RWBY: Light Extinguished

Chapter 19

oxoxoxo

General Ironwood stood on the bridge of his dreadnaught, gazing out the window at the city of Vale, the fading light of the early evening bathing the city in the orange glow of sunset. Though the city had survived the attack of the Grimm and Inferri, the victory had come at a cost. Much damage was done to the city, several people were injured or worse in the battle, with the total casualty number unknown, as the citizens were still reeling from the attack, desperately trying to recover. Property damage was extensive, with entire buildings being brought to ruin by massive Grimm, the initial explosion and one hardware store being destroyed by a crashing ship. Even with Glynda doing her part to repair the damage caused, it would still take time and money to enact proper repairs, and even more to properly seal and fill the train tunnels that caused this mess.

Then there was the human cost.

Luckily, the majority of the Grimm attack was contained, with only a few of the creatures breaking off from the fight and making their way into the city, and the Inferri had been unable to enter the city, thankfully. However, the initial attack of the Grimm had sprung up in the middle of downtown Vale, the explosion wounding and even killing several. A team of young huntresses had managed to hold the monsters at bay until civilians were able to evacuate, but that didn't change how many were harmed. And to make matters worse, Fantine had been right, the enemy was meddling in the Abyss. Confirmed by his own lieutenant and her sister, the forces of the White Fang were working in the Abyss, and they had been responsible for the attack by all accounts. Now it was only a matter of time until word from those few who saw the creatures spread across the city and from there across the kingdoms. The secret that they had worked so hard to keep as a secret would soon reach the edges of the world.

Though Vale had survived the attack, the cost was just too high.

Ironwood was pulled from his thoughts as the door to his bridge opened, the distinctive ring of chainmail gave away his visitor before she could even speak. "Sir." Julia Gaia said, giving a quick salute. "You wanted to see me?"

"Indeed, lieutenant." The general confirmed. "What's the status of The Rubicon?"

"Dismal, sir." Julia reported. "The enemy managed to hit us hard, The Rubicon is unfortunately going to be grounded for a bit."

"What about the crew?"

"Most of the crew got off with nothing more than minor injuries." Julia replied. "There were some more seriously injured, but many of them were droids."

"Any casualties?"

"Human, no. Some droids were heavily damaged, but my human crew is alive."

Ironwood nodded. "At least we have some good news. What about the enemy, did any manage to escape?"

"The Inferri were slaughtered to a man, sir." Julia said. "No survivors."

"Good work." Ironwood said. "However, I'm still going to send a few men out to hunt down any that might have escaped."

"Would you like to borrow a few of my legionnaires, general?"

"That won't be necessary, lieutenant." Ironwood replied. "Though I will see to it that your troops and ship are brought back up to full strength."

"Thank you sir." Julia said with a salute.

"Don't thank me yet." Ironwood said, cutting her off. "I have one more question. What is the status of Project Vanguard? I know the prototype was aboard your ship."

Julia nodded. "The prototype was damaged in the crash, sir, though not beyond repair. We will need to recover it, however."

"Let me worry about that." Ironwood assured her. "I'll have crews salvage The Rubicon as soon as possible."

The lieutenant general gave another nod. "Thank you sir."

"I told you not to think me, lieutenant." Ironwood continued, his voice growing more serious as he spoke, all traces of levity leaving his tone. "With this attack on the city, the public will find out about the Inferri and will demand to know more. True, very few actually saw them, but those who did will talk, and soon enough people will be demanding to know what these things are."

"What do you propose, sir?" Julia inquired.

The general took a deep breath. "Once The Rubicon is functional, I'll be sending you on a mission to deal with the Inferri."

"What?" the lieutenant demanded. "Sir, with respect, that's absolute insanity."

"Lieutenant," Ironwood tried, but Julia cut him off.

"We sent an entire army to that accursed island, an army which was led by one of the greatest generals of our generation. All of them were slaughtered, not a single survivor was left, and you want me to go in with just my forces? That's suicide, I'd sooner lead my men into a volcano, at least then they'd die quicker!"

