RWBY: Team CRML
Chapter 15
The following night
Having traded places with Yang, Liam was having a bit of trouble sleeping. As he tossed and turned, he noticed Ruby run after her dog who had decided to leave the building. Wanting to make sure she was fine, Liam followed.
Seeing the dog peeing on one of the buildings, Ruby ran over to the corgi. "You can do that anywhere, Zwei."
The dog barked in reply. "What was that?" a voice came from down the street.
Liam, being quick to act, rushed over to his younger cousin as she picked up her dog and put a hand over her mouth as he pulled them into an alley. Ducking behind some debris, Liam put a finger up to his lips. "What was what?" someone else asked.
Two White Fang members walked in Liam's and Ruby's line of sight.
"I thought I heard a Beowolf or something."
"Hmph. Let's just finish our patrol and get back to base. This place gives me the creeps."
As the two walked away, Liam slowly moved his hand. "Thanks, Liam." Ruby said. "I didn't even hear them."
"Save it for later. C'mon." Liam left their hiding spot, to follow the two Fang members.
Watching them turn a corner, Liam rushed over and peeked out from behind a building, watching them walk through a door.
"Oh! This is it! This is it!" Ruby said as she pulled out her scroll, only for a 'low signal' message to appear across the screen. "Aw man! Come on, we gotta get the others!"
Ruby and Zwei hurry off down the street. However, the asphalt beneath them suddenly sinks before caving in. "Ruby!" Liam dove onto the ground just as the bit Ruby was hanging onto gave out. Catching his cousin, the asphalt beneath him began to cave. Trying to pull Ruby up, she suddenly tossed her dog passed Liam so at least it would be safe.
Suddenly, the asphalt under Liam gave out and the two fell into darkness.
Hitting the ground rather quickly, Liam sat up with a grunt. Looking over, Ruby rubbed her head as she got to her feet. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah." Ruby replied, brushing the dust off her clothes.
"C'mon. Maybe we can-"
"Freeze!" turning around, half a dozen White Fang members had their weapons pointed at the two.
Reaching back for her scythe, Ruby gripped nothing. Realizing she didn't have her weapon, she turned back to the White Fang just as they approached her.
"Don't you lay a finger on her." Liam growled as he moved to protect his cousin.
The White Fang member just paused for a second before using the butt of his gun to hit Liam square on the nose. Falling to the ground, Liam rubbed his face as the rest of the Fang members closed in. "Take that one's weapon and bring 'em with. The boss is gonna wanna see this."
Rising to his feet, one of them tried to take hold of Liam's arm but he shook him off. "Don't resist, kid." the Fang member told him as he took his sword. "Now get moving."
Up top, Zwei rushed back to camp, barking to get the others' attention. "Zwei?" Yang said as she stirred.
The dog barked more before running back out of the building. Looking around, Yang noticed her sister was missing. "Guys, Ruby's gone."
This got the others attention. "What?"
"Liam isn't here either." Marek pointed out.
Zwei rushed back in and barked a few more times before running out again.
Looking to one another, all of them went outside one by one, including Dr. Oobleck. Following the dog, they came across Ruby's scythe laying in the street next to the hole.
"Ruby's scythe." Yang rushed over to it and picked it up.
"You think she fell?" Weiss asked.
"Fell?" Oobleck rushed over, looking up.
"Down there."
Oobleck looked to the hole. "Oh my. Of course! Of course, OF COURSE, OF COURSE!"
"What is it?" Blake asked.
"How could I be so stupid?!"
"Dr. Oobleck, what's wrong?"
"Mountain Glenn! Yes, an expansion of Vale that was inevitably destroyed by creatures of Grimm! Previously home to thousands of people! Working people commuting to the city, the main city! Developed a subway system to the inner city! Grimm attacks increased! Population in danger, now desperately searching for shelter! City evacuates into the metro tunnels and what do they find? The southeast quadrant of Vale is known for wild forests and deep caves!" Oobleck said.
"Doc, what are you saying?" Yang asked.
"My dear, we're not just looking for an underground crime network, we're looking for an UNDERGROUND crime network!" Oobleck told her.
"They've been working in caves?"
"No, no, Mountain Glenn was Vale's first serious attempt at expansion. It worked for a short period of time, thanks to an aggressive perimeter defense, and unique transportation; the city developed an elaborate subway system to carry citizens safely from the new territory into the main Kingdom! Sadly, without the many natural barriers Vale had to protect its borders, Mountain Glenn was doomed from the start! As the end drew near, the citizens of the territory made one last attempt at survival: They took up shelter beneath the city! In massive caves that they had cleared out for the subway. And they had cut themselves off from the surface!"
