The Protonix Ghostbusters:

Broken Reality

Happy 32nd Anniversary Ghostbusters!

Ghosts. The word used for things that we don't understand or can't explain something. Things that we can't see but we have the feeling is there, that a cold touch will make you turn into a statue. There's a whole variety of them, but mostly there's three.

Spirits, the soul of a once living thing that is in a loop between life and death. Most think they're just all white with two eyes cut into a bed sheet that says 'Boo'. When in fact they're what they use to be. Man, Women, Child, even a goldfish would look like how they were depicted in life once before. They can retain or lose what the universe had formed them into 'them' and has long been debated if they truly exist.

Then there are your demons. The kind that no matter what will try anything to cause someone harm. They take on the forms of either devilish creatures, black masses or even at times normal people they use as a disguise to lure someone into a dangerous trap

And finally, there's your 'Others', things that don't fall into either category. They are more simply looked back and shrugged minded but love to cause chaos in some form. They're the ones that we think of when Monster or Poltergeist comes into play. The creature in the closet, under your bed, that shadow on the wall. Their bodies follow all kinds of forms, rather it is a humanoid or a hundred-foot marshmallow man. All three rely on heavy amounts of energy to become just a mist or orb of light.

But when they get enough power, they can do things that the universe can't.

Chapter 1: Seeing Is Believing

Parker and Phil's Oil Station 84: The Sea Bear...

43 Miles Southeast of New York City Coast...

In the midst of the night, a tall refinery sat perfectly still in the dead of night. Filling the surrounding waters with a deep orange glow from the central tower as the steady hum of machines matched with the waves.

Inside the main pumping room, 3 men were busy placing a cap over the drill cover to seal off the pipe.

"So what are they making us go down to now?" one asked while securing the clamps.

"New test sample. Deepest we've been so far. The survey saw that there's a possible mass nearly a mile wide just past our standard depth." The other said as he walked over to a valve control. Another third worker standing at a monitor unit watching the progress of the drill.

Noticing his buddy, he read off the screen. " Currently sitting at about 700 feet above the mass and dropping. 550."

"300."

"150. Get ready, here it comes."

Walking over to a release valve that connected to drill; the worker, with a heavy grunt of strength, started to open the pipe. The moment he did, the pipes around them rattled at the force of liquid traveling up and over their heads. The man at the monitor switches to a split screen to another part of the platform where a holding tank meant to collect extra material pumped up from the drill would be dumped in. Instead of diverting mud or sand, the heavy liquid, from what they could tell via the groaning pipes, was steadily making its way to the open tank.

"Should be any moment-" Just before he finished, the whole platform's lights suddenly flickered as if it was about to blow. "...now?"

Making sure he had a view of the tank, the worker watched as the outtake pipe rattled, until a familiar liquid started gushing out. "Here we go," He said watching as the pool quickly filled up with the liquid. His friend watching on the side by the control valve waiting for the go-ahead to cut the flow.

Once a graph on the monitor hit red, indicating that the tank was at capacity, he looked back to his buddy and nodded. Using more strength than the first time, the man twists the wheel back around until a large thump echoed from the pipe. Cutting the flow from going any further.

"Alright. Let's see if this will help us get that bonus." He said heading towards a staircase that leads down to the holding chamber. His co-workers following behind with one holding a set of tools to test the pure was of the oil.

But as they descended the steps, they suddenly felt what could be described as a deep chill as if walking into a freezer. But it did little to temper their job. Climbing down on the catwalk that went over a large chamber with 6 large holding tanks, the three men proceeded down to the very end of the room. The air then begins to shift into an even more uneasy atmosphere. Each man even getting goosebumps as they soon stood in front of the first holding container they used for the test sampling. But once they got a good look at what they would be testing, each man was stumped past belief.

"Well, that's... new." One said watching the substance bubble around in the container.

The first man came closer up to the railing of the tank. His eyes were full of perplexity at the pitch black material. It was significantly darker than what oil should be. And had a reddish tint mixed in that made it have an almost tainted blood effect. Reaching his hand out, he leaned over the railing into the container. Scooping up a small ball of the material that felt more like slime than a pure liquid like crude oil or even mud.

"What is this stuff?" he asked his co-worker who just shrugged. He weaved his fingers through the substance. Trying to come up with an answer.

"Call the refinery in Brooklyn. Tell them we found someth-AHHH!" he clenched his covered hand tightly. The feeling of it being in a tub of acid with the sharpness of liquid nitrogen burning away at his skin suddenly locking itself on his body.

