I didn't like it, not one bit.
"Next you'll meet us here." Adam spoke as he pointed at a section on the map.
"A... book store? Why there?" Gold asked as he looked up.
"It's run by a man named Tukson, one of our own. He keeps a book shop to gather information that might be useful." Adam explained as he continued on.
"There's a basement in the back storage rooms, you'll hide out there until the heat dies down."
Adam seemed satisfied as the others nodded along. The plan was simple, at least from what he told us; we show up, walk in, take the dust, and leave. Honestly I expected more from the plan, but I guess that's what I get for expecting more from a simple robbery.
"Won't anyone come after us once we make our getaway?" I asked as he turned to face me.
"That's why I said you'll be swapping vehicles here." He pointed out a section from earlier.
"Both vans look the same. We'll get the one with the dust, and you four will drive to the escape point. Like I said you'll then abandon the thing and head over to Tukson's to hide for a while. Once everything's cleared a bit you can come on back, it's as simple as that." Adam explained while I kept looking over the map.
It sounded simple sure, that's why I was worried. The plan was vague, although I guess in a way that was a good thing. It allowed for some flexibility with how we could collect the dust. The only solid rules were to get the dust and not kill anyone.
I just don't know. It felt like something was missing.
Something I Just couldn't seem to put my finger on. What was it? I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what was bothering me.
"You leave in an hour, take this time to rest and prepare."
The others nodded and made off. Just as I was about to follow I felt Adam stop me, turning to him I saw as he motioned for me to follow. We walked along for a bit as he seemed to have a destination in mind. He took me outside to the edge of the docks. It was darker now, and it looked as though most of the laborers had finished up for the day.
I was able to see the edge of the horizon now, with the water calmly moving about the evening. Adam took a seat over the edge of the docks, as I did the same. Taking in the evening air he turned to me.
"You were distracted back there, was there something on your mind?"
I let out a sigh as I spoke.
"I don't know, something just felt... off. Like I'm forgetting something." The feeling was still there, even as I continued on.
"It feels like we're overlooking something, something important and I can't tell what."
"I can see where you're coming from, that's why I gave an hour for everybody to rest. This way I can make any last minute changes if some flaws present themselves." He spoke as he looked over the water.
"Then why bring me out here?" I asked as I done the same.
"You had something bothering you. It's bad practice to try and do anything when your mind is occupied, especially anything dangerous. I thought the view of the sea might help you think better, to get your thoughts straightened out."
"So you thought a look at some water would help me think better?"
"Did it?"
I opened my mouth to retort, only for nothing to come out.
Huh.
Well damn, it actually did. I still held a bit of that feeling, and I was no closer to the answer. But there was just something so calming about the evening view of the ocean. It was strange really.
One of the costal villages I'd once been sent to had a view like this, not the same but pretty close. I was there to check on a late delivery for the capital city, as the order of fish did not arrive. When I arrived they told me that an aquatic Grimm from the sea was keeping them from getting their boats out.
I'd been naturally confused as I'd thought the queen had made the kingdom exempt from the Grimm's attack. Regardless I was taken out on boat to kill the beast. It was serpentine in a way and not as big as I had expected. I killed the creature anyway, returning to the shoreline to let the village know it was dead.
Eventually I left under the knowledge that the goods would arrive in a week's time. I would report the news to the queen upon my return, and she herself seemed surprised as well, so much so that she scheduled to go there herself to deal with the matter. Taking me along we returned to the village and I got to watch as she seemed to speak with the Grimm themselves.
No words were exchanged, but I could feel her. I could feel as she ordered the Grimm to guard the village. An odd sensation had washed over me at the time, an almost hypnotic feeling had overtaken me and caused me to space out. I'd been snapped out of it when she called for me to return to the carriage.
I'd never gotten the chance to truly admire the sight before, and looking at it now I wish I had. We stayed there at the docks for a few more minutes before I saw Adam stand up.
