Here is the end of KND: Passive Tendencies. This one...this one...this one is...well...just full with disaster...This has to be the best thing i've ever written.
Brookfield Insane Asylum: May 3rd
The gates of Brookfield opened as Sandman and Wiccan dragged a semi-conscious Tornado. "Got to admit it." Wiccan grunted as she pulled the half conscious villain forward. "He puts up a better fight in an open environment."
Sandman simply nodded in acknowledgment. "What? Giant tornadoes too much for you?" Wiccan asked, smirking.
"No…not that. I just detest this guy." Sandman said as he glared at the red headed man that they dragged.
"Why?" Wiccan asked, raising a brow behind her hood.
"He killed a friend of mine a while back."
"…How do you do it Sandman?" Wiccan asked.
"How do I do what?" Sandman asked as the front door to the Asylum opened. Warden Valera and two armed guards walked out and greeted the two costumed crime fighters.
"Welcome back to Quahog's own personal reject cellar." Warden Valera said in a joking tone.
"Warden Valera." Sandman said returning the friendly greeting. "I believe this guy busted out during a polka dance."
"…You're smirking aren't you?" Wiccan asked plainly. Sandman turned his head and stared at Wiccan, his gas mask and tinted goggles helping hide any trace of emotion.
"Well then…" The Warden trailed off. "Let's get this piece of crap back to his little strait jacket." Warden Valera stepped aside as the two guards relieved Sandman and Wiccan of the burden of carrying the deranged sociopath. The guards entered the asylum first, followed by Warden Valera and then Sandman and Wiccan.
"So…how's everyone else here?" Sandman asked Warden Valera.
"If you're referring to all the other psychos you helped put back here" Warden Valera trailed off as they walked by a guard who was hanging a poster on the side of the wall. "Unfortunately, our esteemed guest of honor and nightmare terrorist disappeared from his cell days ago. Mary's in isolation, the other day she bit a guard's finger off. Promethean's carving the word 'Father' into his room's wall with his finger nails. Holiday's staring at a calendar. And then there's Garfield Schurr…"
The group walked by a teen with red hair who was being escorted by two guards. "Garfield's being taken back to his room, he set an orderly's hair on fire with his thumbs."
As they reached the patient check-in station, a news broad cast over a nearby radio caught the trio's attention.
"Hi, I'm Tom Tucker and to those just listening in only a mere two hours ago the County Jail was broken into by a single individual. A number of its inmates have broken out and followed the individual out. Such inmates including Gwen Tucker, no relation, who was just recently arrested and tried as an adult for her crimes against the state and humanity and a number of her crew."
"That doesn't sound good." Wiccan commented.
"We'll check it out after I make sure this guy is put in a room with four padded walls." Sandman said, not taking his eyes away from Tornado.
As they reached the patient check-in station, a loud boom echoed throughout the halls of the asylum, the building shook as the lights flickered. "What was that?" Warden Valera asked aloud.
"That was an explosion." Sandman said, turning around as loud footsteps echoed from where they'd come from. Sandman readied his gas gun as Wiccan held her staff at the ready.
Explosions rocked the asylum as alarms blazed. The sounds of screams of terror and rampant outbursts echoed. Throughout the screams and pleas, bits and pieces of screaming guards and orderly's caught his ear.
"…Who is that guy…?"
"…Mary's loose…!"
"…There's a fire! Help!"
"…Holy mother…!"
Sandman snapped back to attention as a nearby door blew open, slamming into him, Wiccan, and Warden Valera. The two guards dropped Tornado and spun around. Before they could raise their weapons, they were shot dead. Tornado regained full consciousness and looked over his shoulder. His eyes widened in fear as at the doorway, stood a fully armored figure.
The figure scanned the area, his attention shifted from Tornado and the downed trio. He returned his focus to Tornado and unsheathed a knife on his chest plate. He stalked over to Tornado, who frantically spun his arms and sent a gust of wind at the man. Unfazed, the armored assailant walked forward, reaching out and grabbing Tornado by the throat. He pulled him up into the air and applied pressure.
Tornado's eyes widened in shock and in fear as he stared down at the black soulless visor. "W-who a-are you?" Tornado managed to ask.
"Someone who's life you ended years ago." The figure said before pulling Tornado up to the side of a wall. He held the psychotic in place before stabbing Tornado in the heart, making sure the blade passed through and stabbed to the wall.
Tornado was wordless. Looking at the knife and then to the man before expiring. The figure let go of Tornado and turned around, leaving his body to hang like a decoration. He turned his attention to Sandman, who'd just started to get back on his feet.
