Chapter 3: The Searchers
The Wind Up and Pitch Club
City of Vale, 10:00 AM
Present Day
The Wind Up and Pitch Club was one of Vale's premier establishments for dancing and drinking. And also, for those who knew the management, certain kinds of "business". That is why the club was open during the day despite peak hours being late at night. That is why despite it being broad daylight, the bouncers were still out in force. And that is why Ruby Rose, clad in scarlet cloak and hood, was walking up to the door. The bouncer on duty peeled himself off the wall and moved in front of the door, and put his hand out, while his companion folded his arms.
The bouncer addressed Ruby: "Sorry lady, can't let you in at these hours unless you're on the list, Name please?" Ruby said nothing, and simply flashed her Sheriff's badge to the bouncer. The bouncer instantly recognized the name.
"My apologies, miss. Please, follow Pinkerton here." And with that, Ruby was led inside. The interior was well-lit by electric lights, and it being the off hours, a nice old piano was playing, rather than more modern music for the younger crowd. It wasn't exactly Ruby's first time in this place – the club's owner, Hei Xiong, now a little over eighty, had been acquainted with Ruby's older sister Yang. However, the relationship between Hei and Yang was tense to say the least. As such, when Ruby and her team needed a crucial piece of information during the events of thirty-five years ago, it would eventually be Ruby who acted as the liaison – and this was an arrangement that Hei Xiong found much more agreeable. The two somehow hit it off, and their growing friendship eventually lead to Hei providing some much needed manpower near the climax of Ruby's adventures. When the dust settled, Ruby ensured Hei and his crew were properly compensated, which cemented Hei as the top information broker of Vale, which only furthered their friendship. Since then, Ruby continued to pay a visit every now and then, mostly for information on locating the occasional outlaw who attempted to evade the Sheriff of Patch by hiding in the big city.
As she was being escorted to Hei's quarters, Ruby passed a woman not older than twenty-five, with smooth auburn hair, issuing orders to an assembled group of grunts. This was Carmella Xiong, Hei Xiong's daughter. As Hei grew old and forgetful, his daughter was beginning to take on more and more of the responsibilities of running both of the Xiong's businesses. She had graduated from school a few years ago with a business degree, and had begun to take over management of the Club. Intelligence, however, was still firmly under Hei's control, and Ruby had finally reached his office. The man who was escorting her barely even had time to raise his hand to knock before Hei opened the door.
"I've been expecting you, Sheriff of Patch," said Hei.
"Junior. It's been far too long," replied Ruby. And with that, the escort left Ruby and Hei to their business.
"Tea?" asked Junior, slowly walking over to a table containing a tea kettle and bags of various tea leaves. "Had I more notice of your arrival I would have had sweets brought as well," added Junior.
Ruby politely declined. "I'm here strictly on business today, Junior. But not the kind I'm usually here for." Ruby pulled a single red envelope out of her pocket, and placed it on Junior's desk.
"One week ago I received this letter. No name, no indication of where it was sent from, and no address other than 'Vale'."
"And you want me to look into who sent it? That's going to take time, and money. Vale's a big place, and I can't just go around testing everyone's handwriting. Got anything to narrow it down?"
"Try reading the letter."
Shrugging, Junior brushed open the flap, and removed the paper within the envelope. He read aloud the contents of the letter:
Dear Ruby Rose,
You are cordially invited to the town of Abaline, in a week's time, for a gathering of legends from thirty-five years past. Be prepared to face yourself. You may forget the past, but the past does not forget you.
Regards,
The Past
Junior looked at the letter and grimaced slightly.
"And you're sure this is creditable?" asked Junior.
"I'm almost certain. I arrived there a few nights ago, and my suspicious were confirmed when a certain someone and his crew rode into town last night." explained Ruby.
"I know a lot of certain someones and a lot of crews. Pardon me for asking for clarification," insisted Junior.
"The Steele Gunners are in Abaline, Junior. Mercenary work that takes you within twenty-five miles of Vale isn't exactly common anymore," Ruby explained. At this, Junior sat back in his chair and sighed.
