Another day, another chapter. As you may well know, Volume three ended on a damn low note and also ruined some of my plans for this story. Well played Miles and Kerry...well played. But not to worry, only some minor changes to the plot will happen. Now, review response time. OutlastTheDark; yeah I think Reaper watches one too many horror films if you ask me. I was also going for the whole 'shit in your pants' vibe when Reaper punched through the wall. And as for the Reaper...he still has a few tricks up his sleeve. And Guest; once the Reaper has you in his sights...it'll be a lot of work for whoever has to clean it up is all I'll say. Now, on with the show!
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Chapter 12- The Warning
Winston sighed internally as he continued to type away at the keyboard, issuing commands to the data-base. It had been nearly an hour since Soldier 76 had left, not that he was concerned for the vigilante that is. But it would have helped to have known where he was going and what he was doing.
He sighed as he continued to update the multiple systems in the data-base. Normally, he would enjoy doing such a task. He would often update the data-base to include the most recent anti-virus protection software, or even just for the fun of it some times. But this time was different.
Some time after Soldier 76 had left, he had received a message from an anonymous source merely stating 'Soon'. He didn't need to be told who sent the message, he knew it was the Reaper. The question was however, what did it mean? Was he planning an assault on Overwatch? Was he going to attempt to hack the system again?
It was these questions and more that had been festering in his mind. He had spent the majority of his time since updating the data-bases defence matrix as well as arming all available 'Bastion' units in choke points across the former Academy. They would tear apart anything that came within range and wasn't recognised on their sensors.
As he continued to download updates, he paused. Something wasn't right, he could feel it. He listened carefully when he finally managed to make out a noise. Footsteps. And they were approaching at a steady pace. He quietly made his way from his seat to the wall, careful not to make any noise himself. He pressed his ear against the wall and continued to listen. To a human, the footsteps were almost silent. But to a Faunus, they were loud and clear.
Whoever it was, they were doing their best to remain quiet. How had the 'Bastion' units not picked them up? The only signatures they would recognise are his own and…
Winston smiled slightly as he realised just who it was. As he heard the figure getting ready to turn the corner, he readied himself. First thing that came into view was his foot, then the leg, then the torso and chest and then finally the head. Before they could even step foot into the room, Winston sent a punch directly into the side of his head, sending the figure flying into the wall.
Winston was however surprised that upon hitting the wall, the figure merely disintegrated into a large amount of blue pixels that faded away into nothing. Winston moved forward, somewhat curious at what had happened, attempting to grab onto some of the pixels only for them to fade faster.
"You think I'd fall for that trick?"
Winston turned at the sound of the voice, and was greeted by Soldier 76 leaning on the door frame, a small white sphere in his hand which he nonchalantly threw into the air before catching it.
"One can always hope can't they?" Winston asked as Soldier 76 chucked the object towards him, catching it with ease in his large hands. "This isn't safe to use yet you know. You're lucky it didn't fry you..."
"Luck is a strong word..." Soldier 76 replied, crossing his arms as he continued to lean on the frame.
"Where were you anyway?" Winston asked, inspecting the small sphere before placing it to the side. "You never said."
"I was...busy." Soldier 76 said, turning his head away from the Faunus as he spoke, not meeting his gaze.
"I see..." Winston replied, narrowing his eyes slightly. He would have to enquire later it seemed, perhaps when things were less...hectic. "I trust it went well?"
"You could say that..." Soldier 76 muttered before he stepped forward, turning to face the screen Winston had been working on. "What's with all the dust buckets out back though? Expecting company?"
"I'm not sure yet..." Winston replied, striding towards the screen as Soldier 76 followed closely behind him. "Whilst you were out, I received a message from an anonymous source..."
"A message?" Soldier 76 asked, tilting his head inquisitively as he stared at the Faunus.
"Yes." Winston replied, quickly bringing up the message he had received. "All the message stated was the word 'Soon'."
"That's weird..." Soldier 76 whispered, though judging by the sound of his voice he seemed confused.
"What is it?" Winston asked when he noticed the stance of the vigilante. In reply, Soldier 76 quickly took out his own Scroll, switching it on and passing it to Winston. Despite the cracked screen, Winston could make out a single word.
'Soon'.
Almost immediately, the Scroll suddenly started to crackle as the screen suddenly went out, replaced by a static black and white screen.
"What the hell..." Soldier 76 looked up from his Scroll to see that the exact same thing was happening to Winston's screen. "Winston!"
Winston turned and gasped as he quickly sprinted towards the device, attempting to gain control. "What's happening?"
"What is it Winston?!" Soldier 76 frantically asked as suddenly more of the monitors in the room switched on, displaying the same static screen as the other devices.
"I'm not sure..." Winston whispered as he looked at the screen, the static still present.
Soldier 76 quickly turned heel and ran, followed closely by Winston. Both quickly made for the exit of the building and burst through the doors of the complex. What they saw only confused them further. All around, electronic devices were randomly switching on, revealing the same static screen that had appeared in the base. Even multiple scavengers who were passing by were taking out their Scrolls as they attempted to switch the devices off, only to fail miserably.
