Living Ghost

by Green Tima

AnimorphDP crossover what happens when the most important person in your life is dead? What else you go see the experts. Ch 28 29. The past and future are faced by our heros, some prosper, others fall.

25. A small pain in the tail p2

DP Style

Enough hours had passed for Tobias to wake up, his body feeling better for the most part, the fatigue largely diminished, the others still debating how to deal with what was going on. Equally dividing the argument between the damage to the mall and the need to hunt down Skulker.

"He's out of control," Jazz hissed.

"We've establish that sis," leaning into his bed, his arms folded over his chest.

Glancing out the window, "shame we couldn't have taken it outside."

"Can you stop with that Sam," Danny not in the mood, "it wasn't an option, at least not when Skulker and his pack of psycho mutts showed up."

Sighing, "is there really a point to this it's not like anyone could've predicted he'd show up at the mall of all places, every other place has been outside. For that matter how'd he even know where we were to begin with," the boy tapping on his PDA.

(He's tracking us, or at least one of us, he's a hunter, so are the wolves, it's not surprising, but coming inside was as much a detriment to them as it was us. I don't think it was planned, I think with everything

that happened they might've been forced into it.)

"Thank you Mr. Predator, that doesn't help us," Sam still looking out the window.

(It might, it lets us know to stay away from places like that, or at the very least within easy reach of a door, then again he might decide to use the people to his advantage from now on, at which point he's even more dangerous now than he was before.)

Tucker raised his hand, "anyone else hearing 'don't go to school'l?" getting glares from the others, "right I know shut up Tucker, I'm getting really tired of that."

Sliding off the bed and putting an arm around his friend, "actually I'm with him we shouldn't be going to school while Skulker's after us, I'm thinking a good month or so."

Sam hit him upside the head before the others could get over to him, "we're not letting this go on for a month."

"Worth a shot," shrugging and dropping back on his bed, "so as long as we agree we need to stop these guys any idea how to get them to come out?"

"Given his routine wait till tomorrow that's all it will really take."

Growling under her breath for a moment Jazz spoke, her voice calm and even but with an undeniable snarl to it, "we're not waiting Sam, not if something like this can happen again, we have to stop him as soon as possible. If that means we have to become the hunters then so be it, but this guy has crossed a line and he has to be taken out."

"Let me guess you ripped that off form a movie," the words just slipping out of Tuckers mouth.

Sam cut Jazz off before she could respond, "he's right your starting to sound like your parents and not in a good way."

(She's right if we do this we have to be calm and focused, this can't be about revenge.)

"Says Captain Ahab who chases his little white whales."

(Ok I probably deserve that,) looking at the redhead, (but I was right about them being pains in the tail, they were at least partially responsible for this.)

"And they have a contract out on him don't forget that, sounds like these guys are bad news to me."

(Thank you Danny, someone else with the Fenton name gets it.)

Covering his face with her hand, "just because you were right doesn't mean you weren't obsessing about something you didn't understand."

(Take your hand away from my beck or you'll be missing a finger.)

Growling and rubbing the top of his head, "don't threaten me birdie you might not win."

"It's nice to see them finally getting along again," her brother smiling.

"KIDS GET DOWN HERE!" Jack roared.

Jazz and Tobias froze looking at each other, (that was creepy for somebody else right?)

The redhead nodded, "I always knew my room was bugged."

"KIDS DOWN HERE NOW!"

"Right coming," putting the bird on the ground, the four bolting down, Tobias staying at the top of the stairs and listening to everything below him.

They came down to find the two ghost hunter gearing up for combat, "THE GHOST SCUMS BACK," checking the gauges of a large weapon.

Maddie was checking her own weapon, "what your father means is the ghost and his wolves showed back up and we're going to go after him, you kids stay her. Jasmine your in charge, keep them safe, call Sam and Tuckers parents and tell them they're staying here till this is over. With luck we'll catch the ghost boy as well."

"YEAH AND MAYBE THAT FREAKY GHOST BIRD TOO AND THE MONKEY!"

At that Jazz had to control her desire to do something stupid, "and how do you know this," keeping her voice as even as she could.

Throwing a thumb behind him, "IT'S ON TV, NOW BE GOOD," grabbing his wife and running out of the house.

As soon as the door slammed all four dropped down in front of the TV, Tobias flying down and landing on the back of a chair. "Well so much for waiting," twin rings running over Danny as he watched Skulker fly over the city and launch blasts of weapons at various buildings.

"It's kind of like what Technus did but on a smaller scale."

"Yeah I'll be sure to tell him that Tuck," Sam shifting into her hunter garb, "so anyone for stopping this guy before this gets out of hand?"

"Sounds good to me," feathers sprouting from Jazz's body.

"On it," Danny grabbing the girls and rising into the sky, "be back for you guys in a second."

(Question,) the bird staring at the screen, (is he suppose to be moving like that?)

Coming back down, "moving like what?"

Nodding his head forward, (that, I haven't gone up against him much be his movements seemed smoother the last few times.)

Tucker moved closer and pulled up a recording on his PDA from before everything started. After studying them for a second and looked back at them, "he's right, the movements are all wrong and the right leg isn't even moving."

(And the wolves are gone,) pointing out what he'd originally first noticed, (not to mention the hole in his chest is still there.)

(You think this means something birdie?)

Puffing himself up, (it means what I've been saying all along, those little buggers are going to make us nuts.)

Flapping over to him, (hello again Ahab,) hitting him with a wing, (seriously birdie you have to get over this.)

(Helmacrons up the nose, nearly killed Marco, you expect me to believe they couldn't swarm inside this guys body and take over him. He's just a machine and despite everything else they can build ships that transverse the galaxy, that think can be much more complicated.)

Danny looked from the TV to the birds and back, "I think your reaching there rat breath."

"We are the mighty Helmacrons Empire, rulers of the cosmos, bow before us and prepare for you rightful place as slaves licking our boots! Surrender slaves or be rendered dead by your great superiors who are without equal! All males are scum, you are scum there fore males and slaves, surrender the power source and enemy of the empire, give us they who change forms and your enslavement will be filled with as little death and torture as possible!" The voice came from the screen as Skulker screamed in his own voice, but obviously not in control.

He looked at them, (so still think I'm nuts?)

Jazz hit him on the back of the head with her wing, (no one likes a show off birdie.)

"How do you do that," Tucker looking back at him.

(Because I've dealt with them before and I know their insane mind, so anyone know how to blow up that suit?)

"Well the first model was taken out by a gorilla, by it's been beefed up since then so not really," Danny thinking back.

Tapping his PDA, "we could get the Eclipse and just open fire till there's nothing left."

"And they could take over it like that took over Skulker," Sam pointed out checking her gun, making sure the charge would be enough.

(In other words you don't know right?)

"Pretty much sis."

(Which means I'm going to have to go in and take them out one by one,) flapping off the chair to the TV and bending over and staring at it. (Ok I'm going to need a lift to get in there,) examining the hole as best he could, (most insects will do the job, they're the right size, well bigger than I need really, but better that than to small.)

At that Sam snapped her fingers, "I might have something."

(Unless it's a can of super bug spray I don't care.)

"Actually it might be a way of getting you help," looking over at the half ghost, "does that thing your dad was working on actually work?"

Spreading his arms out a blank look on his face, "my parents make a lot of crap Sam, you need to be a little more specific."

"The shrink ray," folding her arms.

(The what,) snapping his head up.

Floating back, "whoa wait pause, that thing doesn't work," doing the time out motion with his hands, "and I mean at all."

Looking from Danny to Jazz, (why do your parents have a shrink ray and more importantly why am I just now hearing about it?)

"Mainly because it doesn't work."

"How do you know that thought, last time you talked about it you only said you weren't sure."

"Well we still aren't sure Sam mostly because we can't find anything."

Pulling Tucker up, "so let him run a quick test see if it works, if we can do this lets go ahead and do it we have nothing to lose."

"People are getting hurt Sam, we can't wait around for something that won't work."

"And if we can't get through his armor we won't be able to stop these guys so that needs to be the primary things we need to work on."

"And if we die when we get shot by this thing?"

(Then test it on me,) the bird cutting them, (let it rip, let me see what happens, I got the best chance of surviving anyway and if something does go wrong unlike you people aren't going to look for me.)

That got Jazz's attention, (birdie that's not true.)

(Aside from you four, your parents….maybe, Nikki other than that no ones going to look for me.)

"How about," Tucker jumping in the middle, "I actually see if this things works before we go to far into this argument. Like Danny says we have to do this fast, the more time we waste the worse things are going to be for all those other people."

Danny's eyes glowed the others knowing an argument was coming, but stopped what Sam put a hand on his shoulder, exuding a calming influence on him. "Alright but make it fast," grabbing Tucker and phasing upstairs to the command center, the others following on foot.

After a few minutes and examining the device with his PDA and using it on a pen on the table Tucker looked up at them. "Ok it does work, I'm not seeing any problems but we're not using living matter in the tests, I think I can adjust the size, give me maybe two minutes, and there's a lot I don't know here so don't hold me to anything."

"Just say the words Tuck will it work," her mask off and tucked into her belt.

Shrugging and tapping his PDA, "I have no idea Sam, it might but I'm not sure."

"Alright lets fire it up," Jazz clapping her hands, having already demorphed, while Tucker pried open a panel on the Fenton Crammer and poked around with a screwdriver.

(Your not coming,) Tobias snapping watching Tucker closely.

"Why not, your going to need all the help you can get."

Nodding, (inside and out, look I've been shrunk before and I know one thing from it if nothing else, communication is really hard at those sizes.)

She ran that over in her head for a second, "you lost me," her brother and Sam adding a few words of agreement.

(We'll be really small which means out voices will be really small and I'm not sure we can count on technology to balance things out. By the same token the people that are normal sized will have voices are going to have voices that can barely be understood some times. Thought speech isn't effected or at least wasn't the last time it happened, which means we need a person on each side to talk to the other, and since we're the only two here I think that limits us.)

"Then I'll go, you stay."

Shaking his head and turning around to look at her, (I've been this size before, I know the rules to it, it's better if I go.)

"Rules," Sam asking, between nervous and excited.

