Ray turned off the TV and returned his attention to the damaged PKE meter from Egon's coat pocket. Checking over the device thoroughly and curiously the good scientist was bound and determined to fix the delicate instrument. The glass display for the meter had been caked over in a dark film from smoke, making it nearly impossible to see the numbers or see where the needle was resting. A layer of charred soot along the handle reeked of ozone and copper creating a sickly sweet smell in the room.
"We have to check out that hotel." Ray decided vehemently as he continued to fuss over the meter in his hands. "After we get Egon taken care of we need to head out there and figure exactly what happened on that roof. Tonight!"
"Great idea." Peter was obviously not thrilled with the prospect of checking into such an unusual if not dangerous location. "But what about Egon? He can't be left here alone."
Egon himself was still in a daze. His coughing continued as he muttered 'kismet' in between each painful sounding cough that wracked his entire body.
"Good point." Ray thought quickly and came up with the obvious solution as he glanced about the room casually. "Hey, Dana, could you-"
"Yes, of course." She was about to volunteer when Ray asked for her assistance. "I'll do everything I can from here." Looking down at Egon and seeing someone who had always been so focused and alert weak and helpless seemed more ethereal than any of the ghosts she had personally dealt with in the past. "You've all helped me and Oscar so much before, now it's my turn."
"Thanks Dana. We're not keeping score here, but thanks all the same!" Ray was genuinely grateful to have the kind woman as a friend. Pocketing the meter Ray put his hand on Egon's shoulder. "He'll be better off in his bunk. Peter, let's move."
"Sure, dead-lift some dead-weight. No problem!"
It was an awkward but necessary move. Peter and Ray managed to lift Egon up from the billiard table and clumsily carry their injured friend from the rec room to the adjoining dormitory. With Peter holding one arm and Ray holding onto the other the two men were able to heft the lanky scientist off the billiard table and carry him over to his bunk. Unsure of the best way to help Egon, without disrespecting his request to not see a doctor, it was decided that by isolating him and letting him rest was the only logical option.
"You got him?" Ray checked as he made sure he had a firm grip on Egon's arm while easing the injured man down onto the bunk.
"Mostly." Peter was never one to jump at physical work, but he did his part. "Just keep moving."
"Okay, lay him down." Ray made sure he didn't move too quickly or accidentally jostle Egon during the move.
After laying Egon down on the bunk Peter checked the bandages around his chest for any sign of contamination or fresh bleeding. Ray watched from the end of the bunk without a word. It was difficult for Ray to see his friend in such a dire condition. To distract himself from the bleak sight Ray resumed fussing over the damaged PKE meter.
"He's okay." Peter reassured everyone with a sincere claim. "But if he gets worse before he gets better we have to take him to a hospital. I don't care what Egon says about it."
Egon was still panting for breath as if someone or something was crushing his chest. Through his unfocused eyes he stared at the ceiling continued to quietly mutter 'kismet' to no one.
Squaring his jaw Peter decided he needed to administer some kind of medication to Egon, even if it was only a temporary fix. Walking over to his own bunk Peter pulled a large trunk out from under the modest bed with a strong heft. 'Venkman' was crudely spray painted in red across the lid of the black trunk. Popping open the lid he pulled out a small wooden box from the corner of the trunk concealed beneath several old newspaper clippings.
"What're you up to Venkman?" Ray asked curiously, only glancing up from the meter.
Peter took a clean syringe from its plastic wrapping and a small vial of a clear medication from the small box. After loading the medication into the syringe he pressed into the plunger to make sure there were no air bubbles or blockages in the needle.
"Peter?" Ray was now fully focused on what Peter was doing. "What are you doing, Peter?"
Walking over to Egon's bunk he checked his friend's pulse one more time. "Dana, could you go get the alcohol and a cotton ball?"
"Peter!" Ray nearly screamed as he had grown impatient with his lack of answers. "What're you going to do to Egon?!"
"A small dose of Thorazine to keep Egon's heart from beating out of his chest." Peter finally replied with a cold calculated tone. "I don't want his heart to fibrillate and stop."
Dana returned with the requested items in hand.
"Soak the cotton ball in alcohol and swab his arm," Peter put his fingers where he wanted to give the injection. "right here."
"Like this?" She asked as he swapped Egon's skin.
"Yeah, that's perfect." Peter expertly inserted the needle into the vein in Egon's arm, the Cephalic vein, and injected the medication.
The trio watched anxiously as Egon's breathing steadily slowed and he was no longer panting. His eyes shut as his drifted off into a deep slumber.
Peter checked his pulse one more time. "That's better." He remarked. "Now we can go check that hotel. Ready?"
Dana nodded in agreement as she stood beside the bunk. "You two should get over to that hotel right away. If anything happens I can try calling the hotel to let you know."
"Right." Peter stood up straight walked past Ray and smacked him on his shoulder, the swift motion was enough to cause Ray to almost drop the PKE meter in his hands. "Let's go Ray. Our public needs us."
Ray fumbled with the meter, nearly losing his grip. "Easy Venkman! This is still valuable-" The PKE meter suddenly screeched to life in Ray's hands. "equipment..."
"At least it works." Peter tried to turn a positive spin on the negative situation as he strolled to the top of the stairs "Now what?"
"Hold on." Ray ran the meter over Egon and arched his eyebrows as the needle spiked as it passed over the injury sight. "This is bad."
"We already knew that Ray. And we didn't need a fancy toy to tell us that." Peter sarcastically dismissed the comment as he stood at the top of the stairs. "You coming?"
"Just a sec!" Ray double checked the readings and the meter screeched again. "Just as I thought." He pocketed the meter. "Egon was struck by a electrically charged surge of psychokinetic energy."
Dana and Peter exchanged somewhat confused glances. "Meaning?" Peter asked dryly as he kept his place stubbornly.
"It means that someone very powerful and very dangerous is lurking over the roof of the Mercado. And if we don't stop it then the entire city could be struck down and left in ruins."
"That's a very deep meaning." Peter snipped while masking his concern for both Egon and the city. "Now... shall we?" He motioned to the staircase and for Ray to follow.
"Right. We better get going!" As he made his way to the stairs he turned and looked back at Dana. "Dana, if anything happens..."
"I can handle it." She sat on the edge of the bunk and pulled the blanket up and over Egon now sleeping form.
Ray gave her a confident nod before walking over to the stairs and pulled the car keys from his pocket. "Let's get going."
Peter mouthed "I love you." to Dana before leaving.
She smiled and whispered. "I love you too."
Walking over to the driver's side of Ecto-1 Peter extended his hands and motioned toward the keys. "I'm driving. You're too distracted by your toy."
Ray tossed the keys to his colleague as he climbed inside the car's passenger side. "Fine with me. I'd rather get this meter working anyway."
Pulling out of GhostBusters HQ the Ecto-1 screamed to life with both its lights and sirens. The iconic hearse raced down the streets toward the Mercado Hotel without any traffic or hindrances whatsoever. It seemed as if all of New York had been deserted. The quiet of the streets was only disturbed by the siren atop Ecto-1 and the squealing of the tires through the increasingly dark night.
...to be continued...