The extensive forest below them seemed to spread out for miles untouched by mankind or the Grimm, it seemed peaceful but beneath the canopy lay the creatures that had driven Man and Faunus to the brink and as such many sought the safety of the walls erected around the kingdom, others had formed their own communities outside the walls and were successful, but each faced their own hardships which could very well cause a settlement to disappear overnight the most common being attacks from Bandits or Grimm sometimes both.
Alex turned away from the window back to the man sitting across from him, Qrow stared down at his scroll as he took a drink from his flask for the ninth time that flight before looking up at the young man across from him "So Ozpin gave me the short version on what you told Oz about the, what was it...Psycho Society?" Qrow said with a raised eyebrow
"Hey, I'm not the one who picked the name," Alex said.
"So, you've fought these freaks before right, what can we expect?" Qrow asked
"There Psychopaths who only have one thing on their mind, Killing. They're stronger, faster and even smarter than the average human or Faunus with or without Aura. Along with that one of their members, Psycho pink can use magic." Alex said.
"Magic?" Qrow asked Alex nodded in return Qrow hummed in thought the Maidens were said to be the only ones capable of using magic, he tuck that piece of information away for later before asking "Anything else?"
"There main combat strategies differ with their commanders and units Grinders and X-Borgs aren't the smartest, but they like to soften you up from a distance before moving in for melee." Alex said, "They usually have a commander with them, at the moment all I've seen are Furry and Professor Cog but there could be more, so be ready for anything they'll probably be an army waiting for us in there." Alex said
Qrow was silent mulling over what he had just been told, before asking a question that had been on his mind "If we can't root these bastards out what'll this mean for Vale."
"It's not just Vale we need to be worried about if we can't stop the Psycho's they won't rest until they've wiped out all life on Remnant " Alex said a moment of silence passed as he allowed the information to sink in.
"Shit" Qrow muttered the two lapsed into silence for a few minutes neither spoke. As the bullhead descended towards a clearing the piolets voice came over the intercom 'This is the drop point. Send me a signal when you want pick up, good luck out there.'
Qrow and Alex walked to the edge of the ramp leaping out into the open air, landing in the small field below Alex drew his delta blasters while Qrow unsheathed his weapon in its sword form, they scanned the tree line and surrounding area as the Bullhead flew off into the distance.
"How long till we get to the SDC facility," Alex asked.
"At least a few miles east of here, we better get moving." Qrow said both he and Alex began their trek through the forest towards their objective.
/
"Hiya!" Ruby cried rushing forward with Crescent Rose, Koan in his Panuncian form leaped to the side, Ruby spun her scythe firing fire shots at Koan the shapeshifter leaped around them as he closed in on Ruby, the bullets harmlessly impacting the ground behind him. Ruby rocketed towards the shapeshifter firing her weapon to increase her speed as Ruby swung her scythe a crimson flash blinded her.
As her vision cleared Ruby found the training arena empty suddenly something long and slick wrapped around her ankle, Ruby cried out in protest as she was hoisted off the ground Crescent rose falling from her grasp the world inverted as Ruby soon found herself staring at the small blue tick like alien, she crossed her arms over her chest pouting as she looked at the small blue insect "No fair" Ruby muttered.
Hypnotic lowered Ruby back to the ground before his small body was consumed by a flash of red Koan emerged "I take it I won." He said.
"Barely" Ruby replied
"Keep telling yourself that crater face." Koan said Ruby's eyes widened as she let out a whine.
"What!" She yelled, "Who told you about that." Koan smirked causing Ruby to let out a groan 'Alex'
After Alex and Qrow had departed for their mission and taking advantage of the lack of classes made their way to the training room to kill some time, Ruby had suggested a spar against the shapeshifter slowly becoming one of the mistakes she had made during her attendance at Beacon. Blake and Weiss sat in the stands among their other friends.
"Kid's not half bad." Coco said a smile gracing her face, it slowly vanished as she looked at the White-haired girl to her left. "How's she been taking things."
"In all honesty, I'm not sure we've been trying to take her mind off things, you know. But... it's her sister any of us would be the same in her situation." Weiss said as she watched the red-clad girl exit the arena alongside Koan.
"She's doing the best she can despite the circumstances," Blake said
"Ruby's a tuff kid she'll get through this. But I get where you're coming from." Coco replied. What happened to Yang affected all of them in a way, she was one of Beacons strongest fighters coming in at least second compared to Pyrrha in combat class
"Yang's strong." Pyrrha said coming up next to them her team not that far behind. "If anyone can come out of this, it's her." despite her words Pyrrha couldn't help the feeling of dread that welled up in her chest alongside a pang of guilt that struck her heart, if she had accepted Ozpins offer sooner and taken on the Fall Maidens powers could she have done something to prevent this.
"Hey, guys." Ruby said as she approached the others Koan not far behind "What are you all talking about?"
