Chapter 12

As the name implies, the White Whale was big. We would never be able to land directly in Mountain Glenn—not without breaking a few buildings along the way. Instead we dropped down on a nearby clearing. We had to rid them of several Grimm first but nothing a few slashes couldn't fix.

It's good being the one in control for once. Lately I've been thrown down the deep end far too many times forcing me to think on my feet. I never liked improvising on the spot, it just meant that you were unprepared for what's ahead.

Several hunters stayed behind to guard the airship. I didn't have a chance to talk with many hunters but most of them were equipped with gaudy weapons. Generally a good thing. The more flamboyant and elaborate their weapon, the better they probably are at fighting.

That's what I told myself anyway. I didn't want to comprehend the insanity of someone thinking a gun yo-yo—or as I like to call gun-yo—was a good idea.

There wasn't any proper pathway leading to Mountain Glenn. Any that did exist would had been ruined by lurking Grimm or the untamed wilderness. What might have been roads were now gripped in nature's claws.

Essentially there were too many damn plants.

"Careful of the vegetation." I warned. "Some could be dangerous." With a hell hole like Remnant, I wouldn't be surprised to see plants that could eat people.

We had to create a route ourselves, forging a path through the heavy foliage.

Jaune and Ruby were waiting idly as our group slashed our way forward. They weren't suited for this kind of labour, Jaune having absolutely pathetic stamina and Ruby being too short to cut down the higher vegetation.

"So," the young looking hunter next to me said. I vaguely recalled his name as Es. He feigned disinterest but I could tell he was holding a burning question back. "What's it like working for Mr Arc? Is it fun? I bet it's fun. Back when I was in school, there was a police detective we could shadow but I thought it was boring and picked some other rubbish job. Man, talk about lost opportunity." He spat out his words as fast as a gatling gun. "I'm working part time at some other detective agency later on. Got any tips?"

After Jaune became a hit with the public, a surplus of private eyes cropped up. They all ranged from tolerable to terrible.

Mostly terrible.

What those fools didn't understand was that being a detective was nearly 99% paperwork and 1% investigation. There aren't adventures calling for them like a telephone and more than likely they'll end up shutting down their agency with their wallets crying from its empty stomach.

So why is Jaune successful?

Simple.

He has a public image.

The world listens to him like a child looking for praise from his parents. They've seen him out and about doing what he can to help people. The public talks and it just propels his reputation. The other detectives never had that. An advertisement in the Vale's newspaper isn't going to draw any celebrity in. Jaune is just an outlier with his freaky 'draw me into news making cases aura'. I actually considered that he had a semblance that messed with reality like some horrid game and asked him about it some time ago.

His reply to it was that he didn't have his aura activated so he doesn't have a semblance.

He withered under my stare. I couldn't believe we went through all those cases without his aura unlocked. I always assumed he already activated it.

Apparently, he hadn't had the time to get someone to unlock it.

I activated his aura right then and there.

It was one of the few moments where Jaune was truly being stupid.

I shook my head, bringing myself out of my memories. The kid was still there, right he was still waiting on me "Yeah, I got advice for you kid."

He looked up eagerly like an excited puppy.

"Quit."

I left him with his face gobsmacked.

He doesn't know it but I just saved him a lot of grief.

That hunter never approached me again and a mindless routine settled into me. We reached the end of the foliage with little else happening. Below me, Mountain Glenn was in view. Toppled buildings, demolished roads, it was what you expect from an abandoned city. The others joined me and exclamations of surprise rang across our group. I don't see what they're surprised about, we all knew we were heading here.

After a preliminary scan of the surroundings, the hunter squad leader stepped up and called for our attention. His loud voice cut out all conversation.

"I'm sure everyone knows the tragedy that is Mountain Glenn so I won't repeat any details." He met each of our gazes, an undertone of steel behind it. "What we must focus on now is our mission. The White Fang has been terrorising the good citizens of Vale for what amounts to petty reasons."

I raised an eyebrow but I didn't voice my thoughts.

"I do not need to list all their crimes for us to know that we are dealing with a dangerous group. Remember our primary objective is to subdue any White Fang members. Top priority is Roman Torchwick." His scroll expanded revealing Torchwick's mug shot. "However if there truly are no other options then you have permission to use lethal force. Should we not discover the White Fang's hideout then our secondary objective is to scout out and assess Mountain Glenn."

The squad leader turned to Ruby. "As you are still a hunter in training, you will be partnered with one of the veterans. Stay with them at all times."

Ruby nodded.

