It has been a while since Peacock and Carol or better known as Painwheel have been waiting close to a week and a half. Peacock was rather shocked that Carol rarely left the room with the cheese sci-fi device she has now dubbed it the ring. She was concerned that it was some kind of a creepy ring guard. Big Band twice has demanded she should take her out on patrol every now and then but she seemed uninterested. Whoever this girl with the talking hairpiece was she was really something to her.
Peacock sat bored on the now duct taped sofa watching her usual monitors hoping to find traces of the Skullgirl. At least until the head of the ASGL walked in on her. "Peacock we need to talk about your side project." He spoke sternly She wasn't interested in him though as usual he was just another half-baked bureaucrat that just wanted authority. She hated taking orders since to her the job was simple find the Skullgirl and eliminate by any means necessary.
Peacock tilted her head back to see what the man had to say "What about it?" She spoke uninterested.
"We can't have you go with just two operatives." Peacock turned her head as she heard the Head of ASGL speak. "Therefore, we need to have a fourth member to join you or cancel the mission as a hold."
"WHAT?!" She exclaimed "But it's so boring here" as expected she was hoped up on cartoons and action movies possibly both. "The Skullgirl only shows up once in a blue moon if I were to guess she won't show her face for a while anyway so I'll get Big Band to come."
The boss put his hand to his head aggravated "We need at least one of our superstar projects here to fight her should she appear during your absence." He was not wanting to deal with the ASGL's magnum opuses' rebellious streak. "Find someone else or don't go that is the final verdict."
"Stupidbossandyourstupidrulesforthesakeofbeingstupid. Now I gotta tell hacky slash to who she needs to kill or my neck's on the chopping block." Peacock mumbled to herself as she climbed down to lab zero's hidden project. Avery immediately popped his head from under her hat holding onto her bangs to get in her face. "What is it Avery?" she spoke annoyed.
"We could always ask her for help." He spoke matching her enthusiasm. "She does owe you after all."
"Who?" It seemed even Peacock had forgotten who Avery was yacking on about.
"You know that Woman that said She would let you blow her up because she owed you for saving her." Avery spoke rather specific. Peacock placed her hand to her chin trying to recall all the encounters she has had over the past four months. "you know the woman with the cat ears." Avery clearly seemed more alert in details than Peacock seeing that even actual traits were being hard for her to remember.
Just as she listened to Avery she noticed Big Band pass by. "Oye, Wind pipe!" She yelled getting one of the many random nicknames she haf gave him over the years to get his attention. He himself hated that name.
"It ain't no Wind Pipe Vaudevilles, it's Big Band you dig? Now whach you want?" He did not take kindly to the random name she had given him. She however didn't care to much about the names he gave her.
"You by chance know who the hell Avery is squawking about?" She asked as Avery seemed to be trying to draw a picture of the person that he was squawking about. he turned it over to Big band after showing it to Peacock who of course did not recognize her.
He examined the birds sketch carefully at a detective this was always part of the job. He kept a lot of immaculate records of criminals and offenders committed to memory so it would be no surprise if he did. The sketch that Avery made seemed to be simplistic enough granted it kept a very cartoonish vibe. based on the person's appearance she was a young Female cat feral covered in scars. most notably on her neck, arms, and legs. he began reviewing the image in his head trying to decrypt the portions that Avery made on the Sketch. He then realized who it was. "It seems like you're looking for Nadia Fortune A.K.A. Ms. Fortune." He spoke calmly as he looked back at Peacock.
Peacocks black eyes contorted into a confused tilt of her head. "You mean the small-time thief that hangs around the Aqua slums?" She has fought with her on the occasion though most of the time the two rarely get near one another. as she tried to remember she looked back toward Avery. "How did I save her?"
"She was about to be captured by Medici goons when you dropped in on them and decided it was in your words "Medici season."" Apparently, that made her remember who the person who owed her was. the cat she saved was trying to protect the weird fish kid and was cut clean in half.
