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The two scientists/hunters could hardly believe their ears at first, but now? now that they were seeing it instead? Well they couldn’t exactly deny it.
Phantom had a sister... or daughter maybe?... cousin?
They couldn’t be sure but, whatever it was, the small black and white ‘girl’ they had just managed to knock out and snag in a net was absolutely related to Phantom. Somehow. They just didn’t know how yet.
Maddie purses her lips as she approaches the net on the ground, absently noting the ghost’s fake breathing even while ‘unconscious’. ”well Jack, I didn’t want to believe the neighbors but seeing is believing”. It takes Jack all of ten seconds to become overly excited, “who would have thought, Mads! Do you think maybe they died at the same time?!? Or maybe whatever killed them was exactly the same?!? Or! Or! What about if someone gets killed by a ghost and becomes one then they’ll look just like the ghost that killed them?!?”. Maddie actually has to wince at that last one, “that would be a cruel twist of fate, Jack. But ghosts are cruel things so we can’t rule it out... yet”. With that, she nods at him and the pair yank the net up off the ground, carry It back to the GAV, and take a short and reckless drive back to the lab.
Maddie motions her head at Jack while she sits at one of the lab computers, “we’re following Phantom protocol, so make sure you keep It ‘unconscious’; the last thing we want is this one turning out to be just as slippery”. Jack gives a silly little thumbs up while gassing the ghost some more, “you got it!”; making Maddie smile.
Once Jack's satisfied with his gassing job he moves over to the needles, Mad’s could handle all the making sure their security is up to snuff and finding comparison files; he’s not the greatest at the tedious stuff. He’d much rather see what this ghosties internal ectoplasm looks like! He sticks It in the back of Its ear only because trying to get a needle of any kind through jumpsuit was a real pain! Not worth the extra effort at all. Jack can barely restrain chuckles, watching the ectoplasm fill up the vials, maybe they’d learn something about Phantom for once! Or at least why this one looked just the same! Failed duplication gone awry? Maybe someone just died near Phantom and that was enough? So many possibilities!
He hands the vials off to Maddie so he can continue taking samples. ‘Hair’ samples, photographs of all different kinds, a little square of the jumpsuit even. Jack can’t help but tap his chin, staring at the jumpsuit, “I wonder why Its suit is different... it’s even a two-piece! And the pants are baggy!”, humming to himself while measuring the diameter of Its arm, “ectoplasm doesn’t allow for the kind of genetic variation we see in living creatures. The age and visual ‘gender’ difference make perfect sense, probably being a girl and younger that Phantom when It was alive. But if It looks like Phantom because of Phantom’s influence then It should just have Phantom’s suit outright. Not a variation of it”, shaking his head and writing down his notes, “ghosts aren’t complex enough for familial variations”.
Jack only glances quickly to Maddie as the genetic ectoplasmic sequencer and centrifuge dings that it’s done the analysis, well whatever It is they’ll know just how similar the two spooks are soon! Jack returning to maneuvering the net around a little so he can begin to cut off the top half of the suit entirely, they need to see this thing!
Maddie’s smiling to herself eagerly and almost maliciously even as she grabs at the printouts, finally that would have something on Phantom! Beyond what the ghost tells them anyways. Maybe this would be the edge they’d need to have a genuine safety net against that one if the ghost ever went bad. Yes they had something of a... working truce with Phantom but the ghost was still a ghost. Not to mention their biggest ectoplasmic mystery! But bringing the papers up to her goggle-covered eyes she stills completely. There... there’s...
There’s human DNA. Unique human DNA.
She stares down at the paper, damn near ripping off her goggles. What in the world? Blinking, she could either run this again to make sure. Or, glancing to Jack, or she could stop her husband from undressing a potential human child. Snapping at him urgently, “Jack! Stop!”, first and foremost, Maddie was a mother. And if some scientists undressed her little girl, she’d kill them. Without hesitation. “You need to come take a look at this. Now!”.
Jack jerks, dropping the scissors, looking back to his wife. He’s almost startled to see that she doesn’t look like she just discovered something groundbreaking. In fact, she looks stern and serious, oops, did he contaminate something? Walking over and giving the best pouty ‘I’m sorry’ face he can, “sorry sorry, whatever I messed up we can just take more-”.
