Some nights later, on the major highway, an armored vehicle is making its way to a lab when a blue 18-wheeler suddenly cut in front of it as two more got on both side of it and one get behind the vehicle.

The driver turned to his partner, who was in the back with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist in the back of the vehicle and said "I don't like this. Something's going down." Suddenly, the 18-wheeler behind the vehicle rammed into it. This made the driver slam down on the brakes, but the 18-wheeler behind him just continued to push him forward as the 18-wheeler in front trailer opened and the vehicle was forced inside of it.

After the trailer door was shut, the driver got on the comlink and yelled "Track to dispatch, transport 23, do you read…" Unfortunately, knock-out gas was pumped into the trailer and both the driver and his partner fell unconscious.

Line Break

It wasn't long until someone welded a hole in the vehicle's back door and opened it.

The person then cut the cuff off that was on the briefcase and then exited the vehicle. Leaving the driver and partner to whatever his employers had planned for them.

The person, Montana, then gave the briefcase to Hammerhead, who was in the warehouse with him and two others, as he said "There you go, Hammerhead. Job's down." He smiled as he attempted to place his cowboy hat back on.

"Forget the hat," Hammerhead said causing Montana to stop as Hammerhead opened the briefcase and turned it to show Montana a yellow and brown suit with a green set of goggles, and two bracelet size devices on top of two gloves that went with the suit. "Put on the suit. You still owe the big man one," Hammerhead said as Montana did put on his hat,

"Friendly neighborhood Demon." Hammerhead finished as Montana smiled at the suit and the job of killing the Demon. However, what they didn't know was that something had watched the whole thing.

Line Break

That morning, Daniel slowly woke up and then found Fixit talking to someone down stairs. Not wanting to know and not sensing any danger, Daniel went along his business of getting ready, but soon he had to come down and was happy to see that whoever Fixit was talking to was done.

However, "If you're wondering that was Ms. Watson, a neighbor to us and her niece Mary Jane Watson" Fixit said as Daniel attempted to leave.

"And I should care why?" Daniel asked annoyed. "Well, I think that it would be good for you and her to meet."

"What's she like?" Daniel asked. "Oh, she has a wonderful personally." Daniel shuddered at that. "In fact, she just next door, perhaps we should just…"

"No thanks, I promised Harry that I would help him study." Daniel said as he left, but not before Fixit said "In that case, here." Fixit said handing Daniel a PDA. "There was a robbery last night on the road and whoever they are, they took something very valuable from that company."

Line Break

Phantom was flying around talking to Fixit via his hands-free phone and typing away on his PDA, which showed him the thing that was stolen. "And what does this thing designed to do?" Daniel asked looking at the suit.

"The company isn't saying, but I doubt if it was for something good. Perhaps a suit for the military," Fixit said. "I guess, but if someone else has this than we will have a problem, a very big problem" Danny finished as he continued to fly towards Harry's.

However, when he was halfway there, a person looking out over the city said "Target spotted…And target lost but he's in the area boss." He said over the two-way radio he had pressed against his ear.

"Ok, just keep an eye out for anything like that. I want to get the drop on her or him before they attack someone innocent." Daniel said as he arrived at Harry's place. He took the elevator up as he finished putting his web-shooters in his backpack which as the elevator door opened.

However, standing right in front of him was Norman Osborn, dressed in his usually suit and tie. "Daniel, I assuming"

"Yes, sir," Daniel said.

"Here to help Harry?" Norman asked.

"We help each other, Mr. Osborn." Daniel said leaving the elevator and lowering his hood.

"Then I'll leave you two to it, I have work to do." Osborn said as he left and Daniel followed Harry into his room. However, when Daniel saw Harry's computer, he inwardly groaned.

I knew I forgot something. "Mind if I check my e-mail?" He asked. Harry just flopped down on his bed and shrugged indifferently. With that, Danny signed in and started to do through his e-mail. "An invite to Midtown's fall dance."

"Which would rock if either of us had…what's the word…date?"

"I could probably ask Mary Jane Watson," Daniel muttered.

"Mary who what's it?" Harry asked.

"Some girl my godfather wants me to meet. Get this she has a wonderful personally."

Both Daniel and Harry shuddered at that. "I was thinking about asking Gwen, just as friends you know."

