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Chapter Text

THE HEROIC MISADVENTURES OF WORM-MAN
“A Worm In Need”

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ – DAY:

WORM MAN bursts through the front door of HELS HQ, his face set in grim determination. As he strides through the foyer, into the stairwell, transparent overlays of the flashback characters are seen.

TANGO:
(Flashback)
Actually, you don’t do that, because if
you do, they’ll – they’ll… uh, they’ll
-ificate you! All up in your face!

DR. BLAZE:
(Flashback)
You know, it’s a shame to have to get
rid of someone with such a… sunny
disposition as you, but, well. You
understand. I have to.

POULTRY MAN:
(Flashback)
There’s something they’re not telling you,
you know.

TANGO:
(Flashback)
Worm Man – you – why would you save me?

DR. BLAZE:
(Flashback)
You’re all the same, the lot of you. I
can’t – I was blind.

THE WATCHER:
(Flashback)
The only way to find out the truth is to
seek out the weaknesses of those keeping
you from it.

WORM MAN pulls up at the main console for the HELS’ villain database, and cracks his knuckles, his face still stoic, his eyes solid in concentration.

WORM MAN:
Right. Let’s find out what’s really
going on here, shall we?

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. BLAZE’S HIDEOUT – EVENING:

SV1 is patching up DR. BLAZE’s injuries from the previous episode, while DR. BLAZE is sitting in his chair looking more like a petulant child than an intimidating foe, hissing slightly whenever SV1 heals a particularly nasty wound.

SV1:
You know, this would be so much easier
if you two didn’t fight as much. It’s
not – not necessary to set so much of
your time to taking potshots at each
other.

DR. BLAZE frowns for a moment, thinking.

DR. BLAZE:
I… yeah, you’re right. It’s – inefficient
is what it is.

SV1:
Oh my god, thank you for being sensible–

DR. BLAZE:
I mean, I know that he’s gonna recover
as soon as he gets out of there, so,
like, hitting him so lightly is a waste
of energy.

SV1:
…Blaze,

DR. BLAZE grins as he continues to monologue.

DR. BLAZE:
I mean, it would be so much more
efficient if I just… dealt with him in
one fell swoop, right?

SV1:
(Disappointed)
Blaze, you know that’s not what I meant.

DR. BLAZE:
But you have to agree, right? It’s the
most efficient way of dealing with the
only guy who actually stands in my way!

SV1:
It’s also murder.

DR. BLAZE:
Yeah, but it’s – it’s a HELS member, so
killing him off will… well. It’ll prevent
there ever being another me, won’t it?

SV1:
…I’m just saying, Blaze… I don’t think you
really wanna go through with this.

DR. BLAZE turns to face SV1, his grin almost manic.

DR. BLAZE:
Is that a challenge?

SV1:
It’s advice. From a friend.

DR. BLAZE:
We’re coworkers.

SV1 seems obviously upset by this.

SV1:
From a coworker, then. Whatever. You
shouldn’t kill him. You won’t like it.

DR. BLAZE:
What do you know about killing?

SV1:
What do you?

DR. BLAZE:
…Shut up. It’s the best solution.

DR. BLAZE turns his back to SV1 once more, looking out the window of his lair.

DR. BLAZE:
The best way to destroy corruption is
to burn it out… and my nemesis is as
corrupt as it gets.

SV1:
(Warning)
Blaze.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ BASEMENT – EVENING:

WORM MAN is sat in front of a monitor, clicking through files. The lighting in the room makes it seem like he’s doing epic hacking, but he is literally just navigating through a file explorer. He is silent, other than the occasional grunt of frustration when something is locked behind his clearance level. BADTIMES walks up behind WORM MAN, startling him.

BADTIMES:
You’re not typically the kind of guy
to be down here in the basement, Worm
Man.

WORM MAN:
Badtimes! You can’t just sneak up on a
guy like that.

BADTIMES:
Yes I can.

WORM MAN:
…Yeah, you can.

BADTIMES:
Anyway, what brings you down here?

WORM MAN:
Something that guy I fought last week –
The Watcher – said stuck with me. He was
going on about how important knowing your
enemy’s weakness was, and I… realised I
have nothing on Blaze’s weaknesses. Trouble
is, it seems like all the files on my own
nemesis are above my clearance level, which
seems like – terrible planning, I don’t know
how I didn’t notice this sooner.

BADTIMES:
…You’re right, you probably should have
access to at least some information about
the guy your job is to fight, huh.

WORM MAN:
Ideally.

BADTIMES pauses to think, before coming up with a solution.

BADTIMES:
Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do. I’m
gonna go petition Hellknight to increase
your clearance –

WORM MAN:
(Skeptical)
Without using your powers on him?

BADTIMES:
I would never.

WORM MAN:
You would never.

BADTIMES navigates to a file labelled “advanced_matchups.hels” while he speaks.

