Me: Wow lots of reviews.
Kim: I'll say. Lot's of back and forth arguing amongst the fans.
Me: Despite Green Lantern's powers, a lot of people are cheering on Danny Phantom.
Ron: Know what they say, haters gonna hate.
Me: I take it you are still betting on Danny all the way.
Rufus: DANNY! (rumbling) Haha, hungry.
Kim & Me: Uh-oh.
Ron: (dials) Hey, Bueno Nacho. It's Ron again. Yup, the usual for delivery. Uh-huh. To whysoserious85's studio. And don't be selfish on the Diablo Sauce. Great, put it on my tab. See you in 35. (hangs up)
Kim: Ron, you just had Bueno Nacho yesterday.
Ron: You know me, Kim. Got the MAAAD love for the Bueno. It's in my heart, babe.
Me: Yea, all in you arteries.
Kim: (angry) What…is in your heart?
Ron: (gulp)
Rufus: (mouth trumpets "Taps")
Me: (lights cigarette, turns on the TV)
At the firing range, our experts are deliberating who receives the edge in primary attacks. Both combatants have demonstrated how lethal they can be, with devastating accuracy. But for our experts, the choice is made.
"I was very impressed with Danny's Ecto-Blast," Doctor Armand said to both Max and Geoff. "It's a quick draw ability and he can use both hands makes his primary attacks very versatile. It's like having two guns with you."
"I agree, Doc," Max continued to the delight of Danny. "But the Green Lantern pointed out that using double the power uses up your energy much faster. In a prolonged fight, Danny will get tired much quicker." Max's commented drew a frown from the young specter.
"Not only that," Geoff said. "But Green Lantern demonstrated what patience can do to a shot. And the fact that his beam was hotter and more effective at killing than Danny's. It seems like a no brainer guys, edge to the Green Lantern."
"Lantern," Max said.
"Agreed," Armand finished.
The edge for Primary Attacks goes to the Green Lantern for the Energy Beam. But the fight is not over yet. The camera focused on Danny Phantom, disgruntled that he couldn't deal the first lethal blow.
"I was sure my blasts would have left me with the edge," he said upset. "But I am not going to let it get me down. Like I said, you can't think inside the box fighting me. The next test will show just how surprising fighting a ghost can be."
The 5 men walked over to another part of the firing range where a multitude of walls and other obstacles have been set up. Danny Phantom and the Green Lantern eyed the course. There were brick walls, moving trip wires, large hoops, tire tunnels, and cargo nets set up all through the hundred meter gauntlet.
"Well for the next two tests, you won't need medical expertise," Armand began. "I better take this time to get back to the ER." Geoff and Max agreed as the good doctor left the area.
"As you guessed by now," Max stated. "We are going to be testing your evasive capabilities with this course. This one is based solely on time and adaptability. You start at the far end of the track, one hundred feet away, race through all the obstacles and finish right by us to stop the clock."
"The only rule for this test is that you cannot fly over the course," Geoff continued. "You have to go through it." Danny Phantom chuckled to himself.
"Still acting cocky, kid?" the Green Lantern asked.
"Nope," Phantom responded. "In fact, you can go first." Danny rose up off the ground and flew over to the computer by Max and Geoff. Everyone on the set from the Lantern to the grips dropped their jaws at Danny's actions. Geoff and Max looked at each other, then to the Green Lantern. He just shook his head as he took to the air and landed at the beginning of the course. The Lantern looked on at the course and readied himself.
"Ok, GL," Geoff shouted. "3…2…1…GO!" Lantern took off leaving a small dust cloud rising from the earth. The first obstacle he approached was a series of three brick walls lined up in a row. Leaning his body and focusing his mind to control himself, Green Lantern weaved through the walls with no problems. As he approached the moving trip wires, he arched and bent his body to avoid the wires when they were taught and straightened himself out as the servos moved the lines slack. Next, the Lantern flew effortlessly through the hoops and the tire tunnel. Upon reaching the cargo net, the Lantern suppressed his powers and his aura vanished. He flew under his own momentum into the net. Finding his grip, the Lantern climbed up the net to the scaffolding it was hooked on. At the top he summoned his powers and leapt into the air. Using his speed for the final 25 meters, the Green Lantern crossed the finish line and Geoff stopped the time.
