Hello again! Thank you for the reviews and follows! I really love getting feedback.
This chapter is kind of dialogue heavy. Sorry about that, but I wasn't sure how else to write it.
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Chapter 14: Arguments
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It turned out that Valerie had tried a great many ways to get out of the tree. All of them had been brute force methods. All of them had failed.
Mikey and Ricky kept asking how she had gotten stuck in the first place. Valerie kept deflecting them, until they tried to force the point, and then Valerie had said, "How did you two manage to fall down a hole, anyway?" in her best A-list voice, and they had dropped it.
It was too bad, really. It would probably be a great story.
(Sometimes Danny resented Valerie, just a little bit.)
(Why couldn't they see he was trying to help?)
They started brainstorming new ways for Valerie to get out. They failed. Miserably.
"Look," said Danny, finally. "There's clearly an intelligence behind this."
"Ghost's aren't intelligent," said Valerie, trying to free her foot from where it had been trapped between two branches. "They're mindless monsters. Your parents have said as much."
"The evidence doesn't support that," said Mikey. "I mean, Phantom is clearly capable of formulating complex strategies."
Valerie's shoe popped off, and she sighed. "So is a chess program."
"Chess programs don't do puns."
"They could be programmed to do puns."
"That-"
"Seriously, can we leave the Turing test for later?" interrupted Sam. "Danny, you were saying?"
"Well, whatever it is," said Danny, feeling a little weird about referring to himself in such a way (but not that weird, he already managed a double life), "it probably didn't like whatever you were doing before it... grabbed you, or whatever. So, maybe you could do a peace offering, or something? Show it that you aren't going to do that, any more?"
Valerie snorted. "Danny, this is a tree."
"We're in the Ghost Zone. It might not be just a tree."
"Clearly, it's not just a tree," said Valerie angrily. "Otherwise I'd be out by now."
"Okay, okay," said Danny, rolling his. "If you're really dead set against telling us what happened, there is another way. It's kind of hit-or-miss though. And, by the way, we do all know that you have those blasters, remember? I think we can all conclude that you were shooting at something."
"Just tell me how to get out."
"Right. So, it turns out that humans can manipulate ectoplasm to some degree. It's easier when there's a lot of it, and when it isn't being, how should I put it, used by anyone else. Putting it in, um, more science-y terms, I guess, it would be, ectoplasm with no associated ectosignature." Danny rubbed his neck. "It's more complicated that that, but, well, I don't think you want me to go on all night. Or, um, you know. However long it would take. What time is it supposed to be now, anyway?"
"My phone says that it's three in the morning."
"Thanks, Mikey. Anyway. Because humans can manipulate ectoplasm, and the Ghost Zone is mostly ectoplasm, it can sometimes seem like humans are the ghosts, in the Ghost Zone."
"That doesn't make any sense. Ghosts are ghosts. Humans are humans."
"Yeah, but- Okay, look, you know that ectoplasm can go through normal stuff, sometimes? Intangibility, and all? Basic ghost power?"
"Yeah."
"So, humans can trigger that state in ectoplasm, if they try hard enough. It's trickier when it comes to an actual ghost, because they're in control of all their own ectoplasm, but with inanimate stuff, stuff that doesn't have its own will, then you can do it without much trouble. You just have to think about it the right way."
"How do you even know about this?"
"Well. Lets review what my life is like. One, there is a hole in reality in my basement. Two, I'm so clumsy that I've been permanently banned from handling anything fragile at school. Three, one of my chores at home is cleaning the basement."
They all stared at him. "You're saying that you, what, tripped and fell into the Ghost Zone."
"Yeah," said Danny, giving Sam a look. Why was she staring? She knew this story. Maybe she was just surprised that he had told the truth. "Look, just focus on trying to phase through."
"Okay, sure... How?"
"Um. Try to convince yourself that it isn't really there. Or that it is there, but it's permeable."
"Right." There was quiet while Valerie pushed against the branches again. "What if there is an ectosignature?"
