Here's that second chapter like I promised you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Speech
Thoughts
Chapter Ten: Brace For Impact
Slade sat watching from the lookout point, he sighed from boredom looking to his left he watched the girls all sleeping briefly. Turning his head around he stopped midway whipping his head back around and looking at Ruby's empty bedroll.
"Where's Ruby?" he asked standing at attention.
"What?" Oobleck asked quickly getting up from his bedroll.
"Ruby's missing" he answered as Zwei entered the building barking in an urgent manner.
"Zwei?" Yang asked confused as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"What's going on?" Weiss asked.
"Grab your weapons! Your leader may be in trouble" Oobleck answered following Zwei and Slade as they exited the building. Blake, Weiss, and Yang quickly armed themselves and followed behind them.
"That's Ruby's scythe" Slade pointed out picking it up off the ground in front of a large hole in the road.
"Oh no" Blake worriedly looked around for any sign of Ruby.
"Do you think she fell?" Weiss asked.
"Fell?" Oobleck asked looking up from the weapon.
"Down there" Slade answered pointing to the giant hole in front of them.
"Oh my... of course, of course, OF COURSE, OF COURSE!" Oobleck yelled in realization.
"What is it?" Blake asked confused.
"How could I be so stupid?!" Oobleck asked in disbelief.
"Dr. Oobleck, what's wrong?" Yang asked.
"Mountain Glenn! Yes, an expansion of Vale that was inevitably destroyed by creatures of Grimm! Previously home to thousands of people! Working people commuting to the city, the main city! Developed a subway system to the inner city! Grimm attacks increased! Population in danger, now desperately searching for shelter! City evacuates into the metro tunnels and what do they find? The southeast quadrant of Vale is known for wild forests and deep caves!"
"Doc, what are you saying?" Yang asked not understanding.
"My dear, we're not just looking for an underground crime network, we're looking for an UNDERGROUND crime network!" he answered frantically.
"They've been working in caves?" Blake asked.
"No, no, Mountain Glenn was Vale's first serious attempt at expansion. It worked for a short period of time, thanks to an aggressive perimeter defense, and unique transportation; the city developed an elaborate subway system to carry citizens safely from the new territory into the main Kingdom! Sadly, without the many natural barriers Vale had to protect its borders, Mountain Glenn was doomed from the start! As the end drew near, the citizens of the territory made one last attempt at survival: They took up shelter beneath the city! In massive caves that they had cleared out for the subway. And they had cut themselves off from the surface!" he explained.
"An underground village?" Yang asked.
"In a matter of speaking, yes. A safe haven. Until... an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern, filled with subterranean Grimm. After that, the Kingdom officially sealed off the tunnels, creating the world's largest tomb. If Ruby is down there... we must find her" Oobleck concluded worriedly.
"You knew about the subway system here and never bothered to tell us? That's the first place we should've looked" Slade pointed out exasperated.
"Had I known that's where they were operating I would've done just that. But the subways have always been overrun by Grimm and most of the pathways have collapsed overtime. Including those originally sealed intentionally"
"You were hoping to avoid them" Slade concluded.
"Precisely"
"Hey boss! I found something you'll want to see!" called the White Fang thug dragging Ruby along the train.
"Is it good or bad, Perry? Because let me tell ya, I have had a day" Roman's voice called from an open train car.
"Uh... it's a little girl?" Perry answered unsure. Roman swung out from the train car hanging off the side by the handle.
"That would be bad" he answered glaring at Ruby. Grabbing Ruby by the collar of her clothes he lifted her into the air her legs swinging helplessly "Where's the rest of your team?" Torchwick asked menacingly. Ruby spit in his face angering him. Throwing her to the floor he laugh loudly.
"Wow! You are much more manageable without that oversized gardening tool of yours" Roman laughed out trying to catch his breath. Ruby gets up and charges him, he sidesteps her causing her to stumble to the ground.
"Oh man! Y'know, Perry, I really needed this" he laughed gaining a thumbs up from Perry in response. Roman aimed his cane at Ruby "But seriously. How'd you find this place, Red? Where's the rest of your team?" he asked losing his playful demeanor. Ruby growled and used her semblance to escape running for the exit "Whoa!" Roman yelled slightly startled.
Torchwick fired the handle of his cane at Ruby as a grappling hook grabbing her by the hood and pulling her back toward him "I see you've got some tricks up your sleeve! Let me make this clear: We're not through here yet" he warned just before a massive explosion shook through the area stumbling everyone in the room.
