Note, for those of whom are following this story this is part of a two part upload, if you haven't read pt two, turn back now…

At the basement…

Maria had to be as quiet as she could, there were still a lot of soldiers guarding this level and she didn't have enough firepower to take them all. Her eyes looked around every corner, her ears listened for the slightest change of tempo, and she had to find her teammates before something happened to Rick…

At the warehouse floor…

Rick was in trouble, he was currently running along the upper level of the warehouse with Caroline right behind him. He clutched his side, she had gotten a good shot in at some point, and he was feeling the pain. He clutched his axe closely, he knew that he would have to stop eventually; he just hoped that Maria would find her team before then.

At the Last Stop…

Aedan had just finished polishing the last of his beer mugs, he looked at the time as he finished.

"Might as well," The bartender muttered as he got to his feet, grabbing a katana that was hidden behind the bar, "Sally! Going out!"

"Be careful," came the voice of a young woman, "Don't burn down the city!"

"I won't!" Aedan laughed as he headed out the door.

Back at the warehouse basement…

Maria was still skulking around, she had overheard one of the guards mentioning a location of prisoner and where their weapons were being kept. She went to the latter place first, it had no guards around it. Maria frowned at this, either it was a trap or they were just that arrogant. Both were distinct possibilities, either way, she grabbed the weapons. She stopped for a moment; looking around…no one came.

Arrogance it is then, She thought as she took of down a hallway, hoping Rick could last a little longer.

At the first floor…

"Fuck!" Rick yelled, he had just reached a dead end and Caroline was coming up behind him.

"You know, it's impressive that you made it this far with that wound, most people can't survive after being shot by my rifle," Caroline said with the grin of a hunter whose cornered her prey, "You've done well, for a human."

"Well fuck you too," Rick muttered as he took up a defensive stance, "Sure as hell ain't going down with out a fight."

"That's what I hoped you'd say." Caroline said her battle lust growing as she charged. Rick did a back flip over her, landing and swinging his axe at her legs. The faunas jumped over his attack, the blade sailing harmlessly under her. She then performed a kick to his face, knocking him back. Rick grunted in pain as he slammed into the railing, his eyes came up just in time to dodge a shot from the huge rifle she packed.

He sighed; he hoped that Maria was doing better than he was…

At the basement…

Maria was still sneaking around, the fight upstairs had finally reached a point where the guards had started to wonder what was going on and most had gone up, leaving the teen to her lonesome. She navigated the dark corridors like a snake, she didn't know what was left but she didn't want to piss of anything here. She looked down a corridor to see a set of makeshift cells aligning the wall, she quietly moved closer to spy in.

She smiled, she had found them, she had found EMAD, she quickly bashed down the door to the first one. The occupants muttered a few choice curse words, their faces coming into the light. The shock on EMAD's face was almost laughable, especially Thatch's.

"What the hell are you doing her?" He asked, his voice filled with worry.

"Here to save your asses, come on lets go!" Maria yelled, throwing them their weapons.

"How did you get in her? More than, how did you find us?" Allison asked as she grabbed her weapons.

"Rick, he helped me track you down." Maria answered, looking over her shoulder.

"After what you did? Guy's a lot better than me…" Thatch muttered, geared up and ready to go.

"Be quiet! Not all the guards are gone." Maria whispered harshly.

"Wait, you mean that you didn't take down the hounds!?" Francois asked suddenly, his face growing fearful.

"No, I didn't see them, I think they went upstairs." Maria said, right before she heard the footsteps behind her.

"If only it was that simple," Mary Blud's voice rang out behind her, Maria whirled around to see her teeth shining, "You see, I knew you would come, I knew that you would do anything to rescue your team. Now, we get to kill two birds with one stone, it's good that you brought the Axman with you. We've been hunting him for a while."

As she finished two men came out of the shadows, their red armor very clear in the light. Maria's face paled, Khornes hounds.

"Blood for the Blood God." One of them muttered as they closed in.

