In this update, I also posted two previous chapters as well
I don't own any intellectual properties
The bustling streets of Vale were illuminated by the bright rays of sunlight, showing the dozens of passersby, civilians, workers; all heading to their jobs.
Along a sidewalk, walked a pair of individuals. One a tall, black haired sorcerer wearing mostly dark clothes and the other person was a tall, blue haired man wearing mostly white clothing.
The day was in it's late morning rush, with Harry and Grimmjow walking through the city. Harry was looking up with a smile on his face, with Grimmjow casting the occasional glance at the Eldritch Sorcerer.
"…You have something on your mind." Harry said, it wasn't a question; it was more of a statement than anything else.
Grimmjow frowned and looked forward. "Why did you want me to come with you?" He asked, causing Harry to incline his head.
"Perhaps I enjoy your company." Harry supplied.
Grimmjow sneered at the response. "Bullshit, we both know you don't like me." He stated.
Harry lost his smile and gave Grimmjow a curious look. "What gave you that idea?" He asked, with some genuine curiosity.
"You give Madara and Nui special treatment. They give an idea, and it's 'Oh, thanks for the suggestion, I'll use it'. I give an idea, you laugh at me and call me stupid!" Grimmjow snapped.
"I've never called you stupid, Grimmjow." Harry admitted, as the two stopped at a street corner and looked at one another.
Grimmjow crossed his arms and scowled, shaking his head. "You've never said it outright, but I know. Aizen fucking treated me the same way, he'd give me a pat on the head and tell me to sit in my corner!" He stated angrily.
Harry closed his eyes and sighed. "I appreciate Madara's advice, his insight is invaluable. And Nui, she's a special case." He stated, not wanting to admit his obvious bias towards his daughter. She gets away with a lot under his command, but that doesn't mean she gets away with everything.
"Why'd you even recruit me? All I've ever done is sit in that fucking dumbass school and wait! I want to kill, I want to crush and destroy! I sure as shit ain't jonsing for the next pop-fucking-quiz!" Grimmjow admitted in his hot tempered way.
He turned around and balled his fists angrily, gritting his teeth in frustration. "You've gone out every night and caused chaos and destruction, while I'm...useless." He added, his anger slowly dying down. He turned and looked at Harry. "Do you...think so little of my skills, you use those tiny girls for support!?" He questioned.
There was a silence between the two, as Harry observed the upset Arrancar. Truth was, he was right. He could've used Grimmjow in a lot more ways, used him like the weapon he wanted to be, the weapon he said he was recruited for. Unlike with Madara, whom Harry recruited for his expertise and knowledge. He chose Grimmjow to be his enforcer, his extended might when it came to it.
Out of all the Arrancar he could've chosen, Grimmjow was the most logical one to use, Starrk wasn't used for obvious reasons, same for Baraggan. One was too lazy and the other was to self-serving. The female, Harribel cared more about her subordinates than her leader. Ulquiorra was a more complicated fact, Harry would more than likely absorb him than recruit him. And Nnoitra was a weirdo by Harry's standards. Everyone under Grimmjow was weaker, obviously, by orders of magnitude.
"Grimmjow...have...you given me a reason to trust you?" Harry asked curiously, causing the Arrancar to scowl at him.
"I follow you, don't I!?" Grimmjow responded angrily, glaring at the Sorcerer.
Harry exhaled and shook his head. "That, right there, is why I don't trust you." He admitted. "I am disappointed by your attitude as my enforcer, my left hand." He admitted with a sigh, causing Grimmjow to recoil a bit in surprise.
"...Your...Enforcer?" Grimmjow muttered in some surprise. To be the Enforcer, the proverbial 'right-hand' of a powerful leader was nothing to scoff at. The being that imposed the leader's own might, when the leader wasn't around. In Grimmjow's case, the only thing that came close to that in his experience, was Ulquiorra who served as Aizen's enforcer. Even if Grimmjow would never admit it, Ulquiorra was orders of magnitude in power above his own.
To be given such an esteemed tittle, by someone who could kill him; was…strange. Grimmjow was rarely ever given any praise, or a position of importance. But the latter part of Harry's statement grabbed his attention.
"W-wait...how do I disappoint you?" Grimmjow questioned, his anger slowly bleeding away.
Harry gave Grimmjow a stern look, his lips thinning. "You constantly question my plans in front of our allies. The decisions I make, the orders I give. You always have to have the last word, you always have to voice your opposition." He stated plainly.
Grimmjow was caught off guard by the comment. Sure he was always like that, he did the exact same thing to Aizen. "You don't respect me, Grimmjow. Even after all I've done for you. I saved your life, I gave you your strength back. And more, I've enhanced your body with my Super Cells. I've given you a chance to spread out, have fun." Harry said, as he motioned to the area around him. "You can bump-uglies with any girl...or guy that catches your fancy, you can hunt down and kill hundreds, thousand of Grimm to sate your Bloodlust. You can dine on the finest cuisine, or human soul if that's what you require. All that I ask, is that you follow my orders to the 'T'." Harry said with a sigh, before he shook his head.
"But even with all the gifts I've given you, the freedom Aizen never gave you. You still treat me like him. No respect, no trust. And in turn, I won't respect or trust you. I won't ever use your abilities. You're strengths. I won't help you become King of Hueco Mundo." Harry said idly, not really giving any impressions in his voice. With his casual tone, it was almost like he was speaking a trivial fact.
Grimmjow looked down as he comprehended Harry's words. Despite the opinion that he was some Meat-head jock that only talked with his fists and blades, Grimmjow understood the values of being a leader. He himself was one at one point in time. He knew in the Hollow world, if a Hollow spoke out against it's leader, it'd be eaten without question. If a Shinigami spoke about it's leader, they'd be jailed or executed for treason. If a Human spoke out against it's leader, it'd be socially humiliated.
Harry had no reason to use his abilities, because Grimmjow never gave him a reason to trust in his abilities. Grimmjow himself had killed a lot of Hollows that spoke out against his rule. "When I spoke out against Aizen...I knew he wouldn't do anything. He needed me for something. And when I did speak out against him...he humiliated me in front of the Espada..." He stated, as he looked at Harry. "...Just like you did with me, in front of Madara." He challenged.
The Sorcerer studied the Arrancar and turned to look at the passing traffic, which passed on by, their engines puttering. "You're right, Grimmjow. I did humiliate you in front of Madara. I must admit, it was tactless. I should've talked you in private." He admitted, while he didn't apologize, the sentence itself was strong enough to stun Grimmjow.
