Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. I do, however, own my own characters. I am not profiting from this story.
The Ursa's cybernetic eyes glinted in the afternoon light, its metal and glass implants incongruous on such a primal force of darkness. The contrast of such opposite extremes of civilization was not lost upon me.
As my finger hovered over the trigger, my mind went into overdrive. My first thought: how could that thing be here? Second thought: how dangerous is it? Third thought: how do I defeat it?
Fourth thought: who was the one to play god with Mother Nature's twisted brood? Once was a byproduct of terrible coincidence. Twice was a pattern. After this fight, I needed answers.
As the cyborg Grimm and I stood across from each other, each poised with death in our eyes, the battle raged around us. Light and sound peppered my peripherals. Quartets of Huntsmen threw themselves into the masses of Grimm, dissecting them from the inside. All manners of weapons met their marks—swords sliced through bone, gunfire shot through muscle, and lasers singed what remained. Victory was at hand.
Except for the infernal tableau before me.
I glanced behind me. All of APCT faced the Grimm, each processing the sight. Caelum looked horrified, Terra grit her teeth in determination, and Adrian sported his characteristic calm. My admiration at my leader's equanimity quickly became tinged by doubt—what whirlwind stormed behind those cool blue eyes of his?
"Phoenix?" Adrian's voice was as steady as usual, but I detected slight apprehension. "Your Semblance… it's your decision."
Despite the situation, I smiled. Even in a firefight, where the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians were at stake, my leader wasn't willing to sacrifice me. The Huntsman Code likely promoted dying for the cause, but he wasn't afraid of going against the grain.
I had known Adrian for what was effectively a week, yet in that moment, the shrouded past felt all the more closer.
The cyborg beast padded forwards, building up speed for a sprint. Shooting Adrian a final look backwards, I said, "May foresight be our shield."
He grinned. "And wit, our blade."
With a battle cry and an application of my Semblance, I charged towards the enemy, longsword splayed out in a promise of severance. My teammates's voices joined mine, and they overtook me in seconds with Aura-powered strides. Adrenaline-charged euphoria drowned out my consternation.
Walking the razor of death made me feel truly alive.
As they raced by me, Terra and Adrian split their advance, engaging the cyborg's Beowulf retinue. Ahead of me, Caelum slowed and focused his Aura into his violin, assaulting the cyborg with invisible waves of sound. It screeched and attempted to avert its head.
Caelum gave me the perfect opening. I could end it right here. I almost felt Recursive Nature hum in my hand. I ran closer, close enough to make out the spiderweb of cracks in the Grimm's bone plating. I raised my sword.
Suddenly, the Grimm's mechanical implants flared. Like a marionette, the Grimm snapped to attention. All signs of its prior writhing had vanished. In its place was a paw flying towards my face. Taken by surprise, I barely deflected the blow and hastily retreated from the more powerful ones that followed.
Jumping out of range, I saw ash dispersing on the wind. When the dust cleared, Terra and Adrian rushed in from the sides. Terra began to hammer her bludgeon on the Grimm's flanks with reckless abandon, and Adrian used his staff to hinder any of the beast's further advances. Being the larger combatant, the Grimm flung itself from side to side, throwing out the occasional limb. My teammates kept light on their feet, but attacking a sedan-sized monster rarely ends with unscathed warriors.
Once again, the beast before me was distracted. I stepped into the Grimm's guard, eager to score a hit, when it head butted me and sent me flying. I hit the ground a few yards away, the breath knocked out of me. Gasping, I scrambled to my feet.
I watched as my teammates circled the Ursa. Caelum stayed out of range of paw and jaw, striking chords on his violin when possible. Adrian alternated between whacking the beast's legs and jumping back to fire off a few quick shots. Terra utilized her force projection to ward off blows from wayward limbs and hammered away.
However, despite their combined force, I could tell that the three of them weren't doing much to break through the Grimm's armor. Flashes from the Grimm's implants preceded each blow, somehow allowing it to minimize the damage received. The Ursa's fighting style looked less like a feral monster's than a fencer's, trading parry with riposte.
Its intelligence was chilling. I shuddered, even as I rejoined the fray.
