[Galaxy Of Fear] - 02(32)

“Blasted coward,” Evazan cursed. He looked around for the nearest zombie. “Kairn! Stop them!” he ordered.

The undead Necropolitan gave a slight twitch and started forward.

Deevee had grabbed hold of several chemicals on Evazan’s table and had already begun to mix them together. Zak stood between Kairn and the working droid.

“Kairn, stop! You still have your memory! You’re not a zombie slave!”

Kairn twitched. Zak thought he saw a flicker of life in his friend’s darkened eyes. “Zak…”

“I’ve almost got it!” Deevee exclaimed.

Kairn growled and took another step forward. “Kairn!” Zak pleaded. “If you’ve still got your memories then you can still think for yourself. You don’t need to follow his orders!”

Kairn blinked. He seemed to be struggling with himself. He took another step forward, then rocked back on his heels. He seemed to be fighting against Evazan’s command.

“I have it!” Deevee shouted. He held up a large glass vial of purple liquid. “A small portion of this on the skin will break down the chemical reaction.”

“But how do we get it on the zombies?” Zak asked.

Evazan saw his hold on Kairn slipping. “Kairn, get that vial! Bring it to me!”

Kairn lunged forward. He shoved Zak out of the way, then forced the vial out of Deevee’s hands.

“Kairn! No!” Zak cried.

The zombie Kairn ignored him. He staggered toward Evazan, who roared in triumph and reached out for the vial.

But Kairn shoved Evazan out of the way as well.

Zak saw Boba Fett firing madly. The bounty hunter seemed to have lost some of his cool calm. His back was to the wall. Every zombie that he blasted away returned again. He probably couldn’t hold them off much longer.

Boba Fett fired at the closest zombie, but his shot went wild and the creature lunged at him. Its powerful hands seized his armor and lifted him off his feet. Fett tried to fire his blaster, but before he could, another zombie came up behind the first and splashed a small drop of liquid onto the first creature’s face. Instantly the zombie screamed, and its grip weakened. Boba Fett regained his balance as the zombie fell limply to the floor.

Kairn had already done the same to many of the zombies in the crowd. The last of them turned on him, struggling to get the vial from his hands. Kairn fought back, dousing them with the remainder of the liquid. The zombies collapsed. But as the last one fell, it stumbled against Kairn, and some of the purple serum splashed onto him as well. He cried out, then fell forward, collapsing on top of the heap of bodies.

“Blast!” Evazan cursed.

Boba Fett dropped his blaster and pulled the vial out of Kairn’s hand. A small pool of purple liquid still lay in the bottom of the glass. Fett hurled it straight at Evazan. The vial shattered as it struck the evil doctor, splashing purple liquid all across his scarred face.

Evazan screeched, dropping to his knees. He gave a violent twitch, then fell face-first to the ground.

Zak and Deevee rushed to the cell and freed Hoole and Tash. Tash threw her arms around her brother, and Zak returned her hug. Unnoticed by either of them, Hoole smiled.

Deevee was the first to speak. “I believe we can make larger quantities of this antidote and spread it around Necropolis. It should take care of the zombies terrorizing the city.”

Hoole nodded. “Excellent work, Deevee. It seems you’ve been able to use your vast brain power after all.”

The droid simulated a shrug. “A momentary distraction.”

Only Pylum had escaped the violent battle. But he didn’t get far. They found his lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs. His neck was broken and his face was frozen in an expression of fear.

“What do you suppose happened to him?” Zak wondered.

Hoole pointed up the stairs to the great iron doors above them. “The doors were too heavy for him to open,” Hoole guessed. “He probably slipped while trying to push them and fell down the stairs.”

“I would agree with your theory, Master Hoole,” Deevee noted, “except that Zak and I were careful to leave the doors open.”

“Well, they’re closed now,” Tash said.

“Then perhaps the Curse of Sycorax found its victim after all,” Hoole said darkly.

With Boba Fett’s help, they were able to push one of the doors open. As soon as they were out of the crypt, Hoole looked at Boba Fett. “We owe you our thanks.”

“You owe nothing,” the bounty hunter stated. He stood up. “I like to finish what I start. I wanted Evazan. I needed the boy to lead me to him.”

Hoole’s next question caught Tash’s attention. “And that other matter we discussed earlier?” the Shi’ido asked Boba Fett. “Will you take that job?”