Chapter 7: Step Three
Yang had never looked so depressed. All the sadness expressed by the soul and mind has made its way to her features. She was crestfallen, her once ambitious and strong form had sagged, the weight on her shoulders slumped, arms on knees and head bowed down, deep in hallowed thoughts. It was so silent and neither of them wishes to speak as the ship moved across the skies to vale, for they, as a team, had been greatly affected by the loss of their leader.
Weiss had her head on the window, freefall of tears raining down her cheeks. Her hand went up to her mouth to hold the sob from coming out too loud. The lump in her throat was harder to gulp and it pained her to try and swallow what was left of her dignity. Her heart has shattered and there was absolutely nothing that can mend that again to where it was once before. Her other hand reached up to her face, the back of it trying to wipe away her wet eyes, she choked and her breathe hitched. She has never felt so greatly affected.. Not ever since..
This was too much.
Keep it together, Weiss. Try to keep it together.
Please.
She sits on the floor, using the wall to support what was left of her. She broke little by little as unwanted happy memories of where she spends what felt like half her life in school with her team came flashing by. She only realizes now and appreciated what Ruby has given her all those times. One of the memorable ones; friendship, support, the trust and even patience.
It was only now. Why was it only now that she begins to feel so indebted?
She felt guilty, remorseful, and ashamed. She was too blind not to see the extent of Ruby's efforts and she knows that she can't ever say a proper thank you. She can't ever prove how much of the best teammate she was ever going to be. She knows that a part of being a huntress, her partner was never going to be at her side rooting for her and her teammates. Ruby was so cheerful, so ambitious, so determined and enthusiastic. No one like her was going to replace what the red head left behind as a warm reminder of what it means to keep on going. She clutches at her chest and twisted the skin of where her heart resides, swapping the gnawing agony to peeling torture of her own.
She had been so ungrateful and she was constantly tormented, insisting that this was her fault. For not saving her on time just like what happened to her father. She felt so.. so weak..
"Weak.. Weak weak weak!" She repeated.
No matter how much she would beat herself to make one wish come true. It will never bring their leader back.
Weiss, accompanied by a doctor and soldier, walked along the corridor, her once proud stride now that of a worn out girl who had given up on everything. In the middle of their way, her teammates have come together, all in one piece, except. For one. Of course.
Yang and Blake looked the same, the Blondie the most miserable that she looked like she would drop enervated. Yang however, forces a smile that she was able to see her friends again after months of waiting. She steps in, pulls them by the arm towards her and hugged them around their necks. For once, neither of the two protested and returned the need of embrace and mutual contact. Yang had tried hard, but no sense of pride was going to hold back the tears that leaked, the hitch on her chest felt around her back that Blake and Weiss could not help but cry on their own as well on the Blondie's shoulders.
It felt so empty. There would be one more, bracing them to make them 4 in all.
It was difficult to acknowledge that..they were just W, B and Y.
Vale did not look like as they remembered back then. The buildings were fortified, the windows nailed with wooden planks and sandbags place around the entrances. What once was a busy crowd came to a few groups of people roaming around with little armor they prepared themselves in position, half of them all the Altesian Knights standing on guard. Some grounds looked like they were scarred from a battle, a struggle of war between something huge. An Airship, seen on the far side, torn and damaged was left on the ground, like a statue of what it had gone through. It still looked like economy was running despite damages being overlooked in there.
Ironwood sat quietly, observing the three girls who never uttered a word or even asked a question about what was happening. So instead, he debriefs in a manner that would answer whatever question they thought of.
"We are near at our destination. The attacks are taking place near the town's center. You will be encountering Grimms that are different from what you see."
Blake, even with visor like shades protecting her eyes did not need to turn her head from the ground to look at the General. Weiss has given her attention, but Yang did not give any signs of gesture or look that she was listening , even if she wanted to, she was still mixed with anger that she tries to suppress.
"I know that you all will handle this well, as tracked from our records during your simulation, you did notice the slight change of your Aura and Semblance. Use them to your advantage, and leave no Grimm alive. Study their appearances, and good luck."
Trigger fired sounds were in range, regular explosions and breaking concrete with crushing metal was at a nearby radius accompanying it. The bullhead airship hovered in the air just above the town's center. A Nevermore almost knocked the ship from the air, until it was split into two by a gunship.
