Sorry for the wait with this one. I had the chapter about halfway written, but Jazz was completely wrecking the pacing, so I had to write her out to finish the chapter lmao. Hopefully this was worth the wait!


It was barely nine in the morning when Wes called.

Danny groaned, his hand fumbling across the top of his nightstand for his phone. After several seconds of searching, he found it, hitting the green button to silence its incessant jingle before holding it to his ear, his head never leaving the cover of his blanket. "What."

"Will you help me out with my new power today?"

Danny squinted at the phone. Wes sounded way too chipper for a Saturday morning. "...Can't you practice by yourself for a couple hours or something? It's not even noon yet."

"I can't practice by myself!" Wes shouted, forcing Danny to briefly retract the phone. "What if I accidentally cause a blackout or something? I don't have anything I can practice on over here anyway, and you've gotta have something that could help at your place. I bet you have all sorts of cool tech and failsafes there."

Danny sighed to himself. Wes wasn't wrong, exactly. While most of the equipment in the lab was intended to destroy ghosts, much of it was also designed to make studying them easier. Heck, he was known to use some of it to brush up on his skills here and there himself. Realistically, the lab was probably the best place for Wes to get the hang of his new power. "...Okay, um. Give me an hour or so to get things ready. I'll see what we've got."

"Alright, I'll be there. Thanks, Danny."

"Yeah, sure. Bring some cola, too. If you're gonna wake me up at nine on a Saturday, make it worth my time."

Wes showed up almost exactly an hour later, 2-liter bottle in hand. He was bouncing happily on his toes, cola sloshing and foaming. Danny exhaled through his nose at the sight. He was going to have to wait to open the soda, it looked like.

Still, he stepped aside, and Wes didn't hesitate to waltz right in. He went to the kitchen to put the drink away, and found Jazz packing snacks into her schoolbag. "Oh, Wesley, you're here! You came to do some training, right?"

Wes nodded, and then paused, glancing around warily and keeping his voice low. "...Uh, are your parents home?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Danny said, waving dismissively. "I told them there was a ghost downtown, they'll be searching for hours." Wes relaxed a little at that.

"Danny already had some things set up for you down in the lab," Jazz told him, "but I took the liberty of making some of my own adjustments in order to ensure a safe learning environment."

"You what?!" Danny exclaimed. "Jazz, it was already safe. I had a method and everything!"

"As your older sister, who you asked to help with lesson planning, mind you," Jazz said in her haughty eldest sibling voice, "it's my job to make sure those lessons are suitable for teaching. And I don't feel that using the Fenton Stinger would be particularly enriching."

"Fenton Stinger?" Wes asked.

"Basically a ray gun that shocks you," Danny informed him, rolling his entire head at Jazz. "Which would have been fine because he can just soak it up."

"Danny!" shouted Wes.

"What? I even tested it on myself at the lowest setting, and it barely hurt anyway."

"Danny!" Jazz screeched. She massaged her temples with her fingertips, visibly fighting off an upcoming migraine. "See, this is why I need to be here to supervise you. But unfortunately, I can't, because I have three students I have to tutor today instead, so I need to trust you not to do anything stupid while I'm gone, alright?"

"You have my word," Danny said smugly, one hand on his chest with the other in the air.

"Good, because I'm not letting you shoot me with a freaking laser gun," Wes scowled.

Jazz nodded, more to herself than to Danny's oath. "...Okay. You two better both be in one piece when I come back." She left the kitchen, her head lingering to watch them for as long as possible, before the front door could finally be heard opening and closing, followed by her car pulling out of the driveway before fading away entirely.

Once he was certain she was gone, Danny put his hands together with a clap. "So. You ready to get started?"

Wes nodded, but he could only hope Jazz had actually managed to Danny-proof the lab.

When the pair of them went downstairs, the lab was almost completely cleared out, anything not bolted down having been shoved towards the walls. Near the portal— still under repair, it seemed— was a single foldable table, on top of which rested various equipment; some looked like guns, others had no discernible purpose. Next to the table was a rod that was taller than Wes was, attached to a large metal box via a series of wires and cables.

Danny approached the table, picking up a small firearm, though luckily it looked more like a speedometer than an actual weapon. Wes pointed at it, both curious and cautious. "...That isn't the Stinger, is it?"

Danny snorted derisively. "No, I'm pretty sure Jazz hid that. This is the Ghostly Emission Modulator, G.E.M. for short. I think it's kind of like a stethoscope for ghosts? You point it at one, and it picks up on their core energy and translates it into sound."

Wes hummed inquisitively, lips quirking up. "Neat. But how is it gonna help?"

"It kinda won't," Danny shrugged. "But it's pretty cool, and I thought you might get a kick out of it. Wanna try it?" Wes pursed his lips, but he couldn't deny that he was curious. Sensing his hesitation, Danny put the G.E.M. in his hands. "It's totally harmless, I promise. Here, use it on me."

