In which I shall wham you.
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unknown20troper: Skulker and Technus are awesome, aren't they? I'm glad you liked the Veronica twist!
OddAuthor: Timmy is back, let us dance! :D Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter Ten: Two Missions, One Goal
Dimmsdale Domestic Airport was closed off as Air Force One landed on the main runway. Aboard the giant aircraft, the President was looking nervously out the window.
"Is there a problem, sir?" asked Doombringer.
"This is a resistance hive," replied Fulton, "Anything could happen, anything."
"Most of Congress is in Portland signing that environmental treaty with the Russians," shrugged Doombringer, "They can't hit us all."
"I happen to value my life, Arlene," shot the President, "But I guess you're right – unless something took out the whole west coast…"
"You're being paranoid, Mister President."
"Maybe."
It had been a heartfelt reunion, but it had been quickly cut short by Atkinson, who had gathered all those he deemed appropriate in the Turner's lounge room and begun to discuss what would happen next. Between him, Danny, Bishop, Jimmy, Cosmo, Wanda and Veronica, Timmy and Dani had been briefed on the world he had returned to.
"So what did the prophecy you got say?" Timmy asked Danny.
"Well," mused the ghost boy, "It said something about Landships rolling on the Cave…"
"Done," nodded Bishop, "Those would be the Director's tanks."
"…the fair will fall down on the brave…"
"Already done, F.A.I.R. tried to crack down on us," nodded Jimmy.
"What happened to the Benders, anyway?" asked Timmy.
"They…won't be back for a while."
Deep in the F.A.I.R. HQ's prison cells, Dr. Bender rattled a cup on the bars of his cell as Wendell played a harmonica.
Danny continued to relate the prophecy.
"The light will return to match the dark – that's you – and the world will bow down to the ark…but what is the ark?"
"Turn on the news and you might find out," replied Atkinson, pointing to the television set.
Jimmy did so.
"…with the President intending to speak tonight," Chet Ubetcha was reporting, "In other news, a US carrier group has moved into the Pacific Ocean to test a United-Nations approved 'peacekeeping weapon'. The weapon, currently aboard the new supercarrier USS Ark, is supported by vessels of the US, Chinese and Russian Navies, and was called 'a shining example of international collaboration' by Russian President Yakov Kirill. I'm Chet Ubetcha saying…"
Jimmy turned off the TV.
"USS Ark," he breathed, "There is something seriously wrong with that."
If you looked over the fence into the Turner's backyard (as their neighbours were doing), you would find it rather crowded. The suggestion that the Turners might be having a barbeque was easily shot down by the fact that many of them wore military uniforms or looked like they'd been through a meat grinder.
Vicky was sitting at the base of the tree, her head still spinning. Her sister was dead, and yet…there she was.
She was now resolved to do two things. One was to beat Chester McBadbat within an inch of his life for not telling her that Tootie was dead, and the other was to ask Danny how ghosts worked.
Tootie walked – nay, floated – up to her sister.
"So, Vicky," she asked, "How does it feel to have a dead little sister?"
"Don't do that, twerpette," snapped Vicky, "You're right in front of me, of course you're still alive."
"If I was still alive," demanded Tootie, "Would I be able to do this?"
She phased her hand through Vicky's face, catching the older Delisle by surprise.
"Hey!" she snapped, "Don't do that!"
"I can do that as much as I want," growled Tootie, "You're not the boss of me anymore. I don't even have to talk to you if I don't want to!"
"Fine!" shouted Vicky, "Don't talk!"
Tootie floated away from Vicky's hard glare. This glare softened when she found herself alone again.
"See if I care," she said, softly.
"USS Ark," explained Atkinson, "Is two times larger then any other ship of its kind in the world. It can carry a compliment of 180 aircraft – twice that of the USS Nimitz. At current, it uses AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18 Hornets to defend itself, not counting aircraft from other carriers in the group, which means there is no way we can get in by helicopter."
"We can use the Spectre Speeder," suggested Danny, "It can outpace a fighter."
"It can?" asked Jimmy, gaping, "I really wanna talk to your parents; that's genius!"
"Yes, very good," nodded Atkinson, "The Ark carries Project Oppenheimer, but it also carries what Showsenhower has been calling a 'defensive mechanism' which he got from the Ghost Zone."
"Something from the Ghost Zone and a giant bomb?" mused Wanda, "That does not mix."
"How's Freakshow doing all this, anyway?" demanded Veronica, "How do they know so much about ghosts and fairies?"
