Chapter 36

Jaye slammed into a wall, swearing at it as he peeled himself off its surface. Swinging Excalibur, he smashed its blade into the head of a nearby grimm, reducing it to dust. He glanced over at his mini-group. Ren and Nora were injured, Weiss was pretty much gassed, but the rest seemed to be fine. He flipped over a paw, drop-kicking the grimm in the head, and ran Caliburn through its neck. He leapt of the dying grimm as it crumbled into powder, rolling to break his fall, and driving his blade into the gut of another that appeared in front of him. He yanked the blade loose, flicking ash off it.

'You're pretty good.' Coco said, slinging her handbag over her shoulder, raising an appreciative eyebrow at the piles of ash lying around. Jaye breathed a long breath, sheathing his blades.

'We need to get to the landing platforms.' He said, running a hand through his hair. 'Otherwise we don't stand a chance.' He glanced around at the pathways and back alleys surrounding them, trying to map a route to their destination. 'We keep making detours because of blocked paths or hordes.'

'No choice.' Coco said, peering down a nearby alley. 'We've just got to hack it till we make it. No way we're passing through a horde without one or two casualties.'

'We need to find a clear path, otherwise it's just a matter of time before we become too exhausted to fight.' Jaye said. 'Do you think anyone here can scout ahead? Someone with good mobility and stealth.'

He glanced over at the green-clad boy, returning his gaze to Coco's face. 'Ren would be the obvious choice, but he's too injured to risk it. It's best if I do it; can you keep everyone safe till I get back?'

'I can do it!' Jaye turned to face the voice, locking eyes with Velvet as she approached the pair.

'It's too dangerous.' Jaye shook his head. 'I won't put you in harm's way like that.'

"Why?' Velvet crossed her arms. 'Do you think I can't do it?'

'I just don't want to put anyone here at unnecessary risk. It's better if I went by myself.'

'Do you think you're not at risk if you went out there?'

'I'm far less likely to get hurt or noticed. I'm probably the best choice we have right now.'

'No, you aren't. Velvet's small, and nimble. She's far less likely to be noticed than anyone else in this group, barring the ninja boy over there.' Coco interjected, smirking, and placed a hand on Jaye's shoulder. She pulled the boy to face her, her smirk fading.

'We need you here. I'm not a good enough leader to bring everyone here to safety.' She let her hand fall to her side. 'As much as I hate to admit it, people naturally rally to you. You've got that feel; like you've been through so much worse than we have. It's only natural that we look to you for guidance.'

Coco glanced back at the crowd of fighters, having finished off the last of the grimm, as they gathered around the three. Jaye scowled at the girl, crossing his arms, and Coco mirrored the pose.

'We need you here.' She said, nodding towards Velvet. 'Let her go.'

Jaye glanced across the girls, making a sound of annoyance. He screwed up his face in anger, slapping a palm over his eyes.

'Aaaaagh, fine!' He groaned, glaring at the two through his fingers. The girls grinned at each other, and Jaye cursed at them profusely.

'If you don't survive, I will kill you personally.' He swore, jabbing a finger into the bunny girl's face. Velvet laughed a brilliant laugh, covering her mouth with a dainty hand.

'I'll be too dead to care!' She jested, mock-saluting him. Jaye waved a hand dismissively at her, and she scuttled off between the buildings. Returning his attention to the group, he swore aloud again, kicking over a nearby barrel.

'I don't think we can do this much longer.' Weiss leant against a half-destroyed wall, crossing her legs over each other. 'The grimm will find us eventually. We're probably better off making a break for the landing pads.'

'Velvet's scouting out a route right now.' Coco said, crossing her arms. 'Give her some time; I doubt the airships will be leaving so eagerly.'

'This is an emergency situation.' Jaye sighed, dropping down onto a block of rubble. 'If the grimm make it to the landing pad, they'll pull out. And quickly at that.'

'I know, but we don't want to leave Velvet by herself if she comes back here.' Coco pointed out. 'It's dangerous enough for us as a group, let alone one person.'

