As promised, here's the next chapter. I finished this one a bit early so I'll keep going and see how far I can get.


Chapter 11: There goes the neighborhood


The team hesitantly followed Alexandrite, the door behind them eventually closing shut causing Nitro to yell out in surprise, trying in vain to retrace a door handle. "Enough kid, don't waste your time, it's sealed shut. We're going to have to find some other way out," Qrow said as he scanned the door for a similar opening as the outside.

"You mean we're stuck in here?" Blake asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No there is more than one exit," Alexandrite said.

"How are you so sure about that?" Weiss came back.

"Well take a look around, this place was clearly some sort of complex, with hundreds of people who worked or lived here. There's gotta be more than one way. And unless I missed the mission briefing, there's an access point at the top near the antenna, unless this is some other spooky underground facility and we just got the wrong place" He responded sarcastically causing the heiress to sputter in embarrassment. If he were completely honest with himself, the logic, sound as it was, was only half the reason. He felt it somewhere in the back of his mind as if he'd been here before.

Ruby looked around following her team. The structure was formed like a tall cylinder, layers upon layers of balconies and floors stacked up to a space on the ceiling where what seemed to be daylight shining down. The hollowed-out center was stacked with a strange formation, a pedestal of sorts encased in layers of strange mechanical armatures, protecting what appeared to be a small cube. Each floor seemed almost a mirror of the previous one, strange computers and desks, chairs and broken bits lay tossed and overturned. Rust gathering on some of the metal components while what seemed to be a form of root entangling itself within the walls of the structure. This place, whatever it was, had been abandoned for a while now.

"Alexandrite, you okay?" she asked the other team leader, whose eyes were transfixed on the cube-like object in the middle of the area. She tugged at the sleeve of his jacket but no response. "Alex-" she was cut off as he began walking forward in a trance-like state, the hum calling him forward.

"Hey bro you good?" Nitro asked as Alexandrite moved down the blue light path straight to the centre. Nitro could only call out in vain as he watched as his friend ascended the step-like structure of the monument. Alexandrite, on the other hand, didn't even realize he was being addressed. The hum from before was like a roar in his ears, a beckoning screech that begged him to touch the cube. Images flashed through his mind, of humans and Faunus in lab coats roaming around, conducting experiments. What were these? Memories? His mind was too hazy and unfocused to contemplate on them.

"Hey, you shouldn't touch unknown objects!" Weiss cried out but to no avail. Alexandrite had already ungloved his hand, and like a machine, he began channeling his aura into the block.

The mechanical arms began to move apart as the entire complex whirred to life. Orange circuit veins spread throughout turning on the power in the building.

In a blinding flash of light, the cube rose rapidly out of Alexandrite's grasp, startling the boy out of his trance. He was knocked to the floor, images of a room located in the facility with a glass box flashed through his mind.

"What! Wha, The hell was I doing?!" he was in a state of mixed confusion and fear, the roar no longer resonating in his ears. Ruby and Sapphire rushed to his side holding him up. "Hey bro you okay?" Sapphire asked as she helped him to his feet.

"Not sure, that was kinda…my head feels funny," he responded.

"Funny haha or funny weird?" Ruby asked as she leaned in close to inspect his eyes. Blushing from the closeness he reeled back. "Funny weird, it was…" he was cut off when a surge of pain shot through Alexandrite's head '... the cube... key... find.. serum...' he heard a voice in his head calling him.

"Great, even more, weird shit. First, you magically turn on the building and now this cube is shoved into your hands. It's like this facility was programmed to resonate with you, the question is... why?" Nitro said rubbing his temples.

The cube in his palm now was very intricately crafted, it was designed like a puzzle cube, varying symbols adorned its surface but it neither moved nor rotated which confused Alex. The only saving grace was a small groove, the size of a thumb, located on the top of the object. Shrugging to himself he just tossed the cube into his hoodie pocket. "I have no idea what this thing is for but we can't dwell on it for too long. Come on we need to find out what's causing this storm."

Everyone nodded and moved on except for Weiss who just blinked incredulously, "Are we seriously going to ignore what just happened?" They all ignored her instead.

"Spread out, but don't stray too far, look for any information on this place, there's gotta be some stray documents, files or clues that can help us fish out what we're here for, whatever that is. Randolf must've left something behind, some clue." Qrow said as he began walking around.

