"We've been here for hours" one of them said, "All we've found is a biography belonging to an old general. We should just call it and head home."

"Don't be like that Neptune" his blonde, monkey-tailed friend said, patting his shoulder, "Besides it's not like we've done nothing, if nothing else we at least cleared out some grimm, that's something right?"

"True" their dark-skinned teammate agreed, "If nothing else, even if it was just a few, we at least made things a little safer."

Neptune reminded them, "Those grimm we saw were in the foyer. We haven't seen any staff since we've been here either. I don't think we're going to find anyone alive, this rescue mission isn't going to end well."

"We still have to look" the faunus told him, "This is the job we chose after all. Besides Professor Lionheart said this family is a bunch of nerds and stuff and they've been close to finding a cure or something that can lead to one."

Neptune kept his weapon ready as they moved through the west wing of the mansion, "That's what bothers me. Every time someone is close something happens to ruin it. No sign of the staff here, the doors were unlocked, grimm in the foyer. I'm telling you we're not going to find anyone here."

"We still have to try" Sun told him again, "Besides you saw that family painting in the main hall, tell me you don't want to be that girl's hero coming in here and slaying monsters to save her and her family."

His blue-haired friend didn't answer, the thought did cross his mind and the family's daughter was pretty, but he was confident they were too late to save anyone. With luck the family was somewhere else when these grimm showed up.

"This door is locked to" Sage said to them.

His faunus team lead tried the doorknob as well only a partial turn, "Why are half the rooms in this place locked?"

"Doesn't sound like there's anyone inside" Sage told them holding his ear to the door.

"Let's keep going" Sun ordered, "We still haven't explored the first floor of this side."

"Sun" their red-haired teammate stopped him, "This door is unlocked."

Opening the door the young man peered inside it appeared to be a small library. With caution they entered, remaining within arm's reach of one another they searched. A desk to the right as they entered littered with books and an unfinished chess game with an empty whiskey glass next to it. The books were mainly of horticulture and botany, many pages with notes scribbled around the edges marked with reference numbers. Nearby notebooks contained more detailed notes and upon matching page and reference numbers the team concluded the family was hoping to use local plant life to base a cure on.

"The flora in Anima is more defined than the rest of the kingdoms" Neptune noted, "A lot of the world's older medicine was made from plants of this region."

"I don't think they were making a cure" Scarlet commented skimming through a notebook, "From the looks of this they were looking for a way to delay infection. Listen."

"Thursday the 12th, trial thirty-seven. The local herbs of this region have always had strong medicinal properties, it's how my family made our mark in the annals of history and after much trial and error using these herbs I've finally concluded that they cannot be used to create a cure, but they may be able to stave off the infection. The first dozen trials yielded little results, but the ones after began showing a difference. I adjusted the amount I used from the herbs, combining their powders and infection slowed from a couple of days to a full week. Sadly this still leaves the victim to suffer from their fever and other symptoms ultimately only prolonging the inevitable and extending their pain, but it's a start. So far I've only been testing on the local wildlife, it wasn't until tonight when one of our guardsmen was bitten that I had a chance at a human trial."

Sun interrupted, "A human trial? Is this guy for real?"

Scarlet continued, "I spoke to him, Jason was his name, I never memorized the names of the staff, but for what I was planning I owed him at least that much. I explained my research to him so far and that animal trials can only take me so far that I needed to test on a human subject. I was honest with him, I told him that best case scenario this delays infection and alleviates his symptoms, but there was little to no chance of it curing him. He was quiet for a moment before he agreed. I admit I don't think I'd have that level of sacrifice in me, he is a better man than I. I took him to the basement lab and strapped him to a table, he was uncomfortable with the hard steel of the table, but I think it's cold touch soothed the fever. I explained to him again that he would likely suffer through this as I needed detailed notes and therefore could do nothing to compromise the results, he understood and I only feel like more of a monster, but if this can lead to a world without those monsters than his sacrifice and life would mean something and I can at least go to hell with some manner of peace."

"Damn" Sun said sitting backwards in the chair at the desk, "I can understand wanting to find a cure or anything that can help, but isn't that going too far?"

Neptune sat at the edge of the desk, "At least he admits that he's not a great guy."

"Apathetic" Sage said, "But he may not be a bad guy. A little selfish maybe, but he did ask the guard if he was okay with it. He gave him a choice and was honest with him. They are both making sacrifices."

Neptune sighed, "I can't stand moral arguments like this, this kind of grey area is just...so much easier to see things as black and white."

Scarlet hummed, "This page is missing, but the next entry details the results. Jason the guard's fever led him to being fully delirious by the end of the week, incoherent mutterings and futile attempts at a conversation with instances of delirious laughter in between. Eventually by the following Wednesday he had finally fallen asleep and turned, succumbing to the infection."

