Chapter Forty Six: Divine Wind
Rumble and tumble of gravel sounds under the tired, grinding to a halt. Dust kicks up around the van as it halts, dark or dying growth of trees on either side. The thick forest blocks out most of the sky, save for small breaks showing a cloudy sky. Ahead of the van, the gravel and dirt gives way to cracked concrete and damaged roads.
Roads leading to abandoned construction and dead buildings.
"And here we are. Ghost town ahead." Roman comments, removing a spent cigar and flicking it out the window. Six days drive and minor resource gathering beforehand, the group had finally arrived to the first of their lead: Mountain Glenn. "Right, Barbie? You're the only one of us that's been here before."
Blair cleans the blade of Fluorescent Finish and sheathes it. "I have not been here, but several teams from Beacon get assigned to cut down the Grimm numbers in the area for sponsored or practice hunts." She glances at her scroll before pocketing it. "Beacon's bi-yearly hunts aren't for another month, so we'll be sure to run into many Grimm."
In the back, Neo and Carmine are cycling dust shots through Heulin Noon together, the mute then tapping her ear. Ear pieces were already set in their ears.
"Yes." Blair answers, placing her own before syncing it to her scroll wireless. "We will use channel 4 this time."
"Might be best to avoid using our guns then too?" Carmine wonders out loud. "If AZRL is hiding here, we can't take any chances letting them know, right?"
"Thankfully, there's so few places they could possibly hide, I would almost say it would be fine." Blair takes a cursory glance around the vehicle. "Almost. Can never be too cautious. We'll leave the van here."
Roman hums. "I'll find a tree to park around." He turns the vehicle off road, placing it in park behind a just enough growth to hide from street view. The four CRBN members exit the van, getting onto the road and looking around. All four having headsets. "Right. Let's test the mics. You first, Neo."
Neo puffs out her cheek in a glare at the man. She sucks in a breath and blows into the mic, a crackling breath popping in the other three's ears. Recoiling in pain, Carmine groaning. "Ah~ pain!" He sends a sullen glare at the girl who smiles back, proud. "Got it. Yours works." He keys his mic. "Check... one." Neo gives a thumbs up. "Good, screw you."
Roman keys his. "I'll give you that one, Neo." The others nod after hearing him in the earpiece sets.
Blair checks hers. "We'll need to make our way to a high point. Some of the buildings left unfinished also were the tallest." She keys off the mic, receiving affirming nods. "Use the mics when necessary, but we'll mostly be traveling together."
"If we get separated, you mean. Yeah." Carmine cuts in. "Alright, lets get in there."
The four enter the road and begin walking over the broken pavement, the road leading towards other buildings. Rubble litters the ground nearly everywhere, and it isn't until they finally move out of the wood line that Carmine sees why. A massive concrete wall IS around the entire city, which itself is elevated on a tall foundation. However, large swaths of the wall length are completely shattered, drilled with holes, or chiseled by claw marks.
Seeing the destruction, Neo tightens her grip on Hush, side stepping mid stride closer to Roman. The conman huffs. "Pretty grand ruins."
"What happened here?"
"A failed endeavor." Blair answers. Her gaze washes over the buildings. So far, no Grimm... Not something to trust. They'll be here. "Vale City had experienced a string of successes at the time. Grimm were starting to be thought of as something we'd gotten a full handle on. So, the city's council and businesses invested millions... no, billions of Lien into the construction and creation of a new sister city."
"Heard Senior mention that once or twice." Roman chimes in. "Happened when his dear old papi was in charge. Whenever Senior had a setback, he liked to do a hyperbolic comparison to the losses making this place."
"Because whenever you believe the Grimm are simply an annoyance and not a threat is when hubris strikes." Blair adds on. "The city itself was mostly constructed, its first citizens moving in and setting up their lives. But something drew the Grimm here. Their patterns seem to revolve around this place almost... naturally." Blair narrows her gaze at a building in the distance. Was that a flash of black?
She continues. "The losses just in the creation of this place numbered in the hundreds of lives. However, that paled in comparison to when the newly established population was informed of supply lines getting caved in." At the confusing looks, Blair clarifies. "They did not trust above ground transportation. An underground railroad connects this city to Vale... Though, Vale officials destroyed and sealed off the tunnel after this city fell."
Roman raises a brow at this, humming.
"After the line was compromised... fear escalated and drew the Grimm in. A whole horde ran rampant through the streets." A grim look comes over. "Obviously, you see the result."
"Fun..." Carmine grimaces, glancing at Neo who was curiously now walking in the center of the three. Carmine smirks. "She's got the right idea." He sighs, looking about. "Well, going in low... Schneider." His armor flashes to his arms, mounted blades showing.
Neo smirks, signing out. "You're going first for searches. If you get eaten, I'll look after your stuff."
"Glad you care..." Carmine sarcastically drawls.
. . .
A hissing growl crunches, a wet gurgle sounding as a bisected Beowolf hits the ground.
Carmine marches over the beast corps by the broken wall of a building's third floor. He glances over the streets below, spotting a group of seven Beowolves running through. The boy hears another crunch and fall from a nearby room as he re enters the building. An abandoned office complex. Cubicles shredded all over.
Blair exits an office, sheathing her blade. Several thuds sound from the ceiling, pulling their attention up. Moving up the stairs, they come upon Roman smashing a Beowolf head in with Velvet Valentine. He looks bored, Neo nearby sitting pretty on three more Grimm corpses.
"Another hour, another wasted search or a building." The conman mocks, nodding his head up.
A hole on the ceiling goes up for the next two floors above. Neo thumbs to it and gestures to the Grimm under them.
"Yeah, getting high perches for scouting is good, but I doubt we'll be finding AZRL by going up the skyscrapers." Carmine puts in. They'd cleared four blocks over seven hours. Plenty of Grimm had noticed them, but so far only the weakling wolves decided to take a crack at the foursome. The boy huffs. "If they are here, though, you'd think they'd have SOMETHING for surveillance above ground."
"I think you misunderstand just how many Grimm there are." Blair answers.
"Not their jobs to deal with them. Heck, they're taking enough risk using the Grimm as a smokescreen." The conman cuts in. "But too soon to know. I've been surprised by AZRL too many times to be certain."
Neo peers around some corners, pouting before leaning against a wall-
Crack.