Peacock took her top hat off and jabbed her hand into it looking for her two-way radio. she managed to pull it out and dialed it to channel one thirty-four point seven. "Hey two tons it your boss, listen I need ya to do somethin to do for me. track down that cat burglar in Little Innsmouth. What? No I need her alive just tell her Peacock came to collect." She cut the transmission and dropped the radio back into her hat. "Well let's go tell windmill the news." She walked off toward lab zero again.
Little Innsmouth
Nadia was sitting in the middle of a close friend's diner she enjoyed the open salt air of this section of town especially during days where business was slow. She turned to look left to check on a close friend of her Minette. Now, she seemed to be polishing tables while fewer customers were around. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair to have it lean against a wall her feet laying on a table.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed but her ears twitched detecting someone in near the small diner that she had been hanging out in while the heat blows over from her last theft. She opened her eyes based on how faint it was they weren't too far off all she knew is they were after her. "Okay everyone shop is close please get out." She spoke friendly trying to get everyone to leave. of course, they didn't listen She turned toward the owner of the restaurant, A dragonia named Yu-Wan who nodded and got into the back to warn Minette about the threat. Nadia went back to the chair after putting on her stitched up long coat and sat at the bar waiting for whoever was after her.
"So, this the place the boss said she was?" a gruff voice spoke up cautiously.
"Eh, supposedly what she look like?" a second low toned voice spoke.
"ME? I thought you knew." The first voice spoke up before eyeing Nadia at the bar. "Hey toots."
She froze getting ready to fight should it be needed. She estimates that the fight could cause roughly thirty-eight hundred in damage should she focus on escaping rather than fighting. On the other hand, at ninety-eight hundred she guarantees that they won't be coming back here if she fought and killed them now. She breathed hesitantly as she turned to look at them. to her shock, it wasn't and Medici scum she has ever seen. She knew that much since she was certain a sentient anvil and cartoon weight do not qualify as Medici material. "(bounty hunters? Well, only one way to find out." she thought to herself as she decided to speak up "Yes?"
"You'd by chance seen a woman dat looks like a she may of jumped off a pirate ship?" the Weight spoke up.
"(what?)" Her eyes twitched trying to see where they got that analogy. all she could conclude is these two were just muscle and no brain.
"Wait da minute Tommy that's her." the Anvil spoke up getting read y to grab her. unfortunately, Nadia threw her coat onto him blinding him she jumped over him to watch the weight Leap in the air tackling the anvil crushing the bar in the process.
"Sorry Yu. I'll pay you back for this Keep Minette safe for me." She yelled as she ran out the door. the two hot on her tracks. ironically enough outside the restaurant she ran into something unexpected a girl with a top hat and long robotic arms she immediately recognized her "I can't be blown up today I'm busy." She said attempting to jump over the girl just for her to catch her.
"Relax I ain't here for that." the electronic female voice spoke surprisingly calm "I came to cash in the favor so my ass ain't diced by a crazy science experiment." Nadia turned toward the woman who she knew was Peacock slightly confused granted she still had a baseball bat in her hands now. "This is in case ya decline though." she said realizing she noticed the weapon in her hand.
Nadia calmed down as the Weight and anvil walked up behind her. "What do you need Peacock?" She spoke calmly though wearily she does not trust her fully.
"I'm about to head on a mission because of a woman with a ridiculous temper issues." She was clearly not happy about it. "On top of that a woman with a class 5 parasite that is under investigation was caught fleeing the hidden project." She bit off the end of a cigar she pulled out of a small black hole.
Nadia looked at her curiously "So you are about to go into a world of unknown peril because of a failed science experiment and you own job?" She was waiting for more clarification she got it in the form of Peacock biting hard on the cigar and tilting her top hat to cover her eyes. She grinned as she spoke "Honestly that kinda sounds fun." she began to get back up "When do we leave?"
Peacock grinned a little still annoyed she had to ask for help "Meet me at that diner in downtown Meridian stay outta sight if ya need just meet me there if ya do that." She spoke to the point looks like she was expecting no other problems. Nadia turned to hand back to Yu's restaurant as Peacock puffed the cigar in her mouth. "That went a lot easier than expected." Avery nodded in agreement. She placed her hands into the dress pockets of her clothes and was heading back to get ready herself. unaware of someone hanging above her.
