Numerous hours later the Hunter task force were still very much so attached to their beds. The previous battle had taken so much out of them, there magic and aura was drained almost to the brink of causing serious harm, and yet like the trained soldiers they were they would quickly be able to bounce back. Well, when they got out of the beds of course. Yang snored loudly, with Blake laying on her chest nuzzling her face into her long night shirt,and Ruby attached to her back, she had snuck into their bed late in the night, claiming she was too cold by herself.
Jaune and Pyrrha had fallen asleep on the roof, they spent most of their time after the infiltration job training. Ren and Nora slept in the lounge area, on one of the most uncomfortable couches there was, smiles on their faces. Team CFVY had fallen asleep together in the giant cuddle pile, the heavy-hitters of the group snoring like buzz saws. In the room all the way at the end of the hall Weiss and Catalaya slumbered peacefully, tired from both the battle and theiractivitiesof the night. It was both a night of pleasure and a night of discoveries. Weiss, with her cold exterior, had found that warmth one can only find in the embrace of a lover. Catalaya had learned share more and more with her counterpart Jakal. All was perfectly well.
At least, for now.
Atlas, Schnee Manor
"Mister Schnee, your five o'clock is here." A short brunette said in a small voice, it was her first day working for him, he'd already scared her by firing the previous secretary in front of her that morning. "Let them in." It wasn't a request, it was a demand the assistant was quick to follow. A young man with bright blue hair walked past her, clearly eyeing her up and down, "Miss."
He tipped his imaginary cap, garnering a blush from the woman that was all too soon snuffed out at the glare from her employer. She quickly closed the door behind her. In Jacques Schnees's office the young man plopped down on the chair, placing his feet aggravating loudly on the table, "You called." Jacques cringed inwardly, "Is that how you greet your employer? I would expect better from you."
The tone Jacques used was more than enough to quell the man's cocky attitude. "Sorry." He cleared his throat,"The name's Neptune Vassilas. What can I do for you, sir?" The oldest Schnee smirked and spoke,"You're a bounty hunter correct?" A nod.
"I need you to bring someone to me, alive and unharmed."
Neptune cocked an eyebrow, "Who would this be?" He took out a notepad, ready to take down some information. "Weiss Schnee. My daughter."
Neptune's pencil scratched the paper. "Your daughter?"
He nodded, "She's been avoiding her duties for too long." He walked towards a small stand and pulled out a case, "Bring her back to me alive and as unharmed as possible."
He tossed an envelope at the nervous man who caught it in mid air.
"This is the payment." He spoke in an even darker voice "Kill the monster who's with her, and I'll double it." Inside the case was two million dollars, as payment and for whatever resources the bounty hunter would need. Neptune had never beem much of a killer, any dead catches had been defensive or accidents.
But if it meant 4 million dollars cash in his hands, he didnt care how dirty his hands needed to get. Plus the Schnee girl was a looker,Maybe I can get something out of her.He thought grimly, he then looked up with a frightening smile on his smooth features, "It's a deal Mr. Schnee." The head of the manor watched with satisfaction as the young man left his office,"You didn't really think you could hide from me forever, did you darling?" He spoke aloud to the picture of his children at a young age on his desk. "A Schnee must fulfill their duty." He turned and watched the sunset beyond the mountain side.
Team SSSN Warehouse
Neptune had driven like a wildman to his teams hideout, he skidded to a stop in the hanger before running to the lounge area. Slamming open the door he gathered the attention of his teammates,"Grab your weapons boys! I've got us a job that'll pay millions!"
Hunter Taskforce 11:30 am
"Breakfast is ready!" Ruby shouted from the bottom of the shares. She could've sworn a group of stampeding rhinos were coming down the stairs from the amount of pushing, shoving, and speedy stomping she heard as she made another plate of food. Blake and Velvet were the first ones at the table, then came Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren. A few seconds later was Yang, Jaune, Fox, and Yatsu who was helping Coco down the stairs. She'd been injured during a scuffle with an axe weilder the day before. "What's for breakfast?" Nora asked with a yawn. "Waffles, pancakes, sausage, bacon, and peaches. I figured since we used so much energy we need to refuel." The group nodded as they greedily dug into their food.
