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Above and Beyond Chapter 19

“What! Right now?” Mark asked into the Fenton phones. “Well, ok then. We’ll keep an eye out for this……wolf man?”

Mark closed the phone connection and then turned to Danny. “Mitch says we need to suit up and look for a werewolf outside….this Wulf guy?”

“Wulf is the best! He’ll get us home.” Danny exclaimed.

“Right…..where you going to let me just find out he was like this werewolf thing or where you going to tell me at any point?” Mark asked.

“Huh, honestly that just slipped my mind…..like ghosts can be whatever form that fits them best….I don’t know his backstory, but I didn’t think it was important.” Danny said with a shrug.

“Not important, he says, Mark mumbled with a roll of his eyes. “You know what, I don’t care if it’s the loc ness monster that shows up…as long as we can get off this rock, I’ll be happy.”

Mark and Danny stood anxiously on the Martian surface, looking around for any sign of another person or portal.

“So what do these portals look like again?” Mark asked Danny.

“You can’t miss them….well, unless one opens up in front of you and like you just stumble through….then I guess you can miss it.” Danny said with a laugh.  

“Real helpful kid,” Mark replied sarcastically.

 "So you ready to see a werewolf?” Danny asked with a grin.

Before Mark could reply, the fabric of reality seemed to ripple before them. A portal tore open, and Mark's eyes widened as a werewolf-like figure stepped through – Wulf.

"When you said werewolf, I gotta admit, I wasn’t expecting more wolf than man,” Mark whispered to Danny. Trying not to offend their rescuer, Mark turned to the wolf man. “You must be Wulf. Thank you for this.” Mark said while reaching out a hand for a handshake.  

Wulf said something in Esperanto, then sniffed at Mark's offered hand, but instead of shaking it as expected, the wolfman, instead, gave Mark’s helmet a big lick in greeting.

“AH, oh god, I mean thank you….I think. Danny, this is a good sign, right?”

Danny just gave him a mischievous grin. “I don’t know, hard to tell.”

“DANNY,” Mark yelled, as Wulf started to cover his face plate with slobber.

“Arlight alright! Wulf, can you get us out of here?” Danny asked his friend.

Wulf nodded, backing away from Mark and Danny, then pulling his sharp claws through the air, forming a new portal. Mark stared in awe and a bit of trepidation at the glowing green tears.

Together, they all stepped through the portal and into the Ghost Zone.

Upon entering, Mark was struck by the awe and amazement of the alien environment surrounding them. The sky was an otherworldly mix of green, purple, and blue, and flowing green substance filled the air. Floating doors and islands dotted the landscape.

"Wow," Mark breathed, unable to tear his eyes away from the scene before him. "This is incredible."

“Look! It’s the speeder!” Danny pointed towards a small shuttlecraft hovering nearby.

Wulf and Danny helped Mark fly towards the speeder. Once they were close enough, the side door opened, and they were pulled inside.

Mitch pulled Mark into a relieved hug.

Danny immediately found himself enveloped in a hug by his two best friends in the world.

Danny froze when he saw Jack. He glanced up shyly, his heart racing in fear of rejection.

"Dad?" he whispered hesitantly.

Danny found himself pulled into a bear hug.

“Danny! I’m sorry for everything!” Jack exclaimed. At these words, Danny allowed himself to relax and lean into his father's hold.

“You’re not mad?”

“Mad! No, never. I’m proud of you…. I wish you had told us, but I’m happy you’re ok.” Jack said.

Danny felt his eyes tear up. “You mean you don’t want to tear me apart molecule by molecule?”

Jack's face fell. “I’m sorry I ever said that…..I’d never do that to you.”

Danny blinked away tears and looked to see how Mark was faring. Mark was being looked over by the doctors on board.

His Dad let him go, but hovered nearby protectively, along with Sam and Tucker. Danny was introduced to Mitch, Agent Nelson, and the two Medics. The two medics soon started pestering Danny about his own health. Soon, both Mark and Danny were getting a check-up. Danny tried to weasel his way out of it, but his dad kept giving helpful advice on what to look for, health-wise, for ghosts and theorizing what Danny would need as a half ghost.

Mitch took the pilot seat to plot their way back home. Danny sat snug in a blanket between Sam and Tucker. He realized things wouldn’t be the same now. Earth knew of the zone now. And likely would want to visit and study it. Danny tried not to think about it too much as he dozed off.  But he knew he’d probably have to be the one to play ambassador. Jack sat nearby by making sure nobody bothered the teens. Danny let himself fall into a light doze. He was just thankful no other ghost had decided to attack the speeder. He hoped his luck didn’t turn on him yet.

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Above and Beyond Chap. 18: Into the Unknown

After much deliberation and negotiation with the Fentons, a plan was concocted. Simple on the surface but still dangerous. NASA working with both the US government and the Fenton’s came up with a plan to enter the ghost zone and mount a rescue attempt.

Standing in the Fenton’s basement Teddy Sanders and Vincent Kapoor stared in amazement at the work of mad science. The swirling green energy in the center of the portal made the hairs on their arms stand up.

“This shouldn’t be possible,” Kapoor mumbled.

“Well, it is……and it’s going to change everything. Not to mention saving us a ton of money.” Teddy commented.

Before them, the Fenton’s were yapping on and on about the science behind their portal to a group of NASA scientists. As well as showing off the Spector speeder. The ship that was going to be used for this rescue mission.

“This is still dangerous…...we’re going to enter a new dimension. An alien dimension.” Teddy grumbled.

“Remember this is the most cost-effective way. And the quickest if they’re to be believed.” Kapoor pointed out, “But I don’t like that we’re sending teenagers in.” Kapoor said with a frown.

“They’re the only ones that have been in the zone. And we need them to guide us, to this ally, this Wulf guy.” Sanders said with a sigh.

The group they were sending in, consisted of Sam and Tucker to guide them and navigate the zone. Jack Fenton and Mitch Henderson pilot. And Agent Nelson to represent the US government. As well as two trained medics. They’d keep in contact through the Fenton’s radio. The Fenton’s also provided specialized cameras to record and take readings on the speeder. Normal tech would malfunction in the zone. The Fenton’s inventions were of great interest to both NASA and the government.

****

Mitch Henderson's knuckles whitened against the controls of the speeder as it sliced through the Ghost Zone's eerie atmosphere. The fluorescent green mist parted like curtains before them, revealing floating islands and spiraling doorways suspended in the void.

Jack Fenton sat in the back of the speeder; he kept yelling out GHOST! Every time they went past a citizen of the zone. It took Tucker and Sam to remind him that they weren’t here to capture anything.

Agent Nelson shifted nervously in his seat. He tried to focus on recording what he could. He had volunteered for this. But being here felt unnatural. Like they didn’t belong here.

Sam sat in the copilot's seat, giving tips and directions to Mitch as they traveled deeper into the zone.

The speeder rocked suddenly, caught in a swirling stream of spectral energy. Mitch compensated with practiced precision.

 Tucker sat hunched over a tablet, fingers flying across the screen. "I've got the coordinates of Wulf's usual territory. Two more kilometers in that direction."

Mitch guided the speeder deeper into the Ghost Zone. They flew past floating chunks of earth suspended in the void. Some held twisted trees with blue leaves; others contained fragments of buildings that appeared to be from different time periods. Doors of various shapes and sizes drifted by—some ornate and ancient, others sleek and modern, all leading to places unknown.

"When we get there…..let me and Tucker do the talking, he knows us,” Sam said with a pointed glare at the adults around her.  

“Loud and clear,” Mitch said with a mock salute.

Mitch eased the speeder down to the edge of an island. It appeared to be a fragment of forest, with gnarled trees whose leaves shimmered with an unnatural blue luminescence.

As the speeder settled onto the spectral soil, the engines humming down to silence, an unsettling stillness fell over the group. Outside, the ambient glow of the Ghost Zone cast long, shifting shadows.

“Ok Listen up! Me and Tucker are going to go out there, he’ll listen to us, I don’t need anyone here shooting him or something.” Sam said with a pointed look at Jack Fenton.

“I don’t think you should be going out there alone….. You're just kids.” Jack argued, crossing his arms over his chest.

“We’ve done this a bunch of times Mr. Fenton,” Sam said with a glare.

“What if a ghost attacks you? I won’t let you two go out there alone.”

“UGH! WHATEVER……but no shooting at him. GOT IT?” Sam demanded.

“Only if need to,” Jack replied. But he pocketed his ecto gun.

Mitch volunteered to stay on the ship. He watched through the front view window, as Jack, Sam, Tucker, and Nelson disappeared between the foliage.

About fifteen minutes later, Mitch’s eyes widened as he watched what he could only describe as a werewolf, complete with torn clothing follow the group back into the clearing. He stared at the glow coming off this creature, and his sharp teeth and claws.

The group walked back to the speeder and reclaimed their seats. Mitch watched as Wulf floated up into the air and hovered in front of the speeder. The wolfman made a gesture beckoning him to follow.

As Sam sat down and clicked her seat belt into place, she turned to him. “Wulf said he can make the portal, but he has to be in the correct spot. I guess somehow he can sense it. But he said he can open a doorway.”

“He can do that?” Mitch asked.

“Ghosts have a diverse set of skills and supernatural abilities.” Jack pipped up getting ready to launch into a lecture about it.

“Can all ghosts do this? Can Danny?” Agent Nelson asked, interrupting Jack.

“No, Danny can’t, at least right now……. he’s been developing different ones….” Tucker replied.

“Not every ghost can do the same thing…..yeah they have similar abilities, like common ones I guess, like flying and invisibility but then they have like special abilities, that are less common,” Sam answered. “But Danny can tell you all about that. Right now we have to focus. So follow Wulf.”

As they followed Wulf, they came upon a gigantic body of water. It glowed the same green as everything in the zone.

A massive shadow passed over the speeder. Wulf let out a low growl, a warning sound.

Wulf dodged out of the way as a gigantic maw closed around where he once was.

“Oh my god!” Sam whispered.

Before them was something long dead. A massive mosasaur, its coloring was vibrant, it had purple, green, and black scales. Its solid glowing green eyes locked on to the speeder. It let out a roar as it turned, it opened its mouth wide, ready to bite down on the speeder and try to swallow it whole.

Mitch yanked the controls hard to port, the speeder banking sharply as the Mosasour's jaws snapped shut on empty air where they had been seconds before. The creature's eyes tracked them, unblinking and calculating – not the mindless aggression of a beast, a hungry intelligence lurked behind its eyes.

"Hold on!" Mitch shouted, sending the speeder into a dive that pressed them all back into their seats.

The Mosasaur followed. It was gaining on them, the distance between predator and prey shrinking with each passing second.

"We can't outrun it," Jack said, already unbuckling his harness and moving toward the rear of the speeder.

Jack reached for a weapon rack mounted on the wall. His hands closed around the familiar grip of the Fenton Bazooka, its weight reassuring in his palms.

Wulf leapt at the ancient dino; his claws extended as he tore deeply into the creature's giant eye.

The Mosasaur roared in pain, shaking its head and body trying to knock the wolf man off.

Wulf getting dislodged from the creature's head, dodged again as the mosasaur tried to snap its jaws around him. Wulf lunged again and slashed at the creature's snout as it lunged, drawing more blood – a viscous, glowing fluid that floated away in globules blobs.

The Mosasaur recoiled before lunging again with renewed fury. Wulf twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the snap of jaws that could have severed him in two. His claws raked along the creature's flank, peeling back scales and exposing the ghostly flesh beneath.

From the speeder, Jack watched the battle unfold, the Fenton Bazooka humming as it charged to full power. He opened the side hatch, taking careful aim.

He watched Wulf and the Mosasaur circle each other in a deadly dance. "I need a clear shot."

Once Jack had his opening he aimed and fired, the beam of concentrated ectoplasmic energy striking the Mosasaur’s eye, in an explosion. The creature shrieked in pain and rage.

"Hey, ugly!" Jack shouted, firing, again and again, each blast forcing the Mosasaur back. "Get lost you ghost scum!”

Wulf had dodged out of the way of Jack’s shots. The ghost wolf's eyes narrowed in determination, and he lunged forward once more, this time aiming for the Mosasaur’s soft underbelly.

The creature twisted away, but not fast enough to avoid Wulf's claws entirely. A long gash opened along its side, spilling more of that strange, glowing fluid into the ether. The Mosasaur roared again, its tail lashing out and catching Wulf in the chest, sending him tumbling backward through the ghost zone.

Jack seized the opportunity, aiming and firing directly into the creature's wound. The Mosasaur convulsed, its body thrashing in agony.

Wulf had recovered now and was circling back, his eyes locked on the Mosasaur with predatory focus.

The Mosasaur growled but decided this prey wasn’t worth it. It began to retreat, its massive body turning and then diving down towards the ecto river below.

The Mosasaur reached the river's edge and, with one final hateful glance back at its pursuers, dove beneath the surface. The luminous fluid parted with a splash. Droplets hanging suspended before slowly drifting back to rejoin the flow.

Wulf halted at the river's edge, his chest heaving from exertion. He watched the spot where the Mosasaur had disappeared, ensuring it would not return.

Seeing that the dino wasn’t going to continue the fight, Wulf turned to the speeder. “This is the place.” He said in Esperanto, which Tucker translated for everyone else.

With a grunt of effort, Wulf plunged his claws into what appeared to be empty space. The ghost zone shuddered around them. Wulf's muscles strained as he pulled his claws apart, tearing open a hole in the fabric of existence.

The tear widened, edges ragged and flickering with energy that crackled like lightning.

Wulf pointed to the portal he made. “Mars.”

Jack stared into the portal, to think it was that simple to get to another planet. Just walk through. And boom you’re on an alien planet. An alien plant where his boy was waiting for rescue.

"Ok, Ok that’s good.” Mitch mumbled. “we’ll prepared to go through then.”

Wulf held up a paw. “I go; I go get. You stay.” Wulf said in broken English. Before anyone could object the wolf man turned and dove into the portal.

“Wait!” Mitch tried to object, but seeing that their guide had left, he slumped into his seat. “Well great! Now what?”

“I guess we wait, he’ll get Danny and Mr. Watney. Then we can go home.” Sam said.

Bonus drawing! (i tried to draw the dino)

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Spring

Small Story below! (~105 words!)

4 months ago, in this same forest, she had found him, crawling away from her in the falling snow. Shivering body numb with frostbite, her heart ached as she knew her presence was scarier than any natural disaster to him.

4 months ago, he wouldn't even look at her, even as she brought him to the safety and warmth of her home, trust was hard.

4 months ago, he thought he was going to die, alone, with wings stolen and body broken.

And now, She was getting dragged through the spring forest by her finger to meet his parents.

Spring could be such a wonderful thing.

Black and white version cuz I find it cute too!

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Above and Beyond Ch. 17

Title: The truth comes out.

Watney's face as he leaned forward, his eyes fixed intently on Danny.

"Look, kid," Mark said, his voice gentle but firm, "I get why you're scared. But keeping this secret...it's not protecting you like you think it is. NASA can help better if they know the truth."

Danny's fingers tightened around the edge of his cot, his knuckles turning white. He wanted to argue, to defend the walls he'd built around his secret identity, but Mark's words hit too close to home.

Mark continued, "Think about it. If NASA and your parents knew the truth, they could actually help you. No more running from the GIW. No more dodging your parents' ghost-hunting tech."

Danny's stomach churned at the thought. He could almost hear his mother's voice, see the look of horror on her face if she knew what he really was. Half-ghost. An abomination in her eyes.

"But what if they reject me?" Danny whispered, his voice barely audible. "What if they think I'm... a freak?"

Mark's expression softened. "Danny, they're your parents. They love you. And NASA? They’ve been dreaming of a day to meet someone like you.”

Danny imagined a world where he didn't have to hide, where he could use his powers openly to help people. But then the image of cold lab tables and government experiments flashed through his mind, making him shudder.

"I don't know, Mark," Danny said, running a hand through his messy black hair.

Mark nodded, "I get it, but if more people knew, they could step in and stop those who are trying to hurt you.”

Danny stood up, pacing the small confines of the Hab. He thought of Sam and Tucker, how they'd accepted him without hesitation. Could his parents do the same?

"Maybe you're right," Danny admitted.

Mark held up the Fenton phone, getting ready for their call with NASA.

"I'm doing this," Danny said, more to himself than to Mark. "No more secrets. No more running."

Mark placed a reassuring hand on Danny's shoulder. "You've got this, kid. Remember, I'm right here with you."

Danny took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Okay. Let's do it."

With trembling fingers, he hit the NASA contact and sent the signal through to Earth.   

"What if they reject me?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

Mark squeezed his shoulder. "Then they don't deserve you. And I got your back."

Before Danny could respond with anything else, the connection went through.

“Ground control, how’s are our Martians doing?”

“Everying things good up here, especially since I was able to talk to my crew,” Mark replied, with some bite to his words.

Teddy sighed on the other end. “Please understand it was to protect against high hopes…..but I’m glad you where able to connect to the Ares 3. It’s good to know the Fenton phones can reach them. I wasn’t sure if they could actually connect anywhere.”

“Yeah, I’m keeping this phone, it’s mine now.” Mark replied. Mark probably wouldn’t be allowed to keep the phone, but he could try. Maybe Danny could hook him up later.

“I actually have something to say.” Danny spoke up. He felt like he could faint. This was it.

Danny's heart raced as he continued, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm... I'm not just Danny Phantom. I'm also Danny Fenton."

"Two years ago, I had an accident in our ghost portal. It infused me with ghost DNA, giving me ghost powers. I became half-ghost, half-human. The Guys in White captured me and a nature ghost portal opened, and that’s how I ended up on Mars.”

"I know it sounds crazy," Danny said, he continued, speaking more to his parents, than to NASA or the world, he hated he couldn’t see their reaction. “I've been hiding it because I was scared. Scared of what you'd think, scared of being hunted."

Maddie Fenton was the first to speak, her voice tight with emotion. "That’s... that's impossible. You can't be... you’re not Danny, you’re not my boy!”

Jack’s voice came in next. “Ghosts are evil, manipulative creatures. That’s what you’re doing, just trying to trick us!”

Danny felt a pang in his chest at their words. He'd expected disbelief, but it still hurt. "I’m telling the truth!”

Suddenly, Sam's voice cut through the tension. "It's true, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton. We've known for a while. Danny's been using his powers to protect Amity Park."

Tucker chimed in. "Yeah, he's a hero! He's saved the town more times than we can count."

Jazz's voice was heard next. "Mom, Dad, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I've seen Danny transform with my own eyes. He's still our Danny, just with some... extras."

Danny waited on the other line with bated breath. There was a long pause.

"But... but how?" Maddie whispered, her voice barely audible. "Our own son... a ghost? All this time?"

Jack’s voice was colored with horror. “But I’ve shot at you…..captured you…..hurt you…..”   

Teddy Sanders cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We've suspected something unusual about Danny, and suspected Phantom was the same as Danny Fenton. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to tell us the truth, son." Teddy avoided mentioning that they just recently figured that out.

Danny blinked, surprise, momentarily overriding his anxiety. "You... you knew?"

Vincent Kapoor’s voice came through the phone. "Not exactly, but we had our suspicions."

“Danny I’m so sorry!” Maddie spoke. Danny could tell she was on the verge of crying.

“I should have told you sooner!” Danny said, trying to offer comfort to his parents, even after everything.

*****

Once the call ended, Teddy turned to Vincent. "We need to get ahead of this. The kid's going to need some serious PR support."

Vincent nodded, then gestured towards the Fentons. "First things first. We need to have a word with the parents."

They approached Jack and Maddie, who still looked shell-shocked. Vincent's voice was gentle but firm. "Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, I know this is a lot to process, but we need to discuss something crucial. The hunting... it can't continue.."

Jack's usual jovial demeanor crumbled, replaced by a look of pure anguish. "I... I can't believe it. We're supposed to protect him, and instead..."

Vincent seized the moment, his voice lowering. "There's more. The GIW... they've hurt Danny before. And they'll likely try again."

Maddie’s eyes hardened. "They won't touch him again. We'll make sure of it."

Jack nodded vigorously, his large hands clenching into fists. "Nobody hurts our boy. Ghost, human, or anything in between."

******

In a dimly lit conference room, Agent K slammed his fist on the table, his pristine white suit a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding him. "Gentlemen, the situation has escalated. The Phantom boy has gone public, and we're losing control of the narrative, and it’s worse than ever." He spat the next words. “A Hybrid.” He shook his head in disgust. “It’s an abomination to nature.”

Agent O leaned forward, his sunglasses reflecting the flickering screens displaying social media feeds. "The public's reaction is mixed. Some are calling for acceptance, others for extermination. We need to act fast."

"Agreed," K growled. "If the government won't see reason, we'll have to take matters into our own hands. The Ghost Zone must be destroyed, at any cost, we can’t allow them to keep infecting the people of earth. We’ll have to destroy Amity as well, it’s infected, the people are contaminated……beyond saving."

Meanwhile, in his opulent mansion, Vlad Masters paced furiously, his expensive shoes wearing a path in the plush carpet. His eyes, glowing an unnatural red, were fixed on the television screen where Danny's face was plastered across every news channel.

"Butter biscuits!" he snarled, hurling a crystal glass against the wall. It shattered, much like his carefully laid plans. "That foolish boy! Does he have any idea what he's done?"

Vlad's mind raced, calculating the ramifications of Danny's revelation. His leverage, his carefully crafted blackmail, all gone in an instant. He could feel his control slipping away, and it filled him with a rage that threatened to consume him.

"No," he muttered, forcing himself to take deep breaths. "I won't let this be the end. I've come too far, sacrificed too much."

Vlad's eyes narrowed as he settled into his high-backed leather chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "I must act swiftly," he mused aloud, his voice a low, menacing purr. "If Daniel lets slip about my... condition, everything I've built will crumble."

He swiveled to face his computer, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Perhaps it's time to remind young Daniel of the consequences of crossing Vlad Plasmius."

Vlad scrolled through his own files and blueprints of ghost tech. “Perhaps it’s time to silence him forever……finish what the portal started. I can always get a new heir, with my dear Madeline.”

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Above and Beyond Chap. 16

The NASA conference room buzzed with an undercurrent of tension as Jack and Maddie Fenton burst through the door, arms laden with an assortment of bizarre contraptions. Teddy Sanders suppressed a wince, exchanging a glance with Vincent Kapoor.

"Behold, the Fenton Ghost Decimator!" Jack bellowed, brandishing what looked like a strange high-tech leaf blower. "Guaranteed to reduce any spectral entity to ectoplasmic goo!"

Maddie beamed, her goggles glinting with a special type of madness. "And this little beauty," she added, holding up a compact device, "is the Ecto-Disruptor. It scrambles a ghost's molecular structure."

Kapoor leaned towards Teddy, whispering, "Are we sure these people are... stable?"

Teddy forced a smile. "They're experts in their field, Vincent."

As the Fentons launched into their demonstration, Teddy's unease grew. The technology was undeniably advanced - far beyond anything NASA had encountered. But the ethical implications were troubling.

