A/N: And here's the epilogue to this epic story! All I'm going to say is that I really enjoyed weaving in multiple comic storylines. The Slavers from the Punisher. The Self Preservation Society from The Boys. The entire plot of the film Freaky. And yes, even the Necropolis arc from Judge Dredd. I even sprinkled in a bit of the Punisher War Zone.
Anyway, like I said in the last chapter, some characters make drastic changes, while other stay more or less the same. Whatever happens, I hope they felt natural for the story, even if it might be OOC for some of them.
Oh, be sure to stay for the end of the chapter. I'm adding an author's note to talk about the next story after this.
Music: "The Real Hero" from Avengers Endgame OST
November 4th
It had been a week since the Boys' trip to Mega City One. In that time, Frank Castle and his friends had travelled from New York, Blissfield, and Star City, not in that order. There were too many funerals they'd been to in such a short time. Annie's father, John Link. Millie's friends, as well as her mom and sister. Tony Stark. John Diggle.
Instead of a traditional funeral, there was a memorial for the lives lost in the Blissfield Butcher's latest and final massacre. Aside from Josh and Nyla, the victims included Millie's former bully Ryler, her shop class teacher Mister Bernardi, and the four football jocks the Butcher killed during Homecoming. Dredd, Becca, and Ryan had shown up for every single one of them, with Joe changing from a Judge's uniform to an all black suit. The Boys were mostly there to support Millie, who had lost her high school friends during the slaughter. Everyone would usually stay at the back, except for Frank. No, he'd stay right next to Millie, who stood by her new boyfriend Booker.
A day later, Millie had a private funeral for Charlene, Paula, and even Amy. Only Frank, Booker, and the Boys were there, as they watched the three caskets be lowered into the ground. While Booker squeezed Kessler's hand in comfort, Frank rested his on her shoulder. Millie looked up, seeing Frank's eyes convey an emotion of sadness… something she'd begun to grow accustomed to.
"If you need anything… anything at all…" Frank murmured. "I'll be there."
Millie smiled, crying out tears of joy, and nodded, before turning back to the coffins in the ground.
The following day, the Boys took a road trip over to Star City, where Diggle's body would be buried. Aside from the Boys, Lyla Diggle, her children, and Team Arrow were present to see Dig's casket placed next to Oliver Queen's grave… or at least, those who had not perished by Thanos' snap.
"I'm sorry." Frank mumbled, looking over to Lyla. "I should've had his back."
"It wasn't your fault, Frank." Lyla told him, as she wiped her eyes. "Johnny was always a soldier. But he couldn't have known Soldier Boy's intentions. None of us did."
Frank wore a pained expression, as he remembered the trail he and Becca found of Vera Konstantine working with the Thunderbolts and the Bulats.
"I could have." Castle barely whispered.
After Diggle's funeral, the Boys returned to New York, just in time to attend Tony Stark's memorial. Well, memorial was too strong a word. Yes, the world mourned him, but the reception was private, with only the Boys, the Thunderbolts, and Tony's closest friends being with Stark's wife, Pepper, and their four year old daughter Morgan. Annie and Dredd were the only ones who had personally met Stark, but Pepper had been generous enough to let the rest of their team show up to their lakehouse.
"Missus Stark…" Dredd said solemnly, as Morgan pushed an old arc reactor across the lake. Around the small device were the words Proof that Tony Stark has a heart. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to your husband-"
"It's not your fault." Pepper silently shook her head, as Morgan hugged her legs. "You had no idea what would happen."
Dredd looked down, nodding in defeat, as the arc reactor continued floating across the lake water, becoming smaller and smaller in the distance, until they could no longer see it.
The final funeral the Boys attended was John Link's, Annie's father. The gravestone had already been placed, and the hole was dug just next to Frank's family. The Thunderbolts had also come, of course, as did Curtis Hoyle and Billy Russo. At first, Annie was surprised, but they explained that John had become a good friend during their group meetings. Even Donna January had shown up, much to Annie's surprise and initial chagrin.
"Mom?" Starlight asked, seeing her mother arrive in a black dress. "What are you doing here?"
"John was still my husband." Donna said sadly. "I… Annie, I'm so sorry."
Annie felt herself cross her arms, as Donna stepped forward.
