Volume CRBN!

by Dancesnapple

Four individuals. Four different people of different walks of life resulting in an adventure. Hopefully, a bond that can last. Team CRBN (carbon). Features: OC Main character, main team has two OCs alongside a lovable crime duo, and some family drama on all sides. Features a 'soundtrack' element for the fic. ENJOY! Story begins on third listed chapter. Very slow start.

83. 81 Resignation

Changed chapter name for this chapter. Didn't get to what I'd hoped to, so the chapter name I'd had will appear later.

Chapter Eighty One: Resignation

"... I'm COMBAT READY!"

Penny's swords pincer down! Stein ducks back to dodge, then deflects the next two blades flying at him! Backing and defending, he grants Penny enough room to widen her stance. Her arms raise out and tense, making strained twitch movements as she controls the blades.

Still, the movements are too predictable. Too telegraphed. While the blades themselves offer a multitude of attack angles, her own movements hint too well at the coming action. Stein easily dodges and deflects blow after blow as the blades attempt to circle.

Ah, she's planning the wires to wrap and entrap him.

But he's much faster. His electronic red vision blinks her attack angle to warn him. In a flicker, he ducks as the wires constrict over his head, missing! He dashes straight on at the girl!

Penny braces herself. She needs to disarm him. She'll take the hit and use her dense and heavy durability to tank the strike! Then she'll snatch the weapon and remove it. Once he's disarmed, she has this fight in the bag...

… Is what she wanted to say.

Instead, Stein takes one step closer than expected, hooking Sound Soul around the girl's back and pulling her off balance TOWARDS him!

Pulled forth, Penny's legs are kicked out as she's suddenly through body parallel to the ground! Her eyes are wide. He's just as strong as she is! Stein moves to strike the now helpless android, so Penny has to get out!

Her swords dig into the floor a distance off and reel in, pulling Penny away just before the strike hits! Penny pulls away and lands in a shaky stance at the far wall.

By this point, the black dust snow fall was beginning to coalesce around the floor.

Neo and Makara both have leapt up, landing on the second floor. The black dust was beginning to spread around both the second and third floors of the lab as well. Noticing the CRBN girl's ascent, Stein blitzes after them, leaping up.

Penny recovers and sends her swords after him! Still, the man zig zags her attacks and leaps up and over. Landing before the girls, Stein strikes both back into the first level! He moves to the edge to loom over the girls, looking more annoyed than anything.

"Unfortunately, I must do this the hard way. The dust climate control and hard light barriers were two of my three traps. I must applaud you for getting through them. The third should be holding your witch woman at bay." His gaze lingers on Penny as he continues. "Even with unexpected help, it matters little."

Penny frowns, seeing both CRBN women dropping to their knees. Neo's hand goes to her throat as she glares at the man. Penny speaks on their behalf. "Doctor Stein... why are you doing this? You are among the top minds of the world's tech giant! Why use such illegal paths? I believed you were a moral man!"

Stein pauses, seemingly taking an honest moment in thought. The words come out naturally. Honest. "It is no Machiavellian scheme or purpose for me... I do not care or hold personal stake in the purposes of my employment. I care not for the thanks and meaningless pleasantries exchanged by those I've helped..."

. . .

"I became a doctor to learn more about us... To learn our limits. To learn MY limits..."

Stein's words carry as, floors below, Blair charges a horde of Atlesian Knights. They're armed with melee weapons, so the woman ducks and deflects to find openings! She attacks the joints.

"How much force can break me? How much blood can a person lose..?... How much can one be improved?"

Blair ducks a shock baton swing, cleaving the offending bot in half. She backs up, keeping the group in front of her, rather than around her. As they charge her, she begins a routine. Deflect, kill shot. Deflect, kill shot. Deflect kill shot. Her semblance is useless against these things, so she must be as conservative and methodical as possible.

"All improvement is spent creeping towards mankind's, science's total victory over one, universal constant: The fact that we are finite."

Blair takes enough down that they begin to tumble into one another. She then speeds forth, inserting fire dust, igniting her blade a burning furious orange. She impales the closest bot, a sparking of electricity out its back as she angles its back to the rest. She roars out as she activates the dust! A blast of flames explode out the knight's back and erupt down the hall at the others!

"What scientific endeavor needs... more than anything else, is none of this altruistic, altruistic, moral pedantry." Stein's voice begins to growl, anger bleeding into his tone. "Most every major discovery is built of mankind's never ending need to overcome some force, and often times sacrifice is made."

She pushes into the now scorched hall, side stepping the crispy and collapsing machines as she wipes her brow. She quickly moves on, only to find more bots around the corner! Does that make thirty? No, forty easily. Still, she has another hall to follow, so she makes a break for it with the knights giving chase!

"What progress looks for is ambition, no ethics, push, control is good, alright!"

Blair rushes down from corner to corner, each hall littered with more knights coming out of nowhere. Were they placed here preemptively? They must have! Damn that Stein. He'd predicted their assault on the SDC! Blair finally makes it to a pair of elevators. She cues one to open... meeting more knights as the doors open...

She kicks the lead knight back in and goes to the other elevator. The indicator over the door shows the elevator already moving down to her level. Probably more. Quickly, she stabs Fluorescent into the slit doors, prying them open. All the remaining knights begin to flow around the corners as Blair leaps into the elevator shaft!

A calmness enters his voice again. "There is no higher plan. There is nothing at the end of the rainbow but your achievements and the challenges you overcame that make others learn your name..."

Blair looks up into the shaft, seeing the elevator above coming down. She can only descend, so she grabs the suspended rope and slides down the shaft. She'll have to take a detour to lose the robots.

. . .

Stein looks coldly upon the three shell shocked girls by his ambitions laid bare. "I've no guilt, nor remorse... I am entirely rational towards this goal. A goal that I WILL succeed in... Those who bring change are often considered pure, but that is hardly ever the truth. They need only be sound."

He raises his weapon again, a passing glance. "... For a sound soul dwells within sound mind... and sound body."

Returning his gaze, the girls instantly see that this was what he was meaning to explain before. His presentation of his weapon's name sake. Penny widens her stance and scowls. Her rising voice is off set by the slowness of her words and speech pattern. "I will not allow you to do so! You can not get away with this!"

His body turns to them, expression blank, as if he didn't even register her words. His head cocks as he continues his speech. "And what sound do I gauge from what lies before me?"

Stein's eyes fall on Neo. "A damaged body whose limited her mind to selfishness..."

His eyes next focus on Makara. "A soul rejecting its body and decaying the mind..."

Finally, onto Penny. "And a being with no soul, the first to self sustain its own aura..." His eyes linger on the android as Penny's eyes quiver, a pain inside upon hearing his words. "Today's technological marvel... tomorrow's stepping stone towards indefinite life for humanity..." His voice dips. "Too little to be human."

Penny's chest clenches, despite not truly having organs, she feels weighed by the lashing words. She forces her gaze to remain, but her focus lapses...

Stein blitzes down in a blur, closing most of the distance. Cyborg meets Android as his scythe strikes defending swords aside.

Upon first contact, both move in a blur! A whirl of strung blades attack in succession while the scythe twirls to deflect each. Stein step kicks in, knocking Penny off balance. Wincing, Penny's eyes light up in response! Boosters form under her feet as Stein goes for the follow up slash. ("No bones beneath no skin. Just a polished exoskeleton.")

Penny's feet ignite in green jet boosters, a single burst blowing her backward from the slash. Shutting them off, she stumbles backwards while controlling the blades forward! Stein elegantly strikes through the sequential swords as he advances! Penny panics, boosting off the ground to flee! ("Every game that I'm in, I win. All your best efforts are an imitation.")

Hard stop! Stein stiff hooks the girl with his scythe, despite her booster! He pulls her in and slams her into the ground! Swinging wide, he whirls her around in a circle then throws her from the hooked grip of Sound Soul, flinging the girl at speed at the far wall! ("Product of the digital mind! I'll build the future that I datalized!")

Penny braces and lands on the wall arms and legs first! She leaps from the wall as Stein strikes where she'd just been! The metal of the wall scrapes and rips out as Stein runs along the wall after the boosting android! Penny flees to the ground, needing stability! ("Into a world of my image, perfected! I won't stop until you're all infected!")

Landing, she sends four string blades into the ground, anchoring herself as she sends the remaining two! The attacks land! One blade jabs into Stein's left shoulder! The other piercing into his right hip! Penny throws her arms out, the wires wrenching the doctor to the ground! ("Product of the digital mind! I'll build the future that I datalized!")

Stein's emotionless face flashes his eyes violet behind his glasses. His right arm swings Sound Soul into the ground to halt himself. Anchored himself, his free arm grabs the wires connecting Penny to the swords inside him! He yanks on the ginger girl's threads, the sword anchors she placed all whining and ripping metal! ("Into a world of my image, perfected! I won't stop until you're all infected!")

Stein visibly tenses and growls into a roar of effort! The shocked android's anchors give, the girl wrenched in! He pulls her into a knee strike, which she cross blocks. Her eye twitches... she's feeling actual pain... (Short instrumental bridge into next verse.)

Whipping one blade in, Penny grabs it and swings! Stein, in one fluid motion, spins, ripping both the blades in him out, and parries her slash aside! He spins the scythe up, cracking its haft end up into her jaw to knock her off balance! He strikes again, though she manages to block this time. ("You showed up just to get smacked down! I found you, and I'm deleting you now.")

It's a feint, Stein hooking her with Sound Soul again and pulling her! She uses the sword to guard her back, but her front is left open as Stein throws a haymaker into her gut! Knocked back from the punch, he reels in with the scythe, and punches again into her jaw! Her guard slips as the scythe bites into her shoulder blade! ("You sit in the ring, but you can't shake the king! You like picking trash and I'm taking you out!")

One palm strike to her chest gets her to cry out as her grip on the sword slips. All her wire swords focus and swing around, the wire coiling and restraining his left arm! Caught? He huffs after a second. No matter. ("Product of the digital mind! I'll build the future that I datalized!")

Penny kicks up, both boosters activating and shoving the doctor away... as the wires keep his arm in place. He keeps her hooked with the scythe. As the wires bite into and rip into his bicep, the scythe digs into her back! The arm gives! The wires rip Stein's left arm completely off. ("Into a world of my image, perfected! I won't stop until you're ALL INFECTED!")

