Sorry for this release being so late everyone. Things just kept getting in the way of me writing this with finals happening being what stopped me initially followed by becoming bedridden due to some virus. Let me tell you that nothing kills creativity like not being able to breath. Needless to say I got better and am back to writing. So that you all aren't left in the dark for so long I'm adding a status section to my profile that lists my health or current predicament if I'm unable to release a chapter on schedule.
Thanks for being patient everyone, now let's get back to Vale and see what the future holds for team RWBY.
"So who's up for a burger after all this?" Yang suggested as they walked down the blood stained streets of Vale looking at the smoke rising in the distance along with the flames flickering in some of the surrounding windows.
"I could go for one now actually." Ruby said as she saw a destroyed billboard lying on the ground advertising a nearby restaurant.
"We're in the middle of a war and you two are thinking about food." Weiss nearly yelled at her teammates in bewilderment over their lax attitude.
"We never got dinner and I doubt the chefs can make much since our supplies got torched. If we find a store or restaurant I'm going to get something." Yang said as a growl came from behind the group.
Turning around they saw only Dunstan as he held a hand over his gut. "I wouldn't be too opposed to a little looting to sate ourselves before the oncoming battles. We are putting our lives on the line so it is only right to not die like starved animals."
"We are not stealing anything. We're Huntresses, people who uphold the law and defenders of humanity, we don't steal." Weiss rebutted Dunstan's lack of morals while beginning to wonder just how far his views differed from her own if thievery was an option.
"Weiss we're not stealing we're looting. There's a big difference since we have a war going on currently." Yang corrected the fuming Heiress.
"If anything we're making sure that valued supplies are put to use. Without power a lot of goods will no longer be fit for consumption come morning." Dunstan remarked trying to convince Weiss.
"I hope Wonderful Mart didn't get hit to bad." Yang said wondering how one of her favorite markets may be faring.
"You just like them because all their store slogans involve a pun." Ruby rebutted her sister remembering all the times she was dragged along just to hear the awful word play even the employees seemed to hate.
"They had wonderful service Ruby don't belittle their great name."
"If you looked closely you could watch their soul slowly eroding with each slogan said."
"They loved it."
"If we're finished discussing Yang's apparent love for torturing retail workers can we focus on the task at hand?" Weiss said trying to get the team back on task and towards their objective.
"Weiss is right everyone, we should find some food before going on another dangerous assignment." Ruby said happily as she rushed ahead in excitement.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Weiss yelled after her wondering if Ruby could even hear her.
"Come on Weiss you can't tell me you're not hungry after everything we've done today?" Yang asked knowing that none of them had eaten anything since lunch.
"It's not about being hungry. It's about doing what's right."
"Then can you tell me the difference between letting food rot on a shelf and us eating it. Because one of those choices solves my hunger problem and the other solves nothing."
"I don't want to discuss morals with someone who is clearly lacking aspects I thought all Huntresses would share."
"You think I'm doing this because I want to? Weiss, I'm doing this so we can survive this night. None of us have eaten for the last 10 hours not to mention we've been fighting nonstop since this kicked off. If we don't get food soon it'll start affecting our skills and I rather not have us die because you refuse to steal."
"Unlike you I still have my pride and would never stoop to stealing."
"Would you rather be a prideful dead woman or a thieving living one? At the end of the day I need to be alive to watch over Ruby and if that means swallowing my pride then I'd gladly make the trade."
"How can you be so sure about giving everything up for someone else?" Weiss asked, unable to even think of something worth throwing away her pride and morals for.
"It's just part of who I am. What would you do if I did steal something for us?"
"I'd berate you for committing a crime."
"Nothing else? You wouldn't make me return it?"
"If you must know I'd let you get away with it since it's clear you did it for what you thought was a good reason."
"Finally starting to see things my way?" Yang said with a grin as Weiss refused to look her in the eyes.
