I'm happy to present that second chapter of "The Gunslinger" to the
readers. I write this with great hopes, as the fans have given me such good
reviews for the prologue and the fist chapter.
The fans like Vincent, which is good to see, as he has a lot of potential
for stories, especial with all the pathos surrounding him and his life.
He's such a fascinating character; he's so stoic and dark.
So, with out further ranting, I present the next chapter of "The
Gunslinger"
-Bojack727
THE GUNSLINGER
Chapter Two: The Diagnosis
Vincent stepped into the office room as Dr. Sortely sat down in the cushy swivel chair behind his desk. He reclined in his seat and smiled at Vincent and motioned to him to take a seat. After watching him pull up a chair and sit down, he spoke up in a cheerful voice. "Vincent, it's been years, how are you doing?" He asked in a friendly tone.
Vincent sighed and crossed his legs. "As good as can be expected of something like me." Vincent replied dryly. Dr. Sortely sighed inwardly as Vincent once again did not refer to himself as a person but rather as some sort of creature. "Well, you don't seem to have changed much, I really wish you'd let yourself live a little now and then." He remarked dully. Vincent shifted in his seat. "Well, James, I'll give that some thought and try to book a vacation some time in the next ten years." Vincent replied flippantly.
"James" smiled at the rare sign of humor from the stoic figure before him. "But all joking aside, what brings a wondering kind of man like you to my little establishment?" He asked calmly. Leaning forward in the process as he spoke.. Vincent hesitated slightly at the question, but after clearing his throat, he began to speak slowly. "Well, I've been having these strange pains in my lower back and around the pit of my stomach. "What exactly do you mean by pains?" Sortely asked. "Well," Vincent began. "The pain is like a muscle spasm or sometimes it feels like I've strained something around there. Sometimes I feel like these is some sort of pressure against my back or my stomach. But, it varies from day to day, I haven't felt anything today." "Interesting." Sortely mused. He then sighed and scratched his chin. "Well, I'm not too sure about what it may be then, so, it sounds like I'll need to do a check-up on you. So, if you'll just step into my examining room and remove that cloak and shirt, then I'll get started." The Doctor said in a very professional manner.
Vincent stood up as Sortely ushered him into the examination room ahead of him.
***
First, he loosed the holds on his metal claw and slid his for-arm out of the deadly sharp weapon; setting carefully down on the examining table. Vincent then slowly undid the many clasps and buckles on his cloak, including the ones on his large caller. Pulling the last from his hair, he hung up the blood red garment on a hook mounted onto the wall near him, making sure that none of his weapons fell out of it. He then slipped off his regular glove and then removed his shirt and set that down near his claw.
He then sat down on the table, causing the fresh paper cover to crease as he eased down onto the surface. He looked up as Sortely walked into the room. "Well, first I'll need to examine your back to check for any internal damage that might be causing the problem." He said as he walked around to face Vincent's back. The first thing he noticed was the long scare which seemed to run down along his back, over where his spinal cord was. He saw a larger scare right in the center of his back, half way down the longer vertical scar. He then got busy feeling around Vincent's back where he said the pain was coming from; it was a pretty standard practice, just to make sure that there weren't any bumps or dents or any other abnormality's in the outer body structure. It was then that he felt something, a small bump near the base of his spine, around where the long scar ended. He furrowed his brow as he further studied the protrusion. He then stepped back around to look Vincent in the face. "I noticed something while I was looking; I think I'll need a blood sample before I can make any further decisions.
Sortely took out a syringe and began taking blood from around Vincent's lower back, around the lumbar area.
And so, Vincent waited as Sortely ran the blood sample under his microscope and examined it. After what seemed like an eternity, Sortely stood up and approached Vincent, who by now had his shirt back on and was slipping on his regular glove.
"Vincent," He began. "After completing the blood test, which, further adds to the likelihood of my initial fear." He paused. "You have cancer."
Vincent almost choked. "Cancer, are you sure?" He asked shakily. "Unfortunately, yes." Sortely replied. "There is a tumor in your body, below your stomach." The Doctor answered. "Can't you remove it?" Vincent asked. "No, I'm sorry; it's already working its way into your body, slowly breaking down the cells in your muscles. I'd have to gut you like a fish to get it out, and you'd never survive the process." "So, what will happen now?" Vincent asked darkly. "Well," Dr. Sortely began. "Over time, the frequency will gradually increase. until it becomes unbearable; then, comes the vomiting and loss of motor skills." "And then a painful death, right?" Vincent asked sardonically. "Yes." Came the Doctor's reply. "How long do I have?" Vincent asked the Doctor. "Months, maybe three or four at most, and the real pain will begin in only two, three at most." He replied. "Thank you." Vincent Said distantly.
