The Return of the Box Ghost

Four humans, one half-Vulcan and one ghost looked at the laughing boy incredulously. "This isn't funny, Phantom," growled Agent K from under the desk.

"It is," Phantom giggled. "I was so worried it was anyone really bad, but it's just the Box Ghost."

"Hey!" The Box Ghost crossed his arms in indignation. "What is that supposed to mean?" He looked at the three officers. "Who is this anyway?"

"Listen, Box Ghost," the boy cut in. "Once we make it back, you can tell the entire Ghost Zone you scared some GiWs, but I really have more important things to take care of, so let's just wrap this up real quick." Phantom removed the thermos from his belt and uncapped it.

"You will not catch me in your cylindrical container! I am the Box Ghooooost," the last word was drawn out and faded away as the Box Ghost was sucked into the thermos. Phantom capped it and returned it to his belt. "Congratulations, apart from little old me, your ship is entirely ghost free."

Kirk blinked at him. "Thank you, but what the hell was that?"

Phantom chuckled. "The Box Ghost. Annoying as hell, but only dangerous if you're afraid of paper cuts and bubble wrap. He's one of the few ghosts who actually want humans to fear them, but he hasn't gotten the memo that nobody thinks he's scary."

The agents crawled out from under their cover. "Looks like you are back to your cocky self. I think I liked you better when you couldn't speak." O said, his irritation clearly audible. "Back to playing superhero again."

Phantom crossed his arms across his chest. His expression soured and he held his body straight where he floated next to Spock. "You know, I wouldn't have to if you weren't so damn incompetent. You're never there during the actual attack. You always show up afterwards and even if you are there earlier, the only ghost you concern yourself with is me. The same goes for all other human ghost hunters in Amity Park. You are all too focused on hating me that you don't see that I'm trying not to cause trouble."

Spock raised an eyebrow, looking straight into Phantom's eyes. "You are trying not to cause trouble?"

Phantom threw up his arms. "Yes, I'm trying. I'm just a kid, I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. I mess up sometimes. I can't always prevent the property damage. I'm sorry. I don't ask to be slammed into buildings, or the street. I had to learn to control my powers and how to use them responsibly. I…" He groaned and ran his hands through his hair, messing it up more than it already was.

"Mistakes?" Agent K yelled while stepping closer to the ghost. "You took the mayor hostage. You shot at the Fentons. You used your powers for burglary. You call those incidents mistakes?"

"Gentlebeings," Kirk inserted himself between the agent and the boy. "We are aware of those incidents. We studied your records."

K's anger was now directed at the captain. "You did? And you still let that creature roam freely around your ship? You realize he was probably spying on you?"

Kirk turned his head to face Phantom with his lips forming an amused grin. "You were spying?"

The boy rubbed the back of his neck. His expression became sheepish and his cheeks turned an interesting shade of toxic green. "Only in the mess hall, Sir."

McCoy laughed and patted him on the back. "Well, that's hardly a crime."

Phantom looked really uncomfortable. "If you studied their records, why do you still treat me like this?"

Spock straightened, clasping his hands behind his back. "There were quite a few things that struck us as odd. Regarding the incident with the mayor, several people, including the mayor, reported gaps in their memory. In some cases the last thing remembered was a large group of ghosts attacking the local high school. The security footage of the bank robbery shows you with red eyes. Your eyes, however, as we can clearly see, are green. If you become extremely angry, they flash green, but they never turn red."

Phantom looked back at them, completely baffled. "You noticed all of that? When nobody else did?"

"I believe the difference is that we have learned that someone's species does not necessarily make them malevolent, a fact that many humans in your time and town still need to learn. Under this hypothesis, it is not difficult to notice that it is not always the way it appears at first glance. In other words 'because he is a ghost' is not a valid argument."

Kirk nodded. "That's why we want to know what really happened. Can you tell us?"

Phantom's eyes were big as saucers, but there was a spark of hope in them. It vanished quickly when the boy remembered the two agents. McCoy slid his hand to the ghost's shoulder and squeezed it encouragingly. "Tell us. Those two don't matter right now."

Phantom closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He reopened them, but kept his gaze firmly on the floor. "I think I'll start with the robberies. The other story takes longer to explain." He rubbed the back of his neck again. "To be honest, most of it is a blur. It started when the Circus Gothica came to Amity Park. Its human ringmaster Freakshow had a staff with a crystal ball that could mind control ghosts. He used this staff not only to make the ghosts his circus attractions, but also made them steal money and jewelry for him. With the help of some human kids, the crystal ball was destroyed and Freakshow was arrested."

Kirk frowned. "But if this ringmaster was arrested for the burglaries, then why do they still blame you?"

Phantom shrugged. "Maybe they didn't understand that only one of us worked with Freakshow of her own free will. Apart from Lydia, none of us wanted to act as his accomplices. She and Freakshow seemed very close."

K's face twisted in disgust. "Are you suggesting that a human and a ghost are having a romantic relationship? That's just utterly wrong."

Phantom's eyes narrowed. "I would not call their relationship healthy either considering Freakshow is obsessively envious of ghosts and their powers. Why wouldn't humans and ghosts form relationships? Our bodies may consist of glowing green goo, but ghosts are people, too. You just usually see the most obsessed and aggressive ones, and mostly at their worst. I have seen ghosts in romantic relationships with each other. It would definitely be a first, but why not?"

"What if they procreate? If that's even possible. You'd probably get a ghost who looks like a human, who could possibly avoid detection, even shields or other means of containment may be ineffective. That is a risk we are not prepared for. And it is just freaky."

