It was a very loud and hectic couple of minutes there, but eventually it passed to something vaguely resembling peace and quiet given a building had just collapsed. In the middle of it, a voice called out.
"Ok, sound off. Who's not dead?"
"Freaking out, but alive."
"Same."
"Surprisingly."
"This is really heavy."
"That's CFVY. Jaune, you ok?"
"I'm fine. Pyrrha's armor is really pointy, but I'll survive."
"I'm sorry! I'd do something about it, but I'm a little busy helping Yatsuhashi."
"Hold on, I'll scoot past Ren and help you out."
"That's all of us."
"Cool. Tai?"
"I'm trying to find a way out. I'll get back to you."
"Okay. Qrow?"
"Besides being trapped between the ground and your A cup chest, I'm fine."
"You fuck, I'm a B at least! And you're one to complain, Raven's been sitting on my head this whole time!"
"Very few people would complain about that."
"Ok, this darkness is really getting to me, can someone please get us the fuck out of here now?"
"Hold on, I think I found a weak spot. Let me just…"
With a crash a section of wall fell over and Taiyang stumbled out into the light, followed swiftly by Coco who scrambled out on all fours and took deep breaths to calm herself down. One by one all the free members of the team filtered out from the rubble pile they had been trapped under.
"Okay, so… we're in a hole," Nora said as she looked around. The Merlot HQ building had been reduced to a pile of rubble and the plaza they had been in was now little more than a crater. Looking up she could barely see the top through the smoke and dust kicked up from the explosions and collapse and below them she saw bits of metal pipes poking out.
"It's better than being buried at least," Qrow said while rotating a shoulder.
"Not by much though," Raven said and took her mask off.
"I'll take it though," Jaune said and looked back at Yatsuhashi and Pyrrha as they got out with the cubby they had been in collapsing behind them along Yatsuhashi's sword. "Are you two okay?"
"A little sore, but I'll live," Yatsuhashi said and put his sword away.
"Same," Pyrrha answered and held out Jaune's shield for him to take. "I'm still impressed though. Using our shields, Yatsuhashi's sword, and my semblance to shield ourselves was really good, especially as a quick plan."
"Thanks," Jaune said as he put his shield in place, "I actually wasn't sure it would work, but it did." He was so busy with his shield that he missed Pyrrha's pupils shrinking and Yatsuhahsi shaking his head, though he did hear Summer's exasperated sigh.
"I am so glad you didn't say that before we were nearly crushed by a building," she said and rubbed her eyes.
"Speaking of, just what the fuck was all of that?" Raven shouted and pointed at the rubble.
"I think it's pretty obvious the building blew up," Qrow said and stuck his hands in his pants.
"Gee, thanks, but why did it blow up!?"
"It happened after that drone saw us," Nora said and tilted her head, "Maybe they're connected?"
"That would mean that somebody rigged the building to blow if anyone got too close," Summer said and crossed her arms, "and considering what brought us here…" Summer stopped when Raven groaned loudly and dragged her free hand down her face.
"We walked into another conspiracy again," Raven said angrily, "how does this keep happening to us?"
"Look on the bright side, we might not run into any more if we get it all out now," Taiyang said.
"Not helping Tai."
"I regret ever saying I wanted to be involved more in your adventures if this is what it's always like," Coco said from her spot on the ground.
"It's not like this all the time," Summer said and walked over to Coco. "More often than I'd like though. Are you feeling better?" Summer bent down and held a hand out to Coco, who glanced at it for a second before taking it and pulling herself to her feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said and rubbed the back of her neck, "god that was embarrassing."
"You'll be alright. Everyone has a moment of weakness after all." Despite herself, Summer's words made Coco feel just a little better.
"Hey, does anyone have a signal?" Jaune asked loudly while holding up his scroll. "I can't get in touch with Beacon or the ship."
"It's not just you," Velvet said and held up her scroll before looking back at it, "I've been trying since we got out. I think we might be out of range."
"Not surprising, the signal out here is shit normally. Once you get underground, you can just forget it," Qrow said.
"And the ship probably left when the building came down. He might not even know we're here," Summer added and rubbed her chin. A distant howl got all their attention and they tensed up when more joined in. "Little wonder, the Grimm are getting curious. We need to leave!"
"But is there anywhere we can go?" Pyrrha asked.
"There is one way," Taiyang said and pointed down the slope of rubble they were standing on toward an opening into the Mountain Glenn underground.
"You can't be serious," Coco said and slouched a little.
"Well it's either that or try to deal with them," Summer said and nodded up at the surface. "If it helps," she added as she drew Soleil and checked the ammo in it, "It definitely opens up the further we go in."
"It doesn't, but fine." Coco gripped her bag and pointed at Summer, "but you're going first."
"Fine with me," Summer said and turned back to the group, "Okay everyone, we're heading underground for now. Keep close and keep an eye out for ways up to the surface. Raven, watch our backs okay?"
