CHAPTER 25: SPIRITUAL WARFARE, PART 4
India has been seen as a principal state in the realm of trade and economics, particularly from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Much like its neighboring nation of China, it was sought out by the British Empire to seek out lands full of resources to exploit and profit on for itself and its citizens, seeking out goods like material products such as cotton and dyes, to beverages such as coffee and tea.
What started under the face of simple business dealings (exploitative enough in their own nature) soon turned to full-scale colonization and the annexation of India under British rule; a new governance that lasted a full century, and cost many lives on both sides of oppressor and the oppressed.
Violent protests had come and gone since the initial government act, but change had finally come to pass when peaceful protests, spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi, had led to the independence of India. A further three years after finally achieving a status of being a self-governing nation under British rule, India had finally reached its independence as its own sovereign country at last.
But not without its costs.
Though British India had the religions of Hinduism and Sikhism as their most practiced faiths, several pockets of the colony's population was Muslim, all for whom called for their own nation out from the independence of India. In order to properly draw lines to give two states, each with their own predominant religions, the newly-independent India was born with a twin brother named Pakistan.
Though the two-state solution allowed the Muslims a nation of their own, the move was not as simple as being drawn on a map nor in its territorial lines being put into place. Many lives of people of both sides of their faiths were found on the wrong side of the country designated for them, upending many lives and bringing about chaos and violence to those same people caught in the territorial dispute.
The difference of belief is always a strong factor to make any two cultures hate one another, but the scars left behind by the wounds made by the territorial lines and disputes is enough to fully cement a divide that would not see resolution any time within the modern era.
A matter based on land and physical concepts can be mostly relegated and kept to the specific place in which the dispute came about, but, when tied to a force as strong as religion, the hatred can transcend mere territorial boundaries, and can become an integral part of the beliefs of people of these faiths, even when miles and decades separated from the original transgression.
The prime example of this is shown in the streets of Old Amity Park, a place where all religions can finally come together... and fight over who is the dominant and one 'true' religion out of the many that occupy the minds of the people of Earth. Where they once battled in the realms of discussion and debate, however, they have now resorted to the oldest means of gaining any perceived territory from one another:
By taking it at the end of a gun.
In the modern day and age, the decades-old feud has taken to a dingy apartment complex, housing a religious community known as Abrahamic Pacifists. They are a brotherhood of Muslims, taking many of their Christian and Judaist cousins under their wing, trying to get by without harming a single human being in their way.
The people living in their humble abode have stuck true to their desires for peace with all others, only guilty of squatting in an abandoned building to make for their home. It is a victimless crime, something any reasonable person is well aware of, but this is not the reason which they are made targets of now; this is of no concern to the people who have come to take their lives.
The people who have come to kill them are a religious paramilitary group known as the Hindutva Militia, fundamentalist practitioners of the Hindu faith.
The reason they have come to kill the Pascifists is because they chose to worship the wrong god... which has led to the separation of years past.
[Soundtrack Cue: Sepultura - Refuse/Resist; Starting from 0:09]
Lining themselves just outside the apartment complex where the Abrahamic Pacifists lived, the Hindutva Militia opened fire on the building with automatic rifle fire, sending bullets flying through old concrete and broken glass with hopes of landing them into the targets inside.
Pressing themselves to the floor, the Abrahamic Pacifists ducked away to avoid any gunfire, just narrowly missing the bullets intended for their bodies. Passive and forgiving as they were, it did not take away their own innate senses of self-preservation, even with their belief in an afterlife awaiting them.
The Hindutva Militia dressed in a full set of formal brown military dress shirts, pants, and garrison caps, not unlike that of a Nazi uniform, but carrying the distinct difference of a lone orange sash running down their shoulders to their side, maintaining a sharp and fanciful dress even in the face of combat.
It is a far cry and heavy contrast to the dingy and poor clothing that the Abrahamic Pacifists garbed themselves in; their choices of dress being based around availability rather than fashion choice. The obvious differences in clothing make it clear who is the more capable and well-equipped side of the fight...
...and even without those facts, the very nature of the Abrahamic Pacifists also make it clear that they will lose to the invading forces, and there is no fight to be had.
Those facts are made clear to the people who had come to the Pacifists as their guests for a meal and temporary place of rest: Danny Fenton, Jazz Fenton, and Danielle Phantom, a trio making their way through Old Amity Park to a ghost named Desiree to see a wish fulfilled.
