Chapter Four - Rolling in the deep
MIDNIGHT
The Ghost Council had been assembled, and all of them wore looks of apprehension and worry. This Council had been created before crowning Danny but after disbanding the Observants, who immediately sided with Plasmius after their defeat. The goal of this assembly was fair and just rule of the Ghost Zone which according to prophecy, Danny would be able to provide unfortunately they had to wait a bit but that didn't mean they couldn't train him and work him up to that. The Council consisted of Danny's top allies, mainly powerful ghosts who controlled key spots in the Ghost Zone like Princess Dorathea, Clockwork plus Frostbite yet a few homies were allowed in Sam, Tucker, Jazz yet Valerie had to keep her trips to the GZ minimal for risk of getting caught. This was Danny's main squad and right now they were all in upheaval over the Badlands situation, INCLUDING Dan.
"All right, the Council is now called to order. " Declared Clockwork. "Meeting 305, Subject: The Badlands." Danny sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose at that as he slumped in his seat— the head seat of course.
"Anyone have anything to say? " He asked in exasperation, and to his claim Dora stood up. He smiled softly at this ever since the Bridal Incident with Sam and her evil brother, the Draconian princess had gotten bolder and brave even her anxiety was gone.
"My Prince, the Rogues may have gained access to Ghost Ruby but my realm is rich in Ghost Emerald.
"What the Scapp Deleon?! " He exclaimed in surprise and mild anger. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?! "
"Great One, the veins were just recently discovered." Countered Frostbite but then he became a bit meek. "And also~~ My realm is rich in certain resources needed for our cause as well..."
"Why the fuckfire didn't you tell anyone till now?! " Dan demanded.
"The veins were just RECENTLY DISCOVERED, Dan. " Danny defended of them. "It's not like you guys can just call me or text me when you make big discoveries like this. Yet that is actually a good idea, note to self: tell Tucker buy all of you cell phones and modify them into Fenton-Phones." Dan shrugged but admitted it was a genius idea unto himself if he did say so his younger self.
"Do you have any ideas, Your Highness on how we should deal with this situation though? " Nocturne asked, he was truly shy when he was around Danny for him to be outright and so forward meant he had an idea.
"Let's hear your idea first before I tell mine..."
"Fine. " Nocturne stood and brushed his galaxy body off and then flung a 3D image of the Badlands up into the air, certain areas highlighted in red. "THESE! Are the main Ghost Ruby mines plus all surrounding veins. Now Ghost Emerald steals power but doesn't give unless stressed in extreme circumstances. If we can~!"
"Ghostly Shockwave . " Danny whispered to himself, Clockwork could only smile as he saw the gears churn in the young ruler's head as to how this could work but backfire on them. There were a few flame cores on his side, who ultimately would need the substance to function in combat. Maybe he could let Johnny and Kitty lead a raid to steal a decent enough amount then use Nocturne's plan or~!
"A shadow near or bad luck afar, Johnny Thirteen I know where you are. " At his rhyme a certain biker ghost showed up with his lady in tow.
"Sup, Your Highness? "
"Hey y'all? " Johnny 13 and Kitty, the pettiest but most efficient thieves in all the Ghost Zone. The two were decked in rebel garb like they had just come from a Mad Max movie set. Clockwork, Dora and Frostbite glared at the two, they were flippant in their speech as well as their actions and addressed Danny like he was just some random friend and not a powerful future king, THE NERVE!
"You two up for a 'Steal and Destroy' mission?"
FAST-FORWARD BACK ON EARTH - 9 AM, THORSDAY
Just another peaceful morning... In a weird ass town, you didn't know existed till like three days ago! And what better way to be woken up while in this strange new place in the middle of no where than by... Tremors. Ah, yes! Small pre-shocks to the expectations of bigger problems, Hawkeye glared at the bedside digital clock with contempt and confusion. They were in the middle of the US, rain- yes, crime- pfft, fair game but... Tremors? His naturally enhanced senses could feel the slight shakes and he could see the tiny micro vibrations that struck the room as his nightstand shook ever so slightly... He huffed.
"You feel em too, huh? " Clint rolled over only to find Romanoff getting her clothes ready for the day.
"Yeah. " He groaned.
"I don't know about you but they were my cue to get up. " She retorted. "Besides we have a date with the Fenton's today, " She was going to hightail it to the shower but a strong surge of guilt washed over her when she passed his side to head for the bathroom. "And~ I'm sorry for what happened in the car yesterday..."