"A class five parasite broke into the ASG? That could be her maybe." the mystery figure grinned as the two giant arms perturbing from her head hoisted herself back up and left to rendezvous with the two of them "After what she did I'm taking her down." she said as she left the area.
Hours later
"CRAP CRAP CRAP I'M LATE!" Nadia yelled jumping over rooftops trying to reach where Peacock ordered her to meet up. She jumped off a building landing on a street light and began looking for the top hatted robot thing. "Common don't tell me you ditched me already I'm only two minutes late." She stayed up there it was the best view of the town from where she stood. "Damn." She muttered sitting there thinking Peacock already left. She began to lay down when suddenly her ears twitched indicating yet again something was coming. She leaned up and looked in the direction her ears told her the direction was from just to see a fast-moving mass of shadow bolting toward her. She began to stand on the light post getting ready to jump if needed. Suddenly from the shadowy mass came two slender arms that caught onto the light and swung herself on top with her. Nadia eyed the figure carefully.
She looked to be eighteen granted. dark skinned and roughly the same size as her. her slender figure made it clear she was as acrobatic as herself. She was wearing an orange mini dress that rubbed Nadia the wrong way, actually a lot about this person disturbed her a little. She glanced at her hair as she was toying around with her orange beanie her hair amongst the lights appeared to be mint blue. She suddenly eyed Nadia and her rather exited grin turned to one of distrust. "Don't think I don't know who you are Ms. Fortune where it stands at the moment, we are still enemies." her hostile voice was firm toward her and familiar.
Nadia's eyes widened terrified at who it was. the person in front of her was Cerebella an accomplished circus performer and leg breaker for the Medici's. She jumped up getting her claws ready to fight if needed. "Sorry Circus dough-may, I was here first. Get off my lamp."
Cerebella sighed as she looked at the feline thief and placed the hat back on "If you want to fight then fine by me." She spoke rather raring to go. Just as she said that however she received a round house kick straight to the jaw pushing her off the lamp. Just as quickly however she caught ahold of the lamp thanks to the big hand that was coming from her hat. She climbed back up and swatted Fortune off the lamp into the street. she clearly had the strength advantage.
Nadia stood back noticing that her right arm was missing. "(Crap.)" she thought looking for her missing limb to see that it was in Cerebella's hand. She kept the panicked act up realizing her mistake.
"Looks like you'll be heading home empty handed" She gloated toward the cat thief tossing it up and down. Nadia's fear turned to a malevolent grin as her arm grabbed the hat on her head and threw it toward the ground. "Now that's not fair." she muttered to herself as Nadia's severed arm jabbed her in the head making her fall to the ground.
Her arm crawled back to her as she jammed it back into place. she looked back at her opponent with a cocky grin. "Not my fault you were out of arm's reach." She snickered as she taunted. "Looks like I might need to try more under-handed moves." she began to watch as she grabbed her orange beanie glaring at her angry "Aww" she cooed looking at her "Kitty got wet." she went to taunt before looking at the sky lost in thought. "Wait, wouldn't someone use that against me?" she shrugged and looked back at her opponent.
Cerebella was mad she grabbed the hat had its two arms elongate out of it and slammed the ground in front of her cracking the asphalt and making the any parked cars in the area jump in the air a quarter of an inch. "That's it come here kitty."
Elsewhere
"I swear Avery, the commercial breaks keep getting longer." Peacock said as she walked into the area.
"I said that a week ago, and you did not believe me." He spoke up slightly annoyed.
"Whatever" She rolled her eyes then they widened. in front of her she saw Ms. Fortune fighting what looked like the knuckle duster for the Medici mafia. "What the?" She began to walk up as she watched the two begin to fight one another. "Avery if you would." She asked politely as he points a shot gun upward into the air and fires both barrels getting the attention of the two. "Alright what is going on here." she demanded to hear their answer only to hear a barrage of inane bickering from the two. "(sorry I asked)" was her only thought. "I don't care you ready to go Fortune?"
Nadia shook her head yes as she got up. Cerebella got up quickly "Wait." she said panicked "Take me with you." she tilted her head down waiting for a response.