Meanwhile…

Rick was currently locked in combat with Caroline, her attacks didn't let up. The only thing keeping him from being skewered or shot was his axe, every time she tried to shot him, he just hit the weapon and sent the bullet away. They locked weapons again, her eyes lined up with his eye holes.

"You fight well, I can give you that," The commander said, her voice full of victory, Rick responded with a sharp kick that sent them flying back. Caroline felt her lip, the kick had surprised her. She smiled, while she may hate humans, this one fought with the same conviction as her, "Surrender now, and I can assure you that you will be given quarter."

Her victory was cut off by the Axman suddenly bursting out laughing; he laugh carried and made the people downstairs think he was mad.

"You think you've got it all figured out don't you? You know, you got so caught up with fighting me that you didn't take care. Your guns empty…" Rick said, his laugh getting louder, Caroline frowned and pulled the trigger, only to see that it was empty.

"You're still wounded, you don't have a choice." Caroline said, her face becoming a snarl.

"Why does everyone assume that if you're bleeding, that your aura's spent?" The psycho laughed, "What? Dog got your tongue?"

Caroline snarled harder as the wound closed up right before her eyes, she couldn't believe that he would risk something like that.

"So here we are, standing on a railing, the question is, can you reload before I get to you?" Rick said, charging again. Caroline quickly switched magazines, and she tried to aim, only for Rick to grapple her off the balcony. They both fell, biting and scratching on their way down, until Rick managed to slam her into the ground. The men on the ground didn't know what to do, they're commander was in a pile on the ground. At least, that's what they thought. This time, Caroline's laugher filled the area.

"You think that's enough to beat me?" She said as she climbed to her feet, "Clever for you to take down my aura like that, but it doesn't matter now. Now, you're surrounded by my men, surrender."

Rick whirled around, only to see that he was indeed surrounded, if they could see his face it would be one of sheer disappointment. He had lost…he had failed, he turned to face Caroline. At least she wasn't a full blood thirsty killer…

That's when a slow clap filled the air, all faces turned to see a particular red haired man walking in.

"Good show, lass," Aedan said as he walked in, "Axman, go find EMAD, I'll clean up here."

Rick nodded and started to take off; the men around him took aim, only for Caroline to hold up her hand.

"Hold fire," She said as Rick got away, "You…You're Aedan Flint, aren't you?"

"Aye lass, and you're Caroline Leon, you have your fathers' eyes." Aedan said as he took a swig of something.

"My father told me about you…you fought by his side in the war." Caroline said, her face growing worried.

"Aye, though I don't think he would agree with your choice of…work." Aedan said, finding a way to put it delicately.

"He was murdered, and no justice was served!" The commander suddenly yelled, her voice cracking with rage.

"Was he now? Last I checked, he wasn't the only dead body on that train." Aedan said, his voice serious.

"He was the only one who was executed, a shot to the head, after being shot in the leg." Caroline replied, her voice dripping with venom.

"Aye, guess that's true," Aedan said with a sigh, he could see that he wasn't going anywhere with this, "So…shall we then?"

"Fire!" One of the captains yelled as Aedan quickly drew his hands across his chest.

"No wait!" Caroline yelled, she knew what he was doing and she knew that it wasn't good. Aedan's hands suddenly grew flames, and soon he was covered in them. The bullets didn't even have time to hurt him through the aura fuelled fire; it was like hitting a solid wall. The fell to his feet, melted and useless, and Aedan wasn't done yet. His hands moved again and the fire leaped from his body and around the men.

They, seeing a serpent like thing of fire, panicked and fired at the beast. The bullets had not effect as it surrounded them, Caroline yelled as it seemed to incinerate them. Only for it to disappear and leave her men knocked the hell out.

"Good men, willing to risk reprimendation to save their commander," Aedan said as he drew his katana, "Shall we?"

Back at the basement…

Maria was running with the rest of EMAD at her side, the two hounds behind her. The men were scary enough without a fight, but they proved to be immune to Thatch's semblance and his attacks. After a hard hit that sent him flying, they decided it was probably better to run. The halls soon became a labyrinth; they seemed to be trapping them with these…monsters.

