CHAPTER L

Waking Nightmare

Ivory looked out at the snow falling all over her home country, a country gripped with an iron fist, where the slightest dissent was punished by, at best, reputation destruction, and at worst, a permanent trip to the Dust mine camps. Why she wasn't sent to one of those mines was a good question, but one she already knew the answer to. If what the SS officer said to her and Demetri was true, Colonel Gottfried was going to do whatever it took to recruit her, even if it meant threatening her family.

She sighed heavily, pondering her situation. Her blindfold had been removed only once she had been taken to this room, which afforded her a view of an endless snowfield. She couldn't possibly know where that airship had taken her. Given the heavy snowfall, however, she presumed she was still somewhere on Solitas.

The intercom at the door beeped.

"Ivory?" the voice said. "It's me."

She walked over and pushed a button to open the metal sliding door.

"Für immer Atlas," Yorath said, standing in the doorway.

"Cut the crap, Yorath," Ivory said, stepping aside to let him in.

He sighed as he walked into her room. "You're not making this easy."

"Neither are you."

"What happened to you anyway? You were once the paragon of everything we aspired to. Now you're behaving like a rebel. Hell, my men found you with the insurgency right in the heart of the capital."

"You know Renata was there, don't you?"

He hesitated for a moment.

"I'm sure you won't care if she were caught and executed, too. You don't seem to be bothered by the fact that your old combat partner was just blown up on live television."

"Viktor made his choice, just as I have made mine."

"You were partners."

"And we now fight on opposite sides of a war."

Ivory let out a heavy sigh.

"I know how obstinate you can be, my old team captain. So I suppose I should just stop pestering you."

"I doubt you'll let me go free."

"Obviously I can't do that. But at the very least..."

She watched as he opened the door, gesturing with a hand to follow. "You're going to give me a tour of the facility?"

He shrugged. "I know we had a bag over your head all the way to this room, but I don't really care. Even if I can't win you over, at least hear us out."

Ivory sighed before following him out of the room through steel corridors, which eventually led the way to a cavernous hall. She estimated the ceiling must have been a thousand feet up. Crisscrossing the air above her were walkways here and there with drones and other floating machines weaving to and fro. The lowest level down below housed a recreational area, complete with trees and a pond. They were on an upper deck, where a few vendors were scattered about.

"Care for some lunch?" Yorath said, approaching a hotdog stand.

"I don't have an appetite," Ivory said.

"I didn't think so. I hope you don't mind. I'm quite famished myself."

"Don't spill any ketchup on that fancy uniform of yours."

"Oh, I won't. There's no way I'd allow my subordinates to see anything so egregious."

She headed toward a railing, leaning against it to take in the sight. What kind of building was this, she wondered. She had been privy to all sorts of secret knowledge while she was still at the Academy, but this base was unfamiliar to her.

"You must be wondering where we are," Yorath said with hotdog in hand.

She glanced at him. The hot link he was eating certainly was tempting, but she refrained from showing any weakness whatsoever. She would rather have an omelet MRE before allowing her old teammate the satisfaction.

"We're aboard the Ragnarök," her escort continued. "This was one of the most top secret projects the Schwarze Sonne had been undertaking over the past several years. It is our trump card against our enemies, also serving as the headquarters of our organization."

She hadn't imagined it. He had said the word "aboard," implying that they were on a vessel of some sort, but that was impossible. This structure was titanic. Then again, if the whole landmass containing the capital of Atlas could float, perhaps floating a structure in excess of a thousand feet in height would be no challenge in comparison.

"Ah, we should be passing by Kaiserwald," Yorath said. "Your very first camp."

They headed toward a window. In the distance was a walled collection of structures, one of the camps whose implementation she had been integral to. Many of the camp designs were her idea. It was part of the reason why she was such a favorite among the established brass and why she was expected to hold a high rank in short order after graduation from the Academy.

"I know you have it in you, Ivory. This camp was your brainchild. Prisoners of war would be sent here to work in the Dust mines. Even the practice of appointing certain prisoners as Funktionshäftling to oversee their fellow inmates was your idea."

She bit her tongue, but refused to allow him to see any reaction from her. These camps were originally intended to house enemy soldiers they had captured, but now they were being used against their own citizens, upstanding individuals labeled as the enemy for dissenting from the Party.

