Chapter 39 Unintended Consequences
Character Charolite
"Run run run run run," Jack yelled as he Charolite, Domingo, Doug and Ron ran towards Bertha and away from a mass of flesh golems. They had unfortunately found out what had happened to the two missing cities and now a war was on. Or they hopped a war would be on if they could get out of Aizawl, the city that Charolite had followed the demon's trail to.
"I'm running as fast as I can," Charolite replied. Doug slithered under her and carried her forward, Domingo tossed her his rifle and pointed back towards the golems. She didn't need to be told what he expected so she turned around and fired off the last clip into the golems. The spray brought one down but the rest, several hundred thousand, kept charging and the wraith demon was following in the wake of the golems.
"There's Bertha," Ron yelled as they cleared the edge of the city, "move now!" They boarded the plane and Jack ran to get it started. Ron grabbed a shotgun and another rifle from the gun racks in the hangar and headed back outside.
"Ron what are you doing," Charolite yelled at him.
"This plane needs time to take off," Ron said deliberately, "I'm going to give it that time." Doug slithered out to Ron as well, the two were going to try and hold off the whole golem army and the demon while they escaped.
"But...," Charolite started only to have Domingo pull her back inside the plane and set her in a seat.
"Nina, we're leaving," Domingo said sternly, "The best favor you can do for Ron now is remember him." He walked to the cockpit to get Bertha in the air, as the engines powered up the sounds of gun fire and Doug slamming into the golems reached her ears. Charolite looked into the cabin to make sure that Jack and Domingo were busy then ran to the hangar and grabbed the biggest looking weapon she could find. It happened to be a 40mm grenade launcher. She jumped out as Bertha started gaining speed to take off.
"Ron, Doug over here," she yelled. The two turned and looked at her with horror. Then she fired two grenades into the golems and gave the two warriors a surprise of her own. Moroni hadn't trained her to be a spy without showing her a few tricks to fighting demons. She didn't want to fight, fighting was what the demons had taught her... but the demons were forcing her hand, that was a bad thing for them. The two grenades stuck into two golems. Charolite smirked at the confused creatures and pulled out the remote detonator that went with the launcher. A button press later and there were not only two but twenty dead golems. Drawing in the power from the wraith demon as it neared them, Charolite raised her strength so she could fire the launcher with one hand and operate the detonator with the other. Unfortunately her choice of weapon, while powerful, had limited ammo that she was able to grab from Bertha as she left. Twenty-four grenades and she was out. Ron tossed her the shotgun, no longer questioning if she was capable of using it. The twelve gauge was longer than normal, with a bayonet on the end of it and with the stock made of a dense, hard metal. It was designed to be both a gun and a bo-staff.
"You know we can't kill all of these guys right," Ron remarked during a break in the fighting.
"Why not," Charolite asked. With the power of the demon fueling her she felt unstoppable.
"Because we have nowhere left to go," Doug replied, "The golems have surrounded us."
"Sorry Carter," Ron muttered, "I guess someone else will have to carry on the Enterprises."
"What was that solder," boomed a voice from above them. Charolite looked up to see Carter, Cloak and a huge human robot with a scythe descending towards them with Bertha following them. "I don't recall giving you permission to die."
"Carter," Ron exclaimed over his radio.
"Yup and some friends," Cloak remarked, "Charolite one question for you, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Thinking is overrated," Charolite remarked, "I was taught by Moroni you know."
"True that," Carter said as they landed next to the three and Bertha made a pass over them dropping down covering fire. Off of Carter and Cloak hopped sixteen people, some Charolite recognized, like Tex, but some of them were new.
"Well this looks fun," a girl with beautiful, long, yellow hair remarked as the new arrivals surveyed the golems.
"Dibs," a man with similar colored hair announced as he fired a spear-like grappling hook into one of the golems and yanked it to him. The golem connected with the other spear-like weapon and lost its head in the process.
"Dad," the blond one stated as the golems roared and charged.
"What is the wraith thing," a girl in a black dress with red accents asked.
"That is the demon controlling these creatures," Charolite informed her, "And if any of you have a weapon I'm going to kill it."
"Yup she's a demon hunter," one woman said, "I'm Bethany this Is Lilith we're like you, demons give us power."
"Charolite," Charolite said as she took a gun from Tex and fired at the oncoming golems that were mostly being smashed by Cortana and Chief.
"You're what thirteen," one of the men asked.
"Shep," a woman with weird looking legs said, "She is as good with that gun as you are."
