“Hello, Ghostbusters. You got `em, we bust `em.”
     Janine Melnetz, the red-haired secretary for the Ghostbusters, was surprised at the voice on the other end of the phone. She knew it sounded familiar, yet couldn’t place it, the same way people can’t place bits and pieces of a fading dream when asked to repeat it. When the voice asked for Uncle Egon, her eyes widened as some past memories came forward.
     “Alex, is that you?” she asked.
     “It sure is, Auntie Janine,” the voice said, “can I speak to Uncle Egon? It’s sort of important.”
     “I’ll put you through,” Janine said, punching the intercom button to Egon’s laboratory. “Egon, you have a phone call.”
     In the laboratory in the top floor of the firehouse Egon Spangler lifted his head from the eyepiece of the microscope and pressed the intercom button to Janine.
     “Tell them to call back later,” he said, “I’m a little tied up.”
     “It’s important,” Janine said, “one of your relatives. Might be long distance,” she added, her voice fluctuating in pitch.
     “O.K., put it through to the phone up here.”
     Janine put the call through and Egon picked up the phone. “Egon Spangler here.”
     “Hi Uncle Egon!” came from the voice at the other end of the phone.
     “Alex, is that you? Why are you calling me?”
     Alex chuckled and said, “I’m sort of here in Manhattan and need a place to stay for a little while.”
     “What are you doing in Manhattan?”
     “It’s a long story, and I’m sort of tired. Can Star and I stop by the firehouse?”
     “Yeah... sure. I’ll be glad to see you,” Egon said before the connection terminated. ‘I wonder why my half sister would let her son come to Manhattan alone, and who is Star?’

     Twenty minutes later Alex stood in the lower part of the firehouse before Janine's desk. He still wore his costume, and Star was still a black panther sized cat. Janine took one look at how Alex was dressed before pulling a particle blaster out of a nearby filing cabinet and training it on him.
     “Woah, don’t shoot,” Alex said, “Auntie Janine, it’s me.”
     Janine put the particle thrower down and stared at Alex in silence for a few moments. In that time Alex removed the horns and took off his cape and part of his armor, leaving his tunic and the rest of his outfit on.
     “What in the world?” Janine said, “Why were you dressed like that?”
     “I’ve been trying to get to an anime convention, but I’ve had some troubles getting there.”
     “And what’s with the panther?”
     “You mean his guardian,” Star said, shrinking back to house cat size and leaping onto Alex’s shoulder.
     “I missed something here, didn’t I?”
     “I’ll explain it to you soon,” Alex said.
     At that moment Slimer, the resident ghost and waste disposal unit, emerged from a nearby closet and immediately made a bee line for the visitor. Alex held his left hand above his head, a fireball forming. “You even think about doing that Slimer and they’ll be cleaning you off of the walls for months to come.” Slimer stopped dead in his tracks before floating off to the kitchen on the second floor.
     “Woah, I’ve never seen Slimer stop like that before,” a young lady’s voice said from behind in a New York accent.
     “I did, once,” a young man’s voice said in a thick Spanish / Mexican accent, “when he saw you in a facial mask, chica.”
     “Eduardo shoots and scores!” another young man’s voice said, “What do you have to say to that Kylie?”
     “I’d say that goat boy here is going to get a knuckle sandwich if he doesn’t watch what he says,” Kylie snarled, “as for you Garret, either put a cork in it or I’ll tell Slimer where you keep your snacks.”
     “We have a visitor,” Eduardo said, noting Alex standing before Janine's desk. Alex turned around to greet them, and the moment he set eyes on the group a large sweat drop formed on his head.
     “So these are the Extreme Ghostbusters,” Alex sighed, looking from person to person, first Eduardo, then Kylie, then Garret, then Roland. “Two of you have what it takes to be Ghostbusters...” Garret and Eduardo began to move forward, “and it’s not you two.” Garret and Eduardo sighed. “Kylie and Roland are the ones who really have what it takes.”
     “Thank you,” Kylie said, looking at Alex, “Say, aren’t you sorcerer supreme Alexander West?”
     Alex blushed and said, “I don’t really consider myself that great right now, since my portals are backfiring and dumping me in strange places.”