Her eyes widen at the noise, darting down. The other three fail to notice.
"Yeah, but maybe the find their surveillance and follow the wires strat isn't the way." Carmine mutters. "Guess option two is brute forcing our way underground."
"'Brute forcing' our way is not a healthy option."
"With Barbie on that one." Roman looks to Neo and raises a brow at her eyeing the ground. "What's up, Neo?"
The girl raises a brow and signs. "Make them come to us?"
"It WOULD be the only option giving us control of the situation." Blair adds.
"What you got in mind?" The boy asks.
The mute looks at the three, flashing a glance to the wall... A smirk forms. A jump step back, the girl throws a kick into the wall behind her!
CRACK!
The entire wall along with a foot of flooring split off from the structure, a length two stories tall! The entire chunk of the building peels off, exposing the four to clouded daylight! Three sets of wide eyes watch as the hunk of building falls out!
The Grimm below on the streets jerk their heads up and scatter. One poor Boarbatusk is just a touch too slow as the debris smashes down upon it! Splattered under the brick, metal, and wood.
Neo leans with a smirk over the edge's open air. She then glances at the three others before giving an 'OK' sign and grinning.
. . .
RUMBLE...
The soft rumble of the concrete translates into a tan box like machine. Like a fax machine, paper begins to print out as a small wire utensil mechanically swings, marking a progressing graph. A seismograph. The scratchy sketching is glanced upon by a man clad in black armor and helmet. He steps back from the machine, glancing up at the ceiling hundreds of feet above.
Underground.
The man moves around several others. AZRL.
The man crosses a rail yard, dozens of unused rail cars relegated to rusting still. Several decrepit buildings litter this underground micro city. Its spaces were wide, but sections were split by large, gigantic support pillars for the real city above. Entering one of the concrete and metal enclosed sub buildings, the masked man marches by an open room.
BOOM.
A gun shot ricochets out of the room as a teen boy with a large sword is observed combating another armed with a shotgun. The gun flinches from the bullet ricochet. "Ugh... brats." He continues on through the halls to find a smaller room with a long board room table.
Hardly a necessary setup for having only two people at the tables. One is an armored individual with a great long blade sheathed on his back. His featureless mask stared back at the guard, two silver eye slits on the smooth surface. The other held her attention firmly on the flat television screen affixed to the end of the table.
"Miss Mary Anne." The guard entering the room announces for attention.
The blonde woman sits at the table near the screen. Her cold glare over her shoulder at the guard brings a hitch in his breath. She's dressed in a conservative black business skirt suit with golden undershirt and trim. She raises a brow, certain he was only to interrupt with urgent news. "Report."
He tenses at attention. "Seismic readings above showed a high impact not consistent with the Grimm's hunting patterns, and no air traffic has been monitored via other radar sources. Requesting permission to send a scouting party above ground, Ma'am."
Mary Anne pauses in thought, scowling before sending a glance at the armored enforcer in the room. "Hmm... Perhaps a learning experience. Could always just be another section of the city falling apart as always, but on the off chance that it is something or... some ONE, we can send the series blacks for a class test."
"A fun idea, but I am afraid that it would be most unwise." A jovial voice rings out from the screen in front of her. Sure enough, blonde hair with black streaks and a pair of glasses fills the screen. Aline Zandril. "Consider that Team CRBN is always lurking around, I am hesitant to simply send out the children to those that would hope to turn them against us."
Mary frowns. "You believe they could be in this area? I thought that bastard Gonzola claimed to have received news that they were to the East."
"Considering their track record thus far, it would not be unbelievable to assume they could be hoodwinked." Zanny says in a chuckle. "Still, they've managed to take a significant amount of attention from local authorities in the region."
The blonde woman slouches, sending a critical glare. "Yes... They've managed to be worth the money to NOT do what we paid them for." She composes herself.
"Master Zandril has a point." A younger male voice chimes in. The screen flashes away from Zandril's face to a young man, no older than 20. A youthful, clean shaven face with raven short hair and baby blue eyes fills the screen, white ankh earrings dangle from his ears. "Mr Zann is also positioned in the east, yes? We still have not had any contact with the Consortium for weeks. If Mr Gonzola believes CRBN is in that area, he may have outdated information, in which case..."
A sleazy chuckle chimes in, the screen changing to orange eyes and green hair. Spyyra Barnall. "In which case, I'd bet my girls are there." He winks giddy. "Do say hi to Miss Gale for me, Mary."
Before Mary can bite his head off in a remark, the youthful raven haired man's face comes once more. "Unfortunately for Miss Mary Anne, our client in Vale has placed a hard time table. He requires four agents for hire by tomorrow morning."
"You're kidding!" Mary Anne nearly snaps. "We only have six series black operators here!" Her glare twitches. A suppressed groan later, she sighs. "Fine. I'll take the four best of them to Vale immediately and supervise them." She spares a glance at the armored man beside her. " Besides, after Mibu, CRBN can't be much a challenge for the new pet project."
"Pride can be a fool's gambit." The screen changes again, this time to matted brown locks, a dull expression, and glasses. The man is smoking. Dr Near. "Keep in mind CRBN themselves also bested Mibu, as well as my first cyber initiative." He takes a huff of his cigarette on camera, lackadaisically speaking up. "Leave the two worst of the black operatives to divide CRBN. Also." He hangs the word before asking. "I request to leave that boy leader alive if able."
The screen flashes back to Spyyra. "Ditto on 2814 and Miss Gale."
Mary Anne twitches, mind briefly thinking of Roman. "Oh, so we're just sparing them now? I suppose I wouldn't mind some fun with Mr Torchwick."
"On the contrary." Zandril's face appears once more, catching her full attention. "2814 has proven incompatible with our organization, and Miss Blair Goodwitch must be made an example of for her own role in all this." His smile does widen. "That being said... I do demand at least one last word with our dear lost rose, and the good doctor has peaked my interest in the boy."
"Lovely." Mary Anne smiles, picturing Spyyra's disappointed face. "Very well. I shall head out immediately." Turning to the guard, she orders. "Prep the train cars. We head to Vale." Then to the armored man. "Do you understand your orders?"
The armored man looks back, the silver slits staring back. A modulated voice speaks. "... Yes."
. . .