"I remember when they first brought me to this ship," Yorath said, "when I was promoted to Hauptsturmführer. After the ceremony, the Oberstgruppenführer himself told me of your accomplishments. I had been on the same team with you never knowing about your contributions to our glorious country."

Glorious? He had to have been joking about that. There was nothing glorious about these hell zones she had a hand in creating.

"Ivory."

She looked at him. He was turned in her direction, the glory of his medals and ribbons in full view.

"I would much rather have it my way, where you take your rightful place among us without any struggle. I sincerely do not want the Oberstgruppenführer getting involved. I was among those who looked after your family early on, remember? Even now, I continue to watch over them to ensure no harm comes to them. I couldn't trust anyone else to have their best interests at heart."

Although he was a firm believer in this wretched ideology, Ivory could sense that his words were genuine.

"Where did they take Demetri?" she asked.

"To his father."

To be put through the same treatment she was now undergoing, no doubt.

"They're treating him well. He's the son of Premier Holland, after all."

"Tell me the truth, Yorath. Does General Holland even run the country anymore? Because it seems like Colonel Gottfried and his Schwarze Sonne have become the de facto government."

"Premier Holland is still our head of state. The Oberstgruppenführer is, I suppose, technically our head of government."

Her suspicions were correct.

"Ivory, please. I know you've probably already made up your mind, but at least think about it. Not for yourself, but for your family. And no, that's not a threat. It's a warning. I may be averse to bringing them harm, but my superiors know that and they'll get me off your case if they think I can't bring you into the fold. If they do that—"

"There's nothing you can do to ensure my family's safety."

He nodded slowly.

"Very clever. I always knew high command was capable of this. You do realize they're using you, don't you?"

"Why wouldn't I know that? I voluntarily offer my life for this country."

"I'm certain Viktor also believed he was giving his life for this country."

Yorath looked at the floor.

"I'll think about it, Yorath."

"Thank you, captain."

"I'm not your captain anymore. In fact, that rank is now yours."

He shook his head. "Like I told you before, you're still my team captain. And you always will be." He donned his cap before saluting. "Für immer Atlas."

She gave him the old salute. "Atlas forever."

He gave her a small smirk before turning and leaving her to her own devices. She glanced around at the central boardwalk. She was certain she was being watched from every angle. If this was a massive floating vessel she was aboard, there were bound to be cameras and surveillance drones everywhere, probably ones she couldn't even possibly detect, given the advanced technology surrounding her.

Nevertheless, she began her exploration of the colossal structure, though given the size, it would probably take her a whole year to fully get to know the place. She took an elevator up a few levels, stepping out into a hangar of some sort. She wasn't quite sure; the vessels were all unfamiliar. New models, perhaps. She headed over to a kiosk, placing her palm on the reader.

"Welcome, Ivory Schnee."

Why did it recognize her?

"Computer, show me a map of the ship," she said.

"You are in the hangar level."

She studied the holographic display. Several levels were blacked out and labeled "Classified," but there were a few that she could see. At the bottom levels were factories and other industrial sectors and processing plants. In the middle were living quarters. At the highest levels were administrative sections, data analysis hubs, and the launch hangars. Scattered around were the classified zones.

There was probably no use exploring any of the blacked out sectors, but she figured she might as well give it a shot anyway. They could always intercept and stop her at any time. The fact that they had the temerity to allow her to wander a high security vessel like this fully armed with Elfenbein and her Dust cartridges told her everything she needed to know about their capabilities.

Wait a minute.

She recalled the self-assurance with which that Greater Daemon captured her. She didn't want to believe that her home country was working with those vile creatures, but she had to find out for sure. Her first destination would be in the upper blocks, the research wing of the ship.

"Dude, this Labyrinth sucks," Lilith said as she and Lilly rested against a crumbling wall.

"What the heck were those guys?" Lilly panted.

"This is kind of a wild guess here, but judging from everything we've run into so far, I have to assume that Atlas has some kind of foothold in this world. Like, all the Thaumatech we've had access to in Vacuo's LTF is freakin' nothing compared to this shit. Those were actual SS soldiers we were fighting, not those half-baked Lesser Daemon hybrids from the other day down in Mantle's Labyrinth."

"And they controlled those Übersoldaten."

"Yeah, that's really what bugs me."

"You think Atlas made them?"

