MBS 4

Why It Is Children We Need

They ate their dinner in small dinning room. They were served tomato soup, grilled cheese, and fruits. They all feasted, slowly, but surely. Tucker only ate the grilled cheese.

"It was all for the test." Rhonda told them. "We wanted to see how you would act when other kids for doughnuts while you get nothing. We also had to see how your mind would works when you are parched and famished. And you all, I must say, did amazing."

Sticky sighed, ashamed. "I didn't do anything. I didn't solve anything or find out a puzzle. All I did was wonder around like a twit."

"Don't you dare say that!" Sam shouted.

"Sam's right, Sticky." Rhonda continued. "Very few people could've done what you did."

Sticky flushed.

"Yeah, Sticky. I know my pals and I never would be able to do that." Sam guaranteed.

"Thanks, guys."

"Mr. Benedict will be extremely pleased with this." Rhonda stated cleanly. "He only really wanted three or four children to pass, but he got six teens and a child."

"Who's Mr. Benedict?" Kate asked.

"Oh, you'll meet him soon enough."

The group continued to eat in a peaceful silence, all thinking about their own thoughts. Danny's, of which, were about his Halfa status. He trusted these teens more than he should. He had known them for what? A few hours? And he found himself wanting to tell them. Tell them so badly. He made up his mind. All he needed was for Rhonda to leave…

Mrs. Jobozle walked into the room, a slight frown upon her face. "Hello, kids. Rhonda, can I talk to you real quick?"

'Perfect!' Danny thought.

Rhonda nodded, though she wasn't quite sure why. She had assumed it was about the other one…

"Great. Let's go out in the hall." Rhonda complied.

Before Kate, or anyone, for that matter, could even start talking, Danny said, "Guys, there's something you should know." Seeing their puzzled faces, he frowned. "Hint. Reynie, Sam, and Tucker know."

Reynie's eyes widened. Sam and Tucker, well, they thought they knew what was going on, but they weren't sure.

"Kate, Sticky, I'm—"

He stopped when he heard the door open and the adults walked in.

"I'll just tell you later…" he mumbled.

The two adults saw the exchange, but decided to ignore it. Or, at least, for now…

"Mr. Benedict is waiting in his study. You can go in and see him." Rhonda said, directing the group to the hallway.

They sat there. In his study. Like all the other rooms in the house, it was piled up with books. The group was all alone in there, except for the man who's chair faces the wall, making him unseen.

Danny could sense another person in there, but if he called him out, then he would know something was weird with Danny.

"Well, great." Sam complained. "They drop us off in a dusty room with no one."

"Actually, I beg to differ." Mr. Benedict said, spinning his chair around to face the group.

He had rusty white hair and a chubby, stubbed nose. He wore a green plaid outfit, a reason Danny didn't care for knowing, and a wide, happy smile. This was Mr. Benedict.

"I must congratulate you, kids. You have all done exceedingly well on these tests and challenges. There is so much to explain, but that'll have to wait. For, we have to wait for another." He glanced around. "Speaking of which, Number Two, have you received any notice from Milligan?"

The pencil women, or Number Two's, nose twitched. "Yes. He said it should be soon."

"Could you go and wait for them?" Seeing his helpers shocked expression, he continued, "I will be just fine. Rhonda's right here."

Reluctantly, she left the room.

"Another?" Tucker complained. "Isn't six enough?"

"Yes, it is more than I could've hoped for. But, she has passed all my tests. And, in quite a silly manner. Rhonda, tell them how many pencils she brought to the test!"

Rhonda let out a small, annoyed sigh. "She brought thirty-seven. We tell her to bring one pencil, and instead, she brings thirty-seven."

"How do you even know that?" Tucker asked.

"The storm drain, remember. Only she opened up her raincoat and said, 'Help yourself. I've got thirty-seven."

"And that doesn't count a cheating?"

"Well," Mr. Benedict explained, "The poor of the test was about refusing the test answers, which she did. The pencil was inconsequential."

"What's her name?" Danny asked, forgetting he was about to tell these other teens his dearest secret.

"Constance Contraire, a test-taker, too. She have us quite a workout. Some of her test answers were… quite nerve racking."

"Let's hear some!" Danny exclaimed, he was in need of some humor.

Mr. Benedict gave a hearty laugh before disappearing behind his desk. "I have some around here somewhere… AH HA! Found them!"

He sat up, two tests in his hand. He flipped through it, stopped, smiled, and began to read. "Remember the 'What is wrong with this statement?' question? Her response was funnier than Sam's here!" Sam blushed. "She wrote, 'What is wrong with you?' as her response."

He laughed a choky, quick, and mouse-like laugh. You might just say he sounded like a dolphin.

Team Phantom understood it, using witty banter 24/7. But the other three… not so much.

"Here's another!" He showed them the picture of the chess board. "This was her reply, 'Rules and schools are tools for fools! I don't give two mules for rules!"

Team Phantom broke out into small giggles, while Mr. Benedict laugh his squeaky laugh. But, this time, his chest fell and he fell asleep.

Rhonda leapt forward, catching his glasses. She lowered the man onto his desk with care, then placed the glasses next to his right hand, and backed away.

