AN: So much trying to get this chapter out within the same month as the previous. Just goes to show how bad I am with deadlines I set...
Anyways, enjoy the story. Reviews are appreciated, whether or not you like the story. Remember: I can't make the story better if I don't know what's wrong!
Chapter 2: Stranger in a Strange Land
Unknown Planet
September 2, 2552
1057 Hours
Sierra Beta-312
Smoke floated over the horizon.
Someone was here. I brought out the SRS.
Heading towards the smoke, I scouted out the area with the SRS's scope.
A crashed transport ship, like an upsized civilian Falcon. A firefight had broken out, one group of white armored people protecting several injured and scared civilians, while a bunch of tan uniformed people was assaulting their position.
The armored group was losing, taking casualties left and right.
I needed information. Clearly, some sort of conflict was happening, and I needed to know what the fuck was going on here.
They all looked like humans, but several had animal traits. Some with claws, others with tails, even an extra set of ears.
The attacking group took casualty after casualty, leaving their dead in the snow as they kept attacking.
Armored side was overwhelmed, most heavily injured and the rest killed. The civilians were dragged into nearby trucks, and the attackers drove off with them.
Almost right after, some black creatures with bony plates and encrusted with ice started sneaking near the crash site. One of the injured defenders tried to lift his rifle, but had his throat torn out for his troubles.
Even better. This planet had extremely hostile wildlife as well, apparently. On top of the apparent fucking war here.
Track onto one of the beasts. Inhale.
Exhale.
The SRS bucked back, and the creature died.
Another target. Focus. Fire.
Rinse and repeat.
They started to charge towards me. The rifle clicked empty.
"Shitshitshitshit…" Tearing out the spent magazine, I slammed home a new one and racked back the slide just as the first creature crested the hill.
It pounced, and ate a bullet.
Another two came and leapt at me, jaws wide open.
Fire on one, and use the stock to push the other to the side.
The final creature flew past me. I let loose another bullet, but it ricocheted off its bone plates.
"Oh fuck off!" I charged the animal and jammed the barrel deep into its side before pulling the trigger.
It whimpered and died, its body fading to ash.
"What the fuck…?" No animal just fucking dissolves on death like that. Not a single trace of them left.
I turned and ran to the crash site. Information was still needed, and some goodwill could be obtained from providing aid to these people here.
Sliding down the snowy hill, I came to a stop at the site.
"A...H-Huntsman?" One of the men rasped. He had several bullet wounds and had lost a lot of blood.
"Something like that. Mind telling me what happened here?" Pulling out my Trauma Kit, I prepped the BioFoam canister.
"V-VPLA...Bastards took the Schnee daughter. You go-" He fell into a fit of coughing as I held the BioFoam.
"Hold on. This is going to sting, but it'll stop the bleeding." I jammed the nozzle into his wounds and sprayed.
"Gah! They-They'll kill the girl! You've gotta stop them!" The man gasped out, clutching his chest.
"What's she look like?"
"Light blue dress, white hair. She'll have the Schnee snowflake on her somewhere." He weakly gestured towards the scratched insignia on the transport, it was a symmetrical snowflake that was composed of two hexagonal stars laid within one another.
"Got it. I'll patch up the rest of your group and head off." I picked up a device, looked like a more fragile datapad. It went into my soft case easily.
"No! There's no-" Another fit of coughing. "-Time. You have to go now!"
"Affirmative. Oscar Mike." I summoned a Mongoose from my Slipspace pocket, and hopped on.
Remnant, Atlas Academy, Above Solitas
September 2, 2552
1100 Hours
General James Ironwood
An aide burst into my office, slamming open the door. "Sir! Word just came in; the SDC transport carrying Weiss Schnee has been attacked by VPLA!"
Cursing, I set down my mug. "Any idea where? This is the tenth time this year."
"They said they're going to execute her and any other survivors on live feed in 30."
Vacuan People's Liberation Army. Remnants of a rebellion against the monarchy, who then dedicated themselves to tearing down Atlas. Fanatics and terrorists, disapproved of by every single Kingdom.
"Scramble a team of Specialists. I want their location now."
"Yes, Sir!" The aide quickly saluted and rushed out of the office.
The girl was a popular idol and had quickly become the face of the SDC. If she was killed, the military of Atlas was going to be hounded by the public for failing to protect a single convoy.