"When you fought under Aizen, you were his attack dog. His little toy he used to test the strength of Ichigo. He didn't care about your opinions, or even care about you in general." Harry stated bluntly, as he focused on Grimmjow intently.
The two stared at each other for a moment, before Harry continued. "We've spent a few months together. And while I admit, in the beginning, I was annoyed with you. Over the course of time, I had hoped a bond between us would cause you to…become more..." Harry glanced off and pursed his lips.
"...Attentive." Grimmjow said quietly, internally he was gritting his teeth at how...weak he was sounding. But, the words Harry was speaking to him hurt more than any blade. Over his long life as a Hollow, he'd built up many defenses. Grimmjow's dream, his goal, was to get someone, anyone to respect him. He dreamed for the day someone would look at him as an equal, instead as lower than them. Everyone looked down on him, Aizen, Ulquiorra, Ichigo. Over time, that lack of respect caused Grimmjow to lash out at everyone, he'd prove his superiority through destruction. And most of the time, that destruction was created by the opposing force as well.
However, Harry didn't indulge Grimmjow's need of superiority through strength. Instead of hiding behind his power, which would've made Grimmjow lock up in a fight mode. He was basically using his words, and they were far more telling than a clashing of blades.
Grimmjow fully understood. Harry wanted to respect him, he wanted to look at him as an equal. But it was Grimmjow's own fault that wasn't happening. The biggest obstacle in gaining respect...was himself. And Harry was telling him that, it was more lasting and held more impact than any Getsuga Tensho from Ichigo's blade, or intimidation tactic from Aizen.
"Your job, as my Enforcer. Is to carry out my will, be it through the destruction of an enemy, the capturing of a valuable object, or the protection of an ally. The Enforcer is supposed to carry out any orders of it's leader..." Harry said in a serious tone. "...In your case, me." He said in a matter of fact tone.
Grimmjow studied the Sorcerer for what seemed like minutes, as he comprehended what the Sorcerer was saying. "...Madara always offers suggestions, Nui does as well. Why can't I?" He questioned.
Harry inclined his head. "You can offer suggestions, whenever you please. I may listen to them if they are helpful, if not I won't. But once I've made a decision, it is your job to carry it out. Regardless of how you may personally feel. Any objection to my plans, should be given to me in private. Not in front of Madara, Nui, Neo, Meta, any of my subordinates." Harry admitted.
He took a step towards Grimmjow. "I don't recall Madara, ever showing me irritation to any orders I've given. I don't recall, Ulquiorra showing irritation or objection to any orders from Aizen. Am I mistaken?" He questioned.
Grimmjow closed his eyes and faintly lowered his head, as he exhaled slightly. "Na, no...they didn't." He admitted, before he looked back towards Harry.
"If you don't feel capable of carrying out the role as my Enforcer, I'll give it to Adam instead. I'll return you to Hueco Mundo, but unlike what I said before; I won't wipe your mind or return the gift's I've given. You can fight Aizen yourself and become King, and they're would be no bad blood between us." Harry offered in a very curt and courteous manner.
Grimmjow stared at the Sorcerer for a moment, before he gritted his teeth and lowered his head in submission. "I would...very much like to be your enforcer for the time." The Arrancar admitted quietly. He had nothing else to return to in his reality, other than the defeat of Aizen. And even he knew, he wasn't strong enough to fight him alone. He...needed Harry.
The Arrancar heard Harry exhaled, causing the man to look up and see the Sorcerer studying him for a moment. "Than I expect you to follow the guidelines I've placed down." Harry stated seriously.
Grimmjow slowly nodded. "I gotcha." He muttered, as he put his hands in his pockets. He glanced to his side and noticed Harry was looking off.
"Grimmjow, I did want us to become friends. I hope, I haven't ruined that." Harry admitted with a scowl, speaking the truth. In his own warped vision, he took Madara and Grimmjow for other reasons than because of their abilities and knowledge, they were...replacements. Madara was the wise, misunderstood mentor, seen as the all encompassing villain that was to replace his dead Godfather. And Grimmjow was the loud, rebellious, rule breaker that was to replace his dead best friend.
Grimmjow gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. Friendships were something usually despised in Hueco Mundo. To have a friend, would mean to have a bond with someone you saw as an Equal. Having an Equal in Hueco Mundo, wasn't a good thing. But friends...they respected one another.
"You are the only person who's ever recognized my skills, my abilities. The only one who ruined our possible friendship…was...me." Grimmjow admitted through gritted teeth, hating the fact he was admitting to be one of his own faults. He took a breath and looked at Harry. "I hope you can overlook me previous attitude...and perhaps…we can...be friends." He offered.
A wide smile spread across Harry's face. "Think nothing off it! Now, let's have some fun! Blake's getting reacquainted with her Team right now. And I don't think I should be there, to cause any conflicts." Harry said with a whimsical tone in his voice. He didn't want Blake to revert to her pet role, just yet, she needed to build up a tenure with Ruby, Weiss and Yang for the moment. So she could get back into the motion of being the 'quiet, withdrawn' girl again.
"So...what're we gonna do?" Grimmjow questioned, clicked his tongue and casually kicked the ground underneath him, releasing a small chunk of concrete.
Harry shrugged. "I'm going to meet my cute little Burning Ember in a few hours. Want to check out a strip club?" He asked, looking at Grimmjow.
Grimmjow gave the Sorcerer a look. "Don't you got, like five girlfriends?" He asked.
"…I don't see how that's relevant." Harry admitted, causing Grimmjow to slowly grin.
"It sucks, I ain't gotta heart. Parts of me don't really, work." Grimmjow admitted.
"Huh..." Harry sounded, before he blinked a few times. "Oh..." He muttered and then his eyes went wide, and he turned to look at Grimmjow. "...Oh, you mean." He said with some obvious surprise.
Grimmjow exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. "It don't work, down there." He admitted.
"Ah...sorry about that." Harry said, feeling a bit awkward now.
"Don't be sorry, dumbass. It's...it's pretty funny." Grimmjow admitted, as he smirked.
"It's hilarious!" Harry added with a wicked grin, before he started laughing.
"...It's not that funny." Grimmjow responded, but Harry continued to lightly laugh.
The Sorcerer and the Arrancar stared down for a moment, before the two stared laughing. After a moment, Grimmjow calmed down. "So, what's...your deal?" He asked.
