Lord Pugsy here. I hope you enjoyed the first snippet of this story. So here is how it all started. I do not own any of the Danny Phantom characters mentioned, except maybe a couple. I only own the story. Please enjoy.
"Now that is what I call a boat." Tucker exclaimed, gazing upon the luxury vessel that would take the trio's English Class on an Atlantic cruise.
"Hmph," scoffed Sam, glaring at the ship as if it had offended her on a deep, personal level. "You can tell none of it was made from recyclable materials."
"How can you possibly tell that just from looking at it?" Tucker asked incredulously.
"Doesn't matter," Sam said dismissively, waving her hand at the Techno-Geek. "The only way it could get any worse is if they don't cater for ultro-recyclable vegetarians."
"I just can't wait for all the gourmet meat dishes." Tucker was practically drooling at the thought of the buffets they had been promised; Sam scoffed yet again and began to rant at how important it was to eat less meat and more vegetables. Danny, who was sat off to the side on his suitcase, broke a smile as he watched the usual food argument between his two best friends. As far as he could tell, this was the seventeenth time they'd had the meat-versus-vegetable argument this week, and it was only Wednesday. Danny's chuckling, however, was cut short as he looked around the port nervously. Ever since the cruise had been announced a week previous, an intense nagging feeling refused to leave him. Every way he looked at it, Danny simply couldn't fathom why anyone would just randomly pay for a bunch of teenagers to go on what was bound to be, an extremely expensive cruise. Now that the day of the cruise had finally arrived, the nagging feeling was at full force, making Danny feel that his entire class was in danger. He continued to look around for his class and Mr Lancer to make sure everyone was acting normally. When his eyes fell on Dash, who happened to look up at that moment and noticed Danny watching him, flipped him off with a sneer.
Definitely normal, thought Danny. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Danny activated his latest power that Clockwork had been helping him to train; he closed his eyes and concentrated on combining his Ghost Sense with his other senses and mentally 'pushed' outwards. Danny opened his eyes and everything was light blue; looking at Sam and Tucker, he saw that they were both dark blue, meaning that they were human. He looked around the port; he breathed slightly easier when every person he saw was dark blue, including Paulina, who Danny didn't see as exactly human. More of a leech. Danny closed his eyes and breathed in deeply; when he opened them, his sight returned to normal, only to see his friends staring at him.
"What?" He asked.
"Your eyes," said Sam. "They were glowing and sparkling."
"Sparkling?"
"Yeah," replied Sam, before blushing at what she just said, causing Danny to lightly blush too.
"Lovebirds" whispered Tucker, but Danny heard him perfectly.
"Knock it off Tuck."
"Sorry dude. Couldn't help it," laughed Tucker. "Were you doing your Sense thingy?"
"Yeah. Just checking out the port; making sure that everything is normal." Danny said.
"Still paranoid?" Sam asked, having successfully buried the blush.
"The verdict is still out on that one," Danny responded. "But I've only got a radius of about a hundred feet with it. There could be someone beyond that watching us."
"C'mon dude. Can't you just relax? What are the odds that this is a trap?" Tucker asked jokingly. "Can't you just accept that some good karma has been given to us for all the good work we've been doing recently? I've lost count of how many nefarious ecto-deeds we've stopped in the past month."
"One," Danny began. "I am nowhere near that lucky, and we all know it. Two, no person in their right mind sets up a raffle for teenagers to take a luxury cruise without some sort of angle or violent agenda. And three, Caspar High never knew anything about the raffle or this cruise. If that doesn't scream 'DANGER', then I don't know what does."
"When you put it that way, you've got a point." Tucker conceded, as Sam walked over to Danny and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Listen Danny. Even if this whole thing is a trap, we will face it together," she said, smiling. "It's what friends are for." Danny looked into her amethyst eyes and saw only truth there. He returned the smile.
"Thanks guys."
"Besides," Sam started again. "If it is a trap, we've all packed ghost weapons so we're not exactly going to be caught unawares."
