Volume CRBN!

by Dancesnapple

Four individuals. Four different people of different walks of life resulting in an adventure. Hopefully, a bond that can last. Team CRBN (carbon). Features: OC Main character, main team has two OCs alongside a lovable crime duo, and some family drama on all sides. Features a 'soundtrack' element for the fic. ENJOY! Story begins on third listed chapter. Very slow start.

88. 86 Encounter! A Caged Songstress!

This chapter features a Jazz rendition of a popular song. I know that many people who do recognize the song will NOT think of the version I am representing. So, when said song comes up, this is for those of you who don't ignore my 'soundtrack' so to speak, have that awareness. I know this affects a minority of you!

Also, an apology for this being the longest I've gone without an update of any kind. Officially too one day longer than a month. This is for a few reasons, so I won't go into all of them. Hoping to get a more consistent upload schedule for you guys.

That said. Let us move ONWARD BRAVE HEROES!

Chapter Eighty Six: Encounter! A Caged Songstress!

Curtains part in a corner as a gaze peers over the crowds. Roman pulls back in.

The show was starting. Hundreds of elites and some last minute additions were flooding into the Apollo Auditorium, populating its areas in. Thank goodness for organized seating and reservations allowing for the bulk of guests to be manageable.

"Nothing like seeing a horde of crusty old silver crone billionaires, eh?" Roman smirks at the crowd. His hat is gone, and hair parted. His green eyes are covered by brown contact lenses. "I'm sure anyone under the age of thirty out there was born with a silver spoon in their mouth."

A grumble comes from behind.

Neo giggles beside them, her Vanille persona in place. She peers over with violet eyes with a knowing smirk.

Roman pulls from the curtains to the group back stage. "I'd bet a silver dollar I could make a fortune in two conversations with fools here."

A grumble devolves into a growling grunt.

Blair speaks beside Neo, wearing a classical silken dress. Her hair is up in an ornate flair with pink highlights. Her amber eyes have been covered in blue contacts. Her entire color scheme now has pop colors, an achievement of the make up artists whom she'd love to strangle. "Do you see anyone we should look for? Silver puns are unnecessary. You've already got the tongue for it."

"Hmm!" Another growl, earning giggles from Neo.

Roman smirks. "Oh, not yet. Do you have something to add Silver Streak?"

"Fuck off!" Carmine snaps from near the other three. His hair has once again, against his wishes, been colored a pure silver, just like at Signal Academy. The boy looks every bit like a young angry child Professor Ozpin with no glasses. His blue eyes glower each way back and forth. " Just need to get this piece of shit day over with."

"Are you done pissing and moaning over hair?" Roman snickers.

Carmine's wide eyes side glare back. "I HATE looking like him." Seeing Roman and Neo looking satisfied with themselves, he narrows on them. "Blair, keep an eye out for the performers and sit tight. The rest of us have our sections to check."

"Be mindful of your surroundings. Last we need is that Agent pushing his way in and seeing us." Blair warns as Carmine shuffles off.

"You too." He gives a half heart wave. Neo giggles and skips after him.

Soon as they move into a hall from the back stage area-

Carmine and Neo jerk to a halt, nearly walking directly into Weiss! Weiss blinks before scowling their way. "Watch where you're going!"

"Oh, we're doing this again." Carmine sighs, already over the interaction. "You turn up the heat yet? Or, are you still being frigid?"

Weiss cocks her head, narrowing a look on him with arms crossed. "You're the oaf from the closet!" Her eyes flick to Carmine's currently silver hair and scoffs. "I'm not impressed by some poor attempt at flattery. You appear like a discount."

Eyes widening, Carmine processes her insult. What is she- He cackles in a barked laugh. "Wait! You think this hair is because of you Schnees? How self absorbed can you possibly be?"

"Hmph! I simply know who isn't worth my attention. And thus..." She steps through, bumping shoulders with the fuming boy.

Sooner as Weiss is out of earshot, he twitches. "I'mma kill that tw-at!" He turns to Neo, her gaze still off after Weiss's exit. "I can see how you ended up slap fighting her. Five or not, that attitude doesn't appear overnight." Neo still doesn't fully respond. So, he nudges her. "Neo?"

Neo blinks and thinks before signing. "Nothing. Her hair just looks soft."

One tick of thought as Carmine purses his lips before flicking a finger up. "No! No cat fighting!" Neo smirks and rolls her eyes to glance away. He presses the issue. "Seriously. No!"

. . .

Airships and bulkhead transports hum about, homing in on the floating structure. Landing upon the destination, the occupants step out graciously. Press and crowds were gathering in the open gardens of the Apollo Auditorium.

A red carpet affair.

An eruption of buzz comes as one stark white vessel comes to a stop on the air field platform...

A pure white suit adorns the man, a pale blue shirt underneath with a white tie. His hair is neatly groomed and swept back, a mustached face forward. His crystal blue eyes are calculating, critical.

Jacques Schnee has arrived to the event, walking tall as reporters swarm him. An easy smile adorns as he speaks naturally to them with quick responses. Rehearsed, to be sure. Fake.

For as soon as he's entered the front doors, away from camera's, his eyes display contempt. "Vultures..." He mutters. He turns to a guard behind him. A bodyguard. Jacques presents a card to the bodyguard. "Please inform my daughter that her performance is expected to be the star attraction. The PR nightmare from Frank at the headquarters is still fresh in the media."

Soon as the bodyguard shuffles off with the card, Jacques Schnee marches by the first staff checkpoint.

Benefits of owning most of their salaries. He is the most powerful man in Atlas for a reason.

He moves to the upper level, to the large booth areas in reserve for VIPs. He moves to the one he'd specifically arranged for himself... Just like every function at this auditorium.

And yet, a certain ire bubbles the moment he spots something amiss. Something that most certainly was not approved by him.

Someone else was seated within his booth.

Critical blue eyes meet violet as he stares like a boss awaiting one to speak their mistake. "It's been years. I'd thought you learned not to test my patience... Aline."

In the booth, the rotund blonde man wears an equally white suit and smiles brightly at the billionaire. He giggles. "Don't be that way, Jacques! Please, pleasure before business. What's a lovely show good for if not reconnecting those around us?"

Cold ice eyes meet violet. "My pleasure IS business, Aline. My business right now is not to socialize with the likes of you."

Zandril smirks. "Yes, I understand you're having quite the time putting up a front. After all, you were never a good pet owner, so it's not surprising to have issues with the animals." The blatant call to the SDC's relations with faunus hits the mark. A chuckle looses. "Not to mention connecting with kids. I'd love to help."

If Jacques were a lesser man, he'd strike the shorter fat man for insulting not only his worker relations, but also his family relations. Winter's withdrawal from the SDC is still fresh in the man's mind. Still, he smirks back at his unwelcome visitor. "Ah, yes. Advice from one such as you in dealing with children would be most helpful, were I a fool."

Jacques drops the pretenses, face falling. "What is this? Is this to be the sixth time I'll tell you to keep your distance from my legacy? I've no interest in your petty shadow war among the deplorables."

Zandril grins. "Unfortunately, my friend, I meant what I said. Pleasure first, and business later! I've arranged this seat to be mine, so you may as well enjoy the show with me." His violet eye winks back. "It's a little too late to go about reorganizing the seating and causing a scene when wanting good PR, right?"

Damn him... Jacques blinks slowly before sitting down easily. He looks for a menu to enjoy food during this affair, but Zandril clicks his tongue.

"Nonsense. Let me buy the first round. A peace offering, Jacques."

Rather than small talk, Jacques cuts back. "You're nervous."

Zandril's hand freezes in place mid gesture.

"You come without a bodyguard, the first I've ever seen you do so." Jacques' brow raises. "And you're striving for peace in such a naive way." His annoyance turns to amusement. "Is there trouble within your ambitions?"

AZRL's leader hums in thought. He remembers that Jacques is a callous bastard to deal with. Of course, he'd hone in on Zandril's attitude. He can't lie easily to the Schnee patriarch. "We've both hit our road blocks, it would seem. But ambition does not die with a hurdle."

Jacques leans back in his seat. "Well, we finally agree on something."

. . .

"Show is starting." Carmine huffs, hands on his hips. He notes his lack of armor or gun. "Feel naked without Noon on me." Luckily, he'd finished stocking several areas, giving a reprieve. He moves into the commons area, on the second floor by a window. Peering out, he sees... smoke?

Not from the Auditorium. No, the smoke is lifting around the floating island.

From below...

He pulls out his scroll, quickly searching out online for 'protest Bastion Alderley'.

Aha! A live broadcast-

His eyes widen... On the screen is live feed of a reporter at the castle location below the floating auditorium. The crowds are... thick. A sea of people yelling at the line of armored men flagged in flashing red and blue.

Thrown drink containers fly, the white liquid splashing across riot shields.

A spiral of whipping flames comes into view. A mass of debris has been stacked up. A variety of signage and pinup props labeling faunus on them. The entire mound of props have been set ablaze! The protesters even grab whatever materials they can and add to the fire.

Chants of the crowd drown out the reporter, who is ducked down behind some of the cops. However, as they speak, a thrown bottle smashes off a shield by the female reporter, glass scattering around her head and causing a jolt to run through her.

Carmine shuts the feed off and puts his scroll away, looking outside again. Fires getting set blowing smoke this far up? This is wrong. The White Fang and activists before them... they were gaining more strides than possible for decades. Will defacing property get them to the last stretch needed?

He sighs, noticing more movement down the halls. Ah, one of the newer faces that showed up today is rounding towards the employee only areas. The person isn't very expressive, but-

Wait... the only thing in that direction is the loading docks...

His eyes narrow. Either someone is trying to find a private spot, or something is going on in that direction.

He pulls his scroll back out, quickly sending a text to let them know what area he's checking.

As he moves, he hears cheers.

. . .

Director Krennick bows before the audience. A fully packed show for the night. He smiles brightly for the crowd as he speaks. "Welcome, friends, to this. The annual Atlas Charity Ball! Thank you for coming, and thank you all for your contributions to this year's selection of honorable causes."

As the speech drawls on, the lights dim throughout the stands and booths.

Scouring the rows, Roman leans around another worker, passing on a request from another. He pauses at the buzz of his scroll, quickly seeing Carmine's warning. Roman follows up and sends a message to Neo to wait three minutes and back the boy up if no response comes.

He really wishes he could quickly find his targets, but the crowd is insane. A near capacity of 1,500 seats, if many of the booths were opened up to swap out for less comfortable, but more available seating.

Roman continues to search the areas... blissfully unaware of Aline Zandril two levels above him at this moment.

. . .

