Chapter Fifty One: Wait! Do I Know You?
"Now, why would a kid like you be looking for Grimm? After all, isn't that a job for a Huntsman?"
Carmine flinches back, both he and Neo on edge with the stranger. Carmine couldn't even tell he was there.
The man has a deep tan tone, silky brown hair pulled back in a man bun, and a thin jaw line beard. His hazel eyes appear mildly curious, but serious. His form is muscular, wearing a white leather vest over a green sleeveless shirt. He has brown gloved hands, one cradling the black strap attached to the mechanical metal transform rifle slung at the small of his back. He has darker pants and boots with white trim.
A gold star badge is locked in place on the left chest of his open vest. "You stare that much, and I'll be certain you're up to something bad, you know. I know every face in town, so you're definitely outsiders. In from the flight this morning?"
Carmine groans, sharing a look with Neo. "Yeah..." He gives an embarrassed, and nervous, smile as he scratches the back of his head. "Me and my friend just arrived today, and we're aspiring Hunters. We thought that a small town like this would have SOME type of easy Grimm to pick apart as practice."
The man raises a brow. "That so?" He eyes Carmine's gun and armor, then Neo's... nothing. "Ah, her parasol is her weapon, isn't it?"
The teens recoil at him staring right at Neo's weapon. "H-how did you know?" Carmine speaks on Neo's behalf, the mute looking annoyed.
He points plainly at Carmine. "Well, if both of you are trying to become Hunters, and you're decked out in armor AND a gun, I would assume her weapon is the only thing she has." He cocks his head. "So, you specialize in medium range, and she's a sneaky rogue type?"
Both kids puff up, annoyed. "Feeling a bit exposed... You got a name, sir?"
"Bit rude to ask for a name without giving one." The man, clearly law enforcement of the area, crosses his arms.
Neo snickers at Carmine's expense as the boy retorts. "Good point. Counter point. Officers should always announce themselves if they want good rapport."
The stranger smiles at that. "Yes. They should. IF they want good rapport. But, as the one asking questions, I'll stick to my authority. What's your names, kids?"
Drats! He's playing a dick, too! Carmine groans and thinks on his and Neo's cover names. He gestures widely to Neo. "This is Vanille. I'm Rowan..." The names still feel wrong on his tongue, but he hopes the officer buys it.
The man raises a brow and smirks. "Thank you." He relaxes, allowing Carmine to relax. "I'll accept that for now."
Shit. He might have already caught it.
Still, the officer steps back. "I am the Sheriff of Fairmare, former Beacon Huntsman Taylor Summers. Nice to meet you." Neo and Carmine each tense at that, but the girl recovers first and gives a polite wave. His friendly demeanor chills lightly. "Now, just because we haven't had many Grimm lately is no reason to out searching for them. Accept some peace and quiet when you can."
Carmine gives a shrug. "Duly noted... So..." He trails noticing the stranger still standing there.
"So..." Taylor parrots back with a smirk.
"I guess... we'll get going?" Carmine tries to nudge Neo along. "See you around, sir!"
"Nonsense." Taylor retorts. "It's a slow afternoon. I can afford to escort you kids through the more dangerous parts of the woods."
"But you JUST said there hasn't been Grimm lately anyway-" Taylor maintains a steeled gaze on the boy. Carmine scowls. "You're just going to pester us if we go into the woods again, aren't you?"
Taylor nods. "Last thing I need is a couple of visiting kids disappearing in the woods."
As if ignoring Taylor, Carmine embellishes his reaction and turns mockingly to Neo. "And THAT means something real cool is in the woods that he's not going to let us see." Neo brightens and plays along.
"That's literally the opposite of what I said." Taylor grumbles. "Bottom line. We're overdue for Grimm. Stay. In. Town." In a smooth motion, he grabs both teens by the back of their shirts, dragging them inside the town woods entrance and nudging them back inward.
Carmine and Neo both scowl, irritable at the demeaning treatment. "This isn't over." Carmine leaves off as he and Neo march away, leaving the Sheriff at the edge of town.
A minute passes as they walk the road, Neo signing. "So, Super Sheriff? Think he's in on it?"
"Doubt it. If the guy is a former Huntsman from Beacon, I doubt he's in league with any of it. He's just going to be a stiff obstacle for us." Carmine grumbles. "Former Beacon Huntsman, though... He didn't seem to call us on our false names, so either he's not in Ozpin's loop for outing us... or maybe Ozpin never took us off the Beacon Hunter registry."
Neo raises a brow, signing. "So, your father wants to leave it open until we use it for a fake job, and will only send his top guys after us."
"It's an assumption, but frankly, if there's anything I can predict out of Ozpin, it's him keeping things tight lipped." Venom drips into his tone at the sudden conversation about his father. "Otherwise, this guy could just be similar to my Dad back in Sanctuary. Settled and protects his territory and dares anyone to threaten it."
"Doesn't help us find the missing Grimm." Neo signs while glancing around. The two continue inward through town, hoping to cross some other clue...
