Chapter Text
Many things can happen when the world comes to an end: Old rivalries can turn into friendships; hate into love; cowardice into courage... and skepticism into belief.
Dave Guile would never forget the day he saw a giant white ghost wreaking havoc in the streets of New York before getting sucked into a large hole into the ground. And before that, there was this flying beefcake in a white shirt that made a whole battalion of soldiers dance to a disco song, making his head spin as he made a complete turn on himself, without looking away from the public!
Before these dramatic events, Dave Guile was a fervent supporter of Dr Martin Heiss and was enraged by the news of his death following his visit to the Headquarters of the four women who called themselves '' Ghostbusters ''. In his point of view, they were responsible for the death of his idol. As it turned out, the death of Mr. Heiss was the fault of a ghost dragon who had thrown him out the window of their headquarters.
Despite the mayor's smear campaign, Dave refused to believe that what every single citizens of New York had witnessed had been only illusions created by a drug that terrorists had thrown into the city's water supplies.
An experienced mechanic, Dave had just been fired from his job after punching his boss in the face after he had insulted the four women who had basically saved the city.
Totally ignorant about science, but absolutely passionate about auto mechanics, there was no engine that could keep a secret from Dave or suspensions that he couldn't improve or bodies that he couldn't repair. Blessed with an exceptional physical condition, he could run long distances without huffin' and puffin'...
One morning, he felt that his bad luck turned into good fortune when he saw in the New York Times an advertisement placed by the Ghostbusters, offering a job on their team.
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The HQ was hard to miss:
The front of the building was adorned with a large neon sign that read ''Ghostbusters'' with the '' No Ghosts '' logo just under it. Dave approached the building without hesitation, ready to play it all out: he had nothing to lose anyways. His girlfriend had just left him and the day before he was expelled from his apartment. Even if he felt sore after sleeping on the back seat of his station wagon, he was determined to have this job.
He entered the building and approached the receptionist's office who had his back turned on him. His mind must have been on another planet because when Dave talked to him, the young man jumped and dropped his bottle of water. When he turned to him, Dave recognized with dismay the beefcake who turned the front of the Mercado hotel into a Disco inferno!
-Yeah? Kevin Beckman said, wiping water from his chin.
-I ... uhh I came for the job... Dave said hesitantly.
-A job? What job? Kevin replied, intrigued.
-Your ad said there was a job available here... Maybe If I could talk with Dr. Abby Yates and Professor Erin Gilbert? Unless the job is already taken?
-I didnt know there was a job available here, Kevin replied.
-Really, Kevin? said an exasperated voice under the receptionist's desk. Yet it is you who posted this ad, right?
A brunette emerged from under the desk with a deep sigh, her hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a tan jumpsuit with reflective orange stripes. Looking at the big guy, she said in a mocking voice:
-Your computer would work better if you did not plug your keyboard jack into the mouse port and vice-versa!
-Thanks, boss! Kevin said, sitting at his desk.
Walking around the desk, the woman held out her hand and introduced herself:
-I'm Erin Gilbert.
-David Guile. Just call me Dave. I am honored to meet one of the women who saved the city.
Erin smiled shyly, as if the compliment was exaggerated, and said:
-Usually, applicants must take an appointment. We are very busy at the moment and I don't know if we have the time to see you today. I'll have to consult my colleagues first. I hope you understand that I can not hire anyone without their input.
-I understand all that, Mrs Gilbert, Dave replied, slightly embarrassed... It's just that I have nowhere to go right now and I have no phone...
-Seriously?
-I slept in my car last night, reluctantly admitted Dave, blushing slightly.
Dismayed, Erin said:
-If It's urgent, I can try to convince my partners to interview you today. Please be seated, I won't take long.
-Here my resume, said Dave, taking the document from the pocket of his trench coat.
Erin took the crumpled paper with a certain disdain and Dave sank into the chair while Erin was ran up the stairs. He stared at Kevin who was reading a book about witchcraft, trying to detail this particular individual... A little uncomfortable to stand so close to the same guy who had done an excellent imitation of the girl in the movie The Exorcist, Dave glanced the room where he was. Newly renovated, the place was spotless. There was plenty of room and the ceiling was very high. No car, as the hearse had fallen into the vortex before exploding... There were four cabinets aligned against a wall, each bearing a plate with a name ingraved on it: Gilbert, Holtzmann, Yates, Tolan. A banged up motorcycle, adorned with a poorly drawn '' No Ghost '' logo on the fuel tank, was leaning against the opposite wall.
Apart from a strange steady hum from the basement, the place was quiet. When Erin called out from the top of the stairs, Dave jumped out of his seat.
-Okay, come on up. We will grant you an interview.
Dave wasted no time: he ran up the stairs and followed Erin who led him to the first floor where the living room was. Seated around a long table the other three team members were waiting for them: Abby Yates, a tablet of notes in front of her and a pencil in one hand, Dave's crumpled resume in the other; Patty Tolan, who was preparing a tape recorder (for what purpose, Dave did not even dare to ask any questions about it); and Jillian Holtzmann, with her wild hair, yellow goggles lifted on her forehead, fiddling with a strange contraption.
