Here we go

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 32

It was surprisingly cathartic to kick the crap out of people who couldn't really fight back. It shouldn't have been, and he felt bad for thinking it, but it was less picking on children and more wading through evil terrorists, so it came out okay. They were also wearing masks, which did a great job of helping you forget they were people and not forcing you to look at human faces. The Grimm masks made excellent targets.

Jaune swept his shield into one and let momentum take care of the rest. The charging faunus slumped down to the floor while another attacked from the side, swinging a sword far above and behind her head with both hands.

Rather than parry it, he stepped forward into her guard. Her arms swung down and she suddenly realised she couldn't complete the swing, having grossly over-extended. Her elbows hit his shoulders and she recoiled back, tripping over a root as she did. Luckily, she managed to not impale herself as she landed, but she did strike her head on a rock and knock herself out.

"I thought Adam was supposed to make the White Fang stronger…"

"Die human!" a man screamed, rushing in with a spear.

Jaune side-stepped the tip, let the shaft travel halfway down and then sheared through it with Crocea Mors. The faunus kept running, smashing into his chest and looking up at him nervously.

"Or don't. Your call."

"Surrender or I'll knock you out."

The man fell to his knees, hands on his head.

The whole camp had been caught off-guard and the battle was easy – almost too easy. Team RWBY had the supply depot and were holding off a half-hearted effort to reclaim it. Sienna had disappeared into the tents with a snarl on her face. Personal vengeance was being wrought there. Winter was fighting nearby while keeping an eye on Weiss, controlling a pristine white Beowolf that was being surprisingly gentle in putting people down. It could have ripped them to shreds.

Neo was… Neo was somewhere – and while that boded poorly, he figured he could deal with it later. Honestly, there was a good chance she'd skipped the fight and moved onto the looting. Their room would soon have a jewellery or other pretty bauble stash.

"Where's the leader?" he yelled to Winter.

"Sienna is looking for her!" she fired back, swatting an opponent's weapon aside and sweeping down with her sabre, whipping them off their feet. They did an impressive cartwheel before landing with a crunch. "Are you sure we can trust her? What if she takes the chance to run?"

"Then the White Fang kill her. She doesn't have any options."

And they hadn't exactly placed any demands on her either. Apart from the paperwork, she was free to roam Beacon and do what she wanted within reason. There were no bad conditions for her to want to escape to, not when death was the only reward her people would offer. He didn't trust her, but as Roman once said – you didn't need to trust someone to trust them, so long as you trusted them to act in their best interests.

"Team RWBY," he called. "All secure?"

"Yes headmaster!"

"Neo?"

"Inside." Yang jerked a thumb at one of the storage containers. The Nevermore was perched on top, preening its feathers with an altogether unconcerned air.

"Right. Winter, keep an eye open around here for reinforcements. I'll go help Sienna find the leader."

"As you will."

He pushed on toward the tents where sounds of fighting could still be heard. Running into danger wouldn't normally have been his first instinct, but this girl was only supposed to be at Blake's level – and with abilities that weren't so dissimilar to Neo, only much weaker. I've trained against Neo ever since I got here. I should be fine, and Sienna has probably got her under control.

Several moaning and groaning faunus got out his way as he entered, nursing wounds, disarmed or just having given up at the sudden onslaught. They were tense, weapons clutched to with nervous anticipation, ready to sell their lives but terrified at the thought. If he didn't do something, they'd panic and lash out.

"If you co-operate and surrender, we will ask for leniency on part of the Council," he told them. "You'll receive a fair trial. This, I will make sure of. Those who accept, disarm and walk outside with your hands on your head."

Several glared his way.

A sword clattered down. An axe followed. Slowly at first, and then with increasing speed once others had taken the first step, the faunus threw down their weapons and stood, many already holding their hands over their heads as they walked outside. He heard Winter call for them to move to the centre of camp and sit.

By the end of it, none remained inside. A few held on until the end but seeing that they didn't have enough to launch an attack on him – they did, but his reputation preceded him as usual – they lost hope and threw down their weapons. The only ones that remained were those too injured to move, and even a few of them were trying.

