Abandon Warehouse.
They dared not to look, as they heard the thud of Cyan's lance, feeling powerless to stop their friend. Ecru was the first to look, but what she saw wasn't the horror she had imagined. Instead, she saw Cyan was breathing heavily, her eyes tearing up and red raw with rage.
Silent Prayer laid there, just as bewildered as the others, as they saw the lance an inch away from his head. They managed to help one another up and hobbled to Cyan's side, despite their bruises and how low their aura levels were. Silent then heard Cyan's voice, through gritted teeth, holding back her fury.
"Killing you won't bring them back... none of them. Death is too good for you." She said as 'Shock Reaper' was returned to the sheath. "So you'll pay for murdering them, by spending the rest of your life behind bars, where you can rot."
Ecru was relieved, as she finally stood next to Cyan, asking her to come back with them. Cyan nodded, retrieving her swords with Silent gasping from the fresh wounds. Then they stopped still as Silent started a low gurgle that became a chorus of laughter.
"You think that's it?" He asked as the laughter grew from his lips. "You think you can walk away from this? From me?" The words repulsed them but still they remained motionless as he ranted on. "You're just like me kid. That rage, that burning fire in you, it will consume you. It did for me." He silently chuckled now, even through the torn flesh that screeched in his nervous system.
"I'm nothing like you!" Cyan barked, gripping her scythe but Ecru placed a hand to her shoulder, it was enough for Cyan to nod in agreement and remove her grip on the weapon.
"Keep telling yourself that, the lie will only delude yourself, till the inevitable happens. Play hero for now, but in the end, you will be like me, like the Holy Prayer." He coughed and laughed, the others telling Cyan they'll get the police to lock him up.
"Throw away the key, leave me to rot, it won't save those people. They'll wish they never met you, and you will wish the same once you see them rot in their..." He boasted and then tasted Cyan's fist and felt the ground twang his jaw as it made contact.
"That one is for my friends, asshole!" Cyan's heart raced as she was ready to boot him but chose to walk away from the temptation of shutting him up.
"Way to go girl." Tawny gave a high five to her, but Cyan's arm fell off as she reciprocated the hand gesture.
They were whooping her for beating Silent, but now they were unsure what to say as Cyan groaned at trying to pick up the broken pieces that were her fingers.
"Shit, Silas is going to kill me." Cyan sulked as Ecru clutched her side nearly laughing, with Tawny and Chip joining, so Cyan gave a weak smile back at the funny side.
She was ready to catch her breath, but it was the sudden look in Marron's eyes that alerted her as the shadow moved on the ground. Cyan turned around, seeing Silent struggling to stand up from the attacks. Yet standing was what he was doing, even after loosing his aura.
"Don't you want to know the reason behind it? Why your parents had to die? What they did to warrant the attention of the Holy Prayer?" His words seemed renewed with strength as Cyan was readying herself to use a paralyse blast.
She'd be lying to herself if she said no, but she trusted her instincts, which were telling her to stop him now, before he pushed anymore buttons today. She could see his grin, as the curiosity played on her mind, as she refocused on where to shoot the static at him. Then there was a loud bang followed by the slow cracking sound of glass splintering.
They stood still, seeing the ice spread and creak over Silent's body as he gasped for oxygen, in just as much surprise as the young huntsmen & huntresses were as he slumped to his knees. Then a second bullet hit him, shattering the ice to shards as Silent Prayer drew his last breath, falling face first into the dirt. Cyan shouted for them to duck as they all clambered for cover.
"Chrome." Came a voice that seemed to surround them. "Take your wounded associates this night, for I have not come for your soul... yet."
Marron darted around her, looking for the voice, as Noir shook her head at no sign of the mystery sniper. Donald and Patty winked signals to them, as Roland hinted at where the bullet trajectory came from. Olive thought of using her paper as a shield, but Tawny advised her against it, seeing what was left of Silent on the ground.
Cyan stayed hunched over the rubble, listening to who killed her parent's killer. Ecru was cursing that she ran out of arrows, as Chip got several stones near the window to give cover. The Sniper's words hushed them all as he continued addressing to Cyan.
