WoM- 'Making a face' Man It's gonna take forever to make my scheduled right again! Sorry for the late update, but I'm having problems at home right now… 'grumbles darkly to herself,' Of course, I suppose I should be grateful that my mom is so much more lenient then my dad…and that I have three half days this week.
"The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has."
-Will Rogers
"4998… 4999…" Vlad jumped slightly when the door to his prison opened, torn away from counting the tiles on the floors, walls and ceiling to scowl when Megumi entered with her smooth, graceful strides. "Oh. You again."
"I've come here to ask questions about the other half ghost," Megumi said coolly, frowning at Vlad.
"Have you?" Vlad asked, clearly annoyed. "Well, I'm afraid that my memory on that particular subject draws up short… and don't try any of you inventions on me, I am far less of a simpleton then those whom I employ."
"Be that as it may," Megumi reminded the man, "You are not infallible. You capture alone should prove that," Vlad scowled at her.
"You shouldn't try to capture him," Vlad said shortly, "Unlike me, Daniel is too young to know of you, and Maddie would never allow her children to learn of such a despicable clan. He will fight back, even if it is a fight that kills him, and you will lose what you most seek in this world,"
"I seek nothing but peace," Megumi said harshly, "Unfortunately, I am as chained to this place as you are. Perhaps even more so…"
"Oh?" Vlad asked, sounding curious.
"But that is unimportant now," Megumi sighed, "Now, all that I care about is the lives that are most in danger from my brother's plotting. Especially that of young Danny Phantom."
"Why do you care?" Vlad snorted.
"Why do you?" Megumi shot back, raising an eyebrow. Vlad's mouth curled into a cruel smile.
"He is powerful," The elder half ghost answered, "Even a blind fool could see that instantly. Smart, too… creative as I'm sure you've come to find, which is always an important trait in any fighter or scientist… Highly keen when he's been motivated enough… Resilient as well, with all the fighting he does…" Vlad chuckled dryly, "He is, in all senses of the term, a perfect disciple. The son I never had…"
"That is you reason?" Megumi asked, sounding surprised. Vlad's smile darkened.
"It's all I need," He drolled out, bemused.
"Now, let's see, what should I wear…" Paulina hummed thoughtfully to herself as she studied the wardrobe she'd laid out on her bed. "Hmmm… well, maybe the black sleeveless turtleneck since he seems to have a thing for Goth chicks… the dark blue jeans because they really show off the shape of my legs… oh! And these new high-heeled black boots!" On the other side of the room, Star groaned loudly and rubbed her temples.
"Paulina," She said irritably, "We've been through twelve different outfits by now. I really don't see why it's so important that you have the perfect outfit for Tuesday…"
"Well it is, okay?" Paulina snapped back, holding the top against her chest, "Anyways, did you talk to Jordan in Newspaper like you said you would?"
"Of course," Star answered, "The article comes out on the newspaper this Monday, as usual. Mrs. Ishiyama didn't like it, but we managed to pull some strings and get it in,"
"Naturally," Paulina smirked.
"I still don't see why it's so important to get an article on Raven from the Teen Titans in our school newspaper," Star said, frowning curiously at Paulina, "I mean, what's the big deal? Unless it has something to do with the trip to Jump City…"
"It doesn't" Paulina told her absently as she held a red micro skirt to herself, studying her reflection carefully. "But there is a point, don't worry about that,"
"Then what is it?" Star pressed.
"That," Paulina answered, "is for me to know." She smirked at her reflection.
'This is perfect,' She thought smugly to herself, 'I get to take my revenge on a loser and get closer with the guy of my dreams! Now I just need to do something about Valerie so she doesn't interfere…'
"Hey, Star?" Paulina started innocently, "You're on the acting committee, right?"
"Uh-huh," Star nodded, "I'm the president of the drama club, too. So?"
"Aren't you guys putting on a play soon?" Paulina asked.
"Yeah." Star nodded, "It's an original, too. Some kid here wrote it up for us… It's about a girl who goes into the land of the dead to save her brother after he's been kidnapped by an evil ghost because of something she did, and ends up falling in love with a different ghost while she's there." Paulina grinned widely at that.
"Perfect!" she sang out, smirking, "I need you to do me one little favor…"
BLACKBIRD
Chapter 15; Everything to Lose
"10 AM; lectures on safety procedures in ghost hunting from the Dassltons." Jazz read off the list that she and the other kids at their table had been given after they finished eating (Ghost-shaped pancakes with glowing green eggs not even Danny was brave enough to touch…)
"10:30 AM; Make defensive ecto-based weaponry with Jack Fenton," Danny continued, sighing heavily, "So that's what all the blueprints were for…"
"11 AM; Martial Arts lessons with Maddie Fenton?" Valerie glanced curiously at Danny, "You never told me your mom knew how to fight!"
