For those who do not know, a few years ago there was a comic series called Civil War. This was a big event as it featured many authors fighting each other in a war. Each author belonged to one of two sides:

PASS, lead by Gavla, who discovered a great source of power, one once wielded by Hapori Tohu himself, that they could use to make a better world.

RIGOL, lead by Venom, who believed that such power should not be used, either out of respect or loyalty toward Tohu or out of fear of the repercussions if Gavla succeed.

It was a great idea but what killed it was authors not making comics for the series, either due to time or a lack of interest. Unfortunately, I was one of the people. I had a script ready that went through several revisions, but I was not able to move onto the artwork phase. It was a shame as I thought the series had a lot of potential. But without further due, I decided to post the script I made for it!

(See the bottom for extra details.)

 

We directly continue off from VENOM’s previous comic.

 

 

VENOM

They took Vahkoro!

 

ACER

We heard you the first time. You don’t have to keep repeating yourself.

 

VENOM

Sorry. I’m just really ticked right now.

 

ONI

But the real question is why did they take Vahkoro? Why him of all people?

 

ACER

Information?

 

JEDIBOT

Possible, but unlikely. Vahkoro is just a soldier. A high ranking and well respected soldier, but still a soldier.

 

ACER

Also, where is everyone? They couldn’t have taken all of them.

 

ONI

That’s because they’re all dead, idiot.

 

JEDIBOT

Not everyone. I’ve detected casualties, but not all of them. Everyone else is gone. They’ve most likely evacuated, but I don’t know where or how.

 

ONI

This is nice and all, but we need to get going. There’s nothing we can do here.

 

VENOM

You’re wrong. We need to know exactly what happened and what PASS is planning. The first step is to continue investigating. In this case, we don’t want to split up. This structure is unstable and we need to stay close together in case something happens.

 

JEDIBOT

The investigation might have to wait, sir. I’m picking up something and it’s coming in south.

 

ACER

How do you know all this stuff?

 

JEDIBOT

I have a built in scanner.

 

VENOM

Jed, what is this thing?

 

JEDIBOT

No idea. All I know is that it’s big and coming fast. It seems to be generating a lot of power as well. It very well could be the same thing that hit this building.

 

How much time do we have until it gets here?

 

JEDIBOT

Plenty. It won’t be here for a while. We shall have plenty of time to evacuate the structure.

 

The copter almost immediately appears.

 

ACER

It wouldn’t happen to be the giant helicopter with the massive gun, would it?

 

ONI

Maybe it’s on our side.

 

PILOT

ATTENTION, GENERAL VENOM. IN THE NAME OF THE PASS ARMY, WE ORDER YOU TO SURRENDER NOW. COOPERATE AND WE WILL DESTROY YOU PEACEFULLY.

 

ONI

Or maybe not.

 

VENOM

Destroy us peacefully? Is that even possible?

 

JEDIBOT

To them it is.

 

PILOT

IF YOU DO NOT COOPERATE, WE WILL OPEN FIRE. SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY!

 

JEDIBOT

Sir, we are cornered. What are your orders?

 

VENOM

We push back. Watch and listen. Feel free to take notes.

 

VENOM forms a tendril of witch he snatches the heli. He swings himself forward and uses his swords to climb his way up.

 

CUT TO INSIDE HELI

 

The pilots look around confused. VENOM bursts into the cockpit, swords drawn and all. He grabs the main pilot and throws him out. A PASS soldier draws his gun and tries to shoot Venom. The general leaps out of the way and heads out.

 

PILOT #1 (to the others)

You three go deal with the situation. I’ll take things over from here.

 

They both nod and leave the cockpit.

 

CUT TO OUTSIDE THE SHIP

 

VENOM holds a plasma grenade in his hand.

 

VENOM

This should do the job.

 

VENOM gets shot in the back and collapses. We then see three soldiers with a hatch open.

 

PILOT #3

Funny. I thought he was supposed to be stronger.

 

PILOT #2

Stronger? You shot him in the back with a shotgun; he should be down on the ground!

 

PILOT #3

It’s that symbiote thing. I’ve heard rumors that they are bullet proof to a certain degree. However, they are also weakened by sonic vibrations. Being close to twin, giant propellers must be making him vulnerable.

 

PILOT #3 leg gets caught in a tendril and gets thrown to the other side, slamming him on the platform.

 

VENOM

And yet I’m still able to take you all on.

 

PILOT #2 fires his gun and runs forward while PILOT #4 draws his energy sword. Venom forms his swords and deflects most of the bullets. VENOM responds by grabbing his sniper rifle and whacks PILOT #3 with the butt of it. However, PILOT #4 slices it in half with his sword.

 

VENOM

You son of a --

 

VENOM quickly gets cut with the sword.

 

VENOM

AGH!

