Gray Fringes Ch. 15 A Time to Prepare
As the van sped off away from them Richard suddenly felt an inferno next to him burning his jeans and causing him to sweat. Yang had gotten up and seeing her sister and team mate missing had completely lost it and was raging like a supernova. She jumped forward prepared to take out the van's tires when she was suddenly knocked to the ground. She looked up to see Richard holding her by the shoulder as the van turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
"RICHARD WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THEY GOT AWAY." Yang screamed as she kicked him away and turned her rage towards him.
Richard just calmly got up walked towards yang and said.
"You would have caused the van to crashed and probably killed Ruby and Weiss. There's no way anyone would have survived a crash at that speed."
"Well what are we going to do then? We just can't leave them to those monsters. Who knows what they'll do to Weiss and Ruby?" Yang's voice broke at the last word and caused her to fall to her knees and sob.
"How could this have happened? I'm her big sister and I failed to protect her."
Suddenly she felt a strong grip on her shoulder and turned around to find Richard crouched next to her holding her shoulder confidently.
"Nothing's going to happen to her Yang at least not while I'm still breathing at least."
"How do you know that? They're probably miles away going god knows where. I don't even want to think about what they are going to do to them." She cried until she looked up and saw a look of absolute determination in the now steel gray eyes above her.
"I know because we are going to get them out of there now let's go." Richard replied with a steely determination in his voice as he set off down the street.
"Where are you going Richard?' Blake asked as she hurried after him.
"The police department, they want a war then I will give them a war."
They arrived at the station half an hour later. Richard strode in and walked straight to the receptionist at the front desk.
"Hello sir what can we do fo-"
"I need to speak with the chief of police now. It's Richard Lionheart."
"At the mention of his last name the once busy room turned dead silent as everyone turned toward him and there was a silent murmuring around the room.
"O-of course but what should I tell him?" She stammered nervously
"He looked her straight in the eye and simply said
"Tell him the White Fang want a war and I'm more than happy to oblige them one."
"She swallowed nervously and hurried away leaving Richard and the rest of his team to wait in the lobby. He picked a small chair next to a TV playing the daily news and slunk down looking straight forward clearly lost in thought. Both girls quietly sat next to him not saying a word and waiting for their friend to calm down a little. A few minutes later they were greeted by the same receptionist who slowly walked up to them.
"He's ready to see you just head down that hallway and it's the third door on the right."
Richard kindly thanked her before briskly walking down the hallway flanked by his two teammates. He walked in and immediately put both palms on the desk and said
"We've got a big problem sir and I think you're going to want to do something about it."
"I can tell you have a problem already now can you please calmly sit down and explain what's going on."
"I don't have to explain anything it's all right here." Richard said as he picked up a remote and flipped the nearby TV to a news station that was running a report on the kidnapping.
Suddenly the news team was cut out and a new video was playing on the news. It was a picture of a dark cell with two jails in it. Richard cringed from the memories that place had brought him in the past until he saw two familiar girls being shoved into the middle of the room bound by rope still in their armor. Suddenly a third figure appeared laughing as he faced the camera.
"Hello Vale do I have a treat for you especially a certain oppressive and evil dust company. At my side here we have the lovely heiress Weiss Schnee and her little friend Ruby Rose." He said as he walked over and planted a boot in Weiss's stomach causing her to lurch forward and gag.
"Now that I have your attention Mr. Schnee what we want in exchange for your dear daughter's safety is for you to end all operation of your little company and leave Vale forever or else your daughters going to get a lot more than a kick to the stomach and if any of her little friends try to stop us then you'll be in for a bloodbath."
The broadcast ended suddenly as the announcer stared shocked at the event that had just unfolded.
Suddenly the ring of the phone on the police chief's desk could be heard throughout the room. He quickly answered the phone and paled when he realized who was at the other end.
"Yes, I understand, any means necessary, as soon as possible and n survivors." He nervously replied to the speaker on the phone.
"If I had to guess that was Mr. Schnee and he's not too happy about this whole situation."
"No he's not and he wants us to get them back immediately. The only problem is we have no idea where they are being held."
"I can help with that. When I saw that Torchwick was about to hit us a second time I managed to slip a little Schnee company technology that should allow us to track Weiss's movements on this device." Richard said as he handed the chief a small tablet with a map of Vale that had a small red dot on the northwest corner.
"Well that makes our lives somewhat easier but it would still take at least a day to get reconnaissance on that location and get a strong enough force together so we'll have to get ready and pray nothing too terrible happens in the meantime." He said frankly until he saw the crimson in Yang's eyes and the slow flame beginning to surround her hair.
"What do you mean by tomorrow? Do you have any idea what they could do to my sister in a day? There has to be a way to get them today and I'm not leaving until we find it." Yang replied ferociously.
"We can't rush this yang or else we run the risk of screwing up and possibly losing them both forever."
"He's right miss. For right now we need to get our resources together and plan an assault. I'll be in touch with you three tomorrow to work out the details and your jobs in all of this."
"Yes sir but just one more thing. I'm going in there tomorrow and I can't guarantee any prisoners for you to interrogate this time."
"All I ask is for you to keep a level head in all of this. Don't do anything you or your friends would regret later on."
"Fine now come on guys we have work to do."
Yang was still fuming when they left the police station and headed back to Beacon. Richard simply walked forward staring straight ahead without saying a word as he marched down the streets. Between the supernova blonde and the icy steel temperament of Richard the rest of the people gave them a wide berth on the sidewalk. Blake had been quietly staying behind partially out of fear of being recognized by anyone in the police station and partially trying to stay out of Yang and Richard's way. She finally decided she need tell Richard what was bothering her.
"Richard?"
"Yes Blake what do you need?"
"Listen I know you're pretty torn up by this and believe me I am too but I'm afraid you're getting too angry. Remember what Ozpin and Port told you please. I don't want to see this change you like Adam changed."
That last sentence caught him off guard and caused him to stop in the middle of the sidewalk with a mixture of surprise and confusion on his face. He quickly regained his composure and returned the usual determined look and started walking again.
"You're probably right Blake but I'll deal with that problem after we get Ruby and Weiss out of that hell and don't worry about that. I won't become that I promise you."
"Ok I just worry because I care about you and don't want to lose another friend to this curse."
"I know and thank you. I'm not used to so many people actually caring about what I do."
They reached the airships and started the short journey back to Beacon and they made their way back to their dorms. Richard walked past his team's dorms taking a sideways look at the two empty beds with a small tear in the corner of his eye. He fell into his bed looking up at the sky and realized that it would be a while before he would be driven to sleep by exhaustion. He spent two hours looking at his ceiling aimlessly until he heard two pairs of footsteps in his room.
"I take it you two couldn't get any sleep like me." He said still looking at the ceiling above him.
"I just can't sleep thinking what might be happening to Ruby and Weiss right now." Yang replied weakly.
"You need to sleep Yang. You're no good tomorrow if you can't stay awake. Just visualize what you're going to do to the White Fang and think about that until you nod off." Richard frankly replied from his bed.
"I know your right but can I at least sleep in here then. It would be nice to have the whole team here."
"Fine and Blake I'm assuming it's the usual nightmares tonight."
"Yeah but it's gotten worse do you mind Richard?"
"No come on maybe it'll help me get some sleep too."
Blake curled up next to Richard purring softly as he started to nod off. Yang took up residence in the bed next them and managed to get a few hours of restless sleep. Richard sat awake for a couple hours longer before finally nodding off and falling to sleep. The next morning they woke up to find a note under both doors leading to their dorms.
You have classes off this morning. I suggest you use the time to properly prepare yourselves
-Glynda Goodwitch
"I guess now's as good a time as any to get ammunition and make sure everything is working perfectly." Richard said after reading the note.
They made their way to the armory across the school and began to sharpen and inspect their weapons for the coming fight. After finishing that job they each parted ways for a little while to finish some things individually. Blake went into town to by Ammo for the group, Yang went to the gym to let out some frustration and train while Richard went straight to the training room to spar. He looked down the empty hall filled with straw dummy and targets for long range practice. He immediately went to work attacking the first dummy before rolling away towards a second dummy and cleaving it in two with a quick strike of the sword before leaping up bring out his pistols in midair falling to a stable position and placing two shots dead center on one of the targets across the room. He tried to focus on the targets in front of him but all he could think of was the possibility of failing like he did with George. After an hour of futile attempts to try and focus he gave up and realized what he had to do. He left the training grounds and found the first shuttle into town. He picked up a quick stride as he made his way to a small worn path into Forever Fall by the edge of town. He made his way down the path until he reached a clearing with a familiar set of ruins in it. He walked over to the makeshift grave he made all those months ago.
"It feels like it's been an eternity since I made this George. My life's changed so much since then but I still can't shake the feeling I felt when I lost you. Now the White Fang have two more of my friends in the exact situation we were in months ago and I don't know if I can handle another loss like that." Richard said remorsefully as he stared down at the remains of his once faithful companion and friend.
"You can't think about that Richard." Came a silent voice behind him.
He jumped up and turned around to find his raven haired teammate standing at his side looking at the grave.
"I know it's hard to lose someone like George but right now you have to focus on winning this battle and getting our friends back."
"I know but I'll lose everything if I fail again."
"We've all made mistakes and have regrets but right now do you think George would be happy seeing you torn up like this. The only way to keep your sanity is to move forward and use the mistakes of the past to guide yourself in the future." Blake said putting a hand on his shoulder and wiping a tear from her eye.
"You're right Blake. It's time to stop letting my life be ruled by this darkness and bring these monsters to justice." He removed the blue bandana from his face and tied ti to one of the lower branches on the trees and said
"I'm done hiding from this scar and it's time for the White Fang to see this mark and tremble out of the fear that this will bring and the knowledge that the only thing they can blame for their fear are themselves." Richard growled as his tablet went off and displayed a small message on the screen.
"That's our cue Blake let's get Yang and put an end to this little game. Goodbye George and with any luck I'll be back to tell you how it went."