Chapter 22
Ren rolled to the side as the chief charged, he ignored both Ren and Nora and went straight out the door. They gave chase almost immediately.
The chief led them from his office through the building and out into the open space in front of the mine itself. The chief was panting already. Ren pulled the trigger on Stormflower, he fired a line of bullets in front of the chief, forcing him to stop.
"Oi!" The chief yelled as he turned, holding his hammer close. "What are ye doin!? I didn't do nothin!"
Ren kept his weapons aimed at the man as his team caught up. Jaune pointed his sword at the man. "That's a double negative! That means you did do something!" Jaune yelled back.
The man pointed back. "'Tis a figure of speech, ya fookin idiot!"
Ren narrowed his eyes. That man said the chief was the most likely, but would a killer who had been found out really act like this? Ren wasn't sure. He hadn't come across many killers. What's the best choice here? Arrest him and try and then go over the information available? But if he isn't then we give the real killers a chance to clean up evidence!
Ren tried to think of the variables and potential outcomes while Jaune and the chief argued over double negatives. Pyrrha and Nora shuffled around, not entirely sure what to do.
"And I'm telling you that all that does is confuse people! If we let words meanings change all the time then what is even the point of words in the first place!"
"Boi, words change meanings! It 'appens! It's and natural part o' language!"
Was the smuggler wrong? He said the chief was the most likely candidate. The chief has easy access to the mines and would know of any alternative paths to leave. But the man in front of me doesn't seem capable of thinking that far ahead…
Ren turned away from the argument. "Pyrrha! What do you think? You talked with him, could he kill entire families?"
Pyrrha thought for a moment. "I don't know. He knew about the door and said it had been sealed up. But he seemed genuinely concerned about his miners and what the room meant." She shrugged.
Was he wrong then? Or is the chief a good liar? Or… was the smuggler attempting to influence our search? He didn't talk about the captain or mayor and while he did say there were two killers, there could easily be more. It would make sense with all of the skill sets the killers seem to have… damn it, did I just help our opponents!?
Ren took a long, deep breath. "Chief." Ren broke the argument, causing both of them to turn and look at him. Jaune at least looked a little sheepish. Ren continued despite the almost bored look the chief gave him. "We are investigating the perpetrators behind a series of killings that have gone on for decades! If you have any information that we can use, we would appreciate your cooperation!"
The chief considered for a moment. "Look kids, I didn't do nothin. I ain't a killer. Closest I got was sending my men down into the tunnels where they died to Grimm. I don't got the time to kill, with the SDC crawling up my back I spend most o' my time mining Dust." The man dropped his weapon. "Next time you wanna talk kid, knock."
Ren's face burned slightly from embarrassment. "So… do you know anything other than you didn't do it?"
"Aye. If anyone 'as the time to kill, it'll be the Cap'n. He don't have much to do we don't get many Grimm 'round these parts. That's all I got kids. Now can I go back to me work?" The man grumbled. Jaune nodded and sheathed his sword.
Ren sighed. "Sorry. I thought that… well you might be in danger." He looked to Jaune who simply nodded.
"It's alright. Get us up to speed."
Ren told them everything he could remember about the smuggler and what he had said. Things became a little clearer after going over it again.
"He definitely pushed us towards the chief. Did he know you were here?" Ren asked nobody in particular.
"Who knows. But if he didn't bring up either of the other targets, one of them is involved." Jaune responded.
"Then should we go for the mayor or the captain?" Pyrrha asked.
"Ruby should be investigating the mayor right now. So we should head after the captain to make sure. Especially with what the chief said." Jaune decided. The rest nodded and together JNPR left the mining area and ran towards the militia headquarters.
Who am I?
A girl wondered to herself as she stared at the cold stone around her.
Where am I?
She thought while sitting patiently on a bed of straw.
Why am I here?
She could see stone walls and metal bars. But that didn't tell her anything.
She couldn't remember anything. All she could remember was how nice her master was.
She wondered when he was going to be back.
The militia HQ was one of the larger buildings in town. Four stories tall and connected to the walls it was easily defended and served as a good vantage point. The militia were unsure how to deal with the four teenagers who demanded to meet with the captain, however.
Jaune slammed his hands down on the secretary's desk. "We're Huntsmen! We need to talk to the captain! It's a matter of life and death!"
The young man behind the desk flinched. "I-I-I'm sorry sir but the captain is b-busy!"
"I'm sorry, do you want this town to be destroyed by Grimm?"
"N-no…"
"Then we need to talk to the captain. Got it?"
