The Hammer Rises

[The Beacon Tavern]

Qrow slowly walked downstairs, his hair still wet from his shower. He froze for the merest of instants upon entering the kitchen, Jaune's well-dressed silhouette reminding him of Damien. Then the younger Arc turned, holding a tray of cookies. If he was surprised at Qrow's silent entrance, he didn't show it, merely holding out the tray and nodding over his shoulder at the door to the bar. Taking it with a murmur of thanks, Qrow quietly shouldered his way through the door. The sight that met his eyes made his heart wrench. Yang and Ruby were sharing one side of a booth, his youngest niece resting her head in the lap of the eldest. Though Ruby's eyes were closed, her shoulders still shook once every so often, and Yang's eyes were bloodshot from crying even as she gently tousled her sister's hair. Velvet was kneeling by Ruby's head, holding the younger girl's hands in silent reassurance. Sun was busy with the teapot, pouring Yang another cup before noticing that Qrow was approaching. Pouring a third and leaving it on the table, he got up and patted Velvet on the shoulder, nodding back at the kitchen. The two faunus left Qrow with his family in peace as he sat down, setting the tray on the table between them.

He couldn't think of anything to say. This wasn't the first time he had had an attack, it used to be that he could never get through the night without waking from horrible nightmares, stalking the house and checking on his sleeping nieces until he was certain of the line between reality and dreams. They had gradually become less frequent over the four years since he had left the military, especially since his nieces had acted as a sort of improvised therapy: throwing himself into being a good parental figure left no time for wallowing in the past. He looked up from his tea and met Yang's lilac eyes, a jumbled mix of sadness, responsibility, and budding anger.

"You shouldn't have met with him" she said, her voice shaky but her tone firm.

"I know" Qrow replied.

And he did know. After Taiyang's death, he and Summer had taken it in turns to care for the girls while the other fought in the War. Though they still had their mother, they had to make do with a substitute figure instead of their actual father. And then, on the eve of the Battle of Fort Castle, they had lost their mother too. After he had quit the military to care for them full time, Qrow knew that he had to be everything to them, a father figure and a caretaker and a friend. Given the circumstances, he had done better than most would have. Still, their family dynamic, while close, was only held together by his own emotional stability. Yang had been forced into a premature adulthood as Ruby's mother figure, taking care of her sister more than Qrow had during the first few months when his brooding was especially intense. She had grown skilled at burying her own insecurities, fears, and pains in favor of being a solid rock for her sister to cling to. In turn, she clung to Qrow as he forced his emotions into check, locking away every horrible memory and emotion he had and throwing the key as far away as he could. This dynamic had slowly become invisible as time went on and their grief ran its course. It was not gone, however, and Qrow's sudden attack after dealing with Damien had brought back old wounds for his nieces and left them all shaken.

"Whatever it is that he asked of you" Yang went on, her voice low and serious. "You should turn him down."

"I know" Qrow repeated. He didn't want to endanger his family's emotional security any more than Yang or Ruby did, but what choice did he have? "But I can't."

"No..." Ruby mumbled, sitting up and staring at Qrow with wide, tearful, pleading eyes. "Don't go..."

"I have to" Qrow said, hating himself and the world in equal measure. "Damien's here to hunt 'the vigilantes', and some unusual moves have been made by unknown players in this city. If I don't know what's going on, how can I ensure your safety?" Yang looked conflicted but seemed to see some sense in the statement. Ruby, apparently, did not.

"No!" she repeated, wriggling out of her sister's arms and diving under the table to grasp Qrow around the waist. "I won't let you go!"

"Ruby..." Qrow began, knowing what was coming next.

"You won't come back!" she sobbed, burying her head in his abdomen. "You won't come back..." Qrow sighed a little, pulling Ruby up into his lap as he held her in his arms.

"I'll come back" he said, trying not to let survivor's guilt choke his voice as he thought about Taiyang and Summer. "I'll always come back."

"...Promise?" Ruby sniffled after a minute, her crying mostly abated.