. . .
Exiting the Mare's Share, the adult CRBN members appear to have reversed positions. Roman was the one clearly unhappy as Blair allows a ghost of a smile. "So, Tam's list of 'secluded' sites of the area seem to fixate around the nearby lakes and beautiful fields to the east. Go figure."
"Secluded sites that I'd be visiting with greater accuracy if you didn't-" He stops himself, thinking, then groans. "What's done is done, but I'm so taking this as a win for yesterday." He grumbles.
The calculated blonde is unfazed. "An odd tone to take when proclaiming a 'win', wouldn't you think?" She watches ahead. "Only thing in town of suspect is the mine, which is steadily producing resources. It would take an entire town under AZRL's thumb for them to have a literal underground operation inside."
Roman rolls his eyes. "Well, AZRL has accomplished more before..." He sends a sullen glare. "We can hit up one of the shacks near the mine itself where the workers break. Take a read of how secretive they are for precaution." He side glares the woman. "In fact, you can take the lead and charm the workers."
"If you're attempting to prove to me how your methods work, keep in mind how one sided that challenge is." Blair retorts. "Unless they have wives, a collection of manual labor workers will do whatever they need in order to find companionship, even if said companionship tells them how disgusting they are."
"Which you would do." Roman continues with a smirk. "But come now. You might find the one in there."
The two continue on, exchanging light barbs and quips to fill any silence. All the outward hostility in the barbs without any follow through. Simply how the two have learned to communicate. An... understanding and comfort in the giving and taking of tongue lashing. Distracting from their actual job, even.
Well, not entirely.
As Blair closes her eyes, she allows her semblance to scan the immediate area around them for the third time in a minute... Someone going to the same direction they are?
Far behind the two walks a female figure, hooded... Leather dark brown boots, skin tight black pants, sleeveless brown leather armor, dark brown bracers. A black hood comes up around the head, black tresses of hair dangle out from the hood. Slimmer and smaller than Blair's frame.
Blair's eyes snap open. "As enticing as joining you in the mine shack would be... it would appear we are being followed." She lets Roman digest that, though he shows no outward sign of acknowledging it. "I can't be sure, but whoever they are, they've been exactly twenty yards behind us for the last several blocks."
"Matching our pace. Or, a coincidence." Roman muses. "Alright, have fun. And this time, don't interrupt me to ruin my job, okay?" He sarcastically drawls.
The two reach the entrance of the mine, workers all scattered about, either returning to or leaving work. Carts and various wagons are stuff full with raw finds. And Roman continues off towards the worker shack as Blair uses a thicker group of workers to disappear from view.
The blonde stops around a corner, eyes closing as she uses her semblance again to detect auras... the one from earlier still hanging back. It was stronger than a civilian aura, but keeps fluctuating...
Someone trained in aura, they're consciously suppressing their aura manifesting. That's not something many people ever find a use to do... unless they're very aware of remaining hidden around those that are also trained.
A byproduct being that Blair has no idea how powerful this person's aura actually is.
No matter. So long as she concentrates, she can nail down which person she's sensing, and get a read on where they go. For more than a minute, the aura appears to hang back a half block, not conversing or grouping with anyone. Just... mingling. Moving through groups coming then going, but staying mostly in the same spot.
They're blending in-
They move into the alleyway nearest to them, between two buildings! Blair turns, walking down the alley she'd ducked into as well. Moving into a sprint, she rounds the backs of the buildings and rushes until she's behind the buildings the mystery follower is still walking through.
Blair takes her spot at a corner, listening for footsteps. Silent. This person is extraordinarily versed in stealth. But, Blair still knows they're there. So... in one movement, she draws Fluorescent Finish and rounds the corner in a slash!
Her sword slashes directly into a pair of gray short swords! A loud clang rattles out as Blair pushes forward on the mystery female. She slides her blade out from the bind, quickly advancing as she deflects one slash, blocks another, then returns her own.
On offense fully, Blair winds Fluorescent around one of the short swords, disarming the female, then blocks the remaining sword. One final push, Blair knocks the mystery woman's guard out and brings Fluorescent's blade to their neck before stopping.
Blair has the stranger dead to rights... Yet, the stranger speaks first, unfazed. "Well... that certainly answers any remaining questions I had." The calm and slightly sultry voice speaks. Almost bored.
Blair presses Fluorescent up. "Who are you?"
"Oh... an ally, if I understand who you are." The woman's hood falls. She has black hair, silky smooth, brushed in such a way that only one eye is visible. Her eye color is amber, and she has beautiful porcelain skin. "Should I hazard a guess and say... the illustrious Team CRBN?"
Blair raises a brow. "Let's assume you're correct." She presses her blade up, grazing the mystery woman's lower jaw. "The only people who would know that are those we've already interacted with... or enemies, and I do not know who you are."
