Hi everyone! That's right, the Avengers are back with the first episode of Season 2 and this one is filled to the brim with action! It is my hope that I'm able to update Season 2 a bit more frequently as I work on my other stories as well, we'll see how this episode goes and where we go from there.
Disclaimer: All the franchises belong to Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney.
Season 2, Episode 1: Forces of Nature
The Guys in White Headquarters was a teched out fortress that resided several miles outside Amity Park, the most frequent town in the United States for ghostly activity. Within said headquarters, the GIW agents were either patrolling along all the hallways inside, or at their computer desks to research and input their data. It seemed like a typical government office building.
That is unless one should enter the basement, which was a massive complex where their real work was done. Scientists and agents worked on their anti-ghost technology to help improve in their fight against the paranormal. One particular device laid at the center of the large chamber, which took the shape of a dome and was hooked up to several wires and cables that stuck straight up to the ceiling. Many scientists, all wearing white hazmat suits, appeared to be working on this particular project.
"At attention, science nerds!" Operative O called out to those working on the device as he and his partner stepped in.
"Agent Alpha is here! Look sharp!" Operative K announced.
All agents and scientists stood at attention as the doors opened to reveal Agent Alpha, the leader of the GIW, as he entered the chamber.
"At ease." He told everyone as he, O, and K approached the dome device with the scientists standing to greet him with salutes. "Progress?"
"Sir, the Anti-Ecto Converter is slow-going." One scientist explained. "Theoretically, this device should drain the Ecto energy of a ghost and convert its matter into basic carbon in the process. However, the device has not yet been tested and the energy readings aren't as optimal as we hoped."
"Do whatever it takes to get this device up and running." Agent Alpha stated. "More and more people in the country are siding with that unregistered vigilante, Phantom."
"He did save the world from the Disasteroid, sir." One scientist pointed out.
"All ghostly related matters are to be handled by us, the GIW!" Agent Alpha said firmly. "Phantom and his other two ghostly partners are unregistered and dangerous! How long until they turn their powers against us?! I'm not waiting until that happens!"
"Sir, if I may…?" Operative O raised his hand. "While my partner and I would personally love to finally bring Phantom to his knees, he has gardened a lot of support."
"And it's not just in the United States, it's the whole world." Operative K added. "If we get this wrong, it could paint the GIW in a bad light. The government could seize our funding at best or disband us at worst."
"Let the P.R department handle that." Agent Alpha brushed off. "We need to…"
Suddenly, an alarm sounded throughout the entire base. "Alert! Alert! Massive Ecto surge detected within base's outer perimeter!"
Outside the GIW headquarters, a massive storm had rapidly formed in the sky as thunder and lightning echoed and shined throughout the sky, torrential rain poured down from the pitch-black clouds, accompanied by eighty mile-per-hour winds. But that was only the prelude for the true storm to come as the clouds at the center of the sky began to break apart and swirl to reveal a large entity descending from the raging skies.
It was clearly a ghost evident by his green glowing body and blood red eyes. He also wore black metallic armor on his torso and shoulders with spikes with a V emblem in the center, the right side of it taking the shape of a lightning bolt that crossed up to his right shoulder. He also wore black armored gauntlets. His lower half appeared to be a green tornado that was constantly spinning, which allowed him to hover in the air.
"So this is the home of the so-called anti-Ghost force known as the Guys in White." The ghost observed. "Well, let us see how they handle the full fury of Vortex!"
With a bellowing laugh, Vortex outstretched his arms and all the clouds around him shot lightning bolts directly at the base. However, a blue energy dome quickly formed around the building to protect it from the worst of the assault.
"Sir, it's an omega-level Ghost!" One of the technicians reported as he and several others were at their stations inside monitoring the base defenses as they saw Vortex outside. "The one with the weather powers that attacked Amity Park sometime back! The barrier is holding, but not for long!"
"Establish the base's defenses! Launch an airborne counterattack to distract it, while prepping our ground forces for a surprise attack!" Agent Alpha reported.