"I promise" Qrow said, staring directly at Yang's elevated eyebrows. "All I have to do is gather some information, tell a few lies to Damien, and get out. No danger involved at all, see? I'll even call you throughout the day so you know where I am and what I'm doing." Ruby hesitantly nodded, her breathing slowly stabilizing.

"Do I smell cookies?" she asked in a very small voice.

"Yes, Ruby" Qrow replied, a grin cracking across his face. "Jaune made them for you." He watched his youngest niece slowly unwrap a single arm from around him to grasp at the cookie tray, still hugging him as she munched steadily away at her favorite comfort food. He was distracted by a quiet clearing of Yang's throat, and he looked up to see her giving him a significant look.

You will be fine, right? she seemed to be asking. He nodded yes, putting as much confidence and conviction as he could into the subtle motion. This task wouldn't break him, he wouldn't let it. After all, he had to come home to his family in one piece.

[Evening, the Beacon Tavern]

"Cheers!" the chorus passed around the table, glasses clinking together as everyone toasted Jaune's impending wedding.

"To health and happiness!" Ruby, now recovered from her earlier state, called, eliciting another chorus.

"To patience and virtue!" Yang added, raising her glass high.

"To being eternally cock bloc-" Sun began before Jaune's glass collided with his face. "Seriously guys! Not. Funny."

"If you want it to stop" Jaune said, rising to fetch himself another glass. "Then don't make stupid or inappropriate toasts."

"This happens often?" Velvet asked, remembering a similar turn of events when she had first joined the staff of the Tavern.

"Every time we throw a party" Yang replied, grinning at Sun and handing him a fresh napkin. Conversation was brought to a halt by the ringing of a fork on glass, and everyone looked up at Qrow.

"Tonight, we say goodbye to one of our greatest bartenders" he began, his grandiose tone not at all matching the twinkle in his eyes. "And wish him well as he embarks upon a hazardous journey through the world of endless social functions, charity, and sharing a bed with the heiress to the largest company on Remnant."

"The real danger being, of course" Jaune quipped, a smirk on his face. "The potential to lose my bride somewhere between the sheets." Everyone laughed at the joke about Weiss' stature, relaxing into the mood of the evening. Food and jokes were shared, battles of wits were engaged in, and the frivolity lasted late into the night.

[Noon, Vale P. D.]

Qrow looked up at the massive tower, pursing his lips and nodding slowly. It was impressive, he supposed, intended to be imposing enough to deter crime yet friendly enough to encourage civilian interaction with the officers of the law. Regardless of the relative success or failure of the architect, he just couldn't find it in himself to truly respect a building that he had infiltrated with relative ease. His sharp ears picked up a few inquisitive mutters, and he sighed as he let his gaze fall back down to the front door. He had chosen to wear his old hunting fatigues, a midnight black hooded cloak draped over an equally black suit of leather armor and tightly-laced combat boots, and the now-unusual outfit was naturally drawing stares from passersby. A smirk briefly flitted across his face as he began the short walk to the door. He had concealed his scythe and other equipment out of common courtesy, but he could still remember a time when hunters and huntresses walked down the streets openly armed and armored, hailed as heroes by all they met.

"Good morning" he said, calmly greeting the officer currently doing security duty at the front desk.

"Can I hel-" the young officer looked up, his somewhat bored voice instantly trailing off as he took in Qrow's appearance.

"I have an appointment with Damien Arc" Qrow went on, knowing that he had the officer's full attention. "And I don't think you want me to be walking through a metal detector to get there."

"Y-Yes..." the officer said, swallowing as he reached for a telephone. "I don't have the authority to waive you through, but if you'll give me a moment..." Qrow politely nodded, and the officer quickly dialed an extension.

While the young man was busy talking, Qrow took the time to admire the austere lobby, not that there was much to admire, but looking around and pretending to be impressed was less boring than looking around and not pretending. He heard the phone click back into place, and he was about to turn around when his gaze was caught and held by a rather confident newcomer. She was dressed in the all-black fatigues of the VCT, though she had replaced the standard-issue officer's cap with a beret. Her piercing brown gaze swept across the small crowd before settling directly on him. She strode forward without hesitation and boldly looked Qrow up and down.

