Pay no mind to the chapter title dear reader. Those words are just a random arrangement of letters that through sheer chance have coalesced into what you see before you and have no correlation with how the chapter will progress. This is all a dream and, ah who am I kidding. I wanted to dedicate an entire chapter to everything falling apart as the dooms day clock approaches midnight. Let's get a rundown of what has been going on here from everyone's perspective.
Cinder thinks she and Ozpin are playing chess, Ozpin is partially aware of the other players and thinks he's playing a risk/chess hybrid. Floes is planning to set fire to the house Ozpin and Cinder are playing in for his own goal. Dunstan is getting buckets of water because he knows somebody is going to start a fire. Ironwood has no idea what is going on but thinks he can beat it with his army of robots. and all the while the Blood-Organization thinks they have everything under control while hiding in the shadows. -drmonicblood
"We have a breach in Cells 3 through 22. Seal all doors and activate the defenses. Nothing is getting in or out of this facility until the cleanup crew arrives." The man said over the intercom as most the facility scrambled in an attempt to save themselves and their research.
"We can't connect to any outside lines Sir. All our communications are down." A woman sat at in front of a monitor called back.
"What of the cleanup crew?"
"No signal was sent. They won't know what is happening here until our next scheduled check in or if the subjects make it into the city."
Taking a flask from within the desk the man turned the cap popping it off before taking a swig of the contents. Looking around the room he gave it a quick shake to find it still was about half full. Tossing it to one of the guards in the room he sighed and turned to his monitor.
"Anyone got anything to say before this facility goes up?" He asked while placing his thumb on the screen.
"It's been an honor serving under you sir." One of the men shouted as he gave a salute. Others joined by standing at attention as the last of the safeties were disengaged.
"I'm sorry none of you will be able to return home. We do this for the greater good." Flipping the switch every person in the room waited for their immolation. The only way to purge the facility and make sure no samples survived. The monitors flashed red in warning over the facility's failure to cleanse itself.
"Sorry, that was me." Floes said stepping into the control room in his usual attire. "Couldn't have you go and destroy such wonderful assets. I mean could you imagine the damage some of these could do when they get out of here. One of these guys puts Paarl to shame."
The two guards in the room opened fire on Floes only for two people to rush into the room and take the hail of bullets for the man. Their bodies crumbled to the floor lacking enough strength to continue standing after being shredded. Floes brushed some of the blood off his jacket before dashing over to the guards and impaling both of them on his arms.
"Is that really all you've got?" Floes asked as he ripped his arms out of the men showing his hands had been crushed from the impact. "I hope your little Order over in Atlas is prepared for an outbreak, because Vale is about to experience one of the Greatest Hunts to grace Remnant."
"You're insane, if the plague gets out it could spread to the other Kingdoms. Grimm would be drawn in and we would lose what little light we've etched out in this world."
"That's only the start of it pal. I want to bring in something much older than the plague. You don't have to worry about that though since none of you will survive this." As Floes finished talking a group of beasts stormed through the door.
With one swipe of a beasts claws Floes' head was separated from his body. The head fell towards the ground a knowing grin on his face as it hit the floor along with his body. At that the beasts quickly spotted the remaining people in the room. Soon after the facility fell all that separated the beasts from the outside were two metal doors.
"So how are you doing?" Ruby asked as Cardin got out of his hospital bed.
"Doctors are giving me one last checkup before I'm released. Can't wait to get out of here and finally get back to training. You won't believe how much my muscles have degraded by being stuck in this bed." Cardin said as he gave a weak flex of his arms.
"I'm sure you'll be fine after a month."
"We'll see how fine I am after my sparring match with my team."
"I can beat them up for you." Ruby flashed a grin thinking over how she could dismantle the three of them while testing out her weapon's new functions.
"Then I'd be the man who got a little girl to fight his battles for him. I'd never be able to lead them again."
"Why does everything have to be so difficult with you and your team? It's all about how you're perceived and has nothing to do with actual skill. What if the new leader is a complete idiot and gets all of you killed?" Ruby nearly yelled in frustration over the situation.
