Mad Max: Road to Salvation
Episode 18: An acolyte's warning
[awsomerebel55: Yes it does.]
[EnriksD8: Err no, I'm planning on him being caught in a difficult relationship position. It would involve 3 lovely ladies, and none are Pyrrha, one is evil.]
[Clearwingyuta: It is nice, and perhaps he will find himself teaching, but I'm not so sure yet.]
[Review Dude: Well thank you, and yes sportsmanship is nice.]
[Charles: That depends, because it might be a difficult position for Bruz. 3 women may be interested, one is pure evil. I had planned to shake things up a little and that win contributes to a few things I have in the works.]
[TheDoodlerofWriteing: Yeah it wouldn't be, they're just friends.]
[Mr. ReadMore: Thanks a lot man.]
[Guest: Well, you could say I messed up there so I'll fix that later.]
[Ronmr: Thanks.]
It had been a few hours since Bruz's victory, and night had fallen over mistral. The road crew had found an empty lot near the coliseum to park their vehicles for the night. Qrow had gone off on his own to take care of some business and would be back later. Max was sitting in the interceptor with Anya, like a good father he was helping her get to sleep. Soon enough she'd have a nice warm bed, in a comfortable place where the crew could all settle down. The Road warrior just couldn't stop smiling as he watched the little girl he called his daughter sleep so peacefully. It was enough to make him wonder if this was life would have been like if he hadn't lost it all. He sighed to himself and left those thoughts for a later time. Max then growled slightly as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
A mysterious and foreboding presence permeated the air as clouds began to roll in and block out the starlight. The road warrior then felt a vision come on and he found himself in the presence of all of his failed allies and friends. Max shook his head and forced away the memories into the dark corner of his mind. That was the past and it was meant to stay buried. After all, some things are forgotten for a reason. He focused on what was to come next, Beacon. He knew Ozpin would definitely have more strings connected to the deal, but at this point he no longer cared since the bargain had already been struck. The grizzled wasteland veteran leaned against the interceptor with the future on his mind. It was filled with uncertainty to be sure, this school would definitely be an interesting new place. He just sighed to himself again and went to lay down in the car and wait for the morning to call for Ozpin's assistance in the journey.
Qrow was doing some of his recon work, he knew his mission to find the maidens was paramount but it was not going to be easy. He had been doing his usual schtick, searching the underworld where he could and probing the rumor mill for info. Legends are just that for a reason, it was annoying but he had to get it done. Besides he could only do so much in one night and he was going back to beacon with the others in the morning to learn more about Max. That was the idea at least, from Qrow's perspective. The dusty old crow made his way to a place where he could chat with his friend over a secure channel. Thirty minutes later Qrow had finished his search for the secure location and began the transmission.
"Oz, it's Qrow." The veteran huntsman said over the line.
"I had expected you to call. How was the tournament?" Ozpin asked calmly as he took a sip from his mug.
"Of course, you did. The kid has talent alright, what still ticks me off is the fact that he's as foul as ever. I watched him beat crap out of that kid from haven like it was a walk in the park." Qrow reported his opinion on the skills of the reluctant huntsman to be.
"I am still confident on that front, all he will need is time to gain an understanding. What happened to him as a child, while tragic simply couldn't've been helped, no one can be everywhere at once. But I know that isn't the only reason you've called me at this hour." Ozpin said as he leaned back in his chair
"The kid aside, yeah. I've been doing my thing out here, but I think I want know, and see, what you have up your sleeve when it comes to Beacon's newest residents, Max in particular." Qrow replied and asked his own question.
"On that front, I believe one of our more secretive professors has a solution." Ozpin replied coolly.
"Like what?" Qrow raised an eyebrow.
"Think of it like watching home movies, except they're all projected straight from his mind. All in thanks to the semblance of said professor." The wise headmaster explained in layman's terms.
"That's a new one on me." Qrow said in surprise.
"Indeed, I made sure as few people knew of him as possible for this kind of reason." Ozpin replied as he stood up from his desk to stretch.
"Well who is this guy then?" Qrow asked with skepticism.
"You'll find out in due time Qrow. If my assumptions are correct, then I believe Mr. Rockatansky and his associates, as well as his adopted children, will be on their way shortly." Ozpin guessed correctly.
"Yeah, they're planning on calling in the morning." Qrow replied.
"I say, why not have them come now?" Ozpin said with a slight smile.
"Say what?" Qrow did a double-take.
"I'm sending a bullhead now to collect everyone, including you." Ozpin chuckled.
"*sigh*You might need two, or three." Qrow replied after sighing to himself in annoyance and simply being exhausted.
"Is that so?" Ozpin replied with his own brow raised.
"Yeah, we've picked up a small convoy. Off the top of my head, a trailer with a cycle on it, an ex-white fang armored car, and Max's own wheels." Qrow rattled off the list of vehicles.
"Ah yes that car of his, it certainly seems to be a marvel of engineering. I suspect some of our resident engineers would like to take a look at it, if he permits of course." Ozpin thought of the possibilities.
"The thing moves like greased lighting if you get it going at speed. I've seen what it can really do first hand Oz." Qrow vouched for the mighty vehicle.
"Of that I have no doubt Qrow, the bullheads will arrive there soon enough. I suggest you inform everyone about these developments." Ozpin said stoically.
"I'm on it Oz, Qrow out." The dusty old Qrow said as he cut the feed. Qrow made his way back to the makeshift camp and began thinking to himself on what was going to happen when Max found out Ozpin's latest condition. He stopped mulling it over since it wasn't going to change anything and went on his way through the city surrounding the coliseum back to camp. Meanwhile, Max was sleeping peacefully in the interceptor with Anya resting in the backseat with Dinki-di right next to her. Bruz though was up thinking to himself on the future and he was exactly a big fan of what he knew was coming. He laid there on the roof of the armored car and watched the stars in the night sky. The clouds that rolled in earlier had disappeared and the small lights twinkled above. Bruz started to doze off and decided it was time to shut his eyes for a while in the interceptor.
He climbed down from the roof and walked back to the car. When he laid down in the passenger seat to sleep he was out cold within a moment. As he dreamt he began to see things he'd never seen before, he was in some sort of dimly lit cavern and there were scribblings all over the walls. These scribblings though, they made an odd sense to him. He began to realize they were not ancient writing, but rather engine diagrams! Once he recognized the patterns he began to drool over them as he appraised each one. The intricate nature of the drawings was bizarre yet comprehensible in a very strange way. But then a strange figure of a somewhat diminutive stature began to make its way out of the shadows towards the unsuspecting Bruz. "I see you know the ancient scripts! Praise be, another worthy acolyte of the angel of has come!"
"Bah, who are you!" Bruz whipped around to see an ugly little hunchbacked man covered in tools and grease.
"Chum bucket's the name, I once traveled with him too ya know! You ride with the warrior saint; the angel has told me so." The humble little hunchback bellowed zealously.
"What are you jabbering on about hunchback?" Bruz said with a puzzled look on his face.
"I see you have it in you, you have the gift of the sacred art of the black finger! But you lack the wisdom and knowledge to attain the enlightenment of the angel's grace. I suppose this lowly acolyte could do his sacred duty to educate you. Follow me, I believe you'll want to see this." The hunchbacked little man made his way along the cave with Bruz at his heels. "You may have met the shaman, but he only showed you some of the knowledge you need. I shall take it upon myself to teach you the history so you may carry on with the driver as I once did."
"Wait a minute, I remember now. The bloody shaman, he mentioned you alright! You used to be one scrap happy chap!" Bruz remembered his short time speaking with Griffa.
"Indeed, this lowly acolyte was a true master of the mechanical arts! I admit I did once curse the saint for what he did to me and the angel. But it was in my passing that she revealed the truth to me, and I no longer hold any ill tidings to the saint for what has passed." Chum remembered his end and the death of the opus.
"Wait what?" Bruz was confused.
"The holy saint had to sacrifice myself and the magnum opus to strike down a great evil. But I understand thanks to angel's divine grace." Chum tried to give Bruz some answers.
"You keep mentioning an angel, who is she, if you're dead then how are we talking, and the boss killed you?!" Bruz said a heavy amount of confusion and surprise.
"Firstly, it is the holy angel combustion I speak of! Secondly, it is by the will of the angel that we speak each other through your soul. Lastly, yes, I told you the saint sacrificed myself, and the angel's image willed upon the earth, to destroy the unholy evil scrotus!" Chum explained.
"Okay then what's the magnum opus?" Bruz asked the hunchback.
"She is the angel made steel real, we are on our way to see her magnificent beauty now." Chum replied as they made their way to the sacred site.
"I've never seen an angel before!" Bruz said in a jolly tone.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand, the angel herself shall choose when you meet. For now, you will see the opus war machine! But do not be angered, she will see you herself in due time." Chum bucket tried to explain it to him.
"Alright then, I can live with that." Bruz shrugged.
"Huzzah, and we are here!" Chumbucket said as he gestured to the magnum opus. The engine was a bantam V8 with slick rubs for tires, the body was one similar to the interceptor and the exhaust was extremely beefed up. The suspension was built to provide smooth and reliable handling and the paint was jet black with a flaming yellow skull on the side.
"Woah, this is…" Bruz trailed off as he marveled at the sight of the magnificent war machine that is the magnum opus.
"She is stunning is she not?" Chum said with a smile.
"That's one way of putting it alright." Bruz nodded as he spoke.
"Yes, and when the time comes, it will fall to you to bring her into the world once more. Oh, there is also another matter we must speak of, it of the utmost importance!" Chum's tune changed on dime.
"Great, and wait what?" Bruz said with a look of confusion on his face.
"The child, the little one who journeys with you and the saint! She is to become the angel's holy vessel, she must be the one to receive the angel's holy gift! I must warn you of a fiery and deceptive temptress who will seek to take this power for herself! You must not let that happen, or tragedy and darkness shall overcome us all! The angel herself has foretold this, so she dispatched me to warn you and the saint! It is your sacred duty, as well as that of the saint, to protect her at all costs!" Chum charged Bruz with aiding Max in protecting Anya.
"Do you mean me little sis, Anya?" Bruz asked the hunchback with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, she is to be the angel's holy vessel! This mighty chariot of war shall be built to safeguard the chosen child, as well as serving to aid you and the saint in your holy quest! So, I warn you once more, beware the temptress of the flame, she who's eyes glow an amber shade of evil! If you are not careful she may corrupt you as well my fellow acolyte!" Chum said in a fearful voice as he warned Bruz of the imminent and insidious threat.
"Don't worry Chum, as long as I'm still breathing, no one is going to lay a finger on me little sis!" Bruz said as he slammed his fists together.
"Praise be, then I say it's to get gears cranking and be on our way!" Chum bucket said in a jolly and joyous tone.
"You're leaving?" Bruz said as he looked at chum with confusion.
"I'm afraid so, have to go back to the other side for now. But if you really need me, Chumbucket will be around!" Chumbucket started out in in sorrow and then returned to being joyful.
"See ya then Chum." Bruz waved goodbye to his new friend from the other side.
"Oh, you'll be seeing me again sometime my fellow acolyte of the angel combustion! Remember, protect the little angel, and tell the holy saint that Chum bucket forgives him!" Chumbucket shouted as he walked toward a bright light at the other end of the cavern.
"You got it Chum!" Bruz shouted to his fellow black finger as the cavern faded from view and bruz woke from the dream. It was still night time with the moon shining brightly along with the stars, and Bruz rubbed his eyes lazily. The young hyena faunus looked over around and began to really wake up. He looked over and saw Max still asleep as well as Anya and the dog. He breathed a sigh of relief that he was still here. Tehn Qrow returned not a moment too soon, with news of the utmost importance.
"Wake up everyone, Oz got a little impatient!" Qrow shouted to the sleepy denizens of the makeshift camp. Some of them jolted upright from the startling action while others were slower in their response. Max was in the former category and pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He then proceeded to get up and prepare to get an early lift to the place he'd be spending the rest of his time in.
-END CHAPTER-