Alberta sat staring out the window. She had been for some time. Her teammates had all drifted off somewhere, no doubt studying in the library or training in the gym. But Alberta was eagerly awaiting the arrival of several airships. She fiddled with the wilds strands of her hair that insisted on falling across her face. She blinked her red eyes, and sank back away from the window, and into a large blush chair.
Being an albino certainly made her stand out. And at her height, that was saying something. At barely five feet tall, she was the shortest on her team, and one of the shortest students at Shade academy. She closed her eyes, and thought of home. It was a rough small town, and its dust mine wasn't as prosperous as it had been in times past, but it was home. Abandoned buildings and mining equipment laying at the edge of the settlement reminded everyone of Vacuo's past. It was said that some of the buildings dated back to the Great War.
Even now, many years later, those brave enough to travel to the ancient battleground still turned over weapons, armor, and even bones. Alberta wondered what it must have been like to live in those days. Even as harsh as Vacuo was today, there was peace, there were the CCT towers. At least until a few days ago. What an uncertain time to live in, with the kingdoms against each other, the Grimm swarming and overrunning villages and settlements left and right. But then, perhaps, they were facing very similar days even now.
Alberta's day dream was interrupted by the faint sound of approaching airships. She shot out of the chair and looked out the open window. Several airships were landing on the pads near the main courtyard. Students from Vacuo trailed out of them, looking tired and worried. Teachers and the schools security quickly herded them off into the main building. They all looked deathly worried.
The courtyard was unusually empty. The ebony arches and columns seemed menacing in the now fading light. The Gryphon statues perched above stared down with frighting intensity. Once, very late, Alberta had sneaked out with her team to prank one of their teachers houses. Unfortunately, a patrolling hunter spotted them. In the haste to get away, Alberta had gotten separated. She found herself in the courtyard. She was almost entirely sure that one of the statues had moved. She did not sneak out anymore.
On one of the benches, a girl with long blonde hair was polishing her weapon. The massive chain sword was as ornate was it was deadly, with a golden eagle at the hilt. Alberta had seen it in action, and never wanted to be on the other end of it. Penthesilea Cupric seemed to tower over her. Even sitting, Alberta felt very small. Both had enrolled in Shade at the same time, and as fate would have it, became interested in the same boy. In another twist of fate, the boy had ended up on Alberta's team. However, the boy turned both of them down, and that had gotten over it. They still weren't really friend.
Penta, her preferred name, because who wants to say Penthesilea, just nodded as Alberta walked past. Alberta gave a little wave and walked on. Penta and her team had been out on a mission when the Vacuo teams had left for the Vytal Festival, and arrived back not many days ago. The mission had been a routine Grimm purging mission, and been uneventful. Penta and her team were one of the best second year teams, and Alberta wondered why they hadn't been given the chance to go to the Vytal Festival.
Thinking of the festival used to be a pleasant thing for Alberta. Ever since she was a little, much littler than she was even now, she had loved watching it. It was the highlight of her year. When she had been five years old, the team of hunters and huntresses protecting their village had changed. And with it came a huntress that inspired her. It had been her that had set her on this path. And for one reason or another, the stern and Amazonian huntress had taken a liking to the puny albino girl.
And that year, she watched the festival with the huntress. It had been a marvelous year for Vacuo, one of the few. And it had been the best few days of that girl's life. But now, after a couple years, she had been unable to attend. She was so desperately looking forward to it. The first year, the headmaster had told her there wasn't enough room, as the older teams were given priority. This year, the team had been on disciplinary probation, though not related to the sneaking out incident. Alberta wasn't even involved, but a team rises and falls together.
Vacuo had done very poorly this year. Its best teams had been eliminated in the four v. four matches. It had been a little painful to watch. Alberta had rooted so hard, especially for her favorite Team NDGO. And it had been for nought. The other kingdoms seem to play really hard. It had certainly got interesting. So interesting apparently the feeds had been cut twice, and they never came back on the second time. And then the CCT systems went down.
Alberta crashed into someone, and staggered back. A girl in a black uniform, with flaming red hair falling down her back, and a hard faced, traced by several scars, turned and gave the albino a very evil look.
"Watch where your going!" Her fox ears twitched. "What are you doing anyway."
"Sorry, sorry, I was thinking about the Vytal festival, and how team NDGO lost, and the feeds getting cut, and that cray girl with the blonde hair..." The girl turned back to the wall, ignoring the verbal vomit spewing from the shorter girl.
