Free Shatnerquake by Jeff Burk Page A

looked at each other and then to Shatner’s body.   Blood oozed down the half-head.
     
    They turned to each other.   Bruce stared deeply into Bruce’s eyes.
     
    “I think it’s all over,” Bruce said.
     
    Bruce nodded.   “There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you,” she said.
     
    “Yes,” said Bruce.
     
    “I love—”
     
    The blast of red light emitted from Shatner’s head.   It tore through the room, leaving all non-living matter unharmed but it reduced Bruce and Bruce’s brains to runny sludge as it passed through them.   They fell to the ground holding each other.
     
    The light spread through the whole convention center.   It filled every room and overtook everyone.
     
    Then the light went out.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
     
    William Shatner came to.   He moved his head and it felt like a thousand Gorn were pounding inside.   He winced at the pain as he looked around the room.   It was empty but for the three Campbellians lying on the ground.   One had a gaping hole through his chest.   The other two didn’t look harmed but they were not breathing.
               
    He tried moving his body and the rope that had held his arms and legs in place easily broke away.   He looked at it and it looked like it had been burned through.  
               
    He turned around in the chair and looked behind him.   There really was no one else in the room.
               
    Where did the…me’s go?
               
    The last thing he could remember was the Campbellians putting the helmet on his head.   Then he went out.
               
    He looked down at his body and saw that his clothes were now fresh and clean.   It was the same suit he had been wearing before but all the blood stains and tears were gone, as if he had not been fighting for his life all day.  
               
    As he tried to stand up, the world violently spun about him.   He tried to steady himself but he fell right back into the captain’s chair.  
               
    He tried standing again and he fell to the floor.   Struggling, he managed to get to his hands and knees.   His head screamed in protest at the movement.  
     
    The turned-off lightsaber was on the floor in front of him.   He grabbed it and shoved it in the waistband of his pants.   If any of the Shatners were around, they would surely make short work of him in this condition but at least the weapon would give him a fighting chance.
               
    He crawled to the door of the tuborlift and pulled himself up the wall.   He paused to vomit and then the world had stopped moving slightly enough for him to stand on his own.   He pushed the button and the doors slid open.
               
    The next room of the museum, an exhibit based on “Incubus,” was empty of people.   So was the next one.   Shatner did not see any sign of another person until he managed to stagger to the lobby.
               
    The marble floors were carpeted with corpses.   Some had obviously been crushed to death by the crowd, their bodies mangled and mashed.   Some bodies displayed no signs of injury but it was obvious from their positions and stillness that they were all dead.  
               
    Shatner stood at the top of the lobby’s stairs and almost cried when he saw the sun shining in through the glass entranceway.   He half ran/half fell down the stairs and across the bodies.   His head and body screamed with pain in protest but he was too joyous to care.
               
    He reached the set of doors next to the wrecked ambulance and with great effort, managed to push aside the body of a skinny girl wearing Spock ears.
               
    He went into the revolving doors and pushed and found himself outside.   He rushed forward and threw himself onto the concrete.   The feel of fresh air as euphoric as a drug to him.
               
    He was vaguely aware of