Ch.16 The Heist of the Century
Neo's inner criminal prick up after seeing the title.
The Elevator came to a stop and the three walked out of it. They then proceed to the end of the hall, near the end of the hall they come to an overhanging walled balcony with bulletproof glass. On the other side of the glass sat a huge dome-like structure, the Vault just within their grasp and overhanging a depthless pit with a sea of the cloud looming below. It would have been a simple walk to the Vault but a force field like beam blocked the door. There was of course another way into the Vault, through the maintenance tunnel. But when Six was trying to open the doors to the maintenance tunnel a very haunting warning came up.
Warning: If Vault security is disabled and the Vault terminal is breached, the elevator will automatically return to the Suites and lock permanently in place. After that, there is no way to operate the elevator, and the Vault area is sealed off. As requested by Mr. Sinclair, there is no manual or terminal override once the elevator is locked. Once initiated, it cannot be undone.
Until that time, the elevator may be operated freely from the terminal above.
"Ah, shit." Yang said with Neo raising a sign up.
It was really disturbing to say the least but Six paid it no attention. Rather he just got the door opened and walked down the halls, destroying every single radio that he came across. As the two followed slowly behind him Ruby started to notice something was off with Six. The way he moved through the decaying ruins, the areas where the collars were placed, the dead zones where the collar can't go off. It was like he has been here before.
"Wait, what?!" Weiss raised the questions with the others shocked at that clue.
"Pst, Weiss. Is it me or is there something off about Six?" Ruby whispers as she and she climb down a decaying stair.
"Weird as usual? Ruby to be honest I don't trust him even now." Weiss remarks without taking her eyes off him.
Weiss has to agree with her counterpart, she doesn't trust the Courier. And now he is in a deeper hole for her.
"Um, well it's just that he seems completely focused on getting into the vault, like he has done this before." Ruby answerers in a worried tone.
"That is weird, didn't you say that Six thought it was a myth?" Sienna asks the ginger bomber who was all too happy to explain everything the previous 'night'.
"Are you saying you're not interested in what's in the vault? Ruby there is treasure that will set you up for life and free me from my family. I don't know or care that Six knows where all the Radio's are at, but I quite frankly don't care. As long as he can get me to the vault then that's all I care about." Weiss said as she hurries up to catch up with Six, just so she can get within the vault. This now made Ruby even more worried about Weiss rather than Six.
Weiss notices how her counterpart is acting, she hasn't acted like that since the 1st quarts of Beacon.
The three made their way through the maze of decaying catwalks that led down and up, the wall had speakers some were too far or shielded. Still despite this Six points out where they were located and Weiss safely destroyed them. As they went further down the maintenance tunnel, they came across a bottomless pit filled with the cloud. On the catwalk over it was guarded by ghosts. Terrifying as it was useful Six knew where the controls were and with Weiss Semblance, they went under the catwalk undetected without falling into the cloud below. Once past the guards. The three then walked down some more corridors till they had reached the end of the hall. There they came to the Vault itself. One big circle just to reach the treasure of the old world itself. As they walked down the ramps to the platform they came across a horrifying sight. Bones of previous treasure hunters laid there full sight of their eyes. Bones wearing the clothes Legion and NCR alike. Some were betrayed, others killed in a scuffle. None of them were wearing a collar.
"That's not creeping, that's not creeping at all." Sun nervously says trying to keep morale up but failing.
As Ruby looked over the bodies in horror Six and Weiss just simply walked over them. They both walked to the open door. As they do so a light reflected from inside. As the light dies down both of their stoic faces shift to greedy smiles and excitement. Without even thinking both of them nearly topped over each other to get inside. Inside to the right was a stack of old-world currency and gold bricks. Enough to buy at least five fatman mini nuke launchers from the Gun Runners. To the left were multiple scientific instruments and notes that could put the Schnee dust production out of business, or in Weiss case start her own and topple her father's corrupt company. At the end of the room was a circular desk with a computer on top, behind it was the logo for the Sierra Madre. As both let out cries of joy can be heard from inside, Ruby took a moment to actually look around. She noticed a terminal next to the door. On it was a message that caught her attention as she read it the door slowly closed.
Sienna raised an eyebrow at the mention of Weiss toppling her father's business, one that oringent from Nicholas.
WARNING
Only the trustworthy may enter my Vault.
F.S.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Ruby mutters after reading the warning.
As Ruby pounders the door makes a sudden creak which gets her attention. She notices the door was about to close, possibly for good. Without thinking about her own safety, she quickly used her semblance to jump into the vault as the door locks tightly behind her. Sealing them inside the vault. With the vault locked Ruby begins to panic. With all her strength she couldn't make the door budge.
"So what was the plan Rubes?" A curious Yang asks her sister.
"I honestly have no idea." Ruby answered before having her face land on her hands.
"Um guys, I can't get the door to open." Ruby said as she backed away. The feeling of claustrophobia starts to fill her with dread. But neither Six nor Weiss cared; they were too busy taking in what their heart's desire.
Coco leans forward behind Ruby and pattings the young leader's head, before whispering. "I get ya." Ruby smiles and nods, somehow hearing that for an upperclassman was helpful.
"Oh, Benny won't be able to squirm his way out of this one. Oh, I can think of so many ways to kill him that I honestly don't know what to do with the leftovers." Six said greedily as he held a bar of gold in his hand.
