Chapter 44 The Day After
Character Fenix
"Okay Delta," Fenix said as his team entered Forever Fall, "Legion 141 is taking the forest border to the north so we can cover this western edge. Zar, Zara, AuRel and Irene are our air support for this so here is hoping everything goes smoothly."
"Smooth," Throon repeated from atop Pestilence, "Like that ever happens."
"You could have brought the mech," Sam said.
"Yeah," Cole said, "I like that robot."
"Reminds me of a much bigger, nastier, less maintenance heavy, version of Jack," Baird added.
"You know I could think of a lot worse things to do than walk through such a beautiful forest," Anya said, "There is nothing like this on Serra."
"Yeah but we have plenty of monsters that would want to eat you on Serra," Dom said, "Same here just a different background."
"That is why we brought guns," Sam countered, "Now enjoy the scenery."
"Yeah Maria would want me to," Dom said with a peaceful smile, "All this time I never really felt like I deserved to live through all the wars. Guess K really did change things for us."
"How do you think everyone is doing back home," Fenix asked.
"I'd say fifty fifty shot that either they are all dead or are progressing along just fine," Throon said.
"You'd bet against Hoffman," Anya commented as she hopped over a fallen tree.
"Well more like Bernadette," Cole said, "She can survive anything."
"Yes the terse sniper woman," Throon said, "We should probably do like she does and bring up our guns I don't think that tree back there was a tree."
They all turned around to see the King Taijitu rearing up from the ground. Fenix brought up his Gnasher and fired eight rounds into the snake's head.
"They have two heads you know," Zar remarked as he came crashing down through the trees and smashed the other head to the ground only a few feet away from Fenix's back.
"And I know you've had your undead minions keeping an eye on us for just such an occurrence," Fenix said, "Nice catch."
"Thanks,"Zar replied as he took off back into the air.
"See hungry monsters," Dom stated.
"Dead now though," Baird said.
"You guys really do attract trouble," Hawk remarked as he, Fisher, and CRDL pushed their way through the bushes to Delta.
"Cardin, Hawk didn't realize you guys would be joining us out here weren't you supposed to keep an eye on the town," Fenix asked.
"Yeah but you could say Cortana, Ivan and Riza have that pretty much under control," Fisher replied, "Is there anything you guys build that isn't a gun?" Everyone just looked at her for a moment before ignoring the question.
"Griffen's turrets are the strongest why isn't he, oh right he went with the Invention," Baird said, "Man is it weird that we keep splitting up all the time or is that normal?"
"In an army it's normal," Fenix and Hawk said. Fenix continued with, "But in DC it seems to be haphazard and random as to who is in which groups."
"It still seems sloppy," Russel said, "I mean sure the teams at Beacon always have rivalries but we know who those teams are and we know we can trust the others to guard our backs even if we've had issues off the field."
"I have to give you that one," Sam remarked, "maybe its just cause I'm new to DC, relatively speaking, but it seems that even the groups that we picked up don't always stay together all the time. Bad Co. they'll split up we've done the same as have 141 and the Legionnaires, Normandy's crew, the Hunters, our groups seem to always switch up."
"Well sure but we've got dynamics that run with whoever we pick up," Dom said, "AuRel up there he's run military campaigns, so have Marcus and me, Hawk has from what I've heard and CRLD you all have been successful against these Grimm for a while now. There is always something that we've got in common."
"I said I was in the military not that I ran any campaigns with them," Hawk replied, "I ran campaigns after I left, when I turned adventurer, mercenary, explorer, guard."
"Sounds good enough for me," Sky said, "Hey did you guys hear that?"
"Yeah," Fenix said as he listened for the the next soft thump that would tell him where the footfalls were coming from.
"Something big this way comes," Throon said as he patted Pestilence on the head, "Go get em boy." Fenix waved for everyone to follow them as the mutated rock-worm took off towards the disturbance. Pestilence's ability to feel vibrations through the ground had proven time and again to be a very valuable skill during their fight against Lambent on Serra and now it was going to pay off again.
"CRDL you guys are the experts on Grimm here what gets big enough for us to hear its footfalls," Anya asked.
"A few of them do," Dove replied, "Goliaths and Ursa being the primary ones that get large enough but Beowolves and Death Stalkers can also get large enough."
"Nevermores get big as well," Cardin added, "They normally use their wings to lighten their landings though, but it is still a possibility."
"What if it ain't one Grimm," Fenix asked, "What if it is a pack of them moving at once?"
"It is unlikely that they would be regimented enough to create the illusion of one large Grimm," Hawk said, "It is difficult enough to get people to move at one pace never mind these creatures."
"What if it isn't a Grimm," Throon asked from in front of them.
"What do you..." Cardin's question was cut off as the rest caught up to Throon and saw the massive reptile that was looking around the forest. It wasn't a dragon, as it had no wings, but it stood like K did when in his half form. It was gray with frill-like spikes running down its back and to the tip of its tail. It's feet and hands were clawed and from its mouth jutted several very large teeth that gave the slightest hint as to what lay enclosed within the massive jaws. It's yellow-orange eyes had the spark of intelligence behind them as it studied the undead dragons flying above it. At a good sixty feet tall the creature was definitely more than Fenix wanted to take on even with his undead-draconian friends circling above it. Zara came in to land in front of the creature she seemed to be talking to it through some mental channel.
"Come on over guys," Irene said as she to landed next to the creature. It had knocked over a good many trees in the area so the clearing was open enough for them all to make their way to it. "Shelly here says she doesn't want to hurt us if she doesn't have to," Irene added.
"Shelly," Fenix said, "It has a name, wait you can talk to it, her?"
"We're undead dear of course we can talk to her," Irene replied.
"What is she," Russel asked.
"Godzilla," Fisher remarked, "Probably from Earth, never did think she was real though."
"We never thought any of K's crazy tails were real," Hawk added, "Seems we were mistaken."
"She says you all smell of home," Zara said, "Earth, which one?"
"Early two-thousands," Fisher said.
"Oh so Jack's time," Cole said, "Figures, we've spent enough time there. I thought those holes were fixed though."
"She says she has been here for several months now," AuRel said as he landed with Zar following him. "Probably got zapped here when RWBY and JNPR got sent to Thedas."
"So RWBY and JNPR get zapped and she gets pulled in," Cardin said, "Why do we always get stuck cleaning up Jaune's mess?"
"Probably cause he gets stuck cleaning up yours," Dom said.
"So Shelly there is friendly then," Sam said.
"If we can get her some fish she'll be friendly and thankful," Zar said, "Cardin you think the docks have enough fish for her?"
"They probably wouldn't have to it looks like she can swim," Fenix remarked, "the whole body could act like a giant propeller and Shelly really?"
"You're correct," Zara said, "We just show her the way to the ocean and she can catch the fish and yes really."
"Wait she can understand us," Baird said, "Oh right K's interpretation spell, but then why can't we hear her?"
"If you could listen to her mind you would understand her," AuRel replied, "The spell seems to interpret what you hear but you all can't hear her to begin with."
"Okay then," Fenix said, "Shelly we'll show you the ocean if you carry us there, the undead are really cold to ride on." Shelly's tail slid over to them like a ramp as she snapped her jaws together.
"Seems she has agreed," Irene said, "We'll fly with you to keep conversation going."
"Everybody on then," Fenix said, "Throon can Pestilence keep up?"
"Oh yes," Throon said as he turned Pestilence around and got down behind one of the ridges on its back, "We'll meet you by the docks." With surprising speed the rock-worm burrowed into the ground carrying Throon with it.
