Barrior Knight Yeldale Arc Part 3: Pearl Part 2

Horror. It was a simple word that could describe the atrocity they all just witnessed.

It was no wonder the Grimm were so hell bent on finding this place. It was like a horror film.

There were bodies everywhere, the floors and walls were painted with blood and by the look of it =, the blood was fresh. Some of the people were still alive, strapped down on operating tables or hooked up to demonic like machinery.

It's clear that these people had been tortured. They were moaning and groaning as soon as Jaune and Team CFVY walked in.

None of them spoke as they were horrified and yet disgusted at the same time. Velvet looked like she was about to vomit.

Jaune figured he had to take the initiative. He walked over to one of the survivors of the atrocity. It was a man, about the age of his father. His clothes were torn and weathered and covered in blood. He was strapped to an operating table. Jaune quickly released him from the contraption.

"Sir are you okay!" Jaune said, struggling to control the volume of his voice.

"Yes..I believe so." The man answered.

"What's your name?"

"Coal. Coal Hayon."

"I'm Jaune Arc. I'm a Huntsman. This is Team CFVY. Please tell me what happened here." Jaune asked.

"It was..horrible. He tortured us for days." Coal answered struggling to get out the sentence.

"There are more survivors over here." Yatsuhashi called. The usually stoic and confidant man was now shaken. This mission was by far the most horrifying. As this was not done by Grimm. This was done by human hands, which made it all the more worse.

"Who could do something like this?" Velvet asked tending to the wounded.

"He never mentioned his name. But he had the look of a doctor or scientist. He had long orange reddish hair." Coal described trying to stay conscious.

"Okay. We need to find who did this. There looks like a path that leads deeper into the cave over there." Coco said. "Fox and Velv, you two stay here and tend to the wounded. Yatsuhashi and Arc are with me."

"Got it." Velvet said. Fox nodded.

Coco, Jaune and Yastuhashi continued deep into the laboratory weapons drawn, ever alert to whatever awaited them.

XXXX

Vermillion scanned his vison of Pearl over and over again. Trying to seek out any detail that could help him find the girl or her kidnapper. He and Sable were trying to decipher the vision and locate Pearl. But the task have proven to be tedious. They have been at it for hours writing down notes of certain things for million saw and thousands of details with the the vision.

"Come on Vermilion. Clothing, furniture any symbols you can make out." Sable said trying to give suggestions on what to look for.

"It was dark, most likely night. The girl and Jaune were standing over a body, but it was took dark to make out. " He was struggling to say the least. The vision was so vague. He remembered the machines. It looked like a lab…that's it!

"Quick. Do you know anyone in the city that specializes in science or medicine?" Vermillion asked.

"Theres the Starbright couple that live on the outskirts of the city. You think they did this?"

"In my vison there was machinery and equipment everywhere. It looked like a lab." Vermillion said.

"Yeah. That sound like the Starbrights." Sable said in a drained voice. It also held a tenge of disappointment. " it's starting to make more sense. They seem like the most liable suspect. Clay and Selene Starbright. They are doctors. Some of the most brilliant and kind hearted people you ever met. But they hit a bit of a slump last year. They are very wary of new medical technology popping up especially the kind from Atlas. The new medical technology had affectively put the Starbrights out of business. They had to sell their house and now they barely make enough to get by. Now it all makes sense as to why they would target people with huge wallets." Sable explained.

Vermilion downcast. It was a very messed up situation. And a very unfair one. On one hand the new technology from Atlas would save lives. But on the other hand the machines were taking away jobs from people who studied and practiced their entire lives for the positions they once held.

Vermilion could empathize with the situation as he had growing fears of Atlas robots taking away the jobs of the huntsmen.

"We need to investigate them. Go to their house and question them." Vermillion proposed.

Sable agreed. They got into Sable's ship and flew out toward the Starbright's home.

XXXX

Vermilion could only imagine what kind of struggle they must have been putting up with when they arrived at the house. It was a wreck. Pieces of the house were falling off and it looked like it was overrun by Grimm. It was almost like a haunted house.

Vermilion and Sable got out and headed for the front door. Unbeknownst to the hostile threat awaiting them. Beyond the front door in the house was Selene Starbright. She was in her early forties and a seasoned Huntsmen. She was a fairly tall woman standing at about 5 feet eleven inches. She had long dark hair that fell past the middle of her back and she had skin pale as stone. She had a skintight combat skirt and wielded a Axe/Shotgun hybrid.