"Pray that I, Observant Prayer, will be the one to end your life. For your deeds tonight have impressed me, so I'll give you a merciful death." His words were not comforting to Cyan, as the voice ceased talking, but a distant sound could be heard.
It started as a droll noise, faint like a tapping but it grew louder and louder. Sirens wailed now as they all clambered to get out of the warehouse. Cyan took one last look at Silent Prayer before darting through Marron's portal. She felt a heavy weight finally lift but a nagging too as the fresh salt air blasted in her face. She wanted to know the meaning behind his final words but as Noir urged them down the alleyway, she was just thankful that her friends were unharmed.
'Well, mostly.' She thought to herself, as she led the way to Silas' clinic, much to her team's confused look. She wondered how she'd even begin telling him about the events that they all endured through that night. So Team COPR kept asking about where they were heading, despite Tawny telling them to wait and see.
...
The Holy Prayer Head Sanctum. Location unknown.
Divine sat in his chair, tapping and flexing his fingers to the progress he was being informed on. He was angered, that was clear to the others on the monitors. Yet there was excitement in his voice, an unheard tone to them as he ordered the next targets to the Prayers.
It was unheard of in their history, the death of a Prayer and worse, a target to cheat death, twice. They didn't bicker or complain this time amongst themselves, not even the closet of them to Silent Prayer, remaining silent himself instead of his usual obnoxious self. Yet one and only one was proud with a gloating smile.
Observant Prayer had a unique privilege, one that would be recorded in their history till Judgement Day, for he had killed a failure of a Prayer. He was the last to sign off, praying he got to kill the Chrome girl, for there was honour in her, the will to fight back, even against unfavourable odds. He was never this interested in a target, though now he was wishfully hoping to hear the words that would be the first step to concluding her existence in Remnant.
Divine Prayer however was surprised, he had truly believed that Silent would not fail them. Then the thought played back in his head, as he smiled despite the loss of one of his assassins. For the girl was indeed like her father, even better than he had dared imagine her to be.
He pondered on the thought, letting it swirl around as he checked the details he had on her from Silent's assistant who spied on her. He now regretted the order to kill Silent's underlings but he did spare the girl who was liaising with Cross, so he paid no more attention to the dead.
He asked himself whether Cyan would be the next Prayer after all, deciding that time would reveal that answer. He was intrigued though at the report, for several first year students to hold off Silent Prayer for that long. So Divine Prayer enquired into finding out who made up Team MNCE and their dear friends.
...
Cross' Shipping.
He slammed his fists on the desk, smoking through his cigar instantly, exhaling a smog of black fumes. Cross had marked his desk with the rings on his fingers, scraping away at the edges. He was about to call Grey to do a recheck of the inventory, only to be met with further frustration.
Cross had forgotten that he had sent Grey out for supplies. He had been so wrapped up at the realisation of losing the second half of the payment to notice Grey was still out. Alice was sent to liaison a deal with the informant for the Holy Prayer, so he was even more irritated at the realisation of being alone.
He was still venting and fuming, even as Alice walked in. She relieved his stress at the good news, they would still get the chance of full payment, though it meant that they'd have to either track the girls again. Or the other solution, which Cross was liking more with every passing second he was awake, continuing to smoke and making more black smog around him.
Cross then picked up his cane, it suddenly extended into a sword at the end, as the head piece extended to a handle. He ran his finger along the sharp spikes, admiring its craftsmanship, wondering where Grey got the idea for it. He returned the weapon to a cane, thinking about the sweet revenge he'd have when the students encountered him again.
Alice was eagerly awaiting for Cross to return to his more cheerful mode. She was starting to miss the fan of hers who served as the liaison for Cross. Though she was looking forward to facing these children with more of their darkest nightmares, curling the cruel smirk of hers while staring at the city's lights in the late hours of the night.
...
Silver Clinic.
"Unbelievable! She goes out for a few hours, and not only is her arms trashed, again! But she then brings more people?! And they're not in any better shape either." Silas complained with a mumble as Tawny scowled at the antiseptic being applied to her face.