Harry raised an eyebrow, as the two began to start walking again along the sidewalk. Most of the streets had been cleared out, since most adults were now working, and children were in schools.
"What do you mean by that?" Harry asked curiously, as the two walked side-by-side.
Grimmjow kicked a small slab of concrete along as the two walked, keeping his eyes on the rock. "If I'm your Enforcer, what exactly am I enforcing?" He asked.
Harry took a breath and exhaled in a very erratic way, as his pupils dilated. The serpent-like slits his pupils constricted, forming fine pointed lines. His long prehensile tongue flickered out for a moment, before it retracted. "I've told you my goal, is the elimination of the Keepers..." He said, causing Grimmjow to nod.
"...They..." He trailed off, as he held up a hand to his face, curling his fingers and making a mock figure of a cage. "...Are simply the gate that blocks me from my original ambition. Don't get me wrong, I abhor their very existence, every cell in my body call for their annihilation. But they are the simple advisory in what I want." Harry admitted with a certain purpose in his tone.
"I wasn't lying to Blake either when I told her, I wanted to conquer everything. Through my superior mind, body, soul, technology, and tactics." Harry informed, as he looked forward and held his hand out. "The UNSC, the System's Alliance, the Terran Federation, the United Colonial Nations, and The United Federation of Planets, dismembered." He stated with a wicked grin. "The Covenant Empire, the Citadel Council, The Arachnid Horde, and the Borg collective, dissolved." He added.
"The Goa'uld System Lords, the Ori Empire, humiliated and demoralized. Cerberus, the Enclave, the Helghan Empire, and The CIS, squashed and under my control. The Avengers and the Justice League, disassembled. The lands of Middle-Earth, scorched and glassed by orbital bombardments. The Elemental Nations, in shambles. The Seireitei, annihilated." Harry listed, causing Grimmjow's eyes to steadily grow wide at the list.
"The Galactics Republic and Empire, the Sith Empire, the Rebel Alliance, the First Order, the Resistance, the New Republic, the Imperial Remnant, the Yuuzhan Vong, destroyed!" Harry raved, as he held his hands out in a grandiose manner.
He turned and looked at Grimmjow. "This governments, these factions in separate realities, are all flawed. Are all in constant conflict. They're existences cause nonillions, to decillions of deaths. Enslaving planets, to Solar Systems, to Galaxies in their corrupt tyranny. All of them, created and imparted with such destructive tendencies by the Keepers. They're going to need a firm hand, a guiding force to set them straight." Harry admitted, his eyes boring into Grimmjow.
"But first…I'm going to need to destroy them." He informed.
"...That's...insane." Grimmjow muttered, staring at Harry in reverence. Harry's goal was far more ambitious than Aizen's, and that guy always did everything big.
"It is." Harry agreed. "I suppose I could go about it the long way. I could pop in to each reality, worming my way up to some high political standing and slowly changing the tide. But in that time it takes for me to get such a standing, in which I can change their governments; trillions would've already died, across all planes, across all realities. I can't waste so much time in one place. So, if I must take up arms and kill a hundred, a thousand, a million or a billion, to save the trillions, quadrillons, quintillions and sextillions. Than so be it. If I'm a monster for that, well...it's because I've been cursed." He admitted with a shrug.
"Cursed with the ability to do the math. And if I cause people to rally behind those with a vengeance against me, if I cause all of them to join their forces to fight me. Well, they won't be destroying one another." Harry admitted, as he held his hand out and smiled.
"With the Keepers death, I'll have the Summoning Key and the Kronorium. I'll meld all realities, all planes of existence into one universe. There is enough space in one universe to house, dozens of Milky Way Galaxies, or Galaxies of all shapes and sizes." Harry admitted. "I know the past and I've caught detailed glimpses into the future of dozens of realities, without my interference. It's only pure chaos." He stated.
"I thought that's what you wanted." Grimmjow admitted.
"I want chaos to draw out the Keepers…and If we're the ones causing it." Harry said with a grin.
Grimmjow inclined his head. "A war with dozens of civilizations…it doesn't sound like you want to save them." He offered.
Harry shook his head slowly. "I do, I do. But…If I happen to have a little fun along the way, well...when in Rome." He said with a growing wicked smile, his eyes glinting in malicious amusement. The idea of manipulating dozens of civilizations thrilled him to no end. "Do as the Roman's Do." He added, causing Grimmjow to slowly form a wide bloodthirsty grin.
The Sorcerer glanced up in thought. "I can imagine it now, a fleet of thousands of Reapers, enhanced with my knowledge and technology. In high orbit of a planet, a cascade of explosions illuminating the sky, as fleets of Star Destroyers, Goa'uld Hat'aks, UNSC ships, Federation Starships encroach upon my fleet. Explosions of plasma fire, anti-matter bombs of all sorts of magnitudes. On the ground, my Cylon Centurion Infantry, my Phaeton Aerial Fleet in the atmosphere, hundreds of Kull Warriors fighting off against the combined might of such a combined army...With me watching, perched upon a castle with my family happily living their lives..." Harry admitted with a distant look in his eyes.
He had given the honest truth of his dream to Ruby, Weiss and Yang. But he only gave a detailed part of it. In his attempts at gaining allies, he always gave portions of his goal, never the full bit. He told, Madara, Adam and originally Grimmjow of his plan with the Keepers. He told Blake of his goal of conquering. The only people who knew of his goal completely, was Nui, Meta, Demongo and weirdly enough Coco.
"That's some poetic shit man, did you right that in your little black diary?" Grimmjow taunted.
"Bloody Cunt." Harry insulted with a scowl, looking at the Arrancar.
"Twisted-Ass Fucking Human." Grimmjow responded, as the two stared down for a moment, before the two formed grins.
The tension that seemed to have permeated between the two, vanished. Harry exhaled, as he turned and looked at the passing cars with a smirk on his face.
Voldemort, ruled his subjects through fear. Dumbledore ruled through subtle manipulations under a guise of a wise old man. Harry realized, that intimidating his allies or manipulating them while an easy way to control allies in the short run. In the long run, they were a determinant. If he ruled through fear, down the line; if Harry had a moment of weakness or a time he himself was weakened. His subordinates would rise up and try to kill him. If he ruled through manipulation, in the longer run they're would be a risk of people figuring out he lied to them; he'd constantly have to try to elevate his own manipulations. In turn, make it far more dangerous for him, if someone ever found out. He would eventually spin a yarn so long, if it collapsed everyone would be against him.
