Chapter 3: Destructive Reunion
Irene and Ratchet stared each other down for a long period of time. The only sounds were the waves crashing against the shore and the howling wind. A massive boom could be heard in the distance and it was clear that thunder was on its way.
"How rude!" The mystery girl said with an exaggerated expression of disgust on her face. "Irene you sure this guy was your friend? I mean you'd think he would be jumping all over the place now that you're back."
Irene's gaze didn't waver from Ratchets eyes. "You're right. He was my friend. Now, he's just someone who will either be my enemy or another useless piece of trash we will use and replace when the time is right. Nothing more, nothing less."
Ratchet payed no attention to her comment and decided it was time for some answers. "Irene what's going on? Why are you here...you died during the Grimm invasion."
"Correction. I was reborn during the Grimm invasion. Get your facts straight before you talk or else you sound like a confused fool." She responded coldly.
Ratchet was losing his patience. "That's because I'm confused! How long have you been back? Who is the girl next to you and what do you even want from us."
Irene sighed. "You don't need to know. My partners name is Liz. As for your last question…" Irene chuckled a bit. "We want you to do us a favor."
Ivin didn't like the way that sounded and he regained his composure. "What favor would you want from us?"
Liz raised her hand and pointed it at Ivin. "Pets shouldn't speak unless spoken too." Suddenly a crystal ball surrounded Ivin faster than he could react. Ratchet and Nick turned too see if Ivin was alright but they couldn't see inside. Nick doubted they could hear him since they can't even see him.
It was as if Ivin was locked in a crystal ball. He could hear and see them all clearly but when he tried saying anything the team didn't respond and he believed they could not see him either. As for breaking out, that was going to be a problem. Ivin could tell even with his most powerful attack, it may not do much to the crystal. For now, he was forced to watch until he had a plan.
Ratchet and Nick were furious. Ratchet took a couple steps closer to the girls. "Release Ivin now!"
Irene just looked at him with a bored expression. "What's wrong? You don't want me back? I was part of team RAIN before this spoiled brat. I'm curious, why are you mad? Did you really care about me, or were you happy I was dead?" Irene knew exactly how to get under his skin. Though, she was curious as to why he reacted the way he did when he saw her.
Ratchet lowered his gaze from the girls and stared at the ground. "Didn't care? Is that what you think?" Ratchet's shoulders slumped. "I've never felt so much pain in my life. There is nothing in this world that could compare to the pain I felt when you were killed." Ratchet looked up at Irene, who was taken aback when she saw tears in his eyes. "I love all my friends. Too lose one of them is like losing a part of my life I'll never get back. It's even more painful since we all grew up together." Ratchet sniffed and wiped his eyes. His legs felt weak and he didn't have that fire in his eyes anymore. Irene sensed his hostility fading and was shocked at what she had heard.
"Pfft! Like anyone is going to believe that sappy story!" Liz said with a laugh and she turned towards Irene, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "You aren't going to listen to this pathetic excuse for a hunter right babe?"
Irene was pulled out of her thoughts and glared at Ratchet. "Never, not in a million years."
Ratchet saw Irene's eyes and gave her a sad smile. So that's how it is huh? Irene gave him no choice, he took an offensive stance and looked at the two girls. "Not in a million years huh? That's ok, cause you're gonna be dead in five minutes!" Ratchet slammed his fists together, releasing intense energy all around his teammates.
Irene and Liz took a couple steps back before Irene whispered to Liz. "I don't think he's in the mood to talk anymore."
Liz gave her beloved a wicked smile. "Good. I was getting bored of this pathetic excuse for a reunion! Let's kill them all!"
"Will you just shut up already!" Screamed Anna as she got up and sliced the crystal ball in half. Ivin fell out with a look of fear in his eyes. Judging by the cut on his face, Anna was very close to killing him. Anna shot Liz an evil glare. "I was balling like a little baby for a little bit because my friend is finally back! Now I see you two are lesbians?! And evil?! Like, are you fucking kidding! And then this little shit over here," Anna yelled, pointing at Ivin before continuing her angry rant. "He gets captured inside of a fucking rock?! I'm so pissed right now! I swear I'm going to kill you both and enjoy it!" Anna finally finished her outburst and was breathing heavy. Everyone just stared at her with wide eyes.
"Um…are you good now?" Nick asked, afraid there was more.
Anna calmed down and got into a defensive stance. "Yes. Now let's kill them."
"Ivin you ok?" Asked Ratchet.
Ivin just shrugged. "My aura is gone thanks to that scythe of Anna's but I'll be fine."
"Good." Said Ratchet. "This is gonna hurt."
Irene and Liz stared down team RAIN as they decided on their plan of action. After mentally debating, Irene put a hand on Liz's shoulder. "Relax. I can handle three of them. As for Ratchet…I want to see how much this fool has grown."