"An underground village?" Chrome asked.
"In a matter of speaking, yes. A safe haven. Until... an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern, filled with subterranean Grimm. After that, the Kingdom officially sealed off the tunnels, creating the world's largest tomb. If Ruby and Liam are down there, we must find them..."
Back in the underground village, Ruby and Liam were led to a train car. "Hey boss, you're gonna wanna see this."
"Is it good news or bad news?" a familiar voice asked from inside.
"It's...a couple of kids?" the Fang member replied.
Roman Torchwick popped his head out of the traincar. "That would be bad." hopping out of the traincar, Torchwick ashed his cigar as he approached Ruby. "Hiya, Red. Been a while."
Liam, once again being protective, moved in front of his cousin. "Don't touch her."
"And who's this?!" Roman used his cane to move Liam's face to the side for a better look. "He looks remarkably like you, Red. Is this your twin?"
"I'm none of your bus-" Liam was cut off as Roman thrust his cane into his stomach, causing him to gasp for breath.
"A little respect goes a long way, Red." Roman growled at him. "No. That won't do. I can't be calling you both 'Red'." Roman twirled his cane as he thought. "I got it." he pointed his cane at Ruby. "Since you're shorter, you'll be 'Little Red'."
As Liam got to his feet Ruby helped him stand. "Y'know, it's gonna drive me nuts. Are you two siblings? I mean, you look it but I wanna be sure."
"We're cousins." Ruby growled at him.
"Cousins?" Roman repeated. "I doubt that. I've never seen cousins look this alike before in my life. Sure, there are similarities, but you two look damn near identical."
"What's it matter to you?!" Liam growled.
"I like knowing my friends, that's all." Roman said as he hit Liam again with his cane, knocking him onto his back.
Raising his cane to hit him again, a loud explosion went off followed by another. "What the-"
While Roman was distracted, Ruby looked to Liam who just nodded. Running passed Roman, Liam quickly got to his feet and turned to the Fang member who had his sword.
Taking it off his back, Liam slashed at Roman just as he turned around. Ducking under Liam's attack, Roman tried to swipe at his ankles but missed as Liam jumped over his cane, running after Ruby.
Running up behind her, he noticed both of their teams were here as well. "Are you okay?"
"We're fine, we're fine! But listen! Torchwick's got all kinds of weapons and robots down there." Ruby told them.
"What?!" Blake asked as she handed Ruby her scythe.
"Androids, mechs, they're all loaded up on the train cars!" Ruby added.
"Ahhhh, that's ridiculous. These tunnels are sealed, the tracks lead to a dead-end." Oobleck said.
"Get to your places, we are leaving now!" Torchwick said over a loudspeaker.
The train starts moving towards the tunnels.
"Well, it sounds like they're going somewhere."
"We need backup. Let me call Jaune." her scroll flashes 'Low Signal'. "I can't get through!"
"So, what do we do?" Weiss asked.
"I believe we only have one option..." Marek told them.
"We're stopping that train!"
As the train began to pull away, both teams and Oobleck rushed over and quickly boarded the back. Climbing on top of the traincars, they began heading towards the front.
As they moved forward, Chrome noticed a hatch. Opening it, a big device was inside. "Hey, Doc? What's this?" he asked.
Oobleck came over and knelt down. "That...appears to be a bomb."
Everyone took a step back as more Fang members rushed them from the front of the train. "We've got baddies!" Ruby pointed at them.
"Well, I didn't expect them to go..." the bomb activated and began beeping. "...easy on us." Oobleck stood up. "Time to go!"
Turning to the Fang members, both teams rushed to attack except for Blake who was tasked with cutting the caboose loose. Feeling something was up, Liam ran ahead, and stopped at another hatch. Opening it, Liam looked inside. "Doc, we got another bomb!"
Oobleck ran by Liam and up a few more traincars. "No. No. No." he opened another hatch and looked inside. "They ALL have bombs!"
The bomb under the students charges up and starts beeping as the cart they're on detaches itself, forcing them to run to the next cart.
"This doesn't make sense!"
"Get the humans!" one of the Fang members shouted.
The detatched traincar explodes, creating a hole in the tunnel for Grimm to access.
"He's leading Grimm to the city!" Oobleck shouted.
"What?"
"It's the cars! They detach and explode, creating openings for the Grimm!" Oobleck told his students.
"That's insane!"
Another train car detaches itself.
"We have to hurry!" he looked to Marek and Ruby. "You two, help me up here, the rest of you go below and try to stop those bombs!"
"Got it!"
Running to the next hatch, Liam opened it for the others to jump inside. Once they had, Liam followed, closing the hatch as he fell inside.
"Alright, let's get to work." Liam said.
