Chapter Ninety: Ready to Die!
Somewhere in Atlas...
It's still dark night out. Extremely early morning.
Yet, Rowa Carson sits at an all day cafe. A steaming coffee sits before her, but it eludes her focus. Sitting on the table top is her scroll device. Its screen shows nothing at all. No display. Yet, it holds her attention all the same...
"Come on..." She mumbles. Her hands clasp together on the table in a mock prayer position. "Please be safe..."
A heads up was given about the time of day to expect... So, she waits... Just before sunrise.
. . .
Beacon Academy
Another steaming cup of coffee is held aloft by the headmaster of the Academy. Ozpin stares out the window, viewing Vale in the fine early hours. The silver haired man simply eyes the blackened horizon like a hawk, bemused.
The door opens, Glynda Goodwitch stepping into the room. She's got a handful of paperwork. Noticing her boss, she sets it on his table and marches up. "No updates yet, sir." She grimaces.
Ozpin remains in place, turned away. "I trust Mrs Carson at her word... It must be any day now." He glances off. "Already passed, perhaps? Or..." He ponders before speaking lower. "... happening as we speak..." He turns to Glynda, smiling. "We will know the answer when it is made, so tell me today's agenda."
. . .
Hallowed Heart Hospital, Sanctuary
"Agenda today is tying up some trade inspections." A police cruiser comes to a halt outdoors of the hospital itself. The hyper active dark skinned cop rambles annoyed. "I mean, ever since the Apollo way over in Atlas, absolutely EVERYBODY has a rod up the round end for any exchange with faunus. Won't change nothing doing it like that." The man parks the car, speaking to Dory in the passenger seat.
Dory rubs his bald head, sighing. "Ah, well. There isn't much that can be done about that. Scary times scare people."
The cop, Detective Carter of the Sanctuary police, gives him a dull look. "Dory, you could give a Master's Degree course on bein scared. Ya know that?"
The lawyer slouches. "Awww... You're right about that." The sad sack looks over as he opens the passenger door. "Thanks for the ride from the air field. It's nice knowing the boys in blue are supportive, or I'd be a nervous wreck."
Carter smiles and waves his hand flippant. "Nah, don't worry. Anything for Team CRBN, am I right?" He snaps his finger, flinching the lawyer but retaining his focus. "Hey, you tell the Mibu if they need any other ports for major trade, hit up Lee directly, next time! He'll fast approve em real quick!"
Dory smiles a dopey grin. For such a nervous guy, he's got the resume building. Team CRBN's banker, Mibu clan's banker, Hallowed Heart Hospital's retained lawyer. His life is quite well, better with the local cops helping his clients' deals. "I'll let them know. And, ah... I'll let Carmine and Team CRBN know the department sends well wishes."
Carter looks seriously as the lawyer steps from the vehicle. "They really taking down those terrorist bastards today?"
The lawyer pauses, frowning. "Aw... Well..." He shifts uncomfortably. "Yeah. I hope they win."
"They have to." Carter holds the look. "For all our peace of minds." A pause comes between them, so Carter nods. "Stay safe, man."
He drives off, music turning on and blaring before fading. Dory remains outside, staring towards the sun lit horizon towards the ocean distance.
. . .
Vale Downtown
Within his nightclub, Junior leans against his bar, cleaning a mug glass. His club has barely been closed four hours, yet business is on his mind, two teen girls down the bar away organizing. A single monitor television on the wall is on, showing Atlas news of all things. VERY early morning news snippets.
He just needs to wait for the news. Large military movements, Roman said? He narrows his gaze, anxious.
One of the girls chimes in, approaching. "You need new friends if this Roman guy has this much riding on him."
Junior scoffs. "Unfortunately, the best bets come from those who stress you out." He grimaces at the screen. "Tired of him or not, today could be the largest win in our lives."
The girl evaluates him a moment before shrugging and moving on to more cleaning duties.
. . .
Haddon
In Mistral and Vale's borders, the established home of Team CRBN is a bust with activity even without them. In the now years of development, the once decrepit site with only one large manor has rebuilt all its structural integrity.
What used to be ruins now holds a mixture of the the Mibu's architecture and the frontier western style. The fields for farming were now tended to, the rough road path now smoothed over considerably. Of course, the Mibu's primary export had its own section. A whole station devoted to blacksmiths!
Rama, the fox faunus smith, applies a heat treatment on a blade. Full focus eyes the metal as company strolls up. He smiles as he sets the blade aside to turn. Brushing his auburn hair back, he looks to the human male farmer. The man is much older. "You've arrived just in time Mr Calhoun! I'm finishing the last tractor blade now."
Calhoun, an old man whose daughter was once saved by Carmine just two mountains over. The farmer is one of the only people in the world to know exactly where Haddon was after befriending CRBN. The jovial man smiles and sits. "Take your time, young man! My farmhand is unloading more seed for your all's field, there."
Rama bows for the man, earning a sigh from the more personable man. The faunus then continues to work while Calhoun looks around. "Yall have some tense faces, so I gotta ask how the team is doing?"
The faunus perks, looking over. "They are currently on a very dangerous mission. We have committed a lot of resources to it, so come tomorrow things could be the start of something new, or..."
Calhoun, the bearded man, strokes the fuzz of brown and tinged gray. "I've seen enough of Atlas's crap for news. Those four are in a heap of it aren't they?"
Rama pauses. "Yes. What do you make of it?"
"Hogwash the lot of it." The old man grumbles. "The news could say CRBN shot the general in his office, and I'd bet there's a reason."
The faunus eases. "I admire your loyalty. It is assuring."
"Can't afford anything else. The boy Carmine saved my girl. 'Nough said at that."
Rama chuckles at the simple logic, turning to look at the high rock cliffs that encase Haddon in the mountains. "If only we all could simplify it so." His gaze finds a figure on the cliff, facing away from the hidden village.
Atop the cliff wall is a bat faunus, Kirran Mibu. The man simply directs over the mountainous view before him. Not too far from the sea, the ocean horizon peaks out between dips in the land view.
All that Kirran cannot see, being blind. Rather, his ears remain perked.
From his view near the smithy, Rama looks on. "Some may call it brooding, as there is no means of perceiving CRBN's plight from here. Though, I see no harm in allowing others to process in their ways."
From his view, he spots Kirran turning just enough to make his face visible to Rama.
The fox faunus smirks. Calhoun raises a brow. "Think he heard ya?"
"He most certainly did. I will let the cooks know to prep a meal for him." He and the old man share a chuckle seeing Kirran pause before turning away again. "But, it just goes to show-"
. . .