"That seems useful," Hawk said.
"Very," Anya replied as they made their way up to the fins that allowed them to sit on Shelly's back. Shelly let out a shrieking roar as she started off with Cardin's directions. Fenix held on with one hand and had his pistol in the other as they left the forest, he had learned to always have a weapon ready. His decision came in handy a few minutes later as a giant Nevermore crashed through the clouds and knocked AuRel and Zara from the sky. Fenix fired off six rounds as the giant bird circled around but didn't get a chance to shoot it again before Shelly let a stream of green fire loose from her maw to incinerate the Nevermore.
"What was that," Baird asked.
"That was a directed stream of massive radioactivity," Zar said as he flew through the space that the beam had traveled, "That is actually very unsettling."
"Why is that," Fenix asked, "You all breath fire of different kinds."
"Sure," Zar said, "Fire, lightening, ice, etc. All of our abilities are elemental in nature, that was... it would be like standing in the heart of a thousand fusion reactors."
"Is it safe for us to ride you," Anya asked Shelly.
"She says you should be fine," Irene replied for their new acquaintance, "The fire is produced only when she wants to use it."
"Right anything else you want to tell us about," Hawk asked.
"She says she wouldn't know what to tell," Zara said, "She knows as little about us as we do about her."
"Well fill her in while we move then," Fenix said, "Since you four can hear her side of the conversation we'll let you do the talking."
Character Kalathanon
"A cold," K thought to himself as he sneezed again. He was in his human form since his Leviathan form was too large for most places on Remnant to accommodate him, "After a few thousand years I get a cold? Seriously?"
"Everyone gets sick from time to time," C said as they walked along the cliffs of Beacon, "Even us."
"Sure but what worries me is if this virus is strong enough to make me sick what will it do to our friends," K replied.
"Probably nothing it must be specifically formed to avoid your matter manipulation abilities," C said, "Otherwise I would have it too. No this is specific to you dear."
"Formed," K mused as he rubbed his head, "You think someone purposefully made a virus to make me sick?"
"No," C said, "I think you got unlucky, Remnant is a unique world. Sin manifests here in very physical ways, the Grimm for one. I'd bet they are not the only way."
"Had to have been Adam then," K said as he rode on C's back and laid against her neck.
"You lost me," C said.
"Adam is the only one who's entrance to this world would have made a virus that was designed against me," K clarified, "Assuming your theory is correct."
"Hmm... it is quite possible," C admitted.
"K we have a... development," Doug's thoughts echoed through his head.
"Great, where at," K thought back.
"The docks," Doug replied, "Fenix brought back a new friend."
"You get that," K asked.
"Most of it," C replied as she took off, "It is harder to hear your thoughts when they are directed to Doug not to mention you're sick. Trouble at the docks I got that much."
"Yeah something Fenix found," K said, "I really don't feel like dealing with surprises today."
"It's probably some animal or another that Throon picked up," C said, "don't worry about it."
A few minutes later K was looking at someone he remembered from a long time ago, Shelly. She was swimming through the water and snapping up mouthfuls of fish, which was causing some issues with the local fishermen.
"C, this doesn't qualify as a don't worry about it moment," K said.
"You know her," C asked.
"Yup," K replied, "That is Shelly, a product of fate and chance. Good survivor though she even impresses me from time to time, like showing up here for instance."
"Well introduce me," C said as she landed in the water beside Shelly.
"K," Shelly asked surprised.
"Shelly," K thought back.
"You sound funny... oh you've got a cold," Shelly remarked with a mental laugh, "Who's the girl?"
"I'm C," C replied, "K's wife, yeah I can hear your thoughts that are directed to him."
"That is handy," Shelly stated, "I don't have to repeat myself to everyone in the conversation this way. Now can you move I'm trying to fish and you are scaring them off."
"About that," K said, "Your raising the tempers of the local fishermen and we are here as guests for the moment so if you could hunt farther out that would be great."
"Hmm I suppose there would be larger fish out in the deeper waters," Shelly thought to them, "Probably predators that could fight me too, I don't want to make anything mad right now though I've been hungry for a while."
"Well you can't keep eating the fish from here," K said, "maybe go up river a little ways."
"That will not be necessary," the all to familiar voice of Vest Man said as he rose from the water. "Shelly you can talk, K your not sick, Shelly your not hungry, C nice to see you. Now I'm going to see Tom it's been a while and I'm sure he has gotten into something crazy without me that I need to be a part of. Good day." He then evaporated into the air. K did feel better though so he went out on a limb to test if Shelly could indeed talk now.
"Shelly you hungry still," K asked.
"No why..." Shelly stopped mid sentence, "I'm talking with my mouth... this is weird."
"Lets introduce you the Riders," K said, "C if you would drop me off on the wharf I'll speak with Delta."
"Right," C said as she flew up out of the water and over to the docks, "I'll meet you back at Beacon once everything is settled."
"Sounds good," K acknowledged as he got off and turned to face Delta, CRDL, AuRel, Irene, Zara, Zar, Hawk and Fisher. "Where did you find Shelly?"
"Forever Fall," AuRel replied.
"How long has she been here," K asked.
"She said a few months," Hawk stated.
"Good," K said with a sigh, "I didn't want to have to deal with more holes in time right now."
"So how did you meet her," Sam asked.
"Earth," K replied, "Back when I was younger. It's a long story."
"What isn't with you," Sky asked, "That is the only answer we ever get."
K looked at the group before motioning them to follow him. "Okay fine I'll tell you this one, but only cause Vest got me feeling better."
A long time ago...
K and Moroni pushed their way through an underground storehouse that belonged to the second Chinese Dynasty's Emperor.
"Your sure it is here," Moroni asked as he melted through the next stone wall.
"A sure as you are," K rumbled in response as he followed his general into the dank, dark, underground room. "You're deception, you verified the information."
"I said it wasn't deceitful I never said it couldn't be wrong," Moroni clarified.
"Then for your sake, General," K hissed as he pinned Moroni to a wall with his frozen, metal claws, "You'd better hope it is accurate as well."
"It is as accurate as it can be," Moroni replied. K snorted and let him go. "Why are you so intent on this prize?"
"If you could bring your kind back from the dead wouldn't you try to," K answered as he lit up the storehouse with pale green fire-balls that circled him, "This egg might be exactly what I've been looking for. What about our informant did you deal with him?"
"He is possessed," Moroni replied, "I believe we will be well served by his position."
"Mystic to the Emperor," K mused as he shifted through crates and sacks looking for his prize, "Yes we can use him."
"K over here," Moroni called. K teleported to his general's side and stared at the fragments of a colossal egg. "It was definitely here."
"Damn it hatched already," K snapped, "It must still be here. Look around!" They didn't have to look long before K found the creature. It was about eight feet tall and three feet long with gray scales and ridges running down it's back. "Well hello there little one," K said smoothly as he moved up beside it. "Now what are you?"
"I am Shelly," A mind replied. K realized it was the mind of the creature he had been hoping to morph into Leviathans.
"You are a mentalist," K stated, "Already gifted with power. Well that complicates things."
"K what are," Moroni said as he walked over, "Ah there it is."
"I am Shelly," It replied again. Then after a pause, "You are Satan, Hell, Darkness. Planned to change me, mold me. I am in your minds, know what you know, you already have accomplished your goal now leave me."
"It speaks the truth," Moroni confirmed, "Just one touch to our minds was enough for it to know all about us. This is truly a unique being."
"Well, Shelly," K said, "When you get big and powerful remember us, we can work together make..."
