Post by Mick Nielson on Jun 28, 2006 20:44:15 GMT -4
Ghostbusters NJ gets suckered into a comic signing gig by Mick Nielson of Tampa District for the re-launch of the Ghostbusters on-going series comic under Marvel Comics. Kevin Smith is the host and Stan Lee is footing the bill, but what happens when some rather unpleasant party-crasher shows up? And I'm not just talking about Jay and Silent bob.
GHOSTBUSTERS
INTERNATIONAL:
Spooks to the Nooch
Rich Roy, head of Ghostbusting Ops for GBI and co-founder of Ghostbusters New Jersey, had just walked into Headquarters for first time of the business day when Bill Malkin came rushing out of his office, zipping up his flight suit.
“We got a call, lets roll.” He said, grabbing the Ecto-Goggles off the wall rack.
Rich rolled his eyes, annoyed. “I jus walked in the door, man.” He said, letting Bill tug him along to the car.
“Sorry, duty calls.” Bill said, climbing into the Ecto-NJ, a modified ‘53 Ambulance.
As they motored towards the destination, Rich turned to Bill in the driver’s seat. “So where are we headed and what is it we’re dealing with?” He asked.
Bill handed him a slip of paper he’d written the call down on. “Here, I think you’ll know the location.” He said.
Rich read the paper. “Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash?” He asked, reading. As the Ecto-NJ pulled up to the Stash, Rich took a deep breath and let it out, preparing himself for the bust.
The two NJ Ghostbusters climbed out of the car and pulled their proton packs from the rear of the Ecto-NJ, a crowd had gathered outside the store already and they cheered as Bill and Rich approached.
Right as they were about to enter the shop, someone jumped out in front of them and shouted “BOO!” Rich jumped, pulling his Neutrona Wand out, activating it. Bill stopped him though, rolling his eyes. “Hello Mick.” He said.
A huge grin flashed across Mick’s face and he waved at the two fellow Ghostbusters with his good arm, his left arm still in a sling after his battle with Valek. “Hi boys! How ya doin?” He asked.
Rich holstered his thrower, “Pretty good, how about you? How’s the arm healing up?” He asked.
Mick shrugged. “Eh, you know how it is, more of an annoyance than a pain.” He said, moving his arm around in the sling a bit.
“So Mick, funny seeing you here… at one of our busts…” Bill said, raising his eyebrows suspiciously.
Mick shrugged, another grin playing across his face. “What can I say guys? I had to get you out of the office somehow.” He said.
Rich let his head lull back, resting it on the protruding bulk of his proton pack. “Lets just head back to headquarters…” He said, turning to leave.
“Whoa, not so fast guys!” Mick said, running to cut them off. “I sort of, maybe possibly booked you guys for an appearance here at the Stash, which is partially the reason I called.” Mick explained.
Bill furrowed his brows in annoyance. “You booked us on an appearance gig without talking to us about it first?” He asked.
Mick shrugged. “I would have done it myself, but I don’t have any of my equipment or my uniform, and apparently the Tampa Ghostbusters aren’t recognizable out of uniform.” He told them.
Rich slapped himself in the forehead. “Why do they even want Ghostbusters here? What logical purpose does our involvement have?” He asked.
Mick walked over to the counter and picked up a comic book, handing it to Bill, it had Dr. Venkman’s 88 MPH comic animated character on the front blasting at Slimer. “This is the reason for us being here. Apparently Marvel comics picked up the rights to the Ghostbusters comic and decided to re-launch the ongoing series. Today is the first day the issues are hitting shelves and Kevin Smith wanted some members of Ghostbusters International to appear.” He explained as Bill and Rich looked at the new comic.
“So we’re here to hand out comics and sign autographs?” Bill asked.
Mick nodded. “Yeah, you guys, me and Stan Lee.” He said.
“Stan Lee is here?!” They both said at the same time. “I thought it was crazy enough that MARVEL comics was picking up the series, but Stan the man is actually showing up here?” Bill asked.
“That’s right Spider-friend!” An excited voice said behind them. The Ghostbusters spun around to find themselves looking right at the man, the legend, Stan Lee. “Glad to see you guys made it for the signing!” He said, smiling.