"I never said my team had high life expectancy. Though I doubt the others realize how screwed they are if Sky takes over. Dude has never worked a day in his life and still expects everything to just go his way. I can see him blaming us for when his idiotic plans fall apart."
"How much longer till your match?"
"It will be later today right before sunset. Won't even give me a proper day to recover, I'm not sure whether to be flattered that they're that scared of me or angry over their plan."
"I'll be sure to be there cheering you on. Maybe get a few of my friends there as well." Ruby offered, hoping the encouragement might tip the scale in his favor.
"Don't bother bringing them if they don't want to come. They shouldn't be wasting their time with someone they don't even want to associate with."
"Fine, but Nora will definitely be there. I mean no matter who wins she'll be happy to see Team CRDL fighting amongst themselves."
"It will be nice seeing someone-" an explosion was heard as they looked out seeing plumes of smoke erupting in the city below.
Ruby opened her scroll and found it couldn't connect to the CCT's signal effectively cutting off her ability to communicate with her team. Going through her contacts she found the one labeled 'Dad' and tried calling only for the scroll play a automated message explaining that only military lines would be open. Looking between Cardin and the door Ruby was torn on trying to decide on what was the best course of action when he spoke up.
"Go do what you have to. I'll try making my way back to the dorms by myself."
With her mind at ease Ruby nodded at Cardin before blasting out of the room in flurry of petals while he placed his hand on the wall to steady himself knowing it was going to be a long walk back in his current condition.
"Cinder, what's going on?" Emerald asked hearing sirens blaring through Beacon's halls.
"Take this scroll and go to the CCT. Once the message has been relayed you'll need to return here for further instructions." Cinder told Emerald, throwing the device to her.
"This is still too early, how can this be happening?"
"It seems our business partner has decided to make his move and we can no longer delay. If he's forcing my hand this means Ozpin will have to reveal his too. Mercury you go with Emerald and make sure the mission goes according to plan."
"Does this mean I can kill some people on the way?" He asked half bored while thinking of a few students he wouldn't mind getting rid of if the opportunity presented itself.
"Only when necessary, remember that both of you will be stuck in Vale for a while."
"We won't let you down Cinder. Come on Mercury." Emerald said, walking out of the room with her partner following behind.
"I was hoping to have some fun today." Mercury complained, looking out the window as they walked through the halls seeing a few fires beginning to spring up in the city below.
"You just want to have another fight with Nikos." She remarked remembering just how unfulfilling their first battle had ended.
"And you know I'd win. She's got nothing on me and can't follow through in a real fight."
"Most the students here have nothing on us. Too bad for you, we are pushing things ahead. You won't get to fight anyone in the tournament."
"I'll just have to find something to do once this is over. Maybe pick up some real mercenary work. They're going to be in high demand once this kicks off." Mercury said thinking of the boredom he had to endure while attending Beacon as they stepped out onto the campus.
"You'd leave Cinder?" Emerald questioned as if the very concept was impossible to comprehend. The words just didn't match up into something understandable.
"You know we can't leave. It'd give me something to do on the side when I'm not needed. You can't honestly expect to stay by her side forever?" He asked as they pushed through the crowd running past them in the opposite direction.
"I'll stay by her for however long she desires." Emerald clutched the jewelry on her left arm.
"You really want that fairy tale ending huh? After all these years I'd thought you'd have grown past that by now."
"We have a job to finish, now come one." She picked up her pace turning it into a brisk jog as they came up on a large crowd surrounding the CCT. Ironwood's AK-200s were forming a wall to keep the people away from the tower.
The area around the tower had almost turned into a riot with people occasionally tossing stones at the mechanical defenders. The stones would harmlessly bounce off the armor, but the mentality behind it is what likely warranted the perimeter of guards. No one dared advance past the stairs with Atlas rifles a hair's breadth away from being trained on them. With no way to peacefully disperse the crowd they would continue to grow in anger and that anger would eventually reach a tipping point.
Pushing her way through the crowd she walked up to the droids and opened her scroll. Holding it up to the robot's face the platoon stepped aside letting them through before reforming in a line and drawing their rifles. The crowd was slowly began to draw back in fear of what was about to happen as Emerald and Mercury stepped into the CCT.