BADTIMES:
And while I talk to Hellknight, you can
start with this, Blaze’s exact powerset
probably shows up on this somewhere, it’s
based on a list from back in the 80s by a
guy who could sort of predict the future.
Sounds like a plan?

WORM MAN:
Sounds like a plan.

BADTIMES:
Great.

BADTIMES walks most of the way out of the room, then looks back.

BADTIMES:
We’ll have you crushing Dr. Blaze in combat
in no time – just don’t use your new
clearance for evil!

WORM MAN:
I’d like to think I’m a good man, Badtimes.

BADTIMES fully exits the basement.

BADTIMES:
(Very softly)
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. BLAZE’S HIDEOUT – EVENING:

SV1 and DR. BLAZE are in a standoff – a few minutes have passed since we last saw them, and the argument has clearly deteriorated.

SV1:
What – I’m definitely not helping you
kill him.

DR. BLAZE:
It’ll reduce how often I get injured.

SV1:
There are better solutions. I’m your
friend –

DR. BLAZE:
We’re coworkers.

SV1:
(Suddenly shouting)
WE’RE FRIENDS, BLAZE.

SV1 pauses, catching his breath.

SV1:
You know what? Maybe showing you the truth
will convince you to listen to me.

SV1 takes off his hood and mask to reveal – underneath a slightly messier mop of hood hair – IMPULSE.

IMPULSE:
You don’t want to kill him, Tango.

DR. BLAZE looks deeply uncomfortable with this situation.

DR. BLAZE:
I have to.

IMPULSE:
Tango, trust me. If you found out another
villain had so much as lain a finger on
him, you’d go ballistic. I just – I don’t
want that anger directed at you. I don’t
want to see you hurt yourself like that.

DR. BLAZE:
Maybe you don’t know me as well as you
think you do, then. Yeah, I’d go ballistic
– because they stole my nemesis out from
under me, not because I’d protect him. You
won’t help me kill him? Fine, Impy, I won’t
make you. But Worm Man will die.

IMPULSE:
You don’t want this, Tango.

DR. BLAZE:
You don’t know what I want. And stop calling
me that name when I’m in costume.

IMPULSE:
You don’t want this, Blaze. Look, just…
go home. Think about it for a little bit.
I need to go get our groceries, anyway.

DR. BLAZE:
…Fine. But – I’m mad at you. For not telling
me about this sooner. And I guarantee that
tomorrow, I’ll be just as ready to kill him
as I am now.

IMPULSE:
Sure. Okay.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ BASEMENT – EVENING:

WORM MAN gets a message from BADTIMES, letting him know that his security clearance has been updated. WORM MAN sends a thumbs-up in reply, then reloads the file explorer and searches “Dr. Blaze”. The top three files that come up are ‘doctor_blaze.hels’, ‘tango_tek.hels’ and ‘the_blaze_project.hels’. WORM MAN mouses over the first file to click it, before noticing the second.

WORM MAN:
Tango? What – why do they have a file on
Tango?

WORM MAN hovers over the file – it is from 200X, well before WORM MAN got involved with HELS.

WORM MAN:
What…

WORM MAN opens tango_tek.hels.

WORM MAN:
(Reading aloud)
Tango Tek, also known as Subject Tango or
Dr. Blaze, is the successful product of
the Blaze Project… what?

WORM MAN clicks the embedded link, taking him to the_blaze_project.hels.

WORM MAN:
What on earth is going on here, then?

The first item in the_blaze_project.hels is a video file. WORM MAN hits play.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ BASEMENT:

The HELS HQ BASEMENT, at some point in the past when all the scientific equipment was still in use. FLESH BEEF stares at the camera, as if he’s aware he’s being recorded. Occasionally, some sort of video artefact will crop up, revealing the fact that this is all a video log.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Alfa responded badly to the
treatment, and is struggling to survive.
Modifications will be made.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Bravo initially responded well,
but has since developed a fever – its
system seems unadjusted to having powers
now. It will likely not survive.

FLESH BEEF:
It seems our attempts to ease Subject
Charlie’s system back to stability rendered
it fully incapable of metabolising the
serum. This attempt has been scrapped.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Delta passed last night, but it
was the closest we’ve gotten. We’re onto
something here, I know it.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Echo was… well. We have successfully
restored a portion of Echo’s power set.
That’s the good news. The bad news is, it
turns out that pyro-kinesis was not the base
sample’s only power – indeed, that a latent
degree of fire resistance was also part of
him. We discovered this by way of Echo using
its powers to immolate its own left arm.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Foxtrot is fireproof. Subject Foxtrot
has also staged a breakout, taking Echo with
it.

FLESH BEEF slams the table angrily.

FLESH BEEF:
We were so close. So close to fixing this –
this mess. Now – well, we know what worked,
at least. Gotta look on the bright side.

FLESH BEEF:
The second power restoration would have
killed Subject Echo. Subject Golf is dead.
Not much else to say.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Hotel responded poorly to simultaneous
treatments – a truly combined cure seems to
be the only way forward.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject India’s treatment was nearly complete
when it tried to break out. Security… put
a stop to that. With perhaps more force
than strictly necessary.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Juliett seems to have had its
stasis chamber damaged during one of the
escape attempts. The project is on hold
while we ascertain the viability of the
remaining subjects.

