Chapter 4: Meeting and Information
Linne and the others walked back into lab the next morning, Kokonoe explaining that it'll be easier to give them all the info and most up to date if they wish for a quicker plan and rescue operation.
"Alright, Linne was it? You came at the right time, cause these guys also arrived and one of my agents just got me some newly inputted info on Relius." Kokonoe said as she sat in her chair by a bunch computer screens, one blue lollipop in her mouth.
"What is that info?" Yukiko asked, Kokonoe looked annoyed but sighed and opened up a file on her laptop.
"The info my agent gathered here was recently inputted a few days ago, like two or three days ago. Good news and bad news." Kokonoe scrolled through the file until they came up to a report styled page.
Subject 1: a girl around teenage years, blue hair and eyes, possessing what is known as a Persona. She had a lot of energy, quite intelligent and analytical. However, her involvement in Project GH has been halted after two days into, her body didn't quite suit it like I hoped and would have failed if project continued. However, she is more compatible with the new project I used her for. It was a success and no errors have been found yet.
Subject 2: a boy around teenage years, amber hair and eyes, also possessing a Persona. While his intelligence isn't as high as Subject 1, his observed combatant skills are impressive. Hazama has taken custody of subject.
Subject 3: a boy around teenage years, most likely the youngest of the three, red eyes and two toned blonde and black hair. While his intelligence is yet to be observed, he certainly has the stubbornness as Bloodedge. He is a being containing a power known as EXS or Void. The tests I performed tested his powers, he seems to wield a weapon similar to that of a Nox Nyctores. Not to mention it supposedly able to kill immortals and leave disaster in it's wake. Separate tests are being performed on the weapon to see whether or not it is akin to a Nox Nyctores. While his void energy is supposedly purer than others, the energy reminds me of the Black Beast, further information required.
"Looks like Relius has everything sorted out. Only thing this doesn't say is where the fuck they are. i already tested his info as well. " Kokonoe pulled open three tabs, all filled with different, but identical wavelengths.
"Valkenhayn told me what this vial this. Apparently Rachel managed to collect some Hyde Kido's energy during your duel. This one here, is Ragna's energy, from his Drive." Kokonoe pointed to the first wavelength, which had jumps and peaks, but kept a steady pattern.
"This is from the actual Black Beast, my agent managed to get me readings on the Black Beast's energy during the war when studies were conducted about the monster." Kokonoe pointed to the second wavelength, it had the same pattern, but with more chaotic jumps and plummets.
"And lastly, this is the Void Red energy Rachel collected from your duel with her." Kokonoe pointed to the last one which was the most mild out of the three, with steadier peaks. She shoved all three readings together and shadowed a green section which lined up all three.
"All of them have something in common. These energy wavelengths are specific only to the magic element inside the Black Beast. No other energy source matches up, even the energy generated from these personas." Kokonoe pulled out several more tabs and revealed that none lined up with the Black Beast energy besides Ragna's and Hyde's energy.
"What's the point of showing us this?" Linne asked, they didn't have time to 'aw' at things.
"The point is Relius may or may not have already discovered this. Ragna's ability is from the Azure Grimoire, one with almost the same energy as the Black Beast. The Black Beast is dangerous and extremely hard to kill and nearly destroyed the world during its decade long rampage. They have been searching for something to achieve Izanami's goal to reduce the world to nothing. My prediction is to find a way to recreate, revive, or become the Black Beast. If they are aware of what Hyde can do, or more importantly, a vessel of, I don't think he will survive." Kokonoe said.
"I'll be honest, I wouldn't normally have such an urgent mission underway for someone I didn't know existed. But circumstances reveal that his power may or may not spell out death for everyone in this world." Kokonoe said as she booted up more files.
"Linne, Valkenhayn explained briefly of what he knew, but tell me more about these in-births, the info would be useful in sending out a rescue mission with as little casualties as possible, and possibly what the bastard may do." Kokonoe said as she glanced at the girl.
"Well, in-births are awakened when they are bitten by a Void, a creature with insane bloodlust and animalistic. If they are able to keep their sanity during the event, they become an In-birth, people who have supernatural abilites. However, unable to keep their sanity results in turning into a Void themselves." Linne explained, Kokonoe took a breath.
"Well then, I'll say it's safe to say that one possible outcome is Relius attempting to turn Kido into a void, and considering his energy, into a Black Beast. I'm not sure why he would take the others, but a safe assumption would to turn them into puppets." Kokonoe said, Chie nearly barfed at the possibility.
"What, you mean that magenta man will try to turn our friends into that thing that attacked us?!" Chie asked in horror as she recalled Yosuke being choked by it.
