Arc II - Barons Rising
Chapter 17: The Dark Rising
[Beacon Garden]
I was once more contemplating on everything that had happened to me in the last few months. More specifically, about Cognitum. From what I gathered, its 'Creator' known as Mars had somehow created a weapon that could copy and adapt to its enemies, with bigger objects requiring a little more time to replicate.
He also found a way to somehow tear a rift through time-space and pull another person through with no side-effects, well, besides from my own split-personalities coming back. And lastly, EC-1101 is the program that runs the weapon titled, Project Eclipse. Other than that, I have nothing else, even Eric and Iota are busy trying to find a backdoor entrance into the machine, which had a metal link with my nervous system.
Great...answers that lead to more questions.
I could tell you that I expected to see my teammates all waiting for me to enter, as they planned to bombard me with questions about my meeting with both Ozpin and what Mars had said to me, but my day had just decided to go from bad, to something else entirely, and I doubt any multiverse I've seen would have predicted this.
When I entered, I first saw Blake, who was hiding up on Ruby's (And I guess mine too) bed, as she stared towards the ground in fear, not that I knew why, since I saw Weiss, Ruby, and Yang talking about something. But my thoughts were elsewhere, since I forced all my thought process onto the small form below me.
It was small, black with a white underbelly, but it stared up at me with a curious gaze, as its tail wagged happily at my presence. That's when they noticed me, and my frozen figure.
"Uh, Sky? Are you ok?" Sorry sis, but has stopped working, please try rebooting at another time. Then Yang looked nervous as I stared down at the quadruple below
"Girls? Who's this?" I asked calmly, but they could here the strain in my voice
"His name's Zwei...mine and Ruby's dog." Yang answered, as I swore I heard Blake hiss at it, ha, Cat traits are fun
"It is...the most cutest thing in the world!" I exclaimed, leaving all of them to pause at my out-of-character joy, as I hugged the corgi close to me, Zwei it licked the side of my face, which only made me grin more. "And its a corgi! Eeeeee!"
"Wait...what?" Weiss questioned, as I guessed they never did realize I was a huge dog-person
"What? I bloody love dogs, I had one back home! He was so cuddly!" I explained, as I sat the corgi back on the floor, as it did circles around me. "That, and these ones are the best!"
"Huh, guess we were freaking out about nothin." Yang shrugged, as we then jumped at the speaker system lighting up
"Will all first year students please report to the amphitheater."
"Well...we can't really leave a dog here all week, that never ends well." I spoke up, as I watched Blake eye Zwei like a hawk. "How's the air up there?"
I only got a glare in response, Zwei watching her with an innocent stare, but I swore the color drained from Blake's face.
"Look, there's a letter?" Yang said, before proceeding to read it out loud. "Dear girls, I have to leave the island for a few days, so I'm sending Zwei to you to take care of. Enclosed is all the food you should need, love you both, Taiyang." At this point, I leapt slightly from the dog being consumed by the mountain of cans that fell from the tiny parcel
"What is he suppose to do with that?" Weiss asked, but we watched as a can opener dropped on top of Zwei's head. Everything that just occurred was adorable
"Well, that settles it. Well come on girls, and Sky, Zwei will be here when we get back!" Yang smiled, as I just frowned, before following her
"Do you always have to do that? Every time, just say 'gang' or something," I groaned, as she just elbowed me
"But where's the fun it that?" She grinned, as I just mumbled under my breath. Today can't get any worse
*MISSION UNAVAILABLE TO FIRST YEAR STUDENTS*
"The good news just keeps getting better." My dry reply to the screen was enough to lighten the mood somewhat, but my slouched stance did nothing for my moral
"Wonderful." Perfection would be a word
"Any other ideas?" Blake asked, to which Ruby turned to us
"We mail ourselves there." And at that, I face-palmed
"Anything else? And no mailing or fast-track." I pointed to Ruby with a stern gaze, making the girl deflate slightly
"Well, it was one option." At this, I turned to see Ozpin, a neutral expression constant on his features. "Unfortunately, we determined that the concentration of Grimm was too extreme for first year students."
