A/N: Hello, everyone! Truephan here! Are y'all ready for another chapter? Well, of course you are or else you wouldn't be here! *smacks forehead* So, let's go, then and I have a little surprise (for me, too, actually!) at the end after we get you all riled up! Have fun!
Pearl: Hmm… surprise? Well, I'll have to see what that is, too… So, while I go investigate, you readers can enjoy this chapter! *winks*
Disclaimer: We do not own Danny Phantom.
Chapter 17: Trial of Chance and Consequences
Danny's stomach growled just as he saw the burly Observant that had motioned him and Vlad to come retreat back into the room. That was just fine with him to go there because right now, he wouldn't argue any point to get something to eat. He was starved! He stood up and followed Vlad toward the room to which they had been directed. He didn't even think about how easy it was for him to catch up to the older hybrid nor did he notice that Vlad had obviously been taking his time to get there.
Spektanto, however, didn't even seem to notice that the two hybrids had left. He was busy writing more notes on those many pages in front of him.
Just as Danny approached Vlad, the man slowed even more, as if he were waiting for the boy to get nearer.
And indeed, Vlad was waiting. As soon as Danny was at his side, Vlad grabbed the boy's wrist and pulled it, gently urging the younger hybrid to slow down—now.
Danny frowned at Vlad's behavior and was about to object when Vlad hurriedly, yet almost desperately, whispered, "Daniel, we need to talk before the trial resumes, and now would be a good time…I know I haven't supported the 'we' in this trial so far…."
"Ya think?" Danny replied, purposefully interrupting him while yanking his arm out of the man's grasp.
But Vlad merely grabbed Danny's wrist again, a little more firmly this time and kept the teen from moving forward.
"Just what do you…?" Danny demanded with irritation, only to be interrupted by the man.
"Not now, Daniel! We don't have time! Just listen to me. I think you might find what I have to say interesting. After all, you must know now that we have no option except to try to escape again."
"Again? Right now? No way! I just got to get something to eat! Besides, have you forgotten what happened when we tried the first time, Plasmius?" Danny sourly said. "Oh, and weren't you the one who said it was impossible to escape, anyways?"
Vlad gritted his teeth. He hated it when the boy got petulant. Still, he needed to keep calm and convince Daniel about his plans.
"Yes, I did say that, but it was thoughtless talk. Plus, I don't think our escape attempt was a bad first try, actually, Daniel. We just need to change our tactics," the man calmly replied.
One of Danny's eyebrows shot up. The man did sound more like himself. But then again, was this a good or bad thing?
"Well, you didn't seem to be all that willing to change on that first try, Vlad," Danny countered. "And, do I need to remind you that you were just trying to pin all those crimes on me just now? And you want me to believe that all of the sudden you want to work together to escape? Sorry, I don't buy it!"
Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep calm. They didn't have too much more time to argue. Still, he had to get back to his point, which was to work on changing tactics about escaping. Finally, he said, "I will admit that my actions in the trial hardly inspired your vote of trust in me. However, this isn't about trust, Daniel. It's about working with each other because it benefits us both. Look, Daniel. I know you want to escape as much as I do. And I saw how you somehow thought writing down all those symbols you saw Spektanto writing was important."
"Who said it was important?" Danny said defensively, his face blushing. He didn't want to tell Vlad what he had been musing about the symbols because he didn't want the older hybrid to make fun of him.
Vlad frowned slightly. There the boy went, getting all defensive again. Still, he calmly replied, "Come now, dear boy. I am not reproaching you for studying those symbols. You said you would escape with or without me. So, I think that was a good idea for you to consider all options that present themselves to you when it comes to making plans to escape, wouldn't you agree?"
Danny didn't answer, but he knew a compliment from the man when he heard it. Still, he wasn't so certain whether to trust Vlad again.
Vlad, however, added, "So, Daniel, do you think we can put our differences aside enough to plan that escape?"
But then, they were interrupted by movement just ahead of them. That same burly Observant with an apron over his purple floor-length gown had reappeared at the door again, looking even more impatient than he first had when the hybrids had first seen him.
The two half-ghosts glanced at each other, both having noticed the intensity in that Observant's eye. They both knew that they would have to wait until after eating to continue with their discussion…
Vlad and Danny ignored the Observant's glare and continued at the same pace just the same, so as not to raise any suspicion on why they had tarried.
And just when they had reached within earshot of the Observant, he growled, "Just so you creatures know, I did not prepare this without objection. You do not deserve it. But I always do what I am ordered." With that, the Observant retreated back into the room.
Both of the hybrids frowned in confusion at the spirit's remark but still pressed on. Once they had crossed the threshold, however, both unconsciously stopped in a jolt and gasped in awe at what they saw. The room was brimming with all kinds of delicious foods! Now they understood what the Observant had meant. He was ordered to fix them something decent for a change!
Vlad saw slices upon slices of the finest steaks, hams and seafood exquisitely displayed. There was fresh Waldorf salad over ice, vegetables almandine, rice pilaf and globs of cheddar potatoes just begging to be taken. The man was so hungry that he smiled and turned ghost as he approached the tempting and delectable dishes.
Danny also saw a lot of food, but he zeroed in on the different kinds of pizza, snuggled under their still bubbling and steaming cheese blankets as if they were fresh out of their unseen oven. There were also trays of fresh hamburgers with all the fixings and French fries. He was delighted to see a soda fountain nearby, too!
But knowing that all this wonderful food was still 'ghost food' and that it only would benefit him in ghost form, Danny turned into Phantom just before he said to Vlad, "Where have they been hiding this stuff?"
But Vlad was half-listening. He, too, was so distracted at satiating himself that he was immediately grabbing a nearby carrying tray and empty plate. He went right up to the food display and started selecting his favorite foods.
Danny, likewise, served himself a large slice of hot, gooey pepperoni pizza and a large, juicy hamburger. He quickly prepared his hamburger, grabbed some fries and headed to the soda fountain.
After placing a glass of their favorite beverages onto their trays, the two hybrids sat down on the only table in the room. But even though it was the only table in the room, there were real napkins and utensils laid out for their use.
But just as soon as they had prepared to eat, Danny grinned at Vlad. And with the waft of his favorite foods still filling his nose and exciting his stomach, the teen commented, "Gee, they haven't served us real food since—forever! I can't even remember the last time they threw any food that wasn't grey at us! Not to mention, there wasn't even much of that, either! Did they finally grow some kind of heart in those empty central cores of theirs?"
"Doubtful," Vlad replied dryly, though he had a small smile of his own on his face as he added a pinch of salt to his salad.
It was then that Danny finally noticed what Vlad was having. That was odd. He never thought the refined Vlad Masters would eat that kind of food. Still, it wasn't as if Vlad had any choice. So, Danny shrugged it off. If Vlad was even half as starved as he was right now, just about any real food would seem like ambrosia.
All of the sudden, Vlad also looked at what Daniel was having and then the boy's previous words just as sudden rattled him. Something wasn't right.
Danny lifted the slice of pizza with both hands and was about to take a huge bite out of it when Vlad suddenly said, "Daniel, wait!"
