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.

41. 39 To Be A Team (Pt 2)

Chapter Thirty Nine: To Be A Team (Pt 2)

"Sir! The intruders are fighting their way here!" A Fang member marches into the wide cavern factory. The men were working overtime on the massive mechanical suit vehicle standing three stories tall. Atop an elevated cat walk, Master Ilan clenches his fist.

"I see... They really were too much for Siegfried." He mutters as the men in the room look to him for answers. The scorpion faunus cuts a look to them all. "Well? Has that changed the situation?" He demands as the men stiffen. "Get it ready. All extra hands, work on either collapsing the tunnel in and, if failing that, defend engineering."

"Sir!" A chorus of men scramble.

As they rush about, the faunus narrows his gaze dangerously. "I suggest gathering any workers and using them. No resource goes unused." He turns back to the rust red mech, standing tall.

. . .

Carmine deflects a sword slash with his armored arm. Ducking back, he parries another swing using Heulin Noon in his right hand. He follows with a counter uppercut, the metal knuckle cracking off the masked faunus jaw and planting them in the far wall.

The boy sighs, hearing Roman call out. "What's your count at, Silver Streak?" He glances over, finding four men unconscious splayed about the conman. "I'm up to twenty four. I think you're at ten?"

The snide bragging was a front. Carmine knew he was simply distracting the boy from dwelling in anger. Appreciated as it is... it doesn't work exactly. "I dunno... probably less than his count though." Both glance over to spot Qrow walking past, leaving five bodies still behind him.

"Twenty eight." His gravely voice responds with some mirth. He takes the lead, Roman only mildly glaring at the smug tone. Carmine almost smirks at the demeanor. Roman is lax, but he's got someone he can't properly read it seems. It's annoying him. And what annoys Roman entertains Carmine.

"Come on." Carmine sprints ahead of the men, leaving the two to rush after and remain alert. Moving through the cat walk paths, they whip around the corner-

Before a stream of bullet fire chases them back around the corner. All three blink in surprise as, around the corner, a mounted machine gun manned by one Fang member. Behind him, two others are situating packages to a drilled slot in the wall.

Roman peeks before ducking from bullets chipping at the rock corner. "They're planting explosives for a controlled collapse." He holds his hand out to Carmine. "Hand me ice dust. I'll pop it with my semblance to make a mist, then you can shoot him through the smokescreen."

Just as Carmine reaches for his pocket, Qrow pats the arm back. "That's not gonna work." Roman sends a heated look back.

"Oh, what? Just a job for an expert huntsman?" He snidely cuts back.

Qrow rolls his eyes. "My semblance is bad luck, and it never turns off." He nods to the corner. "Odds are, my semblance might mess your plan up without my intention."

Roman cuts his eyes to and from the man. "Bad luck, eh?" He scoffs. "Well, you look like that's the case with that mug." Qrow's only reaction is a mild raise of the brow and eye roll. "What's your idea then?"

"Move it." Qrow brushes past Roman, bullets still scraping on the corner. His eyes close and he listens to the rattling shots. "Most high caliber machine guns are prone to firing failure." Carmine perks at the gun talk.

"Especially belt fed." The boy chimes in. Qrow allows a slight smirk at the engagement. Reminds him of someone. Another time.

"So, we just... have... to... wait." Qrow slows, listening intently.

Click.

The machine gun jams, the Fang member flinching. "Ah, no-" Qrow already whips around the corner. Speeding to the gun and slicing through it. In a fluid movement, he slashes the man's legs out, sliding by and following with a thrust at the first man planting explosives. The thrust slams the man's aura shield, knocking him out cold instant.

Qrow smirks at the final man, face to face. The Fang member flinches back, cowering. Qrow allows the man to gather his courage and charge... Qrow simply turns and lets Roman crack the faunus in the head with Velvet Valentine.

Roman smirks and takes the lead. "Nice one, Birdbrain."

"Thanks, Clockwork." Qrow mutters. Roman opens his mouth to retort, then freezes and turns a glare on Qrow.

Carmine can't help the snicker that escapes him. Roman squints his eyes at him. "Do you even get that one?"

The boy snickers and shakes his head. "No, but I can tell it annoys you. That's enough." The conman simply turns back and continues walking. Qrow and Carmine march on after.

"I certainly hope Barbie and Neo got the worse company of our 'allies'. I couldn't handle a larger headache." Speaking of...

. . .

"HYAHHHH!" Killa howls out as he fires a stream of dust shots. Point blank, Glynda flicks her wrist to raise a rock shield. She allows the shots to crack holes around the shield. If the wall isn't solid... maybe he can't transport himself through it?

Killa cracks a grin, spinning and whipping his tail. The spike spines on the tail rip into the rock and slices through! Killa stops his spin as the rock shield collapses. Glynda, ducked under the slice, uses her semblance to launch the lower shield forward.

The rocks crash into Killa's footing, knocking him up in a spin. Killa yelps, but uses the spin to whip his tail downward. Glynda ducks back, the spines clipping her arm. She winces at the hit, Killa landing in front of her and kicking the huntress back.

Glynda rolls down the mountain slope, getting to her feet and skidding to a stop. Glaring up at the cocky faunus, she raises a dome shield of rock around her. Focusing, she pops pin ball sized holes every few inches throughout.

Killa grins. "Getting scared, floozy? We can cut this short if you offer the other two?" He waits a moment, sighing when the woman is silent. "Whelp, you're boned." His body colors brown as he reaches fist first into the ground.

His hand reaches into the dome, passing in from the wall directly in front of Glynda's face. And stops. Killa winces, finding he can't push through. Glynda raises a brow... Killa's hand is stuck, wedged between three pinball sized holes. Without a wider surface, he can't pass through.

"You were saying?" Glynda collapses the dome, using some rock to wrap the exposed arm. She allows the wall to fill the holes as she uses the rock around his wrist to pull. Killa is wrenched through the ground in the distance and out from her constructed rock wall.

Restricting his arm, Glynda controls his wrist and whips him into the air. She constructs three rock pillars, carefully keeping them thin enough so he can't warp out. Whipping him in, she crashes him through the pillars. Hard. He crashes into the ground with a rumbling thud, Glynda stands tall as she eyes the dust and debris.

Cathartic as that was, he won't fall for that trap a second time. She rolls her shoulder, left arm pained from the earlier hit. His aura is impressive... Glynda calls out. "It seems we are ill matched with our opponents."

Near her, the ground explodes out. From the dust, Neo flips out. She lands, using Hush to block a fire dust blast. The force nearly blows the mute off her feet. She holds her ground and spares a glance at Glynda. A silent agreement.

From the smoke, Kallen steps out, aiming his tech rifle with eyes locked on the screen, spotting Neo's golden silhouette split in two. He fires at the new image, the shot zooming in and... not at Neo, but at the side.

And the shot hits the real Neo out from nothing. He'd shot her as she attempted to leave a shatter image. As she comes into view, hitting along the ground, her left behind image shatters.

Glynda reacts, attempting to step in, but a stream of bullets cuts her off. Killa's up. The man warps out from the ground, colors going from brown to normal. Glynda frantically dodges his punches and tail swipes. Ducking back, she can't get back as the man advances.

Timing her counter, she ducks a punch, directing her crop at Killa's blocking arm over his gut. She hits him with a telekinetic blast, point blank. Killa shudders as the ground at his feet and behind him cracks and shakes lightly. Wind blows past the man as he grunts painfully.

However, his aura brute forces through it as he remains standing. Glynda's eyes widen in shock as he spins. His tail whips and strikes true in the Huntress's gut, sending her down the slope. She's right... Neo facing someone who can track her through illusions. Glynda facing someone who can pass through the environment...

Maybe she could switch with Neo... but that leaves the minor with the famous murderer. Not happening... She can just hold out for Rowa and Blair.

Down the slope, Rowa spares a glance up. "Damn." The violet haired woman turns and breaks into a sprint. The ground behind her breaks up, Donatello giving chase. Closing in on Blair's fight, she sees the blonde in a bad way.

Blair, paired against Ezra, can't close the distance. The black bird faunus cracks his golden lightning whip at her. Blair's even defending, has to narrowly angle her blocks so the line doesn't catch around and hit behind the block. Focusing on the controlled blocking, every step forward is followed by a step back.

Ezra lashes wildly with the right arm, then jabs his left out. The golden rope dart around his left arm fires forward. Fire dust ignites the line in golden flames. Blair's blade is held in its block of the whip, unable to block the coming dart.

Blair twists, the dart scorching through and grazing her side and slicing the rib section of her shirt open. The dart continues into the up slope behind her, the ground exploding on impact. The blast throws Blair off balance forward.

Ezra uses his right arm to crack his whip in a side stroke. Blair activates ice dust in Fluorescent Finish, freezing the metal lightning whip on the block...

A distraction. Ezra rips the rope dart straight back. The blade tip strikes Blair's cheek as it reels back to its own. As Blair recoils and flinches from the hit, Ezra pulls his frozen whip back, lashing it down to shatter the ice off.

