Double digit chapter! Thank you for following the story up till this point!
"It feels like Christmas, doesn't it?"
Too preoccupied to reply, Sapphire busied himself with checking the shelves filled with different weapons.
"I already have Daybreak and Duskfall," he said, picking up what appeared to be a rapier with a revolver-like attachment on it.
"Then stop browsing," his partner replied. "Lemme have the goodies."
"Hey, I'm not getting the MACB until next week," Sapphire defended. "Right now, I'm violating protocol with only a pair of custom weapons."
"Says the idiot who customized them just to fit the requirement of having both melee and ranged weapons in the first place," his partner jabbed, picking up a machine gun fitted with a barrel for grenades and several bayonets that seemed to be added on for purpose of being fired. "What the heck is this, by the way? Someone please explain what I'm looking at."
"Well, this IS the Schnee Corporation we're talking about," Sapphire said, pocketing something. "Most of their stuff is… um… unique. That said, I didn't know they were working on this many weapons. Even if they were collaborating with the military, this is clearly too ridiculous."
"For all this stuff, the security sure was lax," Sapphire's partner – a man called Luke Johnson – wondered aloud. "Digging that huge transport tunnel underneath it was easier than I thought it'd be."
"It's good camouflage," Sapphire said, dropping a bunch of weapons into the large hole they had cut up in the floor. "It'd be more suspicious if some random factory on the outskirts of town had high tech drones and trained personnel patrolling about."
"What're you fiddling around with over there?" Luke asked, seeing Sapphire swinging around the rapier he had picked up earlier. Its blade, for some reason, was now glowing with a light blue color.
"I don't know, but I can't seem to turn it off," Sapphire grumbled. "I'm afraid to toss it down because I'm afraid it'll blow up or something."
"That's why you shouldn't give in to your inner weapons nut and try it out," Luke sighed, picking up a pair of metallic long boots that had no opening for its wearer to put their feet into. "Is this an android's feet or something? What're they just randomly dumping here?"
"Hey, look," Sapphire said, fooling around as he swung the rapier around, its light blue glow following the path the blade made. "I'm a graceful swan. Or something."
"Yeah, that's really graceful," Luke commented sarcastically. "Throw in your singing and you've got your own performance. I'm sure Schnee would pay."
"Yeah, she'd pay to see my head on a pole," Sapphire replied. "And my singing's a secret, you-"
The next moment, the armory door opened, revealing several androids.
"Oh, fu-" Luke began.
"Grab whatever weapons are left," Sapphire shouted, running towards the squad of androids, standing in between them and Luke. "Fling what you can down, and take a few. We're gonna buy the transporters time- Whoa whoa whoa!"
As the tip of the rapier touched the ground, a colossal wave of ice burst from it and charged at the androids, freezing the front few while knocking the others back.
"What the heck did I just do?!" Sapphire screamed.
"What the heck did you just do?!" Luke asked, completely at a loss as well.
"I don't know!" Sapphire answered hastily. "But it felt really girly!"
As he said that, the rapier in his hands broke apart, falling onto the ground in dull silver pieces.
"Must be a prototype," Sapphire muttered. "Whatever; I don't want to handle that thing anyway."
"Guess that's all you can expect from a Schnee product," Luke said lightly, carrying a large bunch of weapons on his body. "Don't expect too much of it."
"And why are you carrying so many of their junk?" Sapphire asked, activating Daybreak and Duskfall.
"Hey, beggars can't be choosers," Luke replied, shrugging as he tossed what looked like a bazooka to Sapphire. "At least I didn't pick some weird stick that shoots ice."
"Did you not see how graceful I was with that thing?" Sapphire asked, aiming the bazooka at the chunk of ice that blocked the wall, where some of the androids were attempting to break through. "My swan-ness is legit."
"You need to get off the internet," a female voice rang out. "And also stop stealing other people's belongings."
"Ah, Schnee," Sapphire said. "Still can't quit the habit of spying on guys, huh?"
"I prefer 'Winter', but in your case I'll make an exception to how I like to be called," the girl's voice replied. "And I would rather go blind before I have to look at your revolting face."
