Striker/Spriggan: Remember
By: Ominae
Rating: K
NOTE:
All characters of of Striker/Spriggan are under the copyright of Hiroshi Takashige and Ryoji Minagawa.
Summary:
A look at the lives of some of ARCAM's finest Striker operatives during Mother's Day when they remember the people they hold dear to them.
Note - I know I'm late on the Mother's Day part, but I'd still want to do this. This is my way of saluting all moms out there, whether single or not, old or young, Caucasian or Asian. Doesn't matter. It's a homage to what moms do and what they do best! Amen!
Chapter 1: Faded Memories
Lisieux Cemetery, Lisieux, France
In the cemetery of the town of Lisieux, various graves were erected since the establishment of Lisieux in order to remember those who have moved on.
In the center of the cemetery, a tombstone with the engravings MARIA FELTON and MARK FELTON stood out from the rest, as they had only one name engraved on the tombstones.
"22 ans ont passé puisque j'ai été ici." (22 years have passed since I've been here.) said a French teenager, who went into the cemetery with a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Stopping in front of the grave, he knelled down and carefully laid the bouquet gently on the cemented top of the Felton grave.
While on his knees, he brushed away some dirt that was on the engravings of the Feltons. After making sure that the headstone was completely clean, he brushed some hair from his bangs and moved his ponytail onto his back.
The teen sighed, remembering how Maria and Mark Felton had moved on while he grew up. "Il n'est pas juste ! Pourquoi la Maman et la marque sont-elles mortes tandis que j'obtiens de vivre?" (It's not fair! Why did mom and Mark die while I get to live?) He nearly wanted to punch something in the cemetery, but frowned on it on respect for the dead.
"Maman bonne, comment allez-vous?" (Well Mom, how are you doing?), began the teen, who spoke to the headstone as if it was his mother. "Ne vous inquiétez pas de moi cependant, je suis très bien." (Don't worry about me though, I'm fine.).
Giving a heavy sigh, he went to to narrate to the headstone on how his life went on, from being a French Striker operative to saving the world from the Fire Snake, unleashed by Trident personnel lead by Larry Markson. He also decided to speak about his relationship with Yu and Tea and how he thinks about the two. The teen said that he found them annoying sometimes, but he trusts them as his comrades.
"Je vous apporterai le juge, maman. Je vengerai votre mort en obtenant le rassemblement hybride avant qu'il mette en danger la planète entière encore." (I'll bring you justice, Mom. I'll avenge your death by getting the bastard Larry before he endangers the entire planet again.), murmured the teen, who stopped for a while to fix his black jacket. "En outre, j'espère que vous faites bien." (Besides, I hope you're doing well.)
The teen took a glance at his wristwatch and smiled before standing up from kneeling near the Felton grave. Patting his green BDU pants to remove dirt, he stretched his legs and arms before getting ready to leave. He remembered how his adopted mom and brother were dead, with evidence pointing to Markson, who may had a role leading to their deaths. The teen, all in all, told the headstone that he cursed at the lycanthorpe heritage that he had carried in his blood from his accursed father, Rick Bordeau. He was the man who Jean grew to hate after he left Lisieux for Paris in order to be a Striker. Until now, he resents his estranged father for working with Trident as the company was his main nemesis.
"Devinez qu'I soit mieux le héros encore, maman de huh ? Ne vous inquiétez pas de moi. Je prends Yu et thé pour me soutenir." (Guess I better be the hero again, huh Mom? Don't worry about me. I have Yu and Tea to back me up.)
Now realizing that he had to go, he spoke to the headstone for one last time.
"Je ne vous ai pas oublié des types, à la différence de quelques autres certains qui oublient le jour. Je suis sorti un certain temps de Paris pour venir ici." (I didn't forget you guys, unlike some other people who forget about the day. I got some time off from Paris to come here.)
"Jean!"
The teen whipped his head up to search for the voice, who turned out to be Yu Ominae.
"Come on, werewolf boy!" The Japanese operative sighed and slapped him on the shoulder. "Big man back in Paris wants us in HQ!"
"Don't call me werewolf boy!" yelled Jean, scolding Yu, who covered his ears to protect his eardrums from the French Striker's loud voice. "Come here so's I can punish you for calling me that!"
"Okay." waved Yu off before running from him, "But you better catch me first!"
Jean watched Yu run towards the cemetery entrance, nearly infuriating him.
"YU!"
The French Striker was about to give chase when he decide to leave his mom and brother with a simple greeting.
"Le Jour De la Mère Heureuse, Maman." (Happy Mother's Day, Mom.)
Smiling for the last time, he turned tail and gave chase to Yu, mumbling something about "beating him up good" before they get back to Paris.
Chapter 1 END
PS
- Hope you Jean fans like this chapter. This chapter was inspired from Spriggan, Volume 4 when Jean visits the grave of Maria and Mark Felton, his adopted mother and younger brother. His old man, Rick Bordeau, disappeared from his life before he was in his teens.
If anyone wants the scans of Jean's family, let me know!