Weiss and Ruby were escorted by Ghira, now dressed in more casual clothing and the CEO started to feel really out of place as many pair of eyes stared at her in curiosity and almost without shame. While she does not consider herself too vain of a person, the quality of clothes despite the style definitely made her stick out like a sore thumb.
"Have you been to the mines before? Spoke to the miners?"
Shooing away the bystanders with a frown, Weiss looked at the older man, "In Mantle, yes."
"Ah, so you have a gist of how to behave around them?" Ghira slowed down and now was walking in step with Ruby and Weiss.
"I prefer to speak frankly with them," Weiss's gaze turned back to the road. "These men work in the dark. They see everything."
"They're actually kinda scary," Ruby mumbled.
Laughing in sympathy, Ghira patted the youngest girl on the back, "They can be, yes."
"Even to you?" Ruby ogled the Chieftain who smiled ruefully.
"It's not uncommon for people to die of health complications from mine labor, Ruby," Weiss informed and also looked at Ghira. "Let me guess, had to inform families of accidents and then also had to soften the blows when people died even off work?"
"Yes."
"My sympathies."
"Thank you."
The rest of the walk was spent in silence as they finally reached the end of residential district and foot of a mountain was now staring them down from above. Weiss felt a small wave of anxiety build up, seeing the entrance to the mines and several trucks driving off, carrying crates and workers alike, gates closing behind them. Ruby tried her best to stay close to the CEO while Ghira made sure no one would approach them carelessly. Approaching the guard post, the Chieftain nodded to the detail who opened the gates to allow the group in.
Walking inside, Weiss experienced what one would call a 'culture shock,' seeing workers on break, dressed in much more rundown SDC manual labor uniforms than the ones in Mantle mines. Even the yellow hardhats seemed much more scuffled. Ruby's small gasp and Ghira's resigned exhale did not help. The equipment did not stack up to the standard versions used today. Most workers sported what would Yang call 'restrained misery mugs.' And now Weiss felt like the shirt and simply jeans she chose for herself and Ruby were a spit in the face for most of these people who immediately noticed the new people, humans no less, enter the first zone.
"Chieftain Belladonna," one of the workers, a man sporting bat wings, approached and nodded to Ghira. Receiving the nod in return, the bat-Faunus then looked at Weiss and Ruby, mainly focusing on the CEO. "Is that them?"
"Uh, we're right here, thanks," Ruby actually looked annoyed for once. "Ruby Rose and this here is my employer, Weiss Schnee."
"Ah, shocking resemblance," the Faunus's tone lowered and Weiss almost wanted to deck him, both out of shame and anger.
"Good day to you," Weiss instead bowed. "May I inquire your name?"
"Yuma."
"Yuma…?"
"No last name," Yuma shrugged. "An orphan."
"I see..."
"Let's not waste time, shall we?" Ghira nudged the other man.
"Of course, follow me."
The three followed the bat-Faunus and the more Weiss saw the state of the mine, the miners themselves and the tech, the more she caught herself staring at it all for a bit too long, losing herself in thoughts. Is this what her father build his empire atop of?
"That prick," Weiss hissed under her breath which did not go unnoticed by either Ruby or Ghira and Yuma.
"Your dad, you mean?" Yuma's voice reached her ears and she nearly jumped. "Yeah, that about sums it up."
"I'm sorry, I've drifted off," Weiss hastily apologized.
"Let's carry on."
Blake trudged on to the lagunas as the blazing sun was warming her up more than she would like. Ilia's recent shift in behavior left her both concerned and annoyed. As much as she did not fancy Weiss Schnee, she had to ensure she was fine as long as she was in her father's company... Oh, what the hell? Who cares what happened to her? It's not like things would get worse for them anyways.
"You heard?" one of the fishermen drawled. "The new SDC big wig is here."
Blake's ears perked up as she hid around the corner of the fishing shack.
"Oh? What now?" another one groaned. "Gonna lash the miners again?"
"Oh I dunno, word has it it's a young woman, pretty soft one at that."
"SDC human? Soft? Yeah right..."
"Well if she goes into the mines, she's dead along with her supposed morals."
Blake's eyes widened.
"B- but what if the Chieftain is with her?" the second Faunus stammered.
"Fuck 'im," Blake's arms balled into fists. "If he's willing to 'negotiate' with a Schnee again, he's no Chieftain of us."
"But if they actually make a good deal," the other fisherman parried. "It will be great for our island."
"Our island will die off anyways in the future."
Blake decided enough was enough and stormed around the corner, "Hey, you two!"
"Oh! Uh! Y- yeah?" the first, tiger-Faunus with ears stammered.
"What were you two talking about?" Blake put her hands on her hips.
"Uh," the second one, the shark-Faunus with sharp teeth's had his mouth opening and closing. "Just local hearsay, you know? A-about someone from SDC getting here earlier today?"
"Heard that part. What was that about the Chieftain not being a Chieftain to you?" Blake's squint made the two fidget. Mainly because they probably knew who she was and what she could tell her father.