"Formulas for Light shape construct, mineral alloys stronger than Kevlar and lighter than a feather, Gas that not only acts as a deterrent but also a clean power source? My Oum I must be dreaming, Goodby Schnee Dust Company and hello Schnee… Eh I figure a name for it later." Weiss remarks as she flusters over the scientific equipment.
As much as this made Weiss' brain thinking she couldn't help but say. "The hell is happening to me?"
"Maybe you have a bit of your father's greed." Sienna chimed in, everyone turns to the high leader. "I seen what having a competitive edge leads to, happened with Jacquass. I wouldn't be surprised if you share a similar fate."
Weiss looks down understanding what the tigress meant, she went to Beacon to get away from her father's corrupting influences, but she was watching herself falling for it. Then she feels a comforting hand on her shoulder, she looks up to see Blake glaring at her former mentor who held her ground. Weiss smiles and gives a small thanks to the former white fang member.
"Um, Guys didn't you hear me? We are locked inside!" Ruby said, trying to repeat herself. They didn't even bother to listen.
"What, oh yea that's great Ruby." Six Said waving her off.
"Not now Dolt, I need to save my brain for absorbing this information." Weiss said ignoring her.
"Ruby, if I ever do something like this, please wack me with Crescent Rose." Weiss asks her partner who gives an understanding O-k hand gesture.
Ruby was now starting to get annoyed. She needs a sure-fire way to get their attention but couldn't make them with her voice. So, she looked around and noticed a cabinet that had the word "Weapons" labeled on the side. She stomped on over and flung the cabinet doors open. Inside were a few Browning Automatic Rifles, Detective pistols, suits of security armor and helmets, a few laser pistols, ammunition for all these weapons. What caught her eye was a Remington twelve gage hunting shotgun. Normally she would be bedazzled by this cabinet but the way these two were acting felt like now was not the time.
"Totally agree with that statement." Velvet nods, she really wants to know what some of those blueprints that story Weiss is looking at but things are going down hill if something isn't done.
So, grabbing the shotgun shell loads the weapon before standing by the door and trying one last time to get their attention. "Guys. We are Locked inside the Vault. Can someone help m…"
"Oh, I know where this is going!" Yang says with a look that is like remembering a terrifying event. This leads the rest of the room to look at Ruby who just had a confused look.
"NOT NOW RUBY!" Both shouted at the same time. This made Ruby roll her eyes before pointing the shotgun to the ground and firing. This was a mistake on her end, one they were in an enclosed space so with nowhere for the sound to go it was the equivalent to a flashbang going off in both ears. The other was the fact that it was a slug rather than a normal buckshot, and since the floor was made out of reinforced metal the bullet ricocheted. The shot defends everyone sending them to the floor. As their sense of hearing slowly came back to them they realized that the slug was still bouncing off the walls and floor. The three spent a few moments dodging around as the slug nearly hit all three till it crashed into the generator on the left side of the room. Once the bullet ricochet has stopped Ruby can sit on the ground with her ears ringing like crazy. As she does so Six storms over and rips the shotgun from her hand before berating her. Problem was that all she could hear was a ringing noise.
"Oooooooh! Yeah, now I remembered. Man, dad and uncle Qrow berated me for hours." Ruby gave a small embarrassing chuckle.
"Yeah, because you were 'SIX!' When you 'FIRED!' Qrow's 'WEAPON'!" Yang shouted. "I was scared shitless, I don't even remember if I shit myself or not! Don't ever do that again, especially in an enclosed space!" Ruby used her semblance to rush behind the farthest from her sister, who just so happened to be Sienna Khan whose ears rise up and blink at the sight of the young reaper to her right.
"Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah!" Six Shouts without ruby understanding what he was shouting.
Ruby, Yang, Jaune, Nora and Sun give some chuckles as overs either snicker or giggle sans for Weiss didn't find it funny.
"What?" Ruby asked but before he could say anything Weiss joins in and goes on a rant.
"Ah, memories." Nora smiles nostalgically, before she notices everyone but Ren looking at her. "What, I use explosives. You ain't good unless you get close to deaf." The answer just disturbs her friends.
"Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah, Blah, Blah, Dolt, Blah!" Weiss shouts before stopping with a huff.
Ruby laughs so hard that she starts to cry, Sienna just stares at the girl before raising her arm getting ready to palm the young to make her stop laughing.
"What?" Ruby asked as her hearing finally returned.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT!" Both shouted enraged.
"Because you two wouldn't listen!" Ruby shouted as she was holding her side, not noticing Sienna's arm above her.
"Because you two weren't listening." Ruby said as she tried to get rid of the ringing noise in her ear.
Ruby throws her arms yell 'Dang it' and on reflexes, Sienna slams her palm on top of Ruby's head who falls down. "Sorry." Sienna apologizes and gets a 'That's okay' from the girl now laying on the floor.
"TO WHAT!" Six and Weiss said at the same time.
"That the door is locked and I can't open it." Ruby explains while pointing to the door. Both Weiss and Six looked up at the door. They immediately ran to the door to see if Ruby was being honest, and unfortunately, she was.
Neo shakes her as she brings up her sign. 'Should have listened, dum dums.'
Once the sick realization that there was no way of exiting was possible the two slowly begin to panic. That's when the sick realization came to both of their greedy minds. The only reason why they were locked in here was because of the other.
"Oh, my Oum." Weiss remarks before she turns to Six. He was still holding that gold bar. "… You greedy DOLT, it's your fault we are trapped in here!"
"My fault?! Bullshit, it's your fault!" Six snaps back.