Grimm continue to meander about the mound of rubble polluting the street. What started with a mere four Beowolves has become two dozen. The furry monsters chuff and growl as they sniff about.
From the tall building on the side, a pair of blue eyes peers from a window. Carmine raises a brow before leaning back inside, Neo beside him on the second floor of the building. He keys his radio and whispers. "Yo. I still got nothing but dogs in my view. You got anything?"
His gaze trails to the street corner, third floor up with a broken off wall. A small spark of light... Roman's cigars... really? "Haven't noticed any surveillance toys in the area. They definitely aren't using cameras. Understandable with the thousand poochies about."
"Meaning that if they're here, they must send a physical search party." Blair's voice chimes in. Carmine and Neo glance to the corner building on the opposite end of the street from Roman's position. "We should allow no more than another hour. If no one comes..."
Carmine keys his mic. "Then we blast our way down." Neo brightens behind him, allowing a silent clap behind him. The girl nudges the boy, gesturing to her head, closing her eyes, then slowly flowing her arms out. Carmine nods, keying the mic again. "Blair, can you keep your semblance out to detect if any auras come in?"
"Performing a scan of the immediately block every thirty seconds-... Incoming, South bound."
Carmine and Neo tense, peering out of their cover. "Uh..."
"Roman's end."
"It's a girl. This screams counter trap."
Neo slides a hand up and lightly grips the back of Carmine's hair, gently directing his gaze and pointing. He squints before noticing the movement around one of the far alleyways.
Judging off the feline ears, a cat faunus. The girl was thinner than Neo, slightly taller than Carmine. Long pale blue hair and violet eyes, her skin took a light grayish tone. Almost like a ghost. She wore simple clothing: black trousers, gray sleeveless shirt, gloves. In her hand was a shotgun.
Neo hunches around Carmine, signing. "Series black. Her clothes are basic."
Carmine smirks amused. "Basic? When did you turn into gossip girl?" He keys his radio. "Neo says hostile. We'll capture her and make her tell us where the entrance is. Easy."
The mystery girl missteps, disturbing a rock as the Grimm catch awareness of the girl. The girl flinches at the sight of the dozens of Grimm snarl in her direction. She immediately turns to run. The teens flinch at the scene.
"Or, we watch her get chowed and wait for the next one." Roman chimes in on the radio.
"No. We can't afford to lose any chance given. We save her! Come on, Neo!" Carmine's already moving in a sprint. "Jager!" His armor flashes to his legs. He reaches his right arm back for Neo to grasp, twisting to launch her out the broken wall into the open air.
Neo crosses the distance to the next building wall, kick launching herself up and opening Hush to halt any fall. Carmine leaps from the hole below, kick boosting with Jager after Neo. He snatches her leg, allowing the girl to twist and kick throw him forward!
Launched, Carmine flies over the charging Grimm below. With a kick, a boost from the Jager armor propels past the monsters as Carmine drops in a flip. The boy lands directly behind the cat faunus. The girl flinches, glancing over her shoulder at the boy wide eyed.
"Duck!" He yells at the faunus, getting her to drop. He launches himself over her. "Schneider!" In a flash, the armor forms blades on his arms. In a lunge, the boy slices the first Grimm down. Sliding into a spin, the boy strikes the next aside with the elbow blade, then lunges his right arm to thrust, spearing the next's skull.
The beast gurgles and crumples. Carmine rips the blade free. Two more Beowolves leap at him, so he crosses his arms before lashing them out. Both Grimm get slashed aside.
The boy does a foot shuffle as the Grimm snarl and reel back. Flashing a grin, Carmine taps the blades together and clicks his tongue. "Here, doggies." A glance over his shoulder, the cat faunus is already fleeing. Dumbstruck, he exclaims. "Wha- Hey! Get back here!" He takes off in a sprint. "Neo, cover!"
A Beowolf charges after him before Neo lands from above, slicing its head off. The girl dodges a claw and ripostes the next Grimm back, engaging the crowd.
As Carmine pursues the faunus around the corner, Blair descends upon the Grimm, slashing two apart and coming to a stop back to back with Neo. Taking their stances, both are caught off guard by the next distraction.
A flare.
The bright green light sparks into the sky from the next two blocks over... trailing and fading over the team's heads...
ReeeeeeAAHHHHH!
Multiple Grimm screeches sound, bringing Blair and Neo to a halt, wide eyed. "Well, we've been played." Roman's voice chimes in. The horde of Grimm snarl and charge at the women... before a stream of fire dust shots ring out, blowing them away. "Well, guess we're going full bore now!" Roman stands out with the girls.
. . .
The cat faunus cuts into another alley, seconds after followed by Carmine, his armor flashing back to Zero. She disappears around another sharp turn. Carmine scowls and sprints harder after the girl... only to run directly into the butt of a shotgun.
It knocks Carmine's head back as his bottom half continues moving. He falls flat on his back landing past the faunus. Wincing in pain, his eyes widen as the shotgun aims down at his head.
The cat faunus racks the shotgun, glaring coldly at the boy with her violet eyes. "You fell for the oldest trick in the book. Not impressed."
Carmine blinks... then grins. "Actually, I just wanted to see the look on your face..."
And he flashes away... Recall.
The faunus flinches as Heulin Noon gently taps the back of her skull. "... when you realized you fell for it." The girl tenses. "Drop it." She forfeits her weapon, letting it clatter on the ground. "Turn around." Slowly, she turns, violet meeting blue. Carmine smirks. "Now... You're gonna tell me how to get underground."
The faunus then smirks. "Actually... I just wanted to see the look on your face." She parrots his words right back. Her aura flashes, Carmine flinching back and blinking wide eyed. Her body loses definition as her entire form turns to a violet silhouette. "Like the Schrodinger's cat..." The silhouette begins to deform and fade to sparks. "I am both here... and-"
The aura fades... the faunus is gone.
Carmine snaps his gaze around, Heulin Noon trained down each direction.
Nothing behind. Nothing in front. To the left. To the right.
The answer..?
With his back turned, an object gently floats down. Only to stop a foot from the ground. A chill runs up the boy's spine. Some sort of... presence? Carmine turns to see the source of the feeling.
The man in black armor. The silver eye slits light on the smooth mask, his unruly raven hair wild to his shoulders... standing on a concrete slab of building. Floating. The slab is completely still, refusing to fall to the ground as the man stands atop it.
