"No. Absolutely not," said Danny Fenton. He, Sam, and Tucker were having lunch in the Nasty Burger, and Sam was telling them about Lydia's plight.
"Danny, she needs our help," protested Sam.
"She works for Freakshow, so it has to be some kind of trick," answered Danny, "I will not cooperate so she can spring a trap."
"Freakshow's still in custody," said Sam, angrily.
"How do you know that?" asked Tucker.
"She told me," Sam answered.
"Oh, that's a reliable source of information," Danny said sarcastically.
Tucker pulled out his PDA, and logged on to the Internet.
"Danny, if we free her, she promised to be a friend and ally," said Sam, "Don't you think you could use a few more friends in the Ghost Zone?"
"You have a point," said Danny, reluctantly.
"From what I remember," said Tucker, "She never did anything until ordered to."
"That was because of the Staff," said Danny, "It's gone, so she's working for him on her own."
"You don't know that!" objected Sam.
"Neither do you!" retorted Danny, and they glared at each other for a long minute.
"Well, for what it's worth," said Tucker, putting away his PDA, "She was telling the truth about Freakshow. He's still in custody."
"Okay, so she didn't lie about one thing. Big deal," said Danny, crossing his arms.
"If you don't want to help, fine," said Sam at last, "But I think it's worth the risk. You didn't see her cry when she thought I was going to refuse. You don't know what's been done to her over the years. I think she's sincere."
"I think it's a trap. If you want to risk your neck for an evil ghost, fine. But count me out," said Danny, and got up and left.
"What about you?" asked Sam, looking at Tucker.
The techo-geek sighed. "I'm in, I guess. You could probably use the help."
"Thanks," said Sam, smiling, "Let's go to my place, and talk to Lydia."
dpdpdp
In Sam's room, she brought out the piece of paper and got a pen. LYDIA, MY ROOM, she wrote.
With Tucker looking over her shoulder, she saw her writing disappear, and an answer appear.
I WILL BE THERE SHORTLY.
"That's a pretty neat trick," said Tucker.
A few minutes later a red-cloaked figure phased in through the window, where she found two humans waiting for her. She looked around the room, then glided over to them.
Sam looked at the paper. I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT. YOU MIGHT HAVE SET A TRAP FOR ME. I REMEMBER HIM. WHERE IS THE GHOST BOY?
"He won't help. It's just me and Tucker," answered Sam.
AS I EXPECTED.
Lydia took off her cloak, and laid it over the back of the same chair. She hovered a foot off the floor, and looked at the two humans who were actually willing to help her. She gestured at Tucker to look at the paper with Sam.
I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE RITUAL THAT CAN FREE ME.
"Is Freakshow going to be involved?" asked Tucker.
NO.
"Well, that's good," he said.
YOU WILL HAVE TO HUNT ME DOWN, CAPTURE AND SUBDUE ME, THEN GIVE ME THE CHOICE OF ACCEPTING YOU AS MASTER, OR BEING DESTROYED. WHEN MY EYES CHANGE FROM RED TO GREEN, THE STAFF'S HOLD HAS BEEN BROKEN.
"Leaving you as my slave," said Sam.
YES, BUT THEN YOU CAN LIFT THE SILENCE ORDER, AND FREE ME.
"Won't the silence order be broken too?" asked Sam.
IN THEORY. BUT AFTER SO LONG, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO IT.
"What if Sam decided to keep you?" asked Tucker.
Both Lydia and Sam looked at Tucker sharply. "Tucker!" said Sam in an exasperated tone.
"It's a legitimate question," he said defensively.
HE'S RIGHT. IF YOU KEPT ME, I WOULD BE OBEDIENT, AND SERVE YOU FAITHFULLY, JUST LIKE I HAVE FREAKSHOW. AND I WOULD HATE YOU FOREVER.
"I wouldn't keep you. It's against my principles," said Sam.
AGAIN, IN THEORY. BUT YOU ARE A HUMAN, AND HAVE THE FREE WILL TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. IT IS A HUGE RISK FOR ME, BETTING MY FREEDOM ON THE WORD OF A HUMAN, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WOULD BE A BETTER MASTER.
"At least she's honest about it," said Tucker, looking at Sam.
Lydia pointed at the paper, and the friends looked. THE DIFFICULT PART OF THIS RITUAL IS THAT IT HAS TO BE REAL, NOT PRETEND. I CANNOT AID IN MY OWN CAPTURE, AND IF YOU DO, I WILL RESIST BEING SUBDUED WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE. SAM, YOU HAVE TO BE READY AND WILLING TO CARRY OUT MY DESTRUCTION IF I CHOOSE NOT TO ACCEPT YOU AS MASTER. IF YOU ARE NOT, THE STAFF'S SPELL WILL NOT BE BROKEN.
"But you wouldn't choose that... would you?" asked Sam, looking at the ghost.
Lydia looked away, and the paper stayed blank.
"I- I'm not sure I'd be able to..." said Sam.
COULD YOU DESTROY ME IF I WERE PARIAH DARK?
"But you're not!" protested Sam.
NO, I'M NOT. I HAVE WATCHED BOTH OF YOU IN OUR ENCOUNTERS, AND YOU ARE BRAVE AND SMART, AND THINK ON YOUR FEET, AND ARE WILLING TO RISK YOUR LIVES FOR YOUR FRIEND THE GHOST BOY. ARE YOU WILLING TO EXERCISE THOSE STRENGTHS AND FILL THE CONDITIONS OF THE RITUAL?
"Lydia, I want to help you, I really do," said Sam, "So I'll try to be strong enough to accept your decision when the time comes."
THAT IS ALL I CAN ASK.
"What would happen if this ritual fails?" asked Tucker.
NOTHING. I WILL STILL BE FREAKSHOW'S SLAVE.
"Well," said Tucker, thoughtfully, looking at Sam, "If we're going to hunt, capture, and subdue her, we're going to need ghost-hunting equipment."
"Asking Valerie is out," said Sam, "She hates ghosts so much she'd just shoot to destroy. I doubt she'd loan us anything anyway."
"You're right," answered Tucker. "That just leaves the Fentons."
"Danny's not going to help, and if we ask Mr. and Mrs. Fenton they'd want to get involved, and this should be kept private," said Sam.
Lydia nodded in agreement.
Tucker and Sam looked at each other. "Jazz!" they said at the same time.
WHO OR WHAT IS JAZZ?
"Danny's sister," answered Tucker, "She was one of the people you captured when Freakshow had the Reality Gauntlet."
OH, THE REDHEADED GIRL. CAN YOU TRUST HER TO KEEP THIS QUIET?
"I'm pretty sure we can. She knows about Danny, and helps keep his secret," answered Sam.
"Well, let's go talk to her. Lydia, you shouldn't come with us; it's dangerous for ghosts there," said Tucker.
Lydia nodded.
"You can stay here and watch TV or something," said Sam, "But my parents, grandma, and the servants are around the house. Keep it low, and don't get caught."
I WILL. THANK YOU.
"See you in a couple of hours," said Tucker, and he and Sam left the room.
After the door closed, Lydia donned her cloak, but left the hood back. She sat down in front of the TV, and turned it on. Maybe they were showing reruns of Dark Shadows somewhere...