Jack aimed the Decimator at a potted plant, which promptly burst into flames. "Oops! Wrong setting!"

Maddie rushed to extinguish the fire, laughing nervously. "It's usually more precise. We're still working out some kinks."

Kapoor pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, while your inventions are... impressive, I'm concerned about their potential for harm……when we were recommended your expertise, I was hoping for more on the diplomacy front with these beings."

Jack waved dismissively. "Harm? Ghosts aren't alive, my good man! They're ectoplasmic scum that need to be eradicated!"

Maddie's eyes gleamed with a fervor that made Teddy's skin crawl. "Oh, if we could just get our hands on that ghost boy... The things we could learn by taking him apart molecule by molecule!"

Kapoor stood abruptly, his usually calm demeanor cracking. "That is absolutely out of the question. Phantom is not to be harmed under any circumstances."

"The ghost boy is manipulating you!" Maddie hissed. "He's not capable of real emotions. It's all an act!"

Teddy raised his hands, silencing the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, I understand your expertise in ghost-related matters. However, I need to make something very clear." He met their eyes firmly. "We are treating this as first contact with an alien species. Phantom will be afforded all the rights and protections that entails."

The Fentons deflated visibly, exchanging frustrated glances.

Maddie fumed at this. *If I didn’t need to find Danny, I’d blast that ghost boy as soon as I can* Maddie thought to herself. The only reason they had taken this deal was because the US government had afforded a good amount of money, and a promise to help them find their boy. All they had to do was play nice with NASA and let the government have access to their technology and portal. Now she didn’t mind sharing her work, it was about time people took them seriously. But she did get the feeling if she refused the government would have just taken it, claiming it to be a matter of national security.

Kapoor leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "About this ghost portal. You built it in your basement?"

"Sure did!" Jack beamed. "Punched a hole right through the fabric of our dimension!"

Kapoor's jaw dropped. "That's... that's incredible. And incredibly dangerous! Do you have any idea of the safety protocols you've violated?"

Maddie waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, we take precautions."

"Like what?" Kapoor pressed.

Jack scratched his head. "Well, we keep the Fenton Anti-Creep Stick nearby."

Maddie patted her husband’s arm in fondness. “we also keep our home heavily armed with anti-ghost technology.”

“I’ve read up on Amity, aren’t they attacked almost every day?” Kapoor asked.

“Amity is the most haunted city in America, it’s why we chose it. I doubt it has any connection.” Maddie defended.

Teddy massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on. These people were brilliant, but their methods were beyond unorthodox. At least the teens had been more sensible and better yet helpful. Quickly getting them up to speed and even providing a way to contact Phantom and Mark on Mars.

Which is why Teddy had decided to let the four teens stay. He was very impressed with how Sam and Jazz even had the forethought to go directly to the president for help. He had a hunch they would be a better source for ghost-related matters.

"Sooooo," Sam interrupted Jack Fentons long rant on how evil ghosts were, "we've been inside the Ghost Zone and the citizens of the zone are nothing like that."

The room fell silent.

Jazz nodded. "We used the Specter Speeder."

"Which is?” Kapoor asked.

“It’s like a shuttlecraft, it can travel through the zone, and it can probably even go to space,” Tucker answered.

Kapoor turned to Jack and Maddie. “You built a craft capable of traversing dimensions and the vacuum of space?"

"Well, yeah," Maddie said. "It was just a fun weekend project."

Tucker spoke up. "The Ghost Zone isn't what you think. It has its own civilization, laws, even culture, they are like us, some bad some good, and everything in between."

Sam nodded emphatically. "Phantom isn't some mindless or evil entity.”

“Have you been to this zone, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton?” Teddy asked.

“Well, no……that would be dangerous,” Maddie replied.

Kapoor turned to the Fentons, his voice rising. "You've never even been to this other dimension? Yet you cling to theories formed before your portal was operational?"

Jack puffed out his chest. "Now see here-"

"Perhaps," Kapoor pressed, "your assumptions about ghosts – about Phantom – could be wrong?"

Teddy watched the argument unfold. The teens clearly knew more than they were letting on. And their connection to Phantom... There were pieces to this puzzle he was still missing, but he could place what those pieces were.

"Look," Mitch Henderson said, his voice cutting through the heated debate, "I don't care about ghost zones or alien civilizations. All I care about is getting Mark Watney home safely. If that means working with ghosts, aliens, or whatever Phantom is, so be it."

He turned to Jack and Maddie, his displeasure evident. "But I won't stand for how you're talking about the kid. Alien or ghost, he's still a person."

Maddie opened her mouth to protest, but Teddy cut her off. "Agreed, Mitch. Let's focus on the task at hand, which is how to get them home.”

****** In the main control room of NASA, Teddy had the Fenton flip phone connected to some speakers. This conversation would be broadcast live to the public and the world.

As the connection crackled to life, Mark's voice filled the room. "Houston, we have a problem. And by problem, I mean I'm still stuck on Mars with a ghost kid."

Danny's echoey voice followed. "Hey, I resent that. I'm great company."

Teddy spoke. "Gentlemen, we're working on bringing you both home. The Fentons are here to assist with their expertise."

There was a pause before Mark spoke again. "Does my crew know I'm alive?"

"No, not yet. We wanted to ensure we had a viable rescue plan before-"

"That's bullshit!" Mark exploded. "They think I'm dead! How could you-"

"Mark," Teddy cut in, his tone sharp, “I need to remind you that this is live right now, so watch the language.”

“Oh fuck that!” Mark snarked back.

Teddy sighed, feeling the weight of his decisions. "We were trying to get you home first, Mark. We didn't want to give them false hope."

"False hope?" Mark's voice cracked. "They think I'm dead! They deserve better than that."

Mitch nodded, his eyes meeting Teddy's. "He's right. We should have told them sooner." He turned to Tucker, an idea forming. "Kid, you're good with tech, right? Think you could help with that?"

Tucker grinned, already pulling out his PDA. "Piece of cake. Give me five minutes, and Mark can be chatting with his crew directly. Those Fenton phones can connect anywhere."

Teddy Sanders cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping across the room before settling on the communication device. "Phantom, we're about to open the floor to some questions from the public. Remember, this is being broadcast live worldwide."

Danny's voice echoed through the speakers, a hint of nervousness evident. "Okay, I'm ready."

Teddy scanned the tablet in his hands. "First question: 'What exactly is the Ghost Zone, and how does it relate to our world?'"

There was a brief pause before Danny responded, "The Ghost Zone is like... a parallel dimension. It’s tied to our world. And it’s where ghosts live. It's vast, with floating islands and doors that lead to different realms."

Teddy nodded, moving on. "Next: 'Why did you initially claim to be an alien?'"

Danny's voice wavered slightly. "I... I was scared. I didn't know how people would react to a ghost, and well its technically not a lie, the ghosts from the zone are alive, just different than humans.”

As Teddy read through more questions, Jack and Maddie Fenton exchanged glances, their expressions hardening. Jack's meaty hand clenched into a fist, while Maddie's eyes narrowed behind her goggles.

"'What's your favorite food?'" Teddy continued, attempting to lighten the mood.

A soft chuckle came through the speakers. "Honestly? I really miss my mom's cookies right now."

Maddie didn’t buy it. *Look at him try to manipulate us*  

Suddenly, Jack pushed forward  “Ghost boy, while back, you were caught stealing from stores, there’s footage of you robbing, care to explain that?”

"I was under mind control! I would never-"

"Lies!" Maddie spat. "You don't have us fooled, Phantom. We know what you really are - a monster!"

Teddy quickly turned the conversation back to Phantom by asking more questions. He was doing damage control. After all not everyone in the public liked the idea of ghosts or aliens.

After a few more questions he quickly cut the connection.

Teddy gave Mr. and Mrs. Fenton a stern look. "We don't need that kind of talk. It's irresponsible and could incite violence."

Maddie huffed, crossing her arms. "The public should be upset about this. That... thing is dangerous!"

******

Back on Mars the connection cut out.

Danny's luminous green eyes dimmed, and he slumped against the wall of the Hab, sliding down until he sat on the cold floor.

"They... they really think I'm a monster," Danny whispered, his voice cracking.

Mark knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on Danny's shoulder. "Hey, kid. Don't let it get to you. They don't know what they're talking about."

Danny looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. "But they're my parents, Mark. They don't know it's me, but... it still hurts."

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm no expert on ghost-human hybrids or whatever, but I do know one thing: those two are idiots for not recognizing their own son. I mean, come on! Your voice is practically the same, just with a cool echo effect."

A weak chuckle escaped Danny's lips. "Yeah, I guess. It's just... I've always hoped they'd see past the ghost thing, you know? That they'd realize I'm not evil."

"Well, they're just idiots and fools." Mark said. "And hey, at least we know NASA's got your back.”

Danny nodded. "Yeah, that was pretty great.”

Back on Earth after everyone went home. Kapoor asked Teddy to meet him in his office before they called it a night.

In Kapoor’s office, two photographs lay side by side on the desk. Teddy Sanders felt his heart skip a beat as he stared at the images, his mind reeling with disbelief.

"What did you want to show me?" Teddy asked.

Kapoor gestured to the photos. "Take a look at these photos, Teddy. One is of Danny Phantom, our ghost boy on Mars. The other is Danny Fenton, son of Maddie and Jack Fenton."

Teddy's eyes darted between the two images, his face growing paler by the second. The resemblance was uncanny, almost impossible to deny. He shook his head, willing it not to be true. "No, this can't be right."

Teddy picked up the photos, bringing them closer to his face. He scrutinized every detail, looking for any discrepancy that might disprove the alarming theory forming in his mind. But the more he looked, the more certain he became. While the hair color, and eye color were different, the face structure and everything else was the same. If these were in black and white, they would be mistaken as the same person.

"This should be impossible... right?" Teddy looked at Kapoor, “One is a human and one is clearly not!”

Kapoor shrugged, his expression grim. "At this rate, Teddy, anything is possible. Besides don’t you know, ghosts are basically souls right? Besides maybe it’s possible to be both. We may call them ghosts, but I think alien is a better term. Anyway, the Fenton kid went missing around the time Phantom showed up on Mars. Or at least, he hasn't been seen since then."

Teddy let his mind wander into deep thought. *If this was true, it would change everything. *

"But wouldn't they notice?" Teddy asked. "They're his parents, for God's sake."

Kapoor's response was matter-of-fact. "They might be geniuses, Teddy, but they're still strangely oblivious. It's not outside the realm of possibility."

Teddy set the photos back on Kapoor's desk. He took a deep breath.

"Vincent," he said, his voice low and tense, "we need to keep this quiet. For now."

Kapoor raised an eyebrow. "For once I agree.”

Teddy nodded.  "But I want you to keep digging. There are clearly questions that need to be answered." He ran a hand through his hair, his political instincts warring with his conscience. "If this gets out before we understand what's really going on, it could be catastrophic."

"Agreed," Kapoor replied.

Teddy paced the office. "You know," he said, almost to himself, "I've had a feeling those teens were hiding something. The way they act, the things they say... it all makes a disturbing kind of sense now."

"What are you thinking?" Kapoor asked, leaning forward.

Teddy stopped pacing and locked eyes with Kapoor. "I'm thinking we don’t have all the pieces to this puzzle.”  

[tinynerdz360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 15

Back inside the safety of the HAB, Danny's fingers trembled as he unwrapped the small package attached to the boomerang. His breath caught as he pulled out a silver flip phone, with glowing green accents. It was a Fenton flip phone, inspired by the Fenton phone earpiece. It was one of the ones Tucker had gotten his hands on. Tucker had modified it, made it better, this phone could send signals through the zone and connect anywhere.  

Attached to them was a note, its edges crinkled from the journey. Danny’s eyes widened as he read the words:

*Dear Phantom, we made allies in DC and NASA, we got your back.

-Team Phantom. *

"Fenton Phones," he whispered. 

He looked up, meeting Mark Watney’s curious gaze. Mark was leaning against the metal counter, his arms crossed, his expression a blend of confusion and interest.

“Are you telling me, that a boomerang delivered you a phone?” Mark asked, his voice laced with bewilderment.

Danny held up the Fenton phones, a shaky smile spreading across his face. “It’s… it’s a way to talk to Earth. We can contact NASA, tell them we’re alive—”

“Hold on, hold on.” Mark pushed himself off the counter, taking a step closer. His voice was laced with disbelief. “You’re telling me that little thing can just… call Earth? From Mars?”

Danny nodded, his excitement growing despite the lingering fear in his chest. “Not just Earth. Anywhere. It’s a Fenton phone. My parents… they built these. Well, my best friend Tucker modified them, so they can—”

"Okay, hold up," Mark said, raising his hands. "First, that boomerang thing. How the hell did it find you on Mars?"

Danny chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. "It's, uh, one of my parents' inventions. It's locked onto my signature, so it can find me anywhere. My sister used to use it to track me down when I was out... late."

Mark's eyebrows shot up. "Your parents invented a boomerang that can cross space? So they build a portal in their basement, and super phones……are you sure they’re not mad scientist plotting to take over the world?”

A nervous laugh escaped Danny. “No no no no……They just want to hunt ghosts.”

Mark raised a concerned eyebrow. “Right…..”  

“And the phones?” Mark asked, moving on. “How do they work?”

Danny’s smile widened, a spark of pride igniting in his chest. “These… they use the Zone. You know, the ghost zone? Tucker figured out how to modify them so they can tap into it. It’s like… a shortcut through dimensions. They can connect to anyone, anywhere, as long as they’re linked to the right frequency.”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. “Huh…..I bet NASA would love to take that apart.”

“Look it has NASA in the contacts, my friends must have talked to them,” Danny exclaimed.

 “So… we can call NASA. Right now?” Mark asked, a slow smile spreading across his face.  

Danny nodded, a mix of excitement and apprehension churning in his stomach. This was their chance to get help, but it also meant facing questions he wasn't sure he was ready to answer.

"Yeah," he said softly. "We can call NASA."

Mark noticed Danny’s apprehension, his voice steady. “You don’t have to tell them everything, Danny. Not right away. But we need to do this. We need to let them know we’re alive.”

Danny swallowed hard, “Yeah, let’s do it.”

Danny took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, activating the device.

The phone crackled to life. Then, a voice, smooth and polished, filled the small space. "This is NASA control, Teddy Sanders speaking. To whoever is calling... welcome back."

Relief washed over Danny like a wave. He glanced at Mark, whose eyes lit up with hope. "Teddy? It's Mark Watney. Our young friend is here too," Mark announced his voice firm.

A moment of stunned silence followed, then an explosion of cheers erupted from the other end.

"Well, I’ll be damned it worked…..And it’s Danny Phantom correct? We’ve been hearing a lot about you.”

Danny paled slightly and fidgeted with his hands. *How much do they know…. * He thought to himself. “Yeah, that’s right……sorry about earlier.”

"While we wish you had been honest from the start, we understand your situation. We know about GIW, Danny," Teddy said, his tone reassuring. "You're under the protection of the U.S. government and the UN. You're safe now."

Relief washed over Danny, but uncertainty lingered. “Can I ask how you found out?” Danny asked. He already knew or could guess from the note that was left, but he had to figure out how much they knew.

"Friends from Amity. Persistent ones," Teddy replied. "They stood up for you, Danny. First contact, and we're glad some humans had your back."

The words soothed Danny. They didn't know everything. His secret, his half-human truth, was still safe. His sister, his friends—they hadn’t spilled the beans.

Wanting to move the conversation away from himself, Danny spoke up with an idea.

"Mr. Sanders," he began, his voice steadier than he felt, "I might have an idea about getting us home without NASA sending another ship."

There was a beat of silence before Teddy responded. "Go on, Danny."

"I have... friends in the Ghost Zone," Danny explained, choosing his words carefully. "They might be able to open a portal to Mars. My friends in Amity Park can help coordinate."

Mark's eyebrows shot up, but he remained silent, letting Danny continue.

"It's not a guarantee," Danny added hastily, "but it could be worth exploring."

"Fascinating," Teddy murmured. "We'll certainly look into that option. For now, let's wrap this up. We'll schedule daily calls to work on these plans."

“And Danny, NASA and well the World is very interested in learning more about you, Danny. Tomorrow, we'd like to ask you more questions about your species and the Ghost Zone. We're also planning to open up public questions from around the world."

Danny's stomach churned. "Public questions?" he echoed weakly.

"Yes," Teddy confirmed. "And Danny, before we go, I should mention that we've hired the Fentons to assist with the technical aspects and access to the Ghost Zone."

Danny's breath caught in his throat. His parents? Involved?

"I understand you and the Fentons didn't get along," Teddy continued, oblivious to Danny's internal panic. "But I assure you, they won't harm you. You have our protection."

Danny nodded, then remembered Teddy couldn't see him. "Understood."

“Good, now can you hand the phone to Mark, there’s a few more things we’d like to discuss with him before we end this call.”

“Oh! Yeah of course!” Danny fumbled with the phone but handed it to Mark. Mark pressed the phone off speakerphone to talk.

Danny fidgeted as he caught Mark's side of the conversation. He listened to Mark talk about rations, his potato Farm, other communication options, and requests to contact his crewmates.

As the call ended, Danny slumped against the wall of the Hab, his mind reeling. Public questions? His parents? He looked at Mark, who was watching him with concern.

"You okay, kid?" Mark asked softly.

Danny shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know if I can do this."

*****

Back on Earth, Vlad Masters stood at the window of his mayoral office, his fists clenched tightly behind his back.

"Mr. Masters," a gruff voice interrupted his brooding. "We have a few more questions."

Vlad turned, his face instantly morphing into a mask of genial concern. "Of course, Agent Johnson. I'm here to help in any way I can."

The FBI agent's eyes narrowed. "You're saying you had no knowledge of the Fentons' basement portal?"

Vlad chuckled, spreading his hands innocently. "A doorway to another dimension? In their basement? I assure you, if I had known our ghost problem was caused by this thing, I would have alerted the proper authorities immediately."

"And the Guys in White?" Agent Johnson pressed. "You claim you didn't know they weren't a legitimate government agency?"

Vlad's smile faltered for a microsecond before he recovered. "I'm as shocked as you are. I believed I was letting the authorities do their job."

As the agent scribbled in his notebook, Vlad's thoughts churned. That infuriating little badger, Daniel. All this attention, all this scrutiny – it was his fault. Vlad had worked for years to keep his own half-ghost nature hidden, to manipulate events from the shadows. And now, because of one reckless teenager...

“Hmmm….we’ll need to do an in-depth investigation, you understand Mr. Mayor?”

Vlad's eye twitched, but he maintained his composure. "Of course," he said smoothly. "I have nothing to hide. Just let me know what you need.”

“Good, we’ll be in touch.”

As the agents filed out of his office, Vlad's façade crumbled. His eyes flashed a dangerous red for a moment before he reined in his ghostly nature. He stalked to his desk, sinking into the plush leather chair.

"Oh, Daniel," he murmured, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "You have no idea what you've started. When you return – and you will return – I'll make sure you regret ever setting foot on that miserable red planet."

*****

President Alfred Davis paced the Oval Office. He paused at the window, gazing out at the manicured White House lawn. The phone on his desk chirped.

"Mr. President,"  Agent Nelson’s voice crackled through the speaker. "We have a situation."

Davis's jaw clenched. "Don't tell me—"

"I'm afraid so, sir. The GIW agents have escaped custody."

The President's fist came down hard on his desk. "How in God's name did that happen? We had them under lock and key!"

"We're still investigating, but preliminary reports suggest some kind of... unconventional technology was used, and likely another mole."

Davis pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. "This is exactly what we don't need right now. With the whole world watching us, waiting to see how we handle first contact with an alien species, and these loose cannons are out there..."

"Sir?" Agent Nelson prompted.

Davis straightened, his resolve hardening. "Double the security detail on the Fenton family. And get me Teddy Sanders at NASA. We need to warn them about this development."

[tinynerdz360]

Above and Beyond Ch. 14 The Beast Inside

They hit a solid surface with a jarring impact. Danny had managed to pull on his power just enough to slow their fall. Danny had his arms wrapped around Mark's middle.

Mark let out a groan, and Danny quickly scrambled off the botanist.

“Are you Ok? I’m so so so sorry! I don’t know what came over me!”

“I’m fine kid, nothing broken…...at least I think nothing broken.” Mark groaned. He rolled over onto all fours. Mark looked down in puzzlement, they were on solid ice, but the strangest thing was the green glow that lit up the cavern they had fallen into. The source of it seemed to be the frozen water itself.

“OH SHIT!” Mark exclaimed, scrambling away until his back hit the solid wall of rock. His eyes widened behind his visor.

Right below them was a gigantic gaping maw. With rows of sharp teeth, opened wide to welcome them in.

If not for the solid ice beneath their feet they would have fallen right into the open mouth of the beast. Of course, that would be if it was still alive. And not frozen in a lake of ice.

Mark gasped. "Is that...a dinosaur?"

“That’s so cool! And it’s ectoplasm! The water is infused with it!” Danny felt a strange tickling at the back of his throat, his ghost sense almost triggering but not quite yet. *It doesn’t feel like a ghost…. maybe it’s just the water.*

Then Danny laughed nervously. "It's dead, totally preserved in the ice. Wow, I think it's like an alien Mosasaur! How cool is that?" His inner science geek trumped his fear.

“Well of course it’s dead…. what else would it be?” Mark asked.

“Well, that long in ectoplasm could have turned it into a ghost or reanimated, but it’s not moving so…..it’s dead.”

“hmmm—right, I keep forgetting about that ghost stuff,” Mark said, eyeing the frozen beast below them.

“So this water must be what I was sensing! It’s infused with ectoplasm! My core’s already absorbing it!”

The pull from his core intensified, beckoning him deeper. Danny squinted into the depths of the glowing water. He felt the familiar pull of a zone portal. "There might even be a small ghost portal at the bottom. I need to get down there and check it out."

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Mark said with concern. “It’s frozen alien water down there, it’s too dangerous kid.”

“I’ll be fine, and I can absorb more ecto that way, and get us out of here faster. Besides, I don’t think that’s all the way frozen. That dino is floating a bit, I think there’s only a couple of inches of ice, it must be warming up from the zone or something.”

“I still don’t like it….but I guess you do need to collect some of this stuff, for later.” Mark unhooked a container from his pack and handed it to Danny.

“Thanks! I’ll be quick promise! Besides if the portal is big enough we can take a shortcut to Earth through the zone.” Danny said.

“I still don’t like it, this place gives me the creeps, but if we get home faster…..”

“Mark! I’ll be fine! Promise!”

Danny descended through the icy layers, phasing deeper and deeper as the ethereal glow of ectoplasm swirled around him. The cold seeped into his bones, but the pull from his core urged him forward, an insistent tug that he couldn't ignore. His core drank up the energy around it. Danny let himself change into his ghost form. He still had the space suit Mark had given him, and the protective helmet on, but now Danny had the extra strength of his ghost form as well.

As Danny sank further, the ice began to thin, giving way to a vast expanse of shimmering, unfrozen ectoplasm. It rippled and pulsed with an otherworldly energy. Danny was thankful that he didn’t need to breathe in this form.

