Goodbye to You

I don't own Danny Phantom.

Chapter 10: Jumpstarting the Hunt

The lab underneath the Fenton house was one that could confuse even the most academic scholar of the time. It had your typical items: safety equipment, vials, cems, etc. But, there were a few other "interesting" parts of this experiment area. A variety of strange looking weapons and devices lay arranged on tables our on racks. A huge, cylinder shaped vehicle was seen hovering in the middle of the room. In front of it, a hexagon shaped opening standing a good eight feet high was against the far wall, in front of the vehicle. This was the Ghost portal. Invented by the Fentons, it had brought ghosts here and had given powers to one to one of the family members. This lab, confusing to some, was, to many, a place of great importance.

Jack and Maddie were, at the moment, hard at work in their workshop. Jack was at one table, in front of a machine with a clear sphere on the top. In the sphere was the Ecto residue that had been collected from the morgue. His gaze focused on a screen, which was displaying (80 verification) and was slowly going up. Maddie was at the other end, cleaning out one of the ghost assault rifles. But, her mind was on other things. This was made irrelevant by her hand moving the cleaning swap through the round chamber for the past five minutes and her eyes were just gazing out into space.

"Honey? Are you finished with those weapons?" Jack asked.

"Yes," Maddie replied.

Jack seemed to sense the daze that seemed to come from her mouth and rolled his chair over to her side. "What's wrong?" he asked.

She turned to him and said, "Nothing."

"Come on, we've been married for over twenty years. You can't hide anything from me," he stated.

Maddie put the gun down and said, "Okay, its just that I'm worried about Danny." Jack looked on in concern as she continued to talk. "Last might, he seemed incredibly tense and moody. I've never seen him like this before," she began," Then, he hasn't been home for a while. I know it's too soon to worry about this, but I'm just confused. I don't want him getting into something over his head."

Jack then moved his head over to her and softly kissed her check. "You have all the right to worry," he said," but he'll be fine."

She turned his head to meet his face and asked, "You think so?"

"Hey, he's a good kid. Danny always turns out okay in the end," Jack commented.

Maddie smiled and said, "You're right. We've handled a lot of things, and they have always turned out okay. Thanks."

"No problem," Jack said," besides, what could come that we couldn't handle."

Just then, the machine behind him beeped.

"The Fenton ghost scanner has a match," Jack said as he wheeled his chair over. Maddie got and walked over to see what ghost had done this. "Out of over two hundred samples in the lab, we've got our target," Jack excitedly said as he pushed a button on the side of the screen. The image on the screen then changed to Danny's ghost form AKA, to everyone else, Inviso Bill.

"It's him," Jack said.

"That's the ghost that attacked the mayor," Maddie said," looks like he has new motives this time. But why did he target Valerie, of all people?"

"I guess Valerie must of used the weapons she had to try and fight it and he must of developed a vendetta on her," Jack stated.

"That brings us to the other problem. Where did she get those weapons?" Maddie asked.

Just then, the phone on the wall started to ring. Jack walked over to it and picked it up. When his ear went up to the receiver, he was hit by screaming.

"Fentons! Fentons!" the voice on the other end called out.

Jack called back, "Yes! What is it?"

"I'm being attacked," the voice stated," by some ghost kid! He's crazy! He's going to kill me! I'm in the alleyway in downtown, near the bank. I called you since you can take this guy!"

"Well, you can say that. Listen, try to get-" Jack said, but was cut off by a yell, and then a click followed a dial tone. He turned around top see Maddie had placed her goggles over her eyes and was supporting a ghost bazooka on her shoulder.

"Always ready for anything," Jack said with a smile.

Maddie smiled back and threw a ghost assault rifle over to him. "Twenty years of marriage will do that," she stated.

Around the time the call had been sent, Danny was continuing his long walk. He found himself now in the downtown district and he was still walking. Tucker had all but nearly ratted him out. Of course, that was what crossed Danny's mind. Guilt and agony was still wrapped around his heart. The killing of Valerie even if to save a life, still had him pinned in this depressed state. He just walked on aimlessly. He then realized he was near the bank. Three blocks down street pass the bank would be the police station. An idea then came to him. Why not go in and confess? Transform in front of them. You can end your secret. They can help you. You can be free from having to keep your identity a secret. Maybe even they'll find a cure. He began to then feel his feet shift towards the path to the station.

