From the world's longest chapter last week to normal length this week... I stared at this thinking, "Is this enough" for quite a while... Enjoy!
Chapter Fifty Seven: Bridges Built
The cheers had died down. The celebrations were beginning as people surged back into the festival style stands. It was only the afternoon, still. The tournament being organized in the rumble had killed a great deal of its originally planned time! Still, that did not quell the sheer glee of the audience. That made Taiyang smile.
Or, it would if not for his current heart attack of a problem.
He checked with Miss Boyd. Apparently, 'Zane Maxwell' had already left. A bad sign, given everything he's ever heard about Qrow. He knows kids at this point. If they're not directly in front of you, they're making you regret not having them directly in front of you.
With no hint of clue of where to start, he decides to find and congratulate his daughter. A small smile comes as he approaches slightly too fast. "Hey, little dragon! How's the win?"
Yang sits on the arena seats, cheeks puffed blowing a raspberry with a large #1 winner's chalice in her arms. Her lidded eyes look back. "Hollow and unfulfilled." She snorts, shaking herself and smiles at him. "I'd feel better if my best competition didn't quit out on me. I feel like I just got dumped by a prom date!" Her fringed hair, cut slightly short earlier in the tournament, sways under her. To her ire, that is, while she glares down at it.
Tai sweats lightly and chuckles. "Aw, did my girl have a little crush?"
The blonde heats, but scowls. "No, dad! Fun guy, but way too much like me." She cracks a grin. "I'm more than enough pun to go around."
"YANG!" Both father and daughter turn to the high pitch shriek sounding for them. A blast of red comes to a halt by the two! The little girl was significantly shorter than the other wearing a red hooded cloak with the hood up. The open cloak shows a clean, if slightly wrinkled, black skirt with white long sleeve pleated shirt. She wears black boots over red leggings.
Yang smirks and flips the girl's hood back off, revealing short black hair with slightly red tinged tips. Longer than a pixie cut, but not overly so. Her hair is freshly cut, the girl using her hand to sway her locks in a comfortable way. "Hey! Don't touch my hood." She huffs in a pout with silver eyes.
The older girl snorts. "Rubes, I touch what I want." She holds the chalice up in a champion pose. "Because I'M a winner!"
"And there's the overconfident girl I raised." Taiyang jokes.
However, the little girl brightens immediately, beaming an excited grin. "That. Was. AWESOME!" She whisper yells. She suddenly begins talking with her hands as she mimes her talking points. "That boy was like a wizard! Whoom, whoom, then BANG right in your face! His armor was SO cool! Did you SEE that girl with the guitar?! Why would someone make a guitar a weapon? Or even the bagpipes-"
Yang eases the bouncing girl's hands down. "Easy, Ruby. They're just weapons." She laughs at the girl's expense.
Ruby Rose
Age – 13
Two Years before formation of Team RWBY
Ruby's offense is immediate, rounding on Yang. "They're not JUST weapons!" She throws her hands out, as if that suddenly would let Yang see her point. "They're a representation of who we are! What would you be if you had a set of gloves that make rubber duck squeaks instead of Ember Celica?!"
The blonde blinks and responds without missing a beat. "I'd be the terror of Vale known as the Ruby Bopper." She lightly bops Ruby atop her head. "Quack!"
The short stack shoves the hand back, pouting to Tai. "Dad, tell her I'm right!"
Dropping the conversation entirely, Tai looks to his eldest daughter. "Yang, did you see where Zane went after the tournament? I had wanted to speak with him after your all's bout. Constructive criticism and direction."
Yang blinks. "You want to talk to him and not me?"
"I have months to rattle all the things you did wrong." He quips with a slight smirk. She shrinks under his smirk, resigned.
"Well, I don't know where he went. Soon as I find out, I'm giving him a piece of my mind for leaving unfinished." The heated competitive spirit fills him with some joy. So long as she doesn't know who he really is, then maybe he would work with this.
"Phrasing, stupid." A boy's voice calls, pulling the family's attention. The dark faunus boy, Deonn, approaches with Doto in tow. He looks to Taiyang and smiles. "Hey, Mr Long!"
"Deonn." Tai says in polite greeting.
Neither Yang or Tai miss Ruby shifting slightly behind Yang at the approach of the older boys. Unfortunate as it was, Tai being a teacher forced him to be neutral to most interpersonal issues among students. Even if his daughter was involved. She had Yang, though, so he knew bullies had a hard time trying to mess with his younger daughter.
"What brings you over here?" Tai starts.
"Come to congratulate actual talent?" Yang rubs it in with a sly grin.
"You got lucky!" Deonn snaps at her, raising his fist. "Let's go right now!"
Doto holds his hands up in placation. "Easy. We're just here to discuss the start to squaring that bet."
"Bet?" Tai and Ruby both perk. Ruby poking her head out from behind Yang.
Yang grins wide at that. "Zane made a bet with the three idiots that if he or his friend outlasted them, they had to buy lunch for different underclassmen each day for the rest of the semester." Ruby snorts at that, earning a glare from the older boys. Ruby then shrinks back, pulling her hood up again. "I added on that the first person they had to buy for, for three days, would be Ruby." Yang gives an evil chuckle after.
Tai is taken back. First, that Carmine would engage in a bet like that while pretending to be a student. Second, that he backed it up. Third, that Ruby was suddenly a part of that.
Ruby steps out from Yang, looking at her with wide, excited eyes. "Free lunch? Me?" She slowly looks to the two older boys in front of her.
Doto gives a nervous smile, but Deonn is giving an unwelcoming dull glower. "Yeah... Just say what you want Monday, idiot."
"No mercy, Rubes." Yang whispers loudly, earning a glare from the two boys.
