Mash Burnedead and the Out of Context Escape

A giant mechanical spider burst through the walls of the train. To anyone who wasn't a White Fang specialist or Divine Visionary-to-be, it would've been terrifying, intimidating, and slightly concerning.

Its massive mechanical chassis, spider-like legs, and singular red eye made the machine look like it meant business. Wait, is that spider? Isn't a spider supposed to have eight legs? I mean I'm not the only one thinking this right?

"Hey, isn't a spider supposed to have eight legs?" Yeah see, Mash has the right idea!

"Also why is it a metal spider? Why choose a spider out of all the things? Why not like a gorilla, or an orc, or even a dragon?" Okay, Daut now you're just talking semantics.

"Does that really matter right now!?" Not really, Blake. But it's important to them.

Adam got into an iaido stance, muscles tensed for his attack. "Stay out of my way, I've got this."

He said this to Mash, who was in front of them. He needed the mushroom head to move so he could grind that waste of taxpayers' money into dust, but if he gets caught in his attack range… accidents happen.

Mash still hasn't moved, his back to the mecha spider getting ready to blast its enemies away. Blake was about to shout for him to get out of the way, but then she noticed his associates. Their faces were unconcerned, in fact, it was almost like they were impatient for something to happen.

Did they not care about their friend? Or was there something else she was missing?

Adam on the other hand was growing tired of the human in front of him, he can't kill the Schnee spider without him moving first! He'll kill him after of course but not right now.

Adam growled, "Move damn it! Do you want to die?"

Rushing forward, the lumbering machine broke the floor of the train with every step. Weapon systems activated, glowing red. Its path was extermination, and nothing could stand in its way!

"Excuse me." A hand stopped its path, and by stopped, I mean the hand casually broke through its armor plating, lifted its titanic metal frame up into the air, and launched it into the clouds above them. Leaving a visible spider-shaped hole in the white cosmic fluff.

Mash didn't look at where the hulking machine used to be, he already knew what happened, "We're busy."

Two jaws dropped at the sheer spectacle they had just witnessed. Blake's jaw was hanging open, seeming to take a step back from the physical beast before her.

Adam's jaw hung low, but he managed to keep himself steady. He would have defeated the robot easily enough as well, but not that easily. Perhaps he couldn't get rid of the mushroom threat just yet.

Lance and Daut simply rolled their eyes. Other people's reactions to Mash's Mashness never got old, but they were tired and hungry. Getting to civilization was their priority and the display they were watching was only taking up time.

Clearing his throat, Adam tried to salvage this situation. "It seems you don't need our help, we'll be on our way then." If they could just make it to the other cabin and plant the bomb, then the explosion will ignite the dust on board and eliminate the three humans. And all the crewmembers but who cares about them.

Daut, however, had a different idea. "Ya right! You tried to cut Mash down as soon as he turned around, what makes ya think we'll just let you go?"

Lance also chimed in, "He may be brash, but I agree. You're not particularly trustworthy right now."

"We're not trustworthy? You came here, destroyed the Schnee drones with us, and are clearly looking to get away from somewhere. You wouldn't need to hitch a ride on a moving train unless you've got a reason why you can't enter Vale legally." Adam made it clear he wasn't buying the whole innocent act these three were trying to give out. They were up to something, and he wanted no part in it.

Blake could see the situation getting worse, "Adam, that's not important. We have to go, now." The plan was a bust, and it was clear their objective wasn't possible. Getting out while they could was their only option.

"I'm trying!" Adam snapped.

"We only came here to find some semblance of civilization, but you came prepared for combat." Lance stepped closer to the fuming Adam, "What would you have done here if we hadn't interrupted?"

"Why do you care? We're not gonna do anything now obviously." Blake tried to interject.

"I don't see how that's any of your concern, stay on this train all you like, we are leaving." Adam pushed past the blue-haired boy and motioned for Blake to follow him. After a moment of uncertainty, she did.

The dark duo left the Easton trio behind, leaving them alone in the destroyed train carriage while the two of them went to the other cabin.

Blake rounded on him the second they entered and closed the door, "What are we still doing here? The mission is compromised and we need to leave!"

"We will," Adam said nothing else as he opened up a case full of red fire dust and nodded, satisfied about something.

"We can't steal that now, you know this."

"No, we can't," he agreed, "But we can take care of both our problems." He showed her a device retrieved from her pocket.

Blake's enhanced eyes easily made out the black device and when she recognized it, she went pale in the dark of the cabin. "You can't…"

"It's the only way, those three are witnesses and we can strike fear into the hearts of the humans." He said it as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

"There's always another way! This isn't what we wanted!"