They all quieted as they watched, in complete silence, as the remaining two came down the stairs. Catalaya was wearing a sports bra and blue boxers, all of her tattoos and scars on display, her short hair a slight mess. On her back was Weiss, who was still asleep, Cat slowly shook her awake, pulled out a chair and placed her into it, kissing her forehead before turning to the stove to make their plates. Ruby noted how pale Weiss looked and placed an extra waffle in front of her partner, who nodded her thanks to her leader. The rest of the group went back to eating after Cat glared and said a mumbled greeting.
"Nice shirt, Weiss. Where'd you get it?" Yang said with a snicker as Weiss gave her a confused look before glancing down at the large black graphic tee she was wearing. It was obviously Catalaya's, the shirt was so big it was practically a dress. The t-shirt read, "Warning!: This object contains sass." In bright red letters. Weiss shrugged and continued eating. Catalaya sat down beside Weiss, her plate stacked high with meats, cooked and raw. Weiss stared at her, raising an eyebrow, causing Cat to go back to the counter and bring back a second plate of just waffles and peaches. Weiss nodded and kissed her cheek before continuing to eat. "Let me guess," Ruby said from her spot beside Nora,"she wants you to eat a complete breakfast?"
Catalaya nodded and continued to stuff her face. Weiss rolled her eyes, "Just because you need raw meat doesn't mean you can't have some type of balance." Ruby chuckled lightly, inadvertently activating Weiss's angry eye, the shorter redhead gulped. Her fear unfounded when Catalaya kissed Weiss on the cheek and pulled her into her lap. The Schnee was silent the entire meal, the only sounds her chewing, and her face bearing a light blush.
After breakfast and a small food fight between Yang and Catalaya over who's girlfriend is cuter, the taskforce gathered in the lounge for a more thorough debrief of last nights battle. "You mean to tell me," Velvet started as she handed Coco a medium latte,"that the summoner on the ninth floor, created giant bugs to attack you and Nora?" She asked Weiss who was speaking with Jakal. "He did. The creepiest thing wasn't even the bugs. That had to be Nora." Nora burst out laughing,"You just didn't want to get dirty, princess." Weiss rolled her eyes. "Maybe. What about you Jaune? Did you and Ren find anything on their servers?" Ren nodded and Jaune pulled out a black flash drives, plugged it into the mobile holographic projector. "We were able to get a hold of their entire payroll. Both official and unofficial, of course."
Ren swiped to the side, "While the company was built on some pretty unspeakable actions and numerous illegal activities, its more well known departments are very legally working." He pulled up a list of departments. "For example, the research and development department is operating to every government regulation and law. Every project is practically tested to death. The technological departments mostly creates prosthetics and medical equipment, that and any computerized system." Velvet sighed,"So, we got nothing?" Pyrrha cut in from the couch across the room.
"Not completely. Thanks to Jaune and Ren, we were able to find out how the government was unable to tap into any communications or electronic systems." She tossed each person in the room a black smartphone, each one with a specific symbol on the back case. "These phones and earpiece communication devices use special technology that's not only unhackable due to a continuously rotating encryption key consisting of an alpha numerical coding created using 14 different languages and symbolism from the different realms."
She pulled up another screen from the holoprojector, images of the Hunter taskforce members, including data regarding their aura production, magical strength and reserves. "I made a few modifications to both the exoskeleton and internal wiring, these things can now handle our aura and magical output. Plus, to those of us who have the ability to summon weapons of our choice." She held her black phone up in her hand, there was a second of a bronze glow and in her hands was her spear and shield.
