CHAPTER LXXXIX
Agent X watched as the National Guardsmen rolled away in their massive transport vehicles. Tanks were loaded onto even larger transports and followed the human regiments. Fighter jets in the sky performed celebratory aerial acrobatics before heading off to their respective airfields.
It had been several days since the last of the bounty hunter invasion force was driven away from Amity Park. He hated to acknowledge it, but without Phantom and his ghost buddies, the occupation could have gone on a helluva lot longer and with more damage done than just property damage. Fight fire with fire never made sense to the man in a literal sense. The last thing his home state of California needed was the blazing infernos being fought with more fire. But in an abstract sense, it made perfect sense. The only thing known to man that could hurt ghosts were other ghosts. Laser technology was new and glitchy, having a forty-three-point-oh-two percent effectiveness rate. Even if it was ever perfected, it was expensive; almost ludicrously so. In contrast to unstable manmade weapons, there were ghosts willing to combat their own kind. But then again, wasn't Phantom exactly that?
X shook his head and turned from the view screens. The Guard had helped cleanup crews with most of the difficult repairs, not to mention the bodies. With the damaged city mostly restored, construction crews were finishing the job. Amity Park was now in the Guinness Book of World Records for most damage done to a concentrated area. It was soon to be added under record breaking recovery period. The busy metropolis was already starting returning to normal; maybe even taking a turn for the better. Hostile ghost activity had dropped to record lows, even after the arrival of the Fentons. Phantom and Huntress conflicts were almost nonexistent, and the two even seemed to be getting along.
"Sir? You wanted to see us?"
X turned to regard Operatives K and O. The two were equal in height, build, attire, and a plethora of other features that most on the force shared. But something about these two stuck out; something X couldn't help but admire, despite their unsettling fondness for the hybrid.
"I did," the man replied, not trying to hide the annoyance in his voice. "I compiled your reports and those of several other operatives on the field, including the Box Ghost. It appears we didn't do as thorough a job as we should have."
"How is that, sir?" K asked.
"Three things, gentlemen," X began. "First, we failed to detain one Valerie Grey. Circumstantial evidence clearly points to her as the true identity of the vigilante entity known as The Huntress."
"Affirmative, sir, but Miss Grey was not in her residence when we detained the bounty hunter in her room. The Box Ghost encountered her later on, but was engaged in battle with a second bounty hunter that had occupied her bedroom. He reported that the bounty hunter had been dispatched."
"Yes," X commented, "not without difficulty, I was told."
K and O remained silent.
"Second item on the list; Lydia the Tattoo Ghost. Box Ghost tells me she has a human employer, but he can't confirm an identity. This ghost apparently escaped. Our old pal Skulker was sighted in several locations, apparently hunting her. He was unsuccessful."
X reached down onto his desk and retrieved a folder. "Finally the third, and arguably most disturbing, modicum of gossip I uncovered is this," he handed the folder to Mike, who passed on to K after glancing through it. From their facial expressions, it was not good news. "These bounty hunters were not acting solely out of desire for Phantom's head. As I'm sure you're well aware, one million dollars doesn't amount to much in today's underground and there are plenty of easier ways to get it. Which raises a few questions; predominantly, why on Earth would several hundred men and women risk their very lives on doing the impossible?"
K and O looked at each other, unsure of the answer.
"No guesses? Intel says someone told them to, and it wasn't the guy who posted the bounty."
"One person was giving orders to all those bounty hunters?" Mike inquired.
"One guy," X confirmed. "Commanding idiots, bad shots, thugs, trained assassins, and everyone in between like they were an extension of his own body," X handed another folder to his Operatives. "One efficient machine of organized crime."
"A crime lord?" Jackson asked, reviewing the new information.
"All we've been able to pick out is that he was the brains behind the army. Other than that, we don't have a name, alias, affiliations, anything, other than the knowledge that he exists."
"With all due respect, sir," Jackson spoke up, "why did you bother with this? Other than the bounty hunter mobilization, crime lords are not our field of expertise. This is a job for the feds."
"You're right, K, but in case you've forgotten, we are the feds. And while the Guys in White may not have been established to battle organized crime, we might have a stake in this as well. The bounty hunters were gathered in Amity Park because of Phantom, and Phantom beat them. If this is anything like what we've seen before, Phantom just made the top of this guy's hit list, if he wasn't already there."
"Ok, so what, do we tell the kid that there could be a crime lord in Amity Park that wants his head on a platter?"
"How well do you think that would go over, O?"
"I thought so," Mike replied. "But we can't just leave him in the dark on this one. This is a lot bigger than him."
