Episode 43

Episode 43
The Reluctant Superhero

(Station Square Technical College--Breezeway)

(Kyle is reading a "Music Man" comic book)

(Somebody snatches the comic right out of his hand... it's Trent!)

Trent: What's this...? "Music Man"?
Kyle: I was reading that!
Trent: Feh! Comic books are for babies and nerds!
Kyle: Ah, tell it to Marvel!

(Trent scoffs and drops the issue on the ground and walks away)

(Later, Trent walks home)

Random Narrator: Little does Trent know, a large truck carrying several dozen drums of chemicals has lost control!

(The truck starts maneuvering erratically, a drum of chemicals breaks loose from its fittings and crashes on the pavement next to Trent. Trent gets splashed with aqua-colored liquid)

Trent: Ugh! What is this stuff?
Kyle: Trent?
Trent: What're you doing here?
Kyle: I'm going home-- What happened?

(He sees the busted drum: it's labelled "Radioactive")

(Tails' Lab)

(Tails is scanning Trent, who is standing in a large cylinder in his underwear. A camera-like device rotates around the cylinder)

Kyle: Tails, Angie? What's the deal with Trent?
Angie: Well, the chemicals only affected him, they won't harm us.
Sonic: How did that affect Trent?
Tails: Well, as incredible as it may sound. The chemicals enhanced his abilities. He's also developed new abilities.
Rouge: What does that mean?
Angie: It means, in short, that Trent has superpowers.

(Angie opens Trent's cylinder)

Shadow: Awesome! Now he can be a superhero!
Trent: What are you talking about?
Tails: Well, according to the scanner: his strength has increased ten-fold, he's impervious to bullets, he can shoot freezing bolts from his eyes, has X-Ray vision, he can shoot lasers from his fingertips, and his breath has the strength of a Category 4 Hurricane.
Sonic: Sweet!
Trent: Are you making this up?
Tails: Enter the simulation room, and I'll let you practice.

(Trent goes in)

(A shooting range, akin to one seen at a carnival, complete with moving targets)

Trent: How do I shoot?
Tails: Why're you asking me?
Trent: Uh....

(Trent extends his right arm. He sticks out his index finger and thumb and aims at a target like a gun)

Trent: Fire!

(Nothing happens)

Trent: Shoot! ...Bang! ...Zing! ...Byooo!  *Shrugs in frustration* Why isn't it working?

(Trent flicks his hand downward, finger still extendeded, then... a bolt of energy flies, fitting the target)

Trent: Huh?

(He does this again, it works)

Trent: Oh.

(He does this several times, taking out all the targets)

Trent: Ha ha!

(Later...)

(Living Room)

(Trent's lying on the couch)

Joey: Okay, now you've got all your superpowers down pat. Now you can be a superhero!
Trent: Forget it, just because I have superpowers doesn't mean I'm going gallavanting around Station Square in tights. I'm not gonna be a superhero, heck, I'm not even gonna be a supervillain!
Pine: Be a superhero!
Trent: No!
Shadow: You'll fight for Truth, Justice, and Honesty!
Trent: Phhh! Who believes in that stuff anymore? ESPECIALLY in the States!
Sonic: You could get a comic based on your adventures!
Trent: You can forget about it!
Kyle: *Whispers into Trent's ear* You'll meet girls!
Trent: I'M IN!

(Dramatic spinning transition, similar to the old 60's Batman show)

(Trent is now at a table trying to come up with a name)

Trent: Name, name, name...
Knuckles: Veren?
Tails: Huh?
Knuckles: It sounds cool!
Trent: Nah!
Knuckles: Xeron? Arex?
Rouge: Good-Man?
Knuckles: Come on, Rouge, that doesn't sound very cool.
Sonic: Man Man!

(Everyone blankly stares at Sonic)

Sonic: A lot of superheroes have "Man" in their name!
Trent: That's no good!
Shadow: Think, Shadow... I got it! Laser Man!
Kids: Laser Man?
Shadow: He can shoot lasers from his fingers and stuff!
Trent: "Laser Man"? That'll work!
Amy: Now you need a costume!
Trent: Forget it! I AM NOT wearing tights and a cape!
Shadow: Who said anything about that? We'll just make a mask for you!

