Back at the station, Kairi was lying on the upstairs Ghostbusters couch, her hands to her face, trying to get some rest from the goings-on in the public library.
Additionally, Eve secretly notified him that she had just detected the signal when the group reappeared after their journey through the Ghostworld but was unable to detect its location. The idea that someone is spying on them got on Kairi's nerves.
"Seriously, is this thing full of that slime?" Makoto asked, who was still obsessed with the dancing toaster.
"Oh, if you knew," Said Winston, who was nearby. "When I saw him dance the first time, I froze. And I'm not telling you how Ray and Egon experimented with those slimes to generate a positive charge, trust me."
Makoto raised an eyebrow but soon caught on to what Winston meant, giggling mischievously with a hand on her mouth as the Ghostbuster nodded.
Rena, who was listening to the conversation, blushed as she imagined the things those two did with that slime.
Meanwhile, Ray was going through the Gozerian Codex looking for answers, while Egon did some research on the cube the girls brought, suggesting some ideas to the book review, while Nina was going through her notes to see if there was anything that might help.
"Well, it's a great read. But nothing about that," Ray said to Egon.
"I have seen many things similar to this thing, but it doesn't seem to be what I think. I know I've seen something like this before, but where?" Nina said, referring to the symbol they discovered in the public library.
"I know that symbol," Ilyssa said as she approached them.
"How?" Egon asked.
"It shows up sometimes in Sumerian ritual magic. There's a statue on loan at the museum that features it," Ilyssa replied.
"What does it represent?" Ray asked.
The girls began to focus on the conversation, while Kairi got up from the sofa.
"Just a symbol: signifies a path to obtain great power," Ilyssa replied. "Most of my colleagues assume it's an old constellation."
"No constellation I ever saw. And I used to tell fortunes on Coney Island," Winston said.
"Is that right? Did you wear a turban? Peter asked Winston.
"No, man. A red velvet cape with moons. It was plush," Winston replied.
"And how many times were you right in your predictions? One in a hundred?" Priere asked, mocking him.
"That's none of your business, miss devil," Winston replied.
"Get this," Ray warned seeing something in the book. "The codex does indicate there is some kind of feeder system required to channel energy to a Destructor Form," Ray said, reading the codex.
"A Destructor Form… like Stay Puft?" Winston asked.
"Oh, dear," Edea commented with a hand on her head.
"It's entirely possible that the system and this pattern are connected," Egon said.
"It's possible," Ray said.
"Wait a minute, is someone trying to create another Destructor?" Rena asked.
"As if we didn't have enough with one," Kairi sighed.
"Wait," Egon said, realizing something. "You said the Gozerian statuary at the museum is on loan. From who?"
"Ivo Shandor, the architect. Well, the Shandor Foundation," Ilyssa replied. "They control Shandor's remaining estate and holdings. Ivo was a big collector of Gozerian artifacts."
"By 'Ivo Shandor the Architect' you mean 'Ivo Shandor the Genocidal Maniac.' Right?" Winston asked.
"That's what I was researching when Gozer attacked me. Shandor's architecture firm was involved in a number of projects around town in the late 18-, and early 1900s," Ilyssa explained.
"Including Dana Barrett's old building on Central Park West," Egon said.
"You mean the one with the extra-dimensional antenna that drew Gozer to our world so he could attempt to destroy it?" Peter asked. "Had a nice view of the park, though."
"Someone can put us up to date?" Makoto asked.
"Dana Barrett was a client of ours who unwillingly turned part of a ritual used to bring Gozer the first time through a structure on top of her building," Egon said. "Fortunately, this structure was destroyed in our encounter."
"And you say that building was built by this Shandor guy? It's already pissing me off," Edea said.
"Yes, but he also did some renovations on existing buildings and a number of public works," Ilyssa said. "There was controversy ... because a lot of people thought the work was unnecessary."
"Let me guess," Winston began. "He did some renovations to the Public Library building on Fifth."
"Riiiight. And… at the Museum of Natural History," Ilyssa said.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Rena said. "Are you suggesting that all the paranormal activity in the places we have been, and the buildings that were renovated by this man are related to each other?"
"They're all connected to Shandor... and this pattern," Egon said.
"And who is Ivo Shandor?" Eve asked.
"Ivo Shandor was the leader of a secret society for Gozer worshippers, but after the First World War, Shandor decided that society was too sick to survive. And this society celebrated bizarre rites intended to bring about the end of the world, which triggered the arrival of Gozer years ago. Egon explained.
"Why is there always a sect that worships a god with the intention of destroying the world?" Nina asked.
"Well, it's a good thing Shandor couldn't use a Keyblade. If he used the same trick as Xehanort and transferred his heart to another body, he would be very dangerous," Kairi commented.
"We should warn the Mayor," Winston concluded after hearing it all.
"I don't know, he's likely to just sick Peck on us even more," Ray said.
"Yes, and I think we already have enough problems with this PCOC thing," Makoto said.
"You should get a closer look at the Museum," Egon suggested.
"Well, the Mayor's gonna be at the Museum for the exhibition opening gala tonight. It's where I need to be, too," Ilyssa said.
"Ilyssa, you sure make work fun for me," Peter said. "Is business casual okay? I don't have a tux."
"Are you kidding? He doesn't want you guys within three city blocks of the Museum tonight!" Ilyssa exclaimed. "He thinks you make his campaign contributors nervous. Besides, that Peck guy will be at the party, too."
"Okay, Egon and Eve'll stay here and finish analyzing the data from the library," Ray said. "The rest of us will go by the service entrance of the museum and lay low. Peter can attend the party as Ilyssa's guest and stay in plain sight of Peck."
"And that frees us to check out the rest of the building," Winston said.
"I love this plan!" Peter exclaimed. "It's just dull enough to work."
"I think some of us could go with Peter as well and make sure things don't get worse while we investigate," Makoto suggested. "If I'm not wrong, Edea and Nina are from royalty, aren't they? They may have some preference."
"Royalty of kingdoms that don't exist here," Nina corrected.
"But that's not a bad idea. This way we will have the place under surveillance in case another paranormal event happens," Rena said. "I'll convince Peck to let the four of us in with Ilyssa."
"Yes, I doubt very much that he wants to know what happens when you get angry," Edea said. "You get scarier than the ghosts themselves."
"Very funny, Edea," Rena replied.