'No,' he thought to himself,' I can't turn myself in.' But why? One cannot life with such guilt. Such pain. You can end this. 'I can't let my identity get spilled or let my powers be captive.' Sure, a cure would have been great. He could life a normal life once again. But, his powers were still needed. He was the only protecting everyone in Amity other then his parents. If his powers were contained, not even his parents could withstand what could come from the ghost zone. 'I know I' killed someone, but I still have to let it ride on my conscience.' Then, why are his feet moving? He realized his was walking out towards the station. 'I don't want to turn myself in,' he repeated. Yet, it seemed as though his body wasn't responding. It was like his mind was dead and his guilt was now in control. He was still figuring this out as he came to the alleyway near the left side of the bank. And it was at this time that something gripped his sweater and pulled him in.

Danny was thrown with great force into a row of trashcans. The contents spilled onto the ground, along with him, as his flying body made contact with them. His hood dropped behind him and he jumped to his feet.

"Who did that?" he asked as he put up his hands in defense.

Just then, Kwan walked out a few feet in front of him. "Great. Kwan, I don't have time for this," Danny remarked.

"Kwan's not in the building," a voice much different then Kwan's echoed from his mouth.

"Vlad," Danny said, recognizing the voice, "surprised you're here."

"Yes, I haven't seen you in a while. Missed your birthday."

"Lucky you," Danny said.

"Yes," Vlad stated," Anyways, I thought I catch up on old times. I recently came across the fact that a girl named Valerie was killed."

Danny didn't answered, allowing Vlad to give off a smile. "I know you killed her. You don't have to hide it."

"How do you know?" Danny asked.

"I thoughtfully out a camera in her mask's visor. You know, to get a good look on at the action."

Danny's face then twisted in shock. "You gave her the weapons and technology."

"Your predictions are correct. I knew she would be a useful fighter due to your interference in her life that resulted in its destruction. I gave her the technology in hopes she would finish you off. Then, I told her your identity in hopes she would do a quicker job. Sadly, you killed her. A pity really. But, I can always get a more reliable helper."

"You son of a bitch!" Danny then yelled as he charged at Kwan's possessed body. He threw a punch right on the nose.

Kwan staggered back and then raised his head, revealing a nose that was now slowly leaking blood. "I never expected you to do that much damage," Vlad stated.

"There are a lot of things I can do that you don't know about," Danny stated.

"Well, lets see what this body can do," Vlad said as he charged at Danny. Danny easily moved to the right, dodging Vlad's attempted blow. "This body is useless," he stated," I function much better. Come on, let's just become ghost's and get this over with."

"I am not going to go ghost," Danny said.

"Come on, it will be far. Halfa on halfa, just like we used to." "Forget it, Vlad," Danny said," enough damage has been caused by my ghost form. So stop being a wimp and lets do this human on human."

Kwan's face then changed to annoyance and he then said," Listen, Fenton. I have a trick that involves this body shutting off. Unless you want to live with the guilt of another dead body, I suggest you comply."

Danny stood still for a moment, and then his arms fell to his sides. "All right, you win Vlad," Danny stated as hatred wrapped around his face. He then changed into his all too familiar ghost form, but his was still keeping that look of total hatred.

Vlad then yawned and said, "You know what? I actually don't feel like combating you."

"You started this. We are going to end it," Danny stated.

"Fine. Meet me at, oh say, the football field. You know, keep it in the terms of how high scholars settle their problems? Or is it flagpole? Whatever. Meet me there at 11:30. You know what they say, 'Saturday night's all right for fighting.'" Vlad then let out a tremendous laugh as he finished this comment.

"Fine, just let Kwan go." Danny said.

Vlad then smiled and said, "Actually, I changed my mind."

Then, the right side of Kwan's chest exploded right in front of Danny. The skin peeled up as blood, flesh, and organ parts shot from it. And Vlad's ghost form shot right through the hole, like some kind of newborn parasite, and laughed as he shoat into the sky. Kwan, now in possession, only choked on air and then fell backward on the ground.

Danny, still in his ghost form, ran up to him, but was stopped by the sudden yell of, "Freeze!" Danny looked up to see his mom and dad, pointing their ghost weapons at him and looking ready to fire.

Another lies dead. How can Danny now escape this mess? Find out in Chapter 11!