Johnny sat at his desk' twirling the yo-yo up and down . Why had he ever answered that ad?
This had to be the world’s most boring job, and the pay was horrible too. As soon as the sun came up, this security guard was gonna walk up and tell Eagle Trucking Inc. just where they could stick their graveyard shift job. Oh well. Until then…

REVVVVVVV….

What the heck was that?, he wondered. Johnny left his seat and went to the door. It sounded like it was coming from outside, and it sounded like a…no, it couldn’t be. What kind of thief would break into a chain-link fence surrounded compound just to steal a semi he couldn’t even drive out? He flicked on the flashlight and shone it around the yard. Nothing to the right, nothing to the left, nothing straight in front of him. Just like he thought. Probably a cat or something. Johnny stepped back inside, then heard it again. A loud revving sound, like a semi-truck being started up. Sighing, he stepped back outside and looked again.

"Whoa!!!"

A huge Freightliner whooshed past him, knocking him on his butt. He got up, stunned, and shouted obscenities at the truck. Johnny drew his gun and fired at the tires, missing each of his four shots. As the truck drove away, he caught a glimpse of the driver’s side. There was absolutely nothing there! Shocked, Johnny backed up, fell, got back up again and rushed into the warehouse building. Outside, the truck blasted through the fence, knocking it down like a paper wall being knocked over by a football team. It drove away, air horn blasting and headlights cutting a swath through the dark night.

Inside, Johnny ran to his desk, half-expecting some gruesome phantom to leap out at him from a corner. It wouldn’t surprise him, with what he had just seen. He safely reached the phone and started to dial 911. At the last second, he remembered hearing about a business that dealt with these types of things during his trip to New York on vacation last summer. He hesitated, then thought, screw Eagle and their phone bill. I know who I’m gonna call.

**********

RRRRRRRRINNNGGG!!

RRRRRRRRINNNGGG!!

RRRR…

Huh? What?, thought Pete Venkman, as he slowly roused from unconsciousness into the world of the awake. Man, I was in the middle of a great dream, too… That was the one thing he hated about Ghostbusting, the calls at all hours of the day. Why, he reasoned, couldn’t people just let those pesky Class 4’s or whatever float around until a decent hour, and then call the Ghostbusters?

He lurched out of bed, nearly slipping on a bundle of clothes. The other 3 members of the team, Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, and Winston Zeddemore, were all slowly but surely waking up as well. Venkman made his way to the door and down the steps, finally reaching the 1st floor of Ghostbuster Central. He stumbled over to Janine’s desk, and picked the phone, stopping the incessant ringing.

"Ghostbusters."

Egon, Ray, and Winston had made their way down as well, and now gathered around to listen to the conversation.

"It did what? Yeah, very funny, buddy. I’m trying to sleep here, and I don’t need you wasting my time with-"

"Give me that," said Egon. The physicist reached out and took the phone from Venkman, not waiting for a reply. "Egon Spengler speaking."

"Trucks? Driving by themselves? Fascinating."

At the mention of trucks driving themselves, Ray’s ears pricked up, as he always enjoyed a good bust, even at 4 in the morning.

"We’ll be right there. Now, you’re at where again? Vancouver, Washington?! Well, we’ll see what we can do. At the very best, we won’t be able to make it there until late afternoon your time. Is that alright with you? Great. See you later today, Mr. Kinston. Thank you. Goodbye." He turned to the rest of the team. "He’s telling the truth, or at least thinks he is."

"So, what?" said Venkman, obviously not pleased with the prospect of traveling with so little notice. "I’ve got a hot date lined up tonight."

"Oh well, m’man. It looks like Egon’s made up his mind, and so has Ray. And you know how stubborn those two can be," added Winston.

"C’mon, guys," said Ray. "Let’s go back to bed for now. We can tell Janine to close up the business for a while when she comes in, and then we should probably pack for a few day’s worth of travel. Besides," added the occultist, "I really want to study those self-driving trucks."

"Ray Stantz, boy wonder," said Venkman. "Be it rain, sleet, or self-driving trucks, nothing stops him. Oh brother."

**********

As the plane soared high in the sky, Peter took yet another opportunity to complain.

"And can you believe what they charged us just for luggage?! That’s ridiculous."

Egon looked up from his issue of Spore and Fungus magazine. "On the contrary, Peter. We should be happy that we got tickets on such short notice, let alone that they even allowed us to bring along four portable nuclear accelerators, not to mention the rest of our equipment."

"We should be happy. Says you," he sniffed. "Oh, well. Maybe I can meet a nice stewardess on this flight." He raised his eyebrows suggestively at Egon. Spengler replied by sighing, rolling his eyes, and turning back to Spore and Fungus.

