Tip-Toe Through NCGB's Tulips

Posted on Sat May 2nd, 2020 @ 8:41pm by Commissioner Bishop Hooks & Captain Ash Shultz
Edited on on Sat May 2nd, 2020 @ 10:26pm

Mission: It's... A Bus Station
Location: NCGB
Timeline: May 2nd, 2020- 1545 Hours

"Nice of him to give us a lift," Bishop said as he, Ash, and her dog watched the MaxTech CEO drive away in his limo.

"I guess," Ash half-grunted before she hefted her duffle over her right shoulder and tugged on her dog's leash to steer Dilla toward the front door.

"The Founders were in a similar situation, if it helps," Bishop attempted to console as he undid his dress tie.

Ash took a moment to look at the building. The roof looked questionable, with rust on the edges. She'd actually have to climb the escape ladder on the second floor, likely to get a better idea of the rest of the roof.

The art deco look of the old Greyhound station was appealing. The deed forbade any additions to the foundation or extensions of the structure as well as changing the Duke-blue hue of the outer aesthetic. Historical landmark deeds were a PITA to deal with - especially historical landmarks that were in a city. Considering the rent was low, Ash supposed it was a good concession.

Ash rummaged through her pockets for the key and opened the door. Instantly, she wished she hadn't.

"Yeah... I'm gonna need a tetanus shot here," Ash noted dryly before she hit the light switch by the door.

"The floors will be done in two days. All the bedrooms are finished. Just the kitchen area upstairs and the dispatch area needs a bit more work." Bishop continued to smile at Ash. He hoped she'd ease up and see the place for what it was - Full of Potential.

Ash glanced skeptically at Bishop before she scooped her dog up and began to make big long steps to avoid the holes in the floor.

"This place smells as bad as my dog's farts," Ash added with a small gag reflex when she reached a very nasty part of the room. When she looked in the far-right of the corner, she figured out the source. "Ah... Seems some homeless people used the spot to shit in. Lovely."

"A cleaning crew can be scheduled if you call now. But it is best to wait for the floors to be done," Bishop cautioned as he made the same staggered-waddle Ash did to avoid some of the rough spots.

"Meanwhile, I'll just die of starvation, because the stench turns me away from food," Ash retorted.

"It's really not bad here, you know." Bishop tried his best not to hold his nose as he reached Ash. "This place is hundreds of miles from Boone. Your parents don't have to be informed."

"They'll know... Soon as NCGB adverts start to air around local news' time, stating me as the station chief, they'll know," Ash sighed in frustration. "And when they come here to annoy me to death, I'm gonna bind my soul to the toughest, meanest Dark Voodoo priest of New Orleans, and then I'm gonna come haunt you 'til you have a heart attack."

Bishop gave a wholehearted laugh. While Ash's threat may not have been completely harmless, her hatred of her parents was quite known in the Philly station.

"Well... You could always Febreze the corner. And when your parents stop by, halt Febreze efforts. That will likely run them out and deter further visits," Bishop offered as he pointed to the stairs on the other side of the room.

As they moved in their awkward, wide-legged waltz to the staircase, Ash seriously considered that option.

"...Yeah. I don't think we're gonna keep ghostbusters very long, using the smell of shit as a parental deterrent," Ash at last declined. "Kinda need to do well here."

"You will," Bishop pressed with an assured tone. "You know your job. And you're not a scientist. Most scientists are not reactionary to immediate danger. Station Chiefs need to react fast in times of trouble. You do that well and you manage us cerebral types well too."

Ash sat Dilla on the ground and let the dog have a full lead on her retractable leash as they went up the stairs. Maybe Bishop was right. Only a few times, had his opinions and advise been proven incorrect.

"So I'm guessing any applicants from across the pond, I accept," Ash probed as they reached the top of the stairs and turned to see the wooded floors of the kitchen area all rotted.

Bishop switched the main area's overheads on. The flicker of lights meant the electrical was not in good shape either. He then pointed to the far-right side. Ash lessened the amount of lead on the leash, and then they all moved close to the wall down the hallway toward Ash's room.

"The Founders pre-screened all non-US citizen applicants. You'll receive e-mails about all green-card employees to expect. Until Trainees pass their basic ghostbuster training, they live in the bunkrooms. Just like all other stations' trainee policy," Bishop explained. "Though... Not everyone you're getting is a rookie."

The way in which Bishop said that made Ash's blood grow cold with worry. "Please tell me Thompson isn't coming. That man makes me debate lobbying for lobotomy practices on annoying chatterboxes."

"Oh no," Bishop promised, though he still carried a humored smile as he opened the door to Ash's room. "To be fair, you had the 4-hour road trip with him coming to you, after putting blue raspberry kool-aid in my showerhead."

"True...." Ash entered her room and unhooked her dog. Dilla happily jumped on top of the queen-sized mattress with a happy arf. However, the bed still had plastic over it so the poor dog slid half a foot before she came to a stop.

"Nice window view to the main street," Bishop spoke as a used car salesman would. "Adjoining bathroom and closet an-"

"Before you hoodwink me into buying your cousin's rug," Ash interrupted, "who do I know, that's been assigned here?"

"Ford."

One word. Just the one, caused Ash to twitch uncomfortably and pop her neck. The one mistake she could not take back. Many sailors went wild in ports because they were couped up so much on ships. She too was a ship that passed in the night. More so when really tough missions, cases, or patrols threatened her mortality.

"Ford," she repeated back to him.

"Yes. Him," Bishop smirked. He shook with barely contained laughter. "You never did tell me what happened after your bar crawl after Gettysburg... But when Ford came in to inform us of his departure, the next morning - well... The discomfort on your face told everything."

"Sometimes you make me want to knee you in the balls," Ash spoke with annoyance.

"One-night-frolic aside... Is this a problem?" Bishop asked in a more serious tone. "You need an experienced senior staff here... If he's a prob -"

"He's not..." I'm the problem. I ran out on him. I was the asshole.

Bishop gave her that all-knowing mentor stare. Dubious, but did not prod.

"Right..." Bishop relaxed his shoulders and pointed to the other side of the building. "The motel next door is part of the deed. You can knock it down or turn the motel into a complex of single-person living spaces. Whatever you like. But... It's haunted. So your mechanics will need to be informed, in case they go working on your Ecto fleet and hear strange sounds next door."

"...And when does the Ecto fleet get here?" Ash gently prodded as she sat her bags beside Dilla.

"Tomorrow afternoon, if traffic holds." Bishop handed Ash one last folder. "These are your requisition forms for more proton packs. If you don't have a particle specialist, New York's stations have people that can make them. However, Tol-1 already has a dozen packs, plus five shock blasts ready to be unloaded when it arrives."

Ash gave a nod of acknowledgment as she sat the folder on her dresser by the bathroom.

"I know this isn't where you wanted to be," Bishop added with sympathy. "If things still seem bleak in six months, I'll see what I can do about transferring you."

Ash did not want to cling to a promise that may never come true. However good-will it was intended. Instead, she sat beside her dog. Dilla seemed to pick up on Ash's bleak mood and rolled on her back for Ash to rub the dog's belly.

"I best get some rest. Busy day tomorrow," Ash sighed. "May go shopping for some bedclothes."

"Buy a personal car for yourself," Bishop suggested. "I'll lock the door on my way out. The carpenters will arrive nine-A-M."

"Cya," Ash waved and watched Bishop leave.

Her room at least smelled New. Maybe later she would venture and look at the other rooms but for now, she was emotionally worn from the flight and the situation... She needed a drink.