"Oh, no, this is going to end badly." Sun stated seeing this in the back alleys of Vacou.
"My fault, not on your life! Sinclair probably set up a safety security on the gold. If you didn't put your greedy little mitts on them then we wouldn't die of starvation in this tomb!" Weiss snarls at Six.
Neo raises a new sign up. 'Those things will kill you from hypoxia over starvation.' She then flips the sign to the other side. 'Vaults tend to be airlock to make it harder to get.' With her over hands comes a new sign. 'So you will be in there and breath up all the oxygen in the room.' Before flipping it. 'And runs out of it will kill you.' Weiss and Ruby's eyes widen in fear with them now worried about how long they will hold their breath.
"Why would he set up a trap on his finances? It's like placing Brahmin steak as a bait when you're starving. No, it's your fault because you had to get your snobby hands all over his high tech gadgets. Five caps says one of them will actually let me turn into a ghost all just to haunt you princess bitch!" Six replies back aggressively.
Weiss felt a nerve grow at Six's insult at her.
This in turn caused the two to get into a verbal argument that could end with both of them turning on one another. As the argument becomes hotter and hotter Ruby starts to get fed up and quickly swipes the Shotgun back from Six before blasting the generator again. This time it was a buckshot and the sound wasn't as bad a last time but it definitely got the two to stop.
"Damn it, Rubes!" Yang yells as both Blake, Velvet and Sienna glare at said girl while covering their animal ears.
"AHHH, The hell?" Six shouts as he covers his ears.
"Ruby Rose, why would you do the same thing again you do… (Slap)" Before Weiss could even finish Ruby actually did something completely out of character. She walked up to Weiss and slapped her across the face. This caught both Weiss and Six completely off guard. "… you slap me?"
Weiss' eyes widened in shock, though she understood why, she was still stunned at her partner's actions.
"(Deep inhale) … WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!" Ruby shouts with a very disappointed look on her face.
"Me?" Weiss asked as she rubbed her cheek with one hand and pointed at herself with the other.
"Yes you! When I saw you back in the Villa, I was so excited to see my partner again, but you change. Changed so much that I hardly recognize you anymore! You were obsessed with one thing and one thing only, this dumb vault!" Ruby shouts in a stern tone.
"Wait." Coco's eyes widened.
"But can't you see what this Vault holds. Do you have any idea what it's like to be berated by everyone who was trampled under my family's company, or when my father returned from a very bad day at work?" Weiss said in her defense to which Ruby raised her hand up again causing Weiss to flinch. Instead of being slapped she felt her hand on her shoulder. She opens her eyes to see Ruby staring deeply into her eyes.
Sienna noticed how Weiss reacted to her story self, she looked ashamed and in pain. She notices how Weiss wraps her arms around her as she pulls her knees closer to herself. The way Weiss acted made it seem the Jacque wasn't a saint to his family as with the faunus.
"Of course, I do, but not when it comes to the expense of you." Ruby said in a very sincere tone before quickly turning around to Six causing him to flinch. "And you, I don't know what's gotten into you but you have changed. First you wanted to leave but the moment we came down here your goal has been on what, money?"
"Money that I'm going to use to buy weapons to kill that son of bitch who shot me." Six said loudly under his breath. Ruby responds by tossing him the shotgun.
"There one." Velvet calmly said.
"Well now you have the weapon, go do it. Kill Benny. Oh, wait, you can't because you were to focus on getting these gold bricks out here!" Ruby scorns causing Six to look down in disappointment.
"Okay, I think I get the idea of this story arc." Coco said proudly which caught the others attention. "So, everyone we have seen so far had their own goals before entering the Sierra Madre. Domino wanted to stick it to Sinclair before getting wounded and couldn't do it himself. Christine wants to kill the old man, now she might even get the chance to kill him now. And DoG wants GoD out of his head while GoD wants to keep DoG safe and now they're both most likely gone. And it all seems that each of them were after something and survived by letting go." After explaining everything she said before turning to Xion. "Am I close?"
Xion thought about before giving the nod before everyone turned to the screen.
"Now! I would like to go back to the strip, not to gamble, not to see people dance in weird clothing, not to meet Mr. House, just so I can put this nightmare fuel casino behind us." Ruby said as she talked normally and calmly. "Now, stop arguing. Everything inside this vault has been nothing but trouble. Outside are skeletons of people who couldn't see past their greed. The world can be much better off if none of this treasure never sees the light of day. So please make up and let's try and find a way out of here."
"I'm starting to understand what Coco meant." Penny said as the fashionista raised her head up high.
Both Six and Weiss were moved by Ruby's words. Looking back on it Ruby is right, greed was as thick as the cloud that surrounded the entire Sierra Madre. It nearly killed them in this room, if it wasn't for Ruby they may have ended up like the skeletons outside. So, taking a glimpse around one last time Six and Weiss did something that most people couldn't or wouldn't do on their own. They let go.
"(Sigh) I'm… Sorry." Six said as he dropped the gold bar to the ground.
"Yes, well… it seems I too must apologize for my behavior. It seems that even I can become intoxicated by this place." Weiss said with a very disappointed look on her face.
"Good, now hug it out." Ruby said only to get a dirty look from the two.
Everyone laughs at the loss of intensity in the air.
"We will say our sorry but don't think for a moment we will be all mushy about it." Six said with a stern look.
"Agree, we were drunk on greed. We can keep this professional without physical attachment." Weiss remarks in a stern tone.
Yang and Coco laugh even harder as Nora falls on the floor holding her side.