"Fine," Raven replied and put her mask on and drew her sword. Everyone else got their own weapons ready as they started filing underground. They didn't have to go far before artificial lights from leftover mining operations along with the natural glow of Dust crystals lighting the way.
They walked through the cave, walking past the occasional chain link fence and concrete barrier until they reached an opening that led to a series of buildings alongside a minecart rail.
"Ok, now we're getting somewhere," Summer said while looking around.
"Not as bad as the last cave I was in," Coco said while suppressing a shudder, "There's a Creep down there by the way."
"I'll get it," Pyrrha answered and shifted Milo into a rifle as she walked up.
"So, do you have any ideas on where to go?" Taiyang asked.
"Hell if I know," Summer answered and paused when Pyrrha fired at the Creep. It fell over dead and Summer waited a moment for the echo to die down before continuing. "These caves are pretty vast last I checked and that's not taking into account the actual city down here."
"Great. You're really making me feel better," Coco grumbled out.
"Well hopefully we won't have to go into the actual city. This looks like an outskirt, so hopefully we'll avoid any big packs of Grimm."
"Well, better get to it. I don't want to be down here longer than I have to." The group walked down the slope onto the rail tracks proper. As they slowly walked past a transport cart, Jaune eyed it curiously.
"So why all the mining stuff? Is there a Dust mine here?" he asked.
"It wouldn't surprise me," Summer answered, "Dust is everywhere and everyone needs it. Mountain Glenn would have had to do something to make it worth it."
"Probably got more important when they got driven underground," Qrow added, "though who knows how they felt after—" a clank of metal interrupted him and brought the group to a stop. They waited in a tense silence until Qrow said, "So…"
A railing over them cracked open thanks to a Beowolf that fell in front of the group. Everyone's attention was on it as it scrambled to its feet, ran its eyes over the group, and stood on its hind legs to let out a piercing howl. A chorus of howls answered it and several more Beowolves jumped from the upper platform down to the rail tracks.
"Ambush!"
"More coming from behind!" Raven shouted.
"Dammit, scatter!" Summer shouted and drew her sword just as the first Beowolf charged at her. She blinked up and struck down its back as it passed under her, landing on her feet while the Grimm collapsed in a heap behind her. Qrow finished it off with a stab to the neck while Summer ran to the next Grimm. Raven and Fox were doing just fine holding the line in the back, and if a few managed to get past them they were quickly taken care of by the rest of CFVY.
"Not using the gun Coco?" Velvet during a brief break in the action.
"I don't want to burn through it all too soon. And I'm paranoid about this cave, I don't want to cause a collapse by shooting everywhere."
"That makes sense." Velvet ducked under a Beowolf and looked back in time to see it get smacked by Coco's bag into the side into a minecart where it quietly started disintegrating. "And that answers my next question."
"Good."
"Your form is getting better Raven," Fox said just as he decapitated a Beowolf.
"And you're actually hitting something," Raven returned, getting a quick laugh from Fox. A Beowolf tried to attack from the side, though Raven ducked the swipe and cut off a leg as it went past, leaving it on the floor for Fox to finish off. After a quick look Raven called out, "Clear in back!"
At the front Summer was dancing and Blinking as best she could as she wore down two Beowolves that were attacking her. She blocked a bite from one and found herself pinned as it bit down on her sword. She watched the other charge at her and come within a few feet before Qrow leapt in and decapitated it with a swift strike. With that bit of breathing room, Summer rotated her sword so the blade was flat in the Beowolf's mouth and Blinked forward and up to cut the top half of its head off with the motion. She did a quick flip and landed on a crouch with the Grimm vanishing behind her and Qrow.
"Clear in front," Qrow shouted and looked back at the fight. Only one Beowolf was left and was just as swiftly finished off by Taiyang roundhouse kicking it into a wall and Pyrrha throwing her javelin into its struggled for a moment before going limp and disintegrated. Everyone waited a moment and, once it became clear no more Grimm were coming, they began to relax.
"We got some breathing room, let's get ready for the next batch," Summer called out and reloaded Soleil.
"Frickin' Grimm everywhere," Qrow complained and stuck Harbinger in the ground, "You think we're going to run into any leftovers from the Breach?"
"I think these are the leftovers. We should be lucky there aren't more of them or anything bigger."
"Please don't jinx us," Coco said angrily.
"I'll try not to." Summer finished reloading and looked back as everyone else finished their own preparations. "All right, let's get moving again. Stay close and watch for any ambushes."
"And if anyone gets tired, move to the middle of the group so someone else can take your place," Coco added as the group started moving again. At the front, Qrow moved a little closer to Summer.
"What do you think the odds are that you-know-who is still down here?" He whispered to her.
"I doubt it. Still, keep your eyes open." Qrow nodded and stepped away. Summer let out a breath and tightened her grip on Soleil as the rail track stretched out in front of her.
