Thanks to all of my readers for sticking with me on this ride so far - it shouldn't be much longer! In the meantime, here's the next chapter. Enjoy, and feel free to let me know what you think!
Dillinger continued to walk purposefully forward as the rest of his teammates began their shift in position. The proton pack on his back felt odd, definitely not what he was used to, but more than welcome. If bullets wouldn't kill Vega and keep him dead, he was more than willing to use something that would, figuratively speaking. And he could see two pluses to this arrangement, all in all. One, he could now go to those stuffed shirts who kept denying him and tell them he had practical battle experience with a particle weapon. Maybe then they'd let him have one in the field. Two, he could come back after this was all over and gloat. He'd heard the Ghostbusters had a way you could look inside their containment unit, and he'd love to point at Vega and laugh at his permanent predicament. Only once or twice when he had time, just to make sure Vega was staying where he belonged, of course.
But now he had to make that happen. He reached the base of the stairs and gazed up at the top, where he could see the slightly transparent form of the man he'd killed so long ago, Vincent Vega. Peter Venkman was kneeling next to him, Sabrina Marconi lying on the concrete in front of the Ghostbuster. The brown-haired man was supporting the upper half of her body in a sitting position, maintaining contact between them. The blond man that had delivered Vega's "invitation" was nowhere to be seen.
"I see you've finally made it, Captain," the ghost sneered. "Tell me, do they always hand out bigger and better titles to the men with the best ass-kissing techniques?"
"You tell me," Dillinger shot back. "You were doing a good job of it at Spiritech."
"What would you know, G-Man? You were too busy buying into the brainwashing of the project to experience real life, real choice. That's what Spiritech offered me, and what I grabbed with both hands."
"And it's a good thing you used both hands. With your coordination you'd need both chances."
The ghost's jaw tensed at that. "Still buying into the myth that you're the greatest sniper in the world? I could outshoot you blindfolded, and you know it."
Dillinger bristled slightly, but quickly got it back under control. "So which one of us is dead again? Oh, yeah. You. By my shot. I'd say that's enough of a defense, wouldn't you?"
Beside the angry sprit Peter knelt stunned, his head turning back and forth like he was at a tennis match with each insult thrown. Surprised? Sabrina asked telepathically as the killers' conversation continued.
You could say that.
Why? They did this earlier.
I think they were holding back then. This has the feel of taking off the gloves.
True. But then again, this is the first time they've been alone so to speak in a very, very long time. A lot of built up aggression. And they hate each other of course.
But the lines they're using are classic. I have to remember some of these. It'll liven up the next session I have with Egon.
Peter could feel Sabrina roll her eyes at that. Men.
You wouldn't have us any other way.
Probably not, but that doesn't mean I can't complain every now and again. And so you know, I'm already committing this conversation to memory. Some of the lines are classic.
Photographic memory?
Kind of. It's another of my abilities called total recall. Made college a whole lot easier when I didn't have to take notes.
Does this mean if I ask real nice I might get a transcribed copy?
Laughter bubbled through Peter's mind. Sure, but only if you ask real nice. And I'm the judge of that.
Hmm, I'll have to do some practicing...
In the meantime the insults Vega and Dillinger were trading were ranging in topic from comparisons to various animals to esoteric references to obscure literary characters. There seemed to be no limits to the possibilities. Vega had drawn himself up haughtily, obviously a bit flustered. "Yeah, well, your IQ is obviously no greater than your shoe size!"
There was a pause as that one sank in to all the witnessing parties. Dillinger got a disbelieving smirk on his face as he scoffed slightly. Peter's jaw dropped. And Sabrina cracked an eye open and looked over at the ghost who continued to glare at her teammate. She looked up briefly at the man who held her, then shook her head and let it fall once again against the firm chest. I can't believe he just said that, she sent, the sensation of her ruefully shaking her head accompanying the thought.
We're dealing with a killer with the maturity level of a seventh grader!
"Is that so?" Dillinger retorted. "Well now we know exactly what we're dealing with. I finally understand why you needed to leave, to betray the project. You are just a spoiled child who has to have things work out his way, or he'll just take his ball and go home."
"Shut up, Dillinger."
"That's why I beat you. That's why you're dead. You can't roll with the punches. You can't accept anything if it's not what you wanted. You need someone around to hold your hand, but you resent anyone who does it."
"Shut up, Dillinger!" Vega powered up a psi blast and fired it at the unsuspecting sniper.
But as it was about to hit its target it crackled against an invisible psychic shield, dissipating as it flared around the buffer and the man behind it. The two verbally sparing men turned to face its source, the grinning Doctor Sabrina Marconi, who now sat up on her own and was maneuvering to her feet, Peter right behind her.
