Chapter 23: The Inevitable
Everyone had frozen at the arrival of the agent, the unease humming as loud as the ghost shields. Danny could feel the sweat form on his host's body. Crap, this wasn't good. Almost on reflex, he gazed over the guy's shoulder, but he couldn't see an army of GIW agents lurking there with weapons drawn. Neither was there the looming presence of Agent Alpha about to seal his fate.
Agent Z stared at the two of them, his smirk dropping to wrinkle his nose in distaste at their presence. Deeply shadowed eyes hovered longest at the agent Danny was overshadowing, and with a frustrated sigh pulled himself away from the door frame.
" I knew that Agent R was stupid in underestimating you spooks. But those research teams always think they know everything compared to us. Idiots." He took two slow steps into the room, his steel eyes narrowing. " Hiding in one of our own isn't going to protect you, Phantom."
Swallowing Danny peered back at Damon, somewhat relieved that he too was equally unsure of what to make with this new arrival. He didn't need to see Vlad's face to know he was enraged, the grip on his shoulder becoming painful from how firm his hold was. This was a horrible position to be in, and this explained why it had been so easy waltzing in here in the first place.
His lack of sarcastic response caused the agent to chuckle, arm in his sling swaying. " What? You, speechless? That's new, Invis-o-Bill. I suppose a spook like you thought it would be easy coming down here, a walk in the park with your abilities to pretend to be human. But we're not as pathetic as you think we are."
On his shoulder he felt Vlad stiffen, sensing he was preparing to attack. Which meant that Danny knew he had a small window to figure something out. The risk of setting off the alarms was a problem to that plan, if they went off they would be trapped with no way out. Vlad probably thought dealing with this mess quickly would be wise. But that would also mean Plasmius would attack with more… lethal force than Danny wanted to.
Quickly he spoke up, raising his palms in the hope to deal with this calmly. "Okay, so you caught us half ghosts. Congratulations. Now let's discuss this in a peaceful, not tearing-each-other-apart kind of way." He made sure to direct that last part to Vlad the most. " There's no point us fighting when we've got nowhere to go, Agent Z. I don't want to hurt anyone. And even if she's an idiot, you don't want your colleague here getting hurt either, do you?"
Agent Z scowled at his request, the fingers on his good hand twitching. " I don't think you're in the position to make terms here, spook."
"Neither are you," Vlad finally spoke, his voice low with loathing. " Unlike Daniel, I have no problems tearing you both to pieces. In fact, I think that it suits me better if I did."
Danny quickly grabbed his shirt when he felt him try to move away, knowing that those weren't empty threats. " Whoa! Right… Okay, so we're not the ones making the terms here. Then lets-"
Vlad cut him off, glaring at the agent. "-The only one that plans on making terms here today is me. And you're in a dangerous position, boy, threatening me."
Agent Z's hand grabbed at the hostler on his belt and Danny panicked, knowing that a fight was unavoidable if this continued. Yet as he was about to try his second attempt to negotiate, a loud, low beep echoed throughout the room. Immediately the lights that had been dimmed flickered back on into a stark brightness. With another beep the metal door behind Agent Z slid across, slamming shut. The defending clang of the panel sealed their only way out. With his heart sinking Danny turned back to Damon.
Mr Gray was still standing by the control panel, lifting his hand from the buttons. The moment he caught Danny's look his gaze dropped, a pained expression creasing his brow. " I'm… sorry."
Frowning Danny didn't answer, he didn't know what he could even say to that. Vlad hissed sharply in anger, building the strength he had left to transform. The room suddenly seemed to become so small, the shielded walls crashing down on him. Even though he suspected that he knew the reason, Danny asked anyway. "What are you doing?"
Agent Z was the one that answered, scoffing."You haven't figured that out yet, spook? This was all part of Operative Omega's plan; with a suggestion from this guy here. We knew you were slippery, and with that annoying ability to appear human we knew finding you would be difficult. But this guy claimed he could smoke you out."
He took another step closer, enjoying Danny's reaction. " The plan was once we got your location from him where'd move in to capture you for good. Though imagine Agent Alpha's shock to learn just now you were here! It couldn't be more perfect!"
It was then that Danny felt Vlad tense on his shoulder. He shivered, spewing mist as his black rings passed over them. It was a bizarre feeling another half ghost's transformation, leaving his host's hair standing on end. The grip on his shoulder tightened awfully, Plasmius locking Damon with a glare that chilled Danny. He could feel the raw power pouring off him, the hatred, the fury that Vlad was sending over to the guy that had betrayed them. And Mr Gray held his deadly glare without flinching.
