Chapter 06_Open Sesame
− S-sorry Jazz, this gateway you were talking about? − Danny probably thought it was safe enough to ask once they had reached the other lake bank. − There's only a dead-end!
− And that's exactly that! − the redhead smirked in humor. − Because it's a natural portal to the Ghost Zone!
− Oh. − was the stunned reply of the younger teen, but he quickly recovered. − Jazz, that joke was horrible.
− Well, excuuuuuse me princess! − his sister sarcastically sing-sang as the parents watched amusedly the banter. − I'm not exactly the Master of Sass as somebody I know. − Danny snorted in response but kept quiet. − Though Danny's right: where's the portal? Does it open at regular intervals or is it invisible to naked eye?
− Good question, let us check. − Maddie lowered her goggles and examined the dead-end. There was a shimmer on the limestone wall, but nothing as definite as the Fenton Portal.
− Could it open only in presence of a supplementary source of ectoplasm? − Jack hypothesized.
− Like the presence of a ghost? − Maddie supplied, oblivious of how Danny tensed in his father's arms. Instead, the man noticed: was his son afraid of ectoplasmic scu- hem, presences? Even after the truce old habits died hard.
− Probably just concentrated ectoplasm. Just energetic enough to "push the door" over the edge, but not too much to distress the geological equilibrium of the cave. − he answered.
− Good! Then what do we have to make this idea work? − the huntress asked, ready to make the inventory of the equipment.
− Ecto-guns, the Deflectors, the Ecto-line, the Jack-O-Ninetales and... do you still have the spy-lipstick? − he listed after thinking a while.
− Only the guns and the lipstick will do then. − concluded Maddie, nodding at herself.
− But they're rather explosive! Won't they destabilize the cave? − Jazz protested urgently. The four winced at the tought, so the idea was quickly discarded.
− We could salvage the ectoplasm loaders and splash their contents on the limestone! − Jack proposed-
− Dad, would t-that really work? What about the "push"? − Danny inquired unconvinced.
− Not really, no. − Mads answered for him. − They should be at the same time, the contact with ectoplasm and the push, I mean. Maybe if we coat our gloves with it...
− The gloves are ecto-phobic, it won't stick on them − Jack pointed out. After all the suits were his creation, so he knew better.
− And if we do it with a coated rock? − tried Danny, maybe a bit too hopefully. Why was that?
− We don't know how the limestone could react after being crystallized in a such energetic environment. − the scientist countered.
A resigned female sigh stopped further banters and let Jazz call − Danny...
− I know Jazz. − was the boy's dry reply. The adults eyed him questioningly as he took a deep fortifying-like breath and continued. − I didn't want to do it so soon, but alright.
Maddie and Jack looked at each other weirded till Jack dared to ask. − Do what exactly?
− Can you bring me near the rock surface? − the raven haired teen requested instead, pointing the wall with his only free hand. There was a so implicit/explicit "do you trust me?" hidden in that sentence that the father couldn't help but oblige. If he couldn't trust family, who could?
Once at arm length, Danny inspected the dead-end, brushing his fingers on it much like he had done a few minutes before with the water. Are we going to see another of the hidden powers coming from the contamination? Jack wondered excitedly.
− Yeah, a push will do. − the teen muttered quietly to himself, then suddenly Maddie's flashlight wasn't the only source of light. A green luminescence coated Danny's outstretched hand which was thrust forward right into the rock before them.
From the wrist (the only visible part left) a circle of green ectoplasmatic swirl departed enlarging to cover all the wall of the dead-end tunnel . It looked almost identical to the Fenton Portal!
− ...It'll stay open till I keep it open. − Danny hesitantly broke the silence, trying to rise his stunned parents. − Can we quickly... − he hinted uncomfortably.
Jazz strode forward, limping and wincing all the while, forcing Maddie to stay clung to her while walking along. − Let me check if we can land safely. − the girl answered and slipped her head into the portal.