Mick approached him and offered his good hand. “Pleasure to meet you Mr. Lee. I’m Mick Nielson, head of Ghostbusters: Tampa District out of Florida, these gentlemen are Richard Roy, head of Ghostbusting Ops and Bill Malkin, co-founder of Ghostbusters New Jersey.” He explained.
Stan Lee shook his hand enthusiastically, “Please, call me Stan, Mick. Nice to meet you Bill… Rich.” He said as he shook all their hands.
Bill and Rich were still trying to catch up, when the back door opened and Kevin Smith entered the shop. “Hey gang, glad to see your all here.” He said, introducing himself and shaking all their hands. “So Mick, these the two cats you told me about?” He asked.
Mick nodded affirmatively. “Yeah, this is Bill and Rich, Ghostbusters New Jersey.” He said.
Kevin nodded, welcoming them, then turned to Stan. “Hey Stan, good to see you again, my man. Haven’t seen you since we did “Mutants, Monsters and Marvels”, right?” He said, shaking his hand.
Stan laughed, nodding. “That’s right, when do I get to interview YOU though?” He asked as they headed over to the signing table, which was set up against the back wall. Behind it, there was a large Ghostbusters logo hanging from the wall with the Marvel comics logo going across the middle of the No-Ghost bar.
Rich and Bill reluctantly went over to the table and removed their proton packs. Bill looked at Rich. “So we’re actually gonna do this…” He said.
Rich shrugged, sitting down. “How bad could it be? It’s not like it’s a bad thing, our fans want us!” He said, laughing. Bill shrugged and sat down next to him at the table.
When they’d finished setting up, Mick turned to the group. “Hey, anyone want anything to drink before Kevin opens the store?” He asked.
Bill nodded. “I’ll take a coke.”
“And I’ll have a Sprite.” Rich told him, nodding as well.
“Alright then, I’ll go grab some. Stan? Kevin?” He asked.
Kevin and Stan shook their heads. “Nah, we’re cool, Mick.” Kevin said, picking up the microphone they’d installed. “But you don’t need to go get them, we got the crew working for a reason.” He told him. “Hey guys! Get off your asses and get up here!” He shouted.
After a moment, the back door of the shop burst open, Jay and Silent Bob strolled into the shop. “Man, f**k you tons-o-fun! I didn’t start workin’ here to take abuse from your fat ass.” Jay said.
Kevin just laughed at him. “Shut up you little stoner boy, you’d still be out in front of Quick Stop if I hadn’t put you two in my movies. Get some drinks for us will ya?” He said.
Jay pointed at him and opened his mouth to retort, but Kevin just looked at him, waiting. Jay lowered his finger and turned around angrily. “Fat f**kin director-man orderin me around…” He mumbled, heading to the back again. Bob just shrugged and waved to the group before going behind the front counter.
Jay returned and tossed the drink bottles onto the table. “There, your welcome you tubby bitch.” He said to Kevin, who promptly flipped him the bird.
Kevin then motioned to the door. “You can let the public in now Jason.” He said. Jay cringed at the sound of his full name. “Man, what’d I tell you about callin’ me that?” he said furiously, going to the door and unlocking it.
A few hours after the store opened, it was still packed with customers. Mick was struggling to write with his left hand, Rich and Bill were tiredly signing copy after copy of the new comic, as was Stan while Kevin kept the crowd entertained with his usual and naturally witty story-telling.
“Jeez, how much longer are we gonna be here?” Rich asked quietly, I’m sure HQ is getting swamped with calls by now.” He asked.
Mick shook his head. “Rich, don’t cop out now, you know as well as I do that the PKE levels all over the country have been DROPPING, not rising. I’m sure business hasn’t been good today. Besides, we’re getting paid for this more than you would have with 2 zap and traps.” He said, handing another customer a signed comic, shaking their hand and smiling.
Bill nodded. “He’s right ya know, and this is a lot less work.” He said, autographing another book.
At that moment, a man in a hoodie walked up to the table, slapping down a copy of the book and saying in a deep scraggly voice; “Its an interesting read…”.
Mick looked up at the stranger and raised an eyebrow quizzically. “Uh, yeah, it is…” He said, signing the book quickly and offering his hand. “Glad you enjoyed it.” He said.
The man raised his arm, but instead of a hand, a tentacle slithered out of his hoodie sleeve and wrapped around Mick’s wrist. “Aw crap…” Mick managed to get out before he was whipped by his arm across the table.
