Who Ya Gonna Call? (A Foster's/Muppets/Ghostbusters Crossover)

[Big Daddy]

Chapter One

Six Weeks Later

Dr. Stephanie Zimmermann was an expert on paranormal history and metallurgy, and for a scientist, she had a childlike enthusiasm towards her work, having a forthright acceptance of paranormal activity. She held the record of becoming the youngest professor at Columbia University (22 years of age this girl was), teaching the subject of World History to a class that consisted of students either exactly her age, older, or younger. This was the profession for her, seeing as how she was a young woman known for her wordy and overly technical explanations of scientific and paranormal phenomena. There were often times when her students would absolutely lose their interest or even their place in discussions.

Frankie Foster was registered to her class for the semester and always showed up on time with her friend and fellow classmate, Scooter. The both of them loved every bit of what Stephanie taught to the class, taking notes on just about everything that came out of her mouth. With Scooter working at the Muppet Theatre and Frankie at Foster?s, they both were maintaining a delicate balance between all of that and attending classes.

Although in recent days, Frankie was beginning to show signs of wearing out, with a complexion that was paler than usual and her hair and clothes all disheveled. Scooter, upon noticing this before they came to Stephanie?s class, felt the need to ask her, ?Are you doing alright, Frankie??

She barely even noticed that he was talking to her, because she felt so exhausted. It was only when he slightly tapped on her shoulder when she acknowledged his question. ?Huh? Oh, yeah. I?m fine.?

Instead of going on any further about (which would exhaust her even more), Scooter just left her alone while Stephanie taught a subject on that particular morning at the university, which was one of Scooter?s favorites: the Salem witch trials. It was a rather intriguing subject for a Southerner from Tennessee like her to teach. ?Although they were known as the Salem trials, the hearings were held all over the province, from Salem Village to Andover. The best-known trials were conducted by the Court of Oyer and Terminer in Salem Town, circa 1692.?

Before Stephanie could continue on, Scooter raised his hand up in the air. He and Frankie (when she wasn?t acting like a zombie) were always the ones in the class who would be expected to raise their hands for a question, because they were so interested in the subject. Stephanie pointed to Scooter said his name (in common teacher fashion), and Scooter then asked, ?Why did they accuse each other of being witches? Were they that superstitious back then??

?Well, you have to think of it in terms of religion, Scoot.? Stephanie stated. ?The Puritans believed in the existence of an invisible world inhabited by God and the angels, including the Devil, who was seen as a fallen angel. Some Puritans have believed that this world can be seen as visibly as the one around us through that of a ?special? mirror brought by one of the settlers from England, only months before the trials even occurred.?

Frankie?s snoring had suddenly become the center of attention, just as soon after Stephanie uttered the word ?mirror.? She looked next to where Scooter stood and noticed her head flat on her desk, which was starting to become drenched with her own saliva. Realizing the trouble she was about to get herself into, Scooter slightly nudged her and whispered, ?Frankie?wake up! You?re going to get sent out of class!?

She felt his nudge and slowly started to wake up, lifting her head with the saliva running down the side of her mouth and looking straight ahead at Stephanie, who was grinning. ?Not getting enough sleep, Frankie?? Zimmermann said.

Frankie uttered something that sounded very garbled to everyone, and they instantly started laughing, realizing how far gone she was. Quickly, Scooter refocused the attention back on the subject that he and Stephanie were discussing. ?So?they used this mirror to pass the judgment??

?Not exactly.? Stephanie remarked, trying her best to ignore Frankie, as her head went back down on the desk. ?It has been known that the twenty-nine people of Salem convicted of the capital felony of witchcraft have looked through this mirror sometime before their execution.?

Scooter became more and more interested. ?Why hasn?t this mirror ever been brought up in the historical records??

?Because no one takes somethin? as small as an antique mirror serious enough to be recorded as evidence of the situation.? Stephanie said. ?Only people who?ve read Tobin?s Spirit Guide even know about it.?

As Zimmermann continued on with the lecture, Scooter?s mind only drifted off for a minute, directing his attention to his backpack. He reached down and into it, pulling out an old, worn-out copy of the book that Stephanie had mentioned. He flipped through several pages before finding his target: a topic on the history of the witch trials of Salem. On the page was a picture of a mirror with a wooden frame that had the faces of goblins, owls, and a man with ruby eyes delicately craved into it. It was quite a bizarre mirror, enough to convince any resident of Salem at the time of the trials that the owner was a witch himself.

He even looks like one, Scooter thought, as he glanced over at the image on the page of the mirror?s owner. What a strange man with a strange name. What kind of name is?

RING!

Scooter?s attention immediately snapped away from the book, as he had closed it up and placed it and the rest of his items back in his bag, while Stephanie gave one last instruction to the class. ?Remember, Friday is ?Quiz Day?, so don?t forget to study your butts off.?

As every other student left the classroom to either go their next class or dormitory, Scooter turned to Frankie and woke her up again. He was surprised that not even the bell was able to do so. She slowly got up from her desk and faced Scooter with her eyes halfway closed. ?I?m sorry, Scooter. I don?t feel so good today. I?ll see ya later.?