"...This isn't gonna shoot anything at you, is it?" Danny's amused huff told him that no, it wouldn't. Probably. He hoped.

Wes gulped and aimed the G.E.M., holding down the trigger. Danny didn't move from his spot, and the only thing the G.E.M. emitted was a constant but nearly imperceptible bout of white noise. After a few seconds of nothing changing, Wes was going to ask if the machine was broken. But then Danny changed, and the sound spiked to an irritating grating sound, like several forks scraping against a plate. Though once the transformation was complete, the noise faded until it more resembled the crackle of an old speaker, or maybe the tinkling of a small bell. Something shattering? It was surprisingly difficult to pin down any one sound, and Wes found himself mesmerized.

"...Are you ready to give it a shot?" Danny asked, breaking Wes out of his musings. He released the trigger, and the noise cut off abruptly.

"Oh! Um... Yeah, okay." He handed Danny the G.E.M., who pointed it at him in turn. At first, the machine only released a quiet hum, just as near-silent as Danny's static. But once Wes transformed, it increased until it was a persistent buzz, the volume and pitch gradually increasing and decreasing at regular intervals. It reminded Danny of a beehive, a heartbeat, and a vibrating phone, all at once.

"How much charge do you have right now?" he asked.

"Not a lot," Wes replied, his gaze transfixed on the machine. "I ran the whole way here, but I didn't build up much... But it's enough to do this!" He held his index fingers across from each other, a few scant inches from his face. He crossed his eyes as he concentrated, until between his fingertips a small blue spark ignited, arcing between them and buzzing like a small Tesla coil. Wes looked between the spark and Danny, mouth hanging open in an elated smile.

Danny smirked and chuckled at the display, setting the G.E.M. back on the table. "Now, how about we see how much energy you can hold? We gotta know where your limits are."

Wes tilted his head as he dropped the spark, the grin still plastered on his face. "Okay. How are we gonna do that?"

"We use the Stinger," Danny replied, heading to the edge of the lab and rooting around in the various junk there. "Come on, if I was an annoyingly nosy older sister, where would I hide you...?"

Wes frowned, rocking from foot to foot. "Uhh, I don't know how I feel about getting shot at..."

"Don't worry, I'll start at the lowest setting," Danny consoled him, cheering quietly when he found what he was looking for; he had to use both hands to hold onto it. "It'll only feel like you shocked yourself on a doorknob, it really isn't too bad."

"I dunno..."

"Hey, you survived Technus trying to electrocute you. If you can absorb that and be totally fine afterwards, then you should be able to handle this, no problem."

Wes chewed on his lip, but he figured, maybe Danny was right. If he was able to handle a nasty shock from someone as strong as Technus, then why should he be scared of something that would be practically painless? Besides, Danny wouldn't encourage it if there was any real risk involved. "...Okay. But give me a warning before you shoot, alright?"

Danny nodded, lifting the hefty gun and aiming it. He flicked a switch on the side with his thumb, and the machine whirred to life, the see-through midsection lighting up and rotating at an accelerating pace. Danny turned a small dial near the power switch, and the Stinger settled down to a quiet, high-pitched hum. "You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Danny fired, pressing the trigger and quickly releasing it. Out of the Stinger flew a small green bolt, striking Wes in the chest with a snap. He recoiled, but was unharmed, patting at the point of contact.

"...Well? How did that feel?"

"...It didn't hurt," Wes replied, confirming what Danny had already suspected. "I felt it, but it wasn't painful or anything."

"Wanna try a stronger blast, and then see what happens from there?" Danny asked him.

Wes nodded, far less anxious now that he knew the weapon wasn't going to hurt him. "Yeah. I'm ready."

Danny twisted the knob just a hair, and the Stinger whined louder in response. He fired another quick release, a larger bolt escaping the barrel. This time when it hit, Wes's face broke out in a confident grin. "Come on, keep it coming. I feel like I could do this all day."

Danny smirked at his friend's enthusiasm. "Alright. But tell me if it starts to hurt or feel weird. We're trying to figure out your max here, not burn you out." Wes nodded excitedly, and Danny turned the Stinger up higher, bracing himself before holding down the trigger.

Wes fought to keep still as the stream of electricity bore into him, errant sparks scattering before they, too, were absorbed. His core throbbed in time with his increasing pulse, forcing a bubbling laugh out of him as it surged and swelled. And still he took in more, more, fingers flexing and shaking as the current further permeated every cell, every fiber, every aspect of his being. He had never felt a rush quite like this. He felt incredible. Indestructible!

