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Finally getting Amber to help him use her staff rather than disregarding it after they put the bare minimum of effort for Jaune to learn with it was great. They came across a hurdle though, mainly finding a way to replaced the crystals so he could learn how to use the staff at full strength. However, with dust rationing taking place and not even being able to head into the city they needed to get help from somewhere inside the school. Thankfully there is Weiss.
"So there are no buttons to activate the crystals?" She asked as she inspected Amber's staff, currently not extended.
"No, it's more... Aura-based." He relayed.
"Dust has always been able to interact with aura, especially when people fuse it into their body or weave it. This takes a lot less skill, just forcing the wind or fire to activate." Amber clarified.
"There has to be a lot less control in where a projectile will go. A ball of fire is affected by the elements like the wind, not really the ranged solution you want." Weiss warned.
"I'm a lot more interested in the wind dust over the fire. For that exact reason in fact." Cinder seemed to have a habit of setting people on fire if their first engagement and interactions with Roman were any indication.
Weiss flipped it around and looked at the far smaller crystal with clear disdain. "Poor purity and it's already losing too much color to be effective anymore, a few fractures along the side. Someone was trying to push this to the brink of usefulness. While people can do that the terrible quality means it could feature and explode."
Jaune went wide-eyed, he never user dust much so he hadn't known much of the intricacy of the substance. "Would that seriously happen?"
"Well, there is a possibility for it but low enough to where some people don't worry about it," Weiss explained, the thought of Amber running around for years almost killing herself still didn't sit well with him. "I prefer to air on the side of caution, whoever had this certainly didn't care for personal safety."
"It was owned by my friend Amber."
She stilled for a moment, Jaune almost forgot that she had a lot of trouble with him allegedly attacking someone. Not to mention she still thought he has a voice in his head in spite of Ozoin talking with her team. Weiss continued without giving it a second thought. "I can get you more refined crystals especially ones that aren't so jagged and fractured like these."
They both eyed the larger fire dust crystal. Jaune had to admit it looked as if someone carved that out by hand then crammed it to the top of the staff. "Maybe I'll have to ask Amber about that later..."
"I can get you the crystals but it may take some time What I have now isn't big enough to fit on the top or shaped to fit on the bottom."
"Sure that's fine, I'd rather get what I need later than have something that might not work properly."
"Right... Has anything been found about Ruby yet?" Weiss locked eyes with him and that reminded him of the second reason why he came to WRRN's dorm.
"We're all waiting for something to pop up." Jaune knew that Neo could be watching at any moment. So although he didn't want to stretch the truth it was Roman's choice for who knew about their deal.
"I wanted to share what little we do know about the person who kidnapped her. Cinder Fall has a powerful semblance to used fire and she has two blades made of glass that can be used like a bow. The arrows can also explode."
"Lovely... I can't wait to deal with that."
"There isn't much I can tell you about her teammates Emerald and Mercury. The former has two revolvers and can make people see illusions and the latter has gun boots and uses a lot of kicks."
"I recall his fight against Blake, not much I can gather from one duel though."
"We also might encounter an Adam Taurus." That name brought out an angry sneer, one that Jaune expected. "Blake said something about you knowing of him already."
"Yes, that man had claimed the lives of a lot of family friends. You don't need to tell me how dangerous he is."
"We all figured as much. My team and I are going to be talking strategy anyway when want to be ready when the call comes in. It was better than sitting around waiting that is... This has been especially rough for Yang."
"I can imagine the feeling, Ruby is my partner and I am her leader. Personal responsibility is something that was drilled in me as a child, and I still lost her in the middle of the city..."
"Weiss..." Jaune could get where she was coming from. Once you get to know someone for a while you may not be close but it does suck to lose them. He
"When you find out where Ruby is just don't forget to tell us." There was concern in her eyes, a slight fear that Weiss wouldn't be able to come along to help.
"You'll be the second person I'll think to tell." Yang had to take the priority seat for this.
"Thank you, and if anyone in JPBY needs dust for plans then don't hesitate to ask. My personal stockpile can be replaced."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Jaune took up a spot next to Yang on her bed, across from him was Pyrrha and Blake next to her. This really was a calming gesture for his fellow blonde, who was eager for action but frustrated that she couldn't do anything until Torchwick called. Having the Atlas military and professional Hunters at their backs sort of helped. However, they were meant to walk into an ambush and would have to do so alone with help bedding to rush in after the battle began.
"Okay, I think we should use what we know to determine how to fight off who." Jaune turned to Blake. "So who is this Adam?"
"My old partner in the White Fang, we've been together since the beginning and have been thought a lot. He's taken my desertion the hardest and will go for me once the battle starts. We had a thing when we were-"
"I meant his fighting style, Blake." Jaune interrupted and the Faunus gained a slight shade of red.
"Oh, he has a katana and the sheath can turn into a shotgun. He's fast and can absorb attacks through his blade and sent the energy back."
"If you think he'll go straight for you then that what we'll have to assume."
