Chapter 9 – The Gyrfalcon
Pyrrha
Who am I?
What have I become? I killed all those people… without hesitation… I ripped a man in half with my semblance… I didn't even know I was capable of such horrors. I never wished I could be… what is wrong with me?
What is happening to me?
The dark plane surrounded her once more, and she awoke here – trapped in her dreams – laid on the black water-soaked floor. Swiftly she sat upright, emerald irises darting around this infinite land of nothingness, only finding him there. The Brother of Darkness, yet the other Brother was nowhere to be seen. To be honest, there was hardly anything to see at all, it was darker than before.
"What was that? The hell did you do to me?" Pyrrha questioned.
"I gave you the power you needed to carry out your mission. I used your body like a… canister… if you will. All your pain, your anguish? They are perfect conduits for destruction, and you unleashed it perfectly. So long… so long it has been since I witnessed such carnage." Darkness sounded like he was in bliss at witnessing all that death, and Pyrrha furrowed her brow.
"You used me…"
"Of course I did. You are our… proxy… a tool to use as we see fit."
"I am no tool, not for you or your brother. I just want him back."
"And if your wishes can never be granted?"
"Then I will die trying to avenge him." Pyrrha's voice hardened when she said those words, but the Brother of Darkness just chortled behind her. She felt his cold dark purple hand grip her shoulder.
"The great illusion of those in mourning then vengeance will ease their pain." Pyrrha could not take anymore, and she gritted her teeth with rage, and she swung around to punch at him. But her fist just swung straight through him. She looked around as he vanished, but she could still feel his presence… it was not a feeling someone could mistake.
"I demand you to tell me what is happening here! No more cryptic bullshit! Tell me right now! Why now? Why have you only just decided to try and stop Salem? She has been around for so long; you've had plenty of chances!" Her voice echoed through the darkness, but as she paced back and forth, she turned to see him stood there, with his arms behind her back and his faceless face staring directly at her.
"Careful, Child Spartan. One demanded things of her creators before, and things did not go the way she intended." He warned. Pyrrha stared straight at him, she felt nothing but hatred for him. She heard the stories, he was the one who made the Grimm, and from everything she had seen and heard from him so far… it all appeared to be true. No lies whatsoever… the full truth.
And that was more frightening than anything.
"I'm not afraid of you… but I will not let you just use me however you wish. I don't trust you… you or your brother."
He tilted his horned head. "You shouldn't… yet." Darkness replied in a dark voice, it send shivers down the back of her neck.
Pyrrha calmed her nerves as she stared at the Brother of Darkness who walked around her. "Why now?" She asked again.
"I have ferried dead across this plain of existence since beings existed to die." He said, his voice echoed the voices of those she knew and loved. From Jaymes Ickford to Jaune's… and so many other voices she could not even recognise. "Without death, life has no purpose. All would halt, all would slow to nothing. Life has a way of tilting the hourglass. A clock, that all must be done by."
"What does that even mean?" Pyrrha questioned.
"It means… that one has tipped the hourglass. Salem. Her existence endangers all life, for she is life with no end, and with a desire to bring nothing but unending annihilation. Part of me admires her view of things, to see nothing but fire and death. But her actions go too far, and she will destroy everything my brother and I have built." Darkness explained as he stood over shoulder.
"She meddles, forces purloin and not meant for her hands. To cheat death, tampering across plains of reality? Unacceptable. We made her impervious to death to teach her the importance of life. Instead it's made her strong, callous... vengeful. We were wrong. Her hourglass has stilled. But Remnant's? The sands are gathering at the bottom. The horizon is dark with turmoil under her eclipse."
"Wait… you did what?" Pyrrha gasped with wide eyes, she spun around as he vanished once more. "What did you do to her?"
He did not answer, but she heard what he said plain as day. They are the reason that she cannot die? They are the ones responsible for all the things that has happened?
The bastards…
"You… you are the ones who have caused all this death. Because of your own mistakes?" Pyrrha questioned.
"Mistakes…" Darkness chuckled; his voice continued to pulsate around her.
"So many are dead because of you! You might not want to admit it to my face, but this is all on you and your damn brother. You made her this way… you robbed her of her life. Just as you robbed everyone of theirs. Of me and mine I could've had." Pyrrha snarled viciously.
"It's a fickle thing; Life. Not long ago, did you turn your back on them, On comradery. Ran into the icy clutches of death, with little but a glance backward. And now, you plead. To cling, to life. His soul is lost. Scattered to the winds. So tell me... Did you worry yourself with his heart then when you ran up that tower... to die?"
Pyrrha fell silent, she could not give him an answer.
"I thought not."
"Shut up…" Pyrrha closed her eyes with grief, because deep down she knew he was right. There was once a time where she gave up the life she had… something that back then she never had much regard for. Yet now she judged the Brothers for whatever it was they did to Salem?
Pyrrha's mind was buzzing with questions and confusion. "But the game is not over. Mistakes can be learned from, to harden them. And like Salem cannot die… you returned from the grave. Perhaps that is all we need."
"Perhaps, a champion? To flip the hourglass back whence it turned? Hmm."
Like Valravn, his words were like a complicated game, always trying to understand his meaning. But those final words stuck with her, then she saw a bright light shimmer from the darkness, and it consumed her.
She gasped, suddenly waking back up from her state of unconsciousness. She felt a cold wetness on her cheek and a hot breath, only to find it was Vicky, Amber's pet Golden Retriever, who was licking her face gently. Pyrrha sat upright and the cute dog stepped out of the way, gently bumping her soft head against Pyrrha's cheek. Pyrrha turned and she pushed her hand onto the rubble… immediately realising where she was.
