Okay! So it's time for chapter 2! I will admit something to you all, in my past stories I tried doing quantity over quality. By that I mean I wrote for you and tried pumping out stories but to be honest, that hasn't been working. I want to do better! So I thought 'Through that mentality out of the window! If you don't like it don't publish!' so I'll be posting a less frequently and posting longer chapters (On average my chapters are like 1-3 thousand words) so I hope y'all enjoy!
Chapter 2- Remnants of Bunker 30A
Madison, Wisconsin- Bunker 30A Surface
Bunker 30A or more commonly known as Madison Wisconsin, formally the city that boarding the Great Lake Michigan, Milwaukee. The old capital of the state was moved for the purpose of convenience, close to the former train hub known as Chicago and access to the Great Lakes, a great source of power for the four states in the Michigan Alliance.
The state of Wisconsin was one of the more organized of the states, but with the major hit from the earthquake the once major hub was unresponsive, worst case dead.
"Get those damn Dredge moving!" Yelled one of the men on the surface.
Dredge, the Wisconsin word for the excavators or diggers.
Those of Madison evacuated to the surface. Their runners supplying cover for the many civilians, the amount of people flooding the concrete jungle was greater than what they expected, their lines growing thin.
Out of all of those exiting the bunker, this was the first time many had seen the sun. Most had very pale skin and the very few who didn't have the white pigment to their skin were holding ground against the monsters that attempted to attack the people.
"When do you think the others will be able to arrive and give us aid?" a man with a clean shaved head asked, two swords placed at his side.
"From what I heard, Chicago should be the first to arrive once they manage to get themselves the necessary material to travel over." Another man holding a spear in his hand a shield in his other.
"Well they better hurry the hell up." commented the swordsmen. "Because if they don't there won't be anyone to help."
"We should be able to get some safety once those Dredge get to the surface, send a few out with their gear and help set up a perimeter." the spears men commented, killing a boar like beast, watching it fade into black mist. "These things are pretty damn weird."
"And a pain." commented the swordsmen. "Have we even properly named them yet?" he asked.
"No, we just call them what they look like. The Dredge say they saw centipedes like monsters. They call those Centi." He remarked.
"Centi? Like the legs of a centipede?" the other runner asked.
"Na, because of how big their hoards are." the lancer chuckled to himself.
The swordsmen blew a whistle, "Damn, don't envy them."
The lancer shrugged, "You may not, but they probably have the most organized jobs." he said looking at the city. "They got some of the most advanced equipment, can easily kill, and know their orders."
The swordsmen shrugged, "Meh, not my cup of tea." he walked over, a small pack of wolf creatures appeared and started running to them, "I like, ADVENTURE!" he yelled the last word as he cut two down.
Remnant, Beacon Academy
A young girl in a red and black, a boy in white armor and blonde hair, a tall boy in gray armor with orange hair, and lastly a brown themed girl in a dark brown beret. The four stood in the headmaster of Beacon Academy's office, on the very top of Beacon tower.
"Why do you think Professor Ozpin called us here?" the youngest of the four asked. "Maybe we did something?"
"Ruby, I'm pretty sure we're in the clear. Unless you did something I'm not aware of." the blonde said looking at the smaller girl. Ruby Rose, fifteen years old and youngest student to attend Beacon Academy.
A soft chuckle came from the burnt orange boy. "Maybe Ozpin's finally expelling your scrawny ass, Arc."
Jaune Arc, fourth generation Huntsmen and one of many sisters, put his hands up in the air. "No need to be rude Cardin." Jaune said to Cardin Winchester, someone his same age, yet stood a head taller and bulkier than Jaune.
"Will you cut it, Winchester." the oldest of the four said, scowling her eyes behind her sunglasses. "If he wanted to say something to Jaune over there, he'd say it to him, and just him. He probably needs us for something, otherwise he'd not call all of us."
Cardin blew a whistle, "Whatever you say sweet chocolate." he said, making fun of the brown girl's name.