Said wish is for Danny to have a soul once again, and, with that goal not yet accomplished, that makes him unable to be of use in this fight. This leaves Danielle and Jazz with the only means of fighting back against the Hindutva Militia, as well as the only people willing to fight at all.
This makes the urgency to act all the more dire to the two.
[Soundtrack Cue End]
"And who are the noisy neighbors?" Jazz asked.
"Well, we just took out the Christofascists, so that leaves only one group of people who have the most hate for Muslims: The Hindutva Militia." Danielle said.
"Hindutva? Let me guess: Fundamentalist Hindus?"
"Yep. Not many people know this, but Hindus and Muslims have had a long, bad history between one another. The problem is, unlike these guys, the Pacifists don't and won't defend themselves, even if their lives are in danger."
"So, that leaves it up to us to save them."
"Yep. Hope you kept your ghost-hunting skills after you died, because we're going to need them more than ever now."
Turning herself intangible, Danielle flew out the window to directly confront the Hindutva Militia in a fight. Jazz did not follow; having many reasons preventing her from doing the same. Having been killed at the hands of Demon Phantom, she is now a ghost, and shares many of the same powers and abilities as a half-ghost such as Danielle, but there is still one issue preventing her from using them:
She does not know how.
"Hey, wait! I just died! I don't know how to use ghost powers! A little help here?" Jazz shouted.
Concerning herself only with the task of saving the Pascifists, Jazz's call to Danielle was left unheard as she went off into the breach to battle the invading force of the Hindutva Militia. Putting herself out front and center to the Militia, Danielle became their new primary target, sending all weapons pointed straight at her.
"The namazi have a new protector! Destroy her!" The Militia commander shouted.
Their next vollies of fire were directed straight at Danielle, trying to eliminate the threat as quickly as it came. Despite the well-trained and well-disciplined appearances of the Hindutva Militia, their decision to fire on her proved to be a sign of their lack of immediate knowledge, or signaled a temporary lapsing thereof...
...for when they fired on Danielle, they watched their bullets fly straight through her, hitting nothing but air, reminding them that such weapons were of no use on a ghost.
"Sorry, boys. I'm not a girl that likes to have a huge load shot all over me." Danielle joked.
Clenching her fist, ectoplasm began to charge within it, preparing an energy blast for Danielle to fire in retaliation.
"But I'll be more than happy to shoot mine at you, and I only need my own hands to do it!" Danielle shouted.
Extending her fist out to the Militia, Danielle fired a blast of ectoplasm towards the army, igniting a small explosion between several members. Moreover, she repeated her attacks towards the Hindu fundamentalists, doing enough damage to send them retreating back, thwarting their attempts to take the Pacifists, all while successfully managing to prevent any deaths among them.
However, where their knowledge on how to fight ghosts had lapsed as of before, it had soon returned to handle the threat at hand.
"Bhoota! Get the ectoplasmic weapons!" The Militia commander shouted.
At the commander's orders, a selection of the troops moved back to exchange their rifles and guns for their ectoplasmic-based weaponry, designed for the explicit purpose of fighting against ghosts. Danielle Phantom, half-ghost as she may be, is still more than vulnerable to such weapons, and her fearless assault must take a backseat to avoid the incoming fire.
A volley of blasts of artificially-created hellfire come her way, immediately and instinctively calling for her to swerve out from the line of fire and save herself. Though dodging past and avoiding the incoming fire, her bravado is still not lost on her; the trait of snarkiness in the face of danger well-kept from Danny's genome.
"A lot of big guns out here. Compensating for something? I'm not a size queen, you know. It's not the size of the boat, it's the motion of the-" Danielle began to say.
Before able to finish her joke, a stray blast of ectoplasmic energy struck her on the arm, tearing away at her ethereal body and drawing out from her a pained groan. Rudely awakened back into focus of the fight, she abstains from any further jokes for the moment, flying back to a higher vantage point.
Farther away from her targets, she makes herself less of a target to them, giving herself enough space between them to better see the incoming fire and avoid it. The blasts of fire once again come her way, but at a distance where no one on the ground can make an easy shot into her, and where she can move out of the way from their fire more easily.
In return for the incoming ectoplasmic projectiles, she fired her own back to the Hindutva Militia, continuing to strike back against the army attempting to bring death to the Pacifists. The crossfire became an even exchange of crossfire between both living and half-dead, with the lives of others left to the fate of this battle.
The commander of the Militia, however, decided to take fate into his own hands, taking to his radio to issue an order that would take advantage of their deadlock.
