RWBY: Team CRML

Chapter 11

In Professor Port's class, Liam sat next to Weiss. His team had different classes this semester, so he was currently by himself. "Pst, Liam." Weiss whispered, leaning closer to him.

"Yeah?"

"Is there- I mean, who is- I want-" Weiss kept stumbling over her words.

Liam glanced over to her, seeing her face was a gentle shade of red. Her eyes were also pointed slightly downward, as if to avoid his gaze. "You okay? You look kinda sick."

"Huh?" she looked up at him. "Yes! Yes, I am. I was just wondering if-" she was cut off by the sound of the bell ringing.

"And then I— Oh." Port straightened his stance as the students start to leave. "Timed that one wrong, I guess. Well, the stunning conclusion to this story will have to wait. Until next time!"

Looking back to Weiss, Liam grabbed his things. "So, what did you want to know?"

"Oh, um..." her face turned a bit red again.

Suddenly, Yang walked over and leaned next to Liam's ear. "She wants to know who you're going to the dance with."

"Yang!"

"I haven't really been thinking about it." Liam replied, getting to his feet. "I will be going, but I doubt I'll have a date."

"Oh." Weiss had the slightest smile on her face. "That's good."

"What?"

"That you're attending the dance!" Weiss said quickly.

"Right." Liam turned to the door. "I'll see you guys later."

Leaving the class, Nicci was already waiting for him since her class was right next door. Heading back to their room, they went inside to see their other two teammates already there. They were both wearing their casual clothes. "Hey, g-"

"Get changed and meet us outside." Marek said before leaving the room, dragging Chrome behind him.

"Alright..." Liam said before glancing at Nicci. She had a flannel long sleeve shirt in her hand and was twirling her finger. "Oh!" Liam quickly looked away.

Nicci changed clothes as Liam kept his back turned. Once she finished, she walked to the door but stopped to glance back at Liam. "Hurry up."

"Right!"

Changing into a pair of black jeans and red hoodie, Liam left the dorm, seeing Nicci, Marek and Chrome waiting for him. "Let's go." Marek growled, getting to his feet and walking ahead of his team.

Sharing quick glances, the others followed.

Making it to Vale, Liam looked to his leader. "So, where's this bar at?"

"Should be over here." Chrome began heading down an alley. "C'mon."

Following him, the four emerged onto a street. Across from them was a building with a sign that read "Junior's".

"Now, the warehouse should be...this way." Chrome said, moving down tbe street.

Liam paused as he noticed a rather familiar yellow motorcycle parked out front. "Yang?"

"Huh?" Nicci glanced back at him.

Walking by his team, Liam headed inside the bar and quickly scanned the room, spotting his cousin at the counter. Approaching her, Yang turned to walk away. Next to her was the guy from the cafeteria.

"Liam?!" Yang said, a bit startled.

"Hey, cousin." Liam placed a hand on his hip. "What're you doing?"

"Getting information on...something." she replied. "Don't worry about it."

"Does that something have to do with a White Fang hideout?"

"Look, hate to break up the whole reunion, but we have somewhere to be." Marek said. "Now let's go before I decide to head back to Beacon."

"Sounds like your teammate is a bit impatient." Yang said. "You'd better go."

"Yeah. C'mon, guys." Chrome left the bar, followed by his team.

"Where to now?" Nicci asked.

"This way."

Following their leader, he led them to a small rundown looking warehouse. Walking over, there was a White Fang member standing outside, letting other Faunus pass. Hiding by the wall, Chrome looked to his team.

"Okay, it looks like this is a recruitment rally." Chrome said. "Me and Nicci can slip by without raising any alarms. Liam, you could probably get inside pretty easily, too with your crow form. As for Marek..." he turned to his third teammate. "You could probably-" he stopped when he saw his third teammate already climbing up the side of the building by using a pipe that was running up the side of it.

"I'll see in through one of the windows."

"Alright." Chrome turned to Nicci. "Let's go."

The two of them approached the Fang Member. After being looked over, they were given Grimm masks. They put them on before entering further into the building.

Liam took the chance to fly in as the Fang Member talked to Chrome and Nicci. Flying up, Liam perched on one of the window sills as Marek peeked from outside, barely noticeable.

