On top of the train, Jay stands, beaten up and ragged, with his Manifesto looming over him. Across, is Octavius, with Fianchetto poised and glowing in front of him, ready to attack.
Jay:
(I need to beat him, and do it fast!)
(I just need to figure out exactly what his Manifesto does!)
(Observe it, learn the patterns and predict its next move…)
(If I can predict how his Manifesto will move, I can win!)
Octavius:
Fianchetto, flare!
Fianchetto launches another attack at Jay, however this time, instead of firing a beam of energy, or detonating itself, Fianchetto pounces forward, releasing a large wall of energy in front of it.
Jay:
!?
(This guy…is he trying to push me off the train!?)
Fool's Gambit reaches out and grabs hold of Fianchetto's legs, causing it to lose its balance, and the wall disappearing.
Octavius:
Tsk!
Fianchetto! Get up already!
While Fianchetto is being held down by Fool's Gambit, Jay lunges forward and manages to connect a series of attacks on Octavius. Octacius' face turns red as he becomes even more enraged. With a snap of his fingers, Fianchetto disappears before he resummons it in front of him.
Jay:
?!
(That was way too quick!)
(Am I outmatched here?)
(No, remember what you said before, stop doubting yourself!)
(I'll end this fight, and then, I'll be one step closer to finding Mr. Spectre!)
While Jay goes in for another attack, Fianchetto appears to intercept the attacks, absorbing all of the attacks launched at it by Jay.
Octavius' face contorts into a twisted grin, as Jay tries to back away, but Octavius grabs onto him, keeping him in front of Fianchetto.
Octavius:
Do it! Now!
Fianchetto, flare!
Fianchetto glows before unleashing a large explosion that hits Jay with so much force, he is sent flying.
Jay:
Fool's Gambit!
Fool's Gambit uses its long limbs to hold on to the edge of the train and pull Jay back up. Throwing aside his tattered jacket, the crimson blood stains on Jay's shirt become unmissable.
Jay:
(Damn it, what was that?)
(That one attack felt like it managed to break a few of my ribs!)
(Not just the power though, this guy keeps using slightly different abilities!)
(His first attack was similar to this one, a large explosion of fire…)
Jay notices that Fianchetto is glowing again, while Octavius begins wiping the blood off his face
Octavius:
Flare!
Fianchetto fires off another large beam of energy at Jay. Jay dodges by running across the train, barely avoiding the attack. In its wake, once again, the metal hit by the beam is glowing red-hot.
Jay:
(Then whenever I try to put some distance between us, he uses that beam to target me!)
(If it can make metal glow bright red, I don't think I want to find out what this thing could do against a person!)
Jay sends Fool's Gambit forwards, using it to obscure Octavius' vision. Fianchetto tries to bite and pull Fool's Gambit away, but all of its attacks just sink into Fool's Gambit.
Octavius manages to free his eyesight, and sees Jay in front of him, preparing for another punch. Jay manages to connect with Octavius, but Fianchetto manages to absorb part of the blow, causing it to begin glowing again.
Octavius:
Ugh! Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting, disgusting!!!
Fianchetto, flare!
Fianchetto unleashes another attack that gets blocked by Fool's Gambit. As Jay notices that he's unharmed, an idea begins to float across his mind.
Jay:
(Is this guy using my own attacks against me?)
(No, that's not right…)
(It's more accurate to say that he's using the energy of my attacks against me!)
While Jay is thinking to himself, Fianchetto remains stationary before it starts to glow again. It launches a large laser like before, however, Jay dodges.
Jay:
(Not just my energy, it's like his Manifesto is weaponizing all the energy around it!)
(The thermal energy from the sun…)
Jay tries to sneak behind Octavius, but Fianchetto manages to again absorb his attacks. Fianchetto unleashes another large explosion which Fool's Gambit manages to protect against.
Jay:
(Those explosions are probably the kinetic energy from my punches!)
(That's why he isn't trying to directly fight me in close quarters…)
(He must need to absorb a form of energy in order to attack with it!)
(All I need to do is make sure his Manifesto doesn't have any energy to absorb!)
Jay starts running again, making sure to change direction frequently, while still drawing closer to Octavius.
Octavius:
How long do you plan on dodging!
Just stay still and die!
Fianchetto begins to charge energy again, but before it can gather enough power, Fool's Gambit wraps around it.
Octavius:
Do you think that will be enough to stop me?!
Fianchetto, flare!
…
A striking silence rings out over the roof of the train.
Octavius:
What's happening?! Flare!
Octavius turns his head towards Fianchetto, and finds that Fool's Gambit has maneuvered its soft, doll-like body to completely cover Finachetto, preventing it from moving or gathering any energy.
