(Sometime later, the three arrive in front of the Phantom Sanctuary, a large building that resembles an ancient Greek state building. As Danny looks away from the sanctuary towards the rest of the Ghost Zone, he sees that several sections of it are in ruin.)

Danny: What in the…
Sydney: We were hit. Hard. He came out of nowhere & just started laying waste into everything. My area of the zone, we barely made it out before he destroyed it all…(Desiree & Spectra rush by, carrying a badly beaten up Klemper.)
Desiree: We got another one!
Spectra: Geez, what did I tell you about eating your weight in snicker doodles?
Desiree: If I recall, you are the reason why he eats his weight in snicker doodles.
Spectra: Oh, silly me. Danny, be a dear & open the door to the infirmary.
Danny: Klemper! Holy smokes, you look like you went 9 rounds with the Hulk & lost.
Desiree: Believe me, he’d be better off if he fought the Hulk.

(Danny opens the door as Klemper is carried in. A veritable laundry list of ghosts are all staying inside being treated for various wounds.)

Sam: Oh my…I didn’t think ghosts could be hurt like this.
Sydney: Ghost physiology & biology is vastly different from human biology.
Desiree: What the encyclopedia here means is that it takes an extraordinary amount of energy to wound us.
Spectra: The guy that did this, he has way more than any of us though. He may even be stronger than Pariah Dark.
Danny: I didn’t need to hear that.
Desiree: Alright, here’s a spot. (Klemper is laid next to a bandaged up Bertram, currently switching between his humanoid & ghost form.)
Bertram: This bites.
Spectra: It could be worse. You could be sent out there to fight him again.
Bertram: In that case, it isn’t so bad.
Danny: If someone can fill me in on the gory details here, I’d appreciate it.
Sam: Yeah, usually we’re not exactly called into the Ghost Zone.
Spectra: A few days ago, a prisoner that Clockwork had broke free from his prison. Ever since then, he’s been running amok. We tried solving the problem on our own, but that’s been about as successful as a snowman in hell.
Desiree: We threw everything we had at the guy, but we’ve come up short.
Sam: That explains why Danny’s here.
Danny: I’ll wager a uses & say that not even the big ghosts could do anything.
Spectra: Overgrowth, Vortex, even that huge ugly pug we keep locked up, they got hit real hard. (Sydney rejoins the group with a small view screen in hand.)
Sydney: Oh dear, looks like he’s heading towards the outer areas again. (Danny is given the view screen.)
Danny: Oh no…him. (Sam looks at the view screen & her eyes go wide.)
Sam: Wait, what is he doing here? I thought that…
Danny: I thought so too…he shouldn’t exist.
Bertram: A little clue here, some of us aren’t up to date.
Danny: This, sadly, is Dark Danny.
Sydney: Ah yes, the evil doppelganger from an alternate timeline scenario. That’s still new to me.
Spectra: Evil? You? Oh please, you’re as straight laced as a sneaker. I do admit, the resemblance is uncanny.
Desiree: And if he is an evil version of you, what is he doing here?
Sydney: I believe Clockwork holds the answer to that. But for now, Danny come with me. The others are waiting.

(Sydney leads Danny & Sam through a pair of double doors into a corridor, lined with statues of people in robes.)

Sydney: We gathered what capable fighters were left here in this place to plan our next move.
Sam: Just what is this place anyway?
Sydney: They say it’s a relic from the old times, from even before Pariah Dark. It’s used mainly to store records & artifacts deemed too dangerous for mortal or ghost hands. We also use it as a staging area & relief center. Ah, here we are, just a couple more doors.

(As they approach their destination, Youngblood peers out from behind a statue.)

Youngblood: They got YOU? Man they must be desperate.
Danny: Youngblood? How the heck did you get here? Shouldn’t you be off playing with finger-paints or something?
Youngblood: REAL mature, coming from someone who just started shaving his mustache.
Danny: At least I can grow one!
Sydney: Please, settle down, both of you. Youngblood, you were specifically told not to wander around this area.
Youngblood: Right, like I’m listening to anyone over the age of 14. It’s boring in the medic area, I wanna fight the guy.
Sydney: And I want a girlfriend to go with me to the sock hop, but that’s not happening anytime soon. March, Buster Brown.
Youngblood: Feh, whatever. You’ll need me sooner or later. (Youngblood skulks off muttering.)
Sydney: Now then, let’s go on, shall we?

(Sydney opens the door to a huge conference room. Seated at a huge table, which has a bowl of oranges, are various ghosts, which include Clockwork, Pandora, Johnny 13, Ember, Skulker & Technus. Kitty stands off to the side behind Johnny. At the head of the table is Frostbite.)