FLESH BEEF:
Survey complete. We lost Subject Romeo as
well, but testing is continuing with Subject
Kilo as intended for now.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Kilo displayed signs of its powers
manifesting in exclusive regions – its
right arm was fireproof, and its left could
control fire. It… tore itself apart.

FLESH BEEF:
Somehow, Subject Lima developed an entirely
unrelated power set – super speed. This
would normally be an absolutely fascinating
development, but as it is, it was not what
we’re looking for – and it, naturally, used
this power to escape. I’ve spoken to Hellknight
about an initiative to deal with these loose
ends. He assures me he’ll deal with it.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Mike proved completely unresponsive
to the treatment. It has been put back into
stasis while we investigate further.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject November is stably fireproof, and
is gradually regaining pyro-kinesis as
well. I have confidence that this should
be the last subject.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject November broke out, and it took
Mike with it. Every time, I swear, every time
we get anywhere close to solving this problem,
the subjects themselves interfere. It’s
maddening.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Oscar somehow proved resistant to the
power loss in the first place. Attempts to
ascertain how, alas, proved to be too much
for the subject. At least we have some stable
blood samples to analyse.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Papa expired after a power outage
caused by some uppity lightning-based
supervillain cut our lab’s power at just the
wrong moment. Starting over. Again.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Quebec shows promise! It has completed
both treatments, and is gradually growing in
power as expected by the projected timeline!
If all goes well, this should be the final
subject of the project.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Quebec was killed before results
could be conclusive, during an intrusion
into HELS HQ. We… we were so close. In any
case, since we already lost Romeo, we’ll be
skipping straight to Sierra. Hopefully this
all sorts itself out. Soon.

FLESH BEEF:
Subject Sierra developed water powers, and
promptly broke free. We’ve been a bit in over
our heads covering for yet another incident,
but Hellknight says he’s got it sorted for
now… I… I hope he’s… well, I don’t know how
to put this, but the subjects do look like
children.

FLESH BEEF shakes his head, returning to a more professional mode.

FLESH BEEF:
Anyway, so long as Subject Tango doesn’t
have an anomaly like Sierra, this one should
be the–

WORM MAN turns off the video before he has to see what they did to TANGO, leaving only a black screen with WORM MAN’s face reflected in it

WORM MAN:
…Shit.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FIVE

ACT SIX

FADE IN:

INT. HALL OUTSIDE ZIT APARTMENT – NIGHT:

TANGO is pacing outside the door of his apartment, trying to get his hair to stop sparking. He is muttering unintelligibly under his breath, although it’s very clear that he’s upset.

TANGO:
Right. Calm. We can do calm. Calm is –
great. I love being calm. So much.

He runs his hand through his hair again, putting out a small fire.

TANGO:
Deep breaths. In and out.

TANGO does not take any deep breaths, instead making an angry hissing noise through his teeth.

TANGO:
No murder. Happy thoughts. Happy times
with Tango over here. Yeah.

He stops pacing, and steels himself, before, in one swift movement, opening the door and entering the apartment. ZEDAPH is sitting at the kitchen table inside, his hands in his lap, looking nervous.

ZEDAPH:
…Oh. Hey T- Tango.

TANGO:
(Suddenly worried)
Zed? Is everything alright?

ZEDAPH:
Yeah, just– peachy. I’m quitting my job
tomorrow!

TANGO:
Zed? What? No – why? Can I… are you–
okay?

ZEDAPH looks away from TANGO nervously, and lifts his hands on the table, clasped tight around something.

ZEDAPH:
I found out… some bad stuff. Unethical
practices. Can’t – can’t live with that.

He lets out a half-hysterical laugh.

ZEDAPH:
Would you still love me if I was a worm?

TANGO freezes, his breath audibly catching.

TANGO:
…Zed.

ZEDAPH opens his hands, causing something pink – WORM MAN’S mask and a USB flash drive – to fall to the table. When he speaks, his cadence falls into something more subdued, but there is still an undeniable added weight behind the words.

ZEDAPH:
Would you still love me if I was a worm?

TANGO:
I– Zed – I… no? Please… this – very f-
funny joke, man.

ZEDAPH:
I saw what they did to you. It’s – I put
as much as I could on the flash drive –
if you want to, or if you want me to, uh,
call it out.

TANGO:
You… you know about – me?

ZEDAPH:
You’re my friend.

TANGO:
…I…

ZEDAPH:
We… can talk more tomorrow, I– I’ve had a
long day, and I think – I need a nap, and
we both need some time to think.

TANGO:
(Numbly horrified)
…Time to think. Yeah.

With that, TANGO is helpless to watch as ZEDAPH leaves the room, the flash drive and the pink mask left sitting on the table for TANGO to stare at, shaking, as his hair sputters alight.

