Sacrifice: Chapter 10
He looked them over, as the depth of there mission really set in.
"Your certain we will be able to find him?" Ruby questioned Ozpin, and Professor Qrow spoke up.
"You got it kiddo. I tagged him earlier in class, he will lead us right to there base."
"Teams ROSE and SWDO will offer you support, they will be necessary to infiltrate the base. Once you find their base, you will contact me or Qrow to let us know before you make your way in."
"Ill be keeping a eye out on the tracker myself anyway."
"What if they don't take the bait?" Yang asked as Blake winced.
"They will, I have no doubts about that. They have been waiting for him to leave. We found one of his sources, and the instant they took off for the village, he made contact." Ozpin glanced at Blake, "Is something wrong Miss Belladonna?" She looked away, hesitated to speak, but looked him in the eye as she spoke.
"I don't like this idea of using Hero as bait, it's not right!"
"Tell me something, do you think him capable of taking care of himself, and if he did know the plan do you think he would back down?" She broke her gaze again,
"Well yes, and no bu-"
"Miss Belladonna, I don't wish to put my students in any more harm then you do, but this is necessary."
"You mentioned something about his source?" Weiss asked
"Its being handled." Qrow said. "Glynda noticed one of our students acting a bit, weird as of late. Coming back late all the time, spying on a certain teams missions, so we have been keeping a close eye on him."
"Hes being dealt with as we speak, and he will be questioned." Ozpin said,
"That's it?!" Yang snapped, "If he's the cause of all of this, he should pay! We should-"
"So what would you have me do Miss Xiao Long? Put him in the courtyard and give him 40 lashes? Ban him from Beacon and Vale and kick him out to the badlands? Keep him locked up in my vault for the rest of his life?" Ozpin shook his head, "We need to know how he got in contact with them, what he knows, and most importantly, why."
"You keep saying he, who exactly is he?" Weiss asked while Qrow exchanged a look with Ozpin before answering,
"That's on a need to know basis, and right now you don't need to know." The four girls looked to each other with unamused faces.
"I know it's not fair, but we can't put all of that out right now. I think we have already told you more then enough. You girls have your mission, Ruby, I'll be in contact." He said with a nod as the four Huntresses in training looked at each other, disappointed looks on there faces. Ruby was the first to turn and leave, followed by Yang, Weiss then Blake. They walked into the elevator and the door slid shut behind them.
"Think they're ready Oz?"
"They will need to be." Ozpin took another sip of his coffee to clear his mind and prepare for what was about to happen next.
"Ah, Russel, just who I was looking for." Glynda Goodwitch said as she opened the door to one of the storage closets, watching Russel fumble with his scroll, obviously hiding something, and pulled out his two daggers as he locked eyes with her.
"Uh, Professor, how can I help-"
"Don't play coy." She said as she yanked the daggers from his hands and placed them on the floor behind her using her telekinesis powers. "I just have one question, why?" His eyes widened in terror and he trembled as he spoke. First as a whisper, but rose in intensity.
"You don't understand... her, his power, what he could do, what he's capable of..." his voice raised in sheer horror. "He could burn this place to the ground a thousand times over and none of us could stop him!" He cried out as he charged her with nothing but his fists. She simply moved to the side, and tapped his head with her Crop and he froze, eyes still set in terror, as she lifted him a few inches off the floor and led him out of the room. Diamond Dun, member of Team SWDO, blue haired deer faunus, was waiting for Glynda as she emerged from the closet. She extended her hands and closed her eyes, focusing as she used her powers and extended a small bubble around the three of them, as Glynda guided them down the hallways. It was still day though classes were going on, there was still a few students in the halls. This is why Diamond was here. They had been putting the two teams to the test ever since they were formed, just for missions like this. Glynda wasn't a fan of sending kids in to do adults work, but these were hard times. To the people outside the bubble, they would see nothing, not a person, not a distorted view, nothing. Though they could still bump into the people inside themselves, and once they were in they would be able to see what was going on, everything inside the bubble was invisible to the naked eye of those outside. Glynda didn't want people to know what was going on, that she was dragging a 3rd year student through the hall like this, and this was a perfect way to keep things hidden in plain view. They stepped into a elevator, and as the door closed behind them, Diamond instantly opened her eyes and put her hands down, panting heavily as she dropped the illusion bubble, as Diamond had called it. Very useful. They descended in silence, thankfully. Glynda was not too excited for what was about to happen next, but it had to be done. She glanced over at Diamond who was biting on her nails, when she must have felt her eyes on her and she met them.
"Yes Professor?" She asked,
"Are you okay?"
"Yes Professor. Just, a little nervous about all of this. I mean, it's really about to happen?" Glynda nodded.
"We've been doing our best to prepare you all, it's never an easy job, but it's necessary."
"Right, I don't doubt that." She said as she turned away. "Do you still need me here?"
"I suppose not anymore. After we finish up here, I suspect your team will be leaving." The lift came to a stop and the door opened with a ding. Russel, still trapped in Glynda's telekinetic grasp, floated out of the elevator and she carried him through a series of hallways, and into a brightly lit chamber where Strawberry Bonbon, and Wenge Rider were currently waiting with Professor Peach. Without a word, she put him down onto a chair, and strapped him in. She backed up slightly, and gave Wenge a nod.
"Well then, I'll get started." He said in a calm, almost bored voice. He walked over to Russel, now trapped in the chair, and placed his hand over his face and closed his eyes. His hand started to glow as he channeled his semblance. From what Glynda understood, the young man could rip images from the minds of those he came in contact with, and focused in on. Perfect for the situation on hand, though crude as it had certain... possible side effects. Temporary memory loss and hallucinations. Mostly it depended on how hard the person resisted. It could be done real simple with no effects, but clearly Russel was going to resist. That and his mind had already been tampered with. It was necessary, for the greater good, she had to keep telling herself. He started to shake and tremble as Wenge dug deeper in his mind, and his eyes rolled back as he started to convulse. It was necessary. Poor kid, who knows what he went through when having to deal with what he did, who knows what pushed him over the edge to spy on his own. It was necessary. She closed her eyes as he started screaming out in pain and terror, hoping Wenge would finish soon, or take care not to damage the boy. For fear if she kept her eyes open, they might shed tears for the boy, her student. It was necessary. Another Huntsman in training had lost his life due to the spying of this one, she tried to reassure herself, knowing it was a moot point. This was all Ozpins idea, she thought to herself. It was necessary. No, I'm still at fault for letting this happen.
"Stop!" She yelled out, snapping her eyes back open and taking in the sight of Wenge slowly removing his hand. Russel's eyes rolled back and he passed out, and Professor Peach started to check all of his vitals. Wenge looked at her with a straight face, unfazed by what just happened, she supposed he was use to it. It was his gift after all, his curse.
"Its ok, I got what we needed." He said as he nodded back to Strawberry who was covering both sets of ears. "And your going to want to hear this." Glynda raised a eyebrow at him.
"Then let's head back up to Ozpins at once. Peach?"
"Ill take care of this." She said as she worked over Russel, making sure he was still okay.
"Time is of the essence." Wenge said as he passed Glynda and walked out of the door, Strawberry close behind. Glynda nodded at Professor Peach, and made her way back towards the elevator with the two SWDO members...
"ETA, 10 minutes until we reach the drop zone." The pilot said over the Bullheads speaker system. Ten minutes until they were dropped off to help a village currently under attack by the Grimm. She looked up at her team, feeling the tension in there auras. Hero was standing, holding onto one of the handles to keep him steady, Ariel was seated next to him on one of the fold down chairs, head resting on his waist, and Peach whose eyes were closed, stood in the middle with her sword in both hands and the blade facing down, holding her up. Rouge ran her left hand over her utility belt to double check her ammo, eight grenades, 10 cores. Since getting Cinis and Pulverem upgraded, she was able to get two fully charged shots from one core, instead of just one shot. Which helped immensely, because she really burned through ammo when taking on tough targets. She started to hit a few buttons on her arm, but stopped herself as she realized she had checked her weapons at least five times already, so she instead put a ear bud in her right ear and turned her music on to calm her nerves. What made this any different then all the life and death situations they were faced with before? She thought as she started bobbing her head to the awesome tunes. They took out a Goliath just last night for fuck sakes! Sim or not, that thing was tough. She shook her head and steadied her shaking hand. She looked back up to to see everyone in the same position, though Hero was now looking down at her. He met her gaze and nodded.
"Five minutes!" The pilot called out again. Hero took a deep breath and made his way over to the door that was still closed, and turned to face his team.