Hex went with Nitro exploring the first floor, Sapphire and Alexandrite took the bottom floor while team RWBY scattered. Everywhere he turned, more bits of machinery and broken parts appeared. There were claw marks on the ground in several areas, and what one could only discern as bloodstains.

They didn't really have to search for long as a loud grating sound like metal against metal rang throughout the facility.

"FOUND SOMETHING!" Nitro called down to the others.

In truth on the first floor was a computer lab of sorts or communication station. Desks loaded with damaged files and brunt papers stood lined in rows at the middle of the room like a ring of circles. On the far wall was a large collection of computer screens, around sixteen monitors. Nothing was powered but it must've been a central hub of sorts.

"Hex, think you can dig up anything from these?" Alexandrite asked his friend. She turned to him nodding her head, "I can try but this stuff is pretty much dead."

"What is this place anyway, I can't tell given the design of it." Sapphire piped in.

"From what I've seen, some sort of Research and Testing facility, the scrapped tech and labs are a dead giveaway to me," Weiss said as she and the rest of team RWBY followed by Qrow strolled in.

"This place has been long abandoned, a lot of the rooms were broken into, though from the age of the damage marks I'm assuming they weren't caused by looters, more like this place was raided and then trashed." Blake said her hand grasping her chin in a thinking manner.

"Gives me the creeps in all honesty," Ruby said shuddering.

"Oh come on sis! What's gonna be lurking in this frozen dump? All the Grimm are upstairs on the surface." Yang said pulling some stray icicles from her hair.

"Hey guys I got something," Hex said drawing everyone's attention.

She sparked together some wires and hooked up her scroll, she tapped out something incomprehensible to normal people and suddenly one of the screens flashed with four files. "Looks like a series of audio logs kept by one of the people who worked here, the only thing I could fully piece together, the rest of the data is corrupted." Hex said hitting play on the first file. Everyone in the room stood quietly waiting.

"Audio log one, date *static*. Dr. Remus. The Head technician recommended we all keep audio logs daily, something about data relevancy. It's been around twelve days since we started experimenting on the Aegis Project here at this White Fang Research Laboratory *static*. The main issues so far have been the sheer minuscule size of the robots we've been working with, their practically cellular, fusing technology with the human body is a much harder task than we anticipate, we've gone through *static* procedures involving *static* with no luck. That damned crystal is impossible to deal with. Will update later."

The voice was old, as one would expect from his type. Once the file stopped and the second began automatically playing.

"Audio log three, date *static*. The brass has been hammering down on us about finishing up soon, something is wrong. Some new lady came in recently, never her them before but she claims to be specialists. Let's hope she can help speed things up. Dr. Stein out."

"Audio log six, date *static*. We did it! We made a breakthrough! It only took one hundred and twenty-three attempts. We were on the verge of being shut down if we didn't make progress. Honestly, I was beginning to lose hope had it not been for Dr. *static*. I don't know where they brought her in from but she's worked miracles. The only thing is she seems to be rather angry and distant to everyone here. Dr. Remus Stein out"

Alexandrite had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, the unnamed doctor.

" Last one guys," Hex said hitting play on the final file. "What's weird is that information on the dates and names except for the one recording this are missing. As if data was purposely expunged." Qrow noted.

"Audio Log I don't even care anymore. Fuck the date, we're under attack! Something managed to fry our defences, the Grimm broke into the facility and brought an army. Dr. *static* took the serum, I'm not sure where she hid it. It's all her doing! She rigged the base's systems, she sabotaged our work. No one believes me, they all see her as a saint. She's protected, she's too valuable to the cause, I'm expendable, all I know right now is that if the High Commander doesn't get that serum then we're all dead. I'm going to get the failed samples and use them as a bargaining tool, hopefully, they'll spare me." The rest of the recording went to static.

"This is…." Weiss was at a loss for words.

"I'm not sure what happened but it looks like whatever the White Fang were looking for here they never found it. We need to be on guard, if Randolf requested our help here it must mean that he found something." Qrow instructed before taking a sip from his flask. The team walked back to the pyramid structure in the middle to look for clues.

"If I'm understanding this right, this place was used as a research facility for the White Fang. Since when did a terrorist organization get the power to build all this? And what were they experimenting on? Some sort of crystal? A serum? What does this mean?" Blake thought, her mind frantic at the sheer gravity of the information. Just how dangerous had the white Fang become?