-Holtzy, Are you certain that this gizmo won't blow up in your face? Patty asked, clearly worried.
-Who can be sure of anything? absently replied the engineer with a gesture of the hand.
Erin sat down with her colleagues and Abby began:
-So, mister David Gweelee ...
-Guile, not Gweellee. Spelled G-U-I-L-E. Like this character in Street Fighter. Dave corrected with a smile. Everyone makes that mistake.
-Well ''Gwilly'' sure is an interesting nickname, Holtzmann said, looking towards Dave and giving him a wink.
Holtzmann could flirt with him, Dave was not fooled. Jillian was one of those women who prefer the company of women.
-Sorry, apologized Abby. Mr. Guile, I just read your resume, and you don't seem to have any knowledge in the field of parapsychology, metaphysics and the paranormal. I don't see how you could fit in our team.
-I'm not a scientist, but still you have hired me, Patty reproachfully.
-It's true that I'm not a scientist, but I think I still can be useful, Dave replied.
-What do you think you can bring as a contribution to our team, Mr. Guile? Erin asked.
-For starters, I can provide you with a new vehicle, Dave said.
-We desperately need a new car, replied Holtzmann in a sigh. We can not ask Patty's uncle to lend us one of his hearse again, he still has not forgotten the loss of the other car...
-Yeah, he keeps bugging me about that, Patty grumbled.
-Aside from means of transportation, said Abby, what else can you offer?
-My mechanic skills.
-Jillian Is gifted with her hands, she was the one who put our first car together, Erin said glancing proudly at the engineer who blushed slightly.
-I mostly installed our gadgets and designed the look... I didn't have to fiddle with the engine... Holtzmann replied with an embarrassed tone.
Dave stood up and pushed his chair aside.
-Ladies, If you allow me, I would like to speak freely and then you can judge what I have to say accordingly.
-We're all ears, Abby replied by putting her pencil and Dave's resume ont the table.
Cracking his fingers, Dave took a deep breath and began:
-Ladies, I can bring you more than a vehicle. I bring my expertise in auto mechanics. Mrs Holtzmann is undeniably brilliant ...
-Flattery will get you everywhere! said the engineer pretending to be embarrassed.
-... But she cant take care of both your gadgets and a car. I can devote myself to that. In addition, I have the motivation to learn and I'd like to help you catch some ghosts. On top of that, I have already been involved in racing, which means I could certainly be useful at least as a driver.
-With Patty's knowledge of the city, it could be an advantage, Erin admitted.
-Yeah, still need to know what kind of car he can provide us. We cannot lug our equipment in a subcompact, ya know. said Patty.
-I could not tolerate another taxi ride !, Erin sighed.
-What car can you provide? Abby asked, intrigued.
-A Chevrolet Caprice Alter-Nomad, replied Dave.
-Never heard of that car before... said Patty, intrigued.
-Me neither, Erin retorted.
Holtzmann had already taken out her smart phone and her fingers danced frantically on the screen. Her eyes lit up suddenly when she saw a picture of the car and a smile that only she was capable of producing stretched her lips.
-I know that smile ... Anxiously said Abby, worried, staring at the engineer.
-You say you can get us this car ?? marveled Holtzmann, still smiling.
-Of course, it's my own ride. Dave replied with a satisfied smile. Want to see it?
Dave did not have time to finish his sentence: Holtzmann was already up and rushing to the fireman's pole, the tails of her gray trench flapping behind her.
-Welllll let's go and see that car..., Abby said with a sigh.
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Dave never had seen such a reaction about his car before.
Jillian Holtzmann was running around the black and blue Chevrolet, skipping like a schoolgirl, laughing and applauding with appreciation. She stopped briefly to look inside, then resumed her frantic little dance, tapping the body of the car parked in front of the building. Surprised, Abby, Erin and Patty took a few minutes to admire the car while Dave, leaning against the door frame, waited for the verdict.
Holtzmann joined her friends and she said, rubbing her hands with satisfaction:
-Girls, I have tons of ideas for this car! We need it! It will be perfect for our needs!
-It's true that this is a fine car, but what about him? Will he be fit for the job ?, asked Erin to her friends.
-Well... if he knows how to drive and if he can maintain this car, I'd say it's a good start for him, Patty replied.
-As for donning a Proton Pack, he cannot be worse than Kevin... Abby said in a shrug.
Holtzmann did not wait for the three others. She ran towards Dave, took him by the shoulders and said:
-You're hired!! Come on, take this baby in the garage, we must start now if we want a car for our next job!
As soon as she was done talking, Holtzmann rushed inside the building and opened the big doors.
Amused by the engineer's behavior, Patty smiled and said:
-Welcome aboard!
-Guess you're in, said Erin with a smile.
-What are you waiting for?? Santa Claus?! impatiently asked Holtzmann who was standing next to the door. Get the car in!
Smiling and shaking hands with Dave, Abby said:
-Well I guess this means you're hired!