RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and created by the late Monty Oum.
Read, review, and tell me how I can improve, what you liked and what you didn't. Your feedback is appreciated, thank you! Thanks to all the reviewers, I appreciate all your kind words and thoughts. Seriously, you guys keep me going so share your thoughts. Please try to spread the word about this story so it gets more attention.
This chapter is a little different, as it is a Halloween special, but I hope you horror lovers enjpy it while those who are squeamish... well you'll survive... or will you?
RWBY: Destiny of Remnant
Chapter 37: Fear of the Beast
Chamberlain looked out of the drop ship as it flew away from the airship and down towards the empty base in the middle of Vacuo's great desert.
"Any life signs on the scanner?" he asked the pilot.
"None but small ones like bugs and mice. By the look of things no one's home, not that I blame them, that place it wrecked." called the pilot.
Chamberlain nodded and looked down to the large base, signs of battle, blood marking the sand, the building torn asunder with large holes in the walls and there was a faint pillar of smoke rising in the air. He knew he wanted to get to the bottom of this but it might take a while. He turned to his troops, most of them were from the military but a couple of them were Specialists from Special Weapons Operations Response Division, S.W.O.R.D. for short, they were an elite group in Atlas' military that selected the troops who had the most potential and were seen as the best of the best and gave them advanced training.
"Okay, Specialist Blair, take those troops there and secure the perimeter of the complex. Specialist Yin and I will lead the rest of you into the base and investigate, remember to look for survivors, if you find bodies don't touch them, leave them for the investigators. If you find a scroll or something that has recorded data on it then bring it to our technicians. Everybody clear?"
"Sir, yes sir!" they all shouted back in response as the ship landed.
"Good. Now let's get out there." he said as a soldier opened the door.
The front runners went out first, bolting to the main entrance to check it out while Blair led his appointed troops to surround it and try to spot any survivors or evidence of what had happened.
Chamberlain allowed Yin to go forward to check out the front entrance, which had been slammed open, both doors lying on the small stone staircase before them, which was covered with dried blood.
"All clear so far sir! Come up!" she called.
He nodded and ran up, leading more soldiers behind him.
"How's it look?" he asked.
"Pretty bad, signs of something big, look at those claw marks on the wall." Yin said, gesturing to three slashes that scarred the wall.
"Grimm?"
"Most likely, unless on of these Faunus had claws strong enough to dig three or four inches through solid stone." Yin said as the front runners went further into the darkness. One saw a switch on the wall and flipped it, activating the lights, revealing blood stains on the walls.
"Power still works, that's good." he remarked.
"Yeah, but the blood on the walls has me fairly alarmed." voiced a scout
"No major life signs on the scanners, I think the biggest life sign I'm getting is a rat." said another scout.
Chamberlain nodded and said "Just in case I want everyone to be very careful, minimum noise and watch your fire. Yin take them and scout the building, and take these troops and do the same."
"You got it Colonel, but I think it's safe to say that whatever happened here we missed it." she stated.
"Yes, but what exactly did we miss?" asked one of the only Faunus soldiers, whose nose was being driven crazy by the thick scent of blood in the air, to no one in particular.
No one knew the answer, and some didn't want to know.
Chamberlain's group arrived to the large infirmary only to discover the disturbing sight of the words "We're all gonna die here" written on the wall with what was unmistakably blood.
"Well... that's never a good sign." he muttered to himself.
"Sir! I found something over here!" called a female soldier, she shined her light on an arm, bits of bone and muscle sticking out of it. She looked back to Chamberlain and asked "My god, what the hell happened here?"
"I don't know, but I know I won't like the answer." he said.
A half an hour later they came across an office that seemed to serve as the base commander's room. Yin and her group had already gone through the assembly hall and the command room but found nothing, other than a few scattered items.
Chamberlain looked at the name on the desk, Captain Matthew Riley. "Okay, so we know who was in command, so maybe he left us a clue somewhere." Chamberlain said as he began to check the desk. He pointed to a soldier and said "Stay here with me, the rest of you comb the area and see what you can find."
The other troops nodded obediently and set off as Chamberlain continued looking through the desk, found nothing but a scroll, a few papers and pencils, and a photo of a small family of Cat Faunus, a mother, a twenty something son, and a teenage daughter, all of them smiling and looking happy.
"Captain Riley I presume, now this scroll is probably yours so let's see what's on it." he said to himself as he turned the small device on. When it came to home page he was intrigued by the small document that said "Audio Logs, This is What Happened" "Well that was fast." Chamberlain muttered, hopefully these documents would provide some answers. He looked around the roof and noticed a blood splatter on the wall. "Did you die in here Captain? Or was it someone else? Maybe the answers are on this scroll."
About an hour had passed before he met up with Yin and the others outside. "Any survivors?" he asked.
"No, but we did find some bodies, shot to death... but they weren't White Fang." Yin revealed.
"What?!"
"We found four human bodies, both of which belonged to Vacuo Rangers. I'll call the nearest ranger base, see if they're missing a couple of their number. As for the White Fang the only things we've found were a few chewed up body parts scattered about the place but we did find something else that was rather interesting." she reported.
"And what would that be?" he asked.
She pointed to a technician who came forward, and he said "The computer in the command room is pretty old but I still got into it but I found something pretty messed up, the old self destruct button had been reinstated only thirty hours ago, but what's disturbing is that it was wired to activate a lockdown protocol if activated, trapping anyone who was inside."
Chamberlain's eyes darkened and said "Now that is odd. Yin, I'm leaving you in charge of this operation for the time being, so everyone take orders from her. I want you to keep searching the base for something, anything really; bodies, scrolls, anything. I managed to find the scroll that belonged to this base's commander but as far as I know none of you have found any other scrolls."
"No sir." they all said.
"Well keep looking, sir. What are you going to do?" Yin asked.
"Take this scroll back to the airship, see what our technicians can dig up from it. Did you find out where that smoke was from?" he inquired.
"Yeah, a blast tore a hole in the ceiling over the furnace which was left burning. We took care of it. I hope you find something on that scroll sir." Specialist Yin said.
"I do too, if you find anything at all radio for me, understood?"
"Yes sir." she said.
"Good, and good luck. See you soon." Chamberlain said as he boarded the ship. As it took off and flew into the sky he held Riley's scroll in his hands and muttered to himself "I do hope there are some answers on this thing."
