Chapter 6: We're Ghostbusting
"John is that..." Phoebe had a look of disbelief, shock, and surprise.
"A ghost?." John nodded in shock and felt excitement all over his body. "Yes."
"So...what should we do now you guys?." Podcast asked when eyeing the blue ghost that is eating metal.
With that in mind, John eyed his newly upgraded ghost trap for a short second and then looked at the proton pack that his girlfriend is currently have on her back. An obvious idea had creeped into the boy's head as he felt that special feeling in his heart.
"Well..." John looked at the two in a indoor voice. "We do have a ghost trap. Let alone a fully functional proton pack."
Phoebe and Podcast comprehended on what John is telling them as this sounds like an only solution to the situation. Let alone they both know that John is a proven claimer of both knowing the paranormal and the self employed profession of busting it to the afterlife.
Phoebe nodded at her boyfriend. "Tell us what you need for us to do, John."
"I am with you all the way dude." said Podcast, before eyeing the four armed blue meatl munching ghost.
John removed the trap out of its charger and hold it by the handle. Face showing full determination and feeling super excited about the whole entire thing.
"From the words of Dr. Ray Stantz. Sap'em, Cap'em, and Trap'em." John looked at the two. "Let us bust a class five free roaming vapor."
Motioning them to follow him and get closer to a proper spot to get the ghost. Upon doing so the blue ghost that they were attempting to capture paid no mind to them. The blue four armed ghost stayed munching on an old pipe with delight and was determined to eat much metal til his gluten belly is satisfied.
"Aim and fire" John ordered Phoebe.
"Gotcha." Phoebe pointed the partcial thrower.
With no hesitation she fired the stream and aim missed the ghost as the beam had hit the other side of the pipe. The ghost instantly panic by this and turned to face the young teens and angerly unleashed a mouth full of hot metal pieces. Shooting them hard like bullets.
"Get down!." John told them when getting behind the big pipe tunnel.
Phoebe and Podcast took deep breaths after witnessing a close call from being shot at by a fire metal breathing ghost.
"Man, you did not say that this is going to be a piece of cake." Podcast spoke while hearing firing metal hitting the pipe that is protecting them.
"Every ghost have a certain type of defense and attack modes, Podcast." John looked at Phoebe. "As soon as the ghost stop shooting once it is low on its energy, you zap em."
"Right!." Phoebe nodded to her boyfriend.
Did not take long as the ghost stopped shooting at them when feeling low on energy. Phoebe quickly ducked out from hiding and fired the stream at the ghost. The ghost easy got itself entangled by the stream. John, Podcast and Phoebe watched the ghost struggle and try to break itself free.
"Ghost Head the trap!." Phoebe reminded John.
"Oh, right." John looked at his trap. "Time to test this baby."
Aiming carefully he threw down the wireless motion detected trap at far distance. When doing so the trap's PKE motion detector system picked up the ghost's PKE signature and opened itself right on up. John is elated to see this.
"It works!." Podcast elatedly said.
"It sure did. Now, Phoebe pull the ghost right into the trap. The ghost will give you a fight when doing so." informed John.
Phoebe did what she was told as she dragged the ghost towards the opened trap. Exactly what John have said the ghost is fighting his way from the trap as the paranormal entity tried to pull itself away from the trap. Phoebe put up a good fight as she give it her all to pull the ghost into the trap before hearing John is noticing the heat level on the pack going into critical.
"Twinkie Girl hurry up before the pack shuts off for automatic cooling." John warned his girlfriend.
"I almost got him, John." Phoebe forcibly pulled the ghost down until the trap itself caught hold of the ghost and made her cease fire. "There!."
"Yes!." Podcast cheerfully excited.
The blue four armed ghost was trying to pull itself from going into the trap and is losing badly. It was seconds from going inside the ghost trap and lose the fight. That is untill the heavy duty battery that John had installed had gave out. Resulted in the ghost to break free from its capture and quickly flew right out of the abdomen building.
