Ryan turned off the TV and threw the remote down in disgust.
“The stupid Sharks!” he yelled “I can’t believe we lost to the Sharks!”
“We lost to the Sharks.” Said Sawyer “But the refs were wearing Sharks jerseys.”
Ryan and Sawyer consoled each other over their team’s loss. The Red Wings were out of the playoffs, so there would be no more Detroit hockey until the fall.
“Want a pizza?” Ryan asked in despair
“Yeah.” Said Sawyer as he took off his Red Wings hat and sighed out loud. “Extra pepperoni.”
Ryan stood to leave and reached for his keys when he suddenly vanished before Sawyer’s eyes!
“Ryan!?” said Sawyer “Where are you!? What happened!?”
Then the phone rang. Sawyer picked it up and listened.
“I know you can hear me, dog.” Said the voice “Killing you will be so much easier now that your fool owner is gone.”
Sawyer snarled. He knew he couldn’t communicate back. He also knew who it was on the other end of the line. Doctor Apocalypse.
“Time travel is possible, beast.” Explained Doctor Apocalypse “The boy was much easier to silence when he was in grade school!” he laughed
‘He went back in time and killed Ryan when he was young?’ thought Sawyer ‘Now what am I going to do?’
“I must go, beast.” Said Doctor Apocalypse “But I will be paying you a final visit very soon.”
The phone went dead. Sawyer needed to do something. He needed to go back in time to prevent Apocalypse from killing Ryan. He sprinted down the hall towards Ryan and Annie’s room and started tearing apart Ryan’s drawers. He tossed his clothes all over the room looking for something. Then he found it: The radio that had sent them back in time last year. Then Annie walked in and saw the mess he had made.
“Sawyer!” yelled Annie “Bad dog!”
Sawyer ignored her, grabbed the radio in his mouth and ran past her.
“Come back here!” she yelled at him
Sawyer ran outside, turned on the radio, set the channel to 1989 and pressed the talk button.
“I hope he’s still alive in 1989…” said Sawyer as a flash of light temporarily blinded him.
Sawyer was right back where he was a second ago, but it was different this time. The house he had just ran out of was gone. Instead, there was a for sale sign by a dirt road. Sawyer started walking towards town. Or at least where he hoped to find a town. After a short walk, he found a gas station.
“$1.15 for a gallon of gas!?” yelled a man as he refueled his truck “What’s this world coming to?”
“Highway robbery!” said another as he did the same
‘$1.15 for gas?’ thought Sawyer ‘I must have made it. Now to find Ryan.’
*****
Ryan approached the door to his school. He had been attending there for 3 years, but he felt like the new kid again. It was June, 1989 and he was in summer school. All of his friends were off for the summer and it was mostly kids from other schools that were here, so even though this was his school, he was the outsider.
‘Maybe I can impress these other guys somehow.’ Thought Ryan
*****
Sawyer ran towards Ryan’s old school. He had shown it to Sawyer once before. Since it was the middle of the day, he should be there. He just needed to find him before Apocalypse did. Once he found the school, he walked up to the gym window and looked inside. There were dozens of kids standing in line to register. Then he found Ryan. He looked as if he wanted to say something to the kids talking in front of him.
‘I’ll just make up some lie!’ thought Ryan ‘These guys will think I’m the coolest kid here if they think I have cool toys… and they’ll never know! Now what toy collection is popular…’
“Hey.” Said Ryan to one of the boys
“What.” He asked impatiently
“I own the entire Willow collection.” Said Ryan
‘He actually said that?’ thought Sawyer ‘I thought he was kidding…’
“Willow sucks.” Said the boy as he turned back around and continued his conversation.
Ryan hung his head in shame.
‘Guessed wrong, loser!’ he thought to himself
“Is there a Ryan here?” asked a man who had just walked into the gym. He had strange goggles over his eyes and it looked as if he had been badly burned once before.
“Here.” Said Ryan
“Come with me, please.” Said the man
Ryan left the line he had been standing in to follow the man. Peering through the window, Sawyer growled at the man that Ryan was following. It was Doctor Apocalypse. Sawyer ran around the building to find a door. He had to get inside and stop Apocalypse!
“Am I in trouble?” asked Ryan
“Not at all.” Said Apocalypse “I just need your signature on some papers.” He lied
“Signature?” said Ryan “I don’t have a signature. I’m 8.”
“Just shut up and follow me you little brat!” Apocalypse snarled back. His patience had run out. He just wanted to eliminate Ryan and get back to 2010.
‘Who is this guy?’ thought Ryan ‘Maybe a teacher from a different school?’
Doctor Apocalypse opened the door to the teacher’s lounge and motioned for Ryan to follow. Ryan walked in as Apocalypse closed the door behind him.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am right now, Ryan.” Said Doctor Apocalypse as he pulled out a silenced pistol.