Donald sniggered since Tawny's angry face reminded him of the family cat that made the same facial expression whenever he gave it a bath. Then he winced as it became his turn, much to the others' laughter. Before Patty could scold him for his immature actions, she was Silas' next patient, much to her horror at seeing a tray full of needles.
Marron and Noir were too awestruck with the building, with the knowledge that both Ecru and Cyan had been here multiple times. There were boxes and instruments still scattered around them, as Silas was still getting the place fixed up. Then they saw Cyan's arms being rebuilt, with mechanical limbs circling to reassemble the arm piece.
It was darting that fast and precise to piece the fingers together, that Marron stood with her eyes wide open, even as it then became a fully recognisable arm with fingers. Then the machine activated it to the laser mode that Cyan had used, as it then morphed back, being taken to Cyan who was once again in the machine to have her limbs reattached. The limbs then acted like they went to slumber as Cyan saw her fingers again.
She was exhausted, as she flexed her fingers and stepped off the apparatus. Cyan didn't know what to say to her team or her friends, smiling back at her with the plasters and cuts on their faces. She finally took the chance to tell Silas everything, trying to collect her thoughts as she saw the pain lift from his face.
Then he hugged her, awkwardly at first, then tightly with him begging an apology. She knew if he could, he'd have willingly put a stake through Silent's heart for killing his daughter. Though seeing him in this emotional, she knew that at least he'd sleep better at night now.
She then saw Ecru stand next to her, and Cyan started tearing up, with a smile. 'She was right about them.' Cyan thought as Marron and Noir stood next to them. So she hugged Noir, startling her as she began to choke.
'And I thought mom had a death hug!' Noir thought, feeling the air leave her and her tail twitch. Marron started to laugh, since Cyan wasn't the hugging type, till she was then equally startled by Cyan hugging her with the other arm.
Ecru had to intervene, as her team were turning blue faster than she could change colours. Cyan was sheepish after letting go but everyone joked about it. She felt like the heavy burden of seven years of anger and hatred, just float away.
Though she sensed the lingering elephant in the room that no-one had mentioned. The message she was given by the other assassin, it poked and prodded in her thoughts, even as Patty reassured her that they'd be there for her. Cyan wiped the tears from her arms, though she forgot her gloves as Chip handed them to her.
"Thanks. Don't think this means we're best-ie's or anything." Cyan joked with a nervous smile, sliding the gloves over the artificial hands.
"Well, it's certainly more lively than Haven, and you're way more different from when we first met. Though I got to ask, should I be concerned with that smile of yours?" Chip asked, seeing Cyan more cheerful was odd from what he did know of her.
"Oh yeah, if you see this smile, then run." Cyan nervously laughed with the others.
Silas stepped back, thinking how wonderful it was to see Cyan's smile and laugh again. He always prayed that one day she'd be accepted and find friends, though it wasn't how he expected it to happen. Nor this many so fast, which was going to take him some getting used to from just two here to a dozen teenagers at the same time.
He retrieved a picture that was faded at the edges, but he silently cried as he was lost in kinder memories. Sylvia's graduation, as he recalled that day meticulously, before returning the photo. He didn't hear Rory in the back room, who had stopped longer to sort out the new medicines, who was saying goodnight to his boss before heading out.
"Rory?" Noir asked as she turned at the sound of his voice, as Rory was shocked to see his sister and friends. "What are you doing here?" She stood perplexed as Silas was brought back to the here and now with the conversation.
"I work here sis, question is why are you here?" Rory asked, astonished by the crowd of training huntresses and huntsmen that were around her. Then he saw the cuts and bruises on them, as he asked the next question with more concern. "Forget that, what happened to your face? Or theirs?" He pointed as Marron laughed at Donald's comment of a 'small world'.
Then as Noir started to explain, with Marron stopping her from talking about Cyan's arms, Albin strolled in, humming a tune as he froze at the eyes that followed him. Noir took a double look, even more bamboozled at seeing another of her siblings here.
"Albin?! What the hell are you doing here?" She demanded as he looked around at all the people there.
"Sis? I work here and I'm here to get Rory. Why are you here?" Albin explained as he saw Marron and nervously waved back to her. "Why is your team here Noir?"
"Guys, it's a long story." Noir sighed and yawned, thinking it was too late to explain it and that they all needed a goodnights rest.