"Bring back memories?" The voice of Cinder Fall asked, Pyrrha turned around to see that Cinder was repairing the Airship. It was damaged from when it took off through the roof of the shed it was covered in. Pyrrha looked around, seeing the heartbroken faces of the family who just lost their home. Oscar was sat with Amber; he had his jacket around her to keep her warm, whilst Vernal kept her eyes peeled, making sure they weren't followed. Blake was sat down nearby, and Weiss was also on the Perimeter, getting her strength back.
Pyrrha looked back at Cinder, and there was a stern glare from the Fall Maiden. The unease was hanging in the air, it could be sensed from a mile off. "We shouldn't stay here for too long. The Grimm could be on their way." Weiss stated.
"I've nearly got it." Cinder assured.
Oscar gently held Amber close as she sat there, sniffling as she rubbed her sore cheek. "Hey, leave it. You don't want it to hurt any more than it already does." Oscar softly said.
"Y-Yeah I know… I'm sorry."
"You've got nothing to apologise for."
"Speaking of apologies." Cinder finally said it, Pyrrha could see it coming a mile away. She lowered her welder and stared directly at her, picking up her cloth to wipe the sweat off her cheek.
"Cinder, now is not the time." Blake said.
"Oh I disagree. Now is the perfect time." Cinder stated, throwing the cloth on the floor. "I let you stay – despite knowing it would bring hell upon our home. It could have gotten my family killed, my little girl." Cinder listed. "Yet I still took the risk – but you still have not told us how the hell you are possibly alive right now. So no more bullshit. You died here, and you came back here. I saw your body… you were dead, impaled. How the fuck did you come back to life?" Cinder questioned, and Pyrrha looked at her, before looking at everyone else.
Nobody was trying to stop Cinder. In fact, Weiss looked surprised that Cinder was not going to just explode at Pyrrha for luring Salem back to their home. It had nothing to do with that, only with Pyrrha's Mysterious Resurrection.
Pyrrha sat there and she closed her eyes, then opened them to see the Brother of Darkness leant against the destroyed statue of Thaddeus Rex. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Well I wouldn't have believed that you came back from the dead until I saw your fucking face show up at my doorstep." Cinder stated. "So try me."
Pyrrha blew out a shaky breath, seeing also the Brother of Light as well, stood beside his brother with his arms behind his back. "I was dead… and I found myself in this… place. A Dark Cold Place. And I met him… the Brother of Darkness."
Never before had a silence felt so deafening.
"Come again?" Vernal asked with wide eyes.
"Like the one from the Fairy Tale?" Amber asked, not noticing Oscar struggling for some reason. He started to rub his head.
I knew the power the second I saw it. Allow me to speak through you, Oscar. It is time I reveal myself to them as well.
They deserve to know.
Oscar was not sure what to make of Ozpin yet, but he knew he was on their side. He could feel his honesty. Oscar sighed.
Okay… do it…
His eyes shone gold, and it expression changed completely, becoming someone totally different to who he once was. "The hell are you talking about?" Vernal grilled.
"It's no fairy tale, and I am not lying. He was there and he was the one who brought me back from the grave." Pyrrha explained. "He and his Brother have chosen me to be their… Champion… against Salem." Pyrrha explained, gods she knew how ridiculous all this sounded.
Cinder looked at Vernal. "You believe any of this crap?"
"Hell no." Vernal scoffed.
"She's telling the truth." Ozpin spoke, everyone spun around… it was Oscar's voice, but he sounded so different. His accent sounded different… and it even sounded like there was another voice speaking behind his real one. Like an echo that was not his own.
"Uh… Oscar?" Weiss stammered with confusion.
Amber waved her hand in front of Oscar's face. "Hello?"
Ozpin smiled through Oscar's face. "Hello."
"Ah… that's… really weird. Oscar why are you being so… weird?" Amber asked.
"Because Oscar has… handed over the controls… so to speak. He is still here at present, just taking a backseat." Ozpin explained. Weiss, Blake and Pyrrha listened to his words, and even Cinder seemed to recognise it.
"Professor… Ozpin?" Pyrrha gasped, her eyes wide. Ozpin turned to her and smiled.
"Hello again, Pyrrha Nikos. It seems you and I have something in common…" Ozpin explained, Vernal and Amber just looked at each other, completely astounded.
"What the hell is going on?" Cinder panted as she paced back and forth. "Why can't people just stay dead like they used to?"
"How… is this possible? How are you here? Why are you talking through Oscar?" Weiss stammered, stumbling over her words.
"Well I can assure you that Oscar has not been keeping this from you. He only found out about our… bonding, so to speak… today. Prior to Adam's attack on your Farmstead. For the past six years my soul were binding together… hence his migraines. Only recently did I become more aware of my surroundings, and I waited to introduce myself until I felt I was filled in enough on the world I returned to." Ozpin explained.
I swear to the gods, if you humiliate me, I will find a way to kill you for good.
"I understand this must be very perplexing."
"To put it mildly." Blake scoffed.
"Yes… I am so sorry for everything you have endured. Everyone you have… lost." Ozpin said, looking at Pyrrha, then Weiss and Blake.
"It's not your fault." Weiss stated.
"Isn't it?" Cinder asked him, her arms crossed, staring him down.
"No it isn't. This is Salem, not him." Weiss defended.
"I appreciate your kindness, Miss Schnee – but I am afraid that Cinder is right. It is my fault." He admitted. "I once told Ruby Rose that I had made more mistakes than any man, woman and child on this planet. And… I think I can safely say… that was no exaggeration." Ozpin explained, placing his hands together.
