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Phantom, Danny
The story you know from the very beginning.
…and from a slightly different point of view.
Chapter 13: The Reality
-Day 29-
The day had been long and rather challenging, at least in his opinion. Not only did he have to suffer through a few hours of School, The Danny hadn't let up on him during his study time until he'd written out the alphabet several times. The bell to signal the time to go home hadn't come quickly enough.
Exhausted from his mental struggles to remember the alphabet squiggles, he relaxed in the back of the human's mind as it walked home with its friends. Although the movie had been several days ago, all three of them continued to talk about it endlessly. He listened, but with a very dim sort of non-interest.
The Tucker suddenly came to a rather abrupt stop in the middle of the sidewalk not far from The Danny's home. The Danny, not paying much attention, ran right into it. "Hey!" The Danny said, pushing itself back up and sending it a glare.
"You got company," it replied, pointing towards the house.
The Danny peered around it, eying the cars lined up along the sidewalk outside their house. "My parents didn't say anything about company…"
The Sam stepped forwards, fingering the backpack thrown over her back. "Do you think we can still come over?"
"They said you could this morning," the human said with a shrug.
"So that means they didn't know people were coming either," The Tucker said with a grin. "Let's sneak in the back and see if we can miss 'em."
"Or Danny could fly us invisibly up to his bedroom," The Sam suggested. The Danny flushed slightly.
The Tucker shot her an annoyed look. "Are you going to explain all these not-at-all-veiled references to invisibility and flight and bedrooms ever?"
"Someday," she said pleasantly, touching The Danny on the shoulder as she walked past them and up the sidewalk.
The Tucker turned its annoyed look on The Danny. "Do you know what she's… oh, yeah, you do. I can see the blush."
"Shut it," The Danny muttered, stalking after The Sam.
It caught up to The Sam as she paused in front of the line of cars. "I bet those are government cars," she said. "White, clean, brand new, with sequential license plate numbers," Then she gestured to the other cars a bit further down – larger cars of a different style and pitch black. "And those are from the DALV group."
"How do you know that?" The Danny asked skeptically.
She eyed him. "The large company logo on the side gave it away."
"Well, yeah, obviously," The Danny muttered, flushing and kicking at a rock with its shoe. "Come on."
The other two humans hesitated. "If it's the government in there," The Tucker said doubtfully after a moment, "I don't think we should be sneaking around them."
"What's the worse they can do, kick you back out?" Danny shrugged a shoulder. "We got permission. Let's go."
The others followed it into the house. The kitchen was empty of humans. The living room also.
"We're all alone," The Danny said, wrinkling its forehead. "They must be down in the lab. Why don't you guys head upstairs and I'll tell my parents we're here."
"Okay," The Sam said, heading for the stairs. The Tucker followed.
He sat up in the human's mind, poking at it gently. Why are they afraid of The Government?
"They're not afraid," it answered quietly. "The government just has lots of rules and things, and some pretty serious punishments if you break their rules."
They are The Council of this world.
It hesitated before it pushed open the door to the basement. "From what you've told me? Kinda sounds like." It let out a breath and opened the door, sneaking down the steps.
Several men were standing around, staring at The Mom and The Dad's portal. Some were wearing white, others black. "I'm impressed that you got it working," out of the men wearing white said. "And it's stable?"
"Fully," The Dad said proudly. "It just needed ultra-purified ectoplasm, so we needed to build an ectofiltrator-"
"My boss is quite interested in the technology," one of the men in black interrupted. "Is it reproducible?"
The Dad nodded with a wide grin, but The Mom stepped in front of it. "We are still in the beginning stages of testing. Promising anything more than what we already have would be overstepping ourselves." It smiled at the men.
The man in black nodded. "That is understandable. The DALV group is willing to extend the necessary resources to…" it hesitated to glance down at a piece of paper, "Fentonworks… to complete the necessary research and development."
"With proper government regulations in place, of course," one of the white-dressed men cut in.
"Of course," The Mom agreed with a nod. "We have all the proper paperwork filed for an interdimensional portal in a residential section of town."
The white-dressed man didn't smile back. "You would not be here if you didn't." It stepped forwards to examine the glowing ring of green more closely. "The government is also interested in helping to fund any further research in this area. I'm sure we would be willing to match any donation made by the DALV group."
"That's very generous," The Maddie said, "but we're not looking for any grants at this time-" It broke off when it looked up and saw The Danny sitting at the top of the steps. "If you'll excuse me for just one moment…" It shot The Dad a look. "Jack, why don't you show them your Thermos concept?"
As The Dad grabbed a strange-looking cylinder filled with wires and switches, The Mom walked up the steps. "Hey, Mom," The Danny said.
"Did you have a good day at school?" it asked, sitting down on the stairs as well.