Stein loses the hooking of the girl and falls back, now one armed. His remaining arm, his right arm, adjusts its grip on the scythe as he stands up. Penny, meanwhile, tumbles along the ground stiffly. (Instrumental maintains energy before quieting.)

Penny flinches, but slowly staggers to her feet. Electronic sparks jolt out of her back. Her electronic green vision gives her a display message. 'High damage. Body integrity: . Aura: . 49. 48.' It reduces fast. She needs to end this. (Instrumental begins to pick up into final verse)

Stein skids to a halt, looking with no care at his stub left arm sparking and leaking blood and fluid. He looks to Penny, more annoyed than anything. His single hand before to twirl the scythe in hand. No different than a single hand twirling of a pencil. ("This process I employ! Be subsumed or be destroyed!")

Penny sways, body hunching as she raises her twitching arm. Her six blades raise around her. The weapons come together into two sets of three lining their backs up. Green energy builds up. She needs her laser to end this. Using two will divide the power, but increase her odds of success. ("Submit to the hate! Admit it's your fate! You're trying to flee, but you'll never escape!")

Stein huffs, his onyx camera eyes once more flashing violet. Still twirling his scythe, he winds back and lashes his arm forward! The scythe is flung as a deadly spinning projectile at the left collection of swords! Penny's eyes widen as the scythe strikes the swords, igniting the building laser energy! (Music cuts into chorus"Product of the digital mind! I'll build the future that I datalized!")

Penny stumbles back from the explosion. Stein takes the initiative to charge full speed at the girl! Desperate, and off balance, Penny calculates and fires the remaining collection's laser at the man! The laser strike detonates in an explosion... but the mark is missed, as Stein speeds out of the smoke, his one arm forward as he snatches Penny by the face and slams her into the wall! ("Into a world of my image, perfected! I won't stop until you're ALL INFECTED!")

The impact of putting Penny into the wall dents it in with crackling electricity. Stein's hand clamps over the girl's face, covering one of her eyes. The other remains wide, shocked the man threw off her last attack! (Two horns blare as the music cuts out...)

Penny's arms come up and grip the man's, but her power is so low. A mere . The man stares uncaring as he disregards the damage to his own body. "Like any machine... you lack innovation."

Crunch! He presses her head an inch further into the metal... then begins to drag her along the wall! Penny's wincing cry is muffled as he rips her along ten feet of wall and pulls her out. He releases the rag dolling girl and catches her ankle mid air.

He then twists and throws the girl away! Like a Frisbee, the girl waves through the air and lands back flat against the far wall in a metal crash!

Stein stands tall, despite the blood and fluid loss, despite the lacking of a left arm, despite his weapon's lack of power, despite everything. He walks over the his scythe, the weapon's haft destroyed half way down. All that remains is the large scythe head and two feet of handle.

Neo and Makara each look horrified, on their knees with their mouths and noses covered best as possible. It's not enough. Their ability to function is waning as they stumble their way over to Penny. An ally is an ally, even if they might be affiliated differently than you. Neo uncovers her face to grab the android, but the black dust snow irritates her throat as she falls into a coughing fit!

Makara manages to reach and grab Penny properly, pulling and assisting the android out of the wall. Penny collapses to a knee with them, the three girls all sharing only a small moment of shared pain before turning to the man approaching.

Stein remains standing as he walks step... after step... towards the three defeated, near powerless girls before him.

"Do not struggle any more... It will only cut your time short." His hollow eyes stare on unblinking as he goes on. "It will be a mere annoyance to put you back together after."

Damn it, what can they do?

… What's the floating object above them all?

. . .

Download complete!

Carmine grins and snatches the flash drive as he and Roman nod to one another. "Bout time." Roman mutters. "Onward, Silver Streak." The two immediately sprint away from the room. The kid's been awfully quieter for the last few minutes. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

The boy flinches and spares a glance. "Whoa. You're asking me in a supportive way?" His sarcasm drips with a smile.

Roman scoffs. "Brat, you only get this quiet when something terrible happens, or it's your self depressing time of the month. Something happen with Barbie?"

As they round corners, Carmine growls under his breath. "Neo and Blair were separated. We don't know where Neo is, so Makara left her sniper perch to back Neo up. Blair is currently several floors away from them fighting through security sentry bots." He grimaces. "They went into a trap. Blair says we should focus on escaping, but-"

"Just listen to Barbie." Roman cuts him off. Carmine gives a deep frown. "Barbie's been a good deal more paranoid for the last month. If she's saying the situation is covered, we should abide by that. We're not exactly in a position to do crap all, so do what we CAN do."

Carmine gives a dull look. The words refocus him, but he still verbally jabs. "Out of curiosity, does this mental health also coincide with ignoring responsibilities?" Roman gives a smarmy smirk and winks. The action makes the boy slouch. An exasperated sigh comes out. "Yeah, thought so..."

Coming round a corner, they have a window view towards the complex they'd arrived in... and the buildup of guards and robots at the bottom. Roman purses his lips. "Sincerely hoping we have an alternate route to leave."

The boy blinks and takes a look, flinching and shrinking in at the view. "Uh... Hmm... We MIGHT be having a shoot out to leave." He squints. "Those are all robots, right?"

Roman perks then glowers. "No... Mechs." He points out. "Each of those suits adds about six inches to a person's height and double mass. They have pre-programmed weapons routines that require minimum movements support from the pilot. Atlesian Clerics."

Carmine recoils at that. "That's something I expect Blair to know-" He instantly changes and gives a dull look. "You've stolen those before, haven't you?"

"Stolen AND used, Silver Streak." Roman cracks a sly smile.

The boy then scrutinizes other devices in the air. "Drones inbound... I think. I haven't seen those before. You stolen those before?" He points them out, Roman looking on.

He blinks, narrows his gaze, and cocks his head...

"~Nope." He pops the 'p' and hums. "Not sure why Atlas is ditching the blue for red lights on them, though."

The drones, much smaller than the Atlas scout drones, are curve, oval shaped. A light weight propulsion system is under the length of the bottom side while the top has several grooves that shift the metal plating. The top plates are black, bottom plates gray. The front of the devices show one red eye on the device.

Only three of them linger in the open air before they rise...

They're converging on the Bio building.

"So... they're just ignoring the blatant battle zone going on?" Carmine speaks up before double taking. "Are they Near's?"

Roman growls. "Possibly... Probably. Though, the good doc would more likely have traps INSIDE since he's not wanting to operate in the open."

The two share a look, then frown. Carmine sighs. "Let me try again..." He focuses on Blair. "Blair, you got some weird sideways egg shaped drones approaching your building. We got our data, so we can try to come for you."

He waits a moment until Blair's reply comes in. "That's concerning. Is Hazel still acting as a distraction?"

Eyeing their only escape, Carmine sighs. "Yes... You and Neo are the only two that can get out of there with the Shatter semblance, so get Makara out of there. Roman and I need to use the escape while we can." He grimaces. "She's warned. Let's get going." The both of them high tail it and run!

. . .

Stein continues his brisk approach, right hand raising his limited scythe.

Neo stumbles in front of Penny and Makara, gripping her throat to keep from coughing! She raises Hush weakly in defense. Penny's and Makara's eyes raise to gaze beyond the cyborg approaching.

In the air at the third floor level is one of the egg shaped drones, red eyes flashing as they lower.

Stein pauses, eyes dilating and widening his view.

A metallic hum rumbles from the twin drones! From them, they link hard light dust projectors! The drones move apart, the spreading hard light stretching and projecting a barrier down between the AZRL operative and the girls! The first level pit is separated in two halves.

Stein darts his gaze between them, preparing to leap up! Yet, another two drones enter, projecting a barrier to cut off the second level from him. The man is contained in shock. "What is the meaning of this?"

Neo blinks weakly as Penny looks hard at the drones. "Egg shaped drones... Those are not SDC products."

Makara perks. "... Egg shaped?"

Click! The loud echoing crank shuts off as the black dust projectors disable around the building. Electricity surges within them and causes the black dust sources to burst! Useless!

The girls cover themselves as the black dust snow finishes falling. The ventilation activates, winds kicking up and blowing the black snow about, getting rid of the poisonous substance! Lowering their arms, they blink confused upwards...

BOOM! The ceiling explodes! The metal shrapnel rattles down as the smoke screen above.

Penny stares horrified. "More intruders?"

Makara stares with a smile as she weakly adds. "Dad." This causes both Penny and Neo to double take at her.

Stein glares up through the hard light barrier. "Troublesome..."

Within the smoke, red lights glow out. A silhouette shows of a rounded form shows, lights coming from it! (Hard techno beat begins moving into adding percussion!)

The smoke begins to clear as the full pod shows. The same pod from the Riviera Manor, the red sensor lights glow out while energy filling lining glows gold! The silver, black, and golden paint job breathes expensive. ("Woo hoo Ooh Hoo, Oh Yeah~!" Instrumental moves into repeat.)

The pod rotates and opens segments from the bottom, two more egg drones separating from the carrier!The new drones immediate set about scanning about the room. ("D-Di-Da, D-Di-Da, D-Di-Da Da Da Da Da Da-n, Oh~!" Call outs lead into first verse.)

The pod cabin's tinted screen shield opens, a flashy display provides the fanciful reveal. The billionaire scientific politician rises, Garland Riviera reveals himself. His arms wave out, black and red leather gloves clench into fists as the mustached man laughs! ("The story begins, with whose gonna win! You know that the danger lies within!")

The pod lowers until it hovers at the second level, tilting to allow the sitting man to gaze down upon the meddlesome scientist trapped in the hard light barrier. He sniffles derisively and begins to type commands into the console. ("Aboard the ark, a genius at heart, who wanted to unlock the mysteries of life!" First chorus comes)

Despite the sweat building on his brow, he maintains a smile, Stein's image reflecting off his now red aviator goggles. He finishes a command on the pod control panel. ("I am the E.G.G.M.A.N; that's what I am! I am the E.G.G.M.A.N; I've got the master plan.")

The front of the pod shifts, revealing two sets of machine gun barrels, the weapons humming with lightning and fire dust. ("I am the E.G.G.M.A.N; that's what I am! I am the E.G.G.M.A.N, with the ma~ster plan!" Music cuts...)

Neo, Penny, and Makara stare wide eyed, each blinking once in unison. Neo puckers her lips and whistles impressed.

