The following is the testimony said by the survivors of the apocalyptic event that nearly enslaved and exterminated the human race.

Reggie:

We were up north for a good 7 years and so far no sign of him. To my surprise despite being one of his monstrosities, Michael has had a good time adapting to the harsh winters that should have killed him on touch. For he has become an entity like only one we seen before. The Tall Man. Who he is, we don't know. What he is, is complicated. What he used to be, was surprisingly easy to understand, but between then and now we never knew what changed. Or maybe we were afraid to know.

Michael:

He was a mortician and a scientist, from the late 19th Century. A man who fuelled by the loss of his friends and loved ones, wanted to learn the secret to life and death. He got what he wished for and it was horrible. Jebediah Morningside was his name, but that kind man died the second he crossed over the dimensional forks. It's strange, although this was nothing more than a skinsack mockery, I always wondered why it preferred that form. Could it have been a personal fascination with the man behind it or was their something more? Before we enacted our final plan, I decided to see for myself. I knew at this point, killing him wouldn't be enough since another of thousands would take his place, so I took what would have been my last chance.

2021, Morningside Cemetary.

Michael Pearson knew that cemetery well, due to the loss of his parents and apparently Jody. Yet this once creepy place, was also the victim of ruin once the Tall Man was finished with it, however it served as the focal spot for which he wanted to arrange the meeting.

"I know you're out there." He said. "Show yourself." To his surprise rather than see the man himself, he saw another one of his apparitions. The Lady In Lavender. A siren like entity who entices naive men into a world of seduction and death. If this Tall Man was the Devil and she was more than one of many forms, she'd be his high ranking succubus. Mike knew though that it was him no matter what form he took. The old, deep, sinister voice being his dead giveaway. "I admit boy." He says. "I am fascinated that you decided to pick this location, above all for us to meet once more." Michael couldn't help but give a warm fond smile. "Well I figured." Michael said. "If I was to pick a place to talk before this all ends, it may as well be in the beginning. You and me have been at war for a long time, consider this a temporary ceasefire. A break in what you consider a game." "And you have played this game well Boy." He said. "You may speak for now, I'm sure you must have a million questions to ask." "I only have one." Michael says "Why? When Reggie last saw you alone, you mentioned you had plans to make things better for everyone. Yet all I see you do is bring misery to us all. You rob and enslave our corpses, you turned me and Jody into monsters and you've tormented and killed my friend Reggie, twice. All I want to know is why? Why are you doing this and if I'm so goddamn important to you, then where the fuck do I place in this grand scheme of things?" "Boyyy!" He said. "I was hoping at one point you would understand. In spite of my best efforts, you still cling onto those feeble emotions. Which cloud all sense of logic. Well if this will finally get you to see things my way I will tell you."

"When Jebediah first came to my domain, I was curious. How such a feeble, weak, old being of skin and fluid. Would find a way to cross from one dimension to another, I had no idea that one of you were capable of such a fantastic wonder. Yet nothing intrigued me more than the same 'Why?' you ask of me. He wanted to know the secret of life and death. So I gave it to him. He was the first to go through the process that changed him from a mere skinsack to a being more powerful than you humans can possibly comprehend. The only thing that stood in his way was his emotions. His conscience and empathy proved to be difficult in completing the task we set him out to do. So to relieve him of the burden, I took over fully. Stripped him of his guilt, his remorse, anything that would have stood in the way of true progress. When I crossed over, I was fascinated by the wonders, but disappointed by how young, petty and naive your race had become over the years. You fight over pointless differences, consume every natural resource and find newer and more destructive ways to destroy each other. It was only a matter of time this planet would have imploded on itself. My methods may seem cruel to a small man like yourself, but I saw no alternative."

Mike listened. Part of him began to understand the Tall Man's motivation, but at the same time, he still had one thing to ask. "Why me?"