(Jump higher, run faster, super strength, can't be hurt by falls from pretty much any height, it's complicated.)

"You joking?"

(Worked last time Sam, something about, being smaller makes your muscles more effective, I don't know Cassie understood it better than I do, I just know it works.)

Sam throw up her hand, "I'm in, I'll be with the bird, you guys have fun with the outside I'll be on the inside."

(You sure?)

Sitting down next to him, "I'm sure," whispering so only he could hear, "that and I don't want to deal with Val and you know she's going to show up, this just gives me an excuse."

Still looking at his PDA, "then you two can have fun, I'll monitor you guys from here, maybe take the Eclipse and help Danny and Jazz as best I can."

(Actually your coming with us.)

At the announcement Tucker dropped his PDA and fumbled for it, grabbing it firmly just before it hit the ground, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M GOING WITH YOU!"

Looking up at Sam, (we're going to be in a giant machine and I've only done that a few times,) still staring at Sam, (but I don't know squat about the inside of this guy or even a toaster for that matter.) Looking at Tucker, (you on the others hand know just about everything when it comes to machines and have a device that can hack into just about any device on this planet so I think we need you.)

Pointing at the Crammer, "and whose going to work this then?"

"I'm guessing anyone can pull the trigger and if something goes wrong Nikki can be here in maybe ten minutes," Sam threw out.

(Pretty much, beside we'll need someone monitoring us while we're in there and you're the best qualified.)

Hanging his head in defeat, "I don't believe this."

Waking over to him and putting an arm around him, "well you were complaining about not being respected and appreciated for you skills," a sickeningly sweet smile on Sam's face.

"This is not what I meant," he whined.

(To bad, your in, pull the trigger lets get this over with.)

"I hate you all, can't we get Nikki to do this?"

"Nonviolent," Sam saying it before Tobias could, "we need you since you have no morals."

Turning back to the machine and doing the final few adjustments, "I don't even want to know what that means, I really don't," tinkering a little more, "you did say they were a sixteenth of an inch high right?"

(Bingo.)

"So how high do you want to be?"

(Given we don't know the inside of the, I'm thinking the same height, any more and we might not be able to get around which makes what we're trying to do pointless.)

Rolling his eyes and making the final adjustments and slamming the panel down, "great we'll be the same size as those nut jobs. Can I at least get the Eclipse down here, give me a little protecting?"

Jazz threw him a Fenton Peeler, "all the weapons you can need," then looking at Tobias, "this is a bad idea birdie, I mean it makes no real sense."

(Hey if I could use the anteater body I would but we have to get into that suit, and unless someone has a better idea this is all we have. Besides if we fail that's why you guys are out here, to save out butts if things go bad.)

"And now I want to stay here even more."

"Shut up Tucker," looking at the bird, "any idea how we're going to get inside?"

Looking at Jazz, (someone well have to fly us up after we shrink from there well, it's up to luck and Tucker to guide us.)

"You're dead."

"Thanks a lot Danny," giving him the Fenton Crammer, "look pull the trigger and lets get this over with before sanity comes into play."

Pointing the weapon at them while the three got as close together as they could, "you sure this is the going to work?"

"Nope, but if it doesn't your going to have a real mess to clean up."

Sam's eyes grew wide, "and I thought Tobias said the scary stuff."

"You guys sure about this."

(Just pull the trigger man.)

---

Tobias POV

By the time the bright light faded I was in the realm of the giants again and what was in reality only a few feet from them, but now seemed far longer. (Time to get going,) spreading my wings and flapping getting further now than I had before, simply powering through the dead air and swooping onto Tucker, literally.

"AAHHH MONSTER," as I tore him off the ground and pulled him into the sky.

Flapping and heading off to Sam, (cool it, it's just me,) winging over to Sam.

"C…r…a…p," speaking it slowly, "what happened to you?"

Given I was the same size as he was that was a good question, "let me find Sam first," putting him down a moment later and landing next to them, now at their eye level, essentially a giant micro hawk.

Sam looked me up and down, while sitting on her board, letting it just float there, "of all the….why are you huge?"

(Best guess when he set the size it shark everything to that size instead of keeping thing in proportion to what was hit.)

"Which makes you huge?"

(Yep, think of it this way, I can fly Tucker around if I have to now, and my other forms should be in proportion to this size, which means I can become a really big cat, or a really small flea.)

"Cat yes, flea no, any idea how to do things from here."

I scanned the sky, trying to place the others, my eyes still much better than the others but it was still hard to distinguish things from this height. Finally I picked out the shoes of the others, (guys,) calling up the legs, (turn to the left and take a few steps forward I'll tell you to stop when your close enough.) I looked back to the others, (there's going to be an earthquake now.)

"What," Tucker looker around as the feet started moving, the floor under us shaking violently.

I kept the hawk in me down as the room shook, (another step, watching the feet come down,) a blast of air that could keep me flying for a week coming off the foot as it hit the ground. A quick look back saw Sam spinning out of control from the wave before gaining control of her board. (Ok and stop, give us a hand, we'll get on, and be careful not to such us.)

The rumbling began a moment later, from where we were it sounded like thunder and the roar of an angry god, "what is that," Sam zooming up next to me.

(That would be Danny,) as the hand came down next to us, (like I said when your this small it's hard to understand some things.)

(You guys ok birdie,) Jazz hitting me, in what form I couldn't say.

I swooped down on Tucker and moved him to the hand, Sam on my tail, (I'm here, so are the rest of us and for the most part we're ok.)

(Most part,) doing little to hide the nervousness in her voice.

(Tucker screwed up a few things, we're all the same height, other than that it doesn't really matter, we can still get this done.)

A new rumble filled the air for a dew seconds then Jazz cut back in, (Danny wants to know how we're going to do this and hang on.)

"What does she mean going," Tucker asked looking around.

Feeling the flesh under us rumble, (take a wild guess,) the world going dark as he shut his hand over us and from what I guessed was phasing through the ceiling and into the sky. (Well sit back enjoy the flight, reality will come all to soon and we'll die horribly when we get there.)

I guessed Sam was the one who hit me in the dark, given the strength of the blow it seemed like a good guess, "your not in your up state of mind are you?"

(Going into a fight against the most annoying, but at this size very dangerous, creatures I can think of, that's enough reason not to be happy.) Turning my attention to Jazz, (same idea as I told you earlier, get us in there, and try and stop the tin car from the outside, it's all we can do, hopefully one side will win and if not… will at least we tried.)

(I really hope you came up with better plans when you were fighting for the future of Earth.)

(Nope, these are the same one I use to use. They suck but they work if your lucky enough.)

"I'd like to get off the giant hand now," Tucker whimpering in the darkness.

Sam said it before I could, "never thought I'd hear something like that."

Hunkering down and leaning into the flesh as best I could, (don't worry, you get use to being carried around.)

"You've only been this small like once though," Tucker hissed, a mix of anger and anxiety in his voice.

Thinking back, (oh yeah this is much different from the time I was a fly being carried around, or a mosquito, or a flea. Looking we're just being carried around, after a while it starts to feel totally normal,) a little surprised that it did after I said it.

I stayed quite most of the trip, focusing my mind for what was coming and let the others do what they wanted, carrying on with light conversation, both clearly nervous, occasionally a word would slip out that made them sound like they were on the verge of a panic attack. Occasionally Tuckers PDA would light up and fill the darkness, but for the most part it was more of a distraction than anything else. What felt like all to soon, light intruded on us as the hand moved forcing us onto a new landscape, rough, odd, but wholly familiar, at least to me.

"Ok what is this," Tucker running his hand up what might as well have been some kind of mutant tree.

(That would be a falcons feathers,) not needing to look at it but doing it anyway, amazed by the detail from this height, just like I had been the first time.

"We're on Jazz," from the tone I guessed Sam was speaking rhetorically.

Focusing my mind, (I'm guessing we're ready to go,) a new wave of thunder hitting us, from what I couldn't be sure, even the wind seemed to be my enemy when it came to hearing.

She paused for a few moments, the world shaking, for my own sake I bit my talons into her flesh, doubting it was more than a flea bite to her. (Ok right now your on my head, and I'm about to so something that will get it cut off so when I tell you get off, do it and make it fast.)

(Ah crap I know that kind of plan,) bracing myself, (she's going to do something stupid folks get ready,) biting more into her head.

Next to me Sam was holding onto a feather for dear life as the wind kicked up around us, feeling like we were in the middle of a hurricane. "What do you mean stupid!"

(It's a plan formed by two Fenton's what do you think it means,) feeling more wind hit me, Jazz pulled into a dive and the sky turn to fire. (Well we're being shot out as if you couldn't tell.) From where I was I could see but I knew what was going on from the feel of her, divining down, arcing up, twisting turning, doing everything in her power to keep from going upside and possibly throwing us off, not realizing that it wouldn't have been much of a difference at this point.

"WE'RE GOING TO FALL AND WE'RE GOING TO DIE!"

(Calm down Tuck if you fall you won't die of course someone might step on you but the fall absolutely won't kill you.)

"Not helping Tob," Sam barked.

(Just saying,) suddenly coming to a stop that nearly threw me off.

(END OF THE LINE, MOVE IT NOW!)

With a jerk I pulled my talons free and flew off her, Sam right behind me after peeling Tucker off the feather he was holding onto for dear life. (Lady, gentleman I think we're here,) feeling a wave of air shoot at me along with light as Jazz was torn away from the hole. Looking back, (good luck red,) keeping my thoughts on a tight beam to her.

"Whoa," Tucker bringing me out of my concern for Jazz.

I hop-flapped over to him, (something wrong,) looking up, like he was only seeing an endless maze of machinery and lights of various colors illuminating the area.

"It's beautiful," staring up, "I never imagined I'd ever see something like this before," pointing his PDA towards them, "I have to record this, this must be what heaven looks like."

Sam sighed and hovered over to us, her mask back on, "the geek has arisen and this is his paradise," shaking her head.

(You paraphrasing something?) the words sounding familiar.

Shrugging, "not sure."

"Yeah like you don't do this in every haunted house you go too."