The boy stopped and lowered his hands slightly and frowned in disapproval. "Wait? I'm starving and this is the best looking pizza I've seen in weeks!"
"Pizza?" Vlad asked in bewilderment. "You're about to bite into a very large bagel with lox on it."
Danny frowned even more before replying, "Are you crazy? I don't even know what that is, much less volunteer to eat it!" The boy ended that comment with going back to the pizza still in his hands. He was about to bring it back up to his mouth when Vlad suddenly grabbed the boy's arm nearest to him and firmly lowered it.
"HEY!" Danny protested when he almost dropped the slice when Vlad did that. He immediately jerked the pizza away from the man.
Daniel, what do I have on my plate?" Vlad asked somberly.
"Pizza and fries. Though I have to say I'm surprised that you served yourself all of that. I thought you hated junk food, but you looked so pleased when you took them, so, whatever." He brought the pizza back up to his mouth. But he stopped again at Vlad's next words.
"I do hate junk food, and so I served myself filet mignon and Waldorf salad, Daniel, not pizza or fries."
This time, Danny halted in mid-bite and gingerly lowered his pizza back to his plate before he could even taste the food. He gulped at the possibility. He then looked at Vlad, searching for what this could mean.
And then both of them instinctively turned to the Observant chef who had called them into the room and had been here with them the entire time.
The Observant's eye suddenly glared red; and just as suddenly, the food in front of them melded into other substances. The liquid in each of their glasses was now green and as coagulated as blood as it spewed forth its thick, smelly bubbles. But that wasn't all. The stuff now on their plates was some form of multi-colored gelatin-like goo that was now actually moving and pulling the colors inward on itself, as if it were a vortex of vomit.
Danny instantly yelped as he dropped the food now moving in his hands and felt nauseous at the thought that he had come 'this close' to eating whatever those things were.
But Vlad merely frowned in irritation before rising out of his seat. Danny noticed this, of course, and kept his full attention on the man as he turned human again and sauntered over to the now familiar spirit.
"Back, I see…Commendable choice of cuisine, Iluzisto," Vlad calmly commented as he kept a firm gaze upon the spirit. "But I am sure that the High Tribunal wouldn't want you to starve us."
"You do not have any idea on what the Observants want, crossbreed!" Iluzisto angrily spat back. "But I do! And they want subservient and placid prisoners in their courtroom. And if making your inferior flesh bodies pang in what you call 'hunger' and 'thirst' is what it takes to give them what they want, then so be it! But if you are so desperate for nourishment, there's always this 'commendable cuisine' that I offer!"
The Prison Head ended that with a glare that somehow was able to convey both threat and sarcasm in it.
But Vlad answered him in a steel voice, "I'm sure you will understand, then, if the boy and I refuse your offer!"
"Do not think that because I was absent during the first part of your trial, I was not informed of both your creatures' doings!" the spirit hissed back, his eye glowing menacingly. He then countered with as much vigor, "So, I am sure, then, that you will understand that you will not get your nourishment if you continue to try the patience of the High Tribunal!"
"I am sure, then, that the High Tribunal would find it most improper to have their prisoners incoherent with hunger and thirst during these proceedings?" Vlad coolly countered back.
Iluzisto tried to hide the surprise his eye conveyed. That had been close to what Clockwork had said when the Time Master had first visited the hybrids in their prison cells!
Nevertheless, he growled threateningly, "However, the High Tribune never did dictate that their prisoners be comfortable!"
"Yes, I wouldn't doubt that," Vlad replied, his voice still steady. "However, if you mean to starve us, then you will ultimately fail because we'll be too weak for you to use us for your plans." The man dared to take a step closer and narrowed his eyes just slightly at Iluzisto as he added, "You see, our cores can only regenerate energy if our ghost and human bodies are healthy…. Very unlikely without food."
Iluzisto's eye narrowed in hate at being tricked again, but he said nothing for the moment.
Danny, meanwhile, couldn't agree more with that statement that he was not comfortable or healthy, at that. In fact, at this moment, his stomach was very uncomfortable! And that meant that it was getting harder and harder for him to maintain his human form because of his hunger. Not to mention the fact that he felt weak and dizzy from the lack of food and from all that 'torture chamber' stuff he had endured. Plus, there was this added 'bonus' of his neck brace that slowed his healing down. It all was indeed making it difficult for him to stay healthy, and in turn, keep his ghost energy up enough to even stay ghost. Nevertheless, he wasn't about to give Iluzisto any sort of satisfaction in what he had just did.
For a few more tense moments, the two hybrids silently stared at the Prison Head. Iluzisto's redden eye glowed even more as the seconds ticked by.
Danny bit the inner part of his lower lip when his stomach suddenly—and loudly—growled. He didn't want to show this jerk of a spirit that he was this vulnerable. Still, there was nothing he could do about it. He was starving! Nevertheless, he kept mute and a staid face as he continued to glare at the Observant.
Iluzisto then broke their fixated stares and lifted his black staff. Instantly, the terrible 'food' currently on the hybrids' plates melded into the usual grey grub, and stale grayish-brown bread that the prison had been giving to them in the past three days. They were as tasteless and unappealing as they were in looks, but they had at least satisfied their basic nourishment needs before.
This time, Danny turned human to make sure the food wasn't an illusion. And when he could touch it and knew it was real, he no longer hesitated. He quickly turned ghost again, snatched up the bowl of gruel and nearby spoon, and began to quickly ladle it up to his lips. He followed that up with a gulp of bread and then a gulp of grey liquid that had already appeared instead of the green bubbly stuff. Then he went back to the grey soup…
Vlad, though just as hungry and thirsty as the boy, merely turned into Plasmius as he returned to his own seat. He pulled a small piece of the crude loaf of bread and nibbled on it as if it were a delicacy. He, of course, ignored its unpleasant texture and bland taste. He then picked up the nearby glass of liquid. Slowly bringing it to his lips, he sipped on it with the gusto of a connoisseur tasting the finest wine from Spain. After all, he wasn't going to let the illusionist spirit get the upper hand in this instance no matter how much he wanted to satisfy his needs.
Iluzisto glared at the man's audacity. He then lifted his black staff once more and much to Danny's chagrin, all of the food and liquid disappeared.
"Hey!" Danny blurted out; but then, he quickly stifled himself. He now realized that he had already lost some of his willpower because of his desperate hunger and thirst.
The Observant then hissed, "Like I said. The High Tribunal does not concern itself to the comfort of its prisoners. But it expects them to be pliant nevertheless! And heed my words: I will be watching and, more importantly, waiting to inflict pain into you tenfold if need be!"
Before either of the two hybrids could comment the illusionist spirit disappeared in the next instant, leaving Danny with a half-full stomach and Vlad with little food in his own.
But in actuality, the Prison Head still had a few more things to finish before he could return to the trial and had only come now because of that infernal order from the Council! Blast them! True, he couldn't afford to prepare his plans all at once or else he would raise the Council's suspicions. But he was still anxious to be done with his plans, and needed to use any time he could get—even if they were coming to him in preciously few amounts…Okulo had been of some help in this, like right now. The liaison had managed to make still another excuse for him to pursue the final part of his plans and still allow him to return to the trial without too much delay. After all, he wouldn't be going too far for the things he needed to get done, this time.