Ironwood sighed as he got off the line with Glynda and looked up to Chamberlain to ask "Is there any particular reason you were so insistent on them hearing these recordings as well?"
Chamberlain had came back earlier that day with the recordings and a small report but he had been a little shaken up, and had been pressing for Ozpin and Glynda to hear the logs as well. "You'll understand soon sir. Ozpin and Goodwitch need to hear what is on these scrolls. I had one of our technicians edit them into a cohesive narrative for us, clean up some of the audio and visual issues, and even label the voices when multiple people are talking at once, they'll appear on the screen." Chamberlain said as he gestured to the flat-screen in Ironwood's office.
"Why can't you just tell me what's on these things?" Ironwood demanded, beginning to lose his patience.
"Because sir I listened to them already, I saw the wreckage of that base, I saw the body parts and the blood. There is no way I can recount it myself. It's better to just listen." Chamberlain said, a small ounce of nervousness in his voice. "Have you found anything out from this Basil character?"
"Yes, but he doesn't know the location of their headquarters, but we've discovered that he's lost interest in the White Fang's cause and has gotten involved in the drug trade, but still stayed with the White Fang as a cover for his drug operations." Ironwood revealed.
"Well that explains a few things..." Chamberlain said with a nod before holograms of Ozpin and Goodwitch, both on chairs, appeared beside Ironwood.
"Hello Colonel Chamberlain, good to see you again." Glynda voiced.
"You too Professor, and Headmaster... what you might hear is going to be a little shocking so I suggest you brace yourself." Chamberlain said to Ozpin, who was taken aback by the warning.
"Just what exactly is on these recordings?" Ozpin inquired.
"Nothing good." Chamberlain stated bluntly before he began to play the audio logs.
"Um, this is Log Entry Number 1, I guess. This is Captain Matthew Riley of the White Fang and now that I've been given full command of an entire outpost I decided I should keep a record of the day to day life here at Outpost 10-31. Don't understand why it's a top secret assignment but I'll take what I can get. First day here but Commander Taurus had this old place decently fixed up before we got here. It's an old lead mine from about a century ago but it was commandeered by a Faunus freedom fighter group in the third Faunus War a few decades ago. After the war ended the mine was taken back and operations continued but only minor ones before it was shut down and left to rot about nine years ago but it was mostly unchanged from the massive one thousand worker facility it used to be.
Commander Taurus found out about this place from an old Faunus solider who joined us so it makes for the perfect outpost since its the underground facility it leads to dozens of these huge mine shafts and massive air vents, apparently the reason they're so huge is because the air needs it to circulate to the underground tunnels or something like that.
I got about sixty-five or so Faunus here, most of them seem to be okay but a few of 'em seem lazy or a little off their rockers but that doesn't bother me. To be completely honest I'm surprised Adam gave me control of this outpost after our little... disagreement regarding the attack on Beacon. I was one of the few who were pretty vocal about how bad of an idea it was but I was ignored. I was the leader of a small recon team but because of my little outburst we were forced to take part in the assault on Beacon and the Vytal Festival. Most of us got out okay except for one of my guys, a good man named Ray Vargo. We had to leave and he... he didn't make it in time when Adam ordered out ship to leave. I know he's most likely dead or in some prison but I hope he's okay. Its no secret that I blame Adam for all out loses that night and those left behind and he knows that, so it makes my little promotion all the weirder.
Tomorrow some of us will be going down into the tunnels and mine shafts to make sure they're safe and put up signs that'll keep us from getting lost but I really don't know what this place is for; its out in the middle of nowhere with no tactical advantage but I suppose it would make for a good hiding place if the heat goes up. Place isn't even ready yet; some of the lights won't work, a few doors won't shut, communication equipment needs major work, but I think with a little luck we can get this place up and running. Our Scrolls have no reception out here, that's weird but I think we'll find a way around it. They still work, that's how I'm recording this, but they can't connect to the net or call anyone but photos, things you've already downloaded, or stuff like this recorder are still working. Weird but I think we'll make due.
That's all I have to say for now, I guess. Signing off."
"This is entry number two and... things didn't go so well today. Last night I posted this kid, a Dog Faunus named Alderson, don't know his first name, on night guard duty after a little incident he caused after slightly damaging a piece of machinery and... this morning our janitor, an older man named Ellis found him... or what was left of him, outside of one of the tunnels. He was torn apart, like... I mean it looked like he had been tossed into a giant fan blade or something.
Our medical officer, a Deer Faunus named Styles, inspected the scene and the remains and told me that he wasn't killed by any weapon, gun or blade, but it looked like some kind of incredibly violent Grimm attack.
Now I may not be a Huntsman, but I've seen my fair share of Grimm attacks before but they were nothing like this. She said that it must have accidentally stumbled in here and couldn't find a way out and when we arrived it hid in the tunnels and must have been really hungry and surprised Alderson with a sudden attack. We checked his rifle, with his hand still attached, and sure enough he got two shots off before it his hand got bitten off.
I talked to one of the few people here that have experience with fighting Grimm, a guy named Carpenter, and he said that whatever killed Alderson was a Grimm without a doubt but it must have been an ancient one, one who was smart enough to avoid attention and strong enough to do that to Alderson.
We can't call it in because the equipment still isn't working but we're keeping the area closed off for now and we searched half of the tunnels and vents but haven't found anything but spots of blood and some more of Alderson's body parts. Tonight I'll be having our security officers, Bannerman and Pangborn go into the tunnels with some troops; Quentin, Holloway, Leaven, Worth, Kazan, and Wrens. I wanna stay up and go down in the tunnels with them but Styles says I worked myself to hard today and I need my sleep. I just hope they kill that damn thing before anyone else gets hurt. These guys are tough and their guns are locked and loaded so I'm sure they'll be okay."
"Shit... Shit!
They're... I have no idea what happened while we were asleep but it's a good bet we lost some good Faunus. We found Kazan in the mess hall this morning, covered in blood, whimpering and curled up in a ball. Styles said he was in shock so we had to carefully move him to the infirmary, he just kept whimpering 'beast' and 'monster' over and over again.
I asked him what happened to the others and I didn't like his answer, he said he watched 'it' slaughter them. Never a good answer.
