-Legend 27-

Supremacy: The Omega

-Pt. 4-

…..

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Lisa Lavender of The Daily Ishtar here, reporting from the bowels of the Ishtar area, where two of the finest Guardian teams in the known system will soon wage the battle that will decide the champions of the first ever Supremacy tournament!"

"And unless I'm mistaken-ah, yes! Here comes the General and his team now."

James Ironwood and Fireteam Vector were then the subjects of much ado as they made down the crowded corridor; Ghost cams and rabid fans alike vying for their attention.

"Mr. Ironwood! Mr. Ironwood, sir! Lisa Lavender of The Daily Ishtar. Would you be so kind as to give us a few words?"

The man in question, at the head of his unit, indeed stopped in his tracks. "I would be happy to," was his cordial reply.

"Splendid." Lisa directed her Ghost camera just a bit closer in as she began her calculated questioning. "Reaching the grand finals of the what we can assume is the inaugural Supremacy tournament is no mean feat. What is it that sets your particular Guardians apart?"

"That's simple," did the General say. "It's the Martian difference at work. We at The Dust Palace strive for not only excellence, but also individuality. There is simply no training regime in this system that can come close to matching our own. Our opponents would do well to remember that, as The Night Witches themselves have spent a goodly amount of time under our umbrella."

"I see. And speaking of whom, what is your strategy going against Team Redwing?"

"That I can't reveal for the obvious reasons," said Ironwood.

"Of course." Lisa then turned to the members of Team Vector themselves. "Any thoughts you wish to share before the battle?"

Jr. was the first to take the mic. He held up four fingers, curling then down as he ticked off his points. "Kick ass. Take names. Rinse. Repeat!" He clenched his newly formed fist.

"Ditto, more or less," said Ziggy. "We're looking forward to an intense and crowd-pleasing competition."

Chaos nodded. "Win or lose, we'll take what we learn and make ourselves better."

"Well said, all of you." Lisa turned to the final member of the ensemble. "And here we have a representative of Team Vector's namesake. Miss Shion Uzuki, head of Vector's R-and-D division."

The woman in question pushed her holographic bifocals up her nose as Lisa's Ghost cam fluttered in to focus on her.

"Tell me, what is it you and your enterprise seek to achieve via this unprecedented partnership with the Martian Guardian force?"

"Oh that's easy," Shin preened. "We're looking to create a whole new kind of Guardian."

"I see. Can you offer some elucidation?"

Shion clapped Ziggy proudly on the shoulder. "The man you see before you here is but the first step on the path of Guardian augmentation and evolution. Think of him as the progenitor of all our works to come."

"And what is in the pipeline exactly?"

"Let's just say we have a Penny for your thoughts."

"Very intriguing," the reporter said. "I sincerely thank all of you for your time. And good luck to you in the match."

Lisa turned back to her Ghost cam as Team Vector made for the pitch. "As much as I would have liked to get a word from Team Redwing, I'm afraid The Night Witches refused to make themselves available for interviewing. So with that, we'll head out to the pitch to commentate on the grand finals match of Redwing vs. Vector. This is Lisa Lavender of The Daily Ishtar, signing out. Back to you, Lord Shaxx."

…...

Here in the open-air picnic area, every eye was trained simultaneously on the great screen in front of them, as well as the spectacle in the sky. The Rhine Maiden and The Woglinde, as well every vessel in the Martian fleet suspended above the arena, activated their forward search lights. The beams then converged upon the stadium under them, heralding the entrance of their ace Fireteam.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please welcome our first finalists, Fireteam Vector!"

For the first time during the Supremacy tournament, Earth, Mars, and Venus cheered as a united front, none of them wanting Redwing to simply run away with the title.

"And now presenting their opponents. I give you the redoubtably esteemed Night Witches themselves, Fireteam Redwing!"

Audible boo's reigned from the crowd, their ire, at least in this case, was in a sporting context only.

"How do they do that…?" Ruby pondered aloud, watching the three of them simply...appear in the arena's center.

Yang turned to her sister. "You can't see them, like, at all?"

"Not one little bit," Ruby sighed. "Their camo is way more advanced than what normal Blade Dancer's use." She chewed her thumbnail contemplatively. "They just don't go invisible, it's like they vanish into thin air or something…"

Weiss thought about this. "Well, at any rate, I have a feeling which of them will be featuring in this match."

