Amber spun do face it. She wasn't sure what it was. The creature was about the size of a Boarbatusk but with red plates over its body. It was crouched low staring at her with four glowing orange eyes.
Was it some kind of new Grimm? She'd seen ones with more plating before but that was white. Before Amber could think further the beast shrieked. A mess of tendrils flailed from its mouth and it slammed its tail downwards. The thing, whatever it was, shot forwards aimed right at Amber.
She spun her staff letting the wind dust crystal at the end form a gust to knock the creature aside. Pushing off with one leg to avoid it. The creature passed right through a blast that should have knocked it down barely missing her. It slammed into a tree knocking it down and scrambled for a moment.
Amber drew up and prepared to fire a fire bolt from the other end of her weapon. Feeling a faint warning she dodged again rolling forwards. A flurry of projectiles shot over her head. Turning as she landed she found another creature had appeared.
This one was like the other but instead of using its tail to propel itself it raised it up. With a sharp whip like crack it snapped the tail towards her. A second volley of spines shot outwards in a rough cone.
She tried to block with a second gale but a few of the spines made it thorough. They shattered on her aura each one a hammer blow. Amber's scroll beeped an alert as her aura dropped to three quarters. That much from a few spikes?
Before she could turn to face the new attacker the first one roared again and launched itself towards her. She evaded and then the second bounded around her firing spines each time it stopped.
They had her on the defensive. How? She was a maiden yet these beasts, whatever they were, had her on the back-foot. Any move one would be ready to counter. The voice of Headmaster Ozpin saying she needed a team came to her mind. Right now she could use a team.
Amber slammed her staff down and the burst of air knocked both creatures away for a moment. Taking aim she sent a fire bolt into one. The attack struck home causing the beast to let out an ear piercing scream.
The second seemed to become enraged, bounding towards her like a cannonball. She deflected it with a swing of her staff and leveled the fire crystal to finish it off. It died like the first howling as the aura boosted flames scoured it from the inside out.
She was panting and shaking slightly. This wasn't normal. The smell of burning flesh and lack of dissipation confirmed they weren't Grimm. But these things had been cunning and this reeked of a trap. Animals didn't attack like that. Did they?
Then she noticed it.
A figure was watching from the cover of the trees. It couldn't be a person, it was too large for that. But its shape was humanoid.
Then it stood up. The observer was almost twice her height. As it rose its black cape fell from where it had been wrapped around its torso. Its body was covered in dull yellowish amber crystals. A helmet with three glowing red slits hid its face.
It reached down and lifted two maces. Each weapon had two rows of spikes running up opposite sides. The spikes seemed to be made of the same crystal as the ones on its body. As it lifted them half the heads rotated so the spikes were now on four sides.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Amber nearly in total panic and the silent thing before her staring at her. Then it laughed. A deep, malevolent chuckle that made her heart pound hard.
Then it started to walk forwards. Amber raised her staff firing off a set of fire bolts. They shot towards the cape clad monster. It raised the maces to shield its face. The bolts hit home and did nothing.
Three hit it square in the chest and just burst into embers. Two struck the maces and did the same. One clipped its cape and singed the edge. It laughed again.
Amber snarled at the mockery of this… this monster in the shape of a man. She focused and drew on the maidens power. The air around her started to swirl. A faint flame-like glow formed around her eyes. The beast stopped laughing and paused for a moment.
She let out more of the power, lifting herself clear of the ground. The flames around her eyes expanded till they seemed ablaze. Amber could feel the leaves tear from the trees as the storm around her built. She seized them and with a thought made each one flatten before coating them in a layer of ice. Then she let fly with the frozen hail.
The man beast dropped to one knee and kept the maces held up. Each leaf was like a glass razor shattering on its thick hide. It remained crouched allowing the fury of the storm to wash over it. Then it rose slowly and started to edge forwards.
Amber blinked in shock. Not that it had survived the hail but that its response was to keep closing. She started to prepare for another burst of wind building more power. That was what hid the sound of the fourth creature.