I got together a team and we went really deep down into the tunnels to find the bodies. Quentin had been torn in half, Leaven and Worth had both been impaled by something and left to bleed out, the wounds were so big that their aura didn't even have a chance to save them. We found Holloway with her head smashed into the ceiling, Wrens' face had been bitten off, and Bannerman had been mauled to death.
That look on Bannerman's face was... the most terrified expression I have ever seen. If it wasn't for the claw and bite marks on his body I'd think he'd literally died of fright.
No sign of Pangborn yet, some of the guns weren't found so that might mean he has them. I hope he's okay.
Kazan's not talking except mumbling out about 'it' or the 'monster' and occasionally screaming. Styles says that she doesn't know how long the shock will last but we just have to give him time.
I'm getting another crew together to back into the tunnel to find Pangborn and this monster.
Also the damn radios still aren't working. A lot of things aren't working here: lights, doors, air conditioning, security cameras, nothing. Not even my scroll. It's like Adam sent us here knowing the place was in this bad of a condition."
The next log was silent for about ten seconds before Riley spoke up.
"...I saw it.
Oum and all the gods above I saw the damn thing... it was the most horrifying thing I have ever seen. It kinda looked like a Grimm... but none I've ever seen, and it's head looked almost human.
Pangborn... poor Pangborn I watched him die, it... killed him right in front of us.
We got into the deepest parts of the tunnels, found Pangborn in an old supply closet hiding armed with two guns. He was so happy to see us, said he wanted to get out of those tunnels, that 'it' had been walking by every now and then, as if it knew he was there.
Well we got him checked up by Crawford, that's Styles's assistant, and hightailed it out of there but those tunnels are just so huge that it takes half an hour to get back. We were so close to the exit but we stopped for a break when that... thing jumped down from one of the vent shafts and it went right for Pangborn. It bit his head off... like a gingerbread man.
The others freaked out and ran for the exit but me and a few others fought back, or at least tried to. We fired our rifles at it but it didn't do anything! We blasted it and I know we hit it but we only seemed to annoy it as it used its claws to scale the walls and before it retreated back into the vents it stopped, looked at me, and... I swear to Oum I'm not making this up, it smiled at me.
Once it was gone we ran off to and locked the tunnels down. We're currently shutting off all the major vents that it can get through so it can't come in without us knowing.
I'm ordering everyone to lock their doors tonight and I'm going into the infirmary with Styles and a few other guards to sleep.
We can't get through to anyone with our scrolls and if the radios aren't fixed by tomorrow I'm sending for help.
Captain Matthew Riley, signing off."
"Log entry five; no attacks last night. I just left the assembly hall where we did a head count: fifty-seven of us left so far. No bad but I'd rather have the eight we've lost with us.
Pangborn, Quieten, Leaven, Worth, Holloway, Wrens, Alderson, and Bannerman.
Their deaths are on me.
Shiraishi still can't get the radios or the scrolls working so I'm sending out a scout, young guy who calls himself Green. He'll take the motorcycle in the garage to the nearest base for help. I hope he's lucky, we're all gonna need it."
"We're all trapped here. Green drove off into the desert only for a... a... Taijitu to come up from under the ground, a dozen other Grimm of all kinds pouring out from the tunnel it had bored and they ripped the poor kid to shreds and they destroyed the motorcycle, leaving us with only the old car in the garage.
He was too far away to hear but somehow I know what his dying screams sounded like: high-pitched, pleading for help, scared, alone, gurgling up blood, screaming with every new ounce of pain from a new bite.
We're trapped here, the Grimm were fucking waiting for us in the desert if we tried to leave.
They're not doing this naturally, something is controlling them and I think... I think Adam did this to us. I can't prove it but I've heard rumors of those hybrids that can control Grimm... what if they're out there right now?
Shit.
We're going to meet and discuss things in the assembly hall, hopefully we can figure out a way to get help or to kill that thing before someone else is killed to.
I can only hope we can pull it off.
End of entry six."
"One of our girls managed to lure it into the mine shafts and lock it in there so we worked quickly, we closed off all of the large mine vent shafts and sealed 'em off so it can't break through and closed up the main entrance to the mine nice and tight. Tonight we've managed to come up with some kind of plan on how to deal with that thing, our weapons supervisor, a Wilder Beast named Daggs, came up with this idea to take some of our Dust supplies and gas and coat the walls of the mines with them. Basic strategy is to go in, coat the place in Dust and gas, plant some explosives and torch it to hell and then we go in to make sure its dead and if it hasn't been burned alive we unload every ounce of ammo we got into the fucker.
Everyone's nervous and I don't blame them, I scared out of my wits too but I can't let it show, for their sake. Someone has to be the brave hero here and I'll try my best to be one.
Funny, I'm only here because I wanted to be a hero, I thought being part of the White Fang was a thing to be proud of, something that would make me a hero to my mom, my sister... help poor Faunus who were being hurt by the bad humans. Then Taurus started hurting people, we became a refuge for Faunus who were sickos or vengeful assholes who want to kill humans. The White Fang has became less about fighting for our rights and more about... hurting people. I didn't sign up for that."
"None of us did."
"AH! Styles?! You scared the crap out of me!"
"Sorry sir, didn't mean to scare you."
"... Are you gonna report me?"
"For treason? No, you're right. All our 'glorious leader' cares about anymore is hurting others and that Blake girl. Come on, the others are waiting."
"Hang on, you share my thoughts about the current state of our so called leadership."
"I suppose so."
"Why did you join the White Fang? You don't seem the type."
"Well... I was nurse in Atlas and I often saw some poorer Faunus denied treatment and thrown out to the street, and some patients refused to have me because of my heritage. I suppose I joined because I felt I could do some good here. I guess I was wrong."
"We all were. We both have our doubts about Taurus, I spoke up but did you?"
"Once when he wanted me to allow a human prisoner to die, I refused."
"Shit, I think I'm beginning to figure out what's going on."
"What? What, you think he sent us out here and knew that creature was waiting in the dark?"
"Maybe... how's McGee coming with the explosives?"
"She's got a good amount, come see for yourself."
"Right. End of log seven."
"Well, I officially suck.
Ten more people are dead because of me...
That makes nineteen dead altogether.
The plan backfired, from what I know Ellis found a shaft, went to close it and that thing just jumped out at him, he fired his gun and that started the blaze. The blaze reached the nearest explosive and it set off a chain reaction and... we lost nine others in the inferno and all of those names and faces weigh heavily on my conscience now because I approved the plan, I'm in charge so it's all my fault.