"Identification?" she asked neutrally. Qrow handed her three plastic cards. The first was his Driver's License, a standard of ID across the world. The second was his military ID, proving his former rank. The third was his, admittedly expired, Hunter's License, which he had dug out of an old storage crate early this morning along with the rest of his gear.

"Very well then, Colonel Rose" the young woman said, her voice no longer neutral as she handed the cards back. Traces of awe had crept in, and Qrow winced at how far his reputation preceded him. He winced again when the security officer's face drained of all color, deathly afraid at having not recognized one of Remnant's living legends.

"Please, call me Qrow" he said, shifting uncomfortably. "I was never really fond of being referred to by rank."

"Of course, sir" the young woman said, nodding. "My name is Coco Adel, Chief Warrant Officer of the VCT's Vale Branch Special Forces and handler of Team SSN."

"Call me by name" Qrow insisted, returning the nod and gesturing at the elevators. "And I'm sure Damien will brief me, but why don't you tell me more about your team?"

"Of course, Mr. Rose'' Coco replied, waiving him through security without a backwards glance. "Team SSN is composed of three of the VCT's most promising operatives: Sage, Scarlet, and their team leader, Neptune Vasilias. Sage is a dust user, preferring to enhance his physical attributes and act as a one-man demolition team and mobile tank. Scarlet is an assassin, a relative loner who typically picks off high-value targets before they have a chance to run and helps set up Neptune's equipment. He also has a classified file, which even I'm not allowed to read despite my being responsible for him. Neptune himself is a mostly self-taught tech wizard who makes science fiction into science fact, if only for himself."

"How so?" Qrow asked, glancing at Coco as the elevator doors slid shut behind them and began to rise.

"He has somehow managed to link his aura with his homemade gadgets and custom weaponry" Coco explained. "The science of it is beyond me, but he can basically hack most anything, from the databanks of massive corporations to the cellphone in your pocket, regardless of its current connection to the internet."

"Sounds useful" Qrow said, making mental notes. "And how would you describe them as people?"

"Sage is a gentle giant with a mischievous streak" Coco replied. "He is calm and professional most of the time, but he tends to aid in Neptune's pranks for no reason at all. Oh, and he's mute, so I hope you know sign language if you want a direct answer."

"Noted" Qrow said, flexing his fingers as he recalled the rudiments of sign language. "And what's this about Neptune's pranks?"

"He tends to screw around a lot" Coco said, pulling a face. "They're all harmless, of course, and they never interfere with any missions. Still, it can be annoying to go take a shower and find that your usual soap has been swapped with a bar that smells of bacon."

"And Scarlet?" Qrow asked, chuckling at the thought of bacon-scented soap.

"He's, well..." Coco trailed off, pursing her lips and shaking her head. "He's a borderline sociopath. Normally he wouldn't have passed the psych evaluation, but the results were overridden, his records classified, and his commission pushed through. He has a disturbing love of violence, though he knows enough to keep it mostly under wraps. Overall, he's not the kind of guy you want to meet in a dark alley."

"Also noted" Qrow said grimly, following Coco's lead as she stepped out of the elevator. "And is that everyone?"

"Everyone I'm directly responsible for" Coco replied. "My assistant, Yatsuhashi Daichi, is here as well, along with two other officers who were sent here first."

By the names of Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, no doubt... Qrow thought to himself as Coco ushered him inside what appeared to be a barracks.

His thoughts were proven correct with a quick glance around the room. Lie Ren was sitting at a desk, calmly cleaning his Stormflowers as Nora fidgeted beside him, doing something on her scroll. A massive man with tattoos, evidently Sage, was having a pushup contest with a man whose Havenite features made Qrow assume was Coco's assistant Yatsuhashi. The blue-haired Neptune was playing cards with a pale, thin figure that could only have been Scarlet, though neither looked too enthused. All six looked up as Coco reentered the room, Qrow quietly stepping through the door behind her.

