Work Text:
Ophelia stretched her arms over her head popping her back. A satisfied sigh escaping before refocusing on the paperwork. She had been at this for over three days now, and still no progress had been made. The sheets of numbers and tiny handwritten notes became incomprehensible as time wore on. Ophelia glanced at the clock noticing it was time for lunch. A much-needed break in her opinion.
“Hey T, let’s go get some food.” She suggested while shoving back her chair lips corking as she thought about the food in the dining area. The scrape of another sliding chair signaled T’s silent agreement. Not that Ophelia thought he would turn down the offer. Honestly, lunch had to be the best part of working for the Ghost Investigation Ward. Well, if you discount getting paid to research the ghosts themselves.
T, designation Scientists T, fell into step with Ophelia as they headed out. Lab doors opening and closing automatically with sanitation spray following in their wake. The spray contained a chemical that was able to break down ectoplasm. Well unformed ectoplasm. There was just something about structured ectoplasm that refused to melt under the spray. All attempts to eliminate formed ectoplasm with the chemical have been inconclusive. Not even the smallest and least solidified structures would break.
It was possible that the substance grew stronger once it layered over each other. Perhaps similar to steel wiring, or an even lighter material like cotton. The simplest example would be when you break sticks. At first it is easy. Snapping a twig in half takes little to no effort. However, as you add the snapped pieces together and try to break them, there comes a point where you can’t. This is easily solved by adding more force. Similarly, a higher concentration of the chemical would then be able to break down the ectoplasm. However, this has not worked so far, but it could be that they just haven’t applied the right amount yet.
Another possibility is that the ectoplasm grew denser when it gained structure. The change from unstructured to structured being similar to changes in state. Such as the switch from a liquid to a solid. The molecules slowing down and compacting to create a solid structure. An event that can be seen every day when water changes to ice. This would mean the sanitation spray still effects the ectoplasm just not as quickly. The effect could also be negligible if it takes too long.
Ophelia’s thoughts continued to spiral as she grabbed a tray of food. Just a basic ham sandwich with chips and a coffee. Coffee being the life blood of all scientists in the facility. If for any reason the building ran out of the glorious liquid, there was guaranteed to be a riot. The two made their way over to one of the open tables. The dining hall still relatively empty.
T plopped down his tray with a considering hum. “Have you heard about the seminar happening in Casper High today.” Ophelia shook her head before taking a sip of coffee. “Apparently the GIW is trying to take a more active role in the community. They were looking for people to give the students lessons on ghost awareness.”
A snort quickly made its way out of her nose. “Who in their right mind would volunteer for that? Those little cretins would rather worship a false hero then learn facts. Plus, I heard that they were going to perform a test at the school.”
T lifted a brow in interest. Hands making quick work of his basket of fries, while somehow avoiding getting sauce all over the place. “What sort of test can they do at the school?”
“Contamination.” Ophelia stated eyes staring straight into T’s. A soft ‘oh’ leaving his mouth. “The school is attacked so often that the whole place is contaminated. I wouldn’t be surprised if even the kids are. The GIW wants to see if they can change that. From sanitation spray through the vents, a deep clean team, and medicated food.” Ophelia paused taking a bite of her sandwich. The bread making a satisfying crunch as she did.
“Medicated food?” T asked eyes a little unfocused as if he was trying to solve a problem. “Why would they medicate the food?”
Ophelia hummed in consideration. “I guess to help prevent or clean out any ecto-contamination in the kids. Although how they plan on flushing their systems of it, I have no idea. Most of what we have for that don’t take into consideration...”
*[ Warning! Ecto-being approaching. ]*
T and Ophelia froze as the building’s lights flashed red causing a creepy strobe like effect. The cafeteria was silent as the alarm kept blaring.
*[ Warning! Ecto-being approaching. ]*
Everyone waited. Ophelia’s hands shaking. She hasn’t been working here long, and this would be her first ever Ecto-entity attack. Sure, she has heard of them happening before. How structured ectoplasm has destroyed equipment, files, and research. How despite its best efforts no one has ever been hurt in these attacks. Still it was nerve wracking.