Harry knew, the easiest way to have a person follow you. Is through mutual respect, and an understanding that he was the leader and Grimmjow was the follower.
–
Later that Night
On a distant pier in Vale, on the edge of the docks, kilometers from Beacon ranging in the double to triple digits.
On the docks, was an apparent derelict Warehouse. There was a chirping of a small Nevermore Grimm, which flew through the night sky, above the warehouse. Before it slammed into an invisible force, with a loud thud, before it dissolved away. There was a faint flicker, a distortion, revealing a titanic building sized object mounted over the warehouse before it almost instantly vanished covering in a spanning cloak.
Within the Warehouse, on the ground, were dozens of Forerunner Phaetons, deactivated. There were a multitude of Cylon Centurions, either running maintenance on the vessels or keeping their glowing red photoreceptor locked on the organic occupants in the area. Ever vigilant for any usurpers to their Creator's will.
The interior of the Warehouse was standard, a wide concrete floor. With the miniature fleet of Phaetons on the ready, spread out creating space in the center. In the center of the large facility, was the landed Solaris, Harry's personal Star Courier. On either side of the facility, were elevated balconies.
One of which, had Harry looking over and observing the dozens upon dozens of Cylon Centurions, with the odd small armed and armored groupings of White Fang members under his command. His face was obscured by a ceramic white mask, with a smirking mouth and two upward facing moon crescent shaped eye-holes.
Right next to Harry, at his right Neo was leaning back with her arms crossed her eyes focused with laser precision on a certain individual. At his left, Grimmjow was sitting on the balcony, his face obscured by a bone white panther-like mask. In an effort to keep their identities hidden, Harry had Grimmjow do as he did, and wear a mask.
Unlike Neo, who was already seen without one by many seedy individuals. Harry had to keep his person identity distanced from his ulterior Ego. Harry stared at the forces under his command, with a far off look, his mind filled with contemplation.
Behind him and who Neo was giving such a scrupulous look to, was a pale ashen-haired woman. In front of her was a floating Grimm, with several tendrils drifting underneath it. It created a small chorus of clicking sounds, with a singular bright dot focused on Cinder.
"E-everything is going as planed, Salem." Cinder informed with a smile, her eyes nervously flickering towards the Sorcerer who had his back towards her.
The Seer drifted closer towards the Semi-Fall Maiden, it's tendrils flickering outwards like a jelly-fish. "Everything's set. The supply of Dust has been stripped from Vale. People from all over the world will be coming in soon, the festival will bring in many fighters. And will breed distrust, and when they're all looking at each other. I'll plant the Virus. I'll turn that distrust into hate and fear. Don't worry." Cinder insisted.
The Seer drifted ever closer towards Cinder, before it brought one of it's barbed tendrils up and dragged itself along her arm, causing the woman to grimace and shudder in revulsion. "...I see..." Cinder muttered, as the Seer released another set of rapid clicks. "...Al...alright, I understand." She added.
As the apparent conversation between Cinder and Salem, by proxy of the Seer continued, Harry stared absently at his Cylon Forces.
'Yang, Ruby, Weiss...Yang, Ruby, Weiss…' He seemed to think over and over with a scowl on his face, concealed by his mask as he tried to formulate his own internal plan, which conflicted with his usual amorality.
He needed them to join him, he needed to get them to see Ozpin as a flawed leader, to see the Huntsmen as a flawed system, to see the civilization they lived in was flawed. That they'd live better lives with things under his control.
'I could...manipulate them, get them to question…' He thought, before he shook his head. Harry knew that was his usual first option, twist around the truth and make them see through his eyes. But a part of him couldn't do that to them...after all, that's what happened to him. Harry rolled his eyes, as that feeling hit him.
Harry knew he had a bad life, but he was not a victim. That was the last thing he ever thought of himself as. He had a bad life, he knew that; but what happened to him didn't define who he was; it just molded him into what he became. He was well aware, he could go around killing everyone he wanted to and say 'I do this because I deserve this' 'because life hurt me, so I'm going to hurt it'. He was sure he could sit Ruby, Weiss and Yang down, in front of a nice fire place.
He could spill his guts, get his eyes all watered up and his breath all haggered. He could take hours explaining his origin, his childhood; with the right pauses in the right places. Tell them how just how horrible he had it, make them feel sympathy for him. He could end it with his ambition, where Ruby, Weiss and Yang would cry, they'd hug for hours until morning. And they'd promise 'We'll never leave you.'.
Harry smiled faintly at the idiotic notion and shook his head. It was too easy, it was to pathetic. He wasn't a victim who believed he was justified in what he did and he didn't use his past as a crutch to get others to follow him. Even his ambition, destroying the Keepers; while they did cause his messed up life. They were the simple beginning, the opening salvos of his universal wide domination and policing.
'But how do I get them to join me...without me manipulating them?' He asked himself, yet again. The only way he saw it, was instead of convincing them that they were fighting for the wrong people. Perhaps he can let them come to their own concision.
'I have to make this government seem as shady, secretive and...bloodthirsty as possible…' Harry thought, before he rolled his eyes underneath his mask. 'Oh boy, I hope I can make a Government look back.' He thought whimsically. When you pull back the polished front, they tend to look as shady and utilitarian as any Crime Syndicate or Cartel.
He exhaled through his nose and formulated his plan, as he turned around and pressed his back against the balcony behind him. His eyes focused on Cinder, who had her head lowered as the Seer vanished into the shadows.
"I do sure hope that was an enlightening experience." Harry said jovially, as he gripped the bars of the balcony behind him.
Cinder crossed her arms and slowly walked towards him, her mind absent for a moment. "I have to sabotage the tunnels in Mountain Glenn, which will let horde of Grimm seep into the city through the underground." She informed.
"Eh, that'll be easy. Let's not worry about that." Harry said uncaringly.
"Y-you told me, to go along with what Salem requests." Cinder stated with a frown, she didn't want to be placed in the middle of Salem's ire.
"We will, in time." Harry said with a shrug, before he glanced up and pursed his lips. "You told me, Salem wants some kind of Relic which Ozpin is guarding." He said, as he turned around again and leaned over the balcony.
