Prince examines the President's outstretched hand, hesitating to grab it. However, before he does, Jay speaks up.
Jay:
Sir, if I may, what exactly are the next steps of this operation?
The President withdraws his hand and turns towards Jay. However, the man in the kabuki mask answers for him.
Kabuki mask:
Jay, that's classified information for the CIA. We can't discuss it with an outsider in our midst.
Mr. Spectre, we would ask that you leave before we begin the next phase of this discussion.
If you will not join us, then we must ask you to leave.
Prince:
I'd rather stay. I'm not going to agree to travel to Europe unless I know the whole story.
Prince takes a seat across from the president.
Prince:
So don't mind me, and answer Jay, Mr. President…
Prince glares at the president, who returns a dismissive glance.
Kabuki mask:
Why, you insolent little—
The President:
It's alright, Genji.
This is a lot of new information for the boy. Just a few days ago he was still in High School.
He has a right to know about his father, and about the situation.
However, Mr. Spectre, Genji was also right.
We cannot carelessly discuss such sensitive material.
The president snaps his fingers, and a piece of paper, with a quill appears before him.
The President:
Hmm, let me see…
Yes, I believe these terms to be fair.
The president finishes writing on the paper before handing it and the quill around the room. Jay and his siblings all read it over before signing their names at the bottom.
Prince:
What's that?
Jay:
Standard bureaucracy, always gotta sign stuff to make sure there's a record.
Prince:
No, but, those just appeared out of thin air!
Jay hands Prince the paper and quill.
Jay:
Is this really surprising?
You've seen stranger stuff.
Prince:
So you're telling me everyone in this room has a Manifesto?
The President smiles, as Prince hears the violin grow ever more shrill in his ear. He is unable to figure out where the sound is coming from.
The President:
That's correct, Mr. Spectre.
This is my Manifesto's ability.
Now, if you'd please sign the contract, we could move on with our discussion and get to the important material.
Prince begins to read over the short paper he was handed.
Prince:
("By signing this contract, I agree to the following terms. 1. I shall not discuss any information pertinent to the following discussion unless the other party has also signed this contract, or a subsequent contract drafted by the President. 2. If I violate term (1), I agree that I shall be punished accordingly. 3. I, of sound mind and of my own violation, sign this contract and agree to the terms listed above.
The President
Genji Libreman
Stele Libreman
Jay Libreman
___________")
What is this?
The President:
I suppose you could call it a precaution?
Like I said, standard bureaucracy. Always need to keep neat records.
Prince:
I'm not signing any papers until someone explains what the hell is going on here.
Jay:
Prince, calm down…
Prince's ears prick up.
Prince:
No, if we're going to work together, I need someone to show me some trust!
And you two, don't think I didn't hear you reaching for your guns!
Genji and Stele flinch, and The President slams his fist on the desk, drawing all eyes towards him.
The President:
Genji, Stele, Jay, step outside please.
Stele:
But sir–
The President:
Be a good kid, and do as you're told. Alright?
The president smiles, but the anger seeping off of him is so intense that it fills the room. Genji, Stele and Jay do as they were told, and leave.
Jay:
Prince, be careful. If I need to choose between you or the President, I'll choose the President without a second thought.
Prince:
That's fine, I expected that anyways…
Jay closes the door softly behind him, leaving only Prince and the President in the Oval Office.
Outside, Jay sweats nervously while Genji leans against the wall and Stele stands firmly in front of the door.
Jay:
Do you think everything will be alright?
Genji:
Be serious Jay, do you really believe that kid can hurt the President?
Even if he's James Spectre's son, he didn't seem all that remarkable.
At the very least…
Jay looks towards Genji and Stele, both exuding malice and power.
Genji:
…I know Stele and I are much more powerful than that boy could even begin to imagine.
Isn't that right, Stele?
Stele:
Of course, but it won't matter anyways.
There's no way we'll be needed in the first place.
The President has never lost once in his life.
He's the kind of greedy man who wants everything, and has the power to support those ideals.
Prince Spectre is like an insignificant ant faced with a proud lion. The president's safety is guaranteed.
Genji:
Don't try to act confident!
We can see you're standing at the door with your gun drawn!
Just admit you're nervous! Kakaka!
Stele:
N-no! Don't say stupid things like that! Of course I'm not nervous!
It's rude to tease your older sister!
Jay, you agree, right?
Jay ignores the question, lost in thought. Stele puts her hand on his shoulder, getting his attention.
Stele:
Jay, don't worry. The President will be fine.
Jay:
Yeah, I know…
(It's not the President I'm worried about…)
Inside the Oval Office, Prince is seated opposite the President, paper and quill still in hand.
Prince:
So? Are you sure it's alright for you to be left alone in a room with someone you can't trust?
What if I try to pull something on you?
The President:
Oh please, you think you could pull something on me?
I welcome you to try.
Prince feels a suffocating air fill the room, as the president's cheerful demeanor has finally disappeared completely. The only emotion Prince can read, are hints of malice entwined with pity and fear.
The President:
I took this time alone with you, because I believed that it was my responsibility to instill the chain of command in you.