"What's going on?!" Soldier 76 shouted as the static continued to buzz around them.
"I think whoever sent that message is ready..." Winston whispered as the static screens continued to buzz loudly.
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"What the hell were you guys thinking?!" Jaune shouted as he paced around in Team JNPR's dorm hastily, the members of Team RWBY sat on one of the beds with their heads low. "If we didn't come in time, you'd all be dead!"
"We're sorry Jaune! Really, we are!" Ruby replied, looking up to face the blonde knight who had an incredulous look on his face.
"We know you want to catch this killer, but you should have told us!" Ren calmly stated, though his eyes clearly showed how angry he was. "If Ruby hadn't managed to send a message to us, you would be dead alongside everyone else."
"Look, it's my fault. I made them go with me!" Blake finally said, looking up from the floor and meeting the other members of JNPR face on. "They wanted to let you know, but I made them go!"
"Maybe Ozpin is right..." Pyrrha stated, causing everyone to turn and look at her. "Maybe we should stop the investigation."
"We can't Pyrrha, not when we've come this far!" Blake retorted, standing up as she spoke.
"Blake, so far we've found out a guy who died nearly twenty years ago is still alive!" Yang reasoned, leaning forward slightly. "I wouldn't call that good progress."
"John Morrison is the only lead we have so far!" Blake replied, turning to face the blonde brawler sharply. "We can't just give up now!"
"Blake, half of the VPD was wiped out by this guy!" Weiss said, standing up to face the Faunus. "I say we should probably get out while we still can, before we get too deep!"
"And what, let the authorities handle it?!" Blake shouted, gesturing to the door of JNPR's room. "You said so yourself, the authorities were nearly wiped out by this guy!"
"You seriously don't think we could do better?!" Jaune asked, raising his eyebrows as he spoke.
"We have to at least tr-"
Blake was cut off when she felt her Scroll vibrate in her pocket. She quickly took it out and switched the device on, only to receive a screen full of static. She wasn't alone however. The other Hunters and Huntresses in the room quickly took their Scrolls out of their pockets, only to receive the same static screen she had.
The members of RWBY and JNPR looked at one another in confusion before they heard a commotion outside. Quickly opening the door, they tilted their heads out the doorway to see multiple students in the corridor looking at the screens of their Scrolls in confusion. RWBY and JNPR quickly left the dorm, making their way through the corridor as more and more students were taking out their Scrolls.
"What's going on?" Jaune asked as the two Teams made their way to the main amphitheatre, where the screen on the wall was also static.
Suddenly, the screen went black as a video started. Little could be made out, but what was obvious was that it was of a person. Mutters went around the room as many tried to discern the figure, though both RWBY and JNPR recognised them in seconds.
"It's him! The guy from the crypt!" Ruby whispered loudly, pointing at the screen with a shaking hand.
"People of Vale...I trust I have your attention?" the figure asked, leaning forward slightly and letting his masked face enter the small ray of light beaming down from above him. "I need no introduction, for you all know who I am...even if we haven't met face to face."
The amphitheatre buzzed with noise as those gathered muttered quietly amongst one another. He was right, they did know who he was. Whilst the mutters were all from different people one word stood out amongst the others. Reaper.
"By now, you are all aware of what I have been doing...and most of you have kept out of my way." the Reaper continued, tilting his head back slightly. "However, some of you have taken it upon themselves to try and stop me! Such as this one!"
The Reaper then paused as he knelt down and seemingly hefted something off the floor. When the Reaper came into view again, he was now holding a young girl up against him, her head tilted to the side with one of his Shotguns pointed to the side of her head. She was unconscious, but all present in the hall recognised her.
"It's Fey from Team FRYA!" Weiss gasped as her hand went to cover her mouth. The young Huntress looked as though she had been tortured if the cuts and bruises were anything to go by. A knot soon began to form in the Heiress' stomach as she realised how this would most likely end.
"This one amongst others tried to stop me. She put up a good fight too..." the Reaper chuckled as he readjusted his grip on the Huntress, squeezing her cheeks together as he gently shook her head, emitting a pained groan from the girl. "...Shame her team didn't make it though. What happens next would have come off a lot stronger if they had."
Gasps of both horror and disgust came from the gathered crowd of Hunters and Huntresses in training, all while Team RWBY and JNPR looked on in horror, slowly bringer their hands to their mouths in a similar fashion to Weiss.
"I have a message for you 'Hunters' and 'Huntresses'! As well as for anyone else who might try and stop me!" the Reaper stated, readjusting his grip again as he faced the camera, his hand once again gripping her shoulder as he lifted his Shotgun up slightly. "Leave well enough alone! Your curiosity will be the death of you! And for those of you who STILL don't get the message, you'd better hope if you catch me, you kill me! Because if you don't, this will be the price of failure..."
As he finished his speech, the sound of a gun clicking could be heard as the students suddenly began to plead at the screen, begging for the Reaper to stop whatever he was planning to do. Seconds later, a flash of red appeared alongside the sound of a gun firing, though it was nearly drowned out by the chorus of screaming in the room, some of shock whilst most were of horror. Team RWBY and JNPR could only watch in horror at the sight before them, Ruby clutching onto Yang as she buried her face into her side as Yang quickly hugged her back, hoping to hide away the horror on the screen.
