CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: ENDGAME. OR, IN WHICH SECTION 31 TRIES TO STRIKE BACK, DOCTOR SARAH BELLUM HANDS IN HER RESIGNATION AND SOMEONE MAKES A GRAND SACRIFICE!
“Flash - Ah - Saviour of the universe/Flash - Ah - He'll save every one of us/
Flash - Ah - He's a miracle/Flash - Ah - King of the impossible/He's for every one of us/Stand for every one of us/He'll save with a mighty hand/Every man every woman every child/With a mighty Flash” - Queen, “Flash (Flash’s Theme)"
“We've seen our share of ups and downs/Oh how quickly life can turn around in an instant/
It feels so good to reunite/Within yourself and within your mind/Let's find peace there/
When you are with me/I'm free...I'm careless...I believe/Above all the others we'll fly/
This brings tears to my eyes/My sacrifice” - Creed, “My Sacrifice
“Flash - Ah - Saviour of the universe/Flash - Ah - He'll save every one of us/
Flash - Ah - He's a miracle/Flash - Ah - King of the impossible/He's for every one of us/Stand for every one of us/He'll save with a mighty hand/Every man every woman every child/With a mighty Flash” - Queen, “Flash (Flash’s Theme)"
“We've seen our share of ups and downs/Oh how quickly life can turn around in an instant/
It feels so good to reunite/Within yourself and within your mind/Let's find peace there/
When you are with me/I'm free...I'm careless...I believe/Above all the others we'll fly/
This brings tears to my eyes/My sacrifice” - Creed, “My Sacrifice
Dean Williams gingerly walked out of the emergency room doors with Penny Fields and Karen Anderson flanking him on either side. The trio made their way to Dean’s Explorer and promptly got inside of it.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Karen asked Dean as Penny quickly made sure that there were at least some guns left behind before Ariel broke away from them to go on her own mission.
“All my life I’ve been afraid of doing things,” Dean said. “Right now is not the time to be as such. Karen, while I was lying back there in the hospital ward, I made a promise to myself to make sure to do whatever I can to fight for things I believe in and to not be afraid anymore of difficulties that come my way. And with that, we’re going to get everyone out of here and when it is all said and done, you and I are going on a long trip together – just the two of us. And instead of surprise you then in the event we should all perish, Karen, I want you to marry me.”
Karen looked surprised by Dean’s proposal. “If we live through this, hell, marriage doesn’t seem that bad all of the sudden.” Karen said with a huge smile on her face. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Dean’s face went from joyous to serious within seconds when his cell phone rang. “Hello?” he said into it after answering it.
“Oh good, you’re alive!” the voice on the other side said. The voice belonged to Ryan. “Listen, Ariel busted me out of the research council and I assume she is going to do the same for Kevin and Donnie.”
“Don’t worry Ryan, we’re coming right now.” Dean said.
“Actually, Ariel instructed me to tell you to get out of Edmonton and don’t look back or something along those lines” said Ryan.
“Fuck that! We’re coming after you all and then we’re getting out of here.”
“Well, who thinks Donnie is going to come with us since they’re giving him and his wife immunity?”
Dean looked puzzled and then said to Ryan “I guess we’re going to come and let them know that it is expired!” Dean then hung up and turned the key to get his SUV running. “I think you ladies better get ready because we may be going into a war zone!” said Dean as he began to drive off.
Julia Katz - along with Doctor Sarah Bellum - watched from the safety of a secured office the carnage caused by Ariel’s attack. “Such a pointless waste of time it all was” Julia said.
Sarah looked confused by her boss’s statement. “What do you mean?” she asked Julia.
“All she seemed to do now is aggravate Miss Sloane.” Julia stated matter-of-factly. The phone in the office rang, which Julia quickly went to pick it up. “Yes?” she said. “Why do you wish to do that? They’re still alive? Is unleashing the population that wise of an idea? They’re still showing massive damage to their cerebral cortexes. Very well then, Miss Sloane” Julia said as she hung up the phone “I’m sorry to do this,” she said to Sarah as she pushed a button and on some of the monitors showed a large number of people, walking in unison, marching out of what appeared to be a warehouse.
“What is going on here?” asked Sarah.