"Here." Weiss held a dust filled mag out to Blake. "This should help you."
Sliding the mag into her weapon, the six of them began moving forward.
Before they could reach the next traincar, a woman, with brown and pink hair with matching eyes, dropped down from the ceiling, blocking their path. This woman was Neo, Roman's right-hand-woman.
Resting her weapon on her shoulder, she smirked. "You guys go on ahead." Yang said, cocking her gauntlets. "I got this one."
"I'll stay and help." Chrome told her.
"Fine."
Readying their weapon, the other four rushed towards her. Getting into a fighting stance, Yang shot a blast at Neo, forcing her to jump back and distracting her long enough for the others to run by.
Making it into the next traincar, the White Fang lieutenant blocked their path. Not slowing down for a second, Weiss looked to the others. "Go ahead, I got this."
Blake and Nicci slid by as Weiss and Liam performed a synchronized attack. Forcing the lieutenant to block their strikes, Blake and Nicci made it to the third traincar where Roman himself was waiting for them.
"Ooh, the kitty brought another friend." Roman said. "Y'know, we really gotta stop meeting like this."
Back with Yang and Chrome, the two of them fought Neo. Chrome tried to swing his blades at her but she opened her parasol for a split second, countering Chrome's attack and hitting him three times in quick succession, one on his leg, chest and chin.
Stumbling back, Yang rushed in next. Each of her strikes was dodged effortlessly. Neo never lost her smile as she ducked, dodged and countered the taller girl.
Once Yang finally got a hold of her, she tried to knock her down but Neo just performed a cartwheel, landing on a box and crossing her legs while resting her weapon on her shoulder. Readying their weapons, Yang and Chrome both stormed towards her.
Reaching her, Yang threw a punch which was easily blocked.
As Yang stumbled back, Chrome tried to attack, only for Neo to slide under his legs and push him towards the box she was sitting on. Twirling her parasol, Yang fired an explosive shot at Neo's back, only for Neo to shatter like glass while the shot hit Chrome instead.
Feeling his aura flicker, Neo leapt back in. Yang, now agitated, fired off another shot at her. Neo quickly grabbed Chrome and used him as a human shield before he could recover from the previous shot.
Now with his aura drained, Neo flipped him onto the ground and brought her parasol down onto his head with enough force to knock him out. Turning to Yang, Neo smiled, angering the blonde.
Sloppy with rage, Yang threw a puncj but it was countered once more. Neo quickly drained the rest of Yang's aura before knocking her out as well.
Satisfied, Neo pulled the blade out of her parasol and raised it, ready to finish Yang off when a portal suddenly opened next to her as a masked woman slashed at her. Unshaething her blade, Neo took one look at it before her face turned to one of fear. Activating her semblance, Neo fled.
The masked woman looked at Yang before creating another portal and walking through it just as Yang came to.
Inside the traincar with Weiss and Liam, the two were fighting the lieutenant. It was a pretty one-sided fight since both Weiss and Liam had more mobility than the lieutenant who was wielding a large chainsaw-like weapon.
Attacking with precision and teamwork, Weiss and Liam were hurting him but at the same time pissing him off. Swinging his weapon as hard as he could, Weiss dodged it but Liam wasn't as quick. Getting hit, Liam flew into the side of the traincar, his aura flickering but not yet depleted.
Falling to his knees, Liam quickly recovered as Weiss activated her time dialation. Dashing back and forth, Weiss kept slashing at the lieutenant. Having enough of it, the lieutenant grabbed Weiss by the throat and slammed her into the ground.
Seeing this, Liam quickly rushed over and swung his sword, firing off a sniper round and hitting the lieutenant with enough force to make him stumble. Now having enough, the lieutenant swung his weapon just as Liam did.
The force of the swing knocked Liam into the traincar with Nicci and Blake. Knocked out, Roman looked up at Blake with a smirk. "So, what's it gonna be?"
Blake answered his question by kicking him in the face and knocking him out. Nicci grabbed Liam while Blake ran into the other traincar and grabbed Weiss. Jumping through the hatch, the two teams regrouped just as the train neared the deadend, all of them conscious.
"You guys okay?" Ruby asked as she and Marek joined them.
"Yeah, but we got a problem." Liam pointed to the end of the tunnel.
"What do we do?" Nicci asked.
Weiss and Chrome both had the same idea. Using their glyphs, the two created an ice shield around all eight of them just as the train collided with the tunnel.
Blinded by a white light, both teams noticed they were outside. Looking around, they saw they were surrounded by buildings and civilians.
Just as they got to their feet, an alarm began blaring as a King Taijitu emerged from the tunnels. A second passed before countless more emerged.
End of chapter 15
