Remember when I said I was taking a liberty or two with Neo's Semblance since its true nature is still a mystery? That is explained today.
This chapter is a hair shorter, but that's because the chapter after it is looking to be very long.
'apostrophe sentences in italics are thoughts.'
[brackets are words written down]
Disclaimer: I own nada.
Chapter 21 - Infiltration
The group decided to bring the unconscious Desian back to Luin with them while putting the naked bodies of the other two away from the path for monsters to find and eat. Before rejoining everybody, Neo made it a point to take the dead Desians' Exspheres and key crests, both bracelet types, in case she decided she wanted to arm herself with it. Counting the one she kicked, that meant three sets for the three people of the group without them in the first place.
She wasn't actually planning on giving the two the tools they may need to fight her, but the true scope of the Desian's power was unknown at this point. In her mind, it was better to put her own safety first before the assassination. It was a flimsy justification, to be sure, but Colette's words had possibly put her plans on hold anyways.
When they reached the city, they decided to leave the Desian tied up and with Clif so he could keep an eye on her. They set up a campfire because there was no building fit enough to sleep in.
Just as the flames began to rise the familiar ding came from Neo's transmitter.
[Your requested supplies are ready if you are.]
Neo showed the message to Raine and Kratos with a look that asked 'Want me to get it or wait?' Raine contemplated it, then answered, "Go ahead and have them send it. We can store the books in one of the ruined buildings while we make our rescue."
Nodding, she typed, [Send the supplies now.] and put the transmitter away. Moments later a portal opened almost on top of Lloyd, who jumped away in shock.
"Okay, that was rude!"
Everyone laughed at him as a man with deer antlers walked a cart with a crate on it through the rift. Opening the lid he called out, not unlike a gruff shopkeeper, "Alright, I've got rifle rounds, books, and a scroll charger. Who wanted what?" Ruby, Raine, and Jaune respectively came forward to collect their goodies. As he passed everything out he turned to Neo and said, "Your airship will probably be two more days."
She nodded in acknowledgement and he walked back into the portal with a now empty crate. Neo saw Jaune slip the charger into his pocket and she felt a question rise in her mind, so she walked over to him and typed a message out.
[I'm curious, why did you bother to get a charger? Once the charge to that goes dry the scroll will just run out again.]
He gave a rueful smile. "Actually, Ruby here had an idea. We'll save the charger for when we manage to return home, because we're gonna need to be able to contact people, right?"
It wasn't a bad idea, she realized. Neo still needed to kill them, however, and therein lie the issue.
The simple fact about things was if she got them killed, whatever the method, she would be booted from the group by Colette. This constituted a failure of the 'maintain connections' directive. And, sadly, none of these things were even the worst part.
The worst thing was that she felt so damn guilty.
The group refocused and examined the clothes they pilfered. The mage uniform's helmet had been thoroughly cracked by Genis's ice, so that outfit was out; and, to Neo's frustration, the woman she stabbed had bled through all of her shirt, rendering it suspicious and useless. The final outfit was good, however, and fit Raine well. The only remaining problem was...
"How would it look if one Desian showed up with seven prisoners," asked Kratos. "They aren't stupid, those kind of numbers would be very suspect.
Neo sighed. She would have to reveal her hidden card now.
Focusing her Aura, she visually shifted from a pink and brown haired woman in a white suit into a white haired woman in a female Desian outfit. The crowd gave an exclamation and Lloyd walked over and touched her, as if making sure she was real. She typed the answer to the unasked question.
[This is my Semblance. I can cast an illusion on myself and up to one other to create an altered image. If I cast the image on an empty space, it creates what I call a 'Mirror', which I can switch places with at will.]
To demonstrate, she created an identical copy of herself about fifty feet away from her. Then, she 'shifted', and the real her was now where the copy had been and vice versa. She let the copy fade to reveal her new true location.
Genis and Lloyd could barely hold in their awe, and Ruby silently mouthed 'That explains what happened that day with the mech.'