"You sound just like your parents! Remember them? The ones too weak to keep fighting. The ones that gave up!"

She jerked back as if struck. Her face went completely blank. "We'll talk about this at the base."

Adam rolled his eyes, thankful for the coverage his mask offers, so she doesn't have to see what he thinks about her little talks.

He turned around, assuming the conversation was done, and began the work to activate the bomb.

He didn't hear the quiet sounds of Blake walking away from him, or the slow opening of the cabin door. The train made enough noise to cover her tracks.

MSHL

"So, where do you think we're going?" Daut asked. He was busy checking his cloak for anything missing when he asked this question.

"Hopefully somewhere with cream puffs and protein too, I think I'm losing muscle mass." Came the apathetic response from Mash, somehow sounding bored even when expressing concern.

"I highly doubt that." Answered Lance who then turned to Daut, "Wherever we're going, I can only hope they have a way to bring us back. If those powers displayed by Raven were any indication, we're dealing with strange and unusual magic."

The sound of a metal door being opened alerted them to the sudden arrival of the dark-haired girl from earlier. Blake, they believed her name was.

"Where are you headed?" She asked them urgently, as if impatient.

The three of them looked at each other for a moment, looking confused and wondering if they could even trust her but eventually shrugged. They could defeat her if she tried anything.

"Anywhere really, maybe a city? That'd be nice." Said Mash.

She nodded quickly, "Great, so am I. Follow me." She jumped backward onto the top of the train cabin she just emerged from, her landing soft and practically ninja-like. She waved for them to hurry up.

"Pfft, show off."

"I don't see you doing the same."

"Watch me, pretty boy."

Daut rubbed his hands before taking a running start and leaping up to the roof. He actually made a fair and respectable distance up the wall, but gravity was still a thing in this world. He started to fall, then flail in a panic, however, before he slammed into the wall he felt one of his arms being grabbed by Blake.

She pulled him up as if he weighed nothing. Setting him down on the roof next to her, Daut tried to say thanks but she already turned away and beckoned Lance over.

"Aw man, that sucked." He whispered to himself, not knowing of Blake's enhanced hearing.

Lance snorted at Daut's attempt. He himself simply used his gravity magic to float to the top, landing gently near Daut, giving him an unimpressed eyebrow raise. Daut gave him the finger.

Blake looked at Lance strangely, "Was that your semblance?"

Lance nodded, "Of course, what else would it be?"

Daut whispered in Lance's ear, "Semblance of what?"

"I have no idea," Lance whispered back.

Blake's ears twitched.

She tried to look for the black-haired boy with these cloak-wearing people, but he was nowhere to be seen. Where did he…?

"Hello." A voice said from her side.

Jumping up in the air, not unlike a cat, Blake rounded towards Mash. Staring wide-eyed at the bored-looking boy that appeared right beside her.

"How the… you know what, sure." Blake shook off the absurdity of the bowl-cut guy and softly walked away, nodding towards the front of the train.

The students followed, not like they had much of a choice, and they made their way to the other side of the train. They were about to ask Blake just what was going on, but they stopped when they saw the look on her face.

She looked sad, not just that, she looked resigned. As if she always knew what to do, she just hoped she didn't have to.

She went to the edge of the carriage and raised her blade. Her hands shook, but her face hardened and she slashed at the metal connection keeping the cabin they just walked over attached.

After that she watched the cabin get farther and farther away, eventually, the masked guy came bursting out of the cabin, almost falling out of it entirely.

The two of them looked at each other, his body frozen with shock while hers stood resolute. After a while, he became just a black dot on the horizon, hidden behind the red leaves and sun.

The moment he left their line of sight, Blake collapsed onto her knees. Breathing heavily, her whole body twitching. She cursed under her breath, muttering obscenities, presumably at the masked guy she just abandoned.

Lance and Daut didn't dare approach her, recognizing the situation for what it was…

Mash, however!

He kneeled down next to her, folding his hands together. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," she turned away from him, hiding her tears and the fact that her voice sounded wet. "You said you wanted to go to a city right? Well, you're in luck. This train's going to Vale. After we arrive we'll all leave there and hopefully never see each other again."

"Oh, kay."

They all stood or sat in silence for an uncomfortable amount of time, fidgeting quietly or discreetly clearing their throats. Man, this is awkward. If only there was someone who has no social awareness and can break the silence.

"Is that a city?"

"What do you think!"

Ah, Mash. Never change.