Chapter 30:
Tony POV-
The dinner, actually went better than I expected. Of course, by the end, I half expected Vlad to ghost zap me, but, surprisingly, he didn't.
I found it hilariously awesome when Dani trash talked her "father," but I tried really hard to contain it, especially considering that I am not supposed to know why that would be so funny. And, even while Pepper scolded Dani, I saw her crack a small smile at the look on Vlad's face.
Now, we are finally on our way home.
I expected to be bombarded with questions the second we walked into the house. But, as it turned out, Danny Sam and Tucker couldn't even wait that long as they rushed out of the front door to meet us at the car.
"How was it?" Danny demanded.
"How'd it go?" Sam asked at the same time.
"Did you spill anything on him?" Tucker wondered.
I held up my hands to the glass of the car window as a sign that I would answer their questions when I got out. The three teenagers smiled sheepishly and stepped away, allowing me to actually get out of the car.
Dani, Pepper and I got out of the car.
"It went…fine, and yes: wine on his white shirt. Now let's go in the house to answer the rest of your questions," I told them and led the way through the front door.
"Danielle, how are you doing?" Danny asked her, concerned as we sat on the couch (I swear, since Danielle came into my house, we have used this couch more than the entire time I had owned it before).
Dani shrugged pulling her legs up beside her on the couch, "It was hard to face him…but, I'll be okay…for now, at least. But we still don't know his next move."
"We will," I said deviously, and all eyes turned to me, "I might have put a microscopic camera on his palm."
"Awesome!" Tucker exclaimed, then we've got to get to the lab and see what's going on. I laughed as they all enthusiastically followed him to the lab. Pepper laughed too, and followed them so that they could actually get in the lab.
I stood up, but Danielle, who had lagged behind a little, grabbed my arm.
"Thanks, for everything you said at the restaurant…it really helped," she muttered quietly. I smiled a little, and put my hand on her shoulder.
"No thanks required. I meant everything I said. You have been a great daughter and he was, as you put it, 'a complete dick' for ever thinking you wouldn't be good enough," I assured her. She grinned, giving me a hug, before racing down the stairs to join the others.
"It shouldn't take too long to override the system…" I heard the arrogant voice of Vlad as I entered the lab. The image on the screen from the camera, the view of which should have been his wine stained shirt was actually a glowing white and black shirt. Near the top of the screen, I could also see the edge of his blue-green ghost face, and even farther in the background, I saw his vulture minions.
"Wait a minute!" Pepper exclaimed, "That's obviously not the same Vlad we met at dinner, so either he found the camera and gave it to this ghost or the five of you need to start talking now," she demanded, crossing her arms in front of her chest and giving all of us, or, more specifically, me, pointed looks.
Finally, Dani sighed, casting a glance at Danny, probably asking for the all-clear to give up his secret too.
"Fine. Vlad Masters is Vlad Plasmius," Dani admitted.
Pepper, had, obviously, expected this, but she still seemed confused at how that was possible, so Danny stepped in.
"He's half-ghost because of a lab accident when he was in college with my parents," Danny answered her unspoken question.
"Okay…and you are involved in this…why?" Pepper asked, with an arched eyebrow, like she had already guessed the answer.
Danny and Danielle shared a look, before letting out a deep sigh and transforming.
Even if she had guessed at their secrets, Pepper was still surprised at the transformation.
"What about you two?" Pepper asked Tucker and Sam.
Sam shrugged, "We were there when Danny got his powers, actually, it was sort of my fault, and we help Danny fight and capture ghosts in Amity Park."
Pepper nodded slowly, and turned towards Danielle.
"So…is it genetic?" She asked.
"We don't know," they all in unison.
"But—" Pepper was cut off.
"Vlad isn't really my father," Dani said, "He's just…technically my creator…" Danielle winced.
"Danielle, was created to be a…clone of me, because Vlad wanted the perfect half-ghost son, and when I wouldn't join him…" Danny added.
"He started exploring other options," Sam continued.
"But, clearly, something went wrong…" Tucker added.
"Because I'm…obviously, not Danny," Danielle finished, gesturing to herself.
"I think I need to sit down," Pepper said, sitting in the seat behind her. After a minute of silence, she turned to me.
"You knew about this and you didn't tell me," she walked over to me and poked my chest angrily.
"I told him not to tell you," Danielle said, looking guilty. Pepper's expression softened and she put her hands on Danielle's ghostly shoulders, "I didn't want you to worry about me," Dani added.
"There's not much you can do about that, she still worries about me," I interjected, with a smirk in Pepper's direction.
"Yes, I worry, and I will continue to worry," she glared at me, then turned back to Dani, "But I only do it because I care. And, I won't make you stop, even if I don't like it, partially, because something tells me I couldn't if I tried," Pepper smiled.
"Um…guys," Tucker called from the computer, "Not that this isn't a heartwarming family moment or anything, but they're on their way here."
"Tony," Danny said, "Now would be a great time to suit up."