Caroline
Is us fighting for our lives nothing but a game to you?!
Does human life mean nothing?!
James
Doc, it's no use.
Orion
He's right, you know.
You don't make a name for yourself in my line of work through sympathy.
Now, if you'd rather beg and plead for your lives, then I'd be all ears to your screams!!
A bullet flies through the head of the decoy
James
We need to talk quickly before he comes back
Caroline
About?
James
His comment earlier.
For someone who's never been caught by the police, he slips up pretty often while talking
He mentioned how he likes to watch his victim's dying moments, but the decoys couldn't see for him, they're just another trap.
Meaning…
Caroline
…He's not just in Central Park, he's even closer than that!
James
Bullseye.
Now, we have the issue of how we should find him while making sure it's not another decoy…
Caroline
Well, Central Park is full of plants, I could use Lyra to force them back to when they were seeds.
If he's hiding in any plants, we'll be able to find him.
James
That doesn't work as well in Winter.
The plants have already lost their leaves, so it's more likely he's hiding in the snow.
Caroline
Th-that's true–
What if I removed the snow then!
James
I'm not sure about you, but last time I checked, snow is water, and water isn't a living organism.
Caroline
If you're gonna be like that, I'd like to see you remove the snow.
James
!
Could you say that again?
Caroline
?
"I'd like to see you remove the snow?"
James
That's it!
Caroline
What is?
Wait, has the gas finally gotten to you?
You've gone crazy, haven't you?
James
No, I can use the heat created by Lacerta's bullets to melt the snow!
Caroline
…
And you're saying you haven't gone insane?
An Orion appears next to them
Orion
Hey guys, what're we talking about–
It collapses as a bullet passes through the head.
The snow around where the bullet hit is melting
James
See?
Where my bullets hit, there's heat being generated
If I could use this over a large enough area, then we could melt the snow
Caroline
Yeah, but all of the snow in Central Park seems like a bit much…
James
But you said it yourself!
He has to be nearby to see us, so all I need to do is melt the snow around us!
We can see the fence from here, it can't be more than a few kilometres away!
Lacerta definitely has what it takes to deal with this much snow.
It's not even too deep, we're only about ankle-deep in it.
Now, keep your eyes peeled for Orion.
Lacerta!!
Do it.
Lacerta lies on the ground and begins firing off bullets in a circle around James and Caroline
In a few moments, all of the snow is completely melted to the shock of Caroline and James
Caroline & James
That…worked…?
James
I mean–of course it did!!
I never doubted Lacera's skills!!!
Caroline stares blankly at James
James
Why do I feel like you don't believe me?
Wait! Do you see him anywhere?!
James and Caroline look around them scanning for Orion
Caroline
No, I don't…
Well, whatever, let's just keep going.
Do you think you could use Lacerta to melt the snow as we go to make travelling easier?
James
Of course.
Lacerta's arm emerges
James
C'mon Doc, we're gonna get out of here alive.
Panels fade to black before fading back in
James
How are you feeling?
Caroline
I've been better…
I'm not used to doing that much running…
James
Well we're basically there, so it's not much more work from here.
Though, if I'm being honest, I don't know how something like that could exhaust you.
It was just a nice jog for me, we didn't even run into Orion on the way here.
Caroline
Haha. We're not all built like Hercules.
Now can it with the jokes until we're safe–
Orion
I do have to agree with her.
Is this anytime to be joking around?
I mean, your friend has been dying for days, and where's the man responsible? Cracking jokes in Central Park as if nothing happened.
How can you do something like that?
I'm an assassin, and even I wouldn't do that–
A bullet flies through his head
Orion
Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah!!!
Be careful where you shoot those!!
This is the actual me this time!!
I don't feel like getting a bullet through the head!!
I kinda need to be alive for my operation to function.
James stands with Lacerta out, furious. He raises his hand again, getting ready to fire
James
Don't you dare say another thing about Will.
Orion
Ooh, is that a touchy subject for you?
I guess it would when you're single-handedly responsible for his injur–
Another bullet flies past, this time grazing Orion's arm
Orion
FUCK!!!
Ugh, that hurt!!!
How dare you touch me!!!
James
And how dare you talk about my friend in front of me.
You can't possibly know what you're talking about.
