Chapter CIII
Phantom intangibly stuck his head through the wall from outside his house. Satisfied and slightly confused that his parents were still off at the opera, the invisible ghost boy floated the rest of the way into his family room and transformed. The silver-green ring appeared at his waist and split in two. Within seconds, Phantom was sealed away under the disguise of Danny Fenton. Or perhaps it was Phantom that was the disguise.
The teen was too overloaded to think about such things and carelessly flopped down on his couch. The information he had been given made the prospect of turning on the television unappealing. It made the thought of playing video games look dull. It almost made the vibrating of his cell phone in his pocket too insignificant to pay attention to - almost. The boy sighed and dug the mobile communicator from his pocket. He lazily flipped it open and held it to his ear.
"Hello?" he mumbled.
"Danny?" Sam's voice sounded worried on the other line. "Where are you? We tried to follow you, but-"
"I'm home, Sam," Danny interrupted. "The ghost got away."
"Who was it?"
Danny sighed. "I'll wait to tell you when you get here. I don't like telling stories over again, especially not this kind."
"What's wrong, Danny? Are you hurt?"
Danny grinned at the concern in his friend's voice, but it quickly faded. "No, I'm perfectly fine. In fact, I think I'll be perfectly fine until the end of time. That's how perfectly fine I am."
" . . . Danny, I'm the queen of sarcasm around here, don't think I don't know it when I hear it."
"Look, are you guys almost here? I'm about to go to bed. Or blow something up. Either way, I'm not just gonna-"
Danny jumped at the sound of his front door suddenly opening. Tucker and Jazz stood on either side of Sam, who was still holding her phone. "Lay around waiting for us?" Sam finished as she shut her phone and slid it into a pocket in her boot.
"Dude, you totally vamoosed on us back there," Tucker seated himself at the far end of the couch to better observe his friend. "And we saw your little playground while we were looking for you. I've never seen you deal out that much damage before."
"It wasn't me!" Danny exclaimed, suddenly appearing more animated. "It was the other ghost – er, monster . . . thing." He took a deep breath. "The ghost that attacked me used to be Elliot, the spy from the Guys in White. Plasmius must've gotten to his body or something, I don't know, but she mutated him with some of my mid morph DNA-"
"What's that?" Jazz asked as she sat down close to Tucker.
"I guess it's some kind of DNA sample from my transformation rings," Danny explained. "So that means that Jazz wasn't the first one to find out that they were tangible."
"But how did this Plasmius person find out?" Jazz pressed on.
Danny cleared his throat in an attempt to avert his friends' questioning stares. "I don't know," he said finally. "But she found out somehow. The ghost, Proximus, said he doesn't know how she got the sample."
"So Elliot, or Proximus, or whatever he's calling himself now, has some of your DNA?" Sam, who was now seated next to Danny, asked
"Yup. He said Plasmius fused him with bat DNA too-"
"What?" the other three asked in unison.
"I know, it didn't make much sense at first, but he has one of my powers; one I haven't developed yet. The voices said it was my ghostly wail, a type of sonic attack that's really effective against ghosts."
"What are you, a pokemon now?" Tucker joked at Danny's explanation. "But this ghostly wail, it really did all that damage?"
Danny's face reddened in embarrassment. "Well, you know, not all of it. I may have had some part in it," Danny squirmed under the gazes of his friends and sister. "But he did most of it," the hybrid added quickly.
"So what happened? He just flew away or you caught him in the thermos or something?" Sam asked.
"He just flew away," Danny replied. "I, uh, didn't exactly have a thermos with me."
"Danny, you know better than that!" Jazz scolded. "Why didn't you take one when we left the house?"
"I was too busy keeping an eye on you to make sure you didn't try anything with my best friend," Danny snapped back with a grin.
Jazz blushed. "As if," she rolled her eyes. Then, noting Tucker's slightly downcast expression added, "Not that I wouldn't; just not with you around, Danny."
"You know," Tucker said, pretending not to notice how Jazz was scooting closer to him, "you seem to be taking this relatively well."
"What're you talking about?" Danny asked. "How am I supposed to take the news that Plasmius is cloning me?"