Ruby looks to Yang, then to Deonn, then to Tai, then to Doto. She hums. "I want the regular school lunch."
Doto smiles. "Oh thank goodness."
"On top of a dozen chocolate chip cookies each day!" Ruby smiles wide.
Deonn's eyes bulge out. "WHAT?! No! Those things are expensive! You get one cookie!"
Ruby scowls, then looks to Yang, the blonde devil on her shoulders. She looks back to them. "Ten."
"You're not clearing out my wallet! Two!"
"Eight." She counters without missing a beat.
Doto cuts in. "We seriously don't have that much money. We can do a dozen cookies over all three days. Deonn will cover Monday, I'll do Tuesday, and Dino Wednesday."
Ruby crosses her arms, puffing her cheeks in thought. Her face screams her internal monologue before she nods. "Bakers dozen." She points at Deonn. "He gives me five cookies for a total of thirteen!"
Deonn flinches before heating up furious. "Singling me out?! You little b-"
"Mr Bower." Tai cuts in, teacher voice commanding.
The faunus flinches, hunched shoulders and all. He glares at Ruby, the small girl looking devilishly smug and happy with herself. "... Whatever." Yang slaps Ruby on the back in a silent cheer. The unspoken congratulations fills the smaller girl with joy.
Tai then looks to them. "Speaking of, where is Mr Styles?"
The short silence that comes from the two boys sets off a red flag to the man. Doto responds. "We aren't too sure. He has to be here somewhere." He looks to Deonn and shrugs. "We'll find him. Later, Teach!" He and Deonn march off, leaving the family alone.
While Yang and Ruby celebrate their respective victories, be it in tournaments or bartering, the man frowns. He can't remember a time the tall boy didn't hang around his friends. On any other day, it would be happenstance.
On a day when Team CRBN is confirmed around, he would be an idiot to call it a simple coincidence.
. . .
A truck roves through the bushes out into the nearest streets. The large front hauls a medium sized enclosed trailer. In the front, two men with sunglasses check their surroundings. The man in the passenger seat checks a case, showing more syringes filled with Nomaura.
Inside the back trailer, two men sit in the small enclosed space. Three teens lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious, limbs bound. Carmine lays motionless on the end, Dino beside him, and the boy who'd had the gun blade sword from the tournament. All three bump around with the ride, their weapons collected in the corner by one of the men.
A bump hits as a light rattle sounds on the ceiling. Both men inside raise their gazes up. When nothing further occurs, they shrug and continue on. Blissfully unaware.
The man in the truck passenger seat feels his scroll vibrate with a message. He draws out the device to look at the message.
'You have a tag along.' - RM
With a double take, the man looks to the driver and nods.
Atop the trailer, Neo is crouched low. Her image shatters off, shedding the persona of Vanille Carson FINALLY! Feels good to be back in pink, brown, and white! She has to grab a hold when the truck suddenly swerves back off the road.
Half panicked, Neo barely notices a low grown branch incoming. Neo lays flat against the trailer top as the branch whips by her head! Breathing relieved, she just hopes her message let the others plan ahead.
The truck bumps its way back onto the road as the passenger pulls himself mostly out the side window. Looking back, he finds Neo, scowling. He reaches into his waistband and draws a pistol. The man opens fire on Neo as she uses Hush to deflect. She can't open it up to defend better, lest the air currents sweep her off the truck!
Her ride begins to go serpentine, right and left over and over. All the while, Neo barely scrambles for a solid grip! The passenger once more fires at her, so Neo slides back. She lets herself slip to and grip the trailer back door! Pulling herself flush with the trailer back, she breathes easy... then blinks at the tinted windows of the trailer.
Both men inside the trailer are staying at her through the glass. Neo gives a wink and smile, but it wipes off when one of the men whips out a freaking shotgun! Neo shifts down.
Boom!
The shotgun spread blows out the lackluster metal of the door. Neo needs to move. Now! She lowers further as the next shotgun blast rips a hole in the other door! Neo slides along the rear bumper of the trailer, finding the side of the trailer. Neo twists around and bags the blade of Hush into the trailer side to anchor herself.
Now, the driver sees her in his side mirror. She feels the shift as the truck veers left. Neo looks up ahead, eyes going wide. The truck lets a tree scrape the side of the trailer! The metal whine of the impact rings as Neo is slammed into the tree.
Pulling past, the truck driver smirks and nods with his passenger. Surely, the girl is gone...
As they're unaware of Neo now holding on the bottom of the trailer. She breathes in relief. Finally, some quiet.
. . .
The truck pulls into the dock district of the island. Several supply ships, family boats, and commercial liners populate the waters. Within the mix of ships is a larger liner with a connected barge with it. It was stationed next to a rap connector to the concrete. Several dock workers flag the truck on through, though several double take at the paint scraps and holes.
It rolls onto the back barge, several pallets holding stacks upon stacks of crates. Several storage units also occupy the barge, the truck coming to a park. Soon as the click of park sounds, Neo settles down onto the ground. She pulls out her scroll, messaging the others.
N – Ship with barge. Lots of storage. Carmine and others being moves into main ship. I'm on.
Seconds tick by until the buzz of a text reaches her. She hears the doors of the trailer open with the men off loading the three teen boys.
R – Called it. Bringing Barbie.
B – Will lock down ship once it reaches open water.
Neo raises a brow. She wonders about it, but it makes sense. Starting a docks fight when so many wannabe hunters and graduated huntsmen are nearby wouldn't be smart. Hitting them in open water, while noteworthy, will take a while for authorities to respond. CRBN will have time to leave.
What kind of ride was Roman bringing, though? That might be interesting.
