Team CYAN: Raging Storm

Chapter 6: Promising Leads

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

Celena: "General Schnee? Hey, what are you guys doing here?"

Winter: "That should be my question."

Celena: "Well I am in charge of this case. I'm following every lead I can get."

Winter: "Ah, so it's you. They told me a capable Huntress was investigating this case but neglected to tell me who."

Celena: "They?"

Winter: "The Vacuo council. They got in touch with us and asked for our help in handling this terrorist crime spree."

Celena: "I see. Well, here's everything I know so far..." I explain the situation to Winter.

Winter: "I see. So where will you be heading next?"

Celena: "I still need to find solid evidence of Mondai's involvement. I'll see if there's anything note worthy at the shelter he runs."

Winter: "We'll be cooperating with the Huntsmen and police from now on, so anything you tell them will goung through to us as well."

Celena: "Right. See ya around, general." I zip off and get a call from Tyler.

Tyler: "Hey, I should probably tell you something..."

Celena: "If it's about your cooperation with the Atlas military, then I already know. General Schnee told me everything."

Tyler: "Guess that saves me the explanation then. They have the councils ear and unchecked authority. We've also searched that address you gave us, found plenty of evidence of a bomb plot, but nothing that leads back to Mondai."

Celena: "I'm working on that. Get back to ya soon." Hang up and make my way for the shelter. To avoid suspicion of my showing up there from Grandma, I'd better talk to her and say I'm here to help out a bit, then sneak into Mondai's office. I find Grandma in the kitchen washing her hands.

Marie: "Celena!"

Celena: "So if you're running this place while Mr. Mondai is out of town, who's doing your old job?"

Marie: "Ha... Me. But I could always use more help. You know anyone?" Hmm... Actually, I think this might be a good opportunity to help Ned.

Celena: "Actually I do. His name is Ned Fuko."

Marie: "Why does that sound familiar?"

Celena: "His Father was being honored at City Hall." She showed a saddened look of realization. "I talked to him at the funeral, and his Dad told me a bit about him before what happened. He's a smart kid. He's just having a tough time."

Marie: "I know how he feels. I knew how he feels when your Grandpa died."

Celena: "Same for me when Jade died. I heard that for some people who's lost someone that it helps to... stay busy." I hand her a slip of paper. "Here's his Mom's number."

Marie: "Thanks. I'll give her a call."

Celena: "Also, you haven't heard from Mr. Mondai, have you?"

Marie: "No. Why?"

Celena: "Just curious." Honestly, I should be concerned that she might be danger of him, but considering the facts, it seems like Storm is the only target on his mind right now. "I've got a few minutes before I'm needed at the lab. I'm gonna look around, see if there's anything else I can do to help you out."

Marie: "Oh, you don't have to..."

Celena: "I know. But I want to." That's when I walk away. I head upstairs to Mondai's office. Naturally it would be locked, so while nobody is looking I slip through any cracks or holes with my Semblance. The doors window has blinds covering it so nobody should see me in here. Mondai's personal journal is on the desk. The most recent entry is bookmarked with a... key? Interesting. The entry shows most of the details we've already figured out. Being that now Malachite is gone, it'll be easier to take the Spiders weapons and use them against Storm. I wonder what this key goes to? I use my visor to search the room for anything with a lock and to my surprise, the side of the shelf on the back wall has a small keyhole near the back. I use the key, and the empty wall next to the shelf opens up, revealing a secret. The room holds a bulletin board full of any documents regarding Jack Storm entire career as a Huntsman, a business man, and now as a councilman, including reports of incidents that could definitely get him arrested but seems to have been covered up as I've never heard of them and he's still walking free. In front of that is a table with the Grimms Blood file from the other night so I take that, and a recorder. I play the recording and hear Mondai's voice.

