You know, The Undying Mind could pull any weapon from any timeline.
Also, what are your opinions on RWBY characters being able to wield Destiny exotics? Even for a moment?
Amity Arena, Atlas
General Ironwood steps into the testing range for the Mind's Weapons, currently placed in the deactivated battle area. His arms crossed behind his back. He locks onto the lead researcher Burns, who is busy typing out his observations of the person in front of him firing what looks to be an old-fashioned revolver at a variety of Atlas training units.
Ironwood walks slowly, taking the time to watch the experimenter wield the black and gold revolver and use it with an elegance that reminds him of his Huntsman days. His brows furrow when he notices that they are holding their left hand at the hammer, fanning it with every trigger pull. It takes a moment to count but it fires eight rounds in a matter of seconds. He hums in interest and the corner of his mouth curves ever so slightly upwards, barely noticeable to even the most trained eye.
Carrying two revolvers around all the time seems…a bit cumbersome now. He glances down to the two weapons on the sides of his hip.
Ironwood clears his throat. "Burns," he says, standing straight. The researcher nearly falls out of his seat and proceeds to snap up straight like a stick.
"S-Sir!" Burns says, his hands already in a salute.
"At ease." Ironwood looks over to the firing range. "I would like to know about the recent drops."
"Y-yes sir, there have only been three weapons that have been found." Burns picks up a tablet and stands beside Ironwood to show the screen. "Two of them are part of the 'Hand Cannon' class of weaponry. The last one is a rocket launcher."
"I assume the weapon being tested right now is part of the former?" Ironwood peers towards the revolver being placed on its side on the table where Burns was working at.
"Yes, it's nothing special, compared to the other guns we've found, really." Burns looks to the revolver too. "The only unique part about this one right here, is that it becomes quite a bit more stable if fired from the hip, as demonstrated by the experimenter a few seconds ago."
"Let me guess, it can distinguish how it's being fired due to…paracausality?" The word is starting to annoy the general, with how often it's used when describing all the weapons The Undying Mind were summoning. "This doesn't seem very special, when compared to…what was that rifle? It shot black holes if I remember correctly?"
"Oh! You mean the Lance! Yes, this one is very dull compared to that. To be fair, anything could be considered dull compared to it. We have already locked that one under Protocol April and absolutely no one is allowed to handle it except without your explicit permission." Burns smiles nervously, as if hoping for some approval.
"That's good. Keep going about the revolver."
"Oh! Uh, other than its intrinsic trait, the revolver is abnormally powerful for its rate of fire."
"I see, but go on."
"The rounds have been routinely able to break portable Hard-Light shields within two bullets. It fires at two-hundred-and-twenty-five rounds per minute. For comparison, the latest SDC PDW that fires at such a rate is unable to do so in thirty bullets. Granted, it is an SMG, though. It was the only one we could find that was comparable enough in size and weight."
Ironwood slowly nods and his lower lip extends forward a bit. "Impressive. Make sure to keep that one aside…I may be interested in…requisitioning it, if you understand me." He lets out a small smirk. "Anyways, since I'm already here, report on the two other weapons that you have tested today."
"Oh, of course, sir!" Burns swipes a bit more at his tablet. A few locks of unkempt, greasy hair fall in front of the man's glasses and he tucks them back a few seconds later. "The second hand cannon that we've tested is quite frankly, one of the most powerful pieces of weaponry we have ever laid our hands on."
"Oh, really? Perhaps my Ace-Ops could take advantage. Harriet is doing quite well with the gauntlets you've shown me." Ironwood leans over to see an image of a massive black revolver that looks more like a slab of metal with cutouts at the end for the barrel and a magnification lens above the hammer with a scope in front. It is also quite literally on fire at the barrel.
"This hand cannon is quite unwieldly, the strongest of our testers struggled to handle it efficiently, much less control it." Burns wipes his lips with his forearm. "Simply put, this weapon fires armor-piercing rounds twice the size used in a standard anti-material sniper rifle. We do not understand how it does not explode."
"Let me guess…"
"Paracausality," the both of them say. Burns chuckles while Ironwood snorts.
"It is able to bypass any barrier without effort and can damage the target behind unaffected." A pause. "This has great potential in dealing with particularly armored Grimm, demonstrated by current results. It tore through an Ursa Major with a single round. There is some range drop-off, however it manages to dispatch Beowolves at ranges that would make them tiny blobs on the scope."
