Okay! RGQC here! It's good to be back with another chapter for you all to enjoy, and I can say for sure that I'm MOTIVATED for Wintry Shackles with Alpha's new frame! God, I am excited to play her now that she is finally coming soon!
Well, enough of me giggling over Alpha. Like always, comments first before we begin with this chapter!
Back028: Yes, I am back to give you and everyone more content!
Lucasjudah510: Could work. But I have plans for her in the future of this story. Let us say that she will not be the final threat. Someone else will be.
SolSparda36: Ha ha! That is precisely what I was going for with Luna 'falling' towards Vale. Indeed, it is the most Chad way to travel rather than flying.
Xenozip: Oh, don't worry about Torchwick escaping. He's not going to have a good that I will say. Actually, no one could go against Lucia and win if they were not mechanically enhanced.
DragonL0RD: Glad to enjoy this story! And it is unlikely that Lucia will share her knowledge unless the situation is dire. As for her bike, we'll see more use as Atlas moves into Vale to safeguard the Vytal Festival.
UnusedCheese358: Good to be back!
And we're done with the comments. So, let's get this show on the word.
Like always, I do not own any of RWBY or their content. They all belong to their respective owners. Nor do I own any content belonging to Kuro Technology and their series Punishing Gray Raven.
"Breaking News! Last night-"
*Click*
"These shocking reports-"
*Click*
"-Unidentified individuals spotted-"
*Click*
"-Are the unknown Huntresses from-"
*Click*
"The question is, what are these things-"
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"Headmaster Ozpin has refused to offer comment on the sit-"
*Click*
Ironwood closed the channel before glancing at Luna, Liv, Lucia, Watts and Pietro in his office. It has been only hours since the battle at Vale's docks was concluded, and worldwide news has gone wild over it. It was clear as day that the situation over there had spiralled out of control to the point that no one could simply rub it off as a mere terrorist activity stopped by Huntresses on duty.
Especially with so many witnesses testifying about the appearance of BPB-26 and ATL-01 and their blatant disregard for collateral. It was only due to the sisters' efforts that no one was critically injured, and any who were hurt were patched up on the spot by Liv. At the moment, it is 0800 in the morning in General Ironwood's office, and to say that things have gone frantic was an understatement.
Photos and videos of the incident were all over the CCTS, which has caught quite a stir amongst everyone. After all, who or what were those things at the docks? Why do they look so uncannily human and Grimm-like? As expected, this has sparked countless theories as to who they are. And who were those unrecognised Huntresses who forced them to retreat were.
"Lucia, Luna. Can any of you explain what happened?" General Ironwood asked with a terse tone. He had hoped that the situation could have been resolved without dragging this much attention from the world. It appears that he underestimates Merlot's and his partner's willingness to throw discrete to the winds.
Unlike his friend Ozpin, who prefers discretion when it comes to operating any of his work. Ironwood always preferred a show of power to get the job done. But even he knows when the hand of subtlety is required. While technically, the urgent mission the three were sent on was supposed to be done quietly due to the sheer consequences should it be revealed to the public, the operation did not go the way he wanted it to go.
Now the world is partially aware of what's happening beneath its peaceful era.
The only benefit is that the three constructs weren't recognised by the public present there. That would be a catastrophe if any of them were recognised there, especially for Lucia. The resulting panic from the kingdoms would have been overwhelming due to her past infamy as the first sentient machine that went on a murder spree.
While Ironwood awaits the answers he deserves, Liv has her hands together while glancing at Lucia and Luna with worry in her eyes. While this is technically her first operation in this body and outside of Atlas, she couldn't help but show her fear for the two constructs that had the General's eyes drilling into them. Even more so was Luna's visible frowning and Lucia's calm yet tense demeanour.
"Situation has gone beyond expected results." Lucia was the first to speak as she took a step forward. Her face showed no emotion in the slightest. "What was initially a conflict between Huntress in training with our sister against the White Fang and Roman Torchwick over their attempts to steal Dust crates. Spiralled out of control with the presence of ATL-01 and its attempts to secure the same Dust crates for its master alongside BPB-26 as reinforcements."
"Data indicates that the entity designated as ATL-01 is a creation of Merlot's partner. I have successfully intercepted and secured an audio recording of ATL-01's master. It is ready to be heard upon request." Luna joins in as Ironwood, Pietro and Watt's eyes shoot to the roof. If what Luna is saying is true, they finally have information they could use to find out who Merlot's partner is!