Cinder slowly nodded, her eyes flickering towards Neo for a moment. "There are four Relics, which are said to hold tremendous power. They're all hidden, deep within the catacombs of each of the four Huntsmen Academies. From what Salem knows, only Ozpin's top, top people know. From what I know, the Huntsmen Qrow Brawnwen and Raven Brawnwen are in the know, and the headmasters at each of the academies." She explained.
Harry tapped the metal bars. "Using hundreds of children-warriors to guard your treasures Ozpin, naughty-naughty. A Dark Lord still has their old tricks I see." He commented whimsically. "And with no one in the know, not even the Government. Ozpin, you're making this too easy." He said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Cinder questioned, as she took a step towards the Sorcerer.
"I don't know who Salem is, and I doubt she has the reputation of picking up randoms off the street to help her out. This knowledge of the Relics seems to be very, very hush-hush. That only three Headmasters of three academies, plus Ozpin, and two Huntsmen have the that knowledge." He commented, as he turned and focused on Cinder, causing the semi-Fall Maiden to take an involuntary step back.
She looked up towards the taller man, while he looked down towards her. "Which Huntsmen is closest?" He asked.
"Raven is MIA, and Qrow works as an occasional teacher in Signal." Cinder answered, having impeccable information sources.
"Signal...Signal..." Harry repeated over and over, as his plan formulated rather quickly. "With a leader who is known by his subordinates to keep secrets and cherry pick who knows what. A natural distrust will form between allies and their leaders, questioning who knows what and how much more others know compared to you…that would cause major distrust. Unless your followers are sheep that is." He surmised, as he raised his hand up to the chin of his mask and idly tapped his finger along the ceramic material.
"What're you thinkin'?" Grimmjow questioned, his voice synthesized like Harry's own, however it wasn't acoustically filtered like the Sorcerer's own mask.
Harry smirked, his eyes narrowing behind their mask-eye holes, showing his amusement. "I think it's time we pay a personal visit to Signal." He commented.
Cinder blinked a few times as she processed that. "Why on Remnant would we do that?! The Relic is at Beacon, why would we attack Signal? It's a dead target? None of the students have started their classes, it's only filled with their Huntsmen and Huntress Teachers." She argued, fully against the idea.
Harry pushed himself off the balcony behind him and began to casually walk along the elevated floor, with Grimmjow and Neo followed, Cinder begrudgingly followed as well.
"That's the point, we're attacking Signal because it doesn't have the Relic." Harry stated, giving her a pointed look.
"I ah...that doesn't answer my question!" Cinder snapped angrily, her eyes radiating a burning light.
"Hhmhmhm..." Harry sounded, as his body shuddered. "Those eyes, even with such a fragmented power of Magic; you compensate with your hate, with your anger and frustration...your fears. Fueling the flames of your own power; I must say it's hot." He joked, causing Grimmjow to roll his eyes in annoyance.
Cinder glared at him, not at all amused by his statement. "Why are we risking our lives, going after a pointless target!?" She demanded, causing Harry to incline his head.
'Commanding, Prone to Anger quickly, infallible will, but supplemented by rational fear of death.' Harry mused, as he created a quick psychological analysis of the semi-Fall Maiden. He could challenge her command and regress her down, into a more fearful subordinate. Intimidating her and forcing her into subjugation would work quite effectively against her, if pressure was applied in the right place. 'But that'll only work for so long; she'll start to fight back, in small actions. She'll sabotage me slowly, in small ways at first. But her rebellious attitude would encroach.' He mused.
Cinder stared at Harry, noticing his was facing her and silently observing her for what seemed like minutes. But was more akin to seconds than anything else. She watched as he inclined his head for a moment and made the effort to exhale loudly.
"I'll...indulge, your curiosity." Harry admitted. "We're going to draw that Huntsmen, Qrow to Signal. And we're going to give him the impression we're trying to steal the Relic." He stated.
"...Which isn't there." Cinder repeated.
"Exactly." Harry said seriously, causing Cinder to look at him in irritation. He glanced up and sighed again. "We're going to give him the impression we were there to steal the Relic. He'll probably ask us if we work for Salem, we..." He said, motioning towards Grimmjow and Neo. "…Do not. We happen to work for a Headmaster of another Huntsmen Academy. Who just wants the Relic to get out of Ozpin's shadow." He said in a jovial tone, as he held his hand out.
Cinder frowned at him. "Every Headmaster knows where the Relic is, Salem knows where they are too." She stated.
"Exactly." Harry repeated, giving her an 'okay' gesture with his fingers. "Salem knows where the Relic is and I'm sure Ozpin knows that, and he'd tell his fighter about it too. If someone were to attack under Salem's orders, they would attack Beacon; where they know she knows where it is. Since we're going to Signal, where Salem would not send someone to retrieve the Relic. Ozpin and Qrow won't believe Salem is behind this attack; which is what we want." He stated.
"We want them to believe another Headmaster is after it. The fact that we aren't attacking Beacon, but Signal, will supplement that. When Qrow investigates and confronts us, with our vague information 'A Headmaster' sent us. He'll feed that information to Ozpin and cause them to distrust his allies. Ozpin will know he didn't give his allies misinformation, but might assume they've been compromised. Qrow himself will wonder, why we attacked Signal, he'll come to the conclusion that our information was wrong. And in turn the information the Headmaster that sent us, was wrong. And in turn the information Ozpin told that specific Headmaster was wrong. It will cause him to question, 'is everything Ozpin told me, correct or true'. So while Ozpin distances himself from his allies across the continent, Qrow himself becomes distant from him." Harry stated, causing Cinder to stare at him with wide eyes.
"Along with that, they'll have to cover the event up. Signal was attacked, for what reason? No one knows, they can't say if was for the Relic, it's a hush-hush item. The Government will doubt the Huntsmen and Ozpin, and they in turn will react negatively towards the Government. Both will become paranoid, eventually with so much tension between the two..." Harry continued, before he snapped his fingers. "...Pop, Civil War." He stated with a grin behind his mask.
That's how he was going to do it. That's how Ruby, Yang and Weiss will learn how twisted and depraved their world is. And they'll understand that under his rule, it'll be much more improved.
"With a single act, one manipulated event can created an echo so vast and so destructive, that there is no recourse. But a revolution." He stated.
Cinder stared at him in some form of twisted reverence. She had plans, big plans. But even she didn't have such foresight, such confidence in how events would play out. "Could I...perhaps, watch such an event?" She questioned.
