Well here's another chapter. I haven't had much time to write, so I skipped a lot of the detailing and dialogue- you'll just have to skip around. I hope you enjoy. Oh yeah- some of you requested some D/S "ness" so I finally agreed to do some of that. Now keep in mind I suck at writing romance, so it will be subtle, but there. I had to come up with a new plot device to accommodate that, since I was originally not going to do that- so here it is.
Chet Ubetcha stared dreamily at the woman sitting across from him at the table. (Of course he had requested a telephone book to sit on so he could converse with her at eye-level.) Her question seemed to tear him from his dream-like trance. "Wha- what?" he asked languorously.
"I said, so what can you tell me about the ghosts? You mentioned Inviso-Bill and I only agreed to come here with you because you said you had information for me," she replied while crossing her arms and pouting in frustration. He could hear her tapping her foot impatiently under the table.
Chet blinked a couple of times absentmindedly, and then came to his senses. "Oh erm, of course. The ghosts- um yeah."
"Yeah what?"
"I hear that Inviso-Bill has been wreaking havoc throughout this town. He is Public Enemy number one."
"Duh! Everyone knows that!"
"Really? How about the fact that there was a van that vanished earlier."
"Hey pal, that's my story, got it? You only know about that from my pilot- I'm gonna kill him."
"All's fair in the world of reporting."
"What kind of reporter are you? Were you planning on learning what I know and stealing my story? You'd better not be withholding information from me- we had a deal!" she said angrily, her eyes narrowing.
"That's all I know, I swear!" he said, eyes wide. "I was about to interview the Fentons to learn more about him, when I ran into you!"
Harriet's eyes looked defeated at the thought of getting her hopes up. "So you basically know nothing," Harriet sighed; an exasperated sigh escaped her mouth. "Why did you trick me?"
"I would have thought that would have been obvious to a woman with such an accomplished and magnificent sense of deductive reasoning as you seem to possess. Anyway, I didn't lie; I told you what I knew."
Harriet looked at him with a sneer of disgust and irritation. "Are you still trying to back-handedly hit on me?"
"Why do you bother even asking me that?"
For a moment, Harriet's sharp expression softened as she considered his words, but then it was back just as fast as it had left. She balled up her fist and prepared to slam it on the table to take out her annoyance on something, but then stopped and reconsidered what Chet had said. He had gone out of his way to take her out to breakfast, and had more or less openly confessed to liking her. Nobody had ever said that to her before, and she wasn't quite sure how she should react.
"Listen, I'm sorry for fooling you," Chet started, "and I regret it, but in order to make it up to you, I'll help you gather the information you need."
"Huh? That's a generous offer, but I don't want you taking all the credit for the story- no offense."
"No- that is normally something I would do, but I'm willing to make an exception to help you publish the story that will make your career…again. I'll just be an anonymous helper for once."
Harriet didn't know what to say. That was a very generous offer coming from the famous reporter with a reputation for his ruthlessness in regards to his line of work. However, she had been in the business for almost twenty years too and knew the ropes well. Journalists couldn't be trusted- especially if he was anything like she was. But hey, who knows? She thought to herself. What to do, what to do… she pondered. Gah, how I despise him! Who does he think I am? Then again… She glanced at him, and Chet displayed a rather sheepish smile. Well maybe I can take advantage of this- and he is kind of cute, in a puppy-doggish kind of way. Hey, where did that come from? She mentally slapped herself in the face and turned back to him.
"What's really in this for you?" Harriet asked aloud.
"Just being in your presence is enough for me. So what'll it be?" Chet asked.
Harriet's eyes widened at this, but then she held out her hand to shake and he took it. "You can't be anymore forward, can you? Well anyway, you've got yourself a deal… partner." She said the word 'partner' with extreme caution, but saw the smile on his face as he hailed the waitress and paid the bill.
"I'll get to work right away!" he said as he got up to leave and walked out the door hastily, leaving Harriet to brood over their previous conversation.
"What? He didn't even walk me to out or offer to hold the door? Not quite the gentlemen," she said quietly to herself, but as she stood up to leave, she looked outside and couldn't help but smile to herself.
