Hi-ho! Hi-ho! It's back to work I go!

Sorry for the dely. It involved reviews, and Christmas Nazi-shooting sprees. XD Anyway, this chapter has a pretty dark scene - just a warning.

Review replies;

TweenisodeOrange: Bishop's life will improve, don't worry. I have a pretty...unique way for the party crashing. Thanks for reading!

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: Well, save for one, the codes aren't exactly hugely complex...just look at them for a bit, and you may find them. (On the other hand, one of them is Enigma, so even I can't work it out without help. XDD) Vlad has turned on Grim...but that doesn't mean he's turned good. Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter Nine: The Setup

Danny hid under the main table, trying to hide from sight and looking rather incredulous at what he was about to do.

"So let me get this straight?" he asked into a ham radio they had 'borrowed' from a security guard, "We're going to set these off all over the room, just so that everyone thinks there's a gas leak?"

"Yep," replied Timmy, "I can't believe Bloo came up with this…almost like he's done this before, to be honest."

"Wouldn't surprise me," deadpanned Danny.

"Anyway, if everyone gets evacuated due to a gas leak, Crocker and the rest can't claim that they were here all day, because they had to leave. Simple?"

"OK, when did you start being the smart one?"

There was a short pause.

"I'll see you outside," snapped Timmy.

Danny rolled his eyes and looked at the stink bomb in his hand. He placed it on the ground, covered his nose, shielded his eyes, and slammed his fist on it.

Outside, the group grinned as the security guards shepherded the guests outside, subduing panic as they did so.

Danny stumbled outside, spluttering as he ambled towards them.

"I set mine off," he groaned, as the other covered their noses.

"Danny," reminded Tino, "These things have fuses, you know."

Danny grimaced.

"I haven't used one of those things in five years," he snapped, "How was I supposed to know?"

"Guys, guys," soothed Spongebob, "Does it matter? Now we've just gotta find the Grim!"

"Easier said then done," sighed Timmy, "We haven't got any idea where he's supposed to be! He could be in the Arctic for all we know!"

"Actually," grinned Danny, "We do know where he is. He's in Moscow. I got a coded message from one of his henchmen. Even if it's a trap, we know where he is."

"How do we get to Moscow?" demanded Timmy.

There was a long silence.

"Yeah, that's the hard part," sighed Danny.

"It's not that hard!" exclaimed Bloo, "Danny can just fly us there!"

"Fly?" snapped Danny, "You expect me to carry four people? Are you nut…"

Danny glanced at a small mini as he ranted…and had an idea.

The White Jet thundered over Berlin, maintaining stealth technology to keep it from being seen (the last thing America wanted was an incident with the Germans.) Bishop leaned against the back wall of the cockpit as the two GiW agents hovered over the controls.

"You know," Bishop wondered, idly, "I've started to realise why the Pentagon's so worried about you guys…"

The operatives ignored him.

"We have a blip on radar," announced Operative O.

"If this is another helicopter, I swear…" began Bishop.

"Negative," replied K, "It's too small. I believe this is Phantom."

Bishop looked out the window.

His jaw dropped.

Danny Phantom was soaring above the clouds, far into the distance. He was carrying a mini above his, and was managing to keep with the speed of the aircraft.

"Visual ID on Phantom," nodded K, "Prepare the missiles, we're bringing him down."

"Down?" snapped Bishop, "How do you know there isn't anyone in that car?"

"Heat signatures are picking up four non-ectoplasmic entities," agreed O, "Recommend firing regardless. The end justifies the means."

Bishop slapped him.

"You'd risk civilian casualties to take down one ghost?" he thundered, "Damn it, operative, this isn't a Western! You're not a Texas Ranger, and you do not get to make this decision!"

"The Marine Corps does not hold authority over the GiW," argued O, "Preparing to fire in three…two…"

K turned to his comrade.

"Belay that," he ordered, "We'll tail him. Try to catch him on his own."

O stared for a moment, before nodding.

Following Phantom, they thundered across the Polish border, away from Germany and into the eastern twilight.

It was funny how magic could modify things.

Merc was listening to a modified MP3 player, which was picking up the GiW's communications. His eyes widened as he realised where they were going.

"He's gonna try to take on Grim," he shuddered, "Kid won't last five seconds…"

Quickly but covertly, he waved his wand.

"Attention passengers," the pilot radioed from the cockpit, "Due to massive fog over Central Europe, we are diverting to Moscow Domodedovo International. Connection flights will be available. We apologise for the inconvenience."

"How are we supposed to get to Timmy now?" exclaimed Mrs. Turner.

"Oh…uh…I just got an update from the…the District Attorney!" replied Merc, quickly, "Timmy's been roped by the Moscow Police, h-he'll be fine."

"Oh," nodded Mr. Turner, "That's convenient. Lucky us! Lucky, lucky us!"

Merc nodded, wiping some sweat from his brow. He could only speed the plane up so much before people noticed. He simply had to hope that they got to Timmy before Grim.

"You're all complete idiots," snapped Grim.

He paced the video conference room as Crocker and Spectra hurriedly tried to explain themselves.

"I-it's not our fault," quivered Crocker, "There was a gas-leak. We only just got out of questioning for it!"

Grim sighed.

"Wait for Plankton to get out, and get over here," he ordered, "The rest can spend the whole night with the Germans, for all I care."

"Yes sir," nodded Spectra, far cooler then her associate, "I can get them there."

She assumed her shadow form for a few seconds, causing Crocker to give a startled yelp and edge away.

"Very good," sighed Grim, "Cut the transmission."

The video feed was cut.

Grim sat his chair and placed his head in his hands. It had been an exhausting day, but everything was coming to a head.

"Ovard, what the hell are you doing here? You've already ruined me. What do want now?"

Grim's expression changed as another memory of his father entered his head.

"That's no way to treat your betters, Augustus. I'm here for a little…resolution with my past."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

This time, Grim was not anguished, or even irritated. A little grin crossed his face.

"The company doesn't need you anymore, Augustus."

"You've already deposed me, Ovard. You can't do that twice."

"I've cut the video feed. I suppose you know what happens next."

He takes out the gun.

Grim sits back, his eyes filled with mirth.

"What the hell is this? Why are you doing this? I'm your father, Ovard, please!"

"Father?"

"Please! Have mercy, Ovard! I don't…"

"You want mercy, do you? …this is mercy."

He pulls the trigger.

Grim gave a laugh. It was an eerie, soulless laugh that echoed throughout the fortress as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Down in the dungeon, Tootie feared for her life.

The Masked Girl stood outside the function hall. She gave a grin, invisible beyond the plastic facade. Timmy hadn't needed her help – yet. He hadn't know, but she'd known him for a long time now.

And his friend, the bald one – he knew who she was. He'd provided her with a few choice gadgets. He'd been far more helpful then she'd ever expected…and he had grown closer then she'd ever expected, to.

But this was not about Timmy or AJ, not deep down.

Now it was time to move against the man who had so wronged her family.

The Masked Girl slunk into the shadows, and with an electrical hum, she vanished without a trace.

I think Grim may be the most utterly inhuman villain I've ever written - and I wrote for Dan. What do you think?