Chapter 7: Load

Linne looked at the hardrive Kajun had presented them. This potentially was the key to finding out exactly where Relius is hiding. Where he took Hyde and the others, as well as find Hazama most likely.

"I believe we haven't introduced ourselves yet. My name is Kajun Faycott, I'm one of Kokonoe's assistants, this is Mai Natsume a dear friend and budding fighter." Kajun said, Mai blushed a bit and waved a little to thr group.

"Makoto told us about you, and the inner workings of what she knows of the NOL. It's disturbing really, such dark secrets hiding within a grup that 'maintains order' as their claim." Weiss said, Kajun nodded.

"Yeah, it's sad, but sulking won't do any good now. Kokonoe has informed me that we are to plan a rescue mission for some people who have been taken by Relius Clover. I may not know exactly what I was able to retrieve, but all the information on this drive was inputted by Relius himself. Based on what I found, all his data is synced up through his labs. A lot of them encrypted and took some time to decode and copy. I was able to examine some of his data when I was coming here." Kajun said.

"Does that mean you know what he might be doing to them?" Yuzuriha asked, she needed to know, at least know if Hydr can hold out until they can get to him.

"Very little I'm afraid, nothing much different compared to the files I was able to send a few days ago to Kokonoe." Kajun said, right, Linne remembered. They were forming plans and waiting for when NOL guards were not in the city. They left for their evening outing and met the others about four days after Linne ended up here.

"So, do you guys think there's a reason behind him taking them?" Mai asked, she knows Relius had an interest in her due to being a Remix Heart, and thinking it might relate to the event with Seifer years ago. Despite how much she knew about his apathy to human experimentation, she knows he wouldn't just pluck some random person off of the streets.

"The very same reasons that Faycott found in those files. He's interested in the energy that Hyde carries. The personas that Hanamura and Shirogane control, he's interested in other worldly energy. I bet for reasons to help serve the Imperator." Linne said as she walked up.

"I would not be surprised, that man, it's like he lost the very concept of empathy and humility. Everything he does is an act. Where is Professor Kokonoe? I need to give this to her." Kajun said, just as she did, the door opened and Kokonoe walked out with Gordeau and Ruby, both looking very down.

"Follow me, I just finished informing these two. Let's see if the files you managed to get this time has any idea on location." Kokonoe said, Kajun nodded and followed her, Mai also going with them.

"Is everything alright Rubes?" Yang asked, Ruby shook her head causing Yang to frown, she hardly sees her sis in such a state.

"What did she tell you?" Yang asked.

"She informed us more in depth of what situation Hyde and the others are in. I can't believe Hazama's true intentions were like that. He acted so naturally, it seemed so easy for him to deceive someone." Ruby sighed, knowing that Hazama is the resson that Hyde might be in mortal danger did not settle well with her. He seemed like a nice man, it's hard to believe he was able to act so naturally about it while hiding his intentions. She got flashes back to Roman, how he acted so carefree despite knowing what he was doing was wrong.

"Hey, um, where is everyone now that I think about it." Gordeau asked as he glanced around the room. The only occupants were team RWBY, Linne, Yuzuriha, Orie, Ragna, and Chie.

"My friends went to bed early, everyone else is either asleep or with Kokonoe." Chie said, rubbing the back of her head, it was strange to be in a room full of people by herself.

"That makes sense, okay, so what did she tell you?" Weiss asked as she looked at Ruby, it was definitely strange to see her so down before.

"She told us that there's a high possibility they're going to turn Chie's friends into mindless puppets. As for Hyde, she told me two possibilities; he's going to have his energy extracted, or turned into a monster that may destroy the world. " Gordeau said, he explained the details of the situation with Ragna's help for some bits. to say the rest of the team were worried sick would be an understatement.

"Arg! I swear, if he tries to sweet talk his way to Ruby again or make an appearance, I will blast him into the stratosphere." Yang said, hearing the truth about Hazama made her more mad at how he manipulated her sister like that, and knowing that he probably won't hesitate killing her if he had no more need of her.

"That's why we need progress. I already decrypted the files Faycott was able to collect. Sadly, I can't track his location. While it would seem we're back at square one, that's not the case. Using the info and that he set up a filing system that syncs up all his working labs, I might be able to track him down through there and get a location." Kokonoe walked out of the other room, Kajun and Mai with her.

"How long will it take?" Linne asked, Kokonoe momentarily frowned.

"No idea, that bastard knows how to cover his tracks. Based on what we have no later than two months. During that time, we can continue on our usual and try to gather info here. Everyone should be training as well." Kokonoe said, that made the room tense. Knowing that their friends would be stuck for a lot longer.

" I'm not happy about this either, but it's what we have. You guys gave me the extra info that Hazama left for Iwatsuchi. I'm not sure, but 2 would be a safe lastest. Let's hope we find them before that deadline. Relius was never one to take things slow. " Kokonoe said, leaving everyone, including herself with a sense of dread.

Elsewhere...

Relius looked over his computer as a soft hum and red glow shined from in front of him.

