--=====================_818148696==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Here it is. the first draft. ---- --=====================_818148696==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Absolute Zero Don't Dream It's Over By: Fox Cutter Based on the stories by: The Dinosorceror of Lava Dome III "DRIVE FASTER!" Sara Janson yelled at her husband as she staired out the back window of there old beat up '85 jeep. "I'm going as fast as I can!" Richard Janson yelled back as he swivered another wreck on the interstate. Sara watched over her sholder as the ship behind them gain ground, and also glanced down at her 8 year old son, Tommy, as he layed in the back seat crying. Richard swiver again, hard to the right, throwing Sara aginst the door. The colision caused her to drop her gun behind her seat. She bent down to pick up, at the same time her husband yelled out, "Incoming!" and swivered left. The road beside then exploded into flames from the missle they had barly avoided. The shrapnel from the explosion cracked the glass on that side of the car, nearly breaking the back side window. "That was to damn close." She muttered under her breath as she sat back up. Richard pailed a bit, "Oh shit." he said. "What is..." she started to say, trailing off. Because she saw a second ship coming down the interstate heading towards them. "What do we do?" She asked. Richard's complection went back to it's normal plae brown as his militray mind when into action. "What you always do when your boxed in, do what they don't expect!" With the statment he veared the car hard left, through the center barier and over the edge of the freeway over pass they where on. The jeep flew of the raised interstate, hanging in the air exacly the same way bricks don't, and just like a brick it decended to earth, the front end hitting the road and digging some of it up before the rear end crahsed to the ground, after a few bounces that destroyed the shockes they took of down the road. The two ships made a quick turn and followed them. In the back of the jeep Tommy was crying more. "What now?" Sara asked. Richard exlerated again, "See that parking garage up ahead." She nodded, it was a large garage with a cube sign on the top saying "Parkaid" part of it extened over the road they where on. "Thats how we take care of them." He said, exeleration under the garage, and turning left on the road behind it. After a few seconds the made a quick U turn and entered the garage. He blazed up the ramps, keeping the jeep just under managable speed. "Is it ram detinator still good?" Sara opened the glove box, and checked the equipment inside, "Yes, but only one of the 5. The C-4 connections are still good, and are activated now." Richard nodded as he turned again, reaching behind himself and sliding a backpack over his sholder. "Grab Tommy and a the other back, and be ready to jump out when I yell." Sara nodded, pulling Tommy into her lap. Richard made a final turn and was on the roof, where he stoped. At the far end of the garage the two ships where hovering. "On three." He said, putting the jeep in park, and setting a sinderblock on the gas peddle. "one." He said, opening his door a crack, Sara did as well. "Two." shifing the car into drive, it took of down the length of the garage. Half way down he yelled "Three!" and threw himself out of his door, rolling on the hard cemenet, on the other side Sara did the same. Richard looked up just in time to see the jeep barel of the top of the parking garage, and smash into the side of one of the ships. The was a hug exposlios as 200 pounds of C-4 went up in a massaive fireball. When the smoke cleared one ship was gone, and the other was partly damaged and moving west, back to there base. He look over to his wife and child, "you both ok?" "Tommy's fine." Sara said, sitting up, though she had blood covering her face from a gash on her scalp. "Lets get down a few levels, get you fixed up, and get a car. I want to be out of here before company shows up again." Sara nodded, Tommy was a little pale from his experence. 'What kind of person will he be raised in a world of war like this' Sara though to herself. They walked over to the middle bank of elevators. Tommy hit the call button out of habit. None of them epxected what happened next. There was a slight ding and the doors open to an empty car. Richard hummed, looking out over the town, most of it was distroyed, stomped down as the rest of the world had been, though a large section of the downtown area was still intacted, include a park just on the far side of the building, away from the freeway. The park had two realy proment features, a large white iron and blue fabric butterfly near them, and a clock tower on an island at the center of the park. "This city still has power, I wonder if there are any surviors." Sara shruged, "I don't know, though there is an air force base around here, lets hope it still has power." Richared nodded, steping into the elevator, as did Sara and Tommy. After glancing over the board he hit the button marked 'Skywalk.' "Why there, not ground level?" "If this place still has power, the food shops should still have there coolers on, we can get some fresh food." Sara nodded as the elevator came to a stop. They where in a large area, of to the left was a skywalk over the road they had come in on, to there right was some lights. Richard went first, pulling out his 48, as he turned the corner he found a photo shop, and a resturant. "It's clear." He called out. The others sat down at a table as Richard checked the kitchen, he came out grinning, in his hands where 3 bowles, a scoop and a bucket of freash ice cream. Tommy brightened up when