Volume CRBN!

by Dancesnapple

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

89. 87 Exit, Stage Left

… I'm alive and have an absence that was pretty inexcusable. I'll explain in the post chapter notes. Heavy apologies for the long wait. In the meantime, Onward Heroes!

Chapter Eighty Seven: Exit, Stage Left.

Rumble...

The entire crowd wobbles and grabs at their seats and tables. The entire auditorium silences until the vibrations cease. The orchestra, staff, and audience erupts in a chorus of interjections.

As a touch if chaos is added to the room of elite, Neo reacts and moves from the conductor seating. She frowns in her illusion. It's happening. She moves out, eyes darting around for anything out of the ordinary.

Staff members step out, attempting to calm and sooth the crowds. Only, a sound jolts their nerves...

Gunfire sounds...

. . .

The Atlas troops shout out, opening fire before suddenly ducking behind cover. Return fire pings off their cover and damages the architecture. From landing platform 1, the soldiers were shocked.

They had fair warning that the riot below was leading to assailants assaulting the auditorium. They knew that a couple bulk heads were compromised. They knew they should expect civilians to be militant and hostile.

They were NOT expecting gun fire. No, not entire groups of rag clothed teens and adults with White Fang masks visible under their hoods. Most of all the caliber of the arsenal. Pistols, knives, clubs, low grade spray bombs... Those can be expected with anything White Fang.

However, they were NOT expecting battle trained, aura amplified teens. These children were almost... combat school grade.

A teen faunus with ox horns poking out his bangs zigzags dodging streaking shots from one of the soldiers. The teen fires a pistol, blasting the rifle from the soldier as he closes distance and buries his fist into the man's gut! A sickening gurgle comes out as the soldier wheezes, pulls back, and collapses.

The faunus teen stands over the crumpled man, aiming his pistol down. He does not hesitate, pulling the trigger.

Shouts go out as the squad leader makes the call. "Fall back to the lobby!"

. . .

The faunus attack all three platforms, stolen transports landing before picking off to assist more faunus below up. The riots below bellow in more and more flames...

At platform 2, Arnold grimaces as the first bulkhead begins to land. He sneers and signals to his squad. "Alright! Drop it!" The men nod before setting off a switch, a signal to planted charges along the entire platform's connection to the main floating structure!

BOOM!

The charges blow! Large bursts of flame break the supports connecting platform 2, dropping the entire structure off from the floating artificial island! The bulkhead landing drops in a tail spin, its pilot chaotically trying to right the bird. The platform lands on the mountain side below outside the bastion. The transport manages to save itself, the stress of the sudden drop and halt sparking its engines.

Smoke spews as the transport lowers towards the bastion, damaged from the stress. It's only a civilian transport.

Arnold sighs at the destructive act, but it controls the hostile's approach. He looks over as the second in command calls out. "Shit! Platform 1 was breached before the extra vets could join. Faunus are inside!"

The leader double takes, sucking in a breath. "How could- No." He looks to the others. "I'll move to the commons area and back the other squads. All of you, move out to the auditorium and start evacuating people into the backstage areas. Get to a more defensible position. MOVE!"

. . .

Panic sets into the crowds. Neo's eyes dart about as staff and those with cool heads are trying, and failing, to organize them orderly to a safer location! More gun fire. It's getting closer.

The tricolor girl moves into a sprint until halted by a shriek.

"WHITE FANG?!"

The girl and crowd all look upwards, the shouting woman being a level above them pointing up! In the rafters, maintenance catwalks for the lighting fixtures, are multiple shrouded figures... Each is wearing a mock animal like Grimm mask. Faces obscured, one waves their hand, a pulsing of aura.

BURST! POP!

A chorus of shattering shrapnel sounds as an entire section of overhanging lighting is pressured by some unnamed semblance! Glass showers the crowd below as pieces of metal fittings clatter as well!

Neo squints up, seeing at least one member in the rafters she recognizes despite the mask. Shaved left side of the head, with slicked purple hair to the left... That's one of the spare workers that arrived yesterday...

But they weren't a faunus... Very clearly, unless they're able to hide their features flawlessly.

So, if they're PRETENDING to be White Fang... Neo smirks. Target acquired. She runs to the walls before shattering the illusion over Hush. With a running start, Neo scales up the wall running. She leaps from one section, opening Hush to hover to another spot to kick off to run further higher!

The girl leaps to the second level, then the third, then the fourth. All until she shocks the 'White Fang' members on the catwalk. The girl bolts up to their height! The masked fighter, a girl with brown hair and no sleeves, was the one to use their semblance on the lights. She raises her arms at Neo, projecting a haze of orange out!

Neo flips, using an open Hush to block the haze. Hush's black dust infusion resists the semblance, whatever it is. Neo finishes the flip, closing Hush and slashing into the mystery girl to knock her back! The next masked member lunges at the girl, but Neo twist ducks, catching them into a hip toss. Neo throws them from the catwalk, launching them down the long drop to hit the ground floor hard!

As Neo engages the assailants above, the crowds spread in a panic at the masked member hitting the ground floor. Staff security guards move to act, dog piling the person before they recover. The struggle sets those around in a frenzy, all hell breaking loose!

Neo keeps an eye about, too many concentrated on the cat walk for her to count accurately. One thing as a blessing is that the small space and high numbers make it harder for them to coordinate.

The forward masked boy produces a baton, Neo parrying three times. The third parry, Neo hooks the boy's clothing with Hush's hook handle, pulling into a knee. The fighter pushes Neo off, swinging the baton in a sweep. Neo ducks left, the sparking baton whiffing her hair, then the girl steps up and back. She uses Hush's blade to riposte and throw the fighter back into another!

Now wound... that impacted an aura shield...

Series blacks...

Another fighter attacks from behind, but Neo's image Shatters! The girl reappears hitting her attacker in a drop kick, sending them over the edge! Her attacker falls off, but twists to catch themselves on the railing.

Neo huffs and lunges at the next fighter!

Within the crowds, more members reveal themselves. Shrieks pierce the air as the attackers engage guards... and prey on younger members of the audience...

. . .

All hell has unleashed.

Screams, distant gun shots getting closer, and stampeding civilians paint the scene. In some part of the auditorium, a technological marvel has been vanquished by the show's lead act. Elsewhere, a master of metal is ripping the building asunder after two of his targets... The illusionist stray girl is fighting her original organization members above.

And Aline Zandril remains passively sipping on his wine.

Mere moments after his colossal failure to entice Jacques Schnee to him, the man is still working on alternatives. A thousand yard stare with hollow violet eyes is on nothing in particular-

"Hmm?" He quirks a brow realizing his glass is empty. He huffs a small laugh as he reaches for bottle left behind.

BOOM!

A fire dust shot blasts a hole in the gorgeous table top between Aline's hand and the wine bottle. The hole sizzles with traces of smoke. Yet, the rotund man doesn't move for a moment. Slowly, his violet gaze glances over...

Finding Roman Torchwick holding Velvet Valentine up at the man. The ginger seems hesitant, but he smirks nonetheless. "I would be remiss to not tend to you myself... Hello there, Zan Man." He steps further around the booth, keeping Zandril at gun point.

A dangerous glint comes in the violet eyes meeting him. Zandril still beams up a smarmy smile. "Ah, and here I believed this most treasured of circumstances would not come my way." He turns more to Roman in the booth, presenting a hand to the seat across from him. "I did not expect final words to pass once I'd ordered your deaths, my friend."

Roman tenses, narrowing his gaze. Yet, he recovers and shrugs with a carefree smile. Always feels good to disrespect the fat man. Just like when he was a kid. "Really? It took you this long to order it? Not your best showing."

Zandril relaxes into the seat. "A feature we seem to share..." He gestures to the wine. "May I? I presume you have something to ask since you've not opened fire, old friend." At Roman's silence, his smile widens. "... Then let us share a nice beverage while you ask what you may."

Roman cocks his head in thought before smirking. He reaches over, snatching the bottle as he sits down. He keeps the gun pointed at Zandril as he pours himself a drink. "Unfortunately for you, I only have very few questions, then we close the story on the world's most vengeful obese islander." He relaxes, ignoring the growing chaos below. "Now, before I blast a hole in you. Where. Are. The Roses?"

. . .

The hall wall crumbles in a heap from impact! A soldier flees over a designed metal counter for employees. Gun shots riddle the metal, the soldier hunkering as another rolls behind the same cover from the other direction.

The second soldier huffs and signals as he shouts. "Small arms, fire. Return fire on their reload."

Both signal. "Sync!" "Mark!" They hunker as more bullet holes rip the metal. One shot clips the first's shoulder, getting a pained call. Still, the shots end, the soldiers acting immediately! "Mark!"

Both raise in unison, returning fire! The bulk of a group of faunus rush backwards for cover, but the front group using confiscated police firearms are hit as they reload! They drop, put down. No other choice. This is more than pitch forks and torches. They've stolen guns, or been supplied by someone.

And more than a few are definitely official White Fang!

The soldiers run out of ammo, one ducking to reload. "Cover my reload!" The other removes a flash bang grenade, tossing it!

However, a faunus teen in the crowd steps up. The boy raises his arms. The area of the grenade shimmers before blotting in black, to everyone's vision on both sides. The boy then lowers himself between the blot of black and the other faunus!

BOOM!

The flash bang ignites, a stinging pop ringing many people's ears, but the bright flash never comes. The boy winces in pain before releasing his semblance... He bent and stopped light within the space! No light meant only black, and no flash! The black disappears, revealing the grenade remains.

The faunus charge again as the one soldier finishes his reload. However, three faunus lunge and grab him from behind the cover, wrenching him out!

As a lash sparks out!

A chain lasso rife with electricity lashes into the front grouping of faunus. Blood splatters and screams mark the impact in the moment. The faunus pull away away, some severed arms and sliced chests! The soldier hits the ground, recovering.

The faunus teen boy looks up like a child caught stealing. He dodges left, the chain lasso striking the floor by him! A gun shot blasts him in the chest, flaring his aura shield.

Speeding into action, Agent Whis whips the electric chain lasso around his own torso, releasing it in favor of his earth dust whip handle. His off hand fires back into the crowd, taking out multiple faunus. The injured teen is attempting to stand as he flicks the whip handle. Earth dust forms a earthen rope, coiling and wrapping the boy's ankle.

Whis jerks in, reeling the teen like a catch of the day. He stomps forward, kicking into the pulled teen and stomps the faunus down into the floor, cracking the surface! The teen is out as Whis peers around.

The faunus, those alive or conscious, are retreating down whence they came. So, Whis turns to his soldiers. "Move to the South wing-" He narrows his gaze. "Wait. You were supposed to be at platform 2."

The soldiers, who had split to reinforce the squad at platform 1, lose some nerve speaking to the agent whose orders they forsook. "Platform 2 has been neutralized. Captain Dillon sent us this way-" Whis's sneer already stopped him.

But, no time.

The faunus are coming back for another push!

Whis turns to address the men. "Flanking order. You two double back and regroup outdoors. Cut off further entrants and leave the intruders to me!" He doesn't wait for a response, he charges down another path to a stair well.

"Wait!"

As Whis leaves, Arnold enters with two more soldiers! Before he can give chase, the faunus press around the corner again, one firing a procured rifle! Arnold ducks it as two of the soldiers with him gun down the assailant!

The faunus pull back around cover, leaving the group in a tense stand off.

Arnold's angered scowl deepens when one of the soldiers calls out. "Whis ordered us to round to the first platform outdoors!"

Another soldier scoffs. "Yeah? He wants us to box all the civilians inside with the attackers? That's crazy!"

Arnold cuts in. "Which is why you won't do it. This junction connects the west and south sides." He looks to the men he arrived with. "All four of you will trap this hallway and hold it down. A few failed pushes will deter the rioters completely."

One looks hesitant. "But what about-"

"I will go after Whis and straighten out all these bad orders!" Arnold growls out before his voice lowers. "Or take care of him for treason..." He raises his voice again. "Keep a hold and cover each other's reloads! We got terrorists with semblances in the crowd! No other way than to go with lethals, much as I don't want to."

The men nod. "Yes, Captain!"

He nods, stepping out to follow Whis up the stair case-

Rumble...

All of them halt.

Arnold squints in focus, looking at the floor...

Vibrations? Vibrations just barely noticeable for everyone...

Along the floor, materials lightly twitch and slide... expended bullet shell casings slice, side ways without rolling, in small twitches. Small... pulls?

As if it's some sort of magnetism of sorts.

This strong to cause the metal to shift here?