"Ariel," he started saying as each looked up at him and he met there gazes with fire burning in his stark white eyes. Now she felt his aura go ice cold, "Rouge, Peach... These past few weeks I've been pushing you all to your limits." He chuckled and smirked "I'm impressed, to say the least. I was impressed when I first met you all. We've come a long way from a rag tag bunch of soloists, and we have faced a lot as a team. Each of you has amazing gifts, and a strength and will that I envy. As one person, you all are talented, and powerful. But as a Team, as team HARP, we are so much more. All of our life's choices has led us to this moment, this day, and I know what you all are thinking. After all we have been through, what we faced in such a short period of time, why is this any different? In reality it's not. However, this... this is our very first mission into extremely hostile territory, where civilian lives are at stake. Practice is over, initiation is over. This is the real deal, we CANNOT, AND WILL NOT, fail. Either small of a mission, or large, we represent Beacon, and HARP. Our duties are to protect those who cannot protect themselves, we know what must be done." He met eyes with each of them, "I truly am proud of you, each of you, and I've been blessed with the honor of being your leader, something I've never took lightly. So, this is our job, let's do it and go home." He shrugged, "I'd expect nothing less from you, nothing more, then to get he job done. We.." Rouge noticed him shiver, "Hang on!" He reached up and grabbed the handle with his other hand, as well as everyone else as the Bullhead banked hard to the right. Hero slapped the door panel as it slid open, letting the breeze come though the cabin. He turned to Rouge and Ariel and motioned for them to come over. As she stood up and started to roll her sleeves up, the pilot spoke over the intercom.
"We have heavy Grimm presence by the LZ, plus incoming swarm of Nevermore! Repeat, heavy Grimm presence by the LZ and incoming Nevermore swarm!"
"IronJaws!" Hero yelled over the howling winds, and screeching of Nevermore cries. "Air support!" He clipped both of his sheaths to his belt, and hefted a red back pack and strapped it on his back. "Rocket got all out! I brought you a bunch of extras in case you run out, let me know if you need them!"
"Oh Future! You really know what the ladies love!" She squeezed his cheek before clipping her team ear bud in, and bringing Cinis and Pulverem fully online, blasting her way out of the side entrance. Ariel followed suit after a kiss from her furry partner, soaring out on a small cloud of lightning gathered under her feet. In front of the Bullhead she just left, were the other two, and at least 20 that she could see, maybe more, Nevermore swooping low around the village, now making there way up to the approaching ships. She noticed the middle Bullheads door slide open, and Ivory jumped up, sprouting her silver gleaming cybernetic rocket wings, and pulling her bow staff off of her back before soaring down to the nearest Nevermore. Rouge changed her arms to blade form and dove towards the nearest Nevermores back as well. Keeping her blades in front of her, she shredded through it, changed them back to cannon form, and blasted to the next one. Using her elbow jets to steady her, she pulled Cinis to her side to gather her aura for a shot, flexed her arm and a huge red fire beam took out ones head, and clipped off a Nevermores wing beside it. She looked up and to her right and saw Ariel on her cloud, and two Nevermore that were getting close to her, as their heads exploded, and she pulled her spears back as she flung them at another two.
"Keep up shorty!" She heard Ariel tease over the ear piece. "But who's keeping count right?!" So that's how she wants to play it, well at least it was a way to rid some of the tension going on. Rouge flew over to the next Nevermore in her sights as it was coming straight at her. She easily changed her flight path to just below it as she changed Pulverem to blade form, reaching up and stabbing it into its lower neck, and blasting towards it's belly, ripping it's underside apart. She blasted over to the next one and landed on its back while sticking Pulverem in its back for support as the giant bird tried to shake her off, charged Cinis to half power twice, taking two shots, both burning off the wings of two Nevermore near her, and watched them crash to the ground as she drove Pulverem deeper into its back, and ran over the length of its body to its head, burning it clean off.
"That's six Jaws!"
"Only six?" She heard Kayreen call out in her ear piece as the sky started to darken and a small storm cloud appeared. Rouge looked up to see the dust head floating just underneath it with her hands up, electricity sparking between her and the enormous black cloud. She brought her hands down as thunder bolts started arcing towards all the Nevermore, engulfing there bodies in sparks, and making them implode. "We still counti-"
"Enough with the chatter guys!" Jaune's voice cut through over there intercoms. "Lets try not to have too much fun, we do have civilians dying down here. There are Grimm Defense Towers near the gates that have been shutdown for some reason. Me and Pyrrha will secure the northern gate, Ren and Nora with get the southern. HARP and DICK land in the middle and work your way out. Clear everything in your path." Rouge turned her head to see JNPRs Bullhead drop off two people towards one of the ruined gates, and head to another one that was currently crawling with Beowovles. "Need some air support by the South gate!"
"Ivory is on it!" She glanced to see her rocketing towards the Southern gate.
"Need closer air support near the center as well! Rouge and Ariel your up. Kayreen, support the North gate!"
"Sure thing boss!"
"You got it Jauney boy." Rouge said as she pointed Cinis and Pulverem behind her to propel her towards the middle of the village...
"Ready P?" Hero asked her, while she strapped her new helmet on and nodded,
"Ready when you are."
"Were close enough, let's go!" He said while jumping out of the Bullhead into a swarm of Creeps, cutting them down even as he landed. Peach jumped after him, bringing Malleus above her head and bringing it down as she fell, sending the small group she landed in, flying in all directions. She swung Malleus in a long arc, chopping a few heads off before jumping again as one charged for her legs, and brought her sword down on to its head, ending any further threat to her. She felt Hero press his back against hers as she landed, and he shot his blades on more converging Creeps. Peach got on one knee as she held her shield up to block two from her right, as she stabbed one to her left, directly in its open mouth as it tried to bite her, flung it off her sword and stabbed another through its eyes. She felt Hero jump into the air,
"Haaaa!" He came crashing back to the floor, multiple white beams tearing through the mass of Creeps.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" She heard someones battle cry as Chris the Colossus charged past them, using nothing but his hands to slap aside Grimm and send them flying. He jumped and landed with his boots on two Creeps necks, shattering them. Clearing a small path for the two of them, Peach and Hero started to make there way back through the path he cleared, Hero stabbing, and slashing anything that dared get close. Turning her head back towards Chris, Creeps left and right were biting on his arms, and legs, but to no avail as his skin was rock solid. He brought a fist down on top of one's head, smashing it flat, kicked another one in its face as its skull shattered, and brought two elbows down on the two trying to bite through his legs.
"This area is thick!" Chris yelled out, "We need some air support at this area NOW!"
"DONE!" Before Peach could even react, as she was holding off two with Securis, and another with Malleus, she seen a tiny red orb fall 2 feet in front of her. She pressed her back to Hero's even harder, and jumped to the top of a nearby building, as a red beam shot out and obliterated the pack of Creeps.
"Good thinking P." He squeezed her shoulder and took a look around the battlefield. "IronJaws, we got two burning buildings to the west, can you do something about them?" Peach turned to look at the flaming buildings, wondering where all the civilians were located. Scattered around were bloody tattered clothes, but not enough. There were suppose to be a lot of them, and though the Grimm were many, they ran around searching aimlessly for the most part.
"I've got this Rocket." Came Ariel's reply.
"The civilians are in the main compound in the middle of the village," Destin's voice called out. "Ursi are attempting to break down the doors. I can solo them, but some form of help would be nice."
"I'm coming back to you now!" Chris called out.
"After you left me? Oh how thoughtful!" Destin retorted,
"Oh come on, your more then capable then taking care of yourself Spartan." Chris replied
"That is true..." Destin agreed,
"Need a ride?" Rouge said as Peach looked up and seen her grab his shoulders and haul him off, as he changed back to his normal size.
"P, let's make our way to the North gate." She nodded as he shot Sunder towards a Beowolf down below, dead as he landed by it, and decapitated another to his left. Peach shot Securis at one approaching to his right, and took its head off, as well as an other that was close behind it. She jumped off the building into a roll, caught Securis as it came back to her and took out three more Creeps before coming shoulder to shoulder with Hero. He activated Thunder, and held it in front of him. "Shall we?"
"I was serious about some help, just saying!" Destin called out.
"Were almost there!" Rouge replied. Ariel finished icing down the last house that was on fire as she turned her head to the middle of the village, which was only the next block over. She instantly picked out pink armor surrounded by a sea of black Ursi.
"I'm already there." She said as she directed the flow of her cloud towards the large swarm. "Destin, spark up your armor!"
"If that's what you want!" She seen his armor flash yellow as she gathered her aura into her finger tips, focusing the yellow dust from her bracers as she created a mini lightning storm that engulfed all the Ursi attacking him. She could only focus it so much, only the Ursi around him imploded, as she switched to ice dust and tried to trap as many left behind as she could while he went around using his arm blades to cut through the helpless Grimm. "Nice trap!" He called out as he continued to tear through the frozen Ursi.
"Incoming!" Rouge yelled as she flew past Ariel and dropped Chris near Destin. Changing into his huge solid form he pounded the ground, and sent them stumbling in all directions. He finally pulled out his long sword to use against the Ursi. Going hand to hand with Creeps was one thing, but an Ursa, that was completely different. She seen Rouge fling two empty cores towards the swarm, "Fire in the hole!" She called out as the Spartan and the Colossus jumped to avoid the blast radius.
