The cheering of the crowds filling Amity Colosseum were nearly deafening as they watched Team JNPR fight Team BRNZ of Shade Academy. The clashes between the aspiring warriors drew gasps and cries of delight from those watching.
Harry, Beast Boy, Alice, Lara and the Chief sat in the front row, their gazes on the arena below. BB was munching on popcorn with a large, toothy grin on his face, obviously enjoying the show. Chief was leaning forward, elbows on his knees and fingers interlaced as he studied the eight young men and women's fighting styles, his blue eyes flitting about, taking everything in and trying to figure out what he and his companions could use in the future. A small camera clipped to his shirt and an earbud in his ear allowed Cortana to add her own input and see more than they televised broadcast allowed.
Harry sat back in his seat, running a small ball of dark energy along his fingers in an absent control exercise while he watched Jaune shield bash an opponent before dodging sniper fire from the trees. His eyes glanced around as he tried to figure out where Ren disappeared to, but his gaze was pulled back when Nora began laughing madly as she was electrocuted by the boy she was fighting, arcs of electricity covering her form as she grinned widely, her hammer coming around to slam into his head with enormous force, knocking him out.
Alice winced. "That must have hurt… I know aura can protect you from quite a bit, but I'm still surprised that boy isn't dead."
Lara patted her friend's knee. "As flighty as she is, I highly doubt Nora is the type to kill someone even accidentally." Her gaze flitted up from the arena to scan the crowd before stopping when she spotted what she had been looking for. "I see them. Eleven o'clock, third row from the bottom."
The group's gaze moved to follow hers, five pairs of eyes (and a camera) locking onto their targets, Cinder Fall, Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black. The three in charge of the upcoming attack on the kingdom of Vale.
"You sure about the plan, Harry?" Beast Boy asked seriously.
Harry nodded. "I discussed it with extensively with Cortana, Chief, Ozpin and Ironwood. It's the best compromise we could come up with between the two options we had." He turned to look at Chief. "Has Cortana located our faunus friends?"
"She's narrowed it down." The super soldier responded before listening to the earbud. "She says she's been triangulating their signal whenever they make a call. They're hiding out somewhere in the Forever Fall Forest. Most likely where they're acquiring the Grimm they plan on releasing into the city."
"What about the defenses on Amber?" Alice asked Harry.
"I've been working on setting them up and making sure they recognize us. The only one they should affect should be Cinder." Harry said reassuringly.
Alice sighed. "I wish we had a proper medically trained professional…"
Beast Boy snorted. "Wouldn't that be nice?" The group's attention was dragged back to the arena as the crowd suddenly burst into cheers, turning back to the spectacle below as team JNPR's opponents were launched out of the ring with great force. "Heh, not bad. Still say we should have joined the tournament."
Lara shook her head as she clapped with the rest of the crowd. "There'd have been no point, Garfield. Besides, Chief and I aren't the proper age for it, leaving you a man short."
Beast Boy shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." He got up, stretching. "Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm starved."
"You just ate an entire bucket of popcorn." Alice said, amused.
Beast Boy shrugged with a grin. "What can I say? I'm a growing boy."
His friends chuckled as the followed him out of the Colosseum.
The dimensionally displaced group's unknowing targets were having their own discussion. "Emerald, what have you found out about the security features Ozpin's new guests have been implementing?" Cinder Fall asked her loyal minion as she calmly sat watching the match, content that the noise of the crowd would keep their conversation from being overheard.
"Not much, Cinder. As far as I've been able to find out it's mostly new monitoring systems. They haven't had time for anything more substantial in the short time they've been at Beacon." The mint hared girl said. "The alarms should be connected to the current systems, so as long as the virus you planted is still working, then they should be under our control along with the rest of the defenses."
The dark haired beauty glanced down at her scroll, checking the status on the virus, not expecting any change, and gratifyingly not finding any. "Our infiltration still appears to be undiscovered." She said with a small smile.
Mercury leaned back as he lounged boredly, watching the fighting going on down below. "I don't get why you even care about these so called 'security specialists'. I mean, I doubt Ozpin told some nobodies what they're protecting and guarding against. They'll be caught just as off guard as the rest of these saps when it all starts."
Emerald grimaced, but nodded. "As much as I hate to agree with him on anything, Mercury's got a point. Why do we care about what some group we've never heard of is doing?"
"It is precisely because we don't know anything about them that we need to be wary." Cinder explained patiently. "Something made Ozpin entrust the safety of his beloved school to them despite their apparently nonexistent qualifications. And the unknown can be the most dangerous thing to face. That is, after all, part of our own strategy at the moment."
Mercury scoffed even as Emerald nodded in understanding, her near worship of Cinder making her take the words especially seriously. "Whatever." The male of the group said. "It's not like most of them look like they'd be any good in a fight. I could take the boys out before they even noticed. That would solve some problems."
