Chapter 38: Basil's Classified Adventure
Content Warning: Torture, Blood, Murder
Character Change: Viralious - Kairi-Tsugumi Basil
Location: City of Mantle: Crater Entrance
Basil walked the depressing and damaged streets at the edge of the crater carved from Atlas being lifted into the air. It was an open secret that only faunus tended to live in these run down slums but Basil chose not to think on that fact… or the fact that this was her home at one point.
Closing her eyes she could remember the brisk summer days playing in the park with her father, her telling her parents about her acceptance to Shelter and later Atlas Academy… she should be happy to be back and yet…
Basil shook her head trying to refocus on the reason she was down here in the first place. Meteion was making moves and she needed to figure out why. She was a Geist frankly it was embarrassing that she went this long without trying to establish a lead on them.
You've been busy… being a professor is hard work… that and you are alone so you have to do everything yourself.
Breathing out a long sigh, she stops in front of a building she hadn't visited in a long time. Melone's Repair Shop… a quaint little mom and pop repair shop that normally wouldn't bear any scrutiny except from a tax official but like much of what was happening in her life was really a front.
Melone wasn't even the owner's real name. This repair shop was the staging area for the White Fang… Basil frowned… because she was dealing with the Fang she had to deal with… him.
Hector Coleoptera, a beetle faunus who to many was a revolutionary calling for a peaceful approach for the injustices they suffered… but to those who got to know him he was a dictator all too happy to corrupt the message and further his wants.
As repulsed by the man as she was… (if given the order she would end him herself) she had to admit he knew how to keep tabs on the underbelly of Mantle… Breathing in, slowly she enters the store. There's a soft bell ringing from the door being open as she steps inside. The store is exactly what you would expect from it. Appliances a good ten years out of date available for purchase at still inflated prices and a few damaged newer models.
"Welcome, how can I help you?" The cheerful cashier says from behind the counter.
Basil looks at the worker for a minute and takes note of a striped tail shifting left or right… This confirmed it, Hector was in back.
"I-I-I've g-got a bit of a r-ro-roach problem… I w-was wonde-wonderring if I c-could get s-some-something to d-d-deal with it." Basil stammers out.
The cashier looks at her as if she told her she was a dragon, "I'm sorry I think you have the wrong store, the exterminator is next door."
Basil facepalmed, A new hire… just my bloody luck. "I'm he-hear to sp-speak with H-Hector… is h-he in?" She states bluntly.
The cashier's expression changed to one of realization, "Oh I see you're here for the cause… you must not have checked in for a while. "She then pulls out a small coin and shows it to Basil, "We use these coins to identify ourselves instead of passphrases… the beetle one was too on the nose."
Yet the coin is more incriminating… one step forward two steps back… well, it will make it easier when I have to arrest all of them as I know I'll get that order sometime.
"He's down the stairs, remember what we're fighting for, sister." The cashier says motioning Basil towards a door marked employees only. Stepping through it she descends the stairs into a small room with a desk and a few chairs in the middle, off the right is a map of the city and a few notes pinned to it showing different safe houses and cached equipment. Sitting behind the desk is the son of a bitch himself.
"Whose this broad?" A tall giraffe faunus says looking at Basil.
"My name is not important… Hector, I have a proposition for you." Basil says after a deep breath putting on her serious face.
"You really come down here and want him to do something for him, Mousy you've got so-" The bodyguard starts before the beetle faunus puts a hand up.
"That's enough Boris… Now then Missy, sit down so we can discuss this business." Hector chides. His greasy black hair flows messily into the winglike carapace on his back which is covered by an extremely tacky tropical shirt… his hands greedily plucked at a cigarette in his mouth…but trashiest of all a golden chain was around his neck making him look like a third rate pimp.
Not even classy enough for a cigar. She thought as she sat down.
"Now then, what brings you to my office, lady?" Hector draws out, taking a puff from his cigarette.
"Meteion, I want names, locations and businesses associated with them." Basil deadpans.
"Woah, what's a broad like you wanting to deal with those cultists?" Boris asks
"Boris, don't interrupt while business is happening." Hector chides his body guard before looking at the mouse professor and giving her a long eyed stare.
Basil sat there poker-faced as Hector examined her head to toe before he grunted, "You don't look like a cop or one of steelcock's goons… how much are you willing to pay for this information?"
