It was another boring English class for Danny and his friends. Next week is a test and all Lancer is doing is reciting poetry and calling on unsuspecting victims to talk about symbolism. As if Danny knows what that is. He has not had time to look over his notes. Last night had been busy; his parents, mainly his father, had left the ghost portal open allowing all the ghosts he has previously captured to escape.
Danny was ready to fall asleep when the blue mist escaped from his mouth. Great. Danny thought. Here? Now? He quickly glances around looking for a sign of the ghost. When his search yields no result, he sighs.
"Mr. Lancer, I need to use the bathroom!"
"Only if you can tell me what the raven symbolizes in Edgar Allen Poe's poem." Danny looks confused.
"Uhh…death?" He had no idea if that was right, he has never read the poem. Lancer could see right through Danny's guess. He knows the boy guessed and he knows that he will probably never read the poem, but a deal is a deal.
"Close enough Mr. Fenton. You may…go." Before Lancer could finish his sentence, the student was out the door.
Looking to Ms. Manson and Mr. Foley, he noticed quick glances between the friends. Almost as if an invisible conversation was taking place; and maybe it was. Those two, along with Fenton have been acting strange since the beginning of the year. Danny went from a B student to D's and F's. He frequently skips class and does not turn in assignments. It is as if a big change has occurred. When he brought it up to Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, they were just as shocked. They did not know of anything wrong.
He may have to set up another meeting if this trend continues. Maybe after next week's test. Speaking of test,
"Okay class, the next poem we are going to analyze is a classic from Robert Frost. Open your books to page 42. Who would like to read the first stanza?"
But before anybody could volunteer, or be picked, a flash of black and white crashed through the wall followed by a green skinned ghost with a white cape. The green ghost clearly had the upper hand, blasting some sort of ecto ray at the figure.
"Pride and Prejudice!" Lancer gasped "Everybody out of here!" He decided to wait for all of his students to leave before he himself got out. He was surprised to see Sam Manson and Tucker Foley racing over to the battling ghosts.
Lancer tried to call out to the students, but no words would escape. He would not leave his students in the wake of danger. But watching Sam and Tucker proved to confirm his earlier suspicions. With a quick glace to each other, both teens jumped in front of the black and white figure and pulled out some sort of wrist weapon and soup thermos. Lancer was able to see the blurred figure was none other than Danny Phantom. And he looked badly injured. Green ectoplasm was dripping from his stomach and mouth; cuts littered his arms. When Phantom stood, he nearly collapsed.
"Danny!" both teens gasped. Tucker caught him before he hit the floor while Sam continued to fight the green ghost. Or at least try. Pink beams would deploy from the wrist weapon, but they did not seem to have any effect on the ghost.
"It is I the newly improved Technus 4.0, with better technology that I will use to finish off the ghost child for good! You are no match for me child, for I, Technus 4.0 have created technology that allows me to absorb your ghost rays. And with the ghost child's powers short circuited, I will finally be able to rule the world!"
Technus? Lancer thought. He was familiar with the ghost from a previous fight. Although Phantom was able to easily beat him then. He said something about short circuiting his powers. Lancer looked to the ghost boy. So, what does that mean for him? The ghost boy-more like teen- was barely able to stay conscious. That, however, did not stop him from getting back up to his feet. Or insulting the green ghost.
"Hey Technus! Next time you may want to make sure your technology actually works. I have just enough power for one more move. Sam, Tuck, stay behind me." Lancer was confused. Phantom floated up so he was at Technus' level.
"Danny no!" Sam and Tucker cried, knowing what was coming. But it was too late. The building started to shake as a low-pitched wail erupted from the ghost child. Technus was flung back into the wall, which collapsed on top of him. When the wail ended, Sam quickly opened the thermos and a blue light sucked up the ghost.
Ghost hunters? Is this what they have been up too? Lancer turned to interrogate the students, when Danny Phantom collapsed from the air, bright bluish rings encircling him in his midsection and traveling vertically until all that was left was an unconscious Danny Fenton.
Lancer gasped. Danny Fenton is Phantom? He was missing class to fight ghosts?
Hearing his gasp, Sam and Tucker turned to see Lancer staring wide-eyed where Danny lay unconscious.
