Notes: Ya it's done woot! High five! This gave me a few problems. Mainly trying to keep the villains in character. I mean most of them are very secretive and stoic characters. Having them interact with a crazy mind reader really complicates things. Anyway I think I pulled it off to some extent and would love to hear what you think.
Self Interests
Cail couldn't see where they were going due to the fact she was currently blindfolded but she knew she had spent the last few minutes being driven around in circles to throw off her since of direction. Of course it wouldn't work since she already knew all too well where they were taking her and had long since mapped out the rout in her head. Once the car came to a stop she felt a hand grip her arm and pull her out of the vehicle and into what she figured was one of the White Fangs warehouses. Cinder and her companions dragged her along until they made it to the back of the warehouse. She was now stud in front of a door that led to one of the small back offices. Once she was forced inside they sat her down in an uncomfortable wooden chair. Then they finally pulled the useless blindfold away restoring her sight. Before her stud a familiar figure, a tall red haired bull faunus by the name of Adam. He circled around her before sitting down at a small desk in front of her. After sitting down he quickly made himself comfortable by throwing his feet up onto the desk and leaning back in his chair. "Hello traitor. I have to admit I never thought you would come looking for us. I'm not sure if you're brave or just that stupid."
"Hey I'm not a traitor! I still believe whole heartedly in achieving our equality! I just haven't had as much time to commit to the cause as I use to. I am a huntress in training now after all." Cail complained.
"Oh I'm sure you do believe in equality. You believe everyone is equally below you! Isn't that right Princess?!" Adam retorted.
Cail's expression hardened quite quickly at the mention of her old nickname. "Don't call me that! I am not that person anymore."
"Oh and what kind of person is that Cail? Is it the type of person who tricks half of our best enforcers, to take on an impossible mission? Or perhaps the type that thinks its ok to give them false hope and leave them for dead when it doesn't work out?"
"I didn't trick them, I would never! We were all brothers in arms! We all believed in what we were doing. And it's because of them that I am alive today!"
"Oh how good for you and tell me Cail do you still believe?" Adam asked while waiting for Cail to retort but she remained silent. "No you wouldn't would you? If you did you wouldn't be here right now and we wouldn't be having this conversation. It's time you faced facts snail, you got them into that mess and when things turned sour you saved your own skin."
"I didn't want to leave! It was all Cheshire's fault! He…" Cail was interrupted as Adam slammed his fist down on the table.
"I don't want to hear excuses and I certainly never want to hear the name of that damn cat again!" Adam roared as his voice turned threatening. "Now then Cail, since we got that off of our chests. How about you tell me why you're here?"
Cail's serious expression seemed to evaporate instantly as she began to speak again. "What didn't I mention? I came to rejoin the cause of course!" She said while giving them a bright smile.
Adam seemed to growl as he began to shout at Cail. "Don't give me that crap!" He then sat up from his chair and reached under his desk. He then quickly drew a sword out from under his deck before placing the edge of the blade directly on Cail's neck. "I don't believe you for a second! If you don't have anything better to say to me, then I will end you right here and right now!"
Cail's expression remained unchanged as she responded. "I am not lying to you Adam. Look I will admit I am only doing this for my own self interests but aren't we all? I mean it may have been true at some point but can you really say that you're only doing this to help our faunus brothers and sisters now? And what about Miss Cinder Fall here? Do you think she cares about us? Look I know you guys have something big planned and I just want to be on the winning side. Is that so wrong? You could say it wrong morally perhaps but not objectively." Cail stated in a matter of fact like tone.
Adam scuffed before pulling his blade away from Cail's throat and returning it to its scabbard. "Now there's the real Cail. It seems you will be a self interested smart ass until the very end. Now with your questionable intentions aside, why should I put any trust in you?"
Cail leaned in closer before speaking. "Because Adam, you need me. You know what I can do and I am willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish my mission." She said in a serious tone.
Adam began to chuckle to himself. "Alright if you're going to make a claim like that, you're going to have to prove it." He then turned towards Cinder who had been silently glaring at Cail ever since she had dragged her in. "Cinder, a little while ago you requested our assistants in braking out that weapons dealer of yours right?"
Cinder refocused her glare on Adam before responding. "Yes and rejected the request. You said you didn't have the man power to spare for such an operation."
"Well it seems like I have an extra set of hands to spare after all. I will assign Cail to the task."
Cinder gave Adam a confused look. "You can't be serious. Have you forgotten where Roman is being held? What use is this foolish child?"
