Halloween Contest Fiction: A Halloween Haunting

Thank you, Bleu Phoenix, for entering the Halloween fiction contest. Here is their entry:

(Story prompt by Dan Peyton)

The elevator doors slid open and Director Nova stepped out into BADGE HQ. He hated that two mile ride down, but this was the most secure location on Earth. The headquarters of the most advanced base on the planet were surprisingly vacant, but this was normal. Most of the work conducted here was done by robots along with the most sophisticated AI system in the world.

After a short walk down the corridor, Nova came into a large room filled with computer consoles and a massive set of screens. Two robots worked at the consoles as the only crew today.

“Let’s check in on the teams.” He stated. “Call up the world maps, I want to see where these leagues are?”

“Understood Director.” The computer answered and the screens filled with maps of the world. Each map had the location of the various teams of superheroes that worked for BADGE. They organized themselves into leagues so they could fight crime locally as well as more easily respond to a call for international emergencies.

“Unit 10915, contact the leagues around the Detroit area. I want to know why the crime rate there has doubled this week.” The robot at the computer stopped moving and nothing happened, “10915 respond.” Nova approached the rigid robot.

Before he could find out what was wrong both robots stood up and started dancing around, their bodies acting like puppets on strings.

“What the hell is going on?” Nova struck a fighting stance.

Just then the computer monitors buzzed and the lights flickered. The screens began to run through map after map, and then it all became fuzz. The two dancing robots flung themselves at Nova. He was pummeled to the ground, pinned down. He shoved on them, unhurt but furious. “GET OFF OF ME!”

One turned it’s head all the way around and then cackled at him. In a high, cracking voice it screeched, “Having fun yet?” and then laughed.

Nova finally shoved them off of him and backed away, “Okay, that’s creepy.”

A green energy streamed out of the robots and formed a sinister looking Jack-o-lantern in the air. It laughed in that same horrible voice and then flew around the room, passing in and out of the computers like they weren’t there. When it went through something, the already crazy machine went even more haywire. Computers exploded, the lights shut down, and the fuzz on the main screens became the only light in the room.

Nova pulled out a communicator and pressed a switch, “Nova to...” suddenly that Jack-o-lantern flew right into his body and he felt it filling him. He lost control of his left arm, his head twitched erratically, and his mind was slowly fading as if he were falling asleep. It didn’t take much to realize this creature was taking over his body. He managed to hold that communicator up, “To...any...heroes who can hear...me. BADGE has been compromised….help...”

(Continuation by Bleu Phoenix)

Hi, I'm Bleu Phoenix and this is Halloween 2045. Some of you may or may not believe in ghosts and spirits. After the events of this Halloween, I'm a fervent believer. The day started normally. I was finishing up my current assignment, patrolling for the Purgatory Penitentiary escapees. My B.A.D.G.E. communicator chirps then I hear Director Nova saying that B.A.D.G.E. was compromised. I angle my flight path to intersect with HQ. Nova isn't known for histrionics so this must be serious.

Riding down the elevator a sense of foreboding sets the hair on the back of my neck to stand up and tingle. The doors open, and I see four robots smashing equipment. They hear the doors and make a bee-line straight for me. Fighting them off they begin to overwhelm me with sheet numbers. So I whistle a few notes and in charge my Robo Raptor Guards. They surround then set to eliminate the defective robots. While the Raptors are working, I make my way over to a somewhat pristine computer terminal. I wipe the glass shards off the keyboard prepping to query the AI. I notice glass everywhere. Looking around, I see fluorescent lights monitors, screens, computers exploded. Then I notice the difference between the exploded ones and the smashed ones that the malfunctioning robots were destroying

I logged in to the system with my security code. I haven't been to HQ in a long time. I hope my password still worked.

HELLO BLEU PHOENIX THIS IS AI 953246.87 AT YOUR SERVICE.

AI report status of compromised B.A.D.G.E. HQ, as reported by Nova over comms.

EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS, NOTHING WITH HIGH PRIORITY WAS HAPPENING. THEN AT 11:59 PM ON OCTOBER 31 2045 THE OPERATIONS ROBOTS MALFUNCTIONED AND A PRESENCE WAS MATERIALIZING IN THE OOPS CENTER. IT APPEARS THAT DIRECTOR NOVA WAS COMPROMISED AS HE PUT IT BY SAID PRESENCE.

That was pretty good info but I could get better. I triggered my Time Tunnel ability to go back to 11:59pm. I shifted in to Energy Form so I could just view the events and not interact with the players so to speak. I saw the robots malfunction, the beams forming together the manifestation of the fiery Jack O Lantern, and the subsequent flying and destroying of the electronics. I watch as the flaming pumpkin head suddenly charged Nova. I watch with my mouth hanging open as the presence as the AI called it entered Nova and his subsequent fight for mastery of his body losing, and the last ditch effort to call in back up when he realized he was the one compromised.

Seeing a functional headset I put it on, and instruct the AI to go to audio interface. AI where is the presence now?

THE INTRUDER IS PROBABLY STILL WITHIN NOVA. THAT IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION FOR HIS CURRENT ACTIONS.

What are his current actions AI?

HE IS CURRENTLY REPROGRAMMING ROBOTS IN THE ROBOTICS LAB.

Show me Nova.

NOVA AND THE ROBOTICS LAB ON SCREEN NOW.

I saw him hunched over a bench doing some intricate work on a robotic brain. I told him time and again he needed to get some humans to help with operations. The robots were fine but he needed more human interaction. I saw the two with blazing orange eyes that he already modified waiting for orders. Engaging my Nth Dimension Senses to try and look through the dimensions for what might be his endgame. The only determination I could come up with was just to foment chaos and destruction. I race to the lab, immediately I use Surveys Sabotage to rip the 'bots to pieces. I try to free Nova with a Mental Assault. No dice there. I try making him sick it out with Induce Symptom. No joy there either. I step it up with Electro Man praying that I'm not frying the director. Still no effect except a loud earth shaking scream followed by a gut busting chuckle that sounds like it's coming from a well. A thought blossomed, was grandma right. Did spirits and ghosts truly exist? I might as well take a chance. Nova then charged me, I dodged him then squared up against the director. Which by the way wasn't easy. For an old man he could move. He tripped over the 'bots I'd destroyed and I was lined up. I activated my Spectral Punch. I nabbed to knock the Presence out of Nova who immediately collapsed to the floor unconscious. I shifted in to my Hell Touched manifestation, and with a scream of my own, I incinerated the presence to the last atom. Scattering them across the cosmos.

AI prep the Med Lab, immediately, activate the Diagnostic Robots with a level 10 secure firewall. Keep them out of the general network until it had been diagnosed for traps left behind.

MEDICAL LAB IS ACTIVATED. DIAGNOSTIC ROBOTS NIW COMING N ONLINE IN A PROPRIETARY NETWORK WITH LEVEL 10 FIREWALL AND SECURE ENCRYPTION AS WELL. DIRECTOR NOVA WIL BE SAFE IN MED LAB.

I scoop up Nova, heavy for an old timer, and run to the Med Lab setting him down on the nearest table. The Diagnostic 'bots went to work immediately.

SIR THE ROBOTS ARE SENDING ME THEIR DIAGNOSIS. NOVA'S ELECTROLYTES ARE DANGEROUSLY LOW. I watched as the ran an IV of fluids. HE IS ALSO SUFFERING PSYCHIC STRAIN AND SHOCK, A LITTLE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE, AND HIS ENERGY LEVELS ARE DEPLETED COMPLETELY. BLEU PHOENIX WILL YOU SIT WITH HIM UNTIL HE AWAKENS.

Of course AI, I'll stay with him. You need to examine all systems for contamination by that Presence. Begin running a level 7 diagnostic on all of your systems, and all robots.

CONFIRMED LEVEL DIAGNOSTIC ON ALL SYSTEMS AND ROBOTS. OH AND BLEU PHOENIX.... THANK YOU, FOR EVERYTHING.

Your welcome AI.

Boy I gotta call grandma, she's tools me a thousand times spirits and ghosts are real. Damn, now I've got to tell her she was right. She'll never let me live it down.