"Instead of reciting the long spells we use, just think it and," the weapon duo disappeared and all that remained was her phone,"poof." Ruby gasped,"This is amazing Pyrrha, nice work!" Pyrrha swelled with pride at the praise and continued on,"Besides that I was wondering what we have planned for the next peice of armor?" All heads turned towards Catalaya who looked back in confusion before looking towards Coco,"Why are they staring at me? You're the leader."
Coco laughed a bit,"Nope. On paper maybe but I know I'll follow when you lead." Cat nodded nervously, Weiss tapped her hand and gave her a small smile. Taking a deep breath Cat spoke. "This is the part where it gets a little tricky." Cat pulled a pendant, an image of a goat's head in the center, from her pocket,"The two arms, both left and right, are located in an unclaimed land front between the land ruled by Pan and the lands ruled by Selene."
"Who're they?" Nora asked. "Pan is the God of the Wild. Lord over plant life and animal life, one of the oldest Greek gods on existence. He's ruled over hunters, shepards, and rustic music for eons. He's also a satyr, a being with the bottom half of an animal, most often goat, just as he does. He has curved goat horns on his head and a small beard."
Nora nodded as Yatsu questioned,"Then Selene is some type of Goddess then?" Catalaya nodded,"Selene is a Titan Goddess, originally a divine being that preceded Olympian gods. She is know as the Goddess of the Moon, the actual moon though, unlike Artemis. She is said to ride across the sky at night, giving the mortals below her heavenly light." She took a deep breath,"She's also partly known as the mother of Vampires." Silence, for a good two minutes. "Vampires." Jaune said with a pale face. Catalaya nodded at the blonde man in front of her,"Yes, Jaune, it is the reason why her and Pan are fighting. Her children, the vampires, have a bad habit of venturing into his sacred forests and feeding on the animals there when there are no humans around for them to feed on."
"Can't they just come up with some kind of agreement?" Said Ruby. Catalaya shook her head,"The two of them are like young children, they've been fighting over this for centuries. If it were not for their duties as gods and goddesess, they would've gone to war years ago. The land between the two of them has been up for grabs for a while now, there's a strange source of energy coming from a series of cavernous systems underground." Weiss cut her off, "The armor peices, I assume?" Catalaya nodded,"We will have to travel through Selene's territory in order to get to the cave systems."
Jaune gulping in fear could be heard across the room,"You mean, we have to go through Vampire territory? Isn't there another way to get there, preferably a way that allows me to keep my blood inside my body?" Cat sighed, "Aside from the fact that traveling through Pan's territory is the same distance, I can't travel through there." Fox questioned her, "Why not?"
Cat was silent for a moment, "It's harder to control myself there, not even Jakal would be able to stopp the shift. The forest in that land does strange things to shifters like my self. Things that mess with the mind." Weiss rubbed Catalaya's shoulders, she could both feel and see Jakal at the surface of her lover's mind. Jakal was straining to protect her counterpart from this pain.
Breathe Little Ember, he cannot hurt you here.Jakal said through her telepathic link just as another voice joined the fray,I won't let anyone hurt you.It was Weiss, she turned to her and was thankful to see her smiling face in front of her. Catalaya gave a small smile and turned back to the group who wore concerned faces. "I suppose I can create a plan for our journey through the sacred forests." The group smiled at her, Ruby's the widest she mouthed "Good job." To her as she walked past and started directing the rest of the teams to get ready. Across from the building, unknown to the group, team SSSN were going over the plan once more together.
"We'll grab her here before they go through their portal." Sun pointed to a spot on the map,"Neptune will grab the Schnee. Scarlet, you and Sage will have to put down some cover fire if things go wild. I'll set up our escape route.Once you get away from 'em go through the designated portal and we'll meet up. Everybody understand their part?" His group nodded,"Alright, Neptune check the cameras." The blue haired man pulled the camera feed they'd set up to watch the group onto the big screen. "They're moving out."
Sun grabbed his staff, "Then so are we." The four bounty hunters followed silently behind the strange grouping of BEACON teams, a few of them looking like young children, they knew better. They'd end their lives 30 different ways, caution was a must.
