Two men in suits, one holding a clipboard and the other with his hands on his hips, clearly worried. The one with his hands on his hips looks at the receptionist behind the front desk.

MAN #1
Could you please excuse yourself for a moment?

She nods and walks away. The man turns to the other.

MAN #1
So, is anybody missing?

MAN #2
An inmate, named David Artaud. And Kemal.

MAN #1
Kemal's missing?

MAN #2
Yes, sir. We've looked for him but to no avail.

MAN #1
Are you sure that's all that's missing? You called every employee and checked all of our residents, right?

MAN #2
Everywhere except you know where.

MAN #1
Why didn't you look there? That's where everything happened!

MAN #2
If you want to go down there and get a vine shoved down your throat or cooked alive and eaten, be my guest. I don't get paid nearly enough to go down there.

MAN #1
Fine.

Man #1 reaches for a cell phone on his head and beeps a guard who soon arrives. The two walk down to the cells.

The Man and The Guard stand in front of one the doors in the hallway.

MAN #1
I mean, I took over this place with good intentions. Look what it gets me!

GUARD
Which one is this?

MAN #1
Oh, Baren. "The stealer of superpowers". Responsible for the deaths of Senator David. He also has a reputation as a hero killer. Took the lives of The Green Gardener and The Aquatic Allies

GUARD
I've never heard of them, of course I've head of Senator David. But the other two I mean.

MAN #1
The Green Gardener, Bradley Green, could use plants to his advantage. He was a botanist and some sort of reactions. Typical hero shit. He got strangled after Baren took his powers and strangled him with his own vine. The Aquatic Allies, Gary and Allen West, two kids, 12 at most. They were in a shipwreck and miraculously they could breathe underwater and swim at breakneck speed. Baren took their superpowers and drowned them where the ship went down a couple years before.

GUARD
How did he end up here if he's such a badass?

MAN #1
Gore The Red got a help call from The Aquatic Allies. He punched him in the back of the head and got Blur to bring him in before he could wake up.

The guard slides the key into the lock, he's missing.

MAN #1
...Fuck. Check the other two! Check the other two!

The guard opens the door to discover that Zombie Man is also gone.

MAN #1
Let's get this over with, let's confirm the Red Dynamo is gone.

The guard puts the key into James Macky's door, when BOOM the metal door is thrown forward and pins the guard to the wall. James is leaning against it sending a current through it that fries the guard alive. Man #1 tries to run.

RED DYNAMO
Don't you run, Warden!

Red Dynamo leans off of the door it falls over, the guard's charred corpse is stuck to the wall.

The Warden runs toward the front door when suddenly the casing for the fluorescent lighting bursts and Red Dynamo emerges from the light tubs. He grabs the Warden by the throat from behind and forces his sword through his spine and into out of his chest. He pulls it out and lets the Warden drop. He turns to the Receptionist and smiles.

RED DYNAMO
Don't worry, I don't have a problem with you. Just the ones trying to keep me in here. You, Kemal, the inmates, you're all safe. Could you do me a favor?

The Receptionist stares at him, paralyzed by the fear.

RECEPTIONIST
W... What?

RED DYNAMO
Hit the alarm under your desk. I know it's right there. Just hit it, so all of the guards will come out here and i don't have to look for them? And tell him to get out from under your desk.

The man who was holding the clipboard crawls out from underneath the desk, Red Dynamo tosses his sword through his face, he walks over and pulls his sword free. The alarm begins to go off. Red Dynamo looks at the Receptionist.

RED DYNAMO
Thanks, Dollface. Your blouse is cute.

Three guards suddenly tackle Red Dynamo to the ground. He sends a jolt of electricity straight to their hearts. Red Dynamo stands up

RED DYNAMO
One more...

A guard rushes out and James punches him in the stomach with enough shock to burn a hole into it. organs and stomach acids drip out and he hits the ground.

RED DYNAMO
They still only keep five guards on staff, right?

The Receptionist nods.

RECEPTIONIST
Yeah.

RED DYNAMO
Great, thanks. If you weren't so frightened by the death think I think you'd have made a great "Pink Dynamo" you're helpful and gorgeous.

The Receptionist nods, Red Dynamo jumps over the front desk. The Receptionist backs away, Red Dynamo grabs her and kisses her, the static makes her hair start to stand up a bit. He pulls back.