Watching the two mumble and squirm for a while, Blake turned on her heels to confidently march away and turn around the corner. Doing so, the girl immediately started sprinting to the mountain. Maybe the hearsay was just that, a hearsay. But something told Blake things were about to go south very quickly.
"Miss Schnee?"
"Yes, Yuma?" Weiss couldn't help but notice small notes of irritation and apprehension in the man's voice.
"I understand that inspections take a long time but we've spent over half-an-hour in second zone," Yuma pointed out. "There are two more."
"Deeper down the rabbit hole we go," Weiss muttered, hoping the comment wasn't offensive but the bat-Faunus did not react.
In all honesty, Yuma was right. Weiss deliberately requested they hold on for some time so that she could personally see the damage her company has dealt to these people. In childhood, Weiss taught to shield and steel her heart to suffering of others, so that all may prosper. And some parts of that training still played a role in her day-to-day life, ever since meeting Ruby and Yang, Weiss started to feel too rigid for her own good. "Ice cold boss-ass bitch," was what Yang would half-jokingly call her when they met face-to-face. The comment itself had no effect on her. But Ruby's reaction in that moment did. The younger girl nearly threw her sister out of the hotel room had Weiss not stopped her. Ruby always saw best in people, or at least tried to.
"Do you consider me a good person?" Weiss once asked her.
Ruby's eyes lowered before she slowly responded, "Not yet. But I know you can be."
That's all it took for Weiss to start looking inward. She started speaking to Winter and Whitley more. Even to their mother, who was just a useless and pathetic drunkard in her eyes. Willow Schnee was not a picture of strong-willed person in Weiss's mind. But now, looking back, she believed that their mother was simply pouring all of her good qualities into her children, until she sucked herself dry.
"Miss Schnee?"
Now the irritation was much more overt.
"Yes, yes," Weiss sighed and rose her chin. "Shall we?"
Ruby quietly followed the two and Ghira was lagging much farther behind, no doubt giving Weiss the opportunity to soak up the grim surroundings.
"Here's the area with Burn Dust," Yuma pointed at the glistening red crystals sticking out of the rock formations all over the cave with rails running through and out of it. Of course even here, in much more dangerous zone, workers wore minimum amount of protection. Fireman gloves and light vests.
"Budget is minimal here as well..."
"Mhm."
Looking around, the CEO noticed that the staff here was very small, "Shouldn't there be more people here?"
"That," Yuma's voice hardened. "Is a good question."
A small rumble ran through the ground.
"Uh oh," Ruby's voice tore through temporary silence after the rumbling seized. "Maybe we should go back for now, just in ca-"
The rumbling returned in force and Weiss noticed flash of light in the far tunnel of the cave.
"Get down!" Ruby tacked her and Yuma to the ground before a wave of fire tore through the air, roaring over them. Most workers behind them had time to react and shove Ghira to the ground as well and taking cover behind crates and rocks. The ceiling rained dust and pebbles as the fires went out. Scrambling, Ruby helped Weiss up while Yuma sprung to his feet.
"The Dust," Yuma informed as Faunus behind them started shouting and checking in on other workers, joined by their Chieftain. "The Dust-!"
"We know!" Ruby cut him off. "Chain reaction and all that!"
"Ruby, get workers out," Weiss ordered. "Escort them to the first zone and out of the mine."
"But- what about you?" Ruby stared at the CEO as the screaming echoed around them.
"I'm going to check if there are any survivors."
"Weiss-!"
"Ruby," Weiss's voice was calm, oddly enough. "That is an order from your superior. Follow it."
Ruby frowned, "Nope."
"Ruby-"
"We're going together," Ruby turned to Yuma. "Well, you heard her. Get to it!"
Without objections, the bat-Faunus sprinted back. Ruby faced Weiss, "Weiss, the flames probably burned a lot of oxygen in there."
"I know."
Weiss started jogging as to not disturb any Dust crystals still intact in mine carts. Groaning, Ruby followed.
Blake's heart sank as she saw the plumes of smoke and dust bellow out of the gates to the mine, her feet freezing in place.
"What the hell happened there!?" one of the passerby yelled.
Shaking off the dreadful feeling, the cat-Faunus legged it to the gates and motioned the guards to open up. Squeezing into the gap as the gates started opening, Blake's mind blanked at the sight of workers and their condition. Some had soot on them from head to toes, some missing an arm or a leg.
"Blake!" Ghira yelled and waved to her. "Over here!"
Blake ran up to the Chieftain who was busy administering first-aid to workers while Yuma was carefully moving the injured over to him.
"Dad, you okay!?"
"I'm fine, dear," Ghira answered, without looking away from the worker he was bandaging, blood on his hands. "I need you to do something for me."
"Anything."
"Miss Schnee and miss Rose went deeper into the mine," the man pointed to the tunnel. "They're searching for survivors."
"They're insane," Blake was aghast. "The tunnels could collapse at any moment."
"Which is why I need you to find them and bring them back here."
"Me…?"
"Yes, you."
"But-"
"Blake!" Ghira grunted, moving on to the next worker Yuma had set down. "We can't allow these two to die or get injured here."
The black-haired girl kicked the pile of dust, frustrated. Yes, her father made a good point but he's taking unnecessary risks.