Reaching into her bag she pulls out a stack of Lien, "thirty thousand Lien should be enough for at least a few places or persons of interest." her tone is confident and she places it on the desk between them.
Hector looks at the stack of Lien before looking back at her, "No faunus is walking around with that much this close to the crater, who are you and why are you really here for."
Basil sighed, "My name is not important, I'm here to get information on Meteion for a contract I've taken… " She leaves the rest vague.
Boris places a hand on the stowed gun on his waist band before Hector laughs, "I see, alright tell you what Missy I'll give you your information for eighty thousand lien."
Basil clenches her fist, "I'll give you Sixty thousand and throw in not killing your bodyguard."
This gets a laugh out of Hector before he looks over and sees Boris' gun pointed directly at Boris' head just floating there in mid air.
Psychokinesis, the winner of the semblance lottery five times out of ten.
"Alright you've made your point, put the parlor tricks away and I'll accept your sixty thousand." Hector sighs.
"Great, you get the thirty thousand on the table now and the rest when you give me the information." Basil replies.
Hector reaches over and picks up the stack of lien on the table and starts counting it before nodding, "At least put the rest on the table to prove you have it."
Basil does as the man instructed before he tells Boris to grab his scroll. After a minute and a dirty glare from the Giraffe faunus, Hector speaks, "Roadrunner Repairs and Body Shop is going to probably be your best lead. Whole place is a front for Meteion's operations so you'll not have to worry about civilians getting in your way if you go around closing only got about three workers and from what I know they shouldn't be armed so easy pickings for someone with aura like you. Other then that I can't say much of Meteion, my guys are spooked of them so If you tell me what you know after you're done with em, I'll make sure you have a nice place in the Fang."
Basil frowns, "Thank you for the information, I'll take my chances without your influence, Hector." She stands and walks away from the desk before she hears the click of a weapon's safety being turned off. Looking back she catches a bullet fired from a gaudy gold plated gun held by Hector who is now looking at the mouse faunus with fear in his eyes.
"You know, I was actually going to let a scumbag like you live Hector… but now you-" Basil starts
"Don't lie you bitch, if you thought for a second I didn't remember who you were you're mistaken." Hector spits out, "You sold yourself out to be Steelcock's bitch, Basil."
This gets Basil to frown, "So you do remember me."
"How could I forget the bitch who sold us out to the people who oppress us?" Hector retorts.
"You were trying to blow up a hospital! How the hell do you think that's justified?" Basil screams.
"Wait, what?" Boris responds confused.
"Their greedy bastards who charge more for Faunus to go there, seriously when me and the human stoner I hired to watch the shop in the mornings went, his bill was much less!" Hector responds
"You ever stop to think it's because they're younger and not a fatass chain smoker?" Basil responds rolling her eyes.
Hector pauses for a moment, "Shut up you've sold out your brothers just to pull the ladder up after you've made it."
Basil shakes her head before flicking the bullet into the air, it starts to corkscrew and spin pointed directly at Hector's forehead. Before he even has time to react it flies through his head leaving a bullet shaped hole in his head.
Hector's lifeless body falls head first onto the table before crumpling onto the floor. Basil yawns before looking at Boris who is terrified, "Congratulations, you've been promoted to boss, now take this burner scroll and digitize all the damn files in that cabinet and send them. If you don't, I'll come back and actually use my weapon." Basil threatens placing a hand on the hilt of her weapon and holding out a scroll with her other.
Boris nods weakly before taking the scroll. Basil begins to turn to walk away before looking at Boris in the eyes, "Oh and if you choose to bomb a hospital I'll feed your family to you in chili."
Boris gives a squeak of affirmation before Basil climbs the stairs and leaves the small office. The clerk behind the desk refuses to make eye contact yet doesn't reach for a weapon.
Smart of her to do so.
Walking out of the store, Basil sighs… she hated recon work, her bread and butter was logistics and planning hence why she was great at dust… Recon required her to be a people person… it required her to speak without a stutter it forced her to well not be… Basil… She truly hated it.