"I was selfish." January elaborated. "I thought by allowing Vought to inject you with Compound V when you were a baby, I'd be giving you a better life. But it came at a cost. It cost me my faith. It cost me my relationship with you. It cost me John."
Donna shut her eyes, and looked over to John Link's open casket.
"I understand if you don't want to see me again, but…" Donna choked back a sob. "I just want to know that I never wanted to hurt you… even though I ended up doing it anyway."
Annie's expression softened, as she let her arms fall to her sides. Slowly, she approached her mom, and wrapped her in a hug. Donna awkwardly returned the hug, patting her on the back like she used to do when she was a girl, as Annie looked up at her.
"It will be a while before I can forgive you…" Annie started, looking away. "...but this is a good start."
Soon enough, Link's funeral ended, and the Boys began walking away together.
"We'd better get back to Mega City One." Dredd declared, as he pulled out a portable time displacement device. Frank and the rest of the Boys shortly nodded, while Becca and Ryan grabbed Joe's arms. The Judge activated the device, and in a flash of blue light, the three of them were gone.
"You need a lift back to Blissfield?" Frank asked, looking over to Millie. Kessler shook her head, and grinned.
"Actually, I was thinking of staying here. In New York."
"What will you do?" Allyson asked, with Michael and her stopping for the moment. "I thought you were planning on going to Ivy University?"
"I am." Millie said reassuringly. "But my mom was right: we didn't have the money. But I think I found a way."
"That right?" Frank asked, tilting his head in curiosity. Millie smiled, and nodded.
"I'm going to join the Marines."
Frank blinked in surprise, and stepped back.
"You sure you want to do that?" Castle asked.
"I am." Millie nodded. "It'll help pay for my education, and I'll serve my country like you did."
"Is that what you think this is?" Castle asked. "No. You do this for yourself. Don't do it for me."
Millie looked up at Frank, her expression changing into one of understanding, and nodded.
"You still have at least a year of high school." Castle told her. "You think about it, and if that's what you want to do, I'll support your decision."
"So will we." Allyson grinned towards her friend, while Michael nodded in agreement. Frank suddenly felt someone squeeze his hand, and he looked to the right, noticing Anderson giving him a concerned look.
"Frank. Are you okay?" Cass asked softly.
"Yeah, it's…" Frank's voice trailed off, and he groaned. "You read my mind again, didn't you?"
"Sorry." Cass apologized. "Force of habit."
Castle licked his lips, looking down at the ground, before sighing.
"I keep thinking about what the Sisters and Judge Death said." Frank confessed. "How I made a deal with them to get my men out of Kandahar. How I was just like Death."
"No Frank, you're not." Annie suddenly said. "You're not a monster. You're not like those… those things that we fought."
"You sure about that?" Castle asked. "When I gazed into Fear's face, I saw Maria. I told her I was done, I wasn't going back. But she told me… she told me that Dredd still needed me, yeah? Told me that Millie still needed me there. So I came back. I rammed my fist through Fear's fucked up face, shoved a grenade in there, and watched it blow him to Hell. It ended up taking out that woman, Agee with him."
"Frank, you had no choice." Anderson insisted. "We had to kill her to stop the Sisters-"
"It didn't have anything to do with choice." Frank whispered. "It's not that I didn't have one. I've accepted that. It's that I didn't care. I could've shot her, ended her suffering, and be done with it, but I decided to blow her up and let her cling to her last breath. You know what that means, right?"
Everyone stayed silent, as Castle felt tears form in his eyes.
"Now I'm the monster." Frank choked out. "Death was right about me. We're both products of the Sisters-"
"No." Annie said firmly. "If you're who you are because of the Sisters of Death, then how come you've only killed criminals? Murderers, pedophiles, rapists, but no one else?"
"What makes you think I won't one day snap?" Frank said bitterly.
"If you did, you would have done it a long time ago." Annie insisted. "And if you're a product of the Sisters, then what does that make me?"
"What are you talking about?" Frank asked, knitting his brow in confusion.
"You think I wouldn't find out they had manipulated Frederick Vought?" Starlight asked, crossing her arms.
"How did you-"
Frank turned his head to look at Anderson, who began inspecting her shoes.
"You told her?"
"She deserved to know the truth." Cass mumbled. "I could hear them inside your head, Frank."
Castle sighed, shaking his head, and turned back to Annie.
"It's not the same, alright?" Frank told her. "The Sisters, they- they influenced Vought into making Compound V, but the rest was up to every other supe who got injected with it."