"-that all our hearts are with them."
Atlas Mountains
Whipping winds crackle over the valley. Faded waves of dusting snow shift about before finding its sticking points, painting the areas with white. Light. Mild in all.
Dawn has yet to come, the sky slowly turning a contrasting blue against the black of anything that isn't snow.
With the weather so forgiving, the white in the landscape has a shimmer...
Almost camouflaged into the mountain dip, a bubble of mildly pulsating white barely pronounces itself. Energy with a small hum, a hard white barrier holds its place against the gales. Snow falls against the surface, building but failing to find a hold. It slowly drifts with the winds until washing down the barrier dome.
At ground level, the snow has built up to mass mounds against the edge of the barrier. The white energy indistinguishable from the frost, it's only when close does one see the depth perception.
Through the power, beyond the veil, inside the precipice reveals a compound. Snow on the ground is a light dusting on the grasses. Gravel road ways between several buildings. None taller than one level save for one massive lavish structure standing three stories with glass walls at one side. Otherwise, each building is a marble white, off tone from the white snow.
Breaking the scene with more color tones are silver and metal gray attachments or connections. The compound's edges are populated with a long line of interconnected metal cables. The cables are the machinery itself, projecting dust energy. Hard light dust, angled up into a curve to create the dome. Center of the dome is a single metal receiver in the sky, exactly in the median point of the barrier catching the hard light dust from all sides.
On the end of the compound facing the mountain, silos and water treatment towers connect into the ground. Signal dishes for CCT coverage connect to them as well, Very much rigged rather than industrial SDC tech.
Men marched about, full black body armor with visor covered helmets. Guard posts and perimeter checks.
Through a larger area, a host of children are marched out in three separate groups, by their designation. Their coverings were varied, as were their states of mind.
The Series Blacks were alert, standing at attention with their gazes darting around. They are fairly uncovered, chilled by the extreme cold. Shivers contained...
The Series Blues are covered up, clothed fully for the freezing temperatures. They each have note taking pads and writing utensils with them.
Finally, the Series Reds were most miserable. Wearing barely anything, they move propane tanks from a loader into a storage shed.
A triplet of exercises with the same purpose: Adaptation to climates. After all, these children cannot control who it is that buys them. Thus, they must have a base line expectation of how work in extremes shall go.
One such Red drops a tank and quivers in place, furiously attempting to warm themselves. They wrap their arms around in vain. In seconds, guards are shoving the smaller teen aside for a break indoors. A break only in name.
From an elevated platform one level above, Mary Anne looks on in frustration. "Another red barely withstanding the cold. We'll need to prioritize selling those to clients in Vacuo." She tugs at the black and gold jacket she wears. The woman's dark clothing is embroidered with gold threading and an off yellow fur lining round the collar. No dress for once, wearing black winter pants with a yellow skirt on the outside.
Her gauntlet weapon is hitched to a satchel at the small of small of the back. Extra attachments are lined inside. She glances over to a fully suited guard. No, it's the Captain, former Black 1372.
"Reds are a disaster for prepping harsher buyers. If we butter up some regulars, we can make a good sum off them, though. Blues are performing... well." She hesitates.
The Captain hums. "The faunus in the Blues aren't performing well." His deep voice cuts through the air. The projection of his speech is always caught her off guard.
"What can you expect? It's Atlas. They don't have much in the way of motivation or resources. But at worst, some get pawned for red light services." If she held any sympathy for such a fate, she's long since let it be overwhelmed with frustration towards these kind of circumstances. "The human Blues are performing more than well with their education level. We can mark them up a level to obliterate any dip we take from the Reds or faunus Blues."
The expressionless visor looks off. The silver skull on the black screen was pristine. Newer. The Captain huffs. "What's Spyyra doing with the Blacks?"
"Stress test aura control." She answers, eyeing the Blacks to find marks of bruises and hits. "They sparred an hour before this exercise to reduce aura levels. Now they must use what little they have to last as long as possible in the weather. Just as aura healing works, so to can aura balance your temperature... with enough control."
The Captain twitches at that. "I didn't even have to learn that. Don't think many Huntsman even learn control that fine. Doesn't make you immune to heat and cold in regards to climate?"
"Neither did I, but with the limited time..." She lets out a sigh. She doesn't answer his question since she assumes he's correct. "Spyyra is training them the way HE was to make up for time."
A small pause.
The man huffs. "But Spyyra wasn't normal."
"Right." Mary stares on.
Another pause.
"... Because he's monstrous compared to most people."
"Oh, I know." Mary scoffs, shaking her head. "Believe me, I know."
"Hmm..."
"It is precisely monsters that we need." A voice cuts in.
Both Mary and 1372 jolt, whipping round to see Aline Zandril. "Sir! You're out of bed-"
"Oh, it is stuffy and bothersome." Zandril waves off her concern. He's dressed in his pure white suit without a care. He looks on to the children in the field. "Plus, listening to the catty opinions of my advisors lifts the spirit in entertainment." He joins the three. His violet gaze notices their posture change. "At ease. At ease... We are all friends, of course." He smiles wide.
Mary frowns at him openly, while the Captain slouches and looks off. "Monsters..." Mary starts. "How many do you think we need, sir? How many monsters does it take to slay a devil?"
Zandril chuckles. "No source is limitless. Surely, the power we face will reach its limit at some point."
His lax demeanor continues to concern her. Is he just ignoring the risk? He's been this way for a while. "Sir, if I may." When she receives no response, she slowly continues. "Ever since we heard about Series Black 1... and then the events at the Apollo beyond that, have we... lost?"
The platinum blonde man glances up, eyes towards the white barrier above. Behind it is the vague, blurry outline of a mountain...
"Sir, are you okay?" Mary lets out. Concern for the man.
Still nothing... A man staring to the sky.
Staring at a snow covered mountain beyond a veil of energy...
. . .
Years ago... The same boy looking up at night through a veil of black smoke... The black volcano with molten lava bellowing and dusting its sides. Harsh rain falls, the storms above thundering...
The boy is held upon Setante's back...
. . .
"It's awful dark, isn't it?" Zandril speaks softly.
Mary and 1372 share a look, concern building.
They glance up, the shimmering white of the compound obscuring the time of day from them. They do see beyond the barrier, that darkness is still there, but the hard light still allowed an illusion of dim daylight.
Zandril finally looks down from the mountain. "War is upon this world once more." He speaks an airy tone. "Darkness of hatred creeps towards the precipice." His hands lift slightly, palms up in gesture. "Slowly, but with resolve, does destiny of man's follies grip hold... As brilliant lights shall cease to burn!" His hands clench in punctuation.
