Disclaimer: Everything is Rooster Teeth's.
Review Time:
KaiserUmbra: I know that now.
A sanguinary gaurd: I'm still thinking on how to make Felix a decent guy at the least, Jaune is there just… Really buried. I see Locus and Batman while Felix is Jason Todd.
PoofyOhio: Meh, I'll cross that bridge and see if I decide to include the neuro implants.
TheNineNerdGhouls: Karma will come, to both Team RWBY and Felix. Eventually.
deathcorn5: Okay.
Guest: Here it is.
Ruby hasn't been able to focus on her classes all week. Her mind was a whirlwind of plans, scenarios and conspiracy theories due to a plethora of different elements clashing on her mind, and causing her poor fifteen year old brain to go almost on overload. Between the mix of her incoming plans of scouting the city of Vale with her team to look for villainous activities, and the newest member of Team NPR plus, it left little to no space for whatever story professor Port was narrating, or whatever historical fact Professor—Excuse her, Doctor Oobleck might be telling them, especially with his motorboat mouth.
But one part of such whirlwinds are soon coming to an end; for tomorrow was the day!
Yes, tomorrow.
They've being preparing all week, tuning their weapons and buying dust ammunition both for their secret mission and for the Vytal Tournament and giving management to their weapons so they would be at a one-hundred percent. No White Fang grunt would stand a chance, or even Torchwick himself.
Call it a gut feeling, but tomorrow was going to be great!
Which still left a single problem, and that problem had a name.
Felix Naran.
Right now they're having combat class, and Ruby was watching as team NPR plus sat on the opposite side of the room—obviously trying to avoid her and her team—with Felix sitting in the place where Jaune would've sit, at Pyrrha's side and opposite from Ren. They seemed to be getting along, Felix told them something that elicited barely concealed giggles from Pyrrha, a laugh from Nora, and a smirk from Ren.
She was starting to think that maybe she just went crazy. First the weird soldier guy at the docks, then her black haired classmate, both having a tone of voice that reminded her of her missing blonde friend, yet it couldn't be just that. Blake admitted that the guy with the amazing armor sounded like Jaune he just… Didn't acted like him.
For as little as they've known each other, she knew Jaune wouldn't kill a person and then used them as a human—or Faunus in this case—shield.
Then came Felix, same voice yet again and her whole team agreed that it sounded like Jaune, just a tiny bit less… dorky. It freaked them out, yet they brushed it aside as a mere coincidence.
But then they met in the hallway and he said the exact same, lame pick up line Jaune told her when they met at the courtyard of the school on their first day.
It was all so weird and confusing! So Ruby's mind started to formulate theories about it, there had to be an explanation behind this aside from it being a mere coincidence.
The first was that all three of them were the same person… But they were all too different from each other. Jaune was a dork, and no offense to him but he couldn't fight all that well… As Weiss liked to remark, the armored guy… she wasn't sure what kind of person he was aside from being good at fighting and at killing… so yeah, and she might not know much of Felix but he only seemed like a normal guy of Yang's age.
Then she thought… Clones!
… That idea was quickly thrown to the trash bin of her brain.
Then it could be that they're related, Yang and her were basically mini-versions of their moms, so Jaune and Felix could be cousins or something. But that didn't explain the armored guy, or why Felix didn't show any reaction to being on the same team as Jaune if they were family.
She resisted a sigh, nothing added up and it was driving her nuts. She tried to take her up with her team but they just chalk it up to coincidence, saying any guy would use pick-up lines like that. She had to convince Yang that Felix wasn't interested in her and didn't have to 'talk' with him.
Luckily they barely interacted in the week, so she saved herself the embarrassment and a possible detention for Yang.
"Everything okay, sis?" Yang asked, as she noticed Ruby slumped on her seat.
Ruby nodded, not trying to hide much of her sulkiness, "Just wanting the class to be over, so we can sleep and be ready for tomorrow."
"I understand what you mean," Blake muttered, sitting with her arms crossed over her chest and her leg bouncing impatiently. She was the most invested on the incoming mission; gathering as much as she could over the White Fang's resent movements.
She also noticed that she kept glaring daggers at the back of Felix's head from every once in a while. Maybe she isn't the only one thinking about his possible relation with Jaune and the soldier guy from the docks… though she might be leaning more to the latter than the former, considering the intensity of said glares.
"I do as well," Weiss said. "But try to not be so obvious about it, both of you," she said, looking at Blake who did her best to hide her anxiety. "We need to keep it under wraps and covers, and it is also important to take notes of what Miss Goodwitch says, it might do good for the festival."
"I know what's good for the festival," Yang said, raising her biceps, "these guys."
"I thought they were gals?" Ruby said with a head tilt.
"Nah… Those are these," Yang responded with a smirk pointing to her… assets.
"Would it kill you to not be so uncouth?" Weiss asked with an eye-roll.
"Would it kill you to chill out… or maybe burn a bit?" Yang asked back, giving Weiss a flat stare.
"Ha, ha," Weiss laughed dryly.
"And so to finish this session today, I'll choose two students to fight. One from one of our guests from the other academies and one of our own," Miss Goodwitch's voice brought their attention back to the middle of the classroom. "As a display of what we, as the hosts of the festival this year have to offer, and in turn to show what our guests can do. And since I heard some talking from over this side…" Their professor turned to glare at them, making them break in cold sweat. "I suppose one of the members of Team RWBY shall do."
The girls all adopted sheepish looks; luckily it seems she didn't heard what they were talking about but heard them muttering anyways.
"Miss Schnee, please come down here," She called while looking around for an opponent. "As for your adversary… Mister Naran, while I know you are staying with a team from Beacon you hail from Haven, you wouldn't mind to participate, would you?"
Ruby's eyes widened and she looked at where Team NPR plus was sitting. Felix blinked and gave a lazy shrug before sitting up and exchanging some words with his teammates that seemed to be of encouragement, if their smiles were something to go by. By now, almost every team knew of Felix's circumstances.
"Welp, another reason for NPR to not want to be with us anymore," Yang said, not really sounding all that upset, "Weiss's about to beat their new teammate."
"While I appreciate the trust, that remains to be seen," Weiss said. "He might be a rival on the festival so make sure to take notes," She said, handing her notebook to Blake.
