It was rare, but sometimes Jack invented something that was pure genius. On those infrequent occasions, Vlad made sure to make note of, copy, and, of course, improve said inventions. Mainly by giving them a reasonable name.
Fenton Crammer? Really? That was what Jack called his shrink ray? It sounded like something a student might do before a test.
Plasmius Minimus was so much better.
Vlad drifted behind the tour group, smiling blandly whenever Daniel shot him a look from his place at the back of the pack. Daniel, bless him, had been convinced from the beginning that Vlad's generous offer of a tour of Vladco for the students of Casper High was a trap.
He was right.
The paranoia was still amusing to watch. Daniel was so intent on keeping an eye on Vlad that he'd tripped five times and run into cubicle walls twice in the hour since arriving- No, make that three cubicle walls.
Goodness, if Daniel kept this up, he was going to do Vlad's job for him.
Vlad shifted his gaze to Daniel's two friends, and suppressed a chuckle when Daniel bristled at him. It was, almost, cute. Like a feral kitten hissing at a large dog.
They were the greatest obstacle to Vlad's plan. But Vlad had a simple, easy method of getting them out of the way. Social conventions.
"Alright, everyone," said the tour guide. "We're not allowed to have too many visitors in the labs, so this is where we split up. When you hear your name, go to your group."
Easy, thought Vlad again, watching as Daniel's group was led away to the labs and his worried friends followed the other group to the auditorium. Vlad followed neither, but instead stayed on the office floor for a while before going in a completely different direction before ducking out of sight just long enough to duplicate.
The duplicate stayed on that floor, striking up a conversation with a secretary in full view. He himself transformed and phased through the floor, going down to the lab.
He probably wouldn't need an alibi, but it payed to be prepared.
The students stopped by the dressing rooms first, and the tour guide showed them how to put on the guest versions of the protective coveralls, masks, and goggles. A bit excessive for this lab and what they were doing in it today, but Vlad had insisted, for the protection of the students.
And for a little more obfuscation for the sake of his plan.
He waited until the students were jostling each other at the door, and then he struck, raising the small pistol and firing a single, quiet shot at Daniel.
There was a whisper of a gasp, and Daniel seemed to vanish. Vlad knew better. He caught the miniature ghost as he tried to phase through the floor, and pulled him out.
Daniel cursed at him, his voice tiny.
"And what were you going to do, if your powers went out while you were down there? Think, Daniel."
He phased a small glass jar, one that he had placed earlier, out of a wall, and dropped Daniel in before screwing on the lid. Daniel, predictably, banged on the glass.
"Come, now," said Vlad, amused. "You could at least appreciate the effort I went through to get this jar ghost proofed. There are even holes in the lid."
What followed was, of course, more cursing.