The Shadow of Fire

Chapter 25: Breaking and Entering

Vale Border

8:35 PM

The squad of airships had flown silently throughout the sky's of Vale, breaking apart arrays of clouds as they flew. The Wilhelm Class Cruiser, the standard Beacon air combat and transport ship, followed at much higher altitudes compared to its much smaller comrades, who flew fairly close to the ground.

The inside of the ships were full of chatter, save for Ulysses ship, for he flew alone in silence. The trio of team were reading off their individual orders, given by Headmaster Ozpin via Scroll as they flew towards their destination.

The target location, which connected with the nearby sewer systems, rested underground below an abandoned Zoo for Grimm and a theme park, the perfect cover for a criminal. The area was covered in uncut trees and bushes which had grown out of control, vines covered many rides and zoo cages, signs of age covering the rusted tracks for the roller coasters.

As the group of ships touched down about seventy feet from the complex, the teams of deadly teenagers began forming up in a large circle behind a large brick wall.

As Ruby began addressing the teams together, along with Ulysses, the group of airships auto pilot flew the crafts away at a safe distance, awaiting the teams return.

"Alrighty then." Ruby began, looking around at the circle of Hunters. "So Headmaster Ozpin sent us maps on our Scrolls, which gives us a layout of the underground sewer system. With it, we should be able to navigate ourselves through it and into the underground complex."

Ruby turned to team CRDL. "Cardin, your team will go in first," She said calmly, tossing a small flashlight to Cardin, who caught it with one hand. "My team and Ulysses will enter after, following by team JNPR. As long as we stay together, but somewhat distant, we can avoid getting lost and still stay hidden from the enemy."

Everyone nodded in agreement, Team CRDL making their way over to the sewer entrance. Weiss was proud of Ruby, she has really grown from the dunce in the Emerald Forest, into a brave and smart Huntress, in Weiss's opinion. She couldn't be any more proud, although Yang was probably the proudest. After all, she was her overprotective sister.

Weiss looked over at the sewer pipe that Team CRDL was entering, and wore a look of determination. She WOULD save Orion, and take Saturn down... once and for all.

Saturn's Throne Room

Underground Complex

Vale Border

9:23 PM

Saturn let out a loud yawn as he walked past Orion's chained form, rubbing his eyes as he took a sip of freshly made black coffee. A little "pick me up" to keep the crime lord awake after hours. Most of the Human and Faunus staff had fallen asleep, leaving the drone squads to do all the work around the complex.

Orion growled as Saturn walked by, grunting in pain as a tube connected to his back took more and more golden blood. As an omnipotent being, he couldn't actually die, so his blood was simply his essence in a physical form. However, even a God could experience pain like mortals.

"It seems that..." Saturn began before yawning. "Your blood has proven to be an infinite supply of Dust. The amount of money that I can make on this operation... Perhaps I will reopen the zoo and park above us. How does, "Saturn and Friends Amusement Park" sound?" The crime lord randomly asked, looking towards his trophy.

"Why don't you stick that zoo and park up your ass?" Orion suggested, a stream of electricity shooting into his body from the chains after the remark, causing his body to shake in agony.

"Now now, don't be so rude." Saturn said, placing the coffee cup a few feet from the Gods mouth. "Thirsty?"

Orion, even as a God, did require sustenance to fully function, but not to survive like normal beings. The aroma of the drink was calling his name, begging him to take a drink. Saturn inched the cup forward with his black boots, causing Orion to lean forward for it.

Just as the cup was within tongues length, Saturn kicked the cup aside, spilling its contents all over the floor.

"Oh well, such a waste." Saturn commented, grabbing Orion by the neck and raising him up. Saturn's black colored eye locked with Orion's own golden orbs.

"I am going to crush your very soul once I end your pathetic friends." Saturn hissed out, dropping the God before letting out a loud yawn. "Now if you'll excuse me..." Saturn said, adjusting his blood red tie on his full grey suit. "I've got a few things to take care of."

Vale Border

Vale Sewer Systems

9:45 PM

"Any idea on the distance left?" Blake asked as Team RWBY made their way through the sewers, Ulysses following closely behind them.

"Not sure." Ruby replied, tapping her ear piece. "Cardin?"