"You should have seen her use that grenade launcher," Ron remarked.
"The golems just keep reconstructing themselves," Cortana said, "We have to kill that demon."
"Scooter," the red and black dress girl said.
"On it Ruby," the grease covered, overall wearing goofy looking man replied as a set of armor appeared around him and turned into a car.
"Uh Carter did you upgrade something and not tell me," Ron asked.
"Not our doing," Carter replied between waves of his breath attack.
Ruby hopped into the car. Beth and Lil got in as well so Charolite jumped in the back with them and a woman with a lopsided ponytail of white hair and garbed in a white dress.
"Drive," Beth said, "We've got a demon to kill."
"We'll clear the way for you," Tex said as she climbed in and started talking to the rest over the radio. "Turner cover the left side, Cortana clear the right we are headed for the demon."
"Wish we could have hijacked that ship," Ruby remarked.
"Yeah but who would have thought that they had a teleporter system inside that thing," Lil replied, "I'm just glad we all got down okay."
"What ship," Charolite asked as they started forward.
"The Mother of Invention," the white woman replied, "Huge spaceship with really big guns, could probably take that thing out in one shot. I'm Weiss by the way."
"The Invention was my home for a while," Tex said, "Now though we need to stop the people controlling it."
"We need to stop this demon," Charolite said, "It's turned three cities of people into those golems."
"Agreed," the other five replied, "How though it looks mostly spectral," Scooter continued.
"Specters really don't like lightening," Lil remarked as sparks shot out of her fingertips.
"That demon is huge," Charolite said, "We'd need a lot of electricity to kill it."
"We're in a city right," Tex remarked, "Jack is there a power plant around here... crap."
"Weiss," Ruby asked.
"Not really my strong suit," Weiss replied, "But I could enhance Lil's powers with Dust that should make the demon physical enough for you all to hurt it."
"Lets hope it works then," Beth said, "demon straight ahead."
Tex stood up as the car armor came to a stop in the middle of a pile of bodies. The golems were behind them now as they were inside the city again. The demon settled down before them, its spectral wings brushing across the bodies and raising them to life again. The five got down as Scooter turned the car back into the bulky armor.
"Charolite," the demon greeted, "I'm surprised to find you here, but then again you would be the only one who could track me."
"Steve," Charolite gasped.
"The necromancer," Tex remarked, "That isn't good."
Beth put a bolt through the demon, it passed through him harmlessly.
"See you can't hurt me but my minions can harm you," Steve said as he flicked his wings towards the golems. In form his body was the torso of a human suspended by a mist that started at his hips and he had two large wings instead of arms. "Kill them."
"I don't think so," Charolite said as she used a trick Moroni had taught her. There were suddenly six of her and all of the hers had working rifles. Tex was beside her, the real her, and nodded as if to say, "I know which one you are."
Weiss and Lil were charging up some spell or another, Ruby was doing a fine job keeping the golems away from them and Scooter was doing an equally fine job taking a pummeling from the golems and shrugging it off with his armor. Charolite took aim and started dropping golems with her clones. Tex had pulled out a shotgun and was bringing the fight to the golems with Beth by her side.
"I can just keep reanimating them," Steve said casually, "You will run out of ammo eventually."
"No we won't," Scooter replied as he pulled out a device and tossed it to Tex who attached it to the gun.
"If you were working with Moroni," Charolite asked, "Where is he?"
"Oh he is with us now," Lil said, "Yeah that's right your boss works for us."
"I didn't need him anyway," Steve said, "I don't even need the demons, my undead are enough for me."
"Why though why do this," Ruby asked as the golems got back up again only to drop a few feet closer to the team.
"Why," Steve replied, "Why, because no one listened to me. Now they will have to listen. They will listen or they will die."
"Ready," Lil said, "Weiss now."
A glyph appeared in the air in front of Lil, into it Lil shot a huge wave of lightening which got captured then the glyph exploded sending electricity out in a wave. Lil gathered the wave and launched it at Steve. He in turn howled as he became corporeal but was silenced a moment later by Charolite putting three rounds into his head. As he dissolved Ruby and Tex walked over Charolite as she bent down to touch the now dissolving body.
"Why did he have to die," Ruby asked. She didn't ask in a scolding tone, or even a disapproving tone just a sad one. Charolite felt that the question was accurately poised.