"(Sigh) Alright well let's just see what we can do to get out of here." Ruby said with the other two agreeing.
They spent the better part of five minutes checking the vault they found there to be no way of unlocking the door. So, they turn to the terminal at the end of the room. They were hesitant to activate it but with no choice they opened it to see there was a message for Vera on it. The three begin to read the message, getting a mixture of emotions from it.
Nora started climbing back to her chair as everyone leaned forward.
Vera
If you are reading this, my fears have come to pass, and this is my apology.
I hope you realized what my last words meant to you. If so, they have led you here, and this place will keep you safe. I know what they meant for me, and I fear they have trapped me here.
I have extracted the previous entry after our previous conversation tonight. It can't have been easy for you, and I'm sorry for all I've put you through in silence. I know while you do not love me, you did not mean any malice in what you did.
Weiss remembers a similar situation from her tenth birthday.
I knew about your plans to rob the casino with Dean before you told me. Hearing it from you didn't make it any easier. For what it's worth, I am glad you told me yourself, and I understood the tapes he had in his possession.
Yang could tell that Sinclair was being sincere with what he was saying.
I do not think either one of you realized what your addiction stemmed from, however, and that is the tragedy in this. I suspect the world would not have believed you, regardless, so I respect your desire to keep it from others.
When first building this Villa, this casino, I meant it for you. As the world seemed to race headlong toward war, it became part of my desire to protect you. The loans, the funding I poured into the casino's construction…
I knew it would not matter when war came for us. It was my means of creating a shelter, a defense if the world was bombarded in radiation and bombs.
"He did all this to protect her?" Blake asks herself with a little amazement before feeling her hand clenched tightly.
When Dean revealed his plans inadvertently through our introduction, I realized what had happened, and how I had been tricked. For a time, my thoughts were dark. I changed the casino vault from a shelter to a trap, as I knew the first one to enter would be Dean. He would die down here, and it would have been by his own hand.
Weiss covered her mouth with her hands, if Dean wasn't injured he would have come to his destiny.
I fear, however, that I overstepped myself, and the only safe place in the casino is the Vault. I have tried to rewire the systems, change the protocols, and I cannot. I will do one last check on the pipes by the edge of the outside platform and see if anything can be done. I fear it is useless.
Velvet sighs as she has a good feeling of what happened to Sinclair.
If you come down here, do not access my personal accounts entry.
It contains only a message for Dean, and it will seal the door and you will have no way out - even the elevator is designed to automatically return when the door is closed, and it will lock in place.
There should be enough in the Vault to sustain you until help arrives. I have ensured that there is enough medical supplies down here to keep you comfortable.
Jaune remembered that Vera had some kind of terminal illness, so see that made him sigh in relief.
The holograms should defend the casino from any attackers, and the hologram beacon in the Villa will broadcast an emergency signal so that others know you are here.
When danger has passed, rescue will come.
I hope you were able to read this, and know that I loved you.
Frederick Sinclair
Silence takes hold of the room, what they had learned caught them off guard. To find out someone you love betrays you would break any person, Weiss and Blake knew this by 1st and 2nd experiences with it. But finding out that he still loves her was surprising for them.
Once the message is finished a file that reads "Personal accounts" appears on the screen. Knowing full well what will happen Six simply powered off the computer. They were trapped down here but they could still escape. Someone just has to come down and the door will open. Hopefully it would be Christina or Dean who will attempt to get in if Elijah didn't already kill them. Speaking of Elijah, the moment Six turned off the computer, the golden symbol above the computer split in half to reveal a green screen with Elijah's face showing.
Everyone shouted their destain for the old man.
"You're in the Vault, finally. After all this time the Sierra Madre is… mine." Elijah said in an almost happy tone. "Don't move, don't go leave the vault. And don't touch anything, there may be more traps down there."
"Hopefully you get caught in it." Jaune says bitterly.
"Oh, hello again. Father Elijah." Ruby said coldly. "You have a lot to answer for."
"Nobody called me that for some time, eh. Doesn't matter, but what should I answer for number 17, your greed, curiosity? You two came down here on your own, nobody held a gun to your heads. I've hacked your Pip-Boys I've seen your maps and notes. You picked up the Sierra Madre signal just as I did, you couldn't resist." Elijah said in a stern and berating tone. "So, if you feel I have a lot to answer for… no, the blame of you two coming here isn't on my shoulders. Might as well put the collars on yourself."
"Why we are in the situation, it's the fact you cause so many deaths to begin with!" Ruby almost shouted at the screen.
"Doesn't matter, you could have been a man and done this your damn self. But no, you just hid yourself and set traps just so you don't get your hands dirty." Six said coldly.
Sienna agrees with Six on his comeback.
"Hiding, hardly. Trapped, mostly." Father Elijah said before pausing briefly. He then continued in a more irritated tone. "You think you're the first ones to unlock the casino doors? No, I did it… with other hands, other bodies. After that the casino wouldn't let go. Once I was locked in, no way out till your Pip-Boy came onto my radar in the Villa. Then things changed and you already know the rest. Now I'm getting quite bored with this, I thank you for your service but now you two will die. I'll set off the collars the moment I'm on the floor."
Neo looked at Elijah like he was an idiot. 'Then you can kiss whatever you were after goodbye.' Her sign reads as Nora joins in.
"Yeah, an explosive, no matter how small should not be activated in such a small space. The blast alone could do damage around it's radius, not to mention the said damage would cause after that."
