CHAPTER 16
SCAVENGERS
Aboard the Conviction, James Ironwood watched Glenn Mountain in flames and darkness. He hoped internally that it was still possible to save the settlers even if he seriously doubted it... He had heard Commander Scharnhorst's call on the radio. He had never met him in person, but he knew his reputation. It would be unfortunate to lose such a man in these times of crisis...
— Hood, did you finish the preparations ?
— The Atlesian Knight-130 will be ready for deployment in a quarter of an hour. All dropships are ready for takeoff.
— Perfect. I want Rook and you to secure the station. If I were in Scharnhorst's place, that's probably where I'll focus my defenses.
— Copy that. Let's hope they managed to stand firm... What's it ?
On the outskirts of the colony, a glow rises from a hill like a volcano.
One of the airship's pilots panicked in front of his console.
— Sir, our navigation devices go mad ! I don't know what's going on but...!
James did not answer. All his attention was drawn to this red light that burned his retina like a bloody sun. What did he see...?
And suddenly, in a terrifying silence, he saw the red sun stretch into a crescent-shaped wave falling on Mountain Glenn.
Behind the bay window of the ship, he attended the apocalypse...
.
A flash dazzles the whole valley as in daylight.
The blast swept the buildings, flames cleaned all forms of street life and a huge explosion destroyed the city! The fireball rose to the sky to form a monstrous death mushroom over the ruins of the colony.
All around the ancient city, the trees were flattened under the effect of an invisible force that was approching fast to the ship...
— Shockwave approaching! Everyone on the ground !
It was only by pure reflex that James threw himself on the ground at the same time as Rook.
The wave hit them hard! The shock threw against the opposite walls the soldiers and the crew members who had not had time to reach the floor while the windows and portholes burst into mortal pieces of shrapnel. The electric power was cut off all over the ship !
Without electricity, the Conviction began to fall like a stone !
— EMI detected ! We are losing altitude !
Still stunned by the shock, James did not understand what was going on around him. He could hear voices but his eardrums were still whistling from the explosion and the falling sensation was nailing him literally to the wall without giving him the slightest freedom of movement. All he knew was that they were going to crash !
— Restart the engines !
— All electrical systems are fried ! I can't control the ship !
— BRACE FOR IMPACT !
The Conviction brushed the treetops and hit the ground. It flipped over and sections and compartments separated from the main frame. The aircraft bounced in the air, flames sprunged from its engines and superstructure.
The flaming fragment of a propulsion module pierced the ship's armor and reached the ammunition bay. Dust's stocks of weapons and fuel exploded and the back of the Conviction got blew to smithereens. The front of the airship crossed the sky, the forest, and the plain, and rolled up the walls around Mountain Glenn. The nose of the vehicule folded like paper against the fortifications and finally stopped.
James was breathing with difficulty. He felt he was being dragged out of the ship but he did not know where he was being taken. His head and back hurt terribly... When he woke up, the place around him had changed. Hood spoke to him softly.
— Commanding officer ? Can you hear me ?
— Yes... I'm fine...
He was helped by Rook to stand up. He had a deep cut in his forehead, above his right eye, but his wound was not incapacitating.
— Do me a report of losses ...
— The Conviction is destroyed. All our robots and our dropships too. All the men in the back of the ship are dead.
— How many…?
— 800 dead at least. We have only about a hundred men under our command, and three-quarters are wounded.
James nodded gravely. It was the first time he had suffered such a catastrophe. He had to act as a leader and assume his responsibilities before the Council when he returned to Atlas. But for the moment, priority to his men.
— Where are we ?
— One of the security posts that guard the doors of the colony. We took refuge there to shelter the wounded, but it's a real mass grave inside... All the soldiers were dead when we arrived.
— The Grimms...
— No. Not them. There were bullet wounds and blade marks on them. No claws.
— The commando that Scharnhorst was talking about," James reminded himself.
— Probably.
James was recording the information as fast as his foggy mind allowed him.
— What about Mountain Glenn ?
— I let you judge…
Rook moved the commander to allow him to watch the colony through a window.
Outside, a mysterious black rain fell on the ruins of the peaceful colony of Vale. It was too dark to see anything else.
