Chapter 3: Organization

Ghostbusters HQ

Manhattan, New York

10:07 PM

Eduardo Rivera - a college-aged Latino field Ghostbuster, member of the SERVe team, and loafer extraordinaire - awoke at the computer desk that was sitting on the far side of the bunk room. It had been a slow week for the team and calls were sporadic allowing the team some downtime. It was strange - a word often redefined in the walls of the building he was currently in - that activity went down this close to Halloween. Eduardo rubbed his eyes and looked at the computer monitor where the menu for the movie "The Blues Brothers" was displayed. He was watching a DVD on Dan's computer when he fell asleep. Looking at the system clock it read 10:08 PM. He was asleep for roughly 4 hours.

Standing up and looking around the darkened bunk room he found no one in bed. Looking out the window he saw fellow Ghostbuster Roland Jackson's blue 1967 Ford Mustang still parked in front, but Dan's 1999 Chevy S-10 wasn't there. The conclusion was Dan hadn't come back from New Jersey. He felt something was wrong, but what confirmed something was at the least foul was the presence of police cars far closer to the firehouse than normal. He noticed at least a few vans that were atypical for the neighborhood.

Eduardo was originally going to college for criminal justice. His older brother Carl was a Sergeant for the NYPD and Eduardo himself generally came from a family of law enforcement. As much as he hated the idea of becoming a cop himself, he still learned some of the tricks of the trade that made him aware of police presences in certain situations. Something felt off about Dan being gone this long and these service vans being placed throughout was eyebrow raising.

Maybe he was looking too much into it, he thought.

He made his way toward the lounge area to head to the kitchen when he heard a lot of indistinct chatter. Walking in he saw everyone crowded around the TV. Kylie Griffin - a goth girl that was also the resident occultist - was on the edge of her seat on the couch as she was watching the TV. Garrett Miller - the wheelchair-bound thrill seeker - had his elbows on the armrests of his wheelchair with his hands folded before his mouth with a look of thought before him. The aforementioned Roland Jackson - a large black man that was the Ghostbusters tech genius - was standing behind the couch beside Egon Spengler - one of the original members of the Ghostbusters and main team operator - also watching attentively. This was the current team of Ghostbusters. Roland, Kylie, Garrett, and Eduardo were students in Egon's Paranormal Phenomenon 101 class at the college Egon taught at after the Ghostbusters folded. After a new set of ghosts began to inhabit the city, Egon recruited them to become the new team and even had Roland upgrade the equipment for the new breed of ghosts coming through to our world. After a few years, Dan - who was originally a rookie with the original team - returned and was placed in charge of this team of Ghostbusters as field manager, but not without a few detractors amongst him.

Nevertheless, right now there was a new and more serious situation brewing. Eduardo knew that when Kylie didn't have a book in her hands and she was actively watching TV something was very, very wrong. He walked beside Roland and tried to play it casually, "Hey, who's gettin' kick off the island tonight?" the latino asked.

"Eddie," Garrett turned his chair to look at the man behind the couch as he spoke softly, "shut your cake hole!"

All that did was confuse Eduardo more. He looked back to Roland and Egon, "What's going on? Where's Dan?" Roland gestured to stay quiet then motioned toward the TV. Kylie saw the change in the graphics on screen then grabbed the remote to turn it up, "Quite, they're giving an update!"

A news report began playing on the TV, "There's been a development on our top story: Ghostbuster Dan Shannon, age 26, is the lead suspect in the death of Veronica Loughrun of Red Bank, New Jersey. It is now believed that Dante Hicks - Ex-Boyfriend of Loughran - had arranged the murder. The action - allegedly being performed across state lines - has prompted the FBI to be brought into the investigation. The lead investigator and the spokesperson for the Bureau has declined to comment at this time. Both of these men are reported on the run. If you have any information, call your local police. Do not approach these men. They are armed and extremely dangerous. Continental Airlines Arena security witnessed both men departing the arena after a hockey game at approximately 9:05 tonight and had attempted to apprehend them when they assaulted security and eluded police. I repeat, if you have any information, please contact…"

Egon had retrieved the remote from Kylie and turned down the TV as Eduardo's mouth hit the floor. Kylie and Garrett turned to the three behind them as Egon brought Eduardo up to speed, "It appears Dan's become the subject of a set up. Him and another individual have been suspected of killing this young woman in New Jersey." Eduardo looked disparaged as he put his head into his hand, "Oh, man, that's why there's surveillance vans outside!" he looked at everyone, "Why'd they think Dan did it?"

"The news said they found one of his business cards at the scene," Roland explained, "he never carries those around." "Doesn't surprise me, honestly," Garrett commented sarcastically as he wheeled his chair around, "ol' Loose Cannon has been the best face for this company since he came here. With the amount of crap he's blown up, someone was bound to pull a revenge stunt like this on him."

Kylie interjected, "I don't think so, Garrett. This is a bit extreme just to get back at someone for a plate glass window."