"Oh, what the- Perry, if you and the boys could take care of that? Kinda in the middle of something here" Perry nods and goes to investigate just as another explosion rips through the area.
"What is going on here?!" Roman yelled annoyed.
A third explosion sounds and multiple White Fang members come running around the corner, some firing at an unknown enemy. Weiss, Blake, Slade, Yang, Zwei and Oobleck run around the corner, much to Roman's annoyance. Ruby decides to take this moment to try and escape. She jumps on Roman's shoulders, pulls his hat down over his eyes, and then flees towards her friends. Roman readjusts his hat and glares after Ruby.
"Somebody kill her!" he yelled. White Fang members began firing their weapons at Ruby forcing her to dodge and weave between the bullets.
"Attach this cart and spread the word: We're starting the train" Roman ordered annoyed.
"But we're not finished yet" he protested. Roman slammed him against the train with his cane.
"Do it or you're finished!" he threatened.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled relived as Ruby jumped into her arms.
"Are you okay?" Slade asked worriedly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine! But listen! Torchwick has got all kinds of weapons and robots down there!" she frantically explained.
"What?!" Blake asked in shock.
"Androids, mechs, they're all loaded up on the train cars" she answered.
"Ahhhhh, that's ridiculous. These tunnels are sealed, the tracks lead to a dead-end" Oobleck argued.
"Get to your places, we're leaving now!" Roman's voice came over the intercom.
"Well, it sounds like they're going somewhere!" Yang yelled back.
"Clearly they have a destination in mind" Slade pointed out.
"We need to call backup. Let me call Jaune" Ruby suggested.
"No signal in here, Ruby. We don't have backup" Slade explained gesturing to where they were.
"Slade's right, I can't get through"
"So, what do we do?" Blake asked.
"I believe we only have one option" Oobleck answered.
"Stop the train" Ruby concluded as Slade rushed off toward the train with the rest of the team following behind him. They all jumped onto the train sneaking into the open train car on the back.
"I think they're on the-" a White Fang member attempted to say into a communication device before Slade kicked him out of the train car onto the tracks.
"Hurry, children! We must get to the front and stop this train!" Oobleck ordered.
"Err... Professor?" Weiss asked opening the car's hatch.
"Doctor..." he stressed turning toward her.
"What's that?" she asked pointing into the open hatch, Oobleck kneeled down to take a look.
"That my dear... appears to be a bomb" he answered causing them to cringe away from the hatch.
"We've got baddies!" Pointed forward on the train as dozens of White Fang members climb onto the top of the train.
"Well, I didn't expect them to go—" Oobleck stops when the bomb charges up and starts beeping "—easy on us" he stands up abruptly "Time to go!"
"Blake! Detach the caboose! It will kill us all!" Slade yelled jumping onto the next car.
"On it" Blake jumps down onto the connectors and gets ready to cut the connection, but as she does, the connection comes loose on its own "Huh?" she looked up at Slade "It decoupled itself!"
"What?!"
"I guess he really doesn't want us on this train" Yang yelled. Slade looks back at the detached cart, it explodes in the tunnel.
"That's not good..." Oobleck breathed out concerned.
"Err, neither is this!" Ruby yelled standing next to another open hatch.
"Another bomb?!" Oobleck asked.
Slade looked around then ran to the next train car "No. No. No." he opens the hatch and looks up to the team "They all have bombs!" he yelled. The bomb under Team RWBY charges up and starts beeping and the cart they're on detaches itself, forcing Team RWBY to run to the next cart.
"This doesn't make sense!" Yang yelled confused.
The train car exploded opening a hole in the tunnel allowing Grimm inside "Oh dear... he's leading Grimm to the city!" Oobleck yelled.
"What?" Weiss asked surprised.
"It's the cars!" Oobleck yelled.
"Of course! They detach and explode leaving openings for the Grimm!" Slade concluded.
"That's insane!" Blake yelled.
"You're dealing with people hell bent on destruction and chaos, Blake. Sanity doesn't fit into the picture" Slade groaned.
"We have to hurry!" Oobleck yelled "You three, go below and see what you can do about these bombs!" he ordered pointing to Blake, Yang, and Weiss.
"What about us?" Ruby asked.
"We're going to stop this train" he answered.