Even now, hearing Ruby's name made both Blake and Weiss feel pain in their hearts, believing she was dead. "I knew from the moment Miss Nikos created that pulse, and turned those Feral Ones to dust, that it was the power of the Brother of Darkness… because I had seen that power before. I knew that it was them who were responsible for her return."
"But… Pyrrha Nikos is not the only one the Brothers Grimm reached out to and brought back from death to carry out their deeds."
"What do you mean?" Vernal asked.
"My name… my old and forgotten name… was Ozma. I came from a time which now is only categorized by ruins and fossils. I fell, but after I died Salem became the monster we know today, and the Brothers Grimm chose me to return as their Champion, just like you, Miss Nikos. Ever since, I have died and reincarnated into another person. Whether or not they had the same views as I… to try and unite the world to fight against Salem. To show that she is wrong. The Professor Ozpin you met was not my first form… and clearly… was not my last." Ozpin explained, bowing his head. "It is… an extremely strenuous process… on everyone involved."
All of this… it was a lot to take in.
Pyrrha stood up and walked over to Ozpin and sat down next to him. "Did you… wake up in the same place as I did? That place of Darkness? Where he was waiting for me?"
"No… I found myself in a shining realm… and I saw the Brother of Light. It seems both sides have chosen their champions." Ozpin stated.
"Have they done this before? Had two Champions?" Pyrrha inquired.
"No… this… this is very out of the ordinary, not what I was expecting from the Brother of Darkness. He… he never seemed to be extremely interested in what I was resurrected for. I sometimes spoke with him, but I mainly saw the Elder Brother. So the fact he was the one who resurrected you is… genuinely concerning."
"Why?" Cinder asked.
"Because that means that they are growing desperate. Desperate enough that even Darkness is helping his own Brother try and right the wrongs they left behind here." Ozpin explained to them.
"Two Gods… who are desperate? That's not a good sign." Cinder said with concern in her voice as she paced back and forth.
"I know this all must sound… ridiculous and untrue. But I am not lying to any of you…" Ozpin assured, but he stopped, and his eyes widened. They seemed confused at first, but then they heard it as well. Pyrrha lifted her head and turned around as the deep guttural engine of an incoming Airship grew louder.
They saw it flying overhead, headed straight for the Ruins of Beacon Academy.
The Gyrfalcon.
It was massive, three times the size of a normal Bullhead, with four huge rectangular thrusters, and armed to the teeth. From here they could see two internally operated turrets, alongside countless missiles, machine guns and bomb bay doors. This thing was built for war and could wipe out entire platoons in seconds. It also had a shifting camouflage, one that faded away, revealing the steel grey and golden paint that originally covered it. The thrusters created a terrifying roar, like a monster making its presence known to all life in the area. A deep bellowing growl.
"Oh fuck…" Cinder gasped. "The Gyrfalcon… it's Watts. And I doubt it's just him."
"Gyrfalcon?" Pyrrha asked.
"Yeah, thing's been with Watts long before they ever brought me into the mix. And I've seen what it is capable of, that thing could easily kill us all." Cinder assured.
"I remember it… when we were at Vacuo. It was the ship that Hazel and Adam escaped onto." Pyrrha said.
"Even I can remember it…" Blake admitted.
"Get the Airship fixed, Cinder. We'll hold them off." Vernal stated, readying her weapons, but Ozpin held his hand out.
"Wait… it's landing." Ozpin stated. "I will speak with him; Watts most likely wants to try and capture Pyrrha without conflict."
"Wait a second, Salem may not know you can reincarnate. I never knew." Cinder said.
"That's because she never told you. Trust me, she knows. She has killed my hosts many times in the past to try and stop me. I think she expected the Relic of Destruction to end me forever… but clearly she was wrong." Ozpin explained.
"Well then you definitely shouldn't. If Watts knows, then he will definitely come after us." Cinder stated.
"He's gonna come after us anyway." Pyrrha said, standing up with Ozpin. "I will go with you."
"Come on… this is a trap. This is Arthur Watts we're talking about." Blake said.
"I know, which is why Weiss and Vernal with cover us." Pyrrha said, Vernal drew her weapons and nodded her head with a smirk. Weiss rolled her neck, and her Aura was now back in the green.
"If he tries anything, we'll take him out." Vernal assured.
"This is insane…" Cinder sighed. But then she gathered herself and knew this was the best course of action. "Okay, Blake and Amber. Get in the Airship, I need to finish the repairs as fast as I can. The two of them won't be able to keep Watts occupied for long."
Ozpin and Pyrrha walked towards the Gyrfalcon where Watts was exiting the rear door, waiting for them.
What do we do?
Oscar's voice echoed in the back of his own mind, speaking to Ozpin.
Be ready. He will try something and when he does, I will give you full control of your body again. I do not wish to control you and your life or fight in your stead. Just do not underestimate him. Arthur Watts is more dangerous than he looks and could easily match you in a fight.
Ozpin approached the Gyrfalcon and Pyrrha stood beside him, and her eyes widened. Because he was indeed not alone…
Tyrian and Hazel were both with him. Tyrian had that same insane smirk on his face that was always there, whilst Hazel's arms were crossed. And Watts' arms were proudly held behind his back. With multiple vials of Grave Dust attached to a bandolier over his jacket, ready to be unleashed on command.
"As I live and breathe… it is true. Pyrrha Nikos… back from the dead." Watts greeted, smirking. "It seems your title was more than just a Promotional Campaign for that cereal brand."
"Doctor Arthur Watts…" Pyrrha greeted, then she looked at Hazel and Tyrian. "Tyrian… Hazel. It's been a long time."