"It does justify its size." Ironwood rubs his chin, pursing his lips as he thinks about which regiment of the Atlas military to hand this off to. Perhaps the 1st Field Artillery could use a nice boost, they've been doing quite well. He would have to file the paperwork later.
"Even our strongest operators weren't able to fire off two consecutive shots without shooting the roof on the second shot."
"Interesting…now the rocket launcher." Burns projects an image of a shoulder-wielded contraption that looks to have been constructed in the basement of a mad scientist. It looks more akin to a power generator with a giant metal bulb in front sporting several holes arranged in honeycomb patterns. "…What is this, exactly?"
"I've already requested it be locked away under Protocol April," Burns says. The scientist shudders. "Sorry, this thing…it's just unbelievably dangerous."
"In what way? Burns, we have a weapon that can shoot black holes, there's quite possibly nothing that can top that." Ironwood raises an eyebrow and uses his hands to manipulate the 3D holograph of the kit-bash rocket launcher in front of him. "This looks like it will self-detonate the moment it fires."
"That is exactly the issue, sir. The rocket launcher fires a volley of eight blue rockets that track at short range and do considerable amounts of damage to anything in its path, to put it lightly." Burns takes a deep breath and wipes his brow. "We brought it to the tundra to test it out against a pack of Grimm. To say that it levelled them is putting it lightly."
"Interesting, I can see why it could be dangerous, but I don't see the reason for Protocol April."
"You see, putting it simply, if it, god forbid, misfires, it could do two things, both of which are pretty bad." Burns pauses. "It can A: Eviscerate Atlas in its entirely, with no debris to even indicate it has existed in the first place. Or B: Create what is known as a strangelet that will devour this entire planet."
"I…see." Ironwood hums and swipes the hologram away. "I'm glad you took action, but some communication beforehand would have been appreciated."
/
Argus.
"You would think a guard would be nearby? We're pretty close to the tower," Lisbon mumbles as he looks up at the relay tower from a tree. He uses the scope of his sniper rifle to zoom in at a guard station situated at the entrance, in front of the hill the tower is on. "Looks like someone's sleeping on the job…"
"Lisbon, I don't think they're sleeping…" Ghost says. "No life signs. Two on the tower."
"Something's wrong. Blake?" Lisbon speaks into his radio, shouldering Omniscient Eye. "Blake? Are you okay?"
"Another one of your 'friends' Blake?" A male voice replies, speaking from a distance. "Is he gonna come save you like Saint-Fourteen did?"
"Last I remember, he proved how much of a coward you were," Blake snarls back. Blades clash. The male voice growls and bellows.
Electronics crunch. The line cuts out.
"Let's go." Lisbon nods to his Ghost and he launches off of a branch to another. He has to pass a few trees to land at the bottom of the CCT relay. He goes invisible upon reaching one of its concrete bases. A body falls from above, landing with a poof and the crackling of broken bones.
It's an Atlas soldier, their face drained of life. A clean stab through their abdomen seems to have done them in. Blood leaks into the dirt below.
"Dead," Lisbon whispers as he looks up. There is sword fighting upstairs, that much he can tell. A contact between a hard piece and flesh sounds itself, and Blake cries out in pain. "Well, let's get climbing."
Lisbon takes the ladder and makes his way up to the top as fast as he can. He can hear the fighting get closer, taking note of the numerous whooshes of air as Blake clashes with this unknown assailant.
A red streak nearly takes Lisbon's head off as he climbs to the last platform. A man in black and red is strangling Blake, holding her at the rail while the latter is leaning backwards.
"Work on the radar, I'll get this guy." Lisbon draws Ancient Gospel and fires a volley of rounds into the man's back.
The man flinches at the impacts, lowly grunting with every shot landed. He turns, still holding Blake by the throat, and looks at Lisbon unimpressed, even visible underneath the cloth covering his eyes.
"Is this him, Blake? Is this your savior this time?" The man taunts. Blake struggles and he throws her aside. "Is he going to fight for you while you run away?"
"Shut up! He's my friend, Adam!" Blake snarls back as she picks herself up, and points her sword folded into a pistol at this Adam person.
Adam chortles and slightly unsheathes a crimson red blade from its scabbard, angling the butt of it towards Lisbon. "Let's see how far he'll go for you."
"Blake, get away from here. I got this," Lisbon says. He charges his fists full of Arc before charging at Adam. The blindfolded man spins and slashes his blade sideways. Lisbon parries with his arms before rolling to the side, creating a white protective field around him that forces Adam to dash backwards as his blade is slowed in it. Lisbon manages to draw Ancient Gospel with unparalleled quickness and gets off a few more shots, which are expertly deflected. He sheathes the hand cannon and focuses his breathing.