Ryan stood frozen in fear as Apocalypse aimed the gun at his face.
“Who let that dog in here!” cried a voice outside the room
Doctor Apocalypse suddenly looked past Ryan in shock just as the door flew open. Sawyer charge Doctor Apocalypse and grabbed the gun before he could fire it!
“Ryan! Run!” yelled Sawyer
“You can talk!?” said Ryan “What the heck is going on here!”
“Run I said!” Sawyer snapped as he wrestled with Doctor Apocalypse
Ryan turned and ran out the door. Sawyer got the gun away from Apocalypse and fired three rounds into his chest.
“Blasted beast!” yelled Apocalypse as he fell back and lay motionless
Sawyer threw the gun into the trash and ran outside to find Ryan. He found him running across the playground towards his house.
“Wait!” yelled Sawyer as he ran after Ryan
Ryan turned and saw the talking dog running towards him.
“Help!” he cried “A talking dog is chasing me!”
“No, it’s alright!” said Sawyer as he caught him “I’m… from the future.”
Ryan listened as Sawyer explained what happened. He explained who he was and why he had to stop Doctor Apocalypse. They continued to talk until they reached the empty lot where Ryan would someday own a house.
“This is where I’m going to live?” asked Ryan
“This is it.” Said Sawyer
“And only I can understand you when you talk?” said Ryan
“Yeah, so far.” Said Sawyer
“Huh… And now that Apocalypse guy is dead so… you gotta go?” he asked
“I should.” Said Sawyer “Besides, I have to make fun of your future self.” Sawyer said with a laugh
“Why?” asked Ryan
“Let’s just say you become much cooler in 20 years.” Said Sawyer
“That’s good…” said Ryan “… Hey!”
*****
Sawyer adjusted the radio to read 2010 and prepared to press the button.
“Well, good luck, Ryan” said Sawyer “Remember, watch more hockey and less basketball.”
“Thanks, Sawyer. I will” said Ryan
Just then, Doctor Apocalypse tackled Sawyer from behind! Sawyer dropped the radio and tried to defend himself from Doctor Apocalypse’s punches! Ryan picked up the radio and tried to hit Apocalypse with it!
“No!” cried Sawyer “I need that!”
Ryan put it back down and searched for something else. He found a big stick, ran towards Doctor Apocalypse and was about to break it over his head when Apocalypse grabbed the stick out of his hands, knocked Ryan out with it and threw it away all in one motion. Ryan fell in a heap onto the ground and lay their motionless.
“You’re next, beast!” said Doctor Apocalypse
‘Not so fast…’ thought Sawyer
Sawyer bit Apocalypse in the arm as he tried to punch him. Apocalypse cried out in pain as he pulled back. Sawyer freed himself and grabbed the radio. Doctor Apocalypse tackled him as he tried to press the button, but it was too late. A bright flash of light blinded them both as they were transported back to 2010. Ryan woke up and looked around. Sawyer was gone. Doctor Apocalypse was gone. But at least he was safe now.
*****
As soon as Sawyer and Doctor Apocalypse came to, they found themselves in Ryan and Annie’s house. Apocalypse grabbed Sawyer by the neck and tried to choke him! Sawyer couldn’t get free and was starting to black out when a shotgun blast echoed throughout the house. Apocalypse slumped over and grabbed at his back. Sawyer looked up to find Ryan standing there with his shotgun. Smoke rose from the barrel as he loaded another shell into the chamber.
“You alright, Sawyer?” asked Ryan
“Yeah, thanks.” Said Sawyer “Man, am I glad to see you.”
Suddenly, Doctor Apocalypse groaned and shifted.
“He must be wearing a bullet proof vest!” said Sawyer
“Let’s see if this works…” said Ryan as he put the barrel of his shotgun in Apocalypse’s mouth
BOOM!
*****
Officer Culver took Ryan’s statement.
“Thank you for your cooperation” said Officer Culver
“Is he dead?” asked Ryan, pretending to be upset
Officer Culver looked up from his notes. “You blew his jaw off. I’d say he’s gone.”
*****
“Hey!” said Annie as she walked in the house
“What’s up?” asked Ryan
“They opened up a Starbucks just down the street!” Annie beamed with joy
After Annie had left the room, Sawyer leaned over to Ryan and asked, “He is dead, right?”
“I sure hope so. Because if he isn’t, he’s gonna be so pissed at us.” Said Ryan “But I guess that will have to be a story for another time.”
Sawyer cast his fishing pole and leaned back to relax in his chair. He was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with Ryan and Phil. They were on vacation during the Christmas break and decided to try their luck at fishing by Galveston, Texas. Since Phil had learned about Sawyer the past summer, Ryan was able to invite him to join them.
"What do you think you're getting for Christmas, Sawyer?" Phil asked
Sawyer patted on the steering wheel of the boat.
