So much going on this week. Tuesday was my birthday (33 and counting). Got a call from my allergy doc who wants to run some more tests as the first tests point to a possible mast cell disorder. Meanwhile, the heart doc wants to do an ultrasound to see if I have a right branch bundle block or something. Nothing super serious, but need to rule out some worse options on both accounts.

Meanwhile, I'm scrambling to make final preparations for my bday/streamer anniversary stream tomorrow. Almost everything's ready, but I woke up to find my controllers wouldn't connect to my PS4. Couldn't get the bluetooth to work. Wired wouldn't register. Online guides said to go into PS4 settings, but I need a controller to do that. Even tried a keyboard, but that only works if you can get past the welcome screen, which apparently requires a controller! Eventually wound up going to GameStop after convincing the guy on the phone to help me out. Turns out, my cable was bad. Connected almost immediately with his cable. So now everything's fixed and I renewed my GameStop membership after buying a pre-owned Switch game. Felt wrong not to buy something after they saved my bacon.

Also, assuming the view counters are broken on the site. Either that or no one's read a single chapter from me in a week and a half.


Between all the fairytales and history Adam had read, along with a few comic books, he knew there were certain qualities that every hero had. They were brave. Fearless. Strong. They stood up for those in need and never backed down from a fight. The very sight of a hero would strike fear into evildoers and strengthen the weak. People would point and whisper a hero's name when they passed or cheer for them as they walked by.

Which meant heroes were recognizable.

Adam looked in the mirror, wincing at the tired face that tried to smile back. Well, being recognized wouldn't be a problem. No one could miss the branded letters across his face, not to mention the reddened eye that sat nestled between them. Unfortunately, he was more likely to make a child scream than cheer for joy at the sight of his face.

Okay, so his face was out. Bad enough it would strike fear into the wrong people, but Atlas and the SDC would have to be blind not to notice his brand. Blake's mask would do the trick for now, but that meant he needed something else. Something that would make him stand out and let everyone around him know things were going to be okay.

"Soji always said clothes make the man," Adam joked to his empty room. If he couldn't trust his face to get the job done, then maybe he'd take a page from Huntsmen and focus on his clothes. They loved showing off in everything they did, from flashy fighting styles to unusual and bright clothing. It drew attention to them, which at first glance seemed narcissistic but actually served an important purpose. Civilians would latch onto them in an instant, both drawing them toward protection and giving them hope in having a Huntsman there. It was just like the knights in his old fairytales. Heck, some Huntsmen even wore armor more fitting to olden times than modern day. The rest tended to look more like the cheesy superheroes in comics with their bright colors and tight fits.

Well, if it worked for them, maybe it would work for him too. Not the tight fit part. The last thing anyone needed was him running around in neon spandex. Armor was out, too. It would do little compared to his own aura and just weigh him down in the long run. Speed and agility were his forte.

Hm…what else? It had to be functional. Something he could fight in. He looked down at his discarded White Fang uniform. Black and white seemed to be important to them, but Sienna stood out with her red highlights. She'd included some of the same in his own uniform, much as the Albain brothers did in theirs. Red would suit him just fine, of course.

Adam jotted down a few notes on a piece of paper on his nightstand, trying to collect his thoughts, but nothing more would come. Designing an outfit was harder than he'd expected. Then again, he'd never really had any need to pick out clothes before. Father Bernard picked out his clothes most days growing up. The orphanage gave him barely anything to work with. Even on the trail, he pretty much just bought a few of the same outfit to make things easy. Then came Orostachys with its mandated uniforms, taking any variety out of it entirely.

No amount of staring at the page yielded any ideas. Even his impatient tapping didn't summon an answer. Adam balled up the page in frustration, tossing it across the room. It bounced off the wall and dropped beside the trash can, taunting him with his inability to even throw it away properly. Ignoring the paper conspiracy, Adam snatched the remote and slammed his thumb down on the power button.