"I'm merely wiping my hands of your crimes. If those crimes happen to feed Blake and Ruby then I guess at least they're happy."
"Turning a blind eye for your friends. I never thought I'd see the day." Yang put her arm around Weiss and tried to bring her in for a hug only for the Heiress to flail about in Yang's grip.
Seeing her partner flail around for help Ruby leaped onto Yang's back and wrapped her arms around Yang stopping her movement. "Please stop fighting with Weiss."
Yang released Weiss from her grip letting her stumble forward before dropped down from her back. "I was just playing around."
"You brute, you could have damaged my suit." Weiss was looking over her outfit for any possible damage it may have taken in the struggle.
"I doubt either of us is hurt enough for our aura to stop protecting us." Yang replied knowing Weiss' worry was mostly unfounded.
"Yang." Ruby warned with a glare.
"Alright, I'll stop. Now come on it should be just around the corner if I'm reading this right."
Rounding the corner the group was greeted with the sight of a large familiar building. Yang quickly looked between the address listed on her scroll and the street signs around her. Putting her scroll away Yang walked up to the entrance and held out her arms.
"Welcome to Junior's club everyone."
"He named the club after himself?" Ruby asked confused.
"Well this place has a proper name it's just that I never bothered to learn it. This place may not serve food, but the drinks are to die for."
The group walked through the unguarded entrance and began walking in the carpeted tunnel leading to the overly large and now reinforced gate like structure that guarded Junior's Club. The heavy steel frame lacked any color or beauty likely from the haste of installation. Staring at each other for a moment they wondered how to proceed until a certain brawler began punching the steel.
"Open up Junior. I know you're in there." Yang yelled as she slammed her fist into the door.
"Maybe he's not home." Ruby offered trying to get her sister to calm down.
"You can't just close down this club and leave. Especially when I know for a fact he lives in there!" Her fist hammered against the metal with a clang echoing back to them.
Before Yang could try to bust the doors open again two latches on the ceiling opened as a pair of turrets silently lowered themselves into the hall. Each one focused on a single target following their every move as Ruby observed the remarkable piece of technology. She could even see the paint job on the side of the chassis that wrote out 'For Blondie' in bright yellow paint.
"I didn't know you have friends who could purchase Atlas' latest in automated security. These things aren't even supposed to be available to private firms yet." Ruby cheered in excitement at seeing the weapon, bringing the rest of the group's attention to the metal death traps watching them.
The guns began to spin to life as the group quickly realized what was happening and retreated back out into the street. Diving out of the door they heard the bullets flaring towards them shredding the door and throwing the wooden frame off its hinges. The gun fire slowed to a stop allowing them to peer through the hall before the turrets began sighting them in and revving their barrels in preparation.
"Why does some back water club need an automated security system?" Weiss yelled, annoyed that her teammate had failed to mention the defenses in place.
"He didn't have nearly as much security set up the last time I busted into this place. I wonder why he suddenly decided to invest."
"Geeze, I wonder why?" Weiss sarcastically parroted the blonde.
"You think this is my fault?"
"Of course this is your fault. Clearly you have a past with this person and have caused enough harm to warrant the installation of turrets to detour you from ever coming back."
"How can you be sure he installed those for me?"
"Well one of them did have 'For Blondie' painted on them." Ruby interjected getting her a glare from Yang.
"I rest my case." Weiss said happily knowing where the blame for their latest setback fell.
"That could be any beautifully blonde haired woman." Yang argued knowing beyond a doubt that Junior had stepped up his game to keep her out.
"Another blonde haired woman who just so happens to frequent this bar and got the boss angry enough to install state of the art technology?"
"So maybe I threatened the boss of this place before I came to Beacon, but I did it for a good reason."
"What could he possibly have that you needed?"
"Information, but he didn't even know who I was talking about so it was a bust in the end." While Yang continued to argue with Weiss over her past actions Ruby was talking with Blake and Dunstan about their current roadblock.
