Went back and changed `Winter` to `Willow` in that last section. Thanks all for letting me know. Weiss, Willow, Winter, Whitley. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a nod to how uncaring and distracted Jacques and Willow were with naming their children or not, but seriously, give some naming variety.

I'm guessing Jacques was the one to impose this "winter, snow and cold" naming convention for them, since Willow as a tree has little similarity to it. Oh well. Jacques is dead here. Maybe Weiss can change her name to Shaniqua like she's always wanted to. Lol. Actually, I like Weiss as a name. Just annoying the other three are all so similar.

Cover Art: Mystery White Flame

Chapter 46

Ozpin stood among the fallen, his breath a little laboured, his muscles aching. The White Fang lay strewn about the room, all alive but sure to regret their choices when they awoke with broken bones. It hadn't been an overly conscious decision on his part; using a cane made it easier to subdue than to kill. Unless he tried particularly hard on the latter, that was. The White Fang didn't deserve such effort.

Oscar's body still isn't strong enough to support this for long. He could feel it in his muscles. Were it his old body, he'd be breathing normally as well. Beacon was not built in a day however, and neither would Oscar become a competent huntsman within a few short weeks. Hooking his cane back behind him and cracking his neck, he strode toward the frightened looking boy who, to Ozpin's immense frustration, was about the same height as he.

"Whitley Schnee, I presume?" He knew who it was but Oscar shouldn't. "I have been sent by Headmaster Arc of Beacon to rescue you. Your mother is also safe."

"M-Mother is?" He swallowed. "W-Where is she?"

"Only a few rooms down." Ozpin looked around the room. It was a records room of some kind, replete with metal filing cabinets that had been pulled over. Paperwork lay everywhere. "What were they having you do here?" he asked.

"T-They wanted me to sign off deeds and assets to the White Fang."

"Really? What's the point? They couldn't possible think something like that would fool anyone."

Whitley shook his head. The boy was too frightened to offer much, which Ozpin supposed was fair. No one had ever accused the White Fang of being the smartest people, so maybe they thought it'd work. Or maybe they had some other plan.

"They wanted access to his bank accounts but I don't know how," Whitley said. "T-They got angry when they heard that. Threatened to hurt our staff if we didn't give it up."

"As if Jacques Schnee would let anyone else access his money."

"I know!" Whitley threw his hands down. "But they wouldn't believe me!"

"It's fine. You're safe now." There was nothing to bother searching for, so Ozpin moved toward the door and peeked out. The White Fang either hadn't heard the commotion or were too distracted with the death battle outside. "I'll bring you back to your mother and we'll get you out. Another team is securing your employees."

Whitley nodded and followed him, shaky but eager to get out alive.

"Oh, and one thing."

"Y-Yes?"

"If any young women ask how I saved you, would you mind telling them I snuck you out? Preferably without having fought any opponents?" Whitley stared at him and then back at the eight incapacitated terrorists. "They worry," Ozpin said. "I wouldn't want to upset them with knowing I risked my life like this."

Whitley looked back a second time, no doubt thinking how there hadn't been much `risk` in the fight given his methodical annihilation of his enemies, but that reminded him the boy could do the same to him and he nodded quickly. "I won't tell anyone."

"Capital. You can tell your mother or the headmaster; I only want to avoid worrying my team."

"Yes. Well… I owe you my life."

"None of that. Let's get you out of here."

Ozpin took the lead, ready to leap in front of a bullet for the boy without aura if he had to. Fortunately, they weren't accosted and he nodded twice on the door to Jacques' office, slipping inside in time to see Cinder rub the older woman's back, both stood at the window and watching outside. Cinder's lips moved and to Ozpin's utmost horror, he saw Willow Schnee nod with whatever was being said.

No. No. No. Bad.

"I've returned," he interrupted. "And I bring a guest."

The distraction proved its worth. Willow turned and called out her son's name before rushing over to fuss over him. Whatever the Schnee reputation for a lack of physical affection might have been, it appeared a near-death experience was enough to break through it. They did not cling to one another and cry as a normal family might, but Willow checked him up and down with some degree of concern.