'I know. I know.' Jaye grasped at his hair, tugging on a fistful as he contemplated their options. They were currently maybe less than half a kilometer from the landing pads, but the main problem was the large, open square they had to cross to reach it. The main courtyard was open on all sides; it was the only place with virtually zero cover for over a hundred meters, and it was swarming with grimm. It was impossible not to be spotted there, and it was impossible to make it to the landing pads without crossing the square unless they went behind the CCT tower. Going behind the tower would take over five minutes to cross to the other side, whilst the courtyard could be crossed within two. Getting to the tower was another problem in and of itself. Taking the distance from their position to the tower, the actual trip would take closer to fifteen minutes than five. Jaye peered around the corner of a nearby building.

'Taking the trip to the tower is marginally safer, but we're more likely to miss the airships.' He whispered. Coco nodded in agreement.

'I think we should just risk taking the courtyard; moving to the tower has just as much, maybe more risk, for less reward.' She said, and Jaye nodded.

'As much as I hate to do this, I don't think we can wait on Velvet much longer.' He ground his teeth, pushing himself off the wall. 'We're just going to have to risk it. One life won't outweigh all of our own.'

'Oh? So I suppose I can just kill her then.' Jaye spun around, eyes wide in horror, to face the voice. He swore profusely as he caught sight of the source. Velvet glared defiantly down at them from a nearby rooftop, struggling in vain against the arm wrapped around her neck. Damian smiled maliciously down at the group, tilting the blade in his hand as he touched it lazily to Velvet's neck. Jaye drew his swords, stepping into a stance.

'You bastard.' He spat. 'Let her go!'

'Oh? But why? Weren't you about to sacrifice her?' He said, touching the blade to her soft white skin. Velvet jerked away from the assassin as he brought his face close to hers. 'Such a wonderful girl, albeit a little furry, and you threw her to the wolves.' He breathed against her neck, and she let out an audible "eep!" as it flowed over her skin.

'You son of a bitch! Let Velvet go!' Coco popped her gatling gun out of her purse, brandishing it at the red-clad figure. Damian smirked, stepping off the roof. Velvet choked, scrabbling at his forearm to stay afloat, as he walked languidly down his footholds.

They grimaced as she pulled against his arm, managing to draw in shallow breaths as he paused in mid-air above them. He flashed them another sadistic grin.

'Don't worry your pretty little heads about it.' He spun his sword nonchalantly. 'The bunny'll go free, if Jaye takes her place.' He levelled his blade with the scowling boy. 'That's my only condition.'

'Fine.' Jaye spat, tossing his swords to the ground. They clattered loudly against the concrete, and he glared up at the assassin. Damian laughed manically, practically jamming the hilt of his sword int his forehead.

'Now why'd you have to go and do that.' The smile dropped from his face, and he stared blankly into the sky. Jaye paused, watching him tensely, and Coco grit her teeth in apprehension.

'You've become weak.' He breathed, tightening his grip. Velvet's eyes bulged, and she clawed desperately at the arm wrapped around her throat. She thrashed wildly, kicking at his legs, and Jaye yanked his shield off his back. Extending the sniper barrel, he lined up the sights in a heartbeat, pulling the trigger. The shot rang out, hurtling towards Damian's head, but he slashed it out of the air. Jaye fired several more times, and the assassin deflected them with a look of disdain. Velvet went limp in his arm, and Damian scoffed at the sight.

'Weak.' He spat, dropping the lifeless girl to the ground. Jaye dropped Hesperides, surging forward as she fell to the pavement. He dived under her, gasping as her sheer weight dropped into his lap, and Coco turned her gatling gun on the assassin. Bullets poured out of the barrel, and Damian backflipped back onto the roof, hurling a knife at the girl. Coco screamed as the knife rammed into her arm, dropping the gatling gun. Jaye glared at the retreating assassin.

'Why!' He screamed, gathering the faunus into his arms. Damian cast him a look of disappointment.

'Why? Because you need to feel despair.' He slid his swords back into their sheaths, turning daintily on his heel. 'You will suffer as I have, and you will know humiliation. You will suffer as long as Salem demands it.' He leaped off the building, vanishing into the smoke and ashes. 'You were a fool for thinking you could gain the life you want.'