The doors slid closed behind the both of them as they walked into the ground floor of the tower. Placing the scroll on the nearby panel caused it to light up and warning erupted across the screens as they failed one by one. A shower of sparks erupted from each of the surrounding screens as the tower was basked in the red glow of the backup lights.
"This place has about 5 more minutes before it's toast." Emerald said while releasing the last message Vale would ever send to the surrounding Kingdoms.
"Let's hope the tin soldiers do a good job then." Mercury said as he they both stepped out seeing that the robots had opened fire on the crowd and a unlucky few were lying dead on the ground.
"Who would have guessed that Atlas would invade Vale?" Emerald said sarcastically as they began walking away from the tower.
Seeing a red streak approaching them in the distance Mercury gave Emerald a knowing nod as he ran off into an alley. Waving her arms in the air Emerald caught Ruby's attention as the speedster came to a stop in front of Emerald.
"Emerald do you know what's going on?"
"The CCT is fried Ruby. Someone got in and now Atlas' robots are attacking people." Emerald feigned fear in her retailing of events. Suddenly a scream for help was heard coming from a nearby alley. Ruby unfurled her scythe and was ready to go to the person's aid when Emerald put a hand on her shoulder.
"We can't just leave them to die." Ruby said wondering why Emerald stopped her.
"I'm not stopping you. We just have to do this together. Your team would be devastated if they heard about you dying out there."
"Alright, watch my back and I'll watch yours." Ruby said slowly making her way to the alley.
"Don't worry I'll be right behind you." Emerald said pulling out her revolvers as the blades unfurled from the barrels.
"This is Headmaster Ozpin. All students are to go back their dorms and await further instructions. We will keep you informed on the situation as it becomes known." His voice rang out over the schools intercoms.
Turning around to look out the window he could see many of the professors running around the grounds disposing of any Knight they saw. Trying to keep damage to a minimum and prevent his students from needlessly putting their life in danger Beacon was placed on lockdown preventing any ships from leaving or landing.
He could only wonder why the Knights were attacking indiscriminately. A possible order given from James or perhaps the Queen was finally making her move and James had played right into her hand. Having a veritable army suddenly switch sides would flip most battles. Then there were the explosions happening across Vale below.
A few emergency shelters around the city were probably filled to capacity and awaiting rescue. Then there was that one club in the commercial district that sheltered people during the Breach incident. Having to coordinate the entire operation without the use of scrolls would turn each operation into a blind run with no way to recall or update those away from the school.
"Do you have a plan sir?" Glynda asked seeing the usually calm headmaster concerned over their situation.
"Securing Beacon is the first step we can take. Once we've destroyed the Knights we can focus on restoring communications, mounting rescue operations, and pushing the White Fang in the city back. We have enough food to last for months, but once we start bringing in the populous of Vale those supplies will only last us weeks at best." Ozpin said as he rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance over the logistics.
"We'll need to eventually start doing supply runs into the city if we can't push our invaders back. Do you really think James is responsible for this?"
"James is many things, but he would not risk the world's safety over an order from Atlas. Someone may have taken command from him, but not before he locked down his vessels."
"What makes you say that?"
"They've yet to open fire. If those ships were operational this city would have been shelled into oblivion by now." Just as they were about to continue a sudden clang come from the elevator doors.
"I thought the elevators were on lockdown."
"They are." Ozpin said as they both readied their weapons as the banging became louder.
Looking at the source of the sound they saw the doors begin to separate just enough for a pair of hands to squeeze through. With its hands on each door the sound of metal grinding against metal screeched as they tried to remain shut against the force. With one last effort the doors were thrown open as Dunstan stepped into the room with an empty elevator shaft behind him.
"Do you have any idea how tough it was for me to scale this thing? I had to climb that cable for about 5 minutes before prying open that door of yours." Dunstan said annoyed at the lengths he had to go to just to see the headmaster.
"Those elevators were locked down to keep people out." Glynda scolded while taking note on how to reinforce the flaws in the lockdown later.