he saw this, even though it WAS vinila. After he and his parents had eaten there fill, Tommy stood up. "Where are you going to?" Sara asked. "I want to look around." Sara bit her lip, as Richard wraped up her cut. "What do you think dear? Any harm in him looking around a bit?" Richared though, "I guess. But stay near son, and take your gun." Tommy blanched, he didn't like the gun, it was to heavy, though he knew he had to cary it. "Ok Dad." he said, digging it out from his pack. He then headed off back the way the came. After going acrost the skywalk he found himself in an area of abbanded shops. "Well this bites." He said. "Allways does." A voice said behind him. Tommy jumped, and wirld around, pulling his gun out, but forgetting to take off the safty. standing behind him was a man, he stood about 6 feet, and raseled light red hair that stuck out in every which way. He was whereing a pair of black pants and a redish shirt, on his chest as a badge that had a silver dove inside a golden circle on it. Tommy grinned, "Guardein!" He said, running up to him, and hug him tight. The man patted Tommy on the head, "Hi kid." "Where have been, last time I saw you was when the monsters came!" The Guardein look down at Tommy's up turned face, all ready too hard for an eight year old boy. "The Guardeins have been busy with all of this, most of us are gone. I am one of the last left. I've spent this last month looking for you." Tommy huged him tighther, "You won't leave me again will you?!" The Guardien licked his lips, "I can't say." Tommy grined, "Come on, lets go see Mom and Dad!" He then grabed his hand and pulled him back over the skywalk. Inside the resturant Sara and Richard still sat, discusing where to go after they leave. Both agered that they should stop at the air force base first, though Sara wanted to head north and look for her sister in Alaska, and Richard to contine east to see if anyone else survived the attackes. "Mom! Dad!" Tommy yelled running around the corner, "Look who found us!" Both of the parents turned and saw The Guardien. "Frank!" The both said when they saw him. "Hi." he said. "How did you find us?" Sara asked. "Well I just--" he started when he was cut of by someone else. "Never mind that, who are all of you!" All four of then turned, standing in the hall was a man, he looked 20ish, he had short black hair, and a beard. Pearched on his nose was a pair of glasses that where taped together with duct tape. He held in his hands a shot gun pointed at the 4 of them. "I am Richard Janson, this is my wife Sara, my son Tommy, and are friend Frank Sanzenin, he is a Guardein" The man blinked, "Thats a Japanies name." Frank nodded, "Yes it is, I'm orgianly from Japan." "You ice skate?" "What???" Frank said, dumb struck. The man shook his head, "Never mind. Where are you from?" Ricahrd looked at Sara, she nodded slightly, "Portland Oregan." She said. The man lowered his gun, "What the hell are you doing in Spokane then?" "Running." Tommy said. The man blinked, "Shit! your the fucks who blew up the ship!" "Yes." Richard said, his voice flat. "I should shoot you right now! We've been safe this past month here by hidding, and you have to come and fuck it all up by blowing that ship. There going to come and search for you, and find us! Thats how we lost Sandpoint!" "We?" Frank said, "You have a group here?" He nodded, "Yes, you had better come with me." "Good idea," Richard said, "Whats your name, bye the bye." He looked at them, "Everyone calls me Stan. Now walk ahead of me." Richared sighed and did so, Sara notices something, "Where is Tommy?" Stan looked around, "The little git must have run off." "I'll go find him" Frank said, "I'll wait back here with him." Stan looked over Frank, "Go then, I will expect you back here in one hour." Frank nodded, and ran off. "Why did you let him go, he has been missing sence this started, how do you know he's not a traitor?" Sara asked "He is... Familer to me, in a simple way." "Oh?" Stan sighed, "no more questions, move." They walked ahead, through a couple building, and then down an elevator into a parking garage. Richard looked around, the exit to the garage was blocked with a bus, the only out was through the elevators. "Sam!" Stan called out. "I found the two that blew the ship." A grubbly looking women came out from behind another bus. "So your the assholes who are going to get us killed." "There are two others, a kid and a male. The kid ran off and the male is looking for him. I have to go back and wait for them to get back." Pam grimised, "Very well." Stan nodded, and headed back up and out. Pam looked over the two. "I would like to say it's a pleasher, but it's not. Ben, Jack, come on out." Two men came out into the open. "This is all of us," Pam said, "I am the leader." "Any weapons?" Richared asked. Pam sighed, "A few, not enough to count. The others took the rest when they split off, there over at the old court house now. There problably looking for you too, to pin a meddal on your cheast." Sara shook her head, "I don't supose we can get a car, and just leave?" Pam nodded, "that can be aranged." Richard was about to comment when an explosion rocked the building. * * * Frank slowly walked into a libary on the skywalked system "Kid." he called as he entered, the main room on the second floor. "Up here!" Tommy yelled out. Frank looked up and saw him looking down from the third floor. He ran up the stairs near by, and came up next to Tommy who was looking out through one of the windows. "Sad isn't it?" he ask. Frank nodded, looking over the distruction. "It's so hard to belive it was just over a month ago." Tommy nodded, "How did you find us Guardien?" Frank paused, "The