Hunter Taskforce
"Anyone else feel like they're being watched?" Nora asked from her position beside Coco. There'd been a weird feeling nagging her for the past few kilometers, but when she'd turn around there was nothing, no life signs besides her groups own in the abandoned docks they were crossing through. "Actually," Blake said,"Velvet and I have had a strange feeling for a while now too. Catalaya, should we stop or what?" The caravan came to a halt, the formation was off, allowing everyone to try and peek around the other's shoulder. Catalaya seemed to just be staring out into the water. "Cat? What's up?" Coco questioned, her overprotective tendencies kicking in as she subconsciously placed herself in front of Velvet, her body in a defensive stance. As far as the members without enhanced senses could tell, there was nothing more than their gut feeling.
Catalaya however, was feeling a disturbance in the air, there was a type of magic in the atmosphere that made her hair stand on end. Cat opened her telepathic link with Weiss,Do you feel that as well?Weiss glanced from her to her surroundings,Yes, what is that?Jakal interjected herself into the conversation,Trouble. Big trouble.Weiss turned to Ruby and gave her a hand signal that looked a bit out of place. Weiss had only made a fist leaving her thumb, index, middle, and pinky outwards to the ground, but her team was on high alert. They'd created hand signals for different situations back in their first year of training, this one meant to stay on gaurd trouble was around.
Pyrrha heard a bang and conjured her sheild through the phone immediately, able to have it up in time to deflect the shotgun shell. "We've got company!" Nora shouted as she used her hammer to deflect another shot at her head. "Circle up!" Cat shouted as she dashed into the buildings. The group adapted to Cat's empty spot, continuously rotating, taking shots back when there was a chance. Weiss kept her telepathic connection to her lover up, not speaking, merely pushing her reassurance and encouragement into the link. She smiled when she felt more than heard Jakal thank her for the confidence boost.
Eastern Roof Top
Sage was firing at an uninterrupted speed, using the military rifle his group had stolen. The best sniper of the group he'd been nominated to try and take the group out. Yet, despite his years of skill, was facing increasing difficulty against the magic users, their weapons held up against the relentless assault with ease,I can't even make a dent! What are those things!?He thought to himself in frustration, moving the scope to the left slightly he noticed his mistake, "Shit."
The secondary target was gone, before he could notify his team he felt an immense pain in his ribs as he hit the side of the roof back first. Looking up the tall woman with all the tattoos stood in front of him,I didn't even see her coming.Just like her attack on his ribs, he didn't even see the boot headed for his face. "Sniper's down." Cat said though her earpiece before hopping over the barrier and running down the side of the building, watching with a smile as Blake usedGambol Shroud'sribbon to grab a man with red hair from the bushes and toss him into the water.
Catalaya landed in front of Weiss just as a bolt of electricity was fired at the ice mage. At first, it didn't actually hurt, she turned towards the source, Jakal spoke through her for a moment,No one touches her.Catalaya stalked towards the man, she noticed he had bright blue shaven hair, then he cranked up the intensity. Over 3,000 volts of electricity was forced into her body, a human would've long been dead, she however was feeling a little sting. Neptune was both in awe and fear as the monster Jacques Schnee told him about was still heading towards him with 3,000 volts coursing through her body, it could very well kill her, but he cranked up the intensity anyway, up to nearly over 6,000. The woman squinted her eyes and seemed to move harder, digging her feet into the ground.
A scream drew both their attention, Sun had grabbed Weiss and was running with her on his right ahoulder straight to an open portal. Catalaya took on Jakal's strength and began charging after the kidnappers, the taskforce in tow. She broke the distance Neptune's weapon could reach her from, "Shit!" He said as he ran through the rubble towards his leader. He could feel the wolf woman's subsonic growling beneath his feet, growing louder as she got closer, still a bit weak from the shock.
