Mutated Ectoplasm

25. Fright Knight

Hey everybody! I'm a little mixed on this chapter, though I think it establishes some pretty good world building I've been meaning to do for a while now. Plus, it also brings in some elements of the bigger story that need to be addressed, since the scope needs to be there.

That does mean that there's only one line break in here, meaning there is a lot of things going to happen one after another. So be prepared for that.

Either way, I hope you all enjoy and I'll see you in the next chapter!

Karkat had only a few things to thank when it came to the media circus hitting the school and that was it gave them some extra time. They still did things online of course, but until things calmed down, class was about ten times easier than it would usually be. Tests turned to assignments, which they could do during online class if they wished.

While he honestly wished things would go back to normal soon, it did provide him a perfect opportunity to do this.

"Why are we doing this again?" Sollux was gripping the hover pack tightly, somehow still feeling naked despite wearing the hazmat suit. The Ghost Zone, despite looking cool in pictures, was terrifying up close. "This is great and all, feeling like a real astronaut, but this seems like a really bad idea."

"I need to know what that whole "bloody hand" thing is. It might be a new power and I'd really like to make sure it isn't dangerous." Karkat kept a tight hold on the two of them. They'd insisted on coming, despite the fact it was in the Ghost Zone. "Plus, we might learn more about ghosts and my fucked-up biology some more."

"And look at the ruins here too!" Aradia really wished that she brought a camera, but the hazmat suits didn't have pockets. "Why didn't you tell me Pompei was in here? You could've at least mentioned it!"

"If I did, it would take Terezi in dragon form to hold you back from diving face first into the portal to get to it." Karkat sighed. He really hoped that Muelin and Horuss held down the fort at the portal well enough to not get bored. "Just hold still. I want to make sure I'm not going full demon here instead of being a halfa."

"Actually, now that you bring that up, I have a question to ask." Aradia put her hands together, her pointer fingers aimed at her mouth. "Do you think early sightings of demons may have just been ghosts with fire powers and some slightly inhuman looks?"

"...It is way too early for a religious crisis." Sollux held his free hand over the glass of his helmet, mostly to complete the feeling of a facepalm. "We're not far from the meeting place, right? Please tell me, even if it isn't true."

"We are, relax." Karkat wasn't exactly happy to have that question thrown at him either, forcing him to fly faster. "Keep your suit on."

The meeting place really wasn't that far away. It was near Redglare's courthouse, which earned ooh's and awe's from Aradia and complaints about the architecture from Sollux. Terezi and Nepeta were hanging out nearby, talking happily while Vriska was pouting a little way away.

"Well, looks like the gangs all here." Karkat jerked his head towards Vriska, letting go of his friend's hands. "What the hell is she doing here?"

"Aranea's talking with Mom about the plea deal and she doesn't trust her to be on her own." Terezi chuckled at the glare she got from the girl. She raised her hands up into the air, smiling wide. "So how the hell have you been? Feels like I haven't seen you assholes in weeks."

"It wasn't that long. Sorry we couldn't include in the past ghost fights." Aradia rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "You know how things are up top."