The screen across the room blinked to life, only to tempt Adam to end it as he caught sight of the headline on the screen. It was him. It was always him. Tonight's mindless babble focused on his childhood - a topic that involved mostly guesswork with how little they knew of him. Someone had found out about Team SPVC visiting Shizukana for a mission - one commissioned by Father Bernard and Mazarin, of all people. That detail seemed to have the reporters in a frenzy. Team SPVC were nowhere to be found - evidently out on some mission like any Huntsman team should be - and the Huntsman that oversaw their mission refused to answer any questions. Haven issued an empty statement emphasizing that their students responded to a Grimm threat against Shizukana but refused to go into any details beyond the team's success at killing the Alpha before it could cause any further harm.

Strangely enough, Haven's response seemed to irk the news anchor more than the stonewalling from everyone else. Adam rolled his eyes at the complete stupidity on display. A Grimm threatened a village. Huntsmen came and killed the Grimm. Did it matter who sent out the call for help? Didn't Shizukana deserve the same protection as any other village? Or was it just that people wished they hadn't helped and left the village to suffer tragedy. Maybe if Team SPVC hadn't shown up, Adam Taurus would've never survived long enough to become public enemy number one. The lives of an entire village were a small price to pay to remove an inconvenience like Adam Taurus.

How disgusting.

That was nothing compared to what he saw when he finally changed the channel. A new broadcast took over, instantly driving Adam to his feet. The remote strained in his grip as a single image dominated the screen. Three smiling faces made up what looked like a perfect family. A strong mother, her armor and sword absent as she enjoyed a brief moment of rest and happiness in an all too cruel world. A loving father, his arm resting comfortably around the woman's waist with the awkward smile of a man who felt completely and utterly blessed. And there before them, standing tall with his father's other hand resting on his shoulder, a young faunus boy with all the hopes and dreams of a bright future.

A future that would never come to be.

He could almost feel Father Bernard's firm and steady grip, claiming him as his son while also reminding him to behave. Instinctively, Adam reached up to the phantom grip, hoping in vain to prove it real.

"How?" The single word caught in Adam's throat. How had they gotten that? His picture - the last thing he'd had from his life so long ago. He hadn't seen that since…

Oh.

You really need to keep better track of your belongings, Adam. Alyssa. Of course. He'd been forced to leave everything behind because of her. That meant she had his picture. Why she'd held onto it all this time, he didn't know, but he had a feeling she'd been all too happy to offer up his meager possessions the moment the news crews came snooping around. He'd probably missed her being interviewed and showing off his father's knife, claiming he'd snuck it into the orphanage and used it to attack her. Anything for that little extra bit of attention.

The little that Adam caught of the report centered around questions of how a seemingly innocent child could turn into one of the most wanted faunus on Remnant. Could it have been the trauma of losing his family at such a young age? Teachings of the White Fang, which they'd recently confirmed he'd had a run-in with a few years ago while visiting Mistral? Were his parents actually faunus supremacists who'd raised him to hate humanity before they died?

All garbage, but it was the last bit that caught Adam's attention. "We spoke with a few of the residents of Shizukana, trying to learn more about the adoptive father of Adam Taurus." So they'd figured that part out, had they? Part of him wondered if they'd find his birth father in time. They seemed to be digging up everything else on him. "Those that knew him best spoke of a kind, caring man who devoted his life to both his faith and his flock."

Snippets of those interviews flew by. Brother Wilde. Mayor Watterson. Father Stirling. Each one spoke highly of Father Bernard, painting a much better picture than the awful documentary had not that long ago. Even if no one else's opinion of his father mattered, Adam still felt a little better hearing the truth come out. No matter what happened, Father Bernard was the best humanity had to offer. He'd been the only one to care for Adam all those years. Well, him and Mazarin, but she hadn't come along until later. The world needed more men like him, even if it never deserved him in the first place.

"No matter what crimes Adam Taurus may be accused of, it seems Father Bernard was a true pillar of his community. An example of virtue and kindness that stands in stark contrast with the actions of his son." The photo returned once more, slowly zooming in on Father Bernard and Adam. "A faithful father with a sinful son. One has to wonder if Father Bernard is looking down in disappointment at what his son has become. Can Adam Taurus be brought back to the light, or has the rotten apple fallen too far from the tree? For Atlas News Network, this is Urmas Whittaker."

