“`The skies of Arx were dark within this particular region. That was because it was night. Why? Because that was the best time for hunting ghosts. Supposed ghosts. The ghoulies that go bump in the night. Which is why they came at night…mostly.
Travelling to the site of the abandoned facility took them through the bustling living districts before giving way to the local vegetation. It didn’t take long for the lights from the city to fade and only the transports headlights remained. Then the shape formed in the darkness. It rose to block out the moon’s glow and towered above them. It was the abandoned facility and the target of their merry jaunt.
Morgan Darkwood was the first to get out, holocam in hand. His long black cloak disguised the general shape of his features, while thick black-rimmed glasses adorned his pale face. His hair was done up in messy spikes that tried to spring free as he frantically directed the film crew to unload. A chill worked up his spine as Morgan took in the enormity of the facility and his mind went over the rumours of it all.
Truth be told, he would have much preferred to guide the holocam through the facility by drone. That had proven impossible based on talking with the locals. There had to be someone physically present to provoke a response. It made sense to him, in a morbid way. Had to have that spark of life for the dead to react. Droids just didn’t cut it.
He turned with a start as a twig snapped beside him. The Justicar of the Brotherhood was standing next to him, having made no sound of approach. The tall Firrerreo’s arms folded over his chest and rested against the plated armour seen under his grey tunic.
"Have the others arrived yet?” Morgan asked, hopeful yet unsure of who to expect to assist in the investigation.
Darth Renatus grunted and shrugged.
“Is that a…no?” Morgan could never tell with the other man.“`
It was times like this that Qyreia would really liked to have some proper headlights on her speeder bike. The thing was zippy enough that it was somewhat dangerous during the day. With darkness come over the world, and the dwindling to nothing of the available illumination along the roadway, she had to slow her approach from the starport to a crawl; especially once the overgrowth began to eke out into her path.
No way in hell am I going to flip this thing and go full fracking Scout Trooper on Endor.
She was thankful when she finally saw the silhouette of the abandoned factory, and even more so when she saw the other vehicle and two people standing by. She wasn’t looking forward to hanging out at a haunted anywhere by herself, even if she still had her blaster pistol on her, among other small weapons. She wasn’t quite armored up either, sporting her standard fare of khaki pants, off-white shirt, and brown leather jacket. She could only rely on her familiarity with space if it got chilly, though she did have her blue hair tied back out of necessity for the ride.
As she brought up the bike, she recognized one of the figures, internally sighing that it was Atra. Or Thane. Or whatever he called himself these days. Given his relation to her wife, she stuck with the old familiar titles.
“I see spookybutt came out to deal with the spooky fracktory.” She dismounted her bike and stored up along side. “Who’s your friend, Atrapants?”
Friend? The Justicar scoffed quietly at that. “That is a strong word.”
“`Before he had a chance to explain further, the bespectacled man rushed over. "Morgan Darkwood, at your service! Hunter of all things paranormal and otherworldly! You know, from the show…”
Morgan’s voice trailed off expectantly, as if fame would carry the rest of the introduction. Unfortunately for him, that fame was mostly in his head.“`
“Sorry bud. Besh-grade horror holos are in my repertoire, but not so much,” she waved her hand between him and the derelict factory, “this.”
Oooh. This looks so much fun! An abandoned factory! So many corridors to explore. This should be easy peasy for them. “What’s the worse that could possibly happen?” Sagitta asked her big sister. She quickly waved her off as if she didn’t want Asani to answer her question. “It’s going to be fun and awesome! You might’ve read or watched too much horror stuff. We’ll be finnnnne. It’s all fake!”
“I just don’t see what the locals are so scared of. If it doesn’t show in the scanners it isn’t real. This whole haunted business is sad really.” she commented at her sister. Asani really though it was a waste of time but if the credits were good she was up for standing around a factory for a few hours.
“`"What was that?!” one of the crew began to shout. Renatus fell into the role of observer whilst Morgan took the lead.
The ‘demonologist’ ran over with holo-cam in hand. “What’s going on?”
“I saw a shape in the window! On the upper floor.”
“Did anyone else see it? Did you get it on camera?”
Nods replied in the affirmative as they huddled around the device. Sure enough, on playback, there was a dark silhouette on the upper floor. It disappeared when a flashlight was placed over it, then was still there after it turned off.
“This is it! This is what we’re after! We ready to go in?”“`
Qyreia sighed. “Counter to every instinct in me that says this is a bad idea… let’s get it over with.”