As a stewardess walked by, Venkman seized his opportunity. "Excuse me, miss. Do you have any Mountain Dew to drink?"

"We sure do."

"Great," he said, turning on the charm. "I’ll take one can, please."

As she handed him the can, he failed to notice that it was already open.

"Let me show you a little trick I’ve learned," he said. Venkman picked up the pop, and began to spin it on his finger, against the protests of the waitress. The Mountain Dew promptly spilled all over both he and the stewardess, causing her to gasp in surprise. She stormed off, presumably to get some towels.

"Another great example of the Venkman Charm, huh Pete?" said Winston from the seat behind him.

"Shut up," replied Venkman.

**********

The rented Dodge Ram pulled up to the fence-surrounded Eagle trucking complex the next day, and parked outside the fence. A security guard escorted the Ghostbusters in, where they met the man who had called them, Mr. Johnny Kinston.

"So, could you describe exactly what you saw?" asked Egon.

"Sure. I was sittin’ in here, when I heard a noise. Sorta like a truck startin’ up. I go out there, there ain’t nothin’ there. I go back in, an’ I hear it again. I go back out, and this huuuge Freightliner truck nearly runs me over. I shoot at it, and I get a glimpse of the driver’s side. There ain’t a single thin’ there.

"Fascinating," Egon replied. "Raymond," he called to his partner outside, "Have you found anything?"

"Nothing ye-Whoa! Residual readings higher than I’ve ever seen residuals since we busted the Goz," replied the youngest Ghostbuster.

Egon stepped out, followed by Kinston. Spengler drew his PKE meter and aimed where Ray pointed.

"Interesting. Very interesting. These residuals are the same level as a present Class 5 or 6 would be. Mr. Kinston, is this where the truck was parked before it drove off?"

"Yeah. Dat’s the spot."

Peter walked over, followed by Winston, thrower in hand.

"So, what? We got a ghost truck driver or something? I know how to catch him. Set up a fake weigh station, lure him out with coffee and donuts, and then…BOOM! We trap him. Am I brilliant or what?"

"Did you say something, Pete?" asked Winston.

"Never mind."

"Whatever," said Zeddemore, and made his way into the warehouse to investigate.

After a few minutes, a shout came from the building.

"Guys! Guys! Come quick!"

The group ran towards the warehouse, throwers drawn, alert for danger. As they reached Winston, they saw a portable TV on, showing a reporter at the site of a bad automobile accident.

"Hello, I’m Jeremy Desel, reporting live from the Beltway, the site of a horrible automobile accident involving two cars. We can tell you right now, that nobody is hurt other than a few minor scratches. However, one man, before passing out, said things about being ran out of his lane by a semi-truck. However, that’s just the beginning. The man said that the truck had no driver, and sprouted horns on top of it’s cab. Obviously, he has been taken straight to the hospital, where he will undergo physical and mental tests. Back to you,…"

Zeddemore switched the television off. "Does that sound like our ghoulie, or what?"

"It does," acknowledged Venkman, "but horns? I don’t think so."

"Well, we’ve seen weirder things before, Pete," reminded Ray. "What about that time we drove into the Netherworld, or that time ghosts came through holes in the wall, or that one time we released the Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse?"

"Yeah, but still…"

"But what, m’man? Let’s go. We should go check it out," volunteered Winston.

"OK, fine. But if I get run over by any demon trucks that think they’re bulls or something, I’m gonna be reeeal upset."

**********

The Ram sped down the highway, and unbeknownst to it’s occupants, had missed the turn for the Beltway. Egon however, at least suspected so.

"Ray, are you sure we’re going the right way?"

"Well, no. But I think we are."

"I don’t," said Venkman.

Ray took his eyes off the road for a moment to stick his tongue out at Venkman. At that moment, a gigantic truck, complete with horns and teeth in place of a grill, sped down the lane right at them.

"Look out!!" screamed Winston.

Ray turned, saw the truck, and veered off the road into a grassy patch.

"That’s it," declared Venkman. "Now I’m really mad! What say we fry this sucker?"

"I’m with you, Pete," said Winston, and the team climbed out, packs and all, as one. The hum of four nuclear accelerators powering up filled the air, and down the road, the truck was turning around, preparing to charge. The Ghostbusters stood firm, and Ray was the first to blast at the truck, which was now barreling towards them. The proton stream, and it’s 3 close followers, merely reflected off the truck and back at the team, causing them to scatter. The truck barely missed a leaping Venkman.

"Note to self," said Winston, "don’t blast it again."

"I have an idea," declared Egon.

"When don’t you?" was Peter’s reply.

Egon ignored him and went on. "Lure it toward us. I’m going to throw a trap, and it should drive right over it."

"Is this guy a genius or what?"

