A beastly bellow tore through the silence of the SDC facility, drowning out the clashes of weapons and battle cries that were already echoing amongst the inactive machines. The source of the barbarian-esque roars lashed his blade at anything that came too close to him, glaring at his foes in disappointment in disgust. "Learning that Zordon chose children to be his champions was embarrassing enough!" Goldar growled, keeping his attackers on the defense. "And now more foolish youths follow them?! Very well, they will follow you pathetic Rangers… to your DOOM!"
A strong backhand slammed Yang into a processing machine, stunning the blonde. The moment she began to fight through the daze and stand, a golden coil wrapped itself around her throat, cutting off her breath and hoisting her into the air. As the girl writhed and thrashed about, the coil's owner shook her head. "Agreed," Scorpina hissed, nonchalantly blocking Jaune's swings with her sword arm. "Each of your fates was sealed the moment you aligned with that hologram's proteges." She turned towards the melee, flinging Yang into the other Huntsman as she did so. "As punishment, we will give you slow deaths."
Goldar seized Zack's axe and promptly kicked the Black Ranger away before feeling something rattle his armor. Snarling, the general charged toward Kimberly, who was in the process of drawing another arrow. Thinking fast, the Pink Ranger leaped atop another machine and proceeded to fire more arrows at Goldar. With another growl, Goldar cleaved that machine in two with a single chop, forcing Kim to abandon the high ground and take off running. Nora jumped in with a maniacal cry only for Goldar to block her hammer's blow with a pauldron. He drove a golden gauntlet into the girl's gut and smashed her into the ground, kicking her prone form away.
"Weaklings!" spat the ape Faunus. "What makes you think you can- GARGH!" Ruby took the chance to slash Goldar from behind, sparks flying from the impact of the scythe on armor. The silver-eyed girl showed no fear from the Faunus' angered reaction, Goldar baring his fangs at her. "You will regret that, imp!"
"No," she sternly shot back. "You are gonna regret messing with us!"
Goldar lunged at Ruby, his blade clashing against her twirling scythe. His offense kept Ruby on the back end, the Huntress' counterattacks doing little to break through his armor. Ruby caught Goldar's sword and drove it to the ground, using her weapon's momentum to propel herself upward. While airborne, she extended her leg to drive her heel onto her enemy's helmet…
…but his fist met her first in a fierce uppercut, knocking the air from her lungs. Ruby collapsed as her weapon fell to Goldar's feet, her mind rattled from the blow and the impact. Her blurred eyes barely caught his next move until she registered him in the air, his sword aimed at her skull. Panic took hold of the Huntress-in-training, who yelped in alarm and squeezed her eyes shut.
Fortunately, she felt nothing. She heard Goldar's weapon connect with another, the sound making Ruby open her eyes to see a boy in red intercepting the blade with his own. With a shout, Jason pushed in his favor before delivering a strong kick to Goldar's chestplate, staggering the beast. Hurriedly giving the boy her thanks, Ruby swiftly retrieved her scythe and rushed for Scorpina, who was keeping Pyrrha and Ren on their toes.
When swords clashed again, two pairs of eyes did the same. "So we meet again, Jason!" Goldar snarled. "It's unfortunate I didn't have the chance to destroy you before! But now I get to look you in the eyes when you finally perish!"
"You never came close to beating me before," the Red Ranger retorted. "So what makes you think you can do so now?!" Goldar's answer to that was a forceful shove that brought both blades dangerously close to Jason's face. "Do you not understand your situation, you pathetic human?! Rita chose this world to banish you because your precious Morphin Grid cannot reach here! Must I spell it out for you?! None of you can morph!"
"So I realized… but I'll take my chances!" Jason swerved away, taking Goldar by surprise before he slashed at the general's leg. Goldar retaliated with savage fury, with Jason weaving from his swings and deflecting others. "Your stubbornness is your undoing, Red Ranger! And I grow tired of your delusions of victory!" Parrying Jason's next swing, Goldar grabbed the boy by the neck and slammed him against a wall, holding his sword to the human's throat. "Any last words, boy?!"