Some ways down the track the group came across a bulkhead door blocking the track and a small tunnel going to the side. Despite the door looking like it hadn't opened recently, Jaune and Nora decided to try and open it as a way forward while some others went to scout the side tunnel. A few minutes later, they were still there.
"Jaune, that's not going to open," Summer said, "It was kind of funny watching you struggle, but I'm getting bored."
"Hold on, I think I felt it budge a little," Jaune said as he continued pulling on one side of the door. He and Nora continued pulling to no effect until he lost his grip and fell flat in his back.
"Phew, that's really stuck," Nora said and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, "but it might give if I got some electricity in me."
"I don't think so," Velvet said and tilted her head, "this stuff has been down here for decades. The mechanism is probably all rusted."
"Spoilsport."
"If you're done wasting time, we should get back with the others. They may have actually found something useful," Summer said and started down the side tunnel with Velvet. Nora helped Jaune to his feet and they both rushed after them. It was a short walk up an incline into another open cave with the main feature being a long broken iron rail bridge that connected one bulkhead door to another on the far end of the cavern with various concrete buildings lining the way across. Near the bottom of the cliff the four were standing on a few of the group were fighting a pack of Beowolves while the rest were looking around further up.
"I can't make heads or tails of where we're going or been," Jaune said while looking around the cavern.
"It does feel like these caves should loop in on themselves," Velvet agreed and turned to Summer, "does this look familiar at all?"
"No, this is new to me. My team mostly dealt with an area further in and even then only long enough to get on a train. I'm afraid I'm just as lost as you all are."
"That sucks," Nora said and slouched a little.
"Nothing for it I suppose," Velvet said and crossed her arms, "the only thing we can do is keep moving until we find a way out."
"Yeah. Here's hoping it's not too far." The echoes of gunfire and sword strikes started to die down and the group looked down to see that most of the Grimm had been taken care of. "Suppose that's our cue. We should go join them and—"
The sound of heavy footfalls was all any of them heard before something slammed into Summer and knocked her off the cliff. In her tumble Summer could only make out a large animal that was black, white, and green. She landed roughly and barely had time to register that she was on her back before her attacker bit down on her leg. Even with her Aura flaring to lessen the pain, it still hurt pretty badly even without her being thrashed around. Summer managed to get Soleil out and fired two shots at her attacker, causing it to flinch and let go of her leg, and she Blinked to get some space and properly see what had hit her.
It turned out to be a Creep, though larger than normal and with a sickly green glow coming through its bone plates. Just those two shots seemed to be enough to leave it staggering on its feet, giving Summer enough time to get back on her feet before it started walking to her with a low growl.
"Plunging attack!" Jaune shouted suddenly before, indeed, plunging from above onto the Creep and stabbed his sword right through its head while the impact caused it to collapse onto the ground. "Yeah, that was awesome!" Jaune shouted and pulled his sword free. It was only after that that he and Summer noticed the Creep's body shaking and the glow getting brighter.
"Look out!" Summer shouted just as the Creep exploded into a green mist and sent Jaune flying into a nearby cave wall. He slid to the ground with a flash of light showing his Aura broke. Summer ran over to his side, sparing a glance to her side when she heard Velvet and Nora jump down nearby, and knelt down next to him. "Are you okay? That looked bad."
"I saw his Aura break!" Nora yelled and knelt down next to Jaune as well.
"Guys, I'm fine," Jaune said and coughed a little, "I just need a second to catch my breath."
"Let's hope that's all you need," Summer said and pointed at Nora, "Cover us until his Aura comes back." Nora nodded and drew Magnhild before looking around while Summer and Velvet returned their attention to Jaune.
"Is everything okay down there?" Coco shouted down at them from the broken rail bridge that had once gone through the cavern.
"And please tell us nobody's dead," Raven added as she poked her head out to look down as well. Summer and Velvet shared a look before Velvet looked up at Coco.
"Summer got blindsided by a Creep. A really weird one too; it blew up when Jaune killed it."
"It what?" Coco asked and spared a look at Raven. "Is anyone hurt?"
"We're alright, more or less. Jaune's Aura broke because of the blast, but other than that he's fine."
"Does he need help getting around?"
"No thanks," Jaune answered and pushed himself up to his feet while Summer stayed close for safety's sake. Once he was standing up he picked up his sword and waved up at Coco and Raven. "See, I'm doing better already! I do NOT want to do that again though."
"That's good. Still, stay out of fights until your Aura's back fully."
"So why the fuck did that Creep blow up on you?" Raven asked.
"I don't know Rae," Summer answered as her group started walking up to where the others were, Jaune lagging behind just slightly, "but it didn't look right at all. Way too big and glowing green. It looked mutated somehow and, knowing our luck, it probably won't be the only one around."
"Mutated, exploding Grimm. This mission really sucks, you know that?"
