… I did it... I'm a mad bastard, but I did it. This chapter marks the official story word total going above one million words. So, for perspective, this also means the FF dot net word total for this story is for the story plus author notes... That's roughly 56,000 words devoted to author notes. Boy am I long winded!

Thank you all for reading so much. Now...

Chapter Seventy Nine: According to Plan: Mine or Yours?

Heulin Noon spins in the boy's hand, cylinder popping and snap reloading full ammo in. Carmine holsters the weapon. Currently, his Buster Armor is off, so he crouches by the pieces laid out on the inn bed. He double checks the dust ports built into the armor and snap loads dust vials inside. Pulling up, he nods. "Zero." In a flash, the armor pieces warp and flash into his default armor and coating his left arm.

He then puts his Atlas white and dark navy jacket over the metal sleeve and zipping it up. He looks to small dust infused devices on the bed stand. "Roman, these the EMP charges?"

"Ready for Recall." Roman announces from the other side of the room. His jacket is off, hat on the table. The man is loading fire dust rounds into his drum magazine before condensing the mag into its strap bag form. Beside him is a makeshift bandolier of small dust bombs lays as well.

"Awesome." Carmine begins snatching the EMP charges from the surface and charge his aura into them. There. Prepped for Recall. He then immediately starts taking the devices apart for smuggling. Sometimes, he really loves his semblance. Prep time is its best friend.

Neo sighs deeply from the side. One of focus as she lightly rolls her neck and shoulders. Opening her eyes, she sees two dust vials held up to her. She blinks at Makara. The woman smiles. "These may come in handy to use with your semblance."

The mute examines them. Ice and earth dust. She could overlap her Shatter illusions over hard dust with these... She smirks and nods appreciative. Then, the girl frowns and looks to Makara's rifle.

Makara shakes her head. "My four cylinder chambers will be armed with lightning, fire, wind, and the rest of my earth dust. The earth will make the projectile, wind to add propulsion for distance shooting, fire and lightning to alternate additional effects." She looks to the others. "I should be able to cover 2.5 Kilometers, or 2700 yards."

"The banking company near the SDC Headquarters will make for a good vantage point." Blair's voice cuts in as she straightens her blood pouch in place inside the lining of her cropped jacket. She puts it on, meeting Roman's look. "You appear quieter than usual."

Roman hums before clicking his tongue. "Just seems like any time we prepare like this, it turns out we've gone and stepped so far into it that it takes some act of unfathomable luck to survive. I'd like today to be more business heavy than stressful, thank you very much." He ends with a smirk, but stays serious. "The cult is creeping me out anymore when I think of it."

"Which is why Makara is one of our aces in the hole." Carmine answers. Looking between the amnesiac and their scientist, he asks pointedly. "Did you solve the whole communication thing for once the EMP starts?"

The blonde focuses on Makara, who stands at attention. "This... should work. Can most certainly work. The only issue at hand is distance, which is untested." She closes the distance to the sniper and steels herself. "I require you to lower any aura usage whatsoever. No aura shield. No passive nature. Focus on suppressing it."

Makara blinks confused, but closes her eyes to focus.

Neo eyes them curiously, recalling what may be happening. She looks to Blair and signs. "Distance? Last time you did this with me, you were on the same floor of the same building."

Blair frowns. "I connected with Carmine back at Mountain Glenn this way." She looks to the boy, the understanding coming to both the males. "How far from the tower Ray had us at did you wander?"

Carmine frowns. "Half a mile? Uh..." He looks to Makara, wanting to use the metric distance, so he thinks. "0.8... Right? 0.8 Kilometers?" He shakes his head to refocus. "Probably not close to that even."

The woman nods. "The distance is untested, but if Setante could cover his sensory range over an entire island, I will mimic his range." As soon as the scientist mentions the AZRL faunus, Neo and Makara both flinch and stare directly at her. As if hearing their concern over the topic, Blair gives a curt look, silencing dissent.

She overlooked Carmine, though. "You sure you want to imitate him? He had you messed up after we left Ostium Mortis"

"I am more than better now." Blair sends a challenging gaze back at him. "And I'm ready to surpass whatever advantage he'd had on me. I will accept the challenge and develop my semblance further if need be." Her hand comes to grip Makara's cloak directly over the woman's center chest. "You ready to accept my aura?"

Makara nods vigorously. "I'm ready!"

A pulse of a hazy violet washes from Blair's shoulder, down her arm, into the lavender haired woman's chest. It disappears into her as she gasps wide eyed. The others pause their preparations to watch the amnesiac.

Blair starts easy. "I will not use the aura to weigh you down or anything as I normally do with enemies, so that will require more focus and less muscle memory on my part. Do you feel heavier or sluggish?"

She shakes her head. "N-no. I feel lighter, yet more full if that makes sense."

A smile graces Blair as she nods. "Good. Now, testing." Blair's voice now radiates in her mind. "Can you hear me?"

