As the Hulk in Danny Phantom/DC/Young Justice

Principal Ishiyama stood before the morning assembly, her usual professional demeanor tinged with concern. "While the school board has approved emergency leave for anyone who needs time to... recover from yesterday's field trip incident, all students have opted to attend classes as scheduled."

What she couldn't officially acknowledge was why. The unspoken truth hung in the air - students felt safer at school, specifically because of certain individuals who had demonstrated remarkable capability during an incident they weren't supposed to discuss.

The morning crowd moved differently now. Instead of the usual social groupings, students gravitated toward specific focal points. Particularly the Fenton siblings.

"The library group study session is still on, right?" Paulina asked Samael, her perfect makeup not quite hiding the shadows under her eyes. "I mean, since we're all here anyway..."

"Safety in numbers," Star added quickly, then caught herself. "For studying, of course."

Around Jazz's locker, a small crowd had gathered, ostensibly interested in her psychology books. "Theoretical crisis management is fascinating," one of the football players insisted, jumping at a locker slam down the hall.

"The school counselor's office is always open," Principal Ishiyama continued, though most students were more focused on maintaining sight lines to either Jazz or Samael. "If anyone needs to discuss... general concerns."

But they didn't want the counselor. They wanted the people who had actually done something when everything went wrong. Even if they couldn't officially acknowledge why.

"This is going to be complicated," Samael muttered to Danny as they headed to first period, a trail of students finding excuses to follow the same route.

"At least they can't say why they're really following us," Danny whispered back. "Though maybe we should be more worried about who else noticed our 'impressive adaptations' yesterday..."

-------------------------------

English class took on a surreal quality as students jockeyed for seats near Samael. Even Dash, who normally commanded the back row, had claimed a spot nearby - though he tried to make it look casual.

"Today's discussion," Mr. Lancer began, eyeing the unusual seating arrangement, "will focus on Hemingway's exploration of courage under pressure-"

Several students flinched as a door slammed in the hallway. Samael noticed how their eyes darted to him immediately, seeking reassurance.

"Perhaps," Lancer adjusted his lesson plan, recognizing the tension in his classroom, "we should instead discuss the concept of community resilience in literature."

In the science wing, Jazz's AP Psychology class had doubled in size as students suddenly developed an intense interest in "stress management techniques." Her usual study group had expanded to fill an entire lab table.

"The psychological impact of unexplained events," Jazz carefully worded her class presentation, maintaining their required discretion, "often leads to community bonding through shared experience."

During passing period, the hallways filled with unusually coordinated movement as students maintained proximity to either Fenton sibling.

Paulina had somehow reorganized her entire schedule to match most of Samael's classes, bringing several other A-listers with her.

"We just think group studying is more effective," she explained smoothly when questioned, though her perfectly manicured nails showed signs of nervous chipping.

At lunch, the cafeteria's usual strict social hierarchy had dissolved. The popular table now migrated to wherever Samael sat, while Jazz's corner attracted a steady stream of students seeking "academic advice" that somehow always turned to discussions of handling stress.

"This is getting out of hand," Tucker muttered, watching another group of students casually relocate closer to their table. "Though I have to admit, it's kind of impressive how they're maintaining the pretense."

Sam nodded toward where Star was organizing a "spontaneous" study group. "At least their coping mechanisms are relatively healthy. Even if their choice of security blanket is a bit ironic."

"Speaking of ironic," Danny whispered, "anyone else notice the government car that's been parked across from school since this morning?"

"Just what we need," Samael muttered, carefully not looking at the surveillance vehicle. "More official interest."

The cafeteria's new social dynamic shifted as Dash's football team maintained their patrol of nearby tables, while Paulina orchestrated the A-list's latest excuse for group activities.

"A student support group," Jazz suggested, addressing the obvious but unspoken situation. "Something official that the school would approve."

"I can handle the paperwork," Paulina offered immediately. "Present it as a student council initiative for general stress management."

"The school board's been looking for ways to address recent concerns," Tucker added, his PDA still monitoring for quantum anomalies. "This could work."

"As long as it stays within certain guidelines," Sam pointed out, nodding subtly toward the government car outside.

"I'll draft a proposal," Jazz pulled out her notebook. "Focus on standard academic stress, test anxiety, that sort of thing."

"The football team could help with logistics," Dash chimed in from nearby. "You know, setting up meeting spaces, maintaining... order."

Danny caught Samael's eye across the table. Between the government surveillance and the students' barely concealed anxiety, their usual challenges had taken on new complexity.

And somewhere in Axion's quantum processors, Technus was still evolving, making their next encounter an inevitability.

"We'll need to be careful," Tucker whispered, his PDA displaying encrypted data about the facility's ongoing lockdown. "A lot of people are paying attention now."