"Very true." Danny said, as he saw Valerie walking over to them, towing her own suitcase. "I'm fairly certain Valerie will have packed her suit and some extra weapons as well." The trio had grown closer to Valerie after the whole incident with Dani and Vlad; she still didn't know that Danny Fenton was Danny Phantom, but a truce had been made. Several times a week, they would even spar together. When she found out that the trio also 'hunted ghosts', they had become even closer, despite always being curious as to how they hunted ghosts without her ever seeing them when she was out on one of her patrols. That mystery was right up there with how Vlad became a Halfa.
"Hey guys." Valerie said brightly.
"Hey Val." Danny said distractedly as he went back to looking around the area. She turned to the other two with a questioning look on her face.
"Is he still in his paranoid funk like he has been for the past week?" She asked.
"Big time." Sam replied as she looked at Danny again with concern in her eyes. Both Valerie and Tucker saw how Sam was looking at Danny, and gave each other a knowing look and smirk. Before Valerie got to know the trio, she regularly made fun of the two by saying they were 'lovebirds', but after actually spending time and getting to know them, it was obvious that they were always going to end up together if they ever actually got around to admitting their feelings. She had accepted early on that the brief fling she had with the raven-haired teen was just that, a fling. The feelings between Sam and Danny were considerably stronger, and everyone but them knew it.
"Yeah. We were just reassuring him that even if something did happen, we are fully equipped to handle it." Tucker said, waving his hand in front of Sam's face, causing her to blush for a second time.
"Do that again Tech-Boy and it'll be my boot waving in front of your face," she said menacingly. Tucker whimpered at Sam's narrowed gaze as he hid behind Valerie as she just laughed at their exchange.
"But Tucker is right," Sam said, in a much lighter tone. "We all have wrist-rays, lipstick-lasers, the Fenton Creep Stick and a couple of thermoses for good measure. I take it you have pretty much the same?"
"Of course." Valerie confirmed, but her face dropped slightly. "But my dad caught me packing my suit and confiscated it. Saying that there is no chance I'll need it."
"Ah well." Tucker said, reappearing beside them now that Sam had calmed down. "It's not like something is-." He was cut off by Danny who decided to take a break from scanning the port and join the conversation.
"Tucker, you finish that sentence and I will take both of Sam's boots and throw them at you. You know what happens when you say stuff like that," he stated.
"Hey. I am not Bad Luck Tuck." Tucker huffed, bristled by the insult, but then a smirk crossed his face. "But I see you are already comfortable enough to take Sam's clothes off though. I didn't know you had even kissed yet. You two sure move fast." Danny and Sam blushed uncontrollably as Valerie burst into giggles. Tucker was about to join her as a boot sailed across the gap and hit him square in the face.
"You have precisely five seconds before the second boot comes off and follows the same flight-path." Sam stated warningly, her hand still poised from when she threw the first boot. Tucker shrieked about having to go to the gift shop for something and raced off. This just caused Valerie to laugh even more, whereas Danny gave a small chuckle before his eyes scanned the port for what seemed like the fiftieth time. The girls just sighed as they caught him looking again as Sam went to retrieve her boot. By the time Tucker re-joined them, Mr Lancer had made his way over to the group in his 'cruise ship' attire. He was wearing a vivid purple Hawaiian shirt with toucans and coconuts on it, khaki shorts, flip flops and a straw hat; the shirt was doing very little to hide his rotund.
"Come along children. The Captain has just given the order for us to ready ourselves for boarding. Our holiday has officially started." The four of them followed their teacher as they got in line behind the A-Listers who seemed to be making a point of pretending they didn't exist; Sam and Valerie just scowled at their behaviour whereas Danny and Tucker weren't particularly surprised or remotely bothered by something they had spent many years getting used to. The less attention they got from the A-Listers, the better this cruise would be as far as they were concerned. Though Valerie, who had finally grown use to such behaviour, still became annoyed when Star joined in with the childishness. She was the one A-Lister that continued to talk to Valerie after her dad lost his job at Axion Labs and she lost her popular status, but now it seemed she had forgotten about her. Valerie was brought out of her musings when a klaxon sounded, signalling that they could board. Danny was about to board when he heard a scuffle behind him. He looked around and saw an elderly man, and what appeared to be his grandson, struggling to climb the ramp. Danny fell back a bit and helped the man on board.
"Thank you sonny," the older gent said, tipping his hat at the teen. "Much obliged. These old bones aren't what they use to be."