"WOOO," Max shouted.
"Nice, Lantern," Geoff finished. The Lantern nodded at the two scientists, waiting for his time to be announced. "That was very impressive at 9.3 seconds to finish the course. You ran through an obstacle course in roughly the same time it takes Olympic sprinters to run just the hundred meters."
"Incredible, Green Lantern," Max finished.
"Essentially, it was the same course rookie Lanterns run on Oa," Lantern stated. "Brought back a lot of memories for me," he finished with a look of nostalgia.
The Green Lantern has set a very high standard for this test. How will the young Danny Phantom respond?
Geoff and Max turned to ready Danny Phantom for his test but were shocked to see the young hero reclined on the ground, snoring loudly in a mock sleep.
"Danny?" Geoff said sternly. The young phantom stirred from his "sleep," trying to look like he was unaware of what was going on.
"Did I miss anything," Danny asked with a "yawn." The Green Lantern was visibly angry at the young man's actions, and could no longer contain himself.
"Of all the pig-headed," Lantern started with his aura growing increasingly brighter. "Arrogant, self-centered, disgusting things I've seen, your attitude is by far the worst, I've ever seen. I CANNOT DIGEST how someone like YOU can call yourself a hero. The Flash has more sense than you." Max and Geoff, as well as the whole crew, were taken back by the Lantern's words, though they could not help but agree with him. Danny gave no response as he lifted of the ground without a word. He flew over to starting line and waved to Geoff that he was ready. "Hmph, rookies…" the Lantern said with venom in his voice. Geoff and Max gave a disgruntled nod as Geoff raised the stopwatch in his hand.
Despite the acidic words of the Green Lantern, Danny Phantom remains confident in his abilities.
"3…2…1…GO!" he shouted. Danny took off with so much speed it left a large cloud of dirt in the air. The young man sped at top speed toward the brick walls.
"DANNY!" Max shouted. The three men watched as the young man disappeared behind the walls. They waited for a large crash, but it never came. Milliseconds after disappearing behind the walls, the transparent image of Danny Phantom erupted from the third wall. Geoff, Max, the Lantern, and the crew stood in shock as Danny flew at top speed through all the traps. He phased through the trip wires, the hoops, tunnel, and right through the cargo net. As he neared the finish line, Danny's form became solid again. Kicking his legs out, Danny's feet touched the ground and he skidded across the finish line. Stopping the time, Geoff just stood at his work station, not even looking at the watch. Danny stood triumphantly smiling while he brushed the dust off his battle suit. He turned to Max, and before anyone could talk, Danny turned intangible again and rocketed towards the computer expert. Max put up his guard, preparing for impact. But Danny phased inside of his body and Max's eyes turned to bright neon green.
"The other benefit of being intangible," "Max" began. "Is that I can enter someone's body and "overshadow" them. The other term for this is "possession." Danny Phantom leapt out of Max's body and stood proudly in front of a shocked Green Lantern. "In that state, I am in complete control of someone's body and their mind. And no one remember what happened. Like I said, you can't think inside the box fighting me." The Lantern raised an eyebrow at the boy before taking to the air. Max looked around at the crew for a brief minute.
"What happened?" he asked a stunned Geoff. With a wide set of eyes, Geoff stood speechless. The camera shifted back to the fight club and Max and Geoff were reviewing the footage of Danny's run. After pausing the recording, Geoff spoke.
"4.7 seconds to run the course," Geoff said. "But that is besides the point. Danny can go through anything with this power. And he can take over the Lantern's body and make him destroy his own ring."
"Seems being intangible is one of Danny's greatest assets," Max said. Geoff pointed to the screen and continued the footage. Max watched with amazement as Danny overshadowed him and explained the other benefit of this power.
"You don't remember that?" Geoff asked. Max just shook his head at his friend. "As much as the producers want us to wait until after the commercial break to reveal test results, we can't do that with such one sided results."
"Danny Phantom," both said at the same time.
Danny Phantom's Intangibility trumps the Green Lantern and gives him the edge for Evasive Maneuvers. But before we can continue to the battlefield, we must consider one thing, an X Factor. For Danny Phantom, his resourcefulness and allies provide a great asset to him. The doors of the Fight Club opened again and teenaged girl dressed all in black and combat boots walked into the arena. Danny instantly recognized her and flew over to her. The two embraced and shared a quick kiss before walking over to Danny's side of the converted warehouse. Sam Manson eyed the gear on table and put on the Ghost Gauntlets before turning to the camera.