"I wonder what kind of weapon he has!" Ruby wondered out loud, finally taking her mind from his similitude with Jaune and setting into her passion: weapons! Specifically guns!
She didn't noticed how Blake leaned forward as well, not to take notes from Weiss, but wanting to check on something for herself.
Oh this was perfect. No, more than perfect, it was amazing.
He was fighting against that obnoxious, prissy bitch, Weiss.
While Felix wanted to deny any connection he had towards Arc, he couldn't forget things the brat lived while he still existed, one of them being the fact that this holier-than thou princess always belittle him and made him the butt of many jokes, along with the blonde bimbo crater face had for a sister.
The only problem was that he would have to hold back a bit, being a spar and all that. He still had a façade to keep, and giving her a matching scar on her other eye would draw attention.
Oh, but what could he do against the Schnee, most people would be wondering. She has those glyphs, and dust, and a fancy dress.
He'll tell you what she doesn't have that Felix does: Experience. Felix was a soldier, one that fought one of the most intense wars in the recorded story of humankind.
Well… a humankind, but you get the point.
He reached the arena and tugged at his dress shirt, to ease it up and get ready for the fight. Miss moneybags was standing in front of him with a regal pose, and her rapier Myrtenaster held upwards on her hand as a symbol of respect.
Felix did his homework for his upcoming mission, and studied these four girls knowing they'll get on his new boss's plans, so he knows how they fight.
Yang is a brawler who launches herself first into battle, Blake is sneaky and uses her clones to divert her opponent's attention, Ruby moves around shooting with her absurd velocity and her oversized garden tool, and Weiss used Dust in almost everything along with her glyphs.
How to beat her? Well, you'll see.
[Ost: I am all of me-Shadow the Hedgehog]
"I wish you the best of luck," Weiss said, giving a respectful nod. Always keeping appearances when underneath she is just a bratty bitch.
Felix smirked and fiddled with the buttons of his shirt. "Sure thing…"
"Begin in three, two, one," Goodwitch started to count.
Felix's smirk grew and adopted a more high pitched tone, "… Snow angel."
Weiss blinked and lost her balance. "W-Wha-"
"Begin!"
Felix drew two of his knives from his belt and dashed against the heiress. Weiss had to leave behind her surprise when she saw her opponent coming, she got ready to intercept him only for Felix to stop and throw one of his knives at her.
Weiss raised her rapier and blocked the incoming blade, which served its purpose as it distracted her from the incoming Felix. His remaining knife clashed with the steel of Myrtenaster as Weiss blocked his advances.
She parries him and pushed him back, long enough for a glyph to form under her feet and slide back, away from the range of her opponent. Felix throws his remaining knife, but the heiress easily swatted it away from her. The former mercenary narrowed his eyes, while the heiress did the same.
The glyph under her feet shifted and instead of slide her back seemed to charge to send her forward towards her opponent, with her rapier aimed at his chest and changing its cylinder to the fire dust loaded on it, she lunged forward aiming for a thrust.
Felix smirked and drew his gun from the back of his belt, loaded with Fire Dust and pressed the trigger, three fire balls were sent to the heiress way. Weiss gasped and forced herself to stop, and used her rapier to bat them away to block them.
Her opponent didn't stop; he kept firing forcing Weiss to keep blocking his attacks until his gun would inevitably click. Felix knew this and with a flicker of his wrist a blade slid down from his sleeve down to his free hand, and while he kept shooting he threw his blade towards the leg of the heiress.
Weiss winced when she felt something graze her leg, making her look down and see yet another blade imbedded a few centimeters behind her. This distraction was all Felix needed to sheath his gun and charge again, with a flick of his wrists two new blades appeared on his hands.
Weiss looked up, but before her opponent could reach her she stabbed the tip of her weapon on the floor and a road of ice made its way towards Felix. The man stopped and leaped to the side to avoid the icy path that would've put his balance in danger.
A glyph formed under Weiss, this launching her various meters into the air. She twirled with the magnificence of a ballerina and aimed the tip of her rapier at the man, firing consecutive fireballs at him. Felix responded in kind, drawing his gun and firing projectiles that impacted with the incoming fireballs. The resulting explosion in the air left a smoke screen that hid Weiss from the view of his opponent.
Felix narrowed his eyes, and shifted his position to dodge anything that would come his way while also changing the cartridge of his gun for Ice Dust. The smoke cleared as Weiss, propelled by a glyph midair dived to for a stab at her opponent, Felix narrowed his eyes and flickered his wrist and moved his body slightly at the side to dodge.
Weiss passed by him, landing a few meters behind him. She missed her mark, but he didn't miss his. She grimaced as she felt a cut on her right bicep that her aura quickly healed, she looked back to see Felix twirling yet another knife was being twirled on his left hand.
"Another one?" She asked, wondering just where did the Haven student kept drawing his knives from.
"I never go out of home without them," Felix said as he unbuttoned his shirt.
He turned around and Weiss gasped as he saw the interior of Felix's shirt had multiple slots where knives were sheathed and ready to be use by him.
He drew three of them on his left hand and threw them at the heiress, who used Myrtenaster to block them and swat them away; yet another thing was fired at her feet. She looked down to see ice covering her feet and then at his opponent, noticing the gun with frost around the muzzle. Her eyes widened when she realized he used the knives as a distraction to freeze her in the spot.
She was thinking of using her own fire dust to free herself, but that would mean hurting herself, even if her aura would absorb the damage. And it's not like Felix was going to allow it.
He dashed one last time, now that his opponent was trapped. He grinned as he saw the results of his investigation.
Trap the Schnee like a fly, and limit her use of Dust. That's how you beat her.
He threw several knives in the air and slashed at her with two on each hand. As she blocked his slashes, Felix switched constantly between the blades in the air and the ones on the air, quite literally juggling with his weapons and making his movements erratic and unpredictable for the young heiress. By the expression of befuddlement on her face, Felix could tell she didn't saw coming this kind of use on for his knives.
Weiss tried her best to block and parry the strikes from the black haired man, yet they came from all directions as Felix kept tossing and catching the blades on the air, she couldn't even focus on using a glyph to set herself free with the possibility that Felix might slip through her attempts to keep her defense and give a decisive blow for this fight. And even with her best attempts she could feel small cuts go through her arms and even her torso.
