Greetings:D
Gasp! Yes, I decided to go off schedule again! But to do this EARLY for once! ;P
Here's the next chapter. Lots of stuff is going on here. Plans are made, revealed, etc. I am very pleased with this one, and thank the Dragonwell Green Tea from the bottom of my heart! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I liked writing it!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Thanks to cordria, Warrior of winds, Nikki Phantom of the Opera, Nobody Famous, Queen S of Randomness 016, Diamond Raider, Me-against-the-world, Nubecula, bluename, hermie-the-frog, ShiroAndFubuki, acosta perez jose ramiro, SilverScreech, Quacked Lurker, Esme Kali Phantom, NNF, UlrichxYumi DannyxSam 4ever, cariadiorarua, wfea, Kyasarin-Maarukeehii1, Grumbles, FantomoDrako, Shadewolf7, Rob Phantom, dizappearingirl, egyptianqueen777, Chaos Dragon, and Adran06.
Also, candy and assorted doodads to anyone who figures out the source of Jazz's prof's name.
Later! XD
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Closed Conversation
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Your hair's going gray." Sam commented casually as she and Danny walked the short – too short – distance from his house to hers. Danny waved his hand through his hair self consciously, and rolled his eyes up, trying to see.
"Not much." Sam quickly added. "But if someone knows you well enough, they can sort of tell." Danny sighed.
"Considering the kind of stress I have, you'd think people would understand."
The hair wasn't a big deal. They both knew it. There was no way his now-white hair was showing through in under a week's worth of washes. Fading, maybe, but that wasn't serious. But if they didn't talk about his hair, they'd have to talk about why they were walking to Sam's house. And about whether her parents would ever let him see her again. Granted, as a ghost, he could get past almost any security measures they could imagine; but it was nice to just openly date as two semi-normal teenagers. But there was no question that Sam's parents now knew their daughter was out hunting ghosts. And that it was Danny that had gotten her involved.
Danny absently passed his hand through his hair once more, though this time it left pitch black strands in its wake. Sam whistled appreciatively.
"Nice trick. You gonna go au' natural?" Danny shook his head.
"Dying is safer, since I can't concentrate all the time. I'll just try to keep it from fading out as fast." Sam cocked an eyebrow and faked a disgusted expression.
"Danny, I've seen your hair when it's clean. I don't think I can wrap my mind around what it would look like dirty."
"You can be really hurtful sometimes." Danny whined playfully, shooting her a small smile. She couldn't quite return it. "Besides," he finished with a sigh, "I guess if things keep up the way they are, a disguise won't matter much." And they were back to the forbidden topic.
The two walked on together in silence, standing as close as they comfortably could to each other. In only a few short minutes, it was likely that Sam's irate parents would do everything in their power to keep them apart. And despite his ghost powers, Danny couldn't help being afraid that they could.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"The news is true?" Mrs. Foley asked in a very calm voice from across the coffee table in Tucker's living room. "You've been hunting ghosts?"
Tucker nodded from his chair, shooting his dad a quick, appraising glance. His father also seemed oddly calm, though he had been throwing the Fentons strange looks since they arrived. Jack, oblivious to the atmosphere, beamed from his spot on the love seat next to Maddie.
"Does he ever!" He shouted enthusiastically, causing Mrs. Foley to involuntarily sink back into her chair. "You should see him handle a ghost bazooka! And those lasers he's invented!" Maddie's expression tightened slightly and she laid a restraining hand on her husband's arm.
"Jack, I'm sure Tucker would like to explain." She said warningly.
"Oh no, Mrs. Fenton," Tucker's mom responded, cocking an eyebrow at her son, who was for the second time in his life incredibly jealous of Danny's ability to disappear. "Please, Mr. Fenton, tell me more about the powerful weapons my son has been making."