Sandman raised his gas gun. His eyes wandered to the wall, becoming slightly disturbed by the figure's methods.
"You…you are the one I'm to kill." The figure said calmly. "No. Not now. You won't die yet."
Sandman stared coldly at the armored figure. He took in the figure's appearance, finding that he was armed to the teeth. "Surrender. Now."
"I never thought someone whose father died when they were eight could order people around." Sandman's eyes widened at the armored figure's statement. "Yes…I am well aware of you Locksmith. I will take my leave, however, a friend of yours seems to want a word with you."
The armored figure pointed to Mary D. Luis who was standing silently, staring at Sandman. She spat out a finger as she rose two shivs. "Be ready to shed blood Sandman…you and your witch of a friend too, for I, Bloody Mary is here to reap."
Sandman turned to see the armored figure stalk off before returning his attention to Mary. "You are seriously messed up." Sandman rose his gas gun.
Mary lunged forward. She slashed at Sandman's hand, forcing him to drop his gas gun. Sandman backed away as Mary slowly stalked over towards Wiccan and Warden Valera. "Whom should I knock off first Sandman? You choose. The witch or the sorcerer?" Mary goaded Sandman.
"Neither." Sandman jumped forward, already moving his arm into a blocking position. Mary stabbed forward at Sandman, only for his hand to take the blow. As the shiv pierced through his hand, Sandman grabbed onto Mary's hand that was holding the shiv and blocked the other one. Sandman head-butted Mary causing her to drop her other shiv. Mary took a step backwards and hold her head. Sandman kept his hold on Mary and punched her in the gut. She doubled over, giving Sandman the opportunity slam her back with his fist, knocking her to the ground.
Sandman let go of Mary and pulled the shiv out of his hand. He bit his lip as the pain started to settle in. He looked down at Mary, who was still conscious. He knelt down and grabbed her by the back of her head. He pulled her up and slammed her into the floor head first, knocking her out.
"…What happened?" Wiccan asked groggily as she held her head. Beside her, Warden Valera began to regain consciousness.
"I'm not sure." Sandman said as he got back on his feet. He turned to examine Tornado's body.
"Holy…" Warden Valera trailed off as he took in the sight of Tornado. "What happened is right."
Sandman examined the knife that hung Tornado. He examined the hilt, finding words carved into the knife. "'I am Monger'" Sandman read aloud.
"Monger?" Wiccan asked as she walked up beside Sandman.
"I believe this was his calling card."
"I don't really care about his calling card." Warden Valera said as he checked on the two guards. He checked for a pulse on either one, finding none. "That 'Monger' killed two of my guys. They each had a family, a wife, and kids."
Warden Valera walked to a phone at the check-in station. He dialed up a number and waited for a response. "Hello, Davis are you there? Report in."
"Sir? Oh god sir. This armored guy's been killing and destroying everything."
"What's the status on our inmates?"
"…Most are accounted for. Wait. A number are missing. Holiday, Bloody Mary, Promethean, and Schurr are missing."
"Mary is accounted for. Stay alert, whoever that guy is I want him either bound in chains or lying on the floor dead."
"He's gone sir. He just left."
Warden Valera silently cursed. Wiccan turned to Sandman. "I guess we know who broke into the County Jail."
"Yeah…" Sandman trailed off as he thought of what Monger had said about him. Something only a few knew. "Yeah…"
Valera Residence: Same Time
Kayla Valera sat at her computer, watching Ace's latest music video. Her phone began to ring. She picked it up and checked the number. She frowned once realizing it wasn't the call she was expecting. "What is it?" Kayla answered.
"Hello Kayla. You don't sound thrilled to hear from me." Benedict's voice calmly spoke on the other end of the line.
"What can I say, I've spent nearly three weeks devoting all of my time to your try outs. I do have a life of my own you know." Kayla said annoyed.
"Ah, yes, you do." Benedict's voice slightly faltered. "Well, I am truly sorry. But, I have your first assignment as my number one assassin."
"What is it?" Kayla sighed.
"Nothing too bad…there's going to be a fight later in Quahog…I want the winner dead." Benedict said simply.
"Can I ask who the fighters are?" Kayla asked, slightly caught off guard by the vagueness of the assignment.
"Why of course, how silly of me. I also want you to kill them in a specific manner." Benedict said chuckling. "A man named Monger, if he wins…you shoot him in the head. And the second fighter, you shoot in the heart."
"Who's the second?"
"Sandman."
Quahog Graveyard: One Hour Later
A number of escaped prisoners and the escaped patients sat silently behind a number of gravestones, in wait for their liberator. "So…why are we waiting here again?" Gwen asked a teen operative.