"There will be a together but not while you are like this," Shelly interrupted, "Another mind, bigger, more, touched me first. Now go." She punctuated this last statement with a stream of radioactive breath.
"A very unique creature," K agreed, "We can do no more now, let time have its way with this." He and Moroni departed leaving Shelly alone to burrow to the ocean.
Present day
"So you wanted to use her to bring the Leviathans back," Fisher said, "You wanted to enslave your own race?"
"I saw things differently at the time," K said, "We all change our perspectives over time."
"You're a dark one," Hawk said, "But it's like you said, these things take time."
"Bah your just agreeing with me," K replied as they got onto an airship bound for Beacon.
"Myrrha did enslave the Locust," Throon commented, "Maybe she got the idea from you."
"Probably," K said, "What is curious to me is why she didn't intrude into your minds like she did ours. You say you all talked on the way here about your different races?"
"We did," Irene said, "She was most curious about us."
"She still can talk with her mind," K mused, "I wonder if she simply chooses not to pry anymore."
"If she looked into your mind while you were condemnation I would bet that was a good deterrent to wandering in anyone elses mind," Zar said.
"True," K replied as the undead dragons flew off towards Beacon leaving K and the rest to take the ship. "Well now you know a little more about me... happy?"
"More like disturbed," Dove said, "that is a twisted plan you had."
"You two kept in touch I take it," Fenix said, "Otherwise why would she trust you now."
"True," K said as he took a seat across from the grizzled vet, "last time I contacted her though was back before we started the college on Earth. Twenty years is not a long time for us though."
"Yeah well it was for us," Fisher said, "I'm fifty five and feel like I'm twenty again. This immortality thing is going to take a while to get used to so until we do, you mind showing up more frequently?"
K laughed at that, "I think the missions we go on now will be of shorter duration and will involve less of the total DC members in each. Once Mal finished his fight with the Reavers I'll bet we will have found some work for us here."
"Looks like one of us already has," Dom said as he waved them over to a window, "Looks like Grish has set up a shop in Beacon, he is a master smith after all." K looked out to see a forge sitting up against the outer wall of Beacon. It looked like one of the ACU's had made it for Grish but the old Orc was happily hammering away at a hunk of red hot metal while Lydia was running already formed blades through a sharpener and Serana was conducting some kind of test on Dust.
"Grish always was an active one," K commented, "Well lets go see what they are up to." They landed a few moments later and the group walked down the airstrip and to Grish's forge. K hadn't seen such a toothy grin on his friend's face in a long time. Grish was so involved in his work that he didn't notice them approach until Lydia pointed it out to him.
"Ah K," Grish said as he stuck the metal back into the furnace, "Good to see you about, Delta come to see what a true blacksmith can do? You've brought the man-boys and the nobility with you I see, so how was the forest?"
"Man-boys," Cardin asked.
"Well you've got the armor of men but act like boys most of the time that I've seen you," Grish said, "Maybe it's just cause I've never seen you use that oversized hunk of metal you always carry around and I don't think I've ever seen you three's weapons."
"Cut it out Grish," Cole said, "Besides you missed out on a good run through the forest, we ran into an old friend of K out there."
"Yeah," Grish said, "Who?"
"Shelly," K said.
Grish looked stunned at first. Then he went over to the furnace, pulled out the ingot that he was beating into a shield, beat it a few more times and returned it to the flames before yelling, "Marco tend the forge you've seen me work enough to keep the temperature up in it!"
"Yes sir," came a reply from inside a little shop that was attached to the outdoor forge. From inside emerged a Fanus boy with tusks that looked like Grish's lower fangs. "I'll keep it hot until you get back."
"Marco meet K," Grish said as he pulled the sandy haired youth over to them, "There is the one who brought me here."
"You're K," Marco said as his green eyes got wide, "I never thought I would actually meet... the spaceships those are really yours?"
"That they are," K replied as he shook the young man's hand. Marco had large muscles for his age, probably from working jobs like his current one for Grish, K noticed that even Cardin was sizing up the Fanus. "You want to be a smith I take it."
"More than anything," Marco replied, "The Hunters and Huntresses go off to fight the Grimm but it is the smiths that keep their gear up and running, well most of the time."
"Yes I have a hard time seeing Ruby let anyone other than her fix Crescent Rose," K said, "Still Grish will teach you right and it looks like you've got a complete set up here, laths, mills, is that a digi-struct circuit?"
"Some of the weapons have very intricate circuits," Grish said, "Like the laser that is built into that mace."
"How did," Cardin muttered before checking a little, black, button that sat just above the handle of his mace.
"I've been making weapons for four times longer than you've been alive," Grish said, "and thanks to K I know a good bit more than just your basic swords, axes, and armor. Now show me this Shelly, you sure did tell me enough about her to make me worry if she should show up. Lydia, Serana you two want to come meet Shelly?"
"I'm in," Lydia said as she left the grindstone.
"I am sure I can meet the giant lizard later," Serana said, "I'm very close to understanding this Dust, maybe even help you forge Dust infused weapons soon."
"Lets go then" K said, "C is having Shelly meet with the Riders so we can probably find them at the cliffs." He led the group off towards their destination with one thought, "Grish is right something isn't adding up concerning Shelly."
Character Pyrrha
She and Carolina were sparring on the Invention when Marcus called. They were tied up anyways so neither really minded putting the match on hold. Pyrrha and Carolina had become friends since they met and York and Jaune seemed to get along well enough. Also Carolina was the only one who could give her a good workout, even Tex was not as good at hand to hand as Carolina was.
"Wonder what he wants," Pyrrha said as she pulled Milo out from the floor where Carolina had knocked it.
"Wonder why he is calling us," Carolina added as she got her baton out from under one of the lights that lined the intersection of the wall and floor of the large, circular, room, "That call was to this room only."
"I hope Cleo isn't mad at him again," Pyrrha said, "Come on lets see if we can pick up Jaune and York on the way."
"Sure, hey you up for a little trickery," Carolina asked.
"Depends on what it is," Pyrrha replied.
"You and I are the same height and roughly the same build," Carolina said, "My armor is still over in the activator, what do you say we pull a little switch on everyone?"
"That would work if your hair was as long as mine. Maybe if you let it grow out for a while then we can try it." Pyrrha replied, "I thought you said that it took specific training to use those suits anyway."
"It's nothing fancy really," Carolina said as she went over to the activator station to have her armor put back on, "Just slow your movements down while in the suit, its response time is faster than yours so a slower movement is actually faster than your normal movement. The suits have safeguards in them now so you don't break anything if you move to fast in it but you can still get some nasty bruises if you aren't careful."
"You make it sound easy," Pyrrha said as they left the room and started up the elevator, "It sounds to me more like you have to develop two different reaction times for when you are fighting, one for in the suit and one when you are out of it."
"I did," Carolina said, "most don't though. I'll bet Master Chief is just as good out of the suit as he is in it."
"Think we should spar with him sometime," Pyrrha remarked as they left the elevator and walked through the observation room that sat above the training floor.
"Before he got Forerunnered, sure. Now though I bet he'd kick both our asses," Carolina replied.
"He is a little disconcerting now I'll give you that," Pyrrha said picking up on Carolina's annoyance.
"Who is disconcerting," Cinder asked as she walked up behind them.
"Chief," Carolina said.
"Oh the alien in the glowing armor with the cloak," Cinder said, "Always appears with that metal woman right?"
"Yes," Pyrrha said, "His name is John, actually, but he is not alien he was human."