I'd blame Daggs but he tried to fight that damn thing man to beast.
He got his head crushed for his troubles.
The other eight we lost were Janni, Howie, Bottoms, Carter, Cropsy, Quinn, Cybil, and McGee.
They're all gone.
Styles was left up here with the one who were either guarding the five large shafts that were big enough for the thing to get through or weren't brave enough to help out, and Kazan. I used my walkie-talkie to call her and she activated the sprinkler system, saved most of us.
Maybe I should put her in charge.
We're in disarray, some are mad at me, some mad at themselves, some mad at the Grimm, some mad at Taurus, a few are just plain mad at everything.
It's out of the mines now, it ran out of the main entrance when the guards ran in to help us. I have no idea where it is, we can't get the cameras back up or the fucking security cameras. We can't leave and if we try those monsters out there will rip us apart. Maybe we can try to fight our way out but it's probably too risky for the tastes of the others.
I'm not sleeping tonight, I don't want anything to happen without me knowing.
... I don't want to die in this place."
"Entry number nine; Four of us have went missing in the last ten hours during the night; Marand, Holt, Dier, and Garris. Their room was empty but there was no sign of a struggle so hopefully those four are okay and are just hiding somewhere or something but I doubt it.
That leaves forty-two of us. So much for knowing everything.
Styles and I have asked around and sure enough pretty much everyone here has had their doubts about Adam or the White Fang and its methods and in one way or another voiced them to someone.
Shit, I think... I think this is Adam's way of getting rid of potential trouble makers. I have no way of proving that but Styles and I are sure that we're right and we'll tell the others of our theory tonight at the assembly hall.
Some of our guards are up on the roof taking shots at the Grimm but I'm going with some others to search the compound for the missing four troops. End of entry."
"We found them. Apparently they went to the lower areas of the complex to hide from the beast, make a new room for themselves down their only to find it waiting for them. Marand got a claw through the neck, and the aura couldn't even begin to heal him before it bit right into his face. Dier was slammed into a wall and mauled to death and Garris' body was literally snapped in half like a folding chair. Holt's dead, we found his hand but not the rest of his body. Oum only knows what that thing is doing with it.
Tomorrow we'll have been here for a full week. I want to see two things right now: Adam Taurus dead, and my family.
We're all scared, paranoid, and very tired.
End of entry ten..."
"Hello Captain."
"What the hell...?!"
"You don't need to fear me, good sir. Not yet anyways, I'm saving you for last."
"Y-you... what the fuck is this?!"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm the monster Grimm."
"You c-can talk?"
"Of course I can. I am not totally a Grimm, this body is a hybrid of various Grimm types and has a few parts from humans and Faunus."
"H-how are you talking to me? The vent isn't big enough..."
"No, no it is not but I merely talking to you from the end of this small shaft since it connects to another large one. I've been coming by, listening to you and the others. That Dr. Styles likes you, maybe I should..."
"Leave her and everyone else alone!"
"No need to be rude. I won't kill her yet. Who shall I take tonight?"
"Nobody, I don't know who or what you really are but I won't let another one of my team come to harm."
"Try and stop me."
The sound of something moving against the metal vents could barley be heard on the recording.
Ironwood looked to Ozpin who was now very uncomfortable with what they were listening to. That voice... something about it was so familiar but...
"It's not possible..." he said absentmindedly.
"I can't take this shit anymore. We gotta get out of here."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" General Ironwood asked.
"The Chimera, but how? It had to have been incinerated in the destruction of the factory. It might have gotten out of its pen, since there was no malformed Grimm body with Cardin Winchester. The rubble was to thick and hard to get through but its body was probably destroyed in the explosions." Glynda said.
"I don't know but we never found any trace of its body, even if it had been incinerated there would have been some trace of it." Ironwood said before Ozpin spoke up.
"It may be the Chimera, but I think this is... something worse." Ozpin said before looking to Chamberlain ans asking "What aren't you telling us?"
Chamberlain sighed and said "Just keep listening, you'll find out the truth sooner or later. And with that they resumed with the next log entry.
"Okay Log entry number eleven, we are currently in the assembly hall. We've closed off all of the vents and doors so and we spent all night in there and there were no attacks. While some of us were annoyed to be moved others were just happy to feel the good old safety in numbers feeling.
This morning we had something of a meeting and I got everyone to confess that they have all, at one point or another, voiced unhappiness with the direction the White Fang has taken or a lack of confidence with Adam's leadership.
I... I didn't mention my little encounter I had last night to anyone but I did say I heard something moving around in the vents so we're going to close off all ten of the big shafts that lead into the tunnels and seal all of them off on both sides just like we did with the mine shafts. The mine is screwed and we've closed it off, no way is it hiding in there anymore. We have, however, left the main door to the tunnels open so if it goes in there we can lock it in, let it starve.
This morning we've pitched around ideas on how to escape and Carpenter had suggested painting an S.O.S. on the roof, not a bad idea so we're gonna try it out. Others will move around the base in groups, trying to find it and lure it to the tunnels. Hopefully we can pull this off without anymore loss of life and we'll make it out of this godforsaken hellhole."
"Well the S.O.S. didn't work. We got out on the roof and saw that more Grimm have come to surround us, even Goliaths. The moment we started painting the first 'S' a few Scavengers swooped down and carried one of my men, Hitchcock, away, dropped in the the middle of the Grimm and he was devoured. Scavengers, Griffons, and Vampires all came down from the sky and landed on the roof to keep us in and they haven't left.
Kazan has committed suicide. He was left alone in the infirmary for a few minutes and when Styles came back she found he had taken a scalpel, slit his wrists and throat wide open. Before he died he left us a message on the wall in his own blood...
'We're all gonna die here.' That's what he wrote...
I don't want that to come true.
We're trapped here, Shiraishi can't fix the radios or our scrolls, we can't signal for help, can't get out, no vehicles to escape with, so we're pretty fucked all things considered.
I'm looking out my window and I can see the Grimm; prowling around, waiting for us. Maybe I should just walk out there and let them take me.
No, no, I gotta stay strong, I still have thirty-nine troops to take care of. I swear if I get out of here I will tell everything I know to the councils and give myself up as long as they take down Taurus and make him pay for this and everything else he has done.