Bill and Rich’s eyes went wide, jumping up from their chairs. Mick rolled with the impact, tucking his arm in tight so as not to harm it more.
Stan jumped up from his chair as well in shock. “Wow, great special effects!” He said.
Rich and Bill turned, snatching up their proton packs quickly. “Everyone clear out!” Bill ordered, thumbing on his thrower.
The creature ripped off it’s hoodie and fully extended it’s body, the creature was about 7 feet tall, it’s serpent-like head brushing the ceiling of the store as two additional legs tore out the back of it’s pants, each foot covered by strange boots.
Behind the counter, Jay and Silent Bob watched in awe. “Dude, his Jordan’s are f**ked up…” Jay said quietly.
The store emptied out almost immediately, people sprinted out the door, screaming and running for cover. Inside, Bill and Rich opened fire on the ghost, their proton beams lanced into it, making the creature scream in pain. The ghost wrapped one of it’s spectral tendrils around a rack of comics and whipped it across the room at the Ghostbusters.
Kevin pulled Stan Lee out of the way just before the rack slammed into the GB-Marvel logo on the wall and the two of them hurried into the back room, slamming the door just as Jay and Silent Bob reached it. “Man! What a bunch of f**kin bullsh*t! Open the door two tons of fun!” Jay shouted angrily, pounding on the door.
Bill and Rich moved quickly, getting on opposite sides of the creature and boxing it in. They both fired again, snagging it in their proton streams, but the beast flung a tendril out, cracking another rack in half. The impact sent part of the rack sailing into Rich, who was knocked down by the debris.
Bill struggled to keep it in place with only one beam on it. “Rich! You gotta snag it too before the thing breaks free!” He shouted.
Rich struggled against the weight of his pack and pulled himself up off the floor, grabbing his Neutrona wand up as well. The creature spun around and twisted out of the hold of the beam and sailed away up the stairs to the second floor.
“Rich, I’m going up after him, you wait here and I’ll flush it back down towards you!” Bill shouted, sprinting up the stairs after it.
Mick slowly pulled himself up from underneath the wrecked shelving on top of him, cringing as his arm ached from the movement. “Anything I can do, Rich?” He asked.
Rich turned to him, unhooking the trap and handing it to Mick. “Here, be ready with the trap.”
“Got it.” Mick said, unrolling the chord and placing it on the floor. Mick readied his foot on top with the pedal next to it.
Upstairs, the sound of a pack firing echoed down and they heard a shout from Bill signaling that it was coming.
The banshee passed through the ceiling, spraying Ectoplasm as it went and was promptly greeted by a Neutrona blast to the face.
The spirit twisted through the air and Mick kicked the trap out underneath it, stomping on the pedal. The trap snapped open, engulfing the ghost in blinding white light as it was sucked into the box. The caution doors snapped shut, sealing it inside and gave out a cheery ‘beep, beep’.
“Yeah boy! We had you’s guys’ backs the whole time, snoogins…” Jay said, high-fiving Silent Bob.
Mick glanced over at them, shaking his head. “Yeah G, we know the hood’s always got our backs.” He said, rolling his eyes.
Stan and Kevin emerged from the back room and Kevin looked around the shop dismayed. “Damn it… This is gonna cost me.” He said.
Stan shrugged. “I’ll give you the name of a good repair guy I know, tell him I sent ya and he’ll give you a good discount.” He said as they headed out of the shop.
The Ghostbusters emerged from the Stash, Mick holding up the smoking trap in his good hand while Rich and Bill used this opportunity as an excuse to leave the appearance gig (not before a few pictures with fans, at Mick’s insistence).
They all piled into the Ecto-NJ and pulled away from the Stash, lights blazing. In the driver seat, Bill could only shake his head. “So Mick, your not going to be coming to visit often are you?” He asked.
Mick laughed from the back seat. “Hey, look at it this way, I got you guys paid for not only the appearance gig, but you also got paid for a rather big bust today.” He said, kicking his feet up on the back of their seats.
The two members of Ghostbusters NJ could only shrug. “Can’t beat his logic” Bill said, rounding the corner as they headed back to HQ.
