Chapter 48: Necromorphs, Technonuts and Firesparks
Character Qui-gon Jin
Qui-gon, Kota and Gandalf took the basement of the building to search. The lighting was poor and the deep red rock of the structure made it even more difficult to see in the gloom. Fortunately Qui-gon didn't use just his sight to peer through the dingy rooms but the Force as well. Kota did the same, since he didn't have sight in any other way and Gandalf used his newly acquired staff to light up the rooms he was working in. They were looking for either Issac or Carver or records on Malachor V.
"Find anything," Kota asked as they met back up in the hall and moved to the next block of rooms.
"Nothing yet," Gandalf replied, "Though I suspect that we won't find the records or the survivors in any room that is not sealed up."
"True," Qui-gon stated, "But the Sith have a habit of hiding in plain sight. I would not be surprised to find a passage in one of these rooms that leads to something of interest to us."
"Without the Force I doubt our survivors would have been able to open any of those passages," Kota said.
"It is likely that they would have found a room that was easy to defend and made that their outpost there," Gandalf added.
"That would seem likely," Qui-gon agreed.
"Hold up," Kota barked, "Heat signature, just around that corner. Doesn't match any droid I recognize looks more like a mining laser of some sort."
"Could be carried by the people we are looking for," Gandalf said, "We should try and speak with them. Hello Issac, Carver is that you?"
After a few seconds two figures walked around the corner, both in armored body suits, one red and one blue, and armed with a three pronged laser pistol. Their helmets retracted into the suit to reveal their faces. One was grizzled with short cut hair while the other looked tired and scarred with slightly longer hair that stood up slightly from his head.
"I guess you found our makeshift beacon," the tired one in blue armor said, "I'm Issac this is Carver. We are quite lost, almost out of food and just finished off the last of the water a few hours ago. Your timing could not have been better."
"I am Gandalf, this is Kota and Qui-gon Jin," Gandalf said, "We are glad we found you our leader, K, says he knows of you and would like to speak with you when it is convenient."
"How about something to drink first and a way off this planet," Carver replied, "Those Necromorphs are still out there and we need to stop them."
"Of course," Qui-gon said, "Our ship is at the spaceport we will take you there as soon as we have the information we came here looking for. As for water here you can have some of our extra canisters." Issac and Carver moved down the hall and joined up with the three as Qui-gon passed them two extra water bottles.
"Ah that is good," Carver remarked after a long swig, "This place sucks the water from your bones almost as fast as you can drink it."
"Agreed," Kota said, "Korriban has always been a hostile place, the very planet seems to want to kill you."
"A place as bad as this makes me wonder what information would be so important that an entire team would be sent in to find it," Issac said, "What are you looking for?"
"Information on a planet," Qui-gon replied, "Malachor V to be precise. We believe something is happening there that threatens the rest of the galaxy and we want to know what it could be."
"I'll tell you what it is," Carver said, "The Necromorphs, they took off in a frenzy soon after we got here."
"What exactly are Necromorphs," Gandalf said, "K didn't explain them very well."
"They are an alien life form that converts dead organic material into their cells and operate on a hive mind structure," Issac said. "They build enough material up so they can create what is basically a living moon that sends out a signal to all the planets that they affect causing outbreaks which build up material for another moon. This cycle continues perpetually it would seem."
"So they are a relatively basic creature," Kota remarked, "That could be very bad."
"Basic," Carver coughed, "These things can survive in space, under oceans, literally anywhere."
"Even Malachor V," Qui-gon said, "Korriban is a planet of the Dark side of the Force. It has a will, so to speak, of its own. This is seen in the animals and vegetation that survive here. If it influenced a species as voracious, adaptable and enduring as these Necromorphs. Then it very well could be them that went to Malachor V. We need to know what the Sith found there to be sure however."
"Then lets go get this information you guys are looking for," Carver said.
"What would it be in," Issac asked.
"Holograms most likely," Kota said.
"We saw a room filled with what looked like holograms a few days ago when we were exploring the sub-levels trying to find supplies," Carver said, "Maybe that is what you are looking for."
"It is a more promising lead than we currently have," Gandalf said, "Show us the way."
Issac and Carver's helmets went back into place as they waved for the three to follow them. "Place where we found the holograms seems a bit unstable," Issac said, "If you have any protective gear you may want to put it on. Also if you could tell us where we are that would be appreciated."
"Of course our apologies," Gandalf said, "K did mention you were not from this galaxy. You are on Korriban, suffice it to say that you are a very long way from home."
"We are in a different galaxy," Carver asked astonished, "That doesn't seem physically possible."
"Neither does beating something to death with its own skull," Qui-gon said, "But I've seen Tex do that."
"Watch the ceiling," Issac said as he ducked under a door and led them into a partially collapsed hall, "Unless it was a Necromorph I doubt that this Tex guy actually did that."
"Oh Tex did it alright," Qui-gon insisted, "And she is a woman, well an AI woman to be precise."
"So she is an AI, and she can beat people to death with their own skulls," Carver stated as he led them over a bit of the ceiling that had fully collapsed into the hall and into the room above. "Yeah now your just messing with us, AI's don't exist."
"As I recall Earth Gov was very close to producing a working AI until the Unitologists collapsed them," Issac said, "If we really are in a different galaxy then why couldn't an AI that can break the laws of nature be possible."
"To be fair it was a demon that she was beating to death," Gandalf added.
"I don't think that is helping your, I'm not crazy plea," Kota said, "I really did just meet these two, well Gandalf at least."
"Here we are," Issac said as they ducked through a door and into a massive room with a vaulted ceiling held up by pillars. "The lighting is pretty bad in here but I've worked with worse. I assume the various stations are what you are looking for?"
Spread around the room in alcoves carved into the wall were hundreds of holographic storage servers. This was exactly what Qui-gon was hoping for, now they just had to find the right record.
"This is perfect," Qui-gon said as he walked up to one of the interfaces, "Now just give me a minute to find the information we need." The system was old but functional, if a bit slow at searching through the stored files. After about ten minutes it pulled up the hologram of Malachor V. The planet was a crushed mess of gravitational and magnetic storms that kept the shattered remains of the planet crushed on top of each other.
"That is where you want to go," Carver asked, "Doesn't look like there would be much there."
"Looking at this that seems to be the idea," Kota said.
"How are you looking at it," Issac asked, "Or walking around for that matter, haven't you gotten your eyes replaced?"
"Oh I did but the darn implants are in the shop right now so I'm just using the Force to see," Kota said.
"The Force," Carver asked, "That is a generic name for it isn't it?"
"The Force isn't a product," Gandalf said, "It is the connection of energy that they share with all matter. Through it Jedi such as Kota and Qui-gon can see things without sight, preemptively deflect blows, move objects many times their size and many other feats that would be super human otherwise."