"Destin," Jaune said over the ear piece, "when you get a chance, the tower controls should be in the bunker where the civilians are hiding out. Clear out the area, see if you can get inside, and see if you can activate them!"
"Roger."
"How's the Southern gate?" Hero asked.
"Were handling it. We have a few Deathsta-" Ren replied but was cut off by Nora.
"They're mine! HA HA HA HAAA!" Ariel turned her head as she heard a loud explosion, and almost giggled when the smoke from it formed into a big pink heart cloud.
"Stat- HAAAA!" Hero said, "Sorry, give me a status update." Upon really looking around, she though she could offer some good intel.
"You and Peach have cleared a good path to the North gate, only a few more left until you reach it. Three more fires have popped up near the entrance. The skies are clear, most of the Grimm are focused in the center now, being handled by Destin, Chris and Rocket." She turned to the left to see Kayreen take a final pull from her bong, as she strapped it back to her leg, lifted her hands up as a bunch of Grimm were lifted into the air and we're slammed back down at bone crunching speeds, killing them. "Kayreen is picking off stragglers since the North gate is clear, I will join her, and Ivory is with Ren and Nora clearing out the rest of the South gate."
"I'll get the fires this time Jaws, I can use the extra juice."
"Thanks for the update."
"Here here." Ariel joined Kayreen in picking off the random Grimm around, flinging her Trident at a Beowolf here, zapping a few Creeps with yellow dust there, freezing some in place for others to cut down. She watched as Rouge hovered over one of the burning buildings, and changed her hands back to normal as she landed on top of an adjacent roof. Palms out, she pointed her hands towards the flames as they started glowing and the flames started to spiral and flow into her outstretched hands, absorbing the fire to fuel her aura. After Rouge repeated this process two more times, Ariel did another scan to confirm there were no more fires, and the interior of the village was free of Grimm. All that remained was a few battered and burnt buildings, and bloody shredded clothing. The Grimm were thorough when feeding, eating everything down to the bone, what horrible monsters. Ariel gritted her teeth at the thought of the few helpless victims that didn't make it to the bunker in time, and we're feasted on by the Grimm. She sat over the edge of the roof she was standing on as Kayreen landed next to her and pulled her bong Torchie out.
"It could have been worse. Much worse." She said, her voice nearly a whisper. Ariel just nodded, for some reason the lack of bodies made her even more sick. She hated the Grimm, this was the reason she wanted to fight them in he first place. They would wipe out all life, destroy a whole village, and for what? When killed they just turned to ash. Shaking her head trying to clear it, she felt a hand gently squeeze her shoulder. "It will be okay." The dust head said while exhaling the smoke from her lungs. "Look at the bright side, we saved those who would have otherwise died without us." She sighed "How's the saying go, you can't always save everyone, but you save the ones you can. This world isn't perfect, but we do what we can."
"Yeah I suppose your right. It all still disgusts me."
"Yeah..." Kayreen simply replied, "Just try to keep in mind the good we're doing." Ariel looked down to see the Spartan checking around the bunker before yelling,
"Area around the bunker is clear, attempting to get in now."
"I'm on my way." Jaune replied. "Hero come as well, everyone else form a perimeter around the gates and shout out if you see anything. Don't be in a huge rush Destin, I doubt the door will open."
"Now you tell me, after you had said to go in and turn the GDT's on. But your right, its asking for an authorization code."
"I figured as much, I'm coming now."
I'll just wait on you boss." *Shish Chinng!* Ariel snapped her neck at the sound that appeared behind her, she knew that sound, and she caught sight of it as Hero clipped his sheaths back onto his belt. He didn't slow his pace as he made his way over to Ariel.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." He said softly as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Are you ok?"
"Yes I'm, I'm fine. Are you?"
"Never better." He smiled warmly down at her as he ran his fingers through her silky red hair, she enjoyed every stroke. "Ill see you in a bit." He jumped off the roof, and made his way over to the Spartan. At least it was almost over.
"I'm going to hit the streets Ari, I'll see you in a bit." Kayreen said as she floated down to the floor and walked away. Ariel noticed her direction would take her straight for Peach. Well it was typical to check on loved ones after a battle, she giggled. Though the two girls were not anything official, they were still really, really close and affectionate towards each other. Ariel was just happy her teammate was making good lasting friendships. Starting off, she was always so quiet, but with Rouge's help, and recently Kayreen, she had broken out of her shell, so not everything was doomed. She noticed Hero come in contact with the Spartan down below, and she wondered just how many villagers survived, and how many lost their lives...
"Not bad huh?" The spartan said as he held his fist out, and Hero bumped it when he got close enough.
"Too easy if you ask me."
"Don't jinx it Hero boy, besides, its just Grimm right?" He said while slapping Hero's shoulder. Through the past few weeks, the two had gotten unexpectedly close. Different in almost every way, Hero still had a lot of respect for the Spartan. He was a good leader who always keep his head under pressure. Hero often asked for his advice on a lot of things, being he had more "street smarts" and Hero wasn't use to being in a team, and Destin was raised to never leave anyone behind. He was also the type to see a problem, and open his mouth about it, which was one of the qualities Hero appreciated the most, not to mention he was a bad ass fighter "We got things to do tonight, me and Chris got asses to beat." Hero smirked at the spartan, knowing he'd get destroyed again, but it was still a fun game to play. Every Tuesday and Thursday after classes for the past two weeks, Destin had been setting up Halo tournaments in his room. Ten lien buy in, winner takes all. Cheap enough for all to play, and when 10 or more people showed up it became very lucrative. The last one, 32 people had played, chaos in the small room, they started forming lines down the hallway. Goodwitch had complained and threatened to shut it down, but all the participants had good grades, and it was after classes so Ozpin had just said to let the kids be kids, as long as it didn't get violent. However, it was clearly a scam as the Spartan was an elitist at the game, though the two ROSE members had been gaining o him, Sangria and Ebony. The pair had been close to knocking out the Spartan and the Colossus. Recently they had changed to more team focused, so he didn't rob everyone of their money. Hero and Destin turned to face the approaching sounds of foot steps.
"Hey Chris, just patrol around the city and keep an eye out for anything. We can handle things here." Chris nodded at Jaune and turned away to follow his order. He then spoke into his headset, "Rouge, do me a favor and call your sister for me, she's not picking up as usual."
"You got it Jauney boy." He grimaced at the nickname and Destin chuckled.
"Guys, good job out there. We're halfway done." He passed them and walked up to the huge iron door, and stepped over to the small console. He hit three buttons on it and spoke into the speaker. "Override gamma 258 Ozwitch." *CLICK CLACK THUD* the large door started to slowly creak open, sliding in, nothing but darkness inside. "Get ready, just in case." Hero grabbed Sunders sheath as he felt a breeze come out from the inside, which brought a smile to his face.
"Its alright!" He called out. "We were sent from Beacon Academy by Professor Ozpin, and we eliminated all of the Grimm attacking here." Upon finishing his last word, the lights inside snapped on, revealing a large corridor, with multiple doors on the sides. A elderly man a tad bit taller then Hero, flanked by two people holding Atlesian issued rifles, made there way over to the three Huntsman in training.
"There just kids." The one on the left said,
"Well if Ozpin sent them, then I trust them." The elder said as he bowed low. "Thank you, I was not sure we would make it out alive. We didn't know how longer the doors would hold.'
"Well they certainly took there time!" The right one retorted, "They are the reason the Grimm were here in the first place! These are the the kids people worship, the glorified murderers!"
"Hey we didn't as-" Jaune held his hand out to stop Destin from continuing.
"Be quiet Hanson! And you too Verden! If not for these young men we would still be trapped in here with a hoard of Grimm waiting to devour us!" The elder scolded them.
"Hmmpf..." The left one huffed.
"I'm sorry, we won't be here much longer so we will be out of your hair soon." Jaune continued, "But we need to figure out if you can tell us what happened to the GDT's? And also, is this all that's left of your people?"
"Forgive me." The elder said as he bowed again, "I am Tuchuck, Leader of this Village. Were not sure why they stopped working. Maybe the Grimm destroyed them?"
"No," Jaune replied, "they are still in tip top condition."
"Sabotage." The left guard said, scowl on his face, "Most likely there doing!" He pointed at the three Huntsman and Tuchuck slapped his hand down.
"I won't tell you again, shut it! And what possible reason would they have for doing that?" The guard gave him a flat stare,
"Yes sir..."
"I'm sorry, everyone is just on edge, and to answer your question, no, we still have survivors in the rooms, we just had to be sure it was safe."