"Perhaps this operation has its benefits…" The general couldn't help but smile when he heard Luna's words. Finding out who Merlot's partner was had been bugging him for months, and he had ordered a subtle search of everyone who worked in the Atlesian Military and Science division for any potential suspects. Yet none came up for who could be the mole who leaked the location that housed Alpha to the White Fang or work alongside with Merlot.
But now, he may be able to get some answers.
"Luna, can you play the audio now? I want everyone to hear this."
"Affirmative." Luna nods her head before she freezes, and then everyone hears it.
"Master. Destruction of Penny Polendina compromised. Success chances dropped critically. Another Construct has joined the fight." ATL-01's voice could be heard emitting out of Luna for all to hear. Though the revelation that ATL-01 was assigned to eliminate Penny was quite a shocker to everyone in the office, but mainly to Pietro, whose eyes widened in alarm.
"Situation critical. Requesting immediate change of action."
It was then that everyone heard him. "What?! Damn it! That's the other sister of that abominable machine! How the hell did it get here this quick?! Change of plans! I need you to gather as much data as you can of it and retreat! If she's here, it won't be long before Lucia arrives! They're moving faster than expected." The unidentified person's growls could be heard from Luna as Watts and Pietro visibly froze.
"T-This can't be…" Watts mutters in disbelief as both scientists are notably paler than a second ago. They know that voice.
"I know that voice… But… he died… He died just as everyone did twenty-five years ago." Pietro mutters in confusion while Lucia is puzzled by what Penny's father meant before it finally hits her. This man… He… He survived that day she murdered everyone? But how then? Her father gave her explicit commands to let no one be left alive at that time.
How?
"Pietro? Watts?"
"Sister?"
Silence went by before one of the Chief Scientists finally said something. "Oh… forgive us." Pietro apologises as he rubs his forehead while Watts is still left in thought. How did he survive out there? Alpha killed everyone in the facility, didn't she? "I believe we now know who Dr Merlot's partner is. But it's hard to believe he's still alive after everything that happened."
"Lucia?" Luna calls out again when her sister remains unresponsive before she suddenly loses her footing while clutching her head in pain! She remembers it! She's remembering it now! Every single gruesome detail of her massacre of innocent scientists and security personnel were restored with their screams of pain and agony as she cut them down echoes in her mind constantly.
And then, in one of those memories restored, she sees herself through a blood-stained mirror with her entire body and blade bathed in blood and eyes so lifeless that it is straight out of a horror film as she continues butchering any man or woman she could get her hands on. But that doesn't make any sense! Those memories were wiped as soon as she completed her father's orders!
Why have they suddenly restored all of a sudden?
And it's too much for her!
Lucia felt her mind getting overwhelmed by the gory display, and she could only feel horror. Horror at what she had done. Attempting to suppress them forcefully has yielded no results, to her surprise, and while learning about what she had done through her father's last message was shocking, actually seeing the massacre she had done proves to be more painful for the soul that lingers inside.
"Lucia!" Liv cries out as she is one of the first to rush to her colleague's side once she collapses to her knees while still clutching her head and shivering. Ironwood, Pietro and Watts could only be stunned by what had happened. Luna was also shocked as she stood by, silent all the way, with her internal systems warning her that Lucia's internal stability had suddenly taken a hit and dropped to 65%!
"Too much… Too much… Too much…" Lucia begins muttering like a malfunctioning recorder. Everything she had witnessed in her mind once her memories were restored proved too much for her as she broke down into tears and began sobbing like a child. Even as Liv calls her out to snap out of whatever has happened to her, Lucia remains unresponsive.
As if stuck in a traumatic loop.
That proves to be the case when both Liv and Luna receive a notice that Lucia's internal processors are overwhelmed by the sudden restoration of her wiped memories and the traumatic experience within. However, it will take some time before some semblance of stability is restored. "Sister, please. Listen and focus on my voice." Luna says as she kneels before her sister.
This behaviour…
Luna has seen this kind of reaction before back in her previous life. It's surprising to witness this behaviour from her elder sister because these are the reactions of someone in the middle of a panic attack. Then again, the construct bodies are created to replicate the human body, so it is to be expected that they can also replicate human reactions such as panic attacks.
"Again. Hear me. Listen to my voice and breathe slowly." She orders again before finally seeing some results, with her sister finally showing signs of calming down.
