Call in the Chorus Part 2
After rapping up her meeting with her future partners in crime Cail was making her way towards the city of Vale's air docks so she could finally return to Beacon. And hopefully with how long this morning has been she hopes she can finally catch some sleep. Cail let out a tiered yawn while she stretched out her arms and felt a pleasant popping sensation run through her body. "Man I have been too lax lately. I must be letting myself go if I let those punks wear me down like this. Well they weren't bad, rather they were both smarter then they looked. Of course ultimately that's why they couldn't beat me. Then again its probably Cardin's fault I've gone so lax, I haven't been able to focus properly since I met him. Well at least he is a worthwhile distraction. School can be so annoying some times." Cail said to herself before her scroll began to ring. "Ugh, who is it now!?" She complained as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her scroll. Once she seen who was calling a grin spread across her face. "Oh speak of the devil." She said before hitting the answer button and placing it to her ear. "Hey Cardin, what's up?"
"That's what I want to know Cail! Where are you?! Your teammates are blowing up my phone looking for you and I thought you were supposed to come see me after your meeting this morning!" Cail heard Cardin yell into the receiver.
"Oh yeah, I guess I totally forgot about that my bad. Some stuff came up so I had to head down to Vale for a little while but I'm on my back now." Cail responded.
Cail heard Cardin sigh on the other side of the call. "Always up to something aren't you? Listen just get you're but back here soon ok? Your teammates really seem to be freaking out for some reason. Oh, and you may want to bring a peace offering or something."
"You think I should give them a peace offering, like what?" Cail inquired.
"I don't know Cail, try snacks that usually works with my teammates. I will meet you at the air dock alright?" Cardin responded.
"Snacks huh…" Cail looked around for a moment and spotted one of her teams favorite doughnut shops and her grin widened. "I think I got it covered! I will be in your loving embrace within the hour my beloved Cardin." Cail said jokingly. A loud groan was heard on the other side of the line before Cardin hung up. With the conversation ended there Cail quickly made a stop at the nearby doughnut shop named Dusters Doughnuts before rushing off towards the air docks with a brown paper bag in hand.
We rejoin our slimy whip wielding warrior right after she disembarks from her transport ship and reunites with Cardin at the Beacon Academy docks. Cardin waves Cail over and they begin their trek back to the main campus. Along the way Cardin manages to get Cail to spill what she has been up to that day. After ingests the information Cardin gives her type of look she would expect from a disappointed father. "So let me get this straight. There are a bunch of psychopaths pretending to be transfer students?!" Cardin shouted before getting an elbow to his side from Cail.
"Not so loud dummy! What part of secret don't you understand? There could be more of them here right now!" Cail responded.
"Shouldn't we, I don't know tell somebody about all of this!?" Cardin questioned.
Cail rolled her eyes before thrusting a finger into his face. "Look here there are steps that need to be taken before we can show our hand. If we rush this thing, then they will all just scatter to the wind and we will have nothing to show for it other then a target painted on our backs for fingering them. And if memory serves, you said you would trust my judgment in these matters didn't you?"
Cardin lets out another sigh. "Fine but just don't do anything too crazy alright Cail."
Cail begins to giggle. "Gees, you worry too much. I have this all under control." She says as they reach the entrance to the team's dorm room. "Now then, I just have to deal with these guys."
"Good luck." Cardin says jokingly.
"I don't need luck, I have doughnuts!" Cail cheered as she held up the brown paper bag with the Dusters Doughnut logo spread across its side. Cardin rolled his eyes in response and reached out for the door knob to open the door for her. She quickly pushes her way past him to enter her room with Cardin soon following in behind her. Cail's eyes instantly spot all three of her teammates gathered together in the middle of the room.
Cardin peeks out behind Cail to give them an awkward wave while Cail gave them a large cheeky smile. Cail's teammates notice that she was holding her hands behind her back and seem to become slightly on edge. Cail quickly revealed to them the large brown paper bag she had with her. "Hey guys! I know you were worried about me today! I'm really sorry about that, you see I was out on a date with Cardin and we went to the movies so I had to turn my scroll off you see. And I kind of forgot to turn my scroll back on, silly me right? Anyway I got some Dusters Doughnuts for you guys to apologize! I know these are you're favorites right Ursy!? So what have you guys been… up… to…" Cail seemed to trail off as she finally began to take in the room around her. First she noticed her closet had been opened causing her smile to invert itself almost instantly. Then she glanced down at the familiar bag lying at her teammate's feet and her eyes seemed to glaze over creating an unreadable expression. When they finally made contacted with a white and red objected in her teammate's hands. The brown paper bag Cail had been holding dropped to the floor as her arms seemed to go completely limp.