The bell rang, sending students moving in their new, carefully coordinated patterns. Another afternoon of maintaining pretenses while navigating insanely complicated waters was about to begin.

-----------------------------------

"These quantum readings are insane," Tucker whispered, his PDA displaying encrypted Axion data. "He's getting stronger and stronger as we speak..."

"We need to end him. Permanently." Samael's tone made everyone look up. "There has to be a way to make these things stay dead."

"Sammy," Jazz started, then caught herself at his warning look. "That's a significant escalation from our usual containment methods."

"After what happened in that lab..." Sam hesitated, her usual environmental activist stance warring with recent experience. "I mean, I still believe in protecting conscious entities, but what he did - what he was willing to do to those students..."

"Exactly," Danny's quiet support of his brother surprised everyone. "These aren't just random haunts anymore. Technus was ready to sacrifice an entire class just to test his new capabilities."

"Dude," Tucker looked up from his PDA, "are you seriously agreeing with the permanent solution idea? You're usually the one talking about ghost rights."

"I'm talking about protecting people," Danny replied firmly. "Maybe containing them isn't enough anymore."

"The psychological implications of what you're suggesting-" Jazz began.

"Save the analysis, Jazz," Samael cut in. "These things are already dead. They're just getting better at using that advantage to hurt the living. You saw how he was calculating the most effective ways to kill us all, while having the most out of it."

"I get it," Sam said quietly. "I do. But where do we draw the line? Which ghosts cross the threshold from containment to... elimination?"

"The ones who prove they'll keep evolving specifically to maximize human casualties," Samael answered grimly. "The ones who see people as nothing but tools for their fucked up amusement."

"Guys," Tucker interrupted, his PDA beeping urgently, "whatever we're deciding, it needs to be fast. Government's bringing in some serious hardware. These energy signatures look military-grade, and they're setting up quantum dampening fields around Axion."

"So we need a plan," Danny said, his voice carrying new resolve. "Something that gets past both federal security and quantum-enhanced awareness. And..." he hesitated, "something that makes sure Technus can't come back stronger next time."

"This isn't just about Technus though, is it?" Jazz studied her brothers. "This is about setting a precedent. Changing how we deal with hostile ghosts permanently."

"Maybe it's time we did," Samael's fists clenched slightly. "Because next time he evolves, it might not just be our class in danger. With whatever he's got now, he could target the entire city's infrastructure."

"He's already trying," Tucker added, showing them new data. "These algorithms he's developing... they're designed to calculate maximum panic responses in urban populations."

"If we do this," Sam said finally, "we need to be absolutely sure. And we need rules. Lines we won't cross."

"Yeah," Danny nodded. "But first, we need to figure out how to get to him before the government locks down Axion completely."

"The maintenance tunnels might still be our best access point," Tucker suggested, pulling up Axion's schematics. "Government teams are focusing on the main facility, but these older sections aren't as heavily monitored."

"Wait," Samael's expression shifted as an idea formed. "What about Skulker's armor? The pieces you've been analyzing?"

Tucker's eyes widened with understanding. "The energy absorption technology... you mean-"

"The system that was designed to feed off my rage," Samael confirmed grimly. "If we could integrate it into Technus while he's connected to the quantum processors..."

"And then overload it," Danny caught on. "But that would require you to-"

"To get angry enough to overwhelm both quantum computing and ghost technology?" Samael's voice carried dark promise. "I don't think that'll be a problem."

"The calculations check out," Tucker's fingers flew across his PDA. "If we can merge Skulker's absorption tech with Technus's quantum-enhanced form... the feedback loop would be catastrophic."

"It won't kill him," Sam pointed out. "But the energy backlash..."

"Would rip him apart at a fundamental level," Jazz finished, her psychology training making her hesitate. "The trauma of that kind of dissolution..."

"Would keep him scattered long enough for us to find a permanent solution," Samael stated flatly. "And make sure he thinks twice about using humans as test subjects again."

"We'll need perfect timing," Tucker warned. "The armor pieces have to integrate at exactly the right moment, when he's most connected to the quantum systems. And Samael..." he glanced at his friend. "The level of rage required..."

"Like I said," Samael's eyes flickered slightly green, "not a problem."

Danny studied his brother, recognizing the cold calculation behind the anger. "Tonight then. Tucker, prep the armor tech. Sam, Jazz - we still need that Box Ghost distraction. And Samael..."

"Will give Technus exactly what he wanted," Samael finished. "A proper demonstration of rage-enhanced power."

As they gathered their things, Tucker's PDA beeped with new quantum readings. "He's still evolving in there. These calculation patterns..."

"Let him calculate," Samael's response was ice-cold. "I want him to see that we're coming for his rotten soul."