At the appearance of a ghost Agent Z quickly pulled out his blaster, aiming it with his good arm. Seeing the movement Plasmius turned his stare onto him. Yet unlike Damon, he swallowed nervously at the malice but held his ground. " Don't even bother trying anything funny spooks. Now that this place is in lockdown, the whole facility will be on high alert. Not that you could even get out of this room. We have you trapped!"
"Yes," Plasmius spoke in almost a growl. Danny could feel his muscles shifting, preparing to strike. "That's true. Sadly that also means you fools are trapped here with me!"
He phased out of Danny's hold and lunged, charging at the blaster in Agent Z's hand. In defence the agent fired, but Plasmius dodged under it easily and grabbed the weapon from his grasp. Yet while he began to tug it from his grip, Danny didn't take his eyes off Mr Gray, who now refused to look at him.
He was surprised that he didn't feel hurt or angry at Damon at all. Danny knew he should be freaking out by now, furious that Mr Gray had ratted him out to the ghost hunters. Terrified that he was now trapped within their base with no way out. But strangely, he felt… calm, indifferent to what he'd done. "Why did you do it, Damon?"
Hearing his lack of anger only seemed to make Damon more upset. " I… You're a good kid Danny. I know that. And I know… it's not your fault what happened in Amity. I never… meant to trick Tucker as I did… It wasn't… wasn't something that I liked doing. And yet,"
Finally, Damon looked at him, his tired eyes watching his reaction. " I can't let you help… Masters. I can't forgive any of the ghosts for what they did to my daughter. Even… Even Phantom I suppose. When I met you…I thought maybe I could forgive Phantom… I didn't report your location then because… I saw you're just a kid. You don't deserve this! But I wanted you to turn back! If you did I would have thrown the receiver away immediately! But if you decide to help these ghosts… I'm sorry, but I can't let you help him escape."
Danny found himself nodding without knowing it, and a wave of sadness hit him. He knew this would happen the moment he sealed away that ghost in the thermos, the moment Casper High was turned to rubble. His life was over. Speaking to Agent Z was proof that no matter what he said, they never would believe him. To them, he would always be an evil spook who in their eyes destroyed a school with everyone in it. A side had to be chosen, one that he knew he couldn't avoid. If he choose to help Plasmius, then he was taking the side of the ghosts.
" I understand. I don't blame you. I probably would have done the same if the roles were reversed. But… Damon, you know that the GIW can't find the others. You might have tricked me here, but if you truly think that way about Danny Fenton, you've got to make sure these agents don't drag them into Phantom's mess. Make sure they're safe. They're innocent in this. At least… do that for Valerie. Danielle was her friend too."
At his request Damon blinked in surprise, a moment speechless that he didn't want to strangle him. Slowly he nodded, making sure that he saw in his expression he was telling the truth.
Maybe he really was as naive as Plasmius said, but he knew Damon would help them. It would ruin their futures if they were caught, and Dani couldn't be found. Mr Gray knew that. He hoped…that he would at least do that task for him.
Suddenly the noise of fighting brought his attention away. Plasmius had torn the weapon from the agent's hand, pinning him by his coat to the door panel. As Agent Z tried to kick out Vlad let go and smashed his fist into his face, instantly causing blood to pool from his nose as it broke. The agent fell, crumpling back to the ground.
"Plasmius, enough!" Danny snapped out, surprising himself at how commanding it sounded. The half ghost whipped around, a sneer challenging him. Danny knew he'd kill everyone in this building if he had a chance. Yet it was over. Giving the ghost hunters more reasons to hate them wouldn't help now. They needed to show them they weren't threats anymore. But to his horror Plasmius ignored him, glaring down at the agent with a red blast building in his palm.
Crouching down Danny left the woman, letting her fall as gently to the floor as he could. The moment he was free he transformed, it no longer mattered about hiding anymore. Kicking off he charged as fast as he could, rushing into the fight. Just as Plasmius's hot ray almost ran the agent's chest clean through Danny tackled him, slamming them both into the door with a clang. The ray fired off, missing its target and exploded a filing cabinet instead. Agent Z covered his head with his good arm as next to him the cabinet melted from the impact.