“A device we have been using to repair the city had an unfortunate side effect. It turned everyone’s brain into mush and Section 31 decided to exploit it for their own needs and developed them into easily disposable foot soldiers.”
“’Easily disposable?’” Sarah said looking shocked. “We’re not supposed to be involved with this! We’re researchers, not mad scientists!”
“Look, our funding was getting cut. Section 31 came along with their money and offered us free reign to continue our jobs here. Whether you like it or not, you owe your life to Section 31 right about now. And your job too if I may add.”
Sarah then looked at Julia, looked at the marching army of mindless drones, and slapped her boss across the face. “Consider this my resignation!” Sarah said as she quickly ran out of the room.
“Shall we pursue her?” a guardsman asked Julia. Trying to forget the sting of the slap, Julia simply looked and sighed. “No. If she doesn’t get mauled by the zombie army out there first, then you can shoot her.”
Ariel Toroshenko pulled up on her pants and secured them back on her person. As she put on the bullet-proof vest she secured earlier, Kevin finished getting dressed from using the clothing from the guard that Ariel had shot. Despite spending the last twenty minutes or so screwing like animals, Kevin looked a little unsure and aloof. Ariel also noticed the look on Kevin’s face and asked him “What’s wrong? I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
Kevin looked at her and replied back with “Oh no, you were magnificent. It’s just, I don’t know, coming back here to Edmonton; I thought we could have saved it from whatever. Seeing what could very well be an illusion and plus possibly losing my best friend. I may have gained a new love in you, but all I thought I was fighting for seems to be lost.”
Ariel put both her hands on the side of Kevin’s head and looked deep into his eyes. “Then fight with me and fight for a new Edmonton” she said as she handed Kevin her most reliable weapon, her shotgun.
“I have a bigger motivating factor here,” Kevin said, cocking the gun. “Revenge!”
Kevin walked over to the door and opened it. “That works just as well” Ariel said as she followed behind him.
Dean stopped short near the offices of the Alberta Research Council. Penny stepped out of the Explorer, assault riffle in hand. Karen was the next to step out, brandishing her sword. They were quickly joined by Ryan Jeffries.
“I thought you were running off.” Dean said to Ryan.
“I was until I hit a little snag.” Ryan said.
“What snag?” asked Karen. Ryan then looked at a massive gathering of people running towards them. “That snag” Ryan said in a deadpan way.
“I don’t think ‘Thriller’ is going to calm that mob down.” Karen said.
“Then we go on through them! Show no mercy!” Penny screamed.
“Jesus, what is it with you chicks with guns being so crazy?” Ryan said while shaking his head.
Doctor Sarah Bellum frantically ran down the halls, trying to remember where Donnie and Hailey were being secured. Not looking where she was running, Sarah bumped into Ariel and Kevin.
“Well doc, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Kevin said.
Sarah talked despite being short of breath “We don’t have much time. They unleashed a horde of what I could best describe as zombies and…”
Kevin interrupted Sarah and told her “…Okay, look? Ariel, take the doc here and get her family out of here. I got a little score to settle with both of your employers here.”
“But – what about us?” Ariel asked
“Right now, I want you to get everyone out of here and I’ll join you as soon as I can.” Kevin said as he passionately kissed Ariel.
“Okay, be safe out there” Ariel said.
“You too firecracker. You too.” Kevin said to Ariel. Then Kevin looked at Sarah: “Now doc, tell me something – did they ever tell you something about a temporal replacement device and where it could be on this little compound of yours?”
“I think I heard it is the basement, but I could be wrong.” Sarah answered.
“It’s a start” said Kevin. “Now you two, get going!”
Dean drove his Explorer through the mob of zombies, who seemed fearless in the pursuit. Penny and Ryan, hanging out of each side of the SUV, mowed down as many of them as they could so Dean could get a clear path through the parking lot.
“Keep firing! Maybe if we kill enough of them, it’ll make it easier to get out of here period!” ordered Penny.
“Is this the song you wanted?” Karen asked Dean while playing with her own iPod.
“Yes!” exclaimed Dean. “I’m sure Kevin would approve of it!”
Karen placed her iPod into the adapter as Queen’s “Flash” began to play through the speakers.