Adam hurled the remote at the screen, only to miss and have it slam into the wall instead. It didn't even do him the pleasure of shattering, though the battery cover did pop off from the impact. Adam stomped forward to pick up the two pieces, frustrated that the only damage was a tiny crack in the device's casing. When he stood back up, he came face to face with a familiar picture. So close, he could see his faint reflection against the enlarged image of himself as a child. The two people looked nothing alike beyond the horns and hair color. The young boy stood blissfully ignorant of what fate had in store for him. Instead, he just smiled brightly with hope-filled eyes at what the future could hold.

Like the other two in the picture, the optimistic child had died far too soon.

What Adam would give to go back to those days, when his biggest concerns were bullies and lessons. It hadn't really been that long ago, yet his childhood days in Shizukana felt like another lifetime. He could remember everything, but it all felt so foreign to him now. He'd known so little about the evils of the world beyond. If only he could go back to not knowing.

The image began to fade. Frantically, Adam fumbled with the remote, slamming down on the pause button before the picture could disappear entirely. The screen froze, letting him look up at the proud face of Father Bernard one last time.

Disappointment? Never. Father Bernard had never been disappointed in him. Even when he'd attacked Dorian to defend Eve, Father Bernard had been proud of him. How dare some pompous windbag in Atlas question that? He knew nothing about Father Bernard! His father had been proud of Adam for doing exactly what he was doing now - defending those in need. Father Bernard may have taught him mercy, but he also taught him justice. He taught him about right triumphing over wrong. He'd taught him to stand up for his beliefs.

"I'll make you proud, Dad," Adam promised, just as he had so long ago. He'd right the wrongs against faunus everywhere. More than that, he'd prove his father right about him.

Adam hurried over and grabbed the crumpled paper he'd tossed earlier, smoothing it out on his nightstand as an idea popped into his head. He tried to put it into words but ended up mixing it with rough sketches. Thankfully, the design wasn't too complex. A long, black jacket. Black dress pants. Black shoes. Hm, maybe a little too black. He needed some color to make it work. Maybe…red! That could work. A red shirt. After all, Sienna seemed bent on making red a symbol of leadership, and if she wanted him to lead, then he'd embrace the motif.

It didn't look quite right on paper, but then again, he wasn't exactly a good artist. Still, he hoped it would convey his message. He wasn't just Adam Taurus, a lowly faunus who rose up and refused to let humanity push him around any longer. He was Adam Taurus, proud member of the White Fang. More than that, he was the proud son of Father Bernard.

He'd make humanity regret ever challenging that.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

"Let me see," Blake insisted, grabbing for the paper in Adam's hands.

"See what?"

"Your new outfit," Blake said, somehow already knowing about his idea despite only having told Sienna a little earlier. Then again, he should've known. Blake had an annoying ability to know things. It was like she had ears everywhere, but Adam knew the truth. Whenever something caught her attention, she refused to let it go. She'd nag you to death , or at least until you spilled the beans. Adam had to wonder if that was her Semblance or something. In the end, it was usually easier to just give in.

Yet again, he gave in.

"Is that a suit?" Blake asked after eyeing the crude drawing for a few seconds.

"Blazer," Adam corrected, but only because Sienna had insisted he not call it a jacket or a coat. Apparently, there was a difference.

He'd taken his idea to Sienna that morning, summoning his inner Soji in preparation for haggling on the price of a complete outfit. The White Fang weren't a bunch of tailors, but they had people skilled in quite a few trades. Whatever they lacked, they knew someone on the island who could do it for them, making it easier to place orders like his directly through the White Fang rather than figuring it all out himself.

On top of that, Sienna knew a lot more than he did about clothes. Not just fashion, either. She knew what materials and designs would work best for fighting, having designed her own outfit and even the current White Fang uniform. Simple yet functional seemed to be her goal, except when it came to her own outfit, of course. That one had to be a little more showy, in more ways than one.

Sienna had actually liked the black theme, surprisingly, He'd expected her to want something more flashy, but she'd pointed out it could be useful from a tactical standpoint. One of the biggest advantages faunus had over humans was night vision. If they wanted to pull off a stealthier mission, nighttime was their friend. Wearing darker clothing would help them hide better, even if just in the shadows. He could always build on it later, too. Maybe a White Fang logo on the back. Or a personal emblem. Maybe have a blank version for stealth and an emblazoned one for other times.

