"If this guy didn't pose a threat to us, I'd actually feel kind of bad for him," Sam said not looking up from her pile of research, "apparently, he was sent to an orphanage that treated the kids there awful, and then when he aged out, he was criticized and mocked for his theories on ghosts. This guy never had anyone in his corner"
"The way he died wasn't as peaceful either, 'While cleaning up his science lab, Dr. Graves didn't notice the beaker filled with Nitrocellulose and the peroxide-forming compounds were next to each other. We can conclude that his arm smashed into the beaker on accident causing an explosion in the lab, killing Graves instantly'" Danny read from his pile.
"If it helps, he wasn't the best guy when he was alive, 'Dr. Graves had spent the majority of his life stealing from vendors, kids from the orphanage, and classmates. There are also alleged accounts of him assaulting and torturing individuals for the purpose of his experiment. Note, Graves was never charged'" Tucker read. He placed the paper down and shook from a chill down his spine.
"'At the end of Dr. Graves' life, researchers concluded that while all the acts he conducted in his life were not ethical, his theories did excel the topic of ghosts further so they may be expanded in the future,'" Concluded Danny, setting the paper down and sitting back.
"Ah yes, just like history to disregard all the dirty skeletons and make it a comeback story,'" Retorted Sam.
"If we've learned anything, and thinking back to last night, this wackjob will stop at nothing to complete his transference gun. At least some of the ghosts we've fought have shown some limits, but something tells me this guy will do some serious damage," Tucker said looking over to Danny. Danny was still staring down at the folders in front of him deep in thought.
"We have to figure out what he's missing. Once we do, he'll be powerless," Danny said.
"Well it's your lucky day," Sam said standing up and bringing three sheets of paper over to Danny, "here's the blueprints for the transference gun. If we bring these over to your parents, they may help decipher what exactly he needs. We get that information, we stop him before he goes on his evil ghost-sucking power rampage"
"Don't move any closer!" Jack exclaimed putting the Ghost Gauntlets he and Maddie were just working on. Maddie grabbed the Jack o' Nine Tails and ran in front of Jazz to protect her daughter.
Maddie and Jack glanced over at each other quickly and nervously. They had been working on upgrading their inventions all morning, meaning the inventions they were currently holding weren't in exact working order. Circe didn't need to know that though, so they kept their cards to their chest and looked back over to Circe to glare at her.
Circe waved Jack's and Maddie's determined looks and sashayed over to the table with tools. "Don't mind me, I'm just here to borrow a few things, but this would be so much easier if you guys just tell me." Circe then readied an ecto blast in her hand.
"Where's Silas?" Maddie asked ignoring Circe's threat.
"Oh, he's actually busy with the three musketeers," Circe said giving a smug look to all three of them. Jack, Maddie, and Jazz both gave worried looks to each other and wavered a bit. "So like I said, it'd be so much easier if you guys just tell me. Otherwise, I'm afraid those three won't be going to college anytime soon…"
"What have you done to them!" Exclaimed Jack, charging up the Ghost Gauntlets.
Circe held her hands up in a mock defense, "Woah big guy, I didn't do anything to them, I'm just here to retrieve a few things. I get those things, and Silas will let them go" She then brought one hand up to her heart to do a mock cross, "swear on my heart and hope to - well I guess that doesn't count anymore," She then gave a menacing cackle.
"Jack, we have to help her, the kids…" Maddie whispered.
"I know" Jack responded. He let a breath out and slumped his shoulder. He dropped the Ghost Gauntlets and placed them back on the table. Maddie followed after him and rested the Jack o' Nine Tails on their work table.
Circe was still cackling when Jack and Maddie gave surrendered, giving her a glare. "What does he need?" Jack gritted through his teeth.
Circe wiped a tear and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. Maddie held a hand up to stop her, "Hang on, we're not doing anything until Danny, Sam, and Tucker are safe. We help you, you promise to let them go."
"Ugh fine!" Circe grabbed her phone out of her pocket and dialed Silas' number. "Hey, sexy! Yeah I know I'm here, but they want to make sure they're safe. I know that's what I told them" Circe then pulled the phone slightly from her ear, "They said hi!" She then brought the phone back to her ear, "Yeah they're not gonna do anything until you promise you won't hurt them. Yeah and to let them go when I get the stuff. Alright babe, thanks. Muah!" Circe placed her phone back in her pocket and held her hand with the piece of paper out. "Do we have a deal?"
Back at the warehouse, Silas was reading article after article about Danny Phantom. He knew the only way to have at least a fair chance against Danny would be to learn absolutely everything about him. At this point, Silas had discovered what powers Danny had, how exactly Danny saved the world against the Disasteroid and Danny's history of ghost fighting. Currently, he was reading an article discussing the origin story of how he got his powers.
"'After stepping into his parents' at-home Ghost Portal, Danny Fenton accidentally pressed on the "Power on" button inside the portal, causing the portal to turn on and exposing Fenton to the ecto energy. Reports say that his DNA altered to the sudden ecto energy, resulting in who we know as Danny Phantom today,' fascinating,"
Silas then opened up another tab to do a quick search on Danny's loved ones. His results showed a series of pictures of Danny with Tucker and Sam. After gathering Tucker's and Sam's last names, Silas entered a new search designated to them. He found that Tucker and Sam had known Danny since they were kids and were there when he first got his ghost powers. A series of articles discussed how they've been there for Danny since the beginning, supporting and even fighting off ghosts themselves. "It seems these two have been in the ghost game for a while too, I'll be careful not to underestimate them next time."