Cyan was the first to laugh, laughing harder and more than she had in a long time. She found it too comical at the strange circumstances of the three siblings. She also thought that it might have been due to the adrenaline coursing through her that was causing her ribs to ache.
She wasn't too fussed with what the cause was, she was just enjoying the fun of having friends. They all joined in, laughing away at the turn of events, despite Albin and Rory shrugging at a loss to what had happened. They eventually parted ways, with the moon high in the sky and the green glow the students were thrilled to see again.
'Beacon.' Cyan thought, as they slowly sneaked back to the school grounds. 'Never thought I'd miss the uniform.' She joked to herself, as Marron insisted on using her semblance, with Noir offering hers as an alternative. Cyan advised them that neither method was really ideal to be used and that feet on the ground was good for all of them.
Marron and Noir were just excited to see their friend was her normal self again, watching her gripe and protest at the idea of flight or portals. Tawny and Chip headed back to their dorm, which was for transfer students who were participating in the tournament from other kingdoms. Team COPR were fast asleep on their beds by the time they got to their dorm.
As for Team MNCE, they were equally out like a light except for Cyan, holding the music box. She saw the figures dance once more, thinking that her parents could rest easier now, before she too drifted to sleep. They rested well from their encounter, not waking once in the night, as they didn't stir till morning's sunlight came through the window.
...
Beacon Academy. Several Days Later.
Narrator: Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts of a forgotten past.
Team COPR were bored out of their skulls as they slumped against the wall, as they painfully listened to Professor Port who had stopped them. He strode from one side of the hallway to the other, recounting another of his fantastical adventures. Patty elbowed Donald to keep him awake, with Roland and Olive silently giggled at his startled reaction. They were surprised that even with the first semester over, they were stuck listening to his rambling tales.
Narrator: Man, born from dust, was strong wise and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness - creatures of destruction - the creatures of Grimm - set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void.
Later that day, they were in the library taking notes with Team MNCE. Ecru was the slowest at using the terminal but Cyan was patiently showing her how to use it. Noir was flicking through another book with Grimm, still trying to look up the moth Grimm they encountered at the dock. She tapped her finger till she found the page, reading in great detail about the insect type monster.
Narrator: However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds. This power was appropriately named 'Dust'.
Team MNCE then left to grab some Dust supplies, seeing a shortage of selection in the stores. They turned to the tv that was informing viewers of the multiple robberies that had happened over the last few months. They nodded to each other, planning some vigilante justice again.
Narrator: Nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness, and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilisation, and most importantly, life. But even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die. And when they are gone... darkness will return.
It was late by the time they got back to Beacon, nearly bumping into several students in a hurry back to their dorm. They tried placing who the students were but they were already around the corner before they had time to recollect who they were. Ecru still had the shards of her mother's swords, Cyan found them as they left the fight against Silent Prayer. Cyan then had a plan, which she kept hidden to surprise her partner.
Narrator: So you may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called 'free world', but take heed... there will be no victory in strength.
So Cyan then found the perfect person to help her in the surprise she had concocted. Leading Ecru carefully into one of the workshops, getting her to cover her eyes. Marron and Noir were equally surprised by the sudden arrival of a red hooded girl, leaving rose petals as she darted into the room.
Ozpin: But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten; things that require a smaller, more honest soul.
Ruby Rose lit up with excitement and squeal of delight, unveiling the weapon by removing the sheet. Ecru opened her eyes, seeing two katanas that were a shining shade of metallic blue, after taking it out of the dual sheath. She held the shorter of the swords, admiring the detail, as she accidentally touched the trigger.
She slightly jumped back as it folded in on itself, the hilt now revealing it was also a magazine holder. The blade folded to the sides, making it a medium range rifle, as the scope clicked above the barrel. She slowly took a stance with it, holding it in both hands before seeing it change back into a sword.
Ruby was holding the longer katana for Ecru, as it folded into a sniper rifle, with Ruby explaining it could use Dust rounds and armour piercing rounds too. Ruby was going into the specifics of the design process, gushing from Ecru's thanks. Then Ruby suggested for them to see the sheath.