"I should be more patient," Iluzisto mused to himself. "After all, I will fix the Observants and everything else soon enough."
Still, he knew he couldn't leave the crossbreeds with the impression that he wouldn't be watching them even if he really wasn't going to do that for at least a little more portion of the trial. After all, he was even surer after what he just did to them that the crossbreeds would be compliant enough until then…
Meanwhile, Danny and Vlad glanced at each other briefly before Danny sighed and said, "Gee, Vlad, couldn't you have noticed that Iluzisto had meant to trick us after I had eaten all of my pizza?"
In spite the fact he had barely gotten any food, Vlad smirked before saying, "You know, for once I agree with you, Daniel. It would have been interesting to see your face once you noticed that your stomach had a life of its own—literally!"
"Ha-ha," Danny dryly remarked, swallowing the gulp and queasiness of the thought nevertheless. Still, he managed to add, "Now what? I'm still starved!"
But Vlad only silently motioned with his eyes, meaning for the boy to follow him out before Vlad turned, became human again, and began to walk out of the room.
Sighing once more in defeat and resignation that his appetite and thirst would have to wait, Danny turned human, too, and followed the man in silence and anticipation. After all, the boy had caught more than a 'follow me' kind of look in Vlad's eyes in that brief encounter. He had seen it several times before; and it was the kind that had 'I've got an idea' written all over it. And at this point, the boy was so wanting to get out of here, he had finally made up his mind: he was now more than willing to listen to what Vlad had in mind…
When both of the hybrids entered the Tribunal room again, they could easily see that Spektanto had not budged from his station and was still absorbed in whatever report he was writing. Still, they were still quite a bit of distance from the spirit, and Spektanto hadn't noticed either of them yet.
Vlad scanned the area and noticed four well-armed guards glaring at them a short distance away. They couldn't do anything about that right now. But they were far enough away that they might not be able to hear the two hybrids' speaking to each other if they kept their voices down. But then, suddenly, Vlad grabbed a hold of Danny's forearm as he had done when they had first approached the room they had just left and pulled him to a near stop.
Danny rolled his eyes before whispering, "You didn't need to do that, you know. I already guessed that we were going to continue our 'little talk' we started before our 'not really eating' thing."
Vlad half-smirked as he let go of the boy and started toward Spektanto at a snail's pace. He then whispered back, "So, you decided to put our differences 'on hold' for a while, Daniel?"
Danny hitched one side of his mouth up into a dry smirk and quietly replied, "Yeah, for now, cheese head. So, what do you have up your sleeve?"
"I'm getting to that, you little rat," Vlad said with a slight grin before glancing back at the guards and Spektanto. Good. The guards were no longer glaring at them. In fact, they were quietly talking amongst each other. And, as usual, Spektanto was reliably scribbling away and not paying attention—just like during the trial! Vlad resisted the urge to roll his eyes in annoyance, lest that send the wrong message to Daniel. He then continued, "Look up to the ceiling and to your right, but don't look too obvious doing that. There's a vent up there."
Danny slightly frowned. The man couldn't help but be patronizing. Still, he gazed slightly in that direction and after spying the vent and still not seeing Vlad's point, he replied, "Yeah?"
Vlad really resisted the urge to roll his eyes this time, and instead quietly explained, "If we could create some kind of distraction, you could get out that way."
Danny looked up at the vent again. He could easily squeeze through it. But then a few questions popped up. "But then what? I don't know my way around this place, much less do I know how to get out of here once I get through the vent. Not to mention the fact that you forgot about this little detail." The boy quickly pointed to his neck restraint.
But Vlad would not be thwarted. "Listen, Daniel. I have been here before, remember? And I know that you have a very good internal sense of direction. Once you are out the vent, head south which will take you to a barely used part of this building. Once outside, head due east and depending on your speed, you'll reach a hidden portal in a few hours. You cannot miss it because it's surrounded by a ghost shield."
But Danny was not convinced. The man had to be so hungry that his mind was getting loopier! Didn't Vlad remember that they had tried to get the neck restraints off before, and, of course, failed miserably? Sure, they had damaged them, but to get them off completely…. How were they going to do that when they weren't able to before? And even if they could, Danny wasn't sure he could even reach that vent feeling as badly as he did.
Danny quickly voiced his main concern, "However, there's still this neck restraint problem, which as you know—and even though it's not working right—really messes up our ghost powers. What can we do about that? And now that I think about it, why aren't you making these plans for yourself, then?"
Vlad answered his last question first. "I thought that would cross your mind. One of us escaping would have better odds at doing that if the other is keeping everyone else busy. Besides, you fly faster than me and though I could squeeze through the vent, I think you could get through it more easily and quickly than me. And, though I could be just as successful as you to escape, I think you would know the answer as to why I chose you to be the one to try."
Danny's eyes widened as he tried to think of that 'answer'. And it surprised him a little when it almost immediately came to his mind right afterward. It was Vlad's way of admitting that Danny would be the more likely of the two to get help and then go back to rescue the remaining party. The boy blushed a little at the indirect compliment, and said nothing at first. But then, that other issue came back into focus…
He finally replied, "Okay, then. I agree. It's worth a try. But what about the neck brace?"
"After our diversion, we won't have that much time, of course. But if we time it right, we'll be able to crouch on the floor right in front of that partition behind our chairs. That might be able to give us some cover to hide what we're doing."
But Danny didn't catch his drift at all and blurted out, "So?"
"I'm getting to that!" Vlad quietly snapped back, using every ounce of his patience not to catch the attention of Spektanto. Why did the boy have to be so clueless? He then sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in order to control himself and added, "We both know that neither of us can get our neck restraint off because each of us has diminished powers. However, we know that my collar had some damaged done to it when Iluzisto was giving us one of those earlier 'lesson-learned' sessions with the combination of the electric barrier separating our cells."
"Yeah, and you damaged mine—with a lot of pain, too—by using your diminished electric energy combined with that barrier's energy. I know all that. Get to the point, Vlad," Danny interrupted impatiently.
This time, Vlad narrowed his eyes a bit in annoyance, but still continued, though his voice was a bit terser, "The point is that our powers are not entirely gone; and perhaps they never were entirely since we have always been able to change into our ghost halves. Still, we are not sure how much more of our powers we can get to since the collars have been damaged and that's because we haven't been able to try yet. But let's assume that there's not that much more and that by ourselves, each of our powers are still diminished by the collars." Vlad then continued, his face brightening a bit in a pleased smirk, "However, I was wondering if these clowns actually ever thought what would happen if we combined both of our 'diminished' powers when trying to get these collars off? Then, maybe, we might be able to get yours off in the end."
Now Vlad had Danny's undivided attention. It was a wild hunch, but it was a good one! It just might be possible. Danny smirked a little before replying. "Okay, I'm game! But if that theory doesn't hold, then…"
But Vlad quickly finished the boy's thought, "Then we will still be stuck. After all, I don't think that even you have missed the fact that we are going to be found completely guilty and condemned."