"Then shouldn't that apply to you?" Allyson pointed out. "The Sisters manipulated you in Kandahar, but you're not trying to kill everyone like the Dark Judges. Annie, Michael, and I were all injected with Compound V, and we didn't go mad with power like Homelander. Even Anderson and Dredd were influenced by the Sisters."
"What do you mean?" Anderson frowned in confusion.
"One of your Judges, Shenker-" Allyson explained. "He said your justice system might have been inspired by what Frank has done as the Punisher."
"Look, Frank, we're just saying that despite what the Sisters have done to us in the past, it doesn't define who we are." Millie declared, before looking away. "I should know…"
Frank nodded, and placed a hand on Kessler's shoulder.
"Yeah." Castle murmured, knowing exactly what the girl was thinking. She was blaming herself for what happened in Mega City One, since she released the Sisters of Death in the first place. "One day you'll learn to get past this shit and move on. Something I'll need time to do too, I guess."
Millie smiled, hugging Castle.
"Just remember Frank…" Millie mumbled against the Punisher's chest. "The future isn't set. There's no fate but what we make for ourselves."
Castle's eyes widened slightly, as he looked at the blonde head of hair.
"Terminator?"
"Hey, it was a good movie." Millie shrugged, before pulling away to reveal a wide grin. The Boys chuckled, and they all began leaving the graveyard. As they walked, Anderson's fingers became tangled in Frank's, as the two held hands.
"Let's go home."
One Year Later
It's been a year now since we stopped what Mega City One has called the Necropolis. Dredd stopped by once, to retrieve his dog, and for Becca to tell her sister and mom that she's not coming back to New York, and that she'll be alright. During that last visit, he mentioned just how many people died throughout that shitshow: sixty million. I knew there were a lot of body bags when that shitstorm went down, but I didn't think it'd be that many. .
February 2023
After some convincing from Anderson, I decided to fill out the paperwork to make myself Millie's legal guardian. Then, the day she turned seventeen, I let her enlist in the Corps. Schoonover was even nice enough to be the one to swear her in.
"Raise your right hand and repeat after me."
Millie Kessler, among other recruits, raised their right hands, as Colonel Ray Schoonover instructed. They were at the USMC recruitment center, with Frank Castle and Cassandra Anderson standing in the back with the other parents and legal guardians.
"I, state your name."
"I, Millie Kessler!" Millie shouted, despite her voice being drowned out by the sea of other recruits.
"Do solemnly swear."
"Do solemnly swear!"
"To support and defend."
"To support and defend!"
"The Constitution of the United States."
"The Constitution of the United States!"
"Against all enemies."
"Against all enemies!"
"Foreign and domestic."
"Foreign and domestic!"
"And to bear true faith."
"And to bear true faith!"
"And allegiance to the same."
"And allegiance to the same!"
"That I will obey."
"That I will obey!"
"The orders of."
"The orders of!"
"The President of the United States."
"The President of the United States!"
"And the orders of."
"And the orders of!"
"Those officers."
"Those officers!"
"Appointed over me."
"Appointed over me!"
"According to regulations."
"According to regulations!"
"And the Uniform Code of Military Justice."
"And the Uniform Code of Military Justice!"
"So help me God."
"So help me God!" Millie and the other recruits declared. Colonel Schoonover lowered his hand, and the recruits all walked over to their families. Millie stayed in position, as Frank and Anderson walked up to her and Schoonover.
"Appreciate you for doing this, Colonel." Castle nodded towards Ray.
"Don't mention it, Frank." Schoonover gruffly replied. "It's the least I could do after you and the Boys stopped Homelander's coup last year."
"Sir."
Schoonover began walking out of the room, as Castle, Anderson, and Millie prepared to leave.
"You know where you'll be stationed?" Frank asked.
"Yes." Millie grinned. "I made sure to choose something that would send me to Atlanta, less than an hour from Ivy University."
"That's good." Frank smiled, as he looked over to Anderson. Upon seeing her troubled expression, the Punisher frowned in concern.
"Cass, you alright?"
Anderson shook her head, and smiled.
"Sorry, it's just…"
"You were reading my mind." Millie guessed.
"Sorry." Anderson flashed an apologetic smile.
"Hey, it's okay." Millie grinned mirthlessly. "Frank's right. One day, I'll make peace with what I did. What I helped to do."
