[X]Spectral Analyzer: A device that can detect and analyze the composition of ghostly energy. The analyzer is equipped with a screen that displays a visual representation of the energy readings, allowing ghost hunters to identify the type of ghost they are dealing with and adjust their strategy accordingly.
Ghost detecter 9000
[X]Dimensional Anchor: A device that creates a localized field that prevents ghosts from moving or teleporting out of a specific area, allowing ghost hunters to trap or capture them.
Extremely useful because it forces the ghosts into a direct confrontation instead of giving them chances to isolate and ambush us
[X]Ghost Net Launcher: A gun-like device that shoots a web of energy that can trap a ghost, immobilizing it and preventing it from escaping. The net is made of a special alloy that is resistant to ghostly energy, ensuring that the ghost cannot simply pass through it.
Ghost catcher 9000
I'm pretty sure you can buy a UV Flashlight which while it doesn't come with all the bells and whistles is still pretty effective, we can already beat ghosts up ourselves, so I don't think we need a Anti-Ghost Baton and the others are attractive, but I don't think we need their capabilities for now.
[X]Talk to Maya. She seems like a genuinely nice person and it looks like she is the de facto leader of this group.
[x]Talk to Eddie. You just wanted to make sure he could fucking speak. He hasn't said a word since you've been here.
We are the brawn of the team, and we can interact with ghosts as if they were physical objects.
[x]UV Light Scanner: This tool emits ultraviolet (UV) light and is used to locate ghostly residues or evidence that is not visible to the naked eye. The scanner has a digital display that shows the UV intensity and can be used to take photographs or videos of the evidence.
[x]Ionized Gas Grenade: The Ionized Gas Grenade emits a cloud of ionized gas that disrupts the energy fields of ghosts and weakens their paranormal abilities. The grenade has a timed fuse and can be thrown or launched from a device.
Find them, and weaken them for others to help out... or just finish the job yourself. I am not sure about a dimensional anchor... can't we hold ghosts with bare hands? Then again, some of them you probably don't want to touch.
[x]Ghost Net Launcher: A gun-like device that shoots a web of energy that can trap a ghost, immobilizing it and preventing it from escaping. The net is made of a special alloy that is resistant to ghostly energy, ensuring that the ghost cannot simply pass through it.
[x]Talk to Maya. She seems like a genuinely nice person and it looks like she is the de facto leader of this group.
[X]Ghost Net Launcher
[X]Spectral Analyzer
[X]Dimensional Anchor
You leaned against the bench, silently observing your surroundings as you waited for the train to arrive. You couldn't help but notice Maya's calm demeanor in comparison to the others. As you looked over at her, you tried your best to strike up a conversation.
"Backstory?" You grunted, your tone blunt as always.
Maya gave you a small smile, seemingly unfazed by your brusqueness. "What do you mean?"
"Everyone has a backstory," You said. "I know Pete and his big mouth have already told you more about me than I'd like you to know.
Maya's smile faded as she looked down at her hands. "I suppose you're right," she said softly. " The short story is that my mother and father were both in the business, and they raised me to follow in their footsteps."
"....."
"But they're not around anymore," Maya continued, her voice quiet. "They disappeared when I was away in college. After that, I decided to take up the mantle and continue their work."
"Respect." You nodded with a blank expression. You weren't one for prolonged emotional conversations but you felt a small sense of camaraderie with Maya, knowing what it was like to lose someone close to you.
[+1 Rep Gained with Maya.]
You were content to sit in silence after that, not interested in speaking to any of the other members. It wasn't long before you could hear the faint sound of a distant train whistle.
The air became colder and damp as the train drew closer, and the sound of the whistle grew louder. The ground beneath your feet started to shake, and the entire station was filled with a deafening roar. You rose to your feet as the train pulled up to the station.
The train was an old-fashioned steam locomotive, with black and silver paint that seemed to have faded with age. The metal exterior was covered in a thick layer of soot and rust as if it had been chugging along for centuries without ever stopping for maintenance. The train cars were long and narrow, with rows of small, square windows that were boarded up. The only source of light on the train you could see was a faint blue glow emitting from the engine. The surrounding air around the train appeared to be unnaturally cold, and a faint mist lingered in the air around it, adding to its eerie atmosphere.
The doors to the train cars slowly opened, the mist preventing you from seeing anything inside the train.
"Might as well go for the head of the snake!" Jake exclaimed. Before anyone else could react, he took off full speed toward the second train car.