"I honestly have no clue." The teen answered.
A loud thud drew everyone's attention to a small crater on the hill. Monger stepped out of the crater, knocking over a tombstone in the process. "Ah…so this was where I was buried." Monger mused over the grave plot.
Monger walked over to the collection of escapees. He stood silently, looking over the number of those who escaped. He pulled a sack over his shoulder and threw it before them. "Take whatever you need. Run wild. Live. Kill. Make yourselves known to the world."
"Alright!" Garfield exclaimed as he picked up a flamethrower. The escapees emptied out the sack, causing various weapons to fall out, including: BRAs, laser pistols, guns, swords.
"You four." Monger pointed to Gwen, Doug, Garret, and Catherine. "I am in need of your assistance for something."
"What kind of something?" Gwen asked as her Battle Ready Armor activated.
"The Sandman's kingdom shall crumble in ashes…that kind of something." Monger said lowly as the many ex-prisoners marched down the hill, armed and ready to cause havoc upon Quahog.
Brookfield Insane Asylum
Sandman sat on a stool as a nurse tended to his wounded hand. Wiccan stood beside him as they and several others watched a news network on a television.
"To those tuning in, I'm Joyce Kinney with Channel 5 news. Reports are coming in from all over Quahog that the escaped convicts from County Jail and patients from the Brookfield Insane Asylum, are running rampant all over the city."
The nurse finished with Sandman's hand and left to tend to other wounded individuals. Sandman examined his bandaged hand. He tried to form a fist, finding it to be painful to do so.
"In hindsight, you probably shouldn't have done that." Wiccan said as she watched Sandman's attempts to form a fist.
"I'll live with it." Sandman said as he got off the stool. "We're needed elsewhere Wiccan."
"I'll give you two a lift." Warden Valera said walking over to the duo. "I need to check on my daughter anyways."
The trio began to walk to the blown apart entrance to the asylum. They exited the asylum and entered Warden Valera's car. The Warden began to drive through the devastated gate. Sandman turned on the radio in hopes of gaining insight on the dilemma.
"-Several escapees marched into the city. Such escapees included the holiday obsessed teen known as 'Holiday', Garfield 'The Arsonist' Schurr, and Promethean. They have begun destroying residential areas and local businesses. Local police on the scene have been gunned down-"
Sandman sat in silence. "Maybe we should turn off the radio…" Wiccan suggested, reaching over for the power button.
"No." Sandman raised his hand. "I need to hear this."
Quahog, Rhode Island: Thirty Minutes Later
"Thanks for the lift." Sandman said as he and Wiccan exited the car. "Say hi to the family for us."
"Take care you two, good luck with…just don't get yourselves killed now." Warden Valera said before driving off.
"So, what now?" Wiccan asked.
Before Sandman could answer, the sound of hundreds of rats running around and crying out caught both his and Wiccan's attention. "If we split up, we can cover more ground." Sandman simply stated before walking away. "You handle Pester, I've got the other wild cards."
"How are you sure Pester is even doing this?" Wiccan exclaimed as Sandman walked away. She turned around, finding Pester and an army of rats walking down the street.
"This is our city now." Pester said lowly as his rats shrieked.
Wiccan dropped her staff, letting it levitate off the ground; she stepped on and hit a button on her remote control. She ascended up into the air and floated forward. Pester looked up to see Wiccan sitting on her staff flicking him off.
"The witch of Quahog here to greet me I see." Pester said before marching onward. "My army, pay no mind to her, simply loot in the name of your master." The rats surrounding Pester obeyed and began to scamper off towards various buildings.
"You know I can't let you continue with this Pester." Wiccan began as she aimed her concealed projectile launcher down at Pester.
"But I can." A low voice boomed, catching Wiccan's attention. Before Wiccan could react, a hand grabbed the end of her staff and pulled it out from under her. Wiccan fell to the ground, landing on her feet; she turned her head to see Monger with her staff in his hands. Monger snapped the staff in two, causing sparks to fly. He crushed the two parts of the staff in his hands, proceeding to toss the pieces aside.
"So…you're the cause of all this." Wiccan said as she backed up slowly.
"Yes…and No." Monger said coldly before rushing towards Wiccan. He threw a punch which Wiccan dodged. Wiccan punched Monger across his helmet, denting it slightly. Monger pushed Wiccan backwards and grabbed one of her legs. He flung her at a building, knocking her unconscious and breaking her leg in the process. "By my hand I have done what you accused me of. However, I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for another."
Gwen, Doug, Garret, and Catherine walked up behind Monger. "I'm going to make her suffer." Gwen said as she glared at Wiccan.