"I'm heading in now, I've got some things I need to settle away before I see you all off. You're free to continue with whatever you wish before the mission." He spoke as he left.
I was alone again, with nothing but the sounds of the ocean to keep me company.
"There you are!"
And the silence was immediately spoiled as Gold called out to me, the sounds of him jogging over.
"What do you need?" I asked as I stood, my peace looking to have come to an end.
"Don't be like that, we were just wondering where you were."
"Gold was wondering, we were getting a look at the van we'll be using." Magenta stated as Gold waved her off.
"Details details; anyway, come check it out!" He was off again, the others giving me looks of pity as we followed after him.
"So what does it look like?" I asked as Lapis gave an answer.
"Just your standard white van."
"Pretty much, I'm surprised 'free candy' isn't written on the side." Magenta commented as we turned a corner, walking into a different door of the warehouse.
Free candy? I didn't understand what she meant, but from the humorous tone I'd taken it was an insult of some kind.
We stopped, and I found myself looking on at the 'van' as it were. White like the clouds of a midday sky, the only thing standing directly out would be the black of the wheels. From what I could tell it had glass windows on each of the sides and the front.
What... am I looking at? I had no idea what it was supposed to resemble.
It looked like a carriage yes, but from the size of it I wondered how it could carry anything. Maybe a box or two, but other than that it seemed rather small.
"Check this out." Gold spoke as he pulled the back open.
We walked around to look in. It was empty, certainly more space than what I had believed from first glance. It still wasn't much though, unless the dust was being stored in smaller amounts than I'd been lead to believe.
It would do I suppose, perhaps the mission was really as simple as Adam made it out to be. Maybe the feeling I've gotten was for nothing.
.
.
Sienna was not in a good mood.
Aside from the fact that Adam is running missions behind her back, It looks like he's finally gone off the deep end.
Fucking dust!
There was nothing she could do about it, and that was what bothered her the most. Sienna felt completely helpless and it was pissing her off.
Just perfect! Am I even the leader anymore?!
She took a moment to calm herself. Sienna couldn't afford to let herself get worked up. Right now V and her were the only ones capable of stopping whatever it was that Adam had planned.
Because if they couldn't, the White Fang was (in her humble opinion) screwed.
Maybe a walk could help; heck, it had before.
Sienna found herself leaving her room, on the move once more. Today had been rather calm for her, so much so that the others never even questioned her leaving. This was good, no need to explain herself or her reasons to them.
The walk had been what got her into this mess, and so it would be what helps her solve it.
The streets were as busy as ever, the people moving about. It had been yet another beautiful day, the same type of day as when this had all started. Now all she needed was-
Sienna never got to finish her thoughts before bumping into someone. Looking forwards at the one she'd hit she felt dread well up inside her. It seemed like it had been an exact replica of before.
"Sienna, wonderful to see you again!"
It was Kali, just like before it was Kali. Only this time it was her to bump into the woman, rather than V.
"I was just out getting groceries. Say, how's about you join me."
It was her being dragged into shopping this time. Not just any shopping, but Kali shopping.
Is it too late to turn back?
Apparently so as Kali grabbed her arm, pulling her along into what she knew was going to be a long and arduous day.
.
.
"She's... shopping with Kali." Ilia spoke into the scroll.
"So what you're saying is she's occupied for the next couple hours?"
"Pretty much."
"Good, then you know what to do."
With that the call ended and Ilia put her scroll away. Casting one last glance towards the two, she held a small grin as she left. They'd be occupied for the time being, Kali always did tend to go a little overboard when it came to shopping. Most of the time due to gossip with the stall keepers.
However they were not the main concern for Ilia at the moment. Instead she had been tasked with investigating the first known appearance of that man, 'Vermillion' if memory served.
The Albain brothers were suspicious of him, and rightfully so. His appearance was still bothering them, and she was tasked with getting the dirt on him. They'd went so far as to triple check the guest records of visitors to the island, yet he was always absent.