He brings his hands behind his back, chuckling lightly. "A world such as this is survived by those with conviction. A passion bore through strife and powered by the will! Yet, this resolve will be fueled by what? By hope? By petulant idealism? Hmph! Or, shall it be with those of ambition, spite, or dare I say-" He lets out a high laugh like a chirp. "-unyielding rage..." His voice dips at the end.
"Well." He pauses to clear his throat. "We have yet to see whose conviction is stronger. Destiny has not yet slipped our hands. Yet, if it is so..." He looks to Mary, his eyes... are like Spyyra's. Lost to a deranged cult of curiosity. "Then let my end be the birth of an even greater monster still. One that is certain to accomplish my wishes."
"Death to the witch." Mary comments. "But satisfaction is best when it's your grip around the constricted throat."
This seems to break the man's fanciful haze as he claps his hands with a single cackle. "Well said! Enough with contemplation. Has the compound defenses been seen to?"
"New generator for the hard light shield has smoother cut off transitions to invite vehicles inside when the shield is inactive. No one is sneaking through it during the brief shut off periods without us knowing." Mary cites first.
"And surveillance?"
The Captain speaks up. "Fourteen perimeter cameras are the focus of the surveillance crew. No blind spots. The analog cameras let them control the cameras well for tracking. Hi def cameras have been perfect for reviewing."
"Did the new ones get installed?" Mary cuts in. "The bright reflection of light off the snow is gonna burn out those camera lenses and make them useless."
"They're working fine. New ones are still in stock for emergency installs."
"With an attack impending any day now? I'd call that sufficient emergency." Mary urges.
Grumbling, the Captain crosses his arms. "Time has been better devoted to guard emplacements at high checkpoints. Better for anti ground or air." He then looks to Zandril. "The White Fang will heel the moment they try anything here."
"Yes. Yes. And, pray tell. How about the prospect of the Fang with Team CRBN?" Zandril pokes at the show of force. "Surely, there is some room for improvement? Assurances and arrogance will not win us the day..."
Zandril glances over the balcony, smirking as he is the only one to notice Spyyra's presence.
The green haired man leans against the first level wall directly beneath the trio, listening patiently. His usual smirk is gone. An annoyance in his visage as he scrutinizes his series Blacks. Has he been listening since before Zandril joined them? Hmm.
The Captain retorts. "Even the full might of the Fang is outstripped in tools and resources. Team CRBN will try to sneak in and weaken us to be sure, but it would take the backing of several forces to make them a collective threat. Master Spyyra is more than capable of defeating them in open combat, that much is proven in their inability to face him proper. We merely mustn't allow them to dictate the battle terms."
"As they are the attacking force, I wonder if that's already been decided." Zandril chuckles, turning away. "I will allow you all to do your work." As he leaves the quibbling advisors, both turn hesitant to him. He then speaks lowly. "But remember..."
. . .
Up mountain from the compound...
A shredded camouflage tarp is splayed in the snow, varying tools and a mechanical controller. A man in AZRL armor is bleeding in the snow, yet is already gone.
"Team CRBN will surely surprise us. Be ready."
Blair stands over the man, her white and violet tight jacket with golden doing little in the cold. Her exhale fogs while she sheathes Fluorescent and checks the tools splayed about.
Quickly, Carmine and Roman each shift against rocks nearby as Neo slides and clasps her hands. Her semblance conjures an illusion over the ten by ten area hiding the dead body, herself, and Blair. While holding it, Blair makes her find.
"Controller. For the traps, I presume." She looks to Roman. He holds the scope Carmine had last month for scouting. The view is set to see electric waves.
The conman looks down a slope, bumping up his brows a second. "Signals from three sources ahead. Glad we dodged the ones on the way..." He frowns. "We've got one hour before the attack needs to start. Gotta get the signal in."
Blair begins to cover the dead guard and tarp with snow. Neo hums, signing one handed. "Scouts will start to see us if we don't take them all out."
"We don't have time to remove the scouts." Carmine grimaces, looking to Roman. "There's dozens of them. We need to focus on getting inside and setting off the EMPs. Speaking of which."
Roman pats a silver satchel at his side. "Both ready along with the big boom. Got any tips to get in, Barbie?"
Blair touches down on the only exposed part of the guard from the snow, a dark purple haze of aura passing from the body into her... Her semblance previously placed inside him. She closes her eyes and focuses, gleaming on any spied upon memories...
"The entire barrier must drop to allow passage in and out of the compound. The scouts are set on timed intervals or request. Next timed switch for scouts is in two hours." Blair grimaces. "We cannot enter without those inside allowing us."
"Shit." Carmine mutters behind his cover. He looks to the compound shield barely visible over the curve of another slope ahead. "We were hoping the shield had open checkpoints, but if the whole thing has to be operated, that screws the order here."
Blair huffs. "We were hoping to use the bomb on the shield projectors, THEN use the EMPs to hinder the enemy while the Fang forces arrived for an easier fight. If we're using the EMPs before the fight's even begun..."
"Our advantage time got cut in half." Carmine surmises. "We need one EMP to get us into the shield. Then bomb. THEN second EMP for a five minute advantage opening the fight."
Neo hums. She glances to the mountain. Less electrical waves pinged off their scopes up that way. She points uphill.
Blair follows the gesture. "An avalanche wouldn't produce nearly enough power to damage the shield. At the angle of the compound's location, the shield isn't even fully necessary to protect most of the area."
"But kicking up that much snow would be a perfect smokescreen of fog..." Roman gives a vicious grin. "Neo, I swear we are on the same frequency sometimes."
Neo beams a smile, almost innocent when discussing destructive means.
Carmine can't help but smile himself. He looks to the three. "You three get near the shield as you can, but to the side." He looks to Blair. "I'll set off an avalanche and Recall out of it. Set off the first EMP in time for the avalanche to hit the compound. We enter in the cover. The Fang was told to wait for the bomb smoke signal to attack, so they shouldn't mistake the avalanche as the signal."
"Stay out of sight, Silver Streak." Roman nods to him.
The boy nods. "CRBN, move out." He shoos them off before turning back the way they came.
Blair, Neo, and Roman proceed further under the cover of Neo's illusion...
. . .
Inside the compound, Spyyra takes to the groups outdoors. He moves for a man in black with a clipboard. Nodding to the children, he speaks low. "Take the blues inside. Reds can go into the heat room. Blacks to the combat room. Tell em I'll be down in fifteen."
The man nods and sets about ordering the children off. Spyyra watches critically as each of the series Blacks marches into the one of the nearest structures. The green haired man then glances to the skies. It's mild. Damn near clear.