"Now, now, boys. Let's play fair." The Italian woman continued to smile wickedly as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Took you long enough, Sabrina," Dillinger called. "I thought I was going to have to keep this jerk talking for hours yet."
"Hey, I couldn't have asked for better entertainment. Do you really think I would stop it before it hit the climax?"
"Ah, Marconi. Finally decided to rejoin us, I see. Enjoy your nap?"
"Now that you mention it, no. Is there any way to complain to the manager? The hospitality around here bites." She raised a derisive eyebrow.
"Still with the loud mouth. A shame, really. One could only hope that it would have connected with the rest of your brain at some point."
"Critiquing my common sense? Who's the guy throwing insults at the world's greatest sniper? The same sniper that killed him no less?"
Energy began crackling around the translucent form. "I should kill you for that," he snarled.
Peter, who had stayed silent out of the need to control his laughter, moved in front of his fellow psychologist at that point. "You'll have to get through me first, bunky," he said with a cold glare.
"Peter, no," Sabrina protested. She was ignored.
"And this is a threat how, Venkman?" Vega asked, almost amused. "Just keep your civilian nose out of this. It isn't your concern."
"And I say it is," the brown-haired man retorted obstinately. "So what do you have to say about that?"
Spiritech's dead hired hit man's response wasn't in words. The next thing anyone knew Peter was flying back through the air, Vega having made a small gesture with his right hand. The Ghostbuster landed near the edge of the top stair landing, groaning in pain, a few muttered curses escaping his lips as he struggled to regain his equilibrium.
Sabrina turned back to the ghost before her after a quick glance confirmed Peter's survival. "You bastard!" she snapped. "He didn't have anything to do with this! Why don't you save your tantrums for the people you really want? It's not like we haven't figured out Dillinger and I are your real targets. Leave the others out of it."
"You think you know it all," Vega murmured, amused.
Just then the distinctive whine of a proton pack powering up reached their ears. The ghost darted forward in a flash and grabbed Sabrina by the arms, pulling her in front of him with her feet dangling over the drop-off of the steps. She struggled against the hold fruitlessly, her body tense as it jerked back and forth. Dillinger's aim never wavered, although he had yet to fire. "If you want me," Vega said smugly, "you'll have to go through her to do it. And you're not going to get any last-minute backup, either. The rest of your party is just a bit occupied with my agents near the end of the building." He gestured slightly with Sabrina, nowhere near enough to give Dillinger a clear shot.
The two E-Branch agents looked in the direction indicated and saw the distinctive flash of the firing of the Ghostbusters' throwers. They counted four beams periodically cutting through the night, a random shout every now and again barely reaching them. Sabrina gritted her teeth as she realized Vega had been right. There would be no help from that quarter.
That left Dillinger. The psychologist looked down at the man she'd been teammates with for the longest time as the standoff returned to its previous state, mechanically continuing to struggle slightly. The proton rifle had never moved, not that she had expected it to, and the dark-haired man was once again taking aim. A flash of panic washed through her, knowing exactly what to expect, and then acceptance. She'd always known this could happen at any time. Calmly she smiled, her entire body shaking with the effort to hold herself up in Vega's hold, and then, with no warning whatsoever, she went completely, bonelessly limp.
The sudden change in position took Vega by utter surprise, as intended. His arms dropped along with her weight, leaving a good portion of his upper torso revealed. Coinciding with this was one Peter Venkman with a flying tackle at just the right angle that kept both him and Sabrina on the upper landing of the library steps, he twisting his body to take the brunt of the landing. As soon as they were clear, Dillinger's beam caught Vega in the center of the chest, pinning him in place, writhing in the proton stream with a wordless growl.
Off to the side, Sabrina caught her breath, considering herself lucky to have breath to catch. She rolled to her side and looked down at the wincing, gasping man who had saved her. "Peter, are you alright? You could have gotten yourself killed! Dillinger was going to fire at any second and you could have been caught in the blast!"
The corners of the man's mouth began to twitch upward. "He messed up trying to protect you once before, Marconi."
"Peter, what are you..."
"I'm just lucky you and Dillinger are so good at protecting yourselves. But I couldn't stand by and let him win again. I've been waiting for a chance at payback for a long time." His eyes fluttered open, and while Sabrina was looking at Peter Venkman, she knew the voice she had just heard hadn't come from him.
"Hawk?" she whispered in awe, her gaze shifting to a point just to Peter's right. She more than recognized the light baritone with the slight British accent.
The translucent figure in front of her grinned. "You always were quick, Sabrina."
Her eyes narrowed. "Have you been stuck here this entire time?" she asked, horror beginning to filter into her expression.