I let the sound of machinery reverberate through my body, the hawk side not really thrilled by being here even if it couldn't really understand it was enclosed, then again the human side wasn't all that happy either. (Can we save this for later, we wasted to much time getting here so now we have to make it up, Tuck can you work your magic?)

I looked over as he started tapping away doing things I couldn't even begin to guess at, "drop the macho in charge thing, your not and it doesn't work for you."

"I hate to admit it but he's right, whatever's going on with you right now drop it, it just doesn't work on you and it's getting annoying."

I could feel my feathers ruffle, (sorry,) staring up, (I'm just….)

Sam put a hand on my back and spoke softly, a tone so rare for her that I doubt even Danny heard it much, "demons we get it, just calm down ok, it's just the three of us now and we don't need to be snapping at each other. So for our sakes can you just relax and go with it, go back to being the Tobias who isn't obsessed with these guys?"

(Girls,) I corrected.

Rubbing my back, "whatever."

(Calm, down, got it boss.)

"Alright," the gentleness leaving, her voice growing louder, "alright Tuck stop messing around lets get this show on the road, now get us a freaking map."

"Ask and you shall have it," pulling up a hologram, "I managed to hack into the core processor of the suit and pull out his schematics." Focusing in on the middle of the body, "this is where Skulker usually controls everything from, but I managed to tap into the internal security array and found this," a new image lighting up about where the neck connected to the head. "From what I can tell this is a bypass to everything else, and there's something in there, I'm guessing that's our guys."

"Girls," Sam restating, "and that's amazing."

Closing the hologram, "not really, the systems running on part of my old PDA it wasn't that hard getting into the system and finding everything. That and I really am that freaking good."

I looked up while he rattled on, (ok we're impressed directions.)

Lifting a finger up, "that way."

(All I needed to hear,) flapping my wings and grabbing him by the shoulders and tearing up into the metal labyrinth, Sam on my tail.

---

Jazz POV

I didn't know where Tobias was but I really hoped he was having more fun than I was, (this sucks beyond words.)

"Just keep moving," Danny doing his best to avoid being shot, whoever was controlling Skulker doing a better job of aiming than the hunter had ever done.

I caught a headwind and shot higher into the sky, thankfully they weren't that interested in me even if they did occasionally throw me a stray shot. (We're not getting anywhere are we?)

"Shut up red," letting lose a blast of ectoplasm at the ghost, knocking him back, but not really stopping the battle suit but leaving a few impressive blast patterns.

(Bow down before the Helmacron Empire, give in to our demands, surrender the vile one and take or place as slaves.)

"Boy do you not know who you are talking to ghost," Valerie firing a blast of purple energy at the machine, hitting it in the shoulder and making it spin. I doubt anyone else could see it but with a sift of her foot on the relays a set of chain guns popped out on either side of the board and opened fire on the shell, pelting it with enough ammunition to take out a heard stampeding elephants.

My brother hovered over to me his expression saying he was glad for a little help even if it was the hunter not to mention the momentary reprieve, "I can see how she's take offence to that."

(Careful Danny saying things like that will get you killed all over again.)

"I'm just saying," looking down at her, "better her than nothing."

(Being short handed doesn't mean this is the best idea.)

He shook his head at me, "you sound like S….our partner," catching himself before I had to yell at him.

(Maybe because she's right, letting her get close isn't the best idea for any of u….crap,) folding my wings and falling out of the sky till I could regain my balance.

That didn't last long as a barrage of weapons fire came at me the battle suit, (you are the hated one, surrender. You will be returned to the glorious home world where you and all your kind will answer for the crimes against the greatest power this existence has ever known, the living gods of the galaxy.)

"Here's and idea, SHUT UP," the girl suddenly appearing above me and putting herself between me and the fire and pulled me down out of the way.

Looking up at her, not that thrilled she'd grabbed me by the feet, although considering I kicked when she did it, purely a reaction from the falcon side of me, she wasn't that happy either. (Sorry about that, I get spooked easy.)

Jerking her hand away, "your not the other one?"

Regaining my balance in the sky, (nope in case you weren't listening to the ramblings of the machine there's more than one of us.)

She looked over at Skulker's body, "I don't guess you know what the deal with him is, even for a ghost he's acting insane."

(He has parasites, we have people working on it, we just have to keep him occupied till they can figure something out.)

"That's a crappy plan."

(I know but this is how he operates and we have to trust something will be pulled out,) I didn't bother to let her reply and folded my wings again, falling and turning it into a dive, letting the speed build up like I'd been taught and just let it loose flying through the attacks from the armor, the targeting system just not up to the task of hitting me. Without looking back I focused on Danny while the machine followed me, (I'm going to try and get this guy out of here, trail us, help me if he gets to close, I don't know if it'll work but at least it's something.)

"Good call," the words small as the wind screamed in my face, my attention divided between what was in front, and the weapons fire behind, nothing else entering into the equation except seeing my parents down below me, mom forcing dad to help her get some people out of a building which had one wall slightly knocked in.

Powering my wings straight ahead, (do something quick birdie cause I'm not sure I can live through this.)

---

Tobias POV

(Well this is completely insane,) doing my best to carry Tucker though a death trap of gears and lighting. Alone I could make this easy, with him, my balance was thrown off and every shift of my wings could've been my last.

Of course Tucker squirming in my claws didn't help, "amazing, I knew it had to be weird in here but I never imagined this much of a mix of high tech masterpieces and ancient-obsolete clockwork."

Sam sighed next to him, "old doesn't mean useless Tuck, if anything this kind of integration makes him even more impressive."

"Like you would know anything about this."

"My mom has a collection of clockwork doodads, she never lets me touch them, or for that matter go near them, but I do know a little about them. Making them is nearly impossible, every piece has to be exactly right, one broken piece can ruin everything, nearly beyond repair except by a master craftsperson."

(Renaissance woman, ghost hunter, historian, mechanic, anything you don't know?)

"How to get away from you idiots for one," powering up while I shot down through a web of lighting blasts.

(I'm wounded,) dropping down to an outcropping, who's function I couldn't guess.

I let go of Tucker dropped down next to him, "why'd we stop?"

Rolling my shoulders and stretching my wings wide, (your heavy and your hard to fly with and I'm not totally recovered yet.) I looked up at Sam, (you mind taking him for a while, I'll be able to get where we need to be faster without a squirming anchor.)

Coming down next to us, "sure throw him on."

"I think I'll walk," sitting down on the end of her board, pulling out his PDA, "besides this way I can actually read the map I have," scanning where they were, "we need to take that passage over there," pointing to the left.

(Do I want to know what's in there?)

Doing a little more tapping, "no clue, not really on the schematics I have."

(Wonderful,) rolling my eyes and spreading my wings, (lets hit it,) slipping into the large hole, pulling my wings close to keep from clipping the sides. What I saw inside made my feathers rise in shock, (what the heck is this,) flaring my wings and coming to a dead stop and flapping trying to hover in the air as best I could.

Sam whistled looking at it, "saw something like this in a movie once, I think everyone died before making it across."

"Don't have to say it," tapping away, "I'm looking for another way just give me a few."

At this point I was use to the arcs of lightning, even the gears and pistons, but this was another matter entirely. About what for me ten twenty above was about thirty tendrils each one ending in a serrated claw, each one moving like a snake. (Crap,) shaking my head, afraid to set down, (this has to be the internal security system, metal antibodies, white blood cells of the apocalypse.)

"Oh boy," something about Tuckers tone making me want to turn around and run.

"Don't say that Tuck."

"Then how about this, I think I tripped an alarm and we're about to be swarmed by something I can't identify."

The shifting sound of the tendrils above caught my attention before I could yell at him, getting a good look as the metal stopped moving randomly and started seemingly looking at us. (BIGGER PROBLEMS,) I yelled.

Sam looked up then turned her board, I was doing likewise ready to bolt down through the hole we'd come in on. "We need a plan now Tuck and make it fast," powering forward.

"NOT THAT WAY," one hand gripping the board, needing it as Sam jerked up.

"WHY AND MAKE IT FAST!"

"Them for one," green metal drones popping up in the passage way, they looked more than a big fly's with buzz saws for hands.

(Well this day gets better and better, insects below squids above,) turning in midair and powering up, (time to pick the path of least resistance,)

"You have a weird definition of least resistance," Sam on my tail, I couldn't turn but I really hoped Tucker wouldn't slow her down to much because speed and agility were all we had going for us.

I managed to get just above the first of the tendrils, the claw on the end turned out to be bigger than my head which did not bode well, worse was that I heard it turn and come after me while three more came at me. (Well this sucks, time to shift into something a little better for tight spaces,) calling on the bat DNA in me. Like the birds it only to a few seconds to change, the basic shape staying the same, shrinking a little, new organs growing while other faded away, but more importantly gaining echolocation a little skill that might save my butt.

"What's with the rat with wings," Sam shooting something behind her, probably one of the killer drones.

(This,) firing off a blast of clicks, each one coming back and forming a black and white and painting of the world, letting me see everything and giving me the edge when it came to small places and no up drafts. The mass of tendrils became nothing more to me than group of ropes as I passed by each coming killer clawed cords. This was the bats world, quick arcs and shifts, tight turns, midair direction changes, I was built for this and just let the bat take over as it flew, guiding me through without even losing a tuff of fur.

Down below my ears told me Sam wasn't doing quite as well, her blaster working over time, occasionally a shot of the energy flying up in front of me. "These guys are everywhere!"

(Don't fight just fly,) flapping as hard as I could to get over everything and get to the hole.

"Easy for you to say," more shots filling the air.

In front of me two tendrils loomed and I could hear one of the drones get closer, I let them come and flapped as hard as I could, shifting my direction and jumping back, letting the drone shot past my chest and into the claws, letting lose a small explosion. That was big enough for me to dive through and get to the top of the chamber. The a groan and grabbed onto the side of the hole at the top and fired off several blasts of clicks to get an idea of the room.

I waited for a few moments but the others didn't follow me and the explosions and yelling kept up, (great,) dropping back down the hole and getting an idea of what was going on. Sam was blasting wildly, Tucker now had the armor on and was shooting almost as randomly. (Watch out below,) flying over to a wall and grabbing onto the remnants of the tendril I'd damaged and ripped it out of the wall, (I love the small strength,) letting it drop down. It bounced off a few of the walls then got tangled into the active cords slowing them down, the next one I tore out took out one of the drones. With the few held still I could rip those out of the wall, the fifth one enough for the two to get up next to me so we could take a break in the next chamber up.