TANGO:
Time to think.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT SIX

ACT SEVEN

FADE IN:

EXT. HERMITON UNIVERSITY WOODS / ZIT APARTMENT – NIGHT:

TANGO stares blankly as FLESH BEEF’s log plays back from his laptop.

TANGO is outdoors, hair aflame, screaming.

TANGO slams his laptop shut.

TANGO blasts fire at a nearby tree, reducing it to ash in a matter of moments.

TANGO sprints out of the ZIT APARTMENT and down the corridor, passing a startled IMPULSE.

TANGO sits on the forest floor, head in his hands.

TANGO’s hair sputters and sparks as he runs aimlessly – just away from where ZEDAPH is.

TANGO stands in a ring of flame, breathing heavily.

A young TANGO sits in a chair in the HELS HQ basement, hooked up to a ventilator, FLESH BEEF reaching for something out of frame. He looks terrified.

Present-day TANGO fires blast after blast of flame into the sky, his own body a brilliant pyre.

DR. BLAZE stands in front of a mirror, having put on his costume for the first time. He smiles. It’s genuine.

TANGO lies on the forest floor, covered in mud and soot, tears running down his face.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT SEVEN

POST-CREDITS

FADE IN:

EXT. HERMITON UNIVERSITY WOODS – NIGHT:

TANGO is curled up on the ground, face wet with tears, covered in mud and ash. A figure approaches him, and crouches down.

IMPULSE:
I’m not gonna say I told you so.

TANGO doesn’t dignify that with a response. The two of them remain in silence for a moment.

IMPULSE:
Alright, that’s enough. Let’s get you
home.

FADE OUT.

END OF SHOW

Chapter Text

THE HEROIC MISADVENTURES OF WORM MAN
“Is A Worm Indeed”

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. ZIT APARTMENT – DAY:

IMPULSE is cooking breakfast – bacon and eggs. He is pointedly staring at the pan, rather than at TANGO and ZEDAPH, who are sat at the table, sullenly glaring at each other.

IMPULSE:
About one minute ‘till it’s ready.

ZEDAPH and TANGO remain silent. TANGO fixes ZEDAPH with a betrayed look. ZEDAPH shifts uncomfortably, then meets his gaze. A moment or two passes, and then the sequence repeats, except with the roles mirrored this time.

An oven timer beeps. Breakfast is ready. IMPULSE puts together three plates, the silence in the kitchen suffocating. He takes two of the plates, setting one in front of TANGO and the other in front of ZEDAPH.

IMPULSE:
Right. You two. Talk it out. Now.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. ZIT APARTMENT – DAY:

IMPULSE sets his own plate down on the table, as ZEDAPH quietly pokes at his own food.

ZEDAPH:
…I’m sorry. About. Well. Punching you
in the face? To start with?

TANGO:
(Bitter)
You were doing your job. I dropped a
building on you.

A pause.

TANGO:
…Sorry about that.

ZEDAPH:
You didn’t know it was me.

TANGO:
Doesn’t change – I’ve done some real
nasty stuff. And I wouldn’t knowingly
do it to you. But I would do it again.

ZEDAPH:
I mean… I’d deserve it. Working with –
with the people that hurt you and all.

TANGO:
You didn’t know. They didn’t – they
didn’t tell you. And I knew you were the
new guy. I should’ve guessed. …I was
angry. I’m sorry.

ZEDAPH:
You were right to be angry though.

TANGO:
Not enough to– I mean. Nevermind.

IMPULSE:
You should tell him.

TANGO:
Shut up.

IMPULSE fixes TANGO with a glare. TANGO shrinks back, guilty.

ZEDAPH:
Whatever it is, he doesn’t need to.
I get the point. I would have –
deserved it.

TANGO freezes, eyes wide.

TANGO:
No, you wouldn’t have. Because… you’re
a good guy, Zed. You didn’t know, and
you told me the moment I found out,
and… I tried to blame you anyway. Kinda
messed up.

ZEDAPH:
You didn’t know it was me.

TANGO:
That – that shouldn’t have changed things.

ZEDAPH:
Maybe it wouldn’t have. I mean, there’s
nothing I can think of –

TANGO:
Zed.

ZEDAPH:
That would really change anything between
us –

TANGO:
Zed.

ZEDAPH:
So I don’t see why –

TANGO slams the table.

TANGO:
I WAS PLANNING TO KILL YOU, ZED.

ZEDAPH lapses into a shocked silence. Tango is standing now, breathing heavily.

TANGO:
When I got home yesterday, all I was
thinking about was my plan to murder
Worm Man. I had it all thought out –
too damn clever for my own good.

ZEDAPH:
But you wouldn’t have knowingly killed me.

Silence.

ZEDAPH:
You wouldn’t have knowingly killed me.

IMPULSE:
I wouldn’t have let him.

ZEDAPH and TANGO both give a start, having forgotten IMPULSE’S presence.

