Chapter 25, The Infiltrator
The civilian cargo transport occupied by the White Fang made it's approach toward the Kingdom of Lothadare. Passing over the Kingdom walls, the ship made it's approached toward the city Northern docks. Souring above a row of warehouses, the ship slowly made it's decent over. The ship came before the entrance of one of the structure with the Number fifty two above the entrance. The Door slowly opened by two white fang members, who then gestured for the ship to enter.
The ones piloting the ship nodded in acknowledgment. They then flew transport forward as they entered into the Wearhouse.
The White fang members were already hard at work unmounting the cargo from the ship. Carrying the crates down the ramp, they then brought them into the warehouse. It was there they broke the code over the panels, causing the top of the crates to open. Roman came up to one the crates, glancing down inside at the found the new weapon prototypes they had stolen. He smirked, taking the cigar from his mouth as he flicked away the aches.
"I have to say, Adam" He said, glancing back at Adam.
"This joint business with you and the White Fang is proving to be very mutually beneficial."
Roman reached down and pulled out one of the blaster prototype. He then turned back to Adam, pointing the blaster upward with a sly grin.
"These are going to sell for a fortune on the black market." He insisted with a sly grin.
"Don't forget, we didn't steal these weapons so you can sell them to the highest bidder," Adam claimed to Torchwick.
"These are going to serve the White Fang in our fight against the Kingdom of Lothadare. You would do well to remember our deal."
Roman Torchwhick gave another sly smirk, shaking his head. He was well aware of the deal they made. Why it was that he and the White fang had gone into business together.
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware of our little deal," he said, handing off the weapon to one of the white fang members.
"But war isn't cheap, you know. Especially when you go against one of the most prestigious Kingdoms in all of Opara."
Adam stared at Torchwick with a stern expression. The arrogance and greed of humanity was a trait that was well despised by Adam Taurus. Though he knew there was truth behind Torchwicks words. War was not something that came cheap. If the White Fang was going to make Lothedare pay for all it's crimes against the Faunus, they needed the funding for such a conflict.
It was the reason why they turned to Roman and his gang to begin with. A professional thief possessed the methods of obtaining all they needed to challenge such a superpower.
"You humans are all the same." he said.
Torchwich scoffed at Adam.
"Hey, I'm simply an opportunist," Roman proclaimed to him.
"Besides, with our next heist, it won't matter that we sell off some of these prototypes."
He then turned back to the crates behind him, looking over the weapons they stole. Adam then glanced back, where he saw Blake sitting over a crate at the other side of the warehouse. She was gazing up at the skylight above, peering at the moon that was glinting above. Staring in utter contempt at the guilt she felt over what she had done. Abandoning those people on the bridge of that Cargo ship. It all continued to haunt her.
Their faces. Their pleads for her to let them go.
Blake closed her eyes, sighing as she shook her head. By now everything the White fang was becoming became more and more apparent to her. She had tried to deny it for so long. But she couldn't any longer. All their attacks on Lothadare. Siding with a criminal scum such as Roman Torchwick. And now leaving innocent people to their death.
This wasn't what she wanted.
Adam walked up from behind Blake.
"Blake." He said.
Blake narrowed her head.
"How could you..." Blake asked, glancing back at him.
"What?" Adam said.
"Those people were innocent," She proclaimed to him.
"How could you just leave them to die?!"
Adam frowned.
"No Human in innocent, Blake," Adam proclaimed to her.
"Especially not Lothadare. Do you think that stopped them from imprisoning us. From using us as slaves."
"But this isn't right!" she insisted to him.
"We are trying to bring equality between us and the Humans. Not start another war!"
"War is the only way the humans will listen to us." Adam proclaimed to her.
Blake closed her eyes, cocking her head away.
"Don't tell me your going soft now, Blake." Adam said as he came around her.
Adam placed his hand atop her cheek, turning her to face him. Blake glanced up at Adam.
"We're doing this for our people," Adam said.
"Just like they did for us long ago. Remember that, Blake."