RED DYNAMO
Might still work. Tell the cops Red Dynamo did this.

James zips out the door. The Receptionist goes to wipe her lip but shocks her hand at first. She pushes her hair back down and sits in her chair, completely horrified and disoriented.

The Redcock house is an average two-story house, the exterior could use some fresh paint, other than that it's a pretty normal place. But on the inside, the sole resident of the house, CHARLES ROBERT REDCOCK sleeps at the kitchen table with his head in his arms. A motorcycle's motor can be heard outside, getting closer to the house. The newspaper sits in front of him, three empty beer bottles rest on top of it to keep the rotating fan from blowing it away. A shadow is suddenly cast over him, a knock comes from the screen door. He lifts his head. His long, scraggly hair and beard obscure most of his face. His brown jumpsuit is covered in black stains and one red one across his chest. He walks to the door, BRIX steps inside. He's much taller than Charles.

CHARLES
Hey, Brix. Long time no see. How's the flamethrower treatin' ya?

Brix notices the beer bottles

BRIX
You're still drinking?

CHARLES
Yeah, I only drink when I'm not working. But you're the only person who hires me. I guess I should figure out a way to advertise. You think they would give bus bench space to a guy who makes weapons?

BRIX
I have a new-

Brix notices the red stain on Charles' jumpsuit.

BRIX
What's that?

CHARLES
Some kids a few farms over had a party, apparently they didn't appreciate ol' Haystack trying to have a good time. Luckily I had my toolbelt, lost one of my wrenches running from the parents though. Anyway, you have a new what?

BRIX
You ever consider trying your hand in vehicles?

CHARLES
Tried it, perfected it. I have a button under the steering wheel of my truck that can fire a bullet out of the exhaust pipe. I don't think I'd ever need it but it starts some great conversations.

BRIX
I want a van.

CHARLES
No problem. I still have an old junker I could fix up from my Deadhead years. What kind of toppings do ya want?

BRIX
I want it to be bulletproof, with tinted windows and plenty of space for my chopper and my weapons.

CHARLES
Invincible with room for toys. Got it.

BRIX
Good, I'll pay you when it's done.

Brix turns to walk out.

CHARLES
Give me a few days.

BRIX
Of course.

Brix continues walking.

CHARLES
Oh, by the way-

Brix turns around.

CHARLES (Cont'd.)
Do you want me to paint it? I mean, green isn't that scary and "Shaggin' Wagon" written on the side probably isn't intimidating either.

BRIX
Paint it.

CHARLES
Great, thanks for your continued business.

Brix walks out the door and hops onto motorcycle and speeds off of the Redcock Family Farm. Charles walks downstairs into the basement and opens up a closet in the far end of the room. He walks down to-

A huge workshop, the tables are littered in metal pieces and tools, a ramp leads up to an empty aircraft hanger on the property to allow the entry and exit of vehicles. The van is already in the workshop, bright green, the windows have Grateful Dead stickers on the back and just as he said, "Shaggin' Wagon" is written on the side.

CHARLES
Goodbye Shaggin' Wagon. Hello Meat Train.

David is on the couch with his eyes closed, unconscious. Baren, tall, bald, cold and emotionless sits near him. Zombie Man is chained in the kitchen. Baren watches the television, another episode of PRIM8. Zombie Man continues to tug at the chains, saliva has formed a puddle around him. David opens his eyes and wakes up in a panic, after spotting Baren he cowers at the end of the couch.

BAREN
So you were being truthful.

David gets up to run to the door located in the kitchen when Zombie Man leaps forward at the doorway into the kitchen. David stumbles back.

ARTAUD
What are you doing here? Why am I home?

BAREN
You said you wouldn't be yourself when you awoke. You asked us to keep you from leaving. I may not be a caring man, but I'm an honorable one. The fulfillment of my wish to once again be free is well worth the exchange for the fulfillment of your wishes.

ARTAUD
Good, now that you've passed. Allow me to leave.

ZOMBIE MAN
You said that if you got away... I may as well eat your flesh... I hope to...

BAREN
You told us how you would prove to us that you were again Momus.

ARTAUD
Momus?

BAREN
You know that you're a very interesting case.

David begins to scream for somebody to help him. Baren stands and puts his finger to his mouth.

