Chereads / Spectres of the Past: Requiem of the Spectre / Chapter 8 - Cetus & Cancer: part 1

Chapter 8 - Cetus & Cancer: part 1

Sinatra

What's the current situation with the detective?

Have our men dealt with him yet?

Or, do more drastic measures need to be taken?

Goon

Well, um…boss…

Y'see, the thing is…

We sent another team after him this morning, and…

He beat them in around three minutes…

Sinatra

Is that so…

Tell me something…

Where do you keep finding these substandard, useless wastes of potential!

Hm?

How is it that you've sent out four teams already, and all of them have been defeated?!

What do you expect us to do if he gets any closer to finding where we are?

If he is able to discover our hideout, what's to stop him from just marching right in here?

Tell me!

What do you expect me to do?!

Goon

Well boss,

That wouldn't happen cause no one could beat you!

You're unstoppable!

Sinatra

Yes, I will reign above this world.

We are the chosen few who shall rule over this world, with myself at the top…

Thank you for your service…

You may leave…

The goon begins rushing out of the room

Sinatra

Do it now…

Something we can't see attacks the goon!

Biting a large chunk out of his head!

Sinatra

Sigh

I had hoped it wouldn't come to this…

However, it appears as though I'll be requiring your Manifestos…

May, get Mercury…

You two are the best hitmen in the organisation…

So please, dispose of the detective before he has the chance to find me

Make his death slow. And. painful.

May

How else would we do it?

Sinatra

You've done well to impede me so far detective…

But unfortunately for you…

You're bad for business…

Outside of the building, in an alley, a man with a knife runs towards Mercury

Mercury

What did you think that would do to me?

Hm?

Did you really expect to hurt me with that little thing?

Student 1

Of course not!

This was just to distract you!

Mercury

Distract me?

Student 2

I've got you now!

Mercury grabs the man

Mercury

Really?

Here, have some advice, if you're gonna launch a surprise attack don't announce it

Both of you…don't reveal your partner, and don't scream "I've got you"

Students

We're sorry Mercury

Mercury

No need to apologise, you guys are still learning…

This is why we do this!

Now, try again

Use your Manifestos this time!

Embrace your strengths and catch me off guard!

Goon 1 rushes Mercury with a knife

Student 1

Argo Navis!

A manifesto comes out along with the knife

Mercury

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT!

Goon 2 appears silently from behind, and gets right next to Mercury

Student 2

Scorpio!

Another Manifesto comes out

Mercury

Surrounding me with Hydra, forcing me to go into Argo Navis…

Pretty good plan…

But!

Not good enough!

Mercury sweeps both of them off their feet

Mercury

See?

I didn't even need to use my Manifesto to beat you…

You've made a lot of progress!

If you keep this up, you'll definitely be powerful Manifesto users!

Student 1

I'll beat you one day!

Student 2

Yeah! We'll definitely be stronger than you

Mercury

Come find me once you're stronger!

May

Mercury!

Mercury

Hm?

What do you want, May?

I'm finishing up with a lesson right now…

May

We got a job

Mercury

Tell them it can wait

My students take priority

May

It's from the top

Mercury

Boys…

Please leave now…

My friend and I have business to discuss…

The students leave

May

Snickers

Mercury

What are you laughing about May?

May

Nothing, It's just…

You're so different when you're with your students…

Sometimes it's hard to remember you're the same person!

Mercury

Of course

We can't all dedicate our lives to the boss

Some of us have our lives to live…

May

What's that supposed to mean?

Mercury

Nothing…

Now, tell me, who's our newest mark?

May

Smiles

James is walking through the streets, alone

James

(It's becoming monotonous…)

(Everyday…new goons come after me…)

(And yet, I'm never closer to finding the identity of their boss)

(How could my life have become like this?)

(How many people am I actually saving at this point?)

(Has my meddling done more harm than good?)

(When was the last time I got hired for a case that didn't involve a Manifesto?)

(I wish I knew if I was making some kind of difference in people's lives…)

Mercury

Well, well, well,

If it isn't James Spectre

James

(That voice!)

(I know that voice!)

Mercury!

Mercury

Why do you seem so mad at the sight of your old teacher?

Shouldn't a student be a little bit happier that his teacher came to see him?

James

(ugh, why does my head hurt?)

(It feels like something's clawing away at the back of my brain…)

Why should I be happy to see you?

Cause you beat me?

Cause you tormented me?

Mercury

Why would you say it like that?

My methods may be unorthodox, but look at the results!

A striking young man, with the build of a Greek god!

Say, what happened to the gift I left you?

James

I wouldn't exactly thank you for that, and the only thing you left me with was scars and pain…

Mercury

How have you been?

Have you kept my lessons in mind?

James

Of course…

How could I have forgotten…

(I will never forget what you did to me…)

Flash back Mercury

C'mon boy!

Get up!

You call that fighting?

I expected more from a monster that killed his parents!

They must have been weak to be killed by you!

When I was told you killed them, I was intrigued

But now, now that I look at you…You're just pathetic…old

Flash back James

Ugh…

Y…You piece of shit…

Flash back Mercury

Hm?

Did you say something?

Flash back James

How…how dare you insult Mom…

She didn't do anything wrong…

She didn't mean to give birth to a Monster…

Flash back Mercury

You're right…

Your mom didn't mean to give birth to a monster

She didn't deserve to die…

Your father didn't deserve an early death…

The only one who deserves to suffer…

The only one with an irredeemable sin…

The one who must atone…

Is you

Flash back James

No…no…that's not true…

Flash back Mercury

It is kid, that's the unfortunate truth of this world…

Now…

Show me that power that killed your parents

Show me why you're a monster…

If you can defeat me…

Then I'll accept that it wasn't your fault…

I'll accept that you're no monster, and I'll leave you alone

Flash back James

(Mom…)

(I'm sorry…)

(I didn't mean to…)

(It wasn't my fault…)

(It was this…this daemon that follows me…)

(But, if this demon is what will free me from the abuse of others…)

(Then so be it!)

Lacerta!

Flash back Mercury

That's more like it!

Come at me!

James

Lacerta…

Mercury

That's more like it!

Now monster…

Show me what you've learned!