Chapter 29: Peacekeepers, part four

[Jones penitentiary]

"What a bitch" muttered Yuri thinking of the new friendly neighborhood rapist/killer. Her cell had been the only place she could really relax and now that was gone too. Things were just fantastic.

Joining the white fang was summing up to be the worse decision she had ever made and it was just getting better and better all the time. She imagined a sixteen year old version of herself finely being put up with the beliefs and actions that were considered the norm of society and using the White Fang as way to vent her anger. The training was mediocre but what do you expect from a criminal organization. It still made her feel cool.

What a hardass she thought she was.

It didn't take long to come to a realization that she was small time compared to some of her more fanatical brothers and sisters. She couldn't bring herself to the level of hatred that was expected of her; in turn she became an outcast even to her own. In the end she was just a girl with very bad decision making skills. A trait shared with the Headhunter.

Gallivanting in the halls was a good way to kill time and get away from that animal until their curfew was up but it too had cons. She could only spend so much time in the hallways to get away from the headhunter before the others noticed her walking around like a lost kitten. She doubted the group of men with fist tattoos interest in her was good natured. Reinforced was this thinking by the sneers they threw her way.

'Jerks' she knew better then too provoke them, these were the kind who were just looking for an excuse to start something.

The incentive beeping from her wrist told her it was time to get her ass back to her cell with the lovely soldier..or ex-soldier. She was a soldier and now she wasn't. It shocked her that she hadn't even entertained the fact that behind that high and mighty visage lye an enemy of the kingdom like herself. She pondered what the Headhunter did to be thrown in with the rest of the trash. Kill an innocent? She wouldn't put it past those psychos. Maybe disobeyed orders?

Recollecting her first confrontation something the older woman said hit her 'They are already planning my execution' she said. Whatever she did must have not been forgivable. So that's it then, wait while and then she'd have the cell all to herself and things would go back to the way they were.

'She spared your life you ungrateful shit, an act that could of and maybe did send her ass to the other side' her subconscious reminded her. 'If the rumors are correct they were trained to be unsocial' Rumors were really the only source of information to go on when it came to the headhunters, they were monsters but she had to give it to them they were very elusive and efficient. Everyone knew the basics, skull masks, machetes, ghostly demeanor and their barbaric methods that didn't suit a peaceful nation.

Never surrender to a headhunter, was something her squad leader drilled into his men…he was one of the few officers she ever liked. While the others ran and hid he tried maintain order in the chaos up until his life was ended by a sniper.

'Give her a chance, it's the least you can do' her subconscious bitched again

"Yeah let's just piss her off so she'll kill me" she shot back at herself…which didn't really accomplish anything other than fortifying the fact she needed friends. Weren't very many candidates to fill in that spot. "Here we are…home sweat home" came the sarcastic comment as she closed the distance between her and the cell. She wasn't prepared for the new renovations.

"Where the hell did all this stuff come from?!" Shouted Yuri looking at the packed room. Gone was the plain old room and in its place was any prisoner's wet dream. The newest game system, big tv, a very soft looking mattress (only on Snow's bunk).

She had gone off the deep end with her spending power. What would take others in here their whole life in here to accumulate had been bought in seconds. The countless boxes being delivered all to the same room raised a lot of brows and even more tempers caused by jealousy.

"You're loud" informed Snow from the top of her cozy, not quarry stone, bed while writing in a notebook. "This stuff came because I ordered it, don't ask obvious questions"

Yuri gazed at her own reflection in shiny tv "That's impossible! You just got here yesterday, theres absolutely no way you could have saved up enough for all of this!"

"I realize that" Was her short and information withholding answer.

"Do you have some rich husband or family member that put money on your account?" Yuri questioned. She didn't receive an answer. 'So back to the ignoring my existence phase' she thought.

Wandering what kind of things interested Snow she began to nose through the items without touching them. Most of it was home commodity crap, the others were things she couldn't see her being into it at all. The games and art supplies seemed like things she would see as useless "Do you even play games?" Questioned Yuri

Finally an answer "Bought them by accident" she lied "You can have them, better then letting them go to waste"

Bullshit "These are mine? The games and the tv? Really?" She asked uncertantantly expecting this to be just another one of the headhunter's ploys to mess with her.

"Keep the volume down" Snow ordered

The cat faunus looked at her quizzically before shrugging. She glanced at the headhunter again as she hesitantly fooled around with the console. It was pretty neat; before she joined the White Fang she'd been a pretty big nerd and even owned the previous system. This one had come out last year and her

"Thanks" Yuri went back to checking out her new games, Games she'd never be able to afford. "Thanks" 'A thumbs up is not a good substitute for you're welcome' she noted Snow's horrible people skills "What's your name?"

"Inmate 565" Snow answered, annoyed. She didn't expect it when the young girl started giggling and when she failed to contain them they turned into a full blown laugh. She laughed even harder when she saw Snow's reaction.