Mondai: "If anyone is hearing this recording, then you'll be hearing my true past. Mondai is merely an alias that I've taken. My true name... is Nazo." I knew it! Nazo: "I'm sure you've probably heard of me. A villain who terrorized both Vale and Mistral. I did it under the orders of the Grimm queen... Salem. She wanted me to secure the relics. After the others failed in Mistral, we moved on to my own plan, but those damn brats stopped that as well. Afterwards, Salem said no longer wanted my help on account of my failures. I went into hiding here in Vacuo after that. A long time after that is when I heard of Salem's defeat, which inspired to rethink my life choices and maybe try doing some good for once. So I took up my new name and started out as an assistant businessman until I started working on my own funds. Wanting to help people without indulging in the violent life of a Huntsman, I decided to open my homeless shelter... but I couldn't keep it open on my own for long. Not with the limited funds I had. That's when I met Storm. I don't know how, but he found out who I was, but instead of turning me in, he instead offered me a 'deal' but was basically just blackmail. If I acted as a supported for upcoming election campaign to become a councilman, he'd overlook my past and fund my shelter as part of his campaign by giving him a good image. It took a few years of losses to other candidates, but we finally achieved his goal. It's been years since he'd won, and while he continued to fund me, he recently said that he needed to stop to fund something else. What pissed me off was what I found it was for: his Grimms Blood research! I can't believe he seriously thinks funding bioweapon research is more important that a business like mine that actually benefits the public! Why people voted for him us beyond me! Unfortunately the research is off the books and unknown to the people, and I'm willing to bet to the rest of the council as well. Which brings me to my current plan. I finally awoke to my Semblance while in hiding years ago and am using it to create an army so that I may steal Grimms Blood and use it to ruin Storm! I'll unleash it on the city and pin the blame on him. I know it goes my resolve to help people, but this is the only way I can think of to bring Storm to his knees! Things may end badly for me after this, but as long as the people in my shelter don't get hurt... then that's good enough for me." The recording ends there. I step back as I try to process all of this. But apparently I stepped off of a pressure plate that activated a mechanism once I stepped on it and now that I'm off of it, the mechanism had started. The walls are covered in high voltage wires... This must be a burn room, wired to destroy evidence! I find the junction boxes and turn them off, shutting down the wires to preserve everything. I hear back into the office and call Tyler and Dad.

Celena: "Hey, I finally got your evidence, Tyler. Head to Mondai's homeless shelter downtown."

Tyler: "What am I going to find?"

Celena: "A secret room hidden behind his office. It was a burn room but I made sure to take care of it. I was right about one of my assumptions: Mondai is actually the missing villain, Nazo. He's got another attack planned. Not sure on where or when, but I think he's going to use something called 'Grimms Blood'."

Aidan: "Sounds... destructive. What is it?"

Celena: "A substance that Jack Storm is creating through one of his businesses. Probably a bioweapon of some kind. I have a folder full of info on it. I'm holding onto it for now. I'll send copies as soon as I can."

Tyler: "Okay, we'll check his office."

Aidan: "And if the evidence holds up, you'll be able to put out an APB." Hang up with both of them, then call Nya.

Nya: "Hey, did you find anything?"

Celena: "Yep. A whole bunch of evidence on Mondai, and we were right. He is Nazo. The police will be able to look for him now. I've got a lot of info you'll wanna hear."

Nya: "How about you tell me later at our place once Alice gets back. She's looking into the auto shop. I'll let you know when she gets back, we can compare notes over dinner or something."

Celena: "So long as I cook. I really don't feel like having takeout right now, and I know you guys aren't exactly the best chefs around..."

Nya: "Guilty as charged. Just don't let Alice hear you say that. You know she gets easily offended about that."

Celena: "Right. Anyway, I better let you go. See ya." After that I get a call from Mia. "Oh, hi, Mia. How are you?"

Mia: "Celena! Exciting news! Come by the lab!"

Celena: "Um, like, now?"

Mia: "This is my defining moment! Can't wait to show you."

Celena: "Cool. Um, I've got dinner plans with your daughters. Can I come by later?"

Mia: "The girls can wait. You NEED to see this, Celena."

Celena: "Uh... okay. Be right there." Once I reach the lab and enter, I see a lot of new stuff here replacing the confiscated equipment. "Where did you get all this equipment?"

Mia: "Called in every last favor. Took out a few loans. It's like we're starting over once again. But this times going to be different."

Celena: "So what's the plan this time?"

Mia: "I've got two projects I've thought of. The first being a new upgrade for Atlas armor to increase certain aspects. Second is a new versatile version of the Atlesian Paladins. Something still as tall in height and still powerful, but not as bulky as the current models. Right now I've set up the mech right arm and am about to test the controls." I can see the arm set up, and now Mia's got a remote control. Going as gentle as possible, she starts moving the arm and successful grabs the nearby support beam. Then she positions the arm back, but that's when the arms stand collapses. "DAMNIT! This is all your fault Jack, you son of a BITCH!" She proceeds to throw the remote to the ground.