"Well, I don’t like to brag, but…" was Egon’s smug reply.

As the truck turned again for another charge, Egon tossed his trap in front of the four paranormal eliminators. The semi sped towards them, teeth gnashing. As it neared, Egon stomped his foot down on the pedal, opening the miniature containment unit. Bright white and yellow light poured out, engulfing the Kenworth. It drove on, it’s teeth still smashing together mere inches in front of the team’s faces. Finally, with a deafening air horn-like bellow, it disappeared into the trap, and the doors snapped shut over it’s protests.

"Whew," went Ray as he wiped his brow. "I was afraid for a second it was too big for a single trap."

"That appears to be the least of our problems," Egon said.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Peter wearily.

"If you looked closely, that truck was a Kenworth model."

"So?"

"What did Mr. Kinston day the original truck was?"

"A Freightliner," realized Winston.

"Correct. I’ve been checking through Tobin’s Spirit Guide here, and I think I’ve found out exactly what we’re dealing with. Listen to this.

‘Korat-An ancient Egyptian demon, whose name translates roughly to "Destroyer of Civilizations". Korat worked by possessing machinery, turning it to his own demonic purposes, and turning it loose on a civilization. Korat was known to reproduce the machinery it possessed, causing civilizations to fall that much faster. Records of it’s work disappeared approximately 875 years ago. It can take many forms, including invisibility.’

I have reason to believe that is exactly what we’re dealing with."

"But Spengs," countered Peter, "you’re overlooking one important thing. That gooper’s Egyptian. We’re in Vancouver, Washington, in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention that it supposedly disappeared about 900 years ago."

"Peter," began Ray, "I think he’s right. I remember reading about a group of ancient Egyptian discoveries being bought and transported by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. They’re in Portland, Oregon, which is right across the river from here. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Korat had been sealed in one of those things and brought here. Then he escaped, possessed a truck, duplicated it at least once, and that’s where we are right now."

"So where we gonna find this sucker?" Winston wondered.

"I vote we go back to our hotel, see if it’s there, and if it’s not, we wait until tomorrow. It’s late anyway, it’s getting dark, let’s just have dinner and sleep."

"I concur," Egon said. "Korat may be powerful, be he can’t destroy a civilization in a matter of days. We need rest. Let’s call it a day."

The others agreed, and they walked back to the truck, smoking trap and all, and made their way back to the hotel for the night.

**********

The next morning, after a disappointing breakfast of runny eggs and burnt toast, the four intrepid spirit hunters set off again.

"So, Spengs, do you have any idea where this moldy ghost is gonna be?" Venkman asked.

"Not exactly,"

"So, where are we going?"

"We’re going to OMSI to scan the objects for PKE residue."

"Oh. So, anyone for some classic rock?" The rest of the team didn’t mind, so Peter flipped through the channels, finally coming upon "KGON: Portland’s Real Classic Rock". Instead of a song, a DJ came on, announcing that;

"This is just in here; apparently Vancouver Mall is under siege by a group of deformed, driverless semi-trucks…? All righty, then. Looks like someone needs to lay off the drugs, there. Anyway…"

"You hear that?" asked Ray. "The Vancouver Mall. Let’s go!"

"Affirmative," answered Egon, turning the truck around for the trip to the Mall.

**********

As they arrived, miraculously having found the right route, they saw that the building was completely surrounded by all types of semi-trucks, complete with horns, teeth, and all kinds of nasty features you don’t find on the traditional semi. Oh, great, thought Peter, 10 trucks with attitudes. And I could be back in New York, dealing with the usual Class 5’s and even Slimer. Oh, brother.

The team got out of the Ram, dragging their equipment behind them.

"So you made a few adjustments last night to the packs, right?" asked Winston.

"Correct. I moved the flux capacitor slightly to the left, adjusted the ion diffusion filter to maximum power, and increased the proton to electron ratio by 43.2%," Egon replied.

"That’s…nice," said Peter.

The team took strategic positions at the outside of the parking lot, deciding to take it one truck at a time.

"Throw it!" ordered Winston.

Four slightly whiter than usual proton streams crackled out of the particle throwers, each squarely striking one truck in the side, freezing it in place.

"It works!" shouted Winston.

It bellowed, as had its brother earlier when it had been trapped. Ray reached down to his belt, unclipped one of three traps he was carrying, and tossed it underneath the truck, opening it at the same time. This process was repeated until there were just 3 trucks remaining, one of which was obviously Korat. It was bigger than the other 2, with huge horns, razor-like teeth, and eyes for windshields. It repeatedly bellowed with it’s air horn.

"Aim for the one in the middle!" shouted Egon, and the others complied. Korat dodged, but the streams clipped another truck, which, stunned, was immediately snapped up by a trap, courtesy of Dr. Peter Venkman.