"Well I guess you have been paying attention to all my boring rants about the Force," Qui-gon said. "Okay I've got the location, atmosphere is recorded as breathable, gravity on the surface is normal but the magnetic storms mess with large electrical systems, like on a space ship. I'll give K a call and tell him we've found the information and met up with you two. Then we can head to the spaceship."
"Good," Carver remarked, "The sooner we are off this rock the better."
"K we've found Issac and Carver," Qui-gon said into the radio.
"Well that is some good news at least," K/C said, "What about the information?"
"Found that too," Qui-gon added, "We are heading back to the spaceport now, we have a lot to talk about."
"I would imagine so, I'll tell Star to regroup" K/C replied, "Legolas, Gimli lets go."
"Okay the other teams are heading out now," Qui-gon said, "We should as well."
"Follow us back out then," Issac said as he turned and headed back the way they had come.
"I don't like the sound of these Necromorphs," Kota said, "But I really don't like the sound of Dark side enhanced Necromorphs."
"Agreed," Qui-gon and Gandalf said as the three followed Issac and Carver out of the structure.
Character Issac Clarke
Issac and Carver looked between Coris and C then back again as they waited for Qui-gon to finish processing the data they recovered from Korriban. Gandalf introduced them to the rest of the crew when they boarded the Pestilence but the explanation for K, C and Coris was unique.
"So you're in K's body, K is in C's body and C is in a succubus body," Carver asked for clarification.
"Yes," K/C said.
"That would explain your voice," Issac added, "The male female tone switching is a bit distracting."
"It is probably worse for them," Coris said, "I figure the only reason they can speak clearly to us is due to them having been together for so long and their intimate knowledge of how the other thinks."
"Your lucky we can too," K/C said, "Seriously as soon as we are done here we have got to find where you left your body."
"It would seem unlikely that his body would have survived long without him in it," Ivan said.
"Actually my form has a very unique way of preserving itself when I am out of it," Coris said, "When I am gone the crystalline structure will replicate itself for quite a long time before I must return to it. By that time it would probably have replicated itself enough times to fill up a planet several times."
"Crystalline huh," Carver said, "What like diamond?"
"A carbon and gold compound actually," Coris replied, "Hard enough to resist damage and flexible enough to move."
"So gold and diamond," Issac stated, "It seems like your body would be very valuable."
"Well only when I am in it," Coris added, "In it's replication form it is more like sand, grainy and waiting to be programmed."
"Wait your body is a sandy pile of programmable matter," Ivan asked.
"Correct," Coris said, "Last I recall I was on a fairly large planet with three dominant species, one was animalistic, one was human and one was something else, something evil."
Issac watched as K/C, Ivan and the Doug form, a large snake creature, looked between each other before the four exclaimed, "Dust!"
"What is Dust," Issac asked, genuinely curious about the substance that was apparently Coris' body in a preserved state.
"It has been the primary fuel, weapon and technological advancement of the planet Remnant for thousands of years," K/C said, "Their entire civilization is built on Coris' remains."
"Hey we've got a destination," Dom said as Delta entered the room.
"Good," Ivan remarked, "After hearing Issac and Carver's description of these Necromorphs I would love to study them."
"Only if it is to find a better way of killing them," Issac said, "I see one it will die if it can."
"What do you mean if it can," Coal asked, "These guys sound like Lambent to me."
"Yes the giant parasite of your home planet," Carver countered, "We've heard, plenty of times."
"There was a scientist that experimented with the Necromorphs when they first broke out," Issac said, "He created versions of them that wouldn't die, they would just continually regrow their lost limbs."
"That shouldn't be a problem for us," Ivan said, "My nanobot cloud destroys things on a cellular level, as do K and C's attacks."
"Ah good you are all here," Gandalf said as he, Legolas, Gimli, Star, Juno, Kota and Qui-gon entered the hangar that everyone was gathered in.
"I am technically everywhere here," Doug corrected.
"That is really freaking creepy," Carver added.
"No him on that Ark is creepier," Sam said as she scratched the back of her neck.
"Oh there is more to you," Issac remarked, "That is impressive."
"Yes I currently operate within five different dimensions," Doug said.
"Now you're just showing off," Gimli pointed out.
"How close are we to the planet," Issac asked.
"We should be there in a few minutes," Doug replied, "We should probably get in the drop ships or positions for those of you to big for the ships."
Issac wonder how sturdy the Pelican drops ships were as they got in. He had seen one to many ships destroyed by the Necromorphs to be overly confident in any vehicle. The Pelican seemed maneuverable and sturdy however so with a shrug at Carver's questioning look he got in.
"Okay Malachor V is in range," Doug said, "The Pelicans are good to depart."
Star's Rouge Shadow zipped out of the hangar bay followed by the two Pelicans. Qui-gon was driving the one that Issac and Carver were in with Gandalf, Legolas and Gimli while Baird piloted the other one with Delta in it. Through the pilot window Issac got the first look at Malachor V. He gave a low whistle and waved Carver up to look at the remains of the planet.
"It looks like a planet crack went overkill on it," Carver remarked as he viewed the asteroid field that surrounded the chunks of planet that were still bound together by gravity.
"I have to admit it looks worse than we thought," Qui-gon said, "The records on it are obviously outdated."
"Or something has disturbed it," Legolas said, "We shall find out soon enough there go K/C, Doug and Coris now." The mentioned three zoomed past the Pelican and were headed straight for the planet. K/C was clearing a path through the asteroids with some energy beam attack that they used to dissolve the asteroids. Ivan followed behind them with his jet pack as they all made their way down to the plant.
"What do you think we will find down there," Gimli asked.
"If the Necromorphs are here," Issac replied, "Death itself."
Character Ezio
His sword found a Reaper's spine as his hidden blade found another one's throat. Leah's bolts were also finding their homes in the Reapers but it was Cain, Lil, and Diablo's magic combined with Beth's demon tainted attacks that were the real killer of the Reapers. After they had rescued the king of Westmarch Tyreal had directed them to the sandy wastes outside a city named Caldeum. He believed that was where the Horadrim Zoltun Kulle was when he was imprisoned. So now Ezio, Leah, Cain, Diablo, Bethany and Lil were forging their way across the desert to try and find the mage's archives.
"I hate this sand," Beth grumbled as she appeared out of a dust cloud, "I've got it in my boots my hair, my gloves, everywhere!"
"It's the desert sis," Lil reminded her as the last Reaper fell to her disintegrate spell. "We've dealt with deserts before."
"And I never liked them," Beth snapped as she sent a glare Lil's way and crossed her arms.
"I like the desert," Diablo rumbled as they moved further into the sands, "the heat and dryness reminds me of home."
"That is probably another reason for her not to like it," Ezio remarked.