TANGO:
I… I think you’re both underestimating…

IMPULSE:
I wouldn’t have let you.

TANGO:
I’m not a good person.

ZEDAPH:
I don’t think I am either. Not after… well.

TANGO buries his face in his hands and lets out a scream, his hair flaring up. ZEDAPH can’t stop himself from flinching.

TANGO:
Okay, I’m – fine. Now. God, Zed. I hate
you. But you’re my best friend.

ZEDAPH:
We’ll work it out. Eventually.

TANGO:
Probably.

A moment of awkward silence.

ZEDAPH:
…If I were to, uh. Destroy HELS’ reputation,
would you want to… destroy the building?

TANGO stares at ZEDAPH.

TANGO:
YES???????????????????????

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ MEETING ROOM – DAY:

The HELS are gathered around their meeting table, discussing plans for how to take down whatever the latest threat is. The sound is muffled – WORM MAN is not paying attention. Instead, the focus lies on the letter in his hand – his letter of resignation.

E.X.:
Hey. Worm Man. You paying attention?

WORM MAN:
No, uh – no, actually. Sorry. Zoned out.
Got… stuff going on. Stuff I – I’ve been
thinking about.

TRUESYMMETRY:
Oh? What’s the gossip?

WORM MAN:
I – um.

He takes a deep breath to steel himself, and lays his letter of resignation out on the table.

WORM MAN:
I found out about – some… stuff going on.
I didn’t know about it, I – I don’t know
how many of you guys know about it, but…
it’s something I can’t in good conscience
continue being part of the team over.

E.X.:
What are you talking about?

HELLKNIGHT:
(Reading the letter)
Shit. The Blaze Project.

Every face at the table except those of WORM MAN and E.X. shifts into an expression of discomfort.

TRUESYMMETRY:
Seriously? You’re considering quitting
over that? It’s – look, it was for the
greater–

WORM MAN:
(Suddenly angry)
It was not for the greater good! I saw
everything. It was – it was selfish, and
if it was really excusable, you all
wouldn’t have kept it under wraps for so
long, would you!? That – those were
children, and – and even if the project
itself had to go the way it did – which
it really didn’t – you guys had no reason
to kill the one I met or – or hunt down any
of the others.

BADTIMES:
Worm Man–

WORM MAN:
It’s… this isn’t what being a superhero is.
This isn’t what heroism looks like – you
can’t just – go and harm random civilians!
I – can’t do this anymore. All of you,
sitting there, complicit and happy with all
the pain you caused – that you’re still
causing. So yeah. I – I quit. I wash my
hands of this – because you’re not heroes.
You’re not good guys. This is just a – a –
a gang war. And I can’t be a part of that.

WORM MAN stops, chest heaving, staring down the others at the table.

BADTIMES:
Worm Man, you need to calm down for a
second.

WORM MAN:
(His eyes suddenly glaze over)
I– I need to –

Before WORM MAN can finish repeating the command, an explosion rocks the building.

HELLKNIGHT:
Fuck.

BADTIMES:
You guys deal with it. I’ll sort out
Worm Man here.

TRUESYMMETRY, E.X. and HELLKNIGHT nod, and rush out to investigate the disturbance. As soon as they’re gone, BADTIMES smiles and cracks his knuckles.

BADTIMES:
Now, why don’t you listen to me for a
little bit…

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ FOYER – DAY:

DR. BLAZE bursts through the front door of HELS HQ, followed shortly by several explosions.

DR. BLAZE:
Welcome to the show, everyone! Please
keep your arms and legs and other bits
inside the vehicle at all times – we
don’t want anyone getting burned, now do
we? In tonight’s show, we’ll be destroying
this place once and for all, and I’ve
heard that the special effects are fire.

DR. BLAZE starts shooting fireballs around the room, causing the place to be nearly completely ablaze by the time HELLKNIGHT comes running down the stairs in the opposite side of the entrance hall, followed shortly by E.X. and TRUESYMMETRY. DR. BLAZE pauses in his destruction, waiting for them to make a move.

HELLKNIGHT:
Blaze.

DR. BLAZE:
That’s a name! Please don’t wear it out,
I do enjoy using it.

TRUESYMMETRY:
What are you doing here!?

DR. BLAZE:
(laughs darkly)
Tell me, have you ever heard of the phrase
‘Even a worm will turn’?

E.X.:
(Shouting)
What did you do to him!?

DR. BLAZE:
It’s not anything I did to him, not really.
The problem is just… He’s a good guy, not
a hero. And he saw what you did to me.

For emphasis, DR. BLAZE takes off his goggles, revealing his too-familiar red eyes. From HELLKNIGHT’s perspective, he looks alarmingly like every single TEKCLONE.

HELLKNIGHT:
You. We were right to kill you all off, then–

DR. BLAZE:
No. Shut your face, actually. It’s shutting
up time for you now. I’m done – for years
now, I’ve been made out to be the villain
for you guys ruining my life! But someone
gets it now! So now I’m legally allowed to,
uh, how do I put this?