"You drop off here."
Yang was the first to step towards the edge of the ship and look at the surroundings, eyeing closely as if she was searching for her prey. She looks at her teammates, and without saying, she gestured with a turn of her head to follow her lead. The two understood immediately and went close, and from there, Yang hopped off with Weiss and Blake following suit.
Yang would have landed if it weren't for a Nevermore passing by. The humungous bird type Grimm felt her weight slam down on its back and even had to flap its wings higher to regain its balance to the skies.
Weiss created an Ice slide with a low arc that she gracefully slid onto, raising her again into the air by the tip, and with a summersault, she landed with Myrtenaster stabbing the ground, the area around her shooting up with icicles that impaled multiple Creeps and Ursas alike.
Blake had rolled onto a King Taijitu's back as she avoided the lunge that was meant to strike her, sliding across its body and leaving bullet marks and incisions across the way.
The Nevermore plunged into the ground that had its feathers on fire, and as soon as it crashed, a larger flame engulfed the Grimm with Yang still on its back left unaffected by the blaze. Though it seems that one of the fabric was beginning to turn black.
It does not seem that these Grimms were any different as the General stated-
"Are they... Regenerating?" Weiss said with wide eyes.
Some of the Creeps that were stuck within the icicles in their body had torn away from it, the hole that was supposed to be showing had closed together with a new polished bone armor shaded in red. The Ursas, having the same shade of bone armor growing has melted the ice, fire suddenly fuming between breaths.
The King Taijitu, although wounded by Blake's earlier attacks has shown live dust living within their skin of what seems to be blue of color. It hissed and rattled, around the vibration a static of electricity.
And what's next? The Nevermore rising from the ground and having the same thing too?
Yang lets her shoulders drop and head fall to one side and sighed as she felt the Nevermore under her shifting. Her flames were suddenly whipped away with cold wind and ice as the Nevermore flapped its wings and shot to the sky. Yang had tumbled off from the sudden speed and fell on her back to the cold hard frozen ground.
And so it seems that the General isn't fooling around after all.
"Begin the process." Ironwood said, holding a scroll within his hands and watching the live session back at the old base as he was still in the Bullhead transport.
A soldier in the screen nodded, "Yes sir. Beginning process now."
On a table in shape of a human body, they laid Ruby Rose on top of it. Above her was a robotic manufacturing arms of 3-4, one pointed, the other with lens and lastly a three fingered hand and laser. The base rotated left and right, clicking and exhausting the hydraulics. Two doctors, one settling a case on a tray and the other standing next to the body with tools of surgery at his arsenal.
Ironwood knows this was risky. It failed him before. He can hope it does not fail him again.
Yang was cursing loudly, her frustrated shots missing the Nevermore by an inch. It launched its feathered quills, the speed almost as fast as her bullets. Weiss in luck deflected them with a timed shield of ice of her own after taking care of the Creeps.
Blake was in a bit of a tight spot herself. Every time the Taijitsu rattled and slammed their body to the ground, an amp of shockwave traveled across the floor in a semi circle, making her jump most of the time. And when she landed, it felt as if those static of electricity still lingered on the ground that would sting her a little. It's mouth open, a discharge of blue energy shooting at her. She dodged it once, but it's twin got her the second she was in the air, stunning her.
M-ve. H-rry. D-dge.
A voice was speaking to her.
L-ft. -eft. Left.
Blake, shaken by the ringing sound inside her head was able to catch the words, subconsciously using a clone to teleport to the side, avoiding the snake's lunge.
I-s. c-min-. b-blake.
Blake hits her head with the hilt of her gun. The sound she was hearing was equivalent to the ringing in her ears. Even with the sound protection device, this noise was coming from inside her mind. "Stop. Go away." She huffed.
w-ite. F-ng. b-belladonna-a.
The metallic ringing screamed in high frequency, deafening the ears above her head. Blake shrieked.
Yang shouted her name in hopes that she can bring her back, but when the Taijitu held its head back and the surge was accumulating, she jumped in and took the shock of electricity which was meant to be directed at the Faunus to herself. The current pranced around her entire being, the acuity of stinging sensation ripping Yang in the inside as her body twitched. She gritted her teeth, with will power she opens her hands with fingers clutching, bringing them together in a struggle. She screamed in a battle cry until all the static electricity has stopped. Her body went free and limped forward, but she did not fall, raising herself and stumbling a bit, it seems that the energy that was once painful had become adrenaline, the shocks dancing around her with flames in shapes of dragons.