Ecru picked it up, noticing it looked more like a large, standard sword once the katanas were in the sheath. She saw a grip that extended under the hilts, seeing the sheath open in one sudden move to a boomerang, that was sharper than her previous sheath and strangely lighter as she returned it back.
Cyan was shaking, nervous to how Ecru would react to seeing her new weapons. Then the sudden folding of arms around her and the shook she got from left to right, that Cyan imagined a doll to experience, was how Ecru reacted. Marron and Noir smirked at Cyan getting the same crushing hug back, not noticing the voice behind them.
"Ruby? There you are, you dolt! We got a practice match to get to, that is if you want any of us to get ready for the tournament." Weiss scorned and waited for her outside the room.
"Coming Weiss!" Ruby called out to her, saying bye to Team MNCE and darted out of the room within seconds, leaving a trail of petals and even Weiss behind.
"RUBY!" Weiss cried out loud to her, furiously pacing after her.
Ecru finally let go of Cyan, who pleaded to stop the 'mushy' stuff as she showed different types of rounds for the two katana rifles. Cyan explained that she and Ruby had used most of the remains from Ecru's previous weapons as best as they could. Ecru asked where Cyan got the materials or Dust, given the high prices and recent thefts.
"Doc... Um Silas..." Cyan corrected herself as her there teammates raised their eyebrows at who Doc was. "He helped get some spare parts, we tend to stock pile them anyway." As she pointed to and flexed her fingers.
"C, you really didn't have to." Ecru spoke but Cyan was quick with a comeback.
"You didn't have to get involved with getting me back here, but you did."
"Because we're teammates, friends." Ecru stated thinking it was what any of them would have done.
"So consider this likewise." She said, nervously pacing her foot on the spot, not being used to dealing with happier emotions.
"Okay you two, how about we test these bad boys out?" Noir smirked, her tail grabbing 'Grimalkin' at the ready.
"Before that, we got to ask you something Cy?" Marron interrupted.
"Ok?" Cyan was caught off guard by Marron stepping forward.
"Do you want us to take our team out of the signups for the tournament?" Marron said, her rabbit ears drooped slightly.
"Marron?" Cyan knew how much she and Noir wanted it, but seeing her ask that was such a surprise out of the blue.
"We're a team, so it was wrong of me to just assume we'd all want to participate. So I want to set things right." Marron hid the sigh, she knew that despite her own enjoyment, her team would always come first, so she decided it was probably what a better leader would have done first thing.
"I think... after what we went through the other night,... a fair fight sounds like a nice change of pace." Cyan decided, seeing her team get excited about it again.
'Besides, bad memories shouldn't stop me from making better ones.' Cyan thought as her team were giddy with excitement and all hugged her at once, nearly knocking the wind out of her.
"Then we make it an all out win for Team MNCE!" Noir called out loud.
"Lets not get ahead of ourselves. E still has to get used to her new weapons first." Marron indicated as Ecru was attaching the strap and sheath to her belt.
So they headed out to the training area immediately, Ecru thrilled with her new weapons, drawing her katana with a sapphire shine to it. She was still unsure about where to grip it, as it morphed into the rifle mode, with Cyan readying her own weapon. Marron and Noir practiced too, dodging each others attack, while watching Cyan aid Ecru with their own practice.
...
Vale City Warehouse. Late Evening.
"...Thank you Cyril. In other news, The Vale Council has again stated a 'no comment' on the recent discovery of the body of Marshall Field, a wanted man in multiple murder cases for questioning. Forensics have been left baffled by the extensive damage in the disused warehouse where his body was discovered earlier this week.
Vale Police have called for any witnesses to come forward regarding this incident. Yet several citizens have speculated on who Marshall Field really was, including to be an infamous member of a fabled cult, that was believed to have been a major influence in the Great War, nearly eighty years ago.
However, another citizen, who wishes to remain anonymous, believes that this incident is directly tied to the recent White Fang activity and robberies by criminal mastermind, Roman Torchwick. This citizen's theory is that a bounty was placed on Roman Torchwick's head and was met with brutal retaliation. While no official connection has been established, Vale Police are considering all possibilities with the ongoing investigation.