"He wasn't really Steve," Charolite said, "When I was first captured by Moroni Steve had also just been grabbed... at first we tried to escape, many times but they all failed. After the last attempt Moroni took Steve away, did something to him and sent him to that college as a sleeper agent. It was then that he started to focus on me..."
"The Steve you knew," Tex started, "The one who tried to help you escape, he was already gone wasn't he."
"Yes," Charolite said, "Lets just go."
"Hey nice work," the blond said as the rest caught up to them.
"Yang," Ruby greeted.
"What's the matter," Carter asked.
"It was Steve," Tex said, "There was nothing we could do for him."
"Charolite." The voice startled her for a second but when she noticed that the others were explaining what happened she sent a though back to the voice.
"Hello," Charolite asked.
"It's me, Steve," Steve replied, "You did it Char, we're free. Maybe not like we had planned but hey its better than being that thing."
"Steve, what but how," she asked.
"Can't talk now," Steve replied, "Your friends are getting ready to head out, I'll talk with you later when we can be alone."
"I'd like that," Charolite said, "You're sure your you again?"
"Hahaha, Yes I'm sure," Steve replied as his voice faded. Charolite smiled as she got up and went over to Tex. She liked Tex and even Church could be nice at times.
"If this ship is on the loose then we need to get back to D.C." Jack said over a radio.
"Right we'll follow you in," Carter said, "Okay people lets roll."
"So this is Earth hundreds of years in the future," A man in white robes and hood asked.
"Sure is," Cloak said, "Welcome home Ezio."
"Looks a lot like Sanctuary," a woman with brown hair and a red tunic and brown pants and shoes remarked.
"Yeah we've got chickens too," Ezio replied, "This is my planet, Leah, I grew up to the north-west of here. A long ways north-west of here."
"I'm hungry," Charolite stated to Tex.
"Well lets see what we can bribe from the crew then," Tex said as she picked Charolite up and set her on one shoulder.
"Whoa hey," Charolite exclaimed, "Warn me when you do that."
"You used to do me like that," Carolina remarked.
"Yeah we did," Church said, "Man I just still can't get over the fact that I'm dead... again."
"You can't get over it," Tex said, "This is what the third or forth time you've died?"
"Well sure but I mean the Director was the me me, the original you know, like Alison was for you."
"Far as I'm concerned," Carolina said, "Your both them, but better."
Everyone looked at the three Spartans for a minute after that before Blake asked, "Do we even want to know?"
"No," York said, "No you don't."
"Do you think we can get a hamburger," Charolite asked.
"I'm sure we can get something," Carter said as they all mounted up, "Jack lead on."
A few hours and several introductions later and they were back in the White House, Helda, Tyler and Joe were looking over the data that Bertha picked up on the demon as it flew over the battle. Charolite, Ruby, Yang, Scooter, Lao, Weiss, Blake, Ezio, Leah, Domingo, Beth and Lil were eating at a table in the kitchenette that was attached to the situation room. Jack was busy with the necromancers and the rest were out getting something for Cloak and Carter.
"Hey your back good," Steve's voice sounded in her head, "Look I've only got a few seconds to spare before I've got to go but here is what you'll need to know. Deck three, Power coupling, remove it you've got control of the ship. Talk more later."
"Charolite you okay," Domingo asked through a mouthful of fries that Scooter was squirting ketchup on.
"Huh yeah," Charolite said, "It's just Steve... So what's this about a ship?"
"The Spartans seem to know the most about it," Lil said, "But from what we saw, it dwarfed everything in the DC fleet except the Ark. It's got weapons that could roast a country, teleporters powerful enough to zap all of us off it at once, and a huge army residing on it."
"Basically we are the only thing between this world and that ship," Weiss said, "Or Ruby is anyway, she stopped its big laser last time."
"Wait she did what," Steve asked, "Find out more about that. I'll help you as best I can but this new demon in town is really after me got to be quick around here now."
"How did you do that," Charolite asked.
"Aura," Ruby said, "Mine is apparently strong enough to block even the death beam that this ship can generate."
"Yes but I still don't like the idea of you jumping in front of it again," Lao said.
"Well it would appear that no one will have to jump in front of anything just yet," Ezio said, "A ship that size would be noticed by somebody and since it hasn't we can assume it is hiding, probably under the ocean."
"So it is also a submarine," Charolite asked.
"Seems like it," Blake replied, "Most airships can't function under the pressure of that much water but this one seems to be designed to do so."
"Designed yes, but not structurally," Steve said, "The shield around the ship is what gives it its durability, thus the power coupling."
