Team CYAN: Raging Storm

by Phantom Thief Reaper

Celena Verde shoulders the responsibility of fixing a new crisis brought about by a missing villain... And this crisis also gets her involved in the Storms family issues.

3. Blood Red Blade

Team CYAN: Raging Storm

Chapter 3: Blood Red Blade

(Note: I do not own RWBY, all rights to RWBY go to Rooster Teeth in honor of its creator, Monty Oum)

I decide to call Dad to see what's up.

Celena: "Hey it's me. What's with the units heading down third?"

Aidan: "I'm unsure as to why, but our old friend Crimson Blade is robbing a bank in the east."

Celena: "Wait, what!? What's he doing in Vacuo? I thought he was in Atlas?"

Aidan: "There were confidential reports of him going missing and it seems they couldn't him before he was shipped here. I'm still waiting for General Schnee to send me the footage of his disappearance from the lab."

Celena: "Think someone stole and hacked him?"

Aidan: "Maybe, but we can worry about that later. Right now, we need to catch and contain him before he ends up hurting someone."

Celena: "Don't worry, I'm on it!"

Aidan: "Why don't you take a break? You've been working all day."

Celena: "But I'm the closest Guardian user. Nothing's really stoping him from using his super form."

Aidan: *sigh*"Don't remind me... Fine, just be careful." Hang up. I reach the bank just in time when the black robot burst through the front window.

Celena: "Hey, CB!"

C. Blade: "Seriously?" He just uses his feet boosters to run off so I follow him as quick as I can. He's pretty fast for a chunk of metal. "Give it up! You're never gonna catch me!"

Celena: "That's what they all say. And we know how that turns out."

C. Blade: "I don't want to fight you! It'll just slow me down!"

Celena: "Well, that's... considerate? Anyway, whats the money for, CB?"

C. Blade: "Why do you care?"

Celena: "Cause stealing is wrong it's my job to make sure you pay for it."

C. Blade: "Well forget it! I'm not talking!"

Celena: "Not even in polite conversation? It'd help things between you can Dad if we connected on an emotional level-Oh, wait! I forgot, you don't have emotions." I zip forward with a boost from a double charged shot to catch and tackle him on the nearest roof. "Gotcha! Now let's talk..."

C. Blade: "I said... I'm NOT TALKING!" He elbows me in the face with his left arm and then turns and punches me in the face with right to get me off of him and then continues onward so I get after him again.

Celena: "Honestly CB, why are you robbing like this? You know you're supposed to be one of the good guys. You must've been hacked, which means it's probably not YOU I'm talking too, but the guy control you. Someone is making you do this!"

C. Blade: "My systems are fine! But I still have no choice! You're not getting anything else out of me!" After a few more sharp turns, I shoot his boosters with ice Dust bullets and ground him, allowing me a chance to tackle and shut him down.

Celena: "He and Titan may be to best of their troops, but man is it hard to contain them." The cops show up and send him to the base outside of the city. Tyler is with them again and we have a word.

Tyler: "Nice work, Celena. Did you learn anything about his motives?"

Celena: "I tried. But he's wasn't very cooperative. Plus I think he hates he due to my reletion to Dad."

Tyler: "You and Aidan have that effect on a lot of people."

Celena: "Can't say for sure if it's what's happening, but I think he might've been stolen and hacked. Whoevers behind it is still out there."

Tyler: "Then we still have some work ahead of us."

Celena: "Yes we do." We split ways and I head for the shelter. "Now might be a good time to look into this mask." Scroll call. "Oh, hey Alice. You're up late."

Alice: "Just catching up on the news. Looks like you had quite the adventure with Crimson Blade tonight."

Celena: "Yeah, he was unusually stealing."

Alice: "Anyway. I told Nya about what happened and she said she'd try to do what she can about the info on that file. She'll call you if she finds anything, and she wants you to call her should you do the same."

Celena: "Cool. I'm actually on my way to meet with Mr. Mondai regarding the symbol in the mask I grabbed."

Alice: "Mondai? Who runs the homeless shelter? Why?"

Celena: "He's like a walking encyclopedia. He seems to know all kind of knowledge, which makes sense given his love for puzzles. Right now he's the only one I know in town who may understand the language behind this symbol."

