Chapter 19: My Name is Agent Pluto
Desert Temple, 2554
POV: Blue Team, Ruby, and Blake
Premise: Red Team and Team JNPR interrogate Wash. Church runs into an old friend. All answers lead to the discovery of a dangerous creation.
Having looked through his own memories in order to find answers on his current situation. Church knew the exact place to find some clues his mystery person. But first he needed the assistance of Caboose, and apparently both Ruby and Blake as well. Mostly because they wanted to go with them. And Ruby was Caboose's girlfriend, they were basically joint at the hip.
"Alright, well, let's go then. I actually thought it would take longer to convince you guys." Church muttered, having asked the trio if they wanted to help him, "Come on. I wanna get to the facility before nightfall."
"Aren't you gonna need the Epsilon Unit?" Blake asked pointing to the storage unit, which wasn't far away.
"Uh that depends, Caboose, do you need it?" Church asked the blue soldier
"Don't think so." Caboose replied
"Leave it then, where we are going. We won't need it." he said to them. The quad then started to leave the temple complex, with Church taking acting as a guide. Unknown to them, Red Team, Team JNPR, Doc and Yang were watching them from afar. Grif was looking through the scope of a sniper rifle.
"Facility, eh?" Sarge muttered after hearing Church say it, "I knew the blues were up to something! Come on men, let's get after those Blues. Sounds like this is the big opportunity we've been waiting for."
"You mean our opportunity to find a place to hole up, and wait for this whole thing blows over?" Grif asked
"A place that isn't a desert?" asked Simmons
"A place with pancakes?" Nora guessed
"No!" Sarge replied, "A place where we can finally restore the Blues to Command's database." he explained, "Get yer typing fingers ready Simmons."
"Ugh, I'll bring my carpal tunnel braces." Simmons replied
"Ok now hold on." Jaune spoke up, "We still have Wash as our prisoner. Before we go anywhere and do anything. I suggest we interrogate him for information."
"Yah come to think of it, that seems like a good idea." Pyrrha agreed
"Alright let's do that." Sarge sighed
"Where is Wash anyway?" Grif asked
"Oh, we tied him up and threw him into a small chamber near the temple." Ren replied, "Nora put a large in front of it so he could get out"
"Alright, let's make him talk."
POV Change: Agent Washington
Wash woke up to find his arms and legs tied together. As he was struggling, someone opened the door to his 'cell'. He noticed a figure enter, that figure turned out to be Sarge. The red soldier picked up Wash and threw out the door, and into the sand. He was propped into a sitting position, and was surrounded by a very angry Red Team, and Team JNPR, along with Yang and Doc.
A very uncomfortable silence swept over the group.
The silence was then broken by Sarge, "Talk."
"Talk about what?" Wash shot back, "I have nothing to say."
"The reason why you and the Meta teamed up, captured my second-in-command, and Team JNPR and Doc." Sarge barked
"Oh and Weiss sir." Simmons added
"Oh yeah and her." Sarge muttered, "Now, talk."
"No." Wash replied, "I have a mission, and soon all of you will be in jail, unless you show mercy and cooperate."
"Talk Wash." Yang snarled, "Before I beat the information outta you. And I'm pretty sure Pyrrha's gonna want her fair share as well."
"I'll never talk." Wash repeated
"Alright." Grif spoke up, "I have an idea. I saw this in a movie once."
Grif walked up to Wash and pulled out a revolver with eight shots.
"This," he began, "was my grandfather's before he died." he started to remove the bullets from the gun and put them into his hand, "I'm gonna take these out. Except for this one." he said holding up one of the bullets, "This is my favorite." he put the lone bullet back into the revolver and spun the cartridge before closing it back, and priming the gun. He then pointed the gun at Wash's groin.
"Tell us what you want with kids." he said
"Grif!" Sarge cried, "What in the Sam Hill do you think you're doing!?"
"Oh my god!" Doc cringed
Yang held her hands to her mouth, trying not to laugh. As for JNPR, Jaune and Ren were looking away, cringing. While Pyrrha and Nora were very very red.
"Talk." Grif said to Wash
"No." Wash replied
CLICK
Grif pulled the trigger, but no bullet came out.
"Jesus!" Simmons cried
"Whoa whoa whoa. Easy Grif." Wash stammered, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
CLICK, "Six more shots."
"WHOA!" Wash cried, "Ok, I don't want them, the UNSC wants them!"