"For us… I imagine you still remember our battles as if they were yesterday." Hazel commented.
Tyrian giggled sinisterly as he stood there, his Scorpion Tail arching over his shoulder. "You gave that fool, Adam Taurus quite the show."
"It didn't have to go down that way." Pyrrha said.
"No… which is why we are here… talking right now." Watts stated, holding his hands out to the ruins which surrounded them. He then glanced at Oscar, unaware that Ozpin was now in control. "Ah and you must be Oscar Pine, Raven's little dog."
"Not quite." Ozpin answered. "It has been a long time since you and I met, Arthur."
Watts raised a brow, but then his eyes widened. "Ozpin…"
"What?" Tyrian questioned, and Hazel clenched his hands into fists. "How can you be certain?"
"Look at him. Killian saw this kid before; I watched the recordings from the Raven Talons. He never stood and spoke in the way he is now… it is all too familiar." Watts explained. "It seems at long last the old man has finally reincarnated…"
"Did our Queen already know? Is this why she sent us? To confirm her suspicions?" Tyrian inquired.
"Perhaps…" Watts agreed, just as curious as he was. Hazel nodded his head with hatred in his eyes.
"Yeah, it's him." Hazel growled hatefully.
"I am sorry for what I did to you, Hazel… what I did… it can never be forgiven, I know that." Ozpin admitted.
What did you do?
"Does he know? Or have you kept that secret from him like all the other secrets that came before? Like how you always lied to your hosts before they faded away and you stole their bodies?" Hazel questioned.
Ozpin did not say much more on the subject. "Now, now… let's keep things civilised. There is no need for any further bloodshed." Watts stated, but Pyrrha could not help but laugh at him. Tyrian raised a brow.
"Did we miss the joke?" Tyrian asked.
Pyrrha chuckled then she just shook her head, then held her hands out to the destruction and death that surrounded them all. "No Need For Further Bloodshed. Now you give a damn about lives?"
Watts looked her right in the eyes. "I admit what happened six years ago was unfortunate."
"Unfortunate?" Pyrrha interrupted.
"But it was necessary. Killian tried to do things the bloodless way, but we all know how that ended. The Politicians were too afraid for things to change, so they disregarded your votes and Killian's offer. And the rest of you… well… you would have never abided Salem's New World Order." Watts explained.
"So slaughter? That was your Queen's masterful plan?" Pyrrha shook her head with disgust.
"I can see the blood on your clothes, Miss Nikos. You judge me and my Brethren for our actions six years ago… yet here you stand. Covered in the blood from your own slaughter." Watts stated, and Pyrrha glanced at all the stains of blood on her hands and her shirt. She even touched the dried-up blood on her cheek, flinching for a moment. "You see nobody's hands are clean in what's left of this world. We're all the same."
"We are not the same." Pyrrha snarled, and Watts shrugged his shoulders.
"Everyone is allowed to have their opinions." Watts said, but then he paced back and forth across the decimated terrain. "Look, the three of us are willing to let the rest of you go back to your home. I am even willing to fund repairs on your home, Adam Taurus was specifically commanded to not carry out that whole event. Ordered by Salem herself, but he did it anyway. His obsession over Blake Belladonna was the crux, so therefore Salem and I are more than willing to provide the necessary funds, resources and manpower to repair what was lost. All I ask for in return – is that the two of you come with me."
"So now you want Oz as well? Sure you're not gonna take Cinder too? Or Blake? Or Weiss?" Pyrrha questioned, not trusting his word one bit.
Only a fool would trust the word of Arthur Watts.
"I rarely make promises, Miss Nikos. Specifically because I only make promises when I know I can keep them." He assured. "This is the best offer you're ever going to get."
"Or things will get ugly." Tyrian warned, extending The Queen's Servants, and Hazel slammed his fists together.
Ozpin looked at Pyrrha and they both heard Cinder on their scrolls. "It's ready, get back here now."
They then both looked at them, and Watts extended his hand, offering them to come with them into the Gyrfalcon peacefully.
"You can go straight to hell." Pyrrha stated.
Watts sighed. "Violence it is." Watts said, nodding to Tyrian and Hazel, and the two of them sprinted towards Pyrrha and Ozpin. Until suddenly a bright white flash erupted in between the four, and the Arma Gigas rose from the huge glyph that spun on the ground. It kicked Tyrian in the chest, the impact was so hard that it threw him into the rubble, and as Hazel jumped towards Ozpin, the Arma Gigas caught him by the throat and slammed him down against the ground with all its might. Yet it had hardly any real effect to the monster of a man.
Watts swiftly drew his Revolver and started firing it, whilst also activating the rings on his fingers. The vials of Grave Dust on his bandolier opened and the clouds of lethal dust started to swirl around him. The Arma Gigas rushed towards him but Watts blasted the Grave Dust towards it, holding it back. He gritted his teeth as the Arma Gigas forced itself towards him.
Behind the glowing Knight, Pyrrha and Ozpin ran as fast as they could. Vernal and Weiss quickly followed. They got aboard the airship as the Arma Gigas faded away from Weiss no longer focusing on it. Watts aimed his Revolver up at the Airship as it flew away, firing at them repeatedly. He lowered the gun and narrowed his eyes.
"Damn it." Hazel growled.
"Get back in the Gyrfalcon. We're not letting them escape that easily." Watts ordered, and Tyrian followed with Hazel beside him.
Robyn
Terra and Saphron allowed the Happy Huntresses to stay the night, and in the morning they would discuss what to do.