Immediately Plasmius fought back from the hold, Danny struggling to hold him down. Though the half ghost was badly injured, it was incredible how much strength he still possessed. As Danny madly tried to think of a way to stop him Vlad's hand grabbed his wrist and zapped him with his electric stinger. It was weak, far weaker than the one he'd hit him with at the lake. But it still hurt, Danny yelping in pain as it forced him to let go.
The moment he did Vlad moved back to their enemy, halting his progress to crawling to his discarded weapon. Shaking the stinging that was coursing through his body Danny readied to stop his next attack, until he spotted Damon beginning to move. Quickly Mr Gray reached behind his back, all his focus now solely on Plasmius. His face was taunted in anger, pulling out the pistol from where he'd hidden it.
Immediately Danny tensed, knowing that Plasmius was too maddened with the agent to notice. And there was the likelihood he wouldn't be able to take much more damage in his state. Normally a gunshot wound wouldn't be a problem for their ghost sides, but for Vlad one more hit might be enough. Wincing from the leftover stinger Danny bolted forward, side-tackling Plasmius again.
The bang echoed out, and Danny felt a stabbing burn in his right leg. He knew he'd been hit, grunting from the flash of pain it cause. Yet he was relieved that it had been him, he could still take this kind of damage.
Moving to block any other shots he looked over to Damon. The moment he'd seen he'd hit the wrong person Mr Gray's expression broke to horror, lowering his weapon at once.
One benefit of getting shot was that it broke Vlad out of his blind rage. Plasmius's focus returned to him when he saw the damage in his thigh, instinctively creating a pink barrier around the both of them for any more stray shots. With a huff Danny summoned his powers and made a wall of ice between them and Agent Z, hoping to keep both of them apart. He knew he only had a few seconds until the other half ghost's fury returned.
Vlad inhaled sharply, his new rage now completely on Damon. The thin shield disappeared as he went to deal with this new threat, but Danny was ready for him. Quickly he curved his ice wall, cutting off Plasmius's momentum and causing him to slam into it. He didn't dare take his eyes off the half ghost to check his wound, but he could feel the cool throbbing of his healing powers in overdrive.
"Plasmius Stop. Calm down." Palms raised Danny prepared for anything, as Vlad pulled himself away from his ice. " There's no point in hurting anyone else. It's over."
" Calm down!? Stupid boy, do you even hear yourself?" Plasmius shifted, and Danny spotted him gripping the edge of his cloak. " If we have any chance of fixing your foolish mistake then we must move quickly!"
"We're locked in here, there's isn't-"
"-Idiot! Just because a door's closed doesn't mean there isn't a way out! But that can't be checked unless these… inconveniences are dealt with."
Before he could counter Plasmius twirled his cape, vanishing in a puff of smoke. Seeing the danger Danny bolted through his ice to see the half ghost reappear in front of Mr Gray, hand burning red. As Damon moved to any attempt to protect himself Danny made a shield defending him, the blast thundering into his green barrier instead. Not wasting another moment he once again grabbed the half ghost and tugged him away. Vlad tried to escape his hold, causing them both to collide into one of the desks.
Danny knew this was a losing struggle. Protecting the others from Plasmius wasn't going to work forever. He wasn't going to listen to him, and it was only a matter of time before backup showed up.
Hoping to pin him down Danny gripped his torso and rammed him onto the ground as hard as he could. The act caused him to wince, knowing that it would have pulled at his wound and likely made some damage. But it was a small price to pay if it stopped him from wasting people. Next to them, Mr Gray was frantically looking at them struggle, trying to work out how he could help.
"Damon, get out of here!" Danny could feel his hold breaking, knowing that it would take only one strong electric stinger for him to be knocked out for good-
Suddenly there was a soft bang, and Danny felt a sharp pinch in his shoulder. Knowing that familiar sensation he twisted around, seeing Damon do the same. On the ground near them was the second agent, her dart gun shaking in her hand.
Checking to confirm that he had indeed been hit Danny ripped the dart out. Damn! He'd completely forgotten about her!
Before he could do anything Plasmius threw him off, rising back up with his energy surging. Rolling, Danny pushed himself into the air and without thinking rushed towards the other agent. She screamed in terror at his approach, preparing to fire again. But Danny was quicker. With one hand he took the weapon out of her grip, the other he looped around her waist, flying them to the opposite side of the room.
Swiftly he pushed her under one of the desks, flinching as kneeling caused his leg to burn. " Stay down and try to keep out of sight. You should be safe here until you can get out."