 Danny passed the ancient creature on his way down. He stared in awe, it was perfectly preserved, although on the skinny side, one could tell it had clearly starved. But other than that, if he didn’t know any better, he might mistake it for being alive.

Above, Mark paced anxiously on the frozen surface, his heart pounding as he watched Danny's form fade into the depths. "Be careful down there!" he called out, his voice echoing in the cavernous space.

And there, at the very bottom, Danny spotted it—a tiny ghost portal, no larger than a dinner plate, swirling with an ethereal mist. *Drat! It’s too small to push through* Danny thought. He could feel the warmth coming from the portal. *I was right! That must be what’s warming this place*

*I bet I could squeeze through if I really wanted to….but I don’t know if I could get Mark through.* Danny uncapped the container and allowed the ecto-water to fill it.

While Danny was lost in thought, the massive, frozen form of the Mosasaur shifted, its ancient bones creaking and groaning as it stirred to life. Sluggish at first, it slowly turned its massive head towards Danny, jaw hanging open to reveal rows of jagged teeth.

"Danny, watch out!" Mark's scream pierced the silence, his fists pounding against the ice above in a desperate attempt to warn his friend. Frantically, he pounded on the surface with his fists, his breath fogging up his visor as he watched in horror. The mosasaur, long believed to be a frozen relic, twitched its massive tail, and the creature's eyes flickered open, revealing the dull gleam of hunger within.

But the Mosasaur paid no heed to the frantic prey above, its predatory gaze fixed solely on the smaller, more accessible target below. It lunged forward, its gaping maw ready to ensnare its first meal in eons.

Engrossed in his discovery, Danny paid no mind to the change of the water around him.

Oblivious to the impending danger, Danny continued to study the tiny ghost portal. He estimated its circumference, mentally measuring his own form against it. If he could just amplify his powers, maybe, just maybe, he could stretch the portal wide enough to slip both him and Mark through.

It wasn't until the shadow loomed over him, engulfing the glowing ectoplasm and casting a chill even colder than the surrounding ice, that Danny finally sensed something amiss. He turned, and for the first time, witnessed the mosasaur in motion—a prehistoric predator brought to life, its gaping maw a dark abyss hungry for its long-awaited feast.

Time seemed to slow as the ancient predator closed in, its massive jaws poised to snap shut around him.

The massive jaws snapped shut around Danny, engulfing him in darkness. Panic surged through his body as he realized he couldn't phase through the creature's flesh. This was no ordinary dinosaur. But it didn’t feel like a ghost….not a full one anyway.

"Oh, come on!" Danny grunted, straining against the mosasaur's powerful muscles. His arms trembled as he pushed upward, desperately trying to pry the mouth open. "I did not come all the way to Mars just to become dino chow!"

The mosasaur's annoyance was palpable as it attempted to crush its prey.

Danny's heart raced. He had to act fast. Summoning his ghostly energy, he formed a glowing green orb in his palm. "Sorry, big guy," he muttered, "but you picked the wrong snack!"

With a yell, Danny unleashed the ecto-blast directly into the creature's mouth. The mosasaur's head jerked back violently, its jaws opening wide as it roared in pain. Danny tumbled out.

But his relief was short-lived. The enraged mosasaur lunged forward again. Danny barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of water as the massive jaws snapped shut inches from his face.

He propelled himself through the water, narrowly avoiding another bite.

Danny's muscles burned as he pushed himself to swim faster, constantly changing direction to throw off his pursuer.

"You want me?" he called out, a hint of his usual bravado returning. "Then come and get me, you prehistoric popsicle!" Not that the animal could hear him, but it boosted his confidence to say. The words rang around the inside of his helmet.

As the chase intensified, Danny felt a familiar tingle coursing through his body. The ecto-energy around him was palpable, seeping into his very being. A surge of power flooded his senses, and he knew it was time to turn the tables.

"Alright, big guy," Danny muttered, his eyes glowing an intense blue. "Let's see how you like the cold!"

With a swift turn, Danny faced the charging mosasaur. He summoned every ounce of his ice powers, channeling the absorbed ecto-energy. A blast of frigid energy erupted from his hands, instantly freezing the water around them and encasing the prehistoric beast in a thick layer of ice.

Danny floated closer to the now-frozen mosasaur, its massive form suspended in mid-lunge. He placed a hand on its snout, a pang of guilt washing over him.

"Sorry, buddy," he said softly, patting the icy nose. "I know you were just doing what comes naturally, but I can't be dinosaur chow today."

Danny's brow furrowed as he examined the creature. "Man, I hate leaving you like this. It's not your fault you're some freaky ghost-dino hybrid." He sighed, his shoulders slumping.

Just as Danny was about to turn away, a faint glow caught his eye. His heart raced as he watched the mosasaur's eyes begin to pulse with an eerie, familiar light.

"Oh no," he whispered, eyes widening in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me!"

Danny's mind raced as he watched the mosasaur's eyes pulse with ecto-energy. He knew he had only moments before the creature broke free.

"Think, Fenton, think!" he muttered, scanning the underwater cavern. His gaze landed on the small ghost portal near the bottom. A desperate plan formed in his mind.

With renewed determination, Danny shot towards the portal. He placed his hands on its swirling edges, concentrating hard. "Come on, come on," he grunted, pouring his energy into the portal. Slowly, it began to expand.

Behind him, the ice cracked ominously. Danny glanced back, seeing the mosasaur's tail beginning to break free. "Just a little more," he urged himself, pushing harder.

The portal grew to an enormous size, easily large enough for the creature. Danny heard a final crack.

At the last second, Danny veered away. The creature, unable to change course, plunged through the swirling vortex.

Danny's relief was short-lived as the portal suddenly collapsed, snapping shut. He stared at the empty space where it had been, his heart sinking.

"Well, there goes our ticket home," he sighed, swimming towards the surface. As he phased through the ice, he saw Mark's worried face peering down at him.

Before Danny could say a word, Mark pulled him into a tight hug. "Are you alright?" Mark asked, his voice thick with concern as he looked Danny over.

Danny managed a weak smile. "I'm fine. Trust me, I've dealt with worse."

Mark's relief was palpable. Danny sighed, "Bad news, though. We can't use the portal. It... closed."

To Danny's surprise, Mark shook his head. "That's okay. We'll figure something out." He paused, studying Danny's face. "You good to get us out of this pit?"

Danny nodded, grateful for Mark's understanding. With his container full of ecto energy and with the dino gone, he could easily come back for more if needed.

Danny took a deep breath, willing his powers to cooperate. "Alright, here we go," he said, floating upwards and gently grasping Mark under his arms. With a burst of energy, they soared out of the icy pit and back onto the rust-colored Martian surface.

As Danny set Mark down, he heard the astronaut mumbling to himself. "Nobody at NASA is ever going to believe we met a Martian dino. Not in a million years."

Danny couldn't help but chuckle.

They made their way back to the rover, Danny's legs still a bit wobbly from the encounter. As Mark started to climb in, Danny hesitated.

"You know, I could fly us back," he offered. "It'd be faster, and we wouldn't have to worry about the terrain."

Mark shook his head firmly. "No way, kid. You need to rest after that ordeal. Hop in and take it easy for a bit."

Danny wanted to protest, but the fatigue hitting him made Mark's suggestion sound pretty good. He slid into the passenger seat, his eyes already growing heavy as Mark started the engine.

"Thanks," Danny murmured, settling in for the ride. As they bumped along the Martian landscape, he found himself wondering about home, about his family. Did they know he was missing? Were they looking for him? The gentle rocking of the rover lulled him into a light doze, his mind drifting between Earth and Mars.

Before he knew it, they were back at the Hab. Danny shook off his drowsiness, determined to help Mark unload the Pathfinder.

"What the-" he started to say, when something metallic whizzed past his ear. Before he could react, it swung around and smacked him square on the helmet, the force knocking him flat on his back.

"Danny!" Mark shouted, rushing over. "Are you okay?"

Dazed, Danny sat up slowly. "Yeah, I think so. What was that?"

Mark bent down, picking up the object that had struck Danny. His brow furrowed in confusion as he examined it.

"It's... a boomerang?" Mark said, bewildered. "With some kind of package tied to it." *What the hell! Where the fuck did this come from? *

Danny's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, let me see that!"

As Mark handed it over, Danny's heart raced. *NO WAY…..it’s the boo-merang!*

[tinynerdz360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 13: Potato's and Field Trip

Danny sat across from Mark, his legs bouncing nervously. He still wasn’t a hundred percent on board with telling NASA about the true nature of what he was. Regardless of how many times Mark said he’d be safe.

"We've got to contact NASA," Mark said, running a hand through his hair. “But how, is the question, it's not exactly like we can pick up a phone and call home from here."

Danny's fists clenched involuntarily. “Are you sure, it’s a good idea to tell them what I am?”

Mark paused and looked over at Danny. “Ideally yes. But….I guess there’s no harm in telling them later. As long as there are no more secrets with me? Got that Kiddo?” Mark asked leveling Danny with a serious look.

Danny felt the tension leave his body. “Of Course! Promise……no more secrets!”

“Hmmm good……but Danny, they will have to know at some point.”

Danny looked away. “Okay.” He mumbled softly.

Mark patted Danny on the back trying to comfort the teen. “Hey, I promise, no harm will come to you, got it?”

Danny shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, I know.”

Mark clapped his hands together. “Well, that’s settled, we just have to figure out rations until rescue and well get rescue to come.”

“I could eat less….I’d be fine……or if I have to I could get away with nothing…..”

Mark held up a hand interrupting Danny. “No no no, none of that. I’m not starving a teen in my care.” Mark looked Danny in the eye. “Do you need food to function?”

“Well, I can—

“Nope! Wrong answer, do you need it?”

“But I can go without!!”

“You’re not getting it Kiddo, I don’t care if you can go without for a month…...if we can help it we’re not starting off like that.” Mark pulled Danny into a sideways hug.

“I don’t want that unnecessary self-sacrificing attitude, ok?”

“But what if we have too little?”

“If we must, we’ll cut rations, but it’s important you keep your strength too. We must have each other’s backs up here. If you need something, you have to communicate that and not hide something cause you think you’re doing me a favor. That’s not helping, ok?”

“Okay,” Danny said still looking conflicted. “But just so you know, I could go without for a while.”

“How long is awhile?”

“Um….” Danny paused in thought and nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I don’t actually know, but in theory, I should be ok, I could probably go without for a week or probably a month.”

Mark gave Danny a deadpan stare. “So, you’re telling me, you can go without food for a whole month, something you’ve never done….”

“Well…. when you put it like that…. but I could!”

“Danny, kiddo, I feel like we’re going in circles here. Do you need to eat?”

“Well yeah, but if needed I can go without.”

“So can I! Humans can go up to a month without food!” Mark argued back. “Look we’re not at that point. We’ll take our challenges one step at a time, got it.”

“Okay…” Danny relented.

“Well now that, THAT self-sacrificing convo’s out of the way,” Mark said. “Let's take stock of said rations.”

Danny watched as Mark took note of the food supplies.

"I got an idea! Potatoes!" Mark exclaimed; his enthusiasm palpable. "We can grow potatoes right here in the Hab.”

Danny's face contorted into confusion. "Potatoes? How are we gonna do that?”

Mark began pulling out equipment and explaining the process. "We'll use Martian soil, treat it with our own... shall we say, organic matter, and I’ll do the mathy math to get water and create a perfect environment for potato growth."

“I can use my ghost powers, just let me know what you need.”

“Which I’d love to know more about, but be careful I don’t want you to pass out, you still need that ghost fuel right?”

Danny’s shoulders slumped at the reminder. “I promise not to over-extent! I just want to help.”

“OH, I promise, you’ll help.” Mark gave Danny a mischievous grin.

“Wait….what do you mean by Organic matter? Please tell me you don't mean what I think you mean."

Mark laughed, clearly enjoying Danny's discomfort. "Welcome to Space Survival 101, kid. Nothing goes to waste here."

Danny face palmed, he was definitely not looking forward to that.

*****

Danny lay curled up on a bunk. With a blanket draped over him. He had used some of his powers in potato farming. Forming a shield when there was a slight explosion in making water. Which had greatly surprised Mark and impressed the botanist. But it had left him drained, he really needed to get more ectoplasm. But they had managed to plant some potatoes and now only time could tell if they took.

Danny was jolted from his thoughts by Mark handing him a plate of food.

Danny’s objection died on the tip of his tongue at the look Mark gave him.

“Eh, eh eh, none of that now, eat.”

Danny took the food, it was from one of the MRE packets. As Danny took a bite, that’s when he realized his hunger. He didn’t mind the quality and scarfed down his food.

Mark gave him a knowing look but didn’t comment on it, choosing not to bring up their past argument.

“That shield was really cool, what other things can you do?”

Danny paused between bites. “Lots of stuff, I can fly, go invisible, intangible, ghost rays, shields,” Danny listed off ticking up a finger with each one. “Lof stuff, sometimes I get new powers so it’s hard to keep track of everything.”

Mark gave a long whistle. “That’s really awesome, you’ll have to show me when you feel up to it.”

Danny ducked his head bashfully, not used to an adult thinking his abilities were cool and not an abomination or a threat to crush. “Sure!”

"Okay, so potato farm is a go, but we need to figure out how to contact Earth." Mark said changing the subject.

"I've been thinking, once we do get contact, I have some ideas about how to get home….faster that is. Faster than waiting for a return ship.” Danny explained. "We could use the ghost zone, it's this parallel dimension. I have some allies there, that could open a portal, they might be able to open one to Mars….”

Mark's brow shot up in surprise. “Portal? You mentioned the ghost zone before….and that your parents built one?” Mark pushed down the anger he felt at the poor safety measures Danny’s parents had.

“Portals happen all the time….at least in Amity they did. Yeah, my parents have a stable one in their basement…...it’s just a matter of getting them to help.”  

“You don’t think they’ll help?”

“Well, they don’t know about me…… they want to tear my ghost half apart ‘molecule by molecule’, so that’ll be the hard part.”

“You mentioned earlier that they hunt you…. that’s messed up kid.”  What Mark didn’t say was the choice words he had for this kid’s parents. “You do realize that we’d have to tell them…. the truth, and tell NASA the truth if we went that route.”

Danny looked down at his plate of food. “I know. But it would be worth it…. if we can get home sooner.”

Mark gave Danny a soft smile. “I know that’s hard. But I’ll have your back.”

“Thanks, Mark.”

 Mark’s face lit up. "I think I know how we can establish initial contact with NASA. Ever heard of the Pathfinder mission?"

Danny perked up. “Yeah, I have! Isn’t it buried?”

“Yep! We can dig it up and get it working again, we might be able to use its communication systems." Mark explained.

"That... could work," Danny said slowly. "But how do we find it?”

Mark grinned. "Well, I have the information on where It’s buried. I have a few ideas on how to make the tip there. And with your... unique abilities, I think we've got a real shot at this."

Danny nodded, feeling hopeful. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“Danny, can you still sense where that ecto Deposit is?”

Danny blinked at the change of subject. “If I focus, I can a bit.”

“Good if it’s close, we might be able to stop by on the way, or at least scout it out.”

“You don’t have to do—

“Shhhh, yes I do, it’s something you need, we’ll find a way to get it.”

Danny let it go, he felt a strange sense of belonging. He couldn’t remember the last time an adult went out of their way for him.

*****

The Martian sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the excavation site. Danny and Mark stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the partially unearthed form of Pathfinder. It had taken them weeks to get out here. With Danny helping Mark and using his ghost powers to help. Granted after each use Danny felt weaker and weaker.

It took them hours to hitch the pathfinder to their rover. On the long journey back to the hab. Danny jerked to attention at the strong sense of ecto energy. He didn’t know why he didn’t feel it before.

“Mark STOP!”

Mark stopped the rover in surprise.

“It’s there! It’s really close!” Danny said while pointing to a nearby mountain range.

Mark paused. “Are you sure?”

“Positive! I can almost taste it!” Danny replied. “I guess we can come back, or if it’s too far that’s ok.”

“No wait,” Mark said. Mark turned the rover in the direction Danny indicated. “We can at least scout. See if we can get it today, if not we can come back, you need this.”

******

Danny and Mark stood at the yawning mouth of the cave, their figures casting long shadows across the barren landscape. Danny's feet felt rooted to the ground, an inexplicable force tugging at his core, urging him forward. It was in there somewhere. Danny just wanted to bolt on in, but Mark's hand on his shoulder held him back.

“We can’t stay long. Are you sure it’s in there?” Mark asked.

“Yes! It’s pulling me, like a magnet. My core, it's sensing ectoplasm nearby."

“is it far though? Danny, we don’t know how deep this cave is. We can come back and start mapping it out, we don’t want to get lost.”

Danny turned sharply to face Mark. "I’ll be quick. I’ll be back before you know it. I can just phase through the rock!”

“Kid, you’ve been using your powers constantly, what if they fail you before you get what you need? I promise we’ll come back.”

As Mark turned and tried to guide Danny back with him. The teen pulled away from his grip. The thought of turning away from the fuel that his body needed was too much. Danny bolted deeper into the cave. Instinct taking over and overriding all other thoughts.

“Fuck! DANNY!”  Mark took chase, but the halfa was much faster than him. Mark turned on his flashlight, the one attached to his helmet. He plunged into the dark cave system.

Mark cursed as he spotted Danny. The teen was crawling down a narrow hole. Mark grabbed the teens’ scrawny legs. “Danny stop! We could get lost!”

“It’s down there! I need it!”

Mark grunted surprised at the strength of the teen.

Mark cursed as the kid kicked him and got free.

Mark scrambled onto his hands and knees, managing to push his upper body through the hole, he grabbed Danny’s legs again. The hole was at a slant, But the slides were smooth, if they weren’t careful, they’d both slide down into the unknown.

Mark could feel the weird sensation of Danny trying to phase through his gripe. Mark cursed realizing he was right, the kid was running on empty. Mark was afraid, that if he let the teen out of his sight, the kid wouldn't be able to get back.

“Shit, Danny! Stop fighting me!” Mark could feel his lower half being dragged further into the hole.

Mark cursed as he felt Danny slide deeper, and then get heavy in his grip. Mark’s eyes widened as he realized that the hole had tapered off into a long drop. Danny was dangling over a dark abyss. Mark flung one hand onto the side of the hole, keeping one arm curled around the teen’s legs. He tried to push his body back to the opening. Mark's feet frantically shifted trying to get friction.

“Aw shit!!!! Mark felt the forward momentum of a fall.

Danny and Mark plunged into darkness, falling, falling, and falling.

Danny came back to himself at Mark's yell. Danny turned his body and grabbed Mark. Danny tried with all his might to flash into his ghost form and fly. *OH GOD I MESSED UP* Danny thought to himself. Danny found that he could not summon his powers. The best he could do was pull with all his might at his core and try to slow their descent with a weak float.

Danny squeezed his eyes shut. *I’m so stupid, how could I let this happen…I don’t know what came over me! *

Danny felt Mark's arms circle him back. Mark turned his body, so he’d take the brunt of the fall, and keep the teen protected. Danny was too focused on trying to float or fly to notice.

[tinynerdz360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 12: Gathering Allies

Teddy strode down the hallway. Beside him, Venkat kept pace, though his gait held less urgency.

"Look, Venkat," Teddy said, voice clipped, “the logistics are going to be a nightmare if we don’t outline every detail now. The President’s backing us, but it feels more like a publicity stunt. I swear he wants to dissect that alien child on Mars.”

"Or maybe he wants to save it," Venkat replied, his tone calm as ever. “You’re assuming the kid is dead. What if it's still alive? We can’t just write it off.”

"It’s likely we’re just recovering two corpses," Teddy muttered. "Even if the child is alive, how long can it possibly survive up there?"

"We should at least do it to bring Watney home," he replied evenly. "His family deserves that closure."

Teddy just grunted, his mind already leaping ahead to the impending meeting. He pushed the door open to his office, his mind already formulating a response.

The words died in his throat.

A teenage boy sat casually in Teddy's chair, feet propped up on the polished desk.

Teddy's mouth fell open, his hand instinctively reaching for the phone to call security. But Venkat held up a forestalling hand, curiosity glinting in his dark gaze.

"Can we help you, son?" Venkat asked mildly.

The boy smiled, supremely unconcerned. "In fact, I'm here to help you," he replied. "My name's Wes. Now please sit down. We have a lot to discuss."

 Teddy bristled at the audacity of this teenage intruder, but Venkat put a calming hand on his arm.

"Let's hear him out," Venkat murmured.

"I know you're planning a retrieval mission to Mars," Wes began without preamble. "To bring back Mark Watney's body and the alien child."

Teddy stiffened, "I'm not your enemy, Mr. Sanders. In fact, I aim to help NASA...and to save my friend."

Venkat's gaze sharpened. "You know the alien?"

"His name is Danny," Wes replied evenly. "And he's still alive up there." His youthful face was grave.

Teddy scowled, distrustful of the boy's inside knowledge. But Venkat leaned forward intently.

"How can you be certain Danny's alive?" he pressed.

Movement behind the two adults startled them. Another Teen moved behind them.

Tucker moved swiftly, and with a soft click, he shut the office door, his eyes never leaving Teddy and Venkat.

"Gentlemen," Tucker said, his voice low and steady, "I understand this is... unexpected. But I implore you to hear us out before you do anything rash."

“And who are you?” Venkat asked.

“My name is Tucker…. Foley. Wes and I have information that's crucial to your Mars mission. Information you can't afford to ignore."

Venkat stepped forward, his scientific curiosity piqued. "What kind of information?"

Teddy shot him a warning glance.

"I don't know what you two think you're doing," Teddy said, fighting to keep his voice level. But you have exactly thirty seconds to explain yourselves before I call security."

Tucker raised his hands in a placating gesture. “The alien child is from Earth. I’ve known him since forever, and it all started in a town called Amity Park.”

"Go on," Teddy commanded, his fingers still hovering over his phone.

****** Jazz crept through the ventilation shaft, moving as silently as possible. The metal walls pressed in around her, but she kept her breathing steady. She had to reach Sam and get her away from the President and his agents.

Up ahead, Jazz heard voices - the meeting was still in progress. Gripping her ecto-blaster, she paused above the vent cover. It was now or never. With a swift kick, Jazz knocked the cover loose and dropped into the office in a crouch.

Chaos erupted. Agents shouted in alarm, scrambling for their weapons. Jazz fired a wide stun beam, dropping all of the agents except for one. The blast left them immobilized but unharmed.

"Sorry to crash the party," she quipped, her voice tight with tension.

Only Agent Nelson remained standing, having swiftly positioned himself between the intruder and President Davis.

"Sam!" Jazz called out, her eyes widening at the sight of her miniaturized friend.

"Jazz, I'm fine!" Sam yelled from Nelson's grip. "I had it under control!"

Jazz's jaw dropped. "Under control? You're three inches tall!"

"That's not the point!" Sam huffed indignantly.

Agent Nelson's voice cut through their bickering. "Drop the weapon. Now." His gun was trained steadily on Jazz.