Sienna seemed to trust him, however the rest of the Fang did not.
Ilia stopped in her tracks, having arrived at her destination. To onlookers this place was just an ordinary street, but to them it was much more. A day before Sienna had talked with her this had been the place that Kali had supposedly found him.
However there had also been a sort of phenomenon here as well. On that day there had been a fog in the area, specifically for only ten or so minutes during the night. Fog wasn't uncommon on its own, but this fog had been incredibly short compared to the other instances of it that usually occurred.
What's more was that it had been exclusive to this street, not extending past the general area or beyond. It simply went up the road, almost as if it was following a path. Almost like it was following someone.
The fog seemed as though it had appeared in a sort of path all at once. Combined with Vermillion's sudden appearance as well as the shortness, It seemed just a little too coincidental.
And so she found herself being sent to investigate the area in hopes of finding something. What that something was; well, she had no idea. But there had to be something... right?
Sifting around in the dirt Ilia ignored the odd looks being sent her way, more in favor of finding anything that could clue them in. Dirt, dirt, and more dirt was moved about. Yet it would seem as if luck stood against her. Nothing but a mess of dust getting stuck in her nostrils.
Come on! There has to be something!
She kept digging about in the vain hopes of even just a scrap of cloth, just something that she could bring back to base.
"Did you drop something dear?"
The voice startled her for a moment. Turning back she was able to see an elderly woman sitting on a chair just across the road from her.
"It's nothing big, my friend thought they might have lost something in the dirt here a week ago. I thought I might have a look around." Ilia answered as the woman gave a thinking look.
"Really? Would they happened to drop something in the night a while ago, when we had that fog recently?" The lady spoke as Ilia's attention was caught.
"Yes, do you know of anything?" She answered as the woman walked into her house.
It was lies, all of it. But she had been tasked with solving the mystery, she'd take any hint she could get. Even if it meant some trickery.
The woman walked back outside, carrying a small sack in her hands.
"I found this a while ago, although I don't know who it belongs to. I've been waiting and hoping the one who lost it would ask around so I could find and give it to them. Is this what you're looking for?" The old lady held the small pouch forward.
"Yes, thank you. I'll let them know you found it." Ilia said as she took the bag.
She began her walk back to base as the woman returned to her chair. If this had been with Vermillion when he had arrived then it may have some answers to their questions.
Curiosity got the better of her however and she found herself opening the pouch a small bit.
One small peek couldn't hurt, right? She thought as she peered inside.
Her eyes widened as she gazed inside. Reaching her fingers in she took hold of what appeared to be a small coin. The coin had looked to be a solid gold, flaunting a strange symbol on both sides as it looked to gleam in the sunlight.
The symbols were different on each side, one face holding the head of a man as the opposite held the head of a woman. Tiny ruins etched across the edges below the faces, a sort of foreign lettering if she had to guess.
The gold had surprised her most, but now she found herself questioning the symbols. Thinking on it now she was questioning the legitimacy of the coins too. They were like nothing she'd ever seen before.
She dropped the coin back in as she closed up the pouch, deciding to get them checked out by an expert when she got back. Now she was more curious about Vermillion than ever. If this was his pouch, then what was she to make of him now. Ilia found herself moving faster back to base with a new kick in her steps.
Who are you really, Vermillion?
.
.
"Uhh!" Sienna felt herself drop as she finally placed the bags down on the kitchen table.
Kali was giggling now, probably laughing at her sorry state.
How bout you try carrying these for once! She thought bitterly from her seat in the chair.
Kali herself looked to pay no mind as she sat down, letting out a small breath as she put her head in her hands and still sporting that devious grin.
"That was fun."
"Fun?! You call that fun, I can barely move?!" Sienna let out in dismay as Kali let loose another giggle.
"Come on Sienna, you're a big strong woman. A few bags couldn't possibly hurt."
