(Part 1 of 2)
The Birth of Phantom.
Part 1: Grudges.
It's hard to discourage a scientific mind. No one knew this more than young Vladimir Masters. For Maddie, he chalked it up to her confidence, individuality, and brilliant mind. For Jack? Eh, it was stupidity. He just lacked the brain capacity to realize when his pursuits were doomed to fail. This is what Vlad had thought; but his perception of Jack as a harmless fool changed and solidified during the construction of their first prototype ghost portal.
The paranormal world was a place mankind was not meant to explore, Vlad had thought, but when Maddie turned her attention to it he jumped on board. He had his doubts, but they were getting results; even some pretty definitive proof that there was at least something to all their efforts.
Then the pivotal moment, when the prototype-portal was ready. Jack did something stupid, he must have, because the portal malfunctioned in a way they couldn't have accounted for. A direct ectoplasmic blast to his well-structured face then his skin, his college career, everything that mattered to him had been taken away. He spent multiple years in the hospital suffering with the distortion to his body that Jack so hastily named, "ecto-acne."
During this time Jack and Maddie got engaged and married, Vlad had been recovering in the very hospital where Maddie first brought life into the world…Jasmine, a beautiful name for a beautiful baby girl. She seemed to take from her mother's side, though not quite from her mother directly. Then they moved to Amity Park, where Vlad never even bothered to see their second-born child, Daniel. A warped twist in his mind said, 'Jazz is Maddie's daughter; but Daniel is Jack's son.' He once received a Christmas card of the young family that only furthered this deep distinction. The boy did take after his fathers side, but like Jasmine, not his father directly. Lucky for the tiny tike, Vlad supposed.
So then, Vlad continued to check on the Fenton's on occasion. He was aware they continued trying to create a portal and found such a pursuit to be beyond their capabilities. Then when he learned of their repeated breakthroughs and eventual plans for a fully functional portal he felt…surprisingly insulted.
Of course, Vlad hadn't spoken with them in years and much of their progress in paranormal science went under his nose…sabotage would not have been below his ethic standards if he was aware they had gotten so far. No, his issue was that Jack Fenton had cursed him with the portal they created together. It made Vlad question, had they forgotten how much he suffered? Had they even forgotten him? Had Jack forgotten what he did? How dangerous it was? These questions filled him with anxiety as the portal neared its completion. Ghosts and paranormal research, they were...they were his thing. Jack had cursed him with powers, robbed him of Maddie, his young years, and now…they would dare to pursue the next great leap in paranormal science without him? He was the epitome of the paranormal! He was the breakthrough, their discoveries meant nothing compared to him!
What's worse, they had the children; both as much Jack's as Maddie's, but still. The thought occurred to Vlad that something could happen to them. It would be morally wrong to allow Jack and Maddie to activate such a dangerous machine within the walls of their own home with the children so near.
Yes, it would be morally wrong…and that is why Vlad allowed himself to spy on the Fenton's and their progress extensively. He gave himself to all their notes, blueprints, looked into their grants, their journals, everything. For the sake of Madeline…and her children. He was going to crush their dreams of creating a portal. He was going to wait until everything was perfect, every last piece put into place…and then he was going to take it all away.
What is it with me and my fascination with Vlad's twisted psyche? The narrator went a bit Gollum on this one...
Part two in a couple days! I've got a few papers due this and next week, so I'm a little stretched for writing time. :)