Ectoplasmic Secrets

Contract

Summary: The GIW have been funding the Fenton's research for years. Now they come to the scientists with a new offer and high hopes.

It was a calm Friday evening in Amity Park, something that was growing increasingly rare in the ghost infested city. Roads were busy and there was plenty of traffic, especially downtown on 83rd avenue where most of the city's entertainment was located. In this section of town, all huddled together was a movie theater, a couple of hotels, some gift shops, and a whole lot of restaurants ranging from a Nasty Burger to formal dress places with overpriced food.

One restaurant in particular that happened to be much closer to the formal end of that scale, was packed full of people, as was expected for a Friday night, with every table occupied. Tables filled the center of the room and comfortable looking booths lined two of the walls. The lights were dimmed and a few sparkling chandeliers hung overhead. Waiters and waitresses circled around taking orders for food and drinks.

In the corner booth where it was the most enclosed, sat a group of four, two men and two women. They were engaged in a rather serious conversation over some drinks and an appetizer. All four were dressed relatively formally and for the most part held the same business-like expression. On one side of the booth there was a bald man wearing a suit and tinted glasses. Beside him sat a stern looking middle-aged woman with her dark brown hair pulled back in an up do. She was wearing a very sophisticated black, floor length dress. Both had fairly tanned skin and possessed a certain atmosphere that almost warned people of their presence. Across from them sat a livelier looking couple, a broad-shouldered man with dark, graying hair wearing a more casual suit and tie, and a redheaded woman wearing a simple dark green dress.

The woman, Madeline Fenton, took a sip of her drink. She'd been nervous about this dinner ever since their "friends in the business" had invited them the week before. It wasn't often that Jack and Maddie met with GIW executives, which made it even more nerve wracking on the odd occasions when they did. Maddie had made sure Jack and herself had been looking their best when they left the house earlier that evening. This meeting could mean everything to them, and they knew it had to go well The GIW had been funding the majority of the Fenton's paranormal research the past many years and they definitely couldn't allow themselves to lose those funds now that they had two kids to support as well.

Jack had been more than optimistic about the meeting going into it than Maddie. He didn't see it as anything to worry about since the GIW honestly hadn't shown any signs of wanting to stop their funds. In fact, they've even recently picked it up a bit, which was understandable with the way spectral activity had been increasing.

"We trust you've both noticed that the amount of activity has gone up recently?" the woman, Sierra Hunt asked.

Maddie nodded, "Yes, we noticed the rate increased around .6% since the 3rd."

"And .7 in the last week. That's why we've just been given permission to carry out an idea that was proposed a while back, and also why we've asked the two of you to join us here tonight." Sierra continued when both of the Fentons looked at her curiously, "We have a new business pitch for you both, one we believe you'll like."

"What do you need us to make? More modern weapons? Upgraded defense systems?" Jack asked.

"No, not this time. This idea was sparked by something we found out you were both working on back at the University of Wisconsin."

"A lot of things happened in Wisconsin, which is it you're referring to?"

Sierra temporarily ignored the last question and continued, "Before we get into the actual project we'd like you to know that if you both agree to this, it will become a project of combined efforts. A team of top rated government ectologists and engineers will be assigned to collaborate with you, and every resource you'll need will be directly provided for by the GIW. You'll also both be given a yearly salary of 120k, a 240k household income, and if the project is successful, we'll allow you both to keep your salary, continuing your work officially under the GIW."

Before either could cut in, Sierra also added, "And by that we mean, you'll still be able to do your own research and still receive funds for it, however, to keep the salary, you'd have to be able to work on GIW missions and plans alongside your regular work as an ectologist."

Maddie processed the hoard of information she was given. She said whatever this project is, that it was inspired by something Jack and I did in college? The two of us worked on a lot of things there, Vlad as well, but which one could she mean? The project must be something massive if we'd be getting a team of scientists and engineers to aid…and that salary…damn. That's a nice income right there, and to be making that much while doing something like what we'd probably be doing anyways…

Jack beat Maddie to the big question that was on both their minds, "Wowie, that's a pretty generous offer. So, what's this project?"

The other man, Agent K, also known to some as John Kelvin, pulled out a file from his white briefcase and slid it across the table so it lay, unopened, before the Fentons. Jack moved his drink out of the way as his wife slowly opened the file. As the couple looked briefly through it, they were both shocked.

"You're asking us to build a larger portal?" Maddie half whispered.

Sierra leaned in a little closer, "Think of the possibilities Madeline. This could be the key to finally winning the war against ghosts. If we have access to their world, we may finally have some leverage over them."