"Actually I wouldn't know. Ms. Stacy is currently not speaking to me." Daniel said sadly. Suddenly, the computer beeped, "From the desk of J. Johan Jameson?" Daniel asked. "Wow, publisher of the Daily Bugle. Mr. Parker, come in ASAP to collect paycheck for photos of the Demon. Yes," Daniel cheered. However, when he looked over at Harry, he sighed,

"I'll get that later, for now let's begin. Now how much do you know about calculus?" Daniel asked, getting his calculus book. "Not that much…"

"Then let's begin from the beginning, get some paper," Daniel said as the two began. What Harry didn't know was that Daniel had made an invisible copy and that copy was now flying towards the Daily Bugle to get his money.

Line Break

"Did a caveman proof read this piece? Where's my sports editor? I want him in my office in 14 seconds and where's my coffee?" A fit man wearing brown pants, a yellow shirt under a brown vest and a red tie with black hair that had white side burns and green eyes was shouting to a younger woman who had brown hair, blue eyes, was wearing a choker, a light blue shirt and a brown skirt, who was writing down everything he was saying, as Daniel walked up to them.

"Excuse I'm Daniel…"

"I know who you are. You're the no nothing that wasted 41 seconds of my time yesterday." The man yelled at him. "Well, I ain't got another 41 to spare." He said leading Daniel towards the elevator. "But…"

"Brilliant comeback kid," He said as the elevator door shut in front of Daniel. "And where's that Parker guy? I e-mailed him 76 minutes ago and won't anyone get me my coffee."

"Coffee, decaf," The girl said. "It's only been 20 minutes and I'm pretty sure you just kicked Daniel Parker out." She finished as the man looked at her in shock.

"Well then, don't stand there. Get him back." Daniel was just walking out the front door and was about to leave then he remembered, "My money." He yelled going back inside. However, he saw the girl coming out and stopped to see her. She pointed back up and together they headed back up. The man was looking at his pocket watch when Daniel came into his office.

"Sorry about that, Parker." He said. "I was expecting someone old enough to have armpit hair." He said shaking hands with Daniel. "Now that costume freak sells papers so I want another set in my hand by deadline." He said sitting down behind his desk. "You got two hours."

"I'll try, but..."

"You still here, what do you want, a medal. Out" He yelled.

Daniel left and heard the girl say "I'll cut that check for your Parker."

"Thanks,"

"I'm Betty," The girl said. "So, Betty, how can you work for a walking loud mouth like Jameson?" Daniel asked. "Mr. Jameson a decent man, down deep."

"We're talking grand canyon deep or Dante's ninth circle deep." Daniel asked. Betty laughed a little at that,

"See you soon, Daniel Parker," She said handing Daniel his check.

Line Break

With that, Daniel headed back downstairs and told his original what happened. "Ok, fine. Stay out and see if you can get any good pictures in the next two hours. I'll stay here. Tutoring is taking some time, Daniel, the original said back to the copy in their minds.

"Okay, boss man. You're the boss." The copy said as he ran into an alleyway and changed into his ghost form and fell up over the city, looking for any crime that he could fight.

Several hours later, both Daniel and his copy came back together and he was flying around when the guy from before said "He's back, set into movement" to two others who were robbing a store.

The two ran out, activating the alarm system which Daniel notice and then flew after them, following their getaway car. "Great, he's on us." The first man said, taking his mask off to show that he was Marko. "Not too fast, if he loses us, it'll mean no payday." He said to his partner who removed his mask to show that he was Aaron.

"Forget the payday, I want payback." Aaron said as he pulled into a dump where the dump trucks were stored. Once, they stopped, they got out of the car and took positions behind two dump trucks, waiting for Phantom. If Phantom hadn't went to the roof to see where they were and to set up his camera. Phantom floated down and then fired a round of ecto-goo that caught…

"Marko, again," He muttered as he finished trapping Marko to the Dump truck he was hiding behind.

"And there's your partner, again," Phantom continued to complain as Aaron charged at him. Phantom just turned intangible and let Aaron hit his own car and then fired an ecto-goo blast at him too, trapping him as well. That was far too easy. Phantom thought as he suddenly heard a sound wave heading his way. He immediately raised an ecto-shield around him that bounced the blast to the left of him.

"Mmm, I had thought that would come more as a shock to you. You're just full of surprises, ain't ya," A man said appearing from the shadows and wearing the stolen suit, charging up another blast in both of the devices on his wrists. Phantom looked at the man and then dodged another blast that destroyed four dump trucks that Phantom was behind.