"I'm... not sure. I can remember being there when Dillinger managed to kill Vega," the ghost reminisced thoughtfully. "For a moment I was sure I could finally move on, but then I could feel Vega holding back, refusing to do the same. As soon as I realized his spirit had stayed behind, things went all fuzzy on me again. Well, at least until that incident with the new E-Branch team Dillinger worked with. But vaporizing Vega's body didn't disperse his ghost, so I couldn't leave. Things didn't get clear for me again until I found myself staring at Vega holding you like a shield and Dillinger about to shoot through you to get him. Peter here was still catching his breath, so I turned him around and told him how he needed to tackle you to get you out of the way and still land safely for both of you."
Peter shrugged as he sat up. "He said he couldn't do it last time, and he couldn't do it himself this time. I could, and I more than wanted to - and as soon as I saw what was going on I would have done it without any prompting anyway. But the advice on how to land came in handy. I'm not sure I would have taken the steps into account otherwise."
"This will be the last time you'll deal with Vega, Sabrina," Hawk said chillingly. "It has to be."
"I certainly hope so, Hawk. Now, not to be rude or anything, but we need to get back into the swing of things. I think Dillinger could use Peter's expertise right about now."
"Certainly. I'll still be around, Sabrina. I need to see this to the end."
"Then I'll talk to you later." Part of the female psychologist couldn't help but wish his fading from sight meant he'd managed to move on, but she knew it wasn't possible yet. "Are you okay, Peter?" she asked her companion worriedly.
A grin lightened Peter's expression. "A bit battered and bruised, but I think I'll make it," he quipped.
Sabrina grinned back, relieved. "That's good to hear. But now you better help Dillinger, at least with some advice. He's got Vega pinned, but that's about it."
Peter's head snapped around and took in the situation. Sabrina had described it pretty accurately, and both psychologists scrambled to their feet. "Dillinger, tighten the beam and start moving up the stairs!" he called out. "You'll need to be closer to place the trap!"
The sniper merely nodded and started to follow Peter's directions, adjusting the right dial and moving up the first few steps.
Vega's eyes widened at that. He then threw his head back and yelled up toward the sky, "Now! Now would be a good time!" A bolt of energy shot down out of the clear night sky and struck the struggling ghost, lining him in a crackling gold light. The beam had been holding him up to that point, but after the startling event Vega merely laughed and shrugged off the weapon.
Dillinger's eyes narrowed as he continued to fire, stubbornly refusing to give up. Sabrina and Peter continued to watch, frozen in place, as neither of them knew of anything they could do to help. The ghost's laughter turned wicked, and he raised his right hand, palm forward. A beam of energy matching that which surrounded him shot out from its center, catching the trenchcoat wearing man at the base of the stairs square in the chest, although he attempted to dodge, nearly succeeding. Dillinger froze in his tracks and collapsed, the proton stream cutting off as his hands jerked off the weapon, the thrower dropping to the ground along with his body.
"Dillinger!" Sabrina screamed, only Peter grabbing her arms stopping her from dashing down to his side.
"And you were supposed to be so quick on your feet," Vega said with a chuckle as he grinned triumphantly down at the supine man who had rolled down the few stairs he had started up, twitching slightly as an aftereffect of the blow he had taken.
It was obviously a great effort, but Dillinger managed to raise his head and glare at his nemesis. "You're supposed to be dead," he ground out. "And this isn't over, not by a long shot. You made a mistake by not killing me when you had the chance, and I'll make sure you regret it."
"My chance isn't over, Dillinger. I'm just going to do it right." A second blast shot out, knocking the sniper out cold. "I believe we have an appointment to keep, lady and gentlemen." The same shimmering shield he had used earlier at Central Park surrounded the four of them, and when it popped out of existence, they were gone.
When the three remaining Ghostbusters and the E-Branch field commander reached the edge of the misty shield near the end of the library building they quickly went back to back and waited for the rush of ghosts to start. They didn't have to wait long. Soon after, they were overwhelmed by a wave of various spirits, grimly declared by Egon to have a range of Class Three to Class Five just as they had at Central Park before they began to fire out of sheer self-defense. For the longest time their shots were merely to keep the entities away from them, unable to spare the focus to capture individual ghosts and risk others getting through.
Eventually, the momentum of the first rush faltered and died, allowing the four defenders to gain the upper hand, managing to capture a few of the bolder spirits who got too close. They were just starting to be able to pick out other individuals and actually talk to one another when a flash of bright golden light shot down from the sky, making everything pause.
Egon grabbed for the PKE meter he had let hang still activated from his belt. "The level of energy that just transferred down is right off the scale," he announced, his pale blue eyes wide.
"It was that powerful?" Ray asked, a bit awed.
Blond brows creased in thought. "No, I believe the intensity is more due to the quantity. The sudden massive surge was too much for the sensors in the meter to register normally. However, that does still leave us with the fact that there is a large source that it originated from, a source that apparently is interested in the happenings occurring on the stairs of the library."
