know why I acted like that…"
Sunburn raised an eyebrow and replied: "Yes, you do. Deep down, you know the reason why you acted like that. What are you hiding?"
Danny just gave him a confused look, Almo just told him: "He can easily tell when I'm lying. I think it's because of his ghost sense or that he can read our body language. Spending so many years next to him, he learned to read me like a book. I guess that the same thing also applies to you. But you don't need to tell us your reasons." He paused a bit before saying: "I guess some stuff is just too uncomfortable to share." But then, he suddenly remembered how easily he opened himself to Sam, Tucker and Jazz. He also wondered why he opened himself so easily to them. He guessed it was probably because of his need to have normal human friends.
The centaur wanted to have a longer chat with the teens, but he thought that it was almost time for the meeting before the mission. "I guess it's time for us to go back to the meeting room. It's better to get there early, than late."
The two hybrids nodded.
After Almo opened the door, the three of them moved back to the meeting room. When they got there, they heard some ghosts talking. They saw just the Box Ghost, Johnny 13 and Ember McLane there.
"I can't wait to kick some human butt!" Johnny 13 said excitedly.
The Box Ghost just frowned and scolded him: "You better not get too cocky. This is no game!"
Johnny crossed his arms in annoyance and replied to him: "Geez. Why do you have to kill everyone's mood?"
The blue-skinned ghost just scoffed and said: "I just don't want to get killed. I have a wife and a daughter waiting for me at home. Don't you always talked about a girlfriend of yours? What was her name again…Oh, yes, Kitty, isn't it? Don't you think that she would be really sad if your ego got you killed?"
Ember, who was holding her purple guitar, noticed that the three ghosts at the door. She greeted them: "Hey, it was about time you showed up. Did you see Walker, Wulf and Technus out there? I just want to get over with it quickly. This wait is killing me!"
"Again?" said Johnny chuckling, but he was elbowed by Ember in his stomach. The ghost kept chuckling despite of the pain, making Ember roll her eyes. Really mature…' she thought.
Sunburn, Almo and Phantom approached them. The two hybrids hoped that they wouldn't touch on the subject of 'when did Almo get a twin brother?' Their prayers were answered when Walker, Wulf and Technus arrived in the room shortly after them. All ghosts saluted their boss, including Phantom. The halfa mimicked the others' gestures a little late, but it looked like Walker didn't mind it.
"Excellent, you're all here." Walker said with a grin.
He was holding an empty brown backpack in his right hand. The boss of the police force was sure that after this mass attack, the humans would finally learn their place and leave the ghosts alone.
Wulf smiled when he finally saw Almo safe and sound, but he frowned when he saw Danny. He wondered what went wrong in the mission given by Clockwork, but he knew better and kept himself quiet until he could have a private chat with the halfa.
The warden started his explanation: "As you must have already figured out, I'll also participate of this mission. I really hope none of you disappoint me! I personally chose you because I thought you were the best for your respective missions. I also would like to thank you, Sunburn, for lending your strength…"
The centaur quickly interrupted the warden: "Don't get used to it. I'm just participating this one time to prevent death from both sides. The last thing we need is that the humans have more reasons to hate us."
Walker frowned, but he let his comment slide. He didn't understand why did the centaur wanted to protect the lives of the humans, but, at least, they would have more help to free their kin, who were being held captive.
"Anyway, I've already sent Bullet leading the first attack. He should arrive at his destination in a few minutes. I also divided our forces to destroy their defenses at the town, this way they are going to be very busy defending their civilians while we attack their headquarters." He gave a good look at the centaur's annoyed expression and continued after a sigh: "Of course, the ghosts attacking the city are going to destroy their blasted robots and attack just the humans who attack them."
Sunburn seemed unconvinced by the warden's words, but he had to go along with that. This wasn't the time and the moment for that discussion anymore. The attack was already starting and they had to hurry.
The warden then replied, "I'll aid you creating a big diversion for the humans. You all must use that opportunity to go to the B1 without much resistance."
Walker glanced at Phantom again and shook his head. He was having second thoughts on taking a non-trained newbie with them to such a heated battle, but he couldn't just leave the boy just by himself in their base. He approached him and gave the halfa the backpack and told to all other ghosts: "If you find anything unusual that we might need to examine, put it in this backpack." Danny just wore it while the other ghosts nodded.