Arnold looks to the stair case... then to the hall the metal pieces briefly tug towards. One of his men grumbles. "I don't think that can be ignored..."

The Captain grits his teeth. "Great... since our Agent is so valiantly disregarding basic strategy..."

"Be careful, Cap."

Arnold nods. "And you as well!" He charges down the hallway. Someone needs to investigate this... metal works? What could possibly be manipulating this much metal?

. . .

Floors below, the ceiling ripples, whining and shrieking as it blows downward! From the rip, A blowout explosion bellows smoke! Blair drops from the smoke. Carmine soon after!

Landing, Carmine offers right arm! "Double it!"

Blair jabs her sheath into his arm, the prongs drawing blood inside. She pulls back, sheathing Fluorescent Finish and triggers the blood coat.

Above, giant shrapnel shuriken fly out in curved arcs. Carmine shoots them down with Heulin Noon before sending pot shots into the smoke above! As he does Blair draws Fluorescent, now a crimson hue, and activates Carmine's blood. His magic.

Overlap. Blair splits into two images of herself. One inserts fire dust into her Fluorescent. The other inserts earth dust into their own! As more of the ceiling rips downward, flowing towards them, Blair sends out a radar ping with her semblance.

There! Dead center in the smoke above!

"Follow up!" Blair calls! One Blair fires her earth dust, casting a bellowing rock cloud up! The other casts fire! The fire and earth mix in tandem, igniting into molten lava and spewing black ash around it upwards!

The molten ash cloud blasts into the ceiling in a chaotic blast! Pin point accurate and melting at sections of the surrounding metal!

The ceiling rips constrict in, as if to shield from the flow, but Carmine acts quick. "Panzer!" His armor flashes around his gun as he aims up! Exactly where Blair blasted, he fires! The shot erupts into the smoke and ash cloud, adding a follow up explosion! The sound rings off the walls like a bomb!

In the aftermath, Carmine and Blair step back from the molten droplets dripping from the ceiling. One of the Blair images blinks away, leaving only one. She winces with the drop in her aura. Seconds tick as she side eyes the boy, seeing his satisfied smirk. "I presume you have a name for that combination."

"Right now, I'm partial to Burning Big Bang!" He speaks chipper. "Either of those attacks alone would break anyone's aura."

Blair steels and glares up. "He's not anyone."

The boy pauses, slowly looking up after her gesture. "You're kidding..."

The smoke clears slightly, ash hazing the air... A metal panel floats half melted... Upon it, the silhouette of Spyyra stands. He slowly floats down. Half his shirt and jacket have been scorched off, bits of molten iron from his suit remain, steaming and sizzling. His pants are scorched off in places.

His skin is exposed all over, revealing numerous scars now accompanied by burns...

And still he smiles, orange eyes peering down. His breath rasps. "An admirable attempt..."

Carmine flinches back in disbelief. "He just took it..." What kind of monster is he..?

Blair readies herself. "I believe we've underestimated how much his aura has been boosted." She whispers.

He catches the words regardless. Spyyra huffs a chuckle. "Worry not. If it's any consolation..." He sways as he steps a bit on the solid ground before gritting his teeth. Expression mixed in pain and excitement. "That hurt like hell!" The floor begins to ripple up. "Let me return the favor!"

Spyyra rips the molten covered floors up into saw blades, slicing it forth along the ground! Blair and Carmine dodge to either side! Separated! Spyyra forms a metal lance, lunging in at Blair. She blocks, the two dancing into a flurry of contentious blocks and parries of blows.

Carmine dodges more floor saw blades. "Jager!" He forms the leg armor and boosts over the blades. Reloading, he aims at Spyyra's back.

The man twists in a flourish. His semblance rips the floor up at Blair! As the blonde slashes through the metal and fights at the barrier, Spyyra warps his lance into a crude buckler shield, deflecting shits from Carmine. With one hand flicking, he launches the buckler, the metal striking Carmine as a projectile!

The boy gets pinned to the wall, the buckler molding into a clamp to bind him in place. The metal tightens as Spyyra turns round to dodge Blair's next slash!

The golden blade clips his arm, his aura shield strong!

Against the wall, Carmine sees his actions. He slams his open palm on the wall, infusing his aura into the wall... into the floor... over the whole area, even as his body starts to give at the exertion.

Spyyra lifts his arm, the metal of the floor ripping up under his palm and forming a massive spear head from the elbow down. He lunges at Blair.

Blair pulls back, inserting lightning dust into Fluorescent and activating it in a sparking violet blue hue! She meets his strike in kind!

STRIKE!

A shock wave pulses out, quaking the room from the impacting blows! The slicing of hard steel rings the ears as Fluorescent is revealed biting into Spyyra's aura shield... His arm bound weapon sliced clean from his person with shock painting him.

Pressing in, Blair's off hand jabs her sheath into Spyyra! The blonde steals his blood through his aura shield with the prongs!

A punish comes, Spyyra's broken weapon's pieces float and spike down into the blonde before she can pull away! Spyyra stumbles back, forming a spear out of the debris around himself! Her aura shield flickers under the first strike! Then the second comes! He raises the weapon to impale her!

Carmine sucks in a breath. "RECALL!"

Every piece of uprooted metal taken since the boy was planted into the wall, all at once... Blink. In a chaotic shifting of mass, the metals pinning Blair, the weapon in Spyyra's hand, and large swaths of the room are snapped back to a previous position!

Spyyra's eyes widen in shock. He flinches back as Blair steps up in a rising cut! After infusing his blood with her blade, the crimson blade misses his chin by a hair! He raises his hands, bringing the metal up again!

"Not again!" Blair snarls as she activates his blood.

His semblance ensnares the room twice over! His will to move the metal halts at her own will keeping it in place. A battle of auras... and his is still strong!

Carmine focuses on his last aura... He blinks from existence! Recall!

The boy warps into place to a prior location, landing between the focused adults! He drops in place and aims Heulin Noon at the now defenseless man.

Spyyra's eye twitches from the boy to Blair. She used his semblance to leave him open! "Clever..."

Carmine unloads. Six shots, right in the chest! Each shot jolts Spyyra stumbling back, exploding dust against his aura shield. Carmine snap reloads, this time doing double shots! BOOM! The first shot blows Spyyra off his feet flush into the wall. BOOM! The second imprints his body into the metal! BOOM!

The third breaks through the wall blasting Spyyra into the next sub room!

Carmine huffs for breath, giving a breathy chuckle. "Burn in hell, you sadist freak." He wobbles as he turns. He spots Blair swaying as well. "How's the aura?"

Blair gulps down and nods. "I am running quite low. Twenty percent at best." She cuts a look up. "Are you still capable?"

He gives a shaky smirk. "Oh, look at you. Double digits." He jokes at his own reserves expense. "I'm below ten. But he couldn't take that many shots and be better off than us." His chuckle dies as Blair jeeps her cutting glare looking over his shoulder. He blinks. "... There's no way he's better off than us, right?" Slowly, he turns, a chill in his throat.

No way...

How?!

In the hole he'd just been blasted through, Spyyra's hand grips the edge and pulls himself through, slowly. He rasps a breath, looking up with trickles of blood coming from his mouth. He smirks at the horrified gaze coming from the boy.

"Ha... I'd have to say... I can't put a number to it, but I feel some confidence." He gives a throaty chuckle. "Something you don't have anymore, I see. Heh!"

Carmine takes a subconscious step back. Blair steps forward, readying herself.

. . .

Neo dives into a cartwheel, her landing hopping into a step kick into another masked fighter! The masked female is knocked over the cat walk rail, dropping her over the edge into the chaos below. Most of the fighters above had been engaged and beaten by Neo at this point.

The girl appraises the catwalks before turning attention to the crowds below!

Faunus were filtering into the first level... Soldiers filtered into the second, firing into faunus groups on the first floor! The human civilians on the upper levels have scrambled to get to the soldiers, eager for the protection!

Those on the ground floor... it's a mess of scrambling, flailing punches, thrown objects, and masked individuals preying upon those that get separated from their families.

Neo narrows her gaze... The masked individuals are only targeting teens.

She sucks in a breath! It's AZRL! They're trying to abduct people in the frenzy! They must be taking them to the loading dock! Why else would Carmine find them there?

Neo focuses, attempting to communicate with Blair via Blair's aura infusion... Nothing. Blair must have lost concentration on it! She hisses a sigh and sends a message with her scroll. Then she takes a running start to leap from on high into the fray. She needs to find Roman, regroup with the others, and make their way to the loading dock!

From the crowds below, a cannon barrel aims up. A booming blow fires directly up into a fiery explosion on the rafters! Neo stumbles for balance before falling with the catwalk below. The people shriek and try to part, but some aren't lucky enough to avoid the falling steel.

Neo opens Hush to halt her descent. Only, an earthen whip comes up, coiling the girl's ankle. Neo is wrenched from the air, slammed into the ground below. The faunus and panicking humans part as the girl's shatter illusion disguise breaks. She hisses out in pain before rolling to her feet from another whip lash!

Looking up, she finds the connection. The charged dust whip connecting to an forearm mounted weapon casing. Miss Mary Anne weaves through the crowd, unimpeded by her dress, as she removes the whip projection and reattaches the cannon to her weapon!

She's wearing a White Fang mask, but Neo recognizes her weapon and color scheme too well.

Mary halts, off hand coming up to her mouth to whistle! The piercing call earns the attention of other masked members in the area. All turning to converge on Neo. Neo double takes around her before dodging and zigzagging through the rioters!

This isn't Vale. Neo is stronger than last time... If Mary wants to fight in a crowd, then who better than an illusionist.

Mary fires at the girl, but Neo opens Hush and blocks the shot, full power! The smoke clears as Neo is gone!

Checking around, Mary tracks auras through a lens in her fang mask! Turning round, she immediately fires at a brown schemed faunus in the crowd! The faunus shatters into Neo as she leaps over the shot, coming down to strike at Mary! The fight is on.

. . .

The chaos and screams all do nothing to affect the two calm men in the VIP levels above.

Roman keeps his gun trained on the center of Zandril's gut. His cold green gaze holds, determined to outlast the fat man's reaction to his first question. He doesn't have to wait long, a lip curling up for the blonde.

Zandril cocks his head. "Now, what inspired this change of heart?" He enjoys Roman's hardened gaze, chuckling. "When we had you, you were quite adamant that you would survive for yourself and only you. Even when your infernal team formed under my very nose, you hated the very analogy, my little Rose. What happened? Has a mind for vengeance truly taken hold in you after all these years?"

The conman's nose wrinkles in disgust. "A clash is inevitable. I'm VERY high profile now." He gives a smarmy grin and flicks his free hand in a taunt. "At this point, planning for it is a requirement."

"Hmm... Planning ahead, now? Was this change of view before or after your grand death match in Vale?" Roman stiffens. How does he- "Oh! I wasn't supposed to know about that?" Zandril chuckles, taking a drink of his wine. "Congratulations on your victory in the arbitration, by the way."

Roman narrows his gaze. "So, you DO still do business with them. It's just like Senior. You've absorbed them into your fold?"

It's Zandril's turn to frown. "Oh, goodness no. Damascus Rose is far too scrupulous to let have too big a piece of the pie. He's not as dangerous as his brother, your late father, but I'm more than aware of how... mafioso that family is. No, I stick with keeping tabs and making short team deals."

"Like selling men for David to command." Roman grumbles. "They reported back to you afterwards."

He beams a smile. "Correct in one!" His smile wipes as the gun tips up.

"But not an answer to my question. Where are they NOW?"

Zandril laces his hands together. "Contested territory. Between the kingdoms." At Roman's narrowed gaze, he adds with a smile. "You'll receive more details with my satisfaction, my little Rose." As Roman's irritation shows, he asks back. "I don't believe you are merely planning ahead. No, not at all. You have always stated low goals and, in execution, shot through the sky as it were. You want to survive? So, you wiped out the majority of your enemies. You wanted to steal? You hijack payment economy from the world's central job pool of hunters." He hums. "Perhaps we are more alike than ever? Never to give up a grudge, hmm?"

Annoyed, Roman snipes back. "At least I'm not wiping out the world in my kill-a-witch project." Roman's anger bubbles. "For a man who has lost almost everything because of four rag tag nobodies, please advise me how it is that YOU were going to be the man to do what the world couldn't? I still don't fully believe this woman even exists." He scoffs.

"Those who doubt are always made believers in the end." Zandril smiles. "But most cave, die or obey when that time comes. The pillars of technology yet pale in comparison."