His words made her freeze, staring at him with wide, unbelieving eyes. " Plasmius is… completely berserk at the moment. If he sees you he'll try and kill you, so hide under here until it's safe. I'll keep him away from you as best as I can, but it'll be easier for me to protect you if you stay out of his sights."
"W-what?" He could barely hear her weak whisper. But before Danny could answer the sound of yelling drew both of their attentions away.
"I warn you to think very carefully about what you decide to do next Mr Gray. Because unlike Daniel I have no quarrels in ending your pathetic life right here!" Plasmius's voice snapped, stalking towards the man. Damon's whole poseur had changed, his own rage showing behind his glasses.
" I always felt there was something off about you Masters, wondered why you were supplying my daughter with weapons. All this time you were encouraging her when you were one all along!"
" How cute. Blaming me for something that was solely your daughter's own decision. Easier that way, isn't it? Blame the big bad ghost instead of accepting Miss Gray's irresponsible actions."
"Don't you dare accuse my Val for this!? If it wasn't for you she might still be alive!"
Plasmius narrowed his eyes, halting as he glared at him. Damon saw the reaction and stepped forward. " I'm right, aren't I? You're the reason she became so obsessed with fighting ghosts! What lies did you tell her!? Why? Tell me why you tricked my daughter!?"
"I didn't trick your daughter. She was the one that wanted revenge. Even if I didn't end up using her petty rage to my advantage, Miss Gray would have found a way to hunt ghosts with or without my help. If you want to discuss this now you stupid imbecile, I could argue that my weapons were protecting her. If it wasn't for that your daughter would have died much sooner."
" Bastard! Don't try to trick me that what you did was justified! You endangered her life! Not that I'll expect a creature like you to understand what you did was wrong, the loss that you've caused me."
"Loss!?" Plasmius thundered, red sparks flickering on his gloved fingertips. " How dare you think you can understand my loss! What we half ghosts have lost thanks to all this. Your dim-witted brain can't even comprehend the definition of loss!"
Where he crouched by the agent Danny swallowed, feeling the rising tension in the air. These two were about to go at each other's throats and at the same time, he could feel the effects of the dart begin. The numbness fogged his mind. Even though Plasmius's aura was basically non-existent, weakened, Danny knew he couldn't stop him without hurting him further. In his core he felt a surge, itching to release. Should he use his wail? It would stop the fight, but he risked entombing them all down here in the process.
Before he could decide Damon roared, pointing his pistol up and fired. Plasmius lunged at that moment, a thin pink shield appearing before him. The barrier shattered on impact, Vlad using the brief confusion to duck under and strike. Grabbing the gun he crushed the metal, rendering it useless. Mr Gray jumped back in both pain and fury as Plasmius tore the broken weapon away and threw it aside.
To Danny's utter amazement Damon continued to attack the half ghost, even now weaponless he was not backing down. He punched at his face, but Plasmius easily dodged and sent a powerful one of his own. It staggered Damon, sending his glasses flying. But with a snarl Mr Gray didn't stop, grabbing onto the half ghost as he fell backwards. Briefly, they were engaged in a furious tussle until Plasmius had enough and threw Damon on top of one of the desks, pinning him against it.
"Crap!" Instantly Danny rose from the floor, knowing from the sudden glow in Plasmius's eyes that he was preparing his rays. And from the way he loomed over Damon, he was in the perfect position to run them through his skull. However, before Danny could move Damon twisted under Vlad's grasp and lashed out with a solid, powerful kick to Plasmius's gut.
The effect was immediate. Vlad gave a silent choke as his wound tore open, glow fading as his time spent healing came undone. His hand let go, black rings flickering around his waist as Vlad turned all his focus on remaining in his ghost form. Damon didn't let this perfect chance disappear and pulled himself up, slamming his punch into Plasmius's face before he could see it coming.
At seeing the tables turned, Danny snapped out of his shock. Without thinking he summoned a blast in hand and fired. The ball of ectoplasm rammed into Damon, sending him crashing away from the half ghost. His attack wasn't his strongest and not enough to hurt him, but it was enough to stun Danny over his actions. But when Plasmius fell to his knees he knew this wasn't the time to debate over apologizing.