Garland snorts. "Dr Stein... I've come for a check up... Hope that's okay. It's quite urgent."

Stein remains neutral. "Mr Riviera... I apologize, but I am quite occupied for the foreseeable future... I am surprised that you are up and about in your condition."

"Oh..." Garland huffs a tired breath. His eyes heavy and concealed by his glasses goggles. His limbs lightly shake. "I feel but a fraction of what my little girl suffered under you." His tone dips dangerously. "You're finished, Stein."

One of his egg drones lowers and scans the three girls, prompting flinches from them. The scan ends, Penny having a slight panicked gaze at being scanned by the non SDC machines. Then again... she'd already messed up and allowed everyone present to see how unreal she was.

Garland looks over the results. "Girls, your auras are critical." He spares a veiled look at Penny. "... All of you, though you appear more physically traumatized." He gives the android a curt nod. "Are you okay, lass?" Getting an uncertain nod from Neo, he then looks to Makara and Neo. "Your auras are near absolute zero! Perhaps we can do something about that."

Stein's head cocks. "Interesting. Are you implying you have invented something revolutionary to help them?"

The politician grins. "Oh, I'm out of practice, there. But, I am positive that YOU have." He snaps his fingers, one of his drones making itself know as it scans about Stein's lab. The red light on the drone flashes blue in a flicker and beeps. He turns. "Oh~! Found it."

Seeing which section the drone found, Stein shifts. "How did you-"

"Oh, my babies have been trying to break your system since about a minute into you terrorizing the orange haired girl." Garland retorts. "Your main console is holding strong... but some other contents, ho~. I'm impressed... 'AuraX'?"

The drone rips open a container, revealing a syringe filled with blue liquid with an infinity symbol emblem... A small crane arm comes from the drone, picking up the syringe and removing it from the container. It begins to move away.

CRASH! Stein instantly bursts into movement, striking pin pointed spots in the hard light barrier! He grimaces, but his eyes flicker as he scans the weakest points in his makeshift cage.

Garland grimaces as he commands the drone. "Girls, divide up this dose for yourselves." He eyes Penny again. "I doubt you're compatible with it, sorry." He gains his tired yet giddy look. "Seriously, though, Stein. I already viewed you as a brilliant man. Then a scum filled bastard. And now, a brilliant scum filled bastard."

Neo's eyes widen as she sees the drone lower towards her and Makara. It presents the syringe... and she recognizes it...

It's the same description as the syringe Carmine took in Menagerie. The one that boosted his aura to nullify the Nomaura he'd been dosed with!

Garland speaks. "Dust can be used to simulate existing masses. Like earth dust producing very specific types of rock and minerals when attuned correctly. This? A complex minor mixture of water, earth, wind, lightning, and fire dusts in that descending order in total contents? Simulating the proportional makeup of the human body? Then mixing it with high energy resources to feed aura reproduction? A solution that upon a full dose mimics a full day's recover of aura!" He chuckles mischievously. "Now... why oh why would you keep such a development away from any sort of mass production? Hmm?"

The accusatory tone irritates Stein as he continues to strike the barrier. He refuses to respond.

So, Garland gasps. "Oh, dirty Stein... Did you make this gem specifically for AZRL and its affiliates then? Keeping something this brilliant from the masses is quite dastardly."

Neo holds the syringe, confused. Will this counteract black dust infusion? If black dust can nullify aura, will more of it manage to get around that? Well, it can't hurt. She jabs herself in the arm, wincing. She injects half the solution before she pulls it out to hand to Makara.

Makara nods, doing the same and wincing as she injects the remainder of the substance. Instantly, both girls feel a shift. Not much, but Neo takes a deep breath and calms. Makara notes that their scrapes and injuries begin to slightly ease with aura healing.

It worked!.. Kind of...

The drone before them scans again as Garland frowns. "Well... Ten percent for Maka and eleven for quiet girl." He looks to Penny. "What level are you at?"

Penny shifts her gaze left and right before calmly stating. "I-I am at eight percent, sir."

The hard light barrier cracks under Stein's powerful strikes. Even as damaged as he is with only one arm and a broken weapon, he's hitting with the force of a freight train! With one shout as he strikes, he shatters the hard light dust barrier, sending the maintaining drones scattering! With deft strikes, he demolishes two drones before be leaps up to attack Garland at the pod!

The billionaire flinches at his controls, gasping.

BOOM! Makara's Almighty Circuit fires!

Stein is forced to turn and block mid air, the blast propelling him down. He lands at the far end of the first level pit.

The three girls spread, Makara cranking and activating all four dust chambers of her rifle. "I just need one solid hit to finish him."

Penny frowns as she only has two blades still connected to herself. She pulls them in lets them float above her.

Neo grins malicious as she takes a step forward. Like a predator, her eyes swap colors as she signs. "Got you." Neo then side eyes Penny, the android blinking. "Support?"

That gets the android to smile. "I have you!"

Stein's face twists in a grimace. "Vocal authorization code phrase: Resonance!" He shouts out.

The remaining functioning lights flicker red, a switch flick occurring from voice response. The computer monitors of the third level flash, catching Garland's attention. The man gasps and looks to the girls. "He's rigged the lab. Take him down! I'll try to stop it!"

Stein widens his stance and raises his one arm to a guard position!

Makara fires twice as Neo charges. Penny waves her arms up and directs her connected blades ahead! The scientist zig zags the shots as he slashes at Neo! Shatter! The girl disappears as the flying blades pincer in! Stein ducks one and deflects the other.

Neo appears behind him, slashing! The man twirls the hand scythe around his back to deflect her! He hooks Hush with the scythe, pulling Neo around as a blocker for Makara's shots! The floating blades come back around.

Neo's off hand grabs the front of Hush as she twists the hooked weapon around to pull Stein towards the sword strikes! Stein releases the broken scythe in a spine turn. He sweep kicks at Neo, the mute hopping over!

Stein completes the spin by snatching the first of Penny's two blades! He overcomes her control of the blade as his violet aura sparks against the green aura lining the metal. He swings the blade to deflect the second blade, then yanks on the wire!

Penny is pulled forward!

Makara aims her rifle at Stein, so Stein throws the sword in his hand at the woman! The sword is just as precise as her own aim before it deflects off a barrier... Neo and an open Hush coming into existence in front of Makara. The girl shielded her!

Stein kicks his scythe up to his hand and slashes at Penny, who is now closest. Neo closes Hush and ducks and runs, letting Makara fire at the man! Stein is forced to block the shot and get knocked off balance back!

Penny recovers her own balance, grabbing her remaining sword and slashing at the man! Stein continues to stumble back, but deflects Penny's strike! He swings into a counter strike, but Neo leaps over Penny, striking his attack back with Hush. She then hand stands off Penny's stiff form and kicks Stein further back!

Neo continues to charge him! Makara takes aim at the exchange from her distance... Penny takes Stein's prior move, throwing and controlling her sword! The blade this time fully impales his left calf and pins his leg to the metal of the floor!

Stein sucks in a breath. Makara is lining her shot... His eyes flicker over Neo, charging from the side.

As if time slowed, his electronic senses scan Neo, determining that she is, in fact, right there. She won't be blocking another attack at Makara... So, Stein looks to Makara and swing throws his scythe at her! No unarmed, he reaches down to Penny's sword inside his calf!

Penny's own electronic senses perceive his intent. In the same slow motions, Penny uses more of her power to activate her jet booster and propel herself forward! Just as Stein's hand grips her blade, Penny shoulder tackles and wraps her arms around the man's side!

"Tch!" Stein's eyes widen as Penny pins his one arm to his leg.

Neo lunges across the two, slashing Hush all across the man's chest, shoulder to shoulder, slicing away much of his shirt's remaining fabric!

Finally... His scythe strikes Makara. SHATTER! Stein's senses overwhelm as he realizes. He checked if Neo was the illusion, but didn't check if Neo was covering up for the sniper!

As Neo's semblance takes its course, Makara appears... now behind Stein...

She'd leapt over when Neo camouflaged her!

Makara's rife barrel contacts the upper right of his back.

BOOM!

The woman's sniper fire explodes forth from Stein's chest! The blast wipes out his right pectoral and right shoulder, blowing his right arm from his body in a splatter of metal, oil, and artificial blood.

All three girls spread away from the man, stumbling their short movements away! All three stare heated at the standing man... The standing man with no arms, severe wounds all over, and a chunk of his chest erased from him... Yet no expression of pain on his face.

… And he drops to his knees. His legs lose power, his head hanging.

With all the damage, the group still manages to see which parts of him are human... a variety of artificial blood vessels connecting to exposed systems.

Penny removes her sword from his leg, holding it to his neck! "Do not struggle! You will face justice for your crimes, sir!" She looks away from him to Garland.

Makara speaks up. "Did you manage to stop the program?"

Garland grumbles and hits his console in frustration. "It's deleting his records! I need to get in, but I need one final code phrase to deactivate it!"

Neo double takes, but remembers the code. The same code Roman told them. She holds up a hand for Garland to see, using her fingers. Four fingers. Two fingers. Four then two. Five fingers. Then raise both hands with all five on one hand and one on the other. Then one hand up with four!

Garland blinks and nods. "Got you. 42-42-564."

Accepted! He enters in and hits the command. The program ends. The lights in the room flash... And Garland grimaces.

"Eighty five percent of his records have been deleted..." Garland informs with regret, hand shaking as he wipes sweat from his brow. "I've no idea if the records we needed to put him away are still in here."

"Heh... Hah...Haha!" Low rumbling huffs of laugh come from the cyborg man below. His face is expressionless, yet still his tone still retains a superior ego to it. "The program erases the drives in sequential order. In order of most important to least specifically to counter thieves as yourselves... An irritating fail safe, but a fail safe nonetheless."

Still calling them thieves. Penny frowns. "Dr Stein. You cannot hope to cover up every one of your crimes. I am bringing you in to put an end to it." Needing to justify her actions, the android lists off. "The audits are implication enough for suspicion, but atop of that, we now know of two individuals with illegal surgeries that YOU are one of the only ones capable of performing. Both of them harmed by AZRL."

Stein is unfazed by the information. "My, what wonderful accusations you've made of me."

Penny grimaces and turns to Neo. "Was Stein the man who took your voice, Neopolitan Rhodes? Is he the individual known as Dr Near?"

Neo frowns, hand massaging her throat as she nods.