"Send in the bulldozer to the back. The bhoota will not see us coming." The Militia commander said.
Gunfire and ectoplasmic fire alike blare at ear-piercing volumes outside of the apartment complex, leaving all inside trembling in fear over the threat of the violence coming into their home and taking their lives. Unsure if they would be able to live either as humans or ghosts in the next few moments, many of the Abrahamic Pacifists chose to huddle together, cherishing what time they had left.
Fearing that their very way of life would come to an end at the hand of those worshiping another god, they are unable to understand how such a deity can drive others to hate and violence where theirs has led them to peace and acceptance. When belief has become a choice as easy as a favorite brand, it is beyond comprehension why anyone would choose to worship such a god, or interpret them in such a way...
...and the very idea gives the Pacifists a stark reminder that not everyone is willing to accept the world their way, even when it brings better lives.
For the ghost of Jazz Fenton, the ideological and theological implications of the violence are not her concern. A tactician and fighter in her past life, she is much the same in her present life, and made moreso by the importance of keeping her brother safe and alive.
Danny has been kept as a person to be kept safe during their travel, treated more like a child to be protected or a V.I.P., but his ghost powers have come to the utmost importance in this scenario. Unable to use them without a mortal soul in his body, his knowledge can still give Jazz the ability to use her own.
But lacking in a mortal soul also makes him unable to access many of his own memories, and to get the ones needed is a challenge Jazz does not have time for.
"Danny! Listen, I don't know how to use ghost powers like you. I need you to show me how." Jazz said.
Just as confronted once before in a similar situation with Deacon Showenhower of the Christofascists, Danny does not respond to the command with any understanding or the immediate sense of urgency that Jazz feels. Nonetheless, she still persisted to get the needed answer out from him.
"Danny, I can fight them off, but only if you tell me how to do it!" Jazz pleaded.
Once again, Jazz's efforts had no effect on Danny, leaving her once again without the knowledge of how to use her own ghost powers. The desperation of the situation at hand made her resort to harsher and angrier language, having no apparent option in order to get the needed information out from Danny.
"Damn it, Danny! Doesn't anything work in that head of yours?! If you don't tell me what to do, we'll die here! If you die, you can't beat Dark Danny and win! Do you understand that?!" Jazz shouted.
At last, the message had seemed to make its way to Danny; the cause of which is an unknown factor, perhaps by either the volume of her voice or the message bringing the threat of failure to his mission. Whatever the case, the message given to him finally seemed to make its way to his mind, making his eyes light up in response.
Unfortunately, the success had come far too late to make a difference for Jazz or anyone else in the building. The sounds of gunfire and hellfire alike outside were soon and suddenly overlapped by the sound of rumbling and the roaring of engines, followed by the foundation of the building itself beginning to crumble.
All eyes in the room were led to the place where the noise became the loudest, turning to one of the walls of the apartment complex. Bricks and mortar had began to fall off from the wall and onto the ground; the wall itself becoming destroyed by whatever laid on the other side of it.
The suspense of the wall's failure did not last long enough to lead to any guesses as to what was causing the destruction; the answer had instead presented itself soon and quickly with the appearance of a bulldozer taking its place, taking away one of the few visible guarantees of safety for the Abrahamic Pacifists.
The loud crumbling and sounds of destruction were not just heard on those inside the building, but also the outside, as it soon caught the attention of Danielle Phantom as well. Having her attention taken away from the enemy in front of her, she turned to see the sneak attack posed from behind, quickly learning the consequences brought about from her lack of attention to the building.
"Oh, no." Danielle said.
Abandoning the fight in the front of the building with one last blast to the enemy, she flew towards the back of the apartment complex, hoping to arrive in time to help.
The bulldozer had also soon pulled back to give way to many members of the Hindutva Militia running inside, moving into the building with their weapons high and ready for their invasion and attack on the nonbelievers within. Armed with projectile and ectoplasmic weapons alike, they are all ready to bring death and beyond to anyone standing in their way.
And upon entering the building, they fully deliver on their promises.
The Hindutva Militia opened fire on the Abrahamic Pascifists the instant they made their way inside, blasting away at human and ghost alike on sight. In a single white-hot blaze of brown fury, those who they despised for their worship of another god are punished by violence.
The Abrahamic Pascifists all fled from the incoming hostile fire of the Militia, but their flights were short and fruitless; none were spared from the carnage and death brought unto them. Not the living, brought down by steel and lead, nor the dead, brought down by artificially created ectoplasm.