"I agree," Jackson added. "We'll have to let him know eventually."
X nodded. "But until we know for sure what's happening with this situation, there's no reason to stress the kid out even more. I'll get our analysts on this ASAP. In the mean time, you two need to go keep the peace that we've been having lately. I rather enjoy not having to track and monitor several dozen ghost battles on a daily basis. Dismissed."
Mike saluted his superior, who returned the gesture, spun on his heel and left the room. Jackson remained behind.
"Something else you'd like to say?" X asked once the door had closed behind Operative O.
"Yes sir," Jackson responded. "Permission to speak candidly?"
"Go ahead."
Jackson's posture relaxed as he slid from parade rest. "I'm curious; where did this sudden concern for Phantom's wellbeing come from?"
"Beg pardon?"
"It isn't any of my business why or how you earned your rank at the head of this organization. All I cared to understand was that you hated ghosts with a passion few could match, and Phantom was barely an exception. Then you allowed a ghost to organize a counter offensive against an army we thought were trying to take down the kid."
"What are you getting at?" X asked with a hostile edge in his tone.
"Your behavior just . . . threw me off a little."
X sighed and moved to the view screens at the other end of his expansive office. The images were motivating, to say the least. Amity Park's citizens were some of the most cooperative he had ever seen, and the group support only increased and became strong with each passing disaster.
"These are difficult times, K," Agent X said finally. "I thought I could do this my way; bust into a room, guns blazing, and wipe out every single molecule of ectoplasm from the face of the Earth. That's not an option anymore."
"Well, sir, you are still the head of this organization. If you wanted to authorize that kind of action-"
"It's not that simple, K. You know as well as I do that the only thing we have so far that can actually fight these bastards is more just like them. We're stuck in the mud, and every move we make only drags us in deeper."
"I understand, sir, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices to get the job done."
X turned and glared at Operative K. His eyes bore into the Operative's very soul, even from behind his sunglasses. "Just how much," he said slowly. "Are you willing to sacrifice?"
Jackson shifted in the uncomfortable silence that followed. Agent X waved his arm and Jackson saluted before rushing out of the room.
Alone in the room, Agent X shut off the monitoring station. The security camera in the room shuddered slightly before a low electronic whine wounded from within its casing. A small green bat flew from the device and flapped its way through the air over to the corner. A figure that was not there previously extended a slender green arm and the bat reconnected with the limb, fading away into nothing more than a tattoo.
"Tonight at eleven o'clock there will be a routine inspection of the stasis facility. Proximus must be set free."
"What of the other two?" the cloaked figure whispered in reply.
"Inconsequential. Free them if you wish, it makes little difference."
"My employer does not like to be cheated out of payment," the ghost whispered. "He is unsure if you will hold up to your end of the bargain."
"I would not have paid such a ridiculously large sum of money to him if I didn't plan on making good on my promise. The orb means nothing to me. Your employer is the one who wants it so badly."
Lydia nodded and bowed as she fazed through the wall behind her. Once she was gone, another ghost appeared behind Agent X's shoulder. This one was massive, easily as large as the ninja bounty hunter his Operatives dispatched the night of the invasion. Covered in scraggly black fur and sporting frayed green sweatpants and a hoodie of an identical color and condition, the ghost looked more like a werewolf.
"Follow her," Agent X instructed. "Once she has done as asked, give her this," he handed the lupine ghost a small red orb from within his spotless white jacket.
"Povas si esti konfidi?"
"Can anyone? No, she can't, but this isn't about trust, Wulf. She has a job to do, and so do we."
"Tio tasketo testamenti meti multo senkulpa vivi en dangero. Proximus estas sovaga bruto; li ne testamenti distingi kiel li mortigi."
"He is not Proximus yet," Agent X explained. "There are still several procedures he must undergo before he completes his transformation. Freeing him is our part. Once it is done, we must gamble and hope the die roll in our favor."
"Walker povas helpi nia peni," Wulf offered.
"No, he couldn't. Walker has his own agenda and I'd rather not risk confrontation with a ghost of his caliber. In the meantime, I want you to investigate this alleged crime lord. He could pose a threat to Phantom's continued stability."
"Gi ne testamenti preni multe da al ekbruligi lin foriru je tio punkto."
"All the more reason to make sure he can't get at Daniel," X retorted. "Proximus could become a very powerful tool in fighting the crime lord if he is seen to in a proper fashion. Now leave me. I have a meeting at five thirty and my colleagues can't come in here and see a grizzly bear in a marathon runner's outfit looming over my shoulder."