     “You mean this guy has magic powers or something?” Eduardo said. Kylie and Alex glared at him.
     “You’re really looking to get blasted, aren’t you goat boy?!” Kylie and Alex growled at the same time. Eduardo stepped back, slipped in a puddle of slime, and fell on his butt. Alex gave Kylie a hi-5 and they cheered, “Score!”
     “No fair double teaming me,” Eduardo grumbled as he stood up, “and where did this slime come from?” A moment later he got his answer, for Slimer phased through the floor and gave Eduardo a slimy hug, “GROSS!”
     As Eduardo chased Slimer around the house with a particle beam thrower, Kylie and Roland asked Alex a series of rapid fire questions.
     “So you studied under Lina Inverse?” Kylie asked.
     “Yup, sort of,” Alex replied.
     “What kind of magic do you specialize in?” Roland asked.
     “The three major ones - black, white, and shamanist.”
     “That’s attack, healing and exorcism, and elemental,” Star added, leaping from Alex’s shoulder to Kylie’s.
     “Your familiar?” Kylie asked, stroking Star’s chin.
     “Guardian, actually,” Alex and Star said in stereo.
     “Is there a spell type that could fight ghosts?” Roland asked.
     “The spiritual / astral type of shamanist magic has spells that may be able to vanquish ghosts and spirits,” Alex said, “spells like the Elmekia Lance, Elmekia Flame, and Rah Tilt.”
     “Have you ever tested them on a ghost?” Kylie asked, a sly look on her face.
     “Not field tested,” Star sighed, his tail swishing against Kylie’s back.
     “We haven’t exactly fought many ghosts,” Alex added, “but the spells work really great against monsters.”
     “You’re going to get a chance to field test those spells,” Janine shouted, “we just got a call about a pack of poltergeists at a packing plant.”
     “Try saying that five times fast,” Garret said, rolling his wheel chair into the back of the Ecto - 1, the official car of the Ghostbusters.
     “We’re on our way,” Alex said, clipping his cape around his neck.
     “Are you sure you want to go dressed like that?” Eduardo asked. Alex gave him a dirty look and formed a sphere of electricity, “O.K., O.K., I was just asking.”
     “Onward,” Star said, leaping onto Alex’s shoulder as the young warrior levitated off of the ground.
     “You guys take the highway and I’ll take the sky way,” Alex said as the Ecto - 1 pulled out of the garage, “Ray Wing!”
     The remade ambulance tore through town, sirens blaring and lights flashing, which got a lot of attention from the populous. Above the car soared Alex, his cape billowing out behind him and Star holding on for dear life. People looked out from windows at the passing young man, some waving, some puzzled, others going back to their daily business as if this was ordinary.
     After traveling for fifteen minutes they reached the packing plant, the Ecto 1 screeching to a halt and Alex doing a perfect 3 point landing on the roof of the car. The four junior Ghostbusters piled out of the car, all equipped with proton packs of varying sizes. Alex brushed his cape back, allowing it to billow dramatically behind him. The five noted the people fleeing from the packing plant and the numerous spirits which were attacking the workers. Surprising enough the spirits were simply making scary faces at the workers and throwing things about, but weren’t doing any real harm.
     “Now that’s.... pathetic,” Alex and Kylie said simultaneously. Eduardo and Garret looked at the pair funny before turning their attention to the ghosts.
     “So what’s the plan?” Roland asked.
     “Blast `em out of the sky,” Alex said as one of the spirits dive bombed the group. He tumbled forward and rolled off of his left shoulder, coming up in perfect position for a spell assault. “Elmekia Lance!”
     A lance of astral energy fired from his palms on a direct course from the spirit. The spirit looked at the lance, yet wasn’t fast enough to dodge the attack. A moment later the ghost disintegrated in a plume of white smoke.
     “Wow,” Garret said, a little stunned by what he had witnessed, “that’s.... that’s some heavy duty magic you have.”
     “Never doubt a sorcerer,” Alex said, warming up for a second spell.
     “Duck!” Kylie shouted as she pulled the trigger on her particle pistol. Alex flattened himself to the ground as the beam of highly charged protons sailed over his head to strike a ghost which had chosen him for a target. The ghost shrieked as the beam struck it, not to mention held it in position for another spell.
