Chapter 36: Coffee, Check. Luggage, Check. WMDs, Check.
Character Kalathanon
"So you've fought these Sith before," C asked as she and K flew over to Marion's group.
"Yes that is how I meet Starkiller actually," K said, "It was near the end of a war between the Sith and a small resistance group. The Empire of the Sith had almost wiped the resistance out but thanks to Starkiller, and a few others who were force users, the resistance had at least managed to not get squashed by the time I arrived."
"You think Tom's group will be okay while we are gone," C asked, "If these Sith are powerful enough to give you reason to hunt them..."
"James is with them still," K said, "The Force is nothing compared with his gravity."
"He does have more sense than you," C remarked. K laughed at that, he knew that James' past was the same as theirs, just as full of mistakes as theirs, but for some reason he and C always seemed to keep James' advice in mind. Not that it ever stopped either of them from jumping from the pot into the fire, but it made for a few good laughs over the years. K spotted Spyro circling over Kirkwall and glided in to meet his old friend.
"Spyro," K greeted, "How is the city?"
"Not good," Spyro replied, "There is something here... even Adam is worried about it."
Red flags shot up all through K's head at that statement. "What do you mean?"
"It'll be best for him to explain it," Spyro said as he angled down towards the mountains, "Follow me."
K and C shared a concerned look before following Spyro to the cave that his group had set up in. Within Wolf's Arch form was keeping a black fire burning for warmth at this altitude. Gimli, Legolas and Gandalf were warming their hands around the fire while Star and Qui-gon were guarding a tunnel in the back of the cave. Ruby was helping Scooter paint his new car-suit, Blake was letting Sun try on her suit, Adam and Wolf's human form were talking busily in a corner of the cave, Jaune and Pyrrha were sparring, Ren was cleaning his Storm Flower SMGs, Nora was telling Yang and Brick stories of her and Ren, Terrador and Zora were outside the cave serving as lookouts and Cynder was melded into the shadows of the cave. Marion stormed over to K and put a finger in his face as Anders and Jinx came up behind her.
"See I leave home for a few days and look what happens," Marion said, "Now some sort of Sith Emperor has Kirkwall in his grasp and worst yet Adam thinks he may also have a few Magogs under his control!"
"See," Spyro said as he left K and C to disappear into a shadow that was Cynder.
"Ok why don't you start at the beginning," C said.
"That is the beginning," Anders said, "Now Adam and Wolf are talking about how any remaining Dark-Spawn might also be under the control of this Emperor."
K sighed as he morphed into his human form to conserve space in the already cramped cave and walked over to Adam and Wolf. Jinx walked off to help Blake get Sun unstuck from the armor while C remained at the entrance with Terrador and Zora and Anders and Marion followed him over to Wolf.
"There would be at least a thousand that would revert back to my rule once we make our appearance but that would leave another ten or so under the Emperor's control," Wolf was saying.
"A thousand," Adam said, "According to Star he defeated an Emperor with K's help and only a few hundred... there were no Magogs to deal with then either though."
"True," K said as he interrupted the two, "But I didn't have DC at my back either. There hasn't been such a blessed and talented force as this in all of history, Adam you know this so why so worried?"
"Because there is always a balancing force," Adam said, "Ever since Sin was created there has been a balancing force... These Sith don't die like the demons or the undead or what have you, they transfer their essence to their fellow Sith making them stronger. If the Magogs can do this as well, Tell me that doesn't disturb you just a little."
"Ok I see your point," K remarked as the connections drew the picture in his head, "The Emperor will make sure he is the last to face us so that he has the full power of the Sith that were here and the Magogs and the Dark-Spawn."
"I see you get the idea," Wolf stated sarcastically, "So what does our brilliant leader have to say?"
K thought about it for a few minutes. Ruby and her friends seemed immune to the Force, Adam could absorb it, Hawk and Fisher would be immune as well, James could exert his power against the Sith even while trapped, C could over power any Sith with time, the Primes were strong enough to shrug off the effects, Tyreal, Hadriel, Inarius and Auriel seemed empowered by the Force while Lilith seemed angered by it. Soap and Beth could draw in the power that the Sith used against them like they could the power from demons. Doug had his own considerable abilities to use, Beast was too large for the Sith to fully hinder, the SaDiablos could fight the Sith strength to strength, Jensen had his stealth, Carter and Cloak had the ability to redirect the effects the Sith place against them, Ghost and Anjali could burn through the Force... all in all K felt pretty good about their chances.
"I say we need a few teams," K said, "Doug get messages to the following DC members: Tyreal, Hadriel, Inarius, Lilith, Auriel, The Primes, the SaDiablos, Beast, Soap, Ghost, Anjali, Beth, James, Hawk, Fisher, Carter and Cloak. Meet me at the Sundermount also send in a pick up for the rest of DC we won't need them for what I have planned. Also if you have any capabilities against this Force that you've neglected to mention to me I'm always happy to hear about the new skills you've acquired."
"Understood," Doug replied, "I'll meet you shortly with the members you've requested."
"So your plan is fight them with less people," Wolf questioned, "Seems ill advised."
"Gideon thought the same thing," K replied with a smile.
Adam chuckled getting the reference but Wolf just looked confused. The three of them abruptly turned to the commotion of crashing armor and a few yelps as Sun popped out of Blake's suit and he Blake and Jinx ended up under each other and the suit.
"Children," Wolf remarked.
"You and Gaige are the youngest in the group," K reminded him.
"Your body is younger than your spirit isn't it," Wolf replied, "So is mine."
"Fair enough," K said, "Everyone listen up! Doug is heading here with the members of three strike teams, one of which I will lead. Now all of you are staying on but the rest of DC that isn't going to be involved is heading back to the Ark, so who wants to be on my team, James' team or Carter's team? Three teams of eighteen."
"Team RWBY is in," Ruby exclaimed!
"JNPR will go with Carter," Jaune said, "We've meet him on several occasions. He and Cloak seem to have level heads."
"That they do," Jinx said.
"We're in," Cynder said as she and Spyro reappeared from the shadows.
"I'm with Ruby," Scooter said, "And Brick is with Yang."
"Blake be careful," Adam said, "Jensen and I will go with James."
"I'll be fine," Blake replied, "I've got armor."
"And me," Sun added.
"I'll go," Wolf said, "Since your most likely to come across the most Dark-Spawn."
"Well we can't let the Arch-Demon go running off without us," Anders said, "count us three in K."
"Done," K said, "Anjali and Ghost can be on the team as well. The rest of you can figure out who is with whom when the rest arrive."