"Hmm... Mistrustful, I see." The woman hangs her words, but a hint of pain as the golden blade barely bites into her skin. "A good trait, but I am not associated with the Avored Zenith of Remnant's Legacy, nor any of the Kingdoms." The admission of not being a part of AZRL stays Blair's hand.
Hesitantly, the blonde pulls the blade away. The mystery woman relaxes and rubs her healing jaw. "Explain yourself. Now."
"I've been... stationed here by my mistress, shall we say." The woman ever slightly smirks. "AZRL has long been a thorn in our sides, and we've done as we could to try and keep tabs on them for years. So, when an odd hunter team makes itself an underworld name specifically taking down AZRL's operations... it catches our attention, and earns our respect. Let's just say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Blair takes a moment to look over the woman. She was young. Maybe even Carmine's or Neo's age? Maybe slightly older? She cannot tell. This woman carries herself with a confidence that throws that gauge off.
"And who is your mistress?" Blair questions back. "After all... 'Friend'... friends know who the others are."
The woman maintains her confidence as she sheathes both her swords and stands back from Blair. "I do not have the authority to say, but I can tell you that I am reporting to a man with influence in Atlas... Where I assume you will visit in your pursuit of AZRL?"
Blair simply glares back and crosses her arms.
The woman smiles wider. "If you find my advise helpful in finding your target in town, then my... supervisor of sorts can provide you a point of reference for AZRL's mole of the SDC."
That's... a BIG help. If true, that is. However, Blair recognizes that it would only be that big a help if they're trying to buy their way out of outing themselves. They give help in big ways like that, just so CRBN doesn't ask who they really are...
Is that worth it?
"I'm afraid that I'm not able to accept your help without consulting my team." Blair answers.
"As expected. I saw your two other teammates at the edge of the town before the local sheriff found them. I couldn't approach them, so I found you." The woman hums as she turns away. "I tracked some of AZRL's money trails to the area last month, and found that their agents are not staying within the town. Their hideout should be outside of town, around the base of the mountain."
"Close, but not too far." Blair summarizes. "Very well... I will return to my team, and we will consider your advise." She pauses before ending with. "Any description of their agents?"
The woman huffs. "No." She gives a light bow. "We'll be in touch."
Blair watches as the woman disappears back out of the alley and into the crowds. Something about the woman was... off. Still, if her advise holds up, then this could be a breakthrough for the team.
. . .
"If her information holds up, it could be the breakthrough we need!" Carmine simplifies happily. The four Team CRBN members were gathered at a local shop, sat together on a bench.
"So?" Roman interrupts. "We don't know who she is, or who she serves. Why do you think you let ME open up all contact with these people? It's clear that whoever this woman serves, they're a direct competitor to AZRL. Direct competitors are only better by virtue of NOT being the ones in power."
Neo raises her hand for attention before forming a sign. The sign shows a picture of Senior, then Junior, with the symbol for not equal between.
Roman huffs. "Yes, and look at the problems that's left us to pick up after."
"Either way, we've been pointed in the direction of the mountain. Was there anything to know from the mine workers?" Blair asks the conman.
He waves his arm flippant. "They knew screw all. About the area. Only thing that marginally fit was that several shafts of the mine have become unstable. They're thinking their mining is removing structural integrity in the mountain side, but anyone they've had look at it says it's not that."
"Could that be part of it?" Carmine chimes back in, sharing a look with Neo. "Maybe the sheriff is in on it?"
"Unlikely if it's a former huntsman." Blair states. "The likelihood of AZRL getting former huntsmen in their belt is a touch too concerning for me to fathom. Besides, our... new friend... mentioned him as if he were a neutral force."
Neo signs. "He didn't recognize us off hand. He could just not be important."
"Which makes it more likely he could be on AZRL payroll." The boy adds. "And would make more sense why he seems anal about people checking the woods."
Roman rolls his eyes. "Before we go too far off the rails, keep in mind the lack of Hunters we see screwing with us. Didn't you say Old Man Superior liked his secrecy?" He gets a nod from Carmine, nodding back himself. "Right, so maybe news about us is hush hush to begin with."
"So no assuming the local Huntsman is instantly against us." Blair adds in finality. "First, we need to get out of town without the sheriff noticing."
Roman smirks. "Tag me in."
"No! No arson." Carmine glares at the man. Sighing, he addresses the full team. "Let's grab some food before we try to head out."
. . .
The mystery woman sticks to the shadows, slipping through a crack in the town's protective wooden walls. Exiting the town without leaving a trace, she begins to walk within a sea of amber and red leaf trees, bathing in the fall colors. The woman marches along as she produces her scroll and makes a call.
"I've made contact with Team CRBN." She speaks low into the receiver. A short pause fills the air. "Yes, I've given them a tip in the right direction, but I held my tongue on who they're up against." Another pause, ending with her lip curling up. "How better to know their use? If they succeed, they would prove themselves as an excellent tool."