Back at the stash, Jay and Bob were left cleaning up the mess as the book signing was moved out in front of the store. “Man this sh*t is stupid. f**k this noise…” He said, tossing his trash bag aside and walking out. Silent Bob thought it over, then tossed his aside and followed. “We should head over to Quick Stop…” Jay said as they slammed the back door behind them.
GHOSTBUSTERS
INTERNATIONAL:
Spooks to the Nooch
Rich Roy, head of Ghostbusting Ops for GBI and co-founder of Ghostbusters New Jersey, had just walked into Headquarters for first time of the business day when Bill Malkin came rushing out of his office, zipping up his flight suit.
“We got a call, lets roll.” He said, grabbing the Ecto-Goggles off the wall rack.
Rich rolled his eyes, annoyed. “I jus walked in the door, man.” He said, letting Bill tug him along to the car.
“Sorry, duty calls.” Bill said, climbing into the Ecto-NJ, a modified ‘53 Ambulance.
As they motored towards the destination, Rich turned to Bill in the driver’s seat. “So where are we headed and what is it we’re dealing with?” He asked.
Bill handed him a slip of paper he’d written the call down on. “Here, I think you’ll know the location.” He said.
Rich read the paper. “Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash?” He asked, reading. As the Ecto-NJ pulled up to the Stash, Rich took a deep breath and let it out, preparing himself for the bust.
The two NJ Ghostbusters climbed out of the car and pulled their proton packs from the rear of the Ecto-NJ, a crowd had gathered outside the store already and they cheered as Bill and Rich approached.
Right as they were about to enter the shop, someone jumped out in front of them and shouted “BOO!” Rich jumped, pulling his Neutrona Wand out, activating it. Bill stopped him though, rolling his eyes. “Hello Mick.” He said.
A huge grin flashed across Mick’s face and he waved at the two fellow Ghostbusters with his good arm, his left arm still in a sling after his battle with Valek. “Hi boys! How ya doin?” He asked.
Rich holstered his thrower, “Pretty good, how about you? How’s the arm healing up?” He asked.
Mick shrugged. “Eh, you know how it is, more of an annoyance than a pain.” He said, moving his arm around in the sling a bit.
“So Mick, funny seeing you here… at one of our busts…” Bill said, raising his eyebrows suspiciously.
Mick shrugged, another grin playing across his face. “What can I say guys? I had to get you out of the office somehow.” He said.
Rich let his head lull back, resting it on the protruding bulk of his proton pack. “Lets just head back to headquarters…” He said, turning to leave.
“Whoa, not so fast guys!” Mick said, running to cut them off. “I sort of, maybe possibly booked you guys for an appearance here at the Stash, which is partially the reason I called.” Mick explained.
Bill furrowed his brows in annoyance. “You booked us on an appearance gig without talking to us about it first?” He asked.
Mick shrugged. “I would have done it myself, but I don’t have any of my equipment or my uniform, and apparently the Tampa Ghostbusters aren’t recognizable out of uniform.” He told them.
Rich slapped himself in the forehead. “Why do they even want Ghostbusters here? What logical purpose does our involvement have?” He asked.
Mick walked over to the counter and picked up a comic book, handing it to Bill, it had Dr. Venkman’s 88 MPH comic animated character on the front blasting at Slimer. “This is the reason for us being here. Apparently Marvel comics picked up the rights to the Ghostbusters comic and decided to re-launch the ongoing series. Today is the first day the issues are hitting shelves and Kevin Smith wanted some members of Ghostbusters International to appear.” He explained as Bill and Rich looked at the new comic.
“So we’re here to hand out comics and sign autographs?” Bill asked.
Mick nodded. “Yeah, you guys, me and Stan Lee.” He said.
“Stan Lee is here?!” They both said at the same time. “I thought it was crazy enough that MARVEL comics was picking up the series, but Stan the man is actually showing up here?” Bill asked.
“That’s right Spider-friend!” An excited voice said behind them. The Ghostbusters spun around to find themselves looking right at the man, the legend, Stan Lee. “Glad to see you guys made it for the signing!” He said, smiling.
Mick approached him and offered his good hand. “Pleasure to meet you Mr. Lee. I’m Mick Nielson, head of Ghostbusters: Tampa District out of Florida, these gentlemen are Richard Roy, head of Ghostbusting Ops and Bill Malkin, co-founder of Ghostbusters New Jersey.” He explained.
