5th December, 1985

Previously on Stranger Things 3: After Hawkins Lab seize control of Bradley's Big Buy in search of their escaped test subject, the gang come up with a plan to escape. However, they soon discover that the Shapeshifter is on the loose, hiding somewhere in the supermarket.

"You're all clear," said Lucas, whispering through the walkie-talkie.

"Copy that," said Hopper. He lowered his walkie-talkie, then said, "C'mon, let's go," ushering Kenny to follow him down the aisle.

Noticing Lucas perched atop one of the aisles across the supermarket, his binoculars around his neck, Hopper nodded.

"That kid better not let us down," Kenny whispered. "He's our eyes and ears out here."

"Don't worry," said Hopper. "Lucas won't let us down."

"I hope you're right," Kenny replied. "I dunno what's got Brenner so spooked, but he's ordered his men to shoot first, and ask questions later."

They came to the edge of the aisle, and Hopper's walkie-talkie crackled. "Stop," urged Lucas.

Hopper thumbed the walkie-talkie. "What is it?" he asked.

"3 o'clock," warned Lucas. "Two soldiers, coming your way."

Hopper gulped, and lowered his walkie-talkie. "I've got an idea," he told Kenny.

"What is it?" asked Kenny, his eyes wide with fear.

Suddenly, Hopper grabbed Kenny collar, swung him around, and threw him onto the floor.

Kenny slid against the ceramic tiles, landing at the soldiers' feet.

"What the hell?" said one of the soldiers, raising his gun at Kenny.

Hopper approached Kenny, then turned to the soldiers. He pointed at Kenny, then said, "It's him! He's the Shapeshifter!"

The soldiers shared a concerned look, then turned to Kenny, their weapons armed.

"Don't move," the other solider ordered, pointing his gun in Kenny's face. "We've got you now."

Hopper turned to Kenny, and winked.

Placing himself behind on the soldiers, Hopper stomped the back of their knee, and pulled their head up. He wrapped his arm around their neck, and clamped his hand over his mouth.

"Hey!" the other solider yelled, pointing his gun at Hopper.

Kenny kicked the solider in the shin, causing him to cry out in pain. He rose to his feet, grabbed his gun, and wrestled it out of his hands.

Meanwhile, Hopper continued to choke the solider, until his entire body became limp, and Hopper let him fall to the floor.

Kenny snatched the gun out of the other soldier's hands, and pressed the trigger.

The gunshot was soft and clean, and Kenny noticed a dart fire into the soldier's neck.

The solider became drowsy. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell to the floor, landing with a thud.

Beside him, Hopper caught his breath, and put his hand on Kenny's shoulder.

Kenny turned to Hopper. "You could have warned me," he said.

Hopper snatched the gun from out of Kenny's hands, and ejected the magazine. He poured a pile of darts into his hand. "Sedatives," he uttered.

"I don't understand," said Kenny. "Why are Brenner's men using tranquilizers?"

"Because, they're not trying to kill the Shapeshifter," Hopper realised. "They're trying to capture it."

"Hopper," Lucas' voice cried from the other side of the walkie-talkie. "There are more of them!"

Lucas was right. Hopper could hear voices.

Hopper looked down at the two soldiers at their feet. "We're gonna have to move these bodies," he said.

"Wait a minute," said Kenny, before turning to Hopper. "This time, I've got an idea."

"She needs to go to a hospital!" Jonathan yelled.

"She needs to be quiet," said the solider, his eyes narrowed.

"Please," Nancy begged, cradling Joyce in her arms, "tell Dr. Brenner, if she isn't taken to a hospital, she's going to die."

From down the aisle, another solider approached, clutching his gun.

"What's going on here?" the approaching solider asked.

Jonathan rose to his feet, his fists clenched. "I wanna speak to Dr. Brenner," he demanded.

"Nobody's going anywhere," the solider assured him, pointing his gun at Jonathan.

"Jonathan, don't!" Mike yelled.

"What are you gonna do?" asked Jonathan, coaxing the soldiers. "Are you gonna shoot me?"

"Jonathan!" Nancy cried.

The soldiers exchanged a concerned look. One of them nodded, and the other cocked his gun.

Suddenly, Jonathan was shoved out of the line of fire.

Steve Harrington threw his fist into one of the soldiers' face, breaking his nose, and squirting blood across his face.

The soldier fell to the floor, where he cried in pain as he clutched at his broken nose.

"Son of a bitch," the other solider cursed, before wringing Steve's neck.

Steve was choking. He tried to wriggle free, but the solider was stronger than he was.

Steve heard a thwip, and noticed a dart in the soldier's neck.

"I'm… gonna… kill…" the solider slurred. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he came crashing to the floor.

Steve caught his breath. Down the aisle, another solider approached.

"You okay?" the solider asked, approaching Steve.

Steve was still panting. He nodded, and the solider pulled off his headgear.

"Good," said Hopper, smiling. "Now, let's get the hell outta here."

Across the supermarket, Dustin could hear the desperate cries of his friends.

He began to run, but from around the corner, one of Dr. Brenner's soldiers appeared.

Dustin's trainers squeaked as he skidded to a halt.

"You!" the solider yelled. "What are you doing wandering around at this time of night?"

Dustin panicked. "I… Uh…"

The solider reached for his firearm.

Behind him, a figure appeared from around the corner of the aisle.

Dustin recognized his curly hair, and his oddly colored sunglasses - one lens blue, the other red.

"Dr. Tamblyn!" Dustin cried. He'd never been so happy to see the doctor.

The solider spun around, his eyes wide with amazement when he recognized the doctor. "Doc," he uttered. "You're not dead!"

"Not dead," Dr. Tamblyn uttered in a soft, quiet voice.

Dustin's eyes narrowed in confusion. Something was definitely wrong.

Dr. Tamblyn's arm began to drip with thick slime.

"You alright, Doc?" the solider asked, confused.

Dr. Tamblyn's arm began to twist, slowly transforming into scaly, slimy flesh, with a razor-sharp point.

It was the Shapeshifter.

"I knew it!" Dustin yelled. "I always knew it!"

The Shapeshifter drove its point through the soldier, piercing his heart, and digging all the way through his flesh, until he was able to lift the solider off of his feet and into the air.

"Hey, kid!" a voice from behind Dustin yelled.

Behind him, another solider rushed down the aisle, armed with a shotgun.

"Get down!" the solider yelled.

Dustin dropped to the floor, and a loud explosion followed.

He heard the creature screech in pain, as it was knocked off its feet, and landed with a thud.

The solider removed his headgear, and approached Dustin, before offering him his hand.

"You alright, kid?" asked Kenny, lifting Dustin to the ground.

"Yeah, I think so," said Dustin, before a chilling guttural roar caused him to look over his shoulder.

There it was. The Shapeshifter. Standing only feet across from them. Its mouth spread open like flower petals, bearing its razor sharp teeth.

"I'm gonna need a bigger gun," Kenny realized.

Next time: ?

-G