Author: Hey everyone been a couple days sorry about that. I came to the realization that I write better in one place the others. I know what you're thinking. My room right? Wrong! Actually it's in the bathroom which my mother reassures me isn't that strange. Everyone else in my family is cursing the fact however since this is the only bathroom with a tub. Lol.

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Chapter Twenty Eight

"Tucker?" Danny's voice was disbelieving as he stared at his childhood friend.

Tucker shook his head at the expression on his friends face. You'd think he'd died and come back from the dead the way Danny was looking at him. Letting out a small sigh Tucker walked fully into the room glaring at Technus slightly who, he noted with slight jealousy, held Danny's shirt in his hands. The fabric bunching up slightly where the other had pulled it up exposing the scarred skin that lay underneath. Seeing the look Technus quickly let go of Danny taking a step back as Tucker walked over.

"How you feeling man you were pretty out of it when we brought you in." Tucker asked as Danny straightened his clothes.

"Heavy, my head hurts a little. What are you doing here?" Danny asked as his friend continued crouching in front of him.

Tucker had grown that was obvious. His hair had grown out so that it barely brushed the tips of his ears. His wardrobe consisted of a pair of cargo pants and a long sleeved red shirt. He pretty much looked the same minus the beret.

"I guess that's to be expected Vlad did have you on some heavy drugs," Tucker said ignoring the question, "When you're more rested that feeling should go away along with the pain. Now about your question that's a little complicated."

"I'll go get our "guest" some food while you two catch up." Technus said moving towards the door as he spoke.

Danny waited until the other ghost was out of the room before leveling his eyes on his friend. Tucker sat before him emotions playing in his eyes. Somehow Danny knew he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear. Feeling it was best if they just got the whole thing over with Danny said as much his words ringing through the room.

"Hell man things changed after you disappeared. It wasn't so easy staying alive." Tucker said running a hand through his bangs.

"You're working for him aren't you?" Danny asked the question coming out like an accusation.

"If it helps I really didn't have a choice in the matter," Tucker gave his friend a pleading look before continuing, "After everything went down Vlad captured me and gave me to Technus. He made it clear that the two of us were to work together and created new weapons for his armies. You don't want to know what he threatened me with if I disobeyed."

"What your life? Torture? What was so important that you basically sold your sold to the devil?" Danny wanted to know venom lacing his words.

"Sam."

Danny jerked his head to look at Tucker taking in the pained expression the other wore now. Thoughts about her were always playing through his mind. This however was only the second time he'd heard her name be spoken since his release.

"Sam s-she's alive?" Danny asked.

"Yeah as far as I know. Listen man after you vanished we stuck together just like we've always have. I knew you'd want me to protect her since you weren't here. So I did. I did everything I could to make sure she was alright. Then we got captured. Vlad swore he would make her regret the day she was born if I didn't agree to work for him. I couldn't let that happen! I had to agree! Sam was everything to you." Tucker cried out slamming his fist into a nearby wall.

"Every damn day I felt like killing myself. My work, my designs, it was all being used on innocent people. Just the thought of the number of lives my creations have taken makes me sick. But I told myself one day, one day you'd be back. You'd crush Vlad like you always do and everything could go back to normal. The thought of being free to attone for my sins was the only hope I had."

Danny cursed Vlad to the deepest regions of hell as he took in the broken posture Tucker was sporting. Danny had seen first hand what Vlad's lust for power and done to the world. Had seen the broken lives the man had left in his wake of violence and blood. Tucker was just one victim in a million but even one victim was too much in Danny's book.

"Tuck…"Danny trailed off not knowing what else to say.

"I know I know you're disgusted with me. I'm sorry Danny not everyone can be as strong as you." Tucker hissed tears dripping to the ground.

"That's not true! I'm disgusted with Vlad and myself. If I'd been here none of this would have happened. I swear Tuck I'll beat Vlad. If I let him ruin even one more life then I can't call myself a human let alone a hero!" Danny growled jumping to his feet.

Even with the anger fueling him Danny immediately dropped back down on the bed his legs too weak to support him. Tucker noticed and started laughing slightly.

"Well you're not going to be able to beat anyone let alone Vlad if you don't regain some of you strength." He said wiping at his eyes as he turned back around.

"No shit captain obvious." Danny shot back rolling his eyes.

"Hey man don't worry once we get some food in you you'll feel like a new man." Tucker replied.

"Speaking of food where's Technus I'm starving." Danny licked his lips at the thought of food.

"Actually he should have been back by now…." Tucker trailed off.

Without another word Tucker grabbed a blaster that was lying nearby and headed for the door. Silence filled the room as he set the gun for "stun". Something was off. They shouldn't have noticed that Danny was missing until Vlad got back from his meeting with the remaining world leaders. He was about to open the door when it flew open on its own. Thankfully Tucker didn't shoot as Technus, who was panting slightly, threw the door closed behind him his eyes wild.

"What's going on?" Tucker asked feeling a sense of foreboding drape over him.

"They ..they.." Technus tried to say.

"They what?" Danny called slightly annoyed.

Technus turned to him his eyes flashing with doubt before he spoke.

"They captured the resistance. Destroyed their base. Some ghosts were talking about it. The leaders are being brought here now." Technus said his voice grim.

Danny nearly jumped to his feet again at that. His mind flashed with worry. For Valerie. Dani. And especially…

"Jazz."

Author: Ugh it almost sickens me how fast I can write now. THIS TUB IS MAGICAL!