Skulker: HIM? We’re relying on his help?
Technus: Strictly speaking, he does stand a better chance than even I, master of technology in this case.
Skulker: I would like to point out that it was HIM that caused this mess to begin with.
Johnny: Dude, mellow out. Harshin’ on the kid won’t solve this one.
Danny: This is going as predicted. Frostbite, good to see you.
Frostbite: Same here, great one.
Ember: Good, you exchanged pleasantries with Baby Pop, got that out of your system? Good. Now can someone please tell me what’s going on?
Skulker: If you’d stay awake, you would know.
Ember: In between your droning on about ‘feasible battle maneuvers’ and Technus’ slide show, it’s a miracle I wasn’t in a coma.
Technus: My presentations no longer induce sleep!
Pandora: Do NOT make me use my big girl voice, any of you! Now then, Danny, be seated. Clockwork, refresh us.
Clockwork: Thank you. Some of you do not know this, but a few years ago I was asked by the Observants to take care of Danny here, to prevent this from happening. (An holographic image of Dark Danny pops up.) This would have been Danny ten years from now had he continued down a certain path.
Technus: I must admit, the cape and goatee is a nice touch.
Pandora: He would have been borne from Danny’s grief at losing his friends and family in an accident after he cheated on a test. Dark Danny is the amalgamation of Danny’s ghost half and Vlad Plasmius merged into one being. The crisis was adverted but at a cost.
Ember: Ok, I get the evil part, but why is he here? I mean, really, you’re as squeaky clean as they come why does he still exist?
Danny: He came here to make sure his future would happen, one way or another. I managed to trap him in the thermos.
Clockwork: Sadly, the thermos wasn’t strong enough to contain him forever. He has managed to free himself & is wreaking havoc here.
Sam: So that’s why you called us in.
Frostbite: In a matter of speaking, yes. You are most familiar with him, so any input will benefit us.
Technus: I’m getting word from Walker’s team; they entered the area where the dark doppelganger is now.
Skulker: I still don’t see why we should let Walker go off and hunt for him.
Ember: Hey, better him than us.
Sydney: Hey, Walker, can you tell that guy to focus? I can’t tell a tree from a rock!

(Switch to an abandoned, run down citadel. A soldier adjusts his helmet camera as several different guard, all with various gear and weapons, converge on it’s entrance. Standing near the back of the team is Walker, megaphone in one hand, a radio in another.)

Walker: Poindexter, keep your voice down; I’m trying to delegate here. All right gentlemen, the perp seems to have taken up residence here. Let us show him what our brand of justice means here. (Bullet, his right hand man, raises a fist.)
Bullet: Uh, how do you want this done?
Walker: As swiftly and painfully as possible.
Bullet: With pleasure. You heard him. GO!!!

(In a matter of seconds, the team acts; a flash-bang grenade is tossed in the doorway, and after a few seconds it bathes the interior of the building with an intense bright light. Then the guards, weapons drawn, swarm in. For several seconds, there is nothing but the sounds of intense fire, screams & blasts. Then, as quickly as it started, it stops.)

Walker: …
Bullet: …
Soldier: Something’s wrong sir. I’m not detecting any movement at all.
Bullet: Maybe they have him cornered somewhere.
Walker. Highly unlikely. These soldiers don’t let any of their prey out of their sights once they see them.

(A lone guard exits the citadel, ecto-rifle in hand. The barrel is still smoking.)

Soldier: Sir, one of our men is coming out!
Walker: See, what did I tell you? Good work, number 187.
187: Sir, we have a problem.
Walker: Oh? Is there anything left of the fugitive to identify?
187: Actually sir, he’s here
Bullet: That doesn’t make sense.
Walker: The C4 must be getting to your head. Of course he’s here, we tracked him to this building.
187: No sir, allow me to show you what I mean.

(187’s eyes glow green. Before Walker realizes what’s gone down, several rapid fire blasts rip through Bullet’s body. 187 aims toward Walker & fires, but Walker, in a cowardly fashion, uses Bullet’s prone body to shield himself before entrapping his own weapon & fires, one blast disarming 187 & the other going right through his chest.)

Walker: That was pretty sneaky overshadowing one of my men.
‘187’: Oh that’s rich, coming from you! (A transparent figure emerges from 187, then becomes visible. It is Dark Danny, or Phantom.)
Walker: Looks like my best men couldn’t even stop you.
Phantom: Oh, were they your best? I’m sorry I couldn’t tell. No way to assess ability while ripping them limb from limb.
Walker: Cute. Your days of running amok are over. I’m judge, jury & executioner of the Ghost Zone, and I can tell you right now I’m particularly fond of the executioner part.
Phantom: That makes two of us.