Following after the person, a younger male worker with short, buzzed white hair and green eyes, tan skin. Carmine quiets his steps and moves around to corners as he follows the other male. In fact... that male looks like he's even younger than Carmine...

He trails after until indeed winding up in the loading dock area. In which the boy crouches low behind some crates. The younger boy checks around the area before finding a switch. Flicking it, a large, wide door to the loading dock begins to open, a surge of wind blowing inside.

Carmine hisses as a light chill gets to him. He notices the boy barely bats an eye at the cold.

Just what is he doing?

Well, why not ask him?

Carmine puts on a smile and pops around to the other boy. "Yo! Need help with something?"

The boy whips around, an alertness to his eyes. "What-" He double takes and shakes off nerves. A... sharpness to his gaze. "No. I got this."

Carmine nods to the door. "Well... What is 'this'? I didn't know we had any deliveries during the show. I've been on duty running back and forth making sure everyone has their stuff."

"It's fine. Just some last minute light displays for the main act."

"The Schnee girl's song?" Carmine asks, brow up. "SDC decides to flare up her show to upstage everyone, I'm sure."

The boy purses his lips, nodding. "... Yeah."

Carmine smirks. "She yell at you yet?"

"No. Haven't had the pleasure." The boy clears his throat. "Look, I got the delivery to do."

Sparing a look to the open air, Carmine looks unimpressed. "Look, if you want to ask me to leave, you can."

"Can you please leave?" The boy asks, annoyed.

Smirking, Carmine channels a bit of Roman into it. "On the condition of a little gossip. You gotta tell me what color the light displays are. I GOT to know. Cobalt blue to go with the metal displays? Oh! Verbo green?!" He makes up the second color, but says it with such confidence. Fake it, as Roman would say.

The boy, now getting heated, snaps. "I don't- Ugh. Red."

Carmine leans in. "Just red? That's a wide range. We talking maroon, mauve? Dare I say, roseate?" Gods, he is channeling Neo's crappy production film commentary she picked to watch weeks ago. "Look, I just have a few go to guesses."

"Enough guesses! I don't know!"

"Oh, I'm sure you know your colors."

"I don't!" The boy snaps loudly.

"Oh? Not even Series Reds, Blues, or Blacks?" Carmine quips, eyes hard on the boy.

The blonde stops breathing, eyes wide and double taking on the silver haired teen...

A breath of silence passes, Carmine dropping any smirk.

STRIKE!

The blonde jabs his right hand at the CRBN boy! As a cover for a left hook! Carmine deflects the first hit and blocks the inside of the left punch, catching it up as he pushes the blonde off balance. His opponent drops and sweep kicks, but Carmine step kicks over it into the blonde's guard.

The mystery boy is thrown back into a stacked crate, cracking the wood, eyes wide.

Carmine stands tall, raising a brow. "So... Series Black, then?"

A scowl meets him, the blonde, Blondie, Carmine nicknames in his mind, pulls from the wood jabbing his arms out to looses them up before rolling up his jacket cuffs. Meanwhile, Carmine rolls his shoulders and cocks his neck with a small pop. Blondie huffs, stepping in with a boxer stance.

Quick stepping in, he throws a sequence kata of punches, Carmine favoring his left arm for deflecting as he back steps out of range. Carmine picks his time as counter punches, but it's blocked. He feels the stiffness.

This kid is like a rock.

Taking initiative, Carmine feints one punch before swiftly closing in and landing a side strike. As Blondie shifts with the strike, Carmine steps in and knocks his footing. Moving around him with mobility, Carmine batters the stiffer boy about, aiming low to open up the odd high strike around Blondie's guard.

Blonde seethes, instead choosing to drop low the next time Carmine goes for his footing. He ignores the kick and lunges, tackling into Carmine as both barrel through the corner of the previously damaged crate.

Taking advantage, Blondie shifts in the struggle for a head lock on Carmine, but the boy's right hand cups inside the hold, easing the pressure. His left hand reaches up, gripping Blondie's collar as Carmine heaves forward! He pulls Blondie over his shoulder and slams him into the ground.

He tries to pull up, but Blondie keeps a hold on his sleeve, pulling down as a kick strikes Carmine's face! Stumbling back, the left sleeve of Carmine's jacket is ripped clean off as Blondie moves to stand.

Shaking it off, Carmine scowls at his ripped jacket and round kicks the other boy as they get to a knee, knocking him back stumbling soon as he's to his feet. Blondie snarls as he throws a his weight into his next strike, but Carmine is charging harder, full run punching into the blonde's jaw!

Dust flies off the hit as Carmine grabs the staggered boy's arm, reeling him in to another right punch. And another. Then an uppercut, sending the flailing other boy falling into the wall.

Blood trickling from his nose and mouth, the blonde grabs a metal rod from a pile of tools, swinging into Carmine's block! Carmine winces in pain, arms stinging as he backs off and begins dodging the wild swinging strikes!

Carmine rips the rest of his left sleeve off, using the fabric to catch the next metal rod swing and move in. Shoulder checking Blondie, Carmine switches to a grip on the rod. He jerks it down, knee striking into Blondie's gripping fingers. Blondie winces in pain as Carmine then bashes the rod into the wall, again angling so the blonde's fingers hit the material.

Blondie releases the rod in a cry of pain, prompting Carmine to crack the rod up into his nose! The boy is swaying, so Carmine tosses the rod aside and rushes him. He palm grabs Blondie by the head, smashing him off the wall.

Then, he pulls Blondie in, twisting him up, over Carmine's shoulder in throw. Tossing Blondie airborne, Carmine takes a breath before step kicking out as Blondie descends from the throw. Carmine's heel strikes and digs into the blonde's spine, sending him like a projectile into another crate.

Carmine saunters over, pulling Blondie's head up before full striking down!

Blondie goes limp against the crate, knocked out cold.

Standing tall after his victory, Carmine wrenches Blondie's jacket, ripping the back to expose skin.

Black numbers show underneath. Carmine frowns and drops the unconscious form. "Found you..." He grimaces at his disheveled look. "... Ripped my disguise. Prick." He closes his eyes. "Recall!" His worker's suit warps in place, suddenly all back in one clean piece with no dirt, wear, or tear. This gets a smirk from the boy.

Carmine looks to the open dock door. "So... something is coming." He quickly thinks out loud. "They're in the staff that arrived just yesterday. Something else is coming, so probably reinforcements." He sighs. "I already hate today..."

Echoing steps sound from the halls leading where he came. More people!

"Shit!" He quickly grabs Blondie, rushing off to hide.

. . .

Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt.

The scroll vibrates loudly with a continuous string of texts coming in.

Neo ignores the vibrations as she hands out a group of water bottles to the orchestra during their break. Song performances had started, so Neo was busing for the ground level collections of workers and talent. Still, the moment she sets the empty drink carrier aside, she brings the scroll up.

Her brows shoot up.

C – New workers from yesterday are compromised.

C – They're bringing something in the loading dock.

C – Found a black.

C – Whooped ass.

Neo purses her lips and peers around. It's starting to go down... But she can't help it, texting back.

N – Phrasing, Dumb Dumb.

C – STFU.

Neo moves for a break area under the stage area. She finds additional band members and stage hands not currently active. She quickly calculates how familiar many of them look. Most were here longer than CRBN had been. But, she locks in on-

Wait... she looks to the organizational chart. The same one that shows which sections of guests and workers are attended to by which attendants, waiters, and servers. She quickly cycles faces in her head. Time to do a head count...

Finally, she settles on one of the section waiters. A Dmitri? Yeah, a cardboard cutout of a perfect waiter man with combed brown hair and black eyes.

Except a boy with raven black hair and hazel eyes is handling Dmitri's tables.

Neo's gaze narrows... Time to follow.

. . .

In the back stage areas... inside the dressing rooms.

Blair prepares to perform. A statement that makes her ill inside. She despises the idea of performing in an entertainment industry. It isn't that she HASN'T done it. She simply hates it. Her singing was private until either bamboozled by her parents into performing a few times when younger, and then Rowa recording the blonde and outing her in their freshman year at Beacon.

She sighs. Her turn is next.

BAM! The door opens as Carmine scrambles in, startling the blonde.

… And confusing her with the addition. Blondie is in Carmine's grip, unconscious.

"C-Carmine!" She stutters in shock. "Is that-"

"The black." Carmine huffs as he tosses the unconscious blonde into a closet of the dressing room. He pauses in thought. "I mean, he's a blonde, but you know what I-"

"I am aware! Are you trying to blow our cover?!" Blair snaps, irate. The boy cowers, hands up.

"Blondie is a problem, and they can't discover him yet. I need you to keep him unconscious with your semblance while you perform!" He waits for Blair to process and step back before he relaxes. "You got the texts?"

"I am aware." Blair groans out. "I have Fluorescent stored in a hidden safe nearby for after I perform. Then, I'll join you."

"Exactly. While you perform, I'm going to try to secure the loading dock area." Seeing her stern look, he cuts her off. "Something is about to start! We have to be prepared-"

"Carmine, this was what we talked about when I brought up our wills." Blair harshly reminds him, making him stop. "We're getting too comfortable with splitting up. Please, at least stay in the back stage areas until we can BOTH move out."

The boy wants to argue, but even after some thought, he can only groan and cross his arms. "Damn it. Fine..." He blushes lightly and looks away. "Sorry..."

That gets a small smirk out of her as she pats him. "Thank you." Her softness immediately cuts away to a cold glare at the unconscious blonde boy. "As for him..." She leans down and grasps the unconscious teen's shoulder, her aura penetrating into him. A brief focus of intent before she looks back. "He won't wake up unless I allow him to. I'll peer into his mind after my performance."

Carmine smirks. "Sounds like a plan!"

Crowd cheers sound out through the walls...

The boy smiles wider as Blair tenses. "Well? The star is needed."

"Silence..." She walks off in a huff, leaving Carmine chuckling.

Bzzt.

Carmine blinks and checks, now that he's alone in the dressing room. A text from Neo? He reads-

And sucks a sharp breath through his teeth. Damn it.

N – They're replacing waiting staff. Roman, keep an eye around the VIPs. I'm tracking the infiltrator now.

. . .

Neo has a love hate relationship with her skill set on the job.

On the one hand, she adores the satisfaction of finessing fools. Taking full advantage of her disability to express herself in her work leaves a fulfillment nearly unrivaled. So, when tailing someone she is certain is a plant, she routinely changes her Shatter illusion, shifting between her Vanille persona to a server named Tiffany, a waiter named Byron, and so on, so forth.

On the other hand, she hates who she's spying on. Knowing full well that the very people she's likely tracking are exactly who were her peers once. These are people who weren't able to leave the way she did. However, it wasn't sympathy she felt.