"Yes sir!" The technician acknowledged as he spoke through the base's intercom. "Attention all units! Commence White Bleach countermeasure! Repeat, commence White Bleach!"
"'White Bleach'?" One technician next to him questioned.
"Hey, I don't come up with the names!"
Immediately, multiple turrets emerged from the rooftop and fired blue energy beams in the direction of Vortex, forcing him to generate an electric barrier around himself to act as a shield. At the back of the base, two hatches opened up as several advanced GIW aircraft, such as jets and helicopters, all launched and shot into the sky.
Missiles and energy beams were shot at Vortex, who had turned himself into a green cloud to allow the attacks to pass right through him before he countered by inhaling and letting loose a gusting bellow from his mouth, one that blasted winds that moved at super sonic speeds. This had caused several aircraft to derail in the sky, forcing the pilots to eject while the others continued to move around and return fire on their weather-powered adversary.
However, this was only a distraction as three more hatches at the front of the base's perimeter opened up and a dozen advanced tanks with specialized canons rolled outside, along with several GIW agents wearing suits and armed with heavy-arterially. All their weapons were primed and ready, locked onto Vortex and he didn't seem to notice.
"Open wide, you blowhard." One agent inside the tank was ready to press the trigger and open fire.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, causing several agents to lose their footing before a massive growth emerged from the ground in front of them. This take the form of a massive cluster of glowing green vines that all weaved together to take the form of a tree at first before more humanoid features were grown. Among these were enormous arms, plant-like shoulder pads that connected to a long and thick piece of moss that hung down like a cape, as well as a spiked head and face with a bird-like beak serving as a mouth and glowing red eyes.
"Flesh dwellers! You have roamed this planet for too long, but now the time has come for the green to strike back! Now face the wrath of Undergrowth!" With a roar, multiple thorny plant-vines shout out from his body and made their way towards the GIW forces on the ground.
All the soldiers on foot were forced to run and pilots to abandon their tanks as some of Undergrowth's tendrils ensnared and crushed several tanks while others were pierced through, but all were lifted from the ground and thrown towards the shielded base. The vehicles were shattered upon impact, but the shield itself had taken a great deal of damage.
The entire base shook, which was even felt in the basement laboratory. All the scientists looked with concern while the field agents seemed frustrated.
"What is going on out there?!" O questioned.
"Give us a report!" K demanded over the comms.
"White Bleach has failed! There are two of them! That giant plant thing is here too! We're being overrun! We're being…" He was cut off, leaving on static on the other end.
"Two omega level ghosts!?" K exclaimed somewhat worriedly. "Each one more powerful than even Phantom?!"
"Okay… that does sound kinda terrifying." O commented.
"Silence!" Agent Alpha slammed his fist on the wall in fury. "We are the Guys in White! Our job is to exterminate ghosts! I will not lose my base to an overgrown cloud and a giant weed! Activate the Anti-Ecto Converter!"
"B-But sir, it's not ready!" One of the scientists protested. "I just told that you we haven't tested…!"
"I don't care!" Agent Alpha shouted as he grabbed him by the shirt. "Get it ready! Now!" He ordered as he threw him to the ground.
"Y-Yes sir!" He immediately went to the Anti-Ecto Converter with the other scientists and were prepared to activate it. The device shined to life as electricity came out from some of the prods and the monitors turned to life. As they worked, there were three scientists, all wearing hazmat suits like the others, that glanced at each other with knowing expressions.
The last of the GIW's defenses had all been decimated. Undergrowth had torn through the ground forces with his raw strength and plant-powers, tearing apart all the heavy artillery and trapping all the agents with vines and tendrils that emerged from the ground. In the sky, Vortex unleashed dozens of lightning bolts from his body that all tracked and homed in on every flying vehicle, destroying every jet and helicopter that had attacked him. Whatever agents that were able to eject would descend via parachute toward the ground and were swiftly entangled by Undergrowth's vines.