With Amber focused on the foe before her another had crept close. Using the trees around her to hide it drew close. Then drew its tail back and snapped it forwards. The single large spine shot through the column of wind around Amber and struck home.
It was like being hit by an airship. One moment she was about to rain fire upon her opponent. The next she was knocked to the ground. Amber tried to rise as her aura flickered trying to solidify. She saw her staff to one side and tried to reach for it.
A spiked foot slammed into the ground between her hand and her staff. Looking up, Amber saw what had attacked her. It was like a larger version of the first two beasts. It hissed and chittered before moving to stand over her.
Its belly split open lengthwise leaking out a foul smelling gloop. A mess of tentacles reached down sizing Amber. They restrained her limbs and drew her into its belly. As they touched her skin she felt her body go limp.
Amber wanted to scream but all her lungs could do was a weak gurgle as she became paralyzed. Then its belly drew shut, locking her within. She felt something pulling at her mind. And then… the nightmare started.
The Warden let out a snort and jerked its head to the Snatcher commanding the creature to take their quarry back to the nest. This one was stronger than most. Perhaps it would become a mighty servant of the Swarm.
Even now the weak human was being tormented by the hive-mind. Any knowledge it held would be drawn out by the mental probing. There was something else as well. An overbearing presence had taken an interest. Perhaps this one would be destined for greater things? A strange aura formed over the Snatcher much like when the human had floated in the air.
The Warden's thoughts were interrupted by something striking its helm, tearing it off.
The Warden roared as the bright light burned its sensitive eyes. Its Locust heritage made its vision superior in darkness but outside in daylight it was blinded for a few moments. Worse still its head was exposed and vulnerable.
It raised its maces and turned to face the threat.
Three humans were sprinting towards it, at impressive speed. Two females one younger with a young male. The older female carried a bow, the younger two pistols whilst the male was unarmed. Pitiful. They didn't even have armor yet they thought to challenge it.
'Emerald now!' Cinder shouted.
'Yes ma'am,' Emerald replied. Focusing her semblance.
She focused on the two… things. Whatever they were before her. Their minds were weird and oddly… connected? Regardless she fixed on them.
Picturing the image of her, Cinder and Mercury moving to the right. Whilst they actually moved left. Their targets turned to face the hallucinations unaware of the real danger.
Emerald slowed coming to a stop and crouching. Her semblance was easier to use like this so she could focus. Mercury accelerated, aiming for the big one in the cape. Cinder switched to her swords and took the kidnapper.
For all her gripes with him Mercury seemed worth the effort of finding. He leapt into the air landing a kick on the mace wielding beast. And fired a burst of air into its head. Leaping back to dodge its blind swing. The thing's head turned to face them, its cheek hanging loose.
She'd seen that blast cut rock and throw Mercury into the air. All it had done to this thing was make it look more angry.
Cinder had more luck sliding under the four legged monster and slashing at its belly. The flabs of skin parted aside. A second set of cuts freed their target. Flawless as expected of Cinder.
Now however the creatures were aware of the trick. Emerald struggled to form the illusions now causing them to flicker in and out. Two sets of perspective were much harder to maintain.
Cinder grabbed the target and dashed clear, letting Mercury bounce between the two monsters. Each impact echoed with a crack of air from his prosthetic legs.
'Cinder! We could do with some back-up. How about calling some of your pals?!' Mercury called out.
'Just cover us you dolt,' Cinder snapped back. Running over and putting the target down behind a tree.
'Oh yeah cover you. What are these things!?' Mercury shouted back. Jumping clear of a mace swing.
'I don't know, just kill them!' Cinder snarled back drawing her swords.
The two of them began to duel the monsters but were being forced back. Emerald felt exhausted as her head pounded from maintaining the illusions.
'Cinder! I can't… Keep this up!' Emerald shouted.
Now the two monsters started to get glancing hits on both Mercury and Cinder. Their auras took the blunt of the blows but each one would add up in time. This was a battle of attrition now and they were losing.
Qrow was feeling his aura strain now. This was way too much running for an old fart. But if someone else was after Amber he needed to reach her first. He was just about to think of taking a rest when he noticed the birds take to the wing. His ears picked up the sounds of battle.