Sienna found her anger building up. Rising, rising, up at the edge and...
She let out a tired sigh. As much as she wanted too, she just couldn't stay mad at her. Maybe it was just all that's happened, but she found herself unable to muster the strength to fight at the moment.
This seemed to catch Kali's attention.
"Sienna? What's on your mind?" She asked as she locked her fingers together.
Sienna looked up to her, she had a more concerned look about her face now.
Full mother mode now, great. Her thoughts were sarcastic, but secretly she was relieved that she could at least talk to somebody.
"Nothing, it's nothing you need to worry about."
"No, probably not. Doesn't mean I won't listen, so go on and speak your mind." Kali responded as Sienna took a moment to compile her thoughts.
"Look, it's just that... I don't know. It feels like I'm not in control anymore, like I'm just being pulled along with the waves." She spoke as Kali nodded.
"I see, so this is about the White Fang again right? You feel like things are spiraling out of hand."
"Kind of, I think. I can't quite explain it, it just feels like everything's being ripped from my grasp. Like my hold on things has broken off. I'm a leader, I'm supposed to be able to lead them. How can I do that when I can't even control my own issues. They still listen to me sure, but it feels like they only do it out of habit. It's like they only tolerate me because it's convenient for them." Sienna let out, sounding more and more tired by the word.
Kali looked to hold a gentle smile as her posture seemed to relax.
"I see now, you feel as though everything's going to fall apart. That you won't be able to be a proper leader anymore." Kali spoke as she took a stock of grapes from one of the shopping bags and handing one over to Sienna.
"Believe it or not I know where you're coming from. Ghira and I have had this conversation before." She spoke as she popped one of the fruit off, admiring it a moment before slipping it in her mouth.
"Really? Ghira, as in the chief of the island. The man who's as immovable as the mountains themselves, that Ghira?" She asked as Kali's smile grew mischievous again.
"Yes, that Ghira. He wasn't always the unbreakable stone we've all grown used to. Back when the White Fang was starting out he was just like any other man, headstrong and sporting a will of fire. But like the fire it was just as fleeting." Kali told as she gazed into Sienna's eyes.
"Back in those days, I would find him alone in our room after every protest. Each and every failed rally he would lock himself away, until one day I went up to him. I asked him what was wrong and he finally told me how he felt. He had been doubting himself, after every fruitless outing he grew to hate himself more and more. He told me how he felt he failed as a leader, of how the others must look down on him for being unable to help anybody."
"Really?" Sienna asked, having a hard time believing what she was being told.
"Really. He felt that as a leader it was his job to solve all their problems, he felt like if he couldn't do anything then he must have failed. He asked me why, why had the others followed him? Why did they accept him as their leader when all he had brought them was broken hopes and loss?" Kali let loose a small chuckle as she continued.
"Silly man, It was only he who couldn't see it. And so I told him 'A leader isn't someone who has all the answers, it isn't someone who fixes all the problems or is perfect. A leader is the 'soul' of the people.'"
"The soul?" Sienna questioned as Kali nodded.
"Yes, the soul. The leader is the one that everyone rallies behind, the one who they stand beside. They are the spirit of everyone's beliefs, the one who links them all together." Kali leaned closer now.
"That's why you feel like you lost control, you feel as though their spirit is lost." Kali placed a hand under her chin.
"You feel like the spirit's been stolen from you, am I right? That their hopes and drive are being given to someone else."
Damn she's good!
Way to put it into words, It was moments like these that reminded her that this was Kali Belladonna, and not just some ordinary woman. She put it into words perfectly even when she herself couldn't, however that still left her with one question.
"So what do you think I should do?" She asked as Kali played with a single grape in her hand.
"The answer is simple really, you need to take that spirit back. You need to find a way to light the fires once again."
"Yea, not sure I can do that. They've all found a new flame to gather under, I don't think I can bring them back." She spoke as Kali smiled.
