If you like ghost theories, you'll enjoy this new series...
Also, this is a bit of a future drabbe since Danny is in college, eh, a few months from turning ninteen if I calculated correctly...
Spectral Files: Chapter One
Danny hated to admit it, but he was bored. It was a weekend, and while he usually had plenty of homework to do now that he was in college, this was only his first week of his freshman spring semester.
He was currently staying in Florida, of all places. And more importantly, he was staying at Vlad's place.
At first, the idea of living with his guardian had been a bit… strange. But, of course, not because the experience was new to him—if he counted that time Vlad forced him to stay with him in Wisconsin for several months. And by now, they were allies, friends… family. So, of course, he was comfortable around the other hybrid.
The reason it had been weird is because before he moved in, they had not seen much of each other. They had been dealing with their own lives, and they wanted to make sure their supernatural bond did not overwhelm them.
Then, there was the fact that Vlad had gotten married last year. So, ultimately, he was living with Vlad and his family. It had been a lot changes all at once.
But after a semester, Danny had gotten used to it. In fact, he enjoyed being close to his guardian after they had spent almost two years apart after the whole incident with their evil future self.
They got to do so many things now, and, of course, with Vlad being a walking encyclopedia, Danny was learning a lot about many things, including their ghost abilities.
However, this weekend was a bit different.
While Danny was going to school in Florida, Vlad and his family were still primarily living in Wisconsin—at least until Annabelle graduated high school this year. Dani would then be transferring schools to Florida once they permanently moved here.
That meant, there were times when Danny had Vlad's new Florida home all to himself. But being the man and his wife now had a few growing businesses in the Sunshine state, they still had to come to Florida every so often—though Vlad came more frequently than Stephanie.
This specific weekend, Vlad was in Wisconsin with his family attending a agricultural seminar.
That meant Danny was alone, and well, a bit bored.
Being the start of the spring semester, he had just been to Amity with his family last week for the holidays. So, going for a 'visit' was not in his current plans. And, of course, Sam and Tucket were back to their own respective colleges, doing their own thing.
Danny considered going out with some friends from college, but it was pouring rain outside, and that had quickly discarded any idea of leaving the house.
As usual, Vlad's love for huge houses meant an enjoyable place to live when there were other people around, but an empty and deathly silent dungeon when alone.
Danny silently walked around the house's hallways as he contemplated what to do with his weekend. He must have been really bored because he somehow ended up in Vlad's ghost lab.
He looked towards the portal as he debated taking a flight around the zone. But then his eyes fell on Vlad's mainframe.
He smiled. Was a bit of spying bad amongst mentor and guardian?
Naw… Vlad would probably be proud of him.
Danny grinned mischievously at the thought as he walked over to the mainframe and turned it on. It was not his first time looking at Vlad's files. But the first time he had, it was out of a necessity after his wonderful guardian decided to get himself into trouble…
Danny shook his head at the memory and began to click through the files. He was a bit surprised Vlad had not added any password or lock on his things. But that also spoke of what Danny suspected, which was that Vlad wouldn't mind him looking around his stuff.
Danny opened the familiar file titled 'ghost files'. There were hundreds of entries, and Danny looked through the names as he decided if any of them caught his attention.
One soon did. And he realized the moment he opened it, it wasn't one of Vlad's journal entries or experimentation logs. This…
Vlad was writing a book.
It clearly was a draft based on the format and the 'side notes', but it was definitely meant to be a book.
Looking around, Danny grabbed a nearby stool and sat down before he began to read… And as he did, he knew how he would be spending his weekend.
A Complete Introduction to Spectral Biology
Written by Vladimir A. Masters
Chapter One: Energy and Cores
Energy Level Theory:
The ecto-scale known amongst ecto-biologist measures basic energy output by spectral entities. It does not consider any abilities or tools a ghost might use to increase their power. Also, it is important to consider that energy-reading devices [excluding my own] only record a ghost's energy-level at the time of measure. This means, if the spectral entity is weaker or stronger than usual when energy-level is registered, the reading might not be a true representation of that entity. Therefore, to get a ghost's true energy level, several readings must be taken at different periods and intervals—no less than a total of twenty readings—and the average taken.
The ecto-scale measures from a reading of one through ten spectral joules [SJ]. However, while most in the ecto-community use this to measure all spectral-energy producing entities, the reality is that it is not an accurate representation. For 'normal' ghosts, [ghosts which have originated in the Ghost Zone and exists on within time and order] the ecto-scale is fairly accurate. However, the measure does not account for spirit-energy, which has a different level of function and measure. It is for this reason that spirits and half-ghosts cannot truly be measured accurately by the ecto-scale. Therefore, another function of measure is required, which will not be covered under this general 'Energy Level Theory'. [See file 234 for additional details]
It is important to outline how most instruments capture energy-readings. In the human-plain, very little spectral energy exists. The fractional amount present is usually as a result of fissures existing in the intangible fabric separating the human and ghost plains.
It is for this reason that an energy-reader can most often accurately determine the influx of spectral energy at a given moment since there is very little—if any—external spectral energy in the human plain that can 'throw-off' the reading. The more energy a ghost expels, the quicker a spectral reader can pick up data.
