MELTING
Based on the video game series, Hylics, created by Mason Lindroth
INT - PONGORMA'S VAULT
The stage is bare save for a dilapidated couch, a potted plant, and a TV, all stage left. Upstage is a set of double doors.
PONGORMA sits on the couch, staring into the TV. His stare is vacant, bored. He leisurely does a weak DARK FLAME.
The double doors upstage open, revealing WAYNE, SOMSNOSA, and DEDUSMULN who enter in single file. PONGORMA startles out of his stupor and rises, stretching as he does.
DEDUSMULN motions to WAYNE as they reach center stage.
DEDUSMULN
Scales and Venules! I cannot believe we have discovered the vault of the great Dread Knight! Oh, he looks exactly like he did on the reliefs in the ruins!
WAYNE
Cool.
SOMSNOSA
Wait. He's supposed to be who'll help us deal with the Ambulant skulls? Looks old. Smells old too.
PONGORMA chuckles.
PONGORMA
I am called Pongorma, Greatest of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn. Through long ages I have waited in this vault.
He pauses for dramatic effect. WAYNE is unfazed, DEDUSMULN cowers slightly, and SOMSNOSA stares him down.
PONGORMA
Fight me.
DEDUSMULN
Oh, I think we'll be-
WAYNE
Sure.
DEDUSMULN
What?!
SOMSNOSA
Come on, Deds, we can take him!
DEDUSMULN
The name is Dedusmuln, please. Wayne, excogitate this. You have not increased your will at all since we found the paper cup - for reasons you still have retained from me - and even then, we don't have nearly enough juice to -
PONGORMA
(teasingly)
Hmm. If you're too scared -
WAYNE
Nah. We can fight him.
WAYNE performs CALIBRATION beginning
BOSS BATTLE - PONGORMA
PONGORMA
Excellent. Let me summon -
TWO GUARDS enter upstage through the double doors and stand next to PONGORMA.
PONGORMA
The memory of two of my guards.
WAYNE
Huh.
PONGORMA
Three on Three. I suppose that is fair?
WAYNE
Sure.
SOMSNOSA
Let's knock the dust off him!
SOMSNOSA performs CALIBRATION.
DEDUSMULN
Sages ...
DEDUSMULN reluctantly performs CALIBRATION.
PONGORMA chuckles and snaps at WAYNE who staggers slightly.
GUARD 1 unleashes the DARK FLAME and everyone is hit. SOMSNOSA staggers.
GUARD 2 guards.
WAYNE tosses SOMSNOSA a JUICE BOX. SOMSNOSA drinks it as she glares at PONGORMA and unleashes MINI LEECH on all three opponents.
GUARD 1 staggers as pink flesh oozes off of him. PONGORMA looks at him, confused.
PONGORMA
Wh- By the sages, what is happening to you?
DEDUSMULN works an engrossing PANORAMA. The GUARDS are confused and PONGORMA looks to DEDUSMULN
PONGORMA
What an interesting and captivating creature ... what are you?
DEDUSMULN
Erm ... Splithead?
PONGORMA
Yes, but ... Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?
DEDUSMULN
Yes?
PONGORMA
Fascinating ... You're absolutely fascinating. You know ... you remind me of-
SOMSNOSA utilizes BUBBLES on PONGORMA who reacts to the poison while WAYNE snaps at GUARD 2
SOMSNOSA
You can set your caps at each other after we win.
DEDUSMULN chuckles nervously while PONGORMA laughs heartily.
PONGORMA
So confident!
He gets a better look at SOMSNOSA and freezes in recognition.
PONGORMA
You ... It's you ... It's been centuries and you're still alive ... How ... You were just a child ...
GUARD 1 snaps at DEDUSMULN but misses. GUARD 2 GUARDS again.
PONGORMA sighs at the guards.
PONGORMA
I have been in this vault for centuries ... waiting for someone to test me. To prove that I have the will. And now this is my greatest test. To spar with the one who set me on this course in the first place. It would be wise to yield for my will has increased considerably over the centuries.
PONGORMA wafts an ANCIENT ODOR. WAYNE'S CREW is poisoned. Pink flesh begins to melt down SOMSNOSA'S arms.
SOMSNOSA
Slip. Wayne, got any vegetables? That poison is really uh ... hitting hard
WAYNE digs in his pack.
WAYNE
Oops.
DEDUSMULN
Oops?! Wayne! This was what I was talking about! And you didn't stop to microwave any of those burritos so we won't even have warm burritos if one of us -
WAYNE
Oh ... yeah, I forgot I had those.
WAYNE pulls out a frozen burrito and chucks it at PONGORMA.
This has little effect. DEDUSMULN places their head in their hands.
DEDUSMULN
This is why I suggested we come back later!
They pull their hands away to reveal that their head is beginning to melt.
DEDUSMULN
Oh concretions ...
DEDUSMULN turns to SOMSNOSA
DEDUSMULN
Let's see if I have enough will for a Mystic Meat ... at least to stop the poison.
PONGORMA tilts his head watching them.
PONGORMA
This gestural combat ... it definitely gives you time to think out your next move. I think I can understand its merit over physical attacks ...