"So the teams are in agreement! We will have The Carbon Witch verses Team Vector!"

"Nailed it!" Ruby said to Weiss. "You're really sharp, you know."

Weiss then gave Ruby a look that was appreciatively inquisitive; her eyes narrowed as though a detail, currently unspeakable, had roused her intrigue.

"C'mon Vector! Whoop his ass!" Yang's cheer carried true even among the cascade of shouts that began to rise from the crowd.

The Guardians on screen struck their fighting stances as Ruby noticed a detail about Adam.

"That weapon…" she mused. "Zwei, what is it?"

"It's called 'Crimson', basically The Red Death in hand cannon form." Zwei let out a contemplative beep. "And according to official Vanguard policy...that weapon does not exist…"

Weiss looked upon Ruby during this exchange with her Ghost, the same appreciative scrutiny upon her face.

"And now, let the final match...BEGIN!"

Almost before the statement was out of Shaxx's mouth, was Adam in motion. Spinning his Bolt Castor in a ferocious circle, did he loose a crackling projectile at his three opponents.

"Holy shit, his sword shoots lightning!?" A good portion of the spectators were aghast at the sword's power.

Ziggy met this projectile head on. His mechanical left arm crackling with Arc energy of his own, did he stop the electric disc mid-air, snuffing its power out as he closed his fist around it.

"Yeah, nice one Ziggy!"

"Taurus ain't so tough!"

Ziggy flexed the mechanisms of his left hand. "Hmm...a worthy adversary…"
"Indeed," Chaos added, his Void energy peaking. "This is no ordinary force, everyone, be careful!"

Adam punctuated this conversational lull in their defense by sending another Bolt from his sword at them. And then another-and another.

Vector scattered as the array of lightning tore into the ground around them.

Jr. took running aim and loosed his Painted Big Chief at the Night Witch.

Adam, with reflexes of near unholy speed, raised his own weapon and fired at the incoming rounds, striking them from the air. When Jr. cried out, having been hit by Crimson's rounds, did what made it special become painfully apparent.

"A three burst!" Ruby shouted. "What kind of hand cannon is that!?"

Weiss was definitely looking at Ruby in open wonder now.

The Carbon Witch had struck his true fighting pose at this point; stance bladed; upper body bent; Bolt Castor slung over his shoulders; Crimson in his left hand hanging low to the ground and...swaying...swaying…

"Ah, shit. Taurus is in his Adder stance. He's serious now…"

Murmurs rumbled through the crowd at the Witch's dangerous form.

And at once, did The Carbon With loose himself upon his opponents.

Ruby watched, as best as her eyes could keep up, Adam utterly devastate Team Vector.

"See how he alternates his attack?" Zwei said in her head. "Sword strike-gunshot; sword strike-gunshot…"

"Neo fights like that," Ruby said. "It's predictable, but they just can't stop it…"

Adam was but a step away from Ziggy, the Striker harrying him with powerful punches and kicks.

All of which hit only air.

The Carbon Witch exercised his lithe and utterly liquid close-quarters evasiveness as he leaned this way and that; bending to and fro to throw off Ziggy's strikes.

Jr. closed in from the side, his hand cannon ready.

Though his attention was on the Titan currently trying to break his already broken face, Adam saw Jr.'s approach and staved him off with a strategic burst from Crimson. He performed a neat back flip then, evading not only Ziggy's final strike, but also an Energy Drain attack from Chaos who had joined the melee.

The distance between them neutral again, Ziggy wasted no time in charging lightning into his fist. "Let's go!" And he launched himself from the spot,

"Wooo! Code of The Missile!" Yang's scream was but deafening. "Show that mother fucker what Titan's can do!"

The Carbon Witch, sneer firmly in place, then raised Bolt Castor level. And Just as Ziggy, much like the missile his subclass was named for, crashed into him, did Adam raise his sword's Arc-forged guard.

Ziggy's momentum came to an instant halt as his attack was firmly rejected by the sphere of Arc Light. And then Adam lashed out, Bolt Castor cutting right through the Titan's armor.

"He got us like that, too…" Celica said in Yang's head.

"Yeah, I remember…" Yang grimaced as the memory resurfaced in her mind.

"He has the down, so what is he waiting for?" Weiss said.

Indeed the Carbon Witch stood with Ziggy's crest there between his feet. Jr. and Chaos stood ready, trying to read his next move.

