[Dictated]

[schrodingersghost]

 [After searching every room in the castle, Danny had finally found a nameplate he was almost sure had to be his. It was the only one that mentioned ghosts, anyway.  But he had no idea what the rest of it meant.]

Um, so.  Question.  Can anyone tell me what a Schrodinger is?

Comments

[schrodingersghost]

...Like ghost and human?

[toobravehearted]

[Spoken slowly,] ...Yes.

[He's not going to say what state of being a ghost is and he's certainly not going to explain the theoretical cat being alive or dead if he can get away with it.]

I've said you sounded a little like a paradox before. A funny thing actually, in normal circumstances outside of Paradisa I'm not sure if I'd be able to see you properly.

[schrodingersghost]

Why not? I don't really spend that much time being invisible.

[toobravehearted]

Ah, no. I'm a Time Lord, Danny. If you resided in the universe I came from, I would expect to see the paradox first, not the boy. I don't perceive time and space the same as you, and my perception of you I would expect to be... Skewed.

[schrodingersghost]

Because of that time thing? Clockwork told me something like that once. He said- [Danny screws his face up as he tries to remember the exact phrase.]

He said that the observers see time like a parade. One thing after another. But that he sees time from above, and every twist and turn it might and might not take.

But skewed how? Does it have anything to do with the way I changed my future?

...Yeah, ignore that last part. Didn't meant to mention it. Like ever.

[toobravehearted]

That is a good analogy. I think I like your friend Clockwork more and more. You're sure he's not a Time Lord?

[How he would expect to perceive Danny might be a doozy to explain... Although that leads into another thought... It's certainly not been missed to the Doctor that certain aspects of his abilities have been dampened since his arrival at Paradisa. But wait, what? Oh, he is not going to forget that.]

Too late. You changed your future? How? You could only do that if you have knowledge of it.

Danny, next time we meet, I wonder if you might assist me with something? An experiment, for want of a better word. [And added hastily,] Or not such a good word, my apologies. An experiment on myself, actually. Would you be kind enough to help me?

[schrodingersghost]

I don't know. He's called the lord of time sometimes. What's a time lord?

[The next words are dragged out of Danny. He clearly does not want to say a single word about this.]

I do. Did. Its how I met Clockwork. The Observers wanted him to kill me before my future happened. Clockwork cheated and gave me a chance instead.

[He snaps his mouth shut as soon as the bare minimum of information is out.]

...What kind of experiment?

[toobravehearted]

[Hmm. Listening carefully here.] A Time Lord is-- A complicated subject. Some call them Lords of Time for the power they have over it, to repair and control paradoxes, although on the face of it, the Time Lords have a policy of strict non-interference. Not one your friend Clockwork seems to share.

You do know I'm about to ask why they would want to kill you, don't you, Danny. {But not yet voiced as a question.]

A test of my abilities, a bit like, well, stretching my legs. Completely non-intrusive to you.

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny shrugs.] The observers are always telling him to stop meddling. I don't think he likes them very much.

Can't we just drop it? [The request sounded a little desperate.]

Define non-intrusive.

[toobravehearted]

[The Doctor makes a quick, wry smile.] I know that feeling. Not with these Observers, of course, I hardly know them.

[Except if the Observers gave orders to kill a young boy, yes, he dislikes them, and champions that Clockwork didn't carry out said orders. With Danny's tone though... he is silent a moment. Quiet, respectful, the information is filed away for later and he moves on.]

Non-intrusive. The opposite of intrusive. Good Lord, I'm a dictionary now, am I? Right, all I would ask of you is to, well, let me look at you and see if I can see the paradox that I would expect of you.

[schrodingersghost]

[In his relief at the conversation change, Danny responds to the rest of the questions hastily.]

So there's not going to be any dissection involved? Or tearing me apart molecule and experimenting on the remains? Cause that's what I usually think when someone says they want to run experiments on me.

[toobravehearted]

...No, nothing of the sort. I haven't said that I want to run an experiment on you. I've asked if you would be kind enough to assist with one on me. You don't have to if you don't want to, Danny, I'm not about to twist your arm.

[schrodingersghost]

Its just that when someone talks about experiments and me in the same sentence dissections are usually involved.