Wulf growled and tore open a portal to the Ghost Zone. Once he had vanished through to the other side, the tear in the dimensional fabric sealed shut. Agent X sat down in his chair and sighed. His life just wouldn't stop being complicated.
Danny walked through Amity Park's park, hands burrowed in his pockets and looking downtrodden towards the ground. It had been a week since the incident. Most of the work was done in repairing the city and life was returning to normal. He had talked to Jazz about his fears and guilt. He had allowed Sam and Tucker to reassure him countless times. Somehow, he still couldn't help but feel terrible. It was excusable, seeing as how he had perfectly legitimate reasons for feeling such a way. Not too many fourteen year olds live with murder and no consequences.
Danny continued on his way. Birds chirped in the trees overhead, clouds inched across a beautiful blue sky, doing their best to avoid blocking the warming rays of the bright, dazzling sun. Every so often, a squirrel would bravely dart across the walking path in search of food. Couples sat on benches, basking in the warmth of the afternoon and in the warmth of each other's company. The surface on the pond was still, almost like a mirror. Danny glanced over at his watery reflection as he plodded along, looking at the face of a confused adolescent struggling to make sense of his impossible life. A cascade of ripples distorted the image as a mother swan led her young through the body of water, showing them off for all to see.
The teenager finally answered the call of his tired feet and sat down on an empty bench. Finally looking up from the ground, his eyes took in everything at once. Looking around at what he had been ignoring for what felt like hours, Danny realized that this is what Jackson had been talking about. Such serenity was not easy to come by. This world had plenty to offer, and if it wasn't for his actions a week ago, it wouldn't be here today. A mother pushing her baby in a stroller passed by and the infant, with wide curious eyes, looked up at Danny who couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face, nor did he want to. The baby laughed happily and flapped his arms up and down in delight. That was all the motivation Danny needed to get out of his rut.
Curious creatures, these infants are.
Yes, they are quite annoying as well.
As far as I'm concerned, they're the best thing I've ever seen in my life.
I am glad you've come to terms with what you had to do, Daniel.
Yes. You must remember why you fight.
Those infants, the women and children, the helpless, all of them count on you for protection whether they know it or not. We don't want you to kill–
I do.
-but you will have to learn to do so without trepidation. You must learn to do what needs to be done, however unglamorous it may seem.
I know. But it's a fantastic day right now. I want to enjoy it.
And you shall.
We are here if you require us.
Danny felt his others recede from the forefront of his mind. Looking around once more, the teenager took a deep breath and continued on his way at a brisk pace. The world seemed more significant. And why shouldn't it be? After all, it was there because of him.
To Be Continued
A/N: Sorry for the delay and the shortness of this chapter. Saturday is my usual writing time, but I was busy with a friend's confirmation that night and didn't get home until late. I fell asleep playing Rainbow Six Vegas 2. Kinda embarrassing. Anyway. . .
Well I hope I'm setting things up nicely for future events. I felt that Danny needed to realize that, even though he will have to make tough choices, the results will come out in his favor. Now of course, this isn't always going to be the case. But for now, it will be. His others don't want him depressing himself to death anymore than he does, so they're doing their best to support him.
Next chapter wraps up this segment, and then it's on to what may be the most controversial segment in the whole story. That is, if I decide I have the gall to go through with it. I have an idea that would definitely work without the controversial tidbits, but I can also throw it in there if I want without making it sound tacked on. I'll figure it out. A little hint as to what it would involve; something that would blow the cease-fire Phantom and Huntress have completely out of the water and make her hatred for Phantom so much more personal. Character death? Racial slur? ABOMINABLE SNOW MONSTER?! You figure it out.
Reviews kinda lost the momentum they were gathering. At least it's staying at or above 5 per chapter. Thanks to all of you who have reviewed so far. Special thanks goes to Thunderstorm101, Fulcon, darkbunny92, MissMeliss4251, and darkness over day.
Is anyone else noticing that, when you load a document, the first couple words are copied and entered on a line above where your document actually starts? That happens to me a lot. And since M Word doesn't have a pagebreak function (or does it?) I use a dash to hold the place of a pagebreak so I can find them easily when I do the final editing on here. Well now the dashes don't show up all the time. I really hope they fix this. It's really annoying.
Also, Phantom Rising and A DOOMED Alliance have a 1.0 review/chapter ratio. I was hoping for more, but since they aren't as critically acclaimed as this behemoth of a tale, I'll be putting them on hold. This is my #1 writing priority, after all.
JAZZ: THE MOST KICKASS MUTHA#A THAT EVER CAME ONLINE