"Well whatever it is, it's probably important since he called for Coco." Ruby said, leaning over seeing all three students. Her eyes landed on Coco Adel, a brown themed girl, who had a relaxed demeanor most of the time you saw her.
The main thing all four had in common was their status in the academy. All four leaders of a team of four. Ruby Rose, leader of Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long, forming team RWBY. Jaune Arc, leader of Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, and Lie Ren, forming the first year team JNPR. Cardin Winchester, leading Russel Thrush, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark, making team CRDL. Lastly was Coco Adel, leader of CFVY, consisting of herself, Fox Alistair, Velvet Scarlatina, and Yatsuhashi Daichi.
"Why thank's red!" Coco said, a bright smile on her face.
A small ding came from the elevator behind them. The four teens looked over seeing Ozpin followed by a woman in white and black, her blonde hair done into a bun, leave the elevator and move to behind the desk.
"Sorry for our delay." Ozpin apologized. "I just recently got back and this situation is a little last minute."
Cardin didn't answer, so didn't the others, except for a small reaper. "Oh, it's alright Professor, we all have those days where things don't go our way. But you have to roll with it and-" she caught herself and clamped her mouth shut. The young girl's actions did enact a smile on Ozpin's face.
"It's fine Miss Rose." he assured her, "I'll cut straight to the point. Glynda, if you would." he turned to the blonde, Glynda Goodwitch, deputy headmaster of Beacon. The woman placed her scroll onto the table, showing an image of an island with a tall mountain in it's center, "This is Marigold Island, you and your teams, among the others from the other academies will be doing an expedition, and look into why Grimm are attracted to that." He said putting emphasis on the word 'that' when he zoomed in on the top of the mountain. A large pillar of life was at its summit.
"Sir, with all do respect, why are you sending us." Coco asked her headmaster. "Why not a third of fourth year student."
Ozpin gave a small hum, taking a sip from his mug. "A real simple reason Miss Adel." he took another long sip, "All four of your teams have been getting in a lot of trouble recently."
All, minus Cardin, stiffened. "Glynda, if you would." Ozpin asked.
"Miss Rose, your sister has gotten into a fight with Mister Lark last week, breaking his arm and damaged the building, Mister Arc, you and your teammate Miss Valkyrie have been late on several occasions, Mister Winchester," she just stopped, not knowing where to start, "And Miss Adel, you're well aware of what you did."
"I spilled Ozpin's hot chocolate." she said, looking at the ground.
"You spilled Ozpin's hot chocolate." Glynda repeated. The only one who snickered was Cardin.
"You can get in trouble for that?" Cardin snorted. "What the hell."
Ozpin just stared at Cardin. "And that is detention."
"What?!" Cardin yelled. "Why do I get detention for making fun of spilt chocolate?!"
Ozpin took another sip, finishing off his mug. "It's not for that, it's for insulting your senior and swearing in front of your headmaster." he said. "Now, I want you to learn this here and now Mister Winchester." he took a dramatic pause, "I can be very petty. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." Was all Cardin replied rolling his eyes.
"Great." Ozpin said, "You will be leaving in two days, I advise you to go and talk with your teams."
Chicago Illinois- Bunker 21A Floor 1
Kelvin Sing, Markus and Ein Halo stood in front of their superior. Paul Polpov and George Bullmen.
"Gentleman, I'm sure you're aware of why you've been called, correct? Paul asked the three.
"It has to do with the tremor that occurred a day ago, yes?" Ein asked, making sure this was the topic of discussion.
Both the heads of their departments nodded. "Corrected". George confirmed. "But to be more specific, the problem isn't Bunker 21A. While our main generator is under rubble, our more minor and smaller ones are still up and running, the problem isn't here but Bunker 30A, Madison."
"That's the one located where Milwaukee was, right?" Kelvin asked Markus who nodded. "I'm guessing they need more men?"
"More supplies, men, excavators, anything you can think of, they need." Paul said, crossing his arms and leaning back on his chair, "Floors five threw eight caved in." All three on the other side just stopped.