"Well you're not Mr. On-Top-of-the-World now, but you were definitely a bit worse for wear when you got your powers, after Lancer was crippled, when we found out Spectra was a ghost, when Valerie's mom died – it seems like you just got a little more depressed after all your major escapades."
Danny leaned back and let his arms drape over the back of the couch. "I dunno, Tuck. I mean, I can't just let this stuff keep getting to me. Yeah, sure, it's a lot for someone my age to handle, but who else is gonna deal with it if I'm not there?"
"And you decided to realize this now instead of earlier why?" Sam asked irritably.
"It just kinda reached its peak I guess," Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "Why does it matter to you anyway? You're supposed to be the Goth one around here; shouldn't you be upset that I'm not being all gloomy and whatnot anymore?"
"Well it would've probably made our lives easier if you could've just hung out with us instead of brooding on top of skyscrapers."
Danny scowled at Sam. "I don't brood, I think. And sometimes I have conversations with the voices in my head."
"And that'll be my cue to leave," Jazz said as she stood up. "Thanks for letting me tag along with you guys tonight; I had a lot of fun!"
"Don't get used to it," Danny said with a grin.
Jazz returned the expression. "Don't stay up too late, little brother." With that, Danny's older sister ascended the stairs and left the trio alone in the foyer.
"Dude," Danny chuckled, turning his attention to Tucker. "She totally likes you."
"Be that as it may, your behavior regarding the circumstances it rather peculiar," Tucker replied.
Danny blinked. "Huh?"
"Ok, so she might like me. Might. If she does, you really aren't living up to the stereotypical brother role. Aren't you supposed to be, like, extremely uncomfortable with that? Maybe even a little angry?"
"Tuck, you haven't seen the stuff I've seen. You don't have to deal with most of what I've had to. When it boils down to it, Jazz can hit on or date or marry any guy she wants. I have homicidal enemies that are trying to kill me at every bend in the road, so you might say that I've got more important things to worry about."
"So if some total sleezeball tries to make a move on Jazz, you won't even care?" Sam asked.
"What are you talking about? Tucker's already done that," Danny replied.
"Hey!"
"I'm kidding, dude," Danny turned his attention back to Sam. "I'd care if that happened. I know Tucker, though. He's no sleezeball, and that's enough for me."
"Well I appreciate the vote of confidence," Tucker said approvingly. "But I just don't think Jazz is my type."
"Why not?" Danny asked. "You two are both super brainiac smart and-"
"And that's reason number one," Tucker interrupted. "Super brainiac smart people might get along for a while, but some long term thing usually tears them apart."
"And you know this how?" Sam looked at Tucker with a raised eyebrow.
"Space camp," Tucker replied. "You guys remember I was gone for thesummer last year. Well one of the guys I met there met this girl. Both of them were really smart, although maybe not as smart as me, and they started dating, or whatever you can call dating while you're at space camp. Anyway, I talked to him online and asked him how his love life was going. They broke up about a month after the camp was over
"That's too bad," Sam mocked sympathy. "I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that they probably lived at opposite ends of the country."
"Whatever!" Tucker threw his arms up in exasperation. "Point is that I really don't think that would be fair to Jazz. Maybe we could work, I don't know. I'm not willing to hurt her just to find out."
"And that's why I would be perfectly fine with Tucker dating my sister," Danny stated contentedly, "even though it would be a little awkward . . .but since his infinite wisdom suggests that such a union would never happen, that leaves Tucker with Star."
"We'll have to continue this conversation another time," Tucker said as the headlights from the Fenton RV shone through the windows from outside. "I don't think I want to be here to listen to the Fenton Family review on Phantom of the Opera."
"Yeah, I'll probably have to skip this one too," Sam added. "See you later, Danny."
Tucker and Sam stood and headed for the back door through the kitchen. The screen door shut just as the front door swung open. Jack looked positively uncomfortable in his tuxedo, although it did make him look quite suave. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Maddie looked to be in her natural element in her little red dress.
" – knew there weren't going to be any ghosts there!" Jack exclaimed, finishing his sentence as he entering the house.
Maddie shook her head. "Jack, there don't have to be ghosts everywhere we go."
"Well it would've made the whole thing more fun to watch," Jack mumbled.