The Reaper merely grunted as he dropped the smoking Shotgun onto the floor as well as dropping what was left of the former Huntress carelessly on the floor, not caring to wipe away the blood and bone that was now covering a good portion of his coat.
"You've been warned..." the Reaper silently said, before switching of the camera, the screen in the amphitheatre once again returning to its normal state.
The students in the room all gave off different reactions. Some were of anger and frustration at not being able to stop this mad man from doing what he did. Those who had been close to FRYA wept as they began to comfort one another, in some cases to hide their own grief. Some students just stood in shock, still attempting to wrap their mind around what they had seen. Others on the other hand, quickly sprinted to the nearest bin, throwing up whatever they had eaten earlier that day.
Team RWBY and JNPR stood in shock, their hands still at their mouths as Yang continued to hold Ruby, gently patting the red hooded Huntresses back.
"He just-he just killed her..." Weiss managed to say, gulping loudly as she fought back tears.
"I can't believe it..." Jaune muttered, staggering back slightly before he turned to face Blake. "She's right, we can't stop now."
"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked, turning to face the blonde knight.
"Blake's right, we have to find this guy!" Jaune explained, pointing at the screen once occupied by the Reaper.
"Jaune, you saw what happened!" Blake reasoned, a look of fear on her face.
"Which is why we have to stop him!" Jaune retorted, holding his hands up exasperatedly. "If we don't stop him, he'll only kill more people! It's our job to protect people, no matter who they are!"
"Jaune, if he catches us, we'll end up just like FRYA..." Pyrrha warned, placing her hand on Jaune's shoulder.
"I know..." Jaune sighed, letting his hands fall to his side. "But that won't happen!"
The members of RWBY and JNPR looked at one another before determined grins spread across their faces.
"Lets go catch us a psychopath!" Yang stated, cracking her knuckles together.
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Ozpin watched with balled fists as the Reaper executed Fey, his grip strong enough to nearly snap the handle on his coffee mug off. His rage only intensified when the murderer carelessly chucked the young Huntresses corpse aside, stating that his message had been sent. The Reaper then leaned forward to switch off his recording device. Ozpin half expected his screen to return to normal, but was surprised when the screen did not even glitch out, the Reaper still present on his screen.
"Now only you can hear me Ozpin, and anyone else you have in this room." the Reaper muttered, leaning forward as he stole a glance at the corpse next to him. "I trust you enjoyed the show?"
Ozpin merely glared at the masked murderer, who merely chuckled as the Headmaster remained silent.
"Come now, is silence really how you're going to treat an old friend?" the Reaper asked, tilting his head to the side.
"The man I knew and taught was not a killer." Ozpin stated, his glare only intensifying with each second. "You're just a shadow of a once good man."
"Don't act so high and mighty Ozpin!" the Reaper growled, pointing a clawed finger at the Headmaster. "You can point the finger all you want but let us not forget it was YOU who made me what I am! All this blood is on your hands!"
"You chose that path!" Ozpin retorted, leaning forward himself. "You chose to become a monster!"
"Is that what I am then? A monster?" the Reaper muttered, leaning back slightly. "Not one of your 'failed prodigies'?"
"Why have you called me?" Ozpin asked, his voice dangerously low. "I take it you didn't call me to simply whine about the past."
"You know why I'm doing this Ozpin." the Reaper muttered, crossing his arms as he spoke. "And I'm giving you the chance to put a stop to it. All this death and destruction can end, if you comply."
"And what are your 'demands'?" Ozpin asked, raising his eyebrow inquisitively. "Money? Land? A clean slate?"
"None of that, what you have to do is simple..." the Reaper replied, leaning forward before speaking. "Confess."
"And what must I confess to?" Ozpin asked, shrugging his shoulders innocently. "My love of caffeine?"
"Don't play games with me Ozpin!" the Reaper seethed, his eyes glowing red slightly in the black sockets of his mask. "You know full well what I'm talking about!"
"Whilst that may be true, I'm afraid you're hunting the wrong man!" Ozpin replied, leaning back slightly. "Now I insist you take your demands elsewhere! Beacon doesn't negotiate with psychopaths!"
"Psychopath? I'm not a psychopath..." the Reaper chuckled as he leaned forward. "...I'm a high functioning psychopath!"
Ozpin narrowed his eyes as he glared at the mad man, who simply sighed as he lowered his shoulders slightly.
"I must admit, I am disappointed with you decision..." the Reaper sighed as he shook his head slowly before sending his own glare at Ozpin. "...expect my reply shortly!"
And with that, the Reaper disconnected his video feed, causing Ozpin's screen to revert back to his previous state. Ozpin left no time to waste, he quickly tapped on the screen in front of him as he sent a message to someone who could hopefully deal with this mad man.
"Qrow, you need to get here now! It's an emergency..."
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Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you liked it, feel free to review and constructive criticism is always welcome. Any questions? Leave in your reviews and I'll answer in the next chapter.
Raging Archon out.