In the search results, Silas saw a link discussing Danny's romantic history. Remembering the picture Circe showed him earlier, he clicked on it. The article discussed the history of Danny and Sam and how they got together after the events of the Disasteroid. Silas furthered his search by seeing pictures of the couple. The paparazzi pictures showed Dany and Sam walking, holding hands, holding each other, kissing, and overall acting all lovey-dovey. Silas would've rolled his eyes if he wasn't so happy to have hit the jackpot to Danny Phantom's number 1 weakness.
"Seems someone got lazy, Danny" He said in a sing song tune, "The hero must be careful to hold what's most precious to them close. Wouldn't want a maniac to get an idea of who you can't live without," Silas then started laughing uncontrollably holding his sides. His laughter echoed off of the walls in the empty warehouse, leaving an eerie feel to the area.
"Hey, Ivan?' Danny said walking on the main floor of the museum in search for Ivan. He found Ivan in the room that posed as the fighting area last night.
"This ecto energy is incredible," Ivan said looking at the space.
Danny rubbed the back of his neck as a nervous tick, "Yeah, sorry about last night,'
Ivan quickly spun around to look at Danny, "Nothing to be sorry for! As a researcher, I tend to stay behind the scenes of the action, compiling the reports together to make sense of a story to publish for the public. Being able to see this myself, is priceless. I don't think I'll ever have another opportunity" Ivan became lost in his mind again, looking around the room. It only took a second though for him to remember that Danny was there. "Sorry, son, you had a question?"
Danny held the blueprints out to Ivan for him to take, to which Ivan did. "I'm wondering if you have any more blueprints for the transference gun, or if this is it? I'm also wondering if there's some research explicitly stating the missing pieces that Silas needed to complete it."
Ivan sighed in response, "That damn transference gun is really going to cause havoc. Not one person should have all that power." Danny nodded in agreement.
Tucker and Sam were still in the basement looking over the research Ivan left for them. Tucker was reading one report that seemed to get his attention immediately. He sat up and willed his eyes to read faster than what his brain could process. Sam noticed Tucker's immediate attention and looked over at him.
"Tucker?"
"Sam," Tucker peeled his eyes away to look at his friend at the other side of the table, "Silas has stolen another ghost's power before."
"What?" Sam said walking over to Tucker to read the report in his hands.
"'From the post-mortem account, they report that Silas had successfully transferred a ghost power to him once before. 50 years after his death, they reported that they saw Silas use the transference gun on another ghost in the Port Coray area. Once the transfer was complete, Silas charged his newly acquired ecto energy and blasted at the ghost entity. Then a pair of ghosts came and tackled Silas down. The witness claims that they saw a large figure wearing white pleaded clothing, and a black hat and had a significant Southern accent. Silas was then taken away in cuffs leaving the transference gun on the ground. When the witness brought the account to the police, he was pulled away by medical personnel bringing him to an insane asylum where he spent the rest of his life' Holy, shit that's gotta be Walker right?" Tucker asked looking over to Sam.
"It has to be" Sam nodded, "Silas said though that he wasn't able to complete his invention because of the technology available. But it seems he came back after some time to finish it up. If he was able to do that back then, who knows what he'll be able to do with the technology today"
"It's ironic really. The guy spent his whole life studying ghosts and their powers, just to become one without any powers. True proof of karma" Tucker stated.
"And the one that he does have, doesn't even truly belong to him," Sam finished. "We have to tell Danny."
"Ooh your fiancé," Tucker mused in a high-pitched squeal.
"So if we're all settled, here's what I need," Circe said bringing the piece of paper to her face. I need an ecto assessor, a stabilizer and an ecto reactor. You got that here? I sure hope so, your son's life depends on it."
Both Maddie and Jack glared at her and started rummaging through their tools. "If we give her this, Silas is going to be able to complete his invention" Jack whispered to Maddie.
"I know, but what other choice do we have? He has the kids" Maddie responded.
Jack shook his head, "I know but if we give him this, he'll still go after them. You know he's going to go after Danny's powers."
"I know, and we will get to that when we do. We have to make sure the kids are okay first."
Maddie sighed, "It's a lose-lose situation."
"Hello? I haven't got all day! Silas is getting ansty and his hand is cramping from holding his ecto energy to the girl's head" Jack, Maddie, and Jazz both cringed from hearing the danger Sam was in. "What's her name again, Sam? Oh right, Sam. She's the one who has the ghost boy's heart, right? They are cute together," Circe sighed and brought her phone out of her pocket again and started dialing Silas' number, "It'd be a shame if I told Silas to put more pressure on you guys"
"Stop!" Exclaimed both Jack and Jazz.
"Wait! Wait!" Maddie said, jumping at Circe's threat.
Circe paused and gave another one of her sinister smiles. "Chop chop."
Jack and Maddie took a deep breath and took out the last tools Silas needed to complete his invention. Jack walked over to Circe and placed it in her hands. He then stepped back shielding his family from Circe.
"Thank you!" Circe said as she stuffed the tools in her bag.
"We kept up our end of the deal. Call Silas and tell him to let them go." Ordered Jack.
Silas then brought her finger up to her cheek to mock thinking, "Mmm, no I don't think I will. Toodles!"
Jazz then grabbed the Jack o' Nine Tails to stop Circe from leaving. In response, Circe threw a smoke grenade at them. With the smoke shielding Circe, she made her escape out of the Fenton household.
