Filia walked into the dorm hallway with Peacock and her unit following close by. "This is the dormitories It's like a hotel but with single beds." She happily explained it only to turn around in slight shock at how the four were reacting. Peacock was uninterested and had spent the last two hours polishing her forty-five-caliber revolver. Ms. Fortune was sharpening her nails for combat. She couldn't tell what Cerebella was doing, she seemed to be paying attention but it looked as if she was toying around with the mobile phone device Ozpin called a scroll. Carol was the only one paying any attention but her mind was clearly focused on her, her not the tour. "Anyways" she continued "Dinner is around six thirty so there is an hour before we can go eat. I got to study for the next quarter." She went to leave only for an extremely strong hand to grab her. She turned to notice Carol grabbing it. Filia looked toward Samson confused he just faked being a sleep to her dismay. "Uh, yes."
"Can go with you?" She asked calmly as the others entered their dorm. "I have something to ask." Filia nodded as the two headed toward her dorm where she was paired with Team RWBY who now were out about town trying to gather information about Roman Torchwick's sudden change to a more brutal for of robbing dust convoys. They walked into the main are then off to small room that was supposed to be Filia's sleeping quarters. Filia gestured toward the bed as she sat in the moving Beacon provided her.
Filia looked at Carol with undivided attention. "So, what can I help you with?" Filia asked looking at Carol she never saw her to her knowledge back in New Meridian but that was not saying much considering her predicament. She leaned back in the chair as Samson moved himself into a more comfortable position.
Carol frowned a little. "Don't you recognize me?" Carol's question made Filia tilt her head. This made Carol get more disappointed. "Filia, it's me, Carol. We were friends at New Meridian High School." She was hoping it would help her but it made her more concerned.
Filia shook her head melancholically "I'm sorry I have not been able to recall anything past a year ago. All I know is Samson took me as his host. Because of it I lost any memory of who I am." She looked back down at the floor in disappointment. Samson also showed a form of guilt toward it though not a lot. Filia looked back at Carol "I know He did it at my request. Why I asked him is beyond me." She concluded looking at Carol.
Carol looked into the sky thinking to herself. Her eyes lit up a little when something came to her mind. "It may have been because of your family." She said recalling her own past. "You often hated talking about them. You didn't even tell the school your last name." Filia looked at her curiously in interest. "I wonder if you blamed them for my dissapearence. Uh, whoever they were." She concluded as Filia pondered it.
"You know kid, it goes in line with what you said that night." Samson spoke up after thinking on it. "What is the point if I replace four in human clothes with one real? I think that's what you said." Samson was calmly trying to help the two-think granted it was not helping.
"So, that is why you know me and I guess why you came looking for me. But here's the question I have." Filia spoke up after staying silent for the longest time. "What really happen to you if I thought my family was behind your disappearance?"
Carol looked at Filia then pulled her mask off the top of her hair and looked at it. "ASGL." She simply responded. Filia's eyes widened hearing her answer Samson grinned a little realizing this was going to be a good story to hear since he has a slight hatred toward the organization. "We were in maybe our second class of the day. For me that was History with Mrs. Victorian. you know, are home room teacher." Filia nodded as Carol began to clarify who she was talking about. "During that class I was not feeling well so I left early to see the school nurse." Carol stopped to see if she was recalling the first few minutes of her kidnapping correctly which she was certain she was. "Problem was the actual nurse was out on sick leave that day. A kind blue haired nurse with an eye patch was filling in."
At that moment, Samson burst out laughing. "A nurse with an eye patch oh that's rich. I would love to see that." Filia yanked on some of Samson's strands to stop him from laughing.
Carol waited for Filia to gesture before she continued. "I woke up on a cold operating table before becoming completely sedated. after that I did not regain a form of consciousness for eight months. After deciding to confront my creators about what they did a red-haired woman with an umbrella attacked me. That may have been the first time I found out about my counter measure the nurse inserted into my head, or at least the first time I was fully aware. The before the past four months they become a complete blur."
Samson tugged on Filia's shoulder "Kid, I think there is some form of truth to her story regarding her disappearance. Remember the missing posters all around Maplecrest?"
Filia Began to recall the first few months with Samson. He was not wrong there was a huge incident regarding a missing student from the area. Granted as of at this moment she doesn't remember who the person was because she was focused on trying to discover who on earth she was.
Carol walked toward the window as Filia was lost in her thoughts trying to recall who was on the poster. "You used to have bleached blonde hair back then." She spoke looking out at the sunset falling on the Vale kingdom. "But to be honest, parasite black suits you a lot better. It adds to the dual life you have now and the one you hide from the school then." She took in the scent of the ocean several miles out as she watched several of the Bullheads making their final rounds to and from Beacon for the day.
