Jazz drove back home to grab a few Fenton phones and thermoses for the teens to use, Danny having neglected to grab them when he borrowed the ghost catcher. Yazmin and Eric decided to go with Jazz and Tucker respectively when they started their plan. Yazmin with Jazz as Jazz was the weakest link of the team. And Eric with Tucker as the halfa was injured and might be better with someone with more experience, that and insurance that Tucker didn't mess anything up, like dropping the thermos and releasing both Danny and Vlad's ghost half before they were safe.
"Alright, Vlad. Time's getting on and the sooner we split you the better. We can figure out how you split and make sure everything is fine," Danny announced. Vlad frowned suspiciously at the device.
"How do I know that works? Jack is an imbecile. I've seen that ridiculous ghost gabber of his," Vlad snarled. Danny rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh.
"Trust me. It works. I've split myself using this thing. If you have to see it though…" Danny reassured before sticking his arm through the ghost catcher. His human arm and ghost arm split into two hands and forearms, joining at the elbow. Valerie let out an alarmed squeak while Eric and Yazmin shuffled away from the device warily. Danny pulled his arm back through and the two hands and forearms merged together and Danny twisted his wrist slightly to get rid of the slight tingle left behind.
"Like I said. It works," Danny concluded unnecessarily.
Vlad smiled grimly with clear reluctance.
"It doesn't hurt Vlad. It's perfectly safe," Danny assured the man.
"I thought you said it could be dangerous to split a halfa," Eric recalled. Danny sighed.
"Let me rephrase that then. It could be dangerous for us. It's not dangerous for Vlad unless he starts attacking himself. I remember it being like having a twin. But having completely different opinions and personalities. It's difficult to explain to be honest," Danny corrected. Vlad blinked and carefully approached the ghost catcher. He tentatively put his hand through and watched with interest as a ghostly arm separated from his human one. Danny rolled his eyes impatiently and pushed the device over to fall over Vlad. Vlad yelped in alarm but didn't have the time to dodge.
Vlad Masters glanced down at himself and sighed with relief. He dusted down his suit before turning to Danny with a displeased frown.
"Daniel, that wasn't very polite," the man remarked. Danny quirked an eyebrow before getting blasted off his feet.
"You little rat! I should kill you for that stupid stunt!" Vlad Plasmius seethed. Danny got to his feet.
"We don't have all day and I need you to make sure that the split worked properly. Besides you were being a baby about it," Danny retorted. The others were staring at the two Vlads with curious wary gazes.
One was Vlad Masters in a perfect suit. His features were oddly calm, almost kind. It was a shock to all present as they knew who this man was really, and kind wasn't a word usually used to describe the first halfa. The other was Vlad Plasmius. His red eyes pulsed brightly with rage and his hands crackled with barely contained ghost rays, glaring at Danny as he cracked his back from hitting the opposite wall.
"Alright, try to change into ghost form human Vlad," Danny instructed.
"You said he wouldn't be able to do that," Plasmius growled. Danny nodded.
"I did, as long as this worked as I planned. But one time I split myself I became two halfas with different powers accessible to different halves. I want to make sure that isn't the case," Danny agreed. Plasmius angrily folded his arms and turned to Masters as he closed his eyes in concentration. A few seconds later he opened his dark blue eyes and shook his head.
"I'm unable to change," Vlad reported. Danny grinned.
"Perfect!" Danny exclaimed happily.
"I think I know how Vlad was split. His human half is the cool, collected business man. But his ghost half is the angry, vengeful ghost," Tucker remarked.
"Watch your words child!" Plasmius hissed. Danny sighed.
"I figured something like this would happen. Plasmius play nicely. Take a deep breath and chill," Danny interjected. Plasmius glared at Danny who flashed his eyes threateningly.
"Don't make me put you on ice until the Guys in White get here Plasmius. I'll do it. You know I will," Danny warned. Plasmius growled in his throat but set his feet down and relaxed his menacing posture slightly.
"Will the plan still work?" Valerie wondered worriedly. Danny nodded.
"Definitely. Actually, it might even work better than I thought. With the personality differences and Plasmius fitting into the whole vengeful ghost image, the Guys in White should be fooled. But we need to get to our posts and I'll get this back home before the Guys in White seize it," Danny decided as he picked up the device. Jazz returned seconds before he phased out of the mansion, handing her brother a thermos and ear piece.
Danny returned to his house and left the ghost catcher in his room. He knew he'd get in trouble later if his parents spotted it there but it needed to be accessible, which it wasn't if it was in the lab with his parents. He didn't want to leave Plasmius out there with his incredibly short fuse and explosive anger. Danny could take a hit if it came to it. Someone like Valerie or a Guys in White agents couldn't. Vlad's ghost half might kill someone for just getting in his way right now. He then zoomed back to Vlad's neighbourhood and settled beside Valerie on the roof of the opposite mansion.
"Thanks," Valerie unexpectedly muttered. Danny blinked and stared at her in confusion.
"For giving me a second chance. You didn't have to do that. Not after everything I did to you," Valerie clarified. Danny smirked.
