Danny, Sam, and Tucker sat next to the door to Lancer’s office as their parents argued with each other. They had agreed to keep Danny’s transformation to themselves. Words about smoking and drugs filtered through the thin door. Each set of parents had no trouble shifting the blame from their own kid to the other two. Lancer’s attempt to calm them down went largely unheeded. The three teens simply sat and waited for the enviable. Danny’s face brightened when Vlad Masters appeared in the hallway.

“Uncle Vlad! What are you doing here?”

“I heard what had happened and I came to help if I can.”

Danny shifted a thumb to the door and the shouting on the inside. “Do you mind hiding me for the next thirty years? I have a feeling this isn’t going to be pretty.”

Vlad smiled and walked into the office. In less than a minute, the office went silent. The teens looked at each other with puzzled looks. The door opened and The parents piled out. Sam’s parents were dressed in expensive clothes with jewelry to match. Tuckers had a more casual attire and Danny’s had just worn their jumpsuits. Vlad and Lancer were the last to exit the office. Lancer pointed at the three.

“I’m letting you off with a warning. Don’t let me catch you skipping class again.” He went back to his office.

“Lets go Samantha.” Miss Manson grabbed her daughter’s hand and walked her towards the exit with the father close behind. Tucker’s parents simply waved to him and the three left. Danny cringed for what was coming his way.

Maddie was the first to speak. “We are very proud of you Danny.”

“WHAT??”

Jack smiled and patted his son on the back hard. “Of course. Going after a ghost at such a young age. Sure you teacher didn’t believe your story. He can’t see the big picture. So was it a big ghost?”

“Human sized!”

“Great! Lets go Maddie!” The two charged down the hall.

Vlad sighed. “Your parents have certainly have a one way thinking mentality.”

“Sure do. How did you get us off the hook?”

“I just explained that there was no evidence that you and your friends were doing anything illegal. And your parents reputation does proceeds them.” Vlad sat down next to Danny. “I might have scared off your friends thou.”

“Don’t worry. There was a ghost. A crazy box controlling ghost.”

Vlad laughed. “Then your mother was right. She is always right.”

“What about dad?”

Vlad coughed a bit. “How about a trip to the pizza parlor and then video arcade?”

“All right!”

Vlad sat down in front of his main computer later that night. He had much work to do if everything would work out as he had planned. Three screens were in front of him. The one on his right showed Danny’s readings when he was in his ghost form. The one on his left showed the readings of the ghost he had fought. The center showed ghosts that he had found in The Ghost Zone.

“A few more attacks should help push Danny towards me. But I need to make sure that the ghosts can’t push too much.” He went through his files and found nothing that would serve his purpose. After an hour he sighed and shut the computer off. “Why is it so hard to find a ghost that is on the same level as a ghost I created.?” A light bulb went off in Vlad’s head. “Why find a ghost when I can make one?” Vlad switch the computer back on. He brought up a list of possible people to turn into ghosts. In order to insure the desired transformation, he must make sure the situation was perfect. He narrowed the list to five and made a print out copy. Research was needed before a move could be made. Vlad stood up and grabbed the print out. He rubbed his chin, “Until I am ready, I guess I will have to live with what ever comes out of Jack’s sabotaged portal.” He would send a few of his robotic probes to keep an eye on the boy, just incase.

Danny laid in his bed staring up at the ceiling. His sister was downstairs studying and his parents were still combing his school for the ghost. So many things were happening at once. The ghost, his weird transformation, and puberty. He felt so alone. A rapping at his window broke him out of his trance. He walked over and found Sam standing under his second story window. He opened the window.

“Hey! You grounded?”

Danny shook his head. “My parents almost gave me a metal.”

“Lucky. I had to sneak out.”

“Sorry about that. Can’t help but to feel it was my fault.”

“Forget it. Can I come up?”

“Sure! Let me get the door.”

“No need!” Sam climbed up the lamp post that was on the corner near his house. Danny stepped back as Sam stood on top of it and jumped into his room. Danny’s jaw dropped as the girl stood up and straightened her clothes. She smiled and pushed Danny’s jaw close.

“The door?”

“Boring.” Sam sat down on Danny’s bed and looked around the room. The room was typical of a fourteen year old. Posters of various musicians and wrestlers filled the walls. Small piles of clothes doted the blue carpet and his disk had been used a catch all. “Nice room. A little on the bright side, but nice.”

‘There is a girl in my room that isn’t related to me. Damn life is good.’ Danny moved to sit next to her, but thought better of it and went to his little use desk chair. “So what brings you here?”

“After everything that happened, I think you needed somebody to talk to.” She leaned back. “So you want to start with that transformation of yours.”

The sunlight shined through the open window woke Danny from his slumber. He looked up from his desk and angrily closed the curtains that had failed to close itself last night. He reached out and after three attempts, he grabbed the small clock on his desk and brought it close enough for his sleep filled eyes to see. The glowing red lights showed seven forty five.

“Damn! Over slept.” Danny gulped as the voice wasn’t his. He looked over and spotted Sam sitting on his bed, stretching.

“You…” Danny gulped. “..were here all night.”

“Yeah! You fell asleep around one and it was awful dark for a girl to travel alone.” Sam giggled at the sight of Danny’s face. “You have some desk face going on.”

Danny rubbed his face and two pencils and some paper clips fell to the floor. “Thanks!”

A knock came from his door. “Danny!” It was his mom. “It is getting late.”

Danny thanked whatever divine being was in existence that it had been his mom and not his dad. He would have busted in without knocking. “Sorry! I’m not dressed yet.”

“Well hurry up young man. School starts in an hour.” He footsteps echoed as she walked down the hall.

Danny held his breath until the footsteps dissipated. “That was close.”

“Your telling me!” Sam stood up and slipped her boots on. “I’ll see you at school.” She pushed the curtains aside. She swung herself out the window and hung down for a moment before dropping to the sidewalk. She waved and ran down the street.

“See ya!” Danny waved as she disappeared behind a corner. “I think my life has finally turned around.”

Above the Fenton home, The Box Ghost floated next to Vlad. “So do you understand you mission?” Vlad handed the ghost a small square device with a red button.

The Box Ghost nodded as he took the device. “Do not worry. I The Box Ghost will not fail. That boy will suffer for driving me from my home.”

“Yes, yes!” Vlad was only half listing as he spied the girl that had exited the house. Another plan was forming in his mind. “Just do as I have said and you will have your well earned revenge.” The Box Ghost flew off to the ambush point Vlad had picked out. “It begins!”