"The testimony of the thieving mute with the identity of the noble daughter of our mayor. That's hardly a trustworthy source."

Garland snarls. "You nearly detonated YOUR implant in my neck! I was your hostage, you bastard?!"

"A man experiences implantation tampering at the hands of a criminal Team known as CRBN, then claims I deliberately made the tampered device they offered as proof? Once again, a dubious claim." Stein dismisses again.

"My daughter was your prisoner for inhuman experimentation!" The politician snaps, before weakly sinking in his chair fuming.

Not even a second of hesitation, the man feigns a mocking innocence in his tone alone. "I truly have no idea who could have been her captor, but you have got the wrong person." Lies through his teeth, but his quips are starting to demoralize the group.

Sensing their anger, he decides to go for the throat, his tone shifting as if speaking to toddlers. "Allow me to paint the picture before you. I, the top scientist and medical professional of the world stand accused of all these heinous crimes with what to back up the claims?" His puppet like face yields no emotion, yet somehow his wide eyes convey some sick humor.

He continues. "Records? Audits? Mere theory and conjecture at best. Arresting me is a trifle. The absolute best you can hope for is enough controversy to oust me from the SDC like Arthur Watts before me. Such a grand success. I applaud you so, yet it does nothing." A low chuckle comes from him. "Or, you kill me here and now... THAT would certainly bring some favorable results. And yet... would be a quite provable crime in the legal system. Atlas WILL come down upon Team CRBN, now and forever."

Makara stiffens. A thought occurs to her...

Neo growls as she stomps her way over. Aiming Hush's blade at his neck, she signs. "We've taken you down in Mistral and Vale. What makes Atlas different?"

Now bored, Stein scoffs. "Mistral is a kingdom with near blanket free reign of different groups from the law. Split authorities means all the crimes you carried out attacking us hold little consequence." His eyes flicker, a mocking tone. "And we've had to wonder just what connections you've had to operate such ways in Vale... It only makes sense that the secrets surrounding your leader are the only reason Vale went your way."

His biting tone at the end makes Neo flinch. Mostly because he's right. If Carmine wasn't Ozpin's son, their Vale operations would have been a hell of a lot harder with more focused hounding from authorities.

Stein finishes. "Here in Atlas, one has to contend with the most frustrating of things." His tone lifts. "A legal system and stiff government. So, unless you can prove your case, either kill me and doom yourselves or give it up. This is all a pointless endeavor."

Silence fills the room.

A sudden ill feeling hits them realizing how this corrupt... BASTARD plans to get out of the situation. By simply letting the Atlas government flail about.

Yet one person does have an idea.

"His defense hinges on CRBN's charges being muddled and left with unanswered questions." Makara speaks up, raising a brow. "But if a member of Team CRBN should stand publicly, would that not also bring forth testimony and properly laid claims to investigate? We have access to additional Atlas intelligence via-" She stops, looking off before mentioning Medusa. Shifting her gaze, she clears her throat.

Penny and Garland stare at the sniper, Garland's weak look paling. "... You-... Maka. No. You're-"

Penny cuts off. "If one or more members of Team CRBN would subject themselves to arrest, the details of their case could reveal new charges to new individuals. New avenues of information and investigation could open with proper direction." Her green eyes look to Stein, satisfied upon seeing no more arrogance in his gaze.

Neo blinks wide as she and Penny meet gazes. Neo's brow furrows while Penny gives a sad frown. The look communicates wordlessly as Neo's face pulls in bubbling anger. The mute raises Hush and ignores the pain in her side!

Penny's control of her one remaining attached sword, whirling it into place between the girls.

Seeing the schism forming, Stein regains some enjoyment. "A cross. That's lovely." His emotionless face shifts towards the girls. "Give up your freedom to put me away, and you will never get close to your goals again. Only a fool would offer themselves in such a way."

The android keeps her eyes on Neo, but her certainty wilts. "The system is just. Whatever Team CRBN is guilty of can certainly be made up for, and Atlas can take CRBN's leads and take down AZRL- HIC!" She shudders, a shocking hiccup cutting her speech... Her lips purse... Does she herself not believe that statement? She only hiccups now if she outright lies...

In a flash of memory, Neopolitan Rhodes, the fake human living with their mayor, comes to mind...

If an investigative chance like that can get swept under the rug for AZRL, then even Penny can't guarantee results in Atlas' hands.

Damn it... what can they do?

"I'll do it." Neo and Penny both blink, turning to the voice.

Makara wears a smile on her face, sitting down tired. However, she directs her look at Neo for a moment, smile growing wider before she turns to Penny. "Team CRBN can continue after AZRL... Arrest me. I'll be your star witness after my trial."

Neo holds for a moment before her image Shatters. Her form reappears in a leap, landing in front of Makara, wide eyed, almost frantic. Confused, she looks over the sniper, concern all over.

Garland's jaw drops. "M-Makara! Where is this coming from? I thought you wanted to leave with Team CRBN after this?"

Makara's smile wipes away, doubt coming. But, she shakes her head. "That would be nice, but the more I think about... and rethink about it with fewer details... The more I realize my time with them was always limited."

Penny frowns, feeling left out some details, but lowers her weapon feeling cooperation from the woman. Her eyes scan over the sniper. Neo, meanwhile, appears nearly angry over the announcement.

"I appreciate the sentiment, Neo, but even if Blair keeps me going as long as possible, I'll eventually become a liability to you all." Makara explains. She lightly caresses her weapon with a fond grin. "I want to be useful to repay you all, and if stifling Atlas from ruining our progress with AZRL's corruption is possible, I'll accept that."

Penny blinks, confused. Her slow speech sounds out. "I can arrest you, and you will face charges for vigilantism, breaking and entering, assault, battery, unauthorized use of deadly force... more." Penny grimaces. "Even still, if the conspiracy is fully revealed, the merit of your actions should lend itself to leniency." She gives a cursory glance to Garland. "You as well, Mr Riviera. You must be arrested as well."

Garland slouches weakly in his pod chair. "Oh, I was preparing for that." His weak frown finds his daughter.

Neo doubles, triples, and quadruple takes between them all, looking ready to pull her hair out. She scowls at Makara and signs. "Why? We can beat AZRL and come deal with their nonsense later!"

Makara frowns with Neo, but her look graces a smile. "It's okay..." She nods to the exits. "We got Stein. The mission was a success, so go."

The mute shakes her head. "We can't leave you."

"You're not." Makara grins back, approaching the tense mute and wrapping her in a hug. She speaks softly to the younger girl. "This is how I can repay you all."

Neo's scowls melts, eyes blinking and looking off. She gently returns the hug for the moment, then separates.

Stein finally speaks again. "Such pointless gestures..." However, his tone holds clear boiling anger... He's trying to goad a different response in the situation, and he isn't getting it.

Penny's blade comes to his throat. The android speaks clearly. "Franklyn Naero Stein, Garland Riviera, and..."

Makara smiles and nods, separating from Neo. "Maka Riviera. You may also call me Makara Riva."

The android reciprocates the smile, but it wipes off at the action she's completing. "... And Maka Riviera. You are all under arrest. You will be placed under the custody of my commanding officer, Agent Winter Schnee. Do you understand?"

"I do." Makara nods. Garland grumbles as he lets out a tired sigh.

Neo's face twists at that, so she turns to look at Penny. A hurt glower meets a soft frown. Penny gulps. "I only wish to help people."

The mute stomps forward until in Penny's face, nose to nose. She points at her lips. She mouths for Penny to read her lips. 'Fuck people. If your idea hurts my family, you'll pay.'

Penny blinks wide. She nods. "I trust my commander. I trust the general. I might not have much power myself, but I'll do everything I can."

Neo pulls back, sparing a look around. She sighs before turning and breaking into a sprint. The girl is gone in moments.

Penny wonders. This is twice she's letting Neo leave, and she's learned a bit about her. A thought occurs if something akin to friendship could be possible in such a scenario. Technically a criminal or not... she has good inside her if one looks deep enough.

In the silence of the after math, Makara speaks. "So... shall we help you with him, or?" Makara points to Stein.

Realizing her own condition is sub par at laughably best, Penny blinks. "Yes." She speaks slowly. "That would be preferable." She steps away from Stein, her back sparking. Makara aims Almighty Circuit at the man, allowing Penny free reign. The android looks to the billionaire. "Mr Riviera? You have the data that can be preserved?"

Garland weakly looks down and nods. "Ah yes." He spares a look at the computer. "I can try to sift through it if you trust me to."

Penny grins. "I trust you, but no. Doing so would count as tampering with evidence. Even if you do nothing to it. I will do so myself if your drones could assist me?" Her back sparks as Garland controls a drone and lowers it for the android to hold on to. The machine lifts her as she properly smiles. "Salutations, by the way."

Garland raises his brow and shares a look with Makara. His daughter shrugs at the android's odd pep.

On the floor, Stein grinds out. "Working like a well oiled machine." The sarcasm in the tone is noted, but the reference to machine is not lost on Penny... Her smile leaving her as she works.

. . .

Blair knocks her way out of a stair well, grunting in frustration. She tries once more. Bounding around a corner, she nearly rams right into Neo! The mute sucks in a relieved breath and one hand hugs the blonde, shocking her.

She steadies Neo, noticing how exhausted the mute is. "Neo, you're okay." She frowns at nothing Makara's absence. "What happened? Where's Makara, and did everything go well?"

Neo opens her mouth to take a breath and think about the response. She grimaces and signs "Research is wiped so we can't take it. Stein is beaten and arrested by ginger frenemy. Makara and dad..." She stops signing and frowns. Looking away, she grabs at Blair's arm and begins to tug her along.

Leading away, Blair grimaces. "She's not..."

Realizing the miscommunication, Neo shakes her head and signs. "She's staying here, with her dad."

Double taking, Blair's gut instinct nearly makes her turn and rush to grab the girl. "What?! Of all the-..." She grits her teeth, looking at the situation out the windows. They need to get out now... "Damn it!"

Thinking quickly, Blair reaches and channels her semblance in Neo. "Here. No need to get stranded a second time if we're separated." Neo allows a small smile. However, Neo's body resists Blair's semblance aura. The frustration comes after as Blair notices. "Black dust? Your body is absorbing and erasing my aura."

Neo sighs and nods. She signs. "Low dose inhaled. Can power through it, but takes a LOT of aura."