"Don't try if you're injured. We'll provide treatment once the battle is over."

They stopped and stayed where they were, eyes averted.

Moving deeper, the sounds of combat became louder and louder, and gashes torn in the tent material spoke of a moving battle. Posts were shorn through and ripped fabric flapped in the wind, offering brief glimpses of the forest outside. Ahead, a sound less like clashing metal and more whooshing and cracking reached his ears. He pushed on faster, bringing his shield up as he pushed through a tent flap and straight into a whirring dervish of sharp edges.

Sienna and a girl who could only have been Ilia danced in the middle of an open chamber, surrounded by bright light that flashed and flickered and ripped and tore. The ceiling, walls and floor itself were all torn up as flickering silver lashed out left and right. With a yelp, Jaune brought his shield up in time to hear something clang against it and retract.

He didn't even know who'd hit him.

"Why do they both have whips…? Why would anyone have a whip?"

He'd thought Ruby's weapon unwieldy, but a whip was something else. Rather than slash and stab, it flailed and lashed, whipping left, right, up and down and around as they spun in circles. The tips were the most dangerous part and cutting a wild pattern through the air, so quick and now double-layered, making tracking what was what and where the weapons began or ended impossible.

Why does no one appreciate the classics anymore? I can't think of a weapon less friendly to enemies, allies and yourself alike.

Sienna ducked and swept her hand over her head. Something metallic flashed toward Ilia, who slid aside and brought her hand down, carving through the ceiling fabric above and chipping down onto Sienna's head. The tiger faunus danced to the left, drawing her whip back with a barbed hook on the end, only for Ilia's to tangle with it and the chameleon to turn pink – not a blush, but literally bright pink – with pleasure. Electricity crackled from the hilt of her weapon, shrieking down the length of Sienna's and into her.

It raced over Sienna's body and she gritted her teeth, yanking her whip back and breaking the current. A growl slipped forth and she lunged in, whirling her weapon in every direction to create a zone of sharp edges that no one could step into. It was a whirlwind rushing in toward the younger girl, who changed bright white in what might have been panic.

Jaune tried to step in and hopped back when a whip – who's he didn't know – tore through where his foot had been. "Excuse me!" he called. "This is pretty much over. The White Fang have been rounded up and you might as well surrender."

"NEVER!" Sienna roared.

"Not you…"

"Sorry. Habit!" She ducked a slash for her head and hooked her whip around Ilia's left foot, sweeping it away. While it looked impressive, he was still of the opinion they were both just flailing about randomly and claiming any good hit as intentional. "And stay out, Jaune, this fight is mine."

I couldn't enter if I wanted to. You've both made sure of that.

"I heard you were alive, but I didn't believe it," Ilia said, face burning bright red – again, not from rushing blood but a complete change in her skin colour. Her hair went yellow too. "Didn't want to believe it."

"News of my survival has been greatly underrated."

"You betrayed us!"

"Sure did."

Ilia stumbled. "W-What…?"

Sienna shrugged. "You want me to deny it? Shout about how I was forced into this? Nah. You all stabbed me in the back, and I took the first chance I had to turn and stab you back." Sienna laughed and scored a thin line across Ilia's cheek, sparking her aura. "Is it petty? Sure is. Unprincipled? Absolutely. Satisfying?" She smiled. "You better believe it. I can't wait to make Adam choke on the crap he spouts. I'm going to feed the Albain brothers to one another. And I'm going to enjoy every moment."

Yikes. Personal much? Well, they had stolen away the revolution Sienna dedicated her life to. Then again, she stole it from Blake's parents, which went to explaining why Kali was so miffed. The crunch of heels on grass behind him spoke of Neo's approach, even before she came to a stop by his side, looking at the whirlwind of blades that had begun again and cocked her head to the side.

"Yeah, I've got no idea what to do," he admitted. "You want to try and break it up?"

Neo picked up a wooden stick off the floor and pushed it toward the combat. It shook wildly and fell apart, cut in four places. Neither combatant noticed, sweeping their whips around and around without any concern for spectators.