It wasn't very long before they were brought out of their thoughts by a sudden noise in the dark.

Blake's ears twitched in the direction of the sound, an all too familiar sound. Her golden eyes widening in fear as her ears clamped to her head slowly backing toward her team. Yang turned to her friend with concern, "Blake you good? You look like you've seen a ghost."

The young girl could only shake her head and point in the direction of the distant tapping sound. The sound of pristine shoes clacking against the metal of the floor.

"What are you pointing at? What's up?" Yang questioned louder now gaining the attention of her team.

"Yo, what's…" Nitro started but couldn't finish as he was interrupted by the loud clapping of hands. The slow clap turned rapid until it died out completely, a tall figure emerging from the darkness into the faint daylight that protruded from the ceiling.

"Bravo! Bravo Blake! Your hearing hasn't rusted in the slightest, I'm surprised you were able to detect me at all, and all this time I'd thought you'd gone soft," the figure spoke in a deep but not too low masculine voice. He wore a pitch-black suit with a tailcoat jacket and a scarlet red undershirt. Around his waist a long blade, similar to Asura except the sheathe wasn't nearly as thick, and it curved like a traditional katana. The most prominent thing about him was the startlingly red hair and the two bull horns peeking out. Around his eyes was a white Grimm Mask.

"Adam!" The girl in black sneered out loudly. The name freezing Alexandrite so quickly it put the temperature outside to shame.

"Ease it, girl, I'm not here for you, at least not unless you want to come back? Though I do suppose taking you with me would be a valuable bonus." His words flowed like a vile poison from behind his wicked smile.

"Why are you here!" Blake spat, the anger and fury rising inside her just looking at him. Anger and a great deal of fear. She knew what he was capable off and she feared for her team and herself.

"Tsk tsk tsk, No no, You could be a little nicer to your former leader?" He gestured his arms open as if to say he was defenceless.

"I've got nothing to say to you that would be pleasant," Blake seethed.

"Leader?" Ruby asked turning to her teammate.

"Yeah, remember when I told you I used to be part of the White Fang? Well I wasn't just part of it, I was working under him, he was my mentor and leader," she said as if the mere thought disgusted her to her core.

Ruby held onto Blake's arm, "It's all in the past Blake, you're our friend, you're family, none of that in the past matters now," she said with a genuine smile. Blake felt comfort in her words but dared not stray her gaze from the man in front of her lest the moment she turns her back they all die.

Qrow walked up in front of the girls, "Adam Taurus, one of the leaders of the White Fang and active terrorist. You know when I got word that this mission was dangerous I didn't think the likes of you would be involved. What are you doing here?" He said his hand ready to pull Harbinger at any moment.

Adam smiled again and let his right armrest at his side while his left raised and pointed to Alexandrite would have been frozen in shock this whole time.

"You want to know why I'm here? I'm here for two things," his raised arm now gesturing the number two. "First, to collect the results of our 'project'. The serum and the crystal that helped make it all possible" he paused, his eyes behind the mask now trained on Alexandrite, "The second, is you, Alexandrite and Sapphire Lucius," he let his arm drop now all eyes trained on Alexandrite, the leader in question was absolutely terrified, like the cold lump that had formed in his stomach was now threatening to eat him alive. How had he been discovered? WHEN HAD HE BEEN DISCOVERED?!

"Or should I say, Nova and Luna Flareheart!" Adam yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. The words that came out at that moment startled Alexandrite out of his frozen state and caused a collective gasp in the room. All except Qrow who cursed under his breath.

"How did…" Alexandrite stammered but was cut off by Adam. "How did I know? Do you think your pathetic disguises would hide you forever? It doesn't matter what you look like, or what you change your name to. I will always find you, the filthy blood that runs through your veins reeks like putrid rot." He was furious.

You would think after almost nine years you would have learned by now, you could never hide from me!" Adam yelled, exuding a pressure that shook even Qrow.

"Alexandrite what is he talking about?" Blake asked turning her gaze away to her friend. She knew he was a Faunus but she didn't know he had connections to Adam.

Ruby just shot him a concerned look, dread flowing over her features at Adam's implication.

"Oh I guess you didn't tell them huh?" Adam said as he gazed at the confused and fearful expressions of the people in the room. "Must be why you're still wearing that stupid mask, did Wulf give you that? A pathetic old man giving his rags to his poor adopted kids, honestly…weak!" he spat.