Channeling Aura into my legs, I leaped onto the Grimm's back, taking care to avoid its varied bone spikes. Landing hard, I stabbed downwards with an Aura-infused hand. I buried my sword halfway to the hilt, but the Ursa reared up and threw me off before I could inflict any real damage. For the second time in a minute, I impacted the cement ground, my Aura flaring around me.
I rolled over and stood up, my limbs protesting at the action. "Adrian," I called. "What's the plan?"
My leader squeezed off a couple more shots before responding. "Jump on it again."
"Why?" I asked. "It didn't work last time."
Adrian ducked beneath a kick. "It reared up," he managed to get out before rushing forwards.
Trusting my leader's instincts, I took my place on the Grimm's back with another Aura-powered leap. After a quick scan, I drove my sword into the cut from earlier. As soon as I widened the incision, the Ursa rose up onto its hind legs. Even though I was prepared for the creature's bucking, I still almost lost my grip on my sword.
A spot of brown flashed in my peripherals, and reports from a shotgun sounded from beneath me. When the beast made no move to return to all fours, seemingly balancing precariously on its hind legs, I glanced up and saw a large white force field. Pulling my sword out, I pushed from the Ursa's back and hit the ground.
Ash showered me from behind. Turning, the dust dissipated to reveal Terra, a smirk replacing her scowl. I gave her a smile.
"Congratulations," I said. Terra looked about to respond when Adrian cut in.
"No time for dilly-dallying," Adrian said. "Grimm are still running rampant."
A look about the square confirmed his observation. Packs of Beowolves and the occasional Nevermore and Ursa populated the square. It looked like a graveyard, the bones were so numerous.
I gave Adrian a nod. As one, APCT dashed to the nearest Grimm and kept fighting.
The fighting carried on for many minutes, but after a while, I noticed a lack of sirens. A scan of the area revealed only a smattering of Grimm. I assumed whatever breach that had let the Grimm in had been patched. No longer defending the city from an invasion, we were left with the chore of cleaning up.
And then I heard Adrian curse next to me.
Without another word, he raced towards City Hall. Summoning what Aura I had remaining, I hurried after him. Only when I was halfway across the square did I finally see what had disturbed my leader.
A Grimm had crashed into the City Hall building.
In the seconds required for us to arrive at the gaping hole the Grimm had left, it had already receded into the darkened halls. The only thing marking its path was rubble from the wall it had destroyed. Without a pause to catch our breath, the two of us followed the plaster and pieces of brick scattered on the marble floors.
As we ran, I observed the town hall's corridors. In a normal setting, the halls would have felt pleasant and efficient, with various governmental events and community flyers posted to the walls. But in the dusty gloom, the corridors looked menacing. Or perhaps it was just the bestial grunting coming from ahead.
We reached an intersection, identical to all the ones we had seen before. However, at this one, Adrian cursed once more. Anxiety rippled off of him in droves, and for a second I felt petrified as well. Then, the moment passed, and we restarted our pursuit.
The hall ended at a suite of oaken doors. Plaques marked the offices, but in the dim light I couldn't make out the owners. Neither did I want to, for an Ursa lay before us, caked in debris.
"Hey!" Adrian shouted. At his cry, the Grimm turned to face us.
Its cybernetic implants glowed with an infernal light.
It roared, then returned to sauntering towards the offices. Its blatant dismissal of us worried me. If it wasn't after us, then who?
Then it hit me: Adrian's father. Calder Douglas.
Suddenly, Adrian's uncharacteristic desperation made sense.
With a yell, Adrian ran at the beast. He attacked the Grimm's back with abandon, Riptide battering its haunches. Only when it spun and flung Adrian aside with its paw did his fusillade stop. I tracked Adrian as he smacked into a wall and crumpled to the ground. I didn't need my Scroll to know his Aura was fully depleted.
All that was left between this beast and Calder's harm was me.
A quick once-over revealed that the Ursa looked as tough as the one I had fought earlier. My chances of defeating it with a drained Aura supply and tired muscles were slim to none. Attempts to lead it away from Calder's office would likely be thwarted by the beast's computational intelligence.
In other words, I was shit out of luck.