Roman barks a laugh. "Really? Atlas has a canon that can punch a hole in an island! Bombs can turn entire desserts into glass floors! And this woman, witch or no, is supposed to be OH SO powerful, so dangerous that no one can kill her?" He scoffs. "Better yet, that she's been around for decades? Generations? Lifetimes?! Spare me, because explain to me in one sentence how this witch hasn't taken over the world already!"

Zandril looks entertained by the outburst. "... I would imagine the most devastating thing an immortal could experience is facing the reality that they are, in fact, immortal." Roman eyes him suspicious, begging detail. "Fact remains, immortal and unbeatable are two different things. Perhaps she fears the possibility of capture and endless imprisonment for eternity, trapped with not but her thoughts? Perhaps, open combat remains a risk when... others possess magic as well." He grins wider at that. "You already know one."

The conman snorts. "Magic? Far as I've seen, it's just super aura. Even if the fanciful world of maidens and ancient warrior powers are all running about, they can't be as significant as legends say." He clears his throat. "But, you can continue holding grudges against something that is both so strong it could break the world yet so weak that it cannot control it. I will stay in reality."

"Where you plot and obsess over those that wronged you twenty years ago." Zandril chuckles. "Those that no longer have the right ambitions to threaten you lest you become too successful. Admit it. Your Rose has thorns itching to draw first blood."

Roman scoffs, waiting a moment before smirking. "Very well. You wish to know what I want?" He eases back. "Starting with you, and then my uncle. Both removed from this mortal coil. Is that so much?"

Zandril looks him over for a moment before snickering, shaking his head. "My, here I was only in jest. Oh, I don't actually believe that for a second... No." Roman loses any mirth as Zandril lets loose a laugh. "My, I admire our similarities, but we are oh so different." He smiles wide. "It's the eyes that give away. You're not one to want for death out of simple euphoria, no. You have something deeper than that..." He lights up, as if it dawns on him. "You have something... to protect, perhaps?"

At no response, Zandril laughs more.

"That's it! You who forsook connection have found something to tether to!" Zandril can't contain his mirth, sighing. "Now, I understand. Behind all that bluster and self promotion, you remain human, buried under all that skepticism! That's where we differ!"

Roman remains unhappy, finger moving for the trigger...

"They migrated to a dormant volcanic range in the eastern Atlas continent. Far into the mountains. Latitude 142, Longitude 67." Zandril answers with a smile. "It is a fertile oasis with difficult entry hazards from most means of transportation. They forged their own way inside, creating a city of their own. Crops, economy. All for those who work for and with them alone."

Roman perks, eyes wide. "Wait, they migrated here? Not to Vacuo or..."

Zandril snickers, hands clasped. "It's a well hidden oasis. Not that Atlas doesn't KNOW about the oasis itself, but merely underestimated the means some were willing to take to set up the location properly. Arrogance is the weakness of the powerful." He continues, leaning back. "Does that suit you, my friend?"

Roman settles a hard gaze upon him. The gun raises again, ready. "Yes, it does."

Zandril smirks. "Tell me. Who will it be?" At Roman's confusion, Zandril gives a far off look, smile waning. "Once I am gone, according to your plan, who will be the one? Hmm? Who will defeat the wicked witch and bring some semblance of harmony to this maelstrom of a world?.. Who will be the one to drive themselves with righteous, furious anger?" His voice carries a dramatization, fueled by some undercurrent of offense.

A chill comes up the conman, but he shakes it off. "There will be thousands. The world is always filled with people pissed at its wretched history. Always a grudge to bear. Always a hatchet that refuses to be buried." He leans in, narrowing a glare. "That's your mistake. Thinking that you're special."

Zandril regains his smile. "And yours is evident... now."

An electric bolt lashes down! Roman duck rolls right, away from the table! The electric lash destroys the table, Zandril still sitting in place unmoved by the violent action. Roman turns and aims his gun, only for an earthen whip to coil and pull the barrel down.

Joining the VIP area is Agent Whis. The cowboy nods his head as introduction. "Howdy." He eyes Roman like a snake finding its prey. "Aye, I finally found ya." He raises a brow and speaks loudly for the audience, namely Zandril. "Please get yourself to safety, citizen." His voice lifts playfully at the end of the request.

Roman pulls at his coiled weapon, watching Whis twirl his chain lasso in his dominant hand. He winces, containing anger and forces a smile. "Oh, look! The hillbilly snake in the system!" He cuts a look at Zandril. "Yours, I assume? How did you ever manage to infiltrate the academies?"

Inside, he's cursing himself. This is why Zandril was comfortable. He knew he had information ready to stall with! He likely has information to use for any of the CRBN members!

Zandril snorts as he turns to leave. "Oh, my! So much praise implied. Simply put, I never did." He cuts a smile to Whis, nodding for him. "This was a much more straight forward transaction." He sees a smirk come from Whis.

Roman clues in. "A bribe? Ha And how many years and payouts has this netted you?" That's it? A simple relationship of payment over what? "Guess Atlas agents aren't nearly as loyal as we're told. Just as filthy as the rest of us."

Whis smiles cheeky and looks to Zandril. "So will this satisfy our arrangement, partner?"

The fat man huffs a chuckles. "A fourth of it... Have fun!" He looks off and moves for the exit!

In a single moment, movement is swift...

Roman twists Velvet in his hands, chopping down to break the earth dust whip. He dodges the electric lasso, sweeping his gun to fire a stream of bursting shots! Whis leans aside from the shots and jerks the lasso back, the electric chain coiling the weapon in Roman's hands! Shocks channel through into Roman!

Shit! He's exceptionally good! Roman shifts Velvet! The lasso shifts its grip of the weapon to only have his weapon magazine... Roman strikes it like a projectile at Whis before he snaps his fingers. The magazine makes it within feet of the agent as a spark of flame from Roman's semblance bursts on and ignites...

BOOM!

The whole corner side of the auditorium blows up in an explosion, shaking and panicking everyone in the rioting crowds...

. . .

Neo crouches down, attention drawn as the massive blast eradicates the upper echelon seating. She recognizes the blast... seeing Roman drop from the area singed. Roman disappears into the halls a floor away from the blast origin...

Then the agent drips from the smoke, singed as well and coiling his lasso. He gives chase after Roman!

She needs to help him!

She dodges a blast as it craters the floor. Two faunus thugs in the rioting crowd swipe at her! SHATTER! Neo disappears in cracking aura, then drops from the side hitting one with a missile kick! She cartwheels under a swipe and hooks the second's arm with Hush. She twists and flings the man at Mary Anne!

The AZRL woman dodges around and aims, only Neo is gone. Her visor under the mask lights as she follows the aura.

Mary smiles under the mask. Neo can't hide from her! She whips her gun up to locate the girl-!

As four of the people between Mary and Neo shimmer and shatter! All four were shatter illusions! The bright flash of aura in Mary's lens obscures Neo as she opens fire in a panic shot! The blast is wide, zooming past and blowing into a far wall!

Strike! Hush's blade slices clean the mask covering Mary's face! The fang mask breaks off as Mary moves back from Neo. Neo smirks and winks before her image shatters...

Mary's eyes widen...

"What the- That's no member of the Fang!" "That's an impostor!" "A human pretending? She's just hiding!" "Get her!"

The crowd's immediate turning on her makes the woman seethe in anger...

Neo... that bitch...

Mary raises her weapon and opens fire on the faunus...

. . .

The whine of metal creaks as Spyyra takes a step clear from the hole. He exits the room over and stands as tall as one could in his state. Still, his aura repairs damage before their eyes. The attacks were starting to outright break his aura, but he still had enough to sure up a defense and recover.

Far more than either CRBN member has left.

Carmine sweats as the nerves get to him. He sends a look over. "I'll use magic only and keep fighting. You hang back and strike when his aura weakens next."

Blair cuts a furious glare from the side. "Absolutely not! Spyyra's ferocity can't be matched in your current state. Even if you succeed, you'll put yourself into another coma. We don't have the luxury to deal with that this time."

Carmine's eyes are already burning gold again. "Do you still have Makara's blood? Can you disconnect him again?"

The blonde grimaces. "Only if we close the distance or change the battlefield. Too much metal and ground to close before he can reassert control of it all."

Crack! The metal flooring ripples as Spyyra's smile widens. "Scheming over there? It's rude, you know!" From the flooring, he rips up metal forming a chain line as his iron dust particles reform a hook at the end. He launches it forth!

Crash!

A chunk of the ceiling slams down upon the chain, halting the line! Carmine and Blair bring their arms up to shield in surprise, shocked by the seemingly random save...

As Arnold Dillon lands atop the metal chunk! His weapon in hand, the long techno shaft is stuck into the metal with a sparking click! He looks down upon the AZRL agent and scowls. "Well, Other Arnie, it looks like we finally meet a member of the illustrious AZRL!"

Sparks flow around the metal slab for a moment, catching Spyyra's eye. Spyyra tries to pull on and influence the slab... The metal chain he threw tugs, but fails to free itself. The slab, however, completely ignores his commands... What?

His confusion perks interest as he hums. "An Atlas dog, eh? Been a while since I've had the pleasure."

On the other side of the slab, Carmine and Blair take a step back, appraising Arnold. "Hey! What are you doing here?"

Arnold sends a quick glance over his shoulder before facing Spyyra again. "Apologies, friends. Your buddy's rumblings are starting to destabilize the entire complex. Had to abandon your lead before." He spares another quick look over the two. "Good thing, too! You both look a foot in the grave! Go help the riot above. I'll take over."

He leans forth, the slab under him actually rotating, rolling forward! He slides off the ball of metal, his weapon still stuck into it. The man lands jeeps a firm grip on his weapon haft.

Blair and Carmine move around the massive hunk of metal. Blair immediately protests. "Spyyra is no ordinary opponent. He is easily a top of the line criminal. If not for AZRL, he would easily be in the bounty book warranting a full agent squad dispatch!"

Spyyra chuckles. "Oh, Love! Sweet talk me more! Although..." His orange gaze falls upon the captain before him. "I'm none too pleased to see the amount of men you have around you, Miss Gale." He cracks a wide grin. "Think I'll have to fix it."

Arnold raises a brow. "Oh, he's one of these types of guys..." He eyes the shifting of metal around the man. "Blair... Is this man the one who killed yours and Rowa's friend, Cella?"

Spyyra perks at the accusation, spoken in a clearly interested tone. Blair pauses, face falling. "Yes. He is AZRL's most dangerous fighter. He should be on the tail end of his aura levels. We can-"

A hand comes up in front of her. "I got it." Arnold's off hand thumbs to the ceiling. "Hang back and recover. I'm killing him."

Carmine and Blair double take at that. The boy looks to Blair, who recovers from the statement. "What- Arnold, this man-"

"Is responsible for a lifelong loss and pain to you, your sister, and my beloved wife." Arnold's hand tightens his weapon grip as his eyes flash in green aura for a split second. "You are in no condition to continue this fight. I will do so... That's an order, by the way." He ends with a cheeky polite smile at the blonde.

The CRBN members share a glance. Blair closes her eyes and focuses... An aura pulse to gauge the strength of Spyyra's aura.

It's unstable. Fairly low for a full power opponent. It's still settling after the two's hard blows against him. They successfully fought through the effects of the aura booster! Even further, Spyyra's own aura level is perhaps a third that of Arnold's own! Arnold himself has admitted to being lesser than the top tier Atlas has to offer, but he should no doubt have enough lead to be safe...

Spyyra's chuckle breaks the ice. "Aw, I can't have that! Classic move for the Atlas soldier to White Knight for others. It's just not in the cards!" His footing widens as he leans. His palms flat to the ground, the metal pulses up as he pushes back upright!

With his arms, the metal rips up and forms into massive blades around his forearms, extending out three feet each! The ringing whine of metal pierces from the sudden movement as he prepares to charge.

Arnold plants his feet wide, gripping his haft connected to the massive metal slab. "You AZRL guys have made asses of us long enough..."

Spyyra charges.

Arnold's posture tenses.

His brown eyes flash with aura... Green? His eyes are green!

And his voice changes. Lower. Guttural!

"AND ARNIE DOESN'T LIKE-"

His scream calls as he swings his haft, the massive slab of collected metal becoming the hammer weight at the end. A gigantic maul, he strikes into Spyyra's surprised cross block! The AZRL agent is launched like a baseball, rocketing with a ringing strike of metal! Spyyra braces himself as he hits the wall, the metal flexing with his semblance to cushion his landing...

Arnold's eyes darken back to brown. His voice returns to normal. "-being made to look like an ass."

Carmine's and Blair's wide eyed stares comically drink the image in. "P-pardon?" Then he remembers. "Was... That was your semblance personality?" Arnold just smirks at that.