"Think you can avoid those guns long enough for me to make the shot?" Ruby asked the two hoping that they could get out of this uninjured.
"I've yet to come across any Atlas tech fast enough to keep up with me." Blake responded almost prideful.
"I should be able to slip the bullets like any other." Dunstan answered remembering all the times he barely avoided being shredded by a hail of bullets.
"Alright, then you each take a side of the hall and grab the turrets attention. A well placed shot should disable their trackers forcing them to stop attacking." Ruby got into position alongside Blake and Dunstan.
With a flash the two of them ran into the hall while the turrets began to spin up. With no room to truly maneuver they ran forward forcing the turrets to try and lead them. Blake used her semblance to trick her turret into focusing its first barrage on the wrong target. Dunstan could see the glowing projectiles tracing through the air towards him and dashed forward slightly altering his movements to let the bullets glide around him. Neither tactic could be used indefinitely as the machines began to hone in on their targets, but the chance never came when two well placed shots destroyed their cameras.
With no way to track their targets the turrets firing stopped and they retreated back into the ceiling. With the current threat gone Ruby walked into the hall seeing Blake completely unharmed and Dunstan with a few new bullet sized holes in his short cape. Walking to the door Ruby pulled out Crescent Rose and slammed the back end of her weapons against the steel letting the noise ring out.
"Would you please let us in?" A silence emanated from behind the door before it began to slowly slide open.
"I can't believe that worked." Dunstan said staring at the shifting metal.
"Well if they didn't we'd just have to start picking the door apart and Ruby would salvage the left overs." Blake added seeing Ruby transform her weapon into its compact form.
"I can't believe you guys did that without me." Yang said running down the hall with Weiss right behind her.
"You two seemed busy so I just went ahead with my plan."
"You could have at least told me you were going to do something."
"Well maybe next time you won't get distracted when you fight with Weiss." Ruby pouted thinking back on all the times her partner and sister had fought.
"I'm sorry about the fight. Weiss just has very different views compared to me and sometimes those ideas clash. If it makes you feel any better we've started to come to an agreement over our differences."
"And what would that be?"
"We don't worry about it until we're safe and back at Beacon. Think of it like a temporary cease fire agreement."
"So does this mean you'll start lying off the ice themed puns?"
"Now let's not get crazy here. I promised a cease fire not a surrender with your illustrious partner." Yang defended bringing her arms up in defense over the very concept.
"Well let's go meet your friend then."
"Yeah, 'friend' let's go with that." Yang said walking through the doors and seeing the flooded club.
The entire room was filled along with the second floor nearly spilling over the edges with people. The DJ wasn't blasting music and the entire area felt very melancholy with everyone keeping their heads down. The usual vibrant night life that filled the building had died during the day's events. Most the people they could see seemed to have blank expressions along with dead eyes staring off into the distance. The club may have been a sanctuary, but it couldn't shield people from the horrors of the outside world forever and many knew it was only a matter of time before something went wrong.
Walking towards the bar they could see that it was now mostly empty and missing most of the bottles that usually lined the backdrop. Many people were sat at the bar drowning their sorrows and attempting to forget what they had seen before finding this small haven. Even many of the employees seemed to have taken to the bottle though some still tried to maintain some semblance of order and enforcement around the club.
Looking towards the end of the bar Yang spotted the one person who could help them. "Hey there Junior, how's business going?"
"Well if it isn't Blondie. Come to destroy my business again or are you just here to watch as this place burns down?" The short haired man replied as he gripped the glass in his glove and drank it.
"Yang did you ruin this man's life?" Ruby asked looking at the terrible sight of a man drowning his sorrows.
"He was doing fine last time I checked. Come on junior cheer up we're here to save the day as Huntresses and all that." Yang said with mock enthusiasm trying to pull the man away from his drink.
"It's the end of the world Blondie and I'm racing to the bottom of a bottle. What could you possibly do?" Junior said pouring himself another glass.