Jazz froze, her mind racing. This isn't how it was supposed to go. She slowly lowered the stun gun, knowing she was outmatched.

"Smart move," Nelson growled, he deposited Sam on the President's desk before turning back to the new prisoner. He snatched the stun gun and cuffed Jazz in one fluid motion.

"Wait." President Davis's voice rang out, laced with intrigue. "Don't take her away just yet. I want to hear what she has to say."

"Sir, she's a threat!" Nelson protested, glancing nervously between his boss and Jazz.

"She's also a guest now." Davis’s voice held an authority that silenced the room. He didn’t really care what she had to say, what he really wanted was access to the technology she had, granted he could have his agents interrogate it out of her, but if he played nice maybe she’d just give him what he wanted.

Jazz's heart pounded. This was her chance. Nelson began to search her, removing various devices including the Fenton Thermos.

"You're a guest here now," Davis said, motioning for Nelson to remove the cuffs. "I'm very interested in learning more about this technology of yours."

Jazz rubbed her wrists, her mind whirling. Jazz watched Nelson warily. The agent confiscated her utility belt and other gadgets. She hadn't expected the President to be so... receptive.

Agent Nelson kneeled to check on his fallen comrades. "They're alive, Mr. President," he reported his voice tight with professional concern. "Just stunned, as far as I can tell."

President Davis nodded, his eyes never leaving Jazz. "Get them medical attention. And have backup standing by."

As Nelson radioed for assistance, Jazz took a deep breath. This was her moment. "Mr. President, My name is Jazz Fenton, and I know this is going to sound crazy, but please hear me out." She paused, gauging his reaction. Davis leaned forward, his expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

"For the past year, a government organization called the GIW has been terrorizing my hometown, Amity Park," Jazz continued. "They've labeled citizens as non-human because of a specific type of radiation present in the area."

Davis's eyebrows shot up. "Radiation?"

"It's non-deadly," Jazz quickly clarified. "It's tied to a portal – a gateway to another dimension."

The President's expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief. Jazz's heart sank. *He thinks I'm insane, she thought. But I have to keep going.*

"We've been in contact with beings from this other dimension," she pressed on. "Some are hostile, yes, but there's one – Danny Phantom – who's been protecting us. And he's the one on Mars right now."

"That's quite a claim," Davis said, his tone carefully neutral. "How can you be certain?"

Jazz met his gaze steadily. "The pictures, sir. They match perfectly."

As the words left her mouth, Jazz silently prayed she'd said enough to keep the President's interest. Everything hinged on this moment – Danny's fate, and the future of Amity Park.

President Davis leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. The room fell into a tense silence as he mulled over Jazz's words. His eyes, sharp and calculating, never left her face.

"I'll be frank, Miss Fenton," he finally said, his voice low and measured. "This is a lot to process. But I'm not dismissing it outright."

Jazz's heart leapt. She hadn't expected instant belief, but this was a start.

Davis continued, "If what you're saying is true, it has... significant implications. Both politically and for national security." He paused, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "And I must admit, the prospect of first contact with a new species is intriguing."

"Mr. President," Jazz said, seizing the moment, "I know it's a lot to ask, but Danny Phantom needs protection. And the GIW needs to be investigated. They're operating without oversight, using government funds for what amounts to a witch hunt."

Davis's eyes narrowed at that. "Unauthorized operations and misuse of funds? That I take very seriously."

"Alright," he said at last. "I'm willing to grant protection to this Danny Phantom and look into the GIW's activities. But I want something in return."

Jazz tensed. "What exactly, sir?"

"Access to this technology you've demonstrated," he gestured to the stunner and shrink ray. "And I want to be the first to establish formal contact with these... beings from the other dimension."

Jazz hesitated. "I can agree to that, Mr. President. But you need to understand – The GIW and others have labeled them as ghosts as none beings. But that’s not true, they have their own culture, their own world. They're people, in their own right, and deserve respect."

Davis nodded waving his hand flippantly dismissing her. "Noted. And this portal you mentioned – I want to see it. The security implications alone..."

"I understand," Jazz said. "And speaking of the tech, I can put you in touch with my parents. They're the ones who developed it.” Jazz paused in thought biting her lip. “But be warned, their beliefs might not align with the truth about these beings, it’s honestly really bigoted.”

"Bigoted?" Davis raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “That’s a strong word.”

"Yeah, well, they’ve got their prejudices," she admitted, biting her lip. “Just keep that in mind when you talk to them. It’s important to approach this with an open mind.”

"Noted," he replied, shifting his attention to Agent Nelson, who stood near the door. “Well I suppose you can re-grow your friend. Let’s clear a path then. I want to see this growth ray in action.”

Nelson's nodded, “You got it, sir.” He walked forward and picked up the shrink ray from the president’s desk, and scooped up Sam as well. He placed Sam down on the carpet and reluctantly handed it to Sam. Sam grinned and pointed it at herself. Pressing the trigger to grow herself and the device.

A flash of light enveloped the small figure, and in an instant, the tiny teen began to grow.

******

The shrill ring of the telephone pierced the somber silence of the Fenton household. Jack Fenton, his hulking frame slumped over the kitchen table, jerked upright, knocking over a half-empty mug of cold coffee and a pile of missing person flyers with Danny’s face on them.

"I'll get it!" Maddie called from the living room, her voice strained with forced cheerfulness.

Jack rubbed his bleary eyes, listening to his wife's voice grow increasingly bewildered.

"Yes, this is Maddie Fenton... The CIA? I... I don't understand..."

He lumbered to his feet, crossing to the doorway just as Maddie lowered the phone, her violet eyes wide with shock.

"Jack," she whispered, "it's about Danny Phantom. They want our help to bring him home from... Mars?"

Jack's jaw dropped. His initial excitement faltered as his worry for his son set in. " We need to focus on finding our Danny."

Maddie's expression hardened. "They said if we cooperate, they'll assist in the search for our son." She paused, conflict evident in her furrowed brow. "Jack, this could be our chance to finally capture that ghost boy!"

Jack's face lit up. “We can finally tear that ghost boy apart molecule by molecule!”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, they said we can’t do any invasive study or harmful study on it.”

“Aw, but it can’t feel.” Jack pouted.

Maddie sighed, her shoulders sagging. "I know, I know. But think of the recognition, the funding! We could expand our research, develop better ghost-hunting tech..."

Jack Brightened again.

"There's more," she continued, her voice lowering. "They... they want to take control of our portal. Said it's a 'matter of national security'."

Jack's face flushed red with indignation. "What?! That's our life's work! How dare they—"

"I know, dear," Maddie cut in, placing a calming hand on his arm. "But maybe... maybe they have a point. We never considered the wider implications of having a doorway to another dimension in our basement."

Jack deflated slightly, torn between his pride as an inventor and the weight of responsibility. "I suppose.......they said they’d help us find our boy, right?”

Maddie's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "We have to believe this will help, Jack. Maybe... maybe this is how we find him. We have to try."

Maddie lifted the phone back to her ear to continue the conversation with the agent.

A complex mix of emotions washed over Maddie. “What?! What do you mean she’s there?!!!”  She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Can I speak with her?"

Jack leaned in to try to hear the voice on the other side.

"Of course. One moment."

"Mom?" Jazz's voice crackled through the line, a mix of defiance and uncertainty.

"Jasmine Fenton," Maddie began, her voice stern but wavering. "What on earth were you thinking?"

"I had to do something, Mom," Jazz replied, her tone growing more confident. "Someone had to stand up for Phantom, to tell the truth about what's been happening in Amity Park."

Maddie's free hand clenched into a fist. Of course, Jazz was defending that ghost boy. "Sweetie, you don't understand the danger—"

"No, Mom," Jazz interrupted. "You don't understand. Phantom isn't what you think he is. He's been protecting us, all of us, for years."

“Jazzy pazzy! What are you doing there?” Jack exclaimed.

"We'll discuss this when you get home, young lady," Maddie said, trying to maintain her authoritative tone. "For now... just... be careful, okay?"

As she hung up the phone, Maddie turned to Jack, her emotions a tumultuous storm. "Our little girl," she whispered, "she's in Washington, Jack. She's been helping with all of this."

Jack's eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. "That's my Jazz-princess! Always knew she had it in her to be a ghost hunter!"

Maddie shook her head. "That ghost boy must be messing with her head. It filled it with nonsense. She’s doing this to protect it.”

Jack pulled Maddie into a hug. “We’ll set this all right and capture that abomination, so it can’t get our kids. We’ll show them it’s just a monster, it doesn’t feel. I bet they’ll let us cut into it once they see the truth.”

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 12: And Away We Go

Danny Fenton stood in front of the mirror in his quarters, tugging anxiously at the collar of his red Starfleet uniform.

"Come on, Fenton," he muttered to himself. "You can do this. It's just an away mission. No big deal."

But it was a big deal. After being grounded to the Enterprise for so long, Captain Kirk was finally letting him join an away team. Danny's stomach churned with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

He ran a hand through his messy black hair, trying to smooth it down. "Don't mess this up," he whispered. "You have to prove yourself."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

A thought crept into his mind as he headed out the door - what if ghosts were involved in this mission? The unusual readings they'd detected were apparently similar to his own ecto-signature...

As Danny entered the transporter room, he saw Dr. McCoy waiting near the pad. The doctor's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the young ensign.

"There you are," McCoy said gruffly, pulling Danny aside. "Listen up, kid. I know you're excited about this mission, but you need to be careful down there."

Danny nodded quickly. "Of course, Doctor. I'll be extra careful."

McCoy's expression softened slightly. "I mean it, Danny. Stay with the group at all times. No wandering off, no matter what you think you might sense. Got it?"

"Got it," Danny agreed, touched by the concern in the doctor's voice. "I promise I'll stick close."

McCoy squeezed Danny's shoulder. "Good. Now let's get this show on the road before Jim starts pacing a hole in the transporter pad."

Lieutenant Daryl McDonnell, standing nearby, gave Danny a supportive nod. "You'll do fine, kid," he said quietly.

As the transporter beam released them, Danny blinked rapidly, adjusting to the dim lighting of the USS Hades. The away team materialized on the eerily silent bridge, consoles dark and unmanned.

"Where is everyone?" Lieutenant Daryl McDonnell whispered, his voice unnaturally loud in the stillness.

“Well, based on our first scans, there wasn’t any life signs on board.” Captain Kirk said. “Odd though, there’s no bodies.”

Captain Kirk frowned, striding forward to examine the vacant stations. "Spread out, search the ship. Stay in pairs. Report anything unusual."

Danny found himself paired with Dr. McCoy as they made their way through the deserted corridors.

"I don't like this," Danny muttered, peering into yet another empty room. "It's too quiet. And there's hardly any signs of a struggle. It's like they all just... vanished."

McCoy grunted in agreement, tricorder whirring as he scanned for bio-signs. "Ain't natural, that's for sure. Keep your guard up, kid."

After an hour of searching, they regrouped on the bridge. Captain Kirk's expression was tense. "Nothing. No crew, no signs of struggle. It's as if they simply... vanished."

Kirk turned to the main console, his fingers flying over the controls. "Let's see if the ship's logs can give us any answers."

The viewscreen flickered to life, showing the face of Captain Hernandez, the USS Hades' commanding officer. Her expression was calm, professional.

"Captain's log. We've begun our survey of the ruins left by an ancient civilization. Initial scans show no signs of life, but the archaeological potential is significant..."

Kirk cycled through several more entries, each detailing the progress of the away team's exploration.

Suddenly, the tone of the logs changed. Captain Hernandez's face appeared again, this time etched with worry.

"Captain's log, supplemental. We've lost contact with three members of our away team. Lieutenant Commander Gordan, Ensign Tyler, and Dr. Jones failed to check in at the designated time. I've authorized a search party to..."

Kirk's voice was grim as he commented, "This is where things started to go wrong."

The next log entry showed Captain Hernandez looking haggard, her uniform disheveled.

"The search party we sent down... they're gone too. No communication, no life signs. We're sending another team, but I've got a bad feeling about this."

"This doesn't make any sense," Kirk muttered, leaning forward in his seat. "Why would they keep sending people down if the teams were disappearing?"

"Fear can make people do strange things, Jim," McCoy replied, his voice low and somber. "And if there's some kind of spectral influence at work here..."

Captain Hernandez's face filled the screen again, her eyes wide with a mix of anger and fear.

"This is getting out of hand. Three more crew members beamed down without authorization. We've lost contact with them as well."

The final video log flickered to life on the screen, revealing a young ensign with wide, terrified eyes.

"They don't want us here," she babbled, her voice cracking. "It's taken everyone. The captain... she tried to signal for help, but then she just... stopped. Ordered everyone planetside. Crewmates are acting weird, forcing others down there. I've set a random code for this distress call. It won't be able to stop it easily."

Danny watched, his stomach churning, as the ensign's face hardened with resolve. She raised her phaser, pressing it to her temple.

Danny's flinched backwards at the sickening flash of the phaser discharge.

Kirk inhaled sharply. McCoy muttered a curse. But what happened next made Danny's blood run cold.

The ensign's body jerked upright; her eyes glowed a soft silver. An angry red burn marred her temple, but she moved as if nothing had happened. With jerky movements, she attempted to deactivate the distress signal before leaving the frame.

"What in the name of-" McCoy began, but Danny cut him off.

"Her eyes," he blurted out. "Did you see how they changed color?"

Kirk turned to him, brow furrowed. "What are you thinking, Ensign?"

Danny swallowed hard. "It might be possession. Or... overshadowing, that’s what we call it. If we're dealing with ghost-like energy beings, that could be a tell-tale sign."

“Danny, how confident are you in potentially making contact with these entities?" Kirk asked.

Danny straightened, trying to project more confidence than he felt. "I can handle any gh- I mean, energy being, sir."

Kirk nodded, his expression grave. "While our priority is finding the Hades crew alive, we need to attempt peaceful contact if possible. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Danny agreed.

McCoy grumbled, "I don't like this one bit, Jim. We're walking into who knows what down there."

"Noted, Bones," Kirk said. "But we need answers, and they're waiting for us on that planet."

Lieutenant McDonnell spoke up, his voice laced with concern. "Captain, should we consider aborting the mission? If whatever's down, there could affect our crew..."

“I’m aware of this risk. But the Hades, didn’t have a super powered teen with them, now did they?” Kirk asked. “I’m going to contact Commander Spock, let him know not to let any of us back up to the ship until this is all figured out. Besides, I have full confidence in Danny, to handle this.”

***

The familiar tingle of the transporter beam faded, replaced by an entirely different sensation that made Danny's skin crawl. Ecto-energy pulsed around them, setting every nerve on edge. He blinked, taking in the desolate landscape of crumbling structures and alien architecture. He let out a shudder and a wisp of cold air escaped his mouth. His ghost sense was activated. A ghost was nearby, and from the feel of it, probably more than one.

"I don't like this," McCoy grumbled. "There's something off about this place."

Lieutenant McDonnell nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon

"Captain," Danny said, voice barely above a whisper, "I think we're being watched."

Kirk's hand instinctively moved to his phaser. "Are they nearby?”

Danny struggled to find the right words. "It's... a feeling. Like dozens of eyes on us. And there's anger. So much anger."

"You can sense that?" McCoy asked, eyebrow raised.

Danny nodded, then paled as realization hit him. "Sir, I think this is their grave. We've trespassed, and they're furious."

Kirk's expression hardened. "Can you communicate with them, Danny? Try to explain we mean no harm?"

"I... I can try," Danny said.

Suddenly, Lieutenant McDonnell's voice cut through the tension. "Captain, you need to see this!"

They hurried over to where McDonnell stood, staring at strange, glowing vines that snaked across the ruins. Silver flowers pulsed with an eerie light.

Danny's ghost sense went haywire. "Those aren't normal plants," he blurted out. "They're...some sort of ghost plant, I wouldn’t touch it."

“Are they dangerous?” Mccoy asked, as he ran a scan over the alien plant, with his tricorder.

“I……I don’t know…. they could be. I just don’t know what they do.” Danny replied.

Danny cleared his throat nervously, feeling the weight of unseen eyes upon him. "Um, hello?" he called out, his voice echoing through the ruins. "Is anyone there? We come in peace!"

Silence answered him. Danny's face flushed with embarrassment, but he pressed on.

"Okay, I see how it’s going to be…. here goes nothing," he muttered. With a flash of light, Danny transformed into his ghost half, his black and white suit materializing around him.

"Listen," Danny projected his voice, letting a touch of spectral energy infuse his words. "We didn't mean to disturb your resting place. We're explorers, and we didn't know this was an active haunt. We apologize for trespassing."

Again, only eerie silence greeted him. Danny's shoulders slumped.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," he mumbled. "I don't know why they're not responding, but-"

Suddenly, a force slammed into Danny, knocking him to the ground. He rolled, instincts kicking in, ready to face his attacker. But what he saw made his ectoplasmic blood run cold.

Captain Kirk stood over him, but his eyes... his eyes glowed an unnatural silver. Danny scrambled to his feet, words dying in his throat as he looked around. The entire away team's eyes shimmered with the same glow, some having different colored glows.

"No," Danny whispered, horrified. "They're all overshadowed."

His mind raced. He couldn't hurt them, but he had to do something. "Okay, you want to play rough?" Danny said, his fists glowing with green energy. "I can play rough. But I'm getting my friends back, you hear me?"

Danny tensed, preparing to phase through Kirk and force the entity out. But before he could move, a familiar hiss pierced the air. A sharp pain lanced through his arm.

"Ow! What the-" Danny spun around, his free hand clutching the injection site. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Doc?"

Dr. McCoy stood there, hypospray in hand, his eyes glowing an eerie purple. Danny stumbled backward, his vision already starting to blur.

"No Fair! That’s cheating!" he slurred, feeling the sedative coursing through his system.

Danny's legs wobbled as he tried to stay upright. He glared at the possessed crew, anger flaring despite his increasingly muddled thoughts.

"Let them go!" he shouted, his voice echoing unnaturally in the alien ruins. "They're not yours to control!"

Summoning what strength he had left, Danny lunged forward. He placed his palms on McCoy's chest, focusing his spectral energy.

"Come on," he grunted, pushing with all his might. "Get. Out. Of. Him!"

A flicker of recognition passed through McCoy's purple eyes, but before Danny could press his advantage, a sharp pain exploded at the back of his head. One of the security officers had struck him from behind.

As consciousness slipped away, Danny's last coherent thought was: *This can’t be happening! I was supposed to save them! *

Then darkness claimed him, and Danny crumpled to the ground.

[tinynerdz360]

Above and Beyond Chapter 11: The Sam and Jazz episode

The flickering neon of the cheap motel sign cast an eerie glow through the thin curtains. Sam paced the worn carpet, her combat boots leaving imprints in the fibers.

"Are you done with that letter yet, Jazz?" Sam groaned, flopping onto the creaky bed.

Jazz looked up from her laptop, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Almost. I want to make sure it's perfect. We can't afford any mistakes when requesting a meeting with the President."

Sam rolled her eyes. "This is taking too long," Sam growled, running a hand through her raven hair. "Every second we waste, those GIW creeps get closer to the President."

"Patience, Sam. We need to do this the right way," Jazz replied, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

Sam's fists clenched. “They left him! They think he’s dead…….and he is…...but they think he’s dead dead. We don’t know how long Danny has; just cause he’s a halfa doesn’t mean he can survive for long up there.”

“Well, they think he’s an alien; they don’t know he’s a ghost. They don’t know anything. Which is why we need this meeting before the GIW.” Jazz mumbled as she continued to type.

Sam stood abruptly. "I need some air. This room is suffocating me."

As she slammed the door behind her, Sam's mind raced. She couldn't wait any longer. Danny needed them now. Her hand brushed against the Fenton shrink ray in her pocket, and a plan began to form.

Thirty minutes later, Sam found herself on a White House tour, "And here we have the East Room," the guide droned. Sam's violet eyes darted, searching for an opening.  As the group rounded a corner, she ducked behind a large potted plant and activated the shrink ray.

The world suddenly loomed impossibly large around her.

Sam steadied herself, now barely taller than a mouse. "Okay, Manson, you got this," she whispered.

She hurried along the baseboard, every sense on high alert. Voices ahead made her freeze. Two men in pristine white suits rounded the corner, following a nervous-looking aide.

Sam's blood ran cold. The Guys in White. Here. Now.

"This way, gentlemen," the aide murmured. "The President will see you shortly."

“I still can’t believe they left the ghost there on Mars.” One of the GIW agents said.

The other agent nodded in agreement.  “No matter; once we speak to the president, we can retrieve the ghost body and eliminate the ecto-scum once and for all.”

Panic clawed at Sam's throat. She pressed herself against the wall, wishing herself invisible. Agent W passed inches from her, his polished shoe a gleaming monolith.

Suddenly, a shrill beeping pierced the air. Agent W's wristwatch flashed, its ecto-detector going haywire. His head snapped down, eyes widening behind dark sunglasses as he spotted Sam's tiny form.

"Ecto scum!" he bellowed, his booming voice nearly deafening Sam at her current size.

In one fluid motion, Agent W yanked out his pocket ray gun. The weapon hummed to life, its barrel glowing an eerie green.

Sam's heart leapt into her throat. "Oh, crud," she muttered, her legs pumping furiously.

Agent W's finger squeezed the trigger. A blast of ecto-energy sizzled past Sam, scorching the polished floor mere inches from her feet.

"What are you doing?!" Agent F hissed, grabbing his partner's arm. "We're in the White House!"

But Agent W shook him off, firing wildly. "It's contaminated! We have to neutralize the threat!"

"Are you insane?" the aide, who was the GIW mole, hissed, panic evident in his voice. "You'll blow our entire operation!"

But Agent W was beyond reason, his face contorted with zealous rage. "No ghost or ghost lover escapes the Guys in White!"

Another blast. Sam leaped, the heat searing her clothes. She zigzagged across the floor, desperate for cover.

The hallway erupted in chaos. Alarms blared, and heavy footsteps pounded in the distance. Agent W's voice rose above the din: "Come out and face justice, you miniature menace!"

"W, holster your weapon now!" Agent F pleaded, grabbing his partner's arm again.

But it was too late. The sound of safeties clicking off filled the air as White House security converged on their position.

Sam dove behind a column supporting a bust of George Washington, her tiny form trembling.

"Drop your weapons and get down on the ground, now!" The commanding voice of the lead CIA agent ricocheted off the marble walls, brooking no argument. She stood squarely, her eyes fixed on the GIW agents, her own gun drawn and steady.

Amidst the tension, Sam seized her moment. She fumbled for the shrink ray tucked in her pocket, her fingers trembling as they wrapped around the cool metal.

Agent W snarled, "This is GIW business! You have no jurisdic—"

Before he could finish, Sam aimed and fired. A brilliant blue beam engulfed both GIW agents. In an instant, they shrank to three inches tall, their shouts of surprise becoming high-pitched squeaks.

The room fell into a stunned silence.

"Wha— What the hell just happened?" one of the security guards stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as he stared at the diminutive forms of the once formidable GIW operatives.