"Nothing" Jaune quickly replied. Earning a strange look from Ruby.
"You fought well "Pyrrha noted causing Ruby to smile.
"Not well enough," Ruby muttered her voice barely audible as she looked away, Blakes' ears twitched picking up the comment.
"Ruby" Blake said in concern "What's the matter?"
Ruby sighed "I... I need to be stronger" she said
"What why?" Weiss asked it wasn't wrong to push herself to improve her abilities, but she and her uncle had already spent at least two full days in the auditorium for combat practice, pushing herself too far could be harmful if she were to overwork her Aura. Ruby sighed rubbing her arm as she looked away from the others. Koan let out a sigh
"It's about what happened to Yang isn't it." Koan said. "Ruby you know what happened isn't your fault."
"I know" Ruby replied taking a seat her eyes falling on her hands "It's just... I was right there, I could have stopped her from taking Yang if I'd been faster I could have done something. Instead, I was too slow and now..."Tears trailed down her cheeks as her shoulder shook "...Now Yang might be dead. And I couldn't even do anything to save her, I failed her." a sob escaped the young girl tears pouring down her cheeks as she began to break down the stress of everything finally crashing down on her.
"Ruby..." Blake said she and Weiss moving to comfort their distraught leader.
"No" Coco said beating them to it.
"w-What?" Ruby said
"No" Coco repeated as she knelt down to Ruby, removing her signature shades her chocolate brown eyes meeting Ruby's Silver. " Despite all the chaos and the panic, you were the first one on the field ready for a fight, you did everything you could, and, in that moment, no one could ask anything more of you. You didn't fail damn far from it if you ask me, but you can't give up like this you gotta keep that hope alive I know you'll see your sister again your uncle and Alex will make sure of that."
'Damn Coco' Koan thought.
"You gotta be strong for her, your sisters after all. Your strength is her strength, so save the tears till after your back together." Coco said
"Ok." Ruby said wiping away the tears in her eyes. Coco smiled at the young leader patting her on the shoulder a gentle smile coming to form on her face "And if I know yang she'll fight her way out of there on her own."
/
"Ragh!" Yang bellowed as her fist impacted the Ursa's head launching the creature of Grimm across the stadium slamming into the stone wall cracks spreading across the surface like a spiders web.
Three beowolves rushed her from behind, Yang spun around punching the Grimm into one of its brethren a sickening crunch echoing through the arena as their bodies impacted one another, the final Beowolf leaped over the disintegrating bodies of its comrades slamming its body into Yang who slid across the arena floor on her back, the Grimm leaped on top of her its jaws lunging towards her throat.
Yang's arms shot up grabbing the Grimm by its snout flipping it over onto it's back before jumping onto its chest pinning the beast down, the brawler reeled her fist back and slammed it down onto the Grimm's bone mask breaking it apart. The force of the punch cracking the concrete beneath the Grimm as it's body dissipated into ash.
Yang fell to her knees panting heavily after finishing the last of the Grimm, her clothes were torn in multiple places, a number of claw and teeth marks present across her back and forearms, a small trail of blood flowed down her left arm from a large bite wound on her upper left bicep. In the crowd, Psycho Yellow watched the display with some satisfaction due to the blondes' wounds, as Yang attempted to rise her collar lit up once again delivering a near lethal dose of electricity.
Yang collapsed to the floor, she groaned as her eyes blinked open tears forming at the edge of her eyes, she looked up at the ceiling the opening above allowing some sunlight inside, was this it was this how her life came to an end, fighting in some sick gladiatorial arena until her body gave out or until she was killed and left as a meal for the Grimm. Yang stared up at the ceiling as she heard the metal gates rumble and the sound of heavy boots across the stone floor, her body and muscles burned moving would be difficult, fighting back, completely out of the question.
As everything began to fade into darkness, her ears picked up a sound over the roar of the crowd, it was subtle, the gentle flapping of wings, as her eyes began to blink close her vision blurring with the last of her strength she tilted her head to the side, perched on one of the cages metal bars was a small black bird no, a Raven. Its dark red eyes stared into her own before everything went black.
/
Alex didn't like this, it was quiet, far too quiet. He and Qrow had been walking almost two hours through the dense forest and in that time, they had not encountered a single Grimm, let alone any form of wildlife.
Qrow seemed to be the same. He hadn't touched his flask at all since they had landed, his dull red eyes scanned every tree and bush they walked past as if something was about to leap out at them "This isn't right" he said.
"You're telling me." Alex replied. "I thought this place would be crawling with Grimm."
"That's it." Qrow said as he began cutting through some of the thicker foliage blocking their path. "This place was crawling the last time I was here, where the hell did they go?" Qrow sliced through the last of the bramble coming face to face with a Beowulf, leaping back he raised his sword to bisect the creature, Alex raising his weapons alongside him only to stop.