Danny frowned at the indirect insult but let it go. After all, that was Vlad for ya. Besides, he knew that the man was right. But seeing that they were now getting too close to Spektanto, Danny then radically changed the subject, "Well, looks like what we just had will have to hold us for a while."
Vlad scrunched his face in confusion until he finally saw what the boy had meant. It was time for them to stop.
But the fact of the matter was that the Appointed Defender hadn't even noticed that Danny and Vlad had even left in the first place, because he startled a little when he heard what Danny had said just now. His lone eye darted in uncertainty—and fear—when he realized he was alone with his clients for the first time…well, except for the four guards, who were a little too far away for a rapid intervention. He tried hard not to panic and squelched his anxious gasp.
Danny rolled his own eyes and Vlad frowned in irritation at the spirit's reaction, but neither of them made any comments to their lawyer as they continued forward. When they were finally close enough, they sat down beside him once more.
Spektanto, however, was still quite nervous about being essentially alone with his two clients. And especially since they were awfully quiet once they had returned from their nourishment session. And now that he thought about it, they were too quiet and right next to him! Just as he began to panic, the same large double doors through which the two hybrids had been first escorted upon their arrival to the courtroom opened and a host of Observants began to float into the room.
Danny and Vlad watched in silence as each Observant found his place in the audience. Vlad frowned in irritation at the parade-like movements of the spirits as they settled in. Danny also frowned, but for a different reason. Not only was he even more aware of his empty stomach, but he now also felt a little light-headed. Still, he remained silent as their ghost captors filtered in.
Danny's blue eyes drifted away from the returning Observants and then to the hunched-over Spektanto, who had clearly returned to writing fervently now that he was no longer alone with his hostile clients. In fact, he had doubled his efforts once his fellow spirits had started to come in.
Perplexed at how involved the spirit was in his task, Danny finally tapped him on the shoulder and blurted out, "What could you be possibly writing with all that?"
But his lawyer didn't even flinch and continued to write in haste in that foreign script.
Ultimately, all the Observants had arrived. Not a moment later, the projection screens which had been blank only moments before began to flicker to life. A moment later, and individual projections of the High Tribunal Council materialized onto the screens. Each of them just stared ahead, but Danny couldn't help but feel that they were able to project disdain for him all the same.
Then Clockwork came in and situated himself to the same station he had been during the entire trial.
Lastly, the High Tribune, Justeco, and his advisor, Konsilisto, appeared and took their usual places at the center and to the right, respectively, of the large rectangular Tribunal table.
And much to the surprise of the hybrids, once again, Iluzisto was not present for some reason.
Vlad hitched an eyebrow at that development. Interesting…
Once the High Tribune had seated himself, the room came to a hush. And just before the silent anticipation began to weigh down upon everyone in the room, Justeco lightly rapped his gavel and said, "It is time to resume our proceedings. Are you ready to proceed, Clockwork?"
"I am, Tribune."
The High Tribune then turned to the Appointed Defender and said, "Are you ready to proceed, Spektanto?"
"As best as I can," came the reply.
"Why am I not surprised by that response?" Danny sarcastically grumbled under his breath, crossing his arms in irritation as he did.
Vlad smirked a little when he heard the boy's comment but kept mute.
"And what say you, Honorable Tribunal Council. Shall we proceed?" Tribune Justeco said.
"Aye!" came the unanimous replies.
"Very well," the High Tribune tersely replied. He glanced at the still visible numbers on the hybrids' foreheads before continuing, "I present the next accusation against Prisoners 484 and 485 and their havoc on all Existence and Reality."
This time, Vlad rolled his eyes, perturbed with the histrionics. Just what else could they cook up?
But as if to answer his silent question, the High Tribune continued, "Vlad Plasmius is accused of purposely and with grave malice releasing the dangerous criminal ghost named Vortex onto all of Reality. This accusation is especially serious because Vlad Plasmius, as you know all too well, invaded our domain to do just that."
Speaking on the side of his mouth, Vlad quietly and snidely said to Danny, "They just want to get back at me for that stinging bit of embarrassment."
But Danny only briefly looked at the man before turning his gaze back at the High Tribune. But then, the boy wished he hadn't because at that precise moment, the Head of the High Tribunal Council had turned and directed a hateful glare back at him just as the Observant said, "Furthermore, Danny Phantom is equally accused of this crime against Existence when he wrestled those very powers from Vortex and almost destroyed his world!"
Echoes of "Here, here!" "Here, here!" were immediately uttered by the members of the Tribunal Council.
Danny almost blurted out his response but a sudden pang shot through his stomach and he thought better of it. And he was still feeling weaker than he wanted to be. Even still, he wasn't going to let them get away with this! A sudden thought crossed his pounding head. That thought persisted even as he reflexively rubbed his forehead. And even though that thought brought some sadness with it, it also brought determination to the boy... Jazz was still right! He still had to prove to them that this was all just false accusations! He leaned over to Spektanto and hurriedly whispered, "That's not true, Spektanto! Vortex accidentally gave me those powers when he attacked me!"
"Quiet!" Spektanto harshly warned him before the Tribunal interrupted them.
"What say you, Appointed Prosecutor?"
"The proof is undeniable, Council," Clockwork began just as he brought his Time Staff up like he had done each time he was about to present the evidence. And sure enough, an image appeared and the events surrounding the 'Vortex affair' played for everyone to see as if the events were happening right then and now.
Once it was over, Clockwork commented without a hint of emotion, "Without a doubt, Vlad Plasmius is guilty as charged. And as for Danny Phantom…,"
"Objection!" Spektanto suddenly yelled.
Several members of the audience and the Council and even Danny jumped at the forcefulness of his interjection.
The Defender continued, "Danny Phantom had been given those powers against his will. Vortex had attacked my younger client and that is when the transference occurred."
Danny's eyes widened. That was the first time during the entire trial that Spektanto had actually said anything with such conviction of his defense!
"True," Clockwork suddenly replied, "But once given those powers, even by mistake, the young half-ghost acted irresponsibly with them. Instead of keeping them under wraps—and even if he did finally defeat Vortex with those same powers and return the criminal to you for your safe-keeping—he actually used them to wreak havoc in revenge against Vlad Plasmius."
"Gotcha on that one, didn't he, hmm?" Vlad again said at the side of his mouth to Danny.
But Danny also saw a hint of a smirk on the man's face, and frowned in irritation when he could tell that the man was just messing with him.
"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Danny said dryly. But then turning back to the matter at hand, the boy looked at Clockwork and his frown deepened. He could understand why his ex-mentor had admonished him, but why had Clockwork admonished and complimented him at the same time? Was Clockwork trying to get him into more trouble? The boy sat momentarily speechless with that troubling thought.
"What say you, Council members?" The Tribune asked with a slight rap of his gavel.
"Overruled," they all said at once.
The Tribune rapped his gavel lightly once more and added, "It is all too clear that the appointed prosecutor's words are valid and proper for he has demonstrated evidence to support them."