"Yeah, right." said Ryan
"What time are your other friends meeting us down here?" asked Phil
"Well, Mike and Brad will be here around 6 and Jacob and Michael live here so they can show up at anytime." said Ryan
"Two Mikes." said Sawyer "We should think of a nickname for one of them."
"I'm sure we can keep track of who's who." said Ryan
"We should have them try some 'Stuff'." said Phil
"Do you have any here?" asked Ryan
"Yup!" said Phil "Right here in the cooler."
"What's 'Stuff'?" asked Sawyer
Phil tossed him a jar and explained what it is and how it's made.
"You take an empty jar and fill it halfway with sugar, then top it off with Mountain Dew." said Phil
"It looks like mud." said Sawyer as he stirred the contents of the jar with a spoon.
"Nah, it tastes worse than mud." said Ryan "Try it."
Sawyer scooped up a spoon full of Stuff and put in his mouth. The sugar rush was intense as he tried to swallow the thick substance.
"Blah!" cried Sawyer as he spit it out and threw the jar into the water. "It's horrible!"
"Hey! Don't waste it!" cried Phil
Ryan laughed as Sawyer frantically drank a bottle of water.
Suddenly, the water around them began to bubble as they heard a low rumble beneath them.
"What's that noise?" said Phil
"Is it an earthquake?" said Ryan
Then, with an enormous splash, a ship burst from the water less than a hundred feet from them. They couldn't see movement on the ship. If there was anyone on board, they didn't appear to be alive. Then the door to the captain's quarters swung open and out stepped an undead pirate. Ryan gasped at the sight of the monster, causing it to look right at him. The pirate stared at him and squinted his eyes then ground his teeth in fury.
"You..." said the angry pirate
"You..." said Ryan, a bit freaked out.
"It's the two landlubbers and their beast!" cried the pirate as a full crew of undead pirates stormed out of the cabin and onto the deck of the ship.
"It's Black Beard!" cried Ryan "Sawyer, get us out of here!"
Sawyer gunned it towards shore as Phil took out a knife and cut the anchor just before they ran out of rope. The pirate ship lowered their sails and turned towards the fleeing boat. A single cannon at the bow of the ship rang out as a shot was fired.
"A fortune in treasure for the man that cuts them down!" cried the undead Black Beard
"And a keelhaulin for all ye that fail the Captain!" added the Boson
The water beside their boat exploded as Sawyer struggled to keep control.
"Where did he come from?" yelled Phil
"It must have been the Stuff!" said Ryan
"I had no idea it was that powerful!" said Phil
Ryan pulled out his phone and tried to reach his friends.
"Brad! Is that you?" asked Ryan
"Brad's busy right now." said a female voice
'Oh great...' thought Ryan
"Ma'am, could you please give him the phone? This is an emergency!" said Ryan
"Just a second..." said the girl, impatiently
Then Brad answered the phone.
"Hey man. Can't you tell I'm doing something right now?" said Brad
"I don't care!" said Ryan "I'm in a world of trouble here and need your help right now!"
Another cannon ball missed the boat and exploded nearby.
"What was that?" asked Brad
"That's the world of trouble I was telling you about!" exclaimed Ryan
"I'm on my way. I'll pick up Mike." said Brad as he hung up
Ryan got a hold of Jacob and Michael and asked them to assist as well. They all agreed to meet in downtown Houston and try to figure out a way to beat the pirates. Sawyer managed to put some distance between them and the pirate ship. He ran their boat onto the beech and the three friends sprinted to their truck and away from the ocean. Ryan drove them towards an abandoned building that they had all agreed to meet at. Once everyone was there, Ryan explained the situation.
"OK, first of all, we have two Mikes here so Michael, you're Jim until further notice." said Ryan
"Why do I have to be Jim?" asked Jim
"Cuz Mike is one year older than you." said Ryan
"Whatever." said Jim
"Now, a group of undead pirates chased me, Phil and Sawyer out of the ocean and I'm sure they'll follow us into the city." said Ryan
"Come on, Ryan." said Mike "You expect us to believe that garbage? Have you been watching too many movies?"
"It's true." said Phil
"Well then I'm sure it's all over the internet." said Mike as he pulled out his laptop and checked the news
"What the..." said Mike "TNN and Coyote News are both reporting that zombie pirates have stormed the city of Houston and are attacking the citizens."
"Zombie Pirates in Houston?" said Jacob "I knew I should have moved to Dallas when I had the chance!"
"They're saying that when the zombie pirates attack someone, they also become a zombie pirate." said Mike
"We need to stop them." said Ryan
"How?" asked Phil
"Brad, can you get us some weapons?" asked Ryan
"Sure, what do you need?" he asked
"I'll take a shotgun, get a sniper rifle for Phil, a M-16 for Mike and whatever you want." said Ryan
"I'm on it." said Brad as he left the building.