His coworkers instantly came to his side trying to wipe off the slime. "Get it off! GET IT OFF!" he yelled as it streamed out between his fingers. Dripping back into the pool.

Once the first drop had connected, a column of slime surged upward. Connecting and surrounding both of the man's hands. His friends trying desperately to free him but having to move as the slime-covered more of his arms.

"Hold on!" one yelled holding into the man's suit. The other behind them trying to act as a counterweight. Despite their efforts, the man began to top over the side by his gut on the edge. The railing beginning to buckle from the opposing forces.

He tried yelling. But his muffled plea was cut short from ears by the goo now overtaking his entire head and arms.

The two men try to hold on. But the sound of ripping fabric causes both to be sent flying back crashing into one another. The unfortunate man is suddenly raised into the air by his torso. His legs kicking in the air as he's instantly overtaken by the substance. His body disappearing into the black and red substance as it waves out like a rock dropped into a still pond.

Greensville, Pennsylvania

In a small town just 30 miles south of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, was such a place for what one would think of paranormal activity to happen. It was a mining town with a population of just over 16,000. Founded in 1849 because of rich coal deposits that littered the hills, four full-scale industrial mines along with a slate quarry made the town boom like nothing.

But that was over 143 years ago. Now the town was in a much more declined state with half the area mostly abandoned or just to low to become high up again. But it wasn't because the economy just took a dump and left. Many believe that because of said mining that the town was heavily saturated with spirits from mining accidents at all five locations. Not until the early 70's did three mines close down from the lack of work support. And just before 1990, a massive misfire of an excavation site did the quarry become abandoned. But no matter how or what, the town has managed to grow steadily over the years.

The town high school, built just ten years later now housed over 700 students of grades 7-12. On the ground floor in the right wing, the center room of the hallway was home to Mr, Howard's Physics Class. Considered one of the best in the state and ranked in the top 100 of the Northeast. Inside, standing beside his desk with a clipboard in hand was a 50-year-old African American that looked like he belonged in the 60s with his style of clothing.

"Alright, the last demonstration for this week's project is..." he paused when he saw the name, "Derek Stewart..." A few groans filled the room at the mention of the name. Shifting his way through the rows of sets a 17-year-old boy with deep brown hair and brownish green eyes, wearing a faded red shirt that had the sides and sleeves covered in black with worn out jeans with clear grease spots that could never be washed out dotted his pants made his way through. He stood a good 5'8" and was one of several of the tallest in a class of 24.

Dragging behind him was a variety of things. In one hand he carried a large silver gym bag that had pieces jagging out. On his left shoulder, he had a worn out binder he used for carrying most of his school supplies. But what was surprised many was that strapped on his back is was a large black device with a mess of wires that covered the different parts. Walking up to the table that stood just in front of the chalkboard he brought the bag up to the table and swung the pack off his shoulders. Setting it down so that it was resting in the kidney brackets. He unzipped the bag and brought out a small board of electronics.

Taking a deep breath Derek looked at the class. "I know many of you hate me, so suck it up." He said adjusting a few knobs on the pack.

"So we all know what this is, It's a Proton Pack. Built it myself with my own money. Now why I have this isn't because of your thought of me being stupid. It's because what this pack, nearly 30 years after its creation, can really do. Now, we've all seen Ghostbusters. These things shoot out a concentrated beam of positive energy and ions. And we know that they were used to catch ghosts in the story. BUT what we could do is utilize it's kind of technology. Aka, a cyclotron."

Reaching around to the back he flips a switchboard behind the neck pad. The four red lights on the large circular drum hum life as they started cycling clockwise.

"A cyclotron uses a simple system where it takes two particles and rotates them rapidly in a circle till they collide together. Now, this is what some forms of nuclear reactions are but instead, they would be much more repeating and generate a higher output of energy. Now a cyclotron is usually the size of a train engine but if we could shrink it down to the size of this pack, we could create a pure power source that just needs to be vented out in a cloud of harmless steam. Making it a reliable, clean and effective source of power." Derek took in a deep breath as he finished.

"That's very good," the fifty-year-old man said from the desk. "But may I remind you that this was just a prop from a fictional movie."

"Back to the Future 2 said we would have a lot of things. A flat-screen TV in every home, holographics, fingerprint scanners and robots doing jobs for us. It just depends on what reality the technology is based in." He points to the pack.

"A particle accelerator already exists and works. Sure it's the size of an apartment complex for a few miles but the technology is there. To make a cyclotron the size of a basketball wouldn't take much to make and to power-"

"Alright, that's enough."