"It's a high possibility, after all, that thing, Ignis, is his wife. That's what he turned her into." Kokonoe said, disgust in her voice. The remaining investigation team shuddered at the thought.
"That's, horrifying..." Yukiko mumbled.
"Yeah, and things will only get worse. My agent will be back in a few days, hopefully with info on where he took them." Kokonoe said.
"Well, if you dealt with him in the past, why can't we scout all of his labs? He must've hidden them in one of those." Kanji said, he needed to get Hanamura and Naoto out. They were both his friends, and the possibility of them literally facing a fate worse than death didn't give him comfort. Kokonoe scowled.
"If you want to breach every single NOL research facility be my guest. If you somehow not die from the numerous guards willing to take heads, you'll end up on the wanted list, possibly with a bounty close to Ragna's. By the time you find them, it'll be too late, think practical. It's the best option on forming a coherent plan before springing into action. I want this to be a rescue mission, not a suicide mission." Kokonoe said as she took Kanji's silence as an agreement and turned back to her computers. Only for the doors of the room to bust open, Kokonoe luckily made the room a lot bigger so it could hold more people.
"Hey! Put me down!"
"I'm not trying to fight! Seriously!"
The huge red form of Tager walked into the room and plopped two girls on the couch. One had dark blue hair in a dress, and the other had like reddish hair, wearing a red tanktop and jeans.
"Apologies for the rough handling. I sensed powerful energy and was just taking precautions." Tager said as he pushed up his glasses. Linne recognized the two girls.
"Orie? Yuzuriha?" Linne asked, she looked at the two girls, both whom Hyde was good friends with. How did they get pulled into here? She could understand Orie since she was in the Phantom Field, but, Yuzuriha she did not know.
"O-Oh, Linne, it looks like we were not the only ones pulled in here." Orie said, slightly nervous as she glanced around.
"Ah, so your Linne. Orie told me you and your friend were rooming with Hyde. How is he doing?" Yuzuriha asked, her tone wss happy, but it seemed to have faltered once she mentioned Hyde.
"That's the current problem. The kid called Hyde Kido was abducted just over a week ago by perhaps the most disgusting person in the world." Kokonoe said, Yuzuriha jumped up in an almost panicked state.
"What?! How?! Is he alright?! Do you know where he is?!" Yuzuriha nearly clomped Kokonoe from her state.
"Calm down! No, we haven't found him, we just learned of his abduction yesterday. My agent will be returning in a few days with info on where they might be. I'll give the rundown once again, but if anyone else decides to pop in, you guys explain it." Kokonoe proceeded to inform the two girls about Hyde they have discussed earlier. To say they were concerned was an understatement.
"To beat the Princess of the Night Blade. How strong is he?" Orie asked, Linne frowned at the memory, she made it her duty to protect Hyde until he is ready, but here she failed, so easily too.
"Hazama is a long story, but his real name is Yuuki Terumi, a very dangerous person. Considering everything I just told you, Hyde's fate is literally our most important one here. Now do keep in mind I'm not doing this for 'justice' or 'out of the good of my heart' or whatever. This is the best course of action cause Relius will no doubt try to do something to Hyde that may kill the planet and everyone on it. Relius is a twisted man, and I want him dead, but I'm not going on a mission for some random kids. After the operation is done, you guys better find a way back to your own. Don't come crying to me, I'll give you shelter if I must. " Kokonoe said as she turned back to her computer. Yu sighed.
"We'll go discuss the information among ourselves and inform you of anything that may help." Yu said, him and the rest of his squad left the room.
"Hey, you don't think those bastards are going to have the military backing them do you?" A familiar voice echoed roughly. Orie and Yuzuriha turned to see Ragna enter the room.
"Ragna the Bloodedge?" Orie breathed, she immediately got into battle position.
"Not you again, look, I don't have time to fight. I don't have time to deal with you right now." Ragna said annoyed as he just walked past her without a second thought to Kokonoe.
"I highly doubt it, have to keep a clean face after all. I doubt they are even aware of the situation. My bet is that their going to keep them a secret until whatever experiment they wanted done is done. So we have the advantage of them only being them." Kokonoe said as she turned to Ragna.
"Professor Kokonoe! That's a highly dangerous man! He's the most wanted and despicable man I have heard of." Orie argued, why was the pink haired lady so calm? She kept her blade steady.
"Heard, pff, you kids really are naive. Look, Ragna is my associate. The people who put him on that wanted poster are with the same people who took your friend and is doing who knows what to him. Just because he's wanted doesn't mean jack shit. The world ain't black and white, everyone fights for a reason. Casualties, that's up to them." Kokonoe said.