"Holy…Not even Ember was that strong." He smirked. Fun time, He thought as he fired ecto-blast after ecto-blast. The man attempted to dodge them, but got hit many times. The man groaned as Phantom floated down to him.

"What is your name?" Phantom asked.

"Call me…well, how about Shocker?" He asked firing another blast at Phantom. This one blow Phantom away, but he stopped himself with his powers and then charged at him, hitting him and blowing him away.

"Nice kick, how taste mine," Shocker yelled as he fired at Phantom again. Phantom was thrown back into a trash compacter and buried deep in the garbage. Damn not again, Phantom thought in annoyance as he attempted to get himself out. Shocker climbed over to him and then firing a weak blast activated the compacter. As the garbage started to compact around Phantom, he had no way out. Soon, the machine compacted completely and Shocker said "That should satisfy the big man." He then activated the radio in his helmet. "Extraction"

"Hey, what about us" Marko asked. "I'll leave you for the cops, but I'm in too good a mood," Shocker said as he fired at them, freeing them, but also blowing them away.

As a black helicopter flew there and lowered a ladder for Shocker to get on with, the compacter released a box of garbage. Soon, Shocker and the helicopter left as Aaron asked Marko "Is he died."

"He's finished, now let's go!" Marko yelled as he and Aaron ran out of the dump. However, behind them a black and white figure phased out of the cube of garbage and groaned. He needed to be much more careful than that and how could he be so stupid. He blamed himself in his mind. He sighed sadly. He was still not that good at the hero thing and had many things to relearn.

He flew up where he left his camera and then after getting it, teleported back home to check the pictures. He knew that he had to get a rematch with Shocker, but knew he also had to wait and surprise a few crooks that he is still alive to show that the Shocker had failed to do his job and couldn't wait for it.

Line Break

The next day in gym, Daniel and Harry were talking about any questions that Harry still had about calculus when Daniel said "Rope, man," Harry turned around and then exhaled sadly as he grabbed the rope and attempted to climb a little, but then fell to the ground on the mat.

Flash and some others started to laugh at that as Daniel helped Harry up. "Guess all Osborn's money couldn't buy a muscle tone,"

"You think you can do better, Flash? Then how about you and I race, first to the top wins." Daniel said to him smirking. "Dude, Parker's calling you out." Rand said to Flash.

My ghost powers are going to send you home crying, Daniel thought as a twisted smile came to his face. However, during that the volleyball that Gwen and some of the others were playing with rolled over and hit Daniel's right leg, his robotic one, which is why he didn't feel it. "Ball please," Gwen said even though.

However, the gym teacher said "Alright, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Line up," He said as Daniel and Flash lined up in front of a rope, one for each of them. However, as they began to grab the rope, Flash smelled something and then sniffed around until he smelled Daniel. He groaned. "No way, you win. Usually when I say that you stink, it's a figure of speech but whoa," He finished holding his nose. Daniel smelled himself and groaned, but I showered 5 times.

It was that this time that everyone else started to smell something bad and knew who it was coming from."Daniel, throw me the ball," Gwen yelled as Daniel finally realized that the ball was right next to him. He tossed it, but Gwen had turned around so it hit her in the back of her head. "Gwen, sorry, sorry, you turned at the last second." Daniel said as Gwen growled at him.

"Parker, hit the showers," The gym teacher said as Flash continued "Yeah for all of our sake" As everyone started to laugh at him.

Line Break

After school at the Daily Bugle, Betty asked Daniel "Dan, are you wearing perfume,"

"It's a long story. Anyway I have some more pictures,"

"That's great. Oh, you have to meet our editor in chief." She said as Daniel turned to see a black haired African American man wearing black pants, black shoes, and a red vest over an orange suit with a brown tie.

"John Robertson, this is Daniel Parker,"

"The photographer" He asked.

"Yup," Daniel said as they shook hands. "Call me Robbie. Any new shots" Daniel pulled out the new set he got last night and handed them to him. "Do you know a Rand Robertson?" Daniel asked.

"Well there is a kid of that name that lives in my house and eats all my food. You at Midtown" Robbie asked. "Yes, sir,"

"Good school. Look, Daniel, the fact that you twice gotten any useable pictures of the Demon is pretty amazing and the photos themselves are pretty good do you have your camera on you?"

Daniel pulled out his old and worn, but still useable black and white camera.