"I can assure you its safe out now, we have the perimeter locked down tight. But we would really like to inspect the GDT console if you don't mind. I'd feel better if we got this place defensible again." Jaune said,
"Great, the quicker you get it working, the quicker you can leave." The guard said again.
"I'm really missing dust theory class for this?..." Destin said under his breath which brought a smile to Jaune's face. Hero knew the villagers outside of the kingdoms were not to fond of Huntsman and Huntresses, but this was ridiculous. Can they really be so arrogant?
"Ill have someone lead you to the control room, but first things first." Tuchuck made his way over to another panel on the wall and hit a few switches, then took off a key that was hanging around his neck and put it into a slot. An alarm started to ring out as the doors on the sides opened, and people started to peek there heads out, then emerge. First men, then woman, then children, holding onto there parents for dear life. Small and teary eyed, parents with thoughts of never seeing there kids again. This is why he wanted to become a Huntsman. To defend those who otherwise could not defend themselves.
"Give me status updates every five minutes starting now." Jaune said into his mic, as the civilians slowly walked passed them, uncertain of the safety of their homes that were just raided by the creatures of Grimm.
"North entrance clear." Pyrrha said.
"Southern gate is quiet." Ren replied.
"The airspace is clear for miles, no need for thanks." Kayreen said.
"Streets are empty. Me, Rouge and Peach are cleaning up the remains." Said Chris,
"Its Rocket, brick head." Destin chuckled at that.
"Ill get to work on the downed buildings after I take another hit from Torchie, excuse me ladies."
"Always play before work with you." Destin said,
"Oh hush Pink DICK." Kayreen replied,
"That's KING Pink DICK."
"Cut the chatter DICKs, or I'm cutting you all off." Jaune said into his mic with a grin as he followed one of the guards deeper into the bunker. The civilians continued to file out of the bunker, most walked past without a single word, some bowed there heads, and some nodded. Some shuddered in fear, and some made comments about how weird he looked, or how young this rag tag group of men looked. Some had scowls on there face, but all had hurt and sadness. He expected it all. These people lived in these villages to get away from the politics of the kingdoms. They blamed the Grimm on them. Though in reality, it wasn't there faults. Outside the kingdom this was a thankless job. He shrugged, its not like we're expecting medals after all, we're just doing the right thing. Hero was taking count, and by the last person that came out, he had counted 42 adults, 53 children. From the total count Ozpin had given them, 34 lives had been lost.
"That looks like the last of them." Said Destin.
"Yeah, more or less. I'll go see if Jaune has found anything."
"Rouge."
"Grrrr... Yes Jauney boy?"
"Come down to the bunker, your good with electronics right?"
"You bet kid."
"This was definitely sabotaged... I need you to run a bypass and see if you can get this thing up and running. I'm going to stay down here, Destin keep the entrance up there clear. Hero your in charge of top security, get somewhere high and keep your, uh, ears open. Everyone report to him."
"I'm on my way blondie."
"By the way, ETA of CFVY?"
"One hour 30. They just loaded up on their Bullhead, but they are really far out."
"Got'cha. Keep this channel open, mission critical reports ONLY."
"Boss." The Spartan said as Hero fist bumped him and exited the bunker. Taking a look around, it was like another storm was going on. The towns people, most of them at least, stood in awe as Kayreen who was on top of a building, was flicking both her wrists up and down, left and right, as walls went up, and roofs repaired them selves, and collapsed doors were put back on there hinges. All the while her bong was in her mouth and smoke was billowing up from it.
"Look at da flik of da wrist!" Rouge said as she landed next to Hero. "Hey Future." She said while slapping his ass as she passed him. He just shook his head, and focused on the red flowing mess of hair that was sitting on the edge of a building, head up and eyes focused on the clouds. He gave his self a running start as he leaped up to a smaller building, ran across the roof, then jumped up to a higher one, then shot Sunder into a wall of the one she was currently sitting on. He landed on one knee and instantly got up and made his way over to her. He sat down behind her and gently started to massage her shoulder blades.
"Mmmm..." she softly moaned. "Thanks hun, just what I need right now.
"Everything okay?" He asked as his thumbs worked circles on the middle of her back.
"Ill be fine, thanks." She leaned back and his massage turned into an embrace. He held her tight, arms wrapped around her and resting on her navel and his chin resting on her shoulder. "So whats the number?" She asked and he tensed up slightly, and knowingly she turned her head around to gaze into his eyes, mere centimeters away. Her expression was soft, though her bright amber eyes were a little more glossy then normal, as though she was holding back a multitude of tears. He squeezed her a little tighter, letting her know he was right there, and he wasn't letting go. She was a strong woman, even in her moments of weakness. He had learned that about her, she rarely ever showed weakness, but when she did, she still kept herself in check. "You know..." she started as she turned her head back to the clouds and locked her fingers between his. "the real reason I signed up for this, to become a Huntress, it wasn't to follow in my brothers footsteps or anyone else's. When I was younger, we were told about the dangers of living outside the kingdoms, everyone was, but I had a friend who lived outside with her family anyway. One day I went to see her, and in the middle of our play time, the Grimm alert siren started screeching. We got separated in the chaos, I had made it to one of those Grimm bunkers, she didn't. We were rescued by a team of Huntresses, one was female, white cloak with a hood, piercing silver eyes, kind and quiet. She didn't ask for anything, she just stood silently as we passed her, even as some blamed her, and the people she was with for the attack, or for coming too late. Maybe they were partly correct, but at the end of the day, my friend became just another number on a report. Just another causality to the Grimm." She turned back to face his eyes again, a single tear forming under her left eye, "But when I got closer to her, I noticed she was silently weeping. They were more then just numbers to her, she felt as if those people that died were her responsibility. They stayed as they laid there people to rest, and didn't leave until Atlas troops came." She paused and lowered her head as he felt her body go limp in his arms. "She had noticed I was alone there, so she picked me out of nowhere and cradled me in her arms, telling me it would be ok and asked me where my parents were. When I told her I was from Mistral, she ordered the ship to take me home, saying she had daughters a little older then me and she would be worried sick if she were my parents. She stayed with me until we landed at the Palace, when my parents tried to praise her and reward her, she just bowed her head, boarded the Bullhead and left. Never even telling me her name."
"So, you want to be the selfless hero, not doing this for praise or for money, just to protect others that over wise can't protect themselves." She nodded,
"And to save as many people as I can."
"Sometimes, you can't save everyone." Her head snapped around and she glared at him,
"That's cold Hero, even for you." He winced,
"Look, you know I was brought up into a life of murder, and killing. It was kill or be killed. I'm not saying that's not a noble goal," he said softly as he released one of his hands from her grasp and stroked her cheek just below her gills, "you just cant blame yourself when you fail." He sighed, "34 people died today. That's no one's fault but the Grimm's. I know what the people say, but there is nothing we could have done differently. Unless we could predict Grimm attacks, or they actually lived in the kingdoms. As cold as it is, they knew the risks. We all know the risks. When we come out on missions, our job is to save who we can. Were not perfect beings that can do it all, as strong as we are, we ALL have our limits."
"You don't think I know that!" She snapped her head around to meet his gaze and almost pulled away as her eyes flashed black and her body grew tense, then went limp as quickly as her outburst came and she melted in his arms, "I'm, I-"
"Shhh, its ok." He whispered into her ear, never letting his grip around her slacken. "I know it sucks." She nodded, as he felt her body shudder. "But its not your fault. We came here and did exactly what we needed to do. If not for us, there would have been many more deaths. The way I see it, we saved 95 men, women, and children, who's lives, whether they admit it or not, will now continue to go on because of YOU." he said as he squeezed her hand, and wiped another lone tear from her eye. She took a deep breath to compose herself before meeting his eyes again.
"Your right, I need to focus on the lives we saved, not the ones we cant. The good we do."
"Exactly. We cant carry the burden of the lives lost. What we can do is learn from them, and get stronger for the next time. Its like a cycle. The Grimm will never stop killing, they have been doing this long before we were born, and they will continue long after we leave this world. So we need to take pleasures in the small victories we can have. I learned that the hard way. Another day I fought and succeeded, was another day I didn't have to get beat nearly to death. And ANY life we save, even just one, is a victory."
"Thank you Hero." she slightly blushed and dug her face into his neck. "I, I don't know what I would do without you." He chuckled,
"Oh please Ari, you have been going on strong way before we met."
"Maybe... Well that's the thing, I've never had anyone to share my feelings with, someone I could completely trust." She paused, looking deeply into his eyes, "Hero I, I lov-"
"Hero, head back down to the main bunker." Jaune unknowingly interrupted. Part of Hero felt relieved. Was she about to say what I think she was? Love? He had some pretty intense feelings for her, and they had been "official" for a few weeks now, but love? "Hero come in." He shook his head out of his daydream, realizing he didn't answer Jaune, and that he was staring into Ariel's bright amber eyes, her cheeks now turning bright red as she turned away.