 

 

PILOT #4 cuts VENOM, but with the tip of the sword. VENOM accelerates over PILOT #4 and shoots his head with a pistol. (He‘s not quite dead yet.) PILOT #4 flinches and bends over. PILOT #3 shoots him with his shotgun. VENOM kicks PILOT #4 back and steals his sword. It’s on now. PILOT #3 fires again, but VENOM blocks it with the sword. Venom simply decapitates that ugly sucker. You would too if he shot you twice with a shot gun.

 

VENOM throws his sword back, impaling PILOT #4. The RIGOL GENERAL glances towards PILOT #2 who throws his gun on the ground and put his hands in the air… until he gets shot by JEDIBOT.

 

ONI

Jed, I think he was surrendering.

 

JEDIBOT

You can never be too careful. General, it is good to see you. We came to help, but it seems you’ve already handled the situation.

 

VENOM

Indeed. But how did you guys get here?

 

JEDIBOT

You can thank TBL’s teleporting abomination. How he found us, I have no clue.

 

VENOM

TBL? No surprise. It screams of his design. But what does he have to do with this?

 

ROBOT #5

My master requests your immediate presence. He has vital information about this latest attack.

 

VENOM

I see. Thank you, uh….

 

ROBOT #5

I am Toaster v5. I am the fifth robot in Sharnak’s line. Shall we depart now?

 

VENOM

No, not just yet. I forgot something.

 

VENOM bursts into the cockpit and grabs the pilot. He returns with him tied up.

 

VENOM

Okay done. I figured we needed a prisoner for interrogation. 5, do your teleporting thing.

 

CUT TO UNDERGROUND BASE

ROBOT #5 transports them to the intended location. Everyone looks around as they are on a large, round platform.

 

ROBOT #5

We’re here. Shall I be your tour guide for now?

 

ONI

Where… are we?

 

VENOM

Boys, this is our underground technology center. This is where all of all our major top secret projects are developed.

 

ACER

I’ve never heard of it.

 

VENOM

That’s because I just said it’s top secret. Very few men outside the center have been allowed access, let alone the knowledge of its existence.

 

ACER

How many other people have been here before?

 

VENOM

Very few. Not even I have been here before, but I am well aware of its existence. In fact, I think the only one of us that has been here before was Jedibot.

 

JEDIBOT

I’ve been here once or twice, but only on business.

 

ONI

This is nice and all, but can we save the exposition for later? We have our prisoner right next to us.

 

PILOT #1

Screw you.

 

ROBOT #5

Do not worry, I’ve called security; they will arrive shortly. However, I am afraid time is of the essence. We must meet up with my master at once.

 

VENOM

Indeed. Oni, you stay here and guard the pilot until security comes.

 

ONI nods and the rest head out.

 

We cut to TBL standing over a large platform. He turns around to see VENOM and co.

 

TBL

Ah, Venom, it is good to see you once more. How are things going?

 

VENOM

Not so good. Sharnak, in the last 24 hours so much has happened. Vahkoro has been kidnapped, the entire city is in ruins, and everyone is missing. Not to mention --

 

TBL

The giant helicopter and its ejecting turrets? I know about the whole thing.

 

VENOM

You know? But how?

 

TBL

This is stationed directly underneath this city, not to mention it is our main supplier of most of our resources. I felt it was important to monitor all its activities. Now, I believe it is time to fill you all in what just happened.

 

VENOM

I thought we both knew what was going on.

 

TBL

You only know about pieces of the entire puzzle. While not all the pieces are found, there are enough to see the picture.

 

JEDIBOT

I hate metaphors.

 

ACER

Shh.

 

TBL

Let me explain this at the beginning. At 9:00 I visited the logistics for matters concerning shipment. However, at 9:30 we were attacked. Two PASS soldiers, most likely special ops. had infiltrated the building by some sort of energy beam. They quickly revealed their intention to kidnap Vahkoro. Eljay managed to hold off their attack, but I did not see the outcome. Jahli rushed for help, while I decided to provide help. I teleported back to base, to form a defensive strategy. However, I just could not. PASS stuck this place harder than ever. We suffered a massive aerial invasion. They destroyed the city and took many hostages, along with all the supplies.

 

VENOM

How many?

 

TBL

Somehow most of the entire population. Those who were not taken were dead, but he did manage to rescue a few dozen of our soldiers.

 

ACER

What about Eljay, Vahkoro, and Jahli? They were in the area as well.

 

TBL

Jahli is fine. Eljay is in pretty bad shape, as he was in the blast zone radius when the structure was hit by their warship. But on the bright side, he should be up and ready in a few days.

 

VENOM

And of Vahkoro?

 

TBL (hesitant)

Vahkoro didn’t make it. He’s gone. I’m so sorry, Venom.

 

Everyone, but ACER sinks down.

 

TBL

Anyway, there is more. There seemed to be multiple attacks on logistic centers today. However, this one was the biggest, as this was a major settlement. PASS seems to do everything in their power to kill us quickly. First they want to kill you, general, and now they are trying to deplete all our resources.

 

VENOM

Then things are worse than I thought. What are we going to do now?