Okay Basil focus, sixty thousand of counterfeit lien got you information on Meteion's location or at least one of their fronts. That stupid Giraffe should come through with the rest of the information out of fear by the end of the week if not I'll tip Ironwood off and get the rest that way. As for Meteion… I can't let Ironwood know or he'll raid the compound and cause for everyone to go underground… I'm on my own for more recon… After this is done I'm going to need a night to destress…. I wonder if Makoto or Cinnamon would like to get dinner?... probably not…
Roadrunner Repairs and Body Shop was not an easy place to find, which defeated the whole purpose of it being a body shop since she passed at least four others on her way.
For a cover front for a Cult of Grimm worshippers, an auto repair shop that's a pain to find is not the best… seriously stick to the classics people! Dust shops and laundromats, they work for a reason and make it super easy to launder money… figuratively and literally… Fuck, that's a Beryl joke.
Eventually, she finds the damn building and looks at the mostly empty garage… It seemed that the regular clientele agreed with her opinion of the place as there was only one car lifted up in the whole garage. Walking towards the garage, Basil breathed in deeply and grabbed her weapon from her waist. She checks the hilt for a minute before pulling out a light blue and white cartridge and loads it into it. Placing the weapon back on her waist she sighs and makes her way into the shop.
One of the workers takes notice almost immediately and makes his way towards her, "Excuse me miss, but we're about to be closing for today, I can give you a quick estimate on spare parts but anything more you're going to have to come in tomorrow." He informs her warily. From the side she can tell the other two workers are watching her closely.
"Oh, I'm not here to talk to you about repairing a car or getting spare parts." Basil responds.
"Then you're at the wrong store, you critter." One of the workers in the back spits out in contempt.
Basil closes her eyes and counts to five she then looks the man who called her a slur in the eyes, "I'm here to ask you about Meteion."
All sound goes quiet, the three men look at each other before nodding. The one by the large garage door presses a button closing it. The one who called her a slur started walking forward and pressed a button on his scroll, moments later all the blue lights on the locks turned red signaling they were now locked.
"The fuck did you say to me, critter?" The man says again, getting in her face. Basil picked up on the one near the garage door picking up a large wrench and walking up behind her.
"I guess you're hard of hearing, I'm here to learn a bit about Meteion." Basil responds showing no emotion but reaching out with her semblance for a fack sitting on the ground.
"You stupid bitch, Daf you know what to do." The slur slinging man says to the mechanic coming up behind her. Before he's able to even lift the wrench to swing the Jack is thrown across the room with Basil's semblance slamming into his head causing him to collapse instantly on the ground, stunned by this display the seemingly head mechanic reaches for his waist band obviously reaching for a gun.
Before he's even able to unholster the weapon, Basil had already grabbed her own and bashed him upside the head with her hilt knocking the man to the floor. He's still conscious but not for much longer as she delivers a savage kick to the side of his head knocking him out instantly. Looking up from her second target, Basil makes eye contact with the first mechanic who she spoke with. He was obviously scared and shocked by the display, Lifting her weapon she pointed it at his chest causing him to put his hands up.
"I don't want any trouble." He said nervously.
"Yet you joined Meteion." Basil responds showing no remorse before a barrel of lubricant smacks into his back knocking him onto the ground.
He makes no moves after hitting the ground causing Basil to frown… Great, none had aura so they're out cold for a bit… Might as well get creative.
Sighing, Basil reaches into her bag and pulls out six pairs of zip ties. Slowly she makes her way around and creates makeshift handcuffs and legcuffs for each of the three mechanics before looking around the shop. That's when she sees what looks like three basic cranes for raising and lowering parts of the cars, getting a terrible Idea she starts to drag the unconscious Meteion members over to them. With a GREAT struggle, she's eventually able to hook their makeshift handcuffs to the hooks and lift the three men into the air.
Looking around the shop for more goodies, she found a brand new micro blow torch, an empty bucket which she began to fill with water using some of her dust, and a tire iron. Grabbing a small mechanic's tool tray on wheels, she placed her finds on to it before adding the discarded metal wrench that they had attempted to use on her. As she places it onto the tray, the metallic reflection of the head mechanics gun catches her eye. Pulling it from the holster she places it on the cart. With the water bucket still filling she decides to take a look at the car currently lifted that they supposedly had been working on. Upon closer inspection she notices the battery has been removed and a pair of jumper cables is still connected. Grimly, she shudders and adds both to the cart.