The warden gave a final look at his soldiers and told his last warning: "Remember. Failure is not an option today. And please, try to come back"
Then he flew through the ceiling and was quickly followed by the other ghosts.
They were flying towards Amity Park and by the sight of it, the ghost police force was already encountering some hardships. Another thing that the ghosts attacking the town were also doing was clear the path from the annoying orbs. Technus had developed guns capable of piercing their ghost shields, but their use drained a lot of the user's energy to do so. However that was their sole option, because, apart from Almo, Phantom and Sunburn, there was no elemental ghost with them.
Johnny whistled as he saw his ghost companions causing great havoc in the city. He had to admit that he wanted to be part of that part of the plan, but he was stuck with the 'boring' part of destroying a portal and capturing a few human scientists.
Ember and the Box Ghost did their best to ignore what was happening in the town. If they kept too much attention, they could end up being tempted in helping the ghosts who were knocked down by the robots and humans.
Almo and Phantom felt a little like Ember and the Box Ghost. While Sunburn just shook his head at the sight of devastation in the city.
Wulf, Technus and Walker were already used to the sight of destruction, but this didn't mean that they were unmoved by it. They wanted peace as much as the humans did, but they weren't going to simply cross their arms and let themselves to be slain one-by-one.
When they finally arrived at the GIW base, they could see a big hole in the building. It was a special grenade, also developed by the ghost of technology, to render the human's ghost shield useless, but it seemed that it was a little stronger than he had expected.
Walker flew faster and met with Bullet, who was yelling orders to the other ghosts to keep attacking.
The Warden said seriously: "I'll take it from here."
His boss's comment made Bullet frown, but he obeyed.
The pale ghost soon turned into a giant and punched the building, making it rumble a bit. It didn't take long for the majority of the Guys-in-White to focus their shots against the warden. But they barely made a scratch on him.
Taking that as their cue, Almo, Phantom, Sunburn, Ember, Johnny, Wulf, Technus and the Box Ghost flew inside of the building to find a few ghosts fighting hand-to-hand with some humans who were wearing huge metallic gauntlets to fight against the ghosts.
The two special teams searched everywhere in the base and finally found the staircase under a door and they quickly went in before the humans could stop them.
As they were going down the stairs, Almo and Phantom felt their ghost senses being activated and red and blue mists respectively came out from their mouths. While the teens just thought it was a ghost being held in captive, Sunburn, who also sensed the presence, couldn't help but to be annoyed by it.
As soon as they entered the floor marked 'B1', both teams were hit by a cold blast. Thankfully, Sunburn was quick enough to create a bright red fire shield to defend themselves from it. They also noticed how cold the room was. It was barely tolerable, especially for Sunburn and Almo.
The vapor clouded their vision and they couldn't see the second and more powerful ice blast coming towards them, but Sunburn, who made a second and more powerful fire shield did, which made the fog even thicker.
"Why don't you stop with these senseless attacks, Frostbite?" Sunburn brought himself to say with his eyebrows creasing in confusion.
As the fog cleared, the entire floor was like a huge refrigerator with ice covering the walls, floor and ceiling. They all could see a frozen door the other side of the room. The problem was that they would have to pass through Frostbite to reach it.
"You never cease to impress me, Sunburn…" Frostbite replied solemnly with clear sadness in his eyes. "I'm really sorry for this, but I have no other choice. For the sake of my kin I must defeat you all…" he continued pointing his left ice-made arm to them charging up.
The leader of the Magma Centaurs was taken back by his words, but seeing his ill intentions towards the others he said: "Frostbite, stop this nonsense! When did you get better? What do you mean by 'for the sake of your kin'?"
Then he looked at his apprentice and he was shivering really badly. That place wasn't good for his health, but Phantom seemed to be the only one without any problem to endure the low temperature of the room.
The centaur quickly added: "You all keep going with your mission. I'll make sure to keep him busy."
They all protested saying that if they all attacked together they could take down the ice being. Sunburn just shook his head and told them darkly: "You have no chance against him and I can't fight having to protect you all. You all know how powerful I am. Frostbite is my equal and we'll all going to lose if you decide to stay here."
