So, had a vacation away from home, THEN a super storm knocks out power for four days during the hottest week of the year. Lost over a week and a half of writing time. Oh well, had a great time on vacation and getting back into this. Now, here's just hoping that mother nature can leave my state the hell alone.
Apologies for the wait.
Chapter Sixty Four: Setbacks and Breakthroughs
Throughout the skies of Malum, amid the hundreds of thousands of birds, Watts' scouts fly. His birds fly. Observing, scouting, and monitoring. All transmit their feeds back. Back home, as it were. Feeds are categorized within groups, depending on which of the mechanical animals is assigned to an area.
One such bird finds itself atop a fence line, watching traffic. The roads and people moving by fall into its view. A techno readout identifying certain postures and outlines as possible threats or harmless objects.
So, when a young man with raven hair walks under the fence, the bird notices a shift. Aura in the air. A yellow haze around the bird alerts it. The haze shapes into a perfect square before... blink. The bird is gone from the fence.
And in the raven haired man's hand is the sparking bird.
Jayce Crimean smiles happily as he pops the back of the scout robot off. He immediately delves into its wiring until exposing a plug in. Removing his own device, he plugs in.
Removing his scroll from his pocket, he finds a map of Malum. The map blinks with several locations highlighting. However, it's a bright blinking hot spot in the factory district in the lower sector that gets his attention.
"Elementary, as one should say." Jayce muses to himself.
. . .
Inside Watts' warehouse, the doctor and Blair sit before a large detailed surveillance station. Watts hums bored, stroking his mustache and looking over a small hologram of SDC facility's blueprints. His other hand fingers a single line in the ventilation.
He leans back in his high back chair, appraising the group's progress. Roman was interacting with a door into the next section, monitored by Blair, and Neo was well on her way to Pietro's lab. Carmine was in place at the appointment keeping Frank in place. If things keep going this way, then they should be home free and out of Malum by sundown.
That... reminds him. "Miss Goodwitch, would you please monitor the progress for a moment? I must make a call."
Blair raises a brow at him and nods. Her attention on Roman's exploration. While they had no visual, the mechanical birds unable to view inside the facility, she had a set of headphones in as she listens to Roman move about.
"Shall I take that silence as you having fun with Wattsworth?" Roman's voice whispers in amused.
Soon as he does, the second channel Watts had clicks twice. Neo at another junction.
Blair keys her mic first. "I still don't trust him, but hopefully we can be done with him soon. Also, silence." She then switches channels to Neo's. "Alright, Neo. Your next turn should be... Right. You'll move straight through the next three intersections, then go up."
Away from the blonde, Watts moves to the far end of the warehouse, removing his scroll. Damn. Indulging this mission has made him late for his check in. He enters a number and starts a call. A moment passes until an answer finally comes. A voice is barely audible, but to any nearby, they would not make it out.
"Yes, progress is being made... Yes, this team is quite competent, though they are quite wary... Not quite. I am hoping for alternative ways to confirm whether it is this boy or not... No. They don't yet know of her. I've been careful to omit mentioning our Mistress. How are things going for Miss Fall?"
A pause lasts nearly a minute before the man scoffs. "So, a street rat and the son of who we actually wanted. That's her brilliant team." He clicks his tongue incredulously and shakes his head. "I don't want to upset our mistress, but to give Miss Fall such a task..."
His expression slowly sobers as he locks his gaze on a single point on the wall. Just for focus. "Yes, I am aware Tyrian is more than thrilled with his assigning. Lionheart practically gifted him the perfect job befitting a psychopath."
Another pause. Watts huffs. "Yes. If CRBN works out, then we will finally have the chink in the armor of Atlas. I will report again post mission." He hangs up and makes his way back.
Upon reaching his station, he notes Blair focusing heavily on directing both her teammates. Even Carmine was on his third channel, forcing the blonde to monitor three channels of communication. Watts would be impressed if half the conversations weren't quips and inane babble. The admittedly brilliant blonde was actually a blessing though. Unfortunately, she entertains the other three in their stupidity.
Watts allows Blair to take both Carmine's and Roman's channels as he continues to monitor the mute's progress. After giving the girl further direction, Watts tunes on Carmine's channel.
"Getting blood taken is better than getting something shot in. He's off testing the blood now... Guy's a rude asshole too by the way."
"Frank is direct and ill suited to bed side manner in my experience." Watts retorts. "He should find the Grimm venom within ten minutes and will return to you with prescriptions for immune support pills. Likely military grade pain killers in small quantities." The doctor rattles off.
He notices Blair quirk her brow. Watts looks over to her. "I was speaking to Roman and the communication cut."
Watts' eyes widen a fraction, but he returns his attention to Neo. "I'll direct the girl then look at it. He may have come across something himself. Calm your leader down, please." He keys the radio for Neo. "Only three more turns. You're almost directly over his lab. You'll want to drop by what I presume is his prep area. It will have his computer to steal the info. Go left, then-" A crackle. "-right and right."
He pauses, hearing the crackle. His gaze narrows.
Beside him, Blair's calls to Carmine. "Neo just went off dark in the research center. She should be meeting with Roman soon enough, but Roman himself has reached-" Crackle. "-the lab and..." She looks to Watts.
The two sober, immediately realizing this wasn't something on their end...
Both burst from their seats. Blair calls. "I'll alert them that we're compromised." She reaches for her scroll with one hand, Fluorescent Finish with the other.
Watts moves to another station, looking over his network of scouting birds.
He notices one of the feeds is cut. Then another. And another. Progressively closer to the warehouse itself. "We've been found." He grimly states before a hint of anger seeps. "Or rather, I've been found it would seem." A firm stare towards the woman lets her know the severity of the situation. "Prepare for a battle. Miss Fall said your team was exemplary. For once, I hope she was correct."
Blair sneers at him, but bites her tongue. Closing her gaze, she feels out for auras with her semblance.
Thum...
The lights cut out, allowing only light cutting through the high windows to illuminate the inside. The tinted glass keeps the areas shrouded, save for small beams of light through cracks and splits in the wall. Watts clicks his tongue, eyes already adjusting. His hands reach into his coat.
Blair's eyes snap open. "Over a dozen adult auras circling the warehouse. Two are trained auras." The two of them appraise surroundings.
"EMP. Low grade. Its field is low and meant to only last until a breach can be made." Watts muses as he observes his devices. "I would assume a few minutes until my defensive measures return."
Crash.
Blair senses three auras enter the front of the warehouse. She sets her blood capsule and ice dust can aside in case Carmine Recalls her weapon from her. She sprints forward, moving around shelving and pops a mix of onyx and violet dust in the grip of Fluorescent. Gravity dust.
Whipping around a corner, the first invading man appears, fully armored in SWAT great and a visor helmet. Infrared vision scopes in the helmet, she's sure. "There! Blast her!"
Blair activates the gravity dust, her sword blurring into a starry night black with violet and white blinks of light. She swings up, casting as a violet warp in the air fills the space between them. All three cops fire at Blair as their shots slow and catch in the center of the gravitational well.
She flourishes the blade, cast pulling the warp around with her. With a slash, the warp disappears, and all the collected shots fire out back at the attackers. One man cries out as twenty shots pelt him, throwing him back into the wall!
Blair sweep slides under another shot, then rises into a slash to cut the third man down! She then kicks the second man's leg out before striking his gun away and striking him down. Her semblance hazes over the last man, eliciting cries of pain.
Letting her semblance quell him, Blair continues to the door as another four men rush through. In a single movement, Blair ejects the empty dust from Fluorescent and slides a fire dust cylinder in. Blair burning in power, Blair casts a slash forward, blasting the intruding men in flames! The explosive blast vaporizes the area of the door and obscures the opening in black smoke.
Knowing that the attack took out the four men, as well as the fifth and sixth she sensed beyond the entry, Blair moves for cover. They may use the smoke to hide and view her with their infrared vision.
Closing her eyes, she senses out, feeling Watts dealing with others at the back entrance. Then a voice calls out.
"Arthur Watts? I hadn't expected your style to be so barbaric and explosive. Though, I suppose it is festive." The polite and chipper tone cuts through the warehouse. From the smoking entrance, a silhouette marches through, hands behind its back. Beside him is another aura as well... one she recognizes.
Blair scowls, reaching into her inner coat pouch for a blood capsule. Neo's blood.