Jaye clutched the girl to his chest, screaming his fury at the retreating assassin. He touched his hands to her neck, feeling for a pulse, and swore again as he found nothing. He laid her flat on the floor, grabbing at his jacket. Coco scrambled over to the pair, touching her hands to Velvet's face.

'Velvet! Velvet please!' She coughed, squeezing the faunus girl's cheeks. 'Velvet wake up! Please wake up!'

Velvet lay still, her eyes pressed closed, and Coco choked as she remained stubbornly silent. Tears ran down her face as she continued to plead with the girl, and Jaye swatted her hands away.

'Don't beg her! Help her!' He popped the cap off the autoinjector he'd retrieved from his jacket. He pressed it to her thigh, pressing down on the button. Feeling for her ribs, he traced a line to her chest, placing his hands down on it. He pressed down on it, compressing her chest, counting as he did so.

'Come on! You're stronger than this!' He panted, pressing his lips to hers. He ventilated her, returning to his compressions. He repeated his ventilations again, grabbing Coco's hands.

'Take over!' He dropped her hands onto Velvet's chest, turning his attention to his gauntlets. He rotated the chambers, charging them with lighting dust. He scrabbled at her top, yanking the zipper down to her navel. He ventilated her again, checking for a pulse, and swore as her heart remained stubbornly unbeating.

'Get clear!' He shoved Coco off the girl, placing a hand beneath the girl's collarbone. He lined the other up below her breast, discharging the lightning into her body. She convulsed slightly, and he cursed.

'I only have one more stick of adrenaline.' He panted, starting CPR again. Coco stared, tear stricken, at the girl.

'I don't know what to do!' She choked, grasping the girl's hand. Jaye ventilated her again, digging through his pockets.

'Take over!' He instructed, pulling the injector from his jacket. Coco pumped at the girl's chest desperately, and the boy jammed the injector into her thigh once more.

'You guys!' He yelled, gesturing at the rest of the group. 'Get out there and clear a path!'

'On it!' Sun yelled, grabbing Neptune and charging out the alley. Roars erupted from the other side as they entered into battle, and Jaye glanced desperately around the ruins surrounding them.

'Shock her again!' Coco gasped, staring at the boy. Jaye shook his head, pressing his ear to the unconscious girl's chest.

'I can't do that without a defibrillator! The shocks are imprecise, and that could make it impossible to save her.' He grasped the girl around the waist, tossing her over his shoulder. 'We're going to have to make a run for the helipad, there'll be paramedics there.'

Coco nodded, swiping her purse off the ground. With a crunch of metal on metal, she ejected the massive six barrels from its shell. Rounding the corner, she jammed it down the length of the square.

'Everyone better get the fuck down.' She spun the barrels. 'I've got a dying friend on my hands, and if you're in the crossfire I will shoot your ass to save her.'

'Oh shit!' Sun dived out of the way as bullets rained into the horde. Coco fired with reckless abandon, mowing down the masses of grimm standing before her. Taking a deep breath, Jaye shouldered the girl, sprinting down the narrow path she'd created as more grimm continued to swarm in on them. Jaye slid under a massive claw, Velvet's head narrowly missing the ground, and dropped her into his lap. Tossing her into a princess carry, he dived between the legs of another grimm. Clutching her head to his chest, he barreled through a group of Beowolves. He grit his teeth as the claws rained down on his back, and he bundled the girl protectively in his arms. He screamed in pain as a claw raked a bloody line down his back, his aura fortification fizzing into dust, and stumbled as a set of teeth sank into his thigh. The Beowolves howled their victory.

'VELVET!' A booming voice cracked over the howls, and the grimm suddenly vanished. Yatsuhashi swung his massive blade, bashing it into the offenders surrounding the boy. He sent them flying with a few massive sweeps, standing defensively over the boy.