Blair growls in pain, revealing the gash on her cheek before the wound closes with aura healing. Before she makes another move, she hears Rowa call out. "Switch, Blair!" Blair turns to see Rowa charging with Don in tow.

Seeing her turn away, Ezra jab throws the rope dart forward, golden flames lighting at its aimed for Blair. Rowa activates the fire dust in her own blade wheel, named Serene Saucer. The lashes the flaming disk forward, controlling it perfectly on the wire. She directs it around Blair, angling the wheel broad as a shield. Ezra's dart strikes the saucer.

BOOM!

The two sides of fire dust erupt in a smoky blast, shrouding Blair in the smoke. Rowa comes to a stop by the cloud, Don leaping at her from behind. The smoke blasts out as Blair speeds past Rowa. Her arm swings, and Don blocks... blocks Fluorescent's sheath. Blair holds her blade in her off hand, knocking Don's block out with the sheath before slashing after.

The off hand slash catches Don's mid section, bashing him into the air as Blair slides past. Blair then activates wind dust in her blade, the weapon shifting cloudy gray white. She slashes with the dust, sending a mass wind slash. The dust strikes Don away, sending him down and down towards Ezra in a tumble.

The kangaroo faunus digs his spike gloves into the ground mid roll, grinding to a halt before standing by the bird. Ezra blinks shocked. "Hey, brother. You okay?"

Don stands up, his hat damaged and a slash in his leather jacket. With a deeper permanent scowl, he breathes out once. "I'm right as rain..."

"Gloves vs sword might not be the best strategy."

"You get that from your bible?" The kangaroo irritably remarks.

"The lord's way is stoning." Ezra comments seriously with a shrug. Don cuts a narrowed glare back at him.

Up the slope, Rowa and Blair form up. "We need one big hit, then you're going up to help Glynda and your girl."

Blair's attention turns at the mention of Neo. She looks to find both her sister and current partner losing their respective pairings. Blair scoffs. "One more strike to break the fighting. I'll go first."

Rowa smirks. "We doing Shield Maiden?" Blair's eyes shine with a nostalgic excitement. The violet haired woman allows a full grin. "Heck yeah!" The blonde sprints forward. Rowa launches Serene Saucer behind Blair.

Using her semblance, Rowa winds the saucer around Blair's off hand forearm. The cable connecting back to her brace winds around Blair's torso, Rowa's ability to shift and generate momentum coursing through Blair. The saucer locked at her arm like a shield begins to spin and burn in flames. Blair charges with Fluorescent wielded one handed.

Mid stride, Blair glides Fluorescent along Serene Saucer, allowing the fire dust to ignite around Fluorescent into an orange blade. Don digs his fists into the ground. Ripping up, the up shatters, removing Blair's footing.

Rowa reacts, controlling through the cable to lift Blair from the ground and keep her going forward. Ezra steps up and jab throws his rope dart, followed with a whip lash. Blair spins, slashing the rope dart out of the way, then shield bashes the whip. The flames around burn the lightning off as Blair closes the distance.

Blair strikes with both weapons into the ground, burning fire exploding down and launching both criminals further down the mountain. Rowa reels the cable back in, pulling Blair back up the slope to her. Blair lands, and the cable unwraps and separates Serene Saucer from her. "Still got it. Go help them!"

Rowa raises Serene Saucer, flat up. Blair takes a running step, jump stepping onto the saucer before Rowa sparks momentum up, using the disk like a jump pad and launching Blair up the slope. The blonde rockets into the air, taking the time to swap dust cans in Fluorescent to gravity dust, the dark murky purple, almost black coloring the blade.

Below, Glynda is back stepping from Killian, who advances relentlessly. Meanwhile, Neo is nailed by another rifle shot. The girl hits the ground and barely gets Hush up to begin blocking shots. Pinned down.

The urge to help Neo first is strong... but she herself can't properly face the rifleman without forcing close combat. The bitter thought is recognizing who is the better fit. So, the woman drops down for Glynda's fight.

Killa snickers, having fun taking the Academy mistress apart. Slowly, but surely gaining ground. Taking a cocky step too far, he barely notices the shadow from above. A single second of shock before he leaps back, Blair striking the ground igniting the gravity dust. The space shimmers violet in a flash as the man feels drawn in by the invisible force.

Blair anticipates the draw in as she whirls around in a broad slash. Her sword catches the shocked faunus in the ribs, busting the air from inside and launching him back. Blair steadies her blade as Killa hits the ground a short way off.

Blair spares a glance over her shoulder, locking a glare with Glynda for a second... Not the time... She nods her head towards Neo at the same time Glynda does. Both of them grimace in disgust having the simultaneous thought. "Send her to Rowa."

"Already thought so." Glynda responds, turning and rushing to Neo's aid. She directs her semblance, raising the rock under Neo and pulling her out from Kallen's sights. The faunus turns to see Glynda charging. He fires, but Glynda raises the earth around her, blocking the shots easily as she charges forward.

Neo closes Hush and lands with Glynda, the teacher sending one focused look back at her. "Assist Rowa down the-" She finds Neo's already gone... The girl utterly disinterested in fighting alongside Glynda. The teacher scowls and huffs. "Ungrateful child..." She mutters before throwing the land around her at Kallen and sending the sniper in full retreat.

Blair, seeing that Neo is safe, directs her full attention on Killa. The slimy man grins, despite the pain in his torso. "Hey, hey, hey sexy mama. You wouldn't happen to have seen Roman around? Wanted to do this all at once, ya know?"

"Glad to disappoint. You'll die twice over before the others get here." Blair responds in a focused monotone, swapping lightning dust in before charging the man head on. If anything, her threat made him smile wider.

"Perfect! It's gonna be fun on a bun!" He charges head on. Blair meets the charge, but the thought nags her. Just how much aura does this man have?! Her slash before would end a match against other fourth year students at Beacon. Him? He's already raring to go...

Down the slope, Rowa uses her disk to deflect Ezra's lightning whip. Controlling it with her aura charged cable, she swings the saucer on a pendulum point in the cable, lashing the buzz saw at the charging Don. The kangaroo man swings a punch low, knocking up the rock to block the saucer.

Despite her weapon embedding into the rock, Rowa uses her control to swing the rock with the saucer, like the end of a flail. Swinging it back around, Don smashes the boulder in one powerful punch. The faunus then uses his spike gloves to catch the spinning disk. "Open."

With her weapon caught, Ezra lands at the side. "And shut!" He lashes the lightning whip at the Huntress. In a crackling strike, the whip wraps around Neo's parasol.

Neo appears between the faunus and Rowa, the lightning from the whip fazing out of Hush. She smirks, enjoying the confused look on the bird faunus. She jerks Hush down, pulling Ezra off balance, then draws the blade from the parasol, charging and slashing Rowa's weapon from Don's grip.

Rowa grins, lashing Serene Saucer at the kangaroo. Don dodges back, moving to Ezra's side. Rowa forms up behind Neo. Her smile shrinks, seeing Neo breathing much heavier than everyone else... her age is the handicap here. She places a hand on Neo's shoulder, the girl flinching and looking back. "Good hit! Try and wait for your moments. I'll keep em busy."

Her positive spin on telling the girl to take it easy SEEMS to land. Neo takes a breath and nods. She holds up her off hand, giving an okay symbol. Rowa nods, stepping forward and sending her weapon forward at the faunus.

. . .

The cavern gives entrance to a full blown hallway, spot lights lighting the way above. Qrow now leading the three. Keeping a hard eye out for the next trap. He rounds the next corner, coming to a halt, eyes wide before narrowing dangerously. This can't end well... Carmine and Roman round the bend. Roman is less affected, but has a similar reaction as the huntsman. Carmine, on the other hand, stares wide eyed, mouth parted as he gazes ahead.

One of the Fang members in the brown tunics stands with three others, each with their swords drawn. In front of the leader in a teenager. A thin, malnourished human boy with brown hair and freckled skin. His hands are bound, hair in the grip of the leader's left hand.

The leader pulls the boy's head up and angles his sword to his throat. Carmine flinches forward, Qrow putting his hand out to stop him. Qrow speaks clearly. "Let him go."

The Fang member doesn't react, though Roman can tell each of the faunus is sweating. Nervously sweating. This was a gamble. They didn't KNOW that the trio would care. He even seems to visibly calm at Qrow's demand. Great... they feel empowered.

"Stand down! Drop your weapons." The faunus demands, roughly jerking the teen slave's head and brandishing the sword clearly.

Carmine is seeing red, teeth nearly cracking clenched. "Get... your filthy hands off him-" He scathingly speaks through tight teeth before Roman slaps a hand on his shoulder to keep him still. Carmine tenses dangerously.

"Watch and learn..." Roman whispers before calling loudly. "Do you really expect us to surrender that easily?" The faunus tense.

