Danny didn't take long to get back home and slip past his parents who were trying to figure out what happened to the Phanto-Sensor as he headed to his room and started up his computer, opening the ghost files and selected Kitty, Johnny, and Ember in the files, looking into them to figure out what even occurred.
He didn't quite understand how it was possible for them to be turned into halfas, but they didn't seem to have been using any energy to be in human forms, it wasn't like overshadowing too, as Danny was able to tell right off the bat when Kitty does it when he got a handle on it. No, this was a different turn in events that he needed feedback, so he was going to regret it, but he had a pair of experts to turn to, dispute their own failings, they were very experienced hunters in the practice and most of their gear was capable of working very worthwhile as he shut off the computer and headed down, the Phanto-Sensor beeping here and there, but it was still dead as Jack tampered with it while Maddie read over the data feedback to see what went wrong. "Hey, is the Phanto-Sensor a permanent guest on the table or can it be moved for a bit?"
"Just a moment, Danny boy, I just need to fix the ecto-plasmic reactor coil, it just jumped out without a single reason." Maddie shook her head as Jack just worked to get it back together, clearly it was going to take a while, but he was not there exactly for a meal, he wanted to talk. "So, what's on your mind, lad?"
"Yes, why the ask, sweetie, do you have anything you want to talk about?"
"Uh, yeah, something that was on my mind for a bit recently." Danny rolled the thoughts in his head before asking. "I know this sounds slightly crazy, but have either of you heard of 'halfas'." The work stopped short and both looked up before Jack laughed aloud.
"Oh, Danny, you're so silly, halfas are myths, no such thing as a halfa." Danny's heart dropped before Maddie spoke, wearing a smile as she spoke.
"Now, Jack, it is a reasonable question, one I would also like to have answered to the best of our ability, you just keep working and make sure that the sensor fins are properly aligned the right way." Danny was lead out while Jack just murmured to himself on the device which involved some phrases of fudge or a bowl of it as the two sat down in the living room and the matronly member spoke again. "Now, Daniel, your father's words were not correct, but Halfas or, how I prefer to call them in my spare time, Demis are very rare, they are either ghosts that have acquired a unique human genome to stabilize their form between ghost and human or a human who undergone a lethal amount of some source of ectoplasmic energy, but they are impossible to discover as they can blend in with ease, both as a secret and to hide among others and keep a low profile." Maddie simply shook her head as she explained it. "However, I cannot acknowledge those same words and details as both ethics and beliefs places them in the ratio of impossible, one could try to clone a demi, but that would be impossible as mixing both ghost and human DNA is impossible without some form of ground to stabilize on." Danny nodded as he recalled the event with Dani, his clone that Vlad used to get him, she was fine at first, but started to dissolve within a short time, saved at the last moment by him and an ally. His mother continued. "Demis are averaged to be nearly as strong as full ghosts with the potential of becoming much more stronger, but like I said, they are impossible to even spot, let alone track, like a certain Phantom we have dealt with in the past." Danny nodded at his ghost persona, it was no secret that Danny Phantom was quite the cause of trouble for both the Fentons and the townsfolk at times, but his own self and trust often lead him to defend Amity, despite the threat of 'vaporization' by blasters and cannons. She then dropped a big bomb on him as she continued, reaching to a sachet that was set before them, why didn't he notice it as she spoke. "In truth, I wanted to get Phantom for a while now, but... in my own zealous nature, I realized something about the Fenton Portal, the switch is located in the system itself."
Danny didn't need to speak as his mom was spot on about what the flaw was, they didn't engineer the Ghost Portal to active outside the machine, it was installed inside and, in his own curiosity, he activated it and turned himself into the hero or anti-hero that everyone knew. "So, uh..." Maddie didn't glare or glance with anger at the fact that her son was Phantom, but a sense of remorse, of sorrow as she put the papers down and drew Danny into a hug.
"Oh, Danny, I understand your secret, I just wish you could have told me yourself than me finding out through a system flaw... and some hints dropped here and there."
"It was... tough to say, I mean..." He slightly pushed his mom back and continued. "How would you react to the fact that Danny Phantom or 'Ghost Kid' was actually Danny Fenton, your son, I think that's why I kept my secret with my friends and Jazz, since she actually figured it out a lot faster than I had guessed, I was afraid." Maddie nodded as Danny continued. "About the question itself, something crazy is happening, I just recently ran into Ember, Kitty, and Johnny 13." Maddie thought before she spoke.