"Jake wait!" Maya yelled, but it was too late. He had already passed the mist into the train car.
"We should really try and stick toget-" She continued before realizing that Eddie and Marie were entering the rear train car.
Stella looked at you both and shrugged before heading for the same train car that Jake had entered.
"If everyone is splitting up anyway, it only makes sense for us to start in the middle." Maya muttered, visibly frustrated.
Phantom Train - Mission Start
[] Enter the middle of the train with Maya.
[] Enter the front of the train with Jake and Stella.
[] Enter the rear of the train with Eddie and Marie.
[x] Enter the front of the train with Jake and Stella.
God damn it I hate when the group suddenly has to split up, why can't they just stick together and explore one train car at a time. Might as well stick with the most amount of people as possible.
"Hell of a team you got here." You muttered, shaking your head.
"I wanted free-spirited people as part of the team," Maya replied sheepishly. "It's great sometimes, other times..."
You grunted in response and followed Maya as she made her way toward the middle of the train. As you stepped into the train car and walked past the mist, a musty smell of old leather and wood hit your nose, and you could almost taste the smell in your throat.
The train car was dimly lit by flickering gas lamps that hung from the ceiling, casting dancing shadows on the walls. The benches lining the walls were old and worn, with torn leather seats and rusty metal frames. You looked around, trying to find any clue about what was going on. That's when you noticed the ghosts.
Spectral Sight
They were everywhere, sitting on the benches, standing in the aisles, and even floating in mid-air. They were all somewhat transparent, you could still see them but none of them looked entirely solid. As far as you were aware, there were only ghosts, you didn't see any human passengers. The ghosts either didn't notice or didn't care that you and Maya had entered the train.
"So you CAN see them too." Maya observed. "That's good, it should help make things easier."
"The rest of you can't?"
"Everyone has their own unique... talents they bring to the team." She answered. "Eddie and Stella can both see ghosts along with myself so I'm not too worried about others. I just hope Jake doesn't do anything stupid."
"Which is a very realistic possibility." She muttered, thinking out loud.
"Considering this ain't your first rodeo, how do you normally go about these missions?" You asked.
"No mission is the same, each mission calls for a different objective." Maya replied, scratching her chin. "That being said, the smart thing to do in this situation would be to communicate with the non-violent ghosts on the train and gather as much information as possible."
"Non-violent ghosts huh."
"I don't sense any threat from the ones in this train car." Maya admitted.
"I'll be the judge of that."
You reached into your duffel bag and pulled out your Spectral Analyzer. You gripped the gun-shaped equipment and aimed it at the ghosts before pulling the trigger. Almost instantly the screen lit up
--- Ghost Signature: Positive. Eight ghosts detected in close proximity.
Ghost Type: Apparition-level ghost. Ghosts that are barely manifested physically.
Threat Level: Non-existent. This ghost is not capable of causing harm to humans.
---
"That's a neat gadget you got there." Maya said, peeking over your shoulder.
"Some perks from serving as a government lapdog." You said as you tucked the analyzer back in your bag.
"So who should we speak to first?" She asked.
"Just because they're so-called "non-violent" doesn't mean I want to talk to them." You grunted. "I barely speak to the living. Much less the dead. You on the other hand can go knock yourself out. I'm just tagging along in case any one of these ghost pacifists gets the wrong idea."
Maya sighed and looked around at the ghostly passengers.
"Alright, let's start off with....."
[]There was a woman in a very, very, old-fashioned dress, her hair in tight curls and a parasol in her hand. She was sitting by the window, staring off into space.
[] There was a man in a suit, his top hat pulled low over his eyes. He was smoking a cigar and muttering to himself.
[] There was a man with religious robes on, floating in the middle of the aisle. He was wearing a cross around his neck and reading a book.
[] At the back of the car, there was a group of children sitting in a cluster, laughing, joking, and singing with each other.
[] Maya can stay here and talk to these ghosts. You were gonna go to another car.
-[] Head toward the front of the train.
-[] Head toward the back of the train.
[X] At the back of the car, there was a group of children sitting in a cluster, laughing, joking, and singing with each other.
We've already broken the cardinal rule of not splitting the party. I don't think anyone should be alone on the train, so let's stick with Maya.
As for who to talk to, there's more kids in the group, so they'll hopefully have had more eyes to notice something. Also, it might be a bit easier to get them to talk.
