Tucker and Sam knocked on the door to the Fenton home, and were lucky enough to have it answered by Jazz.
"Hi, guys," she said, smiling, "Danny isn't here right now."
"That's okay, we came to see you, anyway," said Sam.
Surprised, Jazz let them in.
"Why did you need to see me?" Jazz asked.
"Could we go somewhere private and talk?" asked Sam.
"Sure, let's go to my room," answered Jazz, and they followed her up the stairs.
Jazz closed and locked her door, then turned to Danny's friends. "Okay, what's up?"
Sam explained the situation with Lydia, and what they planned to do.
"I remember her. Why do you need my help?" asked Jazz.
"We were hoping we could borrow some of your parent's ghost-hunting equipment for this without them finding out. You know how they would be about it," explained Sam.
"Yeah, you're right," answered Jazz, thoughtfully, "Are you sure about this? Do you trust this Lydia?"
"Yeah, I think I do. She was captured fifty or sixty years ago, and has had a very hard life, uh, existence in the real world. The little she's told me about it makes me sick, and I don't blame her for wanting to be free. I know I would do anything to get out of the way she's been treated if it were me," said Sam.
Jazz thought for a minute. "Okay, I'll help. On condition that I get to interview her when it's over."
"That's reasonable," said Sam, "I don't think she'll mind."
"Let's go to the lab and see what we can find," said Jazz, and led the way.
A few minutes later found them looking through several boxes of inventions.
"Ahah! I found the Spectre Deflector!" said Jazz, holding it up, "This will keep you safe from any ghost attacks."
"Sounds good; put it aside," answered Sam, her head in another box. She moved several things,
then held up a device that looked vaguely like a hand stapler. "What's this?"
"That's the Fenton Ghost Peeler. It will rip a ghost apart molecule by molecule," said Jazz. "I used it on Ms. Spectra, and it works."
"I don't think I want that," said Sam.
"But you need something to threaten her with that really will destroy her. Otherwise the ritual won't work," said Tucker.
Sam sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Add it to the pile."
It took another hour, but they decided on a set of gadgets that would be the most useful.
Jazz went to her closet and pulled out the blue hazmat jumpsuit she had worn when she and her dad were trapped in the house while attacked by ghosts. After some adjusting it fit Sam well enough. Then they attached the equipment picked out, and adjusted it for comfort and balance.
"Wow, Sam, you look like a real ghost-hunter," said Tucker.
"I feel like an idiot," replied Sam. "Okay, help me get this stuff off and in my backpack. I think I'm ready."
dpdpdp
At the door to her room, Sam tapped lightly, then opened it. The room was quiet and dark.
"Lydia?" she called.
There was no response. The paper had been left by the bedside, so Sam looked at it. It was blank. Before she looked away, words formed.
I CAN SENSE THE ENERGY OF THE WEAPONS. ARE YOU GOING TO HUNT ME NOW?
"No, of course not," said Sam aloud, "We still need to decide some things first. And besides,
I don't want to have a fight with a ghost in my own room."
Lydia turned visible, and floated down from near the ceiling.
"When this is over, Jazz wants to interview you as payment for loaning us this stuff," said Sam.
Lydia nodded and pointed at the paper. I AGREE TO THAT. PROVIDED I STILL EXIST.
Sam and Lydia sat down on the bed, while Tucker sat in a chair. Sam put Lydia's paper in her own lap so she could read it easily.
"It's getting late in the afternoon. We'll do this tomorrow," said Sam, and Tucker and Lydia agreed readily.
"Now, where will we do this? I don't want to be running all over Amity Park scaring people.
Valerie and Mr. and Mrs. Fenton will be drawn out and get in the way if we do," said Sam.
WHO IS VALERIE? YOU MENTIONED HER BEFORE.
"Oh, she's another ghost-hunter who goes to school with us," answered Tucker, "She really hates ghosts. If you see someone in a red suit flying a surfboard, better not let her see you."
"But where can we do this?" asked Sam.
I DON'T KNOW THIS AREA, SO CAN'T HELP THERE.
Sam snapped her fingers. "I got it! That uninhabited valley east of here! We can go there and not be disturbed!"
"Yeah!" said Tucker, "It's hard to get to, so there shouldn't be anybody there! That sound okay to you?"
Lydia nodded, smiling. PLENTY OF PLACES FOR ME TO HIDE, I HOPE.
"Do I understand right that I can be the only one to hunt you? If anyone helps the spell will fail?" asked Sam.
Lydia nodded. IF TUCKER WAS GOING TO DO THE HUNTING, ONLY HE COULD DO IT.
"Tucker's going with us. Can he do the set up of the traps, and help get me ready?" she asked.
Lydia nodded. HE CAN DO ANYTHING EXCEPT INTERFERE WITH THE ACTUAL HUNT, CAPTURE, AND SUBDUEING.
"Okay, Tuck and I will be using the Fenton Phones to communicate. How can we stay in touch with you?" said Sam.
THE PAPER, I SUPPOSE.
"We're going to be out in the open; it will be hard to use," said Sam.
"Yeah, I wanted to know how that paper thing worked," said Tucker.
Lydia smiled. IT'S A SPELL I LEARNED AFTER I WAS SILENCED. I CAN ENCHANT ANY PIECE OF BLANK PAPER SO THAT I CAN SEND WORDS TO IT, OR READ WORDS FROM IT, NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY I AM.
"That's neat. I'm gonna make a note of it," said Tucker, and pulled out his PDA.
Lydia's left hand started glowing blue, and she reached over and touched the device with one finger. The PDA started glowing, and on the screen appeared a new icon of a cloaked head with red eyes labeled LYDIA. The glow faded away.
Tucker looked at Lydia, who nodded and pointed at it. He tapped the icon, and a blank memo page appeared.
CAN YOU READ THIS? appeared on the page.
YES. CAN YOU READ THIS? he wrote back.
Lydia grinned and nodded.
"I guess communications are set up," said Sam. She looked at Lydia. "I've got something that will protect me when you attack, some traps for you, and one thing that is capable of destroying you that I really hope I won't have to use."
SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE PREPARED. HOW WILL WE GET TO THE VALLEY?
"That's going to be a problem. We can't drive, Danny won't fly us, and I don't think we'd better push it any more with the Fentons," said Tucker.
"Yeah..." said Sam, thoughtfully.
IF YOU WILL TRUST ME, I WILL FLY YOU THERE, THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE TO FIND SOME OTHER WAY HOME.
"Well, you're showing a lot of trust in us, so it's only right we show some trust in you," said Sam.
I REALLY AND TRUELY WANT TO BE FREE OF FREAKSHOW, EVEN IF IT MEANS BECOMING SLAVE TO SOMEONE ELSE.
"Lydia, I promise I won't keep you any longer than absolutely necessary," said Sam.
I BELIEVE YOU.
"I guess we'll meet here, but what time tomorrow?" asked Tucker.
"Ohhh... I hate getting up early, but it would be best. Eight O'clock?" said Sam.
THAT IS FINE.
"Is everything settled, then? Any more decisions?" asked Tucker.
Sam and Lydia looked at each other, then at Tucker. They shook their heads.
"Okay, then, I'm going home. See ya tomorrow," he said, and left.
Lydia stood and put on her cloak.
"You don't have to leave now," said Sam.
YES, I DO. I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO BEFORE TOMORROW. GOOD NIGHT. AND THANK YOU. She turned and disappeared through the wall.
Sam sat back down. Tomorrow was going to be a strange day...