"Yeah." Anderson nodded in agreement, she, Castle, and Millie all left the USMC recruitment center.
Music: "Mega City One" from Dredd 2012 OST
Mega City One
2113
Dredd once told me that in the future, America is an irradiated wasteland. Within it lies a city. Beyond the boundary walls, a scorched desert, the Cursed Earth. Inside its walls, a cursed city that, thanks to the clarification of Constantine, stretches from what was once Boston, all the way to Washington DC. One giant, unbroken, concrete landscape. There used to be eight hundred million people living in the ruins of the old world, and the mega structures of the new one. These days, after the Necropolis… not as many.
In his apartment, Judge Joseph Dredd wrapped gauze around his hands, flexing his fingers to test the strength.
The civilians rest in mega blocks. They drive on the mega highways… They live in Mega City One. A city that's convulsing- choking- breaking under its own weight. It's like a sewer, and they can't get that shit out of their nose.
Satisfied with the tape, Joe shrugged his body into his Judge's uniform, pausing to zip it up, and proceeded to throw the riot armor on as well.
The civilians that are still alive after Necropolis are huddled in fear. Fear of the street… the guns… and the prick asshole gangs. There's only one thing that fights for order in all the bullshit chaos: the men and women of the Hall of Justice.
Dredd slipped his hands through his gloves, and grabbed his Lawgiver. After Judge Kraken had tried to use it against him and caused the self destruct bomb to initiate, it had taken no more than a day for the Tek Division to issue him a new one. Now, as Joe wrapped his fingers around the grip, he stared into the blue display screen.
DNA Check… ID Okay.
Juries… executioners…
Joseph reached into his personal armory, taking his Judge helmet. After staring into the blank visor for a moment, he placed it over his head, and let out a satisfied exhale.
Judges.
Judge Dredd finished putting his uniform on, when Becca walked into the room, smiling.
"Off to work?" Butcher asked rhetorically.
"Yeah." Joe nodded, as Becca walked closer to him, planting a kiss on his cheek.
"Be careful, Joe." Rebecca asked softly. Joseph looked at her through his visor, as a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Always am."
Dredd rode his Lawmaster through the mega highway as fast as he could, as he listened to Control's notifications of crimes in the area.
"Responders needed in sub sector 16, flyover 8. Positive ID on three suspects driving an armored van, wanted for armed robbery."
Joe scanned the streets, seeing an armored vehicle just up ahead of him.
"Dredd to control, vehicle spotted." Joseph announced in his helmet's comms. "In pursuit."
"Copy that Dredd. Do you require backup?" the Control dispatcher asked. Dredd was about to respond, when he suddenly heard a loud noise a ways behind him. It almost sounded like someone breaking the sound barrier. For the second time that day, Joseph's mouth stretched into a tight smirk, realizing what- or who- it was.
"Backup's already on its way." Dredd replied, just as the back doors opened, and one of the suspects, wearing all black, began firing a machine gun. Joe swerved his Lawmaster, evading the gunfire, as he got closer to the truck.
Music: "Truck Robbery" from The Boys Season 1 OST
Unbeknownst to either the Judge or the suspect in the back, the armored truck was heading straight towards two juves in the middle of the street. The kids, paralyzed with fear, looked wide eyed, as the vehicle barrelled right towards them. Just as the truck was about to hit them, a small, humanoid figure dropped down, and the truck was stopped cold. In the commotion, the two juves shut their eyes, but when they reopened them, the front of the truck had been lifted up, as the figure, who wore a red suit and blue cape, shoved the vehicle onto its side. The figure, still having his back turned, began panting, resting his hands on his knees, and the juves could just barely notice that the back of his head was covered in short blonde hair.
When the truck ground to a halt, the suspect in the back was thrown forward, causing Dredd's Lawmaster to run him over, before he squeezed the handbrake, and stopped a few feet away from the ruined vehicle.
"Bike. Activate crowd control."
As the Lawmaster played its automated recording, Dredd unholstered his Lawgiver and strode over to the overturned van, opening up the back to see no one inside anymore. Joe carefully walked towards the front of the vehicle, seeing the figure in the blue cape, who appeared to be younger than twelve years old, still groaning from having to overturn the armored van.
"Ryan." Joseph said in a commanding, yet soft voice. "Are you alright?"