"Yeah why did we get paired with you anyway," Beth asked.
"Because you're a demon hunter and need a demon to feed off of," Diablo replied, "So here I am."
"Also his soulstone can be used as a locator for other soulstones in the area," Cain added, "That is why he is leading."
"Was leading," Diablo corrected, "The stone we are looking for should be directly below us."
"How are we supposed to get down to it," Ezio asked.
"D, amp me were going down," Lil said.
"Oh no not again," Beth said. But it was too late as Diablo channeled power into Lil who then enveloped the group in a teleport. Oddly Ezio didn't feel like floating or falling the surroundings simply changed around him. Instead of the blazing sun and hot sand of the desert above he was now in a cool chamber that was lit with a red glow coming from floating crystal pillars. Then the head ache hit him. "God, Lil!"
"Ah yeah warning next time," Leah exclaimed.
"It's not that bad," Lil retorted in her defense.
"Look," Cain said, "That must be the stone."
He was pointing a a large, black soulstone that was hovering above the center of a massive pit.
"Well that will make for an interesting jump," Beth stated before they all looked at Ezio.
"Oh come on," Ezio exclaimed, "How would I even get back?"
"I can't teleport the stone but I can teleport you and what your holding," Lil said, "Hold onto the stone and I can teleport you both."
"Blarg me," Ezio sighed as he started climbing the nearest pillar so he could jump to the stone.
"Ezio be careful," Leah said.
"Ah he'll be fine," Diablo said, "besides he hasn't knocked you up yet, he won't go and die before then." Diablo roared with laughter at Leah's combination of a glare and trying to hide in her armor. Ezio ignored them all as he gauged his jump then launched himself at the stone.
"Ezio," Leah yelled as he fell towards the stone. He latched onto it and the stone began to fall but Lil was faster than gravity and had him and the stone teleported to them before he fell below the rim of the pit.
"Okay next time someone else gets to jump onto the floating object," Ezio said, "Lil, thanks."
"Head ache," Lil asked.
"No... and there it is again," Ezio said as he put a hand up to his temple, "Can't you do anything about that?"
"So what are we going to do with this rock," Beth asked.
"You are going to give it to me," A voice rasped from behind them. Turning around Ezio saw a tall figure with gray ethereal wings in a pointed hood covering it's face in blackness, and wrapped in gray robes with plate armor strapped to them. He also carried two sickle like weapons.
"Malthael," Diablo hissed. "You're not getting the soulstone."
"I don't see how any of you can stop me," Malthael said as he sent a wave of mist at the six of them. Cain intervened with a wall of magic that diverted the mists around them.
"He is death," Cain said, "His attacks go straight for your soul."
"Really," Beth said, "Well good thing I don't have one." With that she morphed into a being of pure shadow that stood ten feet tall and was covered with horns and spines and shrouded in flames. Her bow was replaced with a smoldering shadow form of the weapon as she strode out of the field that Cain was using to hold back the life leeching mists.
"What is she," Ezio asked Lil.
"She is Pain," Lil replied flatly, "Lots and lots of pain."
The echoing crack of the first arrow striking Malthael was accompanied by a howl from the shadowy angle of death. He then charged her but Beth was not going to take any flack from this atrocity that stood before her. The second shot was accompanied with four flaming projectiles and two more bolts that seemingly were summoned from the very mists that Maltheal was generating. Beth continued to send staggering arrow and accompanying projectiles into Maltheal until he was pinned to the wall of the chamber.
"Shouldn't we help her," Ezio asked.
"Our attacks would do nothing to him," Cain said, "Maltheal channels the power of death, our weapons and attacks would go right through him."
"So why does Beth's attacks harm him," Leah asked.
"My sister, the real Bethany, died the night the demons attacked us," Lil explained, "That is her form that I revived and linked to her spirit again. But instead of just getting my sister back, I also unlocked her heritage. Bethany can trace her lineage all the way back to Inarius and Lilith, that is why she is so comfortable around them. I also share the same blood but it manifested as the wizardry that I command instead of the uniting of both angelic and demonic forces. Diablo is demon and Maltheal, though misguided is angle, and Beth is fueling her rage from both sources. Maltheal may channel the power of death but Beth is neither dead nor alive, she is Pain."
"So Maltheal is fighting the very power that he himself is using," Ezio said as he continued to watch the fight between the two opponents. Maltheal had unpinned himself from the wall and was now striking back at Beth, she just laughed at his attempts to harm her as his blades passed through her shadowy form. "Wouldn't that mean that Maltheal would then have an unlimited supply of power since he can just draw more from her?"
"It would," Diablo said as he hefted the black soulstone, "But I've got an idea about that which might just unbalance the scales."
"Not it," Leah, Cain and Lil all stated.
"Really," Ezio said as he turned to the three only to have Diablo grab him up and punch the soulstone into him. The feeling was like nothing he had ever experienced. Both a rush of energy and a separation from that energy. As he fell to the ground Leah ran over to catch him but she need not have bothered as he righted himself and landed on his feet.
"Dad what did you do," Leah yelled.
"He is the only one who didn't have any powers to stop the stone from integrating with him," Diablo said, "Now he is a conduit for the stone's power."
"Which is," Lil asked.
"This stone was designed to ensnare both demons and angles," Cain said, "Or that is the story anyways. But if true then Ezio just became death itself. Capable of drawing into himself the energy of any created thing, Maltheal included."
"But how do I use it," Ezio asked as he felt the energy course through him.
"Direct contact with your blades should do the trick," Diablo said, "Your ranged attacks won't channel the stone's power however."
"I can live with that," Ezio said, "Wish me luck."
"Be careful," Cain warned, "Maltheal can not steal your soul now but he can still kill you with those blades."
By this time Maltheal had figured out that a fireball could knock Beth back if not actually hurt her and the two were at a stand off. So Ezio did what he would normally do, find a vantage point and descend on the target for the kill. Unfortunately this meant he had to climb up a pillar or two to get high enough above the floating Maltheal. Neither of the combatants noticed him as he moved through the mists so when he landed on Maltheal's shoulders, knocking the shade to the ground, Beth was surprised enough to stop her relentless onslaught and Maltheal didn't even have time to retaliate as Ezio's blade drove through his hood and into the back of his head.
They all then watched in horror as all of Maltheal's mists and the shade himself began to be pulled into Ezio. Ezio himself was locked in the killing blow as he acted as the portal for Maltheal's spirit to be absorbed into the stone that now resided within him. Once it was clear Ezio jerked his hidden blades out of Maltheal's now crumpled hood and shook himself as he retracted the blades.
"That was unexpected," Beth said as she dispelled the shadows that were surrounding her, "Thanks though he didn't really seem to be affected by my attacks."
"That is because you were both channeling the same power," Leah said as she came over to Ezio and kissed him. "And you are amazing."