"Don't bother" he whispered as Coco opened her mouth to introduce him. "Damien will do it anyway, with far greater flair than necessary, no doubt..." Coco nodded and shut her mouth, sitting down on her bunk and resuming a book she had set down. Qrow leaned against the wall and surreptitiously checked his watch, noting that it was only a few minutes before Damien had expected him to arrive. He closed his eyes and folded his arms, fully content to ignore the confused glances he was getting and wait for Damien to clear up the situation. He didn't have long to wait.

"I see that everyone is here" Damien's voice announced, and Qrow opened his eyes. His one time friend was also dressed in his old hunter's gear, disjointed pieces of platemail similar to Jaune's harnessed over military fatigues. A rifle and sword lay against each other across his back, and a truly impressive pistol was holstered at his waist. This was no standard-issue 9mm semiautomatic, but a custom weapon built to be used exclusively by a man with Damien's significant aura reserves. A muscle in Qrow's jaw jumped when he saw that particular weapon, though he quickly forced the rest of his face to be impassive.

As if I needed further proof... he grumbled to himself, his eyes traveling over the sidearm, noticing that the Rose crest that his sister inscribed on all of her custom designs still remained on the grip of the weapon. She had given it to Damien during the Great Hunt, and he had used it to great effect more than once. To see him still wearing it, even after all he had done, only reaffirmed Qrow's desire to be done with him as soon as possible.

"As you may have guessed" Damien continued, and Qrow pulled his attention back to the present. "I have invited one of my oldest friends to join us in this operation. I would like to introduce my former partner, Qrow Rose." Qrow nodded at the assembled soldiers, who all instantly saluted with varying degrees of surprise. Nora and Neptune seemed to be the most affected, staring at Qrow like he was some sort of mythical figure. At the other end of the spectrum, Coco and Ren were utterly unaffected, their salutes crisp without a hint of emotion in them.

"At ease" he said almost instantly, ill at ease with the attention. The salutes dropped as quickly as they had risen, and everyone turned their attention back to Damien.

"Well, with that out of the way" Damien said, pulling a desk to the center of the room and setting his scroll down on it. "Let's get on with this briefing, shall we?" Everyone gathered around the desk, and Damien activated the holoprojector function on his scroll. A map of Vale's red-light district appeared, with several buildings marked in red against the background blue.

"Thanks to Lie's earlier reconnaissance and surveillance, we have managed to pull together a list of locations that are connected to organized crime" Damien stated, gesturing at the map. "More specifically, we have narrowed it down to those suspected of being connected to the largest player in Vale, one Cinder Fall." A mugshot was pulled up, displaying a dangerously beautiful woman with shoulder-length black hair and smoldering eyes.

"Cinder is a highly dangerous individual" Damien warned. "Not only is she a skilled aura mage that specializes in fire, but she is also a master of at least two forms of martial arts, adept at dust use, a former huntress, and is always surrounded by at least five bodyguards. If you encounter her, do not engage. Fall back and call for reinforcements, she is not someone you want to fight alone." Damien glared around the circle to emphasize his point.

"And this" Damien continued, switching Cinder's mugshots to those of a middle-aged man with ginger hair, a bowler hat, and a white suitcoat. "Is Roman Torchwick, Cinder's main lieutenant. He tends to be the face of her organization, as his street credit as a self-made man tends to gather more criminals into Cinder's service than her promises of grand payments in return for accepting a fair degree of risk. Torchwick, despite his rather flamboyant appearance, warrants almost as much caution as Cinder. He served as a minor officer in the War, and while never an exceptional combatant himself, his greatest ability is his strategic mind. Wherever he hides, heightened security procedures and increased operational efficiency follows. As with Cinder, do not engage without reinforcement if you encounter him. Both he and Cinder are high-value targets, and are to be brought back alive to face trial if at all possible." Again the mugshots changed, this time showing two different figures.

"These two are Cinder and Roman's 'messengers', handling everything from overseeing premeditated crimes to committing murder" Damien continued. "The one on the left is Mercury Black, a hitman and con artist who tends to be rather full of himself. His counterpart is Emerald Sustrai, a skilled martial artist fanatically devoted to Cinder. These two should be no match for your skills, and are to be eliminated if encountered." The mugshots changed one final time, now showcasing a short girl with pink, brown, and white hair in a white dress and carrying an umbrella.

