Harrison thinks for a second. He then finally accepts.
"Alright. Laura! This magic trick is for you!" Harrison said. He performs some tricks, without using the book while Frank takes pictures, giving a thumbs up after a few.
"Come on Frank. Hurry up." Rebecca said.
"Frank West? Don't know what he's doing here but I'm glad. He saved out butts." Ben said low.
"How about I get a picture of a little improv? Take this hanger." Frank says as he throws it towards the man.
Harrison's back was turned, and was a little confused as to why Frank would just throw a hanger at him.
"Come on you three!" Rebecca said in a low voice, getting their attention.
"Who are you?" Gwen asked.
"Rebecca Chang, KDED reporter. I'm here to help you three get out and get you to safety." She told them.
"You were on the radio!" Ben said. "That must mean you're working with Frank West!" Ben said low.
"That man has people held hostage in the fitting rooms over there! If we don't get them out, he'll kill them. We have to go back." Max said.
"Noted but let Frank and I handle it. You three look like you'll get yourselves back in trouble again, and I won't exactly be thrilled having to save the same survivors again." Rebecca said.
"We're not survivors. We came here to rescue other survivors from out of here." Gwen said.
"And look how that turned out for you. You were about to be killed. You look like some good people, but you should get out of here now while you have a chance." Rebecca told them.
Suddenly, Ben's watch made a sound that got the attention of Harrison. It was charged. But it also got the attention of Harrison as he turned around.
"Nice going kid." Rebecca said.
"What? They're getting away! This was a distraction!" Harrison said.
"Damn it!" Frank said to himself.
"Seize them all!" Harrison instructed.
Frank was able to hold them off with ease, with a combination of using the metal rod he had picked up and hand to hand, wrestling and other movies to go through the zombies with little to no problem.
Another one got behind him and he grabbed it by the arm. He swung it a couple of times before tossing it into a group of zombies. He had a clear enough path to try and make a run for it. The problem was getting past Harrison.
To try and get his attention, he threw the metal rod he had at the ground towards the fitting room. The clang of the metal had drew his attention.
He made a run for it. As he was running Harrison noticed him and tries to blast him. Frank did a leaping dodge but the explosion caused him to fly towards Rebecca and the others. He was able to get up and they were able to take cover behind those same clothes. But more zombies were coming.
"Nice job Frank. But we have another problem. These three say there are survivors in that fitting room over there." Rebecca said.
"Alright, but how are we gonna get back over there without taking a chest full of magic?" Frank West said.
"I have an idea." Ben said.
"Alright kid, spill it." Frank said.
"You guys save the people in the fitting room. I have someone who can take care of the rest." Ben said, smiling before he continued. "Where did you go to get behind him Mr. West?" Ben asked.
"Please, call me Frank. But I went down there. Then I took two rights and finally a left. Why?" Frank asked, curious.
"Just sit tight, you'll know the signal when you see it." Ben said before taking off.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Rebecca said.
"He's gonna get himself killed." Frank said.
"He'll be fine. Trust me. Right now, we have to make sure we survive against these zombies." Max said, taking a fighting stance against the zombies.
While Ben was running, he pushed the button on the omnitrix to push the dial up. He turned it and chose XLR8 before slamming it.
After transforming he said, "Gotta go fast!" Before his visor slides down and he speeds off.
He speeds around in less than a second around.
"Hey! Poor man's Hex! Catch me if you can!" XLR8 taunted.
Harrison blasts him and sends zombies his way before XLR8 simply dodges them all and speed blitzes the zombies.
"Aw man! I just cleaned this visor!" XLR8 says after blitzing through all of them.
"I'm guessing there's the distraction." Frank said as he takes a picture of the action.
Max simply nods as they make a break for the fitting room.
They each open the four doors of the fitting rooms.
In the door that Frank opens, he says, "You're gonna be alright. Let's get you out of here."
He gets all of the survivors out and they're grouped with all of the other survivors that the Tennysons had saved.
"Hey, you guys saved us. Now let us return the favor. We can get these zombies off your backs while you take care of the ringleader." One of the survivors said.
Frank simply nodded. All of them, Frank included had went to another part of the sports section to get anything useful that could be used. Frank, in particular got a baseball bat and a hockey stick. He handed the baseball bat to one of the survivors. He had an idea that involved the hockey stick and pucks so it was all he needed for now.
Harrison was getting frustrated. "Darn it! Stand still!"
Ben simply blew a raspberry at him. He noticed Frank behind him. From the looks of things, he had an idea. He had to distract him a little longer.
