A/N: The evil organization from Patrick's dark past is on the move. And Patrick is going to have to face them all alone. One little teenage huntsman who cannot control his Grimm powers against a dozen Agents and their elite ringleader. How well is this going to play out?
Chapter 57: Target: Weiss Schnee
It's been a long night for Patrick. Even starts to get a cramp squeezing himself under the bed. Finally, Robin goes to sleep, and Patrick takes the opportunity to sneak out. He moves very quietly, even when deep asleep, Robin can be awakened.
SPiKA wakes up in the early morning, before sunrise even. Isabela can't help it with her sudden seasickness. As Paige and Kayla return with breakfast, Paige notices a missing guest. "Has anyone seen Patrick?"
"Who cares?" Amanda asks.
"I actually woke up in the middle of the night..." Isabela starts fighting back against her seasickness before continuing to speak. "...For non-seasick reasons at all...And I saw that his bed was empty."
"It sounds like how Selena describes it." Paige says.
"But where can he even disappear to on a cruise ship?" Kayla asks.
"Probably somewhere that can get him kicked off of this ship." Everyone just looks at Amanda for saying that. "What? He's a stowaway!" Just then, the door opens, the girls are startled but are calm once they see it's only Patrick, who is looking exhausted. "Speak of the devil."
Patrick just slowly walks across the room. The girls have taken notice of his tiresome appearance. "Uh, Patrick? You feeling okay?"
"I just had a rough night." Patrick says, tiresome. "I'm going to bed."
"Just where exactly were you doing in the middle of the night?" Amanda asks suspiciously.
"None of your business." Patrick says.
"Hey!" Amanda grabs Patrick by the back of his coat and pulls him back. "I am not asking you. I am demanding an ans-"
"I said!" Patrick's voice runs deep and scary, even turning to glare right at Amanda. Not only Amanda is startled, but Paige and Kayla are frightened. "It's none! Of your! Business!"
Patrick's Grimm mode is starting to take form. His hair slowly turned white and his eyes glow burning red and black with his skin turning deathly white. "Uh...P-Patrick. You...You're looking a little..." Kayla couldn't bring up the rest of the words, but Amanda finishes for her by taking out a handheld mirror and showing Patrick his reflection.
Patrick sees his own appearance. He then comes to a shock. Patrick starts rubbing his face and shaking his head and, slowly, he returns to normal. "I...I just need some sleep." Patrick then turns back to his bed and crashes on it, instantly falling asleep.
The girls are still speechless by what has just happened. "Uh, Amanda. I think maybe you should try to avoid getting on his bad side."
"For once, I agree." Amanda says.
Amanda and Kayla back away, until they're out of the room and then leave. Paige just stays behind, watching the sleeping Patrick with a worried expression on her face. The day passes by. While Patrick is asleep, the girls and Sonta go by with their day. Amanda is spending her time elsewhere away from Patrick and is dragging Sonta along with her. Isabela is spending her day vomiting in her bed, and Kayla goes back and forth in trying to help her while having some fun of her own on the cruise. Paige is just watching the ocean view, thinking about a lot of things. Mostly about Patrick and the terrifying episode he almost unleashed.
It's a little afternoon and Patrick finally awakens. Patrick stretches his arms up as he groans tiresomely. Patrick looks out the window to see the sunny day on the ocean. "Hey there, sleepyhead." Patrick turns to see Paige walking in, with a tray of food in her hands. "I had a feeling you'd be up by now."
Paige hands Patrick his food. "Being served by an idol. Bet your fans would be envious of me for this." Patrick says.
"Maybe." Paige says with a chuckle. Paige sits beside Patrick's bed as he eats. The whole time, she's been silent, wanting to speak. When Patrick is halfway done to finish eating, she finally speaks. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Why do you ask?" Patrick asks.