Vortex then raised his arms to generate a massive sphere of electrical power, which he threw at the shielded base. Once the sphere made contact, it exploded in a flurry of lightning that all but destroyed the barrier, exposing the base.
However, a hatch on the rooftop opened as a satellite-like device rose and aimed at the two enormous ghosts.
"We have lock on their Ecto-signatures!" The scientist reported.
"Then wipe those abominations off the face of the planet! Now!" Agent Alpha ordered.
"Activating the Anti-Ecto Converter!" The scientist pulled on the lever. The machine then activated as it shined with bright yellow energy that traveled from the dome and up the cables.
The satellite shined that very same energy as yellow beams were shot at Undergrowth and Vortex. Both were hit and were encompassed by that very same energy, though they did grunt a bit on the impact, the energy quickly faded and neither of the ghosts appeared so much as injured.
"Hmm, was that all?" Undergrowth brushed his chest.
"Such a letdown. But what can you expect from inferior humans?" Vortex boasted.
"What?!" Agent Alpha exclaimed.
"No effect…?" K questioned.
"Shouldn't they be exploding or something?" O wondered.
"We told you… it hasn't been tested yet!" The scientist stated.
"I think we've played with our food long enough. Let us be done with these parasites!" Vortex bellowed as he shot a tornado at the roof of the GIW building. Even as the turrets attempted to shoot back, they and the roof were torn asunder by Vortex's raw power, exposing the inside of the base.
All the agents inside looked in terror as Undergrowth loomed over them, his body opening as countless spores flew in all directions, further spread by the increased winds of Vortex's storms. All the agents inside, as well as those trapped outside, were quickly infected as the spores flew to latch on to the back of their necks, injecting them with a substance that turned their eyes green and put them completely under Undergrowth's control.
The spores flew through the building's ventilation system and began to infect every single agent in the building with little-to-no resistance.
"Sir the base has been compromised!" K reported.
"Nobody is responding!" O reported as well. "I can't reach a single agent!"
Agent Alpha's fists clenched in unbridled fury. All their defenses were down, and the one weapon that was supposed to finally rid Planet Earth of all ghost kind was a mere dud! How?! How could this have happened!? How could the GIW have been dealt such a deadly blow! Not even Danny Phantom was this brazen!
"What is that?!" One agent pointed toward the air vents to see all the spores flying in.
"Open fire!" Alpha ordered as he and all the armed agents pulled out their Ecto-guns and tried to shoot the spores, all while the scientist tried to find cover wherever they could.
That is except the three from before as the one in the middle held onto the shoulders of his comrades, and they all turned intangible, allowing the spores and any stray blasts to pass right through them.
Despite the initial resistance and panic, one-by-one, all the agents were infected by the spores and put under Undergrowth's control, Operatives K and O being among them. All that was left was Agent Alpha as he dual wielded a pair of blasters to shoot each of the spores that tried to come his way.
"No! I will not go out like this!" As he tried to shoot, he failed to notice a single spore coming at him from behind, that is until it latched onto the back of his neck. "I won't… AAAAH!" He gave one final scream before his own eyes turned green.
With that, every GIW operative in the facility had been infected. The base completely lost and compromised. Following the will of their new master, every GIW agent made their way to the nearest exit in a single-file line like a zombie.
It didn't take long for all the possessed Guys in White to line up outside the base, standing at a military-like stature while having the pale and emotionless expressions akin to zombies before they all bowed in the presence of the smirking Undergrowth with Vortex hovering behind him.
"I still don't understand why you waste your time controlling these insects when you can so easily crush them." Vortex stated.
"The irony of the infestation tearing apart their own nest is most delicious to me." Undergrowth said with a sneer. "Perhaps I shall send these fools to attack the capital of their precious nation with the very same weapons they created to protect it."