"Stay the drokk back, Judge!"
Dredd whipped his head back up, seeing the other two suspects had taken the juves hostage, with their guns pointed at the kids' heads. Joe formed his mouth into a grim line, as he took a step forward.
"Let's talk, creep." Joseph said in a low growl. "Release the hostages, and you both will be granted life sentences in the iso-cubes."
"That's what you're offering, Judge?" one of the suspects, a bearded man wearing a tie, snorted. "No, you let me walk, or we'll paint the sidewalk with these juves' blood-"
A crimson beam of light suddenly shot out from behind Dredd, striking the bearded man's weapon. The machine gun began to rapidly heat up, and the suspect screamed, letting go of not only his firearm, but also his hostage. The other perp, a bald man with chin stubble, widened his eyes in shock, as the hostage he took was able to wriggle himself free.
Dredd looked over his shoulder, seeing Ryan stand up, with a red glow fading from his eyes. The boy quickly threw himself in front of Joe, as the bald suspect began spraying gunfire at him, but quickly discovered the bullets would bounce right off his body. Ryan hovered a few feet off the air, seemingly floating towards the perp, and quickly grabbed his rifle, using his super strength to bend the gun in half. Butcher turned back towards Joe, nodding, as the Judge stepped forward.
"Your crimes are armed robbery, attempted vehicular manslaughter, abduction of a juve, and the attempted murder of a Judge." Dredd announced, aiming his Lawgiver at the man's heart. "The sentence is death."
Dredd squeezed the trigger, and a standard execution round penetrated the perp's chest, splattering blood in the street. The creep's body crumpled to the ground, and Dredd turned towards the other suspect on the ground, shooting him in the head as well.
"Good work." Dredd murmured to Ryan, as he holstered his Lawgiver. "You should get home. Your mother worries when you're gone too long."
"Yes Uncle Joe." Ryan agreed, before flying off into the sky. A large crowd began to form, but Dredd paid them no mind, returning to his Lawmaster. Just as he straddled the bike, the comms went off in his helmet.
"Control to Dredd, have your perps been apprehended?"
"Affirmative." Joe replied, as he drove off on the Lawmaster. "Perps were uncooperative, and were sentenced."
Mega City One. Over seven hundred million people living in the ruin of the old world… and the mega structures of the new one. There's only one thing fighting for order in the chaos… Judges.
But now, they also have a superhero.
Cassandra decided to stay in New York. After her confession in Dunc Renaldo Block, we both made the decision to see where that led us. Surprisingly, it's actually working out. I didn't think I'd be able to love anyone ever again, after what happened to Maria and our kids, but… this feels real.
Cass got a job at the NYPD. Whether it was in Mega City One or New York, she wanted to make a difference. Due to her originally being a Judge, she crushed the training, and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually making it as a detective. She even partnered up with Mahoney, one of the cops I ran into the night I rescued Bendix. One thing's certain, that she'll be a Hell of a better psychic on the force than Mesmer.
Music: "Laurie's Past" from Halloween 2018 OST
Haddonfield
March 2023
Myers and Nelson returned to Haddonfield after the funerals. I'm not entirely sure what for, but Allyson said something about getting things sorted. Whatever that meant.
Allyson walked down the stairs of her late grandmother's house, seeing Michael sitting on the living room's couch. As she stepped closer, Nelson noticed that Myers was holding onto his pale, blank mask… his face. His real face.
"Michael…" Allyson said timidly, walking over to the front of the couch. Michael didn't look up, as he stared intently at his face made of white latex.
"Monster…" Michael's voice mumbled out, as his fingers dug into the face's hair. Allyson frowned. The Boogeyman? Yes. A monster? No. Not after all he'd done for her over the last four years.
"Michael, you're not a monster." Allyson said softly. Michael looked up at her, and she took a step back in surprise. Instead of their constant black color, Michael's eyes displayed a chocolate brown hue, mixed in with the dark.
Nelson nearly laughed in disbelief, as she stepped closer.
"You're not a monster." she repeated. "You're good now."
"The Sisters…" Michael murmured, still staring at his face. Allyson sadly sighed. He knew what he meant. That the Sisters of Death had twisted him into a being of pure evil, one that could never be redeemed.
"Michael, I meant what I said to Frank at the funeral." Allyson told Myers, sitting down on the couch. "He was manipulated by the Sisters. So were you, Annie, and I. But that doesn't define who we are. And what others do is not your fault."