Sensing Roman's tactic, Qrow lets his sword rest up as he glares lazily. "This won't end in any way with you on top. Clearly, you don't understand the situation." Roman actually smirks at Birdbrain playing along.

The faunus heats up his response. "The situation is this scum's life! It means more to you than us." The man barks at the three.

Roman steps ahead of Qrow, bobbing his head to one side. "Hmm... We surrender to keep that one alive... then no one gets freed AND we die. Or..." He bobs his head to the other side, whipping his cane theatrically. "... We cut our losses and end the day alive and with all the living kiddies upstairs. One for several dozens. Such a decision." Despite his smirk, his eye hard glares the faunus head on. "Which do you really think will happen?"

Behind his back, Qrow and Carmine see the flash of aura in Roman's hand. He's using his semblance! As the faunus look at each other, losing their nerve. Then, at that moment, Roman's Wick semblance sparks the air at the slave boy's hair... setting the locks in the leader's hand alight.

The faunus lets go, his hand burned by the new flame as he flinches back from the captive. The boy lurches forward, letting out a panicked wail and thrashing his head. As the boy tilts down, Roman changes Velvet Valentine to gun mode and opens fire, the shots streaming over the slave's head and blasting the four faunus behind.

All four are overwhelmed and blown into the far wall before Roman stops. Roman marches over, using his gloved hand to start slapping at the small flicker of flame on the slave's head. The spark is out, and the human boy looks up panicked at the conman.

Qrow and Carmine rush in, the huntsman cutting the boy's arms free. "Hey, you alright, kid?" The boy shook looking at them, not responding verbally. He was pale. Like he hadn't seen the sun in a long time. "Can you stand?" Qrow manages to start getting the boy up.

As he gets the kid calm, Carmine zones out from the other teen. His focus honing in on the four unconscious forms. Wait... make that three... The leader lifts his head, struggling in pain from the burns Roman's blast left.

He doesn't register his own movement towards the injured man. Doesn't register his thumb cocking the hammer of Heulin Noon. He doesn't even register the man's eyes wide because all the boy sees is red. Carmine punt kicks the man's head, knocking and cracking his head and mask off the rock. Carmine seethes in anger, double taking back and forth between the injured man and his gun.

"Carmine. They're down. We're done." He doesn't even recognize whose voice it is, Qrow or Roman's. A hand comes to his shoulder. The boy twists his head to find Qrow, staring hard at him. "... Carmine... lower your weapon... They aren't a threat."

The boy pauses noticing that his gun was now trained on the leader's head. And yet... for the first time in his life he didn't feel that voice. His father telling him gun safety. Procedure and muscle memory burned in at Beacon.

For that second, he almost didn't care he was aiming down the sights at someone.

Carmine eases off, his anger fading to confusion. He relaxes, stepping away from the leader. Before he can dwell on it, he spares a glance at the rescued boy. "Uh... who's going with him?"

Qrow and Roman spare a glance, Roman raising a brow. "... Maybe you should take the kid to the surface, Silver Streak. Go play hero and set the others free and junk. Let Birdbrain arrest the bad guy and I'll loot the place." Qrow sends a small glare at Roman, who ignores it.

Carmine instantly shakes his head. "No! No... Qrow, take the boy to the surface."

Qrow narrows his gaze. "Excuse me." The boy snaps a harsh glare back at Roman, one that he'd perhaps seen a few times Taiyang actually went ballistic back in the day.

The boy holds his ground. "You came here to back us up and provide support on our current mission. Well? This is OUR mission. So, support. Take the kid to safety and lead the others back here to regroup. Ilan's ours." When Qrow only maintains a glare, Carmine looks away, anger slightly back as he mutters. "And I'm most likely to be captured on my own... so one of you two needs to go..."

The shame in the voice and admission gets Qrow to soften. He hates it. Really really hates it. But, he's right. He's proven that getting captured once already. The huntsman looks at the now free slave boy. "Kid, what are we facing here? What's your boss got?"

The thin boy fidgets a moment before mumbling out. "T-there's... a mech... They've used us to put it together and... make all the parts. It's slow, but thick armor and heavy weaponry. M-Master Il-... He hoped the weapon could be used by the Fang to counter Atlas robots."

Roman clicks his teeth. "Never mind. I've been a babysitter before. You two can have fun with the war mech." Carmine glares at him, so he adds. "What? Robots are a pain in the ass to deal with."

Carmine snaps back. "And I've literally seen you take Atlas robots down yourself. We can handle discount brands." He shifts his gaze back to Qrow. "Get the others. We'll be fine."

The man holds a glare on the boy before sighing. "Keep it together, kid. I know they're monsters, but we stay better than them, okay?" Without waiting, Qrow turns to the slave boy. "I'll get you out of here. Just let me know where to go, Kay?" the boy nods.

Carmine begins to walk towards engineering, Roman taking a step after before Qrow grabs him. "What? I kinda got enough headaches to deal with!" The conman snaps at the huntsman.

"The kid's eyes are blue." Qrow states low so only Roman hears. "Since when did they start turning yellow?"

The conman blinks at that. Carmine's eyes were blue just now... but he didn't look the 'scary' gaze like Qrow did. He looks to Carmine moving further off. "Ah... I've only seen that once, and it was yesterday. A new mystery."

"Look after him." Qrow orders.

Roman swipes Qrow's hand off him. "Everything's gotta be my problem. As if I haven't done that enough." Yet, he follows the boy with no further issue. He grumbles under his breath about stupid emotional teenagers, catching up the the boy.

Turning back, Carmine snaps. "Well? You got anything else to add?"

Roman huffs. "Brat, I'm not here to play therapist." He steps forward. "Barbie can hear you out when we're nice and comfy." Waiting a second before he adds, he side glances the boy skeptically. "The only advice I'm gonna give is that if death of others upsets you, you're in the wrong line of work."

Carmine flinches lightly, glancing back as if Roman had slighted his family. "What? We're in the business of rescuing people."

Unimpressed, Roman rolls his eyes. "Yes, saving the sad people, yay. But, have you not wondered for a single second just how many 'bad' people's bodies you're gonna have to step over to do so?"

"I'm not a killer." The boy snaps back, but instantly loses the fire after defensively countering. "And they're not... they're not all... they can't be-"

"So, you'll just perfectly capture every single person who ended up where they were due to a sob story, then? Keep them arrested until they magically decide for themselves 'you know what? You're so right! I'm sorry I doubted you.' You're naive as hell, but even you can't be that dumb." The boy is quiet after his speech, the conman huffing.

Time passes until Carmine and Roman come upon a security checkpoint. The two guards jolt in place, scrambling to draw their weapons. Too slow. Carmine and Roman raise their firearms and each nail one of the guards. The faunus are knocked out instantly before the CRBN members march up, checking them. Their auras took the hits, but they're out.

An idea sparks Roman to promptly add. "Ah, see? Weaklings are down and no longer a threat. No need to end them rightly. However, if apprehending them alive is too much, well, that's no longer on you, now is it?"

Carmine looks sickly at the injured men, huffing. "... How many have you killed?"

"Today?" Roman asks, earning a harsh look from the boy. The callous response gets double downed on. "Kid, the moment you actually start keeping track is the moment you may as well taste your gun barrel. No one can realistically handle that without being a sociopath." Carmine gives a sullen look back at the conman. Roman scowls. "Up yours, brat."

The two form up on the doors of the checkpoint. Carmine readies himself. "Ready?"

"Are you?" Roman snidely responds. If he were honest... Carmine would say no. But, no time to wait. No time to collect yourself. Carmine nods. The boy sways back before shoulder charging the doors open with his armored arm.

The doors burst open as the two storm the underground hangar... Abandoned work stations and crates of materials decorate the room. However, on the other side of the strange rocky factory sits a massive robot, rust red. Its feet were armored tank treads with thick legs. Its core was a massive, mismatch of rusty colors, bulbous and heavily armored.

The "head" was currently propped back, leading down into the cockpit. It's back and sides showcased armored camera bulbs, missile pods, machine guns, and various other ejectors. It's left arm showcases a massive dust hose connected to two massive tanks of earth and fire dust. One tank is located on the upper arm, the other on the small of the back with triple armoring around it.

Its right arm is substantially thicker, spiked, and ending in a cannon. Under it is a large hulking blade presuming to call itself a bayonet. The patchwork and shoddy matching of coordinated shades of red shows the poor craftsmanship. Still, something that massive can easily take a charge from a behemoth Grimm... This thing would LAUGH at Deathstalkers, Carmine would guess.

Two levels of catwalks hang overhead towards a rock ceiling. However, above the massive mechanical marvel is a large hole. From the hole are rails. Rail road rails leading down and connecting to the rust red monstrosity.

"So, that's the exit?" Carmine speaks up. Suddenly, a hissing steam whine sounds out as the mist spews from around the mech. The scattered start up of an engine sounds, the gigantic metal form rumbling. On the catwalks, a dozen White Fang members exchange guns back and forth, aiming down at the two intruders. "Oh, sh-"

Roman yanks Carmine behind one of the metal work stations. A barrage of bullets hail over their cover. Roman fuming. "Great. They finally found their guns."

Carmine shakes him off. "Pretty sure they put everything else on that megazord thing." This is punctuated with a bullet denting in the metal table the two hide behind. Carmine glares up. "Well? Do your thing?"

Roman double takes, fuming angry. "What?! When did I become your miracle worker?" Carmine innocently shrugs, flicking a hand around.

"Like... always?"

As the conman fumes behind the cover, Master Ilan steps across the catwalk to the cockpit entry. He looks at the panicked faunus. One of which calls out. "Sir! It's all ready. Are you sure you want to-"

"Yes." Ilan answers, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "I am undertaking this myself. Soon as the launch starts, I want you to flood the tunnels and underground with smoke. Flush EVERYONE into the open. I'll catch the intruders myself and subdue them on the surface."

"Sir!"

Behind the cover, Roman groans. "I gotta do everything for you damn kids, don't I?" He dramatically sighs. "Ice dust." He demands. Carmine fishes through his pockets and stash before offering one smaller vial. "You get one move. What's it gonna be?"

"Stop the weapon from launching. I'm going up there. You?" Carmine answers plainly.

Roman's eyes close as he sucks in a breath. "... Of course, that's your answer." He focuses, removing a small dust shell from Velvet's drum magazine. "Alright. Three... Two... One... Go!"

The conman flicks the two vials into the air. Carmine aims up, firing into them. The ice and fire dusts ignite from his shot, bursting into a plume of mist! The cloud blows out, obscuring the lower level entirely. The faunus on the catwalk scatter their gazes, the intruders could now be anywhere...

In the mist, Roman steps out, turning to Carmine and cupping his hands. The boy kicks into a sprint, boosting his jump off the man's hands. Carmine leaps into the air, out of the mist and shocking the faunus. The boy fires twice, blasting two Fang members off the catwalk completely before he lands on the grating.

A steaming stream spews out... the head hatch to the mech's cockpit begins to close. The faunus between Carmine and the mech train their weapons on him. Fortunately, the mist below clears, revealing Roman as he aims and fires a stream of fire dust shots.

The barrage of fire launches several of the Fang members off the second and third levels... as well as destabilizing the levels entirely. Carmine stumbles, catching himself from falling before leaping across the walk ways.

One final leap puts him directly atop the massive robot JUST as the cockpit shuts, Ilan inside. He attempts to pry the hatch open, but no luck. He's left peering at a single eye camera heavily armored and staring right at him. "Crrrrrap."

Inside, Ilan sits in a brown leather seat, buckles situating him in place with multiple layers of levers, switches, and screen layouts. In front of him are a dozen monitors, each showcasing one of a dozen cameras mounted around the mech. He grips a throttle and pushes in. A nervous sweat gives way to a anxious grin. Carmine's face shows on the monitor directly in front. "Leaders first, eh? Very well."

The steam sound rings as the mech starts to rise... the rail connections on all sides rattle as the massive vehicle begins to drive itself vertically up into the hole overhead. Carmine blinks, eyes wide with fear. "Oh~ no~." His fear drawls the words out hoarse and lost.

The machine rises, carrying the boy into the hole as they rise out from the underground chamber...

Roman slouches, annoyed. "Damn brat's too slow." Before he can process further, he notices all the faunus scatter. Rather than stand and fight, they begin setting off smoke bombs around the room. Roman recoils from the smoke before the faunus start to file out from the factory area. "I see... Smoking us out?"

He looks around, the smoke cloud already stinging his eyes and irritating his lungs. He huffs in anger, sparing the hole another look. "Kid convinces a hunter that he shouldn't be left alone... goes and gets himself alone." He groans and charges through the smoke. He needs to get up there before the boy winds up killed!

. . .

Dirt and rubble blasts up in an arc, Killa backs out, grinning like a madman. Blair pursues him, flourishing into a controlled series of slashes. He ducks on, parries another with his mounted guns, and dodges another. She switches rhythm, halting a slash and thrusting. The man cross blocks the thrust, getting propelled back.

His colors shift, and he passes through the ground, rising and rolling to his feet a distance to her right. He opens fire. Blair dual wields her blade and sheath, deflecting a burst of shots with broad slashes.

Killian lowers to all fours, his tail whipping up behind him before lashing into the ground. The lash passes through the rock, warping out from under Blair's feet. The lash knocks out her footing, dropping her to a knee.

The faunus rises, charging her as she's down. Blair activates ice dust in Fluorescent, jabbing the blade down and creating a large ice wall between them! Killa shifts to a white blue, warping into the surface of the wall and exiting the other side in Blair's face!

Just as planned... Blair slashes at the ice wall as he comes through. His smile turns to shock. He barrels into the slash, slowing her strike. He barely passes through fully before he blade smashes the wall down. Killa is launched back, rolling along the ground.

Blair looks him up and down, and notices a patch of his tail is missing skin... It hadn't fully passed through before she shattered the surface he's been warping through... So there IS a risk to his power.

Switching the empty dust vial for earth, Blair stands tall, setting up another wall between them. Killa cackles, despite the pained expression. "Oh, you think you're freaking funny with that, don't you?! Thinkin' you'll get me afraid?"

The blonde ignores him. He'll warp to her, and if she can catch him mid pass, she can end him. Once and for all. Her grip on Fluorescent tightens.

A look of pure fuming rage comes out from the flippant faunus. He barks out loudly. "Well, you're wrong! Killian GOD DAMN Gonzola doesn't 'fraid of nothin'!" His arms color dirt pale brown.

Just his arms... Blair's gaze narrows at the detail, peering over the rock wall.

Killa jams both arms into the ground at the sane time. Just the limbs. Blair gasps as Killa's left fist rises between her feet. The wrist mounted gun fires up! Blair lurches back, twirling Fluorescent to slash down. Before it can hit, the arm pulls back into the ground, Killa pulling it out.

Then she registers the right arm poking out behind her. It fires a small burst, the shots striking the blonde in the back. "Ah!" The hit lurches her forward. Her awareness takes over as Killa begins punching his arms into the ground over and over. Each time, an arm comes out at yet another angle, taking a pot shot!

However, being attacked from any side in any order is too much to predict. Only a few dodges in, a shot directed at her leg blasts her footing out. Blair stumbles down to a knee. Growling, she manages to jab her sheath into the arm before it pulls back into the warping ground. She sheathes Fluorescent and smirks.

She got his blood in the sheath. Perfect...

The satisfaction distracts a moment too long. Killa shifts his whole body color and warps through the ground. He exits from the rock wall in front of Blair! The man hits a running knee out of the barrier, striking the woman hard enough to knock prone.

Killa gives a cocky grin, looming over her. "How do you like me now, babe? Knew I could get ya down." Blair snarls, throwing a drawing slash as she stands! Killa, still grinning, dodges the now red blade as he backs near the wall now behind him. He eyes the blade. "Oh? Going edgy?"

Blair activates the blood in the blade. Killa's blood. The blade shifts colors as she controls its light spectrum with her aura. Pulling the trigger, she shifts the blade to dirt brown and focuses her aura into the blade and her mind on the wall behind him. She slashes into the ground... as Killa's semblance within Fluorescent warps the sword through the ground!

The blade slashes out from the wall behind Killa... who realizes too late. Unprepared, his aura shield breaks as he fails to dodge. The slash gashes into the right side of his neck, knocking him forward. He drops to both knees, clutching the right side of his neck and screaming in pain. "AH!"

His scream brings a certain... satisfaction to Blair as she stands, drawing Fluorescent up. Her aura is dangerously low, but if she can continue... she can kill him. She KNOWS she can kill him. In a final, spiteful defiance, Killa pulls his hand from the profuse bleeding wound, aiming both gun arms at the blonde...

But his aura shield broke from her contact. Blair huffs. "Now's the time for MY semblance."

Instantly, Blair's aura, infused into Killa through the previous cut, surges pain through him. His limbs seize, causing him to hit the ground in pain.

Blair raises her blade. "You won't be his or any other's problem anymore." She swings down...

And a dust shot hits her from the side, launching her away from the man. The strike disrupts her semblance control, Killa breathing a sigh of relief. Kallen landing next to the chameleon faunus. "You doing okay?"

"~Bleeding from the fucking neck! DO I LOOK OKAY?!" Killa snaps in seething anger. His aura flexes with his anger, resisting Blair's semblance as the groggy blonde attempts to reactivate her power. Glynda forms up with Blair, judging the wound on the man.

"Too shallow to kill." Her criticism is truly unrestrained.

"Deeper than your attempts..." Blair stands, wincing in pain at the burn in her side.

Instantly, Rowa and Neo rush to rejoin them. All four of the women were roughed up, frazzled, and breathing heavily. Neo especially, as she steadies herself on Hush to keep standing.