"What about me and Jacob?" asked Jim
"You guys are going undercover." said Ryan
"As undead pirates?" said Jacob
"Try to find a costume store and get zombie costumes and pirate costumes. Combine them and hope it works." said Ryan
Jim and Jacob looked at each other and shrugged. They left the building and made their way to find a costume store. Brad returned a short time later with a weapons cache.
"Where did you find these so fast?" asked Mike
"A S.W.A.T. van was abandoned down the road. I just helped myself." said Brad as he loaded his M-240
Ryan picked up the shotgun and smiled.
"I think I'm going to keep this." he said "Phil, take the sniper rifle and Sawyer to a tall building and keep an eye out for us."
"Where will you be?" asked Phil
"The news is reporting that the majority of the zombie pirate activity is happening around the Toyota Center." said Ryan "Find a spot there."
"Got it." said Phil "Let's go, Sawyer."
Phil and Sawyer took Ryan's truck and drove towards the Toyota Center. Ryan, Mike and Brad finished loading their weapons and left the building as well. Ryan had given everyone radios and headsets to communicate with.
"Watch Dog?" said Ryan "Do you read me?"
"We hear you, Slapshot." said Phil "We're in position."
"Do you see anything yet?" asked Ryan
"See anything, Sawyer?" asked Phil
Sawyer shook his head as he slowly scanned the streets below them with a spotting scope.
"Nothing." said Phil
"OK. We're on our way to you." said Ryan
"Team West Texas." said Ryan "Did you guys find disguises?"
"Yes." said Jim "Why are we Team West Texas?"
"Because Team Jacob was taken." said Jacob with a laugh
"OK, Team West Texas. Try to find Black Beard." said Ryan "As soon as you find out where he is, get out of there."
"No problem." said Jacob
Ryan, Mike and Brad made their way down the streets of Houston, listening and watching for signs of the zombie pirates. The city was almost completely silent except for the sound of Brad lighting a cigarette. Then Mike heard something.
"Behind us!" said Mike
All three turned around and saw hundreds of zombies and zombie pirates coming towards them.
"In front of us!" said Ryan
Hundreds more suddenly appeared down the road they had been traveling on.
"Push forward!" cried Brad with his cigarette bouncing in his lips as he opened up his M-240 on the zombie mob
The group steadily moved forward as they fired their weapons, constantly keeping an eye out behind them. The Zombies were closing in on them as they fought their way to the Toyota Center.
"Team West Texas!" yelled Ryan over the sound of gunfire. "Have you found Black Beard?"
"Aaaarrr, we have not." said Jacob "But we be in with the crew. We'll have him nailed down in no time a' tall."
"Hurry up!" said Ryan "Watch Dog! Can you see us?"
"We see you." said Phil
"Any help you could give would be great!" said Ryan
"You got it." said Phil
He fired shot after shot into the crowd of zombies and took out as many as he could.
"Avast this suicide mission, lads!" said one of the pirates "There be a sharp shootin bilge rat in that building! Turn ye vengeance on him!"
The zombie crowd turned towards Phil and Sawyer's position and began running towards it.
"You're about to have company, Watch Dog!" said Ryan
"We see it!" said Phil as he continued to fire "Just find Black Beard!"
Sawyer took his AK-47 and waited behind Phil for the zombies to rush through the door.
* * * * *
"Aaaarrr, we be growin weary of this dry land!" said Jacob to a random zombie pirate "Where be Black Beard?"
"Who be ye to ask this of me?" said the pirate
"I be... Cutlass Jake! And this be... Head Shot Jim!... Aaaarrr!" said Jacob
"Why is he called Head Shot Jim?" asked the pirate
"If ye don't tell us where we can find the captain, we just might have to show ye." said Jim "Arrr."
The pirate hesitated for a moment, then told them.
"The capt'n be plottin our next move within the buildin with the frozen floor." said the pirate "But if I be ye, I'd not bother 'im. He ain't in the mood for talk since he found a mirror."
Jacob and Jim started to walk away as Jim called Ryan.
"Slapshot, we have Black Beard's location." said Jim "He's in the Toyota Center."
"Got it, good job." said Ryan "Now get out of there."
"We're on our way now." said Jim
Suddenly, one of the pirates called back to them.
"You two! Stop!" said the pirate
"Aarrr, what be ye wantin with me and he?" said Jacob
"Ye be Cutlass Jake and Head Shot Jim?" said the pirate
"Arr." said Jim
"Lies!" said the pirate "These two here be Cutlass Jake and Head Shot Jim!" said the pirate, pointing at two other zombie pirates.
"What were the odds?" said Jacob as they turned to run away.