Also in recent news, Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy has reassured that the large plant that appeared near the C. C. T. last week, hasn't caused any long term damage, but has remained silent on whether or not Beacon students were indeed involved or not. The so called students were believed to have been identified but Professor Goodwitch has insisted that this was false speculation to their identities. The Military has also denied being involved in the incident but several eyewitnesses have come forward, claiming to have seen military personal at the scene in question.
And most recently, the failed robbery at Vale City Docks this weekend, where White Fang members were apprehended by Beacon Academy students..."
Lisa Lavender's voice and face faded away, as the security guard poked his head out of the hut. He was sure that he heard a cough, though all he saw was the darkness of the night in every direction. So he called it a night, locking up the hut and gate around the warehouses.
He strolled away, not noticing the teenagers spying from the rooftop of the warehouse. Nor did he see several humanoid mechs being activated and marching out of one of the warehouses. There were two distinct different designs, as Cyan recognised her father's mechs.
The first had several red pieces of armour, with a gun that had a pipe extending to the white piece on its back, that looked like a metal rucksack. The second had blue pieces of armour instead of red, it had hexagon plates on each of its arms, with a pipe extending from each arm to an identical metal back piece. Cyan then pointed as a Crimson Hand goon stepped out of the warehouse after them.
Roland then whipped out his makeshift gadget, tuning it as they all crowded around to listen to the scroll call the guy was making. Most of it was inaudible, except for one word, that made Marron ready to jump in. 'Soot.' Noir pulled her back to cover, knowing this was the first major leap in finding Marron's father's killer.
Patty, Olive and Donald confirmed the number of mechs, only disheartening Cyan at the confirmation of barely a fifth of what was on the boat. Ecru assured her that they'd soon find the rest. Team COPR would keep an eye out for them as Team MNCE placed their masks on their faces, their colours changed one by one from Ecru.
"Hey! Yes, you!" Marron commanded, watching him turn to find where she was speaking from. "Hands up, and you get to walk away without your butt getting kicked!" She tilted her hat back on her head, with her rabbit ears being concealed once more.
The man snorted at seeing a lone girl face him, especially in a Grimm mask. He was prepared to unholster his gun when hearing Marron's demands, yet seeing the dark clothed Faunus only made him excited to test out the mechs. As he went to flip the activation switch, Marron had moved her hand into a tiny portal to pickpocket the device.
He panicked and frantically searched his pockets as Marron coughed to get his attention. He lunged at her to retrieve it, not seeing the broom slap his cheek with enough force to spiral him on the spot. Noir silently waved her tail as a 'no' with Cyan frying the remote with her static.
The man looked around, seeing himself being boxed in with every step Team MNCE took. He grabbed his pistol, ready to shoot Noir, her tail slowly flicking from the left to the right. The pop he heard and felt made him stumble forward onto his knees, as the gun clanged on the ground.
Ecru had sniped the gun out of his hand, now inching slightly closer on the rooftop. She didn't show it, but she felt relieved at only hitting the gun. She had hoped to have had more practice with it, but she had adapted quickly to using 'Sapphire Eye' than using it purely as a sword.
"Where are the other mechs? Where's Soot?" Marron asked with her wand in her hand, but she didn't aim it. It was to calm her nerves, reminding her that her father wouldn't want her to seriously harm the man.
He was about to perform an obscene hand gesture as a response, when Cyan stepped forward & he got a spark of static on his finger. He fell back, twitching and attempting to curse at them, but his voice couldn't break free of the nerve reaction, that his body commanded him to make. Noir clutched her ribs with laughter, seeing the ease Cyan had used along with her next words.
"She asked you a question, a-hole! Now either answer it, or be prepared to know first hand what a week of being paralysed feels like! You have till the count of 10."
He stopped shaking, though his face was defiant as ever. So Cyan started, with "10" seeing him brace himself up in a sitting position as feeling returned to him. "9" she called, stepping closer to him. He took a double check at hearing her say, "7" and then at "5", she handled him up by his collar with "2", when it hit him. She meant her threat as "1" came from her lips and the sound of sparks was emitting from her white gloves.