Frankly, it was enough for him. He had enough drama trying to deal with Raven without accusing Mrs Schnee of being a bad mother. He strode over to Cinder instead, watching her bring her smirk under control.

"You did something."

"Me?" she asked, touching her chest.

"I'm watching you."

"I'm flattered, but I'm not interested in younger boys." Her smile flickered back. "You might try Goodwitch for that."

She wouldn't distract him; not even with offence on Glynda's behalf. Though, he admitted, it wasn't technically untrue with Jaune's age having been seventeen when they… well, enough said about that. He fixed his eyes on Cinder, pointed two fingers to them and then to her.

Cinder's innocent smile said it all.

"Jaune is dealing with Adam right now," she said, half turning away. "I'm keen to see how he outwits a superior opponent. Do you want to watch?"

Assuming he had a plan, which he did not. Cinder might assume it but Ozpin knew better. "No. We will better aid him by securing the hostages and getting them off-site."

"Oh. And I wanted to watch Jaune humiliate Adam too…"

"Stealing his hostages out from under his nose will be humiliation enough. Especially if it's a team of children and a fourteen-year-old boy like myself who is seen doing it." His words earned a bark of laughter from Cinder, who stepped away from the window, eyes sparkling with mirth.

"I suppose that will be embarrassing enough. I can't wait to see Adam's expression. He'll be furious."

Ozpin cringed at the sound of an inhuman scream of rage from outside.

Might be a little late on that front.

/-/

Jaune knew what it meant to be angry. He'd been angry at Cinder, Winter and even Ironwood at one point or another. He'd been angry at himself. At Blake. At Team RWBY, Blake and even Neo. Not to mention Blake.

Had he mentioned Blake?

"Damn it, Blake!"

She might have shouted something back – likely along the lines of it not being her fault – but as Jaune was swallowed up by the incandescent ball of angry-red rage that was Adam Taurus, he knew it most certainly was her fault. Get him angry, she said. He'll be easier to deal with, she said. Why had he thought listening to her was a good idea?

He didn't parry Adam's attacks. That implied the ability to see them, which implied a level of perception far above what he held. Hell, he wasn't even sure Adam knew what was going on. His sword was a red streak of light that swirled like a blender. Every swing was telegraphed and over-extended, and yet taking advantage of those openings would have required the kind of speed only Neo or Ruby could manage.

Wilt struck the ground. The ground shrugged, held up its hands and exploded for no good reason. Jaune hit the fountain, tripped and splashed into the water in time to avoid being decapitated. Sadly, the cherub spitting water out its lips wasn't so lucky. Its severed head fell onto his chest, spitting its last glob of water into his face.

Jaune threw it at Adam.

Red light flashed three times and the angelic figure's head was carved into six pieces. Throwing his head back and screaming, Adam lunged in again, wielding his sword with two hands and stabbing down, piercing marble as Jaune rolled to the side, sloshing in the few inches of water. Adam growled and ripped his sword free, sheathing it and taking a stance.

"DAMN IT, BLAKE!"

Scrambling to his feet, he splashed out the other side and dove to the floor, holding his hands over his head as a beam of red light howled over him. The fountain, the statue and a good portion of the treeline in the distance was sheared away. Adam's Semblance almost seemed to cut through sound as well with the still silence after, though that may have been his ears failing him after being so close to it.

Instincts screamed. Jaune rolled over and brought his shield up in time to save his life. Aura or not, Adam was swinging his sword like a bat, slamming it down three times onto his shield until Jaune's arms burned. He kicked out at the faunus' legs, knocking one back. Adam stabbed down and Jaune felt a sickening draft. Looking down from under his shield, he saw the sword had impaled between his legs – right up against his crotch. A small amount of denim had been ripped free, the strike less than an inch from castrating him.

"Eep!" Swinging his legs over, he kicked the sword aside and took the moment's distraction to jump to his feet. Attack or defend. The decision was taken out his hands when Adam turned and lunged back in.