"Wait, what? What do you mean by that?" Orie asked, she has calmed down, but is shaken, she gently put away her blade.
"The NOL is a regulatory military that apparently was supposed to lock away dangerous weapons. Their strict and pretty much do anything to get what they want. However, considering the person in charge now wants to destroy the world, that's what their doing, even if the dogs don't know it. Hazama is a captain in the Intelligence Department and Relius is a Colonel. Despite the difference in rank, they both answer to the Imperator." Kokonoe said.
"You don't have to explain everything Kokonoe." Ragna said, she shot him a look.
"Very well, you talk to them, I need to finish examining this info." Kokonoe said as she closed the laptop and left the room.
"Look, you can have your opinions of me however you want, but we're working together in this regardless. You guys need to save your friends, and I have a bone to pick with Terumi." Ragna said.
"Fine, but still, something about this world feels, off. I'll trust you for now Bloodedge. Hyde's life is on the line after all." Orie said as she decided to sit down again. Yuzuriha looked uncomfortably around a bit.
"I know it's strange. Yuzuriha, when did you arrive here?" Linne asked, the girl in question sighed.
"Honestly, I was going to visit Hyde the night I arrived here. Once I got to the door, I blacked out. It was around a week ago." Yuzuriha said.
"That's the same night Hyde and myself got sent here. The moment we woke up, that's when Hazama found us, and took Hyde. He said he was going to bring his partner a 'live specimen', he decided to take Hyde, it has be to be because of Insulator. " Linne said, the term making Yuzuriha shudder as well. the two sat in silence for a bit as Ragna talked with Orie and Tager in a different part of the room.
"Thanks for taking care of him." Yuzuriha said, Linne looked a little confused, that wasn't the answer she was expecting.
"I mean, thank you for looking after him when he became an In-birth. Orie explained everything to me, what Hyde was able to summon, that he is being targeted, but also that you saved him. He would've died that Night if you didn't save him. " Yuzuriha said, while the whole situation is still strange. At least she knew Hyde had some good people looking for him, even if he's in danger now, at least he knows he's not going to be left behind. She was a guardian, she wouldn't know how to handle it if she finds out Hyde was killed by a void, thst she couldn't protect her childhood friend, especially one she treated like a little brother.
"It's nothing really, Hyde helped me before, I'm simply returning the favor." Linne said, Yuzuriha smiled softly.
"Thanks anyway though." Yuzuriha said, Ragna turned back to face them.
" Alright, Kokonoe recommends we do some recon around the town. Most likely that'll lead us somewhere. She's not certain on the data whoever her agent is brings back, there's a possibility it won't lead us straight to the bastard's hideout. " Ragna said ad he turned away from Orie and Tager.
"Well, let's get going I suppose." Linne saif, pleaee Hyde, please be okay.
Elsewhere...
"This way old man!" A peppy voice called out as a young girl with a red cape ran out of the forest.
" Geez, stop calling me old man. I don't look that old. " a man with dark purple clothing stepped out of the forest after the girl.
"Never thought I'd see you make a friend so quickly." a voice teased.
"It was circumstantial. If he's with us, and he's from the same world, I hope that boy is okay though. " a quieter voice spoke.
"C'mon Blake! I got some friends who can help, they're a demi-human, like me. But they're a cat demi-human." Makoto said as she happily bound across the forest.
"In any case, I'm sure he's fine, he did save me after all. Going toe-to-toe with you and Makoto also proves his strength."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, I have a bad feeling." The man said as his purple coat fluttered in the faint breez.
"Same then. We should hurry." That feeling, something was definitely off. She can't place her finger on it.
"Let's go RWBY-GM!"
"Ruby-Gem? What's with the random phrases?" Makoto asked.
"I'll explain along the way."
Annnd look who I decided to bring into the fray. Sorry for how weird this chapter was dialogue wise, I'm still getting used to handling multiple characters in one scene. I initially wasn't going to involve RWBY since I didn't have a solid reason for them, but as a review left by 'fernandamichelleray' I thought it over and decided to include them. I'm currently still brainstorming on their involvement, like they said, Ruby has good interactions with both Hyde and Hazama. I'm having a blast writing Hazama's dialogue, so I hope it's in character, any tips I would appreciate. Next chapter will be in Relius' lab after Hazama has returned and more character thought focus. So prediction so far is to have the rescue squad meet and plan in chpts 6-7 and start the rescue operation in 8. The rescue operation and aftermath have been bouncing in my head for days, so it should be quicker to type up.
Well, hope you enjoyed the chapter, any reviews, critiques, or advice I would greatly appreciate and I'll see you in the next one :)
Bye~