Grumbling, Blair sighs. "Alright. Can you use your semblance?"

"Mhm!" Neo smirks at that.

"Good." She brandishes Fluorescent and smiles. "We'll double up your semblance to get out. I'll give Carmine and Roman the go ahead." Focusing, she calls out. "Carmine! We're ready to leave. What are you two doing?"

The wait is longer than normal. Either he's busy, or her aura control is waning. His voice finally responds, exasperated and angry. "Dying, mostly." A small pause hangs before continuing. "Even sneaking around, we got caught up in our diversion's bullshit!"

. . .

Carmine and Roman roll behind cover outdoors. An explosion blows of the sky bridge behind them, a massive advancing firing line of Atlesian Knights and human guards slowly approach. The Knights wield rifles as the humans present advanced riot shields to protect the gun bots.

The area is still affected by the EMP, evident in the Atlesian Knights sparking and stuttering in their movements. The machines must have some very rudimentary protection from the residual after effects of the initial pulse.

It doesn't help that the EMP effects are beginning to wane. The power could be on in mere moments.

Nearby, an Atlesian guard has piloted a small mech suit! The suit makes him eight feet tall and hulking metal strong! The beastly bruiser suit is however demolished as Hazel roars and shoulder checks the suited guard! His body radiates electricity as he thrashes the guard, metal shards flying in sparks! The guard throws a punch, but Hazel snatches the metal arm as his body casts earth dust around the limb.

The earth forms before condensing inward. The metal begins to whine and crunch in his hand before he rips the suit's arm off, revealing the man's unarmored arm! He then punches the man in the gut, shredding the metal and launching him.

As Hazel thrashes bruiser style guards in mech suits, Roman raises and opens fire! His stream of fire dust explodes against the tech riot shield line, picking off only a few of the Atlesian Knight gun bots behind.

The guard bots then open fire, Roman ducking with Carmine as sparking strikes of bullet strikes ping off their cover. Carmine rolls his eyes.

. . .

Blair and Neo spot the gun fight from the higher floors of the bio complex. They share a look before Blair sends her response. "You can just leave. We'll be leaving with Neo's semblance out the front compound. Regroup at the train station."

The two girls move from their position, attempting to find windows directed towards the front of the Headquarters compound. Carmine's response comes in. "I thought only two of you could do that."

. . .

Carmine flinches from a spray of gun fire just over his cover. Blair's response comes in. "We'll explain later. It's okay. Makara is fine, but Neo and I will be escaping without her."

The boy's look alerts Roman. "What's gotten to the girls?"

"Makara's not escaping with us." Carmine growls out, teeth grinding. "Just what the hell happened this time?" He whips from cover, using three double shots to punch through two of the riot shields and take out the robots behind them. He ducks back down, snap reloading. "We need to head out now. The girls are going out the front with Neo's power."

Roman grimaces. "Well, how convenient for them, but we're on the tail end of getting kneecapped, Silver Streak. What's our plan, cause..." He gestures with his weapon, indicating the drum mag. "Our usual fallback plan isn't enough to clear all this."

"I blame your karma. Too much stealing." He glares back at Roman's own narrowed glower.

BOOM!

They blink upon hearing the sniper shot.

The blast strikes one of the Knights, destroying the bot. The robot soldiers and guards all look around, confused.

BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Sniper shots begin to rain down, scattering the guards from their formation! However, all the shots are taking out the Knights. The robots are getting taken apart one after another.

. . .

Blair and Neo leap from the bio building. Blair catches herself on Neo's ankles as Neo uses Hush to drift to the roof of one of the outer buildings. They take note of the shots sounding off, seeing that they're coming from even higher on the bio building than they were!

. . .

The shots continue to rain until silence finally comes. Carmine and Roman hesitate before stepping from cover. They see the guards all running away for cover... and a sea of shredded metal remains of the Atlesian Knights.

Carmine blinks confused before Roman hums for attention. The conman aims Velvet up at the bio complex, his keen eyes spotting something. "Well... I suppose that counts as a sendoff." The boy certainly doesn't disagree, smiling softly at the gesture.

. . .

Makara sighs, lowering the rifle from the edge of the building. The dust chambers squeal out steam as the weapon is completely out of all four dust types. She allows a small smile for them. They can't possibly make it out.

Well. Go full board. She grows it to a toothy grin and makes a bright waving salute from her position on the building's top floor.

. . .

Neo and Blair see her from their adrift position. Each share a smile for the woman as they land on the smaller complex a distance out. Blair sighs. "I hope this is the right move." She looks to Neo, noticing the girl is hesitant to leave. Gently gripping Neo's shoulder, she nods away. "Come on, Neo. We've got to go."

The mute grimaces and goes with.

. . .

Carmine and Roman spend only a few more seconds upon seeing Makara's distant wave. Carmine reciprocates the gesture. Even Roman sighs and gives a mock salute. "There. The silly woman gets one."

Carmine snickers. "My gods. You actually care about a human being." The two twist round and run for it. They make it to Hazel, the hulking man looking scuffed and covered in charred soot painting parts of his body in black. "Yo. We're good to go..." He eyes the hulking man. "You good?"

Hazel grimaces. "Just move!" The three move into the complex... to the generator room. To their escape.

. . .

Downtown...

Inside the construction site, Qrow parries another strike, backing up as he once again can't see his opponent. His red eyes lock straight up onto the broad side of his sword. He once again angles the weapon in a high guard as he backs up into the better lit area.

Jackelynn's voice giggles in the dark. "There it is again? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were seeing through my semblance."

Qrow's eyes widen as he twists around, swinging into a block and clashing blades with the faunus! Her grin is wider every time he blocks! Despite her clear tense nerves and anxiety ridden fidgeting when she pulls away, she's positively thriving on his responses! Her quick breathes betray a heightened state of mind. "How? I thought it was only a lucky streak. No one's ever countered me so thoroughly."

Qrow pursues her while she's in his sight! He sends a flurry of blows, the woman frantically blocking! She ducks a slash and earth casts into the ground, blowing a dirt cloud up. The man moves back into a rising guard, broad of the blade facing down. "Why don't you figure out what I know?"

As he moves back into the lit area, near the exposed pipes, her voice rings again in a light whine. "Oh! Don't make me beg." The whine gives way to a low annoyance. "It's a turn off to be on the other end of it."

"Now, we both know that's a lie." He grumbles. "You get off on torturing people, sure. You like the horror they feel, women in particular, but no. You get off on your own fear as well."

Qrow then twirls into a slash! He cuts through all the plumbing pipes around him, spurts of water bellowing around all sides of him. Like seven faucets running around him, he stands tall between them, eyes darting to each stream of water.

"You may have a power for hiding, but you're terrible at hiding your own intent. Hell, your emotions are practically broadcast for the world." Qrow finishes criticizing the woman.

"Oh please. Tell me your expert read of my emotions, then. Enlighten me of my state of self."

Qrow shifts Harbinger into its scythe form and turns to block an earth dust cast! He begins to twirl the scythe around in a defensive series of wide sweeps. He smirks. "Before that, perhaps I should direct you to a certain known psychopath named Killian Gonzola. You two would make the perfect power psychopathic couple."

Offense meets him. "That gruesome oaf? My mistress has had to deny him three times now. He only approaches us for such selfish outings." Her voice then turns haughty. "I, on the other hand, deliver on my assignments."

That actually peeks Qrow's curiosity. So, Killa has actually tried to work with the cult before, and was turned down? Guess not all crazies can work together. "I don't know. You two still seem like birds of a feather."

"Humorous..."

Qrow turns and deflects another would be killing blow! He chases her off again before moving between the streams of water. "Face it. You're a disconnected sociopath who targets women over men over laziness for your thrills. You can't find enough strong men for yourself, but what does that mean!" He twists to slash at the woman!

She ducks away, eyes wide at him nearly hitting her BEFORE she even attacked!

He continues. "Strong? Yeah. Strong to you means those that can threaten you. And look at your reaction?" He scoffs. "You're getting off on fearing for your life. It's why the Grimm were drawn to you! They're drawn instinctively to negative emotions of that nature."

Jackelynn eyes him as she circles the edge of the light outside the falling streams of water. She's silent at this point, narrowing her gaze. "You accuse me of..?"

Qrow snorts. "As if I'd know the right word-"

"Autoassassinatophilia." The woman rattles off with pursed lips and a light blush.

The huntsman pauses. "... What?" No freaking way, that's the actual name of what he's outlined for her.

"Look it up if you make it out of this." She smirks and winks. "But, correct analysis aside, I'm more curious how you're seeing through me."

Keep the conversation up. Buy time. Eventually, she'll get bored or frustrated enough to leave an opening. At this point, he's conserving his aura while she expends her own on her semblance.

"I'm not a people person. Not much of a talker. But, I think you might like a story." Qrow smirks at her. The woman bows back into the darkness, his awareness of her leaving again. He takes a guard position. "Most of my formal education came from my four years at Beacon academy. Don't think I need to tell you that any information I retained needed to be damned useful."

"Oh, education comes in many ways. Formal is only one means. I'd say you seem pretty learned."

Ignoring her flirtatious compliment, Qrow continues. "My team's leader really had a rough time getting me and my partner to class most days. The worst was science classes." He smirks lightly, remembering Summer having to almost DRAG him and Taiyang to class some days. "We missed a lesson on the utilization of the light spectrum, so she and my sister blackmailed us into attending an in city art exhibit to learn something about it."

Once more, Jackelynn cuts her voice in. "What could Hunters POSSIBLY need to know the light spectrum for?"

"Besides how some Grimm can only see in a condensed range of the spectrum, even less than us?" He smirks. "Maybe I'll explain it exactly as it was to us. Is water blue?" He pauses before adding. "Is blood red?"

"A trick question, I presume?"

"The technical answer is no." He eyes the water streams again. "When light hits an object, it reflects and bounces off. However, all objects absorb different frequencies of light, and reflect others."

A groan comes. "I'm growing tired of the pedantry."

"Water is blue because blue light is the only color of the spectrum that is not absorbed." He sees what he's looking for and whirls around!

The point of Harbinger halts at Jackelynn's neck, her clawed hand catching the blade! Her wide eyes are horrified.

Qrow drops the smirk. "What we see is not the color the object actually is. What we see is the color the object doesn't absorb. What bounces off it." He then settles a fierce glare. "THAT'S how your semblance works. Isn't it!"