"I know about Ember and Kitty, though I called them Flare and Rogue, I don't remember Johnny too much."
"Johnny was the pale biker, the guy hitting on Jazz?" Maddie nodded on the individual. "Kitty and Johnny are troublemakers, not truly dangerous, but Ember did try a crazy 'control the world through music' thing, so she is possibly..." He shook his head and held out his hands as he explained. "But the real reason is that I found them in the mall, they were in human forms and told me that they were halfas or Demis now, someone had done something and created them those forms."
"Do you think that it is truly a threat, Daniel?"
"I don't know, I met Ember at the water park and she didn't do anything hostile, so I am actually trying to figure it out, who is their 'client' and why am I hearing about him now?" Maddie nodded as she returned.
"Well, I wish you the best and I won't tell this to Jack, he is going to be dense about it, so it is best that we keep it among us for the time being, also, if you somehow capture one of them if they act up, bring them to... Jazz." Danny raised a brow and Maddie shrugged. "Was going to say me, but I am more about to splice and examining the remains of a ghosts, not getting any information from them." Danny nodded as he stood and, kissed Maddie on the head, and headed upstairs to his room, starting the computer again to figure it out.
Sam was on her way to search out any trace of this 'figure' that had appeared in the Zoo, the connection to both them and the pair in the water park had a strange connection, one that she wanted to find out as she handled a Fenton pistol for self-defense. She reported to the Zoo to see what even happened there as initial checks had nothing, unwise to check on her own, but she had to do it for easier chance to find something. She soon arrived to the site and looked about in confuse behavior, no real damage that could be told except the number of impacts of rockets that must have been from Shulker, but something else was not in place as the animals seemed... agitated. She continued the look about before she heard... the whispers, her heart stopping as a menacing tone called out to her. "Daughter of the Plants, yield to your birthright and purge the violators from the land, the tree and grass, the vine and branch are your true friends and allies." Same quickly looked about in panic as the voice of Undergrowth was coming from everywhere, but she just wished it was just one place and not in her head. "You are impure and must breathe in the power once more, your power as my avatar will destroy them all, now yield to me..."
"N-N-No...!" She continued in fear as it bubbled up and felt Undergrowth's influence somehow touching her and she wanted to be left alone before a strum filled her ear and flames encircled her as the power fled from it as a voice spoke up.
"She is not your tool anymore, Plants, get out of her mind before I take a personal hand into it and burn that weed of your existence." Sam whipped around to the girl that she spotted at the water park before white rings encircled her and her whole appearance changed, blazing blue hair and a mix of black and white gear on her as a guitar, modified greatly into a dangerous mix of powers, stepped forward with a small smirk before Undergrowth roared as he surged in front of the pair.
"Ember, you dare to fight my power, I am stronger than you!"
"Not this time, Plants..." Ember frowned as her finger strummed their tone and the flames surged toward before they started to form a large bruiser of burning glory as she was lifted up and stood on the being's shoulder as she continued as Sam gasped to the bruiser's grip on her as well. "She is under my protection and under my boss's interests, so beat it, you shrubbery!" Undergrowth roared and surged, but Ember proved to be the stronger all the sudden as one punch of her construct sent the towering monster scrambling back as the fires scorched the foliage and Undergrowth sneered as he roared, but no matter what he tried, Ember was the better as she spared no mercy for the specter, giving him a hard time before a vine whipped lashed the arm that was holding Sam, but before Undergrowth could grab her, something else zapped past and Sam opened her eyes to find herself flying as another voice spoke.
"Hey, Sammy!" Manson looked to her rescuer to find Kitty with a smile. "Don't think that getting some alone time with Growth is going to do anything for those brooding eyes."
"What is even going on right now!?"
"You'd be surprised, all I know is that the boss wanted to see you for a bit." Sam grimaced to the sound as she watched the battle continued, Ember not even tiring out as she was expected to as she beat back Growth, despite the amount of greenery and plants close by as he quickly fled for the time being, though it was expected that he was soon captured as Sam was placed back on the ground as Kitty and Ember bumped fists with smiles as Kitty explained with crossed arms, the smile not leaving. "Now, I know this is going to sound crazy, but we are..."
"Demis…" Both looked at each other before Sam continued with surprise. "Isn't that what human-ghost hybrids are actually called?"