"You just say that because you hate my surname," Sapphire retorted with a smile. "Y'know, we could get that woman – Rose, I think she was called – and we'd be almost a full set of seasons. Summer, Winter, Fall, see?"
"You really are chatty," Winter replied. "Well, it's okay; you won't be talking for much longer anyway."
"Gee, thanks," Sapphire replied, pulling the trigger on the bazooka, releasing several different colored beams. "Whoa! Taste the rain-"
"Shut up and fight," Luke snapped, charging towards the exit as it burst into flame and debris.
Hiding in a corner while the androids closed in, Sapphire checked his surroundings as Luke, now out of new toys, loaded a fresh magazine into his pistol.
"Where did they come from?" he complained. "We didn't hear about this when we scouted the place!"
"Hey, Saph," Luke spoke up. "We got two paths ahead. You opting for left or right?"
"Right," Sapphire replied without thinking, fumbling around with the contents of his ammunition pouches. "I've got three incendiary arrows, two grenades, seven Taser rounds and two grappling-"
"It's fine," Luke said. "We're gonna run for it. Go."
Nodding, Sapphire broke into a sprint, heading for the exit that was definitely still a long way off. The moment he took a few steps, he knew something was wrong.
A huge wall of Dust had been erected from where he had run from, covering the corridor from floor to ceiling. It separated his pursuers from him, but also trapped Luke on the other side with the horde of Schnee androids.
"Run, Saph," Luke's voice came from his earbud. "I'll distract them to give you enough time."
"But-"
"Go!" Luke roared. "You're not as experienced as I am; you can't do much in this situation! Go! That's an order!"
Hesitating for a split second, Sapphire turned his back on his partner and ran.
"I'm out, Luke," Sapphire spoke into the microphone, looking at the factory from the refuge of the forest. "Where are you?"
"Some… chamber," Luke's heavy panting amidst the static made his words a little unclear. "They're on the other side of the door, but I reinforced it with some Dust. It'll take them a few minutes."
"Can you find a way out?" Sapphire asked, his voice unnaturally high due to panic.
"Doesn't look like it," Luke replied. "This place seems to be a weapons test-fire chamber; there're lots of charred spots on the walls. That'll explain the presence of the soldiers and lab coats here. Hngh! No, it's no good. This thing's solid."
"Hold on," Sapphire said, almost begging. "I'll call for reinforcements-"
"Too risky," Luke cut across him. "Get away from this place now. Schnee's definitely going to bring in backup to this place soon. Remember how she stalled by talking to you through the PA system? Apparently it was so that she could send the signal to activate all the drones in this place; I found hidden hatches here and there. Since they were inactive, our scans didn't pick up anything. I hate to admit it, but Schnee pulled a fast one on us this time. If the backup from outside arrives, our entire team will get wiped out. But I'm not a fan of being captured and tortured, so I'm blowing this place up."
"No!" Sapphire pleaded. They had set enough charges to blow the entire factory to pieces. Not a single inch of the place would survive, not even a test-fire chamber.
"Hey, listen," Luke said. "I'm gonna make it quick, okay? I'm not like Ozzy after all. You're a chatty guy, and I think that's fine. You've got a long way to go as a merc, but you'll manage; your skills and potential are true. You've got a good heart – something which most of us discarded when we settled into the trade. I'm glad I got partnered with you. Did I miss out anything?"
"Luke, come on," Sapphire whispered, his voice trembling. "Don't do this to me. We'll find a way out."
"It's okay, Saph," Luke replied. "We all prepare ourselves for this moment, right? But before I go, promise me one thing, Saph:
"Get along with your next partner, ya hear?"
There was nothing but static following those words, but as Sapphire stared at the raging fireball that swallowed the factory, the world had already become silent.
He made him a promise. He never did agree, but towards the final words of the man that had been his partner, Sapphire Fall swore.
He swore that he would become strong enough to support his next partner. And that no matter what, he would never let another partner, friend, or teammate die again.
"… and that concludes the report on the mission."