(Walker fires his weapon at Phantom. Smirking, Phantom generates a ghost shield around himself to ward off the blasts while gathering energy in his right hand.)

Phantom: This got dull real fast.

(Lowering the shield, Phantom fires a quick blast, knocking back Walker. Startled, Walker raises his weapon, but it’s too late; Phantom is already on the move. Phantom lands a vicious hook & then follows up by grabbing Walker by the throat.)

Phantom: You disappoint me Walker, really.
Walker: What…are you…
Phantom: Do you know what the human side of me hated about you? Your arrogance. The sheer gall you had shown, coming into my town & trying to make my life a living hell. Of course, my human side is long gone, so it won’t bother me when I do this! (Phantom raises his free hand, which is a dark green.)
Walker: You can’t get away with this! There are other who will put a stop to you!
Phantom: Too bad you won’t e around to see it.

(Phantom punches & his right fist goes right through Walker’s chest. Walker’s whole body begins to glow.)

Phantom: You know this is the second time I’ve killed you. Never thought it’d be this much fun.

(In a few seconds, Walker glows brighter & brighter until an explosion engulfs the two. When the smoke dies down, only Phantom remains, his fist still smoking. He turns towards the soldier with the helmet camera & smiles.)

Phantom: Boo. (Fires an ecto blast.)

(Back at the sanctuary,. All assembled are in a state of shock.)

Ember: Holy smokes!
Kitty: impossible…
Skulker: There’s…there’s no way he could have killed him! He’s a ghost! He’s already—
Clockwork: It is entirely possible.
Sam: I thought ghosts were, you know, already dead. You can’t kill someone who’s already croaked.
Frostbite: No, Sam, Clockwork is right.
Pandora: You see, ghosts in the Ghost Zone are two categories; Ghosts like Ember & Johnny are in the first category. They were originally human, but after they have passed on for one reason or another they stay here. Ghosts like myself, Clockwork & Skulker are different. Since we’re originally from the Spectral Plane, we develop differently.
Pondexter: Also, if a ghost is strong enough or if a weapon is made the right way, strong & permanent damage can be done.
Danny: In short, it really is possible to wound or kill a ghost.
Frostbite: Yes it is. Your evil counterpart seems to be able to do that.
Technus: The breaking down of ghost energy seems to be his specialty. This is something we were not able to anticipate.
Skulker: In any case, Dark Danny will not rest until we are all dead. I see only one viable solution.

(Skulker raises his arm. A rather large laser cannon pops out & he aims it at Danny.)

Danny: You know, if you dragged me all the way out here just to kill me, you could have at least made the effort to give me a cup of tea.
Skulker: Dark Danny is the future incarnation of you! We eliminate you, he goes away, end of story!
Danny: That very well may be the dumbest thing you’ve ever said, and you have said a lot of dumb things!
Frostbite: Skulker, unless you want to spend a considerable amount of time frozen in a glacier, I suggest you lower your weapon.
Skulker: Oh be sensible! I was going to kill him sooner or later. The continued existence of  Dark Danny only justifies it!
Clockwork: The only reason Dark Danny exists is because he is taken out of his original time stream. Honestly, I wish you people would take the time to research the ins and outs of time travel.
Technus: But who is to say that Danny will not become the very thing that could destroy us all? Even if the circumstances behind his creation had been adverted, something else could happen that would turn him down to the dark side.
Skulker: All the more reason to kill him now!
Pandora: I will not tolerate that sort of talk! The future is uncertain, that is a given. I believe we can trust in Mr. Fenton here.
Ember: Sure, whatever.
Kitty: You’ve been uncharacteristically silent.
Danny: Yeah, this must be a record.
Ember: Shove it, dipstick. Look, I don’t really understand this dark side mumbo jumbo, but I isn’t here because I’m feeling noble like one guy here or feel like my dominance is threatened like most of you. I just wanna get this over with so I can get back to doing my own thing.
Sam: You mean cranking out badly written pop songs.
Ember: My stuff’s WAY better than that Goth crap you’re into.
Sam: I’ll have you know---
Johnny: Uh, pardon me? Look, I’m not exactly the voice of reason but this really isn’t getting us anywhere! We need a plan to stop the guy.
Danny: Johnny’s right. He’ll be here sooner or later & we’re too busy being at each other’s throats to think of a plan.
Pandora: Yes, well the situation is a very difficult one. The only capable fighters we have are you, Ember Johnny & Skulker.
Sam: Wait, Frostbite, you can help.
Frostbite: Yes, but I have to go back & assemble my men to aid you. They’re organizing as we speak, but we may not get here in time.
Technus: Pandora & I have been scouring the archives for something we can use to get the Dark One, but we’ve been coming up short.