Maddie rolled her eyes. "Make sure you check the ecto-filtrator before you come up to bed, honey," she called down as she climbed the stairs to change into something more appropriate for her suburban home.
"Danny!" Jack beamed at his son, apparently noticing him for the first time. "How was your night?"
"Oh, you know, the usual," his son replied.
"That's great!" Jack picked the mail up off the bureau and began to sift through it with one hand while his other hand expertly undid his bowtie. "Oh, hello now, what's this?"
"What's what?" Danny asked.
"A letter from the Dalv Corporation," Jack continued. "Here, open this for me, will ya?" The burly man tossed the envelope through the air like a pro, nailing his son in the forehead. He hadn't even turned to aim. Maybe that's why Danny was still alive . . .
Danny looked at the Dalv Co. seal on the envelope, trying to jog his memory of where he had heard the name before and why it gave him an uneasy feeling. Shrugging the wariness off, Danny opened the parcel and removed the letter, carelessly tossing the empty envelop on the table.
"Dear Mr. Jack Fenton," Danny read. "We have been monitoring the amount of ghostly activity across the nation for several years now. Amity Park is, undoubtedly, the most active when it comes to ghosts, but it seems that they have been unsuccessful in taking over your city. We believe this to be due, in no small part, to the efforts of you and your wife, Madeline Fenton. We here at the Dalv Corporation would like to congratulate you on your efforts and extend aninvitation to our annual Father/Son fishing/camping/ghost hunting weekend located in sunny Cape Canaveral, Florida. Enclosed is the formal invitation. The Dalv Corporation has done the paperwork for you. We look forward to seeing you there. Signed, the Dalv Corporation."
Jack had bounded over to the couch and was hovering over his son's shoulder after the first four words had escaped his mouth.
"Well would you look at that!" Jack sat down next to his son and began to read over the letter himself.
"Father/Son fishing/camping/ghost hunting weekend?" Danny repeated suspiciously.
"Cape Canaveral, Florida?" Jack read excitedly in near disbelief.
"Who signs a letter with the name of the corporation?" Danny mumbled to himself.
"This is fantastic!" Jack boomed, swiping the letter from his son. He peeled the formal invitation from the back of the letter and smiled. "You and me, Danny, for a whole weekend in Florida! Fishing! Camping! Ghost hunting! I can't wait!"
Danny grinned. "Me neither, Dad. It'll be nice to get away for a while."
"That's my boy!" Jack thundered. "Maddie! Maddie! Look at this!" Jack sprinted up the stairs with surprising speed for a man of his size.
Danny hadn't been lying when he told his father that it would be nice to get away. He was only just coming to terms with his hectic life and the hybrid felt that he could easily sink back into a depression at any given moment, especially with the circumstances surrounding his second son. Or first, depending on how he looked at it chronologically.
Whatever the case would be, Danny couldn't dispel the uneasiness he felt regarding the letter. He tried as hard as he could to remember what about it made him uncomfortable, but it was a fruitless effort. With some degree of irritability, he noticed that his others weren't chiming in to help him. Undoubtedly this was part of their method of making him more self-reliant. With a huff of annoyance, Danny stopped trying to call upon them and headed up to his room. Maybe a few hours of DOOMED II would clear his mind.
"Well?" Frederick Issak Showenhower looked from the television screen to the seeminglyhuman woman that stood in front of him. "What do you think?"
"I think that your little toy has quite an impressive range if it managed to keep Proximus under control all the way out in California," Vanessa Masters replied as the film started to replay.
Frederick cringed at the remark made about his artifact, but shrugged it off. Normally he would have become angry with any person who disrespected his valued treasures. However, the devilish looking robotic ghost looming over her shoulder made him a much more forgiving person. There was also the matter of her feral bat/human/ghost hybrid that was pacing back and forth . . . on the ceiling.
A faint red light could be seen from the creatures eyes, indicating that the scepter Frederick held in his hand was doing its job. At the moment, Proximus was under his control, but if Vanessa really was a ghost like Walker had told him, she probably had some sort of genetic override that could block his staff's power. He wasn't willing to risk his life to find out.
"Is this enough satisfaction for you to initiate the trade?" Frederick asked hopefully.