"So what else can we do to help out, guys?" Tucker asked after Wulf had returned to the Ghost Zone, his question aimed at anyone who could answer. Sam was about to respond with a hopeless retort, when she heard another voice.
"Wait, wait," Cherie interrupted. "Let me get this straight. You're Inviso-Bill and your family hunts ghosts?" she motioned to Danny, who was still hovering above the group, his eyes glowing and his ghostly aura gleaming.
"Danny Phantom. PHANTOM!" the boy corrected. "Whoever came up with that stupid name can- "
"Danny, it's alright," Sam assured him.
"Sounds like you need a publicist," Franz added, trying to help. Jazz chuckled.
"So, you're not evil?" Cherie asked.
"Of course not- who do you think keeps all the evil ghosts who escape into our world at bay? Oh, and that thing with the mayor was a set up to try to ruin my life."
"I see."
"I trust you won't tell anyone, especially at school," he asked with pleading eyes.
"Dude, we've had to keep Hans's secret for a much longer amount of time." Franz said. "No worries."
"Thanks," the ghost boy smiled.
"Danny, come down," Maddie said. "We have to figure out what we are going to do and make a plan." Her son floated down and transformed back into himself, the glowing blue rings illuminating the basement lab even brighter than before for a split second before they dissolved into nothingness and a normal boy stood in place of the ghost.
"Now," Maddie started, "We have to find Vlad's weakness and play off it if we want to defeat him somehow," she stated in a mater-of-fact manner.
"You mean besides you and Danny?" Tucker asked. Jack stopped his fiddling and looked up angrily and Danny and Sam looked ready to slap him. Tucker held his hands up innocently. "What? It's the truth!"
"Well don't remind us!" Sam said.
"Well he is right," Maddie answered sullenly.
"Well Vlad doesn't know that you guys now know my secret," Danny said, "as well as his."
"Well that's a start," Jack said as the group looked on. "At least Danny can't be swayed if Vlad threatens to reveal his secret to us."
"Timmy, are you willing to lend us your 'unique' talents in the fight against Vlad too?" Tucker asked.
"Oh no, I don't want him involved," Maddie said. "He's too young."
"I'm already involved- " the boy started.
"Hey, you're going to need all the help you can get," the goth girl said quickly. "Plus he has uh, superpowers too," she winked at the boy, who got the idea and played along.
"Oh yeah, I can uh, do stuff just by wishing it so in my head," he said. "Heh heh."
"Well I'll believe just about anything at this point," Maddie said, rubbing her temples partly in desperation and intrigue. "Does that mean you are telekinetic?"
"Whatever that means- I mean uh, sure. I can also uh, run really fast and move with amazing spider powers and- " Timmy was getting ahead of himself. Sam placed her hand on his shoulder almost pleadingly.
"Whoa, easy there, pal," Sam said quietly so only Timmy could hear her. "Don't push it."
"All this time Timmy, and you didn't even tell me?" Jazz exclaimed, but not in the least bit surprised considering the events of the last two days. After all, her brother had only 'officially' told her his secret the day before. "This I have to see!"
Timmy remembered that Jazz didn't know about his fairies. He quietly wished to be able to do all those 'super' things and in a "poof" it was so and he was a certified superhero too.
"Just think about doing that stuff and you'll be able to," Wanda whispered. Cosmo winked and smiled goofily.
"Well?" Jack asked anxiously, oblivious to the fact that the boy had been whispering to his jacket sleeve. "Show us what you've got!"
Timmy, anxious to try out his 'powers', jumped up onto the ceiling and stuck there, crouching upside-down, then scurried around the walls faster than a speeding bullet. His body became a blur of color as he scurried around the walls, and the faint wind generated from his actions caused several loose papers to get blown off the table tops. Timmy stopped, swung down from a web, and extended his hand towards some boxes containing ghost-hunting equipment. They floated easily into the air and hovered briefly before he made them spin in a circle and then set back down again. This action would have made the Box Ghost jealous.
"Okay, you've proven your point," Maddie said, obviously impressed, but still exhibiting a stoic expression. Not much would have surprised her at this point, and she was just itching to study this new phenomenon, especially since she had never heard of a person who had such abilities, but she suppressed the urge. Jack stood speechless; whatever he had been toying with in his grasp dropped to the floor.