Stan Lee shook his hand enthusiastically, “Please, call me Stan, Mick. Nice to meet you Bill… Rich.” He said as he shook all their hands.
Bill and Rich were still trying to catch up, when the back door opened and Kevin Smith entered the shop. “Hey gang, glad to see your all here.” He said, introducing himself and shaking all their hands. “So Mick, these the two cats you told me about?” He asked.
Mick nodded affirmatively. “Yeah, this is Bill and Rich, Ghostbusters New Jersey.” He said.
Kevin nodded, welcoming them, then turned to Stan. “Hey Stan, good to see you again, my man. Haven’t seen you since we did “Mutants, Monsters and Marvels”, right?” He said, shaking his hand.
Stan laughed, nodding. “That’s right, when do I get to interview YOU though?” He asked as they headed over to the signing table, which was set up against the back wall. Behind it, there was a large Ghostbusters logo hanging from the wall with the Marvel comics logo going across the middle of the No-Ghost bar.
Rich and Bill reluctantly went over to the table and removed their proton packs. Bill looked at Rich. “So we’re actually gonna do this…” He said.
Rich shrugged, sitting down. “How bad could it be? It’s not like it’s a bad thing, our fans want us!” He said, laughing. Bill shrugged and sat down next to him at the table.
When they’d finished setting up, Mick turned to the group. “Hey, anyone want anything to drink before Kevin opens the store?” He asked.
Bill nodded. “I’ll take a coke.”
“And I’ll have a Sprite.” Rich told him, nodding as well.
“Alright then, I’ll go grab some. Stan? Kevin?” He asked.
Kevin and Stan shook their heads. “Nah, we’re cool, Mick.” Kevin said, picking up the microphone they’d installed. “But you don’t need to go get them, we got the crew working for a reason.” He told him. “Hey guys! Get off your asses and get up here!” He shouted.
After a moment, the back door of the shop burst open, Jay and Silent Bob strolled into the shop. “Man, f**k you tons-o-fun! I didn’t start workin’ here to take abuse from your fat ass.” Jay said.
Kevin just laughed at him. “Shut up you little stoner boy, you’d still be out in front of Quick Stop if I hadn’t put you two in my movies. Get some drinks for us will ya?” He said.
Jay pointed at him and opened his mouth to retort, but Kevin just looked at him, waiting. Jay lowered his finger and turned around angrily. “Fat f**kin director-man orderin me around…” He mumbled, heading to the back again. Bob just shrugged and waved to the group before going behind the front counter.
Jay returned and tossed the drink bottles onto the table. “There, your welcome you tubby bitch.” He said to Kevin, who promptly flipped him the bird.
Kevin then motioned to the door. “You can let the public in now Jason.” He said. Jay cringed at the sound of his full name. “Man, what’d I tell you about callin’ me that?” he said furiously, going to the door and unlocking it.
A few hours after the store opened, it was still packed with customers. Mick was struggling to write with his left hand, Rich and Bill were tiredly signing copy after copy of the new comic, as was Stan while Kevin kept the crowd entertained with his usual and naturally witty story-telling.
“Jeez, how much longer are we gonna be here?” Rich asked quietly, I’m sure HQ is getting swamped with calls by now.” He asked.
Mick shook his head. “Rich, don’t cop out now, you know as well as I do that the PKE levels all over the country have been DROPPING, not rising. I’m sure business hasn’t been good today. Besides, we’re getting paid for this more than you would have with 2 zap and traps.” He said, handing another customer a signed comic, shaking their hand and smiling.
Bill nodded. “He’s right ya know, and this is a lot less work.” He said, autographing another book.
At that moment, a man in a hoodie walked up to the table, slapping down a copy of the book and saying in a deep scraggly voice; “Its an interesting read…”.
Mick looked up at the stranger and raised an eyebrow quizzically. “Uh, yeah, it is…” He said, signing the book quickly and offering his hand. “Glad you enjoyed it.” He said.
The man raised his arm, but instead of a hand, a tentacle slithered out of his hoodie sleeve and wrapped around Mick’s wrist. “Aw crap…” Mick managed to get out before he was whipped by his arm across the table.
Bill and Rich’s eyes went wide, jumping up from their chairs. Mick rolled with the impact, tucking his arm in tight so as not to harm it more.