A long pause fills the air as the woman briskly marches over a log acting as a bridge of a creek. To any observer, it is nothing more than a peaceful walk through nature. The woman's smirk falls slightly as the voice on the call speaks on.
"No, the fools AZRL hired do not suspect me yet, either. I am on my way to... notify them of CRBN's arrival... Yes... These mercenaries are quite tiresome to deal with." The woman stops at the mouth of a cave leading underground. "We shall see soon enough. After all... the Queen could always use more pawns."
The woman enters the cave, hanging up the scroll call. Every twenty yards or so, the woman comes upon a lit torch lighting the way. As she enters, there are forks and turns... some natural. Others grotesquely chopped out with no care of structure.
Even pebbles crack off the ceiling as she passes.
"Ah, the little mouse returns!" A new voice echoes off the cave walls.
The woman enters a more open space with amenities. Lights hooked to generators, small carved rooms with shoddy furniture and bedding. Large ripped out caverns, clearly rough and man made. And the first person the woman sees puts a frown on her face.
She frankly finds Mohawks distasteful. The blonde hair and tan skin framing the man's too wide eyes looking at her.
Killian Gonzola. Man who hates literally everyone and loves the ending of life. Especially human life...
"I have an update." The woman starts as she comes to a halt.
"Course you do! That's why you were hired!" Killa descends from a perch and lands. "Otherwise, it'd be another week's pay in the drain asking you to watch grass grow. What do you have?"
The woman cocks her head coy and smirks. "Team CRBN has arrived in town. They're already having issues with finding exits with the sheriff sniffing about."
Killa's face lights up. "I knew it! I KNEW they couldn't resist a money trail! They had to come sooner or later! DON, YOU HEAR THAT? I TOLD YOU!"
From the shadows down the cavern, a crack of rock on rock sounds as the stout kangaroo faunus, Donatello, emerges and removes a cigar from his mouth. "Happy you... I expect extra pay after you make me dig out an entire level of a mountain."
"Is the plan ready to go without a hitch?"
The kangaroo simply glares back with dead eyes.
"What?"
"You have me dig for two months and you have the audacity to question me?" The kangaroo speaks plain, as if about dinner. "I can have the line dug out by morning if we can keep CRBN from futzing things up."
"The best laid plans..." Killa grumbles. "Alright, Ezra is still on duty with the Grimm, so get Kallen on up here! He, I, and our friend here will keep CRBN floundering about til morning."
The woman cuts her eyes at the man, glaring. "Excuse me?"
"You want paid? You play ball, babe. That's how the world goes round!" Killa grins mad at the woman while rotating his finger in a spinning gesture. "You'll be with me and Kallen, and we'll burn this entire town, and CRBN, down to yous." The oddly spoken pun annoys the woman, but she accepts it, not being in a powerful position to argue.
"Very well, but only if you address me by name and not by your absurd titles." The woman tilts her nose up at the man.
"Fine, fine! Miss bigger-they-are-the-harder-they Cinder Fall. Is that better?" Killa condescends to the woman.
Cinder Fall
Age – 18
Two years til The Day
Cinder smirks, being addressed ever slightly more respectfully. "Thank you, Mr Gonzola."
. . .
Awkward silence.
Why does it have to be awkward silence? Carmine's furrowed brow directs towards Neo. She glances back, not even slightly bothered. How the hell can she stay silent- Oh, right... Her natural state is silence between everyone. Although, if she's mute, and been mute for years, does she think in her own voice? Or is it the voice she used to have? She's not deaf, so it's not like she pictures the words in her head.
Carmine looks at Neo, blurting before thinking. "When you have thoughts, do you think of them in your voice before you were made mute? Or, do you imagine things in someone else's voice?"
Neo cocks her head at the question, caught off guard by the question. She blinks twice at the boy, not needing to speak to let him know how taken aback she was.
Roman rolls his eyes. "Idiot..." As he continues to glance off at a television in the corner of the bar/pub. The team had returned to the Mare's Share for food.
More curious was the bar waitress who keeps sending side glances their way... and Roman looking away... and Blair keeping a stone faced glare forward...
Awkward... Awkward silence, and Carmine doesn't understand why it's happening. He'd just hoped they finished their food and leave before it got worse.
Of course, he then opens his big fat mouth.
"What? It's a legitimate question!" The boy huffs indignant. He's ready to dig this hole!
"Most people don't consciously choose a voice to represent their thoughts." Blair mutters, still glaring off. "I recall a study out of Atlas showing one in four people 'hear' their inner monologue in an opposing gendered voice."
Carmine purses his lips and blinks. "Really?" He glances at Roman. "What voice do you think in?"
"My own like a normal person, you alien." Roman flippantly dismisses with a hand wave.
"You DO enjoy hearing yourself speak, so that shocks no one." Blair quips before looking plainly at Neo. The girl is directly an off stare at her. "Yes?"
Neo gestures for Blair to go on.