She shrugged. "They have to have made a deal with those Greater Daemons if that's the case. You and I are the only ones familiar with this kind of magic. Well, there's mom, too, and I don't see her secretly conspiring with the SS. Hell, remember what Yang mentioned? About mom threatening to blow up the SS guys trying to recruit her?"

"Yeah. Oh, there's the manor," Lilly said, pointing to the distance.

"Thank god it's on top of a hill so we can see it so easily," Lilith said, leading the way. "Who knew it would come in handy for our family to be so extra?"

The duo continued through the streets of Atlas in the Labyrinth, where patrols were much more scarce, yet far more ferocious. They stood a better chance in this world, though, where they were able to fight as a duo, unlike in the real world.

"This place is huge," Lilly commented as they strolled through the streets of the capital, steering clear of large gatherings of Shades. "I've only ever seen this place online and stuff, never in person."

"It's way too clean, not gonna lie," Lilith said, looking around with her hands in her pockets. "Don't get me wrong, I prefer this over the grime and fart clouds down in Mantle, but this shit up here is almost sterile."

"Yeah. If everything in the real world is like this, I kinda have to agree."

"At least it's not as dreary as down there."

Lilly recalled the misery permeating Mantle's Labyrinth. It was enough to force her to her knees with its weight. But the air up here wasn't any less stifling.

"I don't get this feeling," Lilly said. "It's not as miserable as Mantle, yet the air itself wants to choke me to death."

"This, dear me, is what you call oppression," Lilith said. "Down to the very fucking core. I guess you're not familiar with the atmosphere since Vacuo's pretty much chaos compared to this tyranny. Something's funny here, though."

"I was gonna mention that. Oppression should come from the patrols and police and stuff, right? So, then, why do I get the sensation from all the Shades around here?"

"It's because the people of Atlas have become fanatically loyal to their country. They'll snitch on you for the tiniest perceived infractions. I bet even kids snitch on their parents."

Lilly looked around at the Shades as they proceeded toward the Schnee Manor. She had grown up in this country, but Oasis may as well have been on an entirely different planet with how stark the contrast was. Her hometown may not have been perfect, but it was as close to idyllic as it could get. They wanted for nothing, even growing enough food to export to neighboring towns and villages thanks to their unnaturally temperate climate.

"God, this is sickening," Lilith mumbled, hunching her shoulders over as they passed by a group of Shades that looked to be in conversation. "The World of Shadow is usually a lot more subtle than this. I'm not used to this in-your-face level of subconscious reflection."

"Coming from the one who's lived in the Labyrinth all her life," Lilly began, "that's really saying something."

"We may as well be dealing with those Labyrinths that have open diaries lying around. But even that isn't as bad as this."

"Yeah. The sentiments are directly invading my head."

"Mm-hmm. Pretty migraine-inducing if you ask me."

There was an explosion in the distance.

"What the heck was that?" Lilly said.

"That came from the town square," Lilith said. "We should probably keep our distance. The Shades in the area are getting restless, too."

"We should hurry to the manor. Uncle Whitley and the kids might be in trouble."

"Agreed."

They increased their pace, breaking into a dash upon noting facsimiles of SS troops headed toward the manor. They concealed themselves among a few snow-covered bushes, spying on the movement of the guards.

"This is happening in the real world, isn't it?" Lilly said.

Lilith nodded. "Shit that happens in the real world influences events here, remember? Not the other way around."

"Right, cuz this world is a reflection of the real world. Which means..."

"Yeah. We have to cross over to actually help out."

Lilly looked at her other self. They had an advantage here in the Labyrinth because of the fact that they were in separate bodies, but in the real world, they wouldn't be able to split their efforts. Still, they needed to do something.

"There's a rift over that way," Lilith said, pointing to a nearby clothing store.

"Okay, let's go," Lilly said.

"Wait. Are you ready for this?"

Lilly looked to her other self.

"We won't be able to cover each other like we've been doing."

"I know. But at least we can swap out when the other gets tired."

"Okay, then. Let's move."

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Leon said as he and the group spied on the SS soldiers forming up to enter the Schnee Family Manor. "We marched all the way through that snowfield, fought tooth and nail through the SS infested Labyrinth of Mantle, and climbed up through that freaky tree thing in the other world up to Atlas, and then dodged SS patrols in the Labyrinth in this city, and we already have to fight the SS in the real world as soon as we get to the manor?"