Adam then, with a laugh, looked to the crest at his feet, and then to Team Vector. And at once, did he kick the thing like a ball, right into the waiting hands of his opponents.

"Traveler above….he's toying with them!" Weiss said.

Back to full strength now, did Vector ponder their next move.

"Let's take a page from Lilysteel's playbook," did Ironwood say through their Ghosts then. "A three-point attack. Chaos, lead it off."

The Void Walker primed a scatter grenade in each hand, both of which were loosed at Adam as Jr. charged his Golden Gun.

Adam was on the move, as it were, before the attacks were even fathomed by the three of them. The scatter grenade munitions burst upon only air as his Arc-forged guard was already up, fending off the blazing projectiles from Jr.'s Gold Gun.

Adam's body came alight with Arc energy as he approached, glowing brighter than the combined lights from the fleet above.

"He's charging his Arc Blade!" Ruby cried. The audience as a whole seemed to sense the dire shift in tone the battle had taken, now that Taurus's Super was charged.

Ruby's eyes beheld the electric blur the man had become; his movements not only faster than she could truly track, but also more than Vector was clearly prepared for.

"C'mon Vector! Hang in there!"

The crowd, while audibly valiant, had no effect on the violent inevitability taking place in the ring.

"Down goes Chaos! One Crest to Taurus!"Shaxx roared.

Jr. jumped backwards, avoiding the blinding strike from Bolt Castor, his hand cannon primed for his counter strike. But there was no avoiding the follow-up projectile from the mighty sword.

"Two crests to Taurus! But one opponent stands between him and final victory!"

"NO! C'mon Ziggy! Ziggy! Ziggy!" The crowd started a final and dire chant, attempting to will their remaining combatant through the Carbon Witch's onslaught.

Still cloaked in crackling Arc energy, did Taurus advance slowly on the Titan in his path, sneer brighter than the electricity coursing through his body.

Ziggy, his own Arc energy peaked, charged Adam outright. The audience gasped, collectively aghast at the man's bravery.

Or his foolishness perhaps.

His stride remaining even, did The Carbon Witch meet his opponents full frontal assault with but a single swipe of his blade.

Ziggy's flow of energy instantly went dead, the Light leaving his body at once. But he remained upright; adrenaline and pride allowing him to just barely keep his feet.

"Oh no, this is it!" The audience sensed the closing act in this battle, and the tournament, was soon to play out.

Adam, without turning around, took aim at the stalwart man behind him.

And a final burst form Crimson saw him fall for the final time.

"And that's the match! Your grand Supremacy champions, Adam Taurus and Fireteam Redwing!"

The crowd were a mix of emotions at the scene in the arena's center now. The three Night Witches converged in the ring, subject then to the somewhat hostile adulation from the masses.

"Well," said Weiss, "They gave it their best go, but what were any of them going to truly do against Redwing?"

"I'm just glad we got to see Uncle Qrow kick some serious ass!" squealed Ruby.

"I'm honestly not sure if she's mocking you, or trying to impress you..."did Windig say in Weiss's head.

"The latter, I am sure," Weiss responded.

"What'd you say?" Ruby asked her.

"Nothing…" Weiss said, her hand casually slipping into Ruby's own again.

Onscreen, was Shaxx conducting the final interviews with the tournament winners.

"Absolutely splendid display of finesse and power from our winning team! Any words for the fans out there?"

Raven, her face unreadable behind her mask, shook her head as she turned and vanished from the spot.

"Agreed," did The Red Witch drawl, following his sister's suit.

Shaxx seemed relatively un-phased by this as he turned to Adam. "Any thoughts from The Carbon Witch?"

"Not really," did the Faunus say. "This was a fun distraction and all, but I have other things to do; other people to see."

"Care to offer any elaboration, Hunter?"

"I need to go see a beautiful woman. Named so for the beautiful death."

"Oho! So can we count on seeing you at the victory gala?"

"I guess you could say that." And with that parting tidbit, did The Carbon Witch disappear from the scene.

Shaxx, now alone at center ring, turned again to face the expectant and chattering masses. "To all those in attendance, and those watching from around the system, I wish to thank you sincerely for giving your time to bear witness to this prestigious event. I truly hope that the displays from Sol's most talented Guardians here tonight inspire and motivate you all to seek the pursuit of your own Legends in whatever endeavors you pursue in life."