"I'm inclined to agree," Egon said with a hint of disparity in his voice, "I believe Dan was targeted, yes, but not by just any person." "What are you saying," Roland asked, "that a ghost is framing him? A demon?"

"That makes sense," Kylie said, "he's the leader. Even with all he has done, you can't say he isn't one to take scrapes. It was by chance he was in Jersey where the girl was killed. Above all of this, if we go out, we're gonna be public enemy number one." Eduardo was lost, "Why would they be mad at the rest of us?"

At that moment Janine came up from the garage area haggard and annoyed, "It's a goddamn circus out there!" Slimer came up from behind her and was just as annoyed, him speaking in his usual broken english, "Yeah, circus!" punctuating his statement with a raspberry. Janine groaned as she spoke, "The damn news media is starting to line the street and people are starting to crowd outside."

"That's why, Eddie," Garrett finally answered, "'Guilt by association.'"

"Did any police ask questions?" Eduardo was now starting to have his criminal justice training kick in. Something was getting weird about the whole thing and he wasn't sure what it was. "No," Egon responded, "it seems whatever is going on is happening far more rapidly than in other situations. That's why I have my suspicions." Janine was clearly informed of the situation and knew exactly where Egon was going despite not being in the room, "But why are they doing this?"

"Simple strategy," the physicist stated, "Eliminate the toughest obstacle first. They had Dan isolated from the rest of us. Place him under arrest, and the people would become accusatory toward us, hindering our job. That happens, they can take the rest of the world without opposition."

Now Garrett was seeing what the deal was, becoming very concerned with the situation. He looked to his superior and professor and asked, "Okay, so… what do we do?" "For now," Egon concluded, "we do nothing. It's possible Dan may be trying to think of a way to get here without being seen and is trying not to use modes of communication to secure his location. All we can do is wait." 7:30 to 10:00. The amount of time it took from the supposed murder to take place to when the news media found out is far, far shorter than normal. The fact someone even knew one of Dan's business cards was on the scene broke procedure. Evidence is never outright declared on the news. Eduardo was seeing this being more a frame job than the others and it was outright terrifying. He was seeing what Egon was seeing.

He also knew if the feds were involved…

"Go through the sewer system?! Are you insane?!" Dante had just heard the most asinine thing the entire night. Silent Bob in one of his rare instances of speaking laid out a plan that would help Dan get to Ghostbusters HQ. An expression came over his face as he removed the cigarette from his mouth, waved it in a half shrug, and performed a single nod in acknowledgement. Dante ran his fingers through his hair as his stress went up another level, "Oh, Jesus…"

"Look," Dan tried again to bring the temperature down in the convenience store, "I say it's a good idea because it's the most plausible one. There's a sewer access tunnel in the sub basement of the firehouse. The police wouldn't know about it because it was installed about fifteen years ago, but I feel like we have another problem; the police are likely the least of our worries."

Dante huffed, "I don't see why I have to go with you."

Dan walked back to the coolers and grabbed a bottle of water, "I'm thoroughly convinced this isn't a coincidence," he walked back to the front, threw a dollar to the counter to pay for the drink, and proceeded to open it, "How is it I'm framed for killing your ex-girlfriend, and we were both beside each other? It's too precise," he took a drink of water out of the bottle before continuing, "We split up now, whatever caused this might get away with this."

"What do you mean 'whatever' caused this?" Dante asked.

"I don't think a person caused this. I don't even think a group of people caused it. I get this feeling I've been targeted," Dan then spoke under his breath, "which wouldn't be the first time," speaking in his normal voice, "I feel like something is going after me, but what it is or who, I don't know yet. You were just the unfortunate dope that got caught up in the mix. You come with me, I can help clear your name. I got you into this; I'll get you out."

Randal overheard the conversation from his spot behind the counter with a porno mag in front of him spoke candidly, "Sounds like your new boyfriend is making the commitment, Dante." He suddenly had the magazine taken from his hands and before he knew it the same magazine went sailing back at his face at a good 60 miles an hour across his face, a hearty SLAP! echoing off the walls of the Quick Stop. Randal's hat was knocked from his head as he rubbed his face in surprise. Dan had folded over the magazine and hit the clerk across the face with the broad side of the publication, "You make a joke like that about me again and I actually will kill your ass."

Jay and Silent Bob witnessed that with Jay commenting, "Shit, I'm startin' to like this motherfucker!" Bob raised his eyebrows and nodded in agreement with a face that said, "Yeah, not too shabby."

Randal tried to comment again while still rubbing his face, "Touchy motherfucker, aren't ya?" Dan wound up the magazine again and made the man behind the counter jump back. Dan unwound the strike and just flipped the magazine into the man's face causing Randal to scramble and grabbed the lightly tossed book out of the air after a few attempts.