Jayce Crimean appraises the sprawled out bodies about him. An amused glint is in his eye. He smiles to the man beside him. A man clad in black tactical suit, form fitted, with a silver tinted helmet encasing his head. On the silver visor helmet is a black panted on three eyed skull.
The Captain... Black 1372.
They hadn't dealt with him since Carmine fought him in Sanctuary. A simple enforcer, but he's no pushover from Blair's memory.
Watts isn't someone for close combat. Gotta draw them in thinking close combat is a weakness. Blair cracks the blood capsule, coating Fluorescent in Neo's blood as the blade soaks and shifts crimson. Activating the blood, the blonde is replaced with the infamous scientist.
Now in the visage of Doctor Arthur Watts, Blair turns around the corner, maintaining a critical eye and calm attitude. She steps out to confront them. Clicking her tongue, Blair squares up against them in the open.
Jayce brightens. "Ah! There you are. Dr Watts, I have a message from you from my master." He steps in front of the Captain, deliberately appearing diplomatic with a friendly face. "We would like you to reconsider joining our organization. Dr Near's active position can help garner you better resources for your personal experiments than your current company."
Blair raises a brow in Watts' form. She can't perfectly imitate the man's speech with Neo's semblance, so she instead focuses on posture. Her illusory lips curl into a condescending smirk as she tilts her head. She then glances to the dead or dying men on the ground.
Jayce chuckles and waves the concern off. "Oh, if you agree to the terms, then don't mind them. Reds. Collateral. Though we WOULD have to report their deaths to the local police force since now one of their SWAT units is disposed of."
Blair huffs, a Watts deep scoff. She gestures with her hand for him to continue.
He raises a brow at her, eyeing her closely. "Ah... I see. Nonverbal." He looks to the Captain. "Is it a hologram? I thought the EMP would knock out his toys."
The shrouded man shakes his head. "No. Heat and electronic signatures are normal."
The woman knows she could attack now, but if they can talk more and offer some information, she wants it. Especially since they appear to want Watts to work with them! She maintains a cocky smirk and dips her illusory head for Jayce to speak.
The young man seems skeptical. "Well then. How about this? If you agree to work with us, then not only will you obtain better resources for your skills to flourish, but Dr Near and myself can create an entire new identity for you." He smiles warmly, dipping his head. "Sir, you could return to the SDC in full force, reclaim your position under a new name, and neither General Ironwood or Jacques Schnee could do or say a single thing about it."
Are... are they that desperate?! Blair is shocked at just how much AZRL appears to want- no. NEED Arthur Watts given their attitude over it.
A thought goes through her. Would Watts say yes to the proposal? How fortunate is it for her to confront them now, else this situation ends up with all three of the men against just her. Fortune smiles, it seems.
Blair smirks, setting a smoldering glare on the man. She gives no further answer, waiting for the preppy businessman to pick up on the perceivable answer.
"I... see." Jayce gives a said grimace. "Your loyalty truly lies with Salem, it seems."
Salem?
"No matter." Jayce snaps his finger. "Captain!"
The clad man twirls out a shock baton and sprints at Blair in a blur of a dash! Quick! However, it plays into Blair's strength. SHATTER! Blair's image breaks from the visage of Watts and jabs her sheath into the charging Captain's blocking arm, breaking through the aura shield with its prongs. Blood captured.
Blair's semblance flares, the violet haze shrouding the Captain and bringing him to a knee. Blair draws Fluorescent again, striking the shock baton out of his hand! The sword draws up as she swings down on the man!
A flash of golden aura. The clang of metal on metal as Fluorescent bashes against two hidden blades protruding from under Jayce's wrists. The young man arms were up so the hidden blades extended into a cross block!
He throws Blair back as the Captain punches the ground in pain. His Armor Lock semblance pulses around his body, dispelling Blair's semblance from him. The two square off against Blair. "Wow! So, that's the silent treatment! I hadn't expected CRBN of all things." Jayce lights up.
The Captain checks corners. "That's a bad development."
Gun shots sound off from the other end of the warehouse. Blair's senses reach out, feeling the remaining minor auras going down one by one dealing with Watts.
Jayce smirks. "Then we shall deal with it before moving onto the doctor." He smiles bright at the blonde. "It isn't nice to accept other people's messages on their behalf. Truly underhanded."
Blair huffs, not one to quip with these monsters. "You get one chance to stand down peacefully." She slides into her kendo stance. "Come forward, and I will do as is done in Atlas... No mercy."
"No mercy?" Jayce smirks, tilting amused as his skull earrings dangle. "You heard the lady, Captain. Sweep the leg."
In a blur of movement, the Captain slides around Jayce, sweeping a kick low. Blair's leg pulls up to dodge, and she slashes down! The man deflects the slash with his baton, twirling it as he lashes with it. Blair back steps, deflecting two swipes.
Blair counter ripostes, clipping the man's shoulder with the point to knock him off balance. Her turn to advance. She strikes the baton up, opening a pommel bash with her hilt to the man's chest. The Captain slides back as a square golden warp shines between the two! Blair is unable to stop herself mid strike as she falls into the warp!
She recovers footing, finding herself on the other side of the Captain! Directly in front of Jayce. Her off hand jerks Fluorescent's sheath up to block the young man's hidden blade! The two lock sheath to weapon.
The blonde twirls her sword to a right reverse grip, turning to block the Captain's strike from the other side! Pushing both off, Blair's attention is divided. She faces the Captain, deflecting a baton with her sheath! She sheaths Fluorescent, triggering the captured blood.
However, she's only able to block one hidden blade jab from Jayce! The other hit slashes across her chest, sending her in a spin. Blair plants her foot to steady herself as both Jayce and the Captain attack on each side!
Blair triggers the blood, activating the Captain's Armor Lock semblance! White sparking aura shines off her as both men's attacks smash against her! Yet, she doesn't budge, the active aura pulsing both men off her!
She takes the reprieve to leap into the air, landing herself on one of the high shelves to overlook them. Breathing relieved, she blinks and notices more light.
The power is back on.
Jayce grunts before regaining his composure. He looks up to the blonde. "Well, you're not half bad with some technological quirks yourself! A weapon that steals semblances?" He eyes Fluorescent in Blair's hands. "What other surprises could your mind give? I'm sure Dr Near would love to pick your brain."
Blair snorts. "Figuratively or literally?"
Click.
The Captain rolls in front of Jayce, activating his semblance as a high power shot blasts into him! He tanks the hit, straightening his stance to see Watts approaching from the side in a stroll.
"Knowing Frank, the answer there would be 'both'." He smirks at Jayce, matching the younger man's confidence. "Also, speaking of surprises..." His entrance trap ignites, prods pulsing up as a shock field blasts around the two invaders! Like with Carmine days before, the two grunt out in pain as Watts strokes his mustache before them. "How insulting for Zandril to send a simple pawn and arrogant brat."
However, both captured AZRL agents shrug back the pain and direct themselves at the man. Jayce smiles. "Oh, sir. We were chosen specifically to counter you."
A flash of golden aura around him, his portal forming atop him!
Blair senses the aura flare at the blown open exit, another golden warp portal flashing as Jayce is deposited. The businessman smirks, jabbing his arm out. From his sleeve, a burst flashes as the hidden blade fires out through the golden warp in front of him!
The projectile fires out from the portal still in the shock field! Watts jerks back, but the fired blade jabs into his coat! Two hooks lock into his coat for grip as Watts sees a metal wire connecting back through the portal to its owner.
Jayce jerks his arm, wrenching Watts from the other side of the portal. Pulling him into his own trap's electronic field.
As Watts is pulled in, the Captain pulses his Lock semblance, pulsing the electronic net free of himself. He tumbles forward as Watts is wrenched in, the net reforming around its creator! The latches on the hidden blade loose, allowing the blade to retract through the golden warp back into Jayce's sleeve.
Blair sucks in a breath, seeing her only... ally... now trapped.
Jayce grins wide. "One way or another, your work will change hands, Dr Watts. I will offer you the same courtesy I attempted when this woman impersonated you. Will you denounce the Black Queen and work with us? If not for yourself, then a better world?"
The 'better world' words stay Blair's hand, confusion and curiosity peaking. Who were they to speak of crafting a better world?
Within the field, Watts huffs a laugh, thoroughly amused. "A better world is such an amorphous term. A world crafted by a jaded child lashing out at his better is not what I would classify as 'better'." He spits the word back. "Tell your master to accept his place. Not playing at righteous knight, but a pawn that survived as an insignificant example."
Processing. Blair's brow furrows as she absorbs the accusations thrown between them.