She may have gotten a little carried away by the end.

Still, he'd come away with the promise of a new outfit in the near future and an assurance that she was still working on the Atlas mission. She hoped to have good news within a few weeks. As much as he hated waiting, getting an update helped ease his concerns a little. Being told to wait was better than not being told anything.

"Is that it?"

Leave it to Blake to somehow suck all the joy out of something new. "What do you mean, is that it? It's a whole new outfit."

"It's a fitted black sheet." Ouch. She wasn't wrong, but still, couldn't she be a little less brutally honest?

"It's a work in progress," Adam said, snatching the paper back. He carefully folded it and slipped it back in his pocket. "Besides, it's meaningful to me."

"You like black that much?"

Adam shoved her shoulder without any real heat. "Cute, but no. The outfit. It's…it matches what my father used to wear. Well, mostly." The red shirt was his own touch, but the rest pretty much copied Father Bernard's outfit. The blazer had been a gift from Mazarin, so in a way he was remembering both of them at once.

"He was a preacher, right?"

Adam nodded. "A Brotherian." Not that it mattered that much. Not many religions had their own special attire. As long as you dressed nice, you were in.

"So are you planning to convert people to the White Fang or something?" Adam gave her the flattest look possible in response. "What? Your outfit should convey a message. Sort of like a billboard of who you want to be. Like that," Blake pointed to his pocket, "people will think you're starting a cult with the Albain brothers."

Adam choked a little on his drink. No. Just no. He already had enough of the White Fang practically worshiping him. The last thing he needed was them setting him up as their god or something. Not sure how long a religion would last if their deity struck down all the believers with extreme prejudice.

"I just wanted something to remember my family." His real family, not the deadbeat who abandoned him. His new look would be a reminder of a simpler time - a sort of embrace from the past when life was simpler and the world didn't care who Adam Taurus was. He sort of missed the anonymity, but there was no going back now.

Blake stared off into the distance for a moment, humming as she thought. "You're planning to fight people, right?"

"If I have to." He would. They both knew it. Fighting people is what brought him to the White Fang. His first mission - a simple relief effort - had seen him pitted against humans two different times. Like it or not, it seemed like conflict followed him wherever he went. He wouldn't back down from a fight, either, which meant violence was practically inevitable. "I'm mainly there for the Grimm, but if anyone else threatens us…"

"Then you'll fight them."

"If I have to," Adam repeated. "Honestly, with all the fearmongering the media's been doing, I'm kind of hoping people will just avoid me. Not many people want to tangle with the most dangerous faunus on Remnant." Except Huntsmen, of course. There'd be no forcing them to back down. They'd gotten lucky last time, but he had a feeling there wouldn't be a bunch of civvies to threaten next time. A lone Huntsmen - or worse, a team - would spell doom for him and anyone around him.

"Then lean into that."

"Do what now?"

"Look dangerous," Blake explained. "If you want people to avoid you, then give them reason to. The black suit could actually work. Makes you look like a mob boss or something." Way to ruin the appeal. Even Kuchinashi wouldn't have him now, other than to stab him in the back and collect the reward. "Make yourself look scary. Scowl a lot. Yeah, like that."

"I'm scowling at you."

"I'm terrified." Blake took all the wind out of his sails with her sarcasm. "If people are too scared to fight you, then they won't."

Simple logic, but he couldn't really fault it. No one in their right mind would challenge a Huntsman to a fight. Even the blood thirstiest murderer would shy away from someone like that. Their bright clothing and complex weaponry made them easy enough to recognize. Maybe he could do the same, but without the blinding clash of vibrant colors. "Maybe."

"Trust me. It'll work." Now if only he could scare Blake into leaving him alone once in a while. Clearly he needed to up his game. "What's the scariest thing you can think of?" A curious Blake. He smirked at his silent joke. If she was offering to help, then he shouldn't thumb his nose at her like that.

The scariest thing for him? Most people would say Grimm, but he'd killed plenty of them. Some of them could be a challenge, and a large number would cause some serious trouble, but a single Grimm did little for him nowadays. What were people afraid of?