The Beowulf or what was a Beowulf stood frozen in place mid-pounce alongside many of its brethren frozen in various forms of combat and agony, their entire body ashen grey stone its eyes blank and empty on the contrary to their usual fierce red. "Aww no." Alex sighed as he approached the Grimm, reaching out he ran his hand across its body, pieces of its body began to break away collapsing in on itself, leaving behind a pile of ash at his feet.
"What the fuck happened here?" Qrow asked
"Psycho Pink. Were close." Alex said as he took the lead weaving between the statues, careful not to disturb them. Qrow followed behind him, his dark red eyes examined the Grimm closely as he passed the statues. Moving up to the ridge ahead, they reached a small cliff overlooking the valley below. In the distance Alex could just make out a structure in the distance, the facility had certainly seen better days, but showed signs of use.
"There it is." Qrow said observing the structure and the small buildings surrounding it most likely storage areas for equipment and other necessities "The info Oz gave me said the place was overrun a while back, the workers dug into an underground chamber connecting to a hive, Grimm flooded the place pretty quick allot of the workers didn't make it out."
"And it looks like someone else has set up shop." Alex said as he motioned towards the bronze figures that patrolled around the shacks. "We need to get in there, it's the only way we can be sure what we're dealing with." Alex said
Qrow furrowed his brow pulling out his flask, taking a long drag before saying "Well, we got two options. You said these things weren't that smart we can try and sneak past the chrome domes or one of us can go down and ruin their day while the other one stays here and picks them off from a distance." Alex hummed in agreement
"I'd go with the first one. If they spot us and call in reinforcements they could overrun us." Alex said
Qrow nodded in agreement before taking another pull from his flask, putting it away he reached over his shoulder drawing his weapon in its sword form "Let's get to it" Qrow said as he and Alex began creeping through the valley towards the main structure.
Sneaking through a rather large hole in the chain link fence, the two made their way past the shacks hugging the wall as a group of Grinders marched past, as they closed in on the side structures. Stopping Alex peeked around the corner of one of the storage sheds two Grinders stood guarding the maintenance lift, it was the quickest way into the main structure without fighting through an army to get there.
Alex looked at Qrow who nodded in understanding, a small crash emitted from behind the shack the two grinders tacking noticed, looking to one another and exchanging several beeps and whr's they began marching towards the disturbance
The grinders marched side by side between two of the shacks, their weapons grasped tightly in their hands unaware of the two pairs of eyes that watched them from the shadows, Alex reached over to the workbench on his right his hand closing around the handle of a screwdriver nodding to Qrow across from him.
As the footsteps grew closer the huntsmen swung his sword decapitating the first grinder the other managing to step around the blade aiming its weapon at the huntsmen, Alex lashed out grabbing the one on the right, jamming the screwdriver into the base of its neck sparks flying as it collapsed against him.
"Not bad" Qrow said as he and Alex dumped the grinders inside the shack. " Got to give these guys props though, they're a lot better than Ironwoods tin men at least they know when to dodge."
"Grinders might not be that intelligent but they're deadly in close up combat especially in large numbers." Alex said looking back towards the maintenance lift "Come on we better get inside before someone notices the guards are missing" Alex said, he and Qrow darted towards the shack careful not to draw any unwanted attention entering the shack Alex quickly pushed the door shut hugging the wall as a group of grinders passed the entrance.
"That was close." Qrow sighed. Turning away from the entrance there in the center of the room was one of the mines service elevators, Qrow took a glance at the well-rusted controls next to the lift.
"So, what now?" Qrow asked, the sudden grinding of metal caught him off guard, turning back he found Alex pulling open the twin chain link doors that lead into the elevator. Staring down into the dark shaft leading down into the tunnel below.
Alex looked back towards the elder Huntsmen "Now comes the hard part." he replied as he reached into his jacket pulling out a worn pair of construction gloves he had grabbed from the shack they had hidden the grinders inside. Reaching out he grabbed the metallic cable hovering in the center of the elevator shaft. Giving it a swift tug checking its strength he looked back at Qrow "You coming?" Alex said as he stepped off the edge sliding down the cable and into the darkness below.
Qrow sighed resting his weapon on his shoulder. "Well better not keep him waiting." he shrugged dropping down into the abyss below.
/
Blakes stared down at the book in her hands, trying her best like her teammates to distract herself from recent events. JNPR and CFVY had been checking in on them every few hours especially after Ruby's breakdown in the combat arena, that scene repeated over and over again through her mind, she had to remember to thank Coco again for what she did.
Blake looked up over her book at Ruby who currently sat cross-legged, alongside Koan and Weiss the two currently indulging themselves in their video games while the latter cheered her partner on. Blake turned her attention back to the book in her hands, she still couldn't help but worry, for Yang for Ruby... Alex. Once again, she found herself staring at the young man only a few feet away.