Cinder gave they grey haired young man a look. "No. The Breach served our purposes, but it also put Ozpin and Ironwood on high alert. If something were to happen to their employees before we're ready to begin our plans, it would be disastrous. Leave them be."
Mercury crossed his arms and looked down sourly as team JNPR raised their arms in victory to the screaming crowd. "Fine…"
Roman Torchwick wondered, not for the first time, where James Ironwood had gotten his information from. As he sat in an interrogation room, the General sitting across the metal table from him, the question popped up yet again.
The other man had detailed Cinder's identity and what long term plans of hers he felt comfortable sharing. He'd even given the master thief information even he hadn't known about Cinder's methods and objectives. Normally Roman would say that the General was bluffing with stuff he pulled out of his ass, but something told Roman that it was all true.
The fact that Ironwood knew about the virus Cinder had uploaded into the CCT system added more credence to the thought.
"And me an Neo will be given protection from the crazy bitch?" Roman asked as he sat back, acting unconcerned.
"Yes, along with a decently substantial salary in exchange for your assistance with security matters and criminal investigations." Ironwood said calmly, watching Roman like a hawk.
Roman considered the offer. Normally he wouldn't have asked about Neo. They were partners and perhaps even friends, but they both knew how things worked. You always, always, looked after yourself first. However, Ironwood had thrown her safety in during his initial pitch, so the flamboyant redhead didn't see the harm in keeping her included. God knew he needed someone competent backing him up.
Honestly, he wasn't sanguine about switching sides and working with the law. He was a criminal, a thief, and a damn good one. He enjoyed his life, enjoyed the thrill and the satisfaction. The idea of becoming a law abiding citizen and helping catch criminals made him cringe.
However, Ironwood had made it clear that working against them was a losing proposition. They knew enough that whatever Cinder's plans were that they were utterly ruined. There was no future in following her instructions now.
"How'd you find all this out, anyway?" Roman asked the question that had been bugging him since Ironwood came to him with the deal.
The Atlesian raised an eyebrow. "Torchwick, do you really think I'm going to tell you something that sensitive?"
Roman shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "Can't blame me for trying." He sighed before sitting back, thinking for a few more seconds. In the end, however, there wasn't much real choice. "Alright, what do you want to know?" He said with another sigh.
Ironwood slowly smiled, eyes glinting with steel.
:Cortana, do you think, from what you've seen of me during the tournament, that I can accomplish my mission?: Penny asked out of the blue when she and Cortana were having one of their now daily conversations.
Cortana 'blinked' surprised. -What brought this on, Penny?-
:General Ironwood wanted me to fight in the tournament to determine if there was anything that needed to be corrected or improved before others like me were made.: The artificial girl explained. :He and my father think that having machines with aura on the frontlines against the Grimm will lower the death toll among Hunters and military personnel. An army of soldiers like me, that can be replenished faster than a Hunter can be raised and trained, might be able to push back the Grimm enough that humanity could begin to expand again. I'm supposed to save the world. But…:
Cortana was silent for a few moments, trying to think of what to say to her young friend. -Saving the world is a heavy burden to lay on anyone's shoulders, Penny, no matter who they are. I don't think it's fair to saddle you with it, even if I understand why they have.- She was silent for another moment before continuing. -You're stronger than you think, Penny. You're shouldering a burden you shouldn't have to. They have a responsibility to you, and any siblings they create, as children of humanity, to care for and nurture you like they would any other child, no matter what capabilities you may have.-
:They do!: Penny hurried to reassure her friend.
-Penny, fighting off the Grimm is the responsibility of everyone on this world. They can't just create an entirely new race to be their weapons and foist that duty onto them because they don't want it anymore. Yes, troops that can fight like Hunters without the same cost or drawbacks is a good idea, but they made you sentient. That means you're more than just a weapon.-
:I needed to be sentient if I was going to have aura and fight with it correctly…: Penny responded hesitantly.
-Yes, I suppose so. But they should still treat you properly. And that includes not dropping the duty of saving the world solely on your shoulders. No matter what you may be, you need others to help you bear the burden.- She smiled. -I bet Ruby, at the least, would be willing to help you carry the weight.-
Penny was silent for a while before speaking softly. :That… still doesn't answer my question. Do you think I can do it, Cortana?:
-Oh Penny, of course I do. I never meant to make you think otherwise.- The older AI fondly thought of old friends and current companions. –If there's one thing I've learned, it's that nothing is impossible with the proper will behind it. Never forget, Penny, victory lies in every soul, no matter how small or seemingly weak it is.-
:I… think I understand, Cortana. Thank you.:
-Any time, Penny. Any time…-
Ozpin stood at the window of his office, looking at the large, floating structure that was Amity Colosseum as he sipped his coffee. He didn't move when he heard the door to his office open, the distinctive sound of Glynda's heels clicking against the floor letting him know who it was.