Blake was still clutching at her hair. Shaking her head in hopes to throw the noise away.
Yang shot a glance at Weiss. "Cover. H-her."
Immediately Weiss with the help of her glyphs takes Blake away from Yang. And when they were out of the way, the Blondie smashed her fists together. And there it was, the blazing inferno of hell itself, bigger than ever has erupted.
In a mere few seconds, the Taijitsu's first head was pulverized in one sweep motion, the second exploding with its remains spewing. The Nevermore shoots its quills again, only to be burned in ashes before it even came close. It swept in with its mouth open in terms of devouring her whole in one go. It could have ended that way really. But it was one huge mistake.
As it dived to her, Yang puts a foot forward that smoked away the fire in a whirlwind, fists at the side and held her stance. And when it was at a range, she lets it go. The ice coating around the Grimm melted, its feathers and even its bones dissolved, the whole giant bird disintegrating into ashes next. Anything that was behind it was effected from the fiery blast and has suffered the same fate.
The flames around Yang dispersed, her clothes burnt and snaking its way until her leather jacket was in ashes itself, half of it hanging around uselessly. The fingerless gloves in her hands had also torn, the white clothing at the tail had gone black. Yang falls on fours, pulling back to sit on her knees. She breathed hard, a smog of vapor fleeing from her mouth heaved from her chest. "Shit.." She uttered, "I used it all."
Blake had returned from her senses soon after, rubbing an ear to make sure it was away. It ached, but she was glad it had stopped. For now.
"What happened to you?" Weiss questioned, concerned. "You almost got killed.. We'll talk about this later."
Weiss runs to Yang's side, "Are you alright-" the moment she touched the Blondie, a sizzling burn cause her to draw her hand back in pain. "What the.."
"Oh damn. I'm sorry." Yang apologized. "This is new to me, I'm sorry."
Blake was about to do the same until Weiss stopped her. Yang told them she was fine and stood up on her own with effort. "I think I just need.. Something to fuel me up.."
The two really wanted to help her, but Yang only backed away slightly to tell them that it was alright and that they might burn themselves if they touch her.
The fight however, is not yet over, as they have yet to deal with the Beowolves that were advancing in packs, a Death Stalker and Boarbatusk close by. Maybe this would all be a bit easier if the Gunships weren't taken down previously and the Altesian Knights not get smashed into pulps.
"Careful with that." A doctor scolded, "the General won't be pleased if we mess this up."
"I know! What do you think I'm trying to do?" The other replied curtly, "this is complicated enough, don't talk to me that way." He twiddled a little more with his tools into the choker like device. " With that Dust you're holding you might as well lose millions of lien just because you dropped it."
"Are you trying to get me fired?"
The two continued bickering, a miracle that nothing has happened so far.
"So I have to insert it here." The doctor with the Dust muttered, a piercing sound following after.
If Ruby was still alive, oh how much pain it would have caused her even while unconscious. The after effects even as worse as the actual surgery.
"Done. I've always been wondering what's in that Dust. The hell with it being so expensive."
"I wonder too. Looks empty to me. It's grey. It's so unlike it to even be called Dust. More like a Gem that has nothing in it.."
The arms above moved, the laser sealing the cut on her chest.
"You think she'll live?"
"I don't know. She does look pretty though, a pity it would be if this isn't successful."
"If it isn't the General will hang our asses to the walls. Now shut up and place the device on her."
Firmly and carefully after putting a few more shots of medical injections, the device was planted around the girl's neck, the screws having turned and locked automatically as it clicked behind.
The doctor then typed onto the computer pad of the table with fast fingers. It then rebuilt itself without moving the body, securing them from both sides. A kind of metal door slid up from one side, going around and closing on the other end, the whole thing now looking like a container. Slowly, it moved to make it stand.
"Do your work, baby." The doctor said while patting the computer, beside it a heartbeat monitor. "Now all we got to do... Is wait."
It wasn't going all too well. It was like they have forgotten what they learned in the simulation room. It was not like they were paying attention at first, like they hardly knew why they did so in the first place.