"Do not assume Miss Masters is willing to initiate anything with the likes of you, human!" Skulker's vocabulator bellowed his declaration.
"Skulker, please," Vanessa placed a hand on the robot's shoulder and he relaxed. The ghost took several steps back, resuming its role of watchdog. "There is no need to frighten our guest. He comes bearing quite a gift, and asks for mere jewels in return."
Frederick wanted to explode in anger; how dare she insult the power of the Reality Gauntlet? But as a master of acting in the circus, the man did not outwardly appear to have been fazed by the statement.
Vanessa turned and walked away from the door in the spacious den and headed for the large bay window. Skulker was barely a pace behind her. "I do not think I have seen the instrument used to its full potential," the woman said finally as she gazed out over the wilderness of her mountain home. "But you will get the chance to prove its usefulness to me very shortly."
"How shortly?" Frederick asked, moving towards the window as well. He moved slowly, not wanting to startle the Skulker robot; the one that was looking at him with the intent to kill.
"By Saturday, you will be able to set my pet loose against Phantom again," Vanessa explained. "This time, I don't want you to hold Proximus back. Unleash him to the full extent of his power."
Frederick smiled. "But of course, madam. But may I ask, for what purpose?"
"I wish to see what Phantom's DNA is really capable of doing. The ghost child has yet to face off against an equal in combat. His adversaries have either been too weak or too powerful for him, requiring minimal effort or external influence. I am curious to see how Phantom would fare when pitted against his genetic equal."
Frederick nodded. "I understand. And one more question?"
"Speak."
"Yes, well, what if your little beasty manages to beat Phantom? What if he kills the ghost boy?"
Vanessa remained silent for a moment. "I suppose I'll have to cut my losses."
Frederic nodded. "I'll see myself to the guest quarters, then?"
"Yes, very well. Go on."
Frederick bowed and left the room.
"Are you sure he can be trusted?" Skulker asked once the man was out of earshot.
"I trust no one, Skulker," Vanessa replied. "Especially not him. You will stalk the Fentons when they . . . arrive here. You are to protect Daniel and Jack if Proximus proves to be too much of a challenge."
"But I thought you said -"
"Daniel cannot die, Skulker, do you understand me?" Vanessa hissed, turning to glare at her servant. "I cannot predict the outcome of this battle with any degree of accuracy. If Daniel is in danger of perishing, you must save him. Destroy Proximus if you must." Vanessa looked up at the creature, which was now hanging upside down from one of the wooden support beams that ran along the ceiling. "I can always create more like him."
Skulker nodded. "As you command, my master."
Vanessa stared out the window in silence. A storm had quickly swept into the mountain valley and was dumping rain on the forest in sheets. "Daniel has inadvertently fathered two children. Walker is immensely powerful, and we can expect great things from this Amorpho child."
"It seems that the only method of acquiring a perfect Phantom to call your own is to come into possession of the spawn of the ghost boy himself," Skulker observed quietly.
Vanessa looked at her mechanical lapdog. A wicked grin began to spread across her face. Slowly, she turned her head down to look at her own stomach. Her hands slid along her firm, flat belly. "So it would seem," she whispered.
To Be Continued
A/N: You go ahead and dwell on that. I need to get working on the other chapters amidst my ridiculous (although slightly less ridiculous than usual) work schedule.
I was getting confused with myself in previous chapters. I wasn't sure if Freakshow already had the gems or if he had something else. So I looked to make sure and here's what I found. The following is both a reference for you and me.
Mr. Hunter (Amity's crime lord) gave Freakshow the Eye and Fists of Cronos. Freakshow delivered them to Walker, who then tasked him with retrieving the Reality Gems. Freakshow already has the gauntlet and the power gem. I'll touch more on this later in the segment and a lot in the next one. Bear with me; it isn't nearly as complicated as it may seem.
Speaking of complicated, I deduced, mathematically, this chapter puts me over 300,000 thousand words. Or something. Hooray for me!
Thanks to everyone who reviews, especially phantoms-allie, Silverline Scimitar, Goldamon X, Billy D., Bloxham, General Razgriz, darkbunny92, and MissMeliss4251.
"TIERS ARE FOR QUEERS!" - Tiers Are For Queers video on Youtube.