I now know that Blake Belladonna had the right idea when she ran..."
All of a sudden several screams of terror could be faintly heard along with the sounds of gunfire.
"Shit!"
"There were forty of us just an hour ago. Now there are only twenty-eight.
It came at one team; killing all four members: Lantz, Taryn, Kincaid, and Jordan.
Then it got poor Crawford, that's when I made it just in time to see it bite into his head and twist. The poor guys neck was twisted like... like a rubber toy's neck would before his head came off, unleashing a torrent of blood.
Me and some of the troops, the ones that are left anyway tried shooting the beast but it bolted off and killed two more, Myers and Robitaille. Then we found Meeker, who had somehow been impaled with her own sword. We ran after it only to find Lawrence shredded to pieces and Kramer just barely alive with his stomach ripped open, blood and aura leaking out everywhere. Styles tried to save him but the blood and aura loss was too much, he didn't make it.
Then it started chasing one of the troops, a guy called Wyndham and another man named Leahy, our cook. Leahy was kind of old and couldn't run very fast and he tripped. It pounced on him, its weight must of crushed him, but what really killed him was the fact that its claws were stabbing into him so when it ran after Wyndham Leahy's body was dragged along, the multiple stomps smashing him into the floor over and over, killing him.
It chased Wyndham out the front entrance, trapping him between the it and the Grimm. Then the Grimm rushed him. A Beowolf bit off his hand while a King Taijitu began to devour his leg... and then a Vampire swiped his head off, feeding off of his fear and flesh. We shut the door so that thing couldn't get back in and so we wouldn't have to watch them eat a good Faunus.
I know it got back in because fifteen minutes ago Carpenter found the door to the roof torn off its hinges and claw marks on the walls, so it is back in here with us.
With only twenty-eight of us left we need to come up with a plan to escape and kill that fucking thing.
I just wish I knew what to do."
"This next part is a bit confusing, a lot of them are talking at once. I think Captain Riley wanted to record their talks for whatever reason. Our video editor managed to identify most of the voices and their names will appear on the screen when they talk." Chamberlain said after briefly pausing the recordings. He then pressed the play button the resume.
RILEY: "Okay, let's see if we're all here; Shiraishi, Carpenter, Craven, Kruger, Voorhees, Winston, Romero, Samara, King, Styles, Toro, Seeley, Poe, O'Bannon, Cunningham, Medak, Amenabar, Stine, Gains, Shelly, Stoker, Kent, Whale, Vincent, Brayker, Kripke, Holland, and me. That's all of us."
KING: "All that's left you mean."
CRAVEN: "King..."
KING: "Shut up Craven, Riley hasn't done jack shit right since we got here, over half of us are dead!"
RILEY: "Don't blame me, blame Taurus! He's the one who sent us here to die in the first place!"
SHELLY: "What?"
TORO: "The hell are you talking about?"
STYLES: "We have a theory that all of this was set up to get rid of potential traitors and insurrectionists. Adam works for that thing... this Mistress of Grimm. And Grimm usually don't circle around a complex like this without attacking it for this long, because gods know our fear should be enough to bring them crashing through the windows."
RILEY: "Exactly, we've all heard rumors about these... Grimm Hybird things, humans and Faunus that have been infused with the genetic makeup of a Grimm. Considering that thing that's killed most of us has a head that looks like a person I don't think it's impossible to say that we've met one already."
AMENABAR: "But why? Killing us would only inspire more to rise up against him."
STYLES: "Not if they don't know about it. Nothing here works, not our scrolls, not the radios, nothing that could help us contact the outside world."
SEELY: "He wanted us totally isolated."
RILEY: "Exactly."
KENT: "This is a crock of shit. He can't afford to lose sixty-five White Fang members, and even if he could it wouldn't go unnoticed."
RILEY: "Something else to blame on the humans."
SHELLY: "Then we gotta do something! Maybe we could get a message to the Elite Guard, tell them what's going on..."
SHIRAISHI: "We can't! I've been trying for days to get something, anything, working. I'm not even that good of a technician I was just an assistant."
KING: "Oh, well that's just great! What the fuck are we supposed to do?!"
CRAVEN: "From the sound of it we're supposed to die and be buried like a dirty little secret."
O'BANNON: "Fuck that!"
HOLLAND: "Yeah!"
KENT: "We've gotta get the hell out of here. I say we get all our weapons and Dust, go out there, shoot and slash everyone of those monsters back to hell, and walk into the desert until we come to a road!"
KING: "Come on Kent, even I know that won't work."
CARPENTER: "Yeah, the closest road is five miles away, I don't think we can walk that with those things hounding after us. No offense Winston."
WINSTON: "None taken."
RILEY: "Hey if we're coming up with escape plans we need to talk a little quieter, that thing could be listening."
VINCENT, KING, STINE, STYLES, ETC: "What?"
RILEY: "As insane as it sounds I think that thing used to be human or Faunus, I've already said I think it's a Grimm hybrid but I've been keeping something from you all."
STYLES: "And what would that be?"
RILEY: "A few nights ago I was in my office and that thing was in one of the vents. It talked to me. Now for all I know it was one of you pulling a sick prank but I doubt that. It told me it was saving me for last. Why I don't know but then again I don't know much about this disaster except that I want to get out and get all of you out with me."
SAMARA: "You're kidding right? There's no way that thing could... talk."
CRAVEN: "Riley, you're suggesting this thing is sapient, that it has been smart enough to do all of this on purpose. I'm no Grimm expert but unless this thing is centuries old I don't think it could do that."
CARPENTER: "Unless it is a hybrid. When Grimm get old they get smart, when they're real old they're real smart but to my knowledge they've never talked. So maybe we are dealing with one of those hybrids, but one that's more Grimm than human or Faunus."
STYLES: "And that does not bode well for us at all but why save you for last?"
RILEY: "I have no idea, maybe to make the weight of my failure crush me before I die."
SHELLY: "This is insane, I feel like I'm in a Mike Enslin book or something.""
KING: "So we're trapped with a sadistic Grimm abomination that has an extremely violent and blood thirsty mind in it and we can't figure a way out of here!"
BRAYKER: "What about the old car?"
RILEY: "What Brayker?"