This back and forth ended when one of Felix blades cut Weiss' hand and forced her to let go of Myrtenaster, she gasped as her weapon was sent clattering away from her grasp, and this momentary distraction was enough for Felix to nail various cuts from his blades on her torso, making her aura dip to the yellow zone. Felix caught two blades and spun to deliver a roundhouse kick to Weiss's sides with enough strength to rip her clean out of her icy prison and sent her bouncing to the opposite side of the arena where her weapon had landed.
As she skidded to a stop, Weiss winced and tried to sit back up, but a shadow loomed over her and saw Felix leaping to her, apparently ready to stomp her. Instinctively she brought her hands up, only to felt the stomp on both sides of her head and a cold tip on her neck. She opened her eyes to see Felix, kneeling closely to her and pressing one of his blades to her neck, while his free hand gripped one of her hands to prevent her from escaping.
"Yield," He told her with a calm tone.
Weiss took a few deep breaths as she looked around, trying to find some way to continue fighting, but as she looked up she saw the screen showing their aura levels.
It was disheartening to see her aura level on the yellow, while Felix remained untouched.
She sighed. "I yield."
The buzzer went off and the battle was over.
[End Ost]
Felix sheathed his knife and offered the heiress a hand. She debated herself a few moments if she should take it, before deciding to show good sportsmanship and take it, with the man hauling her to her feet.
"An outstanding performance you two," Goodwitch said as she walked to the two. "Mister Naran, while I've been informed of your lack of mechashift weapon I would recommend you to get one at least as a replacement for your knives, seeing as they could get easily lost in battle."
Felix nodded, showing his innocent face to the teacher, "I'll keep it in mind, thank you professor."
Nodding in satisfaction, she turned to her other student. "Miss Schnee, you did an outstanding job, yet you shouldn't be too reliant in your weapon or your mobility. Think about the situation you found yourself in moments before your defeat, without a weapon and unable to move, and think of ways you could've gotten out of there."
Weiss nodded, clearly considering her teacher's word. "Yes, miss Goodwitch."
"Very well," She nodded and turned to the rest of the class. "You're all dismissed."
Weiss couldn't hide the sigh of disappointment she felt when she left the arena. She wasn't a sore loser—No matter what Yang says!—but she was sure no one could just be satisfied with a defeat like that, she didn't even scratch his aura, and she lost by unconventional means, not even getting to the red area of the meter but having to be forced to quit.
Frankly it was humiliating.
Then… there's what happened before the fight.
That voice, that look, and that obnoxious nickname! Everything screamed at her face ARC!
But that can't, and shouldn't be possible. Arc has been missing for months now, and there was no way in just a couple months he reached her level and even surpass it, it was just ridiculous to even think about it.
Yet the possibility buzzed in her mind like an annoying fly, and it didn't helped that Ruby had suffered a similar situation a few days prior. It was all too weird to be coincidences…
Great now she sounded like her.
"Weiss!" Her leader appeared in front of her with a worried frown, "you okay?"
"I'm fine, Ruby," Weiss said with an eye-roll. "It was just a spar, nothing out of the ordinary."
"But man," Yang said as she approached the two and the other students started to fill out the room. "That guy fought like crazy, did ya see how he juggled his knives, if do that and I'd probably won't… Made the cut, eh?"
"Yaaaang," Ruby groaned, while Weiss face-palmed, both aggravated by their teammates lame jokes.
"Oh come on, that was comedy gold!" Yang pouted, crossing her arms below her breasts. Her team just didn't appreciate her attempts to lift the mood.
Blake lagged behind her teammates, her golden eyes narrowing as she stared at Felix as he reunited with team NPR. Again, another match that connects him with the killer from the docks, that man had also used knives, one of them taking the life of a person there. First the name, then the voice, now the knives, Blake turned around and walked after her team. Yet another thing she'll haave to keep an eye on.
Meanwhile, after recollecting his knives with the help of the teacher's Semblance, Felix encountered with Team NPR, ready to congratulate him on his victory against the heiress.
"That. Was. Awesome!" Nora squealed as she zoomed to Felix, getting close to his face and forcing him to lean back. "You gotta teach me how to use knives like that!"
Felix sweatdropped at the bomber's energy, "Yeah… How about we put a pin to that idea?" He told her as he pushed her away from his face. "Besides you can't break legs with a knife," he told her matter of factly.
Nora tapped her chin in thought before nodding. "Good points, good points."
"It's unusual to see someone fight without mechashifts," Ren commented, to change the subject before Nora got any ideas.
"Eh, I like the classics," Felix said with a shrug, not missing the slight grimaces on their faces as he said this—sentimental losers.
"E-Even so, the way you knew how to counter her attacks was very impressive," Pyrrha said, trying to hide her slight discomfort of remembering the dumbass blonde.
"Once you figure out how she operates is simple, she used those glyphs to move around and use dust to gain advantage. Just had to cut those from her," He winked. "Take notes, might be important for the tournament."
"I sure wanna be the one to get her out," Nora grumbled bitterly. "Make her stop talking bad about people she doesn't know."
Felix almost wanted to roll his eyes. Seriouly, they were teammates just for a few months, can't she just let go of Arc already. Weiss was a bitch, but there were a thousand better reasons to beat her up aside from some dead brat.
"I can give you some notes of all her team," At the curious looks he got, he shrugged. "What? They're the strongest first years, and only first and second years participate in the festival most of the time."
That was something he learned recently. Since third and fourth years were more busy taking jobs to acquire real life experience for the future, they skipped the whole tournament, leaving it mostly an event for first and second years.
"That might be interesting, give us good strategies to work with," Pyrrha said. Her personal trainers back home tried the same with her. Key word tried since Pyrrha didn't needed much planning when her skills did a lot for her, but it was still good for her to avoid any surprise.
"Only thing is… I can't do it tomorrow I have an err…" Felix said, looking flustered. "A date tomorrow"
The three parts of team NPR paused and turned to see their newest teammate in surprise, "Really, with whom?" Pyrrha asked, merely for curiosity's sake.
"One of my friends from Haven," He answered. "She's actually the one who asked me out and- Oof!" He was interrupted when a body jumped on his back, barely managing to catch his balance.