"Yeah, I know. I said that earlier" Ruby joked rushing forward with them.
"Up ahead!" Oobleck yelled pointing to two paladins on top of the train "We have a problem!"
"We can take them" Ruby confidently removed Crescent Rose.
"You two go on ahead!" Oobleck ordered.
"But-"
"Don't worry, you two. It's time... I taught them a lesson" Oobleck grinned rushing the two paladins. Ruby and Slade ran toward the front of the train being stopped by White Fang members climbing atop the train from below.
"Get going, Ruby. I can handle these guys, you need to stop the train"
"But-"
"Ruby, too many people are going to get hurt if we don't stop this train. Go" he ordered. Ruby nodded hesitantly using her semblance to get past them "Come and get it boys" Slade taunted, gesturing for them to attack him.
The first charged him stabbing his blade for Slade's chest. Slade sidestepped the blade grabbing his arm and punching him in the throat, followed by a head-butt and a knee to his abdomen causing him to double over in pain and finishing by slamming his knee into his face throwing him over the side of the train. The second fired his rifle only to have it kicked from his hands off the train, Slade grabbed his left arm holding it out stiffly and slammed his right fist into his elbow breaking it, placing his hand on the back of his head he slammed his knee into his face as he pushed his head down toward his knee, knocking him unconscious.
"That all you guys got? I'm disappointed. Two charged him with clubs in hand swinging for his head and his chest. Catching the club in his right hand he slammed his left hand into the other member's abdomen causing him to double over in pain, using his left leg he kicked the first's legs out from under him knocking him onto his back. Grabbing his leg as he fell with both hands he kicked his foot into his knee breaking his leg then turned on the other member. Grabbing his leg as he stood he slammed his fist into his knee shattering it then forced him onto his back and kicked out the backside of the same knee crushing the bones in his leg painfully. Charging another as he cringed from the sight of his allies, Slade backhanded him then kneed him in the chest knocking him onto his knees, removing his pistol from beneath his coat he fired it into the mans head.
"Only two left? I'm disappointed, I was just starting to have some fun" Slade taunted. Both nodded to each other before charging him with only their fists. Slade grabbed the first by his arm swinging him around as he charged he slammed into his partner knocking her both off balance. Coming between them both as they stumbled back he slammed their arms down over his shoulder breaking them then slamming the back of his hands into their chest earning a cry of pain from each of them. Turning he punched the women on his left in the chest doubling her over in pain then turned and did the same to man on his right. Leaping forward as he twisted in the air he slammed his fists into the back of their heads slamming them into the train roof.
"That was easy" he sighed catching his breath.
"Slade!" Ruby's worried voice called "You're gonna want to see this" Slade rushed to Ruby's side as Blake, Weiss, and Yang all climbed up next to them from below looking ahead at the stone wall at the end of the tunnel.
"The Brakes aren't going to help us" Yang said showing them in her hand.
"Torchwick really wants this train to crash" Weiss groaned.
"What do we do?" Blake asked worriedly as he wall came closer.
"Slade!" Ruby yelled in realization.
"What?" he asked confused.
"Your semblance!"
"what about-" Slade stopped looking her in the eye he caught on quick "No! I cant! I haven't even figured out how to control it on myself yet, let alone an entire train!" he protested shaking his head emphatically.
"We're out of time and options. If we don't stop this train, a lot of people are going to get hurt" Ruby pleaded "We have to do something"
Slade stared ahead at the concrete wall coming ever closer "Weiss, you know what to do" he nodded toward her. Weiss encased the group in a shield of ice as Slade slammed his hands down onto the train roof. Closing his eyes he focused a thin black mist emanated off him as he did his face contorting from the strain.
"What's he doing?" Yang asked not understanding.
"Saving Vale" Ruby answered much to the confusion of the rest of the team. The concrete wall came closer every second, Slade yelled from the exertion just before they crashed into the wall. Suddenly their surroundings changed from a dark tunnel to a brightly lit forest, the train turned on its side sliding through the woods crashing through trees to a stop. The group fell from the train as it stopped most of them rolling onto their stomachs as they landed.
"What just happened?" Weiss asked standing up as she looked around at the forest surrounding them "How did we get here?"
Slade sat on his knees panting exhaustedly as he struggled to stand up. Falling onto one knee, Ruby caught him almost toppling over herself, she helped him stand back up with Yang's help.