"Contain them," ordered the lead CIA agent.

Sam peeked out of her hiding spot, watching as one of the CIA agents finally snapped out of his shock and scooped up the diminutive GIW agents in his massive hand.

"Let us go, you giant oaf! We're on official business!" one of the tiny agents protested, shaking a minuscule fist.

"Official business?" The CIA agent held them closer to his face, scrutinizing them with bewildered fascination. "You mean terrorizing people with your... toy guns?"

"Those aren't toys!" the other pint-sized agent piped up, indignant. "And we're after an ecto threat. A ghost!"

"Ghost?" The agent's expression shifted from bewilderment to incredulity. "Are you serious?"

Before he could probe further, his partner called out.

"Hey, you! Stop right there!" he barked, causing the aide to freeze in his tracks.

"I saw him with those men in white," another agent said, gesturing towards the tiny GIW agents dangling between their colleague's fingers.

"Look, it's all a misunderstanding," the mole stammered, his back pressed against the cool wall, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Just let me explain—"

"Explain later," the lead CIA agent barked.

The lead CIA agent's brow furrowed in confusion. She turned to her colleague, who was now on his hands and knees, peering behind the column. “What the hell are you doing, Nelson?”

 "There's another one," Nelson said, his voice filled with incredulity. "I saw another tiny; they were peeking out behind the bust."

Sam's heart raced as she saw Agent Nelson's enormous face appear, looking down at her between the gap between the column and wall. She gripped the shrink ray tightly, her palms sweaty.

"Come out with your hands up!" Agent Nelson demanded, his voice booming in Sam's ears.

Sam took a deep breath and shouted back, "I'm not coming out! I need to speak with President Davis. It's urgent!"

Agent Nelson looked thoughtful, "It's... it's just a kid," he muttered to his partner.

Sam's voice trembled slightly as she continued, "If you try to force me out, I'll shrink you too!" She aimed the ray gun at the agent's massive face, hoping he couldn't see how badly her hands were shaking.

The agent holding the GIW agents scoffed. "We could easily neutralize her at that size. There'd be nothing left."

Sam's stomach churned at his callous words.

Nelson raised a hand to quiet his partner. "Easy now, it's just a kid," he said softly, his tone shifting to a more soothing cadence.

Sam's nerves were frayed, her finger twitching on the trigger. *I need to show them I mean business, * she thought. With a surge of adrenaline, she aimed just past the agent's ear and fired.

A bright beam shot out, narrowly missing the agent and striking a painting. In an instant, the artwork shrank to the size of a postage stamp.

"Whoa there!" Nelson exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment. He took a deep breath, visibly trying to regain his composure. "Look, why don't you come out, and we can talk about this? I promise we'll hear you out."

Sam's heart pounded. She knew she was cornered. "I-I'll only come out if you promise to take me to the president," she demanded.

Nelson sighed, considering her request. "Look, I'll see what I can do, okay?" He extended his hand, palm up. "But first, you need to come out."

Sam glared at the offered hand, her mind racing. *Even if I shrink him, he could still overpower me,* she thought. *And hurting them won't help my case with the president. * Reluctantly, she stepped out from behind the column.

As she approached the giant hand, Sam flinched involuntarily. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and climbed onto the waiting palm. As the hand rose, she lost her balance, grabbing the agent's thumb to steady herself. It was like grasping the trunk of a young tree, her fingers barely reaching around its circumference.

Nelson stared at her in wonder. "I can't believe I'm holding a tiny person," he murmured.

His other hand approached, and Sam tensed. "I need that weapon," he said firmly.

Sam hesitated, her grip tightening on the shrink ray. This device was her only way back to normal size.

"Listen," Nelson continued, his tone firm but not unkind, "don't make me take it. Just hand it over."

Realizing she had no choice, Sam reluctantly handed over the device, and a new plan formed in her mind. *Maybe being small isn't such a disadvantage, * she thought. *They might underestimate me. I can use that. *

The agent's fingers, each as wide as she was tall, pinched the device between them with surprising delicacy.

"Thank you," he said. He then secured the tiny piece of technology in his pocket.

His giant fingers curled loosely around her, cradling Sam in the palm of his hand as he walked down the hallway.

****

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Sam found herself deposited into a glass jar. The transparent walls curved around her, distorting her view of the sterile interrogation room. She pressed her tiny palms against the glass, feeling utterly exposed and vulnerable.

Sam watched the CIA agents place the shrunken GIW operatives into similar containers.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing," one agent muttered, peering at the miniaturized men in white. "It's like something out of a sci-fi movie."

Another agent shook his head, his face a mask of disbelief and annoyance. "An unauthorized ghost-hunting organization? Operating with government funds? The President's going to have a field day with this one."

Sam's stomach churned as she overheard snippets of the GIW agents' frantic explanations. "Ecto-entities... threat to national security... ghost on Mars..." She watched the two other CIA agents pick up the GIW jar and leave the room. She guessed to question them without her present.

*This is not how I planned this to go,* Sam thought, her heart racing. She watched as two CIA agents loomed over her, their faces twisted in a mix of fascination and suspicion. One was Agent Nelson, the other his partner. She hadn’t gotten the man’s name.

Suddenly, the jar was lifted, and Sam found herself face-to-face with a stern-looking CIA agent. "Alright, young lady," he said, his voice booming in her tiny ears. "You better start talking.”

Sam took a deep breath, steadying herself. "My name is Sam Manson," she began, “Look, I know this sounds crazy, but ghosts are real. They're not evil, though! The Guys in White have been attacking innocent people in Amity Park, and they're after my friend!"

Nelson leaned in, his brow furrowed. "And who exactly is this friend of yours?"

Sam hesitated, then blurted out, "Danny Phantom. He's... he's the alien boy on Mars."

The agents exchanged skeptical glances.

"It's complicated," Sam said, frustration creeping into her voice. "But he's in danger, and I need to speak to the President before the GIW convinces him to do something terrible!"

Nelson spoke up, “ I hate to break this to you, but the alien kid was left on Mars, he’s dead along with astronaunt Mark Watney.”

“No, you don’t understand! He’s a ghost, he’s survived worse then an alien planet. But if he stays trapped there, he’ll die!” Sam yelled.

Nelson tilted his head, “If he’s a ghost, how can he die?”

“Ugh! You don’t get it! Look, he’s special, he can die, he’s just tough. Please, he needs help!”

The other Agent sneered, his face contorting with disbelief. "A likely story from a pint-sized terrorist."

Fury bubbled within Sam. These dense agents were jeopardizing everything. "It's the truth! If you'd listen—"

Suddenly, the world became a violent blur. Nelson’s partner had grabbed the jar, shaking it violently. Sam's tiny body slammed against the glass walls, pain exploding through her as she felt warm liquid trickle from her nose. And the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

"Stop, Roberts!" Agent Nelson's voice cut through the chaos, deep and commanding. He snatched the jar away, cradling it protectively in his large hands. His scowl was fierce as he turned to his partner. "She's a minor, and at this size, you could seriously hurt her. Control yourself!"

Roberts rolled his eyes. "Oh please, she's fine. The little brat is lying through her teeth. Ghosts?  What a joke."

Sam's head spun, her vision blurry. She touched her nose, fingers coming away red.

Sam glared up at him, trying to staunch the flow of blood with her hands. Her whole body ached.

Nelson's massive hand engulfed the jar, and Sam braced herself as he slowly tilted the container, her tiny form tumbling onto his warm, calloused palm. She felt exposed, vulnerable, yet oddly safe in his careful grip.

"Are you alright?" Nelson's voice rumbled above her, his concerned eyes sweeping over her diminutive form.

Sam pushed herself up, her legs wobbling. She wiped at her bloodied nose, glaring past Nelson at Roberts. "When I get big again," she snarled, her voice barely above a squeak, "I'm going to kick your ass so hard you'll wish you'd never been born!"

Nelson's fingers curled protectively around her, forming a gentle cage. "Easy there, firecracker," he murmured, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Roberts scoffed; his face twisted in disdain. "The little brat should rot in juvie for her stunt at the White House.

Sam's blood boiled. How dare he? She opened her mouth to unleash another tirade, but Nelson cut her off.

"Here," he said softly, reaching into his pocket with his free hand. He produced a crisp white handkerchief, offering her the corner. "For your nose."

Sam reached out, her tiny hands grasping the edge of the handkerchief. It unfurled before her like a giant tablecloth, the material soft and cool against her skin. Gratefully, she pressed it to her throbbing nose, the white cotton quickly staining crimson.

Sam's mind raced as she sat cradled in Nelson's palm, the handkerchief dwarfing her diminutive form. She had to find a way out of this mess, and she had to make them believe her.

Nelson watched closely, making sure the tiny rebel in his hand was as comfortable as she could be under the circumstances.

Sam’s eyes flicked up to his, acknowledging the gesture with reluctant gratitude.

Nelson's deep voice resonated through the air. "I think we should take a break." His massive hand moved towards the jar, causing Sam's heart to race. "Sorry, kiddo, but back you go."

Sam's stomach lurched as she was lowered into the glass prison. Nelson guided the handkerchief in after her. She sank into the fabric, feeling dwarfed by its sheer size.

*****

"The President wants to see the girl," Agent Carter, the top CIA agent, announced, her voice crisp. "He's... intrigued by the situation."

Meanwhile, in a secure room, Sam sat cross-legged in her glass jar, the handkerchief she was given draped over her tiny shoulders. She was bored out of her mind.  The door opened, and Agent Nelson entered.

"Looks like you've made quite an impression, Miss Mason," he said, a hint of a smile on his face. He reached for the jar, his hand popping the lid off,  his massive hand descending toward her.

Sam's heart raced. "What's happening?" she asked, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice.

"The President wants to meet you," Nelson replied, his fingers carefully closing around her tiny form. The warmth of his skin enveloped her as he lifted her out.

As they moved through the corridors, Sam's mind whirled. *Should I tell him about Jazz?* she wondered. * No, I better keep that to myself for now. If this goes south, I might need her help to escape. *

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 11 New Mission

Krik sat in his office waiting for an important call from command.

Kirk's computer terminal beeped with an urgent hail from Starfleet Command. He tapped the screen to accept the call. Admiral Nogura's stern face appeared, his brow furrowed.

"Captain Kirk, we need to discuss your report on the stowaway...this time traveler, Danny Fenton," the Admiral said, his tone clipped.

Kirk tensed. He had a feeling this conversation was coming, but he wasn't looking forward to it. "Yes, Admiral, I’ve made a detailed report on him. What else would you like to know?"

Nogura leaned forward, staring intently through the screen. "Is there any possible connection between this boy and the disappearance of Amity? Ensign Gray brought us concerning findings about unusual energy signatures at the crater site. But damn it, Kirk, we've lost so much data from the wars. It's beyond frustrating." The admiral shook his head wearily. “What baffles me is that nobody, and I mean nobody noticed a whole city was gone. All these decades, not a mention of it.”

Kirk blinked in surprise, not expecting that to be the first topic at hand. It looks like Chekov’s friend had gone to Starfleet with her findings. Kirk chose his words carefully. "At this point, we haven’t asked him about it. We had some concerns about his ability to handle such news. He’s already stranded in time. We’re giving him more time before we break the news to him. But as far as we can tell, we don't have evidence directly linking Danny to Amity's disappearance.” However, Kirk knew more than he was letting on. The boy's abilities, his true nature...but Kirk needed to protect him.

"Our scientists have been studying the site and noticed some unusual phenomena." The admiral's eyes narrowed. "For one, there's a distinct lack of signs of weapon use. No residual energy signatures, no debris patterns consistent with known weaponry."

Kirk nodded. "That is strange. Have the scientists there found anything, maybe in historical documents?"

The admiral shook his head, frustration evident in his tone. "That's the problem, Kirk. With so much data lost during the wars, we can't even pinpoint exactly when the city vanished. It could have been at the beginning, in the middle, or even after the conflicts ended."

Kirk's fingers drummed on the armrest of his chair, a nervous habit he'd never quite been able to shake. "What about the crater itself? Anything unusual there?"

"Yes, and it's deeply concerning." The admiral's image flickered, the transmission wavering momentarily before stabilizing. "The crater is in a state of stasis, almost as if time itself has stopped within its boundaries. The soil remains barren, no signs of life or growth. It's as if the very essence of the place has been drained away."

Kirk tapped his chin in thought. “Maybe these energy beings from this Zone Danny mentioned have something to do with it?”

The admiral's expression turned grave. "It's a possibility.”

Kirk's thoughts turned to the enigmatic teenager under his command.

"There's something else, Kirk." The admiral's voice jolted him back to the present. "The energy interference around the crater is playing havoc with our equipment. Sensors malfunction, scanners give false readings. And some of our scientists...they've been affected too."

Kirk sat up straighter, alarm bells ringing in his head. "Affected how?"

"It's like they're in a trance. They keep leaving the site, drawn away by some unseen force. We've had to establish a quarantine zone just to keep them contained. Once they're far from the crater, they return to normal with no memory of the place."

Kirk met the admiral's gaze, determination etched into every line of his face. "I'll get to the bottom of this, Admiral. You have my word."

The admiral nodded, his expression softening just a fraction. "I know you will, Kirk. But be careful. We're dealing with forces beyond our understanding. Tread lightly and keep a close eye on that boy."

"Oh, and Kirk," the admiral's voice cut through Kirk's musings, drawing his attention back to the matter at hand. "There's another situation that requires your immediate attention."

Kirk straightened in his seat, his eyes sharp and focused. "Go ahead, Admiral."

The admiral's face was grave, the lines around his mouth and eyes deepening with concern. "We've lost contact with the science vessel USS Hades. They were studying a newly discovered planet, one with the ruins of a long-dead alien civilization."

Kirk frowned, a sense of unease settling in his gut. "Lost contact? For how long?"

"Nearly 48 hours now," the admiral replied, his voice tight. "Their last transmission mentioned a distress call from the planet's surface, but we haven't been able to raise them since."

Kirk's mind raced with possibilities, each more unsettling than the last. A distress call from an unknown planet, a science team gone silent... it had all the makings of a mystery and a dangerous one at that.

"We'll investigate immediately, Admiral," Kirk said, his voice firm and resolute. "I'll have my crew prepare for departure within the hour."

The admiral nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "Good. But Kirk... be careful. We don't know what you'll find down there."

Kirk's jaw tightened, his eyes hardening with determination. "We'll take every precaution, Admiral. But we will get to the bottom of this.

Kirk stood from his chair, straightening his uniform as he moved towards the door. The conversation with Admiral Nogura played over in his mind, the weight of his responsibility as captain pressing down on his shoulders. He had to ensure the safety of his crew, but he also felt a strong need to protect Danny, the mysterious teenager with abilities beyond anything he'd encountered before.

Kirk called his senior officers in for a meeting about their next mission.

Kirk turned to his senior officers, his expression grave. "We have a situation," he began, his voice carrying the weight of command. "The USS Hades has gone silent. They were studying ruins on a newly discovered planet when they sent out a distress call. Our orders are to investigate and render assistance."

Uhura's eyes widened, concern etched on her face. "A distress call? What could have happened?"

"Unknown," Kirk replied, his brow furrowed. "But we'll find out. Spock, I want you to coordinate with the science department. Gather all available data on that planet and the Hades' mission."

Spock nodded, already mentally compiling the necessary information. "Understood, Captain."

Kirk's gaze shifted to Scotty, the ship's chief engineer. "Scotty, I need the Enterprise ready for anything. Make sure all systems are at peak performance."

Scotty grinned a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Aye, Captain. She'll be purring like a kitten."

Kirk allowed a small smile before his expression turned serious once more. "There's one more thing," he said, his voice low. "The admiral has concerns about our young stowaway, Danny. He wants us to keep a close eye on him and report any unusual behavior."

McCoy frowned, his protective instincts flaring. "Jim, the kid hasn’t done anything wrong. We can't treat him like a suspect."

Kirk held up a hand, his eyes understanding but firm. "I know, Bones. But we have our orders. We'll handle this delicately, but we need to be vigilant."

As the meeting adjourned, Kirk's thoughts turned to Danny. The boy was an enigma, his abilities both fascinating and potentially dangerous. Kirk knew he would have to tread carefully, balancing his duty to Starfleet with his instinct to protect the young hybrid.

The crew bustled with activity as they prepared for the mission, a sense of urgency and anticipation filling the air. In the science labs, Spock and his team pored over the limited data on the mysterious planet, searching for any clues that might shed light on the Hades fate.

And on the bridge, Kirk sat in his command chair, his eyes fixed on the viewscreen as the stars streaked past. 

Chapter 12

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 10

Kirk paced back and forth in his office, hands clasped behind his back, brow furrowed in deep thought. The dilemma of what to do with young Danny Fenton weighed heavily on his mind. At just 15 years old, the ghost-powered hybrid from another time had no business being an ensign on the Enterprise without proper academy training. And yet, here he was.

Kirk tapped the comm button. "Spock, McCoy, meet me in my office.”

Moments later, the door slid open with its familiar hiss, admitting the Vulcan science officer and the chief medical officer into the room.

"You wanted to see us, Captain?" Spock inquired, one eyebrow raised.

"It's about our resident time traveler, Ensign Fenton. We need to decide what to do with him. He's far too young to be serving on a starship."

McCoy crossed his arms. "Dammit Jim, we can't just send the kid packing! He's got nowhere else to go in this time period. And with those ghost powers of his, who knows what kind of trouble he could get into. Someone unsavory could take advantage of his abilities, make him disappear..."

"The doctor raises a fair point," Spock interjected. "Furthermore, as a hybrid from an undocumented species, Ensign Fenton presents a unique challenge. There is no precedent for this situation."

Kirk sighed, sinking into his chair. "I know, I know. But bypassing the academy entirely sets a dangerous precedent too. What kind of message does that send?"

"Look, we've made exceptions before in extenuating circumstances," McCoy argued. "And the kid's got a good head on his shoulders. He hasn't used his powers for any ill will since coming on board. Isolating him planetside could be disastrous."

Kirk nodded, acknowledging the gravity of McCoy's words. "But we can't just ignore the fact that he hacked his way onto the Enterprise."

"Which demonstrates considerable skill," Spock conceded, though his tone remained neutral.

Kirk drummed his fingers on the desk, considering both sides. He had to report this unorthodox situation to the admirals eventually. But perhaps he could delay that communique a bit longer, at least until he witnessed a demonstration of Danny's abilities for himself.

"Alright, we'll hold off on any final decisions for now," Kirk declared. "But I want to see what Ensign Fenton can really do, sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I’ve had Chekov investigate Danny’s hometown,” Kirk said, tapping his communicator. "Kirk to Chekov. Report to my office immediately."

As they waited for the young navigator to arrive, Kirk's mind drifted to Danny. The captain couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and concern for the boy who had managed to infiltrate Starfleet at such a young age. He only hoped his decision, whatever it may be, would be the right one.

The door chimed, and Chekov entered, his youthful face etched with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Ah, Ensign Chekov," Kirk greeted. "What have you discovered about Amity Park?"

Chekov straightened his accent thickening with enthusiasm. "It vas very strange Keptin. At first, zere vas no record of zis Amity Park anywhere. But ven I dug into Earth's history from ze late 20th and early 21st centuries, a few references to ze town popped up. Zen...nothing. It's as if it disappeared after Vorld Var III and ze Eugenics Vars."

Kirk frowned. "Disappeared? What do you mean?"

"Vell sir, I asked a friend back on Earth to inwestigate ze town's last known location in Illinois. She reported some very odd things. She had great difficulty finding ze location, sir. She kept missing ze correct road, as if something vas... interfering vith her navigation." Chekov paused, his voice dropping slightly. "Ven she scanned ze area, she detected an unusual energy signature. As she got closer, she felt an overwhelming urge to turn back, like something vas trying to keep her away."

Spock's eyebrow arched higher. "Fascinating. An external force attempting to repel visitors?"

Chekov nodded vigorously. "Da, Mr. Spock. But that's not ze strangest part. Ven my friend finally reached ze coordinates vere Amity Park should have been, she found..."

"Found what, Ensign?" Kirk prompted, leaning forward.

Chekov swallowed hard. "A giant crater, sir. As if ze entire city had been... Ze whole town, vanished without a trace."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the implications of Chekov's report sank in.

Dr. McCoy's brow furrowed deeply. "And what about evidence of weapons? Surely, there'd be some sign of what caused such destruction."

Chekov's brow furrowed as he continued his report. "My friend found ze energy signature around ze crater fascinating. She plans to study it further. But vat really intrigued her vas ze persistent sense of needing to leave and ignore the area altogether. It was as if something was compelling her to forget about it and move on. But zere vas no signs of nuclear fallout, photon bombardment, or anything to suggest conventional or even advanced weaponry vas used. It's almost as if..." He paused, searching for the right words. "As if Amity Park vas cleanly scooped right out of ze earth itself."

Spock arched an eyebrow.

McCoy's face paled, a knot of dread forming in his stomach. "Good God, Jim. The implications of this... If the Ensign's entire hometown was wiped off the map, if everyone he ever knew........"

Kirk nodded gravely, his eyes distant as he processed the disturbing news. Spock, ever the voice of logic, interjected.

"Captain, I must advise caution in revealing this information to Ensign Fenton, at least until we have a clearer understanding of the full extent of his abilities and emotional control. Given his youth and the trauma of temporal displacement, learning of this tragedy could provoke an extremely volatile reaction."

"Dammit, Spock, we can't just hide this from the kid!" McCoy argued, his blue eyes flashing. "He has a right to know!"

Kirk held up a hand. "Bones, I understand your concerns. But I'm inclined to agree with Spock on this one." He sighed heavily. "The idea of a being with Fenton's potential power losing control in a fit of grief and rage... It could endanger the entire ship.”

The Doctor grumbled under his breath but consented to the captain’s judgment. 

"There's a difference between coming to terms with your loved ones passing naturally in your absence versus learning your entire world was horrifically snuffed out. And if the Ensign did return to his own time armed with that knowledge..." Kirk shook his head. "The damage to the timeline could be catastrophic. Amity Park clearly has a role to play in history. But for now, we keep this information between us."

***

Danny's laughter echoed through the mess hall as he sat with Tina and Kas, relishing his brief respite from sickbay. The normalcy of it all - just hanging out with friends - felt like a lifeline in the chaos of his situation.

"I should probably head back," Danny said reluctantly, pushing away from the table. "McCoy's gonna wonder where I am."

Tina grinned. "Don't want to make the good doctor grumpy, do we?"

Danny chuckled, waving goodbye as he headed for the exit. The corridor seemed longer than usual, his footsteps echoing in the quiet. Suddenly, a firm hand gripped his shoulder, spinning him around.

"Well, well. If it isn't the little imposter," Lieutenant Weston sneered, looming over Danny.

Danny's heart raced. "I-I'm just heading back to sickbay, sir."

"You shouldn't even be here," Weston spat. "You should be locked up in the brig. How dare you wear that uniform?"

Danny felt himself shrinking back, his throat tight. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Lieutenant Weston!" Captain Kirk's voice cut through the tension like a phaser blast as he walked down the hallway in passing. "What exactly is going on here?"