"She is a little old, but she still works." He said. "I can see that, but it won't cut it. If you want to be a bugle freelancer, you take that check and invest in a serious, new, camera." Robbie said after handing Daniel his camera back after looking at it. He was about to hand the photos back too, when Johan suddenly grabbed them and started to look over them.

"Garbage, garbage, literally garbage, gar…wait. Ho, ho" He smiled as Daniel and Robbie looked at the picture. It was one of when Phantom was trapped in the trash compacter with Shocker looking over him. "Wouldn't you use one where Phantom's winning," Daniel asked. "Ha, shows what you know." Johan said throwing the other pictures to the ground.

"Nobody loves a winner. The people are hard market and the people want to see their hero's to fail, makes them feel good about themselves." He said as Daniel picked the pictures up.

However, Johan smelled the air and groaned, "Piece of advice, kid." He said using a finger to force Daniel away from him. "Perfume doesn't cut it. Tomato juice, only thing after taking pictures at a dump"

Line Break

Daniel sighed at that and then headed to see what cameras the nearby electronics store had. However, when he was about to enter the owner locked the door and closed the binds. "What's going on, the sign says you're not closed for another hour."

"Sign's wrong. Come back tomorrow." Daniel cocked an eye-brow at that and then ran into an alleyway and changed into his ghost half and looked around. Suddenly, two men carrying a huge box filled with electronics.

"I'm telling ya, we got to cash in fast. Once Hammerhead spreads the word that the Demon is toast, it'll be open season for every hood in the city."

"See what believe that I didn't cash in his chips myself." Aaron complained. "Aww just shut up and lift." Marko said as they attempted to load the truck they had up.

However, Aaron sniffed the air and said "Something smells bad."

"Still, I washed this suit 8 times already." Phantom complained appearing from the truck and webbing both of the man's hands to the box and sat on top of it. "You" They yelled.

"Now that you know that I'm still alive, tell Shocker that I want a rematch," Phantom hissed at them, showing his eyes going bright neon green in rage. They both gasped at that, but didn't say anything. Then Phantom flew up and told the owner, "You can call the cops now, bye." With that, he left the three alone. "I really hate that guy."

"This is really getting heavy." Marko said as they collapsed onto the ground under the weight of the box, which they were still attached to. With that, he flew home hoping that he could get something done on the suit or getting a new camera until Shocker gave him a time and place for their rematch.

Line Break

That night at the Big Sky Billiard Room, Montana is play pool when a voice suddenly said "The big man's not satisfied, Montana."

"And why would that be?" Montana asked sharpening his pool stick. "He doesn't think you lived up to your responsibilities." Hammerhead said crushing a pool ball with his bare hands. Montana growled at that, but didn't say anything to him at all. Meanwhile, Daniel was walking around town waiting for any crime or Shocker to come up. He was, however, playing with the new camera he got.

I hope this thing makes Robbie happy, but I still like my old one. It's one of the only things I still have to remain me of my parents…Daniel shook his head again to clear it. He didn't need to think about them at a time like this. He was about to walk in front of the daily bugle building when…The ground shook and everyone gasped at that. It lasted for a several seconds, but he ran into the daily bugle to see what was happening.

"Traffic's already online. Lee, get me damage report. Foswell, take the science angle. Manhattan is not known for earthquakes and that was the third tremor in the last hour." Robbie said as he attempted to manage the news team. Daniel cocked an eyebrow at that and then pulled out his PDA and searched the location of the tremors.

Epicenter equally space and in a straight line going uptown. Those aren't earthquakes, they're breadcrumbs from Shocker for yours truly and I think I know where to find him. Daniel thought as he pocked the PDA and then left the office and flew towards the place. It was a dark and empty section of town in an abanded theater.

He phased in, invisible and shouted "Shocker, I know you are here. Let's see if you can hit an invisible target." He smirked as he looked around for Shocker. He found him right behind him and fired a huge ecto-blast at him, blowing him away. "Now, kid, I don't want to make this harder than it has to be. Just show yourself so I can end ya,"

"Now why would I do that?" Phantom asked as he turned visible in front of Shocker. Shocker gasped at that, but then fired at him. Phantom dodged the blast after blast that damaged the columns holding the second floor up. Phantom then fired back as Shocker said "I am amaze at your skills, son, not enough to yet you go. That'll be bad business."

"Speaking of which why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you?" Phantom asked as he flew above him. "Shoot, nothing personal, son. Simple truth is that if a man's a man, then he honors his responsibilities and you're one of mine." He said as he fired at Phantom.

