Disclaimer: I do not own Static Shock.

Author's Note: Hello, all. It's been over a year since I've updated this story. I apologize for the LONG wait. I was unsure where to go with this story for the longest time (I have a good idea for the ending, but I'm still trying to put together how it will work out). Also being compulsive I decided the first eight chapters needed to be rewritten before I added any more. So if you haven't reread the first eight chapters I've changed a lot of things. The basic plotline is still the same but I've added some things, removed some things, changed a few things around. All in all it is now darker and more mature than it was in the past. Also I hope to have fixed the problems with Virgil's character.

Thank you to all who have read. A special thanks to Snarky Beth, KHfan22, and Worker72 for reviewing.

Without further delay, chapter 9!

Kangor rushed over to where his friend flailed, swatting away an invisible force. Kangor grasped hold of Ferret's wrists while calmly speaking his name. Ferret continued to shriek at the invisible entity. Static stood close by Kangor's side incase the meta-human required his assistance.

Ferret's eyes, no longer rolled back in his head, were wide and focused on one spot in the room. He found it difficult to pry his gaze from that area. Static glanced up to find the ceiling of the first floor knowing that damp, second floor could give out and collapse on them at any second. Other than that there was nothing out of the ordinary to hold the rodent's attention.

Gear stood to join his friend. Static placed a hand by his side in an attempt to hush and settle Gear's racing nerves. She-Bang watched the scene from a good five feet away from the rest of the company. She ignored the pain pulsing through her ankle and pushed herself towards the root of the action. Static and Gear turned simultaneously to find the female of the group struggling to their side. Static hurried over to the woman, his eyes pleading her to rest until they had a chance to properly care for her injuries. She-Bang's crossed arms and fierce stare silenced those thoughts.

Kangor cupped one hand on Ferret's cheek. The smaller meta-human inhaled deeply, allowing the others to hear the faint whistle at the bottom of his lungs. He coughed for about thirty seconds until he noticed Kangor kneeling beside him.

Ferret grasped hold of Kangor's hands without alarming him. "K-Kangor, she—she's trying to—she's clawing at my face! Don't let her!"

"It's okay, Ferret," Kangor spoke softly.

Ferret continued to shriek. Kangor grabbed hold of Ferret's collar and shook him until his voice calmed. Kangor waited for Ferret's breathing to slow. Ferret collected himself then looked around the room to find it vacant of any supernatural beings.

"Is—is she?" Ferret began.

Kangor shook his head. "She's not here. It was only a dream."

Ferret took a couple more deep breaths, each one stinging his dry throat. He gratefully accepted the water bottle handed to him by Kangor. Ferret gulped down half the contents before taking another deep breath. The rodent lifted his eyes to see the four faces smiling down at him. Ferret fell back on his palms, not daring to venture far from the comfort of his bed.

"What's going on?" Ferret asked Kangor. Kangor lowered his eyes to meet with Ferret's. Ferret gulped; even behind the shades Ferret could tell his best friend stared into his soul. Ferret shuddered then beckoned for Kangor to move closer. The latter complied with his friend's wishes. Ferret's eyes darted around the room. He momentarily looked at Static and his crew then returned his gaze to Kangor. He whispered, "Did she take me again?"

Static heard Ferret's whispers despite his attempts to keep them directed between his friend and himself. Kangor sighed with a nod.

Ferret glanced down at his own hands. He clenched his fists with a tiny growl. The action sent a jolt of pain through his wrists which made the meta-human cry out in agony. Ferret inspected his skin to see what the damage Talon's traveling gave him this time. There were several more scratches along his arm and a few on his abdomen. Each injury had been bandaged by either Static or Kangor.

"What did she want this time?" Ferret asked out loud, not caring if their guests heard.

Kangor snorted. "You tried to kill him." He nodded in Static's direction.

Ferret glanced up at the superhero who glared at him. Ferret gulped for the second time since he woke. Even though he figured Static was not at their hideout to cause him any harm, he still found it uncomfortable to be within fifty feet of said person.

Static took that as his cue to speak. He slowly made his way over to Ferret so as not to alarm him further. He lowered himself to Ferret's eyelevel.

"Hey," Static said in a gentle voice he rarely used with the Meta Breed. Ferret shrunk back. Static gave him a reassuring smile. "Look, I know it wasn't you who tried to—well…" Static gave a nervous chuckle then glanced up at Kangor whose eyes were focused on Ferret. Static resumed his gaze and smile. "Look, Ferret." Static sighed not entirely sure how to go about the conversation.

Ferret gathered enough courage to look his enemy in the eyes. Static shifted and lowered himself to his knees in hopes to make Ferret feel more comfortable in his presence.

Static swished his lips before speaking once more. "Ferret, please, can you tell me what exactly Talon wants you to do?"

Ferret scoffed. "Why are you talking to me like I'm some kind of elementary child?"

Static was taken back. He caught his balance and hardened his tone. "Look, I really need to know what Talon's making you do. She's tried to kill me and them." Static pointed to his teammates.

Ferret shrugged. "Why should I care?"

Static growled.

Kangor moved forward and extended his hand to silence the superhero before he said something to worsen the situation. "Ferret, tell him what he wants to know." Ferret opened his mouth to protest, but Kangor did not allow the words to pass. "Ferret, this might be the only way to make her stop." He lifted an eyebrow. "You do want her to go away, right?"

