Apex Predator
Common: You know.
Ken: What is it?
Common: Originally I wanted this chapter to be a lot longer but I didn't want to make it too long.
Ken: Wouldn't that mean the chapter would be released much later.
Common: Sadly yes.
Ken: I see.
...
Crystal: I don't mean to be an ice breaker but...
Common: What is it?
Crystal: Why are we in a basement?!
(Zooms out on basement)
Common: Reasons
Jason: Which is?
Common: I don't have to answer that question.
Crystal: Is this about Damie-
Common: Ohhhh look everyone's finally here to read the next chapter of RWBY: Apex Predato-
Crystal: Don't dodge my question!
Conmon: Ummmm look a cookie (Points into the distance)
Jason/Ruby: Where?...
Crystal: Like that trick will work on me.
Common: Oh look a screen time for Crystal Jones.
Crystal: Wha? Seriously?
Common: (whispers) Ken use your semblance to take me to the other room.
Ken: What makes you so scared of this man exactly?
Common: Everything! Now hurry up and do i-
Crystal: Again I'm not falling for tha-
Common: Ken! Now!
Ken: Fine very well. (Disappears with Common)
Crystal: Why that no good lousy little-
Jason: Wow wow wow, let's keep it PG.
Crystal: Since when was this story ever PG? Do you see the ratings on this? It's rated M for mature not T for teens.
Jason: My dear sister, onions are the equation.
Crystal: What?
Jason: What?
Ruby: Sooo, how are we gonna start the chapter?
Crystal/Jason: (Shrugs)
Meanwhile hidden in an unknown location.
Common: That was close, at least we can now have some peace and quiet.
Ken: Sure...for about a few minutes. It won't be long until Damien Knight arrives though.
Common: What?! You can't be serious, how long till he comes?
Ken: Let's see, do you mind telling us when he'll be here?
Employee 1: Ummm in about...five minutes, heat signature suggest he's moving pretty fast on his way here.
Common: I am not barricading the whole studio again just to make sure that freak doesn't bust in again.
Employee 1: Three minutes sir.
Common: What?! How did the time fly fast?!
Employee 1: No idea but he's moving much faster now.
(Crystal bust opens the door)
Crystal: There you are you little twerp!
Common: How did you?
Ruby: You didn't really go far, all you did was quickly go to the next room. We can hear you guys from here, hehe.
Common: (Glares at Ken)
Ken: Hehehehehe (disappears)
Crystal: (Grabs Common) We've got some things to discuss.
Common: Ummm I don't think the audience wanna see this.
Ruby: They can't, this is a story written in words not a show with visuals.
Common: Fine! I don't think the audience wants to imagine what's coming next!
Ruby: Ya I'm gonna have to start the chapter here, you don't wanna know what happens next...ENJOY!
Disclaimer: Can't we all just get over the fact that nothing here is mine but the original characters and story.
For Our Second Opening For This Arc We'll Stick With The Original RWBY Openings:
(Insert, RWBY Opening 3: When It Falls, Here)
Chapter 33: The Assassins
For the first time after the many battles fought and the destruction cease it's way, Beacon had finally found itself slightly at ease as the enemy forces had stopped at their positions and had strangely anchored themselves on the spot. No being dared to move nor made any slight step, inside their minds Hybrids, White Fangs and even Grimms were ordered to discontinue by unknown forces. The sun was beginning to rise from the horizon and the students, soldiers and leaders were taking their time to rest until the next round they'd be ready for the next wave. The three girls of team RWBY, Ruby, Weiss and Yang had taken this opportunity along with the others to sleep soundly through the long night, Blake was left awaken to watch over the Predator as he rested from his little incident of not having enough sleep and overall stress taking over resulting with him experiencing a severe anxiety attack. He was not to be blamed though, Ken had blamed himself over and over of a war he thought he brought to innocent students of Beacon and Vale. His sister was taken from him from enemies that claim he knew from the past, now haunting him from the memories he could not remember. Consistently worrying of the safety of his kidnapped sister and brother as well as the safety of his friends, and lastly he would have to take in that he now must face a greater challenge more challenging that he hoped would not ever experience...and that was fighting a war. A war between past enemies, current terrorist and ancient rivals.
It was no surprise Ken would eventually break and have that effect him greatly, but the cat faunus dared to ask. "After going through Monty knows what, how can he fall so easily from this?"
The soldier looked so vulnerable, so weak yet at peace as he drifted in his sleep, enjoying his time in his own world his own dreamland. The huntress in training stood from her bed, letting Weiss continue her rest. The faunus sat next to Ken where he slept and stroked his hair gently, how time has past as she noticed how long his hair began to grow reaching his cheeks. Moments like this she would indeed cherish as she rarely sees Ken so vulnerable, after all he is a seventeen year old teen just like them who was just caught up with this whole ordeal being in the wrong place and in the wrong time.
Still even after this whole mess, Blake had notice how he still kept his hair and skin in such fine conditions. Soft and smooth but a little rough in a few edges, no surprise after all that has happened.
She ceases her strokes and retracts her hand quickly after noticing Ken's minor transformation to his grimm form, half of his body turning grey and his hands growing long dark midnight purple claws. If she had to guess Ken was probably having a bad dream. He seemed a bit distressed in his sleep, rocking left and right slightly whiles mumbling silent words. Blake watches attentively at the Hybird, listening to his heartbeat carefully as he slept. For a faunus like her, her ability to listen to sound was at a match as Ken's thanks to her faunus heritage and having the attribute of four ears in her disposal. Although their is a flaw in this ability, as she is only able to hear in such inhuman levels when it's completely quiet. She is still able to hear certain things sharper then any other, but only when she truly concentrates in this task and puts her full attention in certain things. She can however feel much prouder in herself as she can sense danger much more faster then anyone including Ken, her sense as a cat are far more faster then a Sentinel Hybrid such as the predator. Not to mention her reaction time excels greatly, at times faunus heritage brought more benefits then Hybrids.
But she wasn't here to brag about herself next to her close friend, she merely thought to herself that Ken did have some weaknesses and disadvantages. He was no perfect fighter as most put him out to be, especially when it came down to his strength. Seriously from what she's heard Ken could most likely lose an arm wrestling match against Jaune, in the words of David Markes "His strength is pathetic".
Still she didn't mind having a 'gentle friend' among her list of friends, it shows that Ken is still willing to go out there even knowing what lies beyond. It was brave and she admired brave men, he may be weak in strength but he was strong at heart. "And that's what I like about you...where did that come from?"
Shaking the thought away, Blake moved closer to the bed at the center as she watched the outside of the room. The breezing wind could be heard from the rustling window, it may give out a cool feeling but she knows what lies beyond that window. If she were to open it Blake would face thousands and thousands of enemies laying in their place waiting to strike, danger would look at her in the eye and she would look back. She didn't want to bother going outside knowing death may come any minute know, staying inside and waking her teammates in case that situation occurs sounded much more soothing then doing that.
Minutes later her body began to slowly lower closer to the sheets of the bed, feeling her body going heavy and her eyelids beginning to close by itself. She didn't care where she laid her head or where she slept. All she knew was that whatever she was laying at was soft and heavenly, she stayed up for too long so finally earning that rest was just what she wanted. Ken was fine sleeping in his bed so there was no need to watch over him, she just wanted to join her teammates in their own little place they called 'dreams'. "Nighty night" she mumbly bids.
In the darkest parts of Beacon's hallways, where the light was overshadowed and the sound of people silently resting were no where to be heard. Amongst the shadows lurked a demon so dangerous that his presence alone was enough for anyone to kneel and gasp before him, suffering from illusions and unable to tell from what was real and what was not. He's steel grey eyes illuminated through the dark indicating his sense of bloodlust, his appearance hidden by the hood of his outfit. Damien Knight loved the dark, but what he loved more was killing. Killing was his love, killing brought him joy and satisfaction. This was a man that needed no reason to kill, this was a man who would end your life if you seemed off to him.
But what would be better for Damien if there was one thing he liked more then killing, well just as mentioned before he like both the darkness and the sense of ending ones life. Put two and two together and what do you get? Yes a psycho who becomes insanely excited in murdering in the shadows, if you think he thought that genocide was fun well he would think it would be more fun killing in the dark.
The blood, the corpses, all of it didn't matter to him. He walked and stepped on each and every one of them humming in an off tune, his grin wider to the point where it was creepy and sadistic. His sword being wiped by a handkerchief, he savored the smell of the decease as it reminded him of just how much fun it was to play around with DEATH.
"I wonder how long I have to get my hands dirty just to put them around the Predator's neck, I've been itching to fight him head on." He's mission, hide in the shadows then find the Predator. After that fate will decide what happens when he finds him, if he finds him in his bed then he will die asleep, if he finds him awake then no matter. Fuck stealth after that, he'll just go head on with him and fight him then and there. Witness and reinforcements? They don't matter, he'll just kill them too. All he wanted was just to ripe that freak into shreds, make him suffer till he gets tired of him. Play with he's insides and out, since he's comrades are there he might as well let them join the fun. Maybe torture them in front of him and enjoy his stay with the females before slicing there neck. Oh how Damien was just excited to unfold he's plan, he's original plan given by Fifteen was find the Predator and bring him to him alive. But he was tired of taking orders so as he was send off he official discarded himself from the Hybrid group, he was his own man now and takes no orders from no one. "It's time to see just how good your son is my old mentor, will he be a skilled assassin like you? Or just a disappointment for me to crush? Either way, he'll die by the same hands that ended your life. Are watching me? Watching over him? You better cause he's about to join you in the afterlife!"
His hysterical laughter was intoxicating, it brought shivers to his enemies. The light that shine down upon him was later overshadowed as he entered the darkness once more and hide beneath it's abyss, morning was at reach. It was time to search for the bastard and wait for the perfect opportunity. "Tick tock tick tock my precious little Seno, or should I call you...Ken."
It wasn't until it was afternoon that everyone began to wake from their slumber, the feeling of having to wake from a deep sleep was one that was a rather unpleasant feeling in a certain degree to most. Ruby Rose 'rose' (pun not intended) from her bed as she stretched after her long pleasant rest, her teammates sounded like they were awake from the sound of their gasp. Ruby had taken this to herself to wake up and check what was all the commotion about, she carefully steps down from her bed and goes to meet her teammates. "Hey guys what's with all the noise?"
Looking at the two, Ruby tries to imitate what exactly what set their sights on. The feeling of waking up didn't help as she scratches her back grumblingly, what she sees next had certainly put all that feeling aside and had most likely woken her up. Most of her blood had circulated all the way to her cheeks as she appeared as red as her own clothing, Weiss and Yang weren't doing any better...well not for Weiss that is. The white haired heiress's eyes were as big as a frisbee whiles clenching her fist and Yang smirking deviously like a sly fox, although slightly ticked off from what her teammate was doing as a nerve can be seen between her temples.
Blake felt too relaxed to even dare move, the place where she slept felt amazingly like sleeping on a sheep's wool. Soft and smooth, comfortable and soothing. "Blake wake up!" Yelled the white haired heiress.
The faunus did not bother to take her attention to Weiss, why even care as she would merely ramble on and on about being polite, having manners and responsibilities. No she would rather take her complete focus on her bed, "Wake up you dunce, you're gonna up the doofus."
"Blake, as much as I can understand how comfortable you are, I gotta agree with Weiss here. You're gonna wake him up, best we don't disturb him." Yang agreed but as well for other reasons.
"Blake, hurry before he wakes." Ruby pleaded.
"What are those three talking about?" She thought, surely if they're talking about Ken then she would be sure he was sleeping peacefully at his be-...wait. If she could remember correctly from last night, she remembered watching over him...then afterwards she began to feel tired and fell asleep at...oh shit.
Her eyes instantly shot open and turned quickly to her right, there she found herself at close inches away from Ken's facial property and hurriedly got off the bed. Her entire body rushing circulating of blood making her look like a tomato skinned faunus, Yang couldn't help but take her chance of fun and began twirling her fingers at the girl's shoulder. "Seem you got a goodnight last night." She teasingly stated.
"I-I-I swear I didn't know I was sleeping next to him."
"Aha and I'm secretly a Hybrid, we know you slept next to him intentionally." Yang countered.
"I swear I didn't."
"How lewd of you to invade the man's privacy, have you no shame!" Weiss added.
"I told you I didn't-"
"Guys quiet, he's having trouble sleeping." Ruby argued.
The three immediately shut their mouths as they went back to watching the soldier sleep in peace, after that whole commotion the predator appeared at peace...relaxed and...smiling. This whole time since he was placed in Weiss's bed he had been struggling to sleep, with his troubled look and the constant mumbling of his sister's name...Krista. He misses her, he was worried about her, even in his sleep he never took Krista away from his thoughts. How could he though? He was her big brother and not to mention his siblings looked up to him and he made sure to make them feel special and safe around his arms, and now that Krista was taken he couldn't hold her between his arms. Shaking from the thought of seeing Krista in pain gave him nightmares of his rest, he couldn't help it and he couldn't make them stop. But now he was at peace and finally able to sleep through the time, like a man once said 'with every day the night must come, with the moon setting the sun must rise. Where the light shines there must always be a shadow, with good there is always evil. The two are intertwined, one cannot exist without the other'.
His nightmares eventually ceased it's visions, now replaced by his friends laughter and comfort of being around him. In his dreams, he felt...accepted. This reflected through his smile as can be seen by the four girls, they decided to leave him be whiles they prepare for any oncoming battle. With Blake entering the restroom first while Yang heads outside to check on their neighbor dorm mates team JNPR, Ruby was too tired to continue their cession and decided that a few more minutes of sleep before Yang has her turn for the restroom would he a good idea to make the time fly before she finally gets her turn.
Weiss decided to wait for her turn to last as she sat next to the soldier watching over him like an over protective mother, the boy had been through so much since he came here, how could she ever imagine him being the same quirky, irritating, stubborn, selfish, loving, cute, idiot little dunc- wait loving? Cute? "Get your head together girl, what are talking about?!"
Weiss hurriedly shakes the thought away as she denied anything relating to what she just said, ha like he'll ever be a selfless person. The boy constantly thinks about the people's safety around him instead of his own, to her that seems a bit selfish in it's own degree. At times your own safety is your first priority, not every time can he act like some kind of noble hero. From what she's learn so far, reality doesn't reward deceased heroes, only death just like what everyone eventually gets. The world was cruel and at times Ken was too naive to see it, it was what she hated the most about him. He sees the world in a different light yet he's aware how harsh the real world is, from what she's heard he faces danger head on and looks at death in the eye without fearing it's grasp. How can he be so determined and protective even after all that?, perhaps he has change his way of seeing the world and merely she has misjudge him this whole time. It didn't matter, either if it was all an act or not, look where it got him now. In her own bed recovering from a hard fought battle and worrying about her kidnapped sister. How cruel the world can be, "Idiot, you fail to understand that."
She placed her hand on his, feeling it's warmth as she worried over the recovering soldier. "Can't you see that you can't always do everything on your own."
"Weiss what whatcha doing over there?" Ruby curiously questions eyeing the heiress, she quickly retreats her hand from the soldier and reverts back to her tsundere like attitude. "N-Nothing, stop looking this way!" She quickly throws a pillow at the young huntress hitting her directly head on.
"Ow, you didn't need to throw a pillow at me."
"Be quiet you dunce, you'll wake him up"
"But you-"
"Shhhhhh" Weiss gestures angrily.
Ruby pouts silent at Weiss's harsh demand and follows the request turning and tossing around on the bed, the heiress reverts back at the predator and unintentionally smiles at to how adorable he can be while sleeping unknowingly letting the tip of her finger touch his. The feelings she felt on her chest grew intensely, her stomach strangely acting up as if a million butterflies fluttered and circled within. As much as she may deny it, she silent admits one thing about this sudden development of her fond of the soldier. And that was whatever she was feeling, she desired more of it. And that feeling grew stronger whenever she stood near Ken, it would make her clumsy at times, easily flustered and even unable to concentrate in certain task. She once found herself spilling her tea all over their carpet floor for dazing thinking about...him, in a way she knew what it was but continued to deny as it would be a distraction for her and him. "I don't really encage such intimate relationships, it serves no purpose for me and may distract me from my work. Friendships are beneficial, I never really see relationships having the same perks nor better." Ken's words echoed throughout Weiss's head.
He once said these exact words when Yang had asked him if he was encaging such relationships back at home, back at Mistral. If he was ever interested of the opposite sex before or is interested in someone now, although not the answer she was looking for, his answer did brought a bit of disappointment to the four girls listening. "Besides, I'd rather help others then settle in with a girl. But still I'll never know, destiny works in mysterious ways after all" he finished.
How it sounded so wise but naive, sure helping others was important. But never considering of settling the time to rest and find comfort in someone just as important, you'll find yourself alone in the end when you focus solely on making other lives easier. After all your life matters too, right?
Ken has certainly grown as a individual but he never truly grew up, he still slightly had the mindset of a child thinking all will be better. Not thinking about women who he would usual would boys his age, not thinking about the future as he was more focused on the good times of today. It shows that perhaps he too had his childhood taken away, he showed joyous emotions and laughter but...at times they felt forced. Deep down he was hiding something, Weiss understood this cause Ken hide his side of being a Hybrid. Now that he was exposed and revealed, somehow it still feels forced.
There was still many things he was hiding, deep down inside him isn't a monster trying to break free. No...
Deep down is a broken man who has seen and done many, afraid to be seen, afraid to be shunned, afraid to be judged, afraid to be...rejected. "I wanna know, why won't you tell me...you make me feel as if I'm walking amongst the clouds yet I know nothing about you.
If..IF these feelings are true then tell me,...who are you?..." She thought.
2 Days Later
The feeling of walking on their feet once more, the feeling of recovery and finally be able to move. How Naomi and Rosa ever felt better, being stuck in a hospital bed can be quite challenging. Not only is it not comfortable but laying down as been very boring for the young mercenary, Naomi managed to gone through such struggle as she is use to such harsh torture (though she can't really say torture since it's only laying down on a bed) suppressing your own violent split personality has proven to be much more challenging then laying down at a uncomfortable bed. Still she was relieved as she recovered fully and was ready to head off and no longer sleeping at such discomfort, there joyous expressions were instantly flipped to a grimm one as they found themselves arriving at their dorm only find it- "Completely destroyed!" Rosa yelled.
"What in oum's name happened here? Surely the battle wasn't that that fierce." Naomi followed.
Rubbles, broken furnitures and more rubbles was all that was left of their room. Mashed with more broken debris and their belongs long incinerated by the blast, Rosa flew carefully around the room. Nothing...absolutely nothing was left here, all that was left standing was there door and the wall connected to it. Rosa begins to frustratingly ripe her hair piece by piece knowing all her clothes were no longer whole, Naomi merely wondered her eyes around in complete disbelief. They were already informed of the situation before they left the infirmary thanks to their nurse, but never did they expect the so called 'war' would be so...destructive. Maybe they should have expected it since it was indeed a battle to be fought, the question now was...where are Ken and Wade? "Wade" Rosa thought quickly flying away to whatever direction she thought would lead to the boys.
"Ken" Naomi thought wondering where he would be from all this chaos, the both of them assumes they were okay since they had complete faith they could take care of themselves. But the nurse hasn't even mentioned their names yet, they prayed to dear monty that the both of those reckless fools would be okay. "Rosa, maybe we should look for Ken first. I'm sure Wade would be there to follow, it's likely the case." Naomi suggested not stopping their tracks, well more like her and Rosa still flying through the air.
"Okay sure but where would that idiot be."
"Let's check perhaps with his close acquaintance."
"Right, Team RWBY it is." Rosa quickly flies to grab hold of Naomi by the arm and speeds up at top speed to head to their destination, flying pass anyone with ease whiles grabbing hold of someone prove to be much easier for Rosa. Especially since Naomi is a lightweight after all, but all though she could have sworn that Naomi had slightly more weight then Ken. Times like that she wish she could just shove a sandwich on the boys mouth, for a Hybrid who eats people he sure didn't pack a lot at all. She was sure that was the first thing she'd do when she first sees that bastard's face, shove food right on his face and make him munch it. "Rosa we're here you can stop flying now!" Naomi yells.
Rosa snaps her attention back to the surroundings around her and comes to a sudden halt as they arrive at the front door of team RWBY's, letting Naomi to her feet she quickly dust herself off to make sure she comes in formally not giving any disrespect to Ken's close friends. That idea quickly went out in flames as Rosa turns the knob of the door and flew straight inside without a single thought in mind, Naomi quietly panics of her actions and quickly composes herself to see if their leader was here. "Where is he? Where's Ken?" Rosa abruptly asked intruding.
The Yang and Ruby sat comfortably at their faunus teammate's bed whiles Blake herself and Weiss sat closely on a chair staring her down awkwardly along with Wade seated next to a sleeping Ken Markes on Weiss's bed. "Ummmm ahh...hi." She awkwardly greeted.
"I-I'm sorry for the intrusion everyone, w-we were just looking for KEN!" Naomi immediately examined the soldier closely as Rosa continue to hover above the rest. "What happened to him? Is he gonna be okay?"
"He's gonna be fine Rosa, he just needs to recover after-" Wade did not finish his explanation as Naomi immediately grabbed hold of his shoulder with such a grip comparable to that of Colonel David's and started shaking him violently, "WHAT HAPPEN TO HIM? DID SOMEONE HURT HIM? IF SO I'M GONNA RIP THEM TO PIECES." She showed little control over her hidden persona as her bright yellow eyes began to glow, her bloodlust only growing as he sat there in silent not answering any of her questions.
"He's...like I said gonna be fine...he just-"
"HE WHAT?"
"Just.." He sighed.
"He suffered from severe anxiety attack." He finally answered.
"What?"
Rosa looked at him as if he was speaking a foreign language, Ken suffering from anxiety? I thought Hybrids weren't capable of suffering from such a silly defect. "You're bluffing."
"Nope"
"How?"
"Apparently our leader had been suffering from this long before hand, further test on him have determined that he had been stressed all before this war started and not to mention he hasn't been getting a lot of sleep lately. To make matters worse Krista was kidnapped two days ago raising his cortisol beyond our bodies could handle from his nervous system, the result was this." He explained, he could remembered as clear as day. Not because it was recent or because he was actively involved, it was because it was the first time he ever saw Ken suffering from such cause HUMANS would usually feel...not Hybrids.
He remembered him kneeling, suffering, struggling to inhale, unable to move on his own. It came to Wade that Ken wasn't just a Hybrid people saw him to be, Ken was still human no different from the others nor him even being a faunus. People had overlooked that part of him as so he was viewed as self healing, flesh eating, creature of grimm who can talk and think for himself. Guardian he may be, but even the most elite of guardians held weaknesses. After all no one was perfect, it didn't matter though since the guardians strength from defeating many didn't come from individuals, it came from the team they work with. Teamwork was the guardians greatest weapon, they all worked as one and it was what made them a deadly military organization.
"Krista was kidnapped?" Rosa abruptly began to panic, just how much exactly did they miss? What's next? A grimm army practically waiting for them around behind these wall which they've never seen before surrounding them? Well...it better not be like that.
Wade's nods whiles getting up from his chair and opening the dorm's window, "Fly us up that wall, I need to show you something." He requested.
"This better not be what I think it is." She thought, she heads off with Wade from the window and flies towards beyond the walls. The next scene she sees made her want to stump her brains off for predicting such a accurate incident yet scared of the many grimms she saw, there were thousands of them. And not only grimm but people from the white fang stood in waiting as well, not mention she saw more who looked similar to Ken. They were Hybrids, it was her first time seeing such a phenomenon. She was sure he was the only known Hybrid in existence, guess there was more of them then she thought there was. "Land there, I need to take a closer look."
"Are you crazy?! Death is literally right below us!" She argued making a good point.
"Just do it, I have a feeling they won't harm us."
"Okay you're definitely crazy if you think they won't munch you up like nothing!"
Persistent as he was, Wade needed to confirm his hypothesis. "Fine then just drop me."
"Are you asking for a death wish or something?" Her eyes growing irritatingly large and animated, who in their right mind would ever ask to be drop down on an army of monsters and killer? "Oh wait, Wade Broekman that's who."
He sighs as he shakes his hand to break free from Rosa's grip, this resulted with her only gripping him tighter and flying higher. "For goodness sake Rosa just drop me."
"No, how would I know they won't munch you to death."
"Please Rosa, just trust me on this." He tries to reason with her this time, eyeing her with determination.
She sighs frustratingly, "Fine but I'm going down with you."
They slowly began to descend choosing a spot where it had space between them and grimm, fear and worries filled the young mercenary's mind. The grimm and Hybrids took note of this and turn their heads towards them, she immediately starts ascending back towards the air but Wade pulled her back on the ground as he carefully observed the two beings body. They merely continued to glare down the two, not daring to make any move nor a sound from any of them. Seeing as things were clear Rosa and finally landed on solid ground whiles Wade made his way to the many enemies around him, looking at each of them closely and seeking what exactly made them to stop in their tracks. "Okay you've seen them so...can we please leave now."
"No wait I'm getting something." Wade wondered, why exactly were the white fangs following the same action as the grimm and Hybrids? Sure perhaps the two shared similar instincts telling them to cease their tracks, but the white fang was a group of Faunus. Sure they wouldn't need to follow their tracks as they are perhaps much more intelligent but an explanation was needed for their odd behaviors. "What is making you stop?" Wade mumbled.
He stops to look at the eyes of a white fang agent, not moving or breathing. This was odd, something was indeed wrong. They had a pulse but their eyes seemed lifeless, and that's when it clicked. "How in the?"
The agent's eyes began to appear as black as a shadow, their iris turning as crimson as ones blood. It was no mistake in his sight, these white fang members were Hybirds. And to see many following the other grimm then he could determine that the whole organization of the white fang was turned into Hybrids, "It's impossible" He shockingly says shaking in disbelief.
"Rosa let's go back now."
"It's about time." Rosa wasted no time picking Wade off the ground and flying back towards team RWBY's dorm, her instincts demanded her not to stay in such place any longer. Wade himself was sweating excessively, knowing such a majority of enemies becoming Hybrids had only worsen their conditions here on Beacon, their target was stronger then they could ever anticipate.
They quickly land back inside the dorm with Wade immediately needing to head for the door but was stopped by Yang, "Wow their wolfy, what's the hassle?"
"The white fang, the grimm, the Hybrids, our enemies are stronger then we thought. I need to get to Colonel David."
"Not before you explain what's up, what's got you so worked up?" Yang questions.
Wade inhales, calming himself to try and keep his composure. "Alright I'll keep this brief, the white fang was turned into Hybrids. The enemy forces were halt by some kind of powerful force, I felt it through my sense when that faunus looked at me."
"What?! The white fang was turned into Hybrids?!" Blake yelled in an outburst.
"I'm afraid so."
She slams her fist on her arm rest of the chair making a small dent, angered by the fact that his fellow brothers and sister and most likely people who felt like family were turned into monsters. Having to see them suffer from an enemy so powerful that they were used as pawns made everything within her very being scream in rage. "Wait until I get my hands on them-"
"Where do you plan on going now?" Weiss asked.
"I'm going to inform our superiors, they need to know this." Wade dashed instantly out to the door, passing by anyone in a flash. By the door stood a familiar face that only Ruby could recognize in an instant, the gingered hair atlas Penny had finally met with her friends at last. "Salutations friends, what have I miss?"
"Penny oh my goodness where've you been?" Ruby goes to dash towards her but was stopped by Penny's hand, "I came here to lead a new friends of mine to my other new recent friend Ken Markes, friend."
"Ummm okay but who-" Yang was stop mid-sentence as more familiar faces were seen greeting them behind the ginger haired fellow, "Hello there" Crystal greeted.
"Ummm hi" Twelve followed.
"I'm detecting seven heat signatures in front of us, where are we exactly Twelve?" A.H.D. wondered.
"Shut it A.H you'll scare them."
"Why is she here?" Weiss questioned threateningly.
"I'm here to check on the boy who I plan to kill soon." Crystal answered.
"Careful, the next words you choose to say may result in your untimely death." Naomi warned letting her foe see the change of color within her eyes.
"Relax, I'm here to see if he recovered. And a certain friend of mine here may help." She replied showing the presence of a certain Hybrid.
"Hello there"
"She's a Hybrid, it makes things easier since she can find what's wrong with the guy."
Rosa intervened between the two groups, "How should we trust you or her, you've tried to kill our leader before and not to mention that you said she was a Hybrid which means..."
"Which mean you're the enemy." Blake mumbled equipping Gambol Shroud.
"You're the reason why their all monsters now!" Blake immediately rushes towards the Hybrid with amazing speeds rivaling Ruby's, ready to impale the girl with no regards to her explanation. Her assault was quickly ceased as Crystal had quickly clapped her hands together making a loud noise to startle Blake in her place, she was quickly stunned for a moment. It may seem like seconds for her but for Crystal it was enough time for her to disarm Blake in place and hold her own weapon against her. "Let's not do anything rash my dear."
The clap stunner, not exactly a technique a mercenary would use but it was known as an assassination move. A technique with the use of clapping your hands together with a single struck, with it their opponent would result to frightening themselves from the clap giving them an opening for a brief moment, an instant kill if performed correctly. The louder the clap and the closer you are to your opponent the better and effective it is, Crystal had managed to pick this technique up from battling foes and many assassins who as well used it on her. Luckily she escaped thanks to certain circumstances and her semblance, "I'm not here to fight nor is she, so how about if everyone calm down and work this out, shall we?" Crystal offered.
She retracts the blade back to it's compacted form and hands it to Blake which she carefully takes back and places it on her magnetic bagpack behind her, they reluctantly let's the two enter the dorm as Twelve quickly hops to Ken's bedside. "Better not do any funny business."
"Calm down ice queen, she's got it under control."
"What you call me?!" She angrily responds.
One of Twelve's finger began to extent into a sharp nail as she draws it close to his chest, she makes a small cut onto his skin as she takes the small substance of his blood into her own mouth, judging it, tasting it, examining it. "What do you think you're doing?!" Weiss asked.
"I'm trying to see what's going with him through his blood, I might get something."
"Well...hurry already."
Finally being able to have a complete understand from Ken's blood, Twelve returns to Crystal feeling uneasy and her head held low. "Alright then, mind telling us what's the problem?" She asks.
"In certain degrees...he's dying."
"Well I guess...what?!"
"Part of his grimm anatomy is starting to mature, he's losing himself because of it. It's likely he has about a week to live if he doesn't find a way to control his grimm, or els he'll turn into a Sentinel this time and eventually die."
"Why didn't you tell us about this earlier?!" She abruptly questions.
"I didn't know he was unable to control it, I thought he had already gone through that phase."
"Phase? What do you mean phase? Are you telling that all Hybrids go through this?"
Twelve had made a small cut on her arm as she let the blood poor down to Ken's mouth, opening it with one hand and letting her blood enter with the other. "Ewwww." Ruby mumbles in disgust.
"When a Hybrid is at the age of maturity, their are certain changes that comes through their body. By that time they must have complete control of their grimm or els...certain things happen to us, it's a battle within ourselves of we either become and die like the creatures of grimm or we fight...and live. It's survival of the fittest, only the strong survives. There's a reason why us Hybrids are so little in numbers."
"I'm not convinced." Blake argued pointing outside beyond the walls where the many other Hybrids stood along with the now infused white fang agents, "Look let me explain."
"A man name Doctor Fredrick who turned us into Hybrids in the first place strongly believes in an world where a dominant race rules over the weak and that he believed himself to be a god who could lead this race to a new order, and so he sought out newly born children to create such a powerful race."
"So you're telling us that Hybrids are not a natural race." Naomi asked, the question that everyone had been wondering amidst Twelve's explanation.
"Exactly we aren't natural, we're artificial. I can't tell you much since I don't exactly know if it's okay with Thirteen."
"Let me ask you this before you continue though, why call Ken Markes by a number and not his name?" Crystal was the next to ask.
She sighs, "Because that was his given name was when he became a subject to Doctor Fredrick, Subject Thirteen."
"Subject Thirteen, huh."
"We have numbers marked onto our bodies, back then we were so scared and tested so much that we eventually forgotten our own identity and basically started calling each other by our subject numbers." Twelve explains showing her own number marked onto her arm at the side of her left shoulder.
"I'm pretty sure Thirteen still has his." She says showing them his own mark on the exact same spot where her's was.
"Wow never noticed it since he pretty much never takes of his shirt." Yang said looking quite surprised as the rest of the girls.
"Indeed, I can go into more detail about my past with Thirteen but time is being wasted as we speak. My point is that Doctor Fredrick can create more artificial Hybrids if he wanted to, what he did to us when we were children is the exact same thing he did to the white fang."
"That bastard" Blake threateningly mumbled.
"And they plan on doing the same with Thirteen's sister."
"What?! Where is he now?! We need to get to her before that happens!" Rosa suggested, reasoning with the female Hybrid.
She shook her head, "Unfortunately I haven't had the slightest clue where Doctor Fredrick's new lab is."
"Hmmmm you never exactly told us what happened between you guys and the doctor, cause it sounds like you're both working together now." Crystal making her point in the conversation.
"Well not like that exactly, the Doctor's greatest creation was us five besides Thirteen. We were the perfect children that was infused with grimm DNA, Seventeen was infused with a new and more powerful grimm he had ever produced. He made a living weapon that could wipe Remnant clean from existence, the very creation that betrayed him years later. And now he sits inside his laboratory as a slave and obeying his every request to turn other subjects into Hybrids, the Doctor was also the creator of my friend here name A.H.D." She said showing them a compacted mechanical bag pack behind her.
"Greetings fellow targets, and how are you today."
"Don't be mean A.H."
"A.H.D...what does it stand for?" Crystal questions.
"Anti-Huntsmen-Droid, I am still programed and capable of taking down mercenaries like you."
"Is that a threat?" Crystal responds already reaching for her weapon.
"Would you like to find out?"
Yang had finally stepped in between the two's glaring brawl despite A.H.D. in his compacted form, "Okay guys let's not get a little crazy here, I do have a question though. What do you mean about Ken not being the Doctor's greatest creation? Was he defective or something?"
"Well...I don't know exactly but yes he was, what I do know is that he was tested multiple times. His body would continue to reject whatever with were crammed with, it eventually made him a Hybrid but he was imperfect, a defected, a failed subject, in the words of Doctor Fredrick of anything he sees as useless 'garbage'. And because of his imperfect fusion into becomes a perfect Hybrid it came with many consequences, I don't know all of them but I do know that one of them was shortening your lifespan dramatically, back then he would sometimes suffer from headaches and insomnia."
"My god, that explains a lot." Weiss thought.
"Speaking of which I'm detecting rapid heart beating from our precious Thirteen."
Twelve quickly along with the others dame to Ken's side as he ruffles from side to side struggling from some kind of unknown force, "A.H what's going on?" Twelve hurriedly asks.
"His brain's wavelength is going haywire, perhaps his having a bad dream."
"I can help with that" Naomi quickly steps in on the scene and sits herself on the bed placing Ken's head well rested on her legs, she takes her between his temples and focuses her semblance into entering her leader's mind. "Maybe I can help too." Weiss suggested.
She places her glyph beneath the girl's spot and summons another glyph placed on top of the soldier, the first glyph connecting her semblance with hers to assist in her objective, first was to be in synch with Naomi's aura then afterwards projecting her semblance onto the second one giving them a perfect view on what she sees within Ken's mind. "Nice job ice queen" Yang sarcastically praises her.
"I do my very best." Weiss responds taking it as a compliment anyway."
"Now then what exactly are you dreaming about." Naomi thoughts entering the mind of her precious leader of team KRWN.
Just as the scene was left bloodied and piled with corpses, the scene was later investigated as students found many deceases scattered amongst the ground yesterday. Some were soldiers and sadly students were also caught in the horrible massacre that occurred, it was discovered around late morning 11:16 Am. Soldiers and the teachers professor Glynda and Oobleck were the first to respond from the tragic call and had quickly closed the area and had put it under strict surveillance, the bodies and evidence were examined closely.
With heavy hearts though the teachers had already determined their deaths and announced the incident through school's communication scroll, as to be expected the other teammates who found their dead friends were devastated beyond care. Some went mad and had experienced mental breakdowns on the spot, others considered ending their lives even to going as far as too climb over the walls and let the enemy forces shred them to pieces. The professors only found it more convincing that each day Beacon was slowly becoming a place where no human or faunus was safe, they would face great consequences after this by higher authorities or parents or even both by that matter.
"Just who in their right mind would do something like this." Glynda wondered, perhaps right mind wasn't exactly the word she was looking for. Someone cruel and evil enough to do this was clearly not in their right of mind, no they had to be insane or straight out mental.
"Well this poses a new threat." Cinder answered.
"How would we know you were the one pulling the strings behind this massacre?" Qrow questioned.
"As much as I would loves to have done it myself, I'm afraid I have no knowledge to this tragedy."
"Why should we believe you." David says.
"Awww are you doubting me mister Markes? I do feel rather offended, how rude for you to make such statement."
David merely growls angrily in responds, having to be already irritated from her comments and sarcasm. Not a second later Silver appears before him and reports on his side of his story, "Investigation is still going underway, no evidence or traces were found in the scene. It's like no one ever even laid a hand on them, almost like they all committed suicide by cutting each other up."
"No that just doesn't make sense." David argued, they couldn't be dealing with someone of this craftsmanship. This was gonna be harder then they thought, he just hope that the enemy's cease fire continues for awhile. Guess their was just things he just needed to handle first, "You know the man I mentioned before name Damien Knight is still around." Cinder mentioned.
"What? You're telling us this now?!" Winter finally spoke after her long absence and silence.
"Who is this guy anyway? I did my own homework on finding intel on this guy but all I got was an error, either this guy doesn't exist and you're making this shit up or the guy's good at being a shadow that his name never popped up ever." Silver explained.
"I'm leaning on the first catch." Qrow answered.
"Ohh believe me he is very much real, perhaps you know him of his many previous crimes as he tends to leave the letter 'A' behind the scenes."
That's when it clicked, Ironwood was the first to get this as he was very familiar with that letter written on crime scenes. It happen often at Atlas, "You're not referring to the 'A-Binge Ripper' are you?"
"Right on the money, but he refers to himself as 'Assassin' still his given nickname sounds much cooler if you ask my opinion." Roman spoke out.
"You cannot be bluffing." Ozpin said.
"Oh I wish I was, he was most likely the cause of those deaths. And he's still roaming around this school, he may be near us without anyone ever noticing." Cinder may seem like she felt no weakness for the assassin but deep down, she knew she felt a small trace of fear for that man. How devious Damien could be, Ironwood along with Glynda, David and Silver immediately went to action on putting everyone in high alert. With that killer around pretty much anyone could be the next target, with that Silver decided on informing the other girls supervising his student. "I'll go to Ken myself and inform the others about this guy, everyone's gotta start looking out for each other."
"Alright Silver, take care of yourself." David told him.
"Hmm I'll be back." In a blink of an eye the Second Chief Of The Royal Guardians was nowhere to be found having to use of his semblance of teleportation disappearing himself from his place.
"First this army now this, tell me what's next." David thought.
Above their heads on the roof hanging upside down and holding onto his steel wires was ironically the man they spoke about seconds ago, Damien Knight the Assassin, A-Binge Ripper himself. Glaring attentively on the women of beauty Cinder Fall, "Closer then you think indeed, the things I'd do to your body is just unimaginable. Sexually and painfully, your death is definitely the most I look forward to. Time is short but I swear I'll get my hands on you soon, preferably around your neck as I choke the living death out of you whiles fucking you senselessly for exposing me! Self Centered bitch!"
"Mom, why do lions eat zebras?"
"Seno, it's because lions need to eat too. You wouldn't understand dear if I explain it, maybe until your older."
"I can explain to you son, it's something we call the food chain."
"Stop it dear, you'll plague his mind with horrible thoughts."
"Relax this isn't gonna traumatize the kid."
"That kid is your son."
"Trust me Serena, the boy is tougher then you think. Have you forgotten who his dad is?"
"His not an assassin like you."
"Look he can handle it, sometimes he needs a little bit of truth told to him."
"Mom? Dad? Is everything okay?"
"Everything is okay Seno, here let me explain. Lions eat zebras because their at the bottom of the food chain, the food chain is like a pyramid. It's a system of who gets to eat who, it's survival of the fittest. Lions are know to be natural predators, even to be an alpha amongst animals. An Apex Predator you could say."
"Then ummm where do we stand on the food chain?"
"Seno, we're the dominant species of this world. But sometimes even we can feed...unto our own race, having to be predators ourselves."
"Okay Seno, it's time to sleep dear. Make sure to brush your teeth along the way."
"Unmm okay, goodnight man, goodnight dad."
"Leo enough of this heavy conversations you keep having with Seno, can't you see your making our son uncomfortable."
"I don't see what's the problem, when I was his age I had already killed my first man."
"Leo please, can you start thinking about us first then your occupation of assassination."
"I...fine, only because I love you. But that doesn't mean our son is completely innocent, you've seen to look on his eyes when he stood up against those bullies at the village. Those eyes-"
"-are exactly like yours when assassinating your target."
"Face it Serena, he's got the skills hidden away deep down within himself. He's a natural assassin, it's in his blood after all."
"I refuse to believe so, I know he can live a normal life."
"Depends on what path he takes when he grows up, he might even follow in his dad's footsteps."
"That's a dream I'll never let my son ever be even close to achieving."
"Like I said, it's his choice."
"Where are you going now?"
"I've got job to do"
"Meeting Doctor Fredrick again?"
"Guy has a favor to ask, can't let my dear friend be let astray right?"
"Tell him to stop passing by in random times at our house, to tell you the truth he creeps me out. And I don't like it when he's much nicer around Seno, it's really creepy."
"I'll talk to him about it, I'll see you later love."
"You too Leo, come back home soon."
"I will, I promise."
"I hope you do."
For Our Second Ending This Arc Will Be:
(Insert, Rei Yasuda: Mirror, Here)
Crystal: Now then, we better prepare ourselves for our little guest.
Common: (Strapped in a chair with his mouth covered) mmmhmmhmmm!
Crystal: Just sit still over there hun and look pretty.
Jason: You sure we can take him on with him being kinda pissed.
Crystal: Guess he might be even more pissed knowing he had such a small screen time for this chapter.
Jason: And we all know what a pissed off Damien can be.
Crystal: Don't remind.
Ken: Perhaps it should be wise we retreat for now.
Crystal: You cowards can leave if you want, I'll keep myself comfortable here with our guest.
Jason: I've got nothing to do so I'm staying.
Yang: Alright then, I'm kinda tired with today's work so guess I'll hit the road now.
Blake: Have fun.
Ken: Remember to lock up.
Crystal: I'm surprised you guys aren't taking this seriously.
Ruby: I really don't see the point. I'm not even sure why Common is making this such a big deal.
Crystal: Alright fine leave, and take this crybaby with you.
Ken: Very well (Grabs Common still bounded)
Yang: This gives an excuse to go to Common's house.
Common: Mmmhhmmmhmhm!
Ruby: I don't see the problem, and I don't think Common minds too.
Common: Mhmmmgmhmhm!
Yang: I'll take that as a yes.
Common: Mmmmmmgmghmghmhmhm!
Weiss: Absolutely not.
Blake: I don't have plans, guess I'll go.
Ruby: Come on Weiss, (whispers) if you bride him he might give you the lead on the next chapter.
Weiss: Well if you put it like that, very well I'll join.
Yang: That's the spirit Weiss.
Ken: Very well, let us spend this time to maybe perhaps go over the future scripts.
Blake: In story and real life you still think about work.
Ken: Hehehe, It's what I was created for.
Common: mhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm!
Yang: Oh right the outro, umm right. If you like this chapter then please leave a review for Common, it helps our company bring more wonderful content to you all.
Weiss: If you have any questions then please leave it in our inbox and we'll happily answer them for you.
Blake: If you're enjoying this story then click that follow and favorite button.
Ken: Further from this story will not be accepting anymore Oc registrations, you are all still free to post them for perhaps future reference but other then that the registrations are now closed.
Ruby: If you wish to vote for a heroine to hook up with the main protagonist of this story then a poll can be found at Common's profile, Obviously Weiss is in the lead. Yang is kinda catching up and Ruby and Blake are neck in neck.
Yang: Thanks again for reading this chapter and hopefully understanding my creator's short absence we'll see you all next time.
Everyone: See ya laters.
Common: mmhmhmhmhmh.
Ruby: Onwards to Common's house.
Everyone: Yaaa.
Common: Immmm hmmmmmmm almmm mgmhhm yomhhmm!
Meanwhile at Studio Writer
(Damien breaks in through the entrance)
Damien: Where is he?
Crystal: I don't know what you're talking about, these lips are sealed.
Damien: Where is the author?!
Jason: Maybe you should try asking nicer.
Damien: (Shoots)
Jason: (Saved by Crystal's electricstaff).
Crystal: Maybe you shouldn't have made him angrier.
Jason: Maybe or just keep fucking with him.
Crystal: Right now I don't know if you either being stupid right now or just straight out playing with him little bro.
Jason: Maybe both.
Damien: Either you tell me where he is or I blow this whole place up.
Crystal: Or you could always come at me, I've been dying to have round with you.
Damien: Fine let's dance.
Crystal: And by dance you mean let's try and kill each other!
Jason: I'm not gonna like this!
(Clash)
Next time:
Chapter 35: Where It All Began.