With the water finally filling the bucket, she picks it up and wheels the tray towards the three men just hanging there. Breathing in slowly, truly dreading this part of the job, she splashes the three by throwing water on them.
All three come to with gasps and confusion before they start to struggle against their bindings to no avail. Basil sits by and examines the three closely before she speaks "What was Meteion planning in Ansel?" Her tone is militaristic and harsh.
"Fuck you, I want a lawyer." the head mechanic says definitely.
Basil doesn't respond at first before she grabs the tire iron off the cart and swings it into his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. Taking a step back, "You all lost your right to an attorney when you became members of Meteion, start talking and I won't have to take this any further."
"Fuck you, you critters aren't worth sh-" the man starts before getting cut off by another swing of the tire iron this time at his leg.
Basil shakes her head before placing the tire iron back down on the tray, "I'm not fucking around, start talking."
"We'd be a lot more receptive if you did what you're kind is good for. So get on your knees and blow us you stupid bitch." The mechanic nicknamed Daf shoots out.
Basil narrows her eyes before picking up the micro blow torch and cleaning rag. Walking over towards him, she balls the rag in her hand before shoving it into his mouth preventing any sound from escaping from it. Lighting the torch, she holds it directly up to his crotch. His muffled screams echo quietly in the shop as she holds it there for a good minute before pulling it away and watching the tears stream down his face. Smugly, she walks back and places it back onto the tray before looking over at the two other Meteion members. "There I've blown you, now start talking."
"You're fucking crazy." the leader huffs out, "No one say anything! die for the cause men!"
Basil looks over at the leader and sighs, picking up the .22 she grabbed from his holster. "You know, I like the craftsmanship of this weapon." She says candidly walking towards him and stuffs another rag in his mouth, "Though I've never been that good of a shot, I have to get real close just to hit the target." She says as she places the weapon onto the left kneecap of the man before pulling the trigger sending a bullet straight through.
Pulling the weapon back she looks the man in the eye with a harsh expression. Walking back over to the tray she places the .22 back on the tray and sighs, "Let's see if the guy who wanted me to blow him is more receptive yet?" She walks over towards him picking up the blow torch again as she goes. Standing in front of him she looks him in the eye before saying, "You ready to talk yet?"
The man with the broiled dick shakes his head. Basil repeats his motion before kneeling down and turning on the blow torch, holding it to the bottom of his shoes. Once again the room fills with his muffled cries as the smell of burning rubber and flesh permeate the room. After a few minutes the torch runs out of power and peters out, giving him a reprieve.
"Think about that while I talk to your boss." Basil deadpans before throwing the torch into his mangled crotch eliciting another cry of pain from the man. Heading back over to the man in charge, she removes the cloth in his mouth to get him to speak, which he oh so kindly replies by spitting in her face.
Offended, Basil punches him clean in the face, knocking him out and possibly dislocating his jaw. After a moment of double checking he's still alive she places the rag back into his mouth and wheels the cart closer to him. Once the cart is in place she rips his shirt off exposing his flabby chest. Breathing in deeply she questions if she's really going through with this before finding resolve and connecting the jumper cables to the metal parts of the wrench and tire iron. Grabbing the rubber bits on each she holds the makeshift probes up to his nipples for only a second.
The effect is immediate, the man jumps back into consciousness violently jerking in pain before coming to a rest. Basil stands there and looks him in the eyes, "I would prefer not to have to do that again so think about your next response carefully." She then places the makeshift probes onto the tray carefully avoiding the metal edges as electrocuting herself in front of them would kill any image she just created of them.
Sighing she looks over at the one person she hasn't 'interrogated' yet. He's obviously fearing for his life. "Look, you and I both know I can make your life a living hell. You've seen what I've done to your co-workers so start talking or am I going to have to fill this bucket again and put a rag over your face?" she asks, annoyed.
With that mental image, the tied up man is officially fearing for his life, "Please I've got a daughter… She's the reason I joined. I needed money… Please!"
Basil looks at him dumbfounded… "You are an idiot telling someone that. Tell you what, tell me everything I want to know." She breathes in carefully trying to make the next lie seem convincing, "If not, I'll get my contacts to grab her and she'll be the one watching as I repeat what I've done to them on you."
Buy the bluff, for the love of everything buy the bluff. There is a line I will not cross and that's one of them.