This is insane. Surely he can't keep this up for long.

Aura aside, exhaustion had to be taking its toll as Adam threw everything at him. Wilt clashed off his shield and Crocea Mors, every blow jarring his arms and sending sparks flying. Had Adam been just the slightest bit more in control, he might have used his speed to divert and thrust under, but Adam wasn't a man right now. He was a beast. And just like a Beowolf, he didn't care for strategy. Brute strength and speed, he lashed out again and again, determined to break through the shield with sheer force.

"You're insane," Jaune gasped, launched back. He staggered, clumsily parried a strike and was sent flying back. He landed on one knee and pushed his shield in front of him without looking. Easy guess. Adam was on him within a second, forcing him back. "How is Blake worth this? I mean, yeah, she's hot, but she's hardly the only good-looking girl in existence."

"RARGHHH!"

"Is it her personality?" Jaune was knocked back again. "How is it her personality? Have you spent any amount of time with her?"

"KILL YOU!"

Wilt and Crocea Mors clashed and locked. In his head, he'd imagined himself pushing back against Adam, but fury leant strength and Jaune found himself rapidly falling back. Okay. That didn't work out. His foot hit a rock and he tripped. With Adam pushing forward, he rolled back and kicked with both feet – launching the faunus away in what might have looked to anyone watching like it'd been intentional.

"She's flighty and paranoid and constantly going on about the White Fang." Jaune groaned. "I mean, come on. For someone who claims to have left all that behind, she sure does a piss poor job of leaving it all behind!"

Adam panted and snarled several feet away.

"Is it the sex?" Jaune asked, genuinely curious. "I can only imagine it's the sex. I mean, it can't be anything else or-" He trailed off, noticing over Adam's shoulder that Blake was watching with her arms crossed, lips tugged down and eyes narrowed.

Unimpressed.

"H-Hello dear," he called nervously. "Love you?"

Blake glared at him and cupped her hands over her mouth. "I love you too, Jauney-Wauney. You're so much better in bed than Adam ever was!"

Oh, that son of a-

"RARGHHHH!" Adam slammed in again, straining to cut through sword, aura, armour, skin, bone and muscle in one swing. He didn't get past the first, but that didn't bother him. Adam kept grinding down, trying to force Crocea Mors back and into Jaune's chest. "Hahhh! Hahhh!" Adam's face was in against his, hot breath washing over his skin as the faunus panted. "Hahhh!"

"You ever, gah, think this is why, ugh, she left you?"

Jaune slipped to the side and let Crocea Mors swing, diverting Adam to the side and through where he'd just been. Adam swung down and carved a furrow in the ground. There was the briefest of openings but a loud explosion from the Schnee manor distracted him before he could. Worse, it distracted Adam, the haze of anger fading for just a second as he looked back to the mansion. Uh-oh. That might be the teams rescuing people. He had to keep Adam focused on him.

"Was she into whips and bondage with you as well? Or is that just with me?"

Adam's head turned so quick he might have suffered whiplash. His teeth gritted together as he snarled and turned fully to face him, bringing Wilt back into position.

Jaune winced. "Just me, I guess…"

/-/

Breach and clear.

Technically, they'd never been taught how to do it properly, but Ruby felt she did a pretty good job. Also, Miss Goodwitch was way more awesome than she ever showed off, not only knowing how to make a bomb, but how she could use her Semblance to contain and direct the blast downward, turning it into a shaped explosive that blew the floor clean away.

In the resultant panic, Ruby, Yang and Weiss hopped down into the hall beneath, touching the ground and lunging forward. Used to such speeds, Ruby picked out a faunus in a mask who had a woman, a maid, at knifepoint, and homed in on him. Crescent Rose swept down and under, carefully coming up between the knife and the maid's throat and ripping it away, all in the space of two seconds and before the smoke had cleared.

The White Fang were slow to react.

