Diabolus ex Machina (SI)

I opened my eyes.

“Unfamiliar Ceiling,” I muttered, then groaned at my own stupid sense of humor as I leaned up slowly and stood from my bed.

I looked down at 'my' body.  Lithe, light muscle tone, skin tones and physique which people would alternate between calling 'gorgeous' and 'handsome,' and flexibility that would put most gymnasts to shame.

Excellent.

The face in the mirror, though... blue eyes, black hair, yep.

Daniel Fenton.

So... this was really happening, huh?  I took a deep breath, then grinned at my reflection.  “Just this once... Going Ghost!”

My sharp, whispered declaration was accompanied by the flipping of a mental switch and two rings of white energy emerging and diverging from my waist, shooting up towards my head and feet respectively.

I grinned.  Green eyes, white hair, and pale skin.

Danny Phantom.

My mind was alight with the possibilities.

Ghost powers were probably one of themost broken mid-tier power sets.  Invisibility, intangibility, flight, the ability to 'overshadow' other beings... and that was just the beginning.  After all, I wasn't just any ghost, I was Danny Phantom.  Ecto blasts, shields, electrokinesis, cryokinesis, the 'ghostly wail,' duplication... yeah, there was a reason I'd written crossovers between Danny Phantom, DC, and Marvel.

“Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?”

I blinked and spun, eyes wide and glowing green energy surging to-

-a white-gloved hand reached out, snuffing the blast out before it could be shot.

My eyes widened as I looked at the larger, more built, grinning version of myself... or, rather, of Danny Phantom's body.  Instead of the 'canon' appearance, though, he was wearing a long white coat that veered somewhere between 'trench coat' and 'robe.'  His eyes, too, were the standard green rather than the ominous red.  No fire-hair either and his skin was a much more 'human' shade.

I forced myself to take a breath.  “Evil future me, I presume?”

“You presume correctly,” he grinned toothily, releasing my hand as he floated back and bowed in a flamboyant and grandiose manner.  “Daniel Fenton, Overlord of Ash, Destroyer of Nations, the Walking Genocide, Living Corruption of Humanity, and... well, you get the drift.  Basically, I'm... kind of a big deal.”

I felt the part of me which was truest to my current body, the part of me which most represented 'Danny' real back in shock.

On the other hand, I was pretty interested.

“So... now what?  Going to obliterate my family and friends?”  I asked curiously, even as I subconsciously tensed for a fight.

Future Me rolled his eyes.  “Yeah... No.  I never actually killed my friends and family.  In fact, if you'll give me a bit to explain... I think I've got a proposition you might find appealing.”  His ultimatum given, he reached into his cloak/coat/robe-thing and...

My eyes shot wide as my jaw dropped open.

“Well... shit.”

The grin on my dark future self's face stretched wider.  “You ain't seen nothing yet, kid.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Bye Danny!  Jazz!  Have a good day at school!”  Maddie Fenton, 'mom,' called out after us.

“-and watch out for ghosts!”  Jack Fenton, 'dad,' added his own sage advice.

I sighed in time with my elder sister.

“I suppose it's too much to hope that mom and dad are ever going to forget about the ghost stuff and live normal lives, huh?”  Jazz asked forlornly, casting a weary glance at the towering monstrosity that was Fenton Works.

Even with my added knowledge base, I would reallylove to find out how they managed to get the building permits for that.

...although, it's entirely possible whatever authority of Amity Park has jurisdiction is just too scared of Jack and Maddie to be of any real help.

“At this point?”  I asked, snorting.  “Yeah, probably.”

Jazz gave another put-upon sigh and I looked the older girl over again.

Long red hair, thin figure, a bust that was still-developing, but showed promise... and legs.  Honestly, I couldn't give a damn about breast size.  I actually preferred c-cup or smaller, and Jazz looked to be a solid 'b,' so...

“Danny?”

I blinked, my eyes shooting upward as I fought down a blush.  With just the barest use of cryokinesis, that was child's play, actually.  Fearlessly, or at least with apparent-fearlessness, I met her gaze.

Jazz blushed.

An awkward silence stretched as we each pondered what to say, what couldbe said?  After all, I'd just gotten caught looking at my sister's breasts with only the vaguest tinge of westermark-esque repulsion.  Jazz, on the other hand, had just caught her little brother staring at her boobs.

I was kind of curious who would break the ice first, actually.

“Dude!”

I blinked, turning and automatically raising a hand in greeting as Tucker shouted.  “Hey Tuck!  What's up Sam?”

The goth grinned, raising her own hand in a half-hearted hello.  “Watch out Danny, Tucker's on a serious conspiracy-kick today.  If you're not careful, he'll convince you that aliens are landing.”

“But I've got proof,” Tucker cried, waving his PDA... and, as a side note, what kind of teenager actually had a PDA?  “Crazy giant, indestructible flowers have been popping up everywhere!  There have even been reports that they've been eating people!”

I snorted, taking a closer look at the device as Tucker managed to stall his excited movements.

Yep, definitely a birthing pod.

“That's stupid, Tuck,” I sighed, shaking my head.

Sam flashed me a smile even as Tucker's jaw dropped in disbelief at my betrayal.  “Finally!  God, I was-”

“It's not aliens,” I went on, cutting Sam off calmly, “those are mine, well, I made them at least... and they're not eatingpeople.  They're... converting them?  Although, that gives the wrong impression.  I suppose, 'optimizing' would be better.”

...and now they were staring.

I cocked my head, “what?”

Sam snorted, shaking her head.  “Okay, nice one Danny.  You got us.  So, enough with the crazy conspiracy B.S.  I heard that Lancer's going to be handling history class today.  Word is that... holy shit.”

The electronically-replicated shutter-clack filled the sudden silence.

I nodded to Tucker, “good reflexes.”

Tucker grinned back, his eyes not budging from the screen in front of him.  No doubt he was already posting the photograph he'd just taken to some blog or forum.  Doubtless, it would get attention given the subject matter.

Surrounded by police who were still unrolling yellow caution tape was one of the unfurled 'flowers' which Tucker had, just a moment ago, referred to as alien creations.  The corner of the park which we were approaching was abuzz with activity as gawkers and journalists stopped to stare and take pictures all around the scene