Watts' sleeve pulls up, revealing a small remote panel on his forearm. He presses down as the electric field disables. A remote to his traps! Watts aims two guns up at Jayce, surprising the younger man and fires twice!
The Captain slides between Jayce and Watts, activating his semblance to act as an invincible shield! Two pulsing explosions burst off him from the shots, obscuring him.
Watts pulls back, scoffing. He looks to Blair at her higher vantage point, nodding once to her as he turns to run. Blair understands. He's a battlefield controller. He wants to lure them into a trap, which means she can't much help him. They need to split their opponents.
The smoke clears, Jayce wiping a sweat from his brow and showing his nerves. He looks up to Blair and grimaces. "Captain, please pursue the doctor. Your semblance can withstand anything he should have in store for you."
"Won't help much with closing distance." The Captain's voice grumbles.
"That's what I was for, but unfortunately, I will see to our CRBN nuisance." Jayce allows a smirk, locking eyes with Blair. "Keep on the doctor, and I'll join you when I can." The Captain grunts and charges after Watts further into the warehouse.
Blair takes her moment to insert another dust can into Fluorescent. This isn't the first encounter between CRBN and Jayce. In Vale, Jayce nearly caught Neo, and he'd acted as a diversion against Roman and Blair while Mary Anne attempted to raid Junior's Nightclub.
From her observations, he could create portals: One by him and one at a distance. He could freely warp other objects and people. He uses hidden blades and likely other weapons in his suit. As she just witnessed, those same blades can fire out and hook into targets. Connected back to him by wire, they can reel in victims.
Ah. The Captain was the tank, and he was the pursuit.
Jayce rolls his wrist and undoes his suit jacket buttons for a looser fit. He smiles at Blair. "Would you like to continue getting to know one another, Miss Gale?"
Beginning to regret her false name all those years ago in Vale. Blair scoffs, activating fire dust for an orange blade. "As you wish." She drops down, slashing out a torrent of flames at the man.
"Hmph!" The man grunts as another square warp of gold appears in front of him! Another appears at the base of the shelves. The wave of licking flames wash around the portal, but all that would strike Jayce warps through the portal! At the base of the shelf wall, those same flames burst out, blowing out the foundation!
Blair's footing gives way as the shelves collapse. She leaps up and over, processing the ability presented. Don't use projectiles, or he'll re-purpose them. Landing and swapping dust types, she changes to ice. Her blade goes light blue as she slashes down.
Jayce's eyes widen as ice warps along the ground to coat the floor and outside ground. With the heat from the prior flames, the ice slightly melts then freezes again into a slick black ice beneath their feet! Blair casts the ice over her boots, adding spikes for traction as she charges forward.
The man's eyes widen, footing weaker. Jayce's arms throw up, both hidden blades firing up into the ceiling! The wires wrench him up to dodge Blair's attack! She leaps up after him to strike in the air!
The blades release the ceiling as Jayce disappears into a portal forming directly on him. Blair's slash slices nothing but air as the portal disappears. Jayce lands from another portal just above the ground. He jabs one palm down, hidden blade anchoring himself into the ice for leverage.
He raises his right arm, firing the hidden blade up. In the air, Blair can't react as the blade jabs her leg! A break in the aura, the blade manages to draw blood as the hooks latch. Blair cries in pain as Jayce jerks down! Blair is lashed down, a smashing impact as she hits flat on the ice ground.
Lesson learned. Battlefield control is effective, but he's more than able to adjust.
Blair stands up, the gash in her thigh healing with aura as she glares at the smirking man. Cocky, he calls out. "I can see the wheels turning. Trying to figure out my power so you can limit it? Don't think that I'm not doing the same."
Blair huffs. Of course they should have at least an idea of all her capabilities. He knows to avoid direct combat. He wants to nickel and dime her aura down before going for the kill. Using too much power on the attack may be a mistake.
Instead, she needs to bait him.
She narrows a glare on the man as she swaps dust cans again. Earth. The blade shifts to an earthen brown. Jabbing down, she casts out the dust!
All exits, patches in the walls, and corridors in the warehouse all enclose with walls of rock. Jayce blinks as he finds himself encased within the building, several walls forming a small maze between himself and Blair.
Of course, the only way for the maze to go is to Blair. He cannot see where she is, and cannot see wherever he may try to warp to.
Blair crouches to a knee, sheathing Fluorescent ready for a draw slash. Her eyes close as she focuses her semblance. She detects Jayce standing exactly where she saw him last, behind walls of rock. "Your move." She mutters under her breath.
A pause. No movement seems to come from Jayce, according to her senses. However, there's a... haze. Focusing more closely, Blair's attention locks in on... currents? Currents of aura? Not a lot, but enough? Is this related to his semblance? Why would it leave aura behind in the air?
Then, a spike. Jayce's aura in the air, specifically around Blair, condenses inward rapidly! No, on TWO points! The other point is directly by Jayce himself!
Her eyes snap wide as golden aura condenses around her! For a nanosecond, she feels like she's falling, only to pop out directly in front of Jayce! He warped her to him!
"AH!" Blair cries out in burning pain as Jayce's hidden blade jabs in! Blair's arm managed at the last second to redirect from a killing blow. The thin hidden blade pierced her aura fully, spearing through just above the hip!
Blair lurches with the pain as she comes eye to eye with Jayce, mere inches between them. Jayce smirks. "I'll give you one hint. Only a fool engages me in my Iron Maiden semblance."
Blair cries out as he rips the blade out from her side! Jayce pulls back, spinning left before hard kicking Blair in the gut! The blonde is launched into and through the thin earth wall! Blair continues on, barreling through until she crashes into the warehouse wall!
The shock on the walls crumbles several of the rocky barriers previously placed by the woman. Jayce stands straight and proper, smiling. He remains passive as Blair pulls herself to her feet, leaning against the wall.
Then his smile washes away. Blair's now the one smiling wide.
So, THAT'S how his semblance works.
An Iron Maiden: a torture device that is a contained space with spikes piercing from each and every angle. If his semblance is named for this, then it must be linked to it. A dangerous space where he can attack or move in any angle. Obviously, his semblance warps represents the danger from all sides, but what constitutes his space? HIS contained space?
His aura. He spreads it as he fights, allowing it to hang in the air. He can place aura to plan out his area where he can use his semblance. That's why he leapt up before. Because when she jumped after him, he could warp back to the ground where his aura already was to attack from the other side.
He moves about until his aura is sufficiently everywhere. Then, he can attack from anywhere and find you, anywhere.
Blair picked the wrong battlefield, choosing to keep the fight locked where they'd been fighting the whole time. His aura is saturating the area now! So, the only counter measure is to change locations... Get out of his space.
She draws Fluorescent, the blade crimson red...
Jayce's eyes widen. He looks to his leg, seeing a healed puncture on his leg. She captured his blood in that last exchange!
And unfortunate for him, Blair's semblance allows her to spread her aura by itself. Her aura spreads out, beyond the warehouse. Blair's smirk is absolutely predatory as she activates the blood! It's HER turn to warp as her slash cuts a warp into existence! She passes into it, disappearing.
Jayce flinches, unsettled. He knows his own semblance. He needs to leave a space saturated in her aura. If he leaves, she can't warp him to her! Jayce instead moves himself further into the warehouse, in the opposite direction of Blair.
Satisfied at the distance, he smiles. "She won't be able to use my semblance where her aura isn't present. I'll simply catch up to the Captain, finish Watts, and we'll reengage her." He mutters to himself. All will go according to-
A violet warp condenses around him. The square portal forms directly on top of him as he's warped through! That's right. In the same instance she stole his blood, she inserted her own aura into him... He literally could not run away!
Jayce falls out to the other side of the warp. Outside! Away from the aura he'd spread in the previous area! His arms cross to block whatever attack is coming...
However, when that attack is a lightning charged Fluorescent Finish slashing up as Jayce is dropped out of the portal, that may not be enough.
CLANG!
The static charged slash burrows into Jayce's sleeves into the hidden blades and the bracers attached. The mechanical pieces of his weapons stress and crack apart from the strike force, lightning coursing through him on the hit! The violet sparking blade bashes Jayce up, the man's now broken arms and weapons thrown wide from the hit.
The man hits the ground, arms cringing inward in pain as he cries out. "Gah!" He wheezes breathes to try and grit through the agony, but he can only contain wails as he shifts himself to sit up.