Morning came, and Terra kept to her word like she always did. She sat down with the Four Huntresses. "I've got a lot of good contacts thanks to my position in the Argus Police Department. I've met countless people with so many different stories, all from different walks of life." Terra explained.
"You think some of these people could help us find something on Killian?" May inquired.
"Well I have some friends who have their eyes and ears everywhere, people who know every little thing that happens in this city. I can contact them so they can let us know of any important Black Gallows movements going on in the city right now." Terra explained.
"That's a good idea, you think you can get in contact with any of them?" Robyn asked, and Terra nodded her head. She left the room and spoke with her contacts in Argus, trying to find any bits of useful information she could. The Happy Huntresses waited, and Fiona smiled as Adrien got ready for school. He was a shy kid and had a heart of gold, something Fiona could always see a mile off.
"I miss the days of taking days off to help at the schools for kids. Always helped me remember I made the right career choice." Fiona said, fiddling with her fingers.
"How is helping out at a school a way to remind yourself that killing freaky monsters is a good career move?" Joanna inquired.
"Because I know that every Grimm I kill is one less nightmare for those kids. I like to think that one day… these kids will get to grow up in a world where the Grimm are just that. An old nightmare, but no longer a threat." Fiona explained.
"Well… if we stop Salem… then maybe that will be a reality." Robyn assured, which made Fiona smile.
"If I had a drink, I'd be down to drink it." May chuckled.
Terra came back into the room and she tucked her scroll back into her pocket. "I might have something we could use." Terra revealed.
"Alright, lay it on us." Robyn requested.
"There's a Black Gallows Convoy headed to the docks; I think it may have something to do with that huge battle that took place. Amongst them is a Black Gallows Operative, she's pretty high up in the chain of command. If anyone is gonna have information, it would be her." Terra explained.
"Do we know her name?" Joanna asked.
"No, sadly not. But we do have a description. She's about Fiona's height with long jet-black hair and green eyes. Wearing her Black Gallows Officer Gear. She'll stick out like a sore thumb with all those soldiers." Terra explained.
"Any specific location? Time?" May asked.
"They should be here in a few hours, I'd say wait on the road to the gates, that way they won't get any reinforcements until you're long gone." Terra explained, Robyn nodded her head. "Dunno how you'll get information out of her though. Black Gallows Officers are tough eggs to crack."
"We'll ask… nicely." Robyn winked.
A Few Hours Later…
With Terra returning to her normal day of work – in order to not appear suspicious – the Happy Huntresses waited on the road just as Terra suggested. With their hoods up, and May using her semblance, nobody had any idea that four lethal Huntresses were waiting. "Here they come." Joanna whispered.
The trucks came driving across the road, slowly moving across the tarmac towards the huge walls of the city. However they did not make it far, thanks to the trap they set up. A line of spikes made from large nails that they found in a construction site, perfect for bursting the tyres of any vehicle. The bang from the tyres sounded like a gunshot, then the Happy Huntresses sprung from the grass.
Joanna slammed the door into the Raven Talon who tried to get out of it in time to fight back, but the impact broke his arm. She dragged the soldier from the car and threw him against the ground, before kicking him in the helmet so hard that the visor shattered. She spun her Staff through her fingers, firing a Crossbow Bolt directly into the throat of one of the soldiers. A Raven Talon rolled out of the way of the next Crossbow Bolt fired from Fiona's staff, and he fired the Electrified Cable towards her, but she ducked down just in time.
The Raven Talon rushed towards Fiona and she twirled on the spot, smashing her Staff across the side of his head, knocking the soldier onto one knee. But the skilled hardened Raven Talon suddenly rose up and punched her in the face, before drawing his gun and firing it at her. Fiona hooked her Staff onto his arm and twisted him around, dropping her body weight to the floor, which then threw the soldier across the road. He tumbled across the ground, then she threw her Staff directly at him, stabbing him in the chest with the blades.
The Raven Talon grunted, his voice sounded like every other Black Gallows soldier, distorted by the same Voice Disguiser. Making them all sound inhuman.
May charged towards Ebony Sabre who fired his machine gun at her, but she slid underneath him and slashed the blade of her Crossbow Staff across the piston in the mechanised leg. The Heavy Black Gallows Infantryman slammed his fist into the ground, when a turret folded up from the shoulder and started firing explosive rounds at her. May cartwheeled backwards, dodging all of the explosive rounds that flew her way before she went invisible once more. The Ebony Sabre looked around, back and forth as he tried to find her.
Until he felt a tap on his helmet.
He looked up to see her stood on his shoulders, winking down at him, before she ripped his helmet off and kicked him with the back of her heel as she jumped off him. He crashed to the ground, knocked unconscious. Joanna caught the fist of a Shadow Dagger Trooper, staring her right in the eyes, before throwing her into the side of the armoured car with all her might. The soldier grunted, then Joanna kicked her in the side, flipping her onto her back. Joanna roared, and she punched her three times in the face, so hard it left the soldier unconscious.
Robyn fought against the last two soldiers, she jumped off the side of the armoured truck, firing one of her Crossbow Bolts into the shoulder of one Raven Talon. It landed between the plates of armour, then she leapt towards him, grabbing him by the throat and forcing him to the tarmac. She landed on both feet, roundhouse kicking another soldier across the jaw so hard his helmet flew off. Underneath, he looked more machine than man, eyes replaced by glowing red cybernetic optics, and his voice was also that distorted voice.