"Why?" Grif asked
"I don't know!" Wash stammered
CLICK
"Ah! Cut it out!" Simmons screamed
"They say they can use the crystals!" Wash answered
"What crystals!?" Grif asked
CLICK
"THE DUST! THE DUST!" Wash blurted out
"The dust?" Grif asked, "But that doesn't make any sense."
"We destroyed all the dust." Sarge spoke up, "That and the ship. All to cover up Team RWBY's existence."
"Well apparently ya did a terrible job!" Wash shot back, "The UNSC has a large supply of this so called 'dust' they recovered from Project Freelancer."
"So what do they want with the kids?"
Wash didn't say anything.
CLICK
"They think the kids could 'unlock the dust'." Wash quickly replied, "They want to use it to build weapons."
A memory of Donut mentioning the same thing popped up in Nora's head, "I can't imagine what would happen if they got that experimental dust."
"What dust did they find?" Nora asked
"Uh…"
CLICK
"OK STOP THAT!" Wash cried
"G-rif, p-lease." Yang tried to tell Grif to stop, but couldn't stop laughing
"What dust?" Grif asked
"Fire, Ice, Electricity, and that some unknown version." Wash replied
"The dust won't work." Pyrrha spoke up, "It's not on Remnant, so it's practically useless."
"That's why the UNSC wants you kids." Wash explained, "Look, they don't believe me about you guys. The only records Project Freelancer made for this case was just your 'teleporter malfunction'. They'll only believe me if I bring you in."
"Sarge." Grif said to him, "Is that enough?"
"Yeah, I think that's good." Sarge replied
Grif looked at the revolver, and pointed it up in the air. He pulled the trigger and…
BANG!
The lone bullet fired, startling everyone.
"You got lucky." Grif said to the ex-Freelancer, amused
"He's all yours." Yang then walked up and knocked Wash out cold
"You guys actually thought I would blow off Wash's balls?" Grif asked
"Yes!" everyone replied
"Hey, it was a blank shot!" Grif laughed, "Wash wouldn't get hurt! Hahahahahahahahaha-OW!"
Sarge then proceeded to kick Grif in the stomach
"So, what do we do?" Yang asked, "Since we're basically criminals now?"
"Ugh, I may have an idea." Grif moaned ash got up from being punched by Sarge
"Oh this'll be good." Jaune muttered
"Wash said that the UNSC doesn't believe him about guys existing right?"
"Right."
"The only way they will believe him, is if he delivers you guys to them." Grif explained, "So we all gotta do is get you guys home, and to top it all off, delete you guys from Command's database in the process."
"...That is actually not a bad idea." said Pyrrha, "But we don't have anymore dust."
"If Church and company is heading to a Freelancer facility." Simmons spoke up, "I'm sure they'll have some left vials of the material they hid from Command."
"We'll need a vehicle to get there." Ren mentioned
"I'm sure we can grab two jeeps from the camp." Grif replied
"Wait." Simmons asked, "Why not just walk? The Blues are walking, we can catch up on foot."
His team just looked at him, "On foot?!"
"Simmons." Sarge said to him, "We're the Reds. We don't walk anywhere. We travel as the good lord intended: in the largest possible vehicle with the maximum horsepower allowed by local law enforcement. And if there's no car, we find the biggest, nastiest, meanest land animal, beat the crap outta it, and saddle that puppy up."
"On foot Simmons." Yang added, "Shame on you."
"Sorry." Simmons sighed
"Let's just forget you ever said that." Nora muttered
"I think it should go on his personal record." Grif suggested
"Oh just go get the fucking jeep jackass!" Simmons hissed
Both teams got their respective vehicles and drove off in the direction that Church and the others when. As they left the temple complex, they passed by both Tucker and Weiss.
"Hey guys! Where are you going!" Tucker shouted from on top of the pillar
"Hey! Don't leave me here with these freaks!" Weiss screamed
Tucker then looked down at the aliens, "Hey guys, I'm sorry you lost you cool piece of technology. Maybe if you let us go, we can help you find it."
But Smith and the other didn't listen, and just kept making noises.
"Well, it was worth a try." Tucker muttered, "Oh my gosh look! A next-gen smartphone! Who would leave that lying around!?" he shouted, and pointing in a direction that the aliens turned around. Allowing the two to jump off the pillar. Smith and his cronies then turned back around to see Tucker and Weiss on the big wheel.