The scared father instantly cracks "No please I'll tell you anything, ANYTHING, PLEASE DON'T HURT HER!"
Basil smiles, she got the tap in, now it was time to get the good bits from it, "What's Meteion doing in Ansel?"
"Our boss told us he needed some people to watch a cave… supposedly one of his partners had something to test and wanted us to watch it." the man answers.
"Who's your boss?"
"His name is Thordan Skobeloff, he used to be a powerful Atlas elite before he was chased off by Ironwood. Now he's come back to rebel against the Atlasians who oppress us." The man responds.
"What's Meteion's goal here in Mantle?"
"Currently we're trying to gain members though a lot of us are sent to help out with a partner of his currently… sometimes a huntsman comes by to make sure no one is running away or spying on us."
The swordsman who attacked Team VIEW…
"What's the end goal?" Basil asks seriously
"I don't know… I do know he promised us a better life."
"Where is this 'partner' taking your members?" Basil asks intrigued by them outsourcing labor…
"I don't know… All I know is they reported to a train station and haven't come back since… Please, that's all I know." The man pleads
Basil thinks for a few moments taking in the information she just learned, Meteion's current goal is gathering strength and working with an unknown third party… they arrive by train so searching exports and imports is a must… she then breathes in and asks "What happens to the people who refuse to join at your rallies?"
"I don't know but I doubt anything good… Most of the time when you're going to one of those rallies your mind is made up on joining." The man answers.
"Or you were forced to go." Basil deadpans.
"I… I don't remember anyone joining without making the choice." The man backpedals.
"We're blind to what we don't want to see." Basil responds, "If I let you go, what would you do?"
"I would get my daughter and run… it's obvious you're with Ironwood so Mantle isn't safe for me anymore." he replies truthfully.
Basil stands there for a moment before walking over to the man and pulling him off the crane holding him up. Placing him gently on the ground she flips him onto his back and pulls his scroll out of his pocket, using his bound hands, she unlocks it and pulls up his ID, taking out her own scroll she opens the camera and takes a picture before asking asks, " Do you have a knife or scissors anywhere around here?" and tossing the scroll back to him.
"Green drawer on the right." The man says.
Finding the scissors she was looking for, she undoes the binding on his legs before pulling him to a standing position, "Now, you have twenty-four hours to get the fuck out of Atlas and Mantle before I report you as a member of Meteion. If I find out you're still helping after you've fled, and believe me I will find out, you're not going to enjoy your daughter's life for much longer." Basil threatens holding the scissors straight ahead staring into his soul.
"Crystal clear, I'll be gone by morning. Already have some bags packed… though Jasmine will need some time to pack her room." He answers.
"You're a fucking idiot you realize that." Basil deadpans.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You are giving the person interrogating you information that can be used against you… Brothers it's little wonder you ended up with Meteion… you probably thought Hector Coleoptera was a good person to loan money from." Basil responds.
"Should I know who that is?" He asks earnestly.
Basil takes the scissors and undoes the makeshift cuffs she put him in, "Get out of my sight… I recommend Vale. They've got a decently large automotive scene so you should be able to get some type of job there."
"I'll look into it. Thank you. You'll never see me again." He answers as he quickly grabs his scroll from the ground and flees the scene.
After a few moments Basil looks at the two members of Meteion still hanging there with rags in their mouths and in pain, "What am I to do about you people?"
Suddenly, there is a knock on the garage door causing Basil to jump in surprise they should have been closed for hours who the fuck could be showing up-
"Kairi-Tsugumi Basil, this is Clover Ebi, open the door… I know you're in there. I've tracked your movements all night." the pompous voice of Clover states.
Basil scowls before pulling out her scroll and pulling up his number and texting a quick message
Side entrance third door. You have twenty seconds to enter before I lock it again.
Moments later the new leader of the fledgling Ace Ops initiative walks in, though he needs to work on his reflexes as Basil is instantly able to swipe his scroll from him when he enters the door. Working her magic quickly she deletes all traces of her mission tonight from his records and tosses it back to him after bricking it permanently.
"You're paying for a new one." Clover angrily snarls at her before actually observing the scene in front of him, "Basil what- why would you violate basic human decency?!"