 

TBL

The attack was on RIGOL as a whole, Venom. This is a question only you can answer.

 

VENOM

I see.

 

VENOM pauses and looks back.

 

VENOM

I believe an effective counterstrike is in order. But first we must get back on our feet. PASS destroyed and captured most of our resources today, correct?

 

TBL

Not most, but it was a good deal of it.

 

VENOM

Then we need to replace them. First, I believe a rescue mission is in order. PASS took our troops and we need them back.

 

TBL

A rescue mission? Awesome! I mean, of course.

 

JEDIBOT

No offense, Venom, but I doubt that rescuing our soldiers will replace all the resources that PASS took.

 

VENOM

Let’s just say after this, the BZGuard will be more than willing to give us more support in this war.

 

JEDIBOT

Venom, what do you --?

 

VENOM

We will discuss this later. Now get back to the focus at the matter at hand. TBL, can you locate where PASS is keeping our prisoners?

 

TBL

Way ahead of you. Our satellites have picked up where exactly where. They are kept in a base in the near the coastal region of the great desert. Yet, the strange thing it seems to be underground. Quite odd for a prison.

 

VENOM

Things are rarely what they seem to be. Still, we must act now before PASS prepares readies defenses. A small team should do the trick. Acer, Jed, you’re with me. We’ll get Oni on the way. TBL, we need a few extra men and a ship that can take us there fast and unnoticed.

 

TBL

You mean a stealth plane.

 

VENOM

Yeah, whatever, just get it done. I’ll go get equipment, care to join me if you want. We will meet back here as soon as possible.

 

RIGOL Technology Center

1:09 A.M.

 

VENOM comes back with a new sniper rifle.

 

VENOM

Sorry for the delay. Has anyone seen Oni?

 

TBL (in armor)

ONI could not join us for the mission for reasons unknown. However, I did get three new soldiers. Meet Jahli, Garda, and myself.

 

VENOM

Yourself? I guess that answers the suit question that I was about to ask. Why do you want to join us?

 

TBL

I not just and engineer, general, I am a soldier as well. Plus, I’ve also wanted to test one of my creations out in battle for myself.

 

VENOM

Very well. I’ll question your actions on the way. Show us to the hanger.

 

CUT TO HANGER

 

TBL

Well, here it is.

 

JEDIBOT

That’s a stealth plane? That thing is huge!

 

TBL

Yup. Everyone ready?

 

ACER

No. I’ve just realized that we barely have plan.

 

VENOM

That’s because we’re unfortunately going to have to make this up as we go along. We barely know what we are getting ourselves into.

 

JEDIBOT

True. However, we should look for a control center. If there is one, it might be able to free everyone imprisoned.

 

TBL

Also, this plane is designed to carry large amounts of cargo and transport them fast and unnoticed. It should carry our prisoners with only minimum difficulty. Hopefully.

 

JEDIBOT

What do you mean “hopefully”?

 

TBL

Well, it’s a prototype. It hasn’t even been tested yet.

 

VENOM

Then consider this the test run. Everyone, let us move. PASS will soon regret their actions.

Well, there you go!

As I said earlier, the script went under several revisions. In a first draft there was another elaborate fight scene. In it, the giant helicopter would have either fired at the building or crashed into it, causing the already weak structure to topple over. The squad managed to survive either by jumping on the copter and riding on its slower decent or, if they stayed in the building, by miraculous luck. There, one the turrets ejected, revealing spider-like legs and fought them on ground. They defeated it by taking out the legs but Oni was severely injured in the process.

This scene was cut due to time and because I couldn't get the comic to flow right. It caused most of my writer's/artist's block so I had to scrap it. The biggest drawback of its removal was that the rest of Venom hogged the fight scene. Had it been kept, everyone would have gotten a chance to participate.

Oni's absence would have also been more believable. He decided to leave the series and his injuries would have provided an in-story reason why he would no longer be seen. I didn't want to kill him off, like what they did to Vahkoro, in case he wanted to return. Since the seen was cut, I had to make him suddenly leave off-screen for no good reason.

Another major change was the ending. In my first draft, Venom did not leave for a rescue mission; we went to meet with the BZGuard. (In most comic land stories, the BZGuard were the protectors and servants of Tohu and were also the law enforcers and military of the comic land.) It would make sense that while they would try to not officially picks sides in order to prevent escalation of the war, they would be sympathetic to RIGOL's cause and secretly support it. With RIGOL is on the losing, Venom would demand/persuade them to fully join his side. If he succeeds, it would be a turning point in the war. However, Venom would be out in the open and PASS forces would be out to stop him, no matter the cost.

I loved this idea, (which included a high speed chase scene), but I decided to save it for later, hinting at Venom's plan for the guard instead. It was changed where Venom would go on a rescue mission to save his friend, Vahkoro, only to find him dead. This was changed after Eljay's comic, which depicted him dying in the logistics center instead at a PASS prison or base.