"I think the festival is a waste of time, and I don't watch it, but I heard the results of the fights were rather shocking."
"Really? That's kind of funny."
"Why?"
"Well, at the end of the fight, between Team NDGO and SSSN...nevermind." The other girl's ears twitched again. "I'm sorry to bother you, good bye."
"You're a real nuisance." Alberta just nodded and hurriedly walked away. It took her a little bit to remember what her name was, but her reputation preceded her. Ochre Vulpes was a legend at Shade. As mysterious as she was ruthless, there were many rumors surrounding her. At one point, there was a rumor she had eaten her teammates. Or perhaps she ate chickens raw. Both of these were probably propagated by anti-faunus rabble-rousers.
What was probably true was that she was one of the huntresses to attend Shade. She had an abnormal hatred for Grimm that defied rationality, and she could count the times she had lost a fight on one hand. This fox faunus was not someone you wanted as an enemy. She had purposely gotten herself disqualified from attending the Vytal Festival by attacking a teacher. Her comings and goings were quite mysterious. Rumor was she went out an slaughtered Grimm, with a savagery cowered even the demons themselves.
Why she was standing there, staring at the relief on the wall surrounding the main school building was anyone's guess. On it, the king of Vale was pictured, laying waste to the armies of Mistral and Mantle. Corpses were piled at his feet, his sword raised high, his crown upon his head, and his cape swirling around him. The powerful forces of northern and eastern kingdom might have brought down Vacuo and enslaved it, but he had saved them. And everyone who lived in this harsh owed their freedom to the King.
The albino wandered along, her path seemingly aimless, but drawing her closer and closer to the CCT Tower, ensconced in the center of Shade Academy. Another relief depicted hunters and huntresses locked in mortal combat with Grimm. A huntress tries to hold off a King Taijitu in one hand, one head beneath her foot, a sickle shaped blade pulled back in one hand. A hunter tries too hold off a Deathstalker, the glowing stinger stuck in the shield, the tip piercing through, the hunter trying to find a weak spot with his lance. And many more, all along the walls, a constant reminder of the path those who walk here have chosen.
Over the top of the entrance to the CCT tower a Nevermore keeps watch. Multiple eyes of red rock glitter in the light from multiple lamps and spotlights. The sculpter had managed to capture the primal power of the beast, the grace of its wings, the cruelness of its talons, the total combination of evil and awe. Alberta dropped her eyes from the beasts, and entered the tower.
The lower floor was mostly empty, with only a student here and there. Several guard robots paced about, old Atlas designs that had been modified and "Vacuo-fied." In Vacuo, there was no junk, just material you hadn't repurposed yet. She entered the elevator and punched the number for the top floor, the communication room. The elevator creaked to the top of the tower. It may not have been as sleek as those in Atlas or Vale, but it had character. The older design had a feel of home and comfort, instead of being sterile and pragmatic.
The top floor was deserted at first glance. Alberta walked up to the desk at the front, but no one was there. The lights were on, but most of the terminals were shut down. She noticed a young man laying underneath one of the banks of terminals.
"Excuse me?" The young man started, smacking his head on the bottom of the table.
"Ouch. Wow, that really hurt."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
"It's okay. I didn't expect anyone to be up here. I was just doing some maintenance on some of these terminals, while the CCT was down."
"I was wondering if it would be possible call my home, Dust Ridge Mine?"
"Sorry Miss, with the CCT down, even parts of Vacuo are out of contact. Some of our shorter range methods are in disrepair, due to Grimm and bandit attacks."
"Oh, okay."
"But don't worry. The CCT is very important. I am sure that Vale is working very hard to fix their tower, and get things started again."
"I wish I could be as optimistic as you."
"Look, if communication to Dust Ridge opens up, I'll let you know. Let me make a note on my scroll." Alberta gave her her name, so he could send her a message if anything changed. She wasn't too hopeful. Dust Ridge Mine was in good hands, and a relatively peaceful area. She boarded the elevator and headed downstairs. On the way, she received a message on her scroll. It was from one Tobias Cairn Terrier, one of the professors, well liked, though quirky. He wanted her to head to room A17, a room in the main administration building. Students weren't allowed in many of the rooms in the administration building.
She hurried off. Professor Terrier a seemed especially urgent in his request. A couple hunters waited by the door, but they gave her no mind. She noticed Team INGO leaving, talking among themselves in hushed worried tones. Alberta wanted to stop and talk to them, but didn't want to keep the Professor waiting.