“What is it with you guys and music?” Ryan asked as he pegged off a zombie that had almost its hand through the window. “Kevin insisted on playing that faggy ‘Touch’ song too!”
“Because music makes the people come together, young man!” Dean said as his Explorer came to a screeching halt in front of the doors of the main building.
“Now what do we do?” Karen asked.
“We go in, rescue everyone and get the fuck outta dodge!” Dean said excitedly.
Ariel and Sarah search all over the one level for Donnie and Hailey. “Are you sure they’re still here?” asked Ariel.
“They better be” Sarah said. “They were guaranteed to be safe within these walls.”
Ariel opened one door to reveal Donnie, playing with his daughter. Sarah ran in and hugged her husband while Ariel stood by with a little bit of a tear running down her eyes.
“I thought we’d never see you again!” Donnie said with a huge amount of relief in his voice.
“Same here, but I don’t know how we’re going to get out of here.” Sarah said with the realization that it was going to be hard to do so. Just then, Ariel’s cell phone rang and she answered it right away. “Hello?” she said.
“Thank god! You’re still alive!” the voice said and it sounded like it was ghost to Ariel because the voice belonged to Dean.
“Oh my god, you’re alive! Wait until I tell Kev…”
“There isn’t much time. We’re barely holding onto keeping an army of zombies at bay here and we could use some help here.”
“But Kevin is still in here somewhere.
“I’m sure he’ll find a way out! Is Donnie and Sarah there?”
“Yeah.”
“Bring them with you and let’s get out of here right away! We’re at the main entrance! Hurry…” Dean said as he hung up.
Ariel looked a little annoyed at the order given to her by Dean, but knew they needed the support if what he said was true. “Okay, let’s go! Stay behind me as much as you can!” Ariel instructed to the Bellums as they begun their trek to the front of the building.
Kevin Brody made his way down to the basement in a service elevator. Once he hit the floor he desired, the doors opened to reveal what appeared to be a giant glowing sphere. At the base of the sphere were both Julia Katz and the mysterious Sloane. Kevin approached the ladies, but was cut off by a set of guards.
“Well, well, Mister Brody.” Sloane said. “I don’t know how you escaped, but believe me whomever helped you escape will be dealt with immediately.”
“Forget it, lady!” Kevin said to Sloane. “You kicked me, punched me, and were about to shock my balls. You had this coming!”
“Really now Mister Brody, what makes you think you are getting out of here alive?” asked Sloane. “The device here is at critical mass and not only will its explosion destroy this building and everything within a ten mile radius. It will restore Edmonton to it devastated past. All of our work will be lost and everyone you care and love will be dead as well.”
Kevin grabbed the two guards who surrounded him and knocked their heads together. He then pulled out the shotgun Ariel gave him and promptly shot Sloane dead.
“I wish you hadn’t done that. She was the only one who knew how this machine worked that is down here” said Julia without a hint of remorse or sorrow after Sloane’s death.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t shed a tear” said Kevin rather coldly. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to try and figure this thing out and save us all.”
Ariel led the Bellums to the front doorways where they saw Ryan and Penny doing their best to hold back the raging army. Dean noticed their arrival and quickly waved them to get into his Explorer. Ryan and Penny began to fall back.
“Go with them!” Penny ordered Ryan.
“Wait, what? Why?” Ryan asked.
“Go! I’ll do my best to hold them off! You all get out of here! Oh, and tell Dean I’m sorry about six years ago! I hope this will make up for my little faux pas back then!” Penny shouted back as Ryan got inside the Explorer.
“Okay, let’s go” Ryan told Dean.
“What about Penny?” Karen asked.
“She’s going to hold off the zombies” said Ryan. “She said it was her way of making up for calling you ‘Dan’ so many years ago” he said to Dean.
“Great, now I’m the one whose going to feel bad” Dean lamented as he drove away through the mob, which seemed to turn their attention to Penny and no longer interested in his Explorer. Driving away, Dean saw in the rear-view mirror what would become Penny Field’s last stand. Penny did her best to hold off the horde, but they swarmed her immediately and all hope seemed lost for her.