"Any ideas?"

Neo stroked her chin, held up a finger and drew the sword from her umbrella. She then handed him Mr Stabby and stooped to pick up a rock. Jaune watched in silence, knowing better than to ask what she was up to. Neo tossed and caught the rock a few times to test it, nodded happily once she was done and lobbed it up into the air. She drew her umbrella back like a baseball bat and judged the rock's descent. She swung the umbrella, catching it dead on and launching it forward.

Jaune tracked it as it flew not for Sienna or Ilia but above them both. He didn't dare tell her she'd missed, and his decision was justified when it struck the central pole at the top of the tent, snapping it in two and dislodging the support holding the canopy up.

Pumping her fist once, Neo turned and sauntered away.

He followed with a brief look back. Neither Ilia nor Sienna had noticed the roof descending on them and both were still going at it like industrial threshers.

From outside, the tent went down like a balloon deflating, falling with an agonising lack of haste. The whips continued to tear and nick at it, but the fabric was heavy and the weapons only moved as fast as momentum allowed. As the space was reduced and they kept snagging and catching, the whips became slow and sluggish. By the time the material had engulfed the two figures – leaving them standing as indistinct outlines – the attacks were smothered altogether. Ilia and Sienna would lash out occasionally, but the tent was so heavy that their whips would only make the fabric rise up a few feet before sinking down again.

It didn't stop them yelling angrily. Ilia at Sienna and Sienna at him for some reason.

"Now what?" he asked Neo.

Shrugging, she stepped onto the tent and wandered over to Ilia, who obviously couldn't see her and was waving her arms to try and dig her way out the tent. The blind terrorist didn't see Neo hoist her umbrella up like a bat once more, but she definitely felt it. The figure collapsed onto her back, still entangled in the tent. Neo brought the umbrella up and down, smacking her over and over. It wasn't very effective both because it was an umbrella and because Ilia had several layers of padding from the tent to protect her – it was like being beaten to death by a foam weapon.

That didn't seem to bother Neo, who was smiling wildly as she ineffectively beat on a downed opponent. Meanwhile, Sienna had crawled her way to the edge of the tent and was glaring at him, not at all pleased her fight had been interrupted.

"Sorry," he said, not feeling very sorry at all. Behind, he heard Team RWBY laughing. "But we want her alive and not flayed to pieces."

"I wouldn't have killed her."

"I surrender! I surrender!" Ilia yelled. "Stop hitting me!"

Neo kept wailing on her.

"Neo!" he called. "She surrendered."

The mute looked back, face shocked, acting for all the world like she hadn't heard. She tutted silently, tapped the side of her head and worked a finger into her ear. Oops, her expression seemed to say. I had something in my ear.

"I'm sure. Back away please, before we're charged for brutality."

"Who'd dare charge her?" Oscar asked quietly.

Neo winked at him.

"It's done," Winter said, striding forward with a satisfied smile. "All in all, a flawless operation. General Ironwood will be pleased. What of the prisoners?" She nodded to a huddle of faunus being guarded by Yang and Blake.

"We'll take them to Vale and hand them over to the authorities. Unless you had something else in mind?"

"No. They were arrested on Vale soil and I wouldn't risk a diplomatic incident by asking for deportation. Perhaps if any turn out to be Atlas citizens but that's a matter for others to decide." She pulled out her scroll. "With your permission, I'll report to General Ironwood."

"Go ahead." He turned to Team RWBY. "Ruby. Please contact Miss Goodwitch and arrange for our transport to return. Call for others too. I want these containers shipped back to Vale and the prisoners collected. We'll not be leaving them here for the Grimm."

"Yes sir!"

Turning back, he saw Sienna disarm Ilia, now a bright green in colour, and tie her hands behind her back. She was saying something that had the younger girl scowling. He'd have to deal with that later. Maybe we'll take her to Beacon – she's bound to know something. And if she was as keen on Blake as Sienna suggested, Blake might be able to get some answers out of her.

