Here's the next chapter of World of the Crazies. A lot of crazy things happen here, it'll mess with your head…
Enjoy…
Chapter 2: Mad Matches
Meanwhile, Danny and Timmy were waking up after being sucked into Jimmy's Universe Portal Machine. Danny stood up and looked around and noticed they were in what looked like a dark science lab.
"Ugh…" Danny groaned as he held his head. "Where are we?"
"Danny?" Timmy asked, getting his attention. "Didn't we fall through Jimmy's Portal Machine?"
"Yeah, we did." Danny answered. "After that, we could be anywhere right now."
Then they heard a noise and Danny quickly ducked behind a desk as he pushed down on Timmy's head. "Timmy, get down." He whispered.
They peek from behind the desk to see the slide door open automatically, but they did not see anyone enter. They had a look of puzzlement until they hear a familiar voice, "This should repair any malfunctions we should be experiencing. Our stratagem should proceed accordingly afterwards without failure."
They immediately recognized the voice and vocabulary. Then Timmy stood up and ran over to see Jimmy Neutron.
"Neutron!" Timmy shouted happily until he stopped and notice something off by Jimmy's appearance.
He was wearing a white lab coat, a black shirt with an atom symbol, blue jeans, and a pair of safety goggles around his head; and his hairstyle was drooping a bit. Jimmy's eyes seemed to widen when he saw Timmy.
"Whoa," Timmy said when he saw him. "Nice look, you joining a mad science club?"
But Jimmy still stared at him in surprise. "Timmy Turner? But that's impossible. How are you here in this appearance?" he asked quietly in shock as he backed away.
"What are you talking about?" Timmy asked in confusion. "You know who I am."
But Jimmy just glared as he grabbed a device off the table and immediately shoved it to Timmy's chest and the device shocked him as Timmy screamed and fell to the floor.
"Timmy!" Danny yelled as he stood up from his hiding place and ran over.
Jimmy stared in surprise at Danny as well, until he shook his head and narrowed his eyebrows for some reason.
Danny picked up the unconscious Timmy as he glared at Jimmy. "Jimmy, what was that all about?"
"Fear not." Jimmy answered. "All I did was halt the nerve signals from his brain. The effects should ware down in approximately twenty minutes. And by then he should awaken with his limbs mobile. If I were to zap him twice, it would leave him in a permanent state of paralysis with his mind also in a catatonic state."
Danny seemed surprised at what he just explained, "But…if it does all that, then why invent something like that?"
"Every great scientist must have something like that for their own gain. Otherwise, why let them escape if they know your secrets?"
"Well, I get everyone likes their own privacy, but that seems a little too hash for my taste."
"If that's what you think. But the better question would be; what are you two doing here?"
"Jimmy, it's us." Danny reminded him. "Danny and Timmy, remember?"
"I'm afraid you're mistaking me for someone else." The other Jimmy said, putting his hand up. "However, judging by your circumstances, I am not surprised why."
"Wait!" Danny said as his eyes widen. "If you're not Jimmy Neutron, then who are you? Where are we?"
The other Jimmy replied, "Just ask yourself: what's the last thing you recall before coming here?"
Danny looked away trying to think of the answer, "Well…we both fell through a portal in our friend's machine, and the next thing we knew, we both ended up here."
"So, it's true." The other Jimmy muttered to himself before turning back to Danny, "From your explanation, I concur you're both from another universe."
"Another universe?" Danny questioned until he looked around and realized, "We're in another universe?"
"Correct." The other Jimmy smiled. "Other than your own, there are other universes, millions of them; some with properties small or drastically different from yours and mine."
Danny stopped when he remembered the Jimmy he knew, saying that as well. Then he listened to the other Jimmy continue.
"Ones set in a different time frame or with undiscovered inhabitants. There may even be inhabitants who wear the same face as us, with the same characteristics to match. All while in a different universe, one who may possess the same outward appearance as us may have a personality opposite from the one we have. They could be a hero, criminal, monster, or maybe even the opposite gender. Discoveries like this are very valuable. Imagine the possibilities of encountering a universe different from ours. Would it bring glory…or threat?"
After the Alternate Jimmy's little speech, Danny stared and responded, "Believe me, I know a thing or two about other universes. But if all of that is true, what universe is this?"
"It's the same as any universe out there, but like I said, properties may differ."