Being that spectral energy is not a naturally existing energy in the human dimension, spectral-reading instruments cannot directly measure it. Instead, what the instruments measure is the change in the flow of electromagnetic energy in the atmosphere. What most describe as 'cold spots' is really the infrared waves in the atmosphere being disturbed by a ghost core's expression of ecto-energy. Regardless of core type, ghosts are usually colder than their surroundings when in the human plain. Naturally, cold core ghosts pull away more 'heat' from their surrounding; and the more energy a ghost expresses from its core, the more it affects the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the expression of spectral energy will alter the electromagnetic energy flow around it.
Ultimately, a spectral-reader detects the level of a ghost's energy's ability to alter both ambient temperature and the flow of electromagnetic energy in the atmosphere. The larger the overall displacement if these two factors, the stronger the ghost. The higher it will read on the ecto-scale.
Core Types Theory
General Theory:
Based on various resources [See reference page at the end of this file], Seventy-five percent of ghosts are formed/created/arise with 'normal' cores. That leaves twenty-five percent of ghosts that have 'elemental' cores. Elemental cores are categorized under two general classes. Hot and Cold cores. Also known as Fire and Ice cores.
However, elemental cores are really a single class of cores that is defined by an atypical core temperature.
A normal-type core ghost has an average temperature between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit [15.55 -21.11 degree Celsius]. Therefore, to determine if a ghost has an elemental core, their average and resting core temperature must be calculated. While most ghosts can raise or drop their core temperatures to certain degrees, only true elemental cores have an average and resting temperature below normal. Therefore, anything higher or lower than the average core temperature is categorized as elemental.
In summary, if a ghost has an average/resting core temperature below 60 degrees they are considered a cold core. If they are above 70 degrees, they are considered a hot core.
Hot/Fire Core Theory:
While a ghost can have a hot core, specialized abilities manifest only at certain temperatures. This means, a ghost can be categorized as a hot core, but not have any physical or visible attributes to show it. This is because while their core temperature is above 70, it is not hot enough to manifest in their powers.
Hot cores are considered more common elemental cores than cold cores. It is why, unlike cold cores, they have levels or subcategories based on how high in temperature their cores can get and on the manifestation of that energy.
Hot core functionality is said to arise as an adaption. Ghosts living or created in certain hostile environments often exhibit higher core temperatures. Other reasons could be due to sudden stress, such as sickness, and the way a ghost was created or brought into the zone.
Abilities will vary based on the hot core temperature. But usually abilities associated to hot cores are electricity, fire, smoke, magma, lightning and environmental influence, such as affecting ambient temperature.
Hot core categories exist as follows [and will be outlined in Fahrenheit]:
Subcategory: base-level hot core
Temperature peaks at 200 degrees. Considered a hot core without external abilities.
Subcategory: Gamma-level hot core.
Temperature peaks at 500 degrees. Abilities include producing fire, usually manifested on their person, such as hair. Seldom can produce enough heat to use ecto-fire as an attack [unless using a relic to enhance powers]. However, ecto-blasts are hotter than typical ghost energy.
Subcategory: Beta-level hot core.
Temperature peaks at 1,000 degrees. Most hot cored ghosts are found at this level. They can produce ecto-fire at blue or green level. And some can wield certain electrical attacks usually at green or blue energy levels.
Subcategory: Alpha-level hot core.
Temperature peaks usually at 15,000 degrees. However, some ghosts can exceed this temperature when powers are used under certain environment conditions. This is the rarest type amongst hot-cored ghosts. Ghosts at this level favor pink to higher spectrum energy types. They can produce ecto-fire but are mainly known for their electrical abilities. Only alpha-level cores can produce/replicate lightening, also called ecto-bolts. And based on the surrounding atmosphere, these bolts can charge out over 50,000 degrees effectively replicating the power of real lightening in the atmosphere. As a result of such high temperatures, it is possible for some alpha-level ghosts to develop the ability to manipulate their environment's climate [also known as weather powers]. Such high levels of energies benefit a ghost's endurance [they are very hard to weaken and/or defeat]; but it also has its drawbacks. Ghosts at this level are often unstable, and therefore, overtime, the ghost's core-span will be greatly shortened. Very similar to a star in Nova-stage, eventually this core will burn out. This is why most alpha-level cores will rely on a relic to balance their unstable cores and have an outlet to their high energy levels. Alpha-level cores cannot wield blue-level energy because of their core's instability.
Spirit-level Alpha cores.
This is not considered a true category since it is still categorized under alpha-level. However, this pseudo name is given to alpha cores with an extremely rare ability of producing blue-level energy [a low-but-stable energy level not typically possible for hot cores]. As the name suggests, when seen it is usually in spirits—and not ghosts. The phenomenon of stabilizing and maintaining a high-energy, high temperature core is known as 'lightning in a bottle' due to its near impossibility. These ghosts have somehow evolved from their unstable counterparts and have learned to keep their volatile cores contained and stable using blue energy as a controlling factor—or visually implied as 'the bottle' that contains 'the lightning'. Such a phenomenon, results in an alpha-core that is essentially limitless in power. On the downside, the conditions to maintain such a core are so specific that if an external factor disrupts such a core, the results are often destructive.