Blake narrowed her eyes, glancing to the side. She knew what it was he was referring to. The very thing that had started this whole conflict between the White Fang and Lothadare. What was said would put an end to the tyranny that the Faunas had to endure in the Kingdom. Only for it to bring most hostility to their people.
"R- right..." She said.
"I remember."
Adam grinned. It was at that moment they were approached by one of the other White Fang members.
"Adam, Torchwick is asking for you." They said.
Adam grinned, glancing down at Blake. He then lowered his hand, gesturing for her to follow her.
"Come on," he said, gesturing his head to follow.
"Lets go."
Roman Torchwick stood before a large map of the Kingdom of Lothadare. Over the map, he had drown a red circle around Lothadare Academy. What was to be their next big heist. Rumor had it that the Royal family had a secret vault at the school, filled with all sort of old relics from the past. Ones that would be worth a fortune of the Black Market. Even more then so then the prototypes they stole.
And they would soon have the opportunity to find out. Especially now when the Academy was about to receive this years batch of students.
Roman glanced back at Adam and Blake, who came up from behind.
"Ah, there's our little infiltrator." Roman said, turning to Blake.
Blake then paused, squinting her eyes a Roman.
"Infiltrator?" She said.
"Why yes, my dear," Roman proclaimed to her.
"This next heist is going to set us up for life. And you have the most important part to play."
Roman came up next to Blake, throwing his arm around her shoulders. He then pointed the tip of his cane at the red circle on the map.
"For you're going to be enrolling in Lothadare Academy." Roman proclaimed to her.
Blake squinted his eyes at Roman.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
Roman shook his head, uttering a sigh as he rolled his eyes.
"Uh, please keep up with me here," Roman said, as he took back his arm.
"I'm talking about finding the Royal Family's secret hidden vault. Word is that they keep it somewhere on the Academy grounds. And that it's filled with all kinds of ancient relics."
Roman turned back to Blake.
"And seeing that your at the appropriate age to attend the Academy, you are going to find it for us." He proclaimed to her.
Blake paused for a moment. She glanced back at Adam, who walked passed her as he came up to the map.
"That vault posses artifacts and weapons they taken from the Faunus," Adam proclaimed.
"Weapons that we can use against Lothadare. It's time we take back what rightfully belongs to us."
That Night in the Arena, Pyrrha and Qrow continued with Training. As well as putting her new weapons and armor to the test. Their swords clashed together with a loud Ching sound as the steel of their blades collided. The two switched the position of their swords continued to clash against each other. Pyrrha began to push forward, using all the techniques that Qrow had taught her.
She swung her swords from all sides as she slashed Qrow's sword, who blocked her every attempt. He then pushed her back and raised his sword in an attempt to swing his sword. Only for her to hold up her shield in the nick of time, causing his sword to clash and slide off it. Qrow continued to swipe his sword, clashing it over her shield. Pyrrha continued to hold against his attempts. Once seeing her opportunity, she glanced down at Milo that she was holding behind her.
Her sword changed transformed into it's javelin form. She then thrusted it forward at Qrow, who reacted quickly to her attack. He blocked her attempt with the Harbinger, causing him to slide back from the sheer strength she used. He then glanced up to Pyrrha, who then charged forward toward him. She then leaped into the air and tossed it down at him. Qrow leaped back as the tip of the javelin plunged into ground from which he stood.
Pyrrha landed next to it, grabbing hold of the Javelin and pulled it out of the ground. She then swung around, swiping the Javelin around as she then tripped Qrow onto his back. Qrow leaned up his head, glancing up at Pyrrha who then stood up. Qrow got back up from the ground, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Nice move, kid." Qrow commented.
Pyrrha smiled, nodding her head.
"Thanks." She said as she came up to him.
"Sorry about tripping you."
Qrow shrugged.
"Wouldn't be the first time." He insisted.
He then glanced up to Milo, which then reverted back into it's sword form. He smirked, impressed to say the least. Considering they were the weapons they trained with the most. And they were the ones that she exceled at the most.
