"You managed to teleport. That's a wonderful and creative use of you powers. I never thought you had it in you. I'm so pleased." Ember happily declared.

"I know you're pleased at my increased abilities, Mother, but you've forgotten what would make my case an instant loss."

Ember's sensation of joy suddenly became a horrible empty pit. Here she was feeling so happy that Val had mastered her powers so well, when she had forgotten what this development would mean for her daughter. Like it or not Valerie was now classed as a spirit. And while she could spend more time with her daughter, for Val this was an unmitigated disaster.

Earlier

"Technus, you developed the spirit armour did you not?"

"No, Vlad Master's did."

"So it was designed for Valerie Grey already?"

"Most likely, though I needed to do some alterations on it."

Clockwork stopped for a moment. He'd have to ask. "What alterations were they?"

Technus smiled. "First, I had to get rid of all the Bugs that Vlad had placed there, then I removed the weapons and power sources. After all why not let Valerie use her spirit-born powers. I was supposed to be able to control Valerie from within the suit but for some reason I couldn't."

"Valerie Grey has stated that she has minor but strong ecto-Technical Control. Would this explain that factor?"

"Only too well."

"How did you know Grey was spirit-born?"

"Skulker didn't tell me, if that's what you think. I discovered it when I shot her plasma cannon, at point blank range, into her. She wasn't even fazed. Even humans or Phantom get fazed by that. But the ecto-technical control explains that as well."

"Walker, you may cross-examine."

"What extent of teleportation does the suit allow?" Walker asked. This was going to be the key to his victory.

"The suit only, and just from her spirit."

Walker spoke. "I have new evidence that you may wish to see, Observants"

The Observant's look at Walker's display that shows Valerie's new teleportation abilities. They sigh. This was not going to be a terribly popular decision back in conclave, but they didn't have much choice, unless...

"Were you behind this, Clockwork?"

"I see why you ask, but unfortunately not. The teleportation was Val's own power."

The Observants then spoke. "While grateful that Val developed that power at a rather convenient time to prevent utter disaster, since Clockwork was not behind this, we have no choice but to declare Val a spirit. The sentence will be carried out."

Ember's realm

Ember opened the door and then there was a sudden squawking. Ember shivered she knew that squawking. What revenge had Youngblood planned for her this time? Not that she didn't deserve it, she supposed.

"Actually, Youngblood planned no revenge, he was worried about you."

Youngblood contradicted the parrot. "Nonsense! By the way when's the Red Hunter leaving? Human's aren't supposed to be in the ghost zone."

"She's not leaving. She's been declared a spirit. It's going take a little while to get her realm up and running again, but until that's done she's staying with me."

"So she won the case?"

"Actually I lost it. Ember was hoping I'd be declared human as well. Never quite understood that part, - I suppose it's because she misses the joys in the world, and didn't want that to be my fate. Ember is so linked to the joy and yet she can never taste it directly. That's got to be harsh, especially for spirit so linked to the world as she is. I suppose I understand why it had to be done, but it's definitely a cruel and unusual punishment."

Val and Ember then start discussing exactly how they'd progress from here. For some reason they had assumed that Val would win this. And worse, Val had become a loose spirit without a strong obsession any more. Phantom had been it, but humans could sometimes remove their main obsession entirely. Eventually Val could probably find something that would fasten her tightly, but for now it was open season on her.

"So what did you mean I was in worse danger now?"

"Basically you're a powerful ghost without a conceptual realm. This means you'll have people attempting to recruit you, kill you or serve you. Be careful though, - you'll need to find a concept which works with you, especially since you became detached from vengeance, which happened a lot earlier than anyone here realised."

"Except me."

"Yes, but then you know everything, Clockwork."

"So Ember, which portfolio would suit me? Excluding vengeance. As much as I don't want to admit it, I was the spirit of Vengeance wasn't I? But I don't want to be her any more, despite how easy it would be to slip back to that."

"Well the Spirit of Jealousy is possible but it's heavily competed over already and occupied as well. But from there it's far too easy to slip into vengeance. Hunting is occupied but it can always be taken over. Skulker becoming the Hunter was a massive shock. But you are partially attached to his realm now, so it's the second quickest attachment you can develop."

"2nd quickest?" Valerie asked wondering what the other was, and hoping her idea was wrong.

"The quickest would be ..." Ember looks downcast as she speaks.

"Vengeance" Valerie interrupts. "Right so Hunting is a possibility, but I expect Skulker won't like that. Other possibilities that aren't overly negative Ember?"

"That's the problem. Of the third slot you're most suited for, well, it's also occupied, and you're not going to like this at all. The good news is that there is a nice sub-slot you can fit in, but I don't think you're quite ready for that yet."

"You might as well lay it on me..."

"Protection. However since Phantom is pretty much biased towards protecting the human world. If you took this up..."

"I'd be protecting the Ghost Zone, mostly. As much as I can agree this needs doing in places, as you said I'm not ready for it yet. Still it is a possibility that I hadn't thought of, Ember. Okay that's the basic realms I can attach myself to. What else?"

"Walker always likes an enforcer and recruiting you would not only be useful, it would also tweak my nose. He hates me nearly as much he does Phantom. Skulker will probably redouble his efforts to hunt you especially since you're linked to his realm. Unless you find a concept soon you'll have to take over his as a matter of survival. "

"Really?"

"Why do you think Skulker always wears his suit? He was originally the prey of the last hunters, but thanks to Technus, he was able to turn the tables and take the realm over. Skulker's continually worried that someone will take his conceptual realm from him."

Clockwork looked at Val. The Protector of the Ghost Zone would suit Val. As much as he didn't like the Observant's they needed a hunter of her calibre. Honest as well as powerful. Skulker was good, but Val and Phantom were better and less likely to get distracted, and unlike Walker wouldn't make the rules her purpose. Val made deals when it was in her best interests . Clockwork decided he'd better look up the rules concerning conceptual realms and see if he could find out why Val's was still up.

"You know there is always the possibility of appeal, Val"

"Yes, but Amity needs some protection and my case can be used to remove Phantom from his haunt. After all he's part ghost, and in some ways is more ghost than I am. Unless we can find evidence that links me solidly to that world, I am not appealing."

"Curses! Foiled Again!" Youngblood murmured.