'Make a path!' Neptune yelled, jamming his spear into a nearby Grimm's face. Sun's clones smashed into the horde, shoving snarling Ursa aside, and Jaye limped forward. He glanced over his shoulder at the group. Ren and Nora, injured as they were, helped as much as they could, and the tournament fighters divided themselves around the boy. Yatsuhashi roared a battle cry.

'Keep her safe!' The towering boy swung his fearsome blade in wide arcs, cleaving through grimm left and right, hacking a bloody path through the beasts. Jaye staggered through the gap, narrowly avoiding the occasional claw that made its way through the fighters. He screamed in pain as the tip of a claw jabbed into his shoulder blade, stumbling forwards out of reach. The other end of the square was just out of reach, and Yatsuhashi smashed his blade into the obstructions.

'Get her to safety!' He growled, punching a grimm in the face. He locked eyes with Jaye for a moment. 'Protect her.'

'With my life.' He swore, clutching the girl to his chest. The massive boy grabbed Jaye by the collar. Spinning on the spot, he hurled them into the air with a beastly howl. Jaye screamed as he hurtled, the ground rushing up at him from below. Slamming into it feet first, he covered Velvet's head with his arms, smashing into the ground hard. A sharp, stabbing pain ran through his shoulder, and he dragged himself to his feet.

'AAAAAAAGH' He heaved, staggering through the gap of an alley, sliding behind a building to avoid the grimm. He dropped Velvet as gently as he could, checking her vitals again. He swore under his breath as she remained still, and traced his landmark again.

He placed his hands on her chest, pumping hard at her lifeless heart. He heaved in pain as blood pooled from his wounds, the gashes opening wider from his exertions, sweat streaming down his face. Heaving her onto his shoulder, he fought against the stabbing pain rocketing through his body. With superhuman effort, he broke into a run through the alleyways counting to thirty in his head. Every thirty seconds of running, he stopped for a cycle of CPR, his breath coming out in short, ragged puffs. He felt his energy sapping away, fighting desperately against pain and exhaustion as he continued to try to resuscitate the girl. Behind him, the group continued to fight the massive hordes as they closed in. They held them back at the edge of the square, buying time for Jaye to get to the helipads first.

By the time he'd reached the helipads, he had carried out twenty cycles of CPR. The distance from the square to the helipads was only five minutes away at a moderate jog, but it had taken him almost fifteen minutes to get her there. His leg had given out on him partway, and he limped forwards with his good leg, almost giving out from the pain. Staggering onto the helipad, he practically collapsed from exhaustion as the paramedics rushed forwards to meet him. He waved them away with a trembling hand.

'Not me!' He croaked. 'Help her!'

Doctor Oobleck dashed over to him, grabbing the boy by the arms. From Jaye's hazy, blood deprived point of view, the Doctor had seemingly appeared from nowhere.

'Help! Group! Square!' The blood-covered boy gasped, gesturing weakly behind him. 'Can't hold on! Too many!'

Doctor Oobleck directed a few guards in the direction, grabbing the boy under his arms. Jaye grinned at the teacher.

'Hey Doc, is she gonna be alright?' He slurred, going limp in the man's grip. Doctor Oobleck threw his arm over his shoulder, dragging him to the temporary medical shelter in the corner.

'Well done my boy, well done.' He breathed through his teeth, nearly tearing up at the gravely wounded boy. 'I'm so proud of you.'

He dropped the boy onto a stretcher, the medics swarming him, and turned to leave. He paused as a hand grasped onto the hem of his shirt.

'Did I save her?' Jaye gasped, his hand falling weakly to his side. 'Is she alive?'

'Yes, she's alive.' Doctor Oobleck glanced over at the operating table. Velvet laid ominously still as the doctors attended to her, hooking her up to various machines as they loaded her onto a shuttle. He glanced back down at the boy as they ran an IV into his arm. The teacher laid a hand on his bleeding, broken shoulder, squeezing it gently.

'She's alive.'

And that brings us to the end. Just so ya'll know, I'm a medic in the army, so I feel like this chapter isn't just drama for you guys. I tried my best to represent genuinely how I'd feel in this situation, knowing that I hold people's lives in my hands. I hope I never have to do that for real in my life.