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Mr. Sandman

Page 9

by Robert T. Jeschonek


  Narrator (Farley): There he goes! Kelsey, keep a fix on him at all times! Lucas, transmit his coordinates to the team as he moves. Instruct the Night Brigade to pursue and pacify target.

  Page 6 panel 4

  Night Terror (gesturing toward the fleeing Dream Lord and Lullaby, his team already flying off the cloud at his orders): Capture Adams ASAP! The girl is unimportant, so terminate her! Catnap and Hangover, you're the first wave! Let's go!

  Page 6 panel 5

  Lullaby and the Dream Lord fall through the blue sky, pushing themselves as fast as they can to escape the Night Brigade.

  Lullaby: Man! You are definitely havin' a bad day here! First, you get killed by that Bogey-nut...then you rise from the dead...and now these weekend warriors wanna' kick your butt! Maybe you should go back and start your life over!

  Dream Lord: Those people are not going to give up and let us get away, Stacy...and I don't have enough energy to defend both of us. Hell, I don't have enough to defend myself! I want you to get away from here, run as far and as fast as you can.

  Page 6 panel 6

  Dream Lord: I'll try to keep them occupied.

  The Dream Lord turns in mid-fall and flies back toward the Brigade. Lullaby shoots past him.

  Lullaby: Dream Lord! You dumb cowboy! Haven't you figured it out yet?

  Page 6 panel 7

  Dream Lord is already in the distance, approaching the first two members of the Night Brigade, but Lullaby soars after him.

  Lullaby: I'm your guardian angel, buster! I'm watching out for you! And you need too much watching over!

  Page 7 (9 panels)

  Page 7 panel 1

  Hangover (smiling and enjoying the battle): Hey hey, here comes our boy now! I think the little coward wants to fight us, Ruby! He looks real baaaad, don't he?

  Catnap: Shut up and do your job! Take him out quick and yap about it later! And don't use civilian names on a mission!

  Page 7 panel 2

  Hangover: Pardon me, babe, but I'm gettin' carried away. This kinda' stuff really turns me on...almost as much as you do!

  Catnap: Button it, you idiot! Here he comes!

  Page 7 panel 3

  Dream Lord approaches the two, gritting his teeth and gathering all his strength for the battle.

  Hangover: Hey, dumbass! You must really be a masochist to take us on! Gonna gut you and burn your little girlfriend! And you're gonna feel it! We're...

  Catnap (off-panel): Dr. Adams!

  The Dream Lord looks in the direction of Catnap's voice, away from the hulking Hangover.

  Page 7 panel 4

  Catnap (pointing at the Dream Lord, her hand glowing brightly): You look like you could use a little rest.

  Page 7 panel 5

  The Dream Lord suddenly passes out in mid-flight, his eyes closing and his head falling backward.

  Dream Lord: What are you...

  Page 7 panel 6

  A single frame of complete blackness, as the Dream Lord sleeps for a split second.

  Page 7 panel 7

  Closeup of the Dream Lord's face as he abruptly regains consciousness. His eyes spring open, and he looks surprised.

  Dream Lord: ...doing?

  Hangover (off-panel): Ha ha! You stupid jerk! We already got you!

  Page 7 panel 8

  Medium shot. Hangover has grabbed the Dream Lord and is crushing him in a bear hug. The Dream Lord, still in pain from his earlier, fatal injuries, grimaces and shouts.

  Hangover: What a tough guy! You didn't even get a shot in, and you're already squashed like a bug! How did you like Catnap, huh? She's a real knockout, ain't she?

  Dream Lord: Aaaaarrrrggh!

  Page 7 panel 9

  Hangover: Aw, does this hurt? Does it really bother you?

  Dream Lord: Aaaoww! Let...go!

  Hangover: What's that? It doesn't hurt enough? Gee, I forgot you like pain so much! Here, I can fix that.

  Page 8 (8 panels)

  Page 8 panel 1

  Hangover lifts one huge, hairy hand and clamps it over the Dream Lord's face. The Dream Lord writhes around, trying to get away.

  Hangover: See, my code name is "Hangover," twerp, and that's what I can do to you! I can make you sick like you've never been before, give you a pain all through your body that's a thousand times worse than any hangover you've ever had!

  Dream Lord: YAAAAA!!!

  Page 8 panel 2

  Hangover: Now ain't that a neat power, Adams? I can make you hurt and hurt and hurt, and you don't have to touch a drop of booze! Here, let me turn it up a little more for ya', so you can get comfortable.

  Catnap (hovering nearby while Hangover laughs and the Dream Lord shrieks with pain): Hangover! Finish him now! We're on a timetable, and we don't have time for your sadistic crap!

  Page 8 panel 3

  Hangover: Hey now, honey girl, there's always time for kicks! You like it, don't you, baby? It makes you hot, I can tell!