She was shocked at their arrival. She recognized both figures as the chief of police and the famous Vermillion Arc.

What are they doing here? The plan isn't finished yet.

She calmed herself and put on the stereotypical housewife's smile and opened the door.

"Hello Mrs. Starbright my name is Sable. I'm the chief of police for Yeldale. This here is a colleague of mine, Vermillion." Sable introduced.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"There is missing persons' case that I'm working on and I just wanted. To ask a few questions."

Selene reluctantly agreed. She's beckoned the two men in her home and offered them a drink. Her nerves were on fire as she did not know what to do. She is sure they didn't have any evidence that would give away her and her husband's crimes, but she wondered why the police came to her doorstep. They wouldn't come without reason. Something had to tip them off but she couldn't think of what did.

Vermilion considered using his power on her but he hated using it for reasons such as this. Even if her future did detail her kidnapping all the missing people with in Yeldale. He didn't want to condemn someone for something that they might do in the future.

His eyes could see someone's immediate and distant future. Whenever he took a glimpse at someone's future their immediate future almost never changed but sometimes their distant future would change in the slightest. Someone might have a steak for dinner in the next forty years but if he saw their future a third or fourth time they may have chicken.

It was the same for this woman. It was unfair for him to judge all people for what they'll do in the future as the future can be changed.

"May I ask where your husband is?" Sable asked.

"He is running some errands at this time." Selene lied.

"That sounds like Clay. Always busy." Sable continued.

"Yes. He is a busybody. He works all the time these days." Selene replied forcefully.

Vermillion liked his strategy. Sable was trying to keep her talking. Eventually she'll let something slip.

"I'm sorry. You think Clay is a suspect in this case." Selene asked now irritated.

"Unfortunately Selene that seems to be the case. Now I believe-

"My husband would never do something like this! He is a peaceful man. He could never hurt someone else." Selene defended.

How do they know? We were clean in covering our tracks. How did they find out.

"I know Selene! I know.. I'm just trying to figure out the case. I want your husband to be innocent too." Sable tried to control the situation but Vermillion could tell he was losing face.

"I realize hard times have struck you guys. It must be hard you and Clay." Vermillion said snatching away the questioning.

"Yes. It does get hard, but we manage to get by." Selene replied.

What the hell do you know about struggling Arc. You and your family have had the world handed to you for ages.

"Yes, indeed. I can only imagine how hard it is. But that struggle leads me to believe that your husband may have been involved in the incident. All the people that have gone missing are of a wealthy background."

"So what! You think this is like a vendetta thing? Like revenge?"

"Who said anything about revenge?"

"You are implying it. Now I must ask you all to leave. Your suspicions of me and my husband have hurt me deeply." Selene said now tired of Sable and Vermillion.

Damn you Arc.

The two men did not want to do it but now they had no choice. Sable gave Vermilion a cue and with that Vermilion activated his semblance. He looked at a nearby photo of Clay and Selene. They looked happy, almost a tragic irony now as the couple was on the brink of poverty.

Vermillion's semblance allowed him to look into the future of someone so long as he looked at them or a picture of them. He looked at Clay within the photo and scanned through time into Clay's future.

The vision brought Vermilion back to the same laboratory that he witnessed Pearl and Jaune in. Now there was no damage to the machines and Pearl was tied up from her hands dangling from the ceiling. She had slash marks across her back, and she was bloodied and bruised.

Clay walked by the girl, looking at her with wrath.

"Remember this girl. This pain you feel is because of what your father, the leader of our city, has brought to you. I have no ill will towards you, but you are the perfect weapon to use against your father."

The man had nothing but rage and sorrow filling his form. He swatted at her again with his dagger, causing yet another slash mark against her back. Pearl screamed from the pain.

Something else Vermilion noticed was a door way in the back of the lab that Clay and his victim were in. It had a symbol of a star on it.

Vermilion exited the vision. Know he knew that Clay was the one behind it all!

He rose from his seat, shocking Sable and scaring Selene.

He walked through the house ignoring the protests of Selene and Sable. He noticed a door with the same symbol. He was about to open it when Selene shouted at him "Do not go in there! That is a private room! You can't just go through people's homes without a warrant!"