"Of course!" Vlad grumbled under his breath. But his mind was also occupied on rehearsing his plans for Danny's escape. The timing had to be right. And he hoped that these imbeciles hadn't shored up their defenses since he had invaded them, and that the boy's escape would actually be possible. Of course, he needed an inch of an opportunity to at least try...
The Tribune paused a moment before he finally continued, "And now, Council members, should we bring up the gravest of the accusations against the two prisoners in this trial?"
"Aye," they responded, the word sounding more foreboding since the combined voices of the Council members accentuated it.
"Very well," the Tribune replied, "And this transgression is the most despicable against all of Reality and Existence. In fact, this crime of which Prisoners 484 and 485 are being accused is so vile that it not only will threaten the Reality and Existence of the human world, but our world, too! And therefore, if found guilty, the crime carries with it the sentence of destruction into the Oblivion!"
That was too much! The entire Observant audience shot up in their seats in an uproar.
Vlad and Danny hurriedly looked from the audience to Spektanto and then to the Tribune when the Head Observant firmly banged his gavel.
Clockwork's face suddenly frowned in irritation. He had not liked the sound of that. And since the Observants existed out of time, he had no forsight of what they were talking about, though he had his suspicions; so, he had no choice but to keep quiet for the moment.
"Silence!" the Tribune commanded, though the other Observants were having a little difficulty with that. "Though this is indeed a shock, we cannot deny the truth or its consequences! The High Tribune Council and all of Existence and Reality firmly accuse Vlad Plasmius and Danny Phantom of threatening all Existence through future irresponsible actions in outer space!"
"Objection!" Both Spektanto and Clockwork said at once.
But their cries were hardly heard. The audience had once more erupted in angry or worrisome shouts at this latest crime.
Vlad and Danny could only look on in bewilderment that was quickly followed by dread creeping up their spines. Were the Observants actually accusing them of something they had not done yet? This didn't sound good at all. In fact, by the sound of the other spirits, it definitely wasn't good!
The Tribune banged his gavel more furiously as he tried to get the crowd to calm. He was successful a few moments later, but the usual calm hush had not totally returned.
Somewhat mollified, Justeco then turned to the Council members' projections, "Shall we proceed, then, Council?"
"It is proper!" said one.
"Aye!" several others replied.
Still others nodded in silence.
"Very well," Justeco acknowledged, before adding, "What say you, Appointed Defender?"
"I object!" Spektanto repeated.
"And I do, too!" Clockwork piped in, showing anger for the first time since the trial began.
Danny's eyes widened when Clockwork said that. Now what did Clockwork have in store for him?
"And what is the meaning of this?" The Tribune asked. "You are to enter a plea, Spektanto!"
"I know that it is the proper time for that, but…" The Defense lawyer began, only to be interrupted by Clockwork.
"But, what the Council has done is highly improper! No one has the right to twist the timeline like this! And even mentioning an event that has yet to happen is highly dangerous to the flow of time—let alone assuming a future event is set in stone! Your verdict against the half-ghosts can be as you want it! But as the Master of Time I will not allow this Council to continue to speak of future events in the presence of two beings that are part of the timeline!"
Once again, the crowd began to loudly express their own objection to Clockwork's forthright objection.
Still, Clockwork ignored the courtroom's uproar. He was not going to stand for this. Not this. How dare the Observants attempt to bring up an event in the near future? Yes, he now knew exactly what they were trying to accuse the hybrids of: that incident which will lead to an asteroid threatening all Existence because of a single fight the half-ghosts will have in space.
Whether the half-ghosts would be to blame for that event or not, Clockwork was not going to allow even his employers to disrupt the fateful course of that timeline by revealing even the slightest hints of that future event. The result could be catastrophic.
"You of all spirits should know, Clockwork…" Justeco began.
"Yes, I of all spirits do know when other spirits take such a dangerous position!" Clockwork interjected again. "You shall desist of this line of accusation! I will not allow such effrontery to the time stream!"
Justeco frowned in disapproval before uttering, "Are you forgetting your role here as Prosecutor, Clockwork? How dare you…?"
But Clockwork forcefully interjected, "You know I can dare on this point! And believe me, you should not wish to dare me back! Prosecutor or not, I am above all the Master of Time and I will not allow such tampering of the timeline!"
Justeco frowned in annoyance again, just before commenting, "But…."
Meanwhile, as the Head Prosecutor and High Tribune continued to argue, Vlad had already noticed the disparity and loud rumbling of countering opinions within the court since the High Tribune had brought up that cryptic future crime. He really didn't care about their petty argument then and now, but he was still pleased at this development. But he had to add a little spice to it before he could take full advantage of it. He immediately shot up from his seat and loudly announced, "And I think this entire trial has been improper! You haven't found the boy guilty of much when he has clearly been the instigator of all of these charges!"
Danny charged out of his seat, instinctually raising his hands in an aggressive stance before angrily shouting, "You jerk! After all that stuff you said…"
But Vlad didn't let the boy finish. He quickly punched him right in the face, knocking him down!
This time, the crowd jumped up and angrily yelled more at this highly improper reaction.
Spektanto yelped in fear and backed away from the half-ghosts. He couldn't believe his eye at what his client did and turned back to the Tribune, his eye now pleading for help.
But the Tribune was too busy trying to calm the courtroom.
Before Spektanto could say anything, Vlad had pulled the slightly dazed Danny back up by his shirt.
Danny immediately took a swing at the man right after that, but Vlad was able to subdue the boy. He shouted to the crowd once again, "You can see how aggressive the boy is! If I hadn't reacted as I did, I'm sure he would have attacked Spektanto!"
The crowd's roar increased, and this time the Tribune, banging on his gavel, yelled, "Order!"
"Order!" "Order!" "Order!" the projections of the Tribune Council forcefully echoed throughout the courtroom, their heads comically bobbing up and down like corks in a choppy lake with their distress over the situation.
But the crowd had not calmed yet.
And this was the chance Vlad was hoping for. He couldn't see any guards since they were all now standing against the far wall of the court room, so then he was sure that they couldn't see him or the boy at the moment. He quickly turned to the boy and said, "Ready?"
But Danny was too angry to realize what the man was asking. He hissed back, "For what? For you to try to get me into deeper trouble?"
"Maybe. But then, maybe, this is just the kind of distraction we needed, Daniel."
This time, Danny startled when Vlad actually winked at him as if they were both 'in the know'. And it was then that Danny had realized that all of this had been part of the man's plan.
Vlad quickly added, "So, I say once again, Daniel. Ready?"
Danny then smirked in understanding and said, "Set. And go!"
This time, Danny actually pulled on Vlad, and both of them fell to the ground right behind the partition that separated them from the still riled-up audience. Right away, the two hybrids grabbed onto Danny's neck collar and concentrated.
At first, it looked like that they would fail! The ectoplasmic energy in each of their hands sputtered, struggling to charge to life. Danny's eyes widened in fear, especially when he heard the Tribune yell, "Guards!" above the din in the courtroom.
