"What Comes Next"

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**"What Comes Next"** is the fifth episode of **KOllOK 1991: Bleach**

## Synopsis

Kollok's first Mayoral Debate and Billy has a reckoning.

## Plot

'**August 2, Undisclosed location'**

Billy wakes up tied to a table next to many sharp instrument and surrounded by TV’s in a strange room. The Man in Red is excited to see him awake and mentions that he was hired by the other Billy’s, gesturing to the blank TV’s, to find and kill The Pretender, him. He shows reluctance and whispers to Billy about his admiration for him, Billy eggs the Devourer to try and kill him but the Tv’s flicker on and he steps back. The man in red introduces himself as Devourer, Billy insults him and refuses to answer his question about who he really is so Devourer stabs him in the thigh. Billy tells him that he can’t remember but was told about his purpose, Devourer sees surprised but offers that by destroying universes he is completing it. Billy uses his power to see though lies and discovers that it was him that called the Devourer though the other Billy’s are giving him orders Devourer further shows his admiration for Billy, because as the Diviner he was able to kill billions on a scale which he, The Devourer could not, without ever feeling guilty or getting caught. Devourer points out that if he ever hopes to be greater than Billy he must kill him and Billy asks to speak to the other Billy’s and he allows it.

One of the screens turns on and he sees another Billy who blames him for taking everything away and trapping them where they are, but Billy counters that he doesn’t believe that they are real, calling the Devourer a manifestation of his guilt and because of his powers doesn’t knows what’s real and could have never woke up from his coma and asks them to prove themselves as real. The other Billy describes the destruction of his world and explains that he and the others want Billy to continue destroying universes until there is enough of them that they can break out and kill him. Billy puts together that the other Billy must be in Mammon due to the ability of speaking to him from a TV like Skye was able to and he tells the other Billy that he will try to help them and the TV’s go blank. The Devourer is disappointed in Billy and eggs him on that he should just kill the others, and states that he and Billy are one in the same. Billy continues to rile Devourer calling him weak for having to kill and says that he will stop using his powers to kill and denies that they are the same, which causes the Devourer to break down as doubt over his own role in events overwhelm him as Billy is supposed to be a copy of him. Billy uses the distraction to take the knife from his thigh and free himself, as he gently talks to the Devourer and confirms that he summoned him to stop him and take his place as Diviner. Billy rushes close and stabs the Devourer in the neck. In his dying breath he utters that their real names are Lucas Jenkins and inside Billy knows that it is true. He proclaims to the empty screens around him that this was his first and last kill, that he will find a way to the Billy’s so they can do what they want to him before he leaves.

**7pm, August 8, Volunteer Fire Dept.**

The mayoral debate begins with Randy Evelyn, the president of the Kollok Council, calling it to order along with fellow Council members, Dr Ronnie and Kelly Hadley, the other members not present. He thanks the Little Bee Café for donating a large bowl of chili that was offered to the attendees before the debate and introduces the three candidates; Kelvin Lundt, Colm O’Shaugnessey and Mallory who is accompanied by Laura as his campaign manager. The candidates give their opening statements and Mallory goes first, but plays heavily on the loss of his dad and his hero status from the lake incident. Colm is next blaming Synchroneity for many of the town’s failings and promises to bring in craftsmen to help the people rebuild and to fix the water problems. During his statement Mallory tries to imply that Colm steals from the collection plate. Kelvin goes last and he blames the council as corrupt, and after losing his other half AJ, and speaks to the people as someone who is always in the background helping his community and wishes to help Kollok and its people get their fight back.

The candidates then start to field questions from the audience, Laura helping Mallory with some of his answers though his inexperience shows. Kelvin wants to use the ex-Synchroneity workers to help with the draught, set up investigations into the Council’s secrets and create committees made of the townsfolk to come up with solutions to fix the town. Colm as the head of the local church wants to return Kollok to its moral routes, with the epidemic of squirrels he would trap them then rehome them or kill them if they can’t. He also wishes to tax Synchroneity, stop the fracking and get them to clean it up, though he still wishes to work with the Council rather then get rid of it completely. The Council are asked about the fracking and water issue and those present explain that they had to make the deal with the government to allow the fracking or the town would be in financial trouble and they are working on the problem. Mallory and Kelvin manage to win support from the pet owners in the crowd offering their time and money to help construct a park for them but Colm regains some support of his own from the parents and more religious in the audience, though Dr Ronnie casually mentions aloud that Colm has ten fingers, pointing him out for being a stranger to the town. Mallory faces his own troubles as well for running as Mayor so young but responds by referencing himself with Spiderman standing up to the call and mentions it is what his dad would do.

The questions are interrupted with the arrival Mike Hunt’s cousin Hercules Hunt and demands to know where Mike is, and he wants Tibby hunted down for what he did. Though the crowd understand what he’s going through news of Tibby healing people means they are not eager to turn him in. Dr. Ronnie tells Herc that the Council learned that Dept. C of the FBI have taken him to San Francisco to go under medical care. Attention goes on to Dr Ronnie and the Council hiding information that should be public and he admits that he’s speaking with someone behind the Council’s back to help the town but can’t say more due to having signed an NDA. Hercules joins the audience as another interruption in the questions causes a scene as a former friend of Mallory accuses him of dealing drugs out of Taco Bell and a fight almost breaks out. It is stopped by one of the school’s janitors, who though knowing what Mallory did sell drugs, mentions that his dad would be proud of him for changing his ways and joining the election but that if he is not taking it seriously, should drop out.

As everyone is talking about drugs Laura reveals Cheese in his jar and Mallory brings up the Tears problem. A police officer confirms that the jar is filled with human remains but it is ignored when P.I. Vander Wallace, barges in and shows a letter from Marcus dated the 7th, confirming that Mallory did deal drugs from Taco Bell, destroying his character. The conversation circles back to Cheese and Laura explains about the drugs she found and what they did to him. A member of the audience, Riley Reyes, recognises the logo from Laura’s description and seems concerned. She reveals to everyone that she spiked the chili with Tears, to make them “chill.” The audience begin to be affected by the Tears, some begin to form into puddles of Flesh like Cheese while others in the audience begin to have seizures. Among those not affected only a few take the seizing victims out of the fire dept to receive help, while the rest including Randy, Laura and Mallory flee from the scene.

Aug 9th

The town mourns for those lost at the debate the previous night as news of what happened begins to spread around the town. Among the news is also the reveal that Mallory due to the allegations was removed from the ballot and after the votes are counted the new mayor of Kollok is Kelvin Lunt.

## Notes

1. ↑  the first podcast link refers to this section of the story
2. ↑  the second podcast link refers to this part of the story