However, Phantom continued to dodge and then shot out the robe the chandelier was hanging by, making it drop on top of Shocker. Shocker gasped at that, but his suit raised a shield and protected him. With that, Phantom fired another ecto-blast at him as Shocker fired back at him. When Phantom dodged his attack, he noticed that the columns were damaged. Well the place is closed.

"You know, it really ain't wise to make a dangerous man look foolish." Shocker said after Phantom shot him again. "You don't need any help for that," Phantom said floating in front of a column. Shocker fired at him, missing him and hitting the column.

"And besides, if you were dangerous I would be die by now," Phantom smirked as Shocker fired at him, missing again and hitting another column. "Man, you had more shots than Marko and Aaron and done about as well," Phantom laughed flying above him. "Those boys are punks." Shocker said firing again and the same thing happening again. "This is my profession."

"You get paid for this, because of that accent, I was thinking cowboy or something like that," Phantom said allowing his Texan accent to show through. "Don't you mock me, boy," Shocker yelled firing at the column Phantom was hiding behind.

"I'm a mocker, sue me," Phantom smiled as he took out the last two columns causing the whole thing to collapse on top of Shocker.

Shocker gasped when that happened as his suit attempted to protect him, but gave out and he was buried under the rubble. With that, Phantom floated down and then fazed the unconscious Shocker out of it and then webbed him completely up and opened his two bracelets where his shots came from and removed the most important piece of it and scanned it as well so that he could make a copy of them.

Line Break

Meanwhile, Harry arrived at his home and threw his backpack at a potted plant, which fell to the ground with his back pack. "You seem troubled, son." Norman said sadly. "Troubled, you think. I failed my calculus test even with Dan's help. Flash's crowd won't cut me a break…"

"Enough, you're parked in a no whining zone," Norman said walking up to Harry and placing his hand on his shoulder. "Take some responsibility. Daniel's not the reason you failed. If you want to pass a test, study. If you want to be popular, be popular. Take control of your destiny boy."

"Harry, life's pretty simple." He continued. "You cowboy up and do what you have to do." With that, he turned around and entered his office, closing the door behind him. "Thanks, I will." Harry smiled as he left as well. Back in the office, Norman said "My apologies for the interruption."

"Ah, kids today, what are you going to do," Hammerhead said looking over at him. "New topic, this Demon, we want him gone. You care?" He asked as Norman sat down in his desk.

"None of my business," He said. "Really, hero saved your hide." Hammer said with his hands on his hips. "I have nothing to do with this Demon." Norman said as he suddenly smiled and continued "I wouldn't have tipped you off about that Tricorp shipment if I had."

"Why did you tip us off?" Hammerhead asked raising an eye-brow at that. "Tricorp is my competitor in the super mercenary field. If their prototypes go missing, everyone wins."

Hammerhead pulled out a cell-phone at that, "Which brings up an issue my boss wants to discuss. Go ahead, big man." He said as he put the phone on speaker as the big man's voice said "Mr. Osborn, we have a proposition. When this Demon battles the likes of the Vulture, the lizard and even our Shocker, he's too busy to interfere with my empire. We would like to hire you to create more…well, let's call them super villains."

"What's in it for me," Norman asked. "Beneficial funding and a ready supply of human guinea pigs for your more questionable experiments" The big man said as Norman smiled at that.

Line Break

When Shocker finally came to, he found himself hanging from a lamp post striped of his suit and in a web net with two cop cars under him with his suit neatly folded in front of him. "Ned Lee, the bugle," A white man said, wearing a blue jacket over a red shirt. "What happened?" He asked. After looking around, he called Robbie.

"Robbie, it's me. I'm here, but I need a photographer. Wait…what?"

"I said Parker was there, already e-mailed his pictures," Robbie said looking at the pictures on his computer. "Got a new camera too," Robbie smiled at that. When Daniel got home, he put the money he got from the pictures into the safe as Fixit turned to face him. "Got something for me?" Daniel sighed, "Here," He said throwing the control chip he took from Shocker's suit and the scans he got from it. "Some sort of a sound suit, see if you can create a copy of it or a way to defend someone from it."

"As you wish, but why do you smell like tomato juice?" Fixit asked. "That is a long story…"

"That has to do with this?" Fixit asked showing him the newspaper of his first fight with Shocker. "Yeah,"

"Well, as long as you don't stink, I guess I can deal with it." Fixit smirked.

"Ha, ha"