“RIGHT, something need to be killed or did I arrive too late?” Titius was way overequipped for the occasion but he didnt seem to notice. He felt bare without his sniper however.
“`"Nothing to kill here,” Morgan intoned. “Just the shadows that linger. I want someone with a camera on each of our investigators. Let’s go!”
The man in the thick-rimmed glasses barked his orders and made for the entrance. Frustratingly, the internal power systems had been disabled so the door didn’t immediately open. He sighed and worked an iron bar into the gap. He used it to force the door open with a grunt.
“Alright! Let’s see some ghosts.”“`
Off to the side of the entrance, about 15 feet away, they had set up a control tent. Inside, an array of monitors displayed the live cam feeds and a map of the facility. It resembled a dorm complex having two floors, a basement, and rooms lining the corridors.
“OOooooo…a mystery ghost creature! Spoookyy!” a disembodied feminine voice cooed from beside them. Xi’ana started bouncing in place on her tippytoes, causing her invisible form to shimmer in the air but not solidly appear. The entire group sans Renatus had seen or met the flaming red haired Zeltron “Xee” at one point or another.
“I know that voice, Qyreia nearly groaned. “I don’t know where I know it from, but it’s definitely somewhere in my memory.”
“Madame Consul remembers Xee?” Xi'ana squealed with delight as she suddenly threw her pink arms around Q. She clung tightly, her lithe acrobat’s body shimmering into sight. “I was the ‘invisible woman’ at the costume party last year!”
Sagitta psh'ed at Asani. “Sad maybe but fun! Come on!”
‘I saw a shape in the window! On the upper floor.’
Her eyes widen like a starving Rancor about to have its feast. Zoomed into the house, she looked around. “I call the basement!” Then a pause, “there’s a basement… right? Asani, let’s go to the basement!”
“…xee most anoying member mayhaps.” Titius intoned, leering over to Xi'ana. He turned to peruse the map of the facility.
"Yes, this is good. We should split up and cover more space! Everyone make sure you're paired with a camera man." Morgan ordered.
“Okay but we’re not going to find anything” she commented hopping onto her sister’s shoulders, ready to find absolutely nothing but junk in the basement as they ventured forward. She didn’t trust they’d find anything but old clothes and garbage from decades ago. Tacky is what shed use describe this place.
“`Morgan turned towards the others, doing a quick count to ensure everyone had a cam. Good. They were ready.
"Welcome to Ghost Hunters in Space. Today we’re on Arx looking into reported sightings at an abandoned living facility in the deep outskirts. We were here for no more than mere moments before we saw our first sign: shadow people. We’re loaded up with equipment and about to go in. I’m your host, Morgan Darkwood, and you’re about to cross over with me…into the paranormal.”
Having finished his speel, Morgan adjusted his glasses and entered the building. The others would follow.“`
Titius turned to his camera man “ground rules You stay behind me, you dont speak, you dont annoy me in any way, got it? Theres nothing here that can’t be removed with these” Titius brushed his grenade pouches.
The camera man with Titius went wide eyed and then nodded, his lips tightly sealed.
Sagitta randomly pointed to a camera guy “You! LET’S GO!” With a triumphant shout, she quickly made her way towards the basement. Asani possibly hanging on for dear life on her shoulder.
As if on cue, she started to talk more inside voice and gentle. Almost very respectful. “Ohhhh this is so cooool. Oh right.” She cleared her throat, “Hello? Is anyone here with us?”
There is no response as Sagitta enters the facility.
Why did her sister always run around, maybe she should start walking on her own. “Pft please, as if anything’s going to respond Gitta.” Asani declared, she was particularly laid back about this. “Oh spiriiiiiits wont you show yourselves?” she said imitating a previous show she had seen someone gloss over while traveling.
“Oh stuff it, you!” Titius shouted down the stairwell.
Still no reactions occur to the new entrants. When stepping through the threshold of the entrance, a muted sound came over them. The ambience was muffled and they could hear the blood rushing in their ears. Every sound was amplified in the darkness illuminated only by their flashlights.
“See Gitta? Nothing there.” She commented looking back at the camera man following them, then back at whatever it was her sister might be viewing. “So where did you find those meiloorun? I tried to look around the market but I couldn’t find any.” she was chit chatting now. “Hey camera guy, what’s your favorite food?”
“`The cameraman blinked and looked up from his feed. "I like grapefruit. You?”