With warning lights flashing off and on, Kevin tried to concentrate on shutting down the temporal realignment device. Every button and switch he flicked seemed to be all in naught. Frustrated, Kevin took the shotgun out and shot the main control panel.
“Complete system failure in one minute” flashed on the monitor before totally shorting out. Knowing it was impossible to truly escape, Kevin sat down, pulled out his cell phone, and sent out text message “Tell our moms we did our best” Kevin said as he sat down, resigned to his fate. While the one remaining computer monitor showed the countdown. Kevin looked to the ceiling hoping for a miracle to come along…
The miracle came with a flash of light that coincided with the last second ticking on the monitor. Kevin Brody found himself at the Vegreville Movie Gallery.
“Another sacrifice was made.” Dean Williams said. “We do not need this one too.”
Kevin looked at his friend. “Dean? Is it true? Are we both, you know, dead?”
Doctor Sarah Bellum looked at Kevin and said “He was not the one either.”
Ariel Toroshenko, sitting at a table in the Rose Bowl looked delighted. “The one known as Penny gave her life so you all may live.”
Kevin looked relieved. “But the explosion, the temporal realignment device, it went off and I’m dead right?”
Martha Jones and The Doctor appeared in front of the TARDIS. “Her sacrifice delayed what would have been inevitable” said Martha.
“All that was changed slightly but the outcome was still maintained.” The Doctor said.
“I don’t understand. Is everything truly back to normal?” asked Kevin.
“We cannot change what has happened.” Rose Tyler said.
“To do so would be a violation of our ways and laws.” Donnie Bellum said solemnly.
“So, that is it? Edmonton will never be the same, Penny is dead and I continue to live? Seems like an unfair trade off to me.” Kevin insisted.
“Restoration is up to you all now.” Joanne Carlson told Kevin. “We thought trying to assist your citizens would have been beneficial.”
Penny Fields appeared next and told Kevin “But we were foolish to allow our technology to fall into your hands. Now we have concluded you are the only ones who can truly control your own destiny.”
Kevin tried to speak “But…”
A bright light engulfed the entire Edmonton compound of the Alberta Research Council. Everyone and everything was gone from there as the light engulfed the entire city, only to reveal its now true form. A city in ruins.
Kevin woke up in the middle of a street, lying on the ground. A familiar green Explorer screeched to a halt before hitting him.
“Jesus Christ man!” Dean said as he popped his head out from the driver side window. Ariel hopped out of the vehicle and jumped right into Kevin’s arms.
“Anyone care to tell me what the hell has gone on here?” Donnie asked openly to anyone willing to answer him. Kevin simply looked at Edmonton. A city that was on the edge of forever now laid in ruins. They were right in that saying Edmonton would be restored to its devastative state. And all it cost for Kevin to live on was the sacrifice made by Penny Fields.
“It’s a long story.” Kevin said, wrapping his arm around Ariel’s shoulder as he made his way into the Explorer. “And I don’t think you’d believe it or understand it Donnie.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Karen asked Dean as Penny quickly made sure that there were at least some guns left behind before Ariel broke away from them to go on her own mission.
“All my life I’ve been afraid of doing things,” Dean said. “Right now is not the time to be as such. Karen, while I was lying back there in the hospital ward, I made a promise to myself to make sure to do whatever I can to fight for things I believe in and to not be afraid anymore of difficulties that come my way. And with that, we’re going to get everyone out of here and when it is all said and done, you and I are going on a long trip together – just the two of us. And instead of surprise you then in the event we should all perish, Karen, I want you to marry me.”
Karen looked surprised by Dean’s proposal. “If we live through this, hell, marriage doesn’t seem that bad all of the sudden.” Karen said with a huge smile on her face. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Dean’s face went from joyous to serious within seconds when his cell phone rang. “Hello?” he said into it after answering it.
“Oh good, you’re alive!” the voice on the other side said. The voice belonged to Ryan. “Listen, Ariel busted me out of the research council and I assume she is going to do the same for Kevin and Donnie.”
“Don’t worry Ryan, we’re coming right now.” Dean said.
“Actually, Ariel instructed me to tell you to get out of Edmonton and don’t look back or something along those lines” said Ryan.