"A sword and a Javelin." He said.
"Interesting choices."
Pyrrha glanced down at Milo, grinning.
"It's also a gun." Pyrrha said.
Pyrrha glanced back down at Milo, which then transformed into it's riffle form. Qrow smirked, nodding his head. The three forms she had chosen for her weapon resembled that of her father's.
"Your father would be proud," Qrow said, only to then pause upon realizing what he said.
"I mean, he will be proud."
Qrow cursed himself for having to lie to her. Pyrrha smiled, nodding her head as she glanced down at Milo.
"I can't wait to show him one day," She claimed to him.
"There's so much that we need to catch up on."
Qrow glanced the the side as he placed the Harbinger behind him. He knew that he needed to tell her one day. But not now. Not with the Academy starting back up tomorrow. Pyrrha had been looking forward to attending. Much to his concern over the whole idea.
Pyrrha then turned and gazed toward the Academy. Tomorrow was when the Academy would begin bringing in new students. Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, glancing to the side. She frowned, knowing she would probably not be enrolling into the Academy. She was at the age where she'd be able to attend. But she had heard the conversations between Qrow and Rueban. Or more like arguments. Qrow had said that even if she was to attend the Academy, it would mean being enlisted into either the Lothadarian Military or Royal Guard.
"Tomorrow will be the first day of classes," She said.
"Which means more students are coming as well."
Qrow nodded his head.
"Uh, yeah." He said, glancing to the side.
He glanced back to Pyrrha, seeing her head narrowed. He knew how she must be feeling right now. He had seen the way she looked at the other students that had come and gone over the years. He thought back to what Rueban had said earlier. While he was still concerned by her being enlisted by the council, it would be good for her to interact with people her age.
He then sighed before turning back to her.
"Hey, so listen, Kid," he said.
"Me and Rueban have been talking lately..."
Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, knowing well what those discussions entailed. He didn't need to say anything. She already know what his answer would be.
"Qrow, I already know what your going to say," She said, turning back to him.
"And I understand the risks."
"And we thought, it would be good for you to enroll into the Academy." Qrow proclaimed to her.
Pyrrha paused for a moment. She turned back to Qrow, gazing up to him in awe and anticipation.
"You mean...?" she said.
Qrow nodded his head to her.
"That's right, kid," he said.
"As of tomorrow, your going to be this years first student at the Academy."
Pyrrha gazed up in awe at Qrow. She then cupped her hands over her mouth, unable to contain her excitement. She then came up to Qrow, wrapping her arms around him as he hugged him, tightly.
"Thank you, Qrow!" she said.
Qrow glanced down to her, smiling.
"Your welcome, kid." he said.
The Next Day
King Larr and his council were gathered in the Council Chamber the next morning. At the entre of the room stood General Granger and his first lieutenant, who had called them to Audience.
"Your majesty, High Council, I bring urgent news." The General proclaimed to the King and the council.
"Last night another of our Transports was attacked."
The King squinted his eyes.
"By who?" the King asked.
"The White Fang, your Majesty." The General said.
The council erupted with gasped of shock, exchanging glances to one another. The King narrowed his head, clinching his fist in anger. If the Grimm were enough to worry about, the White Fang continue to spread chaos throughout his Kingdom.
"Did you manage to apprehend them this time?" The King asked.
The General shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, your Majesty" The General said.
"By the time we arrived, the Transport was destroyed and they escaped with the Prototypes."
The King uttered a groan of frustration as he stood up from the table.
"Have the Gods no forgiveness for my family." Larr exclaimed.
The King then turned and walked up toward the fire place, where stood a high Portrait of his father, the old King. It was there he stood, pondering.
"For years I have tried to make a mends with the Faunus," He proclaimed to them.
"To atone for what my family has done. I granted them equality, oppertunity. Anything the could possibly want. And yet still, the White Fang continue to undermine my efforts."