— What is it ?" James growled.
— Acid. Two soldiers were badly burned while trying to cross the rain. We are completely stuck for the moment.
James remained silent. He looked around and saw most of his men still alive lying on the floor, covered with bandages...
How such a thing was even possible ? What was this weapon of destruction capable of annihilating their superior firepower ?
— And the reinforcements of Vale ?
— We can not communicate with Ozpin. Nothing works since the EMI. Vale does not have as many airships as we do. I think they'll be here by early morning.
— What time is it ?
— Before the explosion : 3:30am.
In more or less 45 minutes... Without medical assistance, some of the injured might not hold on until then.
— We must find a way to reach the civilians at the station...
— We have to go on foot and reach Vale by following the railway," the lieutenant suggested.
Taiyang vetoed.
— There are elderly people among us. The march will finish them! And the terminus is probably sealed at the time we speak. The authorities have seen a train filled with hundreds of panicked civilians who say their settlement is invaded by the Grimms. How do you think they would act ? If Mountain Glenn falls, the whole kingdom can fall like a domino.
— So what did you want us to do ? That we sit on the ground waiting for reinforcements to come ? No Bullhead will pass through all the Nevermores and Griffons flying above Mountain Glenn !
— And this earthquake ?" Raven pointed out." Mountain Glenn is not in a seismic zone. It's probably a huge explosion.
— We have nothing in our arsenal capable of such power !
— The Four may be so...
— It's ridiculous ! No human being has such power! It would be known from a long time otherwise !
While Tai and Raven were arguing with the lieutenant, Qrow sat down next to Summer. She looked pretty shaken by the latest events.
— Do you still think about these Grimms ?
She nodded.
Grimms who talk... It was pretty terrifying already. And besides, these things seemed interested in her silver eyes.
— The Four also looked astonished at the color of my eyes ... I wonder if that's why Ozpin wanted me to wear these lenses.
— Personally, I prefer you like that.
She smiles.
— How nice. Thank you, Qrow.
— Don't thank me too quickly. With my bad luck, who knows what can happen ?
Summer knew that it was difficult for him to lead a normal daily life with his legendary misfortune. She tried to console him :
— I'm sure that one day, you'll be able to control your power.
— So now, it's me who needs to be comforted ?
They smiled at each other.
— You know, the Woman in Black... She immediately knew the nature of my Semblance. I wonder how ?
— Me too. It's strange... The Woman in White called me "Maiden".
— Like in the stories for the kids ?" Qrow joked.
— All we need now is an old magician !" said Summer with humor.
Qrow smiled with her but inside, he realized that she had just raised a point he had never paid attention to... It was Ozpin who gave them that power to turn into crows!
— There is more in this world than you can imagine in your Tribe...
It was what he had told them after Raven and he had accepted his offer: join one of his "special" teams in exchange for special abilities and his silence about their origins...
Ozpin would it be...? No. Impossible. He was not a magician out of a child's tale. Nor was he the man of two souls ! Ozpin had something different from the other Hunstmen but he did not know yet.
— Looks like it's starting to stop," Rook said, watching the rain.
— Perfect. We have to hit the road again !
James got up and took a gun from the ground next to a serious wounded man.
— Hood. I want you to stay here with a few men to take care of the wounded. Rook and the rest of the soldiers will come with me.
— Understood. Be careful, sir !
Tic
Raven looked up at the ceiling of the station several hundred feet high. In the absence of daylight, dazzling orbs illuminated the interior of the underground city. Thanks to backup generators, electricity was still working in the depths of Mountain Glenn. Ironically, when she thought of Grimms' still teeming surface... Despite the social inequalities, the poor inhabitants who lived underground brought blankets and food to the refugees. The Huntress was watching them in the distance, mitigated in front of this help. Her Huntress's part forged by the time spent with Summer and the missions of the Team STRQ told her that humanity was fundamentally good in the most darkest hours. But the other part of her, shaped since her birth by her father and the Tribe, found these people pitiful. The weaks should not be helped. From the moment they were below you, they ceased to exist as men and became prey to loot and kill, or bait to entertain the creatures of Grimm and flee during this time.