Yang and Weiss weren't. By the time they closed in, the terrorists had their guns up but at the emerging threat, instincts telling them to deal with the attackers before they overwhelmed and not focus on the hostages. Ruby left her teammates to it and used her Semblance to close the distance between the furthest enemy before he could think better. He took aim on the hostages a second later but a loud crack from Crescent Rose had him diving for cover.

There wasn't much to be had in the large hall. And certainly not enough that she couldn't get around it with her Semblance. Boot planting down atop the table, Ruby arched in the air and shot up at the ceiling, using the recoil to shoot her body back and into the faunus taking aim on her. He managed to squeeze of two shots and she winced as they tore into her aura. It held firm. The man's mask didn't as she landed feet first on it. Porcelain cracked and he buckled, gun skittering away as she carried him down to the floor.

He was probably on the verge of consciousness when she stepped off, but the closest maids were quick to jump on and subdue him anyway. A wall of ice sprung up on the other side, protecting the maids and butlers before any other White Fang could think to shoot at them.

It only lasted a few seconds before Miss Goodwitch came down. At that point, three terrorists were disarmed and knocked out by their own weapons, and those that remained quickly saw the writing on the wall and threw down their guns and surrendered. Their only advantage had been in the hostages and they were no match for a group of huntresses suddenly in their midst.

All except for one. "Stay back!" the faunus yelled, one arm around the neck of a butler and the other holding a knife to his throat. The butler was a balding man with a brown moustache reminiscent of Port's He looked… remarkably calm given the situation. "Stay back or I'll slit his throat!"

Weiss stepped up beside Ruby. "Klein."

"Miss Schnee," he replied. "So good to see you well, especially given the circumstances. Is this the team you spoke to me of?"

"They are. Or two thirds of it. This is Ruby Rose, my leader and partner, and her sister Yang Xiao-Long."

The butler smiled. "Charmed. My name is Klein. I've heard so much about you. All good, I assure you."

"Um." Ruby waved a hand awkwardly. "Nice to meet you?"

"Yes, it's a pleasu-"

"Stop talking!" the White Fang squealed. "I have a knife. I'll do it. I'll-"

"Do you mind, sir?" The butler reached up, gripped the man's knife hand by the wrist and twisted. He pushed the hand forward while it was weak, turned, ducked under the arm and drew it with him, quickly and efficiently forcing the faunus to lean forward, arm twisted at an unnatural angle. "I was speaking with Miss Schnee. Do be so polite as to not interrupt."

He pulled the faunus in and drove a knee into his face. Then, without wasting a second, he stepped forward and rolled the faunus forward, making him flip onto his back or risk having his arm broken. The terrorist had no option but to go with it, slamming down. The butler then pushed a thumb between the handle of the knife and the palm of the faunus' hand, pulling it away and tossing it to the floor.

Tutting, he shook his head. "So rude."

"Eeeeee!" Ruby clutched her hands together. "You have a ninja butler?" she squealed at Weiss. "Since when have you had a ninja butler!?"

"Since she was but a child," the man said fondly. "And really, I'm more a bodyguard than a ninja."

"That was so cool! Can you teach me how to do that?"

"Of course. It's all in the wrist." Klein chuckled. "Their wrist, of course."

"Teach her later, Klein," Weiss said. "We need to get out of here while we can. Mother and Whitley are being rescued by another team," she said before Klein could protest. "Our job is to get the staff out so they can't be used against us."

"Of course, Miss Schnee." He bowed his head. "I could take us through the emergency tunnels."

"You have a secret way out?" Miss Goodwitch asked, intervening.

"It's not so much a secret as an alternate route. The White Fang would not know of it, however. There are sealed doors that will provide some safety and the tunnels are perfectly safe. It's really more of a basement escape route with concrete walls than a tunnel carved from rock."

"It's safe," Weiss added. "Father had a lot of enemies and was keen on not falling to them."

"Very well. We shall make for these tunnels. Team RWBY, you shall escort the hostages through them and protect them. I shall make my way back outside to inform Jaune of our success. With any luck, I shall meet up with Oz-Oscar en route. Miss Rose. I leave you in charge."