/-/

Their Bullhead returned before the new convoy, the one that had brought them here and which had stayed in the area awaiting the end of their operation. The pilot sat in the frosted window as they waited for the others to arrive, Winter securing the prisoners with Team RWBY and Neo poking around inside the storage containers. He'd have to frisk her later to make sure she didn't try and sneak anything terrifying or explosive into their room.

"I can't find any evidence of their plans in the tents," Sienna said, returning. "Then again, that's no big surprise. I always made sure important orders were verbal and known only to the most loyal. Too many spies to trust with written plans. I doubt Adam is any less paranoid."

"Spies in the White Fang?"

"Hmm. We recruit from the disillusioned and it's all too easy to fake that. It's not like I can personally interview and vet every member, especially when they're in another continent. It's up to the teams in each city, who have their own autonomy. Sometimes they make mistakes. Sometimes they recruit police agents or snitches."

Like him, she didn't say.

"Would Ilia know?"

"Yes. The one in charge would have the plans – and probably two or three under her. Of course, those are also the least likely to divulge them."

"You were in charge once. Isn't there anything that stands out?"

Sienna looked to him and then the camp that had been set up. The tents were obviously just for shelter and the containers were full of weaponry and explosives. The intent seemed obvious enough, but the execution and target was completely unknown.

"I've no idea," she said. "An attack somewhere – Adam has always been hungry for blood. I have no idea what, though. Not Beacon. The numbers aren't enough. Problem is, I'm not sure they're enough to breach the walls either. Maybe a minor village? Or supply lines. Disruption might just be their goal, or the first step to a larger plan."

"Maybe making Beacon look bad if trade to and from Vale gets hit?"

"Maybe." Sienna hummed. "But that's a rather long-term plan. Adam needs quicker victories. He needs something people can rally behind. Believe me, while `impacted trade` might be valuable on the strategic level, it's not going to impress the on-the-ground grunt wondering if he's made the right choice joining a terrorist group."

He couldn't help but agree. This was nowhere near as big as attacking Beacon. And if Adam took out a village nearby, how much better would that be? As harsh as it was to say, villages disappeared all the time. Most people would be as like to believe the Grimm did it as Adam. The news reports wouldn't even cover it.

It didn't add up.

"Our transports are here!" Yang called.

Five Bullheads cut low over the canopy toward them, engines whirring loudly. The markings on the sides told them four were from Beacon and one from Atlas. They came to a hover over the clearing, two above the containers and the other three coming in one at a time to land. The middle one was larger and wider, a transport meant for the prisoners. Two people stepped out to open the doors and approached Team RWBY, instructing them briefly before helping to move the prisoners on board.

Two Atlas soldiers dismounted Winter's and saluted her, receiving one in return before the Specialist started giving orders. The soldiers went for the destroyed tents, no doubt ready to sift through the wreckage.

Winter stepped up to him. "I shall stay here with my men for another hour to search for evidence. Please rest assured I will share what I find in accordance with Vale law."

"Sure." He didn't bother telling her what Sienna had him. She wouldn't believe it anyway, and if Sienna was right then there was nothing for Winter to find. "We'll be taking the prisoner back and talking to her. Do you need Team RWBY to stay?"

"No. Thank you, but that won't be necessary. Should any Grimm arrive, I shall be more than enough to handle them." Winter nodded to the containers which were being hooked to strong metal cables dangling from the two hovering Bullheads. The pilots on the ground were securing them. "If you wish it, I will oversee the lifting here while you return to Beacon."

It wouldn't take much from the look of things. "Alright. Team RWBY," he called. "Help get those containers secured and take the remaining Bullhead home. Sienna, Neo and I will go ahead." He smiled at them. "Good work today, and good job reporting this to us instead of charging in on your own."

"I didn't suggest that!" Blake yelled. "You all just assumed I would!"

"Good work to you as well, Oscar." He nodded to the boy, not the headmaster within. "You completed your first mission, and against enemies more dangerous than Grimm. You should be proud."

Oscar stood a little taller.

Sienna snorted. "Adorable. Let's go. I want to see how Adam's social media handlers try and spin this failure as anything but. Should be worth a laugh."