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Weiss said speaking to let Elijah know of her presence.
"What, who is this? Who are you!?" Father Elijah shouts.
Weiss leans back with a smug look on her face. "A Ghost, you old bastard." Everyone turns to her in surprise. "What, you can't tell me I can't say that with the hell he put me and Ruby in." That made everyone give an 'Alright' before turning back to the screen.
"Not important… for once. What I do know is that if I were you I wouldn't try turning on the collars."
"And why is that. If this is some attempt to threaten me let me tell you it won't work. Tougher opponents had tried to take my life. That was after my prime, so even if you survived to watch your friends' heads pop which I'm doubtful then I'll kill you myself." Elijah threatens.
"Ah that is my point right there. If you do set off the collar then you run the risk of blowing up something important down here." Weiss comments as she leans against the desk.
"Exactly my point, thanks Weiss-y" Nora says before throwing herself on top of Weiss who like any normal person does and panics before falling out of her seat.
"Ah, clever but whoever built this place built it to survive the war, I'm sure the vault which was specifically designed to take the nukes can as well. Besides what can a few small explosions do in the face of that?" Father Elijah said calling Weiss bluff.
"I don't know all it takes to destroy the treasure is for me to snap a single holotape or software system. But if I don't feel like chipping a nail, I could always use the weapons down here, that is if you didn't already activate the bombs on these two dolts collars." Weiss remarks as she looks at her actual chipped nails.
Sienna couldn't help but chuckle at the heiress threat, she is starting to hope that Jacque can die so she can finally see how the girl will do. Who knows, maybe she'll improve the faunus rights. That did bring a thought to come, an almost devious thought if one can tell.
"Heh, clever. No matter even if so, you would have destroyed the access to the data, not the data itself. Besides there would be safeguards in place to prevent loss of data." Father Elijah comments.
"Yes, but how long have you been here? Because I have been here for an entire week and so far from what I learn. There are too many safeguards, it will simply be an exchange one trap for another, maybe it will be worse than the one you already know." Weiss said in a very smug voice
"I can confirm what Weiss says is true. Atlas CCT defense network is changed once a month to keep outside hackers from trying to hack in the systems." Penny explains to her friends as Weiss finally free herself from the Valkyrie hold.
"Wha, why ugh… You definitely got me there, but surely if that is true you would rather destroy yourself rather than destroy the vault. Truly you recognize the importance of this vault. Surely you know there is something you desire from it. I'm sure you wouldn't dare destroy it." Father Elijah said trying to coax Weiss into greed. It almost worked but one look at Ruby gave her the strength to let go.
Weiss turns to Ruby and mouths 'Thank you' which Ruby gives a thumbs up.
"True, but when I think about it, I don't really need this vault or its wonders. If it means people like you can't access it then so be it. At least the world will be safer because it." Weiss said as she got off the counter.
"Why, I… you snot nosed brat! Who do you think you are?" Father Elijah shouts.
"My name is Weiss Schnee, do remember it. Because it's the name of the person who destroyed your chance of ever seeing contents inside the vault." Weiss said strongly. Father Elijah didn't respond for several minutes. Once he did it was clear he now has blood on his mind.
"Didn't know you were so fiesty Snow Angel." Coco says with a wink which made the heiress blush.
"You arrogant low life. Very Well, Schnee I'm coming down. When I'm done with you, I'll make sure to pin your body to the Sierra Madre and your head at Helios. Just to show the world what happens when it crosses me." The screen went dark and the screen vanished back under the golden symbol of the vault.
Sienna gave a soft giggle at hearing a Schnee called a low life, but it then began to be darker as she knew the old man is going to die soon.
"Um, Weiss. What are you thinking, once he gets down here, he is going to activate our collars. I don't want to lose my head, I need it for eating cookies." Ruby said as she held her head.
The hunters-in-training laughed as Ruby's blushing face began to be covered in her hands. Neo uses her semblance to appear next to the young girl and pat her back.
"No this is actually smart. Once he enters the elevator the Vault door opens up, we will have time to get away. If we can hide from him then we can get to another floor and he can't activate the collar." Six remarks as he holds his chin. "That's actually clever."
"Better than waiting to explode… Wait, didn't they change the frequency?" Nora asks.
"That must have been a reckon on the author's part." Blake said.
"Thank you, Six." Weiss remarks as she pulls out a Cuban cigar that Dean gave her when for celebration. As she lights the fancy cigar, she takes an inhale of the strong and expensive tobacco before exhaling. Once done the door then unlocks as it opens up. With a faint smile she places the cigar down on the table. "Alright let's leave this intoxicated place."
Weiss swell up with pride before a bagging envelope lands on her lap, she opens it and sees what is in it. A light blue lighter with the Schnee emblem on it, a Cuban Cigar and a note saying 'For when you go to the bastard's funeral.' Weiss pockets them quickly before turning back to the screen.
With that understanding the three quickly left without turning around. Over by the entrance, the elevator touched down. Its door opens up and outsteps Father Elijah wearing a blue military robe. As he walks toward the Vault, he pulls a gauss rifle from his back. As he walks to the entrance of the vault, he stops at the light construct barricade. He held up his arm revealing that he had a Pip-Boy of his own. He then pushed a few buttons and the light construct vanished. He walks down the stairs to the Vault. As he does so he noticed that the Vault door was slightly open. So, he raised the gauss rifle to his shoulder as he slowly approached the vault. He slowly opens the vault door and moves the rifle around. Inside the vault was empty of any human traces, except for a cigar laying on the desk. He gave a confused look and was about to enter when an alarm was set off.