He steps off, landing mute on the ground ten yards off from Carmine. A breath later, and the concrete slab drops, hitting the ground in a thud.
Carmine sucks in a breath, raising Heulin Noon and firing. All six shots!
The six dust shells travel in a split second... halting in mid air just a foot from their target. All six shots freeze in place, refusing to move in front of the man. Carmine flinches in realization...
. . .
"I couldn't move... No one could." Ururu looks the CRBN group in the eye. "It was a man, tall and lean, wearing a metal masked helmet and armor..." Carmine notices many of the cave dwellers shrinking in recollection. No one seems to disagree with the description. "Whoever it was, they had the ability to completely nullify movement... I think. I don't know. It's just-"
. . .
Carmine's gun lowers slightly in shock.
The man slowly steps forward, leaning casually around the six floating shots and straightening once past.
And movement continues. The shots continue flying into the alley wall in the distance, exploding. The man's hand reaches for the extremely long sheathed blade on his back. He slowly draws a jet black blade from the red sheath... a blade as long as Carmine is tall.
"Oh..." Carmine exhales breathless. "... Fuck."
. . .
Blair slashes aside another Boarbatusk. Ready for the next victim, her eyes snap wide. She dodges back as a shot zips by and strikes the concrete. Glancing up, she finds... the cat faunus. The cat girl aims her shotgun down at Blair as a Beowolf charges the blonde behind.
In a smooth twist, Blair turns left and jabs her sheath back. It catches the beast in its sternum as she carries it with her motion. The cat faunus fires again as Blair twists the Grimm between, letting it get shot off as a meat shield.
Blair activates her trigger, Fluorescent Finish burning orange flame with fire dust. Slashing, the dust ignites and fires out a fire blast. The cat faunus takes cover as the fire dust blows out the wall of the building. She's knocked in, sent sprawling, as Blair leaps into the building after her. "I've got the cat faunus here."
"I thought Silver Streak was on that." Roman chines in.
True... Blair lunges in, slashing at the downed girl. If she has any substantial aura, she can take the hit. The girl is barely on her backside as she uses her shotgun to block. The strike sends her sliding down the building hall into the far wall.
The faunus winces, looking up in a pained look as Blair slashes at her again. Blocking, Blair pins the girl into the wall. "Talk. Now."
The faunus winces, her own gun pinning her chest under the pressure of Blair's blade. "You're... not getting anywhere... like this."
Blair, looking cold in her eyes, activates her trigger. Fluorescent shifts from golden yellow or burning flame again. "We'll see about that."
BOOM! The flames blow out the opposite side of the building, blasting the cat girl out of the walls and into the open street below.
She staggers to a knee, flinching when the tip of Fluorescent taps her chin. Blair is looming over her and narrows her gaze on the teen. "Submit. AZRL doesn't control you."
Around the two, several Grimm perk around the corners of the buildings around. The cat faunus huffs... as her body flashes into a violet silhouette and smirks. "A powerful statement from a dead woman." The silhouette flashes away.
Blair snaps her eyes shut, sending out her own aura sense. She feels the aura from the faunus retreating to the North. Blair breaks into a sprint after it, dodging a Boarbatusk and slashing a Beowolf. At full speed, she dashes around the Grimm, dead running at and leaping to the building top!
The blonde launches away, keying her mic. "She uses clones! Tracking her aura to the original now!" Closing her eyes again, she scans again. Just outside her original sense range, there. The aura trails off into a larger aura pool! Forth floor of a box building.
Blair snaps her eyes open, slashing another Beowolf down without a reaction. She looks at the street names and labels...
"Original is on the corner of 32 and 7. Three blocks from our original location." She swaps an empty dust cylinder in her hilt for lightning. "Neo, come back me up. Roman, go help Carmine!"
. . .
"-Roman, go help Carmine."
Carmine steps back, snap reloading Heulin Noon. For whatever good that can do. The armored man lurches forward at the boy in the blink of an eye. Carmine gasps, barely using his armored arm to block.
He's tossed from the strike, battering into one alley wall and ricocheting into the opposite side from the force! Hitting the ground in a tumble, Carmine sucks in a pained breath, firing a double shot at the armored man.
The twin shot rockets at the man, and halts just before his head. The silver eye slits, despite not showing a true field of view, appear to scan the twin dust shots frozen mid air.
Carmine painfully stands, aiming again, this time AT his double shot! If the shots pause the same distance, perhaps calculating that distance will counter! He fires at his frozen double shot!
… And it freezes a full foot before striking the double shot.
The man dashes around the shots after the boy. Taking a lightning quick slash at the boy. Carmine flashes away again. Recall. He warps back to his original spot in the alley, turning and aiming at the man.
Wait...
Now the three frozen shots are directed at HIS position!
The armored man glances over his shoulder. "Hmph." His modulated huff echoes as all three shots speed from their spots at the boy.
Carmine JUST barely ducks as all three shots! They fly past. Okay, so the guy's control is precise, and gun shots won't work. So, how about mass?
He aims the gun high, firing the remaining three shots. The blasts break apart the top ledge of the alley buildings, toppling rubble on the alley! Carmine smirks. "Jager!" Armor flashing to his legs, he speeds back out of the rubble's path...
Then all the rubble pauses in place. Easily several tons of debris, all halted in the man's control.
Carmine flinches back before boost jumping up the length of the building and landing on the roof. Then he turns back to the alley. The man is still standing under the path of the rubble.
The armored man remains silent. One piece of rubble from the frozen wave above drops, continuing its fall. It stops one foot from the ground in front of the armored man. He steps slowly onto it. Another piece of rubble drops, freezing one foot higher than the previous. He takes another step.
Slowly, he allows pieces to fall and freeze as makeshift stairs, stalking up until reaching the roof, stepping onto it twenty yards off from Carmine. Then, in a breath, all the rubble continue their fall, crashing into the ground of the alley.
Carmine flinches back, spine rigid cold from the silent wave of murderous intent off the man. "What... are you?"
The man's steps were silent. The modulated voice sounds. "Series black... number 2002."