"Enough!" Ironwood snapped. "I know what happened to Frundsberg and his men, and I'd never risk sending any men into that hellhole again." The general explained.

"Then why are you sending me there?" Julia asked, fear evident in her tone, her voice nearly shaking.

The general sighed heavily. "Our original plan was a war of extermination, we were going to send forces in to eliminate the threat entirely, kill any Inferri or other Grimm in the area and make the island safe for settlement." He turned to look out the window of the bridge. "After today, it seems that resettlement is no longer an option."

Julia stood at attention. "What would you have me do, sir?"

Ironwood turned to face his lieutenant and gave her a hard stare. "As soon as The Rubicon is in the air again, you are to fly to The Abyss. From above, you will burn the island to the ground. Now that people know what lived there, they'll never settle and I'm not risking more ground troops."

"Sir?"

"You have your orders, General Gaia." Ironwood said simply.

Julia snapped a salute. "Sir, yes sir!" The elder Gaia sister turned on her heel and marched off the bridge.

Ironwood let out another heavy sigh. There was still the matter of the council and Oz. This city needed stronger protection, and if Ozpin couldn't provide it, then he would be the one to offer it.

oxoxoxo

"Hey, he's waking up!"

"Already? I thought he'd be out for longer than that."

"You guys know he can hear you, right?"

Ben groggily sat himself up, only for a hand on his shoulder to gently push him back down to the bed he lay on. "Easy there, big guy." A voice said. It was a girl and she sounded oddly familiar, but in his state, the soldier barely recognized who she was. "You didn't exactly come off the battlefield unscathed." Ben lay back down and using all the strength he had forced his eyes open. "How are you feeling?" The girl asked.

As his mind started to get clearer, the soldier began to recognize the voice. "Maria? Is that you?" He groaned. "How long was I out for?"As his vision cleared, he began to recognize his surroundings. He lay on a medical bed in Beacon's infirmary, bandages covering his chest. There was a stinging pain from behind the bandages and an ache in his muscles

"Not too long, actually." Thatch said, entering his field of view. "You've been out for less than a day, and you went out this morning."

"That's a good sign." Ben said, laying back down on the hospital bed. "By the fact that we're all still alive, I'm guessing we won?"

Maria nodded. "You were right, Atlas showed up just in time, my beloved sister herself leading the charge."

"What happened to the Axman and that girl from the White Fang?" Ben muttered, still waking up.

Maria looked about the room, and seeing they were alone leaned in to speak softly. "I told them to head into the city." She whispered. "The Axman told me where I could meet them when we were ready to meet."

"Glad to hear they survived." Ben muttered, dragging himself up into a seated position. "Mind of I join you when we go to meet them?"

The soldier would have risen if it weren't for Thatch and Francois holding him back down. "What did we just tell you, big man?" Thatch remarked. "You've been out since this morning."

Ben shrugged them off and sat up in the hospital bed. "Was there any permanent damage?"

"This will leave a scar." Francois replied.

"Anything else?" The soldier asked. When there was no response, he continued. "If there's no real damage and I've been resting since the morning, then I think I'll be fine. So, when do we leave?"

Maria sighed. "Is there anything I can say to persuade you to stay here?"

Ben gave her a hard stare, one Maria could only imagine she had given to many a person before. "Would you stay here in this condition?"

The centurion sighed. "You... have a point..."

"Exactly." Ben said, shakily rising to his feet. "So, when do we leave?"

Maria gently pushed him back down to the bed. "Calm down, Ben. We'll be heading out in half an hour. I'll have someone bring you your gear before we head out."

The soldier looked down at the hospital robe he wore and lay back down. "You... have a point..."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Get some rest, we'll talk more on the way downtown."

oxoxoxo

Taipan and the Axman looked down on the city of Vale from atop a building near the site of the breach. They watched as the evening sun bathed the city in a bright light, a stark contrast to the battles both in and outside the city that had raged just hours prior. "It's amazing just how much can happen in just one day." The snake girl mused, looking out over the city as Atlesian troops scoured the streets, looking for any remaining Grimm that might have escaped the battle earlier in the day.