Something interesting happened. Phantom's hands balled into fists, he went completely still, his mouth became a thin line and his eyes flashed. "If two members of different species decide on their own will to be together and have kids that wouldn't be any of your business. And you also have no right to insult those kids for what they are."

"Be that as it may," Kirk said somewhat forcefully, a hand on Spock's arm in a comforting manner. Spock saw in Phantom's slightly sheepish but also kind expression that he remembered Skulker's words about Spock being only half-Vulcan. "What about the mayor?"

The boy nodded. "You see, there is this ghost named Walker. He's the Ghost Zone's prison warden."

"The Ghost Zone has a prison?" Agent O asked disbelievingly.

Phantom snorted. "Yeah. But not for establishing order. Since the Ghost King was overthrown, the Ghost Zone has been an almost ruleless wasteland. Walker is a control freak who wants everything to go his way. And if you disobey the rules he completely made up, he locks you away for a ridiculously long time."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "I suspect you were arrested? What for?"

The ghost shrugged. "Possession of a real world item. I wanted to retrieve something that had accidentally drifted into the Ghost Zone. Anyway, I wasn't the only one in that prison. They were mad at me at first, but then I managed to convince Skulker and the others to work together to break out. We managed and I really made a fool of Walker and he vowed revenge."

Phantom took a calming breath. "Walker and his goons invaded Amity Park. In the resulting chaos, he and some of his minions overshadowed, that means possessed, some of the humans. Once I figured that out, I was able to free them of the ghosts. I crashed a town meeting, but I no longer knew who was overshadowed and who wasn't, so I shot at the Fentons, who to my misfortune were not possessed."

He gulped. "Walker overshadowed the mayor and dragged me out in front of the press to make it look like I was the one holding him hostage when it was exactly the other way around. A friend and I defeated Walker, but he succeeded with his plan. He made my home town my personal prison where I couldn't go anywhere without being hunted. The town only started to trust me after the thing with the Ghost King."

Spock nodded. "That explains a lot."

"You believe me? Just like that?"

"You provided a believable explanation."

Phantom blinked, blushed toxic green, then bowed slightly to the three officers. "Thank you." His echoing voice was wavering slightly.

At dinner, it was decided to continue Phantom's examination the next morning after breakfast. Spock sat at his desk contemplating the day's events when the door buzzer sounded. "Come in."

Instead of the door opening, Phantom glided through it, glowing bluish and see-through before he became tangible again. He floated there awkwardly, his ghostly tail twitching nervously. "I hope I'm not bothering you."

Spock shook his head and the boy relaxed. "Not at all."

Phantom looked around, his gaze landing on Spock's lyre. "What do you call that instrument?"

"Ka'athyra. Do you play an instrument?"

"I used to play guitar."

"Why did you stop?"

Phantom shrugged. "The first couple of weeks after the accident, everything I'd pick up would fall right through my hands. Or I would fall through anything I was standing or sitting on. And then more and more ghosts appeared and I no longer had the time." He tilted his head. "Are you okay? First Skulker, then the GiWs' comments about hybrids. Well, they didn't mean you and I guess a ghost/human hybrid does sound freaky…"

"If the existence of a ghost/human hybrid is possible, it would not be 'freaky'," Spock interrupted. "It would be an interesting combination, but being different should not justify insults."

The ghost looked at him with a strange expression. "I believe the humans think differently. Some humans are jerks."

Spock pressed his lips together. "Vulcans are not better. Despite supposedly believing in 'Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations'."

Thankfully, Phantom only nodded. "I guess you only see it when you're the one who's different from the rest."

"Agreed."

The boy studied his throat. "How's your recovery going?"

"It is progressing satisfactorily. Your concern is appreciated, but unnecessary."

Phantom nodded, then yawned, quickly covering his mouth with a gloved hand. Spock let his lips twitch in an approximation of a smile. "I believe you should go to bed. We can continue this conversation tomorrow."

The boy chuckled. "You're right. It's been a crazy day. I'm glad you're better. I'll see you at breakfast?"

Spock inclined his head. "Correct. Good night, Phantom."

The ghost boy smiled. "Good night, Commander. And thanks again for listening to my version and for believing me."

Spock inclined his head again, this time in acknowledgement and Phantom left his quarters the way he came in.

Danny phased into his room and dropped onto the bed. He stared at the ceiling, thinking. Should he continue to keep his duality from them? Should he tell them? Would they be able to fix his problem so that he could change back?

How would they react to the news? Danny only knew Spock's thoughts on the matter. But his friends had clearly been defensive of the Vulcan.

He sighed heavily and rolled onto his side, closing his eyes. He should sleep.

I got the idea of Danny playing guitar and having to stop because of his powers from a different fanfiction about Danny and Ember, but I forgot its title and the author's name. My apologies.

Seems like I spend the train rides between home and university quite productively. The reviews have been really enthusiastic, it's almost as if many have waited for a crossover between these two shows. I have an idea for another one once I'm finished with this one. I was thinking about involving Vlad somehow, but I can't come up with some evil master plot á la Plasmius. We'll see.

I'm sorry if I messed up with the episodes. I had to use the Wikia page to jog my memory because I have no time to rewatch episodes. If I could find the English version. The German dub of both shows is horrible. Is it only the German? Let me know if you have experienced the same with other languages or if you've come across translation errors. The German title of the Star Trek episode "The Galileo Seven" is one big mistake. As a translator, I'm interested in such things.

Hope you liked it. Have a nice day.