He presses the attack! Jackelynn jerks back, but not before a light gash is grazed into her rib! She grunts in pain as she retreats. "What?!" Frantic, she disappears from his vision directly before his eyes.

Qrow immediately twirls Harbinger into sword form, settling into the raised guard. His eyes move up. "Light hits your body and reflects off. Your semblance carries your aura along the light waves in a single direction from yourself. When the light carrying your aura reaches my eyes, your semblance washes out the colors of light from your body. It erases your image from my vision. It then tricks my vision into auto filling the space you occupy."

He continues as he back tracks. "Sound is the same. The sound waves emitted from your body carry your aura and erase your sounds upon reaching my ear... However..."

The man whips around into the darkness, striking and meeting Jackelynn to launch her into the far wall! She collapses, eyes wide with pain and shock.

Qrow stands tall. "However... your aura is expended upon first contact with an object, and only directed at one person at a time..." He cocks his neck, popping it in a lax way. "I can't hear or see you directly, but... I can see your reflections, and hear your echoes."

Jackelynn gasps, flinching at the implication!

His guard stance... He's angling his blade to keep an eye on the reflections! The water! He's watching the streams for reflections and bends in the light!

The woman's jaw slackens. "H-How?! There's no way you figured out all of that from just one encounter with me at the fight pits! You came here deliberately the moment this fight began!" Her voice raises with a hint of fear. "No one's ever figured out my semblance like that!"

Qrow maintains a cold look as he approaches. "You made one fatal mistake." He speaks with a rare and enriched tone of pride. "You viewed your victims as unable to threaten you, but believed you yourself were exceptional. But, if it's any consolation." He smirks. "I had a couple theories I've been testing. That's just the one that worked... It's over."

It's over?

Her heart clenches. Intense fear clenches in her, along with a euphoric undertone.

No... It's not over. No, it's only started!

Jackelynn breathes heavy as she channels her semblance again. She wipes from Qrow's view, so he settles into his raised sword stance, eyeing the blade for reflections. He catches a flicker of movement... retreating?

Good. She can't get around the electronic sensors of the firing lines outside. Air support will leave that option of escape out. That leaves underground. She must have an out plan, so she should head down. He approaches one of the demolished Atlesian Knights, noticing its visor still lit. "Are you still functioning?"

The crackling modulated voice answers, but it's garbled. The actual speaker in the unit must be busted, but it responded.

"I need you to wirelessly communicate with the forces outside. Electronic views are a direct counter to her. Electronic helmets are a must for anyone walking around. No air support should land near the building. Finally, we need any underground sewage or possible underground constructs to be sealed off entirely. One beep for yes, you understand. Two beeps for a complication."

One definitive static filled beep answers him.

Nodding, Qrow stands and begins to trek into the dark. He keeps his sword at an angle to view with reflections. He has to find her now. His bad luck semblance should disrupt whatever plan she has... Possibly.

"...-elp... Help!" Distant echoes come, pulling his attention right.

It came from further into the construction zone... It was not Jackelynn.

Meaning it's someone Jackelynn's kept alive.

He grumbles. "I hate springing traps."

. . .

Blair and Neo halt in an alley way.

Each of them are coated in Shatter illusions, looking like black haired SDC guards of mismatched height. Both girls double over, bracing themselves and catch their breath. Though, Neo slumps to her knees clutching her chest. Their illusion disguises Shatter off then.

Blair looks over her shoulder...

Just in time to see the hexagonal hard light shield come back up in the SDC facility!

"The boys got out underground... They can travel through the subway, then Roman will get them to the hotel." She grimaces. "We'll have to move around the city checkpoints."

Neo doesn't respond, a deep frown adorning her while staring at space.

The woman kneels by her. "Makara chose to stay. Let's not dwell on her decision, but trust it."

The mute rolls her eyes and signs. "So, if Carmine chose to stay, you'd respect that?"

Blair purses her lips. "That's different. Carmine can make the most well informed decision in the world, and bad luck will make him making the decision a bad move." The joke at their leader's expense brings a small smile from Neo, allowing them to focus. "Moving above ground is going to take a while. Can you keep your illusions up?"

Neo nods. She frowns as she looks around.

Blair frowns as she looks Neo over more closely. Aura healing seems to have healed most any wounds, but bruising and tears at her clothes show how rough a fight she'd gone through. She leans over to pull Neo up-

"Ack- HA!" Neo doubles over and hacks into a coughing fit. A wet spittle of blood comes from her lips, dripping to the ground and alerting Blair. The mute gets herself steady and grimaces. As Blair is rubbing circles in her back, the mute gestures to the bloody spit on the ground.

Tiny flakes of black dust inside the blood.

Shit. Blair grumbles. "Black dust? You inhaled that much?" She looks to the girl and directs her to open her mouth. The girl's mouth is dry and inflamed. "How much environmental stress did you go under?"

Neo purses her lips and looks away for a moment. Eventually, she signs. "... Stein may have had an artificial environment room... Made a blizzard... then a volcanic ash cloud... and a desert sand storm..."

Blair's jaw drops, double taking a look in the direction of the SDC. "You inhaled dry sand in the air, icing winds, poisonous ash, AND black dust?!" At Neo's sheepish look, the blonde rests her face in her hands.

"Why am I the one getting messed up all the time?" Neo pouts.

"I believe Carmine has you more than beat in that regard." Blair grumbles. "Carrying you will draw attention, illusion or no. We can't sit still because police will definitely be locking down the area soon. But, you're not in any condition to sprint or breath heavy until your aura is back up."

The hum of Atlas military carriers sounds in the distance...

"Sewer escape is a possibility, but the foul air might irritate your breathing further. In an unsafe way- huh?" She turns to find Neo standing up. "Neo! Don't move unnecessarily."

The girl smiles and shakes her head. A twinkle of mischief in her eye, she grins with an idea. "I got it. Just go. I'll give you a call where they take me."

Blair shakes the confusion off, only for more. "Wait- where WHO takes you? What?"

Neo grins, holding up a finger. "Vanille Carson is gonna get arrested before they lock the area down. She'll call you from jail, and you come check me out. Makara's dad has a lawyer friend, right? He can fake any paperwork you need, right?"

Blair blinks wide at the idea. "Neo. This is absolutely insane. You want to allow yourself to be arrested?"

Neo shrugs and nods. "I was arrested a few times when I was in AZRL when I failed missions. Those were always in places where AZRL had plants, but the normal cops always take the path of least resistance. Save for the odd altruistic guy getting run out of the job by the bastards."

The blonde raises a brow. "A wonderful view you're painting of the system." She shakes her head. "Neo, this is insane."

"I can't move without support, and we both need to get out of here." Neo sets a huffing look as she rubs her throat. "I can maintain an illusion in jail. They'll think it's an unrelated crime from some punk kid is all. It'll be fine. Just get me out by playing a parent. Or call Rowa."

Blair's entire visage sinks at the thought of calling Rowa about any of this. Yeah. Not happening. The girl then reaches down and takes the end of Fluorescent's sheath.

Getting the idea, Blair resigns herself to this terrible, on a whim idea. She jerks the weapon, exposing the sheath prongs, and jabs Neo's bicep. She winces, but Blair takes a blood capsule worth of blood into the sheath, gaining a second use of Neo's semblance. "I'll get everyone together to get you out. We'll get you out after meeting with George. If he can't help, we'll bust you out before leaving Atlas."

She lowers to Neo's height and pats the girl's shoulder. Neo gives a smile. Then, they lean in and give one another a light hug. Soon as they break, Blair turns and activates the trigger on Fluorescent, shifting her appearance to a raven haired woman in a conservative outfit. Her weapon is covered in an illusion of a parasol, copying Neo's use of such an unsuspecting tool. She gives Neo one final nod before sprinting off.

Neo watches her go and moves aside, taking a moment to catch her breath-

"Ah-!" She gasps and jolts, looking off after Blair...

Did she say the name George?!

No... Just the same name. Neo shakes her head, frowning. A lawyer of all things? Please.

Now, how to get arrested quickly for blatant crime?

The girl smirks. A Shatter illusion casts over her, showcasing her Vanille guise blue hair. She smiles and steps out into the streets.

Now, find a nearby hardware store, grab a lug wrench, and find a cop car. Land model, of course. One of those has to be around here somewhere...

. . .

The halls are getting darker.

Qrow grumbles as he pulls out his scroll and clips it to his collar, light on as a spot light. He walks around, eyes scanning the area, while keeping his sword guard up. He needs to move slowly.

So that's her game. Get him away from light sources, and he won't be able to counter with reflections... If that's truly her strategy, then she's also likely moving to an area less capable of producing echoes. Maybe she'll stop getting goaded into conversation.

No. She's sickeningly narcissistic. She'll let herself be known when she goes for the kill. He just needs to survive the attack and land the appropriate counter. He's keeping light with him now, so her angle of attack is limited. That will make her predictable.

"HELP! PLEASE!" A loud, choked cry calls directly ahead.

Qrow quickens his pace until reaching a door opening filled with dry wall panels. He pauses before pushing it into the next room...

It opens into an incomplete construction area. Multiple floors with the scaffolding and the like again. The bottom area appears to be a lower floor wide ware with measurements about for tables. A recreational room for employees? A form of break room? The middle area is completely open, with barely any flooring exposed to show what it could be.

It's damaged and broken, meaning the exposed area is damage that Jackelynn must have left. Qrow himself has entered from the upper area, looking down through the demolished construction to see several broken off segments in the wide area.

A central pillar rising through all three levels is at the far wall. On all three levels, tied up by the pillars, are construction workers, tied up and chained against the walls.

Qrow is alert. This is obviously a trap, but all six people are still alive!

Strange though... The room is brightly lit with spotlights. Odd... What's the catch?

"I'll get you out of there, but where is she?!" Qrow calls out to the captives.

One of the men on the top level across from him stares baffled. "What are you- She's right here-ah!" Before Qrow's eyes, the man's throat opens up from a slit. Blood spurts from him as his body writhes in agony before slumping in shock, and soon death.

The light wavers in the spot as Qrow blinks! Jackelynn is standing beside the dead man, smiling despite the slight blood splatter against her clawed left hand and her cheek. "Oh. Pardon me. It seems we have some guests for the finale here!"

Qrow snaps into action! He leaps forth at speed, Harbinger shifting into lance mode as he bounds over the open air to impale her!