Weston straightened. "Sir, I was just-"

"Harassing a minor?” Kirk’s eyes narrowed. “Report to my ready room at 0800 tomorrow. You’re assigned to sensitivity training.”

As Weston skulked away, Danny let out a shaky breath. “Thanks, Captain.”

Kirk’s expression softened. “Come on, let’s get you back to sickbay.”

As they walked, Danny’s mind whirled with anxiety.

“Danny,” Kirk said gently, “I understand Weston is your roommate?”

Danny nodded, his stomach churning.

“We’ll arrange a room change immediately,” Kirk assured him. “You should feel safe here.”

A spark of hope ignited in Danny’s chest. “Does... does that mean I can stay?”

Kirk’s smile was enigmatic. “We were planning to change your quarters anyway. Weston’s behavior just expedited things.” He paused. “I haven’t made a final decision yet, but we do want you to feel secure here.”

Danny nodded eagerly. “I’ve finished rewriting my reports, sir. I’m almost done with the list of abilities, too.”

Kirk’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Good work, Ensign. You’re certainly eager to prove yourself.”

As they neared sickbay, Danny couldn’t help but ask, “Sir? Do you... do you think I have a chance of staying?”

Kirk’s expression grew thoughtful. “Danny, I won’t lie to you. Your situation is complicated. But I see potential in you.” He seemed to be wrestling with some internal debate before adding, “You remind me of someone I once knew. He had incredible abilities too, but... well, let’s just say I’m glad to see how well you’re controlling yourself, even when provoked.”

Danny’s brow furrowed. “Sir?”

Kirk shook his head. “Never mind. Get some rest, Ensign. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

As Danny entered sickbay, his mind raced with questions. *Who was this person Kirk had known? *

**

In sickbay, Scotty bustled in holding the strange stone device, his eyes alight with determination. "I've got an idea, lad," he announced, thrusting the object into Danny's hands. "Hold this and press your thumb to the smooth bit there."

Danny blinked down at the stone, confusion etched on his face. "Okay, but why?"

"Just trust me," Scotty urged. "Now, I want you to focus and push a wee bit of your ghostly energy into it."

Dr. McCoy watched the exchange with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Scotty, what in blazes are you up to?"

Ignoring the doctor's question, Scotty nodded encouragingly at Danny. "Go on, give it a try."

Danny shrugged and pressed his thumb to the stone's smooth surface, concentrating. A faint green glow emanated from his finger, and suddenly, the device beeped and lit up. A holographic screen popped into existence, floating in the air above the stone.

"HAHAHAH, I knew it!” Scotty exclaimed, his face lit with triumph.

McCoy leaned in. "About time."

As McCoy reached out to tap the hologram, trying to figure out what the strange symbols meant.

“I think those are ghost symbols…...maybe there’s an English setting….or something.” Danny mumbled.

"Fascinating," McCoy muttered. "Danny, try pressing that icon there."

Danny obliged, his finger hovering over a glowing symbol. As he touched it, a dial tone echoed through sickbay.

"What in the blazes—" McCoy started, but his words were cut short as a miniature holographic figure materialized atop the stone.

Danny's jaw dropped. "Dr. Bonechiller?!"

The tiny yeti ghost blinked, looking surprised to see Danny. "Great One? My, you look so young! Oh... I see. It's *that* time."

McCoy's eyebrows shot up, his gaze darting between Danny and the hologram. "Well, I'll be. I didn't realize ghosts came in such... diverse forms."

Dr. Bonechiller turned, noticing McCoy for the first time. "Ah, greetings! I am Dr. Bonechiller, young Daniel's primary physician. And you are?"

"Dr. Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise," McCoy replied, his tone professional despite his apparent fascination. "Dr. Bonechiller, if you wouldn't mind waiting, I'd like to invite my commanding officer to join us."

The yeti nodded. "Of course, Doctor. I will await your return."

As McCoy hurried from the room to summon Kirk. “Danny, don't hang up!"

Danny stared at the green glowing hologram of his yeti doctor. "So... uh, nice to see you again, Dr. Bonechiller. You're probably wondering why I'm calling, huh?"

Dr. Bonechiller turned his attention back to Danny, his expression softening. "Oh, I have some idea…...but no matter, how are you faring Great One?"

Danny swallowed hard, his voice shaking. "I'm stuck in the future, Doc. I don't know how to get back." He paused, searching the yeti's face for answers. "I need help."

The ghostly physician waved a dismissive hand. "Your guardian says all is as it should be. There is no need for concern."

"My guardian?" Danny's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Who are you talking about?"

Before Dr. Bonechiller could respond, McCoy strode back into the room, Captain Kirk close behind.

Kirk's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the holographic yeti, but he quickly composed himself. "Dr. Bonechiller, I presume? I'm Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise, Captain," Dr. Bonechiller replied cordially.

Kirk wasted no time getting to the point. "Doctor, do you know of any way to return Danny to his own time? Or Even to this infinity realm?”

Danny held his breath, hope rising in his chest. But Dr. Bonechiller shook his head, his expression apologetic. "I'm afraid that's beyond my abilities, Captain. I gave young Daniel this device in the past, but bringing him to the Ghost Zone now would not solve his temporal displacement."

"But—" Danny tried to interject, only to be cut off again.

"You see," Dr. Bonechiller continued, "Daniel's guardian has the power to return him to his proper time. However, this guardian has foreseen these events and won't retrieve Daniel until certain... circumstances have come to pass."

Danny's eyes widened. "Wait, are you talking about Clockwork?"

Dr. Bonechiller's amused chuckle sent a chill down Danny's spine. "Ah, young Daniel. You still have much to learn about ghost etiquette and cultural norms. You've already been adopted, you know."

"Adopted?" Danny sputtered, his face paling. "What do you mean, adopted?"

Dr. McCoy leaned forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "Now, hold on just a minute. What's all this about adoption and guardians? He has human parents.”

"In the Infinite Realms, it is common for elder ghosts to adopt newly formed ones to guide them as they grow into their powers. And young phantom was not getting the care he needed from his human parents.”

Danny blushed deeply at this, feeling embarrassed on his parents’ behalf. “They just didn’t know! I was going to tell them at some point…...they tried!”

Dr. Bonecrusher gave Danny a gentle look in response. “It’s perfectly alright to have more than one guardian. And to gain favor with an ancient is no small thing.”

Kirk spoke up before Danny got a chance. "And why has this Clockwork chosen not to bring Danny back to his own time, as a guardian should?"

Dr. Bonechiller shrugged, his fur rippling. "I cannot say for certain. I only know that I was tasked with giving the Great One this device years ago in his past. Clockwork's motives are his own."

As Kirk opened his mouth to ask another question, the ghostly physician held up a hand. "Captain, I'm afraid I can only maintain this connection for a short while longer. This device was designed to navigate the fluxing times of the zone, you should be talking to the version of me from Danny’s time, it’s probably only Clockworks will, we are speaking now. But I am willing to share any medical information pertaining to the Great One, with his consent."

Danny nodded, giving his consent.

Kirk nodded, sensing the doctor's urgency. Through out this entire conversation Kirk was wondering why the ghost doctor kept calling Danny, ‘great one,’ but seeing as time was limited, he’d have to bring it up to Danny later. He could sense there was a story there.

Dr. Bonechiller's holographic form shifted slightly. "Very well. To begin with, Daniel's ghost core is quite young - only about a year old, if my calculations are correct. In ghost terms, he's essentially a toddler."

McCoy's eyebrows shot up. "A toddler? But he's-"

"His core is still developing," Dr. Bonechiller continued. "This means he'll be prone to emotional outbursts and may struggle to control his abilities, especially as new ones manifest."

Danny felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. *Great,* he thought. *Now they're gonna treat me like a little kid.*

Dr. Bonechiller wasn't finished. "Furthermore, due to his unique hybrid nature, Daniel may remain in a 'teenage' state for up to a decade. His aging process won't follow typical human patterns."

"That explains why he looks so young," McCoy muttered, glancing at Danny with a mix of concern and fascination.

Danny couldn't contain himself any longer. "Wait, what? I'm gonna be stuck as a kid for years? That's not fair!"

Dr. Bonechiller's voice took on a gentler tone. "I understand your frustration, Great One. But remember, ghost aging is influenced by multiple factors. Facing challenges and having a stable, safe environment to grow in can help accelerate the process."

Danny slumped in his chair, his mind reeling. He caught Kirk and McCoy exchanging worried glances and felt a pang of anxiety. What did this mean for his future on the Enterprise?

Kirk placed a reassuring hand on Danny's shoulder, his eyes filled with understanding. "We'll do everything we can to provide that for you, Ensign Fenton."

"Alright, Dr. McCoy," Captain Kirk continued with a sigh, "extract whatever knowledge you can from our spectral colleague here. I’ll be looking forward to the report. It was a pleasure meeting you Dr. Bonechiller.”

“Likewise, Captain.” Dr. Bonechiller replied with a nod of his fury head.

Kirk left sickbay, giving Danny privacy with his medical information, as Doctor Mccoy asked more in-depth questions of the other doctor.

***

After a suprisinly lenthy conversation regarding Danny’s health and medical history. Doctor Bonechiller, changed the topic to proper nutrition for the young hybrid.

"Alright, Danny, let's discuss your diet," Dr. Bonechiller's deep voice resonated from the communicator, a holographic image of his yeti-like appearance flickering above the small device. "Given the scarcity of ecto plasma in this time period, I've made some substitutions."

Danny's stomach growled at the mention of food, and he felt his face flush. Dr. McCoy raised an eyebrow, his lips pursing into a thin line.

"Substitutions?" McCoy raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with interest.

"More solid foods, especially proteins. He'll need to eat nearly twice as much as a normal growing teen," Dr. Bonechiller explained, scrolling through a digital document that appeared beside his image.

"Twice as much?" McCoy turned to Danny, his tone tinged with annoyance. "You never mentioned being hungry!"

"I didn't want to get caught," Danny mumbled, staring at his feet. "I was hungry a lot, but I figured it was better than revealing myself."

McCoy's face reddened. "You should have said something sooner, kid!”

McCoy crossed his arms and fixed Danny with a stern glare, though concern flickered in his eyes. “I'm a doctor, it's my job to make sure you're healthy."

Danny nodded, properly chastised. "Yes sir, I'm sorry. I'll be more upfront from now on."

"Good," Bones grumbled.

Dr. Bonechiller interjected, "I will also note that with proper nutrition, Danny's need to fulfill his obsessions will lessen somewhat."

"Obsessions?" McCoy echoed, puzzled.

"Ah, yes." The yeti nodded. "It's akin to a purpose or innate drive. All ghosts have one, sometimes several. It's best for Danny to explain his personal ones to you."

Danny felt his heart rate quicken. *Great, another weird ghost thing to explain. *

McCoy turned to Danny, his expression softening slightly. "We'll discuss that later, son. For now, let's focus on getting you properly fed."

As they wrapped up the nutrition talk, Dr. Bonechiller's image began to flicker. "The connection is fading." he said, his voice distorting.

“I’m sending a compressed data file with more detailed information on halfa biology and various factors for you and Dr. McCoy to review. I'm afraid, however, that further communication is unlikely - the chronal flux of the Ghost Zone seems to be interfering with the signal." Dr. Bonechiller continued.

Before they could get clarification, Dr. Bonechiller's image winked out, leaving them in stunned silence.

McCoy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, at least we got that biological data. I'll need to figure out how to transfer it from this blasted stone to our computers."

Danny stared at the now-silent communicator, his mind reeling. What did Bonechiller mean about time interference? And how was he going to explain his "obsessions" to Dr. McCoy? The thought made his palms sweat. One crisis at a time, Fenton, he told himself. First, food. Then... everything else.

Dr. McCoy turned to Danny, his expression softening slightly. "Alright, kid. You've had quite the day. Why don't you rest up for a bit? We'll be having a power demonstration later, and I want you at your best."

****

A few hours later, Danny stood nervously in one of the Enterprise's spacious cargo bays. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, The Chief of security, lieutenant Uhura and Lieutenant Sulu were assembled, watching him with keen interest.

Danny felt his heart racing with anticipation and a touch of fear. He couldn't help but wonder: What if they saw him as a threat once they knew what he could do? What if this was the thing that finally made them decide he was too dangerous to keep around?

No, he told himself firmly. I'll show them I can control it. I'll prove I'm not a danger to anyone.

Kirk looked up from his Datapad, reading off of the list of abilities Danny had sent him. It was an impressive list, most of it Kirk was having trouble believing the scrawny teen could do. “I understand, there are a few things you can do in both forms? Is this correct?”

“Yes, sir. I can do more in my ghost form, but there are some abilities I can do in both, its usually weaker in my human form.”

“I see, Danny, I’m going to read off a few of these abilities, for you to demonstrate, and if some are too dangerous for you to demonstrate I want you to explain them to the best of your abilities.”

“Yes, sir.”

"I’d like you to show your abilities in your human form first. Starting with invisibility, and intangibility. Whenever you're ready, Mr. Fenton," Captain Kirk said, his voice kind but carrying an undercurrent of authority.

Taking a deep breath, Danny, blinked out of view. He smirked at the gasps of those who hadn’t seen him do this already. Then blinking back into view, Danny walked up to a crate and phased through it. Simply walking through to the other side, like it was the hologram.

"Isn't that dangerous? What if it fails and you get stuck in the crate."  lieutenant Uhura asked, her voice tinged with worry and fear.

Danny shrugged, “I don’t know, that’s never happened before……but I think I’d be fine.”

After explaining how he could do these abilities at the same time and how he could also make objects and people intangible and invisible, the captain asked him to demonstrate some abilities in his ghost form.

Danny took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "I'm going ghost," he whispered, more out of habit than necessity. He felt the familiar cold energy wash over him, transforming him from the inside out.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the astonished faces of the Enterprise crew staring back at him. Danny Phantom floated a few inches off the ground, his white hair and glowing green eyes a stark contrast to his human form.

"Fascinating," Mr. Spock murmured, his eyebrow raised in what Danny was beginning to recognize as his expression of intrigue.

“I would like a demonstration of the same abilities you can do in your human form, and the ecto-blast, duplication and shielding you have listed here.” Captain Kirk ordered.

Lifting gently into the air, ghostly tail replacing his legs, Danny took another fortifying breath. Time to show them what a halfa could do.

"I'll start with something small..." Raising a gloved hand, Danny concentrated ectoplasmic energy into his palm, forming it into a swirling green orb. The officers murmured.

Then, face setting in determination, Danny flew through a complex aerial pattern. He phased cleanly through a stack of cargo containers, unleashed a hail of ecto-blasts at a target, split himself into 4 duplicate Phantoms, and, finally, crafted a huge dome-shaped ectoplasmic shield around the entire group of watching officers.

Breathing hard, Danny floated back down, shifting back to human form as he landed. He looked up at the officers' faces, trying to gauge their reactions. Awe, intrigue, fear, wonder...it was all there.

"So...yeah. That's, um...that's some of what I can do." Danny rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "I know it's a lot. And kind of scary, the power I have. But I swear, I only want to use it to help people. To protect the crew." He met the Captain's eyes imploringly. "I'd never hurt anyone here. You have to believe that."

Kirk stepped forward, still looking shaken but also thoughtful. He studied Danny for a long moment. Then, slowly, he reached out and clasped the halfa's shoulder.

"I do believe that, Danny. You've already shown you have the heart of a Starfleet officer." He smiled slightly. “I think that’s enough for today, the explanations you have in this ability sheet will be enough for the rest of it. Although expect some clarifying questions on some these other one’s you have listed. But as I understand it, some of these are too dangerous to demonstrate?”

Danny sighed in relieve, he had make sure to add as much detail to that list as possible. He was so glad he didn’t have to show a ghostly wail, he’d for sure destroy something vital. “Yes, sir, if you have any questions, I’ll try my best to answer.”

"I appreciate your honesty, Mr. Fenton. Now you’re dismissed.”

**

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy convened in the Captain's ready room, the door swishing shut behind them with an air of finality. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other, the weight of what they'd just witnessed hanging heavy in the air.

"Well," McCoy said at last, breaking the silence. "That was...something else."

"Indeed," Spock agreed, one eyebrow climbing towards his hairline. "The extent of Mr. Fenton's abilities is quite remarkable. And potentially concerning."

Kirk nodded, his brow furrowed as he leaned back against his desk, arms crossed. "Agreed. The kid's got power, that's for sure. More than any one person should probably have."

McCoy's eyes sharpened. "You think he's a threat, Jim?"

"No," Kirk said immediately, then sighed. "At least, not intentionally. I meant what I said - I don't believe Danny would ever deliberately harm anyone on this ship. But Spock's right, that level of power...it could be dangerous, if he ever lost control."

"Which brings us to our next problem," McCoy said grimly. "Command. We're going to have to report this, Jim. And when we do..."

He trailed off, but they all knew what he meant. The admiralty's reaction to a crewmember with superhuman abilities was unlikely to be a positive one. Plus Danny had been someone who had hacked their way on board, that would not go over well.

Kirk's jaw tightened. "Then we don't tell them. Not everything, anyway."

Spock tilted his head. "Captain?"

"I'm not suggesting we lie," Kirk clarified. "But we report only the bare essentials. That Danny is half-human, with some extranormal abilities that could prove useful in first contact situations. We leave out the specifics of what he can do, at least until we know more ourselves."

McCoy crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We're treading on thin ice here, Jim. You know how folks react to anything that has an ounce of extra abilities. Danny's... different. He hasn't used his powers against any of us, and from what I've read about these ghost obsessions, and talked to Danny about what his are, that protection complex of his might be why."

"Indeed," Spock added, "his non-human biology may influence his ethical conduct. Unlike many humans who might exploit such power for personal gain, Danny does not exhibit those tendencies."

"Which is why we need to guide him," Kirk affirmed, his resolve hardening. Kirk turned to Spock. "I want you to work with him on controlling his powers, especially in emotional situations. It's clear that his feelings directly impact what he can do."

"Understood, Captain," Spock replied, his tone measured. "I shall endeavor to provide him with the necessary training to maintain equilibrium."

"Good." Kirk glanced at both of his officers. "Let's keep this between us for now. We'll inform the Academy and the Admirals of only what they need to know. For Danny's sake—and for the ship's."

"Agreed," McCoy said with a nod. "The last thing that boy needs is to become some sort of lab experiment because people got scared."

"Then it's settled." Kirk's voice was firm, his command clear. "We protect our own. Danny stays.”

*****

Dr. McCoy approached Danny with a PADD in hand, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "Alright, Danny, you're free to go.”

Danny's shoulders sagged with relief, but he eyed the PADD warily. "What's that?"

"Your new schedule," McCoy replied, handing it over. "I've got your schedule all set up. Classes, training sessions, therapy appointments - it's all there. And I expect you to stick to it, you hear me?"

Danny scrolled through the PADD, his eyes widening. "This is... a lot."

"You've got a lot of catching up to do, kid," McCoy said, not unkindly. "Oh, and you've got a new roommate. Ensign Luke McCann, he's 18. Should be a better fit."

Danny's stomach churned with a mix of excitement and anxiety. "A roommate my age? Well, closer to my age..."

McCoy continued, "you're also only cleared for part-time work in Engineering, with your age, full-time isn't appropriate yet."

"Part-time is better than no time," Danny said, attempting to mask his disappointment with optimism. "

"And Spock will be helping you with some meditation techniques," McCoy added, watching as Danny's face shifted from relief to apprehension. "It'll help you manage those powers of yours, especially when your emotions run high."

"Commander Spock? Really?" Danny's voice cracked slightly. "But... what if I mess up?”

A half-smile tugging at the corner of Mccoy’s mouth. "Spock's not going to judge you, kid. He's here to help. Besides, it takes more than a bit of raw emotion to rattle that Vulcan."

"Great," Danny muttered, his mind racing. He looked up at McCoy, feeling overwhelmed. "Dr. McCoy, I... thank you. For everything."

The doctor's expression softened slightly. “Remember, Danny - stick to that schedule. And comm me if you need anything.  Now get out of my sickbay before I change my mind."

As Danny left, he couldn't shake the conflicting emotions swirling inside him. Relief at being accepted, uncertainty about what lay ahead, and a nagging fear that he might not be able to live up to everyone's expectations.

Chapter 11

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 9

Flashback: In the ghost zone: Far Frozen: Dr. Bonechiller:

After a long fight with ghost after ghost and then Vlad, Danny found himself in the swirling green void of the ghost Zone. He was drifting closer to the Far Frozen. He planned to make a pit stop there before heading home. Dr. Bonechiller would help patch him up. The giant Yeti was a gentle soul.

"Danny, come in," Dr. Bonechiller called, his furry face peering out. Danny phased through the door into the examination room. The good yeti doctor sat Danny down on a medical bed and started patching up his wounds, making small talk as he went.

After his current injuries were tended to, Danny perked up and asked a question that he had wanted to ask for a while but kept forgetting or backing out.  

"Hey Doc. So... about these electrical scars..." Danny held up his arm, revealing the Lichtenberg scar branching from his hand up to his shoulder. "Any way to get rid of them?"

Dr. Bonechiller examined the scar, his large fingers tracing the pattern. "I'm afraid not, Danny. These types of scars are tied to the trauma you experienced. They'll only fade once you've emotionally processed and healed from what happened. Once your core has healed from the trauma that inflected this injury. Technically, there is no surface damage; it’s more of a reminder to you."

Danny's shoulders slumped. "Great, so I'm stuck with them."

"For now, yes. But you're strong, Danny. You'll get through this." Dr. Bonechiller turned and retrieved a small black data chip. "Here, this contains all your important medical information from your visits and extra information I felt you would find helpful. It also contains my emergency contact. Only call me if it’s an emergency. Keep it safe."

Danny took the smooth rock. Part of him wondered if this was some odd joke. Danny decided not to ask how to access the data chip, stone technology, or whatever this was. He felt too prideful and embarrassed to ask. *I bet Tucker can figure it out.* With that thought he tucked it into his pocket. "Thanks, Doc. I will."

Danny unfortunately forgot about the smooth stone in his pocket, failing to ever ask Tucker to look at it.

Enterprise: Sickbay

Danny found himself under the keen gaze of Dr. McCoy. The hum of medical equipment provided a soothing backdrop to the tension that had taken root in Danny's chest.

"Alright, let's take a look at you," McCoy said, scanning Danny with a medical tricorder. The readings were all over the place, flickering between human and some unknown energy signature.

"Fascinating," McCoy murmured. "Your cellular structure is in flux. I've never seen anything like it."

“Yeah…...” Danny mumbled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. “I guess that’s cause I can switch between two different forms.”

McCoy raised an eyebrow, his interest evident. "And this ability of yours to switch between ghost and human form...it's fascinating. I'd like to see it in action later, if you're up for it."

"Sure, Dr. McCoy," Danny said, though he couldn't shake the sense of being a specimen under a microscope.

McCoy's eyes fell on the electrical scar peeking out from under Danny's sleeve. He gently took Danny's arm, pushing up the fabric. "Those electrical burns from the accident too?" McCoy asked gently.