If the Fang were to make a move, they would hide their approach at night when they can abuse their nocturnal vision...
Meaning if an attack is to occur, it would be right... about... now-
CLICK! Radios key off. "Bogeys spotted at outer perimeter! South side, four hundred yards out!"
The moment the radio clicks off, Spyyra bursts with energy and sprints forth! His metal control brings a waist level radio up before he keys it on. "How many?! Can you make them out?"
The response comes back. "Negative on ID, but there are three. Rounding the cliff faces towards the compound. Permission to engage with sniper fire?!"
Spyyra almost responds, but Mary's voice cuts in. "Negative! Allow them to get to a position with less cover. We need to identify them as well to ascertain their importance."
The man smirks. That woman was onto something.
. . .
The three CRBN members are sprinting over the snow mounds. Leaving the cliff face to more even land, they all look with their scopes. Electronic waves are going crazy!
"They saw us!" Roman cries out. He pulls out his scroll, using the radio function for CRBN's frequency. "Silver Streak, they know we're here. We're almost in position, so the snow better be coming!"
"A decoy will suit us well." Blair calls out. She uses Fluorescent's sheath and jabs Neo mid stride with the end, stealing blood. Neo winces, grumbling. The blonde sighs. "Apologies. Neo, use your semblance to hide us on my signal. I'll send the decoys forth."
Neo moves in front, the three of them closing together. Rounding a larger tree, Neo slices out with Hush, bellowing up a gust of snow. At the same time, Blair activates and draws Fluorescent, slashing and casting out Neo's semblance!
In an instant, all three of them shimmer away under the mild obscuring film of white. Then three images of them bolt out from the settling frost. The images angle off and veer leftward from their destination.
After waiting just thirty seconds, the real three bolt from the area for their planned position.
. . .
Up the mountain looming over the compound, Carmine stands over a drop edge.
He gestures with his hands, visualizing the hard light barrier nearly two miles off. He smirks. "Jager." His armor flashes to his legs as he kicks off the ground with a boost. He removes a powder capsule from his pocket.
. . .
The decoy CRBNs finally move into an open spot, where they are confronted by a firing squad. "Open fire!" A stream of shots riddle the images.
SHATTER!
The images disappear, the AZRL troops jolting at the reveal.
. . .
Spyyra reaches the edge of the compound shield.
His radio clicks on. "Attack on hostiles launched at target location as ordered. All three hostiles appeared to break apart and disappear. No contact."
"Oh, ho..." Spyyra smirks, but wipes it away. He calls on the radio himself. "Our enemy is Team CRBN! Four in total. Everyone to highest threat level! Get the numbers to locked quarters!" A series of copy responses chatter through, so Spyyra then directs traffic to Mary Anne. "Get the Link projects ready in case we need them."
"The what- We still don't have full control of their movements."
"It's a backup plan." He scoffs. "Plus, I'll reign them in if need be-"
A small rumble... He stops.
His orange eyes trail up to the mountain, the black shape before the dim blue sky. Dawn is nigh...
. . .
Along the top ridges of the snow topped inclines, Carmine boosts with Jager's thrust at his legs. He glides while throwing small capsules into points along the snow. Still keeping aloft, he draws Heulin Noon and aims.
He pauses in thought. "Hmm. Cowabunga- No." He jerk interrupts his own mumbling. "Yippie Kay... Nah. Boom Baby? Eh, too silly." His lips pucker in thought before he scoffs. "Ah, fuck it."
He opens fire! Three double shots angle up, impacting ice shelves further above!
Snap reload before the white begins to slide. He fires upon the ridge, six shots at six dust capsules placed along the snow! Six successive explosions blast the length of the ridge, cracking the stiff compact white!
The mountains rumble as snow bellows and begins to fall. The massive wave builds as it starts to fall fully by Carmine. He smiles. "Wow. Riding a second avalanche down another mountain." He chuckles and shrugs. "The odds..." He clicks his tongue, his Jager booster shutting off.
He slowly back flips in descent through the misting snow. "BOOOO YAHAHA!" Mid fall, he finds a broken chunk of a tree faltering in the avalanche! The boy fires upon it, breaking a hunk off. He kick lands on it, beginning to use the wood as a snowboard.
The boy flails for balance at first before grinning madly. "WOO!"
. . .
The compound alert sounds, the guards all at attention as one calls out. "Avalanche! Impact less than a minute!"
Mary scowls at the force. Man made. It's too convenient. "It's a distraction! It can't break the shield anyway!"
. . .
"Keep searching for Team CRBN!"
Roman, Blair, and Neo slide to a halt. Still a distance off, they crouch low. Roman looks from the approaching tsunami of snow to Blair. "Oh good. We're slightly out of the way..." He says in thick sarcasm. Flippant he looks to Neo. "Parasol, please."
Neo cocks her head, looking at him like he's crazy. Sure, it's a joke, but to even imply Hush can block THAT?
"Barbie!" Roman's voice sounds like a complaint.
Blair ignores his tone. She draws Fluorescent Finish out in a flourish! She then brings out a hunk of metal, clearly creased to indicate intricate plates with a few ornate spikes. Angling the device in hand, she finds a slit and inserts the tip of Fluorescent inside...
The blade slides fittingly into the slot. The device slides down Fluorescent's length before locking with a click at the hilt!
A blade guard! It looks like a blade guard on the previous straight edge blade. The upending spikes making the hooks for defending the hands. The device itself blinks with thin violet glows. Blair nods. "Extender locked and active!" She looks to Roman. "Cartridge!"
He throws a custom dust capsule. A delicate mixture of lightning and earth dust reaches Blair as she snatches and slides it into Fluorescent's hilt! The blade pulses dark with small shifts in electricity.
The avalanche closes in towards the shield.
"It won't hit fully from this distance, will it?" Roman shouts as the rumbling gets louder.
"It'll be enough!" Blair pulls the trigger to cast the dust. "Lights out!" She slashes the blade up as the dust casts.
A bright blue sparks blindingly bright! The flash ignites in a single blink... The electromagnetic pulse blows out instantly over the distance. Further than any of Roman's old tinkering projects.
In a snap, a whole corner of the hard light dust barrier sparks before sapping away. The projectors of the barrier fall away, faded, as the projected barrier opens up!
It flickers. The technology struggling to work through the pulse! The corner of the barrier struggles to ignite back to light!
Inside the barrier, the soldiers all startle as a quarter of their view of the sky flickers between the faded white of the hard light and the dark blue of the morning skies...
Rumble...
