[ferretchucker]

Opening credits role. Fade into a shot of the town. Fade into the inn. V is inside his room, asleep. The church bell sounds eight. He sluggishly gets up out of the bed and rubs his eyes. Fade to a shot of the bar. He comes down the stairs, dressed smartly. Chronogrl and Hammerfan are there, at the door.

Chronogrl: Come on sleepy head.

Hammerfan: Honestly V, you sleep in longer than Satan's Spawn!

Chrono: She's called Ripley!

Hammerfan: Whatever. Come on, we're already late.

V: Sorry. Okay.

Fade into the church. Everyone is sitting down, in prayer. Despare is at the front.

Despare: Amen.

Crowd: Amen.

Despare: Thankyou all for coming, God bless you.

The people all get up. V walks towards Despare. A tall, middle aged man is already talking to him.

Doc Faustus: So it was God that brought Jesus back from the dead?

Despare: So they say...

Doc Faustus: You don't believe it.

Despare: What? Of course I do. It's just...never mind.

Doc Faustus: So...God approved of Jesus being risen from the dead?

Despare: Certainly.

Doc Faustus: Has anybody else been raised from the dead since?

Despare: Not as of yet.

Doc Faustus: Thankyou.

He walks away. V moved forward.

Despare: Ah, V. How are things coming along? I needed to talk to you.

V: Things haven't progressed...to plan.

Despare: Meaning?

V: Gorephobia was betraying the king and so had to flee. I assume he went to the creatures.

Despare: That is what I meant to talk to you about. I received a message from the castle, requesting you go there before moving any further.

V: That I will.

Despare: What will you do about Gorephobia?

V: What I must. I lost sight of my mission. I am here to do a job and get payed for it.

Despare: Yes, but I thought he was-

V: Friendships never last long in my line of work. I have a job to do...

Despare: Goodbye my friend.

V: Goodbye.

V walks out. Despare walks over to the large bible, closes it, then rests his hands in his face. He closes his eyes. Images of a woman and young girl flash into his mind. First smiling, then screams. The pictures become faded and mix with each other. The woman and child are in a cell, huddled. Despare stands at the cage doors, looking sad. He holds up a key. A picture of a furious Return flashes, Despare is nailed up to a wall, like a cross. The two people are running, the sounds of barking grow louder, then a splat of blood. Despare being taken down and being forced to bow infront of a laughing Return. The images fade out. Despare is crying. He pulls up his sleeve to look at his arms, which have circular scars. He turns to a large wooden cross with Jesus on it.

Despare: What did you ever do to help? You were crucified! YOU SHOULD KNOW MY PAIN! You did nothing. They died. Were they brought back? WERE THEY SAVED? NO! I WORSHIPED YOU MY WHOLE LIFE!

He rushes up to the cross and grabs it. He throws it to the floor. The corss breaks in to. Close up on the sad face of Christ. Fade into a shot of the castle. V is walking through the walls, escorted by a guard. He leads him into a room. Dante is standing up, in his armor but not his helmet. Monalisa is in front of him.

Dante: You had better find out-

He stops, looks up at the guard and glares.

Dante: It's called knocking.

He flicks his wrist and a small knife flies from it. It hits a candle on the wall above the guard. It falls, the flames catching on his clothes, and hot wax burning him.

Monalisa: We'll talk later.

Dante: That we will.

The flaming guard is quickly put out by two people in rags with a bucket, already having known they'd need it near that room. Dante looks at V.

Dante: So you must be V. Please, sit.

Dante walks to a table where he sits, beckoning V to do so. Dante looks at the drenched, burnt guard.

Dante: Close the door and leave us.

The guard doesn't need to be told twice, quickly doing so. Dante looks at V.

Dante: I take it you knew already the task you were taking would be a difficult one.

V: I've killed many before.

Dante: Do they usually have a whole army behind them?

V: That was why I asked for triple.

Dante laughs quietly.

Dante: But things have got harder. For you see, I am the leader of the King's Army. I sent a small team out to test the enemy forces. Things went, to put it simply, disastrous. They had an Embertree.

V: A what?

Dante: It is an incredibly rare tree which is filled with a sap that can, with the right skill, be manipulated into making flames. Using this skill the took control of one of my dragons. We lost all but seven men. And only two returned to the Castle. An unwise move. The dogs were hungry...

V: So now what?

Dante: Your target retreated to within the mouth, where it will be incredibly difficult to reach him. And he has a dragon on his side now.

V: What do you suggest?

Dante: Our most important move is to get the Dragon back.

V: How?

Dante: I have a small amount of Embertree sap. Highly concentrated.

Dante produces a very small vial of the orange liquid. It is barely enough for two mouthfuls.

Dante: I have a man who knows how to use this. You will take him and thirty others. The dragon is no doubt guarding the mouth. Get it back to the castle. Defend against the creatures, kill if you need to.

V: Why aren't you doing this job?

Dante: A good question. I would, but I am desperately needed here to train the men. I want the dragon back by sunset without a scratch on it. There is only one thing in this world I love more than inflicting pain on others, and that is animals. My dragons are very important to me.

V: Yes sir.

V gets up to go.

Dante: One last thing. Just so you see how things stand. Many people in the castle fear The Return, and he fears none. None but me. I could single handedly take over this place. The only reason I don't is because it is a god forsaken kingdom. But your loyalties can only lie with one. Me, or him. He can get you money, power, fame. But what I can get you is beyond basic desires. Choose well. Do not tell me now. Actions speak louder than words my friend. Now go down the hall, to the stairs. Go down to the ground floor. A man dressed in a black robe will be waiting for you. Go with him to find your men.

V: I'll bare that in mind.

V leaves the room. As he does, The Return walks by, escorted by several guards.

The Return: You. Fighter. That dragon that escaped. I need it dead. Do you hear me. It's too much of a threat.

V looks at him for a moment, then back at the door. He nods, then carries on walking. He follows Dante's instructions and finds the man in the black robe. He leads him through the castle to a large piece of conrete, surrounded by water. Several soldiers are there. The man in the robe speaks.

PhantomStranger: What are our orders?

V: We get the Dragon. Alive.

Phantom Stranger: Yes sir. There are your men.

V looks around. They look like strong soliders.

V: Where is the man who can speak flames?

PhantomStranger: Here...BRING HIM OUT!

Several men open up a large double door. It's dark in there. The sounds of chains can be heard, and large footsteps.

V: My God...

The men walk out of the room, the dark shape of a huge man, around ten feet tall, with arms as thick as tree trunks.

PhantomStranger: Here he is...

V: What is he?

PhantomStanger: A monster.

V: Does he have a name?

PhantomStranger: Oh yes.

V: Which is?

PhantomStranger: Say hello to Psycom.

The monster of a man walks ever closer, a psychotic laughter sounds from him. End credits role.