"Ah, son of a bitch!." John upsetting said when running over to his opened but energy dead trap.
"John what have happened to the trap?." Phoebe looked with concern.
John looked and examined at the trap before giving his girlfriend and best friend his explanation. "For one, the ghost had successful fought its way out of the trap which resulted in draining the trap's battery. Secondly, this heavy duty battery that Podcast have given me to install is straight cheap. Podcast, I should have told you to give me a Duracell heavy duty battery. Shit."
"Damn." Podcast upsetting said when pulling out the whistle that Phoebe's mom allow him to keep under one condition. "I should have used the Aztec death whistle on that ghost."
"Hmmm, no, that will do you no good, Poddy." John spoke the nickname he gave Podcast when plugging the trap into its charger. "That whistle only works on Aztec ghosts. That ghost showed no appearance of Aztec related theme."
"Damn, this whistle is useless then." Podcast put it back into his pocket.
Phoebe watched John show and help her on what button to activate cool down for the pack before asking her question. "John where are we going to find that ghost?."
John lead the way out of the abandoned building. "We saw the ghost munching down on metal, right?."
"Right?." Podcast recalled.
"And...what is your theory?." Phoebe asked when putting the partcial thrower back in its holster.
"My theory is..." John took a minute to think carefully on what to say next. "Compared to the similarities of Slimer this ghost...Muncher has a wild gluttony taste for metal."
"Muncher?." Phoebe raised her brow in confusion while jogging with the others to pick up speed.
"We are naming our first ghost Muncher. The OG Ghostbusters named their personal ghosts who does not have a name." said John.
"Muncher...yeah, we are definitely calling him Muncher." Podcast said liking the name. "So where are we going to find him?."
John lead the jogging to the raod that is leading them into their small town. "Muncher is heading for town. That is the hot spot for metal for him to consume. I need a PKE meter in order for us to track him down before he causes panic."
"But first..." Podcast feeling himself getting tired. "We are going to need a ride. It is too damn hot out here."
"Agreed." Phoebe felt sweat running down on her forehead. "Damn this pack so damn heavy. John be a good boyfriend and carried the proton pack for me please."
Back on the Dirt Farmers farm inside the car garage trying to get this old car running, Trevor took his full time and a lot of patience in trying to get this old rundown vehicle up and running. Trevor tried so many times to get the dusty rusty old dilapidated of a hooptie. He just can not believe that his own grandfather has this car all covered up and never used since who knows where. Trevor examined the old hooptie and did some internet digging and learned that this old ass car is a 1959 Cadillac Commercial Chassis. Meaning that this exact vehicle is obsolete and discontinued by it automotive company let alone the parts for it will be ultra rare to find and order.
"Man, it is a good thing that grandpa had the needed parts to get this car up and running, because this thing belongs in a junkyard or scrapheap." Trevor spoke to himself while not knowing that the former owner is currently watching and listening to him.
Trevor used the socket ratchet to tighten up a loosed bolt without scraping it. Then after putting the ratchet down into its tool box he grabbed a rag to wipe the grease off of his hand. After discovering this car on the night of arriving to Summerville, Trevor pondered on why this car had these strange equipments on its roof much less have a big logo on its trunk. But most of all what got Trevor wondering so much is that why those this cadillac resembles the exact scale model toy that he saw in John's bedroom from time to time when visiting his apartment house. He looked at the car while walking around the vehicle and noticed this car and John's scale model car is the exact same design and color, expect one equipment that goes on the roof of the car. Which this car does not have one.
"No." Trevor shook his head. "There is no way fucking way that this car is actually the great famous Ecto-1 of the Ghostbusters. Nah, fuck all that bullshit."