(Dramatic spinning transition)

(Trent is wearing a black and dark purple mask, hiding the hair, nose, and ears. Only the chin is exposed. On the forehead of the mask is an orange-gold "L" with white outline)

Tails: Now for a wardrobe!
Joey: Will you wear this?

(Joey holds a red overcoat one hand, a pair of red pumps in the other, and has a red hat on his head)

Trent: I AIN'T WEARING A DRESS!
Joey: Come on, nobody'll expect an old lady to kick their butts! It's the perfect disguise!
Trent: ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Tails: Well, maybe some kinda casual clothing!

(Dramatic spinning transition)

(Trent is wearing blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a leather jacket in addition to the mask)

Trent: Now this is what I'm talking about!
Rouge: Now what?
Kyle: We'll put him to the test! We'll find a crime!
Pine: How'll we do that?

(Dramatic spinning transition)

(The kids, Trent, and Kyle are sitting around listening to the radio. Generic teen dance music is playing--think sixties sitcom-style teen party BGM)

(Trent's already looking annoyed by the music)

Trent: Oh, end already! This same song's been looping for over an hour!
Kyle: Actually, WE'VE been listening for an hour. THE SONG's been playing non-stop since the late 1950's!
Trent: Who in their right mind would do that!?
Kyle: American TV studios making sit-coms.

(Suddenly, it's interrupted)

Man on the Radio: We interrupt this broadcast for this importmant announcement. The Exchange Bank of South Island has just been robbed by three armed hoodlums. All patrons in the bank are being held hostage.
Sonic: This is it!
Trent: Alright! Chick city, here I come!

(Trent runs outside. He spreads out his arms and leaps into the air, falls flat on his face)

Trent: What?

(He starts jumping over and over again with this arms extended over his head and fists balled up)

Trent: Come on! Fly!
Tails: You can't.
Trent: WHAT!?
Tails: It's not one of your superpowers.
Trent: You mean I'm ten times stronger, I can resist gunfire, shoot lasers from my fingers and eyes, but can't even fly!?
Angie: Yes.
Trent: Perfect.

(He starts running down the street)

(Exterior of the Exchange Bank)

(The police have the place surrounded)

Sheriff (through Megaphone): Alright! You're under arrest! Release the hostages and come out with your hands up!
Crook 1: Forget it!
Sheriff: We won't move until you release those hostages!

(Trent/Laserman shows up)

Trent: Fear not good citizens, I'm here!
Sheriff: Who the heck are you!?
Trent: I'm Laserman, and I'm here to save the day.
Sheriff: Kid, you can't just put on a mask and just say you're a superhero!

(Trent goes toward the bank)

Trent: I'm going in!
Sheriff: No! Are you crazy!? Come back!

(Exchange Bank--Interior)

(Trent/Laserman enters, the Crooks have the bank patrons all rounded up and on the floor)

Crook 2: Who are you!?
Crook 3: Don't come any closer or I'll shoot them!

(Trent/Laserman zaps the guns out of their hands)

(The crooks look at each other blankly)

Crooks: AAAHH!!

(They dart out the bank and get arrested)

Narrator: And that was only the beginning of Laserman's adventures!

(Montage)

(Trent/Laserman pulls a school bus hanging off a bridge back onto the road)

(An apartment complex is ablaze. He puts it out with his Hurricane breath)

(Foiling a jewelry store robbery: Crooks make off with bags of jewelry, get back to their car, only to find it's incased in ice)

(Trent/Laserman stands on the rooftop of a building in a triumphant pose but bored look on his face)

(End montage)

(Neighborhood)

(Trent and Shadow sit on a park bench outside)

Trent: Man, nothing's going right! I'm getting famous, but no chicks!
Shadow: It's about truth and justice.
Trent: I liked things better when I didn't have powers.
Shadow: You don't wanna be a superhero?
Trent: I hate it, that's what! Can't Tails cure me or something?
Shadow: I'll talk to him.
Trent: (Voice-Over) Good. The sooner I'm cured, the sooner we can stop being together!