Michael finally looked over at Allyson, realizing she was implying the Blissfield Butcher, and seeing that her eyes too were losing their black color.
"You're not just a mask, Michael, you're a man." Allyson said, placing her hand on Myers' shoulder and echoing the words she uttered after he rescued her from Calvin Sartain. "You're one of the best men I've ever known. Right there with Frank, Dredd, and Dax."
Myers' blank expression finally broke, as he felt his mouth stretch into a smile. Allyson grinned back, and she leaned forward, hugging Michael. The hug lasted only for a few moments, but to Michael and Allyson, it was like decades passed by.
"I'll always be with you, Michael." Allyson promised, once the embrace finally ended. "I'll never leave you."
Michael slowly nodded, as he looked down at his hands, still clutching his face. After a moment of hesitation, he brought it up to his head, where Allyson reached out and gently grabbed his wrists.
"Are you sure, Michael?" Allyson asked nervously. She looked into his brown eyes. There was no malice in them, no anger, no rage. No, what lay behind Michael's eyes was the feeling of peace, and acceptance.
Michael nodded in determination, as Allyson slowly let go. Myers put the pale white face over the one made of flesh, and inhaled deeply. Once he exhaled, one thing was made clear to Allyson: he was still the Shape. The Boogeyman. But he was also a man.
A man named Michael Myers.
The same day I killed that piece of shit Friedman, I also sent Vera Konstantin's files to the CIA. Mallory knew what to do, and now, Silver Shamrock and Vought are even more tarnished than before. Most supes aren't trusted anymore, save for a select few like Annie. Because of this, Thunderbolts Tower had been completely torn down, causing the group to disband. Red went back to Central City, Luke Cage back to Harlem. I think Constantine decided to stay in his apartment in New York, but I'm not too sure. Barton, haven't a clue where he went. SHIELD trained him to blend in anywhere, to the point where even I wouldn't be able to track him.
Valkyrie eventually returned to the States. The first thing she did was let me know that the Albanians promised they'd never do business in New York again. I doubt those shitheads would keep their word, but I'm sure I'd find out soon enough.
I get word of other traffickers from time to time. Smaller rings, not connected to larger organizations or companies like Shamrock. I hit one here, a couple there, but their operations get more sophisticated by the day, smarter. Worse still, Ashley Barrett refuses to share intel. After Becca left to be with Dredd in Mega City One, Vought's former VP had to really step up to gain people's trust back as a social worker. But her consciousness won't allow herself to hand anything over again. In a way, that's better. Once you cross that line, there's no turning back. She does it her way, I do it mine.
But I'm not alone. After the Thunderbolts disbanded, Annie came to me. She said she wanted to help me fight the piece of shit gangs in this city. At first I said no, but she dropped an ultimatum: either she helps me, or she'll go off on her own. As much as I wanted to stand by what I said, I agreed to let her come along. Besides, it's better this way if we stick together. If a .50 caliber bullet can bruise her bulletproof skin and even make her bleed a little, then it wouldn't take too long for someone to make a weapon that can kill her.
Hell's Kitchen
April 2023
At the Gnucci's private mansion, all the remaining mobs and gangs of New York sat at an elegant and fancy dinner table. Aside from Ma Gnucci, who sat on the far end, the room was filled with mobsters, murderers, and guns for hire. The Calvellas. Remnants of the Kitchen Irish. Members of the Cartels, and the Russian Bratva.
As the gangsters all ate their dinner, Ma Gnucci stood up, lifting a glass and tapping her spoon to create a high pitched sound.
"Attention! I have invited you all for one reason." Ma Gnucci announced, straightening out her black dress. "The Punisher cannot be stopped. He cannot be stopped, unless we work together-"
Suddenly, the lights in the dining room went out, and Ma looked up, seeing a silhouette hop onto the table.
"What the fuck is this-"
Ma stopped, as the silhouette came closer, revealing a painted white skull.
"Oh shit."
Music: "Lights On!" from Punisher War Zone 2008 OST
The Punisher lit off a flare, casting a red glow about the room. He slammed the flare into the table, walking down the length until he reached Ma Gnucci. Castle whipped out his ka-bar knife, slashing across Gnucci's throat, as blood sprayed all over his vest. The Russian man next to Gnucci tried to grab Frank, but he pulled out his pistol, shooting the mobster twice in the head, before grabbing the throat of the woman next to him and snapping her neck easily.