Danny pulled his arm back, tugging the sleeve down. His shoulders hunched, and his gaze dropped to the floor. "Yeah," he mumbled.

McCoy's heart ached for the boy. What kind of parents let their teenage son wander into an active portal unsupervised? He resolved to get Danny the counseling he likely needed.

“Would you like me to treat it?” Mccoy afford. “A dermal generator will patch this up in no time.”

"Dr. McCoy, these... they aren't just scars; they're remnants of trauma that echo in my ghost form," Danny began, cautiously opening up about his past injuries. "When I'm in my human form, they're like memories. I was told that technically that they are healed physically, it’s like a physical reminder of my trauma, and they won’t fade until I deal with it.”

McCoy leaned forward; his professional curiosity piqued. "You mean to tell me these are more than physical? That they're tied to your... psyche?"

“Yea, I guess so, I was told I’d have to deal with it emotionally and mentally…..In the Ghost Zone, where I'm from, we have something called a core," Danny began, tapping his chest. "It's like a heart, but it's the source of our powers. When I got shocked, it...it hurt my core. Left these scars." *Granted, that shock created my core, but I don’t really want to explain that. * Danny thought to himself.

McCoy nodded, jotting down notes on his PADD. "Now, tell me—do these scars cause you any pain?"

“Sometimes…...usually on the day I got it…..like an anniversary. It hurts all over on that day like it did when it first happened.”

Mccoy made a note on his tablet.

 “So this core, it's a physical organ?" Mccoy asked.

Danny shrugged. "Sort of? It's more like a manifestation of our essence. Our souls, I guess you could say."

McCoy raised an eyebrow at Danny's poor explanation. The kid was clearly no doctor. "Alright," he said, lowering his tone. "Where exactly would this core of yours be located?"

Danny bristled. "That's private," he insisted. "People just don't give that info out."

McCoy squinted down at the teen ensign, his patience wearing thin. "Listen, kid," he growled, "that's what doctors are for—to help when private things get hurt."

"I..." Danny started, his voice shaking. "I don't know if you can even detect it in my human form. But it's under my human heart." He paused, taking a deep breath.

McCoy picked up his tricorder again. "Speaking of your ghost form, do you think you could show me? I'd love to get some readings and see how your biology changes."

Danny hesitated, old instincts urging him to keep his powers hidden. But he forced them down.

"Alright," he agreed, hopping off the biobed. "Just...don't freak out, okay?"

McCoy chuckled. "Kid, I've seen my fair share of strange things in this galaxy. I think I can handle a little ghost action."

Danny took a deep breath, reaching for the familiar chill at his center. A flash of light engulfed him; twin rings traveling across his body as he transformed.

McCoy watched in awe as the scrawny teenage boy was replaced by a white-haired, green-eyed floating teen. His tricorder scanning and recording away.

"Remarkable," he breathed. "Your entire molecular structure has been altered."

Danny rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly self-conscious under the doctor's intense scrutiny. "So, this is my ghost half."

McCoy circled him, tricorder whirring. "And you can switch between this form and your human one at will?"

Danny nodded. "It took some practice, but yeah. It's like flipping a switch."

Danny transformed back into a human, with a wry smirk on his face. "That's me. Just your average half-ghost freak."

McCoy frowned at the self-deprecation. "Hey, now. None of that. You're not a freak, Danny. You're unique. Also, I’m pretty sure you check all the boxes to be counted as a living being, just cause you all call yourselves ghosts, doesn’t make you any less alive. "

Danny ducked his head, unused to such open acceptance.

"Thanks, Doc," he said softly.

McCoy smiled, resting a hand on Danny's shoulder and gently squeezing it.

****

"First things first, you're going to rewrite your mission reports. Add in the details about when you used your powers. I want a full picture. And the captain will want that full picture as well.” Mccoy ordered. Giving the teen work to keep him busy. As well as getting on record any time Danny used his powers on past away missions to help the crew. It would only help the boy’s case, especially if they could confirm the weird energy readings they had recorded were him. Already from Mccoy’s scans, he could tell it was the same type of energy reading.

Danny groaned inwardly, hating paperwork with every fiber of his being. "Reports, really? Isn't there something more... hands-on I could be doing?"

"Nope!” McCoy said with a wry grin. "And while you're at it, I'll be setting you up with some educational material. We need to fill in the gaps in your knowledge."

"Education tests? I've done fine in engineering," Danny protested, but McCoy raised an eyebrow at him.

"Son, engineering is one thing. But you skipped high school and the Academy. We need to know where you stand academically." McCoy handed him a PADD loaded with learning modules. "Except for history," he added sternly. "You're blocked from those searches, given your status."

"But...but I know stuff!" Danny protested. "My parents taught me a lot about science and engineering."

"I don't doubt that. But humor me, alright?" McCoy tapped at the PADD.

Danny slumped in defeat. "This is payback for lying, isn't it?"

McCoy smirked. "Consider it tough love, kid. Now, get to it. Doctor's orders."

Danny sighed, accepting the PADD. Writing reports and taking tests wasn't exactly his idea of a good time, but it may be worth the hassle if it meant gaining the crew's trust and understanding.

"Yes, sir," Danny said.

"Hope to it, kid," McCoy grunted, patting Danny's shoulder.

He stared down at the PADD in his hands, trepidation swirling in his gut. Rewriting all those reports, recalling each time he'd used his powers to save the day...it was going to be tough and tedious.

*It's just great! Here I am in space but stuck in a space hospital doing my least favorite thing: HOMEWORK! * Danny mentally groaned to himself.

As he got to work on his assignments, he glanced up and noticed his friend Kas enter his med bay room. At first, he felt happy to see her, but then he felt fearful. *Oh, God, what if she knows?  What if she’s mad? What if she hates me?* Danny hunched his shoulders, not wanting to face the music. He had forgotten the Andorian girl worked in medbay. She might know everything.

Danny was surprised when he felt Kas’s arms wrapped around his should in a side hug. It was a bit awkward with him sitting up in a bed.

“Are you all right?” Kas asked, her big black eyes looking at him with concern. “I saw you got a talking to by the big three! That must have been scary!”

“I’m alright, Kas…...wait, you’re not mad?” Danny asked.

“No! Why would I be mad? Is it about you being underaged? Now don’t be mad about how I know that, Daryle might have let that slip…..But I’m sure it will all turn out ok!” Kas rumbled, giving him a tight squeeze.

“Yeah, I’m fifteen…...” Danny wheezed as Kas hugged him tighter. He was surprised at her strength.

“OMG! You’re just a baby!” Kas squealed.

“Oh god! I can’t breathe!” Danny joked. It was only partly true; he’d be fine without breathing, but man, was she hugging him tight.

Kas let go and frantically apologized. She looked a bit embarrassed. “Sorry for being too much, but I just want you to know we can still be friends.”

Danny felt so relieved. “You’re not mad about the hybrid things either?”

“Hybrid? What do you mean?” Kas asked.

“Oh…..I thought……I thought everyone would know since I got caught.” Danny stammered.

“Danny! This is medical; we aren’t going to air your private medical files! But no, I didn’t know.”

“Oh……” Danny blushed, realizing his mistake and how he just outed himself.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to…...that’s private stuff, you know?” Her blue antenna dropped in concern. “But for what it's worth, I don't think any less of you. So, you're a little different. So what? We're all unique in our own ways. And I won’t go around telling people if you don’t want that."

Danny's smile grew a bit more genuine. "Thanks, Kas. I appreciate that. And please don’t tell; it was hard enough coming clean earlier…..."

Kas shot him a sympathetic look before bustling off to attend her duties, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

****

Doctor Mccoy was examining Danny again. Danny was getting really tired of being poked, prodded, and scanned. But he was trying his best to be good. Maybe they’d let him stay if he was good.

“Danny, Have you ever had someone to talk to about ghost stuff and the accident? Not just friends or family but a professional?" Mccoy asked. He was already making a list of potential therapists for the kid to see. A few were already on the ship, and a few were selected for video calls. He was just curious if the kid had ever gone to therapy before.

Danny hesitated, memories of Dr. Bonechiller surfacing in his mind. "Actually...yeah. Back in my own time, I found a ghost doctor who helped me understand my powers and how they affected my body. I’d go to him if I were close by, and he’d help me if I were hurt."

Danny's eyes widened. "Actually! Dr. Bonechiller gave me a data chip with all my information. I completely forgot about it until now. It's back in my quarters."

"Kid, you're telling me you've had your medical records this whole time?" Dr. Leonard McCoy grumbled as he glared at Danny Fenton, who had the grace to look sheepish. His arms crossed, McCoy leaned back against the edge of a biobed in Sick Bay. "And it didn't occur to you to mention it?"

Danny fidgeted, scratching the back of his neck where the electrical scar ended. "I kind of forgot about it, Doc. Everything's been so crazy since I got here..."

"Forgot," McCoy echoed with a huff, shaking his head. Typical teenagers, forgetting important things. "Well, go get it then. Kas can go with you. I’d rather have it than fly blind.”  

Danny nodded eagerly but was also too embarrassed to mention that he didn’t know how to access the ghost file.

Danny rummaged through his belongings in his quarters, searching for the data chip Dr. Bonechiller had given him. After a few minutes, he triumphantly held up the small, black stone. "Found it!"

Kas stood behind Danny, looking around his room, which he shared with Weston. Danny was very relieved his roommate wasn’t in.

Before they could leave and head back to sickbay, the door to the room opened.

The door slid open, revealing Walton Weston. His smile faltered when he spotted Danny. "Oh. It's you."

“Yes, just us, and we are leaving,” Danny said, trying to sidestep with Kas in tow.

Weston blocked the exit by leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Why are you letting him out and about, Kas? He’s dangerous, probably some sort of alien shapeshifter.”

Danny's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I'm not an alien."

“Back off, Weston or I’ll report you for harassment and intolerance.” Kas glared, getting in between Danny and Weston.

“But I was right, wasn’t I?! He was lying this whole time! He should be in the brig!” Weston shouted.

Kas grabbed Danny's hand and shoved Weston out of the way. “You need to be quite, and that’s not up to you, Danny is a patient in sickbay, you need to back off.”

Weston glared at their retreating forms.

~Back in sickbay~

Danny held out what looked like a polished, black stone. "Here it is, Doctor McCoy."

"Looks like a paperweight," McCoy muttered, taking the object and turning it over in his hand. "How does it work?"

"Uh..." Danny hesitated, his youthful face scrunching up in concentration. "Dr. Bonechiller just handed it to me. He didn't really explain."

"Of course, he didn't," McCoy said, not quite managing to hide a smile at the teen's befuddlement.

"Let's see if we can't make heads or tails of this thing." McCoy activated his tricorder and passed it over the stone. The device emitted an odd whirring sound, its screen displaying a series of fluctuating energy patterns that were undeniably similar to Danny's unique readings.

"Interesting..." McCoy mused, eyebrows knitting together.

"Yeah, I'm not really sure how it works," Danny admitted sheepishly. "Ghost technology can be pretty weird."

"I bet Scotty would love to take a look at this. Maybe he can figure out how to access the medical data stored inside." Mccoy mused.

Chapter 10

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 8

 McCoy sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. McCoy's gut told him Danny was a good kid at heart despite the lies. The boy clearly had his reasons for wanting to hide what he was. However, regulations demanded full disclosure of medical status. McCoy had to get to the bottom of this. Not even getting into the fact the ensign was a minor and had managed to skip the schooling the academy provided. Command was not going to like that.

He tapped his com device on the wall. "McCoy to Kirk. Jim, can you and Spock meet me in my office? I need your help with something?”  What he wanted to tell the two was best left off of official records or written records.

A moment later, Kirk responded. "On my way, Bones. Is everything okay?"

McCoy sighed. "Just get down here, and I'll explain."

While waiting, McCoy reviewed Danny's scans again, fascinated and puzzled by the unknown DNA signature. He wished he could sit Danny down and have an honest talk with him and make the kid feel safe enough to open up. But Danny was clearly too scared for that right now. Hopefully, Kirk could get through to him. Another idea popped into Mccoy’s mind. Scotty could talk to the kid while he explained the situation to Jim and Spock. Maybe make the kid feel like he had someone in his corner instead of the lecture interrogation that would follow.

Picking up the flip phone-style comm unit, he dialed in the code for Mr. Scott. "Scotty, I need you to meet me in my office as soon as possible. It's about Ensign Fenton."

“That bad, Len?” Scotty’s accented voice replied.

“Just get up here,” Mccoy Answered.

The sound of footsteps brought McCoy back to the present, and he glanced up to see Kirk, Spock, and Scotty entering his office. Their expressions were a mix of concern and curiosity, and they were clearly eager to learn what warranted this impromptu meeting.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," McCoy began, gesturing for them to take a seat. "We have a bit of a situation with Ensign Fenton. For one, he's only fifteen, and he fancies himself a skilled hacker…. he skipped the academy altogether. And he’s hacked and forged his medical records. He claims he’s a hybrid, but from what little he told me, I’m afraid we might be dealing with an abusive augmentation experimentation case here. Whatever his parents did to give him extra abilities."

Spock had a perfect poker face, not letting any emotions slip; he only allowed a raised eyebrow to indicate his interest. “Fascinating. It is illogical to conceal one's true nature, and the amount of deceit is alarming, while it is an impressive task he implemented."

“Abilities in what way? Like Evens, ESP, or enhanced strength and intelligence like augments?” Kirk asked.

“Now, I haven’t done a full examination or test of his abilities, just what he’s told me. I don’t know how much he can do with his mind or how many ESP capabilities he has, but from the sounds of it, whatever was done, whatever his parents were experimented with, gave empathetic abilities and more physical ones, like invisibility.”

Kirk's eyes lit up with a realization. “The away missions!” Captain Kirk furrowed his brow; he was concerned about the ensign's lies but more so for his well-being, having observed the young man performing admirably during away missions. "I did think he seemed a bit young," Kirk admitted.

“While the ensign could be tied with the success rate of the away missions he has been on, is there only way to measure this?” Spock asked.

Mccoy nodded. “He does give off a faint energy signal of some sort. My instruments have trouble picking it up. It could match the signature we have been finding. It’s possible it gets stronger when he’s using his abilities. It…...just needs further study.”

Spock and Kirk looked thoughtful. Mccoy knew that Kirk had a soft spot for kids, especially those from rough backgrounds. He knew he’d be willing to give the ensign a chance, especially if he didn’t mean any harm to the crew. Mccoy was well aware that it broke Jim’s heart not being able to help Charlie Evens; they just were not equipped to help an unstable teen with powers. Hell, Jim had been willing to speak of for the Evens kid when those energy beings came to collect him. Jim had a big capacity for compassion. After all the things that the kid did, Jim was willing to try, arguing that they could teach him, saying that he just needed someone to teach him.

Mccoy mused that, it was a good sign that this ensign, while similar, was very different from that case. At least this kid hadn’t lashed out at anyone with his abilities. And if his hunch was correct, the kid had been using them to help on away missions. Granted, they would have to discuss what would be done. Should they allow him to stay aboard or make him actually go through the academy? Having him underage and possibly on the run from something added a whole other can of worms. Mccoy wanted to give him a chance, but he’d be for the option that would be in the best interest for the kids wellbeing as well as keeping everyone safe.

Scotty looked surprised but interrupted with a hint of defensiveness in his tone. "Ensign Fenton's done well in my department, Doc. Never had any problems with the lad."

"I know," McCoy replied, nodding to acknowledge Scotty's point. "But this goes beyond his work performance. He's a hybrid or augment of some sort, and he's terrified of revealing the truth about his nature and what happened to him."

As McCoy spoke, he could see the concern etched on Kirk's face.

"First, we need to get him to open up," McCoy continued. "I've already tried, but I think maybe Scotty would have better luck, given their working relationship. I think that would be best before we call him in here to explain himself.”

Scotty nodded, determination set in his features. "Aye, I'll give it a go, Doctor. Maybe I can help put his fears to rest."

"Thank you, Scotty." McCoy turned to address the others. "While he's doing that, I'd like you two to help me look into Ensign Fenton's background. His DNA is an exact match for a human, but there's also something else – something I've never seen before. There are no matches in the Starfleet database, so we're dealing with completely uncharted territory here. I have no idea what substance was being experimented on, and from what he told me, his parents found some entity from another dimension, which is very concerning. "

Spock raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the challenge. "Fascinating. We shall assist you in your investigation, Doctor."

"Alright then," McCoy said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get to work."

Danny sat on the biobed, staring at his lap, his fingers fidgeted nervously at his side, and he wished he could simply fade away. But before he could act on the impulse, Scotty approached him with a warm smile and a friendly clap on the back.

"Come now, lad," Scotty said, his tone light and teasing. "Why are you giving our good doctor such a hard time?"

Danny swallowed hard, trying to steady his racing thoughts. He hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I didn't think anyone would believe me……and……I’ve never had to explain it before."

"Ya shouldn't assume what we will or won't believe Danny," Scotty reassured him gently.

“I know……but it’s hard to talk about…..I always feel like a freak.” Danny replied in a sad tone.

Scotty reached out and placed a hand on Danny's shoulder. “Hey lad, none of that ya hear.” Scotty noticed how the young teen relaxed under his touch. Scotty made eye contact with Danny, giving him a reassuring look. “You’ll always have a place in my department…...but if you want to stay, you have to give the full story to the captain. Giving him the full story will help him make a decision or even decide to give ya an opportunity; otherwise, he might only have a few choices to make for ya.”

“I’ll try…...it’s just hard,” Danny mumbled.

“Now, don’t tell me too much, cause you’ll have to repeat it, but Mccoy told me you could turn invisible, can ya show me?” Scotty asked, he was in truth very curious what the lad could do. And maybe showing the wee lad that he was okay with his abilities would put him at ease.

Danny gave Scotty a shy look but nodded. With that, he disappeared from the visible spectrum.

Danny's disembodied voice echoed through the room. "You don’t think this is weird?”

“What no! This is amazing!” Scotty reaches out and prods at the empty air, his brow furrowed in concentration, as he could feel the solid form of the ensign but not see him. *Really gotta work on the kid’s confidence; something that is weird isn’t bad. * Scotty thought to himself. “Can you do anything else lad?”

Danny, feeling encouraged by Scotty’s reaction and the feeling of his positive emotions flowing off of him, felt comfortable enough to share more. He could tell his boss didn’t think he was a freak. Danny's disembodied voice held a hint of pride. "Watch this." With a shimmer, he reappeared on the bed, concentrating, and his body went transparent; he showed off his ability to go intangible. "I can do all sorts of stuff – phase through walls, even manipulate ice, a bunch of stuff……honestly, if you think of a ghost…...or anything a ghost can do……I can do……” Danny trailed off, testing the waters, without saying HE was half ghost.

Scotty let out a whistle. “That’s mighty impressive, lad!” Scotty gave Danny a considering look. “Have you been using them on away missions?”

Danny nodded eagerly. “Yeah! I’ve been trying my best to help where I can….I have a good handle on them. When I first got them…..it was a mess. I’d accidentally phase out my own clothes or fall through floors.”

Scotty raised an eyebrow at this. “I’m glad ya, got a handle on it, can’t have you falling through the ship out into space. Ya know that will be a good thing to mention to the captain, every little bit of information will help him decided what to do with ya.”

Danny decided not to mention that he’d probably be okay out in space right now. “Do with me? What’s gonna happen?” Danny felt his anxiety increase.

“Nothing bad lad. I Imagine it’s more of deciding whether to ship you back to Earth or not. Regardless if you stay or not, you’ll be ok, lad, Nobody gonna harm ya. However, ya might get some extra chores as punishment for lying. Don’t worry about it to much, I’ll be right here with ya.” Scotty replied.

Before continuing their conversation, Mccoy, Kirk, and Spock exited the CMO’s office and walked over to the medical room where Danny was located.

"Alright, Ensign Fenton," Dr. McCoy said, “Are you ready?” He asked.

Danny nodded his head. He still felt nervous, but he was trying to be brave. It did help that Scotty was standing by his bedside, giving him encouraging glances.

Captain Kirk leaned forward, his eyes filled with compassion. "Danny, we can keep your medical information confidential, but you have to tell Dr. McCoy the truth. Otherwise, you will face disciplinary action, including time in the brig. Do you understand?"

Danny hesitated, his breath hitching in his chest. He glanced at the faces surrounding him—Scotty, who had been nothing but kind; Spock, who regarded him with cool curiosity; and Dr. McCoy, whose concern was palpable beneath his stern facade. Finally, with a heavy sigh, Danny relented.

"Alright," he muttered, casting his eyes downward. “I’ll answer whatever you want to know.”

“Good, good,” Kirk replied, relieved the teen wasn’t giving them a hard time. “I would like to know for the record if your name is Daniel Fenton?”

“Yes, I didn’t lie about that. That’s my real birth name.” Danny replied. He was partly relieved they were starting with the easy questions.

“Fascinating,” Spock spoke up. “Because when we tried to find a file on you, the only documents found were the ones you made. You don’t exist in the Federation database.” Spock ended his statement in a way that prompted an explanation.

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. “How far back did you look?” Danny felt nervous, so much for easy questions.

The senior officers pinned him with an intense stare at that question. Mccoy slowly asked, almost afraid of the answer. “Ensign……What year were you born?”

“Um…..February 12th……1989….” Danny replied having trouble keeping eye contact with the officers around him.

There was a thick silence that felt like it could be cut with a knife. Spock raised his eyebrow in interest. Captain Kirk dragged his hand down his face and gave a deep sigh in frustration. This complicated things if the ensign was to be believed.

Scotty stared incredulously at Danny but soon gave him a thoughtful look. This explanation explained some of the teen's actions and words.

"You're from the past," McCoy said slowly. Comprehension dawned in his eyes. "That's why you lied about your age. You're not just underage - you're centuries displaced!"

“How…. how did this happen, Ensign,” Kirk asked, getting straight to the point.

Danny’s gaze flicked between the officers. "I got stuck here because of a stupid wish."

The disbelief on the faces of his commanding officers was evident, and Dr. McCoy pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Son, you're going to have to explain that one a little better."

“I know, I know," Danny interjected quickly, his voice small. "It's just... hard to explain. And you said to start at the beginning…...ok…here it goes….” Danny's eyes darted between the four older men, weighing his options. With a defeated sigh, he finally relented.  I'm... I'm a half-ghost. My parents are fringe scientists who study this material called ectoplasm….and they figured out a way to build this interdimensional portal. I accidentally got stuck inside when it turned on. The ectoplasm from the Ghost Zone merged with my DNA, making me a human-ghost hybrid. That's why my biology is... weird."

Scotty scratched his head, bemused. "Well, lad, I didn't think it would sound so... strange."

"Of course, it sounds strange!" Danny huffed; his cheeks flushed with indignation.

“While strange, it’s not out of the range of possibilities, and while impressive someone from the 20th century could create that level of technology, it’s not impossible.” Spock cut in. “This portal you mentioned, where their beings inside, did something send you through time?” Spock asked.