Close shot of DR. BLAZE smirking.

DR. BLAZE:
Oh, yeah! Melt your face off!

DR. BLAZE shoots a fireball, then cut to a shot of E.X. and TRUESYMMETRY looking horrified as HELLKNIGHT screams.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. HELS HQ MEETING ROOM – DAY:

BADTIMES and WORM MAN are the only ones left in the room. WORM MAN is under BADTIMES’ thrall, gently swaying as he repeats everything BADTIMES says. Half the chairs in the room have been flipped over in the other HELS members’ hurry to stop DR. BLAZE’S commotion.

BADTIMES:
I mean, really, it’s fine, isn’t it? The
Blaze Project saved lives!

WORM MAN:
(Gaze unfocused, speech slow)
The Blaze Project saved lives…

A distant explosion gives WORM MAN a shock, and he blinks rapidly, coming back to himself.

WORM MAN:
Wait – No! You can’t just do that,
that’s – that’s villain stuff, basically!
You hurt a civilian! It doesn’t matter –
you can’t do that! And the only lives it
could possibly have saved were HELS members!

BADTIMES:
(Irritated)
No – listen!

WORM MAN freezes, though his eyes still have that sharp focus to them. He speaks through grit teeth.

WORM MAN:
… Listen.

BADTIMES:
(Slightly more pleased)
Good. Good. Now, I’m not gonna go on
about the greater good, because clearly
you don’t – you don’t get it. You’re too
focused on the small-scale to understand
me.

BADTIMES smiles a dangerous smile, and approaches WORM MAN, maintaining eye contact. WORM MAN looks terrified – he knows what BADTIMES is about to do.

BADTIMES:
So here’s what we’re gonna do.

WORM MAN:
H-Here’s what we’re gonna do.

BADTIMES:
You’re gonna stop worrying about the
Blaze Project.

The fight in WORM MAN’S eyes is fading, his speech slowing again.

WORM MAN:
…I’m gonna stop worrying about the
Blaze Project.

BADTIMES:
You’re gonna forget everything that
happened to Tango.

WORM MAN:
I’m gonna forget everything that happened
to… Tango?

BADTIMES:
And you’re gonna come downstairs with
me and help defeat Dr. Blaze, like you
always do.

WORM MAN:
I’m gonna –

DR. BLAZE kicks down the door, an inferno behind him.

DR. BLAZE:
Ze– WORM MAN!

BADTIMES:
(Way too confident)
Oh, okay. Change of plans. Attack.

WORM MAN:
(Nothing behind his eyes)
…Attack.

WORM MAN does just that, gliding across the floor with fluid precision, and striking DR. BLAZE. For the first time, DR. BLAZE looks upset that he and WORM MAN are fighting. The two scuffle, but DR. BLAZE refuses to use his powers, and soon WORM MAN has him pinned to the ground.

BADTIMES:
Now, deal with him for good, won’t
you?

WORM MAN:
Deal with him for good.

WORM MAN clasps a hand around DR. BLAZE’S neck, strangling him. In desperation, DR. BLAZE scrabbles at his goggles, revealing his face to WORM MAN.

TANGO:
Zed– please–

WORM MAN freezes, his grip loosening.

WORM MAN:
…Tango? What – what are you doing…
My head – hurts? Where are we? Why are
you dressed as– What’s going on?

BADTIMES:
I said, kill him.

WORM MAN:
(Deeply confused)
What – no? That’s… that’s my friend!
Tango! Why – why would I kill him,
he’s done nothing wrong!

TANGO laughs humourlessly.

TANGO:
He’s – he’s messed with your mind,
with your memories, then. I’ve –
I’ve done some messed-up stuff. Just
now, I mean, I just melted Hellknight’s
face. It was pretty cathartic, actually.
But we – we talked about it. This
morning.

WORM MAN:
(Horror dawning on his face)
…I don’t remember this morning.

WORM MAN suddenly turns on BADTIMES, his eyes wide with fury.

WORM MAN:
You – you used your powers on me! You
promised you would never use your powers
on us –

BADTIMES:
It’s not like that, just – lis–

WORM MAN claps a hand over BADTIMES’ mouth.

WORM MAN:
No. You’re not gonna do it again. I
don’t know what happened. I don’t
care. You used your powers on me – I
didn’t even realise! You – you could
have done this before, for all I know–

WORM MAN stops, suddenly, his face going pale.

WORM MAN:
…Have you done this before?

BADTIMES shakes his head no, WORM MAN’S hand still firm over his mouth.

WORM MAN:
You know what. I don’t believe you.

WORM MAN pushes BADTIMES up against the wall, then exerts a fraction of his power to push BADTIMES partially into the wall, trapping him there. He steps away, quickly covering his ears.

WORM MAN:
Stay there. Tango and I – we’re gonna
go now. Someone else can deal with you.

TANGO and WORM MAN exit the room, closing the door behind them, and WORM MAN slumps against the wall, shaking.