Ferret nodded. He looked over at Static to find Gear making his way over to his friend. Ferret sighed. "I really don't know. When she takes control of me she has control. She doesn't tell me what to do, she does what she wants using my body." She looked up at the two heroes to find them shuddering. He wondered if he should even continue the story. A slow nod from Static answered his question. Ferret twitched. "There's nothing more I can say, I really don't know. You'll have to ask her…" Ferret gulped. "…the next time she takes me."

"We won't let that happen," Static stated.

Ferret shook his head. "You don't get it, do you? There's nothing you can do to stop her."

Static argued, "But Ferret—"

Ferret interrupted, "This isn't like the rest of us you fight on a daily basis." He threw the blanket from his legs and lifted himself into a standing position. His legs wobbled and his hand clamped onto Kangor's shoulder for support. Static stood up as well to stare into Ferret's cold eyes. The rodent glared into the hero's soul. "You can't see her. You can't fight her." Ferret placed his palms against his chest. "I've tried to fight her but she's always stronger."

"There has to be a way," Static retorted. His face turned to meet Kagnor's. "You know about all this ghost stuff, what can be done to protect him?"

The giant sighed. "There's not much I haven't tried," Kangor answered honestly. "The salt, the talismans, the incantations, I've tried everything I can think of." Kangor suddenly paused and put a thumb and finger to his chin. "I haven't tried a blood sacrifice, but I don't—"

"Let's not do that," Gear interrupted.

Kangor frowned. "It may be our last choice."

"Well then we'll save it for that desperate moment," Static stated.

Kangor nodded. "Then there's nothing much we can do right now." He glanced over at Ferret whose attention was on the floor. "She's not likely to attack if I'm nearby." His gaze returned to those standing before him. "I know what to do to ward her off temporarily, but she is a clever one. She always waits for me to turn my back or let my guard down. When I do that's when she puts him to sleep and takes him. When she does that I have to wait for either a weak moment or her to willingly give him up."

"How can you keep an eye on him at all times?" Static asked.

Kangor sighed. "I can't." He peered over at his friend. "She'll take him again, it's a fact we both know and can't do anything about."

Static clenched his fist.

"Perhaps you haven't noticed, but as the day gets closer to Halloween, a night where evil spirits have their greatest power, she gets stronger," Kangor stated. "You've only got two more days until that night."

"What can we do against something we can't physically fight?" She-Bang asked from across the room.

"That I don't know," Kangor replied.

Static sighed. "So on that night...she'll be strong enough to kill me?"

Kangor lowered his gaze. "That's not all." The others held their breath waiting for the man to continue. "By that time she won't need Ferret anymore. She'll come directly for you."

Static nodded. He growled and clenched his fist tighter. He dared Talon to come for him. He wanted to end this nightmare once and for all. He only hoped her retribution did not include any more harm towards his loved ones.

Static's phone rang breaking the silence in the room. The teen grumbled while searching his pocket for the device. He answered to hear the panicked voice of his father requesting to know his whereabouts and reason for not returning home. Static looked over at Gear in hopes of creating a convincing lie when one came to mind.

"We got sidetracked at a friend's party," Static answered. "Sorry I didn't call sooner. We'll be home as soon as we can, promise."

Gear groaned. "That's right, we were supposed to be at your house hours ago."

"Your father knows you're staying at my place tonight, right?" Static asked.

Gear nodded.

Static turned to Kangor trying to search for a viable reason to suddenly leave. Static's eyes fell upon Ferret, immediately wishing he had the option to stay incase Talon struck again. He knew there was nothing much he could do, but hoped his very presence would pull Talon from the host giving Static the chance he needed to at least bind her, if that was at all a possibility.

Kangor who had heard the conversation smiled. "You go on home. I will do all I can to keep Talon at bay," Kangor stated with a pumped fist.

Ferret chuckled as he staggered over to the group. "Yeah, even if she's getting stronger I'm not dead yet." Ferret cocked his head to the right. "I'm getting tired of this game and won't go down without a fight."

"In the meantime," Kangor said as he placed his hands behind his neck. He fiddled with the clasp attached to his necklace. Static watched the gold amulet with a red gem in the center fall down Kangor's chest as the chain was brought forward. He handed the object to the electric wielder. "Take this," Kangor instructed. "This talisman will protect you from vengeful spirits."

"How?" Static skeptically asked.

Kangor grinned. "Its powers are meant to block supernatural waves before they reach your body. Being a natural medium I wear it to keep evil beings from taking over my body." Kangor's smile faded. "Unfortunately Ferret's connection to Talon is too strong for it to work on him. Believe me, I tried."

Static fastened the amulet about his neck and gave his sincere thanks to Kangor. The older male nodded at the heroes. The three readied to leave. Gear's backpack began its levitation of its human owner while Static helped She-Bang onto his disk.

"Tomorrow," Kangor said stepping forward. "Meet me in Haven's Cemetery." Static's lips twinged at the thought of spending an evening in the presence of dead bodies. "We'll find out just what Talon wants and hopefully end her curse."

Static agreed against his better judgment. The heroes took off leaving Kangor and Ferret alone in their hideout. The two smiled at each other. For the first time in a while Ferret knew it would not be much longer until he could once again have a peaceful sleep.

There's chapter nine. Again, I apologize for the wait. The next chapter will be coming shortly. As for Kangor being a medium, I know it's not canon, but there's not much known about him, so maybe there's a possibility. Probably not, but he always struck me as the dark and mysterious type and I thought it went well with the story. Besides he's the closest with Ferret which gives him the best reason to want to protect him.

Until next time!