The man looked between the four of them for a moment before nodding slowly. "O-ok. He's on the third floor. Can't miss the door."
Jaune gave him a smile and a thank you as they rushed towards the stairs. People jumped out of the way to avoid them as they charged up. Finally, they reached the third floor and, after a quick look around, saw the captain's door with his nameplate on it. Jaune walked up and booted it open.
The militia captain sighed as they entered. He was an older man with greying hair. He wore a set of full plated armour, excluding the helmet, and was polishing a longsword. He didn't seem too bothered by their entrance.
"Well. I wondered when you would be coming to see me." The man's voice was rich and thick.
Jaune drew Crocea Mors and pointed the tip at the captain. "Tell us! Are you the man who's been killing families! Dissecting people down in that horrid room!"
The man wiped his blade one last time before standing and walking out from behind his desk. "What does it matter? No one will believe you and by tomorrow you won't remember that there was a killer."
Jaune balled his free hand into a fist. "We already figured that out!"
"So you know do you? Well, no matter, all you need to be is unconscious, the method does not matter!" The captain charged in a flash, faster than Jaune expected. He barely blocked the blade with his own. Jaune coughed as the man kicked Jaune's stomach before he slammed a gauntleted fist into Jaune's face.
Jaune fell backwards. Nora caught him while Pyrrha and Ren entered combat. The captain was skilled, there was no denying that. Jaune wondered if he had ever had Huntsmen training with how he moved. However, he had made a critical error.
He was wearing metal and fighting Pyrrha.
It didn't take long for the man to slow down, his own armour resisting him. He growled and powered through but Pyrrha and Ren continued to push him. Jaune got back to his feet and charged into the fray.
With Pyrrha slowing him down it was pretty easy for everyone to wail on him. Between the four of them it didn't take long for them to push him back, his aura flickering.
The captain slammed into his desk. He laughed as he pulled himself up. "It's been a while since anyone put up such a fight!" As he spoke a strange goo like liquid dripped off of him, forming into four puddles. Each began to stretch and morph, turning into a perfect clone of the captain. "I do apologize if you tried to look into my Semblance, I lied on the forms."
And then the four clones charged them. Jaune intercepted one of them. They were strong, just as strong as the captain. Jaune deployed his shield and blocked an attack, he then followed by bashing the sword away and cutting into the clone's throat. It was like trying to cut water, it worked but the clone quickly reformed.
Jaune grunted as the clone pushed him back into the wall. He brought up his shield in time to block the sword that came for his throat.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see Nora and Ren struggling. He also watched as Pyrrha twisted around her opponent, cutting its leg off and then impaling its head. She then turned and, with an open palm to the captain, let out a jet of flame.
The captain cried out as the fire washed over him. His Aura had been up but the heat disrupted his concentration. The clones stilled for a moment, letting the rest of JNPR disable their opponent. Jaune cleaved the head of his off while Nora turned the legs of her to mush and Ren cut off the arms.
As the clones slowly reformed the captain looked worried for a moment. "Well, that went worse than expected. I suppose I'll need your help with this."
Jaune looked around, confused. Who was he talking to?
He then watched as Ren pushed Pyrrha, forcing her out of the way as a cloaked figure dropped from the ceiling, impaling the floor where Pyrrha had just been.
The new opponent jumped back, avoiding the retaliatory strikes from Ren and Pyrrha. The cloak was soon dropped, revealing a man in leather armour, basic clothing and with heavy scarring around his lower face.
The smuggler who Ren had talked about flourished his scimitar. JNPR regrouped near the entrance.
The fight had just gotten a lot tougher.
The girl was elated when her master returned. His bright smile warmed her heart. She followed as he opened the door and led her to a small dining area. He laid a simple plate of roasted vegetables down for her and she dug in.
"Hmm. You're doing well!" He mused while she ate. "Now what to name you. I already have Blue over there. But what should I call you? Red like your Semblance or Silver for your eyes? Decisions, decisions."
The girl felt strange at the names. Like they were important. But she felt happy, her master was trying to name her but there was something else.
They made her… angry? Sad? Annoyed? Determined? Confused? When she heard Red it was like she could see a man in a white coat. It was like he was making fun of her. Silver brought to mind a different man, however. Old and wise. Knowledgeable beyond his years. The colour green?
She didn't know what to think. But something didn't feel right.
She was sure of that.
A/N: And it wasn't the man in charge of the mines! Definitely needed to do better foreshadowing and such. Next time I suppose. Poor Ruby. She's having such a hard time in this fic. Will it be worth it? We'll just have to see I suppose.
I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time!