Makara jumps at the voice, snapping her head around as the voice has no directional source. "Ah! Yes!" She eyes Blair again, blinking confused. "That is... remarkably uncomfortable."

"Tell me about it." Carmine speaks up from the side, earning a glare from the blonde.

"How will I communicate back?" The sniper straightens, rife with worry.

"If I focus hard enough, I could intrude upon your thoughts, but otherwise, anything you speak or think while concentrating on me should allow me to hear." Blair explains, then crosses her arms.

"Oh! Roman, could you pass me a note?" Makara gets an idea, quickly bounding over to the conman.

He raises a brow. "A good idea?" He quickly produces a notepad and a pen from his pocket. "Write it before you forget and have a Groundhog Day."

Makara smiles kindly despite the rude way of putting her concern. She quickly writes a long message on a sticky note and sticks it into place on Almighty Circuit, right by the scope. "There we go!" At everyone's confusion, she lightly scratches her cheek nervous. "I... wrote a note to myself to remember how to communicate with Blair so... I don't forget we are connected and freak out when she speaks to me."

"..." All four CRBN members stare back in a mixture of sympathy and disappointment over THAT being a real concern in this situation. Carmine recovers and smiles. "Good thinking. Alright, Team CRBN! Move out! Roman, take lead through the alleys. Neo, cover the cameras. Blair, keep a lookout for high aura targets in the area. Makara, eyes on the air for drones. I'll keep rear lookout."

. . .

Atlas City Surveillance

The lining of camera monitors on the walls light up the surveillance room, same as the morning before. The doors open, allowing Winter to enter the room with Penny in tow. The Atlas officer's posture is rigid as she spares a look at Penny. "Monitor the door." She whispers. "I want no one moving in or out of this room."

"Ma'am." Penny nods vigorously and stands stock still at the entryway.

Winter moves to the commanding officer station to greet the man. "Greetings."

The older officer is tense with having her present, but starts easily enough. "And salutations, Agent. Is there a problem you're looking into, cause I don't remember catching any email."

The Schnee takes a deep breath before making a smile. As easy of a smile as she can, meaning a rehearsed smile for the public. She had years to practice it, of course. "Actually, I am here both on business and pleasure." She starts with a half lie. Nothing about this experience will be pleasing in the slightest.

The man perks. "Pleasure?" He turns fully from his work station in curiosity. "What's got your attention?"

Winter maintains the fake smile and tilts slightly as she asks. "Oh, well. If you insist on pleasure first, I had some questions regarding your relationship with Agent Whis Palmo. You two appeared quite familiar, so I assumed..."

Vic snorts. "Oh, dude! Years of stories. Some of us used to work in his private teams and resources." The man gives a knowing look. "Was it the mustache that got your curiosity? Gotta know."

The white haired woman straightens and twists away. "I can neither confirm or deny that, of course." Snickers come from the room of workers on the main line, so she asks. "Do all of you know him well?"

"Oh, everyone whose been here longer than six months has worked with the guy." One of the front workers chimes in. "Think Harry and Lawrence are the only ones not to... Lenny, did you start here from the academy, or did you transfer from Palmo's unit?"

Another worker, Lenny, chimes in. "From the academy. Like heck I wanted to be stationed over seas."

"Hmm." Winter nods. "So, Harry, Lawrence, and Lenny." She speaks casually, earning some slightly off looks from the remaining five men in the surveillance room.

"Uh... yeah. You good, Agent? You seem like something's wrong." Vic chimes in. He raises a brow. "Giving me sociopath vibes."

Oh, she might enjoy this part if he's going to annoy her with this crap. Winter nods. "I am perfectly fine." She turns Penny. "Please call for transport for five. Interrogation room C."

Penny brightens. "Yes, Ma'am!" She calls out and produces a scroll to make the call.

A silence fills the room of surveillance workers as Vic mutters a confused. "What?"

Winter nods. "Lenny, Harry, and Lawrence? You have the room. The rest of you..." She makes a gesture as a large white aura glyph spins into existence! A summoning glyph! A stark white Beowolf rises from the circle before the men and gives a snarl! All the men flinch and cower with eyes full of fear. "... You will all come with me for questioning." She then adds. "And business can begin."

. . .

Atlas Academy

Nothing. Not a single lead to go on.

Qrow scowls at the view from the General's office. James Ironwood sits at his desk with a heavy brow. "Still no sightings of the Ripper, so she's either left the City of Mantle and Atlas for the country side, or..."

"Or she made it into the city before your men were told who to look out for." Qrow grumbles. "Not that it'd matter. Her semblance seems tailor made to get through people looking for her. No wonder they sent her here."

The military man snaps to attention. "But why send her HERE to begin with? We still don't know, and now of all times when the AZRL issue is pressing?" He shakes his head. "If only both could be in one spot. Could kill two birds with one stone."