"I'm, on my way, Jaune." slight hint of nervousness in his voice he was sure. He reached over to grab her chin and turn her head back to his and meeting her fragile gaze. "Hold that thought, Ill be back."
"You promise?" She asked,
"I promise." He pulled her in and kissed her soft lips, while fingering her blue braid. That had become one of his signs of affection to her. He had told her it was like rubbing a rabbits foot, he rubbed the piece of hair for good luck. He stood up and smiled down at her before he jumped off the roof, and made his way back over to the bunker.
The streets were filled up with the remaining villagers, some searching for lost items, lost people, or just reclaiming their homes. Quite low tech stuff, other then the 20 foot concrete wall surrounding the village. The gates were destroyed, caved in, most likely due to the many Ursi that broke through, the villagers themselves were affecting repairs on it. The first wave that came in had to be the pack of Ursi, as they were the deepest in and were attempting to break down the bunker walls. Most of the structures inside the walls were made of either brick, or wood, not very defensive against the Grimm. Peach noticed a small girl with pink hair sitting on the steps of a brick house with the door smashed in. She wasn't all that great with small children, but she noticed the girl had her head buried into her lap and was trembling. She made her way over to the little girl,
"Hello, are you okay?" The little girl looked up with red rimmed teary eyes and flinched at the sight of the larger girl. Peach held her hand out, but the girl leaned away which made her draw her hand back. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked to see Kayreen with one of her soft inviting smiles.
"Heeyy cutie." She said sweetly as she got on her knees to meet the small girls eyes, which she looked up again at her. Kayreen cocked her hand and kept her warm smile. "Whats your name sweetie?" The girl hesitated but said,
"Ro, Rosita." She said with a tiny voice.
"I love it, and I love your pink hair! My friend would go crazy over it! I'm Kay, and this is my friend Peach. Have you seen your parents?" More tears started to form in the girls eyes as she shook her head. "Aww." Kayreen tousled her hair, "Lets see what we can do about that huh?" She opened her hand palm up and a single pink ice rose appeared in it, and she offered it to the girl. She took the rose and took Kayreens hand, and she picked the girl up and cradled her in her arms, the girls head dug deep into her chest. Kayreen turned back to Peach, got on her tip toes and kissed her on her cheek, prompting her cheeks to burn. "I got this one Peachpuff. I'll catch you later." She said with a wink and smile as she took off with the girl still in her arms. Peach was still slightly frozen in place from the whole ordeal, kids really were not her thing. She shrugged, gathering her composure as she turned back down the street to keep an eye on things.
The small girl had cried herself to sleep in her arms as Kayreen continued to play with her pink hair. She loved little kids, maybe it was the dust, or maybe due to the fact that she was a child at heart so she was able to get along with them so well. Or maybe it was just because little kids were just too damn adorable. She looked down at the small girl, no older then 5, arms wrapped around her and face hidden, due to the fact it was pressed against Kayreens chest. She made her way back to the bunker, hoping to find Jaune, or her parents, or at least figure out what to do with the small child. But instead she found the next best thing.
"Well well, what do we have here?" The Spartan called out softly while making his way over to Kay.
"Hey Rosie," the girl started to stir, slowly waking back up, "now he may look scary and really weird, but he's an absolute softy!" The girl slowly lifted her head to view the pink Spartan. "This is my Team leader, Destin. Destin, this is my little friend Rosita." Her eyes widened as he removed his helmet, revealing his soft white eyes, adorable baby face, and his fully regrown beard, prompting a blush from Rosita.
"Hey cutie. Wow! You have got to tell me how you got your hair like that! Is that natural?" He said as he reached out and tousled her messy pink hair, thanks to Kayreens constant playing with it, the little girl unflinching under his touch seemingly unafraid of the tall menacing... well he did look like a softy even in the armor,
"Your armor is so pretty Mister Destiny!" The small girl replied while Kayreen giggled.
"Its Destin, but I'll let that slide just for you, just cause your hair is about the greatest thing I've ever seen." Her cheeks went to an even deeper red and Kayreen slowly put her down onto the floor. "Where are your parents little Rose?" He said as he got down on one knee, lightly wiped a tear from her cheek, and pulled a pink rose out of no where from behind his back. He's such a biter! Kay thought to herself. She accepted the gift with a bright smile before she shook her head and looked away before answering.
"I don't know." The small voice said. He held his hand out, and she instantly reached out and grabbed it. He lifted her up and put her on top of his shoulders. "Wow your really strong!"
"It's the armor." Kayreen said with a smirk,
"Hey, don't hate Princess." He replied while looking around,
"You mind Des?" He shook his head.
"Naw, I'm free. Me and Rosita here are going to have a little adventure, sound fun?" The small girl blushed and nodded, now on top of the world as she sat on the tall Spartans shoulders. He turned and broke into a sprint as the girl screamed out in bliss, as the villagers watched the man most hated for invalid reasons comfort a little child from there village. "Hold on!" She heard him yell out as he leaped up a building, and as he got further away her loud giggles got lost in the wind. She nodded, proud of her leader, as she pulled her bong out for a quick hit before returning to Peach. By now she fully understood and was use to it, but for whatever reason she tried hard not to do it around her. She shrugged, cause she knew the reason well. She was falling for the girl, and didn't want her to look down on her. This was the first time she ever cared about what someone thought of her, it was a weird feeling indeed...
She was still making going around the village, attempting to assist the civilians where she could, though most shoe'd her off. Still, most people were putting things back together, and still people gave her random looks, not saying a word, when she felt someone grab her left bracer and pull. Peach turned and looked down to see two little boys with fruit in there hands.
"Um, excuse me." The first one said. She decided to follow Kayreens lead and she got on one knee so he didn't have to look up at her, which brought a smile from him. "Despite what most say, I think you guys are awesome! We were able to see the feeds from the inside!"
"Yeah you were so cool! That huge sword is so cool! All like wahhhhh, ca chaaaaaaa, and pewww with the razor disc thing! Then zoom you were over there and pew pew the other guy with his two swords! AWESOME!"
"AWESOME!"
"AWESOME! We want to grow up and be Huntresses just like you!" The other one exclaimed. Peach giggled at the two little boys, feeling a sense of pride. Don't let it go to your head. She noticed the boys parents a few feet away, with straight faces on. She fully removed her helmet, shaking her head letting her thick blond braid swing free and the two boys gasped. "Dude, she's a angel!" Peach giggled and blushed.
"If you young men listen to your parents and continue to grow strong, I'm sure you will become great Huntsmen one day." She said, trying to put on the warmest smile she could muster, and the two boys beamed at her commendation.
"We brought you food! It's not much... but it's all we have!" Her heart melted and a tear almost formed in her eye from the selfless act of the children. She dug in her belt pouch and pulled out two candy bars, her favorites. Normally she needed them to keep up her strenght, thanks to a few suggestions from Sangria. But she was willing to part with them for now.
"How about we trade?" She asked. The boys faces lit up as they looked at the candy bars.
"Are, are you sure lady?" The first one asked and she nodded.
"You can call me Peach." She said as she handed them the bars and they gave her two green apples.
"Thanks Misses Peach!"
"Yeah thanks!" They both said excitedly as they ran back to there parents. She was about to walk away as she noticed the father making his way over to her.
"Excuse me, Peach, Arc is it?" The elder man said, he somehow knew of her, and she nodded,
"That would be me." He held his hand out, and she instantly clasped it.
"I recognized the Arc crest on your chest plate. I wasn't sure at first, but when you removed the helmet, well, the resemblance is uncanny. I knew your father, he was a honorable and a great Huntsman, he always spoke highly of his daughters and how much he loved his family, saying your mother retired being a Huntress to raise them all. I'm sorry for all the disdain you have been receiving here, simple folk just don't seem to understand the bigger picture, and thank you. If not for you and your team, this Village would have been wiped off the map." He released her hand and she nodded.
"Thank you as well, you have wonderful children. It makes doing this that much more easy, give me more reasons to fight. And yes, I'm the youngest of the "girly hoard" as he called us. Him and my mother are partly the reason for doing what I do. The other is for people like your boys." He smiled and nodded.
"It can be a thankless job, as well as a dangerous and unpredictable one. So thank you, and please take care of your self. And the next time you see your father, tell him Roast sends his love and hopes he's keeping safe."
"Will do." She replied, "But may I ask you a question?"
"You just did." He said with a chuckle, "But yes, ask away."
"You all know the dangers of living outside the Kingdoms, so why do you?" He narrowed his eyes before he answered,
"Well, we don't all share the same ideals as the Kingdoms leaders. Grimm are drawn to conflict, as we seen from the last attack on Beacon, and Vale. Is there anywhere that's really SAFE? But I suppose we all have our different reasons, you take care now." As the man turned and walked back to his family, Peach turned to see Kayreen standing a few feet away from her with a huge warm smile on. She closed the distance and wrapped her arm through Peach's.