"You haven't spoken to Miss Nykos." She stated neutrally as she stepped beside him, looking out at the colosseum with her boss and friend.
Another sip. "I don't intend to do so this time." He said simply.
"What you saw on the show changed your mind then?" Glynda asked.
Ozpin considered his words. "I still think she would make a fine Maiden. However, I do see now that dumping such a choice on her that way would not be fair to her. I can only say that were it not for our new friends I would be feeling more desperate for a solution." He took another sip. "However, thanks to them, transferring Amber's power as the Fall Maiden to another bearer might not be necessary at all. If they can subdue or kill Cinder, the power she stole should return to Amber, in which case she should hopefully awaken."
"I see." Glynda said softly. "And if Cinder manages to get away?"
Ozpin smiled grimly. "She won't."
They were silent for a few minutes, watching the distant forms of people making their way to see the fights. Finally Glynda spoke. "Miss Xiao Long's singles battle with Mister Black is about to begin."
Ozpin nodded, his eyes narrowing at the memory of what that meant. "Yes. Yes it is..."
He stumbled through the stands drunkenly, looking for his seat. Below, in the arena, Yang Xiao Long was fighting Mercury Black, the sounds of shotgun shells being fired inaudible over the audience's cheering.
Yang was winning in the battle of punches vs kicks, the crowd growing frenzied over the display of pure physical skill. In an alcoholic haze, however, he didn't notice, moving to his seat
Emerald was sitting in the front row of the stands, watching the fight with intent eyes and a small smirk. Anybody looking at her would think she was smirking from her partner's performance in the battle.
"And Mercury is down, his aura in the red! Yang Xiao Long is the winner!" Professor Peter Port's voice rang out in the arena, making the crowd cheer as Yang lifted a fist triumphantly, Mercury sitting on the ground, acting exhausted.
As Emerald's smirk widened, her Semblance beginning to reach out in order to affect Yang's mind to make her see Mercury attacking her, someone suddenly fell onto her lap, smelling of alcohol and laughing like a fool. She glanced down at the young man on top of her, surprised. "What the hell are you doing!?" Then realizing her mistake, she began looking up again in order to salvage the plan only to suddenly freeze and looking down mechanically as her assailant groped her breast.
"Hehe, sorry darling…" He said, giggling drunkenly, face flushed as he squeezed. "How about I kiss you in apology?"
As the surrounding spectators stared, shocked, Emerald went bright red. "You… you… YOU FUCKING PERVERT!" She punched him off of her and got up, beginning to kick him. "The hell do you think you're doing, grabbing my breast!?" She shrieked in rage.
He hunched over, protecting himself from her kicks, but when she paused he mumbled something that made everyone there sure he was utterly suicidal. "Not much to grab, anyway…"
Emerald's eyes lit up with rage, but suddenly two people in security uniforms appeared and picked him up. "What's happening here?"
"This fucking pervert fell on me and started to grope my breasts!" She barked, seething, he dusky complexion even darker from the blood in her face.
One of the security officers, a woman, looked at the drunk in disgust. "Well, don't worry, ma'am. He'll be spending the night in a cell sobering up." She hauled him to his feet and began dragging him away.
Emerald glared after them, still full of wrath, before she suddenly went stiff, going from red with rage to as pale as she possibly could. She whirled around, looking at the arena, finding it empty, people beginning to leave the colosseum for a bathroom break or a snack.
The illusionist thief fell into a vacated seat, staring at the empty arena in horror. "Oh… fuck…"
Being dragged off by the 'security officers' some distance away, Harry smirked. "Mission accomplished." He told his companions, who both shared his smirk.
So, shorter chapter this time, but it's setup for the action, which begins in the next chapter, where we will see the invasion of the Kingdom of Vale and the team's response. Those familiar with RWBY should be able to see how this chapter will affect that.
I'm glad that the previous chapter was well received. I'll try to add more moments to relax and interact going forward.
People have been wondering what Harry's next upgrade is going to be. I've stated before that he will get it in the next world he visits. He's too gunshy at the moment to try to take anybody else's. But the power he's going to get is a doozy. As for the world...? I'll give a hint. It's very popular, bloody, and something related to it but unofficial ended not too long ago. Let's see who guesses.
Next story I work on will be Hunter in the Darkness. Then I'll be taking some time off for the Holidays and my birthday, which is in early January. Then I'll resume my writing. Fair warning though, I might have to take a trip in February due to my Grandfather's health, so my writing at that time might stop for a bit. We'll see what happens.
I think that's all for now. Please review. We're so close to 1k reviews I can taste it. And don't forget my Pat A Ron: dotcom /athanmortis
Till next time!