'Anur Transyl' The name reverberated through her mind, she knew she shouldn't be questioning it that it was a private matter between Koan and Alex and yet she couldn't help but wonder what significance such a name held, yet another piece of their past. Once again, she glanced at the blond as he defeated Ruby's character the screen flashing and signaling his victory.
"Aww, no fair" Ruby cried out. "How are you this good you've only played this like once?"
"Guess it just comes naturally." Koan replied, noticing the pair of eyes locked on him he turned to Blake. The two locked eyes before Blake turned her attention back to her book Koan sighed getting the others attention. "You're worried about them, aren't you?" he asked
Weiss and Ruby turned to their usual stoic teammate "It's not that. "Blake sighed turning her head to look at the shapeshifter
"I heard what you said out in the hall." Blake said.
Koan's face dropped his eyes falling to the floor "Oh." He replied inwardly berating himself at the time he had been so worried, no terrified about Yang's safety he wouldn't deny he had feelings for her, but now that he thought back to it he may have let something slip that would have been better for everyone if he had just stayed quiet.
Ruby and Weiss looked at one another before turning their attention to their teammate and friend "What are you guys talking about?" Ruby asked.
"Does it have something to do with the Psycho Rangers." Blake pressed
"Look, it's not for me to say, alright." Koan responded
"Blake, Koan?" Weiss asked looking at the two for an answer.
Three pairs of eyes settled on Koan who sat cross-legged his scroll in his lap in silence his eyes focused primarily on the floor, inwardly he was kicking himself 'of course she heard and why wouldn't she be worried damn cat ears.' Koan growled to himself, he looked up at the three girls each looking at him in curiosity and confusion.
He rested his palm against his head Alex trusted him and he promised he wouldn't bring up the topic unless he was ok with it. God damn it why now of all times did it have to come up, no they weren't ready to know what happened even if they would be upset. "Koan?" he glanced up at Blake and he saw it the pleading and worried look in her eyes, she was generally worried about Alex "Please, what happened on Anur transyl." She asked.
"Would one of you mind filling us in." Weiss said somewhat annoyed
"Great." Koan groaned lying back on the floor "There are a lot of things about Alex's past I shouldn't even know about, ok and that right there." he said looking pointedly at Blake "Is something he has been working really hard on, so that he can finally get over about what happened to her."
"Her?" Ruby said in confusion.
Koan facepalmed dragging his hand down past his chin sighing deeply 'Way to go don't I just wear a sign saying biggest idiot right here' he thought as his eye settled on the floor. Sighing deeply, he looked back up at the girls each of them bore a look of concern, and that would only mean they'd ask more.
Sighing he looked up at them mentally preparing himself for the beatdown he would probably get when Alex got back. "Look... Anur transyl is a sensitive subject for Alex, I can't tell you much about it because I wasn't even there at the time." Once again, he sighed. " What I do know is that it's a place where Alex lost someone very close to him, his partner Kate."
...
Blakes' eyes widened as the name slipped from the shapeshifters lips, a torrent of memories flooded to the forefront of her mind.
"She was my partner."
"I see you've learned after what yellow did to your little girlfriend."
"She was one of the strongest people I knew "
"Not bad Omni ranger, your almost as good as she was."
"She was so compassionate in what she did, no matter how big or small."
...
Her fist clench shut gripping the bed bellows her, her knuckles turning white. Her hair hung over her face-concealing her eyes. Eyes that radiated nothing but hatred. 'He's lost so many people his family, Kate. Someone he cared for, someone he loved. And they just... just taunt him like it's some cruel joke!' Blakes' nails began to dig into the bed covers.
'Why?' she asked herself 'After everything he's been through... hasn't he suffered enough.'
"What happened?" Ruby asked
"Psycho Yellow" Koan spat the name out like it was poison "I caught up with him back at the barracks and that look on his face..." Koan reached up rubbing his brow. "It was like he just talked out of a god damn war zone. I don't know the details, and I don't even want to know. But what scares me most is what he'll do if he finds that bitch if he finds her, especially after what she did to Yang."
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked, true they would all love nothing more than to deal with that monster and her brethren, but Koan's sounded almost pleased at the thought of their friend facing off against them.
"Trust me when I say up until now you haven't seen what he's really capable of. I mean it." Koan said staring out the window "He holds back on people, but when he really cuts loose... that's when things start to get really bad."
/
Alex stepped out of the elevator Qrow not far behind shaft staring down the barren tunnels ahead lit by electronic lamps hanging above the stone hallway that branched off down separate tunnels a few meters ahead. Clenching his fist, he summoned his morpher staring down at the gauntlet the hourglass glowing a vibrant white, clenching his fist he looked back towards the huntsmen.
"Let's be careful. But let's get it done"
(To be continued)