"Glad as I am that you're thinking of it in that way, I'm actually more surprised you're not seizing the opportunity." Qrow comments with a critical eye. "Salem wants AZRL gone as much as we do. I'm waiting for someone stupid to say 'the enemy of my enemy' and all that nonsense."

James narrows a glare on the man. "Pragmatism is not nonsense... but no. I agree that giving the Cult any sort of leeway to a ceasefire could have damning consequences." He looks to the report below...

A report signed by Whis Palmo...

"... Are we sure that Team CRBN is smart enough not to make such a mistake?"

Qrow tenses. He catches a glimpse of the report in James' hand, scowling. Damn it, Whis. What's your angle? "I'll only believe it when I see it. They may be ignorant of Salem, which makes it possible, but Oz and I have both learned that they're better at getting confidential information than most." A thought occurs and he grimaces. "Of course..."

James tenses at attention. "What?"

A heavy sigh comes from the Huntsman. "Knowing how prideful they are, I could see the group of em trying to weasel the Cult..." He shakes his head. "Soon as we remove the Ripper, we can find them and at least make sure no one makes any rash decisions-"

Beep beep. Beep beep.

James perks and keys an earpiece tucked behind his earlobe. "Report." His face scrunches before his eyes widening. "And we've verified this?" A short pause before he looks to Qrow. "The Ripper was seen at a construction complex on the corner of Meredith and Twenty Second. The Winchester Co Branch building downtown."

Qrow narrows his gaze. "Wait. That easy? Who saw them?"

"Construction workers found two dead bodies. One reported a description seeing a woman matching Ripper's profile."

"Someone with her skills? Currently laying low from us, specifically? Chose to stay here instead of leaving when she had the chance?" Qrow drawls before groaning his way for the door. "I hate tripping traps."

James grimaces. "I agree this seems to be a trap, so let's not simply do as they say." He nods. "I'll call some people to organize some safety provisions throughout the city. They've spent too much time in my city. Contact Agent Schnee to back you up-"

"I work better alone, and I'm positive she has her own duties." Qrow lazily waves off before marching from the room. "Just close off the perimeter of the construction site. Let me handle it." Qrow is off before another word can be said.

. . .

Atop a skyscraper, a bang rings out!

From over the edge, Makara leaps onto the roof, propelling herself using a blast of wind from Almighty Circuit! She lands and immediately takes in some of the grated cat walks around the building top. Safety precautions for maintenance workers to assess the equipment around. Makara judges the safety of the area.

Speaking out loud to keep within her short term memory, she analyzes. "The cat walks will shade and obscure me from any flight based drones or military vessels... Not full coverage, but I should blend in well enough." She eyes the equipment, noting the dozens of high voltage signs. "Right... keep track of spacing."

Quickly, the woman makes a circle around the roof, halting at the northern edge. Directly ahead of her is the wide, and TALL, Schnee Dust Company Headquarters! Tall white metal spires and interconnected complexes make up a web like design from an aerial view.

Not a web... A snowflake. The outer perimeter is made primarily of security checkpoints, walls, and storage facilities for raw materials. As the facilities link inward, they're divided into a multitude of categorical facilities. They range from mechanical engineering, software engineering, energy production, military munitions, medical applications, you name it.

The facilities are connected with sky bridges enclosed, with each inner facility having taller structures than the outer layer before it. The inner most facility is the tallest spire focused on internal filings, secure storage, and high priority testing fields. Offices and all records kept for clerical use would be within there as well.

… Meaning that spire is her primary coverage. The CRBN crew, based on Roman's explanation, will come up from underground beneath one of the facilities near the core spire. This means Makara's first job is surveillance for above ground reinforcements.

Luckily, the rich love their views. Windows are abound.

Although, her current view of the headquarters is obscured by the hazy blue hard light dust dome! The shield protects the entire facility from outside threats and unscrupulous surveillance. Which, according to Roman, should go down once the plan starts.

She finds her gap under the grating and gets down into a prone position. She gets to her resting position and nods. "Alright... How am I supposed to..? Oh! Right!" She remembers upon seeing the sticky note. She reads it and makes an O face. "Alright... Focus..." She breathes in and out. "Blair... Can you hear me?"

. . .

"Blair... Can you hear me?"

The blonde's lip curls slightly, happy with the result.

Prior to Ostium Mortis, her range would've maxed out a while ago. But after her melding of experiences with Setante? Horrific memories aside, she felt, rather than learned, how he controlled his aura. The way he could pulse his aura out in a mock radar and ping back to register his aura in his victim's body. Her body, at the time.

"I hear you loud and clear. When I finish speaking, please reply with 'OK' immediately. I wish to determine if there is a time delay on our connective thoughts."

One tick... Two ticks... Three ticks... a moment continues to pass.

"Okay! Wow, this is weird."

About ten seconds total. That means a five second delay sending the message, and a five second delay to account for the reply being sent.

"Five seconds, give or take. Keep the delay in mind if you must relay important and urgent information." Blair looks ahead as Team CRBN moves into a crowd heading into the subway. The same subway Roman and Neo met up with their contact last night. She checks the time. "It is 17:46. The train we are waiting for will arrive at 18:05 save for any variance. According to Roman, it should reach our operation point at exactly 18:36."

The team moves down into the station and finds a bench. The four of them are quiet, mostly keeping a look out. No issues so far. All according to plan.

"We're that early? That's better than being late."

Blair grimaces. Roman notices her shift in expression, cutting a look. The blonde shakes her head accompanied by a slight wrist flick. Nothing to worry about at the moment. "Let us hope no one recognizes and reports us from the news sightings. Then we can compare if being late would have been better."

. . .

Makara curls her fluffy clock around her as a hide, also to shield from the chilling temperatures being so high in Atlas of all places. She begins to check through her scope. "I lack a proper view of the compound until the hard light fields are taken out, but I'll try to get a lay of the land."

"Be sure to write down whatever you see so that you can convey it later."

The lavender haired woman perks, raising a brow. "I only have the sticky note- OH!" She flushes embarrassed, pulling out an extra pen and note pad.

"You forgot I gave you a note pad until just now, didn't you?"

Makara sighs. "Sorry." She apologizes out loud. "My memory."

Blair's voice softens in her mind, quieting slightly. "If you keep apologizing for things you cannot control, you'll turn into Carmine."

Makara blinks at that. "So, I'll be kind, but have an anger problem and uncouth mouth?" A pause in time has no response, but she feels mirth back at that. The sniper smiles. "I can... almost feel your feeling. Is that normal?"

Sudden frosting embarrassment hits her subconscious, tensing her. "... I suppose so. I forget how open I am in this state when it is someone new."

"I'll withhold commenting on it, then." The internal conversation dies out for the moment. However, Makara's eyes trail to the distance to what looks like smoke downtown. "There looks like a fire in the center of the city. That's lucky. Having their immediate emergency services occupied?"

. . .

Blair narrows her gaze. "Hmm..." "Too convenient..." She turns to Roman. "If I recall correctly, you said our friends have organized a distraction for us?"

Roman perks. "Oh? Eagle eye find out what he meant by that? I'm still speculating."

The blonde nods. "It may be unrelated, but..."

. . .

"We shall assume it was our 'friends'..."

Downtown

Qrow lands, finding police and military barricades around a fenced construction site! Approaching, he finds what appears to be the helmeted officer in charge. He gives a waving salute as the men take his notice. "Huntsman Qrow Branwen. Your general sent me."

The officer eases, nodding. "Sir!"

The Huntsman's eyes lid slightly. He hates military conduct. Almost with as much passion as they have following it. "What do we have?"

"Sir. A perimeter has been established cutting off all sides. Per the General's details sent out last night, we've implemented measure of video surveillance coverage to avoid the Ripper's semblance letting her just walk past us without notice."

Qrow raises a brow. "Really?" Impressive. "And we know she's inside?"

"A fox faunus with a rapier and augmented claw arm. Several workers in the site have retreated with the same descriptions." The officer grimaces. "Before I took over, the local police had sent four squads inside. We've lost contact with two, and I just sent a military squad in to gather them and withdraw before any further casualties can accumulate."

The hunter scowls. "More people went in there?!" He grimaces. "Alright, I'm going in. Once I'm fighting her, I want all soldiers to back off immediately."

The man salutes. "Understood! We have a squadron of Atlesian Knights-130s dispatched inside as well to back you up. More incoming!"

Qrow turns, seeing several robot soldiers march in unison. Each one is armed with a rifle, the soldiers with smooth black and white metal. Sleek and overall, authoritative. Still, Qrow knows from experience that they're not overly quick on their feet or to reaction.

Still... if it's risking robots, then he won't mind his semblance possibly messing with them. "Fine. Give them the order. In order of priority: Protect living targets, take down my opponent, and follow me."

"Sir, yes sir!" The man salutes as he and other soldiers begin programming the parameters into a hand held device. The knights shudder as their facial visors light up blue. They begin to march until stopping with Qrow.

"Hmph." Qrow turns away and charges into the construction site... The robots charge in after him.

. . .

Inside, Qrow checks his corners in the darkened, low light areas. The construction in this area is mostly completed, save for some exposed panels of wall yet to be set. Lights pierce along the halls, beams flashing from the aimed rifles of the Atlesian Knights flanking him.

Say goodbye to the idea of stealth, but against Jackelynn... Maybe a good thing. Her semblance surely doesn't fool technology, right?

He perks, spotting a form laying ahead. A body. Qrow rushes forth and comes to a crouch next to the body. Quickly, he checks the areas around him. Next, mental exercise. His aura shield pulses as he focuses his aura. A cautious hope that doing so might undo any tampering with his senses.