Blair uses Fluorescent's sheath to steady herself, like a cane. Her right arm reverses Fluorescent's grip, pressing the side of the blade into her still bleeding side wound. The blood soaks in and colors the blade crimson.
Jayce wheezes a pained breath, peering up wide eyed. Realizing her move, he focuses his aura. Must move. Must escape NOW! A golden portal begins forming over him!
But Blair is already striking.
The crimson blade twirls around before striking Jayce harder into the concrete. His back cracks and digs into the gray surface as a choking garble cracks out. The blood activates, Blair's semblance doubling upon him both from herself and her weapon!
Violet hazes over him as his golden aura quells and disperses in a pop! Blair stands over Jayce as the man is left weak, battered, beaten as her power wreaks havoc on his senses. He coils and twists on the ground, struggling against the power as Blair's own will claims his form as its domain.
Jayce is on his knees as Fluorescent halts at his neck. Blair smirks. "Now, everything you know will be revealed."
The man grits his teeth, seething. "Torture isn't something that works on us. I don't plan on being a traitor."
"I know." Blair's predatory glare chills him. "I'm not asking for the knowledge. I've little time for it." Her doubled up semblance hazes over him, the violet shrouded tint of her semblance thickening. "I'm going to check inside for myself!"
Many times, Blair has connected with willing minds. Carmine's in Mountain Glenn. Neo's in Sanctuary. Holding a connection with someone beyond in the moment sensation... Beyond restraint and inducing a mental state. Beyond pain control or induction.
For the first time, Blair uses the full force of her power, focusing her whole being on melding into the mind of an unwilling subject...
The last she hears in the physical world is Jayce's screams.
. . .
What are they planning?
A gavel strikes. Another child is moved. From the hands of captors to the hands of newfound owners. Children of all types, shapes, sizes, and ages are marched out. The presence of the young ones is replaced by Lien. Money.
An auction. Just like Vale. The Silver Auditorium.
But... Much larger. MUCH larger. Enough to clear out absolutely all their stock.
Every child remaining will be sold. All that they have. All in one sale? Why such a rush?
Striking of weapons. Huntsmen and Huntresses. The strong lock downs of law enforcement. Atlas carriers float in the sky, their leader looking down upon them with steeled eyes. The war in the shadows was brought fully into the light by CRBN. AZRL no longer has the capacity to operate in such a grand scale.
But not just the Kingdoms... Black beasts wash over hideouts, finding and ravaging children. All the while, transports carry away the armored men and women of AZRL away... Grimm attacking their outposts? Their businesses cleared by Hunters, and their underbelly exposed to the monsters... But Grimm aren't an intelligent faction...
Among the black hordes stands a humanoid figure, no bigger than an adult female. A wave of her hand, and the creatures follow. Is she a unique type? Her figure, her visage is too dark to observe.
Either way, AZRL has learned it cannot continue to operate as it has. They must sell ALL the children in their possession for a final burst of profits.
But to what end? Surely, if they mean to sell absolutely everything, they are planning a counter.
What's the recovery strategy? How are they planning to proceed?
"Immunity" The word reverberates.
Images of Aline Zandril flood, standing directly beside the top brass of Atlas. Impossible. No matter how much money they gross, there's no means of melding themselves into the top elite of this kingdom. The image even shows General Ironwood, a man decorated in a white military uniform with a chiseled jaw and strong features.
Yet, the image clearly shows the General merely clench his fist, unable to lift a finger against them. A myriad of well off nobles and prolific elite stand, almost as a shield from the righteous commander.
Immunity by peers. Immunity by protection.
In the center of the pack, Zandril's hands clench behind his back a collection of chains. Chain links fade into place out from behind him, linking and looping around each noble rich person's throat. An anchor to hold loyalty.
Money alone cannot do this. Not alone. It requires selfish needs and manipulation.
So, selling every child at once for a boost, then securing immunity by connections. Then start over.
But how? HOW?
Signs. Screaming. Chanting. Protests. Hundreds of people, Faunus, all form as a united front... All outside of a grand structure. The view focuses into the grant structure. A stadium. A stage shows, overlooking extravagant seating out in the shadows of a room. The stage itself populates. Stage lights, instruments... A singer.
Show more. Show me how-
. . .
As Blair's entire focus burrows and shreds at the screaming man's mind, the Captain bursts out from the warehouse. His armor is torn in places, anger showing in his tense posture. However, he turns to see his partner getting tortured by the woman.
Nearby, Watts emerges, patting dirt from his shoulder as her eyes the same scene. His eyes catch the Captain begin charging the two. He's abandoned chasing Watts to save his partner. The doctor scoffs. "Tch." He cups his mouth and shouts. "Woman! Move!"
Blair does not move. Her act against the young man before her blocks her awareness of the world around. The Captain closes in, twirling his baton and curving around to strike from behind.
"Damn. What's that woman doing?!" Watts grits his teeth. He's no savior, but they need CRBN. He needs to end whatever she's doing... So, he raises his gun, training on Jayce.
Boom!
An electrical tech shot pulses through the air before striking Jayce's shrouded head. Directly in the temple, the shell blasts through one side. In a gory puff, red blasts out the other side of the man's head! The violet haze of aura disperses immediately.
In a millisecond, Blair's eyes refocus, her mental connection with Jayce severed at the moment the shot struck true. Her first picture in her vision is Jayce, blood spraying out the right side of his head. The second sensation she has is the presence behind her.
Blair ducks, the sparking baton missing her head by an inch. In a spin, Blair strikes the Captain's side, launching him back! The momentum swings her off balance, her side burning in pain.
She stumbles back, finally registering Watts approaching. "Back with us, are you?"
In a snarl, she snaps. "I was THIS close to discovering everything. EVERYTHING that they have planned! I just needed a second more!"
"A second that could have cost your life. Quite the gamble." Watts sucks at his teeth in a condescending sound. "Again, I wonder how Team CRBN has survived on their own."
Blair's gaze moves away, finding Jayce now sprawled on the ground. No doubts. That shot was a kill shot. The man now lays dead. So, her gaze rises to the Captain. "Well, then we will have to capture him."
Realizing his position, the Captain flinches at the implication as he stands. A grunt escapes him before turning on his heel and sprinting away! The man flees at top speed.
The blonde tries to run. "Ah!" She halts, using Fluorescent as a cane again to remain on her feet. She and Watts gather themselves as she gets breathing under control. "Damn it."
"Giving chase is not an option. We must work on extracting your allies. THEN we can act on information obtained." He then turns, moving his way back to the warehouse.
Grunting, Blair growls out. "Not even going to support me back?" She forces herself to limp after him.
"Your current state is surely the result of your own failings. Deal with them."
The only thing she could feel in that second is complete rage. Once again, she has to curse under her breath. To hell with Arthur Watts.
She attempts to use Fluorescent to support herself... only for it to disappear. "AH!" Blair collapses to her hands and knees, side flaring in pain. Fluorescent Finish is gone! Recall! Blair's wide eyes glance around.
"Carmine's in trouble!"
. . .
Making it back to their station took longer than Blair would like to admit. Her wound was healing, albeit slowly. Soon as they set their channels back up, Watts pulls the feed of his birds, checking for locations on the other CRBN members.
Another feed shows Carmine attempting to break into the facility on the ground level. Carmine's voice chimes in. "Hello? Anyone, please?!"
Blair exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding, answering on his channel. "Carmine! Are you alright?! We lost contact with you! What happened?"
"Ah... Got my ass kicked... Doctor said I'm good and healthy... The fuck happened with you guys?!" Carmine growls out as he finds one of the facility entrances. Since cover is already blown, he double blasts the door open with Heulin Noon, getting into the hall. "Never mind. Where the hell are Roman and Neo?"
Blair looks to other feeds, finding Roman exiting one of the helipads on the North side. "We're still trying to locate them... Ah. Neo and Roman are at one of the helipads on the North side, third floor. They have unfortunate company."
"Why wouldn't they? It's just our damn luck!" Carmine growls back.
"Indeed." Watts adds, unhappily.
"Not in the mood for that tone!"
They find Roman and a bleeding woman in Roman's doctor coat gathered on one of the outer helipads. Tuning back into the channels, they overhear Roman's conversation.
"Ah, thank the gods something finally was easy." Roman sighs. The mechanical birds' feed includes audio as the woman with him speaks up, obviously freezing to death in the Atlas cold.
"W-where is... your ride?"