Excitement and tension wracked her in equal measure, but she nodded anyway. Risking your own life was fine when you had aura but looking after so many defenceless people was scary. Still, it'd be safer taking them out through these tunnels than risking going outside where Adam and the headmaster would be fighting. Blake had warned them about his Semblance, and one wild shot might kill all the people they'd just rescued.

"Weiss, you take the lead," she ordered. "Yang with her. I'll guard the rear. If anyone comes behind, I can distract them and run away once you're clear."

Nodding, Weiss hurried to the front and called for the staff to follow her. Whether it was training for just this occurrence or trust, she didn't know, but men and women rose to their feet and filed after her, filtering out the hall as Ruby watched the downed White Fang, many of whom were still conscious but had clearly given up on fighting. They looked frustrated but not suicidal.

Miss Goodwitch hurried the other way, out the door and back to the fight. I hope Blake and Jaune are okay. The temptation to follow was there, but she'd been trusted with saving these people. Real huntress work. Team RVNN were going to be so jealous.

"None of you move," she told the faunus. "Once we're gone, you can run if you like." There was no real way for them to secure them and they couldn't waste time trying. "If you run fast enough, you might be able to escape Atlas when they come. Or Adam when he finds out you failed."

Their faces paled. Some looked terrified at the thought.

"Or we could stop you and kill them," a brave terrorist said.

"No, you couldn't." Her answer stunned him. "I mean, you could try, but that's it." Ruby let Crescent Rose transform and fired a shot at the ceiling for good measure. It cut a hole right though and the faunus all winced. "I'm a huntress so I usually fight Grimm. I'm not all that familiar on fighting other people, but I'm pretty sure trying to follow a sniper into a narrow tunnel isn't a good idea."

No one challenged her. They could all imagine how that might go, especially if said sniper had aura to prevent her being taken down by any stray shots. Good luck getting close – and even if you did, all you'd done was close distance with a huntress.

They couldn't beat her at range and they couldn't beat her up close.

"Help your friends up and go. That's safest for all of you."

Ruby turned her back and walked away.

Heh. I bet I sounded super cool.

/-/

"He's being ripped apart."

"Have a little faith, Harriet. This is the esteemed headmaster of Beacon you are talking about."

Harriet Bree lowered her binoculars and glanced back at Vine, rolling her eyes at his typical response. "I call it like I see it. What else would you call someone being tossed around an arena unable to make a single attack back?"

"A defensive retreat."

"Yeah. Sure. Let's go with that…"

"Enough chatter," Clover said, business as always when a mission was on. "His stated goal is to distract Adam while the other teams infiltrate the mansion. I'd say he's doing a good enough job of that. Elm. Any news from inside?"

"None that I can see," Elm replied, also peering through a pair of binoculars. "I guess no news is good news, but I wish we could be in there as well."

"I know what you mean, believe me. We have our orders, though. With any luck, they'll get the hostages out safe and we can step in. Vine. What can you tell me about Taurus' fighting style? He's extending his aura for those attacks. That's your speciality."

"It is what it is," Vine said, watching from a distance with a calm expression. "There appears to be a small charge up time for his attack; I'd take that opportunity to get out the way. Beyond that, it's nothing we haven't faced before. It's his speed and aggression I'd be more concerned about."

"Not scared, are you?"

"Marrow." Vine sighed dramatically. "Must you do this now?"

"Must you both do this now?" Harriet snarked, watching the fight again. "I'm trying to scout out the opposition here."

"Which one?" Marrow asked. "Taurus or Arc?"

"Whichever ends up the more dangerous."

Clover frowned, no doubt at the suggestion an ally could become an enemy, but he didn't rebuke her for it. They all knew how quickly that could change, and tensions between Vale and Atlas had only just begun to calm. After the White Fang pulled this, they might jump up again.

He's not all that from the way he fights, she thought, watching Jaune Arc. I expected more from what I heard, but I reckon I could take him. Remembering the way General Ironwood spoke about him, she thought, or is that what he wants me to think?