Celena: "Well I know who you're NOT voting for in the next election."

Mia: *sigh*"Well, at least it was just the stand this time. I'll need to work on the support for continuing with more tests. At least the test just now was successful." A moment of silence as we clean up the mess.

Celena: "I hope I'm not overstepping my boundaries, but I can't say I'm not curious... What led to you and Jack divorce anyway?"

Mia: "Heh. After all this time, someone finally asks, huh? We were teammates back in the academy and got married after getting our licenses, and he became a businessman while I became a scientist on top of that. He eventually quit the Huntsman life to enter politics. He has a strict policy of only having two occupations at once, and he stuck with being a businessman because with the amount of properties he owns, it brought in more money than what the Huntsman payment could offer. His goal was to become a councilman, which of course me and the girls supported. Even after he lost a couple times, he wouldn't give up... But eventually he become so obsessed with it that he was barely paying attention to his family. That led to non-stop arguments which eventually led to the divorce. It was after that that he finally won the election. Even though we were no longer together, he said he'd at least continue the funding for my lab himself... I've relied on grants from him ever since. And you know the rest. If this project doesn't work..."

Celena: "Don't worry. It'll work. I mean look at what we did today."

Mia: "Your right. I think I'll move on to the armor upgrades for a while until I can fix the heavy equipment support." I look at my Scroll and see a missed call from Nya.

Celena: "Hey, I gotta go, but I'll be back later."

Mia: "Right. Tell the girls I said hi, alright?"

Celena: "Will do." I return Nya's call once I'm outside. "Hey, sorry I missed your call. I'm assuming Alice is back now?"

Nya: "Yep. Ready whenever you are."

Celena: "Alright, I'll just grab some stuff from the store on my there. Oh and your Mom says hi, by the way."

Nya: "Thanks." Hang up. A quick stop at the store to pick the ingredients for homemade tacos and then straight to the twins. "Good, your here."

Celena: "Alright, we can compare while I cook." We go over basically everything we've learned so far until it was finally Alice's turn to tell us what she found at the auto shop. Enter flashback. Alice is in the air vents ready to spy.

Alice: "Celena said this is where Mondai is meeting Junior today. I wonder what it's about considering the conflict between them." The Spiders seem to be using this place as a hideout, as there are armed Spiders everywhere, guarding a large heavily armored vehicle. Junior and the Malachite twins can be seen in the managers office. Just then, Mondai, or Nazo, show up dressed the same as he was back at City Hall with two of his men carrying large bags, and they start talking.

Nazo: "I appreciate your willingness to meet with me, Junior."

Junior: "Just make it quick, I'm a busy man."

Nazo: "I'm here regarding the constant fighting between us. Allow me to clarify some things, I'm not trying to start a war with you. I simply just wanted to borrow your stuff as I don't have any toys like yours. I promise, I was going to give them back right after I was done with my goal."

Junior: "And what's that?"

Nazo: "To make councilman Storm suffer. I worked with him as a supporter for his campaign in exchange for funding of my shelter, but then recently he stopped funding and left me with enough Lien to only last me for another year. He's already brought me enough suffering but now it's time that I return the favor."

Junior: "And you needed our stuff for that?"

Nazo: "Yes. But then you had to fight against me. The constant fighting is interfering with my plan. I'm here to create a compromise. Just tell me what it is you desire most and I'll give it to you, in exchange for using your stuff."

Junior: "I think you know what I want. I here you like a good puzzle. Try to figure it out yourself and maybe I'll accept."

Nazo: "Challenge accepted. If you can even call it that anyway. I've followed your career back in the day and figured out your principles. I had a feeling it might come to this eventually, which is why I had Crimson Blade do some jobs for me." He snaps his figures and one of his men put their bag on the table between the two bosses. Junior unzips it to find it filled with Lien. "With an exchange like this, you could say I'm... renting your weapons."

Junior: "Hmm... Alright fine. This should cover everything you've already taken, but if you want anything else, it's gonna cost you more."

Nazo: "Well, I do actually need one more thing from you. Tell me: that large vehicle you've got there? What were you planning to use it for? And is it ready for use yet?"

Junior: "We can't rely on any other form of transportation to get back to Vale without bringing trouble to ourselves, so we've made this to protect us from the Grimm and harsh environment as we make our way there. We just finished it this morning and we're set to leave next week. What're you planning to use it for if I let you use? And for how long?"