...And then he didn't. His core groaned and tightened, discomfort briefly stabbing in his chest. He clenched his fists, his limbs quivering beyond his control. His aura brightened and flickered, prickling at the edges. Everything was growing warm, and his insides began to light up, throwing uncanny shadows across his face. He felt like he was spilling over, but not a spark escaped him, and he only continued to suck up more and more. "...Stop!"

Danny did so without question, the Stinger mercifully ceasing its assault. "Grab the rod and let it out," he instructed. Wes wasted no time, running to and grabbing the rod with both hands before pushing everything out. The relief was almost instantaneous, and he slumped against the device, releasing a breath he didn't recall holding. Danny was at his side in an instant, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay? You aren't hurt, are you?"

"...I'm fine," Wes breathed. "Not hurt. It just... kinda started to feel funny."

Danny nodded in understanding, removing his hand so that he could examine a display on the machine attached to the rod. He hummed when he took note of the number on the small screen. "...Looks like you pumped five megawatts into this thing."

Wes bolted upright. "Five megawatts?!"

"...Is that a lot?"

"Is that a lot," Wes parroted incredulously. "That's gotta be enough to like... god, power a city block for at least a day, right?! And that thing can actually generate that much?!"

Danny shrugged. "Hey, I have no idea how any of this stuff works. I'm just shooting you with it."

Wes shook his head in amazement, and though the thought crossed his mind to try to figure out how the Stinger worked, that was a question for another day. "Anyway. What did you want to try next?"

"I was thinking we should figure out your range," Danny replied. "Even with a power like yours, getting close to a ghost isn't always a good idea. If you can zap them from a distance, you'll be a lot better off."

"Target practice, huh?" Wes rubbed his hands together, enthusiastically baring his teeth. "Alright, what am I aiming for?"

Danny crossed his arms. "You're gonna be aiming for me."

Wes stared. Closed his mouth. Stared a little longer. "...What?! No, I'm not zapping you!"

"Look, I'll be fine," Danny assured him, grabbing onto the rod with one hand. "I can redirect the current, so it won't hurt me, okay?"

"...Where was that ability when we were fighting Technus, huh?!"

"I barely use it, so I don't always remember I can do it," Danny huffed defensively. "My point is, I'll be fine, so don't worry about me, okay?"

"Don't worry, he says," Wes grumbled, getting into position anyway. "He wants me to shock him and he tells me not to worry."

Danny lifted the Stinger, making sure Wes was ready before firing, only holding the trigger down for a few seconds. "There, that should be plenty. Try to zap me from right there. If it works, get further away until it stops. If it doesn't, get closer until it does. Got it?"

Wes nodded, frowning. "...Got it." He shook out his hands, taking a deep breath before hesitantly bringing his energy to the surface. He extended both hands towards Danny, pursing his lips as he willed himself to strike his friend down. Sparks arced along his wrists and fingertips, but they only curved back onto themselves, retreating and reappearing without bridging that distance between Wes and Danny.

Doing as he had been instructed, Wes inched closer, watching the sparks swarming his hands with growing apprehension. Soon they were only ten feet away from each other, then five, four, three. It wasn't until the pair were barely a foot apart that the current finally jumped, striking Danny and turning an ectoplasmic green before funneling into the lightning rod. True to his word, he was unharmed.

Danny tsked, thoughtfully pursing his lips. "Seems like you have to stick pretty close after all. But at least it looks like you don't have to be touching me directly."

Wes hummed, mildly displeased by that fact. It looked like he wouldn't be throwing any lightning bolts around.

"Alright, next," said Danny. "I noticed that you were moving around different than usual yesterday, so I wanna see if holding a charge amplifies any of your other abilities. Strength, speed, that kind of thing. If it does, then you'll definitely stand a better chance even without shocking anyone."

It was something Wes had been wondering, too. Though he hadn't thought much of it at the time, he was sure his reflexes had improved after Technus's shock. Though his agility was already nothing to scoff at, he had never had such an easy time weaving around so many obstacles. He couldn't be certain if it was adrenaline, or if it actually had to do with his core, but he was about to find out.

"First, let's see where you're at when you're running on empty," said Danny. Wes gripped the rod and unloaded until even his glow had disappeared. Danny returned to the table and grabbed two items: one was a speedometer, and the other appeared to be some sort of overly complex clamp. Danny held out the latter item for Wes to take. "Squeeze this with everything you've got, then tell me what the screen says."

Wes nodded in understanding, accepting the small device. "Oh, so this is like a dynamometer."

"Yeah, sure, whatever that word was. Just squeeze it."

Wes smirked to himself. Maybe he wasn't good at lifting, but he knew he had an impressive grip. You couldn't get far in basketball without one. Which is why, when he squeezed the handheld device, he wasn't surprised to see a solid 126 pounds displaying proudly on the screen.

Danny, however, was. His eyebrows went up, and he pursed his lips. "126, huh? Would have thought it would be higher."