"What the hell!" Ein yelled. "Sirs, while I understand Madison is important, you think clearing out that much rubble is safe? For Christ sake, it'd be safer to move them then salvage that damn place."
"While I wouldn't use my son's language, I have to agree, our job is to move rubble and dirt and stone, for people to live and to expand their bunkers, NOT make one massive whole where a single earthquake can cause the entire thing to cave in."
George gave an understanding nod. "I'm well aware, which is why all you'll be doing in help keep them safe till we can get a train from Phoenix to them."
Markus, who was in the process of choking on his own spit, tried to process what he heard. "You're sending them to Phoenix?!" he yelled.
Kelvin just seemed confused. "Where exactly is Phoenix?" he asked.
"In Arizona, which is a hot mess, pun intended." Markus said, claiming his right for a dad joke. "The place isn't suited for Midwest people who've spent most of their time underground."
"But they have the most room Markus, it only makes sense." Paul stated.
"Why not send them to North or South Lansing? Or D.C.? They should have plenty of room!" Markus yelled.
"It's already been set up, we can't just cancel on Arizona, they've already sent a train out and should be here in a week at the very least." George said, making his point clear there was nothing they could do now. "Now, Markus, Kelvin, Ein, you two will be placed in charge of your respected units along with four others, and you'll be shipped off to Madison tomorrow, and till the train to Phoenix arrives."
"Sir." Markus said, grabbing all their attention, "I have a younger son, he's not old enough to go out with us, you understand why if I'm not so comfortable not leaving anyone with him in a time like this."
"If it's alright Markus, I can have Trica look after him." Kelvin proposed.
Markus just sighed. "Alright," he got up and headed to the door, "I think I'm just going to get a drink, I need to clear my head."
Bunker 21A Floor 1
The five teens just sat there, inside the house of Kelvin and Trica Sing. No one said anything, just sitting there. That was how it was till Lisanna decided to speak.
"I heard some of the diggers and runners talking," the other for turning to the usually bubbly girl, laying on her back, "they said some are being taken to Madison."
"Madison?" Alex rose from his seat, looking at Erin, "That's like a half a day's long trip, right?"
Erin nodded his head. "On a good day, when none of those monsters try to take us, we can get there within an hour's time." Both Alex and Edward just blew a whistle.
"Hey, Erin." Lisanna asked, getting off the ground, "You've been to the surface before, right?" she asked almost excitedly. "Can you tell us about it?"
Erin just let a sigh out, "I've already told you guys about it." Erin stated. "And you know what I'll say anyways."
Alex, Edward, and Lisanna just let out a "Boo" in his direction.
"Erin's no fun." Edward said. Getting a nod out of the other two.
Erin just sighed, a chuckle out of Jessica. "Jess, remind me why we're friends with these three idiots?"
Jessica just smiled, "Because we'd be bored as hell without these idiots." she got up from her seat, "So what do you think they'll be doing in Madison?'
Alex gave a shrug, "They probably had a massive cave in, and need people to dig it out." he then tapped his chin, "I bet they've evacuated to the surface."
Edward let out a hum, "Is that even safe?"
Alex just nodded, "It is! They don't have to worry about their flooring collapsing as much as they would in the bunker and they'll already have most walls up with the old buildings."
The door soon opened, with three figures coming through. The first was Kelvin, who just had an irritated look plastered onto his face, soon followed by Markus who was being dragged by an easily annoyed Ein.
"Hey Dad, Mister Halo, Ein." Erin greeted. "Are you guys… okay?" she asked.
"Peachy, just peachy." Ein said, "Mind moving over, we got a drunk man with us."
Alex just sighed, "How bad is it?" he asked.
"Hitting on random strangers bad." Ein said. Both brothers sighed. "We need to set him up one of these days."
Alex didn't respond to Ein, just moving over to get a glass. "Mind if I?" he asked. Kelvin shook his head, giving him the clear. The pale boy got himself a cup of water and moved to his father.
