Disclaimer: I don't own the names Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddmore, or Peter Venkman.

Chapter Two:

Assembling the Team

Egon looked at the door in front of him. It was metal, with Celtic symbols etched into it and a large button in the middle. Heaving a sigh, he pushed the button. The sound of a foghorn soon filled his ears.

Raymond does love to make an appearance, he thought to himself. With a grinding of gears, the door split down the middle, the two pieces sliding into the wall. Standing before Egon was a short, stout man, his hair and face covered in grease and engine oil. His piercing eyes looked enormous reflected in the large brass goggles he wore.

"Father Spengler!" he cried, braying his loud, Scottish voice in the priest's face. "How good to see ya! Sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting you ta arrive at my door."

Egon managed a thin smile, wiping the man's spittle from his face. "That's quite alright, Ray. Would you mind?"

"Of course not! Make ye self at 'ome!" He stepped aside to let Egon in. His foyer was cluttered with machine parts and diagrams tacked to the wall. Automatons moved on tracks built into the floor, carrying books or spare parts. One trundled up beside Raymond, holding a platter of sandwiches. The man shoved some into his face, then held one out to Egon. Egon shook his head.

"So tell me, Father." Raymond garbled through his the sandwiches in his maw. "What brings Westminster's golden boy ta my humble abode?"

"Father Octavius has given me an assignment, and I am to recruit a team of my choosing." Egon motioned to a door. "Might we continue in your workshop?"

Raymond nodded, and walked up to the door. Spinning the doors combination lock, it swung open. The two men hustled inside.

The room was larger than the foyer, and twice as cluttered. Gears, springs, and wires sat clustered in piles. Tables were taken up by automaton bodies and half finished devices. A large iron smelter sat in the middle of the room, stretching to the ceiling.

"What sort of assignment are ye talking aboot, Father?" The man placed his goggles on the table beside him.

Egon realized if he wanted to get to his other man, this would have to be quick. He gave Raymond a condensed version, repeating everything that had been said to him. When he was finished, he took the four orbs out of his coat pocket.

"Father Octavius said that these could help." he explained. "Judging by their colour, my guess is that they contain some sort of energy. What I need you to do is..."

"...build sometin' that can use that energy, yeah?" The man beamed. "Trust me, Father, ye chose well. Ain't nothin' that Ray Stantz can't build."

Egon smiled. "Good to hear, because I need four of them." Raymond looked puzzled for a second. "Four of them? Why four?"

"Because there are four orbs for four men. I hope you realize that you'll be on the front lines with us, Raymond." Egon had to chuckle at the way the man reacted, all traces of bravado draining from his face.

"Now, I'll leave you to your task." He placed one orb on the table. "I'll be back later with your thoughts on the devices. Meanwhile, I have someone else to see..."

The carriage raced along the dirt road, each jolt from the rickety wheels shaking Egons bones in their joints. Fearing he would be sick, he opened the window, his destination in view. It was a large, cobblestone estate, with exquisite windows and ivy crawling across the walls. The entrance was shadowed by a huge marble archway.

Mercifully, the carriage arrived at the door. Paying the driver, Egon ascended the steps to the entrance, knocking on the carved oak door. Egon always felt jealous of this place. The church had taught him not to envy others, but he just couldn't help it.

The door opened, and Egon was cast into the shadow of a giant. The man before him towered over him. He was a stocky, Indian man, head swathed in a turban ornamented with a ruby.

"Egon Spengler, sir. I'm here to see your master to discuss..." he began.

"Come in." The man instructed. Clamping his mouth shut, Egon entered into a vast foyer, equal to that of Buckingham itself. "The Sahib will see you shortly." With that, the man strode up the massive staircase that dominated the center of the foyer.

Soon after, another man descended the staircase. He was a tall, dark-skinned man, with cropped hair and a combed goatee. He wore a cheetah's skin draped over his leisure suit.

"Ah, Father." He proclaimed, his African accent filling the room. "Sanjay told me you had come. Welcome. Now, you wish to talk to me about something?"

"Yes, Winston. Might we retire to your study?"

The man did a small bow, and began to stride back up the staircase. Egon had to jog to keep up with him. Their jaunt led them to a door. Slotting a key into the lock, Winston opened the door into a room not unlike Father Octavius' office. It was large and high, with the chandelier and bookcases. But there were spears and tribal shields hung on the wall, and stuffed animal heads dotted all around the room, with the stuffed body of a lion standing sentry in the far corner.

Winston motioned to two chairs in front of a fire place. "Please, sit down." Egon obliged. Winston sat in the other chair, taking out a pipe from his pocket and matches from his pocket.

"I assume this is about the Collective?" he asked, lighting his pipe. Egon opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Winston laughed, smoke billowing out of his mouth.

"How do I know? Simple. I still have that infernal message machine Ray gave me at the last charity function. He told me all about your "proposal"." Winston's face grew serious. "Is it true? Demons and black magic?" Egon could only nod.

Winston laid back in his chair, still puffing on his pipe. "It's things like this that made me leave Africa, Father. It's almost as if I'm a magnet for bad juju."

"Precisely why I'm asking for your help, Winston. You said your grandfather was a shaman; I need someone with knowledge of spirits and rituals." Egon took out one of the orbs. "I wouldn't be asking this if I wasn't sure you could help."

Winston looked long and hard at the orb. Finally, he sighed. "You've been a good friend, Egon." He chuckled. "Besides, I love adventure. You have my help."

The two men shook hands. Egon felt a small twinge of satisfaction. He was succeeding in his task.

Winston gave the priest a look. "Ray said there were four of these orbs, yes?" Egon nodded. "And I'm assuming that you've only asked me and him?" Another nod.

Winston flashed a toothy smile. "I'm not promising anything, Egon, but I think I know a man who could fill your vacant spot."

( Coming next: The first appearance of the British Pete Venkman!)