Doug arrived shortly after they had broken into their different groups. K had C, Doug, Spyro, Cynder, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Sun, Scooter, Brick, Ghost, Anjali, Wolf, Marion, Anders and Jinxirattuholingtonbumin, in his group. Carter had Cloak, Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, Nora, Janell, Daemon, Saetan, Luciver, Surreal, Graysfang, Diablo, Mephisto, Malafor, Baal, Hawk and Fisher, in his group. James had, Adam, Jensen, Terrador, Zora, Qui-gon, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Beast, Tyreal, Hadriel, Auriel, Inarius, Lilith, Soap, Bethany and Star in his group.
"Ok so what's the plan," Sun asked.
"James, take your group to the Viscount throne room, or at least to the entrance to it. You're going to be the distraction." K said, "Carter, your group gets to clear out Darktown and Lowtown. My team will clear out the Docks and head to Hightown to meet up with James. Carter as soon as your done with your section meet up with us outside the keep."
"Will do," Carter said, "Fisher your driving the Pelican, SaDiablos ride with her and Hawk. JNPR climb on, Primes lets go."
"Do hurry," James remarked as his team took off, "While I am good at being a meat shield it is not the most fun of jobs."
"I know," K replied, "Doug get on." Doug pulled his lumbering juggernaut form up onto K's back while the rest of the team mounted up.
"Ready," Doug said.
K looked to C then to Spyro, Cynder, and Wolf. He flashed a grin as he caught Ruby's worried look then took off. They were in sight of the city within a few minutes, James' group was already positioned in the causeway that ran up to the keep. Carter's group was probably underground clearing out Darktown. K led his group to the Docks. He could feel the presence of three Magogs, one was the usual multi-jawed, scythe-limbed creature, one was halfway in the water and looked like a bear/octopus/ hawk. With a head that consisted of tentacles around a beak with a short neck connecting it to the hawk like body with its wings that rested on the four bear like legs with their sharp spines and large claws. The third Magog was not visible so K assumed it was out in the deep water, waiting.
The winged Magog took off to intercept them, Wolf moved to intercept it with Marion, Anders and Jinx on his back as well as his human form. Spyro and Cynder dropped out of formation to go after the 'normal' Magog. The two of them were more than a match for the single demon. K and C headed out over the water. C had RWBY, Sun, Ghost, Anjali, Scooter and Brick on her back, since she was the only one capable of carrying so much weight. K always felt slightly inadequate when she displayed such strength, but her bones and wings were crystal and her power was over energy itself so he could understand how she was capable of carrying more than anyone else.
"Shouldn't we help them," Yang asked.
"They'll be fine," K said, "We are going after the third Magog. Since it is underwater I can only assume it is much bigger than the two behind us."
"Why do you always get us to go after the biggest, baddest, meanest thing around," Ghost remarked, "I know we are the best but you think we could get a break or something from time to time?"
"Unlikely," K said as he dodged a spiked hand that shot up from the water a hundred feet below to swipe at him.
"I'd say it is really big," Doug stated.
The Magog rose from the water, it was massive. Even with its legs totally submerged the creature stood almost a hundred feet tall from the waist up. It had a red crystal skin that was streaked with black stripes and pulsed with a dark energy. Its head was like a wolf's with the skin stripped from it leaving teeth and joints exposed. Its body was vaguely human but also partly beetle. Its eyes were orbs of fire, its eight arms were these long, wiry, things that were jointed in at least three places and terminated in spikes and clawed hands. Down its back ran three rows of spikes that disappeared into the water. Then rose again as the other half of the creature rose up. The two torsos turned to glare at K before they started their attack.
Character Yang
From the moment the Magog crashed into K, Yang had started raining down fireballs from Ember Celica, to little to no effect much to her annoyance. Ruby's Crescent Rose was seemingly just an ineffectual as was Blake's Gambol Shroud, Weiss' Glyphs, Sun's Gunchaku, and the weapons that Ghost, Anjali, Brick, and Scooter were firing. C's breath seemed to give the creature pause as did Doug's punches and K's attacks but they were not taking the creature down very quickly.
"This ain't working," Brick said, "I say we punch it."
"If K and C's strikes don't seem to hurt this thing what do you think our punches will do to it," Weiss retorted.
"I fire punch it," Brick amended as he slammed his fists together and a puff of fire appeared for a brief second.
"How would that make any difference," Ghost asked.
"Why won't it come out of the water," C asked them between sprays of her energy breath.
They stopped shooting and looked at each other. Scooter shrugged, Anjali place a hand on her chin, Ghost reloaded, Brick chambered his larger version of Ember Celica, Sun scratched his head, Ruby tilted her head sideways and Yang studied the demon. Its eyes were fire, never seeming to need to move to keep track of them, its arms were a flurry of strikes causing C, K and Doug to have to play defensive, its red skin gleamed as the water rolled down it, the black stripes pulsed... "Why is there still water running down it," Yang asked, "with all this movement shouldn't the water have been flung off by now?"
"Yes it should have," Blake remarked, "Something is pumping water up through it to pour over it."
"Like a cooling system," Scooter said, "Keep it from overheating?"
"It is possible" C said, "If you've got an idea run with it we are running out of time here, James will need our help soon."
"Brick, Bumblebee now! I'm going to jump on it," Yang said, "If it is trying to keep cool then lets heat it up."
"That might work," C said, "I'll alter my attacks to generate heat instead of electricity."
"Scooter, we need your car form," Ghost said, "If we are going to heat this thing up then the more fire the better."
"Watch our back," Yang said as she jumped onto her motorcycle and drove Brick and herself off of C's tail to land on the head of the Magog. A moment later Scooter, Ghost and Anjali landed on its other head.
"Brick cover me," Yang said as the bike digi-destructed.
"I'll keep these hands off you," Brick affirmed as he punched one of the arms back as it tried to swipe them off. On the other head Yang saw that Scooter had reconfigured his armor to act like a bulwark against the arms attacks. Ghost and Anjali were blazing like two human torches but their fire was a warm orange burn. Yang smiled as she made ready to activate her Aura.
"It's about to get really hot up here," She warned Brick who nodded as he punched back more arms. Yang watched as an arm came down at her then she went super nova. The wave of heat that cascaded off of her knocked the oncoming arm back, brought Brick to his knees, seared the crystal skin off the wolfish head of the Magog and caused it to roar in pain. Yang wasn't finished though she swung down onto the nose of the Magog and started to punch at its eyes. As she cranked up the heat to the point where the water that was flowing out of the pulsing black stripes was boiling off as it came out the eyes started to flicker on and off, like the demon was trying to blink away the heat of her attacks. "Yeah you want some don't you," Yang yelled as she switched from the now extinguished eyes to the bridge of the long nose. Turning the heat up another notch caused the fire around Yang to change to a bright blue flame as she punched her way through the weak point of the creature's skull. Once she had a large enough opening Yang commenced to bake the brain of the Magog. The torso let out a last growing cry before it started to fall into the water. Yang cooled down as C swept by underneath them and Yang and Brick jumped onto her back. Looking over to the other torso Yang saw that it too was collapsing, as K picked Scooter, Anjali and Ghost off of it. Doug moved up from the water to assist Spyro and Cynder in hauling the corpse of the Magog they had been dueling into the ocean. The winged one crashed down into the water a little bit away as Wolf and company glided to the ground near Cynder.