"All right!" He breathed heavily, after being dropped back by Cyan, who folded her arms and was tapping her fingers for him to talk. "There's some at another place, near the park. It's some flats that never got finished."
"And Soot?!" Marron gritted her teeth behind her Grimm mask.
"He's out of the kingdom." He reluctantly answered, then saw Cyan's hand zoom in closer to his face. "No, I swear it's true! He's on a recruitment drive, haven't seen him in months now, honest!"
"Thank you." Cyan replied, then she gave a static burst that knocked him out.
Marron got her hand cuffs and tied him to the lamp post, with Noir using his scroll to call the police. Ecru quietly laughed at Noir's bad impersonation of a celebrity voice she used, wondering what was funny. Cyan hated the notion of destroying her father's work, but as Marron helped her to disassemble them to scrapes of metal, she knew it was better than others like the Crimson Hand to misuse them again.
Marron sighed as the last mech fell to shards on the floor. 'Retro and yet still awesome.' She thought that as they headed back to cover. She hated seeing tech get trashed in that manner, especially with the knowledge of what they represented to Cyan. She did pick up a piece that was relatively unmarked, which bore Cyan's emblem.
Marron decided to give it to her later, maybe cheer them both up she thought, as both teams darted back to Silas' clinic. They left the man, who awoke to several officers standing around him and the carnage of the mechs. He smiled though, cos he knew as he was being carted away, that his boss would make those children pay.
...
Silver Clinic.
"Why have you made this a teenager's hangout?" Silas asked, seeing the room filled with Cyan's friends who were either chilling out or the odd one tinkering with the workshop.
"You wanted me to socialise more." Cyan shrugged with a cheeky smile.
"To make friends your own age, yes. Not clutter where I work, live and sleep." He stated seeing several thank him for the snacks he scavenged out of the cupboards for them.
Though he truthfully didn't mind them being there, he just didn't want to keep fretting if they'd be all right each time they headed out on their extra curricular activities. It was stressful enough with Cyan's arms and weapons in constant repair from her escapades. He sighed as he got them drinks, asking them to not touch the medical equipment, since he spent the good portion of the day calibrating it for use.
That was when he got the call that made him weary, darting to another room to take it on the larger monitor. Only a handful of people knew this number, and given most where already here, it left two to guess from. Then the feed came up and his heart sank, it was the last person he wanted a chat with.
"Evening Silas." Came the voice that Silas knew would only bring trouble.
"James, or would you prefer me to address you by one of your titles?" Silas asked.
"Its fine Silas. I just need to discuss what's been on the news." James Ironwood calmly spoke.
"You referring to the Dust robberies or that plant thing?" Silas sarcastically asked.
"Don't be coy, you know what I'm referring to." Ironwood was more serious, though he remained polite for an old friend.
"Then enlighten me." Silas demanded, more annoyed now.
"Was she responsible for his death?" Ironwood needed to know for sure.
"So now you're willing to believe us?" Silas was aggregated that only now did he finally see the truth.
"Dammit Silas! If she was responsible, then I have no choice but to take her in for questioning." He stated, with the stern eyes that Silas knew too well.
"Over my dead body!" Silas lost his temper, no longer caring to conceal his disscontempt for Ironwood. "You don't get to lord over here in this matter, she's not your student nor is it even your school or kingdom!"
"This is an Atlas enquiry, and last time I checked, both of you were still Atlas citizens." Ironwood clarified, much to Silas' irritation.
"No, she wasn't the one. Lord knows she came close, but she spared him. Hell, the guy was killed to shut him up from talking to her!" Silas wondered if he should have told those facts, but he was certainly not letting Ironwood take her. "Seems to me that... what was it you called them? 'fictional legends?' didn't want anyone to prove that they really are out there!"
"Silas, being crass with me doesn't change things. You know as well as I do that the Council, all the Council's, want answers now. And it's my job to find those answers." Ironwood frustratedly stated, trying to make his friend see things from his perspective.
"James, I warned you, remember! I warned him too and you both declined us then. So don't expect Cyan or myself to want to willingly talk with either one of you." Silas knew how she'd react if Ironwood spoke to her about this.