Ember hummed with a smirk. "That actually sounds a lot more tougher than Halfas, but that can be discussed later." Ember cleared her throat as she spoke. "Our current boss wanted to talk to you for a bit about Phantom." Sam drew back in concern, what did this new figure want from Danny as the rev of an engine roared through the air and soon, a motorcycle cut into the Zoo before skidding to a halt before the pair and Sam was astonished by the new Johnny 13 as he towered over the party as he grinned to Kitty and lifted her up, but the figure out of place was the one cloaked as they pulled themselves off the backseat and stood quiet as Ember spoke with the same smirk. "This is Doc, our boss." Before Sam could say something, the figure flicked out a wrist and, with the motion, sheets of papers appeared in its hand before it spoke.
"Samantha Manson..." Doc hummed as he spoke. "Your history is quite interesting, ranging from being controlled by a spirit of nature, being the bride of a dragon prince, and involving yourself with the lower-class folk, but more importantly..." The file closed as it disappeared like it was never there. "You are aware of WHO Phantom actually is." This caught all by surprise, but Doc didn't yield as he flew over within seconds, staring into her soul with blue goggles. "Now, will we do this my way or your way...?" Sam staggered back before she steadied herself and frowned her brow as she growled back.
"You are not getting anything out of me."
"...Is that a challenge, Manson?" Sam didn't know why she was fighting this figure, but clearly, she was going over the line as this being had Ember, Kitty, and Johnny's attention.
"I am ready to best you the way I do, you are not going to bring me down so easily." Her hand slowly reached for the pistol and Doc could tell, but quickly jumped back as Danny Phantom arrived and got into stance as he spoke.
"Are you okay!?" Sam wanted to yell in thanks, but decided to just acknowledge the save as she pulled out the pistol.
"I'm okay!" Danny turned back to the figure as a grin graced his face.
"Phantom, such a hard target to locate, but finally reward and luck favors my interests."
"You are not getting what you are after!" The smile disappeared as the voice spoke again, this time to the ghosts.
"Fight to your heart's contents, I just need a breathing body, the goth one is also up to your own desires." Ember smiled as Kitty and Johnny nodded in solemn tone.
"Now, the party's just getting started!" Doc disappeared as Ember rushed for Danny and bashed him upward before flying for him, his block not enough as the Rockstar took chase as Same was let to the pair as Johnny spoke with his hands cracking.
"You want the first round?"
"Oh, you know it, babe." Kitty chuckled as she raised a hand and Sam backed as electricity started to spark in her hand. "Now, Sammy and I have some girl time to catch up with." Sam swallowed as she dodged the first blast and grimaced the damage as she wished Danny luck as the pistol finished its warmup and she took to fighting at a distance...
Danny shrugged off the blow, but it was hard as Ember came and swung, Danny catching it in time as he held the grip tight before blasting it back with ectoblasts, it not shutting her down as she sling the weapon around in the cartwheel and created fire into her palms before blasting them toward Danny, he countering as ice battled flame with vapors bellowing out in the clash, Danny feeling his strength fading as Ember attempted to overpower him, but he was saved as a blast slammed into Ember and a familiar ghost hunter appeared with cannon on her shoulder.
"Having trouble with your girlfriend, Phantom?"
"Not exactly, Gray..." Danny pulled himself together as he spoke. "Ember is using a new power, I have never faced something... like me or like Vlad."
"You mean that she's..." Gray's eyes were wide as Danny continued.
"It feels like she is a halfa and her powers have doubled to higher limits." Ember flew back up and waved a hand in please and taunt. "We have to work together if we are to beat her."
"You do it your way and I'll do it my way." Before Danny could say anything, Valerie whizzed through, dodging the blasts as they came, but she was unprepared as Ember whipped out the guitar and blasted a series of fists toward her, the close proximity nearly ending Val as she was knocked off, her board saving her as she rode back up, Ember not distracted as she blocked Danny's flurry of punches and kicks with a deflect of her guitar, slamming him into a building as she started with a good-natured smile.
"You don't have to make this tough, Danny, you play our books and you will be fine, besides if Gray wants to fight with Technus's gear, then I am more than willing to knock her a few knots."
"Sorry... if I don't sound... pleased with that, he doesn't threaten... Sam..." With that he blasted, Ember back as he continued the banter. "And I don't know what he is up to, so I am going to have to shut him down fast."