Kallen eyes his leader. "Should we fall back? We ARE facing three full fledged huntresses plus one annoyance."

Killa glares at them, his pain slowly painting a giddiness in him. A chuckle escapes him. "What? We're just getting' to the good stuff. Besides. They're all running on fumes. We put down these four, and we can rest and find the other chumps later. Come on! It's only four chumpettes."

Kallen rolls his eyes, glancing to see Ezra and Don heading over. Well, with support, they can crush these silly wenches. But, a look comes over the kangaroo and bird.

The snake faunus feels the presence at that moment, Killian tensing beside him... "Above you!" Ezra screams out. A black feather falling with a light breeze of wind... Kallen lurches back immediately!

And Qrow's scythe slashes down, splitting the snake's high tech rifle in two. Kallen falls back as Killa readies himself. The other two arrive, forming up with them as Qrow takes a lax stance, between the four criminals and the four women. "Am I late?" He swings the scythe back into sword form, letting the back of the blade rest on his shoulder.

"Better than never." Rowa relaxes with a thankful smile. Blair's brow scrunches for a moment, taking in the man's appearance. She'd heard of him... but seeing him is rather unimpressive. Does she smell alcohol all the sudden?

Glynda looks from the direction the man swept in from, catching sight of a young boy hiding behind a rock far down the slope. "How are the other delinquents?"

"Probably getting into trouble." Qrow spares a glance over his shoulder, deathly serious. It takes a moment for the three adult women to notice he's not looking at them... but at Neo.

The tricolor girl's gaze remains locked on the man's. Her harsh breathing stills, wide orbs taking his image in... For just a second, her eyes flick to the weapon in his hand. Qrow would frown, but he expected as much. She remembers him clearly. Dancing around it won't make it better.

"You look good, kid. Tough as nails to survive against these nimrods." He tries, but she gives no reaction, face suddenly yielding no emotion. A mask of sorts. Well... Qrow turns back to Killa's group. "So, that makes five against four. Still liking your odds?"

Killa's smile remains up, taking a hesitant look to his own team. All three look done with the day. With a grumbling sigh, he looks at the huntsman. "Well... it would seem I have reconsidered." The four faunus step back slowly. "Another day, suckers!"

The four turn to leave, Blair flinching forward after them before stopping herself. She glances at Neo, who still stares blank at the newly arrived Huntsman. Gritting her teeth, she stops. Qrow turns back to the group, but signals to the rock down the hill. The rescued boy steps out and comes up towards him.

Glynda narrows her eye at the boy, but speaks to Qrow. "Update."

"Top hat and teen angst are engaging the enemy leader inside an underground factory hangar." Placing his sword at his side, he crosses his arms. "Your team leader is stubborn enough to make my options bringing this rescued kid into combat or being the one to escort him out." His latter statement is directed at the CRBNs.

Blair scowls. "Of course he did that." She looks to Neo, seeing she barely responded to it. Barely. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. The blonde places a hand on Neo's shoulder, finding the little girl rigid. Neo waits a moment before looking Blair's way. "We'll have to clean up after the boys then." Blair states, thankfully getting Neo's focus slightly off the man.

Qrow, breathing in relief at that, looks back to Glynda, the rescued boy arriving hesitant. Rowa turns to the freed slave. "Are you okay?" The boy seems hesitant, sending small glances at each member. His eyes fall on Neo, the back of her shirt ripped and showing part of her own tattoo digits. He calms lightly, seeing a nod come from said girl. He then nods to Rowa.

Glynda speaks up, getting his attention. "How many people are in the outpost, and how much resistance can we expect?"

Qrow answers the latter. "A scarce few use firearms. Most use stun batons, swords, and spears. We've already neutralized the enemy's top agent."

The boy gulps before speaking. "T-there are... twenty of us that work below ground. Plus another forty three workers who farm medical plants above ground. S-Sixty three workers total."

"By 'workers', does he mean..?" Rowa breaks in, looking from Qrow to Blair. A second passes as their looks answer. Rowa tensing. "Right... Sixty plus people need saving and probably double that need butt kicking."

"One of us should keep the boy company while the others engage the-" Glynda begins, only to be cut off.

SSSSSPEWWWWW

The sound of loud, echoing steam radiates over the mountain from the outpost in the distance. All six members of the group turn on a swivel in confusion. Qrow blinks twice before groaning. "That... must be your teammates."

"T-they activated the mech!" The rescued boy mutters under his breath.

Both blonde catch it, instantly snapping back. "What 'mech'?!" The pause hangs in the air as the women all shared a panicked glance as Qrow sighs.

In a split second, Blair and Neo take off in a sprint ahead of them all. Rowa sends a worried look at Glynda before the blonde rushes after. "Rowa, look after the boy!"

"But I-"

"Thanks for volunteering!" Qrow takes off after Glynda, leaving Rowa stunned with pursed lips standing next to the rescued teen. Her limbs slump down, defeated by impulse decision making...

. . .

"Sh~hit! W~What the h~yell?!" Carmine yelps out, grabbing at the red metal as the massive mech rides its rails up the hole. The hole curves back and forth, the steam engine rumbling shaking his footing and balance like an earthquake toppling a jenga tower. He slips across the top of the mech, barely grabbing hold of a camera mount.

He glares at the dark tinted bulb. Gritting his teeth and aims at anywhere. He fires two double shots. His scattered aim sends the shots into the top of the mech, the loud connections getting a smirk... then no damage.

None. He might see a dent if not for the dirty beaten nature of the entire thing. Like going at a steel tank with a wooden baseball bat. "Oh, come on!" He starts to slip again, getting spooked. "Sh- Schneider!" His own armor flashes to his arms, blades forming. He rams the blades in...

No purchase. Barely scratching the surface as he scrapes down from the mech's torso slowly. He looks down, seeing the long, loooong tunnel below. Big fall! So, he turns his eyes up... an end at the top. "Why do I get a bad feeling about that?"

Above ground, the sounds of steam pick up, engines sounding and echoing over the outpost. Fang members scramble about, spreading and vacating the area. They heard the human workers out, containing them together before transporting them to the main entry to the outpost.

Across the compound, beyond the entry to the underground at the other end, built into a smaller rock mound, is another structure. The building, consists of only wooden barriers, steam breaking free from the cracks.

Several Fang members scramble at the barrier, attempting to undo bindings. "No, no. No time. We're ordered to fall back!" One says. "What?!" The other screams. "It's collateral! Just move it!" The Fang members vacate the encampment as the rumbling rises louder and louder...

And the crash comes.

The structure blows out, dirt and dust blowing out as the silhouette of a metal Goliath scrapes along the ground. From the smoking debris, Carmine tumbles out! He hits along the ground, rolling to a stop as the dirt cloud hazes the entire area.

"~Fuuuu..." He groans, getting up and nearly stumbling dizzy. "Getting real tired of playing ant to gojira sized assholes..." He shakes his head free of the haze, stepping back. "Zero!" His arms flashes back to his left arm and chest. He aims up at the massive silhouette in the dust cloud. A wash of wind blows, revealing the rust red in the daylight!

The metal whines, the steam engine power rumbles. It turns and towers, casting a shadow over the boy... Leaving the boy wide eyed and shrinking in on himself. "Eep..." He utters out fearfully, involuntarily.

"Now, huntsman in training..." Ilan's voice projects out from a hidden speaker, echoing over the area like a megaphone. Inside the robot, the scorpion faunus has his tunic sleeves rolled up, a single drop of sweat from the heat and a confident smirk. "... We shall start with you."

"I'd rather we not..." Carmine mutters, but the massive mechanical right arm lifts! The machine lurches forward, swiping the gigantic blade low at the boy. Carmine leaps back, the massive blade ripping through the soil, creating a trench where he was.

Carmine fires another double shot, the powerful blast rattling the machine's thick armor, but earning nothing. The machine stands taller, its tread feet sending it after the teen. The boy turns and sprints away.

It's not an Atlas mech. It can't be that fast, right? He looks over his shoulder to see the massive robot driving on its tank treads after the boy at speed! He lets out a yelp as the machine swipes at him again. And again. And again. He zigzags and dodges the swipes in a panic.

Voice cracking, he shouts out. "Jager!" His armor shifts to his feet, propelling him ahead. Gaining distance, he whips around, gliding along the ground, reloading, and unloading rounds at the machine. He aims at connecting segments in the armor. Maybe there's a crack he can exploit?

A full six shots and none give way. He dodges another massive swipe, leaping into the air and aiming. Joints next. He lands and unloads another cylinder full of shots. He notices the joints creak and spark from double shots, but not enough for them to give. He can't punch through...

"Come on. Something has to work." He lands after dodging another swipe. The boy almost starts to get annoyed. "You gonna try anything else?" He groans under his breath.

As if hearing him, Ilan controls the mech to raise its left arm... the dust cannon. The dust tanks on its upper arm and back glow as they mix within the aiming barrel. His heart sinks as the earth and fire dust mixes together, forming a spout of molten rock...