"OK, agreed," Kairi said. "You three go with Peter and Ilyssa and make sure nothing bad happens. The rest of us will follow Ray's plan while Eve helps Egon with the library data."
"Well," Peter said before turning to Ilyssa. "Ill, I'm gonna bring you a corsage," He said before leaving.
On the night of the opening, Kairi, Edea, Priere, Ray, and Winston entered the museum's loading dock undetected. Fortunately, there was no security in that place.
"Are you guys here yet?" Peter asked over the radio.
"Yes, we just arrived at the loading dock," Ray answered. "Keep Peck distracted. we're going to poke around."
"Okay, I'll take one for the team," Peter said.
"Edea, do you hear me?" Kairi asked over the transmitter.
"Yes, I can hear you," Edea answered quietly.
"How things are going up there?"
"Well, I can't complain. Nina and Rena are the stars here. They are getting all the attention of the people, and I feel that I'm being forgotten.
"Okay, that's fine. That way you can investigate without anyone noticing you,"
"I don't know how to take this, but fine," Edea said before cutting off the communication.
Apparently, things were controlled up there. Now all that remained was to check the rest of the building.
"No sign of the curator," Ray commented, looking around. "Ilyssa told me he'd meet us right here."
"Well, we'll have to investigate without his aid," Priere commented.
The group proceeded through the loading dock area until they came across a large puddle of black slime from a nearby smashed crate.
"Something wanted out of this box in a big way," Winston said, seeing the mess.
"Watch out. Black slime," Ray said while using the SDP against the black slime. "Unchechecked it can eventually open a full inter-dimensional portal, an open doorway… and anything that wants to can come through."
"What if we find one that is already open?" Makoto asked.
"If a full portal has been opened, it has to be sealed using the Slime Blower. That's the key reason we developed that tech," Ray explained.
"Well, Eve, Nina, and I spoke about this topic, and I think we know how to nullify these things without using the Slime Blower," Kairi said.
"Well, the next accumulation of slimes that blocks our way will be for you, miss," Winston said. "By the way, look at this. Something's trailed packing material down the hall here."
"Packaging material and slime," Ray specified.
The group passed through the corridor, finding a large amount of black slime on the floor and walls. Knowing what Ray had just said a moment ago, Kairi decided to put her method to the test, aiming her Keyblade, and at that moment she released a beam of light from the tip that collided with the black slime and made it disappear on contact.
"Well done, Kairi!" Ray exclaimed. "How did you do it?"
"Well, thinking about the nature of black slime, we deduced that using magic focused on positive and happy feelings could exert a similar effect to the slime you usually use," Kairi explained.
"Good thinking, Egon would have loved to see this," Ray said.
"And what were you thinking about right now?" Winston asked.
"Well, in Sora and Riku, in my friends... and my mother," Kairi answered with a smile.
"I see," Priere said.
The group continued to advance through the corridors of the lower area of the museum, until through the gap of an open door they saw how a ghost with a female form flew from one side to the other quickly.
"Was that a possessor?" Winston asked.
"Maybe," Ray said. "Looked like a Level 7 or above, too."
"Excuse me?" Kairi asked.
"Didn't we used to fight class two's and three's every now and then? What has happened to them? Those were easy," Winston argued.
"Aah, the good old days," Ray commented. "I'm more worried that she'll stir things up around here. I expect we'll see her again sooner than we want to."
"Hello!" Kairi exclaimed, catching the Ghostbusters' attention. "What was that thing?"
"Oh sorry," Ray said. "That was a possessor. A type of ghost with the ability to temporarily possess the body of a living being. Because of that ability, they can be very annoying, and also very dangerous."
"Ghosts that possess people. Just what we needed now," Makoto commented.
The group continued to advance until they found a large wooden box from which someone could be heard inside.
"Hello? Who's in there?" Ray asked, heading to the box.
"Somebody that wants out, is who," Winston answered.
"I got this," Priere said, preparing to break the box.
"Be ready for anything. Possessors are tricky and powerful," Winston warned.
Without caring about it, Priere kicked the box to pieces, freeing the person inside.
"Oh, Dr. Rutherford," Ray said as he recognized the man who was getting up from the floor of the box. "Uh, Z, meet the Assistant Curator of the Museum."
"Is that horrible, terrible thing gone?" Dr. Rutherford asked with a trembling voice.
"Yes, she's gone," Winston replied. "You good?"
"I, uh, yes I suppose so," the man said. "I'm a big fan. I even had you over for my daughter's birthday a couple years ago."
"Is that so?" Ray asked before continuing. "Well, I think we can get you a sticker or button or mug or T-shirt or something when we're done here."
The girls just shrugged at their conversation.
"Oh, that would be wonderful," Dr. Rutherford said cheerfully. "Follow me... we'll go through the restoration department."
The professor went to open the freight elevator in the room, but when the doors opened, the possessor appeared inside screaming loudly.
"There it is again! Don't let it get me!" The terrified man exclaimed, running away from the ghost.
Ray instinctively stepped between him and the ghost, blocking its path.
"Don't you worry. She'll have to go through me first," Ray said, but then the ghost ended up inside him. "Mwa ta natch call worn ormon!" He said while being possessed by the spirit.
"Can you help him?" The man asked, keeping his distance.
"Step back, ladies! I'll take care of this," Winston said. "We normally use Slime Blowers to 'exorcise' possessor victims. Cleaner than somebody's head spinning all around and barfing pea soup. I highly doubt your trick would work with them," After saying it, he sprayed Ray with the slime impeller, causing the possessor to leave her body.
Following the exorcism, Kairi, Makoto, and Priere got very personal with the possessing ghost, beating her with whatever they had thanks to the influence of Kairi's Keyblade, until they weakened her enough to be caught in Winston's trap.
"Alright! You guys are really good!" Dr. Rutherford exclaimed as he approached them.
"I just saw one, and I don't want to see them anymore," Makoto said with his arms crossed.
"Will he be okay?" The man asked referring to Ray.
"How you doin', Ray?" Winston asked.
"Hazza buzza. Do you buzza? Bozza wazza shum," Ray replied, making the girls arch an eyebrow at each other.
"Aw, he'll be fine in a second," Winston commented.
"Well, I have my doubts. But if you say it," Makoto commented.
"Come on, let's get out of here. We have a museum to investigate," Priere said.