Filia looked at her with slight curiosity now that she brought it up. "Carol." She spoke to get her attention. Carol turned around looking at her long-lost friend. "What was I like back then?" She was guessing she may not have known who she was but she was curious about her past life.
Carol looked at her then began to think back to the time she spent with her in New Meridian High. "Well you were intelligent that was for sure. Granted you never joined a club though you always said you were going to." She continued "You loved ice cream based deserts whenever it be ice cream straight from the tub or sundaes. You definitely preferred it to be in milkshakes." So far what she recalled was what Filia could assume was accurate. "You also often kept to yourself." Carol continued to speak. "Not sure why, I approached you back in our last year of Junior."
Filia kept looking at her with slight curiosity. "Carol." She spoke getting her attention. "Thank you. I have been trying to figure out my past for over a year with little luck." She was smiling at her as she closed her eyes "You should probably get some rest. Ozpin is probably going to interview you tomorrow and if you're lucky awaken your aura and semblance." As Filia spoke Carol looked at her confused. "This world seems to follow a different set of spiritual essence It's capable of manifesting your soul's strength or something like that. It kind of went over me and Samson's head." Carol nodded as she left.
Filia looked back at her desk, she began to breath heavily. "Even my past self-kept my actual friends in the dark." She looked back at the window watching the sunset as Carol did. "I make a terrible gumshoe." She mumbled as she placed her hands on the desk to support her head.
Dining hall
The lunch room was extremely active regarding the new transfer students Jaune and Pyrrha had heard that they were from New Meridian much like the parasitic hair user of team RWBY. Ruby had been sitting around watch students hoping to catch a glimpse of the four since much like Oobleck she wanted to know what a Grimmless world was like. Now based on both Filia and Samson's descriptions; New Meridian was a city that would possibly make places like Atlas look tiny. However, it was full of corruption and fear in the world's rotten under belly which Filia seems to spend a lot of her time for some reason.
Yang on the other hand had watched the one called Painwheel go on a rampage and turned hundreds of robotic drones to nothing but piles of scrap. With that kind of strength, she may be a fun brawl to her granted the four massive blades she kept were a good torrent for unwanted conflict. She looked to see Filia enter the room three trays. one for her, two for Samson. Seeing how much the two eat it was impressive that Nora never challenged the two to an eating contest though I guess fighting a hair monster with unknown limits is a foolish move.
As Filia sat down She looked toward the rest of her team giving them a nod acknowledging their presence. Yang watched the two eat before deciding to ask. "You happy to see some New Meridian folks here?" Yang was still examining the way Filia reacted she nearly chuckled as Samson shot several spines outward in surprise as she nearly choked on the Turkey leg she had brought with her. "They sound like they are famous over there; did you know them?"
"More or less." Samson spoke up in between bites. "Most of them have quite the rep back in that Hell hole of a town."
Wiess looked at the three in interests "How so?" her question seemed to catch the entire tables curiosity as well as Team JNPR's interests since they began to move in to listen.
Filia took a sip of the soda she secretly swiped from the vending machine thanks to Samson's more elastic nature. She then eyed the room looking for the other four. She noticed Ms. Fortune first. "The cat feral in the lunch line stealing Cardin's wallet is known as Mrs. fortune. I don't know her first name. Technically she maybe a little too old for this place but she should fit in since she fancy's herself a dare devil." Both Team RWBY and JNPR looked toward the lunch line noticing her quick at work distracting him with one hand slipping to his pocket with the other. "I encountered her on a few occasions she often would hide out at a small seafood diner in the aqua slums. Um, an area that most Aquatic ferals reside." She began to explain her few encounters with her. "We kept to ourselves so we never fully talked. I don't think she knew I was infected." Filia continued her history. She searched the room again to notice that Cerebella was seemingly approaching them in what seemed to be a very cheery mood though with performers it was hard to tell.
"Well, if it isn't the girl with the gambling hair." She spoke grinning as she sat down at the table. "Who's your new friends?" Her question made the others turn toward Filia who seemed to be embarrassed.
"Um, the people right of me is my team." Filia spoke calmly looking at the lot she was referring to. "The one closest to me is Ruby. She's the leader of our group." Ruby waved looking at the blue haired circus performer. "Wiess is the one in white. She some aristocrat apparently."
Cerebella took interests in Wiess for some reason. "An aristocrat?" Her tone came off as to that of a scheming business man. Wiess shook her head yes to Samson's dismay. Filia could tell he was worried what she was scheming.