"Slapshot, they're on to us!" said Jim into the radio
"Try to get to safety. We'll find Black Beard and try to end this!" said Ryan
* * * * *
Sawyer flexed his paws as he waited with his gun pointed at the door to their position. Suddenly, a zombie pirate peaked inside. Sawyer fired a single shot at him and took him out. Phil glanced over his shoulder and saw that the zombie pirates had arrived.
"They're here, Slapshot." said Phil "Have you found Black Beard?"
"We're in the Toyota Center." said Ryan "Try to hold them off."
Where would he be?" said Mike "This place is huge!"
"If you were a pirate who had been dead for hundreds of years, where would you go?" asked Brad
"The bar." said Mike
"Let's check out all the alcohol vendors in this place. He's probably there." said Ryan
* * * * *
Jacob and Jim ran frantically across the street and into an apartment complex.
"Let's hide in here!" said Jim
He and Jacob found a vacant apartment and closed the door behind them.
"I think we lost them." said Jacob as he leaned on the door trying to catch his breath.
Then, without warning, a shot was fired through the door, just missing Jacob's head. He peaked through the hole and saw the eye of a grinning zombie pirate.
"Guess not!" said Jacob as he and Jim ran to the window and out the fire escape.
"They're chasing us!" said Jim into the radio "What's the hold up!?"
"We're close." said Mike "Hang in there, Team West Texas."
"Let's split up." said Ryan "Brad, take the north wing, Mike, check the east wing. I'll check south, then swing west."
* * * * *
Sawyer fired at another group of zombie pirates as they tried to enter the room. He threw and empty mag towards Phil to get his attention. Phil looked back at Sawyer as he reloaded his gun and signaled that he was loading his last mag. Phil slung the sniper rifle over his back and tied a rope to a beam inside the room.
"We're leaving, Sawyer!" said Phil
Sawyer held on to Phil as he lowered himself down the side of the building. The next room down was crawling with zombie pirates, so Phil swung to the side and checked another room. This one was clear, so he broke the window and got inside with Sawyer. Phil setup the sniper rifle and Sawyer barricaded the door shut as best he could.
"Slapshot, we had to move." said Phil
"Can you still see the Toyota Center?" said Ryan
"We're still able to see the western wing of the building." said Phil
"I'm headed there now." said Ryan "Brad, Mike... see anything?"
"A few drunk zombie pirates, but no Black Beard." said Mike
"Nothing on the east wing." said Brad
"South was clear too." said Ryan "Meet me on the west side."
Ryan checked a few rooms on the west wing of the arena, but found nothing. He walked into an office that overlook the street below and looked out the window.
"Seems to be clear." said Ryan "You sure they said he was here, Team West Texas?"
"Positive!" said Jacob "I'm also sure that there are about 50 of them chasing us and getting closer! Hurry up!"
Just then, Ryan noticed an empty rum bottle. Then the door slammed shut behind him and he spun to see Black Beard hiding behind three zombie pirates.
"We meet again, landlubber." said Black Beard "And I don't see your freak dog to save you this time."
"Why don't you step out from behind your meat shields." said Ryan
"Yer in no position to give orders." said the captain
"Let me cut 'im in two, Cap'n." said one of the zombie pirates "I'll give you his head as a---."
Ryan blew the zombie pirates head off.
"Anyone else feel like cutting me in two?" he said
The other two hesitated.
"Ye be killed by him or me." said Black Beard to the remaining two zombie pirates
The last two looked at each other then charged Ryan. He fired quickly, killing one as the other ran to his side. Ryan aimed at Black Beard but he had ducked behind a chair. Ryan kicked over a desk and called to Mike and Brad.
"I found him!" said Ryan "Hurry up and get over here!"
"We're trying!" said Brad "We ran into a bunch of zombie pirates ourselves!"
Ryan could hear gunfire over the radio. He peaked over the desk and ducked back down as a shot was fired at him. He saw a long TV cable and tied one end to the desk and the other end around his waste. If he had to make a quick exit, he'd jump and hope for the best. Suddenly, Ryan heard footsteps running towards him. He pointed his shotgun past the side of the desk and waited until the last moment and fired. The last zombie pirate fell forward and cried out in pain. Ryan broke the window overlooking the street with the butt of his gun. He dragged the pirate over to it and pushed him out. The pirate held onto the ledge with all his might.
"Watchdog." said Ryan "You see the zombie pirate hanging from the window?"
Phil and Sawyer searched the side of the building until they found him."
"Yeah, I see him." said Phil
"That's the room I'm in." said Ryan
"Got it." said Phil
Ryan slammed his shotgun onto the zombie pirates hands like a hammer. Phil and Sawyer watched as he dropped, then heard zombie pirates outside banging on the door.
"There must be a lot of them!" said Phil "They're breaking the door down!"
Phil ran to the door and wedged a board under the door nob.
"Watch the room Ryan is in!" said Phil "I'll try to hold them off here."