Alexandrite's face became red with anger, Ruby felt the air around him heat up to an almost unbelievable temperature for just a brief moment.

"See back when we were kids, Nova over here was royalty, a pathetic line of lizards that wielded nothing but weakness and compassion for humanity. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OFF THAT RIDICULOUS DISGUISE AND SHOW EVERYONE WHAT YOU REALLY ARE?" he roared. As the words left his mouth, the air in the facility seemed to stand completely still, as if time itself had stopped. All eyes were trained on Sapphire and Alexandrite. Ruby stood next to Alexandrite, her hands taking his into hers.

"Alexandrite? What's he mean? What's going on?". Alexandrite looked down into those silver orbs that peered full of innocence into his own. His heart breaking at the thought of continuing their charade any longer.

"I ….Everyone I didn't want it to be like this, I wish you would have found out under better circumstances." Alexandrite said solemnly. He nodded to Sapphire, they were prepared for whatever happened next.

"Wait why hadn't you raided this place before? You had perfect opportunity to get your 'project' and get out so why act now?" Weiss managed to choke up.

Adam laughed a monstrous bellow, "Because, Schnee." He spat her name with such venom as if the words would kill her, "This facility, as you are aware, was on lockdown. No one in our organization could break-in. You see... according to our high commander Onyx, this place was working on helping our cause, developing a serum that would boost Faunus capabilities tenfold. It would give us the edge we needed to tear down humanity. But... an unfortunate accident happened and the entire place went on lockdown, the research progress lost inside. We figured it'd just be a matter of time before the humans figure out that something was wrong and sent a team to investigate. Every time they did, we sent special agents to tail them, see if they can get in, until today no one has." He explained.

"And why choose this team, why today? How did you even know?" Qrow questioned, his voice stern.

"What you think you'd get that information out of me? Keep dreaming old man. When I heard there was a team heading here, imagine my surprise when I hear that Blake Belladonna, Alexandrite and Sapphire were on their way. Of course, I didn't actually know it was you behind those masks at first but the fact that one of our scouts caught that filthy mutt running around out here trying to send a message to Beacon Academy earlier this week ... well, it just sort of clicked." Adam said drawing his sword and leaning on it like a cane.

"Wulf? What did you do to him?!" Qrow roared with anger, morphing harbinger into its scythe form.

"Unfortunately nothing. When he'd been discovered, he ran off into the snow like a coward. I'm willing to bet he froze to death out there."

Ruby clutched onto Alex's sleeve, gazing into his mismatched eyes as if searching for the answers to the burning questions in her mind. He would have torn his disguise off right there had he not been interrupted by the angry cries of Adam.

"Enough of this touching moment, you people make me sick. Collaborating with humans, turning your back on the Faunus kind, just like that traitor that's with you. Nova and Luna Flareheart, in the name of the White Fang I find you guilty of treason. The penalty? Execution!" He roared and in almost an instant Qrow was flung backward into the team knocking over Yang and Weiss. Nitro and Hex began prepping for a fight but Qrow was back on his feet.

"Out of my way old man, Ozpin's pet bird has no place in this." Adam seethed.

Qrow held Harbinger up in its scythe form. "RUN GET OUT OF HERE NOW, I'll hold him off." He called back clashing blades with Adam.

"Uncle Qrow WE ARE NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!" Sapphire screamed. Qrow simply smiled back, "Don't worry 'bout me I'll catch up when I'm done with this mad cow," with that he repelled Adam back and launched a flurry of deadly attacks. Adam easily blocked them all.

"Yeah, if all of us jump him, he stands no match!" Nitro yelled and they all felt their sweat drop, Of course, why didn't they think of that.

Adam just let out a throaty chuckle, "What, did you think I wouldn't come with backup?"

At that moment several loud clunks were heard above them as if multiple people had just dropped down onto the surface. "What?! How?! Isn't there a storm?" Weiss asked confused as to how troops managed to get on top of the facility.

"Didn't you hear it? When ash for brains picked up that cube, the storm stopped raging, allowing the rest of my team to join in. Speaking of which, I'll be taking that device!" Adam said as he pushed Qrow back and took a deadly swipe at his neck, which narrowly missed.

"A team? Adam's formed a team?" Blake blinked in surprise.