"Then it kind of depends. You basically have to fight the ghost? Mentally, I mean. You need to have more force of personality, more willpower. Or, at least, more willpower than the ghost is willing to put into it. Which is really hard, since that's sort of what ghosts are. Or, um, the reason they exist. What holds them together?" Danny nodded. "So, typically, you aren't going to be able to phase through a ghost. Or an ectoblast, because those are energized."
There was more pushing. "I don't think that this is going to work, then."
"Why?"
"I think that these have an ectosignature."
"Well, yeah."
"What do you mean, 'Well, yeah?'"
"Well, it's a tree, right? A cohesive, complex form. Not a puddle. But it shouldn't be a very strong ectosignature. You should be able to overpower it, at least momentarily."
Valerie tried once more.
"Wait a second," said Sam, "what about the present? Didn't you say that kept floating through everything?"
"Yeah, but everything in that part of the Zone is default intangible. Clearly, that's not the case here." Danny knocked his knuckles against the tree's trunk.
"Present?"
"It's a long story."
Valerie sighed. "Maybe one of you two could give me a demonstration, seeing as you know so much about it?"
Danny glanced at Sam, who promptly turned, and put her hand on a tree trunk, frowning. Slowly, her arm sunk into the tree. "A bit more resistance than usual," she observed once she was wrist-deep. She pulled her hand out.
"You've been in here, too, then, huh, Manson?" said Ricky.
Sam and Danny shared a look. "Duh," said Sam, finally, apparently deciding that admitting it would be easier than trying to dance around the point. "The Ghost Zone is totally Gothic."
"Okay. Fine. Whatever," said Valerie. "Congrats on still being one of the weirdest people in school. But... You're actually making the tree, intangible, right? Could you make it intangible for me, and then I can get out."
Danny frowned. "Maybe," he allowed. "But intangibility doesn't always work the way you think it should. A lot of ghost things are like that." He walked up to the tree, so that he was standing directly below Valerie, and then put his hand on it. "Want to help, Sam?"
"Oh. Yeah, sure."
Danny closed his eyes. He had to be careful, here. No ghost powers, just natural human ones. No glowing. No turning invisible. He had to sink into the tree, too, not just give the tree intangibility. He couldn't make this look too easy, either. Even though it would be. The twist of the mind this kind of intangibility required was just short of natural for him. It was like standing on one foot. Or winking.
"Okay," he said, reaching up to touch the bars. He could feel his fingers start to sink into the bark. Sam had been right. There was a lot of resistance. It felt feathery and icy cool, like sticking his hand into a snowbank. He wondered why. Perhaps there was a lot of physical matter mixed into the ectoplasm? "Okay, Valerie, try now."
Valerie responded by virtually ramming into the bars. "Jesus-!" Valerie said, swallowing any more dire curses. "Not working! Ouch." She rubbed her shoulder vigorously. Then, under her breath, growing louder with each word, "Stupid ghost tree, stupid float-y ball ghosts, stupid Phantom. Stupid, stupid, stupid."
"What does Phantom have to do with it?" asked Mikey, who had come closer to watch Sam and Danny turn the tree intangible. Danny raised an eyebrow. He'd have to remember that Mikey had good ears. Not good enough to hear Sam and Danny earlier, but still good for a human.
Valerie glared at the red-headed boy. "Seriously? What doesn't he have to do with this? It's his fault that we're here. I bet this is his lair, and he's just biding his time, playing with us, trying to separate us so that he can kill us off one by one."
All four of the children on the ground stared up at Valerie, unimpressed.
"What?" said Valerie, bitterly.
"You're still going on about that?" asked Sam. "I'm pretty sure that if the ghosts here wanted us dead, we'd be dead. I can think of a dozen ways a ghost could kill with intangibility alone. Besides, what would the point be? What does a ghost gain from killing someone?"
"They exist to spread misery," said Valerie with conviction.
Ancients give him strength. Danny wished he could confront her about Ellie.
"Really? Really? What evidence do you have?" asked Sam, "Danny, do your parents even have any evidence of that?"