"It seems that particular region is rather popular." He mused, as I saw his eyebrow raise at us, what was he getting at? "In fact I have the sneaking suspicion that the five of you will make your way there, no matter what you choose." Shit, he's got us!
"Should we do a runner?" Not now Eric, but then I noticed the other three glaring at me and Ruby, to which we both grinned sheepishly
"I think they're on to us." I whispered to her, and Ruby got close to nod back
"What makes you say that?" Ruby asked, as I just put on a monotone voice
"No comment." Just gunna play it safe
"I'm still curious as to how you all found yourselves at the docks last semester?" He questioned, then he looked at me. "Or how you were injured in way that it would take alot of coordination to pull off."
"I'm really interested to know how you really learned about a 'hideout' in the southeast." Welp, are backs are against the wall, just go out and say it! "And I certainly wonder why witnesses reported seeing robots and rose petals in a dance-club some time ago."
"Umm...eh-well..." Smooth Ruby, real smooth, like a mountain. Then I saw the smile on Ozpin's face, and the rolling of his eyes too, yep, he so knows, but let me guess...
"I doubt i'll ever find the exact answers i'm looking for." Called it! "So, how about this...Instead of waiting for you all to break the rules, how about we just bend them?" He is so Dumbledore, all we need is a creepy guy who's obsessed with dark magic, and i'm sold. But as I noticed, I saw the board change to accept us, but something else caught my eye
I looked down at Cognitum, as my eyes read the screen, I held back my surprise, as I carefully read what was on it. This job was certainly alot more than just our little investigation.
"I want you to keep a close eye on your team, from what I understand is that the person you met that night is 'not' going to hold back like the last time, while I wish I could help you further, consider this upgrade a gift for the help you provided, good luck." -Professor Ozpin
By the time I looked back, I saw Ozpin begin to walk away, but not before nodding to us.
"Good luck." Despite everything that has occurred so far, I'm glad Ozpin was doing what he could to help us, and to an extent, me
"Well that wasn't exactly uplifting." Yang frowned
"But its the truth." Blake added
"Yeah...the truth." I echoed, as my mind focused on the message he gave me, before Ruby piped up, snapping me out of my trance
"Its going to be tough, but I know we can do it!" At least one of us is positive about this. Then someone ran past us, before saying 'Team CFVY is back', at this, I smirked at my rival who was walking in front of the team of four, to which her shades fell on me
"So, you finally made it back? Took you all long enough." I spoke, before the frown on Coco's face lifted, her fist flying right over my head as I ducked
"Good to see you still care, if that was a thing?" At that, I glared with determination as I swore she did the same. After her and Velvet's pep talk two nights ago I felt really happy about seeing them again. "But still, great to see you again."
"You too, but what happened?" I asked, as I noticed Ruby asking Velvet the same thing, then Coco sighed
"Too many Grimm, we tried, but they were in masses, but something was...off, I guess." She answered, as I tilted my head at that
"What was 'off'?" I asked, as she thought about it, then she clicked her fingers
"Call me crazy, but it was like the Grimm were organized, as if someone, or something ordered them, we only managed since they fled, which was even stranger, some were even green, with crystals growing out parts of their body. But other than that, nothing was unusual, so we left, since their numbers kept growing." She explained, which left alot on my mind, only for it to be punched out of me
"Ow!" I yelped, rubbing my stomach as she smirked
"Try not to die, things would get a little boring otherwise." She winked, before walking back towards the school
"Well that was...interesting, the fact that all these circumstances are beginning after meeting the Eclipse Creator are worrisome, we should be on our guard," Iota suggested, as I quickly joined my team, only for Eric to chuckle darkly
"Then that leaves us with one option!" He added, as me and Iota both asked
"What?" This only made him say in a dark tone
"We find the heart of this problem...and cleave it beating from its nest!" ...Did you seriously just rip off another quote? "No...maybe, can-can we go?"