"GET GOING YOU IDIOTS, I'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM, YOU GET THE GUYS UP TOP!| Qrow yelled out before spinning Harbinger and attempting to cut Adam only for him to stumble on a loose piece of wiring and fall, if it wasn't for his quick reflexes Adam's blade would have cut him down right there.

Alex called to his team, "Come on we need to get out of here, Uncle Qrow's got this, we need to trust him and find an exit, there should be one on the north wing third floor that leads upward. An express elevator of sorts, if the power is back on it should be operational." Alex tucked his jacket back up as quickly as possible.

"How do you know that?" Weiss asked as they ran off following him.

"No clue just trust me," he replied as they ran up flights of stairs.

Turning around to gather their bearings on the third floor, they were blindsided by a flash of red that destroyed part of the circular balcony.

"You're not getting away!" Adam screamed as he launched himself up what seemed like three floors, only to be shot down by Qrow. "HEY I'M YOUR OPPONENT!" the older huntsman shouted regaining his attention.

"Looks like I'll have to deal with you first bird," he seethed while swinging his Katana down in an arc slamming onto Qrow so blindingly fast that the older Huntsman barely had a chance to block, this time there was something else behind his attack that overpowered Qrow, an inhuman level of strength. The Katana cut right through the handle of Harbinger and smashed onto Qrow's head, his aura blocking the blade from cutting him, but it still knocked him out, the impact sending dust flying everywhere.

"UNCLE QROW!" Ruby screamed from the balcony.

The dust cleared and the red glint of Adam's blade flashed once more, within seconds he rocketed upward to them. Sapphire had, had enough of this, they weren't prepared to fight Adam, and worse comes to it the Grimm above them gathered in mass and whatever others Adam brought with him would only make things more difficult. She didn't care anymore; her friends were in danger and her secret was already out.

She stood still breathing in deeply, she closed her eyes and stretched her hand towards Adam, when she reopened her eyes, they were lit up in a bright blue, no longer could they be chalked up to just a trick of the light, they were full-on glowing. The air around them seemed to shift and distort as an invisible force seemingly grabbed hold of Adam and bolted his legs to the ground, a force of equal strength then propelled the unconscious Qrow upward along with Harbinger, where he was caught by an unsuspecting Yang.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!" Yang yelled crushed under her uncle's bruised body.

"No time to explain, we need to move it's not going to hold him for long," Sapphire said as Alexandrite began preparing the elevator up, her breathing laboured as if what she just did drained her greatly. It was a large cargo elevator used to transport crates but it fit their needs. Helping Qrow up they climbed on and bolted to the surface, upon ascending however, all was not as expected.


The raging torrential blizzard that they expected to encounter was met with an unexplainable stillness. Bright golden sunshine bearing down upon the surface of the area, the lift led up to a large metal platform like a circle, above them was the antenna they were supposed to destroy. All was well and good except for three people that stood, waiting for them on the cargo platform. A tall man dressed in what could only be described as drag. He wore a purple dress with green vines on it, accompanied by poorly done makeup, dark green eyeliner and what seemed to be a moss green pair of dual cutlasses at his sides.

The second person was a short dirty blonde wearing neon pink boots and a matching jacket and top. She wore black shorts and all the hems of the clothing were lined with a fluffy frill, strapped to her back was a large cross-shaped shield that almost doubled the size of the short girl. Her eyes were a piercing pink and a fang popping out from under the left side of her mouth.

The final person was someone even more bizarre, he stood roughly seven feet tall with broad shoulders and a long black trench coat. A bowler hat stood atop his head but what made him so bizarre was the fact that he was blindfolded and hand four arms. Rather they were two normal arms and 2 mechanical ones coming out his back. A strange device strapped around his chest connecting to the arms, occasionally spouting bits of steam.

The team stood staring down the three newcomers with a deep sense of caution. No one was prepared for a drawn-out fight with an injured Qrow and Adam Taurus on their heels. A simple crate lift wouldn't stop him for long, but with these three standing before them combined with the storm, their hopes of escape were limited.

"Out of our way…." Weiss spoke in a low tone, her hand gripping onto Myrtenaster, ready to draw at any moment. The guarded expressions on her teammates seemed to mirror her feelings.

"My my didn't they teach you any mannersss at Beacon~?" The man dressed in drag slurred in a voice that did not fit his character, as if he were forcing it to be high pitched, as he spoke his 's', a snake's tongue slithered out and hissed.