"She's a ninth degree black belt," Danny admitted. Valerie grinned, suddenly eager to get to that particular lesson and test herself against Maddie Fenton.
"Noon; Break for lunch," Katie read off next.
"Your Mom and Dad are making it," Nene told Danny, "They mentioned something about using ecto-energies to cook…"
Danny and Jazz shared uneasy looks at that.
"1 PM; testing out ongoing experiments," Nathan sighed and made a face, "Greeeat…"
"2 PM; Tour the ghost hunter's vehicles," Raven read off, "Back to the GAV, then?"
"Unfortunately…" Jazz made a face.
"2:30 PM; go over ways to identify a ghost," Valerie read off, "I'm pretty sure we've already got that covered, everything considered."
"Speak for yourself," Nene sighed, "You guys are so lucky! I've never seen a ghost before…" Once again, Valerie, Danny and Jazz all exchanged looks.
"3 PM; Myth versus Fact; studying the science and folklore of ghosts," Jazz read off, looking surprised. "Hey, that actually sounds kind of interesting…"
"4 PM; more ecto-weaponry," Danny read off next. "Offensive, this time."
"Really?" Valerie asked, trying not to sound interested. Jazz's lips thinned a little at that.
"5:30 PM; Dinner," Katie smiled at Danny, "You know, I bet having dinner alone in the forest would be nice…" Valerie glared at the girl, forcing a cold smile.
"Too bad we're not allowed off on our own, huh?" She asked in a falsely sweet voice. Katie glared at her.
"6 PM; Ghost Hunting in the forest," Nathan sighed at that, "I knew that one would come up somewhere…"
"Then we come back at 9 for a free hour of talking amongst ourselves before lights out," Jazz groaned, "Then we do it all over again tomorrow…" Danny laughed.
"Come on, Jazz," he said, amusement clear in his voice, "I mean, it could be worse, right?"
"Worse then MOM'S COOKING?" Jazz asked pointedly, glaring at her little brother. Danny winced at that one.
"Okay, good point…" He said with a wry smile.
"Okay, kids!" Mary-Ann sang as she came into the cabin, "Everyone ready to start off this fun-filled day of activities!"
"Do we have to…?" Raven asked warily.
"Unless you'd rather help out with some experiments the Johnson couple are working on," Mary-Ann said, sounding bemused. "I think they said something about their last test simulation dummy being burned from the inside out, and since the GHS forbids animal testing, they need a live test subject…" All the kids went a sickly green color at that.
"Was it slow and painful or quick and easy?" Jazz asked, clearly serious.
"Actually, I need to go back to the tent for a while," Danny said, grinning sheepishly at his parents, "I've got an assignment in my History class that's due Tuesday. It's almost done, but I'll probably need about a half hour to finish it off."
"Oh?" Maddie said, looking faintly surprised, "Well, I suppose that's alright. We've drilled the safety procedures for ghost-based weaponry and pretty much everything else into your head since you were born, after all. Especially after the accident…"
'Oh no…' Danny thought, mentally groaning as Jazz visibly paled.
"Accident?" Valerie repeated, sounding concerned, "You never told me about any accident!"
"It was before Danny met you, sweetie," Maddie said absently, "Just before Danny started high school actually. He, Sam and Tucker were all playing around in the lab and Danny got shocked by the Fenton Portal. That's what got it operational, though Danny was acting strangely after that for the longest time."
"He was electrocuted, Mom!" Jazz snapped defensively, "And everything considered, he's lucky he doesn't have three heads after that!"
"She's right, Maddie," Giovanni chuckled, "Haven't you got a lock or something?"
"Tried it," Maddie said grimly, "Doesn't work. Honestly, those kids spend more time in the lab then we do…"
"MOM!" Jazz yelled, glowering at her mother.
"Look, that doesn't matter now," Danny said, shooting Jazz a warning look that had Raven raising an eyebrow. "Anyways, think Jazz can help me? She's better at this stuff then I am…"
"Of course, sweetie," Maddie beamed, obviously proud of how well her children got along with one another. "Just make sure you're back here for you're father's presentation."
"We will!" Jazz promised quickly, eager for the chance tom escape as she grabbed her brother's arm and pulled him out the door, "See you there!" Raven shook her head as she watched them go.
"Don't you think they're acting a little weird?" She asked Valerie, who shrugged in reply.