"Well I try my best," Ezio remarked as he touched the cheek Leah had kissed as she walked over to Lil to see about how they were going to get out of the chamber.
"That was suave," Beth remarked, "Maybe you two getting together isn't just a joke huh?"
"We would certainly appreciate it if you would stop making it so," Ezio said.
"Okay," Beth said solemnly after a brief pause, "Sis and I don't want that kind of life for ourselves but we can understand that many do and we can respect that."
"That is surprisingly mature for you," Ezio said.
"And did you just crack a joke," Beth replied as they joined the other four, "Sis how are we getting out of here?"
"Teleport seems to be the only way," Lil said, "Sorry."
"Why not just teleport us all the way back to the city then," Leah commented.
"Oh you didn't," Beth started but once again they were teleported in the middle of her sentence and appeared in the bazaar of Caldeum. Once again with massive headaches.
"Okay even I have a headache," Diablo muttered as people screamed and scattered around them. After they got their bearings again the six decided to head out of the city before the guards could get through the crowd of people and reprimand them.
"The more I think about it the more I am convinced that Shepard took the easy way out," Ezio said as they ducked through the gates out of the city and started their trek back to Westmarch.
Character Gaige
"You found what," Gaige asked excitedly.
"We may have found a trail that leads to Reana," her Dad, Adams, said again over the long range comms array, "I'll keep you updated as we pursue the lead. What about you all, any signs of Reapers working with this Bandit group?"
"That is what we are going to go see about today," Gaige replied, "Maya came up with the plan so that is solid, Mr. Torgue however is another matter."
"Yes I suppose he would be," Adams stated grimly, "Just don't let him do anything stupid that would put you in danger..., or let that Axton guy take all the heat."
"Ah Dad," Gaige replied, "He gets all the heat he can take from me. Oh here come's Mordi, got to go talk with you later." Gaige ended the call as Mordecai and Bloodwing entered the comms room on the Hunter. The room was basically a giant screen that covered one wall and three more walls and a door. There was a vending machine and a water cooler positioned in the corner for convenience during long calls but otherwise the blue room was pretty bare.
"Any good news," Mordi asked.
"Possibly," Gaige said, "Dad seems to think they have a lead on Mom."
"Well that sounds promising at least," Bloodwing said, "Are you excited to go up against Bandit?"
"I don't know," Gaige replied, "If they really have Reaper tech then no and if they don't probably also no. I just don't see how they would have become a major player in the weapons industry unless there were a bunch of new buyers of crappy guns or they really got a technology boost."
"I have to agree," Mordi added, "Bandit never really had anything worth two credits. Makes one wonder how they got so big so quickly."
"Well we won't find out sitting around down here," Gaige said, "Come on lets go to the bridge."
Several minutes and a boring elevator ride later Gaige, Mordi, and Bloodwing were on the bridge where Maya and Lily were arguing with Krieg about how to pilot the Hunter. Okay maybe arguing with Krieg is the wrong way to put it. Krieg was piloting while Lily and Maya were arguing between each other over whether he should pilot the Hunter. Both Sirens power wings were visible meaning that they were really into this argument.
"Whoa Lily chill," Mordi said upon seeing the smoldering, melty, sparking, warpy situation on the bridge, "If Krieg has piloted this thing with the two of you arguing behind him and tearing the plating up off the floor then I would bet he is even better when he isn't distracted."
"Says the sniper who claims to be a better shot while drunk," Lily retorted, "I had hoped at least you would support me. I guess it doesn't matter now, we're closing in on the Bandit merchant ship. You didn't happen to pass Roland on you way up here did you?"
"No," Gaige answered, "One that note though has anyone seen Ax today?"
"Paper salt parrots," Krieg cackled.
"See that is who we are letting drive us around," Lily said.
"He said Ax and Roland are in the simulation room," Maya translated, "Why don't you two go find your boyfriends. Mordecai, Bloodwing you two go gather the rest of our crew. I wish Scooter had gotten around to fixing the intercom systems..."
"Really," Gaige remarked, "Repulsion plating for the hull is way cooler than a comm system. Besides I'm sure I could fix it up. I am a mechanic after all."
"She does have that robot to speak for her mechanical and electrical skills," Lily agreed, "After we go get Ax and Roland why don't you do that so Mordi and Blood don't have to travel all over the ship."
"Can do, will do," Gaige replied, "Now I wonder what they are doing in the sim room?"
They found out a few minutes later when Gaige and Lily walked in to see the two men staring ravenously at a turret that the two must have concocted. It had the healing and supply matrix of Roland's Scorpio turret combined with the dome shield, double barrel, missile launching, magnetic capabilities of Ax's Dahl turret. Gaige was instantly in love with the device.
"Wow what is that," Lily asked drawing the two men's attention to them.
"Oh hi," Roland greeted, "This is the newest design for a turret that me and Ax have come up with."
"Yeah it is pretty sweet," Ax added, "Dahl never adopted the Atlas matrix for running regeneration fields or ammo digi-struct, but now we've got the best of both worlds."
"She's beautiful," Gaige stated as she hugged the turret.
"Okay that is a little weird," Roland commented.
"Look until I ran into all of you, specifically you Ax, the only friends I had were robots and my family," Gaige said in her defense as she stroked the turret, "So is she the only one?"
"For now we are going to up load it to the digi-struct database so we can replicate it," Ax said, "I have to agree though, definitely a she."
"I want one," Gaige stated as she let go of the turret and walked over to Ax, "I can have one right?"
"Tell you what when we get married you can use my turret all you want," Ax said.
"Wow really," Gaige exclaimed, "Aw still another year till I'm twenty one..."
Roland just made the flew over her head gesture to Ax's comment, Ax rolled his eyes, Lily just smirked as she led the four back to the bridge. Once back on the bridge Gaige got to see the Bandit capital fleet, forty ships in all but each one was the size of Harbinger or bigger and they all had cannons that would blow Torgue HQ or the Hunter into a billion pieces. Fortunately they were just arranging to buy some of the weapons and then inspect them for Reaper tech. Based on the size of the cannons Gaige was actually glad they were not going to be getting into a fight with Bandit. She was also totally pumped to get to see how the weapons were made.
Character Blake Belladonna
Blake woke to the sight of Sun's face, his snoring, tongue lolled out, drooling, face. She smirked as she leaned in to kiss him, putting his tongue back in his mouth with her's as she did so. His saliva was sweet, just like the rest of him. Blake held the kiss for a few moments before pushing herself off of Sun and heading over to the bathroom. Blake quickly showered, dressed and did her hair before heading back through the bedroom, where Sun was once again in his lolled tongue state, and downstairs to get breakfast and check her scroll for any news about James, Dust, or whatever dangerous situation was next on their agenda. Weiss had stayed at her parents' place to help out with James. Yang and Ruby were helping their father and mother rearrange the apartment to Summer's liking so that left Blake and Sun in RWBY's lodging. Thinking about it Blake was quite happy to have time alone with Sun. They would have to find their own place eventually, especially if they wanted to have children but that time was still a ways off and they always had DC to fall back on if they needed to.