Robyn gasped, her eyes widened, and she ducked down as he fired one of those Electrified Restrainers towards Robyn. It crackled behind her as it hit the truck, then Robyn felt the other soldier grab her. She growled with anger as she tried to break free from his grasp. The Black Gallows Soldier spoke but she still could not understand him due to the distorter. She yelled with rage, and just as the Cybernetically Enhanced Raven Talon lunged for her with a knife, she kicked him in the chest with both feet, the impact forcing the soldier who held her backwards. He slammed into the truck and she felt his grip loosen. She took the chance, and she swung her elbow backwards into his gut. He gasped from the blow, before she finished him off by firing a Crossbow Bolt straight through the visor and into his eye.
His body crumpled, then the last one extended a long blade from his arm and swung it at her. Robyn caught his arm and swung her knee up into his gut, but the movement hurt like hell. It felt like she hit concrete, and it had no impact. He grabbed her and threw her into the truck, and she hit the floor and growled from the pain. The Cybernetic Soldier stomped at her head over and over again, but every time she crawled backwards, moving aside. The tarmac cracked from every single stamp.
Robyn rolled backwards then she spun around with a defiant yell, firing an Explosive Tipped Bolt towards him, which lodged into his ribs. But the soldier still had no reaction, until the bolt clicked, flashed red and beeped. It erupted into flames and the soldier's mechanical body was blown to pieces, chunks of metal thrown everywhere alongside a fountain of blood.
Fiona shielded her face from the blood, gasping at that. May walked over to Robyn, helping her back up. "That was a bit overkill." May chuckled.
"I wouldn't say so… look at him… I've never seen Black Gallows do that to their soldiers. He was more machine than man." She stated, crouching down to his fragmented remains. His body was practically blown in two, but they could see all the cybernetics from his halved corpse, sparks spluttered with blood, and the eyes powered down.
"Whoa…" May softly gasped.
"Bastard was tough. Looks like Killian's had more going on than I expected. Must be Watts… the bastard was always a genius when it came to cybernetics." Robyn stated, gesturing her Cybernetic Leg itself. "If it weren't for his efforts, the world wouldn't have prosthetics like these… but this? This is just… monstrous."
"Okay… not overkill." May agreed.
"Get out of the car! Now!" Joanna roared, they turned to see her aiming her Crossbow Staff at the Officer they were searching for. She calmly got out of the Armoured Truck with her hands held up over her head, with that emotionless expression they all came to expect from Black Gallows Operatives. Like nothing ever surprised or impressed them.
"You're going to regret this." The Officer warned.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure of it." Joanna said, she looked her up and down. It was her, no doubt. Black hair, green eyes, Black Gallows Uniform, about the same height as Fiona. Joanna slammed her fist into the Officer's face so hard it knocked her unconscious. "C'mon, let's get her somewhere safe. We don't want any unwanted visitors." She said as she lifted her onto her shoulder.
May smiled. "I think I know a place." She formed a large dome of invisibility around them all, and it was like they vanished without a trace.
At the Safehouse…
The Officer was bound to a chair, still unconscious from Joanna's punch. Though not for much longer, as she was suddenly doused with icy cold water. That felt almost felt like Joanna's punch, just more sudden and biting than hers. She panted and gasped, shaking her head as the water dripped off her pointed chin. She then looked forward to see Robyn stood there in the light with her arms crossed.
"Fun dreams?" Robyn asked, the Officer chuckled.
"Yeah… was just having a great one too, if I'm being honest." The Officer said.
"Well, hey, how about this. You answer my questions, and I will let you leave this place. You can go back to serving that psychotic son of a bitch and his evil Queen. All you have to do is give me info." Robyn explained as she pulled out a chair and sat in front of the Officer.
"If you think you can crack me, then you've got another thing coming." The Officer assured.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure, honey. Now, c'mon… let's get on with it, huh?" Robyn began. "I know that the "Rogue" Huntsmen and Huntresses were not responsible for the Slaughter of the U.G.R six years ago. I was there, but the world won't believe a word I say unless I come forward with some damn good evidence. I know you're an Officer, one in a pretty nice chain of command, in fact. So I'm certain you can help us out." Robyn stated, but the Officer just rolled her eyes.
"I can help you to the graveyard if you want, because that's where you're gonna end up sweetheart if you follow this course of action." The Officer warned, only for Joanna to suddenly reveal herself behind her, punching the Officer across her cheek. She grunted, spitting out blood as Joanna walked around her.
"Ouch, that must've hurt." Joanna said as she crossed her arms.
"Ah… I was wondering where the bad cop was." The Officer chuckled.
"Tell me about the Virus that was used that night. The one that cut off all communications, locked all the people inside, changed the footage on the security cameras? It had the symbol of a Black Queen Chess Piece. I know that's what it is called but tell me more about it." Robyn requested.
"It steals your personal data, filling your computer with porn." The Officer sarcastically answered, only to get punched in the gut by Joanna.
"I'll admit, I have had viruses like that, but I haven't seen one capable of what that one did." Robyn joked. "What about Arthur Watts? Give me any dirt on him? If anyone made the damn thing I imagine it was him."
The interrogation went on all night, and fairly soon daybreak was coming. Yet the Officer, despite been tortured all night, still would not crack. Robyn could not help but be impressed by her loyalty to them. The Officer was barely clinging to consciousness, blood drooling from her lips as she sat there. "My patience is growing thin, lady. Give me something, anything. I don't wanna kill you, but you're really trying me." Robyn warned.
The Officer just glared at her, defiant even now. Robyn sighed and she just looked at Joanna and nodded. The two of them walked out the room. The Officer spat out blood. "Oh what? You finally give up? C'mon at least one more for good measure!" The Officer coughed.
"No point in beating a dead officer, right?" Joanna asked, then they closed the door. There was silence for a few moments, until she realised something. She started to look around the room, and saw the lights suddenly turn on. There was a large heavy metal door at the other side of the room in front of her. Lights started the flash, and the huge door started to open up.