"On your own no, but you're not alone are you?"
"I just told you everyone's moved on though, I am alone." She spoke with a bit of sadness in her tone, Kali shook her head and looked her in the eyes.
"What about V?"
"What about him?"
"Doesn't he follow you?" Kali said as Sienna looked away.
"He wanted to go home, he's only helping me because the issue we face could affect him as well." She answered as Kali took another grape.
"Yet he still chose to help you. He could have gone and gotten others to help, but he chose to work with you. Seems like he's willing to follow you, and I'm certain there are others as well. Ones who want to help you, but are just remaining quiet about it." Kali spoke as he observed the set of grapes in her hand.
"The thing about leaders it that they're never alone, they always have someone. They're sort of like these grapes here, always bunched together among themselves. Looking at a vine of grapes you can never tell which one came first, but there are always more to follow along afterwards. They remain in a bunch, always coming together. I'm sure there are those ready to help, there always are, you just can't see it." With that Kali plopped one last grape in her mouth.
That got Sienna thinking.
Are there really others who still stand with me? She didn't know, yet she found just a bit of hope worming it's way inside her.
She wouldn't know until she looked, really looked. Most of her time had been dishing out orders, everything had became a blur. Was that what had happened to the others as well? Was that why they were so keen on following Adam?
He had always brought umph to his words, always showing a sort of power as he spoke. Had she become too dull, was that why they latched so readily to him?
"Wait, you knew I sent V out?"
"Word travels fast honey, especially word of a new White Fang recruit personally picked by the great Sienna Kahn herself." Kali said as Sienna blushed, still somewhat embarrassed at the full title she was given as head of the group.
"Sorry, I should have told you." She apologized as Kali gave a short laugh.
"I'm sure you had your reasons to send him out so quick; still, I would have liked to send my farewells." Kali admitted as Sienna had a realization.
"I'll tell him that when he contacts me." She spoke as Kali looked confused.
"What do you mean?" She asked as Sienna leaned closer to whisper.
"What I mean is that I sent him as a 'secret' agent. He reports directly to me every now and then. That also means I can ask him about you know who." She told as Kali's face lit up.
"Blake?!"
"Yep." Sienna finished as Kali leaned back.
"So that's why you didn't tell me."
"Yes, I needed to get him out right away for something urgent. But I can also get news directly from him. Even if Blake won't talk to us V should be able to at least tell us how she's doing." Sienna explained as Kali looked relieved.
"Thank you, now we can know how she's been. I just hope they're both doing alright." Kali worried as Sienna gave an eye roll.
"They're strong Kali, I'm sure they're doing fine."
.
.
"This is not fine!" Gold yelled as he ducked behind the shelves, shots breaking into the wall beside him.
"No shit!" Magenta yelled back as she rolled away from the collapsing row of shelves.
Okay so maybe things were... perhaps a tad out of control. I found myself leaping over a part of the isle, small products and the like littered about the floor. It was rather difficult to maneuver without losing footing.
I slammed my fist into the face of an unsuspecting man, watching him drop to the floor. In a way I felt sorry for getting their suits dirty but we were the ones robbing this place!
The irony was sure setting in now that I looked at it. Robbers fighting other robbers over the right to steal dust. The poor shop keeper was huddled behind the counter as all this was going on.
"The dust are you?!" I heard one of them yell as they saw me.
Fuck, that's what it was. I stood out like a sore thumb.
That's what had been bugging me, and now I had a set of new problems. I'd been told to stay out of sight by Sienna as to not cause panic. Yet this whole mission had me out and visible to all.
Great, even more panic. Who knew how long before news of me spread now.
However that was an issue I would have to deal with and report to Sienna later. Right now we had things to attend to.
I rushed forwards, catching the guy off guard and introducing the back of his head to the floor. His aura flared as it absorbed the impact. I leapt forward as he lay grounded in an attempt to get some distance from the fighting.