"Uh. Um. This isn't what it looks like" Tucker started. "He came back from the bathroom and Technus blasted him. He should be okay…but we will take him…to the nurse? Yeah. The nurse."
Tucker was faltering under Lancer's unwavering gaze. "Great Gatsby! This kid needs more than the nurse! I am going to call 9-1-1."
He took out his phone, but before he can press a button, Sam snatched his phone. She stood in front of him arms crossed. Whereas Foley looked nervous, Manson looked cautious and almost dangerous.
"How much did you see?"
There was no point in lying "I was here the whole time." Lancer did not miss Foley's shocked expression. However, Sam remained neutral. She has a good poker face.
Sam nodded. "So, then you should understand why calling 9-1-1 is not a good idea."
"Ms. Manson, we cannot do nothing while Mr. Fenton…Phantom…Danny bleeds out on my classroom floor. So, unless you have any suggestions, we need to do something quickly."
"We will need to take him to my place. I have all my medical supplies there." Lancer tried unsuccessfully to mask his shock.
"It sounds as if you have done this before."
Tucker snorts. "Too many times" he mumbles.
"How-how long?" He isn't sure he really wants to know.
"Listen, we don't have time for 20 questions. Can me, Tucker, and Danny be excused for the day? I really need to get him to my house. And you cannot tell anybody what you have seen."
Without saying anything Lancer nods. He wasn't planning on telling anybody. He wasn't even sure what he has just witnessed. It is unbelievable. He makes sure the teens are out of the school before hunting down the rest of his class. Surprisingly, they all stayed, but took up residence in the gym locker rooms.
"Okay kids, the classroom is destroyed, so until we can find a replacement room, class is cancelled. However!" He stated after the teens started celebrating, "The English test will still be next week, so make sure you study!" and que the groans. "Let's get a move on people! Before those things come back!"
He didn't have to tell the kids that, they ran off hopefully going to their next class. Lancer sighs. Of course, it is just another Wednesday in Amity Park. Well, his classroom is destroyed, so he has no reason to stick around. He calls up his boss and explains the situation. Fortunately, ghost attacks are extremely common, and Lancer is easily believed. Stepping foot in his car, he decides to make a stop before heading home.
Lancer finds himself knocking on the Manson's front door. Expecting an adult, he has easily constructed a story in his head. No Mr. and Mrs. Manson, Sam is not in any kind of trouble. I just need to speak to her regarding her English assignment. But he was surprised when the young Manson opened the door. Her eyebrows furrowed before understanding lit up her eyes.
"I just want to know how Mr. Fenton is holding up." Sam glances back into the house at something, or someone, before opening the door wider.
"You can come in."
"I don't know if that is the most appropriate-"
"Just get in here!" Sam hisses. "Before someone sees!" and with that Lancer is pulled inside the house. Sam closes the door with a glare. Lancer knew that Sam was the more high-strung and cautious friend, and now he can see why.
Blankets and sheets are scattered across the room, tainted with familiar green and red splotches. Lancer shudders. Sitting on the couch was Danny and Tucker, the former tightening a white sheet across his arm, blood already staining the fabric. They both looked up upon his entry. Nervousness flickered on the latter teens face, while Danny looked guarded.
"What do you want Mr. Lancer?" The teen searched the teachers face, looking for any indication of why he was here. The boys gaze made Lancer uneasy, it was almost like a challenge, like a threat. The Daniel Fenton he was used to kept his head down and tried to remain out of sight. He was clumsy and clueless and couldn't hurt a fly. A completely different Danny than the one in front of him. I can see why. Lancer thought to himself. With his secret out of the bag, he has no reason to remain inconspicuous.
Lancer unconsciously took a step back. Since he found out about Fenton's secret, he cannot look at the boy the same. It was easy to ignore when the kid was unconscious, but now that he is awake, Danny looks dangerous. Goosebumps raise on Lancers arms. This was a bad idea. His heart hammers in his chest, making it hard to breath. Pain erupts at the site. He grasps at his chest, trying to stop the burning, trying to take air into his lungs. But it is not working. He tries to open his mouth, trying to speak, to call for help, but nothing will come out.
"Mr. Lancer!" three different voices shout. He tries to respond, tries to look up. But everything is blurry. He cannot tell where he is. Trying to take a step back, he trips over something. Smacking himself headfirst into the wall, he quickly goes unconscious.