No. There was just no way he'd risk his life putting on a show for their benefit. Plus, this was being broadcast all over thanks to the captured news crew. Those would be her responsibility to save, given her Semblance.

"What do you think, Harriet?" Clover asked.

"He's either in completely over his head, or he's the best actor this side of Atlas."

"He's still alive," Marrow pointed out. "In a one on one against Adam Taurus…"

Harriet gritted her teeth. "That's my point."

"He's made Taurus positively livid," Vine said. "Aside from making him a worse combatant, it's distracted him from the mission taking place in the manor. Perhaps appearing to fight so poorly is a continuation of that. To further upset his opponent."

"Possible," Clover said. "Possible."

"Ballsy, you mean," Elm said. "I shouldn't be liking the guy as much as I do. Ha ha!"

"Keep in mind we may be forced to act against him," Harriet warned.

"I know. I know. Liking someone won't stop me doing what I have to."

Clover blinked and leaned forward suddenly, placing a hand on Harriet's shoulder and crouching down. "There." He pointed up to a window, second floor. "Zoom in there. I thought I saw a reflection of light."

Harriet did as she was told and quickly found it. Willow Schnee in the window. Beside her, someone who was not a masked member of the White Fang, though just as dangerous. Cinder Fall. Harriet offered the binoculars up for Clover to see, knowing he'd lucked out yet again thanks to his Semblance. A power like that would have been annoying normally, but better to have luck on your side than not.

"Looks like they've secured the VIPs," he remarked, sounding pleased. "With any luck, they'll have the others out as well." He drew out a comms device and spoke into it. "Teams Alpha through Charlie. Ready weapons. Expand perimeter and be ready to move in on my mark."

"We're doing this, then," Vine said, dusting himself down. "It's about time. I was getting quite bored."

"Elm and Vine. You'll help secure Willow and Whitley Schnee. Harriet, your job is to get the hostages remaining outside to safety. Marrow, subdue any White Fang outside the building. I'll be supporting our visiting dignitary."

"Intervening in a duel of honour, Clover? That's rather rude."

"Something tells me he'll let it go." They all winced as a blast of Adam's Semblance clipped Headmaster Arc, sending him spinning to the floor. "Ouch. He may even thank me for it. Ace-Ops. Ready up. We're moving in."

They all replied as one, "Sir."

/-/

The Knight-Unit Atlesian Droid's head struck the wall and exploded, caved in by a meaty hand. Its body twitched and sparked for a moment; final commands sent from its CPU causing it to spasm as though suffering its death throes. With a final whirr of motors, it hung still and died. The hand drew back and the metal skeletal structure slid down the wall to slump at its base. Behind, a devastating trail of robotic bodies spoke of the others.

Pushing the scraps aside, the hulking figure punched in a code written on a scrawl of paper. The machined blinked a bright green and the door slid open. Inside, various machines of unknown purpose worked tirelessly, all surrounding a single object suspended in the centre.

"The Relic…"

"Yes, it is." The answer would have made a lesser man jump. Hazel Rainart simply grunted and looked to the side, eyes narrowing in on General Ironwood as he rose from a chair that had been drawn up against the wall. The General looked unsurprised to see him, and unworried. "The Relic of Creation, which keeps Atlas in the air. Without it, we would crash down, causing untold loss of life among the innocent people below."

"…"

"Of course, you would know that already. I suppose the loss doesn't bother you much."

"It does," the giant said. "No life should be spent so easily."

"Quaint words from one who serves Salem."

"My reasons are my own."

"Everyone's reasons are their own," Ironwood said, throwing away his white coat. His blue vest and waistcoat beneath drew taut over his chest, the seems on the shoulder popping as his cybernetic arm flexed. "That doesn't make you any less accountable for them."

"I'm prepared for that." Hazel shrugged off his own coat, muscles bulging as the dust coursing through him took hold. "And for whatever may come."

"Good." Ironwood drew a gun. "Having Taurus cause a distraction to lure us out and then striking at the Relic. A trick so old it might as well be fossilised. I'm insulted you thought it would work. I saw this coming so far back I replaced the guards with robots just to limit the body count."