Harry took a step back and placed his hand on Neo's shoulder, something Cinder noticed. She watched as he slid his hand down to her hip. "You can watch, Little Burning Ember..." He said, before he playfully slapped Neo's rear and turned around. "...But no touching." He teased out, with Neo giving Cinder a sly wink with her usual perpetual smirk on her face.
"Hmph." Cinder sounded, as she crossed her arms and slowly followed the trio, her hips swaying with each step and her glass heels clinking.
–
A shrill whirling sub-light engines pierced the quiet night, as the small shuttle sized Star Courier Solaris descended down upon a tall, spanning facility off an island coasting Vale. Near the edge of Patch, the island bordering Vale; Signal was illuminated by dozens of lights on the inside.
As the Huntress and Huntsmen Teachers came back from their break, most of them preparing for their students to arrive at the end of the weekend.
Sitting in a comfortable leather chair, within the Headmaster's office in Signal academy, was an aged man with long silver hair. His office was illuminated by a bright white light, causing him to whirl around.
"Viraj Zamani(Bend Time)" An acoustic synthesized voice spoke, before a grey light slammed into the Headmaster.
A masked Harry and Grimmjow stood behind him, with Cinder and Neo behind them. The headmaster slowly turned, his body moving in slow motion.
A hand impaled itself into the man's chest, courtesy of Grimmjow. Cinder looked caught off guard by the sudden death, while Harry gave Grimmjow an incredulous look.
"I kinda needed him." Harry said dryly.
"I thought we were doing a combo-thing." Grimmjow admitted.
Harry sighed. "Fine, get him out of the seat. I'll work with what I can get." He said with annoyance.
Grimmjow released a low laugh, as he raised the now dead headmaster, his hand buried in the man's chest. And then he callously threw him aside.
Harry sat down in the leather swivel chair and spun around, before he faced the desk and looked around. "Do-do-do...ah, there it is." He said, as he found the intercom and picked it up. Neo hoped up on the desk next to Harry and crossed one leg over another, as she leaned to the side and observed her 'daddy'.
"Pff..." Harry sounded, as he exhaled into the intercom microphone, and he heard his breath echo around him. "…I'd like to make an announcement, if you would. Every Huntsmen and Huntress in this facility is now...well, to say rather screwed if I do say so myself. If you've assumed I'm not your Headmaster, you are correct. I did break into the office and I did kill him." He said, as he leaned forward and brought the microphone up to the smiling mouth slit of his mask. "…Be sure to bring your weapons in retaliation, they will do you best. Have a good night, and for tonight's number...Queen, Don't Stop Me Now." He said in an acoustic tone, as he lowered the microphone to the desk, but kept it on.
He turned to give Neo and Grimmjow a nod, causing the two to sport equally as sadistic and bloodthirsty grins. He placed a small device next to the active microphone, before it began to play a piano sound. Cinder looked at the three oddly, as the music began to play all over the academy.
The sound of several people running down a long hall to reach their location rumbled through the door. Harry spun in the swivel chair and held his hand out towards the door, causing all the locking mechanisms to unlock and the door to slowly open up.
"Tonight, I'm gonna have myself a really good time. I feel a l-I-v-e! And the world I'll turn it inside out- yeah..." The device Harry placed down emitted, and down the hallway of the now open office room, several Huntsmen and Huntress' charged down, brandishing all sorts of bladed weaponry. "...And floating around in ecstasy. So don't stop me now, don't stop me..." The song started up, as Grimmjow and Neo attacked the oncoming fighters.
"'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time!" The song kicked up and turned into an upbeat musical. Neo charged at a Huntsmen and dropped to her knees and slid underneath him, as she held out her parasol and used it's hooked handle to wrap around his ankle and rip it out from underneath him. She elaborately flipped in the air and slammed her knee down into the back of his neck, cracking it.
"I'm a Shooting star leaping through the sky!" Grimmjow dropped kicked a Huntress, slamming both of his feet into her chest, destroying her aura field, shattering her ribcage and sent her flying out one of the large windows lining the upper floored hallways of the facility. "Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity!"
"I'm like a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva!" Neo was assault from the front by a quick slashing assailant, wielding a pair of dual blades. She had her usual confident smile on her face, as she rested her open parasol over her shoulder. "I'm gonna go..." Neo leaned to the left, avoiding a stab to from the right. "...Go!" Neo step back, avoiding a slash from the left. "Go!" Neo ducked down, avoiding a dual slash from both blades. In an instant she drew her concealed sword out of her parasol and stabbed the thin black into the Huntsmen's thigh and ripped it down to his knee. He went to fall back, but Neo used the open canopy of her parasol to hold hm steady, before she hopped up and slit his throat. "There's no stopping me!"
Behind Neo, a large man wielding a flame engulfed hammer was sneak attacking her, using her distraction to his advantage. A light illuminated him, causing him to turn and look out the window of the hallway, only to see the visage of the Solaris hovering right outside, before it fired off a bright yellow projectile weapon. The yellow weapon took on the shape of a...squid-like object, which drove itself into the hammer wielding man. The man was ripped upwards, through the ceiling and up into the sky, by the automated Lantean Drone Weapon.
"I'm burning through the sky yeah!" The Huntsmen being carried into the sky began to burn up from the immense friction of being risen towards the edge of the atmosphere by the Lantean Drone Weapon buried in his guts. "Two hundred degrees! That's why they call my Mister Fahrenhiet!" That was before the Drone weapon exploded in volatile energy, vaporizing the man.
The sound of metal shrieking against metal came from Grimmjow, as a Huntsmen tried to slash him with a sword. Only for Grimmjow to grin beneath his mask and gripped the man by the throat and lifted him up and over his head and slammed him head first into the ground, before punting him into a wall, creating an impact with broken bones and blood.
"Don't stop me now, I'm having such a good time! I'm having a ball!" The music continued, as Harry sung along and spun almost childishly in the swivel chair.
Cinder stared almost aghast and horrified at Harry's rather chipper attitude, the upbeat song he was playing, and the brutal and efficient way his allies were dispatching Huntsmen and Huntresses with ease.
–
A few minutes later, the song died down and so did the small force of warriors. Harry was leaning against the desk, his arms crossed and he stared at the corpse of the headmaster. Cinder watched as a long black and green ethereal chain slither forward, coming from no apparent place around Harry.
Ouroboros coiled around the man, before it puppetered him, forcing him to stand up. "Sorry about, you know. Killing him and all." Grimmjow said, though he didn't really sound that apologetic.