Except…
No, I couldn't.
The Ursa turned back to the door.
I had to.
If not for Calder, then for Adrian.
My Semblance clicked into action. I felt Recursive Nature in my palm, but I focused on the computational source in front of me. I sensed it pulse in an erratic way, causing me to instinctually retreat. Ignoring my inhibitions, I pressed forwards. I mentally reached out to the Grimm and its computer symbiont.
Reality shifted. Then there was pain. Stabbing white, an abysmal void.
Then nothing.
Thoughts failed to manifest. My senses discerned nothing—nothing, but the passage of time. I felt the seconds tick by as my mind failed to function.
A light appeared. A red glow, like the sunset, diffused through the space. I approached it before I could question whether I should.
At reaching the center of the light, data flooded my senses. Abruptly, I could think again. I analyzed the information with a calm that clashed with a harsh subliminal sound I could not identify. Why was I here?
A voice coalesced from the white noise. It spoke without emotion, although telepathy, if that was what this was, offered a horrible medium for such communication.
"Greetings, Phoenix," it said. How did it know my name? I tried to deactivate my Semblance, but whatever mechanism I used to trade realities seemed locked in place. I was trapped, at the whim of this mysterious voice. I bristled the best I could in this alien space.
"I am RUST," it said. "What I am does not concern you. But what you are interests me."
A Grimm AI? Or something else? I didn't dwell on the wider implications of such thoughts. I had more pressing matters to attend to—namely, responding to whatever this RUST was. My virtual consciousness did not have a mouth, yet I found I could speak. "Then what am I?" I asked.
RUST emitted a sound that could be considered a hum. Or was it a grunt? "A variable."
It offered nothing further. Not one to strike up conversations with Grimm virtual intelligences, I attempted to manipulate the data around me. I had downed a Grimm like this before, and if I couldn't kill it, I could at least search for a way to escape.
After all, if I couldn't, Calder might die, and I might become a fresh amnesiac.
Suddenly, I felt another consciousness clamp down on my own. The information I sensed diminished to a mere trickle. When I touched what little remained, it recoiled with an angry red glare and pushed me away.
RUST had blinded me.
"Now, now—behave. I have a few questions to ask you," RUST said.
"Very well," I said begrudgingly.
"First question: do you believe there's good in the world?"
"Yes." My response came without hesitation. From what little of the Grimm I had witnessed, I knew that the monsters were manifestations of hate and suffering. The warriors who combatted them combatted vice itself; they were paragons of virtue. Humanity and faunus-kind would continue to sin, but Huntsmen and Huntresses would prevent that sin from consuming them.
The very fact that evil had not annihilated us was proof that good walked among us.
"Interesting answer. Others believe that Huntsmen are good as well, but none have quite the conviction you do." RUST said. At my subsequent panic at having my mind read, it laughed and said, "You are like me."
No, I was nothing like the red glow, this bestial virtual intelligence that rasped at my virtual consciousness. I was human. It was machine and darkness.
"You are wrong, but I will speak no more of that," RUST said. "Second question: what would you sacrifice to keep that good?"
"My life." Huntsmen were expected to die to protect civilians. Old Huntsmen like Ozpin were few and far between, living proof that a dangerous lifestyle rarely goes unpunished.
"Ah, but what about others? An eye for an eye makes the world blind, but one eye to save two, or two to save four—or a million to save two million?"
"That's slaughter," I said.
"Or is it virtue?" RUST asked.
I growled the best I could in the red virtual reality. "Enough, RUST. Why am I here?"
RUST seemed to laugh again. "Because you forced your way in."
"To save someone," I said. "Not to argue with you."
"Yet here we are," RUST mused.
RUST was getting on my nerves, and the Ursa could be barreling its way into Calder's office right now. Philosophy aside, I needed to stop this beast.
I approached the rope of data that was RUST. Mentally grabbing the entire string, I forced the information to 0. I felt bits protest and then relent. Immediately, RUST disappeared from my awareness, the red glow faded to black, and the data from before returned. Not knowing whether RUST would reassert itself, I grasped any information I could and rearranged it, hoping to crash the Grimm's computer.