Cerebella looked at Wiess with fascination regardless of what others were thinking. "Do you people throw parties or festivities?" She asked throwing the table of. "If yes than please consider hiring our group, Cirque Des Cartes. We're famous back in Big NM." She spoke highly of her occupation.
Wiess turned toward Filia expecting her to give an answer. "I only saw snippets on TV. They are impressive. She is the star of the show so I guess it vouches for something." She spoke her opinion or her history regarding the circus but it was all she could say about them. Didn't help they charged close to three dollars for a ticket.
Wiess looked back at her. "I'll consider telling my father about this. I haven't even told him about our fifth member." As she gave her answer Filia looked at her in shock. "What? I doubt he'd believe in all this alternate world stuff. I even have a hard time believing it." She quickly began to explain herself to her. As she panicked Samson burst out laughing to her annoyance.
Cerebella joined in the laughing as she looked a Blake with curiosity. "Ooo," her tone had caught Blake's reluctant attention "I've seen those kinds of eyes before." Blake looked at her with confusion. "The eyes of defeat. Heed some advice that I learned from an annoying Feral. Life's too short for regretting what you did. Own it and only go back when you truly have nothing better to do." Blake looked at her view of not taking caring of a situation "Course she could be referring to the time I was hired to stop her from stealing something." She spoke half thinking on it. Blake stared slightly concerned about the world Filia was from if crazies like these infest it.
"And yet you work with her." Samson spoke up in a dry tone "How ironic." Filia began to get concerned how she would react as Samson taunted.
She seemed to take it in stride however. "Ouch that one cut deep." Cerebella spoke calmly "Truth be told we only came because of Painwheel. Me and Peacock have another reason we're here though." Her statement caught the entire table's attention.
Filia's red eyes looked at her in concern. "You don't mean her, do you?" not even aware of her mistake in her statement.
Cerebella already mistaken who she was talking about. "No Hair-brain, The Skullgirl is not here. I'm talking about a musician named Eliza." As she uttered her name Filia froze dead still.
"For once in my life, I think I'd take fighting a Skullgirl over her." Samson's deep voice was showing signs of fear of both figures in question.
Yang looked at the table seeing all the curious faces the only exception being Filia and Blake. "um, am I missing something?" Her question caught Blake's ears luckily.
"Eliza was the one who forced Filia to come to our world." Blake spoke with a very in different tone. "Eliza is infected with a class five elder parasite that is capable of manipulating blood apparently." As she spoke both Filia and Cerebella nodded at everything she said. "She has been trying to keep tabs on her since she is apparently no match for her until she finishes training here." She finished her explanation to Yang who looked at the two.
"Oh, right you brought her up at the diner once. So, the Skullgirl?" Yang's brashness was astounding to some but Filia and Cerebella looked at each other with slight fear in their eyes.
Cerebella spoke first "Imagine being made a single offer. A wish of your desire even if it breaks rules of life and death." Her tone darkened the atmosphere as she spoke.
"It's only catch? A curse that will haunt you till the day you die." Filia's voice was more filled with fear in comparison.
"For should your wish be one of greed, you take her place." Samson's voice added to the atmosphere it was like a voice of reluctant evil that threatened something dear to him. The smell of smoke began to come from behind. behind them was Peacock smoking a cigar and looking at them, her top hat tilted down.
"Capable of crushing armies with complete ease. Pray she never gets to full strength." Peacock concluded their description of the mysterious Skullgirl finally allowing the table to lighten the atmosphere again.
Yang looked around seemingly the only one unaffected by their warning. "Oookay" She spoke half confused before smiling. "So, people have a bone to pick with her?" The entire table looked at her as she waited for laughter. "I'm certain it's hard to get across such skull." the entire table almost all reacted in a way of disapproval. Filia and Blake bordering unamused to Peacock face palming into her gloves.
"Getting a head of yourself Blonde?" A voice came behind Yang. She turned around to see a cat in a black trench coat and cat ears sticking from her head. "You know some don't enjoy that humor." her tone was harsh before she began surprising a giggle "You can say that they lack a funny bone." She fell onto the bench laughing at the joke as Yang grinned realizing that there was another punster here.
"Please don't have Painwheel walk in" Peacock grumbled remembering the nightmare they had trying to get Fortune back together after a small rampage in Lab zero.
The alley between worlds
Eliza sat on a small bench waiting by the portal ever so patiently. It had been twenty-four hours since Roman entered New Meridian to grab a few things she wanted. She figured he would be back by now. and surly enough she was right.