A magma hose... Carmine admires it until his body lights orange from the glow... "That's... so cool- SHIT!" The hose spews lava out at the boy like a fire hose. The boy barely recalls just as the orange black semi liquid burns over him. The streak of burning heat bores over the compound, setting buildings and the ground aflame.

Ilan watches the sight through the monitors with a grimace. "That'll end you-" His eyes widen, spotting the boy appear on another monitor. Carmine appears at a previous position, now behind the current mech. "What the-"

Carmine breathes out in relief before aiming square at the back dust tank. He fires a double shot. However, three layers of protective coated armor halts even that with ease. "What the hell is this thing made of?"

Pod slots open up along the back and shoulders of the mech. Small blast missiles arm and fire out in a scattered spray. The explosives blow out, themselves like the flares of fireworks before each explodes on whatever surface they contact. Carmine warps his armor back to Zero, getting caught by a select few. The blasts blow him back, bouncing and scraping along the dirt.

He rolls to his feet, stopping himself and returns fire, this time, he needs to aim specific. The bulb cameras, maybe? There seems to be larger, more armored mounted cameras in the mech head. However, at least a dozen bulb cameras show around the body. The boy figures if the cameras need to see, they can't be overly protected.

Before he can fire, Ilan directs the mech's right arm up. Rather than its massive bayonet, it's machine guns shudder before releasing a storm of bullets at the boy. Carmine breaks into a side run, the trail of bullets shredding the dirt and buildings around him! Mid hustle, the boy raises his revolver and fires another double shot. Despite the movement, he manages to nail a bulb barely visible on the left hip of the mech!

Ilan is shocked when one of the many monitors in the cockpit goes to static. He sucks in a breath in frustration.

Carmine lights up seeing the bulb actually smashed open. He dives behind the next building, allowing the stream of bullets to chip away at the cover. He snap reloads as he hears the machine gun fire stop. Nervous, he peeks around the corner-

CRACK!

The very building he hides behind shatters as the gigantic bayonet smashes rather than slashes through. Carmine's armored arm raises defensively on reflex, the blade smashing into his guard and sweeping him off his feet! The boy is launched, air knocked out, thirty yards out and into the next building!

His body comes to a stop, breaking down a wooden wall as part of the new building topples over head. Chest tight, gut burning in pain, and his arm numb, his aura strains. So close to being burnt out... Face in the dirt, he gasps for air, dirt and dust covering him. His limbs flail, seeking some purchase to push up from.

Slowly, Carmine gets himself to his feet, swaying and stumbling to the side into the debris. One pained eye opens, seeing the mech come to a stop in front of him.

Ilan's voice comes once again. "A good run. Any last words?" No sooner had the voice called out had the boy let out a pained, burning chuckle. Shaking his head, he looks up. Ilan's voice rings again. "What is so funny, child?" His attempts at polite authority were tainted in clear and open disdain.

It made Carmine laugh. "You offer me last words, but... your main guy is so terrified of you he'd rather die to me than face you later..." His breathy words strain, anger tarring them. "Admit it. You're not the revolutionary faunus war hero. You're just the next wannabe tyrant."

Inside the mech, Ilan scowls at the monitor, seeing the boy laughing. Laughing at HIM! His grip on the controls tighten before he smirks. "Stinging words... I suppose they'll do for last ones." The mech's machine gun arm aims up and fires. Carmine raises his arm to defend!

The bullets ricochet off of the shielding parasol, Hush. Neo stands in front of the boy, keeping the defense up until the shots end. Carmine's brows almost reach his hair line in shock only to be replaced with a tired smile.

Ilan flinches upon seeing the girl. "What the? Did that scheming murderer not even do his job?! Huh?" In front of one of the cameras, two vials of earth and lightning dust mix and are shot with fire. The resulting burst creates a bright flash on the cameras, utterly throwing their white balance off and blinding the mech.

Neo pulls Carmine with her, getting the two behind a mound of rubble to hide. Beside Carmine, Roman steps up, breathing heavy. "Brat... you really need to work on your decision making." He cocks his head to the side. "Good intuition throwing the dust vials, Barbie."

Blair lands beside him. She breathes hard, not nearly as much as Neo or Carmine. "I figured you should actually chip in instead of standing back ready to claim you helped."

Neo slowly steps back, using Carmine to keep her standing. She notices the harsh tired look in his eyes. Like he's been through something. Slowly, she pats his back and smirks, uplifting him slightly.

Surrounded by his team, Carmine can't help but chuckle. "Well, you guys sure took your time."

"You look like crap. Are you that unable to take care of yourself?" The blonde retorts.

He easily slips into the bickering word play. "Heh... Like you and Neo have much to say. Roman's the pretty boy, here. Come on. Do something."

Roman snorts. "As always, I handle these situations the best."

Neo scoffs, holding one hand up and giving a Loser sign with her index and thumb fingers.

They hear the engine rumbling from the mech nearby, Carmine groaning. "Right... All of us here. I think I have an idea to beat the bastard."

"Is it using your stubborn head as a shield? That thing can stop nukes." Roman snidely retorts.

It merely makes the boy chuckle. "Funny you mention nukes... I think you'll like the idea. In fact, we can name it after you." He grins, a slight excitement coming through. "Let's go with Lit Wick."

. . .

Atop the outpost buildings on the other end of the compound, Qrow lands. A look comes across the man as he spots the four CRBN members together, speaking among themselves. His body relaxes as he leans back, arms crossing. Just as Glynda lands beside him. Her gaze is locked on the mech.

"I'll handle the mech. My semblance is perfect-"

"No." Qrow raises one of the crossed arms to wave her off. "Let this go." The blonde looks at him in incredulous disbelief.

"What?! Are you trying to make this harder?" She calmly, yet loudly demands and answer. "In their conditions, this fight requires every advantage they get."

Yet, the man is unconcerned. "Just sit tight a moment and watch... You can find out with me." He lazily pulls out his flask. He pops the cap and takes a drink. The blonde scowls his way.

"Find out what?" Glynda asks. Yet, Qrow merely spares her a single glance, raising his brow. Then, he returns his gaze to the four. The four CRBN members move out from behind their cover.

"Seems they've decided their move."

. . .

Ilan closes his eyes, focusing his own semblance. Opening his eyes, his gaze sees aura through the walls of the mech, through the environment. He spots the flash of aura from the boy... and the three newcomers. "You can't hide from me." He turns the mech about, facing the four members as they stand together. His voice echoes out of the mech. "Ready to face your end, then?"

Carmine spares a glance at the rest of his team, smirking. "Listen. You got one chance to surrender. Turn over all your slaves to us, and go public with the Fang and Chief of Menagerie about your crimes. We can all walk away from this. Alright?"

Inside the cockpit, Ilan grips his controls harder, eye twitching as he seethes. These humans will not dictate terms to HIM! Steam sounds as the mech raises its right bayonet arm.

Carmine's smirk falls. "Well... we warned him." He shrugs. A moment of time, he closes his eyes and focuses. As he does, the mech speeds forward to attack.

His eyes snap open, alight and determined, as he shouts out. "LET'S GO, TEAM CRBN!" (A static filled voice chants. "When it's time to party, we will party hard.")

The mech swings its blade in a broad slash. The metal blade burrows through the ground and through the four as they all shatter with Neo's semblance. A blur to the side shows Neo and Roman leaping high. The girl opens hush to hover while grabbing Roman and tossing him onto a building perch. Landing, he aims Velvet and opens fire over the mech. (Guitar riff blares, moving into repeat)

Ilan sees bursting fire dust shots blurring over all his monitors. As the mech flails, Carmine and Blair sprint between the legs. "Jager!" He quickens pace as the armor flashes to his legs to thrust his strides. He aims up, firing at the camera between the legs. The double shot takes out the camera. (Instrumental repeats)

Blair activates the blood, Carmine's in her sheath, drawing her now red blade. The woman channels aura through the sword. Ilan, sensing them below with his aura sight semblance, swipes the mech's arm down. Blair dodges, throwing the sword into the camera and recalling it back with the boy's semblance.(Second guitar melody adds and builds.)

As the blade swipe spooks the boy and blonde back, the mech aims its back at the two, firing missiles out. Roman opens fire, igniting the explosive cloud with his shots before they hit their targets. The mech aims its left dust cannon at the conman. Red hot earth blasts out from the cannon at him. (Second guitar melody repeats into music break)

Neo lands, opening Hush as the black dust infused material directs the molten stream over the conman. As the stream ends, the girl closes the parasol and swipes it, flicking leftover rock off. (Music cuts, a piano beat bridging into new melody.)