Danny raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, thanks for the information. Until Timmy wakes up, I better find a way back to my universe."
As Danny turned and began to walk away with Timmy in his arms, the Alternate Jimmy suddenly spoke again, "It was HIS doing that you were sent here, wasn't it?"
Danny turned around and faced the genius again. "Who?" He asked, wondering what he meant.
"Your universe's version of myself." The Alternate Jimmy explained. "He created the Portal Machine that brought you two here, is that true?"
"Uh- yes," Danny hesitantly answered. "He is a genius like you, but this was all an accident."
"Is that so?" the Alternate Jimmy oddly began to smile slyly. "So it would seem that my other self has unintentional success and uses his intellect for the benefit of others. Right, Danny Fenton?"
Danny seemed surprise by his accurate guess. "You know me?"
"Of course. In your universe, you acquired ghost powers from a lab accident, and now use your gift to help the lives of others.
Danny's eyes widen at this. How was it that the Jimmy of this universe knows all this when the real Jimmy Neutron didn't even know this much about him when they met.
The Alternate Jimmy stared him, retaining his cunning smile. "Judging by your expression, I see I'm correct. You also say you desire to return to your own universe." Danny didn't respond to this. "Lucky for you, I can help you with that."
After a while, Danny finally spoke up, "Actually, I'd rather find my own way back."
"Oh?" Alternate Jimmy said in false surprise. "And how would you do that? You don't have the technology I possess to take you there. If you let me assist you, all would be easy."
"I'd much rather take a shot at it myself than let a stranger who knows my life story help me out." Danny responded with a glare.
"Is that so?" Alternate Jimmy asked with his smile turning into a smirk. "And what if you fail? Say you can't succeed after rejecting my offer to assist you. You never make it home. You never see your friends and family again; the thought of the sadness on their faces from you not being there and no knowledge of your whereabouts while you struggle in vain to try and return to them."
As Alternate Jimmy spoke, Danny's expression turned to horror and shock. "I…" he tried to speak. But Alternate Jimmy took this moment to continue on.
"And what of Timmy? Should he have to suffer the same fate because you selfishly declined the only opportunity you have of returning to your universe?"
Danny looked at Timmy still lying unconscious in his arms as Alternate Jimmy added, "I'm only doing this for your own good. We are friends in your universe, are we not? My other self would do the same for you if you were in the opposite position, wouldn't he?"
"Yes…" Danny answered in an almost inaudible tone.
"I should mention that I am warning you of the dangers you might face if you were to not accept my offer." Alternate Jimmy continued on, "Unlike your universe I'm sure, mine is something you have never experienced. I assure that once you step out the front door, you will wish you had let me sent you back home. There are unspeakable things out there, Danny. Whoever you meet out there, you will not be sure if you can trust them or not."
He stopped for a moment and saw Danny standing there, looking dazed. He smiled coolly and took the moment to ask, "So, Danny, what will it be?" he extended a hand to him.
Danny lifted his head and began to reach his hand out also. But then, he suddenly fired a green ecto-beam that hit Alternate Jimmy and slammed him into the wall.
The genius looked up at Danny with anger, but Danny changed into ghost form and said, "I believe what you said, and you're right. I'm not sure who I can trust in this universe…not even you."
He ran out the door, leaving the Alternate Jimmy, glaring angrily as he sat on the floor against the wall. "You just made a big miscalculation, Danny Phantom."
Outside, Danny Phantom turned a corner and hid against the wall. "Timmy." He said, shaking the unconscious boy in his arms. "Timmy, wake up. I can't get out of here without your help."
When Timmy didn't wake up, Danny just ran down the hall and tried to phase through the ceiling. But he just banged his head and couldn't go through, much to his confusion.
He heard a beeping noise and saw a laser come out of the wall. Then he quickly ran away from it and hid behind a crack in the wall. "Timmy, please wake up." He begged as he tried to shake Timmy awake. "I need your help, Timmy. Timmy!"
Then Timmy's eyelids wince and he slowly opened his eyes to see Danny and his surroundings. He gasped and shouted, "I wish we were out of here!"
Danny and Timmy disappear in a cloud of pink smoke. From behind a corner, Alternate Jimmy watched them and then turned with a scowl.
In a world where things are different, yet somehow, some things are still the same. Can Timmy and Danny survive this strange new world? Please review what you think so far.