Danny stared in surprise at the circle on the map highlighting where a number of blue lines intersected. He moved around the table to see where exactly the doctors had pinpointed. It was in America in the Real World. He raised an eyebrow. Salem, Massachusetts.
"Why do we need to do this? We're looking for a cure and infected ghosts, not the source of the crisis," Skulker asked, folding his arms impatiently. He knew that tracking was important for hunting but these prey were already caught.
"Sometimes in order to find the solution you must first have the entire problem. It is possible that we haven't found a cure yet because we need the source of the disease to make it," a doctor pointed out.
"Yeah. It's like with snake bites. To make an anti-venom, you need the venom first," Jack recalled.
Danny frowned at the circle. The doctors needed more information to find a cure and he wanted answers. Why were his people getting sick? What was behind his daughter's impending fate?
"Can we be sure that this is the source?" Danny inquired, looking up at the doctors.
"As sure as we can be my king. Tracking the disease pathway isn't easy but we are fairly confident that this is the location of the origin," a doctor replied with a shrug. Danny nodded.
"Then we need to send someone there to find out what's going on there," Danny decided, folding his arms, ignoring the splint on his left arm, as he thought of who to send.
"It is highly likely that there will be a number of infected ghosts there. This pandemic could have been caused by a handful of a larger population of infected ghosts leaving this area," a doctor pointed out seriously. Danny scowled in thought, nodding in understanding. That meant whoever went could be walking into the lions' den of this disease. So whoever went would need to be informed on the situation as well as able to defend themselves, ruling out a band of doctors going.
Danny's gaze lifted from the map as he scanned the group gathered. His parents were retired, he couldn't ask them to take such a big risk. Especially since they were completely human and so this wasn't directly their problem. He didn't want to ask humans to risk their lives for the ghosts, at least not yet. Ghosts were proud creatures and would not like him out sourcing to humans too much. That meant it had to be a ghost that went. Doctors couldn't fight, besides they were too important to lose to this illness. The Far Frozen ghosts had potential but he was concerned that sending ice ghosts might not be the best idea. The ice ghosts might seriously injure any infected ghosts with their powers, even unintentionally as not all ghosts could handle extreme cold temperatures. Also, Danny was concerned about sending ice ghosts into the human world due to the temperamental nature of an ice core. The ghosts could die if they overheated. His human half protected his own ice core to a degree.
That left himself or Skulker. Skulker was both the best and worst option. The hunter was tracking down infected ghosts throughout the Ghost Zone and Real World. His skills were rare and honed for this job. Sending Skulker on this mission could mean putting such a valuable asset in danger. Skulker might get overwhelmed and infected, if not completely mauled. Skulker wasn't the best suited to the job also because he lacked knowledge of how substances in the human world could harm ghosts. Skulker's knowledge specialised on Ghost Zone plants and ghosts. Danny sighed. Despite his injuries, he was the best option. He had grown up with his parents, regularly getting impromptu lectures on exactly how to destroy a ghost. He knew how to fight. He spent the majority of his teen years and twenties fighting rogue ghosts. With his halfa status, it might even enable him to investigate the situation without endangering himself to the source. It wasn't confirmed just yet if the disease was contagious to halfas and humans. Lilith had yet to display symptoms.
"I'll go," Danny decided. The room, which had been discussing the dangers of sending an expedition to the source, fell silent.
"Son, that mightn't be the best idea," Jack muttered, gazing at the splint on Danny's arm with concern.
"No offence my king, but I agree with the human. You are injured. Even a predator can become prey when injured," Skulker pointed out. Danny raised an eyebrow at the comment.
"I have considered this carefully. This isn't a snap decision based on emotion," Danny retorted calmly.
"Sweetie-" Maddie started. Danny scowled at her in annoyance.
"Listen to my reasoning and if you find fault let me know," Danny interjected sharply, before pausing realising that he was speaking to his mother not Walker.
"Sorry," he added apologetically. Maddie shut her mouth and gave her son a slight nod, her eyes still showing hurt at his tone.
"I'm not sending humans on this expedition. We have no idea what's waiting there. It could be swarming with infected ghosts so whoever goes must be able to protect themselves. So, mom, dad, you're out. As are the I.G.A. and Ghostkateers. Ghosts are better able to protect themselves. Doctors are out too. They're too valuable to lose right now. We need as many medical practitioners as we can get. Whoever goes needs to be informed on the situation which rules out a lot of ghosts. Yes we can bring in a ghost and explain the situation but that is using up time I'd rather spend doing something useful. Far Frozen ghosts, no offence but ice cores are temperamental and I don't want to risk ice wielding ghosts getting into a fight with unknown dangers. We want to subdue infected ghosts not accidentally kill them. We don't know if the infected ghosts there are heat sensitive or not. That leaves me and Skulker. Skulker is too valuable to lose. He's the best ghost for the job when it comes to tracking down rogue infected ghosts anywhere in either world. So by process of elimination, I'm the best option," Danny explained.
The group gathered shared uncertain looks before they slowly began to nod in understanding and agreement to Danny's decision.