"Cool!" Timmy said as he continued zooming around. Jazz stared surprised as well, and although she wouldn't admit it, she was a bit jealous that she didn't have powers too. She felt kind of useless, but remembered that she was really good at using the ghost hunting equipment and had excellent aim that would have rivaled that of William Tell.
After the initial shock had worn off Jack, he handed Cherie and Franz a pair of Fenton Thermoses in addition to a smaller Fenton Ecto-Gun for each and explained how to use them. He handed Tucker and Sam a thermos each, as well as a few other assorted gadgets that Jack and Maddie had recently built, including a Jack O' Nine Tails for Sam and a smaller, less bulky, and more refined set of Ghost-Grabbing Gloves for Tucker. The rest of the gadgets were split up and placed in backpacks that the two could wear.
"Thanks, Mr. Fenton," Sam said, shuffling through her bag, eying the gadgets within and only imagining what they did.
"We'll try not to let you down," Tucker said, while Franz and Cherie remained quiet and both showed obvious signs of uncertainty. Hans tried to reassure them when Jack interrupted his efforts.
"Don't worry, even a complete novice can operate these," he said, and picked up a Fenton Bazooka for himself. "Now this baby is for professionals!" he gloated and heaved it over his shoulder, loosing his balance and almost falling over if the two hadn't caught him. "That's right. I was just testing your reflexes and you passed," he said awkwardly. Cherie and Franz shook their heads.
"So… did that wolf ghost cure you for good?" Franz and Cherie asked Hans as Jack regained his composure.
"Yeah, he wasn't very clear about what exactly he did," Cherie added.
"Yes, I must see if he still has symptoms of his uh, condition," Maddie said, remembering about Hans. She was beginning to lose track of everyone's abilities. "Can you still turn into your partial werewolf form?"
"Well if he's completely cured, he shouldn't be able to," Cherie said.
"Vell, I'll try it," Hans said and as he concentrated his skin became somewhat furry, he sprouted a fluffy tail, grew a pair of fangs along with a set of claws, and his eyes started to glow a golden-yellow. He gasped as he looked at his hands in confusion. "But- dis isn't supposed to happen- he said I vas cured!"
"Um, technically he said pretty much," Tucker said.
"Always pointing out the obvious, huh?" Sam added dryly.
"I'm sure he did the best he could," Danny assured him, also wondering to himself what Wulf had really done.
"Well maybe he took away your full, uncontrollable werewolf form." Maddie suggested, "but we'd have to wait for a full moon to test that hypothesis."
Hans nodded hopefully and reverted back to his human form. "Here's hoping."
A sudden shuddering noise alerted the group to the fact that the Fenton Portal had again automatically turned itself on and had opened.
"Huh?" Jack said questioningly, then in a louder tone, "How many times do I have to fix that darn genetic lock?" he banged his fist down on a table top for added emphasis when a white-clad ghost in a hat followed by several of his apparent minions in addition to the all-too-familiar form of Skulker emerged from the swirling greenish etherium that made up the Ghost Zone. The Fentons and company jumped into action, weapons armed, (Jazz still had the Fenton Peeler armed and ready) and Franz and Cherie suddenly found themselves eagerly and bravely jumping into action and they stood prepared to fight with their ecto-guns at the ready. Hans changed into his 'wolfa' form, ready to spring into action as well. Danny hadn't had time to transform again, so he just grabbed a Fenton Foamer that was propped up against the wall next to him, held it at the ready and hoped that he wouldn't have to use it.
"Haven't you trashed my life enough, Walker?" The teenage boy asked the jailer of the Ghost Zone, who was apparently in cahoots with Vlad. "What are you doing here?" Sam and Tucker ran over to him, ready to defend their friend at any cost. Timmy stood, prepared to fight as well.