She peeks from under the car, spotting the men carry Carmine to the main ship. One of the men signals to others in the top level of the ship's cabins. They signal back as a loud ugly honk roars out. The connection to the dock retracts into the barge as they take to the seas. Alright, so a sit and wait... Neo observes the men move about at the containers.
Maybe she should take a look at what else they have before they strike?
. . .
A short time later, the barge has made it to open waters. Neo waits for a guard to pass, moving to a storage container. It takes a moment, but she pops the lock and opens the storage unit. Soon as it's open, her eyes shoot wide like saucers... What is... this toy?
Her eyes dart back and forth around, a devious grin forming. She shuts the unit and sets about investigating the others. If there's something like this here, are there more? How about some nice, wholesome sabotage?
Above, a hover transport roars by.
The men across the ship and its barge all look up at the transport. It's awful low if its headed for Vale... The vehicle roars at speed, lowering down and down until it's a mere ten feet above the water. The side of the transport slides open, revealing blonde hair.
Blair steps out, a vial of dust in hand. Her hand flashes as she casts dust down! A crystal blue hue spreads as a platform of ice takes form in front of the approaching ship. Blair steps out of the transport and onto the platform. With a flicking motion, she slides the dust container into Fluorescent Finish's hilt. She draws the golden blade as it turns ice blue.
The man on the boat panic, scattered throughout. "Impact incoming! Intruders inbound!" Neo hears the shouts from inside a storage unit, cocking her head to listen more. She looks at her scroll as another message comes in from Roman.
R – Brace yourself. Barbie bout to iceberg the boat.
Neo blinks at the message, grabbing the nearest metal surface of the unit contents.
In front of the ship, Blair narrows her gaze before leaping into the oncoming ship head on! With a mighty swing, the woman releases the power of ice! The entire ship lets out a metal shrieking rip as ice grows out in a flash burst! The ship is lifted up from the expanding ice!
The momentum of the barge behind it carries into the back of the ship, crashing into it as large swaths of its contents slide and rip off into the ocean. Much of the barge settles into place, now significantly cleared.
Blair ejects the empty ice dust can into the ocean before leaping up onto the ship rails! The panicked guards and sailors barely can react as the woman begins swiftly cutting them down!
One of the men sprints to the back of the ship, cupping both hands. "We're under attack! Activate the bots!"
One of the barge guards recovers, shouting back. "Three just fell into the damn ocean!"
The first double takes back to Blair cutting through his allies. He turns back. "So?! We have three more! Activate them! Get the mechs- AH!" The man gets slashed from behind, launching him from the ship into the barge.
Blair narrows her gaze down on the barge workers.
"Right. Activate everything!" One man shouts to the others. "Fire everything!" A line of men step forward, drawing pistols and shotguns to fire at the blonde! Blair leaps over the string of bullets, coming down and cutting the first shooter down.
Blair ducks a shotgun spread, spin sliding along the ground towards the shooter and jabs her hilt into the man's ribs. The shotgun user is thrown back, smashing through a full crate! Blair dances around the men in lightning fast dashes, cutting down the attackers with succinct finesse before she stands alone.
The woman turns, sending a cool glare as a man exits a storage unit. He flinches, seeing her, and holds up a remote. Cocky, the man wiggles the hand held device and presses a green button. A red light flicks on. Blair hears a mechanical hum sounding muffled from three large crates across the barge!
A series of wooden cracks snap out as all three blow apart! Revealed from within is an orange metal surface. Large truck sized machine arachnids roll out. Each leg of the robots has three wheels balancing them, all eight metal limbs holding the thick center aloft.
Three of them drive around to circle Blair, the blonde scoffing. Mid grade Atlas war robots. She didn't recognize the model, but knew the series. Quick in movement. The central bodies house multiple weapons and sensory tools. The eight legs are only so numerous to keep such a heavy center moving with speed.
However, while powerful, they're slow to change tactics with a fairly incompetent AI. Blair looks behind them as the leftover man rushes into one of the two remaining storage units. Great. More toys.
The first of the mech spiders screeches before speeding forward. Its legs move evenly aside. Large blades jab out from each leg, as well as curved blades from the front of the spider. The blades heat and burn. Fire dust, Blair muses.
It speeds at her, moving into a spin. Blair deflects the first swinging pass! The car sized mech snaps with its curved blades, but Blair dashes back. However, the second of the mech spiders speeds behind Blair. It opens its center up, a charged lightning dust center before piercing rope darts fire out!
Blair huffs and dodges the rope darts. As the second spider drives back and retracts its darts, the fire blade spider chases Blair again. The third spider's leg armor shifts as it lowers itself down. It hunkers, bracing itself, as its center opens up on the top. From the top, a rail gun forms. Earth and lightning dust courses through and charges.
An electromagnetic device? A projectile weapon using magnetic propulsion. Blair continues to dodge the two spiders as the third begins charging its cannon.
The blonde loads gravity dust into Fluorescent, its blade shifting dark black with a faint purple shimmer. She needs to time her counter. As the second spider fires its spark darts, Blair slashes at the first spider.
Releasing the dust charge, a gravity charge shifts the air around the fire dust using mech. The darts redirect off path to Blair, puncturing into the first spider! Electric arcs jolt and shock the first mech, stuttering its movements for the time being. Blair leaps over the spider and rushes for the third.
She just needs to destroy it before the others recover-
A metal crash sounds as the storage unit rips open. The man from before sits in a control section of a ten foot tall mech suit. Atlas model, of course. A modified power loader suit. The suit leaves the chest and head exposed, but his arms and legs are slid into the limbs. Its legs are wheeled, like the spiders. One arm has large spikes on pistons. The other has a built in machine gun.