"When we first met, you were nothing more than an annoyance. Someone I would lose no sleep over killing without a second thought. Yet, despite my best efforts, you thwart me at every turn. Why do you think I referred to this as a game? I was having what you humans would call fun. It's not every day I meet a challenge and while I may have treated you harshly, you have earned my what you call respect. I wanted to share the gift I was given, to you in hopes I may have an ally and if need be a successor, should my plans failed. Yet despite everything I have put you through, short of killing you and turning you into this magnificent specimen I see before me. You still were able to maintain these emotions. It was something I could never figure out. Oh I've had theories that it may be hereditary. That because your brother had a strong enough will to overcome the sentinel's influence. That one was low in power and rank compared to the one I've taken from you. I must admit, your will is much more stronger, considering even without it, you continue to fight me."

"So this whole time." Michael said. "You wanted me to join you. Yet you couldn't figure out why I wouldn't want that?"

"Precisely." He said. "I shall leave you be for now, but we will meet again. We should have this talk more often. It has been very interesting. Until next time. Boy!"

Present Day:

Jody: Much of why we weren't successful so far was, that even after learning a few things, we had no clue what we were up against. This man was strong, fast, could control reality and above all else, nothing seemed to put him down for good. We even used his spheres against him and he crushes them like they were beer cans.

Reggie: It was Michael in the end that did figure out what to do.

Michael: I admit. This plan took a lot of risk, but it was worth it for the result. However it had to be planned carefully.

Reggie: As much as I hated it, the plan did involve using Michael as bait.

Michael: It wasn't just us though. Rocky and Chunk were a big help.

Rocky: I'll admit I was reluctant, Reggie and I haven't seen each other in years and before we could even do anything, he and Chunk fought over me. I would have stopped it, but it reminded me of what the world used to be like.

Chunk: Baldy is blowing smoke, he couldn't have Rocky if she was begging for it. I don't need both hands to please a lady.

Reggie: One of these days I may mistake Chunk for one of the lurkers. My finger may just slip on the trigger.

Rocky: But after they got that out of their systems the plan was solid.

Reggie: The first step was easy. Cut off all ways to Earth except one. I knew how to shut down the forks, so they put me in charge of that.

Rocky: I was laying out cover fire for anyone that tried to stop Reggie.

Chunk: I went undercover once more, I was surprise the old fuck was fooled by the same trick twice, but who's complaining. I sent signals on old short wave to the team, so they'd get the drop on his friends.

Jody: I was the artillery and getaway driver. My job was to get people where they needed to go, while mowing down as much lurkers and gravers I could find between places.

Michael: My job was simple. Distract the man himself. Hard thing to accomplish as he finds ways to read us, but as long as his attention was on me, my friends had a fighting chance. We sealed off all but one. Creating a bottle neck for us to fight off his minions while I was on the other side. However I didn't come to fight him. Far from it I came to save him. At this point his skinsack form was practically on it's last legs. With him using other forms to move around. So I took a shot in the dark and tried to see if Jebediah was still in there.

Red Planet 2021 in Earth Years.

The planet was the same as it was before. Hotter than the most intense of dessert suns and gravity that could pin a human to the ground in seconds. Black Barrels lined up for the taking. In the center of it all was the man himself. His skin a dull grey, his hair a pale white. Even his suit was wearing down. Michael simply walked up to him. Paying no mind to the lurkers and gravers that passed through trying to deal with his friends. "It is almost time for this to end boy." The Tall Man said. "Indeed it is. However there is one problem." Michael said. "I know you're still in there Jebediah. I can feel it deep within that gold plated shield that protects your subconscious. Before we end this for good, let me in your dreams. Let's see what kind of nightmares you have." "If you insist." He said. "However you will never win." They both fall asleep. Michael finds himself in Morningside in 1899. Mortuary stood before him like it was brand new. With Jebediah sitting on the porch drinking some lemonade for himself. A warm smile comes across his face. "I never thought I'd see you again sir." He said. "When we last met, you looked like you've seen a ghost. Though I can see you look much better. Would you care for a glass?" Michael was reluctant at first, even knowing full well this isn't the monster he faced in the past, but he needed to talk to him. "I'd love some." Michael said. Jebediah pours him a glass. He takes a sip. To his surprise he enjoys it well. "I must admit." Michael said. "That is some good lemonade. How do you make it?" Jebediah smiles and says "Well good sir. I grow the lemons myself, not much else to do when not working at a mortuary. The sugar itself also grown and there was plenty of cool water...however a little vodka goes along way." They both share a good laugh. "You wanted an explanation last time we met. So I'll give it to you."

