Call of the Phantom: Part 5
There were no words that could accurately explain the sensation coursing through their bodies, but if they had to settle on one, it would be this:
Power.
The five of them could only watch in amazement as their bodies were transformed and the power coursed through them. With their right hands in the air, the ring travelled down the length of their arm, changing their clothes to that of colored jumpsuits. The light continued to travel over their torsos, splitting into smaller rings that went across their other arm and down their bodies. The ring continued down to their waists, leaving them with solid white belts before continuing down their legs. Their legs were covered in the same material as their bodies, finishing at their feet with matching white boots that also matched the gloves on their hands.
The last ring travelled over their heads, turning their skin pale as well as changing the colors of their eyes and hair. The pitch-black color that was once the hair on both Fenton Children was now pure white that would remind anyone that saw it of the snow on top of a mountain peak. The once high siting ponytail on Sam's head had now untangled before transforming and tying itself into a neat braid in the back of her head that barely touched her shoulders. Tucker, who had once been wearing a beret as well as his glasses, now adorned a blue visor that wrapped around his head like a pair of goggles, allowing him to see better than he ever had before. Lastly, Jake, who's locks were once a golden yellow, was now sporting a color of vibrant green that easily matched his suit.
The final touch came as a small light exploded on their chests in the shape of a burning white ghost symbol with the distinctive "P" in the center, officially endorsing them as the Phantom Rangers.
The light faded, leaving the 5 standing on top of the Ops Center. Danny blinked as his vision came back, though it had only taken an instant for them to transform. Looking down, he was amazed not only at how he felt, but also how he looked. The black on this jumpsuit was in stark contrast to the white, as well as fit him perfectly. Looking up, Danny was amazed to see the same thing with the others as they looked upon themselves.
"Whoa," Tucker said, a huge smile on his face while examining himself in his blue jumpsuit. "This rocks!"
"No kidding," Sam said in amazement as she looked upon the electric purple jumpsuit before noticing her hair had been braided.
"I can't believe that worked," Danielle said as she ran her finger over her white jumpsuit and matching white hair.
"Ok, now this is awesome!" Jake cheered as he happily touched the material of his suit. Their attention quickly turned back to the city as another explosion went off in the distance and the screaming grew louder.
"Focus up guys," Danny called out, looking into the distance. "We've gotta figure out what to do about these things."
"Well, we gotta fight them, right?" Jake asked. "Just beat them up and that's a job done?"
"I don't think it's that simple. When I fought those things last night, they didn't disappear or anything like that. For whatever reason, I was really just focused on getting them back into the Ghost Zone."
"You're saying you don't think that they can be destroyed?" Sam asked.
"Maybe, maybe not," Danny answered honestly as he tried to think it over. "I'm not saying it's impossible, but for some reason, I don't think we should. What we need to do is find a way to contain them so we can bring them back to the Ghost Zone."
"Well, how are we supposed to catch a ghost?" Danielle asked. Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit her. "Duh! The lab! Mom and Dad must have thought of something that would hold a ghost!"
"Yeah, but did you not see how much stuff your parents have?" Jake asked as he crossed his arms. "Who knows how long it could take us to go through it all, and figure out which one it is?"
"Maybe we don't have to…" Tucker said as his eyes seemed to be scanning from one object to the next, the information darting across his visor. "Hey, Danny?"
"Yeah, Tuck?" The white-haired boy said, breaking out of his thoughts to meet his gaze.
"Are the computers in the Ops Center synced up with the ones in your parents' lab? Like, do you think I could access the files from up here?"
"Now that you mention it, I do think they are," he said in thought. "My parents always told us to keep a backup because you never know what could happen. It stands to reason that it would be, but how do you plan to get into their files?"
Tucker smirked, waving his fingers as a few sparks of electricity crackled between them. "With my powers, I should be able to able to filter through the files in no time."
"Wait, have you already figured out how to use your powers?" Sam asked in surprise, receiving a nod from him.
"My spirit is all about data and information. While we've been standing here, I've been absorbing information like sponge! And in that information was how to use my powers."
"Well, mind giving the rest of us the tutorial?" Danielle asked sarcastically.
"It's actually way easier than you think. All you gotta do is trust your instincts and think about something that reminds you of it. Like if you wanna float, just think about being weightless…" Tucker paused to look down at himself. The others watched him carefully and were shocked to see as he slowly started to lift off the ground before floating aimlessly in front of them. "And presto, you're floating."
"Well, that seems easy enough," Danielle said as she started to focus on doing it. After a few seconds of concentrating, she soon started to float as well. Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked to see the others doing the same, though Jake seemed to being having a bit of trouble not flying away like a balloon.