In contrast to his seemingly-dire situation, Jason just smirked. "Yeah…"
Before Goldar could punish his foe for smiling in the face of death, Jason took a deep breath… and released an ear-pounding roar that caused Goldar to howl in pain while clutching his head. Now free, Jason took the moment to make a break for it and spied Scorpina leaping above a battered Nora and an exasperated Jaune. With another quick breath, he directed the full force of his next auditory assault on Scorpina, who was blasted away until she collided with a stack of Dust crates.
"N… no…!" Jason heard Goldar gasp in confusion. "That's not possible! You're supposed to be powerless! There is no Morphin Grid for you to access here!"
"Oh, this isn't the Grid, Goldar," Jason told him smugly. "Let's just say that Rita should've done more research on where to dump us." Goldar opened his mouth to retort only to feel a sudden weight on his shoulders. His snarls mixed with Trini's yells, the Yellow Ranger hacking at his armor while he desperately tried to shake her off. The girl reconfigured one dagger into its pistol form, taking a few shots at Goldar's helmet point-blank. The Faunus eventually threw himself onto his back, squashing the irritant on the floor. When he moved to slam a fist into her face, all it did was pound a small mark into the floor as the girl rolled away. Goldar moved to pursue only for two more figures to stand in his way, wielding an ax and a lance.
"You're looking madder than usual, monkey-man," quipped Zack. "What's the matter, did the wicked witch clip your wings?" Beside him, Billy readied himself. "Admit it, Goldar. You came unprepared."
"Unprepared? To kill Rangers? I think not, little boy blue!" He lunged at the boys, giving Trini just what she needed to get back in the fight. She sprinted in Scorpina's direction, who was fending off Blake and Yang at the same time. A high kick to the blonde's face drove her away, leaving only the girl in black to deal with. She was an agile one, evading both Scorpina's blade and tail almost absentmindedly. Somersaulting over a slice aimed at her legs, Scorpina brought her sword down on Blake only for the noirette to block the weapon with both her own sword and its oddly-shaped sheath. This stance was not as defensive as she thought, as Scorpina eyed a rather vulnerable spot. Her tail moved like a snake as it slithered into position… and a second after Blake noticed it, the appendage buried itself into her chest. A wicked grin crossed Scorpina's face, who awaited a pained scream of agony…
…but what she didn't expect was for Blake to inexplicably explode in a combusting blast, sending Scorpina tumbling along the floor. The stunned Faunus hoisted herself to her feet, her eyes turned in the direction of the smoke as she chuckled in amusement. "Yet another new advantage, albeit an unexpected one. Now do you see, children? One among you has fallen, and-"
Something rushed at Scorpina from the smoke, taking her by surprise. She barely had time to react to the sharp flurry of blades that assailed her, which hacked away at her form until she blocked one and grabbed the other with her free hand. And when she saw those golden eyes, her own went wide in a combination of rage, alarm, and confusion. "What?! How did you-?!"
"A clone," Blake spat. "I saw that sneak attack coming just in time for me to materialize one." The words made Scorpina snarl in irritation. "LIES! It's impossible for a human to-" A twitch. From… the bow on her head? Unlike her companion who had muscles for brains, Scorpina was quick to learn. "So I see. A human couldn't detect it until it was too late. But make no mistake, 'Faunus'. You will not be so lucky a second time!" Scorpina dove backward and threw Blake over her, the cat Faunus landing perfectly on her feet before whirling to face down the charging scorpion Faunus.
A blur of yellow cut through Scorpina's sight before a knee was driven into her side. Stumbling but refusing to falter, the general noticed her enemy had backup and hissed aggressively. Trini gave Blake a look of permission. "You look like a girl who could use a hand."
"I'd appreciate that," the raven-haired girl replied. "This one is… unrestrained."