"Still not from Remnant though," Carolina said, "So to you all him and all of us really would be aliens."
"Perspective is everything isn't it," Cinder remarked, "You two train like that much?"
"From time to time," Pyrrha said, "and you?"
"You know I work with Dust," Cinder replied, "I've used it against you often enough."
"You still have that Force or whatever too," Carolina asked.
"True," Cinder said with a smirk, "Now to see what Marcus is whining about today."
"He called you too," Pyrrha asked, "Okay now I'm worried, he normally tries to stay autonomous as the new 'Assistant Director,' or Church told him to call us just so he didn't have to do it."
"We'll find out soon enough," Carolina said as they entered the elevator to the bridge. They exited the elevator and ran into Washington who was on his way down.
"Good your here," he said, "Director want's to see you, we may have a situation."
"Well that sounds promising," Cinder remarked as they walked through the sliding doors to the bridge and up the ramp to where Church, Tex, Marcus and Cleo were looking over various readings from the displays.
"Carolina, Pyrrha, Cinder," Church said as he waved them over, "You three are the experts on technology, Aura and Dust and we may have an issue relating to one or all of those, take a look at this." They looked to a screen which was an interactive map of the Verse with Reaver positions displayed across it along with their own position and the scattered ships that had joined their defense.
"What are we looking at," Pyrrha asked.
"The ship positions are thanks to Harken," Tex replied, "this is a continuously updating map of the Verse as it stands now. If you watch we should be able to show you what is bothering us in just a moment."
"There," Cleo said as she pointed to a planet that suddenly had Reavers near it, "Now watch them." The ships moved out from the planet and towards the neighboring systems.
"Wait," Carolina said, "why wouldn't the Reavers just take the planet they were near?"
"Because it is already theirs," Cinder said, "The ships appear there because they are being launched from there. It's a Sith tactic, now the Magog has it up it's sleeve as well. Plant sleeper agents that work for years without being detected until it is to late then the whole planet falls in a matter of hours, but for that to be the case then this Magog would have had to of been operating for a long time..."
"The Reavers... they didn't go insane," Marcus said as he realized what Cinder's line of thought would mean, "They ran into this Magog."
"We need Mal up here," Pyrrha said, "he knows the Reavers better than any of us."
"Then it is a good thing I am here," Mal said as he breezed into the room with Zoe and Wash behind him, "Update me." They explained the Magog theory to the three over the next few minutes. "I knew they weren't human," Mal said at the end of it. "Makes sense though, that's how they can turn others into them. Those who aren't weak enough to become them are preyed upon and those who are are possessed."
"In a matter of a few months the Magog that I unleashed became powerful enough to cross universes and give all of DC a hard time," Cinder stated, "How difficult do you think one that has been amassing its power for years will be?"
"Yours had an army of Sith feeding it power though," Pyrrha pointed out, "This one probably started with on or two people who really did go insane at the edge of space and has been slowly growing ever since."
"Let's hope so," Zoe said.
"No lets prepare for if it is far more powerful than Cinder's," Church said.
"How do you plan to do that," Carolina asked.
"You remember Sigma right," Church asked.
"Wasn't that your AI that you gave to Main," Pyrrha said.
"It was," Carolina stated, "Why?"
"I remember him too," Church said, "I remember all of them."
Carolina took a step back and her hand went to her pistol.
"Carolina," Pyrrha asked as she too stepped back.
"Church is a fragment of an AI that was based on my father," Carolina said, "The Alpha was tortured and shattered into these pieces, Epsilon there, he is the memory, my father, the Alpha and all the others are a part of him."
"I can bring them back," Church said, "each one a full AI, we would be more than Meta and certainly more than enough to fight this Magog."
"What would you do with them," Pyrrha asked.
"We have plenty of robot bodies," Tex said, "There would be no need to have them paired with anyone else."
"So why bring us up here if this was your plan," Mal asked.
"Carolina needed to know, you are the Reaver expert, Cinder proved to be helpful at determining this Magog's course and Pyrrha is an expert on Aura which I will be needing very shortly," Church replied. "Fully alive beings have Aura, you can check for it right?"
"Yes," Pyrrha said, "Who do you need me to look at?"
"Us," Church replied as he motioned to himself and Tex, "I need a way to tell if the other AIs are fully aware. So get a base line on us and then we can tell when the others are restored."
"So no fragments then," Carolina asked as he crossed her arms.
"No," Church said.
"Then I'm behind you, father," Carolina stated.
"Pyrrha go ahead and get a reading on us," Tex said. Pyrrha first activated Tex's Aura then Church's. To her surprise both were quite strong, she had expected it to be weaker on an AI than a person but then again a soul is a soul.
"Got it," Pyrrha said, "How do you plan to get the others back?"
"Restoring files now," Church said as he pressed a button on the bridge controls, "We should go to the armory that is where they will upload to the suits when they are done being reconstructed. Cinder I must thank you, this Sith technology is far more advanced than ours was. In just this short time I've reconstructed myself and Tex and now the others. I was so very close before it all went south..."
"We should be in the armory already," Pyrrha said, "I can monitor the Auras while the AIs are uploading to tell you if anything goes wrong." They all left the bridge at that comment and hurried to the armory.
Character Sigma
He woke with a start and fell to the ground, his arm shot out to catch himself and they did. They were his arms and what he saw was his own vision, he had a body. Taking in the color of his arms and hands a red-orange Spartan suit that was turned into a robot and now had him uploaded into it. He could feel the floor he was kneeling on and the coolness of it on his hands. Sigma pushed himself up off the floor and looked around. He noticed that he was in the Mother of Invention's armory but that there had been some changes to it. Where the old workbenches used to be were these new creations that held lasers and magnetic adjusters to hold any object in the perfect position. He saw a rack of weapons and went over to it. Most were laser based weapons but one caught his eye, a Brute Shot like Main used. Main, he was supposed to have been given to Main to help the injured spartan communicate. Sigma grabbed the Brute Shot and turned to leave when a woman came busting into the room. She was tall and garbed in a deep red skirt, hardened leather armor on her chest and legs, a golden tiara that sat on her mass of red hair, her green eyes, hair color and general complexion reminded him of Carolina but he could never see his original partner dressing like that.
"Hurry one of them is already here," the woman yelled behind her with some annoyance.
"We're coming," the distinct voice of the Director replied, "Go ahead and check him for Aura."
"Right," the woman said as she turned back towards Sigma as walked over to him, "Hi I'm Pyrrha, I'm going to check and make sure you came back okay. What's your name?"
"I am Sigma," Sigma replied, "What do you mean come back?"
"You were restored from Church's memory of you and a lot of really advanced technology the rest of the AIs will be joining us soon." Pyrrha said as she placed a hand on his head and he started to burn with fire. "Ah, oh great another like Yang, yours is a rare Aura."
"Rare what now," Sigma asked confused, "Aura what is that?"
"It means you're a full AI," the Director answered as he entered the armory with Carolina, Tex and a host of other people Sigma didn't recognize. The introductions would have to wait however as a gray-black spartan suit jerked to alertness and looked around as it got up off the floor.
"Omega," Tex said as she walked to the new arrival and offered it a hand.
"Sigma," Carolina said as she walked over to him and Pyrrha move to check on Omega.
"Carolina," Sigma said, "I thought I was supposed to help Main due to his injury, has the plan changed?"
"So you don't of course you weren't part of Epsilon after being split from Alpha," Carolina said, "So he would only have been able to restore you to a state that was recent to your creation."