I suppose I should get back before Glynda tries to do my work for me, he thought, climbing into their Bullhead and strapping himself in. Sienna did the same in the seat opposite and Neo came over, stepping in and onto the main deck.

The Bullhead lurched up suddenly, making her stumble and slip.

"Hey!" Jaune yelled. "We're not all secured yet! Wait a minute!" He caught Neo's arm before she could fall, holding on as the aircraft took to the air. Her heels skittered over the metal floor and she fell to her knees, holding onto his arm with wide eyes. Outside the still-open door, the White Fang's camp disappeared and was replaced with treetops.

"Oops," the pilot replied, laughing sharply. "My bad. I'm new to how these things work."

"We're going the wrong way," Sienna said. "We're going away from Beacon." Her hands were already working on her seatbelt.

The aircraft lurched again, this time to the side. The open door became downward and Neo was swept off her feet, literally holding onto him with both hands, feet dangling out the open side. Sienna yelped and clung to her seat, suddenly a whole lot less keen on unbuckling herself.

"Right us!" Jaune yelled, looking through the open hatch to the cockpit. "Right u-" A barbed tail appeared, tip pointed back toward him. "Shit!"

It stabbed for his arms.

Neo let go.

"Neo!"

Her hand slid from his all too quickly and she was gone, plummeting out the open entrance as he pulled his arms back, dodging the tail by mere inches. It punched into the seat next to his, ripping through the cushioned seat. The Bullhead turned again in the air, now upside down and rushing toward the treetops. A hand appeared from the cockpit, an upside-down face grinning wildly from under the pilot's helmet. Up close, he finally noticed the blood on it. Their pilot had been waiting in the forest, but he hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Keep your hands and legs within the aircraft at all times," the madman cackled. "You may experience some turbulence." He ripped his tail out from the seat and brought it back, tip glinting with some purplish liquid. "But stay in your seat and remain calm. The pain lasts only a second."

Jaune slammed his hand against the quick-release latch.

He slipped down and crashed to the floor – which was once the ceiling. Tyrian's tail stabbed into the seat he'd just vacated, and some liquid oozed out. It hissed and bubbled. Reaching for his sword, he stumbled again when the Bullhead lurched further, toppling onto its other side with the open door above them and a closed one below.

Sienna fell from her seat, landing atop him. Jaune pushed his feet against her stomach and kicked her aside, rolling to the left as the tail scraped down and smashed through a window under them. Lights flared and loud sounds echoed from the cockpit, the machinery screeching about the lost altitude and imminent impact.

"Thank you for flying with Callows air. We appreciate all our customers."

The tail came back and stabbed down again. This time, he caught it, hands wrapped on the other side of the horrifying bulge that felt warm and smooth. His muscles strained as Tyrian tried to push down. The tip wavered in front of his face.

Purple liquid oozed from the tip.

"Watch out!" Sienna cried. "His tail is poisonous!"

"Of course it is!" Jaune screamed back. "He's a fucking scorpion faunus! What else would it have, grape soda!?"

Tyrian giggled and pushed down harder. "Complimentary drinks are available…"

Sienna yelled out something and slammed her hand down on the door, rolling onto her side away from them. Out the corner of one eye, he saw her grip the latch with her fingers and pull, releasing the catch on the left side.

The door – which they were laid on – exploded outward, jettisoned from the Bullhead.

Gravity exerted itself.

Jaune yelled in panic as the floor he'd been resting against disappeared. He swung out, still holding onto Tyrian's tail and almost yanking him out as well. Sienna had no such handhold and was torn out into the open air, spinning and cartwheeling her way down toward the forest below. The metal door crashed through the treetops but Sienna managed to get her whip out and swing it, dragging herself to the side and into the trees.

Tyrian and he dangled from the Bullhead, Jaune swinging in the air and Tyrian holding onto the cockpit door for dear life, laughter gone as his tail bore a man's full weight.

"Let go!" Tyrian hissed. "Die already."