Lives and afterlives alike perished from their attacks, and there were none who could make their way to freedom. Even the ghosts who had tried to fly out from the building to save themselves were not spared, for their efforts to reach freedom were met with attacks from the enemy outside which destroyed the makeup of their bodies in an instant, spreading their memetic makeup across the universe, never to be recuperated.
Most importantly, not a single one of these souls would fight back against their attackers, making their fate to be slain and obliviated sealed and unchangeable. This fact is the one that sticks out the most to Jazz Fenton as she watched the Abrahamic Pascifists die, and the one that brought her the most anger.
"Hey! You! Stop it! Leave them alone! Stop!" Jazz shouted.
Her words had no effect on the army moving in, still did the Hindutva Militia move in, and still did they take lives; a sight which brought further anger to Jazz.
"I... said... STOP!" Jazz shouted.
And, after so much of the anger building up in her heart, it had nowhere to go but out. Reaching out her arm to the Militia, a burst of energy flew out from her hand towards the soldiers, knocking one to the ground the instant the hit connected. The sudden and unexpected fall of their fellow soldier brought the rest of the Militia sharply turning their focus to Jazz, leaving her facing down the rest of the army alone.
Once feeling emboldened and not needing to put up a fight with their targets, the attitude of the Hindutva Militia had quickly changed upon seeing Jazz firing an ectoplasmic blast towards one of their own. Likewise, the bravery and strength Jazz once felt had soon dissipated once she had seen the response of the Militia.
"Oh, crap." Jazz said.
Seemingly having finally mustered up the sentience to answer Jazz's previous question, Danny finally does so, but at a time when the answer no longer matters.
"Jazz... Must... express... self... extend self... in a... way... to... shoot..." Danny groaned.
"Uh, yeah. Too little, too late, Danny, but thanks anyway." Jazz said.
In retaliation for their fallen comrade, the Hindutva Militia began to fire back at both Jazz and Danny, leading the former to move her brother out from harm's way. Taking Danny in one arm, she extended out the other to continue firing at the Militia, taking down what enemies she still could as she rescued him.
While flying to safety, she soon ran back into Danielle, stopping short of a further flight when reuniting with the last member of her party.
"So, you figured out how to shoot." Danielle said.
"Yeah. And the bad news is that they got in. What do we do now?" Jazz asked.
Taking a look to the Militia members within the apartment complex, then to the breached wall, she saw the army she fought outside coming in through the opening to join the others in the slaughter, bringing more enemies to battle. Seeing the sheer numbers of armed fighters come their way, the two knew that the sheer numbers of the Militia would make the fight fall out of their favor, leaving them at a loss of options.
"There's just too many of them. What are we supposed to do?" Jazz asked.
Jazz's question was found an answer by Danielle, looking back at the bulldozer and gaining an idea on using it.
"You think you got the hang of shooting ectoplasm?" Danielle asked.
"I think so." Jazz said.
"Then keep doing that with the guys we have in the building. I'm gonna use another kind of ghost power to handle the guys outside."
Flying towards the bulldozer, Danielle gathered a discarded pack of grenades with her, placing them near the vehicle's fuel tank. Afterwards, she phased her body inside of the heavy machinery, overtaking all control of it and possessing it for her use against the Hindutva Militia.
Placing her ghost self in the control mechanisms for the bulldozer, an action akin to connecting neurons and synapses inside of a nervous system, she gained full control of the vehicle, allowing her to use it as she pleased, as if it were her own body. For all intents and purposes, this machine now was her body, just as a human body was no different than a machine needing a ghost of its own.
Jazz does not question Danielle's plan or her tactics to fulfill it, but instead put her focus towards handling the enemy forces that have already made their way into the apartment complex. Continuing what she began with the first fallen soldier, she opened fire once again on the Hindutva Militia, taking down as many soldiers as she could within the little time frame she had.
Having passed away painfully and disgracefully at the hands of Demon Phantom, her instinctive need to protect Danny is not the only aspect of her character that she retained, but also her fighting skills and abilities. Retaining the same muscle memory and experience gained from years of hunting ghosts, the skills serve well once again to fight off the living enemies in front of her.
Though having no risk from the bullets fired towards her, the ectoplasmic blasts fired back from the Militia were plenty a threat to her, facilitating her need to stay mobile and avoid enemy fire. Once again, it is thanks to her combat experience in her past life which allows her to do this easily, and keeps her ghost intact to keep fighting.
