Chapter Two – Proton Pack Target Practice

The three of them were now in the basement of the headquarters. Both Carl and Frank were wearing the proton packs on their backs, and at least ten feet away from each other. They had changed the design to be a bit less cumbersome thanks to the progress in technology, but they still were heavy on the backs of both of them. Carl was sweating, both from the weight of the backpack and from the nerves.

Marcus stood considerable distance away. Along the wall, with a button nearby. He was reading from the instruction booklet.

"The Proton Pack Mark IV is the newest iteration of the prime way Ghostbusters use to capture ghosts and the paranormal." Marcus read aloud. "Its design has been simplified to ensure comfort and utility."

"Sure doesn't feel comfortable." Carl said, feeling the pressure.

"You'll get used to it…" Frank said.

Marcus continued. "To switch the pack on, there is a switch on the side of the pack. Use this to turn it on or off with just a flick."

Both Carl and Frank did just that, and the packs hummed to life.

"There is a trigger on the grip recently added to be easier to use. It's pressured, so that it will only fire when you push the trigger all the way."

Marcus then pushed the button beside him, and targets popped on both of their lanes.

"Fire when ready."

Carl look to Frank as he pointed this wand first, and fired. A stream of blue and orange fired out as he hit his mark, after which he let go of the trigger. Frank looked to Carl. Now it was his turn.

Carl took a deep breath as he held the wand up slowly. Hands shaking as he did, and pointed it with care. He pushed the trigger and felt a kick that sent him back, It sent the stream up into the air and made scorch marks all over the ceiling. Both Frank and Marcus dived for cover.

"Stop firing! Stop firing!" Marcus said.

Carl did so, and the stream stopped immediately. He could see the marks he left and traced it back to his intended target.

He never even hit it.

Frank saw this and started to laugh. "Well now, how is THAT for fine shooting!"

Marcus took a while more to get up. "Ooookay. Probably not a good time to say this, but it's very important." He looked to the booklet. "Multiple beams can hold a ghost, but it could take time to master this technique. You should train a lot, for without care, you can accidentally cross the streams. You should NEVER DO THIS."

Carl looked at Marcus, getting up. "Scared to ask, but does that book explain why?"

Marcus flipped the book. "It does. It says that 'A total protonic reversal may occur when two proton streams collide with each other. Despite rumors you may have heard, its 'never a good idea to have this happen. We are professionals who made it work through sheer luck.'" Marcus paused for a moment after seeing ahead to what was next, then read what he saw. "'Any stupid person who causes a total protonic reversal will cause a nuclear explosion that will engulf the users, and the surrounding environment…'"

The room suddenly went cold, and no one spoke for a good while.

Eventually, Marcus closed the book. "You know what, guys? I think we should break for lunch, don't you agree?"

Frank and Carl nodded quickly.

The order from Whataburger arrived, and the trio all enjoyed their midday meals by the reception area.

"You've really made this desk your home, Marcus." Frank commented. "I don't think I've seen you come up to sleep once the entire time I've been here."

"Oh! Really?" Marcus said. "Sorry! I just have to be there in case the phone rings and we get customers!" He scooted his seat to look under his desk. "I even have my own makeshift bed here, so I'm not too far away from the phone!"

Frank and Carl were concerned.

"If I could step away, I really would…" Marcus said. "But…" he sighed. "Truthfully, until we get more faces around here, I can't really do that."

"I take it this is the first job you've had?" Carl asked.

"Yeah. Actually, I was going to university, but then the Ghostbusters saw my research and recommended me to help out here."

"University, huh? What were you studying?" Carl asked.

"Computer Science. I wrote a lot about computers and how it would help us with investigating the paranormal in the 21st century." Marcus coughed. "The Ghostbusters were impressed, my teachers and peers called me a weirdo."

"I can see that…" Frank said. "The paranormal is usually not someone's first choice for a career."

"It's just not fair!" Marcus slammed his fist on the table, the others look at him startled. "The Ghostbusters have, time and time and time again, saved the world from ruin, and they barely get any respect for it. Everyone left and right call them names, for various and sometimes conflicting reasons, and only now are HQ's starting outside New York STATE, let alone the city." Marcus put his hands over his head, trying to make sense of it. "It's just not fair…"

Frank and Carl didn't really know what to say to that. Before they could respond or reassure Marcus, the phone rang. Marcus looked at it. "Hang on. I gotta take this." He cleared his throat and answered the phone.