The white ghost smirked and sneered at the weapons the group all had focused on his group. Tiny red pinpoint laser-targeting lights from the guns shone brightly against the white of his forehead and hat. "Those won't do any good, for I come bearing a message for young Daniel, and harming me will only harm you more in the future if you do not respond to it." Walker's cronies crossed their arms and chuckled to themselves at their boss's words. Skulker also sneered, his fiery hair raging. Apparently Vlad had made him attend this little info session as well to make up for lost time in his search for fairies, since the creatures he caught were apparently not what he had thought they were. Unfortunately for Danny, he seemed to have forgotten about them and refocused his attention back on him, though none of the hunter's guns were raised.
"Danny, you know these guys?" Maddie and Jack asked in unison.
"Yeah- long story though- " Danny started to explain but was cut off by his father.
"Listen mister ghost! If you lay one hand on my kids- " Jack started and waved a fist at him when Maddie placed a hand on his shoulder to shut him up.
"Let him speak, dear," she muttered to him under her breath.
"Thank you, Maddie," Walker started.
"Hey, how do you know my- " Maddie asked, but the ghost continued.
"As I said, I come bearing a message for you, Daniel." Danny balled up his fist, but stayed quiet. "My boss, Vlad Plasmius, wants to meet with you privately at the Nasty Burger restaurant today at noon. That means ALONE. He has an intriguing proposition for you." He eyed Jack and Maddie, not wanting to give too much info away in front of them.
"No doubt the same thing he always wants. But why doesn't he come here himself instead of sending you as his messengers?" Danny demanded.
"Quiet, whelp!" Skulker roared, much to the surprise of everyone in the room. "Do not question Plasmius!"
"And what if he doesn't show up at noon?" Jazz asked sternly.
"Ah yes, I was getting to that." Walker said. "As a little incentive," he snapped his fingers, and two of his henchmen flew into Sam and Tucker, overshadowing both of them before they could do anything to stop them. Their bodies lurched momentarily, before their eyes glowed the same reddish color of their possessors' momentarily before returning to their normal hues. "I'll be keeping these two with me," Walker finished.
"Noooo!" Danny cried as he rushed forward to transform into his alter ego so he could grab the unwanted spirits out of his friends. Sam and Tucker's bodies walked over to Walker. Everyone else in the room seemed horrified and didn't know what to do. Maddie and Jack scrambled for some gadget that would help them, but it was too late. Franz and Cherie fired their weapons at the intruders, as Hans tried to jump on the ones they weren't firing at, but they quickly dodged all the attacks by using their speed and intangibility abilities.
"Bye guys," Sam's possessor said through her voice to everyone before stepping into the Ghost Zone, followed by Tucker who followed. "You'd best meet with Plasmius if you want your friends back alive," Tucker's voice unwillingly spoke as he disappeared through the portal and it automatically slammed shut moments before Danny reached the gateway.
"No! NO! NOOO!" Danny cried as he stood, pounding on the door. He slid down it in defeat, slight tears welling up in his glowing eyes that he hoped no one had noticed. He wiped them away and shouted, "We have to go and get them back!"
"Danny, as much as I agree with you, it is coming up on noon. You'd better hurry to get to the Nasty Burger in time, or Tucker and Sam may be in even more danger," Maddie said, and her husband nodded. "We'll do the best we can to get them back."
Danny looked at his watch and his eyes widened. "All right, I'll see you guys later!" he said frantically as he ran out of the door.
"Wait a minute, young man!" Jack said. "Your mother and I will be there secretly- there's no way we're willing to let you go alone. We'll be in the back room, monitoring everything."
Jazz looked up. "Uh guys, I think you should try to be a little less conspicuous if you are going to spy on them."
"What do you mean honey?" Jack asked. Maddie stood just as confused in her blue hazmat suit and red goggles.
"Well for one thing, wear normal clothes for a start, so you won't be the first people he notices." Maddie and Jack nodded.
"We could go and pose as employees," Cherie volunteered. "I doubt this Vlad guy knows who we are."
"He knows me," Hans said, "but you may be on to something."
"That might work out better," Jazz brainstormed aloud.
"Just be careful," Hans told her and gave her and his brother a hug.
"Right then," Danny said, a determined look on his face.
"What can I do?" Timmy asked quietly.
"We need help rounding up people to help us fight. See if you can convince anyone to join us. Maybe that Jorgen guy? You know, if Vlad's ghosts do invade and take over the world, fairy godparents everywhere would be directly affected. Maybe even that Crocker guy can help us- er, somehow at least. "
"I can go to Fairy World and see if the fairies there would be willing to help. Crocker is probably locked up in some psychiatric ward."