Alice: "I see. Just be sure to keep us in the loop. Like I said earlier, Nya thinks there's a bigger story here. And once again, Team CYAN will be the ones to break it!"

Celena: "Minus one member but whatever. See ya later." Hang up. "Almost morning. Mr. Mondai will be here soon. And I could use a snack." I decide to treat myself to a crepe and some coffee up on the roof while I wait and enter once I notice it's past opening. Of, I come up to see him in his office.

Mondai: "Celena. What can I do for you?"

Celena: "Sorry to bother you. I'm investigating a case and I could use your help with something."

Mondai: "But I'm not a Huntsman."

Celena: "True, but your one of the smartest people I know. Really I just need a translation on something."

Mondai: "Well I'm happy to help regardless. Let's see what you got." I show him the mask I took.

Celena: "This is it. I need a translation on this symbol in the mask."

Mondai: "Interesting... Mind if I take a closer look?" I hand him the mask. "Hmm... Easy translation. It's like my own name in which it translates from Japanese. My name translate to 'problem'. This symbol, pronounced 'nazo', translates to 'riddle'."

Celena: "Riddle?"

Mondai: "Mmhm. What's interesting is that it looks exactly like the mask of a villain from years who went by Nazo. He led an attack on Vale years ago. And then, a number of months after the fall of Beacon, he showed himself again to attack Mistral. The Huntresses who stopped him then swore he jumped off the tower he was using but no body was ever found. Nobody has seen him since then."

Celena: "I see. You think maybe he's still alive and behind this? This was the mask on all of the criminals I bagged last night."

Mondai: "It's a possibility, but you'll need more solid evidence than this to make a case." He hands me back the mask.

Celena: "Right... I'll look into it. Thank you, Mr. Mondai."

Mondai: "Anytime, Celena." I leave his office and call Nya on my scroll in the halls.

Nya: "Hey, Celena. Good to hear from you. Alice already gave me the gist. So, did you find anything?"

Celena: "Not sure how much it helps, but the symbol inside the mask means 'Riddle', it's pronounced 'Nazo' in Japanese. It seemed to spooked Mondai. Apparently there was a villain who whore that same mask years ago who went by Nazo as well."

Nya: "Do you think maybe he knows more than he's letting on?"

Celena: "No, I think he just had a weird flashback or something. I know his early wasn't very successful."

Nya: "Not sure what that has to do with it but let's just leave it at that. Are you thinking this Nazo guy is the one behind this?"

Celena: "It's possible. He attacked Mistral after the fall of Beacon and was said to have jump from a tower, but no body was ever found. Nobody has seen him since then but it's possible he may be alive."

Nya: "Hmm, maybe. I'll see what can find. Gotta go." Hang up. Today we're having a soldier at the lab to test some new weapons we've made. I decide to go for a walk before Mia needs me there. I get a call from Grandma while I'm out.

Marie: "Celena, Mr. Mondai spoke to me... he seemed worried. Are you okay?"

Celena: "Oh, it's just a case the twins and I are investigating. I needed a translation on something Japanese and I guess the object in question kinda spooked him. I hope I didn't upset him in any way."

Grandma: "He's just concerned. I was actually touched by how concerned. I knew he liked you. He admires how dedicated you are to helping others. I think you remind him of himself in his early career. Both smart and kind hearted souls."

Celena: "Well the admiration's mutual. You've got a good boss, Grandma."

Marie: "I'll tell him you said so. Love you, Celena." I get a call from Mia after Grandma hangs up.

Mia: "Celena, it's Dr. Air. The soldier is here for a weapons test."

Celena: "I totally forgot! I mean, I didn't forget-forget, I just... Uh, I'll be there soon."

Mia: *sigh*"This tardiness is starting to become a pattern. Come on, Celena. You're better than this." Hang up.

Celena: "Ugh, she's right. How did I lose track of time? Grr..." I make my way to the lab and find the soldier aiming a prototype gun at the target.

Soldier: "How does it work?"

Mia: "Just like your usual guns. Just aim and pull the trigger. We're trying to make for compact model for more powerful guns based on the past few catastrophes that's happened like Salem and the Osore. Try to hit the bullseye three times." After a second of hesitation he does exactly as he's told. And nothing bad happened! Yes! But... that's when a bunch of guys come in and starts taking stuff.