The group started to enter the freight elevator when Ray's lightbulb went on.
"Oh, no," Ray said, being able to speak normally again. "If this place is possessed by, uh, possessors, we'd better get to Peter and the others fast."
"We'll be lucky if the museum doesn't become one of those houses that come to life and eat people up," Kairi said.
"You don't know how many times we've run into that kind of things," Winston said.
"Venkman!" Ray called on the radio. "We found the curator! We're on our way to the Gozer exhibit now!"
The group rode up the freight elevator, discussing the current state of the museum, but all agreed on one thing. Everything had started to go wrong since they started mounting the Gozer exhibit.
Soon the elevator doors opened, revealing Peter who was waiting for them.
"Well, hello there," Peter said casually.
"Dig it, Peter. Ray got possessed…again," Winston said, getting out of the elevator.
"Awww, Z!" Ray exclaimed after the comment, going after Winston, at the same time that the girls followed them.
"'You'll have to go through me first': that's exactly what he said!" Winston said.
"Just like a puppy... every day's the first day," Peter commented as he walked down the hall.
"Have you been possessed before?" Makoto asked. "Details, please!"
"Not now. We have things to do," Kairi said.
Arriving at the exhibition celebration, they saw that things seemed to be going well without much trouble. Even Kairi could see how Rena and Nina were hogging some of the attention, although the winged woman felt herself out of place at said party.
"At last, you're here," Edea said, approaching the group.
"Any problem?" Kairi asked.
"Except that hardly anyone has talked to me, everything is going well. Though I think Rena and Nina are having a better time," Edea said, crossing her arms and nodding at the named girls.
"Well, let's be frank, you can't do anything to compete with these beauties," Peter commented.
"What do you mean by that?!" Edea asked Peter, annoyed with his comment.
"No, no, NO!" Walter Peck exclaimed as he approached them, accompanied by several security agents. "I want the Ghostbusters and those girls ejected from this facility immediately."
"Hey, calm down a bit, Peck," Edea said.
"Shut up, miss," Peck told Edea. "Because of the blue-blooded origin of you and the black-winged lady, added to the overwhelming popularity of Miss Erindel, I had to slide it this time. But I'm not going to do that with them. Especially not with those two walking ticking bombs!" Peck exclaimed pointing to Priere and Kairi, who was quite offended.
"Relax. By the way, where's his honor, Pecker?" Peter asked. "We've got news for him… and a photo-op."
"The Mayor is indisposed right now. Anything you need to tell him goes through me," Peck replied.
"Not happening, Peck-a-bee," Peter said. "This is for Jock and Jock alone. We will wait for him to get redisposal."
Unbeknownst to anyone, Ilyssa stared at the central statue in the exhibit, but a strange dark essence eventually possessed the woman, causing her to begin levitating around the statue.
"Security! Remove these people… with excessive force," Peck ordered the agents.
Edea pointed her finger at Peck "Hey, I don't allow you to treat my-"
"What the?!"
Rena's exclamation made everyone aware of what was happening to Ilyssa, and she disappeared in a burst of light in front of the Gozerian statue.
"Why do the good ones always play hard to get?" Peter asked.
"Not now, please," Kairi said. "What just happened?"
Suddenly several ghosts appeared around the statue, rushing to the guests of the exhibition, causing chaos and possessing several of the guests.
"What in the hell is going on here?!" The Mayor asked when he looked out to see what was happening.
Just then one of the ghosts approached where he was, but a lightning bolt thrown by Nina drove it away, forcing it to choose another victim.
"Please, Mr. Mayor, take cover," Nina asked the Mayor.
The Mayor nodded and left the room.
At that precise moment, another of the ghosts ended up entering Peck from behind.
"Oh my, sure he'll blame us for this…" Kairi commented.
"We take care of this," Ray said. "You girls make sure they don't go too far with their actions until we get the ghosts out of them."
"Wow, they left us with the easiest part," Priere said sarcastically.
The Ghostbusters began to use the Slime Blowers on the possessed guests, but it was clear that it would take a while for them to affect them, so it was up to Kairi and company to contain them until they could deal with the ghosts themselves.
Kairi prepared to hold off the possessed, but a possessed Peck lunged at her like a rabid animal, forcing her to block his onslaught with her Keyblade. The possessed Peck began to push Kairi trying to catch her, causing her to instinctively push him back and hit him in the chest.
When Kairi realized what she had done, a light shone on the tip of the Keyblade, and in the next moment, the ghost that possessed Peck went flying out from his back as if it had been hit by a truck. As Peck was dazedly recovering from the possession, Kairi looked at her Keyblade in awe.
"Wow, one thing I didn't know," Kairi told herself, surprised that she could exorcise ghosts with her Keyblade.
"Hey, how the hell did you do that?!" Winston asked when he saw what had happened.
"I have no idea," Kairi said with a shrug, soon looking at Peck. "Are you okay?"
Peck recovered but his comment was not pleasant at all. "I'll see you on Rikers Island for this!"
"Hey, calm down!" Priere exclaimed. "Now get the fuck out before I decide to hide your sorry ass under a statue!"
Peck considered responding to her but decided to ignore her and scrambled out of the exhibit.
"Well, one less problem to deal with," Peter commented as he was still busy with the Slime Blower.
While they continued with that task, the possessor who flew away began to fly around the room to fix on Priere, without noticing her presence. Immediately the ghost entered her from behind, but after struggling a bit within her, the ghost came out of her, 'falling' to the ground, looking confused.
"Sorry, ghosty," Priere said, approaching the ghost. "The place is full," The demon Overlord said, cracking her knuckles with her hands with a sinister slime on her face.
Ray was busy trying to get the ghost out of one of the guests, when suddenly he heard a loud hit, seeing how a possessor landed right in front of where he was, leaving the Ghostbuster confused.
"Hey!" Priere called from afar. "Can you take care of that?"
Ray looked confused, but then he set the trap under the ghost, activating it and locking the ghost inside. He was still confused about what had happened though.
As time passed, the Ghostbusters managed to expel the possessors from the bodies of their victims, and with the help of the girls, they took the opportunity to catch every last of the ghosts in the room. After doing the paranormal cleanup, they realized that Ilyssa was floating in front of the statue… until an obese ghost appeared out of nowhere and took her flying through one of the doors.
"Oh, come on!" Edea cursed. "Where did that come from?"
"Okay, you guys go after Ilyssa!" Ray said to the rest. "Be careful. I will go to Security with Makoto," He then looked at Makoto. "Because you know how to run a Security room, right?"
"Yes, I know how to handle myself quite a bit," Makoto commented. "I wouldn't have minded doing the museum tour, though."
"I love this plan!" Peter exclaimed.
"We'll man the security cameras to triangulate them on the monitors and talk you through," Ray said before moving next to Makoto.
"See you soon, Ray," Winston said goodbye. "Let's go, guys."
"See you soon, guys," Ray said to the others. "Dr. Rutherford? If you show me to security?"
As Ray and Makoto followed Rutherford, Kairi and the others followed the trail of the obese ghost that took Ilyssa through the Mayan section. And just when they crossed the corridor, they find both of them in the middle of said corridor.
"Venkman!" Ilyssa called, struggling with the obese ghost. "Get me down from here!"
"That's our cue!" Peter exclaimed.
Peter and Winston tried to hit the ghost with the proton packs, but it managed to elude them both, still with the woman on its arm, and fly away.
"I don't think that guy is planning to be nice to her!" Winston exclaimed.
"Oh yeah, Mr. Obviously?" Priere deadpanned.
Just then the mannequins in the exhibition began to move and attack them with their spears.
"It's a mannequin ambush!" Winston exclaimed. "Just blast 'em down to nothing!"
"You don't have to say it!" Kairi exclaimed, Keyblade in hand.
The group faced the mannequins, which were quite fragile to any forceful attack, but the number in which they came in slowed them down quite a bit in their pursuit. Finally, the group arrived at a large exhibition hall of Mayan culture, finding the ghost with Ilyssa hovering over the room.
"Hurry up! Before they get away!" Rena exclaimed.
That was easier said than done, as more statues from the Mayan exhibit began to attack them, this time accompanied by Crimson Heads and Skeleton Soldiers and Archers.
"I hate when they show up at the worst time," Edea commented upon seeing the Fallen.
The group began to move around the sides of the exhibit, dispatching the paranormal entities like the Fallen that were in the way, while trying to catch up with the ghost that kept receding.
"Take it to the bridge!" Winston exclaimed as he fired his equipment at the enemy entities.
"Did Winston just say, 'take it to the bridge'? What are you guys doing down there?" Ray asked over the radio.
"Forget about it and find that damn security. Okay, Ray?" Priere asked.
The group continued to fight against the onslaught of enemies to reach the ghost and Ilyssa, but it was complicated with so many enemies, especially with the Skeleton Archers shooting arrows at them non-stop. Fortunately, Rena and Nina were there to take care of the enemies from a distance. Unfortunately, they couldn't stop the ghost from running away with Ilyssa again, leaving them with the paranormals and the Fallen in the room. Fortunately, they managed to clean the room of enemies.
"Ray, can you see where they went?" Winston asked over the radio.
"We haven't reached the security office yet! This place is really hopping!" Ray exclaimed over the radio.
"Yeah, that's a big 10-4," Winston stated.
"Just hurry up. I have a bad feeling about this," Kairi said.
"You're not the only one," Edea said.
The group continued through the halls of the museum, encountering annoying groups of low- and mid-level Fallen and Possessed mannequins, which only slowed them down in their search.
Finally, they reached a part that was fenced off with a metal shutter, blocking their way.
"Shall we go around, or do I smash this thing?" Priere asked.
"No, how about we try to avoid causing more damage than necessary?" Winston asked.
"Fine..," Priere commented sulkily.
"Guys, we've reached the security office," Ray called on the radio. "This one is in shambles! It's been sabotaged. Black slime all over the place. Only a few of the cameras are still working."
"Great, just great," Kairi commented with a hand on her head.
"When you're free, no rush, open gate 3487. Just for kicks," Peter said.
"Give me a minute…" Ray said. After a while, the metal shutter began to retract upwards, but unfortunately, they heard a sinister laugh on the radio. "Whoa! We're under attack! We'll get back to you!"
"Ray, stay away from any possess…"
"Kazza gorba smotz chorzing glump! Froga! Froga!" Ray interrupted Winston, exclaiming and showing to be possessed again.
"Oh, this is ridiculous!" Rena exclaimed.
"Um, Dr. Rutherford? If you're still there, can you go catch Dr. Stantz, please?" Winston asked.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of him," Makoto said over the radio.
The group continued to advance through the different corridors and exhibits of the museum, looking for some clue as to the location of the ghost and Ilyssa.
"Okay, thanks to Makoto I shook off that possessor," Ray called over the radio. "Found a different security room. Can't find Dr. Rutherford, though. I must've scared him away."
"You're not pretty when you're possessed, Ray. Seriously," Winston commented.
"Actually, Ray was pretty cute this time," Makoto commented over the radio. "Don't worry, I'll see if I can find it."
"Be careful. Those possessors are quite annoying. Especially if they use a lady like you," Peter commented.
"Ha! I'll be careful!" Makoto said.
"Anyway," Ray said. "I've got you on the camera. You should go to the fossil exhibit. Ilyssa just passed through there."
"Okay, let's go. Thanks," Winston said.
The group delved into the fossil exhibit, coming across hundreds of exposed skeletons of extinct animals and dinosaurs.
"Can you imagine if any of these things began to move?" Winston asked. "Honestly, it wouldn't be any fun for me."
"Let's be thankful that these things are dead," Kairi said. "I just hope those ghosts don't possess these things."
"Okay, but just out of curiosity, is it normal for that fossil to have that thing on its forehead?"
Peter pointed to the fossilized skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and right on the forehead of the skull the emblem of the Fallen could be seen glowing.
"Why do I speak?" Kairi commented upon seeing the mark, picking up her Keyblade. "That's a Fallen!"
The fossilized skeleton began to move, freeing itself from the cables and supports that held it up as it jerked like an animal, roaring loudly as its eyes glowed bloody red (Rex Skeleton).
"This is where we earn the paycheck… and this is where we realize we ain't paid enough," Winston commented upon seeing the Fallen One.
"Guys, did I just hear a roar? What is happening there?" Ray asked over the radio.
"Can't you see on the cameras that we have a skeletal Tyrannosaurus Rex moving around as if it were alive?" Peter asked.
"I'm not in the security office. I'm chasing our squirrel girl right now. I saw on the cameras how it was being controlled by a possessor!" Ray explained over the radio.
"Then find her before she causes more trouble than we already have," Winston commented. "I don't need to remind you why she is now working with us."
When the Skeleton Rex became aware of his surroundings, the skeletal Fallen began to walk towards Kairi, who was forced to back up as she launched several Firaga to try and cause some damage.
For their part, Peter and Winston used their proton packs against the giant skeleton, although they barely managed to damage such a huge monster. Nina and Rena used their abilities to attack it from a distance trying to distract it from Kairi, but without much success, because it kept chasing her around the room, trying to bite her with its jaws every time it got too close to her. Edea switched to Black Mage work as she figured meleeing it was too risky, casting whatever spell she could think of, but it achieved the same effect as the others on the Fallen.
Priere for her part decided to take a more direct approach and began hitting its legs hard her staff. Apparently, that did work to attract Skeleton Rex's attention as it lowered its head turning towards her, growling ominously.
"I've faced freaks uglier than you. With you, I don't even need to warm up!" Priere taunted the skeleton, though said taunt was answered with a swipe of the fossilized dinosaur's tail, but she was able to catch its tail with her arms in time. "Nice try, bone walker!"
But the skeleton flicked its tail, picking her up and shaking her like a flag until she lost grip and flew down to crash into a display of bones, nearly taking Winston with her out in the air.
"Are you okay?" Winston asked, looking at Priere.
"Do I look like I'm okay?" Priere asked angrily, a dinosaur skull on her head. "That pile of bones can be considered fertilizer!"
Priere's recklessness made it clear that the Fallen was more vulnerable to physical attacks than to magic itself, which was paradoxical since approaching the huge monster was very difficult without risking being bitten by the skeleton's jaws. But they could barely hurt him with the Ghostbusters' proton packs and the girls' magic, and they didn't have time to play with that thing. They had to be creative in this situation or at least nullify his jaw.
Kairi used a moment's respite to take on her Alexander Form, waiting for the Skeleton Rex to get close enough, opening its jaw to bite her, and at the last moment, Kairi leaped at it, landing right on the jaw and snapping into it, using her armor to lock the fossilized dinosaur's lower jaw so it couldn't close it.
"Oh my! Have you gone crazy?!" Peter exclaimed when he saw what Kairi had done.
"Less jokes and more thinking about how to kill this thing," Kairi said, holding its jaw with her body. "And quickie, this form won't last forever."
"Okay, let's see: a huge dinosaur made entirely of demon bones, affected only by physical attacks but too big to engage in direct combat. Maybe some explosives will do the trick?" Peter asked.
"Explosives? And where do we get explosives in a museum? Also, Kairi is right in the mouth, you know?" Edea complained.
"Can you hurry?! I'm tired of being in the mouth of this thing!" Kairi asked as she held onto the Skeleton Rex's jaw as it shook its head to break her hold.
"Okay, Peter. What if we use 'it' that Egon installed on the packs? The Boson darts, I say," Winston suggested.
"That?" Peter asked. "Are you sure it will work?"
"Surely. Either that, or we look for a 10-meter, 50-ton hammer to use against it," Winston said before calling Kairi. "Hey, lady! At my call, get out of there!"
"This better work, I don't think I can pull this trick off again," Kairi warned.
"Trust us," Winston said, preparing his instrument. "Ready Peter?"
"Prepared. I just hope this doesn't give us any more trouble," Peter said, preparing his hose.
The two Ghostbusters aimed their hoses at Skeleton Rex's head as it tried to bite Kairi who was still in its jaw.
"Now!"
At this call, Kairi jumped from the Skeleton Rex's jaw, and just as she could, a pair of bolts of energy shot out of the Ghostbusters' hoses, flying at the Fallen's skull from both sides. Upon impact, the resulting explosion caused the skull to shatter, causing the rest of the body to collapse to the ground as it vanished.
"Man, you can't tell me these went quietly during extinction... you just don't see this kind of fight anymore," Winston commented after lowering the hose.
"If you only knew..," Kairi commented, who was lying on the ground. "Next time, let us know what you are going to do. I narrowly missed it by an inch," She said as she reverted to her normal form.
"And what the hell was that thing? That wasn't the usual proto-whatever beam," Priere commented, throwing the skull on her head to the ground.
"Boson darts. Egon's exact words: Super-de-polarized burst of boson particles. Extremely volatile. Oh, and any accidental blockage could vaporize everything for 3 square miles," Winston explained.
"Wow! You sounded just like Egon," Peter exclaimed. "And I'm surprised you memorized all that,"
"Trust me, you should read Egon's memos about his inventions from time to time, Peter," Winston said.
"Okay, we'll keep that in mind," Kairi said as she got up from the ground.
"Guys, I just found Makoto and I've already taken care of the possessor. She should be fine by now," Ray called over the radio.
"Is having my tail impregnated with green slime be 'fine' for you?" Makoto asked, obviously annoyed by her tone.
"I'm glad you're both okay," Nina said.
"Yeah. Although I should add that the possessor this time chose a body quite right with its nature," Ray commented.
"What do you mean by that?" Makoto asked.
"Well, considering that the possessor tried to seduce me so I couldn't do anything… she even got up the-"
"Don't say it! Don't say it!" Makoto exclaimed, interrupting Ray.
"Okay, fine. Can you by the way go back to the security office, please?" Rena asked.
"We're going over there," Ray answered, cutting off the communication.
"Okay, let's see if we can find Ilyssa and that ghost," Kairi said.
"Sure. Time to rescue the lady in distress," Peter commented.
The group soon left the fossil exhibit, returning to search for any trace of the ghost that had taken Ilyssa.
After a while, Ray and Makoto returned to the security room.
"We made it to the security office. I can see you guys on the cameras. No sign of Ilyssa or her kidnappers though."
"What a relief..," Kairi commented.
The group kept going until they passed a picture of several people belonging to a group of executives at a table. But Rena was the first to notice a detail in the painting.
"Hey, doesn't he look like the ghost we're looking for?" Rena asked, pointing to one of the men in the photo.
"Well yes, they're similar," Peter commented, looking at the photo. "Apparently he was as ugly in life as he is now."
"Who are all these people?" Kairi asked. There would be some reason that the ghost was in that photo.
"I have no idea. Ray, any idea? Winston asked.