"Stop bitching. Did you find anything up there?"
"Another one of those bulkhead doors," Coco answered as she and Raven walked along the bridge back to said door, "and it may actually have power to open. Qrow was looking at it when we heard the explosion."
"Why are you letting Qrow look at it!?"
"He said he had it." Summer immediately took off in a run up the hill to see that things were relatively normal with Qrow working on a lever with Taiyang next to him and the rest of the group near the door.
"You need to have more faith in me sometime Sum," Qrow said with a smirk as he flipped the switch. For a moment nothing happened and his smirk faltered a little, but came back in full force when the door started to slowly open. "Ha, see?"
"Yes, we're all proud of you Qrow," Raven said with a shake of her head as she walked past her brother, "now can we all please find a way out of here before something else ruins our day?" She was the first to the open door and looked through it for barely a second before turning around suddenly with a frustrated yell and put her masked face in her hands. "Fucking dammit!"
"What is it this ti—" Summer started to say before the door opened fully to show just what had gotten to Raven: a fairly sizable bomb on a mine cart. "Oh. That would do it."
"I'm gonna stay away from that," Qrow muttered and scooted to the side of the room.
"That's a big bomb," Jaune helpfully added as the group slowly filtered into the room.
"Who put that here?" Coco asked.
"Maybe it was someone hoping there'd be people dumb enough to stand next to it," Fox said. It was with that statement that everyone realized that, save for Fox and Qrow, they had all started unconsciously gathering around the bomb cart.
"…Yeah, why are we standing next to this thing?" Summer asked. Immediately after the bomb started making a whirring noise that steadily grew louder, causing the group to cautiously take a few steps away from it. After a few seconds of loud whirring it stopped suddenly and was replaced with a sharp, constant beeping. "Well shit."
"Nobody do anything stupid!" Coco said and pointed at the group in turn, "If this thing is live, we don't know what will set it off. Just stay calm."
"Hold on, I'll check this thing out," Raven said as she moved to jump onto the cart and inspect the bomb.
"Can you disarm it Summer?" Velvet asked.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Summer replied and scratched her head in frustration, "No, I don't know shit about disarming bombs! We. Don't. Have. A course for that!"
"We probably should, considering how often this is starting to happen to us," Taiyang said.
"Not helping Tai."
"Okay this looks simple enough," Raven said and hopped off the cart, "it looks stable enough on its own, just don't mess with the bomb or the cart it's on. If you do, it might blow up. Also, that spikey thing on the bomb-" Raven pointed at the top of the bomb "-is a proximity sensor linked to the bomb. And since we're crowded around the thing like vultures, that probably means it'll blow if nobody is within a certain distance to the thing."
"How do you know so much about bombs?" Nora asked.
"You do not want to know the answer to that question." Summer and Taiyang looked at Qrow, who shrugged in answer, and shrugged as well.
"Good enough for me," Summer said and pointed at the cart, "And you said not to touch that?"
"The bomb's drawing power from the engines. That's how it's on in the first place," Raven answered.
"Then that means the engine still works right?"
"Probably."
"Looks like it," Velvet said as she knelt down next to the engine and inspected it, "but it looks like it's out of fuel."
"We are in a Dust mine," Jaune pointed out.
"Okay so we got something of a plan going now," Coco said and clapped her hands together, "get the cart fueled and moving, follow the tracks while staying close to this thing, and hope there's a place to throw the bomb away. Does that sound about right?"
"It's the best we can do at the moment," Summer agreed, "Qrow and Raven can check where the tracks go, JNPR can gather Dust for the cart, and your team can escort the cart. As long as we all stay calm and don't freak out, we can get this done."
So of course, in keeping with the team's current streak of luck, the sound of distant Grimm howls started echoing through the cave. And there were a lot of them.
"That's not good," Jaune said and drew his sword.
"Okay, forget the calm part, just hurry!" Summer finished and drew her own weapons before everyone hurried to their positions. JNPR ran off in different directions to the Dust dispensers, Qrow and Raven ran ahead, and CFVY and the rest of STRQ positioned themselves around the cart with Coco actually riding it. They didn't have to wait long before Ren came with the first Dust crystal to deposit and get the cart moving.
Very, very slowly moving.
"Well fuck you too cart!" Coco said angrily and stomped her foot down. This caused the bomb to open a panel showing a digital timer that started counting down, which Coco could only sigh at. "One of these days, I will learn."
"What happened?" Velvet asked.
"Bomb's got a timer now. It's counting down from ten minutes."
"Well let's hope it doesn't take that long."
If Grimm weren't getting in the way, it was those bulkhead doors that seem to be everywhere. Qrow and Raven already had to squeeze past one and rush past a small group of Grimm with the ones that got too close to the twins getting cut down in no time. Another bulkhead that was forced open enough for them to squeeze through and they at least found someplace visually different from just normal caves.