"That was fun," Brick commented.
"You're just happy you got to punch something with those gloves," Yang replied, "How did you all take the other head down?"
"Ghost and Anjali discovered that the stripes were the channels that the water pumped through," C replied, "K and I targeted those while Doug kept most of its arms busy and Scooter kept the other two from Ghost and Anjali long enough for them to server the supply to the head."
"So what did you do sis," Yang asked Ruby.
"We just kept shooting it," Ruby replied, "Took out a couple of the stripes even."
"Don't be so modest," Sun said, "She shot an entire arm off!"
"Well it was going to get past Scooter," Ruby replied, "We had to do something."
"Woo," Scooter called as they landed, "That was more fun than jumping off Sanctuary in a runner!"
"Should I even ask," Yang questioned.
"Nah," Brick replied, "He is crazy."
"Great my sister is sweet with a crazy man," Yang said with a roll of her eyes, "Figures though they are both pretty socially inept."
"Hey," Ruby and Scooter remarked before they looked at each other and laughed.
"You're soaked in blood," Weiss remarked.
"Yeah," Yang replied, "Hey K you think I've got time to get some of this blood off?"
"If you're quick," K said as he, Doug and Spyro tossed the Magog into the water.
"Okay," Yang said, "Stand back."
Ruby and Brick backed up and formed the inner most part of a circle that was the danger zone for Yang's fire. Once it was clear Yang burst straight into the blue fire that burned off the blood from her.
"Better," Cynder asked.
"Much," Yang replied.
"Why don't your cloths or armor melt or burn or something," Scooter asked.
"Pyrrha understands it best but it is a part of how Aura works," Yang replied, "It is directional in a sense... I've never had it burn me or what I'm wearing, but I've accidentally burned Jaune once so I try to keep a safe distance from people when I burn."
"Ok lets go," K said, "Doug are you okay out here?"
"I'll be fine," Doug said, "These Magogs will be plenty of biomass to start with."
"Yang, Brick, Ghost, Anjali, get on," K said, "This will just be a quick hop to the center of town."
Yang jumped to K's back as Ruby, Scooter, Sun, Blake and Weiss got on C. Spyro and Cynder had already took to the air and were waiting for them above the causeway when they arrived. Below James' and Carter's groups were deadlocked in a battle with a lone figure at the end of the causeway. The Sith Empress was a tall woman cloaked in black, with long black hair and searing red eyes that rested above red lips and a pointed nose. From her outstretched hands came spikes of lightening and visible waves of Force and energy. K seemed shocked to see that the two groups were unable to advance farther than three-quarters of the causeway, and that was Adam, Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha and Ren. Behind them was James and behind him was everyone else.
"A woman," Spyro asked.
"What is that supposed to mean," Blake asked.
"Uh... nothing never mind," Spyro replied.
"How can she withstand them," K muttered, "What changed?"
"We can't land any closer than Terrador," Cynder said indicating Terrador and Zora who were about midway through the causeway. "Star says they were almost to the door when 'She' appeared and pushed them back to where they are now."
"When was this," K asked.
"About five minutes ago," Cynder replied.
"When we killed the Magogs," Ghost commented.
"Then lets kill them again," Yang said as she brought Ember Celica out.
"I'll see how far I can push in," K said, "But If we can't reach her I doubt we can hurt her."
K dove into the maelstrom of energy and pushed to where Adam and JNPR were holding out but despite his best efforts he could not move any farther forward.
"K you fool," the Empress said in a smooth, rolling, voice, "Did you think that we did not prepare to fight you?"
"What does she mean," C asked as she reached K's side.
"Of course these skills are targeted against us, against DC," K said. "That is why even Adam can't go forward."
"But we could," Yang said, "We weren't part of DC when you first came here."
K, C and Adam looked at each other, "It is possible," C remarked, "Jaune have any of you tried to go forward?"
"No they stay behind me," Adam snarled.
"Don't be so dramatic," Blake said as she and Sun hopped down from C and walked right past Adam into the wild swirls of energy. "Curiosity," she said before she turned around and gave him a one sided smile and a raised eyebrow. Scooter tried to follow but was pushed back when he got down from C. Yang looked at him then grabbed Brick's massive hand and drug him off of K. When he wasn't pushed back she looked at him and smiled.
"Hold onto one of us," Yang said, "This power can't affect you then."
Jaune grabbed a hold of Adam and the two started walking forward. Ruby drug Ghost and Anjali forward Weiss, Pyrrha, Ren and Nora brought up the rear.
"What is this," the Empress said startled, "How are you? Die!" Lightening flashed around them, streams of life draining energy flowed past them the ground cracked and shattered under the pressure from the Force waves but Yang and her friends pushed forward like they were walking through the park, or they did until they got to the bottom of the stairs that the Empress was on top of. At that point Adam, Ghost, Brick and Anjali couldn't even be pulled farther up.
"We can't let go of them until she is dead," Pyrrha yelled over the howling of the Force, "Otherwise they will get flung back."
"Pyrrha hold Ghost and Anjali," Ruby said, "Sun hold Brick, everyone else let us finish this."
"Right with you sis," Yang said with a smile. As they made their way up the stairs Ren and Nora got stuck on the fifth step, Weiss was caught on the seventh, and Blake on the tenth. The pressure trying to push them back was palpable now, Yang had to force her steps forwards. There were only five more steps to the top but the resistance was so strong Yang didn't know if they would make it.
"Yang hold my hand," Ruby said. Yang grabbed hold of her sisters hand and the resistance seemed to melt away.
"Wow," Yang remarked as she realized that Ruby felt no resistance whatsoever. "How strong is your Aura?"
"No idea," Ruby replied with a smile, "Strong enough for you though."
Yang shared in Ruby's smile before they both turned back to the raging Empress and glared at her. Yang heard Crescent Rose unfolding into its gun form as she activated her right hand gauntlet. It worked out well that Ruby was left handed while she was right that way they could both use their dominant hand even while holding hands like they were. Ruby started firing as they walked forwards and Yang added several of her fireballs to the mix. The Empress bounced the projectiles away from her and one of the fireballs hit Ruby, knocking her back down the stairs.