Maddie cuts him off by shoving the papers in his face, “no, Jack. If this is accurate -yes I’m checking again, with my own sample- then this changes everything”, pursing her lips, “It’s a she, Jack”. Jack stares down at the paper and winces immediately, “oh geez, Mad’s. Thanks for stopping me. But how?”. She shakes her head and grabs up another needle from a different batch set just in case the needle itself was contaminated, “I don’t know. That’s not either of our DNA, so even if that is cross-contamination then we’ve still got questions”.
Jack nods and follows her, helping to straighten the possible girl’s limbs out into a more comfortable position. Comfort didn’t matter for a spook, but it definitely did for a human, especially a human child. Jack has so many questions, how and why even? He honestly doesn’t like the first place his mind goes to. Someone was playing god. Human experimentation. Trying to give humans ghost powers? Super soldiers perhaps? Or the far worse idea of that someone just wanted to see if they could. Shuddering, Jack wonders if the possible girl started out human and something horrible was done to her. He hopes not. He’s going to leave Maddie to checking the possible girl over, she’s gentler than him and she’s a woman. Jack will find a way to make himself useful at the computers. It’s only too bad they don’t have any ectoplasmic samples of Phantom for comparison. They seem to always get destroyed or go missing.
By the time the centrifuge and programs are done analysing again Maddie side-eyes an almost nauseous-looking Jack, “what is it”. Jack shakes his head, “there are some strange extra cells and code in here. It... it looks just like that ecto-dejecto I made. Exactly like it. Mad’s... someone used our tech to do this. That stuff, it can’t occur naturally. It just can’t!”.
Maddie grimaces and puts a hand on his arm, “calm down, that’s bad yes, horrifying even, but shouting at the screen isn’t going to help anything”. Turning her head to the printout as the machine spits it out. Both scientists swallow nervously as she grabs the papers.
The readings are the same.
Maddie sighs, shoving the papers at Jack, “look over what you can, I’m getting her out of that net”, grimacing, “gosh, who knows if our ghost gaser could possibly have a different effect on her”. Jack grimaces himself over that while Maddie begins cutting away the net.
Jack just stares at the computer screen, there wasn’t much else to be inferred here; chemical and genetic makeup only said so much. The hair wouldn’t give them much else, the jumpsuit though... Choice made he sticks the small square under a microscope, Maddie getting the girl on one of their fold-out cots behind him. Her coming up behind him, “she’ll probably wake up in ten minutes, if she processes it like a ghost anyway. See anything?”. They both hope she processes it like a ghost, that stuff has never been tested on any humans before. Except Danny accidentally that one time. Jack swallowing is the only sign that he’s just as concerned as her about that, looking up from the microscope, “well the material’s just like Phantom’s. An outer ectoplasmic layer mimicking tough medical-grade spandex with a thicker ectoplasmic coating on the inside and a mild ectophobic coating on the outside. My guess is, the ectophobic layer is cell coded to her just like Phantom’s probably is to Phantom”.
Maddie nods, “do you thinks she can actually take it off and change her clothing? Why wouldn’t she do that if she could”, glancing back to the cot, “she’s pretty conspicuous in that, especially with how famous Phantom is these days”. Jack nods and taps his chin, “well... she was glancing around a lot when we caught her. Maybe she was on the run or hiding. A good jumpsuit would definitely offer more protection than regular clothing; and it might be self-repairing like all ghost ‘clothing’ typically is”.
Both scientists get their attention grabbed when the girl stirs and groans faintly. Maddie jumping slightly and sharing a looks with Jack, “less than ten minutes”, before both rush over to the cot. Jack kneeling down on the floor to make himself appear smaller; he’s well aware he could be pretty physically imposing. Maddie touches the girl's shoulder gently, making a point to use her soft mom voice, “hey sweetie, you waking up?”.
“Mmmrh urg”. The girl curls on her side a little, facing away from them.
Maddie shifts and tries again, “I know you’re probably a little groggy, sweetie, but I’d really like to make sure you’re alright, okay?”. For a bit, it seems like Maddie is either being ignored or the girl’s still a little too out of it, that is until she stiffens suddenly, snaps her eyes open, and jerks to sit up and slam her back against back the wall; damn near knocking herself out again. Maddie puts up her hands and backs off a little, very glad she put the cot against the wall. Jack just tries to make himself look very very sheepish and puppy-like.
The girl stares at Maddie, wide-eyed and almost seeming to be hyperventilating, before glancing at Jack, then back to Maddie, then back to Jack. Jack sticks his tongue out goofily; Maddie wants to smack him one. But the girl furrows her eyebrows and her breathing evens out slightly, so maybe he had the right idea. Maddie lowers her hands, “how are you feeling? Are you alright? Do you h- know your name”, Maddie catches herself from asking if she even had a name.