Tuck dropped off the board and laid down, letting his armor suck into the handheld device, that again I could never understand. "That was nuts, I mean those things…."

(Will be coming after us and chances are in greater number from now on and we still have a long way to go so don't get comfortable.)

"Not going to let us enjoy winning one are you bird," sitting on her board, from her posture I was guessing she felt more comfortable on it.

I looked down the hole and fired off more clicks to see how many drones were still there and if they were coming after us. (At this point I'm not going to sugar coat anything, and I recall telling you something like this that last time I jumped in a giant robotic body.)

Coming over and looking with me, "that was a while back, maybe you should've told us again," tapping the side of her head, my guess was accessing some come of visual aid, night vision or the like.

(And look like an idiot twice if we never found anything,) not liking what I was seeing from the natural radar, maybe two dozen of those killer metal bugs flying around, swarming ready for the next assault.

"Any idea why their not coming after us?"

"Do you really care," barking from the ledge.

She grabbing a quick look back, "yeah a little, if their about to kill us I'd like to know before that, if for no other reason than to tell you what to say at my elegy."

(Sam Manson, goth, intelligent, beautiful, not that it matters,) dropping in sarcasm mode, (cause we'll all be dead.)

She did a double take at me, "you think I'm beautiful?"

If I could've blushed I would, (I refuse to answer that on the grounds people named Fenton will kill me in way to horrible to think about let alone name.)

"If we live I have so much blackmail material now."

I started flapping as I noticed the bugs starting to come towards us, (wise man say, don't tick off the horse when death's a comein'.)

"WHAT!?"

"Killer toasters are coming and we're leaving hope you can fly," Sam rising with me.

He ran over to the side and looked down then looked back at us, clearly shocked, "OK I'M SORRY DON'T LEAVE ME AND I'LL FORGET EVERYTHING I HEARD!"

(Now that's what I like to hear,) watching Sam go off and rescue him before the machines got through the hole.

After a few seconds they got up next to me, "any idea where to go?"

"Ok we're in the upper chest," tapping quickly, "we need to be higher," more tapping filling the air, "top passage on the right…I think."

(Not a time for I think man,) still moving up, going as fast I could, and laying a few tight blasts on the holes, attempting to get a feel for what was inside each.

"Definitely the right, it's faster but more dangerous."

"Define more dangerous Tuck, more drones, more cables, the aliens?"

"Really, really big drone, city stomping monster big."

(And how much further is the other path here?)

More tapping filling the air, "maybe two hours unless we cut a hole in his body and I'm not sure we'll get there any faster if we do that."

I started demorphing as soon as he said that, (Sam your call.)

"What the heck certain death beats becoming a steel worker slash miner."

With a few more flaps, just staying ahead of the drones we popped through the hole, me first Sam and Tucker a moment later. The second we got through I really wish we had stayed where we were, (oh crap, what is that, I'm having flash backs to Visser Three here.)

"Tucker you're an idiot," the dark haired girl hissed.

"I'm in agreement." The thing coming towards us looking like a stainless steel house on metal spider legs, five cannon turrets on each side, a giant wedge on the front that went half way up it, everything above the wedge looked like some kind of multi barreled missile launcher.

"Well we're dead."

I heard the drones coming before I saw them, (ok you guys take the guys behind us, I'll take the one in front and we'll meet in the middle.)

"And your going to so that how," Tucker hissed at me.

(Like this,) letting fur replace my feathers as I called up the dog in me, (I just hope this place can hold the extra size.)

---

DP Style

"So are we on plan F or G here?"

"Thank you great ghost slayer," Danny hovering in the air sweat flowing down his face and dropping onto the road below, just barley at the city limits.

With snarl Val pointed her gun at the half ghost while keeping her eyes trained on Skulker's infested body, "keep talking I know at least one ghost I can deal with right now."

(Not the time for this, the others are still counting on us,) Jazz's thoughts broadcasting her exhaustion to the pair while she sat on her brothers shoulder, like her companion her eyes where still on the mechanical body.

Lowering her weapon slightly, "I'm beginning to think these friends of your's don't exist."

"They're in there," Danny taking a deep breath and whipping a few stray beads of sweat from his face, "but right now I wish they were out here, at least we might've been able to mess with that tin can a little bit, at least send him away from us."

Jazz shifted her gaze from the exoframe to her brother, (you lost me there.)

"Before your time," a spark of green energy glowing in his eyes, "the first time he came after me he absorbed some equipment he couldn't control, after that we could kind of control his actions wirelessly."

A few feathers rose on the back of her head, (your telling us this now,) staring daggers at him, not that he could tell the difference given that was how the hobby always looked at him.

"Well it doesn't work anymore he got it fixed after that," shrugging, "more or less any way."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN MORE OR LESS," Val snapped, the words coming out loader than intended.

His eye once more glued to the battle suit fearing it would continue it's attack on them, "the second time I saw him, I think it was before the guy who controlled it chained us together it was still slightly out of control and going after the last thing we programmed into it."

(Being Danny,) ideas flashing in his sisters mind as she spoke privately to him.

Looking to Val then to his sister and lowering his voice and hoping she wouldn't hear for fear of giving her to many clues as to who he really was, "Purpleback gorillas, it's complicated."

That was all Jazz really needed to hear, (I got and idea, it's a long shot but it might work.)

Danny knew what she was thinking before she spread her wings and grabbed her by the neck, "that's not going to work. Look Skulker got rid of that stuff a while ago what your planning is a waste of time."

Involuntarily she snapped her beak at him, the bird hating being pinned down, regaining control quickly, (have you ever listened to mom and dad when they get a virus on one of their computers, with computers some times things never really go away. Look it's a long shot,) gazing at the Helmacron controlled battle suit, (but it's possible, everything we've seen aside, they don't have ever system under control and maybe me going out there will cause some kind of reaction. Whatever happens it might be enough, at least it might give us some time, and face it at the moment that's all we need.)

"Assuming those three can figure something out in there."

(Either way it's worth a shot little brother," dropping off his shoulder like a rock and heading for cover below them as she spread her wings and took control of the decent. (Keep everyone up there busy I don't need Val finding out it's me in here.)

Watching her fall, "let me guess the bossy bird taking a worm beak."

"Just shut up and follow me," moving to the ghost armor both his hands igniting into flames of green energy, "time to go a little primal on this thing."

Growling something under her breath Val followed him, chain guns popping back out of her board as she moved her feet while she flipped a few dials on her gun, altering the setting hoping to find something that would punch a hole in the armor. "Keep barking orders ghost see where it gets you," letting lose with a volley of purple ecto fire from her board, the shots sailing under Danny by a few inches while she fired her cannon, a missile launching out of it and roaring over Danny's body.

"WATCH IT WITH THAT THING," keeping his eyes on the ghost armor, the heat of the rocket still present on his skin. In front of him the projectile hit the armor dead on in the chest and sending it tumbling end over end for a few seconds till it regained stability. That didn't last long as Danny let loose a punch across the face denting the metal as green flame bounced off the metal scorching it. That was followed by a second at the same point as the ships entry point widening it and launching a much of it inside the body scorching it's internal machinery. Kicking off the body with a blast of green from his feet and did a corkscrew in the air and let loose with a barrage of scatter shot from her hand slowing the body and finishing it of with the strobe flash to slow down it's reaction time.

After all that very little was done to the armor that could be seen with the naked eye. "What does it take to stop this thing," tapping her weapon again and releasing a blast of white energy the sparked and ran over the ghost metal for several seconds.

"I don't know you got a piano on you that always works on the cartoons."

"For about three seconds than they jump up like accordions."

A tiny laugh slipped past Danny's lips at that, "good one."

"Shut up ghost when this is over."

"I know, I know, shot me, lock me up, blah blah blah."

"FOOLISH MALES WE ARE THE HELMACRONS THE UNDISPUTED MASTERS OF EXISTANCE YOU CANNOT STOP US YOU WILL ACCEPT YOUR DESTINY AS OUR SLAVES OR YOU WILL KNOW OUR WRAITH. FOR EVERY STRIKE LAID ON US A THOUSAND OF YOUR WORTHLESS MALE KIND WILL PAY THE PRICE OF YOUR INSOLENCE!"

"I'm really starting to hate these girls."

Flipping a few more dials, "at least we agree on that much."

"FACE OUR RIGHTEOUS FURY MALE INFIDELS," compartments on battle armors shoulders popping up and releasing a torrent of projectiles or various shapes and sizes careening towards them.

The pair scrambled Danny going high, Val dropping to her board and cutting power and she dropped like a stone for a few seconds, "THEY DO KNOW I'M NOT A MAN RIGHT?"

"From what I understand everyone is a male to them," avoiding a shot pass him and getting a look as Val powered her board back up and zipped by a few shots her self.

"That makes all the sense in the world."

(From what I understand nothing about these girls makes any real sense,) a white gorilla knuckle walking into sight. Turning her attention up (hey girls,) her thoughts on a wide broadcast, (I'm down here come get me.)

The head of Skulker's former body turned to look at her and for a second nothing happened other than the light gleaming off the mechanical eye, then slight hiss came from the launchers on the armors shoulders, "DIE MALE SCUM."

(Crap,) turning on her feet and trying to run but not making much progress, simply not built for high speeds or fast starts. Behind and above her she could feel the missiles gaining on her, (this is going to hurt so much,) knowing there was a good chance she'd survive but not in how many pieces she'd be in.

"RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRR," the sound causing the ground to rumble, and for a moment the sun was blocked by a threat all three had become familiar with.

"Oh course," Val sighing and shaking her head as a full sized Cerberus came down on them.

Danny meanwhile was more concerned with his sister who was doubling as a moving target but barley has time to make a move before Blaze, Strike and Bolt were literally on top of her and to both their surprises pulling her to safety as all four went intangible and the weapons went right through them and collided with the ground and destroying the road around them.

Scratching behind his ear, "well never seen than before."

