Running Out Of Time
Chapter 2
The Experiment Arrives

September 13, 2000
Ghostbusters HQ
3:42 P.M.

Roland, Eduardo, and Garret sat in front of the TV, watching the Wild Card race. Janine and Kylie were downstairs, talking. Dan sat in Egon's lab, fixing his Destabilizing Pistol from the last bust. The damn ghost knocked it out of his hand, stepped on it, and bent it to hell. Never trust a class 6 poltergeist. Luckily, Egon left behind new plans for him to make modifications.

Dan rigged his pistol to take Proton Canisters now, other than charging it every time. It became more lightweight, and probably more powerful. He even made a Canister Jenison, which allowed the canister to be launched, and detonated like a bomb. Unfortunately, Dan didn't have enough time to test it.

Large bangs came at the door downstairs.

Dan rushed down the fire poll, and ran to the door before Janine or Kylie. He turned to them...

Dan: I got it, guys. Go back to what you were doing.

He opened the door to find a guy in a U-Haul uniform standing there. The man turned to Dan, and started to talk...

U-Haul Man: Is this Ghostbusters Headquarters?

Dan: Yeah. Uh, Dr. Spengler isn't here. I was told I would sign for him?

U-Haul Man: Oh, ok. Sign here... ::Dan signs clipboard:: Thank you, sir. And, uh... would you mind opening your doors?

Dan: Why? Is it that big?

The U-Haul Man pointed to a trailer parked on the curb. Dan took a double take, and looked at the man...

Dan: What the hell is that?

U-Haul Man: You got me there, dude. ::Turns to truck on curb:: Ok, Drew! Back it up!

Dan ran to Janine's desk, and pressed the door opening control. The doors opened, as the trailer slowly backed into the garage area of the fire hall. Janine, Kylie, and Dan watched the trailer back in closer. Kylie turned to Dan...

Kylie: What is that?

Dan: If I knew, I would tell you.

The other man in the truck stepped out, and helped the first man unhook the trailer from the truck. When they got done, they jumped in the truck, and rolled off. Dan walked to the red trailer, and opened the walk-through door on the side.

When Dan walked in, he ran into something large and metal. It was sitting under a tarp. He saw an envelope taped on the top of the tarp. Dan took it off, and started to read the note inside, when Janine walked up...

Janine: What is that thing?

Dan jumped and hid the letter...

Dan: Da? What? Oh! Something Egon had shipped from Silicon Valley. Big order of parts for packs.

Janine: Then why is it under a tarp, and why did you jump when I came up and asked you?

Dan: First off, you startled me, and the tarp is to make sure that the boxes don't fall all over the place.

Ok, so Dan lied. It was a thin one, too, but Janine let it slide. Dan walked out, and shut the door behind him.

When Dan walked into the lounge area, the others were screaming, and throwing popcorn at the TV. They booed and hissed as Dan sat in the chair on the far side of the room. At commercial break, Garret rolled towards the door, then turned to the others...

Garret: I'm going to get a drink, anybody want anything?

Roland: Coke.

Eduardo: 7-UP.

Garret looked to Dan, and asked...

Garret: Hey, Dan... You want anything?

Dan snapped out of his state of thought, and looked at Garret...

Dan: Huh? Oh, Mountain Dew.

Garret left, shutting the door behind them. Dan chewed on his thumbnail, as he looked at the piece of paper he grabbed out of the trailer. He read it for quite some time, before it was grabbed out of his hands...

Eduardo: ::Taking paper from Dan:: What do we have here?

Dan: Eddy, give it back.

Eduardo: Is it a love note?

Dan: ::Stands up:: Eduardo, give that back, or I'll cock you!

Eduardo: Are we getting scared?

Dan: ::Eyes widen:: I mean it. Return that information, or I'll mess up your face more than what it is now!

Eduardo: Have to catch me, first!

Eduardo started to run, when Dan grabbed the back of his neck, and tackled him to the ground. Dan grabbed Eduardo's wrist, and tried to get the paper back...

Dan: I caught ya! Now give it, or I'll fry you faster than a chicken in a nuclear blast!

Roland walked by, grabbed the note out of Eduardo's hand, and started to read it. Dan let Eduardo go, and walked up to Roland...

Dan: Roland, do I have to start with you now?

Roland: Don't worry, I don't have the same mentality as him. ::reads:: Why didn't you or Egon tell us about this?

Dan: Well, the government didn't want us to let out Top-Secret Information to anyone. That's reasonable. Typical, but reasonable.

Eduardo: ::Stands up:: What do you mean Government, man?

Just then, Garret rolls in with 2 Cokes, a 7-UP, and a Mountain Dew.

Dan: We'll meet and talk about it in the garage at 12:30 tonight. Do not tell anyone else!

***

12:22 A.M.

GBHQ garage.

Dan looked down at his watch. It was cold downstairs this time at night. Dan stood next to the red trailer, and shivered as he waited for Roland and Eduardo. Dan walked to the back of the trailer, and looked at the license plate. It said, "U.S. Government: DELOTRANS." He wondered what was inside.

Roland and Eduardo quietly creped down the stairs, making sure no one would hear them. They did a fine job, because when they came behind Dan, and put their hands on him, he screamed...

Dan: AH! ::turns around:: Don't do that!

Roland: Sorry.

Eduardo: I'm sorry, man. Now, what is the Government doing?

Dan: The boys from D.C. just sent us one of their experiments, and it happens to be going nuts. I don't know what it is yet, but it's sitting in here. ::taps on trailer::

Roland: So what do we have to do?

Dan: We're going to conduct tests. We need to do it tonight.

Eduardo: What's this "We" stuff, man?

Dan: You, me and Roland are going.

Eduardo's jaw dropped. He shook his head in protest...

Eduardo: Nuh-uh. Not me, man! I ain't doing it! Forget it!

Dan: Hey, you're the ass that grabbed the paper from me, so now you're going to be a part of this. You submitted yourself into this, there for, you are to participate! No questions asked!

Eduardo mumbled under his breath. The one word that was auditable, was the word, "Stupid." Dan started to explain the plan...

Dan: Ok, we need to hook this thing up to my truck, and then we're going to go here...