"If any more harm comes to her…" Monger said turning to Gwen and the others. "…I will kill you all. I need her for something else."
"W-whatever you say." Gwen gulped.
Monger turned towards Pester, who shook in fear at what he'd observed. "If Sandman approaches you, give him this." Monger handed Pester a note. "You are free to continue. Go on now, return to your business." Pester nodded his head. He spun around and ran, followed by a mob of rats.
Monger returned his attention to the four teens and pointed to Wiccan. "Take her to the cliff. Tie her up, but do not harm her."
The teens nodded and did what they were told. Monger walked off in the same direction Sandman did.
Local Church: Ten Minutes Later
Sandman walked pass a line of police officers. Officer Swanson rolled over to the gas mask wearer. "Holiday's locked himself up in the church. He's got at least twenty hostages in there."
"May 3rd, National Day of Prayer." Sandman said aloud.
"We can't breach in without him killing a hostage." Officer Swanson shook his head.
"Send most of your guys away to help out around the rest of the city. I'll deal with Holiday." Sandman said before walking towards the front door of the church.
"Good luck." Officer Swanson saluted Sandman.
Sandman entered the church, finding the first four rows with five people, each bound and gagged. He looked ahead to see Holiday kneeling before an Idol, silently praying. Holiday concluded with his prayer and stood up. He turned around to face Sandman, a smile slowly forming on his face.
"Hello Sandman." Holiday greeted Sandman. "May 3rd, the day of prayer. First established by the US congress. To turn to God in prayer and meditation." Holiday laughed. "There are two holidays in January, six in February, three in March, ten in whole in April, gladly five in May, three savory holidays and Flag Day in June, sadly one in July, seven like the gun salute in September, four including my favorite in October, three's giving in November, and finally seven more in December. All for a grand total of fifty-three in the grand ol' U.S. of A."
"Surrender for your own good…please." Sandman said stepping forward.
"Do you want to know what I prayed for?" Holiday said as he grabbed kid and held a knife to him. "I prayed for this today to be our final bout. And it shall be…one way or another."
The kid's muffled screams echoed throughout the church. Sandman's eyes narrowed behind his tinted goggles. "You're not going to harm that kid…that's not what this holiday is about."
"You're right." Holiday pushed the kid aside. "I didn't pray to shed a child's blood…only yours." Holiday juggled the knife before taking a fighting stance. "Would you care to make the first move?"
Sandman sighed. "I wish it wouldn't have to come to this." Sandman rose his gas gun, the pain from his wound jolting up his arm. He cringed behind his gas mask. Sandman pulled the trigger of his gas gun, causing the knock out gas within to shoot out and begin to fill the church.
Holiday's eyes narrowed. "I realize I won't win." Holiday said as he pulled the knife back. "But I can at least hamper your progress." Holiday threw the knife as he inhaled the gas. The knife cut through the gas gun and stabbed into Sandman's shoulder.
Holiday collapsed as Sandman stared at the knife in his shoulder. Sandman grunted in pain as he pulled it out of his shoulder. He flung it aside along with his damaged gas gun. He walked off to the exit of the church. As he left the church, several officers ran in. Sandman gripped his shoulder, feeling light headed.
"Sandman." Officer called out to Sandman as he rolled towards him. "We've got news of The Arsonist burning buildings to the ground. Squad cars can't get near him."
Sandman sighed as he applied pressure to his wound. Sandman looked up to the darkening sky. "I'm on it."
Nearby on a rooftop, Monger stood, watching Sandman push on. He watched as Sandman pulled out his grapple gun and propel himself into the air once he latched onto a building. "You will tire. You will lose morale. You will lose the will. And then…you shall die."
Quahog Zoo: Twenty Minutes Later
Sandman hit the parking lot hard; he rolled and hit a melted car. He groaned as he tried to push himself up, his wounds hampering, just as Holiday said. Sandman got back onto his feet and looked around, finding may police cars on fire. A number of officers sat behind cover, watching the zoo intently.
Sandman looked up to see Garfield, The Arsonist, taunting the officers. "This is but a start!" Garfield retreated back into the zoo as he lit the entrance on fire.
"And the end." Sandman said before aiming his grapple gun with his right arm. He pulled the trigger, overshooting only a little. As the hook latched onto a flag pole, he double clicked the trigger, propelling towards the zoo.
Sandman landed on the top of the zoo entrance. He looked down, noticing a banner for a moose. Sandman shook his head and muttered to himself, "It can't be the same moose…" Sandman looked down to see Garfield pacing back and forth near the moose's pit like pen.
Sandman jumped down, aiming his grapple gun at Garfield. "Surrender now Garfield!"