"And now we come to the final member of Cinder's organization" Damien said. "The contract killer, 'Neopolitan'. If you encounter her, retreat immediately. She is more than capable of defeating any one of us in single combat, taking her down will require coordination and planning. If you are unlucky enough to have to face her in combat, I will preside over your funeral and bury you will full military honors." Everyone was silent for a moment as Damien's claims sank in, Neopolitan's insane smile beaming at the camera before Damien switched back to the map of Vale.

"And now for the assignments" he said, and everyone straightened up a little. "Adel, Daichi, you two will lead a team of SWAT officers against this safehouse here. Vasilius, you and Sage will lead a similar team against this abandoned high rise. Lie, Valkyrie, you two will be in charge of clearing this warehouse and establishing a safe rendezvous point for our forces. Scarlet, you will find your assets at the end of Harper's Wharf. Cleanse the backwater piers before returning here for debriefing. Any questions?" Everyone shook their heads, and Damien nodded.

"Dismissed. Gather your gear and be prepared to move at thirteen hundred hours." Qrow noticed the slight tilt of Damien's head as he spoke, and wordlessly followed him into the hallway.

"So, what do you think?" Damien asked, walking slowly down the hallway.

"They're a group of fine soldiers" Qrow commented. "Though I am curious as to why you broke up Team SSN."

"Of everyone present, Scarlet appears to be the most likely to have gone rogue" Damien replied. "I assume you can keep a secret?"

"Of course" Qrow replied, glancing over his shoulder almost habitually.

"Scarlet is far more than just a government hitman" Damien stated. "He is the end result of a military experiment, abandoned after the Great Hunt and restored to be Vale's answer to Ironwood's Atlasien Knight program. Building on previous research into aura, Vale's scientists genetically engineered a human who would possess just barely enough aura to avoid birth and health complications. They then proceeded to teach this subject, Scarlet, how to suppress what little aura he had. While many believed that the Grimm would instantly prey on the weak, this experiment proved that those who emitted next to no aura were rendered nearly invisible to the Grimm's senses."

"Fascinating" Qrow said, not quite understanding why such research had been resumed. "But with the Grimm pushed to the very edge of extinction, wouldn't this line of research be next to useless?"

"That's what I thought too" Damien agreed darkly. "But someone got it approved on the mad idea that with enough suppression and a little science, the polarity of one's aura could be temporarily reversed."

"Come again?" Qrow interrupted, confused.

"Basically, aura is a positive energy" Damien said, understanding Qrow's lack of comprehension. "It's what heralds us as being living creatures, and thus makes us a target for the grimm. Pushing one's aura reserves to near-nothingness brings one as close to death as one will ever be while still alive. Scientists then took a pill that the military had devised in order to allow operatives to fake suicide, a two-stage medication that drastically reduced their vitals for one hour before delivering a shot of adrenaline to their systems to reverse the effect, and experimented what would happen with Scarlet. The results were terrifying, to say the least. The pill they gave him was modified to reduce the amount of time he spent in a coma to about one minute, and an intermediate stage had been added to stabilize his bodily functions just in case. Instead, he spent about ten seconds in a coma and then awakened with grimm-like traits."

"What?!" Qrow hissed, surprised.

"Glowing red eyes and veins, feral temperament, the works" Damien explained. "That, and his aura capacity now registered as negative on the sensors, a phenomenon that had never been observed before. He stayed in this state for about an hour before falling back into a coma, awakening after ten minutes with his vitals and aura back to normal."

"And this was sanctioned by Vale's Senate?" Qrow asked, incredulous.

"Apparently" Damien said. "They believed that the scientists could control him, and so far, they've been right. I, however, have seen a pattern in his work. Are you familiar with the 'Resurgent Grimm' conspiracy theories?"

"Only in passing" Qrow admitted. "Something about Grimm that managed to hide near civilized areas for years after the Great Hunt, and only occasionally venture out to wreak havoc, right?"

"Basically" Damien said. "Though the basis for those rumors was the use of Scarlet in clearing out the final few White Fang hideouts."

"You mean he can...?" Qrow whispered, putting two and two together.