ZOMBIE MAN
You'll wake... the dead! That isn't... even... planned until... later.

BAREN
Don't bother to try and shout for help, I've already taken the liberties of disposing of your neighbors, just as Momus instructed.

Thick branches have formed in front of David's door, vines climb the walls of the hallway, each and every other door in the hallway has been smashed open and all of the people inside every room viciously slaughtered.

Light from the moon shines in the lone window located at the top of warehouse bordering the ceiling, it's no more than 6 inches long. The warehouse is basically empty, save a few crates set out next to each other and two men. The one with medium-length hair combed over and a button-up shirt with dress pants is TOBIAS MORGAN The other man has short hair and a mustache and a suit that all appear very similar to Vincent Price's popular look. He seems a bit nervous about the meeting, his name is JASON ROMERO.

TOBIAS
We've gotten what you've asked. Are you sure that's all you need to make this work?

JASON
No, sir. All the requirements are meant.

TOBIAS
We'll unlock the door once it's done.

JASON
Can you please tell me who this is meant to be used on?

TOBIAS
That isn't any business of yours. Your business is the assembly of our weapon. Nothing further.

Tobias starts for the door but then turns back to Jason.

TOBIAS
Oh, and we actually own this warehouse, it has several purposes other than this. If we find any evidence of you snooping around ANYWHERE but here we'll toss you on the pile.

JASON
Pile?

Tobias exits and slams the door behind him, Jason hears the sound of the door locking echoing through the warehouse.

DAYS LATER:

Jason has put together a shell to contain some type of chemical weapon, he mixes several chemicals together and puts them into a sealed-off tube. He picks up a pair of tongs when he is startled by a LOUD scream behind the metal door of a freezer Jason was too scared to venture into. He drops the canister onto the floor. The fumes rise up and dance into his nose, first making him lightheaded then rendering him unconscious, the freezer-person's screams echo.

MOMENTS LATER:

Jason arises, his eyes have turned yellow, his skin has begun to turn a brownish-green. He stands, holding a shard of the broken canister, with every movement his bones crack. He looks at his skin and screams out, his screams are met with the screams of the freezer-person. He inches toward the freezer and pulls the door open.

The freezer person is a man with a gunshot wound in his stomach. He doesn't look at Jason just keeps his toward the floor. He starts to crawl out.

FREEZER MAN
Please, please don't keep me here.

JASON
So... hungry.

FREEZER MAN
Please, let me go. I'm dying.

JASON
I'm-

Jason looks at his skin once again.

JASON (Cont'd.)
-Dead

The Freezer Man for the first time removes his hand from the gun wound, Jason's nostrils catch the scent, he quickly flips the freezer man and sits on his knees. Jason uses the canister to slice the bullet wound into a large piece of human fillet and he starts to chew on it. He looks behind him into the freezer and discovers the "pile" Tobias had referred to. A pile of bodies sits in the freezer. A wound has opened on Jason's cheek from his mouth's movement. He wipes it with his finger and stands, putting his hand on the Freezer Man when he stands. As he walks toward the pile licking his lips the Freezer Man stands behind him, a mindless zombie.

MOMENTS LATER:

Two grunt men arrive to check up on Jason, they move toward the door when they are swarmed by cops and cuffed. One of the cops checks the van.

OFFICER
Morgan isn't here. Repeat, Morgan isn't here.

The police kick in the door to the warehouse only to find a seven-strong group of mindless zombies under Jason's control. They rush out and the cops shoot at them. Jason emerges, after several cops are killed by the other zombies one manages to shoot Jason's jaw off. He drops to the ground and all of the other zombies follow his lead. His power over the zombies have been lost and they return to their corpse-state.

An extremely attractive blond woman in a brown tweed suit, Una Night, makes her way through the aisles of first of three floors in the library. She thumbs through a few books and pulls out a book on gem stones, she puts that on top of a book about mummification already in her hand. She smiles, satisfied with her find. She takes it to a table and sits down and quickly opens it. A familiar face, Moira's, stands next to her.

MOIRA
May I ask why you haven't put the returns back?

UNA
Because it's your turn.

MOIRA
It's not even my job, it's yours.

UNA
I'll get them next time. I'm busy now.