Blair is analyzing his style... The techno haft. It's a staff with dust insertions. Gravity dust, an off black color not quite the void color of black dust. Under that are dual ports of lightning and earth dust. Such that he couldn't possibly cast with them. The weapon uses it all...

As Arnold casually shoulder carries the haft with the massive hunk of steel on one end, Carmine clues in. He realizes a bit after. "Electromagnetism?"

Blair nods. "Alright. We will leave him to you. Please be safe. Retreat if you need." She looks to Carmine. "Shall we?"

Carmine grimaces and nods. "We'll loop back soon as we can! Thank you!" He nods with Blair as they turn and begin leaping up for the hole in the ceiling! The AZRL and Atlas fighters square off, Arnold shifting his stance. Carmine whispers. "So his weapon?"

"Uses lightning and earth dust for electromagnetism, forming its hammer head for heavy striking capability, reach, and using foreign material for stress points. The weapon itself is a mere staff otherwise. Gravity dust is used to nullify points of balance and added weight, allowing him to wield it easier. He likely switches the gravity on and off to strengthen impact force vs maintaining speed." Blair explains.

"And he's NOT one of their top fighters? Gods damned..." Carmine gulps as they escape the area.

Blair grimaces. "It surely comes with weaknesses to other combat tactics."

"Right. Zero ranged attacks, and he's probably not the fastest with the extra lump weighing him down." Carmine deduces. Blair gets a slight proud smirk at him catching on. "That should actually help him."

That gets the woman's attention. "How so?"

He grins. "Spyyra enjoys a fight too much, and ranged attacks will burn his aura up faster. Spyyra will have to attack up close and play Arnold's game!"

Below, as these words are spoken...

CLANG!

Metal crashes off metal as Spyyra skids back, his semblance ripping up metal into spears! He launches them as javelins, Arnold bringing the mass of metal on his weapon down to shield the hit. His aura stays infused with the metal slab, ensuring Spyyra cannot take control of his weapon.

Spyyra groans, finally showing frustration. Snarling, he warps the metal supports in the room, creaking the structure around him. He prepares to charge again.

Arnold huffs, glancing around. His angry green glowing eyes glare back. His eyes momentarily flash brown. "Other Arnie, don't let the whole place collapse please." His eyes flash back solid green as he roars and attacks Spyyra again!

. . .

Another explosion bellows smoke down the halls.

Faunus rioters shield themselves from the smoke until a cane cracks one aside! Roman side steps and charges down the hall! Several of the faunus jolt or dodge out of his way. Those that don't, intent on attacking the human, get beaten back in quick strikes.

One hefty faunus with a horn, a rhino faunus perhaps, tries to tackle him. Roman side steps and trips them with Velvet Valentine. He dodges a other charging with a knife. He steps back, hooking their jacket and whipping them into another faunus. He then continues charging.

A spark of lightning behind.

Roman ducks round a corner. The lightning lasso slices down the hall... through two faunus. The conman is clutching his burned side as he sees blood splatter the ground of the corner. He turns and runs, looking for his out.

Around said corner, Whis comes to a halt, whirling his weapon to keep the rioters back. He winces with a scorched wound on his left side, shoulder, and arm. He follows around the corner, seeing the flicker of Roman disappearing further into the hall. He charges after.

The faunus, tempered into hiding by the lashing man, shift about in a panic near the newly dead. Then, a faunus hoodlum girl leaps over the panicked, landing at the corner and looking about. Her eyes blink, revealing pink and brown. Neo, in disguise. She looks down the direction with light scorch marks. Evidence of lightning dust.

Neo takes off in a sprint after Whis...

. . .

"Oh, come ON!" Carmine ducks round a corner, bullet fire sparking down the hall at him. Blair is on the opposite corner, both pinned for the moment. A spray of bullet fire from suited men. Suited humans alongside those White Fang masks. Some are faunus. Some very clearly are not. "All AZRL or do you figure a mix?"

Blair is already checking her dust reserves. "It matters little. Our enemies must be put down regardless." She looks over, seeing Carmine's eyes glow gold. She pauses. "Are you certain you wish to do that?"

"They're taking teens and kids from the audience that way. I can afford to sleep it off if we can save a few more." Carmine responds grimly. His eyes cut round the corner, seeing some of the disguised workers hauling unconscious captives, as well as some struggling children trying to thrash free. "Cover!"

Grimacing, she obliges. Inserting ice dust, blade turning ice blue, she casts and coats the hall in frost! The shooters down the hall flinch, twitchy with the change. Some men behind the firing line pause carrying a younger boy, but quickly take off into a sprint! Blair then removes a fire dust vial, popping the lid and casting it out!

Heat radiates along the walls, bellowing the ice into a misty fog! The bellow clouds their vision. The gunmen, anticipating the charge, open fire into the fog to deter them!

In their cover, Blair Sends a pulse of aura for radar. "One along the left wall. One is two feet out of cover from the left. One is far down the hall, forty two degrees from your angle. Two are hunkered together at the right shoulder. One is crouched, the other standing behind."

Carmine smirks. One more second-

Clicks sound from the enemy firearms...

"Gotcha!" He whips around the corner... as his Overlap activates. Five Carmines: one aiming from the right wall, one crouched aiming the same, one aimed at an angle, one stepping to the off middle and aiming, and one at the left side fully!

BOOM!

Five shots! Five hits! All five members of the firing line are struck simultaneously! All drop as the cloud clears! The gunmen down, all that remains are the two men with the unconscious teen. Like deer in headlights.

Four of the Carmines disappear, leaving the one in the middle. He eyes the two henchmen and wags his gun to aim. "Oh? One bullet left." He fires, impacting the AZRL man closest, incidentally dropping the teen. Carmine snap reloads. "Ready."

Blair blitzes forward in a blur, crouching low right before the shocked brute! She brings Fluorescent's hilt up, smashing into the jaw of his helmet! The masked man is launched head first into the ceiling, head breaking into a sticking into the surface. His body hangs limp from the ceiling as Blair catches the unconscious teen.

She checks the teen over as Carmine blinks. "Well, that was brutal, impressive, and a touch overkill." He smirks and moves into a jog. "But no kill quite like over-NH!" He stumbles, catching himself on the wall before he can drop.

"Carmine!" Blair moves to his side, setting the teen against the wall.

The boy grimaces with one pained eye open. He looks at his scroll... Aura Level: 0%.

He gives a nervous smile. His gaze maintains its golden hue. "Yeah, that's what I thought." He waves off the concern, testing his arm. "I'm good. Just the switch up."

At that moment, Blair's semblance washes over the teen with them, rousing awake. The boy flinches upon seeing them, but Blair cuts him off. "Go that way to round to the back stage area. Soldiers will be there to protect from rioters." The scared teen can only numbly nod and rush off, spooked by the bodies about. Blair looks to the boy. "Let me take point. You no longer have your Recall."

Right... Carmine looks at his armor in its Zero configuration. No more switching. He nods. "Ah, shit." He lets her go ahead. "I gotta reload manually!" He reaches and grabs one of the rifles on the ground. "Best be prepared. Come on!"

The two continue on to the loading dock...

Zandril walks, hands behind his back as his head is tilted up. He looks through the open dock door to the sky. Plumes of smoke from the rioting fires are visible. Still, his gaze looks to the open sky in thought. Alternate plans. Was this a total failure? Hmph! Hardly.

Ahead of him is the opening of the first of their prepared transports. The same one the SDC fool arrived in. "The bean counter is late. I suppose it was a bit much to expect excellence off the bat. Too bad." He adjusts his glasses. He turns in the dock. Behind, guards haul two more teens from inside into the transport.

Mary Anne along with two more operatives rush into the room. They're in tatters, though Mary herself is much better off. She huffs, looking nervous at her leader. "Sir! Are you alright-"

Zandril smiles and waves her off. "Yes, yes. I am perfectly okay, my lovely assistant." He sighs with a grin. "Now, how's the state of things?"

"CRBN is interfering as usual. Spyyra is engaged with two, but 2814 interfered with our gathering of targets inside. We've only obtained a few dozen captives. Down thirty percent from projected outcomes." Mary straightens as she reports.

Zandril snorts. "The dearest Captain is already more than compensating elsewhere." Mary frowns at that, prompting Zandril to chuckle. "It can't be helped. I've not given up on Jacques, but it is clear even extortion won't prompt his assistance. We must sure up power before approaching again."

Mary sucks in a breath and speaks out. "But sir! You'll be making an enemy of our last major clients!"

"The boost to funds and manpower will allow us to round the elites behind us." Zandril continues as if she hadn't spoken. "Once we've enough stock to influence the society even without Jacques's help, he'll be forced to-"

"Sir!" Mary cuts him off, earning a glance over the shoulder from him. Her entire being chills at the violet eye peering back at her. The dark shadow with the light behind the man. She shivers, but speaks softly. "Your health is declining. We continued with this plan specifically because the SDC is the only group that can fund Near's release. Without the Schnees, we lack the time for roundabout extortion and bribery. Let me organize a jail break-"

A blast pulls their attention.

The two eye the far off paths to the auditorium halls. A shot sounds off as an AZRL guard is thrown back limp. Carmine and Blair round the corner, instantly the boy opens fire on the guards, suppressing fire, as Blair dashes around the shots to close distance! She begins striking down the men.

Zandril's gaze has a twinkle to it... his violet eyes momentarily lock with Carmine's golden orbs. His brow raises...

Carmine moves to reload, the guards having just enough reprieve to return fire! Carmine shoots down another two before ducking around another corner.

"Another failure on Spyyra's part, I see." Zandril speaks lightly. Mary flinches at the words. "Pity." He adjusts his glasses. "We will continue this conversation later, Mary. Please advise the blacks to come aboard. Leave the rest to arrange the getaway." He turns and marches into the transport. "And collect Spyyra, please. I am curious what twist kept him this time."

Mary watches him disappear into the transport. She grits her teeth and turns. Her weapon locked, she aims the cannon attachment and blasts Carmine's cover! Carmine dodge rolls out as the cover blows up! He returns fire, the woman moving into the transport as well. "We have enough! Form a line! Black numbers to me!"

As three more follow her into the transport, several armed gunman, along with an assortment of finely dressed teens from the show audience, all get in the way!

Carmine sneers. "Reds and Blues. Nonlethal!"

Three are thrown aside as Blair switches her sword grip to use the back side of the blade. She uses it as a blunt object, bashing and side striking opponent after opponent in a blur of swift knockouts.

The boy likewise twirls Heulin Noon, pistol whipping and cracking jaws as he weaves around the less powered operatives. He dodges one lunging at him, cracking another's jaw with his armored knuckle fist!

In moments, he and Blair have all of the agents, those with the will to fight that is, out cold around them. The remaining few who listened to their fear cower aside as Blair swaps wind dust into her blade. In one motion, she casts a great gale out! The currents warp around the retreating vessel, shifting and pulling against it in harsh winds!

Inside the vessel, the AZRL operatives all scramble to right themselves. Mary grimaces and looks to a Black near her, an older teen male with brown hair and thin eyes and an agile build. She hands him a chip like key. "Your mission is to destroy and deviate. Understood?"

The boy sucks in a breath for resolve. He nods.

Outside, Carmine begins lining his shots. He shouts for Blair over the wind. "Adjustment?"

Blair is still casting wind as she shouts back. "Down five degrees! Right by eight!"

He adjusts, and fires! A double shot soars through the sky until blasting the back hull fifteen feet from the back engine. Sparks sizzle, but it flies strong. Carmine adjusts, eyes narrowing at the result and getting a feel for the shot. He fires a second double shot! The shot lands just two feet from the rear engine!

Almost there.

One final adjustment before it can get out of range.

As he fires, he notices a shifting of metal. A large mass ejects from under the vessel. The mass shifts... It's an air based vehicle! The craft thrusts in a dust propulsion and intercepts Carmine's shot! Just short of the engine!

Carmine grinds his teeth, popping Heulin Noon's cylinder and manually reloading. "Damn it..." The main vessel pulls from Blair's wind and escapes out of their range.

The new hostile craft flies towards them, revealing more of itself!

A sphere core where the teen boy series Black pilots the craft. An armored ring around the x axis propels the craft with fire dust! The sides are laden with flame chutes and micro missile launchers! Another metal plate lines the y axis. The top has the same tools as the sides, while the bottom lacks the missiles, instead having a single large opening for propulsion.

It blasts towards the two before halting abruptly! Its front plating heats and blasts out a stream of fire!

"Cover!" Blair shouts, moving round a corner! Carmine dive tackles one of the surrendering blues behind cover, the other conscious blues and reds taking cover...