He blitzes forward, his great long katana style blade swinging with ease. Carmine boost jumps back, but the man is catching up to him. "Schneider!" His arm blades form JUST in time to block as the force launches him through another cropping on the roof. Carmine rolls to his feet, taking off into a sprint. He keys his mic. "Help please! The guy who attacked Mibu- AH!"
He sucks in a breath as the long black blade misses his cheek by a hair, slicing off the mic on his headset. 2002 proceeds to flourish wide speed cuts at the boy.
He frantically deflects four cuts, then cross blocks his blades to catch the black blade. 2002 thrust slides his sword through the locked blades. Carmine lurches back, arms throwing wide to side the blade off... And 2002 step kicks the boy's gut and sends him off the room.
Carmine hits the ground, cracking the road and kicking up dust and dirt in a cloud.
The boy sucks in the breath, waving his hands to clear the natural smokescreen... but there is resistance.
The dust isn't settling. The dirt is frozen in the air.
HE CAN FREEZE FREAKING DUST PARTICLES? THE HELL?!
Through the blinding smoke, the black blade thrusts down from above... it pierces Carmine's aura and begins to enter his right peck-
Flicker. He recalls back to the roof.
Immediately upon reappearing, Carmine collapses to a knee, left arm moving to cover where the stab had been aimed. "AH!" The numbing phantom pain stings in his right chest. He glares down from the roof at the dust cloud.
The frozen cloud suddenly flows out and settles, revealing the armored man staring back up at Carmine. He brandishes his sword and speaks softly, disappointed in tone. "... Get down here."
Clean slices separate the section of the building roof as Carmine's footing falls. He pre-cut the roof? It was held up by his semblance! Carmine yelps as he falls with the debris back to the ground.
As the boy hits the ground, one of the black and violet clear containers on the man's back begins to swirl its contents. The lining of his armor dully glows violet...
He scrambles to get up from the rubble, balance groggy. He's getting dominated... Maybe if he recalled further back? No. He can end up knocking himself out again just like sneaking after Roman before... At the least, taxing his head more than he can afford for survival.
Wait... This dust and dirt cloud is different. Dirt kicked up from an impact isn't purple...
No time, the man charges through, slashing wildly. Carmine blocks, the impact sending him skidding on his feet back. Distance! He needs distance! "Jag- Ngh!"
His aura flashes over his armor... but it remains in Schneider.
Numbness flashes through his nerves. The armored man is still coming at him. Need Jager! "JAGER!" He screams as his aura forces his armor change, boost jumping back out of the man's reach. He snaps his aim up, training his gun on the man.
2002 glances up. A modulated raspy laugh comes out. "Go ahead... Pull the trigger." The man stands lax, waiting several seconds. "You're already dead."
Carmine grits his teeth... and pulls the trigger.
… Uh...
And pulls the trigger...
A chill runs through him. He pulls the trigger!
His heart clenches in a twinge of fear. His finger can't pull the trigger. He's stuck. He's been frozen in place! But how?! Nothing moves. His eyes can blink, his mouth can move and take in breathes, but he can't move a single limb an inch. A centimeter.
"-Ah... ha... ngh! What... did you... do?!" He struggles, frozen in his aim.
The armored man chuckles. "That's all you have to ask?" He begins to stalk forward, flourishing his sword, whipping the dust in the air away. "How disappointing. All their questions and worries... just a load of crap." The tone lifts condescendingly. "Don't fight it. Just listen to it."
Carmine continues to push to flex, but he doesn't feel his limbs shift at all. Recall? Why is his recall not working?!
The armored man huffs. "... Do you hear it?" Slightly turned, the man raises his left hand, cupping his ear. Carmine blinks, unable to hear anything but the distance Grimm and fighting blocks away. 2002 lets the hand drift down. "... The melody of the divine wind."
That tone... That speech...
"Do you hear it..? The song of the divine wind." Tora bellows to Carmine and Neo before attacking the two.
"You feel it... The embers burning in the wind." Zaku ignites his sword in flame before Roman.
"Listen well, Little One..." Master Kourii settles his grip on Neo's unfinished blade. "Bask in the song of divine wind."
Was this man screwing with him? Mocking the people of Mibu? Or...?
The armored man lunges in to cut Carmine down! His blade begins its swing-
Hellfire. The stream of fire dust shots explode on the ground between the man and boy before streaking toward the man in a strafe. 2002 retreats, huffing annoyed before rolling behind a corner for cover. Roman rushes in, stopping in front of Carmine.
He looks at the frozen boy, brow raised. "Please tell me this is a gag on your part."
Carmine strains. "Can't move! He's the one who destroyed Mibu!"
Roman snaps his gaze back over to the armored man stepping out from cover. Scowling, the conman huffs. "Well... isn't that just fun. The girls will be here soon, so what should I know?"
"His semblance... pauses things in place for lack of a better word. They don't redirect, but literally anything so far can be paused. Bullets don't like him."
Roman grimaces, squaring up fully with the armored man. "Well... this seems fun."
. . .
The cat faunus is sitting along in a room, eyes opening. She gasps a breath and rolls forward-
BOOM!
The wall of the building blasts in, lightning sparking as Blair slides to a stop in the room. She glares over at the faunus, who now looks terrified. A different tune from before... Her skin tone is no longer grayed, and her hair is a darker blue.
The original.
Blair speeds forward, sending a powerful slash... intercepted by a metal staff. Another body between the blonde and cat. A boy, nearing late teens, with brown hair and dog ears, tan skin, and hazel eyes. Dressed in the same simple black as the girl, he wields a spear.
He seems nervous. Mistake. Blair deflects his block up, twisting in a flourish and landing a solid blow to his mid section. The boy is launched into the wall.
The cat is upright, firing her shotgun at Blair. However, Blair smirks as Neo slides in, opening Hush and blocking the shot. Neo closes the parasol and stabs forward after the cat. Blair moves to follow, but the dog is charging her again.
The boy faunus swipes the spear in a sweep, and Blair blocks... Then, the faunus deflects HER block up, flourishing the spear and bashing her in the mid section, sending HER away.
Blair skids to a halt on her feet, gasping. He performed literally the exact same move she'd performed on him! How did he..?
The cat faunus fires at Neo when the girl gets within striking distance! SHATTER! Her image falls apart. Behind the dog faunus, Neo reappears, hooking Hush under his jaw and twist throwing him into the wall.