Even worse, the resulting negativity from the broadcast of her execution would bring hordes of Grimm down on Mantle and Atlas.
And I had only just gotten this job a month ago. If Ozpin could be believed, I needed to keep this job to keep Atlas, even Remnant, safe. The academy could only do so much, but with the military under my command, I could keep watch on any infiltration attempts.
Remnant, Unknown Vacuan People's Liberation Army Compound, Solitas
September 2, 2552
1105 Hours
Weiss Schnee
The guards glared at me, cracking jokes about how they would kill me.
I could hear the muffled yelling from the next room, some spiel about how Atlas was evil and that Vacuo was superior to all.
Our pilot and assistants were in that room, being punished for 'supporting the 1 percent'.
Just proof they were truly savages like Father said.
Father…
"I was only in it for the name, I never loved you."
The words echoed in my head. Father and Mother had been arguing, and I snuck closer to listen in.
A marriage for profit.
Looking back, one could easily see the signs.
Father befriending Grandfather as soon as possible, and always staying around him.
Intense focus on Winter, then distancing the company from her as she defied him.
Then on me, while Mother simply gave up on us all together and disappeared into the few rooms she cared to wander to.
Whitley, entrapped in Father's machinations all the while.
My upcoming execution would almost be a blessing if it wasn't for the fact that Father had complete control of everything. No doubt my death would be spun as a martyr for a campaign against the poor, and the laborers in our company would only suffer.
All in the name of profit and power. Disgusting.
How this rabble even managed to kidnap me is a miracle in and of itself. For terrorists, many of them were terrible fighters, these bindings were even somewhat loose!
If I could struggle enough, I might be able to break free. Just a little more...
Unknown Planet
September 2, 2552
1115 Hours
Sierra Beta-312
The Mongoose sped through the snow as the compound grew closer.
I closed in on the compound's entrance, a gate surrounded by watchtowers. Bringing out a SPNKr, I fired a rocket at each tower. Sliding the SPNKr onto my back, my body tensed.
Both towers were engulfed in balls of flame as the Mongoose slammed through the gate. Dismounting the Mongoose, I put the vehicle back in the slipspace pocket as I drew an M7 from my hip. I hit the ground running, SMG firing away. The guards near the gate were quickly cut down.
Like lambs to the slaughter. Clicking empty, I swapped the spent mag for a fresh one, yanking back the charging handle. Alarms began to blare as I hijacked the site's PA system.
Playing:
"I'm Dangerous"
By "Royal Deluxe"
Bastards were broadcasting something, coming from the large stone building.
Shoving aside the door, I breached the building. An M392 DMR came forth from my back, and I cleared the first room. I preferred the MA37, but some of these people seemed to have some sort of energy shielding. The DMR was best at breaking past those, and was just as good against flesh.
Another door burst through, and the next room cleared.
Remnant, Unknown Vacuan People's Liberation Army Compound, Solitas
September 2, 2552
1114 Hours
Weiss Schnee
The people recording our execution had finally finished their grand speech. The speaker pulled out a pistol, and leveled it. I had been dragged out, and more of the Godsdamned posturing I thought at least terrorists would ignore went on.
My bindings were almost completely loose...
And now, it would end. One bullet, and I would be dead; just like the rest of the prisoners here.
"For Vacuo! Die Atlesian scum!" The man shouted, just as explosions rocked the building.
"What was that?!"
"We're under attack!"
All thoughts of executing me seemed to leave their minds, as I noticed Klein slowly worm his way out of his binds in the corner of my vision. Alarms began to blare before being cut off as music, of all things, began to play.
This is how it's gonna be
What? Atlas couldn't have come this far so soon, and all our guards had died back at the crashed transport. Could it be a Huntsman? Gunfire echoed faintly. I could barely hear past the music, but something was here.
This is what you'll think of me
"You two! Get down there and figure out what is going on!" The Faunus with the pistol, who must have been the leader, shouted. Both nodded and rushed out of the door, rifles ready.
The gunfire crept closer. This time, it came with shouts of panic.
Unknown Planet
September 2, 2552
1116 Hours
Sierra Beta-312
Clear.
Review the mission objectives so far:
Rescue this 'Schnee' girl and any other hostages.
Eliminate the Insurrectionists attempting to hold them hostage.
Obtain any intel on this planet while denying any others possible intel on me.
So simple, and yet so complicated. The DMR flexed in my hands as I dashed between cover; killing these Innies all the while.