Then screams as Carmine looks...

The flames engulf all those he and Blair had just knocked unconscious and subdued... Unable to defend themselves... The screams last mere seconds due to the intensity, the room catching alight. Those still alive are stunned in fear as Carmine grips the frightened Blue, a girl, at his side.

"Get yourselves to soldiers and turn yourselves in..." His voice strains, laden with thick frustration and anger. "If you have even a damn shred of self preservation, get the fuck to the military and admit everything NOW!"

The blues and reds flinch, but comply to flee the scene!

Carmine steps from cover, golden eyes burning at the floating craft outside the scorched loading dock. He holsters Heulin Noon, bringing up a confiscated pistol. With a feral growl, he charges and leaps out the loading dock... out into open air!

The teen in the vessel double takes at the reckless charge. "Huh-?"

Carmine slams his armored arm's fist into the vehicle plating around the sphere core! The machine is knocked askew as Carmine leaps from it! He'll fall from the auditorium at this rate. His magic pulsates. Overlap! A second Carmine parts from him, both in air! One grasps the other's arm, swing throwing Carmine back to the structure!

One of the Auditorium island's main engine boosters, massive in industrial size and potency, breaks his fall. Carmine lands as his falling self disappears. His golden eyes glare up, finding the enemy vessel floating downward from him. On the side is the edge of the giant engine, massive white glowing ignition blows to maintain the structure's flight.

Blair lands nearby. "That was not the brightest of frontal assaults, but impressive." She eyes his posture, frowning. "It's on them. Not you."

Carmine seethes, tense. "What is it, and how do I dismantle it?" He demands, eyes locked on the enemy.

She judges him a moment before realizing he's in need of some release. She sets her attention forward. "Balta series 100 line. The Atlas Guardian is the name. It is a mobile vehicle with a primary movement in 360 degree flight and defensive capability."

They eye the floating vehicle as it lowers down around the engine the two stand on. Its flame throwers sizzle with a haze fuming out.

"They're much less armored than the land based Atlas Paladins, and extremely inefficient with energy due to their weapon loads being so plentiful and high functioning. They best serve as crowd control defense for high priority areas during Grimm horde extermination. Area of effect attacks are their game. Outmaneuvering it and scoring solid blows will bring it down quite quickly." Blair scrutinizes the attachments on the plating. "Though, this model is either custom fitted, or AZRL managed to procure an unreleased variant."

"Same principle?" Carmine asks as the enemy vehicle spews flames from all sides.

Blair readies. "Correct."

Carmine charges ahead, gun raised to fire.

. . .

Inside the bowels of the auditorium facilities, the halls rumble as Roman shoulder bashes a door open. His retreat from Whis has drawn him to one of the floating island's engine structures. A heat and dull bellow of burning dust fills his senses. The man walks atop the metal grating, taking in the environment.

The engine is massive! One of three the auditorium has, the casings for the burning chambers descend for several more floors. Multiple cat walks for engineer stations and maintenance of turbines show. Around, beside, and under him massive cogs, ever turning in a steady rhythm of thick clacks.

Quick, he needs to hide. Roman leaps the protective railing, hooking Velvet Valentine's hook around a support beam. He swings down the beam two levels and lands on a walk way. He moves behind the shifting cogs as a loud bang sounds among.

Whis nurses his burns and drinks in the environment. His eyes dart about, sweeping the area. He steadily walks and scans the area, each foot step echoing amid the machinery's machinations. Like a drum beat set to a long drawn note of the engines.

Another rumble. A boom muffled. Some damage to the facilities by the faunus protesters, surely. Whis steadies himself and appraises the engine. "If they don't stop, they'll bring the whole damned thing down." His voice raises, loudly echoing. "And that would be bad for the both of us, I reckon."

Levels below, Roman allows the echoes to obscure his source as he calls out in response. "I'll take that wager! I am something of a gambling man."

Above, Whis cocks his head at the response, unable to follow its source due to the environment. "Aye to that. You went and wagered against the most powerful organization on the planet. Didn't you look at the odds?"

Roman's voice barks a laugh as Whis descends a flight of stairs slowly. "Ha! Only someone willing to take a gamble knows the odds. We both know AZRL's fate is at a close with the whole world against it. Which begs the question why one of Atlas's finest would dare defend it? You claim self interest, but oh pardon. That doesn't pass the sniff test."

Whis's eye twitches, moving about. A level below, behind him, Roman moves his position as well. The two are almost playing hide seek in this way. "You city scum need to learn to get to the point. Ya got an accusation, then speak clearly." Finishing his sentence, he swings over the rail and drops to Roman's level in a quick drop.

The conman shifts down another level just as Whis drops, narrowly avoiding being in eye sight. He scoffs. "If you'd been from Beacon, I'd accept them being too coddling to beat greed out of you. If you were Shade, you'd know enough 'scum' to know to be only for yourself, not someone else's lapdog." He begins silently shuffling around the pillars and shifting cogs. "Haven? Okay, well. Doing ANYTHING is a shock in that case."

Whis's smirk twitches up a touch. "Well, I suppose you gotta be right about some things. Why the personal interest?" He quickly whips a look around a corner, clearing it before shifting further along in search. "I'm all for you giving your location chattin' away."

Roman snickers. "Always better to know exactly the type of scum you're facing." Roman continues to descend the levels, finding a cross walk to the other side of the main area engine. He moves across slowly.

Above, said agent bristles. "Tell ya what. You're familiar with bribes. Pay me a tale, and you get a tale."

A single step rings above the noise of the machinery, catching Whis's attention. It comes from across the way, a cross walk below and with the levels above. He clicks his tongue, leaping across the gap in a loud clang! He looks around, failing to spot Roman now on the level above him. Roman takes a breath until Whis moves on, gaining distance.

The conman breathes out. "I'll do you one better! I'll pay you an educated guess!" He moves on. "I'm picturing a man who had a good career, principles, a picture of fairy tale morality. However, his prospects paled in comparison to who he is now. Happenstance brought him to a benefactor. One very selfish, very wicked benefactor... Someone who was more than able to feed the moral man a mighty public victory... in exchange to hiding the true ball."

He continues while Whis's gaze trails downward... A moment of introspection as Roman's words hit, perhaps? "The once moral man gained status, approval, promotions, even. All in the true name of the hidden benefactor. The moral man lied, swindled, played his superiors like a finely tuned piano. But, the man did not truly crave the status, did he? He craved something more..."

Roman finishes. "He wanted something abstract... Something about the benefactor's end goal offers a world the moral man is willing to compromise himself for... Something the moral man is willing to sacrifice children, comrades, truth, justice, the good ole Atlesian way to obtain!" A smarmy tone of satisfaction fills the air. "Am I wrong?"

A twitch... Irritation.

Whis snarls. "HA!" He whirls the sparking lightning dust charged lasso as he swings up and around!

The sparking lash circles up, slicing red hot through the above two levels before coiling down to slice into his own level. As well as the lower level as well!

Roman clings to the railing he stands on, the levels shifting with the slice! Whis stumbles and finds steady footing as he exhales.

Whis calms, taking a breath before glaring about. He still fails to find the conman. "I was real sweet on a lady. Her name was Gwen." He clears his throat, looking about. "Lovely, beautiful, and deserving a whole~ lot more than a clod like me." A wry smile finds its way on him. "Musta been... two years after making graduating the academy. Made Captain, even. That woman went out to buy groceries. Planned on making my favorite stew to dote on me..."

The ginger man shifts slower on the levels, struggling to not make the broken rails rattle with his movements. He listens intently as the agent continues.

"A wonderful bride to be, a career I'd worked my whole life for... a child on the way. Suppose you can guess that didn't work out. All for some filthy, low grade punks, drug addled bastards decided to rob a convenience store..." Whis glowers, snarling with a building seethe in his tone.

His gaze trails off momentarily.

Roman knows this type of story. Happens all the time in the city. Still, sympathy isn't something Roman Torchwick is known for. He smirks. "So did you have the guts to kill them yourself? I assume if so it didn't curb your woeful aching heart." He scoffs. "Don't act special. Sounds exactly like what you'd expect in your line of work."

Whis ignores him, speaking clearly after calming. "It was three months and three weeks after that I was assigned to find a missin noble's runaway. I THOUGHT that I'd been the investigator, but instead it was me being looked into. Found the boy and a note. Funny enough, that was when I met Mr Zandril..."

"Smitten at first sight? Bet your lass is swooning from the grave." Roman interjects in mockery as he successfully moves onto another cross walk to begin crossing to the original side they'd come from.

A growl looses from the agent, his voice dropping. "Diminutive prick. When I find you..." He raises his voice to be heard again. "AZRL promises something. Beyond its goal of ending the witch, beyond profit. The prospect of AZRL is its mechanism... Control of the underworld." He smirks. "In fighting that damned cult, AZRL dipped its hands into each and every facet of crime. And with each asset comes something Atlas has been striving to do since its founding. Control!"

He continues. "Control of the purposeless. The countless young and compromised who make up the day to day struggles of society. Instead, put to purpose! The mud and dirt of the lowest bile of society instead brought to HEEL!" Whis breathes in. "And when the young are brought to heel, the gangs dry up... disorganized crime starves and paves way to organized crime alone. But, organized crime? All of them are now RELIANT on the very force that stamped out the punks and bratty monsters. Crime itself kept to a rarity in favor for maximum CONTROL!"

Whis begins to twirl his gun in a twitchy habit in his off hand. "A world where control keeps conflict civilized, and no unlucky lass has to worry about some faunus rat with a gun... Tough enough to get away with it, they think? No... Only tough enough to beg when their actions catch up to them."

Roman is genuinely startled with that. This guy was converted completely. An absolute zealot! "Well, you're a damn sight more screwed than I expected! Kudos."

The agent laughs, his ears picking up on the sounds better as he looks in the direction Roman is heading. "A world where the miserable are given purpose, the weak left out of all the machinations of the wretched?" He nods, cracking a hopeful look. "That sounds like a damn good deal to me!"

The conman makes it to an open area over some of the heavy machinery. "You're delusional..." He looks forward, stopping.

Shit...

Whis had anticipated Roman's path... standing on the very platform beneath his feet. Looking right at him. Whis glowers at the conman, gazes meeting. Roman sweats lightly, rolling his shoulder to loosen and ignore the prior pain.

Whis gives a predatory smirk. "And you're over confident... Partner." He raises his gun...

. . .

Outside on the engine casings themselves, flames spew out!

The Guardian soars back, spewing flames in a spin to swipe at, and miss, Carmine! He fails to close distance before the machine pulls back. The series black inside breathes heavily, stressed trying to keep back from both CRBN members.

The teen inside checks the screen to his left, seeing the blonde speeding round behind. With a turn, the flames spew out, only for Blair to use ice dust charged in Fluorescent to clash the flames! The ice and fire clash to blow out a steam and fog cloud!

Inside the Guardian, the AZRL teen panics, checking his surroundings and rotating. Through the steam cloud, dust shots fire through, striking into the Guardian's milder armor. He boosts the machine back to dodge the oncoming fire!

Carmine is one arm firing from the rifle he'd taken earlier, adjusting and landing shows from the distance. The weak armor of the Guardian dents in, the driver growling and shifting boosting it towards the boy.

Suddenly, two more Carmines appear from the fog, meeting the charging machine! One boy uses his armored arm to punch forward with his full weight. The second slides low and twists, moving into an uppercut!

Both punches land on metal, the first slowing the momentum, and the second shifts it up! The Guardian jolts upwards as the original Carmine empties the gun clip into the machine belly!

The barrage of dents spook the pilot, the boy inside yelping as he rights the machine and pulls a lever... The machine has a loud clang as the lining of metal around its sides begins to glow white. All three Carmines give furrowed looks, two disappearing as the original mutters. "Now what? Ngh!" He feels the backlash of the Overlap hit. Bad timing!

Blair blitzes in. That's the customization. Gotta move fast!

The Guardian sparks, electric zaps conducting off the island's engine metal. Carmine leaps back, firing twice using a confiscated pistol from an AZRL guard. This time, the shots ping off the glow, not even meeting their target.

White energy expands! The Guardian is completely engulfed in white as the energy propels out in a repulse!

Just before he can be engulfed, Blair whips by, grabbing and flinging the boy away as she narrowly dodges the expansion! The sphere of white reaches its apex just hairs from the woman and boy before fading away. The Guardian steams hot as it cools down... floating above the massive melted hole in the engine casing...

The engine rumbles, a pop sounding beneath their feet. The engine was damaged...

