Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Busters of Extreme Ghost Busters. They belong to their original creator. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and I do not stand to profit form it.
Hello again. Sorry for the slightly late update. I had an extra assignment at school this week and just had to submit it today. Well, this is my longest chapter so far, hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 4: A matter of contention
"Mmmm...let me, let me," said the friendly green ghost as it floated, arms outstretched towards the delicious-looking submarine sandwich in Garrett Miller's hands. "No way Slimer, you're not getting this one," said Garrett as he manoeuvred his wheelchair towards the living room. "Buzz of Slimbo," said Eduardo when they got there. He watched them amusingly for some time and then turned his attention back to the television.
"And in other news today, a strange incident took place at the old, east side of the city. An unknown, supposedly supernatural assailant interrupted the arrest of two juvenile offenders by choking the officers, making the arrest with green smoke!"
"Isn't that about our case," said Garrett, momentarily distracted from his battle, resulting in Slimer snatching away half his sandwich and floating away with a huge, triumphant grin. "Shoot up the volume Eddie," said Garrett as he scowled at the happy ghost.
Kylie, Roland and Janine wandered in after hearing the broadcast just as the image on the television screen shifted from a plush news station to a dreary street-corner. The camera followed a young reporter as she made her way towards an old rundown bakery store at the end of the street. The customers in the store stopped what they were doing and looked up at the television camera with curiosity.
A middle-aged man got up from the counter and walked towards the reporter. She smiled and him and after a brief introduction, thrust the mike in his face, "So Mr. Myers, could you tell us something about the robbery at your store today afternoon and all that followed?"she said.
Mr. Myers, obviously facing a television camera for the first time in his life, swayed his eyes nervously from the reporter to the camera as he recounted his three hour old tale. "Those kids definitely looked like trouble," said Myers, "after the shelf hit me, I wasn't out for too long and quickly went out into the street when I heard the noise. That thing... or whatever it was looked, looked, extremely evil and happy while he watched the two officers being choked to death. The expression on his face was that of contentment, like he had done a good thing and was satisfied with himself,"said Myers.
"Thank you Mr. Myers," said the reporter.
The image on the screen shifted back to the plush news station office. "Well that was an eye-witness report right from the start," said a reporter seated behind a mahogany desk. "And now we're going to show you an exclusive video clip of the said incident, just obtained from another eye-witness," said the reporter and turned towards a TV set behind him, the image of which was expanded on to the screen and showed a rather hazy video clip of the previous afternoon's incidents.
The four ghost busters and Janine Melnitz stared at the screen in awe as they watched the horror enfold before their eyes. Most of the screen was obscured by the green smoke, but they could easily make out the green-clad figure and the dark expressions on his face. They were exactly as Myers had described, the ghost did indeed look happy as he watched his victims being choked to death. "A fitting punishment to the oppressors of the poor. A good deed has been done and you all bear witness to it," said the chilly voice of the ghost followed by the entire screen being blurred due to the green smoke signalling his exit.
Their eyes still glued to the screen, they almost jumped out of their skins when a voice behind them said, "This is definitely a class 10 Psycho-kinetic energy manipulator." Kylie, Eduardo, Janine, Roland, Garrett and Slimer turned to watch Egon leaning against one of the living room walls. Janine was the first to recover, "Why you scared the hell out of me Egon," she said with a speck of anger in her voice and expression but it changed into an embarrassed smile when she saw her favorite ghost buster glance directly towards her.
"What's a Psycho-kinetic energy manipu... something?" asked Eduardo.
"A Psycho-Kinetic energy manipulator," said Egon as he smiled at Slimer who greeted Egon with a big smile and a hug, "is a ghost that can manipulate the Psycho-kinetic energy around it to transform it into other forms of matter such as the green smoke you just witnessed."
The image on the TV screen had once again returned to the plush news office where the reporter smiled confidently before adding that the police were thoroughly investigating this case and to allay the fears of New York citizens, they were fully prepared to tackle and capture this very strange criminal who the reporter referred to as 'Robin Hood'
"Robin Hood!" said Kylie, "is it because of the "punishment to the oppressors of the thing that he said"?"
"That and his super-weird outfit" said Garrett.
"Yes it seemed almost medieval," said Roland.
"Robin Hood eh," said Egon and scratched his chin and looked towards the ceiling as he thought of something. "Maybe, just maybe the ghost must draw its inspiration from that bygone legend..."
"Is that possible?" said Roland.
"Of course," said Kylie. "According to Egon Spengler's and Tobin's spirit guide, many ghosts are known to have influences from regional cultures and legends." "Thats correct," agreed Egon,"This ghost's demeanor does seem to have a striking resemblance to the Robin Hood legend. We can expect him to make an appearance during another such theft. We should keep a watch on all the robberies an thefts in the city."
"But there must be hundreds of such crimes happening in the city on a daily basis. How can we look out for all of them. Even the one we saw on the news right now was something that happens every other day and wouldn't have been there if our ecto-Robin Hood ghost hadn't made a friendly appearance. We aren't the police," said Eduardo.
At the mention of the word police, Kylie and Garrett smiled at each other and then looked at Eduardo. The others followed their gaze after understanding what the two were thinking and everyone looked together at the brown-haired slacker. Eduardo frowned and expressed his confusion at being unable to understand why the others were so interested in him all of a sudden. "What?" he asked. "Isn't your brother a policeman Eduardo?" said Kylie. "Yes," said Roland "Eduardo, can your brother alert us if our ghost appears during any such crime. With that information, we'll be able to make it in time at the crime scene and capture the ghost." "Now thats an excellent idea," said Egon.
"But Carlos isn't... isn't too fond of us remember. He isn't too fond of me doing this job either."
"But you'll have to try Eduardo," said Kylie, "He needs us too remember. The police can't possibly capture that ghost without us."
Eduardo looked at her. She had a point. Carlos would need his help just as much Eduardo needed his. Maybe he could just convince Carlos to co-operate with him on this one. His brother may not like the ghost busters, but he was a practical man, who could see reason if explained to him, couldn't he? "All right," said Eduardo, "I'll see what I can do"
Okay, so this isn't as easy as it seemed earlier thought Eduardo as he looked at his brother across the dining table. He looked grim today. The 'Robin Hood ghost' incident hadn't gone down to well at the police department and they were under a lot of pressure to capture the thing, whatever it was. "More mashed potatoes Carl?" asked Beth.
Carlos Rivera was really tired today. Two off his colleagues were in the hospital, having been injured by some very strange criminal in some very strange way. He had spent a frustrating afternoon at the crime scene today gathering evidence. Bits of hair here and there, footprints of the two kids who had stolen from the bakery store(not that they were of any use now) some strange black residue(sent to the forensic department) and some other standard evidence you could find at any standard crime scene(This wasn't a standard crime scene though) but nothing, nothing that could give them a link to that aberration, for lack of a better word.
"Carl, would you like mashed potatoes?" said his wife again. He refused, pushed his plate away and got up. Everyone stopped eating and turned to look at him. "Carl. What's wrong?" asked Beth. "You've barely eaten anything. You seem so tired today. What's wrong?" she asked again, concern clouding her face. Eduardo looked at his brother. It must be because of today afternoon's events. Is this this the best time to broach the subject he thought.
"Its nothing Beth. Just some stress at work. I don't feel like eating much now." "Dad, can you come for my soccer game tomorrow?"said Kevin Rivera. Carl looked at his son. He was proud of him. Kevin had just been selected in the center forward position for his school team, a news which had caused great joy in the household. He ruffled Kevin's hair, "Of course I will son. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm gonna yell for your team tomorrow till my throat turns hoarse," said Carl Rivera with a smile which was returned by his son as they gazed down fondly at each other. They made a wonderful father and son pair, a picture of contentment as the rest of the family looked on.
Beth Rivera smiled as she watched her son and husband together. The tiredness seem to have vanished from Carl's eyes which were now brimming with pride and joy as he looked at his son. She looked at her brother-in-law and said, "You will be coming with us too won't you Eduardo?" she asked him. "Yes uncle Eduardo, come for my match. It'll be so much fun if you do," said Kevin. Eduardo looked at his nephew and smiled, "Its in the evening right, I'll try to make it there,"he said.
"Not unless he has to hang out with his ghost buster loonies."
The smiles disappeared from everyone's faces. They all looked up at Carlos.
"What I do is a matter of my free will Carlos and you can't judge me. The Ghost Busters are not loonies by the way, we're professionals who have rid the city of some unwanted elements and pesky creatures that even the police couldn't handle."
"The only unwanted elements in the city are you guys with your freaky contraptions and weird ideas about ghosts and its Carl, by the way."
"Yeah right Carlos, and why are you always so pissed of with us anyway, we have indeed protected the city many times. You know that."
Beth and Kevin worriedly looked on at the two of them arguing. The spell was broken. Eduardo's association with the Ghost Busters had become an issue of growing contention in the family with an argument ensuing every other time the two adult men came face to face. Eduardo preferred avoiding it but Carl wasn't going to give-up until Eduardo broke all ties with them. The Ghost busters were just a menace according to Carl, a hindrance in real police work, a bunch of rebellious teenagers led by a crazy, so-called scientist causing havoc in the city and his brother was one of them!
"Look Carl," said Eduardo, "I don't wanna argue with you but that case today, the one where those two officers almost got choked to death by a ghost, we can help you with that. That thing which caused the mess is a Level 10 Psycho kinetic energy manipulator. The only way to capture that being is with the help of a ghost trap. We need more information about it. Look we can help each other..."
"I know very well whom you mean by the 'we',"Carl interjected. "I don't need your help and neither do the police. We are the professionals and we are going to find that thing and put it behind bars, either in jail, or in the psychiatric ward, a place where you and those loonies of yours should be sent to if you still think that way."
Eduardo and the rest of the family just looked at Carl. They were horrified, how could he say such a thing. Their horrified expressions didn't seem to bother Carlos as he got up from the table and walked away, nonchalance in his demeanor.
Beth turned to her brother-in-law, "Eduardo..." she said sorrowfully, having just watched her family break down again. "Its hopeless Beth, never mind," said Eduardo as he too got up and left...
Whoa, that was a long read as compared to the earlier chapters. Hope you didn't find it too boring. There are a few more chapters left. I'm keen on finishing this quickly. I have a few more fics planned. Please tell me what you thought so far. I am eagerly waiting for your reviews. Constructive criticism-Yes Flames-No. Thank you!