WORM MAN:
…So, uh, Tango. Why are you–

TANGO:
I am Dr. Blaze.

WORM MAN:
Oh.

TANGO:
You – we were working together
because… you found out about how I… ah.
How I came to be. The – the Blaze
Project, remember?

WORM MAN:
The Blaze Project… I–

His eyes widen, the remains of the glassy stare from BADTIMES’ manipulation fading in a split second.

WORM MAN:
Oh. I… I remember. I’m so sorry, I…

TANGO:
Not your fault. I’m – sorry about
blaming you for it before, if it makes
you feel any better.

TANGO puts his goggles back on.

DR. BLAZE:
Anyway, I’m gonna go commit a little
light arson. You – you have the press
to talk to.

WORM MAN:
The press. Yeah.

DR. BLAZE leaves, flames igniting around his hands once again, and WORM MAN staggers to his feet.

WORM MAN:
The press.

He pauses.

WORM MAN:
Wait, he did what to Hellknight!?

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

FADE IN:

EXT. HELS HQ FRONT STEPS – DAY:

WORM MAN exits the burning shell of HELS HQ, still visibly shaken from his encounter with BADTIMES. Before he can even get his bearings, a microphone is shoved in his face.

REPORTER 1:
Worm Man! Do you have anything to say
about the situation?

REPORTER 2:
Worm Man, this looks like Dr. Blaze’s
handiwork! Are you going to stop him?

WORM MAN:
I–

REPORTER 3:
What happened to Hellknight?

REPORTER 4:
Is the Heroic and Exemplar League of Supers
going to be able to recover from this?

WORM MAN:
If everyone will let me speak.

The questions quiet down.

WORM MAN:
You’re correct in saying that this is Dr.
Blaze’s handiwork. However, I regret to
inform you all that I just handed in my
resignation. I’m afraid I won’t be able to
stop him.

REPORTER 1:
Why did you resign?

WORM MAN pulls out a plastic bag full of USB flash drives.

WORM MAN:
I uncovered some deeply unethical practices
in HELS’ past, and I cannot in good
conscience align myself with these people.
The details, if anyone wishes to know them,
can be found, with evidence, on these USB
sticks.

In mere moments, nearly all of the USB sticks have been distributed.

WORM MAN:
As for if HELS can recover?

WORM MAN pauses, his expression darkening.

WORM MAN:
I hope they don’t. I hope something
better, some group actually dedicated to
doing good in this city takes their place.
Any other questions?

REPORTER 3:
What happened to Hellknight?

WORM MAN:
…As I understand it, Dr. Blaze attacked
him –

REPORTER 4:
WORM MAN, LOOK OUT!

There is a loud cracking sound. WORM MAN turns to see a column from the front of HELS HQ crumble and collapse, falling right towards the crowd of reporters. In an instant, he dives into the ground, forcing the pavement in front of him to roll back, pushing the crowd back a sizeable distance down the street just as the pillar touches down where they once were.

WORM MAN emerges from the ground, and dusts himself off.

WORM MAN:
Is everyone okay?

A general murmur of assent.

WORM MAN:
I would suggest everyone stay away
from the burning building, now. I won’t
be taking any more questions.

With that, WORM MAN turns his back and heads back to the steps of HELS HQ.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT FIVE

ACT SIX

FADE IN:

EXT. HELS HQ FRONT STEPS – DAY:

The crowd from the previous act has mostly dispersed. WORM MAN sits on the crumbled remains of the collapsed pillar, staring off into space. DR. BLAZE walks up beside him.

DR. BLAZE:
That’s your thinking face.

WORM MAN:
I don’t have a thinking face.

DR. BLAZE:
That’s Zedaph’s thinking face.

WORM MAN:
…Alright, you have me. It’s just – I know
for certain that quitting was the right
thing to do…

DR. BLAZE:
But?

WORM MAN:
I don’t know – was burning the place to
the ground the… good thing to do? The right
follow-up to it all? I mean, I told them,
when I handed in my resignation, that I
didn’t want to be part of a gang war anymore…
This feels a little bit gang-war-y, you know?

DR. BLAZE sighs heavily and claps a hand onto WORM MAN’S shoulder.

DR. BLAZE:
I don’t think it’s the good thing to do.
I’ll be honest with you about that. I’m…
I’m not a good guy, Zed. But… I do think,
in the end, this was the best option. The
right thing to do.

DR. BLAZE smiles softly.

DR. BLAZE:
And hopefully we won’t have to burn down
any more buildings after this, yeah?

WORM MAN:
Yeah–

WORM MAN is cut off by the horrific scraping of metal.

???:
Well, well. Look at you two. It’s cute,
really, that you two think you could
take down the forces of good in this
world so easily–

DR. BLAZE:
Hellknight.

The camera shifts to show HELLKNIGHT, his helmet covering his face, his sword dragging limply along the ground.

HELLKNIGHT:
(Somewhat sardonic)
That is a name. Please don’t wear it out,
I do enjoy using it.