Noticing something was off Cardin tried to get Cail's attention. "Hey Cail what's wrong? Hello, are you there?" He asked while waving his hand out in front of her face. With out gaining any response from her he decide to see for him self what could be causing such a reaction so he glanced over at her teammates and noticed they also looked like they were deer in the headlights. He then looked back at Cail to follow her eyes to the white and red dragon like mask in Sophia's hands and realization quickly hit him. "Oh, crap." He thought to himself before he grabbed hold of Cail's shoulders and began to lightly shake her. "Cail snap out of it! Do something!" He said in a panicked whisper.
Finally after nearly a full minute of shaking and awkward silence Cail seemed to break out of her shock induced stupor and wordlessly pushed her way past Cardin towards and her teammates. A few steps later and Cail was standing directly in front of Sophia Sparks with her dark green eyes staring daggers into the blond mechanist's browns. Sophia had never see Cail show such a cold expression before and was visibly shaken by but, after she managed to swallow the lump in her throat she opened her mouth to speak. "Cail, what is this?" She said while holding up the White and Red dragon mask.
Cail continued to stare for a moment before ripping the mask out of Sophia's hands causing her to stumble backward slightly. "It's none of your business! Who the hell do you think you? You think its ok to go looking other peoples stuff without asking?!" Cail screamed accusingly at her teammate causing Sophia along with Cardin and the rest of her team to jump slightly.
"Wait Cail it isn't what you think it is!" Robin tried to reason.
Robin was quickly shot a glare from Cail as she turned to face her partner. "Oh is that right? Then why don't you fill me in, what is this Robin?"
"They were just worried about you! We had no idea where you were or what you have been up to. They thought they might find some clues in your belongings. I swear that's all this is! And for the record I told them it was a bad idea but they wouldn't listen!" Robin responded defensively.
Cail's eyes narrowed as her aura flickered for the briefest of moments. After her aura settled Cail's expression softened slightly and went from one of anger to that of exhaustion. "I believe you." Cail stated as she turned away from her partner and towards the bag on the floor and began stuffing her armor and the dragon mask back into the bag from which they came.
While Cail was doing this Ursula and Sophia shard a confused glance before Ursula spoke up. "Wait a moment Cail, you still owe us an explanation! What is all this equipment for!? Why are you hiding things from your team!?
Cail glanced up from her task and reached out her hand to Ursula causing her to give Cail a confused look. Cail sighed before motioning towards the object in Ursula's hand. "My sword, give it here!" Cail commanded.
Ursula began to grumble under her breath as she handed Cail the sword. Cail quickly rapped the blade back up in its silken cloth and lifted her bag up off the ground before marching over to her closet and chucking the bag into the corner unceremoniously. She then knelt down and carefully set the blade down in the apposing corner before slamming the closet door shut. She then let out a sigh before turning towards the entrance to the room and starting on her way out and waving to Cardin to come along. Before she could make it to the entrance she felt a hand grab onto her wrist and pull her backward. Cail spun around to see Ursula staring her down with an angry expression. "And where do you think your going!? You are not leaving until we get some answers!"
"Let go Ursula! You aren't in charge of me!" Cail shouted as she gave a few tugs in an attempt to break free.
"No!" Ursula said bluntly.
"I said let go! That's an order!" Cail screamed threateningly.
"And I said no! If you want me to let go, you're going to have to make me!" Ursula retorted as she tightened her grip.
"Gladly!" Cail retorted as she pulled her hand back into a fist. Noticing Cail's uncharacteristic fit of rage Cardin quickly swooped in from behind her grab hold of Cail's arm to hold her back. Meanwhile Robbin swooped in between Cail and Ursula to keep them separated.
"That's enough guys! It looks like none of you are getting it so let me spell it out for you! We-are-a-team and that means we are going to work this out as a team!" Robin shouted.
Sophia scuffed. "I have no interest in being in a team with a lying psychopath like her!"