"I just simply think you're too lazy to do your own work." Vortex commented, causing Undergrowth to turn to him with a glare. "The greatest work of art is one that is brought about by effort, much like the maelstrom of heat I shall unleash upon Antarctica and used to flood this world!" He said with excitement.
"You'd be wise to mind your tongue, storm-maker!" Undergrowth stated. "While I do admire your destructive tendencies, the storms you seem so proud of are what help make my children grow stronger, the storms themselves would not exist without them!"
"And that is why we are working together, now." Vortex said as he lowered himself toward the ground and more on Undergrowth's level. "Though I am not much of a team-player, we are both forces of nature! My storms and your green are the true powers of this Earth, not those arrogant humans who believe nature is there's to control!" He generated a snowman in the shape of a human in his palm. "The time has come to show that it is the other way around!" He melted said snowman away with a flash of heat from his eyes. "And it starts with their wretched ghostly protector and the town he calls home!"
"Yes…" Undergrowth smirked. "Danny Phantom's corpse shall make an excellent fertilizer. But I express a word of warning. I have heard through the grape vine that the boy has gained powerful allies who call themselves the Avengers!"
"Then they to shall fall beneath our combined wrath!" Vortex decreed. "Now, onward to Amity Park!" He soared towards the city in the distance with Undergrowth trailing behind him. Though, the plant ghost left behind all the zombified GIW agents behind as he would send them out into the world with their weapons to destroy the major cities and clear the way for his children at a later date.
While most of the controlled GIW personnel were outside the building, it was not entirely evacuated. Within the basement chamber were still the three individuals that had been intangible the entire time to avoid being infected by Undergrowth's spores, who just turned tangible just now.
"That took sooner than expected." The one on the right said as they shed off their disguises to reveal themselves to be Drakken, Vlad Plasmius, and Van Kleiss. "You'd think highly trained government agents would have been a bit more effective, or at least put up a better fight."
"Yes, there was no real strategy in their defense." Van Kleiss agreed. "As foolish as Providence was, even they would know when a situation calls for a tactical approach as opposed to a blunt method."
"But that's exactly what made the GIW such effective pawns during my time as Amity Park's mayor." Vlad said. "Of course, it's not just them now. Two of the most powerful ghosts of my dimension are now about to lay siege to that backwater city, and I imagine they'd give the Avengers quite the fight."
"Why not just recruit them into our army like we did with everyone else?" Drakken asked.
"Vortex and Undergrowth both fancy themselves as the embodiments of nature and believe themselves outside of their control." Vlad explained. "I made the mistake of trying to control Vortex and it cost me dearly. But rather than simple control, we simply cast whisper and rumors their way and aim them in the right direction. A mutual chance at revenge on the one who wronged them is a good enough reason for them."
"Even so, the Avengers are still likely to succeed, each of them having accomplished impossible odds and defied expectations numerous times." Van Kleiss commented. "Which is why little sabotage of their so-called Anti-Ecto Converter and left a little surprise for our young adversaries, just to make things a little more interesting."
"And speaking of our prize…" Drakken was the first to make his way to the Anti-Ecto Converter with Vlad and Van Kleiss right behind him. "Even if the GIW is a bunch of idiots, they've made quite an interesting invention."
"Indeed, the ability to convert matter into a different material on a molecular level has great potential." Van Kleiss said. "Potential that will better serve us."
"So, let's get to work and find out exactly what makes this thing tick." Vlad sneered.
Done.
Well, that was quite an opening wouldn't you say? Vortex and Undergrowth, two of Danny's most powerful enemies, have teamed up and are about to lay siege to Amity Park. Even with the other Avengers by Danny's side, it's still going to be an uphill battle for all of them.
But of course, the battle is merely a distraction as the Cabal has taken an interest in the Guys in White's technology. Despite the GIW being filled with a bunch of overly zealous idiots, they do have some rather dangerous technology, now imagine all of that in the hands of evil masterminds like the Cabal and we got some real problems.
I hope you all enjoy the epic battle that is to come! Until then, stay safe and stay healthy out there.