"We can offer protection to your establishment and get all of these people evacuated to Beacon. With your help we can save everyone here." Ruby was staring him in the eyes trying to find a spark of hope in them.
"We need your help Hei. The CCT is down and your system can get most of Vale back online." Yang added seeing what her sister was trying to do.
"Please, if you won't do it for yourself, do it for everyone in Vale who is in need of help." Ruby begged as Hei finished off his drink and placed the glass on the table.
"If you want my communications I'll need you to do something for me first. I think an exchange would be the most beneficial move for both parties. I've lost more men tonight than in the last 5 years of running my business and since they never came back I never got what they were supposed to retrieve in all this chaos. You get me what they couldn't and I'll get you set up with my tower."
"You want us to run your errands while people are dying out there?" Yang yelled back in anger as Hei popped another bottle and began refilling his glass.
"Trust me when I say this benefits all parties involved. You can even keep whatever else you find in the place since I'm that nice of a guy."
"What could you even want out there?"
"I thought now would be the perfect time to get my hands on some more high end equipment. As I told you already though, things didn't go as planned. All you have to do is go to a facility and grab the item with the matching label. Once you're done you'll get to do this." Junior pulled out his scroll and with the press of a button Yang's scroll lit up having just received a message.
"You have my number!" Yang said in anger confused in how he even obtained her information.
"I have everyone's number. Now get moving. I don't have all night." He finished as Yang walked away with Ruby.
"So how did the meeting go?" Weiss asked seeing the owner continuing to drink his sorrows away.
"He said he'd set us up with his equipment for a small favor." Ruby downplayed the favor trying to avoid Weiss going into a hour long rant.
"I have a feeling this 'small favor' isn't exactly small." The Heiress replied seeing Ruby begin to fidget under her gaze.
"We have to raid some facility and retrieve an item he wants. It's probably under heavy guard considering none of his men made it back. Well either that or there may be something big between here and there." Yang mentioned offhandedly remembering what they had fought in the downed vessel.
"What' the plan?" Blake asked stepping away from the wall she was leaning against.
"Three of us go to this facility and grab the item as quickly as we can while two of us stay back to make sure Junior and this building remain in one piece." Ruby looked around the room concerned about how well the people would continue to hold up as the night went on.
"I'll stay and make sure no one lets any beasts in." Dunstan offered knowing they would need at least one Hunter to stay behind and deal with any unsavory business that could arise.
"Alright then, Blake can be your backup."
"Any reason I'm staying behind instead of Yang or Weiss?" Blake asked wondering why she couldn't help them infiltrate.
"I need someone back here who won't stab Dunstan in the back for doing his job. Sorry Yang." Ruby offered the apology.
"You're probably right." Yang replied understandably.
"And why can't I stay behind?" Weiss asked. Sure she questioned Dunstan's methods, but she's doubted he could do anything to so drastic to make her attack him.
"It's less about you and more your new friends." Ruby tabbed her own hand making Weiss look down at her gloved hand.
"They wouldn't attack Dunstan without my permission," the group stared at Weiss with a questioning look, "well most of them wouldn't attack Dunstan."
"This is why you're coming with Yang and me instead of sitting back here protecting everyone. Is everyone okay with their assignment?" Ruby asked as she held out her hand.
"I'm good." Yang said as she placed her hand atop Ruby's.
"It's not the worst plan." Weiss offered as she her hand joined the others.
"We'll try to keep this place held together while you're out." Dunstan added his hand to the pile.
"I'll make sure he doesn't get out of hand." Blake said as Dunstan rolled his eyes at the comment.
"Then I'll see you two once we get back." Ruby and the others exchanged one last glance before heading out.
As soon as they stepped out the doors began to close behind them and relock themselves in some attempt to keep the outside at bay. Once the last lock had clicked into place they went out to the street finding nothing had changed in their short absence with the fires still blazing and the occasional distant howl. Looking down at their scrolls Yang took point in guiding them down the streets towards their destination.
