π°πππππππππππ 2021_Day 08 [Treat]
~5-Halfa AU~
Category: Humor,Friendship.
Trigger Warning: Octopus.
π―ππ πππππ: π»πππππ
Lio Thymos marched directly towards the park fountain, fishnet strapped on his back and portable aquarium filled with saltwater in hand.
A call made by an automatic voice had signaled the presence of a blue-ringed octopus in the town fountain, so the marine biologist had to make sure that the poor creature had at least a chance in surviving after being in contact with fresh water instead of salted.
As soon as he came into view of his goal, the man noticed that there was someone else attempting to capture the invertebrate, but not in the traditional way.
Lio paused as he observed a spectral teenager, clad in a petrol green hazmat suit with bright silver accents (like Phantom's suit white parts) and hyper-technologic visor, try to manifest a green sphere around a slippery shape under the water surface with little success. The boy seemed to get more frustrated with each failure, so in order to avoid a hormonal(?) super-powered teenager to snap, Lio stepped forward.
β EVP HackerΒΉ*. β He greeted, shacking the other from his frenzied state.
β Oh! Who are you? β The Hacker jumped in surprise and remained floating.
β I'm Lio Thymos, I was called to deal with a rogue octopus. β The biologist shrugged, putting down the portable aquarium. β Why are you trying to capture my target?
β Because it's a ghost. β He pointed to the glowing octopod, which had surfaced to look at them, since the capture attempts had paused. β This one is more intelligent that the usual Octopusses and it's poisonous as well, so Phantom wants me to use a shield to get it.
β Why not the Thermos? β It was common knowledge by now that it was their team usual capturing gear.
β Training, he said. "If you can catch an octopus with it, then you'll be able to do the same with weapons thrown at you that you can't catch with a Thermos." β The newbie spectral teen mocked Phantom's voice petulantly.
β It makes sense. β Lio hummed. It sounded like an advice from an experienced fighter and given that Phantom had a head start of 3 years, it was a given.
β Mr. Thymos, please, not you too! β The tech-apparition despaired, making the perimeter of hexagonal device embed in his chest pulse in distress.
β "Mr. Thymos" is my husband, just call me Lio. β The marine biologist said absent-mindedly, as he leaned forward over the edge of the fountain. β Now, quit whining and come here.
The ghost teen grumbled something indistinguishable under his breath, but complied. β Okay, now what?
β Which is exactly the issue? The shield itself or the octopus? β Lio ignored the lip and stared at the Hacker.
β The octopus. I can form a shield without a problem, β to demonstrate, an orb materialized over his open palm, β but it's either too fast or I calculate wrong its trajectory.
β Well, have you tried first to predict where it would go and then form half a sphere in its path to intercept it and lastly trap it? β The man instructed patiently.
β β¦Uh, yeah, sort-of? I focus on where Karen and I calculate where it'll be and instantly form a sphere there. β EVP rested an index on his visors, which lit up with a target symbol.
β Karen? β Lio looked around, but they were alone.
β Oh, she's my AI. β The teen tapped the hexagon on his chest.
β Greetings. β A feminine electronic voice acknowledged simply.
β Oh. You're the one who called me for the octopus. β The biologist observed, making the Hacker splutter in indignation.
β Karen! How could you?! β He exclaimed in betrayal.
β Master, you said that It was "time for the professionals". Thus, I called Mr. Lio Thymos, marine biologist and animal handler. β The automatic voice replied easily. Her owner groaned dejectedly and deflated.
β Hacker, since I'm already here, follow my instruction and we'll catch it. β Lio stated sternly, making the white haired teenager straighten at his tone.
β Yessir! β He saluted, probably intimidated by his aura, despite the man's minute built.
It took them a whole hour before they managed to catch the ghostly poisonous octopus, since it enjoyed making fun of them.
(Lio had been ready to climb inside the fountain at a certain point, when he had finally noticed it mocking them, ready to either throw hands or set something on fire, but EVP thankfully stopped him.)
Now the invertebrate sat (pouting) inside the glowing sphere hovering above the Hacker's hand.
β What now? β Lio glared at the beast, who raised a tentacle as if it was giving him the bird.
β I'll toss it into the Ghost Zone. Probably after finding it a nice biome to live in, so it probably won't try to get back to Amity. Why? β The pale dark-skinned specter tilted his head in curiosity.
β Because I know a place where it would be at home. β Lio grinned ferally. β Remember the Goldfish OrdealΒ²* few years ago? My best friends purchased a Fenton Aquariumβ¦
β Oh, please, tell me more! β The equally mischievous teen matched the grin.
~OoO~
Lio and EVP Hacker looked satisfied at the blue-ringed octopus safely relocated inside a huge Fenton Aquarium, along with several goldfishes and a couple of peacock shrimps (all ghosts).
For now no one was attacking the other party since the ghosts didn't need to eat to "survive", due to the Ecto-purifier pump installed inside.
β Looks good to me. β The teen said, pleased.
β Given how we watertight the thing to make it octopus-proof, I sure hope so. They are so intelligent that if you hadn't done it, the octopus would have certainly fled. β Lio nodded, inspecting the phase-proof Fenton Duck-tape.
β Yeah, Karen said he same too. β Said AI beeped at his mention, lighting up the Hacker's visor. β Oh, okay. Phantom wants me for the status report. Keep us posted, Mr. Lio.
β I still have the number from where Karen contacted me, so I'll use that. β The man waved him off. β Go to your friend. You did a good job, rookie.
β Yeah, you'd still be one too, after only a month of practice! β The Hacker huffed, preening at the praise. He took off then, saluting as he phased through the wall of the house of Lio's friends.
The man stared after the deceased teenager, wondering if the "month of practice" was because he had died or just had started hero-ing a month ago.
ΒΉ* Electronic Voice Phenomenon. Yanno, given Tucker's theme and coreβ¦
Β²* Episode shown in "Haunted Drabble" Christmas Special. On Ao3 it will be published in December.
A/N. First Installment of 5-Halfa AU within "Domestic Phantoms"!Wooohoooo! γ½(ｑOoOｑ)οΎ
I settled on "EVP Hacker" as Tucker's hero name for several reasons:
1) the Electronic Voice Phenomena are one of the ways ghost can interact with technology, so since Tucker has core-powers similar (but better!) than Technus, it was fitting;
2) Tucker is tone-deaf as heck. That could be translated into interfering a lot with instruments which he's not controlling directly;
3) "Hacker" is Foley's role in the entire series, it was HIS;
4) β¦Hacker sounds like/rhymes with Tucker.
SO! Our boi Tucker is the first shown in Ectoberhaunt prompts, excited to see the other gremlins frolic around? If you have any question don't feel shy and ask them!
(If you saw and recognized an Easter Egg/cameo, don't mind it, it came spontaneouslyβ¦ as did the related jokeβ¦ γ(Β°wΒ°)γ)
Oh, by the way:
*There are many advantaged to being a marine biologist.*
Hope you liked this, type ya tomorrow!
Will Day 09 be Cape or Mask? Check in "Domestic Phantoms" and you'll find out!