A girl dressed in all black and wearing twin-tails had wrapped her arms around Felix and basically forced him into giving her a piggy back ride. 'Speak of the devil and she shall appear,' Felix thought as he observed her. "Welp, here she is," He chuckled. "Guys, meet Noire, member of team…" He looked back at her with a grimace, "are you sure that's your team's name?"
She nodded rapidly, resting her head at the top of his.
"Team… CMEN," Felix said, wondering whose idea was it to name the team that way.
Nora's lip wobbled, Ren tilted his head, while Pyrrha blinked with a light blush on her face. "W-well, nice meeting you… Noire…" She said, clearly processing the name.
Noire wiggled her fingers at her in a clear way of greeting her, causing Pyrrha to look at her strangely at her lack of words.
"She's of few words," Felix said, shrugging. "You get use to her."
The date was a front. He just needed an excuse to get out tomorrow and go to the rally the Roman and the furries are organizing to get more furries to yip with.
Noire—Or Neo, whatever—was chosen over Emerald and Cinder since the two were too occupied preparing something else he, and he quotes 'didn't have to worry about yet,' so the disguised girl was left with the task of giving him an excuse. The girl seemed indifferent at first, but then she seemed to be getting really into the act.
She still refused to get in bed with him. Her lost.
'Noire' finally let go of him and skipped away like a happy schoolgirl, while the mixed team watched her go. "I approve her!" Nora said. "Good choice there, buddy, she's a keeper!"
"Nora you just met her," Ren pointed out.
"I have a good eye," The girl said with a shrug. "C'mon Renny, let's pick a suit for Felix to impress his girl!"
"That won't be necessary aaaaaand she's gone," Felix deadpanned as Nora dragged Ren back to their dorm. "That was on me for telling her of my plans for tomorrow."
"She has her heart in a good place," Pyrrha said. "Were the two of you close back in Haven?"
"Some works together here and there," He said with a shrug. "Can't help it if she falls for my looks," He said smugly.
Pyrrha snorted a bit at his words. In the week they've known each other she'd learned that Felix was quite sure of himself, not so badly as the members of team CRDL but enough for him to drop comments like that. It was also a relief that he didn't worship the floor she walked in despite knowing of her beforehand.
And after that demonstration against Weiss, she couldn't but wonder who'd win on a fight between the two, her most competitive spirit calling out to test herself against her new teammate. A part of her, a prideful part of her, told her it would be her since he uses knives and a gun, but she had yet to see his Semblance in action.
The two made small talks back to the dorm; talking about the incoming date and some other details, with Pyrrha completely unaware of the nature of the events that her teammate would be involved in tomorrow.
Locus stared at the machine in front of him with barely concealed disdain, it reminded him of the MANTIS back on chorus, and the many—Many—others than he encountered during the great war.
Today the animal people—Faunos—were gathering to get more people into their army. From what he's investigated from them, they used to be a peaceful group, but changed their ways five years ago, becoming nothing but terrorists and criminals. What once was a noble crusade now was just an excuse to cause fear and terror in the hearts of those who didn't even deserved it.
… It reminded him of himself.
These was going to be his first step to try and clean his conscience, after years of hiding his façade of the 'perfect soldier' to go around committing crimes mostly thanks to Felix's manipulations.
Speaking of whom, Locus wondered just why exactly he has left him live. A part of him claimed justice, vengeance, for all the years Felix has hold him back, preventing the wounds caused by the war to properly heal and just keeping him as a bitter shell of a man.
Yet the other part of him believed in redemption, remembering what the AI on the temple had told him. Felix had once being a bright-eyed young man that wanted to help people, like Locus did when he first joined the UNSC army, so if he could get a second chance then maybe his partner did too…
But if he decides to waste it, then there would be nothing to stop him from finishing what the simulation troopers started back in Chorus.
Only time will tell what Felix will do, as for Locus he has a clear objective: stop their 'contractor.'
That woman is quite possibly preparing for a war against the city itself, against its leaders and political figures. That's why she's using an army such as the White Fang and criminals like Torchwick and his assistant to gather supplies such as the 'Dust.'
He didn't knew the next step of her plan, he was on a need to know basis and he has yet to know what said next step was, but apparently it had to do with all the Dust Roman has been collecting.
His opinion on the criminal was that he was professional and dangerous, despite his flamboyant personality. He had taken to spar against the man to get a better feeling to his new sword and shield, the man had tried to strike a conversation with him, but soon realized Locus just wasn't interested in doing menial talk.
As for his newfound aura, Locus hasn't unlocked any 'Semblance' from what he's read and heard, it was something spontaneous that could happen either on moments of high stress, or through simple training.
It was unfortunate, but he has to work with what he has.
"Hey, Locus!" He turned around to see a person he didn't recognized, a red-head with freckles and green eyes, holding hands with a black haired girl with pigtails, he tensed ready to attack but before his very eyes their appearances shattered revealing Felix and Neopolitan.
"You made it," Locus noted.
"Yeah, yeah, good to see you too buddy," Felix said with an eye-roll as Neo released his hand and skipped away. "If I didn't come our boss lady was going to fry my ass. Give me my armor; I've been yearning to use it back."
Locus detached the briefcase on the back of his armor and handed it to him. "You seem awfully eager to start with this."
Felix took his briefcase as fast as he could, opening it to reveal his armor. "Hello sweetheart~" He looked up at Locus and grinned. "Well, let's just say I have a good feeling that tonight… Tonight's gonna be a good, good night~"
Felix started to sing to himself, causing Locus to narrow his eyes at him. Felix was awfully chipper, compared to how angry he was when he was sent to that academy. His partner might've had something else planned for this rally.
If he does something to put his plans in danger, then he will take Felix down with him!
Felix stood, now fully covered on his armor, at Neo's side along with Locus. The warehouse was slowly getting more and more filled with different Faunus all wearing white masks that covered their eyes to conceal their identities.
A nice upgrade he found on his helmet was that it was connected to his scroll, to help him keep track on his aura levels.
He kept his eyes on the crowd, knowing that now was the time for Crater Face to do her little scouting along with her so-called teammates. And if it was the case then there was only one that could enter this place without calling much attention for the lack of animal features.
He grinned when he noticed a black-haired kitty-kat entering the building alongside a monkey with blonde hair, what were the odds of another pair of those specific features to gather together to assist the rally?