The man opens fire on Blair, forcing her off her attack. Behind her, the electric dart spider retracts its darts out of the fire blade spider. Both mechs shift and redirect to Blair. If she doesn't stop the magnetic cannon now, it's libel to blow off half the barge with a weapon like that.
Another crash. The second storage unit rips open, pulling Blair and the leftover man's attention.
Another power loader suit, modified identically to the man's. Except, Neo sits in the control spot! Barely fitting, that is. Still, the gleeful grin on her face says it all. Bot fight! She locks eyes with Blair, looking about to the suit around her.
Blair allows a small smile. "Yes, I'm sure it is quite cool."
Neo's predatory grin remains as she speeds the suit forward towards the third spider. She rams the spike pistol arm into the mag cannon spider, jerking it off half its legs. The wheels of her suit screech as she drives the mech to the edge of the barge! The cannon tries to shift and turn to aim at her, but Neo is ahead of it.
She tilts the spider over, the hunk of metal hitting the water and disappearing into the dark deep waters.
The mag cannon fires underwater, a massive water plume blasting up beside the barge and sending all its occupants stumbling! Neo gets her bearings controlling the suit, turning and charging for the man using the other suit. Her thoughts still come with glee. Bot fight! Spooked, the man aims his suit's gun at Neo as he backs up from her. However...
Neo sabotage. The wheels on its legs break and grind to a halt. The man jolts in his exposed pilot control. He looks wide eyed as Neo full speed charges. She slams into him as Blair turns her attention to the spiders.
The fire dust spider burns its blades and moves for her. Blair pops lightning dust into her hilt, igniting the gold blade in white violet lightning. Blair slides under the charging mech before piercing up!
Fluorescent Finish rips into the center of the spider, an arc of lightning sparking out the other side and scorching the metal. The metal limbs twitch and jolt as the coursing power fries every inch of circuitry. As the dust charge subsides, Blair is left holding the large mech up as it stills. Blair grunts and tosses the metal hunk off, sliding Fluorescent out with ease.
The lightning dart mech roves around her, moving for Neo. The girl has bashed the mech suited guard to the edge of the barge. Neo grins as she uses her suit to throw the man off the barge with a scream. Neo hums a laugh and makes the mech arms fist pump.
Its limbs spark and jolt. The dart spider fired into the girl's suit's back. Electrical currents fry the controls with Neo jolting in the seat. The power cuts, and Neo is unable to get any of the commands to work.
The robot spider speeds forward, ramming Neo's suit in the back to knock it into the water. Neo crawls out of the suit and leaps back onto the barge, a sad frown now. Bot battle is over...
The transport jet copter above comes around and slides to a halt just above the barge. It lands as Roman steps out. He spots Blair dodge another spray of the electric darts. "Well. You girls look like you're having fun." He spots Neo sulking to the side, making him chuckle. "Ah, yes. Bot fight must gave been fun."
Neo looks incredulous and gestures to the swishing water where her mech suit fell in. As if she says 'Right?!'
As Blair dodges another dart spray, Roman cracks out Velvet Valentine. Transforming to gun mode, the mad man unloads a burning stream of fire rounds into the robot! Bursting explosive shots rattle and batter the bot into submission. Bursts crinkle and warp the metal plating until sparks and arcs rip free of the damage.
Roman ends his barrage with a smoking Velvet held at his hip. The heap of burning, molten metal collapses, no longer functional. "Alright. Shall we grab Silver Streak?" He looks to the two and begins strolling to the main ship.
Blair approaches Neo, placing a hand on her shoulder. Neo sighs, having lost her new toy. She smiles back at Blair, bumping her shoulder into Blair's ribs. "I missed you too." Blair gives. She releases Neo, giving a stern look. "Did you keep your school work?"
Neo blinks, blushing lightly. She signs. "We left them back in our boarding room."
The blonde nods. "We can send you to get them later." Blair moves to follow Roman, leaving Neo to sulk. Great. Getting double checked... The group enters the ship, unaware of an extra set of eyes on them...
. . .
Inside, the sounds of gunfire rattle with stuttering impacts. In the deep inner storage, three last guards scramble. Around them are the unconscious teens, splayed out on caged beds. A stair way up to the only door to the storage rips open. A fourth man yells out as he's launched down the steps.
The three aim up with a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun. They open fire up the entry way, but nothing comes. The men shift around, sticking near cover as they peer up to the door.
Shatter.
The rifleman whips around as Neo appears from the fractured air. She slashes him down as the other two whip around. Roman bursts in from the entry, firing Velvet to spray the shotgun guard with fire rounds. Neo knocks the pistol guard's gun up as he fires into the ceiling.
She manipulates him around and throws him at Roman. The conman descends the steps, changing his weapon back to cane form and cracking the man's jaw with it! The guard crumples over as Blair enters casually.
"Right. Divide and conquer. Roman?"
He nods and gives a flippant wave. "I'll rig the boat and send a distress call for coast guard to catch." He ascends the steps, but calls to Neo. "Be a good lass and grab whatever supplies we might find useful. I'll grab anything that can paper trail us to our next venture."
Neo nods and moves to the remaining crates and fixtures for storage. She gives Blair a nod, the blonde reciprocating. "I'll check and grab the teenagers. We gotta off load Carmine at least before authorities arrive."
The three set about until the ship intercom.
"It's not nice to sneak around other people's property."
Blair, Neo, and Roman stop. Shit. "We wiped out everyone in the control room before moving down here." Blair states simply. Roman sighs at the top of the stairs, Neo grimacing in thought. "Neo, you recognize the voice?"
Before the girl responds, the voice cuts back in. "Miss Carson, it's not nice to invade other's privacy." Neo sucks in a breath.
Neo signs. "I was followed."