"RELEASE US MALE!," the armor locked in the jaws of the enlarged Cerberus and trying to keep them from closing, "WE ARE YOUR MASTERS!"

Val dropped down next to Danny, "you helping me, them helping me, talking animals, I really miss the times when my life was normal."

"You and me both."

"You will be hunted soon enough," Skulker's voice echoing in their ears as he jumped up to them and hovered at eye level as he rode bareback on Gash's back, holding the scruff of his neck like the mane of a horse.

Val could only laugh at the small green frog like thing on the wolfs back, "what is that thing?"

"Skulker Hunter, Hunter Skulker, there we're all up to speed."

Looking from the green ghost to the battle armor, "your telling me that little shrimp," pointing at her with a finger, "is really what's been going after me in that thing for all this time," jerking her thumb back to exoframe.

"Bingo."

"Somebody shot me."

"I will as soon as I reclaim what is mine from those…things," Skulker's hands balling up in Gash's fur.

Danny rolled his eyes, a slight whine slipping into his tone, "I can see this ending badly already."

---

Tobias POV

"Well I can honestly say I was never expecting any of this when I got us this morning."

(Then that means despite everything your still sane Tucker.)

"I'm clinging for my life to the back of a giant German Shepherd while being attacked by tiny alien amazons inside Skulker's body, nothing about me anymore is normal."

"Just enjoy the ride Tucker and keep the directions going," Sam was a few feet behind me, literally watching my tail in case the Helmacrons didn't get the message, or did, I don't really know what we're going for at this point. All I know we had torn apart a lot of the little psycho's and more than a few mechanical antibodies getting this far. The fight had been ugly and I'd sacrificed two legs in the fight and had to do a quick heal to keep from bleeding to death. At least I know knew Champ could get through the tunnels that crisscrossed the bodies interior and we were making up time, and I admit I felt better being one of the biggest things in the body.

It was times like this I was glad Champ was breed to work, I had a feeling most dog's wouldn't have gone through these tunnels without me grabbing a tight rein on the instincts. With that advantage I was able to divert the rest of my thoughts to what was going on around me, (any idea how close we are now,) trying to keep the creeping exhaustion I was feeling out of my thoughts.

I could feel him move on my back and heard the tapping as he looked through information, "up about two….no three levels and….," a slight shiver running through him and to me.

"Don't keep up is suspense here Tuck," Sam zipping up next to me, Champ wanting to swat her away like a fly or a flea, much the way he wanted to do with Tucker.

I could hear him hitting the machine, "sorry, weird readings, we're getting near something that's messing with…something," confusion coating his voice, and when he was confused about computers it made me nervous. "We have to get away from this thing, it's not horribly messing up my PDA, but it's doing something," tapping it again, "give me some time to try and work this thing out, there are a few things I want to run that might do…."

(If you say 'something' one more time I swear I'm going to throw you off.)

"Sorry," tapping again on the machine.

I could hear the soft mechanical thumb of the board as Sam crept up next to my ear, "relax I think we're clear for now." The strength and certainty of her words helped a bit, but it didn't change the fact that I didn't like any of this situation.

A soft growl slipping through my muzzle, (I'll relax when I see the sky again,) coming to the end of the corridor we'd been traveling through and into an intersection running up and down Skulker's body. Like previous version claws on cables along fly antibodies moved up and down it and something that looked like five legged spiders that roamed the walls. And of course to make matters worse small groups of Helmacron of stood along various other opening, more than likely waiting for us. (So you were saying about things getting better?)

A few words slipped past her lips that I was surprised she'd say but seemed appropriate given the circumstances. "Tuck tell me we don't have to go up this slaughter fest?"

"Considering I can't get the map up I think so but I could be wrong about it but at the top we should be near the control center."

(Ah yes the illustrious should that's always reassuring,) adding a little shake to my head.

"I'll take the flyers and the girls you take everything else," her tone making it sound more like a question than a plan of attack.

Getting one more look at what lay before us, (how about you take Tucker and I'll draw their fire and you two make a break for it and I'll catch up?)

"That's suicide."

(Half the things I do are suicide to most people,) a growl slipping out, (now lets get this crap over with it feels like we've been in this things for months now.)

Tucker shifted on my back and slipped off to the ground below, "don't I get a say in this?"

"Only if you have a better idea."

"None at all, I just feel useless here."

(We're the brawn, and so far that hasn't helped in this fight, we're counting on your brain to end this once and for all,) feeling the muscles in my legs tense for a jump and feeling them cry out, my whole body starting to feel the strain of to many morphs and to much stress, a sharp burning starting rise in my chest.

"Alright if your going to do this lets do it right, on three," I could see her but given where she was I was guessing she was picking up Tucker.

I didn't bother to let her say it, (THREE,) and I jumped up into what I knew would hurt as suddenly everything turned it's attention to me.

Down below I could hear Sam scream, "DON'T JUMP THE GUN," I wasn't sure what it meant but I guessed it made sense in her mind at the time, personally I don't have much time to think about it as I caught a cable with my jaws and tore it out of the wall and hearing a group of screaming Helmacrons at the same time, probably caused the junction to give way above or below the metal tendril. If I felt any joy at that it was killed as blade cut into my back, trying to take my out like I was an infection, not that I could really do anything about them. To make matters worse the spider like thing came at me a few moments later, stabbing me in the face, the five legs encircling my eyes and blinding me.

(Oh I so don't need this right now,) as fire from the Helmacrons rained down on me, giving me a target. With a growl almost physically burning in my throat I dove at them sending my muzzle deep into the hole, the crest scraping the spider things off me at least partially, part of the legs still embedded around my eyes. The harsh removal of the machines sentinels cause blood to run feely, not really blinding me but causing everything to take on a red tint.

(DIE SCOURGE OF THE EMPIRE!) the thoughts filling my mind as the aliens opened fire on me from close range. Driven by canine instinct as well as self preservation I jerked my head and pushed the attackers aside, crushing my nose against the wall in the process and losing a few layers of it in the process.

Where they ended I wasn't sure as I pushed my legs against the wall and leapt back into the flay, my back hitting something and feeling it come apart under my weight. It was a feeling I had come to love, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not but some part of my did love to cause carnage and let lose the beast from time to time. Letting loose a howl and giving Champ his say in the fight I could feel my hackles rise and restraint start to slip away. I heard something buzz by my left side and snapped not caring what it was and was rewarded by the taste of metal and grease. A cable passed to my left and was caught in my jaws and ripped from the wall and with a snap of my head the cables turned to whips and took out half a dozen of the flying attackers at once. Given the screams below me I guessed a few of the machines had bounced down into some of the Helmacron encampments and done some damage.

The more I fought and thrashed the better I felt, the more the frustration I'd felt since I first discovered the Helmacrons were on Earth. I felt free, I felt justified, I felt like I did years ago when I didn't have to worry about anything but getting out of the fight in one piece and taking as much of the enemies face as I could before the darkness took me forever. The more I gave into the anger the more I could feel the fire burn in my body, an the less I cared about it.

Very quickly I found myself running on pure instinct, unable to really see anything as the blood started to grown thick over my eyes. To my left I heard something fly by me and jerked my head and snapped by missed it and tried again only have it dodge and weave away. After the fifth snap or so I lost track of it but didn't really care, I had other things to take apart, other things to vent on and let the rage escape on.

---

DP Style

"What's wrong with him," the words horse in Tuckers throat as he held onto Sam's back.

"I don't think he can see," the words sounding false in Sam's mouth, she could see the red mass that was now his face but she could tell by his movements something else was going on and she prayed it was just the dog's instincts carrying him away.

"Seeing during a fight what A NOVEL IDEA," barking the last part and following it with a scream as the two shot past the nightmare around them and shot up through the passage above them that had very little in the way of opposition, almost everyone trying to deal with Tobias.

Doing a quick loop around Sam got a lay of the land, "so now where," holstering her gun, having taken it from Tucker before they entered the killing field.

Pulling his PDA and tapping it, "this is getting weird," moving it left and right, "the higher up we get the more interference we're getting."

"Can you fix it," trying to stay calm but feeling a know in her stomach grow as not knowing when something below them might follow.

"I've been trying," watching the static and glitches increase then drop off then spring back up as he moved it around. "I think it might having something to do with Skulker's operating system, or maybe some power supply, it's over powering my something inside my PDA."

Looking back at him, "you didn't know this was going to happen?"

"I've never been this small or this close before, who knows effects being this size could have, but it's not unheard of, stronger signals over power weaker signals all the time."

"So where do we go?"

Waving his PDA one more time, "the signal gets weirder from that side," pointing up and right, "whatever it is it might be the place to start. If I remember the map right this is the general location we need to be at anyway.

"Good enough for me," powering her board towards where he was pointing, more than a little surprised that nothing was around to stop them. More to the point there wasn't anything left to stop them, something had already torn apart what looked like it had been a fairly impressive security system, sliding reinforced walls, mechanical solders looking far more imposing than the previous ones torn to shreds, cannons that had previously been attacked to walls now hanging by scant wires and missing all together. "Horror movies 101 the spooky tunnel always leads to death."

The words caused Tucker to still, "what," not sure what had prompted her to say that.

"Line from some movie, maybe it was a TV show, I don't really remember it just seemed appropriate given the circumstances."

"No, talking about kittens and bunnies is appropriate not us ending up as paste."

She just shook her head at that, glad he'd broken the stress she'd been feeling up to that point, "shame I didn't get that recorded."

"Can we please just get this over with before we end up food for the giant killer dog," still furiously working with his PDA trying to cut through the interference and return it to proper working conditions, not an easy task while trying to hold on to Sam.

As much as she wanted to come back with a sarcastic remark Sam was just to busy taking deep breaths in an attempt to stay calm. If Tucker was right somewhere above them was the override for everything around them with some unknown thing had been inside it and probably still was. The fact that she didn't know if it was an army of Helmacrons, Skulker himself or some unknown thing that was living in the machine weighed heavy on her mind. Reaching down she felt for the comforting reassurance of her weapons, hoping she wasn't flying into something worse than her nightmares and hoping they could get her out while the sounds of battle raged below her with the threat of fighting a battle on two fronts.