Applause and cheers rained from the stands.

Ruby put her fingers to her mouth as she let out a sharp whistle. She turned to Yang, only to see her sister lost in intense thought.

"What does he mean by 'beautiful death'? That's another name for...no…"

"Well, how many 'Belladonna's' do we know?"Celica said to her. "Moreover, how many are you sleeping with?"

"Yang, are you alright?" Ruby asked.

Yang shook her great golden head. "I gotta make a call…" and she was off, making her way through the gathered masses.

Shaxx resumed his speech: "But alas, the tournament weekend isn't done just yet! For we have just one more event in store for the lot of you!"

Ruby and Weiss exchanged glances.

"This is a call to all our Guardians in attendance rank ten and under! Should you be so brave, you are hereby invited to compete in only our second bi-annual rookie battle royale!" Rolling spotlights and audible fanfare accompanied Shaxx's declaration.

"A tournament in which our rookies are urged to bring their most powerful gear! How many go in does not matter, for only one of you will be coming out victorious. Check your scrolls for the complete list of details, and if you choose, be sure to click the invitation link if your mettle will allow. We'll be seeing you tomorrow afternoon rookies!"

Cheers rose from the crowd as Ruby looked to her scroll and the CCN app. "No limits on loadouts…" she mused.

"I think we all know what that means," Weiss said, smile alight.

"Hell yea!"

Ruby then was just a bit startled to suddenly see that many an eye had turned in her direction. The crowd around them were focused in on both herself and Weiss, whispering silent scrutiny to one another.

"You girls are Team Rosenkreuz, right?"

Weiss, quite comfortable being the center of attention, nodded proudly.

"Uh, yeah...that's us…" Ruby said.

"So, you're Ruby Rose?"

"Uh, huh…"

The crowd exchanged excited glances. "Do... you have it?" said the onlookers' ringleader.

Weiss smiled at her team leader. "Show them, leibchen."

Letting go Weiss's hand did Ruby hold her own out before her. And Zwei, right on cue, transmatted her beloved Crescent Rose into her waiting hands.

The crowd around them positively exploded.

"Holy shit! That's the real deal!"

"I know who I'm betting on!"

"Dude, she's gotta be related to Qrow Branwen!"

"He won the last rookie battle!"

This explosive adulation their accompaniment, did Weiss and Ruby make from the scene, their new admirers cheering their departure.

….

It was 11:13PM, Venusian time. And despite the call of the rookie tournament tomorrow, Weiss was in no particular rush.

Why would she be? She and Ruby, hand in hand, ambled about the tournament fair grounds, still fairly lively with vendors, side attractions, and late-night revelers.

"Your zeeel mInd ta STEElll! BUy ta Lileeee of muh STEEllL!" was the belted and very drunken rendition of Lilisteel's theme song from a rabble of rowdy tournament goers.

Ruby giggled at them, saying something to her Ghost.

The sound was like music upon Weiss's ears.

"Any time now..."Windig said to her.

"I'm...getting there…" Weiss said in a strained whisper.

And from there, maybe a little faster than she had wanted, were they entering the hotel at which they were booked.

Up the elevator and down the fifth floor corridor, did she find they were in front of Ruby and Yang's room.

"Well...big day tomorrow, ja?" Ruby said.

Though she couldn't hear it over the sound of her heartbeat in her ears, Weiss said simply, "Ja…"

Ruby's teeth fiddled with her bottom lip.

Weiss watched the motion intently.

At length she heaved a breath. "I suppose I...should retire. Big day tomorrow, as you say…"

Ruby nodded as she tried to meet Weiss's eyes. Weiss kept her face determinedly averted, fearing the effect those beautiful silver orbs would have on her.

And yet wanting it all the same.

She raised Ruby's hand to her mouth, placing a kiss on the back of it. "Gute nacht, team leader. And good luck tomorrow."

Weiss made determined speed back to her own room. And after closing the door behind her, did she lean against it, sighing mightily against the polished Venusian oak.

"Well...that was terribly anticlimactic." Windig floated free from Weiss's body to hover next to the girl's face.

With another propulsive sigh, Weiss uncoupled herself from the door. She made for the room's bed, shrugging off her bolero jacket. "I just don't think now is the right time," did she say, freeing her hair from its crown-shaped clasp.

"Why ever not?"

"Well, with the tournament and all; I don't want to lay out my feelingsnow, only to have to compete against her later."