He kept running circles around him but his watch was about to time out.
"Sorry! Gotta go!" Ben said before speeding off, trying to find a spot to hide before reverting back to normal.
Harrison was a little confused as to what happened. But it was enough for Frank to send hockey pucks flying towards his feet. Turning around was Harrison's mistake, because he would proceed to slip on the pucks and fall, dropping the book.
He would try to reach for the book, but Frank would sprint and kick the book away. Trying to go the opposite direction of Frank he would run right into Max and fall.
"You're done." Max said sternly, with his arms crossed.
Ben suddenly appeared, running towards them. "So, what'd I miss?"
The survivors were taking care of the rest of the zombies, fortunately for him. No longer having the book, they would have turned on him. Sure, he would put up a fight, but it's easier said than done saying that you'd single handedly survive a horde of zombies. Even if Frank himself did it. Thankfully, they would have some sort of a chance to breathe as people were smart enough to flee before things started to get really bad like Willamette did, so that meant the outbreak wouldn't be as big. Maybe the military had thought this would blow over, or maybe they truly just haven't arrived yet. No one knows for sure.
Harrison didn't even bother to try and throw a punch at any of them. What was even the point? He got up but decided to just sit instead.
"All I wanted was for my daughter to have a life. They took it from her." Harrison said. "She was my source of magic. I did all of this for her." He continued. He shook his head. "She could have been anything. The next astronaut. The first woman as president. Anything…" He trailed off.
"Hey. You mind answering a few questions?" Frank asked, sitting as well.
He threw his hands up in a "why not" manner before saying, "Shoot."
"The zombie infections. Do you know how this happened?" Frank asked.
"No. I was in the store shopping with my daughter. Then the infection started. I was more worried about getting my daughter out alive. You can see how that turned out." Harrison answered.
"You said 'they.' Who are you talking about?" Frank continued.
"Pair of scientists. One of them might have been a pharmacist I can't really remember right now. Wanted to make the first vaccine for this infection. Sounded great but the way they did it was wrong. Taking zombie samples and injecting and infecting people just to engineer a cure." Harrison answered.
"Could they be working for Phenotrans?" Rebecca asked.
"Couldn't have been. They talked about making more money than Phenotrans ever would with a permanent solution. When people work at a place, they usually give away something that only guys on the inside know. Unless they were really good about not letting certain info get out, it didn't seem like they worked there. Heck, if you wanna talk to em yourself one of them are out here somewhere. Guy was running for his life from the zombies. Could be dead, could be alive who knows and who cares. Other guy is either dead or he turned. Accidentally got his own syringe injected into himself. They get whatever they get." Harrison answered.
"Then we've basically gotten nowhere." Frank said.
A few seconds passed and Frank talked to Harrison again. "Listen. I'm sorry for what happened to your daughter I really am. But killing people just to bring her back? You don't know if that would have worked. And even if it did it's still not the answer. What would have happened if you did bring her back? What would you have told her? 'Hey I killed a bunch of people to bring you back.' How do you think she would have felt? You thought she would have been okay with that? Proud?" Frank west said.
He continued. "Sounds like these scientists had that 'sacrifice a few to save them all mentality.' The same one you had when you did all of this. If so, then you're no better than they were." Frank said.
Harrison nodded a few times. "Listen. If there's anything else I can do to help. Anything. Let me know. Doesn't take back what I did. But I can try my best to make it right. Here, take this. You'll have more use for it than me." He said, handing Frank the book on the last sentence.
Frank nodded. "For now though, we need to take you all somewhere safe." Frank said.
"There's a warehouse we found that was closed off. The back door is cemented shut and the only way in is through drop down garage door." Gwen told him.
"Alright then. We'll take you guys there and then we'll stick around to get some more info." Frank said.
"We have a helicopter. It won't arrive until we give the word, but he said it'll be about 4-5 hours after we give the go ahead for it to arrive. When we give the go ahead we'll come back and get you." Frank said.
Ben goes to get Gwen's spell book and gives it to her. He
"Thanks." Gwen said.
"If the garage door is the only way to get in, how were you guys able to open it?" Rebecca asked.
"We have our ways." Ben said, trying not to reveal too much.
Frank and Rebecca simply looked at each with an "is he serious" expression on their faces.
"Take us there." Frank said.
As they were walking, Frank noticed the watch on the boy. He had never seen that kind of watch before.
"Hey kid?" He said, trying to get Ben's attention.