Celena: "Hey! Hey, what do you think your doing?" A woman comes in a shows me her clipboard.

City worker: "This sites been declared a safety hazard." I get it now. They're confiscating our equipment.

Mia: "Stop that right now! This is highly sensitive equipment. That's it, I'm calling the councils office directly!" Then one last man enters the room. It's Mia's ex-husband, Jack Storm. Wearing a black suit with black dress shirt and red tie. He's got brown hair in a combover.

Jack: "Celena Verde! How the hell are you?"

Mia: "Speak of the Devil."

Celena: "Mr. Storm-"

Jack: "Oh please. How long have we known each other? It's 'Councilman Storm'.*chuckle*It's Jack. Jack!"

Mia: "Jack, what do you think you're doing?"

Jack: "The grant agreement you signed has strict safety provisions. This isn't your first violation." He hands her a clipboard full of past safety violations.

Mia: "Ha. Those were excused-"

Jack: "By me. We should have confiscated this equipment long ago."

Mia: "But..." Then an idea clicked in her head. "But I've had a breakthrough!" She turns to show the soldier with the gun in hand.

Jack: "Thank you for your great service to our kingdom." He shakes his hand and takes the gun. "These folks will escort you to Atlas labs, where you'll receive the latest in weaponry. No special rank required."

Mia: "This isn't about safety infractions, is it?"

Jack: "I'm trying to help you, Mia. You're free to continue your work... in a secure environment..."

Mia: "In a military lab."

Jack: "You always were the smartest one in the room."

Mia: "You haven't change a bit!"

Jack: "Neither have you." And he leaves. Mia sits down looking down. Not that I blame her.

Celena: "Easy... They didn't take everything. Maybe we can start over?"

Mia: "Celena... there's no 'we'. Without the grant from the city, I can no longer pay you."

Celena: "Hey, I never asked you to pay me for this. My being here was of my own volition."

Mia: "Still... I need some time think. If I were you... I'd go back to full time Huntress work." I leave Mia to herself and wander the city.

Celena: "I wish there was some way to help Mia... I'll think of something." That's when I get a call from Dad.

Aidan: "Celena. Crimson Blade has escaped. And now he's robbing a bank on East Thirty-First."

Celena: "What happened? I thought he was contained at the base?"

Aidan: "He was. But one of the engineers just walked up to his pod and reactivated him, then gave him his weapon back."

Celena: "I knew CB was working for someone. What'd you get out of the engineer?"

Aidan: "Wish we could ask him, but he's dead. Whoever made him release Crimson Blade didn't want any loose ends."

Celena: "Damn!"

Aidan: "Looking at the security footage, the engineer seemed to be in some kind of trance. And it might've been the lighting, but it looked like his eyes were glowing."

Celena: "Well that's creepy. Okay, I'll see what I can get out of CB when I get to the bank." I get a call from Nya on my way there.

Nya: "Celena, I've been looking into these riddle guys. Sounds like they've quietly established a power base in the vacuum left by Malachite. And Juniors not exactly doing anything about it."

Celena: "A vacuum I created by putting Malachite away."

Nya: "Well it's not you had much of a choice. The Spiders would've kept at it if she were still here. And its not like we could've predicted that this would happen. Are you okay? You sound kinda mopy."

Celena: "Things aren't looking great for your Mom. The council, Jack, actually, pulled our funding."

Nya: "What!? Ugh! If he would just listen to us then maybe Alice and I could talk some sense into him. We should probably check in on her. Talk to you later." She hangs up right as I approach the bank. I enter to find CB walking out of the safe with bags full of Lien.

Celena: "CB! Long time no see. Hey I'm no engineer, but uh I'm pretty sure that's a violation of your programming." I shoot his hands and make him drop the bags, then proceed to zip towards him and kick him so hard we end up in the safe. He uppercuts me hard enough to knock me up to the ceiling and after I land on the floor behind, he's trying to walk away, I zip past him to intercept him and close the door on us, locking us in here. "Oops, guess we're stuck in here for a while. Wanna play 20 questions?" He tried to punch me in the face. "No? How about we thumb wrestle?" He tries again. "Okay. Face-punch it is..." I punch him in the face which doesn't phase him and kinda hurt my hand, and then punches me in the gut with a full charged punch which results in launching me out of the vault and knocking the door off. I recover with a zip to the center of the main hall. "Whoa! You've been releasing your limiters, haven't you?"