"Yeah," The Danny answered with a shrug. "Is it still okay that Sam and Tucker came over to work on our project?"
It nodded. "These men should be leaving soon. Just stay upstairs until they're gone. I'll bring you three a snack in a bit."
"Gonna try to sell your portal?"
"Not yet," The Mom said. "We're still learning a lot from it." It stood up and started to walk back down the stairs. "I'll see you in a little bit, okay?"
"Yeah." The Danny watched a second longer, then turned around and headed back up into the kitchen.
They will sell the portal soon? He felt a flare of anxiousness at that.
The Danny shrugged. "Why do you care? It's just a glowing light in the basement."
It is what brought me here. It is my only way home.
The Danny stopped. "Oh," it breathed, "I didn't think… Yeah."
He curled up inside the human's mind. It is probably what joined us together. It may be the only thing that can separate us.
It looked over its shoulder at the door leading down to the basement. "We'll get it figured out. You heard my mom, she's not planning on selling it soon."
I wanted to be free…
"I know," The Danny said, slowly making its way upstairs and to its friends. "I just wish I knew how."
He curled up and ignored the human for most of the rest of the night. It wasn't until it was fast asleep that he uncurled and went flying through the crisp fall night. There was a definite bite of cold to the air as he flew up as high as he could.
As he hung there, feeling his heart beat in his chest, seeing the vast night sky, hearing the cold wind whistle in his ears, smelling the encroaching rain clouds… he couldn't decide if he'd be able to give this up. Could he really go back to the existence he'd lead before, after experiencing all this?
.
.13.
.
-Day 32-
"We're meeting Tucker at the Nasty Burger in just a few minutes," The Danny said, racing around its room for clothes.
Do we not have School today? he asked, not really caring.
"Teacher workshop day," it answered vaguely. "But I'll need you to fly us there."
Then we should wear the white shirt.
It stopped. "You made me wear that shirt four times last week and already twice this week, and it's only Thursday!"
I like that shirt. It has a nice red symbol. He poked at the human mind.
"It's just a stupid red dot, and I'm not wearing the same shirt that many times. Find another shirt you like," it hissed.
I do not really feel like flying… He stretched, then started to curl up.
"Fine," it said furiously, grabbing the shirt out of its laundry basket. "You'll fly us if I wear the stupid shirt?"
He frowned. It is not a stupid shirt.
It pulled the shirt over its head and stuffed its feet into shoes. "Whatever. Flight?"
I suppose. You could fly us – you are getting better.
The human had started to make an actual attempt at learning to fly recently. It was turning into a decent flyer. For a human. It would never be able to match his grace or speed, of course.
"I'm wearing this shirt so you'll fly us." It looked around the room, running a hand through its messy hair. "Do I have everything?"
I am sure you are missing something, he told it helpfully.
It scowled darkly and closed its eyes in response.
He felt its mind shift and pull away from the human body. He reached forwards and took control rolling his shoulders and rubbing his fingers together before opening his eyes. "We are ready to go?"
As far as I know, it said. Think you can get there in less than two minutes?
Taking the comment as the challenge the human meant it to be, he vanished from the room. Between his three skills – invisibility, phasing, and flight – he could get anywhere. He swirled down the streets, not even bothering to miss the streetlights, and found himself hovering before the Nasty Burger sign. It glowed a horrible, strange red color.
"Was that less than two minutes?" he asked, still not sure about his sense of time.
Felt like it, it answered. You gonna land?
He dropped lightly to the ground before coming back into view. He walked into the Nasty Burger and looked around for The Tucker. He found the human sitting alone at a small table in the corner. "Where is Sam?"
The human mind was quiet for a long beat. She's not coming today.
He crossed his arms. "I do not like Tucker."
I know, but he's my friend. I'm going to spend the day with him. You don't have to pay any attention.
His eyes narrowed. "Some day I will spend time with a friend you do not like. And then you will have to put up with it as well."
You have friends?
He pushed at the human mind, forcing it back in control of the human body. I do not wish to smell the disgusting food at this place. And I do not wish to discuss my friends – past or future.
"Sorry," it muttered, starting to weave its way through the tables. It waved at The Tucker. "It's just one day."
He sighed and curled up in a tight little ball. Famous last words, Danny.
.
.13.
.
-Day 32-
A ghost startled him out of the blankness he'd wrapped himself up in, waiting for the horrible day spent with The Tucker to be over. Not only had The Danny insisted upon spending the day with the human, it also had planned to spend the day at the arcade. Fortunately – at least in his mind – the arrival of the cold ruined its plans.
"What's wrong?" The Tucker asked.
The Danny shivered and tried to ignore it. "I'm cold," it answered shortly. "You gonna play or what?"
"You're not just cold," The Tucker muttered, grabbing The Danny's arm curiously. "You're freezing. And I can see your breath in the air."