"Valerie, I consider you a friend. Besides, this has to be weirder for you than for me. I've known about your ghost hunting activities and vendetta against me since you started. How are you holding up?" Danny replied. Valerie sighed.
"Okay. I'm still not sure that you being Phantom has registered with me though. I'm still thinking of you both as different people. I know you're not but that mentality is hard to shake," Valerie confessed.
"Trust me. I know what you mean. When I split myself it took an hour or so to stop referring to myself as "we". But you'll get used it to. It just takes time. And Sam, Tuck and Jazz will be less protective given time too," Danny reassured her. Valerie smirked.
"You know, I'm starting to wish that I'd seen you when you split yourself. Sounds like it was an experience," Valerie remarked. Danny chuckled.
"It was a mess Val. I got me, Sam and Tucker banned from the movies by the manager for a month. It would have been life if Sam hadn't had connections and I hadn't written a formal apology," Danny recalled. Valerie blinked.
"We're in position in front of the school," Tucker reported in.
"I'm at the docks," Sam informed them over the Fenton phones.
"And we're in the park," Jazz added.
"Great work guys. Ghost catcher's in my room and should stay there as long as my parents don't spot it. Val's with me opposite Vlad's," Danny replied, using his own Fenton phone.
"Guys in White should be there in a few minutes," Tucker remarked.
"I suppose I should change to human in case they pick me up on their sensors," Danny muttered and a flash of light later, Danny Fenton was crouched on the roof with Valerie. Valerie blinked at him, still recovering from the unusual sight. Danny though was unfazed as he scanned the street below them, tense and ready to jump into the situation when the Guys in White would finally arrive.
Five minutes later, three white vans drove down the street and pulled up in front of Vlad's mansion.
"I really hope Vlad's ready and that his ghost half keeps calm enough to not attack those agents," Danny mumbled worriedly. Bald men in white suits filed out of the vans, most holding anti-ghost rifles. Two agents marched up to the front door and Danny could hear from his perch on the opposite roof their loud knock. The door opened to reveal Vlad Masters. The billionaire swept his gaze over the street and scowled at the government agents on his doorstep.
"I assume you have a reason to be here. Otherwise you'll have to leave, I don't take kindly to men with guns on my front lawn," Vlad growled. Danny rolled his eyes. At least the man hadn't threatened the Guys in White yet.
"Vladimir Masters, we had a report that you are involved with ectoplasmic entities, in other words ghosts. We have a warrant to arrest you and to search the premises. You have the right to remain silent but anything you do say will be used as evidence in our investigation," one agent announced, pulling out a pair of slightly glowing handcuffs. Vlad glared at the man, his gaze flicked to the sky for a split second before he backed away a step.
"I have no intention of going with you lot. Clear off!" Vlad ordered menacingly.
"Come on Vlad, give me something to intervene," Danny whispered. He didn't want to be seen attacking another mayor without just cause. The agents on the doorstep advanced on the man, one pulling a scanner out of his jacket. He flipped it on and a shrill alarm pierced the morning.
"Confirmed ectoplasmic evidence on the premises," the agent declared. Vlad's dark blue eyes flashed bright red and his hands erupted in ghost rays. He fired on the agents and Danny jumped to his feet and changed into his ghost form. He then leapt off the roof and charged into the fight as the Guys in White came to their senses and pointed their guns at Vlad who loomed angrily in the front doorway.
"There you are!" Danny shouted, feigning relief. The Guys in White tore their determined scowls away from Vlad and looked up to see Danny. Vlad looked up as well and snarled at the teen. Danny charged his fists and flew at top speed towards Vlad. Instinctively Vlad created a shield around himself which Danny crashed head first into. Danny backed away a few feet and rubbed the fast forming bump on his head. He gritted his teeth in annoyance. While this would look good, it wasn't part of the plan and Danny didn't want to waste unnecessary energy fighting Vlad before flying away with the Guys in White on his tail.
"Vlad! Stick to the plan," Danny hissed as he phased into the ground. Vlad huffed angrily but lowered his shield and pretended to scan the lawn for any sign of Danny.
Danny phased back up behind Vlad and charged his fists and phased through Vlad's body, ripping Vlad's ghost half out by force. Vlad Masters stumbled on his feet and leaned heavily against the door jamb. Danny threw Plasmius a short distance away from himself. The Guys in White had to see that the human Vlad had been overshadowed for the plan to work best. They needed a good look.
"I've been looking for you all over town Plasmius! Overshadowing the mayor was a coward's move," Danny taunted loudly for the Guys in White agents' benefit below them. Luckily Plasmius was dazed from being forced out of his host. It often happened to ghosts when they had been overshadowing a human. Plasmius wouldn't be able to argue or say something to give the game away. Danny shot Plasmius with a ghost ray, throwing the older ghost to the ground. The Guys in White gathered around and pointed their weapons at Plasmius and Danny. Seconds before the ghost hunters could catch the dazed ghost, Danny pulled out his thermos and caught Vlad first. He then flashed the agents a cocky grin and a mocking salute before speeding away. The school was closest and then the park.
A few bumps but more-or-less according to plan.
But will Danny be able to outrun the Guys in White without them seeing anything?
Let me know what you guys think so far.
Until the next chapter.