"In the early 1900s, the museum was run by a board of trustees," Ray began. "Powerful guys, tycoons, captain's of industry. The chairman of the board was Cornelius Wellsley of International Steel."
"The ugly guy in the picture, right?" Priere asked.
"That seems," Winston replied.
"The board used the museum as a respectable front for all kinds of dubious activities. Mainly though, they were part of a club run by our favorite evil architect," Ray explained.
"Ivo Shandor," Said Kairi when she noticed a nearby painting, in which the image of an elderly man with the label of Ivo Shandor was shown in the frame of the painting, getting an idea of what he was like in life.
"They hired women from the St. Nicolás Rehabilitation Mission for Wayward Angels," Ray continued. "Rumor has it, the board conducted all kinds of nasty rituals using these women."
"That explains the possessors and why everything is upside down here," Makoto suggested.
"Okay, let's find Ilyssa and give that bastard his lesson," Kairi commented.
The group moved forward following the ghost's trail, constantly clashing with wraiths and Fallen who were blocking their way, making their search more complicated than it is.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Edea exclaimed. "I saw the map of this museum when we came. We are walking in circles!"
"Are you sure?" Kairi asked.
"She's right," Ray said over the radio. "We just saw that fat ball on camera heading into the World of Gozer exhibit. Right now Makoto and I are going there. We will meet in the corridor that leads to the exhibit."
"Roger," Peter said.
Knowing where to go for sure, the group hurried up through the halls of the museum, reuniting with Ray and Makoto, and together they made their way to the Gozer exhibit, where they found Ilyssa lying on the floor.
Immediately like a shot, Peter ran to her, helping her to her feet.
"What a nightmare," Ilyssa said, regaining consciousness.
"Thank you," Peter said, helping her to her feet. "Not the words a rescuing hero wants to hear from his damsel in distress. May I say your eyes are much prettier when they're not glowing like hot coals."
"Please. You have to do this now?" Priere wondered as Rena shrugged.
"Peter!" Egon exclaimed as he reached the living room with Eve. "We have an extraordinarily frightening discovery."
"Why don't you all go away?" Peter asked, annoyed when his moment with Ilyssa was interrupted.
"Enough, Peter!" Kairi exclaimed.
"All of our data indicates that the Ghostworld is beginning to push through multiple cross portals from their dimension into ours," Egon explained.
"Exactly. What is happening now is nothing more than a preview of what will come upon us at any moment if we do not put an end to it," Eve explained.
"Well, more overtime," Peter commented reluctantly.
"Is that what you're worried about?" Kairi asked. "I have heard of worlds connected to other worlds. But I have never heard of a case where two worlds from two different dimensions collide in the same place!"
"Which should never be like this. The effects would be devastating for both sides," Eve said.
Soon Winston was fixated on a point in the central structure of the exhibition. "Guys! Look!"
As Winston pointed out, one of the symbols under the structure was glowing an ominous bluish hue. And just at that moment, the obese ghost of the chairman appeared in the air, roaring and smiling mischievously, immediately kidnapping Ilyssa again.
"Venkman help!" Ilyssa yelled into the ghost's hands
"Now she calls my name!" Peter exclaimed, grabbing his hose.
The ghost continued to flutter around the room, holding the woman in its spectral hands in the air.
"Block the exits!" Ray exclaimed.
"Don't let it escape with her!" Egon exclaimed.
"Don't worry! This time it won't escape from us!" Kairi exclaimed.
"Hit it with slime!" Winston exclaimed.
The four Ghostbusters began to use the Slime Blowers on the chairman's ghost. The slime seemed to have a negative effect on the ghost, as it seemed to be weakening as it was sprayed by the Ghostbusters, lowering in height as it seemed to suffer until He released Ilyssa, who fell to the ground, being picked up by Winston.
"Winston! Get the lady outta here before he hits on her again!" Peter suggested to Winston.
Winston used that moment to take Ilyssa away, while the rest of the group threw everything they had against the ghost of the chairman now that he had no one to protect himself with.
"Aim for the big yellow eye! " Said Egon as he used the proton beam against the specter.
Anyone who could attack from a distance, be it with magic, with arrows, or with proton beams, used it against the chairman while he tried to resist the rain of attacks he received, looking around in search of some escape route. Then he noticed that part of the floor of the structure was cracking from the fight, the moment that the ghost used to escape underground, giving them the slip.
"Who wouldn't like to have that super power?" Peter asked as everyone looked at the crack the chairman fled through,
"Less jokes, okay?" Rena asked
"We have to find some way to follow him," Edea said.
The Ghostbusters and the girls searched the area for any clues on how to go after the chairman, but without much success. Priere, for her part, was circling the central statue of the exhibit, grumbling to herself.
"And all for this stupid statue," Said Priere, kicking the statue hard and walking away from it.
Sounds of cracking stone not only caught the attention of Priere but of the rest of the group who saw how the statue began to split at the base, causing it to fall to the ground and break apart in the impact.
Priere looked at the group when that happened with a surprised face. "It's not my fault that thing was so brittle."
After breaking apart, the entire base of the sculpture began to shift and move, revealing a spiral staircase leading down below the museum. It didn't take long for them to realize that this was their entrance to chase the ghost.
"Well, this looks inviting," Egon commented as he glanced at the new entry.
"I'll be at the office watching over Ilyssa," Winston said, hanging back, "Don't do anything fun without me. Anyone come with me?"
"Not this time. Let's all go together this time," Said Kairi. "We have no idea what could be down there."
"I think it's a good idea," Egon stated.
With that decided, Kairi and the girls, along with the Ghostbusters, began to descend the spiral staircase, until they reached a network of tunnels that seemed to extend under the museum, beginning to follow the trail left by the chairman. At first glance, it seemed that they were the first visitors to these tunnels, for it seemed that no one else had set foot in this place for a long time. At least someone alive.
In some rooms of the tunnels, they could see that there were also some pipes that seemed to coil around each other, giving unusual shapes for what they are.
"It probably goes without saying, but this is very strange," Ray commented.
"Well, that is your conversation starter," Peter said. "What's strange?"
"This tunnel network. What could it possibly have been built for?" Ray asked.
"I was thinking the same thing," Egon said.
"Well, it could just be an old steam tunnel," Peter commented.
"That's impossible," Eve said.