"What, alarms?" Father Elijah asked out loud before turning around. The light construct had returned and on the other side was the three that he had come down to kill. "You! Trying to rob me again 21! I'll see you dead this time."
Neo smirks as she raises a sign. 'To late.'
He then pressed a button on his Pip-Boy and both Ruby and Six's collars started to beep. With the beep the three made a mad dash to the elevator. As they ran Father Elijah fired a shot from his Gauss rifle. The metallic pole shot out, smashing through the bulletproof glass and almost impaled Weiss' head. Still the three got to the end of the hall and entered the elevator. Once inside Ruby begins to bash the up button. The doors closed and lift ascended upwards. As it does, the collars begin to beep faster and faster. Six and Ruby's life flashed before their eyes as the beep was about to go off when it suddenly went silent. With a loud sigh the three laid back against the wall before slumping down. As the three sat there silently for a few moments till Six breaks the silence.
Everyone releases a collective breath from the scene, and now everyone hopes Elijah dies a painful death.
"Hey, Weiss." Six stated.
"Yeah?" Weiss remarks with a now tired tone.
"Sorry you didn't get what you were looking for." Six said apologizing.
"… It's fine. I'm not usually the one to say this but there is plenty of fish in the sea." Weiss remarks.
"What? That makes no sense Weiss." Jaune turns to Weiss.
"Yeah, I have no idea why I would say that." The heiress agrees with the blonde knight.
"A what?" Six asked.
"Fish, as in what I'm referring to, is that there is more chance for me to learn something new." Weiss answers.
"The metaphor still didn't make sense, normally that's for people not items." Pyrrha added.
"No, I do get the meaning of the metaphor but what is a fish? Is it like some kinda Mirelurk or something?" Six asked, getting a strange look from the two.
"The fucks a mirelurk?" Yang says with the same look as the White Rose partners on screen.
"Um, I actually don't know what a mirelurk is but sure. You do get what I'm talking about." Weiss said.
"Yeah I do, it's just I never seen or even heard of fish." Six explains.
"Is it because of the amnesia from the two bullets to the head?" Ruby asked, causing Weiss to look at her curiously.
"I'm still calling bull on that." Weiss stated.
"Probably." Six answers to Weiss shock.
"Wait, you were shot, twice… in the head?" Weiss asked with a brow now raised.
"That and a dirt nap. That's why I agreed to come with Ruby to the Sierra Madre in the first place. Sell some salvage gear, buy some guns and kill the man who shot me. Benny." Six explains as he brushes up his hair to reveal the bullet scars on his head.
"Damn, he must have some luck on him." Coco whistle.
"He has about the same amount as Wombag." Xion calmly says in the back. "I would say he is a good guy, but he is lucky to be alive." That both confuses and concerns the guests.
"Oh, well I wish you good fortune in finding him." Weiss comments in a sincere tone.
"Thanks." Six said as he leaned back. "(Sigh) and to think we are leaving empty handed after all this bullshit." Six comments to himself as he leans back,
"Agree, even if it was something minor it's a shame we had to leave behind a fortune of wealth and knowledge to be forever lost to time." Weiss said in an agreeing tone. The three then returned to being quiet but just as it stopped it began again.
"… Well, that may not be entirely true." Ruby comments as she reaches behind her and pulls out a single gold bar.
"Ruby you little sneak, of course you took the gold bar." Weiss pouted at the obvious favoritism, and who could blame her, Six saved her out of the meat grinder in the Mojave more than Weiss did for her in the Sierra Madre.
"What the hell, Ruby, how did you get that?" Six asked as Ruby handed the bar to him.
"Oh, well while Weiss was giving that super awesome speech, I noticed this little bar on the counter and thought he was supper lonely. So, I was going to place back with the rest but we sort of ran out of time." Ruby explains before pulling a laser pistol. "Oh, and I know it isn't something as cool as those holograms but maybe you can reverse engineer this? I can help you out if you want me too."
Weiss became absolutely dumbfounded at her partner's actions and couldn't help but feel relieved that Ruby still for her… But she still wants to strangle this Wombag fellow.
Weiss was absolutely dumbfounded, same as Six but both couldn't help but chuckle at it all. Weiss graciously takes the laser pistol while Six handed her the gold bar back. The reason being that with everything that happened, she was the only one who deserved it. The elevator then stopped before the door opened. The three made their way through the suits before arriving at the elevator downstairs as they reached the lobby door Six stopped for a moment.
"Forget something?" Penny asks with a head tilt.
"Hold on a second guys. I need to grab something from Vera's room." Six said as he turned back around.
"Seriously, why do you need to?" Weiss asked.
"To fulfill a promise to the babysitter." Six answerers before leaving the lobby.
A handful of seconds passed before everyone from the previous arc laughed their asses off, which not only surprised the rest but made them confused about the joke.
With Six gone the two sat down on the stairs. Ruby begins to play with her Pip-Boy. She started to play with the radio when she noticed a new radio broadcast was in her radio section.
"Huh, hey Weiss do you know what this is?" Ruby asked as she showed Weiss the radio.
"Um, no." Weiss answers. So the two moved together and Ruby activated the radio. It was static at first till they heard the faint panting sound. It soon became apparent that it was father Elijah on the other line. His Pip-Boy must have been damaged because of how static was in the background.
Neo raises a sign. 'See, told you. He is going to die from Hypoxia.'