"On the ground. We're jumping." Roman speaks with no hesitation. She looks incredulously back, so he gives a smarmy grin back. "Can't exactly leave our actual ride behind, and there's no Bullhead transports for us to nab."
Blair activates her radio, suppressing a wince. "I can help with that!"
On the feed, Roman flinches before recovering. "Ah! You're back! Mission's going to just North of shit, by the way." He hums and keys. "Neo, can you listen? We're all on the same channel now, so are you close?"
Two clicks respond in the affirmative.
Watts watches the feed and questions. "Who is the friend?"
"Series black that was being experimented on. By the way, Doctor Near blew up his damn lab before I got the data. Neo has hers, though." He updates. "Fires and explosions abound as domino effect, and I was planning on using Neo to help the three of us drift down to ground level, find the van."
Blair's voice chimes back. "Let me worry about the van. Carmine is on his way to you, so find a pad with a chopper and steal it. I'll pick you all up outside the city in the van. We run for it from there. Watts is evacuating himself. They must have been investigating his position before this mission."
Roman grinds out. "Well, hate to cut to the problem there, Barbie, but it's a touch difficult to steal something that isn't here."
Watts chimes in. "Then you're in luck. It would seem there's a transport inbound to the next helipad."
As Roman, Neo, and their newcomer prepare to hop pads, Blair and Watts begin gathering belongings, prepping to leave. Blair is just able to finish gathering dust and medical supplies before she sees Watts stop beside her. "What is it?"
Watts' glare remains steady on one of the screens. The one with the inbound transport. The view zooms in on the occupants... and Blair sucks a breath. Watts dully points out. "Never good luck with you, is it?"
Blair keys the radio and shouts out. "Cancel that plan! That transport is not neutral! It's-" CRACKLE. "-Spyyra!" She looks to the feeds, seeing just disabled their scouting bots. "Magnetism... He's disrupting the birds and the radios even from a distance."
The doctor beside her grimaces. "Well, loath as I am to assist. Would you like a ride to pick up your team's van?" At Blair's heated glare, he clicks his tongue. "What? If three members of your team together cannot defeat that man, then your team is worthless. Simply continue with the plan. It isn't like you can do anything else here."
The woman's grinding teeth struggle to open for a response, but she has none. No weapon, wounded, low on aura, and across the city...
She just has to hope the three of them can escape Spyyra.
. . .
Carmine hustles out onto the platform from the research facility. The chill of open air hits him, but he shrugs it off. He glances left. Right. No sign of anyone-
Gun fire above.
He cranes his head up at an angle, seeing bursting explosions across one of the platforms far higher than his own. Scoffing, Carmine holsters Heulin Noon, then keeps a grip on Fluorescent in his hands. His Panzer usage tapped his armor's dust, so simply using Jager won't help. Instead, he needs a different way to boost up.
An idea hits. It'll tap what little aura he has, but...
Well, Mom didn't raise a quitter. He draws Fluorescent from its sheath. "This is gonna hurt." His left hand clenches the golden blade. Wincing, he draws the blade out from his fingers, slicing his hand and allowing the golden blade to absorb to crimson from his essence. His hand flaps as aura healing begins to sooth the pain.
"Alright." He steps back to the edge of the platform, facing the building. The boy breaks into a sprint at the building. With a leap, he launches himself up one level, feet meeting the wall of the building. He kicks a run up the wall with speed.
However, he's not going to make the next platform... unless...
He slashes out with Fluorescent, activating his own blood without aura. His magic. Overlap! A second Carmine kicks off the wall. Carmine kicks off after, then uses the second Carmine as a mid air platform. He jumps off his copy, making up the last of the distance as he reaches the platform above!
The copy disappears below. Carmine's second jump manages to clear the tall platform as he sheathes Fluorescent to one hand. His right hand catches the platform edge, allowing him to pull himself up. Climbing up, he feels the backlash on his aura, bottoming out most of his leftover reserves.
He arrives to the scene... the fight against AZRL's top agent, Spyyra Barnall.
Roman whirls Velvet Valentine around, using its gun grip reverse into a tonfa style. His off hand removes a fire dust shell from the drum magazine hanging from a strap at his side.
Spyyra's arm is covered at the forearm with a blade formed of ground iron dust. He swings the blade arm while, forcing Roman back while blocking. The green haired man grins wide as his suit jacket fully disperses into iron particles, forming twin pincers arcing around to attack Roman from two sides!
Cracking the fire dust shell, Roman casts from his left hand, adding his semblance into the mix as well. A burst of fire casts and splits into each of the forming metal spikes! The metal super heats white hot, the finely ground iron melting and sticking into a form. Roman deflects one spike with his now empty left palm, then uses Velvet's hook head to catch the other spike and jerk it aside.
Roman steps forward to kick Spyyra in the gut, knocking the man off his feet. Spyyra's metal coated clothes shift up from his pants, forming a bed of iron sand for him. The sand pulls him along the ground to dodge Roman's follow up swipe of Velvet!
Spyyra rolls backwards onto his feet, the man's orange eyes flicking up to see Neo leap over Roman. Neo comes down with a slash, but the iron sand surges up into her slash, throwing her momentum completely back.
Neo twists and rights herself as Spyyra rises. The iron sand forms hook blades on his forearms as he lashes at her! She hastily deflects two strikes, ducks a third, only to take a heel kick while crouched! She's sent tumbling, Roman catching her by the arm and righting her.
Spyyra's iron sand reforms his black suit, save for no jacket due to the melted together spikes welded by Roman before. Still smirking, he slams his hand into the metal platform floor. High pitch screeching of twisting metal sound.
Ripping up, Spyyra removes two large panels of metal, contorting and twisting them violently into giant throwing stars. He throws both at the CRBN members.
Roman, off hand still on Neo, swings the girl in front as she uses Hush to deflect one of the stars! Neo blinks once, eyes swapping color as the second star homes on the two.
SHATTER!
Both Roman and Neo fall apart, the second star piercing and lodging itself into the ground.
The first star flies back, controlled by the metal wielder. It hovers side ways as Spyyra smirks. The man leaps off the platform onto the floating throwing star as fire dust shots blast where he'd stood!
Roman now stands by the bullhead transport, Velvet in gun mode. "Hold him off. I'll start the ride!" Roman turns to enter the transport as he signals to Makara. "Get your ass over here if you want to leave!"
Makara blinks and nods, moving into a sprint for the transport.
Above, Spyyra raises a brow. He steps off the star, dropping and landing between the half naked woman and the perceived ride. He smiles. "Whoa, now. You look out of it. I don't think the doc appreciates ignoring his orders."
The woman tenses, back stepping. However, when she blinks, her eyes shift pink and brown. SHATTER! Makara's form disperses to reveal a lunging Neo!
A ringing clang sounds as the jagged melted spikes slide in, controlled by Spyyra to block the girl. The spikes quiver and shake as they press Neo back. The girl's feet begin to slide back on the metal platform.
Neo's gaze peers behind Spyyra, finding Makara stepping onto the transport. The girl sighs in relief, happy to have successfully gotten the woman by the man.
"What? You think I didn't know it was you, 2814?" Spyyra slurs out, bringing a chill up Neo's spine. The girl pulls back, stumbling to a halt as the man stalks forward after her. "Please. I practically raised that ability out of you. You can't fool me that easily... MY prize girl." He speaks proudly.
The warped melted metal rips apart, slowly grinding itself back into metal sand and merging into hos outfit. His suit jacket slowly reforms, completing his sleek black suit and adding to his lax nature. In control.
Neo sucks in a breath, her hands shaking as she finds herself like a cornered mouse...
Suddenly, the metal sand warps off Spyyra's clothes to form a shield-
BOOM!
A double shot from Heulin Noon strikes the forming metal shield as Spyyra is slid back from the force. The man grunts out a pained breath. Neo blinks and turns.
Carmine steps up, Heulin Noon in his left hand smoking at the barrel. "How about sounding less like a predator?" He breathes out, tired from his ascent. A glance to Neo, he sees she's just as tired. "Yo."
Neo's slack jaw turns to a grin, a breath of relief coming as she nods. The two teens form up by one another, facing Spyyra ahead of them.
Bristling in annoyance, Spyyra suppresses a growl, his iron sand reforming on his suit. Then, in a blink, he suddenly smirks. "Oh. Near's pet obsession. I'm legitimately surprised you got away from him."
A nervous sweat builds on the boy, but he gives a chuckle. "Him obsessed with me. You obsessed with her. I'm beginning to expect all you bastards to guest star on To Catch A Predator."