"Right, Eve. The design and valves don't fit for moving steam, water, gas, electric, oil, trains, not even slime," Ray explained
"So what the hell are they transporting?" Edea asked
"This will have something to do with this 'Destructor-maker' system, right?" Makoto asked
"Certainly. Remember who built this tunnel in the first place," Egon said, "Besides, I don't recognize the alloy fabrication."
"Not even me," Eve said as two of her drones flew over the pipes.
"Well, one thing is clear, there's plenty of ghosts," Peter commented, emphasizing the ghosts that kept walking past the group constantly.
"You're right about that," Egon said. "There's more consistent, accelerated PKE blowing through here than I've ever seen. But this is not the origin point. This is just a conduit."
"Okay, now we know what the tunnels carry," Nina said.
"But where?" Kairi asked.
The group kept going, finally reaching the largest tunnel yet, with hundreds of ghosts passing through in one direction.
"Okay, Shandor definitely knew how to hide this kind of thing," Said Kairi, looking at the huge tunnel.
"Anyone bets that if we follow this tunnel, it will take us anywhere in the city?" Edea asked.
"I have some theories about the use of this tunnel," Eve said. "And none of them are even good."
"Let's get the chairman and shut this place down," Said Kairi
"Without knowing exactly how this system works, shutting it down could have the opposite effect," Egon warned,
"If we don't try we'll never find out," Said Kairi
"I'd rather not," Egon replied.
The entire group advanced through the tunnel until they reached a huge platform built in the center of the tunnel, accessed by a catwalk which retracted just as the last one crossed it, leaving everyone trapped there.
"Oh my. So MUCH black slime," Said Ray looking at the amount of black slime that was in the machines on the platform.
"Oh, it just seems like a lot because it's alive," Peter commented.
"With the amount we saw before we had a lot of problems. Imagine the disaster that this amount would cause!" Nina exclaimed.
"Oh, dear. You have no idea how much trouble too many of these slimes would cause," Said Peter.
Everyone was keeping an eye out for any trouble in the area. The place was very quiet, despite the constant noise of machinery and ghosts passing under the platform. Then they heard a burst of laughter that echoed through the tunnel, and the next moment they saw the ghost of the chairman hovering over them.
"Hello, Chairman. Ready to get what's coming to you?" Ray said seriously, "Kidnapping is a class-1 felony, and we do not tolerate it in our jurisdiction! Get him!"
The ghost just kept laughing as it rose, until it did something that caused a large number of ghosts to head towards the chairman, making him start growing to a colossal size compared to his previous size.
"Don't tell me ghosts can do that!" Kairi exclaimed.
The huge ghost just laughed, hiding under the platform, where nothing could reach him.
"So what do we do now?" Makoto asked, "Does anyone have a 10 XXL-sized stick?"
"It's got to have a weak spot somewhere!" Said Ray
"Well, you better think quickly about that, because we have company!" Edea exclaimed.
From the puddles of black slime on the platform, strange portals began to form, from which creatures apparently made of black slime began to emerge.
"Look, you guys take care of those things. We'll take care of the chairman whenever he shows his head," Said Kairi
"Good tactic. We are the only ones with the necessary technology to neutralize the portals," Egon said.
"Oh, if you only knew," Said Ray.
The Ghostbusters started using the slime thrusters to seal the open portals as if to destroy the creatures that emerged from them. But apparently, the place also seemed to be a gathering place for elemental Wraiths.
"Watch out! Flying enemies!" Exclaimed Egon upon seeing the Fallen.
"Okay! Remember to avoid hitting them with their element or we'll just waste time!" Said Kairi
"I can take care of this without magic," Said Priere.
Kairi, Nina, and Edea, the latter using the Black Magician job, began to cast elemental spells on the Fallen while avoiding hitting them with the element to which they belonged, while Rena and Eve shot them with their arrows and projectiles at the Fallen. Makoto and Priere, meanwhile, were beating up any black slime spawn that escaped the Ghostbusters, trying to prevent said black slime from touching any part of the body, since touching them was supposed to be bad, and it was better not to check it.
It didn't take long for the group to both disable the portals and eliminate all the monsters on the platform. At that very moment, the chairman appeared before them laughing.
"Aim for the big yellow eye!" Egon exclaimed.
Just as he said, on the huge ghost's obese chest there was what looked like a large glowing yellow eye, which could indicate a possible weak point. Taking advantage of its presence, the Ghostbusters fired their proton beams at that point, while Kairi, Rena, Nina, Edea, and Eve used everything they had at hand against him, although this time Priere concentrated her magic to launch orbs of dark energy against said weak point, which left Makoto as the only one to not attack the chairman.
But he didn't sit idly by while being attacked, as he summoned spectral orbs which he repeatedly launched at them, forcing them to constantly interrupt their attacks to dodge said orbs coming at them.
After receiving some punishment from the group's side, the chairman laughed, hiding under the platform again, at the same time that the puddles of black slime activated the portals again
"Really? This again?" Edea asked angrily.
"Well, let's begin again," Peter said. "Slime out!"
The Ghostbusters went back to using their teams' Slime Blowers to neutralize the portals, while the girls went back to dispatching the monsters that came out of the portals, as well as the flying Fallen that returned to cause more war and trouble for everyone.
"If this keeps going like that, we will have to think of another strategy," Rena said, taking down a Fallen with one of her arrows.
"I have an idea, but it is highly dangerous," Egon said as he soaked one of the portals in slime.
"What do you mean by 'highly dangerous'?" Peter asked, distracted by his work.
"If certain random factors related to environment and location are 'just right,' the plan could set off a chain reaction that would not only destroy the tunnels but also bring the entire city down on us," Egon explained.
"I don't like how that sounds," Edea said, using her magic against the enemies. "Eve, any suggestions?"
"I'm thinking about it right now," Eve responded, launching a missile at several airborne Fallen. "I try to think of possible alternatives."
After taking care of the portals and the enemies present, the chairman made an appearance again, with laughter included.
"Hit the eye with everything you've got!" Exclaimed Egon.
Everyone repeated the same tactic as before and focused everything they had on the chairman's weak point, constantly dodging the paranormal attacks of the huge ghost to finish him off before he decided to run again. But despite everything, the ghost escaped again and hid from them.
"Enough with the hiding! I'm not going to play clay pigeon shooting any longer!" Kairi exclaimed, already fed up with the chairman's tactics, immediately transforming into her Esper form to fly off and chase after the chairman.
