Aug 13 - A New Assignment
Title: Day 13 - New Assignment
Author: acswatwst
Rating: FR-13
Crossover: BtVS / Ghost Busters (1975)
Word Count: 958
Disclaimer: This is a derivative work. All BtVS characters and concepts belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox Television, and others. Funimation owns the original (1975) Ghost Busters. Andrea (briefly mentioned), from another fandom, also belongs to Funimation.
Note: Mostly a transitionary ficlet. Joyce's next adventure starts in the following story.
Summary: Joyce goes with Eddie, and Tracy, and gets a new assignment.
Sitting in the chair next to the window, coffee mug in hand, Joyce watched her uncle and Tracy play their very strange version of charades, again. If she didn't know better, she would guess that they were having a deep philosophical argument about bananas. Looking towards the center of the room, she could see Jake putting the finishing touches on a large pile of paper.
She'd offered to help. At this point she knew the filing system in the office as well as anyone else there. But Jake had shooed her away, rejecting her offer.
"Done," Jake said, giving a big sigh of relief. He carefully slid the paper into a large brown envelope and scribbled something on the front.
"Is that the case report for Zero?" Eddie said, wandering over.
"Yes," Jake said, licking the envelope and closing it.
"Now what do we do?" Joyce asked. "What's the next case?"
"You can go with your uncle and Tracy to get our next assignment," Jake said, putting on his hat and standing. "I need to run this to the post office so it goes out in the morning mail."
"I can go with them?" Joyce said, jumping to her feet. This was the first time Jake had allowed her to go on an 'assignment trip'. "Really?"
"I think we can trust you with this," Jake said. "But pay close attention, so you can go by yourself next time."
"Yes!" Joyce said, chugging the rest of her coffee, and hurrying to the door. "Come on Uncle Eddie, we're wasting time."
"We're coming," Eddie said, shaking his head at Jake's amusement.
----
"This is it," Eddie said, as Tracy pulled up onto the curb in front of the General Store. "Tracy will go in and get the assignment and we'll listen to it and head back to the office."
Tracy grunted in agreement, got out of the car and headed into the store.
"So, is there a mailbox or does someone hand it to you?" Joyce asked, intently watching the door close behind Tracy. As soon as the door closed
Eddie slid out of the car and got into the driver's seat.
"They keep it behind the counter," Eddie said. "It's disguised as something they sell in the store."
"So, you don't know what it is until you get it? How do you know you got the right thing?"
"Simple," Eddie said. "Just watch."
Tracy came out of the store holding a box of detergent. He shook it and a garbled voice started to speak.
"The Egyptian is rumored to be on the loose again. Our agent on the coast has not responded. This message will explode in five seconds. One... two... three... four... five..."
"Duck!" Eddie said, before the recording reached five. There was a large bang, and Tracy was covered with a fine powder.
"Don't just stand there," Eddie shouted, "Get in the car!"
Tracy shook himself like a dog, grumbling the whole time, before climbing into the car.
"Is it always like that?" Joyce said, brushing off flakes of soap.
"Sometimes it's messier," Eddie said, putting the car into gear and pulling out into the street.
----
"Who's the Egyptian?" Joyce asked, plopping down on the chair next to Jake's desk. Jake pointed at Eddie, who was attempting to open the filing cabinet. Sighing, Joyce got up and went to help him.
"There's not much here," Joyce said, peaking into the folder before handing it to Jake.
"He or it pops up, scares people and disappears," Jake said. "It's worse than chasing a ghost. Just rumors."
"Whenever we go out there they're gone before we can do anything," Eddie said. "And Zero knows we're not allowed to poke around out there."
"That's because you set fire to the museum," Jake said. "He'll have to send someone else." Picking up the phone, Jake dialed a number that was twice as long as a normal one.
"Yes," Jake said. "No, you know we can't go. Eddie's second cousin? I'll ask." He put his hand over the mouthpiece. "When was the last time you visited your second cousin, that teacher?"
"Andrea? It's been a while. She was on a dig in Egypt the last time we were out there," Eddie said. "I don't think Joyce has ever met her?"
"A cousin Andrea who goes to Egypt? Doesn't sound familiar," Joyce said. "Why?"
"Zero suggested that we send Joyce out there to find out what happened to his West Coast agent," Jake said.
"I'll need to call mom tonight to get permission," Joyce said. "She only agreed to me coming here because Uncle Eddie is here."
"I'm sure it won't be a problem," Jake said. He uncovered the mouthpiece. "We need to work out a couple details, but she'll go." Jake hung up the phone.
"We'll need a reason for Joyce to go out there," Eddie said. "People will be suspicious if she just shows up."
"We'll thin of something," Jake said. "Make a list of everything you think you'll need," he said to Joyce. "Unless Zero's agent want you to help, you're just going out there to find out what happened to them, and come right back."
"Okay," Joyce said, grabbing a sheet of paper and pencil. "Do you think I'll need some disguises?"
"Wouldn't hurt," Jake said. "But unless you run into the Egyptian you won't need any ghost gear."
"So, I can't take the Dematerializer with me?" Joyce said hopefully.
"Not a chance," Jake said. "Now work on that list!"
"Yes Boss," Joyce said, crossing out something on her list and scribbling something else. She was going to need clothes to help her blend in. A call to her best friend who'd hitched to California seemed like a good idea.