Localized App Updates
Naturally whenever the Grimm attacks or even a mass number of thieves, and depending on their location, certain applications online are updated to warn the general public. To put it simply, every town and village (those that are known anyway) are given a small device known as a Seeker that a person uses to tell one of the big cities that they're still around. Sending a signal on a certain period of time, and if not in use then it lets the people know that something has happened.
Due to this, a few Huntsmen are sent to check on the situation whether it's an accident or an attack has occured. Once it's verified that it has been the Grimm or other unsavory forces that destroyed the towns, a digital map gives information on the Grimm's current location. Giving a warning to people to not go into the designated area or risk dying. This allows many people to avoid these areas or at least get a better understanding on how dangerous the areas are.
So long as the Seeker updates however, then the cities believe the town is fine.
"And done." Watts smirked as he finished reprogramming this 'Seeker' device. A cubic machine that he was told sends a signal to other cities that the town is fine and in good condition. Having opened it up and reprogrammed the thing to continue sending updates. "Now we have bought ourselves quite a bit of time before anybody even realizes this town has been destroyed."
"Until the shipments for supplies come." Hazel grabs a clipboard. "It says here a shipment of metal and wood is coming in about...three months.'
"By then we'll have long left and got what we needed." Watts waved Hazel's concern off. "And already I'm getting some of the things needed for the portal, while also other things too." Lots of things like these cellphones and machinery that relies on things other than Dust. Amazing really. Looks like this world capitalized on other sources than just Dust, which was something only a few scientists back home did. Incredible.
"In the meantime, I suppose I'll look for possible survivors." Hazel decides as he begins to leave. "Can't have any officers making any secret calls."
"I suppose certain radios can do the trick." Watts shrugs. "The stuff I blocked was primarily digital. Oh, which reminds me." Watts gave Hazel one last look. "How is she doing?"
"Currently making herself at home for the time being." Hazel answers as he opens the door to leave. "She's leaving Bandit Princess in charge for now. She doesn't wish for anybody but us five to know of her." Wouldn't be good if too many people knew of her existence.
Indeed.
What made Salem wasn't her control of the Grimm, magical power, or even her immortality a threat back in Remnant. It was her ability to move unnoticed. Like when a crime happened, it was hard to find the criminal who did it if they were never seen or left behind a clue. A move Salem utilized as she stayed behind the scenes, and moved pawns around to do her work without revealing herself. Making her a criminal mastermind who was never caught, with only Ozpin and his chosen few knowing who she is.
Even if they were in another world, Salem will continue to sit back and allow others to take her place as a figurehead like Bandit Princess.
After all, if nobody knows who she is, then she had much in free reign.
After the killing of the people of Wildpath, Salem has decided to go underground for a bit. Not minding being down here and has decided to take the biggest bunker and make it her temporary room for the time being. Of course some people were there when she came.
Tyrian and her Grimm dealt with them.
Now using a throne of cleaned bones from the people and a bit of Grimm in the mix, Salem sat on it with a few Grimm around her. In her hands a tablet that held information. Information of this new world...Earth.
'Though why someone would call their planet after dirt is beyond me, the things here are certainly interesting.' If anything, the internet showed her some similar things from back home, yet clearly this planet is more diverse than Remnant. For she was seeing online pictures which revealed what Remnant didn't have.
Unique Dust. Different Grimm. Countless cities. Strange villains and threats. Not to mention the Mobians and so on.
'This world...while similar, has taken a completely different path from Remnant.' Salem got the feeling this may be due to the Grimm being less numerous here. While this planet had them, she got the feeling compared to Remnant, they were less numerous giving humanity a more better advantage in dealing with them and growing at a more developing rate compared to the people of Remnant. Made sense, hard to continuously grow when one is hounded by the Grimm everywhere you walk.
Meaning the people of this world may be more troublesome than she thought.