C. Blade: "Have it your way. You want to fight? LET'S FIGHT!" He draws his red energy daggers and we rapidly clash with each other.

Celena: "Remember our first fight? Me, still going through school. You, still angry at my Dad and I intervened."

C. Blade: "You talk too much!" He fires a large blast from his eyes.

Celena: "Well, that's a matter of opinion. Anyway, why are you doing this, CB?"

C. Blade: "Because if I don't, they'll destroy me!" He fires again, and I zip behind a pillar for protection.

Celena: "If you come clean, we can help you!"

C. Blade: "You really want to help me? Just let me have the money!"

Celena: "Sorry, not gonna happen!" We charge at each other and catch him off guard with a shot to the face and the get behind and try to restrain him. "You know, people don't use banks anymore. You're lucky you found actual Lien. If you really wanna rob banks, try day trading. It's all the rage." I cuff him with the strongest cuffs the police had to give me but he proceeds to knock me back and break free. "Oh! Wait, wait, wait, wait! Oh no!" He goes into his Winged Crimson Demon form and starts firing more lasers. "Aw, come on, CB!" I continuously avoid him until I have a chance to summon my own Spirit Guardian, Kusabira, and start the counter attack. "If you tell me who you're working for, we can help you cut a deal!"

C. Blade: "If I talk, I'm dead! They made that very clear!" He comes at me and I put him in a hold, but then Kusabira grab him and knocked him aside.

Celena: "You're freaking me out, CB! Its not like you to be afraid of people!" I fire at him from a distance while Kusabira handles him.

C. Blade: "Not even sure these guys ARE people! Could be anything under those masks..."

Celena: "Wait! Did you say 'masks'?" He escapes Kusabira and comes for me again. Both me and Kusabira try to hold back his barrage of attacks. "These masked guys, what do they want the money for?"

C. Blade: "Don't know, don't care! As soon as I finish the job, I'm free!" I escape him and zip around to distract him while Kusabira clips his wings and I give him a strong kick to the back. He lands face first in the center of the room and his super form times out.

Celena: "Give up now, and we can protect you!"

C. Blade: "No way! Not unless you can defuse a bomb!" He turns around and fires his laser eyes. I avoid him and Kusabira super charges my gunshots as I fire earth Dust bullets at him. Trapping him where he stands. "What the!? You little bitch!" He follows my every move and continues to fire lasers as I zip around the room with an idea in mind.

Celena: "Okay, last chance to give up! This time I REALLY mean it!"

C. Blade: "QUIT MOVING!" I manage to get him to shoot the support lines holding up the giant chandelier right above him.

Celena: "Sorry CB." The chandelier drops on him and I expect him to break out but I guess the release of his limiter timed out and he tried to break free but can't "You brought this on yourself... literally." Atlas soldiers come in, deactivate him and take him back... again. "Man, he was scared, and desperate. These Riddler's are everywhere all of a sudden." I decide to call Dad. "Okay, Dad. CB's all yours."

Aidan: "Good. And we'll make sure he stays in the lab this time."

Celena: "Also, I think I figured it out. Have the scientist look for a bomb in his circuits. He said something implying that, and I think it may have been placed by the Riddler gang."

Aidan: "'Riddler gang'?*sigh*Sounds like something out of a comic book..."

Celena: "Oh, right. The guys from the auction house? The symbol in the mask is Japanese for riddle, pronounced nazo. I hear there was villain by that name years ago."

Aidan: "You're thinking he's behind this, then? Cause I know who your referring to and he hasn't been seen in years. Kind of presumed dead too."

Celena: "It's only a possibility right now. Anyway, have you had any more reports on these masked guys?"

Aidan: "Let me get back to you. I'll try pulling Nazo's files too. By the way, how much of a mess did you guys make inside that bank?"

Celena: "Considering that he went demon and I had to go Guardian... You probably don't wanna know."

Aidan: *sigh*"Shouldn't have asked..." While waiting for Dads results, I see that Mia left a message for me.

Mia: "Celena, I might have a been a bit hasty advising you to go back to full time Huntress. I have a plan. Give me a bit of time... We may yet live to invent another day!" That's all she had to say. I knew she'd find her way again! Let's hope this works...