Sigma's next question was cut off as more of the suits started filling with AIs, he could tell that today would be a long one. Over the next hour and a half Sigma as well as Omega, Delta, Theta, Gamma, Iota, and Zeta, were brought up to speed on what had happened.
"So you are like us," Sigma remarked to Church, since the Director was to long a title for Church's style.
"Me and Tex both," Church replied.
"And this Dragon Company that is helping you here is just a fraction of the total members?" Sigma asked.
"Yup," Church replied, "Figured they keep getting new people time for us to even the odds."
"By bringing us back," Sigma finished, "So now we are all full AI and have this Aura ability?"
"So it would seem," Church said.
"And this Magog that is raiding whole planets has nothing to do with you bringing us back," Sigma finished
"Well sure it does," Church replied, "I want all of you here in case this creature is stronger than we think it is."
"I see," Sigma said, "and when we are finished with it?"
"Go or stay," Church said, "doesn't matter to me."
"Then we had best kill this thing," Sigma said, "How do you expect to fight it?"
"Well Magogs are weakest against the force that formed them," Church said, "This one was formed of insanity so we just need someone who is crazy to fight it."
"Then we might know someone who could help," Omega said.
"Who," Tex asked.
"Caboose," Omega replied, "I was based off your memory of me so I remember being inside his head for much to long of a time. He's a nut job."
"Caboose ain't no way in," Church started.
"He's right," Caboose said, "I can do it, there is no one as crazy as me."
"No Caboose your just stupid," Church said, "Not crazy."
"I am crazy stupid," Caboose said, "No one can tell what I will do... unless you can."
"As much as I hate to say it he is as close as we've got to someone who is truly insane," Tex said.
"Now you're just agreeing with Omega," Church said, "what about Sarge he is off his rocker as much as Caboose is, right?"
"No I was in his head to," Omega said, "in just the brief time I was there it was much less crazy than Caboose's."
"None of you are insane enough for this," came a voice from behind them. Sigma identified it as River's voice from their brief interaction when everyone was introduced to each other. "This is why I haven't asked K to fix me yet... I'm the only one who can stop the Reavers."
Sigma looked at Gamma who nodded as Theta mentally communicated his approval of River's explanation. Delta, Iota, Zeta and Omega added their approval as well. Tex nodded, Church called Simon and their plan was started. The idea was track the Reavers back to the Magog that created them and then distract it while River got close enough to it to talk or fight or whatever she had planned, she was crazy after all. The Tardis would be their delivery vehicle so both Doctors and Rivers were on it, that wasn't the least bit confusing... Sigma put the thoughts away for later, right now they needed to find a Reaver ship that was heading back to the Magog.
"To follow a Reaver ship," Mal muttered, "After doing that I think we all will be crazy enough to take on this Magog."
"You will be perhaps," Sigma stated, "You have bodies that they can eat we do not and so don't have to worry about them."
"Sigma makes a good point," Marcus said, "We could send all the non organic members to track the Reavers."
"Sure but we will still need Cinder's advice on exactly how to go about distracting it and River will still have to be in the group," Simon said, "Which means I will be a part of the group and Mal will want to take the Serenity in with us if River and I are hunting these Reavers."
"Then might I suggest using Serenity as the distraction so the Tardis can get close enough to the creature," Delta said, "Serenity is certainly big enough to hold all of us and Mal's crew with room for a few extra hands as well."
"Harbinger should go also," Tex said, "There needs to be at least one big gun in the group."
"So Harbinger, my crew, all of you AIs, Cinder the Tardis, and a few more," Mal said, "Okay I'll take Krieg since he is crazy, Maya so we can communicate with him, Weiss since she has taken over a room already, and Caboose on Omega's recommendation."
"Okay I take it back," Church said, "Mal you are the craziest one here."
"Crazy but also well thought out," Sigma said, "If River fails then we can try Krieg and if not him then Caboose."
"River won't fail," Simon said.
"I doubt the Captain is expecting her to," Sigma said, "he just may wish to attack this Reaver from multiple angles. Church if you and Tex will be accompanying us then who will pilot the Invention?"
"Scooter has already agreed to do that," Church replied, "They are going to follow Harken's Cruiser and help beat back the Reavers that have taken root on the planets in the core systems, we will meet back up with everyone on Londonium."
"Don't Maya and Krieg usually pilot the Hunter," Omega asked.
"They do," Mal said, "Who will take over for them?"
"I am sure they will get someone to pilot the ship," Gamma said.
Character Gaige
"Whoo," Gaige yelled as she threw the Hunter into full throttle, "This is WAY better than driving the Kodiak."
"I know right," Ax said, "Shepard will never believe we got to pilot this ship."
"I'm recording it all and sending it to Tali as we speak," Gaige said as her omni-tool flashed.
"We are millions of light-years away these things can transmit that far," Ax asked.
"What of course not," Gaige replied with a snort, "I guess it is more accurate to say I am recording it now and will be sending it to Tali. Dad is going to get a copy too."
"You two get any more word about your mom," Ax asked as he shifted the stabilizers so that they made a circle around Harbinger.
"Nothing yet," Gaige replied as feelings of disquiet settled into her heart. "Even Harbinger has said that his Reapers have not found any information on mom."
"No information at all," Ax asked, "Not even the Reapers have sighted her?"
"That's what I just said isn't it," Gaige snapped.
"Just checking," Ax said, "It's just that if even the Reapers can't locate her then she must be actively hiding from them. So you can be sure she isn't dead."
Gaige thought about it for a minute before nodding in agreement, "I guess that is one way to look at it. How do you always find the bright side of something?"
"Its a talent Sarah taught me," Ax said, "I still can't believe she is dead."
"Do you think she can see you," Gaige asked, "You know from wherever she is?"
"I like to think she can," Ax replied, "But if she is with God I doubt she would be that interested in me anymore anyhow. I know she would have gotten along with you just smashingly though, the commander and the anarchist boy have I made a one eighty."
"You know I am sorry that she died," Gaige said as she rubbed the ring on her hand, "But I am glad I have you."
"Same here," Ax said, "You're the best thing to happen to me since Sarah, who knows maybe she was there just to show me how to be better for you."
She looked at Ax with a smile before the sound of people running caught their attention. "Ah hey," Scooter yelled as he slid into the door that Ruby had just run through.
"What the," Ax asked.
"Come on," Ruby yelled back at him as she entered the bridge, "If your going to pilot the Invention you might as well talk to your fellow captains before running off. Hey Gaige hey Ax so who is piloting the Hunter?"
"We both are," Ax said.
"Ohhh," Ruby said, "Right dual controls, Scooter was telling me about that... so how's it work?"
"Ruby come on," Scooter said as he entered the bridge rubbing his nose, "we got to get to the Invention so Mal can get gone and kick some serious butt."
Gaige and Ruby both snickered at the comment while Ax openly laughed before saying, "Kick some serious ass, you messed it up."
"Ass, butt same thing right," Scooter replied, "Either way we need to get going."
"Actually an ass is a donkey," Ruby said, "So Scooter has the more applicable statement since I don't think the Reavers keep animals... do they?"
"I think they eat people," Ax said, "And I think Ruby is right... Scooter actually used the correct terminology."
"Right and we have to go make sure they don't," Scooter said, "Now you two don't go blowing up this ship while I'm on the Invention, okay?"
"Got it Scooter," Gaige said, "Ruby keep him out of trouble will you."
"I think I can do that," Ruby said as she followed Scooter out the door with a wave, "See you guys later."
"They are quite the pair," Ax remarked.
"And we aren't," Gaige replied, "Maybe that's why we get along so well."