So, just checking? I mean, if you're sure that its just looking at me and stuff I guess I could give it a try.

[toobravehearted]

I think I'm insulted you would even entertain the thought of me dissecting you or anything else that's a living being. What a barbaric practise.

[While he says that, he's very reminded of Ushas. Danny should be very happy that it's the Doctor dropped into Paradisa and not his old classmate.]

Well, sleep on it for a little while and next time we meet if you would still like to help me, I'd be grateful.

[schrodingersghost]

[Danny mutters under his breath.]

Doesn't stop my parents. Or the government.

[toobravehearted]

[He heard it quite well, unfortunately. A government he can understand, but as for the other.]

Your parents? Surely you're not serious about that statement.

[schrodingersghost]

My parents are ghost-hunters. I'm half-ghost. Even I can do math like that.

[toobravehearted]

Ah, no, that's not so straight forward. They're your parents and--

Do they know that you're a half-ghost?

[schrodingersghost]

I kind of made a point of never telling them. You know, with the way they keep talking about ripping Danny Phantom apart molecule by molecule and experimenting on the remains.

[toobravehearted]

Danny... Phantom? That's, hmm. Mildly amusing. You have a secret identity. Right.

This situation with your parents, not so amusing. They're your parents Danny. Telling them won't be such a bad thing. No parent should willingly let their child come to harm and I'm sure your family isn't the exception.

[schrodingersghost]

Did. [He's grumbling about this. He was still mad at the castle for taking that option away from him.] Kind of tough to keep a secret identity when you can't lie about anything.

[The teen shrugs miserably.]

I can't tell them. What am I supposed to say? 'Hi? One of your inventions turned me into a half of what you've spent you're entire lives trying to destroy? You've been hunting your own son for the last year?' And that's not even getting into the whole mess with Uncle Vlad.

[toobravehearted]

You can't-? Oh! Really? That's not a side effect of your condition, is it?

Er, perhaps not in those exact words, but along those lines is a good place to start.

Danny, if what happened to you came from the result of a machine, if you told your parents perhaps there is a chance it could be reversed. Providing of course they understand exactly what it is they 'invented'.

Is asking about your Uncle Vlad one of those things I shall regret asking about?

[schrodingersghost]

No,I can thank the castle for that.

[He stiffens in panic.]

No! It can't be reversed! And if anyone tries its just going to lead to bad things! I've seen that future! [An edge of fear makes his voice crack. Trying to remove his powers.... That's what created that guy in the future he refused to think about.]

And that's another reason I can't tell them. [His voice softens.] Their invention did this to me. But it can't be reversed. I don't know exactly what it did to me, but I think it changed my DNA. But if they knew they might think that what I am was wrong. They would think they had to fix me. And I don't want that.

[The teen scowls at the memory.]

He's a total fruitloop. He got the same powers as I have twenty years ago, and he blames Dad for the accident. Now all he wants is to kill Dad, marry Mom, turn me into his perfect half-ghost son and evil apprentice and buythe Green Bay Packers. And the worst thing is that he has everyone all taken in. He's the mayor of my town and super rich and everyone loves him. Dad still thinks they're best friends.

[toobravehearted]

[At the fear in Danny's voice he's quick to interject to try and calm him.] Danny, no, wait a moment. Not all future is predetermined. Sometimes it can change. For the better. Not always, but some things, sometimes. Just because you've seen a future, doesn't mean that it's the right one. [His voice carries gentle tones.] It seems you've been put in a very unfair position.

[He pauses a moment.] I can listen if you want to tell me what you have seen, Danny. I can't promise to help, but an ear can sometimes do that.

[His tone is wry on this Uncle Vlad.] I see. Not an uncle by way of blood then. He sounds like a charming fellow from what you describe.

[schrodingersghost]

I'm trying to prevent that future. Which means not being stupid enough to let anything that led to it happen. Starting with never letting anyone ever try to remove my half.

[He shrugs bitterly.] What's to talk about? It won't fix anything. It won't make me forget what I know I could do.

He's a complete fruitloop. [Danny was never going to give up that word.] Nah, not my real uncle. Which I am very happy about. He was my parents best friend in college. [He snorts.]

So much for friendship.