"When we first met, your appearance frightened me, because it was the same appearance of a very bad man. Who has tormented me since I was a child. It wasn't until recently, I found out he was basically a shadow of what you used to be. When you crossed over the forks for the first time, you came back different. Cold, uncaring, a true monster. Bent on doing god knows what to the rest of us."

"I see." He said. "Well I know exactly what you're talking about. I admit I was reluctant after it showed me what the secret of life and death was. So he took over the coach that is my mind so to speak. He left me here, because he needed my consciousness intact enough to keep control. I remember witnessing through his eyes, in one of the many dimensions he peered in, a moving picture with a colored man as the lead. I believe it was called "Get Out." I guess you can say, this is my sunken place. If I could stop this I would, but he's much too powerful."

"i'm taking a big risk saying this, because I know he'll listen in." Michael says. "The dimensions are closed. I figured he wouldn't have gotten in without your help. I know, with your ambition aside, the last thing you want is to see is your fellow man get slaughtered. Especially considering it's what motivated you in the first place. Is there some kind of weakness in the forks? Something that will end it for good?" The man thought for a moment. "Well." He said. "The forks uses sound frequencies to open and close the dimensions. They have to be completely in-tune in order for them to work. Even someone as powerful as the Tall Man, couldn't keep them functioning if at least one fork is out of harmony. You should know that harmony. You've heard it every time you've come across one." "Of course. I know exactly what to do." He says as he shakes Jebediah's hand. He says one more thing. "I had the will to fight off his strippings, you have it too."

Michael and Tall Man wake up. Tall Man was enraged as ever. He grabs a gold sphere and tries to bludgeon Michael with it, but it stops in mid air. Not by it's own, but by his. "No." He says. "I thought I was rid of you." Michael's eyes glowed yellow before glowing back. He takes the sphere. "This is mine." He says. Before making a mad dash at the portal where he met Reggie, Chunk, Jody and Rocky. "Please tell me your instruments are still in the trunk." Michael says. Reggie opens the trunk of the Cuda and inside are two guitars. One electric for Jody and One Acoustic for Reggie. They stand beside each pole of the Dimensional forks. It humming a tone between them. They both play a song while everyone else is clapping and singing along with it. Even Chunk who had no idea of the song. The song? Sitting Here At Midnight. They finished just a few days before enacting the plan. The two guitars playing a somewhat harmonic tune to each other. Which echoes between the forks. Disrupting them and causing them to crumble into dust. Tall Man speaking one last time before he was gone for good.

"You played a good game boy. The game is now finished. Maybe we should play some time soon. Until then, I leave you in charge of this world. Take good care of it. For I will be back one day."

Present Day

Chunk: And that was it. We never seen him again. Why he was fond of Mike, I don't know, but he made the mistake of leaving the world in better hands.

Rocky: It was almost like in an attempt to make another Devil, he created a God in a sense. Mike was able to control his abilities to the point where we almost think the Tall Man will come back.

Jody: Not just that though, but because of his transformation, he retained knowledge of the Tall Man's other gadgets. The Spheres, the embalming fluid. He was able to utilize them and give them to civilian and government alike. Of course they had to work around not putting brains in those things and replacing them with microcomputers, but hey. Stem Cells were made by aborted fetuses before they found them in adults.

Reggie: In a way, he succeeded where Tall Man failed, making things better for everyone. He was even able to bring my wife and kid back. There was no way in hell I would ever Judas him for that.

Michael: Once I got my sphere back, I was even able to overcome the cold. I'm glad, because I love the winters. Plus I can eat Ice Cream again. I steal some from Reggie's truck. Most importantly, every time I sleep at night I have pleasant dreams. I could still see him. Not the Tall Man, but good old Jebediah. Hopefully he regains enough will to overcome the monster and rejoin the human race. Until then, he is but a dream.