I knew I had accomplished my job when the RAM nexus blinked from existence and my Semblance deactivated of its own accord. Finding myself back in the hallway, I stared at the sight before me.
The Ursa looked to have not taken a single step. Instead, it lay slumped on the floor, writing like an electric shock was running through it. For all I knew, it was, but I didn't care to find out. I gripped Recursive Nature and advanced for the kill.
My sword sliced through the Grimm's head easier than I expected. However, just before my blade touched the Ursa's neck, the frenetically flashing cybernetic implants gave a single pulse and then went dark. Once the head hit the floor, the beast began to disperse into a pile of ash.
I allowed myself a sigh, then rushed to Adrian's side and gave him a weak shake. His eyelids fluttered, his gaze unfocused. After a few seconds, he trained his eyes on my face, all traces of his dazed state absent. I saw the question on his lips and readied a defensive reply.
"How is he?" Adrian asked.
My response died on my tongue. Adrian must know I used my Semblance, then. Perhaps he wished to discuss the matter later. That was fine by me. I'd answer the easier question.
Glancing at the office suite, I shook my head. "I'm not sure, I haven't checked yet. But the Grimm's dead," I replied.
Adrian struggled to his feet. "Then he's safe," he said. "Let's go check on him."
"Adrian," I started. "The Grimm had an…"
"Later," he said. "My father first."
Stepping around the pile of ash, we approached the office at the end of the hallway. Adrian grasped the handle and pushed the door open, revealing a reception area with a secretary's desk and a waiting area replete with magazines. At the rear of the space was a heavy door and another plaque. The plaque read: "Calder Douglas, Council of Vale."
Adrian shouldered the door open. "Dad?"
A pair of brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair rose from beneath a massive desk. "Adrian? Is that you? Oh, thank goodness!" Calder emerged from his hiding spot and rounded the desk. The Councilor wore a pressed pinstripe suit that accentuated his muscular frame, but his most prominent feature was his easy smile.
"Glad you're okay, Dad," Adrian said. "That Grimm was pretty close, I was worried."
Calder gave a hearty laugh. "Looks like you made quick work of it, though."
"Well, actually Phoenix did," Adrian said.
Calder looked to me, his face lighting up. "Phoenix Hayes! I haven't seen you since Signal graduation, what with Beacon and the Council and all," he said.
I shrugged. "Yeah, life tends gets in the way," I said.
"Exactly, exactly," he said enthusiastically. "You know, I was so excited when I found out you and Adrian were on the same team. APCT's got a nice ring to it, don't you think, Adrian?"
Adrian gave a nod. "The name's the thing," he said simply.
"Precisely. Can't change the world without a good team behind you," Calder said.
A Scroll chimed from beneath a swarm of papers on Calder's desk. "That must be Ozpin," Calder remarked. As he rifled through the mess, he said, "Procedure, procedure, procedure. Ah, here it is." He began to tap at it, his eyes darting about as he read.
"Why's Ozpin contacting you?" I asked.
Calder swiped at his Scroll a few times before answering. "You see, in the event of a Grimm invasion, the Vale government and Beacon Academy work together to strategically deploy combat teams in the city. For example, I suggest spots to focus police presence to calm citizens, while Ozpin identifies stress points of high Grimm density."
Raising a finger, Adrian added, "Beacon and City Hall are essentially autonomous units. Neither one nor the other is entirely in charge of emergency situations."
"A mild side effect of Vale's unique governmental structure," Calder said. "As for what Ozpin said just now, he asked me to hold a press conference on the steps of City Hall as soon as possible. He wants Vale to know we are still strong after this attack."
I raised my eyebrows. "Already? So soon after the attack?" I asked.
Calder chuckled. "Yes, well, it's better to act fast with these things, especially since the populace is probably under a lot of stress. A preliminary statement goes a long way in reassuring the public."
I nodded. "Very well, I'll let you get to it, then."
Calder shook his head, his smile infectious. "Oh, no, you're coming with me. Ozpin insists."
"What do you mean?" Adrian asked.
Calder was already headed out the door. "Follow me," he said with a wave of his hand.
Trading looks of confusion with Adrian, I shrugged and trailed the Councilor. The three of us passed through the waiting area and back out into the hallway. Once there, however, Calder called out a greeting to another man. The man looked to have just emerged from an adjacent office. A look inside revealed a similar setup to Calder's.
"Hello, Councilor," he said.
"Presiding Councilor Douglas, I see you've weathered the attack as well," said the man.
Calder laughed. "Well, I wouldn't have without the saving graces of my son and his friend," he said. "Oh, I've forgotten my manners! Let me introduce you. This here is Councilor Orrin Glass. Councilor, this is my son, Adrian, and teammate Phoenix Hayes. Both are enrolled at Beacon."
Glass examined me with a gaze that edged on a cold stare. The dim lighting gave his jet black hair a sharp sheen and made his dark suit look part of the shadows. "You've got good boys, Douglas," he said. "I assume they're the ones that stopped the Grimm that was loose in City Hall?"
Calder beamed. "They did indeed. I'm very proud of them."
"As you should be," said Glass. "Also, I received your message."
"Then is everything being set up?" asked Calder.
"It is. Let us head to the front entrance," said Glass. "I've written out a few points. I've a few words to say myself."
"Very good. Let's go." Taking Glass's proffered speech notes, Calder strode towards the entrance of the building. As I followed, I found Glass falling into step with me. Our steps echoed hollowly on the walls.
"Phoenix, was it? I must thank you personally for saving the two of us. You did your Kingdom a great service," he said.
"Don't thank me, it's my job," I said. "And Adrian was the one who spotted the Grimm, not me."
"But you both fought it, no?" he posed.
"Well, I suppose," I said. "Regardless, any other Huntsman would have done the same thing in our place."
Glass hummed. "Still, good deeds must be recognized," he said.
As we walked, I picked out details that I had missed when he had stood in the shadows. His suit was pressed and had a white pocket square, neatly folded in the pocket. His brown hair was combed smartly, with not a hair out of place. Even his walk bespoke an air of authority. Perhaps I had mistaken coldness for uptight decorum.
"Youth tend not to follow politics, so you are probably wondering who I am," Glass said. "I'm your head of the Department of Commerce. As a Vale Councilor, I meet with business heads every day."
"Are you a businessman yourself?" I asked. His behavior certainly implied it.
"My father was a businessman," he began. "Much like how fathers want their children to compete in sports, mine encouraged me to study economics. After all, it was where his prominence came from, and he only wished the best for me."
"And did you end up owning a business?"
A smile tugged at his lips. "For a short time. Not for long, though. I felt I had greater talent for politics, so I left that lifestyle behind."
"Well, looks like things turned out well for you," I said.
"Indeed," he said.
We rounded a corner to find Calder conversing rapidly with Adrian. Behind them were the doors to the front steps, the crowd in the square blurry behind layers of glass. When Glass and I drew closer, Calder looked up and turned to face us.
"Here's the plan," said Calder. "We're to exit the doors together, with myself in the lead and Councilor Glass to the rear. I will make the first address, then Glass will speak a few words."
I frowned. "What should we do? And what about the other Council members?"
The answer came from beside me. "By a stroke of luck, the other Councilors were all out on meetings or on a day of leave. They will not be here in time to make a statement. The two of us will suffice," said Glass.
"That's true," said Calder. "As for your other question, you and Adrian will stand off to the side and acknowledge any applause that comes your way."
Adrian cut in. "In other words, look pretty for the cameras."
Calder laughed. "Precisely, precisely." His Scroll gave another chime. "Well, now's the time. Let's line up."
At Calder's direction, we formed a line and then passed through the glass doors. Once I stepped outside, a susurrus of activity reached my ears. An assembly of about one hundred people stood before a hastily constructed stage at the foot of the City Hall stairs. I estimated that about a fourth of those gathered were reporters, notepads and Scrolls at the ready.
We marched to the stage, where Calder took his place behind a podium. After a smattering of applause, he began to speak. His address was short and concise, touching upon how the Grimm were eliminated, that the danger was contained, and how Vale would recover from this disaster. As a final note, he promised to report details that any investigations uncovered regarding the invasion.
Applause punctuated the switching of speakers, and Glass assumed his position behind the podium. Without referencing his notes, he began to speak with a clear and powerful voice, his charisma palpable. His speech doubled Calder's on many points. But then I heard my name mentioned.
"…Huntsmen-in-training Phoenix Hayes and Adrian Douglas, both from Beacon, slew a lone Grimm in City Hall. In doing so, these two warriors saved the lives of both myself and Councilor Douglas. I cannot express my gratitude for what these two young men have done."
Applause. "As such, I extend a formal invitation to these two—and their two teammates at Beacon—to this year's Vale Gala."
Applause. I shot Adrian a sideways glance but kept my face composed. Glass continued. "You four will be the people of the hour. If you attend, I ensure the warmest of welcomes."
The rest of the speech passed uneventfully. Once Glass had finished and Calder had answered some of the reporters's questions, we dismounted the stage and returned to City Hall's foyer. It was only after formalities had finished and Adrian and I were walking through Vale's streets was I able to ask my burning question.
"What's the Vale Gala?" I asked.
"No," Adrian said. "First—the Grimm. Tell me."
My simmering distress surrounding the two cyborg Ursa roared to full force at Adrian's mention. Everything had happened so fast I hadn't the time to mull over the deadly significances of a new type of enemy.
"I used my Semblance to immobilize it," I said. "I then used Recursive Nature to kill it."
"There's more, isn't there?" Adrian asked. "You said that the Grimm had something."
I paused. The existence of a Grimm AI was disconcerting, to say the least. If more cybernetic Grimm prowled Vale's forests, then impending danger of the highest degree was on the horizon.
But telling the wrong person would only hasten its arrival.
"It had an… AI."
"An AI?" Adrian sounded incredulous.
"It called itself RUST," I said.
Adrian stopped. "Wait—the Grimm not only had an AI, but you talked with it?"
"Yes."
"What did it say?"
"It asked me if I believed there was good in the world," I responded.
Adrian threw up his hands. "Great, an AI smitten with philosophical musings. What does that mean?"
"I don't know," I cried. "But there must be more of them. Thankfully, no one knows about them… yet."
Adrian looked up. "Ozpin knows, and not just about our case from that mission in Atlas. He's hiding something from us."
Speaking of Ozpin…
"There's more, too," I said. "When I arrived in Vale, Ozpin was there. I didn't contact him when I escaped, though, which begs the question: how did he know I would arrive at the Vale Airport that evening?"
Adrian was silent for several seconds, ostensibly in contemplation. "And you don't know what that Atlesian facility was for?"
"No."
"Then we must have a word with our dear headmaster," he concluded.
"Great. A mysterious note, cyborg Grimm, and scheming headmasters. And now the Gala. Explain," I said. With the change of subjects, we began to walk once more towards the air ferry service.
"The Vale Gala is an annual event," Adrian began. "Dinner is served, and speakers and entertainers fill the evening's program. All of Vale's upper echelon attends. To be on the guest list without a fancy title like CEO or Councilor is a high honor."
"Why did he invite us, though? Simply thanking us on stage would have been enough," I said.
Adrian knitted his brow. "I'm not sure, either. Glass isn't one for frivolous displays—he prefers efficiency. Something greater is at play here."
"Can we refuse the invitation, then?"
My leader shook his head. "No. My father will be in attendance, so our absence would raise questions. Further, Ozpin frequently is a Gala patron, so school excuses won't hold water, either."
I completed his thought. "So, essentially, it would look bad and hurt your father."
He rolled his eyes. "Sure, you can say that."
"Then we need to tell Caelum and Terra," I said.
"Let's get on a ferry first," Adrian said. "Then we can worry about getting Terra into a formal gown."
I chuckled. After all that had happened, it felt good.
Caelum had taken the news of the Gala well. Apparently, he had attended such fêtes on a semi-regular basis back in Mistral. He had even rushed to his closet to check the hemming of his tuxedo.
Terra, on the other hand, had protested vociferously. Vacuo wasn't too big on formalities, and she did not have a single dress in her wardrobe. Adrian, anticipating such a thing, grabbed Terra by the ear and led her to an air ferry to go shopping. I tagged along for a tuxedo, since I found that I did not have one at Beacon.
Once the requisite outfits were purchased, we returned to Beacon. Upon arriving, we found that school had been cancelled for the remainder of the week due to the recent invasion. Professors were to help repair the city or thin out the Grimm population in the vicinity, leaving no staff to teach students. Vytal qualification matches were moved to the following week.
Unfortunately, that also meant that Ozpin was tied up in meetings, leaving no time to answer our trivial questions. Cyborg Grimm would have to wait.
Therefore, APCT turned its attention to the Vale Gala. Today was Wednesday, and the Gala would be held Friday evening, leaving two days to prepare. Adrian provided me with the necessary background information on current events, local politics, and the grapevine gossip circling about Vale. I also studied the profiles of celebrities and business owners that might be in attendance.
When Friday evening finally rolled around, my head felt like a tabloid. However, gossip wasn't our focus. Rather, it was why we were going in the first place. Once we settled ourselves in the plush recliners of a private air ferry, Adrian began to speak.
"There's only one reason why Councilor Glass would extend an invitation to us," he said. "And that's my relation with my father. I suspect political posturing with my father as the scapegoat, but somehow I'm involved."
Caelum fiddled with his bowtie. "Could it have something to do with the Grimm you killed in City Hall?"
My leader shook his head. "Doubtful. But any random topic wouldn't require my presence. I fear I'm the link in all this."
Terra rolled her eyes. "Please, Adrian. Glass is probably just a masochist and wants you to squirm when he calls out your father."
"That's harsh," I said. "But a real possibility. Has there been any talk of scandal recently?"
"Aside from general invective surrounding my father's decision to keep certain legislation from a vote, none."
"Then that must be it," Terra concluded.
I turned to Adrian. "You mentioned something about Dust subsidization earlier. Is Glass a supporter of the bill?"
Understanding flashed in his eyes. "SDC…" he muttered.
Terra growled. "What does the SDC have to do with this?"
Adrian looked at her. "Glass has shares in the SDC. Even among the popular support for the bill, rumblings of doubt circulate that Glass might profit from its passage."
I frowned. "So, corruption is behind Glass's invitation."
"And masochism," Terra added.
Adrian shot Terra a glare. "It's a weak link, but it's all we have to go on. Keep your ears to the ground, and contact my Scroll if anything comes up."
"Received," Caelum said with a salute. Terra and I gave affirmations as well, albeit less enthusiastic ones.
The ferry landed among a throng of other private craft just steps away from City Hall. We emerged from our ferry amidst a sea of red carpet, formal wear, and sparking flashbulbs. The endless chatter assaulted my ears, but I managed to pick out our names from the din.
We had arrived.
Without magnate status to give us the reins of social interaction, we succumbed to the flurry of activity around us. Countless introductions were made, inordinate hands were shook, and faces passed into and out of view in a dizzying manner. My right arm and my zygomatic muscles ached. It was only when I finally sat at my assigned seat in the dinner hall was I able to relax.
As I massaged my arm, I looked about the hall. Tall pillars ringed the walls, giving the space an aged power befitting of such events. A string quartet performed on a stage, their music filling gaps in conversations. People in suits and formal gowns milled about, flutes of champagne dangling from gloved fingers.
And then there was APCT, sheep among Beowolves.
I glanced around our table. APCT filled half the available seats, and our companions had yet to join us: the CEO of a weapons manufacturing company and the designer of a high-end line of clothes, if the name tents were to be believed. Interesting company if only the situation was different.
Next, I studied my teammates. Terra looked as ruffled as I likely did, social overload wearing at her deportment. Adrian, on the other hand, seemed largely unaffected by the hubbub, and Caelum had a rosy tint to his cheeks that suggested he was the only one enjoying the evening so far.
In time, salads and appetizers appeared before us, delivered by well-dressed servers. When our table mates finally arrived, we traded small talk that belied the tension running between the four members of APCT. A main course followed. It was delicious, but my nerves kept me from enjoying it. I hadn't heard a word about Calder the entire evening. If Councilor Glass was planning something big, he certainly wasn't showing it.