It's going down like I told you
I paused behind a corner, reloading the DMR.
This is how it's gonna be
The charging handle flew forward with a gentle push, and I flowed around the corner.
A hastily thrown together barricade, manned by ten hostiles, all with automatic weapons.
I'll be the last man standing here
Bullets pinged off my shields, the golden glow encasing me growing ever brighter.
I'm not going anywhere
I snapped between targets, the DMR biting into my armored shoulder.
It's going down like I told you
Hostiles going down quickly, must not have shields.
I'll be the last man standing here
One did, but it seemed to be weak; they were thrown back by the force of the bullet as their shields broke. I vaulted the barricade and stomped down on their neck, putting the full weight of a Spartan on their spine.
A sickening crack followed by the crunch of crushed bones responded.
What you gonna do? I'm gonna rock you
Motion tracker registered another squad of hostiles running down the hallways to intercept me.
What you gonna do? I'm gonna rock you
A tossed frag around the corner resolved that quickly, killing most and stunning the rest.
What you gonna do? I'm gonna rock you
I swept around the corner, killing the survivors and advancing.
I'll have you beggin' for mercy, beggin' for mercy, oh!
Last hallway, I was just outside of the room holding the origin of the broadcast signal.
A quick sweep of the surrounding area.
Nothing.
I'm dangerous, so dangerous
Stacking up against the door, I prepared to breach.
Remnant, Unknown Vacuan People's Liberation Army Compound, Solitas
September 2, 2552
1118 Hours
Weiss Schnee
I had managed to break out of my bindings, but I needed an opportunity.
The gunfire was right outside the door now. All of our captors looked nervous, forgetting about us in favor of the imminent threat about to open the door. Could this be it?
I'm dangerous, so dangerous
Strangely, the gunfire had stopped, and our captors visibly tensed. One crept towards the door, grasping the handle.
The door burst open, and a steel blur rushed forth.
I'm the baddest mother up in here
The Vacuan terrorists tried to open fire, but the steel blur was upon them.
And I'm about to make it clear
Klein lunged for one of the terrorists, tackling them to the ground.
It's going down like I told you
He was thrown off, and the terrorist opened fire on him and the other hostages. Time seemed to stop for me. I barely heard myself shouting his name as the terrorist returned to the battle with the intruder.
A quiet flash of metal on flesh, and then a thud.
I'm the baddest mother up in here
"Damn. Guess you're the only one." A voice sounded out from behind me.
Instincts screamed at me as I dove for one of the terrorists' rifles and aimed it at the speaker. "Get back!" This person must not have come here to rescue me, judging by their words.
Light chuckling answered my threat. "Relax, kiddo. I didn't attack a terrorist compound to kill some people who would have died anyways." I finally got a good look at his armor, a grey and blue hulking suit of metal, with a black visor that seemed to absorb all light near it.
Blood dripped off of his hands and legs, the faded blue barely visible.
He looked like something an Atlesian Knight could only ever hope to be.
"We should go. If I could find you, then somebody else is probably on their way already." He drew a gun from his thigh and shot the camera. "First, let's patch you up."
"What?" What did he mean? "I'm not injur-Oh." I looked down. I was bleeding out of my chest, and I couldn't see out of my left eye, my face slick with blood.
He pulled out a tube with a nozzle, and held the nozzle to my chest wound. "This should seal up your bullet wounds nicely. It's a temporary thing, but we can get you the help you need when we're out of hostile territory." The white foam that sprayed out was cold, and I found myself hissing from the pain. "Yeah, it hurts. Numbs the wound, too. You won't feel it for long." He continued by wiping the blood off my face and rubbing some gel in those wounds. "That'll help with the clotting. Tell me if you start bleeding again." The man looked at some sort of scroll on his wrist. "Should get going. Can you walk?"
I nodded, and he held out his hand. I took it, and he lifted me to my feet. A grunt escaped me as the wounds flexed, before the white foam seemed to both ease the pain and bind my wounds together.
The halls were slick with blood. Bodies lay everywhere, with bullet holes and smashed barricades telling a clear story of what had happened. One person, if he-or it-could even be called that, had carved a path through a swarm of terrorists in less than five minutes.
All with a brutality that spoke of efficiency. Every terrorist that had been killed by a gun had a clean hole between their eyes, and those were the kills that were the least disturbing. One body had its neck flattened and bent at an awkward angle, another with their skull caved in.