"I was gonna tell you." Tucker cut in. Jack closed his mouth and turned to face the boy. "Eventually. It's just...I really like ghost hunting." He said firmly. "And I thought if you knew, you wouldn't let me do it. So I waited for a while. And I've gotten really good at it. I almost never get hurt, and I'm doing a lot to protect the city. Can't you guys get behind that?" Maurice Foley blinked in surprise.
"Tucker, we're not mad that you were ghost hunting." He said. Tucker stared. His mother nodded.
"We're mad that you lied to us about it." She finished. "Sweetie, your father and I have always told you to do what you love; to follow your dreams. When you got into technology, we helped pay for parts, upgrades, classes, the works. We saw you enjoyed it and we helped where we could. When you started working with Mr. Gray, we gave permission to the school so they would let you start a work-study program at the Towers, designing the systems."
"We're proud of you for helping the city." Maurice continued. "And we're glad that when you started hunting ghosts, you went to experts like the Fentons, and Mr. Gray. But the fact that you lied to us, when you might have gotten hurt, or needed our help...It was a very bad decision Tucker. I expect more trust and maturity from you." Tucker flinched slightly, but nodded. Maurice switched his gaze to the Fentons.
"Did you know he wasn't telling us about this?" Both of the older hunters shook their heads, though their slightly ashamed expressions said that they had suspected.
"We never really discussed it." Maddie answered. "Tucker was interested in ghost hunting, so we made sure he knew what he was doing and wouldn't hurt himself, but mostly we let him make his own choices." Mrs. Foley nodded.
"You can still hunt ghosts, Tucker. And we understand why you had to keep it a secret from most people." She nodded towards the message machine on the stand, which had been full for about half an hour now. The phones had all been unplugged.
"So, we won't ask you for details, like who else is hunting with you. We'll have to talk to this ... Snow woman," she said in distaste, "so the less we know about your friends, the better. But if you ever need anything, please talk to us honey. We're your parents."
Tucker was looking at them like he hadn't ever really seen them before. Both Fentons stood, deciding the three could use some time alone. Slowly, the pair headed for the door. The Foleys were already talking in the other room.
"So I'm not in trouble?"
"Oh, Tucker, of course you are. We'll work something out. Maybe you can ghost-proof the house this weekend for free as punishment. Now that this is out, we'll probably need the protection anyway."
Both Jack and Maddie were smiling. Tucker's parents were really cool. Not like...
They both froze. In their hurry to get Tucker home and help him explain, they'd completely forgotten about Sam. And Danny.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We should talk, Bartus." The council ghost started at the cool, almost emotionless voice that had called out from right behind him. Now that he strained his ears, he could pick up a faint, regular ticking.
"Can this wait, Clockwork?" He asked in a voice that made his former ally, usurper, and now foe's voice seem tropical. "I'm very busy."
"You will be receiving another surprise visitor in ten minutes that you won't be too busy to see, and this is important." Clockwork insisted, floating around to face his council counterpart. "The paths to the future are twisted and dark, and much of the trouble seems to stem from you."
"Me?" Bartus asked, lifting an eyebrow. "All I want is peace and stability for ghost-kind. How is that...twisted?" Clockwork's expression didn't change.
"I know what you plan to do, Bartus. And how you plan to do it." The ghost didn't bat an eyelash.
"So you plan to tell the council that I saved one of the ghost controlling staves. Well, two, technically, but only the one now. Is that it?" Clockwork frowned slightly.
"No. I won't. To do that would be to take direct action to change the future. I won't do that." Bartus snorted.
"You can drop the holier-than-thou attitude. I know the only reason you never told the council about those staves had nothing to do with Time. You could have told them about the staves the day I kept them, just on the grounds of rule-keeping. You could have told them the day that human Showenhower managed to steal one. You didn't. Because you, like me, thought they were too useful to your future plans to destroy. Spare me the moral judgment, Clockwork; you're every bit as guilty and manipulative as I am."
"Bartus," Clockwork insisted, floating closer, "I am asking you to place them out of your hands. If you must keep them, fine. But give them to someone else. Anyone else. The future that I see should you keep them is..." The council ghost held up his hand.
"That's enough." He barked. "I, more than any other council member, can appreciate a good bluff, Clockwork, but I will not stand here and listen to your veiled threats and half-truths. This isn't about your duties as master of time. This isn't even about following the Council's rules, something I would laugh to hear you preach about anyway. This is about you and how you've become so desperate for a friend with even a glimmer of understanding about what it is to wield your kind of power, that you're going out of your way to protect him, even against the best course for your own kind. However, you know that I have no intention of harming your little half-human pet. Time is not in danger, and you will do nothing."
"Go away, Clockwork, you won't persuade me. I made a mistake with Plasmius before, but never again. Phantom and his kind may look like us, and have our abilities, but they're too human to be trusted. Humans are greedy. Sooner or later, they will try to take everything we hold dear from us. And I will be ready to take action. Whether you like it or not." Finished, Bartus turned his back on the Time Master and flew away.
The light in Clockwork's eyes dimmed a bit, and the powerful spirit sighed. Things would be so much easier if Bartus were trying to be king himself. But though he was a selfish, manipulative coward, Bartus did care about ghost-kind. If only he wasn't so blinded by hatred and fear of humans. If only he could see that the most twisted, evil paths through time were most often paved by the ignorant with their own good intentions.
But he could not see it. And so long as Time was not threatened, Clockwork would not act. The powerful ghost could not help but feel responsible for what was to come, though. In setting up the paradox that protected Danny, he had gambled on the future, much like he always did when he made such decisions. True, most of the futures he saw at the time were bright and happy, but that didn't change the fact that the one that would come to pass was in fact one the darkest he had ever seen.
As the infinitely powerful, ancient spirit faded, to return to his home and prepare as best he could, he wore an expression that rarely crossed his wise face.
Helplessness.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Danny sat invisibly at Sam's side in the downstairs study of the Manson estate. He would have to concentrate to make sure she wasn't affected by his power, but he refused to let go of her hand. She was going to need his support, and there was no way he would let her think her parents could keep him away.
"The news is true?" Mrs. Manson asked in a very calm voice from the other side of the room, beside her husband. "You've been hunting ghosts?" From the side of the room, Bec shot her granddaughter a sympathetic look, but said nothing. No sense throwing more fuel on the fire.
"Yes." Sam answered simply. Her mother's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Would you care to explain why?" She asked tightly. Sam was quiet for several moments. Danny gave her hand a brief squeeze.
"It's the right thing to do." She answered finally. "I can help keep people safe. Protect them." Bec raised an eyebrow at the oddly familiar phrase, but again said nothing.
"I was under the impression that we had police for that." Mr. Manson responded coolly. "What we want to know is why our daughter decided that her help was so vital to the city that she had to go behind our backs and traipse across the rooftops and back alleys of the city after giant monsters with a pair of teenage boys."
"Boys?" Sam asked, startled. "Last I heard, Tucker was the only other hunter." Both of her parents snorted.
"Please, Samantha, don't think for a moment we'll believe that." Her mother said shortly. "We both know about your little...fling with that Fenton boy, and we've allowed you your amusement until now. But if he and his disturbing family have been roping you into this...this..." The woman sighed and shook her head. Now it was Danny's turn to have his hand squeezed. Sam's hands were shaking slightly, but her face remained completely still.
"And what about that 'Spook' story?" Her father asked shortly. "I can't even begin to think what that might mean now. Hunting ghosts is bad enough; must you associate with the creatures, too? For heaven's sake, they're not even human. You saw what Phantom did to our home! Misters Fenton and Foley are already forbidden from setting foot here again, but if I ever see you associating with that...thing...again, I will personally enroll you in a European boarding school."
"You aren't associating with that vile creature, are you?" Her mother asked, horrified. "He may be a 'hero' to some people dear, but think of what people will say."
"Phantom is my friend." Sam said shortly. "You can punish me if you want, but you will never call him a thing again." Her mother sighed mournfully.
"And I suppose it would be too much to ask you to give up ghost hunting?" Her father asked, sternly. "Bearing in mind that your answer may determine whether we ever let you see that Fenton boy again." What color remained in Sam's face drained away. She was silent for several long moments.
"No." She whispered quietly. Both parents blinked.
"Excuse me?" Her father asked, eyes wide.
"I said no." She said firmly, taking slow breaths and looking anywhere but at the empty air where Danny was. "If I agreed, I'd be giving up a part of myself, just as much as if someone asked him to give it up. Or Tucker. We aren't some high-school crush. We respect each other, and the ghost hunting is a part of that. I won't hurt what we have like that, just to have your approval, which neither of us need." Both parents were slightly red at this point, and the pair stood as one.
"We expect you and Mr. Fenton to speak to us together in a few days." Her father said shortly. "After we've straightened out this media mess." Sam blinked.
"What?" She asked, her voice finally quavering as the shock completely destroyed her self-control.
"What did you expect?" Her mother said bitterly. "It's all over the news that you hunt ghosts. If your father and I act as though we didn't approve...that we hadn't known all along..."
"You will continue on as always." Her father said grudgingly. "We hardly have a choice. The scandal if we acted any other way cannot be imagined." His expression darkened. "But you will behave yourself, Samantha. Our patience has reached its absolute limit, and then some. We have been lenient towards your excessive spirit in the past, but from now on, you shall act with proper decorum. Otherwise, we will take action to remove you from all of these negative influences. Particularly the Fentons." With that, both of Sam's parents walked out of the room, shutting the door behind them with a loud snap.
Bec waited a few moments, then wheeled closer to her granddaughter. The old woman snorted, shooting the door a glare.
"'Excessive spirit' indeed. If his father were still alive to see what a tea-totaling blue-blood that boy's become..." She snorted again. "You can show yourself now, by the way." She said to the empty air on Sam's right. Danny faded into view immediately, looking a bit pale and surprised.
"How did you..."
"I didn't think for a moment you'd let my Sammy face this alone." Bec explained with an approving smile. Her expression faded. "I am so sorry for the horrible things they said about you, Danny. You've earned better than that." She smiled a bit at her granddaughter. "I'm very proud of both of you for handling that so well."
"I'm impressed too." Danny admitted, smiling in admiration at Sam. "I knew you were tough, Sam, but the way that you..." He fell off as he saw her shoulders shaking. His eyes widened in surprise as she threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his chest. Awkwardly, he gently patted her back and shot Bec a pleading look.
"It's been a long, scary day for all of us, I think." The old woman said, reaching out and taking a hold of the girl's hand. "And making the decision you did, to your own parents no less, couldn't have been easy for you, dear. Why don't the two of us go up to my room and I'll break out a cake of 1920 pu-erh, and we'll talk all about it?" Sniffling, Sam nodded and shot Danny a sheepish smile, which he returned.
"Sorry about that." She said wetly as she let go. "I don't usually let them get to me like that, but..." He kissed her on the forehead.
"Go talk to your grandma." He said, standing and walking towards the wall. "I need to get home anyway. See you tomorrow? I mean, if they let you out of the house, that is." Sam laughed and nodded, wiping her face, once again in perfect control.
"I don't know why your parents can't see it dear." Bec said sadly as she led the young girl to the elevator. "You've fallen for a wonderful young man."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bartus growled to himself in frustration. The other council members looked at him with expressions ranging from sympathetic to shocked. But they weren't listening! If only there was a way to make them listen!
"Bartus," Gregory said from his high bench, when he had regained his breath, "what you suggest is ridiculous. We cannot rally the Ghost Zone to prepare for a threat that does not exist. Our concern is Phantom, not humans."