Stan jumped up from his chair as well in shock. “Wow, great special effects!” He said.
Rich and Bill turned, snatching up their proton packs quickly. “Everyone clear out!” Bill ordered, thumbing on his thrower.
The creature ripped off it’s hoodie and fully extended it’s body, the creature was about 7 feet tall, it’s serpent-like head brushing the ceiling of the store as two additional legs tore out the back of it’s pants, each foot covered by strange boots.
Behind the counter, Jay and Silent Bob watched in awe. “Dude, his Jordan’s are f**ked up…” Jay said quietly.
The store emptied out almost immediately, people sprinted out the door, screaming and running for cover. Inside, Bill and Rich opened fire on the ghost, their proton beams lanced into it, making the creature scream in pain. The ghost wrapped one of it’s spectral tendrils around a rack of comics and whipped it across the room at the Ghostbusters.
Kevin pulled Stan Lee out of the way just before the rack slammed into the GB-Marvel logo on the wall and the two of them hurried into the back room, slamming the door just as Jay and Silent Bob reached it. “Man! What a bunch of f**kin bullsh*t! Open the door two tons of fun!” Jay shouted angrily, pounding on the door.
Bill and Rich moved quickly, getting on opposite sides of the creature and boxing it in. They both fired again, snagging it in their proton streams, but the beast flung a tendril out, cracking another rack in half. The impact sent part of the rack sailing into Rich, who was knocked down by the debris.
Bill struggled to keep it in place with only one beam on it. “Rich! You gotta snag it too before the thing breaks free!” He shouted.
Rich struggled against the weight of his pack and pulled himself up off the floor, grabbing his Neutrona wand up as well. The creature spun around and twisted out of the hold of the beam and sailed away up the stairs to the second floor.
“Rich, I’m going up after him, you wait here and I’ll flush it back down towards you!” Bill shouted, sprinting up the stairs after it.
Mick slowly pulled himself up from underneath the wrecked shelving on top of him, cringing as his arm ached from the movement. “Anything I can do, Rich?” He asked.
Rich turned to him, unhooking the trap and handing it to Mick. “Here, be ready with the trap.”
“Got it.” Mick said, unrolling the chord and placing it on the floor. Mick readied his foot on top with the pedal next to it.
Upstairs, the sound of a pack firing echoed down and they heard a shout from Bill signaling that it was coming.
The banshee passed through the ceiling, spraying Ectoplasm as it went and was promptly greeted by a Neutrona blast to the face.
The spirit twisted through the air and Mick kicked the trap out underneath it, stomping on the pedal. The trap snapped open, engulfing the ghost in blinding white light as it was sucked into the box. The caution doors snapped shut, sealing it inside and gave out a cheery ‘beep, beep’.
“Yeah boy! We had you’s guys’ backs the whole time, snoogins…” Jay said, high-fiving Silent Bob.
Mick glanced over at them, shaking his head. “Yeah G, we know the hood’s always got our backs.” He said, rolling his eyes.
Stan and Kevin emerged from the back room and Kevin looked around the shop dismayed. “Damn it… This is gonna cost me.” He said.
Stan shrugged. “I’ll give you the name of a good repair guy I know, tell him I sent ya and he’ll give you a good discount.” He said as they headed out of the shop.
The Ghostbusters emerged from the Stash, Mick holding up the smoking trap in his good hand while Rich and Bill used this opportunity as an excuse to leave the appearance gig (not before a few pictures with fans, at Mick’s insistence).
They all piled into the Ecto-NJ and pulled away from the Stash, lights blazing. In the driver seat, Bill could only shake his head. “So Mick, your not going to be coming to visit often are you?” He asked.
Mick laughed from the back seat. “Hey, look at it this way, I got you guys paid for not only the appearance gig, but you also got paid for a rather big bust today.” He said, kicking his feet up on the back of their seats.
The two members of Ghostbusters NJ could only shrug. “Can’t beat his logic” Bill said, rounding the corner as they headed back to HQ.
Back at the stash, Jay and Bob were left cleaning up the mess as the book signing was moved out in front of the store. “Man this sh*t is stupid. f**k this noise…” He said, tossing his trash bag aside and walking out. Silent Bob thought it over, then tossed his aside and followed. “We should head over to Quick Stop…” Jay said as they slammed the back door behind them.