It shivered some more, wrapping its arms around itself. "When there's ghosts around, I get cold," it admitted. "It'll go away. Let's just play."
"There's a ghost around?" The Tucker perked up, looking around the arcade. "Where?"
The Danny gestured towards the back of the store. That was where the cold seemed to be coming from. "Who cares? It's just a ghost."
I care. We should be leaving. He poked at the human mind roughly, desperately trying to broadcast his fear and apprehension about meeting another ghost in the human world.
The Danny shook its head in response as a sharp shudder ran through its body.
"Yeah, but I've never actually seen a ghost," The Tucker said eagerly. "Can you show me where it is? Just this once?" It was peering at the back of the arcade, obviously trying to see past the counter and into the staff space in the rear.
It is suicidal.
"He's not an 'it'," The Danny said, frustrated.
"What?" The Tucker asked, turning around to glance at it.
With a wave of its hand, The Danny gave in and headed towards the back of the store. "Fine. We'll go see the ghost. I don't see why you're so interested."
For once, you and I agree. We should be leaving.
"Why aren't you more interested?" The Tucker asked quietly as they snuck around the unmanned counter and into the back room. "You're part ghost, kind of, anyways, with your ghost powers, and your parents are ghost scientists, and-"
"Quiet."
It didn't listen. "Come on, nobody's ever been able to prove the existence of ghosts," he whispered. "You'd be seriously famous. Not to mention…" The Tucker crept forwards, looking around the small – and empty – room. "Where is the ghost?"
It is past the back wall. Perhaps it is outside. He winced when the human looked towards the back wall, obviously thinking that through.
The Danny chewed its lip quietly a moment. Then it glanced at The Tucker. "Oh, what the hell, my day's shot anyways," it muttered to itself. Walking over to Tucker, it pushed the human towards the back wall. "It's out back. Let's go find it."
No, Danny. Please don't!
"Don't need your permission, Ghost," it breathed as it closed its eyes, pulled energy up into its mind, and then phased both itself and The Tucker through the wall.
It is dangerous, he begged. Please go back inside.
"Woah," The Tucker said, feeling its arms and legs quickly as it stumbled to a stop in the alley behind the house. "You pushed me right through the wall!"
The Danny turned to grin at it, but stopped when something caught its gaze. A flicker of inhuman green. It looked up, spotting a large, glowing octopus hanging around the second floor windows. "There it is," it whispered, just loud enough for the other human to hear as well.
The Tucker looked up. Its eyes widened. "Cool."
Run. He stared at up at the ghostly octopus in pure dread. Please run. He reached to grab onto the human's body and make it run just as the ghost's eye swung around to fixate on him. A huge beak appeared amongst the weaving tentacles, and it cracked loudly as the creature opened and closed it. He froze. We are going to be eaten.
"Can it hurt us?" The Tucker asked.
"I don't think so," The Danny replied slowly, but it backed up a few steps. "It's a ghost. It's not on the same plane of existence as us-"
One of the ghost's huge tentacles whipped around and smashed into a garbage can, sending it sailing over their heads. Both The Danny and The Tucker ducked, startled.
The Tucker licked its lips. "Aren't those garbage cans on our plane of existence?" he whispered.
"Yeah, I think we should run," The Danny breathed, but it didn't move.
"Back up," The Tucker said with a desperate edge to his voice. It grabbed onto the back of The Danny's shirt and started to two it backwards. "Come on…"
A strange, eerie sound broke through the afternoon sunshine. Although the noise came from the ghost, it seemed to echo everywhere. Both humans shuddered and took off towards the light at the end of the alley.
Let me take over. Let me get us away from it!
The Danny didn't seem to be listening to him. It scrambled over the forgotten stuff in the alleyway, shoes loud on the cement as it chased after its friend. The Tucker was slightly faster.
DANNY! He shouted, desperate to get its attention. He felt its mind shift, ever so slightly. It can fly much faster than you can run. We must fly.
"Take over," it panted, tossing a glance over its shoulder. The octopus was chasing them – and closing in fast. "Grab Tucker and lets get out of here."
I can't carry both of you.
"You did Sam!" it said, stumbling over a bit of trash and nearly falling to the ground. A green tentacle whipped near its head.
You weren't a human. Danny-
"Tucker!" it yelled. "Keep running!"
The other human glanced over its shoulder, skidding to a halt. "DANNY!"
The Danny clamped its eyes shut and sank to its knees. It reached deep inside and yanked power and energy through its body. Green exploded inside its mind. "Ghost," it whispered, wincing at the sound of something slamming into the ground next to him. "Ghost."
He could feel the ghost hovering over them. Something terribly cold dripped onto The Danny's head. Danny-
Its fingers clenched in the ground, a tremble ran through its body, and all that energy was released in a swirl of power. "Going ghost!" the human screamed.