"I see it…" Everyone heard Lucia muttering while trembling. "I see it all. Everything I did… All the lives I've taken… Every scream… Every beg for mercy… Everyone was begging me why I was doing this… I see them all. Every. Excruciating. Detail. And that voice." She gulped before standing back up, though much slower than she usually would have taken.
"That voice. It belongs to Dr Racher Herstine. I left him for death with the severing of his shoulder and lacerations to his chest. He should have been dead."
…
A period of silence went before the General closed his eyes for a second as he spoke. "Thank you for your confirmation, Lucia. I believe it is best that you three take some time off. Pietro, Watts and I have much to discuss about our next move." Ironwood says while he stands up. Never in his life has he seen this kind of reaction from Lucia. From the looks of it, the Construct programme has exposed her more to human emotions, and the sudden restorations of what she did all those years ago must have overwhelmed her momentarily.
It will be wise to check her for any signs of instability in her systems as soon as possible.
But there's still a question.
Why now? Of all time for her to remember every single atrocity she did?
"Understood, General."
Lucia as she and the others saluted before leaving the room alone between Pietro, Watts and Ironwood. A period of silence went by before Watts sighed. "As Lucia said, that's Dr Racher. Frankly, I'm surprised to hear his voice again, and he was one of the few of our brightest minds to work with us on Alpha all those years ago."
"But to think he is still alive and working with Merlot. But why? Why do this?" Pietro could only think out loud with a hand on his beard. Then General Ironwood offers his thoughts.
"I believe I know why Dr Racher could have turned on us." He says as he garners the attention of both Chief scientists. "Penny sent me another audio clip moments ago, revealing that Racher sees her as the sister of that 'abominable machine'. I have little reason to believe that he has developed a grudge against Lucia for the killings of everyone in the facility."
"Yes… that makes sense…" Watts mutters. "Racher was a recent graduate who showed much promise and was quickly taken in by Kurt because of that. But despite his young age, he had expressed worry over Lucia when she was first made. Surviving the massacre would only prove his worries correct."
"Yes. He was also infamous for his spitefulness against those who wronged him. I have a feeling he now resents self-aware machines like Lucia." Pietro nods his head. "As absurd as it may be, I believe Dr Racher must have decided to work with Merlot for revenge against Lucia out of convenience. And, by extension, Luna and my darling."
This was a notable cause of concern for all three in the room that there was now not one, but two rogue scientists on the loose and were working together. Even more so, one of them has an in-depth knowledge of robotics and is now making his machines go up against them, as well as knowledge of how to create and produce experimental technology that could be easily leaked to unwanted hands.
It was also likely that he had already leaked the technology to Merlot, of all people.
"I will need to speak to the Vale council about this. They need to know the situation." Ironwood rubbed his forehead. Admittingly, the Vale Councillors were a pain in the ass to deal with their bureaucratic nonsense that keeps putting him on hold despite warning them of Merlot's actions. Ironwood could only hope that last night's incident would drive the final nail in the coffin to get them to allow Atlas to intervene to stop Merlot and Racher from causing more problems before the Vytal festival.
The office grew quiet for a second as Pietro audibly sighed and garnered the attention of his fellow Chief scientist and General. "We should check on Lucia as well. From what we've seen, it appears quite unpleasant. It will be good to ensure that she is alright after that."
"I concur." Watts agreed. "It's not so simple to suddenly remember what the horrors of that you had done on that day all at once." Compared to before, when they all met her for the first time, Lucia did display guilt, but it wasn't to an extent she shows it on her face since she doesn't remember it all. But now? Seeing the atrocity she had done and with human emotions granted by the Construct frame?
It was clear that the experience shocked her to the core and proved too much to process all at once.
"Of course." Ironwood nodded his head before the phone on his desk suddenly rang. "That is all for now, gentlemen. Do what you need to do." And so, Pietro and Watts left Ironwood's office while the General tended to the call and the aftermath of last night with a side of a headache.
Lucia POV
Dr Racher Herstine… That's the man who is working with Merlot and is likely responsible for the creation of BPB-26 and ATL-01. It makes so much sense when I look up his profile recorded after the incident. But… How did he escape and survive the wounds I inflicted on his body? By all accounts of everything. He should have bled out from the loss of an arm and lacerations on his torso.
Yet there is no doubt that he is behind the new changes in the timeline after my father had left his mark on Remnant.