"He's a ghost expert," replied Danny, "Fairies…that's fishy."
"Where is Freakshow?' asked Dani, "We're gonna need to bring him down as well…"
"Showsenhower has moved to Washington," replied Atkinson, "To be precise, he's the only politician still on the Eastern Seaboard – all others are here or at the Portland Treaty."
"So he's planning something," nodded Dani, "I guess we're going to Washington, then."
"…and the Ark," added Bishop, "At the same time. We'll need to split up."
"I'll take the Ark," suggested Danny, "Timmy and Dani can take on Freakshow."
"You're not going alone," snapped Bishop, "We're coming with you."
"Not possible," shot Atkinson, "We'll need Sabre Team in DC."
"Well, at least take Morrissey," nodded Bishop, "He's a good shot, he can help you out."
"Right," said Veronica, "I'll take the fairies to the Big Wand. We'll make sure the government doesn't try to break it."
"We're going with Timmy," stated Wanda.
"Yay! We're going to Washington!" cheered Cosmo.
"We can only send small teams each, you understand," informed Atkinson, "Mr. Neutron, may we use your lab to as a staging area?"
"You can use by backyard," snapped Jimmy, "The lab is off limits."
"Fair enough."
"Alright guys," nodded Timmy, "We've got two missions, one goal – we're brining down Fulton."
"So…" mused Sam, having been forced into conversation with Valerie by Tucker, "How are…things?"
"They're good," replied Valerie, "Dad got promoted, and now we're living in an actual house…but it wasn't the same without Danny."
"Yeah," growled Sam, "Of course."
"Ooh, I smell competition!"
Sheen had walked in on the two girls, grinning.
"So, you want Danny, and you want Danny…"
"…and that Vicky girl sure as heck wants him," noted Valerie, glancing over to Vicky.
"I do not want Danny," snapped Sam, "We're just…just friends."
"Of course you are," said Sheen, dismissively, "OK, people, take your bets, we got cont…"
Vicky glared at Sheen as she passed. He shut up very quickly.
"So, you're Danny's ex, right?" she snapped.
"I might be," nodded Valerie, smirking, "Problem?"
"Oh, no problem," nodded Vicky, "I'm just checking out t…"
"COMPETITION!"
"SHUT! UP! SHEEN!" yelled Sam.
"Right, the non-competition," nodded Valerie, knowingly, "I get ya."
"People…uh…can I have your attention?"
Everybody turned to the back door. Timmy was standing, somewhat nervously, waiting to speak.
"Um…OK, we're splitting up," he said, "Most of us will be going to Jimmy's place until we're done. That's not because we don't think you're good enough to help, it's just…we can't have too many guys."
There was some indignant mumbling, but for the most part, all attention was on Timmy.
"OK," he began, "Me and Dani will be leading some of us to Washington to get Freakshow. We're bringing Sabre Team, Jimmy, Molly, Valerie, Jazz and Norm."
"Hoo-rah!" Gavin cheered.
"Another group will go board the USS Ark and destroy Project Oppenheimer," continued Timmy, "That'll be Danny, Morrissey, AJ, Sam and Vicky. You'll take the Spectre Speeder."
"Hey, what about us?" demanded Ember.
"Uh…I didn't think you particularly wanted to help," mused Timmy.
"Clockwork demands, we obey," shrugged Skulker.
"What do you want Technus, Master of all things electronic and beeping, to do?" demanded Technus.
"OK, you three can come with me," nodded Timmy, "We'll need as small a team as possible for the Ark – light and fast, if you get what I mean."
He cleared his throat.
"Right, uh, I'm not really good at speeches, but by tonight, we're gonna bring down Fulton, we're gonna bring down Doombringer and Freakshow and we're gonna bring down this oppression of fairies and godchildren."
His face became determined in expression.
"We're gonna save the world – the whole world – without their help. We're gonna save it the right way."
He was met with cheers.
Freakshow sat in his office at the White House, grinning.
"Ah, it feels so good to have some peace from all those politicians," he sighed, putting his feet up, "No-one nosing in to read up on my full plans, isn't that right…"
He paused dramatically, turning to the other man in the room.
"…Jorgen."
"That is right," replied Jorgen, nodding, "No-one nosing in on us, and our brilliant plans!"
"You've been a gold mine, Von Strangle," nodded Freakshow, "You and I will go far in the Fulton administration…very far indeed."