"I came can hold him back for a while but will need help, at least something heavy to damage him. My bullets won't be enough."
"Weiss just told me that she has plenty of dust if we need it for something."
"I can use dust with my semblance," Blake said. "I can turn my shadow clones into stone, ice sculptures to trap people, or make them explode with fire dust."
"I'm interested in the trapping one, how does that work?"
"I need ice dust, the opponent has to hit the shadow clone for it to work."
"If those knights are as dangerous as he says we're going to have a problem." Yang pipped up. "The grunts they have are easy enough to deal up but machines don't feel pain or get scared. They'll probably charge at us until we smash them all."
"I can help with that, my semblance is polarity."
"It is?" Felt odd to hear this as Jaune never saw anything to indicate she had this ability.
"I rarely use it but when we're fighting these Knights I can help. Not certain how much though, never used it to throw around many objects especially not heavy ones..."
"Anything can help here Pyr," Jaune crossed his arms, she may not have much experience with her semblance but that didn't mean it wasn't useful. "We know Mercury has gun boots and his fighting style revolves around his legs. Emerald makes illusions, we don't know if there's a limit to that."
"I can take her guns away if I get the chance."
"Good, what about you Yang?"
"If they knock me around it will power my semblance, so if you anyone to stall I'm your gal." She had a cocky grin on but Jaune felt a lot less enthusiastic about it, getting hit on purpose would hurt her aura and deplete it rapidly.
"I'd rather we don't become punching bags..."
"It may be unavoidable Jaune," Amber said apologetically. "You are literally walking into a preplanned trap made by Cinder."
Yeah, there is Cinder to consider, Jaune didn't have a solution to that. Amber didn't have much to say about counters to the Maiden's powers other than saying Cinder isn't a full Maiden. Exploiting her thirst for revenge was something, get her to slip up... or place whatever place they're fighting at to the torch...
"I think the best way to win in this would be getting the hostages out then covering the place with Hunters and soldiers," Jaune said. "Without leverage, Cinder has nothing to hold over our head and it means we don't have to fight her the way she wants. Bring in troops and Hunters down and pound her into the ground."
"Overrule her terms then dictate the fight our way," Amber nodded, Jaunw figured she's like this plan. "Better than trying to face her down by ourselves that's for sure."
"We still don't know the location or layout of where they're being kept and that's assuming Torchwick will give us exactly what we want," Pyrrha added. "Who knows if we can trust that man's words."
"I think we can trust that Torchwick wants to get away from Cinder," Jaune said sheepishly. "I know that's not the best way to place our faith in someone..."
"We don't have any better option here," Yang added. "Besides sitting around with the hope that the Headmaster finds something."
Jaune's scroll began ringing, nothing he found himself getting worked over but the caller ID nearly made him jump out of his bed.
"It's Torchwick!"
"Now..? Cinder must be more eager to kill you than we thought or more likely has a lot of confidence in her trap." Amber warned as Jaune accepted the call.
"Hello-" Yang was quick to leap to his bed and snatch the scroll away.
"What do you have?!"
"... Lower your volume then we'll talk."
Jaune tapped the speaker setting and spoke more quietly, although he too was just as keen to hear what the man had for them.
"Cinder's got everything in position, and she thinks that Junoir is the one who's going to send a few locations."
"A few? She wants us to head to multiple places?"
Pyrrha asked confused and Jaune had to join her. Spreading things out and expecting them not to catch on to traps if one fails felt dumb for her to do.
"She has a lot of hostages and not all of them are in the saw place. Cinder is banking on the idea that Ozpin and Ironwood will spread out their manpower to save every single kid while you four go after little red." He explained. "Probably best that they do so, leaving hostages with her will only create future problems. Now Ruby is being held at a hotel let me send you the location."
Yang opened the text mid-call and they saw the place was on the edge of the poorer section of the city. That was the only place they could realistically operate with little harassment from the police and Hunters all over the warehouse and commercial districts.
"The rectangular space that makes up the parking lot has no cover. The moment you're in deep enough they'll open up on you from both levels on the northern, eastern, and western buildings. While blocking off the south with back up."
"Then rain the Atlas Knights they stole over us," Blake added. "With all that firepower being sent at us our aura will be completely drained in minutes."
"Yeah and if you even survive that Cinder, Adam, and her two lackeys will finish the job easy enough. The former wants to gut you in person Arc."
"I'd expect nothing less considering what we've been doing." Amber sighed.
"Adam on the other hand wants to deal with Belladonna himself, the other two are just going to be gunned down. Cinder isn't stupid, she knows you won't come alone but is counting on overwhelming and killing you four before your back up can roll in."
"What's stopping us from just going in guns blazing?" Yang asked.
"The fact that this place is registered as a functioning hotel at peak tourist time with no vacancy. I mean it's not meant to look like a trap nor were any of you supposed to know this. You guys were supposed to think all these places are just where Cinder is keeping the hostages and is filled with civilians, not a preplanned kill box."
"So if we go in with an army she'll know the odds are against her and probably just leave?" Jaune asked.