     “Oh light, gather within me and bash the abysmal darkness apart. Elmekia FLAME!”
     A wave of blue white flames leapt from Alex’s hands and engulfed the ghost, breaking down its astral body. The ghost shrieked even louder as its body was torn apart. A moment later it disintegrated, leaving a plume of white smoke to drift away.
     “This is going to take all day,” Garret said, firing at every ghost that came his way.
     “There seem to be an infinite supply of them,” Kylie said.
     “Meaning there may be an even larger spirit here,” Star said, “and these could be regenerating henchmen.”
     “There is definitely something big out there in the factory,” Roland said as he scanned the area with a PKE meter, “but it’s off the scale.”
     “It’s way off the scale on the astral level,” Alex said, his eyes closed as he cast a SCAN spell, “I have had yet to meet anything with strength like that.”
     “Is it in the main building?” Kylie asked, stepping in the general direction of the building.
     “It’s not in it,” Alex and Roland said, “it is the building!”
     “A shape changer,” Kylie said, “I knew it. Alex, is that Rah Tilt spell of yours area related or target related?”
     “It’s target related,” Alex said, “but if you want area related I could cast the Meguido Flare.”
     “A wide area exorcism spell could break down the big spirit’s defense and cause it to shape shift back,” Roland said. Eduardo and Garret looked at the other three rather puzzled.
     “Say what?” Eduardo said.
     “Never mind, goat boy,” Alex said, “just be ready to blast the big ghost after I cast the spell.”
     The XGB moved into position as Alex took a familiar key from beneath his tunic and clasped it in his hands. He closed his eyes and began the incantation.
     “You who are not of this world, pitiful twisted creatures. By the light of purity I possess I bid thee, be gone to the nexus of our two worlds. Meguido FLARE!”
     A pillar of pure white light formed around Alex, which slowly expanded to encompass the entire area. The spell didn’t affect humans or buildings, but the lesser spirits were banished to the nether realm. The main building of the packing company changed its shape a moment later, reforming as a rather large and ugly ghost. When the group saw this new ghost the following reactions took place.
     Kylie unholstered her particle blaster and unloaded a full power charge on the ghost.
     Eduardo’s jaw dropped to the ground, a VERY large sweat drop forming on his head.
     Garret was speechless for the first time that day.
     Roland grinned evilly and unloaded a full power stream from his proton pack.
     Star went catatonic and wrapped his tail around Alex’s throat.
     Alex shrugged, wondered what everyone was scared of, and began to incant a spell.
     “Spirits of light and earth and wind, break now this evil spell. Flow Break!”
     A magic circle with a 6 pointed star formed beneath the spirit, trapping it in a mystic barrier and blocking its ability to create lesser spirits. Garret and Eduardo finally came to their senses and began firing at the spirit as well. Kylie hurled a trap towards the spirit, which came up a little short of its target, but Star leapt from Alex’s shoulder, regrew to panther size, and carried the trap within a couple of feet of the outer rim of the Flow Break. Kylie flipped the switch and the trap popped open, but the spirit refused to budge.
     “It’s still too strong,” Roland said, “the particle streams aren’t having any effect.”
     “Alex, cast the Rah Tilt,” Kylie said, “maybe that’ll weaken it enough to trap it.”
     “It’s worth a try,” Alex said, beginning the motions for the spell, “You who dwells in the eternal and the infinite, ever lasting flame of blue, all power hidden deep within be called forth here and now. Rah Tilt!”
     Blue - white flames erupted around the giant spirit, engulfing it and breaking down its astral body. A moment later the spirit released its grip on the foundation and was sucked into the trap. The trap snapped shut, smoke rising from it for a brief second as the portal inside was sealed off. Alex cheered and jumped for joy.
     “Another ghost bites the dust,” Eduardo said, walking over to the trap. He picked it up, disconnected the cable, and carried it to the car.
     “Think we should go right back to the fire house?” Garret asked, “Or shall we joy ride?”
     “We better go right back to HQ,” Star said, “the trap looks like it won’t hold that large ghost for long.”
     “I’ll cast a spell to seal it,” Alex said, hopping into the back of the Ecto 1, “you just get us back to base FAST!”