"Steve how do you know this stuff," Charolite thought back.
"I am still a necromancer," Steve replied, "I've got my sources... like ghosts for instance."
"Charolite you sure you're okay," Ruby asked.
"Oh yeah I'm fine," Charolite replied.
"It's just that you've been... distant," Beth said, "I understand that Steve was a friend to you it's ok to morn him, we did for our parents when the demons ransacked our home."
"Really," Leah asked, "You two don't seem to be the crying type."
"That is because we turned the loss, confusion, and pain into a cold rage," Lil replied smoothly.
"Remind me not to get on your two's bad side," Sun remarked.
"I'm fine," Charolite said again, "I was just thinking about that ship, you all were in it right so you know how it was built."
"Yes, but Cortana would have the most information on that," Weiss said.
"Wait a minute," Domingo exclaimed, "You said that this ship fired its laser after it came out of the water."
"Correct," Lao replied.
"Well speaking from a history of paranoid dictators that is the worst possible move they could have made," Domingo said, "It would have been better to fire the weapon while still covered by the ocean, so why did they surface?"
"Because lasers don't work underwater," Yang suggested.
They all sat there for a moment to think about the possibility. Scooter grabbed another handful of fries and ate them before replying, "I don't think so. Sure the laser would be dispersed if fired underwater but then why not just surface the cannon and leave the rest submerged. No I got a good look at that ship while we were in it, the structure shouldn't be able to take the pressure of the ocean, it's got to have a shield to help it."
"And that shield has to be dropped to fire the laser," Steve said.
"The laser relies on the shield's power to fire," Charolite said, both to Steve and the others. Then to Steve, "Why would they have a laser that uses the shields to fire?"
"They probably don't," Steve replied, "From the information I have they have two systems the laser and the shield. Right now they are both running off the same reactor core but once the second one is linked into the systems they could fire the main cannon and have their shields up."
"Why not have two systems," Weiss said, "That seems to be awfully poor planning."
"Then we can expect them to have two systems," Ezio said, "I'd guess that one just isn't functioning right now, it may be why they are hiding."
"Right now our best weapon against this ship is Cortana," Scooter said, "If the shields go down to fire the cannon then she can hit it hard. If they get that second system online..."
"Well its not like we can get to the ship now," Domingo interjected.
"If the ship is running on one reactor," Ruby stated, "The we could just take that reactor offline and the ship would power down."
"Power down," Lil remarked, "While underwater with no shields and no structural capacity to remain underwater."
"What if we could get it to surface first," Lao said, "Assuming we could get into it again."
"Then it would just float," Carolina said as the rest of the crew joined them. Cloak and Carter were back in their human forms with their Spartan armor on.
"Sounds like you all have yourselves a plan," York added.
"Something like that," Weiss said, "At this point I think it is just wild speculation, the Invention could always just teleport us off of it again."
"Unless someone cut the teleporter offline," Charolite said, "Then some of you could make it surface and the others could cut the power once it is floating."
"We'd need to know where the coupling for the teleporter is," Cortana said.
"What is on deck three," Charolite asked.
"Now you've got it," Steve said.
"Three," Cortana remarked. She looked at Charolite intensely for a second before smiling and saying, "Well there was a power spike there before we were teleported. Who want's to bet that is where this teleporter is at?"
"She knows," Steve said, "Also seems content to let us be. Still keep an eye on her if you can I'd like to know how she figured it out."
"That still leaves us with the question of how to get to the ship," Church stated.
"I could build a shipyard and a few submarines to slip us into a hangar," Cortana said, "Or better yet I could make some bunker buster's and we could punch through the hull wherever we wanted."
"How would we get past the shield," Blake asked.
"Localized EMP at the nose of the craft," Cortana said, "Knocked the shield down in just the section that we would use to punch through."
"Deck three is mostly open to the surface," Tex said, "Deck's one and two are smaller than it is, it is probable that we could drop our teleporter team right into the room with it in it."
"I'm in," Beth said, "I really don't want us to end up teleported to the bottom of the ocean."
"I'll go," Charolite said.
"I'm with Beth," Lil added.
"I've got to go I guess," Scooter said, "If Cortana is going to be building this stuff I'm the next best mechanic here, someone has to disable this thing."
"We'll go with you," Tex said, "Church and I have a history with that ship."
"Hey you four get in here we've got an idea about this ship," Dom yelled.