But besides that. Those memories…
My actions…
I can't help but be terrified of them.
Yes, it sounds absolutely foolish and illogical to my mechanical aspect, as I can do nothing to change them. But I can't help but feel overwhelmed by how I acted so cold and distant as I slay through hundreds without giving a damn! How cold I was as I kill, and kill, and kill without any sense of remorse! Many of them begged for their lives or asked what had happened to me and what was making me do this.
Even as I butcher them in cold blood, they still show concern for my well-being!
And that broke me on the inside.
Throughout the time, I tried to emotionally suppress it to stop me from having a meltdown, but I just couldn't. Witnessing it all at once overwhelmed my senses. It overwhelmed my processors to the point I lacked the necessary processing power to overcome it. For a moment, I felt my mind rendered stuck in a constant loop, witnessing every single murder again and again as my soul cried out for it to end.
Funny.
Father mentioned that he purposely wiped my memory banks to spare me the pain. And despite all that, they returned, and I feel both my human and machine sides cry in misery for different reasons. The human side of me is horrified at what I've done, and I feel genuine guilt for the lives I have taken in a few orders placed into my code.
While the machine part of me felt the same because of every single person there.
They were marked as allies. This is a clear violation of an inbuilt protocol not to bring harm to any allies.
They were even close friends that I bonded with over my time there, even if I don't remember the exact details.
Restored memories show I know their personality, wishes and dreams, and the stories and lessons they tell me as this body moves on from a mere prototype. And with a single order from my father, they were wiped clean, and if I were to describe it, the machine part of me would feel conflicted about whether the killing was necessary despite my creation as a weapon.
Now, it had only been an hour after reporting to General Ironwood about the situation the night before, and I was back in my room staring at my cup of tea on the table before me. I requested that both Liv and my sister give me some time to process it all. I still don't understand, nor do my systems have a solution, why those memories that were purposely wiped from my mind suddenly came back?
Did they return because of the necessity of the situation? Or is it because more of my past is restored as I become more intertwined with this body? Even if they were wiped from my memories? Whatever the case, I do not have the answers for them.
Picking up the cup of tea, I took a sip of it. I need to take my mind off this and see how bad everything has gone after last night. I only hope it is not that bad. Last night's incident is a complete mess; things cannot go how Canon went in the original timeline. I have to be more flexible. More proactive. Even if that means taking out any threats before they can get their plans off the ground, it is simply the most logical conclusion.
[Establishing connection to CCTS.]
[Connection established.]
As the data processes, a small Hud appears in my eyes, displaying a piece of news going on in Vale by Lisa Lavender from the Vale News Network. And she's talking about what has happened the night before. Actually, she's not the only one. Every single News Network all over the world is talking about it. Everyone has their interpretations of what happened, but only those in Vale are closer to the actual source than most.
As if to drive it further, several off-shoot forum sites in the CCTS have gone all conspiracy theory mode, ranging from the outrageous and dumb to the plausible but still far from the truth to the surprisingly accurate theory that the machines of the past are returning. Did I stumble across the Remnant version of 4Chan?
The hell?
Whatever. I should keep an eye on them. Just in case they get bored and decide to stir up some trouble. Or if motivated enough, they might choose to dig in further than they should have.
Anyway.
The point is, last night's incident got the whole world up in confusion as to what BPB-26 and ATL-01 were and who those Huntresses who stopped them were. Aka, Me and Luna. My little sister Penny was interviewed at the time, but she was vague about it. Thankfully, she doesn't hiccup should she lie as she did in Canon. My guess is different programming and ironing out the quirks.
The same can be said with team RWBY, including Sun, who were also interviewed as they were there. Of course, they were vague about it, which I suspect is Ozpin's doing to get them not to reveal much information, and I'm thankful for that. We don't need more attention than we need at the moment. But knowing how the news and the CCTS work, give it a few days or weeks, and this will pass.
If this works like anything how Earth News works.
As my eyes closed while taking another sip of tea to calm my mechanical nerves, I received a notice that my sister was at the door. "Come in. The door is unlocked." The sound of my door creaked open before the picking up my sister floating into my room.
Without even looking at her, I greeted her.
"Sister."
"Lucia." I hear her greet me, and my eyes open to see her giving me a concerned look which is unique since she mostly prefers to show no emotion on her face. "Query. How are you feeling?" How I feel, huh? Frankly, I feel awful still. In contrast, I managed to process through that. It still lingers in my mind, but thankfully, I can safely file it away without tormenting my sanity.