*[ Warning! Ecto-being approaching. Level S. ]*
With a lurch everyone was on the move. A Level S attack was not good. Ophelia ran for the lab. In case of a Level S attack everyone had to go to their designated areas. The security systems around the labs would keep them safe. At least in theory. T was right behind her as they sprinted. Halls a mess of fleeing people.
*[ Warning! Ecto-being approaching. Level S. ]*
The building shook! An explosion sounding in the distance. The red and white lights flickering. Several people screamed as they held onto the walls. Ceiling panels falling to the ground around them. Plaster cracking and creaking. T grabbed Ophelia dragging her the last few steps into their lab. Hand flying over the door panel to manually set the system defense.
*[ Warning! Level S Ecto-being ... ]*
The alarm cut off. With a deep breath Ophelia ran to the computers pulling up security footage. Cameras showing off the different areas of the facility. The film grainy and filled with static despite its advanced make. Frowning she pressed a few more keys trying fruitlessly to clear the images up.
GIW security personnel flooded the halls and common rooms. Blasters raised and ready as they scanned their surroundings. Ophelia’s eyes caught on a single black screen. The camera either broken or in a pitch-black room. Nervously she focused on the oddity. A wave of static proving it was still working.
A flash of movement then nothing. The screen closed showing the camera was gone. Nervously Ophelia pulled up the recorded footage. Playing the video back and freezing it. There on the screen were large sharp carnivore based teeth. The jagged points flashing ominously while toxic green drool dripped from its maw.
T gripped Ophelia’s shoulder. Fingers digging into her skin as they looked at the image. Another explosion rang out. Building shaking and groaning with the punishment it was being put through. As if possessed she watched the screens hoping for a better glimpse of the attacking creature. The shadows seemed to lengthen as the two watched some of the security personnel tense. T leaned in closer to whisper about volume, but Ophelia only shook her head. The cameras didn’t have microphones.
A guard went down hands scraping across the ground as he was drug from view. Jets of green going off as the others fired at the attacking beast. Another one falls to the ground red blooming out from their side. One by one the security was taken out. White tile floors splattered crimson.
T gasped at the quick elimination while Ophelia worried her lip. Before either could comment on what they had just seen another section of guards were attacked. Blue tipped claw arms jetted out of the walls. The GIW security screamed as they were ripped into. Ice blooming wherever the hands touched. In seconds the hall was filled with frozen human statues.
“Fuck.” T whispered before running over to his research. Swiftly he stuffed papers and carefully labeled files into his bag. Hands shaking as he went. Another explosion drew Ophelia’s attention back to the monitors. Half the cameras were gone. Windows closed on the display while error screens took their place. To the side a video showed a collapsed room. Rubble and metal beams piled high blocking off the area.
Taking a deep breath Ophelia ran to the back cabinets. Flinging open the door she grabbed a blaster and a specter shield. Clipping the shield on her belt she ran back to her desk. Shoving her paper documents into a bag before turning back to her computer. Sparing a glance at the cameras showed glitching footage of trailing carnage quickly headed their way.
Without hesitation she typed in the emergency escape code. The back wall sliding open to reveal a hidden passage. She had to escape. The lights flickered as they headed for the passage creating a strobe like effect. One second the room was empty and the next there was a horrifying eldritch being.
The creature seemed to glitch in and out of reality. Arms distorting into blue clawed monstrosities with more angles then necessary. Its legs flickering between two, to four, then eight. Just as stretched out as its arms and just as clawed. White mist wafted off the creature cooling the room as ice crystals crawled its way around it.
Lights flickered again and the creature was closer. Its eyes trained on the two scientists. The orbs solid ectoplasmic green without any pupil or Sclera. Ophelia flinched back. Hands holding the blaster for dear life while T whimpered.
With another flicker the thing grew closer. Now only a couple feet away. Still not attacking as if waiting for a signal. Stealing herself she pulled the trigger. The green blast slamming into the creature only to morph through it harmlessly. The creature screamed!
A shock wave knocking the two to the ground and sending them colliding into a wall. The building shook as the scream grew in intensity. With horror Ophelia watched as the ceiling collapsed. Cheap cork-wood tiles mixing with insulation and metal beams. The last thing she saw was her computer sparking and igniting the falling dust. A burst of fire exploding out charring everything in its path. The scorching heat burned across her skin before everything turned black.