"The hell is this?" The Officer stammered, the whole time Joanna and Robyn were interrogating her, they never revealed this. The door opened all the way, revealing nothing but darkness inside of there. Until glowing red eyes revealed themselves. It growled viciously.
"Our friend told us about this place." Robyn's voice started to echo from the speakers, she watched from the other room as the Officer looked more and more frightened. "Someone captured a Grimm here, a lunatic who liked to feed his captives to it. Until the thing killed him as well, and ever since it has been trapped in here. I bet it is longing for a new meal, wouldn't you say?"
"No! Please! I'll tell you what you want! Please no!" The Officer started to break; terror started to consume her. The Grimm revealed its face to her, and it was horrifying. It was an incredibly old Ursae, mangy fur and covered in armour plating. It stared straight at her with a deep guttural growl.
"Give me a lead on the Black Queen Virus. Tell me where Watts' lab is located." Robyn demanded. "Tell us that, and we will kill it before it kills you – so long as you're quick."
"O-Okay! OKAY!" The Officer screamed as the Ursa got closer and closer. "Mistral! He has a lab here in Mistral! His old one he used to use, the one he modified the Grave Dust in all those years ago! It's in the wilds but I don't know where! If you want answers go there! Please! Please it's the truth! I don't wanna die like this! Please!" She shrieked in fear, Robyn listened to her words.
Her semblance had grown more over the years, she did not have to hold someone's hand to know if they were being truthful or not anymore. She liked to do it most of the time since it was easier, but she could sense it from just looking at them and hearing their voices.
And she knew…
She's telling the truth.
Robyn looked at Joanna and nodded.
The Ursa roared and charged towards the terrified Officer, only for Joanna to suddenly launch her Staff directly into the throat of the Ursa. The huge bear roared and spluttered black blood across the floor, stumbling around before it collapsed to the ground, crumbling away. The Officer was hyperventilating in fear and Joanna gently squeezed her shoulder. "Breathe…" Joanna said to her.
The door opened and Robyn emerged from the other room, walking down the steps to the Officer. "I didn't want this to get this bad. I was hoping you would have been straight with me from the start." Robyn said to her, and she took out a knife and cut the bindings, letting the Officer go.
The two of them stepped aside, and the Officer looked at them as she stammered. "W-What am I s-supposed to do now? I can't go back… I told you important intel… they'll know… they'll kill me." She stammered.
"Then don't go back to them. We're taking the risk by letting you live; the choice is yours now." Robyn said, letting her leave. The Officer limped as she walked away from them, and she headed back towards Argus.
"Should we have let her go? What if she does tell Killian we're alive? He'll know just by your description." Joanna pointed out.
"Let her. We got what we need, and if him knowing I'm for him will make him struggle to sleep at night… then it's worth it. We need to find that old Lab." Robyn said to Joanna.
"We will." Joanna assured.
Cinder
It took them hours, and even having to fly through a storm across the Valerian Sea, but they made it to Anima at long last.
Cinder was constantly checking their scanners, the fact that they hadn't seen the Gyrfalcon on their tail for hours now really was not sitting right with her. And she saw the huge mountains in the distance. It was a straight shot… but something felt wrong. She could feel it in her bones. "I'm gonna take us through Lake Matsu… what's left of it anyway." Cinder stated, changing their course.
"Uh? Why?" Weiss asked.
"I don't wanna risk it. The Children of Salem definitely won't give up, and I don't like the idea of bringing them directly to the Summit's Claim. I want to make sure they're not on our tail, and if they are… well… I'd rather be in Lake Matsu's Remnants to fight them than out in the open like this." Cinder explained.
Pyrrha was sat there and she looked at her hands, still with some blood on them. Amber shuffled over to her, and she tilted her head. She got some water and a cloth, soaking it. "Lemme." Amber cooed, and she started to clean the blood off Pyrrha's hands.
"Thank you." Pyrrha smiled, which made Amber beam brightly. Somehow, that little girl was just always able to make others happy. Which in turn always made her happy.
"It was really cool to see you in action. I haven't seen it since I was little." Amber said with a smile.
"That… wasn't who I am supposed to be. I'm sorry you saw all of that. It's my fault." Pyrrha admitted.
"No… it's like you said, what the man back there said. That guy with the Horns was always going to show up. It was always going to happen. I'm just glad you were there… if it weren't for you… I'd be dead." Amber said, she didn't even seem that shaken by it. On the way to Beacon's Ruins and when they were there? Yes, she was obviously a bit shaken up by nearly dying… but now? It was like she just pushed all of that aside, and was focusing on the future, not what could have happened.
She was an inspiring little thirteen-year-old.
At times, she reminded Pyrrha of Ruby… the old Ruby.
The Airship flew towards Lake Matsu, and Cinder stared at the destruction with awe in her eyes. "By the Gods… it's worse than when we last came here." Vernal said, they all remembered seeing the utter destruction left in the wake of the Shadow of Broken Promises. This place was once one of the many wonders of Remnant… but now?
Just rocks… floating rocks… no life… nothing.
It looked like an Asteroid Field from those Sci-Fi Movies, and it was heartbreaking to see. With no company left behind to restore the Floating Islands, they were just abandoned. Now just rocks, with only shards of Gravity Dust remaining to keep them afloat.
"This is just sad…" Weiss sighed. "I always wanted to come here… y'know… when it was beautiful. Now look at it."
Cinder looked down at her scanner, and her eye widened. I knew it.
The Gyrfalcon.
