Author's note: Once again, apologies for the delay. Hopefully, the next chapter won't take as long.

Oh, but before I begin this chapter, I would like to take this moment to express my sorrow over the recent passing of Lucasarts. They were an excellent gaming company, responsible for the creation of lots of great games, including Zombies Ate My Neighbors. Thus, they shall be missed.

Well, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 13

X X X

"And so, that's why you always pull the grenade pin by hand." Harry told the teens, "Cause if you try pulling it with your teeth, you'll only wind up pulling your teeth out."

"Ouch." Zeke replied, rubbing his mouth at the thought.

Soon, the M2 Bradley arrived at the church and the door at the back of the vehicle opened.

"Alright, boys, fall out." Harry ordered.

The soldiers began filing out of the vehicle, rifles at the ready. Harry left the vehicle after them, and drew his pistol. After making his way to the church entrance and ensuring that there were no monsters nearby, he motioned for Zeke and Julie to come.

"You were right." Zeke whispered to Julie, "Having an uncle in the Military is pretty cool."

Julie smiled and nodded in agreement, as the two of them exited the vehicle and ran up to him.

"Alright, you two, listen up." Harry told them, "From what I understand, the inside of the church is safe and secure, but the survivors there will be better cared for at the base. Plus, the priest there claims to have some information we could use and a little something else for you. So head inside, send the survivors through the door, and go through it yourselves. Contact me, once you've made it back and we'll-..."

"Uh, Sir?" one soldier cried, "Hate to interrupt, but we've got company!"

Harry looked and sure enough, a large mob of hungry-looking zombies was coming their way.

"Crap! Hurry! Go!"

The teens hastily saluted in response and ran to the church door, as Harry and his fellow soldiers set up a perimiter around the Bradley and began to open fire on the zombies. With trepidation, Zeke knocked on the heavy wooden door. After a moment, they heard movement on the other side, then an elderly man's voice.

"Yes? Who is there?"

Zeke cleared his throat.

"I'm Zeke and this is my girlfriend, Julie." he said, "I believe you sent for us and... uhh... aw, jeez... there was something we were supposed to say to you. Some kind of... secret phrase... what was it again, Julie?"

"Oh... I forget... something about some... light, I think?"

"Oh! Oh, it's you!" Father Vittorio responded, hastily removing the bar and unlocking the bolts on the door, "Yes, I have been expecting you. Please, come in!"

Zeke and Julie shrugged as the door opened and walked inside.

"I am glad you arrived when you did." Father Vittorio continued, as he shut the door behind them, "The monsters in the city seem to be avoiding this church, for the most part. However, we have very little supplies left and these people are starting to get a little worried."

"How many of them are there?" Zeke asked.

"Five, excluding myself. By the way, I understand you've acquired a means of transport; which you've been using to evacuate other survivors?"

"Oh, yeah." Julie replied, pulling out Lil' Sparky, "This thing here. It creates a door that leads to wherever its coordinates are set. And we've been using it to send them to Fort Wilhelm."

"Ah... most impressive. Oh! I almost forgot, I have something for you. Would you excuse me a moment?"

With that, Vittorio left. Soon afterwards, another figure approached them.

"You the guys who that are here to... Julie? Zeke?"

"Trevor!" Zeke cried in excitement.

Zeke ran to him and punched his shoulder.

"You tough son of a bitch! I knew you'd make it."

"Heh, yeah." Trevor replied, rubbing his arm, "Same to you, man. Nice specs. So... you're the guys that are here to save us?"

"Yeah, well... it's a long story." Julie told him, "And we don't have time to waste right now, so..."

"Right."

Trevor then turned and called to the other survivors, "Hey guys, they're here! Come on!"

X X X

Father Vittorio walked towards the church entrance with a heavy cardboard box in his hands. But he soon quickened his pace, after noticing a glowing exit door and observing the other survivors looking at it in amazement.

"Look, we'll explain later." Zeke said, "Just go! Hurry!"

Finally, the survivors shrugged at each other and walked through the door.

"Was that all five of them?" he asked.

Julie checked Lil' Sparky's radar screen.

"Yeah, that looks like everyone." she replied, "Now we'd better hurry and join them. This thing only has about six percent battery power remaining."