BRAYKER: "The old car in the garage. It only takes five but with enough guns aboard and a good driver and a distraction to keep the Grimm's attention elsewhere I think we could get away, go to the nearest town, come back for the others with help. Even if we can't help those who stay behind we can still get the truth out about what's happened."
HOLLAND: "That's not a bad idea."
KENT: "It's better than just sitting around waiting for that thing to come here and finish us off."
POE: "I don't see any better options at the moment."
STINE: "What do you think captain?"
RILEY: "... It's risky, but I think it's worth a shot."
KING: "Finally speaking my language."
VINCENT: "Freakin' A!"
STYLES: "Riley you need to think carefully about this. Yes it is the best plan we have so far but what about the beast?"
RILEY: "I know, and my only other idea is that we find a way to get rid of the main one before we try to take out the others."
MEDAK: "That won't be easy sir."
STYLES: "What's the plan?"
RILEY: "Lure it into the tunnels, bait it and let it chase us until we trap it, then we open up the doors and blast it to hell."
KING: "Good idea, even if I don't like the whole 'running around in a dark maze with that thing chasing us and shutting doors that might not close' bit.
STINE: "He's got a point boss I've tried to map those tunnels but because of all this crap I haven't made much progress. We could get easily lost or killed."
CRAVEN: "Plus if this thing is as smart as you think it is it probably won't fall for it."
STYLES: "All good points, let's just keep some heavy artillery prepared for that thing if it comes and save Riley's plan as a last resort. We need to get started on fixing up the car."
RILEY: "Right, it can take five so who's going."
BRAYKER: "Me. It was my idea so I should go. If it fails I'll suffer for it. Plus I used to be a street racer in my younger days."
KENT: "I'll go too, I'm a good shot and I know my friends here won't back down."
RILEY: Kripke, Holland, and O'Bannon. That makes five. We'll gather up every gun, blade, and flamethrower we got in this damn place to keep them off of you but remember; we'll only have one shot at this so make it count. Let's get started.
"Riley, are you in here?"
"Yes Styles, I'm here."
"You shouldn't be alone."
"Me? That thing is saving me for last and unless all of you drop dead by an act of Oum I'm fine but what about you? I don't see Carpenter or any of the others with you."
"Voorhees is right outside the door, he'll guard us. Carpenter spotted the beast going out the back exit, joining up with the other Grimm. Maybe it's on to us."
"Maybe but we need to take this chance. You know Styles, before this I was just the leader of a small recon team, we scouted out enemy positions, potential bases, cities we could find support in, criminals who'd work with us. It was good, we were a good crew. Wonder if they miss me."
"You're a good leader Matthew."
"Whoa, first names. May I ask what yours is?"
"Ha, it's Ginger."
"Ginger Styles, what a name. You have any family?"
"A father in Mistral, my mother died of a disease when I was a teenager."
"I'm sorry to hear about that. My dad died when I was just a kid, it was just me, my mom, and my little sister Kya. I wanted to make a difference in the world, I wanted there to be a world where my kids could play with human kids, you know? One where my family could go out without being yelled at because we have cat tails. That is why I signed up for the White Fang, but when I did I didn't realize how bad it would go, how crazy Taurus would become. Now all I want is to go back home, be with my family, try to forget all of this."
"... I came to tell you that Brayker and the others are nearly done with the car. We should be ready to move by day break. Poor souls, the main things keeping the, going is the motivation to get out of here and bad coffee."
"Is there any other kind?"
"Ha! I suppose not. Sir, do you remember what I said about why I joined the Fang?"
"Yes, why?"
"I wasn't being totally truthful with you. I just mentioned my mother died of a disease, we tried to get her treatment but the town we lived in was very prejudice against our kind. None of the doctors would help her. I was so mad, I cursed humanity so much... but one nurse, one very kind human nurse took pity on us and gave us some medicine to make her feel better. It cost that woman her job but her kind act kept my mother alive for three more months. That was why I became a doctor, I wanted to be like that woman, but some people are just so blind in their hatred that I lost some hope."
"And then you joined the White Fang."
"Yes... Matthew, are you recording this conversation?"
"What? Oh! I guess I am. Sorry, it's just that I decided to keep a captain's log like on that old show, I figure that if we get out of here we can use it to document what's happened to us."
"Good idea, fantastic thinking."
"Thanks. Styles, if I don't make it tomorrow during the attack, or the assault or whatever I have a couple of favors to ask of you."
"And what is it?"
"The first is to take command. If I'm killed I want you to be in charge, and to continue these recordings. Second is if you get out find my mother and sister, their addresses are on this scroll's contact list."
"I promise I will do that, but I don't think I'll have to. I am sure you will make it out."
"Thanks, you look tired, how long has it been since you slept?"
"I could ask the same of you."
"Take my bed, I'll go around, see how we're doing."
"I can stay awake for a few more hours..."
"You're sleeping, and that's an order styles. And remember, if I bite it tomorrow, you're in charge."
"This is Medial Officer Gigner Styles, now acting commander of what is left of Outpost 10-31's crew.
This morning we attempted a daring escape plan. I stayed behind with Shiraishi, Samara, Vincent, Amenabar, and Stine to give them support from afar, to shoot down any fliers or sneak attacks. Riley led King, Carpenter, Craven, Kruger, Voorhees, Winston, Romero, Stoker, Shelly, Poe, Medak, Cunningham, Seeley, Toro, Whale, and Gains into battle so Brayker, Kent, and the others could get away.
It didn't work.
Stoker was the first to go, the Scavengers just swarmed around him, their sharp feathers slicing him up but his aura held up before they worked together; their beaks, claws, and feathers tearing him in half.
Kruger and Voorhees went down next, they were friends so it was only natural that they went down back to back as a legion of Beowolves, Creeps, Boarbatusks, Ursa, and Death Stalkers killed them, but they went out with one hell of a bang.
Then it really went south, the car made it a good distance, shot down or ran over most of the Grimm that came after them, but then that thing... the beast, came out of a window from the buildings and it... took control of the Grimm, like a commander. Just like the rumors said.
After that the Goliaths charged after the car, I've... I've never seen something that big move so fast. It was terrifying, but it must have been worse from inside the car when one of them rammed it's tusk through the car and lifted it up and threw it, making it land upside down. A couple of them got out before the Goliaths stomped the car into scrap, killing those left inside. I couldn't tell who the other two were, they didn't get close before they were finished off by the Grimm.