Blair steadies by the boy. "Hard light impulse... An accidental weapon created by hard light shield testing."

Carmine winces while righting himself. "Lemme guess. Mobile shield go boom. Scientists liked the boom. Made it intentionally the next time?"

"Got it in one." Blair comments as the steaming machine turns their way. "A battery for an impulse cannot fit within the Guardian's normal casing. It must be hidden with the missile attachments."

"Meaning some of the missile silos are fakes. Find the fakes, and hit em with everything." Carmine sways lightly but exudes confidence. "Go!" The two charge as missiles fire out from the machine again.

. . .

RUMBLE...

With Roman and Whis, the cowboy has the conman at gun point. However, Roman's eye catches something hanging between them.

A shimmer in the air...

A reflection in the atmosphere between them. Barely visible.

Roman smirks back. He goads the attack. "I heard your sob story and judge you a certified nutcase. Doubt there's anything more to discuss, cowboy."

Whis snorts, trigger finger itching. "Your words, mobster. But, my turn to guess the tale. A self centered scoundrel, too clever for his own good. A man who walked into his own death seeking a more satisfactory end." His smirk grows. "One down-"

BOOM!

He fires his gun at Roman, only for the shot to explode against a shattering shimmer!

Neo appears from the breaking air, Hush closing, as she lunges! Whis twitches back, his free hand whipping his lasso out! The loop ropes the closed parasol and constricts the weapon! Sparking electricity lines between Whis and Neo as he aims his gun at her. The girl sneers back.

"Well... It's bout time we finally meet properly, Miss Rhodes. Though, I've known you for years, some might say." He smirks, a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

Roman eyes the gun aimed at Neo's head. Large caliber, dust shots. Ignitable... He smirks. "You were right, Partner." His off hand at his side pinches his thumb and middle finger. His semblance focusing. "'One down!'"

The fingers snap behind his back!

A jolt of friction ignite flame in a wick spark... INSIDE Whis's gun.

BOOM! The spark ignites the dust shell inside, jolting and blowing out the gun. The surprise shock jerks the gun out from Whis's hand! Reacting, he uses his own semblance to light his chain lasso sparking! The electricity charges down to Neo as she opens Hush up! The opening fans the lasso loop out as she leaps through to close distance!

Neo's thrust narrowly misses as Whis leans. The blade gleams off his aura shield. Freely gripping his lasso, thanks to his semblance, he wraps the weapon down and jerks her balance. Twisting to elbow and step by her. As she stumbles from the throw, Roman sucker punches him, distance closed.

Kicking at Roman, making him back up, Whis lashes the lightning lasso! Roman blocks with Velvet, the electricity jolting him over while slicing apart some machinery. Whis does a 360 turn, Neo hop scotching over the lash as he stops in a passive cowboy twirl of the lasso.

Whis jerks the loop forward in a feint lash, fooling Neo into blocking. He manipulates the loop to catch Hush as he jerks it from her hands. He whips Hush away, opening the lasso loop in a whirl to lash the disarmed girl!

Mid twirl, Roman hooks the lasso loop with his cane, jamming the cane down into the rail flooring. Whis's lash jerks to a stop, Roman pulling his cane back to yank the agent towards him. He brings Velvet Valentine up to crack Whis in the jaw.

Whis releases his lasso to block the cane hammer head. "Tch!" He winces, gripping the cane down as he and Roman manipulate the weapon to control! Jerk left, Roman opens an off hand palm strike. In the background, Neo spots Whis's gun and is rushing for it.

Roman attempts to twist his cane free from the agent, but Whis kicks the conman's leg out. Leverage, he locks against a machine wall in a hold. His free hand releases the cane, getting his earth dust whip handle. With a flick, earth dust cast forms out to his gun laying on the ground far off.

The earth dust cast connects with the gun as Whis pulls. The gun flies just out of Neo's reach. Whis and Roman twist in struggle, Whis releasing Roman and catching his gun. Aimed at Neo, he fire- Roman palms the gun aside. The shot strikes a support wire for the entire scaffold flooring. The whole level jerks uneven with the support cable snapping.

Whis holsters his whip grip, the earth whip cracking off, so he can punch Roman back. He knocks Velvet from Roman's hands, but Neo leaps at and grabs Whis's arm down. He kicks her off, raising the gun again, only for Roman to full grab from behind. Only his free right arm is available.

So, Whis goes for his large knife! He reverse grips is and jams it behind him, gashing into Roman's leg! Roman stumbles, but releases and kicks Whis in the back! Whis is knocks off balance forward into a drop kick from Neo sending him back. Roman grunts in pain, snatching Whis from behind to slam him down!

Neo throws Roman the chain lasso, Roman's semblance mixing with the material the same way Whis's does, producing an orange burning haze instead of the lightning. Simultaneously, Whis aims his gun at a second cable support to the side! Boom! Blowing it out, the whole level swings with one side falling into the level below!

All three combatants tumble down into the next floor, some of of the metal flooring smashing into parts of the engine. A loud bang as some sparks fly temporarily. Recovering first, Whis aims his gun at Roman, firing. SHATTER! "Huh?!" The real Roman appears from the side, swinging a lash from the now burning fire lasso.

Whis ducks the lash, the burning chains melting into the casings of the giant engine! A micro explosion blows out, Neo charging as both men shield themselves. She grabs and twists around Whis's arm, removing the knife in a fling!

Before she can catch it from falling off, Whis's now free hand produces the earth whip again. A lashing cast of earth strikes and wraps her at the throat! Keeping her still, he moves to shoot her, only for Roman to hook his arm and land gut strikes into a strike for the weapon.

"GAH! DAMN IT!" Whis swipes at Roman with his gun arm, making the conman duck. He uses the momentum to pitch throw the earth whip hand from his hand! The tool flies, still connected to Neo, into one of the massive clanging gears in the now exposed engine damage. Neo watches in horror as the weapon catches in the machinery... and begins to reel her in.

Neo jerks back, but the earth whip wrapped round her goes taut. The dust stays connected beyond the hilt's crunching in the gears. Neo's feet begin to slide along the grating as she struggles to remove the earth wrap from her neck!

Taking advantage of his distraction, Roman lands a dazing punch, making Whis stumble back. Roman's leg still injured, he barely approaches before Whis recovers, taking aim. Roman palms the gun aside as it shoots, but takes a elbow to the face. Whis kicks out Roman's bad leg.

Roman jerks, snatching the gun hand and pulling the agent into a struggle over the weapon. The gun fires three times as it jerks each way. The whole time, Neo is reeled closer to the gear threatening to crush her! Roman manages a quick jerk as another shot goes off!

The shot breaks the earthen whip's line just before Neo is crushed by the gear. She stumbles into a backward cartwheel into a sprint at the struggling men! She slides low, kicking out Whis's footing!

Whis and Roman jerk apart, the gun flying from the both of them. All weapons have been discarded, Whis spin kicks Neo through her block, knocking her back before rounding on Roman step jabbing at him. Whis weaves the punch, counter striking Roman off balance.

Roman parries and blocks the next punch and kick, but receives a front kick knocking him into the railing near the sparking, exposed engine. Whis charges in to strike. SHATTER!

The fake Roman breaks as the real Roman uppercuts out, intercepting Whis and knocking him back in return! Whis is faltering as Neo lands, throwing round kicks! Whis blocks, then catches her to toss her aside! Roman capitalizes, stepping into a palm strike in Whis's center.

Whis bounces off the railing wall, taking a wild punch while shaken! Roman blocks it, Neo grabbing onto Roman as a stand and kicking around him into Whis's jaw! The agent is knocked dazed as Roman looks to the opening of the engine. He grabs Whis into a shoulder toss! Over the rail, over the sparking opening of the engine!

Neo uses Roman's shoulder as a step stone, leaping after Whis... and stomping down! She kicks off Whis to the other side, sending Whis directly into the engine opening.

Whis sucks a breath and yells out as he falls into the gear... "GAH-" His voice cuts as the gear crunches in on him...

Bones crunch, the machine stuttering.

Roman grabs the electric lasso, inspecting it for its dust ports near the end intended for the wielder. He unlocks consoles within the chain links, pulling out vials of dust. Primarily lightning dust, of course. Roman throws all the dust vials into the engine, following up with a snap of his fingers.

His semblance catches the dust alight-

BOOM!

The burst of lightning, flame, and explosive force blows out the casings and gears of the gigantic engine. The whole machine sputters and shuts down in a gargantuan whine!

Roman and Neo steady themselves, quickly grabbing Velvet Valentine and Hush before they share a look. "Good save, Neo! Always reliable." He speaks through his wheezing catching of breath. The fight coupled with his exhaustion showed in his breathing.

Neo is just as tired, giving a shaky smile and nodding.

Rumble...

The two stumble before looking up top.

Roman looks to the girl. "So long as this is the only compromised engine, this place shouldn't be at risk, okay."

BOOM!

A loud crash above catches their attention. Neo gives a concerned look.

The conman grimaces. "... I am sure that wasn't someone attacking the engine casings outside..." Another boom. He looks done with life as he jerks. "Right, sweet and silent, let's skedaddle!" Both members of CRBN turn on a heal, making for the nearest intact stair well to get to the exit they'd come from...

. . .

Missiles trail after Carmine as he dodges one, rolls aside from another, and jumps from a third. Each evasion is punctuated by the micro-missiles crashing into the plating and detonating! A string of explosions riddle the engine casing in holes!

The Guardian spins, spewing flames out at Blair. The blonde leaps the stream of fires, spinning into a slash! Her blade clashes with the line of plating for the Guardian's primary hull. The machine is knocked aside, a wide slash mark marring the vehicle.

Blair lands with Carmine. He speaks up. "I think the battery is in the back left silos. Off center from the back." He takes a breath. "Disagree?"

"No. I honed in on that area as well. I believe it starts three pods off center like you said." She agrees. "It should end about-"

"Five more over?" Carmine guesses. "He's shot a ton at me, but none come from that side."

"Astute observation." Blair allows a slight smirk. She loses it as she takes her stance. "Once we damage it, we likely will not have the opportunity to save the driver..."

Carmine grimaces, but maintains his glare. "They made the decision." Blair stiffens at that.

That is... harsher than he's ever said.

Carmine looks to the main theater. "He burned those sharing his problem. He's not the same." Carmine tenses, anger bubbling. "Fuck him..." Spite, vitriol, righteous fury. The boy is awfully motivated by such things in these situations.

Before the next exchange can begin, a massive explosion in the far air sounds. A gargantuan thunder clap as they view an Atlas transport falling from the sky into Bastion Alderley far below. Other vessels gather at sections of the Auditorium island!

At another of the engines a distance away, movement catches the eye. One of the transports confiscated by the rioters can be seen hitching one of the other engine casing's plates...

"Shit! Are they trying to break the other engine?!" Carmine cries out.

Blair cuts a look to the Guardian, seeing the teen boy inside with a scrunched face in confusion towards the other engine. She then cuts a look at the other engine, eyeing the rioters... civilian clothes? All wearing masks...

Her eyes widen. "That's not AZRL. That's White Fang directing rioters. They're trying to bring down the auditorium!"

Carmine double takes. "This thing can fly with an engine down, right?"

Blair calms. "One engine, yes. Two, and it most certainly would not-"

BOOM!

A quake beneath their feet... The two steady themselves as smoke bellows from the holes of their battlefield. Carmine's face pulls down. "Uh, one's already down..."

"..." Blair's cutting glare stares into nothing. Processing the timing.

Carmine gulps. "I'm sure that wasn't because of us." His words carry the tone that calls his bluff.

. . .

Smoke blows out from the dying engine, spilling into the halls. The halls leading back to the auditorium from the battle with Whis. Roman scoffs as he runs from the smoke. "I'm sure that wasn't because of us."

Neo smirks with a side eye, lightly wheezing as they run. She sends a look, flicking her eyes back before rolling them.

Roman's eye twitches. "If it was properly constructed, then we couldn't have broken it now, could we?"

She raises a brow, one hand miming and dropping object before fingers flap in a pop gesture.

He gets snippy. "Now, it was YOU who kicked the poor man into the engine. Any resulting damage is on you!"

Neo's eyes widen incredulously. She mimes throwing an object, brows knitting together.

He barks a laugh before talking sweetly. "Oh, let me learn you something. Always have a patsy. Even better if it's one that can't properly communicate to dispute you." She swipes Hush at him, striking his injured leg and making him stumble mid stride.

"Gah! That was uncalled for. I'm not Silver Streak. You don't hit me!" He chastises the now smirking girl as they run.

. . .

Carmine and Blair part to dodge a missile.