"I have recovered from the unwelcomed experience, sister. I am fine." I explain as my sister slowly floats towards one of the available chairs in my room to sit on. Yet, she still gave me a doubtful look before I saw something on my Hud.
[Luna is conducting a complete system survey of Lucia.]
Oh. I guess I can't thoroughly rub it off as it was nothing.
"Analysis indicates otherwise. Though there is truth to your words." My sister hums with her head tilted to the side. "Your internal stability is in the ninetieth percentile. Not a hundred. I recommend a system reboot to restore stability." A system reboot, huh? I suppose that could work. Perhaps I'll do that when I have the opportunity. But I still have to resume training Liv how to fight with her sword.
We did pause halfway to support Penny last night.
"Affirmative. I will schedule the appropriate timing for reboot. However, before the night emergency in Vale, I was training Liv to fight with a sword. Estimated time before completion of training. Calculations indicate at least thirty-seven hours if done without pauses."
"Mm… Understood. Still, recommend reboot once possible." My sister nodded as I took another sip of my tea before silence took over, and then she asked a question.
"Sister, what do you think will happen now?"
[Preparations to launch an assault on Merlot and Racher's laboratory remain uncontested.]
[Given calculations, it is likely the assault will begin in two months.]
[38.46% Increase in population awareness will heavily encourage more subversive actions to reduce chances of increased awareness and panic.]
[There is an 89.34% chance of General Ironwood bringing Alpha, Luna and Liv to Beacon in a month.]
"It is likely that General Ironwood will bring you, me, and Liv to Beacon Academy in the coming months. In addition, calculations suggest that the assault on Merlot and Racher's underwater laboratory remains uncontested and will begin in two months from now."
"Understood." My sister nodded at me. "I should leave and check on Liv." And so, I watch as my sister gets off her seat and floats out of my room while I find the tea in my hand very fascinating to look at.
With everything happening now, I can't help but feel concerned about the future. Things will get more complicated at their current pace, and only time will tell what happens next. But I'll be prepared for it.
But I can worry about that later. Perhaps some sleep would be nice to process everything.
"Hmm… It appears that I underestimated those machines…" Racher murmured to himself as ATL-01 was seen on a table offline and undergoing repairs and maintenance while he looked through the footage of the Vale docks through his creation's eyes. It has only been a few hours after ATL-01 and BPB-26 managed to retreat after encountering not one, not two, but all three creations of Atlas.
Frankly, he was surprised that his and Merlot's creations could fight them off. However, it was obvious to him that none of the three were using their full potential in attempts to blend in and hide their mechanical origins, unlike his, which put them on their heels at the cost of unrestrained collateral damage to the docks itself.
It did not help that Racher had let his hatred blind him in what was supposed to be a get-in, get-out scenario. Now, all of Remnant was talking about what happened last night, and he had zero doubt that this would speed up Atlas and Vale's cooperation against him and Merlot. Then again, his original intention was for ATL-01 to get in, defeat all resistance in break speed times, and get out with the crates of Dust he needed for his experimentations and to keep him alive.
"So… what a wonderful mess you found yourself in," Racher growled when he picked up Merlot taunting him from behind. "Now, what was the saying the youngsters now say? Hmm? Oh, of course. Mistakes were made, am I right?"
"What do you want now, Merlot? Can't you see that I am in the middle of something? If you have nothing valuable to say, then don't say it." The ex-Atlas employee hissed once he turned and saw Merlot grinning at him.
"Now, why would I? You called for my assistance when your creation found itself in an unfortunate scenario! In case you forget, BPB-26 has to come in to bail your creation when it finds itself trapped. I also heard on the news what happened. You made quite the mess up there, and for a moment, I thought BPB-26 was exaggerating as he usually does." Merlot mused.
"Besides," Merlot wipes the smirk off his lips before his voice becomes serious. "I believe both of us know what this means, don't you? Altas will come for us, and I am sure this disaster will only entice them to speed up their plans."
Yet, Racher shrugs his partner off. "You speak as if I don't see the urgency, partner. But I do. We're running out of Dust and other essentials to keep this laboratory operational, and Atlas and those abominable machines will be on us. I figured we only have a month or two before they come knocking on our door."