"Not a problem." Said Danny, smiling at the small boy beside his grandfather as they boarded the ship.
"Dude?" Tucker's voice came from the door. "You coming or what?"
"Yeah," Danny said, taking one final look around. "I'm coming."
"Wow," was all Tucker could say as they took in the ship's interior.
"Yeah," Danny affirmed. "If we're going to die in a horrible and painful trap, at least we'll die in style. This place is amazing."
"You got that right," murmured Valerie in awe.
"I've seen better," muttered Sam unconvincingly. As her family was rich, Sam had been on plenty of cruises when she was younger, but this ship was something else. Where average cruise ships have roughly twelve decks, this one had twelve decks purely for entertainment activities. There was another four for restaurants and bars, and then a further four for sleeping quarters.
"I say we dump our stuff in our room and then check this place out. Sound good?" Tucker suggested.
"Definitely," Danny replied, starting to actually feel hopeful about their 'holiday'. "It looks like our rooms are right next to each other as well."
"No late night visits you two," Valerie said, racing off before Sam could throw her boot at her. The glare Sam was attempting was lost in the blush she was failing to battle. Instead, she chased after the ex-A-Lister, leaving her two best friends chuckling in her wake. Tucker was also looking on with hearts in his eyes.
"Ahh, I think I'm in love," he said, staring off after Valerie.
"Dude, just ask her out then," Danny said, as they both made their way towards their room at a more leisurely pace. "Tell you what, I'll make a deal with you."
"I'm listening."
"You ask Valerie out, and then I'll ask Sam out." Tucker's jaw dropped as Danny had finally, kind of, admitted his feelings for their Goth best friend.
"You serious man?" Danny just nodded.
"To be perfectly honest, I've kind of wanted to ever since the whole thing with Gregor/Elliot. Because proving your crush is actually a creep who's only looking for a way into your pants is the perfect way to start a relationship." Tucker snorted. "But in all seriousness, that combined with what happened with Undergrowth really sealed it for me. I'm crazy about her."
"Then seriously dude, why haven't you asked her yet?" Tucker asked, relieved and confused at the same time at Danny's confession.
"Nine years we've been best friends. Nine years Tuck. That's a lot to give up if things took a turn for the worst." Tucker was about to disagree with him when they arrived at their rooms with Sam and Valerie waiting outside for them, their previous altercation a memory now. Danny leaned into Tucker.
"Initiate Guy Code: Rule 109."
"Rule 109 initiated," confirmed Tucker with a smile. Danny and Tucker had made the rule that whenever either one of them spoke about a girl in a serious way, it would always stay between them. As they had been practically brothers since they were five, they took the Guy Code very seriously, if only bending it slightly from time to time.
"You know," began Sam as she saw the guys coming towards them. "If you ate less meat, you would have had more energy and kept up with us."
"First of all, we weren't the ones with a lobster-like complexion and chasing after someone with a boot." At this, Sam couldn't help but blush as Valerie hid a smirk behind her hand. "And, as a self-proclaimed Techno-Geek, I feel obliged and duty-bound to view all technological appliances wherever they may be and give them the love and attention they deserve."
"There was a really big TV wasn't there?" Sam asked, yet again having fought down the blush.
"A massive T.V. with a surround-sound system that would put our movie-complex back home to shame." Tucker corrected. "I can't wait to see what their actual movie screens are like." Tucker was lying through his teeth, but the girls bought it, much to Danny's thanks. He gave Tucker a nod of appreciation as they entered their rooms and dumped their stuff on their beds. Their room consisted of two single beds and an ensuite, not that they paid much attention as the girls were getting impatient waiting for them outside. It would not be wise on their part to keep two girls, who could beat them up, waiting longer than necessary.
"So where do you want to go first?" Danny asked, pocketing their room key.
"Wherever the jocks and cheerleaders aren't," replied an angry Valerie.
"Sounds good to me," said Tucker, wanting to change the topic away from Valerie's strained friendship with Star. "Do we know where they are?"
"Well if I know Paulina, and unfortunately I know the paddling pool extremely well, she'll have coerced all the A-Listers to start tanning immediately on the upper deck."
