The Super NKOTB
by Kittie

Episode Eleven - Closing Time

Jonathan was surrounded by darkness. It was suffocating, pressing down on him. The darkness seemed alive; it breathed heavily, and every once in a while, there was that same evil laugh.

He didn't know how long he'd been trapped here, but he did know that they were in trouble. Joe was gone. There was no trace of his mind—his energy—anywhere. Jonathan wondered briefly if the younger man had been killed, but forced that thought out of his mind.

He wondered then how Jordan was dealing with things. He concentrated hard, working to penetrate the darkness and locate his brother's energy. He found Danny first.

Danny was furious. He was scared too, but the anger was more potent. Jonathan tried to send him a message—to let Danny know he was okay (sort-of), but Danny didn't seem to hear. Giving up, he moved on.

Donnie. Something was wrong there. he could feel intense confusion, and a lot of fear. Donnie didn't really feel like Donnie anymore, he felt like a scared little kid. Jonathan's heart sank with that realization. If Donnie was falling apart, Jordan had to be....

He gulped and thought as hard as he could about Jordan. He pictured his dimpled smile, his sparkling eyes—and to his mind, unbidden, came a horrible picture—a still photograph—of Jordan as a child, shriveled and still in Mr. Man's arms.

He let out an anguished cry that was all but swallowed by the darkness. Not again....

But then his mind hit something....

Jordan... alive, but....

Jonathan frowned, probing a little deeper. Something was wrong. Jordan's face slowly began to form in his mind's eyes. Pale... staring....

Jonathan closed his eyes and sagged. Desperate, he sent another feeler out for Joe... and found something.

CLOSING TIIIIIIME!!!!

Jonathan gasped. Joe?!

He heard the faint tickle of Joe's laughter in his mind. Let's blow this popsicle stand, Joe's voice rang in his head. And then he started to sing.

I KNOOOOOW WHO I WAAAANT TO TAKE ME HOOOOOME!!!!

It was loud, grating, and painfully out of tune, but at that moment, it was the most beautiful sound in the world to Jonathan. The walls of darkness surrounding him shrivelled and began to dissolve, screaming in agony like a thing alive. His mind filled with light—warm and inviting—and then....

~*~

Jonathan's eyes snapped open. The first thing he heard was laughter. Evil, grating laughter. He sat up straight, startling Danny, and took stock of the situation.

They were in a giant holding pen. The walls were completely invisible, except for a bright, wavy light that swam across them. It reminded him of the comet that had saved him from Mr. Man's clutches the first time. It had to be Joe's doing—he was still singing. He looked back at Danny, who was by his side, staring at him in shock. Donnie was huddled in a corner, his knees hugged to his chest. For some reason, his lips were tightly pursed.

Jonathan's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched as his gaze came to rest in the middle of the room. The clouds... the lightning... the cackling demon clutching Jordan's wrists so tightly that they bled....

Something inside him snapped. He let out an enraged howl, and the walls of the forcefield cage exploded outward, showering them with sparks of color. Danny leapt into action, grabbing Joe's still-motionless body and dragging him into the corner with Donnie, shielding both of their bodies with his own.

At Jonathan's howl, Mr. Man's head snapped around, his glowing eyes widening with shock "No," he screamed, claws tightening around Jordan's wrists. "No, how did you break free?!"

Jonathan didn't answer. He stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Mr. Man's. His hair began to swirl as if he was in the middle of a tornado. "Let him go," he growled, his eyes glowing a sharp blue. Small objects all around the room began to pick themselves up and were smashed against the walls and the ceiling. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and he stepped ever closer to Mr. Man. Rage, like white noise, began to build up inside his head.

"Jon," Danny shouted, trying to be heard over the screaming wind, "Jon, you're out of control, man, your TK! Jonathan!"

Jonathan barely heard him.

Mr. Man sneered at him and pulled Jordan to him as the lightning struck. Jordan screamed in mortal pain and terror as his powers, and his life force with them, were slowly sucked from him.

Jonathan leapt at them, his arms outstretched. He slammed into Mr. Man with enough force to knock him away from Jordan, who just slid to the floor. Mr. Man raised an arm as if to strike, but then he froze, red eyes widening and staring into Jonathan's own. "Do you really think you are strong enough to defeat me," he hissed, digging his claws into Jonathan's arms.

Jonathan didn't answer. All of the windows in the room burst. He felt Mr. Man's presence clouding his mind—the darkness began to press in on him again, and the objects in the air began to fall. "I am infinitely stronger than you," the demon cried, triumphant laughter in his voice. "I gave you those powers and I will take them back!" The claws were cutting into his arms, the light and warmth in his mind slowly being consumed by the dark. He whimpered despite himself, closing his eyes and searching for strength, but the darkness continued to grow.

"I don't know how you broke free," Mr. Man hissed, "but you won't do it again. I was going to kill you, but I think I'll let you live to see your friends die. I will take your powers, your sight, your hearing, your very soul, but I will let you live. You have interfered for the last time!"

Jonathan let out a cry as he felt a black band fasten around his heart. It began to squeeze....

HEY!

A comet streaked across his vision and slammed into the growing darkness. Mr. Man yelped, his clawed hands flying to his head. "What?! That light...!"

Joe's laughter rang loud and long in both of their heads. CLOSING TIIIIME!

Jonathan felt the hold on him explode outward, and he sent a bolt of pure energy at Mr. Man. The comet seemed to streak right out of his mind and into Mr. Man, and the scent of burning flesh filled the room.

"Nooo!" The demon shrieked, writing in agony as the white-hot bolt penetrated his body. His robes began to smoke, his face crinkled and began to peel. Black lightning, mixed with a pure white, exploded forth, dancing across the room and collecting in the clouds that still rolled above them. With a hiss and a dull pop!, Mr. Man winked out of existence. The lightning gathered into one grey, sparkling ball of energy, then shot downward and penetrated Jordan's body. He arched off the floor, convulsing as the energy overwhelmed him.

Then, it was over. Everything was still.

~*~

Danny lifted his head slowly. Everything had gone quiet all at once. The winds had stopped, the clouds were gone. Jonathan and Jordan lay side-by side on the floor, unmoving. Nothing was left of Mr. Man but his charred robe, which was still smoking.

"Donnie?" He sat up, looking down and shaking Donnie lightly. "Donnie, you with me?"

Donnie nodded slowly, his eyes fixed nervously on the spot where Mr. Man had once stood.

"Jon...? Jordan?"

Jonathan sat up slowly, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Owww...." he muttered, rubbing at his eyes. "What just happened...?"

"I think... I think you killed Mr. Man!"

"Killed...? I don't remember.... All I remember is that light...." Jonathan sudenly snapped fully awake. "Joe? Jordan?"

Jordan moaned and curled up into a ball. His face was pale and drawn, his fists clenched tight.

Joe didn't move at all.

"Why hasn't he come out of it," Danny wondered aloud, an uneasy feeling growing in his gut. Donnie leaned over and placed a shaking hand on Joe's chest. His eyes widened in alarm.

"What is it?" Danny was at his side immediately, and he knelt next to Joe, lifting his head slightly and checking his neck for a pulse.

He was quiet for a moment, his face slowly losing its color.

"Jonathan," he said finally, his voice soft and shaky, "He's dead."

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12