74: Occupant Sin 4 - lv. Effective Delegation

Page Notes

Episode published on Wednesday 13th of May, 2015.

This episode is perfectly representative of the evolution of the characters over the several years it took to finish this bloody storyline. The original ending of this story had Pain square off against Burdener armed only with a chainsaw with little-to-no effort. A last-minute rethink made it funnier and more in-character to have Pain delegate someone else to do the dirty work and put themselves at risk.

Earlier in the comic, Pain was overly able at dispatching enemies with not much effort; having written a few scripts for later episodes in parallel to this we'd since developed him as being a lot less willing to put himself in danger and a little bit more crafty. Less of a Mary Sue, if you will.

Tagged: Ben Nevis, Bono, The Captain, Frank the Henchman, Lei the Henchman, Location - Burdener Island, Location - Spain, Lord Almond Burdener, Mara Kyler, Max Valerion, Reggie the Henchman

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Transcript

Title - 74: "Occupant Sin 4"
Subtitle - lv. "Effective Delegation"

(The fight is still going on between the Detulux forces and the monstrous Lord Burdener. Henchmen are still firing at Burdener, who isn't taking any discernible damage. He strangles one henchman with his arm tentacle. Another is knocked off his feet by one of his massive spidery legs. Ben's new pet mutant is still wrestling with Burdener's neck, its back appendage clamping on for dear life. One of the circling Detulux helicopters has opened fire on Burdener. Ben's attempting to climb one of the legs.)

Burdener: SCREEEE!

(Ben reaches one of the knee-eyes and brings his fist back, the eye glaring at him. In the next panel, Ben punches the eye as strong as he can.)

Ben: Take this ye doaty bawbag!
SFX: SPLUTCH!

(Burdener looks pained, the punch clearly having hurt him.)

Burdener: SCREEEEECH!

(Pain's face fills with determination as he realises that this is the first time anyone has caused any perceivable damage to Burdener. The Captain stands behind him, struggling to load his gun and looking scared. The Lieutenant lifts up a fresh clip, about to offer it to the Captain. Pain aims his revolver.)

Pain: That's it! The eyes! Target the eyes!

(Burdener, clearly livid, shakes off Ben's new pet and charges towards a group of henchmen. A couple of them still try to shoot him, the rest running for their lives. Ben also loses his grip on Burdener, falling off. Burdener corners the henchmen, the five of them backed up against the safety railing on the corner of the platform. Their friends continue shooting but it isn't doing anything to Burdener. Ben's pet loses its grip and lands heavily on the back of its hindquarters.)

Henchmen: HELP!!!
Burdener: SCREEEE!

(Pain's joining in with the shooting when a voice off-panel catches his attention, causing him to peer over his shoulder.)

Voice: Pain!

(Samada is standing on a raised section of the platform, holding a chainsaw. In the next panel, she throws it at Pain.)

Samada: Use this!

(Pain silently stares up at the approaching chainsaw, its shadow being cast across his face. He's dumbfounded. In the next panel, he flinches, raising his arms as he expects to be hit in the face, his eyes tightly shut. A blood-covered hand darts into frame, preparing to catch the chainsaw. In the next panel, Pain opens his eyes to find Ben's caught the chainsaw and is offering it to him, clearly amused by Pain's reaction. The next panel shows Samada leaning across the railing in front of her, smiling at the boys.)

Samada: The Merchant sends his regards!

(The following panel is a shot from over Samada's shoulder as she looks down at the boys far below her. Pain's shaking his fist at her as he returns his revolver to the confines of his jacket. Ben's still holding the chainsaw. Captain's stood beside Pain and there are other henchmen scattered around, caught up in the battle.

Pain: Who throws a chainsaw?!? A rocket launcher would've been better!
Samada: He didn't have one! Apparently someone robbed him blind and then dumped all his stock on a random beach!

(Pain rolls his eyes as he takes the chainsaw.)

Pain: ...Touché.

(Pain pulls the cord to activate the chainsaw. It roars to life.)

SFX: CHUGGA CHUGGA REM-REM-REMM-

(Pain confidently raises the chainsaw, ready for a fight. Ben and the Captain are behind him, watching.)

Pain: All right, ugly...let's dance.
SFX (chainsaw): VRAAAAAAGH!

(We cut to a close up of Burdener's face. He's furious.)

Burdener: GRAAAAAARRGHH!

(The wind has completely left Pain's sails, his face wearing the expression of someone considering a change of underwear. Captain looks terrified and even Ben's giving the moment a pause.)

Pain: Errrm, on second thoughts...

(Pain places the chainsaw in the hands of a very confused Captain.)

Captain: Wha-

(Ben picks the Captain up, the Captain still clutching the active chainsaw. Pain watches, happier with this plan. Ben throws the Captain across the platform, the Captain flying past confused henchmen with the chainsaw held in front of him.)

Captain: AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
SFX (chainsaw): VRRRRRAAAGH!

(The Captain flies towards a very unsettled Burdener, the chainsaw making contact with the join between the mass of legs and Burdener's super long neck.)

SFX: VRRRAGH

(The chainsaw sinks into Burdener's flesh, carving a deep groove. Blood flows.)

SFX: SPLUTCH VRRAGH-AGH-AGHH

(Burdener's pupils contract as he's hit with the intense pain.)

Burdener: SCREEEEE!

(The Captain flails wildly as he tries to get away from the monstrous Burdener, acidentally slicing off huge chunks of meat.)

Captain: AGHGEDMEOUTTAHEREWHATTHEFUCKAAAGH!
SFX: RAGH-SLURP-RAGH-RAGHSHLUP-VVVRRRRAAAAGGGGH

(The Captain manages to free the chainsaw from the central mass of Burdener by yanking upwards, only to accidentally catch Burdener in the back of the neck. The henchmen all look on, at a loss as to what to do. The shooting has finally stopped.)

Burdener: SCRRREEEE!!!
SFX: VVRRAAAGH-SPLUTCH!
Captain: AAAGH!
Henchman: (talking to another henchman) Didn't know he had it in 'im!

(Pain and Ben are still watching. Pain waves and fist, enthusiastically cheering the Captain on.)

Pain: Yeah! You're doing great!

(Pain continues to cheer, pumping his fist. Samada lands on the deck next to him and Ben, using her grapple to soften the fall.)

Pain: Flail harder!

(Samada straightens ups, perplexed over how this was the plan Pain went for and equally surprised how well it is working. Pain is still cheering.)

Pain: You've got him on the ropes now!
Samada: Well that's one way to skin a monster, certainly.

Episode tagline: Remember to use chainsaws responsibly, folks.