Ruby was the most relaxed out of the entire group and almost felt at home walking the beast filled streets. Her entire posture could lead onlookers to think she was simply walking to the store or going out to meet some friends. Weiss and Yang however were tense and looked ready to leap into battle at the slightest sign of danger. They would even look up occasionally in fear of an ambush from anything that may be roaming the rooftops.
Reaching a crossroads filled with three scourge beasts, Weiss and Yang froze before pressing themselves against a nearby building in an attempt to avoid detection. Ruby merely kept her distance and began eyeing the beasts up. Once she got a feel for them she unfurled her weapon and got ready to charge ahead. Seeing what was about to happen Weiss and Yang drew their weapons and waited for Ruby to make the first move.
In a flash of petals one of the beasts was dragged away from the pack as a scythe hooked around its chest. As they noticed one of their kind being taken an oversized stake was suddenly being slammed into its head cleaving off a large chunk of flesh and exposing the brain beneath. The third beasts raised its claw ready to strike the blonde only to have a flurry of strikes rain over it.
Each beast had been squared off against a separate opponent preventing the usual pack tactics from being used forcing them to fight with strength alone. As the beast Yang downed tried to get up it felt a weight being pressed down against it and saw a red eyed beast atop it as punch after punch was delivered to its face. The beast raised its arms in an attempt to block some of the blows only from the force of each blow to destroy the guard it had put up. With nothing left to protect it Yang unleashed even heavier punches alternating between her hands. Taking that momentum she dealt one final blow to the beast the impact letting off a deafening snap as its head was forcefully thrown sideways.
Weiss had dueled plenty of people before, but fighting a beast one on one was something she never could have imagined. It was behaving much like fellow duelist with it trying to gauge her skills and find a way to best her. Not waiting for it to initiate the attack Weiss rushed forward using one of her glyphs and tried striking its chest only for her weapon to clash with a clawed hand. As she leaped back to disengage the beast charged forward seeing the show of weakness. Weiss was doing everything in her power to parry the sudden and chaotic blows that were being thrown. Pulling back the lever on Myrtenaster her blade glowed red and with a thrust a surge of fire spewed forward engulfing the beast.
Much to Weiss disappointment however the blows didn't slow and she was now facing a pair of flaming claws. The fur was burnt and each movement visibly hurt the beast, but it continued on hell bent on killing the being that had harmed it so. With flames now obscuring her view as the claws went past her face Weiss began faltering with the occasional attack getting uncomfortably close to her before she could parry it. Running out of options she used her right hand to reach into her pouch and drew a slug. Clenching it in her hand a pair of glyphs sprung up on her left and right when two large tentacles shot out of them. With incredible force and speed the two tentacles speared the beast holding it in place. Seeing her chance Weiss ran at the pinned monster and raised her rapier. With a scream the weapon pierced its skull silencing the beast for good. With the task done the tentacles began to fade into a pale mist before completely vanishing leaving Weiss and Yang alone with their dead opponents.
Looking around neither of them could find Ruby, but a howl of pain quickly alerted them to their leader's position. Sprinting around the corner they spotted Ruby running circles around her opponent as it furiously threw its head left and right trying to track the speedster. The beast was clearly out matched and that was made even more apparent when Ruby went in for the first strike taking one of its arms in the process. With that she turned around and sped past the beast again this time claiming a leg as she brushed past it. Flailing on the ground it couldn't even see the final blow as the scythe was brought down through its back bringing an end to the thrashing. Turning she gave a wave to her team with a smile at the apparent success they had found in battle.
"Well that was a nice warm up." Ruby said as she put Crescent Rose away and looked down the street finding it empty of life.
I didn't know you kept the slug Weiss." Yang teased as Weiss looked concerned.