After he did, he continued. "Ben, was it? Nice watch. Where'd you get it?"
"Thanks. Gift shop. Only one of its kind." Ben said.
Frank nodded.
"Gwen, right? Take this. I think you'll use it better than I ever will." Frank says before handing the book to her.
As they were getting close to leaving the store, Ben said that he had to use the bathroom just as his watch made a sound. It was charged. Ben told them that he would catch up. Frank suggested that someone come with him in case another zombie attacked but Max had told him that he can fend for himself, despite suggesting numerous times. Even though he thought it was a bad idea, he didn't try to push it anymore and they had went on ahead
Ben found a bathroom. The truth was, he really did have to go. But it was perfect timing since he could transform and open the garage door. After he went, he noticed a few zombies still left in the supermarket. He transformed and made quick work of them.
Frank and the others noticed the green flash and the zombie sounds coming from the store. Suddenly, a red, four-armed alien had emerged, strangely wearing the same shirt that Ben did.
"Tell those zombies that when you mess with the alien, you get the arms!" Ben said, using one of his arms to point at himself.
"Alright, so I've been told that you guys need a door opened?" Ben asked before telling them to stand aside as he opened the garage door.
Frank took some pictures of the four-armed thing. Huh, this thing's wearing the same shirt as that kid. And he's been gone for a little bit too long for a normal bathroom break.
"Now that they're in a safe place, we should probably get food for until the helicopter arrives." Max said.
The others simply nodded and Four-Arms opened the door again.
Ben decided he would just transform back to get back with the group. "Later!" He said, still as four-arms. He walked to the other side of the warehouse out of sight and there was a red flash. Ben, as himself walked back to the group.
"Ben, I don't like how he's taking pictures of your aliens." Gwen told him.
"Why? Jealous?" Ben asked.
"What? No. What if he uses the pictures and puts two-and-two together? If he releases those pictures in his next story coverage, or book, then the whole world, including villains will know you personally and will try to come after your family. You know, the ones who can't fight back." Gwen said.
"You're right. But how are we gonna get that camera away from him?" Ben asked and thought.
"When we enter the supermarket. You go alien, and you figure out a way to get the camera away from him and delete the pictures of the aliens." Gwen said.
Ben nodded. They headed towards the supermarket again for food. Suddenly, they heard a helicopter.
"Everybody hide!" Frank said.
They hid inside of a convenience store, next to a gas station.
"That's not our helicopter. Probably the military's. They're probably checking the place to see if it's worth unloading on. If they see us, they'll shoot." Frank told them.
The helicopter went over the city a couple of times. On the second, they started to shoot but not in their direction. They either found zombies and/or unlucky survivors. If it were survivors, Frank felt bad for them. They were pretty much guaranteed to die. When it came to this operation, there would be no survivors. Anything that moves will be shot on sight.
"Sergeant William this is Charlie Masters from Alpha Team-1, over." The pilot said.
"Go ahead Charlie, over." The sergeant told him.
"We found little to no movement. Looks like the zombies have gone to eating themselves, or people took a hint and started to skip town early, over." Charlie told him.
"Looks like our job has been done for us then. Head on back. Over and out."
"Roger. Over and out."
The helicopter flew away. They waited a few minutes just to be safe and they walked out of the station, continuing towards the supermarket.
10:30 AM
Gary, Indiana
A man on a mutant frog with green skin, a man with red clothing and pale gray skin holding a staff, and a teenager with purple clothes and white hair were seen tearing through the roads of Indiana.
"Remember what we came here for!" The green-skinned man said to the other two with him. The man with red clothing and a staff nodded.
The three were headed towards a small group of military. They weren't blockading the place, but they certainly weren't going to just let anyone get past them either.
"Head on back. Over and out." One of them said. Suddenly, he seen one of his men pointing at something and looked at the direction at where he was pointing.
"What in the world?" The man said.
"Open fire!" The military unloaded their might on the three, but it proved to be ineffective.
"This is Sergeant William! We have resistance! We need backup, repeat, we need-" He was cut off by the sound of a tongue whipping towards him and wrapping around his body before he started to scream.
"William? William come in!" A woman said on the other end.
"Idiots. They let the zombies overcome them instead of just taking out the problem from the get-go." The woman continued.
"Send in more reinforcements. Take care of this, before it becomes a problem." She nodded to a figure beside her.
The figure was revealed to be a man and he simply walked out.
The woman turned her attention back to a screen that was labeled 'Phenotrans' and clasped her hands together, covering her mouth.