"Think they left any for us?" The vigilante asked, a snort of laughter escaping him. The Axman felt great right now. The city was saved, he found a new toy, and best of all, he, without a doubt had the high score in that last fight. Thinking back on the fight though, being honest with himself, he couldn't remember much about it. The last thing he remembered was the ship crashing, only getting his senses back when the very snake he now stood with spoke to him.

"What, you want to find out" Taipan replied, bringing the Axman out of his thoughts. "I'm sure there's still a Beowolf or two around if you want to have a real first date."

The Axman coughed and nearly fell off the roof at that. "What?" He sputtered.

Taipan giggled. "Well, that's quite a shift from the confidence of before."

The vigilante regained his footing before looking at the snake girl. "Well... we should probably head to my hideout, just in case that other girl wants to find us."

"Not a bad idea." The snake remarked, looking out at the sunset over the city. "One question though: where is your hideout?"

"Umm..." The Axman muttered. "About that..." Taipan didn't even have time to ask before the flat of an axe hit her in the head and she crumpled to the ground in a heap. "Sorry about that, secrecy and whatnot..."

oxoxoxo

Ben groaned as he sat up again, surprised to find that instead of the infirmary he was now lying on his dorm room bed, staring up at his ceiling. The soldier groaned as he stretched and rose to his feet. A glance to his left saw that whoever brought him back here had also left his clothes on his nightstand, neatly folded and cleaned as to remove the blood, both his and the Inferri. He'd have to remember to thank whoever did that.

Ben got up from his bed and picked up his scroll, quickly dialling Maria's number and setting the phone to speaker mode. As the colossal soldier pulled on his pants and shirt, the centurion answered the call. "Hello Ben, how are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you ma'am." The soldier answered, pulling his blue jacket on and fastening it with its cross shaped buttons. "Are we still planning on heading into town to find the Axman?"

"Yeah, we are. I gave the rest of EMAD the day off, but since you wanted to head to town with me, you and I will go meet them."

"Yes ma'am." Ben replied, pulling on his black boots. "I'll meet you in front of the school in five minutes."

"Sounds like a plan." Maria answered. "But stop calling me ma'am. We aren't in the army."

"Sorry, force of habit." Ben said, strapping his sword to his back. "See you in five."

As the call disconnected, Ben picked up his scroll and placed it back in his pocket. As he walked out of his dorm and set out for the school's courtyard, he considered just how much luck he'd had over the past month. He'd taken over for a team who'd hated him and rightfully so. He'd done nothing to gain their respect, simply demanding it as though it were owed to him simply for his rank. The defeat they suffered in class could be laid somewhat at his feet as well. He'd spent his time in the match simply barking orders and hoping the team followed them, expecting it with no question. The defeat should have been expected.

Equally expected should have been the real leader of his team tearing him down. When she regained control of the team, he rightly should have never seen them again. If it had been him in her position, he would have demanded Ozpin keep him as far from the team as possible, but then she allowed him to come back, to join her team under her. Since then, he'd felt like he belonged, sure, it had been awkward at first, but with Maria's help, the others had grown to accept him as one of their teammates, so much so that in the last battle, it had been those very same teammates of his who saved him.

These thoughts on his mind, Ben stepped out of the school into the courtyard, the familiar silver gleam of his leader's armour immediately catching his attention. Maria looked up at the courtyard's statue, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Thinking about getting your own statue?" Ben asked.

Maria turned to face him, a small smile on her face. "Just wondering how much I'd have to do before I get my place in history." Maria replied. "But that can wait for another day. Come on, the airship into town leaves in a few minutes."