Outside of the apartment complex of the Abrahamic Pacifists, Danielle, keeping her control over the bulldozer, guided the vehicle back towards the invading forces of the Hindutva Militia, preparing to use their own machinery against them. Her plan is a gambit meant to exploit the added explosives and the trigger-happy enemy before her, and likelihood of success is low, but it is all she has to work with.
Immediately, the plan seemed to have some success, gaining the attention of the Militia's commander and troops and keeping them from continuing on the task of entering the building. Previously sending the machine in to breach through the building for an opening, to see it return is not something anyone expected, nor how to respond to it.
The commander of the Militia, just as happy to fire on anything as his own troops, ordered the bulldozer to be destroyed.
"An enemy has taken over the bulldozer! Destroy it!" The commander shouted.
As soon as the commander gave out his order, Danielle flew out from the bulldozer, abandoning the vehicle to be shot up by the Militia forces. The resulting gunfire and hellfire alike began to inflict significant damage on the vehicle, resulting in fire to be caught on it and start to reach the hidden grenades.
The consequent result of their fire resulted in the bulldozer exploding, and doing so at a blast greater than anticipated by the Militia. Sent on a larger explosion with the additional force of the grenades, the forces of the Hindutva Militia were sent flying back from the explosion, many dying instantly as they hit the ground.
Those who did not die from the explosion were instead burned from the fires of the blast, left to incinerate to their deaths slowly and latently. Flying away from the carnage, Danielle was more than able to see the violence from the air, seeing her plan work as premeditated.
However, its effect was still far more than she had intended; the amount of death and destruction was far greater than what she had wished for. Fighting to preserve both life and afterlife and improve the quality of both for as many people as she could, to see many meet their deaths, even when dedicated to end the lives of others, is never a sight she can stomach.
Flying back to the apartment complex, Danielle found Jazz continuing to fight back against the remaining soldiers in the Hindutva Militia, taking down the last fighter with an ectoplasmic blast. Firing a burst of otherworldly energy straight through the chest of the final fighter, letting his body fall to the ground, the act marked the end of the battle, saving many lives.
But the lives that were saved were not so thankful to be. One of the remaining Abrahamic Pacifists stepped up to the three, making a demand of them in response.
"Forgive us, brother and sisters, for our actions. But you must leave here for what you have done." The Pacifist said.
Danielle showed no surprise to the response, but Jazz showed much of it, unable to understand why they would face ostracization in repayment for their actions.
"What?! Why?" Jazz asked.
"You have brought violence and death to many. We do not and cannot condone such actions, especially none done in such numbers as yours. You are no longer dhimmi." The Pacifist said.
"But they were trying to kill you! Did you want us to do nothing?!"
"If it was the will of Allah for us to die, then it was his will. Our way is to present the other cheek if one is struck. Our lives are of no consequence when we will be with him in heaven."
"I'm sorry, weren't you guys just running for your lives just seconds ago? And what kind of sense is that, 'the will of Allah'? If your god's supposedly in control of all your lives, then who's to say he didn't send us here to save you, huh?"
"Forgive me, sister, but your actions speak for themselves. You have ended the lives of many. We were not willing to fight back and we had no obligation to. Your ways of retaliation are not compatible with ours."
"Oh, come on! Do you guys have some kind of death wish or something? These guys were gonna kill you, we saved your lives! Why is that-"
Danielle placed a firm hand on Jazz's shoulder, urging her not to further her argument with the Pacifist.
"Jazz. He's made up his mind. We need to go." Danielle said.
"What? C'mon, you, too? You were killing those guys just like me!" Jazz said.
"Jazz. Not here. We have bigger problems. We need to help Danny."
Her sense of anger temporarily overrode by greater priorities, Jazz's anger relapsed in the form of a short groan, angrily stomping away after the reaction of the Abrahamic Pacifists and their supposed ungratefulness. Attempting to make whatever peace she still could with their hosts, Danielle gave one final thanks to the Pacifists before leaving.
"I'm sorry to have caused so much pain here. I didn't want this. Thank you for having us here and feeding us." Danielle said.
"You are welcome, sister. The ways of Allah may not condone your actions, but, speaking as a man, your actions are not without their pure intentions. I can see your violence is used with regret, that you do not wish to use it. This is a sign of a moral servant of god. I do wish you enlightenment in your journey in life." The Pacifist said.
Danielle and the Pacifist bowed to one another, giving one last form of respect for each other.
"Thank you. I have a long journey to make ahead of me, and I have found much enlightenment already. I wish you the best." Danielle said.