Trevor refused to believe this vehicle is in fact the legit car that the so called ghostbusting team have used as transportation from each job they took. Remembering everything that John have told him a few times before back in their hometown New York City. He brushed that possible theory when connecting to this car and wonder on what kind of profession did his and Phoebe's grandfather due back in his youthful days. After throwing the dirty rag into the dirty rags bin, Trevor made his way into the driver's side and closed the door. Then he started turning on the ignition with hope that the engine will start.
"Come on old girl do not let me down." Trevor told the car in hope that this car will be encouraged to run. "I hope this old gas does not be the cause of it not to run. If so then I am so not going to siphon it out and replace it with fresh gas. Gas station is not in the area except for the town and I am flat ass broke."
Trevor tried multiple times for the engine to start but failed miserably. Sighing before taking a short brake to ease his frustration. Little did Trevor knew his grandfather examined the opened engine and spotted the issue. Leaning over he twisted the loosed power wire.
"Okay, here we go." Trevor put his hand back on the key and turned.
As he did so the car's engine finally started running and running smoothly to Trevor's satisfaction. With that said, Egon invisibly shut the hood down which got his grandson's attention. Trevor had no idea how the hood shut itself down since it was on its kickstand. But that did not stop him from giving the car a breath of fresh air and sunlight. With that in mind he pulled the shift in reverse and pulled the old car out of the car garage before shifting it to drive. Once doing that he floored in excitement as he drive the old cadillac in the what fields and did a few donuts as if he was in Nascar.
Trevor laughed in amusement before driving straight forward to reach a road and drive in the street. Having so much fun he noticed that he needed to slow down before trying to cash. He can not trust the seatbelt that he is wearing since the thing is super old. Upon seeing the road he had accidentally hit a big rock and fly over the field and landed on the road while steering the wheel to prevent from going anywhere and stopped. Trevor collected himself before looking to his right to see a surprised John, Phoebe and Podcast before rolling down his window.
"Hey, you guys." Trevor looked at the three. "Need a ride?."
"No fucking way!." John gasped in shock and enthusiastic when realizing what car that Trevor is driving. "You found and fixed the Ecto-1!."
John ran over to touch and look over the car like a kid in a candy store while Phoebe and Podcast got inside the car in hopes of having some air-conditioning. John now understand what Phoebe been telling him about Trevor founding and now formerly working on a car he found in the car garage. This is the best thing other than meeting Egon.
"Egon texted me not too long ago that our ride is on its way." John looked at the sirens in awe. "He did not tell me that it is going to be the Ecto-1."
"So this is the famous Ecto-1." Trevor was amazed about this.
"Oh, it sure is Trevor. Still..." John had a small look of unsureness. "However, I can not tell you the version of this Ecto-1."
Phoebe lean on the window seal with her chin laying on her fist. "Why?."
"Well, Phoebe there are three different versions of Ecto-1. The Original. The Ecto-1A from 1989 aka the Mood slime and Vigo incident. And of course my favorite version, the Ecto-1B from 1991." John turned his attention to the others. "The thrid version of Ecto-1 stands out against her two twin sisters is that Dr. Stantz installed the Super Slammer Muon Trap."
"The super who now?." Trevor is confused about the last part when waiting for John to get inside the car before resumed driving into town.
"The Super Slammer Muan Trap, Trevor, is an untested ghost trap prototype that Dr. Ray Stantz installed onEcto-1Bat the start of the 1991 Thanksgiving holiday.It is specialy designed to be capable of holding a large number of ghosts or capturing ghosts who are too big or too powerful for a normal ghost trap. This sensitive equipment is much larger and faster than any portable containment units. This baby is a vehicle-mounted or stationary, high-expansion, rapid-cycle ghost absorber that is capable of capturing ghosts instantaneously!." John said excitedly.
"If that was the case, John, then why is it not on this Ecto-1?." questioned Podcast.