Penta was outside the room, about to enter, when Alberta arrived. "You get a mysterious message too?" the blonde girl asked.
"Yes, it sounded urgent. I've never been in this part of the school before."
"Me neither. I guess we better go in." The two girls entered, and found Professor Terrier, his mane of black hair unkempt, a cigar in his mouth, smoke drifting lazily from it. In the center of the room was a holographic map of Remnant, with terrain and cities of light floating above the surface. A variety of icons were scattered across it. It reminded Alberta of a very popular board game, but even cooler.
Most interesting though was Ochre, leaning over the map, her hands flitting among the incorporeal markers, mumbling to herself. City a short distance away was a young man, with black hair, and abnormal violet eyes. He was absentmindedly flipping a silver knife in his hand. A couple large pistols hung from shoulder holsters. Both of the younger occupants were dressed in plain black body suits. Professor Terrier looked up.
"Ah, you both made it. Now, we can begin in earnest."
"These are the chosen candidates then?" Ochre voice was not exactly hostile, but it wasn't friendly either. Just very suspicious.
"Yes, they meet all the necessary requirements. They have never attended a Vytal festival, they are second years, have shown themselves to be quite capable."
"I trust you have not made a mistake."
"I know you are experienced Ochre, but you would do well to remember I am still your superior."
"Of course. I trust you have not made a mistake, sir," Ochre added with emphasis.
"Relax Vulpes, You know Professor Terrier has good judgment. I just got their profiles on my scroll." The boy that had not spoken yet joined the conversation. His voice was quiet, yet firm. "Welcome to the team, Miss Puntali, Miss Cupric. My name is Argent Viperad'ombre, but please, just call me Argent."
"May I ask a question?"
"Of course Miss Cupric," the professor answered.
"Which team are we being welcomed to?"
"A good question indeed. There is no name. Allow me to add some exposition. This non-existent team was formed many years ago, not long after the founding of Shade Academy, in the aftermath of the great war. Its purpose is to protect Vacuo from threats, to keep an eye on the other kingdoms, to undertake missions where Vacuo and Shade Academy cannot be involved. Here, in Vacuo, we are the source of order. Vacuo's council has no power except what we give it. We don't have the might of Atlas, the resources of Minstral, the manpower of Vale, we have to ensure our safety through other means."
"Don't you trust the other headmasters? I don't think any of the kingdoms want another war."
"Alberta, our world is far from perfect. It is fraught with dangers. The frightening thing is not that the other Kingdoms are more powerful, the frightening thing is that they aren't the major threat. There are Grimm, and even worse things. More cunning forces at work. We must take whatever measures are necessary to ensure our safety. And the best way is with information."
"So, I am guessing this meeting is about the recent festival?" asked Penta.
"Yes. After talking with all the students at the festival, I have come to several conclusions. First, none of the kingdoms, at least the main leadership, is responsible. Second, they have all been compromised. Atlas's robot forces were hijacked during the attack. At one point, they were attacking everyone, but Ironwood helped fight off the attack."
"So, it was an attack." confirmed Penta.
"Yes. Grimm, the White Fang, chaos really. Thirdly, we don't really know what forces are at work. We need information. And we need to get it, without tipping off anyone that may be colluding with the enemy. You asked if I trusted the other kingdoms Miss Puntali? In these times, trust no one, not even yourself."
"And because the other former members of the team may be recognized in Vale, we had to bring in two green members, for a very important mission." Ochre sighed, and her fox ears twitched again, never a good sign.
"Actually, I am originally from Vale," added Penta.
"I know." Professor Terrier pushed up his glasses. "But your family left several years ago, before you really began your proper huntress training. And, we need someone who knows a little about the city lay out. I know some things may have changed, but in general, you know how the city is organized."
"I hope I remember it right."
"It will come back when you return, and, if all else fails, we have a map." Once again, the boy's voice broke into the conversation. Considering Ochre's volatility, Argent's calming influence no doubt kept her in check. Penta nodded, and Argent returned a small smile.
"The details of your mission. Get in and out as quickly and quietly as possible. We have no communication with Vale, obviously, but expect plenty of security, robots and hunters. There are likely a lot of Grimm still around. You are going to fly in, aboard a Schnee Airship we borrowed, permanently. Shouldn't raise suspicion. Once there, you will meet with an agent already in Vale. He lives at this address. It will be marked on the maps which will be transferred to your scrolls, along with all the pertinent information." Terrier pulled up a map of Vale on the holo-table, and pointed out locations of interest. Once there, he will give you the information, or tell you how to acquire it. Do so, and then leave, on the same airship."