"Fooled by the old prototype trick! Classic!" Tucker chuckled, "Well bitched, we're outta here."
He stepped on the gas...only to have the vehicle not move.
"Outta gas!" Weiss shouted, "How could you be outta gas!?"
She then looked at the aliens and smiled weakly, "Uh hey, do guys any gas?"
Smith and his cronies pointed their guns at them in response.
"You know what fuck it, let's just run." Tucker announced as he ran off in the direction of the Reds with Weiss in tow.
POV Change: Blue Team, Ruby and Blake
Freelancer Offsite Storage Facility, 2554
Caboose, Ruby and Blake followed Church out of the hot desert. Soon, they found themselves in an abandoned building complex. From the looks of it, it appeared that no one or no thing had stepped foot there in a very long time.
"Alright this is the place." Church announced
Blake looked surprised, "This? This place place is nothing? Completely abandoned."
"It's supposed to look like this." Church replied, "In order to not attract any 'unwanted' visitors. Come on, this way."
Ruby and Blake started to follow Church, while Caboose just stood there.
"Man, you really need to clean this place up." he muttered
"Caboose!" Church shouted to get the blue soldier's attention.
"Coming!" he replied, enthusiastically
Caboose caught up with the others. As they made their way through the ruins, Church started to have trouble navigating.
"Ok, uh, left! Yeah left!" he said to them
"Our our left? Or your our left?" Caboose asked, causing Ruby to giggle, and Blake to roll her eyes and smirk.
"There no-just follow me." Church groaned.
Soon, they arrived at their destination, "Ok, this is it." Church announced, "I think."
"This?" Caboose questioned, "It's a wall."
"We came all this way for a wall?" Blake asked
"Guys!" Church hissed
"Sorry." Ruby replied for herself, Blake, and Caboose, "It's a great wall."
"Hello!" a voice said, everyone turned around to see a tree with a computer screen attached to it.
"This is a private facility." the computer stated, "Visitors are not allowed. Please leave immediately, or we will be forced to take lethal actions to insure the safety of our property."
"Not as great." Caboose cut in
"You have twenty seconds to comply or die. Have a nice day!" the computer said rather nicely
Caboose then recognized the voice, "Shelia? Is that you?
"Wait, he's right." Ruby added, "Shelia?"
"No." the computer replied, "I am the Freelancer Integrated Logistics and Security System. You may call me FLISS. It is a pleasure to meet you. You now have fifteen seconds."
"Whoa!" Church replied, "I don't wanna die. Maybe we should leave."
FLISS then spoke again, "Oh my, the director. I am so sorry, I did not recognize you sir. It has been such a long time since you have visited. You look very different."
Everyone looked at FLISS as if she was crazy.
"You talking to me?" Church asked
"Yes." FLISS replied, "You are the Director of Project Freelancer, are you not?"
Ruby and Blake looked at Church for answers, the floating monitor the answered, "Oh uh, yeah. Of course, that's-totally me. I just haven't been around because I've been doing, you know...Director stuff. Can't really get into it. Secret Project."
"Wow. That was really subtle." Blake said to him, sarcastically
"Hey, it's not like you would do any better." Church hissed
"How may I assist you Director?" FLISS asked him
"Can we uh...Can we come in?" he asked her
"Certainly."
FLISS then opened a door that was in the wall, revealing a dark hallway. Everyone entered and FLISS closed the door behind them.
"Please watch your step." she said to them. "Director, since you have visitors with you. Would you like me to run the tutorial program?"
"Yes." Caboose replied, "You should do that. No seriously you should do that."
"Yeah ok, I heard you." Church said to him, he then turned to FLISS, "Yes, run the tutorial program."
"Oh thank god." Caboose sighed
"This'll be good." Blake whispered to Ruby
FLISS then started speaking, "Hello, and welcome to the Freelance Off-site Storage Facility. Project Freelancer, is a state-of-the-art scientific endeavour, with one goal in mind: To ensure the survival of humanity, in a harsh and violent galaxy."
The group walked down the hallway, then down a flight of stairs, turned a corner to find themselves in a large warehouse. The facility was packed with crates and other equipment used by the Reds and Blues while in Blood Gulch.
FLISS then continued, "This storage area archives all the components of our Freelancer simulation bases. These outposts, are categorized into Red and-entire missing ...Hmm, it seems I have a corrupt database. I will correct that when I have more time."