That finally shook the adults from their unresponsive trance and the woman pulled back her daughter with a startled yelp. That was dangerous! What if there were evil ghosts on the other side ready for an ambush? Though before she could voice her concerns, the younger redhead immediately protested.
− What gives?! It's not dangerous, we do it million times at home! − she blurted out.
− Jazz! − Danny instantly scolded, but didn't elaborate further because his sister shut her mouth guiltily.
− You mean that you, both of you, peek into the Ghost Zone through the Portal at home? − the huntress asked disbelieving and on the verge of outrage.
The boy glared at Jazz, who hummed apologetically, then he sighed resigned.
− I had once, in order to retrieve your anniversary present that got knocked in. Sorry dad, − he added sottovoce − then... − he hesitated, cringing probably for the incoming thunderstorm. − At least once a week with the Speeder to map the Ghost Zone, I'm sorry! − he apologized automatically in advance, eyes squeezed and curled on himself. At least he managed to keep the wrist imbed into the portal. She didn't delude.
− Daniel Fenton! With all the ghosts, the malevolent ones, that inhabit the Zone you went inside anyway?! I could understand for the present, thank you by the way, but afterwards? And I don't care about this mapping matter, you could have been killed and we wouldn't even know about it! − she ranted, making both her children flinch from the volume.
D ~O¤O~ Jz
Danny recovered pretty fast from the outbursts all things considered.
− I know and I'm sorry, but it's for moments like this that we made the map! What if one of us or the students fell into a random natural portal and we don't have a safe escape route because of our ignorance? − as he was explaining, Danny's hero complex came out in full force. Jazz tried to hide her fond half-smile at his attempt.
You can't ever let go of caring about people, uh, little brother? She thought, clearing loudly her throat before her mother could reply. − As much as this discussion could be prolific both on the psychological side and the moral one, Danny won't last forever in that situation − she jerked her head towards his outstretched limb. − Besides, when I checked there weren't ghost near the portal. However the more we keep it open, the more it will be spot and then there will be an ambush. Can we go now, then discuss every problem once at home? − she pleaded but with a no-nonsense tone, probably learned from her mother.
− I'm all in for the idea − Danny instantly agreed. − there were platforms on the other side?
− Yeah, but a bit down. Hopefully we could glide, spoiling the abnormal gravity of the Zone. − the girl subtly hinted and her brother nodded catching on the idea.
− Fine, let me check if there are good hiding places on this "platform". − Maddie sighed exasperated, dipping her head into the green surface (but not without a hesitance).
− How does it look Mads? − Jack asked, both eager and worried.
− There's a long zigzag path, but at least it has some stray boulders to hide behind, just in case − the woman retreated her head. − But it's really down. Won't we go splat on it? − she asked blankly at Jazz.
− The gravity in the Zone is strange mom. − answered the raven teen instead − If we huddle together there won't be a problem. − he reassured honestly.
− The portal will close behind us though, right? − the older teen asked her father, who nodded.
− But from what I saw it will give us enough time to jump and not be closed in between the portal. − the man reassured. Inwardly both the Fenton kid shuddered: who knew what would happen to who remained in a natural portal closing, if inside an artificial one opening an halfa was born? Both of them really didn't want to discover it, thank you very much.
− Okay, everybody grab somebody, t-then jump in with all your might. − Danny ordered very much Phantom-like. None less the parents and Jazz obliged at the first request. − On count of three. One, two, three!
Much like Alice through the looking glass, the standing trio jumped through the green swirling surface and began pummeling down. As much as Danny enjoyed the rush of the free-fall, he slowly reduced the pull of the gravity on the group and at last they landed gracefully on the purple stone path.
The parents seemed to begin again to breath, while Jazz was smirking smugly.
− Told ya we wouldn't "go splat"! − she stuttered, making Danny chuckle fondly. She wasn't even the one who did the job and claimed the merit! He then took a deep breath and finally noted that the raw energy wasn't being replenished inside him anymore. A Dannysickle less to worry about.