As the wave of crashing white ice and crunching debris smashes into the weakened corner!
The barrier breaks in its side, allowing the disaster to plow through and into one of the outer buildings! The solid metal structure whines loudly with the blast hitting it, only for its supports to bend, creak, and finally SNAP!
The structure topples, like a tipped over toy, sliding slightly with the force of the snow burying half its structure fully! The impact and the settling of the avalanche kicks up an enormous smokescreen of white over the area! Snow blowing at the area and obscuring vision!
. . .
Watching the scene from the main complex building, Zandril sips at a drink and looks to his scrambling followers. Mary is still near, shouting out orders over a radio, but he remains more... annoyed than upset. Yet still, the very concept of losing seems nonexistent to him.
He mumbles to himself. "EMP weakening of the technology and utilizing a man made natural disaster as a battering ram... How innovative." Yet, his grip betrays him. His hand clenching the glass in hand until it cracks and shatters. He pauses and breathes. "No matter. Let them play their hand in full... Then comes the counter play... Prove me right if you prevail, or vindicate me in your failure... It matters not."
A trilling chuckle comes. Dark in its sick pleasure.
. . .
Blair, Roman, and Neo leap over the snow mass into the cloud. They cross over to an area at the edge of the avalanche hit, just inside the barrier. The projectors not buried in snow flicker and cry out as power continues to struggle against it.
"Come on. Where's Silver Streak?!" Roman hisses out.
Blair closes her eyes, sending out a radar pulse with her semblance. "There!" She points in the cloud directly towards the avalanche source. She uses her scroll and utilizes the radio function. "Carmine! Thirty degrees right!"
They wait patiently as she feels him redirect.
The projectors hum with power.
"It's recovering power already?!" Roman exclaims.
"The EMP also didn't shut the barrier completely. It's very well made." Blair comments.
Neo stabs the projector with Hush, hoping to damage it, but the energy is still sparking to reignite.
From the cloudy visage, a silhouette comes into view! A sprinting Carmine using Jager's boosted steps as he frantically approaches! "-shit, oh shit, oh, Shit, Oh SHIT!"
"Hmm?" Neo blinks.
He's full speed and too focused on the buildings-
"SH-PUH!" Carmine sprints fully into Neo clumsily, the two tumbling into the snow.
Immediately after his passage, the power restores, the sparking and damaged projectors humming to life! The hard light generators power again as the barrier fires out of the snow, through the burial! The barrier over their heads forms fully once more, despite the damage to the compound done by the avalanche hit.
Roman looks up at the recovered barrier. "Hmm. Two minutes." He glances back down. "On your feet, love birds."
Neo bursts from the snow, swatting Carmine's leg sticking up in the air. Carmine flails out of the snow and playfully snipes back. "You watch it!" He then gets up and looks to Roman. "And you shut up! That wasn't five minutes!"
"You've entered the chat." Roman mocks sarcastically.
Carmine and Neo pat themselves off as the boy looks up. "That means we have to use the second EMP AFTER we've detonated the big bomb to take down the barrier for good. We need as much of an advantage while the Fang moves in."
Blair's eyes snap open again, sheathing Fluorescent. The new Extender is still affixed as a blade guard at the hilt. She snatches them and moves. "Guards are scouring the area. We need to disappear or engage."
Carmine nods. "Right. Blair, Neo, get yourselves to the center of the complex and prepare the EMP." Roman tosses the second cartridge cylinder to Blair, who pockets it. "Where do we need to big boom?"
Roman points his new cane, Melodic Cudgel, into the air. "I'd say center in another sense." Carmine looks up and grimaces.
In the center of the dome overhead, lodged in the hard light, is a stationary device. Held aloft, it clearly has propulsion of its own.
Blair hums. "I see. It's not as advanced as Atlas. The projections are angled to be intercepted by that controller to keep the energies from colliding against each other in a hostile method."
"Prevents crossing streams. Got it." Carmine holds out his arm. "Guess that's where I'm going. Give it."
Roman pauses. "Going suicide bomber on us, Silver Streak?"
"I'm the only one that can get up there and Recall out of the explosion safely." Carmine answers, then mutters grumpy. "A crap ton of guys will see me, so try picking off some shooters." Seeing focused faces, he smirks for them. "After the bomb goes off, it's a final go, eh?"
All three frown at his jovial lack of acknowledging the risk. He has a sweat drop reaction and laughs nervously. "Guys, come on. The only people dying today are those bastards. I'm fine."
Neo snorts, allowing a smirk. Blair hums. "I will hold you to that."
Roman clicks his tongue. "Just a bit of fun storming the castle is all." He removes the last contents of the satchel with him, a container with wires the size of a basketball!
Carmine grins widely. "Team CRBN: MOVE OUT!"
Carmine leaps with a Jager boost! He ascends up the side of the nearest building. The very second he comes over the edge to the roof, he spots a watch perch on a contained perch at the opposite corner! He speeds directly at the perch, jump kicking the door open!
The guard inside whips around, various computer stations and a gun setup beside him. "Wha-!"
"SCHNEIDER!" His armor flashes to his arms, the blades out, as he jams his right arm and left elbow blades into the man! Carmine pins him to the wall, satisfied at the weak aura shield of the man shattering.
He grimaces. It's kill or be killed today... But, they made their bed. Now, they lie in it.
Carmine draws back, letting the body hit the floor. Exiting the perch, he sees movement out the corner of his eye.
Men on perches on other buildings look at him...
Spotted. Carmine scoffs, taking off into a sprint and bringing his arms up!
Gunshots start, two shots deflecting off his raised arms! Carmine leaps over from one roof to the next. Landing, he tucks and rolls. "Zero!" Rolling up, the armor switches to his left arm as he charges through another shot, then aims and counter fires!
He nails the nearest shooter, but more and more were gaining awareness of him. Missing shots ricochet off the roof around him.
Before he can leap for the next building, a few shots start scraping him! Despite his aura-
Shit... Black dust bullets.
Carmine blocks two more shots before sliding to a halt under the ridge of the square roof. "Shit!"
. . .
The cloud of snow from the avalanche begins to settle, Spyyra alert and searching the area. Finding nothing, he reaches to key his radio.
It doesn't work.
Jolting, he looks to the radio, seeing a light on indicating traffic, but nothing being said. "Sabotage." He shouts to all the nearby troops. "Keep an eye out for-" Gun shots sound, the men all taking note of it. "Keep scouting!"
He rushes in the direction of the gunfire.
Spyyra blitzes by the spreading troops...
Passing Neo and Blair who use Neo's semblance. The two girls appear merely as AZRL troops...