"Oh look!" Caboose spoke up, "There's our old stuff! And there's the teleporters, man Tucker hates those."
"Don't interrupt." Church said to him, "Come on guys, this way."
Church took them deeper into the facility, FLISS was still speaking.
"When the equipment is not being used, it is stored here until it can be repurposed for-oh. I guess we are moving on."
The group made their way into another hallway. This time with a secured door at the end, and monitor with FLISS already there.
"Oh, what's this?" Caboose asked
FLISS then spoke, "I am sorry, this area is restricted." she explained, "Only the Director himself may access this entry. I am sure you understand, The nature of our project is-"
"Open it." Church cut in brashly
"Excuse me Director?" FLISS asked
"I want you to open it." he repeated
FLISS was hesitant, "Are you sure Director? You never want to bring guests in-"
"I said open it." Church ordered
"If you say so Director." FLISS replied, the door then unlocked and slid open, "Would you like me to record your...personal project?"
"No." Church answered, "Let's see everything."
The four entered the door, with both Ruby and Blake feeling very uncomfortable about Church's behavior.
POV Change: Red Team, Team JNPR, Yang, and Doc
Meanwhile, the rest of the gang-minus Weiss and Tucker-weren't far behind. The group was currently outside the entrance of the storage facility.
"Simmons." Sarge asked the maroon soldier, "Status report."
"Gumball McJones, Ruby, Blake, and Caboose just went into that door." Simmons replied
"What door?" Nora asked, "I just see a wall."
"Nora, it's a secret door." Simmons explained
"Simmons." Sarge groaned, "What did I tell you about using Dungeons and Dragons references in combat situations?"
"Ugh, sorry sir." Simmons groaned back, "It's a concealed door."
"That's more like it."
"What's Dungeons and Dragons?" Jaune asked
"Oh its a role-playing game you can play with multiple people." Grif explained, "It's all fantasy, magic, and all that shit."
"Hmm, Ruby would enjoy that game." Yang muttered
"Guys, focus." Ren spoke up, "Simmons how did they get inside?"
"They talked to to that computer by posing as agents of Project Freelancer." he explained while pointing to one of FLISS's terminals, "If we pose as agents. It will probably let us in as well."
"But aren't agents like tuff and good at things?" Grif questioned
"Hey we're good at things." Doc replied, "I mean...we stopped the Meta and took Was prisoner."
"And you did save us from getting captured." Pyrrha added
"Nevermind." Grif said
Simmons then continued, "We'll all pick a state name and call ourselves by that guys. You know like Agent Washington. Grif, name a state."
Grif looked at him, "What is this? Pop quiz? Uh, let's see uh Manhattan...No? Uh Europe."
"Wow." Simmons muttered, not even surprised, "Really?"
"Pacific Ocean?" Grif guessed
"Stop talking." Simmons groaned, "Just be Agent Alaska. How 'bout you Sarge?"
"I'll be secret Agent Double-o-Ohio. Licensed to be tall in the middle, and round on both ends."
Simmons then turned to Doc, "Doc?"
"I'll be Agent Nevada." the medic replied
"Uh, didn't Tex say she was Agent Nevada?" Simmons questioned
"Yeah, but I think she was joking." Doc countered
"What about us?" Jaune asked, speaking for himself, his team, and Yang.
"Oh, you guys pretend that you are new recruits." Simmons replied, "I'll be Agent Denial. Get it! Because it's a state of denial! You know...it's a joke."
"No dude." Grif said to him, "Joke are funny."
"Ugh, let's just go." Simmons groaned
"I found it funny." Yang muttered
"Oh, don't you encourage him!"
POV Change: Blue Team, Ruby, and Blake
While the gang outside were trying to get inside. Ruby, Blake, and the Blues were making their way through the storage facility. They walked down a rather smooth spiral ramp, and into a large room, which was filled with robot bodies in cobalt blue armor, similar to Church armor he wore before.
"Oh my god!" Caboose shouted, "Look at all the yous! You're everywhere! This is like a Best Friend Store! You can have your body back! Now which one do you want!? I wanna buy one!"
"Wow!" Ruby muttered, "You have your own army now!"
"Is this what you were looking for Church?" Blake asked, still shocked at what was in the room.
"I'm not looking for that." he replied, as he floated to the end of the room, behind all the armored bodies. He looked at a human-sized box that descended downward in front of him. The lid of the box began open slowly, with mist emitting from it.