[On-Route to Mountain Glenn]
"Well...this certainly was a shot in the dark, ironic, now that I think about it." A man spoke as he watched the small camera turn towards the group of children, as they all listened to Professor Oobleck rabble on, but the man's gaze held to Sky, as he tried to typing in a simple command into his console
Apotheosis: Status=ERROR - System Lockout
"Grr, great. Adding salt to the wound..." He mumbled, then something behind him made odd, clicking noises, making him rub his plated head at the sight of a floating sphere with teeth, strange, black tendrils hanging from under it as a voice pierced the motionless Grimm
"Mars, I do hope you are not just wasting my time by calling me?" The voice was calm, but her tone showed him nothing but anger, and inpatients
"No, Salem. Everything is going according to plan, the main event is still working, if that fool can keep it on track, and my attempts to gain access to Project Eclipse are becoming...resourceful." He carefully said, which seemed to interest Salem
"Resourceful? And what has a failed project like that have that's, useful?" She asked, as he nodded, before hitting a button on the console, as it sent a small file to the caller
"I have plans set in motion that may just give us the ability to find a backdoor into the Vaults, but I need more time and with the new Grimm being replicated I'll have my attention split for the time being." He smirked, pulling his hood over his head again
"Very well. But do remember, I do not keep those who have out-lived their use to me, however...you are a special case, so do not squander this chance." She warned, as he nodded, and the screen went dark, leaving him to stare down at the Grimm Seer, and the girl it carried
"Oh well...guess Merlot will have to speed things along..." He muttered, then he looked to another monitor, seeing the drop ship leave the group off at Mountain Glenn, which brought a glow to his eyes. "Looks like Torchwick will have his hands full, lets see how this pans out."
"Oh? Does this mean I get to see him?" Another, sly, feminine voice asked Mars, but he didn't turn to look at her, only placed an armored hand on his chin
"Hmm...perhaps, don't kill him though." He instructed carelessly, as the high-heel clapped down the dark, murky halls
"I won't...I just want to chat."
[Mountain Glenn]
At first, I thought I had transported into Fallout, but then I realized something, the place was far to silent to be Fallout, since a Deathclaw would have torn my liver out, and punched my corpse into the next city over. So I just looked around at Vale's attempt to expand, but I couldn't help but frown at how many may have died trying. God rest their souls.
The ruined remains and crumbling skeletons of buildings was almost suffocating, no wind, just gloomy skies and the presence of something sinister.
"Team, you still may be students, but as this moment your first mission as huntsmen has begun. From this point forward, you must do exactly what I say, do you understand?" Oobleck explained, before we all nodded in agreement, but I then noticed the rather large bag on Ruby's back
"Ruby!" At this, she jumped, and I swore I saw something white jump in the bag, and it was fluffy? "I thought I told you to leave all you bags back at school?"
"This girl will be the death of us..." Iota muttered, and I just raised a brow at her
"But, uh, you hadn't told us to listen to you yet...so I didn't." She shrugged, and I just blinked. Huh, guess i'm not the only one who twists people's words...wow, I am an awful person
"She's not wrong..." Oobleck muttered, before nodding. "Very well Ruby, leave your bag here we can pick it up upon our return."
"But-I-whaa-" Ruby tried to fortify, but Oobleck was already to the point
"Young lady, what in the world could you possibly have in that bag that is so important to being it with-" And like that, the cat was out of the bag, or in this case, a dog. We then all looked at Zwei who looked around the world as I just face-palmed.
"Busted~" I sung, as she whispered to the dog
"Get back in the bag." Really?
"We're here to investigate an abandoned urban jungle, teeming with death and hostility, and you brought, a dog?" Oobleck questioned, but before any of us could dare to contemplate the situation, he was off. "Genius!"
And as she shrugged at me, Ruby was nearly knocked off her feet by Oobleck, as he grabbed Zwei in his arms, and I did the same for Ruby, as we all watched in bafflement. Then he started spinning.
"Canines are historically known for their perceptive nose, and heightened sense of sound, making them excellent companions for hunts, such as ours!" He labeled off in logical hindsight that Ruby took as her reason to act smug
"I'm a genius!" And at that, I dropped her. "Ow."
"You brought Zwei, of course you would, why wouldn't you, its you!" I muttered in stupidity, brains cell slowly dying out with Yang patting my back
"Welcome to my world." Joy...