"If it works, it works."

"Do you know what really annoys me, though?" Ironwood asked.

Hazel ignored him. "You're alone, Ironwood. Arc is occupied and won't be coming to save you."

"That," James hissed. "Assuming I need him to pull my bacon out the fire. That annoys me."

Poor James. You're a badass General with the hottest beard on Remnant (I mean, that has to be confirmed fact by now, right?) and no one is taking you seriously. Honestly, I freaking love Ironwood. He and Roman are without a doubt my favourite male characters in the show, with Qrow coming in a close third. Yang and Neo remain my favourite female characters.

I still think RWBY being able to make a character have so much character without being able to speak is incredible. I'd honestly have preferred if she didn't use signs in Chibi, too. Like, take it as a challenge to try and convey a story with only facial expressions. Like drawing a comic without speech bubbles and trying to convey a story.

Ah, Ironwood x Roman when? You're all clamouring about Bumblebee, but where is my Torchwood? Give me Neo trying to set her father figure up with Daddy Ironwood, much to the horror of both of them.

Omake:

"It's time," Hazel said, standing taller.

"I've been preparing for this all my life," Ironwood agreed, throwing his coat aside. "Let's do this."

"Don't think I'll show you any mercy, General."

"I wouldn't ask for it."

Locking eyes, the two roared as battle commenced.

/-/

Winter's boots stamped down on metal as she ran down the corridor, a full team of Specialists behind her. Destroyed robots lay everywhere, evidence of the intrusion. With the facility on lockdown, only Ironwood would be standing between their enemy and the destruction of Atlas. Winter pushed herself harder still, slamming a hand down on the door and punching in the code to open it. The second the door was open, she charged in, team at the ready behind her.

"General Ironwoo-"

"Huuuugh-argghhhhh!"

Ironwood's black shirt split and tore, falling away in tatters as he stood with his hands locked together, fingers interlocked. His muscles bulged and rippled, sweating slightly as he held the pose and stared at his opponent.

Winter came to a slow stop. "Sir…?"

"Hmph." Hazel Rainart cocked his head back and planted a foot forward. Gritting his teeth, he slapped his own hands together and growled. "Harghhh!" Fabric ripped again, a huge chest revealed along with bulging biceps twitching up and down his body. "Hmmm," he hummed, holding it for a long few seconds and then smirking at Ironwood.

In answer, Ironwood took in a deep breath, locked both hands behind his head and tightened every muscle in his body. Even though half his chest was robotic, the other half was practically dancing, his pec jumping up and down at his command.

A thud behind her followed a member of the Specialists hitting the floor, blood pouring out from under her helmet. The delirious smile on her face said it all, even as another member dropped to his knees with a cry of, "Medic! Sammy's down!"

"I can see them glistening," the downed Specialist mumbled. "Glistening light on their bodies…"

"Don't walk into the light, Sammy! Don't walk into the light!"

"But I want to. I want to so badly…"

Winter checked the Relic. It was still present. Looking back to Ironwood and Hazel, she waited for something to happen. Something did happen. Hazel Rainart shook with fury for a moment, then lunged forward. Winter's hand fell to her weapon but it was all in vain. Hazel finished his lunge down on one knee, his trousers ripping as every muscle in his body expanded.

Another specialist dropped, bleeding from the nose.

"TWO MEDICS!" the only and overworked male member of the team cried.

"Harghhh!" Ironwood roared, doing one-handed handstand push-ups.

"Rargh!" Hazel challenged, picking up a section of the floor, ripping it out with his fingers, and then scrunching it into a ball. He smashed it against his chest to destroy it, then struck a pose and tossed his head back.

"Huwaghh!"

"Unghar!"

"Hahh!"

"Raghhh!"

Winter pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm not paid enough for this…"

And then Hazel pulled out his trump card. He held out two hands.

Ironwood couldn't match it.

Next Chapter: 13th February

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur