Hello everyone and welcome back to HellFall!
I can't think of a single thing to say, save for this statement. Now, on with the chapter!
An hour went by before I got a message from Anchor.
"Oh, Barnabas." I said, "Looks like Thunder's back"
"I just got the message too" He replied, standing to leave.
Bole had been gone for at least half an hour at this point. We left our mugs on the table and returned to the military base.
On our floor I saw the entire taskforce, or what was left of it, seated around the wooden table. Gazini sat at the closest head, and Thunder at the farthest.
We took our seats next to Veil and Anchor. I assumed that we were having a meeting.
"Just an hour ago our first team returned from Cor Village." Thunder started upon the rest of the taskforce's arrival, "Gazini, would you care to explain"
The crimson-haired man cleared his throat, "Well," he started, "we found their scientific research facility. It's basically abandoned at this point, I think. We fought off many Heishi, which leads me to believe that they knew we were coming. Maybe it was coincidence or maybe just good preparation, but I think there could be another mole among us.
"Moreover, we found a couple people out there that we didn't expect. Specifically in the forms of Cinder Fall and Gale Sheng. Cinder was badly injured, but she still managed to escape. On top of that, Octavia Strom, who pursued Gale, has gone missing. Upon sending Ember Bronze to find her, she also went missing."
He paused to rub the bridge of his nose and sigh, "And as if it couldn't be worse, Wintanweorth Coal is now both wounded and missing.
"As it stands everyone was injured. Whether it was major or minor, I had everyone go to the hospital. Most of us will be fine, and everyone will at least remain on the force. Save for those whom we lost"
"Did you at least look for the others?" Someone called out. It was Ruby Rose, leader of team RWBY.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Gazini retorted, "Of course we looked. All we found was a lot of blood and Octavia's severed arm. Would you like to see it?"
Ruby shook her head, looking embarrassed and a little scared.
"Did you find anything useful?" Someone else called. Yang Xiao-Long, also in team RWBY.
"No," He replied, "even if we did, we lost more than we gained. For all we know those who went missing have all the info we may have gotten"
The table went silent.
"No more questions?" Thunder asked, "Alright, let me start then." He cleared his throat, "I took a group to Aldbay, where the Plan H folder was initially found. Despite the intensive searching we found no new folders or containers of information. However, we found something much more troubling."
He took a deep breath. I looked over to see Gazini rubbing his face and knew he'd already heard this news.
"Rocco Trask lives" Thunder said.
The table went dead silent. It'd been quiet when he started talking, but it somehow it was noticeably more so now.
"What?" Azure finally called, breaking the silence, "But, but I saw him die! Gazini shot me to kill him!"
All eyes flew to Gazini. He didn't respond to the unasked question.
"Allow me to explain." Thunder said, "We killed Rocco while there, as well. Twice, actually. We found a room containing at least half a dozen clones of the same guy"
"I thought so" Dennis said. We all turned to him.
"You thought so?" Thunder asked.
"Yeah," he replied, "there was a rumor going around that the scientists were clones of their original selves. I guess it's true"
"And you never felt the need to bring this up?" Thunder asked.
"It was only a rumor." Dennis pointed out, "I figured it was bull crap"
Thunder sighed, "Fair enough." He replied, "So, now we know what we're up against. For all we know, every single one of the big four, Rain Fall, Cinder Fall, Gale Sheng, and Rocco Trask, are cloned. Moreover, they are pretty much immortal"
"So what now?" Ruby asked, "How are we supposed to beat someone who's immortal? Let alone four immortals?"
"I suggest our next plan of action be to go to Fairison, their new cloning facility, and take it out. We'll need all of us to take that place on. For all we know we could face off against hundreds of the big four each, so prepare yourselves. Gazini, get everyone you've started to recruit. And I mean everyone"
"Will do" He replied.
"Bring in your family, too" Thunder added.
Gazini paused, "I don't know if that's a good idea" He replied.
"Get them involved," he demanded, "or I will"
He hesitated, looking frustrated, "Why couldn't you bring this up in private?"
"Because here you'll feel pressured. You'll have to publicly refuse me"
He sighed, "Well, I don't feel pressured, and I will publicly refuse you"
Thunder paused, "Right," he said, "well, I'll go meet them in the morning. In the meantime, gather everyone else. And maybe try to find some others. For everyone else, get some rest. You'll need it."
I stood to leave, planning to go out again for a bit.
Thunder approached Gazini, who was walking in my direction.
"Nicole," he started.
"Gazini," Thunder said, interrupting him.
He turned, "Yes?" He asked.
Thunder stretched out a hand and placed it on his shoulder, gently guiding him to his side. He hunched over and whispered to him. Their backs were turned to me, so I assumed that whatever they were talking about was private.
I stayed where I was, knowing that Gazini had wanted to talk to me.
There was some nodding before they separated and the red-head turned back to me.
"As I was saying," he started.
"Or about to say" I put in before he could start.
"Whatever." He said, "So, you work for the AOD, right?"
"Yeah," I replied, "why?"
"I was wondering if you could get any of them on board for this upcoming raid" He asked.
I wasn't horribly surprised. He struck me as the kind of person who didn't like doing more work than he had to, and obviously he knew what I did so it wouldn't be difficult on his side.
"Um, yeah." I replied, a little awkward regardless, "I guess I could talk to some of them. You really should do it yourself though"
He paused, "I guess so." He replied, "Okay, thanks" At that he walked past me into the elevator, joining multiple other people going up.
I stayed where I was, deciding not to join them.
Sighing, I looked over at the table, seeing that my briefcases still rested by the chair. Eager not to lose them again, I jogged over to pick them up.
"Do you know where Wintanweorth went?" I heard someone say. It was a woman with a high voice.
"No, I don't" Said someone else. Another woman, but again, I didn't know who.
Looking up, I saw Weiss Schnee talking to Azure.
"Come on, you must have some lead" Weiss persisted.
"I really don't know anything more than Cor Village!" Azure replied.
I decided to intervene. Both were still young and knowing Weiss I knew that this could go either way.
"What's going on?" I asked, walking over.
"None of your business" Weiss replied.
"Don't be a child, Weiss, I can tell what's going on here" I said.
"I just want to know if they looked everywhere" She replied.
"Well," I started, "if you want to know you really should talk to Gazini. He was the leader of the operation"
"That doesn't mean that he saw everything" Weiss retorted.
"True," I replied, "but it's clear that Azure doesn't know anything"
She didn't reply.
"What are you really looking for?" I asked. I could tell that she wasn't pressing Azure for the reason she gave. It wasn't a very good one regardless.
"I want to go looking for him" She finally said.
"Right now? That's counterproductive"
"I know, but…" She trailed off, not knowing what to say next.
"I'm assuming you two were close. But you won't do anyone any good to disappear. Remember what's happening in a few days. I doubt you'll be able to find him by then"
"I know that!" Weiss exclaimed. I could tell that she was lying, but I didn't acknowledge it. "I was going to go looking after"
"Then maybe you should have asked Azure after, when she's recovered from her own loss" I pointed out, looking over at her. She was still here, just not involved in the conversation. Her face reddened a little, then she left.
"Tell you what," I started, "I'll help you find everyone after the raid. Sound good?"
"I don't need your help" She retorted.
"Weiss," I started, "I have at least ten years on you. I know what you're going through. Just let me help you"
She seemed surprised, "Okay, fine" she said, sighing.
I smiled, and she just left, seemingly frustrated. When she was out of earshot I sighed.
"You treated her like a child" Someone said behind me. I turned, it was Veil.
"She acts like one." I replied, "I was only giving her what she was asking for"
"You can be such a mother sometimes" She said.
"Why do you say that?" I asked.
"Look at you, miss authority figure. Seriously, why don't you have any kids?"
"I don't want any"
"Shame"
"What?"
"It's a shame. You'd be great." She smiled, "Annoying too"
"Please," I retorted, "you know why I haven't bothered"
"I know, I know." She replied, "I'm just saying"
"So what now, oh leader?" I asked sarcastically.
She smiled, "I don't know. Waiting, I guess."
So there you have it. Rocco lives, Weiss wants Wintanweorth, all that good stuff. I have no idea why I summarize each chapter afterwards, you just read it, so there's no point. I should stop doing this. It's a waste of time.
I don't know what it is, but I have so little to say tonight.
Oh, here's a thing. I'm sure some of you have heard of Fictionpress, the site for original stories that this site (FanFiction) also made. Well, I have an account on there under the same name (SquigglyCrunch) and I just farted out two new short stories, and there are two more on the way. So ya'll should go check them out, see what I've been writing during the summer and stuff.
Anyways, that's it. 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!