Blair takes the chance, activating ice dust. Sword turning sky blue, she flash freezes a wave down the hall! The cat faunus's shotgun coats in frost, stinging the girl's grip. Blair comes to a stop, blade at her lips. "Now, shall we try this a second time?"
The girl cowers back, then notices the black masses entering the building hall... Grimm. "No thanks." She bashes her gun into Blair's sword, shattering her own weapon but gaining distance. She dips into a side room as the Grimm charge Blair. Soon as she's inside, she kneels, her aura slowly pulsing and forming a copy of herself.
Blair swings around, cleaving a Beowolf in two, then turning to find an Ursa cracking its way up the stairs! As the blonde takes her stance, the cat girl's clone bursts out, grabbing Blair from behind!
Ah. Holding her with the clone so that she's an easy prey for the neutral threat. The Ursa charges at Blair while the blonde huffs. Fluorescent is now red... "You're not the only one with decoys."
Fluorescent is activated... and Blair's image shatters. Neo's semblance. The cat clone stumbles, holding nothing... then screams as the Ursa tackles her and begins mauling and biting.
The original flinches inside her hiding room, the experience of getting attacked coming to her. Quick. She stands up, only for the entrance of the room to break inward! The Ursa hits the ground, slashed open.
The cat backs up, terrified, as Blair steps in confident. "Last chance."
With Neo, the mute strikes the boy back. Moving to a sprint, she leaps and hooks his head with her leg, twisting around his top and whipping him across the room... Or, she attempts to.
Twisted into the throw, the faunus twists and lands on his feet. Planting the spear in the floor for leverage, he hooks his own leg around Neo's head, twisting and throwing HER across the room.
Neo cartwheels to her feet, blinking shocked. Doggy smirks as he and Neo circle one another... perfectly in sync with the same movements. Neo narrows her gaze. This guy is copying movements! Perfectly!
She thinks a second... then smirks. Blinking, her pink and brown eyes swap colors, making the boy flinch. Neo charges, pulling her blade up!
Doggy jabs his spear forward, hitting Neo square in the chest- SHATTER!
Neo appears from behind, thrust stabbing Hush into the faunus's back! He's knocked into the ground before Neo slide kicks him further tumbling.
He rolls to a knee, grimacing and whining in pain. He staggers and glares at Neo, trying to stand... as a Beowolf rounds the corner behind him...
She gasps, holding up a hand to wait. But he doesn't. He ignores her and stands fully... and the Beowolf pounces and snaps its jaws into his shoulder. "AH!" He wails in howling pain as two more Beowolves round him and charge Neo.
Neo slashes the first aside, then ducks and stabs the next under the throat. She rips the blade free, decapitating the beast. She then lunges in and thrusts the pouncing Beowolf through the skull! The whole way, the faunus screams...
The biting Beowolf gurgles before crumpling dead. Neo kicks it off, quickly looking at the boy... He's unresponsive. His entire right torso side is ripped open... Eyes wide in a frozen shock.
She huffs, grim expression taking her as she looks away. Her fists clench tight as she kicks at nothing on the floor. Damn it!
Back with Blair, the cat faunus grimaces. "It's useless... I'm already dead. Just do it for them." Blair narrows a gaze on the girl at that statement. Weapon slightly lowering, she takes a step back. Then, her eyes widen.
"I can remove it!" Blair nearly shouts.
. . .
"I can remove it!.. Here, let me help!"
A blinking light on a two dimensional map flickers faster as the words come through on the transmitter. The map is lit on the electronic surface of a hand held device. Holding it, Mary Anne hums.
She's on a train cart now, four more young bodies occupying the seats behind her, along with a dozen armed men. Clicking her tongue, she taps the dot on the man, opening a menu of options... She taps the final option, causing the screen to flicker red.
. . .
The cat faunus simply glances down, arms sagging as Blair takes a step further. "I'm medically trained! Let me operate and-!"
The teen girl locks up, eyes wide as she jerks. A click sounds inside her head... In a second, she drops like a lead weight, hitting the floor. Blair gasps, kneeling by the girl and checking her... finding a trickle of blood coming from her ears.
One of the brain implants? Weren't those only for the free agents?
No... clearly they felt the need to use those resources on the series blacks now. So, the only kids they're likely to confront face to face will be the ones that can be remote killed?
Her fists clench tighter, a seething rasping breath coming out. "Bastards... DAMN IT!" Blair snaps, turning to find Neo stopping at the door way. "Neo... the boy?"
Neo's eyes find the girl, realization coming to her. She clenches her eyes closed before hesitantly looking Blair in the eye and shaking her head. She signs out. "Grimm interfered and got him."
The blonde sighs. "Very well... we must return to Carmine and Roman. The Grimm are already a hindrance enough!"
. . .
The armored man, Black 2002, exits his cover, brandishing his blade and stepping to the center of the street. Carmine remains stuck in place as Roman squares up and aims his gun directly at the man. "Maybe listen to the kid... Like he said, 'bullets don't like me'."
Roman smirks, ignoring a nagging feeling off his opponent. "Well, the kid doesn't know class." He chuckles. "Let's see how I do, shall we?"
No more speaking, Roman opens fire, sending a stream of shots forward! 2002 halts the first wave in front of him, so Roman huffs and strafes his barrage wide.
These shots freeze in place in an almost serpentine pattern before Roman stops firing. 2002 sighs, stepping around the shots with little caution. "Is that all?"
Roman narrows a glare before giving a smarmy grin. "Almost." He raises his off hand... and snaps his finger.
The conman's semblance ignites friction directly on one of the suspended shots, sparking as 2002 notices too late! B-B-BOOM! The entire serpentine strafe of shots explode in a pattern blast, sending the armored man hard into the concrete wall of the nearest building!
2002 recovers to dodge a stream of shots as Roman riddles and destroys the base of the structure. It topples over, large concrete slabs collapsing. The man freezes the falling debris before it can crush him.
Grunting, the armored man shakes off dirt, groaning. Then grabs the frozen debris and throws it with his own physical strength! The large multi story slabs launch up and over Roman and Carmine.
Then 2002 huffs.
The large slabs cease their momentum and continue dropping straight down!
Roman turns and tackle dives Carmine away as the debris hits the street and shatters the lanes! The two roll, Roman standing as the boy remains frozen.