Awareness of the situation came all to soon and it was not quite what she expected, what either expected as they came to the end of the tunnel. The room was darker than the rest of the body, most of the normal source of light destroyed or only working at a fraction of their normal power making everything seem more threatening than it would've in day light. Helmacrons were running around screaming, blasts of energy coming from their weapons but not at them, at the giant glowing white blades stabbing in above and below them along with a sound that felt like thunder and was nearly deafening. In addition there were bright flashes of lights coming from all around them, particularly where the blades stabbed into the metal, where the light landed small fires flared up and were cut down. These source of light made the shadows jump and move adding to the horror movie feel of the world. Situated in the middle of the room was a large rounded protrusion with lights flashing on and off, quite a few of them red, with cables coming out of it connected to a smaller box that didn't look like it belonged there, given the style differences and the lack of a ghostly glow both could guess where it had come from. Next alien device stood a few Helmacrons working furiously on it, seemingly unconcerned with what was going on around them.

Despite the mask Sam shielded her eyes, "well I'm totally lost here," zipping around the room, trying to stay away from everything that could conceivably hurt her.

"Just get me to the console," looking at the round protrusion, "we can figure everything else out later," holding onto her for dead life.

"On it," shifting her weight and diving down, only to be targeted by a group of Helmacrons, their energy blasts just missing her as she pulled the nose of her board up and moved away, slipping her board into a quick loop before going into a dive straight to the floor, the blasts trailing right behind her. At the last second before she hit the floor she pulled it level with the floor and shot forward while ducking down, pulling a strangely calm Tucker with her and did a quick barrel roll, the energy now sailing over the bottom of the board while the humans scraped their heads on the metal floor before coming back up. Shifting her foot the board picked up more speed, the engines not yet up to full power but moving at a speed she rarely had need of. Bolting next the most prominent feature in the room and moving in close enough to run her fingers against it she hissed, "go to work," pushing back against her, dropping him unceremoniously to the ground. If he said anything she did hear as she shot forward picking up more speed and pulling her gun and fired off a few random shots to bring the aliens attention to her in the hopes of making them forget someone had been with her a few seconds ago.

Suddenly light flashed into the room, or at least a different kind of light as the white things pulled away from their hold letting natural light stream in, only to be cut off as they stabbed in again filling the room once more in darkness. The return of the blades took out a dozen of so Helmacrons from the fight, not enough for Sam to feel better though. "Now I get it," the all the brief moment of light letting her understand, the white things were teeth, from what she wasn't sure but they had to be teeth, "whatever is going on out there gotta be crazier than in here." At that moment a Helmacron bounced off a wall in front of her and erupted in a blaze of gold and green fire as she hit the ground and started running around in circles trying to put herself out, "or maybe it's not."

Spurring her board on and laying down a few blasts to suppress the Helmacrons forces, at the moment not sure what else she could do. It was clear to her that there were way to many fights going on at the same time and at any moment one of those fights could spill over into this one and depending on which one it was she wasn't sure should could do anything about it. Down below her she could hear the one man war raging and it made her nervous, maybe more so than the fight outside knowing Tobias was the only thing keeping a large number of potential threats at bay, and given his state she wasn't sure him being alone was a good thing.

(DIE MALE SLAVE!)

"WOULD YOU GIVE IT A REST!" the scream slipping from her lips, the cold calmness that had surrounded her suddenly slipping away for a moment as she let loose a quick barrage of shots at the voice. The few shots did little as the aliens easily moved away, but it helped her regain her composure, sighing deeply, "I don't care if it's Danny or Tucker but someone has to end this before we end of smears on the inside of these walls."

(FALL BACK,) the words screaming in her head, coming from Helmacrons she couldn't identify but knowing in her gut it wasn't a good thing.

Shifting her weight she did a quick midair spin on her board, gun drawn, ready for the onslaught of blue creatures to start moving, in any direction. "I must be hearing things," her quick look not showing any kind of retreat as the fighting raged on around her, only to quickly be answered as a small group shot up from the hole she and Tucker had emerged from. The Helmacrons however looked worse for wear, liquid dripping from wounds, their clothing torn apart, a few missing limbs, a distinct look of panic about them and none of them looking capable of willing to fight. All this together threw her for a moment, these were the ones Tobias was suppose to be holding off, "if they got past him what are they running from," resisting the urge to fly down after him.

(Where do you think your going,) the thoughts calm, and all to familiar in Sam's mind, calming her, knowing the bird was still alive. His thoughts however made the Helmacrons flee faster running into several of their own warriors, causing a massive disruption in the fight.

Cries of, (STOP HIM,) (GET HIM,) (HE'S A MONSTER,) shot up from the fleeing women, their former confidence slipping away.

For a moment Sam didn't understand why, only to see a white light rising from the hole, "this can't be good," she hissed to herself.

(This hunt has only just begun,) his part hawk, part human form rising from the hole and tearing after them, at what seemed to Sam to somehow be a leisurely pace.

Barking at the top of her lungs, "TUCK GET THESE THINGS OUT OF HERE HE'S GONE NOVA AGAIN!" Shifting her weight and powering her board she shot after him, following in his wake as Helmacrons turned their weapons onto him, or at least tried. With a quick shift of his wings he moved by tiny margins slipping between the shots and forcing Sam to get out of the line of fire. Raking his talons forward he cut through four on his left side and three of his right without so much as thinking about the consequences.

From around them the glowing blades that had dug into the metal were torn away letting light stream in again, accompanied by the sound of an inhuman scream that sent a chill running up Sam and Tuckers spines. "Well at least we have a way out of this mad house now," the black clad girl whispered when the blades didn't reappear.

(Stand and fight, stop the male scum,) one brave Helmacrons spread her thoughts to everyone as Tobais' kept up his assault. This was enough to rally the warriors as four fired in tandem at him, yet missed the mark as he fell from the sky and tackled one. This was not by choice however as his wings vanished from his body in a flash.

Getting to his feet, the Helmacrons below him out cold, he continued on foot, but without his wings his agility was cut down taking multiple shots to the body. The shots sliced though his body, one seeming to be designed more for fore than penetration sent him sailing into the sky that had just rejected him. Rather than coming to land of the ground, he was nabbed by Sam, who pulled him into the sky and away from a few follow up shots.

"You ok?" not sure what was going on.

Looking from her to the amazons that were after him, (not sure.)

"Meaning?" dodging a few more shots.

(Meaning I don't know what happened to my wings,) mentally panting as his breathing grew labored, (and I'm slowing down a little).

"I'm guessing this hasn't happened before?"

(Different tech last time, not to mention whatever is going on with me,) looking down at the fight, (Tell me there's some good news here.)

"We're working on it."

(Then put me down, I'm not doing much good up here,) flinching as he tried to move, the new holes in his body feeling like they were on fire.

Not having to be told twice she dropped down from the sky, moving past a few more shots that were coming in her direction. Before he could hope off she forced her saber into his hands, "don't argue," she hissed, "at this point we need anything that can slow them down and your missing your biggest asset right now."

Looking at the rod for a second he finally accepted it, feeling strange in his to large hand, having seen it used enough times, popping the orange blade was easy enough, (I'd really prefer my claws here.)

"And I'd prefer being my normal size so I can step on these girls, we don't always get what we want," squeezing off a few shots to give him some help.

(But who says we need this,) running into the fight, his claws clicking on the metal as he approached a squad of Helmacrons and ducked down, shifting into a spin and turning the blade a around so the orange light cast it's glow by his elbow and slashed hitting three in the legs, dropping them to the ground. Using the momentum of the spin he leapt up, his muscles gaining extra power from the strange power flowing through him and came down, catching one in the face with his claws, driving her to the ground. Kicking forward with his claws he knocked one to the ground bringing the one behind her down as well.

The savagery of the attack caught the group off guard, the tight formation worked well for firing but left them venerable to in close fighting while letting Tobias systematically take him time, dealing with them one at as a time despite the frantic pace of the war. Within a matter of moments the tight formation was gone, in it's place was little more than a scattering of unconscious alien warriors.

"I'll say this, wings or not he knows what he's doing," the small number he had dealt with meaning little over all, but still giving Sam hope they might just get out in one piece. That hope only lasted as long as it took for his right to shift back into a wing, the saber dropping to the ground. Catching the falling blade with his foot he flicked it up and continued to fight, moving onto another Helmacron. Above him she shook her head, "nothing like making this complicated."

Away from the fighting Tucker was working like a man possessed on the console, his PDA still not working at full strength due to the interference, but at the same not truly needing it. Despite the fact that the machine was meant for someone larger, operating it hadn't proven that hard. "Come on," he hissed, not for the first time, trying to find the right command to get the firs suppression system working. The fact that he had to use it almost like a jungle gym didn't help, coordinating the location and movement of his feet along with what he touched with his hands.

A growl slipped past his lips as he pissed the right sequence with his foot and ended up activating something in the machines foot. "Come on you over grown scrap heap don't do this to me, we gotta get these girls outta here," beginning to input the code again.

(Surrender male,) the words meaning little to him as many times as he'd heard it, (I said stop,) feeling something pressed into his back.

"Crap," a mix of frustration and anger filling him, mentally curing himself for having been so focused on his task rather than paying attention to the world around him.

(Did you truly think an inferior male could best the mighty Helmacron empire,) tapping him with the weapon, emphasizing that he needed to move.

For half a second he considered it, wishing to live, but it didn't last, he had a job that he had to do. "I don't always offer much," talking to himself move than to her, "I don't have special powers, I'm not three steps from being a ninja, I'm just good with machines," looking over the machine while trying not to move his head. "And right now," seeing what he needed to see, "that may be all that matters for everyone," pushing off with his left arm and turning into the machine, moving the gun away from his back as his free hand back a section near his right, the weapon going off and hitting the machine sending sparks flying. Pushing off with his feet he twisted his body and planted both his feet into the chest of the girl and sent her falling to the ground despite the additional legs she stood on, her gun spinning on the ground and away from her

(Impudent male,) she spat, going after the weapon.

"Girls have called me a lot worse," slipping back into his former position and started working at double the speed. "Come one baby, help me here," tapping his foot and hitting panels in sequence, less by thought than by instinct.