'Showtime,' Felix thought, as a lieutenant of the White Fang presented the man of the hour, Torchwick himself.
Roman walked to the center of the stage, taking and all the booing and jeering on stride and with a charismatic smile, "Thank you, thank you, please save your applause!"
"What are humans doing here?!" A girl with antlers yelled.
I'm glad you asked, "Deerie"! Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst," He said giving a salute to gesture himself, "Case in point."
Felix did the same with a smirk under his helmet. 'You said it, old man.'
"So I understand why you want to see us locked away, or better yet… killed!" He said, making exaggerated gestures with his hands. "But before you get your claws out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms!" The crowd slowly starts to change their tune, listening intently to the human.
Roman starts walking around the stage. "The government, militia, even the schools are the reason behind your lot in life," the crowd cheers in agreement. "And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offense to any rodents in the room."
With a snap of his fingers, the curtains behind him fell revealing the Atlesian Paladin. Again, for Felix it wasn't much compared to the MANTIS, but it was still a big fucking robot.
Felix smirks as he stares at Blake and the blonde monkey's reaction; they were clearly distressed at the sight of them having a giant killing machine, completely in the dark that they could get even more of them if the words of the boss lady were to be believed.
"As some of you may have heard, this right here..." He taps at the robot for emphasis. "...is Atlas' newest defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my "employer", we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, "hit the shelves". Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the southeast. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions?"
The roar was satisfying to hear. This revolution the lady was planning needed an army and with just a few words and a giant fucking robot they already found one, he might not know the complete plan, but Felix has the feeling that his boss has everything planned ahead for her.
'And if she doesn't, then I can jump on Locus' wagon and expose her to gain some respect with the law and still earn money,' He smirked and crossed his arms. 'Everything is under control for me… Now,' He narrowed his eyes as he saw Blake and the monkey get pushed forward by the crowd, 'Time for the curiosity to kill the cat.'
This was bad; this was terribly bad, even worse than everything she could have thought possible.
Roman had completely wrapped the White Fang under his finger with his poisonous words and a giant mechanical suit, how Atlas didn't noticed they lost such a big weapon Blake would never comprehend, but the fact of the matter was that Roman had it and was ready to use it.
But then, she also saw them. The same armored people she encountered in the docks, now working with Roman despite previously being against him and defending Ruby during the docks incident.
And if her suspicions were true, then it was possible one of them was their new classmate. It was a crazy theory, almost as crazy as when Ruby told her said classmate used the same pickup line the former leader of Team JNPR had used when they met.
But they both sounded similar, too similar to be just a coincidence, they shared the same name—the one in green armor had said his name out loud in the docks—and they both fought with knives, as both Weiss and that grunt that was used as a meat shield could attest to.
Why was he working with Torchwick then? He was going to find out, but first she had to get both Sun and herself out of here.
Her stomach formed a pit when the orange armor—Felix, it could be Felix—walked to Roman and whispered something to him and pointed to the crowd.
The man's eyes narrowed and Blake heard Sun gulp, they've been spotted!
"He sees us!" Sun hissed in panic.
Blake's eyes danced across the room, before noticing the junction box on the wall. "He won't see us in the dark," She draw Gambol Shroud and shoots at the box, making the whole building go dark.
"There are intruders here!" Roman's voice yelled in the dark room. "Don't let him get away!"
"Sun, the window!" Blake called as she ran towards said opening, the monkey Faunus in tow.
The two leap out and jump to the roof of another building. Just when they thought they were on the clear, the wall of the warehouse crumbled, revealing the Paladin with the two armored soldiers mounted on its shoulders and aiming their machine guns at them.
"RUN!" Blake screeched as she jumped from roof to roof, her hand desperately looking for her scroll to call her team. The paladin and the two soldiers followed them from down the streets, with the two soldiers firing at them.
"So you wouldn't happen to have... oh, I don't know... some form of backup?!" Sun asked, twirling and dodging the bullets from below.
"On it!" She said, trying to keep her cool and hoping their teammates were close enough to reach them.
This was better than he could've planned!
The edgy kitty and her monkey boy-toy had guided them to a highway, a highway of all places! They were leading them to a place where a few couple victims could happen… And if the way Roman was savagely making his way through cars and making them crash on the hardlight walls was an indicator then there were already more than a few.
The two Faunus didn't even seem to be worrying for the casualties, understandable since they were running for their life, but couldn't they just jump outside and avoid more death? Some 'Heroes' they were, not that such a thing existed in the first place.
The HUD on his helmet showed him a live feed of what's happening, and he saw out of the corner of his eye he saw a drone recording everything happening. Good, they will get out of here and this would be shown to authorities, showing how two students of these illustrious academies are endangering civilians.
Heck, they would be discharged from the UNSC army for breaking one of their most precious rules, the protection of humankind.
But he digresses. And if they fail—which is impossible, he was on this mission after all—then the drone will go self-destroy. He has all his bases covered. These stupid girls will be lucky if they don't become the next Jaune Arcs.
His motion trackers detected something getting closer and closer, he turned to see Blondie and a guy with blue hair getting closer to them on a motorbike. He wasn't the only one to notice as Torchwick became even wilder on his rampage and started throwing cars behind him to throw them off, and Locus looked back to see the scene.
They swirled and maneuvered under the cars, dodging every one of them. These people must have the devil's luck on Felix's less than humble opinion.
The boy in blue and stupid goggles pointed his weapon at them and started firing blasts of what Felix assumes were electric dust. The robot buckled and stumbled, forcing Locus and Felix to held on tighter to the mechasuit.
"Ugh, so annoying," Felix said, drawing his DMR to retaliate with his own barrage of lightning Dust.
Yang had to start zigzagging to dodge his bullets, pulling the brakes when it was necessary, it helped to get them some distance from them but he knew it won't be enough to stop them.
His suspicions were confirmed when Boy Wonder shifted the form of his weapon to some sort of spear with an electrical tip and leaped from the bike. He spun in the air and brought his weapon down, ready to stab the back from the robot.
He was foiled instantly however, when Felix with the flicker of his wrist brought his shield up and blocked the electrified staff, no matter the strength the boy put on the weapon he couldn't break through the barrier of light.
