Chapter 11: PCOC
*Ghost World/Ray's Occult Bookstore*
"Yes, I am unleashed!" The Book of Tobin's spirit guide spoke proudly.
The book then took its sights on the pink ghost, which had multiple eyes and fangs at the bottom of its mouth. The pink ghost looked at the talking floating book in curiosity and wonder.
"You, there, ghosty. Perhaps you are wondering on who I am, yes?." Book of Tobin's Spirit Guide asked.
The pink ghost looked around before looking back at the book and pointing at itself.
"Yes, I am talking to you. Let us start from the beginning. In my time of living, my name is John Horace Tobin. In my lifetime, I have spent my whole life gathering everything and I mean everything of information that is about the paranormal." Tobin spoke while moving around circling around the ghost. "And now dead, I have made myself become my own gatekeeper between worlds of the living and the unknown beyond. Your job, ghosty, is to haunt the living and claim the area as your territory. Here, I will teach you how and allow your fellow friends to enter the world of the living. Behold!."
Tobin used his paranormal powers and summoned a portal for potential haunts. The pink ghost flew near the portal before going through it.
John was instantly pulled back to the original version of Ray's bookstore as he watched the book close itself. He looked in disbelief and seemed lost, unsure of what he just witnessed or where he had been only moments before.
Kylie exited out of the inventory room with a clipboard in hand and closed the door behind her. She smiled as she set her clipboard down and made her way back to the counter. She saw John standing there, looking worried, and her grandfather who was reading a book on voodoo. Kylie noticed John's facial expression and became concerned.
"Uh, John?. Are you okay?." Kylie break John's lost zone.
"Man, I don't know if what I saw was real or just my imagination," said John as he shook his head and took a moment to rub his eyelids.
Ray took his eyes off his book and looked at John. "You know there is such a thing as eyestrain when it comes to reading exciting literature. I knew that book would make you want to read every single page."
"Then this book must be an excellent read." Kylie opened the book and started reading a few pages. "I'm surprised that the pages are still in great condition."
John shook himself off one last time. "I'm going back to the firehouse and rest."
"So, do not have the time to spare to tell us on how the first job went?. Catt told me that the call came from the Sedgewick Hotel. I have not been there in a long time." said Ray, closing his book and putting it on the shelf.
This motivated John to hold off on going to bed. The opportunity to share his official Ghostbuster call with one of his heroes was something that he couldn't pass up. He turned around and went to grab a seat located in the sitting lounge near the front door. He happily motioned for Ray and Kylie to come over and sit down on the couch; they were eagerly waiting to hear the story of what John had to tell them.
"Okay, you guys dig this," John said, becoming visibly excited. "After we entered the hotel and got the information from the manager, we took the elevator to get to the haunted floor, which just so happens to be the twelfth floor."
"12th floor." Ray grinned whit a head shake. "That floor always stat haunted. And that is just Slimer by himself."
"And then what happened, John?." Kylie leaned forward with such interest.
"As soon as the elevator had pulled us to our destination and the doors pulled open, we were met by the ghost that me, Phoebe, Podcast, and Trevor had once trapped in Summerville. We named Muncher, who so happens went right through me and phased through the wall in response of recognizing us." said John.
*FlashBack*
"Alright, we are splitting up in pairs." John turned to face his team. "This hotel and the Ghostbusters have a history together. Mostly the ton of sues from the complaints of the employees here."
"I remember you saying something about that a while back." Phoebe recalled.
"Well, who are we pairing with?." asked Podcast.
John started pointing. "Trevor. Lucky. You two are pared and are going to take your hunt in this direction. Podcast. Phoebe. Since it is us three and you two do not know on what to do in these conditions. So you two are with me."
"Sounds good, cousin." Lucky spoke as she and Trevor walked to the direction where John pointed them to take."
"Remember you two. No shooting your protons unless you have to defend yourself, which shouldn't happen since Muncher is kinda harmless but we won't know till we scan him. Have your PKE out and start searching." John instructed.