"Ruby," Yang yelled as her sister took the hit. Then she realized that she was standing before the Empress without Ruby's help. The sound of a light-saber powering up was her only warning of the impending attack. Bringing up Ember Celica Yang blocked the attack and countered knocking the Empress back. Sparing a look back Yang saw Ruby picking herself up, then as her attention turned back to the Empress Yang caught the glimpse of two other figures coming out of the fortress behind the Sith.
"Now you've made me mad," Yang said as she laughed and ignited as she launched a flurry of attacks against the Empress. Yang's powerful strikes continued to knock the Empress back but did little to no actual damage. Then the shhuk sound of and ax embedding itself into flesh caused the Empress to gasp and lose concentration, then a sword erupted from her chest and Yang punched the Empress up ripping the weapons out of her before Ruby finished the fight by mid-air kicking the dying Empress into the wall beside the door that Hawk and Fisher had come through.
"Ruby are you ok," Yang asked.
"I'm fine," Ruby said, "Used what I learned in our sparring sessions to just flow with your punch."
"Impressive work," Fisher said.
"Thanks," the sisters replied, "How did you two not get caught by the Force?"
"We came in through a tunnel that runs under the Viscount throne room," Hawk said, "Since we don't show up on force or mental or whatever scans due to our immunity to magic the Empress couldn't direct any of the resistance against us until she saw us."
"Which she didn't," Fisher added as she sheathed her sword.
"Is this how tough all the fights will be," Yang asked.
"How should we know," Hawk said, "K will have some answers."
"Ruby are you ok," Blake asked.
"Oh am I going to have to answer that question for everyone," Ruby remarked.
"Ruby are you okay," Weiss asked as she caught up with them, then Ren and Nora got to the top and repeated the question.
"Yes," Ruby said, "I'm fine. Oh hold on. I'm okay!" Ruby yelled the last bit across the comms that were built into their suits.
"Ah, Ruby, ears," Blake exclaimed.
"Oh sorry," Ruby said.
"Death is only the beginning," the Empress gasped from behind them as she staggered to her feet and pointed to Yang and Ruby, "Your world is next." Wilt shot past them and hit the Empress in her head then Adam grabbed it out of the air and decapitated her.
"I wouldn't count on it," Adam said.
"Beacon," Jaune said, "if there is anywhere they would hit it would be there."
"Agreed," Yang said, "If Roman has droids and Grimm then Cinder has Droids and Grimm... combined with the Sith they would be a terrifying combination."
"Then you need to head back to the ship quickly then," Doug said as a flying flood form hovered over them, "I will leave this department of me here to help oversee the reconstruction, K knows what transpired here through me and I've already got Pelicans inbound to pick you all up."
"Thank you Doug," K said as he approached them, "This Cinder, describe her."
"Tall, black hair, glowing yellow-orange eyes, usually in a red dress with heels," Ren said.
"Hmm and where did the Empress' body go," K commented as he walked down the stairs where the Pelicans were landing. Looking back the only remains of the Empress was a dark, blood-stained cloak.
"My God," Pyrrha said, "She wasn't startled because we could walk through the resistance, she was startled to see us."
"What do you mean," Adam asked.
"She means the Empress was Cinder Fall," Ren stated, "She was startled because she recognized us."
"We have foiled many of her plans," Ruby stated, "I guess it would be disconcerting to find us here."
"We are wasting time," Yang said, "If Cinder's body isn't here then she is most likely back home planning trouble and if her power carries across the dimensions with her Beacon will be helpless before her." With that Yang ran down to the awaiting Pelicans and waved for the rest to hurry up. The ride back was quite with the only words said being Ruby remarking that she hopped that "their friends back home were okay." Yang nodded her agreement with her sister.
Character Ozpin
"You're sure," Ozpin asked as the middle aged man took a sip of coffee from his mug.
"Certain of it," Glynda replied.
"Hmm," He replied as he looked over the report through his shaded glasses and graying strands of hair that hung into his face. "So Queen's Aura reappears at almost the same time that RWBY and JNPR's. It looks like their hunt was successful."
"Yes," Glynda remarked as she brushed a curl of hair from in front of her emerald eyes, "Then there is this." She handed him another scroll which brought up a display of several thousand Auras, all much weaker than their own, or better hidden, but still it was a large enough force to cause Ozpin concern.
"Do we know who's side these are on," he asked.
"Teams RWBY and JNPR are traveling with them, weather by choice or not is unknown, Additionally Adam Taurus and Sun Wukong are with them."
"Sun is mischievous certainly but he has never been on Cinder's side," Ozpin observed, "Adam is more of a wild card, very powerful merc."
"I believe he and Blake Belladonna used to work together," Glynda said.
"Mmm," Ozpin replied through a mouthful of coffee, "Apologies, yes I believe that their relation was a subject of some friction between Ms. Belladonna and Ms. Schnee." He handed the scrolls back to Glynda and picked his cane up off the railing of the balcony the they were standing on. Looking out he could see all of Beacon Academy. His office was at the top of the central spire and Beacon spread out beneath him in a circle.
"Professor Ozpin," Glynda asked.
"Well I suppose we should prepare for if RWBY and JNPR are not returning freely," Ozpin replied as he turned and led the way back into the office, "Or for if they are. Judging from the reading we got on Cinder she is much more powerful than when you fought her last."
"I still don't see how that is possible," Glynda said, "Each person can only have one soul."
"That has been the trend so far," Ozpin replied, "But consider the Grimm, they have no soul, so we have precedent set for varying numbers of souls among the living. Besides even with her new power Cinder's Aura is still a candle compared to Ruby."
"You really trust in her don't you," Glynda said.
"I don't see how we have much of a choice," Ozpin replied, "All of Beacon's current teams are like a breeze compared to a hurricane if we compare us to Ruby."
"Our hope rests with a emotionally unstable nineteen year old girl," Glynda remarked, "I can say from experience that nineteen is a rough time."
"Yes it was," Ozpin admitted, "But you were still working your own way through Beacon at the time, Ruby is already a Huntress. Would you go prepare the airship, I'll go get CRDL."
"Of course," Glynda replied as she left the office. Ozpin finished the last of his coffee before he left. On his way the the Hunter lodgings he passed by Bartholomew's office to get a refill for his coffee.
"Ah Ozpin," Bartholomew greeted, "I just filled up another pot of coffee. What news have you for me today?"
"RWBY and JNPR are back," Ozpin said as the energetic history professor took the mug and filled it with hot coffee, "Thank you." Ozpin said as he took the mug back. "Additionally Cinder has resurfaced and she seems more powerful than before."
"The criminal underworld never seems to rest does it," Bartholomew commented as he took a swig of coffee, "But neither do we, I must be off have a class to teach." With that the green, spiky haired, generally rumpled, professor zipped out of the office. Ozpin chuckled as he left to round up CRDL, Bartholomew had taken the coffee pot with him.