Adam dashes, holding his sword partially unsheathed from its hilt.
Lisbon summons an Arc staff and holds it by the edges to parry a heavy-handed slice. He pushes Adam's sword back and twirls, smacking the blindfolded man in the stomach with the bottom end of his staff. Adam is sent into the air but he catches himself and propels head-first off of nothing for a return slash that strikes the edge of Lisbon's hood, cutting into it slightly. He tumbles backwards and uses the gained space to send a Tempest Strike that barely misses Adam's center.
The two side-step in circles. Lisbon waits for Adam to make the first move. The blindfolded Faunus does so and begins with hard-hitting one-handed swings that is countered by the strength of the Light. Lisbon fights in retreat as he backs himself into a pole and gets ready to make his first offensive move.
Blake throws herself into the fight by coming at Adam with a flurry of light swipes that don't do much when he uses some sort of charged swing that throws her back.
"Blake, you're gonna get yourself hurt, get away!" Lisbon yells.
"This is my fight as much as it's yours!" Blake says in return. Adam chuckles.
"Really? Now it's your fight?" Adam scoffs. He tries to say something else but is blind-sided by Lisbon's Arc staff that strikes him center mass.
Lisbon prepares to follow up, waiting for the parry attempt and once it comes, unsummons his weapon and using his off-hand to land a charged punch into Adam's cheek. When the man tries to retaliate, Lisbon Blinks to the side and grabs him from behind, by the neck. The Hunter kicks the back of Adam's legs, forcing him to his knees.
Blake jumps up, and kicks off of the railing, face full of fury and her blade ready to decapitate, judging from her shoulder charging up for a swing. Adam headbutts her away and struggles with Lisbon, before throwing his entire body forward, sending the Hunter, still holding onto his neck, to the floor in front of him. Undeterred by the continued resistance, Adam shakes him off. He fires his shotgun at the space that Lisbon used to occupy, before making a confused "huh?" He is kicked in the face by Blake, sending him to the edge of the platform, his hip crashing into a metal bar.
Lisbon rushes Adam, raising his knee and holding it firm against Adam's stomach, pushing him against the railing before raising his fist and throwing it against the short-horned Faunus' cheek, sending his face to the side. The resistance of his Aura made it feel like punching a metal plate that gives when struck in the center.
Adam snarls in return before grabbing Lisbon's forearm and pushing it against his torso, forcing the Hunter back before following up with a harsh kick to the crotch that's enough to make metal crunch. Lisbon staggers and cries out in pain. He summons two Void blades to deflect the next onslaught of blade strikes only to find the hilt of a sword headed straight to his face. It collides, breaking off some fragments of his cheek then bounces up, falling down into Adam's hand. He holds a smug smirk as he follows up with several shotgun blasts to pelt Lisbon even more.
Lisbon's breath hitches as the pellets dig into his body. His mouth glows a faint pink as he struggles to breathe. He manages to suck in a shallow breath. "O-oh…that was…ack-"
A warning of "CATASTROPHIC SYSTEM FAILURE IMMINENT" flashes in red in front of Lisbon, obscuring his sight. He can barely make out Adam taking one step towards him.
"Tch," Adam chuckles. "Well? Are you watching Blake? Watching-" Lisbon's hearing functions fails him. Everything goes silent.
Adam sheathes his blade again, only letting out a small part of the red metal show. It begins glowing vibrantly.
Lisbon can make out Blake saying something along the lines of: "No!" before lunging at Adam but backing away using one of her clones as cover as Adam slices Lisbon in half with a wide stroke of his sword that had the potential of taking her out too.
The Hunter falls over in two pieces, wires sparking violently. The left side of his body lands not too far from his right side. The pink lights in his eyes fade, and life disappears from him as quickly as the final blow was delivered.
Adam laughs at his work.
"Y-you MONSTER!" Blake tackles the man over the railing, down to the ground below.
Ghost peeks out from behind the pole.
"Guardian down."
/
"Alright, alright, the bloody agent has a tablet that is used to let us go or keep us in. You stay hidden, I'll deal with it." The pilot rushes off to the body of the customs agent, unconscious and lying on the floor. He grabs a tablet that's fallen not too far and taps a few things on it before laying it on the agent's body. "Go, hide, hide now!"