Their voices echoed down the hall.“`
“Pfft. I’m sure there is something here. We should ask them what’s their favorite fruits are.” Sagitta grumbled while exploring some more. She was looking everywhere. The massive pipes, cobwebs, consoles, everything that a factory has.
Qyreia, taking note of her assigned cameraman, nervously felt at the handle of the blaster pistol on her hip as she followed behind the others. She motioned him to follow, making sure to stop at the command tent — as it were — for a proper flashlight. She would come back for proper gadgetry later.
“So you,” she murmured to her recording partner, “stay close. I’m more worried about actual people than ghosts. Even so, if weird karking poodoo starts going off, we make for the nearest exit.”
And as soon as she was through the door proper, she could hear her own heartbeat in the stillness. Oh I hate this.
“`Renatus began to follow, wanting to keep an eye on Qyreia for his daughter’s sake. But, as soon as the Zeltron entered the door slammed closed. Footsteps began echoing from somewhere within the facility and a low rumbling, throaty groan bounced along the walls. Everyone in the facility near the entrance and main lobby could hear it.
Even outside, Renatus could hear it. He tried to force the door open but it was stuck fast.
All electronic devices near the affected area began to flicker.”`
Titius pulled on his respirator and reached for a canister on his left thigh…and paused. “None of the crew have respirators do they?” he pointedly asked his camera operator.
Titius' camera man blinked and made a confused expression, as if asking if this meant he was allowed to talk. At the same time he shrugged.
“Aaand frack this,” the Zeltron hissed. She though briefly to try and shoot the door open, but the weapon seemed as dead to her touch as whatever was making that sound. Time for Plan Besh.
Following the opposite plan of every horror stereotype, she motioned her cameraman — and any others willing — to follow in the opposite direction of the noise. Her steps were calm and controlled despite her pounding heartbeat, and it took a good deal of her mental energy to not simply freak out. But Qyreia wanted to survive more than she wanted to simply get the instant gratification of running away if the latter meant she ran into a dead end.
“`Step. Step. Step.
A silhouette came around the corner, flickering just like the lights. It was the source of the warbled groan. The shape was shadowy at best. If anyone managed to catch sight of it, they’d witness it curl back on itself and begin reverse crab walking down the corridor.”`
Titius whipped out his blaster and scorched the walls, ceiling, various furniture; everything BUT the figure skittering around!
Sagitta sighed as she explored the basement. “There’s nothing here. I guess you were right, Asani.” THen she looked at the camera guy, “So the show is fake after all, huh?”
“`The camera guy sighed. "That’s what everyone thinks, but we’ve seen things, ya know?”
He paused as his radio crackled then restored. “Huh, that’s weird.”“`
“Told ya. Sure you have pal.” Asani said, but soon the sound of the radio crackling caught her attention. “Fake show and poor equipment? come on work with me here! You can’t just ask us to deliver and not have working equipment! gimme that” she motioned to the radio with her small hands, making a grabbing gesture as if to demand she be given the radio.
“COOL!” Xi'ana shouted at the figure and turned to the cameraman. “Think you can keep up with me?”
Without waiting for reply she bent down on hands and knees and too began reverse crab walking, emulating and quickly following the shadow.
“`The camera man passed over the radio as it crackled on and off suddenly, as if it was shorting.
The radio started working as normal suddenly as the shadow figure a floor up blinked out of existence, leaving only an echoing hum that faded as well in time.”`
Inspecting the radio Asani smacked it gently in an attempt to ‘fix’ it. The crackled sound fading into an echoing hum, she stared at it confused for a moment. “Must be interference” she commented turning the radio in every direction until the hum faded. Satisfied it seemed to stop its noise she handed it back to the camera man. “Have you ever actually encountered anything?” she asked the man, now curious because of the radios strange behavior.
"Of course! We've heard whispers. Had responses on our spirit boxes. Blown out candles. The works!" The man was defiant and confident. "Usually works better if we know the names. They respond to that."
Sagitta continued to walk around, looking for any evidence or at least, something. “Names huh? Like… names before they died or what? Maybe we should start saying random names and see what should respond…”
“`Suddenly, the lights around Sagitta and Asani began to flicker. One bulb shattered. Beneath it stood a shadowy shape glitching in and out of the visible spectrum much like the lights.
Then it was gone.”`
Sagitta glanced at the lights. Oh. Old building. Maybe poor wiring. Then a bulb shattered causing her to jump and slightly yelp. “Wait do you-” Then it was gone
“NO HOLD ON!” She started to run after it, “Let’s go! We’re getting this on camera!”
This is why she would die in horror movies first