Cardin and Russel were found in the hallways and fell in behind Ozpin with a nod as he waved them over. "Where is Mr. Bronzewing and Mr. Lark?"
"Still eating sir," Cardin replied, "What is the occasion?"
"You can drop the formalities," Ozpin said, "I'm here to get your team to go with Glynda and me to meet or rescue teams RWBY and JNPR."
"No way they actually made it back," Russel exclaimed, his green mohawk swaying as he jerked his head towards Cardin.
"I told you they would," Cardin remarked with a shrug of his broad, armor clad, shoulders. "Why us though, JNPR and us haven't had the best history."
"Because Mr. Winchester," Ozpin said as he pushed open the door to the cafeteria, "You have surprised me before I think it is about time you did so again."
"Oh we will get them back," Russel said, "Right Cardin?"
"I don't doubt that you will Mr. Thrush," Ozpin said, "Now call the rest of you team please."
"Dove, Sky," Cardin bellowed into the room drawing everyone's attention to them, "Get over here it is important."
The blue haired, lanky but well armored Sky and the brown haired and similarly armored Dove weaved their way over to them as the Hunters returned to their meals at Ozpin's nod of dismissal.
"Headmaster sir," Dove said as he and Sky came up beside him.
"You can be informal," Ozpin said as he gestured for them to follow, "We are going to meet RWBY and JNPR."
"Told you Cardin would be right," Sky remarked to Russel.
Ozpin led them through the walkways of Beacon to the air strips where Glynda was waiting for them. Ozpin quirked an eyebrow as Glynda opened the side door of the jet to reveal two machine guns mounted to the inside.
"In case there are hostilities," she remarked at his look.
"Russel you are a gifted pilot," Ozpin said, "take us up."
Russel headed to the cockpit as Ozpin and the rest of CRDL joined Glynda in the back. Sky and Dove took position on the guns while Cardin shouldered his mace and Glynda cleaned her glasses. Ozpin took a sip of his coffee. He smiled, it had cooled to just the right temperature and had his favorite bold flavor.
"Incoming message for you sir," Glynda said as she handed him a scroll. Ozpin handed his cane to Cardin and flipped the device open.
"Professor Ozpin," Ruby greeted, "Its good to see you."
"And you Ruby," Ozpin said, "I take it the host that is following you is friendly?"
"Oh yeah, Dragon Company is great," Ruby said, "What is not so great is that Cinder may have several hundred times her previous power and might have droids and Grimm on her side as well."
"We know she is more powerful but what is this about Droids and Grimm," Ozpin said.
"That would be my fault," Adam said as his image appeared next to Ruby's, "The droids at least."
"I see," Ozpin said, "We are on our way to meet you is there a convenient place for us to meet?"
"The Pestilence has hangers along its sides," Ruby said, "We are in hangar eight, port side of the ship with the green light on above it, you can land there."
"The Ship," Ozpin asked then from the cockpit he heard Russel gasp. Looking out the wind shield Ozpin saw the ship. A massive structure that seemed to be half constructed half grown from some green bio-mass. He spotted the light that indicated the correct hangar. "Ah I see, we will be with you shortly."
"Wait we," who else is with you aren't you piloting," Ruby asked.
"No Russel is piloting," Ozpin said, "CRDL and Glynda are with me."
"Okay," Ruby said, "Umm just tell Cardin not to have his friends attack anyone when you get here."
"Why would he do that," Ozpin asked.
"It would be easier to show you," Adam said, "If you think I am questionable, the one from whom I was formed is here."
"I guess I will just have to see this for myself then," Ozpin replied as Russel guided them into the hangar. Ozpin took another sip of coffee as he returned to the bay where Glynda, Cardin, Sky and Dove were all looking at him with unvoiced questions on their faces. Ozpin returned the scroll to Glynda and retrieved his cane from Cardin. "No attacking anything," he said, "Ruby has me convinced that she and the rest are here willingly."
"Why would we want to," Cardin started as the door opened and they stepped out into the hangar. "Whoa." Standing before them was a twelve foot tall, red scaled, demonic figure with huge horns on his head, claws on his hands and feet, spikes running down his back to the end of his twitching tail, and two burning orbs for eyes. CRDL took a step back into the airship at the sight, Glynda checked a scroll and Ozpin took a sip of his coffee.
"So your Ruby's guests," the creature said in a voice that rolled like thunder, "She and the others are waiting for you down the hall follow me."
"You seem an odd choice for a guide," Ozpin remarked as they followed the creature.
"That is what I keep telling myself," he replied, "I'm Diablo by the way, we were helping or attempting to help when Ruby and Yang faced Cinder earlier. Turns out the only help they needed was Hawk and Fisher."
"Well I look forward to meeting them," Ozpin said.
"Good they are in with the rest of your friends," Diablo said as he waved them towards a door and continued walking down the steely, blue lit hallway.
"Ruby," Ozpin called as he knocked on the door with his cane.
"Ozpin," Came the excitable voice of Ruby from within, "Hold on I'll get the door, now which button is it oh here we go." The door slid to the side to reveal Ruby standing in the doorway, classic black and red outfit on and with a huge smile on her face. "Come on in I can't wait to introduce you to our new friends." Ozpin smiled as they followed Ruby into a room that was furnished like one of the faculty meeting halls at Beacon. There was a large table in the middle, a display at on end of the room lots of chairs and most importantly a freshly brewed pot of coffee. His students had certainly learned his habits well over the years.
Apart from JNPR and RWBY, Sun and Adam were in the room as was a grease covered, lanky man, a huge mass of muscle that made even Cardin look small, and four seemingly normal humans. Two of them were men and both wore something on their faces, on had a full mask with a skull painted on it the other had a simple eye patch but looked all the more dangerous due to it. The two women were similar in appearance both had long gold-brown hair, angular faces and were tall and lithe. The main difference between them was their eyes, one had eyes that seemed to glow from within while the other had eyes that seemed to draw light in. Ruby introduced them to the unfamiliar members Scooter, Brick, Ghost, Hawk, Anjali and Fisher respectively. He noted how Ruby spent much more time talking about Scooter the she did the other five but filed the observation away for later.
"Well it is nice to meet you all," Ozpin said, "but I get the feeling that I've not been introduced to the man in charge."
"Not yet," came a voice from behind him, "But your about to." Turning around Ozpin saw a human in a green cloak with green-steel eyes and long, white, dreadlocks walking in. "I like your style," the man remarked as he waved a hand at Ozpin's black suit, vest and green shirt with his green slacks and black shoes.
"Why thank you," Ozpin replied, "Your style seems just as appropriate for you."
"Appreciated," the man said, "Do you know who I am?"