Spiders? Nothing there, plus how would he even incorporate that? He'd look more like a Halloween decoration than a terrifying warrior if he slapped on a bunch of spiderwebs.

Snakes? Again, not something that bothered him much and not exactly a practical design.

Clowns? Heights? Commitment? What would that even look like? He didn't really suffer from the more obvious answers, so basing his look off of it felt stupid. He needed something scarier. No, more intimidating. Something that could strike fear into his heart with a glance. But what was he afraid of?

He knew he'd made a mistake the moment he asked.

I've got a few ideas. Funny, but Adam doubted wearing an Alyssa wig would have people running for their lives. Alyssa wasn't scary - wow, harsh - she was just a horror in and of herself. It wasn't so much her as what she did, all hidden behind a pretty, smiling face. Oh, you think I'm pretty? You're gonna make me blush.

If he wanted to inspire fear, he'd need something even scarier. Something that would freeze men in their tracks and terrify those who saw him. The kind of fear that would summon every Grimm for miles but with the power to destroy them should they come.

A face came to mind almost immediately. The hardened face of a Grimm, but on a human body, as if the terrifying woman had ripped it clean off one of the beasts and wore it as a trophy. Reddened lines traced artfully across the hardened surface like veins as eyes glowed out from the mask like some sort of Grimm-human hybrid created for naught but destruction and death.

Raven Branwen. He'd only met her once, but he'd never forget what she looked like. Everything about her screamed power. Even Jean, one of the strongest men Adam had ever known, froze before her and bowed to her wishes. Her red and black ensemble, along with a single blade glowing brightly with fire dust, gave him an idea.

If imitation was the sincerest form of flattery, then the bandit queen ought to feel honored. He'd have to figure out how to make something similar, though maybe a little smaller. Blocking his nose and mouth would be weird, especially for giving orders. She made it work, but he didn't know exactly how and doubted he could track her down to ask for pointers.

He'd toy around with it later or maybe just ask Kaito for help. If he could craft swords with dust infusions, then a simple mask shouldn't be too hard. Either way, he'd make it work.

"Thanks, Blake. You're a big help."

"You're welcome, I guess." She didn't even bother asking what he meant. She'd find out in time. Everyone would. Between his new style and a Grimm mask, he'd make sure the world would never forget him.

/- - - - - - - - - -/

If patience was a virtue, then Adam wasn't a very virtuous man.

He knew it took time to plan missions, especially going all the way to Atlas when they were specifically on the lookout for him. The periodic updates helped, as did being included in a few planning meetings, but he still found himself pacing or drumming his fingers impatiently in the evenings, waiting for Sienna to come through on her promise. If Atlas thought he'd move on after all the things they'd said, then they had another thing coming.

Burning some of that nervous energy in training had been a good yet brutal idea. Kaito drilled him every day on the iaijutsu style, which basically boiled down to keeping his sword sheathed ninety percent of the time. It felt a little weird starting out, especially since it meant unlearning a lot of his current fighting style. Kaito promised him it would come in time and that he showed great promise already. Adam had to admit to being intrigued by the almost deceptive approach to combat. His attacks would be harder to predict coming from a single position and no one would be able to tell if he was prepared for an attack or not. Coupled with the nasty surprise of his sword-launching scabbard, Adam had a feeling he'd have quite the advantage in time.

Along the way, he still worked on his Semblance. While he could now summon it most of the time with enough charging, there were still some failures here and there. When he struck, it was always a devastating blow, but Kaito seemed convinced he could do better. He kept going on and on about control and restraint. Something about not using all his energy in one attack. Adam couldn't imagine holding back. His Semblance was meant to be an overwhelming, unblockable strike that cut through aura, armor, and flesh - or wood and straw lately - with ease. If he held back, wouldn't that just make it easier for his opponent to survive. Why give them the help? He'd rather end the fight in a single blow than drag it out.

To each their own, he guessed. Naturally, Blake had taken one look at his increased training and demanded more for herself. Fine. If she wanted to be a punching b- outlet for his extra energy, then so be it. He'd put her through the wringer a few times, but to her credit, she never complained or told him to go easy on her. She wanted to learn more, no matter what it took.