They were forced to agree with what Sunburn had just told them. But they also couldn't understand how could Frostbite, who was supposed to be really sick and near his own death could be standing there as if there was nothing wrong with him; and above all, why would he betray the Ghost World by siding with the humans?
Every team member but Sunburn rushed to the door. Danny noticed that his other self was having a lot of trouble to even walk and he decided to help him to run from there by putting his right arm over his back and then flying towards the door.
The yeti-like ghost turned his left hand to them and told them: "I cannot let you leave!" and fired another ice beam against them.
However, faster than anyone could see, Sunburn swiftly galloped to stay in front of the beam and intercepted it with a fire blast from his hand.
The Box Ghost materialized a small blue box-like energy and threw it against the door, exploding the ice on it. However, the ice seemed to start growing back again to cover the door. And they quickly rushed to it and opened it before it was too late.
After they could move to another downwards staircase, the door closed and the ice completely grew back to conceal the door.
"Looks like it's just me versus you, then…I guess this was for the best. I would never forgive myself if I had killed those children…No…I already can't forgive myself just for being here…" mused the leader of the Far Frozen out loud.
Sunburn snorted in anger as he said: "Tell me what's going on, Frostbite! Please don't tell me you sold your soul for the cure?"
Frostbite closed his eyes for a brief moment and opened them again: "It's not that! If I had power to change this situation I would! I must obey them…I have no other choice!"
The centaur couldn't believe that his friend was working with the enemy and that he almost hurt his apprentice: "I expected more from you…" Then Sunburn frowned with his anger rising. "That's the same lame excuse given by everyone who does something bad. I thought that you were above such a thing. Come on, Frostbite, tell me. What made you do this? I can help you! I don't want to believe that you traded your health for your services for them. Be honest with me, in the name of our friendship!"
Frostbite's ears dropped as he replied softly: "The humans were the responsible to the disease of my people and my family. I didn't know it was their fault until two weeks ago. That monster came to me, revealing that he had infected my whole kin and that we would only receive the medicine if I decided to work with the humans. I didn't believe in his word until he forcefully injected in me a syringe with the medicine. I could barely fight back due my weakened state. But…it didn't even take an hour…I felt as if I had never been sick. He told me that if I did everything he ordered me, my people would receive the cure as well." After telling him this Frostbite then yelled: "ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME I SHOULD JUST WAIT AND SEE MY ENTIRE PEOPLE DIE, WHILE ONLY I SURVIVED?"
Sunburn listened to Frostbite with wide eyes. The centaur could detect lies as long as he knew the person for a long time. He could analyze their spectral signature as if he were an accurate lying detector. That's why he could also detect Danny's, because his spectral energy was similar to Almo's, even if there were slight differences as well between the two halfas. However, the centaur could still get a hunch with sixty percent of chance of being right if Danny was lying or not. He saw no lie in his friend's words. And truly, there was none.
The centaur couldn't really blame him. He would do the exact same thing if it were happening with his kin. Suddenly, he realized something in his friend's words and quickly spoke: "Does that mean that…the portal to our world is already finished? We thought we still had a week or so!"
Frostbite just looked at Sunburn with his calm slowly returning to him: "That damned thing has been done for over a year!"
The centaur gave a step back, he didn't know what to say. But his friend knew what to say. "I'm really sorry, Sunburn..."
Suddenly the ghost yeti's eyes started to shine a blue glow and they fired against him powerful freezing beams. The attack made Sunburn snap out of his thought as he shielded himself against the attack with another fire shield.
It wasn't just Almo who had suffered in that room. Sunburn was also enduring a big toll on him just to stay in that freezing room. He had to finish their fight as quickly as possible before he ran out of energy.
Sunburn decided to not stay in a defense mode anymore and he shaped his shield to become a massive flamethrower and started to finally outmatch Frostbite's ice attack. The continuous struggle between the two powers filled the room with more vapor, clouding the vision of both, however it didn't matter, because the two elemental ghosts had a well trained ghost sense and they could detect each other's presence.
Frostbite quickly pointed the palm of his hands towards where he felt the centaur was and from out of it came a torrent of ice spears.
