Alright the POV transitions in this chapter are completely and utterly ridiculous. I'll admit that, but I already had the story formated in this way so I just went with it. Sorry if it's annoying. I'll use it for the remainder of this story, but everything else will probably just have a line break.
Chapter 8
Shatter
Schnee Company Private Docks
Shara & Weiss
Weiss turned to Shara, "What did Winter tell you? All I know is that we're supposed to keep an eye on the centerpiece."
"Winter said that this giant Dust crystal is the symbol of the Schnee family, stating that we possess more power and ability than anyone else. Its mere existence is enough to scare away many of our enemies."
Weiss held up a hand. "I guess she really gave you an earful. Anyway I meant any instructions. Did she say anything specific about what to watch out for or what to do with it?"
Shara shook her head. "She said that there wouldn't be too much to worry about since the White Fang took such a hit, though she did send a lot of mechs."
Suddenly a loud screeching noise split the air. With it almost all of the mechs seemed to malfunction as they began to grab weapons. Weiss and Shara looked on in disbelief as they began firing upon the security force.
Schnee Company Harbor Office
Team RBY
Meanwhile Ruby, Blake, and Yang were arguing with the Harbor Master, trying to get access to the docks.
"But you have to let us in!" Ruby was pleading with big puppy dog eyes.
The Harbor Master shook his head, "I don't care if you are huntresses! I am under strict orders not to let anyone onto the docks unless they're Schnee company employees. Now get out of here before I have to call security!"
The boat house shook as explosions and gunfire was suddenly heard outside. A portion of the wall came down and knocked out the Harbor Master, allowing the girls easy access to the docks.
They quickly ran through the hole only to be greeted by a scene of mass chaos and confusion. Guards were scrambling around trying to find weapons while the Atlesium Knights mercilessly attacked them with guns, swords, and anything they could grab. Closer to the ship was a dome of ice, large enough to hold two or three people, which was under heavy assault as multiple Knights fired at it repeatedly, Small packets of guards were attempting to regroup in order to form a more cohesive fighting force but were meeting too much resistance preventing them from getting any closer to each other. Two of the three Paladin units were active, but they were fighting one other, it seemed like one of the Knights had somehow managed to pilot one. Lastly the two spider-like robots were launching explosives at the giant tarp covered mound.
Blake and Yang stared at the chaos in confusion until Ruby came up with a plan. "Yang see if you can help the guards regroup, Blake take a Paladin and see what you can do. I'm gonna see if I can find Weiss."
Blake and Yang nodded in agreement. Yang vaulted over a railing and ran fist first into a group of mechs that were firing at a group of four guards. Robotic limbs flew into the air in every direction, as Yang mercilessly decimated the Knights using her Ember Celica. Blake began leaping towards the Paladin shooting and slashing any mech that got in her way using her Gambol Shroud. Ruby, meanwhile, launched herself across the pier using the recoil from her Crescent Rose's gunshot, hoping to find Weiss in the dome of ice.
Nearby Warehouse
White Fang & Cinder's Faction
Adam Taurus watched the video feed with mild surprise. He hadn't expected Cinder to take control of every mech in the harbor. But what really caught his attention was a girl dressed in black leaping across the pier expertly… nimbly… like a cat. He smiled; this may be more interesting than he thought.
Adam's dog-eared lieutenant just shook his head at Adam's smile. He should've known that he was still infatuated with the traitor.
Cinder misinterpreted Adam's smile as him being happy that someone was interfering with her plans. She shrugged; it made no difference as to what happens here. Destroying the crystal was only to excite the remainder of the White Fang. The real act was in several different warehouses across the docks.
As an afterthought she hit a few more buttons on the black scroll. One of the Spider Drones stopped firing at the covered object and began moving towards the Paladin mechs, as another screech filled the air.