Cold Core Theory
Unlike hot cores, cold cores do not have sublevels and all cold cores exhibit manifestations of their low-temperature cores.
It is often hard to categorize a ghost with a cold core because normal cored ghosts under certain condition can drop their core temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. However, what identifies a cold core is the average and resting temperature below the normal 60-70 degrees.
Cold cores are considered the rarest elemental core. Yet it is often associated with weaker or low energy-level ghosts. However, much like alpha hot cores can hold a 'spirit-level' state, cold cores can, too. The result is a high-energy core with the ability to produce subzero temperatures.
Cold core functionality is also often a result of an adaption. Ghosts living or created in certain hostile environments often exhibit lower core temperatures. Other reasons could be due to a survival adaption [such as, ghosts under constant threat of hot cored enemies]. In fact, this is more common than an environment adaptation. While ghosts are very rare to evolve and are considered stagnant in their abilities and energies, they can still show some form of evolution in spans of thousands of years. Therefore, it has been seen that ghosts existing near hot-cored ghost groups can eventually develop cold cores or create offspring with cold cores to protect them from their hot-core rivals. In fact, many research books suggest that spirit-level cold cores are the apex core amongst all others because they are the only core-type able to subdue alpha-level hot cores with just their core's cold energy alone.
Cold core abilities will vary based on the ghost's energy level. All cold cores can affect the ambient temperature around them, and at times, create ice crystals on surfaces. However, cold cores must have at least an energy level of four to create what is known as 'ice energy'. As mentioned, cold cores are often low-energy or average energy ghosts that cannot create energies higher than green-level energies.
However, as the ghost's energy level increases so does their ice abilities. Therefore, additional abilities can include ice breath, ice formation or manipulation, snow and blizzards.
Cold cores—though usually lower in energy-level than their normal or hot-based counterparts—they are often the most stable ghosts; and therefore, their core-span is often much longer than most ghosts.
Spirit-level cold cores: although this was outlined above, it is important to consider additional observation on this phenomenon. Much like spirit-level alpha cores are not a true category, neither is spirit-level cold cores. It is simply a means to identify a uniqueness in certain cold cores. As the name suggests, this rarity is mostly seen in spirits. And it is a result of a unique combination of a high-energy level with a subzero cold core. The contrast, in fact, causes certain instability in such a ghost. It is why blue-level energy is often much harder for this spirit-level core-type to maintain than their 'normal' cold-core counterparts. It is not impossible, just harder. But there is a benefit to this instability. The contrast of a high energy level and subzero core temperature actually allows these ghosts a certain level of evolution. These core types can, in fact, increase their core temperature above the normal 70 degrees, going as high as 125 degrees for short periods of times. This uniqueness often develops an even rarer power known as 'hydrokinesis', where the ghost can create water particles and wield them by raising their core temperature; producing water instead of ice. On the opposite spectrum, these cold cores can produce such subzero temperatures that they can also affect their external environment, also known as weather powers.
Dual-core
Also not considered a true core type. This is simply a title to explain another rarity in ghosts: the ability to change core temperature from extreme high to extreme low [aka from hot to cold core]. This is extremely uncommon and ghosts with this ability are extremely unstable. However, when it does occur the same rules follow as a hot or cold core. The ghost with dual core will have a certain hot core temperature level [aka a subcategory] but also be classified as a cold core. Hence the dual factor.
Examples of Known Elemental Cored Spectral Entities:
Note: This list is not all inclusive, but instead, services as an example set. If not mentioned on this list, the ghost is believed to have a normal ghost core; or has not been observed by this author.
Additionally, for specific ghost descriptions and data, go to Chapter 24: 'Individual Spectral Biology'.
Hot Cores
Aragon: [dragon ghost] beta level hot core [with amulet, Alpha level]
Dark Phantom: base-level hot core [I theorize this non-existent abomination could possibly be considered a normal-type due to his inability to manifest hot-core abilities, Nevertheless, his core temperature was at 'hot core' level]
Dora: [Aragon's sibling; dragon ghosts] beta level hot core
Dragon ghosts [most] gamma Level hot core
Ember: gamma Level hot core
Fright Knight: beta level hot core
Pariah Dark: alpha level hot core
Serenity: Spirit-alpha level hot core
Skulker: base-level hot core
Vlad Plasmius: Spirit-alpha level hot core [Very impressive, if I do say so myself.]
Serenity: [Spirit of Order] Spirit-alpha level hot core
Cold Cores
Danny Phantom: Spirit-level cold core [Not fully developed; but we will work on it]
Falco: cold core. [falcon-ghost I have recently befriended; animal-type ghost]
Frostbite and Kin: cold core
Klemper: cold core [As annoying as he is, his cold power manipulation is quite impressive.]
Dual Cores
Safear: Dual elemental core [phoenix; animal-type ghost. Have only seen it once; I am searching for this elusive creature]
Vortex: Dual elemental core [Can switch between alpha level hot core and cold core; shame I was not able to study him further…]