'I'll need to tread carefully. At the end of the day it is only I along with the other four here against a planet full of Huntsmen and apparently so-called heroes.' While she herself along with the rest were strong, even quality can fall to countless quantities. Especially if said quantity had quality in them. Staying in the background is a must so she doesn't get on others radar, and she would need to figure out who to watch out for.
Luckily, this tablet and Bandit Princess above would be useful in providing information. The former in the fact that people loved to show off their heroes-along with a good amount of information like powers, skills, and even weapons-while the latter knew just who was dangerous. She was a bandit, but a smart one who knew when to pull back and has enough foresight to know when the going gets tough.
Though she also seemed to be the type to allow her sadistic tendencies to get a hold of her, and while cunning enough to steal from those with good defense, was no master strategist. In that regard, the girl reminded her of a past member. Tock.
'Yes, she is like her.' An old ally who was cunning, strong, and a deadly woman. Yet despite her power she tended to let her feelings of hunting her 'prey' get a hold of her. When she didn't return to the castle, it didn't take long for Salem to realize that the alligator faunus was likely dead.
Hopefully Bandit Princess won't face that problem. She seemed like the sort who she could tolerate and get along with. So long as she didn't step out of line, then the relationship between them can become adequate.
At worst, she'll kill her and all her followers while moving on to someone more manageable.
"Salem." Speaking of which, turning she and her Grimm then saw Cinder entering her makeshift base. The young girl she met so many years ago staring at her, not even batting an eye on her throne of bones and the Grimm looking at her with blood on their jaws.
"Yes." Salem asked her youngest member, making the Grimm move out of Cinders way as she walked up to her. "Do you need anything Cinder?"
"...y...ower…" She uttered silently, with her head bowed slightly and her Grimm hand clenching angrily. Salem could also see her teeth being gritted and a scowl on her face. The Grimm nearby stirred, as they felt Cinder's rage and only didn't attack by Salem's command.
"Cinder." Salem spoke up. "I can't help you if you don't speak up." She leaned back on her throne and stared Cinder in the eye. "Now, speak up."
Cinder flinched a bit, but no longer gazed away. Instead she faced Salem fully, and while she was still angry, Salem knew it wasn't directed at her. Instead it was aimed at herself. "Salem," Cinder started slowly. "You told me that by utilizing the beetle, I could take away that power."
"The Maidens power." Salem confirmed with Cinder nodding. Ah yes, that power. The fraction of the awesome might he wielded. Even when spitted in four parts, the power wielded was still strong and capable of even besting certain magic users of her time. While his intentions were good, it pleased Salem that her hated enemy also weakened himself in the process. "What about it?" She asked.
"...I did everything I could to gain this power. To attain it from those unworthy of it." An image of a young girl came in Cinder's mind, the previous owner of the magic called Fall. "And even though I failed in getting it all, thanks to planning I regained the rest and became a full Maiden. Training to master it as best I could. And yet-" Salem could sense her anger rising. "-why...Why is it the power I spent so long to get is now gone?"
Gone?
Hearing of this, Salem stood up and walked to Cinder. Then without warning, grabbed Cinder's pal and held it. Cinder herself was surprised, but did nothing. Instead thinking Salem must be doing something to help, and didn't resist.
As for Salem, she then used a minor power to see what was wrong with Cinders abilities. Sensing her aura, the Grimm Arm attached to her, but nothing more than that. Unable to feel the power of magic in her, with it being gone entirely. Which shouldn't have been possible as Cinder has neither died nor willingly passed it down.
"You're right." Salem spoke to her. "The Fall Maiden power within you is gone." Cinder looked up and opened her mouth, but was stopped as Salem placed a finger on her lips. "And before you ask, no." She then turned around and began walking back to her throne. "I have no clue why the power is gone. Though, I may have a theory on it."
"Then why?" Cinder asked with irritation in her tone. "Why is it you have your magic, but I do not?" Salem decided to ignore her tone, understanding she was upset. She sat back down and looked at Cinder patiently.