"It's just, the way you almost went all Grimm mad on us." Patrick throws a surprised look. "Relax, we all knew. We saw the news, and then Selena told us what happened. Even told us about what happened to your friend." Hearing that softens Patrick into regret. "Listen, I just want you to know. Despite having this Grimm nature within you, we do still think of you as a good person." Patrick throws Paige a 'Really?' look, then she realizes one error in her speech. "Okay, we-aside-from-Amanda do think of you that way. But you don't have to worry about us. It's true that this part of you is scary, but you still have a heart and a soul, and I think that's all that matters. Not even something extreme such as taking the life of someone who's been so close enough to entrust you with it can change it."
"Akira's not dead, at least as far as I can tell." Patrick says, looking down with regret.
"I know, Patrick. But I do understand the condition she's in isn't exactly all that different. And the way Selena is handling it does make it seem like it's exactly that." Paige says. "The point is you don't have to feel alone. You still have good friends, a family even, looking out for you." Patrick doesn't say anything. Not even as Paige walks away, and says, "Think about it."
However, the second she said that Patrick was hit with a sudden flash.
One that goes back all the way to the day he arrived at Beacon Academy.
Patrick sees himself with Akira, who is talking to him about teamwork. Her words echoing. "When alone, you can become strong and resourceful. But some limits would be impassable. As a team, you can achieve anything that stands before you. However, if you prefer to be alone when working with a team, you'll find only chaos before you."
Thinking back at that moment has Patrick suddenly filled with grief. He even lost his appetite.
The day goes on. Patrick pretty much spent alone time to himself, even distancing himself from SPiKA. He does his best to keep an eye on Weiss, but make sure he is not caught, by the Agency or the Security Guard. He then sneaks into the ship's security system, he hides out until the security guard leaves, then he dashes in while the window of opportunity is open. He connects his scroll to the keyboard, downloading the command access onto his scroll. Once he gains his access, he makes his leave before the guard returns.
The day passes, and the sun is beginning to set, bathing the sky with an orange-red color. The stage is being set for the live concert. Three of SPiKA's members are getting ready and excited for the event. Meanwhile, the last one, Isabela, is standing by the railing overwhelmed with her seasickness. Sonta is rubbing on her back to try and ease her sickness. Not a lot of effort.
Patrick arrives, meeting up with Paige, Amanda, and Kayla. "Hey, you're here." Kayla says, waving at him.
"How are you feeling?" Paige asks him.
"I'm doing okay." Patrick says. He looks at the stage. "So when are you guys going on?"
"We're on right after the opening act. I believe it's some rich girl." Amanda says.
"Weiss." Patrick says under his breath. Patrick turns when he catches the sound of vomiting. Isabela is by the railing vomiting into the water, then groaning once she stops. Patrick approaches Isabela, and hands her a bottle. "Here, for your sea sickness."
Isabela gives Patrick a stern look. "I do not have-" Then her face turns green and her mouth is suddenly full of vomit. Isabela then pukes into the water, and Patrick waits until she is done before speaking.
"Yeah, we can go on about this all day but I'm pretty sure you guys have a performance soon and the last thing you SPiKA girls want is one of you vomiting on stage." Patrick says.
Isabela groans sickly as she takes the bottle. "Fine. You win."
Isabela takes a moment to summon her strength before drinking. "Just let me know if it works." Patrick starts walking away as he quickly whispers the next part of the sentence. "And hopefully you don't turn purple."
Isabela nearly caught that last sentence stopped drinking, and looked at him in shock. "I don't what?"
Patrick spends his time blending in with the crowd, which grows larger as more people join in getting ready for the concert. While blending with the crowd, Patrick keeps an eye out for any of the Abductors, as well as keeping his distance from them and his head low. He already spotted nearly half of them. The security guard. Two staff members, one on lights and the other working on sound. Two citizens in the front row. And the last one over by the drinks.
But none of them is the leader Robin.
The moment it becomes dark, the lights go dim, and the stage lights flash, with the young Weiss standing on stage. There's only a soft cheer from the audience. Soft piano music plays, and after the intro passes, Weiss begins singing her 'Mirror Mirror' song. The whole time she sings, Patrick remains aware. He tries to focus his vision on his hidden enemies. As time passed, he lost them in the crowds.