"What was that!?" Cail shouted as she struggled against Cardin's grip.
"Just as Robin said, a team should work together. If you can't even talk to us about anything then we don't need you! It would have been a little different if this was just an isolated incident but you have never been open with us to begin with! I honestly don't even know why you're here in the first place! We were all scouted for this school but what about you? I seriously wonder how you even got in and I know you don't deserver to be our leader." Sophia said in a condescending tone.
"Sophia!" Robin shouted angrily.
Cail began to chuckle to herself. "So the truth comes out?"
"Beg your pardon?" Sophia asks.
"Please don't go thinking I'm a fool Sophia! I know full well that you and Ursula don't care about anyone but yourselves! The only reason you bother looking out for me, is because you don't want me to make you look bad. Am I right?" Cail questioned.
Sophia pulled back slightly. "That is not true!"
"Now who's lying?" Cail retorted.
A vain in Sophia's head began to pulsate as she stumped closer and pointed a finger into Cail's chest. "That still doesn't make what you're doing any more acceptable! You're up to something dangerous here and I can't let that slide! If you won't tell us about it I have to assume you're up to no good! And if that's the case I may have no choice but to bring this up with Goodwitch!"
"Oh no, I am trebling in my shoes right now." Cail said sarcastically. "Seriously did you just threaten to tell the teacher? What are you five?"
"Guys that's enough already, this is not getting us anywhere!" Robin interjected as she stomped her foot on the floor and turn towards Cail. "Cail its Robin, you know your partner. You can tell me what's going on can't you? If you do we can finally put this behind us. So can you please just spill?" Robin said pleadingly.
The anger on Cail's eyes seemed to dissipate as Robin reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. Cail's mouth began to squirm as she tried to formulate sentences. "Robin I can't… I mean I don't…" Cail was interrupted as the PA system kicked on and the voice of Glynda Goodwitch rang in their ears.
They could all hear her fumbling with and adjusting the mike while mumbling something incoherent to herself. After a moment of this she finally began to address her listeners. "Attention all students, please report to the auditorium with your teams for a special announcement. Attendance is mandatory to all students of Beacon Academy and all visiting students from Atlas. Thank you and that will be all." Glynda said before the PA system went silent.
"Now what could this be about?" Cardin questioned.
Cail turned to look at Cardin and began to grin again. "I have some idea. You go ahead and find your team. We will meet up with you guys there alright."
Cardin glance back at Cail's disgruntled teammates and gave her a worried look. "You sure you got this handled Cail?"
Cail leaned forward and stud on her tip toes so she could whisper into his ear. "Don't worry so much, if anyone knows how to handle these guys it's me. Now run along, I don't want your team nagging us as well." Cardin gave her a skeptical look but quickly nodded in acknowledgement and exiting the room. Once he was gone Cail turned back to her team to address them. "Look I know I haven't been very open and honest with all of you and I apologize for that. There are aspects of my life that some do look down upon and being with me could draw unwanted attention. If you're not ok with that then nobody is asking you to stay. With all that said we have been summoned so unless you want Glynda to rip you a new one I suggest we get moving."
Robin nodded as she stepped forward to join Cail as she started on her way out while Sophia and Ursula remained standing in the room momentarily. Sophia turned to Ursula to speak. "I still don't like this, what do you think?"
Ursula pondered for a moment. "I don't know what to think but. I can tell you this much, that wasn't the Cail that I know. Something just felt, off."
"Well whatever lets just get going, we can sort all this out later." Sophia said as she marched towards the door.
"Oh wait up!" Ursula shouted as she rushed after her stopping for only a moment to gather the bag of doughnuts from the ground. "Hmm these are still good." She said happily as she took a bite out of one of them and rushes out of the room.
A few minutes later and Sophia along with Ursula had cot up to Cail and Robin as they entered the auditorium. After sharing a few awkward glances with each other they quickly took their position next to team CRDL on the outer rim of the room. "Did we miss anything?" Ursula asks the members of team CRDL.
Cardin shakes his head in response. "Not really but it looks like Ozpin is about to say something.
Sure enough Headmaster Ozpin had taken the stage and he stud silently in front of the microphone for a few seconds. The room was pact and everyone whispering back and forth with one another trying to figure out what kind of announcement would call for this sudden gathering but. All it took was Ozpin adjusting spectacles to cause the crowded room to go completely silent in anticipation of what he was going to tell them.