However, elsewhere in the crowd, was Blake with her friend Sun. They were also here to see what's going on.

"Thank you all for coming." a White Fang Lieutenant walked onto the stage. "For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for for so long!"

The known criminal, Roman Torchwick, stepped onto the stage, waving mockingly. "Thank you, thank you! Please, hold your applause!"

"What's a human doing here?!" one of the Faunus shouted.

"I'm glad you asked, Deerie! Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst." Roman salutes as an example. "Case in point. So, I understand why you would like to see us all locked away, or, better yet, killed! But, before the claws come out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms! Government, military, even the schools: they're all to blame for your lot in life!" the crowd cheers in approval. "And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offense to any rodents in the room."

With a snap of his fingers, the curtain falls, and the whole mass of Faunus applaud at the sight of the Atlesian Paladin-290 behind it, the mark of the White Fang painted on its shoulder.

"That can't be good..." Nicci said softly.

"As some of you may have heard, this right here..." he aps the giant mech. "...is Atlas' newest defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my 'employer', we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, 'hit the shelves'. Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the southeast. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions?" The White Fang's roaring applause tells him the answer.

"Will all new recruits, please come forward!"

The crowd began to move except for four of them. Looking around the room, Roman quickly spotted them, quite literally, standing out. "We should go." Chrome said to his teammate.

"Yeah, but-" a sudden shot rang out as the warehouse was plunged into darkness.

"Don't let them escape!"

"Sun, the window!" Blake's voice shouted out.

As their eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, Chrome and Nicci both saw the cat and monkey Faunus jump through the very window Marek was peeking through. Following them, Liam flew behind them, changing to his human form as he got outside and rolling to his feet, running as Roman powered up the mech.

Bursting through the side of the warehouse, the six of them ran from the mech as Blake grabbed out her scroll to call for backup. Once she did, Blake glanced at her brother. "What are you doing here, Chrome?!"

"Is now really the time to ask?!" he shouted back.

"Shut up and keep running!" Marek shouted.

Concentrating on the chase at hand, the six of them jumped onto the highway. Blake, Sun, Marek and Nicci all landed on cars and began hopping from one another. Chrome and Liam both landed on the street, however, Liam changed to his avian form to keep his speed while Chrome used his semblance to do the same.

As they ran away, Roman was quickly closing on Chrome. Glancing back, Marek noticed this and quickly spun around. Running towards the mech, Marek lunged at it but Roman saw him coming. Swinging the mech's arm, he hit Marek off the side of the highway.

Hitting his back on the ground, the force knocked him out as he bounced and his aura depleted. Rolling to a stop, his bandanna and hood had both slipped off, exposing his face for all to see.

"Marek!" fueled by anger for his hurt friend, Chrome turned to the mech and pulled out his weapon. He wasn't the only one to turn from flight to fight as Nicci and Liam both readied themselves.

Liam had began flying straight towards him, changing back to his human form as he neared the mech. Landing on top of it, he stabbed his sword into its arm to keep himself steady. Chrome jumped up and impaled both of his weapons into its head as Nicci shot a shotgun blast under her to propell herself upwards. Shooting again behind herself sent her towards the mech.

Roman, now being forced on the defensive, spun the top half of the mech, launching Liam and Chrome off the giant robot. Liam hit Nicci, launching the both of them off the side of the highway. Chrome, however, was knocked into an oncoming car, draining his aura upon impact and sending him over the side of the highway as well.

However, before his unconscious body hit the ground, he suddenly stopped as Nicci used her semblance to catch him. Limping over to her, Liam held his side. "How did you-?"

"My semblance is telekinesis." Nicci told him. She wasn't as nearly injured as the others.

"We should find Marek." Liam said. Taking a deep breath, he stood up straight. "Think you can get Chrome back to Beacon?"

"Yeah. Make sure Marek's okay."

Nicci walked over to Chrome's body, grabbing his arm and lifting him onto her back. Liam, changing into his avian form for a better view of the area, quickly found their fourth team member.

Flying down to his body, he changed back and stumbled upon landing. Gritting his teeth as he fell on down, he got back up and began approaching his teammate.

Getting close enough, Liam was taken back by what he saw. Marek's face was no longer hidden, showing his pale white skin and dark red veins.

It was as if he was a Grimm.

End of chapter 11