The troop moves through the halls into more open venues, blood splatters beginning to appear on the walls. Eventually, it opens up into a great wide central foyer... bodies are scattered about.

"Ngh!" A soft groan pulls his and the robots' attention to a single female form. The pained wheeze comes from a writhing woman.

Qrow quickly rushes towards her before his ear catches the clinking of objects under the woman. The robots are ahead of him. One lowering and shifting the woman over. "WAIT-"As shifting the woman over triggers the dust explosives tied to her breast!

BOOM!

Qrow shields himself as the woman, and the nearest two robots, are both plastered to pieces against the far walls...

Traps... He expected them, but to see them this morbid. Fuck, he hates the Cult. Qrow's scowl twists in cold fury as he looks to the remaining robots. "New order. Refrain from acting on civilians until I give the go ahead."

As if on cue, gun fire rings out from the distance...

Qrow scowls and takes the lead. He charges.

Within the minute, Qrow rounds a corner as an armored soldier yelping and collapsing back! The man crawls backward firing his rifle in fear until his back meets Qrow. "AH!" He turns and immediately lights up upon seeing the knights.

Qrow glances about, seeing multiple floors and open ceilings, the room shrouded in shadow. Flashes of gun fire show around a corner on an elevated floor before a wet slash silences the fire. From the shade, a bleeding man is tossed! Discarded like trash.

The man lands, but it's too late for him anyway. His throat is slit, hand weakly gripping the open neck before life fades from him.

Quickly, three more soldiers and two orange clad construction workers make way from the shadows, each with lights in hand or affixed to their rifles. They form up with the Atlesian Knights behind Qrow as he waits the offending presence to reveal itself. Sure enough, the lithe feminine form steps formally from the shadow one floor up from the troop.

Jackelynn the Ripper gives a slight polite smile with picturesque formality. "It is quite auspicious that we meet under such circumstances, Knightly Crow." She playfully teases. "And with a whole murder in tow."

Qrow ignores her, addressing the survivors. "How many troops remain?"

The shaken man stands, clearly frantic. "W-we can't be clear. Radio contact is lost. She's a monster!"

Ripper's polite smile morphs to a bored expression. A condescending tone shines out. "A grand example from the 'strongest' military on this planet." She then smirks to Qrow. "Shall our tryst continue where last left?"

She pulls into the shadows, disappearing without a trace! Qrow shouts out. "All of you fall back. Two bots with me!" Qrow charges into the shadow with two knights, the soldiers and spare robots withdrawing.

As Qrow charges, he hears her echoing in the distance. "Hehehaha..!"

. . .

Elsewhere, Winter exits interrogation cells. Her grim expression is matched only by a growing frustration. She glances to her ward. "Penny, Update. You attempted to interrupt my interrogation earlier." She holds her hand out.

Penny quickly approaches and hands Winter the agent's scroll. "Ma'am. An alert came regarding a hostage situation down town on someone called the Ripper."

Immediately, Winter tenses and sighs. "That drunkard is likely ahead of me to deal with her." She glances to Penny. "Any word from Agent Palmo?"

The ginger shakes her head. "None that you will enjoy. He declined the Ripper response due to undisclosed concerns. His communication was short." The android hesitates before continuing. "Did the interrogation yield information implicating him?"

Rather than answer, Winter marches with the girl following. "Training is over today." She turns fully on the girl and nods. "You've behaved admirably today. I will arrange an escort back to the SDC for you." Noticing the mixed look on the girl, Winter narrows her gaze. "Speak your concern."

"I am more than capable of combat. Nowhere close to your level, but I am certain that I could assist you in some way."

"You are correct. Yet, you are under my care." Winter dismisses the concern. "This will be your future, but is not your present."

Penny frowns slightly. "Shade Academy documents huntsmen and huntresses as tools to safeguard peace. Atlas Academy defines its operatives as those who have accepted an absolute duty to act... Am I... not the perfect example of a tool to be used for such purpose?"

Winter stiffens at that... words faintly echo in her mind.

. . .

The past...

"You would squander your talents in the military and forfeit your status as our heiress?" Her father's words echo. "Absolutely not! I need you here!"

The younger Winter's voice retorts. "I am not your only child to be heir to your work. We both know Weiss and Whitley both actually want the title, unlike myself!"

Jacques Schnee's voice almost growls. "Yet you're the only choice! You're the only one that's useful!"

. . .

"Do not ever echo that sentiment in my presence again. Do you understand?" Winter's harsh response lashes at Penny, making the android lean back, almost with a gasp. Winter looks away quickly, maintaining composure. She takes a deep breath. "Regardless of whether you wish to participate or not, you are not in my charge as a tool... I'll not abuse your nature and place you in unnecessary risk."