Liz frowned but agreed. "Ok then. But if you get a single scratch on you, I'm on top tonight!" Liz then skipped back a couple feet and created a crystal chair to sit on.
Irene smiled. Like I'd let you on top. She then focused on the group in front of her. Assuming Ratchet and Yang continued their training sessions, he's the slowest. Anna seems to be on the defensive. Though…that scythe could be a problem. Also, it seems it got longer. Ivin mentioned it took away his aura. So I need to avoid that at all costs. Ivan's aura is at zero and Nick has his hammer, he should be slow with it and even slower in cannon form. Irene couldn't help but laugh at the situation. She'd already analyzed their speeds and fighting styles before the fight even started. "Such a pity that you are all going to die by my hand."
"Funny," Irene's eyes opened wide as she heard Ratchets voice behind her. "I'm pretty sure we were all going to say the same thing." Ratchet released a fire shot from his gauntlets. Irene was fast enough to dodge it without effort but there was a hint of panic in her eyes. What?! He shouldn't be able too move that fast! She noticed Nick charging her and she easily ducked under his mighty hammer when he swung at her.
Jumping back a few feet, she eyed Ivin and Anna. They aren't charging? Not surprising, without aura, Ivin can't take a huge hit and so Anna will cover him with her powered up scythe. However…
Ratchet ran towards Irene and unleashed a few fiery jabs at her but she was able to block them with her enhanced aura. Once Ratchet was finished with his combo, she aura pushed him away and made her way towards Anna and Ivin at an incredible speed. Anna swung her scythe once Irene was in range but she slid under it and pulled out a short sword to slash Ivin's legs. However, Ivin was not a novice when it came to battles. He blocked her with his blade and called upon hellfire to blast her away. Irene saw the blade turn orange and quickly rolled away as it unleashed a blast of intense flames.
BOOM!
The ground shook with such intensity that Irene couldn't stand up right away. What on remnant was that?! Looking in the direction of Nick and Ratchet, she saw the massive suit of armor. Nick was getting inside it while Ratchet was covering him. Ratchet noticed Irene looking over in his direction and gave her a cocky smile before he winked.
The fuck? Did he just wink? Irene suddenly realized she was wide open since she was still on the ground. Quickly getting up, she was able too only gain a scratch from Anna's scythe. Irene cursed under her breath as not only did she feel her aura get cut in half, but her cloak was also ripped in the front.
"Wow…" Anna said staring at Irene's body. She was covered in bones like a normal Grimm was and Anna noticed that this whole time, Irene was fighting with one hand. The other was in her cloak. Now with the cloaked torn, it was clear her arm was a Beowulf claw.
Ivin was shocked just as much as Anna. "What the hell happened too you…?"
Irene was about to take this chance to attack but a rocket blew up on the ground in front of her, blasting her a couple feet back. She rolled along the ground before hitting the side of the management building for the docks. With blurry vision she looked up too see the hulking suit of armor in front of her.
"Any last words?" Nick said from inside his machine. Irene said nothing and just spit on his armor. "So be it." He raised his foot but was suddenly stopped by a crystal shield over Irene. "What?!" Nick turned too see Liz with a sly smile. She made the crystal into a cradle and brought Irene over in it.
Irene glared at her. "What do you think your doing?" She managed to say. It was clear that the rocket got a good hit on her. She was holding back a groan of pain.
Liz petted her beloved. "Shhh, it's ok. We can go home ok? I'll get you patched up. And then later," she leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I'm on top." She playfully nibbled on Irene's ear for a second before turning back to team RAIN. It was clear none of them were tired and could still fight for a bit. Though with that suit of armor Nick has and Ivin's aura slowly coming back, it was clear this was not a fight she would like to continue.
Pulling out a box, she let the four see it. "Behold your mission. Should you choose to accept it, everyone will be safe. But if you choose too ignore it, then I hope you like earth shattering events." Liz gave a wicked, spine chilling laugh before fading into darkness with Irene.
"Tsk. We should've finished them off Ratchet." Anna said stabbing the ground with her scythe.
"Perhaps. But if we come to regret it later then so be it." Ratchet walked over to the box and opened it up without concern if it was a bomb or some trap. Seeing a big folder in it, he opened it up to the first document. His eyes were wide open after just reading the first paper. "Oh no…"
"Well? What's in it?" Ivin called. But the expression on Ratchets face when he turned towards them said it all. Whatever it was, it was beyond terrible.
"There's…a big folder in it with a bunch of documents." Ratchet gulped and closed the box before looking up at the shattered moon. "It's called…operation MoonLight…and the goal is to destroy all humans and Faunus in the world...by dropping the moon on Remnant…"