"..." It was a minute but Clint sighed and sat up, he rubbed his face with both hands. "You don't have to apologize for defending yourself. I just ~... Want you to be careful is all. Especially now... "
"I thank you for your concern then. " Natasha replied. "But for right now, I'm taking a shower. " Clint smiled but then his grimace returned as he thought back to the tremors. What the hell could be causing that type of anomaly in a town above sea level? But he had to admit, only three days in to this weird town and they had seen enough to make SHIELD cringe and Fury quake with fear (possibly) on the inside. His mind then went back on their first day there, they were nearly crushed by a vampire, if his projector had been a least another 10 or so degrees in their direction. When it came down to it, they were gonna end up fighting someway somehow and were going to need backup as well... Plus some upgrades. He pulled out his phone and called the one person he dreaded to ask for help...
"Lord of all things Technical and Beauty, Tony Stark speaking how may I NOT help you this fine day?"
"Cut the crap, Stark. I know you installed a tracker in my bow. "
"I did no such thing~!" Tony whined in flippant innocence. "But anyway, what do you want? And it better be good because based on the so-called tracker, You two are in Snoozeville, USA. "
"Correction, we're in the Ghost Capital of America and it~... Certainly lives up to the name. " Clint replied while watching the faintest hints of the tremors pass through.
"What? Seen the headless horseman or something?"
"No, worse. " Clint teased. "I saw a vampire. "
"I-I'm sorry! Come again? "
"I saw a vampire, Stark. First day here actually. "
"..." On the other end of the phone, Tony had literally dropped his jaw and half a good chunk of turkey sandwich fell out as his mind went racing at two hundred miles per minute in a blind series of thoughts. He knew Fury had sent them on a wild goose chase but didn't expect them to get anything of it, let alone this.
"I'm sorry, but did I just shut up 9.6 billion dollars worth of sass? "
"I'm coming in. " Stark claimed. "I want to see the weirdness... Because A) vampires don't exist and B) I wanna meet the Fenton's."
"How'd you~! Never mind, I actually was gonna invite you to join us out here anyway. " Clint mused. "But if you bring anybody do not bring Banner, or Thor. I have a feeling the inhuman we're here to find is just gonna piss em off since they can't directly hit him. "
"GHOSTS?! We talking GHOSTS now?! Now I really got an excuse to come down there. "
"Please do. " At that the conversation ended but not before Clint picked the sounds of a certain super soldier in the background nagging at the eccentric genius about something like a true wifey.
Natasha finally exited the bathroom fully dressed in a blue short sleeve blouse with a white sweater and brown jeans with black boots. just as he had hung up the phone and the first question on her lips was answered before she got a chance to voice herself.
"Stark's on his way. " The assassiness took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. She knew that if Tony Stark was in the vicinity there was a chance he was either after tech or what had got them down here, or combination of both in the long run.
"Please tell me... " She began as the beginnings of a migraine etched its way into her head. "You DID NOT invite Stark down here." Clint cringed and put his arm up in a defensive stance but knew deep down he was about to get his ass kicked.
"Technically no..." Romanoff punched in the head. "OW! FUCK! In my defense he was plotting to come down here anyway! "
"You know that if Stark gets a hold of Phantom or Danny they are either going to tear him to pieces or he will get them exposed!" She ranted, her motherly instincts for the two teen inhumans was growing and she not going to let an egotistical asshole like Anthony Edward Stark get them hurt or worse with his damn mouth and ambitions. It took her back to her first conversation with Danny and how he expressed his fears of men like Stark and Masters. They had money and money bought power and said power could dither be used for good or evil, that comment he made about Masters further affirmed this notion. She wondered what the cutthroat mayor had done to her new~ FRIEND, in order for him to hate the billionaire's guts, along with that nagging instinct in the back of her stomach trying to put the pieces together between Fenton and Phantom, bonus... The tremors were still passing through.
"Come on, Nat! " Hawk whined. "How's Stark gonna bust this mission?! "
"It's Stark, Clint. " She countered. "Screwing shit up is his specialty!" Barton shrugged at that and got up and went to get dressed... Another valid point.
TWO HOURS EARLIER - GHOST ZONE
The Badlands, the worst area in the entire GZ, composed of vacant and treacherous islands and... The base of operations for one seriously crazed up warlord. Prisoners forced night and day to mine the horrendous terrain for Ecto Ruby, whipped on by Walker's police force. Things were looking up for the rebels who deemed themselves the Flames of Iniquity. Being it was mostly made of flame cores who proved to the worst of the worst: VLAD - their leader, Walker, Skulker, Spectra, Undergrowth, the EX - Observants, and Vortex. It was a miracle for Team Phantom that DAN Phantom hadn't sided with them (Thank God for cute Timelords). As of now said team was lying in wait outside the western side of the Badlands near the main mines. The plan was elaborate but worth its after effects, Johnny and Kitty slip in the night beforehand, planting seeds of rebellion and escape within the captured mainly the Far Frozen but others as well. Then part two of their infiltration was to lay out a sequence of Ecto Emeralds along with bombs to amplify the blasts to come. Danny meditated while waiting for the fighting to start, Dan sat beside him ITCHING to kill and unleash his long dormant savagery but more so wanting to show off for his dear antique. Danny smirked, to think he used to fear the demon only to find his greatest weakness was love. Dani chilled at his side but smirked at Dan as well knowing of his crush as well.