"Phantom is only a threat because of his humanity." Bartus argued fervently. "You must see that his kind, like humans, have given us nothing but trouble."
"An odd thing to say," Drezelle commented from across the chamber in an icy voice, "considering you yourself once sold this council out to Plasmius."
"I admit that it was a mistake." Bartus argued. "I had not realized that the greed and crusader mentality of humanity still affected his judgment. I understand better now."
"Again, you speak almost hypocritically. What you want sounds very much like a crusade." Greg argued. "Why should we ready the ghosts for war? There have been no threats that I can perceive. The humans carry on as they always have."
"I am not asking you to march." Bartus answered. "Only be ready. The humans grow stronger. Phantom himself is a human loyalist; only think where he would stand if war broke out between us. The Fenton portal has been published, and several new artificial gates to the human world have been opened. How long before the humans look on us and see only a new people to kill and rob?"
"That is blind conjecture." Gregory argued. "Such a thing has never happened before. And for good reason. We have nothing that the humans could possibly want."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sigma looked back and forth nervously in the lower levels of Tower 22. S had come here to interview Mr. Gray and Miss Hoss, who they had been told were heading here to set up one of the expanded perimeter bases for the Anti-Ghost squad. Which worked fine for him, because he had just hit pay dirt. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he quickly dialed in a complex code on his agent communicator.
"This is GIW first general Alpha." The cool voice intoned. Sigma almost dropped the phone. The agent who had given him his mission was the head of the entire GIW himself! Forcing himself to calm down, he raised the speaker to his mouth.
"This is Sig- er, the unlettered agent, sir." He answered. "I've found an ectoconvertor. As I suspected, it was at the tower where M was killed." Actually, the fact he'd come to this tower at all was pure chance, but Alpha didn't need to know everything.
"Excellent." Came the immediate reply. "Our assembly crews have amassed a large array of parts, and we will begin immediate replication of the device. You are ordered to immediately grab as many of the devices as you can and drive to headquarters. S will have to do without a car."
He nodded quickly, then grinned when he realized he'd just nodded to and saluted a phone. "Yes, sir." He said shortly.
The unlettered agent quickly shut off his communicator and lifted one of the devices out of its receptacle, cutting the connecting wires. Wow, they were heavy! He might manage to get three out of there. The agent scratched his head as he set to work.
What did the GIW want with a device that changed ectoplasm into power?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I'm very busy now, Mr. S." Damon said shortly, brushing a layer of dust of another computer terminal and hooking in his laptop. "Perhaps if you people hadn't caused this mess in the first place, I wouldn't be."
"To be fair, sir, it was Dalv that took over the towers, and a ghost that destroyed them. Not the GIW." S answered tersely, earning a snort from the red-suited girl to his right. Between her presence here and the articles he'd seen on the news on his drive over, he was now positive Miss Manson was not the huntress. The real reason those two had been so evasive was a mystery he'd leave for later. In the meantime...
"I need information on Phantom." Damon actually turned and glared at him this time.
"How low do you people sink?" He asked incredulously. "Phantom is one of the best things that's happened to this city. And you people have been nothing but trouble. Whose side do you think I'm on?"
"I didn't realize there were sides here." S answered calmly. "I'm only here for information, to make an informed decision about who and what Phantom is, and whether he's a threat. If I decide he isn't dangerous to humans, I'll have no interest in causing him trouble." Damon snorted, but nodded.
"Phantom is a ghost, but he's also a good person. Never met a better one. As for who and what he is, you'll have to ask him. Or the Fentons." He said shortly. The huntress started. "But if they know anything, they don't tell me." He said bitterly.
"You think he has secrets?" S asked. Damon shrugged.
"I know he does. But that's part of why I trust him. Secrets seem more of a human kind of thing to me." He answered casually.
"I think you've been here long enough." Red said sharply. Damon raised an eyebrow. "You've already caused enough trouble around here."