Felix pushed him back and dispelled his shield while drawing his gun, Boy Wonder lost his balance momentarily and was enough time for Felix to point the gun to his gut and fire him at point blank.
The boy was launched off the Paladin, landing roughly on the street and bouncing down, with a distressed Yang speeding past him on the bike.
"NEPTUNE!" The voices of two different blondes called for the teen, one in concern, the other with a mix of that and clear anger.
Felix turned back to see Blake's monkey clasp his hands together and his body glow. Two copies of him made of light appeared at his side and leaped on the roof of various cars to reach them.
"Locus!" Felix barked, aiming his DMR at the clones. Locus doing the same with his SAW.
They opened fire and their bullets were enough to dispel the clones. Not undeterred by their attack, monkey-boy jumped from the truck he was standing and assembled a staff —His weapon, Felix guessed—and aimed for an overhead swing.
Locus sprang into action, he stood on the shoulder of the Paladin and his hand went to the sword that lay on his hip. With a quick draw, he stopped the monkey's advance with the blade of the weapon formerly known as Crocea Moirs.
The tailed boy continued to press down, but didn't even got Locus to budge when he heard a clicking sound and looked up to see Felix pointing his gun at him. He fired, the blast hitting the blonde straight in the face and sending him down to the street, where 'Neptune' had also fallen.
"SUN!" Blake called for her monkey, worry on her voice.
Felix chuckled. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, two down and two to go… until Murphy decided to be a bitch.
Weiss appeared on the middle of the road and stabbed her rapier on the floor, freezing part of the road. 'Uh oh…'
The Paladin didn't stop in time and was sent skating over the railing of the highway. Both Felix and Locus held to dear life to the Paladin as they landed on the road below.
And who was expecting them was none other than Ruby Rose. 'Damn it, Crater Face!' He looked up to see her teammates about to join her. He couldn't have that if they wanted to get away. "Torchwick, divide them when they fall."
"You have a plan?" Locus asked.
"Yeah, divide and conquer," The girls landed, he had to talk fast. "Go for the one with the bow, use your tracker she uses clones and illusions! Torchwick go for Red and Ice Queen, I'll go for Blondie!"
"Tch, fine!" Roman's voice came from the robot. "You better know what you're doing!"
"Freezerb-" Ruby tried to say, before Roman fired several missiles at them that forced them to leap out of the way.
Locus and Felix sprang to action. Felix jumped and aimed his gun at Yang, firing several rounds of Fire Dust at her. She looked up and jumped back, avoiding them effectively but separating her from her team even further.
Blake for her part drew Gambol Shroud to block a swing from Locus' sword. He gave another swing and she was forced to back-pedal, before planting her feet on the ground and trying to push him back while leaving a clone to reunite with her team.
It didn't work for her. As she moved to the side, she was immediately met with another swing of Locus forcing her to jump back, 'How?!'
Locus raised his sword and brought out his shield, ready to clash with the Faunus in disguise. Blake grimaced; she won't be able to attack the Paladin directly with him on the way.
The Paladin launched missiles at Ruby and Weiss, who used their respective Semblances to dodge the attack by moving to the side on parallel with each other. They charged head on while the Paladin fired his guns at them, making them stop and leap back to keep their distances.
Both partners looked at each other, knowing they might be too occupied to help their teammates.
Yang glared at Felix, her eyes searching behind his form to see her friends having their own battles. Her eyes turned a bloody red as she got into a fighting stance.
"Y' know, my sister told me you helped at the docks," Yang said. "So why are you helping Torchwick now?!"
"Eh, he had a bigger paycheck for us," Felix responded with a shrug. "And seeing that big toy he's using, I can see he might be on the winning side. If you don't want this fight then just pay me… The triple of what he's offering."
Yang scowled. "Even if I had that money I'd prefer to solve things my way," She said, punching her knuckles together.
"Heh, good," Felix said, taking out one of his knives.
(Ost: Die by Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams)
With a roar, Yang used Ember Celica to propel herself towards the mercenary, cocking her fist back as she did so. Felix moved out of the way in time for her to go past him and deliver a kick to her back.
Yang stumbled and turned back to charge again, she threw a haymaker to his right and Felix leaned back to dodge. She threw various jabs at him that he dodged with expertise. When she aimed a right hook to his face, he raised his arm and blocked the punch and with a swift motion he grabbed her forearm and put her close to give her a head-butt square on the nose and then a kick to her gut.
She winced and stumbled back, but recovered quick enough to raise her arms and use them to block the bullets fired on her way. Felix smirked and continued to fire as he got closer; he lowered his gun and charged at her with a knife on his free hand. Yang lowered her arms and widened her eyes as she saw him coming, she leaned back and dodged each of his swipes.
If he touched a single strand of her hair she won't be held responsible for what she'd do!
Felix did a faint where he aimed a swing to her right, but then swiped her legs from under her, causing her to lose her balance and giving him the opening to deliver an elbow to her gut. Yang gasped as she fell on her back, but greeted her teeth and flipped back to her feet and jumped back to gain distance.
Felix chuckled. "Round one: Felix," He did a mocking bow as he said this.
"God, you're a tool," Yang grumbled as she raised her fists.
Blake ducked under another swing and parried a thrust, she leaved a figure behind and leaped back and used the main blade of Gambol Shroud to swipe away the bullets fired her way.
Locus lowered his gun, his helmet hiding any emotion. Blake dashed again, she made a clone to do a faint so she could attack from behind, but again he opponent somehow detected her approach and turned back to block a slash from the bladed sheath of her weapon with his shield. She used Fire Dust to leave an explosive copy behind, she jumped back and saw it explode, but did little to deter her opponent.
Locus used a combination of his gravity boots and his shield to prevent him from getting blown back by the attack. The only disadvantage of his new weapon was the lack of firepower; he could only use his magnum with the hand holding his shield since his other weapons required both hands to be used effectively. But Locus didn't become a renewed soldier on his unit and didn't survive one of the worst battles of the war by relying on a single trump card.
His camouflage was activated and he suddenly vanished from the sights of his opponent. Blake was immediately on high alert, her second pair of ears tracking any sound he could make.
She turned back to see a barrage of electric rounds of Dust fired at her, she spun her sheath around to block them but then her ears twitched and turned to see a fireball coming to her, with little time to block them and was sent flying back. With the grace her animal features granted her, she twirled and landed on all fours before straightening herself.