Blake got new updates since Weiss' last update on James. He was doing better but his nerves still crawled whenever he moved. Ruby had posted a picture of her and Penny with a massive cookie from last night at... two in the morning, seriously when did that girl sleep? Lastly there was the weeks agenda from Ozpin. Even with DC around the Grimm had never ceased to be a threat, in fact it seemed like the Grimm had increased their activity since DC had shown up. This week there was a suspect cave system just south of the base of the cliffs of Vale's southern border that needed to be cleared. Blake signed Sun and herself up to check it out, since the rest of her team were otherwise occupied.
She heard the shower turn on as she started eating a bowl of her tuna flavored cereal. Blake didn't even hear Sun move from the bed to the shower, reminding her that he could be very light on his feet when he wanted to. Then again he could also charge into the middle of a brawl just as readily as Yang. Blake had figured Sun was a good mix of both her and Yang. As she thought over these ideas and ate her breakfast Blake didn't notice the shower turn off. Consequently she yelped when Sun wrapped his arms around her and picked her up in a crushing hug.
"Ah Sun," Blake laughed, "Put me down I almost knocked over my milk."
"Good morning to you to lovely," Sun said as he spun Blake around and kissed her, "You are amazing you know that right?"
Blake smiled, tilted her head and cocked her hips as she replied, "This wouldn't have anything to do with last night would it?"
"Oh come on I'm sure I've told you you are amazing before now," Sun defended.
"I may recall you saying so once or twice," Blake agreed, "But Yang has said it more than you. Here want some breakfast we've got a cave to go check out."
"A cave huh," Sun said as he went over to cook himself an omelet, "I'm cool with caves. Also I wouldn't rate yourself by how many times Yang says your awesome, she said that ten gallon bowl of chilli was awesome, or that seven foot lizard, or even that giant bundle of red balloons."
"She does use that term a lot," Blake agreed, "Now hurry up, Yang, Ruby and Weiss are going to be out this week so the sooner we clear out these caves the sooner we can get back to... well I'm sure you get the idea."
"Mmhmmhhmm," Sun mumbled through a mouth full of cheese, pepper, and bacon omelet. He gave a thumbs up sign to emphasize his point.
A few hours later, around eleven, Blake and Sun found themselves looking down into the mouth of a cave that could either take them a few minutes to scout out or could take the the whole week. It all depended on how big it was going to end up being and how many Grimm might have made their homes there.
"Hey remember how I said I was cool with caves," Sun remarked as the two started walking into the cave system, "Not so sure about that now."
"You can see in the dark," Blake stated, "What would bother you about a cave?"
"It's not the dark it is the enclosed space," Sun replied.
"Weren't you a stowaway," Blake commented.
"Ah ha ha ha," Sun laughed, "How long have you been waiting to use that?"
"A good while," Blake confided.
The banter was interrupted by the sound of claws clacking on stone. The noise was originating from one of the larger tunnels in the cave. It was likely that a large Grimm was coming down the hall to investigate. Sun climbed up behind a boulder and Blake slid into the shadows behind a column. She readied Gambol Shroud as Sun drew his weapons, Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang, in staff form. What appeared out of the tunnel was not a Grimm however, it was a creature of rock, dirt and branches that seemed to be sniffing around for something. Before either Blake or Sun could get a closer look at the creature a large Beowolf came dashing past them and snatched the creature up. It turned and looked at the two hunters before letting out a series of three howls and heading off down the tunnel.
"After it," Blake exclaimed as she dashed down the tunnel after it, Sun right behind her as they ran. The Beowolf was always just a turn ahead of them, preventing any clear shots at the creature. As they followed the Grimm deeper into the cave, Blake began to feel that something was off about the situation. One, why would a Beowolf hunt a creature such as the earthen beast she saw. Two the Beowolf would have had to of let them pass it on their way in, meaning it was watching them but not attacking them. Three the more they followed the Beowolf the more Blake got the impression that it was leading them somewhere. As the Grimm ducked around another corner Blake signaled for Sun to hold up.
"What is it," Sun asked as he crouched down beside her at the edge of the turn that the Beowolf took.
"Something is off that Beowolf is not acting like a Grimm at all," Blake said, "It seems to know we are a danger to it, but it want us to follow it."
"So maybe it has a trap or something," Sun said, "It is big, probably an old Grimm with a few tricks up its sleeve."
"If it had intended to hurt us it could have earlier," Blake said, "You saw the direction it came from, it was behind us. No I think it is trying to show us something."
"Grimm can't think like that can they," Sun remarked.
"No," Blake said slowly, "But just because something looks like a Grimm doesn't mean that is has to be. Consider K he rarely looks like what he is."
"Okay so what do you want to do," Sun asked.
"Lets keep following it," Blake said, "But lets make sure it knows we are not actively trying to harm it."
"Right," Sun said, "The weapons are just for if it tries to savagely kill one of us." He was cut off from going on when a low whine came from around the corner. Blake looked around to see the Beowolf at the end of the tunnel partly sticking out of a side room.
"Looks like it is trying to lead us somewhere," Blake said as she walked around the corner, "Come on, I don't think it wants to hurt us."
"Didn't K say these things were manifestations of sin," Sun commented.
"He did," Blake replied, "And they might very well be spawned by such actions but I've also seen infants of the Grimm, some of them are naturally born as well."
"So it is a cute demon that want to eat you," Sun remarked, "I'd still be wary of it."
As they slowly approached the Beowolf it surprised them both by letting out a yip, a high, sharp sound that seemed to be happy, and ducking inside the room it was half sticking out of. Blake got to the entrance first and used her shadow clone to jump over the entrance way and silently land on the other side while Sun took up position on his side of the entrance. They came around at the same time to see the Beowolf pawing at the scattered remains of the earthy creature and trying to throw them at a mirror.
"A mirror," Blake stated, "What would one of these be doing down here, and such an ornate one at that." The mirror was large enough that it easily reflected the whole Beowolf. It was in a gold frame and mounted between two chiseled columns of what looked to be marble.
"What is it doing," Sun asked as he indicated the Beowolf's pawing of the creature's parts towards the mirror.
"I don't know," Blake admitted as she walked up to the creature, "It seems docile though."
"Yeah I'm betting that other thing isn't thinking so," Sun said as he carefully approached the Beowolf. They were both standing in front of the Grimm now and it had given up on the earth construct and was now looking them over. Blake reached out a hand and patted it's muzzle, causing it to purr.