But Vlad quickly demanded, "Concentrate!"
And Danny scrunched his eyes tightly in his effort to comply.
Not a moment later, and the boy heard an angry sizzle too close to his ears. But even when in the next instant he could actually feel heat emanating from his collar, he dared not open his eyes else he break his concentration.
"Now, pull, Daniel! Pull with all your might!" Vlad commanded, even though his voice betrayed his slight panic.
The boy grunted with the effort, but after just two pulls from him and the man, the neck brace snapped in two! Danny didn't need any more direction from Vlad. His adrenaline kicked in overdrive as he instantly morphed into his alter ego and soared upward, focused on reaching that vent as soon as he could.
In the meantime, the guards had finally been able to push through the still riled up crowd. Several grabbed Vlad off the ground and immediately restrained him from the front. But the man anchored himself against them and in the next instant, twisted his body violently around and threw them over his shoulders. They landed in a heap. Other guards tried to grab him again, only for the older hybrid to give them a hard kick which soundly sent them to the floor.
But finally, one of the guards fired upon Vlad, stunning him. And moments after that, the others he had thrashed laid hands upon him and successfully subdued him this time.
At that moment, Justeco yelled, "Find the Master Prison Head at once!"
Okulo who had been watching the trial within the crowd quickly pulled out his energy ball from his cloak and used it to alert Iluzisto, via the illusionist spirit's controling bracelets.
Vlad gasped when he had heard the judge's order and shouted at the teen, "Hurry, Daniel!"
Meanwhile, other guards had filed into the courtroom, alerted by the assigned messengers of the court. When they saw what was happening, they aimed weapons at the interloper. Without hesitating, they fired!
Danny heard the blasts from the weapons and easily avoided them without slowing his pace toward the vent. Feeling recharged from the energy in the atmosphere, he poured on more speed. He was so close, so close!
Danny charged up and threw a green energy ball at the vent, which vaporized the vent's grate on impact. He ignored the sudden drain of strength when he used that energy and continued to surge ahead. At this point he didn't know or care that with his still evident lack of food and water, the great demand he had placed on his body to use his full ghostly powers so suddenly was significantly taxing it. Even still, he readied himself for whatever would happen next and pushed himself closer to the now open hole.
But just then, Iluzisto arrived and he instantly froze at the choas before him. However, he jolted to high alert when he saw the young hybrid about to escape, "No, you do not...," he hissed and aimed a hand towards the boy.
Vlad gasped again when he saw this and suddenly feeling a charge of adreneline, he struggled against the guards restraining him and managed to break free. And before the guards could stop him, the man charged at Iluzisto, with some of the guards right on his heels.
Iluzisto, meanwhile, was concentrating so much he didn't see Vlad heading toward him.
However, before Vlad could reach the illusionist spirit, one of the guards grabbed the man. Reacting instinctively, Vlad in turn grappled with that guard and threw him over his shoulder, sending the guard right at Iluzisto!
At that same instant, a large wicked-looking circular saw charged out of the uncovered vent! Danny pulled back and gasped in disbelief, unprepared for something like this. Before he knew it, the saw jutted out right at him!
Danny cried out and covered his face, sure that the saw was about to slice right through him! But much to the boy's relief, he was unscathed! The teen instantly lowered his hands and his eyes snapped downward. But they readily widened when he saw Iluzisto struggling on the ground with the hapless guard who had unintentionally knocked the Prison Head down—compliments of Vlad, of course.
Iluzisto was here! The teen now knew the saw had been an illusion and even though he didn't care how the guard had interfered, he was glad he did because, the spirit's illusion had vanished before it could harm him. But now things had really gotten dangerous and Vlad's desperate shout only emphasized that just as he was seized by other guards.
"Daniel! Go!"
But Danny was suddenly torn between helping the man and escaping. He ultimately had no choice, for as soon as Vlad had shouted his command to the teen, the Observant guards managed to get more of a hold of Vlad once more and this time used more force to subdue the older crossbreed.
Iluzisto glared murderously at Vlad, suspecting that the older crossbreed still had something to do with this whole fiasco, but quickly turned his attention to Danny.
"Surrender, crossbreed!" Iluzisto thundered from not too far from below, as he narrowed the gap between him and the boy.
Danny gasped again and barely avoided a blast from the Prison Head's weapon. But that was enough to goad the boy into action again. Danny shot a large ectoplasmic beam at the illusionist spirit just before turning back toward the vent. He hit his mark and Iluzisto was pushed harshly downward. Though that last effort made him dizzy all of the sudden, the teen gritted his teeth and darted toward the vent again. Just as he reached it, however, a ring of fire blocked his path. He grunted in anger at the ploy and charged right at it...
Meanwhile, far below the spectacle, the High Tribunal and all the Observants gasped in both awe and indignation at this brash attempt of the boy to escape. They were so cocky, so haughty about their race and abilities that it was almost inconceivable to them that anyone within their power could do that. Nevertheless, they kept their eyes glued to the scene above them, especially since Iluzisto had been so angry about the boy's audacity that he had not realized that he had not prevented everyone in the entire room from seeing all of his illusions with his attempt to subdue the younger crossbreed.
Through it all, however, it was hard to read what Clockwork's reaction was to what was happening above him. But just as Iluzisto was pounded by the boy's ectoplasmic ray, the corner of his mouth slightly twitched.
Vlad, too, anxiously watched as Danny barely avoided Iluzisto's ray and returned fire. He was glad that he was at least able to keep the boy from getting hurt by that imaginary saw, but he felt that the boy could not afford any more delays. "Get out of here, Daniel!" he silently commanded as he struggled against the firm hold of the guards. But then he gasped when he saw the ring of fire suddenly appear around the boy's escape route...
Danny could feel the heat from the fire increasing as he neared the vent. He tried to push the thought from his dulled mind as he charged forward. The flames licked and hissed angrily at him, daring him to draw closer; but Danny wouldn't be fooled. He plunged right in and just as he thought he had made it, he felt a pressure around his right foot.
Before he could react, he was being yanked forcefully downward by an ecto-rope. Now desperate, Danny charged up his ice energy and as soon as he was pulled through the vent, he shot it at the illusionist spirit.
But the ray went wild and though Danny tried to quickly rebound, he felt even dizzier from that last attempt. And that was enough of a distraction for Iluzisto to fly up and plunge his sharp weapon into the boy's chest.
Danny screamed at the pain, but not near as much when the weapon then issued forth a powerful beam right into him.
Everyone below suddenly gasped to a hush when the young hybrid's body fully lit up and violently reeled from the electrifying blow. Only one more reflexive cry of intense pain could be emitted by the boy before he lost consciousness.
But Iluzisto wasn't through with him. This time, he willed his staff to siphon off some of the hybrid's ectoplasmic energy. Danny didn't respond in the least to this newest attack, but it didn't last that long. After all, Iluzisto didn't want to seem obvious in his true purpose so he made sure he only took a little of his energy so the council didn't notice. But that little bit was all the boy had left.
In the next instant, the Prison Head pulled his staff out of the boy's chest. And with his energy now completely spent, Danny then reverted to his human side just as he plunged downward right afterward.