"If I had to guess based just on what I've heard from Ruby and the others in the few minutes I've been here," Ozpin said before he took a drink of coffee, "Ah, I would say that you are Kalathanon, leader of Dragon Company."
"Hello," K said with a smile as he led the way past the still shocked CRDL and Glynda who was busy conversing with Hawk and Fisher about something she found in a scroll. They arrived at the coffee pot where K offered some to Ozpin, who accepted the offer, before K filled his own cup. "It seems I've accidentally gotten your world mixed up in DC's affairs," K said as they sat down at the table and he waved towards the screen. Ozpin turned his attention to the information that started scrolling across the display as K continued to talk. "Cinder Fall, discovered a way to cross the dimensions and in doing so has not only discovered how to control demons but has also become the Empress of a faction know as the Sith." Information about first demons, specifically Magogs, then the Sith and their Force pulled out of the data streams that ran across the display and filled the four corners of the screen.
"So that is how she has increased her power," Ozpin commented as information about the Sith funneling their strength to their fellow Sith upon death was displayed.
"You know of that then," K said, "Pyrrha had mentioned that you had devices that could read Aura but I didn't know if it would work on force power. That is probably what your friend is having such a hushed discussion with Hawk and Fisher about, their ability is complete immunity to magic or detection."
"So I've gathered," Ozpin remarked, "Your here to help fight Cinder then?"
"Correct," K confirmed, "If it wasn't for me leading the demons and Sith to Thedas, Cinder would have never found them."
"So you feel responsible for this," Ozpin said, "Understandable. I assume that RWBY and JNPR have already informed you of the various factions on Remnant?"
"She has," K replied, "And judging from our last encounter with Cinder... we could be here a while."
"Well it looks like you've got your luggage," Ozpin remarked as he waved his mug at the ship in general.
"True," K said, "Luggage, Coffee, and WMDs."
"Well I should go and inform the general public not to panic about the appearance of a giant ship above the school," Ozpin said, "Would you come with me?"
"I don't see why not," K replied, "Everyone armor up we're heading down with the Professor."
"Yes home here we come," Ruby said.
"DC is our home now," Yang said.
"Who says you can't have two," Scooter remarked, "One here one there."
"And maybe one on a beach somewhere," Blake added.
"I think I'll stick with Beacon," Ozpin said, "Glynda, CRDL, come on let's get back to the school. RWBY, JNPR, K and friends, I look forward to continuing this conversation on the ground."
"Agreed," K said, "Where should I meet you?"
"Oh on the landing strip out front will be fine," Ozpin replied as he led the way back to the hangar. A few minutes later and they had reassembled on the airstrip. Ozpin was inwardly laughing at CRDL's looks of disbelief as RWBY and JNPR exited the Pelican, as K called it, in full body, semi-robotic, battle armor. Scooter then turning his armor into a car finished the deal even causing Ozpin to laugh in appreciation. "Now that is an interesting feature."
"Thanks man," Scooter said, "I helped construct most of these with Sarge and Lopez. I also added an infinite ammo feature to the weapons."
"A what," Dove asked, "I've got to have one of those."
"Yeah Scooter is pretty awesome," Ruby said, "With engineering I mean, pretty awesome with engineering... and he's nice."
"I thought K would be with you," Glynda remarked.
"I am," K's voice boomed from above them. Then through the clouds streaked two of the most impressive figures Ozpin had ever seen. One, K, was a large dragon with hard green scales and a row of horns that circled his neck. The other was even more dazzling than K. With wings of reflective crystal and scales to match the second dragon seemed to radiate with a thousand different colors. The two circled down and landed between Ozpin and Beacon. K morphed back into his human appearance as the two walked towards them. "This is Celantra," K stated, "My wife."
"They are dragons," Cardin commented in astonishment.
"Leviathans actually," Celantra corrected in a voice that flowed like a river.
"Oh yeah," Yang said, "A lot of the members of DC are not Human or Fanus."
"Ozpin," Glynda warned as he walked over to K and C. He ignored her comment.
"So is there anything else you would like to let me know of before I tell the people what is going on," Ozpin asked as he finished his coffee.
"Apart from Leviathans, Dragons, other races, and Doug there are also former demons and several angles among our ranks," K said.
Ozpin was about to reply when Bartholomew rushed over to him. "What is this," the excitable professor asked as he waved the coffee pot, which was now half empty, at K and C. "Do any of you know how distracting it is when two dragons come flying by the class room window, one of them glittering like so many jewels?" He stopped to take a swig of coffee from his cup and refill it from the pot. "Oh would you like some more," Bartholomew asked.
"Yes thank you," K said as he pulled a mug out of the air.
"What no not you," Bartholomew said as he filled Ozpin's cup up, "Ozpin can have some, you disrupted my class which I need to return to!" With that he was gone, racing back through the door he had come out of.
"Hah I like him," Hawk remarked.
"I didn't really need any coffee anyways," K said as he vanished the cup back to wherever it came from.
"I don't know of any dust effect, or Semblance, or Aura that allows one to change their form and seemingly create objects from the air," Glynda stated, "But I have never met a dragon either, or Leviathan or whatever you are. No offense."
"Don't worry we get that a lot," C said, "So you said you had to tell the people about us, where do we need to go to do that?"
"That would be the Vale PD," Weiss said.
"You would need an airship to get down there I take it," K said as he walked to the edge of the cliff and looked out over the valley where the city was located.
"Correct," Ozpin said, "You seem to have plenty of those though why bring it up?"
"In an effort to save fuel for us both," K replied as he shifted forms back to the dragon. "C and I will take you down. DC members I'll call Spyro and Cynder to come pick you up, CRDL your on C. Meet us at the PD."
"Will do," Adam replied.
"Cynder," Glynda asked as she and Ozpin got on K.
"Another dragon," K explained, "She and Spyro are mates."
"Married then," Ozpin rephrased.
"Yes," K confirmed, "They are also two of the first members of DC."
"Hmm," Ozpin muttered as he drank his coffee and K glided off the cliff with C and a cheering CRDL following after them. Ozpin thought that so far this day was going relatively well.
Character Hawk/Fisher
The police HQ reminded the two of the guard HQ from back in Haven. Small, crowded, made of brick, and dim. Hawk and Fisher smiled as they walked in like they owned the place, just like they used to at their old HQ. C, Spyro and Cynder were outside since they was to big to go inside, K, CRDL, and Glynda were inside however and talking with a black haired, full bearded, policeman who was quite interested why, as the man said, "A dragon is sitting outside and a man-dragon is talking to me."
"That is exactly what we are here to explain," Ozpin said, "Burnie you've know me for a long time, trust me they are friends."
"They are dangerous," the policeman, Burnie apparently, replied.
"As dangerous as Cinder," Weiss remarked as she came up beside Hawk and Fisher.
"Ah Ms. Schnee," Burnie greeted as he turned to look at her, "Whoa where did you get that?"
"K there had them made for us," Weiss replied, "Now answer the question are they more dangerous than Cinder Fall."
"Well since we haven't heard a peep out of her or Roman in two months I'd say," Burnie started, "Yes!"
"Speaking of Roman," another cop, with spiky brown hair and a clean shaven face said as he joined the conversation, "We just got a call from the docks seems some sort of creature is loose, it might be a Grimm."
"What does that have to do with Roman, Joel," Burnie asked.
"Well if the rumors of him having found a way to control them are true he might be trying another dust heist," Joel replied, "Another of your freighters I'm afraid, Ms. Schnee."
"All right," Burnie consented, "Ozpin I'll have my department announce your new friends, at least the people will know that the giant airship that just appeared above our heads isn't here to kill us all. Joel you ready to go?"
"Ready as I normally am," Joel replied as he tapped his pistol.
"If these are Grimm," Fisher said drawing the two cops' attention, "Then you might want some back up. Hawk and I are used to dealing with monsters and demons and giant robots."
"You are huh," Burnie remarked, "Well you look the part, and Ms. Schnee seems to know you, since she isn't yelling at you for interrupting us. Sure come along if you want, Lord knows we could use some bigger guns that is for sure."
"Bigger guns you say," Hawk said, "I think we can do that, right K?"
"If your thinking what I think your thinking," K said, "Go for it."
Hawk and Fisher shared a grin as they grabbed the two cops and drug them outside. "Scooter car form now," Hawk said, "RWBY get in we're going hunting, everyone see you back at Beacon." Fisher plopped Burnie down in the turret of the car and the rest of them, including Sun and Adam piled in the bed of the truck-like vehicle. Yang and Brick were on Bumblebee and the whole group had moved out before anyone could object.
"Ok man I can drive this thing but I'll need details, where we are heading, how to get there etc," Scooter said.
"Right we are heading to the shipping docks," Burnie replied absently, "How do you fire this thing?"
"Two streets up take a right on Fisher's Wharf Drive," Joel said, "Then seven streets after that turn left onto..."
"Just follow me," Yang said as she moved in front of them.
"So why don't you two have suits," Sun asked as they drove, during the trip to Remnant Scooter, Sarge and Lopez had built him a suit, tail an all.
"We don't show up on any type of field," Fisher said, "A suit would."
"Oh right," Sun remarked, "I remember you saying something about that... is that what Goodwitch was so interested in?"
"Yes," Hawk replied as they made the first turn, "Seems she has never encountered someone who's Aura doesn't register on those square-ish devices."
"What the scrolls," Adam remarked, "That is impressive, if you want to find someone on Remnant use a scroll to search a crowd for their Aura."
"Sounds like a killer we tracked down a few years back," Joel remarked as he reached up and grabbed Burnie's arm to keep his friend/boss from firing the explosive barrel while they were driving through town. "Used the scrolls to find his targets in a matter of weeks, most assassins take months or even years to take out their targets but since this guy knew where and when his victims' Aura was weakest he could plan the perfect time to strike."
"How do you know about this Adam," Blake questioned.
"Honestly I'm surprised more people don't know about it," Adam replied, "It only takes a few software adjustments to the scroll to get it to scan an area."
"Is this the place," Hawk asked as they pulled out of the streets and into a dockyard filled with shipping containers.
"Yeah this is it," Burnie confirmed, "Hey Adam, yeah we got your file too, do you think you could rig up this scroll with that scan you were talking about?"
"While you get that ready we'll go do this the old fashioned way," Fisher said as she and Hawk got out of the car.
"You're just going to walk out there," Joel said, "Well its your skin."
"On the other hand," Hawk replied with a grin, "We are the only two who wouldn't be picked up by a hostile scan... have fun in the car."
They headed into the maze of containers with the image of their friends and the two cops sharing either amused or concerned looks. "Think we will find anything in here," Fisher asked as they cautiously rounded another corner of a stack of crates.
"I don't know," Hawk replied, "New world, new rules."
"Hey you," a female voice caught their attention. Fisher pointed to a warehouse that was across a road. Hawk followed her finger and caught the slightest glimpse of a young lady dashing into the warehouse.
"Whoever she is after seems to really have gotten her ire up," Fisher remarked, "Think we shoul..." The sound of an explosion followed by two more cut her off and she and Hawk went racing across the street and sliding into the warehouse.
"Here little rabbit," a male voice taunted from farther in. Hawk tapped Fisher's arm and pointed up, above them was a catwalk. Fisher looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask how do we get up there? They looked around and found a ladder that led to the walkway. Hawk went up followed by Fisher, from above the stored crates they could see that the young lady, probably about Ruby or her friends age maybe just a few years older, was decked out in a hard leather set of armor and was carrying a weapon that looked like a cross of a revolver and a cannon. She had long, brown hair and brown eyes but her most outstanding feature was her two rabbit ears that kept swiveling back and forth, keeping track of her opponent. Said opponent was a man in his late thirties. He wore a white suit complimented by black pants, shoes, gloves and a bowler hat that sat atop his orange hair, he carried a cane as well.
"Think she caused the explosions," Hawk whispered.
"Unlikely," Fisher replied, "She looks worried. He looks smug, I'd bet he has a fire stone or grenade or something."
Below them the man and woman rounded the same corner and engaged in combat. Both were agile and fast but the man was the stronger and his cane acted as a grapple for the woman's weapon leaving her with only her fist and feet to fight with.
"Screw this," Hawk growled as he jumped down from the catwalk. He landed between the man and now knocked down woman.
"What the," The man started but then Fisher landed beside Hawk. Instead of finishing his sentence the man raised his cane and shot three fireballs at them. Out of reflex more than anything Hawk and Fisher dove to the side, evading the attack.
"Well we know where the explosions came from," Fisher stated as they got back to their feet. Rounding the corner they saw that the man had vanished.
"Where did he go," Hawk muttered.
"If you two would stop being so loud I could tell you," the woman they had just helped said as she walked up to them, her weapon in hand again. Hawk and Fisher were silent as her ears swiveled around and she jerked her head to the left. "He is heading for the exit that takes him to the docks, probably where his escape vehicle is," she commented as they wound their way through the dim warehouse.
"Hey if you have a scroll send a call to team RWBY they were outside the warehouse on the other side of some crates with a car," Fisher said, "Maybe they can cut him off."
"You know RWBY," the lady said with a hint of surprise in her voice, "Forgive me you just don't look like the type of people that they would associate with, besides they've been missing for two months." Despite this statement she pulled out a scroll and quickly typed a message into it. "My God you really do know them... I had no idea they had returned. I'm Velvet, any friend of RWBY is a friend of mine."