Smiling, Jackelynn activates her semblance anew, fading from his sight as his weapon strikes the wall and breaks it down!

Pulling away, he grimaces and moves towards the remaining man on his level. Qrow turns to them. "Can you see her? She can only hide herself from one person at a time!" The man stares wide eyed, an air of confusion in him.

"Get me out of here! I don't wanna die!" He shouts out. Damn it. They're all panicking. Not even worth getting cooperation.

Jackelynn's voice trills out. "How about a new game, my feathered friend?" Her voice echoes.

Damn, she's playing into her weaknesses to goad HIM into making the first move. Going all in. She's making him the aggressor.

"On the count of five, one of the remaining guests will perish. Unless, of course, you choose the correct one to save. Does that sound fun?"

Qrow grits his teeth. So, she needs him to be on the move and unable to properly prepare? She'll choose her target, force him to move into the trap knowingly, and take the brunt of her attack.

Well, he won't let her kill them. He focuses and darts his eyes about.

"I shall take your silence as consent... Second round in five." Qrow tenses! "Four." He changes Harbinger to its sword mode, eyes moving to it as he attempts to find her reflection. "Three." He finds a flicker of movement. Down! "Two..." Her chipper tone drips with pleasure as Qrow leaps down to the lower levels!

He moved two fast... The movement he caught was an earth dust cast... He stares wide eyed at the broken rock on the ground level.

A choked cry...

Qrow stares up to the middle level! Jackelynn's rapier is impaled into the heart of a construction woman on the second floor. Her terrified face choking out in pain as Jackelynn's grin widens. "Aw... You chose wrong..."

He changes Harbinger to gun mode, firing a shot gun dust blast at the woman! Her smug grin is wiped off as she throws one hand up to dust cast a barrier. The shot lands too quickly, smashing the forming earth and blasting Jackelynn through the wall!

The man leaps up, but immediately has lost track of the woman... She's hidden yet again. He tends to the construction woman as she chokes out and goes limp. Grimacing, he cuts her free and lets her down. The hostage is already dead.

"Damn it..." He growls.

Jackelynn's words echo out. With a growl in pain with it. "Ah! Impatient! But worry not. We have four more to work with... Although, I would move."

Qrow jolts away!

BOOM! The dead female hostage explodes, a dust bomb inside her construction jacket!

The blast throws Qrow from the middle level to hit the lower floor hard! He grits his teeth in pain, but rolls back onto his feet as a scraping attack scars the ground in front of him.

She must have set this all up beforehand. Clever backup plan, but her shock before was real. She likely didn't have this fully prepped, not thinking it was likely. He looks to the hostages. "Do any of you feel anything on you that wasn't there before?!"

The hostages are each terrified, but manage to wriggle and shift themselves enough to know. That seems a negative. So, she only set that one up with an explosive?

No, she likely wanted to toy with these people AFTER killing him. Dessert after a meal and what not.

And that throws another wrench. She definitely will want to play with these hostages after he's dead. She's planning the killing blow before that...

Qrow raises his blade, changing Harbinger to scythe mode.

When she strikes, he'll have to endure it... And hit her a hell of a lot harder!

"Five... Four."

Shit. He readies himself and moves.

. . .

Carmine and Roman sprint for their lives in the underground subway. Hazel is with the two, keeping a moderate jog. He looks much worse for wear than them, yet they're the two starting to wind from the sprint!

"Good gods, man- hah... How much cardio do you have?!" Carmine makes the small talk with the lumbering giant.

Hazel narrows his eyes on him. "We should be far enough." He ignores the question. "Halt here."

The three come to a halt, a split in the subway tunnels ahead. Carmine and Roman share a glance... This is it... Carmine tries to make it easier. "Hey, they know we went underground. We need to keep going to guarantee we lose them-"

"The data." Hazel speaks in an authoritative call. "Now." He holds his hand out for them.

Carmine and Roman once more share a look. Roman smirks. "Look, Hill Giant. We want as little to do with you as possible. We'll hand everything over once we get the other half of the data from the gals. Okay." He nods with a hat tip. "We'll call you." He moves to leave...

Then Hazel's arms light with lightning dust as he fires a shock into the rails by them!

Roman and Carmine instantly have their hands on their weapons.

"We will receive the rest of the data later. You WILL give the half you obtained, now." His fierce glower remains on the two boys.

Carmine scowls back, bringing Heulin Noon up. "Hey! We did what you wanted to begin with. You don't get to bitch when we dictate how we give it to you." He takes an aggressive stance. "So, call us later. End of story-"

"The only end that will bring is yours." Hazel's fists clench, a crackle of electricity. "You will cooperate. THEN, you may go on as if we never met. Period."

Carmine scoffs. "After you held up the enemy for us, you really think you have enough aura to fight and kill both of us THEN escape? How cocky are you?"

"I can crush you both quite easily, son of Ozpin."

Thump... The boy's heart stops for a moment at that. The only person who should know that is Killian... Not even Stein figured that out. His eyes wide with shrunken irises, his expression gives it away. "H-How-"

Hazel narrows his eye on them. "I've a score to settle with Professor Ozpin... You look so much like him, you piss me off!" He cracks his knuckles and pops his neck as he appears ready to fight. "But, I'll look the other way if you cooperate, brat."

Seeing Carmine frozen in place, Roman snorts, pulling attention to himself as he flippantly waves his cane about. "Aw, someone has a old grudge. Bully for you!" His off hand reaches into his pocket, producing a flash drive. "Is this really worth making new enemies over? We're not ones to be pushed around."

Hazel turns his glare upon the conman. "You look exactly like someone who will bend over if it saves them." His aura shield pulses to life, the air thickening with threat. "In fact, it's awfully disappointing seeing it in a wannabe Rose."

Heart stop. Roman's turn to stiffen. "Excuse you?" His eyes cut dangerously at the man.

"That cane you're waving about. We know it. Belonged to their family head once. You flaunt it about like it's yours, but you cower away and manipulate. Either you're the luckiest wannabe to steal it, or a disappointment to the name. Either way, I don't care." His hand reaches out. "Now, the data?"

A wannabe, huh?

Roman's face turns up a wicked grin.

A wannabe?!

Oh, ho. Oh, hell no...

Roman holds the drive up...

And his semblance activates. A spark of flame blowing the drive to dust... The device crumbles away in a last spark of life.

At Hazel's furious glare, Roman smiles. "Oh... Did I do that? Silly me. My hand slipped."

Little did Hazel or Carmine know, that was a spare drive... The spare that allowed Watts' door scans to work in the SDC complex. NOT the data they retrieved sitting still in his pocket. Roman grins wider at Hazel's building fury.

The giant raises his arms to throw a punch as Roman and Carmine step into guard stances-

Crack...

A sparking whip cracks down between the two sides! All three are alerted to the fourth presence here...

As a sparking electric lasso whirls around them all and constricts!

Roman ducks the electric chains! Carmine warps into a Recall! His position snaps back ten yards outside of the lasso! Hazel's eyes widen as the lasso coils around his waist and one arm! Electricity pulses along as Hazel's eyes bulge at feeling a current of power shock him!

The three turn to see Whis Palmo stepping closer. The lasso is in his right hand, the earth dust whip in his left. "Well, now... I do believe this is irrefutable proof here." He smirks as multiple Atlas soldiers fan out from his sides. "Team CRBN has officially worked and sided with the Cult O' Salem."

Carmine grimaces. "Actually, we were just betraying them-"

"FULL FIRE, BOYS!" Whis calls out as his troops open fire at the three!

Roman and Carmine dodge around as both are forced to return fire! Carmine shouts. "Jager!" His arm flashes to his legs as he boosts and slides backward while opening fire! He takes out several of the men with hits to the right shoulders. Disabling shots.

Roman bursts flame dust shells along the ground to make the soldiers jolt back. Roman smirks at Hazel and thumbs up for him. "Thanks for holding them off, Hill Giant!" He turns round and waves along with Carmine. "Come on, Silver Streak!" The two sprint off.

Whis grits his teeth. "Hold it right there!" He leaps over Hazel, still shocking him, and lashes the earth whip forward. The whip coils the rail near Roman as Whis retracts the earth whip to pull himself forward!

He closes the distance with Roman as the conman whips around.

Then something odd to both parties occurs...

Whis disconnects the earth whip, then cast creates a new one from the weapon grip as he swing lashes up! The whip knocks Velvet Valentine up! In the same moment, Whis's right arm hooks the lasso holding Hazel to his belt to free his hand. His open hand moves to punch Roman head on!

Roman's open hand comes palm up to parry the punch!

The moment he deflects the Agent's blow... a reaction occurs.

Fire with lightning.

Roman's semblance sparks friction in the air off his palm... and Whis's semblance sparks static electricity off the skin...

The same style of semblance exchanged in a single moment shocking both.

Locking a look, Whis calms and smirks. "Well, partner... How's it goin', 1075?"

Roman's eyes widen hearing his AZRL number...

Before he can respond, a loud yell cuts their exchange. "HA!" Hazel roars as the dust inside him channels and casts off his arms. Lightning dust redirects and resists Whis's lightning lasso! He pulls it off and yanks it! HARD!

The lasso still tied to Whis's belt, the Agent is whipped back from Roman!

Roman looks to Carmine. "RUN!" The two continue their retreat... leaving the Agent and Cult member behind.

Whis tumbles along the ground, disconnecting his lasso, rolling to his feet, and drawing both his large handgun and bowie knife. He snarls as Hazel gives him a look that could kill. "Fine... Let's dance, partner!"

The two begin fighting as the CRBN members sprint off in their escape... As fast as their legs can take them.

Must go faster.

. . .

Two more hostages were dead.

Qrow ducks back from a slash from Jackelynn, a gash slicing up the right side of his torso! He grits his teeth, frustration building. Not once has he picked the right one! He lands and takes his defensive stance.

"And so, we come to a rousing end. It's a flip of a coin now. Who know you would be wrong so many times?" A sick joy comes in the woman's tone. "Must be bad luck."

Qrow scowls. He has a coin flip. A woman on the ground level, and a man on the top level! He has to save them, but Jackelynn is quite sadistic here.

"Tell you what? More excitement is needed. I'm starting to get bored." Her echo reaches his ears.

Crack.