It was annoyance and irritation. SHE was the only one that was ever rebelling the way she had. These fools are doing as they're told, and for what? A pat on the head?

If she were with Carmine, she's sure he would mention that anyone half as skilled as she were would have been executed by AZRL long ago. But, like... She hates not having a valid counter to that. They should have just not been so subservient! Surely AZRL didn't have means to kill ALL of them, right?

Right?

Well... they should just get good! Oh, that's not a very nice way to think of it. But, they should!

Her thoughts clear upon finding her target disappear into a storage room. Neo narrows her gaze and shifts her Shatter disguise back to her Vanille persona as she approaches. She listens through the door, hearing shuffling within, then opens the door...

The girl finds five late teens and three adults in the room, all wearing the server outfits...

And eight unconscious and stripped workers splayed in the back of the large room. All of them tense and jerk looks up at the girl. The nearest adult. "What are you..?"

Neo's blank face stares in thought...

Well, this is good enough confirmation as any.

As a smirk forms on the girl, her blinking eyes flashing pink and brown.

The adult feels a chill as he steps back. "... Y-you're..."

"Hmm hmm." Neo hums a laugh as cheer and clapping applause sounds muffled through the walls...

. . .

Applause quiets in the show room as spot lights lock in on Director Krennick stepping to the microphone with a confident smirk. "Thank you. Thank you. Let's one more round for the Quartet!" As the prior talents bow and leave the stage. The four singers leave as the curtains obscure the stage behind the director!

Krennick allows the applause to quiet as he basks.

Behind the curtains, band members from the orchestra come in from the sides, leaving their front row seating to populate the stage. Center of the stage, Blair moves to her designated position, hand on her hip in a sassy way. She hopes her weak disguise works. Pink highlights and contact lenses might be enough, but...

Too late to back out now. Curse Roman for supporting this. Even if it helped sell them on the staff.

She takes a deep breath.

Krennick smirks on the show front and holds his head up high. "This next act is one that I am sure will stun you all! For you see, this person is an unknown. A new talent of my own discovery! A lovely act who can stun you with her high sass and air of class! Even better, this woman has prepared an act combining people of all backgrounds!"

The crowd takes interest, a chorus of 'oo's and 'ah's sounding out. Inside the curtains, Blair's gaze sharpens. Quit making them pay more attention, you bastard! She's a slot filler, nothing more!

The director grins wide. "For this performer, she will be combining the class of taught jazz with the musical verbiage of the modern youth. This song is a jazz rendition of one of the top 100's greatest hits of the last five years. Let it be known that the new can itself be high class!"

Blair's eye twitches as he continues to drag this out.

. . .

In the back stage rooms, Carmine properly situates Blondie in a closet as the door opens...

He locked it before...

Whipping around, two teens and an adult enter the room. The adult man is easily in his thirties wearing sunglasses. Just gauging the man lets him see some covered up scarring. As for the teens, one is holding a lock pick, a burly brown haired boy with a full head over Carmine. The other teen is thin with lighter brunette hair, a girl.

All three lock eyes onto Carmine as the unconscious Blondie laying in the open closet...

All blink at each other, but Carmine scoffs as he realizes his blunder. "Alright, where did you hide the tracker on him? Don't tell me he's chipped." He looks to Blondie, remembering that members of AZRL and many Johnsons are rigged to die in the events of failure. However, without Stein, could they still be in full control of that system?

The older male grinds out. "Get him!"

. . .

Vale, Beacon Academy Classroom

Students were seated within a room. An event of renown typically allows a room or two to be open to allow students to observe and watch for the betterment of international relations and camaraderie. The room is filled with students, though mostly those of more artistic culture.

There are a few instances of full teams sitting together, as well. The groupings are gathered on the rising rows of booth like desks.

Sitting at a desk supervising the room is Glynda Goodwitch. The woman enjoys such events as an escape from the minor frustrations of day to day function. She eyes up as the screen on the wall is lit with the charity ball video. All while taking a sip of a cup of coffee, courtesy of Professor Ozpin.

Director Krennick speaks. "Without further ado, I introduce the lovely, the striking, Dora Gale!"

Her sipping freezes as she lurches forward... No... Her wide green eyes lock on the screen, hearing cheers through the speakers. One of the students nearby perks, noticing her tensing. The female student asks quietly. "Is something the matter, Professor?"

Glynda purses her lips. "... I will decide that in a moment, but it is not of your concern, Miss Lyons. Thank you."

The blonde glares at the screen... For fate has to be kidding her right now? After Atlas, now this?! As on screen, the curtains part ways to reveal spot lights coming onto Blair. Her dress sparkles lightly in the shine as she huffs and looks up... And Glynda has a heart attack.

. . .

Apollo Auditorium

The curtains part, revealing Blair, the blonde huffs and looks to the band as a commanding signal. Suddenly, the band sets to play after four snare hits. (Trombones and Trumpets begin with a light percussion snare keeping beat.)

More lights shine down upon Blair in the spotlight as she gives a piercing look and a performed smirk. (Piano notes add in as the instrumental builds to a preemptive chorus)

Blair huffs, one hand on her hip as she struts and holds a mic in her other hand. "I ain't-. Happy~! I'm feeling glad, I got-."

"Sunshine~ in a bag, and I'm useless! But, not for long. The future~. Is comin' on- I ain't-." She struts with the words as the jazz saxophones and keyboard builds with it.

. . .

Beacon Classroom

Glynda is immediately stomping from the room, eyes wide. "Why is she there? For what POSSIBLE reason-" ("Happy~! I'm feeling glad, I got-. Sunshine~ in a bag, and I'm useless!")

She twitches and groans, pulling her scroll out and finding whichever of two names she can locate first. "Oz or James, doesn't matter at this point!" ("But, not for long. The future~. Is comin' on~")

. . .

Somewhere in Mantle. Rowa Carson-Dillon's home

Rowa spit takes out her glass of rose tea! She looks in horror upon seeing her best friend on the television screen! She's already snatching her scroll, double taking between the screen and her device. "How?! Arnie, you will answer me this minute!" ("-It's coming on. It's coming on...")

. . .

Apollo Auditorium, Outside

Bzzt. Bzzt.

Arnold Dillon feels the buzzing in his pocket, already knowing what is going to happen. And... he will ignore it. With a sullen expression for the usually chipper man, he sighs. "I am not touching this yet..." ("My future~. Is coming on. It's coming on.-")

. . .

Carmine sees the thin teen charging. He sucks in a breath. "Shit-!" ("-It's coming on~..." The piano trill leads into first verse.)

The thin teen flicks his arms up, needle senbon firing from a mechanism hidden in her sleeves! Carmine hooks a chair seat with his leg, kicking up to fling the wooden cushion as a barrier. The senbon pierce and stick in the oak! Snatching the chair, Carmine swings it, catching the girl between its legs! The girl jerks aside as the burly teen step kicks Carmine back! ("Finally someone let me out of my cage! Now, time for me is nothin', 'cause I'm countin' no age!")

The girl hooks a punch, but Carmine twists the chair to catch her arm through the back. He wrenches the chair up and arm, pulling her over his shoulder and slammed down. He releases the chair to block a punch from the burly teen, but the adult man kicks the CRBN member over! ("Now, I couldn't be there. Now, you shouldn't be scared! I'm good at repairs, and I'm under each snare~!")

Carmine stumbles into sitting in the chair, the girl pulling the legs up to knock the seat and Carmine on his back. He yelps as he hits the floor. ("Intangible, bet you didn't think, so I command you to.")

He rolls back to dodge an ax kick from the burly teen. He yanks the chair up, he throws the burly teen off balance. ("Panoramic view! Look, I'll make it all manageable!")

Carmine bashes the seat, smashing its wood into splinters, on the thin girl. The burly boy cracks his knuckles revealing shocking brass knuckles! He hits Carmine to shock him and rips the right sleeve of his jacket off! ("Pick and choose! Sit and lose all your different crews! Chicks and dudes, who you think is really kicking tunes?")

Carmine looks at his jacket, pissed. "Again!?" Well, it's ripped now. The burly teen approaches, but Carmine calls. "ZERO!" His armor flashes from its hiding place to the boy's chest and arm, shredding off his left sleeve and jacket torso. In one move, he left strikes the burly boy in the jaw, sending him into the wall! ("Picture you getting down in a picture tube! Like you lit the fuse!")

The thin girl moves to fire more senbon while the adult produces a shock baton! Carmine calls. "Jager!" His armor flashes to his calves as he boosts up and spin kicks both back while advancing. Landing, he step kicks the burly teen's jaw, printing his head further into the cracked wall. ("You think it's fictional? Mystical? Maybe. Spiritual hero who appears on you to clear your view when you're too crazy!")

. . .

Blair struts on the stage, performing for the masses as she continues. "Lifeless! To those the definition for what life is! Priceless! To you because I put you on the hype shift. You like it? Gut smokin' righteous with one toke!" Within the crowds, Roman eyes the stage for a moment, gaze lingering before he turns his attention back to the crowds.

On the upper level, Zandril's brow raises, gaze oddly chilling as he evaluates the woman. Even Jacques raises a brow at Zandril's odd look at the woman. Her voice continues to fill the room. "You're psychic among those possess you with one go~!" The band builds into the chorus. "I ain't-!"

. . .

In the store room, Neo missile kicks into the nearest boy. She lowers under a punching man, sweep kicking his legs out in one motion. She stomps the toppled man, jumping over a lunging man swinging a server pan as a weapon. ("Happy~! I'm feeling glad. I got-! Sunshine~ in a bag. I'm useless!")

Neo lands back to back with her attacker. He lashes around, the girl twisting and keeping back to back with him. He swings the server pan and spins, but Neo ducks and lets the pan strike another of her attackers. ("But, not for long. The future~. Is coming on-. I ain't-!")

She comes up, palm striking his jaw to knock him from his feet. She snatches the pan from him in a fluid spin and throws it like a saucer into another! Another comes in swinging a baton from his pocket! She backs up around the man she'd just downed, dodging swipes with weaves. ("Happy~! I'm feeling glad. I got-! Sunshine~ in a bag. I'm useless!")

Huffing, she grabs the rising man's arm while he's staggered, jerking him in front to take a baton strike as a meat shield. Neo drops and slides beneath, under his legs as the two men stumble apart. She kicks the baton wielder's knee out in a crack. ("But, not for long. The future~. Is coming on. It's coming on. It's coming on. It's coming on...")

Grabbing the baton with a twist and yank, she pries to weapon to arm herself, immediately striking the next attacker in the skull! She charges the next attacker with her improvised weapon. ("My future. It's coming on. It's coming on~..." Instrumental leads to second verse)

. . .