"Hey Alex~" Markus greeted, "Give your dad a hug!" he extended his hands, wanting his son to hug him.
"Dad, drink this." he put the glass of water into his father's hand. Doing as told his father downed the drink.
Kelvin just sighed. "I feel sorry for you two boys." both brothers shrugged, knowing this was life and frankly didn't care too much. "Alex." the runner called the drunks youngest son. "For a week if not more the three of us will be out. So as of your sober father's wishes you'll be under Trica's care, that alright with you?"
Alex didn't say much, just nodded his head. "You going to Madison?"
Both Ein and Kelvin nodded. "Don't worry little guy, not like we won't return." he flexed his left bicep and placed his right hand over it, "We aren't going to leave you!"
"Kinda sounds like you are." Alex said, he wore a smile pointing it out, "But you better come back."
Ein chuckled, "Plan to." Ein moved to the door, "Now excuse me I have somewhere to be, things to do, all that mumbo jumbo." he said waving at them with his back turned.
"Don't mind me, just getting this idiot out of your way." Kelvin said, moving the drunk man to somewhere in the house.
"So… sleep over?" Erin said, with a shrug.
"Yeah!" Alex said, trying to show enthusiasm.
"Best friends Erin and Alex till the end." Edward commented. He turned to Jessica, "SO Jess, why aren't we like that?"
"Because you're a pain in the ass." she said not missing a beat. All those in the room just looked at her. You could hear Edward's mouth hit the floor. The other three just started laughing.
"There there." Lisanna said, trying to reassure Edward. "Ed, I'm sure Jess doesn't think you that bad."
"No, he's a really bad pain, no matter what I do, he always comes back." Jessica struck again.
"Yet you'd miss him." Alex added.
"No I wouldn't." She responded.
"Is that how you say you like him?" Erin jumped in.
Jessica just stared at Erin for a moment. The other three just moved away.
"You're dead." Jessica stated, she got up and launched herself at Erin who tried dodging.
Wisconsin- Train Carriage 3
"Listen up!" Markus grabbed all those in his cart's attention. "As you all remember the tremor that occurred two days ago did some damage to our home. But not as much damage as what Madison is facing." he moved through his carriage, "So here is what we'll be doing. We'll be meeting them at the former, U.S. Bank Center, we'll be setting walls up for not just ours but their protection."
A hand rose from the fifteen other members of the carriage, "Sir, then why are the runners with us? I doubt we'll be needing them to just be putting up walls."
Markus just sighed. "I take it you haven't been working with everyone for long, have you?" he asked the one who raised his hand, who nodded. "We'll let me put this in perspective for you, all of you. As much stigma we have with each other, we diggers and those runners are what allows humanity to still live. We work together to keep our people safe and that means watching each other's backs." Markus let a sigh out, "Our gear allows us to dig at incredible pace, and lift heavy objects like ants, but it leaves us open. So don't get cocky, don't get arrogant, and don't be a smart ass, they could be the reason you live or die. Am I clear?"
"Yes sir." the other excavator confirmed.
Wisconsin Madison- Union Station
The train had arrived in Madison, all six carriages had emptied out, sixteen people in each and ninety six total. Forty eight in each of the two groups. Out of the ninety six people, six stood in front of everyone.
Ein, Kelvin, and Markus stood next to each other on the left and on the right was the last digger, Rook Levinson, next to her was Dove Hughes, and the last runner was a short female with the rare trait of red hair, her height just under Rook's, this was Lilian Oswald.
"Everyone! Listen up!" Rook's caught everyone's attention. "We'll be moving to the old U.S. Bank Center, we'll be setting up a perimeter surrounding the building, diggers will be split into two groups, like you runners. You lot will be placed into two groups. You will be properly split once we get there. Am I clear?!" she yelled.
All the excavators there yelled a "Yes, ma'am!" and got ready to move.
Ein just looked over at the other digger, "Wow, she's got them in her grasp pretty damn well."