His quip surprisingly elicits a tensing in Spyyra's features. "Please. I'm just a concerned Papa bird." His gaze lights, amused, as he sees how close the teens stand. "Ah... My girl really is grown! Seeing boys now." He gives a toothy smile. "Not sure I approve."
Carmine purses his lips with a blush. "P-Pardon?"
A slight edge in Neo's eye narrows on the man. While Carmine's naive reaction was lighthearted, she perceived the threat. Neo sneers, her off hand taking Fluorescent Finish from Carmine's side.
The boy notices Neo taking the sword, dual wielding it with Hush. "Easy." His right hand grips her left arm to halt her from charging in. "We've been through the ringer today. Don't be rash." At Neo's incredulous look, Carmine glares. "Exactly. Don't pull a Me."
Rolling her eyes, she forces herself to be calm. The action brings a smile to him. The sensation of having her close brings some sense of security. Sorely needed after the... unfavorable battle he'd just had.
The attention of all three is pulled to the bullhead transport. A masked man is thrown out unconscious as the engine begins to rev. Roman, inside, is in the pilot seat, with Makara hunkering down in the back.
Spyyra's eye cuts over his shoulder at the transport as he snaps one arm up!
Roman lurches as the transport halts its slow ascent! His eyes widen. "Shit!" He looks at the teens as he calls out. "Get him off and get on!"
Spyyra keeps the arm up, but turns his left side to the teens and looks at them, ready. He grunts as his semblance holds the aircraft in place.
Carmine allows Neo to take Fluorescent. "Use my blood for magic. Multi angle attack. Make sure one version of yourself breaks for the transport. That will be the one to remain." Neo nods, wielding the golden blade in her left hand. The boy holds his right arm out, allowing her to draw cut from him. "Ngh!" He grunts as the blade cuts.
He Recalls two seconds, almost flicker twitching back as his arm is healed, save for the aura numbness left behind. The blade tinges crimson, Neo whirling Fluorescent to a reverse grip while keeping Hush forward. Following suit, Carmine's eyes close a moment before snapping open, revealing golden orbs glaring out.
Spyyra cackles as his left arm reaches out. The two giant throwing stars pull in to hover around him. One spins broad side forward as a shield in front of him. The other arcs around in a sweep before launching at the teens!
Carmine and Neo split off, the star slicing along the metal ground between them! Both spread out as the star pulls back to chase Neo! The girl glances over her shoulder, not surprised Spyyra is targeting her.
Noticing this as well, Carmine aims and fires Heulin Noon at the man. The second star acting as a shield for the man budges, rattling from each hit. Growling, Carmine fires a double shot! This one punctures the star, allowing a normal shot through aimed at the head.
Spyyra dips his head, the shot whipping through a lock of hair. With a sneer, he sends the make shift shield into a spin and launches the damaged star at the boy. Carmine snap reloads, then uses his Zero armored arm to deflect the star up!
Neo jumps over the spinning star coming from behind her. Seeing Spyyra attacking Carmine, she takes her chance and activates Fluorescent's blood. Activating Carmine's Overlap, one Neo dashes at the man head on. The second leaps up, letting Hush carry her over the man.
Meanwhile, Carmine's golden eyes flash, activating his own Overlap. One Carmine breaks into a sprint for the transport. A second charges Spyyra, firing all six shots of his gun as he closes in!
Attacked from multiple sides, Spyyra's right arm lowers. His grip on the transport releases as Roman gets the vehicle airborne. Spyyra's suit jacket splashes out in a sand shield, blocking and fluctuating from blocking Carmine's shots!
The Neo charging from the right spins into a dual slash with both her's and Blair's weapons. Spyyra billows the iron sand off his torso as a shield from Carmine, then warps the iron sand from his pants upward in a rising sword cut!
Neo's attack clashes with Spyyra's, locking their weapons in the bind. Spyyra's iron warps against Fluorescent and Hush, forming a tight grip around them and holding the Neo in front of him in place.
"Schneider!" The charging Carmine's armor flashes to his arms as he lunges at Spyyra's blind spot! The iron sand shield splashes aside from the powerful slash. Spyyra ducks as the Schneider blade lashes his chest open, drawing blood.
In this moment, Spyyra is fully occupied by the copies of Neo and Carmine... Both teens other selves have gotten around the man, with a home free run for the transport...
The second Carmine continues for the transport... But Neo's eyes cut back to the ever gleeful man... A chance. A chance to end him for all the times he tortured her...
The decision is made.
The real Neo turns, charging back for the man to strike Spyyra in the back. The real Carmine sees too late that the girl has turned one eighty back. "Neo!" He halts, a panic setting in.
Neo full sprints for the green haired man, raising Hush to impale him from behind...
Mistake.
Spyyra grins as he flexes his aura in a pulse. All the iron sand warps before forming thin spikes that jab out from his person. The copy Carmine and copy Neo both gasp wide eyed as the spikes reach them. They attempt to dodge, but they're too close.
The copy Neo is impaled by a spike through her hip, and another through her thigh! The copy Carmine is stabbed through the left shoulder and right calf! Both copies dissipate, the Overlap of Carmine's magic ending.
And the wounds of the copies transferring to the originals...
"AH!" Carmine collapses to a knee beside the hovering transport. His left shoulder and right calf tinge red with the transferring wounds. "Fuck!" He cries out in pain, one eye remaining open painfully to see Neo react similarly.
A pained shriek escapes Neo just a second before she could land the killing blow on the man. Her sprint staggers into a flailing pained jog. Spyyra whirls around blindingly fast, his arm snatching Neo up by the throat.
The girl coughs out in pain as she's lifted off her feet, held out at arm's length from the man. His iron sand warps around and shrouds her weapons. Then the iron wrenches Hush and Fluorescent from her hands, leaving her unarmed in his mercy.
"Like I said... You can't fool me, 2814." The iron sands warp around, forming floating spikes around the girl. "Though I do give it to you. You had a good run trying."
"Neo!" Carmine cries out, attempting to stand before his right leg gives out in a surging spike of pain. He falls fully on his front, gritting painfully as he looks up at her. He screams in a panic. "ROMAN!"
Inside the transport, Roman jerks Makara to the pilot seat. "Hold the stick in place." He shifts around, but knows he's not going to make it.
Spyyra grins as the spikes move in. As if time were slowed to a crawl. The spikes closing in on the choking girl. Carmine reaching his right arm for her, heart gripped in fear. Forcing his good leg under him, he leaps forward in a lunge for the girl.
His hand meets Neo's back as the spikes drive into her skin...
. . .
Carmine's right hand gripping Neo's left arm. A presence of the two beside one another. Warmth. Safety. A calm as the two prepared to fight Spyyra just moments ago...
. . .
"NO-" Carmine's form, screaming out for Neo is cut off as he blinks away. Recall...
The spikes sink in on Neo-
Blink. The girl is gone. Spyyra's eyes widen, confused.
Recall.
In a flash, both Carmine and Neo appear, on the other side of the platform away from Spyyra. At the exact spot the two of them stared down, Carmine warning Neo against attacking. The boy's right hand clenched around Neo's left forearm...
Neo sucks in a breath as her hip and thigh suddenly strike with phantom pain! She looks frantic to see if Carmine is experiencing the same...
Thud. Carmine hits the ground, face forward. Neo gasps and jolts down, ignoring her new pains to check him! Groggy, Carmine's eyes remain open, but he only winces and clutches his head in pain. As she checks him over, Spyyra turns in place to find the two, absolutely perplexed.
"Well, that's a neat trick-"
His confusion awards him a blast of fire dust. A barrage of shots from Roman out the side of the transport slams the AZRL agent into the metal platform and off! Blasting fire propels Spyyra clear off and over the side.
"Get on. NOW!" Roman shouts down at the teens.
Neo jolts, sheathing Fluorescent, placing Heulin Noon in Carmine's holster, then hoisting the boy over her shoulder. In a panic, the girl sprints and leaps up, jumping directly into the transport! Landing, the girl pulls Carmine to a seat, her full attention only on him.
Roman nods, rushing back to the pilot seat, moving a shell shocked Makara aside and taking charge. Immediately, the craft swings as the four fly off for their getaway...
Leaving Spyyra below. The man having fallen two levels below the platform, landing on metal discs made from his iron sand. He stands up, hovering in the air as burns are visible on his skin. His undershirt is charred as well. His cutting orange eyes track the vessel as it disappears into the city.