Windig twirled her shell. "That does make sense. I wonder why I did not consider that...?"

Weiss smiled her response, now sat on the edge of the room's plush bed.

"But, given the event's format, the statistical likelihood of you actually having to face Ruby is-"

"-Unlikely, yes, but still worth consideration." Weiss flopped backwards onto the bed, her snowy head resting on the golden pillow. She then took to her scroll. "Now, about my loadout…."

…

The scene around Yang was a stark contrast to the one she just left.

Having been previously in the trenches of rowdy and patriotically belligerent fight fans, she found herself gazing upon new crowds of posh and fashionable party-goers. All around her were expensive and elegant dresses; handsome and dapper suites; and more jewelry than all the money she would make as a Guardian could ever afford her. In all, it was quite the sight.

Yang fucking hated it.

Luckily, her itinerary was just ahead. She pushed through a line of these snooty upper-class folk, all of them exclaiming their protest, and found herself in front of a velvet rope.

"Where the hell did you come from?" did the bouncer behind the rope say.

"Doesn't matter," Yang spat. "I need in."

"Fat chance," the bouncer retorted.

"Excuse me young lady, but do you have any idea-"

"Oh shut the hell up!" did Yang shout, whirling about to face the people she pushed aside.

Yang swung back to the bouncer, the well-dressed folk balking at her ferocity. "I need to see Blake Belladonna!"

"Not gonna happen." This came from another black-suited bouncer, attracted to the scene's commotion. His hand drifted down to the sidearm on his hip. "I know you're a Guardian, so I ain't got no qualms about shootin' ya. If you don't make yourself scarce, you're gonna get one between the eyes."

"Listen you prick!-"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Yang, cool it, alright!" Celica popped out of Yang's head and hovered right up to her face. "I know how you feel, but you gotta ease up. We DO NOT need another Life Exotic on our hands, alright?"

Yang relented, heaving a medicinal breath. "Yea, I got you." She closed her eyes, them having reverted back to their original color. She looked to the bouncers again. "Alright, I'm sorry," she said evenly. "I just need to see Blake Belladonna. Is she here?"

"No, she ain't," the second bouncer said. "And if you-"

"Don't speak to soon," said the first bouncer. He pointed just behind Yang. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Yang whirled around, and over near the VIP entrance, did she find the reason for her coming here.

And she also found someone else.

Yang stormed away from the line, pushing aside again the party-goers in her way.

"Yang, c'mon, not like this…"

Celica's words went unheeded as Yang approached her targets. "So, this is it, huh!?"

Blake whipped her head to see the fuming Titan storming a path straight to her. "Oh-Yang! I..uh…"

"Ah, the little Dragon graces us with her presence."

"Shut the fuck up, asshole!" did Yang scream.

Adam uncoupled his arm from Blake's. "And to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Yang turned to Blake. "So this is why you didn't answer my calls, huh? What, I wasn't enough for you? You needed someone more exciting? You needed a Witch!?"

Yang's anger, while already potent and certainly righteous, was fueled further by Blake's appearance. That dress; all that leg with that slit so high; that make-up; that cleavage. Was she taunting her? Making herself look utterly delicious all for the sake of the guy she was going behind her back with!?

"Yang, please, I can explain-"

"-Oh, I'm sure you can!" Yang shouted. "I'm sure-"

Adam had interjected, his voice deathly. "You had best check yourself, little Dragon. If you-"

Yang's golden shot gauntlets were transmatted instantly into being. The gathering onlookers flinched from the scene, many of them shouting for security. "One more word and I swear to Traveler I'm blowing your fucking head off!" In her volatile state, Yang wasn't quite sure she could follow through with the threat; her arm shaking as it was; the tears in her eyes blurring her vision.

Blake had come forward, reaching out to Yang. "Yang, please. Just hear me out, I-"

She stopped dead as she found Yang's weapon now pointed at her.

"I don't need to," Yang croaked, tears flowing freely now. "I think I've heard enough…"

And she stalked back into the night, the pieces of her heart trailing behind her.

….

-End of Legend 27-

….

A/N:

Whew! Feels good to drop another update. Next is the final chapter in the Supremacy Tournament arc, after which we get back to the plot proper. And with that: If you liked what you read, a favorite or follow would be greatly appreciated. If you didn't like what you read, I thank you for reading this long. See you at the rookie battle royale.