"Hello, Ghostbusters Dallas." Marcus said. He listened to the other end carefully. Slowly, his despair turns into wonder and curiousity. "Yes? Really?" He got out a notepad and started to write stuff down. "Of course. Yes, ma'am. Just give me the address." More writing down. "Don't worry. The Ghostbusters are on their way." Marcus hung up and grinned. Frank and Carl looked at each other, wondering if this was the real deal. And then Marcus slams the red button.

RINGINININNNININNNG!

The fire alarm goes off. Despite all the warning in the world, Carl and Frank flinch, and then look up.

"Sweet mercy!" Carl exclaimed.

"Sorry! I had to! There is an emergency over at the supermarket on Forsythe and Concord. Details are all on the paper." Marcus gave the note to Frank. "Better get your uniforms and packs on! Go!"

Carl and Frank moved to the lockers that the two have, with their names on the doors. They quickly got their tan uniforms on, along with the boots. They got their packs and traps in the car, along with their PKE devices.

"Oh yeah, before I forget!" Marcus said, over the alarm bells. He gave Carl and Frank what appeared to be small portable screens with straps. "HQ communication devices. I'll give you more details as you get there. You wear it like a watch!"

"Uh… alright." Carl said as he and Frank got them on. They fit on their arms, but the devices looked pretty bulky. Certainly not like a watch at all.

"There's also a cutting edge GPS in the vehicle. Type the address in with the keypad and you'll be shown how to get there."

"Thanks Marcus." Frank said.

Frank got into the drivers side, and Carl into the back with the equipment. Marcus ran to unlock and open the big doors. Once they swung open, Frank turned on the gas, set the location, and Marcus got out of the way.

"Go, go, go!" Marcus shouted.

Frank turned the sirens on, and started out of the building and onto the road. The siren got the attention of everyone real quick, as they stopped to look as the Ecto TX drove towards its destination.

A minute or two on the road, and then Carl and Frank heard static coming from their watch devices. After a few seconds, Marcus's voice came through.

"Can you hear me, guys? Hold that yellow button on the side of the watch to talk to me!"

Carl found the button and held it in. "We can hear you Marcus, now can you hear me?"

"A little static-y, but I got the message. These communication devices are a new thing the Ghostbusters put out in the field so that you can communicate with HQ. Usually with no issues, but if there are radio waves very close to it, communications will get disrupted."

"Explains the lack of radio in here…"Frank muttered to himself.

"There's more. It's also connected to your PKE devices, so if you scan anything, the information comes back to me. I can also send information through your screens too. Usually from the Tobin's Spirit Guide."

"Sounds like very advanced stuff." Carl spoke to Marcus.

"Actually, if I can admit something? I helped designed this technology in collaboration with Doctor Spengler when I was in New York. And yes, it really IS cutting edge work. I always said the paranormal would bring about a technological boom that was faster than the Cold War's space race!"

"Uh huh…" Carl nodded. "I'll take your word on that."

"I've been doing a bit a research on the ghost the lady described." Marcus continued. "If my first guess is correct, it sounds like a class five specter." The screen showed an example of such, which was green and eating a turkey leg. "A kind of humanoid ghost, theorized to form from a summoning, or an emotional event."

"Do we know what kind of emotion, exactly?" Frank turned and spoke loudly to be heard.

Just then, something hit the windshield. Frank quickly turned back and saw a cabbage had hit the car and some leaves got stuck on the glass.

"If I had to guess… fury, maybe?" Marcus said.

The leaves flew off. Frank and Carl saw the supermarket just up ahead. People were still evacuating into the parking lot in a panic. Bananas and apples nearly knocking people out as they tried hiding, getting in their cars. Some had noticed Ecto-TX 1 getting closer.

"It'll be tough finding a parking spot in this chaos." Carl said.

"I'll get us as close as possible." Frank said, and found a parking spot. As he turned in, the car was hit by a watermelon. It dented the car, and both Frank and Carl flinched.

"I'm getting out the other way…" Carl said as he did so.

Carl opened both back doors, so that it easy to get the equipment inside. Frank kept the blue lights on, but turned the siren off, and got out.

A lady with a green vest ran from cover over to the Ecto-TX. Frank closed the driver door.

"You are the Ghostblaster team, right?"

Carl didn't correct the lady. "Yes, ma'am." He got his pack on and also got his trap and PKE.

"You must save the store! This menace has already destroyed thousands worth in merchandise!"

"Don't worry, miss." Frank assured her as he got his gear on. "We handle this stuff all the time."