"How about some food at one of the restaurants then?" Danny suggested, looking down at his watch; it was just after noon. "We can get some food and then go about exploring the rest of this place."
"You mean check it for bombs and ghosts, don't you?" Sam asked innocently, but with an underlying tone of knowing.
"One check can't do any harm," defended Danny, looking nervously at Sam's growing glare.
"Daniel James Fenton." She said seriously; the others gulped. "We are here to relax, and only to relax. We aren't in Amity Park anymore. There isn't a ghost around every corner who's out to get us. The only things we have to watch out for here are icebergs and the A-Listers. And I'm not entirely sure which one I would rather face." With that, she grabbed Danny's hand and dragged him towards the nearest restaurant, Tucker and Valerie laughing behind them, all the while thinking that it was only a matter of time.
Danny's mind was a little more at ease after eating (Tucker's mantra that food is the cure for everything), and was taking a stroll on the upper deck towards the bow of the ship with Tucker whilst the girls got ready to go to one of the cinemas on board.
"You know, I think I feel an 'I told you so' coming on." Tucker joked, noticing that Danny was much calmer than before after such a relaxing day. Danny just laughed, looking out to sea.
"Yeah alright, I have it coming. Go on then. Lay it on me."
"Dude," started Tucker, placing both his hands on Danny's shoulders, giving him a serious look. "I told you so." The serious look broke as Tucker couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Whatever." Danny was smiling too though. "You say something else though, and I won't just throw a boot at you." He said pointing at Tucker's pocket, and then over the side. Tucker's jaw dropped.
"You wouldn't dare," he challenged, placing his hand in a protective position over the indicated pocket.
"Try me." Danny had an evil grin on his face as he said this. "Say one more thing about 'nothing can possibly go wrong' and Cheryl will find herself at the bottom of the Atlantic."
"But I just finished paying the last instalment on her." Tucker whined, taking out his precious PDA and hugging it to his chest. "Don't worry baby. Tucker won't let the bad ghost harm you. No he won't, no he won't"
"Then silence will be her saviour." Danny chuckled, fully used to Tucker's affectionate behaviour towards his electronics. "C'mon, let's go meet the girls at the cinema. They're probably getting sick of always waiting for us."
"True that," Tucker laughed, as they made their way towards their rooms to get changed. "And no making out at the back." Tucker taunted good-naturedly.
"I could say the same for you Tuck," countered Danny, causing both of them to burst out laughing, but blushing at the same time. Both boys were so caught up in their childish antics, they didn't notice the Chief Officer rushing past them towards the Wheel House where the Captain was. Upon arriving, he saluted the Captain and spoke.
"Captain. I think we have a problem sir."
"What is it Montgomery?" The Captain asked from behind the wheel.
"Well sir, we have received a distress signal from a vessel 167 miles from our current location."
"Are we the nearest ship to their position?"
"Correct sir." Montgomery stated. "However Captain, that isn't the problem sir." The Captain looked at his Chief Officer perplexed.
"Do enlighten me."
"Well sir, the vessel in question is the Optimus." The Captain stiffened at this.
"But that vessel has the very latest state of the art equipment and machinery. It is nearly impossible for a ship like that to break down. If I'm not mistaken, every single one of its test runs eight months ago found the vehicle practically flawless."
"I wish that were the whole story Captain," Montgomery began again. "Upon receiving the distress signal, all radio transmissions with the Optimus have ceased sir. We are receiving nothing from them sir. No one is even attempting to ring for help on their phones. Everything's dead."
"Get down to the Chief Engineer and charter a course for the Optimus' last known position." The Captain ordered. "The passengers will be informed that we are on a rescue mission and their cruise will have to be postponed for a day or two whilst we rescue the Optimus's passengers and staff, whilst we attempt to figure this out."
"Yes Captain." Montgomery saluted before leaving. The Chief Officer ran as fast as he could towards the engine room, almost colliding with an old gent and his grandson. He gave a rushed apology and hurried off.
"Why was the sailor man running Grampy?" The boy asked innocently. The old man looked down kindly at his grandson.
"There's nothing to worry about Billy," he said smiling as they continued their stroll. "Nothing at all."
Thank you once again for reading this and I hoped you enjoyed it. Until next time.
Lord Pugsy.
Edited 09/05/15.