It might be odd that they're letting Ruby come along—to a civilian—but to hunters age was never much of a factor, only their prowess in combat. Hunters always needed to be replaced and the sooner the better. I once heard of a prodigious 16 year old graduating from Beacon Academy. The news team made a huge deal about it and the kid became a role model for the younger generation. It honestly creeped me out how many fell for his campaign, disillusioning the younger audiences as a proud and honourable member of a hunter squad when the reality is that you're likely to die early or live long enough to be a bitter prune. Now what was his semblance? I remember it being absurdity powerful.

It was something to do with directions. Vector control maybe?

Whatever it was it wasn't important now.

The squad leader faced Jaune next. "Mr Arc, I understand that you want to investigate the area. As you have no combat experience I will assign several hunters with you."

"That is fine. I was hoping I did not need to fight."

The hunter leader grunted in response. "All of you have a radio to contact each other. You can specify who you want to call with this dial here," he demonstrated by calling the hunter next to him. "If it's an emergency, then the button here will alert everyone to your location. If you need to contact everyone, then push this button here. Do not shout into the microphone. They are sensitive and strictly for passing on information. No tomfoolery will go unpunished."

We each agreed. No one wants a deafened ear.

"Very well, split into your assigned teams."

Our team comprised of 5 people including me and Jaune. They introduced themselves as Es, Dee and Hew. We went over our abilities quickly. Es, the young kid from earlier, was a support type, focusing in healing. Dee was a defensive specialist, she could form nearly unbreakable shields at the cost of losing mobility. The last member, Hew, wielded a chainsaw. He was a man of few words, tall and his face set in a permanent scowl. Apparently his semblance lets him harden metal.

And yes, the chainsaw was also gun.

No I don't know how it works.

Other teams were starting to leave now. I spotted Ruby being escorted by a tall man with the gun-yo, presumably the veteran.

Ruby threw us a last glance before departing with her partner.

She should be fine. Veterans could take out a Goliath by themselves.

So why am I so worried?

C'mon Adam, shake it off. Don't be a hypocrite now.

That's right, I said earlier that she should have her chance and I'm not backing out of it now.

We were the last team to leave the clearing. Our teammates talked amongst themselves, considering contingencies. I contributed when I could, forming the threads of a plan.

By the time we reached what would be the town centre, we paused for a break.

On a impulse I triggered my aura detection.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Like ants in a nest.

"Adam?" Jaune curiously stared at me. "What is it? Do you sense something?"

"Below."

"What?"

"Below us. There's people below us."

A lot of people. Enough signatures that I couldn't count all of them. This is like that escort mission all over again.

"Underground should be sealed," said Es. He frowned at the obvious contradiction.

"They obviously unsealed it." I answered.

"Adam, basic run down." said Jaune.

"Large numbers, probably over 200. All aura trained. They're evenly spread out underground. It's hard to tell what's happening but I think they're moving equipment around."

"Let's inform the others then."

We relayed our information across. The other teams responded and we set about finding an entrance.

Before we discovered anything, our radios cackled again. Ruby's voice came out muffled but I recognized it all the same.

"Guys. We found an entrance underground. I think that's where they're hidden."

"Don't go in yet." I called. "Wait for us."

"Hurry up then!"

My radio shut with a click. Ruby must have pushed the button alerting her location because her name popped up on the display.

We raced our way over, my eyes never straying off the screen.

The radio squealed and sounds of gunfire were heard on the other side. Ruby's voice cried out before the sound abruptly cut off.

Shit, not good.

"Where's the closest entrance?" someone asked. I didn't take the time to place the voice.

"Down." I answered. I pulled out my fire dust embedded sword, careful to not disturb the dust crystals in the bag. I gave it an experimental swing and satisfied at its quality, I began to gather power. It's not often I use dust, usually I stick with my energy absorbent sword. Too many times I run into people who shoot energy beams. They might think it's 'cool' but when I tank their blasts and cut them down they probably regretted their decision.

The others stood back, watching as fire danced around me. The superheated air ruffled my hair and once the rush of power reached its peak, I jammed my sword into the ground. Cracks exploded across the tarmac before disintegrating into rubble. The ground gave way and we dropped fast and hard. Jaune screamed like a girl and was carried bridal style by the support hunter. I had to admit, it was an amusing sight. Weightlessness took over my senses before I reinforced my legs in preparation of landing. My body rolled quickly, dissipating the built up force.

Instantly a clarity took over my eyes. It would be dark for Jaune and the others but to me it was as if the room was filled with searchlights.