"What," Jack asked as he and the necromancers came into the room, "Oh Carter, Cloak I see you've changed back."
"Yeah Ron managed to actually build, or have built I should say, a matter manipulator," Carter said, "I was actually impressed."
"Is it ironic that the one time I managed to impress you is after I've got your job," Ron remarked.
"What is this plan you've called us in here for," Joe asked, "I would very much like to get back to reviewing the footage of the demon, fist time it was captured on film and all."
"The demon is in the past," Chief said, "This ship, the Mother of Invention, that is the threat now and we've got a plan to get it."
"Well," Jack said as they all looked around at each other.
"Oh right," Cortana said, "We insert three teams, one at the teleporter, one at the reactor and one at the bridge. Once the teleporter is down we lock the ship down from the bridge and surface it then shut the power from the reactor off."
Another round of everyone looking at each other followed. "That actually makes sense," Helda said after the moment had passed.
"I'll join up with the teleporter team," Tyler said, "Each team should have one of us in case of demons or the like."
"Good point," Jack said, "Who is going to be on the other teams?"
They discussed the teams for a few minutes before deciding on the teleporter group being Beth, Lil, Charolite, Tyler, Tex, Church and Scooter. The reactor group would be Cortana, Chief, Carolina, York, Joe, Grish and Lydia, Ezio, and Leah. Lastly the Bridge group would be the RWBYs and their friends with Helda assisting them.
"Right then," Domingo said, "We'll provide support from outside as we can, Carter, Cloak and Ron will get Leviathan Enterprises on the scene of the Invention as soon as it surfaces to secure it. I can add some of my own men and I'm sure Jack here would help us out."
"Of course," Jack said, "I can have the Forth and Sixth Squadrons at the site of the Invention to assist."
Character Malcolm Reynolds
"I know its not like us to go sticking our necks out," Mal said to his assembled crew, "But the way I see it that Ruby kid is the only person capable of fighting Cinder who just so happens to be trying to kill us. So we get our teammates back we have a fighting chance."
"And possibly a kick ass ship," Jayne added.
"Right that too," Mal said, "But if we don't we might as well dig our graves now."
"How do you plan on tracking them," Hoban asked.
"Easy follow the slip-space trail," Kaylee said, "A ship that large would have to run slip-space engines to fly."
"We wouldn't be able to take on a ship that size alone," Inara said, "We might want to call in some help."
"Some of the others who's friends were on the Invention when it jumped perhaps," Derrial suggested.
"You know for a Shepard he gets some of the better ideas around here," Jayne remarked.
"Thank you," Derrial said.
"Don't mention it," Jayne replied.
"So who was on there," Simon asked.
"Harold and Tali," Inara said, "Also Carolina, York, Church, Tex, Cortana, John, Scooter...,"
"Them two dragons went too," Jayne said, "The two ah what were their names?"
"Carter and Cloak," River remarked speaking for the first time that day, "They are nice people, they all are. We are getting them back."
"Yes we're getting them back," Mal confirmed, "and I think we know who to ask for help with that."
"Are you thinking of who I think your thinking," Hoban asked. To which Mal just shrugged. "Hey don't bother to fill me in I'm just the pilot."
Character Joker
"So your going to chase after Shepard save some stuff blow up some other stuff and save the world," Joker rephrased for Mal as the two sat in the cockpit of the Normandy.
"Uh well yes that's basically the plan," Mal confirmed.
"Okay I'm in," Joker said, "I'll update the crew I know Garrus and Liarra will be happy about this they've been with Shep as long as me and Tali have, Wrex and Ash too."
"I... you know I thought it would take more to convince you than that," Mal remarked as he got up to leave, "Hey mind if I send the extra help your way for a ride, The Serenity is pretty full as it is."
"Sure we got some room," Joker said, "EDI you getting this?"
"Loud and clear," EDI replied, "Who can we expect?"
"Probably a few Spartans and maybe a Vault Hunter or two," Mal replied as he left the ship.
"If they send Gaige and Ax don't let them drive the Kodiak," EDI said.
"What hey that wasn't my fault they must have switched seats or something," Joker started, "I... o fine go ahead and warn Cortez."
"Already did," EDI replied as her humanoid body walked into the room and took the seat that Mal was in, "I also took the liberty of informing Doug of this little plan, he approves it seems and will send some of him with us."
"Great," Joker remarked, "I know he is on our side but that thing is creepy as hell."
"He is unique," EDI agreed.