Something about the look... He's always had a way about Neo's illusions... But before he can track the two nondescript guards, they're gone. He grimaces and continues for the gunfire.
With Neo and Blair, they share a worried look. Blair gives a nod.
"Just a little longer... We'll get him."
Neo tightens her fist and scowls underneath the illusion helmet. She wants nothing more...
. . .
While Carmine is hunkered down from fire, Roman is several buildings off. With Carmine distracting, he rounds a building and comes face to face with a guard.
"WHA-"
Roman cracks him in the head, hooks his vest with Melodic Cudgel. He drags the man into a knee before palm striking the man into the wall. He twirls the cane to strike the head again, knocking out or likely killing the man.
Roman continues to the nearby ladder, climbing his way to the roof in record time. In front of him on the roof is another mounted scout perch, originally aimed looking out of the compound. Now, a mounted gun within is turned and aimed at Carmine, unloading shots.
He rips the door open! Two guards inside jolt and turn towards him. Roman knocks one's footing out with the cane, then brings it up into the second's jaw. The first guard now on the floor tries to pull a knife at Roman's legs. The conman merely hikes his foot up to dodge and stomps into the guard.
The second guard shakes off the prior hit, only for Roman to box out cold in three hits. He then stomps on the first guard again, raising Cudgel. Like a golf club, he strikes into the guard's side, sending the man sweeping onto the open roof.
Roman scoffs, moving for the mountain machine gun. From the view, he finds three perches opening fire on Carmine's position. He smirks and raises Melodic Cudgel.
The tip opens up with a gun sight, aiming it one handed. A sly grin forms.
He fires a massive fire dust shot from the weapon! It soars towards before erupting upon the perch! Killing the shooter instant. He turns the aim to the next perch, firing again! Another mounted gun is blown away. He aims once more, taking out the third gun emplacement.
Carmine lifts his head as the gunfire eases.
He sees Roman in the distance giving a salute and moving from the compromised perch. The boy smirks. "Nice!" He leaps back into a sprint, vaulting to the next building. He cracks a grin. "JAGER!" The armor flashes back to his legs, boost striding quickly-
A metal blade whirls at him!
Carmine's eyes bulge as the blade closes in on his gut...
Ever close...
Carmine flashes back five feet. Recall! The giant throwing star soars aside in front of him! The boy leaps to the next building...
… As Spyyra leaps out from between buildings with a sadistic grin. He takes off after the boy. "Well, LOOKY HERE!"
Carmine yelps. "Meep!" He boosts over another distance between buildings. Meanwhile, Spyyra's iron dust suit at the legs forms platforms mid stride, letting him sprint across those same distances!
Unfortunately, the center of the compound is the open training field... Carmine reaches the end of his rope with no more buildings the scale. He's as close to a high point as he can to try and reach the central target of the barrier above! He comes to a halt, turning to Spyyra coming.
Spyyra continues his charge, forming a metal spear. "End of the road!"
The boy gathers a breath.
Well... He's half right.
Exactly when the spear thrust would land, the boy blinks away. Recall!
Carmine appears mid stride in his position just a few short seconds prior... now behind Spyyra. He leaps at Spyyra!
The green haired man anticipates a strike, so he dissolves the spear, swinging it round into a shield to block.
Perfect. Carmine steps into the shield, the booster of Jager igniting as he uses the shield as a stand. He Jager jumps high into the air!
Flying like an eagle, the boy kicks with more Jager boost ignitions to get him more and more height! Just a little... bit... more...
THERE!
He pulls out the explosive device, clicking and activating a five second timer. He winds his arm and pitches it at the central device in the sky...
With the throw momentum, Carmine spins in the air before rudely jabbing a middle finger at the complex. "FUCK YOU!"
He disappears with a Recall, warping back and back all the way to the first roof he'd gotten on. He disappears over the edge.
BOOOOOM!
The eruption blast above blots out the sky in a flash. The white hard light tinges red with strain... The central device sparks and smokes, a blowout sputtering before the giant controller shorts out and breaks out from its position in the sky. The large device falls in pieces below...
The debris smashes into the ground, shocking the troops.
Above, the hard light projections now connect into each other. The energies not meant to connect in such a pattern, it clashes! A sparking flare as the dust flashes against itself.
A surge. The stream overloads.
Projectors around the compound begin to spark. The overload finally takes hold as projectors blow out! The entire hard light barrier shuts down, exposing the compound to the sky...
As the sun begins to peak over the mountains... Dawn is arriving.
A short distance from the compound center, Blair and Neo come to a halt. The debris lands, calling attention, so Blair looks to Neo. Or rather, the taller illusion guard looks to the shorter. "Come on." Arriving at the center of the frosted field, Blair pulls out Fluorescent, inserting the second EMP dust mix cartridge.
Neo nods, keeping the illusion up as Blair prepares to channel the power.
Suddenly, Neo picks up on the movement.
She fans Hush open, breaking the illusion! Gun shots ping off! They knew drawing Fluorescent would start to break Blair's illusion...
As the Captain, 1372, arrives with a squad of soldiers. "Found you." He grumbles lowly. He begins to approach... until a large fiery blast explodes between them! Three more shots sound, shots taking out several of those in the firing line with the Captain! The Captain activates his Armor Lock semblance, shining with aura as he tanks the next shots!
Roman and Carmine rush in, coming to a halt behind Neo. The Shatter illusion breaks fully. Revealing them, more and more AZRL troops take note of CRBN's position.
"Blair! Do it!"
Blair grimaces, closing her eyes and keeping count... A perfect timing is key...
Blair stays against the debris of the barrier controller, Neo directly behind using Hush for cover. Roman and Carmine return fire hiding by Neo as well!
Timing...
. . .
Timing...
A timed message...
DING
Rowa jolts in her booth. She looks to her scroll, her breath leaving her as she glares wide eyed at the words.
Blair: Now.
Coordinates followed...
No more time needed. Rowa immediately inputs on the scroll and storms out from the cafe...
She's loud, angry... worried. "Arnold! I have coordinates to AZRL's home base! I'm coming with you and General Ironwood. NO ARGUMENTS! Sending coordinates now. I'll answer questions on the way."
A few milliseconds later, she scoffs and shouts back. "He can issue whatever charges he wants! AZRL ends first!"
. . .
Now!
Blair snaps her eyes open, finished counting. The operation time is NOW!
She activates the dust and swings! A flaring pulse ignites...
All technology from end to end on the compound flickers and shuts down...
. . .
On the second story balcony of the main complex, Zandril stands in watch of the debacle ahead.
