Vlad Plasmius sat cross-legged and cool at the head of a long, smooth oak table. He was at the bottom level of the Family's headquarters in the boardroom, a black place of gloom with no windows and a single lamp hanging from the ceiling that cast bizarre shadows everywhere. Stylish murals of macabre scenes covered the walls, and a rich Oriental rug was spread out on the floor.

The six Family advisors - Armando, Fredo, Sonny, Romano, Michael, and Phil – sat around him. Also present were two figures whom Vlad had seen only once before – Pappi, the consigliere, and Roberto, the sub-boss. Vlad had arranged for Skulker to have them all brought down, unarmed, once Luchesi and Tony were taken care of.

"Gentlemen," Vlad smiled. "I'm sure you all remember me. Tony must have given you all some very amusing raves about those disappearances I caused years ago. Well, I paid Tony and Luchesi a visit as soon as I was back. And those little meetings have made me the acting president of this syndicate. And I say that, in light of Walker's new weaponry, we stop restricting the flow of technology in The Ghost Zone so he has more to come up against."

The eight old hands of the Family glared at him with distrust and dislike, just as Vlad had expected.

"Where are Tony and Luchesi?" Roberto demanded.

"Extended vacation," Vlad said, leaning back.

"Say we refuse?" Pappi coughed as he rose to his feet. "What then?"

The grin faded from Vlad's face. His red eyes came alight. Twin beams of crimson leapt out from his eyes and slammed into the consigliere. Pappi had just begun to scream when his entire form was reduced to a pile of green goo on the floor. The Family members glared down at that puddle, terror etched into every inch of their face.

"Think it over," Vlad purred. He rose to his feet and, with a swish of his cape, made his way out the room, closing the doors tight behind him. Skulker was waiting for him outside, a sinister-looking remote in his hand. The black control had two points sweeped up like devil-horns and the two buttons in front were red and arranged like eyes.

Vlad took it and pressed a green button at the bottom that was shaped like a bat wing.

From the bottom of the door, a flickering emerald light, an otherworldly hum, and some muted moans escaped the boardroom. Skulker looked slightly uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his head. Vlad, on the other hand, had an evil grin drawn across his face, fangs glistening.

After a few minutes, the glow, the hum, and the moans ceased, and Vlad re-opened the door. The boardroom was now vacant of any inhabitants and every chair except Vlad and Pappi's had a green blob resting on it.

"Excellent work on the Spectral Energy Vaporiser, Skulker," Vlad said, flipping the remote back at his minion. "Remarkably effective, especially with the amount of time you had."

"If I may, Plasmius…" Skulker gulped. "Was it entirely necessary to destroy them?"

"Would you trust them after what we did to Luchesi?" Vlad said, not even turning around. "That's all for now." That closed any further discussion. Skulker floated backwards, shutting the doors behind him. Vlad took his seat again, placing his feet up on the table as he contemplated his achievements.

Yes, it had been necessary to eliminate the powers of the Family. Vlad knew they would not have been loyal to him had he wanted to take over the Family. But Vlad had no interest in continuing the crime syndicate. He wanted it destroyed. So long as the Family existed, there was veil of fear and control over The Ghost Zone that made everyone afraid. Even a changing of the guards would not eliminate the intimidation that Luchesi had built up. A quick destruction of the Family would free up The Ghost Zone. The control over the flow of technology would be gone, and the chain of command would collapse. Vlad would be free to take anyone he needed directly under his command. The only authority left would be Walker – and Vlad had him hooked with a supply of weaponry.

Vlad had no interest in ruling The Ghost Zone. He just wanted it set up so that he could take whatever he needed from it whenever he wanted. And he had achieved exactly that.

Now he had only two more things to acquire before his life was perfect. And one of them he could get that very night.

---

"What do you mean you won't sell me the Packers?" Vlad Masters yelled into his old-fashioned rotary telephone. He was in his Wisconsin castle, sitting at the tea table in his den. He had finally gotten around to making a bid for the Packers – one billion dollars. This deal, however, wasn't sweet enough for the city of Green Bay.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this moment? I'm a Packer's fanatic! …Though that is such a negative word. I would be a fine owner for the team! What? It's money, isn't it? I raise my offer to…what do you mean, money isn't an issue? What's the problem then? Oh? What? Fine, then! But mark my words, Mr. Mayor! Nobody says 'no' to Vlad Masters! You will rue the day you declined my offer to buy the Packers!" He slammed the phone down and sank into his chair, arms crossed and skulking.

"What do you want?" he barked as red ectoplasmic smoke drifted from his nose. Skulker had flown up from the lab.

"I…I was wondering if the equipment for my upgrades had come in yet," the hunter asked, trying not to sound too concerned.

"I haven't placed the order yet!" Vlad yelled. "Come back later!" he paid no mind as Skulker sank back down through the floor. He remained where he was, still brooding.

After a few minutes, however, he had begun to consider Skulker's request. Vlad himself needed new equipment too. He picked up the phone and dialled the number of VladCo Headquarters – the technological division of Dalv Corp.

"VladCo Headquarters, how may I help you?" the male secretary said on the other line.

"Vlad here. I need a large supply of our ecto-melded steel."

"Oh, Mr. Masters! I'm sorry, but we don't have any ready at this time."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Masters," the secretary continued, a little more nervous than before. "A large order was placed a few weeks ago, and it cleaned out all our stock. We just shipped the order yesterday. We'll have more ready in a few days…"

"Who would place an order like that?" Vlad demanded. "Who in this country takes ghosts seriously and would have the knowledge to find out that VladCo has a private division devoted to the sale of…"

The answer hit him like a brick wall.

Maddie.

And with her, Jack.

Today might yet yield one of the two things his life still needed.

"Sir?" the secretary piped up timidly at the end of the line.

"Wha? Oh, no worries, my boy. I just realised the very person who could have made that order. And if my hunch is correct, then she would happen to be a very old and dear friend of mine whom I haven't seen in ages. What was the address for the order?"

"Oh, sir…we're not supposed to divulge that kind of…"

"Do you want to start job searching?"

"FentonWorks. 2122 Burton Road. Amity Park, Massachusetts," the secretary spat out hurriedly.

"Thank you, my boy. I'll call back in a few days to specify my needs." Vlad set the phone down calmly, chuckling to himself.

At long last…he had them. The address was his. He had the resources. He just needed to get the big oaf out of the way and pay a social call to the grieving widow.

But why not have some fun with his old pal Jack before the kill?

"Skulker," Vlad spoke into the communicator on his watch. "Where are the ecto-pusses?"

"Fighting over the table scraps I threw to them. Why?"

"Bring them up here. I have a job for them." Vlad rolled his jacket sleeve back over his watch, a nasty sneer on his face.

"So, Jack…let's see how your skills with ghosts have grown."