"Wow racist much! I don't know how you haven't noticed but I'm a faunus not a human." Basil jokes
"This is not the time to joke Basil, you tortured these people!" Clover retorts.
"Terrorists and members of Meteion. They lost their rights to trial and protections from that decision. Besides, I have permission from the general to gather this information. What did he send you to spy on me?"
"I doubt the general would have approved of these methods… no he didn't send me… The general told me and only me about the Geists… his plan is for you to fold into our unit after its database is officially transferred to intelligence… I saw you taking a bullhead and decided to catch you. I didn't expect to find you dealing with White Fang members and torturing people!" Clover explains.
"It's advanced interrogation methods." Basil replies.
"They need medical attention. I'm calling in a bullhead…" Clover responds.
Basil rolls her eyes before walking over to the tray she was keeping the equipment she used to interrogate these terrorists and picks up the .22 sitting there. Without missing a beat she fires two shots striking both in the head killing them instantly. "There problem solved, no medical attention necessary."
"Basil…" Clover starts before biting his tongue.
"Since you're here, make yourself useful and spill some of the lubricant on the ground, the best way to cover this up is to use a fire so I'm taking the lazy way out. It's been a long day." Basil says while reaching into her bag and pulling out three objects, first a grenade to get things started, a large container of fire dust and an electric dust cartridge for her weapon."
"No." Clover responds by pulling out his weapon, "I'm not going to sit by and watch you become the very monster we're trying to stop… Basil you are under arrest you have-"
Clover doesn't even have time to finish before Basil cuts him off, "Clover Ebi, I have clearance from the general for my actions here tonight so under Atlasian code 361-52b I cannot be arrested for actions sanctioned by the general unless the council has declared said action inhumane and due to my status as a Geist under code G002 if knowledge of my actions becomes public I am a rogue asset and could not have been working under the general… I get that you disagree with my actions here tonight but you don't have grounds to arrest me." Her tone is instructive and militaristic, almost taunting him to challenge her on the code and docturm.
Clover looks at her in annoyance, "If I can't arrest you then let's make a deal… since you'll be joining my unit, if I can defeat you tonight you cannot perform any more torture on your excursions to find Meteion… My definition, not yours." he challenges.
Basil raises an eyebrow, "You know I hold the cards currently, you're technically acting without proper authorization against someone who does… I could get you demoted for this."
"I know, but I'm leaning on the fact that such an action will shed a light on your operations meaning you won't go through with it." Clover retorts.
Basil laughs, "Fine then, and if I win you don't interfere in my operations for the rest of time."
"Until you join my unit." Clover clarifies.
"Never going to happen but sure why not… Now then you take the first move." Basil responds.
Clover throws the steel cable from his weird fishing rod weapon trying to strike Basil with the metal lure on the end. Basil swiftly unsheathes her weapon blocking the metal hook with the hilt of her weapon before kicking the tray with her makeshift interrogation equipment is sitting and curls her hand and shoves it forward. Moments later, the pieces of equipment go flying throughout the shop like a fragmentation grenade as Basil has seemingly thrown them haphazardly around. A wrench flies towards Clover but he's able to easily dodge out of the way. Reeling in his steel line Clover recenters himself before tossing it out in a wide arc and catching Basil's leg, moments later he pulls it taught and catches a pissed off mouse faunus.
Clover begins to pull back trying to knock Basil off balance but in return she presses down on the trigger on the hilt of her weapon. Instantly, hard-light dust shoots out and forms a straight longblade of dust. Using her activated dust saber, Basil cuts the wire wrapped around her foot cleanly in two before shifting her arms back and doing a spin using her semblance to throw a barrel of lubricant at the Ace operative.
Gritting his teeth Clover side steps the barrel which lands behind him crashing into the tool box spraying its contents all over the room. Following up, he retracts the rest of his now useless wire and readjusts his grip this time holding his weapon like a harpoon and rushes towards Basil.
Gripping her weapon tightly, Basil runs and shifts her weight and performs a right slash locking the hard-light projected blade against the metal rod of Clover's weapon. Gritting her teeth, Basil pushes forward, throwing off Clover's guard and pulls her left hand back causing a rolling stool to slam into his back leg. Clover stumbles forward slightly before recatching his balance and stabbing forward with his weapon.