Character Washington
"We've got to get them back," Wash said as he and Mal walked down the hall to the Normandy.
"That's what we are going to do," Mal replied, "The Serenity is ready to fly we will guide you through the hyper field to the Invention."
"Right just be careful," Wash said as he turned to enter the Normandy and join up with the rest of his Spartan friends. Inside he found the rest of the Freelancers, Adam, Maya and Krieg the reds and the blues and Shepard's team.
"Good your here," Joker said, "Now we can leave."
"Sorry I didn't know we were going after them until just now," Wash replied, "Not that I didn't want to mind you."
"Wash we know man okay," South said cutting him off, "Hey Carver how long you think it will take us to find them?"
"Oh I'd say about five minutes," the Sword, Carver, replied as it floated over to South. The Sword of Souls was scary enough as it was but now that South was its Mistress Wash was terrified of the pair.
"We confirm the construct's estimation," Legion added as it, he, whatever, checked a very large sniper rifle that he carried.
"Think they will be in trouble," Wash asked.
"Salt the wound," Krieg yelled.
"He means absolutely," Maya clarified.
"I agree," Main added, "When could Carolina and Tex not compete with each other?"
"You seriously think they will be competitors right now," Wash asked. The other Freelancers just looked at him. "Blarg."
"Mal has us on the line," Joker called to them, "we're heading out."
"Not without me you aren't," Diablo rumbled as he made his way into the hangar bay, "My daughter is out there and your all going to help me get her back."
Character Grishnake
"By the blood that is big," Grish remarked as he, Lydia, Cortana, John, Carolina, York, Ezio, Leah, and Joe looked over the reactor core.
"Yeah," York added, "But since we've just put a hole in the ship I say we stare at the reactor later and get ready to fight off some visitors." Lydia just nodded and chambered her weapon. Grish drew Grond and set up a line of sight to the two doors that led into the reactor room.
"Tex we're in," Carolina radioed, "Get the teleporter offline."
"Already working on it," Tex replied, "And done."
"Heads up," John said as the doors opened up to let in cyborgs and droids to deal with their intrusion. Grish put six bolts into the first six aggressors dropping them, then Leah had her turret set up and was churning out bolts keeping the doorways clogged with bodies allowing for Ezio and Lydia to get in with John , Cortana and Carolina as they blocked the doors entirely.
"RWBY has the Bridge," York said as he put a shotgun blast into a cyborg that had jumped over Carolina, "we are rising now."
"Can't RWBY lock down the ship," Grish asked as he put more bolts into the amassing droids and cyborgs.
"They are working on it," York replied as he headed over to the reactor, "Cover me I'm going to start getting this guy ready to bring offline." Grish backed up to cover York from any surprise entrances that might exist while still sending bolts over his friends' heads and into their attackers. Soon the doors locked down again cutting off the influx of cyborgs and droids.
"Looks like they got it sorted," Joe remarked.
"Right," Grish said, "How long until we can take the core offline?"
"We'll be out of the water in thirty seconds," York replied, "So I'm starting on it now."
"York," Carolina said.
"Don't worry I've got this," York said as he pulled a panel off of the reactor, "Now to see which one of you needs disconnecting."
"Hey you all there," Yang asked over the comms.
"Yeah we're here," Carolina replied, "Getting the reactor offline now."
"Almost got it," York said as he reached into the jumble of wires and tubes that ran under the panel, "Just got to cut this guy here... and done."
The ship powered off and red emergency lights came on.
"Nice work," Tex said.
"Yeah now how do we get out of here," Blake asked.
"I've got our exit planned," Cortana said, "But I suggest we let our friends outside take over the ship then power it back up and take it as ours."
"Jack we've got the ship offline have your teams move in," Carolina radioed.
"We should ready for an attack," Grish said, "Just cause those doors are shut doesn't mean our foe won't find another way in."
"Agreed," Carolina said.
"I'll keep an eye on the doors," Leah said.
"The ceiling also has some weak points in it," York remarked. Just then four panels from the ceiling crashed down and allowed four spider droids into the room. "Okay or they could have been storage for those heads up everybody."
Grish morphed into his werewolf form and smashed into the droids. His attacks knocked the droids off balance enough for the rest of the team to form up and press the attack. John and Lydia traded blows with one droid while Cortana engaged another with her lightning attacks. Ezio and Joe were working together to keep one droid off of Leah as she pulled up her crossbow turret and started to use it's high impact bolts on the droids. Carolina and York were on top of the fourth droid and York was pulling some hacking job on it. Grish first used his massive strength to rip through the droid hampering Leah, Ezio and Joe before moving on to Lydia and John's target. Cortana brought hers down with the electrical attacks as Grish smashed the second droid to the ground where John eviscerated it. Looking over to Carolina and York their droid had stopped trying to buck them off and was now under York's control.