"Yeah, Scorps comes across as the creepy type," Holding both daggers tightly, Trini sprinted for Scorpina with Blake right behind her, the two girls matching the Faunus step-for-step with movements that kept them away from blade and tail alike. Blake wrapped a midnight-colored ribbon around the tail and drove it into the ground before Trini swung around it like a pole, nailing Scorpina's face with both feet. From behind them, Weiss flicked her rapier and hurried after them.
Her approach was interrupted when Billy fell onto his face right in front of her, drawing the heiress' attention to Goldar. The ape Faunus was being swarmed by most of her friends, trying to overwhelm him with sheer numbers. To Goldar, they must have been nothing more than ants because he was overpowering their attempts. He slammed Jaune onto the floor and kicked Jason away before grabbing Nora's hammer and throwing her into a charging Ren. He was momentarily staggered when Pyrrha threw her shield at him but caught her spear when she tried driving it into his chest and countered with a hard headbutt. Kimberly had to abandon her approach and tend to those who were down and out, with Ruby taking her place. She leaped at Goldar only to have a hand grab her by the throat and smash her into the ground.
Weiss rushed towards the ape Faunus, who noticed her arrival and charged to meet an enemy he probably believed was frail. He was all strength and no precision, as Weiss danced around each of his attacks on muscle memory alone. Quick parries wouldn't be an option here; the size of his sword would easily disarm her. Good thing Weiss had an alternative to showing this brute his place.
She threw up a black glyph just when Goldar threw a kick, the projection trapping his foot in place. While he stared in bewilderment, Weiss flicked her fingers upward and threw Goldar into a backward spin, the Faunus landing unceremoniously on his face. "Grr… I don't understand," he snarled, using his sword as a support to stand. "How is it that you impudent children have powers?! You are no Rangers!"
"From what I understand, you're out of your element here," Weiss told him. "So I suggest you surrender while you can." Goldar snarled in response. "Surrender?! I'll never surrender! Not to Rangers, and certainly not to stupid children like you!" The heiress leaped away from a downward smash, and when Goldar spun in the direction she had fled, all he saw was a yellow gauntlet that pounded him a few meters along the floor. Yang and Zack stood alongside each other, the Black Ranger placing his axe on his back before cracking his knuckles in a silent challenge.
"Bring it, banana breath."
Goldar obliged with another bellow, charging for the two teens with his sword held aloft. Yang was the one to catch the swinging blade and knock it from his grip before delivering a right hook to his face. Cocking her gauntlets, the blonde leaped towards the stunned Faunus, who quickly snagged her by the face and slammed her into the ground. But focusing on one was a mistake; Goldar was left vulnerable to a charging dropkick from Zack that knocked him onto his back. He was under attack the second he got back to his feet, with Zack and Yang assailing him with a barrage of strong punches and kicks.
The Black Ranger knew that Goldar was a tough beast to put down, as the general powered through the onslaught and held both of them back single-handedly. He blocked a kick from Yang and deflected Zack's right hook, driving his fist into the Black Ranger's face before whacking the blonde with that same arm, her form spinning before hitting the ground. After kicking Yang away, Goldar locked arms with Zack and the two pushed against each other like wrestlers. The Faunus bellowed in Zack's face, but all Zack did in response was clench his teeth before tightening his hold on Goldar's arms…
…and twisting around, hurling Goldar like a sack of potatoes. The huffing Faunus slid to a stop with a rumbling growl and charged for the Black Ranger until a small explosion made him stumble. Yang was on him in seconds, fists flying across his face before she delivered rapid jabs to his midsection. Barreling through again, Goldar caught Yang's fist and drew his other arm back, but Yang was quicker with a knee to the chest and an uppercut. Unfortunately, this only angered Goldar, who grabbed both of Yang's arms with a growl and ferociously headbutted her in the face.
Much to his confusion, the girl did not fall, though she did flinch. With another growl crossing his features, Goldar moved to try again only for a fierce rumble to emit from Yang's throat. Upon further inspection, the girl's eyes flashed open, revealing themselves to be a crimson red instead of a calm lilac. Her hair was also beginning to shimmer as if sunlight was touching the golden strands. A mighty roar erupted from Yang's throat as she slammed Goldar with a headbutt of her own, the impact ten times greater than normal and enough to make Goldar release his hold on the blonde.