— You still think to Dad, right ?
Qrow came to sit beside his sister and watch the help in action. He took his eternal bottle of alcohol out of his jacket and began to drink. It annoyed Raven.
— You should stop. Alcohol dulls reflexes in combat.
— What importance ? Did you see how much we were swept ?
— We are not strong enough yet, that's all.
— You really talk like Dad. For both of you, everything is just a matter of training and strength. We are considered among the best huntsmen, dammit !
— And you, you have been too mellowed since you met Summer. You know that our mission will end one day or another.
— And you know I don't wanna go home.
— You still have not explained why. The Tribe is our family !
Tac
Qrow raised his head, as if overwrought by the conversation. Raven did not like him trying to avoid it!
— Tell me why instead of...!
— Listen...," Qrow whispered.
He had spoken like in a hunt. Immediately, Raven's anger was silent and all her senses were on the alert. She raised her head too.
Tic
Tic
Tac
Someone was tapping on the other side of the rubble...
— Tai, Summer ...," Qrow called softly, putting his hand to his heavy sword.
His comrades also heard the blows and armed themselves.
Seeing the hustle and bustle of the Huntsmen, the lieutenant approached them, his hand on the handle of his rifle. He too heard the noises and he was the first to realize the meaning of the blows :
— Morse... It's morse code !
— Are you sure ?" Summer asked.
— Certain ! Listen... "Is-the-re-so-me-one-in-si-de" ? These are the reinforcements !
He grabbed a metal bar and responded by tapping on the rubble.
The sound of his blows on the stone gradually attracted the attention of the refugees.
- What's going on ?
- Wait a second...
A series of fast blows answered those of the lieutenant.
- Stay back ! They say they will blow up the rubble !
All the refugees who had come closer were pushed back unceremoniously to avoid any risk.
A thud rang throughout the city ! The rubble began to tremble, the stone broke into fragments of the pile. Another blow sounded and this time, the rock fractured into pieces that fell in their turn from the rubble! At the third stroke, a fist pierced the rock face, letting a stream of fresh air rush into the station!
The hand grabbed the last rocks and pushed them without apparent effort, leaving room for a beautiful but cruelly wounded woman.
It was the Woman in Black.
She had lost her scythe and her cloak was in tatters. Her left arm, shoulder and neck were terribly burned and her right arm was missing ! She had made a garrotte to stop the bleeding.
But despite her condition, she smiles at the survivors.
— You can go out now. The Grimms are dead," she announced in a weak voice.
Her tired eyes noticed Summer's in the crowd.
— A Silver-Eyed, huh ? I understand better why now...
She turned around and staggered away, ready to collapse every moment.
Summer caught up with her !
— You are hurt ! Let us help you !
— Idiot... you'd better run away... They'll come back. They always come back... If they see you...
She does not say any more. Her eyes became glassy and she fell unconscious into the arms of the Huntress.
— Hey ! Hey ! Stay with me !
She watched it. The Woman in Black was still breathing, but her pulse was very weak !
Qrow came to his rescue.
— Ta i! Help me to carry her !
— OK !
The two Hunstmen lifted her up and put her under cover in the train station.
— Doc! We need a blood perfusion ! And plasma !
A doctor hastened to obey. Meanwhile, the lieutenant and the refugees discovered the new face of their city.
Their home was gone.
The buildings and streets were strewn with the ruins of their old life. The large and reassuring buildings were cracked or destroyed, all the windows broken. The streets once packed at this time of the year were empty and silent.
Moutain Glenn was no longer a colony. It was an open cemetery.
— If you want to collect your belongings, do it now," said the lieutenant to the survivors.
They dispersed, haggard, distressed, terrified by this city which was no longer theirs.
The lieutenant watched them wander the streets of Mountain Glenn and turned to the Woman in Black, who was being repatriated to the station. So, the legend of the Four fighting eternally against the Grimms was true. Unbelievable…
Without them and Team STRQ, few would have been the survivors of Mountain Glenn...
— Lieutenant !" called him a soldier on the radio. We met Atlas soldiers. They come to you, they also say they have wounded at one of our outposts.
— Atlas ? What are they doing here ?