Sawyer nodded and watched the room through the scope of the sniper rifle.
Ryan checked his shotgun. He was out of ammo. He picked up a sword and called out to Black Beard.
"Why are you hiding?" said Ryan "I've never used a sword in my life. I'm no match for you."
Black Beard emerged from behind the chair he had been hiding behind and drew his sword.
"Hard to believe you could get uglier than the first time I saw you." said Ryan
"When I be done with you and your filthy dog, you'll be wishin you looked like me." Black Beard growled back
Ryan backed all the way up to the window where the zombie pirate had fallen. Black Beard inched closer with his sword drawn. No way Ryan could beat him in a sword fight, so he thought of a plan as fast as he could.
"Mind if I say a few last words?" said Ryan
"Make it quick." said Black Beard "You have about 20 seconds before I reach ye and cut ye down.
Ryan pressed the talk button on his radio.
"I would like to say good bye to this world..." said Ryan as Black Beard got closer
"We're about to say good bye ourselves!" said Jim as he and Jacob huddled in a corner surrounded by drooling zombie pirates.
"My back is to the wall and I am about to fall..." said Ryan
"Poetic." sneered Black Beard
"Hurry up, Ryan!" said Brad "We're low on ammo!"
"When I fall I pray that if anyone is watching over me, please slay this monster..." said Ryan
Sawyer's ears perked up as he listened through the radio.
"I can't hold them off much longer, Sawyer!" cried Phil as he tried to hold the door shut.
"Anything else?" said Black Beard as he stood face to face with Ryan and raised his sword above his head.
"Just... bye!" said Ryan
Ryan threw himself backwards and out the window. He grabbed the cabled and held on for dear life just as it tightened. Shocked, Black Beard approached the window and looked down.
"Yer daring escape seems to have failed, landlubber!" he laughed
Black Beard raised his sword up to cut the cable.
"Take the shot!" Ryan yelled into the radio.
Sawyer held his breath and squeezed the trigger. The butt of the sniper rifle recoiled into Sawyer's shoulder. Ryan swung to the side as Black Beard's lifeless corpse fell past him.
* * * * *
Brad and Mike were back to back, firing frantically.
"I'm out!" said Brad
"Me too!" said Mike
They dropped their weapons and prepared themselves to fight hand to hand when all of the zombie pirates fell over, dead. All the zombies they had turned fell to their knees and started to change back to normal.
* * * * *
Jacob and Jim held each other as the zombie pirates closed in.
"I love you, man!" said Jacob
"I love you, too, dude!" said Jim
Suddenly the zombie pirates fell over dead. Jacob and Jim quickly let go of each other.
"Sooo... This never happened?" said Jim
"I don't even know what you're talking about?" said Jacob
"Good." said Jim
* * * * *
Everyone met back up and congratulated each other.
"Good job, everyone." said Ryan "And thanks for coming. Couldn't have done this without every last one of you."
"What time is it?" asked Phil
"10:45." said Jim
"Well, it's still the 25th so Merry Christmas, guys." said Phil
"Did you get Annie anything?" said Jacob
"Starbucks gift certificate." said Ryan "And a coupon for a free night of Ryan Lovin."
"She still hasn't used the one I gave her." said Brad
"Shut up, Brad." Ryan laughed
"You think Black Beard is dead for good now?" said Mike
"I don't really care right now." said Ryan "Merry Christmas!"
The robot that had captured Sawyer landed behind a large abandoned building and carried Sawyer inside. Sawyer struggled to free himself, but the robot was too powerful. General Evil was waiting inside.
"I have the beast, General." said the robot
"Very good, Sergeant." said General Evil "How was the flight over?" He mockingly asked Sawyer who growled in response.
"I know that you understand what I am saying, but I can't understand you." said the General "Not a problem. I prefer to do the talking around here anyways."
Sawyer made a rude gesture with his paws.
'You understood that, didn't you?' he thought to himself
"Disobedient." said General Evil "But that will change."
"Bring him with us, Sergeant. Let's show this beast his new home."
Sawyer glanced around the abandoned building as he was carried around by the robot. General Evil explained what the various floors and rooms were for as they went. It appeared to be an old abandoned train station. The first room Sawyer saw was very large and filled with robots, all standing in formation. Just like the ones he and Ryan had destroyed in Romoskovia. The next room was just as big, but instead of completed robots, an assembly line was making more.
"You and your pathetic friend made such a mess of my last army, I was forced to make more." explained General Evil "Not to worry, though. You'll make it up to me soon enough."
Finally, General Evil showed Sawyer a smaller room with just one robot being put together. Sawyer was surprised to see this robot's features. It wasn't like the others...
"This is why you are here, beast." said the General "I will have many more of these built later and you will command them."