Sable had to agree with her. A cop can't just go through people's things just because he had suspicions.

"Slow down Vermilion! We don't know if it was him." Sable said. But he had to wonder if that was true. Vermilion obviously saw something in his vision.

Vermilion was about to turn the knob on the star symbolled door when he was wrapped around the waist by Selene's weapon. It was a sword that could change into a whip. It matched her color motif. She pulled him out of the doorway smashing him through the wall, out into the yard.

"You have no right Arc!" Selene screamed running out into the yard to kill Vermilion.

She swung at him again with her bladed whip, but to no avail as he dodged it effortlessly.

The Eyes of Chronos allowed him to see the immediate future as well. He knew every move she was going to make. Again and again she swiped at him, and again he dodged with grace almost as if he was dancing with her. He closed in on her, elbowing her in the face.

She retaliated by swinging at his neck. The bladed only hit air as he jumped over and landed behind her. He knocked her in the back of her neck with a well-placed chop. Her vision went dark as she passed out, she would have fell to the ground if Vermillion did not catch her.

"That was impressive Leader." Sable complimented, still impressed as at his partner's skill.

"Take her back to the police precinct, I'll go on ahead and see what I can find." Vermillion commanded.

"Hey. I'm the police officer here. There you go again still bossing me around. We aren't at Beacon anymore man!" Sable joked.

"Vermillion smiled and went on into the house to the star symbolled door.

XXXXX

Jaune, Coco and Yatsuhashi found themselves in a much bigger room way beyond the intrance of the labrotory. It was almost like an altar. There was star symbolism plastered everywhere and it had the feel of a church.

In the center was Pearl. Dangling from the ceilding, bounded in misery.

Jaune recognized her. She was the Major's daughter.

"She looks injured." Yatsuhashi stated.

"No shit. We need to get her down from there." Coco said.

"I don't see any enemies. It may be a trap."

"How do know if they know we're here?"

"I don't. But we have to be cautious." Jaune.

"Agreed. Yatsuhashi, take point. Arc, you cover our- GET DOWN!" Coco screamed as she saw a huge blast of aura coming up from a nearby balcony. They all ducked as the blast hit the wall behind them causing it to explode.

"Welcome Huntsmen! I hope you enjoyed your stay here!" Clay Starbright said as he jumped from the balcony. He hoped to take them all out in one blow, but it seemed he underestimated their training.

"Orange hair- that's the guy!" Coco stated as the man matched the physical description.

"Surender! You are outnumbered!" Yatsuhashi warned, taking up an offensive stance.

"Surrender? Like hell." Clay responded as he closed the distance. He drew his weapon, a rapier that shared the star motif as his cult like altar. He swung at Yatsuhashi, who blocked. Surprisingly the gargantuan teen was pushed back by the force of the blow.

Coco began shooting her minigun, spraying bullets at the crazed doctor. He twirled his rapier in a circular motion at amazing speeds, creating a shield, deflecting the bullets away from himself.

Jaune stepped in taking a swing at Clay. Every move and sequence Jaune made was blocked or deflected away. Clay was like an immovable tower, his word acted as a wall of defense. Jaune couldn't penetrate it. He swung low, trying to swipe at his legs but Clay simply jumped over. He slashed at Jaune, the force sending him flying against the wall. Yatsuhashi went in next. He swung long and hard as his giant orange blade came down on Clay.

It was no use as he sidestepped out the way. Before he could stab Yatsuhashi in the side, Coco came in trying to strike him with her now reverted handbag, but Clay blocked that as well.

Jaune scanned his fighting technique Clay was dancing around a joint effort from Coco and Yatsuhashi. Clay favored defense and agility. Every attack they threw, melee or long range was deflected or dodged.

He was sure if they were fighting in a tighter space they could overpower him, but they were in a huge laboratory. He had plenty of room to move around.

A surprise attack is the way to go. But for that I'll need a distraction.

He noticed Yatsuhashi trying to pressure Clay into a corner. For the most part it was working, as Clay seemed to be having fun deflecting all of the teens attacks. Clay lacked strength for sure, so a more decisive power blow would unbalance him.

"Yatsuhashi. Go for his legs!" Jaune called.

The towering swordsman did as instructed, though unsurprisingly Clay simply jumped above the swing.

"How stupid! Calling out your plans like tha- GAAHHH!" Clay was shot out of midear by a barrage of electric dust rounds by Coco.