"Hear you. We're just 50 feet ahead. Dove says he sees a light about... 10 more feet ahead. We will meet you there. Cardin out."

Ruby turned back to her team. "Just a little further, just a little ways left to go." The Faunus said, tripping over a soda can before continuing to move ahead. "How far back is JNPR?"

Yang moved her finger from her ear. "They say they can see us, they're close behind sis."

"Good, we should be there in no time."

No sooner than she said those words, the sounds of gunfire filled Ruby's ears. She paused in step, quickly tapping her ear piece.

"Team CRDL! What's happening?"

"We reached the end of the tunnel!" Cardin replied, the sound of metal being crushed sounding. "We've been ambushed! Hightail yourselves down here quickly! Sky, on your right!"

Ruby looked back to her team, panic in her eyes. "We've got trouble."

"What's wrong?" Weiss quickly asked, hand on her rapier.

"It's a trap, Cardin's in trouble." Ruby replied, racing forward down the tunnel with her team and Ulysses in tow. "Hurry!"

As team RWBY plus U reached the end of the sewer line, Ruby slid to a halt, causing the other members to stop behind her, each attempting to look over the youngest girls shoulders to see what was happening.

Below them, in a large room with a long red carpet, was team CRDL. The team was on its knees, weapons in a pile across the room. Several black and red drones walked around with weapons at the ready while four held their hand-machine guns pressed to the teams heads. An array of broken drones about the floor indicated a struggle, which the team wasn't prepared to encounter so early on in the mission.

"This isn't good." Ruby commented, hand reached behind her for Crescent Rose before pausing in the air. "Blake?" She said in a harsh whisper, the girl in question making her way to her leaders side.

"Yes Ruby?" Blake asked, Gambol Shroud in hand.

"I've got an idea." She said, turning to her team. "Blake and I will climb up the walls. The drones aren't looking up, so we should be safe. Once we are in position, Weiss, Yang, and Ulysses, you all take out the four guarding Cardin's team. Then Blake and I will get the jump on the rest."

Yang decided to pipe up after her words. "Why so complicated sis? Can't we just race in and beat 'em?" Yang suggested, popping her knuckles.

"Are you wanting the drones to execute them?" Weiss replied, pointing at the guards. "The second we attack or move in their line of sight, Cardin's team is done for..."

"And that, Weiss, is why it's great to be a Faunus..." Ruby said as she began climbing the wall. "And a free climbing lover." She said as she and Blake disappeared from sight.

"Loves free climbing?" Weiss asked Yang, who grinned in happiness.

"She climbed mountains all the time back home. Was a hobby or something to her." Yang replied, grinning as she recalled her past memories.

"Girls?" Ulysses spoke, adjusting his hat. "We should really be on watch. Talk later, fight now." He said wisely, releasing his clawed weapons.

Vale Border

Vale Airspace

35,000 feet

Ozpin took a sip of coffee as Luna, the defensive A.I of Beacon Academy, teleported from computer station to computer station, changing engine power and recycling the ships shields for the hundredth time.

"Luna," Ozpin said quietly, tapping his cane on the floor. "Pull up the camera feed of drone 84-A7, if you could be so kind as to do so." He said in a gentle tone, taking another sip from his trademark coffee mug.

His Bee drones are very effective at showing him a situation, worth the cost.

A large computer projector turned on behind him, lighting up the massive window before him, the camera feed of a large room with a blood red carpet. Cardin's team appeared to be down, with enemy drones wandering the room. In the upper left corner, Ozpin could see Weiss, Yang, and Ulysses all with weapons drawn, seemingly awaiting orders to move. As Ozpin stood pondering the reasoning, a shift in motion above the room cause the friendly camera drone to glance upward, allowing Ozpin to see Blake and Ruby climbing the ceiling.

Ozpin, even as the most respected Hunter, Grandmaster Hunter, and leader of Beacon Academy, couldn't hold the mouthful of coffee that he just took in. Hot coffee spewed all over the window, causing the camera feed to ripple as the droplets ran down the surface of the window.

"A clean up droid will be here shortly..." Luna said with a small giggle as Ozpin dabbed his lips and upper shirt with a handkerchief.

"What in the world are they thinking?" He asked aloud, shaking his head slowly at their antics in a dangerous situation.

A/N: The Summary has changed, that is all.