same way as always." "How long will you stay?" Frank bit his lip, "Only a few hours. Then I must go, pereminetly I fear." The child blanced, "Why!" He sighed, "In this distroyed world, then is no place more my kind any more." "No, I need you!" Frank looked down at Tommy, "I know kid, but my bosses said that the needs of a few people don't out weigh are needs." Tommy looked at Frank with a tear in his eye, then looked back out at the distruction. Frank looked as well, most of this section of downtown was still intacted, though a giant foot step had flatened the hill to the south, flatening two hospitiles and thousands of homes. Frank sighed again, he hated all of this distruction, then being told he had to leave, he hated it all. In the distances there was an explosion, Frank looking the general direction, one of the smaller buildings was abalse, and hovering above it was one of the ships. Frank picked up Tommy and ran down to the second floor, and out to where Stan stood. Stan looked a bit paniced, "What the hell was that?" "There's a ship outside, it just took out one of the smaller buildings." "We need to get back to the Plaza." he said, and took off in a run, Frank and Tommy followed. As they where running through a food court to get another skywalk, there was a second eploson, and the skywalk colapsed. "Fuck!" Stan said. "What now?" Frank asked. Stan thought for a second, "The Sears building, we have a suprise set up there." He turned on his heal, ran back a bit, down a hall, acrost another side walk, and into another building. "The elevator is out so we have to take the stairs." He said, going around a corner, and passing another distroyed skywalk to the Plaza. He entered the stairs, and run up them two at a time, Stan Followed caring Tommy. After a few minitues the reached the top flight of steps. Sitting in the corner by the door was a long rod, and a surface to air missle launcher. He grabed the rod, and pulled down the roof access with it, and grabbing the launcer climbed up the ladder. On the roof he moved to the edge, the ship was hovering right on level with the roof. "They expected us." Frank said, setting Tommy down. "Let them expect this." Stan said, aimed and launched the missle. The ship was engulfed in a blast of flame. Frank ducked, and Stan dived on top of Tommy covering him. When the fireball has faded Frank look up. He saw Stan lay on top of Tommy, a peace of the ship burried in his back. Frank glances at Stan, then Tommy. "Kid start back down. I'll help Stan." Tommy looked from Stan to Frank, "Do it kido." Stan moned out. Tommy nodded, looking pale, and started down. Frank looked at Stan, "Brave thing you did, you saved his life." Stan grimesed, "one life safed, thousands lost." "What do you mean?" Stan spat out some blood, "Never mind. So this is the end ain't it, I'm going to die." Frank frowned, "Yes, there is nothing I can do." Stan grined weakly, "Funny, I always though I would end up dieing at my own hand." Frank sighed, "I liked you too." Stan grinned again, and blinked as if he saw Frank clearly for the first time. "Oh my." he said. Frank blinked, "You can see?" "A little," Stan blinked, "Before I go, can I see you?" Frank laughed, "God I feal like Kosh!" and then his outline changed.... * * * Tommy stood at ground level looking at the Plaza, the building was a smoldering wreck, nothing could have survived the fire. "They did this" Tommy said, "I'm all alone now, execpt for you." Frank sighed, "Not even me. I must go now." Tommy looked at Frank, "You can't, I have no where to go!" "Yes you do, Stan told me there was another group right before he died. It's north, at the court house, it's like castle and a curch in one. You can't miss it." Tommy huged Frank, "Please don't leave!" "I'm sorry, but I must." Tommy looked at Frank, "It's all there falt, they've take everything that means something to me. I will get them for it!" "Big words for an eight year old." Tommy nodded, "I know, but I will make them pay!" "Do you mean that?" Tommy nodded. Frank look at him. "Well then, you had better have this." and took of his Guardien badge, and pinned it to Tommys shirt. "Honner it, for me?" Tommy nodded. "Now go kid." Tommy looked at Frank one last time, and started north. Behind him Frank slowly vanished into the air. * * * Frank stood next to the clock tower and sighed. A voice behind him said, "You are the last, come through now, and drop that stupid form." Frank didn't move, "I think I'll keep it Great One, to show respect to a friend." "Very will 8 tail, but you still have to come through." "Why?" Frank asked, "Why do we have to abandon this world." The voice shifted a bit, "Because there is no place in a world like this for any kind of spirts, let alone are kind. We must move on, to the next plane. It is how it goes, it is over, as the dreams proficised." Frank sighed, "Don't dream it's over, untill it is." "Come my child." Frank let a single tear fall for the world he had lost, "Yes Great One," he then turned and walked into nothingness, vanishing from Earth. ----- Yes, I have to admit this was a quick story, and very fast, but it seamed the way it should go. Note: I wroght this with Dino's permishion, this does not give everyone and there dog rights to work in the AZ world. So don't try it! :) This story, like the orignal AZ was partly inspiered by the song "Don't Dream It's Over" by Animal House I think. I don't have the words with me, but I may later. The Song realy fits in as Frank and Tommy look over the runied City, and at the very end. It's fitting. --=====================_818148696==_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" --=====================_818148696==_--