But Merlot still has a smile on his face. "Yes… which is why I have reached out for help to some individuals that can potentially be of interest to us." Hearing Merlot having a plan already made Racher give a suspicious eye raise at him.
"Oh? Care to enlighten me who they are?"
"Of course. One of them is quite familiar with the White Fang organisation you cast aside when they failed to get the important equipment you want and a certain mastermind criminal that escaped capture." Merlot chuckles as he pulls out a tablet. "I've researched having them as our potential ally, and I found something inquisitive about the White Fang in Vale and Roman Torchwick."
Merlot passes his table to his partner. "They appear to be working unwillingly for a woman called Cinder Fall, who has her hands wrapped around both of them. Fascinating, don't you think? I believe she could be of assistance to us, or… we just kill her and take their resources and manpower for ourselves."
"Cinder Fall… This is a student from Haven… Yet, she has connections to Roman Torchwick and the White Fang under Adam Taurus… Why would she need them to begin with?" Racher mutters with his hand on his chin. "The records look unusually recent as well. Something's not right here."
"Yes." Merlot grinned. "She's a strange individual, for she even has the son of a famous assassin, Mercury Black as a teammate. Whether he works for her willingly is another story altogether."
"She's suspicious, and I suspect some form of fraud is involved. And are you sure you wish to enlist her help?" Racher simply gave a questioning look at his partner, who laughed.
"Perhaps, or we can just have her killed and be done with it? It's not like it matters to me. Only the assets she has are of interest." Merlot shrugs his shoulders with a smile while Racher remains in thought.
"I could use more Dust to keep my heart running and the resources she could provide. With Atlas on to us in a month or two, I don't think I have any other choice."
"Do what we need to do, Merlot. But I suspect you have something else to show me?"
"Of course! I've been experimenting with some of these Grimm nanobots, and what I have found is fascinating!" Merlot quickly takes his table back from Racher's hands. "As both know, the origins of Grimm are unknown to us despite my best efforts to piece together their origins."
"Where are you going with this?"
"Simple, really!" Merlot grins like a child in a candy store. "By my simple curiosity at what will happen should I combine these Grimm nanobots with some of my Grimm test subjects, I have unintentionally created an entirely new variant of Grimm, you see! One that will push its potential beyond what nature can provide!" Merlot clicked on his table to show his partner what was supposed to be a Beowolf.
But…
It's different. Much different.
Compared to the normal Beowolf Racher is familiar with, this version is noticeably more mechanical-looking. While some parts remained the same, like its overall body proportions, it is noticeably more vicious looking and uncannily looks alive with its chest glowing red. Even more so was bone-like armour now becoming metal instead and covering more parts of its body! Its claws were now metal that looked sharp enough to cut through steel beams!
"Merlot… Do you know what you have done?! Our technology and innovation should be used to help humanity stand against the darkness! And here you are, creating more abominations when you should be dedicating most of your efforts to studying it! What you've got here is madness! If this gets loose, everyone will be at its mercy! Do me a favour, destroy that thing and leave my office before I decide to shoot where you and that thing stand! Now!"
Yet Merlot scoffs at his partner's rant without concern while keeping his tablet. "Very well then. It's so hard to find people who appreciate my work." And with that, Merlot walks out, leaving Racher alone.
"I don't think that IDIOT even realises it, but if that thing… gets out, the whole of Remnant is in for shit! Now, I'm getting more tempted to kill him myself at this point to prevent that abomination from getting out. Even if it is to my detriment, he's pushing the limits too far!"
Elsewhere…
In Junior club hours after the fight that took place at the docks, Torchwick had never felt so tired in his life. Not only was his job to steal crates worth of Dust interrupted by Red and her weird-ass friend that can teleport. Or was it pause time? Whatever. The point is, he got captured before shit hit the fan with whatever that thing was that showed up from the sea.
And that was before the whole docks descended into chaos when another weirdo with a white armour with a black mask showed up and fought off that thing. AND then even more shit too crazy for him to understand what the hell was happening as more people joined this fight before Neo finally showed up and saved his ass. Of course, as if his day couldn't get any worse, his 'boss' rolled around and pretty much threatened his life over this fuck which wasn't even his fault to begin with!
Honestly, he could only wonder what the hell happened at the docks. It was almost as if different gangs with different allegiances showed up in the same sport and started a brawl over Dust Crates or something similar! There was him and those mutts who were absolutely useless at their jobs, and then you have Red and her merry band of heroes, and then you got those things!