Schnee Company Private Docks
Blake
Meanwhile Blake was having an extremely hard time trying to figure out how to operate the Paladin. She had never really been that proficient with machinery though she had, at least, figured out how to turn on the external cameras. She could see that Yang now led a group of almost twenty guards in an ambitious assault on any group of Knights they could see, Blake chuckled to herself, it wasn't hard to imagine that Yang's kill count was probably higher than all of the guards combined. Though it did surprise her that the guards seemed to respect Yang already.
Ruby was nearly at the ice dome and there was a path of destroyed robots behind her.
She heard a loud screech and began to panic as one of the Spider Drones barreled towards her. She began to pulling levers and pushing buttons frantically, tying to do something to stop the giant mech.
Nearby Warehouse
White Fang & Cinder's Faction
Adam, seeing Blake's Paladin mech flailing about, turned to Cinder. "Stop the drone." At this Cinder raised an eyebrow while Emerald and Mercury assumed fighting stances, ready to attack should Adam betray them. "I can convince her to join us. I'm certain of it."
"A little optimistic there aren't you old friend?" The dog-eared Faunus regarded Adam somewhat coldly.
"Stuff it, Cawkins. You don't know her as well as I do!" The dog-eared Faunus now identified as Nathan Cawkins just shook his head at his friends determination.
Emerald and Mercury looked at each other skeptically. Cinder smirked." Why not? We could always use another pawn. Oh, but Adam."
"What?"
"If she refuses then you will have to kill her yourself, understand?"
Adam nodded confidently, he knew he could convince Blake to rejoin him, he just needed a chance. Nathan however just glanced at his friend sadly, pitying his friend for the upcoming fight.
Satisfied, Cinder redirected the Spider Drone back towards the crystal.
Schnee Company Private Docks
Blake
Blake stared at the retreating drone in shock. The fumbling Paladin would have been easy prey… Why had it decided to leave her alone?
She shook herself, now wasn't the time to worry about that.
Schnee Company Private Docks
Ruby
Ruby was launching across the dock at an insane pace, leaving a trail of destroyed Knight Mechs behind her. Though some had managed to dive out of the way, a handful were scrambling around missing heads or arms.
Glancing to her side, Ruby saw to her absolute amazement that the tarp was nothing but tattered fabric now, revealing the largest dust crystal she had ever seen. Though there were cracks reaching across most of its surface.
Just then she crashed into the dome of ice…
Schnee Company Private Docks
Weiss, Shara, & Ruby
Weiss winced within the ice dome; the attack had been completely unexpected. She hadn't been prepared for the attack so the first few bullets had made it past her before she could create the dome to protect Shara and herself. Shara had fainted and was on the ground a few inches behind Weiss, she wasn't hurt… just terrified. Weiss on the other hand was hurt, a bullet had grazed her side and she was bleeding. It was taking every ounce of strength she had just to keep the ice dome up.
Something collided with the dome cracking it. Weiss panicking, created a new wall between Shara and herself, then readied herself for an attack that would drain the last of her strength. A large dark blue rune appeared in front of her, and she pushed with every ounce of strength she had.
Ruby was sent flying through the air as the wall of the ice dome exploded. Briefly she saw Weiss fall to her knees after the wall fell.
And with a pained gasp Ruby collided with the already heavily damaged crystal. Gasping for air, she landed on the ground painfully.
Weiss watched in despair as the cracks on the crystal quickly spread even farther along the rest of the crystal.
Nearby Warehouse
White Fang & Cinder's Faction
The ground shook as the crystal exploded. Lightning, flames, and streaks of darkness and light flew through the air in every direction.
Cinder smiled at the impressive display that the crystal's destruction brought. She hit a few more buttons on the black scroll and watched as the transmitters and drones began to self detonate. Making it seem as if the robots really had just lost control. No one would purposefully destroy their brand new army if they had taken over said drones; in the end the authorities would just assume that it was faulty wiring.
But as the smoke and light faded, she frowned. In the middle of where the crystal was there was a mysterious dark figure silently falling to the ground.