"Do I hear bitching and moaning from you?" Athena said.

"I kinda agree with him, though," Perseus said, scratching his head. "It's one thing for us to be in the Labyrinth and have the ability to use our Wraith-Knight power, but it's a whole 'nother ball game ducking SS patrols in the real world in the middle of the capital of a country that's basically a police state."

"You won't hear me complaining," Ingrid said. "I've been itching for a fight."

Echo looked over at their only Faunus companion. Of course she was eager to do battle. This was the country that invaded her home and caused untold suffering for her family. If there was anyone in the world for Ingrid to turn her wrath toward, it would be these SS soldiers.

"I've got your back, Ingri-nyan," Echo said.

Ingrid turned to their archer, her eyes wide with shock. "How could you say that so naturally?"

"Master Whitley!" Klein said, bursting into his office. "We have terrible news!"

"I already saw them on the security cameras," Whitley said, donning his red armband. "Are the children safe?"

"They're with Mildred and some of the other maids in the room you and Yorath prepared." He paused. "Young master, are you certain you can trust that young man?"

"He was the only one I could trust at a time like this besides you and the others. He genuinely has the children's best interests at heart as well. So much so that he personally indoctrinates them as their Jugend instructor adjutant."

"Well, if you insist. What of us, young master?"

"We stick to the plan. We've prepared for this, Klein."

"Yes. Very well."

Both left the office to greet the SS commanding officer in the foyer.

"Für immer Atlas," the group leader said.

"Atlas für immer," Whitley and Klein returned the salute.

"To what honor do we owe this visit from the Schwarze Sonne?" Whitley asked.

The ranking officer stepped forward. "Oberstgruppenführer Gottfried has given us orders to place you and your family under protective custody," he said.

"Protective custody?"

"Yes. We have reliable intelligence that there are insurgents targeting this manor, intending to take you and your children as hostages. That explosion you no doubt heard, it came from the town square. A number of terrorists we captured detonated suicide vests and killed many of my comrades."

Whitley knew that to be complete hogwash, but he had no choice other than to cooperate in order to keep his family safe. He could only hope beyond hope that this was a plot by Yorath to try and keep a better eye on them. He had already permitted his two elder children to become Atlas Jugend initiates. There was no other choice but to stay the path.

"Very well, then," Whitley said. "Unfortunately, our maid is out with the children, so we'll have to wait for their return."

"No matter. We have another unit searching the city for them as we speak. Your safety is paramount to the success of our country. You're a very important Party member."

Whitley had to trust in Mildred and his children's ability to escape and rendezvous with the Resistance. Unlike his sisters, he was no combatant. This was his only recourse in the face of an overwhelming enemy like the Schwarze Sonne.

"Shh!" Gwen said to Mildred and her siblings as the marching became louder and louder.

"What do we do?" Bianca whimpered.

The youngest put a finger up to silence her elder sister before holding out her hand and projecting a glyph so massive as to cover the whole room. It eventually faded before disappearing.

"Whatever you do," Gwen began, "you must all stay absolutely silent and still."

Finn and Bianca nodded. Mildred couldn't believe what she was seeing. The youngest of the family reminded her too much of Ivory, complete with the confidence and the perfect control over her Semblance.

The door burst open and three SS soldiers entered, scanning the room. Although the children and Mildred were standing mere inches away, they were completely invisible to them.

"Clear!" the team leader said, followed by three more declarations. "Next room! Krebs, remain in this sector with Hanfstaengl. Remain vigilant."

"Jawohl, herr kommandant!" the two replied with a salute.

The group closed the door and locked it behind them. Gwen allowed her Semblance to deactivate for the time being so that she could regenerate her aura, which was nowhere near as strong as her elder cousin's.

"Gwen, how did you do that?" Finn said.

"Yeah," Bianca said. "Finn and I can barely use our glyphs for really basic things, but you made us completely invisible to those SS men."

"I did no such thing," she said. "I merely projected an exact copy of what they would be seeing if we were not here."

"That's still amazing," Mildred said. "I don't think even Ivory has that ability."

"Not yet, but she still far and away surpasses myself. Of course, I do intend to catch up to and overtake her one day."

"What's the plan now?" Finn said.

"For right now, we wait. And then we go through the passageways we planned out last year."