2002 rapidly slashes a still frozen hunk of debris, then palm strikes it! A spray of small brick pieces fires out at Roman, catching him all over the torso. The conman is thrown off his feet back.
The armored man charges the downed one at full speed! Roman recovers, just in time to shift Velvet to cane form and deflect the black sword! 2002 advances, slashing from outside Roman's range!
Roman is forced back, getting irritated. His opponent's blade is far too long for him to close the distance and strike back. Yet, this man's strikes and control is leaving no moments for Roman to manipulate the blade himself.
Grazing cuts start tearing at Roman's arms and legs from nearly too slow cuts. Roman huffs, popping out Velvet's trigger. After all. One surprise round always kept inside. He fires point blank!
The single fire dust shot surprises 2002, striking and exploding on his left shoulder and staggering him back! Roman hooks the sword with Velvet's pick side, wrenching the blade up so he can move in! Roman's off hand tenses as he palm strikes the armored man in the sternum!
2002 is thrown back in a tumble, Roman breathing in relief and reaching for Velvet's drum mag... realizing too late that it was cut free from his body in the previous exchange. "Shit!" He sprints for the drum mag on the ground.
The armored man rolls to his feet, growling in frustration. He holds his black blade out, the flat directed at himself. The black and violet containers on his back swirl their contents once more. The lining of his left arm once again lights a deep purple.
He runs his left index and middle fingers along the blade's length, particles flashing onto the blade in a tinge of violet. 2002 then charges ahead. Fading purple washes off the blade's movements as he moves to slash Roman!
Cut off before reaching his drum mag, Roman uses Velvet and clashes weapons on a static block! CLANG! The metal on metal rings out and echoes from the forceful impact.
… And a cloud of fading violet washes over Roman.
Roman pushes back, throwing 2002 off balance before the two engage in another melee. This time, they end up clashing and locking their weapons, stopping eye to eye.
Carmine struggles to move on the ground. Nothing is helping. He can't recall, can't move. He can barely speak. How did it happen?
Unfortunately... he wouldn't find out in time.
2002 chuckles at Roman, their weapons shaking from the force between their pushes. "Well, you certainly were interesting. But..." He trails off... and pulls back.
Roman's eyes widen as he remains in stance for the static block.
2002 relaxes, standing back. "This is over."
The conman fights to move, unable to get an inch further away. "What the... hell..?" His voice strains as he glares at the armored man.
He doesn't get an answer, as 2002 dashes forward, one lightning quick slash. He skids to a halt behind Roman... before a spurt of red bursts out the conman's back! A mild, but solid cut from his right shoulder to his hip.
Roman chokes out in pain, still frozen in his static block as pain blows through his mind. Carmine screams out. "ROMAN!" Finally, the force keeping Roman still releases, the conman collapsing forward in a pained grunt.
Before he can try to struggle, suddenly, his body freezes again. Roman is again frozen, now on the ground, completely vulnerable.
The armored man looms over Roman, huffing. "Well, that's two high value targets down. Now... where are the other-"
He reacts, ducking back as Hush swipes by his head! He slides back as Neo lands in front of Roman. "Neo!" Carmine exclaims from his frozen spot. The girl smirks, focusing on the armored man.
2002 straightens himself. "Well... that was easy." He then looks up, finding Blair dropping from above with a fire charged Fluorescent! "Don't have to look for you." He raises his sword to block as the flames ignite. Both sword wielders are engulfed in the explosion... Both skidding back from it with their blades ready.
"What are we dealing with?" Blair demands.
"A living pause button." Roman groans out. Neo tending to him. Each attempt to move him was easy for her, but difficult for him...
Informative... Blair thinks to herself. She inserts ice dust into Fluorescent's hilt. She takes in the man's appearance. The sword could be a special material, but nothing about it seems amiss. The man's armor, on the other hand...
"Neo." She whispers. "We need to restrict him. Get me an opening."
Nodding, the mute charges forward. Blair rushes around from the other side.
2002 ducks back, defensively deflecting Neo's first attack aside, then turning to deflect Blair's. The blonde backs off, and the man ducks back, Neo's blade lunging from the side.
Shatter! Blair smashes through Neo's image in a sweeping ice slash! The man is forced to block as the ice dust activates! In the clash, a mass of ice encompasses both their weapons... as well as 2002's right arm. "Neo, now!"
Neo, the real one, comes from above! The girl is thrusting down at the hindered man!
The armored man growls... "Very well." He raises his left arm. The contents in the bulbs on his back swirl. Deep purple violet lights the lining as he lets Neo ram her blade into the armored limb.
The clash pierces through the man's forearm...
SSSSPEWWW
Black and purple smoke blows out from the arm up into Neo, who recoils back from it. She releases her weapon, dropping to the ground into a kneeling position and coughing!
Neo gasps, attempting to stand... but doesn't move. Her eyes widen in shock. What?
2002 rips his arm free from the ice, raising it to slash the mute! Blair rounds the ice behind him, however. Arming lightning dust, the electricity sparks off Fluorescent as she moves to slash the man in the back!
He glances over his shoulder and gasps. Not enough time to turn!
So... he angles his back, allowing Blair's full lightning slash to smash into all three of the black and violet canisters!
A blast of smoke blows out as 2002 is launched scraping along the street concrete! Blair recoils out of the smoke herself. Shit. Don't breath it in. whatever it is!
She comes to a halt away from the dissipating cloud, taking a breath and sweating lightly. What was that-
Blinking, she realizes the feeling. A numbness. Her aura... She looks to Carmine, who still struggles, Roman, whose wound hasn't healed, and Neo, who is frozen in place.
But that would mean...
She shouts out! "His semblance doesn't work on living beings with aura shields!" Like mine, she thinks. "The smoke he's using is-"
Her body locks up. Even having not breathed much, she feels the restrictive power wash over her. She struggles, managing to shift her stance, but she's too slow. It's affected her.
The man slowly gets up from the ground. Electric sparks come out his spine and left arm. Hush is still lodged firmly in his forearm... "Yes." His modulated voice answers, slightly more static filled. "Black dust, you're exactly right."
Black dust... aura nullification. "Damn it..." Blair curses under her breath, forcing herself to stand ever so slowly as the man approaches. She takes in his arm and back... She growls out. "Dr Near's work... You're a cyborg."