MOIRA
No, you'll do it now. I have the power to fire you and I will if I feel it necessary.

Moira snatches up the books and closes them when Wayne jogs in, slow for him.

WAYNE
Moira, i need to talk to you.

MOIRA
Alright, just let me put these back.

Moira glares at Una and the two walk back toward the bookshelves, Una runs her hand along Wayne's leg as he passes in order to spite Moira. Wayne and Moira walk into the aisle from which Una got the gem book.

MOIRA
What is it Wayne?

WAYNE
Can we go somewhere that doesn't have people in it?

MOIRA
Yeah, sure.

The room where all of the books not on display are stored. Extra copies of books and old obscure titles that carried no interest. Moira and Wayne walk inside.

MOIRA
Alright, what is it?

WAYNE
I was with Eric today-

MOIRA
How is Eric?

WAYNE
He's fine, just listen. The psycho we caught last night, he escaped.

MOIRA
Oh, God...

WAYNE
Not the worst of it.

MOIRA
What's the worst of it?

WAYNE
Well, Red Dynamo, Baren, and Zombie Man are all missing from the asylum.

Moira is speechless.

WAYNE
Exactly, I'm going to be searching all day, once you get off I'm gonna have to ask you to suit up too.

MOIRA
Yeah, sure. Whatever you need.

WAYNE
Great, thanks. I'm going to get back to it.

MOIRA
Wait, wait right here.

WAYNE
Why?

MOIRA
I'm going to take off now.

Moira walks out and Wayne waits for her, he picks up a book and starts to read it, the door opens.

UNA
Hey.

WAYNE
Hi. You aren't supposed to be back here.

UNA
It's OK, I work here.

WAYNE
I don't, so I'll show myself the ex-

Una stands in front of Wayne.

UNA
So, how do you know the leprechaun?

WAYNE
Don't talk about Moira like that.

UNA
Well, how do you know Moira?

WAYNE
We've known each other forever.

UNA
How long is forever?

WAYNE
Since middle school.

UNA
Have you two ever?

WAYNE
That isn't your busness.

UNA
That's a no. How do you put up with that? Her dragging you along all that time.

WAYNE
It isn't that way at all. We're friends.

UNA
Yeah, tell yourself that. But a better soultion would be to get back at her. Don't you think?

Wayne smiles.

WAYNE
Yeah, get back at her? How do you suggest we do that?

UNA
You know.

WAYNE
Alright, close your eyes and pucker up.

Una closes her eyes and puckers up. The door opens behind her she looks back to see Moira standing at the door, when she looks back to her front Wayne is long gone.

A quiet forest, tranquil, a squirrel scurries into view with an acorn. He quickly runs at the sound of footsteps. Three men cross the screen, carrying a body wrapped in a carpet. One is a handsome man, barely putting any effort into carrying the body, this is Glenn. The shorter in the middle putting all of his effort into it is wearing a hooded sweater over his suit, this is Chuck Day. In the rear holding up the feet is a well-dressed gentleman with slicked-back hair and a nice suit, his name is Robby Mac.

They reach a hole that's already been dug before their arrival. They drop the body in the hole.

GLENN
So, Chuck. Why exactly did you tell Roland you needed three guys for this?

CHUCK
I don't know, I just thought since we haven't seen each other in a while I'd get this little thing together. Thought we could hang out.

GLENN
That is literally the dumbest idea I've ever heard.

CHUCK
What do you mean? I mean, we can dump a guy in a hole, fill the hole up, I got some beers in a hollow tree a couple feet away. Just thought we could have a good time.

GLENN
If you wanted to hang out why didn't you just call us and ask? Don't bring 3 people out for a one man job. I had shit to do, Chuck.

CHUCK
Well, sooory, Glenn!

ROBBY
I didn't have anything to do, I kind of liked the idea. It's what we always talked about in high school. Getting jobs where we would together.

CHUCK
Thank you, Robby.

GLENN
This isn't Little Caesar's, Robby. This is very important life or death shit and I don't think we should be goofing off while we're on the job.

ROBBY
Life or death? It's not like we snuff people out for Roland, Glenn. We just dump the shitbags and clean his gutters and shit.

CHUCK
See, Glenn. Just relax and have a beer. I'll go get them out of the hollow tree and we'll bury this sucker, it'll be greaaaaat.