"I didn't keep the slug Yang. It should still be in Dunstan's storage room sitting in a jar."
"Maybe it likes you."
"It's a slug Yang, it doesn't have feelings."
"Don't say that Weiss. What if you make it cry?" Yang joked as Weiss completely ignored her.
"Any idea if anyone is working at the facility we're going to." Weiss said having seen enough bloodshed to last a lifetime.
"If there are people working there we go in nonlethal. Blunt strikes to incapacitate only. They're just doing their job defending the place and I rather not have that blood on your hands." Ruby looked at her team as she spoke.
"Any idea how much further Yang?" Weiss asked not wanting to spend more time out in the open than necessary.
"Shouldn't be more than 5 minutes away if we keep up this pace. If you want we can run there and cut that time down to about a minute."
"Ruby?" Weiss asked her leader waiting for her input on the idea.
"I don't have a problem running there. I'll just have to slow down so you can keep pace." Ruby joked knowing just how slow her team was compared to herself.
"We avoid fights when possible and focus on getting to our destination then." Yang added as she stretched her legs in preparation for the trip.
"Do try to keep up." Weiss told Yang as a glyph appeared beneath herself.
"Just because I'm carrying around the equivalent of a motor block on each of my arms doesn't mean I'm slow." Yang defended as she waved both her arms to show just how little the extra weight was affecting her.
"Care to put money where your mouth is?"
"I'm not that rich princess."
"Name your price then."
"700 lien if I lose, but when I win you owe me a favor."
"Those hardly seem equal."
"Maybe to you, but that's my entire stash. Sorry if my vast expansion of wealth can't compare to the pools of money your family swims in."
"Fine, we have a deal then." Weiss held out her hand as Yang went and gave it a firm shake cementing the deal.
"Are both of you done?" Ruby asked waiting so they could finally get going.
"In one second Ruby." Weiss said as Yang leaned down in a sprinter like form.
"Mind counting us off sis?" Yang asked knowing neither Weiss nor her would move until the race had started.
"Fine," Ruby stood between the two of them and raised her hand, "On your mark, get set, GO!" She threw her arm down as Yang catapulted herself forward with each step and Weiss shot forward like a bullet using her glyphs to take corners at impossibly sharp angles.
Ruby followed suite keeping a good distance from her team so she wouldn't interfere with their race. After rounding the eighth corner Ruby slid to a stop seeing the Yang and Weiss had finished the victor clear as Yang was on her knees with Weiss gloating over her.
"All my money, Nooooooo!" Yang cried out as Ruby walked over to them.
"Please it's not that much."
"That's a good amount of money for a student Weiss." Ruby said feeling slightly sad for her sister's sudden loss.
"If it makes you feel any better I'll be sure to spend it on team related activities." Weiss said trying to lessen the blow.
"Does that mean more sweets?" Ruby asked starting to feel less bad for her sister's loss now.
"I was thinking more along the lines of the essentials like clothes, ammunition, and survival equipment with how the day is going."
"That's cool too."
"I'd really like it if we could get something to take my mind off of this." Yang said hoping to find a distraction of some kind.
"I'll go find something for you to punch Yang." Ruby said as she pulled out her scythe and fired off a shot to launch her onto the roof.
"If this is really so much of a problem we can call the bet off." Weiss suggested beginning to feel the brawler's disposition beginning to wear on her.
"I can't back out of a bet Weiss."
"And why not?"
"Because I gave my word and my honor won't let me."
"You have honor? Color me surprised."
"Believe it or not even us peasants have honor that we want to uphold." Yang gave an exaggerated bow as Weiss returned one in mocking fashion.
"You know I have to accept the bet now that you brought honor into this."
"The Schnee's have honor? We better call Blake and tell her the good news." Yang joked as she pulled out her scroll only for it to flash an alert telling them of the lack of signal.
"I have to start somewhere and graciously accepting your money seems like one of the lesser evils my family has committed."