Castle kicked glass into Nicky Calvella's face, making him scream loudly and fall to the floor, as he turned the ka-bar upside down and slammed it through one of the Kitchen Irish's skulls. Once he was certain he was dead, Frank pulled the knife out and threw it at one of the Cartel members, sticking it through his neck. The rest of the gangsters quickly got up, finally realizing what was happening, and Castle pulled out the M16 from behind his back, switching to automatic fire. The Punisher squeezed the trigger in an instant, roaring loudly as bullets ripped and tore through every criminal present. A few managed to get a lucky shot off, with three bullets hitting Castle, but due to him wearing Mega City One Judges' riot armor, he didn't even full the bullets hit the vest.
The score of bodies fell to the ground, and Frank lowered his rifle. He looked out the dining room's windows, just in time to see a blinding flash of light obscure his vision. A second later, the lights came back on, and Castle stepped outside, seeing Starlight waiting for him. Her hands were raised, she was in her old costume, and the golden glow in her eyes was just beginning to fade.
"Thanks, Annie." Castle nodded, looking out across the mansion's yard to see the guards were knocked out.
"I told you it would be easier if I took out the lights." Annie smirked, as the two of them walked down the mansion's steps.
"Yeah." Frank nodded in agreement, just as they approached the Punisher's black Battle Van. After loading his M16 in the back, Frank and Annie climbed into the drivers and passenger seats, driving off back to New York City.
Music: "No More War To Fight" from Punisher Season 1 OST
May 2023
Frank Castle swallowed hard, looking across the circle of veterans and civilians who had their lives troubled by supes. After a year and a half of convincing from Curtis, Russo, and even Annie, Frank finally relented, and had gone. That's how he found himself sharing his story of what had happened last year: how he and the Boys had defeated Payback, then saved the futuristic city of Mega City One from the Dark Judges.
"...As long as I was at war, I never thought about what happened next. Never thought about what I'd do after." Frank announced to everyone. "I guess I was spared the choice when A-Train killed my family, and I was thrust into another war. But it's been almost two years now. Homelander's dead, and the Seven are obsolete. Even the Thunderbolts were disbanded after what Soldier Boy and Payback did.
"But then I was thrown into another war. One that determined the fate of hundreds of millions of lives that were at the mercy of the Sisters of Death. I wasn't alone in that one either. Dredd, Nelson, Myers, they all had my back. I even ended up falling in love with Cass in the process. But I still can't help seeing someone get hurt, and think I gotta get involved.
"I don't know. I thought I could go back to the life I once had, but I can't. Everytime I try to be someone different, the wrong people get hurt. I took a look in the mirror, and I had to admit who I was. This is who I am. Always was, always will be. I'm always gonna have a war to fight, and I've come to terms with that."
Frank finished his speech, as the meeting ended. Everyone else began to leave, but Castle stayed, noticing Russo and Curtis approach him.
"You did good coming here, Frank." Curtis told his friend. "And don't worry, we keep each other's secrets here. That's the only way this works."
"Yeah, Curt." Frank nodded, looking over to Billy. "You too, Bill."
"We'll always be there for you, Frankie." Billy smiled, shaking Castle's hand.
"Thanks. Appreciate it." Frank smiled slightly, before turning towards the door. "I'd better get going."
"Give her our congrats for us." Billy requested. "And tell her if she needs anything, we'll be there for her too."
Frank looked back and silently nodded, before leaving Clinton Church. He walked over to the parking lot, entering his black van to see Anderson waiting in the passenger seat, her face buried in a box of noodles from Noodle Palace, fiddling with the chopsticks.
"I gotta say-" Cass said between mouthfuls of the Chinese food. "Dredd was right. They do taste better here."
"Well, they're not synthetic here." Frank wore an amused smile. "And they're not recycled…"
Cass laughed, as she finished the last of the noodles, and perfectly threw the box into a nearby trashcan on the sidewalk.
"You ready?" Castle asked, starting the engine.
"Yeah." Anderson grinned.
"Good." Frank said bluntly, as he put the van into drive. "Let's go."