It was paying off, too. She'd already proven herself a tough opponent in their first day of class, but she was already improving faster than anyone else he taught. To be fair, she already had a foundation to build on and her own personal trainer. Two, in fact, as Kaito still got roped into lessons from time to time. She was still a long way from besting either Kaito or Adam, but not for lack of trying. At this rate, she'd be challenging him and Sienna for top spot in a few years, provided she ever learned to stay out of his reach in a fight.

He'd just have to keep training and stay one step ahead.

His new outfit turned out better than he'd expected. Whoever made it certainly knew what they were doing. It fit snugly without being too tight and gave him plenty of mobility. The inner lining of red fabric on the blazer had been a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Another surprise had been the black leather gloves that tucked neatly beneath the sleeve, leaving not a single bit of skin exposed. Considering where he was planning to go, he had a feeling he'd appreciate the addition. They'd even gotten him a new pair of shoes in matching black with soles the same deep red as his shirt and blazer lining. He'd already shown it off in training and class, mainly to get used to the feel. Not only did it remind him of home, but the more professional look helped him appear a little older. Even if no one else cared much, he still felt weird giving orders to people older than him, especially some who were more than twice his age.

Ghira and Kali were still in the dark on Adam's planned trip to Atlas, but they seemed to sense something was up. Maybe they had someone watching Sienna, or maybe the prolonged silence from their rival worried them. Whatever the case, they seemed more and more interested in Sienna's plans of late, putting Adam in a rather awkward position.

"Have you spoken with Sienna recently?" Ghira asked over dinner. Dancing around the topic wasn't his style.

"Not really," Adam answered, even if he'd met with her only yesterday. Then again, he'd answered the same question last night, so he didn't have anything new to cover up. "She pretty much stays in her office most of the day. Between training and my class, I don't really see her much."

"How's your class going, by the way?" As always, Kali matched her husband's bluntness with kindness, doing her best to show actual interest in him. He had a feeling she was more interested in a student of his, though - a noticeably absent one tonight.

"It's good," Adam answered, bringing a fist to his mouth as he swallowed. "Had a few people drop out, but Kaito said that's normal."

"Kaito never was one to go easy on students."

"Blake's at the top of the class," Adam continued, ignoring Ghira's reminiscing to instead get right to the point for Kali. "No one in class wants to face her, so I make her spar against me most of the time. Most of the time, she's more of an assistant than a student."

"That's our Blake for you," Ghira laughed heartily. "Always has to be the best at everything. You know one time I challenged her to-"

"That's good to hear," Kali interrupted before her husband could start rambling. Odds were, he'd probably already told that story, too. The man could go from laser focus to veering off on a rabbit trail without warning. "But what about you? Any plans coming up?"

An oddly specific question. If Adam didn't know better, he'd think she knew. She didn't, of course. How could she, hiding away in her mansion while the White Fang moved on without her or her husband. The fractures were starting to become more noticeable, making Adam wonder just how much longer everyone planned to pretend the Belladonnas were still leading.

That was for others to decide, though. Adam wanted nothing to do with being in charge. Not with all the paperwork and politics it involved. He honestly wasn't sure which was worse, only that one or the other would do him in if he ever tried taking their spot.

"Kaito wants to experiment with my Semblance a bit, but other than that, we were thinking of putting together some competitions for everyone. You know. Archery. Shooting. Wrestling. Sparring. Give everyone a chance to get involved."

"A combat tournament?" Of course Ghira would latch onto that. "Is that all the White Fang values now?"

Maybe if he bothered to come down among the common folk, he'd know. "We've got a few other things, but physical challenges are the easiest to judge. Not sure anyone wants to have a public speaking challenge." More importantly, he had zero interest in judging it. Besides, the competitions would also be a good chance to scope out any rising talent and get them the extra training they needed to excel. "You're welcome to come sign up when we announce everything."

"I think it might be a little unfair for us to participate." It absolutely would be, but he didn't even offer to help out or even come watch. They'd truly lost their connection to the rest of the White Fang. No wonder someone else was taking over.