Blair closes her eyes, casting out her aura in a sensory check. A strong aura pulses back atop the ship. Then, it expands. Blair then notices that aura itself pings off her sense in multiple spots. The same aura in multiple places at once in different places. It then pings off in the storage room with them. "They're on top of the ship, but their aura is all over the place."
"An astute observation" The sentence rings both from the intercom and the guards in the room! All three of the incapacitated guards get up around the girls.
Neo and Blair respond within the second, striking two of the three! The last then makes it to the three locked beds containing the three captured teens. He unlocks the cages before Neo cuts them down again!
However, to their shock, the guards slowly raise again, like zombies. Blair senses out again.
The foreign aura pings off in each of the men! Blair's eyes widen as she activates her own semblance. Striking the nearest guard, she injects her aura into the man. A dark haze radiates from the guard as Blair's semblance ejects the foreign aura from him!
The body collapses, out cold, but Blair's semblance continuing to haze around the downed man! Blair grimaces. Their opponent merges their aura with others just like she does.
Worse yet, they can do so from a substantial distance.
"I'm the only one that can remove her control of them!" She cuts down the remaining guards, injecting her semblance into their and quelling any present aura inside. She looks to the three unconscious teens in the cages. "The teens have Nomaura in them, so she cannot control them." She looks to Roman and Neo. "Roman, get the teens to a safe spot. Neo and I will remove our new obstacle."
He gives a lackluster wave, clearly unhappy. "Enjoy." He lets Blair and Neo blitz by him. He hears as they round the corner and find a line of knocked out guards stumbling down the halls. The guards move like stiff zombies as they try to mob Blair and Neo. To utter failure.
Roman grumbles, grabbing a loading cart from the corner. He carelessly grabs the three teens, tossing them one after another into a heap. At the least, he places Carmine on top. "Come on, Silver Streak. You and your damned sacrificing..." He curses under his breath as he moves the cart.
. . .
Blair cuts through another two men, casting her semblance over them to expunge the mystery woman's aura. Thankfully, whoever this person is cannot maintain their connection against strong resistance. It must be why it's only taking root in those unconscious.
She bursts out from the ship, stopping at an overlooking rail to see a number of the unconscious guards gathered on the barge. Neo steps up, eyes darting up. A gasp alerts the blonde as Neo points up! The top of the main ship cabin collapses down towards them in an avalanche of metal.
The two leap from the rail and land on the barge end. The whining of metal behind them rings out while they ready themselves for a fight with the gang of men. However, they stay back. Like zombies, they stare stone faced at the girls.
Blair senses out with her semblance, looking right up. "There." Neo follows her look and winces.
Feminine hands clap lightly. Rita Boyd looks down on the two. Her pleasant grin mismatches her cold glare. The nurse is sitting on what must be her weapon. A long metal staff holds her in place in the air. Each end of the staff is lined with inner wind dust! Thrust ports give a light propulsion of wind under her, keeping her sitting aloft forty yards in the air!
Her red and black snake, Francis, is draped under her single spiral braid around her neck. Her hand tickles the reptile's jaw as she speaks up. "Someone else is in my game, it seems. Who are you, and why would you dare get in our way?"
Blair and Neo send glances at one another, brows raising. "Do... you not know who we are?" Blair speaks, genuinely confused.
Neo frowns at the nurse and signs. "How did you find me out?"
The pink haired nurse chuckles. "Francis told me." She lets her staff propulsion lower as she descends. "He also told me about your little scandalous plundering of my office last night."
Neo tenses. She... talks... to her snake. Blair spares a glance. "Am I missing some context?" Neo begins gesturing to her own neck like wearing a scarf. The blonde cocks her head. "The snake is... Francis?" Neo gives a thumbs up. Blair takes it in stride and nods. "Telepathic communing with those infused with her semblance, then."
Rita Boyd nods. "Impressive. You know that from experience with a semblance like yours?"
Blair loads fire dust into Fluorescent. "I'd love to exchange notes, but I don't even know your name."
"My nurse name is Rita Boyd." The nurse grins wide. "But, for your last moments, you can know me as Rita Medusa." She touches down on the ground in front of the controlled men, giving a dramatic bow. Francis slithers under her shirt collar and into her right sleeve. Medusa flourishes her wind staff weapon in her right hand.
Blair squints at the name. Slowly, she raises her sword up, wary. "Medusa... I know that name." Her eyes widen, quickly brushing Neo to stand behind her. "Neo, let me face her. Stand by and do not get involved."
Neo nudges her, wanting as explanation. Medusa perks. "Neo? Is that your real name?"
"She's former Atlas military." Blair states for Neo to hear. "She'd been a scientist for the SDC until joining a military operation. She's listed on bounty boards for stealing trade secrets and information, publicizing it and stopping several Atlas sting operations... A sociopath from what I hear." Neo gulps. Blair scowls at the opposing woman. "She may as well be Atlas's counter to the old White Fang's experience with Killa Gonzola."
At that, Medusa actually scoffs, offended as she gives a dull glare. "Oh, please. We both know Arthur Watts is that equivalent. Don't make me out as such a monster."
Feeling slapped by such a defense, Neo heats a glare and signs. "You work for AZRL! Monster confirmed."
Blair steps ahead. "Like I said: stay back. I will handle her." Entering her kendo stance, she waits for Neo to step to the side. Medusa's eyes playfully eye the short girl before settling on the blonde woman.
"You're still leaving me at a disadvantage. I didn't catch your name."
Rather than engage, Blair huffs and charges! The dozen guards between her and Medusa slide between the women to meet the charge! Blair zigzags around the leading man, then cuts the next aside. The third swings the butt of a rifle, but Blair rising cuts the weapon out of his hands. She side steps and slashes down, striking the fourth as she spins to elbow a fifth out of the way.