Several flashes infected the alley way before Roman, completely covered head to toe in dirt and tattered clothes in his possession. It looked like he had just gotten beaten within an in in his life. Eliza stood up to talk before Roman shoved a tube into face. "HERE, is you requests." His voice was filled with rage "You damn well better have delivered on your end."
Eliza grinned looking at the blue prints. grinning seeing them. she turned toward a limousine in the area. "Oh Cinder, baby." She spoke up very calmly as she left the Limo. As she approached Roman and Eliza, Eliza handed out the blue prints. "I need builders think you can supply." Cinder glared at her angrily. Eliza let out a very disappointed sigh. "Alright Fine. You want me to prove why you should very well." She was disappointed as she grabbed into the tube that held the blue prints, out came a small test tube with a red liquid in it. "What I have before you is an powerful elixir that is extremely concentrated. Do this for me and it is yours." Cinder eyed her very suspect like giving a sign that she did not believe her. "Very well if you need proof." She spoke reluctantly as she pulled the cork off the tube.
Cinder's eyes widened as she looked at the vile produce a blue fire. She could feel a strange aura permeate from the fire that was almost like potent evil. Eliza saw the look of fascination and grinned "As I said you can have it once you show progress on my machine." Her voice gave the demanding tone that Cinder detested but reluctantly agreed to it. "Wonderful." her voice squealed a little as she repocketed the red vial. "I would get to work tracking down some builders. now if you excuse me I have another show soon." She stated walking back to the chartered limousine heading back toward Junior's bar.
Cinder looked at Roman confused. He returned the look to before adding in his own thoughts. "Don't look at me she found me first. and it was either help her or get drained." Cinder rolled her eyes as she looked back at the burnt patterns on the alley wall. questioning just who the hell they are working with.
Back in Ozpin's office
"You must understand I had no choice." Carol pleaded over the monitor to a bunch of shadowy figures. "I had no choice but to obey." The figures seemed uninterested of listening to her argument. She was about to continue arguing only to get a weird feeling in her back of her head. it was as if her six sense was kicked into over drive calling her toward Vale.
"Painwheel?" a stern British voice came over the monitor "What are you doing?"
Carol suddenly snapped out of it clearly unaware of the trance she was in. Ozpin noticed it and raised an eyebrow before watching the next events unfold. "Um, sorry got distracted." Carol was clearly lying.
"That so." the monitor responded this time in a woman's voice. "It does not matter the court has heard your plea and will regroup in a few weeks to decide your verdict. Professor Ozpin is there anything you would like to say.?"
The Headmaster calmly got out of his seat as he walked toward the monitors. "Not at this time. But I would strongly encourage you to understand that Ms. Carol is not a weapon or a legitimate threat. It is the entity that exist within her." With slight nod the figures disappeared. from the screen and he turned around noticing Carol had walked toward the windows of his office. "Something bothered you?" She turned around confused. "during your first hearing, you turned toward the town you wreaked havoc in." He sat back down as he watched her move back toward the desk. "I apologize for the rudeness of Remnant's court systems but when Atlas has the strongest say you can imagine it is hard to get away with a lot." Carol nodded again showing some form of understanding. "So why did you look toward the town again?"
Carol looked at him it seemed she did have some memory of her original directive before getting infected herself. "I got a sort of tracking sense." She spoke while sliding her blades onto the sides of the chair. Ozpin leaned in listening very carefully. "It was designed to track down a powerful threat from our world. I don't know how that information is only accessible to those part of the Lab experiment." She sighed looking back at the setting sun and the fractured moon. "All I do know was I was designed to fight the biggest threat in our world."
Ozpin already seemed to know what it was. "You mean the Skullgirl." He predicted after thinking on it. Carol nodded confirming his suspicion. "What do you know of her?" he decided to ask.
"The latest on shouldn't be this powerful." Carol spoke confused as to what she felt. "first sightings of her happened back in the spring meaning she has only been active for about six, seven months' tops. Full metamorphosis varies shortest time being six months to well over a year and a half." She guessed based on what she knew.
"She is with proper range is she not?" Ozpin continued guessing. Carol shook her head no making him raise another eyebrow.
"While it is true that was not factoring actual power. most metamorphize transformations put them at least to a point they can summon the dead. This one is much stronger." Carol left on her train of thought trying to piece together the strange sensation that overtook her during the meeting.
"I see." Ozpin left his remarks before pulling up someone on his monitor. "Glyn tell the other professors that we need to exorcise caution to the students when doing voluntary patrols in town. It seems one of our new foreign exchange have caught wind of something."