"Beowolves purr," Blake remarked, "That is..." Her sentence was cut off as a light flashed from behind them and the three, Blake, Sun and the Beowolf, were no longer in the cave but in a plain. It was night on the plain but the stars were not in any formations that they recognized and the moon was not cracked.
"What just happened," Sun exclaimed as he whipped out Ruyi and Jingu Bang in nun-chuck/shotgun form. Blake had Gambol Shroud and sheath ready but other than the Beowolf, who was sniffing around the area, there was no apparent threat.
"Well where are we," Blake said out loud, "Come on, lets see what we can find."
The Beowolf howled once as Blake and Sun started off before following them.
"Looks like we've picked up a friend," Blake added, "Maybe we should name him?"
"Is it midnight already," Sun asked.
"I don't know," Blake replied, "My scroll is not working right here. Midnight though, I like that name."
"Whoa wait what? You're actually naming him," Sun exclaimed, "We can't keep him."
"Oh I don't know," Blake said, "I think we can." She emphasized her point by getting on the Beowolf's back. "See?"
"Well if he is offering free rides," Sun stated as he climbed up, "Midnight it is."
Midnight yipped before taking off towards the moon. He moved with purpose as they speed through the plains and by day break were at the edge of a dense forest. At the start of the path that wound through the forest was a woman. Tall with luscious red hair that fell down to her hips, sparkling brown eyes, white robes, almost translucent wings and a crown that shown like the light of stars. Midnight ran right up to her and she was unafraid.
"You brought some," the woman praised Midnight, "Thank you. Greetings to you two, I am Aurora, Queen of Light and Lemuria, the land in which you have found yourselves. I regret having to take you from your world but the creatures of your world have been seeping into ours and even with my significant powers we have had a hard time turning them back, we need people who hunt these creatures to aid us."
"So you send one of the very creatures of our world to get us," Blake said, "Risky."
"I understand but so is bringing you here without your permission," Aurora replied, "And the situation is dire, these woods are already full of creatures like that werewolf there."
"So you tamed Midnight," Sun asked, "How?"
"I honestly don't know," Aurora replied, "I counterattacked him with a ray of light and instead of killing him it calmed him."
"A friendly Beowolf, is better than an angry Beowolf any day," Sun said.
"If creatures from our world can get through to here then creatures from here can get through to our world," Blake stated, "We encountered a creature in the cave we found Midnight in. It was made of rock and dirt and trees, do you know of such constructs?"
"I do," Aurora replied, "They are creatures of the woodland depths, I fear that these beasts from your world are forcing them out into the lands of my people and possibly even your world."
"It would seem that they have already gotten across to our world," Blake said, "That must be why Ozpin didn't have a definite source of the disturbances coming from the cave."
"So were staying then," Sun asked.
"I don't see any other way to keep these creatures out and to keep the Grimm from ravaging another planet," Blake replied, "Aurora if you can get us back home then you have our support."
"I can get you back home indeed," Aurora said, "But first follow me, my team you should meet before we venture into the woods together."
"Right only thing is we can't fly," Sun said, "I hope your team is on the ground somewhere."
"Don't fear they are near," Aurora replied, "I was stationed here to keep an eye on what might be coming out of the forest and to await the Beowolf's, as you call him, return."
"Also Midnight stays with us," Blake said, "He is from our world after all."
"Of course I did not intend to keep such a creature," Aurora said, "Beside Igniculus would have none of it."
"I assume this is one of your friends," Blake commented as they headed away from the woods to a small village.
"You could say that," spoke a voice as a spark of light floated off of the tip of Aurora's crown, "I am Aurora's oldest and dearest friend to be exact."
"An elemental of light," Sun remarked, "Xarle talked about these beings and the power they can command. If you two are friends then I am interested to meet the rest off this band."
"Nice rhyme," Igniculus commented, "We used to play a game when Aurora was little where we would only speak in rhymes."
"I gather you sometimes still do," Blake stated, "So you have a light elemental as a friend, what else dwells in this land I wonder."
"We go to the Capilli village now," Aurora said, "You will meet them shortly as well as one from each of the other races of Lemuria. The Bolmus, Kategida and Piscean."
They arrived at the village to be greeted by a people that was short like the dwarf Gimli but also had a stalk with a glowing orb that sprouted from their head and hung down in front of their face. The Capilli as Aurora called them were apparently the best magic casters in Lemuria. Blake and Sun were quickly introduced to Rubella, Finn, Robert, Oengus, Gen, Tristis and even a rock golem. Finn was a Capilli, Robert was one of the mouse-like Bolmus, Oengus was a fearsome Kategida with very Beowolf like features apart from his armor and Gen was one of the reptilian Piscean.
"You two are strange indeed," the brown furred, bright eyed, energetic Robert stated, "Having only a little fur and some mismatched parts."
"We are Fanus," Blake explained, "This is simply how we are."
"To us you are all strange," Sun added, "Well except the humans, no offense, but we've got humans on Remnant too."
"Let us talk later," Gen, sternness etched on the green scales of her face, said. "I would have us stop these roving beasts before upon people they feast."
Blake picked up that Gen had had a troubled past, she seemed to be the youngest in the party but was the second hardest next to Oengus and followed by Aurora. Blake could tell that Sun had picked up on it too by the way he looked the young girl over.
"You're right," Sun said, "Midnight aside the Grimm are violent and usually hostile, we came here to help and we intend to do just that."
"Additionally our goal when we were warped here was to clear the disturbances in the a cave where we found one of the creatures from here," Blake said, "Helping you may end up helping us too."
"We certainly hope we can be of assistance," Oengus said, "The golem and I tracked the Grimm, correct." Blake gave a confirming nod to Oengus' question before he continued. "Good, the Grimm seem to be gathering deep in the forest's heart. We know not why or what may lie in there but these creatures are attracted to something in that forest."
"It is most likely the altar," Igniculus said, "That place has may powers laid upon it, even one that keeps Aurora from dying."
"So you're immortal too," Sun stated, "Seems to be a lot more of us around than I thought there would be."
"You two are immortal," Finn asked.
"According to Kalathanon," Blake said, "Yes we are, and since we helped him raid Hell itself and bring his friends back from their chosen fate I've a mind to believe him."
"You raided Hell," Aurora said shocked, "To hear it from the Church, that could not have gone well."
"One of our friends almost died," Sun said, "But she is fine now and we've many an ally from K's old connections in addition."
"After we've completed our task in the forest we need to talk," Aurora said, "If Hell has been cleansed then why is evil not dead?"
"You all could come with us when we go back," Blake offered, "James would be the best to explain the situation to you."
"I will take you up on that," Aurora said, "But understand that I must come back here, I am Lemuria's Queen after all."
"Of course," Sun said, "Shall we go find the Grimm in the forest or do you think it will be dark soon?"