"Regardless, until we determine who they are, we should put the Kingdom on high alert," General Granger insisted to the king.
"I will have the Royal Guard lock down the palace at once. In the mean time, my troops will patrol the city until we discover their whereabouts."
King Larr turned back toward the General.
"Do what you must to protect my people," The King decreed.
"But I want them alive, General."
General Granger nodded his head.
"Yes, your majesty." General Granger proclaimed to the King.
The General and his Lieutenant the turned and walked toward the door to the chamber. The king of which then turned back toward the fire place, where he peered up at the portrait of his father. The King thoughts then turned to the danger that had now befallen his Kingdom and his people. No matter what it would take, he would ensure their safety of the citizens of Lothadare. And that the White Fang stand trial for all the crimes they had committed.
Aaron Tarith was standing at the bow of the civilian transport. He gazed ahead over the city of Lothdare and what would be a bright future that he had longed for since he was young. He was sixteen years of age, tall and a bit muscular. His eyes an icy blue with short dark brown spiked hair with a medium skin fade over each side of his head. He was also wearing white armor which resembled that of the armor which was worn by Lothadarian trooper.
The armor of which included a chest plate over top of a short sleeved black shirt, which had a blue tattoo image of a Eagan over the right breast. A full covering of his right arm, with his left only having that of the wrist plate. He also wore a pair of cargo pants and steel toed black boots. A assault blaster riffle which was magnetized over his back.
Reaching down into the right pocket of his cargo pants, where he pulled out his scroll. Pressing the small button at the centre, the screen then opened which showed revealed a photo. The photo included that of a boy, standing between a man dressed in a Lothadarian military officer uniform and a woman with blond hair wearing a white ceremonial dress. Aaron uttered a sigh.
"Hey, dad." he said.
"Hey!"
Aaron was snapped back to reality. He then glanced back, where he saw his two best friend, Keith and Hanako, standing behind him. Keith was a tall, brutish figure with darker skin, short black hair and a goatee over his chin. He wore a sleeveless red shirt and dark grey and black vest overtop with black pants. He also had what looked to be a large hammer over his back.
Hanako was a girl of Asian decent with short black hair with a silver streak over her left eye, wearing a long sleeved white shirt which left her mid section open, with a black hood hanging down over her back. An silver skirt over some black leggings and boots that reached up to her knees. A loved sheaved Katana-like sword over her right hip.
"There you are, we've been looking all over for you." Keith said.
"Yeah, where've you been?" Hanako said.
Aaron closed his scroll and slipped it back in his pocket.
"Sorry, guys," He said.
"Just uh... needed some air."
Aaron then turned and leaned over the ship's railing, continuing to gaze out over the city. Keith came up to him, padding him over his back.
"It's cool, man, we get it." Keith said as he came up next to him.
"I mean... this is it. This is our big break. We're finally going to Knights of Lothedare."
Hanako nodding her head, leaning back against the railing.
"Now we just need to make sure we're on the same team." Hanako insisted to them.
"Right, that too." Keith said, pointing to her.
Aaron smirked, humorously.
"Speaking of teams, we're still one short," Keith said.
"What are we gonna do about our forth member?"
Aaron and Hanako glanced to one another. Both of them just as unsure as Keith was about who would join their team. It was required for all teams to have four members to their party. Back when they were kids, they all agreed they would be on the same team when they would enroll in the Academy. Though the matter of a fourth member was a topic back then, they would often say they would figure it out. But they never did.
Aaron shook his head as he shrugged.
"It's fine," he insisted.
"I'm sure we'll get paired off with one of their other students here."
The three glanced back at the many other students that were on decks, talking amongst themselves. The chances of at least one of them being paired with them seemed like a good bet. All that they needed to do was ensure that they would be paired together.
"I guess your right." Keith said.
The three turned and continued to gaze ahead over the city. Unannounced to them of the figure in a white tail coat and two cat ears standing off to the side, glancing back at them, suspiciously. Only to then turned forward, narrowing her eye as she pondered what she was about to do.