"Is he all right?" Sticky asked, concerned.

"Yes, he'll be just fine. He should awake in a minute. This only lasts a few moments."

And, as she said it, the man began to stir. Instantly, he jolted up from his chair and gave a quick smile. He reached down and picked up his glasses, setting them on his nose. "How long was I out?"

"Only a moment." Rhonda answered.

"Good, good." He turned toward the children. "You see, I have a condition called narcolepsy. Have any of you heard of it?"

"Sure." Sticky said casually. "It's a disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable attacks of sleep. That's what the dictionary says, at least."

Mr. Benedict tapped his nose. "The dictionary is correct. Only fault, each attack comes from a different reaction on each person. That's the reason I wear green plaid, it calms, covering a bit of deep emotions." He smiled brighter, which Danny was sure was impossible. "Now, where did we leave off? Ah, right. Constance. Did you know that instead of actually doing the second test, she wrote a poem about the missing forth step? For some reason, it reminded her of doughnut holes, because these were the topic of her next poem. Apparently, she feels robbed that every doughnut has a hole. She even rhymed 'flaky bereft' and 'bakery theft!' Now, where was it… here." He was about to read, when Sticky interrupted.

"Sir? How did she pass if she didn't answer the questions?"

"There are tests," he said in a Clock-y like way, "then there are tests."

"Excuse me?"

"It will be clear soon, Sticky. Oh, goodie! They're here!"

The door opened. Number Two entered, followed be an annoyed Milligan, then a very, very short Constance Contraire.

It took a while for the teens to process that this was Constance. She resembled a large fire hydrant. Her short, chubby size and red raincoat made her short, blonde hair stand out greatly.

Danny's first impression? He was shocked. She was hiding her emotions with full force, blocking him from even sensing her. His eyes followed her as she tried to get into a chair. Eventually, Sam picked her up and lifted her, not receiving a 'thank you.'

Number Two turned to face the teens. "She didn't even try to complete the maze. Instead, she had herself a picnic! A picnic! It took Milligan almost an hour to find her."

"I won't apologize." Constance stated clearly.

"And we won't ask you to." Mr. Benedict replied. "I am pleased to hear you've had supper. Have you enjoyed yourself?"

"Quite."

Mr. Benedict nodded. "Milligan, thank you for finding her." Milligan returned the nod, the removed himself from the study. Number Two walked over to Mr. Benedict's side after she had introduced the teens to her. Only Danny offered her his hand, which she automatically refused.

"My friends," Mr. Benedict began. "Let me cut to the chase. I really wish I could tell you that, because you have passed, you are to gain a pleasant education. The real reason is quite the opposite."

The teens frowned.

"For many years I have used these tests hoping to gain a team of children to assist with a very important project. As you are all aware, many have taken the tests, including Number Two and Rhonda, here. But, also, very few pass. And, when some happen to do so, they don't do it at the same time. That is crucial. I don't need a team; I need a team of children."

"We're teens." Sam corrected, but Mr. Benedict dismissed it.

"All the better."

Although Danny could feel how serious Mr. Benedict was about this whole matter, he was so curious as to what was so bad; and he said so.

"Well, Danny, this project is dangerous. It will put your lives at risk."

Team Phantom shrugged it off, although they were still a bit bothered. But, hey, they fought ghosts on a daily schedule. It would take a lot more than a life-threatening mission to out them at risk.

Reynie, Sticky, and Kate… well, they were stunned, to say the least.

"Let me be perfectly clear. I do not wish to put any of you in harms way. I am only doing so because you could very possibly fall into a greater danger if you don't. In fact, even more people could be in danger if I don't.

"You should know I won't force you to join the team. I will explain more, then I will give you the choice to stay or go, alright?" After receiving slight nods, he continued, "I ask you four, and then you two," he said, pointing to the original MBS, Sam, and Danny, "Have something in common. Tell me what it is."

Some answers here and there, all of which Mr. Benedict nodded to. But then he turned to Reynie, who guessed. "We're all alone."

Mr. Benedict tapped his nose. "For the most part." Then he turned to Team Phantom. "I know of your origins, and have a few questions I would like to ask. They might be a bit private. Can I ask them here?"

Danny nodded, as did the other two.

"Very good. Do you three, by any chance, happen to know Danny Phantom? If you do, it would be a great help if he would be willing to assist."

They froze. This was not what they had been expecting. Danny trusted this man. And, he was in need of help. Stupid heroic self.

"Yes." He said, shocking everyone, even Mr. Benedict, who had assumed as much. "We've… helped him. I give him my parents tools to use, and show him how to use them, while Sam and Tucker help him fight ghosts."

But, Danny wasn't ready to tell them his secret… unless they truly needed to know it.

"And that is why I am making an exception. I never let children with parents or who are not alone in on this. But you three have spunk. And we need that. You seven are our only hope."

(AN)

I understand it is short. But this is what I got out of that chapter. Just be sure to know that the next chapter, be in for (so far I've counted three) shockers. Just FYI.

Oh! And, any suggestions? Like, should Dani be in it? Maybe a ghost is working with Mr. Curtain? I don't know! I want to hear from you! It'll take four seconds! Just move the mousie over to the blue button and CLICK!