John tried to get the old car smell out of his nose by fanning it away. "Well, unfortunately there were the downsides about the trap. The super slammer can breakdown by being overly used all in one sitting or trapping to many ghosts all at once. Which means you have to stop and repair the damage done to the trap for about say twenty to thirty-five minutes. And most of all, Egon aka Phoebe and Trevor's grandfather mentioned in his blueprint design sketchbook that the super slammer was never intended to trap and hold a class seven deity. However, in theory he supposed that could possibly be possible. But in reality a muan trap of its capacity has never been used, or even tried before. Even though they were close of testing that wild theory."
Trevor looked in the review mirror to see John. "How?."
Phoebe stopped John from explaining as she wanted to say it since she did her homework after digging the research form the fan base website.
"Our grandpa and the other four ghostbusters were going to pull that attempt back in 1991 on the week of Thanksgiving. They were going to try and trap Gozer. At that time the infamous sumerian deity took the same selected chosen form from 1984 as the 112.5 feet tall Stay Puft Marshmallow man. In order for them to pull off this attempt they had to get very close to trap. And I mean personal close." said Phoebe, before seeing Podcast finding a ghost trap on wheels.
Trevor processed on everything that he just heard from both John and his sister. He can not believe that those incidents in 1984, 1989, and 1991 in New York City were all in fact true!.
"No shit." Trevor shook his head in realization. "John you were right about the Ghostbusters all along."
John who currently lean and relaxed himself on the back of the long cushioned chair with a 'I Told You So' facial expression. "You know as much as I would love to say I was right all these years. Fortunately for you that would have to wait, Trevor. Right now we need to get to Summerville and do a none optional chore."
"And what none optional chore is that?." asked Trevor, watching the road.
"We're Ghostbusting." John, Phoebe, and Podcast all said together.
Upon entering the quite sleepy town currently looking around for any signs of Muncher after hearing the police radio in the Ecto-1 saying about metal objects appeared to be bitten. John have found a PKE meter from underneath the chair and started scanning for potential paranormal spike. All four have their eyes on every spot of the town with caution and not overlook on anything suspicious.
"Anything on the PKE, Ghost Head?." Phoebe asked while still eyeing their surroundings.
"Ice cold I'm afraid." John moved the device from ever angle.
"Guys are you sure you might have...I do not know...imagined seeing a ghost?." said Trevor, while driving slowly.
"No we did not imagined seeing a class five vapor." said Podcast, looking for any signs.
Suddenly the PKE in John's hand started to picked-up a reading and followed it before looking to see a half bitten stop sign. Everyone in the car noticed the sign as it had blue slime residue.
"We are getting close." John got their attention while pointed at the device. "The PKE is picking up a spike from that direction."
Trevor went to where John had pointed to and take the car down the street. John eyed the arms of the PKE meter and see it going up until it reached its breaking point. With that said he put the device down and moved to see in front with Phoebe and Podcast. The three and Trevor looked at the ghost that they were trying to find as it was currently munching on the fire hydrant.
"Is that what I think it is?." Trevor looked in disbelief.
"Yes, sir it is." said John before moving back to grab a partical thrower and turned on the built-in proton pack.
"Muncher." Phoebe spoke before doing the same thing that her boyfriend is doing.
"Sooo...what are we going to do?." Trevor asked.
Podcast excitedly grinned while putting the PKE goggles on. "Now, we are going sap and capture it."
"Wait seriously?." Trevor was unsure about this first.
"You damn skippy we are. Now if I can figure out how to fire while inside Ecto..." John was immediately stopped form finishing his sentence.
On accident without even noticing it, Podcast had triggered the handle leverage that was under him. Which have caused both doors on each side to flew open and then pushed a surprised John and Phoebe out and stopped. The two looked at one another in surprise as both Podcast and Trevor had the same look as well.
"This car has a gunnerseat?." questioned Podcast.
Phoebe looked at John. "Any idea when this version of Ecto-1 got built?."
John looked at the dirty cadillac. "Guessing the year when business started to slow down and eventually out of work."