"Impressive," Grish said as he returned to his orc form.
"You're a werewolf," Ezio remarked, "Must not have been brought up when we met."
"Me and Serana are vampires," Lydia added, "You disapprove?"
"No just unexpected is all," Ezio replied.
"Everyone quite," Carolina said, "Jack's on the line we've got issues his strike teams are being bottle-necked in the ship... if we power it back up then they could override the controls and get to the bridge... No its not an option... we'll see what we can do from in here."
"Trouble," Joe remarked, "Always seems to follow you guys around doesn't it."
"You've got that droid it should be enough to keep things tight in here," Grish said, "I suggest some of us head out to help with over taking this ship and some stay here to guard the core."
"I don't like it but, hold that that though," York said, "Wash is that you? Blarg man how did you know what never mind I don't care just have whoever you've brought with you help Jack to take over this ship."
"DC followed us," Lydia asked.
"Some of them," Carolina replied, "Seems Mal thinks just as much about Ruby as K and Ozpin do sounds like he was the instigator of this mission."
"Wait the smuggler is leading a rescue mission for some of the best fighters in the universe," Cortana remarked, "I'll keep a closer eye on him then he and his crew might turn out to be more than we had thought."
Grish laughed at that saying, "When has anyone who K picked up not?"
Character Diablo
They arrived to find Jack and Dom leading an attack against the Infinity which their friends had boarded and brought offline. However the strike teams that were being led by Carter and Cloak were having issues. Diablo was leading Main and South towards the reactor to help get the team there freed up to assist in securing the rest of the Infinity. Additionally Leah was in that group and Diablo took the matter personally that there were cyborgs and droids in between him and his daughter. Two shots zip by his head as Jayne cleared the hall in front of them. Cloak appeared out of the shadows and dropped two more with a shotgun. Diablo threw the apocalypse spell and leveled the hall in front of him.
"You're not messing around today are you big guy," Sword remarked as South and Adam moved past him to push towards Carter's position.
"Not today," Diablo agreed, "I see you've taken a liking to the bloodshed."
"More to store," Sword replied as it headed off after South. The cocking of a sniper rifle drew Diablo's attention to his left where Garrus stood.
"Its you me, Ash and the Reds," Garrus said, "Lets go find your daughter."
"Hello hello," Sarge said on his radio, "Carolina where are you, York, hello?"
"Sarge you have to turn it on first," Simmons said.
"Huh what oh right," Sarge mumbled.
"Simmons why don't you just do it," Grif said.
"What me no way Carolina is scary as blarg I'm not calling her," Simmons replied.
"Hey Carolina," Doughnut said, "Sounds like you're all okay mind telling us where you are so we can come get you?"
"Does he actually have Carolina on the radio," Diablo asked.
"Doughnut," Garrus replied, "I'll give him a fifty fifty."
"Alrighty guys Carolina is in the reactor room," Doughnut said.
"We knew that already," Grif said, "Jack told us that we need to know how to get there."
"Oh right," Doughnut said, "How do we get to you from here. Um there is a hangar and a hall some rooms, oh one is red, and some stairs."
"Uh we're by hangar eighteen," Grif said.
"Hello is this thing on," Sarge asked.
"Yes," Simmons, Grif and Doughnut replied.
"Follow me," Lopez said as the robot walked by.
"Oh blarg I understood that," Grif exclaimed.
"Yeah me too," Simmons said.
"I got a working voice unit while on the Ark," Lopez said.
"Ah you know I probably should have thought of that sooner," Sarge said.
"Cortana, Carolina, York and Master Chief are this way," Lopez said again, "Follow me."
"Leah is with them right," Garrus asked.
"Jack said she was and if she isn't," Diablo rumbled.
"Oh threatening," Ash remarked as she followed Lopez down the hall.
"Yeah you've lost your tough big guy," Grif said as the reds followed their robot. Diablo and Garrus looked at each other before following the others.
"Didn't Harbinger follow this ship," Diablo asked.
"No he just scared it off," Garrus remarked, "Bloody idiot."
"Wouldn't it be oily idiot," Simmons asked, "I mean with him being a robot and all."
