Citizen
Police
Prince is lying against a wall, while Ford is healing an unconscious Wade
Cliff looks down at the three of them, unsure what to make of the scene
Prince
What's with that look?
We did it!
Cliff
Sure, you beat the Manifesto user, however you did so at the cost of the entire street!
Which one of you had the idea to throw an object that you knew would draw a dangerous amount of electricity!
Ford
Uh, I wasn't exactly sure what I was meant to do with it…
My first thought was I could attach it to George, but I didn't exactly have the time…
Cliff
So instead you decided to destroy another building?
Ford
Hey now, what else do you think I should've done?
It's not like I had many options!
Either way, a building was going to be destroyed, all I did was make sure it wasn't one that had us on it!
Cliff
I can't understand why or how you three were chosen for this mission…
Ford
Ugh, this guy seriously annoys me…
Hey, Prince, what happened earlier?
Prince
What do you mean?
Ford
Y'know, you told me that you were getting a weird vibe from George, and it turns out he was the bad guy.
Prince
Uh, I'm not really sure how to explain it.
It's just kind of a gut feeling I guess?
It's like, the air around him seemed dangerous or something like that.
Cliff
That's your Manifesto at work.
Prince
Devil's Trill?
Cliff
No, it's more accurate for me to say its the energy that makes up your Manifesto.
It's reading the energy from other Manifestos, giving you a vague idea of the person's intentions.
Though, I'm surprised to hear that you're able to use it at such a young age…
(The amount of power needed to perform something like that is ridiculous, how could this kid be reading emotions subconsciously?)
As Cliff is lost in thought, Wade begins to wake up
Prince
Wade!
Wade
Ugh…
Huh?
Where are we…?
Wade looks up and sees Cliff, before scrambling to his feet and saluting
Wade
Mr. Langly!
Prince
Langly?
Cliff salutes back at Wade
Cliff
At ease, Libreman.
How's your condition?
Wade
I feel excellent now, I never knew this was what it's like to have Kintsugi Soldier heal me…
Prince
It's a really weird feeling, right?
Ford
It's pretty cool, isn't it?
I'm glad to hear you two–
Wait, no, Wade, do you know this old guy?
Wade
Of course I do.
How could I not?
This man was one of my teachers.
He worked with the King to train me alongside the Knightmares.
Ford
Wait, are you telling me this old fossil is on par with the King?!
Cliff
Not anymore.
Prince
Why not?
Cliff starts to run his hand over the scars on his face
Cliff
There was…trouble, and I lost power as a result.
Besides, James has been training on his own for a long time now.
I have no doubt in my mind he's become stronger since the last time we fought alongside each other.
Wade
What kind of "trouble" could cause you to lose your powers?
Cliff
…
There was a betrayal that resulted in me fighting against someone I never could have hoped to win against.
Wade
Betrayed?
Who betrayed you?
Cliff
…
I-I am not able to say…
One of their powers stops me from speaking their names.
Their leader was very odd though, I couldn't recognize him, he wore a suit with a–
Wade
Paper bag on his head?
Cliff
?
Yes, how did you know?
Wade
That's because that was the same person who organized the anarchists.
Prince
I thought they were meant to be communists?
Wade
No, that's just a way for them to attack America while gaining popular support from people who might not be in favour of their true goals.
Ford
So instead of outright saying they'll unleash chaos, they try to gather anyone who might be a communist sympathizer to their cause to bolster their numbers.
Cliff
If all of that is true, we've severely underestimated our foe…
Not only do we have to contend with communists once we go past the Iron Curtain, we'll also have these anarchists to worry about.
Prince
That's fun, but we have a bigger thing to worry about first.
What are we gonna do about this guy?
George is now awake, screaming, however no noise is coming out no matter how much he tries
Ford
Uh, is he dying or something?
Prince
No–probably not.
I just muted him so that we wouldn't need to worry about what he would do.
So, going back to my question, what are we going to do with him?
Cliff
Leave that to me.
I need to go find a telephone, then I'll be able to call someone to come collect him.
I suggest only two of us go, and the others stay here with him.
Ford
Wade and I will stay.
Wade's not fully recovered yet, and I need to be here in case I missed something in my repair.
Cliff
Alright then, Prince, we're going.
Prince
Ok!
Prince starts returning to his more upbeat self as he walks with Cliff, Wade and Ford watch him go
Ford
Wade…there's something I want to ask you…
Wade
…alright?
Is there a problem?
Ford
It's not that there's a problem, it's more, I don't understand Prince?
Wade
What do you mean?
He's a pretty simple person.
He likes smiling, and he likes freedom.
Ford
That's what I thought, but the more that I talk with him, and the more I see him in a fight, the less I understand.
When we were fighting against that lightning Manifesto, he was able to gauge its skill and abilities fairly quickly, as well as come up with plans and try out different tactics.
Seeing him like that made me feel like the simple dope we normally see was just a facade he puts on display to avoid showing anyone who he really is.
Wade
…ha ha…
T-there's no way that's the case.
I'm sure it's all in your head.
(To be honest, I felt the same thing when I heard him talk about his mom and their situation when he was younger, but it didn't look like he enjoyed talking about it.)