− Okay, since we're the most experienced one in this terrain, these are the rules: Do not engage a ghost if not extremely necessary, this is their home, we are the intruders. Plus, as the truce showed you, at least half of the spirit are peaceful, here more than in the outside world. So this leads to the second rule: we hide. − Danny listed resolute.
− But how can we hide if we don't know when they would come out? We don't have the Finder. − Maddie protested.
From her point of view, she did have a point. Uh, another thing I didn't want to share yet... Danny inwardly groaned. − There's another manifestation of my cryokinesis, − he explained reluctantly. − it lets me know when a ghost is approaching me. We'll use it as a radar.
− How does it work? − his father asked eagerly. It was both amusing and relieving that his parents weren't immediately jump to their guns at this display of ghost-powers. Maybe there was hope.
− My cryokinesis* reacts to the nearing of an- a ghost with a wisp of condensate frigid air that escapes my lungs. − he explained, trying not to let them notice his almost slip − Before Undergrowth it was the only way my ability showed itself. − he added still a bit uncomfortable. It was weird talking about it with them after keeping it a secret for so long.
− How much near are we talking about? − the huntress asked pragmatically, but there was a hint that she was at least a bit enthusiast about something so useful.
− Here in the Zone a mile, at home just half of it. − he answered truthfully.
− It's a good working limit. − the older redhead considered, pleased. − Okay then, where does the compass points, navigators?
The present half of Team Phantom looked around carefully: in the distance there was the meat-eating abyss, while on the opposite side there was the renewed Castle of Aragorn; above and under the purple paths there were the Domain Doors and various floating "asteroids".
− In the middle of everything? − Jazz inquired, asking confirmation.
− More or less. At least the castle is a recognizable landmark. We should head in that direction for at least half of the distance... and from there we can use Skulker's lair to find our Portal. We've been lucky after all, we're nowhere near Walker's prison. − Danny observed, pointing with the free hand towards the castle.
− Why? − the woman asked while they began walking.
− Let's say he's not very tolerant with trespassers. − Danny commented dryly, trying to bite back the bitterness. That ghost caused more trouble that than it was worth.
− Insider information told me that he was the responsible for the first ghost invasion and then blamed Phantom. − Jazz supplied, hiding an amused smirk at how their parents would react.
− What?! − they exclaimed, making Danny wince for the noisiness and being near the loudest of all.
− Oh, didn't I tell you? One of the Ghostkateer told me that Phantom saved him from a nasty ghost that had overshadowed him by shooting him a low powered ectoplasm blast. − she bragged her discovery, but winced as she put too much weight on her injured ankle.
− He didn't mention it... − murmured Maddie, wondering.
− I don't think he had really the possibility with all the ghost-fighting. − the younger redhead pointed out.
− ...Right. Maybe we really judged him too soon. − Jack admitted. The children exchanged a victorious glance: they were on the right path, both literally and situationally.
− Don't worry, it's a common thought after knowing him better. − Jazz reassured.
Danny opened his mouth to add something, but that was forever lost as soon as his Ghost Sense went off. Given his usual luck, whatever ghost was, it had effectively taken longer than usual to appear.
* Here Danny clearly is using improperly the term in order not to say "Ice core" yet. That would still be a little too much.
A/N. Hey there! It's still Saturday here in Italy, so I'm still legal! xD
I have more followers (+12) and favorites (+8)! I'm so moved! Thanks to everybody!
Write ya (Shivers) next weekend!
[Sockenmonster01 what do you mean "cliffhanger"? xD It was a pretty legitimate and normal chapter ending! After all nobody fell into the freezing water, right? Now, this chapter-ending is a cliffhanger! XD Sorry, it seemed a good place to cut the story... xP
lexi1220 thanks! I'd like some tea with it! :D
History Maker 21730 here, have more secret codes! ;D]