"Sad... but you have your choices, I have my own." Ember started to strum once more before Val called.
"Hey!" Both looked and grimaced as the whole person became a gun platform. "Rock on this!" A massive blast collided into Ember and she was sent crashing into the ground as Val huffed as the suit disappeared and she started to fall, Danny catching her in time as she panted, clearly feeling the pain from the recoil and the beating. "How... was that, Phantom?"
"You will be okay... right?"
"Yeah, just pulled too much somehow." She choked a bit as she pulled herself up and hissed as the right arm felt a bit pulled. "My arm is going to be okay, I think I just knocked it out a bit, it should be fine with some rest and cast."
"Okay, get home and I will deal with Ember." Val nodded as she took off, Danny flying over to see that she was out cold, white rings circling her to prove that she was not lying, his arms carefully lifting her up before he headed for Sam, hoping that she was still okay...
She was lucky as she handplanted and flipped back, glad for both the exercise and training that she took, just in cause of ghost attacks, but she was in bad as the pistol laid sparking and her left shoulder caught a brief touch of Kitty's newfound power. "Come on, we don't have to do this anymore, just tell the boss what you know and we will be fine."
"Not yet... Kitty, I am not giving up... that easily."
"Oh well, I tried..." She generated a large orb, but a yell caught both of the ghosts' attention.
"Hey!" Danny came in, multiplying himself before the doubles started to fight both Johnny and Kitty in a stalling while the real one picked up Sam and ferried both of them to Fenton Works, depowering as they stood before the house and Sam, getting off, knocked on the door and it opened to Maddie, wide-eyed as she motioned them in before closing the door softly and they sneaking past as she started in the lab.
"What happened, why is Sam hurt?"
"My fault, Ms. Fenton..." Sam started as Maddie took the time to bandage the injury up while Danny put Ember in a side room that Maddie had made for the occasion that her son was caught, now glad to still have a use for it at least. "I went looking for something that was out of place and I got caught up with some..." Maddie nodded as she finished and the trio looked to Ember before Danny spoke with crossed arms.
"It doesn't make sense, why is she able to do it and who the heck was the cloaked figure?" Sam spoke next as she stated her opinion.
"From the sound of it, that guy was their new boss, but he didn't seem too... controlling about it, he even just let them do what they want, though if it wasn't for them, I am sure that Undergrowth would have tempted me over again."
"Regardless of that..." Maddie said as she rested a hand on both teens' shoulders. "I can start running DNA tests to see what is currently going on while Jazz can be brought down here to see talking to Ember, is that okay?" Both nodded and Sam headed for the kitchen before Maddie asked. "Sam doesn't know that I know, does she?" Danny rubbed the back of his neck before he replied.
"I was in a rush, I battled with Ember and I had so much going on, that telling her about you finding out slipped my mind, sorry." Maddie nodded with a smile as Danny turned back to Ember. "Still, I don't want to think of what Dad will do if he sees her in here."
"I did deactivate the system so that you can get in and out easily, we still haven't booted it back up." Maddie lightly smiled with a mischief spark in her eye. "And Jack doesn't need to know the full story, just that we have some interesting tests to run on blood samples." She then pulled out a needle and Danny drew back as she explained. "It's okay, I don't mean to bring this up, but if I had some of your genetic code, I could easily tell which one of the fighting ghosts is you and develop methods to help you out further in the field, sure does sound like I am using your condition as a test subject, but you are my son, I want to keep you safe as long as I can." Danny paused before he sighed, a light grin spreading across his face.
"Sure, let's try." She nodded as he took a seat in a reserved chair and breathed as Maddie carefully extracted some blood from Danny and offered some juice, he accepting it as she finished and nodded before bandaging it up as well with a sigh of relief. "Thanks, I know that this is still a lot to take in..."
"Yes, well..." Maddie smirked as she replied. "Where's the challenge if it wasn't fun to start with, now get moving and I will help out as best as I can." Danny nodded as Maddie waited in the lab before her smile dropped a bit before she started to run the tests, it was not going to be easy, but she would be struck down by lightning if she would let her baby get hurt and she having no way to help him to the best of her abilities and the next one would be Ember, the red goggles turning to the rock star with a nod as she finished and walked over. "Okay, Ember, time to see what you have got pumping in your veins..."