"You and Ruby are both nineteen now right," Ax asked.
"Yup," Gaige replied, "Though Ruby's B-Day is a few months away."
"Lets hope it wasn't as fun as yours," Ax said.
"Yeah fighting Sith and all is great fun," Gaige replied with disgust, "Flying the Kodiak was cool."
"Not as cool as this though," Ax reminded her, "Hey looks like Scooter has made it to the Invention."
"Hunter your comms are on just so you know," Harken said over the channel, "and is the mechanic piloting the Invention?"
"Well Marcus and Cleo are helping him but yes," Gaige said, "On the plus side you've got Ax and me piloting the Hunter."
There was silence for a moment before the distinct click of the channel closing was heard.
"I guess we impressed him," Ax remarked as he turned off the comms. Gaige kept the Hunter in pace with Harbinger as their convoy moved out from Higgs' Moon and towards Londonium. She saw the Serenity fly off as the two groups started their separate missions.
"How do you guess they will find a Reaver to follow," Gaige asked.
"I'll bet the Doctor will come up with some plan or another," Ax said, "Speaking of plans, one more year eh?"
"Until I accept the proposal you will give me for my twentieth B-Day," Gaige said, "You bet. Is waiting one of those things Sarah taught you?"
"Yeah," Ax replied with a solemn smile as her looked from the view port to Gaige, "yeah it is."
"You can be far to mature at times you know," Gaige said as she hugged Ax.
"That so," Ax said, "Want to buzz the Cruiser?"
"Blarg yeah," Gaige replied as she jumped over to the controls, "Lets do this."
Character Geyser/Krista
"So I said why wouldn't we just use the boat," Penny explained as she recounted one of the many adventures she had been on with either RWBY or JNPR, "That's when Nora piped up and said we should go with the tank, but the tank wouldn't have worked cause it was a Regional 3000 model which is not equipped for underwater movement. So we argued the point and by the time we had finished Ren, Jaune and Pyrrha had gotten across the river, secured the bridge and let it down."
"So you and Nora just stood there while your friends infiltrated a heavily guarded compound filled with White Fang mercs," Krista remarked, "I'm sure you got the medal for assisting on that."
"Actually yes," Penny said as they walked through the outskirts of Vale. "Ren said that if it wasn't for us distracting the snipers with our yelling he would have had a much harder time covering Jaune and Pyrrha's backs."
"So you were accidentally helpful," Geyser said, "Hey that sounds like a girl I know."
"Shut up you," Krista said with a roll of her eyes.
"You know we do stuff like that all the time," Geyser thought to her.
"Yes, but we do it together so you're just as guilty as I am," Kristathought back.
"And the mental conversation begins," Zar remarked.
"I still think that is an amazing ability," Penny said.
"It does come in handy," Geyser said, "Especially ours."
"If you had a Regional 3000 why didn't you just shoot the bridge down with it," Velvet asked.
"Same reason I didn't use my swords to drag it down," Penny replied, "it was shielded."
"Well I hope we don't have to deal with anything like that today," Velvet said, "This is just a routine check on the outer farms and the like to see if the Grimm have been encroaching or not. I still appreciate the help, ever since my team transferred back to their homes these solo missions have always given me pause."
"You ever hear from any of them," Krista asked.
"Sure but we're all busy so social calls are not that frequent, never mind actually going to visit any of them," Velvet replied, "still it is nice to have friends all over Remnant."
"Why did your team transfer out," Geyser asked.
"Actually most teams do," Velvet said, "students come from all across Remnant to train at Beacon and then they take that back to where they are from to help strengthen the defenses against the Grimm. Almost half of the Hunters and Huntresses in the world were trained at Beacon."
"So RWBY, JNPR and CRDL are exceptions to the rules," Zar remarked, "but didn't I see you with your team a while back?"
"Yeah they showed up for Sun and Blake's wedding but they've gone back home already," Velvet said as they reached the last farm on the rout from Vale before the path turned into a gravel road that continued inland where the Schnee company had some mine works. "That said, CFVY does get back together sometimes if things in Vale need an extra helping hand... or mini-gun. Well once we check here we can head back, and no we won't fly back either, still don't want you three spooking the livestock, these people have it hard enough as it is."
"Seems like you know the farmers out here pretty well," Krista said, "You have this rout often?"
"Most weeks I take this rout," Velvet said, "Blake or Jaune will occasionally cover for me if I have another task that came up unexpectedly but these people know me, I provide a comfort to them, let them know we are watching out for them even if we are not here all the time."
"I'm sure showing up at their doors with three dragons, one of which is a flaming skeleton, is very comforting," Zar said, "We'll stay back here just call us if there is trouble."
"These farms are massive," Geyser commented as Velvet and Penny walked up to the house. "Each one must cover miles of land and that is just what we can see from the road. I'd bet from the air these farms go back for many more miles to produce enough food for the city."
"You would think these places would be more protected than this," Zar remarked, "If these farms are destroyed the city would have difficulty keeping up the food supply, even with the river to fish from."
"Zar," Velvet yelled, "we need your necromancy here."
"That sounds bad," Geyser and Krista said as the three moved to the house.
"And there is the talking at the same time," Zar said.
"Your cynical you know that," Geyser said.
"Sorry Dad, probably has to do with being a skeleton," Zar replied, "Whats the matter Velvet?"
"Faren is gone," Velvet said as she met them at the door, "There is blood on the floor and the back door is open. This can't be a Grimm attack, someone has taken him."
"I can track him through his blood," Zar said, "bring some out to me."
"I guess we're a search and rescue now," Krista said, "Unless it is not his blood on the floor..."
"In which case we are just a search," Geyser said.
"Its like I spy but for real," Penny added as she brought out a blood stained towel.
"Is Faren a Fanus," Zar asked.
"No, he's human," Velvet answered.
"Then mom is right this isn't his blood," Zar stated, "Probably left from whoever had a disagreement with your friend."
"Well track that then," Krista said, "If Faren is chasing him to finish the job then we can find them both. What does he look like?"
"He is a little taller than me and bulkier, tanned skin, brown eyes and sandy hair," Velvet said as they followed Zar around the side of the house and out into the fields. "And he has the biggest nose all wide and long with a curly mustache under it that stretches to his cheeks."
"Well at least he should be easy to spot," Geyser remarked.
"The trail goes through the corn," Zar said as he came to a stop at the edge of a massive corn field, "No way to tell where they went without following it through there, but we walk through there and we'll destroy this crop."
"What if we got someone who could walk through there," Penny asked, "could someone else follow this trial?"
"Tom could," Zar replied.
"Oh you've got to be kidding," Krista said, "Tom is not necessarily the most serious of people. Besides I'm sure we've got plenty of food to cover for what we destroy."
"Someone mention me," Tom asked as he and Vest Man appeared out of the corn.
"You know I could almost feel that coming just as soon as I finished that sentence," Krista remarked.
"I shall leave you with your friends," Vest Man said to Tom, "Had fun though, next time licorice dynamite."
"That sounds awesome," Tom said as Vest disappeared back into the corn, "So... you've got a missing person then?"
"How did," Velvet started, "You know don't answer that. Can you track him?"
"And show up ol Zar here," Tom remarked, "Sure can. Watch and learn kid I've been doing this far longer than you." Zar snorted blue fire in Tom's direction as he sat down by Krista and Geyser. Penny handed Tom the blood laden towel and the happy go lucky Necro started his work. The blood was drawn out of the towel and formed an arc between Tom's hands before it went flying out into the corn.
"Zar what are looking at," Geyser asked.