"The demon!" Ray guessed, his light brown eyes sparkling with excitement. "Do you think it was called here?"
Egon shook his head. "The readings don't substantiate that hypothesis, Raymond."
"Peter, Sabrina, and Dillinger are over there, though," Winston mentioned as he kept his eyes on the ghosts that circled them, obviously waiting for something.
"Don't forget Vega," Lau added. "What if that power was just transferred to him?"
"Oh, boy," Ray said, dread in his tone. "That wouldn't be good. That wouldn't be good at all. Egon, is there anything we can do to break through these things and get over there?"
Before the physicist could answer, the crowd that surrounded them began to shift around agitatedly, unintelligible mutterings filling the air. Then the ghosts turned as one and took off for the library steps. With one, quick, shared look, the four men ran to follow.
They had been unsure what to expect when they arrived at the site of the proposed confrontation between Vega and Dillinger, but the total lack of presence threw them. Nothing could be seen or detected by the rapidly drawn meters of Ray and Egon beyond residuals. "So where did they take off to now?" Winston asked, bewildered.
"I get the feeling that Vega took them somewhere specific. He obviously has something in mind for Dillinger, and I'm sure it's nasty," Lau answered, frowning.
"But where did they go?" Ray asked.
"I don't know," Egon said as he watched the ghosts they had followed take off in a stream away from the building, "but I would be willing to guess they do."
"Then let's follow them," Lau said decisively, heading for Ecto-1. The others were right behind him.
"And you never know," Winston said with an evil smirk as he slipped in behind the wheel. "We might be able to cull the herd a bit before we get to where we're going."
Winston had been right on the money with his last comment before the chase began. Egon and Ray managed to catch stragglers as the crowd of entities led them around and about the streets of Manhattan. Lau tried the first few times to help, but his inexperience with the packs was too much of a hindrance while hanging out the window of a moving vehicle.
After one such high speed strafing run, Ray and Egon slipped back inside, each with a full trap. "Can anyone tell where they're headed yet?" the occultist asked as he took both traps and added them to the pile in the back.
"You know, I think they're headed for Broadway," Winston replied.
There was a pregnant pause after that, followed by a disappointed sigh from the group. "What were you guys waiting for?" Lau asked, covering up his own reaction.
"That line was just begging for Peter to make a comment," Ray explained. "I guess we're just so used to it happening that we waited for it."
The Chinese man paused, then released a deep breath with a whoosh. "I know what you mean. Somebody on my team would have done the same thing, most likely Dillinger. Although Sabrina's come up with a few unexpected zingers every now and again herself."
"Don't worry, everyone," Egon said firmly. "We're on our way to rescue them as we speak. In fact..." He paused for a moment and checked his meter as they approached Union Square Park. "We're here. Pull over now, Winston."
"Union Square?" Ray asked as the black man did as requested. "Are you sure?"
"Definitely, Raymond. All the readings, as well as the line of ghosts, lead in this direction. I'm also detecting the beginnings of a dimensional gate in the center of the park."
Ray confirmed it on his own meter. "You're right, Egon. And if that's where Peter and the others are, we need to get them out of there."
"If that's the mission then let's get to it," Lau said, getting out of the car and readjusting his proton pack. The others followed suit, and the foursome followed the now-silenced meters into the park, hoping that they weren't too late to save their friends.
"Please tell me that head injuries are the latest thing," Sabrina muttered as she started to rouse after Vega had teleported them to their current location, wherever that was. The power surge necessary to pull off that stunt had also knocked out both people that were still conscious. "Then at least I'd have some sort of lame excuse to be continually waking up from an unconscious state."
"Sorry, can't do that," Peter returned from beside her, his voice suggesting he was in a similar position. "We're just trendsetters I guess."
She sighed and leaned back against the tree they were seated under. "The unfortunate side effects of such forward thinking."
"Is it just me, or are we handcuffed together around a tree trunk?" the male psychologist said suspiciously, tugging slightly against his bonds.
"Yeah, that would be my wrist you're pulling in a direction nature never intended," the black-haired woman said ruefully. "Vega's trying to get creative, I see."
"What a time to find artistic inspiration," Peter drawled. "Do you see Dillinger anywhere?"
Sabrina scanned the area she could see. "No, unfortunately. But I do think we're in another park, if that means anything. I don't think it's Central Park, though."
"No, it's not," Peter confirmed. "I don't see him either."
"He'll be brought here at the appropriate time," a new voice said with a superior tone.
The E-Branch agent grabbed the Ghostbuster's hand on the side of the tree opposite the direction of their latest visitor. "And when would that be?" she asked, just as haughtily.