Ruby saw how close the kidnappers were to taking Weiss and she took a risk, pulling one of the portal crystals from the bag Cat had given her she grabbed the one she'd set to take them to Pan's sacred forests and threw it into the portal. The portal transformed from white to a light green that SSSN didn't notice until it was too late. The four men jumped through the portal, Weiss still screaming. Catalaya was right behind them, malicious intent on her face, her eyes aflame. The rest of the group came a second after her. Team SSSN really weren't expecting to land in a forest of lush green that was sure.
"What the hell!?" Neptune shouted."Where are we? This isn't Atlas!" A roar sounded from above, the portal was still open and Catalaya, controlled by Jakal was heading straight for them, when she landed she made a 10 foot wide crater, a small one in comparison to her other ones. They were in Pan's forest, everything she would do after this could be detrimental to her cause.Give her back and I'll have mercy.Jakal said, smirking at how Sage glanced around nervously at the taskforce which had just landed.
"Yeah, right." Sun said,"Put down your weapons or we'll kill her." He said, Yang facepalmed behind Blake,"You just made the biggest mistake of your life bud." She mumbled but Sun's faunus hearing caught it, looking at her in confusion before screaming in pain, dropping to his knees as Weiss limped over to the side. Sun was wrapped in black flames, eating away at his flesh and bone, the monkey looked towards Neptune, "Go get that cash." He said before firing his shotgun at Jakal's face, blinding her for a moment before tackling her. Neptune grabbed Weiss and ran off, orders are orders.
Jakal tossed Sun into the trunk of a tree, relishing in the loud snapping sound that came from his impact. Jakal was furious, these pests thought that they would get in between her and her princess.They will learn the folly of their ways.She thought as she began to head into the forest, but not before turning to the group.
I'll get Weiss. You all get the armor peices.
"But-" Ruby tried to say.
No buts, just go.Jakal shifted completely into their shared wolf form, bounding into the green, not waiting for a response, she knew Ruby would do what was best and let her handle this pest. Catalaya spoke to her through the link,Heads up, somethings up ahead.Jakal nodded and proceeded cautiously, Cat was unable to tale control her, it was a bit frightening to both of them, a beast taking over, they didn't know what would happen. Jakal started to get nervous when the one person she feared the most stepped into her path; Pan. The God of the Wild. Jakal bowed respectfully, her muzzle touching the ground and ears flat in both fear and annoyance.
"Rise wolf." His voice echoed into the tree tops, shaking their leaves and Jakal's bones. He walked in front of her, kneeling down to look into the eyes of the large black wolf. "Are you the one causing trouble in my forest? Hmm?" Jakal trembledI apologize, your highness. They have taken her, I must get her back from him.Her back right paw tapping in angst.
"Relax, phantom beast. You shall not be punished, you are following your instincts." He scratched behind her ears, leaving her wagging her tail slightly before shaking her head.I must go, sir. She may be hurt.The very thought lighting a flame in her heart. Pan looked at the wolfling with a smile,She could be a great alpha one day.He thought before remembering what he'd come to her in the first place.
"What is your name, wolfling?" She tilted her head for a moment.I am Jakal. I am Catalaya. We are one.He smiled at her, thankful one of the phantom beasts he'd met over the centuries was in tune with their counterpart. "Well then, can you two do me a favor? Visit Selene, once your love has been returned, and give her a message." Jakal nodded, she would do as asked. He knelt and whispered into her ear,"Το συμβούλιο απαιτεί την παρουσία μας. Έρχεται ένας πόλεμος." Jakal did not understand the meaning of the message but agreed nonetheless.
"Thank you, Jakal. And thank you, Catalaya." His hand glowed and he dragged his palm from the tip of her muzzle down her hack and to her tail. "I give you my blessing. May it be of great use to you in your task." The satyr kissed her forehead, giving her a burst of energy that allowed her to howl strong and loud into the air.Thank you, Pan God of the Wild. Your blessing shall not go to waste.Jakal bounded off once more into the sacred forest, the new spiritual energy allowing her to run much faster, catching up to Neptune even faster than he thought possible.