The woman blinks in surprise. "Oh, no. My internal monologue is rare, and I typically hear my father's voice." Carmine cocks his head, even Roman sending an off look at her. "My mother's voice sounds too similar to my own and my sister's." The boys share a glance, then continue their off look at her.
"Okay... but why not-"
"I refuse to allow my inner thoughts even vaguely resemble conversations between my sister and me, so we both trained our minds to not vocalize in our own voice." Blair explained as if it were normal... Normal to despise speaking to your twin sister enough to train your mind not to use your own voice... perfectly normal... Yep, absolutely normal.
"Barbie, you're more messed up than I gave you credit for." Roman snickers.
Neo frowns and cocks her head. She looks at Carmine and simply shakes her head before shrugging.
Noticing this, Blair addresses her. "It's also normal to not have an inner monologue at all." She helpfully offers, Neo smiling. Well, as least that's not something wrong with her.
Carmine pouts, crossing his arms. "I was actually hoping her inner speech was a smooth deep voiced man." His team all send cocked looks at him... Him and his big mouth. He blinks twice wide eyed. "What? It's funny to imagine! Like a documentary voice! What was that one with the penguins?"
As Roman and Blair both send sullen looks at the boy, Neo looks up, thinking deeply on herself. In her own mind, she imagines a deep, deep voice speaking plainly. 'He is cute when he is mad. I genuinely enjoy him making these silly comments. I suppose my favorite of his features is the freckle pattern that blends in with his embarrassed flustered flush.'
She purses her lips, containing a huffing laugh. No. Sounds wrong. Sounds so wrong! She shakes her head violently before looking at Blair and signs. "Yeah, I'll pass on the inner speech thing."
"You tried the deep voice, didn't you?" Blair smirks, amused. She and Neo then look to Carmine. "Well, disappointment is all you have."
"As usual." Roman snickers as the boy glares, flustered.
"Whatever! Let's just pay and get to work, assholes." Carmine huffs as he slaps a handful of Lien on the table. He smiles for the nervous faunus waitress. "Keep the change! Sorry for the trouble!"
Tam gives a shaky grin and small wave. "No problem. Come..." She pauses as she makes eye contact with Blair, the blonde walking briskly by her. "... again..." She gulps before tending to the group's empty table.
Team CRBN exits the establishment, immediately directing themselves towards the main exit of the village. "Alright, we'll all four split up and meet at the base of the mountain outside the village." Carmine delegates. "If any of us gets the sheriff tagging along, stop, and that one of us either stays in town or risks letting the guy follow us."
"Best for whoever the sheriff finds to simply purchase a room at the nearby Inn." Blair chimes in.
Neo smirks and gestures with her hand as if her hand were running, its index and middle fingers the 'legs'.
Roman snorts. "Kids wanting to make a race out of it? Go figure."
"I think that's fun." Carmine smiles at Neo. "A wonderful and FRIENDLY idea, Neo." All four members stop, facing one another in the dead center of the town. They meet game face glares with one another. "So? Little team competition?"
Neo gives a toothy grin, holding up a shatter cue card! She hands it to Carmine and waits patiently.
Carmine blinks and reads the card out loud. "'I say, I'm already half way there-' eh?!" SHATTER!
The card shatters... as does Neo's image, leaving only three members of the team!
"What the-, BITCH!" Carmine shouts.
"At-ta girl!" Roman praises as he leans back. "Nh!"
"AH!" Carmine cries out. A shroud of hazy violet aura washing over both himself and Roman. Blair's semblance! "B-Blair?"
Blair coyly turns and huffs. "Simply using my tools." She glances over her shoulder at Roman. "Better to cheat before you did." The blonde leaps away, disappearing to the right around the buildings.
Roman and Carmine both grimace in pain at Blair's semblance holding them in place! However, Roman calms, focusing with his eyes closed as the shroud slowly fades away. "Gah! Barbie is gonna get it for that cheap shot." He smirks at Carmine. "Enjoy last place, Silver Streak!"
"Last-?!" Carmine grits his teeth. "RECALL!" His body blinks out of the violet shroud. The violet aura disappears as Carmine recalls back to a point in front of the pub bar!
"AH! Now, eat my dust- WHOA!" Carmine trips... and hits face first into the dirt road.
Tripped... over Roman's cane as the conman marches faster into a run.
"Better quit laying around, brat!" Roman disappears into the crowd going north, leaving the boy as the last CRBN member in front of the pub.
Carmine gets up... and realizes he's the last to leave. "Wha-... bu-... MOTHER FUCKER!" His arms flail in frustration as he charges to the left. "Freaking cheaters, all of you!"
And the race is on.
. . .
The boy continues his sprint until he finally reaches the wall of the town. He looks right. No one paying him any mind. Left? Not a soul in sight. He smirks, ready to leap the wall entirely. He looks forward-
Directly towards Taylor, who sits comfortably atop the wooden wall. The man casts a raised brow gaze on the approaching boy. Carmine grinds to a halt, wide eyed. "Well, where are you off to in a hurry?"
