Ernie hummed nonsensically as he checked off a few boxes and signed off on three sheets of paper. It was a quieter night, mostly getting ready to ship things out rather than receive. Not to mention that his warehouse finally seem to be at peace with their new co-worker.

Ring!

Ernie's mind was brought back at the shrill ring of his phone. It's the middle of the night he wondered thoughtfully. With a small sigh, he picked it up. "Warehouse Manager speaking," he answered, closing his eyes in anticipation for a potential prank call.

"Ah. Ernie Montez I presume?"

Ernie's eyes flew open at the Mayor's voice. "Mayor Masters?"

The smarmy man chuckled into the receiver. "I see you recognize my voice," he replied. Before waiting for Ernie to respond, he continued. "The reason for my call is, well I'll be frank. I have it on good authority that you've hired a ghost on your shift?"

Ernie's eyes narrowed, mind racing at the absurdity of phone call. "Sorry, Mr. Mayor. I'm going to need clarification. Are you callng me at -" Ernie's eyes drifted to the wall clock. "3:15 am about potential employees?"

Masters left out a short scoff. "I am merely concerned. You are aware of our city's problem with ghosts yes?"

"It's hard to ignore isn't it?" Ernie retorted back. He brought the receiver to his ear, grabbing his pen with his left hand and clicked it a few times. "I still don't understand how this has to do with my employees."

The man coughed. "Well," he started. "For one - legality."

"We hire whoever turns up for the job," Ernie shot back with a frown. "With all due respect, your cutbacks have been hard on our dayshift and the ghost attacks have not been good for retention."

"Which brings me to your most recent hire -" Masters tried to cut across.

"Sorry - but our employee files are confidential," Ernie rebuked coldly. "And our most recent hire has been a fine addition."

Silence was harsh on the other end of the line and Ernie swore he heard static crackling angrily. "You realize," Masters continued, his voice harsh and colder than he had been previously. "That this could require more audits and checks into all of your personnel files? Including Social Security and immigration status?"

Ernie's blood ran cold in rage. "Is that a threat Mr. Mayor?" he challenged. "Are you threatening a lowly manager of a small town shipping warehouse? Because you're worried I hired a ghost?"

The line was silent again. "Oh of course not," Masters said, a little more cheerily. "I just worry about his obsession with boxes hampering his work."

Ernie's frown deepened. "I never said -"

"You didn't have to. I have it on good authority remember?"

Ernie sighed. "Look," he started as evenly as he could. "I appreciate your concern Mr. Mayor but I spoke it over with his reference and he said it was fine. That some ghosts don't have their obsessions settled yet and it's best to work with it rather than fight it."

"A reference hmm…. Anyone I know?"

Ernie stopped clicking the pen. "I'd rather not say."

"Of course. I'll just have to figure it out for myself then. Good night Mr. Montez."

Ernie looked at the receiver as the line went dead, replaying the conversation over and over again.

"What the fuck was that."

:-=-:

"BEWARE! I have returned!"

Box Lunch cooed as her father entered their lair, floating toward him with outstretched hands. The Lunch Lady floated in her kitchen, a fond smile on her face.

"Welcome home Boxy," she replied warmly. "Just making lunch for the high school for my next attempt to feed the Phantom boy. Any requests for your lunch tomorrow?"

Box Ghost paused with a slight frown. "Actually," he said tentatively, putting his daughter down. "Could you maybe give Phantom a break tomorrow? He's had a rough week."

The Lunch Lady's hair floated upward in her ire, steam blowing out her nose before she settled. "And what should I do with all the chicken salad sandwiches I just made!?" she asked, gesturing to the hundreds of sandwiches neatly placed on the counter.

Box Ghost gave her a sheepish smile, hands out in a placating gesture. "How about I take them to work? I can share with my co-workers and maybe even convince Phantom to take a couple." When his partner stayed silent he frowned. "What do you think Lunchie?"