The EMP washes over... and his arm begins to shake, locking at his side. His eye twitches, but he holds still. Symptoms like that of an overdose. Yet, his eyes remain open. One tense arm grips the railing...
One level below, Mary stops where she is, turning to look at him. She sees him, worry washing over her. Yet, one look from his eyes pauses her. Keep focused on her job... She gulps and turns away from him.
Dawn has arrived in full. A beam of light over the mountain walls blocking the horizon...
The Captain continues to signal more and more AZRL troops into cover and into firing positions as they pin down team CRBN. Silence save for a few last gunshots sound. He steps forward and huffs. "I have to admit, you are fantastic terrorists, Team CRBN. Bravo." He pauses as more troops close in.
Team CRBN shares collective scowls at his words.
"But you cannot hope to fight your way out of this. Barrier or no, automated defenses or no, the Fang won't have the power to tip this balance. You've done your property damage. We'll kill you and evac within the hour..." He signals for the troops. "Take them down-"
The sound of engines... Engines over the hills, echoing...
The guards pause, taking note of their Captain's pause.
Behind Hush, against Neo, Carmine cracks a grin. "Funny thing!" He shouts out. "A WHOOOOLE lot more people want you monsters dead than just us or the Fang!"
A sense of foreboding comes over the troops around them, starting to look up.
"For the sake of brevity... Let's just say everyone sends their regards!"
From the horizon, seven bulkhead transports soar over the turn of the peak! The mountain itself was their cover! The transports approach, the side doors opening up to reveal mounted machine guns!
And inside, they are packed with White Fang brothers and sisters... Black under uniforms with armored padding with white over covers... Each and every single member has a signature of the newer Fang, an ornate Grimm mask.
Within one of the transports, Aranea shouts out. "An EMP should be active! Get too close, and your systems will shut off. Rope descent only!"
In another transport, Vindhler barks his own orders. "First follow through, we strafe the area with covering fire. Aim for any undamaged armaments that could be anti air! Then every man drops in!" He puts on one of the Grimm masks for himself. "Once every ground fighter is placed, I want strafe runs for air support!"
A storm of bullets blaze upon the compound! Fiery shots tear into rooftop and guard tower perches, shredding several mounted defenses!
One of the transports directs gunfire at the open field, dispersing the firing lines of people with the Captain! (Triumphant horns blare, leading to first music string. "TAKE. IT. OFF!")
Canisters are lobbed from the transports as they make their first pass! The containers hit into the ground before spewing smoke... The transports overhead begin stopping, opening rope and allowing warriors to descend down! (Instrumental of Take It Off begins, going into first sequence)
The Captain dives for cover, looking round at the carnage. Back at the main complex building, Mary looks on in disbelief. The last time the Fang had transports, they had provided it! How did they..? She grits her teeth. "Junior stuck his neck out this far?!" (Instrumental repeats with background horns differing...)
As the smoke clears, the Captain begins to look up, the troops around him startled at the scene before him... (Music builds into cold transition.)
Red eyes and markings. The Fang troops are gathered in a firing line of their own around the controller debris. Team CRBN steps out alongside Aranea, who wears a feathered mask of her own. "For our brothers and sisters! CHARGE!" As Carmine punctuates the leader shouting himself. "TEAM CRBN, MOVE OUT!" (Cold transition to instrumental of She Is Beautiful low beat leading into next transition. "Take. It. Off!)
They open fire back upon AZRL! The opening volley takes out some on both sides, but the faunus charge the exposed troops. The Captain draws a handgun, returning fire as he retreats! The faunus close in, several warriors with melee weapons engaging with AZRL troops producing electric batons! (Instrumental to Party Hard begins.)
For each AZRL member that shock stuns a faunus, or manages to dodge and fire point blank, one of the Fang members gets an impale with a spear, or cuts down a member with a sword. The clashes and begin in a complete brawl while those with guns move for cover to open fire! (Instrumental continues into first verse)
Carmine running strikes the nearest guard, knocking him silly before aiming at another guard. He bats away a shock baton strike at the offending wrist, then shoots the man's leg out. Behind him, Roman wrenches the first guard, aiming the main's gun and firing it like the man's a puppet. The puppet shot hits the a third charging soldier. ("You!" "You work all night.")
The third soldier collapses, Roman twisting and throwing the first guard aside. He brings Melodic Cudgel up in the fluid movement and fires over the collapsed guard's head at a group. The man ducks the shot, going prone on the ground. ("All night!" "And when you work, you just feel alright!")
Shooting the second guard, Carmine kicks into the prone third. His Jager armor boosts him after. Carmine lands on the man's back, gliding on the snow and spinning! Carmine opens fire on different guards while dodging shots, then steps off the man. ("And when." "When things aren't feeling alright!")
The man grinds to a halt on the ground, out cold, as an AZRL guard with a flamethrower blows a flame stream at the boy! SHATTER! Carmine's image breaks apart as Neo opens Hush, dispersing the flames all around! ("Alright!" "And everything is all right." Music intensifies to pre-chorus.)
Behind her, Blair inserts wind dust into Fluorescent, striking into the ground as she casts! A gale force wind erupts around Neo, blasting the flames back into their originator! The man and three others catch fire, the gas tank on the man exploding! ("'Cause we will never listen to your rules!" "NO!")
Neo and Blair dodge roll opposite ways from gun fire! Neo's image then Shatters! Blair charges lightning fast at the covered shooters. ("We will never do as others do!" "NO!")
Blair deflects a shot with her golden blade, halting her charge, so she low throws a dust can along the ground near the men. They attempt to snatch it, only for Neo to drop from above. She stomps down upon the first guard. ("Know what we want, and we get it from you! We-")
In a sweep, she strikes the next over, while reaching down and snatching the dust can. She flourishes Hush to deflect and bash one guard in melee before leaping up! ("-do what we like, and we like what we do! So-" Music softens before chorus start.)
Above, she cracks the dust can, waving it out below! Far back, Roman smirks as he snaps his finger! His semblance ignites a spark on the loosed dust. ("-let's get a party going!" "Let's get a party going!")
The fire dust erupts like a shower, flaring upon the men and setting them ablaze. With Roman, Carmine angles and fires at troops on the rooftops. Using Roman as a step stone, he leaps off Roman with a Jager boost to the nearest roof! ("Now it's time to party, and we'll party hard!" "Party Hard!")
