"So, yeah. Transport's been scoured, and whoever did this was looking for gravity dust specifically. If it's Robyn, then she knows about Amity, or at least that we're planning something with dust, and that's a problem."

"That's a big problem," Clover confirmed into the scroll that Sun had held out in his palm. "We're so close to being ready for launch. We need to keep her otherwise occupied. Rerouting so much dust during an election cycle hasn't been easy, and I doubt Jacques is the most secure with his paper trails. We need to make this happen as quickly as possible."

"Yeah, well, what's possible isn't great," Ilia lamented over the line. "We're calling in the androids to see what we can glean from the wreckage. Hopefully it's something useful. Am I the only one feeling like we've strolled right up to brick walls on all sides, with no idea how to knock them down? I thought we had this in the bag, at least until the election."

"Chin up," Sun encouraged, though he was feeling something quite similar himself. "We've got potential leads, and the three of us are about to get all up in Robyn's business. We'll find some way to help sink her, even if it's not what we were expecting. We've got a party to look forward to, and probably a much more depressing, not all that fun party at the Schnee mansion after this is all over. That's… seriously going to suck, actually…"

"Oh, you have no idea," Weiss warned as she folded her arms across her chest. "What's the most painful social event you've ever been to? Multiply by a thousandfold."

"I'll set his curtains on fire or something to liven the place up," Ilia offered. "Maybe get drunk and piss in the fountain. You know, the usual."

"…it's still my house," Weiss warned. "No fires, no breaking anything expensive. I'd like to lay claim to that mansion one day… assuming we have any future to look forward to."

"If you do, I'm moving in, and so is Sun," Ilia called. "Your family owes us for being assholes to our people."

"…what, I'm not allowed to live with Blake?" Sun asked. "We were going to retire to the beach somewhere. Probably somewhere far away from all of this."

"Oh, she's coming too," Ilia reassured. "Weiss and a billion faunus, all under one roof. I guess Jaune and Yang can live in the basement or something. Make it a sex dungeon."

"Alright, we're ending this call, nice talking to you," Weiss said in a falsely enthusiastic voice. "We're never speaking of any of this again. Good luck, Ilia."

"Yeah. Good luck to you, too. I mean that. See you tonight, Sun…"

"See you," the monkey faunus confirmed as he disconnected the call. "She just had to take it there."

"It's Ilia," Weiss reminded with a shrug. "Would you expect anything less?"

"Nope. That's why I love her."

"Moving swiftly on," Clover encouraged as he began to lead the way out of the alleyway they had ducked into, "we've got work to do. I hope the two of you are good at improv. We've got no idea what Robyn actually wants from any of us, other than to talk to me. Not to mention… we're about to attempt sabotage in broad daylight during business hours. Not an easy task."

"Best case scenario, Robyn and her huntresses get caught up in politics with you outside the tavern," Sun mused as the trio made it back onto the streets. "If Weiss and I can be left to snoop around inside, we'll probably be able to get some actual information. Maybe. Ish?"

"How much snooping do you think you can realistically get done?" Clover asked. "I'm sure there are cameras inside, even if we get lucky enough to get all of the huntresses out and otherwise occupied."

"Actually… I have a plan for that," Weiss said sheepishly. "The ethics of it are incredibly questionable, but desperate times and all. It's something I've been working on while we were in transit."

"…what exactly are you planning?" Sun asked. "And why do I suddenly feel nervous?"

"Perhaps you should," Weiss warned. "I can arrange for a sudden loss of power in a targeted area, down to a specific city block. The S.D.C. handles power distribution in Mantle, and Whitley's ready and waiting to pull the lever, so to speak, if we need a miracle blackout."

Sun looked at Weiss as though she had suggested outright murdering Robyn to get her out of the way.

"Uh… wouldn't that like… y'know, shut off the heat down here? And it's freezing without the thermal pipes? Like… literally freezing."

"It would," Weiss confirmed. "Fortunately, the heating in Mantle has a backup generator. It may shut off in some buildings, but the pipes outside would remain functional. It has a chance of causing a minor riot… but if Whitley can minimize the duration and impact to a small area, we should be fine. Probably."

"…I'm hearing a lot of 'should' and 'maybe' from you two. This is very much a 'last resort' plan," Clover warned. "It's a good one if we need to get past cameras, but I'd suggest we try everything else first. Keep your options open, and only pull that move if it's guaranteed to get us results. Her HQ is just up ahead."

"Let me head in first," Sun offered. "I'll signal you guys when I get a feel for the situation. Sound good?"

"Fine by me," Clover agreed. "I'm trusting you on this one. Don't do anything drastic."

Weiss offered a nod, and Sun gave the pair a wave before running ahead and down the remaining block to the tavern. The outside of the building was bustling with people all gathered around a person with a megaphone. As Sun got closer, he recognized the speaker as Fiona, who was excitedly pumping a fist in the air as she made declarations about the future of Mantle. Sun did his best to tune out the message as he slipped through the crowd, trying not to make himself known. Fiona briefly caught his eye and gave him a wave, which he returned before pushing through the door to the pub. The noise level outside and inside was strikingly similar, and Sun felt almost as though he had been punched in the face by a wall of sound.