He grits his teeth. "Maybe it's none of your business?" Carmine then mumbles under his breath. "Why? Why me?" He groans and calls out. "Seriously, do you stalk minors regularly? I know this is a backwoods town, but damn. Stranger Danger."
Taylor snorts, amused, but maintains a neutral look. "Try acting less suspicious, kid. Rodney, was it?"
Carmine purses his lips and blinks. Was that the name he used before? It WAS an R name. "Yeah... Look, I'm not messing with anything and just want to explore. WITHOUT big brother looming over me." With a haughty huff, Carmine turns and walks to another section of the town wall.
"Funny." Taylor muses aloud. "The first name you gave me was Rowan."
The boy freezes wide eyed... SHIT! "Uh, no it wasn't." He weakly mumbles.
Taylor drops smooth from the wall, landing just a few feet from the boy. "And now that you've lied to me, the town sheriff, I now have cause for suspicion." He stands tall, and sends a dull glare daring the boy to try something. "So... what trouble are you bringing to my town?"
Carmine takes a step back, gulping. Shit... This guy is pretty intimidating... "U-uh... I don't know what you're talking about. My name really is Rodney."
"Yeah? We can sort this out at my office then after we hear about your reasons for being here." Taylor steps forward, reaching out and directing Carmine around. The boy feels himself getting shoved along.
Slowly, his face pulls into a pout. "I don't think you have the right to hold me." Taylor just snorts. Carmine growls and shouts. "Hey, read me my rights!"
"How 'bout no?" Taylor shoves Carmine along.
Carmine slouches with a scowl... A few more steps... He smirks. "Alright, alright. I just remembered something to tell you."
"What is it?" Taylor asks, sensing something off.
"Well, as I RECALL!"
Carmine's image warps away, his recall ability rewinding him to his previous spot far behind Taylor. The boy lands, looking up to see Taylor jolt and look around confused. "Jager!" His armor flashes to his legs before he boost leaps over the wall!
Taylor turns as the boy disappears over the fence. "Hey!" He turns to and rushes after the boy. In one leap, the man clears the wall, landing on the other side. He quickly locates the fleeing boy, scowling and rushing after him.
Carmine boosts through the brush between trees into a full Jager sprint. He glances over his shoulder, seeing the former Huntsman keeping pace. Not too far behind him. The boy curses. He can't lead the guy to the rest of his team...
Shit! He totally just lost the race, too!
. . .
Blair lands on a half toppled tree near the forming slope of the mountain base. The woman stops, glancing up another tree. Staring down at her is Neo, who grins and drops. The girl drifts with Hush and lands softly by Blair. The girl gives a giggle and expectant look of the blonde.
Blair smirks. "Yes, your stunt earned a humorous reaction from Carmine." Neo's smile turns devious, but Blair continues. "Almost as good as the one I earned when I followed your example."
Neo's mouth parts, the girl shocked before pouting. She signs. "You outdid me?!"
"I prefer to think of it as a well done combo." Blair allows the smile as she and the girl march up the slight slope. "We just need to wait for the boys-..." Blair and Neo both look up surprised, then the blonde scowls. "Explain how?"
Ahead of them, sitting on a broken off stump of a tree, is Roman. The man gives a condescending smirk with his legs crossed while the two girls approach. "A magician never reveals his secrets." His smarmy grin grows at Blair's annoyance.
The woman huffs, marching past the man. Roman and Neo are left to share a glance. The mute scrutinizes the man until she signs. "You snuck around us while Blair found me."
Roman winks and raises a finger to his lips at the mute. He then signs back to her. "You take the win, I'll enjoy Barbie's pain. Win win."
The girl and man both grin until she gives him a low five pat. The two march after Blair. The girl glances around, no Carmine... She sends a worried glance up to the man.
"Maybe he got caught by the super cop you two met. Kid's luck is garbage as is."
Ahead, Blair hums in thought before a buzz sounds. BZZT. She looks to find Carmine's name pop up on her scroll. She sends a glance at the others, then back at the scroll before answering. "Hello-"
"Ah! Hey Blair! You guys might want to- Nh!- go on ahead! I'll catch up- ah. FUCK YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Carmines voice and jostling movement sounds. Blair purses her lips before pinching the bridge of her nose. "You ran into the sheriff." It wasn't a question. "Just stay in town and get us some rooms-"
"Yeah, about that- Ah! He caught me in a lie and wants to interrogate me about who we are now. I'mma lose him in the woods real quick."
Blair face palms. Great. So, they might actually have to sneak out of town when they leave. "Right... We'll deal with that later, then. Take care." The woman hangs up to find Roman and Neo both slumped and sending sullen glances her way. All three of their expressions match. "Let's just get going."
"Our fearless leader..." Roman grumbles.
. . .
The boy comes to a halt, landing in front of a meadow. He takes a breath, calming, before jolting. The boy leaps into the air. "Zero!" His armor flashes to his chest and arm as he flips and lands to face his chaser.