The tracks led to a bridge that had long collapsed into a ravine, and when the twins walked to the end of the broken bridge to look down into it, they saw a looming abyss.
"Pretty deep. What do you think's down there?" Qrow asked as he leaned forward to get a better look.
"One way to find out," Raven said and moved behind Qrow.
"What's that?"
'That' turned out to be kicking Qrow over the edge and screaming into the ravine. Raven looked over the edge, her hands in her hips, and silently stared into the darkness until a crow flew out, over her head, and landed far away from the edge before transforming back.
"Not. Funny," Qrow said angrily.
"It was a little funny. So?"
Qrow sighed and shrugged. "It's pretty deep and there's a river at the bottom."
"And the tracks lead right to it. Guess we are going with the 'fuck it' method again."
"To be fair, it has worked every time we've used it." Raven shrugged and drew her sword to slice open a portal. It had barely opened when a bullet came whizzing through over Raven's head followed by Summer angrily shouting through it. Once the shouts died down a little they both walked through it to where Summer was angrily staring at them while reloading.
"Do you have to scare the crap out of me in the middle of a fight?" Summer asked as she angrily jerked the slide on Soleil back.
"Just don't get scared," Raven said and dashed away to deal with a group of Grimm. Summer stared after her for a few seconds before turning to Qrow.
"So?"
"The tracks lead to a ravine with a river at the bottom. We can just toss the bomb down there," Qrow said.
"The preferred method, good. As long as the cart keeps moving, we should get there before the timer runs out." Summer looked back at the cart which… was making progress. "You know, eventually."
"Wait, timer?"
"Yeah, the bomb has a timer now."
"Just great, like we needed more headaches." Naturally more headaches showed up via a trio of Beowolves that dropped on the tracks in front of them.
"Looks like we're getting some," Summer said as she and Qrow got their weapons ready. The Beowolves started advancing when they stopped and started stumbling around strangely. "What?"
"Hey, the Grimm are acting weird here!" Coco shouted and Summer looked back to see CFVY staring at a few Creeps that were acting the same way. Summer looked at Qrow, who had the same nervous look she had, and looked back at the Beowolves that were now clutching their heads.
"Oh please don't…" Summer said as she aimed at the closest Beowolf. It soon stopped writhing and all three stared at them with very familiar black and red eyes.
"Shit," Qrow said and opened fire with Summer. The first one fell to the hail while the remaining two charged while dodging the bullets. When they got close enough to switch to melee, Qrow managed to cut the one closest to him down while the other ducked under Summer's sword and ran past them.
"Coco, twelve O'clock!" Summer shouted and fired at the Beowolf. Coco looked behind her and swung her gun around and fired a burst at the Beowolf. The bullets managed to cut it in half and the momentum carried it further to the cart, and even in the few moments before the wheels of the cart crushed its head the Beowolf was still trying to claw its way towards it.
"Clear front," Coco said and looked behind her in time to see her team finish off the Creeps. "And clear back."
"Why are they being so sneaky all of a sudden?" Velvet asked worriedly.
"They're going for the bomb!" Summer shouted as Qrow ran off to deal with another group of Grimm, "They're going to try and blow us all up!"
"What!? Since when were Grimm smart enough to do that?" Coco shouted.
"It's very situational! Look, just keep an eye open and don't let them get close to the cart! We'll try to cull what we can!" Summer Blinked away into the cave and Coco rolled her eyes.
"Easy for you to say! You're not trapped on this slow cart! I can walk faster than this thing!"
"Maybe the brakes are on?" Jaune asked as he ran up, deposited his Dust Crystal, and ran off again.
"Really? You think I wouldn't notice if this thing had brakes?" Coco shouted back.
"I mean, I didn't see one either, that doesn't mean there isn't one," Fox said. As subtly as she could, Coco looked around the cart and saw a fairly noticeable lever near the engine. She gave a quick kick to that and stumbled a little when the cart lurched forward at a much better pace.
"Hey good news, I found the brakes for this thing."
"Oh bullshit!" Raven's voice echoed through the tunnel, "I hate this place!"
"...That could be about anything."
This process kept on in this way with few hiccups, though undoubtedly the biggest one was that the Grimm were very determined to get at the cart. Not helping was that more Mutated Grimm started coming after them too, with all the explosive problems as the first one. The only good part of that was that they weren't as dogged as the other Grimm and that the other Grimm were hurt by its explosions too.
Team JNPR had a lot of fun when they figured that one out.
The first bulkhead was passed before too long and the cart was making good progress through the second room thanks to the constant supply of Dust and no thanks to the equally constant stream of Grimm.
"I'm really hating these things more and more, Sum!" Coco shouted as the cart started going over a small bridge and spun up her gun when a pack of Beowolves appeared in front of it. "They have the audacity to defend themselves! Stop blocking my bullets, you bitches!"