Finally she managed to calm herself down and speak "Alright Numbers, what are you drawling?"

"A very dead kitty" This was Yuri's cue to leave her alone for the night. The two settled into their respective beds just as the cell door slid shut imprisoning them.

[The morning after, Snow]

"WAKEY WAKEY!" yelled the guard while he smacked the bars to the cell. As if I was programmed to do so my body twisted and leapt down from the bunk less I get beat by one of the company commander's lackeys because I didn't get out of bed fast enough, gotta love old school brainwashing. "Scarface, make your ass presentable and report to sector three, your audience is demanded" He didn't seem to care that I had no idea where the hell sector three was I noted watching him leave.

The bright lights on the ceiling were blinding to my morning eyes, yet a poor substitution for sun light. I never liked the sun much, always more of a night person anyways. I rubbed my eyes as I grabbed what I needed to take a shower but then stopped

'My audience?' The only person who would want to see me let alone know I was here would be that dick from the MDD. No reason to look pretty while he tells me my death sentence has a date now. I must say that was much faster than expected, Cross must of made it his personnel vendetta who out me. I want to be mad but how can I? He's doing his job to ensure I get what I rightfully deserve.

Well let's just get this over with, no use delaying it. I straightened out my jumpsuit making sure to get rid of most of the creases before slipping on my shoes and leaving.

It didn't take long to find sector three with all of directional arrows. The entrance, surprise surprise, was barred and guarded. A strict invitational party only. Except unlike that birthday party I didn't get invited to when I was nine this wasn't somewhere I wanted to be.

I didn't check in like everyone else, no they were waiting for me. I must be special. They escorted in and down the hall to the left. I'm beginning to hate plain white rooms.

The only difference between this place and my old hospital room was instead of a comfy bed in the middle was a table with two chairs, classic integration type deal. They seated me with my back the door and took position on either side of me. Not the safest place to stand per say but what good would attacking them do? I can't exactly knock down the door too this room.

I expected Cross to be waiting eagerly for me when I first entered the room, making me wait might just be one of his tactics to get information out of me. Useless. I planned to be much more cooperative then I was on our first encounter. Atleast I can die with some shred of honor.

The door opened letting the cold air from the hallway creep over my body and give me the chills. The room suddenly felt very dark and compressed making it hard to breathe well. Mr. Cross hadn't entered the room. This presence felt familiar and good yet malicious all at the same time.

I couldn't get out of my chair fast enough to salute the figure wearing a solid black uniform. He didn't return the gesture nor did he even look at me as he took a seat. With a wave of his hand the guards were sent away, more than happy to go away.

Still even after they left he made no effort to contact me. "Comander Jacinto" I croaked, still saluting. He finally looked up, the same cold yellow eyes.

"Sit down" and down I was immediately. No one could ever tell what was going through the stone faced man's mind; with present circumstances I knew he was furious. Maybe I wouldn't have to wait for the end, there's only one reason he would come see me personally.

Time ticked by with us locked into a staring contest, one that he was easily winning. I was sweating bullets, my heart rate was spiked. He taught me to hide these things. He didn't teach me how to hide anything from him.

He didn't waste time with meaningless questions "I know the why. All I care about is if the situation can be salvaged. Pvt. Snow where does your loyalty lye?"

He was not a man to play games but what he was instigating was unbelievable. It was too good to be true, also how would he know the relationship between me and Erwin? Was it a test? Could I still be considered loyal? I gave him a straight answer "I'm loyal to you sir, I was momentarily blindsided by emotion"

"Vespin asked me as your mentor if you could still be useful. I told him you were the best, but a liability" He explained "We came to a conclusion" he threw a bag on the table. "You will take the first dose here infront of me, ill assign one of the other shadows to ensure you continue to take it."

I knew what was in the bag before I even took it out. This was my punishment, freedom yet shackled. The PED injector felt wrong in my hand. "I can continue as a Headhunter?"

"No, the others know what you did"

"Then where will I go?" Still a lot better than spending the rest of my life in here.

He nodded towards the PED "Take it" He wasn't willing to disclose anything until he was certain that I would become their pet. I rolled it around in my hand looking long and hard at it 'A life of servitude to whoever holds my next fix.'

The choice was easy 'It hurt! Dust it fucking hurt!' It felt like I was injecting fire into my veins. Even stranger it didn't feel foreign.

"I will be back to retrieve you in five days" he said while standing up. The drug was starting to take effect. I could hear the injector snap in my hand. "I wouldn't do this for anyone else" My vision was fading and changing to something new. Jacinto had the appearance of a bright yellow humanoid, his words were unclear. No that was wrong; I didn't care what he was saying I just wanted to rip his throat out. 'Where did that come from?'

"Lock her in here for eight hours" he ordered "The first time is always the worst" was the last thing he said before the door shut behind him leaving alone and confused.