"I see," the man grumbled, staring at the screen where the details of the mission still lingered. "We've lost a man, right? Is his partner still active?"
"Yes," the woman giving the presentation replied.
"Good," he said, even though his tone did nothing to support that word. "Send him to Dynes' team and pair him up with Black; Dynes isn't going to be much of a use in the state he's in anyway. Have Morris and Anderson train him."
"Understood."
From that day onwards, Sapphire Fall and Mercury Black became partners.
Walking through the Emerald Forest warily, Sapphire sighed.
He had gotten involved in Arc's love-life, what with offering advice and all that. He was a mercenary – a fact that he often reminded himself several times – and mercenaries had no use for emotions. He should not have wasted his time getting involved, but he ended up helping anyway.
They were not even remotely related to him, and he was under no obligations to help them. What was he thinking, helping them with their relationships? If they had broken up, then they would have been better off in the long run after one of them dies in combat.
I'm off my game, he thought. I should go to a hospital.
Grumbling as he continued walking without a clear destination in mind, Sapphire saw a familiar figure accompanied by a thicket of bright yellow hair.
"Blondie?" he wondered aloud.
Yang turned, saw him, and turned away again. She still had her shades on.
"Oh my!" she said in an extremely forced voice of surprise. "I hear someone, but I cannot see him! My oh my, it must be because of these shades! With them on, I can't make eye contact with anyone! Oh dear, I can't form a pair like this!"
With that, she ran off. Staring at the direction she disappeared into, Sapphire stood there speechless for a few moments.
"Well, whatever," he muttered, getting down on one knee and pressing something through his pants. Lifesaver gave off a faint 'beep' sound in response. "This works in my favor anyway."
"Fall?"
Turning around and making eye contact with Blake Belladonna, Sapphire sighed. So that was what she wanted.
"I thought I sensed Yang," she said. "I didn't expect to find you here."
"Blondie's somewhere over there," Sapphire replied, pointing at the direction Yang ran off in. "Dunno what's up with her, though. If you hurry you might be able to catch up with her."
"Wait!" Blake called out, as Sapphire began to walk off. "We made eye-contact, so we have to move as a pair now."
"You can just cheat-" Sapphire began, but a faint glint caught his eye. Cameras. Of course. "Fine. Stay close but don't get in my way."
Nodding, albeit reluctantly, Blake followed him.
Ozpin watched the screen in Glynda's hands as it displayed the various students currently in action (she had swiftly turned off the camera where Pyrrha and Jaune were at, though). Needless to say, Glynda was not pleased, and he could feel her fuming even over the steam from his mug.
"This is your idea of helping him live longer?" Glynda finally asked. "You're putting him in another battle situation and it's supposed to magically cure him?"
"It's a necessary first step," Ozpin replied calmly. "And I believe that he is ready to take that first step."
"And if you're wrong?" Glynda challenged.
She's not the Monochrome I have to kill. Not yet.
Not yet, Ozpin thought to himself.
"There are things that must be done when the preparations aren't complete, Glynda," he answered.
Hiding in a bush, Sapphire observed another pair – Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee – battle a horde of Beowolves with ease. He had wanted to jump out and eliminate all the Grimms at once, but Blake had stopped him, saying that they could handle it. Sapphire had been reluctant, but Blake remained adamant, resulting in their current state of hiding.
As he watched, Sapphire had to admit that they were good. He had thought Schnee was just a pampered rich girl, but in the way she fought, he understood that she was more than that; those moves were not something anyone could pull off by simply swinging their weapon around. Her choice of equipment could have been better though; that skirt lifted up way too often during combat, and that weapon was a wild horse (granted, she did manage to use it with ease).
But what caught his attention was the way Ruby Rose fought. He had seen moves very similar to the ones she displayed, some time ago. Back then, it was by a man named Qrow, who had shared with Sapphire the reason he fought. Sapphire made a mental note to ask the same question to Rose should the opportunity arise.
"See?" Blake whispered as Ruby cleanly sliced off the head of the last Beowolf. "They can handle themselves just fine."