“Yeah……these ghosts from the zone, they’re like energy beings……they have their own culture, government, laws, and lives. It’s like a world, like the inverse of this one. It’s very different. From what I understand, ectoplasm combines with a soul and makes them into this energy being, kinda like a second life. Cause you get all these different instincts and impulses. And……I know not all of the beings in this dimension started out on this side of reality, like they give birth, and some formed in the zone, so I guess not all of them had a different live.” Danny tried his best to explain, but it was hard, how do you explain an entire culture and world in a few words.

“Fascinating,” Spock replied.

“I’m taking it one of these ‘ghosts’ or energy beings sent you forward?” Kirk asked his expression thoughtfully.

“Yea…...there’s this ghost that’s a genie, she likes to grant wishes, but she twists them, and she gets stronger after doing this. She’s a pain to fight……they like to fight….but also I had to cause….she was causing trouble in my town……granted wishes left and right, like someone would ask for a dog, but she’s make this giant rabbit monster dog that would try to eat them…..”

“Is this common…. a common ability?” Mccoy asked, his tone of concern.

“Um…..everyone has abilities. I’d say her ability wasn’t common, at least not that I’ve seen. The common ones that everyone gets…. are invisibility, flight and intangibility. Everything else varies, depending on all sorts of stuff.” Danny replied. He didn’t want to get into obsessions just yet. This was a lot to explain at one time.

“What did you wish for exactly, lad?” Scotty asked, generally curious.

“Um…. ok, understand I wanted to be an astronaut, and I didn’t know she was close by……I just….it was an off handed comment…. I just said I wish I could go to space…...I didn’t expect to get flung into the future.” Danny explained.

"Ensign Fenton," Spock inquired, a rare note of curiosity in his voice, "is invisibility the extent of your capabilities?"

Danny hesitated for a moment before admitting, "No, I can do lots of stuff."

Kirk held up one hand, stopping any further explanation. “I would also like a full report on all the abilities you possess and a demonstration, but we can get to that later. Danny, where are you from?”

“I’m from Amity Park, Illinois. I imagine you’re gonna look me up. Can you not tell me what you find? I’ve been avoiding looking at history stuff and what happened to my hometown. Or if I make it back or not…... I’ve been scared that I don’t.”

“You believe you’re not stranded here?” Spock asked.

“Um….well….there’s this one ghost….his name is Clockwork, his main ability has to do with time. He watches the timelines and corrects them when they go wrong. I figured he’d pluck me out and send me home. But he hasn’t, so maybe I’m supposed to be here. I hope he’ll get me home, or maybe I have to find my way to the zone and ask him that way. But he’s really hard to find if he doesn’t want to be found. I was hoping he’d send me home, cause talking to him can be annoying, he likes to say things in riddles.” Danny explained.

The senior officers were looking at him with looks of surprise and incredulous stares.

“We’re going to come back to that ensign. Clearly, you’ve lived an exciting life.” Kirk said. “But I promise we won’t tell you of any……spoilers…. but yes, it would provide a way to confirm your story.”

“Danny, it sounds like these beings had access to your town?” Scotty asked.

“Yeah, the portal my parents built was never shut down, so it provided an open doorway for them to get through….now not all of them are like this……most tend to stay in the zone…..but some would attack my town…..and since I was really the only one that could stand up to them…..I’d have to fight them.” Danny replied, thinking nothing of this.

“What about you’re parents?” Kirk asked.

“They didn’t know…... I was scared to tell them.”  Tears pricked at the corners of Danny's eyes. "They believed that all ghosts are evil, as something to be hunted down and destroyed. I wasn’t sure they would accept me.” Danny admitted, his voice shaking. “They already hated my ghost form…...they’d shoot at me….and try to capture me and talk about dissecting me and tearing me apart molecule by molecule.”

The four older men around him looked at him in horror at this.

“Kid…..I hope you know, we’d never do that to you…..that Starfleet wouldn’t do that do you.” Mccoy asked with slow, measured words. He’d love to give the kid's parents a good talking to and set them straight for the neglect and abuse they put their kid through.

“The whole ghost thing, it's not something everyone gets. And I didn't want to end up some science experiment or, worse, kicked out of Starfleet." Danny replied, tone sad.

McCoy sighed, his expression softening further. "Son, do you really think we'd do that to you? Starfleet is about embracing diversity and finding strength in our differences. You should've trusted us."

"Guess I messed up, huh?" Danny's shoulders slumped.

"Let's not focus on that," McCoy replied. "Now, tell me more about this 'ghost form' of yours. What does that mean?"

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, basically, I can switch between my human and ghost forms. Basically, I present more of one biologically when I do this change.”

“Was this change drastically different than your human form?” Kirk asked, wondering if the kid’s parents didn’t recognize him, not that it would excuse the hunting of a sentient being.

“I mean…...it’s not too different…look wise. I glow and have white hair and green eyes…... but I don’t look too different…... I think it was not something people would think is possible, so nobody made the connection.” Danny replied with a shrug.

“I think that’s enough for now……I’ll let you know of my decision later…...this is a lot to take in. In the meantime, Bones, keep Danny in medical for now until we get this sorted out.” Kirk focused his attention on Danny again. “Will you let Mccoy do an in-depth DNA and physical examination?”

"Yes, Captain," Danny agreed, his shoulders slumping slightly in resignation.

"Let's work on creating a baseline for your normal, shall we?" McCoy suggested, trying to put Danny at ease. "It might be slow going since you don't know all the details yourself, but it's important that we understand your unique physiology."

Danny nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes, sir."

"You're safe here. I promise we'll take good care of you," Mccoy told him, patting his arm.

The boy offered a tentative smile. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

McCoy nodded to Kirk, Spock, and Scotty as they left. He turned to his young patient and said firmly, "Now then, let's start getting a baseline..."

Chapter 9

[tinynerdz360]

Future Ghost Chapter 7

McCoy gestured to Danny to sit on one of the biobeds as they entered the medical bay. Reluctantly, Danny complied, perching on the edge as if ready to bolt at any second.

McCoy picked up a medical tricorder and began scanning the ensign. As the readings came in, he frowned, quickly rescanning Danny and double-checking the device. It was one thing if this happened once, but it happened every time he tried to scan the ensign on the away mission, in Scotty’s office, and now here.

"That can't be right," he muttered. Setting down the tricorder, he reached for Danny's wrist to take his pulse manually.

Danny flinched at the contact. McCoy noted how cold the boy's skin felt under his fingers.

Danny shifted uncomfortably under the doctor's scrutinizing gaze. As McCoy scanned his wrist, the older man's eyes narrowed at seeing the old electrical scars marring Danny's skin. The ensign instinctively tried to pull away, but McCoy held his arm firmly in place.

"You never had these taken care of with a dermal regenerator?" McCoy asked, his tone more curious than accusatory. Danny shook his head, avoiding the doctor's eyes.

"Never got around to it, I guess," he mumbled, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. It wasn't exactly a lie – after the accident that turned him into a half-ghost, there were far more pressing matters to attend to.

Mccoy pressed his fingers to the inside of Danny's wrist, and his frown deepened further. "Your skin is cold… and your heart rate is far too slow for a human." McCoy's voice was stern as he looked at Danny, who shrank back under the intensity of his gaze. "It's against regulation and extremely dangerous to lie about your biology, Ensign. If you were injured on a mission, this information could be vital for your treatment."

McCoy met Danny's eyes, seeing the fear in them. “Would you care to explain?"

Danny's heart pounded as Dr. McCoy's scans revealed anomalies in his readings and signs pointing to a much younger age than on file. He shifted nervously, averting his gaze and trying not to panic.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled unconvincingly.

"Oh, I think you do," McCoy said sternly. "Withholding vital medical information is not only against regulations but also dangerous. What if something happened to you on an away mission? I wouldn't have known how to treat you properly."

Danny looked down, fidgeting with the hem of his uniform. McCoy pressed on.

"Now you can either tell me exactly what's going on with your physiology, or I'll find out myself during a full examination. Your choice."

Danny paled further at the threat. But before he could respond, his breathing accelerated, eyes widening in panic. McCoy cursed internally. The last thing he wanted was the kid passing out on him.

"Easy there," he said gently, crouching to Danny's level. "Just try to breathe with me, nice and slow."

McCoy's brow furrowed as he watched Danny's chest heave, the kid's eyes wild with panic. He'd seen plenty of patients afraid of needles or medical procedures before, but this was something else entirely. *There's more to this story*, he thought grimly. *And I'm gonna get to the bottom of it.*

"Hey, kid," McCoy said softly, touching Danny's trembling shoulder. "Take some deep breaths. You're safe here, I promise. No one's gonna hurt you."

Danny nodded jerkily, gulping in air. His eyes darted around sickbay like a cornered animal.

McCoy exchanged a worried glance with Nurse Chapel.   *Poor kid looks about ready to bolt. * He had to tread carefully.

After a few minutes, Danny's breath evened out, though tension still radiated from his small frame. McCoy decided to change tactics.

"Son, I'm gonna ask you something, and I need you to be straight with me," he said, fixing Danny with a stern look. "Did you lie about your age to get on this ship?"

Danny's eyes widened. He looked down, his face flushing with shame. "I... yes, sir," he mumbled. "I'm 15."

*Good, good, he’s not gonna try to lie about that….my scans prove he’s young, I just wanted to see if he’d admit it, * McCoy thought. *Besides, there is No way this scrawny thing is 18.* He sighed heavily.

"I appreciate your honesty, Danny. Takes guts to admit when you've messed up." McCoy kept his voice level, noting how the kid seemed relieved to change the subject from his medical issues. *Filing that away for later. *

"We've got a lot to figure out here - and believe me, there will be consequences. But right now, I want to make sure you're okay."

Danny nodded, still avoiding eye contact.

"C'mon," McCoy said gently. "Let's get you something to eat, and we can talk more. One step at a time."

McCoy led Danny to his office, gesturing for him to take a seat. He replicated two cups of hot chocolate and handed one to the teen before sitting down himself.

It took several minutes, but Danny's breathing gradually evened out. The young ensign trembled as he sipped the warm, sweet drink. Dr. Mccoy let the kid calm down before continuing their conversation.

"So," he began, trying to keep his tone casual, " you're clearly good at hacking. That how you got yourself assigned to the Enterprise? Just bypassed the whole academy process?"

Danny fidgeted, staring into his mug. "Yeah," he admitted quietly. "I really wanted to go to space, and I figured...I don't know. I thought I could handle it."

McCoy raised an eyebrow. "Including forging your medical records? You realize how dangerous that is?" *Looks like, I guess correctly about the academy; how much did this kid forge? Does he realize how bad that looks if he’s not a spy…. command might assume that anyway…..I wanna think the best of him, my gut says he’s a good kid, but he’s dug him self a massive hole….* Mccoy mused to himself as he watched the teen.

The boy hunched his shoulders, looking even smaller. "I know. I'm sorry."

*Damn it, kid. What were you thinking? * McCoy sighed. "Listen, Danny. I get that you're brilliant with computers. Hell, you managed to fool Starfleet! That's no small feat. But there's a reason we have protocols in place."

He leaned forward, catching Danny's eye. "The academy isn't just about learning facts and figures. It's about preparing you for the realities of space travel - physically, mentally, emotionally. It's a lot to take on, especially for someone your age."

Danny bit his lip, looking torn between defiance and shame. McCoy softened his voice.

"I'm not trying to lecture you, kid. I just want to understand. With your skills, you could've tested into the academy easily, even at 15. So why take such a huge risk? What made you feel like you had to do this alone?"

Danny blushed with embarrassment. The truth was, he didn’t know that was an option at the time. Paired with his core obsession with space, he just wanted to get to it as fast as possible. And he wanted to pretend he was normal, not a freak of nature.

Danny shrugged, his eyes darting away. "I just...I didn't have anywhere else to go, really. Joining Starfleet and getting on the Enterprise felt like the right choice at the time."

McCoy latched onto those words, a sinking feeling in his gut. "What do you mean you didn't have anywhere else to go? What happened, Danny?"

The boy squirmed under his gaze, his fingers twisting in the fabric of his shirt. "I...it's complicated."

McCoy's jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed at the kid. *Abuse? Neglect? What the hell happened to this kid? *

"Danny," he said gently, "I know you're in a tough spot. But I need you to be honest with me. The academy has programs for prodigies and kids from difficult backgrounds. They could've helped you if you'd let them."

A flush crept up Danny's neck. He looked genuinely surprised as if the idea had never occurred to him. *Christ, how isolated was this kid? * Mccoy wondered in concern. It worried him that the kid was so scared of being different, Mccoy was well aware, that while earth had come a long way, there were still pockets that didn’t trust aliens, or humans with extra abilities. And from his scans, if Mccoy were to guess, the kid was some sort of hybrid. It was possible that his home life wasn’t accepting of this.

"I didn't know that," Danny mumbled. "I'm not - I mean, I don't really..." He trailed off, his eyes flickering to the door like he wanted to bolt.

McCoy's heart ached. *Easy, Leonard. Don't spook him. * "Okay," he said softly. "We don't have to get into all of that right now. But I do need to know one thing."

He leaned forward, holding Danny's gaze. "Where are you from, Danny? Who are your parents?"

The boy went still, his face shuttering. "I can't tell you that."

*Damn it. * McCoy studied him, taking in the hunched shoulders. *He's terrified. *

"All right," he said, at last, sitting back. "I won't push. For now.  But Danny, you’ll have to answer these questions at some point. Hacking into Starfleet and medical files isn’t consequence-free."

Danny swallowed hard, his eyes suspiciously bright. "I... I know.”

"Danny," he said quietly, "I need you to understand something. If you want to be a part of this crew and have a future here, you have to start being honest with us. With me."

Danny's eyes widened, a flicker of hope sparking in their depths. "You mean...I could stay? Even after everything?"

*Damn it, Leonard, don't make promises you can't keep. * "I can't guarantee anything," McCoy said carefully. "But I'll do everything in my power to make sure you get a fair shot. You've got potential, kid. I'd hate to see it go to waste. And There might be some very serious consequences for all this, but I can help you, but only if you stop this lying nonsense.”

Danny's breath hitched, and for a moment, McCoy thought he might cry. But then he squared his shoulders, lifting his chin with a determined air. "Okay," he said softly. "I'll try. I promise."

McCoy offered a reassuring smile. "Good. We'll take this one step at a time. But Danny - no more lies, okay? Not to me, not to anyone who you’re superior officer. Trust has to go both ways."

Danny nodded, his expression still nervous. "I understand. And... I’ll try, it’s just…. I just never had to explain before…..I…...I don’t know if you’ll believe me…..or I’m…..I’m scared……I’m scared that I’m just a freak." Danny stuttered, and his words trailed off, and he refused to make eye contact.

"Now, hold on just a minute," McCoy growled, the sudden ferocity in his voice making Danny flinch. "You are not a freak, you hear me?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've seen a lot of strange things in my time, kid. And whatever is going on with you ain't even the weirdest."

Danny scoffed and muttered under his breath, “I doubt that.”

Mccoy shot Danny a pointed look. He was concerned and didn’t like where his mind was taking him. The signs were starting to point in a direction that would open a whole can of troubling worms.

"Now, about your biology..."

McCoy waited patiently as Danny fidgeted, clearly trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he mumbled almost inaudibly, "I'm a hybrid."

McCoy raised an eyebrow. *Yes, I’ve gathered that, but thanks for the confirmation. * "A hybrid? Of what exactly?" From the scans, Mccoy couldn’t figure out what the other DNA was. Nothing in his database matched.

Danny squirmed under his gaze. "I'd...rather not say."

Sighing, McCoy crossed his arms. "Kido, what did I say about you having to trust me? You're safe here; no one will hurt you because of biological differences."

Danny still looked uncertain. "Can't you just put the scan results in my file? Without mentioning the hybrid part?"

McCoy frowned. A thought occurred to him, prompting him to voice it out loud. "Do you actually know what your other half is? Could one of your parents have been an unknown alien?"

Looking briefly startled, Danny quickly schooled his expression. "Uh, yeah, actually. I never knew exactly what species my dad was."

McCoy raised an eyebrow at Danny, his keen eyes recognizing the lie. "Ensign Fenton," he said, his tone firm. You're a terrible liar, kid. It’s amazing you’ve made it this far.”

“Look, I can’t force you. I still need your permission, or well a guardian’s permission to let me do any deeper scans, or blood drawls. And if you can’t provide guardian information, then I guess you’d be under the federation as a ward. But you will need to get those done if you want a chance to stay on board. That’s just how it’s going to be.” Mccoy explained as gently as he could. “But like I said, if you trust me and tell me the whole truth, and none of this half-truth nonsense or lies, I can help you. I’m on your side, kid; I just want what’s best for you.”

Danny could feel the compassion, concern, and honesty flowing off Doctor Mccoy. He was telling the truth and meant every word of it. “I’ll try…. I just don’t know where to start…..and I never really had to explain it…..” Danny took in a trembling breath, trying to calm his nerves.

“Well, I usually find starting at the beginning helps,” Mccoy replied teasingly. “What do you mean, you’ve never had to explain it? Did your parents or guardians take care of that? Did you ever go to a doctor? Or what about school, surely, they told someone?”

“I…...they didn’t know…...my parents don’t know,” Danny mumbled, getting closer to explaining the truth without truly saying it all.

Doctor Mccoy stared at Danny in disbelief—not that he didn’t believe him, just that his parents didn’t know he wasn’t completely human. “Can you explain that for me?”

Danny stared at his lap and fiddled with the cup of hot cocoa. “My parents are scientists…...and inventors, and they do a lot of experimentation…... "I'm not...normal," Danny began haltingly. "When I was younger…...well…. last year…. when I was fourteen…... there was an accident..."

Mccoy kept silent and listened to his young patient. He felt alarm bells go off in his mind; this was starting to sound like a neglect or abuse case, at worst, human experimentation. This would explain the kids’ deep fear of the medical setting and the kid’s other fears. Mccoy wondered with dread what the kid’s parents were experimenting with. Was it similar to augmentation or granting humans with extra abilities? Mccoy wondered if Danny indeed was on the run, and that was why he didn’t name his parents.

“There was this machine they were working on…..it didn’t work at first…..so….um….I was showing off to my friends….and I went inside this machine…..and the funny thing really…. but the ON button was inside, and I tripped, and it turned on…..while I was inside.” Dannys stumbled through as fast as he could. He knew he should mention the ghosts and the time travel, but he felt it was too weird to try to explain.

Mccoy looked at him with a look of horror, his gaze flickering down to the scars on his wrist. “I’m going to put a pin in that, whole blatant disregard for safety protocols and neglect on your parent’s part…...for now.” Mccoy took a deep breath and slowly let it out; this turned out to be more complicated than he thought. “I’m not sure how that would make you a hybrid, though; I think it would put you in more of the augmented category.” Mccoy mused.

“What’s an augment?” Danny asked before Mccoy could continue his line of questioning.

Mccoy gave Danny a weird look, and Danny just knew that he asked the wrong question.

“You know, like the Eugenics Wars?” Mccoy asked with squinted eyes.

“Oh….” Danny thought about pretending to know but remembered his promise of no more lies. “I don’t know….” He said in a whisper.

Mccoy held up his hand. “We’re gonna come back to that later. I would love to know why you lack proper historical education. But I have some other questions first.” Mccoy said, his tone turning grumpy. His fingers were tapping on his desk. Mccoy wasn’t mad at the ensign, but the more he talked, the more Mccoy found out; he didn’t like the picture that was being painted.

Danny paled a tiny bit. He had avoided looking up historical events in fear of finding out the fates of Amity Park and whether he had ever made it back.

“Did this accident cause any notable changes? Why do you think it made you a hybrid?” Mccoy asked, getting back on track.

Danny again refused to look up. “It did…...um…. I say I’m a hybrid cause my parents were studying these entities from another dimension…. that DNA got fused with my human DNA. It’s hard to explain….”

Mccoy raised an eyebrow in interest. “I’m sorry that happened to you, kid. Can you tell me of any changes it made for you?” Mccoy made a mental note to circle back to the other dimension subject; he doubted the kids’ parents were doing anything legal.

Danny looked up at McCoy, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of shyness and guilt. "I... I can do lots of stuff," he admitted softly. "Like flying, It made me an empath, actually it did allot of stuff, I could make a whole list.” Danny gave out a nervous chuckle. “It gave me the ability to do so much stuff……. Including invisibility."

McCoy narrowed his eyes in annoyance, his brow furrowing as he processed Danny's words. He huffed out a breath. "You little brat," McCoy grumbled, his voice tinged with exasperation. "That's how you've been avoiding me these past few days." Mccoy felt this was really close to some augmented territory or a Charlie Evens-type case. But Danny didn’t give him the same unstable vibes as the Evans kid.  In fact, Danny hadn’t hurt anyone with his powers, or none that Mccoy was aware of. Mccoy felt willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Danny ducked his head, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He knew he'd been caught red-handed, and there was no point in denying it now.

McCoy's expression softened slightly, and he tilted his head to the side. "Can you do that right now?" he asked, curiosity coloring his tone.

Danny closed his eyes in concentration, and his body shimmered for an instant before vanishing entirely, leaving only an empty space where he had once sat.

Mccoy blinked in surprise. He couldn’t see any sign that the ensign had been there.

Mccoy stood up and walked around his desk until he stood before the ensign's chair. He waved his tricorder over the empty air, attempting to take readings from an invisible Ensign.

His tricorder still picked up the strange readings and his life sign. Mccoy shook his head with amusement. Mccoy then reached out with a hand. He stared in fascination as his hand found the solid shoulder of the teen. It was weird not being able to see him but feel him instead. “Alright, that’s enough, Ensign.” Mccoy watched in fascination as the ensign shimmered back to visibility.

Danny looked up at Mccoy, watching for signs of rejection or approval. Danny blushed when his stomach made itself known with a loud grumble.

"Alright, here's what we're going to do," McCoy said decisively. "You'll remain here in medical until we get this sorted out. I appreciate your honesty, although I feel like you’re leaving things out, kid. I see the effort. But I expect you to tell me these things when I get back. In the meantime, let’s get you fed.”

Mccoy led Danny out of his office and set him up in a more private room in the med bay.

Danny sat on the biobed and fidgeted.  

“Nurse Chapel is going to bring you something to eat, ok?” Mccoy told Danny.

Danny just nodded; he still felt nervous and scared.

“Hey, just so you know, when I return, the captain will be present too,” Mccoy told Danny gently.

Danny jerked his gaze to meet Doctor Mccoy's blue eyes. “But…” Danny tried to argue but was cut off by Mccoy.

“But nothing, captains gotta know, kid. But don’t worry, Kirk is fair, just be honest, ok?” Mccoy encouraged with a sharp gaze.

Danny just nodded.

Mccoy placed a hand on Danny’s shoulder. “Hey…. we’re not going to hurt you or drop you off at the nearest planet. We want to help you, and we can’t do that if you keep all this a secret. I know you left some things out…. I hope you will share the full story when I get back.”

Danny nodded with a shaky breath. “I’ll try….”

Chapter 8