"See girly we can't exactly let you leave, the boss has plans for tall edgy and handsome over there, and his sister" the short girl pointed at Alex and Sapphire. "The rest of you though…." She paused glancing over each person on the team, "Are fair game," her lips rose in a face splitting grin.

"Ruby, Alex, take care of Sapphire and Qrow, we can handle this," Weiss called to the two as she readied her weapon.

"Handle usss? You're welcome to try~" The man in the dress slurred again, this time a hint of malicious intent was dripping behind his words.

Weiss immediately sprung at the man, their blades clashing in a dust-filled instant. The man smiled, "Schnee usssing dussst, how…boring," he smiled, his green cutlasses glowed a strange neon green before being covered with a sticky corrosive liquid. Weiss was forced back using a wall of ice dust to shield herself, the liquid eating away at it.

"Name's Lyme, my friends call me the Princess of Poison," he gave a little twirl. Weiss snorted at the man's extravagant display. Biting the inside of her cheek she steadied herself waiting for an attack, when almost out of nowhere A large fist came within centimeters of her face only to be knocked aside by a blur of yellow. "And that's our pal Dune." he said pointing.

"Aye armed and deadly, You're fight's with me!" Yang yelled out as she sent a barrage of punches only to be blocked by the tall man. He made no sound except for grunts. In the midst of her assault two fists came down crashing onto her head, she barely had time to pull up her guard before she was sent flying backward. Spitting out a bit of blood she stood back up ready again but cautious now she knew the strength he possessed, "You gotta be kidding me he hits like a freakin truck!" she yelled, her semblance beginning to take effect.

Nitro saw this as an opportunity and unleashing both of his gauntlets, he launched a jet thrusted punch straight into the man's back. "How'd you like that for hittin like a truck," he saluted to Yang as he took a place standing beside her. Yang smiled at him gratefully. She stood in stance with the taller red-haired boy, "Not bad speedy, we could take him no problem." she punched his shoulder.

Nitro laughed and took on a boxing stance as a load groan erupted from the downed man. "Look's like he aint out of it yet, ready for round two?" he spoke his eyes trained on the man.

Yang prepared herself again, "Hell yeah!".

"Well seems it's just us," the short blonde girl said reaching for the cross-shaped shield on her back. "Looks like it," Hex spoke back, Blake took up stride next to her drawing Gambol Shroud, "I'm with her on this," Blake said.

"Oh, two on one? Now the odds are more even," she smiled and pulled out the shield, it glowed an ominously pink colour, the shield was decorative in the front sporting bladed edges and a crucifix in the middle. It looked heavy but when she lightly touched it to the floor and the rock below it cracked instantly they knew it was much heavier than they could dream. "No way she can swing that thing around easily, we got the speed advantage here," Hex said as she prepared Loki and Eres.

The blonde began laughing maniacally, "You sure 'bout that?" she smiled wickedly. Blake only had a moment to react when the blonde suddenly disappeared from view and reappeared in a flash swinging the shield down like a hammer splitting the ground underneath Blake's feet. If she hadn't used her semblance to dodge the attack she would have been roadkill.

"Bell's the name, murderin' folks' my game, and you're folks so, hurry up and be dead!" she cackled madly as she swung the bladed shield around like a berserker. Hex and Blake shot rounds at her only for them to bounce harmlessly off her shield.

"That thing is way too big..." Blake said biting down on her lip, trying to formulate a plan.

"Ruby go help Weiss, Sapphire's got Uncle Qrow, she may be weak from using her powers but she's still able." Alex said as he motioned her to help Weiss who seemed to be in a corner surrounded by green ooze.

She nodded without a word, though in her mind she wanted to ask a million questions. In a flurry of rose petals, a Crescent Rose came down hard and fast on the unsuspecting Lyme's head. He was quick to dodge however backing up and angling his saber with a swift strike sent Ruby crashing into Weiss. "Ow! That hurt you dolt!" Weiss grumbled as she pushed Ruby off her. Ruby just grunted "This guy is good, way too good," she said prepping her stance again.

"Good, now that things seem to be stable..." Alex got up and stretched himself a bit. Sapphire looked at him confused, "What? Where are going?"

"To deal with an old friend." He said darkly, readying Asura, staring at the elevator pad.


I feel like I made Adam feel like the Joker, or some type of demented mastermind. Oh man the fun I'm having with this portion of the story is tops.