The world vanished in a wash of green and white. A bland emptiness was left in its place. The cement was distant and hard under its knees and hands. The fear abated to something far away – like a bird fluttering in a cage. When it opened its eyes, the world had jumped into sharp relief. Too bright.
It glanced up at the ghost octopus, which had paused and was watching The Danny carefully. "Ghost…"
He felt it step back in its mind. He reached forwards, took control of the body, and found himself being the one to stare up at the ghost. He couldn't even imagine the amount of raw power this thing must have: to not only have a form in the human world, but to have it solid enough to interact with human objects. And he - a tiny little scrap of a ghost not enough powerful enough to have a form in the world of the dead, a little shadow that had no bigger dreams than to not be eaten or, if being eaten was his destiny, than to at least be eaten by something impressive – was staring straight at it. "I'm going to get eaten," he muttered, feeling his knees going weak.
FLY! the human mind screamed.
The world jolted at that word, sending him stumbling backwards a step. A huge green tentacle slammed into the ground next to him, sending little splatters of greenish goo everywhere. "Shit!" he yelped as he twisted around, already in the air, and raced towards the entrance of the alley.
His fingers locked around The Tucker's arms he passed, wrenching it from the ground as it raced forwards. A flicker of his mind sent them invisible as he started to fly down the street, then up into the air, shooting glances over his shoulder.
The octopus didn't leave the alley. The cold had faded away.
He dropped The Tucker onto the roof of a nearby building, slowly becoming visible as he hovered near the human. "It is gone," he whispered.
The human mind was still shaking. That was close.
"Holy shit," The Tucker whispered, taking a few steps backwards. "What happened to you?"
He glanced towards it. It was staring at him with a wild expression. He scowled. He didn't have time to deal with the annoying human. "Where did it go?"
"Danny?"
He dropped to the roof and shot a look towards the human. "Yes," he told it.
"But, but, when…?" The look on The Tucker's face slowly changed from fear to understanding. "Sam."
He sighed and walked over to the edge of the roof, glancing around for the ghost. His heart was still racing in his chest. "Where is it?"
"You and Sam figured out how to turn you into a ghost and you didn't tell me?" The Tucker asked incredulously.
The human mind chuckled softly at that. The worst of its fear had faded and it poked at his mind. The ghost is gone. Relax a little.
"That is the second time we have run into this ghost," he muttered, still gazing over the edge. "It is following us."
"Danny," The Tucker said.
Something touched his shoulder. It was a distant sensation that made him glance up, startled. The human was standing there, grabbing his shoulder. He shrugged the hand off. "What?"
"Relax. How are we going to get off the roof?"
He wasn't sure what was wrong with human brains, but how could anyone could laugh off the appearance of a ghost that powerful? All the human wanted to focus on was his appearance and how to get off the roof. He stared at it incredulously. "We just got chased by a very powerful ghost," he said slowly.
"And it's gone now," The Tucker answered. "You'll know when it comes back, right? The cold thing?"
"Well…" He looked around, then poked at the human mind for some help. Yes, the ghost was gone, but didn't humans remain cautious for awhile afterwards, in case it came back?
You're going to have to fly him back down.
Apparently that wasn't the case. The humans simply got over it and went about their lives. Perhaps that made sense – humans lived very short existences. But still. He eyed The Tucker. Perhaps he could teach it something.
What are you doing?
The Tucker was leaning over the edge, no doubt trying to find its way down. He walked up behind it.
The Danny caught onto his plan just as he stepped up behind the human. Stop!
He grabbed the human's waist and tossed him over the edge. He saw a flash of surprised eyes and a cut-off yelp of fear as the human tumbled into the air.
The Danny's mind barely had time to register what had happened before he jumped up onto the ledge and dove over, following The Tucker's body towards the ground. He caught it before it had passed the highest row of windows, latching onto its arms and turning the fall into a glide.
"Don't do that!" The Tucker yelled. He could feel its heart racing.
The human mind was saying something very similar. It ranted and raved as he flew both himself and The Tucker to the park, not stopping until The Tucker's feet were planted, somewhat firmly, on the ground.
"Ghosts are not games," he told The Tucker – and the human mind – sharply. "That thing could have easily killed you."
"You didn't have to push me off the roof!" The Tucker snapped, brushed at its shirt.
"At least I'll catch you," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "I highly doubt the ghost would have."
It hesitated, glancing at him. One of its eyebrows ticked upwards in acknowledgement.
Don't push my friends off the roof again, it said. It still sounded angry.
"I am making a point," he said, releasing the energy that was surrounding him. It raced out of him in a wash of green and white, returning the heavy, fleshy feel of his human form. Without another thought, he pushed the human mind back into control of the body and burrowed down into the darkness to wait out the rest of the day.