The man sighs. His fist clenches, a deep rumble sounding in the metal outer wall of the research facility. A growl rumbles up from the throat as he brings his fist up. "DAMN IT!"
Crash!
His fist smashes into the wall, a loud bang quaking the building as his semblance washes out from the epicenter. The irritation in his face remains a second more before he centers himself. All traces of anger leave, replaced with a pleasant smile and tranquil eyes. He chuckles to himself. "Guess, I got too cocky. But who can blame me? I'm me! Ha!" He laughs off as he floats back up to the platform.
. . .
Aboard the transport, Neo has Carmine hunkered down. Concern is painted on her as the boy is yet to stop clutching at his head. His other hand is found on her wrist, gripping her for dear life. Grounding himself in that she's right there.
However, in spite of her presence, the boy's heart still feels like it's vying to burst up his throat. He hadn't thought. He hadn't considered anything. He just... did it. He Recalled. Recalled HER! He Recalled Neo... How gods damned reckless does he have to be to have let that happen?!
And it worked?!
Why..?
Spiking pain remains as he winces.
. . .
Beyond the city limits, over the great rivers and out into the mountains, the craft lands. All four occupants breath out in relief at solid ground. Roman grinds out. "Alright passengers. Last stop." He flippantly waves his hand as he removes himself from the cockpit. He exits the vessel, stepping into the open. He pulls out his scroll to call Blair.
Behind him, Carmine and Neo step out into the open. Carmine spares a glance at his scroll. 'Aura Level: 3%'. He winces. "Way too close... Heh. When will I learn, right?" He jokes, sending a fake smile Neo's way.
The girl frowns, looking at her own scroll. 'Aura Level: 8%'. She wasn't hardly any better off. She wants to push for what happened back there, but she sees easily that Carmine is woefully unsettled by it. That he's in such a state after fixing her mistake makes it worse. All she had to do was leave it...
She pokes him twice. Tap tap. When he looks at her, she gives a sad smile and signs. "Thanks. Sorry I messed up."
He blinks at her for a moment then shakes his head. He smiles. "No worries. I'm the last person that can judge." That brings a smile to her.
So she taps him twice again. Tap tap. Tap tap. Tap tap. Carmine's smile drops as he starts to give a sullen glare. Tap tap. Tap tap. Tap tap-
He flaps his hands, swatting her arm away "Stop it!"
"U-Um... Excuse me?" Makara speaks softly from the open side of the bullhead transport. The teens look to her. She's paler than before. Her gut still bleeding.
Carmine jolts to the present and nods. "Right." He looks at Neo. "See if you can dress her wound with the onboard medkit." Neo nods and hops back into the craft. Carmine meanwhile assists Makara to a sitting position. The woman still clutches the Soul Servo protectively by her side. "Alright, lets cover you up." Carmine says as he removes his jacket. "Roman! Fire dust please? We need warmth!"
Twenty minutes pass. The three CRBN members work on keeping the woman conscious until finally two vehicles pull off road towards the transport. Blair, driving their van, and Watts driving his own tinted truck.
Immediately, Blair takes over medical attention on the woman. "Move aside. Neo, grab some clean clothes from my pack in the van. Carmine, keep pressure."
Watts watches in disinterest as Roman settles by him, smoking a cigar. The doctor looks to the conman, all business. "The research?"
Roman snorts. He produces the pass drive and Neo's flash drive. "Doctor Polendina's work, and your skeleton key." Watts accepts the items with a glare. "Hey, we weren't banking on the chaos after losing contact. Plus, the SDC's security is going to spike after this. Someone's gotta put pressure on the freak doctor, which still benefits you."
Watts clicks his tongue. "It does." He eyes Carmine. Then Blair. Then Neo. Then Makara. "Despite the failure to obtain Frank's research, you've managed to assist us greatly." Roman's cutting glare urges the scientist to add. "And yes. Some complications may have come from my own arrogance."
At that, the conman crosses his arms expectantly. "So, the intel."
The doctor meets his gaze, but nods. "For the failure to get Frank's research, I'll meet you half." Roman's gaze cuts into a glare. "And a bonus opportunity. If attacking the angle with the SDC has become impossible, perhaps we can go the route of the Atlas military?" He pauses before continuing. "We will contact you at a later point to coordinate, but for now-"
"What do you know about Zandril?" Roman demands, tone dipping.
Watts raises a brow, meeting the near threatening glare with indifference. "An archipelago off the South coast. Ostium Mortis. You'll fond answers there."
"Just a place? Unless he's plastered on every landmark, that doesn't give us anything." Roman snidely retorts.
"It's where he grew up." Watts answers. "And... where AZRL was born. Just be wary of the hound." He turns from the conman at that. "Stay wary, CRBN." He chimes in amused as he enters his vehicle again. The truck drives off, leaving Roman to simmer.
"Ostium Mortis... It better be worth it." Roman scoffs, turning and marching to the others. Makara now has black pants, courtesy of Blair, and a blanket wrapped around her. Blair now has the Soul Servo in hand, looking it over while the teens sit idly by. "So, how's it looking?"
Blair gives a sullen glower. She holds up the Servo. "This... is just about the most ambitious thing I've ever seen, but I'm not willing to mess with it quite yet." Sparing a look to Makara, she nods. "Aurstigma. How long have you had it?"
Makara stutters. "I-I've lost track of time. I... don't know."
"Where are you from? How old are you?" Carmine throws out off handed. He wears a smile as he crouches by the woman. "We can't just leave you out in the middle of nowhere."
The woman frowns. "I... was born in 2046." Her brow scrunches. "AZRL took me when I was... I think... No..."
Watching the woman struggle to recall her age when AZRL kidnapped her brings a frown to Neo. She looks at Blair, who shakes her head. They can't be sure if it's from the illness or not. Still, doing the math, the woman is eighteen years old, two years older than Carmine. "I'll search up records of your name with that year for any matches, but it would move things along with where you lived. Can you recall anything with your family?"
Makara grimaces. "Father taught me how to tie survival knots... according to my previous sessions in the lab."
Seeing how poorly this line of questioning is going, Roman inserts himself. "Do you remember any of the training you actually did for AZRL?"
The woman looks up, a burn to her gaze. "3,672 series Black. Highest scoring sniper."
The four CRBN members raise their brows at that. The girl has a unique skill at least. Roman nods towards the Soul Servo. "According to the doctor, that device contains your aura, and merging that aura with you will reverse an amount of memory and body degradation. We could hope it restores enough memory to know where we can put you."
Blair grimaces at the device. "Except you unhooked it, and I do not know enough about it to go messing with it." The blonde shakes her head.
"So... she's with us, then?" Carmine speaks up, causing incredulous looks to direct at him from the others, Makara included. Carmine disregards them and crouches in front of the woman. "What do you want? We can help you maybe get back home, but until we get that far, how do you feel like helping us out?"
The lavender gray haired woman blinks at the question, looking between them. "I... would very much like to not return to AZRL." She then frowns. "But, I don't want to be a burden on those that bothered to help me already."
Carmine smirks. "You said you were a sniper, right?" At her glance, he chuckles. "I think we can find a fit for you for now."
"Oh, for fuck-" Roman scoffs, walking away. "Now, we're baby sitters too."
Blair smirks at the man. "You saved her." Neo giggles at that, getting a flustered glare from the conman.
Their leader looks Makara in the eye and holds out a hand. "Hi. I'm Carmine Uhlric. This is Roman Torchwick, Blair Goodwitch, and Neopolitan Rhodes."
The woman blinks before slowly letting her slender hand grasp the boy's. "I'm Makara Riva."
The two shake hands before Carmine stands tall. "Alright! Let's use the R for your last name. Team Carbonara. CRBNR." He grins wide.
The woman blinks at him as Blair, Neo, and Roman all stumble in place at the declaration. Neo recovers, eye twitching as she signs. "We're named after pasta now?"
Blair shakes her head. "Good lord..."
"Alright, for now, the only place we have on our radar is... where did Watts direct us?"
Roman growls under his breath. "An archipelago off the southern coasts called the Ostium Mortis. It'll take us days to get there, but first things first." He pats himself down. "We hit the showers in an inn at the first chance."
Neo grins wide and nods. "Mhm!" She hums with him in agreement.
Blair adds. "And get her some clothes because she's between mine and Neo's sizes." Makara perks up at the utter generosity being shown, her visage lighting up. Even only freshly tended to, the woman is showing more color in her skin. She allows a soft smile.