"Why are you here Dunstan?" Ozpin asked exhausted by everything that had happened over the last hour.
"Can't you smell it?"
"Smell what?" Glynda had nearly lost her patience with the show happening in front of her.
"The plague, the scent of burning beasts, the hunt has finally come to Vale." Dunstan said, drawing his cane and pointing it at Ozpin. "I'm here to collect your head for these transgressions."
"The research building I'm using is still secure underneath the school. If there was a breach we would be the first line of defense against it." Ozpin said motioning to everyone in the room.
"Then why is it spreading through the city?"
"That's something I want to know as well. In the meantime if the plague is in Vale we need to alter our usual rescue procedures with a screening for each person who passes through our gates."
"You think I'd believe you after everything you've done?"
"Right now I'm one of the few people who can mobilize Beacon to mount a rescue and counter offensive. I'm not telling you to trust me just to put this aside until Vale has been saved."
"I have suits prepared in the arena armory. Each one should be able to ward off the blood that the beasts will spill. I only have so many though so make sure it goes to those who are going into the city."
"Anything else you have that could be of use?"
"Some advice for your Huntsman and Huntresses, your firearms will be mostly ineffective against the beasts. I've already run some tests on a beast's hide and how it reacts to your ammunition. The only effect they have is the impact of the bullet, so unless you plan on pelting them to death all of your battles will have to be up close."
"What about your weapons? You used to hunt them so you must have weaponry they're vulnerable to."
"Most of our Firearms were never meant to be used exclusively to kill the beasts. Most lacked the firepower required to kill them, only dealing wounds to the beasts. There were legends of the Hunter Djura wielding a Gatling gun used to mow down beasts, but no one ever found a portable version of the weapon." Dunstan knew some tales from Yharnam yet even time seemed to eventually cause some of the weapons to fade from the Hunt.
"Will you accompany the rescue teams?"
"Someone has to be there to put down the infected since I know you and your mean won't. That and it will be a good opportunity to see how the plague has evolved in Vale. First encounters with unique breeds are what claims most Hunters so recon will be best spent on identifying what's in the area."
"You'll be deployed within the hour. For now help the teachers clear the campus and round up any stray students." Ozpin said as the elevator came up the shaft and opened.
"Those soulless dolls will be dispatched." Dunstan said walking into the elevator, giving a polite bow as it descended.
"You'd actually trust him to cooperate with another team of Huntsman?" Glynda asked remembering just how the Hunter tended to respond to new people.
"For now he is one of the only people with experience in dealing with those beasts. From the sound of it he has next to no experience when it comes to war, so for now I'll continue to guide the pieces along the board."
"Even if we're blind and can't give orders the moment the pieces leave this side of the board?"
"That's half the fun. Besides we aren't the only side playing blind. If all communications have been knocked out that means she has all her pieces moving along a preplanned path." Ozpin got up from his chair and looked out to the fires below. "Let's see which of us can predict the other's next move."
Resting in a Cell aboard the Atlesian fleet a red haired criminal sat in his bed relaxing as he listened to the explosions going off in the city below him. His suit had been switched out with striped prison attire at some point. Wondering why the plan had been launched so early he waited for his eventual release.
The sound of metallic feet against the floor could be heard along with gunfire that continued to get closer with each passing second. The sound came to a halt in front of his cell when the door opened with a group of Atlesian Knights standing guard for him. One walked forward handing the criminal back his confiscated goods.
Donning his signature white suit, black gloves, and tying the gray scarf around his neck before he stepped out of the cell. Walking over to one of the Knights he grabbed his cane from it before giving it a test fire down the hall at a few of the remaining crew.
With the knights leading the way and absorbing most the gunfire he easily made his way through the ship and towards the bridge. The closer he got the less fighting could be heard whether this was due to the dwindling number of crew or that the path was undefended didn't matter to him.
A single door was all that stood between him and the General on the ship. Motioning with his hand the two Knights placed charges on the door. In a explosion the doors were thrown off their hinges and into the room probably maiming anyone who was stood in their way. Walking through the smoke he saw the General stood at his desk overlooking the chaos that was spreading through the city.