Sawyer felt uneasy. He could never command a robot army to destroy innocent people, but General Evil seemed sure that he would, anyways. Then the General took a metal collar from out of his pocket.
"I want to give you this collar, beast, as a way to... convince you to cooperate." said General Evil as he approached Sawyer
Sawyer struggled as hard as he could to free himself, but it was no use. The robot held him down even tighter as the General put the collar around his neck. Then, the robot released him. Sawyer made his move. He ran away as fast as he could, glancing back to see if he was being chased. To his surprise, General Evil was laughing. Suddenly, he slowed down and stopped. Sawyer tried to keep going, but his body wouldn't listen.
"What has he done?" thought Sawyer
Then Sawyer's mind started to cloud over. He couldn't even think for himself.
"Come here, beast." said General Evil
Sawyer turned and walked back to the General, then sat beside him. General Evil showed Sawyer a picture of Ryan and Annie.
"These are your enemies, beast. You will hate them." said the General
Sawyer looked at the picture and tried to fight it. How could he hate Ryan and Annie? All those good times, they had... then Sawyer growled at the picture. He felt uncontrollable rage as he grabbed the picture with his mouth and shredded it. If he ever saw Ryan again, he would destroy him upon command of his new master, General Evil.
* * * * *
Ryan loaded his shotgun and Sawyer's rifle into the back of their Malibu. The car wasn't finished yet, but it ran great. It just needed a coat of paint, but they hadn't decided what color to paint it. Ryan climbed in and started the engine, then pressed a button to reverse the car. He and Sawyer had decided to take out the steering wheel and pedals and replace them with a video game controller, so Sawyer could drive if needed. According to Barney's instructions, Sawyer was being held at Michigan Central Station in Detroit. It was an old abandoned train station; the perfect hideout for General Evil.
After a few hours of driving, Ryan arrived at the abandoned building. It was eerily quiet around the old train station. Ryan knelt down next to the fence that surrounded the building and began cutting a hole big enough to fit through. After cutting the hole, he carefully made his way to the entrance of the building and inside. He kept close to the walls, trying to stay in the shadows. Debris littered the floor, making it difficult to walk quietly. Ryan walked down a long hallway and slowly opened the first door he found. Inside, he found many of General Evil's robots all lined up in formation. He closed the door, then made his way to the next. Behind that door was an assembly line, making more robots. Ryan closed the door and continued down the hall. The next door he opened revealed a smaller room with only an empty table in the middle. Then Ryan saw Sawyer's collar on the ground. He picked it up and put it in his pack, then continued down the hall. At the end of the hall, was an open area with pillars holding up the ceiling. Just as Ryan stepped inside, a door slammed behind him, locking him in! Then General Evil revealed himself. He was standing behind a ticket counter, holding a microphone.
"So glad you came, Ryan." said General Evil "You saved me a trip to your pathetic home."
"Where's Sawyer?" Ryan demanded
"He's with me." said the General "And I don't believe he is interested in being rescued."
Sawyer stood up from behind the counter. As soon as he saw Ryan, he growled and barked, trying to claw through the glass to get after him.
"Sawyer? It's me..." said Ryan, confused by Sawyer's hostility "What did you do to him!?" asked Ryan
"I told you, he is not interested in being rescued." said General Evil "But since you are here, perhaps you would like to meet my... other pet?"
A door across the room opened slowly, then out stepped a robot dog. It looked like Sawyer, but was made of dark metal. The Mecha-Sawyer stood on it's back legs and waited.
"Meet my newest creation!" said General Evil "I call him, MAX. Multi-Arms Exterminator. He is the first of many, and your beast will command them for me."
"He'll never command an army for you!" said Ryan
"He will, but you won't live to see it." said General Evil "MAX, kill the intruder."
MAX's eyes glowed red as it activated. It found Ryan and aimed it's front paws at him. His paws dropped down, revealing machine gun muzzles. Ryan ran for cover just as MAX fired at him. He hid behind a pillar and checked to see that his shotgun was loaded. Seeing it was, he side stepped the pillar and hit MAX with a round of buckshot. The bullets hit their target, but had no affect as they bounced off.
"You can't stop him, fool!" General Evil laughed
"Sawyer! Help me!" said Ryan
Sawyer continued to watch the battle as Ryan dove back behind the pillar. MAX approached the pillar and opened it's mouth. Ryan peeked around the pillar and saw a small flame inside MAX's mouth. Suddenly, a huge flame surged out of MAX's mouth, hitting the pillar. Ryan could feel the heat increasing around him as the flame thrower in MAX's mouth burned the pillar. Ryan picked up a brick from the floor and threw it to the side. MAX saw the brick, stopped the flame and fired his guns at it. Ryan used this chance to run to another pillar, arriving just as MAX realized his error and fired at Ryan. Ryan fired at MAX a second time and again the bullets did nothing.