"Please tell me we're getting close!" Yatsuhashi shouted as he leaned over the railing to where Qrow and Summer were fighting an Ursa.
"Past the next bulkhead!" Qrow shouted back and slashed at the Ursa to make it back off a bit, "the ravine should be pretty obvious!"
"How much time do we have left?" Summer shouted as she switched places with Qrow in order to reload. Yatsuhashi looked back at Velvet on the other side of the cart. After a moment Velvet leaned to the side and held up five fingers.
"Five minutes, give or take."
"We can make it before then. Just keep that cart moving!" Yatsuhashi nodded and watched Summer as she finished reloading, Blinked at the Ursa, and stabbed her sword into its neck while Qrow stabbed its chest. Summer jumped off as the Ursa collapsed and she and Qrow ran to the next Grimm in sight. Yatsuhashi moved away from the rail and jogged to catch up with the cart just as Ren ran up and deposited a crystal.
"I don't know how many more of these we have," Ren said and tapped the cart's engine with a gun, "the depositories we've been using don't seem to have much in the first place."
"Let's just hope it's enough," Velvet said over Coco's gunfire and another mutant Grimm exploding, "either way we're almost done here." Ren nodded and jumped off the bridge to help down below just as Coco stopped firing.
"I'm on my last magazine here," Coco said as she started reloading, "is there any way to make this go faster?"
"It's a minecart, it's not meant to go fast," Fox pointed out, which only caused Coco to groan.
"Video games have lied once again," she muttered and finished reloading in time to fire a burst at another mutated Creep as it stepped onto the bridge. "So any ideas on where these things are coming from?"
"No, but I hope it's an isolated case," Velvet said, "the Grimm are bad enough without adding explosives to the mix."
"Maybe it's something unique to Mountain Glenn?" Yatsuhashi wondered.
"If that was true, we'd have heard about these before."
"Then let's hope this is recent and we can put it down before it becomes a bigger problem," Coco finished just as the cart got off the bridge and approached the next bulkhead. Coco turned around and shouted, "We're coming up on the next door! Everyone gather up!" A few moments later the others started gathering around the cart with groups of Grimm after then. Nora was the first to get there and put a Dust crystal into the engine.
"That's the last I could find and I think it's the last one, period," Nora said before she aimed behind her and started firing grenades at the Grimm.
"You guys have been keeping this thing topped up, I think we're fine," Coco reassured. The bulkhead opened and Coco hopped off the cart after making sure the cavern leading up to the ravine was clear.
"Any problems?" Summer asked once she and her team caught up.
"Aside from the Grimm and standing next to a thing that could end me in an instant? It's been pretty smooth other than all of that."
"And the time?"
"Plenty."
"Okay then," Summer nodded and pointed at Velvet, "Keep an eye on the bomb until it's over the edge. Once that's done, we clear the Grimm out and move on. Good?"
"Yeah, but let's hurry on that. I hate being down here."
"...Is that a surveillance camera?" Nora asked out of nowhere.
"Wait, what?" Coco asked. Nora pointed up at a section of the wall the bulkhead was inserted into where a surveillance camera was mounted. Everyone looked up at it as it panned over them before looking at the cart.
"You're kidding me. Why is that there?" Qrow asked and squinted up at the camera. His question was answered when the bomb's beeping started getting louder and faster, which caused Velvet to walk over to see what was wrong. What she found wasn't good.
"The timer's down to a minute," she said.
"What, how?!" Summer shouted.
"Dunno." The engine of the cart chose that moment to die on them, giving one last cough before leaving the cart to continue on diminishing momentum. "Engine's dead now too."
"Goddammit!" Raven growled out.
"Oh fuck this!" Taiyang shouted as he broke from the group and ran at the cart. He slammed his shoulder into it and started pushing it with his legs glowing brightly to aid him. "I'll push this thing the whole way if I have to!"
"Uh yeah, good idea!" Summer said with a nod and pointed at Yatsuhashi, "you help Tai push while the rest of us hold the Grimm back." Yatsuhashi nodded and sheathed his sword as he went to help Taiyang and Velvet push the cart. As the others started firing on the approaching Grimm, Summer had an idea and started reloading Soleil, "Hey Nora, what was your semblance again?"
"I can channel electricity to make myself stronger," Nora answered.
"Does it matter what kind?"
"No, I think any kind works. Why do-" Nora stopped when she realized where this was going and looked at Summer just as she cocked her pistol. "Don't you dare!"
She dared, showing it by shooting Nora in the middle of her chest with an electric bullet. Her team flinched at her cry of pain, which became a growl of anger. "There, you're charged now, go help with the cart."
"I'M GONNA SLUG YOU!"
"Do it when we're not dead." Summer turned her attention back to the Grimm, leaving Nora with nothing to do but angrily stow her weapon and charge at the cart. Once she connected with her shoulder, the sudden lurch sent Velvet to tumble to the ground while Yatsuhashi and Taiyang nearly lost their grip on the cart before regaining it and moving to keep up with Nora. Velvet managed to get back to her feet and ran back to the side of the cart to check the timer.