Jaune steadied his grip and swayed back as the wind pressure took hold. He looked down to Crocea Mors sheathed at his side and tried to reach for it, only for the Bullhead to drop more and his grip to nearly slip free. He snatched his second hand back onto the tail again, giving up the idea of scoring a free hit. He was too heavy – unable to support himself with one hand. Trying to pull himself up, he looked away from Tyrian and ahead.

Cliff.

"Nope."

He let go.

His momentum wasn't entirely downward, more a forty-five-degree angle, sending him crashing through the canopy and into a tree as the Bullhead carried on toward the sheer cliff face, striking it and exploding in a huge ball of fire. Anything more was lost as branches, leaves and greenery filled his vision, cracking and snapping on his face as he hurtled through the treetops like a bowling ball through a set of skittles. He hit a bough, smashed through it, struck another, folded over it, slid down and landed on a prickly bush, saved only by his thick coat.

Leaves and branches rained down on him, pitter-pattering off his breastplate as he stared up through the hold he'd made, watching black smoke billow and rise over the forest.

So, this was what initiation felt like for Team RWBY and RVNN.

Wasn't great, he'd admit.

"Ughhh." He rolled over and off the bush, landing on the grass with a clank of armour. "Anything broken?" It didn't feel like it. Everything hurt, but that was probably a good sign. No numbness to worry about. "Sword, check. Shield, check. Head." He shook it to work the twigs out. "Check. Bullhead. Nope. Damn it."

On a whim, he checked his pocket and scroll. The screen was cracked but it flickered on despite that. Good old military-grade scrolls. If there was one thing he was glad Ozpin hadn't skimped on it was that. Shaking it to let the glass tinkle away, he swept through the contacts fir Glynda.

Something thudded to the ground a short distance away.

Oh, come on…

The scroll went away. His sword didn't come out. Fighting was a fool's choice with Sienna and Neo nowhere to be seen and Jaune sprinted in the opposite direction, all too aware of the sound of feet behind him.

"Running, headmaster?" Tyrian Callows called, voice mad with glee. "That's not very responsible!"

He who fled and ran away, lived to fight another day. Besides, it wasn't like Tyrian hadn't booked it from Haven, abandoning Cinder in the process. He didn't waste time arguing that. If Tyrian wanted to tire himself out talking, more power to him. Jaune focused on breathing, puffing loudly as he tore through the forest, hurdling tree roots and watching his footing.

Metal clicked behind him.

He ducked left, spinning round a tree and changing path. Not a moment too soon, as a hail of bullets slapped into the tree he'd used as cover. A tail came after, impacting the wood and splitting bark as Tyrian used it as a pivot to swing himself around. His lips were stretched wide open, eyes wild and mad and teeth bared.

The White Fang are working with Salem again. Why hadn't he considered it? Of course Adam had been the one to arrange that. He ducked under a low branch and kept going, activating the emergency signal on his scroll as he went. Neo wouldn't have died in that fall. Not in a million years. With her and Sienna on board, he could take down Tyrian. Not alone, though. Not without a battleship to throw at him.

Something tickled in his head and he dropped low, hearing the crack of a tail striking the tree above him. Jaune crouched and drew, scything Crocea Mors at the bastard's legs, only to hit nothing as Tyrian leapt above, settling himself against the tree with tail wrapped around it and guns aimed down.

"Ready to fight? I hope so!"

Bullets pinged off his shoulders before he could get his shield up. He backed away, keeping on his toes in case the tail came sweeping low. It went above instead, trying to stab down in an arch. Jaune leapt to the side and swung for it, but his sword was blocked by a curved blade.

"Ah. Ah. Ah." Tyrian's face filled his vision. Even so, he kept looking to the sides, trying to see the tail come around as he fought against the crazy faunus' strength. "You look nervous," Tyrian teased. "Is this the grand strategist I've been told to watch out for? Hee. You're less impressive than I was led to believe."

The tail came from the left. He broke away and side-stepped it.

"Impressive enough to capture Cinder."

Tyrian chuckled. "For now."