"I think Blake plans to enter a few events." That certainly got their attention. "Sienna says she shows great promise. Maybe we could all meet up and cheer her on."

The idea of joining Sienna in anything seemed to leave a bad taste in Ghira's mouth. Kali hurried to step in before he could say anything unpleasant. "We might just take you up on that, Adam. You really think she might win?"

As one of the only people with their aura unlocked? Obviously. "I think she's got a good chance. Sienna's betting on her winning at least three events and we haven't even announced what they are yet." Talk about blind faith, but in Blake's case, it was probably warranted.

Ghira struggled for words. "Can we…not talk about-"

"Chieftain. Sienna Khan wishes to speak with you." The guard's timing couldn't have been more perfect. Even Kali struggled to hide her chuckle, masking it behind taking a sip of tea. "She says it's urgent."

"Of course it is," Ghira muttered a little louder than he meant to. "Very well. Bring her in."

"Chieftain. Lady Belladonna." Sienna hurriedly greeted them both as she entered, all but ignoring Adam. He wasn't as important at the moment.

"Sienna," Ghira said, trying his best to sound welcoming. "We were just talking about you."

"Why don't you sit down and join us?" Kali offered. "I can have an extra place prepared for you if you'd like."

"Thank you, but I'm fine." She didn't look fine. Had Sienna run all the way here? "I just received word from Atlas. There's been an explosion in mine number two."

Mine number two? What sort of name was that? Wait wasn't that the mine they were planning to-

"Is everyone alright?" Ghira demanded, surging to his feet.

"No." Sienna shook her head in disappointment. "The SDC is keeping a tight lid on information, but it sounds like most of the mine is buried. There…there might not be many survivors."

A cave-in. Every miner's worst nightmare. "Isn't that close to Atlas?" Adam asked, suddenly a lot more invested. "They can bring in heavy equipment, right?"

"Maybe." The way she said that did nothing for his confidence. "Even if they do, my contacts say it's bad. Really bad."

"What can we do?" Kali asked.

"I'd like to send a ship to Atlas." The mission. They'd been planning to free the workers. If they'd acted sooner, then maybe- no, he couldn't think like that. Not right now. "Those workers…they had families. Families that will need our help. We can offer them safe passage to Menagerie. It's the only way some of them will survive."

"Won't the SDC take care of them?" Even if they claimed it was an unavoidable accident - a hazard of the job - they'd still owe life insurance settlements to the families, wouldn't they?

Apparently not. "They won't release any funds until the investigation is complete. That might be too late for some of them." Especially if the SDC took their time investigating. Why rush when ending it would just mean a bunch of payouts? "We're talking whole families here. Children, mostly. If we don't help them, they'll be forced to fend for themselves. Or worse."

"We have to save them!" Adam was shocked to realize he'd been the one to declare it.

"We will," Ghira promised without hesitation. "I'll have a ship readied as soon as possible. Sienna, assemble a team. And tell your contacts to provide whatever support they can until we get there. We'll make sure they're compensated for anything they can spare." Ghira sighed as the full weight of what was happening in Atlas hit him.

"I'll see it done, Chieftain." Sienna hurried away to make preparations, even if Adam knew she had everything in place already, but not before briefly locking eyes with Adam. He'd need to track her down tonight and go over everything. While what happened sounded like a tragedy, it would be easier to escort families out than to raid a secure worker camp. They'd need to go over everything and make sure everyone was ready to leave as soon as possible.

It looked like his mission was a go.


New look, same old Adam.

So Adam's mission is now official and will take him all the way to Atlas. This is the same mission as we see in the Adam character short, just as a heads up, which is why I had to get the outfit and weapon update first. We're finally reaching our first shown canon event, which feels a little intimidating since that means I've got to work in anything shown in the show moving forward. Still a lot of freedom right now, but will be a challenge once we get to Volume 3.

Anyways, I've got less than 20 hours to finish getting everything ready for tomorrow, so I'll wrap up notes there. If all goes well, I'll have a lot of nasty stuff to eat on stream and even end up with a much shorter hairstyle courtesy of MrsTheGoose. Can't wait to go live but also a little nervous like every year, since this has been a lot of planning and preparation.


Next chapter: Adam goes to Atlas.