Dropping to her knees, Basil dodges underneath the oncoming attack and counter attacks by stabbing her blade forward. This attack connects with Clover's abdomen with a moderate amount of force. Jumping backwards, Clover lands near the middle of the shop. Smirking, Basil loads the yellow cartridge she pulled out earlier into her weapon. The blue digital looking blade flickers out for a moment before it turns yellow and sparks of electricity crackle off the blade as she drags it across the floor.
Rushing forward, Basil performs a jumping slash towards Clover's head which he predictably blocks using his metal weapon. Waves of electricity flow through the weapon into the Clovers arm and dances against his aura. Disconnecting from Basil's blade, Clover attempts to make some distance from his opponent but Basil spins around and moments later multiple tools and car equipment flies into Clover, it's obvious what Basil's strategy had been throughout this entire time. Throw a load of random tools throughout the shop until she's able to overwhelm him using her semblance.
Being forced back, Clover defended against the overwhelming assault of Basil's semblance before he was standing near the car that was lifted up near the middle of the shop. Moments later, he heard the sound of a fast swing before the entire lift and car fell onto his right leg trapping him underneath.
Basil smiled, it worked without a hitch. While Clover was being forced back she had thrown her weapon spinning it like a saw she cut through one of the two pneumatic lifts that were holding the car up causing it to fall onto him. Though she was aiming for the whole body, the right leg was still good enough.
Walking towards the Trapped Ace Op, Basil walks forward and using her semblance causes her weapon to fly back into her hands. Holding the blade near the head of her opponent Basil spoke clearly, "I win, Stay out of my business."
Clover looks at the mouse professor before sighing… "You don't make it as far as I do without knowing when you're outmatched. Alright you win."
Nodding, Basil deactivates her weapon before planting her feet firmly on the ground and Raising her hands and focusing on raising the car off of Clover's leg. Slowly it lifts up enough, giving him just enough space to crawl out from under it. After the Ace operative is free, Basil lowers her hands and drops the car back onto the ground and breathes heavily before turning towards Clover.
"Are you going to help me burn this place down or just leave?" She asks.
"I'm not becoming an accessory to arson Basil." Clover deadpans before turning and walking out the door.
Basil shakes her head before reaching into her bag. Pulling out multiple different red containers of fire dust before she just throws them around the shop. Walking up to the hanging bodies she takes them off of the cranes holding them up she lays them on the ground before picking up a can of flammable lubricant and spills it over both bodies. After she's certain she's laid out enough dust to burn the building and the bodies leaving no evidence. She then picks up the grenade she brought to kick start the process and places it into the hand of the head mechanic. Hooking it up to a remote trigger on her scroll, Basil walks out of the building.
She walks away for a good five minutes before pressing a button on her scroll. Looking back behind her, she can see the windows blow out of the building which after a few moments large amounts of flames are seen from the holes in the wall.
Smiling, Basil calls a bullhead and decides she has spent enough time gathering information tonight… It was now time to get some sleep and hate the morning as she has to teach.
A/N
So this chapter is a bit different from what most of you would have expected. So as you can see Basil isn't afraid to break the rules. This chapter is mostly meant to show that Basil isn't just sitting around and is actively working towards taking down Meteion… even if she has to break all the rules.
What Basil did in this chapter is definitely something that military and law enforcement shouldn't do. As I said before, the Geists are like the Suicide Squad, they are the 'necessary evil' or the grey line on what is right and wrong.
Clover's appearance is meant to show that no Atlas isn't fully cooperating with her actions and in fact she probably should have been arrested yet through proper use of military code she's able to get away with it.
I realize that the subject matter is bleak which is why the content warning is there. This chapter is Rated M, we are going dark places though I have to say you've reached the majority of the warnings that will need to be said at the start of the chapter so expect any further warnings to be similar to a combination of this or chapter 35 warning.
Fun fact: on the out of chapter notes my enter key actually broke off while writing this chapter causing it to be delayed a day. It won't affect when it's posted but I thought it's funny to mention.
This is where I would like to thank my Editor AmeobaHewdraw as without him I wouldn't have put in a JoJo's joke as the title… I personally think the show looks bad and refuse to watch it but that's just my opinion.
AmoebaHewdraw's note: I'm sorry, I don't speak wrong.
Until Next Time Xcom Out.