"Well he is the original AI," Garrus said, "So I guess you would be right he wouldn't have blood."
"We have some really terrible conversations," Diablo stated. They all continued down the hall in silence for a bit after that.
"The armory is through here," Lopez said, "Below that is the reactor we can use a cutting torch to get through the floor."
"Why not go through the doors," Sarge asked.
"Think of who is guarding those doors," Simmons said.
"So dropping in on them from the ceiling is better how," Ash asked.
"They already know," Lopez said, "The doors are twice as think as the floor above them this is the fastest rout to the team."
"Uh guys we may have some trouble," Doughnut said as he backed out of the armory.
"What sort of trouble," Diablo asked.
"The large robots with lasers kind," Doughnut replied.
Diablo cracked his knuckles and punched the door in so he could fit through. Inside were twenty spider droids four of which were using their lasers to cut through the floor. All of them turned towards Diablo as he entered the room. "Right who's first," Diablo asked. Four droids moved in to attack him with melee while the other sixteen started to charge up their cannons. Diablo apocalypsed one droid then lightning-infernoed three others. Ash and Doughnut nailed another two with grenades. Garrus took out one with his sniper, Simmons' rocket launcher took out another two, Lopez and Grif took out two more and Sarge shotgunned a twelfth. The remaining eight fired knocking Ash, Doughnut, Lopez, Doughnut and Grif down and back into the hall. Diablo took the other four blasts which allowed Garrus and Sarge to reload and take down two more. Diablo's flame wave took care of the other six. It also took care of the floor. The heat from the flames must have been enough to melt through the last bits of metal around the piece of floor that the droids were attempting to cut out and it clanged into the reactor room as it dropped.
"Grif secure the rope," Sarge called.
"Uh yeah I..." Grif started.
"I brought the rope sir," Simmons said, "Since I knew that Grif would forget it."
"We've got one tightly secured rope ready to go in the hole," Doughnut announced.
"I had Doughnut tie it up since he got knocked out into the hall," Simmons added.
"You all must communicate more than we notice," Garrus said, "I didn't even hear you talking."
"Yeah its a gift," Simmons replied as the rope was let down into the room below.
Cortana was the first one up followed by John then Joe, Carolina, York, Grish, Lydia, Ezio and lastly Leah.
"You came for me," Leah asked Diablo.
"Why wouldn't I," Diablo replied.
"Because I'm not useful to you anymore," Leah answered, "I figured you would have written me off."
"On the contrary you're still just as interesting and useful to me now," Diablo said, "You said it yourself you have my power within you but you can't control it. I can help with that if you would just trust me."
"Trust the demon who wanted to posses her," Ezio said, "I don't think so."
"Rayon does," Diablo remarked, "And look how his prowess has progressed, just asked his friends about how he used to be before I started showing him a few tricks."
"I'm not your pawn," Leah stated as she walked past Diablo and over to Ezio.
"That could have gone better," Garrus said, "Real smooth about the your still useful bit."
"Blarg off," Diablo snarled. Garrus just snorted as he walked off. Diablo sighed and headed for Leah.
Character Kalathanon
"So now we've lost the ship, a sixth of our crew is on a different planet and Cinder is still on the loose," K said to Lucifer.
"Well sounds like that didn't pan out like you wanted it to," Lucifer replied, "Got yourself some unintended consequences there."
"No blarg we do," K replied, "Any news on 30075?"
"Nothing new, all the demons that are gone are still gone and the ones that are here are still here," Lucifer said, "Still don't know how they were pulled to begin with but Mam, Asteroth and Baal are working on that. Moloch and I are still keeping up with the cells."
"Right just tell me if you find out anything," K said as he shut off the mental link and turned to Ozpin, Glynda, C, Peter, Bartholomew, Roman and Price. "We might have an issue."
"Let me guess you can't leave here cause that will leave Cinder free to rampage across the planet but without RWBY she is pretty much free to do that anyway," Ozpin stated.
"Almost," C said, "Hawk and Fisher are still around and anyone from Remnant will be partly immune to Cinder simply by your nature. Additionally we have Lily with us still and the dimensional rift idea can still work."
"Plus Cinder might just have lost her biggest weapon apart from her powers," Roman said, "A ship that size... I actually hope for once that RWBY is successful on this venture."
"Agreed," Glynda commented, "It seems both sides have suffered unintended consequences."
"So it seems," Price agreed, "Hey Bartholomew got some more of that coffee?"