Everyone gasped again, especially when it appeared as if no one would do anything to prevent what would definitely mean the boy's demise at the hard floor below. Still, all the Observants except Iluzisto were mesmerized at the scene and could not pull their lone eyes from it.
Vlad, however, pulled even harder against the guards as he watched the boy fall, but this time he could not break free and he was too weak to attempt to use his limited powers. Nevertheless, his eyes widened and his body tensed as Daniel's body fell closer to his doom.
But just inches from the blow, the boy's fall was halted, his body cushioned by a soft cloud of dark purple energy.
All the while, Clockwork had been intently watching the transpiring events. But once he saw the purple energy, he glanced over at the spirit responsible for it, his lips suddenly tightening…
Grumbling to himself, Iluzisto soared downward to the cloud that he had created. Even though the boy's death would have meant nothing to him, he still needed the crossbreed for his own purposes. When he was now at the senseless boy's side, the Prison Head activated his weapon once more and the cloud of dark purple energy tightened around Danny. Satisfied that his prisoner was secure, the illusionist spirit turned and glared at the Tribune.
Justeco, now shaken by the amount of power Iluzisto had just displayed and wondering if maybe he and the Council had given the Prison Head too much power, sat momentarily speechless at his chair. But then, perchance, his gaze drifted over to Clockwork, and that was enough to rivet the Council Head back to reality.
His face now grim with resolve, the Tribune stood up and lightly rapped on his gavel. All eyes focused on him as his cold voice announced, "We have seen enough proof of these current charges…The Council will not tolerate any more outrage. Clearly, Vlad Plasmius and Danny Phantom are a threat to Time, to Reality and to all of Existence. And their actions now will be added to their charges. Do I have the Council's approval to adjourn this session?"
"Aye" came the subdued replies of the projections in front of Justeco. The Council was still in shock over what they had just witnessed.
Justeco continued, "This session is now adjourned and hopefully, will be concluded when we have agreed to meet next."
He then turned his gaze to Iluzisto and callously commanded, "Take these two creatures to their cells, Master Prison Head. And prepare them for tomorrow as only you know how. Also, I would like to speak with you in private the moment you have secured the prisoners in their cells."
"As you wish, High Tribune," Iluzisto replied before motioning to the other guards. The Prison Head, in turn, moved his staff and Danny's receptacle dutifully followed the spirit.
Yet, as Vlad was being led out of the courtroom, he pulled against his guards once more and jeered, "Mark my words! You'll regret this!" But the only answer he got was a zap to his collar, which sufficiently weakened the man so that he could say no more….
Vlad groaned as he came to and turned on his back. His eyes once more focused on the black ceiling. Naturally, Iluzisto had been furious at him for his antics in the courtroom, which included throwing that guard on the illusionist spirit. But it had surprised Vlad that all he got for it was being knocked out by the collar once he was returned to his cell.
But Vlad didn't know that the reason Iluzisto hadn't done anything worse to him was because he had been in a hurry to report back to Justeco as the High Tribunal had ordered…
Vlad groaned again. He would have rather had Clockwork push the 'replay' button on his little time orb and avoided all of this. Still, he slowly sat up and focused his eyes toward Daniel's cell.
"At least he's here and not off to some torture chamber," Vlad mumbled, relieved when he saw the unconscious teen. But then, he frowned with sudden guilt. He had truly believed that Daniel would have had a very good chance of escaping. And he had thought the boy had made a praiseworthy effort, especially since he almost succeeded.
Vlad suddenly chuckled. What a show Daniel put on! He certainly wowed and terrified those imbecilic Observants! And he was no pushover for Iluzisto, either, for that matter. Still, Vlad—though he didn't try to fathom the reason—couldn't help regret putting Daniel through all that punishment. And oddly, he wouldn't blame the boy if he were angry at him because of it.
Vlad sighed and stood up, groaning when pain shot through his raw neck under his power-inhibiting collar as he did. The man cringed again, this time not just in pain but at his thoughts. Ignoring it, however, he walked over to the barrier to see if he could get a better look at Daniel. He hoped that the boy would recover. He had no doubt that teen had taken that 'ten times the wrath' blow with which Iluzisto had threatened the boy before the trial.
As he approached the barrier, he noticed that there were no signs of any reflection as before. He frowned with both bewilderment and curiosity and he quickly put his hand up to it and found…nothing there! Encouraged by this, he walked over to where Daniel lay.
He was surprised to see that there was no neck restraint on the boy. But thinking about that didn't matter now that he gasped at what he saw next. Daniel's body was littered with cuts and bruises and his raven hair was scorched in places. But there was more. The boy's chest. Blood was seeping through his tattered prison shirt!
"Oh, no!" he uttered as he went up to the boy. He hesitated only a moment before he began to gently but firmly shake the teen. "Daniel, wake up! You need to wake up!" he hurriedly demanded.
Vlad relaxed only slightly when he heard his young rival groan in response to his urging. He continued to shake the boy and said, "Yes, that's right. Come on, Daniel, wake up!"
Once more, Danny groaned; and this time his eyes began to flutter open. When he realized he was now looking at Vlad instead of total blackness, his memory began to come into focus. He then struggled to say, "I'm sorry…I-I tried…I almost got…out…"
He began to drift out again, but then Vlad lightly shook him once more. Danny looked up at the man just as Vlad, touched by the boy's remark, gently chuckled, "You did good, little badger. And you would've beaten that wretched Iluzisto had I let you eat that pizza…But now, I'm sure you realized that you got the worse end of Iluzisto's stick. You need to awaken your energy rings to heal your ghost half again. So, come on, Daniel. Let's try that again, hmm? I know you can do it."
Danny didn't realize that he had smiled weakly at the compliment and encouragement from his enemy and he nodded that he understood what the man wanted him to do. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
Vlad's eyes widened a bit when he saw the beginning of Daniel's transformation rings form. But in the next instant, the boy screamed in pain and the rings disappeared, instead leaving Danny panting and his core still unhealed.
The older hybrid bit his lower lip and gently said, "Take it easy. But you have to try again. You're… bleeding. And if you can heal your ghost half, then it will help your human body heal faster."
Danny didn't say anything, but closed his eyes again. He steeled himself and concentrated once more. A moment later, the rings appeared again. This time, however, the younger hybrid accidentally—and fully—morphed into his ghostly form. But not without a cost. Now that he was expending even more energy—which he didn't really have—while trying to maintain this form even if it were for only a few moments, he was suddenly overwhelmed with a wild dizziness.
Vlad saw that the boy was losing not only consciousness, but he could see that his ghostly aura was rapidly dimming and his ectoplasmic blood was beginning to seep through his jumpsuit shirt.
But then, the boy couldn't even maintain his ghostly form and involuntarily morphed right back into his human form. But in a way, this was fortunate, because that was the form in which the boy needed to be before he could even begin to heal his ghostly core.
Trying not to panic, the man quickly morphed into his ghost form and grasped the boy's shoulders. Just before closing his eyes in order to concentrate his suppressed energy, Vlad firmly commanded, "NOW, Daniel! Morph and repair your ghost form!"