Ben nodded and fell into step with the centurion as she led the way. It didn't take long before the airship to Vale arrived, and the ride was mostly spent in silence as Ben gazed out the window over the city. Atlesian forces were combing the streets, searching for any remaining Grimm that might have escaped the battle. From above the city, as the airship came in for a landing, it was clear that while the city had been saved, the people were still on edge. His thoughts on the matter would have to wait, however, as the airship landed, the doors opening and letting Ben and Maria off into the city of Vale. "You said you knew where we were going, right?" Ben asked.

Maria nodded and pulled a small slip of paper out of her armour. "The Axman gave me a location and told me just what do to when I got there."

"And you're sure this isn't a trap?"

"That's why I brought my shield and my giant friend." Maria said as she gestured in the direction of the address she acquired. "I hear it's safer to walk into a bar with someone you trust."

Ben looked at her quizzically. "A bar?"

Maria nodded. "Yeah. After I got the address, I decided it would be safest to look into it before going there. Turns out we were given the address to a bar in downtown Vale called The Last Stop. Some dive bar where some shady characters like to hang out. My choice of who to bring was either you or Thatch and considering you asked to go, that made my choice for me."

"Don't I just feel special..." Ben muttered, though the small smile on his face told Maria he was at least somewhat happy to be there.

"What, are you going to let your poor, defenceless leader do this herself?" Maria asked.

"When I find my defenceless leader, I'll let you know." Ben replied.

Maria gave a snort of laughter. "I see the team is rubbing off on you. The Ben I met at the beginning of the semester was a humourless jerk."

"From what I hear, you started the year in a similar state." The soldier said.

"Touche." The centurion shot back. "I guess the rest of the team is a pretty good influence in that case."

"We'll have to have a drink for them." Ben commented.

Maria looked up at the bar they had just arrived at. It was a fairly small, easy to miss place. The name The Last Stop was written in neon lights above the door, but aside from that, the building was low and somewhat rundown looking, the outside clearly needing a fresh coat of paint. "Think they'll serve us here?"

Ben shrugged. "Only one way to find out." The giant said. He stepped up and pushed through the door to the bar. As the two of them walked in, they were more than a little surprised. Looking at the outside of the bar, one would expect the interior to be just as run down as the exterior, but inside the bar was clean and lively. It wasn't very crowded with only a few patrons occupying various tables, talking to one another and nursing drinks. Ben cast his eyes about the bar, but there seemed to be just one thing missing: none of these patrons even came close to resembling the Axman or Taipan. The men were too big, whereas the Axman, even with the baggy coat he wore, always seemed to be more of a lean powerhouse and the women were too small, Taipan would tower over all of them. "You think they're really here?"

"Like you said," Maria replied. "Only one way to find out."

The centurion quietly made her way up to the bar where she was quickly noticed by the bartender, a giant man, only a head shorter than Ben with a lengthy yet neat red beard and hair. "Welcome to The Last Stop." The bartender greeted them. "What can I get you?"

Maria took a seat on one of the bar stools and scratched her chin. "A friend of mine recently told me about this place." She said.

"Did they now?" The bartender asked. "Did they tell you anything in particular?"

"He did say one thing." Maria said, folding her arms. "He told me you had something called, what was it now... I think he called it the 'moonshine forge.'" Maria said, making air quotes around the name of the drink.

"Did he now?" The barman replied. "Let me just fix one up for you." He said. He looked under the counter and produced a few bottles, emptying some of each one into a small glass. However, upon adding the last one, the barman shook his head. Oh dear..." He muttered. "It seems I'm all out of moonshine. Lass, do you think you and your friend can lend me a hand finding it? The forge just isn't the same without it."

Without waiting for a response, the bartender turned and walked to a door behind the bar, pushing it open and walking in without a word. Maria turned to Ben who gave him a questioning look. Maria nodded grimly and placed a hand on the hilt of her sword. The message was clear: if this man tried anything, they could fight him off. Ben returned the nod and the two of them cautiously walked behind the bar and followed the barman through the door. The room they entered was clearly the storeroom, the room lined with bottles of all shapes and sizes, the bartender was walking along the left hand wall, searching through bottles while humming to himself. As if on cue, he turned to face them. "I was wondering how long it would take you two to follow." He said. "The bottle is just out of reach up there," the bartender said, pointing to, as he said, a clear bottle just out of his reach. "I can usually get a ladder, but since you're already here and it looks as though you're just the right height, lad, if you can just grab that, that'd be great."

Ben gestured to himself, provoking a nod from the barman. The colossal soldier turned to his leader, the centurion nodding, her face hard as steel. The message was clear: if this guy attacked, she'd intervene. Ben returned the nod and walked forward, pulling the bottle of moonshine off the shelf. He braced for an attack at any second, but to his relief, one didn't seem to come. Still ready for any attack, Ben looked over the bottle. The liquid inside was as clear as any water he'd seen, and the label on the bottle read A Taste of Madness, the logo beneath it showing a pair of crossed axes above a skull. "Charming." Ben remarked, handing the bottle to the bartender. As he was about to walk back to Maria, something caught his eye from behind where he pulled the bottle. "Hey... what's that?" He muttered, looking into the space the bottle used to occupy.

"What's what?" Maria asked, walking up to join the giant.

"There's a switch back here." Ben said. "What's it for?"

The barman shrugged. "Flip the switch lad, see for yourself." With that, the bartender stepped out of the storeroom, shutting the door behind him. Maria didn't hear a lock, which was reassuring, but all the same she was still unnerved.

"What do you think?" Ben asked.

Maria let out a sigh. "We haven't been let down so far." She muttered. "Hit the switch."

Ben nodded and did as Maria asked, immediately recoiling form the switch as it was hit. As soon as he did, the shelf split down the middle and opened, revealing an elevator hidden behind it. Maria and Ben shared a look before stepping in. Maria looked at the buttons on the elevator, immediately knowing which button to hit. After all, when looking for the Axman, a button with an axe on it is a good place to start.

The doors closed once Maria hit the button and the elevator began its descent. Throughout the entire descent, Ben's hand never left the hilt of his blade, the soldier taking a step in front of his leader as the elevator came to a stop. The doors opened and, on the other side was a medium sized, brightly lit room, wall to wall grey tiles with a massive computer screen dominating much of the back wall. The left hand wall contained a glass case where the Axman's axe rested, a machete and Bowie knife occupying the other spaces in the case. In a case next to it was the Axman's hat, trenchcoat and mask, all of which were placed on a dummy. The sound of a door opening drew Ben and Maria's attention, both immediately turning to the source of the noise to see, emerging from a door on the opposite wall from the Axman's weapons and suit was, well, they could only assume it was him.

It was a young boy, about their age with cropped short brown hair and matching eyes. He wore a pair of black pants and a bright red shirt, both of which were baggy enough to hide his frame, but to a trained eye like Maria's he couldn't hide the way he stood and walked. She could see his body tense when he noticed the newcomers in his lair, and though he did relax somewhat after he saw who it was, she could still see he was ready to burst into motion should either one of them attack. "Uh... Hi." He said.

Maria cocked her head and looked at him. "Axman?"

The boy smacked his head and shook it with a barked laugh. "Sorry, I just realized that not only have you guys never seen me without my mask on, but I also never told you my real name, did I?"

"No, no you didn't." Maria replied. "Also, where's Micca? She left with you after the battle."

"Sorry about that." The vigilante chuckled. "The name's Rick, pleased to meet you both." He said with a cheery smile, holding out a hand for her to shake.

"Maria." The centurion replied. "Maria Gaia. What's your last name?"

Rick scratched his head for a minute and then shrugged. "Not sure." He casually admitted.

Maria and Ben shared a look of absolute confusion before both of them turned back to the vigilante. "Wait, what do you mean you're not sure? It's your name, what is it?" Ben demanded.

"I mean I don't know." Rick admitted, not seeming to care. "The bartender upstairs, Aedan, he took me in when I was young, only really told me my first name. I guess I could just use his name, but I just don't think it's that important."

Ben and Maria shared another look, eyebrows rising in utter confusion. "And that doesn't bother you at all?" Maria asked.

"Should it?" Rick replied. "I have no idea who I am, so I decided to just go with it and make up my life as I go."

Maria let out a sigh. "We're getting off topic here. Where's Taipan? You still haven't told me what happened to her."

"Micca? She's in the other room." Rick said, gesturing to the door he emerged from. "I kind of knocked her out to get her down here, have to keep the lair a secret and whatnot."

"You knocked her out?" Ben demanded, incredulous.

"Yeah, why?" Rick replied.

"You told me how to get here, why couldn't you just tell her what you told me or bring her in through the bar?" Maria demanded. "What did you do to her while she was out?"

"Why does everyone just assume I'll do that?" Rick groaned. "Seriously, do I look like that much of a creep?"

"You patrol the streets at night in a mask and trenchcoat and just admitted to us that you knocked a girl out." Ben deadpanned. "You really think we're NOT going to get that impression?"

"I have her on medical dust." Rick replied. "She should be waking up any minute now."

As if on cue, a groan of pain could be heard from the other room. "Ow..."

"See?" Rick replied. "She's fine. And if you inspect her, you'll find her clothes are intact and her weapon is leaning on the wall."

Maria rolled her eyes and pushed past the vigilante, walking into the room. It seemed to be designed to resemble a Beacon dorm room mixed with a doomsday bunker. The decorations looked like a dorm, the walls even covered in the same wallpaper as Beacon's, but the center of the wall across from the door was taken up by what looked like a provisions locker, the open door revealing a supply of medical products on one side and food on the other. The beds were another difference, as while the Beacon dorms had normal beds for the students, the four beds in this room, while the same size, folded out from the walls. One had been pulled out for Micca, the tall girl lying on one of them, her dirty blonde hair splayed out around her head, her eyes screwed up in pain. As Rick had promised, however, aside from her hood and mask removed, her outfit was intact, not a single clasp or button had been touched. Maria stood over the snake's bed. "How are you feeling?" she asked the injured snake.

"Like I tried to play Griffball without protective gear." Micca groaned, rising to a sitting position and opening her slitted eyes.

"Sorry about our host, he's a bit of an idiot." Maria replied. She could hear the Axman protesting from outside but chose to ignore him. "He says you'll make a full recovery though."

"I'll have to pay him back for that someday." Micca muttered. Maria couldn't tell if she meant the blow to the head or the medical dust. "Is there anyone else here?" She asked.

"Just us, the Axman and Ben." Maria replied. "Don't worry, the White Fang hasn't come looking for you yet, and if they do, they'll have to get through me."

"Why are you doing this for me?" Micca asked. "You barely know me and I tried to kill your teammates before."

Maria looked the serpent girl right in the eye. "We've shed blood together, fought side by side against a hoard of nightmares I hope never to see again." She explained. "Once you share an experience like that with someone, you don't quickly forget it."

As much as Micca wished it weren't true, she knew the centurion was right. Even now she remembered the feeling of those creatures' hands on her as they tried to pull her apart. She would have been dead were it not for this team, and Maria in particular. She owed them everything. "You saved me." The Taipan admitted. "But you're offering to protect me again, why?"

Maria offered the snake a hand, one which the faunus tentatively took. "I do whatever I can to protect my allies, not because I owe them anything, but because it's right." The centurion explained. "I hoped that after the battle this morning that I can consider you and the Axman allies."

Micca's grip tightened on Maria's hand. "I can't make any promises for him, but after saving me you have my help, whatever that's worth."

Maria hoisted the serpent to her feet and shook her hand. "Then I'd like you to follow me." She said, leading Micca out into the central room of the Axman's lair. Ben and Rick jumped up from their discussion when the girls entered the room, Ben immediately standing at attention. Maria rolled her eyes. "At ease, Ben." Maria said. "Rick, I need to speak to you and Micca."

The vigilante in question gestured to himself. "Me? Why me?"

"I'll explain." Maria began. "I know none of us met under the most... normal of circumstances, but we were all brought together by a trial by fire. The battle this morning was harrowing for all of us, any one of us could have died and the fact that we're all still alive is a miracle. The way things are looking, I don't know if things are going to get better anytime soon." The centurion paused to look at both the vigilante and the assassin before her. "I think the two of you should stay with us." She explained.

Those last words got Ben's attention. "Maria, are you talking about..."

"Yes." The centurion confirmed. In one swift motion, Maria drew her gladius, the sight of it causing both Micca and Rick to recoil, Micca stepping back while Rick looked like he was going to jump for his axe if she took another step. Neither one had to worry, however, as Maria merely saluted them with her blade before holding it before he chest, point facing down. "Rick, Micca Sol, I, Maria Gaia, leader of Team EMAD, do hereby invoke the Legion Protocol. If you will accept my command, then I do hereby invite you to join Team EMAD."

Both Micca and Rick looked at Maria in shock. "You'd invite us to join you?" Micca asked. "I know we fought in the battle with you today, but what could we offer you?"

"Also," Rick pointed out. "Do you really think Beacon will let us anywhere near campus? With records like ours, they're more likely to call the army to take us out on the spot. Not that it'd work, I'm pretty sure I can take out a few Atlas troops, and maybe a mech or two, and maybe-"

"Allow me to explain." Maria said, cutting the vigilante off. "You'll both be valuable assets, but not in the same way as the rest of my team. With all that's been going on, I need eyes in the city and on the street. Both of you have experience in that, and that's experience I want to take advantage of."

Understanding seemed to dawn in Micca's eyes. "You want us to look out for the White Fang, see if they come back."

"Not only them." Maria said. "That other guy, Derek Blanch," Maria said, pausing and trying to remember just where she had heard that name before. "I want you to keep an eye out for him, see if he shows his face around town."

Micca was silent as she looked between Maria and Ben in front of her and The Axman next to her. She knew exactly what the White Fang would do if they found out she was alive, she had carried out just that kind of order in the past. Part of her feared for her life and the lives of any she could get close to. However, the rest of her knew that she needed allies if she was going to survive. She was one girl hiding from both her former agency as well as the police. If either one found her then she was as good as dead. Allies meant security, security meant safety and safety meant survival. She knew what she had to do. "I accept."

Maria smiled and nodded. "Take my sword and accept my command." She said, holding out the handle of her sword to Micca.

With trembling fingers, the snake reached out to take the hilt of the blade. She took it from Maria's hand and mimicked the salute. "I accept your command and join Team EMAD." Micca said, hoping those were the right words.

Maria held out her hand for her blade, which Micca gladly returned. "Welcome to Team EMAD." She said. With that, the centurion turned to face the Axman. "And what about you? Will you accept my command?"

The vigilante scratched his chin in contemplation. "You're not going to order me around like some expendable grunt, are you?"

Maria gestured to the giant behind her. "Just ask Ben here what happened when he tried that."

The colossal soldier put up his right hand. "It didn't go well."

Rick bit the inside of his cheek for a few seconds as he considered his options. "If you promise not to do that, and to keep her safe," he said, gesturing to Micca who brightened slightly at the mention. "then you have yourself a legionnaire."

Maria nodded once again. "I will do all I can for her. Now, take my blade and accept my command."

Rick nodded and stepped forward to accept her blade, smiling brightly as he performed the salute and spoke the words. "I accept your command and join Team EMAD."

Maria took back her gladius and sheathed it at her hip. "Welcome to Team EMAD."

oxoxoxo

As the sun set behind the trees of The Abyss, Fantine and Vlad crept through the trees, both covered in grass and mud stains, having run across the forest to cover any trail they might have been leaving. At the very worst, if the White Fang did manage to track them through the trail they might have left, it would take a long time for them to follow the two of them. Now, as the light faded over The Abyss, the two of them were finally approaching the mausoleum Fantine had spotted on their flight to the island. The structure was certainly large, and with only one door in the front, the White Fang would certainly have a hard time getting in. The structure was certainly ancient, with two massive columns framing the entrance and thick walls covered in moss and vines that looked none the worse for wear having been here for what could only have been hundreds or even thousands of years. A lengthy staircase led up from the ground to the entrance. "So," Vlad said. "This is the place?"