DEDUSMULN
(tightly)
Indeed.
DEDUSMULN invokes MYSTIC MEAT, ending the poison's effects.
SOMSNOSA goes to gesture
SOMSNOSA
Probably out of Juice too?
WAYNE shrugs his shoulders. SOMSNOSA sighs and snaps at GUARD 2. As she does, more flesh begins to melt away from her.
SOMSNOSA
(to Wayne)
I'm going to step on every one of your sandcastles, you know that right?
PONGORMA considers them.
PONGORMA
Using up so much of your will right away? The sages would never have let you use their greatest gesture!
PONGORMA snaps at WAYNE.
WAYNE staggers as GUARD 1 and GUARD 2 each attack DEDUSMULN.
WAYNE deploys SPACE SHURIKENS at PONGORMA.
DEDUSMULN does ABLATIVE HOLOPLEATHER on themselves, sighing in relief.
SOMSNOSA snaps at GUARD 2.
WAYNE deploys SPACE SHURIKENS at PONGORMA.
DEDUSMULN does ABLATIVE HOLOPLEATHER on themselves, sighing in relief.
SOMSNOSA snaps at GUARD 2.
DEDUSMULN
Sages, Wayne, when we get home you are microwaving every single one of your burritos and-
GUARD 1 attacks WAYNE again. WAYNE sags, low on flesh.
GUARD 2 attacks SOMSNOSA who staggers again, weak.
PONGORMA looks at DEDUSMULN with amusement and snaps.
GUARD 2 attacks SOMSNOSA who staggers again, weak.
PONGORMA looks at DEDUSMULN with amusement and snaps.
DEDUSMULN grumbles.
DEDUSMULN
And YOU are going to get your fundament sent straight to the Afterlife - relic of a bygone era or not!
WAYNE snaps at PONGORMA.
SOMSNOSA snaps at PONGORMA.
DEDUSMULN snaps at PONGORMA.
All three of WAYNE'S crew's flesh is melting away steadily.
PONGORMA
Do you yield?
WAYNE looks at DEDUSMULN and then employs HYPNO SIGILS.
SOMSNOSA snaps at GUARD 2.
DEDUSMULN snaps at PONGORMA
SOMSNOSA snaps at GUARD 2.
DEDUSMULN snaps at PONGORMA
PONGORMA sighs. He was hoping they would yield. He will have to force their hands now.
GUARD 1 hits WAYNE.
GUARD 2 hits WAYNE
PONGORMA wafts an ANCIENT ODOR again.
SOMSNOSA and WAYNE perish, melting away. DEDUSMULN is poisoned.
PONGORMA freezes in terror.
PONGORMA
I - They're - Oh my stars! I expected you to yield - not die!
PONGORMA rushes to DEDUSMULN who looks at their compatriots' puddles with annoyance as they continue to melt.
PONGORMA
Splithead. I am ... I am so sorry. I did not intend to kill ... well any of you ... Sages, I have learned nothing in all of this time ... I have been locked in this vault, trying to prove myself, prove my will and ... And I'm still a monster. An instrument of war ... Please. Forgive me, Splithead.
DEDUSMULN groans in frustration and GUARDS.
DEDUSMULN
Dedusmuln. My name is Dedusmuln.
GUARD 1 snaps and DEDUSMULN perishes, melting away.
PONGORMA sits in the middle of the three puddles of flesh, staring at them in horror as the lights fade so that only PONGORMA is illuminated. He sits, frozen in horror for a time until:
PONGORMA
I ... all of those years trying to atone and I still fulfilled Lord Gibby's plan. I still sent them to oblivion ... I ... Sages, for many years, all I've known is war and I'm - I've forgotten how to be anything else ...
(addressing the puddle formerly known as SOMSNOSA)
Little child, I am so sorry. I ... I never wanted to harm you ... Not even all those centuries ago ...
PONGORMA shakily rises to his feet and works his way back to his couch, the light following him. He sits, TV still on, and stares at the puddles from the couch.
PONGORMA
I've never seen anyone die like that ... Stars in heaven ...
PONGORMA continues to stare. It is silent and dark for several minutes, save for PONGORMA until:
The double doors slide open, lights too bright to make out the three figures in the doorway.
PONGORMA barely looks up.
PONGORMA
(halfhearted still staring at the puddles)
I am called Pongorma, Greatest of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn. Through long ages I have waited in this vault.
WAYNE, SOMSNOSA, and DEDUSMULN, enter through the double doors all three bickering.
SOMSNOSA
- This is why I taught you how to farm in the first place and you barely do it -
DEDUSMULN
- And those burritos are hardly useful as projectiles anyway! Why wouldn't you have simply heated -
WAYNE
Do you have any idea the textural nightmare that warm burritos are in your pockets? Anyway yes. I have everything we need this time and then I promise, after this battle, we will drink from your water coolers.
PONGORMA snaps his head to the door in disbelief, getting WAYNE'S CREW'S attention.
A silence stretches between them as PONGORMA grapples with the realization that death is no longer permanent.
Finally, he rises.
PONGORMA
Fight me.
WAYNE
Sure.
END