A tall, lean man wearing a black velvet mage's robe stepped out of the brush surrounding them and looked down at them condescendingly. His straight, chin-length blond hair swung forward with the motion. "When I finish the preparations. Which brings me to why I'm here. You're both needed for this."
"A spell caster, huh?" Peter scoffed. "I think you'll find we're both unwilling sacrifices."
"It always amazes me to find out how short-sighted people can be, even when they've been exposed to the supernatural as you have, Doctor Venkman. At least Doctor Marconi here wasn't foolish enough to do such a thing."
"You seem to know us, sir, but we haven't had the pleasure of your name," Sabrina said, somehow keeping her irritation under wraps.
"That is if you can get your nose out of the clouds long enough to do it," Peter snapped, losing the fight to do the same.
The man smiled. "Of course, Doctor Marconi. How impolite of me. My name is Brandon Fitzgerald." He bowed slightly, never breaking eye contact with the woman.
She took in a sharp breath through her teeth. "Fitzgerald, huh? Figures."
"You know this goon?" her companion asked incredulously.
"He's a Spiritech magician. He's been involved in a few of our investigations indirectly, so I've read his profile. I wasn't impressed. I know an arcanist who's much better at what he does, and a lot more creative than anything like this."
"So you say," Fitzgerald said, his steel grey eyes growing hard at the insults. "But I'm the one here, aren't I?"
"True, and a disappointment at that. Damien's a lot cuter on top of everything else."
"And totally restrained by the stranglehold E-Branch puts on their mages," the standing man snarled. "I'll show you what unfettered genius can do. You will both be witnesses, as prescribed by the ancient ritual, to the unlocking of the gate to the realm of Lord Gramzen, mightiest of demon kings. And when he arrives, he will feed on your souls!"
Sabrina and Peter blinked at the near-religious fervor of the man standing above them. "Uh huh," the seated man said slowly. "I've heard that before. Am I supposed to be any more impressed than all the other times?"
"Fools," the blond man snapped, spittle flying from his mouth. "Fortunately my preparations are complete, and only require your presence to continue." He began to make florid gestures with his hands, muttering unintelligible, presumably arcane words. The handcuffs fell from the pair's wrists, but before they could even think about leaving, they found that their muscles would not respond to their brains' commands. "Up," Brandon said, the superior tone having returned to his voice.
Both Peter and Sabrina were surprised when they did as they were told. "Follow me," the mage said, turning and walking back the way he came. Again, they obeyed the command.
"This is almost as bad as being possessed," Peter whispered through gritted teeth.
"So, do you think there are any other... witnesses?" Sabrina whispered back.
"No. I'm thinking he bailed when I got knocked out. Don't blame him really. It's not like I'm in a position to help him anymore."
"I don't think that's it, Peter."
"Silence!" Fitzgerald cried, stopping in his tracks and gesturing dramatically to the space in front of him. "Gaze upon my masterpiece, the proof of my magical genius! This is how I shall open the gate for Lord Gramzen and receive the rewards he has promised me!"
Greedy, self-centered little ass, isn't he? Sabrina thought to Peter, unable to speak out loud due to the mage's previous command.
Considering what you've said of Spiritech, are you really all that surprised? Peter thought in return as Brandon swept forward and around the circle and five-pointed star etched into the ground and lined with red-tinted salt, if what they could see of the color by flickering torchlight was right.
From what I've read of his profile, no. He's in this for the glory, the recognition. He was the middle child of a large, rich family. He's used to getting and doing whatever he wants and being ignored. He just happened to stumble upon the wrong books.
For us at any rate.
The conversation was halted by subsequent orders, moving Venkman and Marconi to opposite sides of the circle, facing each other. Between them, on the edge of the drawn protection furthest away from where the threesome had entered the clearing, was Brandon Fitzgerald, straightening a large, musty tome on a tall wooden podium. The sorcerer cleared his throat and began, the ancient words of the ceremony spilling smoothly from his lips. If either psychologist could have thought of a way to disrupt it and managed to pull it off, they would have in a heartbeat, but they were magically bound to merely stand and watch as a massive golden doorway began forming in the center of the pentagram, only hints of a hideous creature prowling behind the still-closed portal able to be seen.
When the last word had finished echoing from the trees and the doorway stood there in all its splendor and nothing else happened, Brandon smiled in satisfaction and forced his captives to resume the position they had found themselves in when they awoke from the teleportation around yet another tree. New bonds were put in place and Fitzgerald leaned over to gloat in Sabrina's face. "Is that good enough for you?"
The black-haired woman flexed her jaw as she realized the spell that had been controlling her movements had been released. "Should it have been? Here you were, going off about how this big guy Gramzen is going to snack on my soul, and now all we're looking at is a lit-up pair of doors. Explain to me what's so impressive."