"Oh? What is the Colonel doing now?" Hazama asked as he walked into the room. He looked at the sight and saw Insulator in containment tube, it glowed brightly and seemed to be floating, bursts of red energy swirled in the containment tube. Next to it, was another tube, levitating within was another sword, it looked like Insulator, except the blade was an onyx black instead of ruby red. Red and black energy also swirled around the sword.

"Don't tell me, you are trying to make another one?" Hazama asked.

"It's an experiment, I have already found many similarities between this Indulgence of Insulation and a Nox Nyctores. While it may only be that of a powerful Imitation, I believe the void energy may be able to overcome our soul limitations. After all, surely it didn't get it's name from the get go. It must've earned that name, that energy, and the souls the blade itself may have taken. It may succeed, I am following the process for making a Nox Nyctores and not an imitation. If you are wondering where I obtained it. Do recall that it is Ignis' core, I simply separated it, I also used some of the energy to compensate. It's amazing at how similar they are." Relius said.

"So if anything..." Hazama looked at Relius with an interested look.

"We need a fresh soul to jump start it. No doubt his friends will try to stage a rescue, I'm certain we will obtain what we need." Relius said, he looked at the sword once again with a smile.

Hyde Kido, you don't realize how powerful you truely are. Nor the fact you will help us achieve the Imperator's goal. Are you truly from another world? Or is it just an alternate reality?

Five weeks later...

Kokonoe worked feverishly at her computer as she tried to track down Relius' location. For all they know, Hazama could've taken Hyde to Iwatsuchi as a diversion. Finally, her computer blinked.

"Bingo."

Linne dodged an attack as Ruby charged. The two of them were sparring together since they had similarities, small frames with inhuman speed. Each of them had faced several different types of enemies, but few like themselves. This was a good way to prepare, as that's all they could do. Yu and his team were constantly running investigations around the city while Gordeau and Blake would scout for anything during the night.

"You've gotten better Ruby." Linne said as she pocketed her smaller blade. Ruby took a huff, worn out, and smiled at the smaller girl.

"It's thanks to you. We need to prepare when we go. I hope their okay." Ruby sighed, she looked past Linne and at the door. Hyde was nice to Ruby, not like Hazama, but he was kind, and even was ready to jump to her defensive during a misunderstanding. She really hopes he's okay, after all, he also helped her teammates, while he did clash with Blake, he saved Weiss from a dangerous opponent even the System couldn't control. She was grateful, and all that, she needs to return the favor at least. Linne took a breath, and her expression saddened.

"Yeah, I hope so as well, Hyde is very stubborn so I think he's okay." Linne said, Hyde may not be the most experienced in birth, but he makes up for it in instincts and stubbornness.

"Hey! Linne! Rose!" The two girls turned to see Kokonoe.

"Get to the main room. I tracked him down." Kokonoe said, Linne and Ruby grabbed their gear, shared a nod, and ran in after Kokonoe. The three arrived and the others were present.

"You were able to find them?" Linne asked, Kokonoe nodded.

"Yeah, freaking pain in the ass. Their located at a hidden lab that Relius built years ago. He built it a mile or two away from his old house. Activity there is massive, they're no doubt there. As Ragna and I predicted, they don't have the NOL backing them here. We still need to be careful." Kokonoe said, she turned to Gordeau.

"So the plan is to split into four teams. One goes after Hyde, another after Shirogane, and another after Hanamura. Gordeau, Yang, and Ragna are team four. they will cause a ruckus, grabbing Relius' attention along with whoever else is there. While their distracted, the other teams will split and find our missing people. Kajun and I will be tagging along, Tager and Mai will remain here to watch the lab." Kokonoe said.

"Wait, why do you need to come?" Kanji asked, sure he was just happy they finally located their friends after a month and a half, but that fact seemed kinda out of the blue to him.

"To deal with their machinery and gear. It's a extremely high possibility your friends are hooked up to machines, and I don't trust you guys with hacking machines that will probably kill your friends. So the two of us will be tagging along in order to make sure you don't kill anyone by accident." Kokonoe said.

"That, seems fair." Yu said, he really hoped Yosuke was alright, and the thought of him being wired to some machine made him gag.

"Then it's settled, form teams and we will get going. " Kokonoe said.

Next day...

The teams have been made, Kokonoe would accompany Linne, Ruby, and Yuzuriha to find Hyde. Chie, Yukiko, Kajun, and Kanji would search for Naoto. Yu, Blake, and Weiss would go after Yosuke.

They arrived at the 2nd Hierarchical City and moved.

Linne thought to herself as they approached the hidden lab, sealed away in a partial cave system within a mountain.

Don't worry Hyde, just a little more...

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And now the operation will start, guys, I am literally hyped to write the rescue operation and aftermath. It has been going through my head so freaking much and I finally get to write it. Apologies for taking so long, my mind was frazzled when I found an anime based on one of my favorite mobile games, it was 'Puzzle and Dragons X' I binged all 89 episodes in the span of three nights. So... I may be writing about that series as well soon. Please leave a review, and requests if you have something you want me to implement. I can't say when I may implement it, but I will try. Have a great day and see you next time ;)