"Well, if you two screws are goin', we're goin' with yas!" Dante looked to Jay after he stated that confused and angered by that, "Why the fuck would we want two dipshits like you to go with us?" "Dante," Dan whispered to the clerk and waved him to come closer to the counter. He came up and stood beside the Ghostbuster as the man explained to him quietly, "Why not? If I'm right in thinking something not exactly human is the one going after me and framed us, we're gonna need a few extra bodies. If we leave them here, they could turn us in. Besides, if things go sideways and the thing has big gnarly teeth, while it's chewing on Beavis and Butthead over here we can get away."

Dante was about to chew Dan out over the bent ethics of the plan, but then thought about it. After a moment he nodded, "You know something, I don't see a downside to this now. Nevertheless, if I get killed over these asswipes, I'll make your arrival to Hell a very unpleasant one."

Dan stifled a laugh, taking the threat as nothing, "Please, I got more threatening and pissed off assholes in Hell waiting for me. You'd be in the back of a long line," he turned to the two stoners in the store and addressed them, "We're gonna need to load up with equipment. Outside. And we better be quick because the cops have Dante on the radar now."

As Dan, Jay, and Silent Bob walked out of the store Dante remained to give last minute instruction to Randal. Randal had put his hat back on and had since propped his feet onto the counter with the very Penthouse he was slapped with, "Randal, if the police come by don't tell them anything about me. Tell them I haven't come in at all. Take the tape out of the security camera and destroy it; make sure all my stuff is somewhere they can't find it. Okay?"

Without looking up for the magazine Randal gave a half-hearted response, "Why bother? That stupid security VCR'll just eat the damn tape anyway." He switched pages, "Woah, those are definitely not real."

The response was typical for Randal and it royally scared Dante, "Look at me!" Randal folded the magazine over to look at him. Dante continued, "Make sure. This is serious! You could get roped into this if you fuck up. Alright?"

"Give me a second," he said as he looked back at his magazine, "I'll get right on it."

Dante turned to walk to the door as he talked to himself, "That's what you said about the burritos…"

Outside the Ghostbuster and the two stoners were at the back of the black pickup truck. Dante walked out and saw Dan divvying out the equipment. Jay started commenting, excitement in his voice as he talked to his cohort in drug dealing, "Man, Lunchbox, this is the shit! We get fuckin' Proton Packs n' shit! Just like the movie!" After Dan got a pack out of the back of the truck, Jay looked at the equipment and was suddenly confused, "What the fuck is this shit? These look the insides of that fuckin' Coke machine we busted apart that one time. What's with the fuckin' cans in the fuckin' thing?"

Dan hauled the pack off the tailgate and explained the far different equipment than what both the stoners were expecting, "This is a Mk. II model pack. About four years ago we had to increase the power output and that required a more potent fuel isotope source and far more hydrogen than the original packs. The canisters had to be made gun-removable for fast reload. If you lose power, hit the release on the Proton Gun to eject the empty canister, pull a new one from behind you, and lock it in." With that, he handed the pack to Silent Bob.

As Bob strapped his pack on Jay attempted to grab a Proton Pack out of the back when Dan took notice of what type of pack it was. He pushed the stoner back and berated him, "No! Not that one!" Jay stumbled a moment then got mad when he got himself under control, "What the fuck? You just fuckin' said…" Dan interrupted him, "This one is a prototype! Do you wanna be blown to pieces, stupid?!"

"Blown?" Jay asked.

"What do you think 'fuel isotope' means?" Dan asked back.

"Uh… it runs on alcohol?" Dan groaned before telling him, "You're wearing a nuclear powered backpack, you putz! This one was modified for a special purpose. I just finished tuning an experimental mixture, and I'm not sure it's stable yet. Leave that one for me!" Dan grabbed another pack and handed it to Jay for his use instead. After Jay got the device strapped onto him he pulled the particle thrower and started the pack up. The vibration of the cyclotron spinning up excited the pothead, "Fuckin' A!"

After Dan handed both of them Ectoplasmic Destabilizing pistols - experimental handgun-like devices used as emergency back-up tools - Dante approached Dan and was handed a pack as he asked, "What exactly is the plan here?" "We can't stick around here and I have to ditch my truck. This thing is a goddamn eyesore, and if we intend to get into Manhattan undetected, we're gonna need another set of wheels."

"Can't be me," Dante said as he tightened the shoulder straps on his pack, "My car's in the shop. Besides, they'd be looking for my car, too." Dan facepalmed himself because he remembered Dante mentioned that. He needed another idea, "Well, sometimes, thinking under pressure isn't my best skill. We need to get another ride somehow." That was when Dan felt someone tapping on his shoulder. Looking back he saw Silent Bob standing behind him. The man had a smirk on his face. After a moment the quiet man pulled a set of keys from his pocket and jingled them about. Dan quickly surmised, "You offering us a ride to use?" Silent Bob flared his eyebrows while the smirk grew a bit. Dan started to smirk himself as he looked to Dante, "Looks like we have a deal."