Even then, he had to wonder. What the hell were those things to begin with? While he was pretty far away from the action with his arms and legs tied up, he could still see the carnage that was caused as they fought! Seriously! Those things just destroy anything without the slightest care in the world! By the end of it, he was confident the whole docks were in bloody ruins and rendered inoperable for weeks!
And, of course, that didn't fucking happen because a Huntress showed up and fixed the bloody place as if it was nothing!
Never in a long time did Torchwick feel that he needed a drink to process the utter chaos he witnessed last night. Yet his job wasn't done yet. His boss wants more information about who those things were, as that was easier said than done since this was his first time seeing them as well.
Also, his boss's original plan was scrapped a while back, and despite the fact he did not have the complete picture of what happened, he did pick up that it was something about the White Fang outpost getting destroyed or crippled beyond use months earlier. It was not his problem that those animals never qualified for such jobs that they couldn't maintain a single outpost in a Grimm-infested ruined city.
Now, he is in Junior's club, drinking his problems away with Neo by his side until he feels ready to get moving with finding whoever those things are. Yes, while he and Junior don't get along after he hires his goons and proves less than capable of dealing with Red, the man still allows him to come over for a drink, if nothing else. Or at least Torchwick was enjoying his time drinking when the club's door slammed open before someone in some sort of armour with a cloak over them walked in.
Frankly, Roman and Neo couldn't care less as to who that person was who brazenly opened the door until he sat on the stool next to him. "Hola! Bartender!" The man spoke in an accent he couldn't recognise before Junior walked towards him.
"Yeah, what do you want?" Torchwick's eyes narrowed down. Something's off about this fella next to him, and he can feel it. Even his partner is glancing cautiously at him. While it's hard to see how this mysterious person dresses, he could pick up some sort of eye patch over his left eye with grey hair despite his youthful looks and amber right eye.
"Do you sell Clara de Limón here?" What the hell is Clara de Limón?
(Fun fact! Clara de Limón is a Spanish cocktail drink made of beer and lemon soda/ lemonade! It is known to be relatively light compared to the heavier cocktails.)
"Yeah. It's rare to see anyone asking for it. Most people coming here usually want heavier stuff. Let me guess, you want one?"
"Yes, a pint will be enough for me." The man happily says as he reaches into his coat and places some Lien on the desk. "This should be enough to cover the drinks, amigo." Yet all he got was a grunt from Junior as he took the Lien and moved on to prepare a drink for this lively person.
Once he was done, the lively man turned and faced Torchwick, and that was when the master criminal noticed a barcode underneath where his left eye would have been if it wasn't for the eyepatch most of his left face. All the while with a knowing smile on his face. "Ah! The famous Roman Torchwick, many have heard of your exploits ¿Sí?"
"Yeah. What's with people bothering me today? Can't many get some time to drink in peace?" Torchwick grumbled before taking another swig of his drink while Neo narrowed her eyes down. "Also, who are you supposed to be? Some sort of fella who keeps talking?" Yet all he got was a hearty laugh from the man as if he said something funny.
"Oh no! Not that amigo!" The man continues laughing before Junior comes around and passes the man his drink. "Ah! Thank you."
"I got a bad feeling about this…" After all, not someone this happy would come to talk to him. Everyone has a hidden agenda whenever it comes to making deals. And he knows the look of one when they go to him to make offers. Unlike that Cinder Bitch that threatens not only his life but Neos to get what she wants!
"Ahhh…" The man lets out a satisfied groan before glancing at Torchwick, observing him. "My name is Roland, and I am simply an actor in this stage we found ourselves in. Now I know you're thinking, why am I here? Don't you? Haha, nah, you don't. You have absolutely no idea." If Torchwick could wipe the smirk off his face, he would have. But years of doing things to survive have given him the skill to know that this man before him is not to be trifled with.
"But I shall enlighten you," Roland comments before taking another sip. "Have you seen this person?" His smile never leaves his face as he slides a photo of a certain woman from his coat. Torchwick's eyes briefly twitched when he saw Cinder on it. But thanks to his 'deal' with her.
Mentioning to anyone about her is pretty much a death sentence.
And he's not planning on dying anytime soon.
"Nope. No idea who that woman is supposed to be. Looks like a bitch to me." He snarks while Neo has to hide a silent chuckle from her lips. Yet, despite his best efforts, the man didn't seem to buy it. In fact, he appears to be more amused by it.