Taylor comes to a stop in the meadow, scowling at the teen. The tan brunette reaches back, one hand resting on a black metal gun stock with switches and metal construction. "Are you done wasting my time?"
Carmine matches the man's scowl. "I should be the one asking that. Just leave me alone, please?"
"We're way beyond that, kid." The former Huntsman lunges forward, rushing towards the boy.
Carmine smirks... Ten minutes of running should be more than enough time... "Recall-"
Blink. The boy's aqua blue aura warps him away! The shifting of space within the air kicks up meadow flower petals as Taylor comes to a stop, wide eyed... He glances around, gritting his teeth. "Damn it..."
A long distance back, minutes gone by, deep into the forest, the boy flashes back into existence. He groans and rubs his head. The nagging headache that comes with any significant warp. Still, he smirks. "Finally..." He turns and rushes off into the forest, making a wide birth turn before eventually settling on heading towards the mountain...
. . .
The time was approaching sunset, Blair, Roman, and Neo making their way through the woods. Without much more to go on than 'base of the mountain', the group hadn't turned up with much. Still, they needed to find either any hidden entrance, or a cave. Same as the other Grimm trade hideouts. There cannot be that many locations to hide an obscene number of captive Grimm.
The three march around a creek slanted down beside a cliff like drop. The drop goes into a small ravine with a far deeper ground level. The upper areas are a mix of rocky terrain and eroded dirt.
So, when Roman finally catches disturbed soil and footprints, he raises a hand to halt the blonde and girl. He points out the tracks, letting Blair step forward to look them over.
Roman eyes the surrounding areas. Tracks means something nearby worth visiting. Means other people could be nearby. People they're looking for. "Well?" He speaks lower than before, sure to be quiet.
Neo likewise focuses on their surroundings, but no one is in sight.
"Multiple foot sizes, but everything fresh is smaller. Heeled boots, if I had to figure." Blair furrows her brow. "This might be our new friend's tracks." The blonde closes her eyes, expanding her aura and checking the surrounding area with her senses.
A bright aura from Roman, shining orange. Pink shimmering small package for Neo. Nothing else within 100 yards... she groans as she tries to expand more... and more... Her head starts to hurt as she reaches the limits of her range-
… A gold aura... High up on the ridge of the mountain. High ground means a vantage point-
Blair's eyes snap open. "Move!" She draws Fluorescent Finish in the blink of an eye-.
BOOM!
The dust charged shot clashes into the woman's weapon, blowing Blair clear off her feet! The blonde is thrown back over the drop into the ravine below!
Roman and Neo duck behind the nearest trees as another dust charge shot tears a chunk out from the bark by Roman. "Damn it. Sniper!" Soon as the words come from him, Neo's eyes widen.
Neo grimaces over to Roman and holds up a shatter sign. On it is a perfectly chibi version of a certain snake faunus with an exaggerated tongue coming out...
The man looks at her sign and matches the grimace... "Well... they work for AZRL, alright. Of all the luck..."
. . .
Upon the ridge in the distance, down prone with a cloaking brown mesh tarp over his body, is Kallen. All that's visible of his form is his golden beret, one yellow eye peering into a scope, and his long custom rifle. Its side is open with a computerized screen sight with thermo vision.
The actor and hired gun faunus smirks as he adjusts the scope. "Hah! Like the top camera man, I get just... the right... shot!" He fires again., the loud bolt action fire of a higher caliber dust shell explodes out! The clean shaven smooth skinned faunus grins wide as he watches the shot's trajectory!
. . .
Roman ducks as a hole is punched through the tree! The bark splinters above him, raining debris onto his hat. The conman grits his teeth. "Great! We've turned this into a gun fight!" He twirls Velvet Valentine as he pops its drum magazine in place, transformed to gun mode!
BOOM!
Another shot shreds through the trees, ripping another chunk out from the trunk Neo is crouched behind! The girl and Roman share another grimace... They're in a bad spot...
. . .
The blonde groans, lightly shaking herself awake. She'd landed in the ravine, face first into the gravel like surface and rocks. Wincing in pain, one eye clenched closed, she staggers to her knees. Fluorescent rests near enough for her to grab.
Blair grabs the blade... only for a dark short sword to come tip to her face. She scowls, looking up to find Cinder looming over with her blades ready. The blonde scowls. "I see that talk of being an ally was all a trap."
In the blink of an eye, Blair slashes up, almost taking Cinder's head off. However, the teen girl manages to deflect at the last second, pushed back as she takes a ready stance. "Oh, this wasn't part of the plan at all." Cinder, despite the pleased smirk, glances around. "Let's just say, I'm fulfilling a role."
"You lied about not knowing their base's exact location if you're working with them." Blair observes.
The raven haired woman appears pleased. "How would I know your usefulness if I handed you everything on a platter." Cinder twirls her Midnight blades and lunges forward! Her blades clash with Fluorescent as the women push against one another. "Do not worry. I'm still a friend... I'm on your side... I simply must present a challenge is all."