"Thanks," Danny said a bit desperately. "You must convince them."
"But our magic doesn't work on ghosts directly," Wanda said, out of earshot of the others.
"Then you'll just have to get creative," Danny answered, turned invisible, and flew out the door, racing off to the Nasty Burger followed closely by Franz and Cherie, who were running to keep up.
Unbeknownst to the group, a little girl had been crouched outside one of the small basement windows and had heard and seen everything. Her dark pigtails waved in the wind, and a slight tear welled up behind her glasses as she rumpled her brow, clenched her teeth, and balled up a fist. Danny's friends were in danger, there was a bunch of really mean ghosts, and both Danny and Timmy were superheroes. No wonder Timmy always seemed to be hiding some kind of secret from her! Determined to help the boy she loved, she stood up, wiped the dirt from the back of her skirt, and marched up to the front door of the Fenton residence after Danny and the other two had left. She was going to make sure Timmy and Co stayed safe if it was the last this she did!
Walking up to the house, she passed a bush and tripped, catching herself before she fell completely. She was startled when the bush said "excuse me."
The little girl screeched, but the bush moved and a man's small arm emerged. "Shhh! I'm sorry, I'm just trying to get a story," it said.
"Who are you?" Tootie asked in her shrill voice.
"Chet Ubetcha, ace news reporter and anchor. This little meeting never took place."
"What are you doing in a bush?"
"Oh um, just trying to learn about scary creatures. You know this house may be um, haunted."
"The ghosts don't live here," Tootie said matter-of-factly. "You have to uh, go to the other side of town. Far away from here."
Really? Thanks, kid!" the newsman jumped up and ran to catch a bus to the outskirts of town, hoping to find a ghost or any info that he could use to prove that they were real and win Harriet's affection.
Tootie smiled to herself, and continued on to knock on the front door.
Vlad Masters, multi-billionaire and one of the most powerful men in both the economic and ghostly worlds sat in one of his finest suits twiddling his thumbs in one of the booths in the back corner of the Nasty Burger. True, this was not a place he would typically eat at, but it was close to Daniel's house and was an inconspicuous meeting place. He grimaced as he thought of Skulker's constant failure at bringing the boy to him, and realized, not for the first time, that if you want something done, one has to do it themselves. He glanced eagerly at his watch, then to the clock on the wall, then back to his watch. 11:50. Well he still has ten minutes, and he'd better show up! He thought. Well, if he doesn't, I can always offer him an ultimatum, since Walker captured his friends.
A sigh from one of three men sitting at the booth behind him caught his attention. This man was bald and sported a small goatee, and was slightly heavy-set. He looked somewhat depressed and bored and was holding a book of poetry by T.S. Elliot as well as an old photograph in one hand, and a hand of cards in the other. They were apparently playing poker, but weren't gambling. (Keeping it G-rated kiddies)
After a while, one of the men showed his hand and announced he was the winner with a straight flush; the others agreed, shook hands, and got up. The bald man chuckled and announced, "Good game everyone. I now proclaim this meeting of 'The Lonely Single Men in their Forties Club' officially closed. See ya next week guys." He waved as his friends left.
Vlad's ears perked up and he whirled around. "Excuse me, but did you say 'The Lonely Single Men in their Forties Club'?" he asked, intrigued.
The man laughed. "Yes, unfortunately. Some friends and I just get together once a week. That's what we call our so-called club, since we have all either been divorced or never married, and have no wives to tell us to do otherwise. Ha ha," he chuckled. "Gives us something to do and keeps us busy."
"Ah, lost love. I know the feeling all too well."
"Well my sister, my uh, real sister, just remarried and I can't help thinking I will be alone for the rest of my life. I am the president of the so-called 'club' we have so affectionately dubbed and every time less and less people show up to the meetings.
"Well do you always play cards?"