"We can't let that second engine go down. Go handle it!" Carmine calls out.

"You can't face the Guardian with no aura or reloading ammo!" Blair responds. "You've been empty of aura for too long. You're likely to fall comatose the moment you release your magic!" She calls out mid dodge of a missile.

Carmine grits his teeth, knowing she's right.

Suddenly, he eases, blinking. "Oh... I have an idea then. What's the CRBN way of dealing with something?" He flicks his eyes between the Guardian and the far off compromised Atlas ships.

Blair uses ice dust, casting an ice surface around before casting directly from a fire dust vial. Mist blows around them as the Guardian continues firing missiles that miss them. ""Bombs? Are you actually suggesting that? I thought you were against them."

"After a point, the thought becomes cathartic." He quips, grinning. "So, screw it. We ball."

She snorts, containing any approval as she jabs his arm with Fluorescent's sheath, stealing another dose of blood from him. "Three steps of distraction should do."

"We can do it in two!" Carmine bursts from the mist, firing another clip from the confiscated handgun he's using. The Guardian backs off, weaving lightly as the shots ding off different areas of the Guardian.

Inside the machine, the teen pilot grits his teeth and pulls a crank. Flames spew out as he charges the CRBN leader! Carmine smirks as his image disappears. The teen blinks. "What- AH!" More shots from the side. Another Carmine?

Overlap.

Though, the pilot hasn't caught on to the ability fully. He grits his teeth, charging the machine at the new Carmine. Again, this one disappears. Two Overlaps? The teen looks around until receiving shots to the side! From the fog!

Distraction one.

Once the teen sees the stream of gun fire, he full charges in a fire spin in the Guardian at the source...

The source that unveils itself as the gun Carmine stole in Blair's hands! The witch glares at the oncoming metal behemoth.

Realizing the folly of his actions, he can only cry out.

Blair hops the spew of flames, spin slashing into the Guardian full tilt! The strike lands in a cross on top of the exact slash mark she'd left in the hull once already! The Guardian is knocks back, like a gigantic ball struck by a bat! The dented spot she'd struck before rips open in the cockpit! The Guardian hits off the ground and along the scraping metal!

The Guardian flaming booster fires, halting its careening tumble! It sparks damaged, but the pilot is panicked. He looks up to see Blair slowly walking, her sword up and blood red... soaked in the blood from Carmine.

Mind games. And mind games makes for distraction two. Just like Carmine said.

The pilot fires EVERYTHING! All the missile pods fire out in a storm of projectiles fanning out!

Blair raises a brow, but smirks...

She activates Carmine's blood on the sword. Not for his magic, but for once his semblance with her aura. Thus, Fluorescent Finish vanishes from her hands! She ducks back and begins dodging the storm of micro missiles in an acrobatic flourish!

Meanwhile... in the fog behind the Guardian, Carmine reveals himself. Fluorescent Recalls with his semblance back to the prior position Blair had planted herself at earlier. He snatches the sword out of the air and charges the rear of the Guardian. He activates the dust inside, ice dust shading the blade in clear blue!

SHHHNK! He impales the blade into the rear left silos where no missiles fire from! From the stab, the ice dust casts, ripping ice through the backup power for the hard light. Further still, into the cockpit, the ice spearing into the pilot's arm with a painful howl!

Sparks fly inside the cockpit, and the pilot grips the hard light lever in panic...

Carmine looks through the side window to the cockpit, time almost appearing to slow in the moment. His gaze trails over towards the second engine assault in the distance.

Two other Carmines part from his body with his Overlap...

The main Carmine rips Fluorescent free from the puncture into the Guardian, an iced hole remaining! The second Carmine aims Heulin Noon and blasts the double shot! The shot explodes through the icy hole to shatter it within the cockpit! The hole in the hull widens considerable from the brittle ice smashing open.

The final Carmine leaps into the hole as hard light energy begins to spark and build. He ends up inside the cockpit with the other boy. Carmine gives a hard glare before spotting the control for the thrust...

The series Black teen attempts to shake the craft with a boost back, but Carmine kicks and smashes the stick control forward. The machine whines and boosts forth, not quite on angle towards the engine in the distance. Carmine then smashes and breaks the hard light weapon's activation...

Finally, he looks at the shocked boy sitting under him...

Carmine narrows his gaze, but only has seconds to act. A moment of anger, hate even, flows through him. But, he grabs the boy by the throat and tosses him from the craft altogether!

The series Black hits the plating of Carmine and Blair's engine battlefield. His landing it hand and knocks him silly. Meanwhile, the Carmine inside the cockpit disappears...

The remaining Carmines watch, one flickering away as he throws Fluorescent to Blair. He shouts out. "GUIDE IT!"

Blair catches her weapon, putting in wind dust as she quickly swing casts out! With a powerful gale, the force bashes into the Guardian from the side, redirecting it!

Not at the second engine of the island.

But, at the compromised ship assaulting said engine...

The hard light generator in the Guardian sparks and bellows smoke as the machine flies over the gap. The streak of smoke and zapping arcs of electricity catch interest of the White Fang rioters landing on the second engine. They look over at the machine approaches-

BOOM!

The hard light pulse weapon explodes. White explosive force expands, vaporizing the Guardian from the sky, as well as blasting the captured carrier from the side! The carrier blows downward, half its mass ripped violently away!

Various individuals on the second engine casing shield try to shield themselves, but are also blasted clear from the engine. Those unlucky ones fall from the island, surely to their deaths. The carrier tumbles end over end to the ground far below.

The blast at the other engine effectively ends the efforts the White Fang had been working towards. A view of those still remaining and panicking is a fulfilling picture from Blair's view. She marches towards the dazed series Black teen ahead of her.

Good. Carmine saved the other boy. She'd worried Carmine was blind in anger from his earlier responses.

She strikes the unknown teen in the back of the head, knocking them out in one crunching strike! Blair straightens herself after and sighs. Maintaining Carmine's good will doesn't mean she can't be efficient.

All threats ended, Blair glances over to Carmine-

"CARMINE!"

The boy is swaying lightly, breathing slowly. His eyes remain gold, magic active, but they're glazed over. No focus. Darker. He turns to her, breathing heavily. "Quick. We need to... fight our way back up to the theater. Find someone we can... interrogate-"

"What we NEED is to get YOU out of here before you enter a coma!" Blair demands harshly. "We stopped them from gaining anywhere close to the total number of children they were after. Our job is over. We're leaving. NOW!"

As she speaks, his hand wipes his face, a cold sweat coming on. When she finishes, he protests. "We need a follow up! We need... something to work with later." He takes steps, only to shakily sway. "Where are Roman and Neo? We might still find-"

Blair grabs the boy by the shoulder, steadying him and making him face her. "We are leaving." She leaves no room for argument, even if his mouth still opens. Frustration.

"If we'd just managed to shoot that fat bastard..." Carmine grumbles. Still he calms. "Call the others. If we can just find our van below-" He gasps.

Blair turns to look with him...

Fires below. Riots. Deployed military. The soldiers were sent out in force, with more and more ships arriving in the sky starting to quell the chaos. Atlas reinforcements were even beginning to gather above at the auditorium landing-

"What happened to the landing pad?" Carmine asks, eyes wide. He eyes the collapsed space where one of the pads had been when they'd arrived.

Blair's already sending a message for Roman and Neo as she grabs the boy. "No time. Now!" She grabs and drags him along. In one long stretch, Blair leaps from the engine up and towards the loading dock the two had come from to begin the battle.

. . .

Roman and Neo round the corner, entering the loading dock area.

The charred bodies turn Neo's stomach, but Roman is first to find their missing two members. "Barbie! Silver Streak!" He takes in their appearance, pausing. "Whoa." Neo whips her head at Roman's shift in demeanor.

Blair and Carmine are each marred in battle damage. Blair is alert, still catching breath. But Carmine? Carmine is slouched against her, head hanging, barely standing. His breath is ragged, sweat dripping from his chin.

Neo bolts for the boy, sliding around and taking him from Blair to support him.

Roman blinks. "You two look like you've gone nine rounds."

Carmine lifts his gaze to Roman, Blair answering. "We ran into Spyyra, nearly took down Zandril, and fought an AZRL variant of an Atlas robot."

While the conman and mute share a look, Carmine processes enough to weakly comment. "You look like you got shanked." His gaze is on the injured Roman. His burns and gashed leg still barely patched with aura healing.

Neo smiles at that, while Roman sends an annoyed look. "WE nearly killed Zandril first, and the cowboy came after us. By the by, he's not an issue anymore." Both Blair and Carmine, albeit slower, perk at that. Blair grimaces. Roman continues. "Where is the mad green?"

"I tried sensing him, but he's not where Carmine and I left him." Blair answers. "Arnold was still alive, so Spyyra did not harm him. However, Spyyra either disappeared in the chaos or finally died."

"Don't think we're lucky enough for the latter." Roman answer.

A rumble above. Gun shots are heard echoing far off. Blair calls out. "Atlas has more troops landing on the auditorium to quell the rioters. We have to leave now!"

"Oh, brilliant. What's our ride? Cause, I'd both love and hate if your response is on a wing and a prayer." Roman flippantly responds.

"Stop... guessing... my jokes." Carmine weakly comments. He looks to Neo. She furrows a brow until both look at Hush.

Her brows raise. All four of them? That's does not seem wise.

Blair and Roman catch onto the idea, following Neo's shrug and glance at the weapon. Roman rolls his eyes. "Four people dangling from a parasol? That's our grand escape? Oh, the grandeur."

"Less sarcasm, more help." Blair speaks up. "We can use my last wind dust can to help support us."

With a quick prep, the four line up at the edge of the loading dock, seeing the chaos in the burning sky around them. "Complete crap shoot." Roman comments. He eyes Carmine. "Staying alive, Silver Streak?"

The boy blinks wearily, unfocused. He winces. "Come on."

In unison, the four lean out and drop from the opening, into open air.

Neo at the end, she reaches and clasps hands with Roman before she opens Hush!

Roman keeps a hold as her drop is jerked slower. His off hand is out, hooked under Blair's arm with the blonde.

As Blair's fall is broken with Roman holding her, her own arms grip and lock Carmine in.

The boy is holding on at first. His vision blurs, head drifting down.

The descent from the auditorium is harsh, fast. Roman calls out. "Where's that wind?!"

Below, Carmine's hands gently raise wind dust can in his hands. His eyes strain, focus leaving as he struggles. He opens the wind can slightly, allowing the dust to slowly drift out. The volatile dust reacts and ignites into the air, bellowing gales of wind up into the catching parasol!

All three of the other CRBN members grip harder as the fall breaks steadily!

The ground below comes closer and closer, Neo shifting Hush and attempting to direct the fall ever slightly. The four quickly approach one of the towers at Bastion Alderley... Closing on the ground until finally, Carmine's vision gives out.

His hands flop down, the wind dust flying free from him... The boy is gone.

A jerk. All three of his teammates go wide eyed as their descent hastens! Right to a harsh premature landing into the top roof of a tower!

Hitting the surface, Blair maintains a hold on Carmine, shifting him around and checking. "Carmine! Can you hear me?!" She cradles him, prying one eye open.

Blue.

"Blue eyes. Magic out. He's out." She speaks quick.

BOOM!

A flare of flame spews up over one of the walls ahead. Gunfire, shouting, all manner of screams and scrapings of the fights are all over. Roman shouts out! "That building had our van!"

That induces a state of panic... Neo helps Blair get Carmine. The blonde shouts. "Then we steal another car! We CAN'T stay here!"

Roman nods, descending over the roof edge and dropping to the ground below. The others follow after, keeping wary...

The group disappears into the chaos below, but a few sets of eyes take notice of the conspicuous group.

. . .

Fifteen Hours Later...

In the dead of night, silence falls over what previous was only chaos. The sky held no stars. Even all the smog from the nearby city wouldn't stop the view of the celestial sky to this extent. That is thanks to the extraordinary amount of smoke still in the atmosphere.

Bastion Alderley is held. Yet, still scorched and heavily damaged in parts. Two towers have completely collapsed, while one of the massive gate checkpoints was broken.

Above is the Apollo Auditorium, still floating in the sky... With three MASSIVE Atlas cruisers parked around it in a protecting triangle. Tether cables allow the island structure to hang while dozens of smaller transports zip about performing repairs. One of its engines is completely removed, completely worthless from the amount of damage.

The landing pads were heavily damaged as well. But this seems to have been intentional. Speaking of...

At least that's what General Ironwood has now learned.

James Ironwood eyes the view of the auditorium through a screen onboard his ship. One of the three cruisers come to ensure security, he has been here, on little sleep, going through the nightmare of results.