The crowd begins to pop, murmurs and the odd whistles sounding as Blair swings her body with the music. "The essence! The basics. Without did you make it? Allow me to make this childlike in nature!" She moves her arms as if communicating with her hands, like an instructor.

. . .

Carmine shuffles and weaves side to side to dodge. He blocks right hook from Burly. The thin girl runs behind the burly boy, leaping and twisting around him to drop kick at Carmine! ("Rhythm! You have it or you don't? That's a fallacy-")

The kick knocks him off balance, bumping off the dressing room wardrobe! The adult rushes with a baton in hand. Carmine calls. "Schneider!" His armor forms the blades on his arms as he deflects the baton and impales the man! ("It's in them! Every sprouting tree, every child of peace-")

The man coughs out in a cry of pain as the burly teen lunges for him. Carmine twists so the adult acts as a barrier shield. He pushes off, freeing his blade from flesh before striking the burly boy. A cross slash slices the burly teen's chest, toppling him. ("You see with your eyes! I see destruction and demise. Corruption in the skies from this broken enterprise!")

. . .

Prancing on the stage, Blair flourishes her hand towards the drummer, as if referencing him in the tune. "I'm sucked into your lies through Russel, not from his muscles! Percussion he provides as a guide!" Her facial a mark of performance, professional despite dark inner thoughts keeping her sanity.

Up in the crowds, Roman clears searching another section, noticing in the dark theater an entire table of patrons abandon their seating. His face scrunches, Blair's lyrics blasting through the room. "Y'all can see me now 'cause you don't see with your eye, you perceive with your mind!" Many of the patron's silhouettes are smaller frames than average.

. . .

Both men downed, Carmine determines both were Reds. No significant aura shield or healing. The girl, on the other hand... The girl brings poison senbon from her sleeves, sticking them in her mouth and sucking. A large intake, she removes the needles and spews out! Aura! A violet vapor mist blows over the boy, instantly warping his vision. ("That's the inner! So, I'mma stick around with Russ and be a mentor, bust a few rhymes so motherfuckers remember!")

The girl wipes her mouth, the mist clearing to find Carmine is on his knees, covering his nose and eyes. She smirks, approaching, but he chuckles in spite of the pain. Blink. He Recalls, warping into his placement earlier in the struggle directly by the girl! ("Where the thought is... I brought all this... So you can survive when law is lawless...")

As the girl sucks in a gasp, Carmine roars out, free of the poison's influence. "Zero!" He whips around, his metal covered knuckles cracking into the frail looking girl's cheek! The fist digs into her skin with a crack before planting her into the floor! ("Feeling sensations that you thought was dead! No squealing! Remember, it's all in your head~!" Instrumental bridges into chorus. "I ain't-.")

. . .

Neo downs another of her attackers. Only three still stand. One lunges at the girl. SHATTER! Neo appears over the shattered image and the tackling boy, coming down in a drop stomp! One of the others panics, making a run for the door. Neo flicks a gaze after, but has to deal with her other attacker. ("Happy~! I'm feeling glad. I got-! Sunshine~ in a bag. I'm useless!")

The second to last attack, in fear, stumbles in their attack. Neo weaves the wide strike before rapidly baton striking their joints to bring to their knees. ("But, not for long. The future~. Is coming on-. I ain't-!")

Neo adds elbows and kick strikes to topple the attacker over completely. Behind her, the last attacker reaches the door. SHATTER! The knob breaks... the entire door breaks as the real door shows six feet off. ("Happy~! I'm feeling glad. I got-! Sunshine~ in a bag. I'm useless!")

Before they can react, Neo strikes from the back of their head, bashing it into the wall to knock them out! Neo steps away, admiring her handiwork as she puts her hands to her hips with a cocky smirk. ("But, not for long. The future~. Is coming on. It's coming on. It's coming on. It's coming on. It's coming on.")

. . .

The music slows, beginning to fad as Blair ends off the show. "My future. It's coming on. It's coming on. It's coming on~..." The instrumental fades completely... as the audience erupts in applause. The curtains close on her performance.

. . .

No sooner had the doors to the dressing room opened as Blair immediately drops her jaw. "WHAT?! What did you do?!" She asks in regards to the three out cold intruders in the room. Carmine has fixed his outfit for a second time with Recall, save for removing the suit jacket.

"Uh, Blondie has a tracker in him. They still have access to those despite us taking down Stein." He comments nonchalant before pointing to the girl planted face into the floor. "She's another Black. Those two are Reds."

Blair groans. "This cannot carry on like this. I won't be able to suspend too many people from waking indefinitely."

"Hmm." They both whip around to find Neo, the girl frowning in the door way.

"Neo? What happened?" Carmine asks. The girl huffs and points to her pocket. Bzzt. Bzzt. Both CRBN members get a text.

N – Found them. Beat them up. One of the employee's they attempted to replace is the secondary orchestra conductor.

Blair recoils at that. "The conductor?! The primary conductor only has one more performance before swapping. The show will end without the second one, which can instigate confusion and panic."

"Which benefits them if the faunus below are really a part of their plan." Carmine catches up to their thinking.

"So, we keep the show rolling!" Roman speaks from the halls. He pokes his head in with a frown, standing over Neo who perks at his arrival. "Some of the patrons are disappearing into the halls and not coming back. Willing to bet at least a couple have been- Ah!" He notices the downed four within the dressing room. "There we are. I at least personally attended to Brutus there's table." He points to the burly teen. "A Red?" He guesses.

"Yup." Carmine frowns. "Alright. Weapons at the ready. RECALL!" He calls out in a flash of aura! All their weapons collect together before him! He immediately takes Heulin Noon's holster and clips it on, happy to have the gun again.

Neo takes Hush, Roman collects Velvet Valentine, and Blair sets Fluorescent Finish aside as she moves to a corner. She pulls a curtain in front of her, undressing to change to something better suited for combat. "What is our game plan then?"

Carmine grimaces. "Roman's right. We have to keep the show going until the enemy over extends or attempts to execute their plan. While the show goes, those of us free will throw wrenches where we can. Blair and I will head to the loading docks to secure it against whatever they're bringing. Neo, how much do you know about the conductor's job?"

Neo grins wide, snapping her fingers and wiping her image to replace with a woman of green hair and blue eyes. Her outfit shifts as well to unify as one of the orchestra members. Hush even turns into a conductor baton, though much longer.

The boy purses his lips. "Guess that will have to do..." He then looks to Roman. "Keep scouting the crowds. If they're clearing from certain spots, then-"

Roman cuts off and finishes. "Then I can trace ticket purchases for locations purchased at the same time as those, giving me a collection of hit spots where AZRL members most likely are." Roman flippantly waves him off. "I'll be heading to the front entrances."

Alerted, Carmine raises his voice. "And DON'T get caught out by that Atlas Agent. He's been stalking outside and the entrances all day, looking for a reason to barge in." Just then, the curtain pulls as Blair steps free of any dress and wearing her normal CRBN uniform. Satisfied with the adjustments, Carmine nods. "Right! Team CRBN, move out!"

As the four scramble to leave the back halls and dressing rooms, a pair of ice blue eyes scrutinize them from down the way.

Weiss narrows her gaze on them, huffing. What the heck are these- She sees the weapons. An alert sense comes. If these hooligans are arming themselves, something sinister is up!

She marches into her personal room, moving for a locked case on a pedestal. She opens it, revealing a stark white metal rapier with a wide birth at the base to have sharp edges around a revolver cylinder. The cylinders are filled with dust chambers, an arsenal of agents for casting. Weiss removes her weapon, Myrtenaster, and clips it to side.

Having the weapon, she breathes out in relief. Animals all outside waiting for their chance to ruin her family and name. The comfort of the weapon eases her anxiety. Ready, she leaves her room, marching off after the hooligans.

. . .

Another performance ends, cheers erupting as the curtains come to a close again.

The primary conductor wipes their brow, turning to see Neo disguised as the secondary conductor. They nod and move away. "Knock em dead, Lindsay. I need a drink."

Neo cocks her head with a smile and takes the seat. She focuses.

All her aspects of inspecting others and analyzing mannerisms. Techniques for years built to assist her in infiltration and impersonation. She's had only a few days to analyze the conductors, mostly out of curiosity. So, she SHOULD be capable of this... She ignores the creeping of doubt.

She twirls Hush in its baton illusion and smiles wide.

One of the clarinet players within the orchestra leans to the next person, whispering. "Hey, did Lindsay get a bigger baton? What's that about?"

The flute player nearby mutters. "Yeah, she's oddly giddy, it seems. She's usually a snob about performance face."

Neo hums and readies her 'baton'. The show must go on. Time to have fun!

. . .

Carmine and Blair rush down the hall, stopping at a corner to focus and peer round. Clear! They move around. Carmine cuts a look to her mid stride. "You got anyone ahead?"

Blair closes her eyes, sending a radar pulse out with her semblance! The theater ignites in pings. Too much to read through for the main stands. However, back stage and in the less common areas, she can feel distinct auras. Her eyes snap open.

"Varying auras are scattered. If we assume all are AZRL, then two Blacks and fourteen Reds are in the dock. One Black is heading this way-" Her eyes widen as she grabs Carmine and yanks him to stop. She immediately readies her hand on the hilt of Fluorescent, ready. "... Not a Black. Damn it."

The odd instance of Blair cursing makes Carmine focus. He looks ahead down the halls. Light perfectly flows down the white metal halls...

Crack.

The light sparks out at the end, cutting off visual.

A low whine groans in the hall. CRACK! Two more lights down the hall burst! POP! A third!

Carmine groans, raising Heulin Noon. "... Fuck me..."

From the darkness, Spyyra Barnall steps out. Exactly the same as always, save for an addition. A solid iron dust constructed fedora hat added to his suit outfit. He tilts his head up to look at the two with a grin. "Well, well, well. Isn't this a small world?"

Blair and Carmine remain silent, gun still pointed at him.

Spyyra cracks a smile, pulling the fedora off. "Is it the hat? Yeah, I thought it was a bit much. Apologies! I just wanted to dress up for the reunion." He speaks as the hat dissolves into iron dust, whipping in the air around him before forming gloves on his hands. Still they're silent. "Aw, don't be like that! It is always lovely to catch up. I even apologized for my grotesque fashion choice."

Carmine grimaces. "Have you EVER sincerely apologized for anything in your life?"

"Carmine." Blair chides, but Spyyra chuckles.

"Actually, I did apologize for failing a test once. My instructor had to curb my urges to be a better listener." His orange, slightly wide eyes peer to Blair. "She was a wonderful teacher, though she left this a man again."