(The door to the chamber open & Youngblood enters the room.)

Youngblood: Man, you guys are lost.
Sydney: Hey, I told you to stay in the medic area.
Youngblood: Yes, well I’m bored. And if you guys want to stop that guy I know something that can help.
Danny: What, we strap him to a rocket & send him to the sun?
Youngblood: Hmm, no, we don’t have any rockets. But we have something better. Mainly this temple.
Johnny: No offense, but that sounds sort of…lame.
Skulker: Although I always did fancy dropping a building on someone.
Youngblood: Sheesh, grownups. Look, I’ve been reading up on this place. The Ancient Ones, they built this in a specific area in order to plug up a hole.
Skulker: Ok, but I fail to see how this will aid us.
Youngblood: The hole just happens to be a gateway into Limbo. This hole would have spread throughout the place if they didn’t build a field to stabilize it.
Danny: I get it. If we can get control of the gate into Limbo, we can trap him in there.
Pandora: That seems like a good plan, but we don’t even know how to open the gate.
Youngblood: This might be useful. (Youngblood holds up a book that reads ‘Interdimensional Gateways For Nimrods.’)
Technus: Where’d you find that?
Youngblood: Duh, internet!
Frostbite: Then it’s decided: the gate to Limbo is our key weapon. We must get it open before he realizes what’s happening.
Pandora: Technus, you’ll assist me in finding & operating the controls for the gateway.
Technus: But of course. Who else can you trust to operate such machinery?
Danny: Says the guy who conjured up Carputer to attack me.
Technus: I stand by my inventions! And Hasbro settled the lawsuit.
Pandora: Everyone else, stand by. If what Danny says is true, then our enemy will no doubt be on his way.

(Sometime later in the hallways, Danny is looking outside the windows of the sanctuary as Johnny approaches him.)

Johnny: You look grim.
Danny: Yeah, I know. Not very day your own evil counterpart breaks out of prison and goes on a rampage.
Johnny: Well, don’t let it get to you. It’ll work out in the end, somehow.
Danny: I kind want to believe that, but…
Johnny: I saw it too kiddo.
Danny: It just spooked me, you know. That look on his face when he attacked them. And that face of his when he killed Walker, it was like he was experiencing the greatest moment in his life. The guy is worse than Vlad, and the worst part is that it’s me.
?: You, scared? Never thought I’d see that.

(Danny & Johnny turn to see Ember walking towards them, hands in pockets.)

Johnny: You’re mighty perceptive.
Ember: Couldn’t help but hear Baby Pop spout all that nonsense about the ‘Dark One’. So he’s an evil version of you. Deal.
Danny: You make it sound as it that’s the easiest thing to do.
Ember: It should be. Far as I’m concerned, that jerk is cramping my lifestyle. At this rate all the joints in the Ghost Zone will be trashed.
Johnny: Can’t argue with that logic.
Ember: Just be clear, I can do my own share of brawling & I certainly don’t need your help. So stay out of my way & let me do things on my own.
Danny: Feh, fine by me. I was hoping you wouldn’t be holding me back.
Ember: We’ll see. (Ember walks away.)
Danny: Real friendly girl that one.
Johnny: She’s kind of a loner, despite the band. But I gotta ask you something. You do realize most of the folks here hate you.
Danny: That fact has never eluded me.
Johnny: Yeah, so why stick your neck out for any of us?
Danny: Because it’s the right thing to do. When I first started out, I met this ghost at Vlad’s mansion & he told me ‘most ghosts just want to be left alone, don’t cha know?’. And as I continued to meet more & more of them, I realized a lot of them were pretty cool. I can’t exactly explain this too well.
Johnny: No, I get it. It’s a pretty broad explanation. ‘Do unto others’, a lot of people try to live up to that. I don’t know why a lot of ghosts hate the human world, I guess it’s some old grudge or something. But way I see it, it’s pretty pointless to harsh on humans. There’s a lot of crazy ones, sure, but there’s been a lot of cool ones too.
Danny: Right…
Johnny: But what is the deal with this Dark Danny guy anyway? Most people with his power try to rule the world, not kill everyone.
Danny: He’s way beyond crazed up fruit loop.

(Elsewhere, Sam & Kitty are in a conversation of their own.)