"I mean, really," Peter added. "Gozer had a more impressive set up than this. I've seen a god up close and personal and a little demon lord is supposed to make me quake? Please!"
The blond's jaw clenched and the two seated people could hear his teeth grinding with the effort. "This is only the beginning. Once the final component has been released, you will see my true glory! For now, sit and ponder the remainder of your existence. It will be short." He straightened haughtily and strode off, disappearing quickly.
"You were right. He's a glory hound," Peter said as he stared after the pompous man.
"And a melodramatic one at that."
"So what's next? We really need to get out of here. There's a reason Fitzgerald stopped when he did, like he's only got a step or two left before he's finished. Whatever that step is it's important, but I have a feeling Ray's the only one who'll be able to figure it out in time."
"We need to find Dillinger, and fast. I'm sure he's part of whatever this final component is, and I know it being released won't be good for him. Is there any way for us to pick these locks?"
"Not you, but I might be able to help."
"Hawk!" Sabrina cried happily.
"Hey, buddy," Peter greeted the wispy figure that knelt next to them both, his back to the circle. "I was afraid you'd left for good."
"Oh, no. I just couldn't afford to get caught by Vega or Fitzgerald yet. I like striking from the sidelines. They'll never see it coming."
"So what were you saying about helping us?" the Italian said winningly, smiling widely.
Hawk laughed. "If I didn't know you any better I'd think you weren't grateful."
"I am grateful," Sabrina said seriously. "I also know that by helping us you'll be able to move on finally. If you've been stuck here waiting for this opportunity, I don't want to be the one to mess it up." As she finished her statement, both pairs of handcuffs sprung open and fell silently to the ground.
"You won't," the ghost reassured her. "You can't. Now you guys figure out what you're going to do now while I keep an eye on our magic-using friend. He's up to something bigger than I think Vega realizes, and I want to be able to put a stop to it if I have to. Oh, and Dillinger's that way." He pointed in a northwesterly direction. "Keep to the trees and you should avoid being seen."
The psychologists grinned. "Thanks, Hawk," Peter said. "And thanks for helping me help out before. Let me know if you need anything. I owe you one."
"No, you don't," Hawk denied firmly. "And you'll know if I need you. I'll see you before I leave if nothing else. Now let's get moving before everything hits the fan." The dead commander took off in the direction Fitzgerald had gone.
"I've got an idea," Peter said quickly. "Why don't I see if I can find the guys while you find Dillinger? If I meet up with them I can get myself armed and lead them to where you are."
"That'll work," Sabrina agreed. "I'll try to wait to do anything until I know where you are."
"And I'll try to be back within," he checked his watch, "fifteen minutes to a half hour. It's getting close to midnight, and that tends to be the time for these kinds of things."
"Gotcha. See you then." The two of them separated to take care of their individual tasks.
Captain James Dillinger slowly returned to consciousness, keeping his eyes closed on the off chance he was being watched. He took note of the fact that he was standing, most likely against a tree if the roughness of the surface behind him was any indication, and his wrists and ankles were strapped to said tree. There was also a metal band across his forehead holding it in place.
"Kinky," he muttered once he assured himself by the lack of noise and sense of presence that he was alone. "Too bad this isn't my fetish." His lids fluttered open, and his dark brown eyes took in as much of his surroundings as he could without moving his head. "I suppose I should be grateful this isn't a medieval rack."
His barely audible commentary was cut off by a subtle tugging on the chain that held his ankles. He tensed slightly, ready to kick out at the captor who would try to take him somewhere else, probably the rest of Vega's plans for him. "Be careful down there," he quipped. "I happen to like circulation to my toes."
There was no response and the tugging continued. When it stopped, there was a brief rattle, as though someone was working on a lock. "Someone dropped out of school early if you can't even work a key in a lock," Dillinger slammed, hoping to get a response so he'd know who he was dealing with. One way or the other they were getting a boot to the face once his feet were free, but if he could find out beforehand...
Not ten seconds later the pressure was gone from his ankles and he took advantage of the fact by kicking backward where he had heard the rattle. Nothing. Great. Now whoever it was would be expecting something. Soon after a new tugging started, this time on his left wrist. "I guarantee, you let a hand loose and I will kill you," he said coldly.
Do you always talk this much when you're alone and caught at a disadvantage? a familiar voice asked from inside his head. The woman's head that it belonged to poked out from under the branch his arm was attached to and grinned at him. Remember, think it.
What are you doing here, Sabrina? How did you get away from Vega?
She gave him a wink and disappeared behind the tree again. I didn't get away from Vega. I got away from his pet mage Brandon Fitzgerald. And I had help.
Venkman?
No. Hawk.
"What?" he choked out in a startled whisper.
"Shhh! I'm not muffling these chains with my vest just so you can give me away! Think!"