"I do believe Mr. Stroud just saved the city from a grievous Grimm attack. I never thought I would see such a unique ability in all my years" Oobleck answered in awe.
"What the hell just happened, what's going on!" Roman yelled exiting the train "Why is the train in the middle of a forest and not a city? Did Perry give me the wrong tracks!?" he continued ranting stepping off the train.
"You've failed Torchwick, the city is safe and you're coming with us" Blake proclaimed holding her blade outstretched toward him.
"Am I now? As fun as this has been-" Roman was suddenly suspended in the air by Slade standing in front of him holding him by the throat.
"You almost killed hundreds of people with this attack. Who're you working for?" Slade demanded still catching his breath.
"You move fast, kid. I'll give you that, but you're not strong enough to mess with the big kids"
"Who's in charge?" he asked again lowering him to eye level.
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked grinning, Slade raised his eyebrow expectantly "You're looking at him" he answered laughing. Slade slammed him into the train moving his hands to his coat collar.
"Watch the hat" Roman protested.
"You're about to be spending a lot of time in prison, Torchwick. I'd advise you help yourself out. Give me a name" Roman laughed in response.
"You think I'm afraid of your petty prisons? That's nothing compared to what's in store for me if I give up my employer"
"So you admit you're working for someone?"
"You think I would be working with those filthy animals from the White Fang otherwise? They're all worthless-"
"I'd watch your mouth, Roman... I don't take kindly to Faunus haters" he warned.
"Yes, yes, you're very intimidating. Look, kid, if you want to stand a chance against those I work for, you're going to have to do a lot better than you have been. You couldn't even take Neo and I, you really think you could handle them?" Torchwick asked.
"I suppose we'll find out" Slade answered releasing him. Roman looked at his clothes in annoyance.
"Look at what you've gone and done to my-" he was interrupted by Yang punching him in the face knocking him unconscious.
"Does he ever stop talking?" she asked her eyes flaring red.
"For someone who talks so much, he gives out very little information" Slade agreed.
"Unfortunate that we cannot connect him and the White Fang with your suspect. I suppose we'll just have to keep an eye on her team" Oobleck sighed.
"What should we do about those tunnels?" Slade asked.
"What do you mean? They're sealed" Weiss pointed out.
"They're packed full of Grimm, what happens if one day that seal breaks?" Blake asked.
"Ozpin will know what to do about it" Ruby assured with a smile "The good news is: We've got Torchwick and stopped the White Fang from attacking the city with an army of Grimm!" she cheered excitedly causing Zwei to bark happily at her antics.
"Well we did it" Yang sighed in relief as she and her team sat on the edge of Beacon's landing platform.
"We did it" Blake agreed.
"If we don't get extra credit for that, I'm gonna be seriously disappointed" Weiss added.
"Extra credit for doing our job?" Slade asked raising his eyebrow with a smirk.
"It could happen!" she argued.
"I wouldn't count on it" yang laughed.
"We didn't solve everything, a lot of people could've been hurt today if it wasn't for Slade at the end there. We still don't have anything connecting Cinder and Torchwick to each other" Ruby sighed laying on her back.
"Well not every story has a neat and tidy ending" Weiss offered.
"We might not have all the answers, but we do have a lot of dangerous people behind bars. And I think that's something we could be proud of" Blake said with a genuine smile.
"Yeah! And if anyone tries something like this again, we'll be there to stop them" Ruby agreed enthusiastically. Yang laid down on her back.
"Yay, teamwork, camaraderie, good guys, go team, alright, good job... So, what now?"
"I suggest training for the tournament, but I guess we have that covered at this point" Weiss pointed out.
"So then..." Blake let the sentence hang.
"Uhh... Time for bed?" Ruby offered.
"Please" Yang agreed.
"Absolutely" Blake laughed.
"Yes" Weiss nodded her head in agreement.
"I'm going to sleep forever" she proclaimed happily.
"You coming, Slade?" Ruby asked as the group got up to leave.
"Maybe later, I have something to take care of first" he answered "Later" he waved before vanishing.
"What was that about?" Yang asked.
"Who knows, Slade's always going off somewhere. You'd think he could just enjoy being called a hero without fidgeting so much" Weiss answered with a shrug.
"His aversion to the spotlight is understandable given his upbringing" Blake offered.
"I hope he's okay" Ruby worriedly sighed.