The blows rained down on him again, each one impossibly magnified as if Goldar was punching himself. Zack was quick to add onto the assault, both teens hammering down on the gorilla Faunus until his shimmering gold Aura echoed with each hit that landed. Eventually, the two broke through like water breaching a dam, shattering the last of Goldar's natural defenses and sending him smashing against a wall. Nearby, the remainder of the group overwhelmed Scorpina; too many foes for her to handle simultaneously. With an arrow that froze Scorpina to the ground- courtesy of Kimberly- and a quick launch from Pyrrha's shield, Trini drove both legs into Scorpina's chest, sending her crashing alongside Goldar and breaking her dark gold Aura. Both Faunus were out cold.
Well, almost out cold. Everyone faced down the pair as they struggled to stay conscious, Goldar absentmindedly retrieving his blade through heavy breaths. Likewise, Scorpina faltered in her attempts to stand more than once while training weakened eyes on the teens. She didn't have the strength to scowl in anger, so she mustered what little she had left in her.
"Mark… mark my words… Power Rangers…" she gasped. "As well as… the rest of you… brats… ngh…"
"You will all… suffer for this…" grunted Goldar. "Once Empress Rita… hears of this… we will… make you pay…"
Ruby smirked. "You can try."
Goldar sneered at her. "This isn't… over, you… disgraceful children… we'll be… back." While the scorpion Faunus hissed threateningly at the teens, the gorilla Faunus brought an arm around himself…
…and did nothing else. His eyes raised in confusion and Scorpion shot him a glare from the corner of her eyes. "What are you waiting for? Get us… get us out of here!"
"I… I'm trying!" came the growling response. "Something is… wrong. I-I cannot… what is the meaning of this?"
"Um…" Yang blinked. "What are they trying to do?" Nobody answered her, but some of the Rangers shook their heads in disappointment while Kimberly tried to hold back laughter. Another hiss came from Scorpina until the Faunus grabbed her partner's arm and made a break for the dark hallway she had emerged from. Goldar shot the teens one last look of anger before vanishing while Scorpina slithered away, a final threat on her venomous tongue.
"Enjoy this planet while you can, Rangers… because you will never see your precious Earth again."
And with that, she vanished into the shadows, leaving the teens alone. Once he was sure that they were gone, Jaune holstered his weapon and sighed in relief. "Phew! We beat them!"
"We didn't," Trini told him. "They ran away. Again."
"Savor the small victories, Trini," Jason said. "They'll be back, no doubt about it. But they tried to teleport away… Billy?" The Blue Ranger was two steps ahead in thought. "Their powers had fluctuated, too. You know what that means, right?"
"The golden guards have Semblances," Kimberly said. "We're lucky they didn't figure theirs out… but they will. I can feel it."
"But Goldar and Scorpina aren't connected to the Grid…" Billy muttered quietly. "I'll need to look into this further."
"So… sorry, guys," Ruby sighed. "I don't think your friend's here after all. Instead, we found your enemies… who are looking for your greatest enemy." Jason just placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "At least we found somebody. And if Rita's goons are in this world, it confirms that Rita's here, too."
"What now, then?" asked Blake. "Should we follow them? They could lead us right to her." Billy shook his head. "No, they won't have a clue where she is. They're still adjusting to Remnant, as are we. And speaking of… there's still a lot we don't know."
"Yeah," Kim solemnly agreed while examining her bow. "Like how this Dust gives our weapons a boost just like the Semblances do for us. We're still unprepared… even though we're experts in monster fighting. Is this what irony feels like?"
"It's been a long day, anyway," Weiss added. "I say we head back to Beacon and get you guys situated." Jason wasn't one to disagree on that. After all, they needed someplace to stay… and he didn't want to know how acquiring a living space like an apartment worked on Remnant. "Yeah…" There was a hint of disappointment in his voice as he looked at the trashed machinery around him. "Let's call it a day, Rangers."