Nazo: "I just need it for a day, tomorrow actually, to help steal a nesecary component for my plan."

Junior: "Hmm... Fine. We need a test run in it anyway. Take it with you when you leave. But it'll cost you another bag." Another snap and the other guy puts down his bag next to the table.

Nazo: "We'll be sure to return it once we're done it."

Junior: "Here are the keys. Try not to scratch it."

Nazo: "No promises." Junior hands him the keys before they all head into the main room.

Junior: "Open the garage door!" They do as he command and close it back after Nazo and his men drive off in the large truck. He speaks to the twins without looking at them. "Follow and keep an eye on them. Do not engage, and do not let them catch you. Report back to me if something happens." The twins leave and track down the truck using a GPS unit Junior placed in the truck.

Alice: "Okay, I think that's enough. Time to leave. And I should probably finish the Spider job." She heads back outside and gets a good distance away before calling the police and telling them where Junior is hiding. Back to present. Just finishing up our tacos now.

Celena: "Okay, that takes care of one problem, but now we need to know what Nazo's after with that truck."

Nya: "What ever it is, it's probably related to this Grimms Blood file you found."

Celena: "Again, don't forget to send Tyler and my Dad copies of that."

Alice: "I just can't believe the history between Dad and Nazo... It's crazy." My scroll on the table goes. It's the police crime system.

Police: "All units, we have a residential break in. Resident is a one Will Kanri."

Alice: "Will Kanri? That sounds familiar..."

Nya: "On it... And... Got it! He's Dads company CFO... Wait... you don't think this has anything to do with Nazo, do you?"

Celena: "Only one way to find." I grab my scroll and gear and make my way for Kanri's place. I decide to call Nya while on my way for info on him. "Hey, what exactly do we know about Will Kanri?"

Nya: "Let's see... Chief Financial Officer at Dads company. Single. Known for his gem collection."

Celena: "If Nazo's after him, it's gotta be related to Grimms Blood."

Nya: "I'll run a search on everything in this file."

Celena: "Let me know the second you find something. I think Nazo might be planning something even worse than City Hall." I hang up as I reach the building. The police are handling the Riddlers outside. I'd better check on Mr. Kanri. Looks like his penthouse is on the top floor. I reach the window but there's no entrance for me to take without alarming them. I see two Riddlers with Kanri at his desk. He's wearing black pants and a yellow dress shirt with black hair in a combover.

Will: "Okay! Now what?"

Riddler 1: "Enter your password." Then the other one noticed me.

Riddler 2: "Tawagoto! Hantoresu!"(Shit! A Huntress!) He shoots at me to which he breaks the window when I dodge. I enter through the hole he made and take him out quick. The other guy attacks with a fire Dust sword just like the second in command from earlier. This guy is a bit of the opposite of the earth gauntlet guys, in which he's pretty quick but not super strong. I speak with Kanri after dealing with him.

Celena: "It's safe now. What were they after?"

Will: "Just financial records."

Celena: "About Grimms Blood?"

Will: "How do you know about that?"

Celena: "Why do they want it?"

Will: "I don't even know what it is. Mr. Storm's been pouring money into it for years, but he keeps the whole project a secret. I'm the only one who has any record of it."

Celena: "Not anymore. Looks like they copied some records to a secure server. Payroll information on a Dr. Lee Son. Who is he?"

Will: "I honestly don't know..." I look out the window to see that the police have arrested the remaining Riddlers. I escort Kanri downstairs and meet with them. Atlas Soldiers arrive and escort Kanri to one of their compounds they've set up. I decide to call Tyler.

Celena: "Hey, Tyler."

Tyler: "You okay?"

Celena: "Yeah. But I didn't get much out of Kanri. Somehow I doubt the militaries gonna have much luck either."

Tyler: "I get the sense all they care about is keeping him quiet."

Celena: "Because he knows about Grimms Blood."

Tyler: "Right. Whatever the hell 'that' is."

Celena: "I'm working on that. I did get a lead at least. Call you back soon." Hang up and call Nya.

Nya: "Hey. What happened with Kanri?"

Celena: "He's safe."

Nya: "Good. And the Riddlers?"

Celena: "They were looking for a name. Got a pen?"

Nya: "Yeah. Go."

Celena: "Dr. Lee Son."

Nya: "Okay. Who is he? What's his deal?"

Celena: "I was hoping you could tell me."

Nya: "I'm on it. Just give me a few."