Noticing that the noise was made from the gunnerseat both Phoebe and John instantly looked forward to see Muncher stopped munching before slowly turning around to see them with a firgthing look on his face. John noticed one of its hands twisting the lid of the fire hydrant and caught on what the ghost is up to. Before he can even get the chance to react, Muncher gave out a loud screech before removing the lid off letting all the water run out with no control, before quickly flying away from his spot.
"Muncher is on the run!. Turn on the sirens and floor it Trevor!." John ordered the teen when getting his finger on the fire button.
"Are you serious?." asked a panic Trevor.
"You heard my boyfriend!." Phoebe hold on to her partical thrower tightly. "Drive! Drive!."
With no hesitation the second time around, Trevor floored the Ecto-1 while finding the switch to turn on the iconic sirens and went to chasing the runaway flying ghost. They zoomed through the street with a few bystanders catching eyes on them and not worried about them. When catching up with the blue four armed ghost, John pointed his partical thrower at Muncher and then fired at him. Of course his stream made a miss when they turned to the right and ended up hitting a sign and causing it to fall down. Phoebe fired her stream and accidentally hit the movie theater sign and a few cars in the process. John had to use his head on how they can get this ghost without causing so much dmange. Then it hit him.
"Phoebe!." John got his girlfriend's attention on the other side. "Do not hold on the stream on Muncher when you do it!. We need to get him to dehydrate and fatigue and push him out of town!."
Phoebe understand on what John is saying. "I follow your lead!."
With being on the same page the two fired their stream on a scarred and stressed Muncher who have to go through the walls and stores when passing by. John and Phoebe worked and got the hang of using the proton acceleorter as the two couple teased Muncher when grabbing hold of him and let him fight against their streams before letting him go. Ignore everything that is around them as they were fully focused on Muncher.
"Podcast pull us in now!." Phoebe told her best friend when seeing an incoming truck.
Podcast caught eye of it. "Right!."
When pulling the lever it reversed the gunnerseat back inside the Ecto-1 while Trevor steered away from hitting the incoming truck and floored at top speed.
"We got him on the run. Pushing him far away from town." said John, feeling the exciting rush.
"Wait, he is running to somewhere." Podcast pointed out when getting the trap on RTV ready.
"Will find out where once we get him." informed Phoebe.
With just in a couple of minutes they found themselves in the dirt area as John pulled the lever from his side and pulled himself and Phoebe out to go ready to zap Muncher. Podcast placed the RTV trap into its fire shoot and remotely activate it once releasing it. John and Phoebe counted on the count of three and fired their proton stream.
"Do not cross the streams baby." John warned when pulling Muncher back.
"Got it." Phoebe said while help pulling the ghost back and keeping him form breaking away.
"Make this quick you guys. We are about to hit the fence." warned Trevor when seeing what is in front of them.
"Podcast?. Open the trap." John ordered.
"Got it. Opening the trap now." Podcast said when turning on the switch on the remote that is labeled open trap.
The RTV ghost trap opened up and waited to put the ghost inside. John and Phoebe pulled on their streams to force a figting hard Muncher into the trap. With effort the two managed to finally throw the ghost into the trap before Podcast closed the trap and pulled back inside the car. Trevor stopped the car and turned off the sirens. All four got out of the car for a short celebration and job well done before looking at where was Muncher is heading to. The four looked to see the gated fence of the abandoned Shandor's Mining Company. This have confused them except for John as he figured out why the ghost was trying to reach here.
"Any clue why?." Phoebe looked at John, knowing he knows something.
"Muncher ran over here to get protection from his master." John looked at Phoebe seriously. "Gozer."
"Gozer?. Then that means..." Podcast trailed off of his sentence when comprehending on what it means.
"Guys what does all of this mean?." said Trevor, looking lost as ever.
"It means..." Phoebe looked at the abandoned palace. "Gozer's thrid coming is upon us."