…
Signs of Rita's henchmen- which was enough proof of the sorceress' presence- and no sign of their missing friend weighed heavily on the Rangers. Both Huntsman teams could feel the disappointment yet understood it was nothing that would permanently demoralize them. From what they had said of their ally, he seemed capable of surviving alone for a time. Yet as the night fell, none of the otherworldly youths were focused on locating him and instead wished to retire for the evening. Ever the welcoming spirit she was, Ruby was the first to offer them a place to stay.
"Sleepover!" It was an idea that sounded promising…
…but it died the second she threw open the door to her team's dorm.
"Um…" Zack whispered. "Who tied their bed to the ceiling with rope?"
"Are those…" Trini uttered next, her eyes glued to the opposite pair of beds. "Are those books? That doesn't look- how do you guys even sleep at night?!"
"Yeah, hard pass," Kimberly spoke up. "I'd rather not be crushed in my sleep."
After some "I told you so"s from Weiss and some comforting words from Yang, Ruby- now infected with the Ranger's prior disappointment- allowed her sister to take over for her while she went off to "mope that our new friends aren't decoration-oriented", in her words. Jason had to drag Billy off before the Blue Ranger could launch into how he was very detail-focused and organized. He wouldn't be surprised if he had flashcards and a slideshow to prove it.
The Rangers didn't know much about living on college campuses back on Earth, but Beacon had rules different from what they were used to… as to be expected. Normally, the dorms at Beacon were co-ed, meaning boys and girls could sleep in the same room as part of the "team-building" principles Professor Ozpin spoke so highly of. This was a rule that didn't sit well with the Rangers, so they requested to split themselves up: Jason, Billy, and Zack in one room while Trini and Kimberly took the neighboring dorm. To the Remnantians' ears, this sounded like an odd request… but it was a grantable one.
After changing into colored sleepwear Jaune had brought them, Billy and Zack went with one of the room's two beds, leaving the Red Ranger alone to ponder in the remaining bed. He thought back over the day's events, a part of him still questioning if this was real. If he was to be honest, these were changes that didn't come easy. How many times would he reach for his morpher only to remember it was useless without the Morphin Grid? How many times would he swing his sword before recalling the weapon could morph in its own way?
And Ruby and the others… Was it worth getting to know them? Getting attached to them would mean he would be hesitant to return to Earth. And the longer they stayed, the more grown the teams would be to each other. But they couldn't just stay on Remnant; they had no place here.
Jason hated this. He hated these stupid questions. He was supposed to be done with them… no, that wasn't true. He was done with the basics; where he was and whatnot. Now, he had more complicated ones to deal with. Did Ruby deal with this much stuff all the time? She was just a kid, almost younger than Jason, yet she was the leader of her team. Wouldn't it be too much pressure on her? Would she be able to handle the-
Stop. Just stop already.
Sleep now. See what morning brings, then keep looking for Tommy. Jason let a quiet sigh escape his lips and he shut his eyes, waiting for unconsciousness to settle in. The boys were all too eager to settle down… but in the next room over, sleep was a difficult thing to achieve. Trini stared up at the ceiling, her arms splayed out across the bed with one hand almost dangling toward the floor. Unlike her teammate, only one question weighed on the Yellow Ranger's mind… and it was a question she couldn't keep suppressed.
Trini turned to the bed across the room. "Hey, Kim?"
The figure barely stirred. "What?"
Trini slightly hesitated for a moment. "I, uh… I've been… thinking about what they said earlier. You don't… believe it, do you?"
Trini caught the faint glimpse of her partner turning over. "Believe what?"
The Yellow Ranger sighed. "Believe that… that there's no way home." Kimberly sighed this time, only from annoyance rather than uncertainty. "Trini, come on. They're evil warlords who helped their master conquer dozens of planets throughout the galaxy. I'm not believing a word they say."
"But… we are gonna go home again, right?"