Sam: You seem awfully quiet about this.
Kitty: Am I? Well, there’s not too much I can say to stop this. There’s a sociopath that can kill ghosts & they need all the help they can get. Just my luck Johnny’s the help.
Sam: I know the feeling.
Kitty: Ah, but you don’t have to worry about Danny hitting on any cute girl within eyesight, human or ghost.
Sam: Oh well, we’re not exactly…it’s complicated.
Kitty: Wait, you two still aren’t going out? Even after…
Sam: It’s kind of hard to explain. Danny’s track record with relationships is best described as murky.
Kitty: I dunno, I always thought he was a real good kisser.
Sam: Thanks, there’s one memory I didn’t need back.
Kitty: Sorry. I only did that to get Johnny’s attention.
Sam: I’m surprised you two are still together.
Kitty: I know, but he’s a real sweet guy, once you get around the flirting & incessant need to show off his bike.
Sam: Sadly, that’s true of all guys. Hey, is that Youngblood? (Sam points to Youngblood sitting down in a corner, lost in thought.)
Kitty: Hey, it is. Young, Yo, you ok?
Youngblood: Not exactly. I mean, who could be ok when the Ghost Zone seems to be going to hell.
Kitty: Yeah, I suppose.
Youngblood: And not only that, I did a measurement. I’ve grown 2 inches.
Sam: Yeah, well most kids your age kind of look forward to getting bigger.
Youngblood: Not me. I’m supposed to be a ghost of rebellious youth, getting older’s bad for my rep. And that’s not all.
Kitty: Let me guess, you’ve got hair growing in odd places.
Youngblood: Hardy har har. There’s word that if your boyfriend can’t stop Dark…
Sam: Officially, we’re not dating!
Youngblood: …they’ll completely evacuate the Ghost Zone & seal it off. I don’t want to spend my days haunting a Chuck E. Cheese.
Sam: I don’t think we have to worry about that. Danny’s stopped this guy once, he can do it again.
Youngblood: Can he? I have my doubts.
Sam: considering he’s saved the world more times than I can count, smart money’s on him.
Youngblood: That’s just it; Danny’s fighting an evil version of himself. A guy who’s stronger & faster & has no problem with killing any of us.
Kitty: I have faith in him. He’s a pretty cool guy, you know, for a halfa. And what other guy you know would help out a place like this?
Sam: He could have just as easily said no.
Youngblood: So why didn’t he?
Sam: Because if he didn’t we all would die. It’s as simple as that.
Youngblood: Geez, being older seems like a lot of hard work.
Kitty: You think? I always thought it was easier staying a kid.
Youngblood: You would think that. But no one takes a kid seriously. No one gives someone my size the same sort of responsibilities. Even if they did let me go out there & fight, no one would consider me a threat. All I am to them is a kid with a hook & a peg leg. But at least when you’re a kid you don’t have to worry about such stupid crap like war.
Sam: Well, think of growing up as a trade in. I mean yeah, a lot of stuff grown ups do is pretty petty and to be frank, borderline insane, but you have room to improve. You get to show people hat you can really do. Yeah, it’s awkward as hell but it’s better than nothing.

(Suddenly, an alarm blares through the hallway.)

Voice: Alert! Omega Level Criminal is approaching! All essential personnel are to report to the Main Hall at once! This is not a drill! Our asses are on the line!
Sam: Looks like it’s time.

(In the Main Hall, Johnny, Ember, Skulker & Danny gather as Pandora addresses the group.)

Pandora: He’s coming much sooner than we thought. We’ll need to act fast.
Skulker: In that case, allow me to go first.
Ember: Meh, glory hog.
Skulker: No, I want to go first since my suit’s boosters can give me an edge. Ok , maybe a little bit of glory seeking is involved.
Johnny: I’ll back you up on my bike. Danny & Ember will run interference.
Danny: That plan I have no problem with.
Ember: Ditto!
Skulker: In that case, let the hunt begin. Try to keep up with me.
Johnny: You’re asking the dude with the fastest wheels in the Ghost Zone to keep up with you? You are cocky.
Skulker: Damn straight I am. (Skulker flies off.)
Johnny: Alright Shadow, let’s do this! (Johnny’s motorcycle, controlled by Shadow appears. As Johnny gets on, Kitty appears besides him.)
Kitty: Hold on there, lover.
Johnny: We’ve been over this babe. Someone needs to stop this guy & I’ve got nothing better to do.
Kitty: Yeah, I figured you would say that so…

(Kitty grabs Johnny & frenches him for a full minute.)

Ember: Wow.
Johnny: What the…
Kitty: It’s incentive to get your ass back here in one piece. I could have just made you disappear, but it would be pointless to bring you back if our home’s gone to hell.
Johnny: Gotcha. (Johnny jumps on the bike, revs his bike and winks at Kitty.) C’mon Shadow, time to rock.

(As Johnny rides off, Kitty turns and faces Danny.)