Penny blinks, unsure how to accept such a sentiment. She settles for a light frown and nods. "Yes, Ma'am." Reassuring herself, she straightens at attention. "I will return to the SDC and continue what work I can to be helpful then."

Winter begins to walk away. "Good. I shall contact you with further instruction tonight." Winter sets on her course. She has a criminal to apprehend, and now she's in a foul mood on top of it all.

Here's hoping Qrow can last against that psycho...

. . .

"Target detected!" The Atlesian Knight fires into the dark! The sparking shot strikes the silhouette... smashing stone.

An earth dust decoy is blasted into rubble. Qrow quickly checks other directions. A flash of movement in a dark corner calls to him, so he shifts Harbinger into gun mode and fires! The blast punches through the wall, but no purchase on his quarry.

Damn it. Qrow turns to one of his two robotic bodyguards. "Press towards the inner junction of the third floor. Where all the active plumbing and piping connects, preferably."

"Roger Roger!" The robot calls as they move. With every other step, a shift in the darkness pauses them to open fire.

The bots must have schematics in their data, as they immediately take the lead. Qrow makes an effort to remain between them.

Movement! A casting of earth dust in the shadows launches a rocky boulder at the robots! Qrow dashes forward, using his transforming scythe into smashing the projectile aside! The bloom of dirt from the deflection puffs out, so he backs up!

From the dark cloud, a blade pokes out, narrowly missing! Qrow avoids the swipe and counter slashes! The counter disperses the cloud, revealing nothing. His eyes narrow.

"Hostile detected!" The Knight behind him aims and fires at nothing... only for his vision to blur in the spot to reveal shifting shadows! Her semblance hid her. She hides again.

This cat and mouse game continues until Qrow and his entourage find a central junction of the building. Multiple floors are exposed, scaffolding about in multiple levels with spot lights around. Between the walls, levels, and staging all around are wires and piping. This is the central maintenance hub for the structure to be. It's a place to control and establish power, plumbing, and circulation.

Qrow eyes the room, whirling around. He judges the positions of the utilities.

… Then a light goes out.

He and the robots whip around to the spot light as it sparks out. The robots fire into the darkness with no purchase...

Then another light sparks out. The robots whirl around, a classic spray and pray.

Gritting his teeth, Qrow looks up. She's banking on faunus night vision! Can't have that. "Blast a hole in the ceiling!" He and the robots begin to open fire above! The dust shots explode through the ceiling levels far above just as the remaining spot lights spark out!

The ceiling four levels up is blown cleanly out, allowing a waterfall of light down into the junction.

At that exact moment, earth dust casts out, smashing through both robots!

Alone, Qrow stands in the center of light, shadows lining around the center of the naturally lit room. Jackelynn's voice cuts through the silence. "There... All alone. So much more... intimate."

Qrow huffs, looking back and forth as he changes Harbinger to its sword form. "Thought I wasn't your type?" He takes a high guard stance, directing the broad side of the blade down. Blade point forward, Qrow slowly shifts and turns. "How does a sophisticated murderer like you come to prefer women? Is it the tried and true sadism?"

A trilling laugh answers. "Ah, well... Perhaps. Although, it's rude for me to reveal my secrets while you remain so closed off and cold... Shall we trade?"

Wind shifting from intense speed cashes his ears. Qrow spins around in a slash! CLANG! Blades sing as Qrow winds the blade to jab at the woman! Jackelynn leans back, using her rapier to redirect! The two separate, Qrow dashing forward.

Only, he stops at the edge of darkness. Jackelynn slides happily into the darkness... She's baiting him.

He scowls. "Trading secrets? Too bad I'm not an exciting guy."

An echoing voice trails from the left, jerking his attention. "Oh, I wholeheartedly disagree."

He snorts. "Well, maybe you'll find this entertaining." He turns... and sees his mark. "What do you make of the fight of flight reflex?"

Directly behind him, Jackelynn slinks out from the shadow. "Oh... I like a mix of both!" She charges into a lunge at the man's back!

Just before the point impales, Qrow's form warps upward, shifting his form into that of a large black crow! Black feathers whip around, spooking attacking faunus! In one fluid twirl, Qrow shifts back to human form! His sword swings down into the woman's clawed off handed block! Jackelynn is thrown back into the darkness.

Qrow lunges into the darkness after her while he sees her! He swings viciously after her, the woman sliding and crawling away from each strike, narrowly deflecting attacks with her rapier and claw with a frantic look! Jackelynn channels earth dust and strikes the ground!

BOOM!

Qrow leaps back, sliding into the light once more to avoid the woman's attack! He remains fierce. "For me, the responses are the same."

In the shadow, a roughed Jackelynn stands up and straightens her hair with manic eyes. However, her tense lip twitches up. "My, I was told of your surprises and still found myself caught unawares." She takes a calming breath. "You take strong man to a whole new level. I have to say, also ruggedly handsome."