"Hey! Don't leave us here!" Priere exclaimed as she, Nina, and Eve flew after her under the platform.
"This again? I'm not going to like this surely," Edea commented. "With what I know and how Kairi acts when in that form, I'd rather go with Egon's plan."
"That's the problem, Edea: that was the plan I was talking about," Egon explained.
"Are you kidding? An 'enraged' Kairi was your plan?!" Rena asked, exclaiming at how absurd the idea seemed.
Kairi, Nina, Priere, and Eve flew under the platform, finding the chairman below it who turned in surprise at the presence of the girls there.
"No more playing hide-and-seek, chairman!" Kairi exclaimed, throwing a Firaga at the ghost.
Nina cast a strong fire spell as Priere fired a strong dark laser and Eve threw one of her spears to add more power to Kairi's attack. When the four attacks collided, the explosion caused the ghost to recoil from the impact, but also caused the platform to shake with the shock wave.
"Seriously, I don't know what you're doing, but don't do it again!" Peter exclaimed as he tried to keep his balance like the others during the shaking.
Finding himself cornered, the chairman decided to rise, flying above the platform while being chased by Kairi and the others, also flying over the platform.
"Whatever you do, be careful! The whole place could crash down if you're not careful!" Ray exclaimed to Kairi.
Nina, Priere, and Eve used their ranged attacks and weapons to hold off the chairman while the Ghostbusters, Edea, and Rena did the same from the platform, while Makoto stared at what was happening unable to do anything at the moment.
Kairi charged her Keyblade with energy and launched herself at the chairman, digging her claws as best she could into the ghost's etheric flesh to grab onto him as he shook from the attacks he received and to try to get the girl off him without success. Kairi didn't hesitate long and plunged her energy-filled Keyblade into the weak point, causing a strong energy blast on the chairman.
That last attack caused the chairman to let out a cry of agony as his physical form vanished, leaving no trace.
"Nice job!" Ray exclaimed as the chairman vanished.
"Seriously, I haven't had this much dread in my life in a while. I never felt my heart pounding that much!" Edea exclaimed, breathing hard.
"We've been lucky this didn't blow up in our faces," Rena said, looking annoyed at Kairi, who was still flying over the group.
Kairi soon noticed the girls' faces, which showed mainly concern. She let out a sigh knowing that another reprimand from them awaited her. And that was the only way to deal with that ghost.
Just then, one of the symbol's marks on the museum disappeared.
"Care to tell me why my library and museum are all going down the toilet?!" The Mayor asked, completely angry as he raised his voice to Peter, Egon, and Ray who were in front of him and Mr. Peck.
And just then Peck answered. "I keep telling you, sir, the Ghostbusters are nothing but scam artists determined to throw a negative light on you and the City… and extort you for more money!"
"Seriously, this guy can't be more idiot?" Priere asked, listening to their conversation from a distance. She and the others had decided that they would let the Ghostbusters explain the situation to the Mayor while they kept their distance, especially considering Kairi's recent problems with her Esper form. Although everything depends on Mr. Peck's 'collaboration'.
"Hello Peck. I own that suit in blue," Peter commented, mocking Walter.
"Both of you! Pipe down!" ordered the mayor.
"Mr. Mayor, an enormous event is on the horizon," Egon said.
"Something at the Museum exhibit triggered a systemized psychic occurrence. Some mechanism we don't know the nature of yet," Ray explained.
"No. Of course you don't," Mr. Peck commented, taking it as a fairy tale.
"But it's feeding enormous energy somewhere."
"Something that's now in the process of breaking down the walls between our world… and another one."
"This other world is crossing through into ours. It started with simple ghosts and animated monsters."
"Now it's getting bigger. We don't know exactly what's next. But there's only room for one city here in this dimension."
"Two physical worlds can't exist in the same space. That's just elementary particle physics."
"We got a glimpse of the other world, Jock," Peter added to Egon and Ray's explanations, "I ain't pretty. It's like Brooklyn and the Bronx with no Queens in the middle."
"But Peter didn't come with us then?" Kairi asked
"I don't know, really," Makoto said, "He must have figured it out with the explanations we gave him."
Egon and Ray continued their explanation after Peter's comment,
"...whole city blocks sinking into a fifth-dimensional abyss!"
"Cockroaches the size of polo ponies."
"Panic in the streets!"
"How'd you like disco to come back? Bigger than ever," Peter commented.
"I get it. We're in trouble," Said the mayor. "So what am I supposed to do?!"
"We need to prepare the city for the worst," Ray suggested.
"The city's my responsibility, not yours!" Exclaimed the Mayor. "Now go do your job and stop that thing!" He said as he turned and walked away.
As the mayor left, Peck addressed them seriously.
"I should've shuttered your fraudulent gangsters forever when I had the chance!" exclaimed Mr. Peck furiously. "You know what? I'm going to put an end to this madness now! ¡Right now! I'm shutting down your containment grid for good! You can kiss off a permanent license, not to mention any chance for more government contracts! You did this to me, and you're going to pay!" He finished saying, while Egon scanned him for some reason, as his PKE meter detected a signal on it.
"You're welcome, you Peck," Ray said, annoyed with Peck's statements.
"Would you please leave us alone? You can't imagine how crazy this day has been for us, penpusher!" Edea exclaimed, letting out a snort
"Alright! That's it! That's it, you're done, smart guys! You are done, smart, cool guys!" Peck said, lashing out at them, "I have the authority and I am shutting you and your phony containment grid down NOW! And you girls will be sent to Rikers Island for the trouble you've caused! The whole city will have to pay because of your shenanigans. The whole city!"
"What? But that shuts you down too," Peter replied
"That's true!" Rena exclaimed, "Without us, you will end up without a job."
"Well, so be it!" Peck responded furiously. "I have bigger fish to fry. And get him off me!" He exclaimed fed up with Egon on top of him, walking away at a steady pace.
"Okay, we're done," Makoto said, shaking his head.
"Yes, that's sure," Kairi said.
"I think we need to keep an eye on him," Egon suggested.
"Ya think?" Peter asked.
"No. I mean, we really need to keep an eye on him," Egon said, emphasizing the PKE detector.
The girls looked at each other at the Ghostbusters words. For some reason, the PKE detector detected a spectral trace on Peck, but why?