"Yes" Damien agreed. "When in his altered state, he can command a limited number of Grimm. While the scientists are all giddy about the 'pure research' that they could perform, I've read the reports. He grows more feral every time his altered state is induced. Consequently, the brutality of his actions and those of the Grimm he commands has gradually risen, as well as a worsening of his already sociopathic tendencies. He craves violence for violence's own sake, appears to be a sadist, and has access to the resources of the VCT. The breakout two days ago was seemingly without purpose, the exact kind of act he would perpetrate. Granted, he had only been in the Tower for a handful of hours, but he had known of the impending assignment for several days. The possibility of this being his fault is too great to ignore, even if I have no proof. Either way, deploying him in the city, even in the red-light district, is a risk I'm not willing to take without precaution."

"Let me guess" Qrow interrupted. "I tail him, make sure he does what you commanded him to do, and take him and his 'assets' down if things get out of hand?"

"You read my mind" Damien said. "Still think you have it in you?"

"Of course" Qrow instantly replied. "I haven't aged as well as you have, but I still have some fight left in me."

"Good" Damien smiled, clapping Qrow on the shoulder. "Then get going, I'll tell the others you've gone ahead to handle recon."

[The Red-Light District, 12:30]

Blake Belladonna felt distinctly out of place. She was walking casually through the backstreets of Vale, her new black attire far less conspicuous than she had expected. With a silk bow tied over her cat ears, a leather jacket about her shoulders, her hands thrust deep in her pockets, and a scowl on her face, most people chose to quickly cross the street instead of cross paths. Still, her sudden freedom was a radical shift from her recent lifestyle of constant surveillance and the knowledge that she was someone's property, and she would be lying if she said that she wasn't unnerved at least a little. But she wasn't truly free, she supposed. She still had an obligation to Ren, the one who had sprung her from jail and had offered a new life as a killer. She gently squeezed her arms against her sides, feeling the reassuring weights of the knife strapped to her right forearm and the 9mm pistol holstered under her left shoulder.

She shook her head a little and exhaled, looking up at the buildings around her as she cleared her mind. Ren, via his proxy, an irrepressible girl named Nora, had been very trusting in giving her the weapons, a scroll, and nearly five thousand lien in cash. She could easily have copped out and run, with this new outfit, she easily passed as a human. But that offer of his hung tantalizingly close, the opportunity to inflict retribution on those she considered to be the most guilty of crimes against the faunus. And that opportunity was what kept her walking forwards, glancing up every now and again at street signs to orient herself and build a mental map of the area. She would have to, if she wanted to successfully kill Ren's first target and slip away unnoticed. She pulled one hand from her pants and briefly glanced at the photograph it held. It showed a young man, probably in his mid-twenties, with wavy hair that could be described as being between copper and bronze in hue and baby blue eyes. He wore a simple outfit of a leather jacket over a tshirt and jeans, and the name 'Dove Bronzewing' was written neatly in the corner.

How he wronged me is unimportant. Ren had told her. As is the fact that I could easily kill him myself. Consider this a test of your skill. Kill him, and earn the opportunity to kill someone of your own choosing. Fail, and you'll be dead in a gutter. Just make sure he knows who sent you, I want him to be afraid when he dies.

And that was exactly what she was going to do, Blake thought, taking a few turns and smiling when she came out next to a reputable-looking bar that she had passed a while back. Only, she wasn't going to just kill this Bronzewing character. Ren apparently knew about her past, even if he had never had a face to put to her name. She had his face and name, but not a hint of his past. Whatever Bronzewing could tell her would help even the playing field a little. Her stomach growled slightly, and she frowned at it in disapproval. She had just eaten this morning, hadn't she? Still, the gnawing pangs of hunger were beginning to build, and she sighed in defeat. Ren had given her the money, so she might as well take care of herself with it. She glanced up at the bar's sign as she walked towards the door.

The Beacon Tavern... She thought idly, vague memories of her elementary school days returning to her as she recognized the twin axes crossed over a shield emblazoned under the name. Must have been founded by a retired hunter... So thinking, she casually pushed open the door.