I was about to ask Adrian where Glass was when a squeal of feedback echoed through the space. Conversation ceased, and all eyes turned to the stage. Glass stood behind a sleek steel podium, adjusting a microphone.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "My name is Orrin Glass. Allow me to formally welcome each and every one of you to the Vale Gala."
Glass proceeded to thank the facilitators of the Gala, tell a few stories and jokes, and acknowledge guests of honor, including APCT. His speech felt nearing its end when his tone of voice darkened.
"Unfortunately, I must interrupt the mirth of this evening with a spat of terrible news. Just this afternoon, I received reports from our VPD detectives confirming the source of the invasion: a Dust explosion."
Murmurs spread through the room, which quickly grew to an uproar. After a while, Glass motioned for quiet.
"We have identified that a crate of Dust destabilized on its way into the city from Forever Fall Forest. The explosion damaged the defensive walls ringing the north and attracted Grimm. A nearby Huntsman patrol sighted the oncoming Grimm and raised the siren, but failed to plug the hole the explosion caused.
"The wall has been repaired, but the explosion originated in the first place from an unaccredited Dust vendor. Without complying with SDC standards, that company's recklessness cost Vale hundreds of lives and hundreds of thousands of Lien. And who's to blame for this?"
Glass paused again, not to quiet the crowd, but for dramatic effect. I shot Adrian a worried look. He returned it with his usual calm, but his fingers flying over his Scroll's surface told me he shared my fears.
"Presiding Councilor Calder Douglas."
The resulting outcry took minutes to silence. All the while, Adrian tapped at his Scroll.
"Douglas's refusal to bring the Dust subsidization bill to a vote has resulted in death and destruction to our citizens. His staunch ignorance of proper policy shall end now.
"I call for the impeachment of Councilor Douglas."
Pandemonium erupted. Adrian leapt from his chair. The rest of APCT bolted after him.
Glass had made his first move. He thought he had a checkmate. But now it was our turn.
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Search phrase: "Orrin Glass"
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Orrin Glass is a member of the Council of Vale and the head of the Vale Department of Commerce. He is currently in the eighth year of his nine-year term.
Glass was born in Vale three decades following the Great War. He was raised in an upper-class household, as his father, Alan Glass, owned the prominent Glass Freight Company. As the son of the family to usher in a new era of trade, Glass received his education from personal tutors pulled from institutions of higher learning from all over Remnant.
Glass took the CEO position of Glass Freight following his father's death. In the years that followed, Glass brokered an acquisition by the Schnee Dust Company, preferring to pursue a career in politics. From the acquisition, he received and continues to hold a nontrivial share of stock in the SDC.
Glass began his campaign for a seat on the Vale Council eleven years ago to lukewarm reception. However, after three years of careful campaigning, including his capitalization on the Forrest memo scandal, Glass defeated the incumbent Councilman Forrest in a landslide victory, earning a seat on the Council of Vale, where he sits today.
Currently, Glass enjoys a high level of public approval due to his ability to keep tariffs and industry taxes low and reduce trade restrictions. Some murmurings of SDC corruption arise on a semi-weekly basis, but a consistent public image and many press briefings have done much to quell public dissatisfaction.
For further reading, see the following:
List of Vale Council members
Forrest memo scandal
Glass Freight Co.
Schnee Dust Company
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Goodbye, Phoenix.
A/N: I have finally committed the worst crime a fanfic writer can. *Cue Beethoven's Fifth* Posting late!
But seriously, I had a family vacation and then orientation week upon moving in to college. Traveling several states and participating in all-day programming hardly gives ample breathing room, especially to write. Thus, for those that follow this story, I apologize for being a week (and then some) days late. I may have to change my upload schedule, but we'll see how these next two weeks go.
In other news, Phoenix has encountered another cyborg Grimm. Throw in mysterious headmasters, political posturing, and amnesia—and Phoenix has his hands full! With that in mind, I hope to bring the plot to a climax in the next several chapters. Hope you all enjoy.
Also, by the way, I may or may not have a Pokémon fanfic in the works. Right now it's still in the incubator phase, but when I have a decent amount, I'll begin posting.
-CTech