"All right, Ruby, I'll do what I can to investigate this. Give me the name of the place you're staying and I'll keep you updated," said Junior. Suddenly remembering things in his old age, he thought for a moment, and addressed Ruby again. "Say, Ruby. What about Blondie, and that Schnee girl?"
Ruby thought for a moment before replying. "I would be surprised if Miss Schnee wasn't sending one of her agents to scout the area first. And Yang? She's probably planning on showing up a day late to catch the sender off guard. Knowing her she sees this as a challenge more than anything else."
Junior again walked across the room to the tea kettle, and poured himself another glass. "Well, at least I'm not mixed up in all of this," said Junior. And with that, Ruby left the club, on the way passing a dutiful grunt on his way to Junior's office, who carried in hand a single black envelope, addressed to one Hei Xiong.
Abaline Pub
6:00 PM
As the day wound down and Carrot was preparing to close so that the next story session from Ruby could commence, Argyle was saying goodbye to the last patron to leave, a man in a suit emblazoned with the Schnee symbol.
"It was good talking to 'ya. Not every day we get someone from the Schnee Company here in Abaline."
"It was a pleasure, and thank you for the drink. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a report to make." And with that, the suited man left. As he walked out the door, Jay, who was walking fast as to not be late for the appointed time, nearly bowled him right over.
"Sorry sir!" Jay exclaimed as he nervously shuffled through the saloon doors and into the pub. He waved hello to Argyle, who was still polishing glasses. "Evening, Argyle!"
"Evening, Jay. That there crate for Miss Rose?" asked Argyle.
"You bet it is," said Jay. "I keep my promises to beautiful ladies."
"Well aren't you quite the charmer," Carrot teased, turning and winking at Jay.
"Well, thanks, I guess," said Jay, a slight stammer in his voice. Just then, Corcran walked through the door.
"Evenin' fellas! Evenin' Bil- wait, where's Billy?" asked Corcran.
"He hasn't come in yet Corcran," replied Argyle. "I'm sure he'll be here soon, though". Right on cue, Billy walked through the door, albeit in the middle of a heated discussion on holster placement with Alexander, whom had met him just outside the pub.
"I'm telling you, the hip holster is traditional! You can't just ignore that!" exclaimed Billy.
"You're trying to lecture someone five years your elder on tradition? Somethin' about that just seems wrong", replied Alexander. "And anyway, we used all kinds of holsters back then, just like we do now! With my leg holster, I don't have to spend time raising my arm first to draw. I just grab the gun, aim, and shoot. It all feels natural, and it's faster than those so-called 'traditional' holsters." The two men then looked up and realized they were in the Pub. Alexander was the first to apologize.
"Sorry about that. Billy and I got into a bit of a discussion on holster placement and how it would affect a duel," said Alexander.
"We'll continue this discussion another time. Say, where's that Ruby gal? Wasn't she supposed to be here by now?" asked Billy. As if on cue, another horse came up to the Pub, and off jumped Ruby herself. The greetings complete, Ruby accepted the cookies, and the group seated themselves around a table.
"Last time I told you all about the thing that got me in to Beacon. What happened when I got there was a different experience altogether. See, back in the old times when the Grimm were still around, Beacon had elaborate and often deadly entrance examinations, that would send students off to random places in the Emerald Forrest, forcing them to team up and retrieve an object from the woods without being killed by Grimm. Although this kind of things wasn't exactly practical any more due to the lack of Grimm, the headmaster of Beacon still maintained that some sort of initiation to test the skills of an incoming class was necessary. So the program was revised. Students were now launched to random parts of the forest, as before. Only this time, they had a day to form a four-person team from the first person they saw, and then the first group of two they saw. Only when four students were together did they have permission to attempt to track one of the professors hiding out in the forest, and receive from them a letter certifying they had accomplished their objectives. We had a day to do this, and I can still see the wisdom behind it – field work is the best way to get to know the people you're working with. And of course I end up with one of the most… interesting teams I could have possibly gotten."