Saint conceals himself behind a few boxes and watches between a crack to see the pilot rush out of the bay door and call for help. An Atlas soldier is quick to respond and comes in.
"The guy hit 'is nose pretty bad ye," the pilot says.
"It does look bad," the soldier replies, bending over to inspect the body. "I'll call for a medic. Where'd he fall?"
"Oh! Er…right here!" The pilot points towards a spot that has a few specks of blood, but clearly not enough to convince even the densest of fools that someone had fallen there.
"Uh…huh." The guard doesn't look convinced. "I'll be back, with a medic team." He steps out.
A minute later, there is about a dozen people that are pointing their weapons inside the ship.
"Ah, fuck. Cover's blown. We're outta 'ere boys!" The pilot screams maniacally before shutting the cargo bay door and rushing to the cockpit, evading a frenzy of energy rounds by the skin of his teeth.
Saints steps out from his cover and blocks the cargo bay with a Sentinel Shield, to protect the rest of the cargo.
"Guardian Down!" Lisbon-13's Ghost yells into comms.
"What!?" Saint murmurs to himself. "Osiris, what is happening over there!?"
"I heard the message too, don't worry, Lisbon can handle himself," Osiris says with a calmness that borders on insult. "The radar system is down. We have a five-minute window before a backup system comes into place."
"Your composure disturbs me sometimes, friend," Saint says. The ship whirs to life and flies out of the customs air dock. "We are on our way."
"We have a solid two minutes before they send out a dispatch squad, I can squeeze in a pick-up for your friends but if they're not there I am leaving, got it?" The pilot says through the intercom.
"They will be there, now go, before they destroy your ship!" Saint yells in return.
"Couldn't have said it better meself, mate!" The ship's engines spin to life and propel it to the outside, escaping any potential boarders.
/
"Osiris, we are on our way, is everyone there!?" Saint bellows into his radio.
Osiris looks to Ruby and nods. "We're missing Lisbon and Blake, they haven't returned from the relay tower." He glances over to Yang, who's biting her non-prosthetic knuckle and looking worriedly to where the two missing teammates departed from.
"The military's forming a defense barrier around Argus, whatever it is your guy is carrying, they don't want it leaving Argus without approval," Qrow says, looking into the sky as dozens of Manta ships fill the air, holding a sort of defensive position. "Holy shit, their entire air force is out there searching for him. Call it off, we're all gonna get shot down if he stops for us!"
"Saint, there are dozens of Atlas ships in the air, where are you!?" Osiris says, materializing the Monte Carlo in his hands.
"I see him, do we know what's happening with Lisbon and Blake?" Ruby points to a dark speck in the distance that is progressively growing in size.
"We're fine, we're caught up with some blindfolded asshole, he's calling himself Adam!" Lisbon's Ghost says. "Tell the pilot to hover around the pickup point, we still have time before they are able to pinpoint your exact location, I threw out several dummy pings!"
"They're flying into Argus, where did you put them?" Qrow says, worried. "This whole thing is gonna cause a panic!"
"That doesn't matter right now, just be grateful they haven't reduced you all to ash yet!"
"Adam…" Yang says, her teeth gritted and her fists tightened.
"Do you know him?" Osiris asks.
"We all do. He cut off my arm," she says, shaking her head afterwards. Her prosthetic trembles. "I'm going over there to help them-"
"You will not, Lisbon and Blake have it handled-"
"Then what did 'Guardian down!' mean!?" Yang lashes out, her eyes flaring red and her hair turning orange. "She's alone out there, I have to help her!"
Osiris inhales, and breathes out. "If you go out there, you run the risk of not being picked up, which Lisbon and Blake are dealing with right now. I assure you, they have it handled."
"You wouldn't know, you weren't at Beacon," Yang spits, crossing her arms and turning away from Osiris, scoffing afterwards.
Osiris doesn't bother to pursue the argument when she walks away from him, heading to Ruby.
/
Blake Belladonna clashes with her former colleague in the middle of a spruce forest. She weaves between trees to try and get a good hit on Adam, but he's always one step ahead of her.
The rage-fueled adrenaline is starting to wear off as she engages yet another stalemate that only serves to tire herself out. Adam doesn't look to be faltering, even after taking the beating Lisbon gave him. She holds her position on a branch, and feels something vibrate at her waist. She looks down and to her surprise, there is a Scroll there.
Hers got destroyed at the relay tower, how does she have one on her? The device expands, revealing a single message.
Get to an open area. Sooner the better.