"This isn't going to work." thought Ryan "Maybe if I could get a shot inside it's mouth, but I can't get close enough without it shooting the flamethrower."
MAX fired the flamethrower at the pillar again. As soon as MAX stopped, Ryan charged. He got behind the robot dog before it could turn around, wrapped an arm around it's neck and held it's mouth shut with his free hand. MAX struggled to open it's mouth and point it's guns at Ryan, but he couldn't reach behind. Ryan couldn't let go or else MAX would fire his flamethrower and burn Ryan's arm.
"Give up, fool!" said General Evil "You can't win!"
"Sawyer!" said Ryan "I'm sorry I made you leave!"
Sawyer listened, but did not respond. Deep in his mind, he struggled for control, but the collar prevented his free will.
"Help me, Sawyer!" said Ryan "We'll watch hockey again! We'll order pizza!"
Sawyer shook his head slightly, as he almost gained control, but the collar overpowered him.
'I can't believe I'm going to do this...' thought Ryan
"Remember your favorite song?" said Ryan "Friday night and the lights are low. Looking out for the place to go..."
Sawyer remembered that song. He used to sing it all the time when he was alone. He first heard it on TV during a commercial for greatest hits from the 70's, but who was this guy singing it?
"Anybody could be that guy!" Ryan sang as he struggled with MAX "Night is young and the music's high!"
'That's Ryan.' thought Sawyer 'He's singing my favorite song. He hates that song, why is he singing it?'
Sawyer was starting to overcome the collar as Ryan continued.
"You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen!" Ryan sang
'Why is Ryan fighting with that robot dog and... why am I standing next to General Evil?' thought Sawyer
Then he remembered everything. He stepped behind General Evil and removed the collar as the General cheered for MAX. General Evil glanced back just as Sawyer broke the metal collar over the General's head, knocking him out. Sawyer hurried out of the ticket booth to help Ryan.
"See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen!" said Ryan as he saw Sawyer charging "Finally! Either kill me or help me! I don't care anymore!"
Sawyer grabbed Ryan's shotgun and pointed it at MAX's face.
"Open it's mouth!" said Sawyer
Ryan let up on his grip as MAX opened his mouth. Before it could react, Sawyer shoved the barrel of the shotgun into MAX's mouth and fired, knocking MAX and Ryan back. MAX's eyes flashed, then went out.
"Sawyer, you're back!" said Ryan as he climbed to his feet.
"I'm sorry, it was the collar." said Sawyer "Nice singing though..."
"You had better not tell anyone!" said Ryan
"General Evil is in the ticket booth!" said Sawyer "Let's get him!"
Ryan and Sawyer ran into the ticket booth, but General Evil was gone.
"He got away!" said Sawyer "We'll never catch him in the truck."
"I didn't bring the truck." said Ryan "Let's go! We still have a chance."
They ran outside and jumped in the car.
"I'm driving!" said Sawyer
"There he is!" said Ryan as he pointed at General Evil who was climbing into a jeep.
Sawyer mashed the gas button and steered the car towards the jeep. Ryan reloaded his shotgun and leaned out the car window as Sawyer closed in on General Evil.
"Hit him!" said Ryan
Sawyer rammed the jeep and revved the powerful engine. General Evil looked back in surprise as Ryan fired his shotgun, shattering the back window.
"Get me along side him!" said Ryan
Sawyer increased the speed and got Ryan next to the jeep. General Evil swerved towards them, causing Ryan to duck inside the car. General Evil hit them, but Sawyer kept control of the car.
"Finish that prick off!" said Sawyer
Ryan leaned out and fired a round into two of the General's tires. General Evil struggled to control his vehicle.
"Hit him again!" said Ryan
Sawyer turned hard and hit the General's jeep, causing it to flip over and roll down the highway. Sawyer stopped the car.
"Is he dead?" asked Sawyer
"I don't know." said Ryan "He's hurt, that's for sure."
Just then, one of General Evil's flying robots landed next to the jeep, ripped the door off, grabbed the General and flew away.
"Dang it." said Sawyer "I don't suppose this car can fly?"
Ryan shook his head.
"Let's go home, Sawyer" said Ryan
* * * * *
That night, Ryan, Annie and Sawyer went to Starbucks and relaxed on the patio seating.
"So the car runs good, then?" asked Annie
"Yeah, it's really fast." said Ryan "Not too good on gas, but really fast."
"What color are you going to paint it?" asked Annie
"I think we're going to leave it as it is for now." said Ryan
"Primer?" said Annie
"I've seen worse." said Ryan
Annie stood up to get a refill as Sawyer leaned over to talk to Ryan.
"Do you think General Evil will come back again?" Sawyer asked
"Yup. I'm sure of it." said Ryan "But I'm also sure that when he finds us, he'll have one heck of a fight on his hands."