"So nice to see you again after so long Ironwood. You know, I'd like to file a complaint about my accommodations. If you treat all your guests like that you're bound to make some enemies."
"Torchwick, so you've finally made your move."
"This isn't my move General, it's yours. After all these years of Atlas hoarding its military power and Huntsman they've finally decided to invade Vale. Quite the strategic move if I do say so myself." Roman joked seeing the general's face fall in despair of what this could bring.
"Atlas would never invade Vale! None of the other Kingdoms would believe your story."
"Then tell my why the CCTs around the world have suddenly gone down with the last message being broadcast saying 'Atlas has invaded Vale, send help'. Who else would have the power to do that besides the ones who provided them? I wonder what Atlas' move will be knowing you've just jump started the next great war and pitted them against the other Kingdoms."
"All you're doing is causing needless deaths. You're dooming countless civilians just to spread some chaos."
"It's much more than that General. We have your fleet and tin army now. Not to mention a fractured Remnant easy for the picking. This is the beginning of a new age in history where kingdoms will either rise up or turn to burn ash in the fires of war. Goodbye General." Torchwick held up his cane as the tip opened up to allow the firing of its explosive projectile.
The explosive phased through Ironwood and detonated on the wall behind him as he walked forward through his desk. "The latest hologram technology, courtesy of the Atlas Military. Lacking any useful combat purpose due to the amount of projectors required it was discontinued, though some council members use it to communicate with others."
"Come on out General and this can be a lot easier on the both of us." Roman mocked as he scanned the room for any movement.
"I'm afraid you'll not find me on that Ship. I left the moment our Knights turned on the crew. Now if you'll excuse me I'll leave you to your fate in this floating prison. Enjoy your stay." As the hologram faded all the lights in the ship switched off and were replaced with the emergency lighting used when power was low or being conserved
Walking over to the screen Roman saw all the exterior exits locking down preventing anything from leaving the ship. Within seconds blast shutters descended from the windows shielding them from any attack that may breach the vessel's weak viewpoints. Roman fired shot after shot in an attempt to breach the window. After the fifth volley the windows showed no visible damage.
"Ironwood!" Roman yelled as he threw his cane at the window.
Ruby awoke in Beacon's Garden gasping for air as mist seemed to roll off her body. When the mist dissipated she pressed her hand to her chest where a gaping wound should have been. The wound wasn't healed over, but nonexistent. As if the injury was just a bad dream to be forgotten. The buckshot lodged in her chest was gone as well along with the gashes to the back of both her knees.
Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself and thankfully found her lungs not flooded with blood. Never had breathing felt so invigorating while she listened to each beat of her heart. The moment Ruby calmed down she couldn't help but break out in a fit of laughter. Toppling over and falling to the ground she continued to laugh as tears began to run down the side of her face. Bleeding to death had been a cold, slow, and lonely experience for the young Hunter and she intended to repay Emerald and Mercury in kind.
Wiping the tears from her eyes she stood back up drawing Crescent Rose from her back. Pulling her weapon back the blade angled itself directly in front of the barrel when she brought it down in a flash accompanied by a gunshot. Putting the weapon away she began walking out of the garden in search of the exchange students dormitories as the many statues surrounding the garden all began to topple over. Each one with a clean cut running horizontally across them as the upper halves crumbled against the ground.
First Main character death in this story, though it didn't stick. I mean, we all know that when you give a character the ability to respawn they have to die at some point in the story. Dead Men Tell No Tales and all that jazz. Can you imagine the look on some peoples faces if they killed someone only to have them show up later and challenge them again. That concept alone is terrifying to me since no matter how many times you kill them they will eventually get a lucky hit in or wear you down to the point where they win.
In other news I finally have a Beta to go over my chapters a few days before release '5 Coloured Walker'. I know this has been a long time coming and a lot of you have offered to take up the roll in the past, but I was and I still am kind of terrified of asking others for help. I guess I finally hit a tipping point in my life and wanted someone to go over my work before launch. This also takes a lot of stress off of me, so that's a plus.
Thanks for reading and you can expect a new chapter in two weeks folks.