"Or what?" Garfield asked, turning to face Sandman. "What can you do to me besides fry!" Garfield raised his flamethrower and pulled the trigger, sending a stream of fire at Sandman.
Sandman dove away. He groaned as he rolled onto his left shoulder, the shoulder with the wound. Sandman got back onto his feet and charged at Garfield. Garfield aimed his flamethrower at Sandman and pulled the trigger, sending a burst of fire at Sandman. Sandman dove again, dodging the fire and charged at Garfield again.
Garfield smirked as Sandman drew closer. Sandman threw a punch at Garfield, who sidestepped and pushed Sandman forward, causing him to fall into the moose's pit like pen.
Sandman landed on his back. He looked up to see Garfield laughing down at him. "Looks like the moose doesn't like you!" Garfield exclaimed as he pointed to the moose.
Sandman struggled to his feet, his eyes trained on the moose. He recognized the moose. It was the Moose. "Crap…" Sandman muttered as the Moose's eyes began to glow red.
Lasers shot out of the Moose's eyes striking the wall behind Sandman. The Moose shot at Sandman, only for him to dodge. Sandman grunted as he ran to the side. The Moose continued to shoot lasers out of his eyes at Sandman.
Sandman spun around and aimed his grapple gun at the Moose. He pulled the trigger and shot the hook at the Moose. The hook and cord passed harmlessly through the Moose. "Right…you can that…" Sandman sighed.
Garfield laughed hysterically. "A-A Moose can do that? Wow! I love the zoo now!" Garfield pointed his flamethrower down into the pit. "But I love burnt enemies more." He pulled the trigger of his flamethrower, sent a stream of fire down into the Moose's pen.
The pen caught on fire. It soon surrounded the Moose and Sandman. The Moose huffed; he levitated into the air and flew out of the pen. Sandman sighed. "That's right…you can do that too."
Sandman backed away from the flames. Smoke began to fill the Moose's pen. He'd be coughing up a storm if not for his gas mask. Sandman turned and pulled out his grapple gun. He aimed for the railing of the pen and pulled the trigger. Before his hook could reach the railing, the Moose blasted the cord.
The Moose turned around in mid-air and looked down at Garfield, his eyes glowing red. "Oh crud…" Garfield sighed before being blasted by the Moose.
Sandman looked around frantically for anything to help him. He looked around, finding a drinking pool in the pen. He ran to it and started to toss the water at the flames. His actions did not go unnoticed by the Moose. The Moose looked down at Sandman as he doused the flames with water.
Sandman's hoodie caught on fire burning him slightly; he tossed it off and beat it on the ground. Sandman examined his torched hoodie, checking it's pouches, finding his arsenal intact. He emptied out his arsenal and drowned the hoodie in the drinking pool. He used the now soaking wet hoodie to beat out the flames.
As the last flame was extinguished, the Moose descended back down to its pen. It looked around and then looked Sandman in the eyes. He kneeled before Sandman and motioned for him to get on his back. Sandman dropped his hoodie and picked up his discarded arsenal including: three smoke grenades, and second grapple gun, the gauntlet with the Gem of Dreams, his tracer gun, and Soulless' scanner.
Sandman got onto the Moose's back. The Moose flew out of the pen and let Sandman off. "Thank you." Sandman petted the Moose's head. The Moose huffed before flying back down to his pen. Sandman turned around to see Garfield getting back on his feet.
"So…you got out." Garfield said as he rose his flamethrower. "So…what do you prefer, crispy or burnt?"
"Neither." Sandman said before running at Garfield. Garfield pulled the trigger of his flamethrower, sending a stream of fire at Sandman. Sandman ran to his left, dodging the fire. Garfield moved his flamethrower to the side, sending the stream of fire at Sandman again.
Sandman leapt over the stream of fire and ran at Garfield. He pulled his arm back and formed a fist despite the pain. He punched Garfield in the face, knocking his hand off the trigger of the flamethrower and his feet off the ground. Garfield's flamethrower flew to the side as he hit the ground. Garfield twitched as Sandman towered over him.
Sandman punched him in the face, knocking him out. Sandman looked up at the sky as dark clouds took over. Thunder boomed. Sandman sighed as he dragged Garfield to the front gate of the zoo. The flames had been put out by firefighters. Officer Swanson exited his patrol car and rolled towards Sandman.
"Great job Sandman." Officer Swanson congratulated Sandman as he noticed the unconscious Garfield. "We've rounded up the majority of escapees. Pester; however, is running wild out in the residential district. He's looting homes; his rats are biting people too."
"What do you mean Pester is running wild?" Sandman asked. "Wiccan was supposed to have brought him down already."