Groaning, he focused more of his aura and headed towards the battle.
Emerald was about to step in to help Cinder when she caught a flash of movement. Turning she saw some old guy running towards them. She focused and cast their last disguises over his senses.
Cinder had been clear they needed to avoid being recognised. No one but a Huntsman would be crazy enough to run towards a fight. Besides, one target was easier than three. She watched as he leapt into the air drawing his weapon.
It started as a sword but switched to a scythe as he dove towards the four legged thing. With a flash he cut its tail off and rolled clear on the other side. A fountain of blood burst from the severed limb.
The monster turned roaring in rage. The Huntsman dashed under its belly holding the sword upwards gutting the thing as he passed. Its guts fell out. With a few moments of flailing before it finally dropped to the ground.
Now it was two on one on one. Depending on how the newcomer felt about them. The cape clad thing turned looking around at its opponents before smashing its maces down, shaking the ground.
All of them leapt away to avoid becoming a target. Cinder and the Huntsman used their aura. Mercury just let out another burst of air to fly upwards.
The Huntsman landed and shifted his weapon again. The handle and blade retracted and then re-angled to let him aim two gun barrels. Firing off one shot from each before moving again.
Their opponent turned and lowered its head letting the rounds strike its crystal covered arm. They sparked off with little effect. But that made something click in Emerald's mind.
Its body was covered in crystals that they couldn't scratch. But Mercury had blown part of its face off with a solid hit. That was it!
'The head! It's protecting its head!' Emerald shouted, 'You can't scratch its body, go for the head!'
The three humans looked at each other for a moment then nodded and started to attack. Each shot past trying to hit the thing's face. Or failing that break its guard so one of the others could land a blow.
First the Huntsman dashed in firing another blast from his weapon. The monster raised the maces to block them. Then swung to try and counter. But the Huntsman had darted back out of range.
Mercury followed up with a flurry of kicks. None managed to do lasting damage but they did put it off balance. Before it could respond he too moved back.
Cinder waited till it had started to turn then loosed an arrow. It was a perfect shot that speared the thing's eye. It stood for a moment longer as though confused at its death the dropped to its knees and fell face down.
They were all exhausted now. Cinder glanced over to Mercury then Emerald. This had taken too long. A quick battle would have been fine but now their aura was lower than the Huntsman.
If he had just been passing though there would be little issue. But if he was looking for the Maiden they would have to leave. A fight now would be too risky. Plus if he was with Ozpin he might just kill the Maiden to deny her capture. Cinder signaled them to fall back. For now.
Qrow was about to turn and face the two figures when they flickered out of sight. He froze and focused his senses looking for any danger. Finding none he turned to see Amber was still by the tree where the third one had been crouched.
He moved over as fast as he could, whilst keeping his guard up. Crouching down he found Amber alive but comatose. Qrow gave the place one more look over then lifted her over his shoulder.
'What you're saying makes no sense,' Glynda said with a hint of confusion.
Rather than respond Qrow tipped back his flask draining the liqueur within. It had been a few days. First to get back to somewhere within CCT range and then call a ride. Ozpin had had a Vale Bullhead sent out for them.
There were no more appearances of the three people who had been tracking Amber. If there had been three. Given they'd had someone with an illusion semblance there could have been more. But Qrow doubted it.
Lowing his now drained flask Qrow looked at Glynda, 'I know what I saw. These weren't Grimm. They were something else.'
'Perhaps your memory would be better if you were sober. Do you have any idea how this sounds?' Glynda asked.
'Oh I don't know. What part do you mean? The fact that Salem has people hunting the Maidens again? Or the fact I ran into the Seran's boogie men? What about the disappearances hmm?'
'Qrow. I know you tend to… embellish your stories for your own reasons,' Ozpin said tilting his head, 'But you're sure this wasn't just some new kind of Grimm?'
'Am I sure? What part didn't you get?' Qrow snapped rising and pacing the room, 'They bled Oz. And I mean blood guts and all. One of them was almost human and had a pair of mace. Does that sound like a Grimm?! When have they ever used weapons?'