HELLKNIGHT clears his throat.

HELLKNIGHT:
In any case, you two have quite some nerve
thinking you’ll get out of this scot-free –
especially you, turncoat. Evil cannot
persist. Surely you would have learned that
by now.

WORM MAN:
That’s right. Evil cannot persist. And
maybe HELS was good once, but… I can’t
believe in that. Not anymore.

HELLKNIGHT:
So you joined forces with that bastard?

WORM MAN nods.

HELLKNIGHT:
For the greater good?

WORM MAN nods. HELLKNIGHT lets out a dry laugh.

HELLKNIGHT:
Does this look like the greater good to you?

With the camera behind HELLKNIGHT, he lifts up his visor. WORM MAN visibly flinches. DR. BLAZE does not.

WORM MAN:
That’s–

DR. BLAZE:
Catharsis. Just because I’m not the…
greatest guy around, doesn’t make anything
I do Worm Man’s moral failing.

HELLKNIGHT:
Well then. I suppose I should get some
catharsis of my own, shouldn’t I?

Without any further warning or telegraphing of his movements, HELLKNIGHT lunges at DR. BLAZE, only pushed aside by WORM MAN at the last second. Battle between the three rages, but despite HELLKNIGHT’S injuries, his desperation has driven him to be able to hold his own against the two. They fight, until HELLKNIGHT stands over a stunned WORM MAN.

HELLKNIGHT:
I have you now. You’ll never threaten this
city again. May your soul rest…

HELLKNIGHT lunges once again, and his blade sinks into flesh.

HELLKNIGHT:
In peace.

DR. BLAZE:
Wrong soul, buddy.

He coughs, the sword embedded in his chest, WORM MAN pushed aside at the last second. His goggles slip down from his face, and he looks terrifyingly human.

WORM MAN:
TANGO–

TANGO:
How’s that for… for doing the right thing?

TANGO’S eyes flutter shut, and WORM MAN screams, blinbly attacking HELLKNIGHT. It misses, and HELLKNIGHT readies another strike, only to be thrown off-balance by being decked in the face.

SV1:
He’s still alive. Let’s go.

HELLKNIGHT:
I’m not done–

SV1:
Hellknight. Look at me. I’m a healer,
yes. But haven’t you ever wondered what
happens if I over-heal someone?

HELLKNIGHT:
I–

SV1:
I’d suggest you step away from my charges.

HELLKNIGHT:
I…

HELLKNIGHT, for once, sounds terrified. He hesitates for a second, then turns tail and runs. SV1 crouches down over TANGO, and quickly uses his powers on TANGO’s injury.

SV1:
Right. Let’s get you two idiots home.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT SIX

ACT SEVEN

FADE IN:

INT. ZIT APARTMENT – EVENING:

ZEDAPH and TANGO sit on the couch, staring into nothing. They’re both covered in minor wounds, ash, and a bit of blood, both of their own and of others. In the background, a news report about the Blaze Project is playing. IMPULSE enters the room.

IMPULSE:
(Mildly disappointed)
Don’t get ash on the nice couch.

TANGO:
Your mistake for moving in with a guy
who has fire powers.

ZEDAPH:
You didn’t disclose that. Impulse and I
could. Sue you about that. Probably.

TANGO:
Are you going to?

ZEDAPH:
No. I have a headache.

TANGO raises an eyebrow at ZEDAPH.

ZEDAPH:
From Badtimes messing with me.

TANGO:
Oh.

IMPULSE heads to the kitchen, leaving the two of them as they were before. TANGO sits up, drumming his fingers on his knee anxiously.

TANGO:
What do we do now?

ZEDAPH:
Hm?

TANGO:
What do we do now? I mean, my life’s
mission is done, and you’re not a hero
anymore… what do we do?

ZEDAPH:
Whatever we want, I guess. Try and
save people ourselves? You were pretty
good during the art gallery incident.

TANGO:
I guess.

ZEDAPH:
Is there anything you want to do?

TANGO:
… I don’t know.

TANGO stares off into the distance, for a bit, until…

TANGO:
You saw the files. Did… did anyone else
make it out?

ZEDAPH:
A few.

TANGO:
…Then that’s what I want. I want to find…
my family, I guess.

ZEDAPH:
Yeah. Okay. I think we can do that.

He pauses.

ZEDAPH:
Starting tomorrow, though. The aspirin
isn’t kicking in.

TANGO laughs a genuine laugh, and it sounds suspiciously like DR. BLAZE’S most evil cackles.

TANGO:
Yeah, okay. We can wait until tomorrow.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT SEVEN

POST-CREDITS

FADE IN:

INT. UNKNOWN APARTMENT – NIGHT:

A SHADOWY FIGURE throws darts at a photograph of TANGO and ZEDAPH. One strikes ZEDAPH clean between the eyes.

SHADOWY FIGURE:
Damn you… evil cannot persist in this
world. I will not allow it.

FADE OUT.

END OF SHOW