"Danny never gives up," Sam started. "No matter how high the odds are stacked against him, he finds a way to fight on. His parents are professional ghost hunters and he always uses their technology whenever he needs an extra edge. But rather than rely solely on technology, hint hint, wink wink," Sam continued dryly taking a jab at their good friend Tucker. "Danny also uses whatever is at his disposal." With a look of confidence and love, Sam quickly looked at Danny before continuing. "Rather than try and eliminate the Disasteroid, Danny came up with the idea of turning the world intangible so the threat would pass right through the Earth harmlessly. Anyone else would have taken on the Disasteroid head on. Danny saved us from total destruction without having to leave the atmosphere. His cunning and perseverance…"
"As well as my friends," Danny interrupted putting his arm around his girlfriend.
"Right," she answered with a giggle. "His cunning and perseverance have always saved us, our town, and our world."
But the Green Lantern's X Factor is his heart, and a never surrender attitude instilled in him from both the Marine and Lantern Corp. The doors opened once again and a tall woman with red hair and grey wings walked into the battle arena. The Lantern met his ally and former girlfriend at the door and led her over to the camera. Sheyera Hol's appearance drew some cynical remarks from a few of the crew before Geoff silenced them.
"I know first hand how John thinks," she started softly. "He is the kind of person who puts his teammates and his mission before himself. I could tell you countless stories of the people he saved and his dedication to law and justice. He was arrested by the Manhunters and faced execution, fought off a 3 eyed creep and his cult, stood by the League in it's darkest hours. But what truly defines him is his devotion to those he cares about." Shayera looked at her former love and smiled slightly at him. "When the Joker planted bombs in Las Vegas, we found one at the same time. Long story short, it detonated before John could disarm it. Rather than save himself, he used his ring to put a shield on me, and took the full force of the blast unprotected. When I came to, I found John under the rubble. He was dead. I had to use my mace as a defibrillator to revive him. John died for me, literally. That's the kind of man he is." Danny, Sam, Max and Geoff stood in awe of Sheyera's words. All of them have heard of men making the ultimate sacrifice. But John was the first to come back from it.
Could a selfless heart stand up to a cunning mind?
"The X Factor for me," Max started. "Goes to Danny Phantom. You can put two warriors with the same heart and spirit into a fight, and get a stalemate. Give one of those guys a sword, it's a different story. Danny uses technology to augment his natural powers. We have seen on the battlefield what the use of technology can do. And some of the gear Danny uses increases is powers 100 fold."
"While there is no getting over the fact that Danny has powerful allies," Geoff started. "This is a one on one fight, and the Green Lantern is bringing in some of the best combat experience I can imagine. He was a Marine, I'm sure the Lantern Corp. trains hand to hand, and he can do practically anything with that ring. A mind doesn't do much if most of your plans require allies to help you." Danny and the Green Lantern exchanged a quick look, while Sheyera and Sam exchanged one of their own.
"We are at a dead even tie right now," Max started.
"Anything can happen now," Geoff finished.
Coming up, Danny Phantom, the Green Lantern, the battle wages on as we see if a good defense is a strong offense. Who will be…the Deadliest Warrior?
Me: Wow this is getting interesting, right guys? (chomps burrito)
Rufus: Yea… (jumps into naco)
Me: (looks around) Where are Kim and Ron?
Rufus: Car. (eats)
Me: Still fighting?
Rufus: Don't know.
Me: (looks out window & returns to seat) Oh, they are making up right now.
Rufus: Out…(eats)
Me: I stand corrected. Care to do the disclaimer, Rufus?
Rufus: Kay…
Me: I own…
Rufus: Plot.
Me: Characters?
Rufus: Nope.
Me: You guys?
Rufus: Nada.
Me: And the fans should?
Rufus: R&R.
Me: You heard the little nude dude, R&R people let's see who you give the edge to. And let's not forget what coming up next. Who has the better defense? Danny's Bubble Shield, or the Lantern's Energy Shield? Let your voice be heard. Who will be, the Deadliest Warrior?