Departing in peace with the Abrahamic Pacifists, Danielle, guiding Danny along with her, caught up to Jazz, reforming their party and putting their journey back on track. Continuing along to make their way to Desiree, the group took one last look back to the home of the Pacifists, seeing how they responded to their attack.
The sight was not one of mourning, but instead a calm, peaceful, silent act of respect for all those who lost their lives, even the Militia who tried to kill them. The Abrahamic Pacifists began to dig many graves for the bodies laid about, and speak respectful prayers for all those who died.
Friend, family, and enemy alike are given the same fair treatment and kindness that they were willing to give to anyone freely, even after a scene as tragic as this one. For to the Pacifists, the idea of death is not a tragedy or a loss, but instead a simple step out from the world as they know it to a better one.
And so, the Abrahamic Pacifists carried on as normal, living out life in peace.
There is much of them that sticks in the minds of all the journeying Fentons, leaving them to reflect on their experiences with them.
Jazz, logical and worldly in her ways, cannot comprehend their passivism even in clear and present danger, making it worth more of her analysis. The very idea that people can accept their deaths so blindly is one that makes her baffled, valuing life on Earth above all else.
Danielle, philosophical and spiritual in her ways, looked onto their attitude with a sense of admiration, silently wishing that others would adapt such a feeling of peace. The very idea that people can show empathy and mercy even to those who hate them with all their hearts is one that gives her hope, believing that such an attitude could help many others abandon the ways of hate.
Danny, lacking in both logic and philosophy, cannot look to the scene with anything else other than a blank incomprehension, moving on from the past event with concern only for the future. The very idea that people can simply move on from anything is one that he can partially resonate with, having nothing else to identify with.
His is perhaps the closest of the three in the spirit of what the Abrahamic Pacifists believe.
Far from all forms of violence and spiritual conflict, President Foley, back at the White House from his heated meeting with world leaders the previous day, has the events of the gathering still fresh in his mind. Having witnessed who he believed to be his best friend act so uncharacteristically antagonistic, while watching his sister and father in an act of incest, he cannot understand the reason behind his changes.
Needing to further investigate the matter at hand, President Foley has called on the services of Valerie Gray, general and head of the United States Ecto Corps, a branch of the military solely dedicated to fighting against the forces of the undead. Their existence is merely a formality with Danny Phantom protecting the country, but it still remains hard and eager to move into any ghost threat, all thanks to her leadership.
Her response to his call was made swiftly and expediently, always staying professional and prompt as government work requires, but even she is still unable to trek across several hundreds of miles across the country on her hoverboard in instantaneous response time, leaving the president alone to await her arrival.
With much time on his hands to wait for her to arrive, President Foley decided to take to the television to pass the time, keeping himself up-to-date on his re-election campaign. The stunt at the United Nations had shown some effect on his campaign as promised, but the coverage which he received was a matter of more mixed opinion.
"Is this the sight of a more aggressive President Tucker Foley? Officials at the U.N. reported a tense standoff against many world leaders over the state-funded attempts to recreate a Danny Phantom-like entity, including the threat of nuclear weapons being made. The White House press secretary had denied that the United States had made any threat of nuclear weapons, and instead confirmed reports that President Foley had instead attempted to diffuse any and all conflict with the nations' leaders himself, and it was Danny Phantom who made threats to the rest of the world. The news has not settled well for fans of the world's favorite superhero, though he has had a large number of fans defending him on his actions, and many denying that he even took such a role at the meeting. Whatever may have unfolded in the headquarters of the United Nations, results have shown that every country involved in the meeting has surrendered any and all technology and research to Fenton Works, leading to a complete shutdown in all activity relating to Danny Phantom projects around the globe. Polling numbers for the president have begun to shoot up by 6 points, citing the action as a complete success in national security. It seems once again that President Foley is keeping to his platform of keeping America safe from ghosts, but will that boost be enough to get him through the general election? We'll see what happens at the next debate between President Tucker Foley and Ellis Robertson tomorrow, where we'll cover the event live on air. I'm Lucia Konietzko, and I've got no pity for the majority." The television said.
Receiving mixed feelings regarding the newscast and anxiety over the debate to be held tomorrow, President Foley rested his head into his hands, silently trying to figure out his plans in his head. Despite the excess of thought placed on the task he set for himself, he cannot keep any focus.
However, the focus is broken by the immediate warning brought about by the room's alarm, indicating a breach in perimeter. Jumping back to attention, President Foley was immediately surrounded by Secret Servicemen, all drawing out handguns and ectoplasmic pistols in response.