"You are the king though sweetie. You're important too," Maddie pointed out, knowing they had to approach this logically, not emotionally.
"Not as much as you guys. I'm an errand boy in this group. I can fight but that's about it. I need Steven or Skulker to point me in the right direction. I may be king, but I'm the most expendable person here. Finding a cure for this disease is priority. If I don't come back, Sam's in charge until either the crown or I can be recovered," Danny retorted evenly. There was a wave of unease among the ghosts.
"I know she's human but she is my wife. If she had ghost powers she'd be Ghost Queen. My children aren't old enough to take over. Sam can take my place during this crisis and afterwards a better replacement can be found," Danny added firmly, knowing that while some ghosts accepted him as king, they'd never agree to a human ruling them. Danny only meant it to be an emergency measure, not a permanent replacement. He doubted Sam would even want the throne anyway.
"Is that everything?" Danny asked. The gathered ghosts nodded and Danny turned on his heel, marching back towards the lifts, ignoring the doctors asking Skulker to help them with the ghosts in the thermos he brought. He pressed the lift button and waited. Maddie and Jack joined him.
"Are you sure about this son?" Jack inquired softly.
"Yes. I made vows when I became king to protect the ghosts and the Ghost Zone. Besides, I don't want to entrust this task to someone else. Lilith is sick too and I have to make sure a cure is found," Danny confirmed as the lift doors opened. He stepped inside and punched the button for the ninth floor. Jack and Maddie followed him worriedly.
"But Lilith needs her father. Ethan needs his father," Maddie muttered. Danny nodded slowly.
"I know that. Trust me I do. But I can't do nothing. Besides, I already told Sam that I'd go to the Real World and let her parents know what's happened," Danny admitted, ignoring the wary glances his parents shot him. Both knew exactly how much Sam's parents disliked their son-in-law.
"Maybe one of us should go with you," Jack offered. Danny shook his head.
"No. I know they're going to furious. I don't want you getting caught in that," Danny decided.
The doors slid open and Danny led the way down the corridor to Lilith's room. He tapped on the door and stepped in, Jack and Maddie following. Ethan looked up and waved sadly at his grandparents. Maddie crossed the room to sit beside her grandson, wrapping a sympathetic arm around his shoulders.
"How's she holding up?" Jack asked, moving to stand beside Sam and peered at his slumbering granddaughter with concern.
"The doctor gave her something to help her sleep. But she's been really brave actually. She's scared, we all are," Sam reported softly, still perched on the bed beside Lilith. Danny nodded slowly in agreement. Lilith had cried when she got hurt and she had looked terrified when she realised what being bitten meant, but she had been very well behaved. Danny's eyes found the clipboard at the end of the bed, complete with a blank piece of paper and pen. He grabbed both and leant against the wall. He quickly wrote down what he told the gathering about Sam assuming the throne temporarily if he should go missing. He then held his hand over the page and formed his royal seal, making the note official. Mentally he nudged the crown which sent a sad pulse through him to say that it agreed. Danny held his hand over the page and the crown's aura enveloped him, finally attracting everyone else's attention. The crown's flames formed in his hand and burned the shape of a crown into the paper beside his own DP seal.
"What are you doing Danny?" Sam asked curiously.
"Making an official document with both my seal and the Crown of Fire's. It makes it not only my law but an official law of the Ghost Zone," Danny explained as the fiery aura returned to the crown and he examined the page, stepping over to his wife.
"Wait, what?" Sam questioned in confusion.
"My laws are only valid for as long as I uphold them. But making this an official law in the Ghost Zone means that all ghosts must obey it, it'll be enforced by Walker," Danny elaborated before handing it to Sam. Sam blinked in surprise and took the page uncertainly and scanned the handwriting, her eyes widening in stunned bewilderment.
"Why are you making this a law?" she demanded, fear in her eyes.
"Because I need to," Danny retorted. Ethan frowned at his parents in confusion. Sam jumped to her feet, waving the page in Danny's face angrily.
"Why do you need to make this law!?" she shouted fearfully.
"I'm going to look for the origin of this sickness. There might be a lot of infected ghosts there. If I don't come back, someone has to take over. Ethan is the next in line but he's too young. That makes you next in line temporarily. The ghosts won't be happy but they'll have to listen to you with that," Danny clarified calmly. Ethan's heart skipped a beat with fear.
Sam scowled at him and moved to rip the page in half.
"That law will have appeared automatically in Walker's rule book. Ripping that up won't change the fact that it is now Ghost Zone law to listen to you if I go MIA," Danny interjected. The original document wasn't vital but it would certainly help appease the ghosts. Sam hesitated but decided against ripping the page in half.
"Why didn't you ask me?" Sam wondered sadly.
"I knew you'd say no. Plus, I can't give the throne to just anyone. You may not be the official Ghost Queen but you're close enough to count. It's just a precaution," Danny answered. Sam slumped miserably and Danny pulled his wife into a reassuring hug.
"When do you leave?" Sam mumbled in Danny's shoulder.