Chuck starts to walk away. He can be seen in the background trying to recall which tree he put the beer in.

ROBBY
Why are you giving Chuck such a hard time?

GLENN
I'm sorry I'm taking my job seriously.

ROBBY
Why do you think this job-

CHUCK (shouting from background)
I had the wrong tree! It's the one over here!

ROBBY (Cont'd.)
Why do you think this job is something important? It's just grunt work for a couple bucks and some nice suits.

A black blur quickly jumps into frame, picks up the shovel and buries it into Glenn's chest, he drops to the ground, dead. Robby turns to run but Renegade grabs him by the shoulder and turns him around before punching him full-force, he smashes into a tree, the sound of his bones cracking echoes through the woods. Chuck comes running back holding the six-pack. He stops in his tracks when he sees Renegade standing by Glenn's body. Renegade draws a 9mm from his coat and blasts a bullet right at Chuck. In a panic he puts the six-pack in front of his face, the bullet flies directly through it, getting him exactly between the eyes. The cans spray beer all over the body.

Renegade approaches Robby, who is moaning quietly. He has a large open wound on his forehead, his legs are mangled and his left eye is swollen. Renegade stands over him then crouches in front of him.

RENEGADE
What's your name?

ROBBY
Robby... Robby Mac.

RENEGADE
I don't recognize your name. You must be low rank. Who were the other two?

ROBBY
Chuck Day and Glenn Howard.

RENEGADE
All three of you are low ranks. Must not be somebody with a lot of friends you were burying.

ROBBY
It wasn't. Just a guy who took out a loan he couldn't pay back. He didn't live with anybody. He didn't work. He was a druggy.

RENEGADE
A druggy? Then he deserved it.

ROBBY
Yeah! Yeah! He deserved it, so you'll let me go?

RENEGADE
Why would I let you go?

ROBBY
Because, all I was doing was dumping a druggy! I didn't even kill him.

RENEGADE
Still, with mob affiliations how could I let you go?

ROBBY
Because you can't kill me, that's worse than what I did. Why should you get away with it if you're going to kill me.

RENEGADE
Because I am justice.

Renegade kicks Robby in the face, splattering his brains, skull, and blood over the back of tree. He grabs Robby's shoulder and drags him to the hole and throws him in with the body of the druggy. He throws the bodies of Chuck and Glenn on top.

FLASHBACK:

1940s: Walt Jones, early 20s, a muscular man with a pair of glasses sits at a desk with his legs crossed. A military officer sits in front of him.

MILITARY OFFICER
Listen, Mr. Jones.

WALT
Please call me Walt.

MILITARY OFFICER
Walt, I'm afraid we can't let you go into battle.

Walt, clearly crushed takes his glasses off and sets them in his lap before responding.

WALT
Why... Why can't you?

MILITARY OFFICER
I'm sorry but your asthma makes you too big of a risk.

Walt's locked himself in the garage, his mother is on the other side trying to talk to him.

MRS. JONES
Walt, Honey! Please come out. Can't we just talk about this?

Walter turns on his radio and leans on the wall, slowly sliding to the floor. He catches the end of a song as the announcer returns to the air.

RADIO ANNOUNCER
We hope you all enjoyed that song! In the news today, the Grey Goon, the last of America's Superheroes has been sent to war! Our likelihood of victory has increased greatly!

Walt stands up and shuts off the radio, he has an idea.

CUT TO:

Much later, Walt has crafted a black one-piece suit and a matching mask for his face. He's wearing a pair of work boots. He has fashioned his glasses with a goggle strap to keep them on his head. He walks out to-

All of the lights in the house are off, Walt walks to the back of the house and stands on the patio he leans down and flips a switch on both boots. The bottoms blast out attached to springs and shoot him several feet into the air. He lands and smiles.

CUT TO:

The bank contains no more people than the tellers and a security guard. When the door swings open and Walt bursts in. He immediately elbows the guard in the face, knocking him to the ground unconscious. He spring jumps forward.

WALT
With all of America's superheroes out of the picture, this makes way for the rise of The Dregs! Unless you want to see what I can really do I suggest you empty the safes.

The tellers rush to the safe to hand over the money. When a hand taps Walter's shoulder.

ROISE (O.S.)
Hey, bub.