Sunburn felt the incoming attack, however the cold temperature in the room slowed him down. He did shoot several fireballs to intercept the ice spears, however only a few were destroyed.
Three spears stabbed the leader of the Magma Centaurs. One on his right arm and two on his belly. Fortunately, no vital organ was hit, but his somewhat red blood started to flow from the wounds. However, a few fireballs managed to hit Frostbite burning the fur on his chest and legs.
Both growled in pain. Sunburn quickly melted the spears and used his fire to forcefully stop the bleeding from his body, while Frostbite used his ice powers to cool himself on the wounded areas.
Sunburn looked toward the direction where he felt Frostbite and secreted from his hands a bright red and black and almost solid material. He didn't want to resort to that. Not against Frostbite. But he had no other option. He was going to show his friend the true reason why his kind was called Magma Centaurs. It had nothing to do with the place were they lived. He couldn't allow himself to be killed like that.
The centaur unleashed against the ghost yeti a massive amount of magma. The flow of magma traveled in the shape of a huge arrow towards the ghost yeti.
Frostbite felt the absurd heat coming towards him. But he couldn't dodge it in time and he did the only thing that he could do to defend himself.
He placed his left arm with a wide open palm and focused his entire ice powers on it. He reached the lowest temperature he could focus on it and he made his ice arm change its shape and become a barrier of ice in front of him, dividing the room in two by that wall, leaving no breach.
The leader of Far Frozen growled in pain as he felt the impact of the magma quickly melting the thick barrier he created. His left arm was entirely made of a special ice he managed to develop. It could be shaped by his will and could endure much more heat than any ice in both the human and ghost worlds.
Knowing he couldn't keep up like that for a longer time, the ghost yeti made the wall he created produce spikes which emerged from the wall en and expanded quickly towards the centaur, who was caught by surprise.
The spikes stabbed Sunburn on his right side of his chest, arms and even on his horse half. The centaur immediately ceased the attack as he flinched at the sharp pain.
Using that opportunity, Frostbite detached his left arm, which cause a good amount of pain for him as well; and using his right arm, he punched the wall he had created and it shattered into countless small crystals of ice.
Those crystals attacked Sunburn as if they were a powerful blizzard. The centaur yelled in agony as the ice almost literally burned his skin and made him lose his consciousness.
The flames from the centaur were almost extinguished. He was covered with ice barely hanging to the little life he had left.
Seeing the results, Frostbite uttered, "If this fight had happened in fair conditions, this would have ended in a draw, old friend." He then paused and clenched his fists. He didn't want to do that. He felt like scum for working with the humans. However, he let his feelings towards his kin and his family speak louder.
"I'm really sorry…" Frostbite said, slowly approaching Sunburn…
Just when the two teams were moving to the B2 floor, Danny asked to his other self concerned: "Are you okay now?"
Almo nodded and told him: "Yes…I think I can move on my own now. Thanks."
Danny smiled and replied. "You're welcome."
While the others ignored their conversation, Wulf watched that scene with a smile. 'Looks like he got another good friend. The kid really needs it.'
After they reached B2, they opened the door and quickly entered it. They all rushed to the door on the other side, but they couldn't help but notice a weird looking glass chamber on their right side, which was round and had the name "Ghost Receiver" on the top of it. On the left side there was a closed locker.
They soon moved to the door and they went as fast as they could to B3. While they were flying, Almo looked back worried. Wulf knew why he was sad and assured him: "Don't be concerned about Sunburn, my boy. He won't be defeated. Especially not by a traitor." Daniel smiled weakly in response.
When they reached the B3 floor, they encountered just a four human soldiers dressed all in white suits who greeted them by firing their ecto-guns. This time, Almo and Danny were the ones who shielded the others with a green wall in front of them all.
The guards were surprised by the wall, but they kept shooting.
Taking this chance, Johnny quickly said: "Shadow, attack!"
His shadow came out from under him, but remained on the floor and swiftly moved on the ground towards the guards. The guards immediately changed their aim trying to hit the moving shadow, but the ghost was able to move in zigzags and dodged the blasts.