"What, you haven't noticed yet?" She asked absently, "There's no such thing as 'normal' in the Fenton family." Valerie chuckled to herself, "But that's part of what makes them so much fun to be around…"
"You want to look up the Haunters?" Jazz repeated, blinking as her brother started tapping words out on her laptop. (He'd left his at home by accident.)
"It's just been bugging me…" Danny sighed, "I mean, the ghosts mention them, then Vlad, and now they're even got Mom and Dad worried? I've never seen Dad look so serious, Jazz!"
"Well couldn't you have waited until we came back to the tent tonight?" Jazz asked irritably, "you shouldn't lie to Mom and Dad like that, Danny!"
"Hey, you're more then welcome to go back to the safety lecture if you want," Danny said with a pointed look. Jazz blanched.
"W-Wait a second, let's not be hasty here!" She said quickly, "I never said it was unwanted, just wrong." Danny shook his head, grinning.
"You're hopeless, Jazz," he told his sister wryly, brightening as the computer chirped loudly. "Hey, I found something!"
"Really? Lemme see," Ignoring her brother's cry of protest, Jazz wretched the computer away, clicking on the link her brother had found to open a new window. "Hey, you're right!"
"No duh…" Danny said dryly, rolling his eyes. Ignoring Danny, Jazz began to read the information on the site.
"Founded in 1983 by Dr. Benjamin Pratt, the Haunters were a group of extremist ghost hunters who invented most of the workable technology in the field of paranormal studies today," Jazz started, "Despite these advances, the Haunters were thrown from the Ghost Hunter Society in 1989 thanks to unethical behaviors on the part of Dr. Pratt and his staff."
"Unethical Behavior?" Danny repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"It doesn't elaborate on that…" Jazz frowned, "weird…"
"I'll say," Danny shook his head, "And it'd have to be pretty bad, too, if the GHS is letting mom and Dad get away with half the things they're planning on doing to the ghosts they catch,"
"The Haunters continued their work in the shadows until a tragic accident in the lab they were working in killed Dr. Pratt, along with three of his assistants and Fiona Pratt, his wife of five years, in 1993." Jazz read on as if Danny hadn't spoken, "With the loss of their brilliant leader, the Haunters were forced to disband by the GHS. Most of the group's workings remain a mystery even today, as so many of the employees of the Haunters either committed suicide after the disbanding or disappeared altogether." Danny gave a low whistle at that.
"Creepy…" He muttered, shaking his head. "Does it say anything else?"
"Just that Dr. Pratt's body is buried in a tomb on the Ghost Hunter Society headquarters along with special talismans to keep his spirit trapped so he doesn't become a ghost," Jazz shrugged as she shut her laptop. Danny frowned.
"Weird…" He muttered, "I mean, a tomb with talismans? Why go so far for just this one ghost hunter? What was he trying to do what freaked out all the ghost and even other ghost hunters so much?"
"We'll find out more once we get home," Jazz promised her brother, "Tucker will probably be able to get everything we need in a heartbeat."
"Yeah…" Danny sighed, reaching for his backpack, "I'll call him now. That way he'll have what we need before lights out tonight,"
"Isn't he supposed to be on a date with Melissa?" Jazz asked suspiciously. Danny rolled his eyes.
"This is important, Jazz!" He said, clearly annoyed with her reluctance, "I mean, what if these guys…" Jazz blinked when her brother trailed off, gaping into his bag.
"Danny?" Jazz asked, worry working it's way into her tone. When Danny didn't respond, she leaned around him to look into his backpack at what he was staring at.
And found a red eyed puppy with green fur blinking back.
'What on earth?'
WoM- What, you didn't think that was it for Cujo, didja? 'sweat drops' I honestly didn't mean to cut it off there though. Sorry! At any rate, I promise you that next chapter will be up on time! Cross my heart, people!
Thanks to;
Ohka Breynekai, littlekittykat, Horselvr4evr123, kingdomhearts222, Missmeliss4251, phantomshadowdragon, epobbp, Moss Royal, Seeker Carter, enigmatic penguin, Light Dragon SunsSong, Firefury, AirGirl Phantom, Black Mage758, Ghost Writer's Assistant, Shiva the Sarcastic, Samantha-Girl Scout, Ebony Phantom, The Unknown Alias, BratCat, conan98002, Darth Frodo, Rob Phantom, Fading Background, midnightgoth9, shojobutterfly, Boxghost228, Firehedgehog, Shadowkeeper13, Invader Johnny, WolfDaughter, kinguofdoragons, spirit1s, Lumias, Krystal, The Great Susinko, Zuzanny, JPElles, dante hunter, Pterodactyl, kdm13, Giff
Next update; March 11th
See you then!