"Well, either she's procrastinating or she failed." Officer Swanson said sadly. "You need a lift?"
"No." Sandman said pulling his spare grapple gun out and aiming at a nearby building. "I'll handle this. I'll carry it like everything else." He pulled the trigger of his grapple gun. When he felt the cord tug, he double clicked the trigger propelled himself into the air.
Quahog Residential District: Thirty Minutes Later
Sandman landed on a rooftop in the residential district. He clutched his shoulder in pain. He felt he could still feel the heat from the flames on his body. He examined his arms, they were burnt, bruised, or had knife wounds.
Sandman wearily walked to the edge of the roof to see Pester and his army of rats marching down the street. Sandman's eyes narrowed. He jumped off the roof and landed in the street. He felt his knees ache from the jump. He pulled out his grapple gun and aimed at Pester.
"Do I even need to say it Arnold?" Sandman said lowly.
"No…no you do not." Pester said lowly as he backed up, "Rats…kill him." Pester pointed at Sandman, causing the rats to shriek and charge at Sandman. The rats leapt upward, clinging onto Sandman. A rat began to nibble at Sandman's gas mask strap, only to be swatted away. Sandman quickly shook the rats off of him and kicked away more.
Pester ran forward and punched Sandman in the gut. "No one harms my rats!" Pester punched Sandman again, this time in the chest. Sandman wearily backed away. "When you harm my precious rats…then I am forced to take off the gloves!" Pester kicked Sandman and then hit him on the side of his head with his spray wand.
"…Shut…up!" Sandman yelled before punching Pester in the gut, causing him to double over. Sandman looked at the hundreds of rats that stared at him. "What?" Sandman yelled, causing the rats to scatter and run away.
Sandman turned back to see Pester trying to crawl away. Sandman walked over and picked up Pester by hi jumpsuit collar. "Where is Wiccan?" Sandman asked lowly.
Pester shook violently before producing a note from his pocket. "This guy, he-he took her. He told me to give this to you." Sandman dropped Pester and took the note. He opened it up and read it aloud. "If you want the witch back, meet me at Quahog's Cliffside. Your oldest friend, Monger."
Sandman looked to his side to find Pester gone. Sandman waved it off, deciding to handle it another time. "My oldest friend…" Sandman said quietly as he thought. "He knows who I am…he knows my past. He's not either Mario or Edward…it can't be him…"
Sandman shook his head before flinging the note aside. "Then again…I still don't know what Bob did with his body…" Sandman gritted his teeth. He turned around and began to head to the selected area. "…I can't believe it's him."
Quahog Cliffside: One Hour Later
Sandman continued to walk through the woods on the cliff over a river. Sandman sighed as he stopped and slumped against a tree. His muscles ached. He felt pain in his entire left arm. He was barely conscious due to the amount of blood he'd already lost from his wounds. His back hurt from his fall in the pen. He was sure his reflexes weren't going to help out in a fight just by the way Pester had landed so many blows against him.
Sandman looked up to the dark sky. Thunder boomed and lightning struck. A light drizzle landed on his gas mask and goggles. He smiled slightly. He pushed off the tree and continued onward, until stumbling on an open area with no trees.
Sandman looked around, noticing a cliff nearby. He looked up to see Monger standing beside an unconscious Wiccan. "I'm glad you could make it Nolan." Monger said calmly as Gwen, Doug, Garret, and Catherine walked out of the woods and surrounded Sandman.
"All this time…and it was you…It was always you." Gwen glared at Sandman as she kept her gun trained on Sandman.
"It's good to see you too…Dillon." Sandman said replied to Monger, completely ignoring Gwen.
Monger chuckled as he began to unfasten his helmet. He tossed his helmet aside, revealing his zombie like appearance. "You never fail to disappoint Nolan."
"What happened to you?" Sandman asked concerned.
"I was brought back to life Nolan…and you already know by who." Monger, Dillon, said slightly laughing as sparks began erupt out of his neck.
"…It was Benedict Uno…" Sandman said sadly as Wiccan began to regain consciousness.
"Tell me, Nolan. Do you know what it's like to be plucked out of heaven and forced to return to this hell? I do." Dillon shook his head. "I died saving you…saving them." Dillon pointed to the other four teens. "…When I went up there…I was happy…my fight was over…but then I was back here! A shock collar surgically implanted in my neck! I feel only pain now…I couldn't harm Benedict because of the collar."
"So…it was either you do what he told you…or he'd make you suffer, never letting you know the embrace of death again." Sandman deduced.