"Finally," Robyn Hill called just as Sun moved into the entranceway. She had clearly been waiting for him and stepped forward to usher him toward the bar. "Please tell me you know how to mix drinks…"

"Uh… kinda?" Sun said sheepishly as Robyn put a hand on his shoulder and began steering him through the packed establishment. "I know a few? Not that I would ever drink or anything while underage."

"A few isn't going to cut it," May said with a roll of her eyes from behind the bar. Patrons were crowded around the stools, eagerly awaiting their drinks and watching the scene play out. "I told you this was a waste of time, Robyn. They're fucking kids."

"We're not kids," Sun rebuked with an irritated twitch of his tail. "There's gotta be something else we can do to help out, right? Aren't you guys drowning in paperwork and stuff to set up for the election?"

"I was hoping May and I could leave, but she's going to have to stay behind," Robyn lamented. "Fine. Whatever. At least I can get out of here and hit the campaign trail. Do you at least know how to carry plates and trays?"

"…is that seriously all you need us for?" Sun asked as he tried to subtly eye up the security within the noisy pub. He immediately spotted cameras in every corner of the ceiling, and another aimed at the various hallways leading to and from the main floor. "I don't mind boring stuff. If you want to shove us into an office in the back…"

"We don't want outsiders anywhere near our offices," May declared as she shook a tumbler beside her head and poured out a drink. "This is a high-stakes election. If you want to work, you're doing grunt work. Where are Weiss and Clover?"

"On their way," Sun answered, suddenly filled with a sinking feeling. "Though they should probably come in the back, if there's another entrance. I doubt the crowd out front would appreciate seeing a Schnee walk up…"

"There is," Robyn reassured. "I can unlock it remotely on the way out. Have Clover meet me out front, and send Weiss in the back. She'll be doing dishes- none of these people inside will want to see her, either."

"Oh, she'll love that. I'll have them make their way around," Sun offered as he pulled out his scroll. "You're sure she can't do anything for you that has t-"

"Drop it, kid," May interrupted. "She might be on our side, but she's still a Schnee. Why are you so insistent on going through our shit?"

"I just… I want to help actually get stuff done," Sun tried as he tapped away at his scroll. "Running a bar doesn't exactly seem significant in the grand scheme of things. Ironwood's so busy and pulling us in so many directions that we're getting nothing done up there, so getting nothing done down here doesn't exactly feel great…"

Weiss, come in the back- Fiona's outside, Robyn's leaving and meeting Clover out front, and I can't get rid of May. There's a back entrance and cameras everywhere. If you can trigger that blackout for a few minutes tops and take photos of all of the security systems you see on the way to us, I might have a plan.

"Get used to slow progress," May advised. "Not everything can happen exactly when you want it to."

Sun waited for a reply with bated breath. As Robyn left the building and he walked around the bar to join May, Weiss sent a response over.

I can do it. Be ready. Are you going for the offices?

"Yeah, I know. It still sucks, though."

Sun cast May a sidelong glance before composing a response.

It won't be any of us during the day. We're setting ourselves up for success later tonight. Just play it cool and follow my lead. It'll be a boring day, but it'll be safe. Just get me photos.

"Alright, orders are coming out from the kitchen," May said as she nodded toward a door behind her. "Wait over there and be ready to take them out. They'll tell you which table."

"Got it," Sun answered as he focused his attention on Weiss' reply.

You're not doing what I think you're doing, are you?

Probably. Sun cracked his neck as he made his way up to the door. Ilia and I can take care of it later, after we meet with Cinnamon. If we can get her on board, our chances go up even more.

And when, exactly, do you plan to sleep? You need rest too, Sun…

Sun paused as the first order came out the door. An expectant faunus held a tray out in his direction, and he composed a quick reply before shoving the device in his pocket.

Kill the lights.

"Heh, sorry," Sun offered as he took up the tray. "Lots going on…"

The other worker merely rolled their eyes before heading back into the kitchen without a word.

"Really friendly folk you've got around here," Sun muttered as he walked past May.

"Friendly doesn't pay the bills. Get off your scroll, a-"

Suddenly, the lights went down, bathing the entire main room in darkness. A few yells of surprise echoed throughout the space, and May threw a rag down onto the bar.

"Son of a bitch," the woman spat. "This again…"

"This happens often?" Sun asked, temporarily setting his tray atop the bar.

"More often than we'd like. Piece of shit dust generator down in the basement gives out every now and again," May explained. "Been a problem for years. When we win, we need to get that thing fixed."

"I'll go," Sun offered immediately. "I can see in the dark, and I'm pretty good with machines. Had to do this kind of thing all the time back in Vacuo."

May gave Sun a scrutinizing glare in the semidarkness before she heaved a sigh.

"…basement stairs are down the hall on the left. Maybe you'll get something useful done today after all."

Sun turned and headed for the hall, unable to hide his smirk.

"Yeah. Maybe I will…"

Author's Note:

Sun continues his Stumble Through Life Any % Run.

-RD