As she disappears from his senses, Qrow raises his sword in a high guard once more and begins twisting around. "Yet, you don't like men?"

"I did say we would trade..." The playful voice shakes slightly. She's still getting herself under control. That was honest fear she felt when he caught her off guard. "How shall I put it then..? As years pass, it becomes tiresome... boring, even... All strong men turn out the same. I suppose it's simply to... get to the heart of the matter."

Qrow hums. "Care to elaborate? Psychos giving speeches make the ending more fulfilling."

"Impatient, I see. In my experience, the most exciting moment of my prey's life is the moment of death looming over them. This moment does not change whether it be a man or a woman. My preference is how we get there... One can only break so many strong men before it becomes stale. The man is defiant until just enough pain and pressure brings out his begging and pleading... The fairer sex, on the other hand..."

He catches movement again, whipping back and changing his weapon to gun mode! He fires! The shot misses, but forces Jackelynn to take cover. "No strong man is strong enough for you to think it's worth it?"

Jackelynn chuckles behind cover. "I would not say 'no' strong man. Just... so exceptionally rare, it feels a waste of time and effort to seek them out. Better to let them come to me, no? It certainly worked for you."

"And it all comes down to preying on who you think is weaker?" Qrow snorts. "A common thug way of thinking."

"You misunderstand." Jackelynn chuckles. "From a certain point of view, yes. A strong fighter, more commonly a man, brings such glorious excitement in the journey, but for the most part? Oh, for the most part, the destination is so exciting. And the destination is oh so more delicious with a beautiful face, twisted so horridly."

Qrow scoffs. "I'll pair you up with some strong women. I know a couple that can break your stereotype. Shall I introduce you to my sister someday?"

Jackelynn cackles. "Oh! That Schnee woman is one such exception! I call those the best of both worlds!"

She lashes from the shadows, clashing blades with the man...

. . .

Underground.

Inside the sub train, Team CRBN congregates in the back of the train. On the final car, Roman paces the short area, a look of intense focus. Carmine's about to ask, but that's when the door into the train car opens. Hazel marches in. The boy's question for Roman dies at the presence. "The fu-"

He moves out of the way as Hazel lumbers over the group. His harsh, stern eyes look over each of the four... steadying slightly on Carmine. A tense silence hangs as his eyes almost... absorb the boy's image. All soaking in each part of his face.

Carmine grimaces. "Uh... Hi?"

Hazel scoffs, looking to Roman. "Your group ready? We'll be hitting in five minutes."

Roman clicks his tongue. "We're ready as ever." He then smirks. "Your little distraction down town isn't going to end prematurely, is it?"

Hazel's eyes widen slightly at that... "You know about that?"

Blair huffs. So, what Makara saw WAS their distraction. "Just answer. Is the distraction going to work? This is your brilliance at work, after all."

The HUGE man bristles at the confrontational tone. "Everything is handled." He looks to the back of the train car, to one of the sealed doors. He quickly checks a device from his pocket. "We jump from the train, then I'll activate the EMP."

Carmine raises a brow. "What's more special about your EMP than what we can make?"

Somehow... Hazel looks pissed the moment Carmine opens his mouth. Still, he removes two objects from his pockets... Two crystals. Two DUST crystals.

Raw dust crystals.

All four CRBN members twitch back, staring at the man as their hands move for their weapons... Perhaps a consequence of their match with the Nelo months ago. "What's the raw dust for?! That has not been properly processed for accurate casting!" Blair snaps.

The fierce giant allows a small smirk. "You've no idea what you're in for." He holds one reverberating lavender lightning crystal in his right hand. One coarse dark amber earth crystal is in his left hand. He smiles wide as he crosses his arms! "AH!" He cries out as he shanks each of his biceps with the crystals! The earth dust into his right arm, the lightning dust into his left!

Suddenly, his veins radiate and charge, thin lines of lavender and gold glow under his skin as his muscles pulsate! Power builds as he grunts and grits his teeth. "GAH!" He huffs out, hunching over. His aura shield pulses visibly as he grunts. "Ha... ha... HAHAHA!" He forces a strained laugh as he looks to the train car door with an barbaric fury. "Alright! We're in business!"

The CRBN members gaze wide eyed as the hulk rams his hands into the door lining and forces the slide panels open! He twists his neck and pops the bones as he looks to the four. "Well? Get moving!"

He leaps from the train into the open subway underground. The four CRBN members hesitate only a second before following suit. The four land in the low light tunnels a distance away from the man. Hiking over, they see power emanating from his arms in pulses. The dust crystals exposed out of his skin charge with an electric like glow.

Carmine's wide eyes absorb the image, his hand subconsciously grazing his chest armor plating...

Blair narrows her gaze. "You intend to craft an EMP using yourself as the conduit between the power of raw resources? Just how do you avoid killing yourself with this?"