Danny felt a strange sensation run through him just as he attempted to obey the man. But what he didn't know was that now that Vlad was able to touch him, the older hybrid could now help him control his transformation rings, just like he had wanted to do the first time they got into this prison. And it was a good thing that Vlad had interfered as he did. At this point, Danny simply didn't have the strength to do it himself. After all, not only had he been severely injured by Iluzisto, but he also was still in need of food and water.
Finally, after what seemed to be hours for both of the hybrids, but had actually been mere minutes, Vlad let go. He could actually tell from his touch that they had successfully healed Danny's core. A moment later, the rings dissipated, leaving Danny exhausted and back in his ghost form, though now his wounds were not bleeding anymore.
The man looked down at the half-conscious teen ghost and quietly said, "You did good again, my boy. Now,…"
But he was interrupted by a noise coming down the hallway. He quickly backed away from Danny and knew he needed to revert back to his human side. Before he could, however, he was shocked by his neck collar. Yelling and falling to his knees, Vlad tried once more to morph back, only to be zapped again by the collar.
That distraction gave Iluzisto enough time to open the cell and charge up to the man. In the very next instant, Iluzisto pierced Vlad's central core and quickly siphoned off his energy!
Vlad screamed at the immense pain.
Absorbing the energy concentrated by his staff, Iluzisto sneered to the panting hybrid, "Consider this—how do you say it? Ah, yes. Consider this 'payback' for your antics in the court. But do not worry; I am sure you will recover soon enough since we both know that you and the younger crossbreed are quite capable of repairing yourselves and regenerating your energies in fairly short order. And very capable of somehow defeating that collar. Though, as I can see, not capable enough. Quite remarkable, really. I have never come across any creature like either of you before."
Iluzisto pulled out the sharp end of his staff from Vlad just as he saw the man's black rings flicker around his waist. And as the man dropped to the ground, clutching his chest, the rings turned him human, since he didn't have the ghost energy to even stay ghost anymore thanks to Iluzisto.
The illusionist spirit stared thoughtfully at the man for a moment, unable to figure out how he and the boy had managed to get the power-inhibiting collar off the younger crossbreed. But, ultimately, it had been of no consequence. His eyes curved into something of a smug smile as he glanced at the younger crossbreed. He chuckled before he looked back at the older one and said, "And, oh, by the way, you were most cooperative in making sure that the other crossbreed could repair himself this time. I got a little carried away when I recaptured him and it seems I not only made him lose a little too much energy, but also injured him more than was necessary. Just as well. You may consider that his 'payback' as well for his foolish attempt to escape. But now, I can see that he has been repaired because of you. Just as I had planned. I cannot lose either one of my prizes!"
"What do you mean by that?" Vlad asked, now controlling his breathing, though he continued to grip his chest. It was hurting even worse than before. And he fearfully knew it was because every time the evil spirit damaged his core, it made it harder for his body to repair the damage… Still, the man knew he would be able to repair himself and recover his energy once again. He just didn't know how long he would be able to keep it up…
But the Prison Head ignored him and drifted over to Danny.
"Leave him alone!" Vlad angrily said. But since he was still unable to move from his half-kneeling position, he knew he was in no condition to enforce that threat. Instead, the older hybrid had to watch helplessly as the illusionist spirit jabbed the boy in the chest once again and began to suck some more of his energy out.
Because Danny was still weakened even when his central core had been healed, he could barely utter his painful scream as his body writhed in agony. But after only a few moments, Iluzisto stopped and pulled the tip of his weapon out of the boy. Still, it had taken its toll on Danny's core once more…
Seeing that the younger crossbreed was now totally senseless, though unlike the older one, he had remained ghost, the Prison Head turned back to Vlad and seethed, "I did not damage him as badly this time and I did not siphon off all his energy, either, since, of course, I will have to wait until he fully recovers from his injuries before I can do that. Apparently, my attacks affect him much more than you. So, I am sure you will cooperate to make sure that he recovers before the last day of trial for you both tomorrow."
Without another word, Iluzisto aimed his weapon at Vlad. But before the older hybrid could react, he was being thrust back into his cell from Iluzisto's power. Vlad groaned at the hard thud into the wall, but he pulled himself upward just as the Prison Head reactivated the invisible barrier.
The illusionist spirit quickly turned around. But he went right toward Danny again. Vlad stumbled toward the invisible barrier just as Iluzisto pulled out from his cloak another power-inhibiting collar, which Justeco had given to him and had mentioned it was stronger than the last one…He quickly secured it around the still boy and continued toward the cell door. He secured the lock and floated down the hallway.
Vlad growled in hatred as he watched the Prison Head leave. He had been tricked—again!—but now the older hybrid knew that something more insidious was up that putrid ghost's sleeve.
His eyes then drifted to Daniel. Suddenly, the anger in his eyes melded to concern—and determination. He mumbled, "Rest now. And, yes, this time, Daniel, I truly mean it. We are in this together."
A/N: Truephan here: Well, how are y'all doing after reading the chapter? Hope y'all are ready to push the little blue button down here to let us know your thoughts. They are better than chocolate, which coming from me, is a very high compliment! Oh! I told you I would tell you about a surprise. Well, one of my friends surprised me today and made up a website for lil' ol' me! That's right! I was absolutely floored that he would do that for me! It is, of course, a work in progress right now because it was just started today, but check it out if you want! I would be thrilled!
*remove spaces and brackets*
w (w w) . wix (. c) o m /es0tericcha0s/truephan
Pearl: Ooo! OMG! That's freakin awesome! I love the outline and that clever little quip about being a 'truephan'! Ha! What a treat! Yes, you all must go check it out! Looks wicked cool! Oh, wait. I'm supposed say something about this chapter, too, huh? *ponders* Hmm, what is 'proper' to say after this chapter…? Oh, yes! Poor hybrids, especially Danny! I agree with Vlad, he sure gave a huge effort to escape; alas… they failed once again. Oh, and, I'm sorry Truephan, but I gotta do it… *points finger* Blame Truephan for that wonderfully evil food illusion scene! Ha-ha! See, her muse is just as wicked! Showing the poor hybrids some illusion of real food and then changing it into something vile… *tsk-tsk*. Ms. Hyde, you have no remorse, you evil muse you!
Vlad muse: Oh, please. I can do better… *grins evilly* In fact, I will have to do that… *laughs and vanishes*
Pearl: Opps! Now Vlad muse has taken that comment as a personal challenge… *cringes* Well, if things get darker… yeah, blame the muses! Well! Let us know your thoughts as always, kay? Also, I apologize for not having DoaS last week, I got so sick. I got the flu plus an ear and sinus infection. Yeah, I haven't gotten that sick in years, so I had absolutely no mind to do anything. I have finally gotten off by 'deathbed', though and I am back to the world of the living and working on DoaS! So, I'm hoping to have it to you all by next weekend! So, until then, dear readers! *skips off to continue to check on Truephan's website* Man! I feel like I'm co-writing with a celebrity now! XD