Armed members of the White Fang burst through the door. They aimed their guns and let loose their bullets. A glowing green force field interrupted their path, bullets sparking where they hit. The defensive hunter Dee, had her arms up, presumably maintaining the shield. Unfortunately the shield works both ways, while they couldn't hit us, we couldn't hit them.

Not like that would stop me.

I left the safety of the shield, twirling around the bullets. My sharp reflexes kept me safe and I closed in the distance. I slashed my sword into the gut one of them and they gurgled painfully before fainting. I didn't take the time to enjoy the satisfaction as more members poured through the doorway.

No time to think. I reached into my bag with my free arm, pulling out a random sword.

Ice.

It will do.

I swung my sword, sending aura down the blade and the ice embedded dust triggered. Jagged spikes charged at the doorway and the grunts hastily jumped to the side.

My team mates would need time to adjust their vision to the darkness. Time we didn't have. Some light should do the trick.

My flame sword burnt through the ice, vaporising it and cooking the ones unlucky enough to get hit by the steam. The fire lit up the area long enough for Hew to swing his running chainsaw through the wall.

The wall tore like paper and a gap large enough for us to fit through opened. We jumped through the opening, Dee covering us with her shields.

I shook away the plaster that stuck to me, wiping away the crumbs on my suit. Jaune looked about as normal albeit more tired. The others, while breathing heavily, was more due to the excitement than any real exertion. Dee was using her power again, blocking the entry we made before.

We landed in what looked like a basement. The dimly lit blue light clashed against the green glimmering glow from Dee's shield. It weaved together illuminating the room in a bizarre mix of cyan shadows. Old wooden chairs were placed along the wall and drops of water echoed across the room. The air tasted damp and the stench of iron crept up my senses.

On the other side, where the light couldn't reach, metal bars like ones you find in dungeons divided the room.

Shadows obscured the boy who slumped limply.

"Fuck me." The healer let out.

I couldn't agree more.

The boy was more purple than tanned. I spotted what looked to be a tail and it was with dread that I recognised him as the same faunus boy Blake was with earlier. A pool of red liquid was under him and I'm sure there were punctures where spikes were driven into him.

"Es, heal him now!" Jaune voice prompted Es to dash up to him. He struggled with the bars before I cut them down to pieces.

He placed a hand on him. "Man oh man," cried Es, "he's still alive. We need to get him to a hospital. I can't heal all his injuries!"

"Do what you can." said Jaune.

"We're going to need to take him out." I said. "Es you go with him, Jaune you're not going to be of use here. Go with Dee, defend them while they leave."

They each agreed with my plan. Dee's shield shimmered and reshaped into steps. Hew, revved up his chainsaw and flared his aura scaring away the lingering White Fang members. I climbed up, pulling out my fire dust sword.

"Prepare yourselves." I warned.

The roof shattered as explosions rocked the room. Light poured in the hollow gap. Jaune and Es who was lifting his patient, ran up the improvised stairs. Once safely at the top, Dee leapt through the hole.

"Good luck!" she said as she left.

I never believed in luck. All I needed was my skills.

I turned to the remaining occupant. Hew was shaking the debris out of his chainsaw.

"Just you and me." I said. He grunted in response.

I peeked out the doorway, turning my head left and right. No one was there and we moved silently across the hall. It was oddly quiet for a supposedly secret base. I expected to be overrun by dozens of members but there wasn't a soul in sight.

I frowned and I triggered my aura detection. Concrete didn't impede my aura and it swept outwards. I skidded to a halt and Hew, noticing I wasn't by his side any more stopped.

"The aura signatures are almost all gone. Whatever happened, they must had left quickly." I titled my head at a group of auras I familiarised myself with earlier. Ruby's aura was still present, weaker than normal. Her partner's however while recognisable, was infected maybe? A sickly tendril of something was there in his system, redirecting his aura against him. It travelled upwards before settling in his brain. It's as if thorns had dug their way deep into his core.

It wasn't just him, large groups of people had their aura infected.

And they were all on our side.

Somewhere in the corner of my senses, a hazy aura tickled the peripheral edge of my range.

Something about it feels familiar. When had I sensed an aura as vague as this?

For now I'll ignore it I'll meet up with Ruby first.

"Hew! Follow my lead."

My aura senses kept me alert on their condition and I realised with an acute sense of anxiety that whatever infected Ruby's partner was getting worse.

It wasn't long before we ran into a White Fang member. A giant of a man wearing a unique mask stood in front of us blocking the door. He brought his arms up revving his chainsaw.

In response, Hew bought up his own chainsaw and revved harder.

A second passed where they compared their chainsaws.

We don't have time for this.