Kitty: As for you…
Danny: No kisses, please. Sam would have my head.
Kitty: For someone who’s not dating, she’s very protective of you.
Danny: Ah, well, we have known each other for a long time. You know how it is.
Kitty: Yeah, well look, I’ll make this simple. Promise me nothing will happen to Johnny out there.
Danny: What?
Kitty: Just say it.
Danny: Kitty…
Kitty: Johnny’s tough, I know. But this one’s not like Vlad or Pariah. And I’ve been with Johnny for so long. He’s all I’ve got, I’m lost without him. So I’m asking you, please, don’t lose him.

(Danny notices a small tear forming in one of Kitty’s eyes. He clasps one of his hands into hers.)

Danny: Ok Kitty, I understand. I swear, nothing will happen to Johnny. We’ll stop Dark Danny.
Kitty: Thanks.
Ember: Bleh, so cliché. I can’t believe I’m watching this.
Pandora: Oh hush! I find this rather sweet! If you had a boyfriend you’d do the same.
Ember: I had one. The metal clad lug is the whole reason why I’m soured on the dating scene.
Danny: I always thought you had a way with the guys. Or am I overlooking the ones under a spell.
Ember: Yuck it up, Baby Pop. You’ll be singing a different tune once I win this fight. (Ember flies off.)
Danny: I find the oddest causes to work for. (Technus appears.)
Technus: Hold, Ghost Child.
Danny: I’m 16 for crying out loud!
Technus: Take this communicator before you go into battle. We may have important information to dispense later. Also, it doubles as a superb media player.
Danny: Good to know. Now to business. (Danny flies off.)
Technus: Ok, now for the other pressing matters at hand.
Pandora: What our your chances of properly operating this portal to Limbo?
Technus: Even though I am a master of technology in all it’s forms, my ability to predict how to properly control the energies involved is limited. We must first find the chamber Youngblood mentioned & examine it.

(Outside in the Ghost Zone, Skulker & Johnny race towards Phantom’s location.)

Skulker: I’m surprised. You’re actually able to keep up!
Johnny: When I said I had the fastest ride, I wasn’t kidding!
Skulker: Look, here he comes!

(The two come to a stop as they confront Phantom.)

Phantom: Ah, the welcoming committee. Skulker was it? I see you opted not to merge with Technus.
Skulker: What nonsense are you babbling about? Why would I bother merging with that egomaniac?
Phantom: Oh yes, I forgot. I confused you with the Skulker I regularly manhandle in my era. You don’t seem any different.
Skulker: so you believe. Normally, I’d take pleasure in verbally knocking you down a peg or two, but I think I want to make this brief.
Phantom: That pride of yours, as always, will be your downfall.
Johnny: Ha, you ought to know.
Phantom: Johnny 13, the biker who tried to use my sister to bring that sycophant of a girlfriend into Amity. Nice to see you again.
Johnny: Uh huh, before I begin to hammer your face in with my two fists, could you do me a favor & never utter Kitty’s name?
Phantom: Ah, sensitive spot. That same weakness that got you crippled if I recall. I think I’ll show just how I did that, step by step.
Skulker: Just bring it.
Phantom: With pleasure.

(The battle begins with Skulker pressing a button in his right arm. A large barrel emerges from the palm of his right hand & he fires a rapid barrage of blasts at Phantom. Phantom manages to raise his shield to deflect the blasts while generating energy in his hands.)

Phantom: Semi automatic in the right arm. Does that bring some memories. A shame really I need to destroy them.

(Phantom lowers his shield, but before he can make a move, Shadow sneaks up from behind & grips onto his arms.)

Phantom: What the---
Skulker: Your pride will be your downfall! Johnny, now!

(Johnny leaps over Skulker on his bike & fires a blast from the headlight, hitting him in the chest. As Phantom reels back, Johnny leaps off the bike and with a chain wrapped right fist, hammers one into Phantom’s jaw, sending him crashing down into a platform below, face first.)

Johnny: Easier than I thought!
Skulker: Indeed. Walker was weaker than we thought.
Phantom: Oh, I agree. (Phantom picks himself up and rubs his jaw.) It seems I may have underestimated the two of you. Confusing you with the weaklings I thought is a mistake I won’t make again.

(Meanwhile inside the sanctuary, Pandora & Technus approach a large door, with many ornate symbols carved into it.)