"I totally could have handled that last one on my own," Weiss scoffed, folding her arms.
"I know you did," Ruby replied, giggling. "Come on, let's go."
Sapphire clenched his teeth. Those words were eerily familiar to him.
"I had him right where I wanted him," he had once said to Mercury.
"Sure you did," he had replied, with that smug grin on his face. How did his partner hide that hostility behind such a genuinely friendly smile the entire time?
"Fall?" Blake's voice cut into his thoughts.
"It's nothing," Sapphire replied hastily, noticing that Weiss and Ruby had already left. "We have to go, too."
Blake agreed wordlessly, but as she stepped out of the bushes, her bow twitched.
"Wait," she said. "Something's coming."
Sapphire's eyes widened for a split second, before he bent down and pressed something on Lifesaver through his pants again. It was a stupid mistake, and he cursed himself for not realizing it sooner.
As though waiting for them to emerge, a large shadow pounced out of the foliage. An Ursa. A single arrow through the face was enough to bring it down, but Sapphire's concern lay elsewhere. Activating his Semblance, he felt his bodily abilities rise and his senses sharpen, while his eyes surely turned a light shade of red.
"Stay close to me," he said, as Daybreak automatically loaded another arrow; as long as he did not wish to change the type of arrow and he had spares loaded in, Daybreak and Duskfall could handle reloading by themselves.
"What's wrong?" Blake asked, picking up his uneasiness. She had Gambol Shroud out and ready, but the shriek overhead told her that it would hardly be of any use in this situation. Worst of all, she recognized that shriek.
A Nevermore. That vile creature had been the major obstacle during Team RWBY's initiation here at the Emerald Forest. To make matters worse, this time Blake was only with Sapphire instead of her own team.
As though trying to prove to her that matters could be even worse, the trees to her side gave way, revealing another familiar figure: a black exoskeleton with white bone plates, finished off with a glowing, deadly stinger: a Death Stalker had joined the fray.
Along with the two large Grimms, several Ursi gathered, surrounding Blake and Sapphire. Their numbers were not frighteningly huge, but they were sufficient to pose a credible threat.
"Fall," Blake said, her back pressed against his, "Do you have anything that'll take them all out or at least distract them long enough?"
"I have smoke bombs," Sapphire replied. "But we're surrounded. Even if we fight through some of them, the Nevermore's got aerial advantage. And- oh crap, there's that."
Slithering across the lush forest grass and baring their fangs at their prey, King Taijitu entered the scene. The serpentine Grimms hissed, its black and white halves separating to go for both of the foolish creatures who had gotten themselves surrounded.
"This was a miscalculation," Sapphire muttered savagely under his breath. "Smoke isn't going to fool snakes; they'll find us instantly. Listen, Belladonna. I'm gonna create an opening, and you run the moment-"
"I'm fighting," Blake retorted. "I can handle myself. Don't waste your time," she added, as he opened his mouth. "I know what I'm doing; I've battled Grimm and worse before."
Before Sapphire could say anything else, the countless monsters attacked.
"How is this possible?" Glynda asked, staring at the screen in wide-eyed disbelief.
For some reason, even when they had spotted other pairs, the Grimm chose to ignore them and instead gathered at where Blake and Sapphire were. It was as though they were specifically looking for them and them alone. As a result, every other pair reached the relics and the rendezvous point without any trouble (save Ruby and Weiss who decided to slaughter some Beowolves along the way). But that also meant that no one would be able to go to their aid.
"We have to intervene," she said worriedly. "They're not ready to face that many Grimms at once, especially with those three added in."
"He can," Ozpin replied, his expression unreadable. "That's why it's bad. Come on, Glynda. We have to stop him before he takes them on by himself."
"What-"
"Now," Ozpin said, his voice dead serious.
Launching several Dust Grenades into the monsters, Sapphire fired two arrows before they detonated, blowing back a few Ursi. Gunshots followed shortly, although they barely did any damage to the King Taijitu.
Blake was having problems on her side as well. Her attacks barely had an effect on the Death Stalker, and constantly dodging the monstrosity's stinger and pincers proved to be difficult when she had to deal with the pack of Ursi at the same time.