Walt turns and BAM! a punch to the chest sends him flying, crashing through a wall into the pottery store next door. Rosie, a woman with muscular arms, blue jeans, a blue-button up shirt, and a red bandanna around here black hair is the owner of the fist. She sees his broken glasses lying at her feet. She rushes to Walt.

ROSIE
The superhero's absence from the good ol' U. S. of A means no more than the rise of the Superheroine!

Rosie realizes that Walt has no superpowers, and is simply a man in a costume.

CUT TO:

Several of Walt's body parts are wrapped in casts as he sits in the bed. Rosie steps in in street clothes. She sits by his bed. Neither of them say a word.

Until...

WALT
You punch hard...

ROSIE
Yeah, that's my thing. I didn't think you were... normal. I'm sorry I used so much force, but you were asking for it.

WALT
I understand.

ROSIE
Are you going to straighten up once you get out of here?

WALT
It depends.

ROSIE
Depends? I don't want to have to put you in here again.

WALT
I'll retire from crime if you promise me one thing.

ROSIE
What is it?

WALT
Promise me.

ROSIE
Not until you tell me what I'm promising.

WALT
I want you to go on a date with me.

ROSIE
A date? No.

WALT
Just get a burger with me when I get out of here.

ROSIE
I'll think about it.

Rosie gets up and walks out.

CUT TO:

EXT. BLAKE CITY, PRISON - DAY

Years Later: Walt is finally released from the prison, he exits the gate and walks towards a cab waiting for him when he hears a whistle, he turns to see Rosie leaning on her car waiting for him.

END FLASHBACK:

Rosie's Place, a quiet bar owned by Rosie and Walt. Moira and Wayne enter the bar. Rosie begins to glow upon spotting Moira.

ROSIE
Moira! How are you?

MOIRA
I'm just fine, Rosie. And Walt?

ROSIE
Oh, he's fine, still couldn't take care of himself for his life, though!

Moira and Rosie laughs, as does Walt behind the bar.

WALT (Joking)
Well, if I didn't act helpless what reason would you have to stick around?

The three share enough laugh, Rosie looks at Wayne.

ROSIE
So, who is your friend here?

MOIRA
This is Wayne, he's the one the papes call "Blur."

Wayne extends his hand to Rosie.

WAYNE
Nice to meet you, Mrs. Jones.

ROSIE
Oh, I didn't take old Walt's name. It's still Mrs. O' Shea.

Rosie grabs onto Wayne's hand and shakes it.

WAYNE
I'm sorry, very nice to meet you, Mrs. O' Shea.

ROSIE
Very nice to meet you, Wayne.

Wayne walks over and shakes Walt's hand.

MOIRA
Wayne had something he wanted to ask of you.

ROSIE
What is it, sweety?

WAYNE
Well, there's a lot of... well...

WALT
The shit hit the fan? We've been watching the news. What do you want from us?

WAYNE
We wanted to get as many heroes as we could together to figure out a way to prevent any further damage and casualties and were wondering if we could use your place for the meetings.

ROSIE
Why here?

WAYNE
Because I thought this would be a place of confidence where we could trust everybody and everybody could trust us. Everybody knows the story of Rosie the Riveter and The Dregs. But nobody knows that they still live in Blake City and own a bar.

WALT
I think the kid had a good idea, what do you think, Rosie?

ROSIE
Well, I think it's a good idea but any damage, you're paying for it.

WAYNE
I promise you will be compensated for any damages caused by my actions, one of my partners is very rich and will compensate you fully.

WALT
I like your friend already.

Baren is still staring into the TV, paying no mind to the program, but the vines he formed on the window behind it. Zombie Man is chewing on a body tangled in vines in front of him. Artaud sits on the edge of the couch traumatized by the sight in front of him, he eases his hand into the cushion of the couch, he pulls out the key for Zombie Man's chains.

MOMUS
It's time, my friend.

In the woods, where Red Dynamo has chosen to hide out and plan his next action. He happens across the 4 bodies in the hole, 3 of which are courtesy of Renegade. He kneels down to examine the hole when the leaves behind him start to rustle and crunch at an extremely fast rate, Red Dynamo leaps to his feet where he's met by Renegade. He uses one of his swords to block Renegade's knife.

RED DYNAMO
You know, I do like that knife.