"Last I checked, Mr. Gray ran these towers." S answered coolly. He'd have to ask that girl how it was possible to glare through a black visor some time.
"I'm with her." Damon said casually, though he was shooting the girl a curious look. "You should go. Come talk to me after you've seen Phantom. Who knows? Maybe you can answer a few of my questions."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Hello, Bartus." The council ghost grimaced. He'd been hoping that Clockwork had been talking about a different visitor. But there was nothing to be done. Vlad was dangerous, but as long as he thought Bartus was being helpful, he'd be visibly dangerous. Bracing himself, he fixed on a neutral expression and turned around to see...
A probe. His sigh of relief was audible. Reaching over, he quickly inserted his finger into a small hole to have his ecto-signature confirmed. A loud beep came from the device a moment later.
"Greetings, Bartus." Vlad's voice came out, sounding somehow casual and intense at the same time. Yes, that man was trouble. "I've become aware of certain...stirrings within the Ghost Zone. I want more information." Bartus raised his hand and called energy into his palm.
"And don't blow this probe up and pretend it never reached you." The message continued, not missing a beat. "You did that once already. This model sent a signal back to me the second your signature was confirmed. I expect to see you within the next two days. That is all."
Soon, the probe was gone, leaving Bartus to ponder the danger of humans in solitude.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Danny?" Maddie called out, concerned, as she finally got home. It was testament to how worried she was about Sam that she'd asked Jack to speed.
"Hey!" Dani called out from the living room. "Where've you guys been?" Both of the older hunters looked grim.
"Honey, have you seen the news?" Maddie asked tentatively. Dani shook her head.
"No, I was busy blowing up buzzards. Then I watched some cartoons. Why?" She asked seriously, flipping the news on.
No need to explain; the pictures on screen said it all.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I think we should talk later." Damon said to Valerie casually. Val winced; she'd done her best to diffuse that little mix-up. But what was she supposed to say?
"I can't really discuss it." She said, finally, careful to keep it formal for Hoss's sake. "But if it makes any difference to you, I've been pushing for Phantom to talk with you about it for some time. He's just been...distracted for the last few days." Damon nodded grudgingly.
"Alright. I won't push the issue." He shot a discrete glance at Hoss. "It would be nice if people tried to be a little more open with each other." Anne seemed to flinch slightly.
"Uh, sir?" She said hesitantly. "There's something I should discuss with you." Damon perked up slightly. Finally, an end to that mess. One less thing, at least.
"Yes, Officer?" He asked formally.
"Anne, please." She said, sitting down and looking at him. "It's about...how I feel about you, sir." Damon started, eyes widening. Huntress seemed to jerk slightly.
"Er, Miss Hoss, I..." He trailed off, not sure how to answer.
"I've gotta go!" Huntress said suddenly, clicking her heels and jetting off as fast as she could. Damon winced. Oh boy...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ember smiled to herself. It was all still here; simple objects from all over the ghost zone. Nothing dangerous, just things like chess sets that moved by themselves (most of them weren't very good players), floating lights, special seeds that grew pure white grass, a drink that tasted slightly like raspberries that would make humans float a few inches off the ground for an hour or so...
"Gregory, we have to speak." She froze, turning to stare out from her hiding place. Not a hundred yards away, Walker was speaking with Gregory, the head of the Ghost Council. Greg already seemed annoyed for some reason, but Walker was insistent. It must be important. Gulping, Ember edged closer.
"You're sure there are ghosts living in Phantom's haunt?" Greg asked in a resigned voice. Walker nodded.
"Positive. They're not living with him, so he's in the clear, but they're in there. And considering what you all said about Phantom and..."
"Yes, yes." Gregory interrupted. "I've already said a great deal on the subject today, let's not rehash it again."
"I was wondering what should be done." Walker stated. "These ghosts are criminals, but to go against the wishes of a ghost in his own haunt..."