Taking this chance, Wulf also took advantage of the distraction. He slashed the air with his right paw and made a small portal behind the head of one of the soldiers. He used the same hand and punched from inside of the portal he had created. His fist came out from behind of the guard and knocked him down.
Meanwhile, Johnny's shadow came out of the floor and wrapped the remaining three soldiers really tight. Ember approached them and turning her head to look back over her shoulders, said: "You better cover your ears, because I'll sing a lullaby for these crybabies."
The ghosts did as they were told and Ember returned her look to the humans, who were really scared. She just smiled and she played a short song on her guitar, making the humans fall asleep.
"All right! Let's go!" she said, pointing to the next door.
A little box full of small balls on a table, next to the fallen guards, which called the attention of Danny. Danny's attention was then drawn to a little box full of small balls on a table next to the fallen guards. He had noticed that the box was labeled as "Ghost senders". Phantom took off his backpack and opened it; then he put his right hand in the box and grabbed a fist full of them and placed them inside of the backpack.
"Come on, slowpoke! Hurry up!" yelled Johnny at him. The other ghosts were already at the door and they were waiting without patience, but Danny and Wulf.
Danny quickly closed the backpack and flew to them while slinging the backpack around his shoulders again. When Danny reached the door, they all immediately resumed going down the stairs flying as fast as possible.
They all ignored the B4 floor and they soon arrived at B5. "Okay, you guys get going and complete your mission on B7. Our stop is here. Be careful." Wulf told to the other team who just nodded in agreement and then continued down the stairs.
The lycanthrope stood in front of the door and before he tried to open it, it opened on its own, making everyone suspicious When Almo, Wulf, Technus and Phantom got into the room, the door closed behind them and didn't notice that it had locked on its own…
They got shocked by what they were seeing. There were countless huge vials which were attached to the floor and the ceiling. On their base there was a small computer showing their vital signs. Inside of those tubes there was a green fluid and floating in it, there were unconscious ghosts. Or what remained of them.
Several ghosts had missing limbs. The scars showed that they were removed surgically. They had several tubes attached to their bodies in order to keep them alive by giving them the necessary nutrients. Little did they know that the ghosts were being kept sedated all the time. The GIW couldn't endure their screams and pleads anymore. They had decided that it was for the best that they should be kept unconscious all the time, so the doctors could work in peace.
Technus quickly moved to the computer on the other side of the room and told the others: "I'm going to hack their systems and discover everything they're plotting! It'll take only a few minutes."
Then he turned into green energy and invaded the inside of the computer accessing their data. However, it was protected by a password, which he had to try break first.
They walked by the large vials, horrified by the sight of the mutilated ghosts. Danny shivered and tried to avoid looking at them. He didn't want to end up seeing a familiar face inside one of those things.
Almo just looked around, not believing that his parents had their share in these monstrous acts. He walked to the left side of the room, while Danny and Wulf remained on the right side. Daniel halted in the front of a vial with his eyes going wide and his body starting to tremble.
Wulf had to use all his self-control to not shatter the glasses to free his kin. He knew that if he did such a thing there was a great risk of exposing them to a greater danger, because they would be too weak to flee on their own and the lycanthrope couldn't help them all before the humans arrived.
Wulf approached Danny who refused to look anywhere, but at his own feet and asked him gently: "Are you okay, kid? This must be really hard for you. I bet you had never seen such a thing before…"
"Yes…I just don't want to end up seeing someone I know in one of those things…I might never be able to look at him or her ever again in the same way." Danny said sincerely. He knew that not all his enemies were evil in this timeline. He feared that if he got to see them in such a horrible state, he might not be able to fight against their evil selves in his own dimension.
Wulf nodded and looked at the direction that his partner went. It was then that the lycanthrope noticed Almo's strange behavior in front of that glass tube. He quickly went there to check on him, but what he saw made his jaw fall.
It was Skulker[1]. At least what was left of him. Everything bellow his thorax and his left arm were gone. Even more surprising, the small computer showed that he was still alive.
"Impossible…"Wulf muttered as he stared at his best friend floating in the green fluid while placing his hand on the glass.
Almo couldn't control his urge to free the ghost who did so much for him and was ready to punch the glass to free him. Noticing this, Wulf quickly grabbed Almo's fists and held him.