"See they aren't so terrifying." She said, "You just got to know how to approach them, get on there level. You did great." She said approvingly.
"Thanks, it was very, thoughtful of them to offer me these apples." She said as she handed her one of the pieces of fruit she had received. Kayreen led her down the street, arm still wrapped through hers.
"Yeah. They can be worse then Grimm sometimes, but they have pure hearts and are fragile, and they are super cute! Probably why I fell in love with Rouge when I seen her, she's just too god damn adorable! But don't tell her I said that or she'd murder me!" They both broke out into gut wrenching laughter. "I can't wait to have my own." She winked up at Peach.
"Not funny." She said with a sigh and slight grin. "So what happened to Rosita?" She asked,
"Oh she fell in love when she seen Spartans armor, I think the Coffee Brat better watch out for that pink headed cutie! Shes with him now, hes surprisingly very good with children."
"So he has other skills then pawnage at video games and douchebaggedness?" Kayreen burst out into laughter and leaned her head against Peach's shoulder.
"He's full of surprises that one. Besides, he's the King of team DICK, he's gotta play the role!" She chuckled while Peach shook her head.
"What was Ozpin thinking?" Kayreen frowned,
"Don't know, don't care. All I know is it will be our name for years to come. Better to own it, then bitch about it all day!" Take it in stride, this girl always did seem to live by the seat of her pants. So different from herself, which is most likely the reason she felt for her. And because she accepted her for the way she was.
"So, let me ask you something... why me?" Peach asked her and Kayreen stopped and looked up into her eyes and smiled.
"Well... for starters, you are the most beautiful thing I've ever laid my eyes on," Peach instantly felt her face burn, and knew she was beet red, and also knew she now had a smile from ear to ear. But feeling fully secure with Kay, she didn't look away, "and that damn smile. That smile is rewarding." She said as she reached up and stroked her lips. "I could tell when I first met you, you didn't see yourself that way. As beautiful, as the precious gem that you are. You deserve to have someone call you beautiful everyday, to feel good about yourself. Your so pure, and like me I, I could tell you were lonely..." she was saying all of this, never breaking eye contact, "Both for our own completely opposite reasons. I never seen a quiet girl, as many say. I seen a composed mature beautiful woman. Who knew exactly what she wanted out of life, who knew exactly where she was going. Me, I'm just dust in the wind" she giggled, "I go where ever life takes me, I do this cause I have nothing else to do, and the dust is free. But you, your my rock. And I know all your intentions are true, and honest. I think, we both were missing something in life. I was missing you, and you were missing me. We're two pieces that make up one whole being, and I just wasn't going to let you pass by without at least trying. I hope I'm not creeping you out..." She blushed.
"No." Peach said softly with a smile, "I..." Her heart was racing, she wasn't expecting such a heartfelt answer. But what else could she have expected when you ask someone a question like that. No one had ever told her anything of this sorts before, she never did date growing up. She had always thought something was wrong with her. She tried to change, but that had never worked. So she focused on other things, didn't care what people said, or how she looked. And now this girl, also one of the most beautiful girls she had ever seen had this deep attraction to her. She had never really looked at girls in this way, but now it was more then just the sex of the person, to her it was how Kay had treated her, felt towards her. To Peach, and everything she is. It was nerve racking, terrifying, to know that she could hold so much power over her feelings, and her emotions, "I... I, don't know what to s-" Kayreen placed her finger over her lips,
"Then don't say anything. Just promise me you wont ever change okay?" Peach nodded, and leaned down to kiss her on her lips, as she gently caressed her silky smooth cheek. Heart still pounding, and at a loss of breath,
"I've never met anyone, anyone like you in my entire life. Thank you so much, and I promise. Just, promise me... you wont hurt me. I'm... scared." She admitted, she was letting this girl into a place where no one had ever dared venture before.
"Oh Peachpuff... In a perfect world, I would never hurt you, ever. But I cant promise you that." Peach felt her stomach start to drop, "But I can, and will promise to never leave your side. As long as there are dust crystals in my lungs, I will never leave your side, and I'll always be here for you." She leaned up and kissed her this time, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Peachpuff? Whats wrong?" Kayreen pulled her head back slightly as she rubbed her finger across Peach's cheek, and she noticed her finger was wet, and her vision was slightly cloudy. Was she crying? The level of affection she was receiving from the girl, was more then she had received ever. Well, minus her family of course. But never from a, lover? Girlfriend. It was overwhelming, it burned, but she wanted more.
"I'm sorry, nothing is wrong..." She wiped another tear away. "Everything is just perfect." And with Kay by her side, it would always be perfect...
Strawberry and Raspberry Bonbon, twin sisters, both cat faunus, Raspberry with the tail, Strawberry with cat ears, stood side by side as Raspberry held her scroll up in front of them,
"Twinie selfie!" She joyfully exclaimed while she hit the button on the side and her scroll flashed. She pulled it back to observe her handiwork. She had her tongue out and had her two fingers out in a "peace" sign. Her twin, had her arms crossed, eyes rolling behind her green glasses. "Aww sis! We need to do this over!" A few feet away, Weiss Schnee shook her head.
"Ozpin was just kidding, right? They are NOT coming... right?"
"You know, even if you didn't have such a big mouth, my sister could hear you with her kitty ears!" Raspberry said as she stuck her tongue out at the white haired heiress. Yang chuckled,
"Well excuse me! How dare you-"
"Weiss... Rass... not now please." Ruby chimed in, forestalling any further comments. But Raspberry had no such thing as a mouth filter, that was perhaps her sister, the more mature of the two she thought as small giggles escaped her mouth.
"The Ice Queen started it!" She said, while ignoring the glare from her, and turning her back on the pale human girl.
"Hmmfp. Some nerve!"
"Ughhh..." Said Ruby as she palmed her forehead. Raspberry turned back towards her team, and the three Bullheads they were waiting for clearance to board. She checked her belt pouch again to make sure she had extra dust ammo, and triple checked her pistol whips, Ripper and Stripper, before twirling them between her fingers, winking back at the heiress, and re holstering them. She looked over the other two teams, hers, Team ROSE, and her sisters, Team SWDO. Currently Sangria and Ebony were swooning over the only two boys around, the two on SWDO, the one with dark brown hair Wenge Rider and the blond Ochre Sillowine. Though the two paid them no mind mainly because they had there sights set on a certain pair of twins, but the two girls loved to make boys nervous. At times she would join them, but not for these two. And she didn't really care that they were doing it to Ochre, she hadn't declared her intentions fully yet, besides she knew who the two really wanted. They were in love with the Colossus. She gently elbowed her partner,
"O M G, hey Olive, look at these two, SMUTSSSS!" She said loudly so they could hear her.
"Oh please," Olivine said through her chuckles, "we all know YOU are the biggest flirt here!" Raspberry jabbed her stomach with her tail and giggled,
"Your suppose to be on my side! But, we all cant look this good, am I right?"
"You got that right cupcake!" Ochre called out, "Us two beautiful creatures, there's nothing like us." Raspberry nodded then shook her head, missing the bells she normally wore in her buns. This was to be a infiltration mission, and her team and SWDO were the most stealthiest teams around. SWDO, living more up to there name, but Ras had a power needed for good infiltration as well. Plus, the coordination between the two teams was unmatched. Her and her sister were crucial, her being able to touch people, even Grimm, and being able to take there forms for a short while, and her sister being able to phase through walls, sucked that they could not be on the same team, but being already paired as partner teams was good enough. Even if Ozpin had said Strawberry was to take lead over herself. Even though they were undefeated against the shadow team. It most likely had to do with the fact that Strawberry indeed WAS the mature one even if she was born 2 minutes after her. She shrugged,
"Oh well." She said out loud.
"Talking to your self again Ras?"
"As if! More like thinking out loud cause my brain is so damn big!" She stuck her tongue out as Olivine grabbed it. "Weeee! Thet tho!" She cried out while tickling the girls ear with her tail.
"YO!" Ruby called out, and everyone turned to face the Crimson Huntress. "Green light from Ozpin, lets go!"
"You heard the lady!" Strawberry called out as all three teams boarded their Bullheads, the leaders being the last to climb up, the doors slid shut as they prepared to lift into the air.
She finally looked up to meet his gaze, eyes burning red as always. "Yes Master, my teams are ready to move on your command."
"Then go." His voice loud, but then dropped to a near whisper, "Be warned, do NOT, fail me again." She bowed her head before she replied,
"It will be done just as you see fit Master, I stake my life on it."
"Oh, you need not tell me that, it already was. Now, be gone!" She bowed her head even lower before getting to her feet and spinning on her heel towards the entrance of the throne room. The two Royal Guards there opened the door for her, and slammed it shut as she passed through. Passing the numerous Shadow Guards, she made her way to the teleporter room. It was the main reason he was able to remain hidden for so long, there was only one way in, and one way out. She grabbed her weapons from the wall at the door to the main chamber, and clipped them to her back.