"So, what are you orders, Doctor?" Blake asked, the first of us to recover, as he dropped Zwei to the road
"Ah! Yes! Straight to the chase, I like it!" He exclaimed. "As you've been informed, the south-east area has been marked as a recent hotspot for Grimm activity. Now there are several possible explanations for this behavior."
"One which being - Grimm." And like that, he lost us or he did until I saw my radar pick up movement behind us
"Grimm, a Beowolf approximately 100 yards from us at this very moment, and currently behind us." I stated, as they all turned in my direction
"What!?" Yang jumped, as I watched it slowly wander into the desolate streets before us. This instantly made the other draw their weapons, but I watched with fascination as the beast slowly wandered into the streets, sniffing the ground as its claws tapping the tarmac carefully, was it testing the ground?
"Wait." I called out with my hand raised, looking back to the Doctor. "Your call, doc."
"Very well. there are a number of reasons why the Grimm would congregate in this particular area. The most likely of which would be their attraction to negativity. Sadness, envy, loneliness, hatred, all qualities that are likely held by our hidden group harboring ill intent." Oobleck explained, as Ruby lowered her guard
"So, uh, what now?" She asked what would be a burning question of the day, since my radar was slowly beginning to pick up alot more movement...and above us?
I tuned the rest out to peer towards one of the remaining buildings, seeing something standing in the frame of an old window. It was hard to make out but someone was watching us from afar, a hand grazing the side as dust trickled down the side at their touch. It wasn't White Fang, a Grimm? No...this is something like Mars.
"What!?" Weiss exclaimed at the sudden group of Grimm turned in our direction, teeth gnashing against each other, as Oobleck yelled out
"And now they've seen us!" Not wanting to waist time, seeing as a prime suspect was literally watching us, I activated Yin/Yang and ran straight for the group. "Quick to the chase!"
"Sky, wait - Take them down team!" Sorry Ruby, but I'm not letting them escape, not this time!
The first two Grimm attempted to block me, so I shot a chain with my left arm, the hook sunk clean into the floor before the mysterious figure's feet, my right rose with a gleaming blade. With a pull I slid under their legs, slicing through the shins with ease as my body was pulled into the air, my foot pressed firmly into the muzzle of another Beowolf, adding to my propelled state.
"They're fleeing, turn right!" Listening to Iota, I swung my body to roll through the right side of the building, retracting my chain to swoop the area, catching the shadow that leapt over the metal chain and out onto the thin scaffolding of another building. "Get him!"
Jumping over the gap I saw the cloaked being dashing across the concrete frame of the building, turning to glance at me as I fired an icy blast to freeze her, only for a hand to knock the blast away, impressive. He jumped, grasping a lone cord of a derelict crane, swinging to dig their sharp nails into the wall of another structure, the building collapsed atop another to form a concrete arch.
I had little time to try much, so I shot the chain in my left again to snatch the remains of the crane, hearing it groan under the strain, but with my right hand behind my back I converted the cartridge to fire, blasting myself over the edge and into the massive gap between the line of streets, using the continuous blasts to accelerate upwards, enough to release the chain and fly hundreds of meters off the ground to view the entirety of Mountain Glenn.
It was horrific, death had taken a tole on this settlement, leaving a dark, gloomy atmosphere over the town, ruins blocked many streets, and most areas looked on accessible via man-made water channels. But towards the rim of the town sat an imposing building of black and steel grey, it wasn't as broken or ruined as the remaining town, in-fact it looked almost untouched.
Ignoring the sights I clenched my fist as I fell towards...nothing!? Rolling as I fell atop the roof of the building, hearing the foundations shake as I slid across the gravel, I saw no signs of the figure, the radar was blank again. Even at the height I was at the person had slipped away into one of buildings.
Punching the ground I peered over the edge to see my friends waiting down below.
[Later that day...]
I for the uncounted time, struck down a Beowolf with ease, before I resumed by search around the ledges of most of the destroyed buildings, and once again, I found nothing but rocks and Grimm, joy.