Carmine's face scrunches, while Blair steels herself. "I'm aware. Setante fell to my blade, and so will his replacement." She steps in front of the boy. "Get the others-"

"No." Carmine steps up beside her again, whispering. "You said it yourself. No going rogue." The woman sighs, but doesn't argue.

Spyyra grins. "Feel free to keep wasting time whispering. It only makes this easier." He raises his hands. He removes a syringe from his pocket.

Both Carmine and Blair freeze upon seeing the object... A blue infinity symbol in place.

Aura enhancement... The exact same substance Carmine took in Menagerie to recover his aura. A direct counter agent to Nomaura... To an unafflicted target, it boosts aura to whole new levels!

Carmine fires a double shot! Once, twice, three times! Spyyra's suit bursts off in a cloud of iron dust to form a barrier! All three double shots break and burst chunks of the shield, but it reforms!

Spyyra smirks and injects the substance into his arm, through his sleeve. He grits his teeth, pupils dilating with a sudden influx of power. His veins in his neck tinge a brighter blue before the tone evens out. His aura visibly sparks! A shock of power as he lets out a roar!

The walls repulse out, crunching in away from Spyyra! Carmine and Blair each hold their arms up to shield from the burst. However, them shielding themselves allows Spyyra to hold both arms up and clench his hands.

CRRRRK... The walls and ceiling behind them crunches in and seals off in a dead end crinkle of metal!

The structure settles, the iron dust reforming Spyyra's suit fully as he drops the useless syringe and steps on it. He smiles wide, eyes unhinged. "So... You killed my predecessor?" His orange gaze remains on Blair. Carmine snap reloads, gritting his teeth and his eyes bursting gold. Spyyra chuckles. "Threaten me with a good time..."

. . .

Within the crowds, three more individuals move out from the seating into the commons halls. Clicking golden heels as Mary Anne leads her wards from the room. In the common area, she turns with them, moving towards the entrances to the employee areas.

The group moves through a set of double doors... two small dust filled devices clack onto the floor behind Mary...

BURST!

They erupt in electricity, shocking the two teens behind Mary Anne in a flash of lightning! Both the Reds with her fall unconscious in a heap behind her. Mary's eyes widen, irritated, as she whips her gaze around.

As a taunting voice calls. "My... My... Miss Mary Anne."

Mary turns round, finding Roman leaning on Velvet Valentine. His posture is leaned forward, looking akin to a cocky predator in a back alley. His smarmy smirk is ready, though Mary's look at him is marred by the brown eyes.

She blinks before allowing a small smile, despite some nerves. "Roman... The brown eyes do you injustice." She shifts her stance, taking an air of superiority. "Going without the hat is almost jarring. Did you really need to harm my wards? They were merely Reds."

Roman clicks his tongue. "Ah, patience for kiddos is hair thin these days." He hums to himself before one hand raises Velvet, aiming dead at the woman. "However, I'm not one for idle conversation today... Tell me seriously, Mary, and I won't kill you here."

The woman smiles. "Threats already. You're not that kind of guy, I thought."

"I'm changing before my own eyes, you know?" Roman smirks. "Met a girl, took in a little one. Why, I'm almost downright domesticated." He enjoys the shocked tensing in Mary before him. "Ah, but one thing that will forever remain the same?" His finger rests on the trigger to fire Velvet. "I'm quite willing to murder anyone who gets in my way."

Mary sets her jaw. Her... history being tied to Roman stirs something in her, but she is studious before anything. Her cold gaze locks back. "Then I am at your mercy. Ask away."

Roman maintains a hard stare. "Where's Zandril?"

. . .

Far, far below the Apollo Auditorium, smoke begins to bellow into the sky.

Sirens, shouts, and blaring speakers and cheers sound out throughout the entire castle landmark! Bastion Alderley's gates close at each junction.

What was meant to be an open day now turned into multiple layers of protection. More people just kept coming. More faunus. More of the fur affiliated cousins of humanity arrive by the dozens. They arrive by groups packed in single vehicles, with the odd group marching along from who knows where!

The gates were ordered shut in order to hinder the protest...

But that meant nothing to the protesters already inside the gates at the police barricade of the air fields! It meant nothing to the groups of protesters now sandwiched between the individual checkpoint gates. It meant nothing to any of them at all, given how it only invigorated them further!

This is the chaos. Drink containers, garbage waste, bags of unknown substances, all fly in the air, striking the riot shields of the police line! Some segments of the line pushes off, coaxing protesters away from the air field.

Within the crowds, an older faunus cuts a glance to the side. His gaze catches a grizzled man Against the interior castle walls of the area. The grizzled man is dark skinned, corn row hair pulled back to a tied at the base of his neck. His jet black leather garb only uncovered in his exposed, tattoo coated arms.

The dark skinned man uncrosses his arms. Claws expose from his fingers, and he nods to the faunus in the crowd.

The older faunus nods, removing an object from his pocket... A mask.

A gun shot sounds in the crowd... Screams shrill out as the crowd shifts in reaction.

A young faunus boy, barely in his teens, has dropped. His calf is bleeding with a hope left by the shot. The boy is shrieking and howling in pain as his mother grasps around him...

The police line tenses, looks shared in confusion. None of them shot, did they?

Little does any know, a faunus disappearing in the crowd wearing a Grimm like mask is discarding a gun to an ally. None of this garnered anywhere near the attention as the front.

"THEY FIRED ON US!" The cry was made.

The signal given. The Fang's signal is received.

The dark skinned man with corn rows gives a whistle, piercing through the air! Teens in the crowd all react. AZRL operatives. The operation has begun! The Reds lead a rush, the crowds building and crashing into the police riot line! Blues, among others in the crowds begin spreading the message.

A faunus child was shot. The oppressors acted. The truth didn't matter. Only perception.

As the riot begins, the Blacks coordinate, finding members of the White Fang. Masks distributed... the act begins.

. . .

At the loading dock...

The lone SDC transport ship enters the small port to the open large warehouse style door. The transport lines itself up before smoothly closing in and locking itself in place alone the opening! Its large on ramp opens out, presenting clean interior to the loading area.

Four teens, dressed properly, with two adults supervising them populate the area within. The group looks upon the open vessel before them, awaiting its occupant to step out.

The scientist, wormy in his twitchy nerves, steps down the ramp. He looks about, gauging his company until frowning. "Where is Mary? She was supposed to greet me and prepare for Miss Schnee!"

One of the adults grunts and steps forward. "Miss Mary is yet to arrive, but she's already outlined to us where to stage the-"

"You're falling apart already? Bah!" The nervous man fidgets and rubs his hands to his lab coat as he shakes his head, irritating the AZRL group before him. "Look- Just- Ah! No worries. Get me set up, and I'll accomplish your goals right away."

The other adult AZRL man quirks his brow, looking to the ship entrance. "Where is..?"

The scientist perks, jittery as he pulls out a large pad device with illuminated controls. "Right. Right! Just... One second. Ah!" He smiles and awaits with a look to the ship.

An electric hum sounds, pulling the groups attention. Then they flinch.

THUD...

A massive step sounds. Then another. Then another. A large shadow casting down the entry way into the loading dock.

The grinning scientist rubs his sweaty palms on his lab coat in excitement. "And here comes a new age..."

. . .

Inside the back halls, Weiss clicks her heels along the halls until stopping with a gasp. "What on remnant..?"

The hall intersection ends in crunched metal...

Sealed by the very metal structure itself. Weiss inspects the damage, taking a test poke with Myrtenaster against the metal. The tap yields no give and a solid sound. It's thick, not thin. Striking through it will take effort and time.

Rrrk...

A muffled rumble is felt through the hall, Weiss's eyes widening. Then again, it happens. Something is happening on the other side, but what?

Weiss frowns, moving back to a turnoff for a new hallway. "This way circles to..." She mutters to herself before nodding. "The loading dock!" First, she reaches for a scroll-

No scroll.

Weiss winces. Her father never allowed her distractions on days of performance... Of course, such a thing would come to bite her now. She double checks Myrtenaster's dust chambers and calms herself. Sliding her weapon into its hold at her hip, she focuses and investigates. She's a Schnee, and she will become a huntress in training.

Some surely White Fang miscreants won't get away with vandalizing and assaulting this establishment! She rushes down the secondary hall...

. . .

Mary evaluates Roman's threat and, finds that it's quite real. She needs him to relax only slightly before she can get out from his gun sights.

Grimacing, she plays it off with a scoff. "Master Zandril is in the VIP levels. Level four, booth number thirty two." She notices Roman's eyes twitch open at that. "Yes. That one."

Roman narrows his gaze. That's Jacques Schnee's private booth. The heart of the way to Atlas society is through the SDC. He needs to get Zandril away from Jacques before whatever it is that they're planning, but how? Grimacing, he looks back to Mary, flippant. "Do you honestly believe AZRL can stuff itself into the thrall of Atlas high class? Barely a handful of the whole lot of you can manage functional people skills."

Mary takes to irritation. "And whose fault is that? We exist to rid the world of Master Zandril's enemy."

The conman scoffs. "Oh, yes. The wicked witch. We've heard. And I gotta say, I still don't buy it."

The blonde sets a look on him. Both begin to side step, the beginnings of circling one another. "Really? Roman, you were supposed to be the smart one. Has that changed?" Mary says in a flirty tone, voice softening for him. "Working alongside her underlings twice now didn't sate your curiosity?"

He laughs, grinning wide. "Oh, I can believe some things. I believe some dooms day fools have found some whack shtick in the woods to adhere to. I believe there are freaks who believe Grimm can be tamed into allies to eliminate fools like the Fat Man. But, I need a damn sight more before I full hog believe this immortal witch of the woods is the full real deal."

"A healthy dose of skepticism did help you, but I am afraid it is becoming unhealthy if you remain so now." Mary drawls sarcastically. "Such skepticism will come with great cost. I assure you, she DOES exist."

"And what?" He cuts her off, losing his charming fun. Turning flippant. "All of AZRL, this grand purpose you've bestowed upon yourselves, all stems from a fat islander who oh-so-wills it to be that he. That HE. Will be the one? That this immortal witch exists, cannot be killed by the collective power of the world, but OH~! HE'LL be the guy to get it done." He scoffs at her. "And then what? He strikes down the wicked witch and takes the throne of the world?"

Mary gets drawn in by his goading, sneering. "WHEN he wins, he will guarantee people like US never have to question any worth!" That gives Roman pause. "Every member of AZRL, save for a scant few, are placed in these circumstances because of OTHERS. Even those we kidnapped only were so as a direct result of other people's actions. These children, each of us, ALL. Of. Us. Are each bereft of purpose in this void of a world! HE can give everyone a proper place in the world order beyond this age of conflict."

Roman stares wide eyed, slack jawed. "You... actually believe that?"