Cail cleared her throat before entering the conversation. "Pardon me Miss Cinder Fall but might you be referring to Roman Torchwick? If so I assume he is being held in the Atlassian Mobile Prison otherwise known as the Flying Tomb, is that correct?" Cail inquired.
Cinder raised an eyebrow at Cail's sudden interruption. She was worried that the girl may be digging into her mind again but she could tell that Cail's aura was completely stagnant. If she had been using her semblance there would be a reaction of some kind. "That's correct, he is an important part of our operation and needless to say losing Roman has become quite an irksome set back. Our information tells us that he is indeed being held in the Flying Tomb. Tell me snail, are you familiar with this prison?"
"Fairly, I have known a few of its guests." Cail stated in a more serious tone.
Cinder's second eyebrow shot up as her interest rose even higher. "And do you think you could infiltrate the prison and liberate one of its guests?" She asked.
"Well getting inside wouldn't be very difficult but getting out, now that is when it gets tricky. I have run many simulations in my but I have never succeeded. There was always something missing. You see I normally work alone but this mission can't be done that way no matter how skilled some one is. I would need some help. I would need somebody that is smart and light on their feet but can hold their own in a fight if need be. Basically I need somebody who wouldn't slow me down." Cail stated.
"That's really all you need, just one person?" Cinder asked in a skeptical tone.
"It will suffice. This mission requires stealth and anymore would ultimately slow us down."
Cinder chuckled slightly before pulling out a small piece of paper and scribbling on it. "You have peaked my interest so I will give you a hand." She then placed the paper in front of Cail. "This is directions to on of our hide outs. There should be somebody waiting there who will be perfect for this mission. She hasn't made herself very useful since Roman was captured anyway. Now then I think we are done here so my companions will lead you out." She said as she called out the names Emerald and Mercury causing the door behind them to fly open and the pair to make their way in side. "Could the two of you make sure Cail here finds her way out safely?" The two looked confused for a moment before shrugging and pulling Cail out of her seat and out the door. Once Cail was out of hear shot Cinder turned towards Adam and began to speak. "That girls eyes, what is wrong with her?"
Adam looked stunned for a moment before speaking. "So you noticed huh? Most people don't notice her true colors even after spending long periods of time with her but. I guess I should have expected as much from you."
"What do you mean by that Adam? What are her true colors?" Cinder asked with a slightly puzzled expression.
Adam sighed before standing up from his seat and moving towards the back of the room. He pulled away the blinds blocking a window and glimpsed out to see Cail being shoved into a black car while giggling. "That girl… she is like an emotional parakeet."
Cinder's expression became even more puzzled. "An emotional parakeet you say? Would you care to explain that in a bit more detail?"
"As I am sure you have figured out by now, Cail is a telepath. Meaning she has the ability to read the minds of others. I don't know how long she has been like this but. One thing I know for sure, some where along the way she lost her ability to feel real emotions. She seems to remember what they are like but she is only able to mimic them now. The only reason she is able to hide it is because of that ability of hers. She uses it to judge what emotions the people around her are feeling and just acts accordingly."
"That's crazy, how could such a person even exist? If she truly has no emotion, why does she do anything? What's driving her to fight and put herself in danger?" Cinder inquired.
"Well this is only just a guess but, I get the feeling she does have one real emotion left. The only real feeling she still seems to hold is desire. She wants to feel something. She wants to see something interesting. She wants to do something exciting. Her desire to feel is what drives her. And she has no fear or doubt to slow her down."
"She has no fear you say? I wonder about that. Tell me Adam assuming what you just said is true what expression do you think that girl wears when nobody is around to see it?" Cinder inquired.
"Hmm that is an interesting question. I am kind curious now myself." Adam said as he returned to his seat.
"Indeed but speaking of curiosity, who is this "damn cat" you spoke of earlier? I have never seen you get so upset over a simple name before." Cinder asked with a wicked smile coming over her features.
Adam scowled at her before responding. "What business is it of yours witch!?"
Cinder stud up from her seat and approached Adam. "Don't get testy with me Adam." She hissed causing Adam to stand up from his own seat to face her. Cinder reached up to cup his cheek. "Listen Adam, I thought we agreed we wouldn't keep secrets from each other? If we can't trust one another how can we hope to succeed?" She stated while staring into his masked covered eyes.
Adam grumbled and swatted her hand away before making his way towards the door stopping directly in front of it. "If you must know, he was once my student. A long time ago I picked up a pair of strays. I showed them how to survive and then I showed them how to fight. I thought they would do great things but in the end they both bit the hand that fed them and ran away." He then pulled the door open and slammed it behind him as he left.
