The NASA Johnson Space Center, located in Houston, Texas, was buzzing with excitement when Danny walked through the front doors a few hours later. People ran errands or rushed to meetings. There was always something happening there.

Danny looked about. "Wonder why it's loud," he muttered.

"Just the usual; a new crew will be named, that's all," a deep voice announced.

Danny froze for a moment before turning around and coming face-to-face with the director of NASA, Lieutenant Martin Jones. A veteran astronaut and soldier, he had a built body and a proud look to him. Unlike most of the workers at NASA, Jones' uniform was a dark green and sported numerous medals from his years in the Marines. His hair was still brown, despite his growing years, and his eyes were a dark yet fierce green. He was known to be an incredibly strict man, but when off duty, he could be very gentle-hearted. Danny knew this to be a fact; despite his young age, Danny had become one of the Lieutenant's good friends when not working.

Danny immediately saluted him. "Lieutenant, Sir!" he said.

Jones nodded back and saluted. "Good afternoon, Daniel," he said as the black-haired man put his arm down. "How was the flight here?"

"Bumpy, but what else is new?" Danny replied as the two turned and walked off together. "So; what's all the commotion about?"

"Like I said; a new crew will be named today."

"Yeah, so I heard. Anything specific?"

"It'll be your crew."

Danny fell silent for a moment and slapped his forehead. "Duh," he muttered to himself. "I'm here for that reason!"

Jones chuckled softly before speaking again. "The meeting will be tomorrow at one pm, Danny," he said. "It will be short, considerin' all you're doin' is givin' out the positions we chose for your crew. I know what a pain it could be for someone like you just to fly out to Texas for a day or two, but you're the captain, and like I said, it'll be short."

"Short is better than long for me, Sir. You know I hate talking in front of people."

"Yeah; your nerves get shot and you end up breaking something."

Danny blushed.

"It's a good thing people like the way you think, Danny; or else I would have had to fire you."

Danny laughed nervously while rubbing his neck. "Go figure," he said, making his boss chuckle.

Jones finished laughing and took a deep breath. "Anyway, we chose the best of the best for your team, considerin' yours will be the first to do something like this," he announced. "We'll give you the documents once you're settled in, and you can go over the details."

"Yessir."

"They'll start training right away, and you'll be back within a week to overlook the final exams and then take on the first mission. Clear?"

"Crystal."

Jones stopped walking and turned to face Danny. "If you have any questions, ask Dr. Johnson," he said. "I'll be in a conference until eight tonight, so I won't be available."

Danny nodded. "Yessir," he replied.

Jones nodded and walked off. "Carry on, Captain. We'll see you tomorrow at one."

Morning came early at the Space Center, just as it did every day. People were up and doing things by six o'clock, if not earlier. Students came in around eight to begin a new day of training while astronauts who had not stayed overnight in the city were dropped off from the airport.

Nicholas Stevenson was one of those astronauts. After three years of constant training and exams at the Space Program, he had finally earned his place among NASA. Flying out straight from New York City, he was up long before the sun was and was ready to start his new career on the right foot.

He spent the morning with some of his old colleagues, who were also there to start their job. Some remained on the ground while others would be traveling to the Space Station. But only a few of those he had graduated with were going to be with him as part of the first Special Missions team.

"May I have your attention, please," the intercom announced around the entire facility that same afternoon; "May all the new cadets and astronauts for A-Team shuttle B-614 please report to conference hall 405; your new captain will be giving a brief overview of your jobs aboard the shuttle."

Nicholas strode down the corridors, proud to finally be at NASA for his very first day on the job. Ever since he had been a child, he dreamt of this moment; becoming an astronaut and flying into space, the one place most people only dream of being in. His father had done it before him. Now, it was his turn.

He was going to the conference room, about to meet his new crew captain. Apparently, the man was the youngest member of NASA to ever become a captain; at only thirty years of age, he was considered a NASA prodigy.

The young man passed a hand over his dark red hair and took a deep breath. Nicholas was excited to meet his captain. He had no idea what role he would be called to take upon, but he was sure he would not fail him.

He passed by a room which suddenly caught his attention. He stopped, having noticed something inside, and, out of curiosity, decided to retrace his steps and have a peep. Looking about to see if anyone was watching, he then peered through the slightly opened door.

It was a small office, like most of the rooms at NASA. Inside was a desk, a small bed by the window, and a computer. Nicholas could not see any more than that.

He was about to shrug and leave when a noise from within the room caught his attention. He peered again and raised his eyebrows.

It was a young man, with jet black hair—a few strands of silver or white here and there—and piercing blue eyes. He was walking around in circles, mumbling words to himself. All he had on were his uniform pants and shoes, and the white t-shirt that was worn beneath the normal jacket astronauts wore at NASA when not on the shuttle.

Nicholas recognized him as Danny Fenton; his uncle, Dr. Michael Johnson, had told Nicholas about Danny several times before. He was a few years younger than Nicholas, came from a city known as Amity Park, and was the youngest son of the world's greatest Ghost Hunters. Like Nicholas, he had wanted to be an astronaut since he was a child.

The biggest detail Nicholas remembered about Danny was that, five years earlier, just when the man officially began his career as an astronaut, he had mysteriously vanished. No one, not even the police, were able to find out where he had disappeared to. Five years later, he reappeared in Amity Park, around the time Dr. Johnson had gone there to visit some said friends. He then returned to NASA as if the disappearance had never occurred.