She changed the mode of Gambol Shroud and threw it to the distance while grabbing its cord to spin around and hope to hit something and get the location of her opponent. But she could hardly hide her disbelief when her weapon didn't hit anything.
She tugged her weapon back and scanned her surroundings. 'Where is he?'
In her mind, she remembered a former friend with the same ability this man presented, but not even she was so skilled in hiding her presence from her. This man was a professional, an assassin, and it scared her.
She swirled as she heard a whistling sound and looked up to see a grenade launched at her direction. She aimed at it and fired, detonating it mid-air, but proved to be a distraction as her back felt a searing pain caused by an attack of fire dust.
She spun around to see her opponent appearing again, holstering a shotgun on his back and unsheathing his blade again. She kept a tight hold on Gambol Shroud, wondering just who in the world she was facing.
"Freezer-burn!"
Even if Yang wasn't there to do the team attack they worked hard on during the past week, they could still do it between the two of them.
Weiss froze the floor and Ruby jumped high to aim Crescent Rose to it and fire various rounds to lift a mist that would conceal her and Weiss's presence. Ruby launched herself forward and slashed at the mid-section of the robot, she pressed her feet on its surface and sprang back to gain distance.
She cocked the barrel of Crescent Rose and looked back at her partner, they had to act fast. "Checkmate!"
They had to improvise since their teammates were too occupied with their own opponents. Ruby wanted to know why the guys in cool armor were now working with Torchwick, but there was more pressing issue at hand.
She and Weiss dashed and started to slash at the legs of the robot; Weiss leaped and stabbed Myrtenaster on one of the sensors that kept track of them. She formed a glyph under her feet and jumped back to avoid any attack, and when she landed she formed another one at Ruby's feet to pull her back, just when the Paladin was aiming to stomp her.
The Paladin opened a hatch on its shoulder and fired various missiles. Weiss back-flipped while Ruby burst into petals and flew back to avoid them, Weiss formed another glyph on her feet and aimed to fire at the Paladin but it aimed one of her canons at her and fired, she wasn't able to dodge and was sent flying back.
She wasn't beaten yet though, and aimed her fingers at the spot where Ruby was standing, a golden glyph appeared at her feet and Ruby was covered in a golden light.
The Paladin launched missiles again, but Ruby narrowed her eyes and shifted Crescent Rose to her riffle mode, and took aim. She fired her bullets at a greater speed than ever before, the missiles got impacted by her rounds and detonated mid-air without getting anywhere close to her.
"Ladybug!" She called for Weiss as she charged and the glyph vanished and shifted her weapon again to be a scythe.
Weiss had to improvise, this move was something Ruby had to do with Blade thanks to the edge of their weapons, but they had to work with what they had. They slashed at the Paladin's legs again from both sides, speeding past them and then back to injured them from all directions.
Ruby dashed to the front of the robot and aimed Crescent Rose's barrel to the floor and planted her feet on its blade. He fired and used her weapon as a pogo to get higher and over the head of the Paladin, she spun her weapon and with a swift cut she severed the robot's left arm clean off.
She and Weiss landed a few meters away from them and grimaced. "We need to slow it down!"
"And how do you propose to do that?" Weiss asked, looking nervous.
Ruby grinned. "Ice Flower!"
Weiss nodded and summoned various glyphs infused with ice Dust, Ruby cocked her weapon and aimed straight to them and fired creating a spiral of blue missiles that struck the remaining arm of the Paladin. She kept firing, with each strike the Paladin got more and more covered with frost, until both its legs and its remaining arm were completely frozen.
Ruby grinned; they were going to make it! Just one more, powerful enough hit, with the force Yang would normally put, then they could take Roman out of the robot and then join their teammates to help in their respective fights.
"ENOUGH!"
The voice cut all thoughts of victory from Ruby, and she looked as a figure stepped through the mist she and Weiss made.
She gasped in horror as the figure revealed to be the guy on orange armor and a formed, slumped on him, its head laid on his shoulder
The figure was Yang… who had a glowing sword going through her gut.
(Ost end)
"Hyah!" Yang dived down with the force of a bomb, Felix leaped back to avoid it, but even then the force of the shockwave her impact caused made him stumble.
'What do they feed them on Beacon?!' Felix questioned.
Yang launched herself at her with a burst from Ember Celica; carried by the momentum she tried to deliver him a spinning kick to his sides. Felix winced, but wasn't completely deterred. He still had more than half of his aura, if the HUD on his helmet was something to go by, and his armor was sturdier than anything they could make in Remnant.
He grabbed her leg and spun her around before tossing her to the side. Yang back-flipped and landed on her feet before dashing back into the fray, she threw punches into the air, triggering Amber Celica to launch various shells of ammo at him.
Felix zigzagged and moved around the street, while getting closer to her. He grabbed some knives and threw them at her, knowing that he was running out of those. Yang swatted them away and then launched a blast that propelled her in the air, where she spun and extended her leg for an axe-kick.
Felix brought his arms up and blocked her, she pressed her other leg there and sprang back to the air, and she landed on a crouch and started to throw jabs at him accompanied by the fire of her weapon. He heaved and moved, twisting his body to avoid getting hit by her weapon.
But eventually, she was able to land a solid hit to his chest that sent him skidding back.
Yang grinned cockily, "Round Two? Yang!"
Felix growled. "Oh you think you're cute?"
She flipped her hair. "I am adorable."
Felix snarled, but took a deep breath to keep his cool. He took out his magnum and fired. Yang raised her arms to block them, but gasped when frost started to cover her weapons.
Felix changed the cartridge and fired again, this time fire Dust. Yang moved out of the way and zigzagged to reach them. Even if her weapons were frozen, she could still hit him.
He quickly holstered his magnum and brought out his DMR, not to fire but to use it as an improvised shield to block a right jab from her. Yang growled and lifted her leg to give him a side quick to the chin, but Felix leaned back to dodge him.
He spun on his feet to strike her with the butt of his weapon, but Yang caught it and with her other hand she threw a right hook, but Felix caught it while wincing from the strength behind it. He noticed how her hair was slowly growing brighter, while her eyes turned a blood red.
