What looked like a normal apartment complex on the outside, was a high tech functioning base. Sparky took their jacket off, placing it on the couch in the middle of the room.
"Were you successful?" A deep voice asked in the entry way. Sparky turned around to see a tall figure looming over her.
"Yep. I injected Phantom with the syringe. His powers are already acting out," Sparky produced another vile with a dark red liquid mixed with green splotches. "Here's Phantom's blood."
The figure grabbed the vile and held it with care, "Perfect. With his powers diminished. It'll give me enough time to study his blood and understand his ghostly component. Hopefully, I'll be able to replicate them," The Scientist looked off to the distance, imagining his success, "Once I do, I'll be able to prove that anyone can get powers and Phantom will no longer be special."
Sparky lifted their sleeve to point at a bracelet that started sparking. "Yeah this will need to be fixed up, as well," She said as she took the bracelet off and placed it on the Scientist's desk. "You should've seen the fight. Phantom could barely throw a decent ecto blast, let alone float in the air. I would've been able to take him down if it weren't for Manson and Foley showing up with the Fenton Thermos. Obviously, I had to get out of there, lest they find out that I'm not actually a ghost."
"They still consider you a ghost, though correct?"
"Yep. I saw his ghost sense go off. Looks like whatever you put in that," Sparky motioned over to the bracelet, "has enough ghost energy to have them think anything else."
"How's it going with the Foley one?" The Scientist asked.
Melody gave a smug smile. "I wouldn't worry too much about Tucker. I know I already have him wrapped around my fingers. I can already sense a rift between the two men."
"The date is tomorrow, correct?"
"Yes," Melody grumbled.
"Good. Make sure you do whatever you can to create doubt in Tucker's mind so that he chooses you at the end of the day. Even the playing field so that it's easier to take Danny Phantom down, once and for all!"
"Mom! Dad!" Danny called into his house.
"We're down here, honey!" Maddie called out from the lab. Danny, Sam, and Tucker walked down the stairs to see Maddie and Jack working on a few Fenton weapons.
"What are you three doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Something came up. That electricity ghost attacked and injected Danny with something," Sam said bringing the syringe out of a Ziplock bag. She placed it on the lab table for Jack and Maddie to review. "Think you guys could figure out what he was injected with?"
"It'll take some time," Maddie said bringing the syringe in the light. "Do you feel, alright honey?"
Danny moved his head in a so-so fashion, "A little dizzy. But what I'm more worried about are my powers. I don't have any control over them at all."
"How so?" Jack asked.
"Well, he shifted into Fenton. Twice. During the fight," Tucker chastised. Danny flashed his eyes green for a split second.
"Anyway," Sam cut in before the tension could get thicker. "We need to figure out what that ghost did to Danny."
"Think you can lay low, son?" Jack asked, expressing sympathy for his son.
"Do I have a choice?" Danny grumbled. His parents shook their heads at his question.
"Don't worry, Danny. There would be no reason to use your powers for the date tomorrow anyway," Tucker added.
Danny drew breath out of his nose. He was reaching his boiling point with Tucker. "Is that the only thing you can think of?" Danny asked. "For the last week, I have heard nothing but you and this date. Is she getting cold feet? She won't text me back! Melody this! Melody that!" He mocked. "It's getting really annoying!"
Tucker glared at his friend stepping closer to him, "Oh, sure. Let's just forget all the times you've made googly eyes at Sam, huh? Tucker, I don't know if she likes me. Tucker, I don't want to ruin the friendship! Tucker, ever noticed how Sam does this cute little nose scrunch when she's concentrating really hard on something," Tucker mocked, using Danny's words. "You've only had to deal with it for a week. How about me?! I've done this for years, man! And finally, when I like someone, you can't seem to be happy for me!"
Danny took a step closer to Tucker, keeping intense eye contact. "Did you forget who got you the date in the first place!?"
"Oh sorry I forgot to thank the almighty Danny Phantom," Tucker taunted as he bowed. "Thank you, Danny, for helping me get a girl. Because lord knows it only took you years to finally step up and get yours. Better?" He growled.
Danny was about to lunge at Tucker but stopped as Sam got in between them.
"Stop!" Sam shouted, placing her hands on their chests and pushing them back a bit. "You two need to get a grip on yourselves. Stop fighting and focus on the real issue here."
"Yeah, the real issue is that my best friend can't be happy for me."
"Tucker, that is not true and you know it!" Danny snapped.
"Really, cause where is all of this coming from?"
Danny couldn't tell Tucker of his suspicion. Especially not now since he knew Tucker would just walk away and never talk to him again. Instead, he only glared choosing to bite his tongue on this.
Tucker backed away, "I guess there can only be room for one person to be happy."
"Where are you going?" Sam asked.
"Out," Tucker responded as he went up the stairs and slammed the front door behind him.
"So…uh we're just going to figure out what was in here," Maddie said breaking the silence and holding up the syringe.
Not two seconds later, they could hear the front door open and Tucker coming down the stairs to the lab. He focused on the lab table, then crouched underneath seeming to be looking for something.
"What are you looking for?" Sam asked. Danny was still too mad to say anything, so he turned his back to him.
"My phone. I can't find it."
"Watch out everyone! Tucker Foley is missing his phone, and we all know how he's obsessed with it. Especially since there's no other way he can talk to Melody!" Danny spat.
Tucker stood up and ran at Danny tackling him down. The two were now rolling on the ground, fighting each other.
"Danny, Tucker, stop it!" Maddie screamed.
"You are such an egotistical douchebag!" Tucker lashed.
"And you're a self-absorbed asshole!" Danny retaliated. Jack quickly stood over them and pulled them apart, holding them back as they continued to try to lunge at each other; with Jack in the middle, Maddie holding Danny back, and Sam holding Tucker back.
"I don't have time for this!" Tucker shouted as he stormed back upstairs and left Danny's house. Danny growled and turned into Phantom to phase up to his bedroom, leaving Jack, Maddie, and Sam in the lab.