"Are the Shadow Squads in position?" One of the 10 Royal Guards nodded. Her own special squad for the occasion. She was going to ambush her brother, using the Shadow Squad as a decoy. She could not, no she WOULD not fail to bring him in this time. Walking through the door and onto the platform with the Guards, and took a deep breath. Step one of the plan is about to begin.
"Just remember to be in control, oh, and the top part, that's the sweet spot, never forget." The Spartan grinned at Hero, who was giving him pointers on how to please his woman. "Sometimes it's hard, especially Rocket. That girl is insatiable."
"Yeah I can imagine," Hero snorted, "she always pegged me as the rough long lasting type."
"Meh, nothing I can't handle so no biggie." Currently, Hero and Destin were patrolling around the outskirts of the village. Raquel was still working on getting the turrets online which had been mysteriously sabotaged. So the two were keeping a farther eye out. Himself being able to detect what's coming before it comes, made him best on the front lines. Pandora and Kayreen were keeping a close eye on the streets, and Ivory was keeping her eyes to the sky. JNPR was at the gates, and Hero was sure Ariel was on some roof top ready to spring into action. CFVY was 15 minutes out, once they came, they could go home. As long as Raquel got the turrets working that is. But something didn't feel right. It was too easy. They were out in the open, even if it was 30 minutes back to Beacon. But still.
"So you know Hero boy, I never got my rematch."
"Do you really want to lose again?" Hero retorted,
"I bet that wont happen again." He snapped back with a straight face,
"Ok," Hero cracked his knuckles before continuing, "as the previous winner I have the right to set the terms. So the bet is, you lose, you cut off Rockets red little locket."
"Bro... that's cold. Well if you want to play it like that, I won't be as cruel like bring Neptune down on you again. So I want you to duel someone, and cut her hair off, well a sliver."
"Hmm, If you lose you will have CFVY, Dora loves Rocket as well so her, that means Kayreen as well, coming after you. You sure you want those odds?" Hero questioned with a serious face.
"Bring it!" He yelled out. "I just want to see that hot blond beat the fur off of you!" He grabbed his sides and burst out in laughter.
"That will not happen, I'll see every-" A soft breeze brushed against Hero's face and he was instantly reaching for Sunder on his back and nudging the Spartan with his other free elbow,
"We got incoming!" The spartan already clipped his helmet on and his blade ignited before he even finished the sentence. "10... no, 11! Shit, get out of here!" He grabbed Thunder and clipped it to his belt as the Shadow Guards appeared, dropping from the trees, 10 of them at first.
"You know better then that Hero! I'm not going anywhere." They were now back to back, surrounded by 10 of the Guards, should be easy to take out.
"Stark!" And there was the 11th, she dropped last about 20 meters away. "This time you won't get away."
"Ill take these guys Hero, you deal with the red demon." Robin chuckled.
"Ohh, this is going to be fun, I cant-" Neither could Hero as Thunder shot out from its sheath, blade out and already sparking with electricity. And along came Hero in its wake...
Rouge snapped her neck at the sound of the explosion, even while inside the bunker she could hear it. She knew that sound, the owner of the weapon always showed it off in class, and it was an impressive weapon to say the least. It was Magnhild.
"We've got a problem." Ren said calmly.
"Status!" Jaune called out, he was with Pyrrha on the North gate.
"We have Shadow Guards at the South gate, a lot." Rouge grimaced at the mention of them, fuck, why now?!
"Damnit! DICK, reinforce the South gate, HARP, we still need to keep these people safe so stay where you are, Rouge if I give the order have the people return to the bunker."
"They're here for Hero!" Ariel cried out, "I'm going to the gate, they are blocking us from getting to them, that's where they were last at! I'm going!"
"No stop, arggg, someone stop her! Rocket, those guns?"
"Almost, just four more circuits to weld, give me ten minutes!"
"You got three!"
"Then pray for a miracle!" She replied into her mic, as she continued to do just that. Then maybe the turrets can take care of them. Hero was alone with Destin out there, probably in the thick of it kicking ass. They could take care of each other. But she was stuck here welding circuits and crap, Damn it! All she could do was finish up here and hope the bypass she made works. What am I saying, of course it will work, Cin and Pulv were just getting itchy, wishing for some more action from the Guards. She just hoped Ariel would keep her cool. She giggled at the thought, Future out there and Jaws keeping her cool, yeah right...
She couldn't abandon her team and the mission for Hero, but she couldn't just leave him out there.
"Jaws," Rouge's voice came in through her ear piece as a whisper, letting her know it was private, "what are you up too?" She asked.
"I'm on my way to get a closer look, just in case."
"Don't be dumb, don't start fighting just to get to him." She said is if she was reading her mind.
"So I just sit and wait?"
"Yes." She simply stated. "They are big boys, they can handle themselves, CFVY will be here soon, the turrets will be done in a moment, I'm on my last circuit. Just keep calm, and sit tight." Rouge had never been the voice of reason, she would have gone out arms blazing, as she looked up to the wall that was standing before her. She could hear the battle going on, the clash of swords, explosions, gunshots, just over this wall and probably 40 meters or so to the left. She didn't want to get too close and be seen by either side. She gathered her aura and formed a ice cloud by her feet to bring her up near the top of the wall, just for a little peek. She crouched down on it as she neared the top, and only went high enough to get her eyes over to see what was going on. Ren, Nora, and DICK, thick in combat indeed with the Shadow Guards. Ren was near the front laying down cover and using his guns like swords keeping the guards back, while his partner was hanging back, blasting everything that got to close. She noticed Ivory being relentless in the destruction of the Guards, swooping in fast and low, spearing three at a time and blasting groups on her way back up with the rear jets in her cybernetic wings, payback from before. As well as using her toys, she was using her sonic voice to rip the Guards apart. Chris was more or less next to Ren, using nothing but his long sword and his body to fend off the attacks, being able to change his form into any matter, when they tried to jump him he would just turn into a puddle, shoot up and turn into some flat solid plank and smash them flat. Kayreen was somewhere above flinging ice and lightning bolts into the enemy.
"Done!" Rouge called out, "I'm in the system and have access to the cameras. Changing target parameters... ok, good to go on your command Jaune."
"Hit it! I'm making my way to the South gate, Pyr will hold here, HARP, keep watch over the town. Ariel, where are you?" She hesitated before answering, upon seeing some bushes ruffle about 10 meters ahead of her down below.
"Up high, keeping high watch." *Shish!* She knew that sound, the sound Hero's blade always made when ejecting from its sheath. She dropped the cloud under her feet as she started to fall, avoiding two blades that flew over the top of the gate.
"They are falling back with the turrets now firing," four more blades flew over the wall, and see seen three figures now perched on the top, red eyes glaring down at her as she landed, Trinket now floating by her side.
"I have Guards breaching my position at the wall, need backup!" She called out as she flung her Trident and it split in two, firing ice spikes toward them.
"Damnit I told you to stay near the interior!" Jaune scolded over the comm. 'I can handle them,' she was going to say as one of the Guards waved his hand in a circle and shot out fire balls, melting her ice spikes before they could do any damage. She called Trinket back before they hit, as two of the Guards dropped five feet in front of her. She grabbed Trinket, splitting it in two as she caught a blade on Trin, and another or Ket, the force of the strikes almost snapping her arms in half. One drove his blade into the ground and ice started to shoot up, but Ariel countered with fire dust, creating a fire wall to melt it, while back flipping out of the way. As she landed, she instantly jumped over a blade that swung at her legs, slashed Trin at his face, which he caught, but she shot a fire ball straight into his head. When the smoke and fire started to clear, she noticed a grin on his dark face as his aura flickered, absorbing the last of the hit... Aura?
"Guys he has-" She brought Ket up just in time to block another strike from one of the guards. She was locked in a dual wielding battle with him, thankfully Hero had been training her more in melee as well as the alternating Grimm/Shadow Guard training in the combat sim rooms, as she ducked and rolled to avoid another swipe while bringing Trin in a upward slash, at his chest, which he blocked, but she caught his leg with Ket. She felt heat behind her as she drove Trin into the ground, erecting a earth dust stone wall behind her to avoid getting blasted by fire, and created a lighting cloud below her feet to give her some type of distance. She heard the distinctive sound of rockets, or better yet Rocket, using her cannons to blast her to the sky from a distance away, most likely the middle of the village.
"I'm coming Jaws! Hang on!" She looked down at the two Guards as they re sheathed there blades, and pulled out even longer red glowing blades, quickly forgetting about the 3rd one still on the wall, and her only reminder of him was a solid hilt strike to the head making her see literal stars circling her head. Her body went limp as she crashed to the floor hard, as he landed beside her, creating debris, and waving his hands, turning it into fire shards that tore through her. She knew it was shredding her aura, but the hit on her head made everything dizzy, fuzzy, and confusing, as she felt big strong arms lift her up like a twig, and she was seeing things upside down as she was thrown on to some one's back.