Her Semblance was acting up and a couple of good landed hits with her strength would be enough to break his armor and his aura. He had to finish this now.
He kicked her on the gut, and both let go of each other. He opened fire and electric Dust was launched in the form of bolts of energy. Yang, with her energy growing, smashed her fists together causing the ice to break and answered his barrage with her own. Her rounds cancelling Felix's and causing a small explosion, she took advantage of it by dashing into the smoke.
Felix kept his aim on the smoke, when Yang bursts out of it and with a good punch she knocks the weapon out of Felix hand and then land a powerful blow to his gut accompanied by a blast from her weapon that sent Felix back, his back bouncing a couple of time on the floor before he crouched and skidded to a stop.
He just sat there, apparently recovering his breath from that hit, making Yang smirk knowing that she had her chance. She dashed forward and cocked her fist back, ready to put the criminal to sleep.
Felix's wrist flickered.
Yang's eyes widened when her fist suddenly connected with a small wall made of light.
Felix smirked and reached his hilt. His shield dropped and Yang stumbled forward while Felix lunged forward.
A searing pain erupted in Yang's gut when Felix activated his sword and the edges of energy cut through her flesh and sprouted from her back.
She couldn't comprehend how it happened, her aura was still up, and she was sure it hadn't dropped to the red area, so… How?
'This thing… Is awesome!' Alien technology ladies and gentlemen, breaking even through someone's aura, "What's wrong, Blondie, not so hot now?"
Yang tried to grip at the hand holding the hilt, but Felix twisted it a bit, making her yell out in pain, "AGH!"
As Felix enjoyed the sweet music to his ears, he noticed a mist a few meters from where he's been fighting, noticing that's where Roman was fighting.
He grunted, "How about we check on your friends, huh Blondie?!" He asked as he twisted his blade, making Yang grit her teeth as tears of pain gathered on her eyes.
He pushed forward, with Yang forced to backpedal on the direction where he was walking. As they got closer to the mist, Felix could see the figure of the Paladin, covered in frost and now missing an arm.
He huffed in annoyance; apparently two teenagers were too much for Roman. And before they could continue to break down his boss's toy, he knew he could make a wager to get themselves out of here before the ice cream goddess would come to help them out.
"ENOUGH!" he barked, as he appeared with a slumped down, who seemed ready to pass out from the pain, he pressed the side of his helmet to communicate with Locus.
It was time to put an end to their fun.
Locus parried a swing from Blake, who gritted her teeth and vanished as she leaved an afterimage behind.
She just didn't get how he could keep track of her every movement, not even once did his defense slip, even when she could tell how he wasn't even a complete master with the sword and shield.
He pushed her back and she shifted the form of Gambol Shroud to fire several rounds at her, but he just raised his shield and blocked it. That gave Blake an opportunity; she shifted her grip on her weapon to hold it by the ribbon and threw it at his feet.
It wrapped around his ankle and with a tug he made him lost his balance. She frowned, noticing how heavy she was, but she used her strength to spin him around. He gripped his weapon and seemed ready to cut her weapon, so with a tug she let him go.
Carried by the momentum he bounced on his back and skidded along the floor, but then he became invisible again.
Blake raised both halves of her weapon, ready for any shot her opponent might take on her, but her ears twitched when she heard his voice in the wind.
"My partner has just come in contact with me," He said. "It seems one of your teammates has been defeated."
A pit formed on her stomach. Who, how?!
"He's requesting my presence where the Paladin is," He told her, and she jumped when he materialized behind her. "I would recommend you to follow me."
"How do I know it isn't a trick?!" She hissed, her amber eyes flaming.
"See for yourself," He responded before disappearing again.
She gripped her weapon until her knuckles turned white; she gave a frustrated huff before running off to where Ruby and Weiss were fighting the Paladin.
She ran through the mist to see Ruby and Weiss standing on one side, she could tell Ruby was trembling while Weiss was biting her lip nervously.
Then she looked to the other side and her eyes shrank in horror. "YANG!"
Locus reappeared at his partner side, while Felix chuckled. "Well, well, girlies," It seems I have something you girlies want," He said, again twisting his weapon and making Yang whimper in pain.
"STOP!" Ruby shrieked, her eyes gripping her weapon. And for a moment, Blake swore she saw sparkles around her eyes, but those might just've been tears. Then in a meeker tone she said, "Please…"
"Heh, sure thing Red," Felix said, taking his sword from out of Yang's stomach, but keeping it close enough to reinsert it if they did a wrong move. "Just let us be on our way…" He raised his glowing sword to Yang's head. "Or…"
Locus stared at Felix, glaring at him from behind his helmet while clenching his fist.
Felix for his part looked subtly at the Paladin, "Torchwick how's our escape?" He said under his breath, communicating with his helmet.
"Should be arriving around…" The sound of an engine roared above them and various cords wrapped around the Paladin. "…Now."
From the Bullhead, Neo gave those below a two finger salute.
"Right on time Ice Cream goddess," Felix chuckled as he kicked Yang towards their teammates.
Ruby bursts into petals and caught her sister, while Blake and Weiss gathered around them.
Locus and Felix held on to the robot's legs as it was reared up to the level of the Bullhead. Roman opened the hatch and smirked at the students, "Ladies, Ice queen, always a pleasure!" he said over the sound of the engines and looked up at the petite girl. "Neo, if you would!"
Neo closed her eyes and pressed her hand on the Bullhead's wall, soon it seemed to break into glasses, leaving no traces of it in the sky.
"Yang…" Ruby whimpered as she held her sister close to her. "Please, hang on…"
Blake stared at her injured partner. She looked pale, and so… Fragile, the wound on her torso was bad, and she didn't know if her aura would heal her. Tears gathered around her eyes and held her hand, her frame shaking as she tried to hold the sobs back.
Weiss was desperately trying to go a call to emergencies through, trying to keep her cool under the circumstances. "Please, please, anyone pick up!" She spoke hoarsely.
Suddenly a light shone down on them.
"VALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DON'T MOVE!" A voice commanded them.
The pit on their stomachs grew and their blood ran cold.
They had failed their mission, and now there would be consequences.
Done.
I don't know when the next chapter might come since life's a bitch, but I hope it doesn't take long.
Hope you like it, tell me about what I can improve and do better.
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