"See why I didn't believe you guys had a shot at taking her out here." Roman let out an exasperated sigh. "Look, you can kick open the front and I'd like to suggest that you do, some or all of you are likely to die by playing along."
That did sound like the better option, or rather the easy one. But he thought back to something Ozpin told him during the meeting. Sure they've been beating Cinder left and right but it all felt like wins in the technical sense. The negativity brewing in the city would come to a head if people couldn't be calmed down. To do so they needed to completely destroy the White Fang and get rid of Cinder anything less meant she would try again. Cinder had access to a lot of resources still if the Atlesan Knights she had were any indication.
"This will be a risk, but letting her get away after everything she's done means it can just happen again."
"I... want to walk in, at least try to take care of Cinder." There was a telling silence from everyone that more than informed him to how they thought of this idea it was broken first by a sigh from Amber. "Even if we win this won't stop until we deal with them."
Blake stared into his eye before nodding slowly. "If you think that's best, I won't try to judge here."
"We all just heard what this man said. We can't honestly think to walk in then leave without severe injuries." Pyrrha warned and turned to Yang, her only hope here.
She didn't have an answer right away, conflict brewed behind her eyes for a moment before a reply came. "Let's see what the Headmaster says, we do need his held in this."
Roman groaned. "Well if you lot are really thinking about letting her dictate the first move then I suppose knowing where little red is can only improve your odds."
"Where is Ruby!?" Yang demanded, almost shouting.
"They'll all being kept in a single room. So long as you don't hit the northern building those kiddos will be fine. Just don't hold back with the rest of the place."
"Okay, but which specific room is Ruby inside of?" Yang asked eagerly.
"Can't say, not that I don't know," Yang growled and looked to be ready to demand an answer when Roman spoke up. "You lot need to look as if you're reacting extraordinarily to a developing situation. Not like you have a sixth sense. I have already said too much by telling you which building, anything more can and will get me killed."
Jaune moved to further interrupt Yang before she could devolve into an angry tone and threats. "This is more that we would have gotten on our own, thank you, Roman."
"Just give Cinder a nasty right hook for me."
The call ended and Jaune sighed, he hoped the brothers above that this man wasn't lying. Had they learned about this place from Junior they would have walked into a trap. Then who knows how many of them would walk away from it.
"We need to tell Ozpin." Yang leaps to her feet and made for the door, without even thinking about putting her shoes on.
"We can just call him!" Pyrrha tried to call after the blond but she was already out the door and racing through the hall.
"We should tell Weiss as well, team WRRN needs to know," Jaune said moving to the opened door. "Start getting ready, I'll be right back."
The dorm he needed to get to was right across the hall but it felt longer to get to. It was good to hear something about Ruby this soon Jaune knew what they were heading into. More he could say about the last few trips to the city and they would have hunter teams and the backing of the Atlas military in this. For once they were going to have the drop on them and be able to capitalize on it.
"I just hope the information Roman is giving us is really true... and that he didn't miss something important."
Roman had to admit that Atlas security was certainly something. It was quite impressive that for all the silent alarms, bots, and human crew put into keeping the cargo freighter protected, that it all could be bypassed by placing a bug Cinder gave him was astounding. Especially how they hook every bot to a single console for Neo to turn off was interesting, in a moronic sort of way. Robots can be shut down and don't hold the level of suspicion that human's held when hearing the sounds of heels tapping against metal.
Now Roman wasn't against machine guards as a concept, he brought a dozen of them for this robbery. The thing was they were far easier to fool than humans typically were and of course, be turned off. This was an important dust shipment and here Roman was stealing it. He learned about it from a well-placed bribe, and with everything going on with Cinder he had the diversion to grab it. He still had a few airships to swoop in and snag a few containers with the dust she wanted and it's not like the untrained crew was going to try and stop him with their bots down and his own ruling the deck and bridge.
It felt nice to perform a robbery without worrying about some teens leaping in from nowhere and ruining it.
"This will keep her off my back for a while, and if those kids do take care of her I'll still make one heck of a payday with this." Roman still held his doubts on that last part but a guy could dream, right?
A sharp whistle broke his thought and directed his gaze up and to Neo. These were cargo containers and he had no way of taking any but the ones on the top. He simply didn't have the time, space, or human hands to unstack many. Four Bullheads so four containers with what Cinder needed, not to mention it robber her of what few aircraft she had left. Neo waved a fire dust crystal over her head and there was the first one. The animals were the only guys he trusted to pilot those things over newly made machines, besides no one but her was going to climb up three containers high and try to open one.
Roman checked his scroll, there wasn't any breaking news about a large gun battle in Vale yet but it could go down at any second. Didn't matter that he would be done here soon, he sure as hell wasn't taking these bots and aircraft bac, there was going to be a lot of fiddling around before fuel demanded they make for land. Roman left an hour after he made the call and procrastinated as long as he could before making a move in the cargo freighter. The thing couldn't have come at a better time.
"You better survive kid... I won't know what I'm supposed to do if you don't..."