Blair scowls, push her blade out of the bind as the two slash with blinding speed. Blair ducks a slash from Cinder's off hand before the blades spark in the follow up clash!
. . .
He gasps when the echoes of gunfire reach his ears. Carmine comes to a stop, eyes locked on the mountain in the distance. Gun fire itself could mean many things, but in the direction of his team... and clearly not Roman's gunfire...
Another shot echoes.
Carmine closes his eyes. Single shot. Powerful and distant. The intervals imply steady aiming... Sniper fire. Single shots with that much space between for readjusting for recoil. The boy's eyes snap open as he moves into a sprint. "Shit!" He blinks in realization. "That sheriff's gonna hear it too!"
He quickens his pace. He needs to reach his team and finish whatever fight is going on BEFORE Taylor catches up. Although, a nagging voice in the back of his head worries.
His team is together... HE is alone. Perhaps taking a wider path will avoid any traps?
… No. Taylor being around puts a time table. No time to waste.
Carmine maintains his full sprint as he pulls out his scroll. He tries to call Blair... No answer... Okay. Roman! He makes the call, putting the scroll to his ear. The click answer sounds. "LITTLE BUSY, SILVER STREAK!"
"I'm almost there! What are we looking at?" Carmine huffs out during the sprint between a thick grouping of trees.
"Sniper positioned on the mountain! Neo and I are pinned, and I think Barbie is either rocked senseless from the first shot or someone else is fighting her in the freaking rock quarry behind us."
Another shot sounds with the crackling impact through the call. Carmine then hears the echo shot from the mountain ahead. The boy grimaces. "I'll head to the ridge and ambush the sniper. Neo can get you defense to move, so you can move up the mountain to back me, then send Neo to Blair!" Carmine moves into another more open area with sparse red leaf trees. The darkening sky with the wood line above shrouds the area, but the boy keeps a full sprint pace.
"It won't be that easy." Another shot sounds through the call, then echoes. "If Neo is correct, we're up against-"
Boom!
A gunshot spark lights the shadows as the dust strikes Carmine dead in the chest. The impact rings off the buster armor as he's knocks clear from his feet! His scroll call disconnects, device hitting the grass as Carmine is thrown along the ground.
The boy stops, face down, sucking in a pained breath as he glares up with one open eye. "Crap... should've gone wide..." He staggers to a knee, glaring at the shadow. "Come on out! I know you're there!"
There, a silhouette in the shadow. Carmine aims Heulin Noon at the silhouette...
The voice sounds.
"Well... I do believe I recognize that gun there..."
Time could have stopped in that moment. Carmine's wide, stunned eyes frozen.
No... No, it's not-
As the silhouette exits the shadow, the boy sees the golden tooth in the flashed grin. The tan skin and blonde Mohawk. The spine spiked tail lightly flicks the grass from under the man's gray duster. "I hit the jackpot... Hello there~." His tone lilts amused. Killian Gonzola emerges fulled under the fading light in the open area.
Him. Him. Him!
Killa grins, cocking his head slightly to flash his teeth. "How lucky am I? It's the one who got away."
Carmine shudders, his aim shaking. His chest clenches. His lungs quiver as the shaking breath barely chokes through! The boy's shoulders quake as the intense fear grips his core. His very being. "Y-You..."
Fear.
Death.
Weakness.
"I used this hand..."
The boy's teeth clack together and clench... Fear? No...
Fury. Anger blossoms and heats his core as his eyes harden, locking on the target in front of him. More anger. Channel it. Burn and bathe in it! "You!" He grinds out through his teeth as his knuckle white grip audibly tightens on his gun.
His eyes twitch as for a slight second, his blue orbs flicker yellow. His hair flicks ever slightly as his aura shield shimmers once...
"I'm gonna kill you..." The boy's voice growls out, like the throaty churl of an animal. His breathing growing choppy.
Killa's grin widens like he'd heard the most exciting news of his life. The chameleon faunus enthralled by the answer. "Yeah?" He tilts his head down, peering gleefully at the boy, his posture relaxed. "And how do you plan to do that? Now, that you've grown into a spry punk."
Carmine can't help it. Can't help the snarl that comes out as he stands abruptly. The click as he whips Heulin Noon up and aims. "With THIS HAND, BASTARD!"
He fires at the man, all thoughts and plans gone...
Only rage.
And so, we once again come to another confrontation between Team CRBN and Team Killa. Now with added Grimm and unlikely allies...
Right, elephant in the room. CINDER?! With the looming thread leading to the cult of Salem, some sprinkles of RWBY start to form. Especially being only two years until the beginning of RWBY by my timeline. Things will start to spin into high gear.
But, Taylor?! The shitsnot kid that took the piss out of Carmine's birth mother in chapter one of this story?! Yep. He's here as well. A grown Huntsman in his own right. Aw... They grow up so fast off screen.
Join next time in chapter Fifty Two: Far Too Early.