I served in the army under your father, and so you need to understand how the chain of command works.
At the top, is me, The President.
Below are my children, my most loyal and trusted retainers.
Then, below them, are the other Manifesto users, like yourself.
Don't be mistaken, Prince.
You are not special, because you are your father's son.
Your father is a special existence, even among Manifesto users.
An anomaly, someone who escaped the watchful eye of God and lives as something…inhuman.
You may have that man's blood in you, but that doesn't mean you're any different from anyone else.
Do you understand your place, Prince?
Prince glares at the President, but is unable to fight back against the might being exerted on him.
Prince:
F-fine…I-I'm sorry…!
I understand! I'll respect your orders from now on!
The President waits a second, as if trying to read Prince's intentions, before smiling, and releasing the pressure from earlier. Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, Prince raises his gaze back towards the President.
The President:
I'm happy we could sort that out. I don't like getting into fights when I'm trying to scout people, but it's a bad habit of mine!
Your mother always told me I was too stubborn for my own good! I guess she was right…
Prince:
Wait, you knew my mother?
The President:
Of course! Didn't you ever hear any stories from her about her job?
Prince:
No…Mom didn't like talking about her job. Whenever the topic came up, she'd focus on Dad instead, and how they met.
The President:
I see…it would have been hard to explain Manifestos to a small child like yourself after all!
Prince:
Speaking of Manifestos, I apologize if I was being rude, but I would like a show of trust from you.
I can' just brush aside such hostility like it's nothing…
The President:
…I understand. Very well, you wish to see my Manifesto? If so, I have terms and conditions.
These are non-negiotable.
I'm sure you've realized by now, but Manifestos are a deeply personal matter, and so revealing one to another person is like bearing your heart to them. I can't just do it for everyone that asks.
Not even my own children know what my Manifesto looks like. I was too worried it would scare them…
So, if you want to see my Manifesto, I ask that you do the same and reveal yours so I can examine it. Additionally, no information may leak this room at the cost of…serious damages.
Does that sound fair?
Prince:
…
Alright, I'll make sure to keep quiet. Nothing that happened here will be known to the world.
The President:
Yes, unfortunately many of the most important moments in history occur behind closed doors.
I'm sure today will be as monumental.
Now then, on the count of three.
One…
Prince and the President both begin to have the air slightly blow around them, as they prepare to release their Manifesto.
The President:
Two…
Dark silhouettes begin to emerge from the two men, slowly taking the shape of the Manifesto for the other to view.
The President:
…Three.
Both of the Manifestos take full shape. The President's Manifesto is quite large, with a barrel chest, but spindly arms and legs. In one hand, it holds a quill, and the other a piece of parchment. The Manifesto, in place of a head, has three skulls on its torso: a cow skull, a human skull, and a snake skull.
The President:
This is my Manifesto, Perpetual Check. It allows me to create contracts, and as long as both parties consent to the terms listed, these contracts are completely binding.
Prince:
This is Giuoco Piano, it lets me control sounds, meaning I can deafen them and make them louder. As a bonus, it also lets me improve my hearing by focussing my powers.
The two men take this opportunity to study the other's Manifesto, not knowing if or when they'll get this chance again. As Prince was faced with Perpetual Check, for the first time in his life, Prince was scared of fighting a person.
The President:
Very well, enough of that. We do need to get going on business, before the Reds sniff too close.
Call in the others, would you?
After everyone reenters the room, Prince is yet again handed the contract from earlier.
The President:
So, Prince. Are you willing to sign the contract now?
Prince:
I am…but I have a condition.
Genji:
A condition!? Who are you to–
The President:
It's fine. I understand it's a lot to ask of a young man, so please, what is it you want? Money? Status? A bride? If it's within my power, I will do everything I can to help you.
Prince:
I…I want you to protect my mother.
The President:
…
Prince:
She's all I have, and she's been very sick for a long time.
I'm scared that if I go away too long, something might happen to her, so please, promise to protect her. You said these contracts are completely binding, so add a clause that if someone lays even a finger on my Mother, the contract is void and this whole deal is off!
The President:
…
Is that all?
Out of everything you could have asked for, you just want me to help your mom?
Ahahahaha! Oh man, I was nervous for a second!
Of course I'll help, your mom's an old friend, remember?
Please sign at the bottom, when you're ready:
With a somewhat unsure hand, Prince takes the quill from the President, and signs the document, before it disappears into a cloud of black flames.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By signing this contract, I agree to the following terms. 1. I shall not discuss any information pertinent to the following discussion unless the other party has also signed this contract, or a subsequent contract drafted by the President. 2. If I violate term (1), I agree that I shall be punished accordingly. 3. The safety of Lux Spectre supersedes all. If harm were to befall her, this contract becomes void and all parties below are no longer bound by its agreements. 4. I, of sound mind and of my own violation, sign this contract and agree to the terms listed above.
The President
Genji Libreman
Stele Libreman
Jay Libreman
Prince Spectre.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The President:
Welcome to the Central Intelligence Agency, Mr. Spectre.
I expect great things from you.