(You dare resist the orders of your better, you will know your place,) the lone alien reaching for her weapon and aiming it at him.

Forcing her from his mind he hit the last few combinations to the code. For a moment nothing happened, looking around the world seeming to slow down to him as every beat of his heart seemed to take an hour. "Don't let me die here," the words slipping out of their own accord.

(Suffer for you insolence m….,) the rest of her words fading it as a siren started blaring, seemingly coming from all directions around them. A moment later lights from within the walls started flashing, at places entire walls were dead, to much damage having been done to them during the fight.

A smile formed on his lips, knowing he'd done something even if he wasn't totally sure what, and knowing his life was now forfeit. "I am the man," knowing any second she'd strike him dead.

A flash of red lit up the area as a shadow appeared above him, "nice to know your ego is still completely out of control."

Trying to laugh and breath deeply at the same time, "Thank you Sammy!"

Hovering down next to him, "call me that again and I'll shot you myself," holstering her weapon, "now tell me the lights mean something."

Hopping down from the console, pulling off his beret and scratching his head, "Did something yes, what it is exactly I'm not sure, I think I turned the fire suppression system on but considering she shot it I can't be sure till something happens. For all I know I just turned on the self destruct sequence."

Rubbing her temples through the mask feeling a headache beginning to rage, "and here I thought things couldn't get worse."

His voice growing defensive, "I said could've I didn't say I did," trying to mask his own fear of the unknown.

"In other words you don't know," equal parts sarcasm and anger tinting her words.

Shrugging his shoulder, "yeah w…," falling on his butt as the world around him started to shake, "ok that's not good." Looking around, the Helmacrons like himself had lost their balance to varying degrees, the walls started to rise, and all the humans had the same feeling of a booby trap having been activated.

Shifting over and pulling him onto her board, "well you did something alright," a moment later glowing blue slime shot out of the risen walls covering everything like a tidal wave. Powering her board the pair shot above the on come substance, watching it flow over everything and flow down the passageway and fire out the sides of the holes made in the metal. Along with the various bits that had been torn up in the fight the jell carried Helmacrons, antibodies, and Tobias with it.

"I really that's the fire suppression system and not something radioactive," even without seeing her face he know she was now giving him a look that could kill, "I'm pretty sure it's not lethal anyway."

"I'm working with a mad man," turning her attention away from him and to the material looking for the bird before he was sucked out with everything else. Whatever is was it was keeping anything in it from escaping given how badly the Helmacrons seemed to be struggling. "COME ON BIRD GIVE ME A SIGN," hoping he hadn't already been sucked into another part of the armor.

(GET ME OUT OF HEAR,) almost pure panic hitting Sam and Tucker, as he let out a hawk's scream to let them know where he was, the sound cutting though the noise already flowing around them.

It only took a few second to spot him thanks to his vocal flare, his body covered in smile making him nearly impossible to identify if not for the shape of his head and quickly being pulled to the hole he'd come from. "We're with you," Sam and Tucker both grabbing him and pulling him up while the board added power. After a few second they managed to pull him out, though not in the from they expected. He now sported the wings and body of his normal hawk form but his legs and head were still the size of his mutated form making him quite a bit larger than them.

Tucker looked from him to Sam, "ok this is getting weird, first blood, now this."

(Try being on this end,) trying to find some way to grab on to them, but not making much headway thanks to the adhesive power of the ooze covering him. Breathing was proving to be hard enough, part of it covering his beak.

Sam looked from her companions to the sight below her, the Helmacrons now all but a bad dream most of them having been sucked out of the section of the armor with the promise of the rest to soon follow. Part of her didn't want to go till everything was over now that things seemed to be going her way, but the condition of the others worried her. Without his PDA Tucker was blind and she couldn't be sure Tobias wouldn't start shooting blood at any second. "Unless you two have a problem," she finally said having weighed the options, "I say we get out here and figure out something else."

"I don't remember the last time I wanted something more."

Tobias was more hesitant, looking at the world around them, then relented, "do what you want I don't want to slow you down," pushing against the ooze, trying to get free and finding that didn't seem to be an option. For that matter nor could he morph, something stopping him as he tried to call up another creatures DNA in hopes it could free him.

"That's all I wanted to hear," much of the slime having slowing it's flow around them, more than enough to slip out of the hole that had been forged by the outside forces. After a few seconds the trio was shot into the sun and a world that to them seemed horribly out of scale.

"I never thought I'd miss fresh air this much," taking a deep breath.

"Considering how many times we've had to drag your butt out of you room from a some multi day online game marathon I didn't think you liked fresh air."

"Funny Sam," taking a few more deep breaths and enjoying feeling the sun on his skin.

Ignoring him and looking around, "any idea where….," only to be cut off as something flew over them and sent them tumbling end over end, all three trying to hold onto the other two. The ooze covering Tobias ending up being the source of their salvation as it kept them together.

(Well this day just gets more and more fun,) his legs vanishing, replaced by those of the proper size for his form.

"Can we go back in the killer robot, I think it was safer," Tuckers face now stuck to Tobias chest.

(I'd prefer the safe embrace of talons,) turning his thoughts on a private beam, (Jazz we're outside, SAVE OUR UNDER SIZED TAILS!)

(Birdie,) her thoughts hitting him like a hammer turning, (you ok?)

(Hard to say, but we won't be at this size.)

(Give me a few to get better eyes and I'll be with you,) with the robotic body no longer on the attack and now under three ghost wolves, she slipped away in the woods, out of sight of Val and demorphed and called up her Hobby hoping the eyes were sharp enough for the task at hand.

Spreading her wings she took off only to be met by her brother before she could get very far, "something up?"

(Birdie called for a rescue,) laning on his shoulder, (you think you can handle things from her, I want to get them before Val or Skulker get any hint of them.)

Grabbing a quick look back at the area, Skulker still on Gash barking orders to his wolves while Val covered him a few feet back, ready to fire on the ghosts if they tried to double cross her. Looking back and nodding, "I think they're pretty distracted."

(Then I'll find them and then see where things go,) hopping off and spreading her wings, looking for her three tiny friends, scanning the area carefully trying to take in everything. After a few sweeps of where the body had been before it cut out she finally found what to a human would look like nothing more than an underdeveloped mosquito. Swooping in she grabbed the trio in her left foot and shot away from the group.

(Shut up Tuck,) Tobias thoughts hitting Jazz hard.

(Birdie?) a not of caution in her thoughts.

(Sorry,) a little embarrassed, (Tucker was panicking a little please tell us your what just garbed us?)

She wanted to blush, realizing that for them it must have been terrifying for a giant shadow to swoop down and grab them without warning. Trying not to let it slip into her thoughts, (it's me, everybody alright,) coming into land in a tree.

(Relatively speaking, I changed again and it's knida weird, I'm not bleeding, at least I think but something going on with my body. It's hard to tell, I'm wrapped in something I can't break so I don't know what's going on.)

(And the others?)

(Tired, hungry, little jumpy, but they think they're both ok, but we all want to go back to normal size.)

(I'll see what I can do,) looking over to the others, (looks like you turned the robot off, so we should've have to be here much longer unless someone decides to double-cross us.)

Growling a little, (that's it Jazz jinx the whole thing.)

(Shut up birdie,) focusing in on others and hoping this would end so she could get him back to normal and hopefully before the downside of his ghost powers kicked in.

Several yards away the others had gathered around the stationary armor, Skulker carefully examining it from the outside, Gash and Bolt close to their master while Strike and Blaze kept their attention trained on Val with Cerberus keeping tabs on Danny.

"So is it dead or not?" Val very much aware the situation was not in her favor

Without looking at her, "it's out of commission yes," the small ghost moving the shirt covering the metal aside and tapped a section, a door to the internal control room opening. His brow furrowed as he looked at the blue liquid now covering the inside of the chamber, "this is going to take a while to clean."

"Really," shifting her large cannon slightly to him only to be stopped by Danny as he took a hold of the end. Getting a glare from the hunter she mouthed the word, "why?"

Shaking his head, he mouthed back, "truce remember," and moved over to the ghost. Using his full voice, "can it be fixed?"

Looking up at him, "in time," reaching his hand in and tapping a few buttons and switches, various monitors coming on as a result. After a few moments of studying the data he pulling it out, letting the muck drip from his fingers in little streams. "Most of the damage appears to be minimal, but it will take time to fully repair everything. More damage was done by the uncontrolled release of the self sealing jell than anything else."

"The what?"

"This," flicking a little of the muck at Danny, "it's designed to seal the armor in case of damage in environments that would prove dangerous, it's generally released in controlled burst in selected regions, releasing it everywhere made a mess but it did solve several problems."

"Your joy riders."

"The same," tapping the body, "where they are is another matter," shaking his head, "I suppose you'll be wanting them?"

The half ghost looked over at the hole in his chest, that was now covered in the hardening blue jell. Looking over at his sister, who nodded, knowing what he was thinking and already talked to Tobias about it. "Don't suppose you now where their ship is?"

"Damaged and in several pieces and that was before my pack decided to make sure there were no other creatures in it."

Val still in hunter mode spat, "you expect us to believe that," obviously thinking he was lying just like Danny but choosing to be more blunt about the accusation.

"Have you ever known me to lie child?"

"What about the bombs in the mall, you said they were toxic."

"I said you should deal with them and they might be dangerous, you assumed the rest."

Danny mulled that over in his mind, looking at it from many angles before finally coming to a decision, "I hate to say this," looking at him, "but if you can keep them out of my hair you can have them, from what I understand they might do well being someone else property for a while."

"You surprise me."

"I'm not proud of this decision but someone has to keep them locked down and it's either you or Walker and you have more reasons to make sure they don't go anywhere."

Smiling at the half ghost, "I already have a special place in my collection for them, although I'll have to find a way to keep them quiet," his smile growing crueler and making Danny uncomfortable. "And there is the matter of what they did to my pack," looking at his wolves, "they should have a say in what I do to them," getting a few yips from Strike, an obvious agreement.

"You can't just let him go," Val finally hissed, "not after everything he's done."

"What else can he do," the ghost smiling at her, "lock me away in the ghost Zone and I'll escape, don't and he and more than likely you will have these little ladies to deal with."