After that is settled, John leads Phoebe and Podcast to the other direction of the hallway. All three had there PKE's out and keeping an eye on the arms and the screen for paranormal activity. So, far there was no trance of Muncher anywhere. They thought that they were on the blue ghost's trail when having a reading until lead them to a dead-end wall covered in some blue slime.
"Well, we are back at square one, John." Phoebe looked at her husband.
"Yeah, it looks like it, Phoebe. But do not worry." John looked at Podcast. "Poddy, due me a favor and scan that blue ectoplasm. A scan is a scan when it comes to the paranormal. Whenever we scan, the newly designed smart PKE will inform us on what we scan let alone send the copied scan data to Eddy's computer."
"So, he can use it to help further his reach and development on helping us improving out ghostbusting." said Phoebe.
"Gotcha." said Podcast, before aiming his PKE and pressing the scan button.
"By the way, John. I noticed the packs that we are caring are super light. How?." Lucky spoke through her walkie-talkie.
John reached his talkie that is located on the right strap of his pack. "I forgot to tell you guys. I managed to lighten the packs to our comfort. I do not want any of us to develop fat feet."
"That is understandable." Lucky responded.
John took his attention to Podcast who had his PKE goggles on his head. "Poddy, we are going to rely on your goggles. Eddy and myself had given the goggles an excellent upgrade."
"Such as?." Phoebe eyed the device.
"The goggles not only have the same features as the PKE meter, but it also detects the ghost's trail no matter if it is hot or cold. Or what Eddy calls it, ghost fog." John informed.
This made Podcast excited as he put the goggles on his face. Podcast started seeing the fog trail and started leading his best friends. This got John and Phoebe excited as they had their particle throwers in their hands tight. They found themselves in the snack room where they see one snack machine got multiple bite marks and oozed with light blue slime.
"He has most definitely been here." Phoebe eyed the damage. "I am surprised that he did not eat the other machines."
Podcast crouch down and take a good look at the bite marks. "I'm assuming that it is his appetizer."
"Probably or who knows which metal tastes the juiciest." said John.
"Well, the trail ends here, so..."
Multiple screams were heard that stopped Podcast from finishing what he is going to say. John pulled out his PKE and the arms slightly up. Then the three got out of the snack room and see a couple of people running out from that direction.
"He went this way. Come on and shake a leg." John dashed to where the source of panic is coming from. Phoebe and Podcast ran right behind John with no problem as the three entered the double door hallway. While running, John looked at his PKE and see the arms were fully up and stopped running. Phoebe and Podcast did the same as they followed close.
"We are hot on his trail." John told them as he walked a bit further.
The PKE had led them to a big vase on the table. John had his PKE out before telling the others to be ready. He looked at the vase and know that Muncher is hiding inside the vase. Based on John's knowledge, some ghosts will get skittish when being detected and would run quickly. As for the nonskittish ghosts, they would stand their ground and go full assault. Once John scanned the haunted object, Muncher jumped out from the vase in a roaring scream and started unleashing groups of ghostly minions and flew away.
"Yo, what the hell?!." Podcast jumped back and fired as soon as those things came after him.
"Blast them!. Blast them!." John fired and popped those minions with his partial thrower.
Phoebe fired four of them that were coming her way. John almost got bit by one of them but sapped them before scanning the last one that was attacking Podcast. Once reducing the area to damage and blasted every single minion in sight, the three regrouped and took the mommnet to calm down.
"John, what did we just see?." Phoebe looked at her husband while wiping off ectoplasm from her jumpsuit.
"We have just seen Muncher channeling his paranormal energy in creating mindless minions for himself." John spoke while taking a breath. "I thought only Class 7's or deity level could only produce minions. And Gozer is my example since she did that in 1991 with those marshmallow hounds and we saw those mini StayPuft sailors. I'm going have to do some things to combat these things."
"That is crazy and cool at the same time." Podcast commented.
Phoebe looked at her PKE and see the signal is dead cold. "I think he is no longer on the 12th floor."
John looked at his PKE and see that his wife might be correct. "Probably so. Call..."
Trevor radioed in. "Guys, me and Lucky spotted Muncher just now. He flew down the stairs."
John radio back. "You guys get to the elevator. We are on the way."