The sixth attempts to tackle her, but Blair back flips over him and the remaining guards, coming down at Medusa with a downward slash! Medusa chuckles as her staff's wind propels her back to avoid it. She sits back on the sideways staff as it raises her into the air out of reach.
Blair grits her teeth before dodging a swipe of a knife from behind. Two of the guards she'd just stricken haze over in her semblance, but the remaining ten continue after her. Blair Jabs the blade into the nearest man, the guard's Medusa empowered aura shield taking the hit before cracking. Blair injects her aura, dropping him with her semblance as she glowers.
That was harder...
Two guards draw out combat knives. At first, simple to defeat. However, Blair deflects one cut and slashes at another. Only, she finds that the other manages to deflect her own attack. They're getting faster! The two guards become three as the others advance with melee weapons, attacking almost in a predetermined pattern!
Blair's eyes track their weapons. And... Now! She binds one knife, twisting and disarming the zombie like guard and strikes down on his collar! The man's aura shield shatters, but his arms wrap around Fluorescent!
As Blair's semblance seeps into the man to remove Medusa's control, another guard wraps his arms over the first's torso, further binding Fluorescent! She can't pull her weapon back. The two other guards spread around to slash at Blair from both sides!
Pathetic.
Blair activates the fire dust inside her weapon. The blade heats in a hot haze, blazing orange before fire blasts out! The two guards on each side are blasted back. The three in front of her are engulfed in the flames and launched across the barge painfully. Two of those three haze over with Blair's semblance.
Five of the twelve down.
The remaining seven form up into a firing line, pulling out their pistols. Their grips are pathetic, but they manage to aim at her.
That's it! "Your control gets better the fewer there are." Blair points out.
Medusa floats nearby, smiling entertained. "Another astute observation." She complements and snaps her fingers. The firing line shoot at the blonde. She'll have to move faster.
Empowering herself further with her aura, Blair both ducks and weaves as she uses her sword to deflect every other shot between! She closes the distance, three of the seven opponents moving forward at her. When Blair attacks, the three attempt to wrap themselves around her weapon swing.
The same tactic. Really? Too bad its a feint.
Blair pulls back, instead using her off hand to bring up her sheath! Using its end mechanism, she pierces one man's aura with a jab of the sheath. The guards don't move as if they expected it, allowing Blair to pull back and land a clipping slash with her sword on another.
The victim of the slash tanks the hit. However, the man who the sheath pierced hazes over and drops. Six down. Six to go. Flipping Fluorescent to a reverse grip, she uses her right hand for defense. Her left hand uses the sheath to pierce through the aura shields now that they're tanking her slashes. In a quick flurry exchange, another three of the six fall. Now, she's down to three.
They move back, one picking up a metal plate of debris as a mock shield. The second picks up a rifle from the ground, aiming over the first and forcing Blair to run aside to dodge a burst shot! The third runs aside, almost moving at the same speed across from Blair.
They're moving much faster and better than when conscious now.
Blair ejects the empty dust can from Fluorescent one handed. She manages to get to cover behind the remains of one storage unit from behind. She takes the second to load Fluorescent with earth dust-
The third guard leaps over her cover, pulling out a stun baton and coming down at her! Blair dashes forward to dodge. She activates the earth dust, blowing out a forming rigid structure of rock walls around the two.
Blair looks up at the third guard, the two trapped together. Pressing forward, she moves into a flurry, the man deflecting and blocking! He's stuck with her now. Not the other way around. Blair feints a strike with her sword, but the guard reads it and dodges the follow up sheath jab!
He counter strikes, and Blair binds the baton with both her blade and sheath. Pressing forward hard, Blair slams the man's back to the wall to stun him. Winding the bind of three weapons, she frees the sheath and jabs it into the man, breaking the aura and washing her semblance over him.
Boom!
The rock walls collapse, the shield guard charging through! Blair hops over his charge easily, but the rifleman angles around from a distance off and opens fire! She dodges the burst shots, but the shielded guard swipes the metal plate up, bashing Blair's sheath from her left hand.
Fluorescent's sheath flips into the air before Medusa's off hand plucks it. The pink haired woman looks it over and smiles. "Very nice craftsmanship. Integrating a way to pierce through aura and pairing it with a semblance like yours or mine is quite potent."
Blair growls under her breath as she is forced to dodge around the gunman's fire. The shield guard moves to act as the gunman's cover again as Blair can only dodge and run! The woman above watches amused before a shadow looms over.
Medusa blinks and looks over-
Neo floats up, adrift in the air with Hush after a leap. She closes her weapon and vaults down at Medusa from an above angle. Medusa huffs, twisting on her staff to block Neo's strike! Both clash mid air, but a wind burst presses Medusa's block up, throwing Neo off. Medusa smirks and spins in the air, the side of her weapon strike the girl in the gut and sending her rocketing to the barge below!
It's only after righting herself and breathing out that Medusa feels something wrong. She looks to her hand... Fluorescent's sheath is gone.
Neo hits and tumbles with the ground, rolling to her feet and sliding to a pained halt. She falls to her knees, Hush in one hand, Fluorescent in the other. The girl smirks at the nurse before turning her attention to Blair's situation.
The gunman turns around, firing at Neo. The girl stands straight, blinking as her eye colors switch.
SHATTER.
Neo's image breaks away, surprising the guards and Medusa above. Behind the gunman, Blair moves to slash him, but the shield guard cuts her off and binds their weapons. That's when Neo reappears above, striking Fluorescent's sheath into the man's back and breaking his aura!
Blair uses this time to grab the man and inject her semblance into him. The shield man crumples as the gunman turns around to aim at the girls! Neo opens Hush, blocking a point black stream of bullets! Soon as the bullet fire stops, Neo closes Hush to reveal Blair lunging forward! Blair's strike with both blade and sheath breaks the last man's aura as she uses her semblance to drop him.