"Sir, please follow us. We've had a perimeter breach. We need to get you somewhere safe." One Serviceman said.
The alarm was soon followed by the sound of a roaring jet engine, growing louder as the seconds of tension passed for the group. Instantly recognizing the jet sound as belonging to his invited guest, President Foley ordered the Servicemen down, no longer fearing the incoming sound.
"Guys, guys, relax. It's General Gray. I made a house call." President Foley said.
The Servicemen stood down as ordered by President Foley, allowing them to relax as the president's information soon proved itself to be correct. Looking out the window of the White House, Valerie Gray was seen flying in on her hoverboard, slowing her speed to a slow descent on the balcony.
Jumping off the hoverboard onto the balcony, she dismissed her board with a press of her button, sending it flying off to no longer pollute the area with noise.
"Mr. President." Valerie said.
Knowing President Foley's reputation for not properly running his own country, Valerie's greeting was not one made too seriously, carrying a sarcastic undertone to it. Having a mindset dedicated only to fighting ghosts by any means she could, she sought to move along as shortly and smoothly as she could, allowing herself to get back to the job as soon as possible.
Requiring a moment alone with Valerie, President Foley dismissed his Servicemen, gaining a private meeting in the Oval Office with her.
"Valerie. Good to see you again. You are aware that the White House has a front door, right?" President Foley asked.
"As well as hours worth of checkpoints that I didn't feel like sitting through. You wanted me here fast, here I am." Valerie said.
"Fair enough. Would you like a seat?"
"Spare me your crap, Tucker. You called me here to talk, so talk and get it over with, but talk about something worth my time."
"Hey, cool it, Val, we're all friends here, and I wouldn't be calling you here if I didn't need something important."
"Fine, then. What happened? Nixon come back and tried to wire the Oval Office? J.F.K. spilling more state secrets? Or did Robert E. Lee try to start the Confederacy again?"
"No, nothing like that, Val. This is about Danny."
Not expecting (nor ever expecting) to hear such an issue arising between Danny and Tucker, the comment brought out shocked confusion out from Valerie.
"What? Danny? As in, Danny Phantom?" Valerie asked.
"How many people named 'Danny' do you think I could consider this important?" President Foley asked.
"Oh, real smart answer, pal, but what's wrong with Danny? Is it that weird shit he was saying at the U.N. yesterday?"
"Well, he made threats against every nuclear-armed world power to blast them all to kingdom come, so, yeah, it's about that weird shit. Didn't think there was something weird about that?"
"I thought that was some bullshit rumor spreading around. That doesn't sound like Danny at all."
"My point exactly. He hasn't been acting like himself. That whole attack on Haiti? His idea. I thought it was a stroke of genius, the way he explained it, but, in hindsight, it's not something he wouldn't suggested on his own. I guess I was just too in the heat of the moment to think it through. But another thing that really tipped me off at the U.N.? He's not the only one acting weird. Jack and Jazz? I saw them making out. Like, really getting into it. Does that sound like them at all?"
"For rich white people? Maybe."
"C'mon, Val. I'm trying to be serious here."
"So am I. Look, I may not think that sounds like the Danny I know, but people can change over time, especially with money and power."
"Really? Like who, for instance?"
"Have you not looked in the mirror for the past 10 years?"
Stopping short in his argument with the response given, President Foley changed his approach of reasoning with Valerie.
"Okay, I'm a bad example. But Danny making threats to other countries and his family getting all freaky on us? That's not him. Me? I was always trying to get more girls and stuff. The only difference now is that I got most of it. That's a change that I can believe about myself if someone were telling past me this. But if you told me I would become some drunk serial killer in the future, then there's no way I would believe you that easy without some evidence. How long have you known Danny? Does he sound like the kind of guy that would go nuts like that?"
"You tell me. He's the asshole made my dad lose his job and made us move to the ghetto for years."
"That was an accident, and you know that. And that's also a pretty long ways away from threatening to end all civilization on Earth. I really think something's up with Danny. Last time I was talking to him, he started saying these crazy things like he had some bad guy he couldn't beat. Then, about an hour later, he calls me and tells me it's all fine. Does that sound like him, either?"
Finally becoming convinced by President Foley, Valerie seemed to come along to his point of view, believing that Danny's habits were worth investigation.
"Okay. So something's up with Danny. What do you want me to do about it?" Valerie asked.
"Simple. I need you to go check on him." President Foley said.