At my distance I could sense the poison of the invading aura. Whatever it was doing it wouldn't be good.

Before I could draw my sword Hew lifted his arm. He didn't say a word but I got his message.

I dashed forwards, aiming at the gap. Hew followed behind swinging his chainsaw like a mad man. Chainsaws clashed and sparks exploded on contact. Hew booted him in the shin, forcing his opponent to leave an opening. I jumped through, head ducking under his chainsaw.

I didn't see what happened when I left but I heard the clash of metal on metal.

Sounds of explosions reached me and I hastened my approach. I passed a corner and there on the far side of the cavern, Ruby was barely dodging blasts from her partner.

What the?

Ruby skimmed away from the blast but was thrown aside by the shock wave.

The veteran kept firing explosions from his hands and the cavern rocked from the force.

"What the hell are you doing?" My scream didn't get a response from him.

I charged at him with my sword.

That got his attention.

I blocked the incoming blow and attacked him with my sword. He jumped backwards and landed a few paces away.

That infection has all but consumed the veteran's aura. It was impossible to discern which originally belonged to his.

Even now the bells in my mind shook alarmingly. I know I sensed something similar before but where?

I wanted a minute to sit down and calmly think about it.

I couldn't even spare a second to breathe.

The veteran was on me like a tiger. He whipped out his gun-yo and smashed it against my face. Unprepared for the speed, I was sent back and landed hard on my back. My spine ached from the pain but I forced myself up.

I blocked the next hit and dodged sideways at the incoming blast.

I don't know how he did it but even while his gun was spinning, he timed his shots well enough that I had to block them. He yo-yoed his weapon and I felt the air hum it flew by. The ground where I stood before was sliced apart from the sharpened edges of his gun.

He fired again changing the gun-yo's direction. The wire, thin enough to be almost invisible, came slicing towards my neck. I hastily ducked to the floor. Pieces of my hair come off from the encounter.

I hate gaudy weapons.

Everyone wanted to be a damn individual. They just had to come up with more and more 'fun' ways to optimise their weapons.

I grabbed the hilt of my blade. As unconventional as the veteran's weapon was, it had a major weakness.

The gun-yo zoomed by. I let it pass by and swung my sword on the string.

Like a regular yo-yo, you cut the string and all you're left with was a broken toy.

I felt the string tug against my blade.

It didn't snap.

My sword can cut through steel. What the hell are the wires made of?

I didn't have time to ponder on it because physics wanted to shred me to pieces and the gun-yo swerved towards my head.

It was deflected by a timely shot from Ruby.

Screw this. I am not dealing with this crap.

"Ruby! Distract him!"

She nodded quickly and fired dozens of bullets. They were all sliced apart by the gun-yo and the veteran refocused his attention on Ruby.

The veteran redirected his weapon, hitting nothing but air as Ruby zipped around him. Now that I have time to focus, I noticed the veteran's eyes were glazed over like curved glass.

It was damn obvious he's being controlled. Not directly—you can't replicate the skill of wielding a gun-yo—but indirectly like tricking his senses.

It hit me then that most of our groups were infected.

If all of them are acting like the veteran...

My aura permeated the air, the person who's controlling the veteran had to be nearby.

I had find them. If this goes on we'll end up destroying ourselves.

That vague aura signature was present, but I couldn't pin down their location. I know it's present but it's like I couldn't focus my eyes on it, it slipped though my attention.

Just like a certain hat wearing man.

It's that Roman Torchwick. He was at the warehouse we raided.

Although I couldn't sense the mind controller directly, residue of their presence trailed where they were. They left an empty vacuum where I couldn't sense.

"Ruby! Take this!" I tossed over my bag of dust crystals. Nothing fancy, only the four basic variation but when combined with her semblance it should be enough to at least stall. She fumbled but caught it as she dashed by. "Hold him as long as you can! I'll find and stop what's affecting him!"

"Got it!" she said. The lightning dust crystal glowed in her hand and vanished into particles of light. Ruby doubled in speed and she blitzed by leaving a trail of lingering lightening. She swerved around him jumping with the aid of her weapon, creating a spiralling cage of electricity. My hair rose from the built up static and the air tingled with energy.

Ruby is a strong huntress. I'm sure whatever hunter school she enters, they'll be proud to teach her.

But in a serious battle she would be no match for the veteran. The only reason she hasn't been taken down yet is that he's holding back in fear of collapsing the cavern. That and we were meant to subdue the enemy. If he decides to actually use lethal force then...

I didn't want to think about it.

I made my way over, silently like an assassin but quick like an eagle. The buzz of the air faded and the hallways reverberated ominously at each distant sound.

