The

By Rand B. Einfeldt

“The O.Z.”By Rand Einfeldt

This is a Steamed Punk adaption from the original story “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ”

by L. Frank BaumIt doesn’t cover the whole story, but rather the origin of how Dorothy meets the characters

before they enter The Emerald City.

Af er a tremendous tornado storm a girl named

Afer a tremendous tornado storm. Dorothy found herself in an unknown territory.

While walking she came across a sign that read: “Welcome to The Outbreak Zone. All Dead Here!”

“Not much of a welcome!” Thought Dorothy as she examined the sign more.She has never heard of a place called The Outbreak Zone,

at least nowhere near her home in Kansas. It was then that she began to realize that

she wasn’t in Kansas anymore, but what puzzled her more was the word

“Outbreak.”An Outbreak of what Afer reading the sign,

Dorothy saw what appeared to be a metallic statue of

a man near a tree and an axe..Af er a tremendous tornado storm a girl named

To her surprise…She thought she saw the statue blink. She came closer to the tin-man, and it

blinked again, but this time it screamed!“Get me out of here!”

“This wasn’t a statue at all!” Dorothy thought. It was a live person trapped inside a human shell.

“Are you deaf!?! I said get me out of here!” Yelled the captive.Dorothy was slow to the enslaved figure, because of its rudeness. She wanted to see who wanted to get out of

this bodied prison, before she let it free. So she removed the headpiece and saw that it wasn’t a

normal person, but that it was a…

VAMPIRE!!!Dorothy shrieked in fear and nearly lost her footing when she saw the vampire’s smiling razor sharp

teeth and soulless eyes, all upon her.She was about to ready her crossbow. Then the monster began to explain himself.

“Don’t be afraid little girl!” The vampire cries. “I’m not going to hurt you, I promise.”“Who are you?” Dorothy mumbled.

“My name is Tarren. I am a Vampire.”“No joke!” Dorothy said under her breath.

“I was imprisoned here by The Wicked Green Witch of The West, because of her jealousy towards my love for her sister. Now that ‘my love’ is gone, I want to be free from these bands and seek revenge on The Wicked Witch for breaking my

‘heart!’ I am told that The Great Wizard of The O.Z. would be the person to help me get what I want. If you let me go, I will be on my way.

I promise... I won’t bite.”

“If I let you free,” Dorothy continues. “Will you take me with you to this wizard? If he is as ‘great’ as you say he is. Maybe he can get me home to Kansas.”

“Deal!” Tarren grinned.As Dorothy began to break free the bloodthirsty corpse, Tarren nervously asked her questions.

“So Kansas Girl what is your name?”“My name is Dorothy.” She responds.

“How did you come here?” Tarren continued.“My friend Scott Grow and I… Oh no!” Dorothy stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Tarren asked.“My friend Scott!” Dorothy exclaims. “He was in the house with me before the tornado came and brought us here! We’ve

gotta go look for him!”“Uh oh!” Tarren worried.

“What?” Dorothy wondered“It’s not good to be lost in The O. Z.” Tarren cautioned.

“O.Z.?” Questioned Dorothy“The Outbreak Zone!” Clarified Tarren

“I’ve been meaning to ask you…” Dorothy resumes as she removed the shackles. “What is the ‘outbreak’?”

Tarren shook his head with discomfort, took a big breath and whispered,

“Zombies.”

Dorothy and Tarren began their quest to search for Scott,

before he was taken over by the undead.

They looked everywhere for him! They began yelling his name.

“Scott!?!”“Scott!?!”

“Where are you?”“Answer us!”

There was no answer. Both Dorothy and Tarren began to lose hope. Then

all of a sudden, they heard some rustling and bustling in the cornfield near a Scarecrow that was

surrounded by hungry crows.To their astonishment the movement was

coming from the Scarecrow itself.

“Scott Grow!?!” Dorothy screamed.

“It is you! Are you ok? Why do you look so pale?”

“Were you bit!?!” Tarren demanded from Scott.“Bit?” Scott doubted. “N-no, I was scratched. Some local farmers tied me up here and said that a magical

green witch would take care of me.”“Don’t worry, we’ll get you down from there!” Dorothy

said hopefully.“We can’t take him with us.”

“Why?”“Bit or scratched by a zombie, it is only a matter of time before

he becomes one of those things. And when he does, he’ll be

wanting Brains.”“Maybe we can take Scott to The Wizard to help him.” Dorothy

suggests. “If he can help you avenge your love, and if he can return me home to Kansas, then he can cure Scott before he hungers for brains.”

“I dunno.” Tarren says

unsurely. “If we’re gonna take him, then we’re gonna bind his hands behind his back, and cover his mouth with something. So that if he

does turn, he won’t be able to scratch or bite.”

“Is there no other way?” Scott inquired.

“I can remove your jaw and cut off your arms, if you like?” Tarren says with a smirk.

Being afraid of loosing his arms and ability to speak, Scott agreed to the terms and joined the party.

The trio were on their way to see The Wizard, in hope of bettering their situations.

But they had to be quick. The full moon was ascending with the black night,

and time was running fast. But that wasn’t the only thing

that was running fast…

They later

found themselves

surrounded by carnivorous wolves

that loved eating lions, tigers and

bears.“Oh My!” Screamed Dorothy, “Look, they

injured that young wolf over there.”

“I’d be more worried about these wolves coming afer us over here,

than that wounded wolf, if I were you.” Tarren strongly suggested as he drew his

axe.Dorothy followed with her crossbow.

Scott wanted to join the fight. Tarren reluctantly let him free from his bonds, since there were three

of them against a huge pack. Scott was glad to put his “enhanced” zombie abilities to the test.

Tarren swung his axe

lef and right, slashing and

cutting any wolf that came

within each windmill blows.

Dorothy shot her arrows near and far with amazing

accuracy. Making sure the tip of the arrow pierced to the very heart of

the oncoming blood lusted predators.Scott Grow clawed his way through

each wolf ’s jugular leaving them gasping for air as they drowned in their own pool of blood.

Afer the battle

was won, the trio found

that the lone wolf that was cruelly lef behind

to die wasn’t an ordinary wolf. This wolf was a Lycan, a

Werewolf that should’ve been lef alone to start with. But to

the trio’s disbelief the Lycan was crying a river of tears

uncontrollably.“Awww…” Dorothy adored, as she approached the frightened Lycan.

“Careful Dorothy!” Tarren warned, but Dorothy still persisted.

“He’s harmless.” Dorothy says with a smile while brushing the Lycan’s hair with her hand.

“What’s your name.” Dorothy says sofly to the young Lycan.

“Ra-Rand.” The terrified Lycan stammered.“How did you get into this ‘dog pile’ Rand?”

“I followed this loin named Ben. He told me that a green witch would help me turn back into a human for good, but it was a trap.

There were wolves everywhere. I trusted that lion.”“Why didn’t you fight back?” Interrogated Tarren.

“I’m afraid of wolves.” Rand said uneasily.“Well, you can join us!” Dorothy announced. “Maybe The Great Wizard of The

O.Z. can change you back to your normal human form!”

“Yeah!” Tarren interrupted. “And maybe give you some courage!”

So began their journey; a homeless little girl, a heartless fiendish Vampire, a slightly dead and nearly brainless

Zombie, and a carnivorous Lycan who is afraid of change and in need of courage; all with one goal in mind.

To see The Wizard. The Wonderful Wizard of The O.Z.This concludes our adventure with this

“monster squad”, formally known as The Scare-tet!