Jack took the liberty to cut in, "That's all well and good, but gee… I don't know. Back in college we couldn't even get the Viewing Portal to work- my best friend, Vladdie, he got hurt pretty bad while we were working on it too." Maddie nodded, "Right, building a bigger one would just be even more hazardous."

"Proper precautions will be taken, much more than I'm sure you had in that college lab." John said.

"No matter how many precautions are taken, this can still go horribly wrong." Maddie argued.

"Things could go wrong in any experiment." Sierra said.

Maddie paused. It's true, she thought, that's one thing I've always relished about being a scientist. Taking risks to make greater discoveries. Jack and Maddie shared a look with each other before Jack asked the two government workers, "Can we take some time to think things over?" Sierra nodded, "Of course. Take the file home, read through it together, you know how to reach us when you decide." Maddie put on a small smile and thanked them.

"Just remember, this could be groundbreaking. If it all works out, our children, our grandchildren and many more generations after can all live on a more peaceful Earth than the one we do. Most people who know about this project, myself included, that this is the key we've been looking for." The Fentons allowed Sierra's words to sink in. Quite honestly, it left the both of them feeling like some of their hope was renewed in this ongoing fight.

Jack knew for a fact he wanted nothing more than to stop hearing constant news stories of people being hurt, or unfortunately, occasionally even killed because of ghost attacks. Too many people were getting hurt and not enough was being done about it. Even with all the technology they've developed over the years, no ghost hunting organization had any sort of real advantage over ghosts.

Maddie, like her husband, hated when she saw someone get hurt because of one filthy pest, but she was also afraid. She was afraid that someday, if this problem didn't get fixed soon, she'd see one of her precious babies get hurt, and she couldn't bear to let that happen.

The party's waiter chose that moment to return with the food they had all previously ordered. From then on the topic of conversation slowly drifted into something more casual and before they knew it, they were watching the check be paid for by the two government agents who had originally invited them. The group said their polite goodbyes to each other before parting ways, two getting picked up in a expensive white car with tinted windows, and the other two leaving in the minivan they often used when there wasn't any kind of emergency or ghost attack. What, did you think they drove a big, hulking RV around everywhere they went?

When the couple arrived home they found their house surprisingly just as clean as when they left it. Angela's just so good with the kids like that, Maddie thought. Thankfully her friend had been able to babysit Danny and Jazz, seeing how Angela's husband Maurice had promised to take their seven (almost eight) year old son, Tucker, to see some new superhero movie tonight (something Angela hadn't been to keen on going to see). So, while the two boys of the Foley household were out this evening, she had been given an excuse to not go with them this time by opting to babysit for her closest friend.

Looking up from the couch where she'd been reading a book Angela greeted the couple, "How'd it go?"

"It was good, we've got some things to think over and read through but…I think we're going to start earning our own salary" Maddie summed up.

Angela's eyes lit up, "Really?! That's great girl, congratulations! Added with what you been making on selling some of those inventions of yours, you're gonna be pretty well off." Jack then replied, "Yeah, well, pay or not I don't think that's why we're considering this job."

"This might be a huge step towards getting rid of the ghosts always attacking this town." Maddie added to clarify.

"Well hallelujah! That's even better news!" Maddie smiled brightly, "It is, thanks Ang. So, how were the kids?"

"Oh they were a couple of little angels. We played a couple games then they both went to bed about an hour ago without putting up too much of a fight about it." Then she said more quietly to Maddie, "Girl, you're raising some good kids." Maddie felt warm with pride, "Thanks so much for watching them." Angela waved her hand, "Anytime."

After that they talked only a little while longer before Angela decided she'd get going. Jack and Maddie checked in on their two kids before settling down on the couch with the file. They spent the rest of the night reading through all of it, analyzing every expense, required materials, all the people's names who were involved, and every last detail they could find. They finally came to a decision around three in the morning.

They would build this portal. They would make it work. And they would use it to their advantage in this endless struggle against ghosts.

A/N: Thank you for reading!

I am now on winter break, half way through my senior year of high school, so I'm going to have more time for these next few weeks to work on this.

If you're here and were a reader on the original Ectoplasmic Secrets, yes, this chapter and the next few are going to be almost directly from there, although I am editing and changing and adding some things even on these. I promise, I know where I want to go with this one, and have a more clear and focused plan.

Again, thanks for reading! Feel free to drop a review, lemme know what you think, if you're a new reader or here from the original, etc.