There! Behind that door.

I soon found my culprit.

A girl?

A pipsqueak of a girl was climbing up a ladder to a bullhead. She was fumbling and groping for the next bar in the darkness but it didn't matter.

I needed to stop her.

I shot at her with my gun-sheath and sprinted up the wall, leaping towards her at the peak of my run. She must have caught onto me because she raised her open umbrella in defence. Her umbrella held strongly against my bullets, defecting them away from her. She pushed herself off the ladder, letting gravity take her down and she landed clumsily against the floor. I dropped down with her, preparing an iado. Her hands went into her pocket and she hurled something that crackled loudly on the ground. A red flare sparked brightly and my eyes shut instinctively at the intense glare.

I heard fast footsteps.

I choked and bent over in pain as she rammed her umbrella into my side.

I lashed out with my sword but she already left my field of attack. My knees snapped shut and I found myself on the floor looking into the strangest pair of irises. I felt a tendril of aura leap out from them and it slithered through my own eyes.

I flung her off and she rolled along in the air. She landed toes first and her open umbrella resting on her shoulder.

The crimson light intensified her silhouette, casting her in a shade of blood red. She smirked at me and I think I know why.

Her aura was invading my system. I tried reaching out with my own aura but it was like slippery hot oil, I couldn't get a grip on it.

My vision wobbled. One eye saw the true reality and the other saw the illusion she woven for me.

I was disoriented, my coordination was wrecked and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

At best, I could only redirect her aura to the places she's already infected. My right eye, taken by her hallucination, won't be fixed until I take her down.

Maybe if I shut my eye?

I laughed mockingly, shutting my right eye didn't block the image. Her aura was pumping the delusion directly into my brain.

This must be what's happening to that veteran and others. He must've thought he was fighting someone else.

It took a few false starts and some adjustment but I found my balance.

On one eye she ran towards me.

On the other she clambered up the stairs. I chased after her figure.

The fake girl swung her umbrella. Years of my training told me to dodge it but I ignored it. It struck against my stomach and I withstood the fake pain.

This is all an illusion. She's only tricking my senses.

As fake as they are, they hurt like the damn real thing.

Or am I thinking the wrong way around? Am I chasing the illusion?

It doesn't matter, I already committed to chasing the girl.

I found my way to her.

The girl seemed moderately surprised but she didn't lose her cool. Rather she looked thoughtfully for a second before breaking out into a smile.

And just like that reality and illusion became one. The false image of her vanished and both eyes once again saw clearly.

I didn't drop my guard, my infection was still there, bubbling underneath the surface.

Her aura wrapped around herself and I prepared to block her next hit.

It never came.

She waved jollily and disappeared in a flash.

A second passed where I waited for the penny to drop.

Nothing.

That was anticlimactic.

The red glow from her flare faded and the room blackened.

I checked my aura. No infection, no illusion, no issues. I let out a large burst of aura in case she was hiding.

The base was pretty much empty now. Most of our teams were scattered about the base but they were alive. Everyone's infected aura was normal albeit muted as if they were sleeping. Ruby's vibrant aura was shining like a lighthouse—probably a side effect from dust use.

There was still that hazy aura around. I originally thought it belonged to that girl but it was still present. Again I brought my way over to the vacuum in aura. Bracing myself for another fight, I smashed down the door and pointed my blade at the occupant.

Roman Torchwick sat, one leg over the other on an outrageous throne. He took out his cigar from his mouth, depositing residue on the ashtray.

"Why hello there!" Torchwick said, tone rich in faux politeness. "I do just love it when people break into my base. Please take my seat while you're here." He gestured to the throne he was on.

"It's over Torchwick. You have no one left to hide behind."

"Now see, you might have a point if it weren't for that fact that you're completely wrong." He knocked lightly against his throne. "You don't become where I am just through sheer dumb luck. No, it needs a certain...precision."

I cracked my neck side to side. "I don't care. Either give up or I'll knock you out. Painfully."

"Oh you wouldn't do that." His bowler hat shook from his suppressed laughter. "No, you wouldn't dare lay a finger on my suit. What you and everyone in your little entourage is going to do is let me and my minions walk out of this base. Free and unharmed."

"As if I'll let you."

He smirked at me.

Then he pulled out a bomb.


AN: I have to admit, I envisioned the scene with Roman Torchwick since the start of infiltration.

Why does Roman have a throne?

Because reasons that feed into his ego.

The fight between Neo and Adam actually stumped me for a bit. So I opted to write whatever until something sticks. Eh, could be better but could be worse.