He applied that logic to himself... He'd only been sold to AZRL by his traitorous uncle, Damascus Rose.

Then Neo. She'd been taken for the debts left by the Rhodes crime family. But, how was Brock Rhodes getting those kids? Roman knows, because he outed the man to the hunters himself for that one. He was scraping up kids within the streets. The street rats that were disappearing from shelters and some families that got into dark deeds.

Even the victims they fought themselves, from Ray Mibu being taken for the clan's defiance to Miguel's disappearance for ending up in the wrong crowd.

However, he also recalls the hundreds of faces that were taken just for being in the wrong place and wrong time... Or even just for being who they were.

… Carmine was only six years old, targeted by Roman's own allies just for a blood relation...

Right...

To classify any part of that as the results of a third party is baffling, to say the least.

Roman smirks, three clicks of his tongue with shaking his head. "You've actually lost all reason, then. Shame." Mary's glare increases as Roman regains his smarmy grin. "I mean, the fat man didn't give you ANY purpose worth a dime. The only purpose YOU were given was to die in my exercise. I'm the fool who wasted his time extending your life to even HAVE one worth living."

Mary sneers. "I had hoped you would see reason... Shame." Her hand clenches a small device in hand. A burst pulses around her!

Roman fires Velvet Valentine, but the fire dust bursts off a pulsing faint electric shield. The barrier forms for only long enough for Mary to turn tail and run! She gets to the corners, already having her scroll out to inform her allies.

The field fades fully, the woman grunting and looking to the small electric bracer under her dress garb gloves. She needs to get to her weapon with CRBN here!

Left alone, Roman scoffs. "Of all the luck..." He huffs, quickly moving from the area before anyone may happen upon him.

He removes his scroll to communicate.

R – Mary Anne heading towards loading dock. Fat Man is here and with the Schnees. Moving to intercept him.

No response comes... Roman pauses, frowning. What's going on now?

. . .

The walls crunch down, ripping like a fabric tear after Carmine! He leaps up to high vents near the ceiling! Landing on the vents, he lowers and palms the surface. Infusing the vent with his aura... Take the bait.

Below, Spyyra machine gun punches at Blair, iron dust forming blades on his arms! Blair rapidly deflects the strikes. Pulling back, she counter slashes at him! The iron dust peels off in a wave, scraping into Blair's slashes and bisecting as it blocks and pushes her back!

Having thrown her back, Spyyra raises a hand and grips. The vents under Carmine crunch in, ripping down and throwing the boy off. Carmine twists and lands well on the floor. Spyyra brings the vents down and shapes it into a long, coiling blade, and sends it after him like a striking snake!

Carmine smirks. "Recall!"

The entire vent pulses in his aura.

Blink... It's gone, warped back to its attachment to the ceiling! Unaffected by Spyyra's Semblance.

Carmine aims at the wide eyed AZRL operative! Double shot!

Caught off guard, Spyyra barely draws the iron sand dust around from Blair's side to intercept the double shot directly in front of his chest! The burst blows the dust particles out and knocks him to stumble from the blow.

Spyyra's orange eyes lock on the boy! Cheeky brat, he thinks. But he realizes too late as Blair works around the iron sand shield behind him! She strikes him, not with Fluorescent, but with its sheath!

The man winces feeling the prick in his side as he pulls away and lashes a wave of iron at the woman!

Carmine snap reloads and fires a double shot, then warps in a Recall. Appearing from a different angle above at the vents, he fires another double shot, then warps in a Recall. Appearing to the side of Spyyra, a short distance off, he whips around, firing the final double shot!

Spyyra rips the metal from the floor to block the first, his iron dust waving up to block the second, but the third blows into his aura shield! However, his amped power tanked the hit, metal warping around his feet to anchor his footing. He glares back at Carmine, forming large metal throwing stars and launches them back!

As this all occurs, Blair sheathes Fluorescent. The sheath had punctured Spyyra's aura shield before, gaining her a capsule of this man's very blood! She activates the sheathed trigger, granting her blade the blood of her enemy inside the sheath.

The massive throwing star inbound, Carmine activates his Overlap! One Carmine image charges forward into it! The star strikes him and carries the image of Carmine up... A redirection! The Carmine image pulled the projectile's path up as the remaining Carmine crouches into a firing position after a snap reload!

He returns fire, Spyyra ripping the floor up to block the shot! Above Carmine, his image Overlap disappears! Scrapes and cuts appear and rip on the original where the image had been hit. The throwing star separates at the center and fires its five points down on the boy!

Blair triggers the semblance, drawing the blood colored blade! She casts Spyyra's own semblance out, as all the metal ahead ceases its movements, yanking aside!

Shocked, Spyyra reacts instinctively to pull his metal back, as all the metal projectiles in the hall stop! A quaking ringing begins. Creaking, whining, metal ripping. As all the metal pieces are stuck between Blair's and Spyyra's battling influences!

Still, Spyyra grits his teeth, asserting his amplified power over Blair's lack of experience with his ability. The metal star points turn towards her!

Carmine scoffs. "Jager!" His armor flashes to his calves. He boost speeds forth, directly charging the now mostly defenseless man! But, Spyyra is not one to be underestimated EVER. Especially when his aura, already a far sight stronger than the boy's has ever been, is doubled under the aura enhancer...

His arm jolts right. Metal in the floor rips up, coiling Carmine's metal coated legs! Carmine fires at the man, but Spyyra zig zags the shot and dashes towards the boy!

"Zero." Carmine warps the armor off his legs back to his chest and arm! The extra space allows his legs to worm out of the metal grip! He growls and throws his metal arm in a punch! Yet, Spyyra catches the powerful punch with one hand gripping the fist!

Spyyra grins, his aura and semblance imposing upon Carmine's armor!

The boy's golden eyes widen. "What?" He grits his teeth. But, his aura shield should be blocking out Spyyra's semblance! Just like freeing himself from Glynda's semblance once before.

Is the aura enhancement granting him this much more power?!

Slowly, Carmine's arm slightly pulls back against his will. Spyyra even gains a cocky look to him.

Yet, the boy isn't one to back down. "Schneider!" The armor shifts into blades on his arms! The blades forming out forces Spyyra to dodge back, but not before clipping his shoulder!

Carmine pulls free from Spyyra's range of influence! That was close!

Spyyra grits his teeth. "Damn you-!" His eyes widen in realization! His metal control is still handicapped!

As he turns into Blair charging and striking his blocking arm! The man is thrown back into the wall! All the floating stressed metal shrapnel flings in every direction!

"Zero!" Carmine moves to Blair, armor back to normal as he regains his breath. "Good hit. That will take a chunk of his aura down."

Fluorescent shifts back to golden as Blair retakes her combat stance. "I presume we've found a strategy, then."

Carmine nods. "He fights using the environment. I'll infuse aura into as much metal around so I can Recall it out of his influence. I'll limit his resources, open him up for you to take blood. You use his semblance to crank him down, then we hammer him during the window of opportunity. Rinse. Repeat. Victory."

BOOM! The wall rips out as Spyyra walks out. All evidence of damage covered as his iron dust reforms his suit over the torn real fabric underneath. He's smiling.

"A war of attrition like this would work on him normally, but that aura enhancement is an issue. We're burning too much energy to land substantial hits." Blair side eyes Carmine, noticing him breathing lightly after using his Overlap magic. "I am not certain we can do this alone."

"We'll regroup then. Hold him for a second, and I'll send an SOS to Neo and Roman."

RUMBLE...

All three fighters in the ruined corridor feel a rumble in the ground. The CRBN members blink. "What... was that?"

Spyyra grins. "The ball started rolling."

. . .

Outside the Apollo, in the open grounds, Arnold gasps and looks around. Guard patrols of Atlas soldiers all begin to spot smoke trails coming from below! Radios fire off as the messages garble and bleed over one another.

But it comes clear.

Arnold moves around a private and rushes to the main entrance of the massive theater. There, he finds their commanding officer, Agent Whis Palmo. "Sir! Is it true?"

Whis grimaces at the officer's approach. "Riots taken place." He huffs on a cigar to finish to the butt before flicking it away. "The main line is broken, and the air pad in Bastion Alderley is compromised. Four transports are lifting off. Dunno if any are of the law enforcement pulling back, or filled with rioters."

THAT sends a chill through Arnold, taking a look around. "We have to establish order!"

"And we will." Whis scoffs. "Squads 1, 4, and 7 through 18 will regroup and deploy on ground at the gate junctions of the bastion to reestablish order in the walls." He sends a curt look to those around him. "NO fire will come upon the ships leaving the compromised air field. We ain't killin' citizens, animals or not. We'll track 'em if they're stealin' the rides, and we set a defense here if the rioters are tryna' get a jab at the VIPs."

Arnold furrows his brow. Squads 7 through 18 were on the Atlas cruiser nearby, ready to deploy. That made sense. But 1 and 4 were the larger control squads here. "Sir, which squads will lock down the air pads on the Apollo?"

Whis huffs. "Maximum manpower is needed below. Too many people below to play soft. We'll leave Squad 3 to cover air pad 1, Squad 5 to cover pad 2, and Squad 2 will hunker here in front under your command to welcome anyone from pad 3."

What?

Arnold double takes. "But- Squad 3 is the smallest squad of the battalion! Squad 5 is all new recruits save its commanding officer!"

The agent is unbothered. "The enormity of the crowd size takes priority to mitigate damage."

The man double takes between his commander and the building behind him. "Mitigate- The faunus aren't going to kill each other. These are the people they want to harm. If the people inside here are targeted, that could destabilize hundreds of communities across the kingdom! At least one more squad should-"

"The decision has been made." Whis cuts him off. "I trust you with it, Captain." The Agent brushes shoulders with Arnold, leaving him alone as Squad 1 moves out with him.

Left alone with Squad 2, Arnold grits his teeth, seething. He shakes it off. Whis is after CRBN. He never said he was going down with the majority of the battalion... Leaving the defense of the Apollo bare, if rioters break through...

Then Whis will have reason to enter the Apollo and search for them.

No... He can't really be compromised, can he? Arnold grimaces.

Either way, it's a bad order. An order that makes the Ox Battalion look like a proper ass incapable of performing it's job!

So, he turns on a radio. "Squad 4, do you copy? Jenkins? Over."

The crackle comes. "Copy, Captain. Go ahead."

Arnold keys up. "Switch channels for a non wide brief." He doesn't wait for the response, cracking the knob and clicking through channels on the radio until on 17. The Ox Battalion always used channel 17 for private chats. The force was supportive of one another in service, tending to mind privacy. Whis wouldn't know which channel they would be on if he heard the call out.

He waits five seconds before Jenkins speaks. "Hope this is good news. We just got word to move."