"I will say this, this is only a theory and may not be correct. However, it may explain why the Fall Maiden power has left you." Cinder looked at her, craving whatever answer Salem had. She obliged. "Unlike my power, which is a part of me, your power by technicality, is not." Salem relaxed herself as she then summoned a ball of fire. "At the end of the day, that power was never truly yours, and belonged to an old fool. It may be possible that despite the fact it was in your body, by coming here to this world the power remained in Remnant to stay connected to that old man."
Cinder shaked. Her fist clenching. Salem sensing how upset she was as the girl who did so much to gain that power, only to lose it as simple as that. "You should take some time to think over this." Salem told her. "But know this, even if you lost that power, here," She then opened her arms wide, indicating of the world they were in. "You might find something as a good replacement."
"..." Cinder said nothing, and instead simply turned around and moved to leave the bunker. A nearby Grimm got closer to her, not doing anything to attack, but sensed Cinder's anger. It was instantly stabbed by one of her swords in the skull and soon dissipated.
"Ah, that temper. Perhaps I should help her with that." Ever since the Fall on Beacon, Salem has noticed Cinder's temper has gotten a bit more volatile. Likely in response to the harsh attack that caused her wounds all over from the girl with Silver Eyes. Salem noting how Cinder was more prone to outbursts and getting ahead of herself. She'll have to help with that, otherwise it can cost her in the future. After all, emotions, while they can give a person power, can be dangerous on the battlefield unless they can control them.
For now though, Salem instead wished to continue studying what she can of this planet Earth by utilizing the tablet for information. Granted, she doubted the internet will give the secrets of the world to her, but it'll still serve as a good way to understand the basic outline of the situation she and her cabal were in. Information is power after all.
'Especially if it helps learning what is messing with the Grimm.' She then thought as she turned to a nearby Grimm, sensing something off and familiar about it. The same feeling she kept getting as it was slipping from her control. Perhaps it was time to see what was subverting her control over these Grimm, with Salem then commanding the Grimm to walk to her. The Grimm abided, yet even now she could sense something was still trying to override her command.
Placing her hand on the Grimm, Salem's eyes glew red as she attempted to find the source of whatever it was influencing the Grimm. Her mind fading away from the reality around her, and for a moment only saw darkness. It was now quiet, and calm. There was no light at all, and everything felt natural.
It was then she sensed it, something unnatural but natural at the same time.
An image could be seen in the darkness, forming.
But she could only see a fragment of the visage, and the outline of what appeared to be a man.
As she tried to observe closer, she then felt a pain in the back of her mind.
The darkness around her cracking, falling apart immediately.
As she felt her mind returning to reality, she turned and saw the figure a bit more clearly around the face. Where the last thing she saw was a smile, and the mouth opening up and saying one thing. "Not yet."
Salem's eyes opened wide, a small chill being felt in her spine with a slight cold sweat. Strange, why did she feel like this. She certainly didn't feel fear, yet her body was responding like it felt danger. Salem thought of re-establishing the connection again, only to find it impossible as when she looked down, she saw her hand had crushed the Beowolf's skull effortlessly in reflex. Not sensing the feeling anymore.
"What...was that?" Already the memory of what she saw was fading, only knowing that someone was also controlling the Grimm. But, only she should be capable of this, along with her inner circle. This planet shouldn't have anybody like her...right?
Salem then decided to forget about it for the time, and instead focus on something else. Particularly, finding a location to stay at that wasn't near GrimmFall. According to Bandit Princess and the local world map app, the city of GrimmFall is at least about eighty miles or so from this town. The city itself being home to what may as well be the most powerful Huntsmen in the world.
While some might say the best way to hide is in plain sight, Salem would rather be in a more fortified location than this town. According to Hazel, a delivery will come and when that happens, this town will be exposed as a ruined town where Huntsmen will be sent to check out the situation. She'd rather be gone by then.