(Tails' Lab)

(Tails frantically searches info on his computer's monitor, searching for a cure. trent and Kyle restlessly wait)

Tails: Here we go!

(Trent and Kyle rush up to the computer and read what's on the screen. They don't believe it.)

Trent: ...THAT's it? That can cure me?
Kyle: That stuff's easier to find than Kyptonite!
Trent: Just getting a little of this on me will take my powers away.
Tails: Well, like the old saying goes: "It's crazy, but it just might work!"
Trent: But how'll we make this work?
Tails: I've got a plan!
Trent: What?
Tails: You know that thing tomorrow with the mayor?
Trent: Yeah?
Tails: Well...

(The next day, in front of city hall)

(A large crowd is gathered around a platform and podium for a big ceremony.)

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Mayor of Station Square!

(The mayor takes her place at the podium)

Mayor: We are here to honor our fair city's defender: Laserman.

(Trent/Laserman stands to the right hand of the mayor. The mayor takes out a large Keystone-esq key)

Mayor: I present you with the key to the city. *hands it to Trent*

(The crowd cheers! Everything goes well... OR DOES IT?)

(Tails flies in on a jet sled. He's wearing a large, clear dome with an artificial brain in it. He is wearing purple pajamas and a green cape)

Tails/Brain Child: Attention people of Station Square! I am Brain Child! I am here to destroy you, Laserman!
Trent/Laserman: Hahaha! What can you do? You can do nothing!
Tails/Brain Child: Oh, I can... BEHOLD!!

(He whips out a yellow bottle labelled COUNT'S)

Tails/Brain Child: MUSTARD!

(Trent/Laserman looks shocked)

Tails/Brain Child: Take this!

(Tails/Brain Child points the tip of the mustard bottle at Trent, tilts it at a 45-degree angle, and steps on it. Yellow goop lands hits Trent/Laserman in the face)

Trent/Laserman: Gyaaah!!!

(He falls to the ground and acts like he's in a seizure)

Tails/Brian Child: YES! YES! I have beaten Laserman!

(The crowd panics)

Random Person 1: This can't be happening!
Random Person 2: It's impossible!
Tails/Brain Child: Hahahahaha! It's true!

(Trent/Laserman struggles to get up)

Random Person 3: Look! Laserman survived!

(Crowd cheers. Tails/Brain Child turns around and acts shocked)

Tails/Brain Child: No!
Trent/Laserman: Yes!

(Trent/Laserman throws a weak, but visibly convincing blow to his foe's gut. Tails/Brain Child falls down)

(The crowd roars)

(Trent/Laserman turns to them with a bit of a sober look)

Trent/Laserman: Ladies and gentlemen... I, I have something I need to tell you.

(They listen intently)

Trent/Laserman: I don't think you need me anymore. I'm afraid I have to go.

(Murmuring amongst the masses)

Trent/Laserman: Out there, there's another town that needs me....
Random Person 4: Will we ever see you again?
Trent/Laserman: *laughs* Worry not, worry not! I AM LASERMAN!

(The crowd cheers)

(Trent/Laserman picks up his fallen opponent and carries him away)

Trent/Laserman: Farewell, Station Square. I must teach this misguided young child a lesson.

(They leave the crowd stands by and watches them walk away.)

Mayor: *to himself* We're going to miss you, Laserman.

(Later, at the Azuka House, in the Living Room)

Tails: Well, now your powers are gone.
Trent: Heh, well that's obvious! But I have to admit, it was a fairly "different" experience.
Cream: Does this mean you'll start being our friend?
Trent: You wish. I only stuck around with you guys so I could lose my powers! Well, I'm gonna blow this pop stand. Later, wusses.

(Trent leaves via the front door)

Kyle: *Sigh* Superpowers or not, he's the same, old Trent! *Shrugs his shoulders and smiles*


Author's Comments
Well, that's it. The final Sonic Babies episode in this style. And thank goodness it's complete!

Soon, I'll be switching over too another format. Though I'll let you voice your opinions next time.