Chapter 4.

Frederick Nicholas had been the projectionist at the Sun Cinema for nearly fifty years. And, in all that time, he had never once thought to buy something more up-to-date than the gold-plated pocket watch he had been using for forty of them.

When asked why not, he always gave the same reply:

"Why bother? This has always kept better track of time, for me, than any of those new-fangled electronic toys that people sport around on their wrists!"

Right now, it was showing him that there was still twenty minutes to go, before the night shift manager opened the doors to the public. A public who were already stretched half-way around the block for this year's "Mon-stival!"

Which is why he was surprised when the manager entered the projection booth...accompanied by four costumed strangers.

"Mr. Zackeroff? Are we opening ahead of schedule, this year?"

"No..., Fred," replied the latter (in a strange, halting manner of speech): "It's simply...that these...gentlemen...have...a special...pass."

Fred frowned: "I didn't hear anything at the staff meeting about special passes."

Whereupon, the one dressed like Dracula turned to his left.

"Show him, Wolfie. Bleh! Bleh!"

This was followed by the one dressed as the Wolfman howling at the ceiling-at a volume too loud for any human throat to simulate-and then springing at Fred!

"ROWR-ROWRRRRR!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Seconds later, Dracula ordered the mesmerized manager to produce the canisters of film he had already requested. And, Samuel Zackeroff willingly (if somewhat clumsily) obliged. Producing a pair of them; one bearing the label "The Blob (1988)." Another labeled "Night of the Living Dead (1990)."

Dracula put the latter on top of the former, before placing both in the center of the room. He then turned to the Mummy and asked:

"Kharis! Do you have the Necronomicon?"

The Mummy nodded and held up the indicated spell book.

"Then, give it to me, and we shall begin. Bleh! Bleh!"

A moment later, Dracula was chanting something in a little-known Middle Eastern dialect called "Kandarian." A chant that stopped...only when both film canisters became enveloped in a viscous pink goo. Sort of like molten bubble gum!

"By the power of the Ancient Old Ones," said Dracula (resuming English): "...you are mine to command. And, I command you to make living dead out of those outside this theater! But, first? Do the same to these two."

He gestured to Zackeroff, and the late Fred Nicholas.

SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL,

TEN MINUTES EARLIER

Darth Vader looked at the beings surrounding them. They were similar, in build, to the Feeorin humanoids of his native galaxy. Except Feeorin cranial tendrils were much thicker than the ones that passed for hair on these creatures.

"M-M-Master?" stuttered the mind-controlled Jeannie: "W-What should we do?"

"Teleport to the roof of this structure," he commanded: "And, stay there until I call you back."

"Yes, Master."

Whereupon, she folded her arms across her breast, and blinked. An act that seemed to startle the six humanoids before him! Yet, as much as he wanted to revel in that small pleasure, the Sith-lord decided against it. Reuniting with the Emperor must take first priority. So, instead, he addressed the aliens.

"I have no business with you, tonight. Leave now, while you can. Or, endure this..."

He illustrated his meaning by using his lightsaber to vertically slash the left and right sides of the front door before him, followed by a horizontal slash to its top. A second later, with just the mildest application of the Force, it toppled to the ground. Vader then looked at the aliens, who were looking at each other.

The next moment, some sort of miniature blaster rose up from behind each one's right shoulder.

From the roof top overlooking the scene, Jeannie watched as a series of small red blurs converged on a larger red blur. Only to be repelled with unfailing accuracy. What was more; the fusillade stopped only when two of the smaller red blurs wound up going through the skulls of two of the alien humanoids!

Immediately following this, the four survivors changed tactics. One of them fired a metallic net at Vader, who telekinetically intercepted it...and re-routed it. Ensnaring a second humanoid who was charging him from behind. As a result, the net pinned this humanoid to the ground, where it began to constrict him with the power of a thousand Burmese pythons!

Very skinny, and razor-sharp, pythons.

While that was happening, a third humanoid tried to impale the Sith-lord through the chest with some sort of telescoping javelin! But, Vader deftly spun about, and cut it in half. He then used the momentum of that spin to slash backwards. Disemboweling the javelin's wielder! He did not let the humanoid suffer, however.

The latter was mercifully decapitated, instead.

By the time Vader returned his attention to what should have been only two survivors, he found out there were actually three. The netted alien having used retractable metal claws (one set per gauntlet) to slice through the net and set himself free. It was at this point, though, that help arrived from an unexpected quarter.

Fenestra and Will Robinson came running up the terraced slope, to the high school. Still being pursued by a pack of vengeful gremlins.

"G-Giles!" a stammering Willow Rosenberg excitedly exclaimed: "That redhead in the Old School Trekkie outfit. Isn't that...?"

"Not now, Willow!" snapped the Watcher: "We have to get to Ethan's Costume Shop and break this spell."

tbc