"Vincent," He began, waiting till the man looked back up at him. "I think, with this information in mind, you should start getting your priorities strait." He said. "I'll take that into consideration." Vincent replied.
"Take this prescription to the pharmacist; it's for something to help with the pain." The doctor said, handing him a slip of paper. "Well then, I think you for your honesty; Goodbye, James." Vincent said and turned to leave; putting on his cloak and claw.
"Vincent!" The man turned around to look at the Doctor. "Vincent, I'm not a brave man; but if I were you, I wouldn't wait around for what I said to happen." "Right." Vincent said as he walked out of the room. But, then, he stopped, and without turning around, he spoke up. "Do you know of a place where I can stay.? I don't think I'll be leaving Nibleheim after all." Vincent asked darkly. "Mrs. Sullivan runs a boarding house a few blocks south of here, you could stay there." Sortely
***
Vicky had been eavesdropping on the conversation by placing a cup against the wall and then putting ear against the end of the cup. Her cousin once did this when they were kids and they were trying to hear what some "grownups were talking about.
She suddenly pulled away from the wall as she heard someone entering the lobby. She rushed back to her desk just in time to see Vincent walk into the room. She gulped as he stopped and looked at her.
"Good day."
That was all he said to her as he stepped out of the room. Vicky gave a weak smile and said goodbye to the Ex-Turk as he left the room.
***
And so, as Vincent made his way over to Setzer, he stopped and paused to think over what Sortely had told him. So, this was it, he was going to dye. No more living forever; in a way it was what he wanted, he had often felt tired of endless life; but, then he was not sure about this kind of death, he didn't like the idea of dying the way Sortely had described. Also, he wasn't yet clear on what Sortely had said about not waiting.
"I wouldn't wait around for what I said to happen."
"What did it mean? Was he suggesting Suicide.?" Vincent thought to himself. But he then decided that he would sleep on it first.
~End of Chapter Two~
Well, what did you think of the story so far? As always, reviews are appreciated and enjoyed by the Author (me, ^_^) Also, I'm sorry t those of you who were hoping that Vincent would be okay after the Doctor's visit. But this development will shape and form the story. I think that such a situation will allow for a better look into the mind and life of Vincent Valentine. And lastly, in response to Alms the Great's guess, it's true. So I would appreciate it if Alms didn't give it away, thanks.
-Bojack
-Bojack727
THE GUNSLINGER
Chapter Two: The Diagnosis
Vincent stepped into the office room as Dr. Sortely sat down in the cushy swivel chair behind his desk. He reclined in his seat and smiled at Vincent and motioned to him to take a seat. After watching him pull up a chair and sit down, he spoke up in a cheerful voice. "Vincent, it's been years, how are you doing?" He asked in a friendly tone.
Vincent sighed and crossed his legs. "As good as can be expected of something like me." Vincent replied dryly. Dr. Sortely sighed inwardly as Vincent once again did not refer to himself as a person but rather as some sort of creature. "Well, you don't seem to have changed much, I really wish you'd let yourself live a little now and then." He remarked dully. Vincent shifted in his seat. "Well, James, I'll give that some thought and try to book a vacation some time in the next ten years." Vincent replied flippantly.
"James" smiled at the rare sign of humor from the stoic figure before him. "But all joking aside, what brings a wondering kind of man like you to my little establishment?" He asked calmly. Leaning forward in the process as he spoke.. Vincent hesitated slightly at the question, but after clearing his throat, he began to speak slowly. "Well, I've been having these strange pains in my lower back and around the pit of my stomach. "What exactly do you mean by pains?" Sortely asked. "Well," Vincent began. "The pain is like a muscle spasm or sometimes it feels like I've strained something around there. Sometimes I feel like these is some sort of pressure against my back or my stomach. But, it varies from day to day, I haven't felt anything today." "Interesting." Sortely mused. He then sighed and scratched his chin. "Well, I'm not too sure about what it may be then, so, it sounds like I'll need to do a check-up on you. So, if you'll just step into my examining room and remove that cloak and shirt, then I'll get started." The Doctor said in a very professional manner.
Vincent stood up as Sortely ushered him into the examination room ahead of him.
***
First, he loosed the holds on his metal claw and slid his for-arm out of the deadly sharp weapon; setting carefully down on the examining table. Vincent then slowly undid the many clasps and buckles on his cloak, including the ones on his large caller. Pulling the last from his hair, he hung up the blood red garment on a hook mounted onto the wall near him, making sure that none of his weapons fell out of it. He then slipped off his regular glove and then removed his shirt and set that down near his claw.