“Fuck that! We’re coming after you all and then we’re getting out of here.”
“Well, who thinks Donnie is going to come with us since they’re giving him and his wife immunity?”
Dean looked puzzled and then said to Ryan “I guess we’re going to come and let them know that it is expired!” Dean then hung up and turned the key to get his SUV running. “I think you ladies better get ready because we may be going into a war zone!” said Dean as he began to drive off.
Julia Katz - along with Doctor Sarah Bellum - watched from the safety of a secured office the carnage caused by Ariel’s attack. “Such a pointless waste of time it all was” Julia said.
Sarah looked confused by her boss’s statement. “What do you mean?” she asked Julia.
“All she seemed to do now is aggravate Miss Sloane.” Julia stated matter-of-factly. The phone in the office rang, which Julia quickly went to pick it up. “Yes?” she said. “Why do you wish to do that? They’re still alive? Is unleashing the population that wise of an idea? They’re still showing massive damage to their cerebral cortexes. Very well then, Miss Sloane” Julia said as she hung up the phone “I’m sorry to do this,” she said to Sarah as she pushed a button and on some of the monitors showed a large number of people, walking in unison, marching out of what appeared to be a warehouse.
“What is going on here?” asked Sarah.
“A device we have been using to repair the city had an unfortunate side effect. It turned everyone’s brain into mush and Section 31 decided to exploit it for their own needs and developed them into easily disposable foot soldiers.”
“’Easily disposable?’” Sarah said looking shocked. “We’re not supposed to be involved with this! We’re researchers, not mad scientists!”
“Look, our funding was getting cut. Section 31 came along with their money and offered us free reign to continue our jobs here. Whether you like it or not, you owe your life to Section 31 right about now. And your job too if I may add.”
Sarah then looked at Julia, looked at the marching army of mindless drones, and slapped her boss across the face. “Consider this my resignation!” Sarah said as she quickly ran out of the room.
“Shall we pursue her?” a guardsman asked Julia. Trying to forget the sting of the slap, Julia simply looked and sighed. “No. If she doesn’t get mauled by the zombie army out there first, then you can shoot her.”
Ariel Toroshenko pulled up on her pants and secured them back on her person. As she put on the bullet-proof vest she secured earlier, Kevin finished getting dressed from using the clothing from the guard that Ariel had shot. Despite spending the last twenty minutes or so screwing like animals, Kevin looked a little unsure and aloof. Ariel also noticed the look on Kevin’s face and asked him “What’s wrong? I wasn’t that bad, was I?”
Kevin looked at her and replied back with “Oh no, you were magnificent. It’s just, I don’t know, coming back here to Edmonton; I thought we could have saved it from whatever. Seeing what could very well be an illusion and plus possibly losing my best friend. I may have gained a new love in you, but all I thought I was fighting for seems to be lost.”
Ariel put both her hands on the side of Kevin’s head and looked deep into his eyes. “Then fight with me and fight for a new Edmonton” she said as she handed Kevin her most reliable weapon, her shotgun.
“I have a bigger motivating factor here,” Kevin said, cocking the gun. “Revenge!”
Kevin walked over to the door and opened it. “That works just as well” Ariel said as she followed behind him.
Dean stopped short near the offices of the Alberta Research Council. Penny stepped out of the Explorer, assault riffle in hand. Karen was the next to step out, brandishing her sword. They were quickly joined by Ryan Jeffries.
“I thought you were running off.” Dean said to Ryan.
“I was until I hit a little snag.” Ryan said.
“What snag?” asked Karen. Ryan then looked at a massive gathering of people running towards them. “That snag” Ryan said in a deadpan way.
“I don’t think ‘Thriller’ is going to calm that mob down.” Karen said.
“Then we go on through them! Show no mercy!” Penny screamed.
“Jesus, what is it with you chicks with guns being so crazy?” Ryan said while shaking his head.
Doctor Sarah Bellum frantically ran down the halls, trying to remember where Donnie and Hailey were being secured. Not looking where she was running, Sarah bumped into Ariel and Kevin.
“Well doc, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Kevin said.
Sarah talked despite being short of breath “We don’t have much time. They unleashed a horde of what I could best describe as zombies and…”
Kevin interrupted Sarah and told her “…Okay, look? Ariel, take the doc here and get her family out of here. I got a little score to settle with both of your employers here.”