Some time later a black car pulls up near a run down apartment complex and one of its doors fly open. Cail is soon thrown from the vehicle landing on her face before it quickly pulls away. Cail was still for a moment before slowly lifting herself up off the pavement and patting herself off. She then turned to yell back at the fleeing vehicle. "Hey you jerk wads, what did ye do that for huh!? Gees can't a snail get any respect around here? Come to think of it, where is here?" She asked herself before taking in her surroundings. She began to recognize her surroundings as down town Vale. "Hmm I don't normally come around this part of town but it's not too far away from Junior's club." She thought to herself. She then looked up at a near by street sign. "South Main huh… why does that sound familiar?" She thought while rubbing her chin. Then something clicked as she snapped her fingers and reached inside her bag to pull out the slip of paper that the scary fire women had given her and began reading its contents allowed. "Let's see now 230 South Main Street, Apartment number 7. Oh this must be the place." She thought as she turned to look at the old run down apartment.
Cail quickly made her way up to the apartment and climbed its stairs to the second level where apartment 7 was located. Once in front of the door with what appeared to be a blank space were a 7 use to hang she knocked on the door three times and waited. After a moment she was greeted with nothing but silence. "Hmm that's strange. This is the right place isn't it? Maybe they are asleep, or perhaps they are out at the moment." She said to herself before deciding to try again. "Hello is anyone home? I am looking for somebody umm? I guess I don't know your name but Cinder sent me to get you so we…" Cail was interrupted when she heard shuffling on the other side of the door drawing closer. "So you are in there?" She asked.
A moment past and Cail was still not answered. Then a small note slipped out from under the door at her feet. "What is this?" She asked while leaning down to pick it up and read what was written on it. "Go tell that stupid fire witch that I only work for Roman and not her." Cail read off before letting out a sigh. Cail's aura flickered for a moment and then faded once more. "Oh I see what's going on here. Neo right?" Cail was met with more silence. "That's alright I guess you couldn't answer if you wanted to but hear me out. I have been sent here by Cinder to help you break Roman out of the big house." Frantic shuffling could soon be heard behind the door followed by the sound of latches being undone before the door flung open revealing an incredibly small woman with two tone hair. Half of her hair was pink while the other half was brown and her eyes followed a similar pattern.
The woman glared up at Cail with narrowed eyes almost as if she was expecting something. Cail looked down at the woman and couldn't prevent the next few words that left her mouth from doing so. "Wow you're really short." The moment the words left her lips she could feel synapses in the smaller woman's mind firing as she pulled a blade from her sleeve and lunged for Cail's throat. Cail's body moved on instinct to intercept the blade in between her fingers. When Neo's hand made contact with Cail's, Cail could feel the anger and frustration emanating from Neo. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to insult you! I am just here to get your help! I need you to help free Roman!" Cail pleaded. Neo seemed to calm after that and
pulled out another sheet of paper to begin writing. She quickly wrote something down then past it to Cail. Cail already knew what it was going to say but humored her by taking it and reading it allowed. "If you are serious about freeing Roman, then I am in." Cail nodded before flipping the paper over and writing something of her own. Cail then offered the paper back to Neo. "Here this should be all the information you should need. If you need to ask me any questions, my contact info is included. Meet me at the location indicated on there in two days time. You got all that?" Cail asked. Neo nodded then closed the door.
"Well she was a strange one. Anyway I need to make a quick call." Cail said as she made her way down the stairs and pulled out her scroll. She pressed a few numbers and began a call.
The scroll rang for a few seconds before the voice of Professor Ozpin entered Cail's ears. "Hello Cail, it's unusual for you to call. Perhaps you have made your diction on the matter I discussed with you?" Ozpin inquired.
"That's right Oz, you and Ironwood can count on my team but I have a condition." Cail responded.
"I am sure you do, I am about to meet with Ironwood personally so we can discuss this matter further tomorrow after the official announcement. For the time being I have to be going." Ozpin said before ending the call.
Cail then opened her messenger and began to create a message for number listed as the white rabbit. "Hey it's me, ya you know who. I'm in. I will give you more details soon. Make sure that dumb cat doesn't get himself killed before then. I will need his special set of skills to pull this off." She then pressed the send button and waited a moment for a response.
Cail soon got a message reading. "Mistress is pleased. I knew you could do it Princess."
Cail shrugged before beginning to pack up her scroll but she noticed a large number of messages in her inbox. They were all from member of her team. "Oh man, I should get back to Beacon. I have been out a long time I guess. I don't want to go and worry my team. I wonder what kind of expression would be best when I see them. I guess a smile is always the best." She said to herself before rushing off down the street.