"A regeneration semblance?" Carmine softly cuts in, catching Hazel's surprised attention. Seeing the others sending off looks at him, he blinks and adds low. "My mom's semblance accelerated cellular repair... Her weapon was an armor that injected dust into her, allowing her to imbue her attacks with melee dust casting... This is similar at least. The first I've seen anyone have anything close to her power."

Hazel raises a brow and snarls. "No." He harshly snaps back. "My power is not regeneration, but simply numbs pain and reduces spread of damage long enough to safely remove the dust contents later."

"Say what you want. It's close, and I like seeing it." Carmine smiles, if nothing else than for being reminded of his mother. "So... the SDC is above us?"

Above is a sealed panel, barely visible to the naked eye. Yet, much like the metal rails and lining of the walls, electricity pulses through in visible sparks. Hazel looks up. "Yeah... This will knock them out of power. We raise into the generator sub levels. The enemy doctor's records should be situated in the cybernetics department's tower directly north of the compound we'll be rising into."

Blair removes white dust and holds it to the side. She'll need the light source. "You will be holding enemy attention to the compound. Roman has additional small scale EMP devices to knock out enemy robots."

Roman adds. "The four of us will be obtaining records. ALL of Doctor Near's research in its entirety as well as Atlas mech updated programming. Though, those records will be on hard drives in the robotics department building."

"We'll speed things up then." Carmine speaks up. "Roman and I will head for the robotics department. Blair and Neo will head for Bio. We can get the data directly from the physical computers on both ends and save us download time. Roman and I will head back down here to leave with Hazel. Neo and Blair will double up Neo's semblance and leave the SDC compound in the confusion under direction of our sniper cover."

Hazel pauses, looking at the four. "... Sniper cover?" He hums and looks down, spotting Neo, giving a cheeky smirk.

Neo winks, eyes swapping colors as she huffs haughty. The man glares at her proud mocking.

"Alright... Stay back." Hazel grumbles, his aura charging down both arms! His hands cup out, a charge of warping sparks of electricity arcing between his fingers. "Ha..." He sucks in a long breath... And releases a guttural roar! "HA!"

A wide pulse of power blows out in a quake!

And lights out... The only source of sight is Blair's white dust capsule and the arcing electricity coming off the giant...

. . .

Circuitry and machinery cease. The pulse warps through the ground, further and further.

Inside the complex, a large generator with shining dust chambers and rumbling engines sputters. The room around it sparks and blinks before going out. Dead. The generator's noise blows out...

. . .

Makara's eyes widen. "The signal..."

Before her, the hard light barrier around the entire SDC compound fades and disappears from existence...

The sniper sets her look and leans in. Perfect. Her view is impeccable! "Alright!" "I've got visual of the headquarters compound!"

The operation has begun...

. . .

Inside the headquarters, a familiar doctor rides his motorized office chair... Dr Near, Dr Franklyn Naero Stein, leans over the back of his chair, sitting backwards, as he rolls down the halls. Then, the pulse waves through... the chair slows and slows to a halt.

His lazy head dangles forward as he comes to a halt... His hand raises and holds his head.

His bionic eyes dilate and contract as the mechanics within his cybernetic body have a compulsive jolt! Stein's body stiffens and shakes as he grimaces.

"... I see... EMP..." He sits up straighter, looking out a window along the halls to the outside world. The hard light barrier around the headquarters collapses, revealing the rest of the city. "As direct as expected."

He hums. "Sooner than expected, but the result is the same." He smirks. "They're moving exactly as I predicted. Right into the spider's web." He taps at his temple, his electronic vision flickering and adjusting.

An EMP against his cybernetics? He's expected to run into this complication for years. He steps off the roller chair as his aura manifests in a flick around his hand. In a single palm strike down, he slaps the chair, a sparking arc of power flickering through the joints as the seat comes back to life.

Violet electricity lights around the wheels of the chair while he sits back down. "Okay, CRBN. Here is your move." His vision. His slightly tinged violet cybernetic vision, displays a list of objectives.

Objective:

One. Alert Backup Operatives – 0 of 3 notified.

Two. Prepare Archive Defense Protocols – 2 of 3 ready.

Stein dead stares forward as he rolls again. "Come. By the end of the day, you'll be numbered and on my table..."

So, this might end up being among the shortest chapters I've put out in a while. I stated in the notes last chapter that a massive change in work place has resulted in much less writing time. For that, I really apologize to you all.

I may try to do shorter chapters so that we can maintain updates, but that depends on the subjects of the chapters.

So, the chapter itself! So, Whis Palmo may not be on the up and up. That's not what we want to hear! We got the break in to the SDC started, our big fights about to be set, and all will be going fast!

Reviews:

Crimson Mist (AO3) – You've been leaving a lot of reviews catching up, and I appreciate the engagement into the story. Hope you keep enjoying!

Join next time in chapter eighty: A Black Snowflake.