Valerie's conviction was then turned to frustration, not understanding her place in President Foley's scheme.
"What? That's it? You pulled me off of ghost hunting just to do a damn social call? Why me?" Valerie asked.
"You and I are the only people that really know Danny personally. You'll also know if something's really wrong with Danny and see if something's wrong. Believe me, I'd go myself, but I don't want to draw too much attention to the problem." President Foley asked.
"And you're far too caught up with your re-election to worry about your friend, right?"
"Hey, I'm the president. I don't just get to make pleasure trips whenever I feel like it. Business before pleasure."
"Figures. And what if I say 'no'?"
"Then I could have you court-martialed for disobeying a direct order from the president and derank you completely, complete with a dishonorable discharge. How does that sound?"
"Sounds like you need to work on your threats, 'Mr. President'. Last I checked, your poll numbers are still shit and your chances of getting back in that seat are slim to none. That means you're not gonna be my boss much longer. Even if you don't fire me, my next boss is gonna wind up being a ghost-loving hippie socialist, and I don't get to do shit anymore with him in charge. The way I see it, I lose my job anyway. So go ahead, go the official route if you want. I'd rather enjoy the last of my time hunting some more ghosts."
Unable to move Valerie by means of a stick, President Foley instead went for the carrot, attempting to appease to her own emotions.
"Valerie, wait. Just think for a minute, will you? We all grew up in the same town together, we all know each other, and we were all friends. Now, I know that our lives all got upended and rearranged in all kinds of ways since the whole ghost thing began, but I still believe that we're all friends, and I want us to be friends. But a friend also knows to help other when they're in trouble. I believe that Danny's in trouble, and I need your help in order to help him. I know you liked him once, and I know that there's some part of you that still care about him, as a friend." President Foley said.
The president's speech seemed to lay some persuasion in Valerie, making her stop in her step and silently think over his words. Though indeed having feelings estranged by time and lives separated, there is still an underlying compassion for her friend in her heart, beneath the hardened heart of a soldier.
"And if that doesn't do it, then how about this? He went off talking about some big ghost threat that even he couldn't beat. If the guy managed to save us from some pretty bad people along the way like Pariah Dark, and Overgrowth, and even Vlad himself, don't you think that if he can't beat this guy, we all have a problem? Just below him, you're the best ghost hunter in the country, and I need your help on this. If Danny can't beat whatever this is, don't you want a chance to 1-up him? You wanna go out fighting more ghosts, how about the fight of a lifetime?"
With President Foley's new approach to the proposal, Valerie's complete aversion to the request slowly turned to a growing interest, gaining more and more momentum in her mind with each second being spent on thinking the idea over. Realizing that the opportunity for gaining an upper hand over Danny Phantom was an intriguing one, one strong enough to sway her interest in President Foley's favor, intrigue came to her again.
Above all, she was more than likely to kill a ghost, something that has always and will always hold her interest. Still did the interest of helping a friend remain buried in her conscious thoughts, but she would not allow herself the indignity of revealing the emotion to President Foley.
After a long period of thought, Valerie finally accepted the mission given to her.
"Fine. I'll drop by and check up on him. Not for any of your 'friends forever' bullshit, but because there's a ghost in it for me. Got it?" Valerie said.
"Fine, whatever you say, just please go and check on him. Thank you." President Foley said.
Without wasting another word, Valerie Gray stepped to the balcony of the White House, pressing a few buttons on the PDA on the left arm of her suit. With the buttons pressed in sequence to send out a signal to her primary method of transportation, her hoverboard flew back up to the side of the balcony, ready to carry its master to her intended destination.
Leaping over the balcony and hopping on her glider, Valerie turned to President Foley for one final word, giving him an ultimatum.
"I'm bringing the Maladies with me. If I don't see anything, we bug out." Valerie said.
Departing from the White House, Valerie then made her approach to Fenton Tower, reluctantly taking on her mission to meet with Danny Phantom and seek out and destroy any danger that could be in store. During her flight, taking in the sights of the sky, thoughts began to wonder around her mind regarding the mission.
As much as she disbelieved the warnings shared by President Foley, she still cannot deny the danger they posed.
If this unspecified ghost threat truly existed, and somehow was more powerful than Danny Phantom himself, and perhaps was responsible for the odd changes in his behavior and the behavior of his family, then what could this entity's plan be, and what powers could it possess?
And how would she ever hope to fight it?
As much as this hunter loves a challenge, she still has her common sense, and hopes that this scenario would not come to pass.