Orion
Ugh, this is getting lame…
The gas won't even catch up with you at this rate…
I'd just be putting myself at risk of getting caught if I keep this going…
Don't get me wrong, I'll still be close-by, but I'll be leaving for now.
See ya soon…
Reeeeeaaaaal soon.
Orion fades into the ground.
Caroline
I-is he gone?
Are…are we safe?
Phew, that's a relief, isn't it?
…
Isn't it?
…
Caroline hears sobbing
Caroline
James?
Caroline looks over and sees James crying
Caroline
Woah!!!
James, are you ok!?
What's wrong?!
James
I-It's all too much…
I-I can't keep living with the guilt of what happened to Will!!
He's in danger again because of me, and he can't even defend himself!!
Not just Will, I put everyone in danger!!!
I got Will and Ricky hurt…
…I exposed John to danger by fighting outside of his bank…
I brought a child to a fight against a dangerous killer and brought that same kid to the hideout of a mobster!!!
I…I've killed people…
Even people I didn't kill still died right after fighting with me!!!
Doc, why do people around me keep getting hurt?!
Why can't I protect them!?
It always repeats, I fight someone, I get stronger, I get someone new to protect!!
And the cycle just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and–
Caroline slaps James
Caroline
Snap out of it Detective.
Your friend is his own person, he's a grown man, he can make his own decisions.
It was his decision to join you in your fight.
I don't know what happened to you in your past, but it's clear to me that you're carrying a lot on your shoulders right now.
Don't worry about having to protect others, try focussing on yourself.
Your loved ones want you to be happy, just as much as they want themselves to be.
You shouldn't treat their wish as a second priority for your own desire to be needed.
James
Doc, I understand that, but I've killed people…
I killed both of my parents when I was younger…
I got my teacher killed…
I got my friend killed after he came to my rescue and tried his best to help me, even though we were enemies before.
I even deliberately shot a man.
I know it was for the greater good, the cops even thanked me for doing it, but I can't escape the guilt of killing him.
No matter how evil he was, he was still human at the end of the day.
It's not humanity that's wicked…
…it's me…
Caroline
But you feel remorse over that, right?
Everything I've seen about you screams someone who's refusing to deal with his trauma.
You don't want to face it head on, instead you tip-toe around the issue by taking on more responsibilities and more guilt.
This isn't a healthy way to live.
So instead of trying to take on this burden alone, let me help you.
Let your friends help.
James
Doc…
A-are you sure you wanna be involved with me?
Because of me, that assassin was able to find you.
If I had never been involved–
Caroline slaps him again
James
Ow!
Caroline
Stop it!
I told you earlier, I'll use Lyra to heal your friend!
So, just take me to him and let me handle things from there!!
James looks at Caroline and smiles
James
Thank you…
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this…
I'll never forget what you've done for me today…
Caroline
Well, we're not out of the woods yet, why don't you show me this bar you were talking about?
James
Sounds good.
James opens the door to the Fish in a Birdcage
James (to employee)
Excuse me, I'd like a word with your boss
Employee
Of course–
Mother Mother
Well, well.
James Spectre, twice in one day.
To what do I owe the honour?
Hm?
And who is this delightful lady you've brought back with you?
Mother Mother kneels down and kisses her hand
Mother Mother
Enchanté
Caroline
Uh, is he normally like this?
James
M.M., we need to stay here a bit while we…is that a kid?
Why is there a child here?
Mother Mother
Hm?
Oh, him.
He said he was waiting for someone.
Boy
I was, thanks Mother Mother!!
James Spectre, I can't believe I got to meet you in person!!
Could I have your autograph?!
James
Huh?
Look, this isn't the time.
The boy begins to tear up
Boy
P-please?
James
…
Fine.
Do you have a pen?
A large hand gives him a pen
Orion
Here…
James
!?!
The pen stabs through James' hand
Boy
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
I can't believe you fell for it!!!
Oh man, that was easy!!!
I'm so glad I decided to wait for you!!!
James
Decided to wait…?
Does that mean…
The boy stretches as he stands up
Poor Man's Poison
Yup!
I've had tons of names to stay secret, but the one I've liked the most has been "Poor Man's Poison," so that's what you can call me.
It was tons of fun watching you guys deal with my Orion Decoys out there in Central Park earlier, I hope we can have just as much fun here!!!
Poor Man poison smiles as Orion looms behind him.