"Heh... now, come on, you open up. Open up, damn you. Open the vault... I can make it worth your while, think about what you're throwing away. I have other weapons, other technology I can share with you. And the Big Empty... I know the way there. I know some of its secrets... if... The collars... the collars were a mistake, I see that now. Why would I kill you? After all you've done... after all we've done together. Are you listening to me?! Everything down here... I swear... so much you could use, you could rule the wastes with what's down here... make your own army, re-shape the world, and if others disagree... put collars on them, I can show you how. Don't you leave me here. You can't do this to me. (Coughs, wheezing) Eh? Getting dark in here. Machine... machine's losing power, no. I still have Pip-Boy light... maybe... maybe... no, no, that doesn't work. Where... where is the door. Can't find the door. Calm, been in worse situations... find a way out... somehow, then find Schnee... Must be someone... maybe that courier, the one with the flag on his back... maybe... no... no, said he'd never come to the Sierra Madre... No way out. Can't... can't end like this. You. I know you can hear me. When you die, Schnee... I'll be waiting. Your grave's going to look just like this vault. When you die... I'll be waiting here... at the Sierra Madre. Waiting. When you die, I'll be waiting..."
Everyone listens to the old man's dying words and feels glad that someone who took so many lives died a fate worse than his cursed collars. After all, the collar would end you quickally while suffocation is slower and more painful. A fitting end to the Fallen Elder, now all that's left is watching the regrouping and leave together back to the Mojave.
With that the message dies and Father Elijah's Pip-Boy dies down, forever. Still after hearing that message Ruby was concerned for her friend. Before she could say anything Weiss actually spoke up.
"Oum almighty. What a complete asshole." Weiss said as she rubs her face where Ruby had slapped her.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." A smug Weiss says getting some agreements from everyone in the room.
"To think I almost turned out like him." Weiss then looks Ruby dead in the eye. "Ruby if I ever start to act like him you have full permission to slap me. But be worn, if you do slap me I will make you regret it."
"I'm holding all of you to that." Weiss added to Yang and Blake, who both nods.
"Heh, Heh. Sure, thing best friend." Ruby nervously chuckles. The two shared a laugh before Six came back down with a luggage bag. When questioned why he went back he simply states that he owes Veronica a dress. The three quickly left the Sierra Madre behind as they did so Vera's ghost appeared. She watches from afar but gives a faint smile before disappearing. After a few more moments the lobby's lights slowly turned off. Once the room was dark a slide show began with music playing in the background.
"She is actually Ghost, I knew it!" Ruby shouted out loud.
"What do you mean, Ruby?" Penny asks her first friend.
"Everytime! Evey flippin 'time, we saw that hologram, it has been acting weird. There's no two ways you can put it, that hologram is Vera Keyes whose soul hadn't rest!" Ruby tries to bring it words, which Velvet seems to be the most understanding.
"So you're saying that someone's soul can take the form of technology?" Penny head shot towards the rabbit at want she said.
"That is possible!" Penny leans forward which causes the faunus girl to do the same backwards. "I know it's possible!"
"Really, how?" Pyrrha asks.
"Because… I um, been study on souls *hiccup* and their interaction with *hiccup* Atlas tech *hiccup*." Penny releases she will get caught if she continues and tries to make herself seem small.
"You okay?" Coco asks, a little concern for the normally happy girl. "Need some water?"
"No, thank you." Penny calmly says. 'That was close.' She thought.
Play We'll meet again by Vera Lynn
"What's going on?" Ren asks which Xion answers.
"It's a slideshow. You'll be seeing them a lot after this chapter." Xion says before staring back at the screen.
"The survivors of the Sierra Madre Casino thought about gathering at the Fountain and waiting for the Courier and his friends. In the end, the collars' silence made them uneasy, and the fear of turning on each other made them hesitate, and leave the goodbyes - unspoken. The radio message at the fountain was enough for them, and there was no need to add another farewell on top of all they had suffered." Christine Narrates as the slide of the old casino changes to that of DoG/GoD walking away with Sierra Madre in the distance and a smile on his face.
"Welp, there goes that thought." Yang voiced out what everyone was thinking.
"DoG forgot himself, as did the voice that raged within him. After their passing, a new voice spoke within the mutant's shell. It was difficult for the voice to remember the two it once was... there was the beast, DoG consumed by hunger... ...and the other in reverse... the one consumed by control. Both were driven by need for the other. The Courier brought them together, somehow, joined the two into one. All that happened at the Sierra Madre, was a faint memory of the new personality... like a flickering light in the clouds of the mind. The new voice did not think of the Courier again until the battle at the Divide reached his ears. The battle between the two couriers and the Red Reaper, beneath the torn skies and the Old World flag... each bearing a message for the one other. And the mutant prayed the Courier and the Reaper that had saved him... had been saved in return."
DoG/GoD narrates as the slide changes to a slide of Dean Domino holding a suitcase that is on the verge of bursting and in his other hand a photo of Vera Keys, Sinclair, and himself at a bar in Hawaii. He was looking back at the screen with his trademark smirk in a new pair of sunglasses.
At first they all felt bad for the mutant until they heard some key words. 'The Battle at the Divide', 'Red Reaper' and 'Old World Flag', lead to more questions for them.