"This is both fruitless, and tiresome, they never stop, and we can't seem to track anything, not even that mysterious watcher."Iota hummed, with Eric just counted another score for my kill count. Which was a decent 23
"Yeah...But I can't help but feel something is wrong, like we were told to come here, and not just because of all the hints of White Fang activity lately." I answered, before I heard someone clear their throat behind me, making me jump
"You seem to always be one who goes into the endless questioning, am I wrong?" Oobleck asked me, and I deactivated my helmet to look at him directly
"Its a habit of mine, I tend to overthink everything and I sometimes get stuck in my own thoughts." I answered, before I held my palm out. "Make this '24', Eric." Then I fired, hitting a Beowolf directly in the chest, burning it to ashes
"I see that you have also gained control over you multiple-personality-disorder?" That made be shudder slightly, but the thought was amusing
"Define, 'Control'? Iota is a constant commentator, and Eric is Eric. But, yes, I have it under control." I shrugged, as he seemed to hum at that, myself lowering my arm to sigh. "I do feel okay though, better than I have in years, even before...coming here." He knew, I just wasn't going to risk anyone overhearing me
"You seem to act alot like Ruby, and your attitude in a fight is nearly the same." That made me turn to face him again, as I rubbed the back of my head with a metal hand
"Well...She reminds me of me, before my disorder, and to be honest, parts of her reside in Eric and Iota's personalities. Eric has her free spirit, and Iota has her quick thinking." I explained, as Eric covered Iota's mouth
"And what of you?" He asked me, and I smiled a little at that
"I like to think i'm like her willpower, in fights alone, I'm constantly fighting, nothing but human instinct in my moves, and that leads to some violent ends for the Grimm, even by human standards," I doubt it was fun being torn in two slowly or burned alive either. "I sometimes lose sight of who I am, maybe its my way of feeling better after...after what she did to me."
"But when I fight with Ruby and our team, I feel more like my old self, I can fight and never feel tired, I can think without doubts clouding my judgement. And my ideals seem more clear than they are without them, in a way, they make me feel whole again." I answered, and I felt like Eric and Iota were smiling at that, as we all agreed on that, which was rare
"Well, its getting late. I suggest getting back to your teammates, and resting up for our next day of investigation." With that, he was gone, leaving me to follow the orange glow of the fire, or I would, but I had...no, I needed to do something
"I'll be back in a bit, sir, don't worry though I ain't going far." I called back, moving to continue with my search elsewhere. Whether or not he acknowledged my action didn't matter, this was between me and the red marker I was following
I was alone, climbing up the wall of an industrial segment of Mountain Glenn. My arms threw me up over the railing, noting the pipes that snaked down from the top towards the entrance to a subterranean segment of the Mountain, interesting. Now the shattered moon glowed in the dark skies above, and I was left to walk towards the hooded figure, their hood down to reveal long, black hair, combed nicely and glossy.
"I was wondering when you'd come...Kai Amadeus." She spoke smoothly, her hands on the railing to overlook the abandoned city crawling with Grimm, the cold wind making her breath form a cloud
"It's Sky, but that's not important right now, where's Mars hiding? Or better yet, where's Torchwick?" I wasn't going to play games, right Iota?
"She is dangerous, we can't play stupid here." Aye sir. Her finger shook in the air as she turned to look at me with red eyes, yellow crossed with them. She has smooth features, and her bangs hid her left eye slightly as she looked at me. Her cloak was dropped to reveal a latex suit, with purple and red lines dancing around her sides, along her sleeves, and down her legs. She wore combat shorts with matching heels and a short jacket too, her fingers hidden in armored gloves
"We can have a better chat than my brother's cryptic talks." So they're related?
"You're the one in charge then?" I asked as she stepped towards me, stopping to stare at me with piercing red eyes
"I am Una...The Black Horseman of Famine."
To Be Continued...
Three acts, and first is down! With not-so-subtle hints to the short Arc after Vol 2 should give you some insight as to what comes next. The cold air is blowing, and the blood will start flowing, and the famine rising. Hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter!
Next Chapter: More Than You See Act II
Sky confronts the woman who had been watching them, and their morals are set on the table among the cold wind of the Mountain.