"Soon. I just wanted to let you know what was happening before I left," Danny answered. Sam nodded into his shoulder, not eager to let go any time soon.
"I'll stop at your parents before I go though," Danny added. Sam nodded again.
"I apologise in advance," she whispered. Both of them were well aware of the most likely reaction. Sam knew she should be the one to break the news but she couldn't bear to leave her children after what happened. It was selfish she knew but she was a frightened mother.
"You shouldn't apologise for them. I knew how they felt before I married you," Danny retorted gently. Sam shrugged in the embrace, she still felt bad for her husband. Danny pulled away and kissed his wife tenderly on the lips before turning to his son. Maddie moved her arm away to allow her son to hug Ethan.
"Be good and stay safe. I'll be back," Danny mumbled. Danny then stood up and turned to leave.
Ethan gulped down his fear and jumped to his feet and grabbed his father's hand.
"Dad, wait. I have to tell you something," Ethan protested quickly. Danny turned to his son curiously.
"I… when those ghosts attacked," Ethan began slowly.
"Son, it's okay. It wasn't your fault that Lilith got hurt. I should have been there," Danny assured. Ethan shook his head.
"No dad, that's not what I want to tell you. When I was fighting them and protecting Lil, I… my hand was covered in some kind of… I dunno energy or something. It was like what you fired at the ghost when you got there," Ethan revealed. Danny's eyes widened in surprise while Sam, Jack and Maddie turned to the ten year old with silent intrigue.
"You fired a ghost ray?" Danny muttered, stunned. Ethan shrugged.
"I dunno. It was like one. But it was so quick that I didn't get a good look," Ethan admitted.
"Ethan, maybe you should start from the beginning," Sam suggested, crouching down to her son's level. Ethan nodded and took a deep breath.
"I was with Lil in her room. She was upset because she was worried about everything. So I was trying to make her feel better. Suddenly I felt, I dunno, I just knew we were in danger. I didn't understand what was happening but then those ghosts crashed through the window. I remembered what dad did back at the I.G.A. and I tried to protect Lil. I was using my strength, trying to buy time until mom could come. Then… something green blasted one of the ghosts back and I saw this green glow around my hand. It was gone though pretty quick. I got separated from Lil and the other ghost lunged at her. Then dad got there," Ethan recalled carefully. Sam looked up at her husband who was stunned.
"That sounds like a ghost sense Danny. And a ghost ray," Sam pointed out. Danny nodded numbly.
"But I don't feel like I'm in danger when my ghost sense goes off," Danny mumbled.
"But I did have a ghost sense when I was pregnant with Ethan. Maybe it's delayed. It was an internal ghost sense for me. We thought it was because the baby had the sense but not me, but maybe Ethan just has a different kind of sense to you," Sam commented. Danny hummed softly in thought.
"Ethan, have you ever felt that sense before?" Danny wondered. Ethan shook his head.
"Maybe he can sense infected ghosts," Jack suggested.
"I can't see that dad. This disease is new to the Ghost Zone. How could he have developed a sense for it?" Danny remarked.
"Besides, he never felt it before and he has interacted with infected ghosts before right Ethan? You aren't getting that sense here right?" Maddie interjected. Ethan shook his head again.
Danny pursed his lips tightly in thought he knelt to Ethan's level and charged his hand with his energy.
"Did that energy look anything like this?" Danny inquired, turning to the second power Ethan claimed he had. Ethan glanced at the energy and nodded confidently.
"Just like that," he confirmed. Danny frowned as he recalled the energy safely into himself.
"Then you need some training. I remember getting my ghost ray. I kept firing off blasts by accident until I could figure out some control," Danny muttered. Sam nodded knowingly in understanding.
"You kept hitting Tucker. On the bright side, he got very good at dodging," Sam mumbled.
"Danny can't it wait? You are very busy," Maddie ventured, feeling terrible for even suggesting it. Danny shook his head.
"No. This really can't wait. Ethan's like a gun off the safety lock right now. He needs to learn control to ensure he doesn't fire off ghost rays by accident. But… maybe I can outsource," Danny replied softly, reluctance clear in his voice.
"Huh?" Jack grunted in confusion.
"Vlad. He always wanted to teach me. He taught Dani the basics. I would rather do this myself but, it's not your fault Ethan, but this is really bad timing," Danny admitted. Ethan lowered his gaze guiltily. Maybe he should have waited before revealing this. But he did want his father to know this before he left… just in case he didn't come back.
"Okay. I'll go to Sam's parents. Go to Vlad and maybe he can explain the ghost sense Ethan seems to have. Then I'll go to the source of the disease," Danny decided with a nod. Ethan glanced at his mother as she nodded in understanding.
"Is that a good idea? I mean… my parents and Ethan," Sam pointed out carefully.
"I'd rather get them out of the way. I'll take the Speeder," Danny replied, Sam instantly getting the hidden message that he'd leave their son in the vehicle to distance him from the impending argument.
So… any ideas on what will happen? What will happen with Sam's parents? What will happen with Vlad and Ethan's training? What will happen with the source of the disease?
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
Until the next chapter.