"I can't say I'm going to be proud of my actions." Dillon chuckled. "I can say this though…I am proud of you. But one of us is going to have to die. And because you can't kill, it's going to have to be you." Dillon turned to Gwen and the others. "Kill him."
Gwen and company opened fire on Sandman, who was barely able to dodge. Dillon stood, watching. He turned his head, noticing a teenage girl with black curly hair and a sniper rifle begin to climb into a tree. "It'll either be by your hand Sandman…or by hers."
Sandman breathed heavily as his legs began to numb. He raised his grapple gun. He ran out from behind the tree. Bullets whizzed by as Sandman pulled the trigger. The hook collided with Doug's face, knocking him out. As Doug hit the ground, his gun went off, shooting a branch which fell on Catherine, knocking her out as well.
Garret dropped his gun and charged at Sandman. "I'm going to enjoy ripping your arm off and beating you with it!" Garret yelled as he charged at Sandman.
Sandman simply sidestepped. Garret charged past him and crashed into a tree, causing the tree to uproot and fall over. Garret turned around only to be greeted by several quick jabs to the chest. Sandman jumped up and brought his bandaged fist down on Garret's head, knocking him out.
Sandman turned around, only for a bullet to take one of his twin air filters clean off. Sandman ran to the side, avoiding the rest of Gwen's shots. Gwen frantically shot at Sandman only for her to run out of rounds. She silently swore when Sandman charged at her. She spun the pistol in her hand to use as a club and clubbed Sandman with it.
Sandman back up as Gwen swung at him with the makeshift club. He eventually caught her arm and threw her. She landed on Garret face first, knocking out instantly. Sandman sighed before a pain in his leg arose. He looked down to find his leg bleeding from a gunshot wound.
"You've over exerted yourself Sandman." Dillon said walking forward. "The fairest thing I can do is not use a gun or weapon in this." Dillon pulled off a majority of his weapons and tossed them aside. "Ready?"
"Ready." Sandman nodded before pulling out a smoke grenade from his pocket and pulling the pin. Smoke consumed the cliff. Wiccan, who'd fully regained consciousness slowly crawled behind a tree despite her broken bones. Dillon didn't cover his mouth, nose or eyes. He breathed in the smoke and blew it out.
"I assume this was meant to act as a distraction…I guess it worked." Dillon said as he began to walk around in the smoke. He looked down and noticed a bullet on the ground that was covered in blood. "No lead poisoning for you."
The hook from Sandman's grapple gun shot out of the smoke and latched onto Dillon. Before he could react, Dillon was pulled backwards towards the edge of the cliff. Dillon grabbed the cord and pulled with all his strength, causing him to pull Sandman towards him.
Dillon punched Sandman in the gut. The force of the punch caused Sandman to cough up blood in his gas mask. Dillon ripped off Sandman's goggles and beat him with them. Dillon picked up Sandman and tossed him over the edge of the cliff. Dillon walked towards the edge of the cliff slowly. He peered over it in search of Sandman.
"I'm sorry Sandman, but I know you didn't just plummet to your death." Dillon shook his head. He looked at the edges of the cliff, finding them to begin cracking with the hook from the grapple gun sticking out.
Wiccan began to escape from the rope that bound her. She pushed her way out of the rope. She cringed as pain rippled up her spine. "I hate pain…" Wiccan bit her lip.
Dillon turned around to see Sandman standing there. The smoke began to clear as rain began to pour. "That cliff isn't going to last Dillon…" Sandman said despite the pain.
"I know….I know." Dillon said smiling. The cliff broke apart from under him, causing Dillon to fall. Sandman jump forward, grabbing onto Dillon's arm. "I was wrong…you aren't going to die today." Dillon said chuckling.
"I'm not going to let you die again Dillon." Sandman said as he struggled to hold onto the land he used as an anchor and Dillon.
"We're both going to fall if you hold onto me." Dillon said as he noticed the arm Sandman was using as an anchor had two knife wounds and burn marks. "Sandman…let go…"
"I'm not going to let you die again, that's final." Sandman said as he struggled to keep his hold.
"Fine then." Dillon took out a knife. "If you won't let me die…I'll have to see to it myself." Dillon stabbed into his arm and proceeded to cut it off. "See you later…Nolan." Dillon said barely audible as he fell to rocks and water below.
Sandman's eyes widened from shock. He stood up and set Dillon's arm aside. Sandman rubbed his head, barely conscious from all that he'd endured. He looked over to Wiccan to see her struggling to get on her feet.
"I think we're both going to need to go to the hospital…" Wiccan laughed.