"Indeed." Fantine said. "Have you never been here before?"

The former general shook his head. "Never spent too much time on this side of the island during the war, Erwin marched the army east from the base, planning to march across the island, turn around and march through again, mopping up anything we might have missed the first time. Then... Well, I'm sure you know what happened after that."

Fantine paused. "Rumours have made it to the rest of the world, but no one really knows what happened here that fateful night when we lost contact with you and the army."

Vlad snarled. "Those animals are what happened. Attacked us in the dead of night, set fire to the camp and slaughtered everyone there. No one survived. Not on our side or on theirs."

Fantine began walking up the stairs to the door. "And you killed them?"

Vlad followed the professor as he ascended. "What, you wouldn't?"

"I'd wonder why they were there." The phantom explained. "It seems odd that the White Fang would simply show up here of all places."

The former general snarled. "They were there for me. After they lost the war they were out for blood and apparently they wanted mine."

Fantine frowned. "What about Frundsberg? Did Erwin survive?"

Vlad stopped climbing as he looked out over the forest they had come from. "He didn't make it. I found his sword plunged into the ground in the middle of an inferno."

Fantine paused. "My apologies." He said simply. "Come, the White Fang will not be delayed forever and we need to get inside before they find us."

The survivor nodded grimly. "You're right. I'm not ready to face Erwin again yet."

The two soon reached the top of the stairs, Vlad stepping forward to pull the door open. The metal bound wood door creaked open as the ancient hinges groaned. As the two stepped through the door, they were immediately struck by the chill of the room. The interior of the mausoleum was pitch black and as cold as the darkest night. The two cast their eyes about as they tried to regain their vision. "You made another room darker." Vlad muttered. "Any chance you can brighten this place up?"

"I made the other room merely look darker." Fantine explained. "Illusions cannot brighten a room." The phantom reached into his coat and produced a lighter. "However, this can." With a click, the lighter's flame was produced, illuminating a pair of torches by the mausoleum's entrance. The phantom picked one off the wall and lit it, illuminating a wider area around them, including the second torch, one that the phantom immediately took a closer look at. "We're not alone in here." He said. "This torch, it was only put out recently, the material is still warm and this room chills me to the bone."

Vlad was about to ask who he thought was here when form behind them, a clear sound was heard, the cocking of a revolver, and the former general felt a cold point press against the back of his skull. Someone had a gun to his head. "You're not wrong." Said the voice. It was clearly a young man, a teenager even, but the weight it held was such that it sounded more like someone who had been alive far too long. "Turn around slowly you two." It said again. "By the look of you, you don't have much aura left, one good shot should be all I need for either of you, so no funny business."

Fantine looked to Vlad and shot him a glare. The look had an obvious message behind it: just do what this man said, making him angry wasn't worth it. Slowly, the two of them turned around, their interrogator revealed by the light of the torch. He was a short boy, likely only five foot seven with brown eyes and matching hair that had grown long and wild as though he had been here for some time. The blue coat he wore had likely been regal at some point, but was now tattered and torn, some parts of it even burned and what looked like bullet holes even dotted some sections of it. The gun he held was a smaller piece, a combination of a revolver and a kukri knife, the barrel of which was still pointed at Vlad. However, once the former general turned to face their captor, the light revealing them to one another, the boy lowered his weapon. "Vlad?" He asked, suddenly sounding like the boy he resembled. "Is that you?"

Fantine looked between the two, seeing that they both wore the same expression: confusion, relief, fear, shock, all in equal measure. He was about to ask Vlad just who this was when the former general did it for him. "Erwin Frundsberg. You're alive."