Neptune Pan's Forest
"Stop squirming dammit!" He shouted as he tried to tie the heiress up using some magically enhanced rope.You're way too stronghe thought to himself as the heiress finally tired and stopped strugglingWhat happened to you out here?A frighteningly loud howl reverberated through the trees as Weiss glared at the man with all her might,"She's going to kill you. You know that right?" Neptune stared at he in confusion before becoming smug, "There's no way she could even give chase. I hit her 6,000 volts, the stress on her body will slow her down for now." He started rummaging through his bag, in search of another portal crystal, unsucessfully.
"You're an idiot." Weiss said hotly, the electric surge had sussed out her telepathic connection to Catalaya and Jakal. The silence was killing her, she couldn't snap the rope yet. She created a frozen claw on the tip of her index finger, slowly using it to cut through the steel tough rope. "Is that any way to talk to the person who holds your life in his hands?" Weiss rolled her eyes, "Yeah, right. Obviously my father wants me alive. If he wanted me dead, you had exactly two chances to end my life." Neptune was quiet, the heiress was smarter than she looks.
He was growing frustrated, he hated being in forests, the bugs and dirt irritating him. A bird landed on Weiss's shoulder, chirping sweetly, she smiled at it, just before it was blown away. Small flecks of blood dotted her shirt, looking back Neptune was holding a pistol, smoke rising from the recent firing, he smirked as he said, "Damn thing was giving me a headache." Weiss was going to scream at him when she noticed a satyr standing beside her, murder in his expression.Pan.She thought before bowing out of respect as much as she could. Neptune cocked a brow,Finally learned your place huh?"Who are you!? Stay away from my bounty!" He shouted when he saw Pan standing next to Weiss. "I would punish you for your crime." the ground beneath them shook, what sounded like furious growling reached their ears.
"But it seems as though she will do it for me." The satyr smirked as Neptune cocked a brow before realization kicked in, much too late. His brain had barely gotten the message for him to turn before Jakal burst through the trees, her fangs latching into his flesh as she twisted around and threw him into the shrubbery. Neptune stood, wobbling, he couldn't move his left arm, the bite had torn through both bone and muscle. Before him was the largest black wolf he'd ever seen.
Its corded muscles rippled with every movement, thicker than his own skull. The dark fur glistened under the afternoon sun, vibrantly shining red eyes, with a splash of flickering white in the center, stared at him with only hatred. He heard a snap and watched as the goat man helped Weiss from the ground. The heiress rubbed her wrists, the ropeburns stung slightly. The wolf continued growling at Neptune, only stopping when Weiss wrapped her arms around its fuzzy body, nuzzling into the neck.
"Good to see you too." He heard her say. The wolf snapped at him when he tried to move before turning and tackling Weiss to the ground. Tipping and barking happily, Weiss rubbed its ears with big as the wolf licked the side of her face, causing her to groan out,"Ewe! Wolf slobber." Neptune took that as his chance to flee, he hadn't taken one step when he was tackled to the ground. The wolf stood on his already sore back, growling darkly, salivab red from his blood, dripped onto his face.Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you.
"Don't kill him, Jakal." The wolf he realized was named Jakal turned to Weiss with a look that could only be described as one that said,"You can't be serious right now." Weiss shook her head,"We should just go and do what we came here for." Jakal nodded while on top of the young man who was using their distraction to grab his weapon and fire a bolt of energy at the wolf. It missed its face by a mile, instead hitting Weiss in the chest.
Neptune knew then that he messed up as Weiss fell to the ground in pain, the goat man and wolf rushing to her side. Neptune leapt to his feet and ran for his life, nothing was worth fighting that thing. While he may have thought he'd escaped unnoticed he was very wrong. He could hear the giant wolf growling loudly, its paws hitting the ground with enough force to create enough force that small craters formed each time. Neptune fired behind him blindly, unable to properly aim with his lacerated arm. Jakal avoided each shot, very much so enjoying the hunt.
I will catch you, little one. I always catch my prey.She said, enjoying how he seemed to pour more speed into his movements.