"I'm Hawk, I'm Fisher," they said, "Glad we could help."
"Do you two talk in tandem much," Velvet asked as they approached the exit where they saw the man about to fire a fireball at the door that had apparently been jammed. "No you don't," Velvet remarked as she shot a sword out of the revolver-cannon, causing the man to dodge back away from the door.
"Oh now the rabbit wants to bite since its got friends," the man scoffed as he aimed his cane gun at them and fired off five rounds. Velvet dodged behind a crate while Fisher jumped over on shot and rolled under another and Hawk just let the attacks wash over him. Just as he thought a magic of some sort, there was no way that cane could hold that many explosive rounds. "How did," The man said as Hawk came forward unaffected by the fireballs, then he shot the door and ducked out of it.
"After him," Velvet said as she ran out the door. Hawk and Fisher followed her but they stopped once outside in the sun light. The man was standing in front of Scooter in his car armor with the rest of the team surrounding him.
"Ok Roman hands in the air, now," Burnie ordered.
"Certainly," Roman replied as he raised his hands, and the cane. Hawk barreled into his back, knocking Roman to the ground and causing the cane to skid over to Adam's feet.
"No more fireballs for you," Hawk said as he put Roman into an arm lock.
"Adam," Roman called, "A little help here?"
"Not until I know where you stand," Adam said as he walked over and leaned down to look at Roman, "Where are the droids, the White Fang, the Grimm? Cinder has them doesn't she and she doesn't need you anymore. Now you're just another two bit criminal with no one to hid behind."
"Oh come on Adam," Roman said even with Hawk's weight on his back, "You and me we've had our times right, can't you get your friends to let me go, after all we both have a score to settle with that fire summoning..."
"We are not his friends," Burnie said, "We are the Vale PD and you are wanted for theft, destruction of property, attempted murder, mostly of those gathered here, aiding in hijacking, kidnapping, terrorism, public unrest, acquiring and delivering weapons and armaments to other wanted felons, acquiring and delivering military grade droids to felons, fraud, securities fraud, accounting fraud, tax evasion..."
"I think we get the point," Fisher said as she noted the rest of the teams expressions growing ever angrier.
"You know he will just escape again," Joel said, "sometimes I wonder why we even bother."
"In this case," Adam said, "You won't, Hawk let him up we have to talk about something and I don't want to do that while leaning over."
"Then sit down and talk," Hawk replied, "I'm not letting him up."
"That's right you're not," Burnie added, "Joel get a cruiser over here pronto heightened security with it."
"On it," Joel replied as he got on his scroll.
"Hawk listen to me," Adam hissed, "Roman here was just a pawn, a very powerful one granted, but a pawn nonetheless. We want what he knows, how Cinder operates, where her haunts are, what her goals are, Roman knows this information and we need it so as much as I know you would like to see him locked up consider that he has personally tried to kill most everyone here, you have the least say in the matter."
"Adam is right," Blake added, "If Cinder is as powerful as she was on Thedas we will need every advantage we can get just to find her."
"Cinder," Velvet stammered, "Cinder Fall is back as well then."
"Unfortunately yes," Weiss said as she walked over to stand beside Blake, "I for one would like to keep Roman where I can skewer him if I need to."
"Look you kids get me out of this and you have my word you won't have to skewer me," Roman said.
"Quite you," Fisher said as she put the blade of her sword against his neck, "And how can we trust anything you say?"
"What if I gave you the location of one of Cinder's Dust storage facilities," Roman replied.
"Then we would take you with us to it and if it is not there," Hawk said menacingly as he planted his ax into the asphalt next to Roman's head.
"Oh its there trust me," Roman said, "I would have to go with you anyway since the doors will still open for me but just until the end of today, Cinder is updating the..."
The were cut off by a roar from across the street, Fisher looked up to see what it was. A massive bear-like creature of black fur and claws with white, bone, plates and spikes was charging at them.
"I punch it," Scooter yelled as he changed his car form back into his armor form and intercepted the mass of bulk and claws. Brick was right beside his friend and together with Ruby, Yang, Burnie and Joel shooting the beast they took the creature down.
"What is a Grimm doing here," Roman asked.
"Wait you don't know," Adam asked.
"Do I look like a pet trainer," Roman retorted hotly.
"I thought it was you who contacted me to get those knight droids," Adam said, "If it wasn't you then... Cinder?"
"Marcus probably," Roman said.
"Hawk bring him with us," Adam said, "We need to see K and Ozpin. The situation is worse than I thought."
"You can't take him anywhere," Burnie said, "Adam Taurus you also under arrest, for mostly the same list as Roman."
"Then you will have to arrest me too," Blake declared as she placed her armored form between Adam and the policemen. Even from the side, through the visor, Hawk could see that her expression booked a, 'just you try it' look. "Or you can place Roman into our custody. Perhaps he won't escape while we are watching him."
"I'm sorry Ms. Belladonna," Burnie said as he adopted a very formal tone, "We have no grounds to arrest you on and we can't release either Mr. Torchwick or Taurus into your custody, you are Huntresses not a private firm or part of the VPD."
The distinctive schink of Crescent Rose being brought out drew everyone's attention to Ruby as she planted the tip into the ground. "I have a scythe-sniper," she said, "As much as I respect you and your department I must declare your argument invalid, Roman and Adam will be under better guard with us."
"Plus if there are Grimm lose in Vale then we could even get them to help for once," Yang added as she place an arm around her sister.
Hawk watched the interaction with confusion, here they had a know criminal pinned under him and they were arguing for his release. Burnie and Joel looked at Ruby and Yang then over to Blake and Weiss then to Adam and Roman and even looked at Hawk and Fisher. Hawk shrugged his shoulder and gave them a helpless look as if to say, what can I do?
With a sigh Burnie told Joel to cancel the call for arrest and to have the department file two discharges of warrant to be issued to team RWBY. "Well I hope you have fun with them," Burnie remarked as he and Joel got into the police car that had pulled up, "We probably couldn't have held either of them very long anyway."
"Ruby what was that," Velvet snapped, "you're just going to let him go?"
"Of course not," Ruby replied, "He said he knows where and how to get into Cinder's Dust warehouses so lets see if that is true."
"I hate it when prisoners get off cause they know something," Fisher commented as she slammed her sword into its sheath. Hawk growled something unintelligible as he got off of Roman. Adam promptly gave the cane back.
To Hawk and Fisher, and most everyone elses' surprise, Roman just nodded and said, "We will need an airship."
"How about a dragon or two," Fisher said with a smirk. Hawk caught on to her plan and returned the grin. They might not have this criminal, well the two criminals since Adam had a pretty hefty record, behind bars but once they were done with him Roman was going to wish he had been.