Maria was trying her hardest to stay focused, but her thoughts kept returning to Rick. It had been too long since she had come down here, if he was still here, he was risking a lot. As much as she hated to admit it, if anyone could survive those odds and come out fairly unscathed, it was Rick. These thoughts coursed through her as she finally saw an elevator door; they opened to reveal…a rather beaten down Rick.

"EMAD, how's the wife and kids?" Rick coughed out as he stepped out, almost making the leader of EMAD have a heart attack. That was when the door to the elevator suddenly powered down…

"Shit, probably should have seen that one coming." Thatch yelled, slamming his fist into the wall.

"We're stuck here, aren't we?" Francois asked, his voice one of denial.

"No," Rick gasped out, gaining everyone's attention, "There's another door at the other end of the hallway, I saw them before I came down, only problem was that White Fang were getting ready to come down."

"Well, shit…" Francois said, looking down at the floor.

"Why 'shit?" Rick asked, standing to his feet.

"Blood for the blood god!" Came the voice of one of the men who came charging down the hallway.

"Oh…" Rick said, suddenly rushing forward.

"Rick!" Maria yelled, only for the psychopath to cut her off.

"Get out of here! I'll be fine as long as they don't get their hands on me!" Rick yelled, only for the men to rush forward with a burst of speed and grab him. He didn't even have time to yell as he was punched in the gut, the men laughing in blood lust. Then they slammed him into the ground, leaving EMAD to gape and watch.

"What are you doing? Get…" Rick's angry yelled became a cry of pain as he was kicked, this time like a football into a door that, surprisingly, didn't break. He didn't look good, his armor was scratched and torn and his mask was completely busted up. His left eye was exposed and his brown hair was coming out of the things back. The eye looked crazed, almost animalistic. That was when the mercenaries charged and sent him through said door, the blow was resounding, the pair laughed as they turned to face EMAD.

"More blood…" One of them said in a deep hungry voice.

No…I can't die here, Rick thought as he tried to get up, I can't lose…if I die then…Maria will feel the pain that I felt, if she survives. I won't…I CAN'T…LET…THAT…HAPPEN!

The Butcher got to his feet, ignoring the pain as he looked around in the room he was in, his settled on a piece of hardware that seemed to be placed their by whatever deity governs this plain of existence.

The men advanced towards the team, who took up a defensive position. They were worried, and seeing their friend most likely die was a tad upsetting. Maria felt the pain the most, she had brought him here, if she hadn't been so stupid or careless then maybe…that's when a sound filled the air. The sound of revving, the sound made all heads turn.

EMAD saw the eye and knew instantly what had happened; the two men could only see a savagery on par with their own. The crazed eyes locked onto the men, and the Butcher roared as he charged in. The men only just drew their swords in time to block the chainsaw that the Butcher had found, team EMAD was well and truly flapped, and Thatch even started laughing.

"Blood for the Blood Go-…" One of the men tried to yell before the Butcher, after an impressive slight of hand, stabbed him with the chainsaw.

"I'll give you blood!" The Butcher screamed out, his voice one of pure joy, as he lifted the man into the air. The chainsaw ripped and the man was soon no more, that's when the other man grabbed Allison by her skull.

"Skulls for the skull throne…" He whispered as he started to squeeze, and, as suddenly as it started, the pressure disappeared. Allison dropped the ground and looked up, only to see Thatch holding a bloody cutlass.

"Allison, are you all right?" He asked as he leaned down to the girls head level, his voice one of shock.

"I'm…I'm fine…" Allison whispered, her voice one of concern. That was all that needed to be said, Thatch helped her to her feet and the team slowly walked away with the Butcher following close behind them.

At the warehouse…

"Impressive fight," Aedan said as he stood over Caroline, "You honestly would be a great huntress if you tried."

The woman could only glare, they had been fighting for a good time now and he hadn't even broken a sweat. She almost yelled when an elevator door dinged, and she saw some of the leftover soldiers running away screaming in fear. That's when that…psychopath came around with a chainsaw revving, Caroline herself felt a little bit intimidated by all the blood. The chainsaw stopped suddenly, the Butcher looked at it, gave it a shake, and threw it down.