"He turned early this afternoon. As I promised him I put him down after a few more days of observing to see if the experiment had any noticeable differences once someone had turned, none. They still feel pain even after turning, the fever never goes away, they are in constant pain and sickness as observed when they idle about, some vomiting others laying down to rest and some that start a fight with one another at physical contact. I made it quick so the pain would stop. I won't forget your name Jason and I thank you for your words during this ordeal, even as you were giving your life you still found it to try and give me words of comfort for what I was about to do to you. I admit I am glad he had no next of kin, I don't think I would have been able to look at them after all of that even without telling them of the testing he agreed to. I'm going to make sure I memorize the names of my staff, I owe them and Jason that much."

Scarlet looked at his team, "The rest are just minor entries about more research, it doesn't seem like he did any further human testing."

"Still" Sun sighed, "That's some heavy stuff."

Scarlet closed the notebook, "We should take this back with us, even if we don't find anyone alive, it's something."

With a nod, Sun stood up, "Let's keep moving guys, we've still got a whole floor to cover once we're done up here."

Leaving through the door on the opposite end of the room, the doorknob felt loose when turned and after the door closed behind them they heard the sound of it collapsing to the floor, a thud that led to another sound. Growling was heard below them, the corridor they were in overlooked another room below, risking a glance over the railing they saw a beowolf had stirred from the sound of the broken doorknob. Its low growl echoed in the quiet room as it sniffed at the air catching a scent of potential prey. Spotting them the beowolf leaped for the railing clawing its way over preparing to attack them, the narrow hallway left them little room to draw their weapons. Bringing their aura up to defend the door behind them opened as the beowolf lunged and a boy with silver hair jumped over them intercepting the grimm with his leg kicking it back and over the railing.

Landing on its neck the monster died instantly and the silver-haired young man looked at the four he just saved, "Yo" he said nonchalantly, "Didn't think there'd be anyone else here."

"So did we" Sun said, "Well, thanks for the save there. My name's Sun, this is my team, Sage, Scarlet and Neptune."

The boy chuckled, "Mercury, so what brings the four of you here?"

"Rescue assignment" Sun told him, "We were sent by Haven's headmaster to find the family that lives here and bring them back to Haven, no one has heard from them in weeks."

"You don't say?" Mercury asked, turning his back and smirking, "Well, maybe there's some clues lying around, why don't we look for some?"

Sun nodded, "Yeah, having someone else to watch our backs wouldn't hurt. We did find a notebook that mentioned a basement lab, maybe they barricaded themselves there?"

"Maybe" Mercury said walking over to the railing, "But you know what they say about putting yourself in a corner" he vaulted over the railing and to the floor below continuing on his own.

"Should we follow him?" Scarlet asked.

Sage noted, "Something seemed off about him, he didn't seem calm, more amused."

"Let's follow him" Sun said, "If nothing else he's an extra set of hands should we get into trouble. And if it turns out there is something off about him, well we have him outnumbered."

Following Mercury down the stairs they caught up with him in the next hallway at a door that led outside, "So Mercury what brings you out here?" Sun asked as they followed him to a courtyard.

"Not much" Mercury answered, "Friend of mine worked here, hadn't heard from him in a while, wanted to come check on him."

Neptune remarked, "You don't seem that concerned considering the grimm that are inside."

"Oh I'm sure he's safe" Mercury said, stopping at a wall before jumping over it, "He's probably in his lab, you four want to see it?"

Shrugging Sun followed first, jumping the wall and waiting for his teammates to climb over, watching as Mercury walked over to a fountain in the middle of the courtyard, paying no mind to the sleeping beowolf nearby. Standing next to a console of sorts SSSN watched Mercury fiddle with it before the fountain ceased spraying water and the sound of stone grinding against stone echoed, rousing the sleeping grimm as the fountain opened from the inside revealing a staircase leading down.

"Coming?" Mercury asked them jumping down the new pathway kicking the beowolf as he did, a loud gunshot echoing from his boot.

"Sun" Neptune said, grabbing the faunus' shoulder, "I don't like this."

Sun, starting to get an uneasy feeling himself agreed, "Yeah, but we have to check it out, if there's a chance that someone is down there we have to make sure. We can interrogate him later."

Following Mercury down the new path they reach a lift that carried them deeper underground until stopping at an automatic door, the entrance to the lab. Leading them through the facility Mercury made several comments that only served to put Team SSSN more on edge, they were beginning to suspect he had something to do with this place going quiet. Keeping their auras up and one hand on their weapons the followed five paces behind him keeping him in their line of sight until reaching a large square room with another room in the center.

Mercury stopped, "Yeah, this looks good."

Looking around the square room Sun asked, "For what?"

Mercury chuckled before quickly turning and flying at Sun with a kick that the faunus evaded, landing in the middle of them Mercury said, "A good spot for your mission to fail, what else?"