(It was the first time his smile ever seemed forced, like he was doing it as a way to protect himself.)
(But, if Prince hasn't told Ford about his mother and their situation, I don't feel like it's my place to do it either.)
(I'm sure Prince will open up to us eventually.)
(We just need to keep supporting each other, that's what he would say!)
Outside a phone booth, Prince is glancing around at various tvs in display windows
Cliff
Alright…thank you so much.
Phew, Prince.
I've gotten one of my friends from the French bureau to take George off our hands.
Hey, what's gotten you so focussed?
Cliff looks over Prince's shoulder to see a tv with what looks like a news channel on
Prince
This is bad…
Cliff
Why?
It's in French, could you translate it for me?
Prince swallows hard before starting
Prince
As Prince is finishing his sentence, Cliff starts to feel many eyes watching Prince in his bright raincoat
Cliff
This is trouble!
Come with me, quickly!
We need to stay on the backroads, we can't let anyone see us, at least not until we manage to deliver the anarchist to the authorities.
Once he's in custody, the police can release the official story to the press, however, until then, you boys are publicly wanted criminals!
Prince
What?!
We need to hurry back!
We need to get Wade and Ford before someone spots them!
Cliff
No, first, you need to do something about your appearance.
You stand out far too much in this city!
Prince
Well what do you want me to do?
Cliff
Well, ideally, you would remove your raincoat and we would cut your hair–
Prince
No!
Cliff is startled and takes a few steps away from Prince
Prince
Oh, sorry, I just meant, I don't want to cut my hair.
I can't cut it.
Sorry if I scared you.
But what should I do with my raincoat?
I don't really want to toss it, I like it a lot after all…
Cliff
Don't worry, we won't be throwing out your raincoat.
If someone saw it, they might be able to trace it back to you considering how…unique it is.
Prince
Hey, what was with that pause!?
What are you trying to say?
Cliff
Nothing, anyways, I'll just store it using my Manifesto.
Prince
Your Manifesto?
Oh, the bubbles!
Cliff
That's right.
From Cliff's shoulder, a Manifesto resembling a small stuff cat drags itself out.
The cat appears to have mismatched button eyes, as well as long whiskers with bubbles coming out of them
Cliff
This is my Manifesto: Bobcat Bubbles.
Prince
Bobcat?
It looks more like a stray if you ask me…
Cliff
The name isn't the important part, what matters is its ability: it can store various things inside the bubbles it creates, be it something like an explosion, or a raincoat.
There's no limit to what and how much my bubbles are able to hold.
All I need to do to release a stored object is pop the bubble.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
Prince
Of course I do…
You're saying I didn't need to leave so much stuff back home cause you could've carried it!
I'm gonna need to have a word with Wade after all of this is done.
Cliff
What? No, what I meant is I'll store your raincoat in here.
Prince
Right, but I have a question.
Could you store a person in there?
Since only the three of us are being looked for, couldn't you keep us and George in your bubbles and just release us when it's safe?
Cliff
Unfortunately not, for whatever reason my ability is unable to affect any living thing.
Prince
Alright then, let's do this Cliff!
Cliff
I'd prefer if you called me Mr. Langly…
Sigh
(James, I never thought I would meet your son here of all places, especially considering the lengths you went to in order to hide him.)
(Rest assured, I haven't forgotten my promise to you, I'll protect you boy with my life, but he's strong. Strong enough to rival me in my youth, all he needs is to refine his power and he'll easily be a one man army, like you.)
(I hope you're in a better position than us right now…)
Somewhere in a small tent in Siberia
Old woman
The tall man puts down his bowl of stew.
???
The man is tall, needing to bend over in order to exit through the door.
The man has a five o'clock shadow, as well as greying hair, with a long stretch of jet black hair. The man has a large scar going down the centre of his house, wearing a large trench coat that he received as a gift long ago, James Spectre cracks his knuckles as he is greeted by 9 figures
James
So, you found me.
Figure 1
Of course we did.
You really need to do a better job hiding your aura, it was leaking everywhere each time you've used your Manifesto.
James
Sorry, I've been working on improving myself lately, so it's a bit hard to contain all of this new power.
Figure 1
Ha, don't make me laugh, there's no way the King himself wants more power!
Figure 2
C'mon, can't we just fight already?
I've been dying to take a stab at the King and find out why people are so scared of him!
He just looks like some washed up geezer to me!
Figure 3
While I don't like the boy's tone, I agree.
We should dispose of him as quickly as possible so we can return home.
I had plans for dinner in Moscow.
James
Hah…
I went from being nobody, to a king, to a geezer...
Time sure is cruel, isn't it?
I'm sorry for all of you, I've been a bit stressed out lately and was hoping to vent my frustrations.
Won't you help me out a bit?
Figure 1
Careful everyone, there's no telling what he's capable of!
Remember, even if he's old, he's still the King!
James
That's right, so, why don't all nine of you try attacking at once and see how it goes?
James smiles as he steps forward, when he does, James becomes engulfed in black flames, and they begin to circle around the nine attackers, forming an arena from James' sheer power
James
You better not disappoint me!