"Okay, we're in," said Zoro.
Since Zoro had already been in the hospital once, he knew what to expect. Starfire did not. She had never seen a ghost before, and from what her friend Beast Boy had said about them, she wasn't sure if she wanted to see one.
As she looked around the hospital that housed so many people in pain, Starfire tried to suppress a shudder, but it still came out. And even worse, in her opinion, Zoro saw it.
"You okay?" he asked her.
All Starfire could manage was a nervous little nod.
"What do we do next?" Zoro asked into the microphone.
"Head up to the fourth floor and confirm when you are at the door," Numbuh Five's voice responded.
Starfire quickly followed Zoro up the stairs. What amazed her was that Zoro seemed so calm!
"Please," she said quietly, "what is it that allows you to not be frightened of this place?"
"You're kidding, right?" asked Zoro. "I don't want to be in here any more than you do! I just have a different way of showing it."
"Oh . . . " said Starfire. Then she saw the door with the number "4" on it. "We are at the "4" door."
"Okay," said Numbuh Five. "Now head in and down the hall to the left. You want to get to the operating room, which is the third door on the right."
Zoro actually considered plugging his ears so he would make sure he didn't hear any kids giggling, but he decided against it. Besides, knowing Starfire, she would ask him a bunch of questions about it.
"I think this is it," said Starfire, pushing open a door.
It was an operating room all right. It had a big metal operating bed, a few run-down desks, and rusty tools were all over the place.
"There's a pulley above us!" said Zoro, looking up. "This place looks evil."
"So you're in the room?" asked Numbuh Five.
"Yes," Zoro and Starfire said together.
"Here are your next instructions," said Numbuh Five. "'You will be recreating a surgery procedure used on the many patients that suffered from tuberculosis. Zoro, take the supplies out of your bag.'"
Zoro opened his backpack and pulled out two supplies: a hacksaw and . . . a rib.
"Oh hell, no," Zoro whispered, almost dropping the rib.
"'Zoro, put the rib on the operating table and act as though you're sawing the rib to allow the patient's lungs to breathe,'" instructed Numbuh Five. "'Starfire, your job now is to go out in the fourth floor hallway and wait out there.'"
"What?" asked Starfire. "What will I be doing?"
"'While Zoro is performing the "operation," Starfire will wait in the fourth floor hallway and try to find any sign of the Ghost in the White Lab Coat.'"
"Oh . . . " said Starfire as she cautiously left the room.
"So. . .I just wait here?" asked Zoro when Starfire was gone.
"Yeah, just stay there and see if you can detect any paranormal activity," said Numbuh Five.
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard in this place . . . " said Zoro. He cautiously held the rib, then began to slowly saw through it. "I'd hate to have to do this for a living . . . "
Creak-rrrrrrr . . .
Zoro stopped. He looked around. What was that noise?
Creak-rrrrrrr . . .
"Uh . . . I sawed through the rib," Zoro said into the microphone.
"Okay, can you detect anything out of the ordinary?" asked Numbuh Five.
"Yeah, I'm hearing some noise," said Zoro, looking around the dark room again. "It sounds like a metal tiger . . . "
"Starfire, how are things on your end?" Numbuh Five asked.
"O-okay . . . " said Starfire. But the truth was, she was scared to death. She did not want to meet this "Man in the White Lab Coat." She wanted to be back with Zoro. At least he was someone she felt comfortable with. "I have not yet seen any sign of this man I am waiting for yet. May I go back to Zoro now?"
"Just a little longer," said Numbuh Five. "If you don't see anything, then . . . "
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Zoro's head jerked up. He didn't even need to use the microphone to know who was screaming. Then everyone started talking at once.
"Starfire, what's going on?"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Should I go get Starfire?"
"You stay right there."
"I can't just leave her there!"
"There . . . is something there . . . "
"Zoro, your mission is complete. Head back to Base Camp."
"What about Starfire?"
The only thing Starfire could manage was a weak sob.
"Just head back. Starfire's got about a minute left."
"Okay . . . "
So Zoro headed out of the hospital by himself.
---
By this time, poor Starfire was shaking uncontrollably, and she had sunk to the ground. And even worse, she heard Zoro leave the building.
"Starfire, what's going on, girl?" asked Numbuh Five.
"There is something there . . . " Starfire sobbed.
"Can you give us a description?" Numbuh Five asked as Zoro reentered Base Camp.
"Man, I feel horrible . . . " Zoro mumbled.
"I didn't think you'd be so worried," said Eddy.
"Hey, I may look scary, but I'm not heartless!" said Zoro.
"There is a man walking down the hallway . . . " said Starfire.
"So you're hearing footsteps and all that?" asked Numbuh Five.
"Yes," Starfire whimpered. "And there's a shadow . . . "
"So there's definitely something there?"
"Yes!"
"Okay," said Numbuh Five. "Starfire, your mission is complete. You can return to Base Camp."
"But . . . but that man is down that hallway."
"Just take deep breaths and head down the hall. We're waiting for you, girl."
"I'm waiting out there," Ichigo declared. She then went outside to wait at the entrance.
"Me too," said Zoro, taking off his equipment and following Ichigo.
Eddy and Numbuh Five stayed to monitor the camera.
Starfire was panicking. She had made it through the hallway and to the stairs, but she couldn't remember if she had to go up or down.
"I don't know where to go," she squeaked into her microphone. "Where am I?"
"Starfire?"
Starfire relaxed a little bit when she heard Ichigo's voice. She immediately followed the voice down the stairs and found the front door.
Zoro and Ichigo were relieved to see Starfire emerge from the building, but as soon as she got down the stairs, her legs gave away. Fortunately, she landed in the nearest pair of arms: Zoro's.
"It's okay . . . " said Zoro. "You're out now. They're not out here."
And with that, Zoro and Ichigo helped Starfire back to Base Camp, where Eddy and Numbuh Five were waiting for them.