Facing back I was able to see Lapis throw one of them through the windows with a surprising amount of force. Shattered glass went flying as Magenta sent another two tumbling into the shelves.
Good news was we never killed anyone so far, so I guessed that was a plus. Bad news was that I could hear a sort of... loud sound getting closer. This seemed to put the others on edge as they took the bags of dust; previously gathered by the criminals before us, and made to leave.
It was funny really, walking on in with a bounce in our step. I heard the others bursting open the door to announce our robbery, only to go quiet as some guys inside were already in the process of filling up on dust. I'd been entering from the back as part of the plan, getting dust from the storage area. Walking into the silence, then the sounds of fighting.
I never did get to grab that dust.
"Come on!" Magenta yelled as she took me by the hand, dragging me along.
Outside I saw the others throw the dust we managed to take into the back of the van, hopping inside. I rushed along up front with Magenta as she started along, speeding up as we left the shop behind.
She sped along as I looked through one of the side mirrors.
"Someone's following us." I spoke as she made a turn.
"Yea yea police I know, hold on!"
She made another turn this time, flying through an alleyway and into another section of the streets.
"Fuck!"
There were others before us, looking to block the way ahead. I felt as she made another turn into another ally and made to stop.
"Out the back!" She ordered as we all stepped out, dust in hand.
"Why we stopping?!" Gold called as she rushed to what looked like a metal disk on the ground.
"Here!" She called as she lifted it up, revealing a hole with what looked to be a metal ladder.
"You're kidding right?" Gold whined, only to groan as Magenta gave a look and hopped in.
He held a pained look as he followed along, joined by Lapis and I as we closed the lid behind us.
It was dark, so much so that Lapis had provided a light from his scroll.
"Ah, gross! This place smells rancid!"
"It's a sewer idiot, what did you expect." Magenta chastised as Gold complained.
"That's precisely why I didn't want to go down here!"
"It was either that, or fighting the police force. We're not allowed to kill anyone remember." She spoke as we walked along.
"Weren't we supposed to swap vans though?" Gold asked as he let out small coughs.
"We wouldn't have made it that far. Look, we can pop out close to Tukson's and lay low there okay?"
"Fine. So how do we find our way around?" Gold accepted as Magenta held her scroll, seeming to make a call.
The rings went through for a bit before an answer came through.
"You lot must be having quite the adventure, huh? At least according to the local news, 'Police chase through the streets of Vale'. Could use a better title if you ask me." Adam's voice came through.
"You could say that. We're stuck in the sewer for now so we won't be at the meet up. Van's lost at this point so we'll use the sewers to meet at Tukson's alright?"
"Yes that's probably for the best, we can get another van later. But what of the dust?"
"Got some of it, place was already being robbed when we arrived so there was a bit of a scuffle." Magenta answered as there was a moment of quiet.
"You made sure not to kill anyone correct?" Adam asked slowly, a hint of threat in his voice.
"Nobody dead, just beaten and bruised." She said as Adam let out a sigh.
"Good, we can't afford to attract any more attention at the moment, we'll save that for later. Just get to Tukson's and we'll work from there." Adam gave as the call ended.
Magenta looked down at her scroll, an image of a map now on the screen.
"According to the local map we should be able to path along for about half an hour before popping up close enough to the place. We'll make a run for it then." She spoke as Gold had a questioning look.
"And you just so happened to have a map of Vale?"
"I'm literally the get away driver, how do you think I knew where to go? I was also given a map of the sewer system just in case of situations like this." Magenta answered with a flat look.
This just keeps getting better and better.
Author's note
...
Here we are again. Still not much to say other than 'look another chapter'. Gonna be honest here, starting to feel a bit of a burn out at the moment, nothing a little random inspiration can't fix.
Still, I'm glad this part is over. I didn't quite know what I wanted from this section. so ultimately I decided to just make it short, with some more intrigue thrown in too.
Anyway let me know what you think, and see you next time.