The beast charged the ones who were isolated, taking out Whale by impaling him on its tail and slamming him into the ground multiple times before he died. Riley tried to get its attention and lured other Grimm away while ordering a retreat but it was too late for Cunningham who surrounded by Creeps. We tried to shoot them away but they got him before we could clear a path for him.
Then... Riley sacrificed himself for us all. He jumped onto the beast's back and began stabbing it with a large knife from the kitchen but it just... laughed.
It laughed.
It... threw Riley off before slashing him across the left leg, injuring him so he couldn't get away from it. Other Grimm approached him but the beast just roared at them, and they backed off.
But then Riley pulled one last trick out of his sleeve; he took out a grenade and set it off, he may have died but he killed over a dozen Grimm and he managed to injure the monster.
Then it started screaming. The monster actually started to scream. It screamed out 'no' when Riley died. It had been saving him for last, so he denied it that.
As everyone was running back to the entrance a Goliath went berserk and ran right at us. We all managed to get in but the door hadn't been locked so its trunk burst the doors open easily, reached in and wrapped around poor Gains. We grabbed him and tried to keep him in, Seeley even tried to hack the trunk off but it was too strong, motivated by the panic emanating from us, and it dragged Gains out. I will never forget the desperate pleading in his voice as we tried to hold on or that sickening crunch of bones when it pulled him into its mouth and bit down hard, creating a waterfall of blood that now stairs the entrance steps.
Now there are only sixteen of us left, and I know that monster is in here, somewhere. I don't know where or how exactly it got in, but I know it is here with us.
And I know it wants me now that I'm the leader, but I intend to finish it off. For Riley and the others.
Adam called us earlier, lifted up the blackout he placed on the base to gloat. I recorded it but I'm hiding it on my scroll so if Riley's scroll is destroyed proof of Adam's treachery will remain. I hope it gets out."
"Have you found this Scroll of hers?" Glynda asked hopefully.
Chamberlain shook his head as he paused the audio, he noticed the concerned look on Ozpin's face before saying "No, it might still be somewhere in the base with the other scrolls. Here a lot of people start talking again, we've labeled the voices like last time."
STYLES: "Okay, everyone is here."
KING: "Yet again, those of us who are left you mean."
STYLES: "Right, listen up; I think we all know we need to do something."
VINCENT: "And what exactly will we do? We don't have enough ammo to kill all those Grimm, we still can't call for help, so what are we gonna do?"
MEDAK: "Vincent is right. I mean, let's face it doc we blew it big time. That car was the best chance we had at getting out of here so unless Shiraishi can fix up our scrolls or the radio I think it's clear that we're screwed."
SHIRAISHI: "No, I can't fix them, and I think the reason our scrolls don't totally work is because Adam did something to this place to block any and all signals from getting out. He only lifted it give that little bragging shit a few hours ago. I tried but I still couldn't get a signal out."
STYLES: "What about video recording? Can any of you record a video?"
SAMARA: "Yeah, that works but what's the point? We can't send a video or a text to anybody."
STYLES: "We won't have to, if someone finds this place we can leave videos of what's happened behind. I did manage to record Adam's little tirade on my Scroll but we'll need video for proof."
KING: "So what? We just let that monster kill us and hope somebody stumbles across this place and happens to find the video? Great idea."
STYLES: "It's a last measure. I know that creature is back in here somewhere so I think we can record it, but we'll have to use Riley's plan."
CARPENTER: "What? The bait and chase? No way, too risky."
STYLES: "You have any better suggestions? We can't kill this thing until we trap it somewhere and Riley's idea was the best way of doing that. Anyone else have an idea?"
There was silence for a while before one of them spoke up.
POE: "What if... what if our race, the Faunus, came to be because some animals wanted to be like humans?"
CRAVEN: "Poe, what the hell are you talking about?"
POE: "Stop and think about it, animals who wanted to become like humans and when Remnant was created those animals got their wishes, but they had to keep one animal trait to remind them that deep down they were really animals. I mean how could Adam do this to us unless he was nothing but an animal?"
SAMARA: "But it makes no sense Poe! What about birds, fish, and bugs? If that was true then why are Faunus only Mammals?"
KING: "Yeah, I mean there'd be Shark Faunus, Butterfly Faunus, Frog Faunus, and Platypus Faunus is that were the case."
CRAVEN: "King, Platypuses are mammals."
KING: "No shit? Huh, learn something new everyday."
STYLES: "Can we please get back on topic?!"
AMENABAR: "Calm down doc, they're just trying to lighten the mood. Are we? What was that little ramble about Poe?"
POE: "Because maybe the dream is over, and that thing is the nightmare here to wake us up."
SEELEY: "... right. What were you saying about Riley's plan, Doc?"
STYLES: "Look, we should have done this before we tried the car, then the Grimm out there wouldn't have been as organized. Riley was right. I say we strap our scrolls to our chests and record everything, so even if we die there will be proof of what happened, proof that can be used to take Adam down.
SEELEY: "Yeah, if the humans find it. Doc, even if we pull this off we're screwed, you know that right? There's not enough of us to fight off the rest of the Grimm, especially after we used up all our ammo earlier. Hell we'll just barely have enough to kill the big one if we do trap it."
STYLES: "I don't think we'll have to fight off the Grimm, if we can kill the big one they might lose interest and leave."
SEELEY: "What makes you think that?"
STYLES: "Because when the big one joined the battle the Grimm became more focused, more viscous, they went straight for the car. So if we can trap the beast and kill it the other Grimm will eventually go away, even they lose patience and we have enough food here to last for a few weeks. Once their gone we'll just walk right into the desert to the nearest town, call for help, tell the authorities our whole story, and give them as much info as we can to help bring Taurus down and make him pay for everyone he sent here to die. I'll do it myself if I have to, but I'd appreciate some help. Who's with me?"
Yet again the audio went silent before King spoke up.
KING: "Fuck it, let's go for it!"
Chamberlain sighed and spoke up again. "We couldn't find any of their scrolls, so we have no footage. We could use this audio to create a schism within the Fang, but we have no real proof that it is genuine. They will say we faked the audio."
"But what about the state of the base? The damage, the bloodied remains?" asked Ozpin.