Jaune's eyes narrowed but before he could think on it the tail came back. Cursing, he rolled to the side, hearing it thud down into the soil next to him. Tyrian was on him again before he could deal with it. It was all aggression, all wild and mad. He was as fast as Neo but nowhere near as calculated, and while that should have made him an easier opponent, it didn't. Most people measured their attacks so as not to overcommit. Tyrian swung like he fully expected to cut through his whole body. Each parried impact sent vibrations down his arm.

A twist had Crocea Mors diverted to the side. He pushed his shield to the right to left to block the tail but that left him open for the boot planted in his stomach. He slammed back into a tree, breath blown out of him.

"That's the thing about strategists, I guess. They're always better behind the scenes planning away." Tyrian giggled like a psychotic schoolgirl. "Not so hot when their backs are against the wall."

Tyrian's fist slammed into his face. Jaune's head cracked to the side.

The tail whistled in.

He threw himself to the left.

Tyrian pressed the barrels of his knife-guns into Jaune's face and unloaded.

He flew back, striking another tree and slumping to the base. His aura fizzled over his body, crackling and shattering as his reserves flagged. He didn't need to check his scroll to know he was almost out. Spitting out some blood, he staggered back to his feet. Glass cracked and shattered in front of him. Neo appeared, pink and brown hair fluttering in the wind.

"And my real opponent appears at last," Tyrian said. "The bodyguard. Cinder told us all there was to know about you. Your style, your skills, your Semblance." He held his swords up to his tail and swept them over the tip, coating the blades with venom. "Let's see how you do against a real assassin."

"Neo…" Jaune's voice cracked.

She looked back over one shoulder, eyes flickering between colours. Gently, she gave his chest a shove, leaving him to collapse amongst the tree routes. She held her umbrella before her and drew the blade, casting the rest of it away.

Tyrian charged.

/-/

Cinder listened curiously as the fire alarm blared out across Beacon. The moment it began, sprinklers above her head had started to pour water, soaking her to the bone and leaving her glowering on her bed. It was obvious there would be no bringing her outside; the sprinklers were designed to make that unnecessary.

Still, a fire? Curious. Very curious. And unlikely.

Outside the door, footsteps echoed. Calm and measured. There was a beep and a whoosh as the door opened and a man stood in it, smiling sarcastically.

Cinder stood. "Watts."

"Cinder." He inclined his head. "I take it you're still the maiden."

"Of course," she lied, not about to admit to being expendable. "I take it you're here to get me out. How? How did you get past Arc? He wouldn't let you reach me so easily."

"Oh, I think you overestimate him." He chuckled. "Or underestimate my brilliance. It was but a simple matter of diverting his attention with an attack in the forest, all to leave Beacon understaffed. Then a twist of a fire alarm and with the limited staff leading the students outside, the path to you was clear. Atlas' systems are not as full proof as they believe. Finding the code to your door was surprisingly easy."

Cinder's brows drew down. That sounded awfully simple.

"It's too simple."

"Nonsense," Watts said, laughing. "I have outsmarted him, the man you call the mastermind. But I suppose that is only fair, I am, after all, a genius in my own right. Come now. It's time we leave this place. I don't foresee we will experience much in the way of trouble."

Cinder followed, leaving damp marks across the floor. Though she remained quiet, her mind was anything but. Watts had found his way to her and managing to get rid of Jaune in the meantime, sending him on a fool's errand. But he was no fool.

No fool at all.

"Come," he said. "It's time we leave."

Cinder did so, but not without a nervous frown.

Is this part of his plan…? Does Jaune know? Does he expect this?

He had to. There was no way someone like Watts could outsmart him – she was his only true equal. Watts' arrogance was known, his tendency to believe himself superior to everyone else. If he found his path so readily available, it was only because Jaune let it be so. A trap. Something they might well be walking right into! Or perhaps… Could this be a test? A test for her…?

If so, what was his endgame?

No omake today I'm afraid. I have major tooth ache and am visiting a dentist later. It was hard enough writing this hopped up on painkillers and feeling like I want to wrench my jaw out my face. God, toothache is the worst thing ever. In the grand scheme of things the pain should be minor, but for the vert fact it's in the gums, it comes across as the worst thing ever.

Next Chapter: 31st October

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur