Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!
So I just saw the new RWBY episode. It was alright, not as good as the last one if you ask me. Honestly I feel like Rooster Teeth has just been using the tournament as filler, considering we haven't really seen any of the in between stuff that team RWBY actually does, yet everyone else is doing other stuff that seems like it would take a while so it makes you feel like there's something we just aren't seeing. The fights all seem only decent and oftentimes drawn out, especially with this most recent episode, so it all ends up feeling like their just killing time to reduce the amount of plot there has to be in this volume. Anyways, I kind of just want the tournament to end at this point so that we can get on with the story.
This chapter is basically a summary of all the important story bits that have happened, but it's still important to read it, as it does contain some new developments.
Anyways, on with the chapter!
"Excuse me?" Wintanweorth asked, stepping forward.
"Wintanweorth Coal?" The man asked, taking a few steps towards him.
"What do you want?" Wintanweorth clearly wasn't happy.
"I've come with a request" the man continued.
"What kind of request?"
"How would you like to be part of something big?
"Big?" Wintanweorth asked, "What're you talking about? Spit it out"
"I can't reveal it to you unless you agree to participate"
"Do I get a ribbon at the end?" He asked, frustrated, "Just say it. I won't agree to something if I don't know what it is"
"Fair enough." the man replied, "The military has recently discovered that something…" he paused, as if searching for the right words, "…drastic, is about to happen. We require the assistance of skilled hunters, like you"
"Why us?" Wintanweorth asked, appearing to have calmed down for the most part. Clearly he didn't like being interrupted.
"Because you're skilled." He replied, "And our team requires skill. What do you say?"
"Assuming death is a possibility?"
"For every job there are risks." He pointed out, "Obesity in an office job, disfigurement in construction, death in hunting. You signed on to the possibility of death as soon as you picked up your blades"
"I'm not actually an official huntsman, neither is Ember"
"No?" He asked, "Well, you certainly don't show it. Either way, you did pick up those blades, did you not?"
"As a hobby" Wintanweorth replied.
"Actually I am training to be a huntsman" Grizzly put in.
"Grizzly's the odd man out." Wintanweorth said, "Besides, he's too young"
"I can assure you we planned on enlisting Grizzly Karzen as well." he replied, "Are you declining my offer, Mr. Coal?"
"I'm not declining anything." He replied, "I just want more information behind your motives and such"
"Okay," the man said, walking until he was mere feet from Wintanweorth "let me make it clear for you. There are potential threats in Remnant, and as the military it is our responsibility to take care of them, and we need help. Will you help? Yes or no?"
Wintanweorth went to stand close to his face. I could tell he was suddenly aggravated again. I couldn't see why, considering the red-haired man hadn't done anything harmful yet. Wintanweorth had to look down a little. The man was just a couple inches shorter than him.
"I'll need to discuss with my team" He replied, in a hushed voice.
"Take your time." The man said simply before backing away, "By the way, that was really uncomfortable"
"It was for me too." Wintanweorth replied, turning his back to the man and pulling us closer together. "What do you guys think?"
"I'm down" Grizzly replied without hesitation.
"Seriously?" Wintanweorth asked, "I really think you should stay home with your caretaker"
"I'm not a baby." He pointed out, "Besides, remember what happened last time a Fall showed up? She was stopped by someone my age"
"How do you know it has to do with the Falls?"
"I don't." He replied, "I'm using the Falls as an example. Although Roy did mention that one of them was back in town"
"Shouldn't you get permission from your parents?"
"They'd say no"
"Which is exactly why you shouldn't"
"It's exactly the opposite"
"How is it the opposite?"
Grizzly thought for a second, trying to put together what had just been said. "Because they'd say no"
There was a brief silence as we waited for him to continue with a more persuasive reason.
"Are you going to say anything else?" Wintanweorth asked.
"I'm in" He replied simply.
"Seriously, you need to contact your parents"
"No"
"Then I will"
"Good luck." Grizzly replied, "Look, this is what I signed up for. I was fully aware that I could die at any point from the moment I signed up for Signal, okay? This is my chance to do my job. Get some real experience, you know? You didn't even attend an academy, and look how well you've done based on experience alone?"
Wintanweorth sighed, "Fine." He decided, then turned to me, "Roy?" He asked.
I nodded, "I have nothing better to do" I replied.
"Oh come on." He sighed, "What is wrong with you people? Ember?" He turned, not even trying to talk me out of it.
"Sure" She replied.
Wintanweorth paused for a second, sighing, "Alright" he replied, turning around. The man was still there, standing quite a ways away with his back to us.
"Hey!" Wintanweorth called.
He turned and trotted over to us.
"So?" He asked.
"We're in"
He smiled and reached out to shake Wintanweorth's hand, "Welcome aboard Mr. Coal." He said, then turned to the rest of us, "Mr. Sho, Mr. Karzen, Miss Bronze. It's a pleasure to have you join us"
"Clearly you know us, who're you?" Wintanweorth asked.
"Oh, sorry," he said, clearing his throat, "I'm Gazini Void. Now, come with me"
As we started walking Wintanweorth interrogated Gazini on the details of the 'potential threat'.
"We can't discuss it in public." He would say simply, "When we get to the base I'll explain everything"
I looked around. The streets were completely empty. Everyone was watching the tournament.
"There isn't anyone around" Wintanweorth pointed out, taking the words right from my own mind.
"Do you know that for sure?" Gazini asked.
They were quiet after that. We boarded the bus and soon arrived at the Atlas military base.
As soon as we were through the doors Wintanweorth exploded with questions yet again.
"Be patient" He told him in a firm voice, clearly irritated.
He greeted the receptionist, boarded an elevator, and went down several floors.
"Where are we going now?" Wintanweorth asked.
"So many questions." Gazini muttered, "To our base of operations"
"You have a whole floor just for this?" He asked.
"The floors aren't that big" Gazini pointed out.
As we arrived at the floor I realized that he was right. The room before us was, although large for one room, wasn't huge for an entire floor. Before us was a large wooden table, the sides lined with cushioned wooden chairs. In the far corner I saw a nightstand with two stained white armchairs near it. A single lamp was placed on the nightstand. It was currently turned off. I could see a door at the end of the white room, but it was closed.
"Come with me" Gazini said, guiding us to the table and sitting down at one end. We all took a seat close to him along the sides.
"So," he started, "Clearly you're curious, so, let's get on with it" He said with a glance at Wintanweorth.
"Not long ago I came across a folder titled 'Plan H'. It was well-guarded for the most part, so naturally I investigated. I discovered that Rain Fall was involved in all this. I'm sure you all recognize the name Fall"
"I ran into him today," I interrupted, "and last night"
"Really?" Gazini asked, turning to me, "How do you know it was him?"
"He introduced himself" I replied.
"What'd he do?" He asked.
"We fought both times" I replied.
Gazini thought for a while. Wintanweorth snapped his fingers, and he looked up, "Oh, sorry." He said, "The new development is interesting. But anyways, Rain Fall.
"He disappeared before I could get anything out of him, and our translators have been working to crack the code that the folder is written in.
"We did learn that he has a team of his own. Rocco Trask and Gale Sheng. I killed Trask, but Sheng is still out there. I think that even without the folder it's obvious that there's a threat here"
There was a brief silence, "Is that it?" Wintanweorth asked.
"I believe so, yes"
"Seriously? That's what we have to go off of?"
"Oh, right." He started, "The translators think they actually tracked the code. That's a very recent development. I found a building where they once cloned humans. Or a human at least. The word 'HELLFALL' was written on the walls, as well as the phrase 'Hell shall descend upon or remains' or something. Turns out, the word HELLFALL was used to crack the code"
"How do you crack a code using a single word?" Grizzly asked.
Gazini shrugged, "They're experts. They can do that kind of stuff"
"So we'll have the folder translated soon?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, "hopefully, at least"
"Well at least that's something" Wintanweorth said.
"Have you recruited anyone else?" Grizzly asked.
"Yes." He replied, "Team PHGG, CRDL, and RWBY. I hope none of you have any personal disputes with anyone from those three teams"
We all shook our heads.
"Good." He said, clapping his hands together, "You're all welcome to stay here as long as you want, but make sure you get outside once in a while if you do intend on living here"
"We can live here?" Grizzly asked, suddenly excited.
"Yes," Gazini replied, "we'll be providing for you and everything. Your valuable assets in this team. Now let me show you where you can stay"
He stood and turned around. We all followed. Along the wall next to the elevator were a series of doors.
"The first door leads to a small prison cell." He started, "It's empty right now, but don't go inside. Next to it is just a very large storage closet. And the last door leads to the rooms"
He opened the door with his handprint, "We'll get you registered soon" He said as he opened the door.
The hallway before us resembled that of a hotel. Dark hardwood floors, a red carpet stretching across it, and wooden doors lining the walls.
"Pretty nice, eh?" Gazini asked, walking us down, "The fourth room is reserved for you guys. We just need to register your handprints"
"I don't think I'll be staying here" I said.
"Why's that?" Grizzly asked.
"I have important things at home"
"Then bring them over" Grizzly suggested.
"It's no problem if you want to bring your own possessions along" Gazini added.
"It's too big to be transported" I said.
"Okay." He replied, "But if you change your mind, feel free to stop by"
"Thank you" I said, joining them as they reached the fourth door. Gazini used his own handprint to open it, and we stepped inside. It was a simple room with two bunk beds.
"It's not particularly spacious," Gazini stated, "but this'll primarily be a sleeping place. If you want it, of course"
Wintanweorth sat down on the right side lower bunk, "Feels comfortable." He said, "Sounds good. Thank you"
Gazini nodded, "I should be thanking you. We're happy to have you aboard."
So there you have it. Team WRGE ain't finished yet apparently, and the folder is finally getting translated.
Like I said before, HellFall's progressing quicker than I expected, but that's not a bad thing. It just means that I need to squeeze in all the rest of the colors before it ends. I didn't count on this happening, but oh well. Such is life. I'll find a way to keep this part going for a while longer, don't you worry.
Anyways, not much to say today. As usual, favorite, follow, review, tell your friends, tell your enemies, or don't if you don't want to, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!