— According to their leader, they responded to Commander Scharnhorst's SOS...
— I see... (He had a thought for his leader dead for the colony, according to Branwen's words.) Thank you Commander... When will they start the evacuation ?
— I'm sorry but it's impossible.
This statement came from an Atlas officer, injured above the right eyebrow. The man was accompanied by about fifty men.
— Who are you ?
— Commander James Ironwood, Captain of the airship Conviction. Lieutenant, I regret to inform you that our ship crashed at the edge of your colony. For now, we are stuck with you.
— Like all of us... Since you're here, give us a hand if you do not mind ? I think that the Grimms had decamped but you never know...
— I understand. My men will help you patrol the city.
— Thank you.
James watched as the crowd of refugees emerged one by one from the bowels of the underground train station.
— Looks like you're good. Losses ?
— Almost zero. For civilians anyway. For the military... Well, let's say that I am the most senior of the dozen who remains...
— And Commander Scharnhorst ?
The lieutenant shook his head sadly.
— I see. My condolences…
— He knew what he was doing. And without the help of the Huntsmen of Beacon or the Four, we would never have done so long...
James cut him off.
— The Four ?
Summer was sitting at the bedside of the Woman in Black.
The doctor had given her first aid, but only a specialized institution could now save her. He had himself confessed that it was a miracle that she was still alive with so many wounds.
The Huntress was overflowing with questions but was struggling with patience. This person needed rest.
Who really were the Four between the legend that had been built for them and the reality ? Who were they fighting for and why were his silvery eyes so disturbing to them and these humanoid Grimms ?
At her side, the rest of Team STRQ waited in silence. Tai was of the same nature as Summer, always worried about his neighbor. But Qrow and Raven were there for the sake of their comrades. Qrow for Summer and Raven for Tai.
Qrow's wound on his throat had cleared up with his Aura, but he still remembered very well the sensation he felt at her touch...
The Four were dangerous...
Who knew what she would do when she woke up ?
— How did they do that ? To Mountain Glenn, I mean ?" Taiyang wondered.
— I think Ozpin hid a lot of things about them," Raven said darkly.
— We'll have the opportunity to learn more once back in Beacon," Qrow said to finish off the subject.
Someone approached them. They were surprised to discover a soldier from Atlas accompanied by the lieutenant and a dozen armed soldiers behind them !
James Ironwood examined the Woman in Black and recognized her through Count Dimer's description. Her beauty, black hair and the tattoo under her right eye was revealing...
— Thanks for watching her. We are taking care of her from now. Go for it…
Two soldiers laid a stretcher and wanted to put the woman there. They ran up against Summer's categorical refusal ! She jumped up and immediately her friends mimicked her, ready to follow their leader.
— Wait a minute ! Who are you ?
— Commander James Ironwood. This woman is actively sought after by Atlas for sequestering a count and stealing military information.
— This woman has saved all of us !
— That does not excuse her crimes.
— You don't think seriously to move her in this state !" Taiyang choked." Look at her ! She needs to go to a hospital, not a prison !
— My men are professionals. We will take her to Mountain Glenn HQ and evacuate her to Atlas where she will be treated and appear before a military court.
— Except we have orders to bring her to Beacon! You have no jurisdiction in Vale !
— I have the authorizations ! And the will to avoid a diplomatic conflict ! Lieutenant !
The leader of the surviving soldiers nodded reluctantly and let the soldiers of Atlas move the Woman in Black on the stretcher.
— Lieutenant ! I beg you, don't let him do that...!
— I'm sorry... But Commander Ironwood has the Vale's Council's authorization to act on the whole kingdom. I wish there was another way but there is none.
— But...!
Raven put her hand on Summer's shoulder. Once again, they had to back down in the face of adversity. They were Huntsmen, not vigilantes. They too had to obey...
But this time, Raven's hand was not there to restrain her, but to protect her.
— Stay back, Summer…
.
For at the entrance of the station, a man was standing against the current of the column of refugees who went outside. The man had a hood and a black coat, and without a gesture, the survivors unconsciously avoided him like a rock in the middle of a river ...
