I do not own Danny Phantom
Part 3: To Preserve, Protect and Defend*
"What do you want?" the President began the negotiations.
"Protection, among other things," Danny said firmly.
"I thought you just said that you don't trust my guarantee,"
"My friends and I have taken certain precautions. Escape plans, contacts, Swiss bank accounts, false identities … oh, and let's not forget secret mail drops. If there are any sudden disappearances, the media will be informed," Danny spoke casually, but his heart was pounding.
"If you have all this in place, it seems as if you don't need my protection, Phantom."
"I'm not just talking about myself. I mean for my friends and family. I mean for the citizens of Amity Park and those that helped in Operation Spirit in Antarctica and afterward. I don't want them hassled by GIW or other government agencies, foreign or domestic."
"As Americans they are guaranteed certain civil rights,"
"I also want some protection for the ghosts."
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There was a pause, "I thought you fight against ghosts."
Danny corrected, "I'm not talking about individual ghosts, I mean the Ghost Zone as a whole. The GIW tried to launch a missile with the intent to destroy it.
"That was not authorized," the President said.
Danny didn't know if that was meant as a denial or an apology, "Then that's all the more reason to safeguard against something like that happening again. The GIW, consumed with fear of the unknown, didn't stop to think how catastrophic it would have been."
"The argument for a preemptive strike was compelling after repeated ghost invasions."
Danny grimaced, "Do you know why the ghosts agreed to help save us from the asteroid?"
"Because of you?"
"No. Most of them couldn't care less about me or the Human world. But our worlds are connected; if one world was destroyed the other would collapse too."
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"America has the right to defend its borders against hostile invaders," the President stated.
"Of course, that's why I catch ghosts and throw them back into the ghost zone," Danny agreed.
"But it is a job for the military or law enforcement, not vigilantes."
"They are not equipped to deal with visitors from another dimension," Danny explained.
"We are learning to deal with the threat," the edge in his voice clearly said he was irritated.
Even though the man couldn't see him, Danny waved his hand for emphasis, "Not very well. For starters, not all ghosts are evil you can't just fire away at some lost tourist."
"You must understand that we can't just allow destructive ghosts do what they want, endangering American citizens," he insisted.
"I capture them, and throw them back into the Ghost Zone, not destroy them," Danny explained with a bit less calm than he intended.
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You may be a hero and we are grateful for your sacrifices but that doesn't mean you can dictate American policy, not to mention for the rest of Human kind," the President's voice took on a dangerous edge.
"I'm not Vlad Plasmius," Danny said with frustration. "But just shooting anything you don't understand is not a policy: its madness!"
"So is letting violent and destructive ghost into the human world," the President countered.
Danny took a deep calming breath and tried again, "I don't think you realize what the Ghost Zone is. You've got the tiger by the tail, sir."
*This phrase comes from the Presidential oath of office.
AN: This story opened up a can of worms. It looks like there will be a few more parts.