"Ugh, fine!" Blake yelled as she sprinted into the tunnel.
"Anyone alive in here!?" Ruby shouted as her and Weiss cleared the path forward. "Hello!?"
"There's most likely a cave-in," Weiss speculated.
"Then there's nothing we can do here," Ruby concluded. "We better go back."
"No," Weiss shook her head and loosened her shirt's collar. "Let's stick around for few more minutes."
"Weiss!" Ruby hissed. "If there's cave-in, we won't get to anyone."
Weiss did not respond and kept slowly walking forward. Many lights were out save for few so they had to rely on sense of touch to continue onward. The air felt thicker and thicker, suggesting that the flames did indeed burn considerable amount of oxygen. The two spent around five minutes, looking around and calling out. Weiss's feet stepped on something and the crunch was similar to small grains of glass being shattered. Looking down, Weiss's eyes widened and she procured a handkerchief, scooping the suspicious substance, wrapping it in the small cloth. Yet another tremor shot beneath their feet, the two girls looked at each other.
"That's not good," Ruby mumbled.
"Schnee! Rose!"
The two turned to the source of the shouting and saw Blake sprinting towards them.
"Belladonna," Weiss nodded. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing…!" Blake stopped to catch her breath. "We-! We need to get out of here…!"
Ruby looked at the SDC CEO expectantly who just sighed, "Okay. Okay we go back for now."
"For now?" Blake questioned.
"There's likely cave-in further ahead," Weiss jerked her head over her shoulder. "Let's go. We need proper digging tech."
The three started jogging back. Weiss and Blake looking back over their shoulders.
Ruby went ahead and asked the uncomfortable question, "How long do the people trapped in a cave-in have?"
"Depends," Blake answered and Weiss nodded. "Usually from one to several hours."
Reaching the first zone, the three still found the Chieftain tending to the wounded. Noticing the group, Ghira stood up from crouching position.
"Survivors?"
"Unknown," Weiss replied. "There's a likely cave-in but with low visibility and the risk of another chain-reaction, we couldn't check further."
"I see," Ghira rubbed his eyes and sighed, pointing to the people present. "Let's get these people out of here and give them medical attention."
"I'm going to my room," Weiss announced getting to stairs. "Disturb me at your own risk."
Blake couldn't say she was surprised but the way Weiss basically told her to piss off was new. The CEO was never this harsh, not even remotely. Ruby did not seem to mind at all apparently as she just mock-saluted and went to her own room, leaving Blake alone. Ghira stayed with the miners at the hospital. Of course her mother already knew of the events, having received Ghira's call earlier.
"Mom?" Blake walked into the kitchen.
"Where are miss Schnee and Rose?" Kali shot up from the table and hugged her daughter.
"The CEO went to her room and said not to touch her," Blake returned the embrace and spared a glance in the direction of where the CEO's room would be. "Ruby went to her room too."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"Here," Kali pointed at the tea cup. "I've made some green tea for you. I was hoping that miss Schnee and Rose would have some too."
"Don't worry, they'll have it later" Blake assured her mother and took the cup. "Thanks."
Drinking the tea in one gulp, ignoring the burning sensation in her throat, Blake set the cup down and moved to the door, "I'll be in my room if you need anything."
"Okay, Blake."
"No, that's fine," Weiss sighed, turning her Scroll away for a moment. "Yes, I understand. Thank you."
Hearing a knock on the door, Weiss ended the call with one last 'Thank you' and raised her voice, "I thought I said not to disturb me."
The door opened and Weiss saw a frowning Ruby in the doorway, "Weiss? Can I come in?"
"… Sure," Weiss relented. "What is it, Ruby?"
Closing the door and closing the distance between them, the younger girl pinched the CEO on the forearm.
"Ow," Weiss deadpanned.
"That's for worrying me," Ruby huffed and crossed her arms. "What you did back there was stupid."
"You went with me, remember?" Weiss gave Ruby a pinch of her own.
"Yeah, because of what might've happened," Ruby refused to meet her gaze.
"All I did was follow the example you've set up for me," Weiss defended herself with little emotion.
"Are you-?" Ruby's head jerked back to look at her, anger and confusion dancing in her silver eyes. "Are you kidding me!? You're still hung up on what Yang and I told you back then!?"
"Who wouldn't be? You've made pretty good case."
"Weiss," Ruby shook her head. "I appreciate the effort but that was reckless."
"I won't apologize."
The two stared at each other for good ten seconds before Ruby gave up, throwing her hands up and sitting down on the bed.
"On another topic," Weiss threw a small handkerchief on the pillow next to Ruby. "Found something interesting."
"A handkerchief?"
"Look inside, dunce. Carefully."
Unwrapping the cloth, Ruby raised a confused eyebrow. Glancing at her friend/employer, Ruby asked:
"What is that?"
"Powdered Dust," Weiss's face remained passive. "Explosive one at that."
"But there were no fine grinders for such Dust in the mines..."
"Exactly."
Ruby's eyes widened, "No, no. You mean..."
Weiss gently took the handkerchief and put it on the table, not facing the bodyguard, "Someone put a Dust bomb in the mines."