We walked out of the building, the steel man rushing ahead to make sure the path was safe.
A ruined gate and two flaming towers marked the entrance. Pillars of smoke wafted from the towers and bodies lay scattered in red snow, their blood staining the otherwise pure white.
That was when the realization truly struck me.
One person had done this. In less than five minutes, as well. A speed semblance would explain why it was so fast, but there was no explanation for why the armor. Surely the suit would just weigh them down and Aura would protect from any hits that did manage to land?
A muffled thud drew me from my thoughts.
"Exfil's here. You done admiring my handiwork?" The man gestured to a dropship. It was a dull green, with a bulky body that still seemed sleek.
"How much Dust did you use to rescue me?" It must have been enormous, the armor he was wearing had to be powered solely due to the weight, the towers were high enough to be out of reach, the number of bodies, and even this dropship. How much was he paying for all this?!
His response nearly floored me with how casual it was. "Dust? Uh, shouldn't be too much."
'Shouldn't be too much'? Well, a rescue is a rescue. I sighed and followed him into the dropship.
Remnant, Unknown Vacuan People's Liberation Army Compound, Solitas
September 2, 2552
1230 Hours
General James Ironwood
The Bullhead touched down, and I stepped off.
Ever since that broadcast, the CCTSnet had exploded with the broadcast of Weiss Schnee's-hopefully-attempted execution. The only problem was that her supposed rescuer; who everyone believed to be some new Atlas prototype, was not ours. And that wasn't even broaching the topic of how they managed to clear an entire terrorist compound in under five minutes.
A squad of Specialists had already arrived on-site to secure the area and search for any evidence. One of them approached me now. "Sir. Most of the evidence from our interloper is some bullet casings. Tracks indicate they had an airship waiting for them." The Specialist gestured to the large imprint just outside the complex's gate.
"What about the crash site? Anything on that end?"
"One witness, barely alive. He's got pneumonia, and lost a lot of blood. Claims to have been patched up by some heavily armored Huntsman. Tire tracks from there lead back to here. That's all we've been able to find so far, sir."
That was interesting. One witness, healed with some strange white substance. A supposed Huntsman, covered in armor that rivaled even the plans for our latest defense project. They also had access to an airship of some kind, similar to the Bullhead or the Manta that was still in R&D.
R&D was going to throw a fit when they got word that there was something more cutting edge than Atlesian tech.
Remnant, Solitas
September 2, 2552
1245 Hours
Weiss Schnee
The airship was fast. Much faster than any other airship. Even Bullheads, renowned for their speed and (relative) reliability, were outpaced by this aircraft.
I looked at my rescuer, who was piloting the airship. It would only be so long before he learned who I was, and for once; I was ashamed of my heritage.
A family that most likely wouldn't miss me, aside from my sister Winter. But she had already left. Father had always wanted Whitley to inherit the company, so he probably would sooner thank the terrorists than try to help me. Mother was drowning her sorrows, and my supposed death would only drive her deeper. As for Whitley? He never did like me, for one reason or another. Always trying to antagonize me, with a smile that made me want to punch him.
I could plead for my rescuer to let me hide from my family, give me off to some other family. But what family would take in a Schnee and not flaunt it? Even if they didn't; how would they hide it? Another glance at my rescuer. Maybe he could be persuaded to keep my survival a secret?
Then again, he didn't seem too knowledgeable about common things everyone should know. Perhaps this was an opportunity.
AN: Ooh, would you look at that! I left an entire half-written segment in the middle of my story! Now I have to figure out where to go from the end of this!
Joy.
Comments:
CheesusChrist15 - Well, that is my rather poor attempt at doing paragraphs, so the whole thing doesn't look like a wall of text that blurs in front of your eyes. So, an attempt at grouping sentences together and engaging the reader.
Ghostly - I've read some of those fics before, and I do watch quite a few of those channels. I remember doing quite the amount of research because I remember continually trying to look for obscure bits of lore in the wiki(s). Unfortunately, I don't think there was much on the Spartan III's, and again, Noble Six's past is intentionally left as a mystery. I know they've uploaded some new videos I haven't taken a look at yet, though. Mostly trying to distance myself from other's works so I don't start unconsciously drifting closer to their styles.
Sm0keyPanda - Ironic. [Insert Prequel Meme].