"Please listen to reason, you can't just..." Ironwood started pleading but halted as Patty and Cyan entered the room to ask Silas about fixing Roland's weapon.
"General." Cyan coldly remarked while Patty nearly dropped her jaw at seeing the headmaster of Atlas Academy on the screen.
"Miss Chrome, I do hope your first semester is going well." Ironwood enquired politely, though he saw the scowling face of hers.
"Fine thanks." She answered back, then turning to Silas to ask if he was ok.
"All is well my dear, just saying goodnight to the headmaster here." He answered Cyan, but his eyes didn't deter from the screen.
"Very well old friend. I'll be in touch soon, to discuss that matter further." Ironwood's image was gone as he finished his sentence, as Silas sighed at the idea of the general poking his nose into their lives.
"You know 'the general' of Atlas?!" Patty nearly lost her voice in surprise.
"Unfortunately." Silas replied, as Cyan commented on explaining it later to her.
Cyan got Silas to a seat where he filled her in on what Ironwood wanted. She wasn't surprised, she always guessed he'd be knocking on their door eventually. Though she was expecting him to come calling a lot later than now, but then she didn't expect her parent's killer to be dead for years either. So she said they'd cross that bridge when they needed to, to which Silas laughed, feeling much better.
Marron and Noir decided to call it a night, eavesdropping unintentionally as they looked for everyone. Team COPR headed back to Beacon with Chip and Tawny, who were reminiscing about Vacuo, with Patty and Donald talking about their neck of the dessert as they joked about home. Olive was listening to Roland, who was trying to think of a way to fix his weapon, as they all saw the familiar tower of Beacon, lighting their way back to their dorms.
Marron and Noir took another, slower route, as Cyan explained about Ironwood. They listened and assured her that if he really was set on coming, he'd have to go through Ozpin first. Then Noir said he'd have to drag them all back to Atlas if they took Cyan.
Cyan laughed, clutching her sides, before hugging Noir. Marron silently giggled as Noir was slightly nervous of getting the hug, but was relieved when Cyan wasn't crushing her again. Marron did agree with Noir, they'd be damned if the general took Cyan, not after everything they went through together.
Then it was Marron who got thanked, who was now the sheepish one, wondering how tight Cyan's hug would be. It was during that bond of friendship that they heard glass shattering, and Marron then made a portal to peek around the corner to investigate the sudden eerie silence. Ecru then used the sniper rifle to zoom in through the portal. They saw six White Fang troops, as one kicked another bottle unintentionally, carting several crates full of Dust.
The girls looked at one of another, smirking as they got their masks on and Ecru changed their colours to blend in with their dark surroundings. They waited to see if there was any more troops, till they were absolutely sure that there was no-one else but the six in front of them. So Marron gave the signal as they surprised them, ending it before any of the thieves knew what happened.
They left them tied up in the store, setting off the store alarm to alert the authorities, all thinking about how crazy their first semester had been. They headed back to Beacon Academy, ready for a goodnights rest as they got closer to the school. They were more exhausted than they thought, quickly getting into their respective beds.
Marron looked at her team, before saying goodnight to them. She wondered if it was her dad looking out for her, for having such wonderful friends. She gazed her tired eyes to the window, with the green glow of the tower along with the moonlight against the night sky. Then without knowing it, she drifted away to sleep, lost in dreams of three more years with her dearest friends.
Fin.
[Well folks, that's a wrap for Volume 1 of Team MNCE. Would like to thank all my readers for their support and hope you enjoyed this chapter and first step into Team MNCE's journey.
Would like to thank Ironlucky13 for allowing me to cameo a scene in their fanfic OC story, Team WNTR.
I'd also like to thank every fan and member of the RT community who have helped me this year. You lovely people helped made this fanfic possible and I want you to know how grateful I am for the support you've given, including those who made wonderful OC's that I got the privilege to include in this volume.
I'd also like to give a special thank you to not just the CRWBY team & Roosterteeth, for whom helped make RWBY, but a special thank you to Monty Oum, who sadly is no longer here with us, but is with us in spirit and the characters he created, that will inspire our imaginations forever.
So stay tuned for Volume 2, which will be coming soon, February/March 2017.]