They turned right back around to meet up with Trevor and Lucky before taking the elevator back down to the lobby. As soon as the five got in the open, the female asian manager came over to where John is and went to talking on their status.
"So, did you get it?." She asked.
"Not yet, ma'am. But we are close so do not worry." John assured her.
The female manager got worried. "I heard a handful of my guests say they had encountered the ghost. I do not know how long I can keep them calm and relax."
Before John can utter another word, Phoebe called his name and got his attention in a heartbeat. He looked at her as she pointed at her PKE meter in her hand. Having a look of serious facial expression.
"John we got Muncher's trail." informed Phoebe.
"And I have caught single of his fog trail. It's this way!." Podcast pointed out while wearing the goggles.
John looked at the manager. "Tell your guests that the ghost is going to be out of here asap."
John rushed over to where his team is as Phoebe and Podcast pointed out that Muncher is located in the ballroom. The five got inside the ballroom and there munching on a metal tray is Muncher. All five pulled out their particle throwers with readiness.
"Spread out." John ordered. "Ready...Set...Blast Him!."
They fired their streams at Muncher who flew while still being blasted at. John and the others were leaving all out damages to the ballroom while trying to dehydrate Muncher. Phoebe blasted her streams after letting her pack cooldown as she helped Podcast on other side.
Did not take long for Muncher to have his ecto energy depleted as the capture stream connected as John told them shake Muncher down to complete submission, while pulling the trap out as it instantly opened up.
"Pull him in. Pull him in." Lucky spoke while help pulling Muncher to the trap.
"Almost got him in." Trevor bite down on his teeth.
In just a quick slamming, Muncher was sucked right into John's trap and the trap closed itself right up. All five stopped firing and put their throwers pack into their holster. John smiled big as grabbed his steaming trap before looking at his team.
"A job well down you guys." John congratulated them.
"We got him!." Phoebe happily spoke.
*End of Flashback*
"Man, that was cool." Kylie spoke honestly before getting to go help a customer.
"Indeed it was, Kylie." John looked at Ray. "I informed Eddy on adjusting the streams of the pack and doing some modifications to the PKE meters."
"Is that so?." Ray grabbed a book nearby to read while talking. "What kind of modifications are you two doing for the packs?."
John got up from his seat. "We are developing chips that will make the capture stream a lot better."
"Oh, I get it. The new streams are going to directly dehydrate without burning time with the ghosts ecto hydration and instantly put them in capture stream. Genius!." said Ray.
"That is what Eddy told me. I will see you later, Ray." John made his way between the entrance of the bookstore and the target practice area as Kylie asked him something.
"Is Muncher in the Containment Unit?."
"No, I put him in the paranormal research tank. The exact paranormal research tank that Slimer was once in. Muncher is our first ghost. So, he is going to be in the tank as a trophy and sort of a decoration for the lobby and guests to see when waiting for an appointment." informed John, before resuming his walking.
As he returned back into the firehouse, John walked his way upstairs after seeing Catt, Callie, and Gary stare and looking at Muncher who munching on a few metals. He made it up the stairs and see Podcast in his corner during his podcast of what had happened tonight. Then he looked over to see Trevor and her cousin Lucky on the couch playing NFL Madden on the Xbox One X on the 50inch flatscreen tv. And finally he looked at his wife, Phoebe, who was playing chess by herself.
John smiled when making his way towards his girl while noticing the pair of possessed bell bottom jeans following him. Which he by the way had managed to communicate with the haunted jeans, as he told girl pants to stay put in the firehouse and no where else. Not wanting it be taken by one of Ray and Kylie's customers. He came over to Phoebe who is currently pondering on which move she should take.
"Whose winning?." John asked.
Phoebe looked at her husband. "There is no contest. I'm playing by myself. Here have a seat and play with your wife a bit."
"No problem with that." John sat on the opposite side and played with yeh black chess pieces.
The two were using all kinds of strategies and were giving each other a challenge. The two just loves playing chess with one another. Each one gives the other a good tasty challenge as the game always cause them to end chess with one of them trying to cheat. Usually, it would be Phoebe trying to distract John about discussing about atoms and neutrons. However, this time around, John has a good distraction that is both a good one and seriousness.
"Listen you guys. There is something else that I forgot to inform you all about." John spoke with enough volume.
"Such as?." Trevor had his eyes on the game of the screen.
"When we revived the Ghostbusters business we have also revived PCOC. Meaning we are on a tight leash moving forward." said John, looking at the chessboard and the remaining chess pieces.
Podcast finished his podcast and was relaxing in his computer chair while looking at the number gain of new viewers. "What is PCOC?. You never told me anything about this...PCOC."
Phoebe is getting to answer that question when remembering back about what her lover just said to her. But someone else however, had answered the question and sounded so very professional and uppity.
"Paranormal Contracts Oversight Commission. Better known as PCOC."
John looked up to see an elder man in a suit. John leaned back as he knows this man all too well. The man that suggested the idea and the original person who ran the commission since 1991.
"Um, I'm sorry sir, but who are you?." said Lucky.
"Guys, this man in front of us is none other than Walter Peck. A former environmental protector agency inspector. He is also well known for being the sole responsible of causing the historic 1984 Manhatten Crossrip, by enforcing to shut down the ecto-containment unit." John spoke with slight bitterness.
"No, shit?." Phoebe got from her seat and came over to her John in a form of being protected. Looking at Peck with a frown.
Walter chuckled. "Oh, please, do not hold that against men, kid. That is ancient history. We are on the same team here. I learned my lesson back in my youth years."
Lucky crossed her arms and looked at her cousin. "Cuz, what do you exactly mean that we are on a tight leash?."
"I mean that PCOC's sole purpose is to supervise and warn the Ghostbusters, which is us by the way, if we are causing way too much damage in our ghost capturing activities and will be automatically get us to shut down our Ghostbusting business if not taken careful seriously." informed John.
"Exactly." Walter started walking up close. "You see kids, once Winston managed to get things settled with the state governor and made a signed deal, and thus needed insurance of keeping this business under control. Yes, the Ghostbusters are bonded contractors just like the police, firefighters, and paramedics, but even they needed some authority over them."
"Yeah, we are on a tight leash. Damn." said Trevor.
"However, Trevor, the state governor had made an open insurance for us. Meaning that every damage that we cause will be repaired or replaced with government money. We get paid by regular calls and government money." said John, while taking Phoebe's queen without her noticing it.
"Indeed." Walter looked at the new leader of the Ghostbusters. "John, yes?. As you already know that you are responsible for your team and you also know that you need to limit your damage making. The state can not afford to invest in the budget that takes too much money spending on the Ghostbusters."
Phoebe hold tight to John's hand. "Don't worry. My John is the most responsible one amongst the team. Will practice on not causing too much damage on our next bust and moving forward."
"You look almost like your grandfather. Sorry for your lost. Me and Egon never seen eye to eye." said Walter, as turned his way to the steps. "To be honest. PCOC and Ghostbusters both needed each other. So let us have a friendly relationship."
Phoebe blew out air before looking at the chessboard and notice her piece is missing. "John, put my queen back."
"Shit." John put Phoebe's queen back on the chessboard.
Meanwhile in the lobby, the phone rang as Callie set finished paperwork down and picked up the phone.
"Hello, Ghostbusters?. You got a ghost, we bust em." informed Callie, as she started jolting down the information from the caller.
Catt walked over and watched Callie hang up the phone. "Another one?."
Callie looked at paper and then type the information into the tablet. "Oh, yeah, we have another one."
Then another call was ringing as Gary picked up the phone. "Ghostbusters. You have a ghost?. Oh, you have multiple of Ghosts?."
"I need to get Eddy to finish building the PKE satellite dish so we can let the system automatically set up the locations up easier for us. Plus, that would help me monitor the ghosts PKE building haunt and assist the five on what is going on in their hunt or what they are getting themselves into." said Catt, while looking over her tablet and see a few notifications.
"This is what my old man does for a living. I'm so glad that I did not inherited this shit." said Callie, before buzzing the bell and get the five back out there and bust some more ghosts.