Lunch Lady let out a sigh. "I guess that will do," she said dejectedly. "At least I'll be feeding someone."

Box Ghost gave her a fond smile. "You'll be feeding the best humans I know. I'm sure they'll love it."

"And then I can make them food every day?"

"How about we just start with this and go from there?"

:-=-:

The warehouse workers noticed the pattern a few nights after Skulker showed up.

Ghosts started to show up more regularly, attempting to steal shipments when they thought the staff wasn't looking. It wasn't anything new - it had happened before - but the frequency of the attempts was increasing in number.

Key word was attempts.

None of them were successful.

"Think they're afraid of-" Carl asked one night when Box Ghost was having break elsewhere.

"Doubtful," Shirley replied with a thoughtful frown. "Boxy's a cinnamon roll on most days. I mean - none of us was afraid of him. He's… well…"

Soft murmurs of agreement followed as she trailed off.

Jim sighed tiredly, arm propping his head up. "I bet you it's something stupid."

Jacob continued to eat his seventh chicken salad sandwich, only mildly interested in the conversation. His eyes drifted over to shipping docks, eying it to make sure nothing was out of place.

"Okay but how does something stupid explain how Box Ghost is driving away most of the ghosts with his catchphrase," Carl argued, crossing his arms in thought.

They heard Ernie chuckle behind them as he approach. "Didn't think the ghost kid would be right about this," he muttered fondly. All eyes turned to the foreman, who chuckled harder. "Box Ghost has a bit of a reputation apparently."

"Reputation?"

"Apparently his 'BEWARE'" Ernie used air quotes around his imitation, "Causes many ghosts to run away."

"In fear?" Carl asked incredulously.

"No," Ernie said with a small smile. "In avoidance." At their confused stares, he pointed outside. "As long as he's here - he's like our own Ghost Shield." His smile grew into a prouder grin. "And if that doesn't work, his reference can handle the rest."

:-=-:

Danny sighed tiredly, looking up at the sky as he fixed his thermos to the back of his belt. "Stupid Skulker," he muttered, rolling his shoulder with a small wince. "Huh, it's still early."

"Shouldn't young children be in bed at this time of night?"

Danny let out a mx of an exasperate sigh and a growl of annoyance as he brought his eyes away from the sky to glare at the ghost above him. "Like old men with cats right? Know anyone Vlad?"

The older hybrid frowned at the dig. "Ha ha."

"What do you want? I'm too busy for one of your half brained schemes." Danny moved to fly off, still facing the ghost with a guarded expression.

Vlad shrugged. "I heard that you were a job reference for a certain employee at one of my warehouses."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "That a crime now?"

"Employing ghosts isn't exactly legal dear boy," Vlad sneered.

"Like you ever had a problem with that before," Danny sassed, eyes rolling and arms crossing. "Isn't, what, like half your staff ghosts and the other creepy holograms of my mom?"

Vlad growled back. "Yes well," he started disgruntled. "The point remains. Why is the Box Ghost working at my warehouse?"

Danny shrugged. "Boxes, Box Ghost; thought it was a no-brainer." His eyes narrowed. "Wait, how'd you find out?"

"Skulker."

Danny sighed, eying the thermos. "Figures - he's the biggest gossip."

Vlad chuckled. "Quite. He also let me in on a certain secret." Vlad started to move, making the young boy tense in anticipation. "That your obsession has yet to kick in."

Danny frowned. "What's it to you," he spat, hiding how his skin crawled. Alarm bells started to ring in the boy's head.

"Oh," Vlad started sweetly. "I just thought what a great mentor moment it'd be if I helped it along."

"Wha-GAH!" Danny was cut off as a duplicate blasted him from behind. He recovered quickly, flying up to the other hybrid and kicking it, making it disappear. The real Vlad came up from below, ecto-energy and blasted the boy. Danny bounced across three rooftops before he stopped, groaning as he glared up at the older ghost.

He spat out a bit of ectoplasm from his cut lip before he charged.