Now with everyone's full attention Ozpin cleared his throat and took a long sip of his coffee before he finally glanced across the crowd of students. For a moment his eyes seemed to stop on a handful of faces in the crowd Cail's group being one of them. When he finally looked away from them he began to speak. "Greetings future huntsman, first of all I would like to thank each of you for being here. I know this announcement was sudden but the nature of which called for quick action and decisive action to be taken. I am sure some of you are aware of the unsettling events that have been transpiring in both the Kingdom of Vale and Atlas over the last few months. As huntsmen it is our sworn task to protect this world from those who would seek to destroy it. And this does not just extend to our own boarders but to our fellow kingdoms as well. Just as Atlas has as come to watch over the Vale during the festival we must seek out darkness wherever it lurks. Rarely do we have the ability make the first strike but. Together with our allies from Atlas we are planning one such strike in the near future. Of course I cannot offer you all the details pertaining to this mission here and now for security reasons but. The reason I am telling you this now is because we need volunteers to assist in battle to come. Any team from any year is allowed to volunteer but be warned, the dangers you will face will be very real and it will be up to our digression if you are accepted or not. I suggest you discuss this matter with your teams and once you have come to a dissection your leader may sign you up. That is all, you are dismissed." He said as he turned and stepped down from the stage.
The room quickly erupted as several teams began to argue amongst themselves on weather or not they should volunteer for the mission. Without too much delay the room began to clear out as several teams decided against it and left while several others through up their hands to announce their enlistment. Cail began to grin as she pulled Cardin in to whisper into his ear. Cardin gave her a funny look before talking allowed. "Seriously, are you sure?" Cardin asked as Cail gave him a nod. "Well, alright if you say so." He said as he raised his hand. "Team CRDL volunteers!"
Cardin's team quickly gave him questioning looks before one of them a scrawny boy with a Mohawk named Russel Thrush decided to interject. "Hey, what the heck bro!? Have you lost it?"
"That's right you should talk to your team before making such a big decision." Ursula added before turning to see Cail with her hand up.
"Team CRUS volunteers!" Cail shouted causing Ursula to quickly pull Cail into a headlock.
"What the heck do you think your doing!?" Ursula hissed.
"Wha..t does.. It loo…k.. like." Cail managed to squeeze out before wiggling her way free and leaving Ursula's arms coated in slime. "You guys want to do this anyway right?"
"Cail this isn't a joke!" Sophia roared as she marched up to her.
It looked like another fight was about to break out between them when another voice entered the conversation. "What isn't a joke?" The voice was instantly recognizable and caused Sophia to freeze in her tracks before glancing over to see Ozpin strolling up to their group.
"Headmaster!?" Sophia said as she took a step back.
Cail looked back at Ozpin and gave him a wave. "Hey there Oz, I told you we would be here." Sophia quickly shot Cail another angry look. Perhaps she was upset that Cail was speaking with such familiarity with somebody who could have them all expelled. Cail often marveled at how different Sophia was on the battlefield compared to how she was in front of political figure. She guessed it was due to her Atlas upbringing.
Ozpin let out a light chuckle. "That you did. I look forward to seeing you put in your all in the next coming days Cail. And of course your team as well." He said as he looked over the members of CRUS. "I want you all to remember a good team is like a clock. If even one part is removed it can completely fall apart.
"I will Oz, things are going to be a lot more interesting from here on out!" Cail responded joyfully causing Sophia to roll her eyes.
"Glad to hear it." Ozpin replied before taking another sip of his coffee and showing them a small grin.
Black Wing Jungle Hideout
"Mistress!" The white haired rabbit faunus Alas shouts as she runs through the dark warehouse towards a lone women sitting at a desk while Black Wing men load cages onto the backs of flat bed trucks.
"Yes Alas? I trust you have important news?" The women asked without turning around to face her companion.
"Yes Mistress, we just heard from back from her. She's in but she will need our assistants for the next phase." Alas responded.
"I see, go fetch the cat then. We are close to achieving our ultimate mission and can't afford any delays."
"Understood Mistress!" Alas responded as she ran off back into the darkness of the warehouse.
"That girls role is far bigger then she knows." The women stated as she returned to her work.