Ilan raises the mech's right arm, aiming the machine gun at the two. Only, Carmine leaps over, firing at and breaking another camera at the shoulder. He lands on the massive gun, flashing a cocky grin at a sights camera on the barrel itself. (Guitars add on top of the piano in the same melody and repeat)

Ilan grits his teeth, maddening, at the monitor showing the smirking boy. Four monitors on the wall show static as another flicks out. His attention split between the boy and Blair's actions. Blair shows on a camera behind the mech. (Verse begins. "You!... You work all night!""All night!")

He kicks the treads in reverse, the mech speeding back. Blair dives out of the way as the machine rumbles by. Simultaneously, the right arm flicks Carmine off, the boy yelping as he's tossed aside. Stopping, the mech raises its magma cannon at the blonde. ("And when you work, you just feel alright!" "And When!")

Blair sprints right as the molten stream fires out after her. Fires burn out as she sprints a wide arc, turning the mech after. Blair removes a blood capsule from her pocket, breaking and coating it on her blade. Blade red, Blair uses Neo's semblance! Her image shatters from the lava as she appears behind another building. ("When things stop feeling alright." "Alright!" "Everything is alright! 'Cause-")

Roman, Neo, and Carmine follow Blair's example, taking cover behind the corners of the land. Ilan directs the mech's guns out, firing missiles, gun fire, and lava all out in front of him. The outpost bursts alight in rapid destruction. ("-we will never listen to your rules!" "NO!" "We will never do as others do!" "NO!")

The explosions blow wind by the observing hunters far off. Glynda glaring at the stoic Qrow. "Well?! What exactly are you watching for?" ("Know what we want, and we get it from you! We-")

Qrow purses his lips, lightly sweating nervously, but holds his ground. "Give them time..?" He coughs out. ("-do what we like, and we like what we do!" Music shifts into chorus)

Ilan glares at the monitor screens, seeing the flames, but his aura vision still shows him that the foursome are alive. "Damn it! Die!" He aims the machine gun arm as Carmine leaps into the air. The gun fires at the boy, but Carmine uses Jager's thrust to propel him and flip over the shots. ("So let's get a party going!" "Let's get a party going!")

Upside down, Carmine manages to aim, one eye squinted, and double shots a camera on the mech chest. Ilan swipes at him in the air, but Carmine completes his flip, kicking off the blade as it passes. Ilan watches another screen go static. ("Now it's time to party, and we'll party hard!" "Party Hard!")

Carmine lands as the mech aims at him with the magma gun! Carmine blinks, his eyes going pink and brown. His image shatters to reveal Neo holding his gun! Ilan pauses in shock, long enough for the real Carmine to come up from the side. ("Let's get a party going!" "Let's get a party going!")

Carmine recalls Heulin Noon to him, firing and disabling another camera on the left side. Ilan shudders as another screen blanks out to static. "How dare you!" ("When it's time to party, we will always party hard~!")

Anger building, the man stops focusing on his semblance, directing the flood of magma and chasing after the real Carmine. Said boy turns into a sprint as Neo looks over the mech's tank treads. ("Party hard. Party hard. Party hard. Party hard-")

Neo whistles out as she retreats. Blair bursts out from cover, chasing after the mech from behind. Carmine spares a glance over his shoulder at the mech, slightly panicked. "Roman, hurry up!" ("Party hard. Party hard. Party hard. Party hard-")

Sprinting over a line in the ground, he catches the color. A brown dust line. He grins, Roman's ready! As he passes, Roman off to the side ignites the dust with his semblance, blowing a trench in the ground! The mech slams its foot into the trench, getting one leg stuck!. ("PARTY HARD! Party hard. Party hard. Party hard-")

Ilan jolts in his seat, seething in anger. Only too late does he sense the aura rushing the mech from behind. Blair ignites her blade in lightning dust. The blonde roars, moving into a full weight swing! Her blade cracks into the metal protecting the tread of the free foot! ("Party hard. Party hard. Party hard. Party hard-")

The blade rips through the metal, leaving a scorching trail behind. Blair rips past, sliding to a stop. The machine leg sparks as the foot is clearly damaged. Blair leaps away, calling out. "I couldn't completely cut it, but his movement is crippled!" ("PARTY HARD!" Guitar and piano melody overlaps and builds.)

"Setup stage two!" Carmine shouts, throwing his gun out to Roman. He then empties his pockets of unused vials, giving them to Neo. "Spread out and empty safely! No early set offs!" He gets a nod from Blair before he sprints at the mech. "Schneider!" (Melody repeats, building higher before the beat breaks.)

Ilan struggles with the controls, one foot stuck in a trench and the other damaged. He senses the auras moving around him. He feels the weak one landing above him, hearing scrapes through the wall. (Music cuts leaving only piano bridging to verse melody. "Alright!")

Carmine slashes aggressively at the metal. The machine rumbles under his feet. The machine gun arm bends and aims directly at the boy. Carmine ducks over the side, not giving the mech a clear shot. He smirks. "Keep attention on me..." He mutters. (verse 2 starts. "You! You fight that fight!" "That fight!")

While the robot struggles to shrug the boy off, Neo slides to a stop behind it, popping caps of dust and lightly pouring it about. Emptying the vials, she reaches in pockets, removing more and sprinting off. ("And when you're fighting, you feel alright! But when-")

The observing hunters cock their heads. Qrow lets out a smirk, huffing. "Oh, this is gonna be good." Glynda sends a glare his way. ("When things stop feeling alright!" "Alright!")

"What am I missing? What are they doing?" She scowls, but Qrow's smirk grows. ("and everything is alright! 'Cause-")

The two watch as Roman and Blair each scatter piles of dust. Just... more and more dust. Like... all that they have. Roman unloading Carmine's dust shells and pouring them out as well. All types and colors of dust the crew has. ("-We will never listen to your rules!" "NO!" "We will never do as others do!" "NO!")

Qrow huffs a laugh. "The kid's breaking a promise he made earlier. By the way, brace yourself." Glynda gives him a scrutinizing glare before huffing herself. ("Know what we like, and we get it from you! We do what we like, and we like what we do!")

The mech thrashes out as Carmine scrapes down the side with Schneider blades. Only two more camera bulbs besides the main head camera. He slides down the the small of the mech's back, jabbing his blades into the bulb to destroy it. The mech lurches to shake him off. ("So let's get a party going!" "Let's get a party going!")

Pulling away, Carmine drops onto the mechanical leg. With a cross slash, he rips apart another bulb camera on the hip. One more spare at the center upper back. Carmine leaps off the leg as the metal arm smashes down. ("Now, it's time to party, and we party hard!" "Party Hard!")

Ilan manipulates the mech, turning it's torso after the boy, but Carmine jumps up the mech. Scraping over the shoulder, he jolts as a final salvo of missiles flare out from slots around his feet. The missiles harmlessly burst in the air as Carmine rushes and slashes the final camera. He leaps away, landing on the ground. "Zero!" ("Let's get a party going! Let's get a party going- When it's time to party we will always party hard~!")

The mech turns as the boy's armor flashes to his arm. Carmine shouts out. "Now!" He spares a wave at the last camera staring down at him before he blinks aware with his recall. Ilan's eyes widen, now only one monitor not riddled in static and black. ("Party hard. Party hard. Party hard. Party hard-")

Ilan keeps his semblance on, looking for the four maggots through the walls of the mech... Except... he sees a rising tide in his aura vision. His brow scrunches as colors behind to wash upward, in the wind, on the single functioning camera... ("PARTY HARD! Party hard. Party hard. Party hard-")

This is... dust? A colorful cloud of multiple types of dust? Outside the mech, Blair stands atop a building, Fluorescent Finish infused with wind dust as she casts a gentle upwind! All of Team CRBN's dust. All of Roman's fire dust. All of Carmine's dust shells. All her own cylinders as well, save this one single can in her hilt. A gentle breezing whirlwind lifts dirt into a spiral around the mech. The winds are littered with sparkling colors of dust. ("Party hard. Party hard. Party hard. Party hard- PARTY HARD! Party hard!" "Hey!")

Ilan watches the camera blur with the colorful wind, his aura vision hazing as Blair casts the dust all around the mech. Destructive, volatile, easily ignited dust all around the rumbling mech. His hands shake on the controls... He needs to be careful, or else he'll ignite it with a single move- He sucks in a breath... That's their plan, but... He turns his head. The heavy duty fire and earth dust tanks! ("Party hard. Party hard." "Hey!" "Party hard. Party hard." "Hey!" "Party hard. Party hard-")

Glynda's eyes widen at the mass amount of dust glistening around the mech. "They're insane. That alone won't disable a robot that armored." ("PARTY HARD! Party hard." "HEY!" "Party hard. Party hard-")

Qrow smirks. "But if it ruptures the two heavy dust tanks..." The man hangs the implication, Glynda taking a slight step back as she catches on... ("HEY!" "Party hard. Party hard." "HEY!" "Party hard. Party hard-")

Ilan's eyes finally see a single solid aura behind the haze with his dust vision. He directs the main camera directly at it... Roman standing a distance from the mech. ("PARTY HARD!" Music hits its final note, playing out and ending...)