Peacock turned around as well as Ms. Fortune "come again?" Peacock said staring confused at the her.
"Your tracking down a class five parasite correct. I know her, she used to be a backup for the Medici mafia. until she betrayed us." She began to explain. "They assigned me after her two bodyguards who were in our payroll said she disappeared chasing someone." Peacock turned her looking at her fully getting interested. "I confronted her a few days ago, before her disappearance she nearly killed me in the process." She tilted the side of her dress showing a heavy set of stiches across her abdomen. just then she got on her knees "Please I'm in hot water with them as it is, let me join you I'll follow your orders okay." she was pleading at this point.
Peacock tilted her head toward Fortune who shook her head no. She closed her eyes thinking on it. this could be a good thing and a bad thing. if she died it was just an expendable Medici thug which is always a bonus on top of that should they succeed they would owe her for what they did she could see the future seasons of Annie earlier than anyone, that was a big plus. "Okay but your mafia clowns owe me for this one." she spoke catching the two around her off guard. Cerebella smiled greatly.
"Thank you I'll will not let you down." she was excited yet again.
Nadia however had a different view "You can't be serious." she was getting uncomfortable with it.
ASG Labs briefing room.
"Alright dirt bags listen up." Avery spoke loudly making sure everyone could hear him. "Several weeks ago, two people broke into a hidden Lab zero testing facility."
Peacock was loading her revolver as Avery spoke. it was a custom firearm she kept close by at all times.
Avery continued his briefing "The first accomplice has been known simply as Filia no last name given." He hit a switch as a projector showed a slide of the person of interest on it. "Her parasite is a class three named Samson. if current nerd theory is correct, Peacock may have contacted natural world residents who have seen her. She is an escort mission she is a primary objective."
As Avery spoke Painwheel had a barb sticking out of her recently dislocated arm sharpening the four propeller blades. Breathing heavily under her mask. Next to PainWheel Ms. Fortune was working on stitching her recently detached arm.
"The second person of Interests is Eliza" Avery again hit a switch switching photos of Filia to that of Eliza "known Diva of a small club she herself owns. As are newest member of the squad has stated she is infected as well with a class five parasite. As of right now She is rouge from the Medici mafia and has attempted to kill one of their best dough boys. She is a secondary objective."
Cerebella was cracking her knuckles as she saw the photo of Eliza "She has this one coming." she coldly said.
Peacock stood up and Avery jumped back into her that She then looked and faced them. "We will be leaving... One sec." She paused to check her watch then cross referenced that with a newspaper that was covered in TV show times. "Tomorrow at seven. That is after the New episode of Annie comes out." she exclaimed excitedly only to be matched by Ms. Fortune and Cerebella groaning in unison and Painwheel nodding. "Clear? Okay BREAK."
Remnant, Ozpin's office
Ozpin was watching the news reports concerned when he saw a familiar ship making its way toward Vale. He reached over to a screen device and clicked the name of a General Ironwood. the screen rung for a short while as he waited patiently for him to respond. The screen finally decided
"Ozpin I know what you are going to say so please spare it." Ironwood spoke serious on the matter.
"Not until I know the meaning of this." He kept his composure but anyone who knew him could tell he was mad.
Ironwood contemplated how to explain it since his ship was heading towards Vale months before the festival. He knew he'd find out one way or another. "About three months back an unknown anomaly was detected. it was there and gone in a flash. three days later it returned a lot shorter than the first one. We figured that it was nothing just a glitch. until recently when the same signatures began resurfacing. we estimate it will match the initial two readings within the next week." Ozpin raised an eyebrow never a good sign.
Undenounced to him Ozpin began recalling the events that happened in the last three months. he kept a straight face but he was certain he knew the answer all too well. whatever it was Filia was at the center of it. "Alright if checking the source of the readings personally will put you at ease then so be it." he calmly concluded as he shut of the transmission. he then looked toward his tablet and contacted Goodwitch. "Glenn, it's Ozpin. I need you to warn two of our students about the Atlas guards that will be in town for a short while. Yes, I agree We will supply them with the needed hat so long as the other one promises not to eat it."