He laces his hands, propped against his desk as his door opens. His time for reprieve is quite limited.

"Captain Arnold Dillon." He announces his guest. "Please enter."

Arnold enters the room... His body wear and tear showing clearly. His uniform is shredded, and many bandages wrap his left wrist, left shoulder, and neck. Exhaustion is clear, but Arnold is intact, stepping forward.

"General." He speaks, lacking energy to speak loudly. He raises a hand to salute.

"Stay at ease. You're injured." Ironwood assures. "Sit." Arnold nods and does so. "Now, am I to understand that you orchestrated damage intentionally to all the landing pads of the auditorium?"

Arnold purses his lips, but nods. "Yes."

"Against orders of your superior?"

"Yes."

"Then I commend and reprimand you." Ironwood speaks clearly.

"Yes-?" Arnold blinks. "Sir?"

"All I've seen in reports from everyone who was in the field today is that your quick thinking saved not just lives of the soldiers, but prevented an untold number of innocents within the auditorium itself. Additionally, you funneled the enemy into a single choke point. While we are forced to assist the auditorium with repairs due to intentionally causing damage, this strategy prevented disaster. For that, I commend you, Captain."

Arnold nods. "Thank you, sir." He knows how this goes. The compliments come early. That means the reprimand starts now.

"Now, you wrote a statement report, correct?"

"About two hours ago." Arnold answers. "Everything I could recount in the day."

"In which case, I would like to discuss Team CRBN." James eyes Arnold. Arnold can barely suppress the frown coming. "While your actions have been extraordinary in result, the fact remains that gaps in your report lead me to assume that your instincts were assisted. You were tipped off, weren't you?"

Arnold gulps. He's caught.

So, best be honest.

"Team CRBN contacted me and informed me that Agent Whis Palmo, who had organized the initial defense plan, was compromised by the criminal organization AZRL." Arnold speaks clearly.

James narrows his eyes. "And you believed them off hand?"

"Not at first. Agent Palmo's plan heavily tilted the idea. Confronting AZRL agents inside the auditorium has turned my opinion fully." Arnold chooses his words carefully, even if he had actually believed CRBN at first, displaying it this may protect him somewhat.

The General nods. "I see. Now, what prevented you from arresting Team CRBN for the chaos they wrought on the SDC?"

THAT he doesn't have much of an answer for. Arnold grimaces. "The SDC attack is the only outlier in Team CRBN's history of works we can know. Even still, I've seen the court documents against Doctor Stein, meaning even that could fit in perfectly with their behavioral profile. I took a gamble that they could help more than they hurt in the event of conflict."

Wow, that came out better than he'd expected. Maybe that could work-

"So, ignoring the orders of superiors while operating under theories seemed the better option?" The general retorts.

Shit.

A small silence. Ironwood continues. "Your encounter with AZRL forces... care to elaborate? Your report says he retreated from you?"

Arnold nods. "I'd discovered the conflict between one of AZRL's agents and two members of Team CRBN. They confided in me that the enemy agent had taken a drug that greatly enhanced his aura reserves."

Ironwood raises a brow at that. "An aura enhancer? I thought the SDC was the only ones working on that."

"Further adding to the... theory, sir... that AZRL had an inside job with the SDC." Arnold speaks up. Mistake. James is fiercely glaring at that.

"Under the circumstances your conclusion is correct, that does not excuse early neglectful actions. You remember that fact, soldier?" He harshly critiques.

Arnold keeps eye contact, but gives a weak response. "Yes, sir..."

"Describe the AZRL operative you faced."

The Captain nods. "White male, orange eyes, green hair just past the shoulders. He wore suit clothes made from ground shavings of iron, as literal dust made of iron. His semblance allowed him to control metal freely. I'd begun the fight with him after he'd taken damage that could defeat even the most powerful people I know. The drug kept him going. I countered him with my weapon's magnetism affecting metal he was using."

He continues. "As you can tell, even running on what should've been fumes, the man put up a harsh fight. I doubt I could take him in a straight fight under normal circumstances, even without the drug. Still, the handicap against him with his exhaustion caught up. He brought down entire sections of halls to put a wall between us. That's where I last saw him. I radio'd everyone to keep an eye out for him if possible."

James adds. "Not that it helped the dead troop that checked the lower engine areas. The man escaped." The general gives a reprieve upon Arnold's stone faced expression. "That part would not be your fault, soldier. I am... frustrated, myself."

"Sir."

James nods. "The extent of AZRL's involvement has yet to be determined, but with the mounting number of missing children being reported." He's silent a second to process. "If that was it, that WOULD show CRBN in a good light."

Arnold brightens slightly... until the next words came.

"But, were you aware that Team CRBN killed Agent Palmo?"

That chills him. Arnold tenses. "I... did not. No."

Ironwood opens his hands and gestures to a holo projector built into the desk. From it, an image shines up. A video... Video of the inner engine from the auditorium.

Video of Roman and Neo fighting Whis Palmo.

Arnold watches keenly. "Palmo abandoned any post or duty he had to the auditorium and pursued them into the engine... I even said in my report-"

"Just watch, Captain." James silences him.

The video plays out until seeing Roman toss the agent over the engine opening. Then, Neo leaps up and kicks the agent inside. They even follow it up with an explosion, crippling the engine entirely. The video loses track of Roman and Neo, but pauses.

"What do you think?" James asks, curious in his tone.

Arnold grimaces, but once again is honest. "My opinion? Agent Palmo intentionally created a plan that maximized failure and chaos. He abandoned post to chase a lesser lead, and forced a confrontation that lead to his death. Agent Palmo is looking more and more like he was indeed compromised by AZRL, which paints a bad picture of all Atlas's information regarding AZRL since he was in charge of that investigation."

Silence fills the air for a moment.

James sighs. "For what it's worth... I believe you." Hope? No, that'd be too easy. "However, allow me to paint a broad picture of what I must do now."

Arnold braces himself. He can tell the verbal lashing is coming.

"Agent Palmo's reputation was already called into question. He was under investigation under suspicion for exactly the thing you stated. Colluding with AZRL. Yes, Team CRBN's actions have been contextualized heavily with coming court cases that have revealed a lot behind the scenes. All of this is true."

"What is also true is that further investigation into Palmo's resources and dealings have been met with dead ends. We've one witness set to reveal incriminating testimony that will apply to him. However, said witness's circumstances could also be explained away with various levels of scapegoats that could exist. That very likely DO exist. All of which we now have no means of questioning. Why? Because Palmo is dead."

"Now, all we have left as far as proof beyond reasonable doubt is theory, circumstance, and the proposition that he simply had an instance of incompetence doesn't show up. EVERYTHING about bringing AZRL's possible connections inside Atlas and the SDC has now been stone walled with no leads. All of this because Team CRBN has killed the man in question." He ends with a steel sharp tone.

Arnold looks away, processing. Still, he can't help but question. "Sir... what were they supposed to do? Just let Palmo kill them?" He looks to the paused video footage. "That fight only happened because he went after them! They clearly have self defense-"

James Ironwood cuts him off with a stern gaze. His voice booms. "What I EXPECT them to do, Captain, is come to us, be forthcoming, and turn over all evidence they can have. What I EXPECT them to do is abide by the law and allow US to do our jobs. The jobs the WE are expected to perform. At every step, ever since Beacon black listed them for arrest, Team CRBN has withheld information from all instances of contact. And I. Do. Not. Appreciate gaps in information among SUPPOSED allies!"

James sits down again. He maintains contact with Arnold before continuing. "On paper, Team CRBN just refused to comply with the lead Agent Investigator into AZRL affairs, resulting in murder of my officer. Regardless of Palmo's guilt, this is not something that can go unpunished. So, the two takeaways from this meeting starts with this... Team CRBN is now Atlas's most wanted."

Arnold double takes at that.

"They WILL provide information to us. They WILL cooperate. Or, they will be treated no differently from the enemy. I grow tired of these games in the shadows, Agent. All our resources in this matter will focus solely on bringing the four of them in."

The Captain purses his lips, processing... Until... He looks back. "Uh, Captain, sir." He corrects.

James raises a brow. "I didn't misspeak."

Arnold furrows his brow. His mouth shifts.

"You applied for agent status alongside Winter Schnee, did you not?" James speaks to guide Arnold's thoughts. He presents a pin badge to him... The badge that used to belong to Whis. "An opening just appeared, and your instincts seem up to the job."

The Captain... No, Agent, stares at the new pin in shock and dread.

Ironwood stands up. "You have three days leave to recover and address any mixed feelings you and your wife will have with this. Hence forth, I'm taking the AZRL investigation myself. You will be reporting directly to me, and we will start with hunting Team CRBN down personally."

The General walks from the desk, leading his way to the room's entrance. Fury. That is the only emotion to fuel the great General James Ironwood after today's events.

Fury.

We're back!

Well, I'm back... Let me start by saying it's not for any one reason this chapter is about five months late. Reason one, probably one third of the reason is because much of the writing I've done with this story has been in down time, both out of work and in work, and work place responsibilities have been, in no uncertain terms, absolutely insane. Essentially, I've been pretty drained often when not at work, which hasn't helped motivation.

Reason two, another third of the reason, is life changes. Relationship changes, working on housing. Focus on the writing has been diminished for a while, although those distractions are mostly dealt with now. This should be resolved soon.

Finally, (Sarcasm incoming), this long absence has had nothing to do with the fact that much of my home free time was absorbed/spent unwinding by multiple forms of media! Nope. Not at all. I totally did not get absorbed into any major games, major movie/show debuts, etc. I absolutely didn't get sucked into Final Fantasy 16, Mortal Kombat 1, or Baldur's Gate 3 one after another. Nope. Not at all...

Being honest, yeah, that last one is actually a big reason too, though I do swear it's far from the only reason.

Any other major things that occurred with me in my absence? Or in general?

My FF account had completely, 100 percent lost capability of tracking views. I've received messages and seen follow/review/favorite notifications proving people are reading, but from August through Jan 3, tracking from Fanfiction dot net had zeroed out for me. My read for how many people were still reading was blind, so thank you all for still enjoying! This problem was account wide, not just this story.

Oh well. So, some review/reader responses:

Curse of Kings (FF) – Two responses. You asked how to pronounce CBRG, Blair's, Glynda's, and Rowa's team. It is pronounced as iceberg, so iCeBeRG: Cella, Blair, Rowa, Glynda. If I typo'd it at some point, please let me know. Typos and spell check aren't exactly my friends... I wouldn't put it past me making that mistake and it also causing confusion.

Secondly, Yes, Roman's canon weapon is Melodic Cudgel, a weapon that has yet to appear in this fic. Velvet Valentine is his current weapon in this story.

Also, you private messaged this one, but it's something that should be addressed in the open, so consider this a response to you as well as any others who have your confusion. Neo's semblance name in canon is Overactive Imagination. Neo's semblance name in my fic is Shatter. These semblances are functionally identical, albeit perhaps I'm making interpretation at parts.

The reason for this change is two fold. One, it wasn't until about chapter 20 or so that I was even aware Neo's semblance was officially named. I was under the misconception any names given were unofficial, which is a big dumb dumb stupid thing of me. From there, I kept it as Shatter out of consistency with the material. Make no mistake, I fully and wholeheartedly made the big stupid mistake starting out.

Reason two, Shatter is easier when describing what she's doing. Since her illusions have the effect of breaking glass as they disappear, the name helps me quickly describe both that she's using her semblance and how it looks/presents itself in description.

Guest (FF, left on Chapter 1) – Maybe this reader has read up so he'll read this, but the gist of the comment believes Ozpin is too strong based on his chapter 1 showing. I mean, Ozpin DID fight Cinder for a prolonged fight, and prior to all power scaling being lost to the ether, it was established that even Qrow had to run before daring to fight a half maiden Cinder, much less the full maiden that Ozpin fought before his death in canon. I don't feel I made him too strong by any means. Maidens are sold as broken, and they shall be once I get there someday. Granted, I get that RWBY scaling is... difficult to say the least. Hopefully, I don't mess it up.

Husky Throne (FF) – Thank you very much for the positive reviews. Even if your reviews were negative, I wouldn't discourage you from speaking about them. Don't apologize for "so many replies". I like the engagement!

Stalker203X (AO3) – Yeah, I fully lost out entirely on that. I'll accept that failure! Hoping to make up for it. And thanks for the comment. At least AO3 hasn't had any of the account issues FF seems to have had!

All of that said...

Hopefully, not five months from now, I hope you will join me next time in Chapter eighty eight: One Final Effort.