He eventually finds the security guard, who starts deactivating the security droids. Patrick's expression hardens. It means they're preparing to make their move. Patrick starts to ready his move as he takes out his Scroll and turns on the security access he downloaded.
Weiss's song comes to an end, and the Agency uses it as a signal to begin their move. The audience cheers and Weiss takes a bow. In an instant, the security droids deactivate, and then the lights go off. The audience goes into a confused panic. Patrick activates his Night Vision to see what's going on. Weiss is confused and disoriented in the darkness.
Two Abductors, with night vision goggles, rush on stage, knock Weiss out, and grab her. "Not on my watch." Patrick whispers as he pushes the button on his scroll.
The droids reactivate.
The two abductor make their escape but are caught by two droids, much to their surprise. The droids detect the Abductors and turn hostile. "INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS!" The droids starts shooting at them.
Robin and one of the Abductors is waiting at the back end of the cruise. But they received disappointing news.
"Mistress! The Security Droids are reactivated!"
Hearing this surprises Robin. "What? Then deactivate them!"
"I'm already trying!" A second voice says. "They're receiving an outside signal that's locking me out of the deactivation code."
Robin growls and grumbles in frustration, then finally speaks clearly. "Just get the target to the destination and hurry."
The Abductors make their way through the droids. Patrick follows them from a distance in the shadows. Patrick comes across any loose abductors and knocks them out while they're distracted. Weiss struggles in her bondage, even demands her kidnappers to release her, and even threatens to sue them. The two Abductors are starting to wish they could bring her in dead.
Finally, they reach Robin, and Weiss is still fighting to break free. "Let me go already, peasants!"
The Abductor carrying her drops Weiss in front of him and Robin. "Here she is, Mistress. And she was quite the handful to get here."
Weiss looks up at Robin. "Weiss Schnee. Such an honor it is to have you in my presence."
"Well, I'm so glad to brighten your day." Weiss says, sarcastically. "Now release me or else!"
"You are in no position to demand anything, 'princess'." Robin grabs Weiss's face and looks at her closely. "You're so cute at such a young age. Imagine how you'd look when you're older." Robin pushes Weiss back to the ground. "The master will be pleased to have you as his personal pet."
"I will not be a servant to a lowly faunus!" Weiss barks at him.
Robin throws a disappointing frown. "I'm afraid that's not your choice, 'princess'." The roaring sounds of wind fill the air. Robin and the others turn to see an airship heading towards them. "Ah, right on schedule."
The airship draws closer and closer to the cruise until three arrows go flying toward it and cause a combustible explosion that sends the airship diving into the ocean. Robin is pretty upset by the sudden events and turns to see where the blast has come from. Standing against them is Patrick, with his bow at hand.
"Whoops." He says, in stern sarcasm.
Robin looks at Patrick in anger, and then she suddenly recognizes him. "Wait...I know you! You're the defect!"
Weiss also recognizes him and lets out a soft gasp. "The Grimm Beast."
"How nice of you to remember me, Robin." Patrick says.
"As if I'd forget the face of the one who betrayed us." Robin says.
"I was never a traitor. I was never one of yours to begin with!" Patrick says. "Now, let's skip the formalities and get to the point, Robin."
"I agree." Robin says with a proud smile followed by a chuckle. "But I'm afraid I have to make a personal delivery." Robin turns her attention to the Abductors. "Despite of him, boys."
Robin grabs Weiss, who is fighting in her struggles demanding Robin to let her go. The three Abductors gang up on Patrick, who isn't gonna let them take him on so easily. "Think again." Patrick types onto his scroll and presses the command. The security droids arrive and they start shooting at the Abductors. While they're occupied, Patrick hurries to the edge of the cruise. He sees Robin swimming away at great speed.