"Nice guys! Now, if you'll excuse me," Tucker said, turning intangible and slipping into the Ops Center, "I just need a few seconds to go through the files, and I should be able to find something we can use." Tucker looked around the small area before floating over to the computer and starting it up.
Raising his hand, Tucker focused, letting a few bits of the electricity crackle in his hand before easing it onto the panel. As the energy flowed into the console, the information travelled through his fingers and across his visor.
"Ok, now that I'm in, let's get through these passwords," he said to himself. Prompt after prompt scrolled past his eyes as he hacked his way through the FentonWorks system in search of their project files while also trying not to over absorb information too fast in his urgency. "Easy, Tucker. You've got this…it's gotta be in here somewhere…"
It didn't take long for Tucker to find the file with all their gadgets in them, and as he did, he made a note of a few that he would need to bring up to the group at a later point, but for the time being, he needed to find a containment unit of some sort that they could use. Finally, as he found it, he couldn't help but laugh at the site of it. Calling back his power, Tucker focused on turning intangible again, and floated through the ceiling and back out into the open air where his friends were waiting.
"Ok, how do you keep doing that?" Danielle asked.
"That, Ellie, is what is known as intangibility, which is a fancy way of saying that as ghost, we can walk through walls," Tucker said proudly.
"Whoa! That's so cool! What else can we do?" Jake asked in excitement.
"We can also disappear, or in lame man's terms, turn invisible, and of course, we can fly at incredible speeds. We also each have a list of powers that- "
"That's neat and everything, but maybe we should save the chit-chat for later, guys," Sam chided. "Tucker, were you able to find something?"
"Oh, you bet I was, and you're never gonna believe what it is," he said with a hardy laugh. Gathering energy into his hands, Tucker brought them together in front of him. Sparks of electricity began to fly between his palms, allowing him to create shapes between them.
"Holy crap, Tucker," Danny said in amazement. "How are you doing that?"
"It's part of my abilities. With the information I gathered, I'm able to make virtual blueprints of the device and form it with my energy into a solid matter."
"Jeez, you really are taking to this superhero thing pretty quick, huh?"
"What can I say? I'm nerd with knowledge of everything superhero," Tucker said with a grin. As the hologram finished constructing, a small flash went off in front of him, and Tucker smiled proudly. Holding it up, her presented it to the others. "Tada. Here is our capture device."
"Tucker…. that's just the thermos from my parents' lab," Danny said, facepalming himself at his friend's joke.
"This is serious, Tucker. We need an actual solution," Sam said in annoyance.
"Trust me, I'm dead serious," he said with a laugh before opening his other hand to bring up a blueprint projection of the thermos. "Your parents designed this to be a device that can be portable, easy to carry, and that would catch ghost. All you have to do is power it up, point it at them, and then it should suck the ghost right on in. Then you just put the cap on it, and they're sealed."
"Wait, what do you mean 'should'?" Jake asked in suspicion.
"Well, you see, the thing is, this is all only a theory," Tucker admitted. "Mr. and Mrs. Fenton never actually got the thermos to work, and until recently, there hadn't been any ghost to try it out on. So…"
"We're basically gonna be rolling the dice on this one," Danny said, shaking his head, but still taking the thermos from him. "Well, it'll have to do. Do you think you can make enough for everyone?"
"Already on it," he said, clapping his hands together before pulling them apart to create four more, each with a distinct shading that matched theirs. Each of them took their respective one and clipped it onto themselves before watching as they turned invisible. At their confused looks, Tucker simply stated, "Don't worry; It's still there. I've designed them to register with your DNA, so you can call upon it whenever you need it."
"Wow, that's amazing, Tuck," Danny complimented.
"Thank you. I also did the same with these babies," Tucker said as he created a ball of energy in his hands. In a flash, the group were presented with what looked to be wireless earphones, a pair for each of them, also in their respected colors. Though confused, they each grabbed their pair and put them on before feeling the sensation of them vanishing.
"So, what's the deal with these, Tucker?" Jake asked.
"While I was going through the files, I saw a bunch of the ideas and inventions that their parents were coming up with, and in it was a blueprint for some wireless communication devices that were designed to be like compact earbuds. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton hadn't found a way to make a design that would work with their specs, so I stepped in," Tucker said proudly. "I figured we could use them if we ever get separated from each other. I also designed them to look and work as a stylish pair of speakers for your phone and music playing devices."
"Have I ever told you you're the coolest nerd I've ever known?" Danielle said with a cheeky grin.
"Alright, now that we have our equipment, I think it's time we got started," Danny said, looking over the town. "First, we need to figure out how we're gonna find these things."
"Yeah, about that; is anyone getting a weird tingling feeling?" Jake asked, before adding, "I mean besides all the new glowly, weird, tingling feelings."