Gripping her gun ever tighter, "and if you don't he'll just come back after us, again and again destroying anything and everything in Amity Park till he gets you."

Laughing lightly, "that is the nature of the hunt, it doesn't end till one is stopped, and how much he can do to me is relative. Besides I haven't enjoyed a prey this much in a long time and a good hunt is always worth coming back for, it makes victory all the sweeter when I finally get him."

"What if I give you something better," an idea forming in the half ghosts mind, thinking back to the events of the last few weeks.

"Better," not bothering to hide his interest, "you mean you bird friend?"

"In a sense….."

---

DP Style

"I can't believe you did that," his sister shaking her head and leaning back on the couch, several hours having past since they had agreed to go their separate ways under peaceful conditions. In that time the others had been returned to their normal size and Tobias freed of the slime, surprisingly no worse for wear despite tapping into his ghost power.

"What's so hard to understand," glad his parents still weren't home, now in the midst of a massive investigation from the day's activities.

Jazz ran her fingers through her hair, "all of it, if we know anything we can't trust Skulker."

"Sounded like you were trusting him while we were gone," Tucker tapping on his PDA looking over this and that.

Countering the redhead hissed, "that was short term and a matter of convince for both of us."

"Either way," not looking up, "at least it's something, besides we didn't do anything that wrong.

Counting off points on her fingers, "you let Skulker go, with his armor, let him take the Helmacrons, and said he could repay us by going after David," a slight look of disgust on her face.

Her brothers eyes glowed for a moment in irritation a little at that, "I don't know sis, we send a guy with a few redeeming qualities to hunt down a guy who has no problems raping, torturing, not to mention torching, and murdering people. Sounds like win-win to me."

Up till now Sam had been quiet, continually thinking back to what she'd just done and listening to both sides, "I don't have a problem with what he did and I understand it might come back to haunt us, but it's David, and getting him out of the picture and away from Vald might be worth whatever comes next."

"Exactly, Vlad makes out life miserable with ghosts all the time it's about time we returned the favor, and it's not like we're making Skulker do anything, I just said if he wanted to thank us, go after David and told him how great a hunt he'd be."

"It's still dangerous Danny," shaking her head, the red hair shaking in waves along her back.

"Lets face it on his own David is dangerous," the goth rationalizing more for herself than the others, "now that he's basically Vlad's zombie someone needs to keep him check," looking over at the redtail, "he was bad enough without a mind who knows what that psycho will be like. As for the Helmacrons, after being shot at by them a few hundred times I don't care where they end up as long as it's away from me. Did I want them to go free, yes, but unless you wanted to give them the Eclipse there weren't a lot of options and at least this way we have some degree of safety from them since they don't know how to get back here."

(In a situation with no good options pick the one where you save the most lives,) the birds words holding a haunting clarity that even Jazz had a hard time arguing with and for a time no one spoke, just rolling over that thought, each finding a bit of comfort in it.

The silence was finally enough for Tucker, "so any idea what happened to the Tobias back there," not looking up from his PDA.

"Tests are still running," Jazz grabbing a quick look at Tobias, "but given how little they've told us so far I'm not sure what good they'll do."

"You think he could be stabilizing or something?"

Shrugging, "no clue Sam, what you described was totally of the mark for what's come before," leaning back into the couch. Leaning her head back and lacing her fingers through her hair and coving everything till her mouth she mused, "the only thing I can think of is that it was some kind of interaction, either with the Fenton Cramer or something he came in contact with inside Skulker. Birdie's been shrunk before and nothing like this happened as I understand…"

(Not to my knowledge,) he commented

"…so it's possible whatever my parents made isn't morph tech compatible and who know what all that stuff in Skulker was."

"Great, one more mystery to add to the list rat chaser."

(Not really in the mood for that Danny,) Tobias himself still running over what had happened to him and despite what he was willing to show was scared about the changes go in in his body and his own inability to understand those transformations.

"Sorry," understanding what was going through his head, having experienced something similar after he'd gotten his own. The continuing question of whether or not they might get out of control or if someone could be hurt by them. Those thoughts were interrupted by Tuckers constant tapping as he flipped through something the half ghost couldn't see. Finally snapping, "what is so important," making a mock grab for the PDA only to have it yanked away.

Finally looking up and turning the machine around, "your not going to like this," his voice growing deadly serious.

"What," looking at the small screen from several feet away, not everything being that cleared.

(Well this sucks,) Tobias' sharp eyes making out everything the humans couldn't.

"What," Danny grabbing the PDA, his face shifting from sickly white to red in the shape of a few seconds.

Shaking his head and leaning back, "yeah kinda what I thought when I ran across the link," looking over at the girls and summarizing, "basically all the points Danny got for beating Pariah Dark, he just lost for scraping the mall. That and," spinning his fingers around each other slowly, feeling the need to do something given the news, "everything that might conceivably be a ghost now has a price on it's head."

(Everyone on the planet wants me dead again, the world has come full circle,) delivering the statement in a deadpan manner.

"Just when you think everything couldn't get worse," the words slipping out under Sam's breath as she leaned her head back into the cushion.

---

DP Style

Dawn was breaking and Val was on her latest of the many online articles that had sprung up in the aftermath of the battle, and slowly shook her head while sipping a cup of coffee, not sure what to do next.

"I need to do something," setting the cup down and closing her eyes, "the question is what." Thinking back to what she had seen, and the words the ghosts had said to each other, the deal they brokered, and what she had seen them do. Truth was she wasn't happy about the deal, but she had to admit turning one ghost on another wasn't a bad plan even with the risks. "The ghost boy's a pain in the butt, and dangerous beyond question but he has humans on his side, and their either nuts, brain washed or know something I don't. Skulker needs to be stopped, but if I lock him up those things get loose and I'm responsible for what they do. Who know what sides those animals are on, or even if they are ghosts, part of the time they seem like allies then they turn around do things I can't understand."

Sighing she took another sip, these were questions she just didn't want to think about. "Some of them have to be dealt with though," thinking back to all the damage some of them had done, "problem is I have no idea who's doing what at any given moment." Looking over at a beat up notebook that largely held her observations on ghosts, "how do I even know anything in here is right," picking it up and flipping through a few pages. "I have got to get some kinda score card going, I need to know who's on what side before I go after any more ghosts." Looking through the pages, each one reading 'must stop' in one place or another, "problem is I don't I can make that call any more."

Tossing it aside she downed what was left in the cup and looked at her cell phone for several long moments. It almost seemed to taunt her before she finally grabbed it and punched in a few numbers before turning if off after looking at the time. Sighing deeply she wondered if what she was thinking made any sense or if it was just a crazy idea formed by her sleep deprived mind. Looking at the notebook again she knew what she had to do, "he might not help, but Tucker's eyes might be fresher than mind, question is what do I tell him when he asks why I need this.

---

DP Style

"You are sure that's all of them," looking up and getting a small grown from Cerberus in return, "just asking," admiring his collection. For Skulker it had been a very long day, and he was glad to be back in the Ghost Zone, in his own home. The Helmacrons had been easy enough to track down for his wolves, each and everyone collected and now locked away in a small cell that only a ghost could get out of, that or perhaps the bird. Either way he doubted his little joy riding aliens would be going anywhere.

Cerberus laid down and whined slightly as he looked at the cell, "I know," patting the larger ghost on the nose, "but I don't plan to keep them here for long, as soon as I figure out how to preserve them I have a place in the East wing for them."

He wined again, "no they will be staying here indefinably, they've earned my ire more than that I don't trust anyone else to guard them, these trouble makers will learn what happens when they interfere with one of my hunts, much less stealing from me."

Grabbing his fur Skulker climbed up the wolf, Cerberus knowing instinctually what he wished and heading out of the room. Making a small bark he lurked through the halls, "the boy has earned something for his hand in getting my armor back." The wolf barking again, "no I'm not going soft but there is something to say for breaking up the pace a bit, a little time focusing on something else could prove beneficial, a chance to back at this hunt with fresh eyes." Getting another bark, "alright this does have a bit to do this the description of the ghosts abilities, going up against someone like that could provide useful insight." Getting a huff from the eyeless wolf, "yes Vlad's connection is playing a factor, that arrogant fool released Pariah Dark, disrupting my life and nearly destroying the ghost zone in the process. The chance to pay him back no matter how indirectly is something I've wanted for while now, and I can always deny that I knew of any connections between the two." Another bark, "don't worry you'll be getting a piece of him as well, I promise, after everything you've been through you deserve something as well," patting him on the head.

The wolf slipped through an open door and crossed the floor, hopping up onto a table so Skulker could get off. Letting off another yip, "ok I admit there is another reason," crossing the table, slipping onto several sheets of paper, each covered in intricate plans. "Considering all the damage done to my armor, it's a good time to put in these upgrades, and this ghost sounds like an excellent way to test them out before going back to capturing the boy and that blasted bird."

---

DP Style

The grey case shook with rage, violent and terrible, the light blue chains and black ropes around it snapping one by one, but all to slowly. Around that the frame work bend and screamed as it was slowly twisted out of it's ancient position. From within a deep haunting laugh echoed from the case, though none could hear it given none dared go near something that radiated such malevolence.

---

Notes

Yeah a long time between chapters, part writers block, part a non desire to write, and part the fact that my computer completely crashed to the point or replacing the hard drives. Thankfully I had everything backed up on an external hard drive but when I put everything back on I turned out it turned out I didn't have the right software when I got the computer fixed and for the life of me could've remember or figure out what the hell the writing program was to even get anywhere. Through luck, chance and a friend who's more tech friendly I was able to find out and finally get to it.

The whole thing with Tobias' power at the end was a nod to the problem Danny had when he was shrunk in the actual ep.

Why the Helmacrons, I just wanted to bring in the most annoying creatures in the Animorph series and just let them rip, and everything kinda evolved from that, shrinking, Skulker, whole nine yards all came from finding a way to bring these girls into the story for at least one round.

When I was writing everything inside Skulker's body I kept flashing back to Transformers the movie and an episode of the Swat Kats.

Provided I can actually keep going next chapter is kind of a payoff for me in term of what I've been setting up for the last few chapter

Please R&R