DING!

The 3:00 o'clock Bell rang. "Alright, you all have your assignments, I expect them to be done by the end of the month. Have a good weekend."

At that, everyone in the classroom got up and move out the door. In not even 30 seconds the entire class of 24 were gone, leaving Derek and Mr. Howard left. Sighing Derek began packing up his stuff. Most of the tools and display fit in the bag but the pack was too large. Instead, he dragged it off the table and swung it on his back. The pack itself weighed just over 37 pounds but that was because it was made of fiberglass and resin plastic parts. Tightening the straps he swings the bag on his right shoulder with his binder in his left hand.

As he prepared to leave Mr. Howard called out, "Derek, I do hope that you know that this is just taking it too far."

Derek looked over his shoulder with a frown. "What? That I couldn't make something no one ever tried to build." He said as more of a statement than a question.

"It's just that you need to put this effort into something that can help you in the future. Not just be something to... catch ghosts with." Derek didn't answer, instead, he just slowly walked towards and out the door.

The hallways had long since cleared out with just a few students or staff walking about. Walking by an intersection of the hall stood another boy that was nose deep in a book. He stood about 5'4" with a mop of dirty blond hair. He wore a cause blue t-shirt that was slightly bigger than what he needed. It covered just the top two inches of bright blue jeans that you could tell was washed every day he could. It all ended in a pair of dark green Reeboks that were crossed over each other.

"So how'd it go?" He asked. Derek slowly walked up to him before carefully dropping the bag.

He huffed, "Oh just dandy. Give me a Nobel Prize now."

The boy slowly lowered the book after marking the page. "That bad uh? What did he say this time?"

"He said I should focus my efforts on something that can help in the future. You get what I'm trying to prove here, Leo."

He nodded, "Well the idea of what you're doing, yes. The concept, no."

"Oh aren't you just a pocket full of sunshine..." he slowly drifted off. His face becoming one in lost thought. A face that Leo had long learned what it meant.

"You looking at the Bucker girl?" Leo looked at the direction his friend was looking and confirmed it. She was just a year younger than Derek and stood at 5'5" with jet black hair that went past her shoulders. Her blue eyes were the kind that would make people question if she was wearing lenses to make the color happen. She was standing just down the hall with three other girls that were chatting about what to do for the weekend. Derek just stared on at her, his mind began to cloud up.

"You need to make your move." Derek was instantly brought out of his dream mind to reality. He slowly turned over to Leo who had a smug grin.

"It's been 7 years and I've known you for 10. You just need to be yourself and ask her."

"Leo, take a step back for a moment and realize who you're talking to." Derek didn't have to really explain what he meant. Leo, for the most part, had seen what Derek is put through on a daily bases and is more surprised at how his friend can handle it without snapping at someone.

"Let's face it, she's going to be a high-class doctor and I'm stuck to building things in my garage." With that, he picked up the bag and swiftly made his way towards the front door.

Leo to picked up his items and quickly made his way to Derek's side. They hastily pass the group that Rachel was with but kept going. In the corner of his eye, Leo could see her glance over to his friend. He knew trying to talk would be pointless. Outside the courtyard that sat in front of the school was filled with other students getting on buses or walking towards their cars, some even going to walk home. On the left side of the building was the school's sports center. It was mostly just a soccer field, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, and the equipment shed. But as the two walked by the court, The easily caught the attention of two of the most crazed students in the school.

"Don't look now," Leo said, "but the Smiths are coming up fast."

The Smiths Brothers, older brother Danny and younger brother Ben were known as the most misbehaving people you could meet. They had a tendency of targeting people when teachers or anyone of importance was around and cause utter chaos. And Derek tended to be their prime target.

"I thought that they were suspended," Derek grunted.

Leo leaned over, "They were but it ended today. Just go faster." Derek agrees and quickly ducks behind a bus making his way to the parking lot across the street. The Smiths tried to follow but just gave up trying to start anything. Near the back of the lot was a bike lot where normally people would put their bikes at. Derek however, walked towards the only motorcycle parked in the lot. It was a custom red bike with bright white high lights. Many people asked Derek 'Where the hell did you get this?', but what they didn't know was the high-value lottery ticket his mother had found. He didn't tell anyone how much it was for several reasons but a custom motorcycle was just one thing that he with some money he got. As they got there Derek took off the large bag and attached it to a tool rack that was placed over the rear fender. Putting his binder in a case beside the rear wheel.

