The Magi: Memories

Part 6

Spike vs Reise

(Spike walks into a large training room. Weapons line the walls. Wanted posters are scattered around also, some on the floor and ceiling. Spike doesn’t bother looking anything as he continues walking. He turns a corner and sees Reise sitting on his knees, eyes closed, sword lying in front of him. He’s wearing a small plate over the lower half of his face. Spike stops as a poster flutters down from the ceiling and into Spike’s hand. He stares at it for a moment)

Reise: Not a very flattering description.

Spike: Where did you get these? I made this one 4 years ago…

Reise: (raises his head a bit, eyes still closed) I like keeping track of my number one fan.

Spike: What? (puts hand on his sword)

(Quick flash to a bunch of still pictures of Reise from his previous flashback)

Reise: I take a lot of pride in my work, it’s good to know people are following it. It was my first job you know. (smiles)

Spike: (uber-angry, pulls out sword) Stand up.

Reise: I’d prefer not to. Do as you will, just don’t make me wait.

Spike: Whatever you say. (spins sword)

Reise: I’m waiting. (opens his eyes)

(Spike stops abruptly. Zoom in on Reise’s eyes. They are a dull white all around, very light pupils. Reise smiles happily.)

Reise: Well?

Spike: Damnit! (smashes something with his sword)

Reise: But you’ve come so far. So many years of hunting. The pain. The sacrifice. The overwhelming loneliness. Are you going to leave without resolving So many years of strife? Are you such a fool?

Spike: (turns and walks away) Preying on the weak is your job, not mine.

Reise: So be it. (puts his hand on his sword)

(Reise pushes off and unsheathes his sword, leaving the sheath on the ground. He runs at Spike who turns and blocks the slice with his still sheathed sword)

Spike: The hell?

Reise: Even if I were blind, don’t think it would stop me from doing my job.

Spike: You must be eager to die. Here, let me help. (kicks Reise away and draws sword)

Reise: (puts his hand in his pocket and pretends to pull out something) I stole something from you that day. Do you know what it was?

Spike: I don’t care.

Reise: It was your life. (holds open his empty hand) Take it back, if you can.

(Spike and Reise go at it full speed, swords clashing and what not. Spike knocks Reise hard. He loses his sword and backs against the wall)

Spike: I can never forgive you.

Reise: For what? Doing my job?

(Reise grabs another weapon off the wall and goes off on Spike, who loses his weapon and is against a different wall)

Reise: No one pays that much for the destruction of the righteous. Do you know what your parents did for a living?

Spike: (grabs a weapon off the wall) Shut up!

(clang clang, shing, attack, perry, and whatnot)

Reise: They were responsible for the destruction of three ships, fourteen caravans, and a hospital. All for the sake of a little gold. We were a lot alike, now that I think about it.

Spike: (pauses, looks down, then back up) It doesn’t matter. They were still my parents. And I WILL have my revenge!

(blah blah blah, attack, defend, counter, and soforth)

Reise: I made you what you are. You’re entire life has revolved around me. Your every thought, every fear, every desire, took second stage to finding me. So you could say I raised you… Son.

Spike: AAAHHHH!!!!!!

(Spike goes all out ass-kicking crazy on Reise. Weapons are flashing. Clang slash. Spike gets a little injured)

Reise: That’s it? That’s all you’ve got? Years of training and hatred amount only to this? Maybe I should let you live a little longer, just so you’ll make a better opponent.

Spike: Only one of us will leave this room alive. (spins his sword and puts one foot back) There will be no mercy.

Reise: All this banter is making me sick. Kill me if you can, otherwise give your parents my regards.

(more weapon losing/gaining. More cutting and slicing. Weapons get traded and rearranged. Spike ends up with a sword, Reise has two sai. They lock up one more time. The weapons swing around and are tossed into the air. Camera goes to Reise who catches the sword and begins to swing around)

Reise: (looking away) Time to die!

(Reise’s sword archs up from below and slices Spike. He smiles for a second, but blood comes out of his mouth. He looks down; the sai are imbedded in his stomach. He looks up at spike, and falls to his knees, and dies. Spike stands up straight checks out his wounds)

Spike: (looks at the busted up armor) Strongest metal my ass. Now where’s my sword?

End

Spike Wins