Good he fell for it! Jaune thought. They had to keep that strategy going. Jaune and Yatsuhashi would provide close combat while Coco would look for openings.

The plan was solid. It kept Clay moving around, effectively tiring him out. His movements began to slow down. Jaune was able to land a solid strike against Clay's chest.

He backed off the team, gaining some distance. He was trying to rest up.

"Do not let him rest!" Jaune called out to Coco and Yatsuhashi as they charged him.

A sinister smile crept up on Clay Starbrights face as his body's aura ignited around him.

THOOM!

A huge blast of Aura covered the lab, blasting away the team.

Coco figured that was his semblance. He drew this power only after getting hit. It was similar to Yang's semblance.

"This is my power. I call it Pain Packer." Clay explained. "If I sustain enough pain I can fire it back in the form of aura. That last move you pulled really did a number on me blondie."

Jaune cursed.

"We can't attack him now. We would only be giving him more power." Yatsuhashi said.

"We could beat him if we deliver a fatal blow." Coco said. "But I don't know. I didn't want to kill him but we may have no choice."

It was a crossroads every huntsman had to come to. Killing someone for the greater good. Jaune didn't know if he was prepared. Their opponent was too powerful, and they were running out or aura and stamina.

"I…I guess we have no choice." Jaune Arc said unsure of himself. His blade shook as his hands did. He was about to take a human life. He may be the bad guy but he was still a person.

Luckily for him. He wouldn't have to as a blade ran through Clay from the back. The blade was an ocean blue.

Clay's body went limp as his life abandoned his body. The one who impaled him was none other than a very wobbly Pearl. She managed to untie herself during the commotion.

The team was speechless as they did not expect her to find the strength to walk.

As Clay's body hit the floor she began to cry. Her hands were covered in blood. Neither Coco nor Yatsuhashi knew what to do. They were surprised to find Jaune taking the girl in his arms, letting her cry.

XXXX

It was just as Vermillion foresaw it. Jaune was holding Pearl as she cried, obviously from the last few months of torment from Clay. He decided not to reveal himself from behind the corridor leading from the Starbright's house. Jaune and the girl were safe and that was all that mattered. He walked back through the house, feeling proud of the leadership skills Jaune had shown.

He has improved, he is a seasoned Huntsmen now. I'm sorry I couldn't be the one to help you develop Jaune.

XXXXX

Jaune and CFVY helped all the survivors of what the media were calling the Starbright Abductions back into the city. They were all treated for their wounds, but the psychological wounds would stay with them forever. There was nothing Jaune or his friends could do about that. When they returned they were celebrated as heroes. Reporters were asking all types of fantastic questions, and camera's flashed everywhere. CFVY went back to their hotel to rest up.

As soon as the horde of reporters left the scene at Yeldale's city hall, a familiar face approached Jaune.

"Um..Coal right?" He recognized the man from the horror that was the Starbright's lab.

"Yep, sonny! It's me. Thanks again for the save."

"No thanks needed sir, just doing my job." Jaune said, scratching the back of his head.

"Nonsense. You saved tons of lives kid, be proud." Coal said. "As a token of my thanks I have a proposition for you."

"Hmm?"

"I want you to become my protégé."

"What! Really!?" Jaune was surprised to say the least.

"Yes. I'm also a huntsman. Coal Hayon of Beacon Academy." The older man said matter of factly. He didn't look like a huntsman. He didn't have any armor of warrior like clothing on, just a simple robe and trousers with worn out sandals. But Jaune learned from his days at Beacon that looks can be deceiving; Ruby was a great example as she a fifteen year old was one of the best warriors he knew.

"I myself was following the same case you were. Grimm were piling up at that madman's lab and I tried to bring him in, but he was too strong for me. That's why I want to train you. You and your friends were able to take him down. You have great potential." Coal continued.

"Gosh.. I don't know what to say." Jaune managed to get out. This was a good day for him.

"Say nothing! Just agree."

Jaune did as he was instructed and agreed. He and Coal exchanged numbers and went their separate ways. Jaune went back to the hotel with Team CFVY exited at the thought of training with Coal.

XXXXX

He was to open the door when he was tackled by the bubbly flash of orange and pink.

"FEARLESS LEADER!" Nora Valkyrie shouted in joyous glee.