"I'm sure he's fine" Yang tried comforting her sister by pulling her along "He's probably just worried about the tournament. He is fighting alone after all"
"That's everything?" Ozpin asked.
"Yes, Professor. Everything we were able to obtain from Mr. Torchwick"
"You're dismissed" Ozpin looked over the file with great interest.
"Of course, sir... I must admit, I have never seen a more capable team of students here at the school in all my years of teaching. I hope you realize how fortunate you are" he added just before leaving the room.
"I must agree with Oobleck's assessment, Professor" Glynda said turning toward him.
"Indeed... they certainly acceded what has been expected of them at every turn. Stopping an attack on the city, even incarcerating Roman Torchwick. They've been the ones keeping Vale from descending into chaos. Fitting for future defenders of the world"
"As successful as they have been, I must be the voice of reason here" Ironwood spoke up.
"What could you possibly need to add here, James?" Glynda asked exasperated.
"Slade Stroud was able to transport an entire locomotive with his semblance. He could prove to be a powerful asset or a frightening adversary"
"What are you proposing General?" Ozpin asked suspiciously.
"I think we should keep him out of the tournament. If the world sees his power then we'd never be able to surprise an enemy with it-"
"You're asking me to keep him from participating in the tournament because you're frightened you wont be able to use him as a weapon or assassin?"
"Oz-"
"I will not, James. He is a Huntsman as much as he is a child, restricting him in anyway right now would simply sow the seeds of mistrust between us. He trusts me right now and I would like to keep it that way, we'd have never caught Torchwick or been made aware of Ms. Fall if not for him. We need to keep him on our side before anything else, he is a person not a weapon"
"I know that, I just feel people would wish to exploit him if they discovered his powers-"
"You're the only one here who would seek to exploit him" Glynda growled "Anyone else tries and makes him do something he isn't comfortable with will be lucky to still be breathing by the end of the day"
"You truly believe I would exploit him?" Ironwood asked.
"You believe otherwise" Slade asked from behind them, startling the group.
"How long have you been there?" Ozpin asked.
"Long enough to know my mistrust of General Ironwood is well founded. Professor I wish to ask you for a favor"
"Of course-"
"Not you" Slade interrupted Ozpin turning to Glynda "You"
"Me?" she asked surprised.
"I know Professor Ozpin is going to be busy during the tournament and won't be available for our private sessions. I was hoping you or another could fill in for him"
Glynda looked over to Ozpin who nodded with a small smile "I would be happy to help you, although I may not have the time during the tournament either. I promise you will have another Huntsman to teach you while the tournament is partaking here"
"Thank you... Professors, General" he practically spat the last word before vanishing once again.
"I think you should leave, James. I believe you have a prisoner to interrogate" Ozpin made sure he knew it wasn't a suggestion.
"I... yes, Ozpin" he relented exiting the room quickly. Ozpin sighed in relief as he left.
"You really think Slade is up for it?" Glynda asked.
"He's finally unlocked his semblance. Now all he needs is to learn to use it effectively in battle and he may become unstoppable"
"You think he can beat her?"
"I think he's the one with the best chance of getting close enough to try"
"Slade Stroud... again" Cinder seethed.
"He's proving to be a thorn in our side" Mercury sighed.
"First he rejects my offer to join us, then he begins interfering with our dust robberies and my infiltration during the dance two days ago. Now he's incarcerated Roman Torchwick and most of the White Fang members working with us" Cinder ranted pacing back and forth on the rooftop.
"I told you we should've killed him" Mercury pointed out.
"Merc!" Emerald whispered sternly not wishing to anger Cinder further.
"He's going to die one way or another"
"We lost a lot of Faunus in those tunnels with the train, you really think the White Fang is going to listen to us anymore?" Mercury asked curiously.
"No... but they'll listen to me" Adam Taurus answered from behind them with Neo standing beside him "Who's this Slade I keep hearing about?" he asked.
"A particularly large and powerful thorn in our side. He's on the same team as your old flame" Cinder answered.
"Then I shall be the one to kill him"
"Get in line" Mercury scoffed.
"I could care less who kills him so long as he is dead!" Cinder growled.
"Have no fear, I shall present his head for you on the edge of my blade" Adam grinned unsheathing his katana.
"Wait until we have the Grimm at our back, we should be able to catch him off guard then. Make sure he doesn't survive" Cinder ordered seething in anger.