He then sat down on the table, causing the fresh paper cover to crease as he eased down onto the surface. He looked up as Sortely walked into the room. "Well, first I'll need to examine your back to check for any internal damage that might be causing the problem." He said as he walked around to face Vincent's back. The first thing he noticed was the long scare which seemed to run down along his back, over where his spinal cord was. He saw a larger scare right in the center of his back, half way down the longer vertical scar. He then got busy feeling around Vincent's back where he said the pain was coming from; it was a pretty standard practice, just to make sure that there weren't any bumps or dents or any other abnormality's in the outer body structure. It was then that he felt something, a small bump near the base of his spine, around where the long scar ended. He furrowed his brow as he further studied the protrusion. He then stepped back around to look Vincent in the face. "I noticed something while I was looking; I think I'll need a blood sample before I can make any further decisions.
Sortely took out a syringe and began taking blood from around Vincent's lower back, around the lumbar area.
And so, Vincent waited as Sortely ran the blood sample under his microscope and examined it. After what seemed like an eternity, Sortely stood up and approached Vincent, who by now had his shirt back on and was slipping on his regular glove.
"Vincent," He began. "After completing the blood test, which, further adds to the likelihood of my initial fear." He paused. "You have cancer."
Vincent almost choked. "Cancer, are you sure?" He asked shakily. "Unfortunately, yes." Sortely replied. "There is a tumor in your body, below your stomach." The Doctor answered. "Can't you remove it?" Vincent asked. "No, I'm sorry; it's already working its way into your body, slowly breaking down the cells in your muscles. I'd have to gut you like a fish to get it out, and you'd never survive the process." "So, what will happen now?" Vincent asked darkly. "Well," Dr. Sortely began. "Over time, the frequency will gradually increase. until it becomes unbearable; then, comes the vomiting and loss of motor skills." "And then a painful death, right?" Vincent asked sardonically. "Yes." Came the Doctor's reply. "How long do I have?" Vincent asked the Doctor. "Months, maybe three or four at most, and the real pain will begin in only two, three at most." He replied. "Thank you." Vincent Said distantly.
"Vincent," He began, waiting till the man looked back up at him. "I think, with this information in mind, you should start getting your priorities strait." He said. "I'll take that into consideration." Vincent replied.
"Take this prescription to the pharmacist; it's for something to help with the pain." The doctor said, handing him a slip of paper. "Well then, I think you for your honesty; Goodbye, James." Vincent said and turned to leave; putting on his cloak and claw.
"Vincent!" The man turned around to look at the Doctor. "Vincent, I'm not a brave man; but if I were you, I wouldn't wait around for what I said to happen." "Right." Vincent said as he walked out of the room. But, then, he stopped, and without turning around, he spoke up. "Do you know of a place where I can stay.? I don't think I'll be leaving Nibleheim after all." Vincent asked darkly. "Mrs. Sullivan runs a boarding house a few blocks south of here, you could stay there." Sortely
***
Vicky had been eavesdropping on the conversation by placing a cup against the wall and then putting ear against the end of the cup. Her cousin once did this when they were kids and they were trying to hear what some "grownups were talking about.
She suddenly pulled away from the wall as she heard someone entering the lobby. She rushed back to her desk just in time to see Vincent walk into the room. She gulped as he stopped and looked at her.
"Good day."
That was all he said to her as he stepped out of the room. Vicky gave a weak smile and said goodbye to the Ex-Turk as he left the room.
***
And so, as Vincent made his way over to Setzer, he stopped and paused to think over what Sortely had told him. So, this was it, he was going to dye. No more living forever; in a way it was what he wanted, he had often felt tired of endless life; but, then he was not sure about this kind of death, he didn't like the idea of dying the way Sortely had described. Also, he wasn't yet clear on what Sortely had said about not waiting.
"I wouldn't wait around for what I said to happen."
"What did it mean? Was he suggesting Suicide.?" Vincent thought to himself. But he then decided that he would sleep on it first.
~End of Chapter Two~
Well, what did you think of the story so far? As always, reviews are appreciated and enjoyed by the Author (me, ^_^) Also, I'm sorry t those of you who were hoping that Vincent would be okay after the Doctor's visit. But this development will shape and form the story. I think that such a situation will allow for a better look into the mind and life of Vincent Valentine. And lastly, in response to Alms the Great's guess, it's true. So I would appreciate it if Alms didn't give it away, thanks.
-Bojack