'But where to go exactly.' It won't be easy moving everybody to another location, not to mention taking the supplies and the degenerates of Bandit Princess's followers. Yet before she could ponder on that, she needed instead a place where she and the rest can be safe and sound, without having to fear the heroes of locating them.
Salem continued searching through the map, then stopped.
"Ah. Here will do." She found a few places that would do, such as this Japan location that seemed interesting but too far. Same with this Andromeda City. But this one, while still technically close to GrimmFall and a place called Denver, she felt it would be an appropriate place for her and the rest to live in.
The Wilds, also known as the Wildlands.
A door opened up, and from it came Living Bullet. In his ever golden glory.
"Yo Sebben." The Fastest Man alive said with a wave. "You called me."
Sitting in his office writing a few forms is Sebben, who nodded as he continued reading his work. "Indeed I did. Come, sit. Would you like a drink?" He gestured to a water bottle.
"No thanks." Living Bullet smiled behind his helmet. "Just tell me what's up." He wanted to see the latest comedy film later today. It was called, 'The Grimm Duo-Mike and Marty: Adventures in GrimmFall'. It was so popular it was a hit franchise and was loved by the kids in America and a good fanbase in Europe.
"Very well." Sebben smiled. "In that case, I won't keep your time. I just wished for you to do a little scouting."
"Scouting?" Living Bullet scratched the top of his helmet. "Like, at an enemy base?"
"Not exactly." Sebben writes down his name on another file. "Let's just say I had a vision awhile ago. One pertaining to a new player."
"Another one huh." Living Bullet sighs. "Feels like Earth has way to many players. Makes me wonder if living in space would be better. Bet a bunch of alien planets don't have to worry about so many players then."
"Perhaps. Though then again many alien planets are full of either regular people like us, or monsters with vicious galactic warlords." Sebben shrugs, recalling word how space can be just as dangerous as earth. Though it was slightly annoying how many powerful villains from space also came to earth like it was a doom magnet. "Moving on, I can tell you however that these new players, while dangerous, are also not connected to anything here."
"Huh?" Living Bullet looked confused. "You mean, this isn't Sammael or some other villain making a move?"
"No." Sebben responded. "This is in fact a new force from another world."
"Uh. Van Kleiss." Living Bullet rolled his eyes. "I'm seriously hoping those two you told me about, Rex and Six, can deal with him." He was becoming a threat that needed to be handled sooner rather than later. "So, this new force is his pawns?"
"No." Sebben replies. "If anything, this force managed to...escape, so to say, and have no involvement with Van Kliess. Unfortunately unlike a few such as Dani or Artemis and Superboy, these individuals aren't on the side of good."
"Oh boy." Living Bullet sighed. "Just what we need. More bad guys."
"Correct. Thankfully from what I know, these people aren't exactly strong enough to cause any short-term problems, as we have enough of that." Images of Bill, GOLB, Sammael, and other forces came to Sebben's mind. "However, the last thing we need is for them to be here long enough to be a problem."
"True enough." Living Bullet agreed with him. "We;ve seen how tough Raven and Superboy can be by staying here long enough. But the same can apply to the villains I guess. All right, I'm in. What do I need to do?"
"Thanks to your speed, you can scout some areas I believe this new force may be at." Sebben then brought up a map with locations he marked. "To be honest, I don't have an actual clue where they are. However, during my vision of them, one of them was in GrimmFall facing Team REYN. Meaning they might be nearby." Or at worst somewhere in Nowhere or any other place.
Just because he could see the future, didn't mean he gained instant knowledge of the little details.
"Got it. Luckily I have time." Then he can watch that film with his kids. And if he's extra lucky, maybe some…'bedtime' with the wife. Been a while, and she did say she wanted another son.
"Thank you very much, Living Bullet." Sebben grabbed the hero's hand and shaked it politely. "But be careful. While I know their appearances, that's all I know. Anything involving their powers, skills, and abilities are unknown. So be safe."
"You know I will." Then in a flash of gold, Living Bullet was gone.