"We will, Trini," Kim reassured her. "We'll find a way back. We'll make one if we have to. I'm not giving up on Tommy… and I'm not giving up on home, either."
"O… okay," the Yellow Ranger quietly replied. "I just… don't wanna be stuck here, that's all."
"Me neither," Kimberly reassured her. "Besides… I'm never gonna get used to that."
Trini sat up, her curiosity piqued. "Used to what?" Kim simply gestured to the window, where Trini's gaze followed into the dark sky… and a moon that was partly blasted to cosmic bits. It would've looked beautiful if Trini wasn't taken aback by the sight, a new question on the tip of her tongue. "Um… why is the moon broken?"
"I know what Billy would say: an asteroid or something like that," Kimberly theorized. "But they have it easy."
"Easy how?"
"Their moon isn't home to the palace of an evil witch," the Pink Ranger smugly answered. "They're lucky they don't even have to fight one." Her friend's words reminded Trini of her current predicament. "Well… they'll have to now. I only hope Rita's having a worse time than us."
Kimberly settled down into the covers. "That makes two of us. Now, if you'll excuse me, this girl needs her beauty sleep." The two of them exchanged wishes of a good night's sleep, although Trini's was a little hurried. Now a part of her wished she hadn't asked about the moon. Thoughts of Earth's natural satellite and the witch's lair that led to compulsive worries as to what the villain would accomplish on Remnant kept Trini from falling asleep.
She remembered how Goldar and Scorpina's abilities were on the fritz when the former tried to teleport away, much like how the Rangers' powers were adjusted to this world. With any luck, Rita would be experiencing the same, what with magic not existing on Remnant. The thought brought a smile to the girl's face as she imagined the agitated sneer Rita would don should she discover her wand had become nothing more than a decorative stick.
Well… she thought as she slowly closed her eyes. Unfortunately, that'll mean defeating her will be a little less satisfying for me… and utterly humiliating for her.
…
Goldar growled in disgust as he tossed away the partially-devoured rabbit, wiping at his mouth with his free hand. "Curse this wretched planet! I'm supposed to enjoy feasting on weaklings! Now look at what I have been reduced to!" On the opposite side of the crackling campfire that illuminated the tents circling them, the woman shot the golden-armored Faunus a stern look. "Do not be foolish, Goldar. While I am not one to disagree with you… after all, what would the Empress say once she discovers you have no wings?"
Another rumble, this one lower as the general poked at the tinders with his blade. Scorpina ignored this. "I am not one to disagree with you. You take pride in your monstrous appearance, yet you now resemble a human. Personally, I see no complications."
"Easy for you to say," Goldar grumbled. "You could pass for one easily on Earth."
"But here…" Scorpina continued. "Here, we have surpassed them. Even ones gifted by the Grid. Countless alien species throughout the universe, yet no Power Ranger has ever witnessed one such as this."
"I understand these 'Faunus' are the superior species, Scorpina," Goldar interrupted. "And I am not a fool. I know this world has granted us the necessities to destroy the Power Rangers for good. But to do so alone would be foolish… and I do not need to explain why."
"Yes," came an agitated hiss. "The Rangers have changed. We both saw it. They cannot morph, as the empress predicted… but they have something else. Something she failed to foresee. If we are to eliminate them, we need two things. The first: we need to learn just what these new powers are and how to counter them."
"And the second," Goldar finished. "We must find the empress. And Finster, in whatever hole the little fool has dug for himself."
"An obvious course of action," Scorpina congratulated. "But there is a hindrance. Searching for them in plain sight is an inadequate tactic." Goldar said nothing, yet his eyes had a curious glint. Scorpina was all too eager to oblige. "The Faunus are faster, stronger, and more powerful than the humans… and they know this, Goldar. Before I ran into you, I have been studying them. And do you know what humans see them as?"
He frowned. "Beasts. Animals. Monsters."
"Precisely," hissed Scorpina, her tail slinking behind her as she stood. "They are two species at war, fighting for dominance of this planet. As of now, the humans have the upper hand, subjugating and abusing the Faunus. They think the Faunus are beneath them… fools."