"It's fine, to a Sorcerer; death doesn't mean much of anything." Harry admitted, as he put his left hand onto the desk and began to drum his index and middle finger along the wood. Thump-thump, thump-thump. Almost like that of rhythmic fashion, mirroring that of a heart beat.
"You're going to what, bring back that dead? You may be a 'Sorcerer' or whatever and posses some variation of a Maiden's power. But...even that isn't possible." Cinder stated, crossing her arms.
Harry inclined his head at her. "Necromancy is an art not many Sorcerer's know, but anyone worth their salt would find invaluable. Magic, the ability to manipulate life itself and twist it, to control it, gehehe…" He trailed off, as he leveled his right hand at the corpse. "Nihilus!" He hissed out, as tendrils of crimson energy webbed out, writhing and coiling around the man.
Using his energy siphoning, draining, vampire ability to manipulate energy. Harry connected the corpse's ambient, remaining aura of a soul and reached out, passed the world of the living. He reached it and attached his siphoning ability into that of the Afterlife and ripped it forward. He closed his eyes in focus, as he continued to drum his fingers along the desk.
Cinder's eyes focused on the fingers, before she felt the literal...energy in the air. When she summoned her semi-Maiden Powers forward, she felt...something akin to a static cling to her body. She herself couldn't understand how to comprehend what Magic felt like, but she interpreted it as some kind of crinkling static. But from the pure power Harry was creating with his Necromancy Spell, it was almost like electricity was clinging to her skin, it was thrilling and terrifying.
Bum-bump, bum-bump...Cinder's eyes remained on the drumming fingers. She felt her heart beat almost, synch with it. Her hear beating heavier under the pressure of Harry's Magical power. The pure depth of the Magical might he had, it was like staring into a black abyss...she couldn't fathom how much he had at his finger tips.
"Hah!" The Headmaster of Signal Academy gasped in surprise, his eyes snapping open.
Cinder's eyes were immediately drawn towards the Headmaster. "My...God…" She muttered, as she turned and looked towards the masked Harry. Salem was scary, she was a monster. But Harry, her new leader was something, much, much more worse. He was an Eldritch Abomination trapped in a human's body. To bring back the dead was something virtually unheard of, and her she saw it, before her very eyes.
"Nope!" Harry said with a casual shrug.
"Hah...ah...ahh..." The Headmaster breathed heavily a few times, as the wound in his chest began to slowly heal. "W-what...where….what's going on…?" He asked, as he looked down. "I was, I was...I was with my family...why am I in pain, why am I tired...why am I hungry?" He rambled to himself.
"Ah, so you were lucky enough to enter a good Afterlife." Harry commented, causing the headmaster to look at Harry with wide eyes.
"I was dead...I was happy! I was with my family! W-w-why have you brought me back…?" He asked, his eyes misting up.
"You were dead for like, twenty minutes. Chill." Grimmjow said callously.
"Since when does time mean anything in paradise." Harry said, not really chastising Grimmjow, but not sympathizing with with the elder man either.
The man turned and focused on Harry, as he gritted his teeth and his eyes became bloodshot. "What do you want?" He questioned angrily, having an almost sixth sense that Harry was the one that brought him back.
"Ouroboros." Harry said with a frown, the black chains were engulfed in a brilliant green flame and formed an organic body, as it coiled tightly around the resurrected zombie. All the while, Harry kept drumming his fingers along the desk, channeling magic into the beat; which he used to control the heartbeat of the resurrected man.
"I don't want anything to much, for someone of your standing, Headmaster. I just want you..." Harry said, as he reached to the desk and picked up the Headmaster's Scroll. "…to call Qrow, tell him: There's been an attack on Signal. People are asking for a Relic, we need your help." He instructed, as Neo took it out of his grip and she walked it towards the bound man, since Harry himself couldn't move, lest he drop the spell.
"Why would I do that?" The Headmaster demanded with a seething anger.
Harry shrugged. "I'll let you go, heal you up and let you live your life." He said, though a part of him knew that wasn't going to happen.
"Fine!" The resurrected corpse reacted irrationally, as Neo handed him the scroll.
It didn't take long for him to pass Qrow the personal message, before the Headmaster looked at Harry. "Now." He said with a glare, his mind slowly becoming more deranged.
Harry held his hand out and channeled magic through Ouroboros, transmitting some healing properties through her and into the headmaster. The wound in his chest fully healed up, before Ouroboros vanished in a burst of green flames.
The Headmaster looked down at his body and then at Harry. Cinder looked really unsure about the idea of letting the man go, but she didn't speak up.
"You're free to go." Harry said, motioning to the door with his free hand.
"R-argh!" The zombie howled, as he lunged forward and went to attack Harry.
Harry sighed, as he took his hand off the desk and stopped drumming his fingers. In an instant, the Headmaster's heart stopped beating and he collapsed to the ground, dead again.
"What was the point of offering him a choice, dude?" Grimmjow asked, crossing his arms with annoyance.
"I ripped him from the afterlife, if I did that and then I just killed him. Phew, Spirits, especially angry ones tend to get really petty at being torn from their paradise. I offered him a choice, maybe he won't haunt me." Harry commented.
"You really think that'll work?" Grimmjow queried.
Harry made a cringing face behind his mask, Necromancy was one of the least used arts for a reason, you know next to being an affront to nature itself. Spirits and ghosts tend to be very petty, and stick around harder than the tune of a bad-catchy song. "Ah, just to be on the safe side…Seytanin alevi(Devil's Flame)" He spoke, as he snapped his fingers. The corpse of the headmaster was engulfed in bright azure flames, slowly reducing the man to ash by the enhanced magical fire.
–
Heavy footsteps reverberated throughout a silent hallway of Signal Academy, as Qrow slowly walked with a tense grip of the hilt of his weapon. His eyes closed a few times, as he passed the dismembered corpses of once friends and acquaintances.
Having gotten a message from the Headmaster of the Academy and he dot a rather worrying voice message that the school was under attack, and it was people looking for a Relic. Qrow quickly went to contact Taiyang, his brother-in-law, a teacher at the school.
Luckily he wasn't here, he had gone and personally driven Yang, Ruby and their teammate to Beacon, to see them off.
Slowly Qrow arrived at the end of the hallway, his shoes splashing against blood puddles on the floor, before he slowly opened the door to the Headmaster's Office. Qrow's eyes barely adjusted to the darkness of the office, only to see a singular man standing in front of the desk.