?Where are you going?? Scooter asked her.

?Back to Foster?s,? she said. ?I?m gonna try and get some sleep.?

?Good idea.? Scooter remarked. ?See you then.

She tried to wave goodbye to him, but she was barely able to lift her arm up in the air. While she was walking away, Scooter took this opportunity to have an after-class chat with Stephanie. ?Dr. Zimmermann,? the gofer said, ?There was some other questions I wanted to ask about this mirror. I found some info about it in??

?Sorry, Scoot,? Stephanie said. ?I wish I had the time to talk. But I?m supposed to meetin? with my colleagues in a few minutes. Bring it up on Friday after the quiz, okay??

?Uh?sure.? Scooter said with a sigh, before walking out of the classroom with her, heading in the opposite direction she was going in the hallway. ?See ya later.?

?See ya.? Stephanie uttered, while going to her office, which was just a few doors away from the classroom. Just as she made it to the door and was about to open it, it suddenly opened by itself and a man came out, with his buttoned shirt wide open and blue jeans that were unzipped, carrying his tennis shoes as he was walking out. Stephanie had never seen this man before, whether he was a student or a fellow member of the faculty. It then became clear who he just might be, as soon as she heard the voice of her 21-year-old colleague, Dr. Jessica Lauren, past the closing door.

?Baby, baby, please don?t go!? Jessica cried, as she came out with nothing more than a bed sheet wrapped around her body. It came a large surprise to see Jessica in such a position to Stephanie, but it was even more of a surprise as groups of repossession agents carrying off several items from their office. ?Why did ya?ll pick now to be at time to rip us off??

Stephanie kept her attention solely on her, demanding to get some answers. ?What the heck?s goin? on? And please tell me that they?re moving us to a better office on campus!?

?I wish!? Jessica remarked with a smug expression. ?Apparently, we?re bein? moved off campus!? Stephanie?s eyes widened with disbelief, just as she heard another voice that came from behind them.

?That?s right, Dr. Zimmermann.? It was the dean, a purple whatnot Muppet with brown hair that most on campus addressed as ?Mr. Yeager.? ?The Board of Regents has decided to terminate your grant. You are to vacate these premises immediately.?

?I don?t believe this.? Stephanie uttered.

?Then believe this, Dr. Zimmermann,? Yeager said, ?This University will no longer continue any funding for any of your group activities.?

?This is about that dude who I?d given electroshocks to, every time he got the wrong answer durin? the parapsychology exams, ain?t it?? Jessica inquired.

Yeager shuddered at the way Dr. Lauren spoke in her Southern accent. ?Doctor?Lauren,? he said, uttering her name like it was a curse, ?The purpose of science is to serve mankind. You seem to regard science as some kind of dodge?or hustle. Your theories are the worst kind of popular tripe, your methods are sloppy, and your conclusions are highly questionable! You are a poor excuse for a scientist, Dr. Lauren!?

?Well, since you?re no longer writin? my checks, I can freely tell ya to kiss my poor excuse for a butt!? Jessica retorted, before finally realizing what she just said. ?Wait a minute. That didn?t come out right.?

Drifting the subject the conversation away from Jessica?s butt and on her bad comeback, Stephanie asked, ?Has Christina been informed about any of this, Mr. Yeager??

?We have been unsuccessful in contacting Dr. Renee.? Yeager stated. ?And, frankly, I do not wish to waste any time. She is as just as useless to this college as you both are.?

?Hey! Christina Renee is one of the most brilliant minds of this college and of this planet!? Jessica snapped. ?I?d show the woman a little respect!?

?Please.? Yeager said subtly. ?The way you women stand by each other is pathetic.? Jessica and Stephanie both frowned over Yeager?s comment, uncertain whether to take it as an insult towards their gender or the fact that they often did have each other?s back. ?Not only do you have no place in this department or this university, but you have no place in this world either.?

Yeager began to walk away from the two women, while more repossession agents walked out of their office. Suddenly, the phone (the only thing that had yet to be taken out of the office) rang. Jessica and Stephanie quickly rushed inside their soon-to-be-former office and answered the phone, as it sat on what was left of Stephanie?s desk. ?Hello?? she answered.

?Stephanie, it?s Christina.? The voice was serious and straightforward; it was the voice a real dedicated scientist. ?I just received a call from one of the friends on your student, Scooter. Something strange is happening at the Muppet Theatre. I need you and Jessica over here as soon as possible.?

The mind of Stephanie Zimmermann began racing, as several possibilities of supernatural occurrence started to come to mind. She had heard all kinds of tales running through the city of people experiencing phenomenal contact with ghosts, spooks, and apparitions of all shapes, sizes, colors, etc. and wished that she had that much ?luck.? If there was one good thing out of being kicked out of the university, it was the freedom she would gain out of going out and investigating the occurrences.

Zimmermann did her best to maintain her composure as she spoke to Christina over the phone. ?O-Okay. Jessica and I will be there in thirty?? She stopped for a moment to glance over at the partially nude Jessica, doing a quick estimation through her head. ?Ninety minutes.?

END OF CHAPTER ONE