:-=-:

"Hey! I see fireworks!" Carl shouted, nudging the Box Ghost as he ran to the window. The ghost frowned, watching apprehensively as the younger human called out to the others. "Gotta be a ghost fight."

"Oi! We need to get this out asap you monkey," Jim grumbled as he pushed Carl's shoulder. "We see ghosts all the time."

"But never like this!" Carl retorted, beckoning Shirley closer. "Shirle - get a load of this!"

The Box Ghost sighed, finally drifting toward the window just as Ernie came over. Sure enough, in the distance, he saw green and magenta clashing fiercely.

"Who'd ya think he's fighting now?" Carl asked, pressing his face on the window.

"Who?"

"Phantom! Duh!"

The Box Ghost frowned, fidgeting as the humans argued. Ernie glanced in his direction questioningly but kept quiet. The two ghosts clashed again, this time pushing each other back as their power reverberated outward.

Jim whistled. "Damn. Somebody tough if the ghost kid is still fighting them back." He turned to Jacob. "What d'you think Jacob?"

Jacob shrugged. "Ember?"

"Not likely," Shirley scoffed. "We would have heard her guitar by now. She's too good to use physical force."

Another powerful blast sent one of the ghosts toward the ground, making the ground shake from the impact.

"That hunter ghost?" Carl supplied. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Wait - Boxy! You must know right?!"

All eyes turned to the Box Ghost, looking extremely uncomfortable. "Yeah," he replied gruffly, frowning as he flew upward. "It's no one good."

The four humans looked at each other. "Care to elaborate?" Ernie asked.

Box Ghost remained silent, wincing slightly as he watched one of the ghosts being thrown back. "You all know he's young right? He was fourteen in your years when he started."

Confused looks before a small murmur of agreement chorused underneath him.

"Do you know why he fights for this town?"

"Cause he wants to save it!" Carl replied confidently.

"Nah, it's cause he's possessive of Amity," Jim replied.

Ernie frowned, as previous conversations with Phantom replayed in his mind.

Boxy shrugged. "We ghosts don't even know. But that kid… he's one of the good ones. Honest yet direct. He doesn't care much for praise." Boxy shuddered slightly. "Plasmius? He's the opposite."

"He's facing Plasmius?" Carl said, frowning.

Jim looked at him. "Know him?"

"He's Phantom's arch enemy."

The Box Ghost coughed. "I'm his arch enemy. Plasmius is… Not many ghosts go up against him. He has power and influence. Phantom's one of the few that escaped his grasp."

Ernie turned to look at Boxy, noting the uncomfortable glint of worry in his eye. "How?"

"No idea. Deals with Plasmius are how most of us earn income in our realm. None of them are viable options if we don't want to owe him a favour." His shoulders crept up to his ears. "Phantom is his favourite target." Boxy turned away from the window with a small grimace. "Guess I never realized how hard that kid has it." He floated back toward the palette he taped up and lifted it, carrying it to the back.

Ernie frowned at the fight in the distance before sighing. "Boxy's got the right idea. Stop your gawking and let's finish up. If we get any more damage to the plant, Masters' will gleefully shut us down."

Carl nudged Shirley. "Think he meant it?"

Shirley rolled her eyes. "Meant what? That he was Phantom's arch enemy?"

"No." Shirley turned with a pointed looked and frowned at Carl's uncanny expression. "That Phantom's a dead kid."

Shirley felt more than heard the others listening. "I don't think he'd lie about that."

Carl frowned deeply. "That's so…"

Jacob came from behind and put a hand on Carl's shoulder. "Yeah," the older man agreed. "But work now. Talk later."

"But -"

"Later. Box line."

With a suffering sigh, Carl moved toward the assembly line, leaving the ghosts in the distance.

:-=-:

Danny breathed hard as he watched Vlad falter under a well-timed punch. "Can we just… call it?" he yelled tiredly, watching as the older flew back to his level. "I'm really tired of the punch, punch, kick, ecto-blast dance we have going on here."