Roman stands with a smirk. "Hmm... Not the worst name for a maneuver." He comments plainly of the literal dust tornado around the mech. His hand raises, reveling in his hand being so important.

"GET ON WITH IT!" Carmine shouts from behind a building for cover.

The conman smirks and stares at the camera aimed his way. Inside the mech, Ilan stops breathing, staring back as if for mercy. Sweat drips from him, knowing this metal achievement... is merely a contained trap. Roman pinches his fingers and grins in power. "Fine. I'll humor you." He snaps his finger as his semblance ignites a spark at the base of the dust tornado. "And light the wick."

The flame sets off the chain reaction... the entire tornado igniting in fire, wind, earth, ice, water, and gravity dust as a bright flash fills the conman's vision-

BOOOOOOM!

The middle of the camp explodes in a storm of elements... before both dust tanks of the mech rupture, doubling up in a volcanic eruption of fire...

. . .

Miles away.

In the heart of Menagerie, the faunus people mill about on their daily activities. Smiles abound. An elderly woman reaches for a wooden cup for her drink- A rumble. Her green drink ripples in a single jolt. Her eyes widen, feeling a slight, ever so slight shake under her feet.

She looks about, looking to the crowds and seeing at least a few people looking around, alert. Hmm... what was that?

. . .

Glynda and Qrow put up their arms defensively as the blast blonds them. Whipping winds lash past them, buildings cracking, as both their capes zip straight back for a solid second. The dirt cloud blows by them before a back draft sucks in. The two hunters lurch forward a second before the air calms. The entire outpost darkens in the cloud as Qrow and Glynda wave their hands in front of their faces to clear the air.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK WAS THAT?!" Rowa's voice calls out from behind a building, the rescued boy looking panicked beside her.

The cloud starts to clear, breaking to allow daylight back through as Qrow peeks up. He could almost laugh... "One hell of a team maneuver. That's what." He smirks at Glynda as she sees it. A massive hundred yard wide crater in the distance, everything flattened nearby. "So, guess they passed the mark."

Glynda's open jaw snaps shut, sending a critical gaze towards the man. "... You were evaluating their teamwork?! And what if they died?!"

He waves off her concern. "They did great and it worked out. Let's congratulate them." He lazily marches ahead, leaving the teacher in fumes before following.

. . .

Ilan saw only black. The sheer shock and jolting he'd experienced inflicted whiplash throughout his core being. He could barely move, body only shaking. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he was dead. He reaches out, feeling jagged metal stab at him. The other direction? Rock? Was the cockpit truly compromised?

He must be trapped in the wreckage. No response from any controls. Half the controls aren't even there. At least, he couldn't tell if they were. They could be everywhere now.

A metal creek catches his attention, spooking the man to flinch. Reaching out, he's shocked as a golden blade jabs through the metal above his head. The piercing is just enough to let a sliver of light in, revealing the entire cockpit crunched in and ripped open. Dirt and rock had poured in as the man was entrapped in a condensed space.

The metal hull rips, reduced to the thinness of paper as a rod jams in. The opening shows more and more light, blinding him... Until Roman and Blair pull two sheets of metal apart to reveal the sun overhead.

In the bottom of the crater, the mech was shattered. Limbs gone, save for the right arm embedded in the ground further out. The chest of the mech was almost all shredded to ribbons in the blast. Ilan is horrified as all four members of Team CRBN give sullen looks back. All four looking like they've been shredded and put back together.

Carmine aims Heulin Noon at the man, breathing heavily. "So... that surrender?" Shaking and terrified, the scorpion faunus feebly raises both hands, palms up to the four. Carmine raises his brow a moment before smiling.

Roman reaches in and grabs the faunus, wrenching him out as Carmine walks back giggling. Blair, Neo, and the boy walk out from the crater. As Roman hauls their new prisoner, Blair groans out. "That was not something I ever wish to repeat."

Carmine and Neo share a look before laughing at the woman's expense. Neo signs out. "Do it again! Do it again!" Carmine nearly falls weak at the girl's response. The action does get a glare from the blonde, but she smirks that the plan worked.

. . .

Three minutes ago.

Carmine hurriedly explains. "It's armor is too thick for us to punch through on our own. Even if we take out the cameras, we won't bring it down quickly at all."

"He can track us with his semblance too." Roman adds, glancing around the corner at the mech. "Gotta plan mind games with him. Make him lose focus."

"Exactly." Carmine breathes out. "I'll run decoy and focus on the cameras. Force his attention on me the most." Neo and Blair share a wary look. "My recall is best to avoid getting pinned."

"Great job at that before we saved you." Roman adds. Neo points at the main giving a thumbs up.

"Which is why you three will keep me alive. Roman, blind him with wild fire and do what you can about the missiles." Carmine orders, looking to Neo next. "Neo, you're defense. Cover anyone and everyone you can. Of you're free, get in on breaking the cameras."

The girl gives a salute and smirk, then points at Roman. She gives the man an Okay sign, getting a huff. As if he'll need defending.

Looking at Blair, Carmine adds. "Once his line of camera sight is limited, his focus on me, I want you to hit full power."

The blonde raises a brow. "Even I can't cut armor that thick."

Carmine deflates slightly, glancing up in thought before lighting back. "Okay, then how about the leg. If Roman can lay a trap for one leg, I want you to disable the other. Once he can't move, we go to stage two."

"Oh? Stages." Roman mocks with a smirk.

The boy jabs a finger at him. "Screw yourself." He looks to Neo. "After its movement is limited, I'm giving you all the dust I have. All of you are going to remove all dust we have. Pop the cans open and pour them in distributed blind spots around the thing."

"We're just going to pour out our ammo..." Blair questions, Neo recoiling.

"Yep!" The boy grins. "Except you'll keep one can of wind dust. I'll keep him distracted until you and Neo finish the setup, and I want you to cast the wind up. I want ALL our dust around him in a tight area. Trap locked..." He looks to Roman, looking almost excited. "And you're the trigger. Light the wick, as it were."

Roman purses his lips as Neo conjures a sign. The sign depicts a picture of scientific equations with the label 'Battle Plans' with an equal sign. All followed with a mushroom cloud explosion.

Carmine nods vigorously. "Yeah, basically."

Both teens look at the adults with a slight excitement there. Blair hums. "If it ruptures the dust tanks, the blast will be quite substantial... It could work."

Roman, the last holdout, huffs. "And I get the star moment?"

Carmine slumps, pouting. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

The man smirks back. "Easy."

. . .

Carmine smiles at his team, letting out a breathy sigh. He misses the team members suddenly looking past the boy. "Alright... All we got is beating up some grunts and saving the slaves. Come on." He tries to turn to lead... immediately collapsing to a knee and wincing in exhausted pain.

"Maybe you've earned a rest." Qrow's gravely voice comes from behind him.

He turns, seeing the man. But not just him, he sees Glynda and- "Miss Rowa?!" The violet haired woman smiles wide at him.

The woman evaluated the boy, looking him over. Blair's outdone herself helping the boy if he'd leading this kind of operation. "Hey! I see you're doing well. Looks aside."

Carmine opens his mouth to question, but Glynda snips in. "You've clearly gone above and beyond. We're going to round up the stragglers on the outside of the outpost." She crosses her arms and glares at the child. "Understood?"

The chill goes down his spine as Carmine lets himself fall on his behind. "Y-yes, Ma'am." He mutters lowly afterward. "Why are you so scary?" A thought occurs, and he looks to Roman. "Ah, Roman. You're... in the best condition. Help them out."

Roman huffs, outstretching his hand. "Pay me."

Glynda and Rowa, not having interacted with the man, both bristle at the demand. Carmine groans. "Ugh! You can keep anything we take from this place! God!" He bargains loudly.

The conman huffs, knocking Master Ilan to his knees beside Blair. "Perfect. Watch this for me, Barbie."

Blair allows her own exhaustion to bring her to sit on a metal piece of wreckage. "Hmm."

Carmine notices Neo, the girl simply sending a dull look Qrow's way. The man seems to notice, but ignore it after. "We'll take care of things real quick then, but first..." He smirks down at the boy. "So..." The huntsman comments to the boy. "About not blowing a hole through Menagerie..."

The boy freezes, eyes wide. He looks at the man, like a child with their hand in the cookie jar. Then, he turns to look at the massive crater. "... B-but..." He looks at the man, then to the crater. Then the man. Then the crater. "But!" another double take. A sudden panic sets as the boy jabs a finger at Roman. "He did it!"

Woo! Robot fight. Team combat and our first official combat maneuver in Lit Wick. Having a fun time with this one. I had originally intended this arc to be after a time skip, but now it's before it. Happy to be getting to its closure soon.

Killa's team suffers their first loss. Next time, I doubt Team CRBN will have that kind of backup.

References:

Song used was Party Hard by Andrew W.K. Simple hard party song for the team getting their hype moment.

Join next time in Chapter Forty: Dysfunctional Family.