Caroline used that moment of distraction to start running; Aedan didn't even try to stop her. The rest of EMAD followed shortly, most being no worse for ware.

"Well, it's time for me to go," The Butcher said as he turned to look at Maria, "It's been fun, and I know we'll meet again. But before I go, I need to say something."

Maria gave him a hard stare.

"I like you, your strong and don't take shit, but…do us both a favor? Lighten up, trust me, life's a little easier with that kind of attitude." The Butcher said right before he slammed the blunt side of his ax into his head.

"Fuck!" Rick yelled as he rubbed his head, before turning to EMAD, "Everyone OK?"

"We're fine," Thatch replied, his voice showing that he didn't have any regrets, "Just a little banged up."

"Good, now then, to Beacon?" Rick said with a smile, EMAD smiled as well, they had gotten their friend back. Aedan laughed as he walked out the back door, he looked at his watch, and he had an appointment to keep. The teens walked out of the building with their heads held high, that's when Rick saw something.

"Maria!" Rick yelled as he suddenly hugged her, the centurion almost smacked him but that's when the gunshot rang out. She felt the impact through Rick, her eyes widened as she realized what had happened.

"Rick!" Maria yelled as the psychopath fell to the ground, the luxurious car driving off to avoid EMAD's wrath.

"Rick, Rick, can you hear me?" Maria yelled as she fell to her knees, "What was that? I had full aura, I could easily have taken that."

"I guess…I guess that I still want to be good." Rick muttered, the blood draining out of the wound.

"If we get him to Beacon, the infirmary can help him." Allison said, reaching to pick him up, that was the last thing Rick heard before being consumed by darkness…

At the infirmary, a few hours later…

Rick groaned as he opened his eyes, only to be bear hugged by two people.

"Dust, still in pain!" Rick laughed out, only to be slightly puzzled by the sound of tears. He craned his neck to see that the people hugging him…was Micca and Maria, "Shit, did I make you worry?"

"You idiot," Micca muttered burying herself deeper into his chest, "You stupid, dumb, noble, fool."

"We thought you were…" Maria said, letting him go.

"I'm not, that's a good start. How the rest of the group doing?" Rick asked, his usual nature showing.

"Waiting, team RWBY got back with Blake a few hours ago, they're going to see you tomorrow, JNPR waited as long as they could but when the doctor said you'd be alright, they had to get Nora to bed, EMBR said to expect them to kick your ass whenever you're back on your feet, and EMAD…I stayed because I wanted to say…" Maria stuttered before Micca cut her off.

"She wanted to say that she's happy to see you," Micca said as she grabbed the centurion by the shoulder, we'll see you tomorrow."

"What was that?" Maria said when they were out of earshot.

"What? You're going to apologize?" Micca said with a grin, "Don't worry about it, Rick won't care…he did it because he cares about your well being, he would do if for any of his friends."

"Friends…" Maria said, her eyes starting to tear up, "Yeah…a friend is a good start."

At a warehouse…

Caroline looked around, she had just arrived and was hoping she wasn't too late.

"So, how did it go?" Came a very familiar voice. Caroline turned around and smiled.

"Uncle Jesse, it's good to see you, it's been a long night." She said as she hugged the man, breaking off to allow him to light his cigarette. The flame illuminated his head for an instant, the face of Harry Holmes showed for a few seconds.

"It's good to see you too, Cub…."

At the Last Stop…

"Come again Qrow!" Aedan yelled as the man walked out of his bar, it was finally time to close up shop, and he went under the counter to put up some glasses. That's when a man wearing a black formal suit came in, "We're closed."

"Not for me." The voice rang, the voice that made Aedans blood boil.

"The bloody hell are you doing here?" Aedan said as he got to his feet and stared into the mans mask.

"Here for a drink." The man replied simply.

"You're lucky you're a hunter, otherwise, you'd be dead for walking in my door, Erik Fantine." Aedan said as he stared deeply into the mans face.

At the Atlas Flagship…

The answering machine beeped.

"This is Harry, I saw Penny, we need to talk, soon." The answering machine clicked off…