Quickly he drifted over to Vlad, seeing that the kick had caused a lot more damage than he had thought. The half ghost had wrapped his arm around his waist, dark green already seeping through his gloved fingers to the metal below. Though Danny secretly was happy that it seemed to have stopped Plasmius's rampage, for now. But the fact his rings kept appearing and snapping shut concerned him.
Checking to see that Damon wasn't badly hurt Danny took stock of their situation. They were still locked in the room and though no army of agents had arrived they couldn't be far behind. He still was holding the dart gun, and he studied the thing glumly. It wasn't useful in this fight, and his own wave of sleepiness in his body was growing, eyelids growing heavier. Danny knew he only had a few more minutes in his ghost form until he passed out. Not much time to work out an escape plan.
"R-running out of options, aren't we spook?" Angry, nasally words turned Danny's attention to his new problem. Agent Z had slunk around to the other side of the room, his discarded weapon back in his hand. " What's your next move, Phantom?"
Floating up into the air Danny was relieved to see that Agent R had taken his advice wholeheartedly, hiding underneath the desk and watching the scene unfold around her. " It's Fenton. I know that you ghost hunter wannabes think that I'm just a stupid ghost, but I'm still alive and very much human, thank you very much."
Agent Z chuckled, which caused him to wince as it pulled on his broken nose. " Nice try. But I'm not falling for your tricks again."
"It's not tricks. It's truth. You might be blind to the obvious, but I'm not playing this stupid game anymore. I'm not fighting you Agent Z. And don't try to force me to be something that you're pretending I am."
That seemed to bemuse the agent, raising his blaster higher. As Danny wondered how to deal with this Plasmius attempted to stand with a snarl, blast building in his palm.
Danny knew that Vlad would ruin any attempt at a peaceful outcome, more so than he had already. And from the puddle that was forming by his feet, Plasmius was risking hurting himself more. Flickering his gaze down to the half ghost he held the gun up and fired at Plasmius, the dart stabbing into his back. It took a long moment for Danny's action to register.
"You… Little rat-"
"-Can it Vlad. Stay down before you hurt yourself."
Danny could see that his attack had made the others stunned. Agent Z seemed to pause, unsure what to make of his turn against the other. Knowing that his move only would buy him a small window, Danny used that window quickly.
"Look; I know that what has happened at Amity paints me as the villain. But I'm telling the truth in saying that the real ghost, the one that flatten Casper High is gone. Out of the way for good. I didn't abandon my town, I saved it! As Phantom… I have always tried to protect the town from the ghosts, even if you guys never saw it like that. But I'm not just Phantom, I'm Fenton. My parents are Jack and Maddie Fenton, two ghost hunters that make you guys seem like a joke! And like them, I'm a ghost hunter! Protecting people from ghosts is what I do!"
" Protect? Don't treat me like an idiot Phantom! You spooks are nothing but trouble!" Agent Z stepped closer, eyes narrowing. " We're the ones that are protecting people from your destructive nature. Even if you brainwashed yourself that you were protecting the citizens of Amity Park, you ghosts were the ones that ended up destroying it!"
Danny felt his fist curl at that, the odd light-headedness causing him to be more aware of the wound in his leg. " Yes. I did fail in stopping that ghost. I fell for his trap… didn't make it in time. That mistake… will haunt me for the rest of my life. But… I won't let that mistake continue." He raised his palm, preparing a shield. " Plasmius here isn't in the condition to deal with your painful experiments. Neither am I. And if you don't stop this pointless fighting, then sadly to us you'll become the villain that you think you're stopping."
Huffing Agent Z pointed his weapon dead at him. "Bold words coming from someone that's trapped. We, the Guys in White, will ensure that your spooks never threaten us again. And once you two are contained, we'll have your allies contained too!"
"What?" Danny stilled, knowing that next to him Plasmius did also.
Agent Z chuckled. "Didn't think we were that smart, right? Once we follow the signature of that dog ghost you were with, then we'll find out where your hidden lair is. Then the last of you spooks will finally be captured!"
"Dani!" At once he faltered, the horror that they had Wulf's ghost signature dawning on him. If they followed that, then that would mean they would find Dani, find Sam and Tucker. The people he had been hoping to protect from the wrath of the ghost hunters. If they were caught… it would end in disaster, neither of them would back down once they learn he'd been caught. They could get themselves killed.
At that moment Danny realised he needed to get out of there. Warn them of what was coming. His panic must have read on his face as the agent grinned, knowing that he had hit a weak spot. But that only made Danny freak out more, inhaling. Now it seemed that it was worth the risk of his wail, risk the slim chance it would allow them to escape.