Danny continued to walk around in circles, speaking to himself until he suddenly froze and crouched defensively.

Nicholas froze as well, wondering if the man had noticed his presence.

But Danny did not. Instead, the man looked about cautiously, as if making sure no one was watching him, and then straightened out while closing his eyes.

The next thing that happened took Nicholas by complete surprise. He gasped and covered his mouth.

A glowing ring of light appeared around the man's waist and split into two, intersecting his entire body from head to toe. And as it passed over him, his appearance transformed. Danny's uniform was replaced by a black jumpsuit with white gloves and boots; his body was haloed in a thin layer of white light; his hair turned from jet black to snow white, and, when his eyes opened, he revealed that they had changed colours from blue to glowing green.

Nicholas widened his eyes. "Oh, my gosh," he whispered in awe. "He's… he's Danny Phantom!"

Danny raised his head and grinned before crouching again and shooting up into the air. Nicholas watched in amazement as the man performed feats in his office, everything from turning invisible to going intangible, from flying to shooting ghost rays out the open window. He did flips and acrobatics without breaking a sweat and without breaking anything else, for that matter. He pretended to punch and kick the air, as though training with an invisible foe.

Nicholas was awestruck. Never had he expected to meet the ghost everyone spoke so highly about, and never had he expected that the ghost was in fact… a human.

Danny dropped from the ceiling and landed silently on the floor before standing up straight again. He closed his eyes, sighed calmly and then reached over to his desk to grab some documents and his uniform jacket.

Nicholas did not notice that he was leaning too far forward; gasping softly, he lost his balance and took a step forward in order not to fall. Unfortunately, his foot knocked against the door and opened it.

Danny gasped loudly and swooped around to face the doorway, clutching his documents and jacket in his arms. He stared in pure horror at the man standing in his doorway.

Nicholas stood up straight and stared in silence at the ghost before him.

Danny remained in his frozen, horrified state a little longer before another glowing halo appeared around his waist and transformed him back to normal. Even then, he continued to stare in sheer terror at the man in the doorway.

Nicholas cleared his throat nervously and dared to speak up. "Uh, forgive me, Sir," he said. "But—!"

"How long were you standing there?" Danny asked incredibly urgently, almost as though he had not heard Nicholas speak.

Nicholas remained silent for a moment before answering. "Uh, not long," he replied, hoping it would do some good.

But it didn't. Danny's eyes only filled with more horror. Nicholas was immediately flooded with shame and nervously rubbed his neck. "I'm r-really sorry for intruding, Sir," he tried to apologize.

Danny finally made another move. He straightened out and immediately, his facial expression changed from horrified to disgust and anger. A large frown appeared over his brow and his eyes turned to blue ice.

Nicholas shrunk back and stared at him worriedly.

Danny glared furiously at him a little longer before storming towards him and violently brushing passed the cadet. Without another look at Nicholas, he turned into the corridor and dashed off.

Nicholas watched him leave and wondered if he should take chase. He was about to call out for him when someone spoke behind him.

"What did you see?"

Nicholas jumped in fright and swooped around. Standing before him was his uncle, Dr. Michael Johnson. A look of deep concern was on his face.

Nicholas sighed of relief. "Gosh, uncle, you scared the daylights out of me—!"

"What did you see, Nicholas?" Johnson asked urgently, ignoring Nicholas' words.

Nicholas stared at him in silence before nervously rubbing his arm. "Uh, nothing," he lied.

Johnson was not the least bit pleased. "Did you see him transform?" he asked.

"You know about it?" Nicholas exclaimed in shock.

Johnson shuddered and hastily clamped a hand over his nephew's mouth. He frowned worriedly. "Quiet!" he snapped. He waited to make sure no one was listening to them before releasing his hand from Nicholas' mouth. He sighed shakily and passed a hand over his head.

"Uncle, was that Danny Fenton?" Nicholas asked.

"His name is Dr. Fenton around here, Child," his uncle replied, turning in place.

"But he's Danny Phantom, and you knew it?"

Johnson glared at him. "I told you to be quiet, Nicholas!" he scolded again. "There are some things in this world that must be left alone, and you just stuck your nose into one of those things! Foolish young man; foolish!"

"But I didn't mean to see him do that, honest!" Nicholas replied.

Johnson looked at him and frowned softly. "Oh no?" he said. "Then I suppose you only happened to be standing there, spying on him, without doing so on your own terms?"

Nicholas remained silent and he stared at the floor in shame.

"Nicholas, I told your father that I would keep an eye on you here and keep you out of trouble," Johnson said, becoming concerned, "But in order to do that, you must first not stick your nose into somebody else's business! How many times must I tell you that?"

"But why do you know and no one else does?" Nicholas wondered.

Johnson was silent for a moment before sighing tiredly. "Because I am the only one he trusts with this secret, Nicholas," he said softly. "In a world where some people are out to destroy him, where his identity must be kept secret outside his town, Daniel needed another person to trust with such a heavy burden. So, after seeing my interest in ghost studies, he decided to share with me the secret he had needed to let out to someone." Johnson frowned again and pointed at Nicholas. "But you not only violated an important rule of respect at NASA, you also just angered him. That was uncalled for, Nicholas Stevenson, and you know it. It may just have put his life in danger! Did you ever think of that?"

Nicholas stared at his feet sadly before the intercom announced that the meeting in conference room 405 was about to begin. He looked again.

Johnson sighed once more and placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "Come on, lad," he said, walking him off. "Let's go to that meeting."