The two are left alone as Blair and Neo share a triumphant glance. "Thank you for the assist. Now..." They turn to Medusa, who lowers to the ground with a deathly glare. "The hard part." Blair huffs out, breathing hard.
Medusa raises a brow, noting Blair's sudden exhaustion. "I see. Your semblance is taxing to maintain. Much less maintain on two dozen men bare minimum." She smirks, touching down on her feet and twirling her staff. "If you don't end this quick, I'll end up getting control of them all real soon."
Unless...
Blair blitzes forward at the woman, throwing a swift strike at the nurse! The ear piercingly loud clang of metal on metal rings out! Medusa manages a broad block with her weapon. Lavender eyes meet amber, lit with enjoyment. "My my! Your weapon craft is even better up close... What's its name?"
Blair huffs, struggling to press the nurse back. "Fluorescent Finish." She goads out as she deftly loads more fire dust into her hilt out of the woman's direct sight.
Medusa's smile widens. "Beautiful... Let's see it against my Vector."
Blair activates the fire dust, igniting her blade as the flames grow between them! At the same time, the wind dust erupts out of the staff of Vector. The two weapons blast against one another in a clash of fire and wind!
The resulting explosion momentarily blinds Neo, who keeps her arms up to shield her eyes. Blinking the glare away, she's spooked by the speak of a strike near her!
Both adult women are quick, parrying and counter striking! Far faster than Neo could hope to keep up with herself.
. . .
Inside the ship, Roman manages to make his way to the top floor of the cabins. He finds the control room of the vessel, left as they'd done, smashed up with little to use. He takes his time to move each of the unconscious teen boys on the floor as he gets his bearings.
On instinct, he begins patting down the other two. Checking them over for anything that looks out of place. He's able to find the same spot on them as on Carmine. An injection area at the base of the neck and upper back. So, that's where the Nomaura was injected. However, there's almost a lump as well...
Raising his brow, the conman shifts each of the three to see a similar lump. Just under their skin, something there. Prodding the spot, the lump can move. Not limited in spot, so it's something just beneath the skin.
If it's shifting, then it isn't a reaction in the area. It's hard, so it isn't a bubble or anything with puss. No, it's an actual object underneath, no larger than a Mardi Gras bead.
Well, Barbie is off fighting the AZRL agent, so Roman's the only on the spot surgeon available. He pulls a pocket knife out, flipping the blade up. Preferring to use one of the unknown boys at the test subject, he cuts into the skin at the hard spot on the taller lanky boy.
A mild bleeding starts, but Roman manages to pop the hard object out. Small, metal. His green eyes scrutinize the metal marble as he rolls it in his palm. It's smooth, with a very small prod connector in the side.
AZRL had used a number of devices to protect their secrets before. Devices and implants into skulls and brains. However, those were used on members of higher levels of intel. People who knew connecting details. Now, they're implanting their NEW captures? Even knock off hunters in training, that seems like an odd practice.
However, it doesn't look right to him. It's not a bomb, or any kind of shock treatment. So, it has nothing to do with keeping secrets. If anything, it looks like a tracker...
It's familiar, though. He's seen it before, but why can't be put his finger on it?
As he thinks this, the prod lightly blinks a small pulse. On a hunch, Roman pulls out his scroll and uses its camera to zoom in close on the device. As a very casual tinkerer himself... with explosives, sure... he muses over the craft materials.
Anything that could link this object to a specific source.
Well, he has two others to check if he breaks this one, so he puts his scroll away, instead using his pocket knife to pry the device apart. Scouring the small details in the make, he looks through each and every piece. Electronics typically will have SOME type of giveaway. Some type of engraving or marker of what kind of maker, or at least material, is associated with it.
Hmm... AH! Model number to a small microchip inside the device. Back to his scroll, Roman inspects it as close as he can with the zoomed camera... Soon as he can snap a picture, he can look up the manufacturer... He does so! Model number tied to Mantle industry. No surprise there. AZRL has its roots deep in Atlas, their next pit stop.
A minute into his search... Roman's eyes widen as he nails down the production... "That... doesn't make sense... Wait." He stands and looks about. Quickly, he cuts another of the trackers out of the boy with the gun sword strapped to him. Then and does the same to remove it from Carmine. "Wait..."
He shakes his head in deep thought before rushing out. "Crap... You GOTTA be kidding me. BARBIE!" He shouts as he rushes from the room.
. . .
Another blast of fire against wind dust blows out in a maelstrom before Neo. The metal along the barge flooring has begun super heating in spaces. Several reddening patches glare out as the two woman continue to deflect off one another. Fluorescent Finish ignites with more fire as Blair sends a surge along the ground towards Medusa!
The pinkette twirls her staff like a helicopter blade, the wind jets swiftly blasting her over the flame surge. Blair uses the remainder of her fire control to cast the flames up after her in a tsunami of fire. Medusa grins as she flips with a twirl and bellows the flames with her wind to each side of her.
She twists before standing fully upon her weapon, Vector. The nurse pockets both her hands, casually standing on the staff high in the air. "Your casting is powerful, but very quick to burn through your reserves! You'll run out of dust soon!"
Annoyed at the woman's astute criticism, Blair draws out a blood capsule. It's labeled 'R'. Roman's blood. She leaks the capsule over the golden blade as it saturates crimson.
Medusa blinks, curiosity clear. She crouches instinctively, knowing she can recover from the attack she can't be aware of better as she grips Vector.