Vittorio nodded and hurried through, doing his best to be careful with the clanking contents of his box, and the teens followed him.

X X X

The zombie continued shambling towards the buffet, never acknowledging the fact that the food was fighting back, nor ever knowing what hit him as a bullet struck him in the head and rendered him lifeless once again.

"I think that's all of them, Sir."

Harry holstered his pistol and took a moment to survey the area, until he heard Zeke's voice on his radio.

"Houston, this is Dallas. Come in!"

"This is Houston." Harry responded, "You made it back to base, I trust?"

"Yeah, we're all here. Everyone's okay."

"Good. I'll see you back at base, but head to the mess hall first. You've earned yourselves a meal."

"Roger that, Houston." Zeke replied, a sense of relief clear in his voice, "Dallas out."

Harry then called to the troops, "Alright, men, we're outta here! Let's go!"

The soldiers, all too eager to obey, quickly boarded the Bradley.

X X X

Zeke rubbed his belly with delight, as he and Julie made their way to Harry's office.

"Said it before, and I'll say it again: damn good ribs!"

"Yeah..." Julie replied, pausing to burp, "...'scuse me."

She opened the door and the two of them walked into the office; where Julie's uncle and the priest they'd rescued were waiting for them. On Harry's desk was the box that the priest had brought with him.

"Welcome back." Harry told them, with a salute; which they returned.

"Yes, good to see you again." Vittorio added, "As I mentioned before, I have something for you here. Take a look."

Father Vittorio opened the box and the teens peered inside. The box contained several more holy water vials, even larger than the ones they'd used begore. Zeke and Julie's eyes went wide.

"Whoa..." Zeke said, picking up one, "These oughta last us a long while!"

"Yes, I have been saving these ones for you, as I knew you would soon be running low."

"Okay, so... what's the part you haven't told us yet?" Julie asked.

"Ah, yes... you mean about my good friend, Michael. The man who has been supplying you on your mission."

Vittorio gestured towards two chairs nearby and the teens sat down to listen. Vittorio returned to his seat and began to speak.

"It was just last month, the night before all of these incidents started happening, that I received a call from Michael. He couldn't go into details, but informed me of a mad scientist; by the name of Dr. Tongue, who was attempting to destroy this city."

"That's right!" Julie cut in, "That's what the note said! The one that came with the package on your doorstep, Zeke!"

"Yeah..." Zeke added, "something about... revenge after some experiments of his failed."

"Indeed." Vittorio continued, "And Michael seems to be the only one who knows how to stop those creations of his. However, he claimed that he could not do it alone and would have to seek help. That, I presume, is where you two came in. I do not know if he had a reason for choosing you specifically, but- if everything your uncle has told me is true- then I believe you were the perfect choice."

The teens smiled in response.

"Thanks." Zeke replied.

Harry looked at Julie with a hint of concern.

"I don't think I want to send you two back to monster mashing so soon though." he said, "You look you could do with some rest."

"Yeah... come to think of it, I've been a bit tired since we arrived here from our last mission." Julie replied, "I couldn't really sleep very well last night either. In fact, I've been up since... about the crack of dawn."

"Arrived... dawn..." Zeke muttered.

He snapped his fingers.

"The light of dawn has arrived! That's the phrase we were supposed to say back at the church! ...What?"

X X X

"This is what the targets look like." Dr. Weisman told the vampire, as he handed him a photo, "Their names are Julie Summers and Zeke Davis."

The vampire looked at the photo; which showed the teens blasting away at a mob of zombies around them. He licked his lips at the sight of their necks.

'Can't wait to taste their blood!' he thought.

"Right now, they're believed to be taking refuge at the Fort Wilhelm Military base." Dr. Weisman continued, "...And don't get any funny ideas! Dr. Tongue wants them brought here ALIVE, to be given his 'special treatment.' Is that clear?"

The vampire sighed in resignation.

"Yes." he replied, "I will bring them here alive."

He pocketed the photo, grumbling to himself as he walked away.

"If only it wasn't for that blasted artifact, and those stupid religious symbols around those scientists' necks..." he muttered to himself.

X X X

To be Continued