"Look at you learning how to joke like a normal person." Yang cheered as she picked Weiss up in a crushing hug.
"A simple game of banter like that is nothing compared to what I had to put up with whenever I had to attend a formal event as a representative of my family."
"Hey Yang! I found something up ahead and it's guarding the buildings entrance." Ruby called down to her sister.
Walking out a little ways Yang and Weiss spotted what Ruby was talking about. In front of the windowless building they were supposed to enter was a lone individual coated from head to toe in blood and gore. They couldn't make out too many details from where they were but the slick crimson liquid was unmistakable. Likely someone who was now infected or had lost their mind and now was performing their last assignment.
Approaching closer they could begin to see the person more clearly and could now make out her female figure beneath the bloodied clothes. She was about as tall as Blake and her hair appeared to have been curled though the blood now weighed it down pulling it from its intended shape and letting the hair drape over her shoulders and eyes. Frozen like a statue she didn't bother looking around for intruders since anyone wishing to enter would have to walk by her to get to the entrance.
"Wonder if she remembers who she was before all this?" Weiss asked out loud with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Whether or not she remembers herself there's no way she could be normal with all that blood on her. You remember Dunstan's warning about bathing in blood and how it even affects Hunters who are resistant to the plague." Yang reminded Weiss as she stared at her future opponent.
"I'll provide cover from up here while you and Weiss take care of her." Ruby brought out her scythe and took aim at the individual.
"Let's make this as quick and painless as possible for her." Weiss said as a glyph appeared beneath Yang and began to spin rapidly enveloping her in a yellow glow.
Wasting no time Yang ran forward and leaped at the girl when a pair of swords shot out of her backpack and into her hands allowing her to block the strike. Green eyes could be seen beneath the dripping bangs momentarily as the gust from the impact brushed her hair back. Yang could feel the cold calculating stare as their eyes met for a second as a sword was brought down. Raising the other stake Yang blocked the attack and felt the odd sensation of pressure as the small figure was actually managing to overpower her. Putting more strength into her arms Yang began to realize she was fighting a losing battle as no matter how much she tried the figure would remain unmoved. Since strength wasn't going to do the trick Yang leaped back and began to bob left to right with each pass being faster than the last.
Not understanding what was happening the girl ran forward at Yang trying to stop the motion. She swung the blade at Yang only for the brawler to duck the blade before unleashing a right hook which met a steel sword. Not wavering she tried to attack again with her left sword and was met with the same result, the only difference being a left hook she had to block. Soon the attacks were coming in so fast all she could do was hold up both swords to guard herself as the rain of blows tried to get past. On the eighth pass the unthinkable happened as the strike forced one of her arms away leaving a hole in her guard.
Yang continued her attack as the next blow had the same effect ripping the girls left arm away opening her up for what was to come. Like a torrent of water Yang continued her attack with each strike cutting across her opponent's body and eating away at their aura reserves. Just as the attack seemed to stop a stake smashed into the girl's gut, the impact lifting her off the ground before another blow slammed into her head throwing her back to the ground.
Yang stood exhausted from the attack trying to catch her breath as the girl performed a kick up to get back on her feet. The glow that surrounded Yang began to fade and her opponent didn't even appear to be winded after the beating she sustained. Letting go of the swords they floated away from her hands and hovered behind her as another set of blades sprung from the pack to join the others. Yang paled at the sight of eight blades being pointed at her when a storm of petals appeared between them revealing Ruby with both her arms up and Crescent Rose in its holster.
"Penny, please stop fighting Yang." The plea had an instantaneous effect as the blades were lowered and retreated back into the pack.
"Ruby, why did your sister attack me?" the question was asked with genuine curiosity.
"We may have thought you were something else with all that blood on you." Ruby said as she motioned to her clothes which were now stained red.
"You mean those mean people who go around attacking everyone."
"Well there's more to it than that, but basically."