The lady smiled, but Carl gave Frank a funny look.

Frank payed no mind to Carl. "Stay behind cover until we give the all clear, alright?"

"Okay! Ah!" The lady ducked just as an apple flew overhead.

Carl and Frank switched their packs on and peeked from behind cover.

"Right Carl." Frank instructed. "There's too much stuff flying around, so we'll have to blast some of these out of the sky. It might spook the ghost and we'll have our way of getting inside."

Carl nodded. "Okay…" He was nervous. Just a moment ago he was having trouble hitting a stationary target.

"Don't aim at it. Aim AHEAD of it!" Frank said as he got out of cover and shot an eggplant out of the air. It split into pieces as it dropped quickly and scorched.

Carl was right beside him. He aimed shaking ahead of the apple coming at them and fired a blast. He managed to get a piece of it, and it dropped a few feet ahead of the Ecto-TX before bouncing off the pavement and up into the car, making another dent.

"Keep going, and follow my lead!" Frank said. "Move!"

They both slowly made their way to a car that had stopped in the middle of the lot up ahead as they kept blasting fruit out of the air. The amount of produce slowed as they got over to the next car. They could actually see a red glow exactly where the ghost was now. Seeing it was being thwarted, the ghost started to move into the store. Produce stopped flying around them.

"Okay! Inside now!" Frank ordered as they crossed the street, and are seeing other people coming out of the store now they are safe to leave.

"Never thought I would be actually happy to see those stupid outfits." Someone commented as they saw the pair.

Carl and Frank got to the entrance and went inside with no time to waste.

As they entered the store, Carl and Frank saw the mess that had been made. Food and cards made a mess of the floor. The store seems to be abandoned, but one cannot be too careful…

"Okay." Frank instructed. "Keep close. Best in numbers."

"Since when were you elected leader?"

"Didn't I tell you I was in the army? I know what I'm doing… Unless you're saying you have any better ideas, smart alec?"

Carl sighed, and followed with Frank. "We can cover more ground looking at separate isles."

Frank seemed to be collecting this thoughts, thinking about what to say. "Fair point. Counterpoint: I might not get to you in case you're in trouble."

"Compromise then. I go down this aisle. You go down the one next to it."

Frank nodded, and went down aisle four, Carl aisle three.

For a while, the store seemed very quiet as they both slowly made their way down the aisles. Slowly, as they kept an eye, front and behind.

"Anything?" Carl said.

"Nope. I'm getting out the PKE."

"Good idea." Carl did just the same as he put up the proton wand and got out the PKE. Even they knew from its design how it's supposed to work: More ghostly energy equals the meter goes up.

Carl pointed ahead, it wasn't doing much, so he turned to the left. Nothing. Turning right however gave results. The needle slowly gained life as it started detecting, Carl continued to turn until he was looking behind him, to the shelf that is now on his left. That seemed to be the most active energy. But it was strange… they didn't see anything.

"Are you getting a reading southeast?" Carl said.

"Just about…" Frank said.

Suddenly, a specter flew out of one of the stores support beams, and found that it and Carl were staring at each other.

The ghost raged, the red specter zoomed right at Carl.

"Oh shit!" Carl said. In a rush, he shoved his PKE back onto his belt and fumbled to get his proton wand into his hands. "Frank! FRANK!"

Carl was about to fire off a shot, but the ghost went right through Carl. Carl though felt like he got hit by a soccer ball, and stumbled. His free hand tried to grab onto a shelf, but he only succeeded in knocking cans onto the floor. Carl landed on the hard ground on his butt. It was painful, and Carl felt sticky after the 'collision.'

"GUAGH!" Was all Carl could say. Frank got over to aisle three and to Carl.

"Carl! Are you alright?" Frank asked as he got him up.

"It was like my life flashed before my eyes…" Carl said, putting a hand on his sore bum and wiping some goo off his face. "Yuck!"

"I saw it go down to the other side of the store. We need to go, not lose sight!"

Frank started to run off, Carl tried to follow closely behind as best as he could. Frank just managed to get a sight of the ghost as it floated and ran. It was knocking down obstacles which they had to dodge.

One of the obstacles was a grape soda that got knocked onto the floor. Carl decided to go around another direction, but Frank, ever persistent, jumped over the puddle with grace!

Eventually, they saw the ghost go through a set of double doors. Frank and Carl both looked at what it read as they ran up to it.

EMPLOYEES ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT

"We've got him on the edge! There's no time to lose!" Frank said, and the two of then barreled through the doors.