"We assume that is why the bodies of those Vacuo Rangers were planted there, to make it look like humans attacked the base and destroyed the bodies. We were able to I.D. the rangers as a patrol that went missing three days ago. There were also fresh bullet holes in the walls to make it look like a battle was fought in case Basil couldn't activate the self destruct." Ironwood stated.
"And why would Adam Taurus want Basil dead?" Glynda inquired.
"Basil confessed to using the White Fang as a cover for his drug trade operations, apparently Taurus didn't like that so decided to punish him for it." Ironwood explained.
"So this entire thing was just a way to get rid of potential troublemakers and to create more distrust towards humanity." Glynda stated angrily.
"That's not all, while we do not have any audio or video of their attempt to trap the Chimera, we do have the final entry on Riley's scroll made by Styles afterwards, before she died. This bit of audio reveals what the creature really is." Chamberlain said darkly before beginning the audio log once again.
"This is the final entry, the final report of Outpost 10-31. Everyone is dead except for me, Medical Officer Ginger Styles. I am leaving the scroll of Captain Matthew Riley here in his office to record my final moments as the beast comes for me. I've seen all of their bodies, some of them no doubt being devoured by that monster, the horrified expressions on their faces...
I'm all alone now.
With everyone else dead I can hear it moving towards me quite easily, every step echoes in these dead hallways like thunder and I know my time is up.
I want the people who find this scroll to find our families and tell them that we love them, and that we are sorry. Tell my father, tell Riley's mother and sister, tell them all! On my own scroll I have recorded Taurus' little tangent on why we deserve to die, I have hidden it within the base and I hope you can find it but if the one listening to this is one of Adam's cronies I hope you never find it.
And if Taurus is listening to this I only have two words; fuck you.
This is Ginger Styles, signing off.
... It's here."
There was the muffled sound of a door opening and a disturbing laugh could he heard.
"Hello my dear... What? No fighting back? Have you learned your lesson now that everyone else is dead? Has your failure finally sunk in?"
"Maybe. What the hell are you? I mean, I suppose you're one of those Grimm Hybrids we've heard about..."
"This body... was a mindless killing machine known as the Chimera,, I am a Grimm Hybrid, one of eight, even if two of them have betrayed us, but if you want my real name; I was Norvik, the Hunter."
"NO!" screamed Ozpin, forcing Chamberlain to stop the audio. "No, no it can't be! I killed him myself! I shot him to death!" he shouted, horrified.
"William, calm down!" said Glynda.
"No! I ended him myself!" Ozpin said frantically.
"Did you watch him die?" Ironwood asked.
"No... no I didn't, we left him behind." the headmaster answered.
"We never found a body, we assumed it incinerated like some of the others, but how is it that he is in the body of the Chimera?" Ironwood pondered.
"... Salem. Norvik told me that she wanted his murderous work to continue but his body was too old, he wanted a new one... he wanted to be one of her Grimm hybrids and she planned to place him in Jaune's body but Glynda, Qrow and the others attacked before that could happen." Ozpin explained.
"Somehow both Norvik and the Chimera were taken out of the factory before it was totally destroyed and Salem placed his soul inside of the Chimera to control it better and to preserve Norvik's soul." Glynda speculated.
"Makes sense." Chamberlain agreed.
"No... he's still not dead..." Ozpin muttered.
"William..." Glynda began before he stopped her.
"No, this is the second time I have failed to destroy that monster. Now over sixty people are dead because of my failure." Ozpin whispered.
"Don't blame yourself sir, if our encounters with these people have taught me anything its that evil can never truly stay dead. Salem would have found someone else like Norvik, maybe somebody worse. Should we end this here? The last bit is of Styles shooting herself with a special Dust enhanced bullet that killed her instantly and robbed Norvik of one last kill." Chamberlain said.
"The leaders, he always saved them for last." Ozpin muttered to himself before saying "Well, at least he didn't get that victory. And you're sure you haven't found the scrolls of Styles and the others?"
"No sir, not yet but as soon as they find them they will be delivered to us. I've already told Specialists Yin and Blair, they know their importance."
Glynda nodded and said "Let us hope they find them soon, because if we get that kind of 'dirt' on Adam Taurus, we could tear that entire terrorist organization down from the inside out."
"Until then, we'll have to depend on Branwen, Schnee, and the students." Ironwood said.
"I suppose so, now if you'll all excuse me, I need to get in contact with some families." Chamberlain said seriously before leaving.
Glynda bid him goodbye before looking to the two men and saying "Did you notice how Norvik said there were eight Grimm Hybrids?"
Ozpin nodded and said "Yes, the two traitors obviously being Jaune and Pyrrha and thanks to Miss Nikos we know of four of those eight; Sheer Kaa, Ziz, Steppenwolffe, and Norvik. But that means..."
Ironwood finished for him with "That means that there are two new ones, ones that even Nikos is unfamiliar with."
As the hologram of Ironwood's office vanished Glynda turned to Ozpin and placed a comforting hand on him.
"It's not your fault, Norvik isn't your responsibility. You did your best to end his threat, you always try your best." she told him.
Ozpin gave her a tired, ashamed, and hollow look before saying "Tell that to the all of the Faunus he has killed. Just another failure to add to my ever growing list."
He got out of his chair and looked out the window.
"He had the soul of a monster before, but now Salem has given him the body to match it.
Happy Halloween everybody, I hope this was creepy enough for you. Try and name all of the horror references I made in this chapter they range from super obvious to obscure, so do your best to find as many as you can, but don't do in your reviews, just PM me. Thanks!
See you next month for another JNPR, Fox, and Sage chapter, and a follow up on Violet's lead.
Also, before you ask; yes the Faunus left behind that Riley mentioned was the skeleton CFVY found back in chapter 29.
Originally I was going to feature the video recordings but I decided to leave them hidden for now, since if they found hard evidence against Adam this arc would end too soon. Also Styles and Riley were going to be lovers, but I changed to them being friends.
I want to personally thank each and everyone of you for reading this story and helping it grow, you guys might not be as big in number as Resurgence but you give me hope because there are just times where I feel hopeless, the fact that my fic doesn't have that many followers or faves makes me feel like what I'm doing is pointless but I look at your reviews and comments and it makes me feel better, like what I'm doing really matters. Thank you all and if any of you enjoy this fic but haven't faved or followed it yet please do, it makes me feel like I'm not a total failure. You guys keep me happy and make me smile everyday.
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