What do you mean Hawk? His mental tone was a bit snippy.
His ghost, Dillinger. He hasn't been able to rest since Spiritech fried his bike and blew him up. He's just been waiting for his chance to get back at them, and this is it. By helping us, he finds peace. With that the restraints around the sniper's left wrist fell away, muffled by Sabrina's vest.
So where is he? Brown eyes darted around as though he expected yet another wispy blast from the past to jump out at him.
She started working the now-dirty piece of clothing around the remaining chain on her teammate's right wrist. Following Fitzgerald. Said he wanted to keep an eye on him. The Spiritech lackey made Peter and I witness a spell that brought a gate here, unlocked. He said that once the final component is released the door will open and a demon lord will be able to come through. I had a feeling you were pretty central to that component.
How about Lau and the Ghostbusters?
No idea. Peter went to see if he could find them and maybe get himself armed. He should be headed this way any time now. She managed to pick the lock on the other wrist and the chain fell away. Hold that metal strap while I get the lock. That way it won't fall.
What about arming me? Dillinger asked, offended.
Up until about ten minutes ago I was just as much a captive as you are. I don't even know if Peter will be able to come up with something for himself.
The lock came free and Dillinger pulled the restraint off his head. He turned to face his teammate. "We don't have a lot to work with, do we?"
Sabrina sighed. "No, we don't. Although I think if we can just keep you away from Vega until after midnight we should be okay."
A golden glow suddenly appeared close to the clearing, coming nearer. "I don't think that's an option," Dillinger said ruefully. "Go back to hiding. You can be my ace in the hole again."
"And here I always thought I was more like the Queen of Spades." The black-haired woman shrugged and silently maneuvered into the brush behind the tree that had held Dillinger.
Vega and Fitzgerald were in the open space when the sniper turned his head back around. "So the prodigal son has broken free of his bonds. How quaint." The ghost wore an amused look. "It won't do you any good, you know. You're mine."
"You wish," Dillinger cracked back, starting to move away from the pair.
Fitzgerald quickly cast the same spell he had earlier, and the E-Branch agent found himself frozen in place. "Not so fast," the blond man said smugly. "I believe you'll be coming with us, Captain Dillinger. Follow me." He began to walk back toward the circle where the glowing gateway was waiting, the sniper following with a furious scowl, their trajectory heading through the open area of the park instead of the trees and brush along the edge that Sabrina had used to shield herself.
Vega trailed behind them, a gloating look of triumph on his face. The psychic watched them go by from her hiding place and took off back the way she came, hiding as best she could. Fortunately the ghost and the mage were too assured in their imminent victory to think of anyone tracking them.
"Are you picking up Peter at all?" Winston asked the stocky occultist as they continued to follow the stream of ghosts, picking them off one by one as they went.
"Yes, but not strongly. It's like he's being shielded by something." Ray made a few adjustments to the meter. "My best guess is he's near the center of the park, where the rest of the disturbances are."
Egon looked up briefly from the screen of his own meter. "PKE levels have just increased dramatically," he announced. "There is a gate about to be opened here."
"You wouldn't happen to mean where all those lights are coming from, would you?" Lau asked, pointing north at the golden glow that shone there.
"That would be it," the physicist confirmed. "We need to get over there and make sure it doesn't open. Who knows what will be coming through?"
"I don't think it's a natural occurrence," Ray mused. "I think there's a spell caster who's trying to open the gate. There's nothing in the literature that even hints at something like this happening for at least six or seven months."
"That and we haven't had the usual busy period before one of these end of the world events," Winston added.
Lau was staring at them strangely. "Six or seven months? Usual? How often do you guys deal with... never mind. I don't want to know. I don't. I deal with the basement. That's more than enough for me." He cleared his throat and shifted his proton pack. "So, is it just me, or are we running out of ghosts to follow?"
The other three men looked around and found that the Chinese man was right. There were only five entities left moving slowly forward, like they were dreading what they were going to find when they got to their destination. "Finally, something's going our way," Winston enthused. "Let's get these guys then take care of this idiot who wants to call up demons in the middle of Union Square."
Before anyone could respond, the subjects of discussion did a sudden about-face and flew straight at them, screaming something no one could make out. The four men shared a quick look then dropped some of their last traps, waiting with throwers drawn. They found they didn't have to fire a shot. The yells and howls became clearer as the ghosts got closer, pleas for protection from the mighty Gramzen and the wrath of Vega. The men shrugged and activated the traps, the spirits diving in voluntarily.
"I hate to say this," Lau said once they had hooked the traps toward the back of their belts and continued on toward the light, "but if these things have decided being locked up forever is better than whatever we're headed toward, what does that say for it?"