"Dean Domino, entertainer, singer... thief... explored the Sierra Madre not long after he was rescued by the Heiress. Once he left the theater, the Sierra Madre recognized him as a guest, and many doors opened to him. He had to admit, it had been built to last. During his search, he came across the final records of Vera and Sinclair, and realized what happened the night the bombs fell. He felt strangely sad for a moment, and he had no idea why. Shrugging it off, his mind turned instead to where the Courier and the little Reaper had come from. Vegas still survived, out there in the Mojave. Its sights, sounds... and casinos, ripe for the taking. So taking the heiress' actions to heart he set out giving the Sierra Madre one last nod and a wink, before he set off beyond the Cloud to begin again." Dean Domino narrates before the slide shifts to a picture of Christine patrolling the casino with the ghost people watching from within the blood red cloud.
Weiss feels a rise of joy takes her as to hear her partner in crime was not only alive but for the chances to see him again, next in better circumstances.
"Christine, her mission complete, found a new purpose as the Sierra Madre's warden. She watched over it silently - by choice. Over time, the ghost people came to see her as one of the Holograms. They would watch, silently, as she walked among them. At times, Christine thought of the Courier and his friends, who had kept Elijah's hand from her throat. The Courier reminded her of the other Courier she had met in the Big Empty, and wondered if the two had found each other at last. She did not think of them again until she heard the legends of the Divide. The Divide, where the two messengers and a Reaper, the two couriers, fought beneath an ancient flag, at the edge of the world, with Reaper to witness it all." Christine narrates before the slide changes back to the Sierra Madre Casino.
Ruby felt sad at hearing Christine decided to stay, but was a little happy that it was because of her own choice and that she saved. But like before, she couldn't help but worry about this future event she has yet to see.
"You've heard of the Sierra Madre Casino." Elijah spoke
"We all have, the legend, the curses." Christine spoke
"Some foolishness about it lying in the middle of a City of Dead." Dean spoke.
"A city of ghosts." DoG spoke.
"Beneath a blood-red cloud..." GoD spoke.
"...a bright, shining monument, reaching out, luring treasure hunters to their doom. An
illusion." Dean spoke.
"A promise that you can change your fortunes. Begin again." Christine spoke.
"Finding it, though, that's not the hard part. It's letting go." Elijah quotes.
"It's letting go." Dean quotes.
"It's letting go." Christine quotes.
"It's letting go." DoG quotes.
"It's letting go." GoD Quotes.
"It's letting go." Six quotes
"It's letting go." Weiss quotes.
"It's letting go." Ruby quotes.
"It's letting go." Everyone said in unison, now truly understanding the Sierra Madre's meaning. The meaning that will last till the day they each die.
The slide shifts to The Courier, Heiress, and the Reaper walking through the desert night with Sierra Madre in the distance shining brightly through the blood red cloud. The slide slowly fades away and turns to real life. In the distance Six, Ruby, and Weiss walked away from the casino as the view pulled back into the hotel. Inside the hotel window Vera's ghost slowly reappears. She looked out the window before placing her hand on the glass. As she watches another ghost appears behind her. Vera's ghost turns around before a smile forms on her face. The hologram was unlike the rest of the ghost, the screen slowly moved up to reveal the ghost wasn't wearing a duster with an old world flag etched into his back. His face wasn't shown but rather blocked by a Stetson with two cards sticking out of the hat. It then offered his hand for a dance, to which Vera's ghost gave a silent nod before taking his hand as the screen went black.
"It's letting go." Vera Quotes
Everyone looked at the screen for a solid minute before Yang spoke. "Um, Rubes? ('Yes, Yang?) I believe you about Vera's soul with that hologram, but do you have any idea who was that?"
"The Sierra Madre, takes certain souls to take the form for it's holograms. Vera is a good example, Dean if he had died… But that leaves the question, who could it be." A familiar spoke up on the other side of the room. Everyone turns to see Grim back wearing his normal clothes, Xion rushes to her father to give him a hug. "Hey kiddo."
"So how was this… Lupis' crusade to Combine's realm?" Ren asks.
"Made a Neo-Empire in his realm and the Slayers of Gods are being hunted down by the last man and all their tech is going to Combine. Honestly I trust him more than most people there. Anyways, how has the story been so far?" Grim asks and everyone starts asking him questions, two which of note to him involve a center ship… "Fucking, Wombag."
From Combine117: Yes, we might be seeing more of that in the future.
1) Yeah it is.
2) Good to hear.
3) Yep
Thanks for writing Combine
From thewittywhy: That's because she is, and thank you.
Thanks for writing thewittywhy
From Wombag1786: Don't remind me, Freyja is still saying you cheated on that drinking contest you two had. And good luck with that.
Thanks for writing Wombag1786
From Imperial Warlord: Yeah, they won't be too happy with that. One cruel mastermind replaces another.
Thanks for writing Imperial Warlord
From TheReckless1One: It's one of the ships Lindsay likes, and come on. We all saw those sparks sense season 1.
Thanks for writing TheReckless1One
From Carre: No problem man.
A) Yeah, but the DLC would already get on people's nerves. So lowering the numbers wasn't a bad thing in game.
B) Yes, October will have its first ten chapters release, while this story will have a continuation after this one. My only hint is that it's from the same writer.
Doing better, thanks for asking.
Have to work on the timeline but everything is doing fine.
C) I'm well aware of that, but I'll explain my reasons later.
I'm going with both, the soul is a strange thing is it not?
And thank you.
Thanks for writing Carre
From Khoashex: The Cunt Union will stay away from me. And if they do come then I'll have them ban faster then they can. After all, I have the writer's permission to write this story. But I will be making copies. Thank you for the warning.
Thanks for writing Khoaskex