  Catnap: Here comes the girl! I'll take care of her!

  Page 8 panel 4

  Lullaby is swooping toward Catnap. Catnap raises her hands, preparing to zap the girl unconscious for a split second, but Lullaby is also preparing to fight. Her eyes glow bright red, and her body is surrounded with a brilliant yellow aura.

  Lullaby: No you won't, lady! I don't know who you think you're pushin' around here...

  Page 8 panel 5

  Lullaby: But you got more than you bargained for with Lullaby!

  She frowns, concentrating hard, and twin yellow beams of energy shoot from her forehead.

  Page 8 panel 6

  Catnap hovers in the sky as the beams race toward her. As they approach her, they become more bulbous in front, like comets; they are congealing into dream creatures made by Lullaby. Lullaby has a tiny fraction of the same power possessed by the Dream Lord, and can shape the energies of the Dream Zone into whatever she wants -- on a much smaller scale than the Dream Lord can.

  Catnap gestures frantically at Lullaby, her hand glowing as she tries to use her power to inflict a brief and sudden sleep.

  Catnap: What the hell is wrong here? I'm hitting you with my full force, and...you're still awake!

  Lullaby: Girl, you are pretty thick, aren't you? Must be, to have a boyfriend like that hippo!

  Page 8 panel 7

  Closeup of the energy beams as they darken and congeal and begin to form two shapes.

  Lullaby: I told you I'm Lullaby! You can't put me under, 'cause I'm already coppin' z's! I can still mess you up, though...

  Page 8 panel 8

  Lullaby: ...'cause you're in my dream! My little buddies will take care of you now!

  The beams are becoming two cartoon blackbirds, with huge beaks and exaggerated features, which look like Heckle and Jeckle, the old Terrytoon characters.

  Page 9 (9 panels)

  Page 9 panel 1

  Lullaby (off-panel): Meet Jerry and Barry! They just love smart-mouthed broads like you!

  The two cartoon birds dive at Catnap and attack her, hammering her with their beaks.

  Terry: Well hel-lo! I do believe we've found a new playmate, Barry old chap!

  Barry: Delightful! She's just what the doctor ordered! Plump and juicy and ready for the rotisserie!

  Page 9 panel 2

  Jerry: I know! Let's play 'Pin the tail on the donkey'! You do the honors, why not!

  Barry (holding a long, sharp pin behind Catnap, poised to stick her with it): Sounds like a marvelous idea, old bean! A one, and a two, and...

  Page 9 panel 3

  Barry & Jerry: A three!!

  Barry rams the sharp pin into Catnap's bun, and she leaps up and screams with agony like some cartoon victim of Woody Woodpecker.

  Page 9 panel 4

  Jerry: Oh, that was a ball! She's so much fun! But what shall we partake of next?

  Barry: I know!

  Page 9 panel 5

  The two cartoon birds stalk toward Catnap, looking fiendish.

  Barry: Blind Man
's Bluff.

  Page 9 panel 6

  Lullaby flies over to the spot where Dream Lord is being asphyxiated by Hangover.

  Lullaby: Dream Lord! You've got to break away from that ape! Hurry up, the rest of the Night Brigade is attacking!

  Hangover: Yeah, Dream Lord -- hurry up and break away from me! Go ahead, do it! What's the matter? Don't you feel good, you weasel?

  Dream Lord (Hangover's hand still clamped over his face): Nnnnggghh!

  Page 9 panel 7

  Lullaby: Hey, Smelly!

  Again using her meager matter-shaping powers, she creates a bucket of water in the air over the fat man's head.

  Page 9 panel 8

  Lullaby: Why don't you take a bath? That B.O. is melting my fingernail polish!

  She gestures, and the bucket of water dumps onto Hangover, who bellows with rage.

  Page 9 panel 9

  Dream Lord: Get...away!!!

  Distracted by Lullaby's tricks, Hangover releases his attack on the Dream Lord's mind. The Dream Lord takes advantage of the short respite and bursts away from Hangover with a flare of surging energy.

  Lullaby: Yes!! Ladies and gentlemen, this guy is incredible! The crowd is going wild! (She imitates a sports announcer.)

  Page 10 (6 panels)

  Page 10 panel 1

  Narrator (vet): Mike, I know everybody says this about their dreams, but it was so real! It was like I was back there all over again, running through the damn jungle...ready to shoot something, anything, before it shot me. I felt my heart pounding like charges, I felt the heat sticking to everything like blood. I couldn't stop to wonder how I'd ended up there again...I just had to run.

  Narrator (Farley): Not bad. Dr. Adams actually managed to repel two operatives, with some help from that girl. I can see how the man survived by himself in an alien universe for two years. With a little finessing, he may yet be salvaged as part of Project Dream Lord. Lucas, order Stoltz to send in the second wave.