"You plan on working on the prototype again?" Leo asked as he fished out his car keys.

Derek carefully swung his leg over the bike, taking heed if the proton pack on his back he starts the bike up, "It's the only thing I can do."

"You know, you should look for something else. Hell, gaming is better than what you're doing."

*sigh* "One day, rather it is tomorrow or when Armageddon hits, people are going to thank me." Derek didn't give Leo much time to say before he gunned it out if the parking lot. Leo stood there with a neutral look on his face. He continued to watch the back of Derek's pack slowly become smaller before disappearing behind a school bus.

Later That Night...

The Maxim Westmore Mansion, one of the most infamous haunted houses in Pennsylvania. Most thought it was because of the former mayor, the one whose term was during the mining disasters. But the real story was thought to be that the mayor himself was the cause of the accidents, resulting in the town burning his house down. Not even a year later after that, his mansion was rebuilt and used as a miners station for workers who couldn't make it to their homes or were too injured to work in the mine.

"Come on! This way!" A teen yelled to his friend. The two friends were working their way up the old pathway that leads straight up to the front door.

"I-I don't like this, Tyler." The other said as they pulled their bikes up to the steps. Tyler just let his bike drop to the ground as he brought out his phone. Flipping through the apps he pulls up his camera phone.

"Come on, Max. Where's your sense of adventure." He walked up the steps. Max for the time was struggling to get a large flashlight disconnected from his bike. He just knew it would be a bad idea. By the time he got to the door, Tyler was already exploring inside.

"Hey, wait up!" Max ran in. Once he was inside he quickly flipped on his flashlight, lighting the massive room. It was just like any mansion with a two sides grand staircase that faced the front. Two hallways branched off from under the stairs and another set broke off from the wells.

"Tyler?" he whispered. "Tyler!"

"HELP!" He jumped at the sound of the scream. Without much thought, he sprinted down the hallway across from him towards what he thought was the source.

"Tyler?!"

"In Here!" His voice sounded from a closed room. Max, literally, kicks the door open as hard as he could. Shining the light inside the pitch black room.

"Tyler..." he slowly walked in with both hands tightly on the handle. He gets to the center of the room before an audible creak got him. Turning around he saw that the door was in a way closed but one of the hinges had broken. Letting it swing freely with the same noise. "Tyler-"

"BOO!" A figure jumps behind him. Waving a large branch like a claw towards the scared boy.

Max's anger slightly flared, "What the hell man. You trying to kill me?!"

"HAHAHA! I GOT YOU GOOD, DIDN'T I! HA HA!" Tyler couldn't hold his laughter in. He clutched his sides at the sheer pain he was causing himself. Not looking where he was going, he accidentally swings the a behind him, banging off the wall as he turned. Dragging it across.

Crash

"Oops." He knocked a vase over on an n-table to the ground. The glass splatters across the wood floor towards the wall. Tyler for a moment regretted the action but instantly waltzed over to a set of lamps that sat on each side of a couch. Repeating is action he sends both flies across the room and to the wall. Max tried but couldn't help but flinch at each crash.

"Tyler... can we go now? We'll get in trouble..."

"What's the matter? Scared of a... GHOST!" He points behind Max, trying to act surprised. Max practical jumps from his spot

"That's not funny Ty-" He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took a few steps back. "Ty-T-Ty-Tyler!"

"HA HA! What?" He looked at his friend. Max was standing in place with both hands tightly wrapped around the flashlight. He was shaking so much you would think that he was freezing. Slowly Tyler did turn around, and when he did. He saw two of them. One was obviously his, but the other was much, much bigger. He looked back at Max who was still standing there, it wasn't his shadow either. Now he felt his skin start to crawl severely. When he looked back, so did the shadow.

Two blood red eyes pierced the darkness like fires meant for those who were dammed to hell. Max quickly lowers the flashlight, hoping that if the light making it was away it would go away. But instead, it made the figure become massive. Its mass was practically merging with the darkness inside the house.

"...GET... OUT!..." A large shadowy hand reached out to grab Tyler.

"AHHHHH!" They yelled in unison. Neither of them took the time to avoid running into whatever was in their way. They didn't know how to get out, but they managed to weave through the maze of rooms and hallways until the front door came into sight.

"GHOST! GHOST!" They yelled as they knocked the door open. Running down the steps as fast as they could to their bikes. They tried climbing on but ended up falling every few feet. They continued screaming even after losing sight of the house. In the open doorway, the black figure stood looking off in the direction the two boys had run away.

RE-EDITED AND FINAL VERSION.