James walks into the hospital
Nurse
Good afternoon Mr. Spectre, I wasn't expecting you back so soon—
James
Where's Dr. Sunshine?
Nurse
Um, I believe he's in his office, why—
Hey!
Where do you think you're going?
James
Dr. Sunshine and I have something to discuss.
Nurse
Even then, I can't just let you barge in without warning—
James
Trust me, he knows I'm here.
Something catches James' eye
He looks up at the air vent as some mist is blowing out
James
Why do you have air conditioning on in the middle of winter?
Nurse
Uh, we don't sir, now if you'd please just—
James
(Odd)
James looks back down towards the door as he begins walking through
James
You said he's in his office, right?
James pushed the door open as Dr. Sunshine is sitting at his desk
The nurse is pulling on James' arm, trying to get him out
Dr. Sunshine
Ah, if it isn't James Spectre, any progress on that job I gave you?
James
Yeah, just wanted to check in about that.
Nurse
I'm so sorry Doctor, I tried to stop him.
I'll call security right away.
Dr. Sunshine
Don't worry about it.
Even if you did, what could they do to stop him?
There's no one in this hospital strong enough to physically move him.
Mr. Spectre and I have an appointment now, you're dismissed.
The nurse nods her head before leaving
Dr. Sunshine
Sorry about the cold welcome Mr. Spectre.
James
Don't mention it.
I wanna talk to you about this job you gave me.
You never said you'd send assassins after us.
Dr. Sunshine
Didn't I?
Could've sworn I'd said something along the lines of dealing with that "mystery doctor"
James
You tried to orchestrate a murder
Dr. Sunshine
You fulfilled your role as a detective. What I do after is my business, and my business alone.
Dr. Sunshine waves his hand towards the door
Dr. Sunshine
Now if you understand, you may leave.
Come by tomorrow to visit your friend.
James justs stands there before balling up his fist
James
Oh don't worry, I understand perfectly fine.
James uses Lacerta to punch him
Dr. Sunshine sits there in shock for a second before staring blankly at James
Dr. Sunshine
What…was that?
James
You said it yourself: "What I do is my business and my business alone"
I don't need to explain myself to you.
Now, tell me where you put Caroline and Will.
I'll get them and be on my way out.
Dr. Sunshine
You…punched me…?
James
Out with it.
I'm gonna give you til the count of 3 to spit out their locations.
1…
Dr. Sunshine
How…dare you!!
James
2…
Dr. Sunshine grimaces
James raises his fist
James
3!
As Lacerta's fist swings down, it gets caught on something
James
?
I…I can't move my arm…
What is this?
Dr. Sunshine
You defeated two of my subordinates, you threaten me with violence, you assault my perfect face!
Why are you doing this?!
James
Why am I doing this?!
Cause you tried to have me and my friends killed!
Dr. Sunshine
It wasn't supposed to go this way!
I was supposed to be presented with a perfect corpse, but then those fools failed in their tasks and now you're here, still breathing!
Sighs
Dr. Sunshine
Though, I guess right now, you breathing is a good thing…
James
What do you mean–
James looks down and notices the clouds that are wrapping around Lacerta's arm, holding it in place
James
W-what is this?
Dr. Sunshine
That is my Manifesto, Ophiucus.
As you can see it's a highly versatile Manifesto in the form of a gas…
A fist appears out of thin air and punches James to the ground
James
Where did that come from!?
Lacerta tries to force its arm out of Ophiucus' hold
The cloud starts to tighten on Lacerta causing blood to start to appear, the same wound starts to appear on James
James
Ugh!!!
Fuck!!!
Lacerta uses its other arm to shoot through the cloud, causing it to disperse
James
*pant* *Pant* H-how are you not hurt?
I just shot you!
Dr. Sunshine
You just shot my Manifesto which is entirely made of gas.
There's no way for you to harm my Manifesto.
Though, there are many more ways for my Manifesto to harm you than just simple punches.
See, I prefer a more…tactical approach when fighting.
James
Tactical, pft, don't make me laugh
You take advantage of the weak and the sick to further your own goals.
Dr. Sunshine
You say that like it's a bad thing?
Don't you agree it's better for everyone if we weed out the weak early to make way for the strong. People like us?
James
Hardly.
Another fist hits James in the head forcing him to the ground
Another cloud holds up James' head and points it towards Dr. Sunshine
Dr. Sunshine
Odd…
Another cloud holds up James' arm
Dr. Sunshine
Huh…
That's peculiar…
James
Ugh, care to share?
Or would you rather keep mumbling to yourself?
Dr. Sunshine
Mr. Spectre, what happened to your arm?
James
You trapped it in your cloud and caused it to start bleeding.
There's blood all over my jacket under my sleeve.
Dr. Sunshine
Yes, that's what I thought too.
However upon closer inspection, your arm still appears to be perfectly fine…
Dr. Sunshine forces James' sleeve up
Dr. Sunshine
!?
H-how is your arm healed already?!
James
Wouldn't you like to know–
Ow! OW!!!
The cloud around James' head begins to choke him
Dr. Sunshine
Still feel like being clever?
Now, how is your arm healed?
James
It's a byproduct of my Manifesto…
Dr. Sunshine
Ha! What a curious specimen!
I knew there was something special about you!
The physical strength for close range brawls, a powerful long range attack, and to top it all off a healing factor to allow you to keep fighting to outlast opponents!
I knew there was something special about you!
The more I learn about you, the more I want to experiment on you!
Let's see…
Let's test out that healing factor of yours!
A blade appears from a cloud forming a large cut going across James' entire face
James
AGH!!!
Dr. Sunshine
Yes! Yes!
Now, the next part!
A cloud enters in through James' open mouth
The clouds holding James disappear
James
*koff*!
W-what did you just make me swallow?!
Dr. Sunshine
Just a bit of my Manifesto.
I need to see how far I can push this healing factor of yours!
Your Manifesto is resistant to exterior damage, but what about your body?
Tell me Mr. Spectre, will you prove to be the perfect specimen I've been looking for!?
James steps up and raises an arm to throw a punch
James
Like hell I am!
James attempts to throw a punch but can't move his arm
James
?!
Are you using the same trick as before!?
Dr. Sunshine
Hmm, it looks as though you weren't as perfect as I had hoped.
It seems you are still human after all.
Oh well, you'll prove to be more than enough to tide me over until I do in fact find my specimen.
You had so much potential too, possessing the body of a Greek God, a mind that surpasses those around you, and a powerful Manifesto.
Though, despite all your gifts you are lacking…something.
I can't determine what it is, however there must be something none of the candidates have possessed so far.
James
…Candidates?
What do you mean by "Candidates"?
Dr. Sunshine
Those who came before you.
You were by far the most perfect specimen of them all, with not only the body type I seek, but also the power and intelligence.
Dr. Sunshine pulls a curtain open
Dr. Sunshine
All of them were lacking something.
He motions to each statue as he talks
Each statue has an expression showing agony as their final thoughts before becoming statues
Dr. Sunshine
This one was all brawn with no brains.
This one had a superb mind, however his form was far from what I'm looking for.
And these two…
Dr. Sunshine makes his way over to two statues which are Caroline and Will, James' eyes widen in terror
Dr. Sunshine
These two were just far too weak.
James
What have you done to them…
Dr. Sunshine
The same that will happen to you in a few minutes.
James pulls up his sleeve to see his arm has begun to turn into a statue like the others
James
What the hell…!?