"Around Aurora it is never dark," Rubella one of the two jesters in the party said as Oengus and the golem began lumbering off towards the woods. Sun and Blake got on Midnight and followed them in.
Character Weiss
Weiss was laughing as she got out of the car with Jayne, "Your such a pig," she remarked to her boyfriend.
"What I'm just saying they had an entire house to themselves for a night," Jayne said, "You let me under that skirt and we would have had some too." Weiss didn't even bother to reply, she was still to amused by his earlier comment of, "I'll bet they spent all night bouncing on the bed and are sleeping it off."
"How can you make something that sounds so childish sound so inappropriate," Weiss asked as she rang the door bell to the RWBY abode.
"Uhh," Jayne replied, "years of... thinking. Oh and messing with Shepard, hahaha. I've had some really good ones that I've used on him over the years."
"Why am I so inexplicably drawn to you," Weiss asked, "you must have been with plenty of women over the years, stable relationships don't suit you, you have no manners, loyal only to money..."
"Now stop right there," Jayne said, "yeah I've had women, but ain't none of them alive now after the Reavers, I don't use my manners doesn't mean I don't got 'em, I'm ready to step up to an altar or whatever you do here for marriage whenever you are and could you say money again I like the way you say money."
Weiss didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry, she knew Jayne had taken a liking to her and she had hoped his feelings for her were more than just superficial. She opted to just hug him and whisper money into his ear.
"Yeah," Jayne said with a big smile on his face, "shouldn't someone have answered the door by now?"
Weiss let go of him and turned towards the door. With a sigh she pulled out her key and opened it up. She saw the signs that Blake had been up, her cereal was out and Sun's cooking had left a few ingredients laying about but the two were not inside.
"Maybe they went out," Jayne suggested when he saw Weiss' disgruntled look.
"We are supposed to go investigate a cave south of the cliffs," Weiss said, "I'll bet Ruby signed us up for it last night after she ate that giant cookie. Why oh why do I ever let her out of my sight?"
"Cause she is nine-teen and," Jayne started only for Weiss to cut him off.
She was trying to message Blake and Sun but her scroll returned an out of range message along with a confirmation that her message had be placed in their inbox for when they return to the serviced area. Weiss was instantly concerned, there was no place on Remnant that the scrolls didn't reach and even when they were aboard DC the scrolls could connect via direct links. So where had Blake and Sun gone that was that far from any of them. "Jayne, we may need Serenity," Weiss said, "Blake and Sun are not answering their scrolls more importantly they are out of range of a planetary wide network."
"Oh that sounds bad," Jayne remarked, "I'll call Mal and see what we can do."
"Thanks. I'll call Ruby and tell her we didn't find them here," Weiss said as she dialed Ruby's number on her scroll.
"Hey Weiss did you get Blake and Sun?" Ruby answered.
"No they are not here," Weiss replied, "Why did you sign us up for this cave clear now, we are all a little busy."
"I didn't sign us up for it," Ruby replied, "I thought you did."
"Well if you didn't and I didn't then that means Yang didn't either so... oh no," Weiss said as she realized what had happened, "Blake and Sun went to clear the cave themselves!"
"They are perfectly capable of that aren't they," Jayne asked, "I mean I've seen them fight."
"Yes but that means they will get all of the pay for the job," Weiss replied, "Ruby get Yang we are coming to meet up with you."
"There is pay," Jayne said, "What are we standing around here for then lets go find this cave."
He got into the passenger seat as Weiss took the wheel of her convertible and they roared out from the house and towards the city to collect her team mates.
"Mal says he can't help us going into a cave," Jayne said, "But Shepard said he would join us in searching for your friends."
"He was more than capable if I remember correctly from facing the Reavers," Weiss replied as she shifted into fifth gear, came alongside Yang and Ruby on her bike and they speed away from the city towards the cliffs.
"The old man used to be one of the most feared and classified operatives in the Verse," Jayne informed her, "even after going all preacher man on us he still knows how to fight."
"He can meet us at the base of the cliffs then," Weiss said, "That is where we will park."
"The road goes all the way to the cliff base," Jayne asked.
Weiss just glanced at him and gave a wicked looking smile, "Lets just say Ruby and I figured a way down a while ago."
Jayne looked at her with widening eyes as she downshifted and they drove out of the traffic of the highway and off into the fields that led up to the cliffs, Yang and Ruby were right behind them, Weiss could see both girls' grinning as they plowed towards the cliff edge. The cars back on the road started to pull over and were amassing a crowd of people who were probably trying to stop the two vehicles from driving off the cliff. Jayne was clutching Vera as they went off the cliff and started driving down on a line of Weiss' glyphs. Towards the bottom she placed several slowing glyphs to help stop them in time.
"Whoo," Yang yelled as she jumped off her bike, "We need to do that more often."
"Hey Jayne," Ruby greeted, "Weiss you okay?"
"I'm good," Weiss replied, "I've gotten much stronger since the last time we did that, and we didn't do it with two buses this time."
"You all are crazy you know that right," Jayne said as he finally got out of the car, "Shepard where are you?"
Serenity flew over head and lowered down so that Shepard could drop down on a rope.
"I'm here," Shepard said as he sent the harness back up, "Mal says he will stay above us in case we need something."
"Correction," Mal said as he slid down the rope, "Serenity will stay above, I never said I wouldn't help just that Serenity is to big to fit in the cave."
"We appreciate the help," Ruby said as she waved to Kaylee who was reeling the rope back up as Serenity went to patrol the skies.
"Well you helped save my Verse," Mal said, "Nothing is more important to me than an open sky, so I figured I can do you a favor. Also someone has to keep an eye on Jayne."
"That's what I'm here for," Weiss said.
"And you little lady," Mal finished, "I've seen you fight and that is some reckless style you've got there."
"It is not reckless," Weiss retorted hotly.
"Whether she is reckless or not can wait till later," Yang said, "Right now we need to find my partner and her husband."
Mal drew and cocked his revolver in answer as the six moved into the woods. Weiss was able to track the last location of Blake and Sun's scrolls which led them to the cave system that Blake and Sun had entered earlier.
"Would a cave prevent the scrolls from getting signal," Shepard asked as they entered the cool, dim, cave mouth.
"If they are far enough in," Weiss said, "Their last location was only thirty feet underground, not nearly deep enough to cut off their reception."
"Lets go see where they were last then," Mal said, "Conjecture wont get us anywhere."
Weiss led them through several tunnels that gradually slopped underground. They must have followed the tunnels for a half mile before they ended up in a room where Blake and Sun's last ping came from. Weiss immediately noticed the mirror leaning against one wall of the cavernous space.
"Not everyday you see that in a cave," Yang stated.
"What was supposed to be down here," Jayne asked, "Does the job say?"
