Chapter 8: Faked No More
It was 2 weeks since the incident at Alyssa's house.
At the Fenton household, Danny and Star were alone, enjoying their time together.
"What a day. I hate it when Lancer gives pop quizzes..." He muttered.
"Let's just vedge out now that it's over." Star said as she turned on the television.
"Up next on the Uncover Network… it's Vampire Vixens! Followed by History's Aliens!" The announcer went.
"This channel really forgot its name, didn't it?" Danny asks.
"Used to be educational too." Star said.
"Not sure how this qualifies as educational." Danny snarked.
Star changed the channel.
"Up next on Musical Network… Philly's Coast! Let's see how these roommates get along without almost committing manslaughter in reaction to verbal abuse!" The announcer went.
"No." The two said flatly.
Upon changing the channel, the two saw a familiar face.
"And now we're going to see if the ghost responds to the séance." Myrtles said.
"That creep's still got his show?" Star asks.
"No. I think this is a rerun. This was from before I got my powers." Danny responded.
"Tune in next week on Spirit Seekers with Drew Myrtles to see what comes next…" The announcer said.
Before the two could agree to change the channel, a familiar face walked in front of the scene.
"And that was the time he used a recording from some old horror movie to emulate the ghost." Erin said.
"Erin?" Star asks.
"Anyway… we just sat through #6 on Drew's top 20 most obviously faked moments. We got 14 more to go. In case you're just tuning in… I'm Erin Ryder. I was Myrtles' partner, and I'll be your new host next season. We're going to actual haunted locales, no hoaxing allowed." Erin said with a smile on her face.
"Whoa… Good for Erin." Star said.
"And here's a little something that didn't make it to air on this episode…" Erin said.
The clip was replayed.
"And now's going to see if the ghost responds to the séance…" Myrtles stood in place for a moment before the sound of something falling over made him startle. "What was that?!"
The camera pulled away, showing a stray cat had knocked over a can.
"Just a cat…" The cameraman said.
"That's my diet soda!" Myrtles snapped as he walked over and kicked the cat.
In response, the wild animal hissed before attempting to claw him. In response, Myrtles screamed as he ran away from the cat, which chased after him. He even went as far as to stand on a nearby chair to get away from it.
Both Danny and Star laughed at his expense before her cell phone went off.
"Hello?" Star asks, listening in. "Georgia? What's up? Didn't see you today…" After a moment, Star sat up. "Really?!" She asks with a smile.
"What's going on?" Danny asks.
"They're suing Myrtles' parent company." Star stated.
That made Danny sit up.
"Really?"
"Yup…"
On the other side of the call
"I'll let you know how it goes…" Georgia whispered before hanging up.
She then re-entered the courtroom, seeing Alyssa with Johnathan Strong as her lawyer.
"So as you can see, your honor, my client was promised that all supernatural goings on in her home would have been taken care of. Drew Myrtles, their employee, had recordings and such of a fake specter his former partner provided. Clearly, he had no intention of actually helping them. Now, in a town like Amity Park, where ghosts are not only real but an everyday danger, this is the equivalent of a plumber who doesn't actually do anything to the pipes. In hindsight, does that not seem like an unhelpful service?" He asks.
"Objection, your honor!" The lawyer on the other side, who had bluish hair, glasses and a snobby look on his face. "My client, the Vacation Channel… yes, I'm aware the name doesn't fit with a show about ghosts… did not know of Myrtles' faking his encounters with ghosts and therefore is not liable for any damages. Besides, Myrtles had paid out of pocket for the damages to their house, and he did so without expecting pay."
"Even so… this is not about the money. This is about the idea of this man faking an incident. This is about ensuring your company no longer employs a man who has no problem faking his way and ripping people off… unless you want other people to get in touch with you, upset about him fooling them." Johnathan pointed out.
"Your honor, I would like to remind you that ghosts are not necessarily real when discussing court cases, and therefore this case is redundant" The opposing lawyer said.
The judge hit his gavel on the podium.