“But – what about us?” Ariel asked
“Right now, I want you to get everyone out of here and I’ll join you as soon as I can.” Kevin said as he passionately kissed Ariel.
“Okay, be safe out there” Ariel said.
“You too firecracker. You too.” Kevin said to Ariel. Then Kevin looked at Sarah: “Now doc, tell me something – did they ever tell you something about a temporal replacement device and where it could be on this little compound of yours?”
“I think I heard it is the basement, but I could be wrong.” Sarah answered.
“It’s a start” said Kevin. “Now you two, get going!”
Dean drove his Explorer through the mob of zombies, who seemed fearless in the pursuit. Penny and Ryan, hanging out of each side of the SUV, mowed down as many of them as they could so Dean could get a clear path through the parking lot.
“Keep firing! Maybe if we kill enough of them, it’ll make it easier to get out of here period!” ordered Penny.
“Is this the song you wanted?” Karen asked Dean while playing with her own iPod.
“Yes!” exclaimed Dean. “I’m sure Kevin would approve of it!”
Karen placed her iPod into the adapter as Queen’s “Flash” began to play through the speakers.
“What is it with you guys and music?” Ryan asked as he pegged off a zombie that had almost its hand through the window. “Kevin insisted on playing that faggy ‘Touch’ song too!”
“Because music makes the people come together, young man!” Dean said as his Explorer came to a screeching halt in front of the doors of the main building.
“Now what do we do?” Karen asked.
“We go in, rescue everyone and get the fuck outta dodge!” Dean said excitedly.
Ariel and Sarah search all over the one level for Donnie and Hailey. “Are you sure they’re still here?” asked Ariel.
“They better be” Sarah said. “They were guaranteed to be safe within these walls.”
Ariel opened one door to reveal Donnie, playing with his daughter. Sarah ran in and hugged her husband while Ariel stood by with a little bit of a tear running down her eyes.
“I thought we’d never see you again!” Donnie said with a huge amount of relief in his voice.
“Same here, but I don’t know how we’re going to get out of here.” Sarah said with the realization that it was going to be hard to do so. Just then, Ariel’s cell phone rang and she answered it right away. “Hello?” she said.
“Thank god! You’re still alive!” the voice said and it sounded like it was ghost to Ariel because the voice belonged to Dean.
“Oh my god, you’re alive! Wait until I tell Kev…”
“There isn’t much time. We’re barely holding onto keeping an army of zombies at bay here and we could use some help here.”
“But Kevin is still in here somewhere.
“I’m sure he’ll find a way out! Is Donnie and Sarah there?”
“Yeah.”
“Bring them with you and let’s get out of here right away! We’re at the main entrance! Hurry…” Dean said as he hung up.
Ariel looked a little annoyed at the order given to her by Dean, but knew they needed the support if what he said was true. “Okay, let’s go! Stay behind me as much as you can!” Ariel instructed to the Bellums as they begun their trek to the front of the building.
Kevin Brody made his way down to the basement in a service elevator. Once he hit the floor he desired, the doors opened to reveal what appeared to be a giant glowing sphere. At the base of the sphere were both Julia Katz and the mysterious Sloane. Kevin approached the ladies, but was cut off by a set of guards.
“Well, well, Mister Brody.” Sloane said. “I don’t know how you escaped, but believe me whomever helped you escape will be dealt with immediately.”
“Forget it, lady!” Kevin said to Sloane. “You kicked me, punched me, and were about to shock my balls. You had this coming!”
“Really now Mister Brody, what makes you think you are getting out of here alive?” asked Sloane. “The device here is at critical mass and not only will its explosion destroy this building and everything within a ten mile radius. It will restore Edmonton to it devastated past. All of our work will be lost and everyone you care and love will be dead as well.”
Kevin grabbed the two guards who surrounded him and knocked their heads together. He then pulled out the shotgun Ariel gave him and promptly shot Sloane dead.
“I wish you hadn’t done that. She was the only one who knew how this machine worked that is down here” said Julia without a hint of remorse or sorrow after Sloane’s death.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t shed a tear” said Kevin rather coldly. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to try and figure this thing out and save us all.”
