Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!
After finishing that last chapter you'd probably expect this one to cool it down a notch, and it does just that. It's not too long, and not much happens, so it really cools it down.
When I finished this particular chapter I hit writer's block for the second time since starting this story, and it actually took a really long to time to get going again. I eventually had to force it, if I remember correctly, which is why this chapter and the next are so...empty...so to speak. Nevertheless, you should read it because it has somewhat important information, mostly on Azure's team.
Anyways, let's get on with it!
We drove for a while, not speaking, and never looking back. The men didn't follow us. The sky soon transformed from a dim light to darkness, and eventually we arrived at the Atlas military base.
"Stop." I said, "I'm getting off here"
"Great," Gazini replied, "let me just park"
He steered the moped into a small parking spot, then hopped off and offered me his hand. I got off on my own, not in a particularly good mood.
"Let's head in" He said, starting towards the military base.
"I'm not going in if that's what you mean" I replied.
He turned around, looking straight into my eyes. For the first time I noticed that he had one white eye and one dark blue eye. "Why's that?" He asked, sounding somewhat frustrated.
"I don't need you help" I replied.
He snickered, shaking his head, "Your in this, whether you like it or not." He said, "Come on"
I turned around to leave.
"Hey!" He called after me.
"I don't need your help!" I replied, "I can take care of myself"
"That's exactly why we need you." He said, "You held your own against Trask, which is quite a feat for someone your age. He was definitely a professional"
"Combat skill isn't everything." I pointed out, my back still turned to him, "You clearly have that covered"
"Fighting isn't all that we need though"
"Yeah?" I asked, "Well, you certainly found that base pretty easily on your own. You really don't need me" I started to walk away.
"But you found it first." He pointed out. I stopped. "Yes, we found it, but you found it first, remember?"
Yes, I remember, idiot, I thought. Although he did have a point.
"We could use someone like you" He said.
I sighed, not believing what I was about to say. I turned around, "I'll think about it. Do you have a scroll?" I decided.
"Yes" He replied, perking up a bit. Reaching into his pocket, he drew the slender white device and opened it. I pulled out mine and we connected ours so that we'd be in contact.
"When can I expect to hear from you?" He asked.
"Whenever I'm done deciding" I replied, pocketing my scroll and turning around to leave.
"So what do you know about that place?" He asked.
I sighed, turning back around. "I know about Rocco Trask and Gale Sheng. My leader has seen Sheng, but can't remember what she looks like"
"Your leader?" Gazini asked.
"Can I explain?" I asked sternly.
"Yes, sorry" He replied.
"Anyways." I continued, "They have the power to remove your semblance, so be careful. That's what happened to my leader"
He raised his hand slightly, indicating that he'd like to speak. I nodded.
"How do they do that?" He asked.
"They hooked up my leader to a machine and sucked away all her aura." I replied, "So I'd suggest not getting knocked out or avoiding machines when you're around them. Also, they work in the darkness since they're both Faunus, so be prepared for that"
"Good to know" He said.
"So what do you know?" I asked in return.
"Well," He started, "I know that the Falls are involved"
"Oh yes, Octavia mentioned that" I said.
"I also know where Mr. Fall operates. A complex in Aldbay." He continued, "We retrieved a folder labeled 'Plan H', which is what I asked Trask about earlier"
"What does the folder say?" I asked.
"It's written in code," he replied, "and we have yet to crack it"
"Anything else?" I asked.
"Not really." He replied, "We're both shooting in the dark a little here"
"Looks that way." I replied, then turned around. "Well, I got to get going. Thanks for the help today"
"No worries" He said, turning around to leave.
I looked back, seeing him headed towards the military base. He waved back to me, "Hope to hear from you soon" He said.
I wanted to say something, but couldn't figure out what, so I turned around and started walking. Just then it began to rain.
Returning to the Team ONAX (onyx) home, I unlocked the door and walked in, my hair hanging in front of my face and dripping all over.
"Where have you been Azure?" Octavia burst into the front hallway, grabbing my soggy shoulders.
"I've had a rough night" I replied.
"Let me get you a towel" Nello called from down the hallway.
"Thanks" I said, staying where I was.
"What happened to you?" Octavia asked me.
"Well," I started. "After delivering the money to the woman, I-"
Nello walked past Octavia and wrapped me in a towel. I nodded in thanks.
"Let's go sit somewhere more comfortable" He suggested.
"Sounds good" Octavia replied, taking my shoulder in one hand and guiding me down the hardwood hallway.
The front hallway branched off to the kitchen on the left side a few feet in, and a few feet after that branched off into a staircase on the right. Straight ahead was the living room, and a door lead from the kitchen to the living room as well. Upstairs were four bedrooms and a bathroom.
I sat down on a wooden stool in the kitchen, not wanting the rain covering me to drip all over the living room carpet and sofas. Octavia and Nello looked at me expectantly.
Looking at both of them I asked, "Where's Xeyrus?"
"He's asleep" Octavia replied.
"Right." I replied, "Is it that time already?"
"Nine at night?" Octavia asked, "Yep"
"Huh, time flies I guess." I said. Turning back to my two teammates before me, I explained what had happened.
"He offered us a place in the military." I finished, "We could get more information easily. They have a folder about them and everything. I think it's a good idea"
Both paused to think. Octavia scratched her chin, "Is this Gazini fellow attractive?" She asked.
"He's much older than me" I pointed out.
"That's not what I asked." She said, "Age is just a number when you're in a relationship"
"Yeah," I replied, "but this guy was, like, forty or something"
"Was he an attractive forty-year-old?" She persisted.
I sighed, "A little, yes." I finally caved, "But that's not the point. I think this could be really good for us"
"Yes." Octavia replied, "You would never join an organization just because a half-decent forty-year-old offered. Clearly you're serious"
Nello turned to me, holding a hot mug of tea.
"When'd you make this?" I asked, confused as to where it came from.
"While you were explaining." He replied, "I thought you could use some"
"Well, thanks." I said, sipping it before turning back to Octavia, "So?" I asked.
Octavia scratched her chin for a while longer, then turned around and started towards the living room, "I'll think about it." She replied, "We'll discuss it tomorrow. For now," She stopped in the doorway to the living room and turned around, "Take a shower, you stink."
So there you have it. The layout of Team ONAX's home, the fact that their team name is ONAX (onyx) and...that's about it. Told you I'd calm it down a notch.
By the way, Gazini isn't actually forty. Azure was just trying to shrug off the question as quickly as possible (it didn't work, as you can tell). He's more in his late twenties to early thirties. He's still pretty young.
Also, I have one chapter left in my RWBY fanfiction collaboration project, 'The Candidates', which I'll try to finish tonight. Unfortunately, I won't be posting it for a while (most likely) as I still need to edit the entire thing and potentially will have to wait until the due date to publish it with the collaboration, and then to my account. I'll check and see if the host of the project is fine with me posting early, just to be certain.
Anyways, that's about it. As usual, favorite, follow, review, tell your friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!