One of the spot lights blows out from the second level... Qrow looks around, but can't find her. Then another break happens on the upper floor. The spot lights are slowly being removed-

His arm snaps up his torso! The clip of his scroll to his jacket! It's gone! She's been aiming at his light source the whole time, and she got it with that last sneak attack!

Qrow realizes he's screwed if she takes out the last light source. He quickly moves into a defensive position by the last spot light. He looks about, but still cannot find her... Only one spot light give the room any light.

If he loses the light, her semblance may become a non factor... but her faunus nocturnal vision will give her a clear advantage over him...

"Alright then... Five... Four... Three."

She's going for the hostages... If he goes for them, she'll take out the light!

Gritting his teeth, he snarls. Damn it!

He rushes to the woman on the first floor! "Two. One." He gets into place, and turns into a guard stance.

POP. The last light goes out.

The woman and the man two levels above yelp out in fright. Qrow stands in place within the pitch black darkness...

He only has one play here.

With Harbinger in scythe form, he pulls his stance in, widening his grip as he begins whirling the scythe about in odd patterns. His defensive move to use the wild movement to deflect blows he may not see coming. He closes his eyes, seeing as they're useless anyway.

"Well... It was fun. But, it's game over now."

Qrow smirks in the dark. "Maybe. But, not how you like it." He continues his defensive swirls and swipes. Her aura must be near zero. His is still at a third, so on paper, he's still good. He simply can't let her get a killing blow.

She'll attack...

He'll redirect her blow. That will be the defining moment. He needs to land his own kill shot when he counters it. That's the game.

And the wait starts...

Five seconds... Fifteen seconds.

He keeps the defensive swipes around. Jackelynn is silent now... She's being deliberate. It's not about the hostages anymore. He's realized his position and is still. Not moving from his place. It'd be pointless to kill the man above. Leave him to play after.

So... she goes for the kill.

Jackelynn, eyes wide and contracted like a wild predator, lunges... She thrusts just as the scythe head swings by, moving to impale the man...

Yet, Qrow's pole end of the scythe swings round and knocks the lunge off course... The rapier crashes into and shatters his aura shield! The blade stabs into his right collar at an odd angle, glancing off the bone!

"NG!" Qrow's teeth threaten to shatter as he clenches in pain. Still, his left arm swings the scythe around! He's going for his kill shot!

Jackelynn releases her rapier and continues to charge in... her metal clawed left hand moving in for a throat shot. Her own secondary kill shot...

As both strikes miss...

Blue eyes open in the darkness.

A wet snap! Following it... CRUNCH!

"AH!" Jackelynn lets out a shrill, pained scream!

A spot light shines into the room... A vial of white dust.

Qrow opens his eyes and adjusts them before gasping. A white summon Beowolf has pounced with its jaws locked around Jackelynn's left wrist! Blood spurts from her limb as she thrashes for the hand to free. But, the Beowolf refuses to let go.

"HA!" Jackelynn cries out in feral pain as her left mangled hand channels the earth dust! A bellow of casting blows into the Beowolf's mouth, blasting and bursting the summon away! The faunus crawls back, nursing and whining at her shredded left hand and forearm!

Eyes wide, Qrow smirks and lets himself fall back against the wall beside the female hostage. Both hostages look to the newcomer in the room.

Winter stands in place, a cold, icy stare promising no mercy is locked on the writhing faunus. The white dust vial is glowing and hooked to her waist. "Jackelynn the Ripper." She begins a brisk stride into the room towards the pained faunus. "You are under arrest. Any form of resistance WILL result in extra judicial execution!"

Qrow reaches with his left arm for the rapier still IN him, pulling it out with a loud grunt. He breathes heavily to cope with the pain, but smiles. "Good timing, though I had that win myself."

The Schnee cuts a look of death at the man.

He shrugs and relaxes against the wall. "Alright. Take it from here. She's out of aura, and I think that last shot emptied her earth dust."

Winter turns her full attention on Jackelynn as the faunus rises to her feet. Jackelynn sneers with wild, unconcealed fear and anger. "How dare you! You ruined the moment! The climax was right there!" She stumbles back, pain and shock already starting to set in.

The exclamations do nothing to deter Winter as the authoritative Agent continues her brisk pace, saber in hand. Her ice blue eyes promise an end. One way or another. "Stand down... Now!"

Jackelynn's eyes twitch as she grits her teeth in panic. "I... obey... NO ONE!" She crouches and leaps backwards, aiming for the second level!

… Right into a black semblance glyph. Her back falls into the glyph as it bends and stretches to catch her. Winter's gravity glyph.

The Agent's left hand is up, fingers gestured to create and control the glyph... "Jackelynn the Ripper... Get over here."

Her left hand releases the gesture. Her glyph recoils, launching Jackelynn back forward and towards the ground at Winter! The woman is open, unable to defend herself... as Winter lunges forth and impales her saber through Jackelynn's chest!

Jackelynn coughs out! Her eyes hollow out as her breath chokes... She struggles to plant her feet as she looks up slowly. Her eyes meet Winter's cold ice blue... No, she sees the hints of a frown on the woman. That's not right...

Jackelynn chokes a giggle and smirks. "My, I wish I fought you... I could get lost in such chilling eyes..." Her voice chokes as she begins to lose strength, starting to slouch. "Just... my... type."

Winter rips the saber free and steps back. The Cult of Salem agent slouches and falls over. Only a few twitches could remain before life faded entirely. She wipes the blade clean of blood before sheathing her weapon. The woman then looks to Qrow...

Qrow understands the dissociation that one must take when taking a life in the job. So, he feels comforted, seeing a substantial difference in the woman's glare at him. Somehow, it's more exaggerated anger... for show. It's feeling more. For as cold as the woman tries to appear, watching her dispatch the enemy showed she had to quell feelings still to do so. Made her human.

He smirks. She might be his favorite of James's workers.

"Are you satisfied with nearly getting yourself killed?!" Winter demands in a chastising tone. She looks to the hostages. "Do not worry! The enemy has been dispatched, and you will be returned to your homes safe!" She forms a summoning glyph, forming a large Atlesian Knight summon at least fifteen feet tall. "Please, allow my summon to assist you!"

Qrow chuckles. "Like I said. I had the kill shot lined. My semblance had my back." He changes Harbinger to its sword form, sheathing it before clutching painfully at his right shoulder.

Winter sets a glare on him. "We will continue an argument once you reach an infirmary, you fool!" She scoffs, shaking her head.

The man chuckles. "Alright... I'll play nice and get patched up."

"Thank you." She forces out the appreciative thanks. Having an internal groan, Winter looks away from the man. "Could there be anyone in Atlas that makes such reckless plans on a whim as you?"

. . .

In the city...

A cop exits a diner, coming out to his vehicle parked in an alley. He hums a tune before he pauses, frozen. "What the- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Neo, or Vanille, raises a blinks violet eyes at the man. She's smudged with grease marks, a lug wrench in her hand... and the cop's back left wheel drops from between her arms and spins to a halt on the ground. A thumping sound of the wheel echoes loudly.

Neo gives a shaky smile and makes a waving motion. Play the character...

The cop snaps, face heating red. "You're under arrest, you hooligan! COME HERE!" He approaches with handcuffs.

In mere moments, Neo is closed in the back of the cop car. Hush is placed in the front passenger seat as the cop gets in the driver's seat... after putting his wheel back on! "I'm taking you to the station, and we're going to contact your parents, young lady!"

Neo feigns a guilty look, then hides a smile to the window...

No less than two minutes after leaving the area of the city, she hears the police radio communicate the shut down. The area of the SDC was locked down by military personnel...

The mute loves it when her plans work out.

… for now.

And thus, our furious five mains have now declined to a fearsome foursome. Yes, Makara Riva, Maka Riviera, has left Team CRBN, staying behind to assist the system in convicting Dr Stein. She has also retired to live her remaining lifespan with her father, sacrificing her freedom in an attempt to clear CRBN's name.

The sequence of Stein's monologue overlayed with Blair's fight with the Atlesian Knights was meant to allude to the type of person Blair started as. Essentially, Blair's introduction in this story was a scientist who saw no qualms about circumventing ethics for her research.

In other words, Stein is meant to symbolize the type of person Blair perhaps could have become had she never met Carmine.

Winter killed Jackelynn! Qrow could have gotten the win, but yeah, he would have been messed up to be clear. What works? Teamwork.

Neo is separated from the team fully, leaving a very complicated situation behind for everyone.

Finally, Whis... knows Roman? Well now...

References:

Song return for Infection Perfection by Brandon Yates. This is the Death Battle arrangement specifically, not the original mix of it, same as last time. Easy pick since this song to me is Stein's theme, the same way Live In Fear is Spyyra's.

Also, for the memes really, the entrance of Garland Riviera is themed with his character inspiration's own theme song. His entrance is set to E.G.G.M.A.N. The theme for Sonic villain Dr Eggman who inspired him. Only the first verse and for the reversal of the situation.

Reviews:

Crimson_Mist (Ao3) – Legitimately, I'm glad you liked what they did. Like what you like! I will say that I did not get much from it, but it didn't demolish me as I feared. More below on that. Now about the details for my story,

Stein was meant to be a beast requiring multiple people to take down. Even with Penny, this is a still incomplete and in training version of her, so not remotely on her Volume's 1-3 levels. This is also still a less experienced Neo, and Makara is roughly on that same level not being as highly rated a Series Black as Neo and Roman were. All three together to take a roughly Team STRQ level operative? Honestly, I'm worried I didn't make him strong enough!

Dragonking94 (FF) – Thanks wholeheartedly for the support. That means a lot! Hopefully I can keep that support for a long time, and you have a good day!

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

In regards to my super rant in last chapter's notes, I should go ahead and state my opinion on Volume 9's ending and give the news I guess on how it affects this story.

Long Story Short: Plans moving ahead as initially planned. I'm okay writing for Ruby once I get there. Yay. The series didn't personally offend my investment as much as I feared they were going to.

Oh, I thought the finale was massively disappointing, sure. Everything good was rushed as hell, diluted, and everything bad drug it down further. I'm not going to sit and review it altogether. This isn't the place for it. But, they even could have saved time and added character by rearranging just two things in the sequential order of events.

Sigh... I guess I'll take it as an absolute win then? 4/10 is passing, right? It wasn't the 1/10 I expected.

And now, we can continue with my 1/10 story! (Kidding. It's at least a 3).

Join next time in chapter eighty two: Planted Flowers.