"Two left!" Ray yelled. "Forget Korat, go for the other one. We’ll get Korat later!"

Four streams of energy nailed the truck right in the mouth/grille, freezing it like a block of ice. Egon’s last trap quickly sealed it in, leaving only the head demon.

The last truck suddenly underwent an amazing metamorphosis, going from devilish semi to hideous demon. Korat’s true form was an 8-foot tall, horned, yellow monster with claws and fangs practically dripping from his mouth. It hissed evilly, and sneered at the Ghostbusters, before speaking in a voice like gravel rolling down a tin chute.

"Sssssssoo, you pathetic mortals dare unnnndermine meeee? You shaaaaal perishhh in flaaaaaames!"

"Well, that’s…different," said Peter.

"Take him out!" cried Ray.

The paranormal exterminators fired as one, each stream striking the demon in a different spot. Korat merely shrugged the proton beams off, knocking down the four men. He then charged at them, horns-first. The eliminators ducked the charge, regrouped, and fired again, with an added "Yahoo!" from Winston. The cry was cut short when Korat opened its mouth wide, swallowed the proton streams, and spat them back out at the busters, charring their jumpsuits and scoring a direct hit on Ray’s pack.

"Oh, no!" Stantz yelled, struggling frantically to get out of the pack. He escaped and threw it away, where it landed about 10 or 15 feet away. It promptly exploded, taking out the Mall’s electronic sign, and dumping it onto the street beside it, causing cars to skid and swerve everywhere.

"All in a day’s work for Super Stantz," Pete sarcastically said. "Blast demons, chop down signs, divert the flow of traffic; no biggie at all."

"Run!" shouted Egon. The team complied, sprinting their way into the mall, with Korat on their heels. Passing store after store, the busters made their way through the Mall.

"Wow," said Peter, passing multiple stores, "McDonald’s, KB Toys, a library; this place has got it all!"

Finally the group reached a door on the other side of the Mall.

"C’mon," said a sweaty Stantz, "We gotta keep going. It’s only a matter of time until Korat finds us."

"Wait!" Peter said. "For once, I have a plan. What do you think about that, Spengs?"

"Well, let’s hear the plan."

"OK. Ray, you take your position over there. Egon, you over there. Winston, you…"

**********

"Wheeeeere are theeey?!" raged Korat. It had been searching through the building for upwards of 15 minutes, ranting and raving and vowing to destroy the 4 mortals. It walked around, slashing and clawing at anything in sight.

"Hey, homeboy! Yeah, you! Big ugly!"

Winston’s voice cut through the silence, startling the demon. It walked in the direction of the voice, still babbling.

"Hey, pal! Over here!"

A different voice, Ray’s. It stopped moving, then started off again in that direction.

"You foul ectoplasmic manifestation! Come and get me!"

Unmistakably Egon. It moved again, confused.

The three voices then rang out in chorus. "Come and get us, punk! Yeah, over here! Hey, you!"

It turned once more, heading in the direction of the elevator. There stood the 3 humans, unarmed and taunting it. It would destroy them. It would eradicate them. It would—

The Ghostbusters stepped aside, and the elevator doors whooshed open, revealing Peter Venkman, open trap in hand.

"Say bye-bye!"

It struggled and pulled against the trap, but it was no use. It screamed and cursed all the way to the end, raging as the doors closed, ending it’s brief reign of terror.

"Whew!" said Peter. "Am I glad that’s over!"

**********

"That’ll be approximately $50,000, thank you."

"$50,000? Not on your life!"

"Think about it buddy. What would it do for your business career to be known as the man who, as a result of being stingy, allowed the Destroyer of Civilizations to escape? I don’t think that could win you any customers, you know," argued Peter persuasively.

"You can’t do that to me!"

"You’re the head of Eagle Trucking Inc., aren’t you? Well, technically you hired us. Your employee did, thus you’re the one who has to pay us. Again, think of what it would do to your career, let alone the nation…"

"OK, OK, fine! I get the point. Ghostbusters, Inc. will be receiving a $50,000 check in the mail very soon, alright?!"

"Not in the mail, buddy. Right here, right now."

The head of the company grumbled a bit, then took out the check, made it out, and signed it. "There. Happy now?"

"Quite. Thank you, hope to help you again!"

The Ghostbusters walked out the door, paycheck in Venkman’s hand.

**********

The next day, they trudged into the firehall, exhausted from both the job and the airplane trip home. Janine was at the desk.

"What happened to you guys? You look awful."

"Oh, nothing big," said Peter. "Just busted 11 possessed semi-trucks, a demon, and saved America. Happens all the time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go sleep."

THE END