"Oh? Is this the game we're playing now, amigo? Everyone knows that the great Roman Torchwick wouldn't snoop so low to work with terrorist fools who fight such a pointless endeavour in the long run." Roland points with his smile, never changing before leaning in close to his ear. "Come on. My mas- boss simply wants to meet with her. It's just a meeting between one puppet master and another."
He doesn't like this. He really doesn't like this. Who the hell is he? And how does he know of his hands tied by her?
"Oh, that's a good look on your face. I hit right on the dot, did I? Romano?" Roland keeps his smile despite the tension between the two increasing, with Neo even drawing her Parasol in the background, now giving a death glare as if daring him to do something. "Oi, Oi. Let's not get too hasty now, will you? If things go how my boss wants, I'm sure I can convince him to set you free if you get what I mean."
Roland calmly drinks from his cup while waiting for an answer while Torchwick thinks through his words. He cannot lie. It sounds way too good to be true. Free him from that bitch's hands and finally allow him to do whatever he wants again without strings attached? There has to be a catch somewhere…
Then again, what has he got to lose? If Roland's boss can fulfil his end of the bargain, he'll be a free man.
If not, he's dead meat.
"Alright. I'll see what I can do."
"¡Maravilloso!" Roland grinned before pulling out a slip of paper that had a scroll number on it. "Just text this number of the time and place, and my boss will handle the rest." Roland then finishes his entire drink before standing up.
"We'll be waiting for a reply soon, amigo. Just try not to keep us waiting for a reply." Roland left the club, leaving Torchwick and Neo behind as they stared at the slip of paper given to them. A beat went by before Neo glanced at Torchwick and offered a look that was basically asking him if he was sure that this was what he wanted to do.
"Yup. If this Roland fellow keeps to his word, we're home free Neo, and frankly, I'm getting old for this shit. And I'm only in my thirties!" Neo just gives him a drawl look before rolling her eyes. "But seriously, something's off about that fella. You feel me?" Torchwick points out as Neo nods her head.
When Roland suddenly barges in like that, there is this sense of wrongness about him. Not just the way he looks but the way he seems to act as well. Then there's his aura. Compared to most individuals who have Aura, Roland has one, but… it's off…
Very off…
Instead of feeling the strength of Aura, Neo could only pick up the empty space that should be his aura. And that alone scares her to the core, even if she never shows it open. It was as if that man was not alive in the most sense of the word. Or dare her thoughts suggest that his aura was…
Defiled.
"Well… this shit's getting more complicated." Torchwick couldn't help but mutter out loud before finishing his drink. "Let's get going, Neo. We got work to do."
Cut! So, what do you think of this chapter? Besides that, with Alpha's Crimson Weave frame coming out soon, I just have to get this done and out! So, here's the aftermath of the battle of the docks, with everyone wondering what happened.
And yeah, Lucia has kind of undergone a bit of a PTSD mode, which is mainly to show why she had her memories wiped. Kurt wasn't kidding that this was to spare her the pain of knowing how she murdered everyone in cold blood. Then again, perhaps I'm just a sadistic asshole and just to see Lucia suffer a bit.
Moving on, General Ironwood and everyone else has finally found out who Merlot's partner is, and I also wish to take the chance to expand more on Racher's character beyond his hunger for vengeance against Lucia. Of course, how he survived the massacre in the first place will be kept hidden for now.
And yes, Merlot has indirectly created the first Hetero-creatures in Remnant. Or I guess they would be Hetero-Grimm instead. Yeah… if they break free or, let's say… Salem gets her hands on them, Remnant as a whole will not have a good day. Even Racher points out how insane and dangerous his actions will be. As for what will happen? Well… only time will tell, but I think you'll like what I have planned for the future.
Lastly, Torchwick's here, and I wanted to show his thoughts in the aftermath of the battle at the docks and his encounter with BPB-26 in disguise under orders to have him organise a meeting between his creator and Cinder Fall.
And yes.
The Breach will not be happening because of Lucia's actions that pretty much crippled that base to shit. If Canon didn't derail earlier, it is now.
With that, I have nothing more to say than a request for you to follow and favourite me if you enjoy this story! Do also leave a review of what you think of this chapter, as I enjoy reading it and giving replies to it!
I will see you people in the next chapter!
RGQC out!