"Mister Gasg..." Qrow started, only for the man to turn around.
The man was tall, wearing a black suit with a long black coat which barely reached his thighs. His face was covered by a sly smirking white mask, with two upward pointed crescent shaped eye holes, on top his head was a flat brimmed bowler hat.
"No, unfortunately not." Harry said with a smile, his voice modulated by a filter. "I am not the Headmaster of this fine establishment, in fact; I am the one who killed all the people here." He lied, his allies hidden in the darkness.
Qrow narrowed his eyes at the masked assailant. "Did Salem send you?" He questioned.
The masked man seemed to tilt his head. "I don't know what this 'Salem' is. However, I will tell you a secret..." He admitted, as he brought a finger up to his mouth in a 'shushing' manner. "…If you can, as they say; keep it on the down low." He said, his green eyes radiating a light from the dark eye holes of his mask. "I am looking for a Relic." He admitted, causing Qrow to tense.
Harry sighed loudly, as he held his gloved hand out and swiped it around. "My illustrious benefactor paid me a handsome sum to retrieve such an object. Unfortunately it would seem, he was misinformed. Perhaps you could tell me what I wish to know." He offered, extending a hand towards the Huntsmen.
"I might tell you, if you tell me who sent you." Qrow countered.
Harry nodded. "Ah, a tit-for-tat, a quid-pro-quo..." He said, as he turned at a ninety-degree angle. He purposely showed Qrow an opening, as he reached out and idly adjusted a piece of paper on the desk.
Within a moment, Qrow was on him, holding a rather large sword to the side of Harry's neck, the papers on the desk blowing away. "A quid-pro-quo, I won't cut your head off, it you tell me everything I want to know." Qrow threatened, his voice gravely.
There was a faint distortion in the air around the Sorcerer's hand, a unique warbling sound followed, as Harry cast a sideways glance at the Huntsmen. "An interesting idea, I must admit. However, I do believe I might have a counter offer..." Harry said, before the warbling sound turned into the sound of a loud shriek, followed by the chorus of a thousand chirping birds. The entire darkened room was illuminated for a moment by bright blue lightning, revealing for a briefest of moments, a concealed Grimmjow, Neo, and Cinder hiding in the darkness.
Qrow was thrown back by a release of lighting, which had exploded outwards. He was thrown out of the office and his back hit the ground of the hallway. "Ah, fucking-A..." He cursed, as he pushed himself up.
He raised his head and saw the masked wearing assailant bathed in the shadows of the dark office, who clapped his hands together. From in between the faint gaps of his fingers, brilliant bright blue lightning arc around, before he ripped his hands apart.
"Lanza del relámpago(Lance of Lightning)" Harry spoke, as a condensed javelin of lightning formed in his hands, crackling about and creating a loud chorus of chirping birds. Qrow readied his weapon as he stared down against Harry. The Sorcerer rolled the javelin in between his fingers, before he positioned himself into a throwing stance and pointed the tip right towards the Huntsmen, causing Qrow's eyes to widen in surprise. That was before he threw such a condensed form of volatile energy.
Out of reflex, Qrow jumped out of the nearest window of the hallway and just as he did, he tuned to watch as a large part, the upper section of the Academy be vaporized by a massive release in lighting. Arcs of electricity webbing out like hungry tendrils, ready to feast on conductive materials.
Qrow landed on the ground with a thud, as burning bits of metal and rubble impaled the ground around him, melting glass and inflamed wood following.
There was a shrill whirling of an engine, which caused Qrow to look up. Hovering in the sky, not to high above was a unique looking vessel. A ship with a round rear, an elongated front, with a pair of curved wings around the cockpit. It looked completely un-aerodynamic.
Out of the rear of the vessel, was an opened aperture, which had a small walkway extended forward. A masked man stood, his hair and coat blowing about wildly.
"You survived one of my more destructive abilities, good on you!" Harry complimented loudly, honestly a bit worried he might've gone a bit over board. He was well aware of Qrow's relation to his darling Little Red and Fire-Cracker. He didn't want to kill the guy, he wanted him to turn against Ozpin. If he could somehow turn Qrow against Ozpin, it'd make getting Yang and Ruby on his side, much, much easier.
Qrow picked himself up and scowled at the man. 'That...was...a Maiden ability.' He thought, while it wasn't identical per-say. He fought along side enough Maidens to know the feel of their power, and that...was almost a more, pure form of it. "Who are you...Who sent you?" He questioned aloud.
Harry motioned to himself. "I, am simply a man who has too much fun causing a bit of ruckus." He admitted with a jovial and lighthearted tone. "And as for who sent me. Well, since you did survive my attack. I feel a bit, generous. I was sent by a Headmaster at a Huntsmen Academy, they want to use the Relic's powers or whatever to...ahem, wriggle out of Ozpin's encompassing shadow, as they say. Well Mister Qrow, I do believe it's time I packed things up and called it a day, Ta!" He said whimsically with a flamboyant wave, as he took a step back and entered the Solaris, the rear aperture closing up with the small platform retracting.
The bright blue sub-light engines of the Star Courier illuminated in a brilliant light, before it took off at immensely high velocities. Far faster than any craft built in Remnant.
Qrow stared at the shrinking form of the ship, before he slowly lowered his weapon. He turned to look at Signal, to see the upper section of the facility in stunning blue flames.
The veteran Huntsmen brought a hand up to his face and he dragged it down, trying to wipe the tiredness from his body and the cloudy alcohol from distorting his perspective. "…One of us hired that man..." He said, referring to Ozpin's inner circle. "...And he has Maiden powers. What are you not telling me Ozpin?" Qrow muttered to himself, as he turned again and narrowed his eyes up at the sky.
Yay three chapters in a single update! Fun fact, this is the longest story I've written in the shortest amount of time. I guess it's because I've never had so much fun writing again. Though I'm sure most of the replies or reviews I'll get for this update; will just be people telling me to 'UPDATE this story' or 'UPDATE that story'.
I know it's petty of my to say that, but I really like this story. It's something I've had so much fun writing, and there's still so much more in store in my plans. It's honestly something I'm passionate about, in a time where I wasn't passionate to write much of anything anymore. And I post it here, thinking people might like it. And all I keep on just getting are peopled telling me to update other stories. Tell you what, start forking up some mean cash and I'll stop working; and in turn free up a lot more time. And then, I'll happily update any story. But...until then. ;)