Sage attacked first swinging his greatsword down in a slow overhead swing which Mercury easily sidesteps, pivoting around to Sage's back before kicking him in each side before landing a jumping spin kick in his back to knock him forward. Scarlet fires with his sidearm watching as Mercury casually backflips away from the shot and launches himself back into the fight, his kick deflected by Scarlet's sword over his shoulder, but Mercury jumps from his planted foot landing a rolling kick across Scarlet's head knocking him down before delivering an axe kick to the back of Scarlet's skull taking a chuck of his aura. Sun and Neptune moved in together flanking Mercury from both sides as Sage rushed him, Mercury dodged, tripping and kicking Sage into Neptune before turning to face Sun. Leaning to the side he dodged Sun's staff, a sidestep to avoid the next and a quick jump to avoid the sweep and a quick pivot and kick to the faunus' knee to compromise his stance before sending him into his teammates.

"Come on guys" Mercury taunted, "I know we became fast friends and all, but don't hold back on my account."

Sun stood up, "Why are you doing this?"

Mercury simply shrugged, "Order are orders y'know."

Bringing his hands together Sun activated his semblance sending his clones to flank Mercury while Sage and Neptune rushed in attempting to surround him only it became apparent that Mercury was just toying with them. Skilled footwork allowed him to evade blow after blow and Sage with his cumbersome weapon became an easy first target. Striking after each dodge Mercury swiftly depleted Sage's aura before firing a shot into his knee causing him to collapse, when Sage tried to swing at him, Mercury brought his leg up to block before landing a quick kick and shot into Sage's side. Feeling the bullet tear through him Sage coughed up blood, dropping his sword and clutching at his wound looking up at Mercury.

Mercury's final strike would be interrupted as Sage back to his feet shot him in the back, distracting him long enough for Neptune and Sun to move in again. Neptune rushing to Sage's side attempts to hold pressure on his wound while Sun and Scarlet hold off Mercury. Sun's staff split into its separate halves and unlocked into their nunchaku form proved an equal match for Mercury's quick movements, able to strike fast enough to deflect his kicks and versatile enough to attack back. Being pushed back Mercury growled he hated being put on the defensive. Taking a few blows Mercury finally got his opening and grabbed one of Sun's wrists and landed a heavy kick into his side before tripping him and stomping on the same wrist for added damage, hoping to cripple one of his hands.

Scarlet intervened swinging his cutlass only to miss and leave himself open for Mercury to counter. Kicking Scarlet into a wall Mercury fired one of his weapons propelling him forward and landing a violent kick to Scarlet's spine taking the wind and the rest of his aura from him. Stepping back from him Mercury watched Scarlet stumble away from the wall and with a smirk he jumped onto Scarlet's chest and with another gunshot he jumped off his weapon tearing a hole into Scarlet's check dropping him to the ground, the swift trauma causing his eyes to glaze over.

"Scarlet!" Sun yelled rushing back in to attack Mercury who stood there waiting until the last second to dodge and kick Sun across the room.

Neptune fired his rifle failing to hit Mercury, but succeeding in getting his attention. Firing a second and third shot Neptune backed away from Sage who was barely hanging on. Rushing Neptune the silver-haired assassin evaded his shots until he was close enough to strike, dropping to his hands and sweeping Neptune's legs, striking at him with his knees and unleashing a flurry of kicks chipping away at his aura. Dropping Neptune with a roundhouse Mercury kicked his weapon away, standing over him with his foot raised Neptune's life was saved by Sun's semblance. The clones tackled Mercury away and to the ground giving Sun time to fight back, a series of precise strikes from his staff against the restrained Mercury desperately trying to save his best friend.

Held down by the clones Mercury had to fire his weapon to give him the extra force to free himself, dodging Sun's staff Mercury kicked him in the knee just as he separated his weapon into the twin nunchaku. Grabbing Sun's injured wrist Mercury twisted and flung the faunus over his shoulder and into the wall taking one of Sun's dropped weapons and wrapping it around Sun's neck forcing the faunus down to one knee. Planting his own knee in Sun's back Mercury increased his leverage as he pulled the weapon against Sun's throat strangling him further while his other knee kept the faunus' tail pinned against the floor. Sun struggled and clawed, but his aura was drained and his strength was leaving him and with one violent turn to the side Mercury threw the faunus to the floor. Humming to himself as he observed his work Mercury jumped into a backflip landing a dropping heel kick into Neptune's chest before firing his weapon, the point blank shot burning and tearing away at Neptune's flesh killing him.

"You" Sun coughed, "You won't get away with this" he coughed again as he crawled toward Sage, barely alive and losing blood.

"Probably not" Mercury hummed, "There was a witness after all" swiping a keycard over a door's lock, the sound of the lock disengaging echoed before the door opened and hollow moans flowed into the room.

Mercury walked away whistling and twirling Sun's weapon in his hand as an infected woman, the family's daughter shuffled from the unlocked room attracted by the sound and seeing Sun struggling on the ground.

"Come on Sage we have to go" he said grabbing Sage's hand only to realize he had bled to death.

The infected moved closer.

Gritting his teeth Sun stood to defend himself, his aura gone and half his weapon stolen he planted his feet as the infected got closer and reached for him, its hands stained with blood, it's fingernails having bits of flesh trapped under them and her cloudy eyes filled with pain and hunger despite the chunks of rotting flesh stuck in her teeth.