Gray Fringes Ch. 16: The Rescue Mission
Richard sat perfectly still on the thin branch overlooking the ominous compound nestled in the middle of Forever Fall. It was only fitting that Weiss and Ruby would be taken to the same base he had escaped from all those months ago.
"They're probably being held in the same two cells that George and I were in too." Richard thought as he watched the police force stealthily nestle themselves in the tree line around the base. The police chief designed a simple plan that would require Blake Yang and Richard to slip in the base and locate Weiss via her tracker while the police occupied most of the White Fang forces with a three pronged attack around the base. They would have to sneak through the maze of hallways while avoiding contact with any guards. It seemed like a foolproof plan that they could execute easily but there was still some nagging suspicion in the back of Richard's head. As he sat there waiting for the police to get ready he thought of his old family of Lionhearts and how the police in the other kingdoms would be handling them. He still remembered the day he heard the news that they were all relocated out of kingdom from a drunken guard in the back of an old bar he and George were sitting in. It had been a complete stroke of luck at the time and he hoped he would never have to see those monsters again. He still remembered the piercing blue eyes in his dream and the cold snare when he was exiled and left for dead. He shook his head and put those thoughts out of his mind. The only thing he could focus on was the mission at hand and how he was going to execute it perfectly. All there was to do now was look out for the signal, wait a few minutes before making the descent and getting the job done get Ruby and Weiss into police hands. He exhaled sharply to calm his nerves before checking to see that his weapons were loaded. He tenderly brought his hands up to the scar on his face and wondered if Ruby or Weiss would be carrying one too. He fought the wave of boiling hatred that surged through him at the thought of something like that happening to someone as innocent as Ruby and repeated the lesson Ozpin had taught him. After several deep breaths he managed to calm himself down and return his attention to the woods around him. He took out a small bottle of water to quench his suddenly dry throat. He looked down to see that most of the police were in position and ready to strike. A few moments later a gigantic explosion ripped through the front gates of the compound while a single green flare sailed through the air. He immediately jumped down from the tree to the two girls waiting at the bottom. Yang was sitting around with Crescent Rose strapped to her back while Blake was leaning on a tree adjusting Gambol Shroud on her back while keeping Myrtenaster secured to a sheath at her side.
"The signal just appeared. Five minutes then we head down there. Everyone ready?"
Both girls looked at each other before Yang looked up at Richard.
"We're ready, let's go get my sister back." Yang said with a flame starting to burn in her eyes.
"Well then let's go." Richard said before diving straight off the cliff towards the base followed shortly after by yang and Blake. He took off in a full sprint down the cliff before jumping forward over the fence and landing feet first in the middle of a group of twenty very surprised guards.
"I'm terribly sorry for dropping in like this but I have a few errands to run and you would just get in my way." Richard laughed as Blake and Yang dropped down on either side of him.
They made quick word striking in unison to split the group into three groups that each student took down separately.
Richard moved quickly unsheathing both swords as he went straight at his targets ducking under two swings before slashing at their legs knocking both assailants out before quickly disarming two more opponents of their rifles then quickly striking both with the flat of his swords knocking them out. He looked at the two remaining guards for a split second before striking forward. The first guard attempted to vertically slash while the second moved in to hit him from the left. Richard managed to catch the first attack with his right sword and send him flying backwards. The second guard struck at his left flank but was quickly blocked and sent into a warehouse wall by a sturdy kick to the chest.
He looked around to see that they didn't attract any more attention and notice Blake and Yang easily finishing off the last of the guards.
"Let's get out of here before anyone investigates this noise." Richard said as he made his way to the nearest door. They moved through the hallways with Blake in front leading them through every twist and turn and taking the secluded halls no one normally used. As they were running along they heard two pairs of feet walking straight towards their hall. Richard quickly grabbed both girls by the back of their shirts and threw them into a nearby closet before jumping in right before the two figures entered the hall.
"It seems the police are through the front gate and making a perimeter to launch their next attack." Came the low gruff voice of Adam from the other side of the door.
"It won't matter for long what the police do once Cinder and our little visitor are done with them." Replied the snarky tone of Roman.
"It's not the police I'm worried about. Do you honestly believe Beacon wouldn't send Richard to get them back?"
"I've already thought of that which is why I'm having you stand guard of the prisoners while I lead the fight out front and one more thing if Richard does make it to you kill the prisoners I don't want them leaving here alive." Roman replied before chuckling sadistically to himself.
"You can't be serious Roman. They're unarmed and weak right now and can't even pick up a weapon to fight with." Adam said shakily with a slight quiver in his voice.
"So what you're a member of the White Fang and that didn't stop you from ending that stupid fool of a man that was with Richard last time." Roman countered clearly annoyed at someone questioning his orders.
"I know that but it doesn't feel right Roman and all we need right now is another martyr for them to be infuriated right now."
"Doesn't feel right? You're a Faunas criminal and terrorist Adam. No one here cares about morals and right now eliminating those two would help your precious little cause a lot more than hurt it." Roman laughed sarcastically before leaving the bewildered Faunus behind and saying one last parting remark.
"Oh and Adam one last thing. If those two girls make it out of here alive it'll be your head on the chopping block."
They heard Adam and Roman part ways then waited a few minutes before quietly creeping out of the closet and down the hallway.
"Those bastards I'll kill them for this." Yang whispered furious.
"We'll deal with that later but right now we just have to get Ruby and Weiss." Richard replied.
"But what about Adam. You heard what Roman said. He'll kill them both if he sees them." Blake asked concerned at the new turn of events.
"I'll deal with Adam when we get there now let's move."
Blake led them down several more hallways before arriving at a small inconspicuous door in the back of the building.
"This is it now what do we do from here." Blake asked.
"Hold up I hear voiced inside and I want to know what we are dealing with. Just stand back and guard the hallway." Richard said as he put his ear on the door and listened.
"You understand that my team is going to be here to defeat you and get us out of here." Richard almost hit the floor in relief at hearing the shrill sound of his icy teammate.
"Based on what Roman ordered you better hope you don't see your teammates in here." Adam replied to the heiress.
"It won't matter how fast you are because I can guarantee you that Richard is faster and he won't be very happy to hear about your little plan to dispose of us." The heiress retorted
"Just shut up already princess and shouldn't you be helping your little friend over there she seems pretty bad but that's what you get for trying to dig a tunnel out of this place. You're just lucky they didn't brand you like they did to Richard when he was here last."
At those words Yang nearly lost it and kicked the door down herself but was quickly grabbed and subdued by Richard.
"Shh we have to be careful about this Yang just let me handle this." Richard whispered with his hand over her mouth and holding her in place. He quickly let her go and returned his attention to the door.
"Do you even understand what Yang is going to do to you all for hurting her little sister like this and Richard won't be too happy either." Weiss retorted in her usual condescending way.
"They're not going to be doing much once Roman, Cinder and the new arrival from Vytal takes care of them, for now I'd be worried about surviving the night if I were you."
Richard used the last sentence as a cue to make his move and calmly opened the door and walked towards them hands up.
Adam immediately moved for his sword once he saw them but was stopped out of confusion at Richard approaching him without his swords drawn eyeing the scene around him. He noticed Ruby was lying on the ground unconscious next to Weiss who was also sitting there looking up at them impatiently.
"Adam, wait before you do anything hasty and just hear me out for a second okay. I don't want to fight you."
"What?" both Adam Yang and Weiss replied simultaneously looking at Richard. Only Blake understood what Richard was trying and stood behind him closing the door and listening for guards.
"I know there is some good in you Adam and I know that you are starting to question whether what you are doing is right. Two weeks ago I called you an animal but I can tell you that you don't have to be like this and that you shouldn't throw your life away working for criminals like Roman and Cinder. Look around Adam they don't care about you or your cause." Richard stated calmly as he stared Adam down.
"That's not true Richard they do care about me and my friends. You are a fool for trying this Richard. I don't have a choice now. I'm too far gone." Adam replied with a slight quiver in his voice.
"If they cared about you Adam they wouldn't have left you to fight all three of us alone and you do have a choice Adam. What the White Fang are doing is evil and you know it Adam but more importantly is the fact that this little crusade has done nothing but breed more hatred towards our kind Adam and it need to be stopped. Please Adam I beg you to see past these lies they are telling you and stop being a pawn in their game. I'm not angry at you Adam I'm sad because I know you understand the difference between right and wrong yet still choose this path but I know you can change if you just would find the courage to leave this place and start trying to right the wrongs you have caused." Richard pleaded
Adam stood still for a few seconds blankly staring ahead of him with a look of confusion. He looked down at the sword in his hand then back at the cage behind him. This continued for a few seconds until he started pacing and arguing with himself until he finally looked at Richard one last time before Yelling and with one lightning quick motion slashing the lock of the prison and causing it to fly open. Before anyone could react Adam was out the door running away at full speed away from the compound.
"Let's go guys we still have to get out of here in one piece." Richard said breaking his team out of the silent shock surrounding them. He walked up to Weiss and offered her his hand.
"I can't walk right now Richard. They hit me in the back of the leg and I can barely stand. They knocked Ruby unconscious a few minutes before you arrived but she's still breathing and won't be awake for a couple of hours at least."
Richard paused a moment before coming to a decision.
"Okay here is the plan: Blake you take point and lead us out of here while I carry Weiss and Yang gets Ruby. Hopefully we won't meet any resistance but if we do we make a circle around Weiss and Ruby and guard them from there. Got it?"
They all nodded and started to get ready to leave. Richard quickly picked Weiss up and made sure she didn't have any other serious injuries. Yang did the same with Ruby before propping the young huntress over her shoulder. They made their way up the stairs and down several hallways before reaching a side exit near the back of the building. As they reached the door they were interrupted by a mysterious figure emerging from a nearby hallway. He slowly clapped as he reached a tattered light that illuminated his face. Richard cringed as he saw the familiar piercing blue eyes and menacing snarl that greeted him.
"I must say brother that I'm impressed. I would have never imagined a pathetic little coward like yourself would make it this far. I never expected you to get past the first guards let alone all the way to the exit." He laughed as he slowly approached them.
"Blake, take Weiss and get them out of here while I deal with him and don't come back no matter what happens." Richard said before turning his attention to his brother. "A lot has changed since we last met and you'll find that I'm no pushover you can bully. Tell me if you knew we were coming then where are the reinforcements to overwhelm us?" Richard replied defiantly staring his foe in the eye.
"I don't need any lesser guards to handle this situation brother and as for you two could you kindly get out this is a family matter here and I don't want any interruption." He sneered coldly.
Blake gave Richard one more concerned look before exiting the side door and making their way out of the compound.
"Your pride has always been one of your worst characteristics you know but it doesn't matter now I guess." Richard replied hoping to buy Blake and Yang some time.
"You always have been so annoying with your talk of justice and humility, maybe that's why we always thought of you as the weak link of the family that didn't deserve our name."
"I never wanted that name anyway. I won't be defined by a group of assassins, thieves and murderers like you." Richard responded as he unsheathed his two swords.
"You're such a fool Richard. Do you think the police would take you with the history we have. All you have to look forward to is hatred and expulsion but that doesn't matter now does it." He laughed as he revealed the four daggers he had on each hip.
He smirked before immediately striking first by throwing two daggers directly at Richard before taking two more and charging forward. Richard quickly dodged the first one and knocked the second one out of the air before bring both his swords to parry the attack of his brother. They moved back and forth attacking at lightning speed and relying on nothing but pure instinct to parry block and counter. Richard had the ability to react to any attack and used that to block any attack but realized that his opponent had an equally fast reaction to each move he made. Eventually Richard was able to feign a strike and take advantage of the microscopic window of opportunity to punch his opponent square in the chest causing him to fly backwards. As he flew however he was able to throw the two knives he was holding catching Richard off guard.
He barely managed to block the first one with his sword but winced as the second found its mark in his left arm just below the shoulder. He quickly took the knife out and continued to press the attack against his brother who had already recovered and now had another set of knives out. Even with his injury Richard was able to fight off his brother who was also wincing from the bruise forming on his chest. After what seemed like an eternity of heated combat Richard managed to get inside one of his opponents strikes and disarm him causing his daggers to go skidding past the hunter. Before he could strike again he saw the flash of two knives knocking the swords out of his hands. Richard looked up at his now unarmed opponent who immediately began to attack him in hand to hand combat. They punched kicked and grappled until both were stood facing each other again. Richard had suffered quite a bit of bruising around his stomach and had a small trickle of blood running from the left side of his mouth. His opponent looked equally as haggard with a black eye and countless cuts and bruises scattering his body.
He smirked before looking at Richard and saying
"Well it has been fun brother but this is where we part way and I'll give the rest of the family your regards." He said mockingly before taking off down the hallway.
Richard sighed and began to walk towards his swords that were scattered on the floor. He was about to get rid of the daggers scattered around the floor when he heard the thunderous sound of boots running down a hallway.
"I guess that's my cue to get out of here." Richard thought as he made his way out the door, over the fence and towards the force of Police officers retreating from the compound.