Building his breath more, he prepared his final move- until a burst of mist exploded from his mouth.
Danny jolted, watching the blue mist fade. He didn't understand, that hadn't come from Plasmius, the half ghost too watching his mist vanish. Yet it was impossible that a ghost had arrived in the room! The ghost shields were still on and at full strength, there was no way that someone could phase into this place-
Suddenly, a green mass appeared in the corner of the room. The walls cracked and bent in an attempt to stop it, and Agent Z whipped around to see what the noise was. The swirling portal stabilised and from it came Wulf, fangs bared and emerald claws extended.
Agent Z's yell was cut short and Wulf lunged at him, jaws finding the base of his neck. They tumbled to the ground, the blaster never having the chance to go off. Danny was frozen where he was, knowing with a sickly feeling in his gut that there was nothing that he could do. It was too late to stop him.
As quickly as the chaos started the chamber fell into silence, the air now thick with dread. Wulf rose from where he crouched, a shake of his head sending red rain onto the walls. " No one hurts friend." His growl was wild, ears flat as he stared over at Danny with a huff of triumph. Danny felt his mouth go dry, feeling ill knowing that he hadn't been able to save Agent Z. But while Wulf could speak, there had always been a wildness to him, a hunter that was moving on instinct.
Arms dropped to his sides Danny blinked, a wash of exhaustion that he knew all too well. The sudden lack of threats seemed to make his sleepiness grow tenfold, vision blurring. Head feeling sluggish. His powers faltered, rings almost summoning as he fell back onto the floor, crouching next to the angry Plasmius.
His fall made Wulf stroll over, eyes spotting the agent hiding as he passed. The ghost snarled at her, gory fangs flashing which cause her to flinch deeper under the desk. The reaction seemed to satisfy Wulf and he dismissed her, padding over to Danny's side.
Green eyes surveyed the scene, saw the dart in Plasmius's back, saw Danny's woozy stare and understood. Gaze drifting he spotted Damon, still lying on the cold floor yet awake. In Mr Gray's eyes, something must have revealed what had happened. Wulf snarled furiously, stalking towards him with claws raised.
"Traitor!"
Damon moved his hands beneath him, yet made no move to get up, no move to protect himself from Wulf's approach. There was no fear on his face, waiting for the ghost to end him like the other.
"Wulf stop!" Danny's words made the ghost halt, snarl sliding as he peered behind him. Holding his gaze on the man Danny inhaled to clear his mind, fighting to speak the words he wanted to say. "Lasu lin iri."
Wulf paused, then gave Damon a snort of disgust before returning to his friend's side. Both of them held each other's gaze, unspoken words passing between them. It was Damon that looked away first, hanging his head down. Whether it was due to the shame of his betrayal, or his disappointment that Danny had spared his life, he didn't know. The room itself was starting to shift confusingly in front of him.
Next to him Danny heard a thump, Plasmius finally losing his battle against the dart. Though he stubbornly held onto his ghost form. He watched the half ghost laboured breathing for what seemed like hours, the floor suddenly looking awfully comfortable. It took him a while to notice that Wulf was beside him, gently shaking his shoulder.
"Wulf…" There was urgency in Danny's voice, telling of little time that they had left. Wulf nodded, moving first to grab the other half ghost to throw him over his shoulder. Gesturing with his free arm Wulf let Danny grab onto his other shoulder, taking on his weight as he stood. Without another word the ghost rushed towards his portal, stopping only to shut it closed behind them. And then they were rushing through the Ghost Zone, the green eerie word blurring past as Wulf flew to wherever he wanted. Fighting the call to sleep, Danny struggled to get the ghost's attention, knowing that he must know.
"Wulf, they have… your signature. You must warn the others, Dani… they can track you. They'll find the others… You can't… let that happen."
Beneath him, he felt Wulf tense, "Friend okay? What is wrong?"
Danny chuckled at his worry, slumping further down on Wulf's cushioning shoulder. The zone's colours were blurring together, its green and purple light dancing around them. It seemed like an eternity since he'd just… stopped. " I'm just… So tired Wulf."
Wulf spoke something in Esperanto, yet he couldn't understand it anymore. He sighed, a fleeting moment of panic knowing that the danger wasn't quite over. But Danny felt the cold shudder of his rings parting and his heavy eyelids closed, allowing himself finally, to fall…