"Eh sometimes. We mostly read depressing poetry, wallow in self-pity or go play golf, hoping to maybe meet that special someone." We normally arrange to go on a trip once a month, or meet in the park, but few people are coming to meetings anymore. Some guy named Chet was supposed to show up today, (new member) and he agreed to meet us here, but I guess he cancelled. Maybe he found someone else who he'd rather spend his time with."
"Well perhaps you'll meet the right woman sometime."
"I'm still waiting."
"Ever consider getting a cat?" Vlad chuckled.
The man looked stunned. "Now that's a good idea! Maybe I will if I continue on this darn bachelor streak. Are cats good companions?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Well thanks for the idea, at least."
Vlad frowned. "Well I would join, but I do not live locally and I have known the woman I love for quite some time. She just doesn't feel the same way about me." He hung his head pathetically, then perked up when he realized just what he was doing. I also don't like to wallow in self pity. I prefer to take action, and I intend to."
"Ooh, tough luck, but that's the spirit!" the man replied. I know that feeling all too well, but I wish you luck at winning back her heart. I think I'll go to the animal shelter and find myself a cat now."
"Uh, good luck to you."
The man stood up and turned to leave, almost stumbling over a black-haired teenager who had come up quickly behind him, moving at a very quick clip. The boy stopped short, before the man had a chance to fall over him as he stood up from the booth. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!" the man exclaimed as Vlad regained his 'evil' composure and smirked evilly as he saw that Danny had made it in time. "Didn't your parents ever tell you not to run inside buildings, Fenton? If we were in school, you'd have detention!"
"Mr. Lancer! I'm so s-sorry. It won't happen again." He puffed, looking extremely nervous as slight droplets of sweat dripped down his forehead, even though he had just transformed from his ghost mode behind the restaurant before running in.
"Hello, Daniel," Vlad said slowly as the corners of his mouth raised into a flat smile. "Glad you could make it," he said in a tone that anyone else would have thought friendly, but Danny recognized as his normal, wicked tone. "Have a seat."
Danny grimaced, and took a deep breath without sitting. "Mr. Masters, I- " he started when Mr. Lancer interrupted him, a surprised expression on his face.
"Masters? As in Vlad Masters? You know, I thought I recognized you from somewhere!" Vlad gave a nervous nod and Lancer continued. "I saw you on the cover of Affluence magazine! You were billionaire of the year! I knew I'd seen your picture before!"
"Shhh!" Vlad insisted, not wanting other restaurant-goers to recognize him and swarm them both. "Um, yes but- " Vlad started.
"Real quick, do you have any tips for making a quick fortune?" he asked eagerly, his eyes as wide as an anime cartoon child on Christmas morning. "I'm a mere school teacher."
"Try invisible secret insider trading," Danny muttered under his breath. Vlad glared, and he shut up, remembering is friends' lives were in his hands.
"Um, work hard, invest wisely, and always pay attention to stocks. That's what I did."
"Sounds easy enough. Thanks," Lancer said and walked out the door. Vlad watched him leave and turned to Danny, an evil glow brewing in his eyes.
"Now, back to business," he said in an almost kindly manner. He was interrupted yet again by the waitress.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, but can I take your order?" the girl asked kindly. Danny looked and saw it was Cherie; her straight, shoulder-length brown hair was tucked behind a Nasty Burger paper hat that was part of the uniform she had 'borrowed' from the back room. He noticed her look around anxiously before any of the real workers noticed she wasn't supposed to be there. Franz sat down at the bar stool across from them with a newspaper and held it up to cover his face. Maddie and Jack were undoubtedly hidden outside, monitoring their ghost-scanning machines. Danny pretended not to recognize her as Vlad ordered a coffee. Danny told her he didn't want anything.
"Suit yourself," the older man answered and shrugged as Cherie walked away, keeping an inconspicuous eye on the two.
"Now," Vlad said, exasperated after all the interruptions. "On to business."
I promise the next part will be more exciting.
Spoilers-
Appearances by: Vlad (of course), Walker, The Box Ghost, Ember/Chip, the dairy king, Jorgen and others, and maybe even the ghost of Sam's great grandfather who invented the deli toothpick cellophane twirling machine. Ahhh! I'm so excited. (Eh)
Please let me know what you think so far. I love hearing what you liked/didn't like. I'll try to improve. Thank you.