"What difference does it make to us?" Goldar asked. "I'll snap the neck of any human who casts a disapproving eye in my direction."
"As much as I enjoy slaughter… that will do us no good," Scorpina reminded him. "We must find another way… and soon." The woman stared into the flames, deep in thought. Goldar did the same, his armor shifting with every movement. This was the worst part: the thinking. The waiting. He hated every moment of it, wasting time when he should be splitting skulls and crushing bones. He was a warrior, not a strategist. The thrill of battle was what sustained him, and right now he wanted nothing more than to find those puny Power Rangers and tear them apart, along with those new "friends" of theirs.
Perhaps he would strangle the girl in red with her own cape. He would snap the white one's pitiful excuse for a sword with his bare hand. Afterward, he would beat the yellow one into the ground until she was a bloody pulp, followed by skinning the black one alive… more than once if he was able. Scorpina could tell that one was one of them; a feline-oriented individual.
The woman across from him looked up from the campfire… and a devious smirk crossed her face, catching Goldar's attention. "What is-"
Something pressed against the back of his head. A weapon.
"RAAAAAGH!" Goldar roared with a warrior's fury as he whirled around with his sword in hand, grabbing the rifle's muzzle and crushing it with minimal effort. "You dare draw a weapon on me?! I will make you suffer for-!"
A golden scorpion tail slithered in front of his face, halting the ape Faunus where he stood. "Forgive my colleague. He is quick to anger." Goldar had half a mind to either berate Scorpina for interfering or shoving her out of the way, but this pause allowed him a better look at just who had attempted to execute him like a coward. It was a hooded figure with a white mask, staring up at Goldar as if realizing his costly mistake. His shattered firearm lay useless at his feet, the limbs slightly withdrawing when Goldar bared his teeth at him.
There were others like that one, some already lowering their weapons while others kept them trained on the pair. "They're Faunus…"
"That doesn't mean they're one of us," a figure with a sword snapped before turning to Scorpina. "What are you doing in our camp?!" Something swished anxiously behind him: a scaled tail. Goldar took note of other features on various figures. Clawed fingers, deer horns, patches of fur and scales. Each one of them shared the same symbol he had seen on banners within the campsite: a red wolf's head with bloody scratches behind it.
"That is a question I will answer to only one," Scorpina calmly responded. "Which one of you is the leader?" The question filled Goldar with pride. Yes… the leader. That would be the one whose blood would cover his sword, a consequence for allowing his men to foolishly-
"Goldar… stay your hand."
The ape Faunus turned to his partner in sudden bewilderment. "Scorpina?"
She gave no response, but someone within the crowd was moving towards them. Masked figures parted way until those at the forefront stood aside, allowing one with more defining features to step through. An auburn-haired man with bull horns atop his crown stood face-to-face with the duo, his bone-white mask dressed with red symbols similar to his animal traits. He was dressed entirely in black and red, with one hand on a sheathed sword. The instant he turned to Goldar, the ape Faunus let out a menacing growl and clenched his hilt tightly… but the stranger did not respond.
He turned to Scorpina. Goldar guessed he must have been frowning beneath that mask. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" Scorpina smiled in response, glancing quickly at Goldar. "Follow my lead," she whispered.
"What? I don't-"
"Fellow Faunus," she began boldly, addressing not just the leader but the crowd around him. "My name is Scorpina, and this is my companion Goldar. We have wandered aimlessly for months seeking haven… only to find none. Upon arriving here, we assumed this camp was abandoned."
The bull-man's mouth dipped into a frown. "A poor conclusion on your part. You should leave… while you still can." His hand slowly drew to his weapon… but Scorpina was speaking again, robbing Goldar of the chance to take this idiot by surprise. "On the contrary… we may have found what we have been looking for." The woman stepped forward…
…and bent down on one knee, bowing her head in submission.