"Maybe they're easily scared," Winston offered with a grin. Lau couldn't help but return it with a small laugh.
"Gramzen is one of the demons on the pared-down list I came up with. He's what's called a soul-eater. He's been known to let lesser entities use some of his power to make it easier to lure mortals to him so that he can trick them into summoning him, after which he absorbs their souls. He's nasty, but we should be able to handle him, as long as the gate isn't opened to his home plane," Ray said, having abandoned his PKE meter to double check what he remembered with the hand-held electronic Tobin's Spirit Guide. "His power is directly linked with it."
"But what happens if the gate is opened?" Winston asked, growing serious.
"Things will become difficult," Egon answered.
Lau blinked. "That's an understatement, isn't it?" he asked warily.
Ray grinned as he put the Tobin's away. "When he warned Peter and me not to cross the streams he said it would be bad."
"Now that effect I've heard about. Bad, huh?" Egon nodded with a slight twitch to the corners of his mouth. "Let me rephrase then. That's a gross understatement." Lau shook his head ruefully.
A blood-curdling scream cut through the night, followed shortly by a blinding flash of golden light shooting into the sky. When their eyes cleared, the four men could see a shimmering shape circling in the air above what they had already determined to be the center of the disturbance. Egon quickly lifted his meter. "That's our Class Seven, gentlemen. Gramzen. The gateway has been opened."
"You said it would be difficult if the door was opened!" Lau cried as they began to run toward where the demon was landing.
"And it will be, Mister Long. It most definitely will."
They reached the outside of a pentagram etched into the earth for protection just as a large humanoid creature with shining golden scales, a slithering serpent-like tail, and a huge mouth filled with pointy teeth landed in front of an ornate glowing doorway of light, the doors flung wide open. Its fingers ended in claws and two horns grew from its head. Towering over even Egon, the tallest of the group, by at least a foot and a half, it leered down at them, drool dripping from its fangs.
"Boy, am I glad you grabbed the modified destabilizer, Egon," Ray said quietly, his brown eyes wide as he took in the sight before him.
"You and me both, homeboy," Winston concurred.
"Make that three," Lau added. "So what do we do now? Stare at it until it goes away?"
"Pitiful humans," the thing ground out around its mouth full of teeth. "I am not going anywhere. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for you. And I shall relish the taste of your pain and suffering as I devour your souls!" A nimbus of light suddenly flared to life around the creature as one of its hands shot out like lightning, aiming for Lau. Only his well-trained reflexes kept him from being caught, and just barely.
"Don't let him touch you while the light surrounds him!" Egon cried, moving back and glancing at his meter quickly before letting it hang off his belt. "That's how his power works!"
The four of them started dashing around the circle, careful to never cross it, keeping Gramzen always in sight. "Any idea how to send him back where he came from? He's already said he's not going willingly!" Winston called, just missing a slash from the demon.
"We have to close the gate!" Ray yelled over the growing noise as a mystical wind began to swirl around the open gateway. "That's his power source!"
"But how do we do it?" Lau asked. "I heard you crossed the streams to drive Gozer back - we're not going to have to do that, are we?"
"No," Egon answered. "I think I have an answer, but it's going to require precision firing and coordination."
"Hey, I may not be Dillinger, but I'm not a bad shot. And I've been getting practice with this thing for the last half hour. I'm up for this!" Lau protested.
The blond physicist nodded. "All right then. Lau, aim for the center of the base of the gateway, where the doors would meet if they were closed. Ray, take the upper left corner and Winston, the right. That should cause the portal to collapse in on itself." He dove for cover as Gramzen swung at him with both claws, one shot coming so close it left behind a tear in the darker blue jumpsuit.
"But how do we get rid of Gramzen?" Winston asked.
"You do not!" the demon yelled, the force of the blasting voice blowing them all off their feet.
"The destabilizer," Egon continued his explanation as they all scrambled to their feet once again. "With its beam reducing his solidity, the dimensional displacement caused by the disintegration of the gate should draw him back to his plane of origin."
"If that's what you say will work, that's what we'll do," Lau said with a forceful nod. "And you can explain it to me later," he muttered under his breath.
The four of them took up their positions. "On my mark," Egon called as the monster roared. "One, two, three... mark!"
They all fired at once, each of them hitting their target square. The energy from the streams caused the image of the double doors to waver like a mirage in the desert, and Gramzen thrashed in the beam of the destabilizer. Finally the doorway began to shrink, the beams following it down, and they could feel the reversal of the wind's direction. It became a powerful force, drawing things toward the portal, including the struggling demon lord, who snarled and cursed, continually attempting to strike at his captors. And then, at last, the creature was sucked through, drawing the rest of the gateway with him. There was a brief moment of silence where the Ghostbusters and Lau turned off their throwers, and then the circle exploded.