"No," said Danny. He didn't really want to get involved in this argument. Well, he did. But he didn't. He hated having to stand there and listen to a whole species (was that the correct term?) being maligned, a group that he was at least partially part of, without being able to properly defend them.
"Oh, come on, they don't even have nervous systems."
"So, what? Are you trying to say that just because they don't feel pain they cant be people? You know that there are humans who can't feel pain? Are they not people?"
"They still have brains!"
"Guys," said Danny, after they continued to argue. "Guys," he repeated, more loudly. "Guys, can we do this later? Like, after we get home? This isn't going to help."
"So what do you suggest we do?" demanded Valerie, with poor grace.
"If I were you, I'd go with Sam's first suggestion. Disarm yourself."
"And leave myself defenseless?"
"You're already defenseless. I assume you tried to shoot your way out, and it didn't work."
"Yeah."
"And we all know these trees can change the way they're shaped. So what's to stop it from crushing you or something? Just put the blaster down, Valerie. It isn't going to help you if you're stuck in there."
Valerie sighed through her nose. "You really think this is going to work."
"Yeah, I do."
"I don't get how you can trust these ghosts so much."
"I'm just not as eager to jump to conclusions as you and my parents."
"Fine," said Valerie, grudgingly. She pulled her blaster out, and set it down.
"What about the other one?" asked Mikey.
"I left it with Danny's dad."
Ah, heck. Danny had forgotten about that. Hopefully the wisps hadn't decided to investigate the larger group of humans. Then again, it wasn't like Jack could hit anything smaller than a barn reliably.
"Nothing's happening," said Valerie, exasperated.
"Well, maybe it doesn't believe you," said Sam. "I mean, I wouldn't, after everything you've said here."
"Valerie," said Danny. This conversation just kept dragging on and on. "Let's talk about this. Let's go over why you hate ghosts so much. Because, really, it's kinda extreme."
"I've already said."
"No, you said why my parents hate ghosts. Why do you hate ghosts?"
Valerie picked up her blaster and gave Danny a dirty look. "You know why."
"Yeah, but, give me a refresher, or something."
"Phantom and his stupid dog ruined my life. Ghosts attack our town on a constant basis. Why wouldn't I hate them?"
"So... You're judging an entire group based on the actions of a few individuals. Doesn't that strike you as wrong?"
"A few individuals? Are you serious? Do you even know how many ghost attacks there are in a single day?"
"I do. Do you? More to the point, do you know how many ghosts live, or, well, you know, in Amity peacefully? Without attacking? Because that number is a lot higher."
"Are you serious?"
"Why would I lie?"
"You could still be possessed."
"Really, Valerie, really?"
Valerie sighed. "I guess not. But how do you even know about these 'peaceful' ghosts?"
She would ask that. Luckily, the conversation had been going on long enough for Danny to come up with an answer. "You know I used to have straight As in middle school?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Ricky.
"Well, why do you think my grades dropped?"
There was quiet. "Your grades dropped because you were hanging out with ghosts?" asked Mikey, his eyes narrowed.
"Um. No. My grades dropped because some of them won't stop harassing me. But I wind up meeting a lot of other ghosts. Like, you think that the first time I got spirited away to the Ghost Zone I got back home on my own? No. I got a lot of help from other ghosts. Like, a lot, a lot. You ever get kidnapped by a ghost, Valerie? Did you get away on your own?"
"I guess not," she said. Danny could tell that she was thinking of the time they had been kidnapped by Skulker. "Still, what do you expect me to do here?"
"I don't know. Just... Try not to jump to conclusions with everyone. Give the ghosts a chance."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know that's not what you meant."
Valerie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Fine. I'll 'give the ghosts a chance.' Happy?"
Regardless of whether or not anyone was happy with the situation, Valerie's statement was apparently sufficient for the tree, which shuddered, tilted to one side and then dumped Valerie out.
"I hate ghosts," grumbled Valerie as she picked herself up off the ground.
"I'm sure the feeling's mutual," said Sam.
"You four don't have any food on you, do you?"
"No," said Ricky, "and thanks for reminding us about how hungry we are."