Patrick sets his Dust Bracers to be loaded with Ice and Lightning Dust. He then dives into the sea, landing on the water that instantly turns into ice by his feet, then dashes towards Robin leaving a path of ice on his trail. Patrick then dashes past Robin and then does a slide in the water, ending with a large U-turn, the waters rise and freeze as they do, causing a large ice block. Robin gets caught in the ice, and Weiss is frozen by the waist just several feet behind her.
"Do you honestly believe I would let you get away that easily? Especially with the Schnee girl?" Patrick asks. Robin only glares right at him. Patrick walks past Robin and stands by Weiss. He activates his Wrist Flamethrowers and starts melting the ice Weiss is trapped in.
The ice trapping Weiss melts away and Patrick grabs Weiss's hand and pulls her out of the watery hole. Weiss only brushes off her skirt just before glaring at Patrick with a disappointed look. "Do you realize you could have barbequed me!? What kind of a Huntsman are you?"
"Uh, you're welcome." Patrick says with a disappointing tone. He then turns his attention to Robin. "Now, you will tell me what I need to know, Robin!" Patrick draws out one of his swords. "Where is Rufus Zero!? Where is that bastard hiding?!"
Robin only laughs at him. "Do you honestly believe I would say anything to a traitor like you? Or are you really this stupid?" Robin closes her eyes and looks up. After a moment, thin streams of water burst out of the ice, piercing holes surrounding Robin, enough for her own strength to shatter the ice and break free. Seeing this surprises Patrick and Weiss as Robin summons the water to her. "You seemed pretty dumb to forget about my Semblance!"
Patrick's expression hardens as he draws out his other sword, preparing for battle. "Stand back, kid."
Seeing the power Robin has and knowing the Grimm Rage Patrick carries, Weiss does as told and runs out of the battlefield. Patrick and Robin engage in battle, Patrick relying on his swords and Dust, both legs and arms, and Robin relying on her Semblance and her wheel blades.
Weiss can do nothing but watch the two lash out against each other.
Patrick arrows his arrows at Robin, who dodges the first three and grabs the fourth one just before it hits her in the face. Robin charges her her wheels with lightning dust. Once fully charged, she throws them at Patrick who then deflects them with his blades. The wheels returned to Robin as she caught them.
"You have grown stronger since we last met 7 years ago. You live up to your reputation, 'Shadow Hunter'." Robin says.
"I am just getting started, Robin! I'll squeeze the information out of you, one way or another!" Patrick says.
"Come and try, defect!" Robin says.
Patrick and Robin continue to fight against each other. Weiss only stays behind and watches the throw hash out against each other with weapons, and dust, and water manipulation with Robin's Semblance. Patrick dodges the incoming water hoses and splits the last one in half with his sword loaded with Ice Dust, also causing the water to freeze.
Patrick stomps his foot, with a bracer leg filled with a mixture of earth and Ice dust, sends a wave of icy mist and once it reaches Robin, becomes encased in frozen earth. Patrick then loads his bow with three arrows and fires them. Robin manipulates the water to incase the flying arrows in bubbles, just before they reach her.
Eventually, Robin breaks out of her imprisonment with all of her strength. She readies herself to fight but comes to a halt once some security droids rush in and have her at gunpoint. She softly growls as she glares at them and then back at Patrick.
"This is not over, Defect!" Robin runs away, giving into the water and swimming away at incredible speed.
"No!" Patrick runs to the edge of the ice floor. He loads an arrow on his bow and aims, but by then, Robin's already swam far out of range. Patrick realizes he won't be able to reach her without having to kill her.
In defeat, Patrick lowers his bow and grunts in frustration.
Everything gets settled in. Weiss is returned to her father, who barely shows any gratitude at all for the rescue of his daughter, and Patrick regrouped with SPiKA. "The bad guys you were after, they were trying to kidnap the Schnee girl? Isabela asks.
"Yep. And they were well planned with it too. Luckily I was one step ahead of them." Patrick says.