Markus chuckled, "Yep, that is Rook Levinson, she takes very little shit from anyone, and I mean everyone." his chuckle turned weak as he hunched, "I should know…"
Ein just patted his father's back, "There there." he looked over to the other two runners. "So… who're the other two?" he asked Kelvin.
"The guy to Rook's left is Dove, the kid's a good. I remember training with him a few times. Has a charisma that keeps people fighting." he then pointed to the red head, "Now her," he took a moment, "she's pretty damn scary."
"She's scary?" he asked, a runner typically didn't say many things were scary, especially when it came to talking about other humans.
"Let me put this into perspective, she got a four star when she was only a one star." he said, quivering a little.
"That doesn't explain why she's scary." Ein said, analyzing the girl, "She seems pretty cute and not that bad."
"You didn't hear what she did." Kelvin interjected. "Ever heard of the giant birds?" he asked Ein, who nodded. "She took two of those damn things down by herself." Ein stopped in his tracks. Processing what he had just heard.
"HOW?!" He yelled.
"Don't remember." Kelvin said. "Come on, we still have a ways to go."
Remnant- Marigold Island
Nine teams stood on a small base camp. Four teams from Beacon, two from Havon, one from Atlas, and two from Shade.
Ruby looked up at the mountain. "Wow…" she said, looking at the pillar of white light. "That's so tall."
"Yeah, and Grimm are going to it like moths to a flame." Blake, a black themed girl in a bow said. She took a look around her and seeing all the students seemed a little strange. "So Weiss is scoping out the compilation."
Ruby nodded. "Who else but Weiss." She chuckled at her joke. The two members of RWBY walked around base.
"So!" Someone called said, both huntresses on training looked over to see a blonde monkey Faunus walking up to them. "Crazy how we get to explore whatever that is." He tried to start conversations.
Ruby just nodded while Blake let out a long "right."
"So you two ladies heading anywhere?" The monkey Faunus asked them.
"Looking around, seeing stuff." Blake answered for the two of them.
"Cool, cool." The monkey Faunus said. "Well, the name's Sun, and you to lovely ladies?" Sun asked.
"Blake." Answered the black huntress.
"And I'm her leader, Ruby! Ruby Rose!" Ruby said, introducing herself.
"Awesome! Well I need to be heading back, see you two later." Sun waved them goodbye.
"He seems nice." Ruby commented before continuing to walk. "This is going to be fun." She said pumping her fist up looking up at the mountain
"This is so not fun…" a hunched over Ruby Rose said before a long groan. "How much longer do we have to walk?"
Her partner, Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, let out a long sigh. "We've still got about another thirty minute walk till we get to the top."
Yang Xaio Long, Ruby's older half sister, chuckled. "Besides, we get to have an awesome view of the island, which isn't all bad~" she said the last part with a small purr looking at the back of team SSSN.
"Say that again when you're not mentally undressing some guy, then we'll take you seriously." Blake patted her partner on the shoulder before moving on ahead.
The rest of the way was met with various groans from a few other students, mostly Ruby, Jaune, and Nora. To most everyone's surprise, most of the Grimm were relatively easy to handle. Most of them being Beowolves and Boarbatusk.
As they got closer and closer to the summit, the pillar of light at the top only appeared to be more menacing than most expected.
"Please be careful," Glynda warmed the students, "Remember a fall from this night will kill you, with or without Aura."
Jaune took a gulp as he looked down at how far up they were, his face turning green, and it wasn't from motion sickness.
Pyrrha Nikos, four time Mistral regional tournament winner, put a hand on her partner. "Hang in there Jaune."
As they made their way up the mountain everyone began to notice small bits of metal scattered around, some a bright yellow others gray and the father up they went the bigger and more whole they became.
"Oh my Oum! Guys check this out!" Ruby squealed, looking at one of the few whole objects they stumbled upon.
Not only the rest of team RWBY but the rest of the huntsmen in training and professors came over. What they saw peaked some interest.
In front of Ruby was what appeared to be excavation equipment, an odd looking piece of equipment at that. A large pack with two arm long braces, one hand a drill the other a claw. "So cool." Ruby muttered to herself.