Both Ozpin and Glynda looked down for a moment quietly. Qrow flopped back into the chair. All of them looked down trying to absorb the situation.
'So what now?' Qrow asked finally.
'Now? What can we do? If we announce this it will be a panic,' Glynda snapped.
'Yes. And that will have the Serans at our door calling for war,' Ozpin mumbled.
That led to the image of what the Serans had done to win their last war.
'We can't do that! They'll burn the whole continent to win!' Qrow shouted.
'No one is suggesting we let them do that,' Ozpin said firmly, 'But we need to do something. Do you still have contacts that you can call on? A few you can trust to keep things discreet?'
'I can try but we're going to need help,' Qrow said, rubbing his head.
'Do what you can. I'll call James. He should be able to send some help.'
'Great call a tin general for some tin soldiers,' Qrow mumbled under his breath.
'Amber is only alive due to his help,' Glynda said angrily.
Qrow bit back a reply then said, 'How is she?'
Glynda took a breath then replied, 'Alive. But we can't get her to wake up. Whatever those things did she doesn't seem to want to wake up. Worse still it seems her aura has been… leached.'
'What what? You don't mean?' Qrow asked. His head snapped up as he spoke.
'Yes. Part of her power was taken,' Ozpin said with a sigh, 'But we don't know who took it. It might be the people you said tracked her or…'
'Those things stole part of a Maiden's power?'
'Salem has tried before. And James has offered a means to perform the same act.'
'A mea- You want to drain what's left out of Amber?!'
'Not drain,' Ozpin said, holding up a hand, 'Transfer. The Vytal festival is in a year's time. I've already started looking at candidates. We can transfer the maidens power from Amber to a replacement. That will take her out of danger.'
'So that's it?' Qrow growled, 'She tries to help people and we let her go out alone! Now you're talking like she's already dead!'
'Do you have a better plan?' Glynda hissed, 'We don't know where the power went. If she dies with the power at risk we might not be able to recover it.'
'Which puts the Vault and the Relic at risk,' Ozpin added.
Qrow stood and turned to leave, 'I've got some calls to make.'
'Qrow,' Ozpin said, causing him to stop, 'Thank you.'
'Don't thank me for this Oz. I don't like using people,' Qrow muttered while walking to the lift.
Nora watched the latest group of arrivals with a bored look. The first few had been like them. Huntsman in training or otherwise. But the last few groups to arrive at the Lodge were all military types.
They marched down the ramp in neat rows two by two. The craft was kind of weird though. They'd been told it was a Condor, one of the first the COG had made apparently.
Rather than lift off like an airship needed to push itself fast enough that it could fly. Seemed kind of weird but then again what wasn't weird about the Serans?
'Hey Nora,' Ren called from behind her.
Nora turned to see Ren standing at the doorway leading inside the building.
'What?' She asked stretching as she stood.
'They're ready for us inside come on,' Ren replied heading inside.
'About time. I was getting tired of waiting,' Nora said walking after him.
They walked through to the main courtyard finding most of the others already gathered. There was a mix of people, most were clearly Huntsmen but a good portion were in COG uniforms. A low level of chatter was going around before a man and woman walked up to the podium set overlooking them. The man was wearing an officer's uniform and the woman a suit.
'Good afternoon,' The man said, 'I'm General O'Connor. Welcome to the Lodge. Before we continue I think we'd better get you all sorted into your teams. Before any of you start wondering how we plan to do that we've already done it. Or to be more precise one of our algorithms has.'
The general lifted his PDA and tapped a command in. A moment later all the PDAs in the room chirped as they received a message.
'These are your teams. You will notice that rather than the standard four person team you are in threes. You are also a pair of Huntsmen with a trooper from the army. This is how it will be for this portion of your training. When you finish here you the top squads will be sent to the main Academies to be graded. Where your final organic member will join you. Provided you don't screw up. This school will be certified to train Huntsmen. Please group up now.'
O'Connor stepped back to let them look at their teams for a moment. Each person glanced at their PDA and then moved towards the others in their team.