"That is both impressive and creepy." Kayla asks.
"Not the first time I've heard that." Patrick says.
"So, what are you gonna do now?" Paige says.
"I should get back to my team. They're probably worried about me since I suddenly disappeared on them." Patrick says.
"I can understand that." Paige says.
"Say 'Hi' to Selena and her friends for us." Kayla says.
Loading his bracers with Lightning Dust, Patrick superspeed runs off the boat and across the ocean to return to shore. He dashes until he finally arrives at the Inn he and his friends are staying in. He opens the door to find everyone in the lobby, preparing to head for bed. But their plans come to a halt seeing their missing member.
"Where have you been? We've been worried sick." Selena asks.
"I had some...business to take care of." Patrick says.
Mashika just stares at Patrick with a disappointed look, with her arms crossed. She knows what that 'business' is all about, and Patrick catches on her suspicion. "Why don't you kids start heading up to bed? Marina and I should have a little talk with Patrick."
Selena, Marlene, and Team CPER do as Mashika ordered. Heading up the stairs, some of them look back down at them, and Clawdia whispers to Peter. "I think he's in trouble."
Once the students are away to their rooms, Patrick, Mashika, and Marina begin their conversation.
"You were out hunting the Agency again, weren't you?" Mashika asks.
"It isn't so much of a hunt. The other night, I overheard two agents discussing their plans and followed them. They were chasing after one of the Schnee daughters." Patrick says. "I did what I had to and prevented them from accomplishing their mission."
Mashikaribs her forehead as she lets out a disappointing sigh. "I can understand interfering with them to protect a helpless citizen, but you can't go off handling it by yourself. Let alone disappearing on us."
"Mashika's right. We know about your history with the Abduction Agency and the torment they have caused you, but you are still only one person." Marina says. "Besides, after what happened with your Grimm nature, it's too dangerous for you to be on your own. Think about what'll happen if you lose control and go berserk again."
Patrick looks down. He knows Marina is right. Patrick almost lost it when Amanda was pestering him.
"Salem may not have a hold on you anymore, even as just a voice in your head, but we know there are other ways to trigger your rage. I'm sure that is what happened when you encountered those strangers back at the Vytal Festival." Mashika says.
"After witnessing your wrath firsthand, Selena and Marlene might feel the same thing, and I'm sure Akira would too if she were here." Marina says.
"If that's not enough, think about your mother." Mashika says. "We may not know her well, but we do understand she wouldn't want you following a path of rage and vengeance, whether it's hunting the agency or going Grimm Berserk."
With nothing else said, Mashika and Marina start heading upstairs. As they go up, Mashika sets Marina's wheelchair to hover mode to take her up.
Patrick only stands frozen in place, lost in thought of everything Mashika and Marina have said.
The next morning, both teams and instructors take their leave and start heading back to Beacon. During the whole trip back, Patrick has been quiet. Mashika and Marina don't say anything either. Marlene, Selena, and Team CPER have stared between the three and wondering what happened last night.
During the trip home, Patrick has had a lot of time to think. He has no control of this Grimm power he is cursed with. Already two it came with a heavy price. First Akira, and now it almost cost him his soul. The second time was more of Salem's influence, but he can't deny the first time it happened it was pure rage from when Cinder teased him that she was the one who attacked Amber. Then came that moment on the cruise when he almost lost it.
His anger is what triggers his Grimm mode. "Such as the Nature of the Grimm." Patrick says as he looks down at his hands.
By afternoon, everyone made it back to Beacon. The courtyard and the halls are mostly empty. Teams PASM and CPER return to their dorms. Patrick on the other hand doesn't go to the dorm. He instead heads for the elevator, heading towards Ozpin's office.
At the top, Ozpin is at his desk. The elevator dings and the doors slide open, revealing Patrick coming in. Ozpin offers a smile as he sits straight. "Greetings, Mr. Aki...I take it you've made up your mind?"
Patrick offers Ozpin a stern look as he is about to give him his answer.