The girl swallows and starts glancing around the room, her eyes snapping back towards the pair of hunters every couple of seconds. “Where am I?”, swallowing again, “I’m... a little woozy but that’s it. And it’s Elle”.
Maddie nods and smiles at her, holding out one of her hands slowly, “well hello then, Elle. I’m Maddie, did you already know that?”. At Elle’s nod Maddie nods back and shuffles on her feet some, “okay good, so you know of FentonWorks then?”. Another nod. “Okay, well you’re currently in FentonWorks, the... lab specifically”. Just as expected Elle backs herself up against the wall further, looking more startled and then even more startled after a second or two. Maddie would guess she just tried to phase through the wall and realised she lacked the energy to do so; that was part of the effect of the Phantom grade ghost gaser. So Maddie holds up her hands, “hey hey, it’s alright. We do all our medical stuff down here. Even if me or Jack gets hurt we rest down here”.
Jack nods eagerly, “yup. Here’s were all the things to make sure we’re healthy and healing”. Maddie sends him a thankful smile, especially since Elle looks slightly more relaxed. Still stiff as a board though. Looking back to Elle, “that’s right”, shuffling again and sending the girl an apologetic look, “now we did take some samples while you were asleep-”.
Jack gestures with his hands some, “you look like a spook after all!”; which makes the girl flinch. Maddie glares at Jack quickly, looking back to Elle, “but as soon as we discovered you were human too, we focused on getting you comfy and waiting for you to wake up”.
It takes a bit but... “really?”.
Jack nods eagerly, leaning forwards, “yup! Taking samples from the ghosties is one thing, they’re dangerous creatures you know, but a human? No we’d never, not without permission or a really gosh darn good reason”. Maddie nods herself, “you don’t have to worry about that. Though if I may, were you aware you’re both human and ghost? It’s perfectly fine if you don’t know or just don’t want to answer that”.
Elle brings her knees up under her chin, wrapping her arms around them, “I... knew, yeah”, eyeballing them, “so you’re really not going to do anything to me? Figure out how I work? Or try to breakmedowntocreateabetterversion?”.Maddie and Jack both blink at that.
Maddie’s face softens, “oh sweetie, never”. And Jack practically jumps up to his full height, sounding more than a little ticked off, “why I oughta!”. Elle shrinking away from him for a second before straightening back out and seemingly laughing out some of her nerves. Maddie clearing her throat and moving to sit on the cot slowly, making sure not to startle her or invade her personal space, “is that what happened to you? Or was going to? Again you don’t need to tell me if you don’t feel comfortable”.
Elle eyes her and Jack for a bit before answering, “I wasn’t ‘perfect’ so... yeah”. Both Maddie and Jack wince at that. Suspecting was one thing but actually being right was another. Both of them are wondering just who could do such a thing, though they’re both a little suspicious it could have been the G.I.W.. since the couple were aware now how unethical and dangerous those people were. They willingly shot live rounds at children and a crowded observatory for peat’s sake!
Maddie swallows, “do you know who? Because, sweetie, that’s not okay”.
Elle shrugs, “I mean yeah, I do”. Maddie purses her lips some, she’s going to take a guess and say that the girl really doesn’t want to talk about whoever. So Maddie just nods and Jack manages to save the situation from possibly becoming awkward, him rubbing his neck, “so... you like cookies, kid?”. Which gets the response that always does from children, a wide grin and an eager nod, “I’ve only ever had one but yes!”. Jack looks like someone socked him in the gut before looking very determined and smacking a fist in his palm, “that does it! Tonight! Cookies!”, and then gives Maddie that puppy dog look.
Maddie sighs exaggeratedly and slowly gets up off the cot, “alright alright”, looking to Elle, “looks like your getting some Fenton family patented fresh homemade cookies”. Elle smiles while Jack actually cheers, “yes!”, and practically bounds up the stairs. Maddie giggles to herself watching her husband before looking back to the girl, “think you can stand on your own?”. Elle nods and pushes herself off the cot, she doesn’t wobble when she stands or anything. Good. Maddie nods curtly and heads to the stairs. Looking back at Elle from the doorway, quirking an eyebrow, “well? You coming?”. Elle blinks before grinning and practically running after. Absently Maddie wonders why she chose to run on the ground rather than float over; she should be plenty recovered by now, especially if she has any Phantom in her