Last Thing I Remembered
By: Wilona Riva
Disclaimer: Butch Hartman does; I don't.
Third Star
"There are three stars," Bullet said, after Danny deactivated the ghost alarms, "etched into the back of the fob watch. Go ahead and press the third one."
Danny pulled out the fob watch and turned it over. He glanced nervously at the clock. He had half an hour at the most to learn what he could before his parents returned from chasing Walker's police all over town. The third star vanished at his touch. The watch ticked slightly and the hands moved ever so slightly. The watch's time now read 5:45 pm.
He looked up startled at his mentor. "What does it mean?"
Bullet sighed. "It is how you will know when to meet me or Walker. The times are actually a psychic energy signal between the three of us. You will be carrying that watch everywhere with you and will more than likely be in constant physical contact with it. Check it before and after school each day, as well during any free moment you have. What does the watch read?"
"5:45 pm," Danny answered.
"Any time displayed between the fifth and sixth hours of the evening means...?" Bullet quizzed.
"Ghost lessons and/or hunting escapees," Danny recited from memory. It was part of the stupid rules inflicted on him by Walker that he was supposed to memorize and recite verbatim.
Bullet caught his mental sigh and placed one gentle hand on the boy's shoulder and forced him to look up at him. "I know it's a giant pain in the rear to work for Walker, but it's safer to be part of the system than to be in it. Do you see the first star?"
"Yes, sir."
"When you need someone to talk to, touch it. I will feel the link we share and will come as soon as I can. It won't always be right away, so expect sometimes a long or a short wait. Now, if the hands are on noon and the second star glows, what do you do?"
"Find Clockwork or run like hell," the boy answered.
"Wise guy," Bullet chuckled. "You'll do just fine. Just keep memorizing the list of rules and the times schedule and you'll fit right in."
He snapped his fingers and dug around in a hidden pocket and handed him an old sheet of notebook paper. "Walker's latest rules. Write them down in that book I gave you and memorize them. Quiz next meeting."
A squeal of tires and a slight booming crash indicated to Danny's ears that his father had forgotten to raise the garage roof again. "You had better go, Bullet. They're home."
"Right," the ghost pirate told him. "Remember what I said."
"Memorize the rules and the times list," Danny recited, eyes shut.
"Danny, why is there a ghost pirate in my kitchen?" his mother's voice rang out.
"Darn it," Bullet heard the boy mutter. The huntress could be a useful ally and made the spot decision to let her in on the boy's new life.
"Dear woman," he said, turning on the old charm. "There are some things you need to know about your son. How about we adjourn to the living room and I will explain to you and yours of how Phantom and I met?"
"Phantom?" Maddie's eyes flickered over to her son, who nodded, still staring at the tiles.
"Phantom," Bullet concurred, causing the boy to look up in surprise and alarm.
"I thought you said they weren't supposed to know?" he accused his mentor.
"Times change," he replied. "And don't repeat any part of this conversation to Walker. What he doesn't know, won't bite us in the butt later."
"Yes, sir," Danny answered, heading for the kitchen door. "Uh, Mom, wasn't Dad with you a moment ago?"
"Oh, he had to go back to the store," his mother said. "He forgot the fudge."
"Of course," Danny answered dryly. "It would have to be the fudge."
"Daniel!"
"Sorry, Mom."