Following the worried look of the Huntsmen, James discovered the Man in Black in the crowd. His terrifying red gaze stared intently at him ...
— Rook.
— Aye Aye, chief.
The young recruit quietly advanced towards the Eldest of the Four.
— Hey, guy ! Sorry to disrupt your look-that-kills but your girlfriend needs to go to court. Nothing serious ! I swear !
The eyes of the Man in Black moved to land on the soldier.
— Move.
With a blow beyond human capabilities, the Man in Black sent Rook against the wall of a building, more than 500 meters away !
— Rook !" cried a soldier.
— Aah… I knew that he sucks at negotiations…," sighted a second.
At the sight of the soldier projecting like a puppet in the air, the inhabitants scattered out panicking, believing that the fighting was resuming in the colony ! The firing zone immediately cleared, the soldiers pointed their weapons at the Man in Black.
— Aim at the legs. Ozpin wants them alive.
One of the soldiers aimed at the knees and fired. Curiously, none of the bullets hit the spot.
Outside, the panic of the refugees resumed even more to the sound of the shots but no one dared to approach the entrance of the station.
There was not a minute to lose.
With a measured slowness, the Man in Black stepped towards them, bathing in his omnipotence.
— What are you waiting for ? FIRE !" ordered the lieutenant to the men of Atlas.
— Our weapons are not functioning ! I don't know why... !
The air suddenly seemed to miss him... His veins swelled and his muscles tensed ! He collapsed on the ground, his eyes bulging and drooling on his lips !
One by one, all the soldiers, even the lieutenant, were struck by this sudden tetanic crisis with the exception of James and the Huntsmen !
Yet despite the situation, the commander of Atlas did not panic. He always had an asset in hand.
His patience was rewarded. Behind the Man in Black, there was a blurring that vaguely took the form of a human in action of attack !
The inhuman senses of the Eldest of the Four perceived the threat, allowing him to bend down to avoid the kick in the neck that was intended for him. He turned on himself, ready to retaliate but there was no one behind him... He heard a noise of friction behind him and discovered the soldier he had sent to waltz in the air...
— Rook, you can go at full force.
— Copy that, Commander.
The soldier removed his helmet, revealing two cheetah ears on the top of his head.
The truth that the soldier was a Faunus did not disturb the Man in Black. Impassive, he waited for his opponent to take the first step.
— Last warning ! I have the training and the abilities of a Huntsman ! You have no chance.
— Indeed.
— So get out !
— I was talking about you.
Confident in his superhuman abilities, Rook charged ! He was so fast that his body seemed to blur! At this speed, nothing could stop him !
.
The Man in Black took a step forward.
The concrete under his foot fractured and he disappeared under the amazed gaze of James and the STRQ team !
Rook did not realize immediately. The individual who faced him had just disappeared...?
Even before his brain could process the information, a hand grabbed Rook's face and pushed him back ! Cut in full swing, his skull hit the ground and he lost consciousness without even understanding what had happened to him.
For the last spectators on the spot, the scene was without comment: the Man in Black was simply faster and stronger. He was better in every way...
The Faunus definitely out of action, he turned to his next target. All that remained between him and Sélénée was the Atlas officer and the Huntsmen.
His last asset lost, James felt growing in him a sense of helplessness growing ! He had the deep conviction that whatever he opposes, he would not stop this man and yet...
— Let him pass," murmured Summer." He's just here for her.
— I know. But I can not let her go.
James Ironwood was an accomplished Huntman and a commander of the Atlas Army ! He knew what the world could risk if he failed... He would not retreat, even in front of the impossible !
He pulled his revolver out of his holster and raised it to the Man in Black, his finger on the trigger.
He never had time to fire...
PS
Hi there ! A modification was made to the chapters "Intro 4" and "Chapter 3 - The Call", I deepened the gloom of the first and change in the latter the person who collected the Woman in White, because with Taiyang... It was too illogical...
Then a big Thank You to AnImE264LoVeR and JcL107 for adding my story to their list ! Thank you very much !
Finally (because I know you find that it gets long ;), I would also like to thank merendinoemiliano for his advice and encouragement, there is nothing more pleasant than knowing that my creations interest people !
Good reading at all of you ! :)