Cole wakes up in the pilot seat. Through the windows its pitch black and Ryan is gone. It's oddly quiet. Cole looks around confused as she checks the altitude, "The hell?" The plane is off. Cole tries to start the plane as she looks around again, even more confused. It doesn't want to start. Cole's head tilts as she keeps trying to start it as she looks out one of the windows. In the distance she can see a small white brick wall lit up by a street light "...what the fuck?" Cole groans and tries to land near the brick wall. The plane is already landed Cole tries to step out of the plane. Everything is pitch black except for the brick wall. The light flickers and there's a cardboard box by it. Cole walks over to the cardboard box and looks inside Theres a single paper. On the wall right beside him the being that always had slumps over it and stares at Cole with a smile. Cole picks the paper up and inspects it.
"Long time no see friend," says Mr Sandman. On the paper it lists "roygbiv".
"..." Cole looks over at the being, "What do you want?"
"To help, that is all" it smiles.
"Help with what? 'Cause unless you can get me out of here, you are of no help"
"You're being followed"
"By who?"
"Conduits. I'm sure you've felt it by now"
"Felt what? is that what that fucking shadow thing was?"
It nods, "They aren't intending to hurt you but warn you"
"Warn me against what? One of them tried to throw the guy I'm saving out of the plane"
"The other divulgars"
"What do you mean the other divulgars?"
"This land isn't just slashers"
"I almost won against those slashers! And what other divulgers are there? Hmm smartass?"
"There are 7 main species and countless subspecies"
"What are the main species and their abilities?"
"Ranging from least to most concern you have slingers, slashers, ganders such as myself, conduits, the slew, mag pie, and far between. Though, this doesnt include the truly unknown"
"I see, do I have a chance against a slinger?"
"I believe you've already encountered a slinger. They are the rats of divulgars"
"Oh I see, what do I not stand a chance against?" Cole is mentally noting all of this.
"Anything from myself and on, really"
"We will see about that, do you have anything else I should know?"
"Yes, you are also stuck here for now"
"Oh I'm well aware, and I know people are coming for me though, I wish they wouldn't," Cole sighs, "I have a job to do, and I plan to finish it"
"Oh no no no, I mean stuck dreaming."
"What? What do you mean I'm stuck dreaming?"
"Well you see, your soul is reacting a bit... negatively, to the conduits surrounding your body at the moment and it's keeping you asleep for your own safety"
"That's fucking bullshit, can you at least tell me if Ryan is in danger?"
"He's in the same boat as you it would seem."
"No, no, no who's steering the plane? What if we crash? I promised I would get him out of here," Cole starts pacing back and forth as she speaks.
"Don't fear, Cole. Like I said the conduits don't intend any harm."
"Then why is my soul keeping me asleep for my own safety?!"
"You would you rather be in severe pain right now?"
"...yes," Cole stares at it.
"Well it's not under my control"
"What if IIIII..." Cole tries to wake up. For a split second she experiences intolerable pain before going straight back to sleep.
Cole takes a sharp breath and breathes heavily as she stares forward, "What....the....fuck"
"Welcome back."
"Fuck you, can you tell the divulgars to fuck off?"
"No can do. That's not what I do"
"God fucking dammit, what are they even doing?"
"They are more mysterious. I wouldn't know"
"So I'm just stuck here, with you," Cole groans, despite the helmet Sandman can tell she's pissed.
"I'm not that bad of a house guest, we already have something in common if you recall"
"I don't recall, and I don't like sleeping when I have a fucking job to do!"
"You don't recall the baseball talk?"
"...I really don't wanna have a manic episode right now"
"But baseball is the best!"
"But I'd rather not have a manic episode, you wonder why I dislike hanging around you for very long"
"Come on! The sport is really fun"
"I know it's fun but I need to not have a manic episode!"
"All fun things have a cost, why not?"
"Because there's a guy I need to save! And being manic doesn't let me think very clearly!"
"I'm sure he can hang in there just fine"
"No, no he fucking can't! He's hurt really badly and covered with blood! He fucking needs my help!"
"And you need help as well"
"I don't need help! I have a job and I intend to finish it!"
"You say yet you're stuck here?"
"I don't intend on leaving until I have Nicky back in my possession! So it doesn't matter if I'm stuck here or not I am not fucking leaving!"
"You're going to need help to get to her"
"No I fucking don't! All help is gonna do is get in the way! And get people hurt that didn't need to get hurt!"
"You have so much ego that you can't even realize how it's hurting yourself"
"I'm not hurting myself! I wouldn't fucking do that!" Cole breathes heavily
"Then what is it you think you are doing in refusing adequate help?"
"Keeping the people trying to help safe! I don't want them dying all because I let some child take the poppy chip out! It's my problem to solve and no one else's!"
"It becomes everyone elses problem when you become one of their favorite persons."
"Only Isaac and Chris consider me their favorite person! Everyone else whines and groans about everything I do! Otherwise they would shut up about my god complex and maybe gain something by praying to me!" Cole feels herself waking up for good now.