"Thank you."
Roman rolls his eyes, moving for the driver side of the van. "Strap her in, Neo. She's riding bitch in the back between you and Silver Streak." Neo grimaces at the placement, but recovers. Offering a smile, she gestures Makara to follow her, the older girl doing so.
Thus, Carmine and Blair are left alone. The two share a look as Blair sighs. "Another complication." The jovial tone holds for a moment, but Carmine can't keep it up. Blair notices the boy's visage slip. "Something happened."
Tensing, Carmine looks to the van, then to Blair. "I... Recalled... I Recalled, and... took Neo with me." He forces out, nearly silent. A short pause allows Blair to stiffen, realizing what this relates to. "Y-You said, that my semblance acting on someone with living aura would reject and fast forward!" Carmine hastily adds, a near frantic look threatening his gaze. "I-I-I don't-. I mean, I haven't-."
"Breath." Blair's hand finds his shoulder, grounding him as the boy nearly spirals into a panic attack.
"I haven't used my semblance on someone else since... you tested it at Haddon two years ago." He gulps down a lump in his throat, shaking his head. "And before that... not since her." He grimaces. "But, Spyyra had Neo, a-and I just freaked and reached... and it worked?" His fists clench and unclench as he grits his teeth. "How did it work? WHY did it-"
"Carmine." Blair moves closer, her grip getting more firm as she snaps him out of his spiral. She spares a look, seeing that the others aren't settled in the van quite yet. Turning back, Blair rubs a circle on his back, soothing. "We'll figure it out. Together. But for now, know that whatever you did, Neo is fine." The blonde wraps an arm over the teen's shoulders. "You did well, and we are all okay."
A moment passes as she waits for the tension to leave the boy. Carmine ever slowly eases as he releases a long held breath. He returns the half hug before sighing. "Sorry... I'm good. I'm good." He shakes it off.
"We'll go over it when we're safe and sound, far away from here. Okay?" Blair eases. The boy nods as they separate. "A lot was thrown at us today, and we can't deal with it all at once."
"We can only do what we can." Carmine adds, agreeing and nodding. "Thanks." He looks to the van and lets out a loose chuckle. "Let's find some place to sleep today off like a bad hangover." Blair hums a chuckle with him as they move to the van. Preparing to travel as a team... plus one.
. . .
SDC Research Facility
Firefighter teams, scientists, and doctors coordinate through the inner floors of the facility. One such man is Pietro Polendina. The man's self walking chair carries him through the halls at a slow rate, but surely puts him near a line of workers. Confusion and concern pours off in waves before he finally finds a fire chief. "Is there anything I can do, Charles?"
The personable addition of the name pulls the serious stern face of the fire chief down. The man softens and shakes his head. "Not anymore, sir. The fires have been put out well clear of anymore chemical reserves." The man offers a smile. "Your little spitfire of a girl got a couple guys off floor thirteen before two rooms collapsed. Girl is ambitious."
The mention of the girl makes Pietro tense. Hesitant, he forces a grin. "U-um. Did she now?" His voice cracks. He coughs to recompose himself. "So, any casualties? What even caused this?"
"One of the guards around Dr Stein's lab died in the initial explosion. All we know is that the explosion was triggered during a break in. A group of people were attempting to steal information from the various labs." The man shakes his head.
Pietro contains a gasp. A break in... "Excuse me then. I'll go check on my daughter." He continues on from the firefighters.
Three minutes later finds him outside his personal lab and living quarters. He enters the door, finding the halls around his and his daughter's bedrooms. His door is open... Pietro zones in on his bedroom, carried in on his carry chair to find Penny Polendina sitting on his bed. "Penny!" The girl's brow is furrowed, eyes locked on the floor deep in thought. Like she hadn't heard him at all. Pietro blinks and tries again. "Penny, are you okay?"
The ginger girl stiffly turns her head up, eyes wide now. She smiles. "Father! I am sorry. I was busy... processing."
Pietro raises a brow at her, then notices the ventilation shaft grating broken out on the ceiling. His eyes widen as he strokes his chin. "Ah, so that's how you got roped into this." He gives her a sympathetic smile. "Are you okay?"
Penny leans slightly forward, nodding. "I am undamaged." The man's lip lowers at the phrasing, but he maintains the smile. Penny does not, however, frowning and looking down. "One of the intruders stole information from your computer. I chased her, even though you told me never to leave the lab. I am sorry, Father."
A measure of pride comes to the man as he breathes relieved. "Penny, don't be put down by this. You should have stayed put, but from what I hear, you handled yourself well." He beams a grin. "You saved people. Be proud of that."
Penny's visage brightens, her eyes almost having life in them. Almost. Perish the thought, he tells himself.
His smile drops slightly as he adds. "But, don't think I didn't notice some of the damage being from someone's laser..."
Stiff by nature, he still found himself amused by the girl's ability to somehow become even MORE stiff than one should be. "It was not my fault-" She cuts off, hiccuping in a stutter before she looks away. "I did not expect the intruder to be able to block and redirect my strongest weapon."
Interesting. Pietro approaches his daughter. "So, you got a good look at this intruder?" Penny gives a stiff nod. "Did you inform the head of Security?" A pause, which goes much longer than he'd expect. Penny looks away. "Penny?"
"I did not." Penny admits, rather than lying and hiccup a second time. "Some details have been... processing so that my information can be most helpful."
Pietro places a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Then, let me help. What detail has you paused in here?"
Penny's pause is... too short. Enough of a pause to know she takes the moment to consider, but too short to be natural conversation. "Do we have human testing here?"
THAT is not what he expected out of the girl. Pietro's eyes widen. "Come again?"
Penny's face scrunches in struggle. "None of my data indicates that any current experimentation is in the stages of human trial at this location. The nearest is Dr Bumble's next drug trial next month. Is there something that my information is lacking?"
The man shakes his head. "Not at all. You know everything I do in that regard. All human trials are on pause. What does this have to do with the intruders?"
"The one that I fought had a radio. They were initially unaware that I could hear the conversation between her and a male." Penny frowns. "Her male associate stated clearly, in no uncertain terms, that he... rescued a woman from forced experimentation from one of the destroyed labs."
Dr Polendina recoils from the explanation as Penny continues. "There was no falsehood in their tone, nor reason to lie since I had yet to make my awareness known. I could have continued the fight, but knowing that they were helping someone, and knowing that others required assistance with the fires... I let the girl go."
"Did I make a mistake?" She ends, looking to him for an answer.
An answer that was immediate. Pietro's jaw sets as he feels a better understanding of the girl's dilemma. "No, you did not. Do not worry about informing the head of Security. I will do so." He grimaces suddenly. "However, with this incident, we will likely have to move locations for a while." At Penny's confusion, he nods towards the door. "Go and prepare to leave. We will be going to my lab in Atlas."
The girl nods. "Yes, sir!" She starts to move before progress stunting. "Will I... be starting my apprenticeship under the General then?"
Pietro smiles for her. "He's who I plan to talk to about this. Last we talked, he told me he'd already picked out a perfect teacher for you as well. Why not kill two birds with one stone?" Penny grins and nods before leaving the room.
Left alone, Pietro allows his confidence to drop.
Frank's lab was one of the first to be caught aflame. Could he have?
No. Absolutely not. Frank's been a model worker for years. They've worked closely for over a decade! There's no way he would breach ethics like that. The SDC and Atlas haven't had a scandal like that since...
Since Arthur.
Perhaps not to THAT extent, but Pietro suppresses a growl. His gaze looks to the door, his ears picking up Penny interacting with items in the other room.
There will be work to do in Atlas... First, a call to General Ironwood.
Finished with Malum. Jayce is gone, the first of the AZRL top staff to be taken out, mostly by Watts being completely ruthless. A new application of Blair's semblance when doubling her power through both herself and her weapon. Forceful ripping into a person's mind, albeit when they are weak, untrained, or out of aura themselves.
Also, the very first time Carmine successfully Recalled a person correctly. Something he's been traumatized at the idea of trying and only did in the moment. Something to look into, won't it?
Finally, some foreshadowing cliffhanger with Penny. Maybe we shall see more of her? Maybe not.
Our next arc will be a... slight detour from actual investigation into AZRL and more into discovering AZRL's roots. Then... Atlas City. The floating city. Fun times.
Also, Team CRBN now has a bit of a tag along in Makara.
Join next time in Chapter Sixty Five: And The Tale Of.