"Relax. " He chimed, his words caught Dan as the ghoul lazily glared at him.
"What do you know? " He replied a turquoise blush graced his cheeks, he even went as far as to scratch his neck. Danny chuckled, all to familiar with the nervous tick. Dani giggled and made kissey faces at the heathen.
"Everything..." Danny chimed with a soft smile. "You lik~ Scratch that, LOVE him don't you?" Dan gasped and his flamed hair flickered hotly as the blush spread luckily it was so dark on this end the enemy couldn't see the white flame.
"It's written all over your face, dude. " Teased Danielle. "You love Clocky."
"Shut up, shrimp."
"Dude, you scratched the back of your neck... " Danny replied. "Total tell in the Fenton family, even if your only half. "
"Come on just admit it. You'll feel better. "
"... I don't know when or how but~ I want him. Plus I'm afraid with all the red my ledger is dripping in... He'll never have me. "
"He's the Master of Time, he knows what you want... " Danny replied. "He's just waiting for you to tell him dead on. He likes to play games with others but demands directness from all around him... He'll come around and as a bonus... He likes sushi. " Dan nodded and smirked... The kid deserved his soon-to-be title, he was smart, intuitive, and knew just the right words to inspire others whether it be working war morale or giving... His evil older self the guts to admit his feelings for the Timelord. Danny sighed and opened his eyes they were glowing a calm yet powerful lime green. He adjusted his body and summoned his Arms, they all made the ZERO hand sign while Danny concentrated turning them into speakers.
"It's time... Johnny, Kitty... What's your ETA? "
"All the bombs are in place, I got shadows stealing Rubies like crazy sorry about that but we kinda running late and the slaves are ready to break this bitch."
"Let em have it, Babes! "
"Will do... Dan, Dani, Ember ready?" The Rock Duchess and his Evil half nodded while Dani have him a thumbs up. "Go. "
TWO WAILS, A SCREECH AND A BANGING GUITAR SOLO AND MANY. MANY. MANY. EXPLOSIONS ...
FAST-FORWARD - THREE HOURS LATER
Vlad Masters was pissed and worried not good, the man was storming to his mayoral office in a pure rage. Reason to his distress... He had underestimated his nephew and how truly ruthless the boy could be. In the course of a night his entire base in the GZ was gone, his generals were weakened, his slaves had escaped, and his most powerful resource had been reduced to dust, he may as well have been naked. Spectra had given him a report saying how the Far Frozen had broke their heat collars then went on a rampage then somehow it appeared that Daniel had gotten a series of explosives setup in the midst of the most vital areas of the Badlands and to make it all worse after the slaves had escaped and as his main generals retreated... Daniel, Danielle, Ember plus the Unknown one has unleashed a series of sound attacks that had pushed the Badlands to the farthest edges of the Ghost Zone. The boy had used his new power to act as an overpowered megaphone and from there the four had destroyed his base... He was ass out. He wanted to handle it asap but had some things to attend to starting with meeting two authors who had come down from New York. After this he'd be sure to corner that insipid little dankus and beat him into the ground... That is if he could, his morale was in the toilets at the moment.
He went into his office only to find a woman with red hair on his couch and a man with blonde hair sitting across from his desk.
"Vlad Masters? " She chimed as she stood up. "Hi, Rebecca Maxwell. " They shook hands only Vlad was literally drenched in a cold sweat, Rebecca looked to the man and saw the prominent cress in his brow, something was bothering him. He finally took in the woman's appearance while trying to reign his nerves in. She was beautiful and dressed for a casual date, blouse, pants, boots while her partner was dressed in casually but ready to talk business in a grey suit with a purple shirt only it was undone to look suave.
"Frank Dillon. " The man chimed as they shook hands in turn. After the pleasantries were out of the way, they all had a seat.
"Pleasure to meet you both, how can I help you? "
"We were wondering if you had any information or comments on the Ghost Activity of this town. " At this a flash of anger passed through the man's blue eyes and Rebecca was sure they had turned a twinge red at her statement. Frank knew red had passed through them, they had walked into something and that nice gut instinct was telling him, it was something bad.