Technus: Strange, you never really notice these things until you face an apocalyptic emergency.
Pandora: Human designed door in a Ghost Zone area, who’d have known. The writing’s all Greek to m.
Technus: You mean you can’t understand it?
Pandora: No, I mean it’s in Ancient Greek. I understand it fully. The writing here says “This shall only open to those who are at one with the lands of the living and the realm of the dead.”
Technus: So we need Danny to come & open this door.
Pandora: No not Danny, someone else. Doors like this were meant to be used by people with strong spiritual power. (It is at this point that Youngblood appears with Sam.)
Youngblood: I think I found your candidate.
Sam: You think I can open the door?
Youngblood: Why not? You get possessed a lot, you’re pretty handy with ghost relics, you have knowledge of spirits.
Technus: You do seem to qualify.
Sam: Well, I suppose I could give it a try. Pretty wicked looking door. So all I do is touch it like this and…

(Sam presses her hand against the door. It pulses purple and swings inwards, revealing the way into a large chamber. Long dormant machines slowly spring to life. In the center of this chamber is a large chair with a gold headset. Nearby is a huge view screen.)

Technus: I have had wet dreams involving rooms like this.
Pandora: I think I will put the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy into effect now. Thank you Sam, now we can get started on opening the gateway.
Sam: Don’t mention it, least I can do. Let’s just try to figure out how these things work.
Technus: Leave that to me.
Pandora: Odd, I never knew someone as young as Sam had enough spiritual power to open a gate like this one on her first try. There must be some sort of hidden bloodline in her family I was not aware of. If she taps into it, who knows what she can do. For now it’s best I keep this to myself.
Youngblood: You have that look.
Pandora: What look?
Youngblood: The look of someone who ha just discovered a major revelation concerning the abilities of an associate of hers.
Pandora: You are quite shrewd.

(Meanwhile, back outside, Skulker & Johnny are continuing their battle with Phantom.)

Phantom: Alright gentlemen, show me what you got. Come on,, I’ll even let you have the first few hits for free. Do whatever you want.
Johnny: A glutton for punishment.
Skulker: Yes, he’s obviously baiting us. He wants us to rush in.
Johnny: Yeah, I figured as much. I got an idea.
Skulker: I imagine it’s reckless.
Johnny: Always. Just make sure your shots count.
Skulker: I’m certain they will.

(Johnny dashes in, throwing several punches at Phantom. Phantom smiles as Johnny hammers away relentlessly with rights, lefts & hooks.)

Johnny: For someone who’s getting pummeled you’re enjoying this way too much!
Phantom: Really? I was just thinking how someone as underpowered as you could try so hard.
Johnny: Let’s see you laugh this off! (Johnny reels back &, using his chain wrapped fist, hammers it right in the center of Phantom’s forehead. A small trickle of blood runs down his face as he smiles maniacally.)
Phantom: Congrats to you, you managed to draw blood.
Johnny: What in the world…
Phantom: My turn!
Johnny: Not so fast! Shadow, now!

(Shadow emerges behind Johnny & binds Phantom’s arms together.)

Johnny: You still have a habit of underestimating us!
Phantom: And you believed I would fall for the same trick twice. Let me show you a handy little trick I picked up.

(Suddenly, Dark flashes brightly, illuminating his own body. Shadow is forced to shrink & release his hold.)

Phantom: A pity Johnny that Shadow is the only thing you can use to actually fight me. Then again, you weren’t much of a fighter to begin with.

(Phantom uppercuts Johnny hard, sending him straight up. But as Johnny rises, he lets out a smirk.)

Johnny: This will hurt.

(Phantom sees Skulker has a large rifle aimed at him, as well as several rockets sticking out of various areas of his body. Before he can take action, Skulker fires the rifle hitting Phantom in the shoulder & chest. As he continues to fire, the rockets are launched & Phantom is assaulted with a barrage of ecto blasts & rocket fire, kicking up a cloud of dust. After 2 minutes, Skulker finally ceases his attack.)

Skulker: Well, that should do it. (Phantom steps out of the cloud of dust, brushing it off.)
Phantom: Really, I beg to differ. You’ll have to do much better than that.
Skulker: I guess I’ll just have to get my hands dirty. (Blades pop out of his arms.) Have at you!

(Skulker moves in & takes several swipes at Phantom. Phantom merely grabs one of Skulker’s arms in mid swing, smiles & tears it off, right before using the arm to bash Skulker about the head with it.)

Phantom: I never dreamed I would actually get to beat someone with their own appendage. Guess there’s a first for everything! (As Phantom closes in to finish off Skulker, Johnny nails him from above with a fist to the face.)
Johnny: I hope you didn’t forget me! (Phantom responds by burying a fist into Johnny’s gut, making him double over.)
Phantom: Actually, no, I didn’t. (Johnny is grabbed by the collar & lifted up.) I’ve been meaning to show you just how I did cripple you. Pay attention, this will be quite painful.