"Yes, yes, there's precedent on both sides." Greg nodded. "But in this case, I want you to lay low. Do not draw attention to this, Walker. There are bigger things going on here than you know, and the consequences of this information do not bear thinking about." Ember paled.
"So I should just let them stay..."
"Yes. Leave them there. Consider it punishment by exile. If you catch them here, by all means do what you like. But keep your men out of Amity Park. Things are far too dangerous right now for rash actions."
Walker made a response, but Ember didn't catch it. She was already flying towards the nearest portal as fast as she could, the good for the store trailing along in a sack beside her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jazz looked on in satisfaction as Professor Ba pressed a small green switch and the large room filled with an eerie green light. Stanford's first working ghost portal, and she'd helped get it going. Her expression of triumph melted into worry as the light reminded her that her family hadn't been in touch for most of the week. And with them, that usually meant something bad. Ignoring the cheers of her fellow classmates, Jazz edged to a nearby computer and logged onto the internet. A few seconds later, she jumped up, gasping.
"Professor." She said shortly, striding over to Mr. Ba. The short, balding man blinked in surprise from behind his coke-bottle glasses. "I need to go home. There's been a family emergency."
"Oh my!" He gasped, gripping her arm in concern. "Nobody hurt, I hope."
"No, nothing like that." She admitted, biting her lip. "But several people who have been hunting rogue ghosts with my br-er, parents, have gotten into serious trouble. They're going to need me." Ba blinked for several moments, then cleared his throat.
"Miss Fenton," he said sternly, "you are without a doubt the most talented student I have ever had the pleasure to teach. Your insights into the inner psyche of ghosts and the nature of ectoplasm are more concise and supported than any other, including the teachers. As such, I cannot abide you taking a sabbatical for something that is not immediately connected to your family, and neither shall the school." Jazz stared at the man in hurt surprise. He smiled.
"In fact, I want to give you the honor of being the first freshman to take on a field assignment for the school. You are to immediately begin on a three week study on the dynamics of ghost-human relations. Feel free to choose any city with frequent ghost visitation." Jazz stared blankly for several seconds, then beamed and hugged Mr. Ba.
"This is most irregular." He huffed, then shot her a wink. But Jazz missed it. She was already running for her apartment. If she booked an overnight plane, she could be home by morning.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GIW agent Alpha nodded in satisfaction. For the last thirty years, he had been unable to think of any way to protect humanity from the ghost menace. In all those years, only Phantom had ever acted against the standard evil of ghost behavior, and his ghostly nature assured him of where his true loyalties where.
But that had changed. All thanks to the Fentons. Their portals gave his agents a direct, permanent window into that other world, and now their ectoconvertors gave them a way to eat away at the very stuff that kept the vile creatures alive. Better still; the power capacity of the generators brought him the backing of the government at large. Free power would do that. Besides, it wasn't like they would be destroying people.
The only piece of the puzzle that remained was a way to prevent human casualties. The ghosts would insist on fighting back, of course, so the losses remained the last daunting obstacle to his plans. But even to this, there was a solution.
Records spoke of an artifact, recovered from the Ghost Zone by a human mystic centuries ago. The man, likely driven mad by the strange, fluid plane, had come back a professed lover of all ghosts, and used the artifact for the amusement and education of humans. After discovering this story, Alpha had worked tirelessly to track the red sphere-tipped staff down. Unfortunately, Phantom had destroyed the thing before it could be uncovered, probably because he knew the item's true power. If nothing else, this action proved to Alpha that Phantom truly sided with ghost kind.
Fortunately, there was a second staff. The ancient mystic had spoken often of it, saying that he had not been able to take them both back with him. Only one human on earth might now know the way to get to that place in the Ghost Zone where the staff was hidden. Fortunately, Alpha mused as he opened a dirty cell door, he would not need to spend any more time searching.
"Hello, Freakshow."