With his eyes tearing, the ghost teen struggled to get free without success. "Let go of me!" he said trying to get intangible and so then be free from Wulf.
But the lycanthrope was able to completely prevent the boy from making a big mistake.
Seeing the whole thing, Danny approached to see what was going on between them. As soon as he saw the ghost hunter in the tube, he immediately took a step back, disgusted. 'Who's the sick bastard who's doing all this?' he thought, turning his eyes to Almo, not understanding why his other self was so upset.
The lycanthrope looked at Almo with great sadness. "I know what you're feeling, Daniel. I want to break him free as well. Heck, I don't even know how can he possible be alive…"
"What's going on here?" Danny asked, unsure.
"Phantom, this is Skulker. He was my best friend and Almo's…guardian. But we thought he was killed by a purple bomb made by those GIW bastards!" Wulf explained still holding Almo. The ghost teen had calmed down a little, but he didn't want to take chances.
"Purple bomb?" Danny repeated. He mused for few seconds when he remembered something he had placed inside of his backpack. He took the backpack off and opened it, much to Almo and Wulf's confusion. .
Phantom searched inside of it and took out a small purple orb, showed it to them and asked them: "Is this what you were talking about?"
Wulf slowly nodded and before he could ask why he picked up that thing, Danny continued: "Well, I found this on the B3 floor. It had a table with a box in it. The box was labeled as 'Ghost Sender'. I thought they could be useful or something and I picked up some of them." After saying that, he placed the sphere back into the backpack and put it back on again.
"What?" Wulf said, really surprised and not noticing he had released his grip on Almo. The werewolf wondered how exactly those little orbs worked. He then remembered bout that weird chamber labeled as "Ghost Receiver'. It all started to make sense to him. His theory was that the ghosts captured by that orb were sent to that room and then they were trapped in those vials. He didn't know how right he was.
Almo was equally surprised by that finding, but he didn't care how Skulker survived. All he cared as that he wanted to take him from that disgusting place.
They all were shoved from their thoughts when they heard the door opening. They all turned to see who it was getting ready for fight in case they needed.
It was Bullet.
"Bullet? What happened to the others?" Wulf exclaimed.
"You'll finally go down!" Bullet said pointing to Wulf.
The werewolf quickly looked behind him thinking that somehow the enemy managed to enter through some kind of secret entrance behind him, but he found nothing. Confused he turned back to the second-in-command and saw several humans in well armed approaching from behind him, he shouted: "LOOK OUT!"
Wulf immediately drew out his claws in a menacing way. He couldn't just leave without Technus. But he was seriously considering opening a portal and sending just the two halfas to the safety of the Ghost World. He would somehow take the ghost of technology, himself and Bullet to their realm.
The lycanthrope was about to do exactly this, but Bullet's dark chuckle stopped him. "You really are too naïve, don't you think?" the second-in-command said as the human guards behind him walked to both of his sides and aimed their guns against Wulf, Almo and Phantom.
"What's the meaning of this, Bullet?" Wulf demanded with his fur standing up, wishing that what he was seeing was not what he thought it was.
With a dark expression, Bullet said: "Why don't you tell me? After all, you're Walker's favorite guard. I couldn't stop hearing so many praises for you and insults to me! Did you know that our boss was considering switching our positions? As for your first question, most were killed and the survivors are being properly kept to be used by the GIW scientists."
"YOU BETRAYED US?" Wulf shouted, outraged. "How dare you do this and for such a petty thing? When Walker discovers this…"
"You, a mere fleabag, dared to try to steal my rightful prestige! I made this whole invasion so I could seize you and your stupid apprentices. I would get rid of you; and they would have more material for their studies. It was a pretty good deal for both sides." He looked at Phantom and after giving a look full of disdain, he continued: "I don't know where you came from, but I know that you were no prisoner of the Guys-in-White. But this won't matter anymore. Besides, that computer Technus is trying to hack is empty, but it has a very nasty virus which will attack him as soon as he deciphers the password. This will end here and now, damned dog!"
The human guards pointed their guns at them and they all fired.
End of chapter 10
[1]Just to make something clear. I never said, as the narrator, that Skulker had died. Only the character thought so.