Goldar had to keep his jaw from falling in shock. "Scorpina, what do you think you're-"
Something dangerously poked him in the leg. Goldar felt Scorpina's tail positioned at a gap between his ankle's armor plates, the appendage ready to sink into his flesh at a moment's notice. The tail's end was behind his foot, out of the stranger's sight. Her eyes turned to Goldar… while her teeth were bared threateningly.
"I said…" she hissed under her breath. "Follow. My. Lead."
Was she implying… he wouldn't dare-!
But he knew her. The slightest wrong move and she'd do it. No hesitation. With a defeated grumble, Goldar slowly sank to his knee and stabbed his blade into the ground before placing a gauntlet over his chestplate. It was a stance meant for one and only one.
Once this second humiliation of the day was done, he was going to have a talk with her.
"And what is it you think you've found?" the stranger asked. Scorpina met his face again, that smile returning as if nothing had happened. "That is simple: a means for the Faunus to claim their rightful place… and to put humanity in theirs."
The stranger paused, taking in her words. What felt like a minute for Goldar passed until the corner of his mouth lifted. "Maybe I was too quick to judge you," he said. "The humans do need to atone for their sins against my… well, I suppose our people. The White Fang's mission is just that. My name is Adam Taurus, and I'm the leader of the Vale branch."
"The honor is all ours, Adam Taurus," Scorpina replied, rising from her bow. Goldar, in turn, rose quicker while glaring at the masked men around him. "We share common interests… However, there is a concern. We are being hunted."
Adam paused, his smile now gone. "Hunted?" His voice had a predator's edge to it. "By whom? The SDC?"
"Something worse," Scorpina explained. "Because of our actions, we have been branded terrorists that should be killed on sight. The humans are aware of our motives to eliminate their forms of government, so they have set an elite squad of Huntsmen to track us down and exterminate us… as if we are nothing but common house pests."
The venom in her tone prompted a menacing sneer on Adam's face. "Who are they?" he demanded. "What did they do to you?"
"Nothing yet… and with your aid, perhaps it will remain so," Scorpina continued. "They are a team of six, each of them highly trained in combat and battlefield coordination."
"Six?" Adam repeated. "Impossible, Huntsmen only act in teams of four."
"Which is why you have never heard of them," Scorpina countered. "They are an extremely classified unit, their identities known only to their superiors. Those who get so much as a glimpse or a leaked document of their existence or swiftly silenced… but we know who they really are." She took a step towards Adam with a ferocious, spiteful look in her eye. "They are child soldiers, raised as weapons to be used by cowards afraid to take arms. They are ruthless, emotionless enforcers that nobody knows, and they will not hesitate to kill a Faunus where they stand. The last time I saw them… I barely escaped with my life."
Adam tensed up, emulating Scorpina's fury. After another thirty seconds of contemplating, he held out a hand. Scorpina took it in her own, giving it a firm shake. "We have a deal," Adam said sternly. "Tell me everything you know about them… and we'll bring humanity to its knees. Welcome to the White Fang… both of you." The Faunus gestured to his men, who strolled into the camp. Some congratulated the two by giving them a welcoming pat on the shoulder. Shrugging off one, Goldar stormed up to Scorpina, whose smile never faltered.
"You better have an explanation for this," he growled, pointing his sword at her throat. He heard only a chuckle in reply as Scorpina pushed the weapon away with a bronze-clawed finger. "An explanation? Very well, Goldar. You wished for another means to locate our empress." She spread out her arms. "Here it is."
"And how, exactly, is this supposed to help us?"
Another devilish giggle from the woman, who turned and walked towards a tent Adam was drawing near. "All in due time, Goldar. Now come. There is much to discuss."
Goldar already wished this was through. But if it meant having an edge over those wretched Rangers or getting them one step closer to Rita… whatever it was that Scorpina had schemed was sure to come in handy, even if Goldar had to resort to… to allying himself with such feeble, lesser-minded beings.
But he had to trust Scorpina's judgment. He had to trust this, he had to trust her plan… his empress was counting on him. And he would not fail her.