"I'm looking for this." Church ended
"Oh…" the trio replied
POV Change: Red Team, Team JNPR, Yang, and Doc
Well, the others managed to get inside...just not the way they expected to…
"I told you that stupid plan wouldn't work." Grif hissed as they made their way into the facility
"That's because you said your name was Agent Pluto!" Simmons shouted
"And these guys called themselves Agents Vale, Atlas, Mistral, and Vacu-whatever Nora said." Doc added, pointing to the huntsmen
"Hey, we don't know the names of any 'states'." Jaune countered
"Ugh, we seriously have to have a talk about Earth's and Remnant's pop culture, and diversity." Simmons sighed
"Hehe, well at least we have the old contingency plan to fall back to." Sarge chuckled
"Sarge." Grif sighed, "Shotgun in the face is not a contingency plan."
"Nonsense Grif!" Sarge replied, "Shotgun in the face can be applied to any situation. For instance, watch how it quickly cure insubordination." he explained, as he raised his shotgun at Grif and cocked the weapon.
Just then they heard a noise.
"Oh no!" someone shouted, it sounded a lot like Caboose.
"What was that?" Ren asked
"It came from down here." Sarge muttered, "Come on."
Everyone made their way into the facility, eventually they found Caboose, Ruby, and Blake. But no Church. The trio were talking to FLISS, while Church could be heard on the other side of the door, with someone breaking something.
"Just hold still! No!" Church's voice said, followed by the sound of something breaking.
"I sense things aren't going well." FLISS sid to the trio by the door
"Yes please keep the door shut." Caboose replied, as if he was trying to not be scared
"I am sorry." FLISS continued, "But if the Director requested the door to be opened, I must comply."
"Just keep the door shut." Caboose repeated
"Caboose is that you?" Grif asked
The trio then took notice of the others, all were slightly frightened
"Oh! Oh hello everyone!" Caboose said to them, "Yes. Everyone who wasn't here is now here...Great."
"Uh, Tucker and Weiss aren't here." Blake whispered to him
"Oh."
"What are you up to Blue?" Sarge asked
"Me? Oh nothing, I am not hiding anything behind this door." he lied
"Hey, that looks expensive." Church said from behind the door, followed by another crash
"Uhh, I think he's lying." Simmons said to his peers
"What was your first clue?" Jaune replied, sarcastically
"Let us see what in there." Yang requested
"In here?" Ruby spoke up, "Oh nothing. It's probably not even a door either its probably a-BANG!"
A large bang hit the door from the other side.
"What the heck was that?" Sarge asked
"Oh, that was Blake." Caboose answered, pointing to the Faunus, who's eyes widened.
"She said it wasn't a door, it actually a gong."
"A gong?" Ren questioned, "Why would a-"
BANG!
"Yaaaa, gong." Blake muttered, out of confusion.
BANG!
This time, the bang broke the knob on the door.
"I'm just gonna walk this way now." Caboose muttered
"Yeah, same here." Ruby added
"Right." Blake said as well. The trio walked down the hallway, past the Reds, JNPR, Doc, and Yang and soon exited the hallway. This was done with a series of 'yeses', and 'thank yous', and 'excuse me's'.
The group then turned their focus back onto the door. Which was getting destroyed by someone on the other side.
"Uh, guys?" Nora asked, "What do we do?"
"Men." Sarge spoke up, "We have the perfect ambush scenario."
"I agree." Yang replied
"Wait." Simmons countered, "Are we the ambushers or the ambushees? Can you ambush something that's trying to beat its way through metal plating to get to you?"
"Ok. Let's wait for the door to open." Jaune announced
The door was violently crushed, and the light fixture was destroyed. The door then flew off its hinges, and right at the group, who all duck their heads, allowing it to land right behind them.
"Doors open." Doc muttered
"What the…" Sarge said as he, and the others turned back to the entrance. There, he and his fellow soldier noticed someone they never wanted to see again.
"Ok." Agent Texas announced, as she cracked her neck, "Who's first?"
Well it looks like stuff's about to go down. Red Team, Tucker, Team JNPR, Yang, and Weiss vs. Agent Texas is without a doubt going to be in the next chapter! Also the scene were Grif threatens to shoot Wash's nuts off is a reference to the movie The Heat. Where Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) threatens a drug dealer by shooting him in the groin. I added this because it just seemed funny and ridiculous. See you all in the next chapter!