"I have heard both cases… and would like to remind the Vacation Channel's lawyer that, yes, ghosts are indeed real here. As such, I am admitting that I side with Ms. Williams. Jury?" The judge asks.
Among the 12 in the jury, only one stood up with their answer. That one of whom is Irving "Third Degree" Burns.
"We, the jury, find the Vacation Channel guilty of negligence, ignorance and irresponsibility." He said out loud.
"That settles it. As of now, Drew Myrtles is to be fired and any further compensation to the Williams' home is to be provided immediately." The judge said.
The Vacation Channel's lawyer crumpled his papers into a ball and threw it aside.
"I should have stuck to the town of comically stupid people, like that boorish family led by a lazy slob of a security inspector. Much easier to outsmart..." He muttered.
Moments after
Alyssa hugged Johnathan.
"Thank you, Mr. Strong." She said.
"Please… it was no trouble." Johnathan insisted.
"I don't know how, but I promise I'll pay you back." Alyssa insisted.
"You don't have to… you're Georgia's sister and that's more than enough a reason for me to defend you." Johnathan stated sincerely.
"Isn't this all Conflict of Interest? It's against the rules for someone with personal involvement in the case to be my lawyer right?" Alyssa asks.
"True… but I was also the only available lawyer present. Besides, biologically speaking, we're not family, so it's not a conflict of interest as far as the court is concerned." Johnathan said.
As Alyssa hugged him again, Georgia was back on the phone.
"It's over. That phony hunter won't rip anyone off again." She said.
On the other side
Star pumped her fist in excitement.
"Awesome! Congrats, Georgia!" She said as she hung up. "Good news! The faker's been fired and looks like Alyssa's getting more cash."
"Nice. Guess this is a happy ending then?" Danny asks.
"Looks like it." Star said as she sat closer to him. "We should celebrate…"
"I know how." Danny said as he wrapped his arm around her.
"You sure? What if your folks see us and tell us humiliating stories about you again?" Star asks, worried they might show up.
"Relax… they're going to be out of the house all day." Danny assured her.
"Really? They got a case to deal with?" Star asks.
"You could… say that." Danny said with some hesitancy.
"Well… in that case…" Star said before she and Danny began making out.
Back at the courthouse
The William sisters and Johnathan were about to leave before one of them decided to look back to the judge..
"Thank you, Judge Marmel." Alyssa said.
"Don't thank me, thank your sister for working with one of the best lawyers in town." The judge said with a smile.
"I will…" Alyssa said as she hugged her sister.
"You can thank me by not falling for faked charms like that man's ever again…" Georgia said plainly.
Alyssa rolled her eyes in mild irritation before smiling at her.
"Fair… now let's get something to eat." She said.
"I think that diner's open today." Jonathan said as he left with them.
With that, the two left with Johnathan, leaving the courtroom emptied for a moment until the police entered and took seats.
"Next case. Amity Park PD v Fenton Works. Chief Carl Boyle is suing Jack and Maddie Fenton over damages to police property." The judge said.
Jack and Maddie both entered the room, both looking sheepish as they noticed Chief Boyle glaring at them from the other side of the room.
"What rotten luck that Johnathan chose to represent Georgia's sister and he couldn't take our case..." Jack grumbled.
"It doesn't matter if you had the best lawyer in town representing you... you both still ruined my car." Chief Boyle said.
"Can't we just settle out of court again?" Maddie asked with a nervous smile.
"No..." Chief Boyle said flatly.
The two's nervous smiles were replaced with fear as the case began.
Special thanks to Flower Princess11.
Be on the lookout for her new story Entranced.
A new side story will come... probably next month? Dunno... we'll see.
RonaldM40196867: Nope. Probably. Yes, edited her name in. Getting to make a new villain. Probably not, they'd still have caused damage. Yes.
Jebest4781: Thanks.
Luiz4200: So far, I'm liking that Sam shows a degree of concern for Vi's safety. Although, I noticed a lack of page breaks from horizontal lines which would have been easier to know when a new scene happens.
danifan3000: Yup.
Invader Johnny: And now... he's fired.
Flower Princess11: Thanks to you :)