'Hey I'm Trooper Jaune Arc,' Jaune said, holding out a hand.
'Lie Ren,' Ren said shaking his hand, 'And this i-'
'Nora Valkyrie. Pleased to meet you,' Nora said. Grabbing Jaune's other hand firmly and shaking it vigorously.
'Hi.' Jaune managed to reply. As his whole body rocked back and forth.
'Nora,' Ren said, cocking an eyebrow.
'What I'm just being friendly,' Nora said, releasing Jaune's hand.
'I'm sorry about her. Nora can get excited at times,' Ren said with a polite nod.
'Oh no no. No harm no foul as they say,' Jaune said, flexing his hand.
'See. He's fine,' Nora said. Slapping Jaune on the back nearly knocking him over.
Before Ren could apologize again O'Connor spoke again, 'If I might have your attention,' The general paused for a moment letting the room settle.
'Some of you might have noticed I said your last organic member would be joining you at the Academy. I'll be passing you over to Gracie Ramos of DBI who will explain further,' O'Connor said before yielding the podium.
Ramos stepped forward, 'As the General just said I'm Gracie Ramos the CEO of DBI here on Remnant. This facility is our test bed for many things. We've got a dozen modular training areas which can be used to simulate nearly any environment. Provided you don't break them.'
There was a low round of laughter at that. Ramos paused before continuing.
'Since we know most if not all of you will want to tinker we've built a workshop. But you'll find more then just hand tools in there. Inside you'll find nearly any tool DBI makes. Lathes, presses and C&C machines up to and including a Fabricator. Go nuts. Each of you will get the software you need to make whatever you want.'
A round of mumbling rose at that. Most of the amateurs had made do with what they could get. Even the more professional amongst them had needed to pay a premium to work on their weapon.
'Now onto what the General said about your extra team members. Come on, all of you come meet the nice people,' Ramos said looking over her shoulder.
After a moment a row of machines flew out of the doorway behind her. Each had four eyes like a DeeBee but a body more like a Watcher. They floated down each one heading for a different team.
'These JACK units are our first batch made here on Remnant. Each team has one unit assigned to them. Now let me be blunt. You can mess this place up within reason. But don't let anything happen to these bots. Understand?' Ramos asked looking over them all, 'I'm sure the First Minister will let me make an example of anyone who breaks one.'
There wasn't any laughter at that comment. Mainly because of the look in her eyes. Ramos nodded before continuing.
'It will take too long to explain everything they can do. But these guys can cloak, hack, perform first aid, act as a communication relay and a whole lot more. They are smart. Way smarter than a DeeBee. So don't mistreat them. Or you'll have to deal with me. Clear?'
A round of nods answered her.
'Good now. Look around and get settled. I'm sure you've got a nice day planned for tomorrow,' Ramos said, stepping away from the podium.
'Well she seemed…' Jaune said, unable to find a word.
'Crazy?' Nora offered.
'Passionate?' Ren suggested.
'Umm. More of the latter. I hope,' Jaune said. Turning to face the JACK that had joined them.
'So what do we call you?' Jaune asked.
The JACK simply beeped looking at each of them in turn.
'Not quite as chatty as the others are you?' Nora asked, rubbing her chin.
'Well we can't just call it JACK. That will just get confusing,' Ren pointed out.
'Okay then let's come up with a name,' Nora said, shrugging.
'Michael?' Jaune offered.
'No that's too long,' Nora said, shaking her head, 'Modi?'
'I don't think that will work either,' Ren said, 'Mushu?'
'No those are all a bit off,' Nora said.
'How about Rex?' Jaune suggested?
'That sounds okay I guess,' Ren said with a shrug.
'Yeah. Rex could work,' Nora agreed.
The newly christened Rex beeped in agreement.
'Then it's settled. Welcome to the team Rex,' Jaune said with a smile.
'Enough chit chat,' Nora declared, 'Let's go see our rooms.'
Before anyone could stop her Nora marched off. Ren, Jaune and Rex glanced at each other for a moment before following her.