"Yes well someone doesn't stay still!" Vlad retorted back, kicking the teen to the ground.

Danny's vision clouded slightly as he pushed himself up. He faltered at the knee on his back, pinning him to the ground. "Get off me!" he growled, squirming to get out of Plasmius' grip.

"Not until I do this!" Vlad growled back.

Danny made a strangled noise as he felt a prick in his arm. As the weight on his back subsided, his vision started to haze, fogging his brain as he tried to find Vlad.

What was I doing? He thought, looking out to the water.

"I see the effects are instantaneous," Vlad said smugly.

"What did you do?" Danny asked tentatively. He moved slowly, sitting upright and shaking his head.

"I call it an obsession amplifier - it helps bring forth a ghost's obsession from their subconscious."

"I don't," he started, shaking his head again. "I don't have one."

Vlad scoffed. "Everyone has one," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Even us."

"I don't!" Danny argued back, staggering to his feet and jumping in the air again. He charged at Vlad slowly, the older blocking each attack before twisting the younger's arm. Danny hissed again, biting down on his lip as Vlad lit up his hands with ecto-energy. The young hybrid stared up in thought. Think Fenton. How do I get out of this? Green eyes drifted upward, his hazy vision and wild thoughts becoming more chaotic before looking at the moon.

His entire mind went blank as the stars twinkled above him. They seemed brighter, almost calling out to him to visit.

I want to visit the stars.

He barely registered hitting the docks again, only letting up a small whimper as he stared at the constellations.

"It appears to be working."

Danny frowned. "Who's there?" he asked.

The voice grew quiet.

He tilted his head slightly, eyes still glued above him.

Something's wrong.

But Ursa Major is calling.

Danny coughed, feeling a strong pressure in his stomach, rolling past the splintered wood onto the gravel.

Get up!

His body felt so far away, heavy and thick in the fog of his brain.

"Interesting."

The voice was back. His body stiffened. "Who's there?" he repeated.

"It's me Daniel," the voice replied calmly. "What has you so focused?"

Don't tell him! Run! You're in danger dammit! Get out of here!

"Stargazing." His voice was light and innocent.

Fuck - snap out of it!

"Stargazing?" the voice repeated. "Huh, not what I thought it would be."

"What what would be?"

The voice chuckled. "No matter - what are you looking at?"

Danny sat up slowly, head back and a smile of wonder on his face. "Did you know that Ursa Major has seven galaxies in it?"

"Really? What's your favourite?"

He nodded. "Pinwheel," he replied enthusiastically. "The Hubble Telescope's photos are so cool!"

Stop it. This is wrong. Fenton snap out of it.

The boy paused for a second, something in subconscious stirring.

"You know, I have a lot of connections at Lowell and Palomar," the voice stated.

"You do?" His gaze finally moved from the night sky to the voice. Vlad was smiling widely, arm outstretched.

"I do," he said smugly. "Why don't you-"

No.

"-come with-"

No.

"-me and we can go-"

No!

"-visit them sometime hmm?"

No - wrong- stop - don't do it!

Danny looked at the outstretched hand and then back up to Vlad's face. His subconscious was screaming out to him run. His mind grew clearer, eyes widening in shock before he hit Vlad in the gut with a green ectoblast.

The man grunted, bouncing across the pavement as Danny breathed hard. "What… did… you… do!?" he panted wildly. He staggered to his feet, his head pounding as he glared angrily.

"Astronomy Daniel? Really?" Vlad said chuckling. "I thought it would b

e something simple like - " he was cut off as Danny hit him with another blast.

Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, gripping the side of his head. His thoughts were scrambled, all the possible facts about astronomy and the mythology surrounding the stars swirling in the forefront of his brain. I have to fight it. The pressure in his head grew in magnitude. With a gasp, his eyes flew open, wide eyed in fear.

I forgot how it sneaks up on you … the freedom that gets taken away.

"Shit," he swore softly, staring as Vlad charged toward him once more.