(A sudden shockwave painfully separates Phantom from Johnny. Johnny lands on one knee as Ember & Danny arrive.)

Ember: Now that I have your attention, I’ll kindly ask that you lay off the greaser!
Phantom: It’s you. I didn’t recognize you without the baggage!
Ember: Spare me the taunts.
Skulker: Ember, wait—
Ember: Not my style!

(Ember rushes in & starts her assault on Phantom.)

Danny: Johnny, you ok?
Johnny: Yeah, I’ll be fine once that ringing stops.
Danny: Right. Skulker?
Skulker: I can do without your help! It’ll take me a while to repair myself.
Johnny: We’ll have to be careful, that guy is a freak. I hit him dead on with a clean shot & he just smiled. (Johnny slowly gets up, but he staggers.)
Danny: Ease there killer. You’ll have to sit this one out for now.
Johnny: Kitty, huh?
Danny: You know your girl better than me.

(Back at the hidden chamber, the others work frantically to operate the machines.)

Pandora: Please tell me we’re getting somewhere!
Sydney: Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Pandora: Surprise me.
Technus: I managed to initiate operations of the machines here so we are free to operate them. However…
Sam: I hate that word.
Technus: The code is in a language unfamiliar to me.
Sam: Let me see. (Sam overlooks a computer screen.) I recognize this!
Technus: You? How does a human like yourself possess knowledge of an ancient language?
Sam: It’s covered in my subscription to ‘Goth Quarterly’. There’s a section on dead languages in the back. (Sam tosses him a copy.)
Technus: Perhaps I need to invest more in these books I hear much of.
Sam: Basically, what this computer says is that someone needs to sit in that chair & let the security system use their energy to manipulate the gateway to Limbo. Everyone else needs to man these machines & set a point for the portal to be opened.
Sydney: Wait, I thought the sanctuary was built on the gateway.
Youngblood: Sort of. The idea is that while we can’t chance using the gateway ourselves, we can create a sort of shortcut into it.
Pandora: In short, we’re creating our own portal so we don’t have to interfere with the deign of this building.
Sam: The range is limited though, and if I translated it right, the portal can stay open for only a minute.
Pandora: Right…the only thing left to decide is who gets to sit in the chair.
Sydney: Gulp! Well, in that case…
Youngblood: Leave it to me.
Sydney: What?
Youngblood: Look, Technus & Pandora need to operate these computers. You need to keep the other informed. That just leaves me & Goth here. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve got way more energy to spare than you.
Sam: I don’t know if that should be called an act of nobility or a slightly chauvinistic stance.
Youngblood: Whatever. Just strap me in tight. (Youngblood takes a seat in the chair.)
Sam: If you’re sure about this…
Youngblood: Hit me.

(Technus flips a switch on a console. The machines begin to increase their activity & suddenly a surge of light washes over Youngblood. Seconds later, his eyes glow decidedly different voice speaks.)

Voice: Who…has awakened me?
Sam: Something tells me Youngblood is not home now.
Voice: Pandora…is that you?
Pandora: I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.
Voice: But I remember you. It’s me, Hermes!
Pandora: Hermes! Oh my goodness I remember! But they said you were lost in the war!
Hermes: In some ways I was. My spirit is integrated in the sanctuary & its security system. It was the only way for me to retain some sort of form in this realm.
Sydney: War?
Pandora: There was a bitter war long ago between forces from the human world & the Ghost Zone. It was because of this war that the Observants & the Shinigami were formed.
Hermes: Yes, it was an event that must never be repeated. But tell me, why are you here?
Sam: There’s this guy, called Dark Danny, he got loose & he’s tearing the Ghost Zone apart. We need to open a portal into limbo & force him in.
Hermes: Dark Danny?
Pandora: Yes, it’s a rather long story.
Hermes: No, allow me. (Hermes loses his eyes for a few seconds.)
Technus: You didn’t just read our minds, did you?
Hermes: No, although that would be just as useful. This building is unique in that I can look through various time streams. Clockwork’s initial design was brilliant. I’ve just seen the time line where he originated from. He’s caused so many acts of destruction & killed far too many.
Technus: I will assume that you’ll help us.
Hermes: Yes. But be warned.
Sam: I knew it. There is always a catch.
Hermes: Operating the Limbo Gates requires careful focus & timing. But even if the plan succeeds, there is no guarantee that he will not force open a way back into your world if he is strong enough.
Sam: So he could find a way to come back here.
Hermes: In theory. He must b weakened before I can aid you in opening the gate. Are you still willing to do this?
Pandora: We have no other choice.
Hermes: In that case, Sam I believe your name is.
Sam: Yeah.
Hermes: I will help to maintain the power, but you will be the one to help focus.