Wes scowled. "Come on, that's like, a whole two pounds better than my old average. You think you could do better, huh?"

"...I would crush that thing if I tried to measure myself," Danny deadpanned. Wes opened his mouth to retort, but Danny held up a hand. "Come on, we're gonna see how fast you can fly."

Clamping his mouth shut, Wes cocked his head to the side. "Wait, we aren't gonna check my grip with a charge first?"

"We're gonna do that after you fly. Filling and emptying your core too much can still strain it," Danny told him. "So phase through the wall, get some distance, and fly straight through." He grinned cheekily. "Unless you're afraid of hitting a brick wall face first?"

"I'm not afraid! I've been getting better at controlling my intangibility!" Wes cried.

"Then come on, we don't have all day."

Wes scoffed, manifesting his tail before making his way to the edge of the lab. After a pause to make sure he was no longer solid, he passed through, and Danny raised the speedometer in preparation for him to return. It was a good ten or twenty seconds before Wes flew through, Danny tracking the vague orange blur before he disappeared entirely. A few seconds after that, Wes returned, hovering over Danny's shoulder to glance at his reading.

Danny turned the speedometer so that Wes could get a better look. "It says you were going 63."

Wes pouted at that. "I thought you said I could go 70."

"Well I didn't have a speedometer on me, did I," Danny pointed out. "Let's get you charged up and we'll see how fast you can really go."

Wes didn't have to be told twice. He flew to his prior spot in the lab, tail leaving tiny figure eights on the tile floor. Danny powered up the Stinger and fired, making sure to release the trigger the moment he noticed Wes's aura behaving erratically. "Does that feel alright?"

The Halfa flexed his hands, his toothy grin telling Danny everything he needed to know. He tipped his head towards the wall, and then Wes was gone, disappearing before Danny could get a verbal command out. He was barely able to get the speedometer up in time to track Wes as he sped through, skidding to a halt at the far end of the lab before coming over to inspect his speed. "...109? That's still slower than you..."

"You only changed a few weeks ago," Danny pointed out with a shrug. "I've been a Halfa for almost two years. You aren't gonna be at my level any time soon."

"Still, woulda thought I'd get more mileage out of five megawatts," Wes muttered. He drifted towards the table, where the dynamometer waited to be picked up. "You wanted to see if my grip was stronger too, right?"

Danny nodded. "Yep. And it looks like you already know how to use that thing, so have at it."

And Wes did so, squeezing the clamp with everything he had. He peered at the little screen, his determined scowl growing irritated. "Oh, come on! 132 pounds? That's almost nothing!"

"But it's still something," said Danny. "Now we know you can probably punch something less like an average twelve-year-old, and more like an emerging thirteen-year-old." Wes shoved his shoulder, and Danny flinched and glared, rubbing at the point of contact. "Hey, that stings, you know."

Wes crossed his arms, tucking his hands into his armpits. "Sorry. But that's what you get for making fun of me."

"Well. Now I know the next thing we need to work on is your control," Danny groused. "...But maybe we should save that for another day. I can tell you need a break."

"What?!" Wes shouted. "But I feel fine! I could totally keep going!"

"It might feel that way, but that's only because your core is full. I bet if it was empty you'd realize how tired you are."

"Tired? I'm not tired at all," Wes chuffed. "I could be running laps in here if I really wanted to."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Alright, hotshot. If you're so sure, then dump everything into the lightning rod. If you don't collapse afterwards, then we'll load you back up and keep going. Otherwise, we're calling it quits for the day."

"Pfft, fine, I'll show you," Wes agreed, strutting back to the rod. He grabbed it, and with a muted phfoomph, discharged everything he had built up. The moment it was all gone, he swayed on his feet, and had to prop himself up on the device to remain standing. "...I hate you."

"What's that? Don't tell me you're actually worn out," Danny singsonged.

"Shut it," Wes hissed. "I'll just come back tomorrow, then."

"Uh, no you won't," said Danny. "I've already got plans to play Doomed with Sam and Tucker tomorrow. We can get your power figured out some time during the break."

Wes huffed, but didn't argue, instead straightening himself out. "Fine, fine. But I'm gonna hold you to it."

"Yeah, yeah. And no ghost fighting until then, got it?"

"What?!" Wes shrieked. "But I kicked Technus's butt! I can handle myself!"

"You got lucky," Danny pointed out. "But you can't count on luck with these guys. I'm not gonna let you keep putting yourself in danger until I know you can handle it." Wes groaned. "Now come on, we might as well break into that soda before you go." The two headed back upstairs, where the cola that had finally settled down was still waiting for them.

Too bad it was too warm to enjoy from sitting on the counter.


Glad to finally have this one out of the way. These next two chapters should be a lot more fun, both to write and to read. And since I already know what they're going to be about, hopefully I'll have them along a lot quicker!