Blair activates Roman's semblance, flicking Fluorescent like a wand! Friction rips in the air directly by one of Vector's wind jets, igniting into flame before the wind fans it! An instantaneous blow back of flame throws Medusa off her balance in the sky. The nurse barely regains herself as she lands further off.
Medusa sucks in a breath as Blair speeds at her in a blur! Medusa brings up a static block, Fluorescent sparking in a clash with Vector. Blair's strike carries Medusa with her as both women skid back to a halt, weapons in a bind!
The pinkette recovers slowly, grinning. "Oh, I HAVE to get notes on your weapon!"
The blonde presses in, slowly overpowering the nurse. "Pay close attention, then."
Hssss...
Blair's eyes widen as Medusa chuckles. "That goes both ways!" As Francis the snake lashes out from her right sleeve! Medusa's aura empowers the snake as it lashes in a powerful strike, through Blair's aura shield! The venomous snake clamps down on Blair's bicep!
"AH!" Blair cries in a flash of pain. Her off hand manages to use her sheath to jab Medusa, capturing her blood in a fresh capsule.
Both women stumble back apart, aura shields breaking between them! Blair immediately seizes at the pain. Neo rushing up to her. Neo's face darts back and forth in shock as she signs. "Venomous! Stay still!"
Medusa catches her breath, a grin forming. "Good boy, Francis." Her off hand pets the coiled snake. "Protect Mommy- AH!" She hazes over, Blair's semblance injected inside her as the dark clouded look washes the woman! Medusa drops in pain, eye twitching as she struggles. "Damn... Clever girl!"
Blair winces, fighting to focus her semblance. "A venomous snake as a pet means antivenom. So, I'll let you go if you offer it and leave." The two women glare in the now formed standoff. "Neo, if she declines, impale her with Hush and search her."
The pinkette twitches and lets out a pained chuckle. "Trusting a girl to understand whatever products I have? You'll likely die overdosing on something else." Neo steps between them, Medusa taking a worried step back. The short girl grimaces and charges.
BOOM. A gunshot ricochets off the ground between them.
"Alright, ladies. Let's save the death and despair for another day." Roman comments flippant as he stomps his way over. He looks at Blair, noticing the woman is paling. He looks then to Medusa, who winces in pain from said blonde's semblance. "You want to tell them or me?"
Neo double takes between Roman and the nurse. She half expected something more nefarious, only for Medusa to equally look confused. "I beg your pardon?"
Roman holds up the trackers from Carmine's and the others' necks. "Waste of our gods damned time coming here. We should have just passed this place up completely."
"What... ugh... are you talking about?!" Blair snarls out, pain beginning to burn through her arm.
Neo signs. "What are those?" She then shakes herself. "Wait, Blair's been poisoned! Just help take her down."
Roman sends an unimpressed look at Medusa. The nurse looks more confused. "I am sorry, but I am just as lost as they are-" The man holds up the trackers before Medusa, the woman snapping her jaw shut. She meets Roman's gaze, confusion still present. "Are you... not AZRL's competing rivals?"
Blair grits her teeth. "You... really..."
Roman face palms. "Ma'am, we are Team CRBN. AZRL's enemy." The familiar tone he takes with the woman takes Neo aback. Roman gestures to Blair. "Barbie, release your semblance. This woman isn't with AZRL."
… What?
Blair appraises Roman's look, to determine if he's lying. Her mounting frustration bleeds over the pain. "She's wanted in all the kingdoms and present for an AZRL operation! Of course she's-"
"Undercover." Roman cuts her off, then glares at Medusa. "Am I right?" He holds up the trackers again to the three's collective shock. "These are manufactured by the Atlas military. It's military. Not the SDC that AZRL has infiltrated. Not by Mantle's private sector that AZRL certainly holds businesses within. I would know! I've stolen things with these on them years ago! So, why the hell else would they be planted in each of the brats necks?" He whips his arms gesturing as he speaks as if the three women are idiots.
Medusa blinks painfully. "... Oh... You're actually Team CRBN?" She looks the three over before glowering at them all. "You fools took your damned time investigating Patch! Release your semblance and let me cure you before it's too late." She herself adopts a haughty tone, impatient all the sudden.
The playful yet sadistic tone was all washed away with exasperation. As if she had some right to be angry with them? Blair, confused, finally drops her semblance.
The nurse almost collapses, using Vector to stop her fall. She sends a glower at Roman as she reaches deep into an inner jacket pocket. Removing a vial of clear liquid, she holds it up to Neo. "Here, this is Francis's antivenom."
Neo and Blair stair dumbly at it, confused. The girl hesitates to pluck it from Medusa's hand before Blair squeaks out a weak reply. "Why..?"
"She's an Atlas plant." Roman says, still hotly annoyed and crossing his arms.
WAIT WHAT?!
The threat to Patch is more or less dealt with this chapter. Also, a brief appearance of Ruby in this one to wrap up the bet with the three idiots! Bit more with fights with Rita Boyd, now Rita Medusa. Plus, some catching up with Roman and Blair.
References:
Rita Boyd, now Rita Medusa, is based on the character of the Witch Medusa from Soul Eater. Much like many of the AZRL members, she's based from that series. Even the alternate name, Boyd, is based off a later plot point in that series. Her semblance lets her mix her aura with others for higher intuition of communication/empowerment like with her snake, or puppet control of unconscious victims like the guards.
Her weapon, Vector, is a simple rocket staff with wind dust functions. Named after Soul Eater's Medusa's Vector plate ability. To let her ride on it like a witch. Francis the snake is just named Francis for the laughs. No reference to that.
And, just like Medusa in Soul Eater, a plant in the main organization for her own motives. In this case, an Atlas deep sting operative infiltrating AZRL. More next chapter.
Join next time in Chapter Fifty Eight: Bridges Burned.