"I think he's waking up." Lancer groans and rubs his head. The first thing he notices is that he is not in a hospital. But he isn't surprised; why would he expect a bunch of 14-year old's to get him medical attention. The next thing he notices is that he is laying in a bed with two teenagers surrounding him.
"Mr. Lancer! You are up! I think you had a panic attack." That explains the chest pain and being unable to breathe. He nods.
"How long was I out?" Coming to, he notices that it is foley who is missing from the trio. I wonder where he is.
"Three days," Fenton says seriously.
"WHAT!" Lancer was incredulous. He was unconscious for three days and nobody bothered to get him medical attention. He will be so far behind on grading, not to mention throwing together test questions. But then the boy starts laughing. The girl next to him gives him a shove and a glare.
"Danny stop it!" Danny sobers up but keeps the playful smirk on his face.
"Come on! Did you see his face! He totally believed it!" With another glare, Sam turned back to Lancer.
"Don't mind him. You were only out for about 45 minutes. After you passed out, your breathing became regular, so I figured you were fine. We moved you up here because its more comfortable than the floor, and I wanted to check your head." Lancer nodded, not wanting to speak. He wanted to ask how they were able to move him to a different room, but he already knew the answer. He looks over to Danny, who's cuts have now stopped bleeding.
"Are you okay Mr. Fenton?" Danny quickly turned to Lancer, shocked that he was speaking to him. He saw the way his teacher looked at him earlier. The same way anybody would look at him if they found out. Fear. Danny snapped out of his thoughts and tried to figure out how to answer the question. Is he okay? Physically yeah, but mentally, he was freaking out.
"I-uh. Yeah. I have quick healing. As you can see, I have stopped bleeding, and the cuts on my arm are just about gone as well. The stomach and ribs will take a few days though."
Ribs? Lancer thought.
As if reading his mind Danny responded, "I broke two of my ribs. don't worry, its not the first time. I'll be fine by next week. It was the wail that does all of the draining."
"How long have you been doing this?" Danny's nonchalance about the situation is concerning to Lancer. This child has been getting beaten up by ghosts, and Lancer has had no idea. Does his family even know about this? The way they scream about ripping ghosts apart, he guesses not.
"Since the beginning of the year. I kinda… went into my parent's ghost portal and got electrocuted. Then I started getting ghost powers. At first, they were hard to control, but I have gotten a lot better. I rarely get hurt now. I Just wasn't expecting Technus to try and short my powers. Good thing his technology still sucks, or it could have been worse." At his teacher's doubtful expression, Danny continued "No really, it could!"
"Sadly, Mr. Fenton I believe you. But now I see everything is okay, so I am going to go."
"Are you sure you are okay to go? You did hit your head!"
"I will be fine. I have stuff to do, papers to grade."
Danny nods and the two teens help Lancer to the door. Walking past the living room, he notices that all of the sheets were gone. As if they were never there. Foley is probably off discarding them.
Outside, the sun is starting to set, and Lancer sets his sights on his Honda Pilot. He is going to need to get gas but decides against it tonight. His class is destroyed so no need for him to go in tomorrow. The classroom will probably not get fixed until the weekend, leaving Lancer with a 4-day break. That gives him plenty of time to reread all of his favorite poems. The hard part will be deciding on which to read first.
"Hey! Uh. Mr. Lancer, wait!" The teacher smiles. He has made his decision.
"What is it Mr. Fenton?" He sees the nervousness in his student's eyes.
"Y-you're not going to tell my parents, are you?" So, they don't know, Lancer thought
"of course not. It is not my place to tell."
"Really? But why not?" Danny says shocked
"Mr. Fenton. Each person comes to a crossroad. It is up to you whether or not to continue taking the road less travelled."
"What? What are you talking about?" Danny sounded confused. Well, he is failing English.
"Robert Frost. He will be on your test next Tuesday, so I suggest you become familiar."
Danny grinned sheepishly, bringing his hand to rub the back of his neck, a nervous trait of his.
"Is there any way I can have an extension? For the test?" Lancer grinned.
"Sorry Mr. Fenton. You know there are no extensions. You better start studying."
Hopefully, now everything will go back to normal.