Ariel led the Bellums to the front doorways where they saw Ryan and Penny doing their best to hold back the raging army. Dean noticed their arrival and quickly waved them to get into his Explorer. Ryan and Penny began to fall back.
“Go with them!” Penny ordered Ryan.
“Wait, what? Why?” Ryan asked.
“Go! I’ll do my best to hold them off! You all get out of here! Oh, and tell Dean I’m sorry about six years ago! I hope this will make up for my little faux pas back then!” Penny shouted back as Ryan got inside the Explorer.
“Okay, let’s go” Ryan told Dean.
“What about Penny?” Karen asked.
“She’s going to hold off the zombies” said Ryan. “She said it was her way of making up for calling you ‘Dan’ so many years ago” he said to Dean.
“Great, now I’m the one whose going to feel bad” Dean lamented as he drove away through the mob, which seemed to turn their attention to Penny and no longer interested in his Explorer. Driving away, Dean saw in the rear-view mirror what would become Penny Field’s last stand. Penny did her best to hold off the horde, but they swarmed her immediately and all hope seemed lost for her.
With warning lights flashing off and on, Kevin tried to concentrate on shutting down the temporal realignment device. Every button and switch he flicked seemed to be all in naught. Frustrated, Kevin took the shotgun out and shot the main control panel.
“Complete system failure in one minute” flashed on the monitor before totally shorting out. Knowing it was impossible to truly escape, Kevin sat down, pulled out his cell phone, and sent out text message “Tell our moms we did our best” Kevin said as he sat down, resigned to his fate. While the one remaining computer monitor showed the countdown. Kevin looked to the ceiling hoping for a miracle to come along…
The miracle came with a flash of light that coincided with the last second ticking on the monitor. Kevin Brody found himself at the Vegreville Movie Gallery.
“Another sacrifice was made.” Dean Williams said. “We do not need this one too.”
Kevin looked at his friend. “Dean? Is it true? Are we both, you know, dead?”
Doctor Sarah Bellum looked at Kevin and said “He was not the one either.”
Ariel Toroshenko, sitting at a table in the Rose Bowl looked delighted. “The one known as Penny gave her life so you all may live.”
Kevin looked relieved. “But the explosion, the temporal realignment device, it went off and I’m dead right?”
Martha Jones and The Doctor appeared in front of the TARDIS. “Her sacrifice delayed what would have been inevitable” said Martha.
“All that was changed slightly but the outcome was still maintained.” The Doctor said.
“I don’t understand. Is everything truly back to normal?” asked Kevin.
“We cannot change what has happened.” Rose Tyler said.
“To do so would be a violation of our ways and laws.” Donnie Bellum said solemnly.
“So, that is it? Edmonton will never be the same, Penny is dead and I continue to live? Seems like an unfair trade off to me.” Kevin insisted.
“Restoration is up to you all now.” Joanne Carlson told Kevin. “We thought trying to assist your citizens would have been beneficial.”
Penny Fields appeared next and told Kevin “But we were foolish to allow our technology to fall into your hands. Now we have concluded you are the only ones who can truly control your own destiny.”
Kevin tried to speak “But…”
A bright light engulfed the entire Edmonton compound of the Alberta Research Council. Everyone and everything was gone from there as the light engulfed the entire city, only to reveal its now true form. A city in ruins.
Kevin woke up in the middle of a street, lying on the ground. A familiar green Explorer screeched to a halt before hitting him.
“Jesus Christ man!” Dean said as he popped his head out from the driver side window. Ariel hopped out of the vehicle and jumped right into Kevin’s arms.
“Anyone care to tell me what the hell has gone on here?” Donnie asked openly to anyone willing to answer him. Kevin simply looked at Edmonton. A city that was on the edge of forever now laid in ruins. They were right in that saying Edmonton would be restored to its devastative state. And all it cost for Kevin to live on was the sacrifice made by Penny Fields.
“It’s a long story.” Kevin said, wrapping his arm around Ariel’s shoulder as he made his way into the Explorer. “And I don’t think you’d believe it or understand it Donnie.”
No comments:
Post a Comment