"Actually, yeah," Sam said, turning her head to her left. "I've been getting this weird vibe coming from that way since we changed."
"That's weird because I'm getting a feeling from this way," Danielle said, pointing in the opposite direction. "Not to mention that smell."
"What smell?"
"You guys can't smell it? It's like this weird mix of…. something," Danielle replied as she tried to accurately describe what scent permeated the air around them. "I can't really explain it, but it's not like anything I've ever smelled."
"Actually, I think you're both right," Tucker said as more information scrolled across his visor. "It looks like we have the ability to sense other ghost that might be nearby. When we're in our human forms, it'll be like a chill going through our bodies, and while in our ghost forms, we can fell it, but it might feel different for all of us. I think Ellie's sense of smell is a part of that."
"Well, if that's the case, then we've got more problems because I'm getting an extra chill from that way," Danny said as he looked toward a third direction.
"So, it looks like they've spread out," Tucker suggested, opening his palm. Everyone watched as a small 3D map of the town popped up before them. A small white dot began to flash as Tucker pointed to it. "This is where we are right now, which we can use as the origin point since they came out of the portal. From what we're sensing, they've spilt from here and spread out across the city," he finished as three arrows shot out in the directions the others had indicated.
"It looks like they've split toward the directions of the mall, the schools and the local farms," Sam said as she floated closer to see the map.
"Which means we're gonna have to do the same thing," Danny said decisively.
"What!? Danny, are you crazy?" Danielle cried out "We have no idea what we're doing! The last thing we should do is separate!"
"Sorry, Ellie, but I don't think we have a choice. The longer we wait, the more damage those guys can do. We've gotta minimize the threat as soon as possible."
"And I think I know good way to do it," Tucker interjected. Taking his fingers, he touched the map and pulled outward, zooming into a familiar spot in town. "Right here, Amity Park Stadium. If we can push them all toward it, we can all regroup and take them out together."
"Easier said than done, but I guess that's as good as it's gonna get," Ellie said. "So how do we decide who goes where?"
"There aren't enough of us to pair off, which means someone's gonna have to go alone. So, how do we decide that?" Jake asked as he began drifting a bit more, causing Danielle quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back down to her.
"We don't," Danny said, looking to them all. "As the leader of this team, I'll take up the job of going solo."
"Danny, are you sure that's a good idea?" Sam asked in worry.
"Yeah, dude, maybe I should be the one to go solo. After all, I think I have best grasp of my powers so far," Tucker suggested.
"You do, and that's why you're gonna go with Sam," Danny said, turning his attention to the map once more. Scanning over it, Danny pointed toward the schools. "It's Saturday, so the schools should be pretty empty, which means you won't need to hold back."
Looking up from the map, Danny then turned to Danielle and Jake. "You guys are gonna take the mall. I know that's probably where the most chaos is, but it's also the closest to the stadium. If things get out of control, I want you two to retreat to the stadium and get in contact with us."
"I think we can handle that, big brother," Danielle said with a grin as she Jake bumped fist. Her grin turned into a frown as she looked at her brother in a serious manner. "But seriously, Danny. You better be careful. Don't try and play superhero and end up getting yourself hurt."
"Don't worry, Ellie. I will be. I can't leave you and Jazz alone in the house. You two would level the place in less than a week," Danny smirked at her as she glared at him. A low growl rose in her throat, starting everyone, before she spoke.
"Real funny, buster. Just for that, if you kick the bucket, I'm gonna grab your computer and sell all your stuff on the internet," She promised, crossing her arms.
"Speaking of grabbing things, make sure you guys do like Reaper said and find something you can use as a weapon," Tucker said. "When you do, focus on channeling your energy and pushing it into the object. From there, our spirits will manifest a weapon for us to use."
"Any other advice, Captain Almanac?" Sam asked jokingly.
"Just one," Tucker said with a confident smile before holding his hand out. "We've got this, guys. And if you ever feel in a tight spot, just follow your instincts. The more you do that, the more your spirit will guide you."
"Man, when did you get all motivational speaker," Sam laughed, before putting her hand on top of his. "I can't say that I'm as confident as he is, so I'll just say that everyone better make it back in one piece."
"Well then what are waiting for?" Danielle cheered, stacking her hand on top of Sam's. "Are we gonna keep chit chatting and asking questions, or are we gonna kick some butt?"
"I'm all in for the butt kicking," Jake said with a grin, placing his hand on the others as well.
"Then let's do this," Danny said, determined smile on his face as he placed his hand on top. "Phantom Rangers on 3. 1!"
"2!" They all cried together, dropping their hands. "3!" with one heave up into the air, they then cried out, "Phantom Rangers!"
To be continued…