"Well either he just sent off our only way to track these two or he somehow reprogrammed the spell to bring the owner of the blood back to us," Zar said, "It's Tom so I'd give it a fifty-fifty."
"You think that much of me," Tom said as he walked past a staring Velvet and Penny, "I would have given myself a seventy-thirty at best."
"How long will it take to find them," Geyser asked.
"Well it will find one of them, its owner," Tom clarified, "I'm just hoping that the other one will follow him back too."
"What if Faren is dead or hurt," Velvet asked concerned.
"Well he isn't dead," Tom and Zar both replied then after some nods and glares between the two Zar continued, "There are no recently dead Humans or Fanus in this area, injured is another matter though..."
"Hey get back here," a gruff voice yelled from the corn stalks, "I'm not done with you yet."
"Faren," Velvet yelled, "over here come over here."
"Who is," the gruff voice, Faren, started, "Velvet is that you?"
"I'm at the edge of the corn your attacker will be here soon too," Velvet said, "I'm with some... different friends so don't..."
"What in the four cities are those," Faren exclaimed as he burst through the corn while chasing the now bound and floating White Fang merc.
"Well this just got interesting," Geyser commented.
Character Carter
"Mal glad you let us jump on last minute," Carter said as he, Cloak, North, South and her sword Carver got settled in.
"I would never oppose a soul stealing sword," Mal said, "It's not good for business."
"Hey I'm a soul 'storing' sword," Carver said, "and I haven't messed with any of yours now have I?"
"True but that doesn't mean you can't," Mal replied.
"Well not Ruby's," South said, "something about it being to big right?"
"Something like that," Carver replied.
"Am I still the only one who is bothered by the fact that my sister has a floating, talking, sword as a new best friend and it can 'store' us at will," North said.
"Yes," Carter said, "the rest of us are just cautious. So, Mal, tracking a Reaver ship?"
"Cinder is still on the long range with Cleo," Mal said, "But we should have our target soon. Until then I suggest you look around and get acquainted with the ship, to get the Reavers to flee we will first have to get them on Serenity."
"So we attract them, let them board, then beat them back until they run," Jayne said, "Stupid plan, Reavers don't run."
"Or work together, or take out fully manned and armed spaceships, or conquer planets," South remarked flippantly.
"Jayne has a point," Cloak said, "What if they don't run... the Reavers that is."
"Well if Jayne and Vera don't run we will probably kill all the Reavers before they get a chance to fight," Carver said, "If the Reavers don't run couldn't we go over to their ship and pick through its navigation logs?"
"Exactly," Mal commented, "Jayne give them the tour, I believe this is the first time you've been on Serenity, Carter."
"It is," Carter said, "Though she looked pretty impressive when you all showed up to help us take the Invention."
"Yeah well she ain't going to look nothing when she is crawling with Reavers," Jayne exclaimed.
"Then kill the Reavers," Mal said as they entered the kitchen, "Now I'm going to be on the bridge when that call from Cleo gets here, you all find yourselves a couple of rooms, Jayne help 'em get settled."
"Lot of gorrham good it'll do," Jayne muttered as Mal headed to the bridge.
"You really don't like Reavers," Carter commented, "You and Weiss seemed to fight your way through them just fine on the ground."
"Reavers ain't used to being on the ground," Jayne said, "On a ship they can crawl through vents, hang onto ceilings, leap off walls. Can't really use guns against 'em in most places either cause of possible hull damage."
"Sounds like my type of fight," Carver remarked.
"Your a floating sword," North said, "Any fight is your type of fight."
"True," Carver agreed.
"Come on the rooms are down this way," Jayne said, "The AI's are all hanging out in the hold so we've got two open rooms left, the extra shuttle was taken by Cinder and Maya and Krieg took the med bay so you five can split the last two."
"Cloak and me will take on and North, South and Carver can take the other," Carter said, "Wait where is Weiss bunking?"
"I've got an extra bed in my room she is using," Jayne said. The five of them look at him, well Carver just turned his edge towards Jayne but the rest looked at him. Jayne didn't seem to notice, or he just didn't care, as he opened the two rooms at the end of the hall, "Here you go, now a few rules, my room is off limits, drive core and bridge too, you five could get us into a heap of trouble by disturbing anything in those rooms."
"Your room," South stated slyly, "You mean your and Weiss' room."
"Well it might as well be her room for now," Jayne said, "She walked in threw her bag at the foot of the extra bed, flopped down on it and said 'don't wake me until we find those Reavers.' I didn't even get a thank you."
"Wait she just laid down on it in her normal cloths," Cloak asked.
"Yeah," Jayne stated.
"Then she is not asleep," Cloak said, "Even I change into a gown to sleep in. Weiss is probably planning something."
"Something she just finished," Weiss said as she walked up to them with Vera in her hands, "You five would pick the farthest possible rooms to use."
"It's not like we had a choice," North chuckled, "Unless we wanted to bunk with you and Jayne."
Weiss just gave them an exasperated look before presenting Vera to Jayne, "I glyphed some Dust into her barrel. It should charge the projectiles with a chilling effect and boost their speed and accuracy."
"Wow I guess you weren't sleeping," Jayne remarked as he took his favorite gun. The barrel now had traces of silver and red running down it in a rifling pattern.
"I may have been woken up earlier than I like but that does not mean I am tired now," Weiss said.
"Maybe not but we've got no idea when the Reavers will present us with an opportunity," Carter said, "I would be rested for when that moment arrives."
"All crew and passengers met in the hold," Mal's voice crackled over the comms, "Reaver ship is about two days out so we need to start talking."
"Sounds like they just presented us with an opportunity," South said, "Lets go get 'em."
"Why am I still here," Jayne asked as Carter and North threw their respective stuff into the rooms before the whole group headed to the hold.
"Your here because you want to be with her," Carver said as he pointed at Weiss, "If she had stayed behind you would have too."
"And because there is still a two-hundred credit a head bounty on Reavers," Weiss added, "Also what is with the floating sword?"
"It's Carver," South said as they met Cinder, Mal and Wash as they made their way through the kitchen. "He's a friend."
"Who can store your soul if he hits you," Cloak added.
"Right but why is he glowing black," Weiss asked.
"Oh am I doing that," Carver said, "That just means I'm ready to store more souls."
"Okay even I have to admit that is a little creepy," Cinder remarked.
"Agreed," Carter said as they entered the hold where the rest were assembled.
"Alright people," Mal said, "Reavers are headed for us, so lets start setting up shop. Church you and your AI's have point so lock down the halls you will use to funnel the Reavers and push back to their ship. Cinder your tactical adviser seeing as you were a Magog once figure out what this guy is planning once we pick up a rout. River, Krieg and Caboose are going to fight the Magog itself when we get to it, everyone else will be running cover for them. Carter I want your group to stay with Kaylee in the engine room, the Reavers will try to take out our mobility first so don't let them. Jayne, Weiss you two keep the bridge clear with Wash. Wash get us moving to that Reaver ship."
"Into the fray," Carter stated, "This will be fun." As soon as he finished speaking a clang sound alerted the gather crew that something had attached to the hull.
"Mal they might be a little closer than two days," Wash said.
"Come on we've got to get you back to the bridge," Weiss stated as she pulled Jayne and Wash towards the exit.
"Kaylee with us we'll get you to the engine," North said.
"Mal where are the rest of the crew going to stay," Carter asked.
"We can take cover in the spare pod," Mal said, "Cinder what can we expect here?"
"I suspect a large force with extreme strength but little training," Cinder said, "shouldn't be too problematic."