"I'm sorry for my appearance, but I haven't been able to leave my post for the last several hours due to my replacement not showing up. I hope nothing bad happened to him." By this point Weiss had stepped out and joined Yang in staring at the sight of their leader talking to the gore covered awkward girl they met months prior.
"I don't think your replacement is going to make it Penny."
"Oh no, is he sick?"
"With how this night is going I wouldn't be surprised. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"I was pulled from Mr. Ironwoods detail to provide extra security for this Atlas research facility." Penny froze momentarily realizing what she had said before talking in a slightly more concerned voice. "Please don't tell anyone this is an Atlas building. I was told that only very specific people should know about this."
"No problem here, right?" Ruby asked her team as Weiss nodded and Yang gave a thumbs up.
"Thanks Ruby I knew I could count on you. So why are you outside currently?"
"We were hoping to get in that building behind you and grab something for a friend of ours." Ruby put emphasis on the word friend, the phrase sounding almost fake.
"I'm sorry Ruby, but my job is to keep people out of there and only certain people are allowed in."
"Please Penny, it's really important that we get what our friend asked for. There are lives on the line here." Penny began to look left and right nervously as if looking for someone to help her out.
Coming to a solution she returned a cheery smile to Ruby. "I may be able to give you a sanctioned tour since I'm stationed here as a guard."
Ruby leaped at Penny giving her a hug which the android returned in full nearly crushing her friend. As Ruby was set back down Yang walked over to her making sure her sister was still breathing after that show of affection. Weiss continued to give Penny a concerned look, but settled to save her questioned for later since Ruby seemed to trust her.
"How'd you get covered in all that blood anyways?" Ruby asked as she stood back up.
"A few specimens escaped from the facility and I was under specific instructions not to interfere with them unless first attacked. The state of my appearance is from the ones who tried to destroy me. After the first few though many of them just avoided me and gave a wide berth when walking past. Don't worry though I made sure to properly dispose of them with the incinerator inside." The cheery tone used was similar to one a child would use once completing a chore and awaiting praise from a parent.
"Ruby, do you mind joining us in a team meeting." Weiss said as Penny continued to hold her position.
"What do you want to talk about Weiss?" Yang asked as Weiss grabbed both her and Ruby's hands and walked a fair distance away from Penny before continuing.
"Not to sound cold, but how are we going to deal with Penny once this is over?"
"What do you mean Weiss?"
"You saw the blood covering her. There's no telling when she could turn like those people in asylum and I do not want to fight a infected Penny as Yang can attest."
"Penny should be immune to the plague thanks to her," Ruby paused trying to find the best word to describe her friend, "unique body."
"Even if Penny is like you Ruby that doesn't mean she's immune. You remember Asylum and how it affected you." Weiss despised bringing up such harsh memories for the others, but felt it necessary for their protection.
"Weiss, Penny isn't like me. She's actually immune."
"But how's that possible? Dunstan said the plague was a constant with no one being fully immune from its effects."
"I made a promise to not tell anyone Weiss. You just have to trust me when I say she's immune." Ruby looked away from Weiss in fear of the possible looks she could be getting and awaited a verbal berating.
"You better be telling the truth Ruby, otherwise we're going to have a serious talk about trust between team mates later."
"Thanks Weiss I promise you won't regret this." With a smile Ruby ran back to Penny and told her how she and her team would gladly take a tour.
"You think this is a good idea?" Yang asked Weiss as they followed behind Ruby and Penny.
"No, but at the moment it's our only real way in with no one getting needlessly hurt. For now we just have to trust your sister."
The metal was twisted outwards with claw marks lining the edges where it was gripped. Whatever had performed the task was likely long one, but the sight was terrifying none the less. They could feel the temperature dropping around them as they approached even in their suits. As they stood in front of the door they couldn't seem to peer through the darkness that unnaturally spilled outwards towards them as if to grasp at anything near.
"If you would follow me we can begin the tour."