"Yeah…" Sandman agreed as he thought over all that had just happened. He rubbed his fore head. Sandman turned to look over the cliff once more. "Good-bye…old friend." Sandman rubbed the back of his neck, feeling his gas mask's strap about to give way.
Sandman turned back around to speak once more, only to find a red laser pointing at where his heart would be. Sandman looked up to see Kayla in a tree with a sniper rifle. "Kayla?" Sandman said her name puzzled.
Kayla closed her eyes. She'd thought it over during the entire fight. She'd taken the contract. She had to do it. "…I'm sorry." Kayla said before pulling the trigger. The bullet shot out of the barrel at Sandman.
Time slowed at that moment for Sandman. His life flashed before his eyes.
"My name is Nolan York."
"D-dad?"
"The sin you're asking for is WRATH!"
"Children everywhere, how've ya been!"
"I've vowed my service to the KND!"
"When I turn thirteen, please decommission me!"
"I've promised to protect all of kid kind!"
"To fight off all adult tyranny!"
"This is the happiest day of my life!"
"D-Dillon…?"
"My name isn't Nolan now…it's Numbuh 2030."
"Sorry Chad, but have you ever flown a helicopter in space?"
"Joker wants tacos."
"Never again."
"Even when I'm the only one talking…you point me in the right direction."
"Time to stop feeling sorry for myself."
"I promise Mr. Dodds…I won't ever kill."
"Nah, if you want something to freak your enemies…get a harpoon."
"We show up, shoot, and leave, the less coherent the better."
"Death's Head watch your left!"
"What the hell did you just do Bob?"
"He shot Vana and Stevie….I swear to god…I'm going to get payback."
"Get slagged."
"Yeah…I just smashed your head against a metal handle…get slagged Legion…"
"I'd like to offer you both a slot in my team…I knew your brother…he was a great operative an even better person."
"I'm sorry for the fall, that was totally my fault."
"And thanks Kayla, thanks for understanding."
"H.E.A.D.S.E.T. initiate Protocol Q. Password: Broken Crutch."
"Kayla…after I'm decommissioned…three months later…call this number…if you're still interested."
"Who are you to say I would turn on the KND."
"You don't get it Infinity…I want to be decommissioned."
"Mr. Dodds?"
"Numbuh 2030 no longer exists. The Sandman is reborn."
"You don't have to do this John!"
"Tell me…do you like dreams?"
"Let me guess, you're here to listen to a boy band."
"Didn't you used to be a pilot or something?"
"I take it you've refined Legion's nightmare toxin."
"Why? Why help me?"
"You're predictable, Holiday."
"…I love you Kayla."
"You've pushed me farther than anyone else! And it is time that someone broke that one track thought process of yours!"
"From this moment on…none of you are safe."
"…at the end of the storm…awaits only a dream…not a nightmare."
"Wait…he's coming?"
"Good-bye M.A.T.O.R.O."
"Be glad all I did was break your arm. Be glad one of the people you killed, taught me never to go that far."
"I don't like killing, even though Bob deserved it. I can't condone what you've done Matt and neither would Kim…"
"Like I said…you need to hide outstanding details."
"Just wait until you meet the Moose."
"Well Wiccan…I'm proud of you."
"Nightmares and Dreams are practically the same…"
"I'll handle this. I'll carry it like everything else."
Sandman blinked as the pulled pierced through his chest near his heart. Sandman looked at his reddening grey shirt. He looked to Wiccan to see her eye's widened in fear. He looked back to Kayla in the tree. Kayla bit her lip and shook her head as she pulled her rifle to the side.
"K-Kayla…?" Sandman asked weekly as his gas mask's strap gave way, falling off. Kayla's eyes widened.
"N-Nolan?" Kayla asked disbelievingly.
Sandman's eyes began to close before falling backwards off the cliff.
Wiccan watched as Sandman…as Nolan plummeted off the side of the cliff to the jagged rocks and water below, her shock visible behind her hood.
Tears began to run down Kayla's face as she realized what she'd just done.
Sandman…Nolan blinked once more as he fell to the rocks and water below. Blood began to squirt out of the hole in his chest. His vision began to cloud. His entire life flashed before his eyes. As he plummeted to the rocks and water below…a single memory, his final memory of his mentor, kept the darkness at bay.
"Hey Mr. Dodds." A thirteen year old Nolan called out to his father figure and neighbor.
"Hey, Nolan." Wesley smiled as he saw the teen. "How's it like to be thirteen?"
"You know, it's odd…not being with the KND…already three months in and yet…it's real odd." Nolan said simply, keeping the urge to frown at bay.
"Well Nolan, you can't stay a kid forever. It's just like a dream." Wesley said sadly. "Every dream…eventually has to end."