It was following them the whole time. "Last chance, Cinder. Give up Pyrrha Nikos and Oscar Pine. Or this becomes something else." Watts warned through the comm link. But Cinder cut them off, ending all transmissions.
"Everyone hold on." Cinder ordered.
She suddenly dove downwards, then shot right back up towards them. The airship had guns on it, but nothing that could possibly match the weapons that Watts had on the Gyrfalcon. The energy rounds hardly even scuffed the shields, and Watts just exhaled with frustration. "Okay… I gave you a chance. Now things get ugly." Watts said, which made Tyrian smirk and giggle maniacally.
The Gyrfalcon's thrusters roared, and he pursued them through the Field of Rock, dodging the chunks of debris left behind with massive holes in them from where the Shadow of Broken Promises blew them to pieces with its Broadside Cannons. "Here's a little surprise I've been working on, Cinder." Watts said, playing with the switches. He fired a missile from the wing of the Gyrfalcon, one that had pulsating purple light inside of it.
Cinder saw it incoming and she gasped. "Gravity Missile, everyone hang on!" Cinder called out, and she dove downwards, using the chunks of floating rocks as cover. Everything silent as the missile reached its target area – then there was a bright purple flash, and it collapsed into itself, before erupting. The explosion was a deafening metallic bang, one that created a shockwave so powerful it turned the rocks to dust, fragmenting them. Cinder's spun the Airship through the air, skilfully dodging the incoming debris.
It was clear that Salem's Designated Pilots were Watts and Cinder back in the day.
Watts fired a second Gravity Missile, the missiles had unstable Gravity Dust trapped inside of them, and then when they detonated, that unstable gravity was just unleashed to tear itself apart. Cinder braced and Amber covered her ears as the Gravity Missile detonated behind them. More massive chunks of rock sliced in half by the powerful shockwave. Cinder flew through the many rocks that floated above the huge Lake, but then she vanished from Watt's scanners.
"Where did you go…" Watts muttered.
Cinder looped overhead and started to fire on them repeatedly, nailing them over and over again. "Crap!" Watts exclaimed, yes her armaments were hardly state of the art, but too many shots to the shields would eventually break the Hardlight barrier and she could actually take them down if she was smart. The smaller Airship pursued them, firing over and over again at the Gyrfalcon, which flew directly into one of the huge rocks. It had tunnels formed in them, but those tunnels were simply where the rock had been blown into by the Shadow of Broken Promises, and Centinels over the years had formed large tunnel networks inside of them.
Cinder stayed on them. "Watch out!" Amber squeaked, but Cinder was perfectly dodging the chunks of stone in her way. Ahead of them, the Gyrfalcon creating a chilling shrieking sound as it spun through the tunnel, using its thrusters to perfect capability, not even hitting a single stalactite or stalagmite. Once Watts reached the other side of the huge boulder, the Gyrfalcon flew directly upwards, roaring deafeningly as it vanished into the debris field.
Cinder followed his path, but did not realise he just went upwards, and she kept going forward. The Gyrfalcon descended behind her with a dark growling roar from its afterburners. Hazel and Tyrian readied themselves on the Internally Operated Cannons, and Watts had his fingers on the triggers. "Take them down." Watts commanded.
All three sets of cannons opened fire, sending Dust Charged bullets their way, firing at such a shockingly fast rate of fire that it sounded like a constant droning roar of gunfire. "Damn it! I hate that fucking Oversized Bullhead!" Cinder cursed, she tried to stay ahead and dodge all the fire shot towards them by the huge Airship, she tried using the rocks as cover, but the rounds were just blowing them to pieces, and they were repeatedly hitting their Hardlight Shields.
The Thrusters on the Gyrfalcon moved individually, blasting fire in the right direction for perfect manoeuvrability. Watts did not even bump into a single rock, creating a deep roar as the thrusters kept them on their target. It stayed on them the whole time, creating that recognisable howl from its engines as Cinder dove through the belt of rocks. But then the Hardlight Shields on the Airship broke, and Cinder heard the explosion in the back of the ship.
He hit the engine.
"Shit! Everyone hang on! We're going down!" Cinder called out. Amber hugged onto Cinder as the Airship came crashing down, and Weiss cast multiple black Glyphs to try and slow their descent.
But the Airship slammed down into the beach with force. It slid through the sand, leaving a trail of fire behind it before it came to a halt.
Author Note - God I love the Gyrfalcon, such a cool vehicle to describe.
I'll tell you this, though - if Atlas had these things during the Great War and even now, and had as many of them as they had Bullheads? I think the Great War would have ended very differently. Because this thing is a monster, as you just saw. I will admit, the best way I can describe the sound of it is to imagine the sounds of the Slave 1 from Star Wars, that thing sounds so awesome. The deep roar of it's engine? Works perfectly for the Gyrfalcon. Also fair play to Cinder, she did a good job trying to stay ahead of him there, and her instincts were right, they would have been knocked out of the sky a lot faster if they just went straight for the Summit's Claim.
Or worse... Salem would learn where they are hiding.
Ozpin and Pyrrha both have a little thing in common now, I loved having Pyrrha finally tell them about the Brothers Grimm. Couldn't blame Pyrrha for leaving that out, how would you explain that to someone? Be pretty hard to sound legit when you say "The Gods Saved Me." Plus having Ozpin reveal his return was great as well.
Robyn and the Hapoy Huntresses do not screw around. Let's hope they can find Watts' lab and get the evidence they need against Kilian to start something!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - Punishment
(Next chapter is gonna be insane, like seriously... this one of those chapters that David and I have been excited to do for so long now. Cannot wait for it.)
- Matt