"Oh no, we only have thirty seconds left!" Velvet shouted.
"We're on the bridge now, that's close enough! Stop pushing!" Taiyang shouted and shifted his hands under the cart. "Yats, help me lift this thing so Nora can punt the thing away!"
"Will that work?" Yatsuhashi asked.
"Twenty seconds!" Velvet shouted.
"Well, that's a good point." Yatsuhashi followed Taiyang's lead and helped him lift the cart up. It was a little uneven since Taiyang's semblance let him lift it higher, but it was still enough for Nora.
"So just knock it into the ravine?" she asked as she drew her hammer and held it behind her.
"Yeah, then get down and hope we don't die!" Taiyang answered.
"Can do! Just get ready to move on three."
"Wait, when does the count-"
"Three!" Nora charged, her body crackling with electricity, with both boys giving each other a look before giving the cart one last shove up before diving out of the way. Nora swung her hammer upward and connected with the cart as it started coming down, which sent the cart and bomb flipping away until it collided with the opposing wall and fell into the ravine. With her electricity boost gone, Nora suddenly found herself a little dizzy. She shook her head and muttered, "Man, that was-"
"GET DOWN!" Velvet shouted and tackled Nora to the ground just as the bomb exploded and a pillar of fire rose out of the ravine, though thankfully it didn't go anywhere near the group. Once the explosion was over and it was apparent the cave wouldn't collapse, they started getting up while looking back at the ravine. "That was too close."
"We're good back here!" Taiyang shouted to the rest of the group.
Summer nodded and looked back at the approaching Grimm with her pistol up. The lead Beowolf stopped and stared at them for a moment, its eyes narrowing slightly before the black in its eyes disappeared and left the whole group dazed.
"And the Grimm are back to normal. We just need to clear them out," Summer called back.
"Good," Coco said and revved up her gun, which gave the others enough time to realize what she was about to do and step back just as she opened fire. The Grimm evaporated in the hail of bullets as Coco swept the bullets across them all and then the rest of the cavern that was, at least by sight, devoid of Grimm. Coco didn't let go of the trigger until several seconds after her gun ran out of ammo.
"Clear now," she said casually as she morphed her weapon back into a bag.
"Gee, what gave you that impression?" Fox asked as he cleaned his ears out.
"Hey, that felt good. That was the last of my ammo though."
"Was it worth it?" Summer asked.
"Very. Can we please get out of this cave now?"
"Well…" Summer paused as she sheathed her weapons and looked around the area they were in. The bridge was still very much out, leaving only a set of stairs going up to some buildings to the left of it as the only real option. "I guess that depends on where we can go. Which we better hurry on, I don't want to chance that those Grimm weren't the last ones following us."
"Ah ah ah, just one moment," Nora said chirpily and sauntered over to Summer. Despite her tone, pretty much everyone knew what was coming.
"Yes Nora?" Summer said while steeling herself. The answer came when Nora reared a fist back and landed a solid haymaker that floored Summer.
"GETTING SHOT HURTS!" Nora yelled before stomping off in the only direction she could go. Jaune and Pyrrha followed after her quickly while Ren walked at his normal pace, since he knew Nora wouldn't go very far.
"You kind of deserved that," Fox said and crossed his arms.
"Yeah, it's only fair," Summer muttered from her position face down in the dirt and pushed herself up. After she had dusted herself off the group followed after JNPR with the twins bringing up the rear.
"So who do you think set that bomb?" Qrow asked Raven.
"An asshole," she replied.
"Naturally, but what do you think their name is?"
"Dunno, but given how our luck has been going on this mission I'm sure we'll find out."
"Yeah."
After some time wandering, the group entered a building and started searching through rooms. Summer and Coco were moving together and came across another door. Like with the others before it, the door was opened slowly and Summer moved in her pistol drawn to look around. The room, a break room of some kind from the looks of it, was empty of Grimm and the only noteworthy things inside were a couple of couches, a table set, and a computer terminal stored away in a corner.
"Clear," Summer said and lowered her gun, "It looks like a break room of some kind."
"Good," Coco said and walked inside, made a straight line for one of the couches, and collapsed face first into it. She covered her head with her arms and muttered, "I hate caves so much. I just want to get out."
"Hang in there Coco. There's bound to be a way out of here somewhere. I should probably let the others know about this room."
"Did someone say break room?!" someone shouted suddenly, causing Summer to jump and turn to the door to see Velvet.
"God damn! We just found this place! Where did you come from?"
"These ears are good for more than just looks, you know," Velvet said and twitched her rabbit ears as she walked past Summer to look around the room. A second later one of Raven's portals opened next to Summer, causing her to jump again, and Raven poked her head out of it.