"Zero!" His armor flashes to the arm. He lands on the roof, the last panicked soldier caught off guard. He strikes him clear from the structure with an uppercut! ("Let's get a party going!" "Let's get a party going-")
Neo, still in the air hovering with Hush, closes it, catching the flying man as she back flips. She releases and throws the launched man another fifty yards! ("When it's time to party, we will ALWAYS PARTY HARD~!" "Party Hard-")
An iron blade slashes the mid air man aside before he lands. Useless debris. Spyyra stands amid the chaos. He spots Team CRBN running amok. Spyyra draws iron from the dead man's blood, as well as several dead Fang members around. (Cold cut to instrumental from She Is Beautiful.)
He flashes a look to the main complex building, where Zandril is still visible. Even from here, he makes out Zandril looking at him, specifically. (Instrumental repeats. A robotic vocal chants "When it's time to party..." "When it's time to party.")
Spyyra snarls and forms a mad grin. "No more RUNNING!" He leaps into the sky in a mad cackle! A stream of iron dust from the bodies and broken down metals flows around him. ("When it's time to party, we will party hard." Music builds into new instrumental.)
The man drops down, the iron swell around him spiking two White Fang members into place. He delivers a kick pry one off, ripping the spikes free from the other. He ducks a stream of bullets, forming an elongated blade from the spikes. (Instrumental for Ready To Die begins.)
He slices the legs out of the nearest Fang members. Another Fang member tries to aim at him, by the Captain strikes the faunus with his shock baton! 1372 and Spyyra lock looks. (Instrumental repeats into verse.)
The two AZRL monsters nod as they charges more Fang members between them and CRBN. The CRBN members take note of the two. Carmine looks to the others. Roman nudges him. "Come on." ("This is your time to pray. This is your judgment day!")
Carmine makes a face, but goes with him. Blair and Neo each flourish and cut down two more AZRL soldiers, locking gazes with the two agents incoming. ("We made a sacrifice, and now we get to take your life!")
Spyyra impales a man with a formed spear. The Captain catches a Faunus's weapon before striking him multiple times to death. Blair look speaks to Neo. "Ready for a rematch?" ("We shoot without a gun. We'll take on anyone...")
Neo deflects a stray bullet from Blair and smiles... They both charge! Spyyra and the Captain charge back! "HYAH!" Shouts from Spyyra and Blair call out! ("It's really nothing new! It's just a thing we like to do!" Music transitions to chorus.)
Blair clashes blades with Spyyra! She swiftly parries the jabs, advancing before ducking a formed throwing star! Spyyra advances at her ducking! Neo missile kicks into his raised blade. His iron grounds his feet keeping his balance! The Captain fires his sidearm at Blair to keep her from capitalizing! ("You better get ready to die! "Get ready to die!")
Blair deflects the shots, flourishing strikes against the man's baton to make him back pedal. Neo swiftly opens and shuts Hush to flush back residual iron dust in the air as she blocks slashes from Spyyra! He forms blades on his arms as he advances! ("You better get ready to kill!" "Get ready to kill!")
The Captain activates his semblance, tanking a strike from Blair. She uses the moment he's still to insert earth dust into Fluorescent, changing its blade to brown. She twists around and casts a blast of conjured rock at Spyyra and Neo. ("You better get ready to run, 'cause here we come~!")
SHATTER! The rock blasts through her image and into a blocking Spyyra! Blair charges through the dirt cloud, clashing with him again. The Captain deactivates his armor lock, only for Neo to appear from her temporary vanish. She clashes weapons with him, the two engaging in clash after clash. ("You better get ready to die!" "-Ready to die..." Music transitions.)
Zandril closes his eyes. At the main complex building, power flickers back on. The EMP is out. His arm ceases quaking as he feels better control over his arm. He opens his gaze, looking to Mary. (Low instrumental changes to bridge from Take It Off.)
Mary looks back, gulping. He merely speaks three words. "Do your work." He turns and disappears into the complex. (Instrumental warps and begins changing to Get Wet)
Mary turns and looks to the chaos around. Approaching, Carmine and Roman are charging through! She calls out to multiple troops nearby, directing them! (Instrumental continues.)
Carmine shoots down four more, snap reloading. "Straight ahead." Roman speaks up. He gets a smarmy grin. "I got the bastard." (Instrumental continues.)
Carmine looks dead ahead at Mary while she sets her weapon to its whip mode. He grins. "And I got the bitch!" The boy raises his right arm to Roman, fist raised and forearm parallel with the man. ()
Roman blinks in contemplation, but smirks. "Fine." He lifts his left arm, striking his forearm and fist into the boy's in a show of camaraderie. "Happy hunting!" (Instrumental continues. Chants from Get Wet begin in background.)
The two close distance with the gathering AZRL troops. Carmine's eyes flash gold, magic activating. A second Carmine splits from him as both fire three shots apiece. Two of the four guards are gunned down, while the remaining two are shot in the arms to disarm them! (Instrumental continues.)
Mary scowls. "Roman, I won't let you near Zandril!" She lashes her heated whip at the man! Only, Carmine intercepts and uses his armored arm to block and be coiled by the whip! Carmine throws the coil off and snap reloads in the same movement. (Instrumental continues.)
"Your fight is with me!" Mary dodges two shots and lashes at him again as his shots make her dance back to dodge. Meanwhile, Roman ducks a swipe from one of the remaining guards. He cracks the next one's knee out, broken. While the second drops to a knee, Roman twirls his cane round, smashing the first in the back of the head. (Instrumental continues.)
Continuing his whirl, he aims Melodic Cudgel at the second's fast, firing its blast point blank! The top half of the man is blown back in flames. Roman looks ahead, scowling... (Instrumental continues.)
Roman rushes ahead into the main complex building alone... Just him and the man in charge... (Instrumental plays out to end...)
It's happening! We're here! I'm in slight disbelief over this.
The attack on AZRL has begun, so the next few chapters has a few different methods of organization I'm thinking. I could do individual small chapters with each chapter following a member (Like at Death's Door Islands), or slowly get through the multiple aspects.
Now, without spoiling the results of this attack, I will say this battle will be sorted properly within three chapters. MAYBE two depending how I organize things. But, it's all about organization at this point.
Either way, we got: Roman vs Zandril, Blair and Neo vs Spyyra and the Captain, and Carmine vs Mary Anne. How will the three pods Spyyra got from Stein's lab going to play in? How can it get shaken up further? Will it divide fully into four one v ones? Who knows?!
References:
The song is a Mashup of several songs by Andrew WK. The song mix inspiration is on youtube, fairly easy to find since it's literally just titled Andrew WK Mashup. I felt the switching of songs but all with the partying theme went well with the stages of the assault and it being CRBN. Isn't the first time Andrew WK has been used for Team CRBN going around being Team CRBN.
Join next time in chapter ninety one: Who I Am.