"A den of Ursa Majors," Ruby answered, "Probably six or seven of them."
"Even with your fighting abilities I don't see how two on seven is a good idea," Mal said.
"Blake would have thought of it as an annoyance," Yang said, "Most of them would have been dead before they knew she was here. Sun on the other hand would have woken the whole cave up and tried to fight them all at once. The fact that I see signs of neither means that they probably didn't make it to the Ursai."
"I hope they are okay," Ruby sighed, "What could have happened to them?"
"K has mentioned that several Dragon Company members were warped to the place he met them," Shepard said, "It is possible that our friends have faced a similar occurrence. That mirror however reminds me of some old tales from Earth that was. They used to say you could sometimes catch glimpses of other lands and people through them, even travel there if the mirror was attuned to it well enough."
"One way to find out," Yang said as she walked up and touched the mirror as Ruby tried to stop her. Nothing happened however, much to Ruby's relief, but that still left the problem of what happened to Blake and Sun. That is when they heard the low growl from the passage they came in from. Turning towards it Weiss saw a huge Ursa stick it's head into the room. She was readying to attack it when a second and then a third Ursa joined it.
"We need to draw them into a choke point," Jayne said, "Quick down this tunnel." They followed Jayne to the tunnel he was headed for and ducked inside it. Weiss chanced a look back to see Ruby's prediction was spot on, seven Ursai were now making their way towards the tunnel. Normally that wouldn't have worried Weiss but the armored, skeletal, reptilian creature that was directing them gave her a bad feeling that they had gotten in over their head.
"We need to kill that undead," Weiss said.
"Got it," Jayne responded as he brought Vera up and landed five shots on the creature. It just hissed at them as the bullets bounced off some sort of shield that was surrounding it. It then proceeded to surround the first Ursa in a similar shield.
"Or not," Shepard said as they filed back down the tunnel even farther, "Bottle necking them is the best option at this point."
"We need to be in single file to go any farther in," Yang said from the front of the line as she headed into the narrow tunnel first followed by Jayne, Shepard, Mal, Weiss and Ruby who was using Crescent Rose, her massive amount of Aura and a few helpful glyphs that Weiss would throw out, to keep the Ursa at the front of the pack from getting into the tunnel. So when Yang yelped from behind them Weiss was instantly filled with dread.
"Pyrrha what is JNPR doing here," instantly dispelled that dread as Yang spoke and picked herself and Pyrrha up from where they had run into each other.
"We were out in the Emerald Forest hunting down a giant King Taijitu," Pyrrha replied, "It ran in a cave and we followed it, what are you all doing here?"
"Trying not to get eaten by those Ursai," Mal answered. Weiss was surprised that he had picked up the correct pronunciation for the plural so swiftly.
"Oh we were hoping to be able to get out this way," Ren stated, "Now it seems we are trapped."
"Why. Can't. We just. Go. Back. Your. Way?" Ruby asked in between blocks of the lead Ursa's attacks. A loud clang and a hiss gave them all the answer.
"You haven't killed it yet have you," Weiss yelled back to JNPR over the ringing of Ruby's blocks and Jayne, Mal and Book's gunfire.
"We wouldn't be trying to get it out of the tunnels if we had," Jaune replied tersely as he fended off another bite from the serpent.
Weiss cast a series of glyphs to protect Ruby after a particularly strong blow knocked her off balance. "Thanks Weiss," Ruby said as she regained her footing and resumed keeping the Ursai at bay.
"Wash go get us some back up," Mal said into his radio, "We are pretty stuck here, there is not much room either so it can't be anyone too big."
Weiss didn't hear the reply but with how Mal reloaded his weapon she assumed it might be a while before anyone would come to aid them. As soon as she finished that thought however a flare of bright light followed by a massive roar interrupted the undead and Ursai's attacks. To Weiss' astonishment a massive Beowolf, one that could probably be the King of all Beowolves, slammed into the skeleton. Even more surprising was that Blake and Sun were on it's back and were accompanied by a very regal looking woman and a glowing elemental.
"Yeah surprise attack," Sun yelled as he let a stream of shells fly at the undead.
"Looks like we are just in time to save your friends," the woman said.
"Thanks Aurora," Blake replied, "Everyone cover your eyes it is about to get very bright."
Weiss covered her eyes as Aurora flew up into the sky on wings that resembled a dragonfly's. A moment later, even through her hand and squinting eyes the flare of light almost completely whited out Weiss' vision for a minute. Upon regaining sight she saw the the room was clear so she pushed Ruby towards it. "Come on, it's clear this way," Weiss shouted back to JNPR, "Lead the Taijitu this way."
"Great," came Nora's gleeful reply.
"Blake I know you and Sun are Fanus but when did that mean you could tame Grimm," Weiss asked her friend as she approached.
"We didn't tame Midnight," Blake replied, "Aurora did."
"Okay you'll have to explain later," Ruby said, "Here comes the Taijitu." As she said that JNPR ran out of the tunnel and rocks cracking under massive amounts of stress led everyone there to look between each other.
"Igniculus go see what it is that comes our way," Aurora said to the elemental.
"Igniculus," Weiss thought, "A reasonable name for suck a spark."
"All I can see is teeth," Igniculus replied, "it is forcing its way through."
"Jaune how big is this thing," Yang asked.
"It's huge," Nora said with expansive arm gestures and a massive grin, "Like Shelly huge."
"Who is Shelly," Igniculus asked.
"It is someone who is big enough that we need to run," Shepard said, "down here it could just crush us in its path."
"In hind sight that was probably its intent," Jaune said as they all started following Blake back out of the cave.
"No the mirror," Aurora exclaimed as she turned to retrieve it. That is when the snake's head busted into the room and the debris shattered the mirror, Aurora just froze in mid stride. Weiss grabbed her arm and got her moving towards the exit.
"Come on we can find you another way home," Weiss said, "Derrial it looks like you were right, the mirror was a portal."
"It was only a theory," Shepard replied, "But thank you."
"Wash," Mal yelled into his radio again, "Scratch the small sized help get the biggest DC members you can and meet us where you dropped us off!"
"Weiss," Jayne said as they ran down the ever widening tunnels, "When we get out of this jam..."
"You'd better better not say what I think your about to," Weiss said.
"So you don't want to go out for dinner," Jayne replied, "I ain't much of a cook."
Weiss inwardly was both joyful and slightly disappointed, she had thought he was about to propose to her. "That is not what I thought you were going to say," Weiss said, "Dinner sounds good."
"Listen you two love birds," Yang said, "Lets survive this first."
"Oh I am most definitely going to make sure of that," A voice said that Weiss knew oh so well.
Weiss smirked as she saw the exit of the cave, Ivy, her mother, and Glynda both standing there with weapons drawn. Weiss knew then that they were going to be alright.