"Checking in," she said and looked around, "Oh cool, we're taking a break? I'm down for that." Raven walked out of the portal with Taiyang and Qrow behind her and walked into the room.
"You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days Rae," Summer muttered.
"Welcome to the club," Qrow said as he settled down on the floor next to the couch Coco was on and lifted his cape over his head. "I'mma nap now. Wake me up when we're moving."
"Sure Qrow. Anyone seen JNPR?"
"They're still with Fox and Yatsuhashi," Velvet said and stopped in front of the terminal with a thoughtful look, "I probably should have told them where I was going before I ran off." After a second Velvet shrugged and pointed at the terminal, "Does this work?"
"I don't know, I didn't check."
"I'll see if it does." Velvet pulled out a chair and started poking at the terminal. After a quick look over the room and everyone resting in their own way, Summer sighed.
"I'm too antsy to actually rest, so I'm going to keep looking around."
"I'll go with you," Taiyang said and walked over to Summer, "I don't feel comfortable just sitting around right now."
"Sure thing Tai." Summer led the way out the door with Tai behind her, pausing for just long enough to get her cigarettes out and shake one out.
"You're really pushing that 'one a month' thing huh?" Taiyang asked.
"Shut it." Summer took the cigarette with her mouth and quickly lit it before putting the lighter and pack away. She took a drag as they walked away and waved as the rest of their group jogged up to them. "Hey Jaune."
"Have you seen Velvet?" Jaune asked worriedly.
"She's inside with the others. You all better rest up while you can."
"Oh… okay then."
"I told you you shouldn't have worried," Fox said and walked into the break room with Yatsuhashi going in first.
"We'll when she just runs off like that, I can't help it." JNPR walked into the room while Summer and Taiyang left to look around a little more. Pyrrha joined Yatsuhashi and Fox in checking on Coco, Nora and Ren went to sit and rest in their own little corner, which left Jaune to look around the room.
"Well now that's interesting." Velvet's statement drew Jaune's attention and he walked over to where she was working.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Well, we found this terminal here and I wanted to see if there was anything we could use."
"Can you get in touch with Beacon?"
"Tried it, but no." Velvet leaned against her hand and tapped her fingers on the desk, "it can't connect to the internet, but it is on its own network that it uses to track automated tasks."
"What do you mean?" Coco asked, moving her head enough to look at Velvet.
"The language is a little confusing and technical, but I think it's tracking deliveries to and from a certain place."
"Let me guess," Qrow interrupted and lifted his cape up, "Merlot?"
"Bingo. The latest log was from a couple of hours ago, outbound along a Line A-24."
"Didn't we see a sign pointing to something like that Ren?" Nora asked.
"I believe so."
"Are you fucking joking me?" Raven asked suddenly and incredulously. She gestured back at the door with her mask in her hands and continued, "We just got out of having a building dropped on us, fought our way through a mine filled with Grimm, and narrowly avoided getting blown to pieces by a bomb. Despite all of that, you're going to tell me we're still somehow on the trail of the punk we're looking for?"
"Yup," Velvet bluntly answered and shrugged.
"... I don't know if that's good luck or bad luck."
"How about good luck that we're progressing with the job, but bad luck that we still have to do it?" Qrow asked.
"I can accept that."
"Does it say where that tunnel leads?" Coco asked.
"Not yet, but I'll keep looking," Velvet replied.
"Good. We'll let Sum know when she gets back and move to that tunnel. Let's hope that it actually goes somewhere."
"I can't believe we're still doing this mission," Raven muttered and went back to cleaning her mask, "I wish we had stayed back at Beacon. Bet nobody there has to deal with this shit."
"I'm sure they have their own difficulties going on," Coco replied and went back to covering her head.
Team RWBY was not having a good time. They didn't know how this recent terror got into their room, but they were hopelessly trapped now. Weiss and Blake were shaking and hugging Yang, who in turn was also scared out of her wits. The three of them were trapped in a corner with the terror approaching them slowly with a smile on its face.
"Ruby, help us!" Yang begged looking at Ruby as she stood casually behind the terror. The blasé look on her face didn't help at all.
"We have to deal with her until Summer gets back from her mission," Ruby explained, "If I have to suffer, you have to as well."
"That's not fair!" Weiss shouted.
"Life's not fair and I don't care."
"I'll get you back for this!" Yang swore.
"I'm not the one you should be worried about." Ruby pointed at the intruder, who was now holding a vial of nail polish in one hand and a magazine of boy bands in the other.
"Oh no, it's even worse now!" Blake screamed and held onto Yang tighter.
"This is going to be so much fun! We're going to paint our nails and talk about cute boys, maybe even get into a pillow fight!" Penny said happily and started bouncing on her feet. "This will be the greatest slumber party ever!"
Weiss, Blake, and Yang screamed as Penny dove at them and Ruby couldn't help but giggle at the sight. This arrangement might not be as bad as she had thought.