"That's all?" asked Alberta.
"Isn't that enough?" Ochre responded. "Things always get more complicated. This could go wrong in so many ways. You better be at your best."
"Ochre, please ensure that our two newest members have the right uniforms. You can't go in your normal huntress clothes. You will have to find ways to make your weapons more stealthy, at least while not using them. Argent, you can check on the airship. The pilots should be ready soon. There are special containers in the back for you to store your gear, and if necessary, hide in. Also, as a final effort to ensure you remain anonymous, there are White Fang masks provided. If you are forced to fight, you will just be more terrorists."
"But, I'm not a faunus," commented Alberta. Ochre just sighed.
"Not all faunus features are apparent at first, especially in a fight. The most noticeable thing will be the mask." Ochre seemed really exasperated. Patience was not one of her strong points.
"I have some fake fox ears in my room of you want. There from when I dressed up as Ochre..."
"I told you to never mention that again." The other two girls giggled a little. Ochre may have been angry, but it was comical the way she reacted, and the thought of Argent trying to look like Ochre was humorous. "And stop laughing."
"Ochre, I'm sorry, I did not promise not to bring it up. It was a little insensitive of me. But please, give the new girls a break. They understand the seriousness of this, but a little fun never hurt anyone."
"Fine. But we have work to do."
"Indeed you do. You leave tonight. I would suggest you make your preparations. Good luck, you will need it." The Professor removed his cigar and snuffed it out on the table. "Well, get moving." The for nodded, and left the room.
Ochre helped the other two girls find black suits tat would fit them. Penta found a long black bag that would conceal her sword. It could be strapped to her back for carrying. Alberta's gauntlets could be easily concealed in their collapsed form under her sleeves. Penta made sure she had a good amount of her favorite earth dust rounds. The other two weren't sure at first what weapons Ochre had. She did slide numerous vials of dust in belts and straps on her uniform.
Meanwhile, Argent found the airship. Two pilots were doing their final inspections. It was a little old, but still clearly bore the logo of the Schnee Dust Company. Inside, there was a few improvised seats of netting. There were many containers for storing dust in its various forms, and for chests, similar to weapons lockers, but without the rockets. One could comfortably fit inside with their weapon and ammunition. There were some rations, as well as a substantial amount of cash.
Alberta found herself staring thoughtfully at the fountain in the courtyard. She found herself staring thoughtfully a lot. The four Beowolves stood back to back, with four Gryphons on their shoulders, with Nevermores on theirs. Water poured out the Gryphon's mouths and into the pool below. This whole thing seemed crazy. The world was so vast, and it seemed like it jut kept opening up, becoming more vast, but not like an open sky, but like a great chasm.
"I've never seen Nevermores that small before." Alberta gave a start as Penta walked up behind her.
"I guess the artist took some liberties. But, I think there may be some Nevermores that small, they just aren't much of a challenge.
"I suppose. How is Cobalt?"
"Obsessed with training and causing problems."
"Well, I'm glad we got that behind us. This team will have enough trouble working together."
"I know. Ochre terrifies me."
"Is she the leader? I think she is a little off her rocker."
"I think she is just a psychopath, with anger management issues."
"Your too kind. If you had lived my life, you would be off your rocker too." Ochre slipped out of the darkness behind them. "Did you remember to pack generic civilian clothes as well?" Both of the other girls nodded. "Good. I looked at your files, and I am impressed. You may be tolerable after all. One thing though, I hate repeating myself. When I say jump, you say, off which cliff, got it.?" They nodded again. "Alright then. You can relax. I save my fury for the Grimm, and I don't bite...much."
"Vulpes, now that your done scaring the new recruits, can we get going? The ship is ready." Argent walked up. "Ready to go, Miss Puntali, Miss Cupric?"
"Yes, but you can use my first name, Alberta. I don't think teammates need to be so formal."
"And you can call me Penta. I know my full first name is a little long."
"Don't bother. He calls everyone by their last name. That is his quirk, and mine is being rude and blunt. Let's go." And Ochre walked off towards the airship.
Inside, the four settled into the nets. They were kind of comfortable, like a hammock that was breathable. Really, really, breathable. During the flight to Vale, the four slept. Alberta wondered what it was like in the other kingdoms. She was finally able to visit another kingdom, but she wished it was under better circumstances. She fell asleep, dreaming of what the metropolis of Vale would be like.