The others shudder in realization, Carmine sucking in a breath. He remembers Miguel from Sanctuary...
2002 jabs his sword into the ground. Then, he reaches and grips Hush, ripping it free of his left forearm. He tosses the parasol sword to Neo's side. "Yes. The good doctor's work is more than perfect, wouldn't you agree? He could even put me back together." His visor silver eyes flicker, but he continues forward. "And maybe, he can do the same for you."
Carmine sucks in a breath. Shit... All four of them have been infected with black dust. Their auras useless! What can they do..? What can they do?!
Blair struggles and takes a step, slowly raising Fluorescent. That's it. One foot in front of the other. Her aura, what's left of it, is fighting his semblance! Tight grip. Her movements are slow, but deliberate.
2002 cocks his head. "Cute. You avoided breathing enough of it in." He raises his blade, placing his left hand on the flat. His back suddenly sparks, and he flinches. "Heh. You got a solid hit. No more dust." He relaxes, still confident. "Well, you're hindered enough. In fact..."
All four CRBN members tense when his gaze falls on Neo.
"How bout a race? Who reaches her first." A chill washes over all four. "You two women are to be killed, after all."
Subconsciously, Carmine's body lurches on the ground. He rolls to his side, glaring wide eyed. His breath begins to hyperventilate as he struggles with the semblance control!
He needs to move... He. Has. To move!
2002 dashes forward. Blair struggles to move, but is far too slow...
. . .
The boy's mind flashes... The raven haired Jared Uhlric winking at him. The blonde dog, Senaya Uhlric, wrapping her arms around the boy. The flashes begin to incorporate red... the staining color marring the happy smiles... tainting them.
No. Such a reality deserves one recourse.
Get rid of it.
. . .
"AH!" The boy releases a blood curling scream, pushing to his feet in a sudden burst of movement. As if unaffected by the cyborg's power, he charges, aiming Heulin Noon and firing!
2002 turns his head too late, barely using his long blade as a poor shield as a double shot hits his side, knocking him off balance! "What?!" His synthetic voice grunts out.
Carmine sprints in, jump kicking his Jager armored foot into the cyborg's arm. The armor activates its boost, rocketing the man back down the street. The boy lands between Blair and Neo, teeth clenched in a seething rage, tears marring his eyes.
"Carmine?" Blair asks, stunned. Neo blinks at the display.
The boy flinches at his name, looking at the blonde...
His eyes... Not blue.
A golden yellow, almost a dull glow to them.
"Blair?" His confusion, almost as if awareness was coming back to him, sounds out softly. His jaw relaxes... His eyes dull back to their natural deep blue.
Then, his body tenses...
The cyborg's semblance grips him once more. 2002 standing up slowly at the end of the street. He rasps out a throaty growl, then chuckles. Almost giddy, the synthetic voice calls out. "How did you do it?! How did you break my semblance?" With almost a laugh, the cyborg man seems... excited. He takes a steps forward. "Show me again. What did you do?"
Carmine can only stare confused, stuck frozen still. He struggles, frozen once more. "Shit... shit."
Blair looks between the charging cyborg and the boy... coming to a decision. He's the only one that could do it, so... "Carmine!"
She reaches out with the little movement she has, managing to get him to look her in the eye. Her sword arm sheathes Fluorescent Finish, removing it from her waist sash. She holds it out to Carmine by her left arm, and she grips Carmine's gun hand with her right.
"Get distance. Make a plan. Act on it. I know you won't fail us."
"B-Blair-?" Carmine blinks and sucks in a fearful breath, confused.
"Now!" Blair shouts... channeling her semblance and transferring all of her remaining aura into Carmine. The boy feels the surge and gains freedom from the man's semblance once again. Her aura greatly boosting on top of the little he himself has.
Steeling himself, Carmine steps away from Blair, holstering Heulin Noon. He draws Fluorescent from the sheath... realizing Blair had just loaded dust into the hilt! Trusting her, he activates the dust, the sword turning earthen brown.
Earth dust!
Carmine jabs the sword into the ground just before 2002 can close the distance!
The entire street shatters in a quake! Dust and debris kicks up everywhere, knocking Neo and Blair both onto their backs. Roman is blown into a roll on the ground!
The blast settles soon after, 2002 stumbling in the cleared area. He turns left... then right... No Carmine.
A distance away, Carmine is hiding behind the shattered remains of the nearest building. He catches his breath, wheezing with his heart pounding its way out of his chest! Fluorescent Finish is sheathed in his hands still.
He tenses as a full minute passes with the cyborg looking around for him... then settling near the remaining CRBN members. Roman is still wincing in pain from his wound. Neo sends a worried look to Blair, who remains calm.
"Well, he's just going to hide?" 2002 looks at his damaged left arm. "Alright... let's make a deal." His voice carries, Carmine hearing him from the distance. "One hour. I'll repair my arm, you figure out how you did what you did..." 2002 glances to a skyscraper in the distance. "Meet me atop that central bank building, and we finish this there."
A silence falls over the area, Carmine looking to make sure he understands the right building.
"I'll promise not to kill your friends before then. Wouldn't make good hostages if they were dead." The synthetic voice laughs. "Show me why the good doctor is so interested in you. No one has beaten black dust like that before." He laughs to himself again.
Carmine sweats nervous, his eyes slamming shut. The silence drags, but he still hears his heart pounding.
The cyborg's voice sounds again. "You'll come... Guided by the wind." Again... is that mocking or..?
Another minute passes... and Carmine hesitantly steps around the corner. Nothing. The cyborg is gone with all three of his friends. Carmine's fist clenches in frustration...
One hour... That's all he has to figure out how to beat this monster. And he doesn't even know how he did it...
Now, we arrive in a place we're familiar with (Via RWBY). Mountain Glenn. Let the fun begin!
References:
So, AZRL's newest cyborg pet project is Series Black 2002. His semblance hasn't fully been explained, but the basic function is there. His inspiration comes from two separate characters that I'll explain more next time.
The two series blacks that fought Team CRBN were based on Schrodinger's Cat and Pavlov's Dog. The cat faunus could create a clone that could perfectly exist in the field, yet it isn't truly her. The dog faunus had a physical semblance of instant pattern recognition and muscle memory.
Join next time in Chapter Forty Seven: My Happy Place.