The captain grunts into the radio, illustrating his disapproval front loaded. "I need you to publicize Squad 4's inability to leave the Apollo. If asked, your squad transport has experienced an ill timed malfunction, and you cannot follow the current orders."

"Whoa- wait. You want me to defy an AGENT'S orders?"

"I want you to be UNABLE to follow an agent's orders." Arnold corrects, wincing. "The Apollo is being left bare, and I'm thinking it's for undisclosed reasons. Asinine reasons that I can figure. If you get caught out lying, put all the blame on me. I'll take the heat."

Jenkins audibly sighs as he responds. "I don't like it, and we support you, but you were overlooked for agency. Won't this lock you out of any promotions, going against orders?"

"Do it the right way or not at all! Saying number one. Reinforced by Ox Wisdom number 2!" Arnold grumbles.

He smiles when his comrade responds resolute. "We don't follow orders from a daft cunt." A humorous tone fades. "What orders are you wanting, Cap?"

"Your squad's got heavy weapons coverage. I want you defending landing pad 2. Tell Squad 5 to triple up Squad 3's numbers and let them presume command of the newbies. Squad 2 will disable pad 3 entirely to free themselves up, then disperse into the Apollo the moment something goes haywire."

"Limit liabilities, maximize survival. Got it! Don't get discharged!"

The click goes, and Arnold quickly switches back to the main radio channel, turning to Squad 2. "Alright! You heard that?" The squad was within earshot the whole time. So, they merely nod, some smirking and nodding. "Any disagreements?" Some chuckles come with a resolute 'no' from the small crowd. "Then let's get shifty, boys!"

. . .

Weiss continues on, feeling a rumble in the pearly floor. She grimaces as she continues.

Nerves slow her, taking deliberate steps as she checks every corner. The hallway opens wider as Weiss moves into open areas of storage, cutting through the alternate route towards the loading dock. Despite being akin to a warehouse, the walls were black, floors a marble white.

Ornate windows brought natural light into the room to compensate for the lack of interior lighting. It was oddly... chilling when no one else was around. Grandiose, yet lifeless. Even down to the high windows in the shapes of snowflakes several meters above her.

She made no more progress in the room as the opening she'd entered from closes in one quick slam! CRASH! A thick metal slab hits, sealing the exit and causing her to jolt around, eyes wide.

This was a trap.

"Miss Schnee! You finally arrived!"

The voice chills Weiss as she peers around. The voice is echoing from further on in the shadows. She sneers. "I'll cut down any White Fang monsters that come near me! You have NO idea who you're threatening!"

The voice, the scientist, sputters slightly. "O-oh? Let's not get too hasty. We've yet to start the test."

Weiss takes a hesitant step, heart racing as anxiety raises her nerves. She chooses not to respond to this statement, letting him continue.

"Make no mistake, I am not with the Fang. Though... I suppose you could say associate of the day? The animals can be useful in a stampede, so to speak." The man's words would be mocking, if not for the tone. Almost as if he's genuinely determining the application of the terms. So, he's not White Fang, and he's speaking of tests.

She... knows him. This voice is... weaselly. Nervous. Yet, undercut by some unearned sense of greatness. Someone who things they're amazing and just need that one shot. Someone who ironically was never good enough to MAKE that one shot appear.

Yet, she cannot place a name or a face... She begins to walk her own road in the darkness between the lit beams of light from the windows.

"Bah, it doesn't matter. No, what matters is our test! I'd hoped to have this ready years ago for your sister, but I suppose using you as a benchmark has at least SOME merit."

Weiss tenses. "Excuse me?"

"Yes. I ramble. I'll delay no longer, Miss Schnee. Please, look forward to the future..."

Weiss halts in her march forward.

Before her is a kneeling... metal... monstrosity of a knight.

The massive suit of hulking armor lets an outtake like a sigh. A metallic hum, as its helmet shifts up to gaze at Weiss directly.

"Now... Let the test begin, my Arma Gigas."

. . .

Another rumble shakes the theater auditorium. Ever slight.

A filled wine glass quivers as Jacques' hand pauses reaching for it. His cutting ice eyes harden on the drink. He notices many people in the crowds aware of it as well. Heads turn on a swivel looking for some source.

Jacques closes his eyes, taking a breath to focus. It doesn't take him much to figure out what's coming. "A curious thought crosses my mind. Would you satisfy it, Aline?"

Zandril takes a long sip from his own wine, smile playing at his features. One of the few in the room not to react in the slightest to the rumble Jacques felt. His glee is known. Never thrown off for anything.

Is what most people see. Very few begin to notice a clear... smolder in his gaze. The joy he shows has never once in all Jacques' experience been genuine, he suspects. "I am as open as ever, my friend. Ask away."

Jacques hums, looking off away. "Suppose you were in charge of the world's foremost tech giant empire. Suppose, then, that you have garnered all manner of response to your accomplishment. Responsibility and duty to those you serve. Ire and resentment from those who want what you have. Hate from those who want more of the spoils you created. The lust of opportunity from all those who have ambitions, themselves. Being in such a position... I imagine that's something easy for you to envision."

Zandril chuckles. "I can imagine. Go on."

The Schnee nods. "Now, imagine that someone who has spent years attempting to associate with you, attempting to align themselves to you, attempting to hoodwink you into acceptance... Imagine this person comes with a smile, and not insignificant ideas and resources."

A huff comes from Zandril. "Ah, is this to walk a mile in one's shoes? But, very well. Consider it imagined." His tone remains light.

Jacques cuts a look to him. "What do YOU think is the reason you wouldn't associate with that person?"

Zandril clasps his hands on the table in front of him. "You wish for me to engineer the reason you refuse to cooperate with me. You're not one to beat around the bush, Jacques. No need for the false intellectual honesty here." He chuckles, leaning back. "As for your point, the question is, 'Why doesn't Jacques Schnee accept the proposals of partnership from Aline Zandril?' The answer is simple. Because Jacques Schnee is in control."

The Schnee raises a brow.

The response gets a smarmy sigh from Zandril. "Jacques Schnee is a man who founded personal ventures to elevate himself in status. Jacques Schnee is a man who looked to those who were above him, and found himself attracted to such. So much so, that he when the only barrier above him was scope, he married into the next tier of society."

Zandril's violet eyes playfully twinkle as he continues. "Upon reaching the pinnacle, he only needed wait for the reigns to hand over to him to be gifted the keys to all society. Thus, he became Schnee. Jacques is a man of ambition. Jacques Schnee reached the peak of the world... He is the one to broker deals now. Any deal is a benefit to someone who could be just like him. Partnership is a foreign concept, for the very definition implies equality between the sides. Thus, Jacques Schnee has no reason to ever accept the partnership of one Aline Zandril, nor reason to align the SDC with the organization known as AZRL."

"Is that a sufficient answer?" Zandril ends before taking a drink of his wine.

Jacques appraises his company, humming. "You believe I refuse you... because I refuse to treat you as an equal? That the terms our potential partnership would need to be acted upon as such?" Silence is an affirmation in this case. Jacques clicks his tongue, leaning back. "Shall I then presume the position of Aline Zandril, then?"

Zandril grins wide. "Oh, but of course!"

"Aline Zandril is a man whose intention first seems wide, but truly is single minded. All he encompasses is based on rerouting resources to the service of the end he desires." Jacques begins. "Simply put, if one is not with Aline, then they are against Aline. Every single entity on this world must choose its side in the sand by the end of its dealings with him. A choice that comes with the falsity of being voluntary, but is a foregone conclusion in his eyes."

"You make me sound like a common warlord. I'm wounded." Zandril cuts in theatrically.

The humor is lost in the white haired man's ignoring of the comment. "When confronted with someone who is obstinate to join him, Aline will seek to warp and twist the things he believes his quarry values. All of this is an attempt to sway the person to his way of thinking. Kind of like you're doing right now."

"Perish the thought! What could I possibly have to gain from doing so here?"

A pause.

Jacques keeps a dull look on him before his inflection tinges with irritation. "Well, given your incorrect perception of me, I can guess how you THINK this will go."

Zandril's smirk loses some of its glee... "Please, enlighten me, my friend."

"Shall I presume that it is YOU backing the animals knocking at our door, clambering to be let in and off their leashes?" Jacques' mustache quirks under a hidden smirk. "You know that threatening me is a worthless endeavor, as the White Fang has been doing so for years. So, if I'm not the target, you must be targeting my progeny." He sucks in a breath and takes a drink of his wine.

Uncharacteristically, Zandril is quiet. Seemingly content, still. Jacques gives a hand signal to a far off aid, sending them off.

Another rumble is felt.

Jacques looks off. "You would know that targeting my legacy would only breed my ire, not cooperation. Did you think me so feeble that I could break from the mere threat of losing a child?"

Zandril smiles back. "Break? Oh, no. No, certainly not. Your eldest daughter tested those waters. I believe you are most capable of cutting all ties with any family. But, ALL family?" He quirks his head. "Jacques. You are a prideful man. What injury could be greater than the loss of what you leave behind?"

The man before him seems to lose interest. "A mindless threat that every fool would think of. Do you truly feel accomplished to think of something so shallow?" A sense of boredom comes, alerting Zandril. "Do you feel that I would crumble to lose two daughters in the course of a year?"

Zandril perks. "My, Jacques. Do you mean to tell me losing ALL your children would leave you unaffected?" His grin widens. "I doubt so."

Jacques huffs. "Unaffected? Hardly. I... know the feeling of attachment, complacency, and comfort. It is something of a commodity to most people's lives." He then cuts a glance over. "However, to expound upon that would require dissecting the largest flaw in your perception of me. You have painted me as someone who can only tolerate the presence of those who are less capable than myself. In other words, you would have me only suffer the presence of fools."

He then forcefully states with the most emotion shown yet. "I do not tolerate fools. I only tolerate the useful!"

. . .

Weiss looks with wide eyes as the hum from the suit of armor sounds. The sound is raising in volume. This is surely a power up sequence.

Far, far into the room, at the end of the darkness, the wormy scientist grins and looks on with goggles. Allowing him to see in the light and dark, he sees a readout in the lens of the Arma Gigas's system readings. It's 'vitals', so to speak.

"Everyone I employ. Everyone I suffer day in and day out is someone I deign to view at useful. The moment they show themselves as a fool is the moment I know... they are no longer worth my time."

The scientist clenches his fist, anxious to see the result of his creation! In his lenses, he can view the shock on Weiss as she takes a step back. He just has to input the orders. "Gigas... attack on sight. Break the girl, alive, and leave her incapable of acting."

"Winter became worthless the moment she chose the path of a fool. Weiss, my middle shame, has continually disappointed me for years. Endlessly hammering out that girl to become useful has already cost me."

