Chapter 4: Setting Out
Much later, Danny, Tucker and Jazz were down in the basement gathered in front of the Specter Speeder, which was a ghost-fighting vehicle that hovered instead of using wheels to move. Danny and Tucker were loading various weapons into the back of the Specter Speeder while Jazz went over their inventory with a checklist.
"Okay. We've got Fenton Anti-Creep Sticks, Fenton Bazookas, Fenton Laser Staffs, Jack-O-Nine-Tails, Boooomerangs, Ghost Weasels, the Fenton Peeler and various others. I'd say we're ready for anything," said Jazz looking over her list. "I hope so. We don't know what Vlad's planning so we need at least one of each kind of ghost gadget if things get ugly," said Danny.
"Speaking of which, what's this new Fenton gadget that's going to allow us to follow Danny, Jazz?" asked Tucker. "Oh, I nearly forgot," said Jazz as she walked over to a metal wardrobe. She opened it and took out two silver jumpsuits with masks attached to them. She tossed one to Tucker.
"What is it with your family and jumpsuits?" asked Tucker. "And more importantly, what's so special about these ones?" asked Danny. "Believe or not, guys, these jumpsuits impress even me. Mom and Dad showed them to me before they left. They're called Fenton Inviso-Suits. They can actually turn you invisible. I'll show you," said Jazz as she slipped on the jumpsuit and pulled on the mask. Then she pressed a button near her wrist and slowly faded out of sight. "Awesome!" exclaimed Tucker as he began to put his on.
Jazz, still invisible, walked over to a desk and picked up two small devices. One looked like a contact lens and the other like a small microphone. She tossed them to Danny. "The contact lens acts a mini camera so put it in your eye. This will enable us to see whatever you see, Danny. Place the microphone in your ear and we'll be able to hear everything you hear. It also acts as a two-way communicator so you can talk to us. Just make sure no one sees you talking to us or Vlad will get suspicious," she said as she faded back into view.
Danny nodded and did as she said. He carefully placed the lens over his eye and tucked the microphone in his ear. "Thanks a lot guys for coming. Though I still don't like it. Vlad told me to come alone," said Danny. "Since when do you listen to your archenemy, Danny? You're going to need us no matter what," said Tucker.
Jazz checked the clock on the wall. "It's 9:30, Danny. You'd better get to where Vlad wants you. We have a copy of the map so we'll follow you shortly in the Specter Speeder which is now also equipped with the same stealth technology that the suits have. We'll station ourselves near the location so we'll be near if you need help," said Jazz.
"Okay. See you guys later. I'm going ghost!" yelled Danny as he raised his arms. Slowly, two rings materialized midway through Danny's body and moved upward and downward. He was Danny Phantom once again.
Danny took off from the ground and began to fly upward. Before he reached the ceiling, he went intangible and phased through it.
Once outside his house, Danny checked the map. It appeared that wherever Vlad wanted him, it was on the outskirts of the west side of Amity Park. "Hang on, Sam. I'm coming to save you," said Danny as he headed west. As he flew above Amity Park, he had no idea that he was being watched from below.
On top of a rooftop, watching Danny through a pair of binoculars was the mysterious figure in black wrappings. His scythe lay near him.
"He's certainly in a big hurry. Something must be wrong. We must follow him and see what's going on," he said as he picked up his scythe.
But before he could begin to follow Danny, he noticed something. Someone else was already following Danny. It looked like a figure clothed in armor and was riding a flying surfboard.
"Hmm. It seems we have another player in the game. My, this is getting interesting. Let us see how things unfold once we get to wherever Phantom leads us," said the figure as he began to leap across the rooftops in Danny's direction.
A short time later, Danny arrived at the spot where Vlad's map had indicated. He flew down to the ground and looked around. Then he saw something suspicious: a cave with its opening blocked by a pair of metal doors.
Danny placed his hand to his face to redirect his voice to the communicator in his ear. "Tucker, Jazz, do you read me?" he asked in a whispering tone. "Loud and clear, buddy," said Tucker's voice. "I found the entrance to where Vlad wants me. It's a cave with metal doors. No sign of anything else so it must be the right place," Danny responded. "Okay. We'll station ourselves near it. Just give us a call and we'll come running. Be careful," said Jazz's voice. "I will. Just stay out of sight," said Danny.
Danny approached the doors. He went intangible and walked forward with the intent to phase through. But all of a sudden, he received a terrible shock and was thrown back.
Danny groaned in pain. "What was that?" he asked. "A little security measure to keep certain ghost children from barging in and cheating," said Vlad's voice from a speaker above the doors. "You're early. That is good because we have some things to go over before my little game starts. So please come in, Daniel," said Vlad's voice as the doors parted. Danny picked himself up and walked into the cave as the doors shut behind him.
Shortly after Danny entered the cave, something else lowered out of the sky. It was a girl dressed in black and red armor on a flying machine shaped like a surfboard. Through a red glass visor, peered the face of Valerie Gray.
Much like Danny, she too had a secret life. Due to little mishap involving Danny and a ghost puppy resulting in her father losing his high-paying job and ruining her social status at Casper High, she now hated all ghosts, especially Danny, with a vengeance. With ghost hunting equipment provided by Vlad, now upgraded after an encounter with the ghost master of technology Nicolai Technus, she vowed to destroy Danny Phantom and all ghosts who were in her path.
She began to speak into a wrist communicator. "Mr. Masters, I've arrived," she said. "Excellent Valerie. I'll have you know that the ghost boy has already arrived and is in the complex already," said Vlad's voice from the communicator. "Not to sound rude Mr. Masters, but why go through with this grand scheme? I can paste that ghost with one blast easily," said Valerie. "But have you?" asked Vlad's voice. Valerie let out a sigh and said, "No, I haven't."
"Exactly, Valerie my dear. I understand it wasn't too pleasant after your dad found out your secret. But since I've got him working late tonight at Axiom, you are free to hunt him. I assure you, by midnight tonight, the ghost boy will be so weakened, you can defeat him easily and have your revenge. But you are to remain one room behind the ghost boy at all times and not make a move until I give the go ahead. Is that understood?" asked Vlad's voice. "Understood. Over and out," said Valerie as she shut down the communicator and gazed at the doors. "Soon ghost, I'll make you pay for everything you've put me through," she said vindictively.
In a nearby bush, the mysterious figure watched the scene unfold. "So the Wisconsin hybrid is behind this. And apparently, that ghost hunter is in cahoots with him though she may be unaware that she's working for a hybrid. Either way, this does not bode well for Phantom. But why would Phantom come so freely? Whatever it is, it is the perfect opportunity to see Danny Phantom in action. Plasmius said that no ghost can phase through that door. But why phase when you can teleport? I may also have to indirectly even the odds because they don't look like they are in Phantom's favor," he said.
So there it was. Danny had entered into a vile villain's trap to face a challenge that he had no idea what it would be like. And to further complicate things, he had the grudge-bearing ghost hunter Valerie behind him as well as the enigmatic creature whose true intentions remained unknown. Even with Tucker and Jazz nearby and ready to spring to his aid when he needed it, it didn't look very promising for him or Sam.