Octavius:
No, this isn't happening…
Jay:
Sorry, but I have a job I need to finish!
Jay delivers a clean punch on Octavius, knocking him to the ground, unconscious. Fianchetto disappears.
Jay:
I…I did it—
Jay begins to collapse from exhaustion, but is caught before he hits his head by a person in a bright yellow jacket. Jay looks up and sees Prince smiling while looking down at him.
Prince:
Great work!
Jay:
Thanks…I-I think I'm going to take a short nap now…
Jay falls asleep in Prince's arms, and using Giuoco Piano, Prince carries Jay and Octavius back inside the train.
Jay opens his eyes and sees himself surrounded by fire. The building around him, large and lavish, is crumbling. Bodies of his friends and classmates are strewn throughout. The bodies have been so viciously mangled and burned that their features were rendered unrecognizable. In the centre of the large foyer stands a large, hulking figure. A large tail coated in flames protrudes from behind him, and his glowing yellow eyes turn towards Jay.
???:
Jay…
Before he knows what's happening, the figure lunges at Jay, shocking him awake.
???:
Jay!
Jay's head turns violently, and sees Prince sitting next to him. Across from the two of them, Ovtavius and Mercutio are sitting down.
Octavius:
You're really eating that disgusting stuff?
I wouldn't even let garbage like that anywhere near my mouth!
Mercutio:
You're over reacting!
It's actually pretty good!
Prince:
Thanks, my mom used to make these all the time when I was younger!
Jay looks over and sees Mercutio eating a strange sandwich, giving off a strange scent that makes him gag.
Jay:
Prince, why are we sitting down across from these guys?
And why is he eating your sandwich so peacefully?
Octavius:
What do you want us to do?
The mission was a failure, and we both know that you're stronger, so what's the point in trying to fight.
I'd rather just keep my head down and get this miserable train ride over with.
Not only did I have to come out west for this mission, I now have to sit next to these buffoons while they eat their "food"
Jay:
Uh, right…
How long was I asleep?
Prince:
A few hours. You missed out on most of the train ride.
Let's see, we left around noon on Friday, and it's like Sunday now? So that would make it two ish days?
Jay:
I've been asleep for two days?!
Why didn't you wake me up?!
Prince:
I tried to!
It's just, you seemed so happy while you were sleeping, well, at least until a few minutes ago…
Jay:
???
Prince gestures around him and shows Jay Fool's Gambit, and the upturned table.
Jay:
Did I do that…?
Prince:
Yeah, I'm not sure what happened, but you broke out into a cold sweat and then your Manifesto went wild for a second.
Is everything alright?
Jay:
Y-yeah, I'm fine.
It's nothing to worry about, just a nightmare…
Octavius:
…
A whistle blows, as the train comes to a stop.
Prince:
I think this is us!
Are you ready?
Jay:
Yeah, just make sure you keep a close eye on these two.
I have a contact meeting us at the station, we'll ask him to do something about them.
Octavius glances around, and as he gets off the train, he mumbles something under his breath. Prince's ears perk up at the sound.
Prince:
?
Octavius:
Fianchetto, flare…
Suddenly, a large wall is formed, shoving Jay and Prince out of the way. Jay uses his Manifesto to cushion their fall.
Jay:
Fool's Gambit!
Octavius:
What are you just standing around for?!
We need to get going!
Octavius grabs Mercutio by the wrist and the two start running. Jay and Prince get to their feet, and Jay brandishes his badge as the crowd slowly moves out of the way.
Jay:
After them!
Clear the way!
We're with the CIA!
Don't let those two men escape!
Prince:
(Damn it!)
(My Manifesto can't do long range, especially not without hurting all these bystanders!)
(I can't risk the shockwaves from the sounds hurting anyone or breaking anything!)
(Wait a minute, the shockwaves!)
I have an idea!
Jay:
Anything is welcome!
Prince:
Here goes nothing…
Giuoco Piano!
Giuoco Piano emerges, and begins to amplify the sounds of Prince's footsteps. Prince pushes his foot down on the pavement, and Giuoco Piano releases an amplified sound, propelling Prince forward at an extreme speed.
Octavius:
Damn, damn, damn!!!
This can't be happening!
Mercutio:
Ah, I can feel so many eyes watching me…it makes me want to fight!
Octavius:
No time!
We're so close!
Prince:
(I'm so close!)
Prince extends his arm to reach for Octavius, but before he can, Octavius and Mercutio are slammed into the ground by an unseen thing. A man in a black suit turns around the corner. Prince continues to fly, but is grabbed by Fool's Gambit, and falls to the ground.
???
Wow, Jay. What a mess. What would you do without your beloved older brother?