She was relentless with her attacks, but this time we wasn't going to play fair, he wasn't going to hold back. Destin, to his surprise was still holding off the remaining Guards, which were clearly not Shadow Guards, as they were not dying as easy, and were using dust to counter the Spartans own dust attacks, though he was able to down four with the help of himself, and three had ran off, but to where? He was busy with his own fight, as well as helping the Spartan when he could, it was getting tiresome but they had no choice. He leaped up as he brought Sunder in for her throat, and Thunder for her groin, then after she parried, Sunder to her left thigh and Thunder angling in for her right shoulder. Faster, need to go faster! He focused his aura into his blades as she parried his strikes, so he could see and counter her blocks. Just a slight change, from the many options that were revealed to him, after he jumped over her sweeping blade Fira, he shot both blades down for her shoulders, sort of the same way she had got him the last time. She parried Thunder with her black sword, but wasn't fast enough to block Sunder as it sliced through her left shoulder. To his surprise, she barely grunted and never missed step as she brought her red burning blade straight for his neck at lightning speed. He ducked, feeling a piece of his hair get cut off as he hit the floor and rolled, while he parried her other blade. He hit the switch on his sheath to call Sunder back, which still lodged in her shoulder, as he thrust Thunder crackling with electricity straight at her midsection, she parried the blade and took a step back. She had a grin on her face as she studied him,
"You've gotten better." She said sweetly. "Tell me, what are you fighting for?" She snarled.
"If you wanna talk sweet heart, I'm your guy!" The Spartan said as he unexpectedly landed beside her in a blurr, smashing into the ground making a crater as Robin was flung into a nearby tree at blinding speeds. Hero drove his sword into the ground to help steady him. "Switch?" Hero nodded,
"Don't let her touch you."
"I won't give her the chance." He called back already charging towards her as Hero himself was ducking blades and fire shards from the two remaining Guards. The Spartan seemed to make easy work of the highly skilled assassin's. They fought just like him, though he was faster, and better, and already knew what they were going to do. But the more he fought them, the more he would learn about his own fighting style. That could be bad if they did end up having a re-match, he could take Yang, but he didn't really want to. He shook his head as he rolled and batted two blades away with Thunder, and sliced at two ice spikes that shot out at his head with Sunder, cutting them in half. Need to focus, this isn't a game, he thought to himself as he cut through a fire bolt. He brought both blades up diagonally catching them both off guard, then he brought his leg up then down as his heel connected with the left ones knee, snapping it back a way it wasn't meant to, while driving Sunder right between his eyes. He knew they were heartless, mindless beings but the way they looked didn't help much. This is what needs to be done anyway. He deftly parried a strike, but the Guards managed to block a few of his own blows as well. He gathered his aura to focus on his legs as he jumped high into the air, while shooting Sunder towards his final opponent. The Guard attempted to roll out of the way, but was unable to move as Hero's heel connected with his temple, leaving him to fall limp on the floor as Hero landed beside his crumpled form. He looked up to see the Spartan holding his own against Robin. She wasn't accustomed to his all out brawler, swish slash tactics as he called it, and it was throwing her off guard. She slashed in with Fira and he calmly slapped it away with nothing but his hand, which was glowing red, all of his pink armor was glowing red for that matter.
"Come on, you got to move faster then that." He shouted as he ducked, dodged, and weaved out of all of her lighting fast strikes. She was currently growling, not saying a word though her burning red eyes were glaring at him. Every time she would go to grab him, he was moving in a blur, and avoided her, this guy was just toying with her now. And she had bloody murder on her face. She suddenly front flipped over him, sweeping her blades in a criss cross as she landed behind him and planted her boot into his back, which sent him staggering forward.
"Fast enough?" She teased as he got back to his feet. "But its not you I want. And since Hero wont play by the rules..." *Snap* she made the motion with her fingers as two Guards dropped beside her, and a third with a red headed girl on his back. He slammed her on top of the dirt, and bashed the side of her face with his boot as he noticed her body ripple and flicker white, as her aura shattered. He instantly reached for his,
"Nope, don't," the three Guards now had their blades pressed against her throat, "you even flinch. Or your little pet here loses her head, and you KNOW Ill do it."
"Hero we can take her!"
"Whats it going to be Stark? You come with me and Ill let your friends live, or you fight and she dies." Said said with real murderous intent. Was there even a choice or an option? "The same your flower boy, he blurs, my men strike." One of the Guards inched his bladed along her neck, cutting it and letting blood seep out.
"No, stop." He said while he tossed Sunder and Thunder to the ground and bowed his head. "You win th-" In a flash of red, she brought her knee up into midsection and his chest exploded in pain and fire. She then brought her blade up and brought it straight down, hilt first, to his temple, and he lost all senses as his vision darkened and got cloudy, he could no longer feel his body, making him feel like he was just along for the ride.
"Wipe them out, leave nothing, I'm leaving." He noticed her reach out to touch his shoulder, and he noticed his blades in her hands, as his and her bodies started to flicker. To the left a mini gun went off, somewhere high, and it shredded through the three Guards that were standing with Ariel ready to kill her, somehow missing her completely, and the Spartan charged over to her and looked in Hero's direction and nodded. Then brightness consumed his vision as he was sucked into the portal...
To be continued...
A/N
Sorry this took so long to post, currently dealing with the death of a family member so this week has been a little hectic to say the least. With the conclusion of this chapter, I'd like to thank those who have been reading a long so far on the journey of Hero and Team HARP, and DICK. The following chapters will delve into more history of Robin and Stark, better known as Hero, as well as more into the two new teams, ROSE and SWDO. I'm thinking of taking a chapter and a half to introduce the two new teams, and two new main characters, the two Bonbon twins, initiation leading up to the rescue of Hero. Leaning more towards that, leave a review if you would like to see that, or just want me to jump in for the rescue. I think more explanation into the powers and skills of the teams would make the rescue more understandable quite frankly. Leave a review if there is anything you'd like to see incorporated as I develop them through the rescue of Hero. Positive or negative, all criticism is good! Better someone tells me my story sucks and I adjust it, rather then it keep on sucking and I do nothing about it. But before I get into the next chapter anyway, I will be updating past chapters, doing slight name changes as well as slight appearance changes, mostly to conform to the color naming rule, as someone had complained about it, mind you I was already on the 3rd chapter when I read there was a RULE for NON CANNON, FAN fics... BUT, my love for Monty(RIP) and his work, will move me to try to abide by it as best as I can. New names are as followed;
HARP
Heliotrope "Hero/Future" Chroma, past name Stark Nakamura. (Heliotrope is in the purple family, his original name is in the white family, Chroma, slight change of chrome)
Ariel "Jaws' Vasilias (Made after red headed mermaid Ariel, as her brother Neptune was named after the god of fresh water)
Rouge "Rocket" Adel (Rouge is a reddish pink, though she wears mostly browns due to the admiration she feels for his sister)
Peach "Groot" Arc (Peach speaks for itself)
Team DICK, started off as a joke team, I never planned much screen time at all for them. They were meant to be as off scene bully team like CRDL, but they turned into a rival team for HARP, and became important to the development of the story, so deal with the name, what's done is done.
DICK
Destin Roseus (Roseus being latin for rose)
Ivory Canary (Ivory being white, canary being yellow like the bird)
Chris Carmelo (Carmelo being a variation of caramel, brownish)
Kayreen Goodwitch (Who knows, is Glynda a color? I just sort of made myself as a back character and made myself her daughter, Kayreen being one of my MMO names as its a slight variation of my own name, maybe name change to Kaygreen?...)
As well as HARP, for me, when I think of harps I think of a light brown, or perhaps a creme color, or a gold, whatever makes us sleep better at night. Again, non cannon fan fiction that only so many people will read. I love to read, and write, for some reason HARP was the first thing that came to my mind when thinking of a name, I don't know why it wasn't ROSE, as that would have been perfect, but like I said I didn't read into the rules of OC's and color rules... So going forward, those will be the name changes. I will update this chapter last so it's understood before I make changes. I also made visual references to the four teams I made, once I figure out to post links, or anything at all with a .Com address (as every time I post the link it just deletes the beginning of it) I will do that. If not, I have pictures of the teams on my twitter which I will leave in my bio. Anyway, hope you all enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing, and thanks for the support! -Kay
PS. For those wondering, yes I do take the Nakamura name, as well as the "Master of time and Space" reference from the TV Series "Heros", which I did not create, or own, or any of that good stuff. As well as ideas from Halo, as well as the Colossus, which I do not own. Coming up with four different teams to be used in action is quite the project...
Updated: 2/25/16