  Medium shot of the Dream Lord and Lullaby fleeing from two more Brigade members. The fugitives are flying as fast as they can through banks of clouds.

  Dream Lord: Stacy...thanks for the assist. If you save my life again, I'll have to hire you as a bodyguard.

  Lullaby: Too late, buster...I've already taken the job. Just remember, I don't make coffee and I don't do windows.

  Page 10 panel 2

  Dream Lord: I still wish you would get out of here, before one of them really hurts you.

  Lullaby: Forget that! Huh-uh, Dream Lord! I made an investment in you, and I am not gonna let your stock market crash!

  Page 10 panel 3

  Narrator (vet): The 'Cong soldiers kept coming at us, one after another. If we shot one down or escaped in the jungle, two more would come at us from the brush.

  Narrator (Farley): Adams looks tired. I don't think he'll last much longer, especially after the rest of the group makes contact.

  Symbol (swooping toward the Dream Lord and Lullaby): Dr. Adams! You are under arrest!

  Dream Lord: So I've heard. Don't worry, I'm sure it's just an ugly rumor.

  Page 10 panel 4

  Symbol: Sir, my code name is 'Symbol.' That refers to my ability to change shape, to represent anything that I want. I must inform you that I am about to utilize that ability to do physical violence to you and your partner.

  Lullaby: Why don't you get lost, you army jerk! I must inform you that we hate your stinkin' guts, and if you mess with us, we will fry your rice!

  Page 10 panel 5

  Symbol: Sweet Dream, pacify the girl. I will nullify Adams.

  His body is already glowing and distorting, shifting into some new form. Sweet Dream is beside him, sizing up their opponents.

  Sweet Dream: All right, Martin. Just remember who's in charge of this unit, hm? I take orders from Zed, not you.

  Page 10 panel 6

  Symbol: I don't care! Just do your job! The renegade must be brought to justice before Project Dream Lord can progress!

  Symbol takes the shape of a huge pterodactyl, dwarfing his victim, the Dream Lord.

  Page 11 (7 panels)

  Page 11 panel 1

  Symbol (hovering over Dream Lord): Surrender, before I have to damage you!

  Dream Lord: Y'know, I've had one winner of a day today, and it just keeps getting better! I'll tell you, I'm in no mood for you people right now. I've got much bigger problems to worry about...

  Page 11 panel 2

  Dream Lord: ...than a bunch of gung ho army punks who think they're the Men from U.N.C.L.E.!

  The Dream Lord raises his arms and projects a bolt of lightning from his fingertips. The lightning strikes Symbol/pterodactyl across his huge right wing, and he screams.

  Page 11 panel 3

  Symbol: Your actions have condemned you, Adams! I tried to be merciful, but you struck the first blow! I have no choice now but to unleash myself!

  He is changing shape as he speaks, surrounded by energy. A huge charred spot smokes on his wounded wing.

  Page 11 panel 4

  Symbol: I think you'll regret opposing me...what's left of you, anyway.

  Symbol finally settles into a new form: a big, metallic praying mantis. He is now smaller than he was as the pterodactyl, but still three feet taller than the Dream Lord.

  Page 11 panel 5

  Cut to Sweet Dream, drifting toward the waiting Lullaby.

  Sweet Dream: Well hello, dear! What's your name?

  Lullaby: Why don't you eat crap and die, you big floozy! I'll bust your ass if you mess with me!

  Page 11 panel 6

  Sweet Dream (still coming closer, with her arms held out comfortingly before her): Now now, is that any way to behave? You know, I just want to be your friend! Why don't you just relax and come along now, and everything will be SO much better.

  Lullaby: I told you once, and that is it! I'm whippin' up something now that you are not gonna like!

  Lullaby frowns and concentrates, preparing to fire off beams of her creative force, the way she did against Catnap.

  Page 11 panel 7

  Lullaby (as two bright beams emerge from her forehead once again): Say goodnight, Gracie! You are goin' down!

  Sweet Dream (still moving straight toward Lullaby, not worried about the beams): You poor girl, you're too restless and disturbed. I sense a great deal of pain in you, emanating from far away.

  Page 12 (7 panels)

  Page 12 panel 1

  Sweet Dream (walking steadily toward Lullaby across space, reaching for her as the two beams pass harmlessly through her chest): I can truly help you, my friend. I can ease that pain and soothe your mind, grant you a serenity you have never imagined.

  Lullaby: Oh no..

  Page 12 panel 2

  Sweet Dream finally steps close to Lullaby and puts a hand on each of the girl's shoulders. Lullaby is jolted, her head jerked back as the strange power hits her.

  Sweet Dream: With a simple touch, I can fill you with good feelings, evaporate your pain and anxiety. I can give you the sweetest dream of your life...

 

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