     The others piled in as quickly as they could and Roland gunned the engine, sending the car roaring at an incredibly fast pace. Alex cast a combination of lock and barrier to seal the trap and keep the spirit contained. People dove out of the way as the ambulance tore down the streets at break neck speed. Unfortunately an old woman who used a walker began to cross the street and was half way across when they approached.
     “We’re gonna hit!” Eduardo exclaimed, “Oh man, this is bad.”
     “LEVITATION!” Alex and Star shouted, casting a twin Levitation spell on the elderly lady, who floated ten feet off of the ground and was safely set down on the other side of the street.
     “Any longer and we’ll lose containment,” Kylie said as they approached the fire house.
     “Any more of that and I’ll lose containment chica,” Eduardo said.
     The minute they pulled into the fire house Star reverted back to his house cat size, leaped onto Alex’s shoulder, and cast Ray Wing, spiriting the two of them down to the containment tank in the basement. Egon popped the trap into the tank as soon as Alex dropped the spell of sealing and flushed the ghost into the tank. When everyone saw the light turn green they all sighed in relief.
     “We almost didn’t make it,” Kylie said. Eduardo and Garret fell over.
     “Do us a favor chica,” Eduardo said, “don’t tell us we almost didn’t make it.”
     “Don’t worry,” Kylie said, “hopefully we don’t go through that again.”
     “So Alex, you going to be hanging around for a while?” Garret asked, “Play some video games? Watch some tv?”
     “Wish I could,” Alex said, “but I really need to get to that convention.”
     “We understand,” Roland said, “but don’t be a stranger.”
     “Yeah,” Janine said, “feel free to stop by any time.”
     “I will,” Alex said as he opened a portal, “hopefully this one gets me there.”
     Alex and Star waved to everyone as they stepped into the portal. A moment later it sealed behind him. The group of Ghostbusters then decided to change their clothes and go get something to eat.

     In the middle of a busy street a portal opened, belching forth Alex and Star, who were both a little disoriented after all the dimension jumping they had been doing and the insane amount of magical energy required in order to perform each jump. When they both regained their senses they could both see they weren’t in New York any more, or even 1999 for that fact. People walked past them on both sides, everyone dressed as they did in feudal Japan.
     “Star, I don’t think we’re in Kansas any more,” Alex said as he stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes.
     “I’m surprised nobody’s noticed us yet,” Star said. The minute the panther spoke people stopped and began to gawk at the almost pure black panther and the oddly dressed young man.
     “We’re toast if the authorities show up,” Star said, “do something!!”
     “It’s difficult to think under pressure,” Alex said. A moment later a thunder bolt crackled through the air, striking near his feet. Alex landed on his butt, and none too soon, since a large fireball sailed over his head a moment later. The crowd scattered a moment later, revealing an oddly dressed woman with brown hair in an interesting style, and a young man with flaming red hair and a large diamond / metal fan. it was quite obvious these two were the cause for the fireball and lightning bolt.
     “A man and a panther?!” the man said, “Man, Chichiri sure has a knack for finding the strange ones.”
     “Lady Yui wishes this young man for herself to replace Tamahome,” the woman said, hurling another thunderbolt.
     “You never learn, do you Soi?” the man said, waving his fan forward, “Rekka Shien!”
     Another ball of flames leapt from the fan, colliding with the thunderbolt above Alex’s head. Alex stood up and cast a barrier spell, which caught hold of both spells and hurled them skyward. The thunderbolt curved around and struck the woman, zapping her. With Soi out of the way the man stepped forth.
     “Hi, I’m Tasuki,” the man said, shouldering the fan, “my friend Chichiri wants to see you, and I’m sure Lord Hotohori and Lady Miaka will as well.”
     “Ummmmm..... O.K.,” Alex said, following Tasuki’s lead to the palace, “but where the hell am I?”
     “You’re from another world, like the Ladies Miaka and Yui,” Tasuki said, “I’m surprised you landed in Konan, which is ruled by Suzaku.”
     “I just realized where we are,” Star said as they walked on.
     “So did I,” Alex said, “we’re in the Universe of the Four Gods.... in the mysterious play...”