Static begins to form at Dynamo's knee and hands, the knife is pulled to his leg by a magnet he made of his leg. He swings the sword at Renegade again, he stops it with his hand and squeezes tight enough for blood to drip out. He squeezes tighter and tighter until the sword breaks in half. Renegade pins The Red Dynamo to the ground. Suddenly the trees around him start to shift and bend and branches reach down for Renegade. They pull him up but he manages to get another knife and slice through them. When he gets away Red Dynamo is gone.

Renegade looks around, he grudgingly vanishes into the shadows of the trees. The forest sits, silent. A tree cracks open and Red Dynamo falls out, he shakingly stands to his feet. He turns toward the sound of footsteps approaching and chains dragging. Momus, Baren, and Zombie Man watch him.

MOMUS
Hello, Macky.

RED DYNAMO
Who are you?

MOMUS
Well, I go by Momus. These two are your future coworkers.

RED DYNAMO
Coworkers?

MOMUS
We saved you, James. You owe us this. If you aren't interested, Baren here could take your abilities and we could leave you for dead like the police did your old man. It's just much better to have more henchmen in my arsenal in case I have to get rid of one.

RED DYNAMO
What do you want me to do?

MOMUS
I want to get rid of a few of the overpowered good samaritans to make way for my own "artistic interpretation" of the world. You'll simply be one of the paints on my pallet.

RED DYNAMO
Killing Blur and his little fucking lucky charm is on my To-Do list. But I'm not doing it for you.

MOMUS
Fair enough, James. Baren, take his powers.

The branches near him again, Red Dynamo uses his remaining sword to slash through the oncoming branches and leaves the area. Momus looks to the bodies.

MOMUS
Well, this trip won't have been for nothing.

He picks up the broken sword and grabs Zombie Man's chains and pulls him to the body hole. He stabs Zombie Man and holds the bloody sword over the hole. The 4 bodies begin to move.

Wayne and Rob are inside of Artaud's apartment building, Wayne has a saw in hand and Rob has nothing. The vines on the wall have only grown.

ROB
How long do you think it's been like this?

WAYNE
A few hours.

Rob shouts

ROB
Is anybody in here still alive?

A few screams ring through the place.

WAYNE
I'll take upstairs and you take this floor?

ROB
Sure. I can live with that.

Wayne vanishes, Rob starts to tear at the branches blocking the door, ripping them fairly easily. He kicks in the door and finds a man with branches growing beneath his skin and other branches poking out from his skin. Rob shouts for Wayne who quickly appears next to him. He's completely speechless watching the man. Suddenly Gabriel bursts into the room.

GABRIEL
You have to get out of here!

Wayne quickly rushes behind him and puts him in a headlock.

WAYNE
Who are you?

GABRIEL
I'm a good guy! I'm a good guy! I know Eric, Volpone. I know him. You can trust me. But they're all coming back.

WAYNE
Who?

GABRIEL
Baren, Zombie Man, and Momus.

Wayne lets Gabriel go.

WAYNE
What about Red Dynamo?

GABRIEL
He isn't with them.

WAYNE
Who is Momus?

GABRIEL
Their leader.

WAYNE
How do you know this?

GABRIEL
I've been following them, and following you.

WAYNE
Me?

GABRIEL
Yeah, I just want to help, I wanted to help, see how I could assist in your plan, tell you theirs.

ROB
Do you trust this guy?

WAYNE
Yeah, I think so. You promise I can trust you?

GABRIEL
Promise, swear, yes, I promise.

WAYNE
What's their plan?

GABRIEL
They never mentioned it near me. I can't hear when...

WAYNE
Oh... You're the one Eric was talking about. The invisible boy?

GABRIEL
Yeah... But I don't like that name.

The footsteps can be heard through the apartment, along with Zombie Man's chains. Gabriel quickly disappears. Wayne and Rob prepare to fight, when the 4 zombies stumble into the room. Zombie Man right behind.

ZOMBIE MAN
I thought I smelled flllllesh! Let us eaaaaat.

Zombie Man and the 4 zombies pounce toward them when a voice interrupts them.

MOMUS
Stop!

Momus steps in.

MOMUS
Blur and Gore The Red in my apartment building! How exciting! I'm a very busy person so I hope you don't mind my visit being short, but I have wonderful plans for the two of you. Speak to Baren about it.