"Any particular subject in that area or the activities in general?" Masters asked, he was already done with these people. They were too calm and reserved, he could sense they were here for something else but what? Did Daniel's little stunt being about some repercussions of some sort? Which brought about his next thought, if they were authors, where were their notepads and such?
"Whatever you have to say is fine. " Rebecca replied. Vlad took note of this dynamic, the author would gauge his responses while her cohort observed. He smiled softly despite his bad mood... Let the games begin.
"Mr. Dillon, I've heard you're the man to see when photography is needed. " Said photographer looked up from position on the couch with a look of skepticism. "Is this true? " The lame man glanced at his employer, who gave him a subtle nod.
"Yeah. " The two knew what Masters was up to, he was trying divide and conquer by denying them their strengths and truths while getting off topic. "Know where I can get some good ghost shots? " The tables had turned.
"The battles of~ !" His tongue burned saying this. "Danny Phantom never cease to amaze. "
"Which goes back to my question." Rebecca ganged. "Do you have anything to share on the ghost activity in this town? "
"What's there to share? " Vlad steamed. "They come in all shapes and sizes. Some come to feed on the fear and raw emotion of our teen populace or ENSLAVE everyone, others~ Have agendas. "
"What kind? " Chimed Frank.
"Obsessions or vendettas of sorts. " Vlad answered. "Like for example, a certain ghost called 'Ghost X', his obsession rest with Phantom."
"What do you mean?" Rebecca.
"He's OBSESSED with pinning the boy's PELT to his wall. " At this the temperature in the room got a bit... Hotter. Frank saw something that made him cringe a bit, he saw a spark of flame pour out Masters mouth while his boss was taking her sweater off. "And from the unnecessary damage that follows his battles, I'd love to join him in that endeavor..."
"You're not too big a fan of a 'Phan' are you? "
"Correct. " At this Vlad leaned back in his chair. "In fact I hate the irksome creature, he claims to be good but all he really does is bring destruction with a smile. Don't let him fool you, my dear. He's not so much a hot topic amongst the adults. "
"Mind clarifying that? " Frank chimed from the couch, and once again that tell-tale flame passed through those blue eyes in anger.
"What I mean is that the boy has had his bad streak despite a majority of the town loving him. " Masters supplied. "Phantom has stolen priceless gems, kidnapped the former mayor and the town is all around unsafe with his continued presence. " Two hundred likes and one dislike, at that the duo decided it was time to leave, they had what they needed...
"This has been quite a chat but otherwise..." Rebecca stood and so did Masters. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. "
"It was a pleasure. " He lied. The two then left... Vlad was tense with suspicion of the two, he couldn't help but feel as if they were here for Daniel's benefit someway somehow. He immediately picked up the phone and phoned...
"DALV Divas Inc., President Spectra speaking. How may I help you today? "
"Spectra! "
"Yes, Masters. "
"I need you to do something for me... "
BACK WITH CLINT AND WIDOW
The two covert agents could only strip and blast the AC once they were outside in their rented car. They sighed in relief as the cold air hit them like a repulsor blast of sweetness. They had no idea how but that vicious cutthroat mayor was making it a THOUSAND DEGREES up in that BITCH! The air was practically suffocating them with every word out his mouth, they were glad to get out that bedamned office. And that did it, they had stumbled upon a plethora of inhumans, two good who they knew SHIELD would treasure and covet like dolls while the other two were class five threats. Masters was not only rich but a class 3 or 4 inhuman with some sort of fire ability. The two agents looked to each and mused over the possibilities of all they had seen and endured for the past three days and the worst part... It wasn't over.
"Still up for hitting the Fenton's? " Clint asked while running a hand through his hair. Natasha glared at him, he was CLEARLY averting the main issue here.
"You know we gotta talk to Fury, right? "
"Before~? Or after we endure another crazy ass conversation about ghosts? "
Natasha shook her head and lightly fanned herself.
"We're almost done, Barton stop being such a damn baby. " She sighed out. "We gotta talk to those kids too now that you brought it up. "
"AWWWW~! COME ON ~!" Barton whined proving her point on the child comment.
"The kid is weird and strange and I've got bad history with people who fuck with other people's heads. " He shivered at that remembering a certain Asgardian Prince who tried to takeover the Earth a few years ago.
"I! Will be the one talking to HIM." Romanoff proclaimed. "You bother the Fenton's or~ scope out their tech or something. " At that the two sat outside City Hall for about a good minute or so~
"That would be your cue to drive. "
"Oh! "