Kratos asked, "So this is how you prevented me from getting hurt at the Fire Seal? Creating a mirror, grabbing me, and switching places?" She nodded. "That is a very useful ability. It's almost a shame, now, that we of Sylvarant can't use powers like those of your world."
Lloyd was almost jumping. "Are you sure you won't try to awaken our Auras? This is amazing!"
Raine sighed. "If only we didn't have such an urgent mission. I can't wait to dive into the texts that man brought to discover all I can about Aura and your world."
Jaune said, "So two fake Desian guards versus six prisoners. That's a little more believable; and, if we have to, we can say that we took out two of the Desians that helped you capture us." Ruby went strangely quiet at that. Jaune noticed, but decided against saying anything at that moment.
With the plan set, most of them settled down on their bags. Jaune chose that time to talk to the suddenly melancholy Ruby. Sitting next to her he said, 'So, what's eating you, Rubes?"
She gave a sigh. "It's just... I didn't think about what it really meant to go against a group like these kidnappers. They aren't monsters, but in their own way they are. Still, the fact is that if we do this we'll probably have to kill to survive and rescue those people. I know it isn't like me to mope, but I'm just having my doubts about being able to do it."
Jaune thought long and hard before answering, and then inspiration struck him. "May I quote somebody who once gave me great advice?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Nope!"
Ruby gave him a blank stare, trying to figure him out. After a minute, though, she got it and laughed. "Really, Jaune? Out of all the people to quote to me, you quote ME?"
"This isn't just about us, after all. There are innocent lives on the line. Therefore, we will do what we have to do. And besides..." He gazed up at the moon, still quite whole in its glow. "It probably comes with being a huntsman even in our world. Not saying we 'should' kill other people, but we probably 'have' to."
They let the words soak into their minds. There was one thing they could be certain of: neither had a desire to shed blood. It wasn't out of fear, however, but out of understanding how precious life was.
And if they always kept that in mind, they would be okay.
Ruby looked at him and said, "Who knew that two socially awkward people like us could make such great motivational speakers? We should hold seminars."
"Maybe, but it probably only works because we're on the same wavelength. Try saying this stuff to people like team CRDL and see how far you'd get."
"Good point." They shared a private chuckle. "Thanks, Jaune. I was right when I said you would make a great leader."
"Just returning the favor, Ruby. Good night."
"You too."
The morning of destiny arrived and they promptly marched back to the ranch. Once they got close the 'Desians' assumed their disguises and bound the hands of the others with some rope they found in Luin. Raine took point on account of Neo being mute.
When they got to the gate one of the two guards shouted, "Identify yourself!"
She didn't, of course. "We've done it! We capturedthe wanted criminal Lloyd Irving!"
Both guards flinched, and then examined the prisoners and Lloyd. "Good job! And you even captured him alive! Oh this will make Lord Kvar's day, I bet."
"I wish to take him in for processing."
"Right, don't let me stop you. Open the gate!"
The gate swung inward, inviting the new prisoners to meet their fate. As they walked in, they got a good look around the open exterior. There were quite a number of humans in gray rags being forced to move large stones or boxes from place to place. The prisoners could only spare the newcomers a glance, as even a moment of slacking would result in a whip across the back.
They chose a door at random and followed the path until it lead to what looked like a control room. There were several computers, multiple doors, and a wide window that gave a view of a rather large factory room with conveyor belts.
As Raine slipped off her helmet she peeked at some of containers passing by on a nearby belt. "It would seem this is an Exsphere manufacturing plant." Jaune and Lloyd craned their necks around her to get a better viewing angle while Neo examined the computer in the center of the room. Pressing a couple buttons brought up a map of the complex.
But before she could examine it Colette shushed the group. "...sh. I hear voices coming from the next room." To emphasize the point she looked to her left. Everyone was starting to bring out their weapons when three men burst into the room, one them a larger man with brown hair. Lloyd immediately recognised them. "It's the Desians from the Triet Desert!"
One of the moons smirked. "Sir, they still think we're Desians. This is the perfect chance!"
Yeah, again, sorry for it being thin. Next chap will make up for it, I promise.
Hope you enjoyed it, and have a nice day.