The visor like shades were doing fine for Blake that would protect her from the strong light due to her sensitive eyes. Ear pieces that was to calm the frequency of sound. They have told her to keep exploring what was new within those ability for something significant might come out of them. So far, the voices were more annoying than it was helping.
On Weiss's side, the scientists were trying to find out what it was that was special. They could not tell, But it was Weiss herself that can trigger the significance of the ability. It might come by itself, or soon enough.
And Yang, she was the frenzy of them all that needed control over her newfound abilities. It had come to the point that she can drain easily if she did not know how to calm herself and/or use them. And right now, she was stripped from her Semblance. Still with fighting strength, she was able to take down a Boarbatusk.
The Grimm charged with a body roll at full speed. Yang had stopped it, but it did not stop it from rolling like sonic sound, the friction against her palms rubbing heat. Odd enough, she felt a little tinge of her Aura coming bit by bit from it, and with one hand holding it in place, she brought a fist that went through its head-piece, broke it and let the Grimm explode to a reinforcements of Creeps that knocked them like pins, not sure if it was a Grimm with Dust in it.
Blake really did not like the voices in her head, although, it made her predict the moves of Grimms in a much more fast reflex. But eveytime it used itself upon her, the ringing would teeter to spill in its high pitch. Her aim, surprisingly, even as they were good before had heightened. Combined with the reflex she did not even need to turn to know her enemy was going to claw her from behind. Things were starting to stack up.
Weiss had once had rapier knocked from her hands due to a troubled mind that appeared out of nowhere in the middle of a fight. She was surrounded, her weapon under the feet of a Creep. An Ursa gave one huge swipe which the Heiress was able to duck, and when she touched the ground, a huge black and white ring surrounded her, duplicating itself until it was like the rings of Saturn. Different elements of Dust emerged in its sharp solid form and pierced the Grimms as high as a Goliath. It submerged itself back to the rings and it rained Creeps and Ursas. Shocked by the power she stared at her hands, front and back. How did she..?
A few stood from the ground like they had an extra life, a different color on their bone armor. Weiss's eyebrows knitted, these were far questionable and she hopes to find out more when they get back. She retrieves her weapon and began to deal with the second lives.
Ironwood watched the containment unit. His foot tapped, this was taking longer than unexpected.
"Commencing Step Three." The doctor reported. A steady flow of glowing light within the tubes went into the unit. "We are now tracing a sense of Aura. But no heartbeat yet."
Ironwood rubbed his finger and his thumb together. This made him tense for some reason.
Beep...Beep...
"And there we have it. Heartbeat slow and.. Hold on. Take it easy. It's going above average- wait! Hold hold!"
Ironwood frowned, "Tell me what's happening."
"I-I, don't know sir! The heart is going too fast and if it goes on any longer she'll-"
The door of the unit blasted open, the metal going an inch deep into the wall. A hand appeared in form of a fist, then it came around the edges of the container.
Ruby pulled herself from it, falling to her knees and hands to the floor, coughing so hard she hacked blood. It was not red, but black. She breathed heavily like air was so vital, filling in her lungs as much as she could like it was her first time breathing in one. She clutched her heart. It was beating too fast. She didn't know if she was tired, or if she was so. Energetic of the sort. She feels the collar around her neck, she tries to pry it off, but it would not budge and it felt painful to even tug at it.
She hastily went on her feet. When two men started to approach her, she felt a sense of threat and backed away. She didn't know, but she was.. Growling.
"It's okay missy. There's nothing to be worried about. You just woke up from a coma and we're here to take you back."
Ruby had to find her voice, even that felt like a long time and made it sound cracked. "Coma?"
She looked around, it was suspicious to her. "I don't believe you."
Ironwood came through, eyeing her carefully and putting his hands on the two doctor's shoulders for them to back off.
"Ruby Rose." He said calmly, still with a superior tone that came out of habit, "Your team is waiting for you."
A/N: Once upon a time, when I was thinking on how to write this out with extreme brainstorming, I fell asleep on my chair.
Putting this up before Episode 2 comes out for the Non-Sponsors.
Thank you for reading so far! Comment, review, fave or follow, whichever you like :) Also, Belated Happy Halloween~
*Edit 1/28/16: Checked spelling and fixed a little bit of Weiss's part*