. . .

Jacques wipes his lip with a cloth, putting it down as he looks to Zandril. "If Weiss falls to whatever you are up to today, then she is a fool proving what I already suspect of you. And even if Whitley should suffer the same fate, so be it, though I will admit he has shown promise." He stands from the table.

Zandril is emotionless now.

To think that Jacques is... THIS detached? No, it has to be a farce. A lie. Yet, those cold eyes tell no lies. Not here.

Jacques smiles politely. "Your problem Zandril is that you believe that you have to pull someone away from morality the same way you were to get them to agree. I, on the other hand, never gave the seedling of care to morality or ethics. Thus..." He gives a light nod to the rotund man. "... You've no sway over me. Come back when you control more than fifty percent of the upper class. By then, you'll be useful to me."

Zandril cuts a look up. "Ten years, and you can control all four kingdoms." He watches as Jacques pauses. So, he adds the terms. "All you need to do for me is get Franklyn Naero Stein out of custody. That is all."

Jacques turns fully, raising a brow at the brazen request.

. . .

Weiss takes a step back, steeling herself. The Gigas stands from its knelt position, looming massive over her height! In its hand is a large long sword. Its very movement shifts the air, a signal to its size. Both hands grip the massive sword. (Violins uplift. Rendition of Mirror Mirror's second verse begins.)

The massive knight swings down. Weiss back flips aside to dodge. She draws Myrtenaster, directing the blade forward. Her semblance crafts her glyph on the floor as she propels herself to thrust the knight. The blow glances off, so she soars past, landing and rounding back. ("Mirror, tell me something,")

The knight one handed swings overhead at her! Weiss uses her glyph, once more blitzing to dodge as the blow misses! Appearing behind the knight, she unleashes a spinning and lunging flurry upon its back! The knight round swings as she's mid air. She blocks, propelled back, skidding to a halt on her feet. ("Tell me who's the loneliest of all?")

She looks up, gasping as the knight is airborne! It comes down in a one hand swing! She cartwheels aside to dodge, then again as it sweeps twice after her! Its third sweep she's forced to block, getting blown tumbling. She rolls to her feet, rotating her weapon's cylinder and making another glyph. ("Fear of what's inside of me;")

Propelling with the speed glyph, Weiss skates along the ground, striking as she dodges by another swing. She flips around the raising blade, landing two more quick strikes! Making a barrier glyph mid air, she pushes to lunge through, landing to its side. She begins striking its legs in a flurry. ("Tell me can a heart be turned to stone?")

Crouching low, Weiss uses another speed glyph to jump up, her blade uppercutting the knight back in a stumble! Leaping from another barrier glyph, Weiss lands two spinning blows, but the knight is catching her movements. (Piano instrumental begins in rapid tempo.)

The knight swings at her. Weiss makes a barrier, hopping up as the massive blade passes under her feet! Yet, it's left hook comes round and catches her. HARD! The blow sends her back, stopping face first in the ground. (Instrumental continues into drums.)

Weiss tries to get up, wincing in pain as she initially fails to do so. Her vision in her left eye- Her aura shield broke from the knight's power! Blood obscures her left eye's vision. (Instrumental comes to end, bridging to vocal aria.)

Closing her eyes, she focuses. The girl gets back to her feet, taking a deep breath. The girl composes herself, taking a dueling stance, rapier forward with her side angled ahead. She brings the weapon in, rotating and activating red fire dust. The blade flashes with a hint of red. (Vocal aria bridges into new piano instrumental.)

The knight begins a brazen full speed charge! Sword raised in an over hand chop, it comes down to Weiss. Weiss brings Myrtenaster up, the ignition cast of red flame blasts the massive sword slash back, knocking the knight off balance! Weiss twirls, switching to blue ice dust in Myrtenaster's cylinder! (Instrumental bridges into final verse.)

Weiss casts a line of ice, spiking along the ground before freezing the knight's legs to the ground! The knight reacts, taking the sight in, but seeing she's about to attack, begins a swing! ("Mirror, mirror, what's behind you?")

Weiss uses another speed glyph to rocket ahead. When the knight swings, she spins and lands on the passing blade, using it as a new grounding. She runs down the blade, striking through the knight and shattering the ice below from its shifting. ("Save me from the things I see!")

Weiss lands on the ground, the knight's sword hitting the floor. She's disarmed it! The knight seems confused to have lost its weapon, looking like a lumbering fool. ("I can keep it from the world,")

An ice blue glyph forms under Weiss as she holds Myrtenaster up, its cylinder rotating to a new selection. ("Why won't you let me hide from me?")

The knight charges again! It punches down, and Weiss cartwheels aside to dodge. She activates the glyph, a force gravity glyph! The power blows the knight airborne! ("Mirror, mirror, tell me something,")

With a flourish, Weiss casts ice dust into her glyphs, firing them our to create surfaces at each limb and freeze the knight floating mid air! Weiss leaps into the air, high above the knight! ("Who's the loneliest of all?")

The cylinder clicks to wind dust, blade lightly illuminating white. Weiss propels herself down to the knight! With a great strike, Weiss slices through the gargantuan foe, landing on the ground. Above her, the knight's segments spark with energy... then blow apart. Upon hitting the floor, the knight falls to pieces, parts disintegrating. ("I'm the loneliest of all~.")

Weiss stands tall, breathing heavy as she takes in the area.

She wobbles. Using that much dust casting and semblance casts is still difficult, both mentally and physically. Made even worse by a lacking diet, she thinks. Her father was adamant that she under eat on performance days. Keeping a figure look as good as possible. She frowns at the idea, of course, but first thing is first.

She turns to look down the large room, the scientist staring jaw dropped at her. His hand held pad monitor drops as he's frozen like a deer in head lights. "But... But- that's not- You couldn't possibly have-"

Weiss casts ice again, the flash freezing the cowering man in place! She gasps for air at the exertion before stomping her way over, weapon raised. "I have. Now, surrender fool! Identify your collaborators location!" The man is too stunned in fear to answer, so she brings the weapon closer to his neck. "Well?!"

The man points in the direction behind him. "T-t-the loading dock! They plan on taking anyone they kidnap through there to a loader ship!"

Weiss narrows a gaze on him, ignoring the pain and blood still obscuring her vision in the left eye. "How many?"

"I-I don't know. Honest. I'm not privy to their full operational staff."

So, too many for her to take on alone. Damn it.

Weiss grimaces, but accepts that. She's in no condition to pursue them. She needs to alert the Atlas troops outside. "Can you open that barrier back there?" The man opens his mouth, but she takes an aggressive step. "Open it!"

"I-I-I n... Need my pad..." She looks to the pad he'd dropped before being frozen in place.

The girl gives it a look over. Picking it up, she recognizes the software. SDC, after all. "Thank you. You'll wait there for arrest." She finds the remote function and activates. The sealed barrier at the entrance she'd come through begins to open in the distance. Weiss huffs and tosses the pad aside.

"W-wait! You can't leave me here! If the animals find me while I'm no use to them-"

Weiss sneers back, but looks at the way to the dock. She casts ice over the hall, sealing it. She then gives the man a vicious glare. "There. Now, they can only come through where I'm going. When the military arrests you, I'll be sure to give them a full report!" She turns with a huff and begins to march away.

She didn't need his name. He wasn't a game changer. He was just a fool.

A useless fool vying for more than he's worth.

That's what her father will say when he sees his arrest report.

. . .

Jacques takes a moment to consider, but it matters not. His answer to such a proposition is already understood. He sighs. "I'd thought that Frank of all people would be smart enough to not get caught. I'd presumed he was dirty. No one can be that clean without being a bleeding heart charity supporter like Pietro." He shakes his head. "Just like Arthur, it came to bite him."

Zandril smiles wide. "So? Does such a proposition entice you?"

"No. No it does not." Jacques gives his response with a polite smile. "I'll not give you a thing in order to be promised a debt. Not to people like you." He turns away, leaving Zandril with an unhappy grimace. "If you need me to achieve power, then I'll not help you. Especially when you offer something beyond yourself." Cold violet pierces at icy blue. Their looks match as they reveal their inner disgust of the other man. "AZRL is on its dying days. I am not your life support. It's best to realize your time... Farewell, Aline Zandril."

He leaves Zandril alone in the booth. A dour mood comes over the large man.

Around the corner, Jacques loses his smile. "Now to leave before the animals arrive..."

With Zandril, AZRL's leader sighs. So, going for Weiss was not a winning strategy, after all.

Well, he can adjust. After all, he has a Plan B. And C. He's envisioned these contingencies being needed for a while. Or rather, the remaining goals could still be accomplished.

So, he sends the message out, bringing his scroll up and making a voice message. "Objective A is called off. All assets will instead focus fully on Objectives B and C. We will meet at point bravo in two hours."

Thus, he takes another drink of wine...

Another rumble unsettling the crowds below.

Within a minute, the first scream comes. The first shot fired. The White Fang, pressing a riot of faunus, presses upon the Apollo Auditorium...

Show time at the Apollo! All our parties are colliding, and all hell is getting loose!

And Zanny is having himself a little drink with Jacques, even if he gets a bit talked down to! That's not good for someone in his position.

A return of the aura amplifier with Spyyra. Spyyra vs Blair and Carmine is already going on now. We still have the wild cards of Whis, Mary, Arnold, Roman, and Neo all unspoken for... Fun, fun.

Reviews:

xyanth (FF) – I don't mind you leaving a lot of reviews at all. It's confidence boosting! It also hit well seeing the opinion turn on Carmine kinda in the way I'd hoped. I'm more surprised by the consistent Blair appreciation. Thank you, sir! As for your comment regarding the pacing of character progression, this is kind of a bad defense, but it is intentional that Carmine is to stagnate in that department while the others progress during the latter half of this story, but to comment more on that would probably spoil more. Hope you love what's to come with this story!

References:

So, obviously, the song I used for Blair's singing was Clint Eastwood, originally by the Gorillaz. However, the version of the song is the cover by Adele Anderson, specifically titled as a 1940s/James Bond Cover of the song. I had this song in mind for Blair singing it here for multiple reasons. Firstly, it's funny to me and tickles my fancy for the pompous character to do ANY variation of a rap. Secondly, Blair's recent identity issue with the Setante and slight shift in spiritualism makes it fit for a song that's all about the Ego vs a universal connection or truth.

Oh, and Mirror Mirror for Weiss. This is the fight from the White trailer, note for note. This is NOT the performance section of that trailer, as that performance occurred at an event after Weiss's encounter with the Gigas, so not this performance at the Apollo.

In short, I just like it.

As we will like next time in Chapter Eighty Seven: Exit, Stage Left!