Momus walks out, the zombies follow. Baren comes in to take the powers away from both Wayne and Rob when Rob quickly snatches up a table and hits Baren in the head with it, knocking him out.

ROB
That was easy... And now...

The zombies swarm in, the two fight them off rather effectively until they manage to overpower Rob and swarm on him, chewing at him. Wayne uses his saw to slice his arm open, the scent of the blood attracts the zombies. He runs just fast enough to avoid getting caught but slow enough to keep them behind him.

He gets outside and as fast as he can he weaves through all of them punching as he passes, they all fall to the ground. Wayne stops, his arm already healed, and for the first time, out of breath. The zombies begin to push themselves back to their feet.

WAYNE
No!

Wayne gets ready to go back for them when CRASH! through the wall comes the super-powerful zombified version of Gore The Red.

Vallen looks across at the timers of the bombs in front of him, laid down in a neat line across the table. A mangy mongrel slowly walks over and sits beside him, looking above with expectant eyes.

VALLEN
Hungry, fella?

Vallen takes a small Clark bar out of his jacket's inner pockets and peels the wrapper off, before breaking it into two and extending a piece to the dog. The dog sniffs it once, then gently pries it out of Vallen's hand and chews on it slowly.

VALLEN
That will have to do for now. You will get your food when I do the shopping at midnight.

He slowly walks over and sinks into the small couch beside the table, thoughtful. A large shadow falls across him and he looks to his right. A hawk has perched itself on the ventilator across the room, letting out a small squawk.

VALLEN
Just now. Anything else?

The hawk makes a series of incoherent squawking noises, then tilts its head to the left. Vallen's look shifts from the hawk to the ceiling, deep in thought.

VALLEN
Hmm. It's going to be a long night again...

He closes his eyes with a small sigh. His mind begins to drift back into his past.


(HAZY IMAGES AND VOICES ROLL - ZOOM INTO A FACE)


TODD
Hey chap! Looking great today as usual...

VALLEN (smiling)
I always look good when I am out of uniform. What's new?

TODD (with a laugh)
Have a great Fourth, man. I'll be around to pick you up next week.



(HAZY IMAGES AND VOICES AGAIN - ZOOM INTO A CAFE)

Mikey's Cafe.

Some patrons can be seen having coffee and discussing in low voices. Vallen walks in.

MIKEY (with a beaming smile)
Hey yo Vallen my man! It's good to see you.

VALLEN (smiles back)
So what's up, Mikey? That smells really good.

MIKEY
Brewing some of my special homemade coffee. Come up and sit and I'll get you a mug.

VALLEN
Thanks, buddy. Can't wait till I get home. Some other time perhaps.

MIKEY
Come on! You can always spare a moment for this old man.

VALLEN (laughs slowly)
You ain't old. Okay, I'll have some.

MIKEY (grinning and turning around towards the kitchen)
Hey Marge! Vallen's come home. Get us some coffee will ya?

Vallen sits on one of the propped-up stools and places his bag on the floor. Just then, a huge roar breaks the silence and a bunch of bikers zoom across the cafe on their bikes, yelling and blowing long whistles.

VALLEN
That was loud.

MIKEY (looking back from the road)
Damn filthy asswipes! Things have become worse since they joined the neighborhood.

Vallen looks at Mikey questioningly. Marge walks in and places two hot mugfuls of coffee between the two men.

MARGE
So nice to see you, Vallen.

MIKEY
They call themselves the Voodoo Skulls. (scoffs) Hah...stupid name! But they aint. Especially their leader, Luca. He's one of the biggest assholes you ll ever meet. If I were you, I would stay away from them. Each one of those filthy scumbags should be shot.

VALLEN (picking up a coffee mug and sipping slowly)
And nobody called the police?

MIKEY (rolling eyes and picking the other mug)
Gimme a break! You think they don't have connections? Luca himself supplies the best opium to them. Police! Indeed...

Mikey's voice trails away. The patrons start whispering again. After a few moments, Vallen rises and reaches for his wallet.

MIKEY
This one's on the house, buddy. I'll charge you next time.

VALLEN (smiles)
Better make that a double then.

Both men laugh, and Vallen picks up his bag. He waves to Mikey once and walks out.