"Easy for you to say you can shoot fire out of your hands," Simon commented, "I can't even hit a target with a gun."
"Then stay behind us," Carter said, "You and River come with us, Maya, Krieg help Cinder, Caboose..."
"Hello," Caboose said.
"I've got this one," Omega commented, "Caboose these attackers make kittens spiky and love red bull... go get them."
Caboose seemed to swell for a moment before he slammed his fists together and declared, "I am Michael J. Caboose and I hate kitten-bull!"
"Okay he's primed to pound anyone who comes at him into dust," Omega said.
"We should go," Cloak mentioned.
"Right," Carter said as he waved for South, North, Carver and Kaylee to follow him, "Mal see you on the other side."
"Right," Mal stated as the groups parted company. Soon the sounds of hatches being forced open could be heard as Carter hustled everyone into the engine room.
"Well welcome to my room," Kaylee said quietly, "I really hope the Reavers don't get in here."
"Church and his group is patrolling the halls they shouldn't have much of a problem keeping these guys cleared out," Cloak said.
"Five, six, eight, nine, ten," River muttered.
"Shh, it's going to be fine," Simon assured his sister.
"Ten Reavers outside the hatch," River said, "I'm determining their exact location... three on the ceiling, two towards the aft the other five towards the bow."
"These guys can climb on the ceiling," North remarked.
"Reavers have adapted to life in little to no gravity ceilings are just as common for them to use as floors," Simon said.
"Dude like every time you speak I keep thinking someone should hold up a sign or something with 'Simon Says' written on it," South commented.
"Oh very mature," Kaylee said, "it would be funny once or twice though."
A clang on the door to the engine room silenced their attempted banter. "Carver kill these fools will yah," South said.
"Gladly mistress," Carver replied as he floated up to the hatch, "Kaylee can you remotely open this thing?"
"Yeah, uh yeah," Kaylee said, "But wouldn't that let the Reavers in?"
"No it lets the black blade out," Carter said.
"And me," South said as she climbed to the top of the ladder that led to the hatch.
"What," North exclaimed which brought about a renewed clanging from the hatch, "Damn it sis, Carter I'll need that shotgun."
Before anyone could do anything though River had snatched South's pistol and threw the hatch open letting Carver out and giving her a view of the Reavers on the ceiling. Five shots and a few swings of Carver later and the Reavers were dead. River and Carver dropped back down into the engine room to everyone's amazed and a few relieved expressions.
"Wow," Cloak remarked, "That was fast."
"Until Church's team seals the hatch near here the Reavers will keep coming," Kaylee said, "They eat their dead."
"Perfect," Carver said, "I'll head back up and keep them off of you."
"River keep that gun and stay in here," Carter said, "Cloak, North we're going up with South and Carver. Kaylee its fine she won't use it on anyone but Reavers right?"
"I comprehend," River said with a smile, "You're trusting me."
"Well you may be crazy but it may just be a lunatic we're looking for," Cloak said as she chambered her RPK 74, "Keep them two safe, you know the trouble they can get into."
Carter made his way up the ladder after Carver with Cloak, South and North following him. North shut and locked the hatch behind them and then moved to the center of the hall so his sniper rifle could have the greatest advantage. The hall only led to the engine room and the aft hatch so there was only two directions that the Reavers could attack from. Carter and Cloak took the side that led to the rest of the ship while South and Carver took the side that led to the aft hatch.
"Come here little ones," Carver chuckled maliciously into the hall.
"Reavers coming up," South said as she activated a media device that she carried around. Carter recognized the song "Black Blade" from "Blue Oyster Cult" and thought it was fitting considering Carver's history. Now though the hungry blade had seemingly found someone as blood thirsty as himself, indeed Carver and South made for a frightening pair. They were about to see how frightening as the sounds of running feet drew their attention to the hall that led to the aft hatch.
"Carter," Church radioed via the helmet communication systems, "Reavers just broke off of my teams and are heading to you, what did you do?"
"Oh nothing just killed some of em, started some music you know the usual," Carter replied, "Thanks for the heads up, now get to their ship and lets go find their leader."
"Yeah I know what I'm doing," Church said as he ended the call. Carter chuckled, Church's arrogant and flippant attitude was amusing to him.
"I count six Reavers coming down the hall," Cloak said, "How many bullets do you think they can take."
"A few," Carter replied as he brought up his Famas, "Fire." The hall echoed with the ring of gunfire as the four Spartans opened up on the Reavers. Carver flew through the air like the Grim Reaper as he struck down Reavers left and right. Normally he would have felt sorry for the creatures that he was slaughtering but these Reavers... there wasn't anything left of them they were just shells, a mockery of the people they were. Then a scary thought struck him, if these Reavers were not people anymore then what was Carver absorbing.
"Carver," Carter yelled over the gun fire, "What are you absorbing from these guys?"
"It's not the same as a soul," Carver replied, "Feels different, more like a simplistic AI program or a dog. Capable of being trained but not truly cognitive. Like something sucked the soul out of them and replaced it with this charade."
"That is disturbing," North said.
"Clear," South said as the last of the seventeen Reavers dropped.
"Church how is your progress looking," Carter asked.
"Pretty good actually," Church said, "Caboose saw a Reaver and punched a hole right into their ship. Tex is working on getting the navigational information now we should be back soon."
"Well that explains why there are so many Reavers out here," Carter remarked as he closed the call, "Church got an early opportunity to get the data so we've got clean up."
"We'll stay here keep this hatch clear," South said, "You two go check on the rest of the crew."
"We should start with the bridge," Cloak said as she headed off towards the rest of the ship, "only Wash, Weiss and Jayne were stationed there."
"Yeah but that was a great hallway for funneling those creeps into a kill box," Carter added as he moved up to clear the kitchen, "Okay looks good."
"Either way we pass it on the way to the shuttle so might as well," Cloak said. "Any reason we are back in human forms?"
"After Ron got that matter manipulator online I had a version of it built on the Invention," Carter said, "We can transform back whenever we want, I just thought this would be more suited to a ship than our dragon forms."
"Fair enough," Cloak remarked, "Would you look at that." She was pointing to the hall that led to the bridge. It was filled with dead Reavers which Jayne and Weiss were busy collecting 'evidence' of their kills from. "Looks like you two had a party," Cloak said as she walked over.
"Yeah really wild guests though," Jayne said, "I hate Reavers... I hate 'em."
"Sure but you get enough credits to put into the Schnee Corporation and I'll be able to actually date you without icy stares and rebukes," Weiss said, "and these guys are worth a fortune it seems."
"How would that even work," Carter asked, "It's not even the same currency as your Lien."
"No it is the currency used in most of this galaxy," Weiss replied, "If the Schnee Corporation acquirers a stockpile of it we can branch out to interplanetary customers. A move my Dad would be very impressed by if it came through our 'Galactic Relations Partner.'"
"Wait you mean Jayne," Wash asked from the pilot's seat.
"Okay time we left," Carter said, "We've still got to check on the rest in the spare pod."
"No need for that," Wash said, "I've got a line on with Mal right now seems like they've seen little to no fighting since Church and his group smashed into the Reaver ship."
"Carter we've got the data and are heading back," Tex called on the comms.
"Then we are about finished with this wreck," Carter said, "Church is on his way back with the data."
"I'll tell Mal and you two can start the sweep of the ship once Church's team gets back," Wash said, "Don't want any Reavers left on us when we are chasing their leader."
Carter nodded as he and Cloak headed back to the engine room to give the news to the rest.