The nameless manor

The train rattles along the tracks, moonlight casting long shadows through the window. Inside a private caboose, Vincent sits alone, cleaning his revolver. His hat rests on the chair beside him. The low hum of the train fills the air as he finally starts addressing the conversations he ignored throughout the day.

VINCENT (softly, to himself, staring out the window)

"Today was nice. You've grown, Victor… a lot." (He pauses, checking the chamber of his gun.)

"I'll try and reconnect with Mom and Dad. I really will… But I have a new home now. The manor—it's good for me. I made friends. I have my own place. A place to feel safe. A place to call home."

He aims his revolver at the window, watching the reflection of his own tired eyes.

VINCENT (mocking his own thoughts, smirking)

"And yet, here I am. On a train. Alone. Again."

He exhales sharply, shaking his head. Then, with a slight smirk, he shifts his aim away from the window.

VINCENT (calling out, seemingly to no one)

"Hey, Random! If you're lurking nearby, wanna go fight in a war? I need my wingman."

A sudden "POP" echoes through the room, and a small paper ball hits Vincent's face. He doesn't flinch.

RANDOM (leaning against the doorway, grinning, tossing another paper ball in his hand)

"Hell yeah, brother! I'm always down for a scrap. Just let me drop my current power. Right now, I can only make paper balls."

He flicks another one. It harmlessly bounces off Vincent's chest. Vincent lets out a dry chuckle.

VINCENT (deadpan)

"Tragic."

Random straightens up, stretching his arms.

RANDOM (grinning)

"Alright! Lemme grab my gear."

Vincent nods as Random vanishes as quickly as he appeared. Alone again, Vincent looks at a slightly crumpled flyer that Random gave him a few days ago.

VINCENT (reading the flyer, amused)

"Huh. Guess I could take him up on it… That fancy manor he keeps talking about." (chuckles to himself)

"Hell, it's cheaper than my place by a lot."

A moment later, Random reappears, fully geared up. His outfit is a pure white gunslinger suit, absolutely impractical for combat. His weapon? A pistol with a sniper scope… and an AK-47 magazine sticking out of it.

VINCENT (blinking, unimpressed)

"Random, buddy… only you could piss off every gun owner just by existing."

Random does a dramatic pose, flipping his revolver in his hand before it morphs into an Uzi with an absurdly long magazine.

RANDOM (grinning wildly)

"I live to confuse and enrage."

VINCENT (sighs, kicks open the door to the hallway)

"C'mon. No scope needed. Our targets are already on this train."

(Vincent rolls into the hall, smoothly firing a headshot at what appears to be a regular train ticket master. The body jerks—then dissolves into a pile of black, shifting goo.)

VINCENT (spitting on the ground)

"Body Snatchers. Figures."

Random steps out, tilting his head as he watches the goo bubble and squirm.

RANDOM (mocking tone, spinning his gun like a showman)

"Ohhh look at me, I can become anyone! Multiply and replace people without anyone noticing!"

He suddenly unleashes a wild spray of bullets into the next few train cars. He somehow only hits Body Snatchers, who screech as they disintegrate, revealing their monstrous forms before collapsing into piles of sludge.

VINCENT (watching, deadpan)

"You enjoying yourself?"

RANDOM (cackling, reloading in a completely unnecessary, dramatic fashion)

"Oh, you know I am! I love shooting up trai—"

Suddenly, the screen freezes, turning slightly gray.

(Cut to a new scene. Shade, standing in a dimly lit room, rubbing his temples like he has the worst headache in existence.)

SHADE (deep sigh, looking directly at the audience)

"Alright. Listen. Just a quick PSA from me to you. For the love of whatever deity you believe in, do not—I repeat—DO NOT go around shooting up trains."

He pinches the bridge of his nose, groaning before throwing his arms up.

SHADE (frustrated, gesturing at the previous scene like it personally offended him)

"This is fiction. These are monsters, okay?! I don't wanna hear anything about some idiot trying this in real life!"

He sighs, looking off-screen like he's questioning his life choices.

SHADE (mumbling to himself)

"I swear, every time Random gets involved, I have to do one of these disclaimers..."

(Cut back to the train scene, unfreezing the action.)

Vincent and Random continue through the train cars, gunning down Snatchers as they take over more of the train. Some of the passengers panic, hiding in their seats. Vincent reloads calmly, walking forward as if he's on a Sunday stroll.

VINCENT (firing another shot, blowing away a Snatcher mid-transformation)

"How many more of these things are left?"

RANDOM (squinting, scanning the area dramatically with his scope, even though it makes no sense for an Uzi to have one)

"Eh, I'd say… about four cars full."

VINCENT (grinning, cracking his neck)

"Good. I was worried I'd have to stop early."