Occasionally, the Nevermore dived, each time narrowly missing Blake. Sometimes, when it caught her off-guard by firing off its feathers, Sapphire had to dive in and save her. Keeping his attention on Blake while fighting off enemies proved to be a difficult task, even with his Semblance active.
The fatigue was slowly starting to take its toll. Like Ozpin pointed out, the more he fought, the more Sapphire hurt himself. While it made him stronger, it was only worsening his condition. Right now, even though he could crush an Ursa's head with his hands if he wanted to, Sapphire was by no means confident in his chances of victory.
If a way out existed, it would be Lifesaver's Combat Mode.
Genocide Mode was definitely overkill. He did not want to or need to waste his life on something like mere Grimm. Combat Mode would probably allow him to take on most if not all of the monsters in front of him right now, and it only took two simple words to activate it. But with Blake around, Sapphire was not sure if he could avoid hurting her in the process if he really did use it.
Blake leapt into the air, jumping onto the shoulder of the clone she created with her Semblance. Dual-wielding her Gambol Shroud's blade and sheath, she attempted to slash through her enemies on whom her bullets had no effect. In two clean hits, she beheaded an Ursa, using whatever was left of its body and another clone to dash through the air like a cannonball.
As she flew towards the Death Stalker, her sights set on its stinger, Blake was suddenly swept off into the air by a violent force. Struggling to maintain her balance as the Nevermore flew away, while still being thrown towards the side by the gale of wind, Blake barely managed to avoid slamming into a tree.
In one backflip, Blake climbed onto a branch and leapt off, raising her weapons to behead another incoming Ursa. But this time, she froze.
I live for the sole purpose of killing you.
She remembered those eyes. Those terrifying yet sorrowful red eyes, forcing back the darkness with its malice alone. She remembered his silhouette – a single shadow shrouded in darkness save his monster-like eyes – as his hair trembled in the wind like the mane of a monster.
As she looked at the Grimm she was about to kill, Blake froze. The sight of the monster reminded her of him. Of Sapphire, the man who lived to kill her. Of Sapphire, the man who lived to fight, and lived for revenge.
Of Sapphire Fall, the man whose friends' deaths were her fault.
Weiss had assured her that she was in the right. She had the full support of her team. She had already washed her hands of the life she led as a member of the White Fang. So why was she so affected by those words?
Why is it that when she looked into the face of a monster, she saw that human's expression staring back at her?
That moment's hesitation cost her dearly. The last thing Blake saw before she realized that folly was the blur of an Ursa's swinging arm.
"Belladonna!" Sapphire roared, dashing to her side and between her and the monsters. There were still too many left. "Belladonna! Get up!"
It was a heavy blow, but she was not out cold. However, even after she sat up, Blake did not pick up her weapons.
"What're you doing?!" Sapphire bellowed, firing an arrow at an approaching Beowolf. "Move it and pick up your weapons! We don't have time!"
But Blake could not hear him. Her eyes, wide with shock and fear, stared into the ground where nothing but grass was. Despite that, they bore into something distant that only she could see.
"Bella-" Sapphire began, but he stopped when he looked at her and realized that his words fell on deaf ears. She was trembling. She had already hit her limit with how far she could hide her feelings, and now she possessed no combat capabilities whatsoever. On the battlefield, she had no more value than being bait for Sapphire to escape.
The enemies closed in. The Nevermore dived from the skies, while the small army of Grimms charged across the earth. They were monsters without souls, and they knew not of mercy. In between them and a girl who could not fight, was a single man who stood no chance.
"Get along with your next partner, ya hear?"
A vague, brief memory grazed his mind. A determined, earnest promise echoed in his soul. That promise had been made by him, and he had sworn to keep it. But it was not the promise that drove him to act. It was something that resided far deeper within his being, and it was what had compelled him to make the promise in the first place.
As Ozpin had called it, it was his 'heart'.
Facing the incoming wave of death and destruction, Sapphire spoke:
"Safety Off."