Music: "The Warrior Song" by Sean Householder
Parris Island
One Day Later
Millie stood with her graduating class in her dress blues, as their drill sergeant saluted each of them. Once she was able to lower her arm, Kessler looked out across the crowd, through the sea of friends and family that had shown up for graduation day.
"Today is a crowning achievement for you all. For today, you are now Marines!" the drill sergeant announced, over the wind in the air. "You're part of a brotherhood, from now until death! It doesn't matter where you are, every Marine is your brother and sister. Most of you will be deployed wherever the United States needs us to be. Some of you will not come back. But know this: even if you die, the Marine Corps will live forever! And that means you will live forever!"
At last, Millie spotted Frank in the crowd, wearing his usual black trench coat. Next to him was Anderson, who Millie found out was dating Castle right before she was sworn in. But what surprised her the most was the next to them were the rest of the Boys: Dredd, Becca and Ryan Butcher, Annie, Allyson, and Michael. They were all wearing their best, with Michael having his mask- or face, as Allyson called it- removed for the graduation ceremony. Last with them, beside Anderson, was Booker and his parents.
As Millie stared on, Frank caught her gaze, and nodded in approval. She fought to keep a straight face, and partially succeeded, but even she could feel the corners of her mouth itching to smile.
Once the ceremony was over, the newly christened Marines were able to spend time with friends and family, and Millie walked over to the Boys, grinning.
"Russo and Curt say congrats." Frank first announced. "They're sorry they couldn't make it."
"I'm sure they were busy." Millie shrugged in understanding. "I'm just happy you all could show up."
"Wasn't easy." Dredd grunted. "Becca and I, we had to jump through hoops to get the Chief Judge to let us use Project Proteus again."
"Who is the Chief Judge now?" Anderson asked curiously.
"McGruder came back." Joseph answered. "Decided the Long Walk was a bit too boring."
While Anderson and Dredd kept talking, Allyson began speaking to her old friend.
"Still planning on going to Ivy?"
"God damned right." Millie grinned. "Best part is I have a way to afford it now."
"Your mom and sister would be proud, kid." Frank smirked. "I know I am."
Millie continued smiling, as she stepped forward and wrapped Frank in a hug.
"Thanks, Frank." Kessler murmured, while Castle returned the embrace. While they continued hugging it out, Millie realized Frank was shaking, and she looked up. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's just… you know, kid…" Frank spoke softly, as he looked over to Anderson. "Sometimes you find things, and they… they change your life."
Yeah, we still get together from time to time. Usually for holidays, like Christmas. Still can't believe they celebrate it in Mega City One, but after Necropolis, nothing's shocking anymore. There hasn't been a cataclysmic, world ending threat like that or Chaos Day, but I made it a point to Joe that no matter what, we'll be there. Because that's what families do, and make no mistake, the Boys are a family. We might all be tainted by the Sisters of Death, one way or another, but that doesn't decide who we are or what we do right now. Dredd continues being a Judge of Mega City One, with Becca and Ryan at his side. Cass and I have started a life together, while Annie and I hunt down piece of shit murderers and rapists. Nelson and Myers keep to themselves mostly. And Millie… she and Booker are heading off to Ivy University to continue their education. Some days are good, some days aren't, but all we can do is live what life they left us. That's all anyone can do, really.
The End
A/N: So, I also wasn't originally planning on putting Millie in the Marines, but then, I decided it made a little bit of sense. In this story, it was made clear that the Punisher is Millie's hero after the events of the previous story, so it makes sense she'd want to join up. Also, that will play a bit of a factor in the next story that comes after this.
Speaking of the next story, like I said in a previous author's note, it will be called Seasons Greetings And Yuletide Slayings. It will be a crossover between the Punisher and the Black Christmas 2019 remake. Just like in my story Resetting The Game, where Happy Death Day's Tree Gelbman was the main character in what I said was a crossover between the Avengers and Saw, Millie Kessler will be the main character of the story. Frank Castle will show up, but he'll be used sparingly.
Final note, and a bit of a warning, that fic will most likely be the most politically charged story I've ever written. I've made several hints to politics in my previous stories, but for my next one, considering the nature of the film I'm basing it on, it'll probably be on full display. I will try my best though to keep it well balanced, and to put the quality of the story first, before the political message. Hell, I haven't even seen the movie, so I'll have to take time to view it, before getting some ideas.
Anyway, I hope you all had as much fun as I did with this story. Stay safe out there, and have a nice day!