Weiss looked over the equipment, "I didn't think there was a mine on this island."
"There isn't." Glynda interjected. "Miss Rose, is there any name on it?"
"Hang on a moment." Ruby examined the equipment. Once she got to the back, she found something. "Here we go!" she turned it so it was facing her, "Madison, Wisconsin. And in large bold is 30A, whatever that means…"
Glynda let out a small hum, "Alright, leave it for now, we can retrieve it on the way back."
Everyone kept going except for Ruby who just stared at the equipment for a moment. "I shall find out your secrets soon." she said, hugging the dusty gear.
"Ruby!" Yang called, "Hurry up!"
"Soon…"
Bunker 30A Floor 9: Day 3
The small pocket of people still left in the underground huddled around the dim light. At most there were a little over a hundred miners and twenty others of various professions. The power had been out, the food had been rationed and with any hope higher floors had food as well. and oxygen was still plentiful but a worrying concern.
The small amount of diggers had been split into two groups, those who kept the monster at bay away from the few others buried underground and the others who focused on their goal of getting out from under ground, over twenty nine thousand feet separating them from the surface.
"Where are you going to die here!" yelled someone.
"Shut up!" yelled a small girl, a teenager with long hair covered in dust, which was currently a very common thing for everyone. "Acting like that we won't do anyone good."
"Well what the hell do you think will happen?" another voice in the small group asked. "Over twenty thousand feet between us and the surface. Odds are those who did escape aren't going to come down."
A digger let out a sigh, watching as everything went down. "Think we'll die down here?" he asked the man to his right. Four drills working at once made a lot of noise but having good hearing was something most diggers had in common.
The one next to him let out a small hum, "Odds are not in our favor. If we die down here it'll damn suck, but if power is working at all on floor eight then we'll have a lot more hope."
"And the upper floors could try to excavate and try to save this place." the one who started the conversation suggested, but the look on his face quickly changed, "Na, not likely. Odds are they plan to abandon this place, the damage is to greet."
"Yeah, I guess." the other said. "Think it's our time to switch?" he asked.
The first shook his head, "We can keep going, the more work done, the better chance we have of getting the hell out of here." the two nodded their heads, continuing their two person thick trail to the surface.
Back at the camp things began to get more and more rowdy, and not in a pleasant way. People were sobbing, people putting fist up, and others just looked like they had no point in doing anything, even breathing.
A fist met a face. "Shut it! I said we're not getting out of here brat! We're going to die, and this is our tomb!"
The girl from before glared at the man in front of her. He looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel. "And why can't I be optimistic. Over twenty nine thousand feet? We have the air, the food, and the equipment. If we run into other people our odds double as well. So stop bitching and being so pessimistic." she rubbed the spot she had been hit, not saying anything but wanting to deck him too was something she wanted to do.
"Because there's no evidence we'll get out! Really, even if we do get out the rest of the population will have already left us! Madison is dead, so they're leaving us! And if we do get up we'll be so far behind them we might as well try our luck with those things out there!" he yelled at her. "Look at us! You think we can last even another week? Hell no! So go to those damn moles! If you want to get out go and dig! But when you die, when we die from starvation, know I told you so!"
"Fine!" the girl yelled. "If you think I'm going to dig, then I'm digging." she stormed off to the nearest digger, she would be damned if they didn't get out.
"A week? Phft, I doubt we'll die in a week, we should get to floor eight by then and if we pull all nighters almost to seven." she brunette mumbled to herself.
A mindset carried by all the diggers and this girl was this one thing.
"We are getting out of here."
So, chapter 2 is done and it seems that Remnant is on the move and things are going down is Madison (Formally Milwaukee, I know some of you might check and notice I talk about Madison as if it is where Milwaukee is.)
So Remnant is checking out this pillar of light on Marigold, wondering what'll happen, and will Ruby really discover the secrets the excavation gear has? What about those of Bunker 30A, will they be able to get out? Will those on the surface abandon them? All greet questions.